By Jamie Coates
A BREEZY weekend across the Limestone Coast kept all but the big charter boats on dry land, though prior to the weekend we did have some nice days that were fishable.
The big tuna have continued this week with a few nice fish landed.
The charter boats off the bay have been getting their clients onto some nice tuna with fish ranging from 80-100kgs-plus.
The amateurs have struggled a little bit this week; but there were a half a dozen or so tagged and released, which were estimated at around 130kg.
The forecast for the coming week looks as it’s getting better and better as we near the weekend, I think we’ll see plenty of boats on the water if it stays like that.
The surf fishos have started to dust the gear off over the last couple of weeks and the guys have been straight into the gummy sharks.
There have been some nice fish from 3kg to 8kg caught off thebeaches, the areas worth trying are from Piccaninnie back to Browns Beach, or through Canunda National Park.
There have been a few smaller mulloway mixed in with them, but even some of those have been getting close to size.
If this early run is anything to go by, we could be in for a cracker season.
The salmon have been patchy again this week, but those persisting from Cape Banks through to Southend and Beachport have been finding fish around 1kg-1.5kg.
Bait seems to be the most productive way to go, especially while the numbers aren’t hugely concentrated, but if you do find a hungry school, lures are very effective.
The gar fishos have found some nice fish again this week, the hot spots I’ve heard of have been Cape Douglas, Hutt Bay and inside the Port MacDonnell Breakwater.
The breakwater is predominately for the boat-based fishos, though if it’s calm enough, you’d still find some nice fish off the town jetty.
The waders have had the best luck along Cape Douglas, which has been pretty well sheltered from those northerly winds.
There have been mullet in the same areas still, and they’ll sniff out a burley trail from a mile away.
I’d expect to hear of squid coming from the Port MacDonnell Breakwater very soon, and with the calming seas this coming week, now is the time.
Anglers chasing the bream in the Glenelg River have found some nice fish this week.
Bait fishing in the deeper water is the go-to method at the moment, and the average size of the fish I’ve seen have been excellent too.
Prawn and crab are the best bet, and be patient, when there is a fair bit of colour in the water, the fish often aren’t as aggressive as usual, so slow it down a bit and you’ll find the fish.
The mulloway news seems to be down in the estuary at the moment, which is out of reach for most of us.
Since the last report, regional Victoria was plunged into yet another lockdown.
We’ve got our fingers crossed it’s all over and done with as quick as possible and we can all share the river once again.
The forecast for the coming week is the best we’ve had to look forward to for quite a while, so hopefully we can get on the water and wet a line somewhere.
Until next week, safe fishing!
