Merimbula Big Game & Lakes Angling Club hosted representatives of Marine Rescue Merimbula at its Spencer Park Clubhouse last Friday for its presentation of $2500 raised by the club at its Gala Day Monster Charity Fresh Fish Auction, held on January 6.
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Gala Day is a heritage event for Merimbula and has been organised by the club since its inception. Over the years it has featured in the life of Merimbula in many ways including talent quests and the Fresh Fish Auction. The club intends to maintain this popular event and make it even more exciting in the coming years with a focus on sustainable fish species such as ocean flathead.
Competitors in the three-day Eden Open last weekend enjoyed a variety of weather conditions and overall a wonderful time. Multiple tag and release reports indicate the great run of marlin and mako sharks continues on our part of the coast. Best near the first drop off where bait fish are gathered.
At the regular grounds ocean flathead are now well on the chew. You may need to do some long drifts to find and mark a patch of feeding flathead but when found they are quite voracious and multiple hook-ups possible. Tura Golf Course, Tura Headland, Bournda Island and north of Kianinny up to Bithry Inlet are good spots. Try as shallow as 9 fathoms.
Anglers are landing lovely snapper at Hunter Reef, Haycock and Horseshoe Reef, but generally only in ones or twos. Best results from soft plastics left to tumble across the bottom. Try also Lennards Island and North Head. With the moon near full it has become heyday for big gummy sharks off the Pinnacles beside the tail end of the Horseshoe Reef. Try fish heads for bait with circle hooks! Thumper whiting remain off Main Beach Merimbula opposite Fishpen. Best results from beach worms.
“Rat” Kingfish (undersized below 65cm length), salmon and tailor are moving around the wharf areas at both Tathra and Merimbula. Good calamari squid are being landed at the wharfs depending on prevailing wind direction. Luderick remain on the chew at Merimbula, morning and evening, try using plastic lures. Watch out for the plus 3m bronze whaler cruising by.
There are trevally, bream and luderick about the oyster racks in Merimbula Lake. Dusky flathead, flounder, mullet and some garfish are available in the Merimbula channel and tailor are schooling in the main lake. Estuary fish are relatively slow breeders so take what you need to eat and release the rest. Good tailor, trevally and mullet are also prolific at Pambula Lake. The Bega River remains open although Merimbula Back Lake has already closed.
