A group of Narooma anglers travelled down to Mallacoota, Victoria last Tuesday to target broadbill swordfish and were able to get a fish around 80kg right on lunchtime. After more than 40 nights of chasing broadbill swordfish in the pitch black, Narooma fisherman Brett McDonald has had a revelation that these much-sought-after and elusive fish can be targeted during daylight hours.
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Brett said he was following the lead of legend game fisherman Richard Abela who in recent weeks has cracked the secrets of the broadbill using a similar style used by American big game anglers. He is sure that the broadbill also congregate in the canyons off the Far South Coast and he was keen for some daytime deep fishing in known locations such as the Tuross, Bunga and Tathra canyons.
The kingfish continue to perform reasonably strong at Montague Island. Local charter skipper Wazza Stubbs let us know there were solid kingfish taken Monday morning on the eastern side of the island on a live slimies. “Kingies were a bit slower today still managed a dozen keepers,” he said.
John Moore from Narooma Fishing Charters reckons the kingfish were a bit quiet over the last couple of days due to the full moon, but they should be back on in the next few days.
The lakes continue to fish well with local estuary specialists Dash and Hippie having a couple of great days on Wagonga and Wallaga lakes over the Anzac Day long weekend. This included double hook-ups of bream, salmon and tailor, and all on surface lures. Dash even went to the next level by somehow managing a salmon and tailor on the one lure, one on each treble, not to mention getting absolutely smoked by a kingfish in the oyster racks.
Speaking of strange goings on, fellow local Dave Moran reported some weirdness going on at the moment. He caught a 62cm salmon, reef fishing the bottom in 45 metres of water at Potato Point the other day, while his mate caught a 40cm tailor in 67-metre deep water off the Bay. “He said he kept getting bitten off from them. It’s like the inshore pelagics have discovered something new!” We agree Dave, that is weird!
Darryl Bond at the Narooma Ocean Hut Compleat Angler said he had heard of large trevally being caught in deeper water off Potato Point in the past.
Bermi Bait & Tackle reports there were a few marlin around over the long weekend, including a 111kg striped marlin speared by the boys on ‘Blue Yonda’.
Anglers please note this Friday, the Narooma Sport and Game Fishing club will hold a bacon and egg roll night at $3 each or two for $5 Live music will also be playing from 6pm, so come along and enjoy this special special night. As usual the Narooma Sport and Gamefishing Club rooms, situated on the inlet near the restaurants, will be open for fish stories, drinks and snacks from 4pm till 9pm on Friday. Visitors are most welcome to come along and have a chat.
Anglers are reminded that the annual zero bag limit closure for Australian bass and estuary perch from all rivers and estuaries in NSW commences May 1. Catch and release fishing for Australian bass or estuary perch is permitted in rivers during the closure but any of these species of fish must be returned to the water immediately with the least possible harm.
Anglers heading up to the Snowy Mountains are reminded that the annual trout spawning season commences May 1. A minimum size limit of 50cm, daily bag limit of one and possession limit of two trout will apply to the Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers from May 1 to the end of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend on Monday, June 8 when the whole trout stream fishery closes.