Albany Catches
Pictured: Breaksea cod
The boats trolling minnow-style lures in front of the islands and out from the headlands such as Limestone and Bald Head have been picking up plenty of bonito and small southern bluefin tuna. When the crews have been able to head offshore, they have generally been doing well on a fair mix of breaksea cod, red snapper, queen snapper and small dhufish in 60 to 85m. Pink snapper are schooling in the deeper waters out from the rocks as well as at the edge of the shelf.
King George whiting catches have been improving with Breaksea and Michaelmas islands, Seal Rock, Middleton and Two Peoples Bay among the areas to provide catches of 30 to 45cm fish. Herring, snook, sand whiting and squid are also about these parts in better numbers than they have been in previous weeks. Shore-based fishers have been picking up fair catches of Geordies at Frenchman’s Bay.
Salmon are perhaps still some weeks away before the popular sport fish begin their annual run. There were a few salmon caught at Lowlands during the past week. Herring catches are increasing as the autumn months draw near. Shelleys, Sand Patch, Lowlands and Cheynes were among the spots to produce good catches of herring during the past week. Some nice catches of squid have been coming from the marina, especially in the evenings. Black bream are starting to be caught on hard-bodied lures in the local rivers more frequently.
Esperance Catches
Pictured: Southern bluefin tuna
A customer of Southern Sports and Tackle caught a five-foot southern bluefin tuna while trolling in his small boat near the islands last week. Unfortunately, the size of the big bluefin got the better of the angler and managed to break its tether when the customer struggled to get it aboard his small craft. Smaller southern bluefin and big schools of bonito have been appearing in waters starting at one mile from the coast.
Good catches of nannygai to 3kg, breaksea cod and big queen snapper have been coming from near the islands and beyond. Big schools of salmon, believed to be migrating fish, have been consistently appearing at Roses Beach and Poison Creek while only the odd fish has been caught at Salmon Beach and Fourth Beach. The Taylor Street Jetty is worth a visit for King George whiting, big herring, garfish and squid while Geordies and squid can be sought at the James Street structure. Bigger King George – fish to 38cm – have been picked up at the Bandy Creek Boat Harbour together with good size herring.
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