Fishing Report 15 February 2009
Well, This summer season has proven to be a winner in Sydney Harbour and to some extent Botany Bay with the mass presence of just legal and some larger Kingfish and Salmon schooling and feeding on anchovies and baitfish. Due to the sudden cooler inshore/offshore sea temp that hit us unexpectedly during late December and settled right through the season to date this has created a sort of invisible wall making it difficult for all these migrating species to leave and thus made it fishing heaven for small boat anglers.
Even Bream, juvenile Snapper and whiting have been present in this piscatorial mix in the main part of the Bay and Harbour while up river has proven to be quite different as water temps during the heat waves this summer soared to mid to high 20s!
Species like Mulloway have been hard to catch not because they are not there its because it has been just too hot! With such heat and low oxygenated water the fish move out or just shut down.
Offshore conditions have been frustrating and testing for the most with cooler to freezing bottom temps and hot faster currents on the surface creating a confusing and very indecisive fishing environment for all.
I’ve found that on average we’ve had to fish wider than usual for early summer to return with better than average catches and as some species like flathead and Mahi Mahi were late and others like Long Fin Perch early the season has proven to a real challenge although the humble Leather Jacket has proven to be a real stayer not phased by water temps and currents out wider!
It’s only just recently started to improve in a bit closer this month as water temps start to stabilise and the welcome cool southerly buster will hopefully role over the top and bottom currents in close and churn up a well deserved feed for fish in close. Snapper and Trevally should come on with Kings on the inshore reefs with change, we will see!
On a better note, a few Marlin around and if you put the time in you’re sure to catch one just troll the current lines in about 60 – 90 fathoms using 8 – 10 inch pushers or baits. We lipped a Stripe Marlin about 90 kg a couple of weeks ago in that depth and released her successfully.
With the masses of fish trapped in the bays and harbour there is little wonder
Why the sharks are present in numbers they must be hungry! And confused as we are! Just a thought?
Catch you next month. Tony.
