Offshore antics running amok this autumn

KALBARRI

Stephen Wiseman

Early morning starts are required to get in amongst the activity of the toothy critters running amuck offshore; wahoo, macks and tuna are still plentiful from the Bluff to north of the Sand Patch.

Best time is just after the sun hits the water for the macks and wahoo, with tuna smashing lures umtil well into the day and again just before sundown. Beach fishos have been watching tuna schools busting up bait balls late afternoon from in front of Wittecarra and one lucky angler fishing for tailor managed a mack from the beach. What a nice addition to the bucket there are plenty in the bay too and great fun on light tackle casting small soft plastics or micro jigs. Schools of better size fish can be found out on the white bank and the lumps/ coral patches 25-30m where the micro jigs work really well catching skippy. Big dhus are never shy on grabbing a tiny jig in these depths, so fish a heavy leader because the dhufish will completely inhale the tiny jigs and their teeth will wear through anything under 50lb in short order.

The mullet run started early this year bringing along with them plenty of sharks to the nearshore. We have been picking a few up most nights on baits intended for mulloway

of tailor.

Mulloway activity is picking up and, with the promise of a river coming down, it will only get better as will all the activity around the river mouth. Watch the muddy water areas as the tide changes, and fish the change of tide as that’s when most of the activity will happen.

Whiting activity has been a bit slow but there are still some nice little fat fish to be had on the flats behind frustration and in front of the IGA car park.

The rock hoppers and cliff climbers have been doing well with catches of pink snapper and baldchin groupers from south of town, any of the coastal gorges that are accessible will produce good fish but care is needed