Well, here we are in 2025 and the fishing is great on most fronts.
Lachlan Wilkins with a nice dusky flathead caught in the Merimbula Top Lake over the weekend.
Well, here we are in 2025 and the fishing is great on most fronts, but the constant windy conditions is the only dampener. So, an early start and early home is in order.
The outside flathead fishing is still very good, but it can be patchy. The flathead this week have been caught off Bournda Island, Tura Heads and off Tura Beach. They’re biting in a variety of depths, ranging from 30 metres, out to 50 metres. I’ve had good reports from 40 metres just north of Tura Heads with fish averaging 40 centimetres in length. I also got a report of a great catch of fish coming from 30 metres, off Bournda Beach and those fish were up to 45 centimetres in length. There has also been plenty of slimy mackerel schools rippling off the surface in the flathead grounds which is great bait fresh if you can catch a few.
The reefs have still been fishing pretty well and with the big high tides, the snapper have been biting very well with fish to 40 plus centimetres. There are also morwong and an array of other reef species being caught. Fresh bait is best, so if you can troll a salmon up from around a headland or catch some squid prior to fishing, it should give you the advantage.
The surf fishing is a bit slower. There are still salmon patrolling the beaches, but not the big schools like we had. The lack of waves on some beaches is not helping things, but fishing with some beach worms using a running sinker rig, with a number 4 long shanked hook, you have a good chance of catching whiting, bream and still salmon. Fish in the gutters at the start of the rising tide in the early mornings and at dusk. Also try beside the rocks and headland ends of the beaches.
The lakes and estuaries are still producing good numbers of fish, with trevally, bream, whiting, dusky flathead, blackfish and the odd jewfish being caught in Pambula Lake and River, Merimbula front and Top Lake and Tathra’s Bega River. Lures and baits such as nippers are your best chance of catching a feed. For lures you’ll need a 3/8 head with a 2/0 or 3/0 hook and try some 80mm paddle tails in black/silver, black/gold or plastics with white bellies.
The game fishing has been very good out wide on the shelf. Unfortunately the wind has made it difficult for our local boats to get out there. The water temperature is around that 22 degree mark and the best areas are just north of Merimbula to North of Tathra. Bait has been patchy but trolling from 70 fathoms with a spread of lures and bait jigs ready in case you cross paths with some bait down below is the way to go.
The weather is the enemy, not giving many fishable days per week. The Merimbula Big Game and Lakes Angling Club is open every Friday night, opening at 6pm. Come on down and catch up on the week’s fishing reports, support our raffle, sponsored by Goodalls Butchers, enjoy a cold bevvy and chat with the locals. This month’s monthly species is Ocean Flathead.
Our next club event is the Dusky Challenge on February 15th and 16th. Keep an eye out for our members selling the Monster Raffle tickets at Woolworths Tura Beach on Wednesday and Friday this week. We appreciate your support with our major fundraiser for the year. Till next week.
Fishy Fellow