NSW
with a rod in your hand. Rocks and beaches For land-based fishos, particularly those seeking gamefish, March is the best month on our part of the coast. With mackerel and longtail tuna on offer from most ledges and
break walls during this month, it pays to have a live bait out under a balloon or otherwise cast metal lures or stickbaits. Places such as the north wall, Muttonbird Island, the Quarry and Third Headland will all be worth a look for a gamefish.
FISHING NEWS
Marshall Bye got onto the yellowfin around the islands. They should be thick this month.
Now that the garfish are here, they make a prime live bait for pelagics off the rocks, but you can also use yakkas and slimies if you are lucky enough to find them. Find the bait and you will find fish. Plenty of school-sized mulloway, tailor, bonito, dart and luderick will also be available off the rocks, and the beaches should also produce tailor and mulloway along with dart, whiting and flathead in those low tide gutters. Offshore The offshore scene is dominated by mackerel every March; these fish definitely hit their peak at this time of year. There’s a good reason for that, as there can be some truly hectic sessions on the razor gang if the weather holds. You can also expect wahoo, marlin and yellowfin tuna around the islands, with bigger blue and striped marlin out on the shelf. Current depending, bottom dropping can also produce fish this month. I’d be looking at the 60m-80m reefs for big mulloway, snapper, pearlies and trag. It really is an excellent month for fishing off the Coffs coast, so if you don’t mind me, I’m off fishing and I’ll see you on the water!
Manning River Marine
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Yabby poachers feel the pinch of the law Fisheries Officers have apprehended two men from Cohuna, Victoria, for multiple offences involving the take of yabbies from Colligen Creek, west of Deniliquin. The men were caught in possession of 796 yabbies, which is a staggering 396 above the combined possession limit for two people. The excess yabbies were seized and returned to the waters of the Colligen Creek alive. In addition, it is also alleged the men used excess yabby nets and opera house traps to take their haul. Both men will receive $3,000 in penalty notices. Fishers are reminded that
the possession limit for yabbies is 200 per person. Fishers are also reminded that opera house style yabby traps are prohibited in all NSW waters. Fishers can use a total of five lift nets or pyramid nets per
person to take yabbies. Each net is to be clearly labelled with the fisher’s first name initial, surname, year of birth and postcode. It is also an offence to be in possession of yabbies carrying ova. Yabbies carrying eggs must be returned to the water alive. These regulations have been designed to ensure that populations remain sustainable into the future. Anyone with information regarding suspected illegal fishing activity should call the DPI Fishers Watch number on 1800 043 536 or report it online at www.dpi.nsw.gov. au/fishing/compliance. NSW DPI Fisheries
Regal Marine
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