The inaugural Merimbula Billfish tournament will start in just over a week. Briefing will be at the clubhouse on Thursday evening, March 21, doors open 6.30pm. This is a new venture by MBGLAC designed to be run during the best part of the game fish season and a large entry list is anticipated. Enquiries Peter Haar 0417 021 066.

Mako sharks, bronze whalers and gummy sharks have featured during the Eden Amateur Fishing Club's annual fishing competition. Congratulations to member Robert Wood taking out first prize in his class with a 12kg gummy shark caught at Bitangabee. Ocean flathead seem to have moved northwards with only patchy catches reported around Merimbula but it is easy to bag out near Kianinny. Try as well any of the normal marks all the way north to Bithrys! Garfish and pilchards are excellent baits.

Some excellent morwong have been taken off Long Point, Haycock and Horseshoe Reef. Swarms of small couta sometimes make it a little difficult to get bait to the bottom. Snapper remain patchy at Hunter Reef, Haycock and Horseshoe Reef. Try also Lennards Island and North Head. Congratulations also to Member Dylan Smith with his winning salmon in the Eden competition of 2.83kg. Beach salmon remain sporadic; best spots Aslings and Haycock beaches.

Frigate mackerel are now circling both the Tathra and Merimbula wharfs together with the occasional kingfish. Luderick remain on the chew at Merimbula, best time the hour before dark. During the day anglers using bread berley attracted loads of mullet. A few calamari squid are available on dusk. There are trevally, bream and luderick about the oyster racks in Merimbula Lake. Dusky flathead, flounder, bream, trevally, mullet and some garfish are available in the Merimbula channel.

At Pambula Lake good tailor, trevally, some salmon and mullet are on the chew. Dusky flathead, big bream and whiting are all available at Mogareeka in the Bega River. Congratulations to member Leon Leondiou who caught and released a 91.5cm dusky at Mogareeka winning his class in Eden competition.

Interested people are invited to achieve a short range operator certificate of proficiency (SROCP) in a single half-day course. The club is sponsoring a tutor for the course to be held this Sunday, March 17, from 12pm. For further information contact Martin Bartlett on 0418 331 242.

The clubhouse in Spencer Park will be open from 6.30pm on Friday, March 15. Visitors are very welcome. Come join us and enjoy the lovely views.