It's nearly flounder time in Perth's Swan River, but they don't grow to a size where dropping 200 gram deepwater jigs would seem feasible. But it's another story in the wild waters off Vancouver.

Dr Wayne Mincham recently headed over to Canada for a spot of fishing and moose hunting. Bluewater regular Paul Micheli armed him with a handful of sambo jigs as he went chasing halibut and salmon.

The star performer was a 200gm Blue Slider - augmented with a flashing squid light. The skipper said he had never seen anything like it, so there may be a hole in the market that needs filling!

The end result, a 106lb Halibut caught off Kyuquot (west coast Vancouver Island,
BC).

***

The recent visit to Bluewater Melville by renowned fly fisherman Peter Morse was a great night for all who attended.

Bluewater's resident fly guru Rohan Smith reported that the new ranges of rods shown by Peter were very well received.

Most participants had a cast of the new Wildfish rods - and found them very smooth and easy to cast. There was also lots of good feedback on Sage's new Xi3 series which are an impressive casting tool and offer a weight reduction on the previous model.

Sage's new 7'11" bass rods ( 290 and 330 grain models ) showed lots of potential as a short, powerful and accurate casting rod ideal for tropical creeks and rivers where power, accuracy and compactness is an advantage.

***

Fisheries Minister Norman Moore today announced the reopening of Cockburn Sound to commercial and recreational crab fishers from December 15 following a three-year closure.

Mr Moore said crabbing in Cockburn Sound was banned in 2006 to allow overfished stocks to rebuild and ensure the long-term sustainability of the fishery.

"That precautionary action has proved successful and we can now reopen the fishery. It will be open to crab fishers from December 15 this year to March 31, 2010," he said.

"The length of the season will help the ongoing recovery of the blue swimmer crab population in Cockburn Sound. Fishers need to understand that it was excessive fishing as well as several years of poor recruitment in the fishery that led to the closure."

Researchers say the adult stock of crabs has risen since the closure but the fishery needs close monitoring to ensure a balance between access to and sustainability of the fishery

The Minister said commercial crab fishers licensed to operate in Cockburn Sound would have to comply with increased size limits and reduced pot numbers.

"The commercial sector cannot take crabs smaller than 140mm across the widest part of the shell (up from 130mm)," he said.

"Professional fishers will also be subject to a 20 per cent reduction in the number of pots they can use.

"Recreational fishers must comply with the crab fishing rules that apply in all crab fishing areas in the West Coast Bioregion - which include a minimum size limit of 127mm, a bag limit of 10 crabs per fisher per day, and a boat limit of 20 crabs."

**

Here's a preview of this week's Sunday Times fishing column...

HOT SPOTS

METROPOLITAN

Beach fishing for tailor is on the improve from most northern spots such as Club Capricorn, Yanchep and Two Rocks with many of the fish over 40cm. North Mole is also hosting some tailor action, especially just after dark. Troy Aberin caught two good tailor and three mulloway - the biggest of the mulloway were about a metre long. Northern marinas are holding some fair sized tarwhine and herring fishing right along the coast is reasonably consistent. Berleying up in Cockburn Sound has yielded herring and garfish although squid numbers are becoming increasingly patchy. Small craft working the Mewstone area have caught tailor to 60cm with some employed as baits for whopper samson fish. Jeremy Telfer caught and released a sambo estimated in the 40kg range. Warnbro shore fishers are reporting excellent sand whiting fishing.

Bream activity is occurring mostly around Burswood, Ascot, Redcliffe and Maylands. Bluewater Morley staffers Karl Rosenow and Chris Boyling proved on Tuesday afternoon just how wonderful the Swan River can be. The pair used soft plastics - in particular 2" Power Grubs - and caught and released 40 black bream and five good size flathead. Rosenow reckons the flathead were a promising indicator for a great Swan/Canning flathead season. All the flatties were sandy coloured than dark, suggesting they weren't "resident" fish but have moved into the river recently.

HARVEY DAM

Leith Rickman has landed a big redfin from Harvey Dam but is somewhat frustrated that he has hooked and lost some quality trout.

MANDURAH

Totally Wild's Neil Grant and his mate Luke Saunders caught two bream each from South Yunderup near Pelican's Deli. The best fish was 38cm. There are lots of herring in the Dawesville Cut and in the estuary along with a few tailor. Some excellent garfish are being caught near where the Cut joins the estuary.

Rough weather has left plenty of gutters along the White Hills coastline, and fishing these has resulted in mulloway to 15kg and a few tailor. The Three Mile Reef out from Dawesville is yielding good skippy.

GERALDTON

South of Geraldton beach fishing has been highlighted by the many mulloway turning up on a consistent basis. Plenty of 10-18kg fish have been landed along with large numbers of smaller ones. The best areas are south of Greenough right down to Flatrocks. The First Point at Greenough has worked well in the early morning for tailor with Second Point holding tailor, herring and soapie mulloway.

At the back of the Breakwater bread and butter species should send you home with a good meal with many herring and a sprinkling of tailor about. North of Geraldton the beach fishing has been severely hampered by large weed build-ups, but places such as the mouth of the Chapman River and Drummonds Cove have seen a few nice tailor taken. Evenings are best at the Chapman, while at Drummonds you can add some really big herring, some near 500g, to the hit list. Evenings are working well for tailor at Southgates.

Dinghy fishers targeting sand holes then working them successfully for skippy, herring and pike with small bibbed minnows a hit.

CARNARVON

Boating parties fishing out deep and near the islands are putting in time to make fair catches. Pink snapper are patchy and cod are also biting well. Unsuitable weather patterns have made things difficult and the Quobba coastline has endured unfavourable winds and swell. There is little pelagic activity aside from some decent cobia.

Closer to town around the River Mouth has fished okay for small trevally, tailor and queenfish with poppers a successful and fun technique. Yellowfin whiting chasing is productive on the flats south of Carnarvon with New and Bush Beaches prominent. Bream fishing for shore anglers has been good from the Boat Harbour and local rock walls.. Squid are a target for jiggers in channels and over weed banks.

Some spotted mackerel were caught from the long jetty, with the Carnarvon fishing fraternity very excited about the complete re-opening of their famous jetty on Saturday 24th October a destructive fire about two years ago.

EXMOUTH

Last week's Exmouth newsletter can be viewed here.