WA
Exciting Easter action on tuna
You’ve got to be happy with a solid yellowfin like this.
good fish but the numbers are fewer, so it’s a lot of hard work for a strike. Still, it’s definitely rewarding when you get one. The river has produced good numbers of mud crabs but the blue mannas are small at the moment, and there aren’t many keepers. Don’t forget to take your gauge as it’s hard to pick if they are under or oversize. Whiting are still in the river but they will soon move out with the water getting very warm. The best spots are at the back of Oyster reef and the flats in front of IGA car park. Mulloway are few and far between, but some nice fish can still be found off the sand spit after sundown. Blue manna crabs have been on the march in the river, with catches from the pens to well up river to Gregory Rock. Some very nice muddies have also been in the catch, and are full of meat according to a holidaymaker who had his nets by the local launch ramp. Safe fishing and check your safety gear before you go to sea.
why Minister Punch thought it made sense to limit us to just one bait per line. It makes far more sense to mandate use of a single in-line circle hook per bait to reduce fish mortalities. We now have a decision on our rigs – do we use multiple snelled J hooks to try to catch some of the smaller species on large baits, or fish large circle hooks that will primarily only land large dhufish? In the past we could have a combination of large and small baited circle hooks for the differing species
time, especially for Spanish mackerel. Tuna have been out from the 30s, while some very large yellowfin have been out wide. Now that the sting has gone out of the summer sea breezes, calm evenings are providing anglers with a great opportunity to troll along the White Bank, as the sun sets when the mackerel bite is at its best. LAND BASED It’s the prime time of year for pinkies and mulloway off
KALBARRI
Stephen Wiseman
Hot water is the big drawcard this month, as it continues to flow from the north. My last trip out had temperatures as high as 26.5ºC and this has been reflected in the latest captures offshore. Boaties can be treated to yellowfin tuna to 30kg+ and wahoo stretching the scales to 20kg and macs to 12kg+, so it’s not surprising to see 20 or so trailers at the ramp most mornings. The best report recently was Nicky with a very nice yellowfin that she cranked in with no gimbal harness, and beat the sharks to the back of the boat. Nice catch! The best lures have been deep divers for tuna and macs with skirts at over 10 knots doing the damage on big yellowfin and a by-catch of wahoo. The best locations have been to the north from the 20-30m line and up as far as Baldface for better activity. Down along the cliffs to Bluff Point has yielded some odds have managed to survive, and hopefully will reach breeding age. Most all the fishing clubs are thinking along the same lines, and have ignored minister Punch’s decision. Club members have imposed their own size limits in club events. LAAC imposed 30cm across all three species, as have MAAC. Other clubs have their own formula. As for mortalities from hook damage, it is just crazy
and mouth sizes combined in one paternoster. On to the Lancelin report. DEMERSALS It’s a good time of year to give deep dropping a go, with some calm weather making the run out easy. Baldies and dhufish are in better numbers in shallower depths, and even inside the White Bank is worth a go for dhu. There are plenty of snapper right up to the beach. PELAGICS It is peak game fishing
West Coast
Yellowfin are providing a lot of arm-stretching fun. the sand. Mulloway will be in tight on the surf break, whereas the pinkies will be in casting range if we have any early cold fronts. Otherwise, drone drops around 175-300m will find the pinkies. There are heaps of sharks, so if you like flake put the wire on. Greenback tailor will be making a return, and there are plenty of better class choppers as well. They are full of roe and are in great condition at this time of year,
and they often bite well in the mid-afternoon. Samsonfish are around the jetty and inshore reefs. The official start to herring season is always ANZAC Day, and there are stacks along the beaches. Finally, don’t forget blue swimmer crabs this month. After the water quality issues during summer, the bays have cleaned up and have been producing very large crabs full of sweet meat.
that take the comfort level up a notch. Finally, the SE is an all-in-one package and includes everything a boater needs for a great day out on the water. Combining the best of all the packages, the SE is perfect for those that want to kit out their vessel and include a bit of everything. “At Stacer Boats, we understand that every boater has a different lifestyle and therefore different requirements, which is
why we offer a range of boat packages that cater to every need,” said Sam Hayes, General Manager at Stacer Boats. “These boat packages are designed to make it easy and convenient for prospective buyers to choose from without being overwhelmed by all the options available.” To find out more information and to view the Stacer range, head to www.stacer.com. au. - Stacer
PRODUCT NEWS
The new Stacer package deals There are so many factors to consider when buying a new boat, not the least of which is choosing what options to include with your package. To help with the decision-making process, Stacer Australia is providing a variety of packages to choose from that are catered for the lifestyle you want to have with your new boat. The packages include the Entertainer, Angler, Travel and SE, and they’re designed to cater to a variety of boating lifestyles, whether customers are looking for added luxury and comfort, the fishing must-haves, an optimised driving experience or an all-in-one package. The Entertainer boat package is perfect for those who love to entertain on the water. It includes
boards with ski pole and marine radios. The Travel boat package is perfect for those who love to explore. Catered purely for the driver, the Travel package ensures ultimate ease and comfort at the helm, making it perfect for those long days on the water. Travel packages include items such as hydraulic steering and wheel upgrades
options for added luxury and comfort depending on your model, such as biminis to keep off the worst of the sun, sound system and speakers to pump some tunes, or upgraded lounges for that extra luxurious touch. The Angler boat package is ideal for those who love to fish. It comes equipped with everything an angler needs, including items such as burley buckets, cutting
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