Here is a picture on the Merimbula BGLAC’s measure, the DPI mat, of the newest 2026 club record bream, caught by Tristin Chippendale from Eden. It measured 471mm. Great catch Tristin.
Flathead outside are still very spread out, with lots of small fish being caught in between the keepers. The keepers have dropped down in size, with fish from 35 to 40 centimetres in close at depths from 30 to 40 metres. Those fishing deeper, in that 50 to 60 metre depth, are catching a mixed bag of sand and tiger flathead, with some fish over 40 centimetres. There are also a few flying gurnard being caught out wider, up to 50 centimetres. The inshore water temperature is sitting around 16 to 17 degrees.
The reef fishing still has those larger snapper and plenty of pan-sized snapper on them as well, along with morwong, nannygai and an array of other reef species. Long Point has been good in the early mornings, and reefs like Haycock and Leonards Island have been performing better as the day moves into the afternoons. Lure fishing with plastics is working well, and bait fishing with fresh squid and fresh mackerel fillets is working all day. The morwong are biting best at Haycock and Leonards Island on the deep side of the reef, in around 35 to 40 metres of water.
The beaches have still been giving up a few salmon and tailor. Middle Beach at Merimbula has been giving up a few tailor using pilchards for bait. The salmon are still on Tathra Beach, around Bournda Island, and down on Quondolo Beach at Haycock Point. Bait fishing seems to be the best way of catching them. Lure fishing is very hit and miss of late.
The lake fishing is also on the slow side. I have no reports from Merimbula Lake. The Bega River at Mogareeka has had a few bream caught around the bridge in the low 30 centimetre size, and also the odd salmon up to 50 centimetres. I have heard of a few fish being caught right up the river, but with the water around 13 degrees, it is pretty cool. The Pambula River in the main lake has been giving up a few tailor and salmon trolling and fishing blades around the bait schools. There is also a chance of trevally and small dusky flathead.
The game fishing for us off Merimbula has not been favoured by the weather at all. Over the weekend, a few larger boats ventured wide off Bermagui and Narooma and came home with bluefin on each boat. The long liners are back down off Mallacoota again, starting at the 150.40E line and out to sea. The water out the front of Merimbula is around 18 degrees on the shelf, and the further out you go the warmer it gets, but we need a weather window to get out and try. There has to be tuna out there for our fishermen.
The MBGLAC club rooms are open this Friday night, opening at 6pm. Come on down and meet the locals, buy a raffle ticket in our Friday night raffle, sponsored by Goodalls Butchers and the Lakeview Hotel. We have a fully licensed bar and weekly fishing reports. Hope to see you there.
Till next week.
Fishy Fellow.