| Bluewater Tackle World News March 5th 2009 |
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These are some biggish barramundi that are being washed over the spillway at Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa.
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Fisheries Minister Norman Moore has announced he will finalise the ban on commercial fishing in the Swan and Canning rivers and flagged negotiations to buy out the last commercial operator. “In the mid 1970's there were 25 licences for commercial fishing in the Swan and Canning rivers,” Mr Moore said.
“Ongoing adjustment schemes have seen commercial fishers voluntarily surrendering their licences and the number of remaining licences fell to four in 2004. “Further voluntary adjustment schemes resulted in the surrender of three of the four remaining licences in return for compensation. Currently one licence remains. "I have now determined that a compulsory buy back scheme will be implemented to complete the phasing out of commercial fishing in the Swan and Canning rivers. *** Laith Rickman sent us through some pics of a good day out from last weekend. He fished the Five Fathom bank off Garden Island. Conditions weren't great but on the first drop, after only literally ten seconds and before the anchor hit the bottom, he had hooked the 73cm pinkie pictured.
The next hour was uneventful, but Laith then scored the 1.3 metre yellowtail king shown here. We don't see too many of these around here at this size!
*** Here's this weekend's Sunday Times fishing report: METROPOLITAN
The summer onslaught of some fun fish such as spanish mackerel, shark mackerel and tuna is hot news, with the south side of Rottnest especially good, as is the West End of the island. There were also mackerel captured from behind the Three Mile Reef, and points north. Anthony Kane from Bluewater Mindarie boated a 16kg jewfish from south of Ocean Reef Marina, and suggests that 50m deep water is worth a try. There are reports of jewfish coming in from waters from 50m to 90m deep.
Vernon Trutwein left the herring biting at Trigg Beach, and more reports indicate their numbers have picked up right along the coast. Tailor are patchy with activity from tailor and mulloway expected to lift further north when the mouth of the Moore River bursts very soon. Small salmon were hooked at Scarborough, while at Quinns, small whaler sharks created some havoc, stingrays more nuisance value. Tailor chasing appears more reliable south of Fremantle, including at South Beach, with a few nice yellowfin whiting there also. Squid numbers are improving in the Sound. Neil Dearn reported scoring 28 squid between him and two mates without any effort last week. They were boating, trying the northern end of Garden Island, but the squid are widespread.
Bluewater Scarborough’s Joff Weston and a mate had a ball catching and releasing plenty of black bream around Ascot Waters, hard bodied lures working a treat, most fish 30-35cm. Redcliffe has been another good bream spot. Other river action includes herring and skippy towards the bottom end of Blackwall Reach and near Aquarama.
GERALDTON Some privileged enough to fish Abrolhos waters during recent decent weather conditions enjoyed encounters with spanish mackerel and large numbers of small tuna. The mackerel peaked at about 15kg, most fish around seven kilos. Bottom fishing too has been great, with baldchin, jewfish and coral trout found at most lumps right from African Reef to Coronation Beach, the mackerel also hanging around near the lumps, water anywhere from 12 to 30m deep producing. Near the Islands bottom fishing yielded sweetlip, pink snapper, coral trout and baldchin. Coral spawning near the Islands forced fishers to work a bit further offshore. Some shark mackerel also came from the region. Small boat anglers found bountiful times from Pt Moore, Southgates and right up to Drummonds, where school and yellowfin whiting were plentiful, as were pike near weed beds. Skippy to a kilo provided a fight from the back of reef spots, and tailor were biting well during the evening, herring abundant. Shore fishing for tailor was acceptable, best fish 55-60cm coming from anywhere from the Nine Mile through to Flat Rocks, heaps of small mulloway around, some keepers of near 70cm but many babies about. First and Second Points at Greenough was a similar story, many small mulloway, some fine tailor 55-60cm long, mornings the best for fishing as the afternoon breezes were a bit harsh. North of Geraldton tailor too are the highlight, Sunset, Drummonds and Coronation Beaches notable. Wagoe reefs turned up a fair number of pink snapper to seven kilos, and a few spaniards ranging from six to 12kg. JURIEN Yellowtail kingfish provided action right from Cervantes to Jurien, most fish not large at 1-2kg but good fun on lures and light gear. Shore parties were able to cast for the fish, including from the Marina. Island Point holds numbers of yellowfin whiting. There are a few tailor about, herring prolific, some nice squid coming from Second Jetty. Mackerel are patrolling behind the islands and striped tuna to five kilos were widespread, along with heaps of mahi mahi around the back edge of the shelf. Baldchin were biting well on top of the banks, jewfish found in 60m and again in 80m, where pink and red snapper made for excellent mixed bags. EXMOUTH
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