THERE have been confirmed reports of good numbers of bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna and albacore at the eastern end of Bass Strait, with the weather change and the full moon last Friday, the tuna fishing season could be about to start off Narooma.
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If you want an 'up to the minute' report on the tuna front call into Bermagui Bait & Tackle (02 64935444), Ocean Hut Narooma (02 44763589 or Narooma Fishing & Dive Centre 0407909111.
The kingfish at Montague Island went quiet with the full moon, while good catches of kings were reported early last week, by the end of the week the kings had gone into stealth mode (you could see them on the sounder but they weren't interested in taking bait or lures).
Weather conditions for the next few days should be excellent for catching kings.
Even though the kingfish have been elusive, massive schools of bonito have been more obliging, with great catches of 2-4kg fish reported on live baits and trolling.
If you have been less than impressed with bonito as a table fish, bleed the bonnies on capture and place into an iced slurry - you'll be pleasantly surprised with the taste and texture.
Also bonito are excellent for smoking, and if you don't want to smoke your own fish call into Rapleys Midtown Quality Meats where they will smoke them for you.
Great catches of snapper have again been reported from most offshore reefs. Tide conditions will be perfect for an afternoon fish for snapper this weekend, with high tide between 4 and 5pm. Some good pan-sized snapper have also been caught in Mummaga Lake on a variety of baits.
With the water temperature at our closest weather buoy at Batemans Bay still recording 20c anything could happen on the fishing front. For the record the highest average June water temperature for Batemans Bay was 19.3c. Co-incidentally the leatherjackets appear to be thinning in most areas, perhaps they don't like the unseasonal balmy water temps.
Over the last week quite a few reports have been received of humpback whales heading north fairly close to shore. While whale sightings aren't uncommon, they usually head north out to sea travelling well east of Montague Island.
Joke of the week: Wife after returning from fishing trip with husband to neighbour: "I did everything all wrong again today -- I talked too much and too loud. I used the wrong bait. I reeled in too soon and I caught more than he did."
Tip of the week: If you don't know how to tie a paternoster rig, check out the clips on U Tube.
Fish fact: Snapper: have many different names in Australia including: cocknies/squire/squirefish/reddies/redbream/pinkies/schnapper/pink snapper/ruggers, with the traditional owners in the Port Jackson area calling them wollamie
