With December now only just over a week and a bit away its time to look at what summer brings to the seaway. Summer sees early bite times for most fish with the period from first light(3.45am) until 6am yielding the most fish. The dusk bite can start as the sun begins to drop around 4ish though they really go into overdrive just as the sun dips below wavebreak. Bigeyes do feed in the area after dark so its worth staying around and see if you can find a school. High daily temps mean you bake out there once the sun is up to full strength.
During spring we have been cursed with constant N-NE winds which have dropped water temps and dirtied the water especially around the north wall. With summer I hope we will see some SE winds come through, even though this means that at times the ends of the walls will be unfishable. There's nice clean water just offshore so a decent SE blow should bring that water right into the seaway and bring the bait with it.
No sign of the big frogmouth pilchard schools as yet(last year they turned up around the 25th November) but once they turn up then the surface fishing should go into overdrive especially around the pipeline so keep an eye around this area for signs of feeding fish. Tailor, Bigeyes, GT's, salmon, mackerel and kingfish are all possible.
There's been alot of tailor around already and hopefully we should see average size and numbers increase and we head into early december. Poppers and shallow running minnows are the go for edge fishing but chrome slices work fine for the flats and fishing current lines.
Bigeye Trevally should turn up in numbers along with the froggies, always keep an eye out for surface feeding bigeyes anywhere in the seaway during dawn or dusk. Poppers, minnows and chrome slices for these fish.
Jewies will still be around and can be taken during slower tidal movements on vibs, blades and plastics.
Other fish such as kingfish, salmon, school mackerel, bonito and GT's are a random encounter and you'll probably find them mixed in with feeding schools of tailor or bigeyes.
Pelagics such as tuna and mackerel should show up offshore with the next SE blow as well.
I've done alot of prep for this years summer season, I have 3 new reels all full to the brim with line, all hooks (and split rings where needed)on lures have been changed to razor sharp Owner ST56's. I have stocked up on 20g twisties and 25gram gillies baitfish(20 of each), other chrome slices have been polished and I've got a few more poppers and minnows. All I need now is the fish and so far this season is looking alot better than last years so it should be good.
Thanks Craig,
Always look forward to your reports, and techniques/armory to adopt, when the need arises… Even more exhilarating when you mentioned that so far the season is proving to be better than last..
Thanks again to you, your dad and everyone else posting reports on your site.
Cheers Vic
Hi Craig,
What size ST-56 Owner trebles to you put on your lures?
Thanks,
Mike
Also the size of the rings to go with the trebles and the lb leader you are using if you don’t mind.
Thanks again,
Mike
Thanks Craig,
I really appreciate your great reports and information.
Fantastic catches of Tailor, hope to be able to get a couple myself.
Cheers, Mike
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oh yeaaa… oh yeaaaa…..my fingers are itching already…..please bring up the fish to us…..i wana go mayhem this year.i got alot of stock too craig .they are all ready to go.few new reel and rod to test as well.Some of them being sitting in the box for while and they are ready to screem.Can harldy wait.i hope that i could be on the rock everyday.The more time on the water ,the more fish we get hay???…Good luck to you all.