Posts
Estuaries:
Rivers and lakes along the NSW south coast remain relatively quiet with only a few reports of Bream, Trevally and Tailor coming in lately. The anglers putting in the time and effort have been rewarded with some good fish despite the cool water temperature. Some very healthy Black Bream have been captured in the upper reaches of the local estuaries, and once a school is located you can have some very exciting sessions. When fishing the brackish upper reaches of the estuaries, Estuary perch are a common by-catch and they must be released as there is currently a closed season for Estuary perch in place until the 1st of September.
Rock Fishing:
South coast rock platforms continue to fire with some outstanding results reported. Drummer have been reliable and in good size and numbers, with one Drummer caught in the Batemans Bay area measured in at 53cm and an estimated weight of approximately 4kg caught and released by 15 year old angler Bradley Hasler fishing lightly weighted cabbage weed in the wash. Some good Snapper have also been reported up to 6kg from various rock platforms with a majority suggesting fresh squid as the best bait at the moment, but most fresh baits, especially slimey mackeral or yellowtail yakka's with a good burley trail will get you onto some good fishing.
Jewfish are another possibility if you choose the right area along with the tide. One local angler reported 15 Jewfish up to 8kg in 2 short sessions fishing 7 inch Gulp jerkshads at the very top of the tide late in the afternoon. Although 8kg is not considered a big Jewfish, the numbers certainly make up for it, all fish were released to fight another day. Salmon and Tailor have been around in good numbers as well, casting metal slug lures or soft plastics will often tempt these fish with a fast retreive.
Beaches:
Almost any of the South coast surf beaches have been providing some excellent fishing. Good numbers of big salmon are common in the deeper gutters especially during the incoming tide in the last 2 hours before the high. Bream are around in good numbers as well but the Tailor have been a little harder to find.
Inshore reefs:
Plenty of Snapper are around in approximately 8m of water, with most anglers reporting at least a few fish each session and some real thumpers in amongst them too. A few reports of Blue Worwong and Nannygai's have been thrown in as well. 5 inch Gulp jerkshads or Squidgie flickbaits have been a personal favourite on a 1/8th jighead with a 5/0 hook size, jighead weight will need to be adjusted according to drift speed or water depth but 1/8th has been my preffered weight in 8m in most scenario's with a slow lift and drop technique with many of the Snapper hitting the lure on the drop.
