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FISHING SNAPSHOT FOR THE WEEK:
CHECK GREG'S GREAT YOUTUBE FISHING VIDS - www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB4ndw9Hiks! THEN CATCH GREG ON YOUR ABC LISTEN APP OR CH 25 ON THE TV every Thursday evening after 8.40pm with the wonderful Spence Denny - ABC639 every Saturday morning after 6.30am with the splendid Chook Harslett!
MARCH 24-31, 2026
METRO WATERS: Baby snapper & rat kingfish are in their thousands in both Gulfs at the moment - but snapper are a protected species unless fishing in the South East zone. Scattered reports of KG whiting are coming from Brighton, Seacliff/Marino Rocks and then on to Semaphore & Grange to St Kilda. Garfish & squid numbers are at an all time low along the Metro coast. Blue crabs are off a couple of northern most jetties inc. Semaphore & Grange as boat crews are also heading out from Nth Haven, St Kilda & Semaphore for a feed. Yellowfin whiting & mullet are in the high tide shallows on those magic beaches north of St Kilda - so we are talking Light Bch, Thompson's, Port Praham & Dublin - but then they taper off as the coastline heads into Pt Wakefield. The normally productive waters off Seacliff, Marino & Hallett Cove just have shown a slight improvement in the past week or so. KG whiting for boat crews can be caught again in small numbers from St Kilda, Nth Haven, Outer Harbour & Semaphore, but fishers need to be on their marks by daylight to catch fish in the 34-35cm range. Mulloway are in the shallows after dusk at The Pat, West Lakes & the Onkaparinga river.
FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/RESERVOIR: Some absolutely magnificent weather greeted much of The Fleurieu coastline over the weekend, as folk went out to vote and the ever-increasing fuel prices started to hit harder than before. Charter boat operators are in quite a dilemma as they watch the cost of filling their craft go up daily - exponentially! A few tommy ruffs at local jetties from Port Noarlunga to Rapid Bay made for a nice afternoon on both Saturday and Sunday of the weekend, while those casting from the rocks and/or sand picked up salmon trout, tommies and the occasional flathead. Small snapper are also in the shallow gulf waters but snapper remain on the no-take list for all fishers across the State until further notice, unless you are fishing in the South East zone (strict rules apply, inc. limited, tag-managed fishing) from Feb 1 to Oct 31. Big boat crews are still having to run well out for tuna, snapper, kingfish and red nannygai when conditions permit, while closer to shore there are scattered pods of KG whiting, snook and small garfish from Lady Bay, Cape Jervis and Victor Harbor. Snook are also inside Yilki and Encounter Bays as they hunt small tommies and mullet quite close to shore in the late afternoons. Bream are worth a try in local creeks after the recent rains and redfin perch are in the Myponga reservoir. Upper Coorong fishing has seen high tides and big swells and surges along the coast from Kingston in the South East all the way to Goolwa river mouth. Shore-based anglers have caught a few salmon trout, overnight mulloway and mullet and there are similar reports coming from Waitpinga, Parson's and Fisheries beaches. Upstream fishing has a few yabbies from Wellington and Murray Bridge.
SOUTH EAST/COORONG: Crews fishing from their boats & off rocky points at Robe, Nora Creina Bay, Carpenter Rocks, Beachport & Port Mac are doing well on garfish, mullet & tommy ruffs - light gear essential! The planks at open, local South East jetties have gar, the odd squid, snapper, tommies & green macks. Big boat crews are cruising out when conditions permit from South End, Beachport, Pt Mac, Cape Northumberland & Carpenter Rocks for crays (PIRSA permit required), red nannys & tuna to 40 kilos. Kingston also has a few crays, plus KG whiting, snapper, snook & gar in close to shore. Shore-based anglers are picking up mullet, 2 kilo salmon & soapie mulloway from Salt CReek, The Granites, Lurline Point & Picanninie Beach. The Surfer's Bch at Beachport has mullet & salmon. Lake George just out of Beachport should soon hold a few bream & mullet after the decent rains.
YORKE PENINSULA: Wallaroo: There are so many baby snapper in both Gulfs that shore and jetty-based anglers are catching them off local rocky points and jetties, with rat kingfish also featuring. Trumpeters, a few blue crabs and garfish were the main reports for boat crews who enjoyed a good weekend, weatherwise. Please remember that snapper are a protected species in all State waters except the South East zone. Moonta Bay/Port Hughes: Try the jetties for blue crabs and the occasional tommy ruff (Australian herring) after dark and there are still a few yellowfin whiting off the sand on the high tides from local beaches. Boat crews fished in great conditions over the weekend for blueys, garfish and King George whiting. Port Victoria: Catches of whiting, small snapper, garfish and snook were reported off the back of Wardang Island last week, with blueys closer to home. The jetty has an occasional blue crab and not much else. Point Turton: I received unconfirmed reports last week that the Algal Bloom may be dissipating and the water starting to clear, which certainly is good news. KG whiting, flathead and snook have been the main reports. Marion/Stenhouse Bays: Local shore-based fishers enjoyed offshore wind conditions which made for great casting into the surf as they chased mullet, tommies, flathead and salmon trout. Boat crews launched for red nannygai, whiting, blue morwong and snook. The jetties have snook and a few tommies. Ardrossan/Stansbury: Rakers fishing for blue crabs continue along the coastline here and then well south, with jetty-based fishers and boat crews facing their own challenges as jetty and boat ramp improvements continue. Large snook have been caught from the Orontes Bank and just north of Coobowie.
KANGAROO ISLAND 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. 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.
MARCH SEAFOOD RECIPE: Thai Red Curry Salmon with White Rice. Ingredients: Salmon fillets, Thai red curry paste, 1 cup coconut milk, bok choy, white rice, olive oil. Preparation: Cook salmon on medium in pan with oil for 1 min each side. Add paste to pan & stir, adding coconut milk, then add fish & spoon sauce over the fillets. Simmer for 4 mins. Serve with cooked white rice & steamed bok choy. Gin hâi à-ròi ná! Thai for Bon Appetit.
SPENCER GULF/WEST COAST: Top of the Gulf boat crews are still picking up kinfish from the usual drops in the Point Lowly Rip & just of the wall at the old Port Augusta Power Station. Blueys, gar & KG whiting are around at Miranda & Commissariat Point, but you have to be on the spot before dawn to avoid the dreaded trumpeters! Blueys, gar & even a couple of squid are off Whyalla & Black Point, with blueys & gar again south all the way past Cowled's Landing, Cowell, Port Neill & Arno Bay. The deep waters at The Spilsby Group hold KG whiting to 38cm, as does Proper Bay & Coffin Bay. The West Coast surf beaches (Sheringa, Elliston, Talia, Convention etc) all have salmon from trouts to 3 kilos running at the moment, but there is some big weed in the water at times. Streaky, Baird & Venus Bays all have a mix of garfish, tommies, squid & whiting. Mulloway well over the magic 1 metre mark are in the troughs at Claire Bay, Fowler's offshore ledge & Yalata. TIGHT LINES!
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Stories of men and women from WW2