Gone fishing: Canberra Day weekend a perfect time to find biting fish
Don’t you just love a long weekend. Canberra anglers heading to the south coast over the next three days should find the fish in a cooperative mood.
The only hurdle could be the weather, with showers forecast along the coast all weekend. If conditions allow boats to get out to the Shelf, we could see the best marlin fishing of the season so far.
As I write this, the marlin bite is hot. And it’s not restricted to one pocket of the coast either – fish are being reported from Montague Island all the way down to Mallacoota and beyond.
There were reportedly 100 boats fishing out of Bermagui mid-week and just about every crew had raised a fish. Some boats had tagged as many as six.
At Montague, kingfish have been sporadic, biting their heads off one day, then disappearing the next.
Kings continue to be hooked from the rocks. I heard of one encounter at South Broulee recently that, unsurprisingly, ended in tears for the angler. They’re tough fish!
Estuary fishing should be brilliant this weekend – even if it rains.
If I get down there, I’ll be surface fishing, with reports of terrific top-water action for whiting, flathead, bream, estuary perch and bass.
Some anglers have been setting themselves the challenge of catching all five species on surface lures in a single day.
It’s possible to do this in the larger systems such the Shoalhaven, Clyde, Moruya, Bega and Tuross rivers, which have brackish and freshwater reaches. Personally, I’d be happy with just one species.
At Moruya, tasty flounder are showing up in huge numbers. Anglers are even catching them on hard-bodied divers and surface walkers!
Locally, the freshwater lakes and streams could really do with a decent fall of rain.
Canberra’s lakes are still fishing well for redfin and golden perch. The vast majority of reddies have been small. Really small. But it’s better than catching nothing.
Lake Tuggeranong, unfortunately, has been hit by a chronic blue-green algae outbreak, brought on by hot autumn temperatures and next to no rain.
There are still fish to be caught in the lake, but the unpleasant smell and toxic nature of the algae is making it a less than desirable place to wet a line.
Let’s hope other urban lakes avoid a similar fate, with a warm, dry autumn forecast.
On the trout scene, lures fished very deep are taking trout during the day at Lake Jindabyne.
Try trolling Tasmanian Devils at around 35-45 feet (11-13 metres) below the surface.
Caption: Tasty flounder are around in large numbers on the coast – they’re even taking surface lures!