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Hoping for more consistent weather
  |  First Published: March 2017



The beaches and Narrabeen Lake are still firing quite well for flathead and whiting. Locals have been getting great catches of whiting to 30cm on worms and small surface lures. Most of the flatties are being taken on soft and hard vibes, but one of the boys prefers to use live prawns. He’s been catching bream, flathead and whiting.

A few mulloway are on the beaches, along with salmon and tailor. The salmon and tailor have been taking king worms, squid, sliced baitfish and whole pilchards.

Around the headlands there have been lots of bonito caught by people throwing small metals into the schools. Tailor are taking them as well.

Within 5km of Sydney Heads, lots of small black marlin have been chasing baitfish. The water temp has been hot, causing the baitfish to move closer to shore and the predators to follow them.

HAWKESBURY FISHING CHARTERS

Ron Osmon from Hawkesbury Fishing Charters says the fishing has been fairly quiet for mulloway. However, there are a few good fish getting around for anglers who put in the time. Squid is the most popular bait, although Ron’s most recent catch was a 12kg specimen caught on a butterflied tailor.

There are heaps of small kings in Pittwater. The average size is 60cm, with a few up to 75cm, all taking live squid.

The flatties are fairly quiet, but you can still get some good size fish if you work for them. There have been a few in Brisbane Waters and a few in the Hawkesbury, but Pittwater has been the best. Ron has been using soft plastics around the drop-offs and where the weed meets the sand.

The crabbing down the Hawkesbury has been hit and miss. You can deploy six traps one day and get 10 crabs, and the next you’ll get only two.

Mac tuna and frigate mackerel can be found all through Pittwater, down around Cottage Point, at the mouth of Brisbane Waters and down the Hawkesbury. Just drive around, and if you see a couple of splashes out of the corner of your eye, hang around and the fish will come up. The best lures are 5g chrome lures, but up to 7g should do. A few salmon and tailor are mixed in. If you want Ron to put you onto the fish, give him a call on 0407 661 397 or visit www.hawkesbury fishingcharters.com.au.

FISHABOUT TOURS

Fishabout Tours’ Stuart Reid says there have been lots of kingies taking slimies and squid. You can get them from any of the reefs north of the harbour, as well as the deep holes at the heads.

There’s been a big run of hairtail in the quieter bays in the harbour, and they have smashing all kinds of bait.

The occasional big mulloway has been showing up in the deeper holes up the harbour. No particular time or tide has been working the best. Stuart recently got a big one at noon in the middle of the tide.

A few marlin are still around, and a bit wider the mahimahi have been popping up anywhere from 5-15 miles out at the FADs and fish traps. The secret is to carry a variety of baits.

Stuart says March will be a good month because the weather should become consistent and the currents will hopefully flow north-south. If the water temps are consistent, the offshore fishing should be better. March should also see big kingfish outside the heads. If you’d like to fish with Stuart, phone 0438 440 406 or visit www.fishabout.com.au.

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