14 October 2016 – West Coast Fishing Report

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Dhufish

DEMERSAL CLOSURE STARTS MIDNIGHT SUNDAY 17th OCTOBER IN WEST COAST BIO REGION

ROCK LOBSTER SEASON STARTS SATURDAY 16th OCTOBER – STATEWIDE

This year, the annual demersal closure for the West Coast Bio Region will begin midnight on the 17th and run until the usual time of midnight 15th of December (inclusive) meaning you can resume fishing for demersals on the 16th. The 48hr difference to previous years is to allow for National Gone Fishing Day this Sunday, which is also WA’s first ever licence free day.

Metro Catches

Perth metro King George whiting

Picture: Murphy’s Law – “In between the bad conditions last week on my way back from Rottnest, I managed to wet a line and landed a couple of 50cm KGs. Looking forward to getting back there.” (Photo: Courtesy of Chris Murphy).

Anglers Fishing World’s Jake Crisp reports that one of his regulars has been catching mulloway to 12kg at Trigg Beach over the course of several sessions this past fortnight. Tailor in the 30cm to 55cm range have been appearing most mornings and evenings along the Cottesloe to City Beach stretch. Bigger tailor to 70cm have occasionally been caught near Yanchep and Two Rocks.

There were good catches of pink snapper at North Mole during the rough conditions last weekend and there have been plenty more pinks caught between Garden Island and Five Fathom Bank during the week. A few stray salmon turned up around the northern metro marinas this week. Some schools of small tuna have been popping up around the 3 mile.

Dhufish and breaksea cod were caught in depths starting at 30m off Rockingham and Fremantle. The 40m depths northwest of Rottnest are worth a try for samson fish during this part of the season while yellowtail kingfish are usually lurking this time of the year near obvious structures closer to the island. Squid continue to be caught in excellent numbers along the seagrass off Fremantle and within Cockburn Sound.

Some nice catches of squid have also been picked up at Woodman Point, Capo D’Orlando Drive and South Mole. The deeper areas of the Swan River including Mosman Bay and Freshwater Bay are worth trying for mulloway. There are still plenty of big tailor in the lower and middle reaches of the Swan River and in the Canning between Canning Bridge and Mount Henry Bridge.

Jetty, Set, Go! Rookwood Street Jetty, Mt Pleasant

Browse the many diverse and unique fishing experiences awaiting you at our Swan River Jetties here.

Fishing in the Swan or Canning this weekend? Not sure where to fish or what facilities are close by? We will give you a snapshot of popular fishing locations to make your family fishing days more enjoyable!

Rookwood St Jetty

Today, we’ll be looking at Rookwood Jetty, Mt Pleasant. With Easy parking and access, read more about how to make your next family fishing adventure an unforgettable one – and for all the right reasons! – check out the near by facilities here.

In case you missed last weeks jetty, Wilber Street Jetty, Rossmoyne – click here

This Weekend is Gone Fishing Day WA – A Big Thanks to our awesome partners Getaway Outdoors for all their support in helping us fly the WA flag this Sunday!

Gone Fishing Day 2016

Mandurah & Surrounds

Fremantle squid

Picture: Fremantle was offering the best hoods for Squid Hunters WA’s chief – Daniel Landridge this week: “Bagged out with 15 squid weighing about 5.5 kgms total. Using the trusty Yamashita Q Live BLCFO in size 2.5 On the Hearty Rise Night Attack Egging Rod” (Photo: Courtesy of Sarah Archer and Squid Hunters WA).

To the north of the town, Singleton, San Remo and Madora beaches have produced reasonable flathead and there are reports of a few small mulloway being taken from these beaches. To date there haven’t been any bigger fish taken but it is a bit early in the season for them. Anglers fishing just offshore are reporting good skippy and King George whiting along with some tarwhine and plenty of samson fish in close. There are also reports of mulloway being taken from near the James Service Reef complex. The beaches to the south of Mandurah have been producing a few tailor, herring and whiting. The Cut is probably the best option if you’re chasing a feed of fish. There have been herring, tailor, smaller King George whiting and tarwhine caught at this popular spot. Several anglers report also taking good bags of fish which included several large skippy, tailor, tarwhine and herring. The Murray and Serpentine Rivers are still producing good black bream, with the better fishing being in the Serpentine.

At Long Point there have been a few small tailor being caught as well as the odd herring and tarwhine. The beaches around Warnbro have been turning on a few herring, whiting and tailor. In Safety Bay there are a few whiting and squid.

Shoalwater has been producing a few flathead, whiting and herring. The surf beaches in this area have produced an occasional small mulloway during the week along with some very good tailor fishing at both dawn and dusk. Most of the tailor are around 30 – 35 cm but there are also some good tailor being caught from most beaches along with a few herring and garfish.

Reports from Palm Beach jetty indicate that it has been producing good catches of garfish. Point Peron has been producing some reasonable tailor. Boat anglers fishing in the Sound have been catching King George whiting and some big sand whiting. Herring and garfish are responding well to berley in most locations. There are also a few squid turning up in the berley trail so be prepared to use squid jigs to catch a few.

Woodman Point has had a good run of squid and some skippy. Several whaler sharks have been taken from this platform over the last few weeks with some up to 2.5 m. Anglers fishing at the Ammunition Jetty, report that squid are coming in at night for those using jigs and there are herring, garfish and a few small skippy being taken.

South West Catches

Spear fishing the South West dhufish and harlequin fish

Picture: “Don’t mind if I dhu” – Spearo Adam Jolly makes the most of the glassy conditions with a tasty seafood lunch of dhuie and harlequin fish. (Photo: Courtesy of Adam Jolly).

Boat fishers who that took advantage of the pleasant conditions during the middle of the week scored some nice catches of dhufish and breaksea cod off the tip of Cape Naturaliste and out from Canal Rocks.

Pink snapper and samson fish were the most common species caught along the Four Mile and Eight Mile. Squid remain in good numbers along the seagrass beds between Eagle Bay and Abbey Beach.

Whiting catches have been improving off Quindalup as the water temperatures increase along the sand flats. Herring and tailor have been turning early morning and on dusk at Elmore Road, Castle Rock and Mitchells. Good hauls of blue swimmer crabs have been reported in Geographe Bay.

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Geraldton Catches

Geraldton pink snapper

Picture: Hardcore fishers around the West Coast have certainly made the most of the last week before the demersal closure kicks in – a fat pink here (Photo: Courtesy of Abrolhos Tackle).

Mulloway between 8kg and 12kg have been turning up along the coast stretching from Nine Mile Beach to the Greenough River Mouth together with tailor mostly in the 40cm to 55cm range. Bigger tailor to an impressive 90cm have been caught on lures, including stick baits and poppers, at the reefs near the Lighthouse and Separation Point. Chopper tailor, school whiting and herring are being picked up most afternoons and evenings at the back of the breakwater.

The boats that ventured to the Abrolhos Islands during the past week caught good numbers of dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper and coral trout. Schools of yellowfin tuna and plenty of Spanish mackerel were also encountered close to Southern Group. Closer to town, reef fishing enthusiasts have been finding dhuies to 10kg in numbers near the fairway marker. The dinghy fishers who have been working the Pages to Separation Point area have been catching plenty of squid and a few school mackerel.

Kalbarri Catches

Kalbarri tailor

Picture: Pete’s comment on this nice Kalbarri tailor sums up that early morning feeling of vindication: “While the family sleeps, I’ll play” (Photo: Courtesy of Pete Berlinski).

Local gun Rob Tang has been catching mulloway, tailor and the odd pink snapper from the beaches north of the river mouth. More pink snapper and a few baldchin groper have been coming from Red Bluff, the coastal gorges and Wagoe.

Tailor have been turning up most mornings and evenings at the popular coastal spots including Red Bluff, Wittecarra and Siphons. Bigger tailor to 80cm are responding to stick baits and poppers at Chinamans.

Black bream can be targeted at the jetty and near the pens together with small mulloway, estuary cod and the odd sweetlip. Yellowfin whiting were about in good numbers along the sand flats during the recent children’s fishing competition. Mud crabs can be sought in the lower and middle reaches of the Murchison, however blue swimmer crabs are hard to come by.

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2017-01-13T14:02:53+08:00