Keep your eyes peeled for Recfishwest’s Tip of the week, see below!
Your Fishing Photos
Picture: Riley with his first dhufish caught off Jurien Bay, great job Riley!
If you want to see yourself or your kids feature in our weekly state-wide Fishing Reports, send your best fishing photos and a description to bronte@recfishwest.org.au
Tip of the week banner images courtesy of Shutterstock Ruggiero Scardigno, Smiltena & Garry L.
Kununurra Catches
Picture: First time barramundi fisherman, Nick Bartholomew with a very well fed saltwater barramundi caught while fishing with Northbound Charters (Photo courtesy of Northbound Charters).
Shore based
With cooler nights upon us camping is a must. The Pentecost River has still been producing good numbers of barramundi caught on surface lures throughout the night.
Lake Kununurra
Still receiving mixed reports out of Lake Kununurra, generally, those who are putting in the time are reaping the rewards with a few good fish for an afternoon session being boated. Flicking mid ranged lures around the weed beds and structure is where the fish are hiding.
Broome Catches
Picture: Billfish are on most fishers’ bucket lists. If you are fortunate enough to catch one, ideally you would want to remove the hooks and swim it next to your boat rather than lifting it on board for a photo. This will maximise its chances of survival and is best practice when it comes to fish welfare.
Boats
Sailfish have started to turn up in big numbers west of Cable Beach and at the Willie Lumps. Pete Nielsen, of Broome Tackle World, encountered five dozen sailfish in small schools during a single session last week but found the majestic sportfish to be reluctant to strike at their offerings while they were feeding on masses of small baitfish. Spanish mackerel in 15kg to 30kg range have been responding to trolled rigged garfish and minnow-style lures. Nice catches of blue lined emperor, coral trout and rankin cod have been coming from 20m to 30m of water. The bigger boats and charter operators continue to do well on red emperor and saddletail seaperch out wide.
Shore based
The water flowing in the Fitzroy River is slowly clearing and with the improved water clarity has been an increase in barramundi catches at Telegraph Pool andLangis Crossing. Cherabin are still about in excellent numbers and there are a few mud crabs also being picked up in the system as well as in the local creeks. Bluenose and the occasional threadfin salmon have been caught in the creeks. Queenfish and varieties of trevally are striking at soft plastic and hard-bodied at Cable Beach and Roebuck Bay.
Technical Rating: Novice
Often one of the last pieces of fishing gear to be considered for an outing is fish landing gear and in particular nets. Gaffs are used largely for landing fish whether from a boat or fishing from rocks but they rarely can be used with enough care and precision without seriously injuring fish. Gaffs are really only appropriate for fish which are to be kept for the table or for really large fish which cannot fit into a net. In that case they should be carefully hooked in the lower jaw or ideally left in the water if possible to unhook and release. For fish in the mid-range which cannot be lifted directly with the rod but are small enough to fit, a landing net should be used to reduce stress and damage to a fish which is to be released.
Australian salmon are a good example of a fish in this category, growing to significant size not to be lifted directly but a nice size to slip into a landing net. Not all landing nets are created equal with some cheaper versions causing more damage to a fish than good. Fine rope nets are stiff and have hard and sharp edges which are damaging to fish scales, slime, eyes and fins. A variety of knotless mesh nets are available using materials and designs which do not catch on delicate fish parts and are the ideal net to use for releasing fish.
If you liked this tip, check out our ‘Landing our Future’ article here.
