Greg James
Fishing Reports and Hotspots

 


Reports:





FISHING SNAPSHOT FROM THE WEEK:

  1. METRO: Blue crabs, flathead & KG whiting from St Kilda, Nth Haven, Semaphore & West Bch., mullet from St Kilda, West Bch, Brighton & Seaford., rat kingfish & tommies from Brighton & Semaphore jetties.
  2. FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/FRESHWATER: Mullet from Goolwa river mouth & Scab channel., tuna (10kg) & snapper from Victor H., KG whiting at Cape Jervis., Murray Cod from Berri & Renmark.
  3. YORKE PEN: Tommies, mullet & blueys from Stenhouse Bay, Pt Vincent, Stansbury & Edithburgh., flathead & mullet from Corny Point & Wallaroo., KG whiting off Wallaroo, Pt Vic & Pt Hughes.
  4. SOUTH EAST/COORONG: Snapper & KG whiting from Pt MacDonnell, Kingston, Beachport & Robe., salmon & mullet from Salt Creek, Boatswain's Point & Picanninie Bch.
  5. SPENCER GULF/WEST COAST: KG whiting & blue crabs from Whyalla, Cowell, Venus, Coffin & Streaky Bays., tommies & blueys off Whyalla, Pt Lincoln, Venus & Streaky Bay jetties.
  6. KANGAROO ISLAND: KG whiting, flathead & garfish from Nepan Bay, Emu Bch, Vivonne 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.
ANZAC DAY. A very warm and grateful shout-out to all our War Veterans for this ANZAC Day (April 25). April also marks the 85th anniversary of the Siege of Tobruk - a most special event in Australian Military History inc. Battalions from South Australia - the 2/43rd & 2/48th. My father and his brother also fought at Tobruk - the 2/9th Battalion. Thanks Lads and Lest We Forget.

ANZAC WEEKEND 2026

METRO WATERS: Shore-based anglers are chasing mullet, mulloway, late season yellowfin whiting, flathead & salmon trout from Seaford, Triggs, Marino Rocks, Tennyson, West Bch, St Kilda breakwater & West Lakes, with black bream in the Port River. Large Murray Cod (catch & release) & Golden Perch are on the chew in Happy Valley & Myponga reservoirs - you need a permit & strict rules apply. Nice tommy ruffs, blue crabs & rat kingfish are at most metro jetties in the late afternoons & after dark - so if you want a bit of fun with the picanninies over the school holidays, then it should be on! Best reports for KG whiting are Nth Haven, St. Kilda, Semaphore & then Glenelg, Brighton & West Bch - but further south you travel the fish are in lesser numbers. As mentioned, blue crabs are still about at local jetties & in broken weed grounds of waters up to 10metres depth. Light Bch, Pt Gawler, St Kilda, Semaphore, Outer Harbour & West Bch are all worth a try. Large snook are out from Seacliff, Marino, Brighton & Hallett Cove but gar are very thin if not around at all atm.

FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/RESERVOIR: The rules applying to recreationally gathered cockles changed again last week as the authorities back-tracked on their pre-Easter announcement that they were safe to eat. Well, not anymore folks. Cockles can be used as bait for fishing but not eating. Tuna to 15 kilos were a very welcome arrival for boat crews fishing out from Victor Harbor and then west to Tunk Head and Cape Jervis/Backstairs Passage. Great on-water conditions enabled several hook-ups as crews also picked up snapper, blue morwong and kingfish. Black bream, flathead and mullet are the main targets of shore-based fishers from Morgan's beach, Fisheries, Kings, Waitpinga and Goolwa during the day, while at night the main catch has been soapie mulloway and shark. Jetty-based anglers have caught nice tommy ruffs from The Bluff and Screwpile jetty on occasion after dark as well. Upstream crews are chasing yabbies, callop still, Murray Cod (catch and release) and redfin perch from Tailem Bend, Swan Reach and Nildottie. As reported in The Sun last week, big Murray Cod are also on the chew in the Myponga reservoir. The Upper Coorong has enjoyed some magic weather over the past week as shore-based anglers tried for mullet, mulloway and salmon trout from 28 Mile Crossing, Salt Creek and Boatswain's Point. Boat crews fishing from Cape Jervis, Wirrina, Lady Bay and Carrackalinga reported a few KG whiting, flathead, tommy ruffs and snook. Local jetties have tommies late in the day, but squid reports remain very light on.

SOUTH EAST/COORONG: Tuna reports have lifted from the deep waters off Pt MacDonnell & Cape Northumberland, with even some 10 kilo fish out from Beachport & South End. Locals & tourists alike are all making a trip or three to catch some snapper, KG whiting, garfish & mulloway over the ANZAC weekend. The sand along the coastline east of the Goolwa river mouth, Coorong beaches, Boatswain's Point & then the Robe to Beachport run is soft & boggy - so air-down the tyres to 18 psi, put ya car in low range 4WD & stay on the high side of the beach. Early season mullet, salmon to 2 kilos & mulloway are off the 32 & 42 Mile Crossing spots, Salt Creek, The Granites, Lurline Point & Canunda. Snapper & whiting are off the Kingston grounds, garfish are off Little Dip, Nora Creina Bay & Beachport/Carpenter Rocks. Further south snapper are also off Carpenter Rocks, Pt MacDonnell & then Cape Northumberland/Nene Valley, with garfish & squid often closer in-shore. Tuna to 35kilos are out from Pt Mac & South End. Pse observe the rules covering snapper fishing in SA.

YORKE PENINSULA: Wallaroo: Prawn trawlers are moored in the bay as jetty-based anglers picked up tommy ruffs after dark. The tommies are also there for boat crews fishing well out from the T Ports grain wharf to Bird Reef, along with snook, blue crabs and even a squid or two. Shore-based fishers are picking up late yellowfin whiting, mullet and flathead. Moonta Bay/Port Hughes: Not surprisingly, the start of last week heralded a call from the Fishing Charter sector to lift the ban on snapper fishing, as large numbers (of snapper) are now being caught by crews running out past West Light and Steamer channel. Those charter boats and canny local boat crews picked up KG whiting, red swallowtail, blue morwong, blue crabs and garfish last week in near perfect fishing conditions. The jetties have tommies (at night), blueys and small gar. Point Turton: Mullet can be caught from many local beaches on the southern end of The Leg, with Barker Rocks, Port Rickaby and Levens/Couch spots all popular. Boat crews are still having to run a fair way north for KG whiting, red mullet, swallowtail and leather jackets. The jetty has mullet and late in the day tommies. Marion/Stenhouse Bays: A couple of nice KG whiting again were caught from both jetties over the weekend, with tommy ruffs active after dark at Stenhouse Bay. Boat crews caught small tuna, small red nannygai, morwong, flathead and whiting. Edithburgh/Stansbury: Try the jetties at night for blueys and tommy ruffs. Shore-based fishers are catching yellowfin whiting, mullet, salmon trout and flathead, while boat crews are reporting KG whiting, snook, blueys and flounder. Ardrossan: Mullet, overnight soapie mulloway and blue crabs are here in the high tide shallows with good results coming just before dusk. Boat crews are still having a lean time of it as they try for KG whiting, blue crabs, flathead and snook - with limited success.

KANGAROO ISLAND 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.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.

ANZAC DAY SEAFOOD RECIPE: Prawn Cocktail Bruschetta. Ingredients: 8-10 cooked prawns (shelled), 1 baguette, 2-3 marinated artichokes, 1 crushed garlic clove, caper berries, mayonnaise, seasoning, olive oil, chives. Preparation: blitz artichokes, caper berries with mayo in food processor. Toast sliced baguette thinly spread with garlic & oil. Spread mixture over baguette slices & add 1 prawn. Sprinkle with chopped chives.

WEST COAST/SPENCER GULF: KG whiting catches are good from Pt Lincoln, Coffin, Venus & Streaky Bays as the improvement in local weather conditions tends to coincide with an improvement in fishing on the West Coast. Whiting, gar, squid, flathead & salmon form up on their schools & come in closer to shore to feed & breed. The bays from Ceduna south also have KG whiting, flathead, squid & garfish - with Murat, Baird & Waterloo Bays holding good numbers of fish, even if the slow tides force the boat crews to move around to get a decent feed. Shore-based anglers from Sleaford & Wanna beaches, Sheringa, Talia & Convention are getting salmon to 2 kilos, often in the late afternoons & this trend should continue for a time. Big boat crews fishing out from Waldgrave, Flinders & Olive Islands are reporting tuna, samson fish, red nannys & nice kingfish. Flathead, whiting & squid are in the smaller bays around Pt Lincoln & also up along the coast from Louth & Tumby Bays, Cowell, Whyalla & Point Lowly. The kingies are still at Lowly & Pt Augusta. Blue crabs are steady west at Ceduna, Haslam & Streaky Bay - then at the top of Spencer Gulf from Cowell to Cowled's Landing, Whyalla, Pt Augusta, Miranda & Pt Pirie. The last few of the yellowfin whiting are off Germein Point at Franklin Harbour. TIGHT LINES!