Fishing Australia

SOUTH COAST MARLIN

The striped marlin action has been running hot and cold. For example boats fishing off Batemans Bay earlier last week tagged 8 marlin in a day and just a few days later the word had spread and good weather saw dozens of boats fishing along the south coast. Interestingly most missed out and many blamed the poor fishing on a change in the water; in particular a raging East Australian Current that was pushing as fast as 4 knots at times!

That’s marlin fishing in a nutshell, it can change on a daily basis. The only thing I can suggest is that you have to be in it to win it, and as Autumn sets in proper it is usually the best time for striped marlin as the currents and bait fish typically settle down into a more steady and predicable pattern. That and Autumn can produce some excellent weather; so keep your eye on the weather forecasts and sea surface currents and prey to the marlin gods before heading out.

LBG AND INSHORE KAYAKING

Land based game fishos have also had it hit or miss with warm north easterly’s typically producing better fishing than the cold southerly changes when even rustling up a slimy mackerel can be hard. When you are fishing from the stones you can only wait and hope that good current lines push in close enough to your spot, and when they do they have had the goods.

Kingfish to 80 cm, lots of frigate mackerel, some XL bonito to 5 kg and even the occasional cobia have all been reported. Meanwhile in some instances Kayak anglers have been able to paddle a couple of hundred meters out to meet the current line and enjoy the fishing it brings. Similar species to those being caught off the rocks have been bagged, along with a few good sized snapper and mowies which are great fun on light tackle and make for good table fare. White colored Slam Baits which are loaded with bio luminous fish products are a consistent producer of quality fish early and late in the day or when fishing deeper water.

ESTUARIES

Peter Gicesku and Mile Cuturic report they had a wonderful stay down at Hanging Rock and fished out of the nearby boat ramp.
The lads used carp strips and pilchard heads on a running sinker rig and had no problem catching good numbers of bream to 40 cm and flathead to 65 cm. They started at the river mouth and fished as far up as Chainman’s Point.

CANBERRA LAKES

Mike Van Diemen reports that as waters begin to clear up after the recent drenching the fishing is improving significantly. Anglers targeting golden perch are at times experiencing some of the best fishing in years with reports of multiple catches in a single session. Lake Tuggeranong in particular has produced as many as 5 or more golden perch per afternoon for some lucky anglers.

Casting out from the shoreline or trolling in 2-5 meters of water with noisy bib less minnows such as clacking raps is proving irresistible to perch. Canberra lakes are, in places, limited in the amount of structure for perch so any visible or sounder located structure is worth a cast or two. Alternately try along the deeper edges of the weed beds or along the dam walls where allowed.

If it is a cod you’re after then Gungahlin Lakes have produced some good fishing. Casting from Kayaks into weed beds with lightly weighted spinnerbaits and retrieving them back towards deeper waters, whilst keeping contact with the bottom, is proving deadly.

Some people are unfortunately abusing the good fishing, Andy Ragg wrote in to inform me that some groups are taking well beyond their bag limits of cod, which is a pity; greed can easily spoil fishing for everyone, and might also dim the bright future of these lakes.

SNOWIES

At Lakes Jindabyne and Eucumbene there has been some variable rainbow trout fishing. There has been numerous reports of anglers using bait, lure or fly techniques for good results one day and then nothing the next despite all the variables being the same-except that the fish are not there! Rainbow trout can be highly mobile schooling species, so at times a bit of good old fashioned luck is needed to cross paths with them.

Rob Paxevanos