The Shoalhaven River has fished better than usual over Summer and with the cool months upon us we should see good numbers of jewfish move in to the estuary.

I like to fish for them on the last of the run-in tide. Some people use baits like sides of mullet or whole pilchards, which are fine, but I prefer the throw lures for them.

My all-time favourite has to be the 100mm black and gold Squidgy Fish.

June is the start of the closed season for bass and estuary perch so for three months there is a zero bag limit to protect these important recreational species while they spawn.

In Jervis Bay the snapper are up in the shallows and around the washes so lightly weighted baits and plastic are working well for fish up to around 5kg, although the average is about a kilo.

There have been loads of squid around the weed beds and they’re great for a feed or live bait for a big kingfish, it’s your call.

Out wide we have seen one the best blue marlin seasons in years with many fish over 250kg being weighted and some rereleased, from Brush Island in the south to the Kiama Canyons in the north.

In the past few years out wide of Jervis Bay, in around 1000 fathoms, we have see the big southern bluefin tuna turn up. Some of these fish have come in at 120kg and I know there will be a few Shoalhaven boats out in search of these big beasts this season.

After the sensational marlin season it would just top off one of the best game fish years for a long time if the tuna turn up in numbers.

Down in St Georges Basin the bream have been schooling up in big numbers in the deep and if you find them you should be in for some great fishing.

I have heard of people releasing more than 50 fish in an afternoon session, which is almost unbelievable.

I have also been getting some nice flathead while hunting bream in the shallows on hard bodies. There’s nothing quite like chasing down a big flathead will she chews on your $20 lure and your 4lb leader!

The big tailor come out to play at this time of year. They generally will eat anything but if you want to target them I would troll some 4” baby Rapala X-Raps on 20lb leader.

Lake Conjola has turned up some good fish lately with good flathead being taken from around the artificial reefs. For information on the whereabouts of these reefs, go to www.dpi.nsw.gov.au and follow the links.

I have also been told Berringer Lake has been fishing well for some nice bream and plate-size snapper.

With the past few months bringing some great fishing, it’s also time to get ready for Winter and do some of those jobs that get put aside in the warmer months or in fine weather.

When the wind starts blowing and the fish shut down I generally start getting my reels serviced in anticipation of better times. You can do this yourself or head down to your local tackle shop and I’m sure they will help you out.

1

Bec Finny bagged this 76kg striped marlin on 8kg line aboard Outcast off Kiama.

2

Simon Pender used an Ecogear hardbody to lure up this St Georges Basin bream. The fish should go deeper this month as the water cools.

3

Alicia Clark caught her first and second marlin on the same day with captain Mitch aboard Outcast.