Bunbury

The joys of fishing deep

BUNBURY

Whiteys Tackle and Camping With the few premium weather days before the demersal ban, boaties have been going far and wide in search of big dhus and deep drop species. Plenty of big blue-eye and bass have been hitting the deck. Most people have been running a traditional paternoster rig consisting of 3x 14/016/0 stainless steel circles and running sinkers in the 64-80oz range to hit bottom in the deeper depths.

While most anglers don’t venture into deep jigging, it’s very rewarding. The anticipation as your jig falls the 400-odd meters to the bottom is intense. These big, bottom-dwelling fish sure do fight hard when hooked, with some fish being well over the 40kg mark. With big tails and broad shoulders, you’re in for a workout.

The most popular and my personal favourite deep jigging combo is the Oceans Legacy Elementus PE5 with a Shimano Ocea Jigger 2000HG spooled up with a good quality 20-30lb braid. A set-up like this will allow you to get the capacity required to hit the depths.

The boaties have been absolutely killing it offshore from Bunbury, with great sizes and numbers of King George whiting being reported from 17-26m beyond the shipping channel.

Josh Luvera with an 8-bar.

From page 114 from the carpark and will usually do a circuit over and over, so you can plan a location to intercept them. Remember they are strong fish, and once hooked it is a game of strategy and stamina. They will fight dirty around rocks so try to steer them into the open if possible. If they are a bit big for what you are after, just walk down the beach towards the Honeycombs where herring, skippy, tarwhine and tailor frequent. Just spend the day and play around with what you are doing to have plenty of fun. Hamelin Bay and Boranup

These beaches are interconnected and are accessed by 4WD from the sometimes rugged Bobs Track, which is located off Caves Road or via foot from the Hamelin Bay parking areas. Probably best known for being the mecca for salmon fishing during the run in March-April, this large stretch of beach is probably the most used of all the beaches in Augusta. Not only can you catch salmon but all the bread-and-butter species, and mulloway and all types of sharks are frequently captured along its stretches. During the salmon run it is covered in 4WDs of all sizes, and can also be chopped up pretty badly by people who are inexperienced in beach driving. Drop the tyre pressure and drive carefully to have a safe and enjoyable trip.

WHAT’S BITING

If beach fishing isn’t your thing then the relaxed fishing off the Augusta jetties has remained pretty good for the last month. As the run-off from the heavy rains eased and the incoming tide from the ocean actually made inroads after being beaten back for a month or so, early morning walkers were privy to nature’s activities, with tailor schools menacing small mullet and bluebait schools in the shallows.

These activities were matched by the catches off the Ellis Street Jetty and Town Jetty, with some nice tailor and whiting landed by those who braved the cold weather. Early morning skippy catches have seen some thumpers landed. They have shown a liking for live river prawns, but dead prawns will work as well.

Ocean fishing for the last month was exceptional, with demersal fishing being well and truly the way to go. With several glass-out periods allowing deep water trips, there were plenty of big dhufish, pink snapper and queen snapper landed, plus some harlequin and breaksea cod catches, which has meant that bag limits have easily been filled. Bait fishing has been very successful on the charter boats but as usual, soft plastics have also resulted in some nice fish.

Travel bans have meant there have been plenty of boaties from around the state coming to Augusta to have a try in their own backyard. Most have reported being surprised with how good the fishing is here, especially when you don’t have the sharks constantly taxing your catch.

Rock fishing recently has continued to be dangerous as the weather prevented the sane from risking their life with a trip on the rocks. When it was possible to safely have a fish, the skippy sizes have been exceptional but the herring have dropped off in condition, probably caused by spawning taking a toll on their bodies.

Rock fishing can be very productive in Augusta but it can also be deadly. Choose a spot that allows you the chance to seek refuge from any king waves, and don’t let calm conditions fool you into thinking you are safe. Rogue waves are just that, and can quickly result in you being thrown into the water. People have died here after being washed off by king waves. Unpredictable weather can quickly affect the fishing conditions and slippery rocks are a recipe for disaster. Please remain vigilant when rock fishing; wear a life jacket and tie off to something solid. You can hire one for free from Augusta Xtreme Outdoor Sports at 66 Blackwood Avenue Augusta – the local tackle shop and font of all local fishing knowledge. Look for the big green sign on the roof, it’s right next to the BP Service Station. • The locations mentioned are all well-known and are marked on most vehicle GPS units, especially if they have HEMA maps or a list of locations can be obtained from the local tackle store, Augusta X-Treme Outdoor Sports. Chad Hogan with a pink ling.

The artificial reefs have also as usual had their fair share of sambos, giving anglers a good run for their money. These hard fighting, low blowers can’t resist a nice fresh squid or a fast-paced metal jig, and can really be a great sport fish especially when your gear is matched to the fish you’re catching. There seems to be a real increase in numbers calling the area home.

Southern bluefin tuna have been in surprisingly close lately and have made for some great fun. Casting

A WA dhufish taken on a Bottom Meat.

small metals into a ball of tuna is something any angler will enjoy, and they really can give your arms a stretch on the light gear. Trolling a skirted lure or a bibless minnow like the Halco Max 110 between spots is a sure way to pick up a couple of tuna.

Squid have been around in great numbers and sizes. The winter thumpers aren’t all gone yet. Numbers are higher than ever for the boaties that take the time to target these delicious cephalopods, and there are plenty of land-based spots to target them as well. With the water cleaning up the season is only going to get better. Night sessions on the weed banks through Koombana Bay or from the local jetties will produce a feed.

Black bream are a species that we find to be very underrated; they are an excellent sportfish, especially when targeted on lures. They can be caught all year round no matter the weather, making them a great target for taking the kids on a quick afternoon flick. The new bridge joining Treendale and Millbridge has held a lot of good size and numbers of bream throughout the year.

And if any of the above doesn’t tickle your fancy, this year the trout stocking program has really taken off. Plenty of fry, yearlings, advanced yearlings and ex-broodstock are being released into the popular systems like Harvey Dam, Collie River, Drakesbrook Dam, Logue Brook Dam and a few other small systems this year. • Call into the shop at 1/143 Grand Entrance, Australind for the latest fishing reports and what’s biting, or simply to have a yarn. Until next time, tight lines and screaming drags!