Great catches of ocean flathead continue from the usual spots off Bithrys and White Rock, north and south of Tathra respectively. Good flathead are also on the chew about Tura Headland and Bournda Island. However schools of oceanic green toads are reported again with some anglers suffering multiple chew offs. As noted last week there has been some great gummy shark action off Kianinny with one angler reporting catch and release of a number of 15kg size fish. Catches of morwong and snapper from our local reefs including Long Point, Haycock, Lennards Island and Mowarry Point continue. Best bait is fresh slimy mackerel and pilchards.
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“Rat” kingfish (undersized) are prolific just a few km out from the Quarantine Bay launching ramp, but there are some “hoodlums” among them. When the kingies fire up, Mowarry Point is the place to be. For salmon try the gutters near Bournda Island, The Headland and Short Point. Good returns can come using three ganged hooks presenting a whole pilchard. After dark remember to use a wire trace as there are some large tailor on the prowl.
Game fishing off Merimbula has had a great late run with a number of striped marlin tagged and released, generally along the first drop off at 70 fathoms.
At the Merimbula Fishing platform calamari squid remain in good supply. There is plenty of bait fish, mainly slimy mackerel and yellowtail. This has resulted in a few hook-ups of very large kingfish, though no successful landings are reported.
Good fish remain on the chew in our estuaries and water temperatures remain high. There are good dusky flathead as well as bream and even snapper. Large tailor are common in both Pambula and Merimbula Lakes as well as trevally. Soft plastics or burley and pilchards are the way to go. Best bait for whiting in the lower Merimbula Lake remains squirt worms. Along the beach at Merimbula and at Tathra sand whiting also respond well to blood worms and nippers. Good sized blue swimmer crabs are very prolific in Merimbula and Pambula Lakes, make sure that only approved and properly identified crab traps and not nets are used. In the upper estuaries bass and estuary perch are gathering to spawn and are running hot. Come May 1 taking them from our rivers will be banned with only catch and release permitted during the spawning run.
With a $1000 cash first prize the Merimbula Big Game & Lakes Angling Club’s Caltex Merimbula Snapper Classic on May 27-28 is a must-not-miss tournament. Entry for children is free, adults $30. The Club is open every Friday evening commencing 6.30pm. Visitors are very welcome. Come and enjoy the fishing report, the ambience, friendship and lovely views with very competitive bar prices. Darragh Reynolds is your scheduled host. All inquires to John McKay on 0427 639 585. Membership Application, Membership Renewal and everything you need to know about local fishing is on the club’s website www.mbgalac.com.au.
Keep your rods bent!