A great marlin bite off Bermagui is happening this week with plenty of bait ball action and some boats managing multiple fish at the 12-Mile Reef. A couple fishing solo even managed tagging 4 fish each.
Some great sized salmon coming out of the surf around Bermagui and Tilba too.
Kingfish have been slower at Montague Island with just smaller rats encountered earlier this week with the odd keeper thrown in.
Paul Kane of North Narooma had the pleasure of taking his granddaughter Tiona fishing for kingfish at the island on the weekend with her father Michael Kane, both from Canberra.
“The very early start on Saturday to catch live bait was always going to be a challenge for a 15 year old,” he wrote us. “However Tiona was rewarded with her first kingfish. In fact she ended the morning's session with eight undersized rats, one beautiful snapper and several morwong.
“She is now ‘hooked’ on fishing and has plans to do it again - hopefully catching a legal kingie the next time!”
Well done Tiona and good on you grandpa for taking her fishing and don’t worry, reports are that the kingfish remained scarce at the island all week!
There are still reports of pesky leatherjackets around but those finding a clear patch were able to get to the bottom and get some nice sand flathead.
Canberra holidaymaker Jack Wyeth managed a beaut 90cm flathead on the Clyde River on Ecooda 70mm Shad hard-body lure. He was using his trusty Nitro distance spin 2-4kg rod and a Shimano Nasci 2500 reel. The fish was released after being measured and a few photos taken.
Up at the Moruya River, there have been good sized estuary perch and bream landed with some larger models absolutely dusting a few anglers on the gnarly structure that surrounds.
Flathead have been caught from the hospital rocks through to Preddys wharf. Baits such as prawns, pilchards and poddy mullet have also produced some good flathead in the same areas. Bream have been caught flicking Cranka crabs along the rock wall particularly near the backwaters entrance.
Whiting have been hanging around with beach worms and pipis proving to be the best bait at the moment. On the Tuross River, numbers of fish being caught are high, the sizes have been average. Bream have been plentiful in the racks using soft plastics.
For the bait fishermen - prawns, worms and live nippers have also been catching some good fish. 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, soft plastics like the Juro fire bait and Gulp. Swimming mullet proving to work the best this week.
With the big moon at the moment there are sure to be some jewfish 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 around Moruya 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.
Some good kingfish have started to move in just off Pedro Point and South Broulee. The Congo side of Pedro point is fishing well for pan size reds, get right in close 6-7 metres of water.
Narooma Sport and Gamefishing Club
Once again we had successful junior fishing clinic with a great bunch of kids. The all enjoyed the experience and some fish caught were large enough to take proudly home. We will be running another clinic this week on Thursday from 8am to 12noon and there are still some places available. 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 per day. Bookings are essential. Contact Jan Hemmingsen 0412 100 596. Juniors need to bring hats, sunscreen and a towel. 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 club’s pizza oven. – Jan
The Bermagui Country Club Social Anglers’ Club having postponed the fishing competition over Easter, will be meeting up this Sunday, April 23 at 12.30pm for the popular barbecue. Winners of the fishing comp will be announced at the get-together. WISHIN’ to go FISHIN’
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.
