BERMAGUI
A Variety of Ways
Whilst in the area go visit Brogo Dam. Due to the stocking efforts of the Far South Coast Bass Stocking Association there are plenty of Australian bass on the chew and although smallish at this stage the recently stocked estuary perch should be making an appearance.
Offshore Gamefish are on the improve while the reef, beaches and rocks are all fishing well. The best news however is in the estuaries, where the fish have moved all throughout the systems providing some fantastic fishing whether you wade, boat, prawn or just sit and admirer our pristine estuaries that surround Bermagui, January is definitely the time to enjoy them. The variety of activities that can be experienced in them is all on offer along this part of the coast.
Of course fishing is No. 1 and at present you can choose how, where and when you wish too. The large tides at this time of year allow anglers access to flats fishing. Whether you wade or boat fish over them a host of species are on offer and the way you target them is just as varied. Personally I like to bait fish them using a couple of different tactics. Firstly find areas where fish have been active, to do this you may need to visit the flats at low ride to read the signs. Obvious signs are, imprints of flathead in the sand or mud, ( fish the adjacent deep water at low tide for flathead where they wait to move onto the flats with the rising tide), small cylindrical imprints which are formed by whiting or bream feeding on worms or crustaceans and also look for ribbon grass being grazed on by blackfish. If you’re in a boat just cruise the flats at high tide using a good pair of polaroids to sight fish, also look for white flashes occurring over weed beds as this will be blackfish feeding on seagrass. Once you have located fish anchor your boat to work an area over. I like using nippers or worms here with ultra-light mono where long casts are a must, (remember if you can see them they can see you in the clear water, that’s why long casts are necessary) fish will graze over these flats much like a flock of sheep so once the cast is made just let the bait sit there for the fish to find. You can also use burley in conjunction with the above described method to cover more options. Striped tuna is the best for this both for bait and burley but you will need reasonable flow in the tide for it to be successful. Other methods including lure fishing will also work well not only over the flats but throughout the whole of the estuary, it is that good at present. Don’t forget it’s also prawning time with the dark in January Wallaga Lake is the hot spot to do so.
Out on the ocean game fish are there in numbers with the marlin fishing getting better by the day. Lure fishing is the way to go, so you can cover more water to find where the beakies are concentrated. Once found you may wish to revert to bait, however by staying on lures you will have a better chance of mixing the catch with some of the nice yellowfin tuna that are still in the area. January is also notorious for large blue marlin that patrol the canyon areas in search of their pray, and a well presented lure pattern may prove irresistible. Smaller game species like albacore, striped tuna and dolphin fish are providing some light tackle action, while around Montague Island kingfish are in good numbers.
Reef and bottom fishing out to sea is good just about everywhere. Out from Tilba the Step is producing plenty of sand flathead with the odd tiger and gummy shark being taken. On the edges of the Four, Six and Twelve Mile Reefs tiger flathead are prolific with snapper, mowies and nannygai close to the reefs. Goalen Head south is the pick of the areas for bottom fishing, you can fish in close or venture out wider, it’s a complex reef system that runs far to sea and is not only good reef fishing but will attract plenty of game fish too.
Visiting anglers love beach fishing at this time of year and at present they’re fishing pretty dam good. Lots of salmon are being taken on most beaches that have a half decent gutter, while tailor and the odd gummy shark have been caught of a night. Using beach worm for bait is producing some excellent bags of bream, whiting and mullet in the shallower gutters of the beaches especially on the rising tides.
A Variety of Ways
Whilst in the area go visit Brogo Dam. Due to the stocking efforts of the Far South Coast Bass Stocking Association there are plenty of Australian bass on the chew and although smallish at this stage the recently stocked estuary perch should be making an appearance.
Offshore Gamefish are on the improve while the reef, beaches and rocks are all fishing well. The best news however is in the estuaries, where the fish have moved all throughout the systems providing some fantastic fishing whether you wade, boat, prawn or just sit and admirer our pristine estuaries that surround Bermagui, January is definitely the time to enjoy them. The variety of activities that can be experienced in them is all on offer along this part of the coast.
Of course fishing is No. 1 and at present you can choose how, where and when you wish too. The large tides at this time of year allow anglers access to flats fishing. Whether you wade or boat fish over them a host of species are on offer and the way you target them is just as varied. Personally I like to bait fish them using a couple of different tactics. Firstly find areas where fish have been active, to do this you may need to visit the flats at low ride to read the signs. Obvious signs are, imprints of flathead in the sand or mud, ( fish the adjacent deep water at low tide for flathead where they wait to move onto the flats with the rising tide), small cylindrical imprints which are formed by whiting or bream feeding on worms or crustaceans and also look for ribbon grass being grazed on by blackfish. If you’re in a boat just cruise the flats at high tide using a good pair of polaroids to sight fish, also look for white flashes occurring over weed beds as this will be blackfish feeding on seagrass. Once you have located fish anchor your boat to work an area over. I like using nippers or worms here with ultra-light mono where long casts are a must, (remember if you can see them they can see you in the clear water, that’s why long casts are necessary) fish will graze over these flats much like a flock of sheep so once the cast is made just let the bait sit there for the fish to find. You can also use burley in conjunction with the above described method to cover more options. Striped tuna is the best for this both for bait and burley but you will need reasonable flow in the tide for it to be successful. Other methods including lure fishing will also work well not only over the flats but throughout the whole of the estuary, it is that good at present. Don’t forget it’s also prawning time with the dark in January Wallaga Lake is the hot spot to do so.
Out on the ocean game fish are there in numbers with the marlin fishing getting better by the day. Lure fishing is the way to go, so you can cover more water to find where the beakies are concentrated. Once found you may wish to revert to bait, however by staying on lures you will have a better chance of mixing the catch with some of the nice yellowfin tuna that are still in the area. January is also notorious for large blue marlin that patrol the canyon areas in search of their pray, and a well presented lure pattern may prove irresistible. Smaller game species like albacore, striped tuna and dolphin fish are providing some light tackle action, while around Montague Island kingfish are in good numbers.
Reef and bottom fishing out to sea is good just about everywhere. Out from Tilba the Step is producing plenty of sand flathead with the odd tiger and gummy shark being taken. On the edges of the Four, Six and Twelve Mile Reefs tiger flathead are prolific with snapper, mowies and nannygai close to the reefs. Goalen Head south is the pick of the areas for bottom fishing, you can fish in close or venture out wider, it’s a complex reef system that runs far to sea and is not only good reef fishing but will attract plenty of game fish too.
Visiting anglers love beach fishing at this time of year and at present they’re fishing pretty dam good. Lots of salmon are being taken on most beaches that have a half decent gutter, while tailor and the odd gummy shark have been caught of a night. Using beach worm for bait is producing some excellent bags of bream, whiting and mullet in the shallower gutters of the beaches especially on the rising tides.
WEIPA
