Bluefin tuna have been scarce for Eden anglers this winter despite a report in yesterday’s Telegraph claiming the pelagic species have prompted a flood of cashed up visitors to our town.
Environment reporter Malcolm Holland wrote catches of up to 146kg were common this season and that the tuna were “proving a cold season tourism boom between Sydney and Eden”.
Unfortunately, Eden’s season was all too quick and all too far to sea.
Angler and recreational fishing retailer Michael Mashado said the fish went wide of Eden which was around 14 degrees Celsius in the pursuit of warmer, 17 degrees Celsius currents stretching north from Bermagui.
He heard of only around eight fish caught between Tathra and Bermagui since early June and most were around 60 kg with the odd one around the hundred kilogram mark.
This marked a big change from last season when he caught his bag limit at Greencape in 10 minutes then hand fed bait to fish as big as 100kg.
Michael hopes the current will change and bring the prized fish in closer on their southern migration.
“Talking to the old timers, they say we might get another go if the current pushes in when they go south in spring,” he said.
