Canberra Fishing Report | May 2024
Cooler temps have hit the region and with this change the fishing has been very good in most of out local waterways, the mountains and coastal waters.
LOCAL LAKES & RIVERS
Anglers have started targeting large cod in the Murrumbidgee of late and though it can be a slog several metre fish have been caught and landed in recent times.
Fishing will be good over the next few weeks. As we lead into winter, you should start to think about upsizing the size of you presentation when targeting Murray Cod.
The smaller fish become less active, but the bigger fish will typically respond to a larger lure or fly.
Googong natives have been a little slower based on reports, of interest is the large numbers of trout that have been seen rising recently.
A few have been hooked by anglers throwing small lures at them and fly anglers may be able to target these fish as another option in the dam
Please be aware that there will be some closures to fishing areas in the Murrumbidgee and Googong areas through the months of May and June for the 2024 Aerial Pest Control program
See link for details.
Brett Perrot has started off his winter cod account in fine style
Irukandji Sicario rigged with a stinger hook lure did the job
SNOWY MOUNTAINS
Dry conditions have not really helped the spawn run as yet. Not to say there are not fish in the river, there most certainly are, but not in big numbers yet.
We are expecting rain in the next few days so hopefully that will spur on a run of fish.
The bulk of fish continue to congregate in the lake in anticipation of rain and can be targeted by boat based anglers with sinking lines.
These fish rely heavily on rising river levels to spawn successfully.
Only lure & fly are permitted in these prestigious waters.
Catch and release is encouraged. Please adhere to fisheries rules regulations when fishing this spawning river.
Please also note current National Park closures: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/news/kosciuszko-national-park-implements-safety-closures-for-control-operations
Lake Eucumbene proper has been producing some numbers of fish and all methods have been working.
Polaroiding the edges with a fly rod has still been good though the fish can be fussy. Evening fishing has been good too with some nice rainbows hitting the bays on dark and there is still the chance of a solid brown showing up after dark.
Loch style fishing has also been good with some nice browns and rainbows being caught on a range of flies fished deep during the day.
Bill Fogarty with a very solid brown taken on a cordulid in the Yens Bay area.
Nice brown polaroided on a small black nymph.
Danny Spelic with a loch style brown.
Oliver Paton with a solid Eucumbene brown.
Trolling on the lake has been good in some areas but tougher in others. Conditions play a large part in the equation but rest assured being on the water is key.
Powerbait and scrubworms have been the best baits recently.
SOUTH COAST
Coastal fishing has been very good when the southerly winds have backed off.
Cameron had a rather rain drenched session near Batemans Bay recently with a mixed bag of bream, flathead and estuary perch on lures with over 40 fish landed between two anglers. Z Man Slimswimz were the best plastic and also bent minnows.
Cameron with some nice estuary captures
Matt Perdrau reports Flathead on beaches between Tomakin and Broulee. 7' to 7'6" 2-5kg or 3-6kg spin rod matched with 2500/3000 reel spooled with 10lb braid and 16lb leader. 1/4 to 3/8oz jig head depending on surf/tide match with any 3-4 inch plastic. Zman Streakz and Minnowz in bloodworm and mulletron being standouts.
Cameron with some nice estuary captures
Snapper on inshore reefs between Durras and Batemans Bay in depths between 8 and 20 meters. 7'6" to 8' 4-7kg rod matched with 4000 size reel. 15lb braid with 15-20lb leader. 5" to 7" jerkshad plastics (Gulp being the standout in any colour) rigged on 1/4 to 1/2oz jig head depending on swell, tide and wind. Few small Jew around in same areas as bycatch.
Plenty of small pelagics moving through the same areas busting bait on surface so pays to have a metal 15 to 30 gram slug rigged up.
Mixed bag of Snapper, Jew and Pelagics on the inshore reefs
Other anglers have also been on the snapper over the past few weeks with some crackers taken by Mick in the Ulladulla to Batemans Bay area.
Mick with two really nice snapper.
Rockfishing has been tough due to conditions on some days but there are still bonito, salmon around with a few frigates thrown in on the good days. While it is getting late now, the odd longtail could still turn up and kingfish are always a possibility.
Bread and butter drummer and bream fishing has picked up and after the southerly bumps snapper fishing off the stones is worth a shot.
Glen Kilpatrick with a nice South Coast Longtail taken on a livebait.
