Weekly Report 18/3/08

[Tony Zann]

Offshore: The good news this week is the spotted mackerel are on the bite off Grassy head. Some of these fish are up to 10kg, taking live baits and pilchards. There has been the odd Spanish caught off these grounds as well as further north past Scotts Head. Fishing the bottom is producing good snapper around the same area with a few pearlies out a little wider. Cobia are coming in again with a few crackers around Black Rock, the best going 35kg. Some quality wahoo are being caught in a number of locations in close. Fish Rock is fishing well for snapper, small kingfish and some nice yellowfin. There has been plenty of bait around; the slimies have been a little big if anything while bonito are about in good numbers. Fisheries have advised us the FAD will be replaced before Easter – we will see.
Estuary: Good reports of flathead with hot spots around Clybucca, Rainbow Reach and on the flats around Stuarts Point biting well on pillies, whitebait and 4” plastics. Good bream have been hard to find in the river with oyster leases and rock walls your best bet. Whiting are taking worms, nippers and don’t forget those 50mm poppers in the moving tides.
Rock, beach: Tailor have been caught on Smoky Beach mornings and afternoons with some good whiting on a rising tide. Gap Beach has had whiting and bream coming in with a few tailor on the north side. Tailor, bream and tarwhine off the rocks while Hat Head has had a few longtail tuna off the ledges.
Mark and Denise Bird and Paul and Michelle Martin , Rocks Marine Bait and Tackle 6566 6726, rocksmarine@tsn.cc