THE PAST few weeks have produced some normality with Winter species clicking into gear at last – just in time for Spring!
There is now action across the boards so get into it and enjoy it while it lasts.
Things have finally started to improve around the rocks for a number of species. Some good tailor have been cruising the washes, dining on pillies or fresh gars on ganged hooks. As usual, early mornings are the go.
Cranking some metal is always a fairly productive and fun way of nailing a few tailor, which readily strike any chrome lure.
Drummer are making a showing with some hardy fish being taken and things are looking good for an improved season on last year’s non-event.
Some good jew have been on offer with most headlands yielding fish. Not a lot have been monsters but jew from 7kg to 10kg give a good account of themselves and are always welcome. Fresh squid or worm baits have been doing the damage.
Blackfish have really clicked into gear with good numbers in the river system. All the prime spots are firing with anglers bagging some great fish.
Bag limits are a sticky issue when these hot bites take place and many greedy anglers are a law unto themselves ignoring limits and stocking the freezer.
These anglers brag of their captures, trying to impress all who will listen. It’s sad to see a few individuals spoil it for the rest. Cricket-score captures are a thing of the past and should be frowned upon by other fishos.
Full freezers of dead fish are not a bragging point – they’re is a crying shame. Everyone likes to have a good catch but let’s not let greed bring us down.
Some good bream have been cruising the Hastings, with the Co-op wharf and both walls being the pick locations. Fresh yabbies have been the go with the bonus of a few blackfish sucking in the odd yabby drifted down the current for a bream.
Some of the bream have been absolute horses, with fish to a kilo the norm.
Lure-tossers with perseverance are still snapping out a few fish. Those casting hard-bodied lures around structure are fooling the odd flathead and bream. Over the next few months things will certainly improve for lure-fishing as water and air temps rise.
This time of year can be very productive for offshore fishos with plenty of species on the chew.
Bottom fishos are knocking over some decent pearl perch along with mowies, snapper and flathead. Those willing to gather livies are enjoying some quality samson and jewies.
Some good snapper are haunting the close reefs. The soft plastic revolution has also hit here, with snapper quite happily sucking in a lot of the multi-coloured grubs. Working the plastics around reef is bringing great results, with better-than-average fish providing great sport.
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