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.