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So where’s the sun?
  |  First Published: February 2011



Someone forgot to plug in the sun! The Mallacoota area hasn’t had the rain like everywhere else, but it has been consistently windy and cold.

We all have our fingers crossed that Summer is just around the corner.

Like the weather, the fishing has been unpredictable. There are plenty of fish around and hopefully some stable weather will help to really fire things up.

There has been no shortage of boats heading offshore with more than 70 boat trailers at Bastion Point boat ramp on the busiest day, and 30 to 40 boats the norm.

Those fishing offshore have been catching sand and tiger flathead along with heaps of small gummy sharks.

Things will only get better as the water warms and consistently stays warm. This should bring some other species like kingfish on the chew.

Along the beaches, things have been pretty quiet. Those wetting a line have been catching only the odd salmon and yellowfin bream.

The best fishing has been in the lake system with the flathead taking soft plastics and vibration lures. Plenty of fish between 40cm and 50cm are being caught – good eating size.

Sadly at this time of year there are also a lot of really big fish being caught and killed. The biggest I have heard of was more than 7kg.

It is important to release these big breeding females so they can spawn. They are also too big to be good eating fish, so releasing them means everyone wins.

The Bottom Lake, Top Lake and right up above Gypsy Point have seen good catches of flatties. It’s amazing to think that at this time of year you could measure the volume of flathead leaving the estuary system each week in their tonnes.

Yellowfin and black bream are being caught right throughout the system. Bait fishers have been doing well with the pick of the baits fresh local prawns.

The prawns are on the move and those chasing a few for bait or a feed have been successful around the town wharfs at the entrance area and in the Betka system.

Those chasing bream with lures have had some great fishing around the edges with lightly weighted soft plastics and hardbody lures working a treat – expect to catch fish around 40cm.

No doubt there are a few jewfish out there to be caught in February. The last jewfish weighed in at more than 34kg and was caught by Dennis Brownley.

Luderick are being caught by those chasing bream with bait and lures. Consistent fishing for this species can be had near the entrance with the green weed fished under a float the way to get a good feed of these great eating fish.

Those prepared to put in the effort chasing bass in the upper reaches have been rewarded, with good river levels allowing fish to move. The best action has been around dusk with surface lures.

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