Local member, Geoffrey McMahon caught this beautiful 70 centimetre snapper last week fishing out of Eden using a bream rod trying to catch some sweep whilst burleying on the reef.
The local fishing for sand and tiger flathead has slowed right up over the last week out the front of Merimbula and Tura. Reports I have gotten from some anglers amount to only half a dozen fish for a morning’s fishing. Then I have spoken to others that have found good numbers of fish between Bournda Island and Turingal Head in around 35 metres of water and they have been fishing into the afternoons, chasing the rising tides, when they are biting best. There have also been a few gummy sharks in the mix off Bournda. They are also being caught off Long Point Merimbula and around the reefs at Haycock and Lennards Island. The in-shore temperature is sitting around 20 degrees.
The reef fishing is only improving lately. Good numbers of pan-sized snapper being caught on bait along with morwong and a variety of other reef species. There are some quality larger snapper in amongst the smaller fish and I’m told lures, such as plastics with the right flavour added, are catching some great fish over 50 centimetres. There are also a few kingfish being caught around the headlands and the bombies in our area, slow trolling squid and slimies around them in the early mornings and tide changes. There are still bonito and odd northern bluefin tuna being caught live baiting around the headlands and local wharves.
The beaches still have a few salmon moving along them on a rising tide. You just have to be there when they’re passing through to get onto a few. Tura Heads still has a school moving around it and so too does Long Point Merimbula. When the seas pick up again on the beaches, the fishing should fire up again. I did hear of a small patch up in the Pambula River last week, but a seal was working them, and they were not catchable. Main Beach Merimbula still has whiting, bream, odd trevally and occasional salmon being caught on beach worms in the early mornings and late afternoons if anyone is keen.
The lake fishing has still been steady over the Easter break, with the Bega River giving up a few bream, odd perch, dusky flathead and mulloway. The Merimbula Lake has bream, trevally, whiting and blackfish in the front lake and the top lake has, odd bream, trevally, dusky flathead, a few tailor and an odd mulloway. The Pambula Lake and River still has a few duskies, trevally, bream, blackfish and occasional flounder being caught. The most versatile bait to use in all these systems is live nippers, but you will have to catch them yourself. Prawns are a good shop option for those that haven’t got a nipper pump. In saying that, this coming Friday 17th April is the next and probably last new moon for prawning for those that are keen for a feed. Wednesday 15th April would be about the first chance at catching a few and it will go through into next week.
The local game fishing has slowed up considerably, mainly due to the fuel costs and how far it is to the shelf where all the action is. The water on the shelf is around 21 plus degrees, and I’m hearing there are still marlin being seen, but are not keen to eat. Fishing north of Tathra, the water is improving up to 22 degrees and there are still a few being caught. The best bite for us at the moment, seems to be off Bermagui, where they’re still catching multiple fish per boat per day and there is still good bait up that way too.
Coming events for the MBGLAC include our interclub fishing competition, “The Grudge Match”, between Merimbula, Pambula and Eden clubs. It is on the 16th and 17th May, with Pambula hosting. Then we have the Snapper Classic competition on the 30th and 31st of May, so mark those dates and sharpen your hooks.
The Merimbula Big Game and Lakes Angling Club Inc. is open this Friday night, from 6pm. Come on down and meet the locals, support our raffle, sponsored by Goodalls Butchers, the Lakeview Hotel and the Bar Beach Kiosk. Catch up on the week’s fishing reports, whilst enjoying a cold bevvy and watching the sun set over the lake.
Till next week.
Fishy Fellow