For the past four to five weeks the talk in the fishing fraternity has been focused almost entirely on the amazing marlin season we are having just off our coast! It’s been one of those seasons where everything has just fallen into place.
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Weather wise we’ve had good days and bad days but anglers are still heading to sea on those bad days hoping for the trip of a lifetime! Out at the banks it’s been described as mayhem as boat after boat make their way to this iconic location in search of their tough adversary.
Boats are having days which are normally far and few between with hook-ups on these amazing sportfish going into double figures. The majority of fish are being released which is a great thing to see as long as the time is spent reviving the fish properly after sometimes a two-hour battle.
But at the same time you should never begrudge anyone from taking a fish if they plan on getting it moulded or splitting it up between their crew and families for a feed, after all they do pay their fishing fee like anyone else and are entitled to take a fish.
At the end of the day a fish is a fish whether it be 100 grams or 100kg and I think some people can be way too hypocritical of other anglers.
Let me tell you there is nothing humane about catching a small slimy mackerel, sticking a 10/0 hook through its back then sending it back into the water in front of a hungry fish 200 times its size! But of course that is only my view!
Apart from the marlin, plenty of other fish are biting in our local waters. The Crookhaven River over the past two weeks has had a good run of reasonable sized flathead. Being a shallower river system, the squidgy prawn in the 80mm paddle tail in cracked pepper or bloodworm weighted with a 1/6 or 1/8 jig head in a 2/0 size hook is working a treat along with the gulp 4 inch nemesis with the same jig head.
Scattered throughout the Shoalhaven river system there have been some real quality bream, around Broughten Creek and up to the Nowra Bridge is worth a go on the high or low tide change with live nippers or squirt worms doing the trick.
The beaches are shaping up nicely after a couple of big swells and southerly weather patterns and there are plenty of whiting for those willing to walk a bit to find a nice gutter. Salmon are also still plentiful on most beaches with dawn or dusk still the best time for these creatures of habit! Beach worms which are the number one bait for the whiting have been patchy and sometimes hard to find.
Remember to catch up with us on Facebook and Instagram at McCallums Tackle World Nowra for all the latest in tackle and techniques. Be good and stay safe! Johnny out.