Weekly report 16/07/07
Bill and Eric from Gabes Bait and Tackle would like to let everyone know that their shop is now located on the corner of the Prince Highway and Holt Road at Sylvania Heights. Their new phone number is (02) 9522 5100 and it would be definitely worth a trip over to their new shop to have a look at the great range of tackle they now have. For those of you that brought tackle and tackle at the old shop you will be pleasantly surprised to see that the new shop is now 3 times larger. So get over there and have a look for yourself.
Over the weekend I ventured out onto the Cooks River to chase a few yellowfin bream. I couldn’t believe it when I turned on my sounder and the screen read 11 degrees. I gave the sounder a tap as I thought it was broken, but no it was 11 degrees in about 1 to 2 metres of water and it was about 10.30am and the sun was on the water. No wonder there was no bream biting.
On the other hand Botany Bay has water temperature from 15 to 18 degrees, so to get amongst the fish you will need to find the warmer water. Silver trevally and yellowfin bream are being caught at Trevally Alley, the drums and the oil wharf. Best times have been on the run-out and the best baits have been peeled prawns, pilly tails and pink nippers.
The Port Hacking has plenty of luderick and leatherjackets. They are mainly feeding around the edges of the shoreline where it drops off a bit. Squid and whiting can also be caught in the channels. Estuary perch and Australian bass can be lured up in the back reaches of the Port.
Coalcliff and Stanwell Park rocks have been producing some great catches of drummer and silver trevally. There has also been a few yellowfin bream and tailor caught as well.
Darren from Bermagui Ocean Hut Fishing Tackle, Dive and Charter Fishing Service
mailto:%20(%20enquiries@bermifishinghut.com.au reports that the week there has been plenty of morwong on the Four and Six Mile Reefs as well as out wide from Goalen Head. The run of snapper still continues with some very nice fish of up to 4kg. These fish have been taken in the same areas as the morwong plus there is a variety of other species with the Jackets still seemingly quiet. Due to the offshore winds out wide the sea conditions have been very rough not allowing anglers a chance, however a couple of boats did venture out and hooked a couple of Southern Blue Fin Tuna which where not landed. Water temps are still around 17 - 18 deg. and we suspect there should be still yellowfin and albacore mixed in with the Bluefin, plus a very strong chance of sharks in burley trails.
The water colour is improving in the rivers and lakes resulting in a few more fish being taken. For the kids there are silver trevally, yellowtail and mullet in the Harbour. Blackfish seem to be moving back into the Bermi system, which are being taken on Cabbage Weed and there has been some nice bream at the entrance of both Wallaga and Cuttagee Lakes.
Offshore winds have allowed angler’s access to both the Rocks and the Beaches. From the stones there are plenty of drummer, a few groper, yellowfin bream and silver trevally which have been stirred by the rough weather. Australian salmon and tailor are also around both from the rocks and the beaches. There are some good yellowfin bream and mullet moving along the beaches with most of them holding their share of fish.
Recent rain in the mountains has meant the water levels have risen in the impoundments. Shore based fishing has improved with both rainbows and browns being taken on worms and Powerbait. Trolling is still very good for both Eucumbene and especially Jindabyne, in which levels are rising quicker than other dams.
If you are planing a trip down Darren’s way check out his web site at http://bermifishinghut.com.au/aboutus.htm You could also give Darren and the boys a ring on (02) 6493 4688 to find out what is coming up in the next week or so.
Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that conditions improved a little at the end of last week so our holidaymakers could fish without being blown of their rock. Blackfish are here and there in big numbers. These hard-fighting tasty fish are along the north and south breakwalls biting on green weed and cabbage in moving water. It is shoulder to shoulder around the Jew Bite at the moment with most fish well over legal. Good bream are on the bite in the river and some are cracker fish. Shez from Woy Woy hooked one well over a kilo on her favourite bream bait, blackfish gut.
Local James got among the trevally on the end of the wall with the best going around 4kg. A few tailor are making their way into the river, good fun on light gear. Bream have slowed down off the rocks but tailor are about in good numbers. Good reports from Hat Head coming in as well. Fishing the beaches has been good with the run of blue nose whiting continuing off Smoky on worms and pipis. There have been a few tailor of the beach with the odd bream.
Not much is happening outside mainly due to the windy conditions. Terry Adey and his crew from Lake Macquarie have fished Grassy and Scotts in about 30m for some quality snapper with the best going a brutal 9 kilos using pilchards. Leatherjackets are still in masses out past 30m.
We should know within weeks if the radical decision by the Conservation Council to close Fish Rock and Green Island to all forms of fishing is a disappointing reality. Let’s hope sanity prevails. There is a meeting on the 21st July at Kempsey RSL at 4pm to protest against this, all are welcome. For daily reports and special call Paul on (02) 6566 6726.
Steve Williamson from Lake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Adventures reports that worms off the bottom and a power bait dropper will be the best middle of the day. Bardi grubs are also good. Mudeyes haven’t been too bad if you fish in the night. The orange, lemon and lime twist ‘Powerbait’ have been the best flavours however the rainbow nuggets have also been good. Best areas for bait fishing at the moment have been, ‘ Stinky Bay’, ‘Wollondibby Inlet’ (deeper water), ‘Curiosity Rocks bay’, ‘ Creel Bay’ and ‘ Rushes Bay’. The ‘Claypits’ is still fishing well also.
Spinning
The rivers and streams have low water at the moment and the fish are very spooky the storms have put a little more colour into the Thredbo River so that might improve over the next week. Best spinning is now on the lakes and even Island Bend pondage and Guthega pondage have been fishing OK. Minnow lures are still the favourite with anglers at the moment. Rainbow and brown trout patterns are always favourite colours in the following lure brands but these other colours are also worth trying. Baby Merlins in BM5, 6 and 18. Sinking Rapala’s in the perch pattern. Legends in any colour that has red and orange in it. Stump jumpers in colours 42 and 43. Rebel Crickhopper in orange or yellow colours.
Spinning on the lake, it is best to fish early in the day. Spin close around rocky outcrops for best results during in the day and use smaller lures like ‘Celtas’ or ‘Gillies Spinners’ around the shallow bays after dark. The best lake lures have been ‘Tasmanian Devils’ in number 48 ‘Brown Bomber’ and number 26 ‘Yellowwings’ as well as the ‘yellowwing 23 sparkler Tassie Devil. Minnow lures are also producing some nice big brown trout but you will need to find the yabby banks to get these fish. The best lures have been Rainbow trout and the Black and gold Rapala.
Those of you that fish Lake Jindabyne will know that there are some small ‘goldfish’ in the lake and if you ever catch big brown trout you can also bet that they are often eating the goldfish. The goldfish start to breed over the next month and so the trout will be on the look out for these little fish. The ‘River to Sea Baby Vibe 35’ is a good imitation and the colours that are best are the HA09 or the HA12. Well worth spinning with these lures especially in bays like ‘Wollondibby Inlet’, ‘Widows Creek’ and ‘Mill Creek Inlet’ and ‘Rushes Bay’ to name a few.
Dry fly action on the warmer evenings has been good with Mayfly, beetles, white moths and hoppers about in abundance the last couple of days. Middle of the day fishing has been harder with all the hot weather. Nymphs fished through the faster runs in the middle of the ‘hotter days’ is producing some small rainbows and browns but the trick with fly fishing in the faster water is to make sure the fly is on the bottom and you may need weighted flies or maybe even a sinking leader. There is also a big advantage in using a sinking ‘fluorocarbon’ leader at least.
The smaller streams have been hard with the low water level and some of the better fishing has been on the lower Mowambah (Moonbah) river early or late in the day. The streams are very testing in the hot weather in the middle of the days. Up in the high country when fishing the alpine streams, small size 12 yellow ‘Humpies’ have been excellent and ‘White Wulff’, hopper and beetle patterns are also flies worth having on hand.
The lake has been fishing well and the early morning and late night fishing has been best. Best flies have been green/olive nymphs or stick caddis patterns in the shallows early and late and if fishing into the night, you can’t go past a black Woolley Bugger or a ‘Williamson’s Gold Fish’ around the creek mouths and shallow bays. Try adding a little ‘glow bead’ in front of the fly when fishing nights but don’t forget to ‘charge up’ the bead with a torch as the fluorescence will help attract the fish to your fly.
For more information on the latest fishing conditions, please call into –
STEVE WILLIAMSON’S TACKLE SHOP
Shop 1 Snowline Centre, Kosciusko Road Jindabyne 2627
Fishing Charters – Bait and Tackle Supplies- Marine Supplies
E-mail mailto:sw-trout@snowy.net.au
Shop – (02) 64 561551 Fax – (02) 64 561342
Pambula / Merimbula Fishing Report.
Steve has also started up fishing classes offering fishing lessons and tuition at Pambula on the south coast based at 'Holiday Hub Beach Resort'. Shortly we will also be offering the same tuition at Wallaga Lake and Eden. Barry Hein who works for 'Steve Williamson's Fishing Adventures' is a local to Merimbula and fishes the area regularly. I have also been fishing down on the South Coast for the last 10 years and have experience in areas from Narooma to Eden. Together Barry and Steve, with help from other locals, are now offering up to date fishing reports for the south coast as well. These reports are formulated from our own personal experiences and with input from local tackle shops.
Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports that off the rocks, drummer numbers remain well above average with pretty well all local ledges continuing to produce well. The better fish however continue to be taken from the ledges south of Port although a trip north too should prove worthwhile. Morning and evening sessions are also yielding some stud bream, with tailor strips proving the bait of choice. Tailor numbers and quality remain solid with Lighthouse producing well locally. Big Hill, Plommer and Crescent Head as usual are also fishing particularly well. Blackfish numbers have been excellent, with Shelley’s, Nobby’s and Miners all producing some top bronzies to well over a kilo.
Now is certainly the time to float a bit of cabbage around the washes, with this style of luderick fishing certainly a class above standard estuary fare when it comes to excitement, particularly with the ever present drummer being quite partial to a stray piece of cabbage. Just make sure you take a spare float or two.
Off the beaches, just when the seas had begun to settle, this weeks large swells have somewhat upset the applecart for the time being. With excellent tides now upon us, the more protected corners of most beaches should be well worth investigating. Before the seas rose, both north beach and lighthouse were producing some excellent bream and big late season whiting. Worms and pipis have proven the morsels of choice. Tailor have been reasonable with north beach producing the better results although by and large results are below expectations. Good news however with a few stray mulloway beginning to show up on north beach after an extended absence. If the seas settle, this coming week could be well worth soaking a worm or tailor slab in search of one these big silver critters. On the flip side, salmon numbers are now outweighing the palatable species, and the coming months could prove frustrating if the volume of fish my southern spies have seen indeed arrive to our part of the coast.
In the estuary, blackfish numbers continue to be excellent with the break walls continuing to provide the bulk of the action. The quality of fish remains above average with plenty of kilo plus specimens on offer. Flathead numbers remain quite good despite the water cooling, with whitebait and lures achieving the better results. Bream numbers too remain excellent, and with no moon and good tides at present, the action from the lower reaches should remain first class. The diehard crabbers are still reporting some nice muddies and a few blue swimmers about, so don’t discount the traps or dillies simply on account of calendar.
For outside fishos, the leather jacket swarms have now well and truly arrived, with considerable loss of terminal tackle now a common complaint. Best bet is to fish closer than the 40 meter mark if you wish to avoid them, otherwise ensure there is plenty of wire on board. Those who managed to avoid the jackets report snapper and pearl perch numbers are excellent, particularly on the closer reefs off Plommer.
When you are next up in Port Macquarie call into the shop and have a look at their great selection of tackle and bait they have on offer. You could also ask Jason and Virginia for their daily report on what’s happening on the fishing front. Call them on (02) 6583 8318.
Bill and Eric from Gabes Bait and Tackle would like to let everyone know that their shop is now located on the corner of the Prince Highway and Holt Road at Sylvania Heights. Their new phone number is (02) 9522 5100 and it would be definitely worth a trip over to their new shop to have a look at the great range of tackle they now have. For those of you that brought tackle and tackle at the old shop you will be pleasantly surprised to see that the new shop is now 3 times larger. So get over there and have a look for yourself.
Over the weekend I ventured out onto the Cooks River to chase a few yellowfin bream. I couldn’t believe it when I turned on my sounder and the screen read 11 degrees. I gave the sounder a tap as I thought it was broken, but no it was 11 degrees in about 1 to 2 metres of water and it was about 10.30am and the sun was on the water. No wonder there was no bream biting.
On the other hand Botany Bay has water temperature from 15 to 18 degrees, so to get amongst the fish you will need to find the warmer water. Silver trevally and yellowfin bream are being caught at Trevally Alley, the drums and the oil wharf. Best times have been on the run-out and the best baits have been peeled prawns, pilly tails and pink nippers.
The Port Hacking has plenty of luderick and leatherjackets. They are mainly feeding around the edges of the shoreline where it drops off a bit. Squid and whiting can also be caught in the channels. Estuary perch and Australian bass can be lured up in the back reaches of the Port.
Coalcliff and Stanwell Park rocks have been producing some great catches of drummer and silver trevally. There has also been a few yellowfin bream and tailor caught as well.
Darren from Bermagui Ocean Hut Fishing Tackle, Dive and Charter Fishing Service
mailto:%20(%20enquiries@bermifishinghut.com.au reports that the week there has been plenty of morwong on the Four and Six Mile Reefs as well as out wide from Goalen Head. The run of snapper still continues with some very nice fish of up to 4kg. These fish have been taken in the same areas as the morwong plus there is a variety of other species with the Jackets still seemingly quiet. Due to the offshore winds out wide the sea conditions have been very rough not allowing anglers a chance, however a couple of boats did venture out and hooked a couple of Southern Blue Fin Tuna which where not landed. Water temps are still around 17 - 18 deg. and we suspect there should be still yellowfin and albacore mixed in with the Bluefin, plus a very strong chance of sharks in burley trails.
The water colour is improving in the rivers and lakes resulting in a few more fish being taken. For the kids there are silver trevally, yellowtail and mullet in the Harbour. Blackfish seem to be moving back into the Bermi system, which are being taken on Cabbage Weed and there has been some nice bream at the entrance of both Wallaga and Cuttagee Lakes.
Offshore winds have allowed angler’s access to both the Rocks and the Beaches. From the stones there are plenty of drummer, a few groper, yellowfin bream and silver trevally which have been stirred by the rough weather. Australian salmon and tailor are also around both from the rocks and the beaches. There are some good yellowfin bream and mullet moving along the beaches with most of them holding their share of fish.
Recent rain in the mountains has meant the water levels have risen in the impoundments. Shore based fishing has improved with both rainbows and browns being taken on worms and Powerbait. Trolling is still very good for both Eucumbene and especially Jindabyne, in which levels are rising quicker than other dams.
If you are planing a trip down Darren’s way check out his web site at http://bermifishinghut.com.au/aboutus.htm You could also give Darren and the boys a ring on (02) 6493 4688 to find out what is coming up in the next week or so.
Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that conditions improved a little at the end of last week so our holidaymakers could fish without being blown of their rock. Blackfish are here and there in big numbers. These hard-fighting tasty fish are along the north and south breakwalls biting on green weed and cabbage in moving water. It is shoulder to shoulder around the Jew Bite at the moment with most fish well over legal. Good bream are on the bite in the river and some are cracker fish. Shez from Woy Woy hooked one well over a kilo on her favourite bream bait, blackfish gut.
Local James got among the trevally on the end of the wall with the best going around 4kg. A few tailor are making their way into the river, good fun on light gear. Bream have slowed down off the rocks but tailor are about in good numbers. Good reports from Hat Head coming in as well. Fishing the beaches has been good with the run of blue nose whiting continuing off Smoky on worms and pipis. There have been a few tailor of the beach with the odd bream.
Not much is happening outside mainly due to the windy conditions. Terry Adey and his crew from Lake Macquarie have fished Grassy and Scotts in about 30m for some quality snapper with the best going a brutal 9 kilos using pilchards. Leatherjackets are still in masses out past 30m.
We should know within weeks if the radical decision by the Conservation Council to close Fish Rock and Green Island to all forms of fishing is a disappointing reality. Let’s hope sanity prevails. There is a meeting on the 21st July at Kempsey RSL at 4pm to protest against this, all are welcome. For daily reports and special call Paul on (02) 6566 6726.
Steve Williamson from Lake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Adventures reports that worms off the bottom and a power bait dropper will be the best middle of the day. Bardi grubs are also good. Mudeyes haven’t been too bad if you fish in the night. The orange, lemon and lime twist ‘Powerbait’ have been the best flavours however the rainbow nuggets have also been good. Best areas for bait fishing at the moment have been, ‘ Stinky Bay’, ‘Wollondibby Inlet’ (deeper water), ‘Curiosity Rocks bay’, ‘ Creel Bay’ and ‘ Rushes Bay’. The ‘Claypits’ is still fishing well also.
Spinning
The rivers and streams have low water at the moment and the fish are very spooky the storms have put a little more colour into the Thredbo River so that might improve over the next week. Best spinning is now on the lakes and even Island Bend pondage and Guthega pondage have been fishing OK. Minnow lures are still the favourite with anglers at the moment. Rainbow and brown trout patterns are always favourite colours in the following lure brands but these other colours are also worth trying. Baby Merlins in BM5, 6 and 18. Sinking Rapala’s in the perch pattern. Legends in any colour that has red and orange in it. Stump jumpers in colours 42 and 43. Rebel Crickhopper in orange or yellow colours.
Spinning on the lake, it is best to fish early in the day. Spin close around rocky outcrops for best results during in the day and use smaller lures like ‘Celtas’ or ‘Gillies Spinners’ around the shallow bays after dark. The best lake lures have been ‘Tasmanian Devils’ in number 48 ‘Brown Bomber’ and number 26 ‘Yellowwings’ as well as the ‘yellowwing 23 sparkler Tassie Devil. Minnow lures are also producing some nice big brown trout but you will need to find the yabby banks to get these fish. The best lures have been Rainbow trout and the Black and gold Rapala.
Those of you that fish Lake Jindabyne will know that there are some small ‘goldfish’ in the lake and if you ever catch big brown trout you can also bet that they are often eating the goldfish. The goldfish start to breed over the next month and so the trout will be on the look out for these little fish. The ‘River to Sea Baby Vibe 35’ is a good imitation and the colours that are best are the HA09 or the HA12. Well worth spinning with these lures especially in bays like ‘Wollondibby Inlet’, ‘Widows Creek’ and ‘Mill Creek Inlet’ and ‘Rushes Bay’ to name a few.
Dry fly action on the warmer evenings has been good with Mayfly, beetles, white moths and hoppers about in abundance the last couple of days. Middle of the day fishing has been harder with all the hot weather. Nymphs fished through the faster runs in the middle of the ‘hotter days’ is producing some small rainbows and browns but the trick with fly fishing in the faster water is to make sure the fly is on the bottom and you may need weighted flies or maybe even a sinking leader. There is also a big advantage in using a sinking ‘fluorocarbon’ leader at least.
The smaller streams have been hard with the low water level and some of the better fishing has been on the lower Mowambah (Moonbah) river early or late in the day. The streams are very testing in the hot weather in the middle of the days. Up in the high country when fishing the alpine streams, small size 12 yellow ‘Humpies’ have been excellent and ‘White Wulff’, hopper and beetle patterns are also flies worth having on hand.
The lake has been fishing well and the early morning and late night fishing has been best. Best flies have been green/olive nymphs or stick caddis patterns in the shallows early and late and if fishing into the night, you can’t go past a black Woolley Bugger or a ‘Williamson’s Gold Fish’ around the creek mouths and shallow bays. Try adding a little ‘glow bead’ in front of the fly when fishing nights but don’t forget to ‘charge up’ the bead with a torch as the fluorescence will help attract the fish to your fly.
For more information on the latest fishing conditions, please call into –
STEVE WILLIAMSON’S TACKLE SHOP
Shop 1 Snowline Centre, Kosciusko Road Jindabyne 2627
Fishing Charters – Bait and Tackle Supplies- Marine Supplies
E-mail mailto:sw-trout@snowy.net.au
Shop – (02) 64 561551 Fax – (02) 64 561342
Pambula / Merimbula Fishing Report.
Steve has also started up fishing classes offering fishing lessons and tuition at Pambula on the south coast based at 'Holiday Hub Beach Resort'. Shortly we will also be offering the same tuition at Wallaga Lake and Eden. Barry Hein who works for 'Steve Williamson's Fishing Adventures' is a local to Merimbula and fishes the area regularly. I have also been fishing down on the South Coast for the last 10 years and have experience in areas from Narooma to Eden. Together Barry and Steve, with help from other locals, are now offering up to date fishing reports for the south coast as well. These reports are formulated from our own personal experiences and with input from local tackle shops.
Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports that off the rocks, drummer numbers remain well above average with pretty well all local ledges continuing to produce well. The better fish however continue to be taken from the ledges south of Port although a trip north too should prove worthwhile. Morning and evening sessions are also yielding some stud bream, with tailor strips proving the bait of choice. Tailor numbers and quality remain solid with Lighthouse producing well locally. Big Hill, Plommer and Crescent Head as usual are also fishing particularly well. Blackfish numbers have been excellent, with Shelley’s, Nobby’s and Miners all producing some top bronzies to well over a kilo.
Now is certainly the time to float a bit of cabbage around the washes, with this style of luderick fishing certainly a class above standard estuary fare when it comes to excitement, particularly with the ever present drummer being quite partial to a stray piece of cabbage. Just make sure you take a spare float or two.
Off the beaches, just when the seas had begun to settle, this weeks large swells have somewhat upset the applecart for the time being. With excellent tides now upon us, the more protected corners of most beaches should be well worth investigating. Before the seas rose, both north beach and lighthouse were producing some excellent bream and big late season whiting. Worms and pipis have proven the morsels of choice. Tailor have been reasonable with north beach producing the better results although by and large results are below expectations. Good news however with a few stray mulloway beginning to show up on north beach after an extended absence. If the seas settle, this coming week could be well worth soaking a worm or tailor slab in search of one these big silver critters. On the flip side, salmon numbers are now outweighing the palatable species, and the coming months could prove frustrating if the volume of fish my southern spies have seen indeed arrive to our part of the coast.
In the estuary, blackfish numbers continue to be excellent with the break walls continuing to provide the bulk of the action. The quality of fish remains above average with plenty of kilo plus specimens on offer. Flathead numbers remain quite good despite the water cooling, with whitebait and lures achieving the better results. Bream numbers too remain excellent, and with no moon and good tides at present, the action from the lower reaches should remain first class. The diehard crabbers are still reporting some nice muddies and a few blue swimmers about, so don’t discount the traps or dillies simply on account of calendar.
For outside fishos, the leather jacket swarms have now well and truly arrived, with considerable loss of terminal tackle now a common complaint. Best bet is to fish closer than the 40 meter mark if you wish to avoid them, otherwise ensure there is plenty of wire on board. Those who managed to avoid the jackets report snapper and pearl perch numbers are excellent, particularly on the closer reefs off Plommer.
When you are next up in Port Macquarie call into the shop and have a look at their great selection of tackle and bait they have on offer. You could also ask Jason and Virginia for their daily report on what’s happening on the fishing front. Call them on (02) 6583 8318.
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