Flathead fishing is as good as it gets at the moment with all anglers catching  bag limits in short time. The fish are on most of the grounds north and south of Merimbula with some big tigers and sandys of legal size keen to take a bait or lure.  A few small gummy sharks have also been taken but the worst thing is the return of the gear pinching chinaman leatherjackets.

Only good thing is that they are of reasonable size so a long shanked hook with a bit of squid is ideal if you want some to put on the table. Inshore reef fishing is a bit slower with a few snapper about. South is the place to go if your keen to have a crack at the Kingfish with fish up to 10 kilo taken from the Mowary area. Jigging will work on some occasions but and a live bait is proving to be deadly over the last week. 

Gamefishing is also on fire with plenty of pelagics out wider and for the deep sea bottom bashers plenty of harpooka and blue eye. Lake fishing is also great with plenty of bream, dusky flathead trevaly and tailor all on the chew.

Our Gala Fishing competion will be this weekend and  is open to everyone. 33 prizes to be awarded and the monster fish auction will be held at approximately 2.30 pm on Sunday. Net proceeds will be donated to Pambula hospital and entry forms can be obtained from Merimbula Tackle World, McKays Discount Oysters or at the Spencer Park clubhouse this Friday night. Don't forget Thursday nights seafood raffle at the Chook and The Ox and the Spencer Park clubhouse will be open at 6.30 pm Friday night with bar staff Tom Scott and Peter Fairbairn serving the drinks.   

May your reel scream, Mex.

Capt Joe Gatt reports another good days fishing in lovely weather,  water temp 18.9.  Todays catch consisted of, Morwong, Snapper, Flat Head & Leather Jackets.

Some good catches of flat head over the last few days, with Joe landing 2 small bronze's shark ,lost four and a mixed bag of snapper and morwong all sizes. The mornings have been very pleasant fishing. Salmon are being caught at Eden off the boats.

The king fish are starting to bite Joe's brother lost 5 yesterday he counted 50 boats king fishing and gave up counting so there is not much space down there.
Joe & Adelle Gatt
Headland Charters 64965 1134

Its been a bit of a shame over the last week fishing wise as the fish are on the bite but the weather has been against us with plenty of wind and rising seas. Anglers that fished before the wind found plenty of species on the chew and best news for the bottom bouncers was heaps of sand and tiger flathead in good numbers north and south of Merimbula.

A few gummy sharks were also taken and the odd gurnard was also found. Gamefishing is probably at its best with marlin tuna and sharks all on the go but again the weather has to be co-operative if crews want to have a crack as most of the fish are on the shelf or wider over the past week or so. Deep sea bottom fishing is still producing harpooka and the inshore reefs are starting to fire up with catches of snapper and morwong being more frequent.

Lake fishing is great with all species on the bite and unfortunately some members have had run ins with jewfish but come out with  stories of what could have or should have been but still have there faces buried in hanky's as they weren't good enough on the day. Everyone is looking forward to the next dark of the moon as last months run was a beauty and I can guarantine that Merimbula Lakes foreshore will be ablaze with light as we all have a crack at our local prawns. 

Beaches are starting to fire with a few salmon and tailor about and are more than ready to take a bait if fished early mornings or on dusk in a gutter or hole.    The club will be open for news years eve so come on down for a fun night and watch the fireworks in style. The bar will be open but a BYO meat, salads and savouries is recommended for all to see in the new year. 

Our Gala Weekend will be held over the 5th&6th January and 33 prizes will be awarded to anglers competing over the duration of the competion. Entry forms will be available at the clubhouse on any Friday night and available from Tackle World Merimbula  or McKays Discount Oysters. The Chook and the Ox tavern is the place to go this Thursday night with plenty of seafood and meat trays raffles happening starting at 5.30.   Peter Fairbairn and Darragh Reynolds will open the Spencer Clubhouse this Friday 6.30pm so grab a friend and have a beer or two and have a crack in the beer and seafood raffle.  May your reel scream, Mex.

Gamefishing is worth a shot at the moment as plenty of tuna and marlin are about with fish caught both on the shelf and as close in as 30 fathoms. Kingfish have also been on the chew with live baits proving to be the best option but some days both baits and jigs are just as deadly.

Inshore reef fishing has been a bit tough but most species have been caught when anglers put  plenty of time and effort in. Anglers fishing wide have come across plenty of harpooka but unfortunately the blue eye have been scarce. Flathead fishing has been good with nice sandys and tigers on the chew and the local estuaries are still firing with all species on the bite.

Beach fishing has been the exception with poor catches and hopefully this should improve as some nice gutters and holes are forming after some rough weather last week. Our Gala Weekend will be on the 5th -6th January and we are hoping for a big turn out of fishermen as its our once a year chance of donating money to local groups in need.

Shane Mayberry and myself are on bar duty this Friday night and will open the Spencer Park clubrooms at 6.30 pm. Fishing report will be held prior to the beer and seafood raffle and a big selection of drinks are available to members and the general public. 

On behalf of president Shannon Stokes and committee I would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and happy new year.
May your reel scream, Mex.

Flathead fishermen had a bad time trying to find a feed last week as the fish just didn't want to be found or were off the chew. Gamefishing on the other hand has been great with marlin, albacore, yellowfin and kingfish all on the chew. 

Lake fishing is still a good way to go with plenty of bream, dusky flathead, snapper and tailor on the bite. Prawning has been at its best with jumbo catches of huge prawns caught regularly.

Next Friday night Capt Bruce Libbis will be giving a talk on sport fishing and knot tying so mark this down on your calendar and be there for a night of fun and information. Spencer Park clubrooms will open with Andrew Buckland and Darragh Reynolds on bar duty and as usual the beer and seafood raffle will be held prior to Bruce's talk.

All welcome members and the general public.  May your reel scream, Mex.