Luke from Leisure Coast Bait & Tackle at Corrimal agreed early wet summer weather predicted due to the changing El Nina weather pattern is well and truly living up to its name.
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The gloomy, wet, muggy weather that has set in for the past couple of weeks has dampened spirits.
But if you don't mind getting the wet-weather gear out, there are plenty of fish no matter what you're chasing.
Again, some good reds were found last week with plenty of 3-to-4kg fish coming in but almost 90 per cent came from the deep, with the shallower reefs only providing a couple of good reds.
The better fish were caught between 60-to-100 metres depths and were all holed up under the vast amount of prevalent bait.
Dropping your baits, plastics or jigs around the edges of the bait balls has been having the best success with no standout winner on techniques.
However, get your hooks through the bait and it shouldn't be long until you hook up.
Kingfish are still about in good numbers.
Quite a few customers said that while the majority of them aren't huge, there were still some proper hoodlums amongst them toweling up quite a few anglers last week as soon as they dropped back to the light gear.
Fish to one metre were found around the islands and bommies, with many customers telling us and showing us sounder shots of the masses of fish hanging about our local waters.
Frustratingly these fish are - and have been - super fussy from day to day, one day can produce some of the best fishing you would hope to see and the next you'll struggle to get a bite while watching hordes of fish on the sounder.
Flathead drifts were producing quality fish with little to no tackle. Stealing pests still lurked but the better fish came up from deeper drifts of 50-70m.
Beaches are fishing well for salmon and tailor both at dawn and dusk.
The bream and whiting that were so prolific recently have slowed a little but are still there with worms the weapon of choice.
Website: www.reeldealfishing.com.au Email: gazwade@bigpond.com
Crab-trap looters fined; boat confiscated
Three men have lost their boat - and 43 mud crabs allegedly stolen from recreational and commercial traps following an operation by NSW DPI fisheries officers and NSW Police Marine Area Command on NSW's north coast.
All the muddies were returned alive and two of the men have since been issued penalty notices totalling $2200.
The other man is expected to face multiple charges in court.
Legal bag limit for mud crab in NSW is five per person and the minimum size limit is 8.5 centimetres carapace length. All recreational fishers must comply with these limits.
Fishers must not interfere with commercial or recreational fishing apparatus including crab traps marked and identified as belonging to another fisher. Stealing from another person's crab traps is illegal.
For more information about fishing rules and regulations in NSW go to: https://fal.cn/3f9QX
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Reminder for any anglers who would like to know more about Shellharbour game fishing club, they will be holding an open meeting next Friday, November 19 at Warilla Bowling Club from 7pm in the Sapphire Room upstairs. Give Mark a call on 0411 707 552 or club's facebook page and website.
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Applications for the next round of Recreational Fishing Trust Grants close on December 3. Grants are available for both large projects (above $10,000) and smaller ones (below $10,000).
Forms are available at https://bit.ly/3Ers2MD
Email recreational.fishingtrust@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Citizen science program a winner
You may hear the term "citizen science" being used more often these days, but what does it actually mean.
For DPI Fisheries scientists, "citizen science" allows them to tap into the knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm of the recreational fishing sector to collect key data to improve fishery performance and enhance angling opportunities.
Data collection involves researchers working with anglers, fishing tournaments and comps, completing diaries or using apps.
NSW freshwater fisheries citizen science has primarily involved programs like 'Basscatch' and newly-formed 'Codcatch'.
These programs aim to obtain scientifically rigorous catch-and-effort data from anglers to help them understand and better manage our fisheries.
Simply, it's all about anglers working with DPI/Fisheries to improve fisheries so everyone can hopefully catch more fish. For more info on citizen science programs, check out https://fal.cn/3iOnn or email fish.stocking@dpi.nsw.gov.au
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