Your up-to-date fishing report from the team at Tackle World Moruya
Moruya River
This week has shown some good results for this time of the year in Moruya river with large tailor back in the system chasing the bait around Garland Town and Quarry wharf, so as you can imagine these large tailor have brought along with them the salmon and other species looking for an easy meal. There have been good sized bream and flathead under these schools of tailor and salmon cleaning up their scraps and falling to a range of baits as they are feeding quite actively on a range of baits with pilchard cutlets being a favoured bait and the double clutch being the stand out lure for chasing the bream and flathead at the moment. The salmon and large tailor are loving a whole pilchard bait this week, however if you’re looking for some sporting fun then all you need is a simple Arma metal slice, because when these pelagic fish start feeding and get active they can’t resist the flash of a quickly retrieved metal slice passing by their noses.
Tuross River/Lake
Well just when we thought the jewfish were off the bite they have come back on in good numbers and throughout the system, so my guess is lots of boats on the water this week hunting these prized fish and looking for that solid hook-up and reel screaming action! I know I will be out there myself trying my luck on these estuary giants. The jewies been caught from the mouth of the Tuross system right up to the highway bridge this week and one common theme is big white soft plastics and the turn of the tide while this is not a secret to a lot of guys who target these fish it is the best advice I can share with the average angler trying to get their first jewfish. Bream and whiting are still on the flats throughout the system, however with this cooler weather coming I bet they will start to go deep and head for cover in the coming weeks, but while they are still on the flats get out and take advantage of this and get amongst it. My bet would be to fish the early mornings or later afternoons for best results in Tuross this week and use sand worms or shallow running crank baits. If you don’t get the results using these methods then tie on a blade or vibe and work the deep water.
Beaches/Moruya Break Wall
Well Tuross beaches were on fire this week with huge salmon turning up in big numbers creating a lot of excitement along the beach at Tuross. They were taking a range of baits from poppers, Arma metal slices, pilchards, mullet and squid however the lure fisherman did seem to get the better quality sized fish more regularly. The break wall in Moruya is still producing good numbers of fish ranging from mullet, flathead, bream, salmon, tailor, whiting and the odd snapper off the very point of the wall. Now that the crowds have gone its a good time for us to go out and throw a line in and try our luck, or to simply relax and gather ones thoughts as the break wall has so much to offer when it comes to sight seeing from dolphins and whales to birds and parachutes making this what I think one of the best chill out fishing spots around that also produces quality fishing!
Reef Fishing
The snapper have moved out to deeper water this week - around the 60 metres mark is producing the best results and out off Tuross seems to still be the best ground for these reds. The king fish have again turned up and again out off Broulee is the place to be for these fish and Entice jigs have been the best option for hooking into these fish, however squid has come a very close second. Sharks have still been taking people’s fish from time to time this week so maybe rig up your big rod and throw out a large fresh bait and have a tussle with one of these big guys. Flathead are still spread out and in most bays with the wind sock producing nice solid bags of flathead and out off Congo beach being a productive area for flathead as well.
The following freshwater report is proudly brought to us by our guru in the Snowy’s – Adam Monday.
Fishing in the Snowy Mountains lakes and rivers has been very tough of late for us anglers. The past and present weather conditions have certainly had an impact on the trout scene and there isn’t any promising rains on the radar at present.
Currently the Brown Trout are in the transition mode “change of seasons and it’s spawning time”! Small numbers of trout are moving up the rivers and there have been a couple of larger browns netted on fly’s and lure’s in the Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers.
Just remember the Thredbo and Eucumbene rivers are blue ribbon streams- artificial fly or lure only and regulations regarding size and bag limits do change for the pre spawn season.
The high country certainly needs some good soaking rains and runoff to raise the water flows and help these fish move upstream to spawn. Last Friday seen the Thredbo river water levels go from very low gin clear to filthy dirty and running bank to bank for a short period due to rain In the above hills on Thursday night, by Saturday morning the water levels had subsided and started to clear. Saturday then seen lots of anglers out chasing their dreams of a trophy sized trout on the Thredbo and from a few reports - those who put a solid day in and spent time covering every possible angle and ground were rewarded, fish averaging 1.5lb. A few solid browns around 3lb have been sighted and landed in the Eucumbene river around the portal.
The overnight temps are still above average with only the odd frost or foggy morning of late. Lower temperatures are needed to drop the water surface temps more, once the nightly frosts arrive - in the coming weeks, fish will start pushing Into the edges indulging on yabbies and fattening themselves up. Keen anglers including myself look forward to winter just to target trout in the lakes.
Tantangara Dam
Sitting steady at 23% capacity. This location is fishing well and the fish are nice and conditioned. Bait has been a stand out with yabbies being the flavour. Rapala’s from F-5 to F-11 in spotted dog and tassies in orange/yellow, pink, black have all been spotted in recent pics, it looks like the fish are feeding and not too fussy up there at present.
Lake Eucumbene.
Sitting at 25% capacity. Eucumbene has been a bit touch and go. Trolling yellow winged tassie’s flatline has reported to be attracting more action over other methods. Spinning the edges with Nils master or Celta style spinners and 3cm Bullet lures has also been producing some nice fish, mostly browns. The fish have been more active around 4pm - 9am. Bait fishing of a night has been very productive - worms and Berkley Powerbaits or ‘grubs trout love grubs’!
Lake Jindabyne.
78% capacity. Jindy is fishing frustratingly slow. A group of us spent last weekend fishing Jindy in cold windy wet conditions, perfect trout weather. Everyone put in full days on the water and approached the fish with everything we had to offer with very little action. There were 32 fish over 35cm netted with the largest brown coming in at 53cm. “All fish were released after a quick photo”. The odds weren’t the best considering there were 15 experienced anglers all fishing from boats. Pink lures stood out and produced the most fish. This is classed as tough-slow or shut down and its what keeps us going back and thinking about the next approach.
Tight lines my friends and remember “Every days a good day for fishing …”
Team Tackle World Moruya
