Fishing Monthly - Latest Fishing Reports - Updated Weekly

Fishing Monthly - Latest Fishing Reports - Updated Weekly

These reports are updated weekly.
Last Edited: Tuesday, 3 May 2005

Quick Jump Links:
Byron Bay, Ballina, Yamba, Coffs Harbour.
South West Rocks, Port Macquarie,
Forster, Port Stephens, Hunter Area,
Newcastle, Central Coast, Sydney Northern.
Wollongong,
Batemans Bay, Narooma, Bermagui.
Archived Reports, Weather & Tides.

COMPILED WEEKLY BY TONY ZANN IN EVANS HEAD:
e-mail: t.zann@fishingmonthly.com.au

Tweed Heads

River: Trevally and chopper tailor at the river mouth. Lots of sand crabs in the lower reaches. Muddies well upstream. Whiting around Oxley cove, Tumbulgum and the Chinderah piggery.
Beaches: Tailor off Fingal Headland and South Kingscliff beach.
No outside reports.

Julie/Graeme, Anglers Warehouse Tweed Heads (07) 5536 3822
anglerswarehouse@shopsafe.com.au
Wayne, Kingscliff Bait and Tackle
Matthew/Charlie, Deep Sea Fishing Charters

Brunswick Heads

Joe
BP Discount Fishing Tackle Brunswick Heads (02) 66851268
brunswick-fishing@netspace.net.au

Byron Bay

Suffolk Park has a few good school jew along with whiting, dart, flathead, tailor and bream. Tallow beach a little quieter but still good bream and flatties with the odd tailor. Not many reports from the cape because of the swell but there are some good GTs out there. Around Wategos there are good bream and flathead. From Clarkes Beach to Belongil for bream, flathead, the odd small chopper and heaps of good-sized dart and whiting. No outside reports.

David Keevers, Coastal Fishing Tackle (02) 6685 7133

Ballina

Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop says the flathead are holding on well in the river but the whiting have tapered off. Starting to get some bream and a few small school jew from the ferry through to Wardell bridge. Most of the action from the beaches and walls with some good bream, whiting in the surf and very good numbers of tailor to 4kg. Good snapper out around the 32-fathom mark and a few mackerel and tuna close inshore.
Light offshore breeze at Evans Head on Friday morning with some good mackerel catches during the week, mainly from down around Middle Reef. Watch the bar at low tide, even though the swell is low. The rocks and beaches have some nice bream and the odd small chopper tailor and school jew. River still has plenty of large, shy bream.

Dave’s Bait Shop (02) 6686 2481
&
Tony Zann

t.zann@fishingmonthly.com.au

Yamba

A nice stack of bream and the odd jack in the river along with good blue swimmers and a few school flathead from Harwood up. Some nice tailor from the surf on both sides of the river with some good jew off the beaches.

Paul Kneller
Big River Bait and Tackle, Maclean (02) 6645 1834

Coffs Harbour

Plenty of bream around the headlands and ocean rocks with good fish coming from both walls of the harbour. Beach gutters are still turning up good whiting with the odd bream and now that the moon has gone, expect a run of jewfish.
Estuaries fishing well with good flathead and bream in the lower reaches and whiting making appearances at the high tide.
Offshore: All the usual reef fare but the cold current sneaking up the coast means the mackerel will end soon.

Peter Russell, Fish Tackle Australia 6652 4611
motackle@midcoast.com.au

South West Rocks

There have been some nice whiting coming off the beaches this week. Smoky is probably the best if you can find the holes. Tailor have been there early feeding on pillies or garfish. Gap Beach is really firing with tailor off the rocks on the north end. Out of the local beaches Back Beach has been the best with whiting and bream.
Not much to report off the rocks this week apart from some tailor and bream. Good things are happening around Hat Head but it is hard to get the guys to tell me (for obvious reasons). I’m sure it has something to do with those banded surface-feeding critters.
All reports are suggesting the river has been a little slow. Jewfish hunters have done it tough with really nothing around apart from a few schoolies at Jerseyville under the bridge. Flathead are being caught with really no size about them, just on legal. There are whiting about, with once again the water between Jersey and Smithtown producing the best fish. If you want a decent bream wait for the dark and fish the breakwalls or around the boatshed.
The spotties are still up off Grassy with just about every boat fishing for these getting a feed. Late in the season these fish are about 4-5 kilos but the mystery is the spotties, or something else is biting you off. It is not uncommon to have 10 bite-off’s a session, all comments or recommendations accepted.
Yellowfin tuna around 10kg are around from the Jail down to Fish Rock. We are still getting a few reports of big blue marlin out on the shelf so if you have been amongst the monsters, let us know.
Watch the bars and check your safety gear.

Mark and Denise Bird and Paul and Michelle Martin
Rocks Marine Bait and Tackle 6566 6726
rocksmarine@dodo.com.au

Port Macquarie

On the beaches, while bream numbers have been a little patchy courtesy of the full moon, there have been some top fish caught, well over a kilo. A few better than average tailor have begun to appear including a few close to greenback category. Best results have come from beaches south of Port but with North Beach continuing to hold great formations it is only a matter of time until the tailor action there picks up as well. Whiting remain reasonable particularly around Lake Cathie, although catches are beginning to dwindle as is usual at this time of year. Jew results remain rather quiet. Once the mullet begin to run and that strong northerly current begins to turn and come from the south, look for this action to pick up considerably.
Off the rocks, tailor numbers have picked up as has the quality with reports of fish over 2kg taken from Bonny Hills and Diamond Head. Drummer numbers remain encouraging and will improve further once the southerlies kick in and shift some sand. Shelleys and Miners have given up a few good pigs, as have the normal ledges around Plommer and Big Hill. Bream numbers are on the improve. No reports of bluefin over the past week although ledges south around Forster have given up a few fish and there are again plenty of garfish milling around.
In the estuary, good flathead continue to be taken with the Maria, Limeburners and the main channel giving up some quality fish. Whitebait remains the pick of the baits although lure tossers have enjoyed particular success. Blackfish numbers remain solid with the south wall continuing to give up a few good fish but the Maria and Limeburners remain inconsistent. Bream numbers have been excellent despite the big moon, with good fish taken from both walls, Limeburners and up the Maria. By all reports the mullet remain thick in the lower reaches and are ready to put to sea once conditions suit. Still plenty of muddies around.
Offshore fishing has continued to provide a bit of challenge with the currents simply not letting up for the past week or two. Best results continue to come from the closer reefs with small to medium snapper and flathead dominating boxes. Those prepared to motor against the current are still doing well on kingfish, although they have been a day-to-day proposition. Mahi mahi are still hanging around although on most days locating a FAD on the surface is the challenge. Barries Bay continues to produce a bit of excitement with the odd cobia hanging around along with the odd Spanish. Waters north of Barries continue to hold both spotties and Spanish mackerel.

Jason and Virginia Isaac, Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle 6583 8318
jasned@ozemail.com.au

Forster

Offshore: Water temperature remains high and baitfish plentiful, but the offshore fishing has failed to match the excellent weather conditions of the past weeks. Marlin have gone quiet despite water temps of 26.5° on the shelf. Reefs are loaded with smaller fish life, but the species being targeted for human consumption seem to be too well-fed to bother taking a bait. The only exception to this is the kingfish action at Seal Rocks which is the standout spot for the week.
Beaches: Tides haven't been perfect, nor has the fishing. Those chasing mulloway have been disappointed, just as those fishing outside have been. Having said that, there are enough bream and tailor to keep you coming back.
Rocks: LBG action has slowed a little. Bream, blackfish and tailor will provide enough action for those that stick to the basics.
Estuary: The usual mulloway action from the breakwalls is absent with a few divers confirming that the channel is lacking fish. Having said that, the numbers of blackfish are on the increase. Big bream are in the system but have fished best at night on bait. The lure brigade are having fun but the fish are smarter than last season and something new lure-wise might be necessary to get a stand-out bag at the upcoming Megabucks comp.

Lloyd Campbell, Great Lakes Tackle 02 6554 9541

Port Stephens

Estuary: Bream on the racks and some thumpers among them. Flathead Corrie Island, Anchorage and Corlette groynes. Squid everywhere, chopper tailor and school whiting also going well. Blue swimmers on the march.
Beaches: Stockton for bream, jew, tailor and salmon. One Mile for salmon and tailor. Fingal for tailor.
Rocks: Pigs at Fingal Point, Cemetery and Telegraph Point.
Outside: Squire in the Broughton shallows, northern bluefin off Little Gibber, kings on East Head at Broughton. Squire off Fishermans and Boat Harbour. Pretty quiet on the game front apart from a few little blacks from 60-80 fathoms.

Graham Duffy, Salamander Bait and Tackle 02 4982 0711

Newcastle

The game fishing season just seems to hang on in there, with more than 17 Marlin reported caught off Swansea over the Anzac Day weekend. Mick Kennedy on Headhunter claimed his third capture of a very large tiger shark for the season, this one 515.5kg. Waverider captured a 164kg blue marlin as well as a 95kg striped marlin. Other stand-out reports were aboard Magic with junior Alex Griffiths, 12, who tagged 4 marlin for the Sunday and Jordan Atkin (jnr) on Ratu, who also tagged 4 Marlin for the day. Unfortunately there were 8 marlin killed and weighed at Swansea weigh station last weekend.
Lake Macquarie: We seem to get a run of different species every week in Lake Macquarie and this week is no exception as the tailor have been thick in Belmont Bay and west to Coal Point. Some of the fish falling to cast and trolled lures and pillies have been between 1.3 and 2.2kg. Rod Attenborough of Belmont has been enjoying these fish on 6kg tackle and also reports that getting your bag limit of 20 fish can be a bit of an effort as some of the boat fishos have been spooking the schools by driving through the area. This can disperse the fish and make it harder to find the hot spot. Any of you with a guilty conscience may like to try travelling upwind and drifting back to the school and then casting to the fish - you'll find your bag numbers will increase. Plenty of Tailor under Swansea Bridge of a night. Be aware that fines may be incurred for anyone found fishing off the bridge itself.
Some big squid at Swansea Heads on the run out tide and also reports of big flathead around Teralba Point taking live poddies and squid. Spoke to Fisheries today to find out why some of you cannot find the FAD. It was retrieved off Norah Head beach 4 weeks ago by Fisheries. No answer as to why it had let go from its anchor but it's to be redeployed at a later date.

Peter Sanderson, Fisherman's Warehouse (02) 4945 8922
enquiries@fishermanswarehouse.com.au

Central Coast

Offshore, on the Perch Grounds off Terrigal had heaps of long-finned perch but the mahi mahi have gone a bit quiet or shy. Good mowies and a few good reds and kings also working on jigs. In close the reefs also have snapper and trevally. Just outside the Haven of an afternoon the trevally have been going off big-time close to the rocks with some kings and bonito as well. Billfish have gone fairly quiet.
Good kingies off most of the rock platforms Avoca, Winnie Bay and The Entrance on lures and live bait.
Frigate mackerel as far up as the Gosford rail bridge. Not a lot of people working the estuaries but those who have report bream, flathead, estuary perch and school jew.

Aaron / Joel
Freddys Fishing World (02) 4367 5555
Shop 1/ 229 The Entrance Rd Erina

Sydney Northern

Darren Thomas
Fish Outta Water 9949 9488
fishon@uunet.com.au

Sydney Southern

Oil Warf at Kurnell has been the pick of the spots if you’re chasing big bream. Afternoon has been the best time for them and believe it or not, the best bait has been fresh bottle squid or strips of squid.
The Old Runway is still producing bream and trevally on the run-out tide on worms and nippers. Remember to berley hard.
The red marker off Kurnell near Watts on the run-in tide is a good morning spot for all species on Hawkesbury River prawns and squid.
The Moons has fired up a bit this week with some reports of school jew and whiting being caught on squid and bloodworms.
Headlands on both sides of Botany Bay are producing tailor of 1.5 kilos plus on garfish and pillies. Remember the best way to hook them is to cast lightly weighted baits.

Mitch, Mac's Bait Bar
428 Princes Hwy Blakehurst
ph 02 9546 1341, mobile 0411 661 911.

Wollongong

Estuary: Good bream and swimmer crabs along with a late-season spurt on flathead, the channel area best for all these. Try Berkley for bream around Gooseberry Island and the boat harbour. Crabs towards Gretel Parade and the Oasis Resort.
Beaches: Windang Beach at the entrance for whiting on worms, while there are also good whiting at MM Beach. Try Seven Mile Beach at the northern end and the northern end of Port Kembla Beach for salmon and tailor on pillies.
Rocks: North side of Windang Island has baitfish and bonito; good bream action at Bass Point with jackets and blackfish at Blowhole Point, Kiama.
Offshore: Best spots Pig Island on the eastern side, the northern end of Toothbrush Island and One Tree Reef at Wollongong for snapper to 2.5kg and mowies to 2kg.

Garth, Deans Bait and Tackle, Windang 4295 1615

Batemans Bay

Beaches, rocks: Minnow lures are working for bream, trevally, flathead, blackfish and sundry others where the rocks join the sand on most beaches. Pigs to 3kg are going well from local platforms and plenty of big bream working around as well. Squid also working well on jigs in the quieter bays. Plenty of salmon and tailor from the beaches.
Offshore: Down south from the Tollgates for snapper and a lot of trevally, with only a few rat kings. The yellowfin tournament is on lat in May and there should be a few around for that, with this season progressing well.
River fairly quiet.

Rodney Stockman,
Harry’s Bait and Tackle
ph 02 4472 4393, fax 02 4472 3405

Narooma

Offshore: Yellowfin going well for some and not others, still good billfish around the bait schools. Bottom action for mowies and reds. Kings hot one day and not the next but be there the right day and you’ll have a good time.
Rocks, beaches: fishing very well with good gutters fishing well for salmon, tailor and the occasional shark. Drummer going well and a few blackfish around along with salmon and tailor.
Estuary: Still good regular catches of flatties and bream with the occasional whiting and squire. Some big tailor also around with 5kg fish reported.

Darryl, The Ocean Hut (02) 4476 2278

Bermagui

Offshore: A great week of marlin action with good numbers, charter boats getting 3-4 a day. Lots of yellowfin out wide with most around 10kg but some around 40kg to keep you honest. Water still around 21°. Lots of makos but kings have been a bit quiet. Still some bonito around. Reefs a little spasmodic but some very nice snapper, lots of big blue mowies and some jackass and real mixed bags of flathead, jackets and other bits and pieces.
Beaches have salmon just about everywhere with some nice bream on the beaches and adjacent rocks. Rocks have some tough pigs working about.
Estuary: Getting a little tougher as the water cools but still some nice bream and flathead around the entrances. Lots of blackfish around the rock walls on nippers and weed.

Darren Redman and Mark Rose,
Bermagui Ocean Hut and Charter Booking Service, (02) 6493 4688

Archived Weekly Reports

Year 2005 Weekly Reports
07/01/2005	14/01/2005	21/01/2005	28/01/2005
04/02/2005	11/02/2005	18/02/2005	25/02/2005
	18/03/2005	25/03/2005
1/04/2005	8/04/2005	15/04/2005	22/04/2005

Year 2004 Weekly Reports
05/01/2004	09/01/2004	16/01/2004		30/1/2004
06/02/2004	13/02/2004	20/02/2004	27/02/2004
05/03/2004	12/03/2004	19/03/2004	26/3/2004
02/04/2004	08/04/2004	16/04/2004	23/04/2004	30/04/2004
07/05/2004	14/05/2004	21/05/2004	28/05/2004
05/06/2004	11/06/2004	18/06/2004	25/06/2004
02/07/2004	09/07/2004	19/7/2004	23/07/2004	30/07/2004
06/08/2004	13/08/2004	20/08/2004	27/08/2004
03/09/2004	10/09/2004	17/09/2004	24/09/2004
01/10/2004	08/10/04	15/10/2004	22/10/2004	29/10/2004
05/11/2004	12/11/2004	19/11/2004	26/11/2004
03/12/2004	10/12/2004	17/12/2004	24/12/2004	31/12/2004

Year 2003 Weekly Reports

07/01/2003

10/01/2003

17/01/2003

24/01/2003

31/01/2003

07/02/2003

14/02/2003

21/02/2003

01/03/2003

07/03/2003

14/03/2003

21/03/2003

28/03/2003

04/04/2003

10/04/2003

17/04/2003

24/04/2003

02/05/2003

09/05/2003

16/05/2003

23/05/2003

30/05/2003

06/06/2003

13/06/2003

20/06/2003

27/06/2003

04/07/2003

11/07/2003

18/07/2003

25/07/2003

01/08/2003

08/08/2003

15/08/2003

22/08/2003

29/08/2003

05/09/2003

12/09/2003

19/09/2003

26/09/2003

03/10/2003

10/10/2003

17/10/2003

24/10/2003

31/10/2003

7/11/2003

14/11/2003

21/11/2003

28/11/2003

5/12/2003 12/12/2003 19/12/2003 29/12/2003

Year 2002 Weekly Reports
04/01/2002	11/01/2002	18/01/2002	25/01/2002
01/02/2002	08/02/2002	15/02/2002	22/02/2002
01/03/2002	08/03/2002	15/03/2002	22/03/2002	29/03/2002
05/04/2002	12/04/2002	19/04/2002	26/04/2002
03/05/2002	10/05/2002	17/05/2002	24/05/2002
01/06/2002	07/06/2002	14/06/2002	21/06/2002	28/06/2002
05/07/2002	12/07/2002	19/07/2002	26/07/2002
02/08/2002	09/08/2002	16/08/2002	23/08/2002	30/8/2002
06/09/2002	13 /09/2002	20/09/2002	27/09/2002
04/10/2002	11/10/2002	18/10/2002	25/10/2002
01/11/2002	8/11/2002	15/11/2002	22/11/2002	29/11/2002
06/12/2002	13/12/2002	20/12/2002		30/12/2002

Year 2001 Weekly Reports
25/1/2001
01/02/2001	08/02/2001	15/02/2001	22/02/2001
02/03/2001	09/03/2001	16/03/2001	23/03/2001	31/03/2001
6/04/2001	12/04/2001	19/04/2001	26/04/2001
3/05/2001	10/05/2001	17/05/2001	24/05/2001	31/05/2001
7/06/2001	14/06/2001	21/06/2001	28/06/2001
5/07/2001	12/07/2001	19/07/2001	26/07/2001
3/08/2001	10/08/2001	17/08/2001	24/08/2001	31/08/2001
7/09/2001	14/09/2001	21/9/2001	28/9/2001
5/10/2001	12/10/2001	19/10/2001	26/10/2001
2/11/2001	9/11/2001	16/11/2001	23/11/2001	30/11/2001
7/12/2001	14/12/2001	21/12/2001	28/12/2001