Bermagui fishing report
Offshore fishing is the quietest it’s been for some seasons in what is traditionally prime time for marlin to be holding off Bermagui.
It is not dissimilar along the east coast as strong warm water currents of 23-25 degrees roar past some 50km offshore unreachable in many vessels leaving us with water of no more than 22 degrees inside the 1000 fathom line and cooler again close on the inner reefs.
As we write it is noted the current has eased somewhat along the edge (100-500 fathoms) and bait was holding in close with it plenty of Striped Tuna and perhaps Frigate Mackerel present also.
The water on the edge of the shelf remains of poor colour, green and 21 degrees. Should the current ease further and conditions improve including more evident bait then Striped Marlin should start to appear in traditional holding areas such as the ‘Kink’, 12 Mile Reef and the ‘Bait Hole’.
The past month was not without fish and some larger than average fish were hooked, lost or landed.
The pick of these being the 353kg Blue Marlin landed by Jake Webster, the fish was lure caught on a 12 inch Top Gun ball bearing Nightmare. A fish that would be in the top 5 ever landed out of this port and on 50lb stand up tackle in a 5.9m boat an excellent effort.
Reef fishing has remained consistent with good captures of Sand and Tiger flathead to the north of port off the Step and Cemetery reefs in 40-55m of water.
Gummy sharks have been amongst these fish and a bonus to any angler on the water. Leatherjackets are present in some areas but it is possible to move away from them on to better ground. Reef areas south of port such as Bunga, Goalen Head and Cuttagee have started to again produce Snapper, Flathead, Morwong and the odd Gummy Shark. Trolling for Salmon off the headlands around the township continues to produce these fish and some smaller Kingfish and the odd Tailor.
Local Beaches are producing Salmon irrespective of moon phase with some nice Bream from the wash also.
A couple of Mulloway caught again this month of around 5-7kg, the dark moon phase proving the better period to fish.
Our estuaries inclusive of the Bermagui River, Wapengo and some further a field keep producing excellent Dusky Flathead particularly on lure both hard and soft.
Brogo Dam fished exceptionally well last week, the mid week rise of the Barometer saw one group of fisho’s releasing some 60 Bass of varying size taken on the surface in one afternoon.
Surface activity has kept whiting and bream enthusiasts occupied and the flow of alternative lures coming on to the market for chasing such fish is beginning to ease, some clear favourites sit on top of the list for many. These include Bassday’s Sugarpen 70, Smith’s Mebapen Mebaru, Towadi, Shirasu Minnow, Zip Baits Skinny Pop, and Daiwa’s Lazy Gekkabijan.
The Luckycraft 65 Sammy and the Jackson T-Pivot are also highly effective. One thing is for sure and that is high end lures usually come hand in hand with a higher price tag but the workmanship, paint job and action of many of these lures speaks for itself and results in fish and that’s what counts.
Brands like Surecatch, Strike Pro, River 2 Sea and Hawk have produced some effective lures which catch fish and come in at a lower price point but trebles and split rings often need upgrading and the odd one fails to swim straight from the packet. When it comes to diving minnows the much anticipated Ecogear SX40LC (Long Cast version of SX40 with in built weight transfer system) and SX43F arrive next week.
Luderick around the boat ramps, behind the slip way and beneath the bridge are in reasonable numbers whilst the rockwall’s of the harbour mouth continue to produce the largest of these fish.
By Scotty at Bridge Motors
Narooma fishing report
Some rain about at last but only 10mm or so likely (we’ve had more now!).
Wagonga Inlet is fishing really well, Stuey Hindson reckons flatties are a little hard on plastics around the edges of the weed, there are good fish there but they’re a little finicky. Whiting and bream pretty much surface only, but more than enough to keep you interested.
Beaches red hot – quality salmon in numbers and a few tailor about along with some nice bream and whiting.
Offshore sea surface around 18° but divers say it’s 21° underneath. Find a good current line and some bait and you should do OK. Bar is good. Kingies in good numbers but plenty of fish just under 70m. The afternoon bites are best for the bigger fish 8-10kg. Out wide striped tuna are everywhere with a few marlin seen but not a great number. Bermagui comp with 150 boats the other day apparently raised seven fish, so I don’t know where they are.
Darryl, The Ocean Hut 4476 2278
Moruya/Tuross fishing report
Moruya River: Good catches of flathead in the river both on poddy mullet and soft plastics with the majority of the fish down the front. Some nice bream are being caught from the hospital to the bridge, mainly on chicken or mullet gut.
Tuross River: Tuross is still producing good numbers of flathead down the front on plastics and bait with Slam 4” Minnows the lure of choice. One flattie went 97 cm for the lucky angler – unfortunately it was kept. Remember these are the big breeders for the future! It’s a good idea to keep a camera handy, as they say, a photo lasts a lifetime. Good numbers of bream on lures in the leases and on the adjoining flats, lures of choice SX40 or Bushy’s Stiffy’s. Big perch in the snags with Stewie catching a whopper of 51cm.
Offshore: With the weather being not too friendly offshore trips have been limited but when Ron on board Winda-Whopper got out, good catches of extra large mowies, snapper, flathead and other assorted reef fish were landed. Al and Arthur had a good quick session the other afternoon when they stayed in nice and close, anchored up and threw some berley around, landing themselves a nice bag of reds up to 3 kg.
Rocks and beaches: Large tailor and salmon caught off the wall and around the headlands, mainly on pilchards. Nice bream are being caught in the gutters on the beaches on worms and pipis with plenty of sharks also being caught after dark on mullet or tuna baits.
Graham Herbert, Gone Fishin’ Moruya, 44744381
From fishingmonthly.com.au
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