Albany Catches
Pictured: Black bream (photo courtesy of Cowan Wise)
An estimated 20kg yellowtail kingfish was caught near Cheynes Beach last week and there were unconfirmed reports of bigger “hoodlums” landed from a few of the shore-based spots closer to town. According to Albany Rods and Tackle’s Jim Allan, the kingies have turned up close to shore in big numbers during the past week and any of the land-based spots that feature deep water, including West Cape Howe and Sand Patch, would be worth trying.
Salmon have continued to pass along the beaches in good numbers. The Bremer Bay beaches, Bluff Creek, Cheynes Beach, Nanarup, Shelleys and Lowlands all produced good numbers of 3 to 7kg salmon. Early mornings and evenings are seeing a few tailor turn up at Nanarup and there are truckloads of herring about the coast, especially when the salmon are not present. The boats working the inshore waters have been doing well on King George whiting, herring and squid in the sound and both harbours. Bonito and small southern bluefin tuna have been encountered off the headlands. A good mix of reef fish including red, pink and queen snapper, breaksea cod and samson fish have been caught in 50 to 85m of water, especially along the coral. Most of the river systems are worth a visit for black bream and small mulloway. A 10kg croaker was caught at the marina last week.
Remember, if you’re going to fish from the rocks make sure you wear a life jacket. Please see FREE loan life jacket locations in the footer of the website.
Esperance Catches
Pictured: King George whiting
A good mix of bread and butter species including herring, skippy, squid and King George whiting can be sought at the Taylor Street Jetty while the James Street platform mostly has herring and King George. More KGs, fish around the 30cm mark, and small herring have been coming from Bandy Creek Boat Harbour. The bream lakes are worth a try following reports of good numbers of fish to 40cm being caught there on baits and lures.
Salmon remain in good numbers right along the coast with big schools reported at Fourth Beach, Salmon Beach, Fourteen Mile, Roses, Poison Creek, Thomas and Alexander Bay. Gummy shark catches have been experienced at Fourteen Mile, Thomas and The Cliffs. The small boats are still finding plenty of squid and sand whiting in close. Out wider, samson fish and breaksea cod have dominated catches while nannygai to 2.5kg and queen snapper have been picked up in better numbers beyond the islands.
