Central Coast

A good month on the sand

CENTRAL COAST

Jamie

Robley Amazingly, we’ve just about reached the end of another year and what a rocky road it’s been. Thankfully the weather, fishing and COVID situation have all improved markedly, and with a bit of luck the fishing will get even better this month.

Last summer we had quite a bit of rain and towards the end of the warm weather, we endured some reasonable flooding. Although floods are certainly no fun while they’re occurring, it’s one of nature’s ways of revitalising and replenishing. Thanks to a combination of flooding two years in a row, and

The mouth of The Entrance channel has been flowing very well all year. This should translate to some excellent fishing at The Entrance and throughout the lakes over the summer months.

From page 74 have been fishing in really close, and have been doing OK. Quite a few trag are being caught, along with a few nice snapper, and this should continue into December. There haven’t been reports of surface fish like bonito yet, but there are trag, snapper, a few kingies and quite a few blue-spot flathead on the bottom.

The beaches have been a bit quiet because of the fluctuating water temperatures. Anglers have been picking up only a few whiting, a few bream and the odd flathead, but catches will improve when the warm water comes in. The tailor and salmon have gone, which is normal for this time of year.

Off the rocks, anglers are catching drummer, luderick and trevally, but not in great numbers. It’s a tough time of year because our summer fish are starting to turn up but aren’t plentiful yet. We’ll turn the corner in January when we see more consistent warm water.

The estuary is the main thing that’s on fire, as a direct result of the prawn run. We’re seeing some really good whiting right the way through Swansea channel and the lake at the moment. Many are around 30-40cm, with a few bigger ones in the mix. When it comes to bait, local tube worms have been working very well. These worms are a given if you want to catch whiting not only in the lake, but off the beach.

The prawn run has also caused an increase in bream numbers, with some big specimens amongst them. The biggest one I’ve heard of lately was a 45cm fish caught by local angler Bob Mowbray on a Hawkesbury prawn.

If you want to flick some lures for whiting (and bream), matching the hatch during the prawn run is a good idea. Good prawn imitations include Sugapens, Jackson Ebi Panics and MMD Splash Prawns. Soft plastics are also catching their share, including Squidgy Prawns, PowerBait Power Shrimp, and of course Gulp Shrimp. However, surface lures are the favourite because it’s such an exciting form of fishing, accounting for good numbers of whiting in the lake and channel system, with a bycatch of bream.

Frustratingly for mulloway anglers, squid have been patchy in recent weeks, but as we get closer to Christmas and into January, we should see an improvement. Anglers chasing mulloway have had to resort to using Lund frozen squid, but the results have been better than you’d expect – just as many guys have been catching jew on these frozen squid as on fresh local squid. Fish around 70-95cm have been quite common, with a few bigger specimens up to 1.25m.

DECEMBER FISHING

In the wake of the main prawn run, there will hopefully be a reasonable number of stragglers running through December. If not, I recommend using locally-farmed tubeworms or frozen local prawns for bream and whiting. We are starting to see really big tides on the full and new moons, sometimes creating a 1.7-1.8m exchange of water, which makes the fish bite a bit harder. This will hopefully result in some great catches during the summer holidays.

When it comes to game fishing in December, signs are pointing to a good season. Hopefully the currents will be kind, and I’ll have some great catches to report on for the next issue. • Fisherman’s Warehouse Tackle World has a large range fresh and frozen bait as well as a huge range of rods, reels, lures and accessories. They also sell and service outboard motors, and have a competitivelypriced selection of new and second-hand boats. The friendly staff are all experienced local anglers, and they’re always happy to share their knowledge, whether you’re a novice or experienced angler. Drop in for a chat at 804 Pacific Highway, Marks Point, or give them a call on (02) 4945 2152. You can also find them on Facebook, or check out their website at www. fishermanswarehouse.com.au. ongoing council work, the mouth of Tuggerah Lakes has remained wide open all year. In fact, this year I’ve witnessed the strongest tidal flow into the lakes that I’ve ever seen. At times this has been noticeable as far into the system as Wallarah Creek, which is quite rare. Basically, this means the lakes have been getting a lot of good, clean sea water into them and plenty of fish, big and small.

With that in mind, I’d be expecting to do reasonably well on bream throughout the lakes, and some decent fishing for whiting and flathead around The Entrance. Prawning should also produce results at The Entrance, Canton Beach and Elizabeth Bay.

However, in the case of Canton in particular, prawning here is also impacted by the council ‘weed eater’ – basically the council’s mechanical efforts to contain or remove weed. If it rips into things too much, it basically does damage to the area and is detrimental for prawns or fish. On the other hand, if weed growth is particularly thick then it’s pretty much impossible to use a scoop net or drag net.

Wind is another factor to consider when it comes to prawning or fishing around the lakes in general. As is the case with Brisbane Waters, there is always floating weed around the system. Persistent wind will push floating or drifting Beach fishing has been going very well lately, with tailor, salmon, mulloway and whiting. This mulloway was caught just before sunrise, but mostly it’s better to target them at night.

things a bit easier and more productive.

Bream, flathead and whiting are also going well around Brisbane Waters at the moment. As with the lakes or other waterways, these fish love to get right up over very shallow places through the warmer months. Brisbane Waters and the nearby Patonga Creek have plenty of sand or mud flats which can be absolutely full of life

Whiting are back on the cards, especially over the shallow tidal flats around The Entrance and the lower parts of Brisbane Waters.

weed in whichever direction it’s blowing. A few days of northeast breeze will push weed away from northern or north-eastern areas, and Canton Beach, for example, falls into a northern or northeastern area. But if it blows from the south, then Canton will end up with heaps of weed pushed into the shallows and along the foreshore. We do get a bit of wind through the summer months, so try to factor that into your plans. It may make around high tide. Even as the tide recedes, plenty of fish hang around the dropoffs, adjacent oyster racks, rocks or mangroves, looking for a feed.

Like many anglers these days, surface lures are my preferred choice around the shallows, and I like to fish early in the morning during summer. By that, I mean be on the water before sunrise. Some of my all-time personal favourite surface lures for bream, whiting and flathead include the Ecogear PX45 and 55, Viking Lures Pop’n’Crank and most of the small 45-50mm simple surface poppers.

INSHORE ACTION

Anglers fishing the rocks and offshore at this time of year are full of anticipation, waiting for better currents, baitfish and predators to arrive. Mostly, it’s pretty much the same story each year; we get a small taste of better water and a few kingfish, bonito or even marlin in December or early January, but then it becomes patchy again, until February. Of course, keener boat captains may make a quick pre-holiday dash up to Port Macquarie or South West Rocks, but even that’s a bit of a lucky dip.

My advice would be to keep an eye on social media, as well as weather forecasts and sea surface temperature charts via the internet or apps. It’s tough to time things right, with work and family commitments, especially at this time of year, but getting into some decent angling action is all about timing and being ready to pounce as soon as conditions are favourable!

Beach fishing is a more laid-back alternative, and fishing has been picking up nicely along our beaches. Salmon are still around in numbers as I sit here typing, and I would expect them to still be here by the time you’re reading this. However, we’ve also had tailor, jewfish and whiting taking baits in recent weeks and from what I’ve seen, I would predict quite a good month on the sand.