New South Wales Fishing Report 21/7//10
Snowy Mountains, Canberra & Surrounds

Report Supplied By Compleat Angler Canberra

Giant Brown Trout Caught In Lake Eucumbene On Light Tackle

Canberra tackle store manager Anthony Harrison put his knowledge of lures to good use at Lake Eucumbene last weekend when he hooked and landed a massive 4.6kg Brown Trout. The fish was a personal best and satisfyingly into the magic double figure mark of 10.1lb on the old angling scale. The fish took a small Strike Pro Bass X lure fished on light 2.3kg tackle and took ten minutes to land. He also landed another smaller brown and three rainbows whilst his fishing partner Mick landed a nice rainbow on a 5cm Rapala minnow.

In the same section of the lake near Old Adaminaby Joe O'Shea and friends had a lot of fun with rainbows to 1kg on Power Bait. They fished at night and lost a lot of fish in the timber but managed enough for the smoker. Anglers at Seven Gates also did well with rainbows on bardi grubs and Power Bait, with the best fishing during the windiest part of the day.

Lakes Rising

Levels in most of the regional lakes are rising following heavy rain and snowfalls and anglers are looking forward to some more good winter fishing. Eucumbene is at 20% of capacity, Jindabyne 61,Tantangara 10, Burrinjuck 49, Blowering 50, Wyangala 9, Burrendong 19 and Brogo 101.

Natives On Move

There have been good reports of Golden Perch in Blowering and Burrinjuck, on lures and live yabbies, with the best fish showing late in the day and early evening. Natives have been quiet in Canberra's urban lakes and most fishers report only redfin.

Estuary Fish Still Active

Estuaries are still fishing surprisingly well despite falling water temperatures. Flathead have shown on soft plastics in the Clyde River, Conjola and Tuross and bait anglers using banana prawns found some nice specimens in the Tomakin River. Trevally and blackfish also have been reliable.
Calm Conditions Suit Rockhoppers

Rock fishers have been able to fish in unnacustomed safety during the recent spell of good weather and have taken good hauls of drummer, blackfish and groper on bread, cunje and crabs. Top spots have included Bawley Point, Merry Beach and Green Cape.

Cuttlefish Spawners Attract Snapper

Cuttlefish coming inshore to spawn are attracting predatory Snapper into shallow water and this is a good time to target the reds on light tackle with baits of squid, cuttlefish, pilchard or Striped Tuna. Big single banana or Royal Red prawns also are top baits. The fish will also take soft plastics, especially in white or pink colours.
Further offshore there have been plenty of Sand Flathead in 20-30 metres and good morwong on the rocky reefs.

Barracouta and leatherjackets have been a pest but at least both can be eaten if properly prepared. Barracouta turn out to be surprisingly tasty after soaking in Hawk liquid smoke mix which pickles/cooks them in a few hours and leatherjackets can be skinned and grilled for a tasty bone-free feed. Great for kids.

Fishing Wide And Deep

At this time of the year anglers can take advantage of the more peaceful sea conditions to fish for normally hard to reach species such as gemfish, trevalla and hapuka.The fish can be found well offshore in deep water, commonly at depths of 140-240 metres. Most anglers use tough baits such as squid on 24-36kg braid with heavy sinkers. It's hard fishing but the results often are well worthwhile. The allowed gear is up to four rods per angler, with up to three hooks on each. The bag limit for gemfish is two per angler per day or five comprised of hapuka, gemfish and trevalla. There is a boat limit of 10 gemfish per day.