NSW
Anglers enjoying the long awaited seasonal change BERMAGUI
Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com
Autumn is the time when you have an aquatic seasonal change, where you get a changeover of species
or, more to the point, a combination of different ones. It’s quite possible to catch warm water sub-tropical species such as dolphinfish (mahimahi), and albacore and yellowfin tuna are also present. Shark species can also
A nice dusky in the boat. Now where is the next one?
vary, and we’re likely to see anything from tigers and hammerheads through to makos, blues and threshers. The inshore grounds and estuaries are also changing, and the effects of recent rains have improved these areas no end. If variety is what you are looking for, head to the inshore reefs and also look towards the entrances of our estuaries, as the warmer waters pushing in from the ocean are stimulating fish to feed. As mentioned, offshore game fishing is excellent, and in the past many big blue marlin have been caught in the month of April. Trolling is probably the best form of attack, with large skirted lures trolled out over the 1000 fathom line doing most of the damage on the big blues. You should also consider trolling small striped tuna, as they also catch their share at this time of year. Closer to the continental shelf and Twelve Mile Reef, striped and black marlin are in good numbers, and mixed with them are a variety of tuna species and dolphinfish. All of these areas mentioned are worth berleying for sharks, and if you are into shark fishing always keep in mind what other species may venture into the berley trail. I recommend that you always have a live bait out under a balloon, rigged on
All smiles with a solid bream. 250lb mono trace, as there are always marlin and tuna to be caught in this way. These fish will continue to be taken like this well into the winter months. Reef and bottom fishing is excellent as the calm weather generally allows anglers to fish as they wish. When you get these lovely, still conditions, this is the time of year to get close to
shore and flick soft plastics around the reefy outcrops. You can have success in anywhere from 1-2m of water through to as deep as you can get your plastic down to the bottom. You can catch a variety of species in this manner (and some of the odd balls that show up may shock you). The main target species on the short list will be snapper and flathead
off the bottom and a host of pelagics including kingfish, salmon, small tuna through to trevally. For those who just want to fish in the conventional ways with bait off the bottom, there’s a wide variety of species on offer at present. This also allows you to fish the deeper water, with the Twelve Mile Reef fishing the best. Large snapper,
School holiday fun for the kids TATHRA
Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com
The Wharf is fishing very well at the moment, with a variety of species hanging around. This is great for families on holidays as the kids can get stuck into the many baitfish schools that are here. Yellowtail and trevally
are regular captures with the visitors, along with the ever-popular slimy mackerel making up the bulk of the captures. Also on offer are passing schools of salmon, frigate mackerel and bonito, which all can get very interested in a well-presented lure. With the kids having so much fun on the baitfish, there is a likelihood of larger predators like kingfish or
sharks patrolling the fringes. A baitfish floated out under a float may end in the mouth of one of these large pelagics. Out to sea, the offshore fishing has also fired up, with both the gamefish and bottom dwellers on the chew. Marlin are still around for the game fishers, with all three species now in the area. If it’s a big blue marlin you’re looking for, now is the time to target one. Tathra Canyons
Sliding a lure-caught tailor onto the golden sands of a Tathra beach early in the morning. 72 APRIL 2023
out over the continental shelf has in the past seen many an epic battle on these great fish. Probably the best way to encounter one is with a spread of large skirted lures, as you can cover more water to find where the fish are. Once you have raised a fish or two in a certain area you can then switch to live baits in the form of slimy mackerel or small striped tuna. There will be other species also encountered whilst chasing the billfish. Anglers can expect to find anything from your subtropical dolphinfish and spearfish through to a variety of tuna species, including albacore, and definitely a mixture of different sharks. Calm conditions are giving the bottom and reef fishos plenty of scope to work different areas in a range of depths. The wider reefs out in 70 fathoms (and there are some good ones out from Tathra) are producing some very nice snapper, mowies, tiger flathead and very big trumpeter. Berleying while out in this deeper water setting baits for either sharks, tuna or marlin may produce whilst fishing down deep. Closer to shore,
There is plenty of late season flathead action on offer around Tathra.
