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Thumper beach whiting
  |  First Published: November 2011



With the weather finally warming up and with things on most fronts improving every week, it won’t be long until we are in full Summer mode again.

The beaches have already improved out of sight, with thumper whiting being landed – a great sign this early into the warmer months.

Whiting to 40cm have been taken from North Narrabeen, Palm Beach, Dee Why, Curl Curl and Mona Vale in the Basin; try the run-up tide for the best results.

Some of our regulars, including Colin Price, are bagging up to eight quality fish per session.

The beaches are also turning up a few decent size mulloway around 6kg to 10kg. Local fisho Chris Hack landed two good-sized jewies in recent weeks from the southern end of Palm Beach, up near the lighthouse, using fresh large squid.

I recently landed a jewie that weighed 6.9kg cleaned from the northern gutter at Newport Beach on a fresh local squid. Mullet fillets are also a top bait to use at the moment to land a jewie.

Salmon are still holding at most main beaches, especially Collaroy and Mona Vale.

OFFSHORE

Outside action is ramping up with catches of teraglin and samson fish adding to the mix with all the other favourites.

Consistent bags of sand flathead seem to be the pick of the action at present. Try Mona Vale wide, the hospital drift or Palm Beach drifting ground in about 120’.

Most of the lizards are of a good size. The best bait at this time of year is WA pilchards or fresh mullet strips.

The odd large kingfish is showing up at Long Reef and at Newport Reef, with one local fisho taking a 13kg brute on squid bait around the drop-off at The Wall at Long Reef.

Several members from the local Sands Fishing Club are catching good-sized Kingies at East Reef and O’Shaughnessys Reef. Samson of 3kg to 5kg are also with these kingies – top fighting fish and excellent on the table.

For the bottom bouncer, Trawleys Reef and the Black Road off Narrabeen are producing tarwhine, morwong and squire. These reefs are best fished early in the morning at this time of year and for best results, berley heavily.

THE LAKE

Narrabeen Lake is still consistently producing great fish, with good catches of luderick near the Ocean Street bridge and outside the caravan park on the run-out tide. Quality fish of up to a kilo are being landed regularly.

For some great action with bream, the top spots seem to be the Wakehurst Parkway, Narrabeen Bridge and Wimbledon Avenue. The locals are using light gear and fresh Hawkesbury prawns and are having a great time.

Soft plastics, including Gulp 2” or 3” Shrimp in banana prawn or nuclear chicken also work really well.

Several locals have been taking quality chopper tailor from the mouth of the lake. These fish respond readily to small metal lures or fresh whitebait and are great fun on light tackle.

Some good flathead are being taken from the boatshed area as well around Wakehurst Parkway and Pipeclay Point on mullet strips, whitebait and small soft plastics.

For something different in the lake there are plenty of decent garfish around at the moment. These are great eating fish but also great bait for kingfish and snapper.

Try the Jamieson Park area for best results. Fish extremely light and use small pieces of peeled prawn or bread.

Although small, these fish fight extremely well and are guaranteed great fun for the kids.

FACT BOX

LOCAL TIPS

TOP SPOTS

Newport Reef kingfish, tailor
Long Reef (close) kingfish
East Reef big samson
North Narrabeen Beach large whiting, salmon

BEST BAITS

Live tubeworms and beach wormswhiting
Fresh local squidsamson, kings
Peeled Hawkesbury prawns lake bream
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