Big seas conspired against much fishing out wide last weekend but there have been reports of gummy shark north of Camel Rock and snapper down at Goalen Head in around 30m of water.
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A more recent report came in mid-week from Narooma fishing charter skipper John Moore who took a couple of locals out for a “play day” on the reefs east of Tuross in 60 metres.
Even though he is not usually on the rod end but rather on the helm, John still managed to land a rather nice snapper. Well-known Narooma local “man about town” Randall Setzer also landed the boat’s first kingfish for the season, although it was almost too small to call a “king” fish!
They ended up with 15 legal reddies and a mixed bag of flathead, nannygai, pigfish and morwong. The water temp was 15.5c and there was no current.
John also reports there were still plenty of small barracouta around - great snapper bait, and despite what you might hear, they are not bad to eat when fresh, if you can handle the bones, he said.
Down at Bermagui, there were more recent reports of mixed bags from the deep, where the water was green, 15 degrees with about a knot of tide running downhill with plenty of whales, seals and dolphins, according to the staff at Bermi Bait & Tackle.
Shop chef Kevin Facey went out to 150'40 and the water jumped up to 18.2 degrees for one albacore at that stage. Plenty of striped tuna about inside that.
The boys on 'Black Jack' landed a bluefin tuna and lost another this week and long liners pulled good fish from Montague south to below Tathra. One boat with 130 fish.
Meanwhile on the estuary front, one local fisho landed a cracking estuary perch in the Bermagui River among some more quality bream and flathead
Up at Moruya, tackle shop owner Graham reports some good size bream are moving in and out of the Moruya river mouth at the moment. The best way to target them is casting metal vibes and/or Cranka Crabs in the deep channel and along the rockwall.
Quarry Wharf is still holding good schools of Tailor. Pilchards, blue bait and whitebait have all been working well. Estuary perch are still hitting the surface early morning and late afternoon around the hospital rocks area.
In the Tuross River, Graham says the timber snags west of the highway bridge are holding some decent perch and bream. Plastics are very effective on a lightly weighted jig head.
The whiting have slowed down a little but a few are still being caught around the Fourways area, particularly on a run-out tide. Fresh baits such as worms and nippers are a must.
Good numbers of flathead are being caught down towards the front of the system on the sandflats but most being just undersized. Be sure to measure all your fish carefully.
On the rocks and beaches, drummer have been coming in off the rocks at One Tree Point using cunjevoi as bait.
Some big bream and the odd whiting are being caught off the beaches at both Tuross and North heads. Beach worms and peeled prawns have been the bait of choice.
Moruya breakwall is the place to go for salmon and tailor. Casting metal slugs off the wall has been working great this week.
Back at Narooma there have also been reports of Australian salmon off Kianga Beach, now that the seas have settled.
Now here’s some information from Narooma Sport and Gamefishing Club publicity officer Jan Hemmingsen:
The Narooma Sport and Gamefishing club AGM will be held at 4pm on Friday, August, 25 at the clubhouse, 25 Riverside Drive, Narooma followed by a presentation night. It has been a huge year for our Club, and next year will be even bigger with our 50th anniversary. This is a milestone rarely reached by any club, especially a community Fishing Club, from humble beginnings at Mystery Bay launching boats from the beach to our present day club overlooking beautiful Forsters bay.
“I would like to again extended a welcome to all the new faces at the club and a thank you to the outgoing committee for all the hard work as well as all the members for their help and support over the last 12 months.”
Meanwhile club president Les Waldock said; “The club’s history in Narooma and among the fishing circles, with the fish captures, the competitions and the ‘names’ that have fished or made their name through our club and ANSA (Australian National Sportfishing Club) is legendary. Up to 2000 fishers attended our Conventions in the 80’s and 90’s, putting Narooma and Montague Island on the map.
“Having said all the above, we survive today in the same clubhouse we have called home for nearly 40 years. Loyal and stoic members are just as passionate about the club today as they were in the club’s heyday. New members embrace the club and enjoy the atmosphere, the location and what the club offers. 50 years is a great milestone and one, as president, I’m honoured and humbled to be part of.
“The ANSA Convention in March 2018 should and will be the highlight of our calendar year. Planning will start as soon as our AGM is done and dusted. Whether you are on the Committee or not, I’m hoping and asking that you can help in the preparation of a huge week which will take in the Convention in March 2018.”