THE warming weather has already had an effect on the water temperature in the estuaries and some of the best fishing of the year can be had if you are in the right place at the right time.
For example, on the Clyde River lots of big blackfish, yellowfin bream, and flathead can now be seen in the shallows, especially on the incoming tide. There are also a few whiting amongst them.
You might have to try half a dozen different spots to find a patch of fish, but keep your polarized sunnies on and keep your eyes peeled-when you find them they are in numbers…and better still they are actively feeding. After this all you have to do is set about catching them.
Blackfish are best burlyed up and caught on bread, weed, tuna or carp strip baits, but the occasional one is caught on lure.
Flathead however are real suckers for lures, and you can easily target bream at the same time if you keep the lure size small enough.
In experienced hands, Hopper poppers work well in extra shallow water and around the snags and racks.
Softies are easier to use; the twitching nippers are a good bet, but any good softie will do the job at the moment.
With hard bodies use sub warts (these are brilliant on the shallows and racks), Rapala F7’s (perch pattern works really well for some reason), Husky Jerks and 6 cm slash baits.
A steady retrieve works well at this time of year, but slightly hesitant fish can be tempted with pauses and jiggles - it’s just like teasing a cat with a string when you get used to it.
Whatever the lure you will need nice light 2 or 4 pound braid and 6-pound fluoro carbon leader so you casts go far enough. Use the wind to your advantage where possible.
Take your time and keep your cool, if you spot fish up on the flats they got there before you and are typically not in a hurry to go anywhere until the tide turns: unless you spook them!
Kayak anglers can easily use something called a stake out pole to hold them from drifting into the strike zone.
From about dawn to mid morning when the high tide peaks will be a good time for the above fishing across this weekend early into next week.
Note that the low tides are quite pronounced on these same days so quite a few fish will be dropping back into the deeper holes on the run out.
A 6-cm Clacking Rap will work well on bream, big flathead and jewfish in such places. Keep the rod action subtle with steady lifts and extra slow drops to put out the ideal vibration from this lure in this scenario.
Note that small jewfish are nicknamed ‘soapys’ for a reason-they taste like detergent until they grow above the 4-kilo mark. Please let the small ones go before you find this out for yourself.
South Coast snapper
Over the last few weeks all sorts of weather has been thrown at anglers and knowing what to do in certain forecasts can be a big help.
Waiting for the swell to be at manageable size is half the battle, the next step is to check what winds are predicted.
Light winds are of course ideal when you are lucky enough to get them, especially seeing the snapper fishing has been great on reefs around the deeper the 50 to 60 meter mark.
In particular reefs at this depth between Kiola and Moruya have been fishing well, but Ulludulla, Merimbula and Eden are also producing some good snapper.
Light winds ‘usually’ mean the drift is nice and slow, providing of course the current isn’t too fast. When both wind and currents are suitable it is much easier to get down to the bottom in deeper water and keep your bait there.
Anglers using the standard 6-ounce snapper lead with two droppers above it are doing well. Best baits are tuna, slimy, yakka, squid/pilchard cocktails and carp strips.
In really good conditions you can even use the larger soft plastic snapper outfits combined with a heavy jig head to get down to the 60 meter mark.
Bucktail jigs between 2 and 4 ounces are ideal for this; even better if you add a small bait or scent up the fibres. One lucky angler scored nine snapper between 54 and 98 cm snapper using this set up and had a ball in the process!
If the westerly’s are likely to be up then an early start is needed before the drift gets too quick. A sea anchor or drogue can ‘help’ slow the drift to a manageable rate.
Swell permitting; the Westerly’s have been ideal for suitably prepared kayak fishos thanks to the nice flat seas that form in close to the shore.
The secret is to set up drifts and keep covering new ground.
The snapper fishing hasn’t been as good as it is out deeper, but there is still more than enough fish to keep things interesting and score a tasty feed.
Use white or bright coloured soft plastics on 12-pound fluoro carbon trace at dawn and dusk. During the day give a Clacking Rap a go on 6-pound leader; the new smaller 6cm size is proving to be a hit with snapper.
Importantly though, dont rattle the lure too loudly for snapper.
Let one dangle below the boat at mid water with no added rod action, the waves will make it tap away gently. Leave this lure there while you try everything else and often the biggest red of the day will hit this lure. Bizzare I know, and a few other seasoned snapper anglers are reporting the same - go figure.
Beaches, rocks going well
Salmon are going well at North and South Durras, Rosedale, Broulee, Moruya Breakwall, Potato Point and Bears Beach just to name a few.
Baits are working fine, but some easy and fun catches can be had by walking the beaches and spinning with 20 gram Gyro Spins on 2 to 4 kg spin tackle.
A few good sized tailor have been in the mix, and the second half of rising tide which is after dusk this weekend is ideal; use pilchards for best results.
Drummer are available at all the usual ledges including those at Nuggin, Myrtle, between Lilli Pilli and Garden Bay and Mystery Bay.
Primary students get hooked
"Get Hooked…It’s Fun to Fish", is an educational program for middle and upper primary school students. The program aims to foster aquatic environment awareness and promote safe, responsible fishing practices.
During the course of this program, students are introduced to freshwater and marine fishing, the significance of aquatic life and life-cycles, catch and release skills, and the importance of sustaining a quality fish habitat, while practising sustainable fishing behaviours. Schools are currently being encouraged to register for 2010. If your kids’ school is interested please email gethooked.fisheries@dpi.nsw.gov.a u for information.
See you on the water,
Rob Paxevanos
www.fishingaustralia. tv
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