WEEKLY REPORT 3/07/07

Last weekend Carl Dubois had thought about chasing yellowfin bream in the Cooks River, but those thoughts were dashed when he saw the colour of the water on Friday. It was still muddy, murky, full of logs and other debris and recalling previous lack-lustre attempts when the water was like this, he decided to give it a miss. Luckily for him, as he managed to get two more kingfish while using soft plastics over near the oil refinery at Silver Beach.

Within three casts Carl managed 3 tailor. Not long after that he boated a 72cm kingfish. Not to be out done Carl then managed to pull in a PB kingfish of 75cm’s. Not bad from a kayak. Scotty Lyons was on the other side of the bay pulling in a few yellowfin bream at the end of the third runway, the drums, Monoilex Point and on the western side of Bare Island. He has also been jigging up a few dusky flathead off Brighton and Dolls Point.

At the same time that Carl was fishing in Botany Bay I was chasing yellowfin bream in the Port Hacking. The main area I was targeting was anywhere there was a pontoon that had a bit of current running under it. In three hours I caught 5 yellowfin bream. They range from a 36cm, 1 kilo to a 25cm 330 gram fish. All were caught on Berkley Camo sand worms and 1/20 once TT Jig Heads.

This hairtail was caught while spinning with a Tropic Angler hard bodied lure.

I don’t have much else to report from Sydney this week, but now that I have a few days off work I will be out there getting amongst a few fish.

Darren from Bermagui Ocean Hut Fishing Tackle, Dive and Charter Fishing Service
mailto:%20(%20enquiries@bermifishinghut.com.au reports that last weekend allowed anglers a chance to go offshore and do some reef fishing. The only reports to come back was of some excellent snapper on the bottom end of the Four Mile Reef. These fish where taken on the drift and where fish up to 3 kg averaging 2 kg. There were also some morwong and ocean Perch also taken.

Last weekend quite a few southern bluefin tuna were encountered out over the 1000 fathoms with the best going 75 kg and a couple of better ones beating the anglers. Albacore where still there in reasonable numbers, as where a few yellowfin tuna, but we will have to wait and see what happens after the weather has settled down.

Due to the mini floods being experienced around Bermi at present fishing in the estuaries is likely to be difficult over the next week. Tailor may be an option around the edge of the dirty water at the entrance to Bermi Harbour; however Darren doesn’t expect fishing to be any good until the flood waters clear slightly. Now virtually all lakes and rivers are open to the ocean, this will mean good fishing in spring and the summer months.

Another Tropic Angler skirted lure was the undoing of this fish.

Strong winds, rain and big seas have really disrupted the fishing on the rocks as well as the beach. Once conditions settle down the rock fishing should be excellent and the drummer should be on the chew in good numbers. Hopefully we will see some good gutters created on the beaches and now with a couple of our lakes that have opened to the ocean fishing adjacent to these may be very good.

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 the it would be great to get a break in the weather with westerlies or southerlies blowing up the river or picking the swell up so outside fishing is uncomfortable. The only reports Paul has had this week have been off Grassy Head in close about 30 meters protected from the westerlies. Snapper are being caught up to around 3 kilo. A few guys have fished Fish Rock for a few kingfish and some hungry bonito. If you are heading down south it’s worth dragging some lures out the back of the boat for some of those big Green Back tailor.

If you haven’t already, dust off your blackfish gear because there on the bite in the river along the Breakwall. Most guys are fishing the end of the wall so it can be shoulder to shoulder. Good numbers are also being caught around the wire fence on a run in tide while at this stage there have been no reports of any blackfish further up river. Good yellowfin bream are also on the bite along the walls with the odd kilo fish amongst them. Dusky flathead are a little hard to get at this time of the year but they are there, with the cooler water they are lethargic so try shallower water that’s sun exposed for better results.

Fisho’s fishing off the rocks have been in their element with very good numbers of bream travelling north. Most of these fish are legal and are everywhere off the ledges. Tailor are still on the bite of the rocks while bream and tailor are in the gutters on the beach in good numbers. Once again garfish, pilchards and metal spinners are the go.
For daily reports and special call Paul on (02) 6566 6726.

Peter Le Blang from Harbour & Estuary Fishing Charters (http://www.estuaryfishing.com.au/) reports that the break in the weather has finally came.Yesterday he took out three SA members out for a Pittwater charter. The day started pretty slowly for Kingyfisher, Neil M and George (the Hoodster). They tried for squid unsuccessfully for about 2 hours with Kingyfisher having the only chance at a cuttlefish and it was missed. George trolled up a kingfish of about 2.5 kilos. The water temperature was about 15 degrees and the water quality was poor but it just goes to prove that kingfish still are a winter target. Neil caught a 50cm jewie on a fresh prawn floated down the burly trail. This feisty fish was caught on a 6lb mono bream outfit and in the shallow water put up a great fight.

The next day saw Peter back out on the water by himself. By 10am he had caught and released two 70cm kingfish and three jewfish at 65cm. All of these fish ate live yellowtail for breakfast. Mackerel Beach to West Head has some big bream on offer with the odd 45cm fish being caught near the wharf. The best bait is a live nipper closely followed by big fresh prawns.The squid are very hard to find at the moment but with a bit of luck a decent amount of squid can be caught near the mouth of the river.

They have also caught some big squid in previous weeks with the largest so far measuring in at a 45cm hood length. These larger squid are taking the larger squid jigs up to 3.5 sizes.The water temperature is perfect and The Basin area will see a few caught in the next week or two. Other areas to try are Careel Bay Wharf, Towlers Bay, Lovett Bay and Botham’s Reef. The best bait will be small live yellowtail, sweep or mado’s. Pin the bait in the shoulder and suspend the bait a metre off the bottom on a flexible rod. Peter will chasing bream at places like The Vines, The Bridges, Little Settlement and targeting jewfish at Gunya, Wobby, Juno and a host of other spots I have accumulated over the years. We will be down rigging as well as fishing at anchor.

Peter would also like to let you all know that his WINTER SPECIALS are on. The charter is for $330 for 1, 2 or 3 people. The special lasts until 31st August 2007.

If you want to target some of these bigger kingfish and or jewies then can I suggest you call NOW! The worst thing that can happen to you is that you will learn new techniques, new areas and take with you knowledge that you can use for the rest of your life. To book, PM Peter or contact him though his web site of http://www.estuaryfishing.com.au/ or call 0410 633 351.

Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports that off the rocks, drummer are everywhere. All the local ledges have been producing fish daily, with Blueface and Lighthouse arguably the pick of locations. As you would expect, abalone gut has proven the bait of choice, however cunjevoi, hermit crab tails and even bread have accounted for plenty of fish. If you prefer to travel, Plommer, Point Perpendicular and Diamond Head are also producing well, with the ledges to the south if anything giving up a slightly better class of fish on average. Also off the stones, tailor remain solid although not quite in the quantities encountered during the past few weeks. Bream were down a little over the full moon period; however catches were consistent enough to suggest the coming dark should prove excellent. Plenty of blackfish around the washes with fish to over a kilo common.

Off the beaches, the news is quite mixed. On the positive side, the seas have settled and begun to reform which is most welcome. Bream numbers have been excellent, particularly from North beach, whilst Lighthouse continues to produce an excellent late season run of whiting.

Reasonable numbers of tailor are still about however by and large the better water is around low tide and as such, catches should improve in the latter part of this week. On the flip side, the winter inundation of salmon has begun. Now whilst no one doubts the sport fishing qualities this species offers, there numbers of late have multiplied to the extent whereby the more palatable species tend to evacuate on mass. Early indications are their numbers are even thicker this year, and with the bulk of the schools yet to reach this part of the coast, a complete infestation is imminent. It will be interesting to see the outcome of the current investigations being carried out by NSW Fisheries into re-establishing commercial harvesting of this species, as many are of the opinion selective harvesting is a must to restore the balance of what are considered the traditional winter beach species.

In the estuary, blackfish numbers and quality have been excellent, with pretty well all locations from the lower reaches producing fish. Best results have been achieved from the south wall, although the coal wall too is well worth a look. Bream numbers have been reasonable despite the full moon, and if anything, should pick up over the next few days as the moon wanes. Flathead numbers have been solid with good fish taken on both bait and lures. Again the lower reaches have produced the better results. There have also been several reports of mulloway belting into the mullet after dark, so targeting the walls with either lures or live baits could well prove most rewarding.

For outside fishos, as expected there have been some top snapper off the closer reefs which is generally the case after a period of rough weather. Live slimeys or yakka’s have accounted for the better fish, however cut baits and lures have also proven successful. Closer in off Plommer, still a few cobia about with fish to around 20 kilos taken over the past week. Perhaps with the odd trickle of warm water still remaining, the annual influx of leather jackets may be a bit late this year. Still, it would be advisable to ensure there is plenty of wire on board for all trips from now on.

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.