Reports

Where are they biting at the moment

Bluewater Metro Fishing Report 03/03/2017

 

 
Staff member Danno with a sambo on stickbait
 
 
 
It has been a cracking week offshore with the weather Gods finally dishing up some great days. The most notable report was Bluewater customer Gab and the Game Time Fishing crew who raised two blue marlin out at the trench in less than an hour but unfortunately could not land them. Pink snapper in and around Cockburn Sound are running hot. Small jigs, plastics and baits all working well and 5 pending IGFA records have even been taken this week on fly by a charter boat.

Staff member Hon-su went out on a charter and although it was slow going due to lack of drift and dirty water, they ended up with a good bag. The majority of the fish caught were snapper up to 89cm and Hon-su got a decent King George on a Jig.
 
 
 
Bluewater staff member Hon-su with a King George whiting caught on Jig

North of Two Rocks seems to be where the bigger dhufish are being caught with jigs tempting them to bite. There have been reports that they are well and truly schooling with some lumps being filled with breeding fish.


Bluewater customer Chris with solid dhufish on jig

The samson fish are up and about with customers reporting get hooked into some unstoppables and coming in to buy some heavier gear to try and put the brakes on these hard fighters. Hi-speed jigging and live baits are always productive when looking to get your arms stretched by some big sambos.
Tuna schools are abundant and being found along the back of Three Mile and Five Fathom Bank. Looking for the birds and casting stick baits and metal slices was proving to be more productive than trolling during the week.

Both Spanish and shark  mackerel are still around in good numbers. Fremantle/Cockburn area is a good option to target the Spaniards. Landbased customers have reported catching them off Woodman Point and the Ammo Jetty, whilst trolling has been productive as soon as you hit the clear water on the edge of the run out from the Swan River. The shark macs seem to be popping up all over the place. Again casting stick baits and metals is working better than trolling but both can still be productive and there has been some other quality sportfish like sambos and yellowtail kings swimming with them.

Lots of chopper tailor have been patrolling the Cockburn Sound, whilst bigger fish have been reported coming from most beaches north of the River, however they have not been found in big numbers.

Mixed reports of mulloway have been coming in this week after the new moon last Saturday with a few monsters being caught from Southern beaches. Less activity has been reported from other locations. There has however been some reports filter through of good fish coming from Wedge and the Seabird area. The calm conditions were making it very hard to pick gutters and holes on the beach which could explain the hit and miss results.

After a few weeks of it being quiet, the shark fishing fired back up again this week with tigers and bronzies making up the majority of reported captures. With good bait activity in close it opens up options for shark fisherman as there are plenty within casting distance and less need to kite, balloon or paddle the baits out
 

The River is still feeling the effects of the floods but those showing persistence are going ok. Bream in the Swan have been harder to find but the bigger fish have managed to hold up and can be found in the usual haunts. Staff member Laith has, however been getting stuck into a lot of smaller fish in the Canning. Crabs are being taken from Claremont down to Fremantle but numbers have slowed. It seems most productive to target them out in deeper water such as Mosman Bay.


Crays

 Went diving with a mate yesterday and got a bag full of crays off the beach. Went last saturday with another mate and we both got 6. Both locations crays were a bit soft. Some whites mixed through. Most crays few mm over with the odd larger one. Was diving down at Mandurah


kingis

Still plenty of kingis around south of hillaries chasing all the baitfish schools. Had a school of baitfish hiding around the boat for an hr or so last week near a small reef, obviously feeling a bit nervous. Have caugtht kingis from 65-90cm quite regularly which has been awesome fun and have lost as many as we have landed along with the odd SBT. My sons have enjoyed getting there arms stretched too. Bugger all skippy around that i can rustle up over the last month. Water was filthy on friday vis about 2-3m i recon where i was, river outflow i guess.


Saturday night snapper

 went for a run south from hillarys Saturday night and picked up this 74cm snapper, not huge but a nice fish in great condition. Plenty of 45cm models around and also managed a 52cm keeper. Water is dirty at the moment and barrometer was way down at around 1005 so was happy to catch what we did. Been getting photo tips from little johnny, note the feet in the shot haha. 


Kalbarri river's affect on the Mackerel

Anyone in town or just returned who can let me know how the Murchison's flood waters are affecting the Mackerel and yft fishing?


First Jurien Trip

 Took the boat up to Jurien for the first time over the last few days. Managed to get out Friday and Saturday. Both solo trips as the wife can't handle any swell. 

Trolled around a bit bit Friday morning looking for some ground, and didn't make it too far before a heap of fish started showing. Packed the trolling gear away and dropped some baits. About 5 minutes later got a nice baldie, and 20 minutes later a 7.5 kg dhuie. Trolled around a bit more but nothing happening.

Same plan for Saturday but it was pretty windy early on so the drift was too fast. When the wind died and the drift slowed I managed another couple of baldies.

Overall, nothing massive, but pretty impressed with Jurien. Hardly used any fuel or bait compared to metro.


Nice bream session

 Hi

snuck out for a couple of hours this afternoon chasing some bream. ''Twas a warm afternoon" but the bream were on the bite. Landed about 20 fish, most between 25 and 30 cm a few smaller and a couple larger.  Using peeled prawn pieces unweighted. A little hectic a couple of times with two two rods and two fish. Put the second one away and then just focussed on catching after that.

As they say, no photo no fish. Fish solo and like to get them back in quickly so just one quick snap. My secret spot was the lower canning, in the section with the trees along the bank.

 


Kalbarri Saturday morning

 Beautiful weather this morning. Out at sunrise, tried the edge of the dirty water--a lot of bait, scalies, feeding on the surface around the edge and north, but nothing going. Went further north and straight into them. Fishing alone, landed one , then a snip off a few minutes later ( no wire, might have to re-think that), then a double hook up--got one into the boat, other was still swimming happily, got him boatside then a big bronzie appeared, and that was that. Got the lure and the  head back. Got another, then another put out a single line with single hooks on the lure, thinking I might do a release, but an immediate bite off, so I gave it away.  Fish were a bit bigger than last week, 9kg for two and one a bit maller, the head I got back was the biggest of the lot. The Abrolhos hardbodies from Oceanside did the job, outfishing the brand name, and much more expensive, lures running alongside 4 to one.

Water temp down a bit, 23 point something, but nice and clear further north with a tide pushing down. Probably a really nice blue line out the front by now. Lots of bait on the surface but nothing hitting it apart from the odd patch of tiny tuna.


Teamwork bags the Sambo

The missus and I did a session on Sunday near Rotto and managed to land a 147cm Sambo which picked up both our baits, one after the other.  We were thankful that it took both baits as neither ofus had the tackle to bring it in individually.  A story to tell the grandkids one day.

YouTube clip - https://youtu.be/ZRkbtHikUjc

 

 


tonights mullet

 was a late solo start tonight, but still managed to get a feed of crabs and some mullet for bait... net was in the water by 7pm and out by 9pm (gave up at 9 as the big rays showed up) HEAPS of prawns kicking about atm so wouldn't take much to get a feed if that's your thing, also the sized crabs I caught had heaps of pink showing on their underbelly so should be packed with meat...


Dollies at the FADS ??

I know its a long shot but I am hoping for a sneaky bit of info if there are any dollies at the FADS as Saturday looks good and its a rare opportunity for me did not want to take a run out in hope, appreciate any info and may even drop a fillet off heheh.
cheers


Shred and Bait at Work

A nice bag.  Dunny’s Dhu went 17.4kg.


Little Johnny inspiration

 After looking at Little Johnny's swim posts, thought I better get keen and put on the snorkel and have a look, Occys where a bit elusive but was surprised by the numbers of Blue Manna crabs, saved a pretty windy morning with squid hard to come by. Ended up with the below and a bag of whiting. Thanks to Little Johnny for the posts of what is possible with a bit of knowledge and effort.


? Broadbill??

Whilst manning sea rescue today there was chatter on vhf of a broadbill lost out at the trench last night.....is it true and does anyone have more info 


Last nights effort

Couple of fish from last night behind GI, snapper went 75cm and the flathead 42cm. Weather was awsome got the snapper around 6pm had another two runs which I think were rays (didn't get them to the boat). Expected the action to heat up as the sun went down but was very quiet just the flathead, lots of boats out for a Monday.


Snapper time

 with the best night we've had metro (last night) for a long time was only one day thing to do and that was fish! Arrived at hillarys at about 5pm and it was pretty busy, headed down to our spot and got set up. Was pretty slow for the first hour then about 6.30pm got bricked by a good fish. Just on sunset the snapper turned it on and we had good action for about an hour till the snook spoiled the party. 

Kept 4 fish around the 70cm Mark and released a heap just under 50cm. 

Spoke to a couple of people back at the ramp and both had fish. 


Double dhu

Nice arvo out of gracetown today 98cm and 1 m pbs for both  


Kalbarri this morning

Overcast, a bit misty,very light wind from the N, tide from the N, water temp 23.8, clarity looked Ok. Had the lures in the water for all of 3 or 4 minutes, and the centre rod went off, obviously a btter than average fish. My wife had the rod, gave her some curry. Eventually get a nice YFT of a good 18 kg alongside. I wish to release him, go for a tail grab---ambitious---he powers off out of my grip then suddenly the sharks were on him, lost the lot. Then one comes up and bashes the back of the boat and outboard twice.

So we take off for somewhere else, brief troll over one spot for nothing, go further up, see some boats where I was heading, get the lures in well before I get to them, double strike and one is immediately sharked. Stay hooked up on the other, also feels like a largish tuna, fight him for a while then snap off. So I am now down 3 lures for zero return.  

So keep trolling and eventually end up with 3 small mackerel, all the size of one shown and a small YFT. Dropped a few, returned a stripie. In at 9.30. Ended up 4 lures down for the morning, worst result ever here for me.

 


Land based king

After hooking up only to be reefed 3 times in the last week at a local rock ledge it was nice to finally subdue the culprit. Went 125 cm a pb for me caught on balooned live herring


Oz day Kingi

A bit late I know but was invited out on a mates ex cray boat to try and get an easy feed of skippy and kingis. Being doing ok of late mid week when the weather has been ok, which has been pretty much every Tuesday or Wednesday since Christmas.
The day before Oz day was great, plenty of skippy to 45cm and got onto a school of small kingi to ~65 cm. Those little buggers go hard in shallow water on the 4-8kg gear.
So we were thinking Thursday was going to be a cake walk and Tim who hadn’t been out in an age would be able to get a feed and have some fun. Best move was not taking the trailer boat to hillaries. Arrived at 7.45 to boats /cars backed up to the second roundabout on Hepburn Ave. Ive never seen it like that. Poor buggars…
Anyway we tootled out to a spot of Scarbs in 10m or so. Stunning day, burleyed up, but the bloody skippy decided to take the day off. Caught a couple eventually and a good kingi at 85cm on a drifting mullie, it played very nicely in the shallow for some reason which is the only reason I landed it on the 4-8kg. Hooked another and …well it just bricked me. Cracking good fun though.
Moved around a bit but stayed quiet for the rest of the morning. Unfortunately, the skipper lucked out, but took the fish home, so hopefully fed the clan and kept SWMBO happy.
A couple of shots of some Amberjacks (?) as well I think from the day before and a nice wee SBT from last week.


Deep jig success

 Headed out with good mate Jack on thursday with the intention of getting in to some blueeye on jig and managed to smash a few good ones! All on slow pitch gear in 360ms.


upper swan

 Put the tinny in at Bassendean but the river was muddy and no fish.I will try again when it clears up I am trying to get a shark 


Bunno Dhu's

First trip out with the old man since September last year ( He has been laid up due to injury) and managed to find a couple of fish. Started off in shallow waters south of Bunno figuring that there might be a few predators inshore chasing the crays but it was pretty quiet. Dropped a couple of solid fish early just after arrival at about 6.30 and then it went dead. Fish everywhere on the Furuno but didn't seem to matter what we dropped in front of them. Tried squid,occy,mulies,prawns,jigs and plastics but no go. Watched them on the sounder come up for a look at the bait then head back to the bottom without a touch.

Decided to cut our losses at 9am and headed for deeper water. Thought I would try out the 588's accufish feature having never tried it before (only had the unit for a few trips). Took the readings with a grain of salt but found an area with a "claimed" 50+cm fish so had a drop. Up came a 60cm Dhu. Nice!. Cruised along until the next decent reading - says 55cm fish. Dropped a couple of baits on it and soon landed another Dhu measuring a just legal 51cm. Thought about returning it as we were now seeing soundings on the drift that the Furuno claimed to be 70cm+ but we were pressed for time (had to do some work), and considering the Dhu's reputation for barotrauma we called it a day and headed for home. Big thumbs up from me for Furuno's accufish. I know most don't rate it but it was brilliant especially as I am still learning how to read the Furuno. Every little bit helps.

Also returned a few pinkies, the largest being 47cm, plus a couple of rays which gave us a workout.

Conditions were good, a great day on the water!

 


More mullet

Was a nice night and home by 9.45pm, we would have stayed to get our 60 but we had a giant ray helping its self to our nets... 

i know it's not the best photo but you get the idea.


Crabs crabs crabs

better than the other week! Scooped our 20 crabs in 15 minutes, good sizes and all hard.

now time to catch some fresh bait...

 


kalbarri Mackerel

Does anyone know if there are any Mackerel in town yet?


Lucky Placky

 Fished Jurien on Thursday and Saturday. Australia Day was classic weather, but Northerly drift had sea anchor doing laps around the boat and lines heading in all directions, had out a lucky plastic that accounted for 2 Dhus on Thurs and one more on Sat, before I retired it. On retirement the next placky was taken by a small Sargent Baker, which in turn was engulfed by a big Dhu on a couple of occassions, but unfortunately did not find the hook, ended up with a couple of Baldies and Dhus on both days and the Reefrunner got to test her sea capabilities coming in on Sat in a serious Southerly blow from the bank. If your looking for a placky to try then this one was working in otherwise quiet conditions. Dhus went 8 & 9 kg both in great condition and fat. All in the 50's


Exmouth Few Pics

Spent the last few weeks in Exmouth, First week was abit average weather wise which meant landbased was our only chance to wet a line. Fished the Marina a few times for no jacks which is abit strange and bundegi was quiet on queenies. Out on the boat we caught a few Billies (Blacks and Blues) with 1 being my first Blue around 100kg and lost a few larger models on 15kg. Came accross a few free swimmers also which is a good sight when throwing stickbaits and plastics at them to seem them light up and charge in but no hook ups unfortunately. Struggled on demersals with any good fish being hooked the noahs will swoop. Did manage to get a few though... Pearl Perch, Big Spangoes, Reds, red throats, dollies, chinaman and 8Bar.
Good to finally get out there and have a play on my new Raymarine ES128 also which Im very happy with.


Kalbarri Water Temp.

 Water temps here finally look to have cracked the 23 mark, still tons of bait, but now a bit of action amongst it!

Big Longtail schools, but they don't seem interested in taking anything I can throw at them.

Australia day was a pearler with good weather ( praise the Lord!) for a change.

A nice trifecta of Spanish early and then we jumped off a beautiful Marlin somewhere around 200lb ( naturally it grabbed the 6Kg rig, my guesstimate is based on me being an ex Deckie  from the Cairns Marlin fleet)  it went ballistic, busted off, and then danced all over the ocean to toss the lure ....Adrenaline plus!!!

Saturday looks great as well, so we are having another crack in the morning....report to follow.

Land based mob.....I would be planning a WAgoe trip soon.Thats where we saw and landed most of our stuff.;-)

 

 


Bayswater Mulloway

 Stumbled across some solid washed up mulloway the past few weeks around sandy beach reserve as pictured, also several discarded filleted mulloways along the river bank so they're pretty far up river! Most days I walk along the river I see bait fish jumping around so maybe some tailor have cruised up too!