With bad weather forecast, last weekend's Eden Open was cancelled. Those gamefishers who did venture out reported a strong south flowing 24-degree EAC across the shelf, with quality dolphinfish taking trolled lures. No marlin were reported.
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The bar at Merimbula remains shallow and one should take extreme care crossing in small craft. This has arisen due to a false channel developed past Mitchies Jetty spreading the current flow over a wide area and limiting the normal channel scouring near the navigation buoy.
The large swells of the past few days are likely to fire up a number of species and in particular bring snapper onto the chew, especially closer to the headlands. Morwong and gummy shark are also likely targets. Best results from anchoring with a deep slung berley pot.
There is no shortage of slimy mackerel bait fish at the artificial reefs. Flathead are a little scarce, you need to move around until a good patch is found, try 17 fathoms. Some really big Australian salmon are active at Tura Beach. Nothing to report from Haycock as the National Park has been closed.
With big rains in the hills the Brogo dam is overflowing and the Bega River was opened at Mogareeka last Tuesday (February 11). Dreams of metre-long duskys need to be shelved for a while as the whole of the river and especially Mogareeka is awash with muddy water. Best opportunity is in the deeper holes which retain cleaner water beneath the fresh and here bream will be on the chew. Big jewfish will be gathered near the bridge, please release after capture. At Eden the Kiah River mouth is in much the same condition with bream and jewfish on the chew.
At Mitchies good whiting are about and respond to worm baits on a falling tide. Trevally, dusky flathead and bream remain on the chew all along the Merimbula channel down from the bridge. Best time is low tide with both soft plastics or pilchard baits.
The annual calamari squid fest is on at the Merimbula Wharf with anglers bagging out in the mornings and evenings. Best results from dark coloured, prawn-like slow sinking jigs. Some good Australian salmon have also been taken with silver spinners. Luderick can be patchy but some good catches are reported in the evenings using artificial lures.
With monies raised during January's fire emergency, MBGLAC was able to donate $500 to Marine Rescue Merimbula in thanks for their outstanding efforts supporting RFS.
On Friday, February 21, the club will be open from 6.30pm. Visitors are welcome.
