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Pambula lined with duskies
  |  First Published: November 2009



The Pambula Lake system is quite small compared with other South Coast estuaries, but don’t let this deter you – the fishing can be quite exceptional at times.

Flathead are the main targets as this system hosts a huge population of duskies, with fish up to 5kg being captured in the past few weeks.

Soft plastics, live poddy mullet and bigger blade lures fished over the weed/sand flats have produced some great bags.

The fish are averaging 40-45cm but if you use bigger soft plastics you will get bigger fish.

While the fish are quite widespread, I have been getting better results under the whitebait schools. Tailor have been prolific at times, smashing the bait, and all the leftovers are like a huge mobile berley trail.

When this happens, snapper, bream and mulloway are also a possibility. This action will continue for months yet, but remember to get out early during the holidays, because the increased boat traffic will slow down the bite.

The oyster racks are holding some bruiser bream, which are proving hard to tempt in the clear water. This month the bream will respond well to surface presentations as the water warms significantly.

OFFSHORE PELAGICS

Anglers who target offshore pelagics should be licking their lips.

Yellowfin tuna to 50kg are scattered around, with fish turning up somewhere different every day, mostly around the 70-fathom line and further out.

Trolling a spread of different-sized pushers has worked well, with smaller lures faring best. There are some big fish there, too, with a visiting angler losing an 80kg fish boatside after the leader broke.

With the water warming sharply, striped marlin are a real chance. Again, trolling lures is the preferred way to target them early in the season.

BEACHES, ROCKS

The beaches have been a little quiet for salmon and tailor but the bream and whiting have picked up considerably. North Tura, Bournda and the northern end of Horseshoe Beach have been fishing well.

The guys throwing lures from the stones targeting the pelagics should have some fun this month. Kingfish, striped tuna, bonito and frigates are all real possibilities.

The headland at Tura and the point inside Merimbula Bay would be your best spots. Both these headlands jut out a fair way and into the deeper warmer water.

Live bait tossed in at these locations is also a gun way to catch kingfish, but remember to use heavier gear for these guys.

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