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FISHING SNAPSHOT FROM THE WEEK:
NEW ARTIFICAL REEFS ANNOUNCED! News came during the week of some new concrete artifical reefs to go into the waters off Wirrina (and Nepean Bay KI) - while I am sure these moves are well intentioned, I hope these Wannabe Leo's have checked exactly what habitats they are trying to resurrect - well over 90% of our SA marine species are oviparous - meaning fish/squid/crab eggs are fertilised outside the female's body. Most of these eggs then attach enmasse to seaweed grass (tape or ribbon weed), NOT bloody concrete blocks! Good luck in a year or two when we try to drop anchors onto this mess.
MAY 18-31, 2026
METRO WATERS: Meanwhile, flathead made for a memorable experience when shore-based fishers picked up large specimens from shallow waters off Marino Rocks, Hallett Cove, O'Sullivan's Bch, Nth Haven, St Kilda & Outer Harbour. Boat crews picked up KG whiting to 38cm off Glenelg, Grange, West Bch, Semaphore, Nth Haven & St Kilda in recent days, but the recent run of blue crabs appears just about over. Min berley & fresh cockles worked as their bait of choice! Tommy ruffs are the go-to species for jetty-based fishers, esp after dusk at Pt Noarlunga, Brighton, Glenelg, Grange & Semaphore. 1 kilo salmon are off several boat ramp break-walls inc O'Sullivan's Bch, West Bch, Nth Haven, Outer Harbour & St Kilda. Bream, mullet & salmon trout are in the late afternoon waters at the Port River, West Lakes & The Pat with mulloway reports scarce after the recent run in the Onkaparinga river & West Lakes. Blueys & small KG whiting are also up at Lower Light & Dublin beaches eg Port Gawler, Middle Bch & Thompson's (across from Mallala). Yellowfin whiting runs appear to be just about over, but you might pick up the odd fish whan casting the high-tide shallows at Nth Haven, St Kilda & West Bch to Tennyson. PS Don't believe all the BS from the Saucepan Hat brigade on the social media pages as they bang on & plurry on about squid & snapper numbers - they dont know shit from shoe leather! Stay frosty & thx for your continued support....
FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/RESERVOIR: Some pretty decent weather followed the late-week rain as winds eased to less than 10knots for the weekend break. The new fishing restrictions are really starting to bite as second-hand boats and gear hit the markets and social media pages are flooded with sales. If you are looking to buy a boat then it would be fair to say that prices may still come down as the changes to our nominally accepted rules and regs will be with us for some time yet. Anglers stomping through the sand from Hindmarsh Island, the river mouth at Goolwa and the reaches of the Upper Coorong caught flathead, soapie mulloway, shark, mullet and salmon to 1 kilo. Baited pilchards worked well as bait along these parts of the coastline, but over at Waitpinga fishers picked up salmon trout on light gear and plastic lures. Local jetty and wharf fishing has nice tommy ruffs after dusk, but take plenty of berley to keep them interested. Boat crews launched from Victor Harbor for snapper, whiting, blue morwong, kingfish, flathead and even a couple of red nannygai as the waters cleared on Saturday. The tuna are about but they are generally small and hard to find. Boat crews enjoyed often empty or close to deserted boat ramps on the Gulf St Vincent side of The Fleurieu as they ran out from Wirrina for snook, KG whiting (well away from the restricted zone), tommy ruffs and flathead. Upstream anglers are chasing Murray Cod (catch and release), callop and redfin perch. Murray Cod (catch and release) are also in the Myponga reservoir.
SOUTH EAST/COORONG: PSE OBSERVE THE SNAPPER RULES WHEN FISHING IN SA! Large garfish are off Little Dip, Nora Creina Bay & Poorman's Bch in the lower South East - both boat & shore-based anglers doing well! Some fat brown-eyed mullet, salmon to 1 kilo & soapie mulloway are off the 28 Mile Crossing, Salt Creek, The Granites & Canunda. Kingfish, snapper, snook & whiting are off the Kingston grounds with early Winter garfish at Boatswain's Point, Robe, Little Dip, Poorman's & Carpenter Rocks. Further south snapper are around the 4 kilo mark from Carpenter Rocks, Pt MacDonnell & then Cape Northumberland/Nene Valley. Big tuna to 48 kilos are out from Pt Mac & South End. The Little Dip Salmon Hole & Beachport Surfer's bch have salmon, mullet & flathead but there are some big swells about so watch the conditions to ensure personal safety. Sweep & rat kingies can be caught from Robe, South End, Beachport & Cape Northumberland.
YORKE PENINSULA: Wallaroo: Over two (2) dozen prawn trawlers were moored close in along the bay (North Beach) when I checked the boat ramp late in the week. The jetty has been quiet but a few tommy ruffs are around after dusk and when repair work has halted for the day. Boat crews are returning with KG whiting, snook, flathead and salmon trout. Moonta Bay/Port Hughes: KG whiting reports are for 38cm fish about 16 or so kms offshore, while shore-based anglers are catching flathead, salmon trout and some plump mullet. Try the jetties for tommies after dark. Point Turton: Some much anticipated rainfall finally arrived on Friday evening, followed by relatively calm on-water conditions for the weekend. Flathead and salmon trout are off the break water and along the coast towards Corny Point, while boat crews chasing whiting are having to run well north away from the KG whiting exclusion zone to pick up a feed. A few snook are at the jetty, plus mullet and salmon trout. Marion/Stenhouse Bays: Right in the middle of last week came the dreadful news of a massive pilchard die-off right along parts of the bottom end - from Pt Moorowie to Marion Bay and beyond. Cause has yet to be determined but I would suggest taking care before consuming any locally sourced seafood atm. Shore-based fishing has flathead, mullet and salmon to 1 kilo from many bottom-end beaches, with tommy ruffs at the jetties. Edithburgh/Stansbury: Salmon trout and the occasional mullet continue their migratory runs along this part of the coastline with good fish being caught from the shorelines at Pt Moorowie, the town jetty, Coobowie and the Foreshore at Stansbury. Boat crews are having to work hard for KG whiting, flathead and snook. Ardrossan: Salmon trout were on the chew late last week from the boat-ramp and south past James Well, all on the high tides. Boat crews still launch at times for blue crabs, whiting, tommies and snook.
SPENCER GULF/WEST COAST: Shore-based fishing action is well & truly on! Salmon from trouts to 1 kilo are along the coastline from Fitzgerald Bay south all the way to Louth Bay & Pt Lincoln. Larger salmon to 4 kilos are off Longnose Point, then north past the Elliston surf beaches (Sheringa, Talia, Convention, Lock Well etc etc) & then Nadia Landing, Point Brown, Claire Bay, Point Sinclair & Fowler's Bay to Yalata. Mulloway are also off the Dog Fence beach & the Fowler's Bay Ledge. KG whiting are off Whyalla, Pt Pirie, Pt Augusta, Cowell, Tumby, Venus, Coffin & Streaky Bays, with some nice fish also in Proper Bay & Sleaford (Pt Lincoln). Quite a few anglers are catching flathead as they chase salmon from the shore & whiting in their boats. The Dashwood channel at Streaky & the Murat Bay islands in particular are producing some big flatties. Offshore crews at Waldegrave, Olive & Williams Islands are catching tuna to 12 kilos, red nannygai & kingfish, but it is big boat water & care is needed - safety first! I am happy to stand corrected, but I think its OK to target garfish on the West Coast?? If legal, then there are nice gar in Venus, Waterloo, Baird & Coffin Bays atm.
MAY SEAFOOD RECIPE: Kingfish with a coriander pesto. Ingredients: 4 kingfish fillets, half-cup coriander leaves, 2 tblespoons peanut oil, 1 tblespoon salted peanuts, 1 chopped rocket chilli, 2 tblespoons lime juice. Preparation: make the pesto by blending all ingredients except the fish, then brush the fish fillets with pesto and cook on high on BBQ or grill for 2 mins each side. Serve with a glass of Pinot Rose.
KANGAROO IS: TIGHT LINES!
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