Narooma News fishing report
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THIS week has been another seven days of challenges for the offshore fisher.
The weather has ruled fishing out on most days, with strong wind and rain dampening the enthusiasm of the keenest fisher.
The Narooma Bar was also been a problem on a couple of mornings, forcing boaters to change tactics and times when the Bar was navigable.
Afternoon fishing has produced the best results this week, with some nice snapper up to 3kg caught on the south end of Montague Island.
Best results were achieved by anchoring up and using berley. The other key to snapper success at the moment is to use a light sinker with fresh bait.
The water colour and clarity have been constantly changing as a result of the recent heavy rain, fortunately the number and size of floating tree branches offshore has reduced since last week.
Offshore water temperature around Montague has been fluctuating in the 19 - 21c range, there has also been a current from the north, these conditions are a couple of the key requirements for kingfish, the only problem has been the lack of size kingfish and the poor water colour.
Reports have been confirmed that good sized kings have been on the bite around Jervis Bay for the last two weeks, so they won’t be long before their here, some local kingfish experts are picking Boxing Day for the legal kings to make an appearance (any other predictions?).
In the local lakes, Corunna has been producing consistent catches of dusky flathead and a few large whiting.
Schools of garfish have also entered the lake, which should provide some excellent light gear battles for the summer fisherman.
Fishing Quote of the Week: Early to bed…early to rise…fish all day…make up lies.
Fishing Tip of the Week: As a general rule, dusky flathead are the only flathead caught in rivers and lakes. So remember the size for duskies is 36cm and all other flathead it’s 33cm.
Fishing Soap Box: There have been a few comments regarding fish traps around Montague Island. Fish traps are a sustainable method of fishing, they have minimum mesh sizes and the survival rate for undersize fish returned to the water is extremely high.
- John Moore
Estuary fishing report: after the rains
DESPITE the water still being stirred after the recent rain events, there were some excellent fishing catches over the weekend in the estuaries and rivers in the Narooma district on the Far South Coast.
Nick Cowley and Alex Krantz had a great session on the Tuross.
Nick reports that after all the rain, fishing locations where limited, yet Tuross has produced some good fish as they found up the back, fishing from the bank where small creeks of fresh water flowed out into the salt.
They got some great sized estuary perch catching fish close to the 50cm mark with the majority of fish in the 40cm range taking hard-bodies and 2.5inch Zman Grubs.
Also Coopers Island fished well for bream and whiting.
“I was surprised all the EPs we got where all solid big fish photos didn't do them a lot of justice of their size.”
Local estuary fishing guide Stuart Hindson meanwhile reports having a great couple days with his clients Dazza, Mark and David on the local waters.
The jewfish were tough, but they managed a pup on the weekend, plus some nice flats to 74cm and finished the day off with 15 whiting and bream on surface
“Had to work hard for them in the chocolate water, managed a few though was hard going..... Thanks boys had a blast as usual....”
Closer the Narooma, Mummaga Lake has been firing post rain for the locals.
The Ocean Hut Compleat Angler reports that while some fishos are sitting around waiting for the water to clear up from all the recent rains, "die hard extremists" are out there making the most of what the dirty water have to offer.
Local "mad keen" fisho Hippie, got a cracking 81cm croc from the murky waters of Mummaga Lake. Notice the Shad's lure that did the damage has got the perfect colourings for these murky waters.
Going one better, fellow Narooma local Andrew “Milko” Cowley got this beauty 85cm flathead in Mummaga Lake over the weekend.
Breaking News - Andrew and his son last night caught a mulloway on the lake - this is unheard of and a great catch! See the full story here...
Prawn stocking a go
MINISTER for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, today announced the commencement of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s new Marine Fish Stocking Program in 10 estuaries along the State’s coastline.
Prawn stocking locations this month include: Khappinghat Creek, Wamberal Lagoon, Narrabeen Lagoon, Swan Lake, Burrill Lake, Lake Tabourie, Bega River, Back Lake, Wallagoot Lake and Curalo Lagoon.
Previously prawns had only been released in closed systems, but the Bega River is open to the ocean so this is something new.
The popular Eastern king prawns were bred in Queensland and are being carefully transported and stocked by the Department of Primary Industries in sites from Taree to Eden, ready for harvesting in about three months. Click here for the full story and pics...