Areasonable weekend of weather across the Limestone Coast allowed plenty of fishos the opportunity to get on the water.
After a few weeks of being kept on dry land, the offshore crew were glad to get back out there and there was plenty of nice fish caught.
The sea and wind both backed off nicely over the weekend and allowed the boaties back on the water.
There were some lovely fish caught by the bottom bouncers whose freezers must be almost empty.
The shark fishing was excellent, with gummy and school shark both boated.
Adam Sims and crew boated plenty of tasty reef fish and some nice sharks out of the big Stabicraft on Sunday, Graeme Ploenges boated a pair of nice sharks from the Blackfellows Caves area on Sunday also, and on Saturday, Brett Rowntree and crew boated a nice mixed bag of bottom fish from the Cape Jaffa area, with a nice mixed bag of whiting, flathead, gummy shark and a monster school shark of 30kg plus.
There has not been any tuna news locally this week, and I think even Portland has been quiet, but I know back over the other side of Melbourne, the run of big fish is continuing over there, so there’s every chance those fish turn and come our way again.
The surf fishos have been into the salmon again this week, and the honey hole has still been the Beachport salmon hole.
The size has been pretty good, with most being that 1kg – 2kg size.
Some fishos have said the salmon have been a long way out and really hugging the reef, but with a well-balanced set up, hitting the distance should not be too much of a problem.
They have been coming in closer just on dark, so if you’re not quite getting there, that’s your time to shine.
I have not heard of too much other beach fishing other than the salmon chasers from the last week or so, but now is usually the time that those in the know start thinking Coorong.
We have seen it in the past, it’s not uncommon for fishos to land 10 or more gummy shark in a session up there, and it’s about the time we see the first run of reasonable mulloway kick off, so I would not mind betting we will have some Coorong reports in the not-too-distant future.
Northerly winds over the weekend were a delight for the garfishos among us, with plenty
of fish caught by the land-based anglers and boaties.
The size has remained excellent again this week, as has the numbers.
The usual haunts are all fishing well, such as Hutt Bay, Cape Douglas and Livingstons Bay, but the other areas such as Racecourse Bay, Nene Valley and Pelican Point are also productive too.
Boaties fishing in Livingstons Bay over the weekend found a handful of squid between them, although the water was not as clear as most had hoped for.
Whiting fishos have started the season off with a few nice catches so far.
I have heard of fish from Green and Danger Points, Port Mac Breakwater, Hutt Bay and Carpenter Rocks just to kick us off.
The average size has been quite impressive so far, with plenty of those 40cm plus fish that we love.
It’s still very early in the season so to see catches like this already is fabulous.
Beachport, Southend, Robe and Cape Jaffa are other places worth having a crack, both out of the boats and off the town jetty, it’s always good to get a few early ones.
The Glenelg River was a buzz with boaties over the weekend, with lots in search of the big mulloway we all know are there.
They have got lock jaw at the moment it seems, but there are plenty of bream and perch to pass the time.
Local gun Kobi Rothall however did manage one cracker last week in Nelson, a beauty at 110cm.
The river is still very dirty from the water coming down from upstream, and it looks like it’ll be sticking around for a little while longer.
Flicking the edges of the estuary with deep diving minnows or soft plastics is a great way to get a bite at the minute, so keep mobile until you find the fish, then keep on the move once they have slowed down.
There is still a hefty amount of water being pushed upriver when the tide is on its way in, and at times you can really see the defined line where the salt meets the fresh.
That area is always worth a look with your lures.
The forecast for this next week is a bit breezy, but there does not seem to be any surprises coming in the swell height.
The weekend is a possibility for the offshore guys, but the rest all seems fine.
Until next week, safe fishing!
