Fishing Reports

Fishing Report 17th February, 2012

WALLAROO

Blue Swimmer Crabs and Garfish have been the main fish being targeted by both land bases and boat anglers this week and both species are around in good numbers. We would suggest giving the early mornings a try to beat the afternoon sea breezes. Any part of the Bay has been reliable for a feed. You should be able to expect Australian Herring (Tommies) and Snook in your burley trail while Gar fishing and they are a welcome bonus to boost your catch. Have a rod rigged with a small soft plastic like a Kokoda Fingerbait in 9cm or 13cm size (colour is not that important) is handy when going for Gar as the Snook that sit behind them will eat these lures without hesitation. Likewise if you have a medium to heavy rod on board with a wire trace you can catch a small Bronze Whaler for a feed of Flake as there are a few down at Bird Island and can be seen in your burley trail or hanging around your Crab Nets. Small whole Garfish and Tommies will be your best bait.

King George Whiting are still biting but have slowed a little so it will pay you to move around and pick up a few from each spot. Goolwa Cockles are the best bait for the Whiting and south of the Jetty is still the best bet at the moment.

Try the Wallaroo Jetty at night for Tommies, Squid, Snook and the odd Snapper. Day time fishers can expect Tommies, a few Mullet, Yellowfin Whiting in the shallows, lots of Blue Swimmer Crabs and some small Trevally.

Try any of the beaches for Yellowfin Whiting and Mullet with Bloodworms being the best bait.

MOONTA BAY & PORT HUGHES

Moonta Bay Jetty early in the morning (no sleeping in) from 4.30 to 8.00am has some excellent big Blue Swimmer Crabs and some really nice medium to large size Squid on prawn type jags. Cast and retrieve using either the Black Magic or Shimano Keimura White jags or Orange coloured GanCraft jags. These are all working extremely well at the moment. They are a more expensive jag but they have a better swim action and the UV reflective colour jags just seem to be working much better than the cheaper jags. There have also been good catches of Tommies at night using Gents for bait.

Port Hughes Jetty had Garfish mid morning up until the change of tide. There have also been some smaller Kingfish being caught on livebaits like Tommies, Garfish, Slimy Mackerel or Squid. Tommies at night using Garfish for bait.

Boat fishing at Tippara Light will get you a good feed of Garfish and Squid have been caught in good numbers. King George Whiting fishing has improved at the light. Fish the drop off and ledges all the way to Port Victoria. There are also plenty of Snook trolling.

Fishing the Beaches from Moonta all the way to the Gap will see catches of Yellowfin Whiting and the odd King George Whiting.

Snapper and some good catches of Snook have been caught with Island Charters at Port Victoria. Len can be contacted on 0418 809 625 and can take booking for groups from 8 to 12 people on his new boat that has recently arrived.

Good Fishing

Fishing Report February 11th, 2012

Wallaroo Jetty - Anglers have been catching good numbers of Tommies at night from the Spur and Dingy Wharf along with Snook, Chow and Squid. Day time anglers are catching Tommies, Garfish, Mullet and Yellowfin Whiting along with a few good King George Whiting over the weed. Early morning us the best time for Squid and Blue Swimmer Crabs. Late afternoons there have been some schools of Salmon Trout at the jetty and marina breakwaters. There were some good Snapper taken on the jetty this week fishing at the fence and casting to where the ships sit but keep your baits of the bottom to stop the crabs and stingrays from taking it.

Wallaroo Marina – The Marina has seen some good Bream at night and Mullet near the Alehouse throughout the day.

Beaches – All the beaches are now getting better numbers of Mullet along with some Yellowfin Whiting using worms for bait.

Boats – Boat anglers getting out early this week before the afternoon sea breeze picks up. Reports of good catches of Garfish, Blue Swimmer Crabs and Squid from down towards Bird Island along with some King George Whiting and Salmon Trout. Boats working the bay and north of Point Riley have also been catching some good catches of Garfish, Squid, King George Whiting and Snook on the troll. Mixed reports of Snapper have been coming in with good numbers of smaller fish being taken while the bigger fish are a bit elusive unless fishing at night.

Moonta Bay – The Jetty has Squid, Garfish, Tommies, Crabs and the Slimy Mackerel and Chow are back again. There have been Snook at night and Kingfish have been seen in the morning. There have been a few small Bronzies and Hammer Head Sharks during the warmer weather.

Boats – Coopers has Garfish, Squid, Snook, Crabs and King George Whiting but a lot of the Whiting are small. The Lighthouse has Garfish, Squid, Snook, King George Whiting and small to medium Snapper. More consistent catches of Snapper are now coming in from the Steamer Channel with fish up to 8kg. Cape Elizabeth boats crews are getting King George Whiting, Garfish, Squid, Salmon and a few rugger Snapper.

Cape Elizabeth has King George Whiting, Yellowfin, Mullet and Salmon for shore based anglers.

Fishing Report February 3rd - 2012

Point Riley – Yellowfin Whiting are being caught from the beaches at Point Riley. Blood Worms or Tube Worms are the best baits.  The wearing of waders is recommended as there are a few sea lice around at the moment.

Wallaroo Marina – The marina has been firing at night with big Bream on prawns or white bait and they are also taking hard body lures and soft plastic lures early in the morning with the Squidgy Bugs and Wrigglers being the best soft plastics and the atomic hard baits for the hard body lures.

Wallaroo Jetty – There are still plenty of Squid, Blue Swimmer Crabs, Tommies and Garfish being caught from the jetty.  Yellowfin Whiting are being caught in the shallows and all the beaches. There has also been a good early run of Mullet late in the afternoon. Worms have been the bait of choice for the Mullet.

Wallaroo Boats – Garfish, Blue Crabs and Squid have been very good for the boaties fishing south of the jetty towards Bird Island with early mornings being the best time to avoid the afternoon sea breeze.  Snapper are still around but you will need to move around to locate the schools. King George Whiting have been best south of the Jetty on medium depth drops.

Moonta Bay Jetty – Tommies, Garfish, Squid and Blue Swimmer Crabs are still being caught in good numbers. Some Yellowfin Whiting have been caught in the shallows and there have been a few Snook at night.

Port Hughes Jetty – Much the same as Moonta Bay jetty but there have been a couple of Kingfish still hanging around. Try a live bait and see how you go.

Port Hughes Boats – King George Whiting are hit and miss with some boats bagging out on nice size fish and others getting very little. There are plenty of Garfish and Squid at the Light House and troll for Snook on the way back as there have been some reasonable catches

Beaches – Crabs are still being raked along the beaches at Moonta and Bird Island. Check the females for eggs as there are a quite a few now with eggs.  When raking always wear a pair of Polarized Sunglasses as this will help you see through the glare of the water and see the crabs. Yellowfin Whiting and King George Whiting have been caught from the beaches this week and Goolwa Cockles or Worms have been the best baits.

Balgowan – Squid, King George Whiting and some Snapper have been caught but mostly mixed bags. The Whiting have been good size but not great in numbers. 

Good fishing.

Fising Report January 21st, 2012

Moonta Bay / Port Hughes Beaches – There have been some Yellowfin Whiting being caught. Bungum, Blood or Tube Worms have been the best bait. There have also been a few Mullet and some Salmon Trout showing up but not in any great numbers. Harry’s Point is always worth a try for Flathead using soft plastics.

Jetties -  Both Moonta Bay and Port Hughes Jetties have seen good catches of Tommies at night. Nice size Garfish are being caught from both Jetties during the day using Gents for bait. Some Yellowfin Whiting have been caught in the shallows and Snook have been caught at night under the lights on the jetties. Good numbers of Squid have been caught early mornings and later in the evenings. Blue Swimmer Crabs are still being caught and there are still some fishers that need to be reminded of the regulations regarding crabs. 11cm size limit, females with eggs must be returned to the water and you cannot use land base animal for bait. This means you cannot use chicken or bones in your crab nets. Port Hughes jetty has a few Kingfish hanging around creating some entertainment for some fishos.

Boats – There have been plenty of Garfish and Squid at the Light House when the weather has been good enough for the boats to get out. In closer there have been a few King George Whiting but most crews are working hard and still not getting bag limits. Snook have started to show and boats trying for Snook on the way back in from the Light have done well. There are still plenty of Crabs in the bay. Crews are finding it hard to get a bag limit of Snapper.

Wallaroo Beaches – The Yellowfin Whiting are biting much better of the beaches and now with more consistent warm weather some good schools of Mullet showing up early. The ferry landing and the boat ramp breakwaters have been good places to try.

Wallaroo Jetty – The jetty has Garfish, Tommies, Squid and Trevally being caught throughout the day with overcast day being better for the Squid. Blue Swimmer Crabs are plentiful but the late afternoons and early mornings have been the best when there is tidal movement. Numbers of Yellow Tail Kingfish are building in numbers and a few are being caught with live Squid, Tommies or Garfish being the best of the live baits. Rapala ClackN Minnows and Gulp Vicious Squid plastics have been working well.

Wallaroo Boats – Boaties are getting plenty of Garfish, Squid and Blue Swimmer Crabs in the bay and good numbers of King George Whiting came in from the Ballast Ground on the slow tides. Snook and Small Bronze Whaler Sharks can also be caught while Gar fishing as they can be seen swimming up the burley trail. Snapper have slowed a little but can still be found if you move around.

Good Fishing

Fishing Report January 7th, 2012

Wallaroo Jetty – The jetty has Tommies Gar and Blue Swimmer Crabs throughout the day. There are Squid in the mornings, late afternoon and into the night. The Snook, Chow and Slimies are showing up after dark. The Yellowfin Whiting in the shallows are picking up in numbers with the recent lot of warm weather. There are a few Kingfish showing up at the jetty in the mornings so having a live bait or a lure ready will give you a good shot a getting one.

Boats – Boaties are getting good catches of big Garfish in the bay along with Squid and Blue Swimmer Crabs. There are King George Whiting south of the jetty early in the morning and late afternoon. Snapper have been caught in the channel early morning and after dark.

Beaches – Wallaroo beaches have been fishing well for Yellowfin Whiting down past the Magazine and north of Point Riley. Some good Flathead are now showing up on all beaches and small fish baits or lures are working well.

Moonta Bay & Port Hughes Jetties – Garfish have been caught early mornings and during the day using gents for bait. Snook have been caught using soft plastics or hard body lures under the lights of the jetty at night. Crabs are still being caught but do be careful some are undersize and check the females for eggs. These must be returned to the water. There are still some people using chicken and red meat for bait…..not legal. Carp or Whithing heads seem to be the best bait at the moment.  Tommies are also being caught during the day but mainly after dark. There have also been Chow, Slimey Mackerel and Sharks at night.

Cape Elizabeth – Big King George Whiting have been caught this week towards Balgowan.  Boat crews have caught some Squid and Snook between the headland and the spit. Good catches of Garfish have come from inside tip of the bay. Salmon up to 6lb have been caught at the Salmon Hole. Crabs and Whiting have been caught out deep from the fire track.

Boats - Whiting, Garfish, Tommies, Squid and Snook have been caught at Coopers. Goolwa Cockles have been the best bait for Whiting. Some Snapper from outside the light, plenty of Garfish at the Lighthouse as well as some Whiting, Squid and Snook. The Ballast Grounds has Whiting and some Rugger Snapper. The Steamer Channel and Jurassic Park have Snapper between 6-8kg but there are a few White Pointers taking most of the fish.

Beaches – Crabs are being raked along the blue line anywhere north of the Jetties. Yellowfin Whiting have been caught on the beaches north of Moonta Bay Jetty. Blood Worms  have been the best bait for the Yellowfin.