THAT’S the best description of the kingfish season so far for 2015. Over the last week they completely stopped on Thursday, went absolutely crazy on Friday, gone on Saturday and Sunday and a few legal fish returned on Monday.

Friday saw some great weather and even better fishing at Montague Island, kingfish came on the bite at the North End of the Island, and with empty bellies they were taking anything that fishers put before them.

Early in the day they wanted knife jigs, then a quick change in preference to squid, finally finishing with their third course of live bait.

The ratio of undersize to size kings has improved to about 6:1, and fishers were sure to return the undersize kings to the water as quickly as possible, as that legal fish was only a drop away.

Seals are normally a handicap to kingfish fishers, but bronze whaler sharks were also accounting for quite a few kings which were easy pray once they were hooked.

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Fishers with the required knowledge have landed some quality marlin in the last week, again the best results have been achieved with trolled lures and skirts.

Scott Bradley from Bermi Bait & Tackle also said the marlin fishing was picking up with most boats out trolling get a hit and some good fish.

Drop lining on The Shelf has produced some excellent pink ling, gemfish and ocean perch when the offshore current has been slow.

Fishers who planned ahead were going to Montague for a look for kings, when they weren’t around they went to their favourite drop lining spot and were well rewarded.

The hot spots for flathead in the last week have been just north of the Narooma bar and south of the Fullers Beach Sanctuary Zone, mixed in with some good sized flathead have been some nice gummy sharks.

If you are fishing for flatties, try having a line out with a long leader (>1mtr) and a nice strip bait, gummy sharks love bait presented this way. Remember to always immediately bleed any shark you catch to ensure optimum eating quality.

Surf fishing has been a bit hit and miss this week, with some fishers returning deeply disappointed and others bringing home some nice sized whiting, salmon and bream. Best results have been achieved next to rocky outcrops with a variety of fresh baits.

Local estuaries have been a challenge due to the increased boat traffic on any waterway capable of sustaining water skiers.

Pam Feely got another monster flathead in Tuross again on a poddy mullet.

"I said mmmm this feels a little bit heavy this fish and low and behold it took off like a Bondi tram, my drag was screaming and away she went, took a bit of time to slow her down. Anyhow to cut a long story short it was 99 cm and very heavy." Released of course! Well done Pam!

Fishing Tip of the Week: The Narooma Bowlo Fishing Club will be conducting lessons on beach worming in the next couple of weeks, if you want to learn more give Dave Clark a ring on 0419 127 712. These lessons will be conducted by local experts in this skill, and they are free.

Fish Saying of the Week: Men and fish are alike… they both get into trouble when they open their mouths

Fishing Soap Box: Council rate variation - look at the Narooma boat ramp, $60,000 spent and nothing to show for it, makes you want to give them more money doesn’t it!

- John Moore

Narooma Sport and Gamefishing Club news

NAROOMA Sport and Gamefishing Club members including Mal Baddeley got many small kings caught on soft plastics last week at Montague Island.

Although, legal fish were scarce among the large number of undersized kingfish.

Mal and his crew had great fun with a fish every drop and Rhys Bilney also got some nice kingfish caught out at the island last week aboard his boat 'Phar Cannell'.

The clubhouse is always open every Friday afternoon from 4pm so please join us for a drink and some fish tales.

Club Narooma Bowlo fishing club

THE Club Narooma Bowlo fishing club held their fishing comp over the weekend.

With the weather gods looking after us, it was just a pity the fish went a bit quiet.

It was the old story if you went yesterday they were crawling over the water yet on Saturday gone?

Most that fished landed a feed but had to work for it.

Winners for the month were Mick Kavic, Randall and Brenda Setzer, Gary Landells, Alan Simpson and it was good to see a few new members get into the prizes with Elise, Paige and Zac Raddatz, all juniors and putting their pop to shame, Garry Beves who won the NAFA award

As said before the island is very hit and miss with the kings and the seals are a major turn off with this sort of fishing at the island (if the artificial reef is approved might make life better )

In the Wogonga, there are big schools of fish working with plenty of bird life so Mr Jewfish should be hiding under them but a few hours on the sand flats proved a waste of time on the whiting with plenty of little fish to report.

And the beaches are very quiet with plenty tossing nice live beach worms and apart from a few bream nothing much else to report.

On the local scene, Hanky has been returned back to a Habitat Protection Zone from a Sanctuary Zone as did most of the beaches in the Batemans Marine Park.

We should see Nangudga follow soon as it’s all been a total waste of time with what the previous government did with the no science Marine Parks. Over the next few months we will be running beach worming classes for fishing club members so interested members contact the club and we will line you up a session.

And another offer to the members is from our charter boat skipper who is offering local fishing club members a trip on non-comp days for $110 contact John Moore for that offer.

Next comp will be Jan 30 – Feb 1 and members who are going to Buckenderra in March make sure you have paid your $50 deposit as we have two vouchers to be drawn next comp for that weekend away thanks to Buckenderra holiday village.

So tight lines everybody and enjoy the sun!

- Fishfingers