August can be a funny month on the piscatorial calendar. Once upon a time it was not highly regarded, with many associating the month with a fair amount of wind and not so good fishing.
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However, during recent times, some of the best winter angling has been enjoyed in August, with plenty of options available offshore and land-based.
In the estuary, blackfish numbers are reasonably consistent with both breakwalls giving up reasonable numbers of fish to around a kiloram or better. Greenweed has been producing the more consistent results, although cabbage and weed flies are both accounting for their fair share.
Flathead numbers and quality remain terrific for this time of year, with whitebait and lures enjoying equal success. Best results have been from around Hibbard and Rawdon Island.
Bream remain in solid numbers, with good results from the walls and up Limeburners after dark. Mullet strips and yabbies have both worked well. During daylight hours, soft vibes and soft plastics have been particularly effective.
On the mulloway front, those throwing lures upstream continue to encounter a steady run of fish to around a metre, while the lower estuary continues to produce a few larger models on both lures and live baits.
Off the rocks, drummer numbers are reasonable with Rockies locally well worth a look. Best baits remain cunjevoi or large peeled prawns, although bread can at times prove highly effective, especially if this provides the base of your berley.
Bream have remained consistent particularly from around Point Plomer, while Lighthouse locally has also held some quality fish. Tailor numbers haven't been great, although the odd solid fish has been on offer with Crescent Head seeming to be the pick of locations.
On the blackfish front, some excellent bronzies have been cruising the washes around town, with Lighthouse, Miners and around Shelleys all worth a look. A few groper are also active when conditions allow safe access to the more exposed ledges.
Off the beaches, results have been consistent if not spectacular with Lighthouse producing a few bream and solid winter whiting during daytime sessions, along with a few tailor on and after dark. The odd salmon remains on offer from most stretches of sand with pretty well all baits and lures viable for these hungry predators.
Mulloway numbers however remain sparse in comparison with seasons past, and will likely remain so until the next decent fresh comes down our locally estuaries.
Offshore, some excellent bottom fishing has been on offer of late, with the reefs off Plomer and Port producing snapper, teraglin, pigfish and some terrific pearl perch in the 30 to 50 metre bracket.
Best results on the better quality snapper have been achieved by those throwing lures, with this being the trend for many years now.
Wider out, leather jackets have been largely absent off Port of late, however reports from the Camden Haven suggest masses of large fish are not too far away.
Until next time, tight lines and good fishing to all.
