Jamie Coates
WOULD you believe we are only a week out from summer?
Wind, rain, freezing temperatures – we have had it all.
There is a bit of relief on the horizon – we do have a forecast that seems to be improving, so that is something to look forward to.
The offshore news this week has been a bit light on, but the weather has played a big part in that.
A few boats did head out late last week when we did have some fishable weather and there was no shortage of gummy sharks and reef species, such as snapper, morwong and nannygai.
We have not heard anymore tuna reports for a couple of weeks now from anywhere along the coast, so it might be all she wrote.
It will not be long though until we hear the school tuna have popped up at the Coorong and Victor Harbour, then the run and chaos will all start again.
There have been a few opting for the surf over the last week while the weather has been a bit iffy and with some excellent results reported, I can see it becoming a regular thing.
Snapper have been high on the hit list for most, with plenty of fish beached and some real beauties around that 70cm mark, plus a couple even bigger.
There have been a few shark around this week for the surf fishos.
Jack Bell and crew managed four nice gummys to 10kg and a mulloway too at the back of Millicent late last week.
I have heard of shark from the Discovery Beach area over the last few days, with gummys being the flavour down there too.
There have been a few nice salmon caught this week – the weather has probably tricked them into thinking it is winter again.
Fish to a couple of kilos were caught through Canunda and the Beachport Salmon Hole and I am sure Cape Banks would produce while the weather is like this.
Whiting fishos have enjoyed the stir over the last week or so.
After a while the sea can get a bit too clean without a good whip up, so this last week will have been a delight.
The whiting has been outstanding yet again this week.
There have been catches from both the land-based and boat-going anglers reported and as per the last few weeks, the size has remained impressive.
Inside the Port MacDonnell breakwater has been fairly reliable for most anglers and if the weather does look a bit dodgy, it is usually still safely fishable.
The land-based guys are still fishing Nene Valley and Carpenter Rocks, but the wind has been the big deciding factor in both those areas.
I have not heard from the weekend if the garfish were still on the chew, but prior to that the numbers were still good.
Reasonable fish have come from Cape Douglas and Livingston Bay, but it is a lot like I mentioned with the whiting fishos, that wind will keep most of us home.
A few anglers headed inland over the weekend to escape the breeze and plenty ended up at Rocklands Reservoir.
I know I have mentioned it a fair bit in the last few weeks, but that place is getting better and better.
Murray cod, yellowbelly, redfin and trout – there have been plenty caught both in the boats and off the bank.
Trolling and casting lures have both worked well over there, or if you prefer to soak a bait from the boat or bank, a yabby or a bunch of worms will do the trick too.
There is plenty of water in there at the moment and we are even seeing Toolondo Lake get a bit of a drink.
I remember as a kid hearing stories about Toolondo and how it was the best trophy trout lake in Australia.
It gets me excited to think it could be restored to its former glory.
The Glenelg River has fished fairly well again for the bream and estuary perch anglers.
There have been plenty caught this week from the township area, all the way up to Donovans.
The best baits still seem to be whitebait and prawn, but if you can get hold of a few crabs, you will do well too.
There have been a couple of mulloway reports this week, but they have been pretty quiet.
Those who have managed to get the hooks into one have done purely by chance while chasing bream.
That being said though, it is good to know that there are mulloway sniffing around now, so you just never know.
Until next week, safe fishing.
