NSW
The gift that keeps on giving COFFS COAST
Rob Taylor
It’s hard to write about fishing at present and not have a column consumed by marlin as it really has been one of the best inshore billfish seasons in decades. We usually see black marlin numbers begin to wane around this time, but this year’s fish are the gift that keeps on giving. Little blacks continue to stalk bait schools anywhere from the 40m line out to the shelf and beyond that the usual stripe and blue marlin on offer. We have also kicked off our mackerel run with good numbers of both spotted and Spanish mackerel falling to the usual techniques such as trolling live baits, pulling lures and dead baiting. These fish are being caught off the rocks and all the way out to the islands. Targeting inshore reefs has been a sure-fire
Steve Sanders looking justifiably happy with this donk of a mangrove jack taken on a bait at night. way to find the razor gang. Speaking of teeth, we’ve also had an excellent run of wahoo, and these fish should peak in numbers through March. If you’re a
speed freak then now’s the time to chase one of the fastest fish on fins. It’s not only the offshore scene that has been firing – the rocks and beaches
along with our local creeks and rivers have also been producing some memorable sessions. We’ve had a great run of mangrove jacks, and March is one of the prime
months to chase them. Let’s take a look at one of my favourite months to fish the Coffs Coast. CREEKS AND RIVERS This month is a great time to be on our local creeks and rivers, and if you want to challenge yourself then why not target mangrove jacks! These red brawlers are thick at the moment, and there are rather large models getting about, so make sure you have the tackle to handle them. I’d be using 30lb braid as a minimum, and even then you may still get it handed to you. Try likely-looking snags in any of our creeks and rivers or,
The author with a solid wahoo that ate a fast-trolled lure.
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better yet, drift the deeper holes after dark to find a school of eager jacks to keep you occupied. Now is also a great time to target whiting and flathead off the sand banks and weed edges. Lures and baits are both effective, and now that the summer tourist season is over, fish should be enjoying extended bite times around tide changes and dawn and dusk. There will still be GTs boofing bait schools in the salt, and bass looking to attack surface presentations in the fresh, so get out there and get amongst it as March is truly a fantastic month to be on our local waterways
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