Ocean Hut Compleat Angler fishing report
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WELL as predicted folks, the fishing across the board has been about as productive as Michael Clarke’s batting during the Ashes tour.
I guess it obviously doesn't help when the temperatures are lower than Bronwyn Bishops credibility, and the westerly winds are more persistent then a fly in a dairy, not to mention the almanac moon cycle, which was about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike.
Yes fellow fish fighters, much like you, I'm glad last week is done and dusted, surely this week can only head in one direction.
So what’s different about this week’s menu you might say? Well for entrée we have an attractive almanac, which will only improve as the week heads towards the new moon on Saturday.
The main will be the tides, which will be more suitable as the rise to the top will coincide with dusk and dawn.
And to top it off with dessert, temperatures will rise marginally, making it slightly more pleasant to pursue the fillet. Hopefully this menu will suit your taste, so here is your weekly fishing report.
THE BIG BLUE: This time last year the bluefin tuna action was in full swing, so where are they now!
Well looking at the sea surface temperature, I would tuna are more likely to be is slightly out of reach of the average punter in a trailer boat.
Fair dink-um you would need three floating service stations, two night’s accommodation, and a New Zealand passport to get within striking distance.
Even the long range commercial vessels have headed north to try and find a more suitable longitude to make the effort sustainable.
A little closer in to where land can actually be seen from your floating fish finding device, Montague Island has remained steady with its spits and spats of assorted reef dwellers.
Mowies would be the odds on favourite to fill the ice box, with snapper a close fin behind.
The only problem with the little reds, is exactly that, they are mostly little, with the odd exception to the rule, like the stonker Karen got on Friday while fishing with Bettsy aboard the Sheriff.
Only one in every five or six will make the legal length, and that’s if you stand on them while you’re measuring.
In all seriousness folks a red hot tip here, is to only keep fish 1-2cm over the legal length, as they will shrink a centimetre in ice slurry over time, making them undersize by the time you hit the cleaning table, and guaranteed Fisheries officers won't allow for shrinkage!
Nice fresh local squid, or striped tuna fillet is the way to go to tempt these reef roaming tasties.
Also remember if the current, wind, and depth allow, then drop the pick and start a burley trail.
This will only increase your chances of a successful outing, and will help save you from the embarrassment when the wife sees the fish market docket in amongst the fillets. Other good areas to have a crack for some reef beasts is off Potato Point, Brou, and Mystery Bay reefs.
It's seemingly good news for the flathead fanatics, as a feed of these delicious sand lovers is easily obtainable.
The 30-40m mark seems to be the most favourable place for the flathead to hang, and don't be surprised at present if that monster flathead of the century actually turns out to be a gummy shark, as they too will haunt these areas.
Someone asked me the other day what I thought the best bait for flathead was, and the look on their face when I said flathead was priceless.
Yes that's right! Flathead for flathead! Those in the know will not be surprised by this fishy fact, for everyone else I can tell there is no better bait.
Those sand huggers are cannibalistic and will never reject a fresh feed of themselves. You can't blame them, they have great taste in fish as we all love them too.
ROCK & BEACH: Some exciting news coming from our golden sands this week, with the Aussie's going 2-0 up on the Greeks in the battle of the newly still to be named prestigious trophy!
Major sponsor of the tournament Kosta's Café in Dalmeny is starting to feel the pressure, as the super fit, highly knowledgeable, well drilled, ego filled Aussie team are looking untouchable after giving the Greeks a thrashing two weeks in a row.
I wonder if they can bat and bowl, maybe their talent is being wasted on the sand, send them to England, bring on the pommies!
Last week along our beautiful coast line the sea was flatter than you know what, making the rock and beach scene basically a non-event.
But thankfully over the weekend some swell finally arrived, which should carve out some newly formed feeding holes for the coming week.
This week should see some ideal dusk and dawn tides that will make for the perfect times to launch an assault.
Salmon will be the mainstay I would think with the odd tailor, bream and trevally thrown in.
Pillies on gangs should be all you need to entice any of these species, but if your pilchard intolerant, then mullet, tuna, or a slab of salmon fillet will be only second to a live beach worm.
The rock hoppers should start to see some drummer, luderick, bream, tailor, and salmon move back in close around the rocks with the return of the white stuff.
A great menu to serve would be weed and cabbage for the vegetarians, while mullet gut, cunjevoi, and pilchards should satisfy the rest.
RIVERS, LAKES AND INLETS: You can all thank me for the weekend’s success this arena, as I’m eating my own words. Yes that’s right!
Last week I mentioned in the fishing report that due to most of the inlets being more like a ghost town that it would be a good time to do some boat maintenance.
So while I spent the weekend doing my yearly boat maintenance getting it ready for the coming season, everyone else that ignored my suggestion was out in their favourite honey hole reaping the rewards and proving me wrong.
I spoke to several people that fished Wagonga Inlet over the weekend and every one of them had a story of success.
The afternoon tide change seem to be the most successful time to be on the water and those that tormented bait schools during this time found it was a trevally fest, with a few tailor, bream and the odd salmon thrown in.
Soft plastics resembling the bait was the smartest lure in the box, making the 2-3" Z-man in natural colours a clever choice, while some others choosing to troll around the bait balls found the Strike Pro Galaxia II to be the go to, smack ‘em lure.
The most productive areas seem to be throughout Forsters Bay, and the back half of the inlet, from the power lines to up around the oyster leases.
Just goes to show that when you’re planning to fish in an estuary, then never listen to the forecast, who cares what the almanac says, and especially never take note of what some idiot wrote in a fishing report. Let’s hope it’s the start of the turn around, and all our estuarine paradises will slowly rise back to their performing best. Hope you all have a fantastically awesome week’s fishing – cheers!
- Darren “Dash” Bowater
All quiet for Club Narooma fishos
OH well it’s a week late but I have a note for being late with the Club Narooma fishing report!
It was a very quiet weekend as the charter was cancelled and we were restricted to the beaches and rivers.
And they were not what you would call alive with fish but those who put the time in were rewarded with a feed.
The overall winner was junior Adam Giffen who showed the grown-ups how it’s done with a mixed bag of bream, drummer and salmon - so well done Adam.
Other winners for the month were Dave Clark, Robyn Babidge, Wayne Giffen, Clare Giffen and Peter Shakeshaft.
The AGM was held at the completion of the competition with a few new faces on the committee, which now consists of president Dave Clark, vice president Gary Landells, weigh master Wayne Giffen, assistant weigh masters Peter Shakeshaft, Gary Blood, Adam Giffen, secretary Randal Setzer, assistant secretary Mick Kavic, treasurer Brenda Setzer and Karen Clark as catering officer - I wish you all the best for the next year.
Presentation night will be on September 19 at Club Narooma in the Montague Room and your tickets are ready and will close off on September 12, so we know how many to cater for.
It will be a two-course sit-down meal and should be a fun night with a few surprises planned for the night. So till next month, tight lines!
- Fishfingers
NSGFC Dalmeny morning
NAROOMA Sport and Game Fishing Club members please note there will be a club fishing morning on Sunday at the main beach Dalmeny about 7.30am, followed by a get-together with coffee, bacon and eggs about 10.30am.
We will meet by the bridge over the creek.
As usual the Narooma Sport and Game Fishing Club rooms, situated on the inlet near the restaurants, the club will be open for fish stories, drinks and snacks from 4pm till 9pm on Friday.
Out of town visitors are most welcome to come along, and with the weather improving join us and watch a fantastic sunset over the inlet, maybe play some darts or just have a drink and a chat with like-minded folk.
- Jan Hemmingsen