Port Stephens

Rising temperatures trigger spring species

PORT STEPHENS Paul Lennon

Port Stephens will really improve as rising water temperatures trigger the start of the season for many species.

In the estuary, luderick are showing no signs of slowing up with excellent numbers still being caught from the rockwalls as well as Shoal Bay and Little Beach Jetty.

Flathead are starting to wake from their winter slumbers and always fish best this time of year further up the rivers. Both the Karuah and Tilligerry River systems will be the best places to target lizards this month and if we don’t get any rain you’ll be surprised just how far up they will be.

The best lures to use are around 100mm paddle-tail There are some cracking snapper around in September.

What a great way to spend an afternoon, throwing metals on the beach for tailor? plastics and shallow diving hardbodies. I like to use pinks, whites and motor oil colours as they standout in the discoloured upstream water.

Also remember that the flathead rules have recently changed and any fish caught larger then 70cm must now be released. The dusky flathead daily bag limit has also changed and is now five.

Bream fishing is on the up this month with the oyster racks around Soldiers Point through to Tahlee holding some thumpers to 1.5kg. These are great areas to fish lures, such as lightly weighted 1-2” plastics and shallow diving cranks.

For bait fishers targeting bream, you really can’t beat the Torpedo Tubes, Wandahead or the breakwalls. A unweighted nipper or peeled prawn fished on the tide change is a lethal way to get a bucket full.

Mulloway are another fish that will turn on this month with both the Karuah bridges up there with the best places in the Port to find some silver ghosts. Large soft plastics or vibe style lures casted around the pylons on the tide change should get you a result. ROCKS

Still good drummer around the white water from Boulder Bay down to Rocky Point but make the most of them this month as they will start to slow down as the water warms.

It’s the same story with the luderick, there are plenty getting caught around the Torpedo Tubes and ‘The Castle’ and Barry Park but their season is coming to an end.

Some nice squid getting around with Barry Park and Boat Harbour a couple of the best bays in the area to catch them. Use larger jigs around size 3.0 to 3.5 when fishing the ocean rocks.

OCEAN BEACHES

Walking the beach with a spinning rod casting a 20-40g metal is a great way to spend an afternoon early spring with good numbers of tailor and salmon available. The best beaches to do this are Fingal Spit, Box Beach and Samuari. OFFSHORE

While it’s not the best month for fishing outside, there’s some good reds to be caught around the islands from Fingal to Broughton. Fish the shallow reefs from 10-30m of water, especially on any sections that rise and drop off quickly. Early mornings and late afternoons are generally best and the less light there is, the shallower you should fish.

Port Stephens Estuary Charters

the beautiful Port Stephens estuary system with a calm water fishing charter that can be designed to suit your needs from family bait fishing to hardcore lure and fly fishing anglers.

www.fishportstephensestuarycharters.com

Contact Paul Lennon :0434370687 email: paul.lennon.fishing@gmail.com fishportstephensestuarycharters @fish_portstephens

Make sure you know about the new dusky flathead slot and bag limit changes.

FISHING NEWS

Man caught with illegal traps

Fisheries have apprehended a 49-year-old Howlong man, who is alleged to have had two unlawful wire traps in the Murray River near Howlong to take 27 Murray crayfish, including 13 that were of a prohibited size and nine that were carrying eggs. Upon seizure the officers were able to return the crayfish to the water alive.

Murray crayfish are a threatened species in NSW with a vulnerable status. They have declined in both range and abundance due to adverse environmental influences, and the recovery is a long process as they are a slow growing species that take several years to reach maturity. Controls are in place to ensure that recreational fishing for this species is sustainable for the future. The take of Murray crayfish outside these strict control measures seriously compromises the recovery of these vulnerable populations.

Murray crayfish can be taken from prescribed waters of the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers between June and August. The daily limit is two per person and a minimum carapace size limit of 10cm and a maximum carapace size of 12cm applies. Any Murray cayfish carrying eggs externally must be immediately returned to the water with the least possible injury. Recreational fishers can use up to five hoop nets per person in prescribed waters. The use of any form of trap to take Murray crayfish is prohibited.

The Howlong man is likely to be charged with a number of offences in relation to the incident. – NSW DPI