Kingfish central at Narooma continues
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
BREAKING NEWS: Just spoke to Wazza Stubbs from Lighthouse Charters and the kingfish at Montague Island continue to fire this Wednesday morning with big fish after big fish.
Yesterday Wazza, and his crew including brother Col who was out for a play day killed it again.
“Kingfish were on fire today at Montague Island, bagging out by 9am with 35 fish and another 20 or so released!” Wazz reported – now for the rest of this week’s fishing report:
OFFSHORE fishing at Narooma can be described in one word at the moment – kingfish!
When the boats have been able to get offshore the kingfish fishing has been excellent, with medium sized kings taking trolled lures and live baits.
Charter boats on Monday had bagged out by 8.30am while one professional fisherman reported getting 1200kg in two days!
Strong southerly winds from Friday to Sunday kept many boats off the water, with the few who ventured out to Montague Island rewarded with bags of kings from 3 to 7kgs.
Again the seals were a problem, fishers reported that some seals weren't eating the kingfish off the lines, but were just killing them and coming back to play again - most annoying.
NSW Fisheries need to look at the way the kingfish fishery is managed, the increase in commercial fishing effort at Montague Island is unjust for the local pro fishos and represents a massive increase in commercial effort in the kingfish fishery for reduced returns in the long run.
If the long-term viability of kingfish in NSW is threatened it is simply due to poor management.
There have been dolphinfish (mahi mahi) about 500mts east of Montague Island, for best results simply troll small skirted lures from the Sanctuary Zone boundary in a grid pattern, troll at around 6-7 knots and have your lures at varying distances from the boat.
Once you work out where you are getting the strikes then set your lures accordingly.
Also there are plenty of undersize dolphinfish (<60cm) there at the moment, but some good fish as well.
Last week's boating incident on the bar should serve as a reminder that boaters need to be vigilant at all times when crossing ocean bars, this incident simply shouldn't have happened.
The Narooma bar has a bad enough reputation without this type of incident happening.
Tip of the week: Keep your reels out of the sun when not in use, most fishing mono line and braid is not UV resistant, and will deteriorate - resulting in snapped lines and lost fish.
In the estuaries, Corunna has been firing over recent days with fishermen losing count of the dusky flathead they catch and release.
The water is dark, so one good strategy in these conditions is to use a lighter coloured soft plastic that stands out in the gloom.
Scotty at Bermi Bait & Tackle reports there were plenty of boats out on Monday morning with a few hooked up to a marlin. A lot of bait on the 6 and 12 Mile reefs and a couple of dolphinfish landed as well.
Dash at the Narooma Ocean Hut Compleat Angler meanwhile reports that the beaches and rocks having going off with all the local rain and run-off attracting some good fish – even Jewies.
Interestingly, Dash recommends using dark lures in murky water, which just goes to show every fisho has his own theory!
Narooma Bowlo Fishing Club report
IT was not the weather that dampened the spirits of the Bowlo fishos but the fact that the popular president Dave Clark had suffered horrendous injuries after falling from a ladder whilst picking fruit from his olive tree.
Dave is currently in Canberra hospital awaiting yet another operation. The family is devastated and all the fisho members send their best wishes to Dave, Karen and Renae hoping for a speedy recovery. Visiting is restricted at this stage.
However life goes on and despite the rain of the weekend there were some good fish caught with Anthony Hicks taking out the Ocean Hut Voucher, Max Favel winning the Narooma Meat Centre voucher.
Moya Hicks won the Highest point scoring Lady. Randel Setzer was the winner of the Complete Angler Voucher and wife Brenda made up the Quinella taking the most species voucher.
Gary Landells also had a smile on his face after being awarded heaviest fish with a very fine whiting.
Due to the inclement weather there were no offshore entrants for the Kingfisher Marine and Automotive voucher.
We thank our sponsors and the board and management of Club Narooma who all contribute to the success of the “Bowlo Fishos”!
We take this opportunity to welcome new Members Stan and Anna Bordiuk, June Cox, Pat and Barbara McNamara and Miodrag Ugljesic.
New members are always welcome with a great barbecue on the first Sunday of the month on completion of the competition weigh-in starting at 1pm. Thanks to Alan and Michelle Simpson for their fine effort with the barbecue this week.
- Smithy (standing in for Fish Fingers)
Old 4 New Lifejacket Upgrade
THIS summer the Old 4 New Lifejacket Upgrade van will be visiting boat ramps throughout NSW, with experienced staff on hand to talk to you about lifejackets.
The van will be making over 100 visits to popular boating locations across NSW, so look out as we’ll be coming to a boat ramp near you.
Lifejackets have moved with the times and are now much more advanced than they used to be.
One of the main aims of the Old 4 New Lifejacket Upgrade initiative is to showcase the range of new generation lifejackets, which are slim fitting and comfortable to wear for any type of on-water activity.
The Old 4 New initiative will help continue to drive home the message of wearing a lifejacket when you’re out on the water, especially when in smaller boats and vessels.
Many boaters don’t realise that over the past decade nine out of 10 people who drowned while boating weren’t wearing lifejackets.
Accidents can happen so we need people to get in the right habit of putting on a lifejacket each time they go boating.
The Old 4 New Lifejacket Upgrade site visits will be at Moruya and Narooma on Sunday, April 20: 6.30am to 9.30am - Town Wharf, Rotary Park, Moruya and 2pm to 5pm - Apex Park, Narooma.
On Friday, April 25 they will be at Boat Harbour, Bermagui from 6.30am to 9.30am and from 2pm to 5pm Nelson Parade, Tuross Lake, Tuross Head.