FISHING
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Offshore, there has been plenty of great action over the past week with terrific numbers of black marlin quite close in – good news for those with smaller vessels.
Wider out, the currents are hot with the odd blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and big mahi mahi about. If we get a few consecutive days of southerly winds, which usually bring the warm currents right onshore, look for a few mackerel to show up.
Closer in, Pat from Fish Port Macquarie Charters has been putting his customers onto plenty of snapper, pearl perch and flathead. Best results have been in the 40 metres to 50m depths when the current allows.
In the estuaries, best reports have come from the weed free areas upstream, with flathead and whiting again dominating catches. Flathead have been particularly active around Hibbard, and the lower section of the Maria, while best reports on whiting have come from Blackmans Point and Limeburners. Both species have also been active in Lake Cathie, despite recent adverse reports.
Bream have also been active in the upper reaches of the Hastings, with surface lures seeing great results around Wauchope and Rawdon Island. Mulloway action has been a little quiet, however the next few evenings have ideal tides leading up to Monday’s full moon. Plenty of muddies and blue swimmer crabs are also in the Hastings.
Results off the beaches remain average at best with red weed still the major obstacle. If you can find clean conditions, there have been a few nice whiting, bream and the odd tailor and salmon. Off the rocks, tailor have been reasonable around Diamond Head, while Plomer has held a few bream and blackfish.
Great news for local anglers, with our major sponsors Penn and Berkley back on board for our 2019 fish of the year and photo of the week competitions. Penn prize packs consist of a Penn Spinfisher SSVI Live Liner Reel and fillet knife for largest fish of the year in each of the following species categories: bream, whiting, blackfish, mulloway, drummer, tailor and snapper.
Berkley is also offering a great prize pack for the fishing pic of week published weekly in Friday’s Port News. This year’s comp starts today, so let’s see some great fish.