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The expert and detailed fishing report is written by Narooma's own Darren “Dash” Bowater and is well worth a read with not only what is biting but some great tips too…
It is published on the Ocean Hut Compleat Angler Facebook page at the end of each week – please go to the page, “like” it and stay tuned with all the latest fishing reports and competitions.
Now over to Dash and see you at the Ocean Hut in Narooma soon!
- The fishing editor Stan Gorton
Ocean Hut Compleat Angler fishing report - May 9, 2014
Whether you are a die hard, all-weather fisho, a weekend warrior, or a novice that simply uses fishing for the purpose of relaxation - one thing we all have in common, is that one person that has been there since day one, through thick and thin, ups and downs, good times and bad.
Mums have seen it all! And this Sunday, is the one day this year, set aside to acknowledge the greatest women in our lives.
Just like us extreme fishos, she has dealt with the harshest, dirtiest, longest, weirdest, hardest conditions known to mankind. So before you head out this Sunday for your dose of fishing satisfaction, give your mum a call and take her along for a memorable fishing experience, one where she can sit back and relax, while you attend to all her needs, like rig her lines, bait her hooks, clean her fish, and so on, then later on, cook up a storm for a Mother’s Day feast she'll never forget. Its only one day a year, so we should all make an extra special effort to wait on all mums hand and foot, then starting Monday it's " Happy Happy Joy Joy", back to the front line for mum for the next 364 days. Here is your fishing report!
THE BIG BLUE: It’s been a frustrating week on the big pond as above average seas and southerly winds have wreaked havoc, keeping most commercial, charter and recreational boats at the wharf.
Today, Friday, has really been the first shot, anyone has had at getting out to the Montague Island and beyond, so I can confirm that the kings are still there and wanting to play.
Around 15 boats are fishing in a toasty 23 degree water at the island as I write (10.35am), with most of them scoring kings from just legal to around the high 80s.
So hopefully this swell will keep receding and enable all boats to venture out and play ball this weekend.
The kings seem to be prefer the live baits, in the shape of yakkas and slimies, which can be obtained close in at the island. Though not to be out done, a few lure die-hards have caught them on jigs as well.
A couple of boats have ventured wide to the shelf and beyond in search of some beaked warriors, where 23 degree water crossing paths with 20-degree water has been found, but no conformation on fish as yet.
A 3-degree temperature line sounds like the perfect place to be, one would have to think a chance of a yellowfin tuna would be on the cards here.
From the island to the shelf the temperature has remained in the early 20's and marlin were fairly active this time last week, so one would assume with the conditions still the same, then some adrenaline pumping, tail dancing should be there for the taking.
Sorry folks, I've had no news on what the bottom bashing is like due to the conditions, so it will be trial and error come this weekend. Hopefully the leatherjackets’ visa has run out and they have all disappeared like your first beer on a Friday arvo.
Unfortunately I think they'll still be around, ready to rape and pillage any bait, lure, or live bait that dare cross their path. If you happen to come across these "yella terras", while sourcing a table fair, a move is highly recommended. On last post, Potato Point, Brou, and North Eastern corner of the big rock was productive with a few snapper, mowies and the likes, so could be good places to start. If planning to dredge for Flathead then try to avoid the 20-30m mark, as this was where the piranhas of the ocean seem to be most prolific.
ROCK AND BEACH: This is one field that has relished in the rougher conditions this week, especially along our golden sands, where some newly formed gutters are producing good results.
The great news is that, although the tides and moon have been non-favourable, the fishing has still been good, and as we move into the weekend and through next week, the tides and almanac will only improve as we head towards a fully charged moon on Thursday.
Those that have braved the windy and chilly conditions this week have been rewarded with good sized salmon, tailor and bream.
Pilchards on gang hooks have been the norm for the Salmon and Tailor, while the Bream have preferred live beach worms or pippies.
If planning to hit the sand this weekend, than I would suggest an early morning crack of dawn raid, and/or the late afternoon rise to the top of the high tide will be the best times to shine.
For easy access and no effort required, Some smaller local beaches such as Surf, Duesburys, and Yabbarra, have had nice gutters that are producing good results on both bait and assorted metal slugs, while the longer beaches with greater slope, like Tilba, Corunna, Black Fellows, and Dalmeny, will hold bigger and better gutters, for those that like the challenge, and having a gutter all to themselves.
I've herd along the grapevine, that there is a cracking gutter on Wallaga beach not too far from the Wallaga lake entrance that is fishing very well for an array of species.
When you find gutters like these it's best to make the most of them while they last, as before you know it, their gone and a great opportunity will be lost.
Keeping in mind next week we have larger high tides after dark, with the full moon coming into play, so making it a good shot for some adrenaline seekers, wanting to tangle with some hard fighting species such as jewfish, gummies, and other sharks.
For the stone jumpers, it’s been a little frustrating lately due to the relentless swell pounding our shores, but hopefully this weekend, it will recede enough to allow a long awaited cast from the stones. If given the chance then Bream, Drummer, and Luderick should be on the cards around the fringes, with mullet gut, cunjevoi, cabbage and weed being the better of the baits.
While live bait, pilchards, metal slugs and poppers, should provide for some good pelagic action off the deeper ledges, where such species as salmon, tailor, bonito, small kings could be on offer.
Mystery Bay, Narooma Golf Course, Glasshouse Rocks, 1080, Fullers and Corunna head will be great places to put the theory to the test.
RIVERS, LAKES AND INLETS: Like the words in Status Quo's song for the Coles commercial goes, "Down Down", the temperatures down, and unfortunately like another band, this will only head in "One Direction" from here on as we head towards winter.
Although the big blue is still a toasty 20+ degrees at present, some of our inlets have plummeted down to around 15 degrees over the past two weeks thanks to a few cold fronts of late.
No need for any panic just yet, as most fish will still be active in theses temperatures, but it would be wise to keep the sudden change in mind, especially when it comes to tossing lures. While working/retrieving a lure in one of our pristine inland oasis, the most important thing to remember is that there is "no such" thing as "to slow", but there is "defiantly", such a thing as "to fast".
This theory applies to most species, all year round, but even more so when the water is cold, so when you think you retrieving slow enough, half the speed again, and you’re getting closer to the right speed.
Going around the grounds, starting with the star of the south, Wallaga Lake, which has remained consistent on the performance scales, as to its temperature, which is around the 16-17 degrees.
The flathead are definitely the main course here, as most points around the mid-section, main channel and weed edges along either side of the two channels west of the road bridge are holding these lure lovers.
Other species you are likely to come across in here could be Bream, trevally, snapper, whiting, luderick (around the bridge), tailor and Salmon. Other good places to try in Wallaga are below the bridge around the sand flats, around the Island in the middle, and towards the two creeks that flow into the back of Wallaga Lake itself, being Dignam’s and Narira.
Moving up the road a little to Lake Corunna, that could be compared to the NRL team Melbourne Storm, as in was awesome and unbeatable, but now struggling to perform.
The flathead "Mecca" has had a drop in temperature to around 15 degrees, and its showing on the score cards, as every second fisho to attempting to conquer it has come up empty handed.
For those that have triumphed, the trump card has been black or dark coloured shimmers (vibes or blades as others call them), along with dark coloured plastics. Most productive places at present are down the middle as they seem to be moving off the edges.
Wagonga Lake has been fishing well, if you target a species and use the 6 "P"s (prio proper planning, prevents poor performance). This simply means instead of going "Willy Nilly" and hoping for the best, first work out what species you would like to target, then plan where the best place will be to find it, what type of gear will be most suitable to use for it, what time/tide will give you your best chance at catching it, then the best bait or lure to use to catch it.
Here are some examples of what I mean, "Luderick", WHERE: main channel east and west of the Hwy Bridge, WHEN: the last half of the tide so its slowing towards a change, then the start of the change, TERMINAL TACKLE NEEDED: 8-9" rod, small reel with floating line, a float, 6lb trace with a couple of small split shots, down to a small size 6-10 hook. BEST BAIT: weed/cabbage sourced locally, (use best part for bait and rest chopped up and mixed with sand for burley). "Flathead" WHERE: throughout the Inlet, around weed and sand flat edges, drop offs, under bait schools etc., WHEN: anytime of the day, but remember tide will play a part of where they'll be so concentrate on areas that can be assisted by tide. TERMINAL TACKLE NEEDED: small 6-7" graphite rod and matching reel with braid, 6-12lb fluorocarbon leader, and hooks, jigheads, lures to suit. BEST BAIT: if bait fishing, then live poddies, nippers, prawns and pilchards. If using lures then matching the hatch to what they would normally feed on, in that one particular area you wish to target. I could go on and on "till the cows come home", but I think you all get the drift of what I'm trying to say. For those that seek more information, that’s where your local tackle shop becomes your best friend, so feel free to drop in or give us a call on 44762278 to find out all the "P"s you need to know on any particular species. That’s what we're here for!
Mummaga Lake is slowly dropping in temperature, like most others at present, but a feed is still manageable.
For your Flathead the best place seems to be up the back of the lake, near and over the mud flats, while tailor, bream, flounder, and the odd snapper seem to be scattered throughout. Luderick, Mullet and Bream are hanging around the two main drop offs, and it seems the incoming tide is the more productive one.
Heading up to Tuross Lake, which is fishing well of late and this should continue to fish well right until the heart of winter. The mid-section, in and around 4 ways is productive with, flathead, bream, perch and whiting (over the flats), with both lures and live bait performing well, while up the back past the road bridge is also producing good Flathead and Bream on soft plastics.
Picking a place to start in Tuross is the hardest decision, as you could fish good looking, potentially productive areas for a month straight, and not cover the same ground twice. I plan to hit this gem of a waterway tomorrow, so hopefully I'll have some more news and pics on Tuross then.
Hope you all have a fantastically awesome weekends fishing, and to my own and all the other Mum's of the fishing world, hope you all get super spoilt, and have an extra special, fantastically awesome "MOTHER’S DAY"!! Cheers Dash.
TIDES:
FRIDAY:
High 4.36pm 1.40m
Low 10.35pm 0.74m
SATURDAY:
High 4.35am 1.45m
5.21pm 1.49m
Low 10.56am 0.56m
11.30pm
SUNDAY
High 5.25am 1.47m
6.02pm 1.59m
Low 11.36am 0.52m
ALMANAC:
Moon phase is leaving First Quarter, heading to First Gibbous on Sunday, 11th, with the Full Moon due on Thursday, May 15.
BEST TIMES:
Friday 6.46pm
Saturday 7.08am, 7.30pm
Sunday 7.52am, 8.15pm
For Minor times just add 6 hours