Greg James
Fishing Reports and Hotspots

 


Reports:





SNAPSHOT FOR THE WEEK:

  1. METRO: Tommies & odd bluey from Semaphore, Brighton & Glenelg jetties., No squid., KG whiting & blueys off West Bch & St Kilda.,
  2. FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/FRESHWATER: Mulloway from Sugars Bch & Tauwitchere Barrage., KG whiting & snook at Wirrina., salmon trout from Second Valley jetty., snapper & tuna offshore from Victor H., yabbies & callop from Loxton & Lyrup.
  3. YORKE PEN: AB now at Port Vic., Y/f whiting, gar & blue crabs at Pt Hughes., KG whiting from Pt Hughes & Point Turton (north).
  4. SOUTH EAST/COORONG: Snapper, whiting & gar from Robe, Kingston & Beachport., salmon trout, mulloway & mullet at Salt Creek & The Granites.
  5. SPENCER GULF/WEST COAST: Y/f whiting & blueys from Pt Augusta to Whyalla., KG whiting, garfish & flathead from Venus, Baird & Streaky Bays.
  6. KANGAROO ISLAND: Gar & whiting from Nepean 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.
CHECK GREG'S GREAT YOUTUBE FISHING VIDS - www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB4ndw9Hiks! THEN CATCH GREG ON YOUR ABC RADIO: ABC891 every Thursday evening after 8.40pm with the wonderful Spence Denny - ABC639 every Saturday morning after 6.30am with the splendid Chook Harslett!

MARCH 1 - 10, 2026

METRO WATERS: Reports of garfish & squid are at an all time low along the Metro coast as March begins our long run into Autumn & beyond. 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 nothing much at the moment. 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. Don't forget to vote as the State election approaches - tell those useless tits in Govt that their Algal Bloom response is totally shameful, negligent & incompetent.

FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/RESERVOIR: Reports surfaced late last week that the planned introduction of the European Carp herpes virus (Cyprinid herpesvirus-3) is likely to be delayed until 2028, which is now a decade later than originally scheduled. It makes me wonder what an enormous waste of time and taxpayers money this furphy will turn out to be? There are many, including myself, that believe the herpes virus is not the way to eradicate these fish, and that the answer, or at least part of it, lies in another, much simpler direction. While not questioning the science at this stage, I am certainly doubtful of the end result. Apart from carp, River Murray anglers chased redfin, callop, yabbies and Murray Cod (catch and release) from Renmark, Berri and Murray Bridge. Water levels in the Myponga reservoir are low but redfin perch are occasionally being caught. Overnight mulloway are in the lower levels and the barrage restrictions of the river and off Sugars Beach, with the odd mullie also in the sharp surges at the river mouth at Goolwa. Mullet and the odd salmon trout are also here and just south along the peninsula at the 32 Mile Crossing. Bream can still be found in several local creeks. Offshore from Victor the tuna are still running well south of their usual paths as they steer clear of any remaining algal bloom. The water was again green and dirty off Tunk Head during the week, although Waitpinga and Parson's seem clear still. Snapper and KG whiting were the main targets off Broady's Patch but the fishing has been hit and miss.Wirrina has KG whiting for boat crews and a few plump salmon from the shore at Rapid Bay and Second Valley, but the fish are definitely not in large numbers. A few yellowfin whiting and garfish are close to shore at Lady Bay and Carrackalinga beach.

SOUTH EAST/COORONG: Shore-based fishers & surf casters alike have been plonking the sands from the Goolwa river mouth along the Younghusband Peninsula to Salt Creek, The Granites & then all the way to Beachport & Carpenter Rocks! What is being caught? Plenty of seaweed, some night-time mulloway, fat mullet & salmon to 2 kilos. The Little Dip Salmon Hole also has tiger flathead on the big surge days, while Stinky Bch & Lurline Point have mullet & small but just-legal mulloway. Boat crews running out from Kingston, Robe, Beachport & Carpenter Rocks are catching sweep, crays, KG whiting (in small numbers), snapper, flathead & garfish from Margaret Brock reef & then the sheltered bays like Little Dip, Nora Creina, Carpenter Rocks & Beachport. Big boat crews have really had a rough time of it, especially trying to head offshore from Beachport & Port MacDonnell as they fish for snapper, tuna, kingies, sweep & sharks. The Port Mac & Beachport jetties have tommy ruffs, squid & garfish, while gar & yellowfin whiting are close inshore from the Picanninie Ponds & Nene Valley coasts.

YORKE PENINSULA: Wallaroo: Blue crabs and a few smallish tommy ruffs have been the main reports from the jetty with those anglers fishing at dusk doing best. There is a large grain ship offshore and boat crews ran out for KG whiting, garfish and a few blueys. Yellowfin whiting and salmon trout can still be caught from those small rocky beaches north of Point Riley, but the baby trumpeters are fierce. Moonta Bay/Port Hughes: Locals and visitors alike are anxiously watching for signs of the dreaded algal bloom as the poison is now just south of Cape Elizabeth. Boat crews are reporting snapper (which cannot be kept), whiting and a few garfish. The jetty-based anglers are waiting until early morning for blue crabs and gar. Port Victoria: Any KG whiting caught here are in the deep waters off the western side of Wardang Island and slightly south in those northerly winds from early in the past week. Snook and garfish are also schooling in the shelter of the northern side of the Island. Squid catches are virtually zero. Point Turton/Corny Point: Catches of edible fish are really only coming from the deep and clean water drops well offshore from both Point Turton and west of Corny Point. KG whiting, snook and the odd flathead and shark but the discoloured water remains and is sadly proving to be an unwelcome and obstinate visitor. Marion/Stenhouse Bays: I received an unconfirmed report of salmon trout, garfish and squid from Mozzie Flat and the shallow waters at Point Gilbert last week. Shore-based anglers are trying long and hard further along the coast as they fished Gym Beach and Daly Heads for salmon and mullet. Boat crews are chasing tuna (which are well south of their normal migratory trajectories), red nannys and blue morwong. Jetty-based fishing has been quiet. Ardrossan: Ardrosssan looked as beautiful as a picture last Wednesday when I checked into town. A few blue crabs for rakers has been the encouraging news as the on-again, off-again boat ramp dredging and jetty upgrades slowly continue. The boat ramp was closed when I drove into the carpark as workers removed large amounts of seaweed and other rubbish from the northern slip.

KANGAROO ISLAND There are reports of scattered KG whiting at Kingscote, American River, Vivonne Bay & Penneshaw, along with garfish, tommies & big snook. Flathead & salmon to 1 kilo are off the rocks & Red Banks at 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 yellowfin whiting, garfish, salmon to 1 kilo, mullet & flathead from Kingscote, Emu Bay, Stokes Bay & Vivonne Bay. Crayfish catches seem down on last season but velvet crabs are crawling along much of the south coast where the impact of the algal bloom has been less, by all reports.

MARCH SEAFOOD RECIPE: Savoury Oysters. Ingredients: 12 fresh natural oysters, bush limes, soy sauce, red wine vinegar, chopped shallots and chives, pepper. Preparation: Open oysters and mix soy sauce, shallots, chives and red wine vinegar in a bowl. Spoon sauce over oysters and add bush lime flesh. Enjoy with a cold glass of Chablis. Sugeng Dhahar! Javanese for Bon Appetit.

SPENCER GULF/WEST COAST: There has been a recent run of blue swimmer crabs from Cowell northwards, with Murninnie Point, Cowled's Landing, Whyalla, Fitzgerald Bay & Commissariat Point all holding some nice ones. The jetty at Pt Germein remains closed. Yellowfin whiting are also in the high tide shallows from Germein Point to Whyalla Foreshore. Shore-based fishers who are making the trip to the Far West Coast are picking up mulloway, salmon to 4 kilos & flathead & snook from Fowler's Bay, Point Sinclair, Haslam & the Elliston Surf Cast beaches (Waterloo Bay, Sheringa, Convention, Talia etc). Sharks are also here & they are taking hooked fish at will, so stay alert & take care if wading. Boat crews are catching garfish, tommies & snook from Claire Bay, Murat Bay, Baird Bay, Streaky, Venus & Coffin Bay, with KG whiting still active in the Dashwood Channel & Coffin & Venus Bays - fish up to 40cm in some cases! Yellowfin & KG whiting are in mixed numbers at Port Lincoln, Louth Bay, Port Neill & then up to Cowell (outside the harbour) & Murninnie Point. Blue crabs are again mixed as the algal bloom seems to have had some affect. Big boat crews are picking up tuna, kingfish & samson fish off Olive Is (Streaky), Waldegrave Is & then south of the Spilsby Is groups. TIGHT LINES!