Good fishing spots

We are now heading into the typical late autumn, early winter pattern of storms followed by spells of perfect calm fishing conditions. That's not to say the storms are bad though. During and after a decent blow is when the big Pink Snapper come inshore to feed, and after a heavy rain is when the Mulloway are hanging around the mouth of the river waiting for their food to wash down to them. Also the beaches are fantastic to fish as the storm's wave action dredges out some excellent channels and holes in which the big fish hunt. Target fish such as Tailor and Mulloway near the reefs at Triggs, Yanchep, and North Cottesloe and also near the Swanbourne Drain.

I have just updated our monthly Catch Guide, now available in-store under our information board, and it's always interesting to see the amount and variety of fishing available over the winter months. The fish are generally bigger with Jumbo winter Tailor on the in-shore reefs, big Yellowfin Whiting inside the marinas, and how about Pike up to 90cm long on the Hillarys weed beds! The big winter Pink Snapper are caught from the ASI groyne, Rockingham Yacht Club Jetty, Palm Beach Jetty, the northern end of Cockburn Sound, in between Rottnest and Carnac Island, North Mole, both City Beach groynes, out on the 3-mile reefs, and at the end of the Hillarys south wall.

In fact, any of the Marina groynes are worth a try after a storm. Please remember though that there will be lots of undersize "Squire" (baby Pink Snapper) around so please carefully release these. The current Pink Snapper size South of Lancelin is now 45cm. The various marinas and rock walls up and down our coast are also magnets for Herring, Garfish, Yellowtail, and various other "bread and butter" species at this time of year. If you fish from a small boat you will be likely to tangle with Samsonfish along the in-shore reefs as well as Bonito and Skippy, and there are good numbers of Squid anywhere there are weed banks. Cockburn sound is an excellent place to try for Squid as well as the weed beds around Hillarys Boat harbour. Rottnest is interesting in autumn and winter with various species available including good size Herring, Skippy, and Salmon in the bays around the island, particularly towards West End. Also off West End we continue to get reports of Spanish Mackerel and the Yellowfin Tuna will still be around. I would also be looking for Yellowtail Kingfish at Charlotte Bay and West End (please also check the locations of the various no-fish areas around the island).

Salmon will still be caught in ones and twos from the northern rock-walls and beaches with better numbers coming from the North Mole and further south around Garden Island. Heading down to Mandurah will increase your chances further as there are nice size fish caught on the Dawesville Cut south wall and down towards White Hills. In the river the Bream are spread out all over the place so fishing around any "down-river" structure is possibly your best strategy. The Flounder are worth chasing around the East Fremantle area and the Prawns will be making their presence felt down that way as well. Don't let a little cold weather put you off or you may miss some great fishing action! Kind Regards from, Charlie, Colleen, Brody, Paul, Brent, Trent, Christopher, and Tamara, Your Got One Woodvale Team.