Week 31
PIC: Tom Seeley with this wicked mackerel caught on a stickbait on a calm day off the west side.
Tackle World Exmouth Fishing Report week #3118
With the wind up and down like a yoyo this week, it reminds us how important it is to make the most of the more pleasant weather when we do get. The good thing is that Exmouth is also well known for its opportunities to target a variety of species in different areas, depending on wind direction. Luckily we have clear skies more than any other town, so rain doesn’t usually interfere. Exmouth also has some red-hot sports fishing and is the one destination you can come to chase the lot, from marlin, mackerel, dolphin fish and tuna right through to massive queenfish, bonefish and permit on the flats, that’s not to mention the plethora of five star table fish the place has to offer, along with squid, prawns, crabs, bread and butter species from the shore, or the five species of rock lobster. Yes, we are lucky here with recreational fishing and need to live it, love it, respect it and support it.
As we all probably know the blue water has been fishing well of late, the spanish mackerel are still around in good numbers and the marlin are also willing to play the game. One of the most thrilling ways of chasing any sport fish is on surface lures and if you’ve ever thrown stickbaits around the reef you can encounter some world-class fishing as local angler Tom Seeley (pictured below) and friend Jarrod experienced on a recent trip out. They landed this amazing 1.67cm spanish mackerel on a 200mm stickbait whilst chasing giant trevally behind the reef on the west side of the cape. This technique can be used on a massive variety of fish and can be quite the “heart in your mouth” style of fishing at times where fish seem to just appear from nowhere exploding on you topwater presentation and nearly ripping the fishing rod from your hands. This is something every angler should experience at least once.
For the bait fishos the news is also positive with reports of good mixed bags coming in containing everything from red emperor, coral trout, cobia and even a few robinson seabream just to top it off. The trick to having a good day on these fish is to keep moving. Try not to use your anchor so much and utilise the full capability of your sounder as these can have a massive effect on the outcome of your day’s fishing and the amount of sharks you encounter. Typically, the best baits for these fish are squid and octopus but not too much passes up a fresh flesh bait, so keep this in mind next time you see a bunch of stripped tuna pop up nearby. Inside the lagoon the bait fishing is also going well with emperor, tusk fish and trevally all being caught regularly and as I always say -a good burley trail is key to success when chasing these shallow water thugs.
Humble flyfisho's can rest ashore that there is always a second option in a place like Exmouth. If the flats fishing is not so amazing for the land based angler you always have the option of chasing small gt’s and queenfish in the local marina or down at the mouth of Wapet creek. You just never know what you might find. The flats out the front of Wapet Creek can also be a awesome place for a wade, just don’t forget your solid-sole wading boots as the place is well known for the nasty stonefish. It is also good to remember to shuffle through, rather than step which can move the stonefish on.
Tackle World Exmouth Fishing Report week #3118
With the wind up and down like a yoyo this week, it reminds us how important it is to make the most of the more pleasant weather when we do get. The good thing is that Exmouth is also well known for its opportunities to target a variety of species in different areas, depending on wind direction. Luckily we have clear skies more than any other town, so rain doesn’t usually interfere. Exmouth also has some red-hot sports fishing and is the one destination you can come to chase the lot, from marlin, mackerel, dolphin fish and tuna right through to massive queenfish, bonefish and permit on the flats, that’s not to mention the plethora of five star table fish the place has to offer, along with squid, prawns, crabs, bread and butter species from the shore, or the five species of rock lobster. Yes, we are lucky here with recreational fishing and need to live it, love it, respect it and support it.
As we all probably know the blue water has been fishing well of late, the spanish mackerel are still around in good numbers and the marlin are also willing to play the game. One of the most thrilling ways of chasing any sport fish is on surface lures and if you’ve ever thrown stickbaits around the reef you can encounter some world-class fishing as local angler Tom Seeley (pictured below) and friend Jarrod experienced on a recent trip out. They landed this amazing 1.67cm spanish mackerel on a 200mm stickbait whilst chasing giant trevally behind the reef on the west side of the cape. This technique can be used on a massive variety of fish and can be quite the “heart in your mouth” style of fishing at times where fish seem to just appear from nowhere exploding on you topwater presentation and nearly ripping the fishing rod from your hands. This is something every angler should experience at least once.
For the bait fishos the news is also positive with reports of good mixed bags coming in containing everything from red emperor, coral trout, cobia and even a few robinson seabream just to top it off. The trick to having a good day on these fish is to keep moving. Try not to use your anchor so much and utilise the full capability of your sounder as these can have a massive effect on the outcome of your day’s fishing and the amount of sharks you encounter. Typically, the best baits for these fish are squid and octopus but not too much passes up a fresh flesh bait, so keep this in mind next time you see a bunch of stripped tuna pop up nearby. Inside the lagoon the bait fishing is also going well with emperor, tusk fish and trevally all being caught regularly and as I always say -a good burley trail is key to success when chasing these shallow water thugs.
Humble flyfisho's can rest ashore that there is always a second option in a place like Exmouth. If the flats fishing is not so amazing for the land based angler you always have the option of chasing small gt’s and queenfish in the local marina or down at the mouth of Wapet creek. You just never know what you might find. The flats out the front of Wapet Creek can also be a awesome place for a wade, just don’t forget your solid-sole wading boots as the place is well known for the nasty stonefish. It is also good to remember to shuffle through, rather than step which can move the stonefish on.
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Product of the week:
Fishing Gloves Wide selection of gloves including- -Sun protection -basic for everyday use -casting -filetting -dive -fish handling -game fishing -heavy duty leader |
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Week 32
PIC: James Priest with a blue-line emperor caught on fly in the gulf.
Tackle World Exmouth Fishing Report week #3218
The contentious issue of extensions to sanctuary zones continues in WA after the recent exposure of a submission put forward by mining magnate Andrew Forrest. While anyone welcomes $100M in donations for research, concerned residents and visitors to Exmouth are questioning the Minderoo Foundation’s objectives which lock out anglers from areas were the majority of fish are transient. I urge you to look at the map and see how unbalanced the fishing will be, with all effort directed to the inshore waters. There is a very big inconsistency in what they are saying publicly and what is in Minderoo’s submission. Publicly they are saying no further lockouts, but the submission show an entirely different position. Interestingly, while Jessica Meeuwig claims the document has ‘good science’ it references an article about Exmouth that has the word ‘allege’ in it, which is simply totally not science, therefore discredits the whole document. This is just one of the questionable comments in the Minderoo submission. While I and other conservation-minded anglers do not hold a degree from any university, we do have a degree of common sense and want to ensure sustainable recreational fishing in to the future. Vince Catania is trying to arrange a meeting with Andrew Forrest and the community and we will keep you posted on this extremely concerning issue.
On Sunday the wind dropped and long-term visiting angler from Perth, Aaron Lewis hit the water in search of surface-water action with Matt Gates. The boys had an absolute blast raising a stack of mid-sized GT’s off the back of the reef and managed to get the hooks to hold on quite a few, with the average size being around the 15-17kg mark. By far the stand out lure for the day was a Jackson stickbait, adding to that, most of the fish were landed on 50lb tackle making for some exciting line burning action. Knowing your tide times and planning your trips around the tides really gives you an extra advantage over most. GT’s are a hardy and angry predatory fish and if you find the right pressure edge with a good amount of tide and bait you can find yourself in the middle of some of the most explosive surface fishing that anyone can ever wish for.
For the bait fishos chasing a feed, the goldband and ruby’s are on and as most would know in this case, electric reels become very attractive, with the goldband being common around the 100m mark and ruby’s from 250-300m. You can see why a lot of people turn to electric reels, making life a whole lot easier for the retrieve. Having said that, it is not as easy as one would think. When you try and fish deeper water and have to contest with current, wind and tide, it is challenging. Don’t expect to get great fish every drop and it takes a lot longer to get to the bottom, so time flies by and you only get a small window to actually get a bait in the right area. The best baits for these delicious tasty treats are definitely squid and occy, not only for its taste and texture, but also its durability and longevity. The blue mack baits cut in half is also a winner. If you’re ever unsure or need to know more about this style of fishing don’t hesitate dropping into your local tackle store to get your kit and the full run down on how to be successful. The small electric reels are also popular for the shallow waters for anglers with disabilities or less strength. They have opened up opportunities for anglers to enjoy fishing even more.
The shore-based fishing has also been good this week with the marina being the so called “hot spot” once again with everything from queenfish to bream being caught, but if whiting is more your thing then Learmonth jetty is a great place to start. The beaches on either side are where most will target these fish with peeled prawns being the go-to bait. Just remember you don’t have to cast over the moon, as most of the whiting will be in less than half a meter of water. Another good idea is to have a burley bag or pellet style burley in the area, as the whiting will run parallel to the beach and having a reason for them to hang around will allow you to capitalise on the school before they decide to move along.
Fly fishing in Exmouth has its ups and downs, downs being the wind and the ups being the variety and diversity of such an amazing fishery. As mentioned many times before, if you’re blown off the flats or you get a glamour day and want to do something different, Exmouth has it all. Local young gun Jake Fitzgerald unfortunately dropped his first marlin on a fly rod this week. Casual employee, James Priest who has been writing this report while working at Tackle World, is an avid fly fishing angler. James got in to some emperors and coral trout in Exmouth gulf before he headed back to QLD this week, but we are sure he will return to flick those flies again across the turquoise waters of the northwest.
Tackle World Exmouth Fishing Report week #3218
The contentious issue of extensions to sanctuary zones continues in WA after the recent exposure of a submission put forward by mining magnate Andrew Forrest. While anyone welcomes $100M in donations for research, concerned residents and visitors to Exmouth are questioning the Minderoo Foundation’s objectives which lock out anglers from areas were the majority of fish are transient. I urge you to look at the map and see how unbalanced the fishing will be, with all effort directed to the inshore waters. There is a very big inconsistency in what they are saying publicly and what is in Minderoo’s submission. Publicly they are saying no further lockouts, but the submission show an entirely different position. Interestingly, while Jessica Meeuwig claims the document has ‘good science’ it references an article about Exmouth that has the word ‘allege’ in it, which is simply totally not science, therefore discredits the whole document. This is just one of the questionable comments in the Minderoo submission. While I and other conservation-minded anglers do not hold a degree from any university, we do have a degree of common sense and want to ensure sustainable recreational fishing in to the future. Vince Catania is trying to arrange a meeting with Andrew Forrest and the community and we will keep you posted on this extremely concerning issue.
On Sunday the wind dropped and long-term visiting angler from Perth, Aaron Lewis hit the water in search of surface-water action with Matt Gates. The boys had an absolute blast raising a stack of mid-sized GT’s off the back of the reef and managed to get the hooks to hold on quite a few, with the average size being around the 15-17kg mark. By far the stand out lure for the day was a Jackson stickbait, adding to that, most of the fish were landed on 50lb tackle making for some exciting line burning action. Knowing your tide times and planning your trips around the tides really gives you an extra advantage over most. GT’s are a hardy and angry predatory fish and if you find the right pressure edge with a good amount of tide and bait you can find yourself in the middle of some of the most explosive surface fishing that anyone can ever wish for.
For the bait fishos chasing a feed, the goldband and ruby’s are on and as most would know in this case, electric reels become very attractive, with the goldband being common around the 100m mark and ruby’s from 250-300m. You can see why a lot of people turn to electric reels, making life a whole lot easier for the retrieve. Having said that, it is not as easy as one would think. When you try and fish deeper water and have to contest with current, wind and tide, it is challenging. Don’t expect to get great fish every drop and it takes a lot longer to get to the bottom, so time flies by and you only get a small window to actually get a bait in the right area. The best baits for these delicious tasty treats are definitely squid and occy, not only for its taste and texture, but also its durability and longevity. The blue mack baits cut in half is also a winner. If you’re ever unsure or need to know more about this style of fishing don’t hesitate dropping into your local tackle store to get your kit and the full run down on how to be successful. The small electric reels are also popular for the shallow waters for anglers with disabilities or less strength. They have opened up opportunities for anglers to enjoy fishing even more.
The shore-based fishing has also been good this week with the marina being the so called “hot spot” once again with everything from queenfish to bream being caught, but if whiting is more your thing then Learmonth jetty is a great place to start. The beaches on either side are where most will target these fish with peeled prawns being the go-to bait. Just remember you don’t have to cast over the moon, as most of the whiting will be in less than half a meter of water. Another good idea is to have a burley bag or pellet style burley in the area, as the whiting will run parallel to the beach and having a reason for them to hang around will allow you to capitalise on the school before they decide to move along.
Fly fishing in Exmouth has its ups and downs, downs being the wind and the ups being the variety and diversity of such an amazing fishery. As mentioned many times before, if you’re blown off the flats or you get a glamour day and want to do something different, Exmouth has it all. Local young gun Jake Fitzgerald unfortunately dropped his first marlin on a fly rod this week. Casual employee, James Priest who has been writing this report while working at Tackle World, is an avid fly fishing angler. James got in to some emperors and coral trout in Exmouth gulf before he headed back to QLD this week, but we are sure he will return to flick those flies again across the turquoise waters of the northwest.
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Product of the week:
Fish Smokers and accessories. Ask us today about how to make some awesome use of your catch. |
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Week 33
PIC: Jorja Mossman with her shark mackerel caught during a feeding frenzy at the tip of the cape.
Tackle World Exmouth Fishing Report week #3318
The weather was certainly sensational for the weekend, which many people appreciated, including the women who fished the annual Ladies Day Tournament. It could not have been better actually, with glass conditions and perfect temperatures. The EGFC thank all sponsors for their support. The results were:
Tag & Release overall: Janelle Hodgson Innkeeper
First Tagged Billfish: Kerrie Smith Kajiki
Last Tagged Billfish: Janelle Hodgson Innkeeper
Heaviest Mahi Mahi: Miranda Tomlinson Kajiki
Heaviest Tuna: Anna Passmore Pullin Skirt
Heaviest Mackerel: Vacant.
The next event on the EGFC calendar is the Australian Junior Billfish Tournament. This annual event has attracted juniors from all over the country in the past years, with anglers as young as 5 tagging their first billfish. The event was created to teach youngsters the importance of team work, along with learning the skills required for targeting billfish. It is also designed to help kids learn about boating, fish handling and tagging programs. The 2day fishing event is scheduled for the long weekend in September. If your child is keen to fish this, there are often spots available on boats, so email the event coordinator via events@egfc.com.au
The tides, moon phases and weather can play an important role in fish feeding times and it is worthy to note any hot bites that are linked to these factors. Recently we were out fishing off Norwest reef and it seemed fairly quiet. The tide was incoming and we caught a couple of broad barred mackerel on trolled stickbaits. You could not see any birds feeding on bait or much action at all. (apart from plenty of whales!) Then, the moon rose in the gulf and suddenly the baitfish turned on, plus tuna, mackerel and all sorts started jumping everywhere and nearly every lure cast or trolled was attacked. We even had a sailfish come in on a stickbait in just 8m of water! The fishing simply went nuts and it was awesome to watch. Jorja Mossman was very excited to get amongst the action and land the shark mackerel pictured this week.
There have been reports of an increase in bait in the gulf in the last week. This time of year we expect to see plenty of activity in this area with acres of bait congregating in the open waters, particularly the deeper sections of around 15-20m. You will see mulies on the surface and yakkas down deep. It pays to get some bait jigs and a bait jig rod to catch them fresh for bait. If you have never experienced the gulf during spring, we highly recommend it, with loads of action on offer including cobia, trevally, large queenfish, mackerel, tuna and sailfish. If you are not sure exactly where to go, drop in store and ask.
Tackle World Exmouth Fishing Report week #3318
The weather was certainly sensational for the weekend, which many people appreciated, including the women who fished the annual Ladies Day Tournament. It could not have been better actually, with glass conditions and perfect temperatures. The EGFC thank all sponsors for their support. The results were:
Tag & Release overall: Janelle Hodgson Innkeeper
First Tagged Billfish: Kerrie Smith Kajiki
Last Tagged Billfish: Janelle Hodgson Innkeeper
Heaviest Mahi Mahi: Miranda Tomlinson Kajiki
Heaviest Tuna: Anna Passmore Pullin Skirt
Heaviest Mackerel: Vacant.
The next event on the EGFC calendar is the Australian Junior Billfish Tournament. This annual event has attracted juniors from all over the country in the past years, with anglers as young as 5 tagging their first billfish. The event was created to teach youngsters the importance of team work, along with learning the skills required for targeting billfish. It is also designed to help kids learn about boating, fish handling and tagging programs. The 2day fishing event is scheduled for the long weekend in September. If your child is keen to fish this, there are often spots available on boats, so email the event coordinator via events@egfc.com.au
The tides, moon phases and weather can play an important role in fish feeding times and it is worthy to note any hot bites that are linked to these factors. Recently we were out fishing off Norwest reef and it seemed fairly quiet. The tide was incoming and we caught a couple of broad barred mackerel on trolled stickbaits. You could not see any birds feeding on bait or much action at all. (apart from plenty of whales!) Then, the moon rose in the gulf and suddenly the baitfish turned on, plus tuna, mackerel and all sorts started jumping everywhere and nearly every lure cast or trolled was attacked. We even had a sailfish come in on a stickbait in just 8m of water! The fishing simply went nuts and it was awesome to watch. Jorja Mossman was very excited to get amongst the action and land the shark mackerel pictured this week.
There have been reports of an increase in bait in the gulf in the last week. This time of year we expect to see plenty of activity in this area with acres of bait congregating in the open waters, particularly the deeper sections of around 15-20m. You will see mulies on the surface and yakkas down deep. It pays to get some bait jigs and a bait jig rod to catch them fresh for bait. If you have never experienced the gulf during spring, we highly recommend it, with loads of action on offer including cobia, trevally, large queenfish, mackerel, tuna and sailfish. If you are not sure exactly where to go, drop in store and ask.
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Product of the week:
The NEW Halco Max 200. Can be used at 20knots! Ideal for trolling in between bottom fishing spots. |
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Week 34
PIC: Tasmin Kyle with an Exmouth wahoo caught while targeting billfish on the west side.
Tackle World Exmouth Fishing Report week #3418
Yet another insanely great weekend was enjoyed by those who were here and able to get out to wet a line. Whether you were down in the gulf, out at the islands or around the westside, the weather was superb and water clarity surprisingly good considering the big tides with the full moon. Campers and night-time anglers were treated to clear skies with the bright moon, making it a weekend to remember.
Young junior angler Jake Fitzgerald loves his fishing and learning with friends and family. Jake works casually at Tackle World and assists as a deckhand on various boats for sport and game fishing. This week Jake was on the fly rod targeting billfish with Leigh Freestone, Hayley Dellar and Wes Jones. They managed to catch a sailfish, which is a pending State and Australian record. Jake plans to mount the head of the fish and the fillets will be smoked up for consumption. Interestingly, during GAMEX in 2017 the marine biologists took samples of black marlin from two vessels. One fish was female, weighing 16.4kg and measuring over 1.5m in length. The other was a male weighing 21.4kg and measuring over 1.6m in length. These fish were aged by extracting the earbones of the fish called otoliths. The female fish was 165days old, while the male was 205 days old. While this is a very fast growing fish, sailfish are known to grow even faster, reaching 30kg in just 365 days. The fish Jake caught is estimated to be about 6months old and it is interesting to see the patterns of fish growth in our waters through the tag, release and capture of these abundant species.
Wahoo have been very consistent in the waters around the westside, some of them even causing havoc to some anglers targeting billfish. The wahoo are very tasty to eat and we recommend that if you are targeting billfish and know there are wahoo about, to have one hard bodied lure in the water on wire to attract the wahoo to it, and deter it from your skirted marlin lures on mono. The toothy critters love to hit lures in the wash, so run a lure such as a strada trakker or Halco Max close to the boat. The new Halco 200 Max is designed to be trolled at speeds up to 20knots (!!), which makes it perfect if you are moving between reef fishing areas, or simply on the way to deeper waters. We do recommend you have a rod with a loud ratchet though, or have someone closely watching the rod, not to mention having a safety strap on the rod incase it gets a big hit at high speed.
Squid is definitely on the chew again on both sides of the cape. Targeting them in a tinny is one of the best options, but you can get them from the shore too. If you are fishing from the shore and targeting some bread-and-butter species like whiting, flathead, bream, garfish etc, we advise you have some berley to attract the various species close to shore. This often brings in the squid, especially on the sand near weed patches. Learmonth Jetty is another great area to fish from the shore and get squid. Make sure you have a variety of colours on hand and weights to ensure you have the best opportunity to bring home a fresh feed of calamari.
Furuno is doing a Sounder Techniques and Tips evening information session at the Exmouth Game Fishing Club on Monday September 3rd from 630pm. The bar will be open from 5 and there will be specials on purchases of Furuno units. Furuno has been a supporter of EGFC for many years, along with Tackle World Exmouth, who are providing anglers and visitors with information and to assist with their enjoyment and success of recreational fishing.
Tackle World Exmouth Fishing Report week #3418
Yet another insanely great weekend was enjoyed by those who were here and able to get out to wet a line. Whether you were down in the gulf, out at the islands or around the westside, the weather was superb and water clarity surprisingly good considering the big tides with the full moon. Campers and night-time anglers were treated to clear skies with the bright moon, making it a weekend to remember.
Young junior angler Jake Fitzgerald loves his fishing and learning with friends and family. Jake works casually at Tackle World and assists as a deckhand on various boats for sport and game fishing. This week Jake was on the fly rod targeting billfish with Leigh Freestone, Hayley Dellar and Wes Jones. They managed to catch a sailfish, which is a pending State and Australian record. Jake plans to mount the head of the fish and the fillets will be smoked up for consumption. Interestingly, during GAMEX in 2017 the marine biologists took samples of black marlin from two vessels. One fish was female, weighing 16.4kg and measuring over 1.5m in length. The other was a male weighing 21.4kg and measuring over 1.6m in length. These fish were aged by extracting the earbones of the fish called otoliths. The female fish was 165days old, while the male was 205 days old. While this is a very fast growing fish, sailfish are known to grow even faster, reaching 30kg in just 365 days. The fish Jake caught is estimated to be about 6months old and it is interesting to see the patterns of fish growth in our waters through the tag, release and capture of these abundant species.
Wahoo have been very consistent in the waters around the westside, some of them even causing havoc to some anglers targeting billfish. The wahoo are very tasty to eat and we recommend that if you are targeting billfish and know there are wahoo about, to have one hard bodied lure in the water on wire to attract the wahoo to it, and deter it from your skirted marlin lures on mono. The toothy critters love to hit lures in the wash, so run a lure such as a strada trakker or Halco Max close to the boat. The new Halco 200 Max is designed to be trolled at speeds up to 20knots (!!), which makes it perfect if you are moving between reef fishing areas, or simply on the way to deeper waters. We do recommend you have a rod with a loud ratchet though, or have someone closely watching the rod, not to mention having a safety strap on the rod incase it gets a big hit at high speed.
Squid is definitely on the chew again on both sides of the cape. Targeting them in a tinny is one of the best options, but you can get them from the shore too. If you are fishing from the shore and targeting some bread-and-butter species like whiting, flathead, bream, garfish etc, we advise you have some berley to attract the various species close to shore. This often brings in the squid, especially on the sand near weed patches. Learmonth Jetty is another great area to fish from the shore and get squid. Make sure you have a variety of colours on hand and weights to ensure you have the best opportunity to bring home a fresh feed of calamari.
Furuno is doing a Sounder Techniques and Tips evening information session at the Exmouth Game Fishing Club on Monday September 3rd from 630pm. The bar will be open from 5 and there will be specials on purchases of Furuno units. Furuno has been a supporter of EGFC for many years, along with Tackle World Exmouth, who are providing anglers and visitors with information and to assist with their enjoyment and success of recreational fishing.
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Product of the week: Filleting products. From knives, to steels, knife rolls, electric sharpeners, scalers and much more. |
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