WE at the Narooma News and SE Fish Files are pleased to bring you the Ocean Hut Compleat Angler fishing report for the Far South Coast, NSW.
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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 – June 6, 2014
It's always an exciting, warm and fuzzy feeling when you know you’re about to embark on a long weekend, even tho it's only one extra day, the anticipation and excitement is running high.
So plans are made, and trailers, boats, caravans and cars are all packed with enough stuff to travel around Australia twice.
All this effort, just to make sure you have enough equipment to last that "ONE" extra day. Even after the check list has been checked and double checked, by every single family member, we still find over the duration of the weekend we managed to have forgotten something, usually fishing gear. Then you think to yourself, "how did this happen", for the "misses", wrote the check the list, and she never forgets anything, but then you remember it’s not her job to check if your most valuable assets have been packed, she'll tell you that's your department.
The good news is folk's, if its fishing gear you have forgotten to pack, then there is no need for panic, we are open every day from 8am till 5pm, and have a shop full of fishing, diving and some camping gear, so should the misfortune arise that you happen to fall into the "accidentally left it at home" category, then Ocean Hut Compleat Angler will be able cater for any gear that has been left behind, as well as any other bait, tackle and diving supplies needed. Here is your weekend report!
THE BIG BLUE: With an average of 22-23 degrees out along the big drop, one would think it's still too hot for any numbers of yellowfin tuna to be cruising the shelf, but looking at the current pattern of the sea surface temperatures, promising signs of the golden barrels should only be weeks away.
On the upside the present barmy waters are holding good numbers of mahi mahi ( dolphin fish), which have been a regular catch for those who have been exploring the great beyond, while trolling lures in search of the greater prize. Sizes have varied from small to over a meter, so well worth the chase and are awesome on the plate.
Most productive areas have been between the Kink and Tuross Canyons, with fish trap buoys, or any other reasonably sized floating objects such as weed, wood, pallets, containers, dead whales, upside down boats, James Packer’s wallet, etc etc, all would be good places to concentrate your efforts. There has also been plenty of striped tuna in this part of town, so all hope is not lost as these guys can be lots of fun on light gear, and as far as bait and burley goes, they are second to none.
Moving in closer to the Kingfish magnet they call Montague Island, the Kings are still firing, coming in all sizes from rats to around the 8kg mark.
Although hard to find and gather, live bait is the number one choice, these hard pulling dynamos prefer most of the time, but Jigs, squid and trolled lures have had their share of the market when the fish are on the chew. Most productive places have been from the Fowlhouse down to the southern Aughinish reef, with a tide change being the most likely time they will feed. Some good news in the bottom bashing arena is that most of the Leather jackets have slowly been evicted out of town, making Snapper and other reef dwelling species a possible target.
It's been a while since this style of fishing has been a doable task, so some relief is in sight for the guru's that like to hug the bottom in hope of these tasty delights. Montague, Potato Point, Brou Reef, and Mystery Bay are places all worth a look, and with some fresh squid, striped Tuna or pilchards on the hook, a feed shouldn't be too hard to find. With the "yella terra" Army, only in small patches here and there, the desert drifters should also be able to broaden their horizons beyond the 15-20m mark, which up till now had been the only zone the buck toothed terrorists didn't show their presence. So if able to venture wider, then I would think the 30-50m zone would be more productive, with size and numbers.
ROCK AND BEACH: Thanks to the 20+ degree water still caressing our coast, the golden sands seem to be inundated with assorted marine life at present, as just about every beach goer with a live beach worm has found that pot of gold at the end of their line, and it's big salmon, tailor, whiting and bream that have been wreaking havoc along our pristine, picture perfect shoreline. Hot off the press, some local lads have relished in the good fortune on our local beaches this week, saying the fishing at present is as good as they can remember.
One particular customer excitingly saying "it took longer to catch the worms then it did to catch a feed", and “if a Salmon didn't grab your worm within 10-20 seconds", "a whiting, or bream would soon be on to it”, and "it has been some absolutely insane fishing", "with some of the salmon around the 2-3kg".
I don't know about you guy's reading this, but I know as I’m writing it, I’m trying hard not to stop!, and go hit the beach, to join the barefoot renegade in their quest for some memorable moments. Looking at the weekend ahead, I think the afternoon rising tide will be the most likely to perform, reaching its peak as the sun retires for another day, making this the perfect time for predators to come out and play.
All you have to do is find a beach with a gutter/ channel worthy of a cast, gather some live, or fresh bait, or lure if you prefer, then head to the desired location around mid-afternoon, cast your chosen offering into the fish infested gutter, and before your bail arm returns to sender, the rod should be buckling under fish pulling pressure. Places that are likely to contain one of these "red hot" gutters are Black fellows (Potato Point), Brou, Corunna, Fullers and Tilba beaches. The rig of choice seems to be the trusty paternoster rig with a surf popper as the top hook, and a pilchard on gang hooks for the bottom, this rig is deadly on salmon and tailor, while whiting and bream generally prefer Live worms, nippers or pippies on a smaller size 6-4 long shank hook. Some enthusiasts believe a small piece of red tubing at the top of the hook works well as an attractant for the fish.
The rock hoppers have enjoyed simular success this week on mostly bream and drummer, with cunjevoi, prawns and mullet gut doing most of the damage. The late afternoon, rising tide looks good this weekend for this style of fishing, but if it was me, it will be the early shift; I have always liked, and had most success on the crack of daylight for bream, and especially drummer. This time of year is great for chasing drummer, which fight hard and taste great, and while in pursuit there is always a chance of a solid grouper, luderick or bream showing up.
For those that like to throw metals, poppers and other artificial lures, there should be some good pelagic action around in the shape of salmon, tailor, and possibly some tuna species.
Best places to try this theory will be where there is deeper water with plenty of wash over and around it, Mystery Bay's High rock and 1080 will be suitable, as to Hogan’s Hole (Narooma Golf Course), Glasshouse rocks and Dalmeny Headland.
LAKES, RIVERS AND INLETS: As we start the downhill slide into winter, one can only assume the fishing is going to get tougher & tougher as the water temperature will drop to a degree that would raise a high pitch scream from the bravest of Eskimos. At present most estuaries, temperatures are running around 14-16 degrees, making it still suitable for most species that inhabit them. Rest assure this will decline pretty quickly over the next few weeks, leaving us with only a couple of species worth targeting in Bream, Tailor, Luderick and the odd Flathead. So make the most of it while the fishing is still good, and the conditions are bare able, for soon the thermals will be moved to the front of the cupboard, alongside the polar fleece mittens, beanie and extra-long possum socks.
Going around the grounds, which have all had a little stir of fresh water from the drips and drops received last weekend and earlier through the week, this usually puts a little spark into most estuaries causing the bait and fish to hang where the salt and fresh water meet.
Wallaga Lake is fishing well with Flathead, Bream, and Luderick being the mainstream, most of the focus is in the back half of the estuary with Flathead found off most point in around 3-6m of water, while the Bream seem to be closer towards either of the two creeks. Luderick are concentrated down in the main channel where generally fishing from the bridge is your best option.
Corunna Lake has proven me wrong again this week with my good mate "hippy" having a blinder in there last Saturday, Catching and releasing over 50 Flathead. If you think it sounds easy, let me assure you it’s "not", as although he caught a lot of fish, he did mention how it took a while to work out what kind of ultra-slow retrieve they preferred, even then they were very subtle in their bite, so subtle that without a graphite rod and braided line you would have never even felt the lure been taken. No particular spot worked better than others as the fish seemed evenly spread throughout the lake.
Wagonga is hot and cold, depending on whom you talk to, as some fisho's are having success, while others would have more luck finding a cold beer in the Simpson Desert.
This estuary can test the best of fisherman most of the time, so those that want to succeed need to properly prepare for a selected species, more than try the "willy nilly" method. There are good schools of luderick in the main channel, where weed is a must for success, while the sand flats also in the front half, still contain good schools of mullet at the top of the tide. Big salmon, and tailor are terrorizing bait schools in the main body of the lake as well as Barlows and Forsters Bay, so it takes patients, a good sounder, and a watchful eye on the bird life to locate these hard pulling "fun times" on light gear.
Flathead are throughout, so a well presented lure matching the hatch of the desired area, or live bait such as poddies, nippers and worms will suffice, and for your best shot at a Bream or two will be around the oyster racks, moored boats, and over weed beds, and best method will be the same as mentioned with the Flathead.
Sorry!, but again I've not received any reports from Tuross Lake this week, but it should be on par with all the other estuaries, and would well be worth a look, for flathead, bream, tailor, luderick and the likes, should be all on offer in here. Just remember we're getting to the time of year when proper preparation/ presentation along with a dash of patients will prevent poor profit.
Hope you all have a fantastically awesome "long weekend’s" fishing! Cheers Dash.
TIDES:
FRIDAY: High: 1:43am 1.45m
2:49pm 1.35m
Low: 8:24am 0.59m
8:42pm 0.80m
SATURDAY: High: 2:43am 1.41m
3:44pm 1.43m
Low: 9:13am 0.59m
9:49pm 0.76m
SUNDAY: High: 3:44am 1.39m
4:34pm 1.52m
Low: 10:00am 0.56m
10:51pm 0.69m
MONDAY: High: 4:41am 1.39m
5:20pm 1.63m
Low: 10:46am 0.53m
11:46pm 0.59m
ALMANAC:
Moon phase is first quarter on Friday, 6th, heading towards the first gibbous on Monday, 9th.
BEST TIMES:
Friday: 5:24pm
Saturday: 5:45am, 6:07pm
Sunday: 6:30am, 6:53pm
Monday: 7:17am, 7:41pm
For your minor times, just add 6hrs to the above times.