I know what you did last summer! You probably hit the south coast on Boxing Day and found the waterways as crowded as Sydney Harbour on New Years Eve.
And you probably dodged jetskis, wakeboats and stand-up paddle boards, only to find the fishing didnt live up to your expectations.
Get away from the crowds this summer and youll catch more fish. Credit:Ross Caddaye
Well, you werent alone. While its a superb time to relax on the coast, I rate the Christmas-New Year period as one of toughest weeks on the calendar to catch a fish.
The fish are still there – but the exponential increase in angling pressure and boat traffic sends many of them scurrying for quieter, less crowded areas.
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So, to tilt the odds back in your favour over summer and ensure your holiday is as productive as possible, try to fish as far away from your fellow anglers as possible.
This means getting off the beaten track a little – whether thats walking into lightly fished locations or jumping in a kayak or canoe to access nooks and crannies that see little or no angling pressure.
Youll also enjoy better fishing action if you wet a line at certain times of the day.
The narrow but very productive windows at first and last light are peak feeding time for most species – not just in the estuaries, but also off the beaches and rocks.
So make the effort to roll out of bed early, or hit the water as most holidaymakers are having dinner, and youll find the fish a lot more eager to smack your bait or lure.
The fishing along the coast has the potential to be outstanding over the summer holidays. The signs are already very good.
The recent rain certainly spiced things up, but conditions are still clear enough for all forms of fishing.
Surface luring in the estuaries has been brilliant, with whiting, bream and flathead firing as water temperatures creep up towards 22 degrees.
You can try this style of fishing in just about any coastal estuary. Invest in some poppers and surface walkers and focus on water less than a metre deep.
Fishing with soft plastics is producing an impressive spread of species, from estuary perch and bream in the upper reaches to flathead, trevally and flounder around the river and lakes mouths.
Best systems have been Merimbula Lake, Bega River, Wagonga Inlet, Tuross Lake, Moruya River, Clyde River, Burrill Lake and Ste Georges Basin.
Offshore fishing is also improving on a daily basis, with snapper, small kings and gummy sharks over the reefs and a few yellowfin tuna continuing to feed over the Shelf.
Fishing for natives in and around the capital is steady rather than spectacular.
Canberra-based guide Brett Richards reckons Googong is the pick of the local lakes, with pleasing numbers of fat golden perch biting. Big cod are also a possibility.
Lake Burley Griffin is discoloured after recent heavy rain but is still well worth a cast for redfin and goldens.
The best area is around Black Mountain Peninsular and Lady Denman Drive.
There are plenty of big carp on offer for anyone after a fun tussle on light gear.
Stop press: The first far south coast marlin of the season was tagged and released off Bunga, near Bermagui, on Wednesday morning.
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I know what you did last summer! You probably hit the south coast on Boxing Day and found the waterways as crowded as Sydney Harbour on New Years Eve.
And you probably dodged jetskis, wakeboats and stand-up paddle boards, only to find the fishing didnt live up to your expectations.
Get away from the crowds this summer and youll catch more fish. Credit:Ross Caddaye
Well, you werent alone. While its a superb time to relax on the coast, I rate the Christmas-New Year period as one of toughest weeks on the calendar to catch a fish.
The fish are still there – but the exponential increase in angling pressure and boat traffic sends many of them scurrying for quieter, less crowded areas.
Advertisement
So, to tilt the odds back in your favour over summer and ensure your holiday is as productive as possible, try to fish as far away from your fellow anglers as possible.
This means getting off the beaten track a little – whether thats walking into lightly fished locations or jumping in a kayak or canoe to access nooks and crannies that see little or no angling pressure.
Youll also enjoy better fishing action if you wet a line at certain times of the day.
The narrow but very productive windows at first and last light are peak feeding time for most species – not just in the estuaries, but also off the beaches and rocks.
So make the effort to roll out of bed early, or hit the water as most holidaymakers are having dinner, and youll find the fish a lot more eager to smack your bait or lure.
The fishing along the coast has the potential to be outstanding over the summer holidays. The signs are already very good.
The recent rain certainly spiced things up, but conditions are still clear enough for all forms of fishing.
Surface luring in the estuaries has been brilliant, with whiting, bream and flathead firing as water temperatures creep up towards 22 degrees.
You can try this style of fishing in just about any coastal estuary. Invest in some poppers and surface walkers and focus on water less than a metre deep.
Fishing with soft plastics is producing an impressive spread of species, from estuary perch and bream in the upper reaches to flathead, trevally and flounder around the river and lakes mouths.
Best systems have been Merimbula Lake, Bega River, Wagonga Inlet, Tuross Lake, Moruya River, Clyde River, Burrill Lake and Ste Georges Basin.
Offshore fishing is also improving on a daily basis, with snapper, small kings and gummy sharks over the reefs and a few yellowfin tuna continuing to feed over the Shelf.
Fishing for natives in and around the capital is steady rather than spectacular.
Canberra-based guide Brett Richards reckons Googong is the pick of the local lakes, with pleasing numbers of fat golden perch biting. Big cod are also a possibility.
Lake Burley Griffin is discoloured after recent heavy rain but is still well worth a cast for redfin and goldens.
The best area is around Black Mountain Peninsular and Lady Denman Drive.
There are plenty of big carp on offer for anyone after a fun tussle on light gear.
Stop press: The first far south coast marlin of the season was tagged and released off Bunga, near Bermagui, on Wednesday morning.
