Canberra Fishing Report | April 20, 2023

Autumn fishing has been excellent of late with both local and coastal waters providing plenty of options. 

Local waters

Some nice cod have been caught in the Murrumbidgee and also in the Molongolo river.  Fish between 90 and 122cm have been reported with both surface lures and swim baits producing fish. 

Zac Manning with his 122cm Murrumbidgee cod taken off the surface. Carefully weighed in a sling this fish pulled the scales to 31 kilos or 69 pounds.

Fly fishing has produced some smaller specimens in recent weeks too.  Bigger fish are always on the cards for the keen fly angler too.

Cod on fly from the Murrumbidgee.

Robbie has been cleaning up on the cod during daylight hours on the ‘bidgee’ too.

Urban lakes have also had some good days with yellowbelly and Googong dam producing some nice ones along with redfin.  There has also been some very solid cod caught including fish over a metre.

Snowy Mountains

The Eucumbene spawn run has been picking up and the night fishing in the river mouth has been awesome though at times sporadic.  One night could produce double figure captures then two days later only a handful of fish.  Conditions play a large part in this equation and the key is to put in the time on the water.

Large streamers like the sex dungeon and small game changers are great options for this type of fishing.

Bec Bailey enjoying some high country dry fly action. The hi-vis pmx was the gun pattern.

South Coast

Coastal fishing has been good with the Clyde estuary producing solid flathead and fun size jewfish on plastics. 

Angus with some quality soft plastic caught fish from the Clyde river. Keitech Easy Shiner’s were the standout plastic.

Beaches have had some solid salmon on lures and baits.  Bream on the beach ends and around any shallow rocky areas have been worth a throw.

Rock fishing has improved after a number of days of larger swells making fishing difficult.  Bonito, small mackerel tuna and frigate mackerel have been caught on lure and fly on some of the deeper rock platforms.  Nomad ridgeback 20gm lures on spin gear are ideal for this fishing.  Fly anglers using deceivers and surf candies can have lots of fun with theses mini speedsters.