She went the high 60s according to my rod measurement and luckily Bill from Bermagui came along in his kayak to take the pic! Estuary fish are starting to move around and actively feed in the shallows now that the weather is warming.

In other good estuary news, the annual three-month closure of the Australian bass and estuary perch fisheries ends today. Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Senior Recreational Fisheries Manager, Cameron Westaway, said the annual zero bag limit for bass and perch is in place from June 1 to August 31 in all rivers and estuaries, except in impoundments, to protect them during spawning. 

During the autumn and early winter both species migrate to the downstream sections of estuaries, where salinity levels trigger spawning. They can be vulnerable when gathered in large spawning aggregations.

Out in the ocean, I was only able to get four big tiger flathead fishing the edges of the Four Mile Reef, Bermagui on Saturday, but that was it, despite targeting the reef for snapper or morwong with a microjig and bait. Darren “Dash” Bowater went out with charter skipper John Moore on the weekend and also gave the microjigs a go. 

Conditions on Sunday were far from perfect as the ocean was 16 degrees, black and seemingly lifeless, compared to Saturday when it was 18 degrees and full of life with birds, dolphins and whales, and of course a box full of fish.

“It was a very slow start with the odd reef dweller keeping us in the game, then just around the tide change John's trusty fishing hole produced great results with a few snapper up to 2kg, as well as other tasty reef dwellers such as perch, pigfish, nannygai and morwong. The bite was short lived but very successful considering the conditions.

Once John had assumed the bite on the reef was said and done we moved in closer to search the desert for some finger licking flathead. Again success would present itself with a nice bag of flathead up to 55cm and other odds and sods.”

The boys at Bermi Bait & Tackle also report its been slow off of Bermagui.

“Water was only 14' on the edge and the boys found a temp break of 18.3 to 18.6 at 150'20 where a few small Yellowfin were. So somewhere to start from tomorrow in better conditions. The reef fishing was tough for the other boat which fished off Goalan Head for a mixed box is Snapper, Morwong and a few Flathead,” they reported last week.

Graham at Moruya Tackleworld put his usual report. In the Moruya River, bream and flathead are starting to come on the chew from the Anchorage down to the hole in the wall. Blackfish are still in abundant through out the system with the best spots being the hole in the wall and also around entrance to Ryan's creek. Trevally and some tailor are also being caught along the channel from quarry wharf down to the entrance.

At Tuross, bream and perch are being caught around Four Ways and further up around the highway bridge. Flathead are on the chew in the shallows up above the bridge with some nice whiting also coming on, Graham reports.

“Coila beach is seeing good numbers of salmon and tailor with some bream getting in among them also try using beach worms no fish can't resist them. Some great drummer are still being caught at Moruya Heads try either peeled prawns or fresh cunjevoi,” he reports.

“Offshore – some nice snapper are being caught out around the 70 meters of water off Congo and down Tuross way with some great gummy sharks also. Flathead are also coming in around the windsock to Broulee in around 20 meters of water using fish bait or squid for these table fish.”

Dalmeny Fishing Club – The club held its 2015/2016 Senior Presentation Night on Saturday at Club Dalmeny. It was an Australian themed night with a couple of guest  appearances from Auntie Jack (aka Donny Brown) and Les Patterson (aka Marty Seaman) who entertained everyone. Everyone made a great effort with their very original costumes and I am sure all who attended had an awesome time. A big thank-you to all the committee for such a well-organised night. A big thank-you to Adrian and his staff, the meal was truly outstanding. The winners were as follows: Men’s Highest Point Scorer was Graeme Sawyer who also took out Top Boat. Biggest Fish was Pat Maher, Most Meritorious Fish was Wayne Breust. In the Ladies, Highest Point Scorer was Lisa Rix who also won Most Meritorious and Marie Maher won the Biggest Fish. Next weigh-in is Sunday, September 18. – Kim