EXMOUTH NEWS 2008 04 14

School holidays have started and the town is once again packed full with people, all eager to make the most of this perfect weather and get out and amongst all the fish.

The Marlin fishing picked up after the new moon with lots of boats reporting billfish activity out from Tantabiddi and west of Lighthouse Bay. Small Black marlin between 30-80kg in size have been the most common catch although there is still the odd larger fish being hooked as well as some big wahoo and dolphinfish.

Spanish mackerel have been noticeably quiet around the Tantabiddi side with the Murion Islands offering the best chance to get amongst the mackerel. Veronika Bosnjak was fishing at the Islands last weekend and caught her first mackerel, a whopper of 26.8kg taken on 8kg line class. Veronika was fishing on the local boat “Reel Easy” and as well as the big mackerel they went on to catch red emperor, goldband jobfish and plenty of spangled emperor.

Young Hayden Michaels, who is possibly the keenest 5yr old fisherman you will ever meet, had an excellent days fishing out at Helby Bank with dad Steve and friend Bandaras. Hayden showed up the two more experienced anglers by catching an assortment of big rankin cod, spangled emperor, tomato cod as well a handful of longtail tuna which were caught trolling  on the way back in to the ramp.

The bottom fishing reports have been excellent all round with most boats reporting plenty of tasty fish being caught. Red emperor, spangled emperor, rankin cod and scarlet seaperch are the most reported catch. The best area to try has been west of the Murion Islands and out from Peak Island in depths of 70-100m of water.

Exmouth gulf has plenty of big longtail tuna busting up most afternoons. The Tuna bust ups have been widespread, with reported action from as close as a couple of hundred metres out from the Marina all the way up to Bundegi and out around Nor-West reef.

Text and pics © Bluewater Tackle World