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Wishing a happy holidays to our cast of thousands there's plenty to read in Recfishwest's final State-wide Fishing Report 24 December of 2020 🎣 🎅

| By Seamus on 12/23/2020 7:00:00 PM | Views (685)

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Recfishwest
Fishing Report

24/12/20

Land-based fishing guru and Recfishwest Safety Ambassador Gideon Mettam pulled this delightful dhufish from the rocks near Albany, while donning his Crewsaver lifejacket. Terrific result, Gido!

Dear <>,

Welcome to WA's biggest and best weekly fishing report - and, the last of 2020!

As we enter the New Year, we'd like to thank all of our members and stakeholders for continuing to support us. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and happy 2021!

In this report you'll read all about what's biting across the State brought to you by keen fishers Joachim Azzopardi, John Curtis and Peter Fullarton.

We've teamed up with Shimano to give you some of their experts' hot tips to take your fishing to the next level in the 'West Aussie Ultimate Angler' series.

Western Angler editor Scott Coghlan has a new weekly segment, Scott's Species. It provides a unique insight into catching many sought-after species found across WA. Check it out below!

For anyone wanting to contribute to the weekly fishing report, photos reflecting Recfishwest's responsible fish handling practices will be given preference.

If you know someone who would love to receive these reports and needs some help on the fishing front, forward this onto them! Join us here.

Pic of the Week!

Woahhh! Corey Hill, of Hills Brothers Fishing, caught this solid land-based pinkie somewhere in the metro region recently. "Not much pulls harder in the shallows than a big angry pink on light tackle," Corey said. Fantastic work, Corey - you're a deserving winner of the "Pic of the Week" honours!

Your fishing photos

If you want to see yourself or your kids feature in our next weekly State-wide Fishing Report, send your best fishing photos and a description to zach@recfishwest.org.au!

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Shhhhh, secret spot

Spot of gold! Jacques Van Pletsen was all smiles after striking gold and catching this golden trevally while fishing with Perth Fishing Safaris somewhere in WA's North West last Sunday. Awesome work!

Broome Catches

Boats

Reef fishers have been catching blue lined emperor, saddletail seaperch and red emperor between the 20m and 40m depths. Unfortunately sharks have been problematic in these waters, however, most will be pleased to hear that fishers have been quick to move from their spots when the sharks have moved in. There has been some pelagic activity in terms of baitfish being rounded up by varieties of tuna and mackerel. Roebuck Bay has been producing reasonable catches of fingermark bream, bluebone and northern mulloway. Threadfin and bluenose salmon, together with barramundi, have been caught on the bay's topwater. Tripletail are sometimes being found near the moorings and navigational markers. Barramundi have been caught on baits and a variety of lures in Dampier Creek and Crab Creek.

Shore based

Barramundi have been caught from the local creek banks on a variety of lures. Threadfin and bluenose salmon have also been picked up within the creeks, as well as the nearby coastal areas. Bluenose salmon are being found schooling along Cable Beach, which has also recently proven to be a good spot to try for queenfish, trevally and barramundi. An increase in water levels in the Fitzroy River will likely encourage the cherabin to start running.

Exmouth Catches

Josh Cheong has been catching plenty of awesome mangrove jack within and near the Exmouth Marina recently, just take a look at this ripper! Remember to tag #recfishwest in your fishing photos.

Boats

More than 80 blue, black and striped marlin were landed during Exmouth Game Fishing Club's Heavy Tackle Tournament earlier this month. Sailfish are sometimes being encountered within a few miles of the west coast reef and there are still pods being encountered in the upper areas of Exmouth Gulf. Spanish mackerel have been caught on bibbed minnows and rigged garfish trolled close to the reef line. Jon Donisi landed a beautiful queenfish on fly near the Bay of Rest on Monday. Permit have also been spotted in the lower parts of Exmouth Gulf.

Shore based

Queenfish have been passing within casting distance at Learmonth Jetty and there have been some good sessions had on the aerobatic sportfish, as well as small giant and brassy trevally at Old Bundegi and VLF Bay. There are still plenty of whiting along the beaches close to town. The marina is worth a visit following reports of mangrove jack to 50cm, estuary cod, queenfish and varieties of trevally being caught there during the change of tide.

Scott’s Species - spangled emperor, a fearless shallow water opponent

Western Angler editor Scott Coghlan with a Ningaloo Reef spangled emperor from the kayak!

Given how accessible they are, Western Angler editor Scott Coghlan believes spangled emperor are one of the most underrated fish in Australian waters! Spanglies are an awesome opponent in shallow water, as they hit hard and fight strongly, happily taking lures and baits. Read what else Scott has to say in this edition of Scott's Species!

Kalbarri Catches

Boats

Catches of reef fish have generally been pretty good following the reopening of the demersal season. One of the local charter boats put its participants onto plenty of pink snapper, dhufish, breaksea cod and baldchin groper during a recent outing. Mackerel catches have remained rather slim, with the occasional fish caught in waters north and south of the river mouth. A few mackerel were also spotted free jumping near the cliffs. There seems to be a fair bit of tuna activity around so it may pay off to spin metal slices, and other lures, next to the surfacing bait shoals. Rock lobster catches have been mixed, with some managing their limits of whites and reds.

Shore based

Surf fishers have been doing well on tailor, big dart and mulloway at Red Bluff and Wittecarra Creek. Bigger tailor seem to be patrolling the waters near Back Beach, as well as Chinaman's and Oyster Reef. There were some nice pink snapper and baldchin groper landed at the cliffs, following the reopening of the demersal season. Fishers at Wagoe Beach also got into some nice snapper, as well as mulloway. Black bream and estuary cod have been keeping fishers in the Murchison River entertained. There are yellowfin whiting in the shallows located in the lower reaches of the system. Blue swimmer crabs can also be targeted in the lower parts, while mud crabs are throughout its reaches.

Geraldton Catches

Boats

Strong winds limited the amount of fishing performed this week, with most of the boating activity being associated with the pulling rock lobster pots - which has been rewarding for those who had to put up with the ordinary conditions. It seems the whites are running in areas north and south of town, with no spot producing bigger catches than others. It is hard to know if baitfish, and predatory mackerel and tuna, are around due to the rough waters. It can only be expected that varieties of both species will be encountered in numbers along the back of Pensioners and the ground near African Reef and South West Bank in the coming weeks as water temperatures continue to rise. Recfishwest's FADs have been deployed off Geraldton, visit our website to find the coordinates!

Shore based

Tailor and big herring have been caught at Tarcoola Beach and Southgates early in the morning. Bigger tailor have been coming from the Buller River mouth. There has not been any word of big mulloway caught locally in the past couple of weeks. There have been school size mulloway landed near Flat Rocks and the Greenough River mouth. Whiting seem to be getting caught in smaller sizes at spots that included Southgates and Pages. Drummond's has also been producing a few whiting as well as chopper tailor, herring and pike. A pink snapper of about 70cm was landed at the north side of the marina last week.

Lancelin Catches

Kirk Dewar with an impressive Samson fish off Lancelin while fishing with Peter Fullarton, of Tailored Treks, on Wednesday.

Boats

It has been a week of busy mornings with people launching boats. The beach launching process is done differently than on a concrete ramp, so if unsure ask a local as most will happily give advice. Boats chasing demersals have been getting best catches out from 35m, including pink snapper, dhufish, breaksea cod and pretty much every boat has a few baldchin gropers. Passing through these depths are also schools of yellowtail and blue mackerel. Kayak and dinghy fishers have been catching herring, tarwhine, snook and squid in the bay.

Shore based

Chopper tailor have been active most from mid-afternoon to sunset, with good catches being reported from Guilderton through to Wedge Island. Mornings the choppers have been difficult to get a good bite going, though some solid fish to 60cm have been caught along the northern gutters and from surface lures cast to some of the reef breaks. North of the bay has been good for sand whiting and herring. Mid-to-late afternoon, there have been some good catches of sand whiting from the town jetty.

West Aussie Ultimate Angler Series

Soft plastics are an effective method to target pink snapper, as shown here by Robbie Riches!

If you want to nail a genuine hump-headed trophy snapper on a lure, or even catch numbers of smaller to medium pinkies, then soft plastics are a safe bet and a dependable go-to option. Read the Shimano experts' soft plastic snapper essentials here!

Esperance Catches

Liam Wesson enjoyed a great morning in the tinny off Esperance last week. While on the water, he caught the harlequin fish pictured above and nannygai in 20m of water on coral reef structure.

Boats

Dinghy and small boat fishers have been catching herring, sand whiting and squid in close. There are small southern bluefin tuna, 3kg to 5kg, schooling between the mainland and the islands. Samson fish have been caught on baits and jigs in close and around the islands. Reef fishers have, at times, been quick to pick up their boat limits of nannygai, swallowtail, breaksea cod and queen snapper.

Shore based

Taylor Street often has plenty of big herring around, especially when burley is introduced. The green straw and blob method has been effective in catching a feed of the popular bread-and-butter species. A few King George whiting are also being caught from the structure alongside skippy and squid. Salmon were schooling at Fourth Beach, Alexander Bay and Stockyards for most of the week. Alexander Bay and Dunns have been producing mulloway. More mulloway were landed at Stockyards, which also has lots of herring and skippy. Soft plastic lures have been working well on black bream in the local lakes.

Albany Catches

After a few luckless efforts, Misato Hirai - from Elga Design - finally scored a lovely south coast blue groper from the stones near Albany while shore jigging with a Elga Shore Hunter 50g! Great effort!

Boats

Reef fishing has been reasonably productive along the coral in 60m to 90m of water where pink snapper and queen snapper have been caught, alongside breaksea cod and the odd dhufish. More dhuies seem to be getting caught from the waters west of town. There are lots of Samson fish and quite a few yellowtail kingfish being found near the bombies and reefs. Few ventured beyond the shelf, however, expect hapuka, blue eye trevalla and grey-banded cod to be in these depths. King George whiting are being caught in very good numbers inshore by those who are prepared to put in the time and effort finding the schools of fish.

Shore based

Big schools of salmon have continued to turn up at Fosters and Reef Beach, while the occasional fish is sometimes being caught along the beaches closer to town. Tailor have been caught early some mornings at Sand Patch and Nanarup. The calmer areas of Frenchman Bay, Cosy Corner and Gull Rock have been producing King George whiting, while sand whiting seem to be getting caught in their biggest numbers at Perkins and Cable Beach. Herring are still in very good numbers right along the coast. Several blue groper were landed at the rocks near West Cape Howe this week. Black bream in the King and Kalgan rivers have been responding well to hard-bodied and soft plastic lures. Mulloway are sometimes being caught in the Kalgan.

South West Catches

Jake Atkinson caught this dhuie off Bunbury this week, setting a few fillets aside for a Chrissie feast!

Boats

There were some nice reef fish caught following the reopening of the demersal season. Dhufish were caught in 20m to 50m of water off Cowaramup Bay, Canal Rocks and Three Bears, together with breaksea cod and queen snapper. Pink snapper were found along the Four Mile and Eight Mile and there were catches of Samson fish and yellowtail kingfish off both sides of the cape. The 30m depths between Bunbury and Binningup are producing dhufish, pink snapper and King George whiting.

Fishing off Dunsborough, Jackson O'Connell was more than happy with his first ever dhufish! Nice work!

Shore based

Small schools of salmon have been appearing at some of the west coast beaches. A salmon school turned up within metres of the shore at Rabbits on Saturday morning and there have been similar occurrences at Smiths, Injidup and Hamelin Bay throughout the week. The salmon are more than likely ‘leftovers’ from last season as opposed to being connected with the next run of fish. Tailor can be targeted early morning and evening at Mitchells, Yallingup and Bunker Bay. Herring are still about both sides of Cape Naturaliste in very good numbers. Yellowfin and school whiting have been a little hit-and-miss along the Geographe Bay sand flats, however, the Leschenault Estuary is producing regular fish.

Freshwater

Recfishwest intern John Dempsey reeled in his personal best redfin perch from the Warren River while fishing soft plastics earlier this week. Awesome work, John - what a terrific catch!

Mandurah and surrounds

Mandurah

Beaches south of Mandurah are producing tailor and the occasional mulloway to 10kg. Mulloway to 6kg are the norm, with fishers catching them in the early morning around sunrise and well after dark. Warmer weather has slowed black bream activity in the Murray and Serpentine rivers, however, anglers fishing the deeper holes are finding a few fish. Of late, the black bream have been spread throughout the systems with reports of fish in the lower reaches of the Peel-Harvey Estuary and from the areas adjacent to the Mandurah Quays and up around Murray Bend. Along the beaches between Silver Sands and Golden Bay there are reports of good tailor and a few mulloway.

SECRET HARBOUR / PORT KENNEDY / WARNBRO / ROCKINGHAM / SAFETY BAY

Anglers fishing the region's jetties are reporting catches of herring and a few tailor. The occasional King George whiting and plenty of yellowfin whiting have been caught at Shoalwater Bay this week. The Long Point, Kwinana and Warnbro beaches are still producing tailor early in the morning, yellowfin whiting and herring until the seabreeze comes in. Anglers fishing from the beaches around Warnbro have caught tailor and small mulloway.

Perth Catches

What a catch! Tom Currie had an epic session on the tinny while fishing somewhere slightly north of Perth last Saturday morning, catching a few nice pink snapper including this ripper on a stickbait!

Boats

Dhufish in the 8kg to 12kg range were found in less than 20m of water off Rockingham and behind Garden and Carnac islands. There were some nice pink snapper caught off the southern and northern sides of Rottnest Island, while baldchin groper were mostly caught north of Rottnest and out from Hillarys and Mindarie in about 30m to 40m of water. There are still Samson fish near the Recfishwest Towers and schools of yellowtail kingfish patrolling West End and Stragglers. King George whiting continue to be caught at Parmelia Bank and near The Windmills.

This black bream couldn't resist Josh Phillip's River2Sea Baby Vibe lure while he was fishing the Swan River stretch near Maylands last Sunday morning. Fantastic fishing, Josh!

Shore based

Tailor have been appearing along the metropolitan beaches in reasonable numbers. Spots where the 30cm to 50cm fish caught this week included South Beach, North Mole, Cottesloe, City Beach and Floreat Groynes, Trigg Point and Pipidinny Beach. There are still quite a few herring around, especially at the rock walls, jetties and beaches that feature reef or rock. The sand flats located in the lower reaches of the Swan River have some nice yellowfin whiting mooching about. Flathead have started to appear in bigger numbers near Fremantle, Point Walter, Point Resolution and the Como flats. Mulloway are a chance in the deeper waters of Mosman Bay and Freshwater Bay.

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Recfishwest · 3/45 Northside Drive Hillarys · Perth, WA 6025 · Australia

Catch Information

Species:
Australasian Snapper

Barramundi

Bluefin Tuna

Bluefish

Breaksea Cod

Dusky Flathead

Flathead Catfish

Grey Banded Rockcod

Mulloway

Pike

Sailfish

Samson Fish

Snook

Spanish Mackerel

Striped Marlin

Whiting

Yellowfin Tuna

This Fishing Report was submitted on 12/23/2020 7:00:00 PM by Seamus and last updated on 2/16/2021 11:31:58 AM.

Location

3/45 Northside Drive
Hillarys, WA AU

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