Marlin in the big blue, kingfish around the famous rock they call Montague, Jewfish throughout the pristine waters of Wagonga Inlet, does it get any better than the current conditions we have cast upon us.
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Well I guess that is debatable, but right now folks, it looks like the fishing gods have flicked the switch to catching, as all our favourites seem to be on the chew.
Even better news is that as we head into the dark moon on Friday, March 20, we should only see conditions improve.
Autumn is one of my favourite time s of the year, the water is warm, the weather seems to settle and most species across the spectrum are very active. Here is your weekly fishing report.
THE BIG BLUE: Hallelujah!! Just when all signs of a productive kingfish season for 2015 had almost expired, the squid munching, lure crunching, golden striped freight trains look to have set up camp around the big rock!
Yes I'm going out on a limb saying this but after such a hit and miss year thus far, four days in a row of good numbers and size would indicate a season opening festival to me, for most charter and recreational boats that have ventured to the Island over the past few days have reaped the rewards of the newly found honey hole.
Hopefully it's all happy days from here on, well at least until the cold winter waters caress our shores later in the year. Live bait, jigs, and fresh squid have all played their roll in seducing these tackle-testing pelagics, with the south western end (or the nursery as some know it) of the island being the place to be.
Depending on current and its direction, other places like the northern end (key hole), foul house and Aughinish rocks can be well worth the effort.
On the flip side of the boat, snapper, mowies and other reef-dwelling tasties have filled the gaps while waiting for the kings to awaken, which generally is most likely to happen around a tide change, or when the current decides to flow.
The top tip of the century is that if weather allows, then an afternoon run can be very productive. Not only is there less traffic with buzzing sounders, but also most of the oxygen thief's, or more commonly known as seals (sorry did I say that out loud ) are full and back on their favourite part of the rock like fat spiders in sun, making it less likely for you to be harassed, and robbed by the Montague mafia.
Some nice sand and tiger flathead have been up for grabs lately, which up until recent days, have been the saviour of many fishing trips due to the island being more like a desert wasteland then the Kingfish capital it holds a reputation for.
BEACH AND ROCK: Lock stock and barrel, the fishing from the golden sands is as good as it gets for this time of year, as every species with scale, is on the menu. salmon, bream, tailor, whiting, mullet, and even the odd jewfish have been the fins on the leaders’ board.
Live worms are currently holding pole position in the bait department, while fresh pilchards and mullet fillets have proven their worth for the salmon, bream and the odd tailor.
Nippers, frozen beach worms (especially Andre’s super worms) and pippies have also had some reasonable success with the whiting and bream.
Best beaches without a doubt are Black Fellows (potato point), Brou Beach, 1080, Corunna (Honey Suckle) and Tilba (Cemetery Beach).
The good news is that the tides and moon are perfect for this arena this week, with early morning and late afternoon being the prime times, so make the most of it while the moon is shining.
LAKES, RIVERS AND INLETS: Across the grounds the fishing in our inland lakes is far from red hot, but most will produce a feed if you do your homework.
Working bait schools around tide changes will nearly always be your trump card, especially in Wagonga Inlet. I happen to fish Wagonga over the weekend and I can tell you if you find the bait schools then you’re already halfway there.
Barlows Bay, and opposite fresh water at the top of the inlets were the most productive areas, and produced a great variety of species such as Snapper up to 40cm, good size tailor, bream, flathead and if the gods are kind then the "holy grail" (jewfish) is always a good chance. (just ask Hippie who managed to score himself a 89cm silver slab on Sunday.
To my credit, I did tell him where to go for I marked them on the sounder on the previous day, but had no luck myself! Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it! ).
Just remember when working any bait schools, wether bait or lure it is important to match the hatch. Personally I don't think colour is as important as the profile, but the closer the match the more successful you'll be.
Wagonga also has a larger population of Luderick then New York city has people in the main channel from Lewis Island to the entrance. Best places to ambush these tasty weed eaters is generally along the rock walls or old jetties that hold little eddy's just out of the main current. Obviously weed is the best bait, but they have been known to take a liking to a well presented worm.
The other fishing craze happening in Wagonga at present is fishing for mullet.
Heaps of fun, and the little buggers are awesome to eat fresh or even better smoked. Bar beach, the hole in front of the pool, and the park at the end of the town wharf are great places to try, while dough, peeled prawn or worm, well presented on a small hook under a float are your VIP ticket to this ride.
Corunna Lake is producing a few flathead, although not in great numbers as previous years but the size is perfect for those wanting a fresh feed. Most Flathead found in Corunna will be 40cm +, with live poddies, nippers, prawns and soft plastics resembling these critters should bring home the bacon.
Mummaga Lake has produced some solid flathead over the past few months so it is a great lake to challenge your PB, as fish up to metre can be found here. There has also been a few Jewfish caught in here lately, so don't go in half-hearted with very light gear. This lake fishes well with Prawns and poddies, as well as small soft plastics and vibes.
Hope you all have an awesome week of fishing cheers Dash!
- Darren “Dash” Bowater, Narooma Ocean Hut Compleat Angler
STATLER & WALDORF ACHIEVE THE "HOLY GRAIL"
Ever wonder what happened to the two "Muppets" that use to sit up in the balcony, sarcastically judging all the other Muppets perform?
Well since their retirement many, many years ago Statler and Waldorf ( or better know locally as Fitzy and Wazza ) have taken up beach fishing as their number one hobby (or obsession some would say ).
Most days you can find these two misfits roaming the golden sands somewhere between Tilba and Bodalla either collecting their favored bait, being live worms. Or haunting a chosen suitable gutter with the recently collected worms. Most days Whiting, Bream, Salmon, Tailor and Flathead ( Wazza's Specialty) are the norm for these two ronnie's, who now spend most of their retired days throwing sarcastic comments at each other,( more often then baits thrown in the water ) while laughing at each others clumsiness, never taking life, or fishing for that matter to seriously.
The guy's often joked about one day hoping to reach the "holy grail" from the golden sands in the shape of a silver slab, Jewie, Mulloway, what ever you wish to call it, it is the pinnacle goal from the sands. Last Saturday not only did the dynamic duo reach the top of the tree once, but three times with in half hour, final score Statler ( Fitzy) 2, and Waldorf ( Wazza ) 1
Awesome effort guy's, love ya work! All three Jewfish were released to fight another day and had to sign a waiver on the location, but if you have a close look at the back ground I think you'll work it out! Cheers Dash.
