We cannot condone breaking of any of the restrictions and social distancing rules handed down by the Federal and State governments and so our fishing report is for those who fish alone abiding by the exercise and distancing rules or with companions and children from the one household. In hindsight it may well be found that time spent quietly angling might have kept more than one household at peace through these trying times.
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As of midnight on March 26, the NSW Game Fishing Association has suspended all sport fishing, including for records or trophies, until further notice.
The Merimbula Big Game & Lakes Angling Club has already ceased all meetings and club activities as well as postponing its tournaments.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Stacey Tannos is appealing to recreational boaters to stay on shore during the crisis, but assures the boating community that it remains ready to respond to emergencies.
Please note that 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. Incidents continue to be reported.
MBGLAC citizen science monitoring of the Merimbula Artificial Reefs shows sea temps of 20 degrees at surface and 18 degrees at 30m depth. Species noted recently include small bearded cod, mado, lots of eastern blue spotted flathead, yellowtail, sweep, some juvenile snapper, banjo rays, tailor and a boar fish all showing that the reefs are supporting a growing population of fish.
Flathead remain on the chew in Merimbula Bay, at Tura Head at 16 fathoms and at 25 fathoms off Haycock Beach.
For land-based anglers good size Australian salmon are very active at Long Point and Tura Headland. Try ganged hooks and pilchards. Try Tura, Merimbula, Haycock, and Aslings beaches.
There is good land-based fishing at Mogareeka where one can move around to get the best shelter from prevailing winds. On offer are mullet, bream, trevally and doubtless the one metre dusky flathead are still about, try pilchards or soft plastics.
All along the Merimbula channel down from the bridge, trevally, dusky flathead, the occasional flounder and bream remain on the chew. Fish from around the bridge, the marina, the MBGLAC jetty and the Merimbula Wharf - abide by distance rules.
Unable to ensure "social distancing" the MBGLAC has closed its traditional Friday evening get-togethers.