As we move on into spring fishing options are opening up to anglers and one of these options are bass fisheries. The best in the area is Brogo Dam warming up ready to get hot!
Thanks to the efforts of the Far South Coast Bass Stocking Association, this fishery has now been stocked for the last 19 years with an average of 20,000 baby bass annually. As you would expect, with so many fish in the impoundment it is not hard to catch a bass, the only distraction from the fishing is spectacularly beautiful natural surrounds. If you can tear your eyes away from the scenic beauty try working a variety of lures around the weed beds where most of the aquatic species to be found thrive including shrimp, galaxias, gambusia, mudeyes, and many a nymph. Keep a watchful eye on the sounder to find the warmer water and try there in the evening as the sun fades with surface lures – a technique that can produce spectacular results.
Fishing in the estuaries surrounding Bermagui is also improving with the warmer weather. At this time of year focus on getting into the upper reaches of the systems as these spots are where the warmer water is and therefore where the prawns live. These prawns provide food for the predator fish - in this instance - flathead, bream, whiting, luderick, trevally and many more. This is great news for anglers both those who enjoy lure fishing or for those who just like to soak a bait. All you have to do is look to match the hatch and you should have some excellent angling.
Not to be out done, the offshore scene is pretty active too and spring is the time for tiger flathead. In, around or beyond 50m water depth is where you are likely to find these fish. Reefs are scattered in the depths and you’ll encounter flathead and many other reef fish as you drift over them. Snapper are a likely find as are morwong, nannygai, perch, and kingfish.
Out wider over the shelf, a few game fish are being encountered. Mostly albacore or striped tuna although the odd yellowfin may also appear. What is favourable amongst anglers at present is burleying for mako sharks as they follow tuna schools and -with the aid of electric reels - fishing the canyons for those deep water blue eye trevalla, ling, hapuka, gemfish and many more odd ball species from the abyss.
Just a reminder to those who have been before or wish to participate in the annual Brogo Bass Bash fishing competition it is on again the weekend of 4th, 5th & 6th December with funds raised going to the ongoing stocking program. For further information contact Darren Redman - President on 0427934688.
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