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Tuna out of this station?
  |  First Published: September 2015



I repeat: tuna out. We tried to tuna in but it’s been a bit of a letdown this year. The currents and water didn’t quite go our way and it looks as though the best of the bluefin run was late June to early July for recreational boats.

That’s not to say it may not happen through August or into September though; there is a possibility it can turn on. Two years ago we had an awesome afternoon on bluefin in August 80km out to sea, and there’s still is a chance to come across them in September. However, at this stage it looks as though the majority of the fish are out very, very wide. We did have currents bringing smaller schools in quite close and there were some fish around Tuross Canyons, but that’s what they were – smaller schools – and the fish remained very scattered. This suited long-lining style of fishing as numbers of fish eventually swam by hooks on the string. They had and are still having an amazing year on the tuna. At least some of us are doing well with them.

The yellowfin have been like previous years with some OK ones being caught and a few albacore, but again nothing to write home to nana about.

Another thing that hasn’t exactly gone our way is the weather. We have had quite a bit of wind, which hasn’t encouraged many anglers to head out. What has been quite good is the bottom fishing and if you have got out on one of the more favourable days and found a nice slight current pushing down from the North and bounced your gear down the decline you were in the game for some nice blue eye trevalla, bar cod, hapuka bass, gemfish or ocean perch. Ulladulla has seen some good catches of blue-eye up to 30kg and Narooma, Bermagui has been doing OK also.

INSHORE

Inshore reef fishing has seen a few snapper and the odd winter king, but it looks as though they have slowed down and are few and far between. The snapper, however, should start to fire up in close more and more, with cuttlefish making their appearance. Anchoring up in close and berleying the old school way is still the go for a lot of fishos. If you are casting plastics the 5-7” jerkshads are still our biggest sellers, mainly in the white and BBQ chicken colours. White jerkshads still catch the odd kingie and snapper, and are as white as a cuttlefish candle. The BBQ chicken colour looks just like cuttlefish to me. Use 7-9g jigheads to get down or 1/8oz jigheads if you are casting at floating cuttlefish.

If you don’t get onto any snapper or kings, there have been some good mowies and big schools of flatties. Moruya to Burri seems to have fished well of late. The 30-40m depth have seen a good run of flathead.

ROCKS

Off the stones the most productive fish through the winter months would be the reliable drummer. If you are starving for fish, target drummer. Mix some bread with a bit of sand from in a moist to wet salty rock pool for berley. Throwing it out into a wash zone off the rocks in a fishy-looking headland or deep drop-off around a corner will see fish coming around for a feed.

Cunjevoi collected at low tide or cooked prawns are good baits; whack them on a small but strong hook and away you go. Cast your bait amongst your berley unweighted or with an appropriate running ball sinker to the hook, with the size of the sinker depending on depth or current. Throughout a handful of berley every 12 to 15 minutes and start hauling in the fish. To haul them in you’ll need a 9’ fun stick or a 10’ solid glass or strong graphite rod. There is an amazing selection of 9-10’ rods these days. We have some Shimano ones which are as light as a feather and can pick your car up!

BEACH

The beaches are alive with the sounds of salmon screaming drags and still the odd whiting. There are no massive schools but they are found at most of the local beaches, along with some bream that have moved out of the estuaries to spawn. There are some good bream around our coastal bays and headlands.

Speaking of headlands, that’s where you’ll find winter mulloway, which can be found along coastal beaches and coves also. These guys will move back into the estuaries over September and October.

ESTUARY

Our estuary is quiet but that hasn’t stopped people from having a go. Those anglers who persist are finding the odd blackfish and flathead. You could run into a bream or tailor in the process.

However, the standout fish in numbers (if you find the school) has been the estuary perch. As of 1 August you can keep one over 35cm or two in total, as some people like to do as EPs are their favourite eating fish. To find the estuary perch fish rock walls, snags, holes or the front of oyster racks.

Well, best of luck out there. I’m going to put the heater on and make a pumpkin soup. With lots of garlic, so if you come into the shop and I stink that’s why.

If you’d like to get into deep sea fishing we currently have the Shimano Plays electric reel, Deep Drop rods and braid on special. The Shimano Plays 9000 has been our biggest selling electric reel since the price drop. They have a larger screen, narrower reel, longer line capacity and are quieter than their competitors. One of our customers caught a massive mako on one the other week and the reel is still going fine. If you want to check them out or get info on what’s biting, drop into Compleat Angler Batemans Bay at 65A Orient St, Batemans Bay, or phone 02 4472 2559.

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