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There’s a change coming
  |  First Published: April 2005



With the cool mornings and the days starting to shorten, it won’t be long before Winter lays its icy hand on us.

The current beautiful Autumn weather signals the change of fishing along the Far South Coast. Some species will gradually begin to disappear while others will make a brief appearance before moving on.

Bonito usually make a brief appearance at this time of year, staying for only a short time but very welcome on their brief visit. Over the past few years they have been conspicuously absent but over the past 20 years we have experienced some memorable seasons and let’s hope that this is another one.

Fish like sand whiting and bass slowly stop feeding after enjoying the local Summer. When the water cools right down it is rare to catch them, even if they are still there.

There have still been some good catches in the Eden-Wonboyn area so it’s still worth wetting a line. Offshore there continue to be reports of small yellowfin and some nice striped marlin. In another couple of months the big yellowfin should appear as the cold water starts pushing its way back up the coast.

Kingfish are still being caught around Eden but they will slow down once the water begins to cool.

Inshore the snapper, flathead, morwong and leatherjackets have been biting well when boats can set up a good drift. This changes from day to day.

Off the beaches whiting bream and tailor have been caught in reasonable numbers although salmon have been a bit scarce around Eden but are still providing excellent sport down around the Wonboyn beaches.

The bass fishing in the rivers has been excellent for those prepared to put in the effort and with the widespread practice of catch-and-release fishing we should have many good bass seasons to come.

The estuary fishing has been good with sand whiting hitting their straps at times on sandworms, fresh local prawns and nippers.

Flathead have slowed down a little, more than likely due to the flogging that has gone on since before Christmas. The fish being caught lately are the survivors of that widespread holiday onslaught.

Yellowfin bream are still hanging about in the rivers with bait the best option although soft plastics are working for those putting in the effort. This time of year the odd bigger jewfish gets caught, replacing the Summer run of fish that average 7kg with some fish to 15kg. With the bigger fish around it definitely makes it worthwhile putting in a few hours after dark.

Glyn Luly with an exceptional Bass  from the Eden area.

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