Greg James
Fishing Reports and Hotspots

 


Reports:





FISHING SNAPSHOT FROM THE WEEK:

  1. METRO: KG whiting, red mullet & snook off West Bch, Grange & St Kilda., Salmon trout from Glenelg, Brighton & Semaphore jetties.
  2. FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/FRESHWATER: KG whiting, snapper & rat kingfish from Victor H., Salmon trout & tommies from Rapid Bay jetty., Callop & Murray Cod at Lyrup & Loxton.
  3. YORKE PEN: KG whiting from Pt Broughton, Wallaroo, Pt Hughes, Edithburgh & Point Turton., Salmon & tommies from Stenhouse & Marion Bay jetties.
  4. SOUTH EAST/COORONG: KG whiting, sweep & snapper from Beachport & Kingston., Salmon trout from The Granites & Poorman's Bch (Robe/Nora Creina Bay).
  5. SPENCER GULF/WEST COAST: KG whiting in most West Coast bays (Proper, Coffin, Venus & Streaky)., 4 kilo salmon from Talia, Sheringa & Fowler's Bay.
  6. KANGAROO ISLAND: KG whiting from Nepean Bay, American River & Penneshaw.
  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.
STORIES OF US - AUSTRALIANS AT WAR: July 22, 1917 World War 1 - 4 nurses/sisters (Cawood, Deacon, Ross-King & Derrer) from the Aust Army Nursing Service were awarded the Military Medal for saving badly wounded soldiers from a burning Casualty Station - Trois Arbes, France. LEST WE FORGET.

JULY 25-31, 2026

METRO WATERS: Mid to late July has finally given us despairing anglers some cool, calm on-water days with good tides & sunshine, as we put catches of KG whiting at the very front of our plans! The PIRSA snapper stocks rebuild still has its critics & will have for a time yet, no doubt. Best bets for whiting are Brighton & Seacliff, then north to West Bch, Semaphore, Nth Haven & St Kilda. Outer Harbour has smaller fish so you need to watch the size to stay legal. Shore & jetty-based has had some massively good news in terms of salmon catches - of a good size & not far offshore. Metro waters blue crab run is over for another year but sand crabs are about for those keen - Brighton, Glenelg, Semaphore jetties & for boat crews, try the northern most grounds up around St Kilda, Snapper Point, Light Bch, Port Gawler, Thompson's - all the way to Pt Wakefield. There will be mullet & flathead in these shallows as well! Most metro jetties have tommies, salmon trout & red mullet with best results in the late afternoons, early evenings. KG whiting catches have also been late in the day & some crews are fishing for 2-3 hours for nothing, then bang - the fish are on the chew for 10-15 mins. Shore-based anglers are still catching mullet & salmon trout from Marino Rocks, Hallett Cove, Seaford & Southport Bch. Soapie mulloway are just inside the Onkaparinga river mouth & then about 500m west of the Saltfleet St bridge.

FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/RESERVOIR: Shore-based fishers enjoyed brilliant salmon fishing during the past week, with fish anything from trouts to a massive (for the South Coast) 2 kilos! In fact, it has been difficult to find a Fleurieu beach that hasn't had salmon and mullet for much of the past few weeks. The consistent catches have come from the river mouth at Goolwa and then east along the Coorong from the 32 Mile Crossing, Salt Creek and The Granites. Soapie mulloway are also off the sand at Salt Creek and inside the Mundoo channel and at the back of the Tauwitchere Barrage. Jetty-based anglers picked up salmon trout, tommies and mullet from The Bluff, Rapid Bay and Port Noarlunga. The Second Valley jetty has been open after the June repairs and is worth a try for tommy ruffs in the late afternoons. Big boat crews running well offshore from Victor caught snapper, kingfish, a couple of red nannygai and tuna snap-offs. Closer to home, smaller boats picked up KG whiting, garfish, tommy ruffs and snook. Bream came from the mouth of the Hindmarsh river and salmon to 1 kilo from Parsons, Waitpinga and Morgan's beaches. Boat crews operating out from Wirrina reported isolated KG whiting, red mullet and several snapper, which remain on the no-take list in these waters. Upstream tinny crews fishing from Lyrup and Nildottie caught a few redfin perch, callop and Murray Cod (catch and release) - the Murray Cod season closes on July 31, 2026. Myponga reservoir has redfin perch at the moment. Here are the GPS co-ordinates of the new artificial reef off Wirrina: 35 27.225 S x 138 12.396 E 35 27.263 S x 138 12.396 E : 35 27.263 S x 138 12.443 E : 35 27.225 S x 138 12.443 E. It is shaped like a square & an initial 12 (twelve) month fishing ban applies.

SOUTH EAST/COORONG: Late in the day sea surges from some massive tides & swells continue along the Coorong & South East coastline, making it difficult if not dangerous for small boats/tinnies to launch from their favourite ramp & wet a line. When conditions abate there are KG whiting, snapper to 4 kilos, kingies & snook from Kingston (Margaret Brock reef), Robe, Beachport, Carpenter Rocks & South End. Pt MacDonnell has tuna well offshore but only big boats & experienced fishers are having a crack. Garfish are in the more sheltered waters of Robe, Nora Creina Bay, Carpenter Rocks, Nene Valley & Cape Northumberland. Shore-based fishing has salmon to 2 kilos, flathead & mullet from the 32 Mile Crossing, Salt CReek, The Granites & Canunda, but you will need to take care with soft sand & high tide /swell surges if taking the 4WD on to the beach. Jetty-based fishing is a cold affair, but nice tommies, salmon & garfish are at Kingston, Beachport & Pt MacDonnell. Bream are off the break water at Beachport & there are mulloway at the back of the big surf in Lurline Bay.

YORKE PENINSULA: Wallaroo: What a magic week it has been for fishing! Cool to cold but generally sunny days with tides of 1 metre or so saw boat crews run out for KG whiting, garfish, snook and sprat tommy ruffs. Jetty-based fishers caught salmon trout from the main fence but not much else. Port Hughes/Moonta Bay: Steamer channel and West Light grounds have whiting, rat kingfish and pesky snapper (which cannot be kept), while the jetties have tommies at night. Shore-based fishing has a steady run of salmon trout on soft plastics. Point Turton: Shore-based anglers are much thinner on the sand after the close of the school holidays, and are catching mullet and salmon to 1 kilo from Weetulta, Barker's Rocks, Leven's and Point Souttar beaches, KG whiting are also here for boat crews from The Pines and Point Souttar. There are lingering positive water-tests for the Algal Bloom, unfortunately. Marion/Stenhouse Bays: Late week easterly winds saw crews launch for red nannygai, KG whiting, kingfish and snook well offshore, while inshore tinnies reported whiting, flathead, snook and salmon trout. The jetties have salmon, as do many bottom-end beaches. Edithburgh: KG whiting were again on local menus as fishers used fast-drop techniques to avoid the snapper and baby leather jackets. Local shore-based fishing has salmon to 2 kilos from Wattle Point, Sultana Point, Klein's Point and Coobowie. Ardrossan: Latest news I have on the re-opening of the town jetty is for August. The extensive upgrades included replacement of main jetty piles, structural girders and increased cross-bracing. Boat crews ran out for isolated whiting, flathead and red mullet.

SPENCER GULF/WEST COAST: Wowie! KG whiting to 52cm have come from Pt Pirie to Pt Davis grounds & the broken bottom along the coast to Cockle Spit West. Salmon to 2 kilos continue to chomp on basic metal lures off Fitzgerald Bay, Point Lowly, Black Point & the Weeroona shacks area - this part of the coast has some rocky outcrops & the fish are migrating past! The Dashwood channel north of Streaky Bay is producing some big KG whiting, garfish & red mullet. The Winter salmon run continues from the Dog Fence, Fowler's Bay, Point Brown, Longnose Point & then into Spencer Gulf with fish anywhere up to 3 kilos coming from Pt Neill, Louth Bay & Cowell. Big kingfish are off The Wall at Pt Augusta & Longnose Point & around Waldegrave Island. Catches of KG whiting continue from Commissariat Point, Black Point/Leeton Tug & then south from Cowell, Tumby Bay, Louth Bay & Pt Lincoln grounds. Large snook are also in the false entrance to Franklin Harbour, with salmon trout & mullet off the sand at Germein Point. Shore-based fishers have found rough swells & large tides a challenge on the West & Far West Coasts as they hunt mulloway, kingies, snook & salmon from the usual locations (Elliston, Fowler's & Point Sinclair).

AUGUST SEAFOOD RECIPE: Spicy Fish Kebabs. Ingredients: 1kg white fish fillets, mint, coriander, parsley, chillies, lemon juice, peanut oil, lemongrass stems. Preparation: cut fish into cubes & mix in a bowl with herbs, juice & oil. Thread fish on to lemongrass stems & cook on high hotplate for 2-3mins, turning slowly. Serve with a glass of Riesling. Kia pai te Kai! Maori for Bon Appetit!

KANGAROO IS: Here are the GPS co-ordinates for the new artifical reef in Nepean Bay: 35 42.217 S x 137 42.818 E : 35 42.255 S x 137 42.818 E : 35042.255 S x 137 42.865 E : 35 42.217 S x 137 42.865 E. It is shaped like a square & an initial 12 (twelve) month fishing ban applies. 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. KG whiting are coming from local waters inc. Kingscote, Emu Bay, Vivonne Bay, Penneshaw, American River & Cape de Coudi. 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!