Greg James
Fishing Reports and Hotspots

 


Reports:





THIS WEEK'S FISHING HOTSPOTS:

  1. METRO: KG whiting from St Kilda & Semaphore., gar off Sellicks Bch & salmon/mulloway in West Lakes.
  2. FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/FRESHWATER: Snapper, small kingies & tuna off Victor., trevalley off Cape Jervis., Lock 4 (Berri) has Murray Cod & callop.
  3. YORKE PEN: Garfish & KG whiting from Port Rickaby, Pt Hughes, Wallaroo & Port Vic., blueys from Port Davis & Moonta Bay.
  4. SOUTH EAST/COORONG: Mullet & mulloway from Salt Creek & Canunda., snapper, KG whiting & squid from Kingston & Beachport.
  5. SPENCER GULF/WEST COAST: Mulloway from Far West Coast., tuna, red nannygai & kingfish offshore from Waldegrave Is & Streaky Bay., KG whiting, garfish & tommies from Pt Lincoln & Elliston., blueys at Pt Pirie/Red Cliffs, Cowell & Whyalla.
  6. KANGAROO ISLAND: KG whiting, gar, & snook from Vivonne Bay, Nepean Bay & 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.
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Jan 19 - 31, 2026

METRO WATERS: More dead fish and that horrible, poisonous green 'gunk' have washed up at Semaphore & Grange this week - keep the Govt TV adds going Wankers! A few dusky flathead are in the relatively shallow water around Nth Haven & West Bch boat ramp breakwaters. Blue crabs & squid catches have been few & far between for both boat crews & jetty-based fishers. Many of the half-decent fishing reports are coming from the waters north of St Kilda to Lower Light, with KG whiting & some green mackerals being the main catches. Plus of course, Le Poisson de Shite (trumpeters). If the bloom stays out of the picture, some migratory fish might well be here in isolated pods, not in great numbers - but here, none the less. If the fish you catch doesn't look or smell fresh, my advice would be NOT to consume it. Local jetties have some of the salmon trout that we reported on from Second Valley about 2 weeks back, & it is worth throwing a line into the Onkaparinga river, West Lakes, the Port river & The Pat for overnight soapie mulloway & even mullet. Do not be surprised if a school or three of Rat Kingies runs along parts of the Metro waters. There have been shitloads of them in lower-mid Spencer Gulf & then around parts of Backstairs Passage in that deep water between Troubridge Island/Cape Jervis/Rapid Head (Tuna to 30 kilos are also around Cape Jervis & Tunk Head).

FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/RESERVOIR: Just when we all thought those dastardly onshore winds couldn't get any stronger, they did! Boat owners often spent much of last week wistfully gazing out to sea that at times looked angry and rough. On Sunday things did calm down a tad and the bigger boat operators launched for tuna, snapper, whiting and large snook. Local jetties/wharfs around Victor Harbor have snook, snapper (night), rat kingfish and green mackerals - but not much by the way of squid. Shore-based anglers tried again for mullet and 1 kilo salmon from most recognised spots at Fisheries beach, Waitpinga, Parson's and Newland Heads, with even an overnight mulloway in the surf, which is great news! The mulloway and mullet are further east also at Middleton Point (when the surf backs off), Goolwa beach and the 42 Mile Crossing. I had family members do a quiet run along the beach at Goolwa last week and they managed the trip without getting bogged - the tricks of course are to 'air down' all tyres and put your 4WD in low range - much less stress for your transmission and gearbox setup. Tyre pressure for these sandy conditions should be 18-20psi in my opinion. Mullet, mulloway and the odd salmon trout are further south along the Upper Coorong reaches. Tuna to 20 kilos are the main target for boat crews running out to Rapid Head and Cape Jervis from Wirrina when conditions permit. Yellowfin whiting reports continue for small pods of fish off Morgan's, Carrackalinga and along the coast to Silver Sands, with some nice mullet inshore at Seaford beach.

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: Catches of squid from a boat or the jetty have been extremely low, but garfish and a few tommy ruffs (Australian herring) are steady. Plenty of the dreaded trumpeters are also about. If you are fishing for King George whiting the tip is to go early before the southerlies pick up. Blue crabs reports are slow. Moonta Bay/Port Hughes: Strong southerlies made boat fishing an early morning event as crews launched for whiting, garfish and a few blue crabs. Deep water drops are best for the whiting. Shore-based fishers observed small sharks feeding in amongst the small pods of yellowfin whiting and mullet, while the jetties have garfish and snook. Port Victoria/Balgowan: Garfish are in reasonably good numbers from most recognised locations with KG whiting reports only from the deeper water grounds west of Wardang Island. Strong southerlies made the Balgowan boat ramp a tricky lottery just before the weekend. Point Turton/Port Rickaby: Some small evidence of the Algal Bloom is around Barker Rocks and then across Hardwicke Bay towards The Pines. Garfish are off Point Souttar and Port Rickaby, while jetty-based fishers are reporting small gar, baby leather jackets and trumpeters. Marion/Stenhouse Bays: Hopefully the Algal Bloom has moved on from Stenhouse Bay but I will not be holding my breath. Offshore crews are catching red nannys, small tuna east of Seal Island and a few KG whiting out from Hillock's beach. Jetty-based fishing has night-time tommy ruffs and snook. Pine Point: Several dead Razor fish have been found along local beaches and shoreline in amongst the green poisonous 'gunk' from the Bloom. A medium-sized Jack Up Barge is stationed just offshore as wharf and jetty repairs progress. A few snook came from the Orontes Bank on Sunday.

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.

AUST DAY SEAFOOD RECIPE: Seafood Burger. Ingredients: Fish pieces, crabmeat, prawns, white onion, lettuce, bread rolls, chopped pickled onions, olive oil, chopped green chilli, bread crumbs, wasabi paste, bread rolls. Preparation: Gently blend the seafood & mix with some oil, wasabi/chilli, breadcrumbs & caramelised onions. Make burgers, brush with oil & cook on medium hot plate for 3-4 mins. Plate with lettuce, pickled onions & wasabe paste.

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!