I am happy to report that mulloway catches throughout February have been very consistent. Earlier in the month the fish were concentrated in the Princess Margaret Rose Caves area, then as the month went on the fish spread further upstream.

Even though the fish are throughout the system, there will still be ‘hot spots’. Because mulloway are a predatory fish, at mealtimes they school in spots that the baitfish school in. A good spot to catch them is around bridges, where baitfish are attracted to the lights.

Mulloway like to push bait into corners and mud banks, so good spots to try also include the bottom and top of Tailors Strait, Cat and Dogs, the Caves and Canoe Camp. These are all similar spots that feature bends and mudflats.

During March, if there is no heavy rain, mulloway will be as far up as Moleside, and probably beyond. When the fish first came in, the bottom bait fishers were getting most of the fish. As time has passed, the live mullet and lure trollers have turned the tables. As long as the river remains fairly clean, and we have a huge estuarine system without a big flow of fresh water coming down, I can’t see things changing too much.

Bream have also spread throughout the system, so to find them you will need to move and move and move some more. Fish the banks, or, if the water is clear and there is no surface ripple, fish just off the banks, where there is often a second drop-off.

Lures are good, of course, but my old mate, Mr Crab, is still the pick of the baits. Some ripper bream have been caught by anglers trolling for mulloway with live mullet, too.

Port MacDonnell has continued to fish well for whiting, mullet, salmon and squid in the Breakwater. Livingstones is producing good garfish, snook and mullet. Offshore, there are teraki and knife-jaw, along with thresher, mako and gummy sharks to 24kg at the 100m line.

Snapper hotspots include Orwell Rocks, and Danger and Green points. March should see the best of the fishing for thumper mulloway as well, especially at Greens and Danger points.

All the mad keen offshore guys are primed for the bluefin tuna run. In the last two years, the first big fish were caught on March 17/18, so we are hoping for a hat-trick this year. I hope they co-operate! Call us at the pub (08 8738 4011) for the latest news.

Cam Whittam caught this mulloway during the recent ABT competition at the Glenelg River.