For the last month there have been reports of the algal bloom that has affected other parts of the state severely, now well and truly established between Louth Bay and the south of Cowell. There have been reports of fish kills over this period of time and the algal bloom only looks to be increasing in size.

This is a major concern, mostly due to the wait and see approach which seems to have been taken by the government and lack of interest by the federal government to this stage. Right now this should be the number 1 environmental issue in Australia and while it may be true that very little can be done but we do need to understand what has exactly happened and what can be done in the future to either prevent or ease another bloom in the future. Hopefully something can be done which involves not just Government Science experts but also independent expert Scientist to be able to achieve the best possible outcome. It’s a big worry to think that this bloom could last another 12 months and spread even further than it has already.  

Now for the good news there is still some great fishing available and there’s plenty of great fishing reports from the West Coast. The Salmon fishing is the star of the show right now and so far the size of the Salmon this winter has been excellent. You do need to pick the right weather conditions including low swell and light winds which are ideal and if you get the weather right just about all good surf beaches between Port Lincoln and Fowlers Bay are going to provide good sized Salmon between 3-5 kg.

For all the news on what happened over the last, read on.  

Elliston 

Salmon are all the news here when the weather and swell is right. From Sheringa to Mount Camel there’s Salmon at all the beaches. Locks Well is probably the main beach with the most Salmon reports where there have been some good schools of fish there.

For big jumbo Salmon and lots of them, Tuckermore and Scotts Beach past Penong has plenty of 4-5kg plus fish there, many of these beaches and deeper rock spots also have School and Gummy Sharks for night time fishers.

For Whiting Venus Bay has been the main area where they have been reported in good numbers and should be at all other good Whiting areas along the coast. 

Coffin Bay 

Fishing reports have slowed down due to the weather, but the fishing is still pretty good, in the bays you are looking at Salmon Trout, Tommies and a few Whiting too. Land based fishers have been going ok catching their fair share of fish. Boat fishers are also going quite well with Whiting and Salmon coming from around the oyster leases and Farm Beach.

Farm Beach has Salmon Trout, Tommies, Snook and some Squid, the best areas have been on the Sandhills side. There are also School and Gummy Sharks in the deeper water. A good burley trail on any reefy or rocky bottom will get them sniffing around for a bait.

Flathead are still available for lure casters, casting soft plastics along the beaches and the national park from Point Longnose to Point Sir Isaacs are excellent areas to give it a go. Lures to try include Berkley Glide Baits, Panic Stations Mullet and the Chase Bait Prawns which have all been some of best lures for the bigger flathead.

For Salmon all surf beaches in the Coffin Bay area have fish, there has been lots of reports from Greenly and Convention Beach but Gunyah and Almonta also have Salmon. They do vary in size between 1-3.5 kg, bait fishing has been good but also lure casters have been catching plenty and when a good cast is needed micro jigs have been used and the Samaki, Cast and Nomad jigs have been a good choice and we can’t not mention the Daiwa Saltiga Over There stick baits which have been excellent.  

Port Lincoln 

Reports from around Port Lincoln have slowed down quite a lot. Whiting and Squid have been the main target and it sounds like many fishers are now struggling within the bays, there have been some Whiting caught land based from the rocks around Kirton Point and Tulka but only a handful compared to a month ago. There does appear to be quite good fishing in the Passage between Carcase Rocks and Thistle Island for Whiting, Snook and Squid where reports here have been good and its worth heading here for some good fishing.

Right down the bottom of the Passage there have been some Gummy Sharks and Nannygai can be expected and there weren’t too many other reports.

For Salmon there’s been plenty of good ones caught along the south coast and between Wanna and Wreck Beach there’s plenty of areas to choose from with plenty of good schools of fish here averaging around the 3kg mark.  

Tumby Bay/Port Neill/Arno Bay 

I wish it was better, but the reports here have been average, to say the least due to the alagal bloom. There are pockets of fish in some areas, but it can change from day to day and week to week. All we have heard of is Squid and Whiting and the Squid is hard work with not many around. Hopefully soon we see an improvement in this area and things go back to normal.    

 

TW Port Lincoln Team