Local angler Heather Sutterby loves game fishing but her fishing partner/captain was overseas and Heather looked like being stranded for the Queen's Birthday Merimbula Open. Heather emailed all and sundry as "Desperate and Boatless" but to no avail and it looked like there wasn't a berth available until Brian Schofield, one of the East Coast's master game anglers, welcomed Heather to join him and his daughter Kaitlyn on board Shockwave. The rest is history.
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Heather caught her first ever yellowfin tuna and won the tournament. A second yellowfin of 52kg was captured during the tournament by Andrew Nelson, co-captain of Deduction, and one was tagged and released by John Rumbold on Snappy Tom, captained by Robert Wood. Two mahi mahi (dolphin fish) were tagged and released, and a variety of sharks; blue, mako and thresher were also tagged and released. Congratulations to all.
The artificial reefs are quiet at present as we await a new wave of bait fish to take up residence. Reef fishing has become a little more difficult with strong inshore currents off Merimbula. For snapper and morwong it is probably best to anchor and fish with a down dropper rig. Good snapper are still about Mowarry and Boyd's Tower. There are good patches of ocean flathead off Bournda Island, near White Rock and Kianinny and north to Baronda Headland. Try at 15-17 fathoms off Tura Golf Course and Baronda. Flathead remain plentiful in Merimbula Bay. Salmon are schooling off the beaches, Haycock and Tura in particular.
At Merimbula, good fish remain on the chew including large tailor, trevally and bream. Of note is the return of garfish in the lower channel near Fishpen. Lots of luderick are schooling near the Merimbula Bridge. The Bega River remains open and trevally and bream are to be found about the Mogareeka Bridge.
The fishing season for trout closes for designated rivers and streams across NSW starting on Tuesday, June 11, and re-opens in time for the October long weekend at midnight on Friday, October 4. Remaining open to anglers are popular winter fishing spots in dams which are stocked including Lakes Jindabyne, Eucumbene and Tantangara.
The clubhouse in Spencer Park will be open from 6.30pm on Friday, june 14. Visitors are very welcome. Come and enjoy the fishing report, the ambience, friendship and lovely views with very competitive bar prices. Darragh Reynolds is the scheduled host. All enquiries to Lindon Thompson 0411 873 880. Membership application, membership renewal and everything you need to know about local fishing is on the club's website: www.mbglac.com.au.