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Opportunity knocks
  |  First Published: May 2003



This is my favourite time of year with Summer and Winter species over-lapping, providing plenty of options for anglers.

The next month should see some hot action, so gear up and go get it – opportunity knocks!

Action around the rocks is starting to heat up. Anglers are enjoying good sessions of bream and tailor, with most headlands producing fair numbers of both species. Drummer too, have been getting into the act with some good porkers being bowled over by a few anglers tossing baits of cunje, ab gut and all the usual fare.

This is the month land-based game fishos should be tucking in with a considerable effort. Bait is balled up everywhere around our headlands. Tuna, mackerel and cobia are all possible targets and are certainly worthy adversaries, so get that gear tuned up and get amongst it before these ocean speedsters disappear for another year.

The beaches have seen some good action with local gutters filled with tailor and bream. Early-morning and late-arvo sessions are the go with fish co-operating until after dark. These next few months should see some great angling along our beachfronts. Things might get somewhat chilly but there should be plenty of heart-warming catches.

Estuary

In the Hastings system, anglers targeting bream and flatties on artificials are still knocking over plenty of good fish. With Winter westerlies kicking into gear, action will improve before fizzling back to nearly nothing. Resident fish will make their way down our system, taking up residence along the breakwaters and lower lease areas.

Don't despair, more than the odd fish can still be deceived with a lure worked around the washboards and trays around oyster leases in and around Limeburners Creek. Bait anglers should be gearing up for the season ahead and a couple of anglers I know of are already tucking into some nice bream after dark.

Blackfish numbers, too, should start to increase. Already the signs are there for another bumper year.

Offshore

Spanish mackerel and cobia have been particularly prevalent off Point Plomer at Barries Bay, with some huge fish up to 30kg encountered. Live slimies, yellowtail and chopper tailor have been the most effective baits although trolled skirts, jigs and poppers have taken the odd fish.

Bottom bouncers are knocking over some reasonable fish with quality snapper coming from most reefs north and south of Port. Snapper are held in high regard by offshore anglers and there is nothing better than to pose with one of these large-humped red creatures. Bait-wise, what don't they eat, but squid, blue pillies or live slimies account for larger fish.

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