How to make the best of the current closure

METRO Jacob Crispe

The powers that be are pushing the message that anglers need to change their habits and seek other options as our demersal fish recover. Whether you agree or disagree with this is a discussion to have over a beverage. As mentioned last month, we are very lucky here in the Perth metro area to have plenty of options available to put a bend in your fishing rod and pick up a feed for your family.

Swan River

The main focus in the Swan will continue to be the fishing in and around the shallow flats. Areas like Dalkeith, Pelican Point, Matilda Bay and Point Walter all have large tidal flats dropping into deeper water. Our flathead love frequenting these areas, and we love fishing there. The fish could be in ankle deep water or in waist deep water, so any cast could come up tight to a fish.

They will generally hold in the deeper water off the previously mentioned flats, and hunt in numbers. Birds feeding can give away their locations, something generally only found in open waters.

The bonus has been the presence of giant herring amongst the tailor schools. They are a prized capture for any angler. A good area to focus on for tailor and giant herring is the section of river between the Canning and Narrows bridges. There is plenty of good water in this section of the river.

Blue swimmer crabs are also a big focus for many people at present, with good numbers being reported, and this should continue in March. The deeper sections in the area between the Canning bridge and the Old Brewery is a great place to start.

Good black bream reports continue to come in from throughout the system. The fish certainly have spread far and wide this year, and this is great for anyone fishing the Swan. It is nice to see not only seasoned anglers doing well, but families getting out and the next generation of anglers having some success. Their smiles are priceless.

Tailor are also ever present in the system at the moment. Averaging 30cm plus, they are great fun to target using small stickbaits or metal lures.

Rock Walls And Beaches

There always seems to be some fishing options from our metro rock walls, and that will be true for the month of March. Berley will be your key to success for species like sand whiting, herring, skippy and the occasional King George whiting. Set up a good berley trail and you could have all of these species within easy casting distance of you.

Squid are the other great option in March. Their numbers will be up, but sizes may be down a little. The Fremantle target them.

The area between Fremantle and Mindarie should be alive with activity. Squid and King George whiting will also be options to target. As mentioned in last month’s report, samsonfish push in closer at this time of the year. They can be caught in a real mix of sizes (1kg-30kg) and tend to be around these same structures. The odd yellowtail kingfish may be amongst them too.

Drifting the edges of the shipping channel for sand whiting is always an option. Fresh squid or peeled coral prawns are you best baits.

Sailing Club rock wall and South Mole generally have good squid fishing (all skill levels), while those anglers with a little more experience can look at North Mole. There is good deep water a little further out that holds good squid at times.

Tailor are always an option, with last light being the best time to target them. North Mole and Cottesloe Groyne are great places to try.

Tailor will also be a main target species for our beach anglers. Cottesloe, Scarborough, Trigg and Main Beach will all be worth considering. Salmon may also on the cards because surely, they can’t be too far away.

For anglers fishing after dark, mulloway will be the main target. A pleasant surprise recently has been some big flathead showing up amongst the mulloway as well.

INSHORE

Our close-in reefs will be holding good numbers of skippy and herring in the coming weeks. Setting up a berley trail just off these reefs is a great way to

Trophy King George whiting anglers will continue to hit the deeper water off Rottnest (20-30m). When I say trophy fish, I mean fish averaging 50-60cm. Certainly well worth catching.