Better boating in May

LANCELIN

Peter Fullarton

May is a great boating month for Lancelin. Whilst we usually see the first storms of winter, the weather in between can be reduce the take in demersal species. Feedback I am getting is a loss of faith and trust in Fisheries management. Fisheries really have some hard work ahead of them to get back the trust and good will of the fishing public. Minister Don Punch

Most purist fishers put extra prestige to one caught off the cast. With snapper so close to shore, it’s always a great opportunity to be fishing for them from the kayak or small tinny. One thing I find in water depths less than 6m is you need to be quiet, fantastic. There are lots of fish species on offer, also that extra aspect on the water with whales migrating through our region.

The first big blow is often late May scouring out the gutters making deep nearshore water great for lure casting off the sand. The downside is the beaches will be fluffed up, narrow and steep. The beaches are already in a poor condition so be extra careful this winter to prevent a serious offroad misadventure… there are already enough artificial reefs along our stretch of coast!

Although the water is cooling, the tropical species will still be passing through for the next few months returning to warmer waters.

I have not met a fisher yet who likes the plan WA Fisheries came up with to has put fisheries in a very difficult position. There has been plenty of garfish around in recent weeks, however there has been no word about the review into the take of garfish that was supposed to have happened last year? So, at the time of writing, southern garfish cannot be caught despite it being one of the best months to fish for them locally. especially fishing from an aluminium boat. Berley is the key to success with snapper, often the longer you fish the inshore this time of year, you will find them around the bay even in very shallow water. They maraud the schools of

The best dhufish catches usually come from out deep this time of year, although the better lumps still hold fish closer to shore. Pink snapper have been going off for the beach fishers, especially for those willing to get up early and cast a line well before the sun rises.

These days we delineate between a fish caught off the cast vs drone drops. We are a funny lot us fishers!

The best baits can be a live squid or herring. They are a great fighter, although not the best on the chew, so most better it gets as the berley trail brings them in and holds them in the area. Samson fish move to the herring and down near Eddies Island and often come in to feed around the jetty, early morning is the prime time. people fish them for sport and return them healthily back to the sea.

The last several years I have been finding May and June the easiest time to catch Spanish mackerel. Schools of pilchards and blue mackerel can be prevalent around the 17-25m depths. Trolling lures around these schools will catch them, but what has proved most effective is to dead slow troll live baits around the perimeter of the baitfish schools. It is best to be out at first light when the schools will be bubbling on the surface, as the sun rises the activity diminishes.

Tuna have had a bit of a comeback after a slow few months and can be found right through the depths with fish not uncommon inside the white bank.

Skippy have moved into shallower waters. They don’t like to hang over sandy bottom so fish near reef or weed beds. They can be caught from the shore,