Narooma News fishing - Marlin mania
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ANOTHER fishing week on the South Coast, again the results have been bad, good and excellent.
The secret has been knowing what fish to chase, where and when.
Last weekend's Tollgates Classic Fishing Tournament results could only be described as breathtaking.
The fleet of 48 boats ventured out right along the South Coast with 178 fishers onboard, after the last couple of quiet years the fishers expectations weren’t overly high, although quite a few marlin had been caught in the two weeks leading up to the tournament.
By the time the bell was rung to finish the Tournament on Sunday, a total of 102 blue and striped marlin had been tagged, as well as a spearfish of 19kg. Some nice dolphinfish had also been landed up to 17kgs.
Of all the marlin caught, only two fish were actually bought in and weighed, one being a quality blue marlin of 162kg.
The remainder were tagged and released, the information to be obtained from this process will be invaluable to the management of these pelagic species.
Visiting boat crews to the area were very impressed with the assistance and guidance provided by local anglers, this cooperation certainly helped make the Tournament a great success for the organisers and participants.
Next weekend sees the 79th Annual Shimano/Bermagui Bait & Tackle Bluewater Classic offshore fishing competition run by Bermagui Big Game Anglers Club.
For information contact the secretary Ron De La Mare on 0428 244 955. Brochures, rules and entry forms are also available on the Bermagui Big Game Anglers Club website: www.bbgac.com.au
The Narooma Sport & Game Fishing Club has begun the process for the establishment of a FAD (Fish Aggregating Device) in local waters.
The FAD will be a floating buoy secured by a rope and chain to the sea floor.
FAD’s create a mini habitat which attracts all levels of the marine food chain. All the FADs off the NSW coast are funded and maintained by funds raised through the fishing licence.
At Montague Island, the kingfish have been very illusive, with only a handful of legal fish caught each day, local knowledge has been the determining factor, with charter boats and locals boating the best fish.
Local snapper catches for December and January have been down on previous years, best results have been obtained by fishers who anchor up on the edge of reef and berley.
After a great spring snapper run off Tuross, the Montague Island Summer run shouldn’t be far away.
Offshore flathead have also been very particular and sometimes frustrating, the grounds between Mystery Bay and the south end of the Sanctuary Zone have been the most consistent. Try a variety of baits, and when you find the flatties keep working that area.
Fishing Tip of the Week: The Narooma Bowlo Fishing Club has been conducting practical small group training sessions on the best techniques for catching beach worm, so far 12 participants have learned how to catch these illusive baits. For more information call Dave Clark on 0419 127 712.
Fishing Joke of the Week: A young man walking along the pier notices an old man with his shoes off, trouser legs rolled up, legs dangling in the sea and fishing with an imaginary rod.
Puzzled the young man asks, "What are you doing?"
The old man replies, "Fishing for fools."
"Sounds good. Can I join you?" replied the young man.
"Of course you can, pull up a pew son."
The young man sits down and casts an imaginary rod out, and then says, "So, how many fools have you caught today?"
The old man replies, "You're the third this morning.
Fishing Soap Box: Representatives of the Narooma Port Committee will be meeting with Greg Miller of Eurobodalla Shire Council on January 27 for an update on the Apex Park boat ramp upgrade. The outcome of this meeting will be featured in this column.
- John Moore
Moruya fishing report
Moruya River: The river has been fishing well considering the dirty water of late resulting from the rain. Down towards the front has been performing the best for predominantly flathead and bream, but with a few whiting, trevally and tailor thrown in, with results from around Quarry Wharf towards the Hole in the Wall. Bait of choice ranges from white bait, prawns, and freshly pumped nippers, with the most successful soft plastics being the Fuze Finbaits and Prawns, and the new Squidgy Prawns.
Tuross: Tuross is fishing well for flatties, with reports of fish up to 98 cm caught and released mainly down towards the front. Again soft plastics are hitting the mark, along with prawns and whitebait. Bream and whiting are being caught both down the front over Spud Point way, and bream up in the leases.
Rocks and Beaches: There has been some nice tailor being caught around the area, mainly being caught on salted pillies and Arma Metal Slices. Whiting and bream are also being caught in the gutters around the local area, with beach worms serving as the best bait for these guys. If it’s the salmon you’re after, they’re mainly being caught down around Pedro Point and along towards Goulburn Workers.
Offshore: Good numbers of snapper, flathead, mowies and gummy sharks are being caught out between Broulee and Tuross, mainly around 30 -50m of water. Marlin and bonito are being caught out around Moruya and Tuross Canyons, mainly on skirted lures.
Good luck to all competitors in the Tollgate Classic and remember: every day’s a good day for fishing!
- Graham Herbert, Tackle World Moruya
NSGFC hosts free Oz Day weekend fishing clinic
THE Narooma Sport and Gamefishing Club is hosting a free Australia Day weekend family fishing clinic.
It is bring your own fishing gear and it starts with tuition at the club on Friday, January 23 at 3pm.
Then on Saturday, January 24 the topic will be beach fishing with fishers gathering at the Narooma Sport and Gamefishing Club located next to The Inlet restaurant.
Everybody, adults and children, are welcome and lessons will be on how to tie knots, leaders etc., how to find bait, find fish etc., how to bait-up, what bait to use, etc and how to cast, fight fish etc.
You will have fun and remember BYO fishing gear.
The club is open from 4pm Friday and visitors are welcome.
The club facilities include a bar, cooking areas and meeting areas that are available to members and visitors.
- Jan Hemmingsen