Shades Fishing News

I REALLY enjoy my Murray cod fishing and although most of it is done in and around my home base in Canberra (Googong, Lake Burley Griffin, etc), I regularly chase cod further afield.

Fishing locally I have the huge advantage that I can slip out when conditions are perfect, for example at the start of a big high-pressure system, in the lowlight hours before or after work or, most importantly, when I pinpoint exactly where a big cod is living.

Further abroad, trips are usually planned in advance so I really have to just keep casting away rain, hail or shine.

Until recently I did have a good run on big cod on the Murray River within 20 kilometres either side of Wentworth. I was lucky to have good weather during my visits and, more importantly, a water-level rise was coming down the river.

Cod can sense water rises coming and a distinct period results when they throw caution to the wind and hit lures with vigour.

The timing of these rises used to be dictated by rainfall in upstream catchments but now man-made lochs are used to capture and manage water levels.

On my last trip to Wentworth we missed the rise by just one day so the cod had already filled up. Only a handful of golden perch and one small cod were caught among the carp.

I can sum things up like this: cod fishing in SA is still a sport for dedicated anglers in that you need the right conditions and you need to put in lots of time but, cripes, nearly every fish you hook is up over the magic metre mark.

This is thanks to the fact that it is illegal to keep a cod more than a metre long in SA waters. What a boon for tourism, and the cod.

But consider this: even though my team of expert anglers landed many cod up to 85lb they fished over many days. Each averaged about two hookups a day and they had to do things right. Casting to fallen trees lying into the river was one good method and large spinner baits with gold and silver Colorado blades and white skirts worked well.

Casting to the same trees with large deep divers also worked well, but a few lures came back with broken bibs and the like - not surprising with XL cod at close quarters.

Early in the trip while travelling up the river in search of the best cod fishing I visited the historic Overlander Hotel, it was like taking a step back in time.

The Murray River in SA is something else, I’ll be back for more.

Log on to www.southaustralia.com and follow the links to Murray River or call tourism on 1300 657 625 for a free copy of the Recharge on the Murray River Guide.

Source : Moruya Bay Post

THE State’s biggest game fishing tournament will start in Port Lincoln this weekend.

The tournament will be the Game Fishing Club of South Australia’s premier game fishing tournament for the year.

Game Fishing Club of South Australia president Steve Morris said the tournament had not attracted a major sponsor but he hoped the success of this year’s event would help attract sponsors and more fishers next year.

He expects about 50 to 60 people and 15 boats to compete, including about six local boats.

Mr Morris said the current pattern of weather meant it looked like good weather for fishing throughout the tournament.

“Traditionally this time of year is mild to moderate weather.”

The tournament, from May 17 to 24, will be run under the International Game Fish Association code of conduct with competitors scoring points by tagging and releasing fish to compete for trophies in a series of categories including land-based and boat anglers.

Mr Morris said he thought tuna and sharks, other than the protected great whites and grey nurse sharks, would be a key target for fishers but they would also go for broadbill, sampson fish and kingfish.

“It would be a big coup if someone managed to tag and release some stripy tuna.”

A presentation will be held at the Port Lincoln Hotel on Saturday, May 24.

For more details about the tournament contact Bob Hutchinson at Spot On Fishing Tackle on 8683 0021.

Source : Port Lincoln Times

TIRED of catching tiddlers from the jetty? It’s time to head off the Yorke Peninsula, says BRAD CROUCH
SORE arms, sore shoulders, a touch of sunburn - pure bliss.

After days spent on jetties, beaches and rocks casting lines and waiting ages for a nibble, spending a day hauling in creatures of the deep was a great adrenalin buzz - even if it was hard work on the arms.

The place was the bottom of the Yorke Peninsula, and after days of limited success fishing from the shore we decided to take a day charter trip with Mark Graham, of Farout Fishing Charters.

The name sums it up - Mark heads a fair way out to chase big fish, far from most boaties who hug the coast.

In winter he is based out of Marion Bay, but in summer his boat is moored at Pondalowie Bay, a magnificent beach in the Innes National Park.

The 7.6m vessel is surveyed to carry nine passengers, but Mark takes a maximum of six to ensure everyone has plenty of room.

Rods, tackle and bait are supplied, as is local knowledge for half-day or full-day tours. Heading out from the little shack village at “Pondie” we tried a couple of spots not too far offshore, soon hauling in a few nannygai and a snapper to get the day off to a good start. Then it was time to relax for an hour or so as Mark put his foot down and headed to the far side of remote Wedge Island, with its eroded cliffs, sheltered sandy beach and attendant pyramidical islets.

This is in deep water - more than 70m - and our lines seemed to take forever to reach the bottom. Once they did the fun began almost immediately. Big, hungry fish were attacking the baits of squid and pilchards, and putting up a heck of a fight once hooked.

The main haul was large, tasty nannygai, an orange fish with big eyes and plenty of fight.

A few snapper were also caught, as were a haul of swallowtail and a couple of barracouta. Mark took us to a few different spots as the day wore on, and each time those on board were grateful to sit back and have a breather. This was a different experience to sitting around hoping for an occasional bite. This was about catching fish, and more often than not the bites were coming thick and fast within seconds of the line reaching the seabed.

By early afternoon we had reached our quota of nannygai and were content to sit back and enjoy the hour-long cruise back to Pondalowie Bay, looking forward to a cold drink, a shoulder-rub and tales of a great day on the water.

But back at the Corny Point Caravan Park there was also the little matter of scaling and gutting this seafood feast before finally relaxing. If your arms aren’t tired enough from the fishing, the cleaning will finish the job.

DESTINATION

Marion Bay is at the bottom of Yorke Peninsula, a little over three hours drive from Adelaide. Farout Fishing Charters are on 88544175, 0427120040, or at www.faroutfishingcharters. websyte.com.au.

Source: Adelaide Now

New life is being breathed into the Murray-Darling river system, with the return of some long-lost natives.

The waters of the Darling are flowing into the Murray for the first time in over a decade and a quarter of a million fish have been released to reverse the recent decline in numbers.

250,000 Murray cod and Golden perch were hatched especially, with the conditions just right to give them their best shot at survival.

School children helped with the release, which was the largest fish release ever.

Native fish numbers in the Murray-Darling were down 90 per cent last year from over-fishing and introduced carp.

Envionmentalist Jamie Durie is excited about the initiative.

‘For everyone here that relies upon the health of the Murray-Darling this is going to affect thousands of Australians so it’s a really important day.’

Source Sky News Online

New restrictions on catching murray cod will apply from the new year in South Australia.

The daily bag and boat limits for recreational fishing will decrease from two fish to one and the minimum size will be increased to 60 centimetres.

The annual closed season for murray cod will be extended to run from August until December.

SA Fisheries Minister Rory McEwen says the tougher restrictions are a response to a reduction in the species because of the drought.

Source: ABC Riverland SA

Water samples have been taken from the Glenelg River after a fish kill at the popular fishing spot.

Some estuary perch and bream have been left dead on the riverbanks with the water rising after recent heavy rainfall.

Local fishers believe land has slipped into the river and washed downstream, with the mud starving the fish of oxygen.

Boat hire operator Chris Carson says it is bad news for local businesses, although fishers are still managing to get some catches.

“It’s a bit sad to see those things happening, no-one wants to see fish kills,” he said.

“It’s a bit of a worry if you don’t know with that amount of water.

“The bream were, and still have been, spawning for the last few months.

“Spawn that’s up there, is that going to get washed out to sea?

“So you lose hypothetically a year’s worth of production.”

Source:  South East SA ABC