Spot On Fishing & Outdoors Salisbury
Combined Fishing Report - 1st December 2023
Summer is here according to the calendar with let’s hope some nice weather as well. Our ever popular long sleeve Tournament Tops are ideal for the sun, wind or shade.
A supply of Pippis are now available in store but try using Prawns, Squid, Pilchards or Blood worms as alternative bait for Saltwater Fishing. (King George Whiting Love Them.) Most stores also carry good stocks of soft plastic lures with some great swim styles and inbuilt scents to attract fish.
Be careful when rock fishing, keep an eye on the waves at all times.
(A special safety warning to all anglers and boaties. Check the weather before you head out. Please do not become a statistic!)
Be aware that the river sandbars, snags and channels may have changed during the flood. Check the intended area if you are going to water ski or for any other water activities.
Change to Dolphin Sanctuary rules - max hook sizes gape 23mm and shank size 56mm. No fishing within 50m of a dolphin.
Metropolitan
Tides - High in the morning and again in the evening. Should be ideal for land based fishing, crab raking or boating depending on the weather.
Garfish – Average size are excellent onshore or offshore, West Lakes, by boat from Largs to Glenelg, northern edge of the silt ground, near the Black pole, Northwest to Semaphore South, Tennyson, Aldinga, most metro jetties including Port Noarlunga and Brighton jetties.
Blue Crabs – coming from off North Haven, St Kilda, around the Black pole and south of Wonga Shoal. The section bank just outside of Outer Harbour Breakwater is also good for Flathead. Good tides for rakers scoring on the northern beaches but check the sizes. As the weather improves so should the crab numbers. Brighton, Henley, Grange, Semaphore and Largs Jetties after dark. (Combined bag limit 20 per person – Blue / Sand crabs)
Kingfish – A school of “Rat” Kingfish and a few larger fish have been sighted in the upper reaches of the Port River.
Snook – Glenelg Jetty, Marino by kayak, and North Haven drops, St Kilda, Black Pole and off Outer Harbour breakwater.
Yellowfin Whiting – Port Willunga and Seacliff a few at Tennyson but better once the water temp heats up more and the water clears.
Bream – St Kilda Channel, Port River between Birkenhead and West Lakes, Torrens Island Creeks, West Lakes Bower Rd end, Patawalonga and Port Gawler. Action in the Onkaparinga River has been steady and should improve. Be aware of the Upstream of South Road Bridge closure from the 1st September until.
Salmon – Remember Salmon move around a lot and may not be in the same places as yesterday. Glenelg caissons, Maslin, Port Willunga and Southport Beaches, Port Noarlunga Jetty, Onkaparinga Estuary and Mouth. West Lakes, St Kilda breakwater (dawn and late afternoon), inside the section bank through to Garden Island, North Haven and Outer Harbour breakwaters, Size 21-35cm 20 fish bag limit, >35cm 10 bag limit.
The chances of catching squid improve if water is clear.
Squid – Numbers have improved North Haven drops, the Bastard Pole, inshore weed beds north of the Black Pole, Dalrymple star, Semaphore Reef, Port Stanvac - Marino, Seacliff, Hallett Cove and Brighton, Port Noarlunga and Glenelg jetties are the best option when the water is clear.
Tommies – St Kilda Channel, mixed sizes near the Black Pole, 1-2 km out from Largs to Brighton, Port Noarlunga jetties and The Bluff ramp.
King George Whiting – Port Noarlunga, Glenelg and Brighton jetties, Outer Harbour North West ground, Dalrymple star St Kilda - Port Gawler, Grange to Largs (1-3km out), Bastard Pole area, Bower Rd, inshore patches off Somerton 4-5 m line, Hallett Cove, The Broadway shallows, Grange Tyre reef, off West Beach, and between Minda Home and Seacliff in 3-5m of water.
Mulloway – West Lakes, Port River, Quarantine Station and North arm. Probably due to the influx of Salmon trout, West Lakes (both ends), Port River (upper reaches), Barker Inlet, Onkaparinga River and Goolwa Beach. Please ensure any ‘live baits’ used are over the legal size.
Mullet – West Lakes, North Haven Rocks - Tennyson, Torrens Mouth, Port Noarlunga jetty shallows, Onkaparinga Mouth, Port Willunga, Seacliff, Maslin, Sellicks and Aldinga.
Country - Fleurieu Peninsula - Yorke Peninsula
Blue Crabs - along the flats on the eastern shore of Yorke Peninsula and Stansbury. Also Wallaroo, Port Hughs, Watch the sizes and make sure you know how to measure crabs before heading out.
King George Whiting – Wirrina drops, Catches have improved on both sides of Yorke Peninsula. Port Broughton Shallows, Port Vincent, Mac’s Beach, Edithburgh, Point Turton Banks, Hardwicke Bay, The Pines, Balgowan, Port Victoria, Wallaroo, Port Hughes and Port Broughton. Some nearly 50cm in length.
Yellowfin Whiting – Port Broughton, Moonta south, Port Clinton, Ardrossan, Black Point, Thomson Beach and both sides of Yorke Peninsula sand flats are starting to show signs.
Pipi season is open again now.
Garfish – Bigger red bill are starting to come in now. Pine Point, Cape Elizabeth, Marion Bay, Point Turton, Hardwick Bay, Edithburgh, Ardrossan, Stansbury, Black Point, Port Vincent, Copper Coast, Lady Bay, Rapid Bay and Second Valley.
Squid – Cape Jervis wind farm, Rapid Bay, Second Valley, Wirrina, Port Julia, Wool Bay, Marion Bay, Edithburgh, Ardrossan, Pt Turton, Tiparra Light, Pt Broughton, and Point Riley.
Tommies – The Bluff Ramp, Cape Jervis jetty & basin, Rapid Bay (also good for Trevally), Point Turton, Port Elliot, Moonta, Port Hughs, Wallaroo, Point Riley, Balgowan, Troubridge Point, Marion Bay, Stansbury and Edithburgh.
Yellowfin Whiting – At night off Port Broughton Jetty, Between Ardrossan and Black Point, shallows south of Moonta and north and south of Wallaroo (28-34cm).
Salmon – Some nice fish up to 2 kg from Maslin and Sellicks Beaches, Waitpinga, Rapid Bay, Deep Creek, Morgan’s Beach, West Cape, Browns Beach, Berry Bay, Dust Hole and Hillocks Drive, Bird Island, Pt Riley rocks and Port Broughton channel.
Size 21-35cm 20 fish bag limit, >35cm 10 bag limit.
Mulloway – Marion Bay Beach, Gleeson’s Landing, Daily Head, Salt Creek and Murray Mouth.
Snook – Wirrina, Rapid Bay, Morgan’s Beach, Ardrossan, Point Turton, Port Hughs and Copper Coast Jetties at night, Tiparra Light
Mullet – Murray Mouth, Bluff boat ramp, Morgan’s Beach, Kings Beach, Normanville, Sugars Beach, Marion Bay, Chinaman’s Hat, Sultana Point, Port Vincent Caravan Park spit, Corny Point, Hardwicke and Berry Bay.
Flathead – Port Hughs, Bird Island, Hardwicke Bay and around the beaches at Corny point.
Bream – Hindmarsh River and Wallaroo Marina.
Snapper – Partial closure check Fisheries website.
Check www.pir.sa.gov.au/fishing for details.
Fresh water Murray Cod - All Cod caught must be released while still in the water. This includes Reservoirs and all waters of the state.
Opera House net ban commenced from the 1st July 2023 in all SA waters including farm dams.
Pyramid nets are now approved for use in SA waters. www.pir.sa.gov.au/fishing for more details. (Back in stock now)
Yabbies – reports of nice size yabbies have come from Mannum, Cadell and the Riverland. Keep changing baits for fresh ones.
The Warren Reservoir is Open for all water activities.
Callop (Yellow Belly) – Are biting now if you can find shrimps or scrub worms, it is worth trying Murray River locations including Blanchetown, Swan Reach, Walkers Flat, Morgan, Cadell, Berri, Katarapko and Renmark. Tiger Worms, Night Crawlers and Scrub Worms are available at most Spot On Stores.
Fish take lures as well so why not try casting near the snags. Deeper water can give you better results.
Check with Reservoirs SA for opening times and size and bag limits. Also National Parks and Crown Land for local access.
Redfin – Happy Valley and Myponga Reservoirs are holding good size fish in deeper sections of the Reservoirs. Lures and scrub worms have been working in reservoirs for those who are patient. Redfin are great to eat. Redfin must not be returned to the water.
Carp make good Crab bait, and remember that Carp must not be returned to the water.
Don’t forget that CARP are a great fish to catch, especially for the kids and everyone you take from the system helps out river, lake or impoundment ecology. But keep an eye on your rod.
A permit is required and available on-line at Reservoirs SA. The permit covers all open locations.
Fisheries Updates
Snapper – Partial closure check Fisheries website.
Check www.pir.sa.gov.au/fishing for details.
Pipi season is open again.
Reminder – The use of crab nets from the Garden Island walkway is strictly prohibited. The area from St Kilda breakwater through to Torrens Island Bridge is an Aquatic Reserve and crab nets are banned.
Until further notice, taking bivalve shellfish from the Port River is PROHIBITED, due to the Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS). There are also brochures now available about POMS and the Asian Paddle Crab. One found in the Port River. These crabs are quite invasive so if you catch or see one please contact PIRSA fisheries immediately. For more information follow the link below.
https://pir.sa.gov.au/alerts_news_events/news/biosecurity/aquatics/invasive_asian_paddle_crab_found_in_sa_waters until the end of September.
The fishing closure has been extended another 12-months and is now in place for waters adjacent to Port Pirie township for Shore, jetty and boat-based fishing.
Check www.pir.sa.gov.au/fishing for details.
Can you tell the difference between Tommies and Salmon Trout?
You can check the SA Fishing App or ask a Fishcare Volunteer or Fisheries Compliance Officer or phone 1800 065 522.
Tips
Rods, Reels & General
We recommend putting a soft bead on the main line between the tip of your rod and your swivel.
Wipe a cotton bud around the inside of the eyelets to check for any cracked eyelets that need attention and check the bindings at the same time. We also do rod and reel repairs.
When cleaning reels use a damp rag to wipe them over to remove any salt, dirt or bait, fish scales etc.
We recommend that you use a light oil to lubricate the line roller, remove the reel spool, lubricate the spindle and also both sides of the reel handle bearings.
Do you have trouble with threading lines through your eyelets? Tie a loop like you would for your swivel but leave a tag end on the loop about 10-15 cm. Then when you don’t grab the line as you are threading it through it will only fall back as far as the last eyelet! Simple but effective.
Use a clear plastic pencil float, put a small amount of tuna oil inside it to act as a berley trail for Garfish and Tommies. Or a light stick for night time.
Learn how to tie those tricky knots? Ask us while you are in store.
FG, Blood, Common Snell, loop and Stand out dropper loop are just a few knots to know.
Squid have a beak that resembles a parrot's beak with a ball of muscle around it. Remove the black beak parts and the round muscle part is a great whiting bait.
Mix some bread in with “store bought” burley to make it sticky so it stays in your burley float longer.
Salting or brining baits can make them stay on the hook longer too.
Cockles or pipis, pilchards and soft fish fillets are all better salted.
Instead of bait bunching up on the hook where the fish will try to bite pieces off the edges, use long strips of bait which are easier for fish to swallow .
To improve your catches on surf beaches, learn how to “read the beach”
Look for sandbars, channels, deep holes and reefs. Knowing where to fish will help you to fill your creel.