Avon Rollason does it again. This time she has caught an 892mm Long Dusky Flathead on a 50mm long prawn imitation lure. Great fish, well done Avon.

The outside flathead fishing is still going off. My reports tell me that good numbers of sand and tiger flathead are being caught in depths from 30 to 45meters, and the size has been between 40 and 50 centimeters.

There has also been odd flying gurnard and gummy sharks in the mix. The reports I am getting are also saying that the deeper you fish the more undersize fish their catching between keepers. So, staying in shallower could possibly be the better option at the moment.

The best areas this last week have been between Bournda Island and Turingal Point, and Tura Heads back to Short Point has also been doing ok also. The inshore water temperature is sitting around that 19 to 20 degrees.

The reef fishing is just ticking over at the moment, reports of pan sized snapper and morwong with some nannygai and an odd leather jacket thrown in, there is also plenty of other reef bycatch being caught, drifting across the reefs at Long Point and Haycock reefs using a two hooked paternoster rig.

Float baiting is also working early before the winds are getting up. Best baits have been fresh squid and pilchards. The squid can be caught around the Merimbula Wharf, Long Point, Haycock Point/rocks if the seas allow, or anywhere there is visible weed growth.

There has been a few salmon and tailor caught this week off the Beaches. Tura Beach, Haycock Beach and Bournda Beaches have been the pick of them. Lure casting and bait fishing are both producing fish. Bournda Island has also been giving up good numbers from the low tide/rising for the lure casters, when the seas have permitted. If you have a boat, trolling around Haycock Point and Bournda Island is also producing a few Salmon and odd Tailor.

The local estuary fishing is still going off, with some really nice catches over the last week. The caption photo this week saw Avon Rollason’s capture of that 892mm Dusky Flathead and a few casts later she landed another 835mm Dusky. Other reports have bream, whiting, odd mulloway, and Perch and duskies to around 50 centimeters.

This all happened on New Years Day at Tathra in the Bega River when all the other punters slept in. The Merimbula Lake has slowed a bit this week. With trevally, odd bream, whiting, plenty of dusky flathead but only fish around that 50-centimeter size and odd mulloway. Pambula has had trevally, whiting, dusky flathead odd bream and occasional flounder. The bulk of my reports are from lure fishers, but fresh nippers and squirt worms have been the pick of the baits for the bait fishos.

The game fishing has been a bit slow out the front of Merimbula if your chasing Marlin. I have had reports of bluefin tuna being caught just on and inside the shelf to 70 fathoms, the fish size is small with fish to around 5kg, and they have been getting caught between East of Eden and just South of Tathra. The water temperature on the shelf is between 21 and 22 degrees.

Those kingfish were still at Tathra during the week, with captures of kings around that 8 to 10 kg mark. For the marlin fishos a trip to Bermagui or further north might get you onto a fish or two. I understand that Turos canyons has better numbers, and they are being seen on bait balls of sauries but are very hard to catch.

The Merimbula Big Game and Lakes Angling Club is open this Friday night, opening at 6pm. Everyone is welcome to come down and enjoy the evening with us at Spencer Park Merimbula. We would like to welcome a new contributor and sponsor to our Friday night raffle.

The Lakeview Hotel Merimbula is donating a $50 bistro voucher every week, so welcome aboard! That also goes with the meat trays sponsored by Goodall’s Butchers of Merimbula and the Bar Beach Kiosk $20 coffee voucher. We also have current fishing reports from those that have been fishing during the week, and a fully stocked Bar. We would love to see you there. Till next week

Fishy Fellow

Local angler, Glen, captured this 84 centimetre mulloway, Sunday morning off the beach at Tathra using a paddle tail Squidgee lure.

The outside flathead fishing has changed a bit this week with anglers catching their bags in shallower waters.  Reports throughout the week have been, the fish are biting early and in depths from 30 to 35 metres and catching a mixed bag of sand and tiger flathead with an odd flying gurnard in the mix.  The flathead sizes are up to 40 centimetres, but there are plenty of throw backs in between the keepers.  The best areas have been from Bournda Island back to Haycock.  The water temperature inshore is around that 17 degree mark.

The reef fishing is a bit patchy.  There are a mixture of undersized and pan-sized snapper with morwong, nannygaai and a mixed bag of other reef species.  There are also good numbers of squid being caught around the Haycock Rocks area and Shallow Hunter, at the moment.  I heard there are some better snapper being caught south of Eden on the reefs to 55 centimetres.  The snapper are being caught float baiting and lureing.

The beach fishing is slow on the salmon side of fishing.  Tura Beach has some good gutters up the northern end.  So to, has Dolphin Cove and Tathra beaches.  Odd salmon are being caught on bait on these beaches, but not in any numbers.  This morning, Glen was chasing some salmon at Tathra Beach and came up trumps with this week’s photo of a mulloway.

Our estuary fishing is pretty good now.  The bream fishing is a bit slow in Merimbula, but there are some nice tailor, trevally and blackfish being caught up the Top Lake.  There are also good numbers of trevally, odd blackfish and occasional salmon and tailor in the front lake.  The Pambula River and Lake has some nice dusky flathead, odd bream, trevally and odd blackfish being caught.  The Bega River at Tathra is giving up a few bream, odd perch, tailor and dusky flathead and an occasional mulloway.  All the species are being caught on fresh bait such as nippers and a selection of squidgee style plastics.

The game fishing is quiet out the front of Merimbula, but some reports from the Tuross Canyons over the last week indicate there have been a few yellowfin tuna caught in that 40 kilogram size range.  With the full moon on its way this week, fingers crossed something might happen down our way.  The water termperature on the shelf off Merimbula is around 19 degrees.

Merimbula Big Game and Lakes Angling Club is having their members’ Christmas Party on the 12th December.  This year’s Monster Raffle has begun with the usual Hobie kayak and Merinda adult bike or two kids bikes on offer, as well as a Yeti esky and a $500 voucher from Merimbula Tackle World.  Thanks to our other sponsors, Boss Outdoors,  Cycle n’ Surf and Merimbula Tackle World.  Ticket sellers will be around Woolworths at Tura Beach, the local markets and caravan parks, so keep your eyes peeled and get yourself some tickets and support the club’s projects.

The club is open at 6pm this Friday night.  Come on down and enjoy a cold bevy while supporting our regular Friday night raffles, sponsored by Goodalls Butchers and the Bar Beach Kiosk.  Catch up on the week’s fishing reports and enjoy the view over the Merimbula Lake.

Till next week.

Fishy Fellow

Fiona Beasley, happy with her catch of a sharp beaked gurnard measuring 50 centimetres.  Caught in 80 metres of water off Mrimbula recently

Fishing over the weekend was very limited dur to the weather.

Over the last week the flathead bite has slowed up, probably due to the falling tide in the mornings during the week and also the weather wasn’t the best some days.  However, those that caught fish found a few flatties in that 30 to 45 metre depth off tura Heads back to Long Point.  Size is a mixed bag from just legal at 36 centimetres to 40 centimetres.  There are plenty of small bait stealers in amongst them.  The water temperature in close is between 16 and 17 degrees.

The reefs over the week have been patchy with odd snapper to 50 centimtres, but mostly undersized to just legal fish around 30 centimetres.  There have also been a few morwong and nannygai, but slow fishing over all.  There are a few squid starting to bite around the points and off the wharf for those that are interested.  The heads are great for bait when fresh.

Salmon off the beaches is slow.  Tura Beach has some wave action up the northern end from low tide for about 3 hours.  Once the beach fills, the waves disappear.  There are fish patrolling the shore break, but they are a fish of a thousand casts for lure fishers.  There was a patch off Main Beach, Merimbula.  In the last week, I hadn’t heard if they are still there.  Main Beach, Merimbula has had an odd whiting, occasional bream and trevally being caught on beach worms in the early mornings for those that are keen.  Other beaches for the salmon are Haycock and Quondola, but fish early in the rising tide to increase your chances of catching a fish or two.

Our local estuaries are starting to fish pretty well.  Pambula has dusky flathead, bream, trevally and the odd blackfish being caught around the edges of the weed currently.  Merimbula Lake has duskies, trevally and odd tailor being caught up the Top Lake and odd bream and trevally in the channels.  The Bega River at Tathra has duskies in the shallows on a high tide, odd bream and tailor around the rock walls.  This coming weekend, the Merimbula Big Game and Lakes Angling Club is running its annual Tri-estuary Challenge in these local estuaries, so check out the website for details.  Registration for the event is on Friday evening, starting at 5.00pm in the club rooms at Spencer Park.

Again, the game fishing hasn’t happened this week due to the inclement weather.  The water temperature on the shelf is around 20 degrees.

The Merimbula Big Game and Lakes Angling Club will be open from 5pm this Friday, taking tri-estuary registrtions and serving drinks.  There will be a raffle around 7.30pm, sponsored by Goodalls Butchers and the Bar Beach Kiosk.  So, come on down and enjoy the evening and views from the Club rooms.

Till next week.

Fishy Fellow

The fish clearning pontoon was delivered to the Merimbula boat ramp today, Sunday 9th, by Chris from South Coast Hire.  It should be up and running again by the end of the week.

The outside flathead fishing is going well.  With good numbers of sand and tiger flathead being caught in the depths from 40 to 50 metres and from Bournda Island and back to Long Point.  There are also flying gurnard and gummy sharks in the mix.  The water is around that 16 degree mark off Merimbula currently.

The reefs are patchy with a few pan-sized snapper , odd morwong, good numbers of nannygai and occasional leatherjackets being caught off Long Point, Haycock and Leonards Island.  Pilchards and fresh squid are the baits of choice.  Lure fishing has been pretty slow.

Our local beaches have changed quite a bit over the last 2 weeks with the unsettled seas.  There is now some banks reforming on Tura Beach, Main Beach Merimbula and most of the beaches heading up the coast.  With the surf coming back, there are a few salmon being caught.  Dolphin Cove Beach and Tura Beach have provided reports of a few salmon being caught on lures.  Also, a report of a large school of salmon on Main Beach Merimbula in the bar area.  There are also the odd whiting, bream and trevally being caught off the surf on beach worms.

Our estuary fishing scene is improving every week, with the water temperature of the estuaries sitting around 17 to 18 degrees.  Pambula River and Lake has bream, dusky flathead, blackfish, trevally and odd tailor and flounder being caught around the lake and river edges to the oyster leases.  Merimbula has trevally, dusky flathead and odd tailor up the Top Lake and in the channel down the front, trevally, odd tailor and odd blackfish.  The Bega River at Tathra is fishing pretty well with bream, trevally, dusky flathead, odd perch and whiting and an occasional mulloway.  The water is very clear in all the systems and the fish are very spooky.  Burley and fresh bait is working the best.  Lures can be slow fishing.

The game fishing has been quiet over the last couple of weeks, but the weather has also been very ordinary.

The Merimbula Big Game and Lakes Angling Club has its Tri-Estuary fishing compeition on in 2 weeks There are posters up around the boat ramps and tackle shops.  Over $2500 in prize money for six species of fish caught.  Check out the web site for more details.

The Merimbula Big Game and Lakes Angling Club rooms are open at 6pm this Friday night.  Come on down and enjoy a cold bevvy from our licensed bar.  Support our raffle sponsored by Goodalls Butchers and the Bar Beach Kiosk.  Meet the locals and enjoy our lakeside views.  Everyone is welcome.

Till next week.

Fishy Fellow

Marita Brandau with a nice yellowfin bream caught in the Bega River at Tathra last week

Our Spring, Summer weather is upon us, with calm starts to the days then north easterlies building in strength from mid-morning. So, it is an early start to get a feed of ocean flathead for those chasing them. The boats are still catching their bag limits fishing in 40 to 55 metres of water, fishing from Tura Heads back to Long Point. The size range is still around that forty centimetres.

Sand and tiger flathead are in good numbers with boats catching their bag in a couple of hours. There are also a few flying gurnard being caught in the mix.  The inshore water temperature is sitting between 15 and 16 degrees.

The reefs are also fishing okay with good numbers of snapper, unfortunately there are plenty of small ones in between the keepers. The morwong have been biting their heads off also, using fresh squid as bait. There are plenty of other reef species like wrasse, nannygai and sargent bakers to keep you entertained when there is bait on your hooks. Pilchard’s and squid are the preferred baits at the moment. Metal jigs have been working also with a bit of squid on the hooks.

The surf fishing is very slow of late, due to the deep beaches and no wave action. I hear there are not many salmon around the headlands also. I would love to hear if anyone is catching any anywhere.  

The estuaries are all fishing well at the moment. Pambula has good numbers of trevally and dusky flathead, a few bream and odd tailor. Merimbula has trevally, dusky flathead and blackfish, and odd bream and tailor. The Bega River at Tathra has plenty of small dusky flathead and a few bream and odd trevally and blackfish. Most of the flathead are being caught in the shallow areas of each system. Most of my reports are coming from lure fishers who fish these systems. I have a report from the Merimbula fishing club, who went to the Wonboyn Lake Resort over the weekend. They caught plenty of fish with bait and lures. Duskies averaging forty-six centimetres, trevally up to fifty centimetres, lots of small flounder and a few bream up to thirty-nine centimetres. The best dusky flathead for the weekend was caught by Riley Holley with a fish of fifty-six centimetres. Good job Riley.

The game fishing has slowed up since last week’s report. The weather has not been the best or everyone’s freezers are full. I did hear of one yellowfin weighing 52 kilograms, caught off Merimbula by an Eden boat last Monday, and today there was one fish caught out of Bermagui around 40 kilograms I heard of. There should still be yellowfin on the shelf, as there is a temperature break just on the inside of the shelf off Merimbula at the moment. The temperature on the shelf is nineteen plus degrees and around 70 fathoms it drops to 18 degrees, so that is a likely area to try your luck.

The Merimbula Big Game and Lakes Angling Club is open this Friday night, opening at 6pm. Come on down and enjoy a cold beer, support our weekly meat raffle sponsored by Goodall’s Butchers and the Bar Beach Kiosk, contribute to the fishing report, and enjoy the views.

Till next week.

Fishy Fellow