Archive for the ‘Fishing Reports’ Category


Fishing Report – 19.11.09

November 21st, 2009 by Helen

Murray Howlett resides here for most of the year and enjoys throwing a line in for a fresh feed during his stay. He has been getting into some big blue bone of late around the west side: the largest being 7kg.  He also caught a 7ft shark using a balloon rig which he fought for some time and landed for a few quick pics before a healthy release.  Murray has had great success with spangled emperor too and we reckon he could start teaching a few locals how to fish with the success he has had!

The Exmouth Game Fishing Club will be holding their end of year presentation and Christmas Party at the Yacht Club on Sunday the 13th of December from 5pm.  Exmouth Marina Village are proud to be a part of this yearly social event again, and it’s amazing how the marina has changed in the last twelve months!  There will be a bbq dinner and drinks provided for current members. If you are a member and haven’t RSVP’d, then they assume you are not coming….  RSVP’s are essential for catering purposes. 

 There will be beach cricket for those who wish to partake, casting fun and the presentations for year ending November 2009.  Santa will be visiting too!  If you have a child, (another reason to RSVP) we don’t want Santa to miss them when he empties his sack! 

If you have any tag cards from fishing to present to the weighmaster, they must be in by Nov 30th.  If you would like to come along and are not a member, tickets are available for $25 per adult and $15 per child.  To RSVP, please send an email to secretary@egfc.com.au or ring Kathy on 9949 1086 or drop in to Bluewater Tackle World Exmouth before December 6th.

The mangrove jacks have started to move in to the marina with the warmer temperatures. A half pilchard or hardy-head drifted slowly down on an incoming tide tends to be working well.  The jacks can be quite cheeky and are not easily fooled. Ensure you have monofilament leader of about 40lb breaking strain, not wire, as they seem to be able to see the wire and will not take to your presentation. 

There has also been a few malabar cod and estuary cod in the marina.  These fish can pull hard, so be prepared.
The trout have been continuing to show up in the gulf on those afternoons when it is howling around the west side, yet glass in the gulf.  Ben Knight caught and released several one afternoon not far from the marina, including the one pictured this week.  This is a bar-cheek trout, as you can see from the bars, or elongated dots on its cheek. True coral trout have dots all over…..but they all taste the same: delicious!  The limit is one per person per day and in these shallow waters of the gulf, these hardy fish release well.

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Fishing Report 10.09.09

September 14th, 2009 by Helen

Yellowfin whiting have been prolific along the gulf beaches along with
yellowfin bream this last week according to visiting parents of staff.
Small queenfish have also been patrolling the outside of the northern wall
of the marina.  Light spin outfits and small metal slices are working best
for these fish with the trebles replaced with a single tarpon hook. The 3″
gulp minnows have worked well inside the marina on the local bream
population with the occasional cod and mangrove jack surprising the unwary
angler.

Giant Trevelly have been hanging around the breakers along the west side as
expected at this time of year.  Some daring anglers brave the conditions
when the swell is up, but please beware as these large swells can create
very dangerous conditions.  Good quality rock spiked boots are advised when
fishing from the rocks and please fish with a companion.
 Spanish Mackerel are still around in thick numbers alongside the reef,
however the sharks have made their presence in all areas lately, especially
with the beached whale off Bundegi.

Fishing can be good and bad, but a day out should always be enjoyable.  I
managed to get out this week and didn’t catch a thing except some bait.  The
tides were large and the current was extremely strong. We trolled for
billfish briefly, then tried for reef fish, but couldn’t get on the mark.
Then we tried for billfish again, but missed the bite! Nevermind: if we were
guaranteed fish everytime it would take the fun out of going!

Bundegi Yellowfin

Bundegi Yellowfin

Pictured this week is Peter Gates with a gleaming smile after catching a
shark mackerel off the outside of Bundegi reef.  There have been quite a few
schools of these speedsters along with long tail tuna in this area.  Now
that we have Bundegi boat ramp so close, it makes it easy for a fish after
work before the sun sets.  Look for the birds feeding and you should find
the action.  You can troll these areas or cast and retrieve metal lures,
soft plastics or if you’re really keen, a well presented fly will do the
trick.

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Fishing Report 20.08.09

August 20th, 2009 by Helen

Sorry for the lack of fishing reports lately, but the flu got me a beauty
and after about two weeks feeling dreadful, I finally decided to get some
fishing therapy, get out on the water and leave my sickness behind.  It
worked!  I’m now much better and ready to fill you in on what the staff have
had reported in the last week.
Lindsay Toop from Perth has been having some fun up here on his month-long
holiday. He’s been catching north-west snapper and bream from the marina
using pilchard and squid baits with no sinker. 

Travellers Judy and Brad Cole came in to town for a few days with their caravan in tow.  They were
hoping to stay and try for a fresh feed of fish in Exmouth.  They were
surprised to find that all the parks were full and even the overflow was
quite full.  They did manage to stay for a couple of days and got out to
catch their first fish on their trip from Adelaide to Darwin, then Broome
and here.  They were very pleased with a fresh feed of whiting off the beach
and bream that they caught using small segments of prawn and light gear.

There are Mack Tuna to 6kg in the gulf at present according to angler Brad
Bell.  Brad’s been getting amongst the fishing spots while the weather has
been so sensational over the last few weeks.  He also managed to get out to
the 100m mark and get into some red emperor, cod and long-finned snapper.
All of these fish were great eating and the day on the water was well
enjoyed by all onboard.

Mudcrabs have been prevalent in the gulf, along with the blue swimmer crabs.
Please remember to have the correct license for any netting in our area, as
fisheries have informed me that some people have been unaware of the rules
and regulations.

Spanish Mackerel time

Spanish Mackerel time

The Spanish mackerel have been coming in thick on the Tantabiddi side of the
cape while the wahoo have also been out in this area.  From the shoreline
the bluebone have started to come in numbers along the access roads and a
good pair of polarised sunglasses will help you see the blue beauties in the
shallows.

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Fishing Report 5.08.09

August 10th, 2009 by Helen

The long awaited decision to construct the second run of floating pens at the marina is finally starting to look like reality.  However, there needs to be enough Expressions Of Interest for the project to begin.  If you or someone you know is interested in getting a pen at the marina, please contact the Department of Planning and Infrastructure for an EOI form on 08 9949 2079 or go to http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/geraldtonandexmouthpens  This is going to be a great help to the AIBT (Australian International Billfish Tournament) in 2011 and 2012 when we expect a number of larger vessels will visit Exmouth to partake in this international event.  All we need to add to the equation is the EGFC clubhouse and that area will certainly be a busy little hub in a few years.

Seth Nafte has moved here for a few months while remotely studying.  Seth usually visits with his friend and fishing partner, Neil Silver to fish the billfish tournaments.  Seth had a ripping start to his stay when he went out to the waters off Helby Bank and hooked three Yellowfin tuna, three wahoo , two sailfish and a marlin.  He was trolling pushers and said the action was so hot, he couldn’t believe it: Especially when there were no other boats around.  Seth has also been having fun off North-west reef with some amazing sessions with sharks that he could see swimming around in the crystal-clear waters.

Keen staff members Ben and Nick had some fun with mackerel on poppers with over forty hook ups, but none kept for the day out.  They also caught a small giant trevally (sounds contradicting, I know, but that’s their name!) and gold spot trevally. This action all happened in the waters surrounding the islands in the gulf, while on the way home they got in to some cobia late in the afternoon: not bad for a day off!

It’s really lovely to get feedback from people who have had a great experience in Exmouth.  However, it’s also good to get any feedback regarding service, fishing or experiences in general.  If you have any comments to give us at anytime, we welcome it and encourage it to improve our service and your experience. 

Exmouth Marlin

Exmouth Marlin

One customer, Charlie Saykao sent us this weeks pic and these comments. “Hi Bluewater Staff. Just wanted to say thanks for putting us on the right spot. My brother (from Melbourne), two cousins (from Brisbane and Sydney) and I (from Albany) came into the store last Saturday to ask for some info and stock up on some lures and gardies. We had an awesome time. It was unbelievable as we managed not to land 1 but 2 marlin in the 5 days fishing. Along with dozens of Spanish mackerel and tunas.  It was all our first time chasing big game on my trusty 5.8m Pacemaker. Our magic skirt was a purple richter glassy. Attached a photo that I am hoping you can use as part of your monthly update. Once again thanks. Regards Charlie“

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Fishing Report 31.07.09

July 31st, 2009 by Helen

Adrian Desbessi from Dunsborough is up here with three mates on a fishing
holiday.  On their first day out they got into some goldband job fish and
red emperor around the 100m mark.  Adrian landed the biggest red which
weighed in at an impressive 10.3kg!  The boys joined up with another group
from Perth who had been here for a week already.  These other guys have been
getting into the reef fishing as well with robinson sea bream, chinamon fish
and spanglies to add to the good times on the water.

(These boys were also staying in one of our homes – Turtle…they were nice guys!!)

Other reports of reef fishing have been indicating that the fresh strips of
mullet and squid combined on a circle hook have been working well,
particularly with the emperors.  One charter boat had a large black marlin
swim around the boat and give all the punters a good close up view.  The
boat was at anchor, so luckily they did not hook the fish or they would have
been spooled for sure.

The blue swimmer crabs have been running in the gulf and providing a fresh
feed for most families on a daily basis.  Once again the better bait for
this is the fresh mullet.  While the nets are set, why not have a cast with
a small lure to target the queenfish and small trevally that roam the areas
along the gulf coastal waters?  If you don’t want to keep any of these
sports fish, then please remember to use barbless trebles.

Typically, the whiting are now prevalent after I wrote last week that the
whiting were quiet…!  So, if you’re keen to get a sweet tasting easy
dinner, then get to the beaches along the gulf side to target these species
using prawn segments on small long shank hooks that are lightly weighted.
The red beads at the top of the hook tend to attract the whiting even more
and make sure you have some polarised sunglasses to see the schools as they
cruise along the coastline.

The minister for transport, Simon O’Brien was here today and had a brief
meeting with the President of the Exmouth Game Fishing Club to discuss the
final details of the proposed lease for the new clubhouse.  After seeing the
actual area and talking with the some club members, the minister is prepared
to speed the process up, which we all know has been taking so long.  The
lease is planned to be finalised in the next week, so that the club can
begin construction before the deadline of August 31st for the Royalties for
Region funding. We will keep you updated with the progress.

Northern Salmon, up the creek
Caption: one of the type of fish you can expect to catch in the waters of
the gulf while crabbing, a northern salmon.

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Fishing Report 17/07/09

July 17th, 2009 by Helen

boy with squid

boy with squid

Helby Bank continues to produce this year with yet another customer
reporting the catch and release of two marlin. The two fish were estimated
to be 60kg and 100kg. Amazingly they were caught accidently on a Rapala
CD14 and a Halco Laser Pro 190. Steve Good and young Steven Bailey were the
lucky anglers and they also caught two dolphin fish, which were taken home
for a fresh feed for dinner.

The reports this week from customers tell us that there are Chinamon fish in
big schools around the grounds west of the Muiron Islands. Red emperor have
been hard to find this week, but thankfully the sharks haven’t been so bad.
The running sinker rig in depths up to 40m has been working well when the
current and wind is not too strong. Squid has been the preferred bait.

The whales are showing up all over the place and the odd Mata Ray has been
sited by anglers in boats as well.

The queenfish have been found at the Muiron Islands and we strongly suggest
using barbless hooks on lures forthese fish…..just ask young Aiden Lerch…
he found out the hard way and ended up with a hook in his leg, with the other
hook on the lure in the fish! These fish can jump wildly and when there are
plenty in schools, you can catch them easily. They are not the best of
eating, so if you are to let them go, try and release them in the water with
pliers, rather than taking them out of the water to flip around on the deck.
Their gill plates come right up to their lower jaw, so using a single barbless
hook on the back of a chrome twisty gives you a good hook up, with minimal
damage to the fish. It also makes it easy to release them.

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Fishing Report 14/07/09

July 14th, 2009 by Helen

Cod from Murion Island

Cod from Murion Island

How lucky are the tourists these school holidays? The weather has been
perfect since it began with little to no winds and warm tropical conditions.
This has made it easier for those getting out fishing on the water and
there’s been plenty of action about.

Sadly, the Department of Fisheries have informed me that there are many
people not knowing or abiding by the rules. Please make sure you know where
the sanctuary zones are, what the size and bag limits are and know what you
are keeping. If you are unsure, it is best to let the fish go. People are
also being caught without the correct safety equipment onboard their boat.
Everyone should do a safety check before leaving for the boat ramp, so that
you don’t get caught out in a precarious situation that could be life
threatening, not to mention an embarrassing situation if you get caught by
the authorities…

David Rumball sent us this weeks’ photo of a fish he caught the northen side
of the Muiron Islands. It was in about 25-30m of water and his words were
that it was a “Good day in my book, just to see that big fella swim off”
David was using a Penn 330 reel and squid bait.

Meanwhile, Justin Howlett has been fishing the marina catching Bluebone to
4kg and an 8kg estuary cod. Kids have been seen catching bream by the
dozen, but letting them all go. Young Aiden Lerch with his brother Callum
and cousin Oliver Holmes have been on holidays from NSW. They all caught
their first squid each and Callum caught a cobia off Bundegi using some of
the hardy head bait found gathering around the Bundegi Jetty. According to
the seasonal locals, the beach fishing has been quiet, but the moon phase
and tides next week should improve this.

The EGFC is holding a rigging/knot tying and casting session on Sunday 26th
of July at Town Beach from 230pm to around 4pm. Anyone is welcome to attend
and join in on the fun! Please bring your own rod and reel spooled ,and the
EGFC will supply you with a free casting plug thanks to Bluewater Tackle
World Exmouth. If you want to stay later or bring the family, why not fire
up the BBQ on Town Beach? The afternoon session is to encourage kids to
come along and learn more about fishing, but adults are welcome to come too
and learn or teach a thing or two.

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Fishing Report

July 5th, 2009 by Helen

Love Fishing!

Love Fishing!

27 July 02-07-09

Fishing Reports from Bluewater Tackle

Well despite the cloudy conditions and rain we have experienced over the
last week or more, the fishing has been rather good. We’ve had reports of
everything from massive squid to pink snapper to big marlin.

The school holidays will be in full swing by the time this goes to print, so we’d like
to let you know that there are plenty of options for kids to get out and wet
a line. The forecast is looking good for the first week and there has been
plenty of action in the marina. Some of the best results come from kids
using soft plastics on light gear. Others have been using baits along the
beaches and berley to attract whiting and small trevally. Check your tide
times to ensure optimum time for fishing and remember that like most places,
dawn, dusk and change of tides work well.

We have a new staff member at Bluewater Tackle World Exmouth this week: Nick
Bailey from the Melville store has moved north to experience living out of
the city and in the remote northwest. Nick began his stay with a few days
off to taste the shore fishing. He was casting and retrieving a Halco 105
Roosta popper south of Mauritius beach when he caught two humungous squid!
I’ve never heard of anyone catching squid on poppers before? These two had
a body length each of almost 30cm!… Welcome to Exmouth Nick!

Alex Dandie and his family went out fishing off the Muirons last week using
his new Saltist reel that his parents bought for him. He caught a pink
snapper that weighed over 6kilos! That’s a great effort and fish from these
northern waters. We do get the pink snapper here through winter and this is
one of the biggest I’ve seen. We’ve had reports of plenty of rankin cod and
emperor from reef fishing anglers, while the seem to be fewer sharks.

Christine Gates from Bunbury caught and landed her first ever fish in
Exmouth on a recent holiday. She was so impressed with the day out that she
didn’t want to go back to the ramp! We don’t blame her, by the look of the
weather that day. It was absolutely glass conditions in the gulf and she
spent the day casting at trevally, queenfish, and other small species using
lures on a small rod and spinning reel with light braid. Christine is
pictured this week with her husband Peter and Grandog Rubi Gates.

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