Thursday 13.12.18
Piet aboard ‘Mistress’ nailed this solid king while working whole squid along the main break wall at Nelson Bay. For Kings target the Main Breakwall as well as the Anchorage. Also, worth working the Salamander Wreck and Middle Island. Worth either poppas, stick baits or baits and hang-on these torpedo shaped fish will move at a rate of knots and if around any type of structure so gear up!
Trumpeter whiting are on the chew just off the boat ramp at Soldiers Point. Shane again this week has been fishing Sandy Point with our metho beach worms and has sand whiting to 35cm-38cm for his efforts. Target sand whiting with beachworms and yabbies along Corlette Point, Sandy Point and Wanda Beaches. Try using poppas and mid diving hard bodied lures along Roywood Reserve at high water for sand whiting, they are super aggressive on lures.
Roywood Reserve, amongst many others, is also a great place to gather your own bait, the humble yabbie is a top-class bait for most estuary fish, whiting, bream, flathead & Jew all love them. Super easy and plentiful to gather, you are permitted to keep 100 for bait. Bait keeper style hooks are recommended to be used with yabbies as they stop the yabbie from sagging making it look more natural on the hook.
https://www.salamanderbaittackle.com.au/baiting-beachworms/
Dean ‘The Bread Man’ nailed a 50cm bream from inside the marina on bread, big fish which if accurate I would estimate 2kgs plus. Check out
https://www.portstephensexaminer.com.au/story/5804387/breakwall-ports-top-fishing-hot-spot/?cs=763
December 12 2018 – 2:00PM
Something Fishy | Nelson Bay Breakwall, port’s top fishing hot spot
John ‘Stinker’ Clarke
More reports this week from the Eastern side of Corrie Island before the Short-cut of sand whiting to 35cm in top condition being taken on beachworms while at anchor. I would recommend a light 6-8lb fluro carbon leader for best results. Fish a light running sinker with a size 8-6 bait keeper style hook. The bait keeper hook allows soft baits to sit more naturally on the hook as opposed to sagging into a clump.
I again hear of some small bonito in the Bay, spots worth trying are Sally Shores Wharf, Shoal Bay Wharf & both Break walls. Small metals 7-14grams are the way to go.
Ian working his chase bait flick prawn along Shoal Bay Beach has been doing well with the flathead, over the last few days he has nailed fish to 65cm. No matter the flathead size they have a large mouth and are no shy to take a big lure. Also try Nelson Bay Beach, Little Beach, Sandy Point and Roywood Reserve for lizards.
Target flathead this summer as it’s the time of year to get that 1 metre plus PB. Remember flathead are an ambush hunter and as you can see small fish will take larger lurers look for deep drop off’s, edges of weed beds where they meet the sand or rock areas. Target underneath wharfs, oyster racks as the tide rises bringing the bait fish in the flathead are buried in hiding ready to attack. Try multiple casts in the same location before moving on, it may be the case that you’re lure passes-by many times before the flathead will reveal itself.
The ‘Prince of Shoal Bay ‘has reported some solid blue swimmer action along Mud Point, getting 10 large male swimmers with good meat content. The ‘Prince’ said the water was around 22 degrees. Just a point to note ‘The Prince’ also said one of his pots was found open, empty and a claw inside. The crab thieves sadly are active, so if you noticed anything suspicious contact 1800 043 536 or visit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/compliance
Reports of muddies at the entrance to the Karuah River just off from the Oyster Racks. Reports of Blue swimmers from the West side of Garden Island as well as the odd bream on fish baits. Reports of mud crab activity around Taylors Beach and more blue swimmers starting to appear up into Tilligerry bear Upton’s Island. For mud crabs think mangroves and the more upper reaches off Tilligerry and Karuah. For blue swimmers work the weed beds, Sunset & Wanda Beaches around Soldiers Point for example.
Fish the new Wharf at Taylors Beach for bream on the first 2 hours of the run out tide. Bereyling can be an added advantage there. Fish for trumpeter whiting west of Garden Island on the drift using peeled prawn and gulp plastic beachworms, also drifting mullet strips and picking up a few flathead up to 45cm. Also, the crabs are starting to get more plentiful. Reports of sand whiting to 33cm from Corlette Point into Salamander Bay, worms, yabbies and poppers will do the trick. Also target Sand whiting around Sandy Point, Shoal Bay Beach and Nelson Bay Beach.
Remember Duffs Kids Competition starting 17th December, weekly draws, great prizes for the kids.
