Narooma charter skipper John Moore reported earlier this week that the current had stopped overnight, but the water temp has risen to just under 17c. He took Billy and his mates from Canberra to Montague Island and the micro jig was absolutely killing the fish.
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The micro jig caught a wide variety of fish, including a double-header of snapper and silver trevally. A tip is that most micro jigs don't have a bottom or “stinger” hook. “Fishing should stay good for the rest of this moon cycle, with this weekend being very promising, with a high tide mid-morning - all we have to hope for is a bit of current for the kings to turn up, and if it doesn't the snapper etc should be excellent fishing,” John reports.
On Sunday, John had quick trip to Montague Island followed by a troll around the reefs to the south of the island resulted in his first legal king (70cm) for the season. There were massive schools of slimies and small whitebait, being hammered by massive flocks of mutton birds. One local Narooma recreational boat landed seven legal kings on jigs. Live bait and squid weren't working at all.
Fellow Narooma charter skipper Nick Cowley also reported that there were a few legal kingfish at Montague Island over the weekend and plenty of rats. “Not huge fish but the best fish we saw was 75cm over the weekend, good early start to the season and things should only keep picking up!”
Graham Herbert at Moruya reports with the warmer weather rolling in, the water temperature in the rivers and estuaries is slowly rising and the fish are becoming a little more active.
Tuross River system has been fishing well for flathead, from the sand flats near the river mouth all the way up to Four-Ways and beyond.
Plastics, as well as live poddy mullet and bait are also working well. Bream are on the bite around the edges of the oyster leases.
On the beaches, salmon and tailor are being caught along most beaches using both pilchards and blue bait.
NSGFC report – Members of Narooma Sport and Gamefishing Club were very active over the October long weekend. Big night at the clubhouse Friday evening with hamburgers on the menu. Saturday was the Wagonga Inlet outing with members Pete Rando and Ben James braving the big winds and getting their bag limit, catching some nice tailor to 41cms. Barracouta are still in the inlet. All fish were caught on the troll.
Members Pete Rando, Les Waldock, Karen and David Maltby all fished the South Coast Big Bonanza Tournament, run by Tomakin Fishing Club, over the weekend. They caught morwong, snapper, pigfish, nannygai, bream, tailor, flathead, estuary perch and barracouta over the three-day tournament.
Karen Maltby won two ANSA awards, winning the Ladies section and also Longest Snapper in the Length Only Division. Pete Rando won Longest Tailor in the Length Only and second placed with his flathead. Narooma Sport and Gamefishing Club were declared winners of the ANSA Competition to become the inaugural club champions. Well done to everyone.
The challenge is now well and truly out there for other ANSA clubs to come and join us for our 50th ANSA convention in March, which we hope to make it a big one. As usual the clubroom will be open for fish stories, drinks and snacks from 4pm till 9pm on Friday. Visitors welcome. – Jan Hemmingsen
Stan Gorton
Walkley-nominated journalist based at The Islander on Kangaroo Island with an interest in the local community and the environment.
Walkley-nominated journalist based at The Islander on Kangaroo Island with an interest in the local community and the environment.
