Greg James
Fishing Reports and Hotspots

 


Reports:





FISHING SNAPSHOT FROM THE WEEK:

  1. METRO: Scattered but consistent KG whiting off Brighton, West Bch & St Kilda., Salmon trout from Pt Noarlunga, Brighton & Semaphore jetties.
  2. FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/FRESHWATER: Pan-sized snapper & some KG whiting from Victor Harbor., Salmon trout from Hindmarsh Is & Goolwa river mouth., Callop & redfin from Renmark & Morgan.
  3. YORKE PEN: KG whiting from Edithburgh, Balgowan, Pt Hughes., Tommy ruffs from Stenhouse Bay jetty., mullet & salmon trout from Brown's Bch.
  4. SOUTH EAST/COORONG: KG whiting & snapper from Kingston & Beachport., Salmon trout & mullet from Salt Creek, Boatswain's Point & Canunda.
  5. SPENCER GULF/WEST COAST: KG whiting & a few garfish from Tumby Bay, Pt Lincoln & Streaky Bay/Ceduna., salmon from Point Brown, Sheringa & Talia beaches.
  6. KANGAROO ISLAND: KG whiting, tommies & salmon trout from Kingscote & American River.
  7. SA RESERVOIR FISHING: Here's the link: www.sawater.com.au/reservoir-reserves/activities/fishing.
  8. SA FISH SIZE & BAG LIMITS: www.pir.sa.gov.au/recreational_fishing/rules/species_limits.


AUGUST 22-31, 2026

METRO WATERS: Plenty of run-off after last week's rain will now be in local dams & reservoirs, so the redfin, golden perch & callop should be on the chew for the next couple of weeks. Dodge or slow tides has meant that the fishing has been a bit hit & miss, with scattered KG whiting catches coming from West Bch, St Kilda, Semaphore, Nth Haven & then south to Brighton & Glenelg - if the tide is slow then try a moving bait to gain their attention! News from last month is the snapper rebuild plan by PIRSA (which basically means the no-take rule continues for at least another 12 months), so any reds you might pick up must be immediately returned to the water. Jetty-based fishers are catching salmon, tommies & snook with the very occasional sand crab, which is nice. The jetties at Pt Noarlunga, Brighton, Glenelg, Grange & Semaphore are having their days. Shore-based fishing has continued with the good catches of salmon to 2 kilos(!), mullet & even the odd flathead from Southport, Moana, Hallett Cove, Seacliff, Marino Rocks, Tennyson & then the breakwaters at West Bch, Nth Haven & Outer Harbour. Soapie mulloway are in the shallows at West Lakes, The Pat & the river mouth at the Onkaparinga river - but it is overnight when the main catches are being reported. Big snook, tommies & green mackerals have been the other main reports at this stage.

FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/RESERVOIR: It was pretty much a cold week that fishers awoke to as the rain dropped back to showers and the winds generally shifted around to the east, making conditions good for an offshore fish or cast from the beach in most Fleurieu locations. The Upper Coorong had early morning high tides as surf casters hunted mullet, 2 kilo salmon and overnight soapie mulloway from Salt Creek, Goolwa and the 28 Mile Crossing respectively. Mullet are also around Narrung and Clayton Bay, with Sugars beach on Hindmarsh Island also worth a fish. Some nice salmon can be found at Chiton Rocks, Newland Heads, Waitpinga and Parson's beaches, as well as further west to King's and Morgan's. Upstream anglers are reporting callop and redfin perch from Murray Bridge and Morgan as the river flows are increasing in the Eastern States. Big boat crews are paying huge fuel costs to run offshore from Victor Harbor to try for tuna, red nannygai, snapper and kingfish when conditions are favourable, but it can be an expensive trip. Closer inshore there are pods of KG whiting, scattered garfish, snapper and tommy ruffs again from Victor with the grounds in Yilki Bay, West Island and Broady's Patch all producing fish at various times. Rapid Bay and Pt Noarlunga jetties have tommies and salmon trout in the afternoons, with several South Coast beaches also holding salmon - Seaford, Southport, Christies and Moana to name a few this week.

SOUTH EAST/COORONG: As the swells started to drop the garfish came back on to the bite with Hutt Bay, Nora Creina, Carpenter Rocks & Kingston all producing some big fish (craytail, cockle, gents & really soft squid worked well as bait). Gar are also off local jetties & the rocks around at Little Dip on the calm water days. The Glenelg river has estuary perch, overnight soapie mulloway, salmon trout & mullet - but the midgies are as fierce as I have seen, so cover up! Boat crews are picking up KG whiting from Kingston, Robe, Beachport & Port MacDonnell, plus snapper, red nannygai & even the odd tuna from Port Mac. Shore-based fishing has salmon, mulloway & mullet from Canunda, Nene Valley, Lurline Bay, Salt Creek & the 42 Mile Crossing.

YORKE PENINSULA: Wallaroo: Salmon trout are off the rocks at Point Riley and The Magazine, with garfish schools also in the mix. Boat crews ran out for KG whiting, garfish and snook, while the jetty has had another quiet week. Port Hughes/Moonta Bay: Small gar are in the bay but the fish increase in size as you go further south. West Light also has garfish and KG whiting. The jetties have small gar in the late afternoons and salmon trout can be caught on the early morning's high tide at local beaches. Point Turton: Boat crews and jetty fishers alike braved last week's cold weather to chase salmon trout, whiting, tommy ruffs and even a few garfish. Shore-based fishing has a mix of small salmon, mullet and dusky flathead. Marion/Stenhouse Bays: The weekend winds turned slightly offshore which made for fun shore-based fishing as salmon and mullet schools continue their run. The jetties have tommies and even garfish while boat crews launched for a mix of red nannygai, KG whiting, rat kingfish, flathead and snook. Edithburgh/Stansbury: The grounds at Tapley Shoals north towards the Orontes Bank turned on the whiting catches last week with some nice-sized fish to 53cm! Smaller whiting are off the back of Rocky Gully and Sultana Passage. Marion Reef has leather jackets and snook. Ardrossan: Increased numbers of visitors have come to town to check out the revamped jetty and try their luck in the fishing department, with salmon trout, mullet and overnight mulloway being the target species. Forever hopeful boat crews running out for a cruise are having limited success with whiting, salmon trout (in the shallows) and snook being the main reports.

SPENCER GULF/WEST COAST: Salmon to 5 kilos (yep, incredible eh?) & nice squid have been the go-to action species on the West & Far West Coast beaches & jetties. Plenty of weed & big surges in tides have only added to the experience as surf-casters picked up really nice salmon from Elliston, Longnose Point, Venus Bay, Waterloo Bay, Talia, Sheringa & Lock's Well. The town wharf(s) inside Pt Lincoln also have salmon trout & tommies, while some good squid & garfish came from Ceduna (Murat Bay), Streaky Bay, Waterloo Bay, Coffin Bay, Haslam & Fowler's Bay jetties. Salmon to 3 kilos are also way out west at Point Sinclair, Fowler's Bay & the Dog Fence bch. Offshore west coast fishing has KG whiting, flathead, red nannys & squid from Ceduna, Streaky, Baird, Venus & Pt Lincoln grounds/bays. Whiting, flathead & garfish came from Tumby, Pt Neill, Arno Bay, Cowell & Whyalla. Kingfish are still running past Point Lowly rip, Commissariat Point & the Wall at Pt Augusta. The Spilsby Islands have big winter garfish, KG whiting & fat tommy ruffs.

AUGUST SEAFOOD RECIPE: Grilled Flathead with Crispy Garlic Potatoes. Ingredients: 4 flathead fillets, low-carb whole spuds, seasoning, crushed garlic, flour, oil, chives, green beans. Preparation: Roast spuds in crushed garlic (210C). Cover fillets in flour, seasoning and grill or cook in oil 4 mins. Serve fish with spuds topped with chives and green beans.

KANGAROO IS: KG whiting are coming from local waters inc. Smith's Bch, Kingscote, Emu Bay, Vivonne Bay, Penneshaw & American River. Big boat crews have been chasing tuna well offshore towards the Sanders Bank when weather comditions permit - this is open ocean & care is essential! Local jetties are holding salmon to 1 kilo, fat tommies & flathead at times. Tommies, salmon trout & flathead are off several rocky headlands & also the many beautiful sandy beaches on KI. Big snook, tommies, flathead & salmon are currently in Nepean Bay off the back of the shipping channel. North Coast fishing also has tommies, flathead & salmon with Emu Bay & Stokes Bay all holding fish. TIGHT LINES!