Rain throughout coastal and inland catchments made outdoor activity uncomfortable this week but is likely to improve fishing in the longer term.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
At the coast rain runoff should push prawns and fish down towards the mouths of estuaries and food and nutrient flows to the ocean will attract offshore species closer to the shore.
Runoff should also benefit freshwater streams and lakes, most of which have been suffering from low water levels for many months.
Turbidity levels will increase temporarily but fly, bait and lure fishing should all improve as the water clears. Falling water temperatures might also bring trout back to shallow and inshore areas where anglers have a better chance of reaching them.
Lots of redfin
Redfin have dominated catches in the urban lakes. Many were taken on lures but bait fishing will predominate as the water becomes more murky. Most of the fish are small, but provide good fun for youngsters in particular and occasional larger ones are satisfying for older anglers. The largest fish have come from Googong, where specimens to 1.3kg have been caught in the past week.
Small golden perch and a few 40-50cm Murray cod also have been active, taking lures, worms, yabbies and bardi grubs. One outstanding golden perch of 54cm came from Ginninderra on a lure being tested for redfin.
The Native Cup, fished in Lake Ginninderra each Thursday night for the past eight weeks, wound up this week, with 21 anglers making it to the finals. The outright winner was Troy Wilson, who also won the inaugural cup in 2013. Troy baitfished throughout the tournament, using scrub worms and small yabbies fished just beyond weed beds near the dam wall and no doubt will enjoy his $1000 cheque and other prizes.
Trout still quiet
Trout are still hard to find in the mountain lakes but some persistent anglers caught a couple. One group trolled Eucumbene for 11 hours for one brown and one rainbow, taken on Tasmanian Devils fished down deep on a weighted line near the dam wall. Neither fish had anything in its stomach.
In Jindabyne another group caught two nice rainbows, down deep on a Tasmanian Devil and a Burrinjuck Special. The water temperature was 19 degrees.
Jindabyne is hosting a Family Fishing Challenge on April 25-27. There will be more than $5000 worth of prizes. For more information make a free call on 1800 248 148.
Tantangara Reservoir had fished well a couple of weeks ago but was disappointing for visitors this week. Thirty anglers from Gundagai fished with lure, bait and fly but scored only four fish.
Burrinjuck the place to be
Burrinjuck is 44.5 per cent full, visibility is two metres in the Main Basin and recent captures suggest it is the place to be this weekend.
Many Murray cod were caught on hard-bodied and other lures, with the best fish a 78cm specimen caught on a black-and-white spinnerbait near Wade Island. Another angler caught four cod of 50-62cm trolling a Predatek lure around Scrubby, and a Penrith angler landed seven cod in various locations.
Golden perch were hard to find on the troll but anglers jigging soft plastic grubs around flooded trees took up to 20 fish a day. One angler picked up 13 fish using small yabbies in the evening near the boat ramp. Plenty of fish also have been taken on live shrimp.
Redfin have been easy to catch trolling and a good proportion of the fish are longer than 30cm.
Prawns moving
At the coast the water is still warm and prawns are active each night. The best night will be when the next dark occurs, on Monday 31 March, when the prawns should be easy to catch as they mill about on the surface. Coila has the biggest prawns but not a lot of them. If you want bulk prawns on the slightly smaller side try Corunna, Tabourie or Burrill.
Land-based game catch
A sailfish caught from the rocks at Jervis Bay recently is thought to be only the third of the species taken in the area in the past 20 years or so. The fish was caught on a live bait on heavy tackle and was released after the obligatory photographs were taken. Details of the tackle and techniques used, and the location, are being kept private but I have seen the photos and can verify the fish.
Game season progress
The marlin season is now in full swing along the coast, with black, blue and striped showing from 140 metres to well out over the Continental Shelf. Fish have been taken on live baits, including frigate mackerel, striped tuna and slimy mackerel, on switch baits of slimy mackerel and on lures. One angler hooked a nice striped marlin on a fly in 70 metres off Jervis Bay but lost it after a short tussle.