Merimbula Fishing Reports - Brought to you by Hot Rods

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Now may be the time to strip your game reels down and do a bit of maintenance on tackle and boats as the game fishing seems to have come to a halt. It’s not in concrete though but the chance of a good fish is a lot slimmer in the next few weeks.

Fishing the deep reefs may be an option for blue eye, harpooka and trumpeter but if your not prepared to do the miles a drop on the flathead grounds north of Merimbula has proved successful for most crews.

The flathead haven't been monsters but fish up to 50 cm have hit the deck with consistency.

The inner reefs are also providing great fishing with plenty of snapper and morwong most days.

Plenty of tailer about on the beaches and still big bream found in our local estuaries.

Still plenty of squid if calamari is on the list with local wharfs and rock platforms worth a shot.

Current club members need to book there boat in to Merimbula Mowers and Marine for there yearly service and receive a 15 % discount held over the months of July and August.

Club dues also need to be paid and would members please put there names on the list provided at the club for presentation night, August 14th. Tickets will be $31 per adult with junior prices still to be advised. Shane Mayberry and I will be on bar duty this Friday night with happy hour starting 6.30 pm.

A beer and seafood raffle will be held sometime after the fishing report so bring a mate and have a fun night in our warm club surrounds.

May your reel scream, Mex.

The weather over the past week has been kind and boats put to sea hoping to find bluefin tuna. Unfortunately none were sighted or caught and many anglers are now starting to think that the run for 2010 is over.

Was interesting to hear that a few yellowfin tuna up to 45 kilo were caught and apparently there is a report of a patch of water coming down with tuna and marlin in it.

Fishing the bottom in close has had mixed results with reef species including snapper and morwong although some days barracouta are about on the reefs, headlands and flathead grounds.

If its calamari on your menu then all local wharfs and rock platforms are worth a shot particularly at daybreak or dusk. Estuary fishing was a little tough but for those that persisted tailor, trevally and big bream were found. Alot of bait fish are also in both the Merimbula and Pambula systems so its wont be a surprise if the fishing gets better.

Over 90 club delegates and the executive of the New South Wales Game Fishing Association held its annual general meeting and trophy presentation at Club Sapphire in Merimbula last weekend.

New South Wales Southern Zone that encompasses fishing waters from Eden to Kiama took many trophies for the year including the highly sought after Cock of the Walk trophies in both capture and Tag and Release categories.

Host club Merimbula was congratulated time after time on a job well done and I would personally like to thank Club Sapphire, Lindon Thompson and all those people who contributed in making the AGM a fantastic weekend.

Please don't forget we are now into the new fishing year and club membership needs to be payed.Our trophy presentation night will be on Saturday August 14th and AGM the following Monday 16th. Andrew Buckland and Darragh Reynolds will open the Spencer Park clubrooms 6.30 pm Friday night so bring a friend and enjoy a night including happy hour, raffles and the local fishing report,

May your reel scream, Mex

It will be interesting to see what does eventuate over the next couple of weeks regarding gamefishing as the bluefin tuna were found early last week but unfortunately non existent in the latter part and weekend.

Albacore and striped tuna were caught where the bluefin were and hopefully it was just a few quiet days and not the end of this years run. The majority of tuna have been around 35 to 50 kilo but a couple around the 120 kilo had most anglers relishing the chance to have a crack providing the weather is right.

Flathead fishing is still an option with most crews coming home with a feed and the inshore reefs are definitely worth a shot with plenty of snapper, morwong, nannygai and leatherjackets all on the chew. The only downer to the fishing has been the presence of barracouta,cutting off baits, sinkers and lures on some days.

Rock and beach fishing is still number one for finding salmon, tailor and bonito and the local estuaries are a close second with bream and tailor heading the hit list.

The Spencer Park clubrooms will be open this Friday night with Darragh Reynolds and Mark Smith on bar duty. Happy hour starts the proceedings 6.30 pm followed by the fishing report and raffles some time around 8 pm. Everyone's invited so bring a friend and enjoy a fun night.

May your reel scream, Mex.

What a difference the weather makes when travelling wide and far.

Calmer conditions made for great results during the past week with anglers catching bluefin and yellowfin tuna out over the 1000 fathom line.

Blake Buckland fishing on Jedi hit the scales with a personal best bluefin tuna weighing at 56.5 kilos.

Most of the bluefin have been around the 40 to 55 kilo mark and hopefully a jumbo sized fish will be caught over the next few weeks.

Yellowfin tuna have also been caught but unfortunately only small fish and not the 50 kilo plus specimens found earlier in the season.

Flathead fishing is also great with plenty of fish north of Merimbula and reef fishing is still firing with legal sized snapper and morwong on the chew.

Kingfish are about and can be found on any of our local reefs or headlands and a few bonito have also been found with them.

Estuary fishing is good with bream, tailor and trevaly on the chew and Pambula River also has salmon some days keen to take a lure, also squid are about and again any rock platforms or wharfs are the spot to try.

We will be hosting this years NSWGFA annual general meeting at the Sapphire Club Merimbula over 16th, 17th and 18th July.

Saturday night is trophy presentation night and if any members would like to attend please ring me 64954795 and book a seat.

Greg Liddell and Johno McKay are on bar duty this Friday night and will start with happy hour 6.30 pm. Members and visitors all invited to enjoy a night at our Spencer Park clubhouse.

May your reel scream, Mex.

Fishing was a bit tough for anglers over the past week and hopefully things will improve.

Last weekend was the first leg of the broadbill swordfish tournament and most crews stayed home due to a forecast of south west winds. Those that did brave the elements were rewarded with blue shark, mako shark and tuna. We are all hoping for better conditions this weekend as the second leg of the tournament starts Friday afternoon and finishes Monday morning.

Bottom fishing was also tough on the inshore reefs as the snapper, morwong and leatherjackets were about but only fired up early mornings.

Flathead fishing was slow but a feed was caught by most if prepared to move around until a patch could be found.

Reports of thresher sharks on the flathead grounds are common so a live bait under a balloon is worth a shot.

The surprise of the week has been schools of striped tuna within casting distance of the rocks and anyone looking for salmon and tailor with small metal lures would be in the box seat when a school of stripies pass by.

Estuary fishing has been best late in the day with tailor up to 800 gram keen to eat bibbed lures.

Tom Scott and Bill Pryor on bar duty this Friday night so come down to our club for a fun night with happy hour starting 6.30 pm followed by the beer and seafood raffle after the fishing report.

May your reel scream, Mex.

The weather is still a concern but anglers fishing on the inshore reefs have had success with snapper, morwong and leatherjackets all on the chew. Hopefully this is the start of a run of reef species as they have been a bit quiet over the last month.

The flathead are a bit patchy and at this time of year can be frustrating as some days you will find a patch whilst the next you can't even lose a bait. Luckily you don't have to leave shore early as many days the frogs don't come on the chew until late morning or well into the afternoon which is a complete change to the normal early morning bite happening on the warmer months.

The wind being from the south west hasn't made life easy for the gamefishing fraternity and even fishos in the estuaries are having a battle.This time of year tailor are a target and sooner rather than later salmon should be found in Merimbula Lake and the Pambula River.

Beach fishing is a great option with the westerly winds and again salmon and tailor are the main species sought but bream and flathead can also be found.

Rock and wharf fishing is also worth a shot providing the swell isn't up with all species including arrow and calamari squid on the chew.

Were hoping for some great weather conditions over the next 2 weekends as alot of interest has been shown by anglers keen to have a crack at catching a broadbill swordfish. Our Broadbill Tournament is sponsored by Merimbula Tackleworld and we hope all anglers support them as they support us with sponsorship in many of our club events.

Good luck and safe fishing to all participating crews and I'll see you at the tournament briefing this Thursday night 7pm.

Our Spencer Park clubrooms will be open this Friday night and all members and visitors are invited. Darragh Reynolds and Barrie Francis will be on bar duty and happy hour will start 6.30 pm. Beer and seafood raffle will be around 7.30 pm so come on down and enjoy a fun night.

May your reel scream, Mex.

For those that don't fish, this mark is about 25 mile to sea and as you can imagine weather conditions are the most important factor of the day and dictates if and when we are to be successful.

Some boats were able to get out during the early part of last week and yellowfin over 50 kilos where caught north of Merimbula. Broadbill fishing is shaping up as excellent as another was caught during the day on a deep bait.

The fish was over 160 kilo and is a pending Australian record.

This is all sounding great for our Broadbill Tournament with the first leg starting Friday afternoon June 18th through till the following Monday morning June 21st.

The second leg will be then held Friday afternoon June 25th through till Monday morning June 28th.

Prizes for capture and Tag and Release of broadbill , shark and tuna are up for grabs.

Anyone affiliated with the Game Fishing Association of Australia is invited to compete in the 18th Merimbula Broadbill Swordfish Game Fishing Tournament.

The briefing for the first leg will be held June 17th,Thursday 7 pm at the Spencer Park clubrooms.

For more information call Rob 0413333598.

All other forms of fishing including rock, reef, wharfs, beaches and estuaries has been tough due to the big seas, rains and wind but this will improve as the fishing gods will surely give us some decent time on the water for a few days in the weeks to come.

This Friday night Greg Liddell and Johno McKay are on bar duty so come on down to the club and enjoy a few drinks and fishing stories.

Beer and seafood raffle will be some time after 7.30 and is open to both members and visitors to town.

May your reel scream, Mex.

Wow, what a week of rain and wind.

Obviously crews that had planned to fish over the weekend hadn't a chance apart from early Saturday morning and those that did only managed a couple of flathead and small snapper.

Beach fishing was just as bad as the seas were pounding and by Sunday only the foolhardy stepped outside there door.

The weekend proved great for getting gear ready as once the seas settle inshore reef fishing and beach fishing should fire up. Estuary fishing should also improve with a lot of fish near the entrances of our estuaries away from most of the fresh water.

Gamefishing should be just as exciting as there has been plenty of yellowfin tuna and with fingers crossed a run of bluefin tuna should be just around the corner.

Our Broadbill Swordfish tournament will be held on June 18th,19th,20th and also June 25th,26 and 27th. All indications are that we may have a ripper of a tournament as reports of broadbill captures and sightings have been well above average this year.

Entry forms can be obtained from the club on any Friday night or ring Robert 041333359 for any information.

Dave Stewart and Darragh Reynolds are on bar duty this Friday so come on down to our Spencer Park clubrooms and enjoy the club with a view.

Members and visitors all invited with happy hour starting 6.30 pm followed by the fishing report and raffles. 5.30 pm Sunday nights we run our huge seafood raffle at Club Sapphire so support this and have a chance at taking out the cash jackpot which now stands at $1900 .

May your reel scream, Mex.

Fishing has been great over the past week with anglers having a ball catching yellowfin tuna. Most of these fish have been caught over the continental shelf between the first and second drop off. Unfortunately us people that have to work for a living are finding it a bit tough as the tuna have been lining up to take baits on weekdays but have proved a little tougher on the weekends.

Our snapper tournament sponsored by Merimbula Mowers and Marine was last weekend and plenty of plate sized snapper between 800 grams to the kilo were caught. A few bigger fish were also about and Pella DiDonato took home the $500 cash prize for a snapper that hit the scales at 2.2 Kilo. Runner up was Shane Mayberry with a rod and reel winning fish of 1.95 kilo. Daryl Williams took out the mystery weight snapper.

Plenty of morwong, leatherjacket, nanaguie and gear stealing barracouta were also caught. Flathead fishing is also firing with crews reporting reasonable catches off the grounds north of town.

Estuary fishing can be alot of fun with salmon and tailor caught in Pambula River and the Merimbula System. Local beaches have schools of salmon and tailor taking lures and pilchards but beach worms can be a handy backup if targeting bream and flathead.

Shane Mayberry and myself are on bar duty this Friday night so drop in for a yarn and a couple of coldies. Members and visitors are all invited and happy hours starts at 6.30 pm followed up with the fishing report and raffles.

May your reel scream, Mex.

The lake is starting to fire up again although a little effort is required due to the still low water temps. The January Prawn run should start in Ernest around the 10the of this month with the New Moon falling on the 15^th.

Visiting anglers are reminded that a Currant NSW fishing License is required for ALL WATERS in NSW. This includes Fishing, bait collecting and Prawning ect. A $200 on the spot fine will be imposed if you are found to be involved in any of these activities without a License.

Also there are laws in NSW governing what style of prawn nets that can be used. Be sure to check with the local Tackle shop as to the requirement so you don’t get caught out.

Top water Lure anglers have been rewarded with some excellent captures of Whiting, Trevalli and Dusky Flathead over the past few days. As the prawns start to run captures will no doubt improve.

Beaches are still pretty quiet. Smaller Salmon have been caught but not with any consistency. Better to try for a Tailor as the sun sets.

Reef fishing is still firing. The Flathead have been patchy but once found they are on the chew.

Snapper have goon a little quieter but the Morwong are keeping the numbers up. With the colder water still hanging around the kings are still suffering lock jaw.

There has been plenty of bait showing up from inshore to the shelf for the game crews. Marlin reports are getting a little more consistent but still no definite run as yet.

A patch of Mahi Mahi or Dolphin fish made a welcome show inshore recently with 1 photo coming into Tackle World in Merimbula of a Bull (male) well over 1.5m in length.

Good Fishing

December 31, 2009

Last Report for the Calendar year folks. A splash of rain has been welcome for the locals (but not for the sun soaking visitors!) Not a lot has changed from last week’s report.

With the influx of tourists the reports are coming in loud and proud, with some great captures of Silver whiting and flathead on a range of surface lures. Now that the prawns have settled till the next run in Mid January, most estuary species have gone back on the hunt for bottom dwelling forage. Pumping nippers or bass yabbies has been popular with whiting, bream and Trevalli reasonably eager to take the bait.

The Trevalli and Tailor are still falling to the oilier baits of Pilchard, blue bait and Stripy Tuna. The Dusky Flathead mark for the season has been set a little higher with a 93cm fish hitting the brag mat for a quick photo and release recently. Squidgy and Gulp brand artificial have been very popular with those anglers targeting the big lizards.

Warm calm water has seen the beaches go quiet. Still Whiting and bream around for the light line anglers, with live beach worm being the best bait as usual.

Reef fishes have had a good run with plenty of Tiger and Sand Flathead on the bite along with good numbers of Snapper and Blue Morwong. King fish have been sighted but a reluctant to bite anything but their bottom lip.

Stripy Tuna are still around and the Marlin are starting to track them down. The Shelf is still the best option for the larger game fish. With a slightly colder southerly currant at the moment a few albacore have been snared once again although not very reliable.

Good Fishing

December 24, 2009

The weather has been hit and miss over the past week. The lake temps are well up and the spawning flathead are on the chew. Reports of Fish over 80cms are coming in on a regular basis. The Whiting have shut down after gorging themselves on prawns but a well presented bait of live beach worm is still bringing a few unstuck. Average size is well over 30cms.

Trevalli and a few bream are being taken on a variety of baits. Some good Tailor are being taken around the bridge area in Pilchard and blue bait with the odd rat king showing up in the same area and scaring a few anglers.

Main beach has still been the pick for a whiting of bream and some of the local rock ledges have had a visit from the Kingfish and a few larger Australian Salmon.

Again with the rough weather the local reefs have had a short break. Those braving the swell have had a good look at some kings up to 15kgs.

Schools of Stripy Tuna are still running along the shelf with the odd juvenile Yellow Fin Tuna in with them. Those looking for Marlin have centered most of their efforts around these schools with limited success to far, Plenty of sharks around them to fill in the time however.

Good Fishing

December 17, 2009

The lake has come alive this week with the first major prawn run of the season. Warm water temps where very welcome for those sporting the dolphin torch and thongs in an attempt to secure a feed of the tasty crustaceans. The run this month hasn’t seen bucket full’s of prawns taken but those keen netters have done quite well. Reports of thousands of smaller prawns running are a good sign as they will fatten up by the end of the season. Larger models are ranging around the 120-140mm mark.

We now have to wait till the Jan run starting around the 10^th of Jan with the new moon falling on the 15^th. Fishing has improved with the run. Schools of fat Yellow fin Whiting have been milling around the bottom lake. The Dusky Flathead are still around in good numbers and size as the get into spawn mode.

Be sure to follow the size limits with 36cms the minimum and only 1 fish allowed over the 70cms mark. These larger Females are the future of the flathead population so we are urged to ‘CPR’ Catch – Photograph - & Release these larger breeders. Silver Trevalli are still around in good numbers along with Tailor and a few Juvenile Snapper.

The Beaches are doing well with Main beach providing Yellow Fin Whiting and Bream with a few smaller flatties. Salmon on the surf beaches have been on and off with the rising water temps but you will find them when it’s rough and the whitewater provides good ambush territory for them.

Reef fishing has been abuzz with some excellent reports of Snapper, Morwong, Leather jacket and hood kingfish. The Kings have been running from Long Point to Haycock point (north and south headlands of Merimbula Bay) a Few have been subdued while reef fishing using cut baits for snapper with the rest falling to large GT style surface poppers and trolled XO deep divers. Averaging around the 10-15kg mark and over a meter long, you will know if you have 1 on !

Offshore has been improving. Massive schools of striped Tuna on the shelf will be ringing the dinner bell for the marlin on the way. Rat yellow fin Tuna have be captured in the Stripies and to date only a hand full of sightings and hook ups of Marlin have been reported.

Good Fishing !

December 11, 2009

We have had a great week on the local fishing scene this week. Dusky Flathead have been really on the chew with several ‘crocs’ above the 70cm mark caught and released this week. Strip baits of squid or fish along with white bait will get you in the hunt along with larger soft plastic lures. The Silver Trevalli are also on the chew throughout the entire lake. Just about every bait in the freezer along with a range of lures is bringing them undone. The prawns should start to run locally from Saturday with the run out tide after dark. With the prawn run, only the best presented baits and surface lures will be likely to see any action as the lakes population gorges itself on the abundant spawning prawns. A freshly caught live prawn presented on a small hook with no weight will be the best option if you are after some guaranteed action.

The Beaches have been quiet with the calm seas this week. Smaller beach dwellers like mullet and whiting will be a better target on live beach worms while the Salmon and Tailor are on hold.

Inshore reefs have been abuzz with good reports of Flathead, Snapper, Morwong, gummy and bronze whaler sharks and kingfish up to 15kgs hitting the decks. Trolling Bibbed or skirted lures & live baiting has been the best option for the local kings around the headlands and adjacent reefs with jigs and large surface poppers still the best option on the southern reefs.

Offshore there are large schools of stripy tuna but they seem to be free from predation as no more reports of Yellow fin Tuna or Marlin have come through as yet. Water temps are up around the 22 deg mark offshore so it shouldn’t be long before the bigger fish arrive.

Don’t forget Prawning from Saturday night !

Good Fishing !

December 3, 2009

Whiting Whiting Whiting has been the cry from everyone around the lake of late, although they seem to have a bad case of lock jaw. Live beach worm and the odd top water lure have accounted for most captures so far. As we move toward the new moon in mid December they should start t come on the chew with the start of the summer prawn runs.

New Moon is Wed 16th of December so dust of the prawn nets and charge the batteries if you planning to get into the action. Note that a valid NSW fishing License is required when spear fishing, hand lining, hand gathering, trapping, bait collecting and prawn netting or when in possession of fishing gear in, on or adjacent to fresh and salt water.

Plenty of Dusky Flathead, Silver Trevalli and Bream to keep us entertained as well with lure anglers racking up some memorable captures. A photo was sent to me last week by a visiting angler scoring his new PB of a 95cm Dusky Flathead taken on a large ‘Squidgy’ soft plastic. Photographed and released it will hopefully proved thousands of baby flathead for the future. The legal Length for Dusky Flathead in NSW is 36cms with only 1 fish allowed to be taken over 70cms.

With recent rough weather the beaches will fire up with Salmon and tailor and a few bream.

The inshore reefs have until this week provided an easy feed with sand and tiger flathead being the main targets over the sand. Reefs are showing some excellent snapper and morwong between the plagues of leatherjacket. Schools of Kingfish have been sighted regularly around the headlands and Wharf, trolling lures or live baiting will get you in the hunt. Kingfish on the southern reefs have been hit and miss of late but once they wake up the action has been full on.

Offshore the game season has made a welcome start. Albacore and Juvenile Yellow Fin Tuna have been the main targets on the shelf along with sharks. Last week saw the first Marlin reported and Yellow fin around the 50kg mark between the first and 2nd drop off. A local angler taking time out to view the huge surf this week from a local cliff top reported a School of estimated 50kg plus Tuna smashing a bait school within 50m of the rocks!

Good Fishing!

November 18,2009

Spring has hit us with a bang! Water temps are will up along with the captures.

The Estuaries are stocked with good numbers of very healthy Silver Whiting and Dusky Flathead. Good numbers of Silver Trevalli are still being caught under feeding schools of Tailor up in the top lake and holding around the Bridge at night as is their usual custom

With the New Moon this week, a few locals went out after dark to scoop up the early run of Spawning Prawns. Reports so far have been very slow so best to hold out till the December Run with the week leading up to the New moon the best time.

Still a few Bream being caught among the whiting on main beach with Salmon on the rest of the beaches when it’s a bit rough. If it’s calm, head to the headlands and wash zones to chase them.

For the boaties’ the inshore reefs and sand have been firing well. Tiger and Sand Flathead have been climbing onto the baited hooks with the odd Gummy Shark turning up to every ones delight. Average Snapper up to 2kgs have been taking baits along with soft plastics for the lure anglers. Squidgy Wrigglers in the 145mm pro range and Berkley GULP’s in the 5’ Jerk Shad have been the pick in bright Colors. Morwong (Sea Bream) and large rig stealing leather jacket have made up the numbers.

Plenty of Kingfish have been showing up between green cape and Merimbula. Locating and jigging schools or trolling the headlands with larger bibbed lures is the best option.

Off Shore the solid 18 deg. C water temps will start to produce more game reports from now on. Albacore have made the odd trip above the shelf to the 60 fathom mark with small Yellow Fin Tuna mixing in with the schools at times. Won’t be long till we hear of the first Bill Fish reports

Cubing seems to be the best method and will also allow you to target some of the sharks (predominantly Mako’s) that have been showing up.

The Whale Season is slowly coming to an end but there have still been consistent sightings locally so keep on the watch while travelling off shore.

Good Fishing!

November 04, 2009

The dull green cold winter water is finally starting to succumb to the warmer east coast currant!

The reports filtering in from the lake anglers have been very promising with Dusky Flathead up to 93cms and Silver Trevalli being the main captures.

November’s new moon should see a small run of prawns from the lake, bringing dormant fish to life as the ‘feast’ begins. Smaller Captures of Bream and whiting locally have added to the fun. Pambula has been the pick for a feed of tailor.

Salmon are still available on the beaches but due to the calm conditions the headland washes have been a better option.

Inshore the flathead have come back on the bite once you can navigate your way through the leather Jackets. Remember to make or buy wire rigs and keep good stocks of sinkers as the Leatheries can be relentless at times.

Snapper, Morwong a few Gummy Sharks and Kingfish can be found on the close reefs.

The kingfish are still hitting the decks in good number on the southern reefs. Average fish are around the 90cm mark.

Out wide the reports are still quiet as ‘weekends’ & “bad weather’ have been the norm keeping the smaller game boats in port. Albacore have still been mentioned with the first reports of the Prized Southern Blue Fin Tuna filtering in from well over the shelf. Fingers crossed they come closer

Still plenty of whales around so enjoy them if they show up around your boat and remember to travel safely while off shore.

Good fishing !

October 21, 2009

The weather has improved over the past week, calmer seas and lighter winds have allowed the opportunity for the boaters to head offshore in search of a feed. Flathead have made a welcome come back with most fish being hooked out to the 35-40 fathom line. Small Snapper, Morwong and leather jacket have made up the bags with the odd kingfish showing up, sea surface temps have increased both on and off shore.

The quiet whispers of albacore off the shelf have continued to filter through down the grapevine. The Southern reefs have had a good show of kingfish up to 12kg with jigging the main trend

With the flush of warmer water inshore boaters are reminded to take it easy while traveling on the water due the amount of whales milling around on their southern migration. Recent reports of a Whale calf washing up deceased with evident propeller wounds backs up the warning

The activity on the lakes has been slowly increasing with the warmer water & weather. Dusky Flathead have been taken in larger numbers in the deeper sections. Yellow Fin and Whiting numbers have been increasing with some falling to surface lures already. Live beach worms will still be the best bait.

Sizable Silver Trevalli can be targeted on lures and baits with good success and bream numbers have increased as they travel into the systems to spawn.

Continued reports of Mullowey captures both on bait and lures are coming in along the coast

Surf anglers have enjoyed fairly consistent catches of salmon on the beaches along with some tailor, whiting and bream.

Stay tuned for up to date weekly reports!

Good fishing!

14 October 2009:

With the Welcome Spring rains flushing out the local waterways, many of the estuarine species like Bream that require brackish to fresh water to spawn are travelling off the beaches and upstream to ‘work’ on the next generation of fish. Estuary Perch take their place now in the lower reaches of most estuaries this time of the year.

Bass have already spawned down in the salt and brackish and have made their way high into the fresh again, eager to hit a lure as the days warm up.

The Fat winter sand whiting are still around and getting ready for the annual Prawn run. Some healthy fish are already being taken on surface lures like Sammy’s and Poppers with live beach worm and nippers being the pick of the baits as always.

We have had intermittent schools of Salmon and Tailor harassing the whitebait population in the top lake all winter. Tolling or casting small metal slices and diving lures has been the best method with some sizable silver Trevalli being caught as by catch as they hang around under the carnage to pick up the scraps and lost baitfish.

Beach fishing has been consistent with Salmon up to 3kg early in the season. Tailor and the odd gummy have shown up as well. Flathead and bream have been mixing with the whiting in the gutters on main beach.

Reef fishing is starting to make a slow comeback with the rise in water temps with snapper, morwong and big leatherjacket being the main species and flathead coming back in numbers.

As the east coast Currant wanders south early in the season a few reports of Albacore have filtered through from those talking advantage of the breaks in the unsettled weather.

Kingfish have started to make a move with reports of a few travelling fish being sighted and hooked and the jigs have come out in anger already on the southern reefs.

Stay tuned for up to date weekly reports !

Good fishing !

Unfortunately the winds kept coming over last weekend and due to this no crews put to sea to fish the 2nd leg of the 18th Broadbill Tournament.

Lets hope that the winds do stop over the next few weeks as reports of bluefin up to 90 kilo have been reported. These fish are well over the shelf so we need perfect conditions to have a crack at them.

People that did go to sea had a great time on snapper fishing the inshore reefs both north and south of Merimbula.

Not a lot of big fish in amongst them but plate sized fish seemed to be encountered in numbers. Morwong and leatherjackets are also on the chew along with heaps of rubbish fish including barracouta.

Flathead have been very patchy but once found fish up to a kilo have been caught. Rock and beach fishing is still firing with plenty of salmon and tailor about and the local estuaries are still fishing great with bream, trevaly, salmon and tailor on the chew most days.

Michael Hampson and Darragh Reynolds are on bar duty this Friday night starting with happy hour 6.30 pm. Raffles and fishing report to be held during the night so bring a friend and come and enjoy a fun night at our Spencer Park clubrooms. Members and visitors al invited.

May your reel scream, Mex.