Welcome to Recfishwest’s weekly fishing report, brought to you by Recfishwest’s fishing expert Joachim Azzopardi, John Curtis for his Mandurah and Surrounds report and Matt Cox for the latest in Kununurra.
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 tim@recfishwest.org.au
Tip of the week banner images courtesy of Shutterstock Ruggiero Scardigno, Smiltena & Garry L.
Rod Action – What You Need to Know!
When you walk into a tackle shop to look at or buy a new rod, you are often confronted by rows and rows of rods; long, skinny, thick, short, heavy and feather light, all designed for a specific application.
Learn more about how different rods can affect your fishing, but also help you catch more fish! Click here…
Broome Catches
Picture: Scott from Western Angler fishing one of the most pristine pieces of water in the Kimberley. (Photo courtesy of Western Angler)
Boats:
Billfish enthusiasts who encountered sailfish this past week mostly did so off James Price Point. A few sails were also found near the rig tenders a couple of weeks ago, however the bait that has aggregated near the vessels seems to have dispersed. Spanish mackerel have been located near bait schools and there are plenty of longtail and mack tuna about. The boats that headed to the 30m contour and beyond in search of reef fish did reasonably well on saddletail seaperch, red emperor and blue lined emperor.
Shore-based:
Most of the barramundi caught in the Fitzroy River this past week were caught in the lower reaches. Fewer catches of barra in the middle and upper reaches is believed to be caused by a drop in water temperatures. Yellowfin whiting are being found in good numbers along Cable Beach and Roebuck Bay. The entrance of Crab Creek has consistently been producing bluenose and, the odd, threadfin salmon.
Exmouth Catches
Picture: Giant Herring caught at Wilderness Island. Although not known for their eating qualities, some may say big Giant Herring are part of many sport fishers bucket list. (Image courtesy of Western Angler).
Boats:
Hayley Ward landed her first marlin as well as a giant trevally and a wahoo during a recent trip to the North West Cape. Trolled bibbed minnows have been working well on Spanish mackerel near Tantabiddi. Reef fishers have been doing well on red emperor, coral trout and rankin cod in depths leading up to 60m.
Shore-based:
An assortment of species including yellowfin whiting, flathead, grunter and yellowfin bream have been caught from the gulf and the creek mouths. Some nice catches of squid have continued at Learmonth Jetty and the marina. Oysters and VLF Bay are worth a try for giant trevally, big queenfish and giant herring.
Esperance Catches
Picture: Dan Coghlan caught this Black Bream on a shallow crank black hard body lure.
Boats:
Dinghy and small boat fishers have been catching loads of big squid weighing between 1.5kg and 2kg within a few hundred metres of the coast. Sand whiting and herring have also been coming from these areas. The bigger boats that ventured wide caught nannygai to 50cm, big queen snapper, harlequin fish and 15kg to 30kg samson fish.
Shore-based:
The Taylor Street Jetty has been producing mixed bags of big garfish, small herring, skippy, King George whiting and squid while Bandy Creek boat harbour has black bream and small herring on offer. Salmon to 6kg were caught at a variety of spots this past week including Salmon Beach, Fourth Beach, Eleven Mile, Fourteen Mile, Roses and Warrinup. Thomas River, Dunns and Alexander produced more salmon as well as bigger skippy, the odd gummy shark and lots of herring.
Albany Catches
Picture: One of many great catches in the recent Albany Boating and Offshore Fishing Club’s Southern Squid Spectacular. (Photo courtesy of Albany Boating and Offshore Fishing Club)
Boats:
A 1.74kg squid was the biggest weighed in by the 50 or so competitors who took part in the recent squid tournament. The biggest haul of 10 squid came in at 12.2kg. That impressive catch was picked up by a group of Perth fishers who travelled to Albany to specifically compete in the tournament. While there were a few notable shore-based squid catches, this component certainly did not fare as well as their boating counterparts. King George whiting catches are improving along the inshore parts with some nice catches of 30cm to 45cm fish picked up at Two Peoples Bay and Cosy Corner as well as both harbours and the sound. Sand whiting are about in very good numbers together with herring and skippy. The boats that ventured to the 65m to 80m depths scored dhufish, pink snapper, red snapper, breaksea cod and harlequin fish. Leatherjackets were problematic for some while others struggled to escape schools of samson fish.
Shore-based:
Salmon activity appears to have slowed along the beaches close to town with better results coming from Bluff Creek and Cheyne Beach. Herring are plentiful right along the local stretches of Southern Ocean. A customer of Albany Rods and Tackle caught four salmon, some nice tarwhine and a heap of herring at Bornholm on Saturday morning. Black bream enthusiasts recommend trying the systems east of town if the King and Kalgan fail to satisfy. Mulloway still seem to be mostly striking late in the evening.
Albany Squid Spectacular Results
The Southern Squid Spectacular was run last week on a fantastic Winters Day which was around 20deg and wind strength below 10 knots. There were a record turnout with 44 Entries 28 boats – 12 Shore based and 4 Yakkers. The Squid Addicts Australia Boating team took home a bevy of prizes including a whopping, New Record 12.89 kg biggest bag of 10, also Heaviest Squid for the boat section 1.735kg and the Heaviest Squid Overall. Congratulations David Govan, Scott Reinsma and Clint Sclater – Awesome effort !!!
Yakkers was won by Alex Bolton with his biggest squid @ 1.315kg winning the prize and the Shore based was won by Peter Zabradka with a bag of 3.085kgs and was pipped by his mate Peter Berlinski for biggest Squid @ 1.63kg.
The Club Thanks all the Competitors, Sponsors and Club Members that helped out on the day.
Kalbarri Catches
Picture: John Brennan caught (and released) this big Mulloway near Denham, Shark Bay last week. Although not in Kalbarri, some of WA’s biggest Mulloway come from the beaches around Kalbarri with plenty of fish caught in the Murchison River.
Boats:
The boats trolling rigged garfish and bibbed minnows have been encountering Spanish mackerel within a few hundred metres of the coast at Sand Patch and near the cliffs south of the river mouth. Some nice pink snapper have been picked up on baits and soft plastics near the cliffs. The boats that worked the waters northwest of town scored dhufish, coral trout and red emperor.
Shore-based:
An estimated 20kg Spanish mackerel was caught at Red Bluff on a balloon last week and there were smaller Spaniards landed at the cliffs and from Wagoe during the past fortnight. Perhaps some of the mackerel were attracted by the hoards of garfish and herring that have turned up at Red Bluff in recent weeks. Both species have been caught on baits and small metal slices. Pink snapper to 6kg have been caught at Wagoe together with tailor, mulloway and skippy. The Murchison River has yellowfin whiting in its lower reaches, mangrove jack active near the jetty after dark and black bream in numbers up river from Dance Floor.
Geraldton Catches
Picture: Beautiful Squid caught by Branko Bucar, off the Lancelin Jetty on the Yamashita 490 glow R06 COTTON CANDY (Photo Courtesy of SQUID HUNTERS WESTERN AUSTRALIA)
Boats:
The boats that have been taking advantage of the calm conditions in the evenings have been picking up good catches of pink snapper to 7kg and dhufish near African Reef and near the drop offs out from Drummonds Cove. Some nice cobia have been caught within a few miles of the coast recently. Dinghy and small boat fishers have continued to do well on squid along the seagrass beds.
Shore-based:
Geraldton Sports Centre’s Graham Maunder landed a superb 18kg mulloway at Southgates on Saturday night. That same evening a beautiful dhufish was caught at Clinches together with a few tailor and some pike. Smaller mulloway have been coming from Greenough, West Bank and Duncans. A few squid have been caught at the marina, especially in the evenings.
South West Catches
Picture: Big school of samson fish filmed lurking around the Dunsborough artificial reef. Get the coordinates for all the artificial reefs here.
Boats:
Boat fishers who have been anchoring and burleying along the Four Mile, and sometimes in closer, have been catching good numbers of pink snapper. Dhufish catches have been better of Cowaramup Bay and Canal Rocks. Squid remain in excellent numbers along the seagrass meadows extending from Eagle Bay to the Busselton Jetty.
Shore-based:
A consistent stream of burley will assist in bagging a feed of herring at most of the rock walls and bays located off both sides of Cape Naturaliste. Tailor have been appearing in the mornings and evenings at Elmore Road, Castle Rock, Mitchells and Honeycombs. Try the deep gutters near Contos for mulloway, pink snapper and jumbo tailor.
Into your Freshwater Fishing?
We’ll be bringing you some freshwater fishing reports very soon, with the guys at WATFAA (WA Trout and Freshwater Angling Association) providing us with what’s biting in the south-west! Stay tuned…
Mandurah & Surrounds
Picture: Matt Armenti from Genesis Craft, caught this huge squid in Cockburn Sound last week. Caught 9 all up in about an hour and this monster had a 37cm hood!! Great catch Matt.
MANDURAH:
The Dawesville Cut is producing some good catches at the moment. There are plenty of King George whiting and some big herring. The traffic bridges are also producing some good fish along with an occasional tailor of reasonable size. The estuary opening and areas adjacent have also been producing good yellow-fin whiting. The southern beaches have been producing tailor, herring, pilch and robust garfish as well as an occasional gummy shark. Beaches to the north of Mandurah are still producing good herring and an odd mulloway. It is worth putting in some time and effort on these beaches at this time of the year and the rewards can be great.
SECRET HARBOUR / PORT KENNEDY / WARNBRO / ROCKINGHAM / SAFETY BAY:
The jetties and beaches are producing good fishing at the moment. Palm Beach and Rockingham jetties have been consistently producing plenty of herring and pilch. The beaches around Becher Point, Port Kennedy and Secret Harbour are all producing good catches. Squid are still around in good numbers and are of a reasonable size. Anglers fishing these southern beaches are catching some excellent tailor, with fish up to 2 kg reported. Anglers fishing the sandbar and areas adjacent to Penguin Island have caught mixed bags of whiting, robust garfish and herring. The southern flats have been producing some good King George whiting and tarwhine. There are still some reasonable sized salmon around these beaches as well.
Metro Catches
Picture: How’s this for a catch! David Price caught this land based Pink snapper just north of Two Rocks last week. It was caught on an Alvey reel and rod, 20 kg line and with a mulie. David also caught three tailor and a mulloway. He said “my mates not happy as I let it go back in to swim another day. Great day and one to remember.”
Boats:
Reef fishing enthusiasts have reported there to be plenty of dhufish in relatively shallow waters at the moment with good catches of 6kg to 14kg fish coming from Five Fathom Bank, Stragglers and Three Mile Reef. Pink snapper have also been caught in fair numbers whereby fishers who have been anchoring and employing a consistent stream of burley have been picking up better catches of the 5kg to 10kg fish. Squid catches have been steady along the seagrass beds off Fremantle and within Cockburn and Warnbro Sound. There are some plump sand whiting coming from the sand patches out from Cottesloe and City Beach. The broken ground east of Rottnest continues to produce mixed catches of King George whiting, skippy and herring.
Shore-based:
Surf fishers are still catching more than the usual number of pink snapper from the beaches just north and south of the metropolitan area. Some of the pinks have not been small fish either with a few caught this past week giving the 8kg mark a nudge. There are a few mulloway being caught south of Rockingham and along the Alkimos to Two Rocks stretch in the evenings. Early morning lure fishers at Grant Street, Swanbourne and Brighton Beach have been picking up a few tailor between 35cm and 55cm. Bait fishers at similar spots have been experiencing a tailor run every odd evening. Herring and some nice robust garfish being caught from the northern and southern rock walls. Expect black bream to be making their way into the middle and lower reaches of the Swan and Canning rivers following the recent rain. Rocky Bay is worth a try for king prawns in the evenings during the outgoing tide.
Rod and Reel Maintenance – What You Need to Know!
Technical Rating: Novice
Cleaning and maintaining your rod and reel after every use will ensure you get the most life and enjoyment out of your fishing equipment.
The following steps should only take about ten minutes but can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Learn more…
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