FISHING REPORT JANUARY WEEK 3 2024

790 mm dusky flathead caught off the bank at Tathra.  Big girl released to be caught another day.

First, I would like to thank Chris Young for his many years of fishing article writing.  Happy retirement Chris.

Outside inshore is fishing very well.  With good numbers of sand and tiger flathead in depths of 40 to 60 metres, all the way along the coast from Tathra down to Leonards Island.  The odd gummy shark and flying gurnard are also being caught in those depths. Best baits are salmon and mackerel fillets. 

The waters inshore have cooled a bit this week and the reefs are fishing well, with good numbers of morwong and some large nannygai and fewer snapper, at only pan size.  The Horsheshoe reef and Leonards Island are the best areas to fish.  There are plenty of slimy mackerel to be found at the Haycock reef system, so get out and stock up on bait supplies while they are around.

Game fishing is starting to come to life with MBGLAC Inc. club member, Tyrone O’Connor, tagging our first marlin for the year north of Tathra.  The water is good at around 22 degrees on the shelf, but the current is strong and heading south.  The best water is between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay at the moment.

Our estuaries should be firing, with the prawning tides being low at daylight.  So, fresh prawns or nippers should be great bait for the dusky flathead, trevally, bream and whiting.  Merimbula Lake and Bega River are the standout systems.  Merimbula Wharf is producing some nice blackfish early mornings and dusk daily.  For those squid enthusiasts, these are still around the Wharf also.

Salmon can be found on most beaches and the odd tailor early mornings.  Best caught while fishing the rising tide with pilchard baits. Casting on the edges, of the white water, in the deeper gutters with shiner lures of around 40g will also produce some good catches.  Salmon can also be found trawling around the headlands at a speed of around 6 knots, using 75mm skirted lures.

Coming events for fishos to look out for are the Dusky challenge, February 10th and 11th and the Brogo Big Bass February 23rd -25th.  Check out the details on the website at mbglac.com.au.

In closing, the MBGLAC clubrooms at Spencer Park are open at 6pm every Friday for members and guests to come down, for a bevvy, some nibbles, a great chat, and fabulous raffles supported by Goodalls Butchers, Merimbula.

Fishy Fellow

FISHING REPORT FOR WEEK COMMENCING 8 JANUARY 2023

Gala Charity Fishing Competition an Outstanding Success.

Sunday 7 January; Shane Mayberry President MBGLAC passes over its $2,590 cheque to Peter Reid Chair Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast.

In its new format following the Covid years the Clubs four day Gala Charity Fishing Competition was an outstanding success with a total of 144 entries including 22 from juniors.  All monies paid for entry ($2,590) were donated to the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast Charity “homes for the homeless”.   Following on from this success there is little doubt that next year there will be an even greater number of entries. 

As well as supporting charity every entry was included in the draw for a Hobie Compass Kayak donated by Boss Outdoors Merimbula and Raine & Horne Merimbula.  Congratulations to the lucky winner Garry Stilling of Merimbula.  Congratulations also to Samantha Trewin who won the special ladies prize donated by Judith Grill of Inverell being a pair of cut and polished Inverell sapphires awarded for the greatest number of different fish species caught during the competition.  The event was supported by Lions of Pambula’s magnificent BBQ, Marine Rescue of Merimbula and by DPI Biosecurity & Food Safety Officer Nathan Higgins from Wollongong who donated heaps of DPI fishing materials. The Club sincerely thanks its local business sponsors whose overwhelming support made everything possible. 

Catches of lovely snapper and morwong are reported from White Rock out of Kianniny together with abundant good size slimy mackerel.  Try Long Point and Haycock also Lennards Island and Boyds Tower.  These reef fish are reacting to pilchards and squid as well as soft plastics and metal jigs.  Ocean flathead, both sand and tiger continue to excite along the coast from north of Kianinny to Lennards Island and past Boyds Tower at Eden. Try at 15-18 fathoms. Bag out is the name of the game.

Luderick continue to run early and late at the Merimbula Fishing Platform.  Good size trevally and calamari squid are about in the evenings.  Best bait for the trevally is prawn.  Australian salmon and tailor visit the wharf and some fine specimens have been taken. The salmon are also prolific along our headlands and beaches and good catches are reported from Tura, Haycock and Aslings Beaches.

In Merimbula Lake there are quantities of trevally and both locals and visitors have been enjoying good catches, some outstanding fish measuring over 600mm.     In the top lake dusky flathead and trevally predominate.  

Mogareeka remains the local mecca for very large dusky flathead although the Bega River waters still contain lots of flood debris.  Congratulations to Alan Wilkins of Tura Beach who presented an outstanding dusky of 880mm for the Gala Charity fishing competition.  Alan landed this fish at Mogareeka using an 18cm swim bait. Naturally it was released after it was photographed on a DPI brag mat.  Pambula reports good tailor, trevally and a few dusky flathead.  

This Friday 12 January the Club will be open from 6.00pm.  Visitors to the Club are very welcome.  Come one and all and enjoy the Clubs ambience, friendship and lovely views.  There is also the ever popular raffle and fishing report together with very competitive bar prices. 

Club stalwart Darragh Reynolds is your scheduled host.  Membership application, membership renewal and everything you need to know about local fishing is available on the Club’s website  www.mbglac.com.au.

Keep Your Rod Bent!

FISHING REPORT FOR WEEK COMMENCING 1 JANUARY 2024

Our first 2024 New Years report for Sapphire Coast Angling.

Alex Bell visiting from Goondiwindi shows a lovely Trevally taken with a small metal jig in Merimbula Lake off Fishpen.

Big ocean flathead, both sand and tiger are now reporting from shallower waters in the 15 fathom range making the morning bag out catch just that bit easier than before when the fish were at 20 plus fathoms.  

Along with the flathead are occasionally good size butterfly gurnard – great eating!  Ocean flathead are available along the coast from north of Kianniny to Lennards Island and past Boyds Tower at Eden.  Catches of snapper and morwong are reported from both Long Point and Haycock, try also Lennards Island and Boyds Tower. 

These reef fish are reacting to pilchards and squid as well as soft plastics and metal jigs.

Good size trevally and calamari squid are about at the Merimbula Fishing Platform in the evenings.  Best bait for the trevally is fresh chicken.  Luderick continue to run early morning and evening. 

Australian salmon and tailor visit the wharf and some fine specimens have been taken. The salmon are also prolific along our beaches and good catches are reported from Tura, Haycock and Aslings Beaches.

In Merimbula Lake there are quantities of trevally and both locals and visitors have been enjoying good catches in the 40cm range.  Best results near the change of tide.  Kingfish remain available in the lake with some fine examples landed near the bridge.  In the top lake dusky flathead and trevally predominate. 

Best area to fish is the drop off along the east edge of the lake out from the oyster leases.  There is a slot limit for duskies and all those under 36cm and over 70cm must be released.  

Mogareeka is the local mecca for very large dusky flathead, bream and trevally although the Bega River waters are full of flood debris and remain a little muddy.  Pambula reports good tailor, trevally and a few dusky flathead.  

For entries into the Gala Charity Fishing Competition the Clubhouse will be open from 4.30pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday 2 January.    Entries may also be made at Boss Outdoors Merimbula situated opposite the Merimbula Marina near the Lakeview Hotel up until Midday Saturday 6 January or at the MBGLAC Clubhouse in Spencer Park on Friday 6 January from 6.30pm.   Visitors to the Club are very welcome.  Come one and all and enjoy the Clubs ambience, friendship and lovely views. 

There is also the club raffle, the fishing report together with very competitive bar prices.  Club stalwart Darragh Reynolds is your scheduled host.  Membership application, membership renewal and everything you need to know about local fishing is available on the Club’s website  www.mbglac.com.au.

Keep Your Rod Bent!

FISHING REPORT FOR WEEK COMMENCING 25 DECEMBER 2023

A Special Christmas Day Report for Sapphire Coast Anglers.

8yr old Riley Holley of Milligandi shows his utterly magnificent 91cm Dusky Flathead taken on bait from his father Lucas Holley’s boat in the Merimbula Channel just down from the Merimbula Marina.

Offshore the first of the annual marlin run is eagerly anticipated with striped tuna already on the chew.  Big ocean flathead, both sand and tiger remain at depth along the coast from north of Kianniny to Lennards Island and past Boyds Tower at Eden, especially for those prepared to fish deep at 25-30 fathoms.  Bag out is the name of the game. 

Catches of lovely snapper and morwong are reported from both Long Point and Haycock, try also Lennards Island and Boyds Tower.  These reef fish are reacting to pilchards and squid as well as soft plastics and metal jigs.

Luderick continue to run early and late at the Merimbula Fishing Platform and what beauties they are with most more than 40cm in length (legal size 27cm).  This is the first good December run for some years now and may be attributed to the burgeoning regrowth of kelp since the Club’s orchestrated sea urchin cull. 

Good size trevally and calamari squid are about in the evenings.  Best bait for the trevally is fresh chicken.  Australian salmon and tailor visit the wharf and some fine specimens have been taken. The salmon are also prolific along our beaches and good catches are reported from Tura, Haycock and Aslings Beaches.

 In Merimbula Lake there are quantities of trevally and both locals and visitors have been enjoying good catches in the 40cm range.  Congratulations to member Matt Wamsley for his 50cm trevally taken at Spencer Park.  Kingfish remain available in the lake with some fine examples landed near the bridge.  In the top lake  dusky flathead and trevally predominate.  Best area to fish is the drop off along the east edge of the lake out from the oyster leases.  There is a slot limit for duskies and all those over 70cm must be released.  

Mogareeka is the local mecca for very large dusky flathead and trevally although the Bega River waters remain a little muddy.  Pambula reports good tailor, trevally and a few dusky flathead.  

This Friday 29 December the Club will be open from 4.30pm for entries into the Gala Charity Fishing Competition.  Visitors to the Club are very welcome.  Come one and all and enjoy the Clubs ambience, friendship and lovely views. 

There is also the fishing report together with very competitive bar prices.  Club stalwart Darragh Reynolds is your scheduled host.  Membership application, membership renewal and everything you need to know about local fishing is available on the Club’s website  www.mbglac.com.au.

Keep Your Rod Bent!

FISHING REPORT FOR WEEK COMMENCING 18DECEMBER 2023

Happy Christmas for Sapphire Coast Anglers.

Leanne Hoath of Merimbula shows her first ever metal jig Morwong catch
and what a beauty it is.

With offshore temperatures up to and above 20 degrees the first of the marlin are eagerly awaited. There are some big ocean flathead, both sand and tiger, along the coast from north of Kianniny to Lennards Island and past Boyds Tower at Eden, especially for those prepared to fish deep at 25-30 fathoms.  Bag out is the name of the game.  Some good catches of snapper and morwong are reported from both Long Point and Haycock, try also Lennards Island and Boyds Tower.  These reef fish are reacting to pilchards and squid as well as soft plastics and metal jigs.

Luderick have arrived at the Merimbula Fishing Platform and what beauties they are with some more than 45cm in length (legal size 27cm).  This is the first good December run for some years now and may be attributed to the burgeoning regrowth of kelp since the Club’s orchestrated sea urchin cull.  Good size trevally and calamari squid are about in the evenings.

 In Merimbula Lake there are quantities of trevally and both locals and visitors have been enjoying good catches in the 40cm range.  Last weeks mention of kingfish in the lake has been confirmed with some fine examples landed near the bridge.  In the top lake some magnificent dusky flathead have been caught and released.  There is a slot limit for duskies and all over 70cm must be released.  

Mogareeka is the local mecca for very large dusky flathead and trevally.  Reports of some fine mulloway continue, note those below 70cm are undersize.  Pambula reports good tailor and trevally and a few dusky flathead.  

We are getting closer to the Clubs Annual New Year Gala Charity Fishing Competition; January 3 to 6 inclusive with entry open to all from Boss Outdoors and the Club.  The Presentation will on Sunday 7 January at Spencer Park.  .All entry monies will go to charity; the Social Justice Advocates  “Homes for the Homeless”.  Every entry also becomes a ticket in the lucky draw for a Hobie Compass Kayak donated by Boss Outdoor.  There are 13 species in the competition and 26 prizes overall for seniors and juniors.  The Club sincerely thanks its local business sponsors whose support has been simply overwhelming.  

This Friday 22 December the Club will be open from 6.00pm and visitors to the Club are very welcome.  Come one and all and enjoy the Clubs ambience, friendship and lovely views.  There is also the fishing report together with very competitive bar prices.  Club stalwart Darragh Reynolds is your scheduled host.  Membership application, membership renewal and everything you need to know about local fishing is available on the Club’s website  www.mbglac.com.au.

Keep Your Rod Bent!