Anglers competing in the $500 Tackleworld Dusky Dash for Cash tournament found it hard going to target flathead due to intense competition from other species including voracious blue swimmer crabs.  The winning dusky flathead caught and released in Merimbula Lake was no giant at 65.2cm, particularly as we know there are metre-plus fish in the lake. 

One of the largest flathead from the Bega River was 58.4cm, returned by last year’s winner (80.3cm) Glen Rollason.  Second prize went to Robert Wood with a 63cm flathead also from Merimbula Lake.  Robert Wood together with his partner Tom Scott also took out the “best five fish” category. 

The $50 prize for the first placed Junior went to Jac Howker for his 54cm dusky, Second place Junior $30 went to Elli-Sky Dulhunty for her 47.6cm fish and third prize of $20 to Jardy Palmer for his 40.8cm fish.  As a strictly catch and release event all dusky flathead were returned live with results forwarded to DPI for scientific records.  

On the offshore reefs there are plenty of morwong and snapper between Long Point, Horseshoe Reef near Haycock, Quondolo and all around past Lennards to North Head.  Ocean flathead have quieted down due to the cooler water, try off Yellow Rock at Long Point.  Salmon are patchy, probably best at Haycock Beach. 

Good whiting respond to hard plastics and poppers on the flats in Merimbula Lake and at Mogareeka.  With the dark of the moon prawns are now running.  This may be the last run this season as waters cool.  At the Merimbula Fishing Platform squid are plentiful together with slimy mackerel and the occasional salmon and kingfish. 

Poor conditions were experienced over the previous weekend by anglers in the Eden Sport and Gamefishing Club’s highly popular Open Game Fishing Tournament and there were only a few marlin and  sharks hooked.