Fishing reports have been fairly steady and finally the winds look to be getting better after such a long windy period, hopefully we get a string of more good days in a row. Reports over the last week mostly consist of Salmon and Sharks from the surf beaches, better Squid numbers from around Port Lincoln, offshore reports are mostly plenty of Nannygai and depending on where you are there’s Tuna.
Here’s what has been biting.
Elliston
Surf beaches between Sheringa and Steaky Bay have Salmon, not all are firing and schools of fish can be there one day and gone the next, there isn’t any beach better than the other there just where you find them and there are Bronze Whaler Sharks and Gummy Sharks but you can also find Flathead, Tommies and big Mullet. There is also the chance of a Mulloway from Talia or around Streaky Bay if you put in the hours.
Offshore reports are that there’s plenty of Nannygai on the reefs out from Elliston and Scale Bay, Vexed Bottom Meat jigs are excellent for these fish and you will also catch plenty of other fish on these and are so simple and easy to use. Tuna are also in good numbers in some areas out from here and yes there are many small ones out there but there are also 10-16kg fish mixed in with then small ones. You can always go lighter on the small fish and still have a good time out.
Coffin Bay
Not much has changed in the weeks gone by and fishing is good with very few fishers disappointed in their fishing out from Coffin Bay. In the bays there’s plenty of Salmon Trout, Tommies, Garfish, Snook and some decent Whiting. The odd Flathead has been reported by those using soft plastics and also Gummy Sharks. Flathead are more of sure bet further out of the bays around Black Springs, Seven Mile Beach right up to the pool and with bigger afternoon tides there will be more getting caught. Soft plastics like the Jackson Bone Baits and our new range of the ARMA Paddle Tail soft plastics are catching these fish.
Farm beach Whiting fishing is still very good and there’s good reports from here with Whiting catches caught very quickly, most areas have decent numbers of fish and there’s no area that really stands out as better than the other. Garfish, Salmon Trout, Tommies, Snook and Squid can also be caught there.
Offshore when you can get there Nannygai have been reported in good numbers on the reefs and Tuna were caught up at Kruse Rock to 15kg but not all fishers caught fish there and there might be fussier fish with some boats cleaning up and other boats not getting a touch. Those using the Halco Laser Pros in the TNT, Dirty Harry or the Napalm colors were the ones catching fish. An area worth fish fishing is Rocky Island for Tuna Kingfish and Samson Fish, the Hummocks is hit and miss and also Greenly Island but it’s a bit more reliable than the Hummocks, green water has been a problem at some of these areas.
Salmon fishing is still very good and Gunyah, Almonta and Golden Island. Most Salmon are around the 3kg mark.
Port Lincoln
Squid fishing is better and has been for the last 3 weeks, the algal bloom on the western side of Yorke Peninsula has probably pushed Squid over this way and there could be some good pockets of Squid around, one thing to remember is that Squid have been badly affected by the algal bloom, not just by the algae itself but also by overfishing when the Squid have been concentrated into smaller areas making it easy for them to be caught. They certainly aren’t in the numbers they were and if we want them like they were then ALL SECTORS must consider giving the Squid a rest for while until the numbers restore to a more sustainable level.
In the bays there are Whiting, they have been a little tough to find but they are always like this this time of the year. Late in the day is the best time and the bigger afternoon tides will slowly bring back the Whiting in the bays. Garfish and Snook are in good numbers and easy to find. Blue crabs are better by the week and can be caught from a number of areas, there are some big ones out there now.
Down the coast Thistle Island is very reliable for big Whiting, a few Squid, Snook and some big Garfish, more and more fishers have been using the Z-Man worms for the whiting and there have been some good results talking to customers in the store who have been using them. The Vexed Micro Meat jigs also have been just as good.
Offshore Tuna are best at thew Cabbage Patch and the Neptunes, hese are the biggest fish in the state with fish 18kg plus that can be caught here but they are not as thick as normal for this time of the year but we still have a while to go just yet for the Tuna season. There are Nannygai and Sharks on the reefs, a few Kingfish and Samsons also.
For Salmon there’s plenty down along the entire Sleaford - Wanna section of coast, sometimes they are schooled up and sometimes there’s little packs of Salmon spread right out everywhere. There’s also Bronze Whaler packed up chasing the Salmon, it’s quite a sight to see and be careful going for a swim down there. Lure fishing has been successful for the Salmon with the Daiwa Saltiga Over There stick baits being excellent followed to Arma Flash Harry’s and the Jabbers Moxie Metals.
Tumby Bay
Only Group news this week with no shortage of Whiting out there, once again fish over 50cm have been reported and plenty in the 40cm range and the deeper water marks proved to be the better areas and those using the heavier Vexed Micro meat jigs done well. Silver Trevally to 2kg have been reported as well, a few smaller Salmon around one kilo and Snook have trolled up around the Islands. The Revesby Lagoon has plenty of Garfish and there’s also been better numbers of Squid and most have been a good size. There would also be some good fishing closer inshore, but we haven’t had any reports but don’t let that stop you if you have a smaller boat, should be Garfish, Snook and Whiting as a sure bet.
Port Neill and Arno Bay
Yellowfin Whiting have been the main report off the beaches in this area with many caught on lures. The Daiwa Slippery Dog and the Jabbers Honcho Stick baits are very reliable but the Vexed Micro Worm Jigs in the 10gm size are also very good and easy to use and baits are good if you want the easy option. Boat fishers will be able to find Whiting, Snook and Garfish.
Garfish are in good numbers at Port Neill and there’s some monsters there.
This week’s photos are courtesy of:
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Arron McDonald: Salmon at Greenly Beach |
Naomi Power: 3kg Salmon at Greenly Beach |
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TW Port Lincoln Team