Things are looking up after all that rain helped to rejuvenate the estuaries and inland systems, while massive, bigger-than-normal kingfish continue to make a showing at Montague Island.
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Matt Betts working as a pro fisherman got into the big kings at Montague Island last week. The fish were all in close to the north end in only 12 metres of water. And there were reports the big kings were still there this week.
The boys from Charter Fish Narooma had a great day on Monday reporting on their Facebook page: “What a day on the water, bagged out on solid kingies at Montague island up to the meter mark followed by a good session on some dolphin fish topped off with a 2-hour session fishing for marlin managing a solid 120 to 130kgs striped marlin before heading in!”
The also had a hot session on Sunday on the kingfish with one fish pushing the 10kgs mark.
Bermi Bait & Tackle on Tuesday also reported kingfish and marlin remain in good numbers. Malory Nankervis and friends had a solid session at Montague Island on the jig. “Most customers landed a few legal fish around the Fowl House and in on the shallows. Not much tide there today. Live baits and strip baits also worked well. Marlin bite was good east of the 12 Mile again and south to Bunga. The bite was better in the afternoon for some.”
Tim Andrews of Tuross Head sent in a pic of one the Australian bass he has been catching up at Yaragee on the Moruya River. With all the rain we've had, he reckons some bass have come up quite far in the Moruya River! Certainly “a surprising bit of bycatch”.
“It's normally quite salty and full of flathead and whiting but I'd say the Deua River has pushed the fresh water closer to town,” Tim reports.
Graham from Team Tackle World Moruya sent his usual detailed report and it sounds like it's worth making the journey to his neck of the woods.
Moruya River – Great catches of bream are being caught throughout the river using freshly pumped nippers or mullet fillets. For the lure tosses CRANKA crabs are working around the rocky edges with surface lures like the Panic Prawns and Suga Pens are catching fish on the flats down the front of the system. Shallow diving hard bodies like Atomic Hardz Crank 38 and Prolure 36 Crank are also working over the weed beds. Flathead are being caught from Ryans Creek down to Preddys Wharf drifting live poddies or throwing soft plastics like the 100mm Bloodworm Wrigglers.
Tuross - Tuross is starting to fire back up as the dirty water clears with flathead up to 86cm and bream to 34cm caught in the recent comp. Graham and Jack had a good session the other day in catching flathead and bream on surface poppers with plenty of bream around the oyster leases. Jewies are still being caught in the deeper holes down the front with some reports of a few fish being caught above the highway bridge.
Rocks and Beaches – Great reports this week of large tailor and salmon being caught off the breakwall using Strada Howler 120mm stick baits. Squid are being caught up around Broulee with some big drummer being caught around Moruya Heads and also down around the Bingie area. Bream and whiting are being caught along most beaches, find a deep gutter and use fresh beach worms for best results.
Offshore – The seas haven't been too friendly of late, but now that they have settled down good numbers of sand flathead are being caught from Broulee down to Congo - squid and fish bait are your best choice. Out wider on the reefs, snapper, mowies, pigfish and sharks are coming in.
Graham also sent us a freshwater report from Josh at Tackle World Goulburn:
Wyangla Dam – Mixed results over the weekend, with Josh spending both Saturday and Sunday up the Abercrombie with little to show for his efforts - one lonely cod and a few carp using Gangster Mother Froggers and Jackal tn60s. Des and Josh White fared much better fishing the Lachlan spinning the edges with 3/4oz Mother Froggers landing two very nice cod in the 80cm bracket. If heading to the dam the Lachlan is your best bet trolling big spinner baits or casting smaller ones from the bank will serve you well. There’s no shortage of hungry carp - good opportunity to clean up a few try fishing for them on fly - it's a blast!
Pejar Dam – Bit quiet this week with very few reports mainly due to the change in pressure. Only one fish reported this week - a nice rainbow trout caught below the old church off St Stephens road using Powerbait. No Bass reported. With the weather change and a rising barometer this weekend spells fish. The bass will be hitting poppers early morning and late evening, I would suggest breaking out the Tiemco Soft Cicadas. Time to dust off the fly rod and break out some nymphs or streamers for a few trout in the shallows.
Wollondilly River – More good reports of both Murray cod and silvers in the lower reaches near the boatshed. James Wilkins reported two cod both around 40cm using a No2 Stumpjumper. The redfin are still being caught in numbers in most parts of the river and ponds. If fishing for reddies this weekend, try a Finesse Stumpjumper around the weed edges - if your after cod, a No2 Stumpjumper will bring success.
NSGFC president’s report on Narooma ANSA Convention
A total of 140 fishers, from 11 clubs, fished the Australian National Sportfishing Association Convention this year, travelling from as far as Lakes Entrance, Newcastle and Corowa. Once again, over 300 fish were recorded, 90 per cent being catch and release. A big East Coast Low prevented many boats from fishing Montague Island and beyond. Boats that did go east, caught marlin, mahi mahi and striped tuna.
Alana Hirs, fishing from dad’s boat, ‘On Strike’, recorded her first striped marlin, weighing in at 72kg. This fish took out the Gamefishing Division of the tournament, the only marlin weighed. Alana also tagged several mahi mahi and the next day caught and tagged her second striped marlin, taking out the Tagging Division.
In the Estuaries, a battle royale occurred for both Senior and Junior Catch and Release divisions. With a point a centimetre awarded to every legal fish caught, measured and released as well as 50 points per fish entered, several gun fishers caught lots of bream and flathead accumulating massive points.
In the Senior Section, Peter Higgs from Malabar Boat Owners Club on 1376 points kept out a fast finishing Rob Burke from Team OTY. The Junior Section was just as close with last year’s champ, Team OTY’s Cameron Spooner being chased down and passed by two Narooma Junior’s, Stephie Ovington and first time entrant, Digger Cowie. Stephie finished the tournament strongly, accumulating a massive 1804 points to win.
In total, 16 different divisions were won, many by different club members, making the final tallies extremely close. In third place were the hard fishing members of Team OTY, probably pre-tournament favourites, with 12 points.
Canberra FC again excelled in the Beach Division but with the Rocks wiped out by the big seas and only a few members to spread the load, a very credible second place with 15 points being achieved. This year’s Champion Club, and retaining last year’s position, was host club Narooma Sport and Gamefishing Club, accumulating 27 points.
The catering was great with the ladies and guys cooking up a storm for all meals, including some great marlin steaks. A friendly, competitive and very happy atmosphere occurred all weekend and with Narooma looking stunning as usual, a successful weekend was had, we hope, by all.
Many thanks to our major sponsor, Direct Plasterboard Outlet and to the all of our great and loyal sponsors who contributed to the weekend. Without your support this would not happen. Thank you to all who attended and we truly hope to see you all, next year, on the same dates, March 9-11, 2018. – Les Waldock, NSGFC president
