By Jamie Coates
GOOD news arrived this week with reports of barrels off Port MacDonnell.
I am not sure how many tuna have been caught over the last week but some solid fish to 140kg have been boated so far and it is so good to hear there are more being tagged and released than brought in.
There has not been any single lure fishing better than the others but the bonze spreader bars are definitely helping anglers get the runs on the board.
There are school fish mixed in with the big tuna as well and I have seen some beauties from 12kg to about 30kg, so there is something for everyone out there.
In other offshore news, the deep drop fishing has been excellent again.
Ryan Ritchie has been getting into some lovely blue eye, pink ling and sharks in the deeper water off Port MacDonnell again this week, which is encouraging for the upcoming long weekends.
In a little closer, sharks, snapper, nannygai and flathead have all copped a mention by bottom bouncers chasing a feed.
Looking forward to the Easter break, I am sure there will be a good run of fishable days, so I would expect to see some great fish.
In around the kelp beds and shallow reefy areas we are still seeing some fabulous snapper catches and as per previous weeks, fish in the high 60cm range.
There has been no shortage of smaller plate-sized snapper for the guys chasing a feed, so let’s enjoy them before they head offshore.
There has not been a lot of chat about shallow water shark this week but I think the water has been pretty clear, which is not ideal conditions.
There are schools of salmon, pike and even the odd snook around the place down there too, so you never really know what you might hook.
Whiting fishos have still been enjoying the bumper season.
I know of several anglers all managing their bag limits, or close to, right along the South East.
A few anglers have said the Beachport and Southend areas are starting to slow down a little but with a small stir to put a bit of colour in the water, they will be back.
Locally there has been some nice fish from the Port MacDonnell breakwater, Cape Douglas and Carpenter Rocks, plus every other protected bay in between.
I have not heard a lot of news about garfish this week but I am still going through plenty of live gents, so they must be biting.
The usual areas of Cape Douglas, Livingston’s Bay and Pelican Point are all worth a crack and you will likely pick up a feed of tommies and/or mullet too.
The river is still fishing pretty hot for the bream and perch anglers, with fish coming from way up high in the sticks, to all the way down the bottom in the estuary.
Bait fishos have found that whitebait and crab are up there with the most productive baits, while lure guys are still doing well on z-man slim swims and 2.5 inch grubs in natural colours.
The mulloway are still up and down.
Some anglers are having no problem finding them, while others are struggling.
The areas around the estuary, Dry Creek and Sandy Waterhole have all produced this week, so they are worth a look.
The forecast for the Easter break looks like it is going to be a reasonable one.
Temperatures in the low-to-mid 20’s, light winds and reasonably calm seas should be just perfect for locals and holiday makers hoping to wet a line.
From the team at Spot On Fishing Tackle Mount Gambier, we wish everyone a happy and safe Easter break and we hope you get to wet a line.
Until next week, safe fishing.
