Keep your eyes peeled for Recfishwest’s Tip of the week, see below!
Your Fishing Photos
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.
In case you missed it: 30,000 Fish Dead!
There are no stronger advocates for healthy aquatic environments than recreational fishers. This is why much of the recreational fishing community has been up in arms over the recent fish kill in the Murray River, near Mandurah.
Read the full article here.
Broome Catches
Picture: Black jewfish caught out of Crab Creek in Broome (Photo courtesy of Josh Meeuwissen)
Boats
Sailfish numbers are increasing offshore, however the majestic sportfish have been hard to tempt, even with a variety of offerings, while they feed on small baitfish. Broome Tackle World’s Steve Chambers encountered two black marlin while targeting sailfish during the past fortnight. Reef fishing enthusiasts have been getting among good numbers of chinaman cod quite close to shore while red emperor and saddletail seaperch have mostly been coming from beyond the 30m contour.
Shore based
Shore-based fishers have been using a range of lures and baits to catch bluenose salmon along Cable Beach and threadfin salmon in Roebuck Bay. Spanish mackerel are occasionally being caught on live garfish at Gantheaume Point. Barramundi between 60cm and 80cm and the odd fish close to a metre have been caught in the Fitzroy River, especially near Langis Crossing and Telegraph Pool.
Squid Tactics
Technical Rating: Novice
When it comes to the retrieve there is no clear cut rule as most techniques will produce a squid or two. In Japan, ripping a jig a couple of metres through the water in one whip of the rod is pretty much considered standard fare, however the critical part of the Japanese tecnique is when the jig is falling back down to the bottom. This is generally when the squid grabs the jig, so they put a lot of concentration into watching the line for any movement as a squid tries to make off with the lure. Once this is spotted the jig is set with a firm strike and then fought into the net.
Another point worth mentioning about the Japanese tecnique is that they don’t move the jig at all while it is falling. The only time the jig is moved is when it is being ripped away from the approaching bottom to get the squid’s attention or to set the hooks on a squid that has already taken the jig.
While it might take a hell of a lot of will power not to move the jig too often, the Japanese style of jigging for squid is certainly a system that works very effectively on our southern calamari, no matter where you fish.
Once you catch your squid it is best to look after them properly so that they taste their best. Check out the Catch Care and Cooking tab in the link below to find out how to ensure you get tender squid every time.
For more on catching squid and some of the tactics and jig tips, you gotta read this!
