Greg James
Fishing Reports and Hotspots

 


Reports:





THIS WEEK'S FISHING HOTSPOTS:

  1. METRO: KG whiting off Nth Haven & Outer Harbour to Semaphore., a few blueys & yellowfin whiting from Thompson's Bch & Port Parham.
  2. FLEURIEU/RIVERLAND/FRESHWATER: KG whiting & snook at Wirrina., snapper from Victor., callop & Murray Cod from Swan Reach.
  3. YORKE PEN: Large breakouts of HAB from lower YP., Garfish off Point Riley & Hardwicke Bay., KG whiting off Balgowan & Pt Hughes.
  4. SOUTH EAST/COORONG: Mullet & mulloway from Upper Coorong., snapper, tuna, flathead & snook from Port Mac, Kingston & Beachport.
  5. SPENCER GULF/WEST COAST: Tuna, red nannys & kingfish from Elliston, Scaele Bay & Streaky., gar, tommies, whiting & snook from Coffin Bay & Pt Lincoln., Yellowfin whiting & blue crabs from Pt Neill, Arno Bay & Cowell.
  6. KANGAROO ISLAND: KG whiting, garfish & snook from Kingscote, Emu 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.
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AUSTRALIA DAY LONG WEEKEND, 2026

METRO WATERS: Reports are in just over the past couple of days of snook, small KG whiting & mullet being caught (boat & shore-based) off the Southern Metro waters, so do not be surprised if we hear more of this in coming weeks. While it is hardly a recovery, at least it is a good sign.....watch this space! On the other hand, a large dead sting-ray was on the beach at Brighton this week with more dead fish and that horrible, poisonous green 'gunk' washing up at Semaphore & Grange - 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: The popularity of upstream fishing continues to rise as anglers seek to avoid contact with waters and locations that were so severely damaged by the Algal Bloom - hard to believe that the first record of this disaster is now nearly 12 months ago! Murray Cod (catch and release), callop, some monster yabbies and plenty of European carp have been the main reports from Loxton, Waikerie and Barmera. Snook, an occasional KG whiting, flathead and snapper were the main targets offshore from Victor Harbor last week, but the southerly winds were absolutely ferocious at times. Then the heat really turned up over the Australia Day long weekend as shore-based anglers fished for mullet, mulloway and flathead from Goolwa, the 28 Mile Crossing, Middleton and then Newland Heads, Waits, Parson's and Fisheries to King's beaches. Tuna, snapper, kingfish and red nannygai are well offshore for the bigger outfits, but conditions have not been good for that much loved run offshore. Smaller tuna are still on the prowl around Tunk Head and Cape Jervis with the deep rips several kilometres south of Troubridge Island a good place to fish if the weather permits. On the Gulf St Vincent side of The Fleurieu anglers fishing the various locations of the Onkaparinga River to Sellicks and Aldinga enjoyed Tour Down Under scenes as they chased bream, flathead, mulloway and a couple of small salmon when I checked over the weekend. Yellowfin whiting and mullet are in the high tide shallows along Moana and Sellicks. KG whiting and snook are scattered but here none the less at Lady Bay and Wirrina, while snook and sprat tommies have come from the jetties at Second Valley and Rapid Bay. Morgan's Beach is worth a try for garfish, mullet and flathead.

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: Port Broughton: Strong southerly winds followed me into town last Monday as I travelled to Port Pirie to check out the local fishing for squid and blue swimmer crabs. Plenty of trumpeters are at Port Broughton, plus garfish and yellowfin whiting. Wallaroo: Jetty-based fishing has been as slow as the proverbial wet week - the odd bluey, the odd squid and then some occasional garfish and sprat tommy ruffs. Boat crews are catching garfish and KG whiting and there are some nice gar and yellowfin whiting about for the shore and beach anglers. Bream and flathead are in the marina. Moonta Bay/Port Hughes: Boat crews had to go early mornings to avoid rough seas offshore as they fished for whiting, kingfish and snook from West Light to Steamer channel. A few blueys and garfish are closer to shore, while the jetties have the odd blue crab before daylight and garfish in the late afternoons. Port Victoria/Balgowan: KG whiting are still about in the deep water drops off Port Vic, Balgowan and Chinamen's Well. Gar and blue crabs are steady but the strong south easterlies have really kept the smaller tinnies in their sheds. Point Turton: Whiting catches are dropping back as boat crews are catching garfish, snook and small leather jackets. The local jetty has sprat tommies and late in the day garfish. Large numbers of visitors came for the Australia Day weekend and many tried their luck for yellowfin whiting at several local beaches. Marion/Stenhouse Bays: Unfortunately the Algal Bloom arrived in force again last week, with lots of dirty foam and discoloured water all the way from Pondalowie Bay to Swincer Rocks to Corny Point and beyond - and still we have to suffer the painful State Govt TV adverts saying all is OK. Big boat crews battled incessant onshore southerlies from Marion and Stenhouse Bays to catch tuna, red nannygai, flathead and kingfish. Ardrossan: An application has been lodged by the local council to the Environmental Protection Agency for assessment and approval for the removal of the seaweed at the town's boat ramp, which is really badly clogged at low tide. I had an unconfirmed report of small gar and tommies south of town at Billy Goat Flat and Black Point, so this is encouraging in a small way at least.

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!