Now is the right time to get out on the water

BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Every fishing location has a time of year when the action is red hot, and right now that’s the case in Bermagui. A range of fish species is on the chew at the moment, presenting sometimes too many options for anglers.

Offshore reef and light tackle sports fishing is excellent. Flathead, snapper, mowies and gummy sharks are plentiful, with most areas producing, and some other species are mixed in as a welcome bonus for bottom fishos.

For sportfishing enthusiasts, kingies are in good numbers around Montague and rocky outcrops along the coast, with bonito, salmon, tailor and other small pelagics being encountered either by trolling or casting lures in similar areas.

Soft plastic jigging offshore is still very popular for fish such as kingies and snapper, and a host of other species thrown in. Light spin and baitcaster outfits are all that’s required for an angler to have a lot of fun from this popular form of fishing.

There is no doubt in my mind that March is the best month for fishing the rivers and lakes along the South Coast. Fish species are feeding vigorously in order to gain body weight before the onset of the cooler months.

Anglers wishing to toss lures will do well on bream and flathead, while the bait fishos are right in their element for most species. Try using rubber prawn-style lures, because at this time of year the prawns in the estuaries are of good size and plentiful. and can be used in various ways. Pillies can be cut into small pieces and thrown into the water, as well as being punched through a life and water temperatures have the bass feeding aggressively. It’s that time of year where black crickets are emerging, and anglers