Mount Gambier

A somewhat breezy weekend across the South East kept a few anglers off the water, but those who did brave the breeze found plenty of nice fish. There is a little bit from all over the district this week, so we’ll get straight into it!

Offshore fishing over this past week has been good when the weather has allowed. We have seen a couple of days this week where the wind and swell has backed off enough to let the trailer boats out there, and there has been some nice fish caught. Those running wide to the shelf have found some nice blue eye and gemfish, the hapuka have been a bit tricky, and I’m only seeing the odd one here and there. Blue grenadier and ocean perch are still in good numbers out there too, and are both nice on the table. In a bit closer around the 60mt through to 130mt line, we’re still seeing gummy and school shark in good numbers, snapper and nannygai have been great on the baits and the metal jigs, and flathead around the 100mt line are having a crack too, so it’s a great time to get out and have a go. We’re seeing big numbers of tuna either side of us at Portland and Cape Jaffa, so once they turn the corner here, look out!

The inshore reef fishing has been dominated again by snapper. We’re seeing some excellent fish this week, some of those fish nudging the 80cm mark which is a ripper in anyone’s books! The inshore kelp beds have been firing of late, and it doesn’t seem to matter if you’re fishing Green Point, Danger Point, Orwell Rocks or anywhere in between, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a fish. West of the bay to Cape Douglas, Nene Valley, Blackfellows and Carpenter Rocks its been much the same. Fish the kelp, get the burley going and you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding the snapper. There are a few shark around the same spots, mainly gummies at the moment, but I did hear of one hefty hammerhead of around 4 foot long which is a fairly uncommon capture for our area!

Off the beach this week it’s still top heavy with snapper catches. It doesn’t seem to make too much difference where you fish, but that hour after sunrise and the hour before dark are the most productive, and some of the snapper have been beauties near the 70cm mark. Browns Bay, Orwell Rocks, Nene Valley and Canunda’s access points have all been fishing well, and on occasion we’re seeing a few nice shark turn up down there too. 

Whiting fishing this week has been pretty good for most. Anglers having a crack are finding a feed more often than not, and although they’re not always hitting their limit, the fish are generally pretty solid. The land based fishos and boaties in the Port Mac Breakwater are doing well, fish to the mid 40s aren’t at all uncommon, though most are around that 40ish cm mark. Off the beach, there has been some nice fish this week from the Nene Valley area. Most of those fish have been from the early mornings or late evenings and into the night. There isn’t a secret spot down there for them, just go for a cruise and have a look and fish where there’s no wind.

Waders have done well chasing the garfish this week. Cape Douglas, Livingstons Bay and Pelican Point have been reliable, and there has been some nice fish amongst them. Boaties have found some nice fish in the areas previously mentioned, along with the Port Mac Breakwater and in the bay at Racecourse Bay. Gents under a float are still the most reliable and productive way to fish, just keep that steady burley trail flowing and you can’t go wrong.

The Glenelg River has been on fire this past week. Mulloway fishing has been back on the cards for many, with some really good numbers of good fish being caught down there. Trollers using live mullet have done exceptionally well from Donovans down to the mouth, and fish landed have been up to and over 90cm. Dead bait fishos using squid, pilchard and cut mullet have done well in Taylors Straight, up around the caves, and even as high as Wilsons Hall and Sapling Creek. The bream and perch are again in good numbers, from the sand flats of the estuary to the twists and turns above Dartmoor, there are some cracking fish around. If lures are your thing, 2.5inch natural coloured grubs and minnows are fishing well, or if you like to bait fish, prawns, crabs and whitebait are still the go-to baits. Bjorn Mair and Ash Rawlings got onto some more nice perch way up stream, the boys set off in the dark and fish the hard to reach spots and the results are usually pretty good! A variety of lures were getting the bites this weekend, so chop and change until you find what they’re honed in on.

The forecast for the coming week looks like we’re in for a bit of wind and swell before it settles again later in the weekend, then we’ll see the temperature start to creep up again.

Until next week, safe fishing!

Coatsy.