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Weather tests anglers
  |  First Published: August 2014



With the water finally clearing up the weather is still making it hard for all but the hardiest anglers to get out and catch a feed.

High winds and big swell have made offshore areas almost unfishable but those getting out have managed some good bags of pinky snapper, morwong, nannygui and leatherjacket from the 4 and 8 Mile Reef systems. Drifting in 25-30m of water has also seen some good bags of flatties and the occasional big winter gummy taken on ’couta and squid heads. The ’couta have been an absolute nightmare in some spots and anglers have had to drive away from the massive schools. While they make great bait, they are a headache especially when they bite rigs off faster than you can tie them on!

The surf beaches are fishing well for huge salmon. Some have been up to 4.5kg and even on surf gear they give you a hard time in heavy surf! Pilchards on a ganged hook paternoster rig are the best bet, and don't forget to have a green or blue surf popper on the top dropper too as this is normally the one that gets hit. Spinning with 50g Lazer Lures in either blue or green is a sure fire way of getting some good fish too, and there’s a good chance of getting some big tailor and trevally to add some mix into the mayhem.

Lake Tyers

Lake Tyers has been consistent with big numbers of bream up to about 1.5kg on metal vibes and soft plastics fished slowly through the schools of suspended fish. My favourite method of late has been dropshotting, It’s a technique that allows you to suspend the plastic in the fish’s face and annoy the fish into eating the lure. Some great plastics to dropshot with are Eco Products Eyeball Tails, Squidgy Critters, Berkley Bulky Hawgs, Madeye Crabs, Z-man Scented Shrimp and any other creature-style baits that will throw out plenty of action when shaken on slack line. It works a charm on those glassed out days when the fish will not respond to a metal vibe and you have to slow everything down to entice a reaction.

When the wind is up then bouncing small metal vibes Like Ecogear VX40s, Savage Vibes and TT Switchblades along the bottom through the schools of bream will see you pick up some nice fish, and should see a few flathead encountered too. Great spots to start have been from the Glasshouse to the Island in the deeper stretches, and above here the fish have been holding deep in the timber. Throwing resin vibes has been the best technique in the sticks and I have to say it’s nerve wracking!

Some massive luderick have been caught along with the odd perch and good numbers of flatties. Throwing bigger soft plastics in the deeper holes is a good way to target a big winter flathead and some monsters have been caught and released lately. White has been the most consistent colour.

Lakes Entrance

Lakes Entrance has been fishing well for salmon and trevally at Bullock Island on the run in tide. Soft plastics and small metals have accounted for most of the fish caught, while bait anglers have been cleaning up on huge numbers of slimy mackerel and yellowtail. While they are no good on the table the Slimies and yellowtail make sensational shark bait as they are very oily and are awesome used whole or as cube baits.

The town jetties have been slow with a few trevally and bream caught on sandworm and the occasional luderick has been caught on green weed at the post office jetty.

Kalimna Jetty has been fishing well with some pinky snapper caught along the rock wall on pilchard fillets drifted along in the current on a running sinker rig. Prawn has accounted for school whiting and the odd butterfly gurnard too. Metung has been firing for luderick at the pub jetty on shrimp and green weed under a float. It’s a safe area for kids to fish and is a fun way to teach them about float fishing, plus the luderick are delicious if bled and iced straight away!

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