Luke from Leisure Coast Tackle at Corrimal said last weekends sensational weather was welcomed by our locals, but had a few holiday makers wishing they could have stayed here longer and extended the school holidays.
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Everyone seemed to make the most of it with lots of families fishing off the beaches and jetties around the lake and of course those offshore crews that loaded up the Bellambi ramp carpark.
The snapper bite was again a hit and miss affair with some doing quite well, but the majority saying it was a tough bite, with lots of current and tackle stealing barracouta and leather jackets making a real pest of themselves.
Those that reported good results, were fishing in relatively close with the 25 to 35-metre depth line producing some healthy reds to near 3kgs but not in any numbers.
Those same reports said best results were from sitting on the anchor and maintaining a solid to heavy burley trail to attract them and keep them interested.
Best results came both from jigging plastic on the bottom and a few floaters at various depths by using pea sinkers.
Those who went wider to the deeper reefs, found a few fish returns on the sounder, but did report it as being hard work, with the current and leather jackets forcing them to change tactics a fair few times to put a box of fish together. But blue water fishing has started to pick up and with great weather coming, the results should come flooding in.
No newsworthy reports from the game boats although a few scattered rumours of small yellowfin out off Browns Mountain and a couple of comments that southern bluefin were taken way down towards Eden.
The flathead drifts again turned it on with some exceptional fish being brought in, with big flatties and flounder as well as plenty of gummy sharks and quite a lot of red spot whiting to boot.
The southern deeper drifts were the better areas performance wise, but funnily enough there were quite a few reports from in close up off Stanwell Park and also Port Kembla beach.
- Email your high resolution fishing photos to Gary at gazwade@bigpond.com
Shellharbour shark challenge launches
Another date to lock into your calendar is the Shellharbour Game FC 'Shark Challenge' to be held over the weekend of Novembr 14-15.
There will be two categories most sharks as well as heaviest shark and please note all sharks classified under the GFAA rules not just makos, will be eligible.
Go to shellharbourgamefishing.com.au or call Mark 0432 072 259.
Have you checked your safety equipment?
A reminder for boat owners and skippers, to survey your on-board safety equipment, especially flares.
Flares signal that you are in trouble and provide an exact visual location for searching aircraft or vessels.
Ignite them only when rescuers are in your view so they can see where you are.
Current requirements are a minimum of two red hand flares (for night or day use) and two orange smoke flares (for day use) are required to be carried on all vessels operating in ocean waters, although some exemptions may apply.
These exemptions are at RMS.nsw.gov.au and follow the safety rules, modified equipment requirement link.
You should be able to locate and ignite the correct flare in total darkness.
Most flares have a use-by date of three years and they must be replaced before the expiry date.
Penalties apply if you do not carry valid flares and it is an offence to set off flares, except in an emergency.
The safe disposal of out-of-date flares is essential to avoid any injury from unintended or deliberate ignition in a non-emergency situation.
For more detailed information call 13 12 36.
Salmon, bream prove elusive
Even with the excellent conditions, the local rock fishing has slowed dramatically last weekend with all but a few saying the bite was non-existent from those chasing bream, drummer and black fish.
Most rock hoppers opted for constant casting metal slugs but after a fruitless hour, frustration kicked as the massive schools of salmon continued to pass by that were just a smidgen out of distance range.
A few boats reported the salmon schools had tailor and some rat kings amongst them and are a joy to catch on light gear and can make a bad trip a great one within a few casts. Beaches are still a tad quiet for all the bread and butter species with only a few reporting some good catches other than the ever present salmon and tailor.
No reports of a single mulloway sighting or capture, not even a single port jackson around.
Gone fishing day
Reminder to get involved in the ARFF National Gone Fishing Day on Sunday October 18, go to gonefishingday.com.au.
