WA
West Coast
Marauding mulloway GERALDTON
Graham Maunder & Michael Triantopoulos
Mid to late winter has seen a large number off mulloway captured from our local surf beaches,
despite conditions making it less than ideal with large winter swells and sea weed. The beaches to the south of town from Southgate Dunes to West Bank have had good
numbers off mulloway to 17kg, tailor to 1.5kg and school sharks. Southgate Dunes in particular have been reliably producing mulloway most evenings, weather permitting, measuring 1-1.3m and
Visiting angler, Pen, caught this 1.05m mulloway on a recent trip to Geraldton.
There have been good numbers of pink snapper caught from both north and south of town. From page 108
over a metre. It has not been difficult to gather a feed from the sand. Targeting sand whiting quickly finds some good size specimens at most locations, a little berley is likely to also attract some herring. Offshore the fishing has been good for boats
chasing demersal species. The bulk of the catch has been made of dhufish, breaksea cod and baldchin groper. Fishers have been regularly finding some cracking dhufish in the 10-15kg range at direction bank. Small boats have not been missing out, there have been plenty of pink
snapper and dhufish inside the White Bank. Early morning or after sunset has been the best time to target snapper, berley being a key ingredient to success. Dhufish have been on the heavier reef areas, and small lumps quite often can be seen on the fish finder before dropping a bait or lure to the fish.
Locals call it the ‘Lano life’ – living in a small town by the sea where you can pull fish like these minutes from home. There are lots of holiday rental houses in town where you can get a slice of the Lano life yourself.
9-17kg. Most fish have been taken on fillet baits, such as mullet, pike and tailor fillets. The stingrays have been a nuisance some nights, along with the seaweed. The beaches to the north of town from Sunset Beach north to Coronation Beach have had reports of mulloway to 15kg, tailor, pike, herring and yellowfin whiting. The better of the fishing has been of an evening. The seaweed has been a drama at times so getting down there early and checking out a spot is advised. Low afternoon tides have given anglers the opportunity to fish them. Pont Moore around to Explosives has had some good sized tailor to 60cm, skippy to 500g, herring and squid. The northern side of the Batavia Marina of the Handicap Platform, squid numbers have still been
consistent although the water has been dirty and stirred up, which usually shuts the squid down. Tailor to 450mm, pike and the occasional herring have been reported from late afternoon/evening. BOAT Winter fronts have been consistent giving anglers very little opportunity to get out, however some anglers have made the most of the good weather we’ve had. Spanish mackerel have still been around with some better sized fish to 18kg captured from African Reef around to the back of the Light House/Point Moore. The fishing south of town from African Reef through to Dongara reports of WA dhufish, pink snapper, coral trout, bald chin groper and samsonfish being present. The South West bank area had been consistent with reports of WA dhufish, pink snapper
to 5kg, coral trout, bald chin grouper, sweet lip and mulloway. West to north west of town, anglers are reporting on pink snapper, WA dhufish, coral trout, sweetlip and estuary cod, the north tide has made fishing hard work on days, shutting fish down. The fishing inside Point Moore/Lighthouse has had really good numbers of skippy, pike, herring, squid and good sized garfish with the occasional samsonfish and smaller yellowtail kingfish playing havoc on the light tackle at times. • Geraldton Sports Centre is the Mid West’s specialist Fishing tackle store. Drop in and see the friendly professional staff for local advise and knowledge and browse the extensive range of Fishing equipment on show at 204-208 Marine Terrace Geraldton WA, Phone: 08 992 13664.
Steve Nield with a 14kg dhufish caught off Dongara on a Snapper Live Fibre rod and 6500 Shimano Bait runner reel in 30m of water. The dhufish put up a decent fight on light gear, especially as Steve was trying to bring up slowly to avoid barometric trauma on release. AUGUST 2021
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