Offshore game fishing awaits warmer currents although there are already lots of bait fish such as small slimy mackerel, just follow the birds. For bottom droppers waters deeper than 30 fathoms can see lots of large chinamen leatherjackets. Along with the bait fish there are some schools of really large Australian salmon, so it is worth cruising to find the bird activity. Off the beaches Haycock seems best locality for salmon.
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Kingfish remain elusive at our favourite spot off Mowarry Point although at 21 fathoms there are some nice pan-sized snapper. We have heard a very large kingfish was hooked at the Tathra Wharf but after a protracted duel it was kingfish one, angler zero. Kingfish have been sighted as well at the Merimbula Wharf where squid remain the order of the day. Member Philip Jacobs also got a great haul of squid off the rocks at Tura Headland.
We await the annual run of luderick to commence at the Merimbula Fishing Platform with best results from cabbage weed and artificial lures, early morning and evening. Snapper and morwong can be targeted along our local reefs and respond to both bait and soft plastics.
Flathead, both sand and tiger, are biting at all the local spots, Haycock, Tura Beach White Rock, Kianinny and Nelsons. Size is a problem and we await warmer currents to bring in the annual run of larger fish. Try 25 fathoms at White Rock and Tura Headland and 15 fathoms adjacent to the Boyd’s Tower reef.
In the estuaries tailor remain active early morning and evening, but are mostly choppers. Try trolling in the Pambula Broadwater and across the deeper holes in the cross channel using silver lures. All the estuaries are returning bream and trevally. Dusky flathead are responding to soft plastics as well as hard body lures. Luderick are schooling about the Merimbula Bridge. Whiting across the sands at high tide love poppers if the wind is blowing.
With a new format and a prize pool of some $7700, the Merimbula Big Game & Lakes Angling Club will be holding its annual Tackle World Tri-Estuary Challenge over the weekend of December 2-3. This fishing competition is catch and release only with fish length photographed on a “brag mat”. This event is open to all anglers. The fishing areas are the Bega River, Merimbula and Merimbula Back lakes and Pambula Lake. Entry finalised at the briefing on December 1 at the Clubhouse in Spencer Park. Entry forms from the club, McKays Oysters and Tackle World Merimbula and Fyshwick.
The Club in Spencer Park is open every Friday from 6.30pm. Visitors are very welcome.
