Luke from Leisure Coast Bait and Tackle at Corrimal says yet another week of good fishing has been and gone, and there were some excellent tuna fishing had last week with acres of big fish in 40 fathoms off Kiama - yes, 40 fathoms.
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Yellowfin were sighted blowing up down off Kiama but were very flighty as boats tried approaching the schools.
The tuna caught were from 20 to 60 kilograms, but were quite fussy on what they were eating as they attacked vast schools of small pencil slimy mackerel.
They refused to take any sort of trolled lure longer than 100mm but preferred metal chromed slugs, or feathers. But some guys found excellent success with larger squidgy style lures that were cast, not trolled.
Earlier this week, those in the know cast stick baits into the boils and came up hard.
The reds were hungry again last week with a lot of good fish around the 3-4 kilogram mark coming in.
The majority were from the shallow reefs and were caught in the low light periods around dawn and dusk and soft plastics and jigs were again out fishing baits with 125/150mm plastics being the preferred size.
Drifting bait schools again has been the best method for finding them and in amongst the reds there have been some huge blue mowies trevally and plenty of the tasty pigfish to help round out a good box of fish.
The kings have still been about the islands but the size has dropped a tad with plenty of rats attacking just about everything thrown at them and before it has a chance to get to the better-sized kings lurking deeper down.
Rocks have still been producing plenty of big drummer and luderick on both weed and or peeled prawns, along with trevally and bream.
Plenty of salmon and tailor about the rocky points and headlands whilst throwing lures and metal slugs and some of the salmon are well and truly over the 4kg mark, which makes it great sport on the lighter gear.
There have been plenty of good-sized flatties getting about most beaches as well as bream and whiting.
Officers seize repeat offender on river
Fisheries officers were undertaking surveillance of the Murray River near Mildura weir earlier this month, which resulted in a repeat offender having his boat seized along with a quantity of fish and equipment.
It will be alleged a 53-year-old Melbourne man exceeded both the daily limit and possession limit for golden perch or yellowbelly, as well as taking a threatened silver perch. It's also alleged the man was using and in possession of more than two prohibited handheld lines.
Officers located 10 whole goldens plus a half-eaten yella in a cooking pot at the rear of the vessel. Upon further inspection, officers then located one silver that is highly protected and five rigged rods and lines on the floor of the vessel. Further search of the boat, the floor was unscrewed towards the bow, where the savvy offices located a further nine goldens that were willfully and intentionally concealed from sight or detection.
Read more: Benji's long goodbye something to savour
In addition, a sunken keeper net containing another six goldens was located that had been pegged to the bed of the river. After apprehending, the following were seized, including the boat; motor; trailer; 25 goldens between 38-51cm; one silver perch and two carp. Two fishing nets; a lead weight; dive belt weights; a fishing rod and espy were also taken into custody as evidence.
Golden perch have a daily limit of five and a possession limit of 10 per person. The department has no tolerance for recidivist offenders and will continue to target, apprehend, and prosecute these people who choose to flout our fishing rules and regulations. Report illegal fishing activity to Fishers Hotline on 1800 043 536.
Essential stocks under threat
NSW Fisheries Officers are currently conducting an investigation into the destruction of mangroves on the Central Coast as for the second time in two years, environmental vandalism has occurred along the water front at Hardies Bay.
It is alleged that on September 12 - sometime after sunset - a large number of mangroves were cut down adjacent to the marina. Mangroves including those around Lake Illawarra, are protected in NSW and form a vital part of the marine ecosystem providing essential habitat for fish stocks.
People can remain anonymous and contact the Fisherswatch hotline on 1800043536 with info.
People are also reminded to express their opinions on the proposed Animal Welfare Reform Discussion Paper that has NOT been adequately consulted with key stakeholders, including recreational fishers. The proposed changes to definitions of cruelty and harm could affect how we fish. You can complete a short 30 second e-petition to oppose the proposed changes.
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