Bunbury

WA West Coast

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BUNBURY Whiteys Tackle and Camping

When people think of big fish, Bunbury and Australind may not be the first place to come to mind, but we aren’t complaining! Locals to the area are spoilt with an abundance of areas to fish that are barely, if not ever, fished. Our surrounding waters aren’t as immediately deep as that of our neighbouring towns meaning it can at times take longer to get to the optimal depths during certain times of year, however those who do the yards receive the rewards.

This time of year is not one of those times that you need to go far. With all the winter storms rolling through snapper move inshore to depths that are accessible to small tinnies or even kayaks. Bunbury beaches, including Backbeach, Belvedere and Buffalo, are all prime local land-based spots to have a crack at the trophy fish. Reports of multiple fish captures are really starting to roll in over the last few weeks.

An always welcome by-catch at this time of year are the mulloway and tailor that frequent our beaches and the last few weeks have been no exception with some horse tailor sessions being had on weightless mulies (my favourite). Yes, the weather has been rougher on the the breaks in the weather are being greeted with immaculate conditions and huge snapper and dhu within a quick steam.

Land-based fishers

lower reaches have been fishing best for bream after the rains we have had over the last few weeks. The freshwaters have flushed the shrimp and baitfish Cody had an awesome night mulloway session from the jetty. Scott with a decent pinkie from the surf. water, and yes, it’s been very cold in the mornings, however those that are watching the forecast and taking advantage of have had a heap of fun lately with the hordes of salmon trout and herring in our estuary as well as some excellent reports of mulloway passing through the cut. Winter is also the best time of year to get into some big squid. The most productive way being by boat, however the dedicated fishos targeting the calamari land-based are picking them up in small numbers from local rock walls and jetties. The Collie River’s

VIC MERCURY DEALERS

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MELBOURNE MELBOURNE MARINE CENTRE 393-399 South Gippsland Hwy Dandenong South P: (03) 9703 2003 E: info@melbournemarine.com.au W: melbournemarine.com.au MORNINGTON PENINSULA MY MARINE Cnr Nepean Highway & Ponderosa Place Dromana P: (03) 5987 0900 W: mymarine.com.au MORNINGTON PENINSULA NAUTICAL MARINE 141 Hotham Road Sorrento P: (03) 5984 1666 E: info@nauticalmarine.com.au W: nauticalmarine.com.au TOORADIN P&J MARINE SERVICE CENTRE P/L 101 Tooradin Station Road Tooradin P: (03) 5998 3107 E: pjmarine_services@bigpond.com MELBOURNE TRIPLE M MARINE 117 Northgate Drive Thomastown P: (03) 9465 8787 F: (03) 9466 1418 W: triplemmarine.com.au

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WA MERCURY DEALERS

BUNBURY BLUEWATER MARINE 18 Hawkins Street BUNBURY P: (08) 9791 1499 F: (08) 9791 1497 E: bluwater@bigpond.net.au W: bluewatermarine.com.au

MANDURAH MANDURAH OUTBOARDS 53 Gordon Road MANDURAH P: (08) 9581 7224 F: (08) 9581 6305 E: james@mandurahoutboards.com.au W: mandurahoutboards.com.au

ALBANY RUSTY’S MARINE U2/205 Chesterpass Road ALBANY P: (08) 9842 1022 E: rustysmarine@bigpond.com W: www.rustysmarine.com.au

WANGARA HI TECH MARINE 12 Uppill Place WANGARA P: (08) 9309 2888 F: (08) 9309 2397 E: sales@hitechmarine.com.au W: hitechmarine.com.au