Fishing reports from the great weekend weather has been quite good but most areas have been enjoying some really good fishing and many areas that have been quite slow are really starting to fire up.
Yellowfin Whiting are making their way south down the gulf with some decent catches now being reported, Blue Crabs also have shown up around Port Lincoln, King George Whiting and Garfish numbers also are building up. Then there have been plagues of Snapper in many offshore areas along the west coast making it hard going on some of the Nannygai grounds. Surely this Snapper ban has to end within the next year, if it goes on for another year then we know in no uncertain terms we have some questionable people running the show in Adelaide.
Here’s what has been biting over the last week.
Elliston
Haven’t had the run down of boat news from the Elliston area but there would be plenty of good fishing that has been had in that area. There are some decent sized Squid and Garfish from the jetty, and Whiting and Flathead have been reported from the shallower and more sheltered beaches around Elliston and Walkers Rocks.
There are some Salmon reports from Locks Well, not many but there are Sharks, mostly School Sharks from Sheringa and Talia has some Gummy Sharks, there would also be some Bronze Whalers showing up.
Venus, Streaky, Smoky and Ceduna have mixed boat reports. Some areas are going really well while others are a bit slow but there are Whiting, Garfish, Snook, Salmon Trout, Tommies and Squid from most of these areas.
Mulloway reports have been a bit better with Mulloway reported around the 80-100cm mark not massive but legal fish. Bronze Whalers have been an issue at some areas with plenty of small ones around 3-5 foot. There’s Gummies also and some beaches also have plenty of Salmon.
Fowlers Bay jetty has some big Squid there and Scotts Bay has some Salmon and a few big Bronze Whalers are on the Salmon schools.
Coffin Bay
Sounds like a busy area over the weekend with some good reports, the bays are fairly reliable for Whiting, Salmon Trout, Tommies, Garfish and Snook. There’s also rat Kingfish and the big ones are there also. There’s been a few kids kept busy with the small ones around the boat ramp and within the town areas also. Gummy Sharks can also be caught within the bays mostly late afternoon and into the night and you can expect a few Eagle Rays also. There has also been couple of monster Blue Crabs caught around the bays also on Whiting and Gummy Shark lines.
Farm Beach Whiting have been on the go with most fishers coming away with some decent fish. Some of the shallow areas have been excellent and some fishers have been having good fun using the Z-Man plastic worms and the Nomad mini Squidtrex lures. The deep water areas also have Gummy Sharks and there’s been few fishers going really well targeting catching a couple most times. Garfish are also a good option here and there’s should be plenty around now, Snook won’t be too hard find either.
Offshore is where most of news has come from this week and there has been some really good reports. As mentioned earlier Snapper have been an issue and out from Point Sir Isaacs it’s Snapper city. I would avoid this area as it has had big numbers for quite some time. There’s been plenty of Nannygai reports and good ones along with some big Blue Morwong and School Sharks. Vexed Bottom Meat jigs have been very popular for this kind of fishing.
Salmon can be caught at most of the surf beaches with Gunyah, Almonta, Greenly and Convention beaches all holding Salmon.
Port Lincoln
Finally off of the jetties the fishing has improved, Whiting can be caught daily off of the town jetty and the main wharf and there are also some big Tommies off of the main wharf and Blue Crabs have also been caught off of the town jetty. Blue Crabs could also be around many of the Crabbing areas around town so it’s worth a try for boat fishers. Garfish and some decent sized Tommies can be along the North Shore, Murrays Point, Tulka and within the national park also for the land based fishers.
For the boat fishers Whiting can caught right throughout the bays right now with multiple areas fishing well, There is no real standout area just yet. The Proper has small fish mostly but most other areas have good fish with some ripper 45cm plus reported. Garfish are worth trying for and also Snook and there are plenty of Snook right in front of town through to the Axel Stenross. Trolling Daiwa Double Clutch lures and Jackson G-Controls will see you land a good catch and probably some of those big Tommies.
Down the Passage there’s Whiting from Carcase through to Thistle Island, bite times vary and it can be slow fishing at times but when the fish come on they really bite hard. Offshore there’s Nannygai, Blue Morwong, School and Gummy Sharks and the odd Samson fish on the reefs from Williams Island and beyond. Snapper can be an issue around Williams and south of Thistle but the further out you go the less they become a problem.
For Salmon there are Salmon schools spread out from Wanna through to Wreck Beach, Buku Flutter Bombs and Jackson Metal Effect lures have been very effective lures for the Salmon when they are schooled up. There are also some good numbers of big Bronze Whaler Sharks following the Salmon schools. If you want to hook one, make sure you have good gear as these Sharks are in really good condition. Shimano Bronzie Basher Rods paired with a good Shimano lever drag reel is the best way of landing one of these beasts.
Tumby Bay
Garfish are being caught from a number of land based spots south of Tumby with Moonlight Bay an excellent area for the real monster Garfish. There is still the odd reports of Flathead also in the area with kids catching them on the Nomad soft plastic Prawns. Boat fishers are finding some nice Whiting not far from town and also Garfish.
The Group has the best fishing with some good Whiting catches reported once again. There’s some big fish here and some close to the 50cm mark. Garfish are around in Revesby Lagoon, Snook can be caught around the islands and also Salmon for lure trollers along with big Tommies. Gummy Sharks are worth a crack and there should also be some Bronze Whaler Sharks starting to show up.
Port Neill & Arno Bay
Yellowfin Whiting are now showing up on the beaches here and some are really good sized fish. Most have been taken on Prawn baits but Daiwa Slippery Dog surface lures will also get the job done. Garfish are a sure bet around Port Neill and there are some big ones off of the rocks and also the jetty. Snook are also around the jetty here.
Boat fishers can find Whiting, Snook and Garfish at both areas and Arno Bay has had the better news on the Whiting front.
TW Port Lincoln Team
This week’s photos are courtesy of:
 |
 |
 |
|
Charlie, Rosie & Shane Hodgens: The Lincoln National Park was firing on all cylinders on the weekend with plenty of Salmon & Sharks. |
||
 |
 |
 |
|
Fletcher Shields, Sandy Piip and Marlow Piip: Had great fun catching Bream in the Marina with the biggest Bream measuring 47cm, mainly caught on bait. |
||