With a beautiful fish of 833mm taken in Merimbula Lake, Herbert Betar of Tura Beach won The Merimbula Big Game & Lakes Angling Club’s annual Merimbula Lakeview Hotel Dusky Flathead Competition run over the weekend February 2-3.
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Highly supportive of the local environment, the club is committed to the release of fish that could be legally kept and so this event is strictly catch-and-release with prizes awarded for the longest duskys as photographed on a DPI brag mat and then released. Herbert won a cash prize of $1000 for catching and releasing his fish. Second prize of $500 went to junior angler Sebastian Purcell, also of Tura Beach, for his 800mm dusky. Ladies First Prize went to Merrily Bell of Tura Beach with second prize for Ladies won by Avon Rollason of Bega. Junior prizes were also awarded to Cooper Keller of Wallagoot and Oliver Dinwoodie of Bald Hills. Longest bag of 2903mm for five duskys went to the Keller family of Wallagoot who fished Wallagoot Lake.
Offshore conditions are becoming more favourable and good tag and release reports show striped marlin are now available off Merimbula and Eden. Try the first drop-off. First to the Eden FAD are usually rewarded with fine mahi mahi (dolphin fish).
Good flathead are reported between the artificial reefs though good luck in getting a bait to the bottom through the shoals of slimy mackerel. Best ocean flathead remain directly off Kianinny and SE of Turingal Headland and off the Pinnacles south of Horseshoe Reef. Snapper and morwong remain on the chew along the main reef areas; Long Point, Haycock, Horseshoe Reef, Lennards Island and North Head.
A few luderick and drummer have been returned from Tura Headland and Short Point. Best time is just before high tide. Kingfish are also on the prowl off Long Point and the Tathra wharf. At the Merimbula Fishing Platform some very large calamari squid have been taken, some up to 50cm in length, generally best near dusk. Luderick at dawn and dusk remain the norm.
Dusky flathead, bream, tailor, flounder and whiting are available both in the Merimbula Lake channel and in the Top Lake. Dusky flathead, tailor, salmon and whiting are reported from the Pambula River. At the shark hole, a few bronze whaler sharks have also been reported. The Bega River remains closed and continues to fish well at Mogareeka and above Thompsons for dusky flathead, whiting and bream.
The clubhouse in Spencer Park will be open from 6.30pm on Friday, February 8. Visitors are very welcome. Come and enjoy the fishing report, the ambience, friendship and lovely views.
