Greg James
Fishing Reports and Hotspots

 


Reports:





THIS WEEK'S FISHING HOTSPOTS:

  1. METRO: Flathead, blueys & yellowfin whiting from St Kilda & Thompson's Bch., gar off Semaphore., bream in The Pat.
  2. FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/FRESHWATER: KG whiting & salmon trout from Cape Jervis & Lady Bay., tuna & snapper well offshore at Victor., callop & Murray Cod from Renmark & Berri.
  3. YORKE PEN: Yellowfin whiting, gar & lots of trumpeters from Pt Hughes, Wallaroo & Pt Davis., whiting & gar from Hardwicke Bay & Balgowan.
  4. SOUTH EAST/COORONG: Snapper, tuna, flathead & whiting from Kingston & Beachport., gar from Nene Valley., mullet from Canunda & Salt Creek.
  5. SPENCER GULF/WEST COAST: Yellowfin whiting & blue crabs from Whyalla, Murninnie Point & Cowell., tuna & kingies from Streaky Bay, Elliston & offshore reefs at Pt Lincoln.
  6. KANGAROO ISLAND: KG whiting, garfish, & snook from Vivonne Bay, Emu Bay & Smith's Bch.
  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.
MY ALUMINIUM BOAT 4 SALE: QUINTREX 4.35m HORNET WIDE BODY CENTRE CONSOLE. 30HP SUZUKI 4 STROKE (new from Broughton Marine - less than 20hrs - still in warranty). IN ABSOLUTELY EX CONDISH, MINI-KOTA ELEC MOTOR, ELEC ANCHOR WINCH, MARINE RADIO, ALL SAFETY GEAR, NEW BATTERY, HEAPS OF FISHING GEAR INC GPS MARKS. TRAILER & BOAT REG TO JUNE 2026. $15750. Located in Wallaroo SA. TEXT ME: 0418815122 FOR PICS.

FEBRUARY 2 - 15, 2026

METRO WATERS: ...and still the collective BS about the Algal Bloom continues. Do NOT believe the science, Do NOT believe the Govt Depts & most of all, DO NOT believe the politicians. Not only has the Algal Bloom literally destroyed the Metro & South Coasts, it is now well into doing the same on Kangaroo Is & the southern end of Yorke Peninsula - on its way west. The State Govt authorities not only don't know what day it is, they blatantly ignore the facts & evidence & do absolutely nothing to stop the destruction. On the Metro fishing front there is not much on the southern metro coast, but off Semaphore, St Kilda & Nth Haven there are some red-bill garfish & scattered pods of KG whiting. A few blueys are north of St Kilda (Light Bch, Port Gawler, Thompson's Bch) & there is a small mix of scale fish here also - yellowfin whiting, flathead & mullet/tommy ruffs. As mentioned above, scattered KG whiting are occasionally in the deep water drops off Nth Haven & Outer Harbour, but squid catches remain slow. Bream, mullet & soapie mulloway are inside the Port River, West Lakes & The Pat.

FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/RESERVOIR: There has been a mass fish kill around the vicinity of Weir 32 on the Darling River near the Menindee Lakes with water flows at the 1800ML/day rate. Much of the man-made pollution from the interstate Murray-Darling system ends up downstream in SA, so hopefully the effects will not add to the Algal Bloom disaster. River-based fishers trying for callop, Murray Cod (catch and release) and yabbies' at Lyrup and Barmera caught sight of the smoke from fires on Katarapto Island last week. Along the Coorong and Goolwa river mouth there are mixed reports of overnight soapie mulloway, salmon to 1 kilo and the occasional fat, plump mullet. Mullet are also off Sugars Beach and around at the Mundoo Channel. Boggy and sandy conditions are prevalent from Salt Creek back to the 28 Mile Crossing so "air-down" your tyres (12-15psi) and run the 4WD in low range is the best advice to give a novice driver. Windy and uncomfortable on-water conditions have really wrecked holiday-makers' fishing plans last month and these conditions continued into early February, preventing many crews from launching at Victor for snapper, KG whiting, garfish and red nannygai. Tuna catches have dropped way back, but there are fish in and around The Pages and off Tunk Head as they steadily migrate east. Shore and jetty-based fishers have walked the sand and the planks from The Bluff for salmon trout, snook and sprat tommy ruffs to Waitpinga and Parson's beaches for salmon and mullet. Catches of squid are almost non-existent for both commercial and recreational fishers. A few lonely salmon trout are cruising just offshore from Wirrina and then north to Lady Bay and Carrackalinga/Myponga with crews trolling for snook in the shelter of the local hills to catch a feed. Local submerged reefs show little signs of improved health as the scourge of the Algal Bloom continues on. Try the Myponga res in the late afternoons for Murray Cod (catch & release) & redfin perch.

SOUTH EAST/COORONG: Surf-based casters are having to contend with strong onshore winds & some pretty decent swells as they try for 2kg salmon, mulloway & mullet from the hotspots at the 42 Mile Crossing, Salt Creek & Botswain's Point/The Granites. Some high tide surges and boggy beach conditions also need to be factored into plans as crews need to keep their vehicles up high on the beach to avoid swamping. Boat crews are catching snapper, KG whiting, flathead, sweep & a few crays (PIRSA rock lobster permits are required) from Margaret Brock reef, Kingston, Robe, Nora Creina Bay, Beachport & Port MacDonnell. Large garfish & big squid are in the protected waters around Robe, Nora Creina Bay, South End, Carpenter Rocks & Nene Valley/Cape Northumberland. Pannie snapper are off the broken grounds along Picanninie Bch with flathead whiting & squid. Early season tuna reports have been slow - but stay tuned & I will report back as the schools migrate across the South East waters. KG whiting are in small numbers but they are whopper fish (up to 44cm) from Carpenter Rocks & Beachport.

YORKE PENINSULA: Wallaroo: Shore-based fishers who went to North Beach early mornings last week to avoid the heat caught some nice salmon trout and yellowfin whiting, while the jetty has the very occasional blue crab. Boat crews had strong winds at times as they fished for garfish and KG whiting at several local drops. Squid are no-where to be found, pretty much right round The Leg, not just in Wallaroo. Moonta Bay/Port Hughes: Large garfish and some nice blue crabs were caught from both jetties during the week and there are yellowfin whiting off most local sandy beaches on the high tide. Boat crews are running out (when conditions permit) for KG whiting, garfish and blueys. Point Turton/Corny Point: Bottom end fishers have had all sorts of interest from Local and State media, Politicians and Marine Scientists in the past week as they wrestle with the continuing Algal Bloom. Yellowfin whiting are off Leven's Beach and The Pines and there are a few garfish from Point Souttar to Port Rickaby to Barker Rocks. Marion/Stenhouse Bays: Strong on-shore southerlies were again working against boat crews for much of the past week but the tuna, kingies and red nannys are here for the big boats when they can get out. The jetties have tommy ruffs but not when the bloom is about. I would be careful for health reasons if fishing from local beaches at the moment. Ardrossan/Stansbury: Late in the week reports came in for several catches of blue crabs at Edithburgh, Coobowie and Stansbury, making for some good news for a change! Pan-sized snapper are off Tapley Shoals (and cannot be kept) and there are big snook just off-shore from Port Moorowie.

KANGAROO ISLAND Reports of the Algal Bloom presence off the north west coast of KI continue unfortunately - & our lame, limp-dick politicians do nothing to clean up this mess. OUR COAST & MARINE ENVIRONMENT deserves much better! There are KG whiting at Nepean Bay, American River, Smith's Bch & Penneshaw, along with garfish, tommies, blueys at times, a few squid & big snook. 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 yellowfin whiting, garfish, salmon to 1 kilo, mullet & flathead from Kingscote, Emu Bay, Stokes Bay & Vivonne Bay.

FEBRUARY SEAFOOD RECIPE: Bengali Mustard Calamari. Ingredients: calamari chopped, mustard paste and oil, nigella seeds, turmeric and green chillies, coconut milk, seasoning, cooked white rice, coriander. Preparation: marinate calamari in turmeric, salt and mustard. Then gently fry calamari in hot mustard oil and remove. Sautee nigella seeds, turmeric and chillies in same oil, adding coconut milk steadily to build the sauce. Add the cooked calamari for a few seconds to flavour, serve with chopped coriander and steamed white rice. Bhojan kaa aanand lijiye! Hindu for Bon Appetit.

SPENCER GULF/WEST COAST: Anglers fishing Waterloo Bay (Elliston) in the last week & found big squid, garfish & tommy ruffs, with salmon trout coming from the beach north of the jetty & below the old inn ruins on the northern shore. West Coast surf beaches around Elliston are all fishing well for 2 kg salmon - Sheringa, Talia, Convention, with the Elliston jetty producing tommies & squid/garfish. Pt Lincoln boat crews are heading out to Thistle Is when the weather is clear for KG whiting to 39cm, with the whiting also off Pt Neill, Louth Bay & Tumby. Yellowfin whiting catches are improving with fish at Pt Neill, Cowell, Germein Point, Cowled's Landing & Murninnie Point. Black Point off Whyalla has salmon trout & there are hungry kingies at Point Lowly, Leeton Tug & Pt Augusta (the wall). Blue crabs & garfish are at Miranda, Weeroona Bay, Port Pirie & Port Davis. KG whiting, squid & garfish are in the sheltered waters of Proper, Venus & Streaky Bays, with mulloway, flathead & 3 kilo salmon coming from Fowler's Bay, Yalata & Claire Bay. Ceduna & Streaky Bay jetties have blueys & garfish. TIGHT LINES!

FROM JAN 10 2026 - CATCH GREG ON YOUR ABC RADIO On ABC891 every Thursday evening after 8.30pm with the wonderful Spence Denny. Then on ABC639 every Saturday morning after 6.30am with the splendid Chook Harslett!