The wind once again has been a problem for many fishers around the coast but there are a few opportunities where you can get out on the water. Most reports from the last week have been inshore or land-based reports and all are quite good. Garfish are going well, Salmon are in good numbers on the surf beaches, Sharks are in good numbers and Yellowfin Whiting catches are much better from up in the gulf.
Here’s what has been biting over the last week.
Elliston
Boat news has been non-existent this week but there should be much more next week. In previous weeks gone by there has been good offshore fishing and there’s reason why it wouldn’t be any different. Tuna, Kingfish, Samson Fish, Nannygai, Blue Morwong and Sharks have been all caught in recent weeks when the weather is good out from Elliston, Venus Bay and Streaky Bay.
Snook, Whiting, Garfish, Tommies, Salmon Trout and some big Squid also have been around in these 3 areas for the inshore boat fishers when you can get out there and Crabs are running at Streaky, Smoky and Ceduna.
There hasn’t been much Salmon news from anywhere along the west coast over the past week, just a few at Fowlers Bay and the Dog Fence where there has been a few legal Mulloway caught there also, it has been windy there but there are still a few Mulloway getting around.
Coffin Bay
Even with the wind there’s plenty of areas to fish which offer excellent fishing in calm conditions, that’s the beauty about Coffin Bay. In any wind direction there’s somewhere protected for land-based and boat fishers. There’s plenty of Salmon Trout, Tommies, Garfish, Snook and a few Whiting and there should soon be more Flathead starting to show up in the bays. Soft plastics like the Jackson Bone Baits and the Nomad Prawns will get them fired up and they like the brighter coloured plastics early in the season.
Gummy Sharks can be caught off the rocks in Dutton Bay and also by boat fishers right through out the system but be prepared for the Eagle Ray onslaught. Farm beach has Whiting and Garfish in good numbers and monster Snook have been caught on the Daiwa Double Clutchs up around Frenchman’s. There are also some big Bronze Whaler Sharks in that area.
Offshore news hasn’t been that good offshore with the wind this week, but the fishing will be pretty good if you can get there. Tuna, Kingfish and Samsons will be high on the list for many fishers out there and fishing out on the islands will be the place to be.
Salmon fishing has been ok with good fish reported at Gunyah, Almonta, Golden Island and Point Drummond, there are good schools of fish here and all mostly closely followed Big Bronze Whaler Sharks. Use good casting lures like the new Arma lures either in the Nugget or Flash Harry, these lures are designed to cast further than others.
Port Lincoln
There’s a Tuna school in the bay right now off the main wharf and around to Kirton Point, not sure how long it will hang around for, but they are much harder to catch in the bay. Try small lures that imitate white bait like the Arma Anchovy in only small sizes nothing bigger than 30gm and cast into the school. You can also choose trolling smaller divers like the Rapala X-Rap 10’s, Samaki Pace Makers in the 120 size or the Nomad DTX 110 sized lures, they might get you a Boston Bay Tuna.
There’s plenty of Snook and some good ones to 80cm have been caught off of some rock spots this week and there’s plenty off the jetties late afternoon and into the night.
Squid numbers have also been better in the last week, rock areas around town seem to be going ok and even in the mid afternoon there’s been a few getting caught. Give the town jetty and North Shields jetty ago for Blue Crabs if you don’t have a boat there should be a few around now.
Boat fishers will also find more and more Blue Crabs now and better sized ones, try the Proper, Spalding Cove, Limani and there should even be a few in the marina. Whiting in the bays have slowed down but they are around and they are better later in the day, Garfish are also good and there’s Squid best along the North Shore and Boston Island late in the day.
Further down the coast this week there’s been very few reports and that goes for offshore as well, but the fishing should be excellent as it’s been mostly untouched for a good week.
There are Salmon schools spread right out along Sleaford Bay, mostly all being herded up sharks and most salmon are good ones around the 3kg mark.
Tumby Bay
The wind here has kept many on the water but with lighter winds coming up the fish should be biting really well. The Group and the inshore grounds have all been going well recently when you can get out there. Big Whiting to 52cm have been reported on the last good weather days with fish caught on the Vexed Micro Meat jigs. Big Snook and Trevally also are out at the Group and in close Garfish are in good numbers even off the jetty and some rock areas south of the town.
Port Neill and Arno Bay
The only fishing news this week has been multiple good reports for Yellowfin Whiting between Port Neill and Arno Bay. Most have been caught on prawn baits, but really good fish have been caught on lures like the Daiwa Slippery Dogs, Jackson EBI Panics and the Vexed Bottom Worm Jigs in the smaller sizes. Hopefully the numbers remain solid and spread further south. When the winds die out boat fishing should be excellent for Whiting, Snook and Garfish.
TW Port Lincoln Team
