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FISHING SNAPSHOT FROM THE WEEK:
KEY QUESTIONS FOR THE RETURN OF SQUID TO SA WATERS: If Southern Calamari eggs (on average) have a less than 10% survival rate, if the maximum lifespan for squid is only 12-18 months, and if 2026 is Year Zero (ie. Zero squid in the marine system) 1. How many years will it take for squid to return to pre-Algal Bloom levels ? 2. What theoretical modelling targets will accurately depict a recovery? 3. Who do we trust to lead the recovery?
WEEK 1, APRIL SCHOOL HOLIDAYS - 2026
METRO WATERS: In the meantime, Rat kingfish are at several metro jetties in the late afternoons - so if you want a bit of fun with the picanninies over the school holidays, then it should be on! The main targeted species for the first couple weeks in April have been blue swimmer crabs as both the jetties & boaties are doing OK, despite the ridiculously high fuel prices (American boaties/drivers are paying less than half the price for unleaded/diesel than we are, it is just bullshit...and the thieves & cheats are out there. I purchased 10 litres of unleaded from a Wallaroo service station in the week before Easter - paid for 10 litres, got only 9 litres). Squid reports remain virtually zero! KG whiting are in isolated patches off Metro waters at the moment, but you have to be on your spot early to avoid the trumpeters. Slow tides are also a challenge - try lighter gear than normal & a moving bait works well. Best reports for whiting are Nth Haven, St. Kilda, Semaphore & then Glenelg, Brighton & West Bch - but further south you travel the fish are in lesser numbers. Blue crabs are still about at local jetties & in broken weed grounds of waters up to 10metres depth. Light Bch, Pt Gawler, St Kilda, Semaphore, Outer Harbour & West Bch are all worth a try. Large snook are out from Seacliff, Marino, Brighton & Hallett Cove but gar are very thin if not around at all atm. A few yellowfin whiting, early season mullet & bream are off Tennyson, Nth Haven, St Kilda, West Lakes & the Port River. Overnight soapie mulloway are in the Port River, The Pat & at the mouth of the Onkaparinga river.
FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/RESERVOIR: Appearance of squid in Encounter Bay, Yilki Bay and off parts of Kangaroo Island was some welcome, if unexpected news as the April school holidays were off to a cool and windy start. The squid are both small in size and numbers but at least they are here and hopefully a sign of good things to come. Can we fervently hope the recovery is placed in the hands of a (new?) organisation that does not have the albatross of failed, past Fisheries management? Along parts of the Upper Coorong and Goolwa there are mulloway, mullet and salmon to 1 kilo in the surging, sandy surf with stand-out results coming from The Granites, Hindmarsh Island and the 42 Mile Crossing. Beach access can be tricky, so care is needed and always park your vehicle on the high side facing the water. The Goolwa cockle season is open for bait purposes only. Boat crews enjoyed good mid-week fishing conditions on both sides of The Fleurieu but that soon turned ugly on Friday as the strong south westerlies cracked in, just as the school holidays kicked off! KG whiting, snapper (south east zone only), red nannygai, snook and the odd flathead have been the main reports. Offshore tuna are still about but getting good access is a problem with fickle weather around at times. There are a few bream in local creeks, plus the odd flathead and mullet at Waitpinga and Fisheries beaches. Upstream anglers chased callop, Murray Cod (catch and release) and yabbies from Lyrup and Blanchetown.
SOUTH EAST/COORONG: Hopefully the state of our country's mis-managed fuel reserves won't stop locals & tourists alike making a trip or three to catch some snapper, KG whiting, garfish & crays over Easter & in the coming weeks of the skule holidays. The sand along the Coorong beaches, Boatswain's Point & then the Robe to Beachport run is soft & boggy - so air-down the tyres to 18 psi, put ya car in low range 4WD & stay on the high side of the beach. Early season mullet, salmon to 2 kilos & mulloway are off the 32 & 42 Mile Crossing spots, Salt Creek, The Granites, Lurline Point & Canunda. Snapper & whiting are off the Kingston grounds, garfish are off Little Dip, Nora Creina Bay & Beachport/Carpenter Rocks. Further south snapper are also off Carpenter Rocks, Pt MacDonnell & then Cape Northumberland/Nene Valley, with garfish & squid often closer in-shore. Tuna to 35kilos are out from Pt Mac & South End. Pse observe the rules covering snapper fishing in SA.
YORKE PENINSULA: Wallaroo: Mid Saturday morning saw the forecast south westerlies crack in which forced boat crews to up anchor and head for shelter at the unusually quiet boat ramp. The jetty was deserted but there are rat kingfish, flathead and blue crabs well offshore. A grain ship awaits loading from the hopper vessel. Moonta Bay/Port Hughes: The school holidays have arrived with both jetties enjoying hearty anglers chasing blueys, garfish and snook. Boat crews are fishing also well offshore for KG whiting, blue crabs, garfish and flathead. Point Turton: Boaties in general are still having to pay 30% more for their fuel as they launch for KG whiting, shark, garfish and snook. Squid reports are still on the low side of zero! There are mullet and small flathead in the shallows off the jetty, boat ramp breakwater and Point Souttar. Marion/Stenhouse Bays: Shore-based anglers across the bottom of Yorkes targeted mullet, flathead and salmon trout from most of the known local sandy beaches and rock spots. Jetty-based fishing saw a couple of whiting from Stenhouse Bay but not much else. Boat crews had to battle the strong south westerlies for red nannygai, flathead, snook and an occasional KG whiting, but it was hard work. Edithburgh/Stansbury: The local boat ramp camera at Edithburgh was rendered next to useless for several days last week as visitors (from Mexico of course!) parked their car and van directly in front of the view! There are KG whiting and small flathead out from Coobowie, Klein's Point and the Orontes Bank, while the jetties have the odd blue crab and mullet on the high tides. Black Point/Ardrossan: Some good news came through last week of plans for a restoration-style oyster reef to be laid between Ardrossan and Stansbury - but it has a long gestation period of two (2) years. It is a pity we cannot come up with both short and medium term 'man-made' assistance projects that lead the way for longer term repair from Mother-Nature. In the meantime, there are a few blueys, mullet, mulloway and snook from Black Point to Ardrossan.
KANGAROO ISLAND Snook, flathead & salmon are off the rocks at American River & Red Banks near Penneshaw. For the big boat crews the tuna are up & running, albeit a tad slower than last season - Investigator Straight, Sanders Bank & Backstairs Passage are all worth a try for these magnificent fish. Shore-based & jetty-based fishers are picking up KG & yellowfin whiting, garfish, salmon to 1 kilo, mullet & flathead from Kingscote, Emu Bay, Stokes Bay & Vivonne Bay.Big swells remain thumping in along the southern coastline of KI, so care is needed if you are planning an offshore run, or just fishing from the rocks or exposed shoreline. There are KG whiting at Penneshaw, Nepean Bay, American River & Emu Bay to Smith's Bch., plus a few squid, garfish, tommies & snook.
SCHOOL HOLS SEAFOOD RECIPE: Prawn Toasties. Ingredients: 500 gm green king prawns, peeled and cleaned, 2 finely chopped garlic cloves, ½ knob of peeled & finely chopped ginger, 1 tsp white sugar, 1 eggwhite, 1 tsp sesame oil, 4 green onions, finely chopped, bread slices, 1 lightly beaten egg, 60 gm panko crumbs. Preparation: Mince the prawns, garlic, ginger, sugar, eggwhite, sesame oil and ½ tsp sea salt in a food processor until smooth. Combine in a bowl with a green onion. Cut bread into diagonal pieces & spread about 2 tbsp of the prawn mixture. Brush tops of each piece with beaten egg, then coat with breadcrumbs. Heat the oil in a deep-fryer until smoking (180C) & fry the toasts until golden for 2 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towel. Serve hot with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
WEST COAST/SPENCER GULF: As our weather starts to cool down we should see an improvement in fishing on the West Coast as the dreaded trumpeters start to depart & the whiting, gar, flathead & salmon form up on their schools & come in closer to shore to feed & breed. The bays from Ceduna south all have KG whiting, flathead, squid & garfish - with Murat, Streaky, Baird, Venus, Waterloo & Coffin Bays holding good numbers of fish, even if the slow tides force the boat crews to move around to get a decent feed. Shore-based anglers from Sleaford & Wanna beaches, Sheringa, Talia & Convention are getting salmon to 2 kilos, often in the late afternoons & this trend should continue for a time. Big boat crews fishing out from Waldgrave, Flinders & Olive Islands are reporting tuna, samson fish, red nannys & nice kingfish. Flathead, whiting & squid are in the smaller bays around Pt Lincoln & also up along the coast from Louth & Tumby Bays, Cowell, Whyalla & Point Lowly. The kingies are still at Lowly & Pt Augusta. Blue crabs are steady west at Ceduna, Haslam & Streaky Bay - then at the top of Spencer Gulf from Cowell to Cowled's Landing, Whyalla, Pt Augusta, Miranda & Pt Pirie. The last few of the yellowfin whiting are off Germein Point at Franklin Harbour. TIGHT LINES!
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