Fly Fishing All fish, whether they be saltwater or freshwater species, can be targeted on fly. All saltwater species from Whiting to Marlin are taken on fly and likewise all freshwater species will take a fly. Many anglers are looking for a new challenge and as a result, fly fishing with its diverse equipment and complex techniques is attracting huge interest. Fly fishing is booming In the Coffs Coast region. Australia’s leading fly fishing brand as well as Australia’s largest on-line fly fishing discounter are both based in the Coffs Harbour region. Coffs Coast Fly Fishing Club brings together the local fly fishing community with an open invitation to all locals and visitors to the region. Check them out on-line. If you would like to start fly fishing there’s even an Internationally Accredited Fly Casting Instructor based in the region that can get you up and running. The Coffs Coast region is blessed with beautiful headlands and coved beaches. The estuaries fed by the creeks and rivers that flow from the hinterland offer fly anglers a wide range of fishing locations and species to target. The Coffs Coast area is unmatched when it comes to the range of species available when considering the landbased, inshore and off-shore options in the region. Beginning at Red Rock in the north, to 54
FISHING COFFS COAST - 2020
Urunga in the south and inland to Ebor’s trout water in the high west, it would take a lifetime to explore and fish all the locations that are on offer. Saltwater estuaries, small and large along the Coffs Coast are great places to fly fish for species such as Flathead, Whiting, Bream, Trevally and Mangrove Jack, as well as Luderick and Mullet. If you’re new to fly fishing or thinking about buying a fly fishing outfit, the perfect place to start is in an estuary. Flathead readily take a fly and the wide open sand flats are an ideal place for fly fishers of all levels to cast. Experienced fly anglers have plenty of challenging species to target in the area from large sand whiting which will take small weighted flies like Crazy Charlies, to casting surface flies like Dahlberg Divers for Mangrove Jack. You can even fly fish for Luderick with weed flies! Ocean beaches are a challenging location to fly fish and it’s important to achieve adequate casting distances to reach the fish. While every fish swimming in the ocean will take a fly there are certain species that will be easier to get a fly to than others from the beach. Low tide is an ideal time to fish the shallow gutters or the edges of holes which are great places to target Flathead, Bream and Whiting.
Retrieving flies a little faster than you would in the estuary can often be the secret to fooling fish. Casting larger clouser minnows or a squid fly into deep gutters could even reward you with a Mulloway. Fishing steep deep water ocean beaches during times of light swell are the most comfortable spots to fly fish. During summer, cast small whitebait flies along the beaches. In the cooler months target tailor with medium sized flies. Bass locations are peaceful and scenic places to fish throughout the region. Bass fishing is popular from canoes and kayaks as well as from creek banks. Bass love to hold in structure or under waterlilies so try casting surface flies with floating lines in close and retrieve your fly with a splash. If there’s no response on the surface simply change to a sinking fly. There’s a closed season for Bass so check current regulations before you plan your trip. Almost every Bass fisherman these days return caught fish to the water to be caught another day. If you’re already a fly fisher or are planning to start, the Coffs coast region has so much to offer you. Why not give FFI (Fly Fishers International) Instructor Garry Hambly a call on 0412 127 365 and get yourself started in the wonderful world of fly fishing.
