Jamie Coates
A WET, windy and wild weekend across the Limestone Coast made for a tough start to this year’s Tuna Competition at Port MacDonnell.
There were a few boats brave the elements and hit the water, but conditions were uncomfortable.
The bigger boats definitely have the advantage when the sea is not great, and that was the case earlier on this week.
There have been a few tuna caught early on and the first day saw school tuna to around 9kg, then on Sunday we saw a few big boys landed.
Kai Ievins boated a nice 97kg fish onboard Brojak Charters and young Jake Walkom boated a ripper in the junior section onboard Ruby Mc that weighed in at 47kg.
At the time of penning this article I was yet to receive any other updates from the comp so far, so we will be sure to have a full wrap up in next week’s report.
The bottom fishing has been tricky in such poor weather, but looking forward to the coming week, we should see some nice fish caught.
Surf fishing was also tricky, again largely due to weather.
Speaking in the shop to a few optimistic anglers and this weekend looks to be a lot better, so there will be more that hit the beach.
The salmon have been in good touch, with some nice fish coming from inside Lighthouse Bay for the lure casters.
Those using bait seem to be getting the bigger numbers of fish, but the lure chuckers have been reeling in the larger catches.
There have been nice fish through Canunda for those willing to make the effort and more at the Beachport Salmon Hole too.
The size in the salmon hole has been varied, but still good fun.
Those chasing garfish have been able to find a few nice feeds during the breaks in the weather.
The waders have probably had the edge while the sea has been up, but once we see it lay down again, I think the boaties will swing straight back into it.
Cape Douglas and Hutt Bay have been productive in the past week and once the sea has settled Livingstons and Pelican Point will be worth a crack.
A bit of inland fishing has been happening while the coast has been so wild and we are still seeing plenty of redfin hit the deck.
There are plenty of spots within an hour or two which are worth a shot.
Locations such as Lake Wallace in Edenhope which has been red hot in recent weeks, Rocklands Reservoir which has big concentrations of fish and even Lake Koonong Wootong for the electric powered vessels.
A bit closer to home we have Lake Edward which has had some excellent fish for the kayakers or guys in small tinnys, or Mill Swamp just over the border.
All of those spots are worth a look.
The Glenelg River has been pretty handy, with all the twists and turns among the stunning limestone cliffs, there is always a spot out of the wind to wet a line.
This week the hot spots seemed to be from the Princess Margaret Rose Cave, up to Sapling Creek.
I have heard of plenty of fish from through that area and even a few more soapies starting to be caught.
Squid and pilchards have been the most popular, but a live mullet is always worth a crack too.
The bream and perch have been in good numbers this week, with some ripper fish coming from the upper reaches in the heavy timber.
Live minnow are unbeatable if you can get them and I do not think a big perch could ever say no.
The bream fishing has been great in those upper reaches as well, and they will often eat a minnow too.
The lure guys have done well on heavy weighted plastics which will get in nice and deep on the rock walls, or deep diving minnows.
The forecast for the coming weekend and the remainder of the tuna comp is on the improve much to the delight of anglers.
We will have plenty of news to report next week including the wrap up of the competition.
Until next week, safe fishing.
