Shades Fishing News

The Dubbo fishing fraternity continues to show its love for the sport come rain, hail or snow.

Anglers who have persisted through the coolest temperatures for 2008 have had a ball, as murray cod of all sizes move through the local waterways on crisp evenings and frost-laden early mornings.

As most tuck up under the doona after having the heater blasting away full tilt, the keener anglers among us have been casting poppers, spinnerbaits, and buzz baits on the larger snag-riddled pools of the Macquarie that hold large cod.

For those keen enough to keep working away through a night of a thousand casts, the eerie stillness is eventually broken by an unexpected crack and huge tail slap that usually erupts just as the angler is thinking about something totally unrelated to what he or she is doing.

Tony Wilson sent Dubbo Catches some great pics of murray cod that were of typical size for the Macquarie River.

Tony has spun up a number of cod on AusSpin spinnerbaits in recent times in the Wellington region, and he picks up a selection of Jaz Lures for his report and pictures.

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Lake Jindabyne has turned on some good polaroiding and Lake Eucumbene has been excellent for those chasing trout on the troll.

If you are hoping to find trout on the troll in the Snowy impoundments at the moment, covering as much country as possible with a good array of different depth lures is recommended.

Fishing at a good speed should find a few fish and put you onto the trolling runs that are holding fish quicker.

Green and yellow wing lures are have been proving good options and fish have been regularly sounded at 30ft this week, so fishing deep is a must.

Thanks to the boys at the Alpine Angler for their report.

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Taronga Western Plains Zoo has become the new home to a healthy population of more than 100 rare and native purple-spotted gudgeon, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald announced on July 28.

“I am happy to say that monitoring has revealed that these rare fish have not only grown in size but they are also thriving in their new home at the zoo’s education creek. The fish were bred at the Narrandera Fisheries Centre from purple-spotted gudgeons which were found near Wellington in the Macquarie River catchment,” Mr Macdonald said.

The purple-spotted gudgeon fingerlings were translocated to the zoo when NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) senior conservation manager, Sam Davis, identified the zoo’s wetland system as a suitable habitat for the fish.

Previously widespread in the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Lachlan River systems and tributaries of the Darling, the western population of the Purple-spotted Gudgeon has experienced a significant decline in recent times and is now listed as endangered. Things are now looking up for the species though, as zoo staff have reported that the species is growing and even thriving in their new home.

“Purple-spotted gudgeons have also been stocked in Adjungbilly Creek, a tributary of the Murrumbidgee, Goobang Creek near Condobolin and the upper Castlereagh River near Coonabarabran. There are heavy penalties for harming, possessing, buying or selling threatened fish and harming their habitat,” Mr Macdonald said.

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Bag and Size Limit Reminder:

Murray Cod- 55cm from December 1 2007 to December 1 2008. Then 60cm after December 1 2008 with two (only one over 100cm in total) in possession.

Golden Perch- 30cm with five only in possession.

Silver Perch- no fishing for silver perch in rivers.

Catfish- Western waters: Closed to fishing in all western flowing waters including unlisted western dams.

A size of 30cm in listed western dams, 30cm in eastern dams, 30cm in eastern rivers. Bag limits: Five in listed western dams in eastern dams, two in eastern rivers

Yabbies- 200 in possession only.

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Tackle Talk:

One of the most impressive tried and proven low profile bait cast reels on the market at present is the Pfluger Summit.

Featuring nine double shielded steel ball bearings, one way clutch instant anti-reverse bearing, titanium line guide, aircraft grade aluminium main gear, and smooth multi-disc main gear applied drag system with audible one touch star adjustment, the Pfluger Summit is popular with weekend fisherman and glossy fishing magazine pros alike.

The Pfluger range can be seen at Explore Outdoors Dubbo.

Impoundment and river round-up

Blowering 36 per cent

Brogo 99 per cent

Burrendong 18 per cent

Burrinjuck 41 per cent

Carcoar 7 per cent

Chaffey 77 per cent

Copeton 21 per cent

Dartmouth 16 per cent

Eucumbene 12 per cent

Glenbawn 53 per cent

Glenlyon 35 per cent

Glennies Ck 60 per cent

Hume 16 per cent

Jindabyne 46 per cent

Lostock 100 per cent

Pindari 31 per cent

Splitrock 5 per cent

Tantangara 7 per cent

Toonumbar 100 per cent

Windemere 24 per cent

Wyangala 10 per cent

Source : Dubbo Daily Liberal

Col Buckley

NIL currents and nil swell might sound fine, but unfortunately they usually put fish into retreat. There were takes of trevally and two teraglin off Dee Why by a small boat on the drift.

Ron Kovacs is back to full fitness after his heart scare and has been making up lost time on his beloved yellowfin tuna. He landed fish to 25kg and some nearby anglers landed ‘fin of the same size on eggbeaters!

A rising tide, a rising moon, fresh squid and a setting sun were the perfect ingredients for a great snapper session by Guy Innes. Working baits off Long Reef, fish came on the bite just as the sun slipped behind the hills.

After the swell died down, salmon went berserk in the surf. Catches of 10 or more were not uncommon and they all did their aerial bit when hooked. Unfortunately they’ve gone off the boil due to flat seas, but may come back when the swell increases.

Those nigger men have been strutting their stuff off the Curl Curl rock platforms. Blackfish captures have been well above average and there’s plenty of cabbage on the rocks right now.

The Hawkesbury, up close against the ghost pylons of the old railway bridge, has seen some monster bream cradled in landing nets. The secret is to cast Slider Grubs or small shads up against the wall and immediately let out line so the lure keeps in contact with the structure and is not pulled away. Hits are hard and frequent, so make sure all knots are secure.

Using halved Berkley Camo worm in Dee Why lagoon, Ben Nesbitt took four bream and a flathead near the Narrabeen surf club. Ben reckons fish were just legal, but he saw bigger fish look at the lure then turn away at the last moment.

Sliced bread took bream, trevally and a couple of mullet off Wimbledon Avenue for regular lake fisho Dom Gallo. After fishing the lake for 15 years, Dom reckons it’s the first time he has seen trevally take bread.PUT Saturday, June 28, in your diary. That’s when Warringah Anglers have their yearly tackle auction and some wonderful bargains can be had. It’s held at Dee Why Bowling Club, 233 Fisher Road North, Dee Why. Registration of goods is from 3pm and the auction starts at 5pm. All are welcome. Bring fishing gear that’s in working order to put a few dollars in your pocket. Ring Terry Crawford on 0404446762 for more details. WE ARE lucky to have a wonderful band of women on the peninsula who love to fish. They are thirsty for knowledge and can hold a candle to their male counterparts when it comes to technique and tenacity. Go girls, you contribute so much and we welcome you with open arms.

* WEEKLY TIP USING different hooks for different species is vital.You can buy compartmentalised plastic boxes with see-through lids and that’s where I house my huge collection of hooks. I have the same type of box for sinkers and swivels.

Source: Manly Daily

GAME fishers tested the waters around Port Lincoln last week with the inaugural Port Lincoln Blue Water Classic game fishing tournament, and it will be back again next year.

The Game Fishing Association of South Australia has locked into a three-year program of tournaments for Port Lincoln.

More than two tonnes of fish were tagged and released over the week, including southern bluefin tuna, samson fish, eagle rays and four different species of shark, but only six fish were kept, the others went back to ensure the sustainability of the sport.

The weather was not perfect but Game Fishing Association of South Australia president Steve Morris said it was good enough to get out safely to the best fishing areas.

Mr Morris said he hoped the event would start building a reputation to attract more boats in the future.

“The outcome shows that Port Lincoln with its location, facilities and accessibility to good game fishing grounds is suited to this type of event and with the overwhelming reaction to this year’s event, I’m sure this will grow to be the biggest in this State.”

To be in the running to win champion boat or champion angler, fishers had to record a capture of a recognised game fish, an eagle ray and a shark, and tag a game fish or shark.

Once these four criteria were achieved, extra points were gained by tagging and releasing as many of these species as possible, and the top trophies go to the boat and angler with the highest score.

The champion boat was Galaxy Star, skippered by Rolf Czabayski with 24,613 points and champion angler was Chris Earle with 6839 points fishing on Galaxy Star.

The highest point scoring boat with or without achieving the four tournament criteria was C-World II, skippered by Bryan Stokes with 10,118 points. The highest point scoring angler with or without achieving the four tournament criteria was Vincent Nguyen with 7181 fishing on Galaxy Star. Mr Nguyen also won the senior tagging trophy for the most fish tagged by one senior angler with 22 tags.

The highest point scoring female angler, with or without achieving the four tournament criteria, was Janet Forster with 1806 points, fishing on Long Shot, skippered by Ron Forster.

Mrs Forster also won the women’s trophy for most fish tagged by a female angler (22) and heaviest game fish for a 24.1-kilogram southern bluefin tuna. Steve Morris caught the heaviest shark, a 20-kilogram school shark, and Mark Snadden caught the heaviest eagle ray, at 47 kilograms.

Source: Port Lincoln Times

Anticipation is building for the 40th Three Way State Spear Fishing Championships to be held in Eden on June 8.

The South Coast Skin Club has an estimated prize pool of $7000 which over 100 competitors will contest over just six hours of spear fishing.

Registration is Saturday, June7 at the Twofold Bay Yacht Club at Quarantine Bay and Sunday at 6.45am to 7.30 at the boat ramp.

The fish caught will be donated for auction with all profits to the Eden Whale Festival.

The Great Southern Inn will host the presentation dinner on Sunday, June 7 from 6.30pm.

Source: Eden Magnet

RECENTLY completed extensions to the Coffs Harbour Deep Sea Fishing Club have enabled the board to hold its first-ever meeting in the club premises.

“After years of holding our monthly board meetings at the Catholic Club, as we didn’t have our own board room, we are proud to be able to meet in our own modern, well appointed premises,” club president Ian Finn said.

“These extensions also incorporate an upgrade and extended outdoor barbecue area for the benefit of members and vastly improved administration staff areas.

“Our secretary-manager’s office was set up in a transportable shed as a temporary arrangement over 10 years ago and the administration needs of the club have grown to a point where our office staff were working on top of one another.”

The club has been in existence for 44 years and has grown from small beginnings to its present status through a planned continual expansion process.

Facilities have been upgraded and added for the benefit of members. The club now has more than 5500 members and membership continues to grow.

The club currently employs 15 part-time and full-time staff and Mr Finn said it had assumed a position as a responsible and respected corporate citizen within the Coffs Harbour Community.

He said the Club had contributed significantly to other community organisations over the years and regularly contributed in a positive way to local debate and discussion in relation to the future of Coffs Harbour on matters ranging from town planning to environmental issues such as fishery management.

“We have a great club with the best location and the cheapest beer in town, and we just got better with these great new extensions,” he said.

“With a new membership year about to commence, the board of the Coffs Harbour Deep Sea Fishing Club wants to continue to grow its membership base and expand on the benefits it delivers to members.”

Source : Coffs Coast Independant

Scott Kitchell loves big jew fish. It’s fair to say he’s obsessed with them.

That, in part, explains the shark.

While most of us were rugged up in front of the tele on Tuesday night, 26-year-old Scott was in a different realm.

Dressed in waders, two jumpers, a jacket and footy socks, at 8pm he was sitting on the sand at Marcoola, his heels dug in deep. It didn’t help.

He tried to snap off whatever was pulling him towards the water but the thing on the end of his line dragged him anyway.

“I was trying to use the sand like a fighting chair,’’ an exhausted and bruised Scott said yesterday morning.

He knew whatever latched onto the mullet head at the end of his nine kilo line with a 36.28kg trace wasn’t the jew fish he had hoped to catch.

In its initial run it took almost all of the 300 metres of line his reel holds.

The decision to get a look led to a two-and-a-half hour battle, dragging Scott south some three kilometres from where he hooked on near Marcoola Surf Life Saving Club.

“It pretty much hammered me,’’ Scott said of the 2.56 metre tiger shark he cut off as soon as it was close enough to see. “I don’t kill ’em if I don’t eat ’em. It must have weighed over 100 kilos.”

By that stage it was nearing 11pm, the gear Scott had left on the sand had long been washed away by the tide, and he had a tiring walk back to the car.

Scott doesn’t go fishing for sharks. If he did he said he would catch one every night, because he goes fishing every night.

“I love it,’’ he says of his quest to bag big jew fish.

“Once you catch one off the beach you’re addicted. I can’t help myself. I get home at 6pm and say ‘no more tonight’. But then I’m gone.

“I sit there and get excited and I just know I’m going out again. If it’s low tide at nine o’clock, I’m there at 8. It’s heaps better than TV.’’

This has been going on every winter since he was a teenager.

“They’re a thrill to catch. My girlfriend never sees me. She’s so used to it,” Scott said.

Source: Sunshine Coast Daily

Eden Amateur Fishing Club won back the annual inter-club grudge catch trophy from Merimbula on the weekend.

The trophy was contested by the three local fishing clubs at Eden, Pambula and Merimbula.

Eden Amateur Fishing Club hosted the event and the presentation barbecue which followed.

Presentations were held at the clubhouse at Quarantine Bay on Sunday afternoon.

Top anglers on the day were Eden’s Michael Lucas and Mark Prior and the most impressive catch was Gloria Sebley’s 35 kilogram mako, her first shark caught.

Miss Sebley also caught the biggest snapper (2.4kg) during the event.

Pambula will be the hosts next year and all who fished were looking forward to the “grudge catch” of 2009

Source : Eden Magnet

ANOTHER top week of weather and also another good week for anglers.

A bit of wind didn’t put many off and plenty of decent fish were bagged.

Outside, cobia are still around and it’s well worth a trip to Wide bait ground.

If you don’t have the GPS mark drop into Coffs Bait and Tackle or just look for the crowd.

Once you’re out there you might run into the fisher folk of the deep sea fishing club.

They’ve been catching plenty and Uncle Phil, ‘the slasher man’, tells me one of the lads landed a 20kg fish on 6kg line after a 45-minute fight.

Steve ‘the guru’ Abel has been out a fair bit this week and reports big shoals of bait fish hugging the bottom and not too interested in feeding.

So, if you’re going out take plenty of burley to inspire a fishy appetite.

Snapper fans are happy this week as good numbers of these tasty fish are being caught around most of the popular spots.

Young Sammy Cooper caught the fish of her life on Sunday while bottom bouncing at Pig Island with the family.

Apparently she’d just picked up the rod when a 9kg snapper took her plastic bait.

Well done, Sammy, you are this week’s fish picture competition winner.

Come into the shop to pick up a $20 bait voucher and you might want to bring in that reel for a service – sounds like it was smoking.

Mackerel also have made a comeback this week, just when we thought they’d gone.

I can’t be too specific about the location without getting into trouble, so I will just say have a troll around Arrawarra.

The rocks are still giving up tailor, and bonito also have shown up.

The bream are thick, as are the luderick.

Squid have been spotted at the South Wall of the harbour, so get your squid jigs ready.

Larger tarwhine and whiting have been caught around Red Rock and the Northern Beaches.

Kerrie Fahey bagged a 350g whiting up that way and was well pleased with her catch.

South around Sawtell there are rumours of monster mulloway stripping reels and breaking hearts.

Nick from Coffs Tree Services bagged two 10kg specimens on the full moon after getting smoked by larger fish.

Further south the fisher folk report the first stirring of the salmon run – be warned.

Around the estuaries flathead are the predominant catch and, of course, bream. Muddies are still a little scarce.

If you’re chasing a muddy it might pay to change things up, such as location and bait. A bit of experimentation never hurts.

Down at Repton the locals have been getting amongst a few sharks on 200lb hand lines, just for fun.

There seems to be plenty of fishing action down there recently and it is well worth a look.

Finally, there is good news and bad news from the shop.

The good news is we managed to get hold of more Bream Blades and sourced some excellent luderick weed. The bad news is that the plastic shopping bags are gone for good, so you’ll have to bring your own.

Until next time.

Source : Coffs Coast Independant

IVAN Dosen hadn’t been out fishing for quite some time, but come Thursday he decided to head out onto the bay for some fresh air and, hopefully, a lip-smacking feed of fish.

The Bell Park man certainly did all of that, taking his bag limit of three large snapper, the biggest 8kg.

These were all caught in about eight metres of water in front of the Mountain View Quarries from 12.30pm onward.

Dosen, who used pilchards and squid for bait, also caught two gummy shark.

Peninsula whiting

WHITING are still a proposition around the Bellarine Peninsula.

Among those to catch them last week were Jim Robinson and Wayne Gibson, of the Bellarine Light Game and Sportfishing Club.

They took combined bag-limit catches offshore from the St Leonards Yacht Club in about three metres of water on Wednesday evening using pipis and pilchard fillets for bait.

Robinson also reports that his brother, Russell, and his son, Luke, 7, fished the Barwon at Breakwater where they caught several carp to 3kg or so using corn kernels for bait.

Justin Burns took daughter Aisha, 4, fishing on the Barwon at Highton, near the Shannon Ave bridge.

Burns caught carp to 4.5kg or thereabouts; Aisha caught one of 2kg.

They used bread for bait.

Western District

DOUG Lucas, of Colac, and friend Bob Casper fished the Aire River on Thursday, finding the mouth wide open and the estuary tidal.

They found the bream easily enough, but most were small.

It took the capture of perhaps 100 fish before they had their combined bag limit that included fish to 42cm.

The bait used was local shrimp.

Lucas mentions that anglers have been startled to see dead and dying chinook salmon around the edge of Lake Bullen Merri.

He said chinook salmon die in considerable numbers in their fourth year, giving rise to concern among those who may not be expecting it.

Port Albert

MARK Cameron, of the Petrel Angling Club, reports members journeyed to Port Albert, in South Gippsland, at the weekend to contest the Northern Suburbs Concrete Trophy.

The heaviest fish, a 2.14kg flathead, was caught by Dennis Cockerel.

Max Clayton was runner-up with another of 505 grams, and the heaviest bag of fish (flathead), 2.59kg, was taken by Cameron.

Flyfishing

THE Bellarine Fly Fishing Association is running a series of flyfishing seminars for those who would like to learn more about the enjoyable art.

They will be held at Shannon Park, Newtown, at 7.30-9pm on Tuesday June 3 and 10.

A casting session will also be held at 2-4pm on Saturday, June 14.

The $40 cost of the seminar includes a publication that introduces the angler to flyfishing lakes.

For more details, call Tony on 5255 5724 or 0409 545 929. Portland

BOB McPherson reports there are still plenty of albacore and southern bluefin tuna coming into the cleaning tables whenever the weather permits anglers offshore.

Brett Murray has been among the successful operators, bringing in a dozen or so albacore and his bag limit of bluefin tuna to 24kg.

Source: Geelong Advertiser

VECTIS harvesting contractor Ron Hounsell visited Eden on the New South Wales south coast for a fishing trip in April.

Hounsell, who turns 68 tomorrow, was also visiting his son Darren who owns the Blue Marlin Resort and Motor Inn and runs fishing trips in Eden’s Twofold Bay.

Hounsell said his son had told him the fishing was `unbelievable’ but he wasn’t so sure.

“I thought he was talking it up a bit. But then we started fishing and it was like nothing I have seen before,” Hounsell said.

Hounsell caught a mix of bluefin tuna, king fish and mako shark.

He said what amazed him most was the quality of the fishing only kilometres off shore.

“If you go to any other places you can spend half a day going out to the best spot,” Hounsell said.

“But in Eden we were only about two kilometres off shore and still getting lots of bites.

“Why would you waste your time going out further?”

Hounsell said they had a scare early on one trip when Darren took him out on his boat with some other fishermen.

“About 45 minutes into the trip one of the guys got a big pull on his line,” Hounsell said.

“He fought it hard and as he got it to the surface we saw it was a 12-foot shark.

“So he quickly cut the line.”

Hounsell said he had caught some of the smaller mako sharks.

“They are great eating, those sharks,” Hounsell said.

Hounsell said the fishing was a lot of fun.

“They really put up a good fight,” he said.

“If they don’t catch the bait on their first try they will get it on their second.”

Hounsell said Darren regularly took people out fishing.

“He has his boat in front of the motel so people who stay there ask him to take them out,” Hounsell said.

“It is a tough job but someone has to do it.”

On Hounsell’s second day in Eden the water was too rough to go out so he fished from the beach.

“Darren said there was good fishing on the beach,” Hounsell said.

“When we got to the sand I could see the salmon in the waves so we caught quite a few of them.”

Hounsell said Darren had planned to sell his motel but after a year in Eden had decided to stay there.

“He is really loving it there and I can’t blame him,” Hounsell said. “It is a great place.”

Hounsell said he planned to go back to Eden soon because the yellowfin tuna would be in season.

“They are in season at the moment,” Hounsell said. “Darren also told me one of his mates made a big catch of snapper so I might try to catch some of those.”

Hounsell said he went fishing for the experience, not to catch fish.

“I think too many people go out to catch fish,” Hounsell said.

“You don’t go to catch fish, you go fishing. There is a difference.”

Roy Ward

Source : The Wimmera Mail-Times