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See what's biting across WA in Recfishwest's State-wide Fishing Report 11 February 2022 🎣

| By Seamus on 2/10/2022 11:58:48 PM | Views (834)

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Recfishwest
Fishing Report

11/02/22

Picture: Eligh Quigley

Our contributors

Sedin Hasanovic

Jade Relph

Peter Fullarton

John Curtis

G'day <>,

It was great to release 12,500 pink snapper fingerlings at Cockburn Power Boats Club yesterday, and a further 12,500 at Fremantle Sailing Club today.

It is amazing how far we have come since we launched Snapper Guardians in 2015 following a huge community outcry over thousands of dead mature pink snapper and other fish washing up on the shores of Cockburn Sound.

To celebrate the success of the Snapper Guardians and its community support, we've teamed up with Craig Wells to produce a short film. Watch it below!

Also, check out the Lake Kununurra Barramundi Stocking Group's latest video on the 23rd Apex Barra Bash here.

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 loves fishing and would like to receive the weekly State-wide Fishing Report and our other exclusive communications, let them know they can become a Recfishwest member for just $10 a year.

Tight lines and safe fishing!

Zach Relph

RECFISHWEST FISHING REPORT EDITOR

Catch of the Week!

From longtail tuna to fat GT, Ryan Johnston admits he's spoilt for choice when it comes to fishing off Dampier! "I love catching these fish," Ryan said. "I am a GT-obsessed fishing fanatic right now." 👏

Your fishing photos

If you want to be included in our weekly State-wide Fishing Reports, send your best fishing photos and a description to zach@recfishwest.org.au to potentially be featured.

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Shhhhh, secret spot

"I didn't think I was going to beat my PB G' anytime soon but I caught this solid GT," kayak fisher Mat Svenson said after landing this 'orse from the 'yak off Exmouth earlier this week. 🙌🙌🙌

Shhhhh, secret spot

Somewhere in WA's north, Ben Herrmann didn't let seasickness get in the way of landing this wonderful northern mulloway.

Broome catches

Despite there being plenty of pesky flies, Conor Rees was more than happy with this threadfin salmon from somewhere near Broome on Saturday afternoon!

Boats

Crab Creek is fishing very well for threadfin salmon this week, writes local fisher Jade Relph. While threadies have been caught at other spots, fishers soaking baits at Crab Creek have been reporting the best catches. Conor Rees, pictured above, outfished myself and Broome Tackle World pro staff Gino Chambers on Saturday, landing a couple of solid specimens. For those who've headed off shore, when the conditions have been suitable, coral trout have been taking jigs and baits. Tripletail are still a chance within Roebuck Bay.

Shore-based

Small queenfish and trevally can be targeted at the jetty near the Port of Broome. Bluenose salmon have been taking metal slices along Cable Beach and Coconut Wells. There are plenty of mud crabs at the local haunts.

Exmouth catches

It would have taken a bit of strength to pump the brakes on this giant trevally! 📸 On Strike Charters

Boats

Golden trevally, and big ones too, are still being caught at Exmouth's King Reef. Get the coordinates here and share photos of your King Reef catches on social media by tagging #recfishwest. Blue marlin have been encountered beyond the 400m contour, in addition to yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dolphinfish. Those who're happy to run the risk of losing stickbaits to Spanish mackerel have been sight casting into bait schools for the toothy-predators behind the reef on the west-side and near the Murion Islands.

Shore-based

Spangled emperor have been reported near Mildura Wreck, with most reef platforms south of the lighthouse to Tantabiddi offering the electric species this week. Queenfish are being found in good numbers at Learmonth Jetty, while mangrove jack are a chance at the Exmouth Marina after dark. Yellowfin whiting have been caught in good numbers along Exmouth Gulf's beaches, while fly fishers are still achieving trophy permit catches in the Gulf.

Exploring the Gulf's wonderful wilderness, Blair Sewell scored this permit. 📸 Ningaloo Fly Fishing

Snapper Guardians: 100,000 more pinkies released into metro waters!

Watch this fantastic short film on Snapper Guardians, produced by talented videographer Craig Wells.

Over the next few days, a total of 100,000 juvenile pink snapper — hatched and reared at DPIRD’s aquaculture centre — will be released into metro waters. It started with a fish release at Cockburn Power Boats Club yesterday, followed by a release at Fremantle Sailing Club today. The WA Government has committed to another two years of stocking pinkies in the metro and scientific research into the effectiveness of the stocking program — this is all thanks to the massive community support we have received for the Snapper Guardians program launched in 2015. Unfortunately due to COVID, we’re gutted that we are unable to run a community release program this year. We’ve also worked with local filmmaker and keen fisher Craig Wells to produce this short-film telling the Snapper Guardians story. It shows how much the community cares about snapper and the unique, safe and productive environment of Cockburn Sound. Recfishwest thanks all the Snapper Guardians who have supported the initiative over the years!

Kalbarri catches

Boats

Local fishers in the know have caught Spanish mackerel on rigged garfish and bibbed minnows trolled north and south of the river mouth, alongside various tuna species. When conditions have been suitable, the 40m to 50m depths north-west of Kalbarri have produced a terrific mixed variety of red emperor, dhufish and Rankin cod. Reef fishers chasing these quality demersals have been reporting catches on metal jigs when bait hasn't tempted these fish and vice-versa when the jigs aren't resulting in catches.

Shore-based

Wittecarra Creek and Red Bluff are the two better performing tailor spots near Kalbarri this week, with fish to 55cm caught alongside the occasional dart. The sand spit in the heart of town is offering tailor in the evening for holidaymakers, while different parts of the Murchison River's lower reaches are fishing well for mulloway if you're willing to put the long hours in. Wagoe Beach is also producing respectable mulloway.

Geraldton catches

Boats

African Reef and South West Bank have been producing quality demersals this week, including dhufish and pink snapper. The pelagic action also seems to be well and truly heating up off Geraldton with reports of Spanish mackerel and tuna species hunting baitfish near the edges of the shipping channel. Reefy areas near the Abrolhos Islands are producing coral trout, while there were reports of a pink snapper taking a floating stickbait recently!

Shore-based

Land-based fishing near Geraldton has produced solid numbers of tailor around the reefy areas this week, while herring have been a consistent catch. Tarcoola, Southgate Dunes and Drummond's Cove are the better performing tailor locations at the moment. If you want helpful tips on how to catch tailor, read this article on our I Love Fishing website! Dart and whiting have also been found on a regular basis near Geraldton by beach anglers.

Lancelin catches

Droning out baits near Lancelin, Sam Kenyon was buzzing with this pink snapper last weekend. 😎

Boats

Last weekend presented fantastic boating weather with the crystal clear, warm water off the Lancelin coast also great for diving. Boat fishers reported dhufish, some to an impressive 15kg, were caught across a range of depths over the weekend from Ledge Point, Lancelin and Wedge Island. Baldchin groper have also been caught in about 25m of water. The inshore reefs are producing pink snapper in as little as 5m of water, providing great opportunities for dinghy and kayak anglers. Inside the bay, squid, herring and skippy are being caught in great numbers.

Shore-based

Drone fishers, like Sam Kenyon pictured above, are targeting pink snapper from the near-shore reefs with great success at the moment. Herring and chopper tailor have been a reliable target in the mornings along most of the coast, while dart are being found north of Lancelin. The windy nights have seen plenty of herring, many of which are more than 30cm, on the bite at the Lancelin jetty.

Scott’s Species – black marlin, a fearless bluewater predator

Found all around Australia, black marlin are a prized catch for game fishers, and with good reason!

When it comes to fishing for black marlin in WA it is hard to go past Exmouth, where the proximity of the continental shelf to the Ningaloo coast means they can regularly be caught from small trailer boats. Read Western Angler editor Scott Coghlan's take on black marlin in this well-read edition of Scott's Species.

Esperance catches

Boats

Strong winds, namely 20 knot-plus easterlies, have made boating opportunities limited off Esperance and surrounding areas this past week. Despite the unfavourable conditions for those hoping to go wide, whiting and herring have been caught by those fishing light tackle from dinghys and small boats inside the bay. Once conditions improve, many boat fishers are expected to venture to the islands, and beyond, in search of nannygai, queen snapper and breaksea cod.

Shore-based

Walking postcard-quality beaches casting your favourite stickbait at a school of salmon — you can't beat that, right? It's been the scene for many Esperance beach anglers this week, with salmon reportedly found in small schools at spots including Fourth Beach, Roses and Nine Mile. A group of mates from Kalgoorlie-Boulder exploring the Goldfields-Esperance region's wonderful coastline reported a big salmon school near Thomas River last week, too. Stokes Inlet has been offering plenty of black bream for holidaymakers, making for fun-filled and entertaining sessions. If you're planning to fish Stokes, natural coloured soft plastics, generally grubs, work well. Herring and skippy have been a staple for those fishing Esperance Jetty and the Taylor Street Jetty this week.

Great Southern catches

Alex Dowell tempted this bream near Walpole while fishing with his brother, Callum, last weekend. 😬

Boats

When the weather window has allowed it, Albany's deepwater enthusiasts have caught hapuka and grey banded cod at the shelf. The reefy areas from 60m to 80m off Albany are offering the usual mix of queen snapper, harlequin fish and breaksea cod. King George Sound, Oyster Harbour and Princess Royal Harbour are producing King George whiting and squid for small boat and dinghy fishers.

Shore-based

Cheynes Beach and Bornholm are among the stretches of coast fishing well for bread-and-butter species at the moment, namely herring. Black bream, not too many bigger than 35cm, are continuing to be caught in the King and Kalgan rivers. Most bream fishers, such as Alex Dowell pictured above, have explored other Great Southern systems for bream this week with good success.

South West catches

Wetting a line off Augusta, Aaron King scored his PB breaksea cod last weekend. Awesome work!

Boats

Breaksea cod have been reported by many South West fishers this week, with catches at multiple locations between Binningup and Augusta. Aaron King, above, was more than happy with his solid breaksea off Augusta. The sandy areas in 25m off Bunbury are still producing bluespotted flathead to 60cm, while the Bunbury artificial reef is holding skippy and the occasional fun-sized yellowtail kingfish. The seagrass beds off Busselton are holding squid, while those who fished in 35m and beyond off Cape Naturaliste have caught dhufish to 8kg. For those who've put in the effort to punch wide off Bunbury, like Rusty Miller and his son Tom, hapuka have been found in 200m and beyond.

Shore-based

Tailor to 45cm have been reported at Injidup, Smiths Beach and Bunker Bay this week, taking metal slices and stickbaits. The same locations have had herring on offer, while the beaches to the north and south of Bunbury have also produced the important recreational species, especially once burley is introduced. Australind's Leschenault Estuary still has yellowfin whiting on offer for those fishing small surface lures or prawn-imitation vibes. The Busselton Jetty has produced squid in the evening to 35cm, while there've been reports of mulloway caught at night from the iconic structure this week.

Mandurah and surrounds

Mangles Bay Fishing Club's FADs off Rockingham are continuing to fish well, with Sam Smith landing this solid dolphinfish in glamour conditions at the Compleat Angler-sponsored device last week! 👀

Mandurah

The 45m to 55m depths off Mandurah are producing sought-after demersal species for those willing to travel. Dhufish, one reportedly 15kg, and breaksea cod were among the fish caught near reefy areas within these depths. Between 25m and 35m, those fishing fresh squid and octopus on simple paternoster rigs have reported King George whiting to almost 50cm. For beach fishers, the northern beaches are producing good mulloway in the evening. The Dawesville Cut has been producing a few tailor and skippy, while there are plenty of herring and whiting around. In the Peel-Harvey Estuary, prawn and crab catches have continued with good numbers being caught in most regular spots. Crabbing enthusiasts using drop-nets along the channels seem to be doing better than those wading the shallows. The stretch of coast from Tim’s Thicket to Preston Beach has seen tailor to an impressive 60cm caught this week, while tailor to 50cm have been prolific, which is fantastic!

Secret Harbour / Warnbro / Port Kennedy / Rockingham / Safety Bay

The FADs off Rockingham are fishing very well, as shown by Sam Smith above, with impressive dolphinfish landed this past week. If you want to fish the Mangles Bay Fishing Club's FADs, get the coordinates from the Recfishwest website. Boat fishers working the reef near Garden Island are catching impressive tailor for the metro area, including fish to about 50cm. Those in the know have been jigging for yellowtail kingfish to 10kg in less than 10m of water off Rockingham, while Samson fish have been wreaking havoc on fisher's tackle in 35m-plus. The tailor activity has been consistent for beach fishers, especially in the evening along the southern surf beaches. The coast from Port Kennedy and farther south seems to be offering the better tailor fishing. Anglers fishing the stretch of beach from Rockingham through to the north of Mandurah are reporting regular catches of mulloway from most of the popular spots.

Perth catches

Trolling lures off Hillarys last Saturday, keen fisher Shaun Wieffering was more than happy with this solid metropolitan yellowfin tuna. That's a great Perth catch and photo to match, Shaun! 😎😎😎

Boats

There's increasing rumours of Spanish mackerel catches near Five Fathom Bank, however, photographic evidence is yet to be produced! Tuna species have taken trolled lures at areas within 5km of the coastline off Hillarys, Mindarie and Two Rocks. The safe and accessible waters of Cockburn Sound are fishing very well for squid at the moment, with kayakers making the most of a couple of still mornings this week to target the cephalopods.

YouTube: See why Cockburn Sound is so important here

Dolphinfish will still be aggregating near the FADs deployed off Perth as part of the State-wide FADs program, in addition to tuna varieties. Want the coordinates to the FADs deployed as part of the State-wide FADs program? Click here. Pink snapper have been found in a variety of depths off Perth, taking jigs and baits in anywhere from 30m to 100m of water. Breaksea cod and dhufish have been caught off Mindarie and Hillarys, and near Rottnest Island.

Recfishwest Board Member Simon McLernon speared this queen snapper off Perth last weekend.

Adrenaline-fuelled fishing — the Perth Game Fishing Club's Marlin Cup is almost here! The comp, sponsored by Compleat Angler Nedlands, is set to take place next weekend from 19-20 February, showcasing the game fishing opportunities off Perth. Marlin are aggressive, boasting unreal speed and ridiculous acrobatics — they’re a game fishing marvel, for good reason. Before the marlin madness begins, On Strike Charters captain Josh Bruynzeel is set to talk all things game fishing at an info night next Thursday. The talk, backed by the Recfishwest Community Grants program, is a chance for competitors to pick the well-known Exmouth game fisher’s brain about how to best target billfish. Find out more about the 2022 Marlin Cup here.

Shore-based

The various rock walls near Fremantle are producing squid early in the morning, with certain parts of North Mole being particularly productive. The northern metropolitan beaches seem to be fishing better for surf casters chasing tailor at the moment, with the farther north you're willing to travel seemingly leading to better results. Mulloway have been reported in the deeper areas of the Swan River including near Mosman Bay, Blackwall Reach and Fremantle Harbour. Fishers are still doing very well when chasing flathead along the flats, with the known spots at places such as Applecross and Dalkeith producing specimens to 50cm this week.

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

Catch Information

Species:
Australasian Snapper

Barramundi

Black Marlin

Blue Marlin

Bluefish

Dusky Flathead

Flathead Catfish

Giant Trevally

Mahi-mahi

Mulloway

Queen Snapper

Spanish Mackerel

Tripletail

Wahoo

Whiting

Yellowfin Tuna

This Fishing Report was submitted on 2/10/2022 11:58:48 PM by Seamus and last updated on 2/15/2022 3:57:15 AM.

Location

3/45 Northside Drive
Hillarys, WA AU

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