18 March 2016 - South Coast Fishing Report

Albany Catches

Pictured: Dhufish (photo courtesy of @dan.coughlan)

The Great Southern’s fraternity of seasoned fishers are hesitant to label the recent spate of salmon catches along the coast to be those associated with the annual migration. Jim Allan, of Albany Rods and Tackle, was still of the view the salmon schools that showed up during the past week were resident fish despite the big volumes of fish evident in some of the schools. That’s even after hearing from a couple of his customers about how they caught and released 38 fish during a single session at an undisclosed location.

Two big salmon schools were frustratingly just out of casting distance at Sand Patch on Monday. Fosters produced a few salmon, however Bremer Bay was reportedly quiet. Bigger skippy are starting to show up, as they tend to do at the start of autumn each year. Bluff Creek and Lowlands were among the spots to produce skippy to 40cm this past week. Herring stocks have also continued to increase along the coast. Tailor have been turning up some mornings and evenings at Shelleys and West Cape Howe. Cosy Corner is worth trying for King George and sand whiting from the shore.

Frenchman’s and the marina have been providing mixed catches of King George, herring, skippy and squid. The local rivers and even those east and west of town have really started to fire up for the black bream enthusiasts. The boats that managed to head offshore in search of quality reef fish picked up fair catches of pink snapper, queen snapper, harlequin fish, red snapper and dhufish in 65 to 85m of water. Bonito and small southern bluefin tuna have been encountered off the headlands and near the islands. King George whiting require some effort through the inshore parts, however those who have been putting in the time have been doing well and catching their bag limits of fish in the 30 to 45cm range.

Salmon Season Safety

Don’t put your life on the line! Better yet, keep the sand between your toes and stay off the rocks.

No fish is worth your life.

Make sure you follow these simple safety steps:

Know the conditions
Wear a life jacket
Wear the correct footwear
Wear suitable clothing
Know how to swim
Keep clear of the black rock
Tell someone your plans.

Recfishwest will be down in Albany over the Easter long weekend, come and say hello, hire a life jacket and learn more about fishing safety.

For more on safety please visit www.fishandsurvive.org.au

Esperance Catches

Pictured: Recfishwest supporter Graeme Evans with a West Australian salmon

Big herring, King George whiting, garfish and a few skippy can be sought from both Taylor Street Jetty and James Street Jetty. More King George have been coming from the port beach and Bandy Creek Boat Harbour, which the latter spot, also has small pink snapper and big herring on offer. Two customers of Southern Sports and Tackle caught and released 20 salmon at Salmon Beach last week. Salmon have also been regularly appearing at Fourth Beach, Fourteen Mile and Roses together with mulloway, gummy shark and skippy.

Thomas River, Rossiter and Dunns are worth a look for mulloway, skippy, salmon, juvenile salmon and herring. Southern bluefin tuna to a solid 20kg have been turning up in dense schools within a mile or two of the coast at times. Squid and sand whiting are worthwhile targeting in the bay. Big nannygai and samson fish were caught near the islands and beyond last weekend.