After the rain, there have been some great catches at the estuary entrances. Young Olivia Dudley on Sunday caught a cracker 46cm bream in Dalmeny lake. She sure did release it, and she caught it on a prawn. Well done Olivia! And not to be outdone, her brother Travis the very next day caught and released a similarly nice 44cm bream, also on a prawn.
Tilba fisherman Ron Snape said the fresh influx had pushed a lot of fish and crabs toward the mouths of the closed estuaries. His wife Tralee fishing a local lake got a cracker 43cm bream taken on a grub-style soft plastic, along with five smaller ones and three good flathead.
The recent big seas have also carved some good gutters on the beaches for salmon and tailor. Inshore and off the rocks there have been some good squid about. The kingfish remain hit-and-miss with some absolute monsters making an appearance last week for some lucky clients on Narooma charter boats. It was one of the best kingfish bites of the year, with not one fish under the meter mark with a few fish up to 118cm and 13kgs. But it was rats again on the weekend.
We have a heartwarming story about retired carpenter Pekka Rantanen and his wife Anna having their faith in the community restored after their fishing gear was stolen. Anthony Stokman, proprietor of Compleat Angler Batemans Bay, and the Tomakin Fishing Club wasted no time organising to replace their stolen fishing equipment. Click here for more
Graham at Tackle World Moruya let us know with the moon up big and bright, and the nighttime surface fishing under the bridge is on fire! Good size estuary perch and bream have been landed with some larger models absolutely dusting a few anglers on the narley structure that surrounds. Whiting have been hanging around with beach worms and pipis proving to be the best bait at the moment.
On the Tuross River, while numbers of fish being caught are high, the sizes have been average. Bream have been plentiful in the racks using soft plastics. Whiting are on the bite of a high tide around the Turlinjah area and the four ways, flicking in the more shallow areas on surface lures and bait.
Flathead are throughout the system on soft plastics. With the big moon at the moment there are sure to be some Jews lurking around in the deeper sections of the river near the boatshed. Live bait such as poddy mullet will put you in with a good chance if you pick the tide right.
The rocks and beaches have been fishing extremely well lately. Big salmon and tailor on pillies all up and down the coast. Metal slices are also working. South Broulee in particular seems to be fishing very well with good reports of tailor, bonito and the odd kingie getting around.
NSGFC report: Karen and David Maltby, a couple of newer member at Narooma Sport and Game Fishing Club, had some success with a nice kingfish each, caught on Saturday morning at Montague Island. There were many small kingfish were landed and released, the seals were hungry taking a few off their hooked fish. Bonito, frigate mackerel and mahi mahi were also caught during the morning's fish. Club member Bob Hirs meanwhile has done it again with a nice 8.5kg snapper down at Lakes Entrance.
The NSGFC is hosting its Junior Fishing Clinic on Thursday, April 13 at the clubhouse, 25 Riverview Drive, Narooma from 8am till 12noon. It will feature activities for 6 to 14 year olds include bait gathering, knot tying, rigging and learning to cast and fish on the flats. Cost is $20 and includes lunch, with rods and reels supplied. Only 20 places available. Contact Jan on 0412 100 596 to book and ensure a place.
You can have dinner on any Friday evening in the clubhouse, with everyone encouraged to bring a steak for the barbecue, something to heat in the kitchen or perhaps a pizza to put in the pizza oven. Lots of options so please consider coming and joining us for drinks and a chat. – Jan Hemmingsen
Stan Gorton
Walkley-nominated journalist based at The Islander on Kangaroo Island with an interest in the local community and the environment.
Walkley-nominated journalist based at The Islander on Kangaroo Island with an interest in the local community and the environment.
