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Steamy sessions
  |  First Published: March 2005



Everyone has been suffering from the humidity. I work in the sun most days and to say it’s been steaming is an understatement and it’s certainly been uncomfortable to work, sleep and fish in.

Heavy rain has brought slight relief, cooling the area ever so slightly but making conditions even more sultry. Early morning and late arvo fishing sessions have been the go with smart anglers avoiding the midday heat.

Summer is always a tough time for rock fishos with the constant heat and fish very finicky at times.

To add to that, red weed is a constant nemesis at this time of year, choking gutters and making them barren and fishless.

Constant onshore winds bring the red scourge to our foreshores and some years it seems to hang about for months, making the going a misery for anglers.

Occasional cold currents, too, appear in the warmer months but they generally stir up the drummer which come on the chew.

Jewfish have still been on the prowl, especially after dark. Local fisho Jim Cooper has been rolling some decent schoolies while fishing the Point Plomer area over the past month. Fresh baits of squid and tailor have been doing the damage.

Tailor remain a little patchy but over the next few weeks the run of fish should improve.

Beach fishos are still enjoying some good fishing although once again red weed has been a nuisance at times.

Some good whiting have been poking about with both North and South beaches producing some fine specimens.

Bream, too, have been cruising the beach gutters, not in great numbers but those encountered have been quality fish. The next couple of months should see breaming improve on the beachfronts as we cruise into Winter.

ESTUARY

Little has changed in the estuary with some good fish still about. Flathead remain the mainstay with a good sprinkling of fish right throughout the system.

As usual, all sorts of soft plastics are doing the job and are achieving better results than bait fishos. Most fish have been between 1kg and 2kg.

Some good bream have been on offer with all nooks and timbered lairs harbouring some stud fish.

Lure fishing for bream has certainly gained in popularity, especially with the high exposure it has enjoyed with the ABT Classic event.

These next weeks should see the action continue to improve before the cooler months arrive.

Crabs have been about, with some good muddies on offer in the Hastings and Maria systems. Traps are the best bet (one per person) although dillies will do the trick.

When using dillies for muddies it is essential to check them regularly, with angry muddies buzz-sawing their way through the mesh if left too long.

Keep an eye peeled on your traps, too, as plenty of share-farming has taken place over the Summer by some unsavoury characters.

The Marine Park draft is back for the Manning Bay Region. The draft proposals should soon be gazetted for the public, with the authority hopefully taking in submissions from groups, anglers and the public before implementing any closures.

Let’s hope that the proposals aren’t a done deal, with no hope at any wheeling and dealing. Hopefully they will remember we live in a democracy, not in a communist regime.

OFFSHORE

Offshore anglers have certainly had their ups and downs over past weeks with nagging onshore winds and currents varying in temperature. Close in the water has been uninviting, cold and green while it has been slightly better out wider.

Bottom fishing has been reasonable with some good pearlies, snapper and some solid kings being boated. Mahi mahi have been about, with the Fisheries FAD holding some good fish.

A few marlin are still poking about, riding the cobalt currents in the wider reaches.

The mackerel run remains non-existent and disappointing to say the least, but the water has certainly not been up to scratch to support mackerel.

There is still plenty of time up our sleeves yet, so hopefully things will turn the corner and we’ll see some mackerel yet.

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