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Greetings readers of ‘the LOCAL’ newspaper, SANDSTONE POINT

Either land-based or by vessel anglers have successfully caught, using soft plastics, plenty of flathead on the flats due to the abundance of prawns on the run at the moment.

EASTER MADNESS!!!

With our busy lifestyles and restricted movements of the last few years, the thought of a holiday is very enticing. However, parents with school-aged kids know only too well that your holidays are restricted to busy school holiday periods. What this all means from a fishing perspective is that the waterways, beaches and boat ramps at these locations can become extremely busy especially during the peak times from 9am-5pm. All is not lost fishing wise as there are still certain times and days when crowds on or around the water can be smaller.

SKIRMISH POINT AND WOORIM

Mackerel are plenty around the washing machine at Skirmish Point, with small white metal slugs the key to catching them. From the beach at the northern end of Woorim, beach land-based anglers have successfully caught some very nice long tail tuna.

Let’s go ski tubing and knee boarding

Ningi Creek

Live bait in the upper reaches are proving fruitful for decent mangrove jack. Flat head on the troll towards the mouth of the creek and if you are chasing a feed of prawns, there has been a few in the same areas.

Banksia Beach

Plenty of good jacks in the canals along with trevally and bream. Grassy sweet lip at the ledge running along Banksia Beach, caught on fresh squid.

Making the effort to get up and start fishing just before the dawn can be beneficial during the holiday periods. While maybe not as quiet as dawn, dusk is of course your next best option to be hitting the beach or waterways.

Beach Fishing

To me, beach fishing is one of the most under utilised locations when you consider the vast amount of beach available to fish and the many varied legal-size fish available to catch. It is worth taking a walk 100 metres or more away from the crowds to some likely looking gutters.

There are a few little tips and tricks you can apply to your estuary fishing to increase your chances of catching fish during the busy holiday periods. One thing you can do if you have a small boat is to track down hidden bays or sneaky little creeks where fish take refuge from heavy boat traffic during the middle hours of the day. You should move very quietly in these locations using an electric motor whilst you cast to the edge of weed beds, melon holes, drains or fallen timber. So, there you go. Chasing seafood over the holidays can be a bit tricky but there are times and places to increase your chances of taking home a feed or just having some fun with catch and release.

Enjoy your fishing and remember to only catch what you need!

Ski tubing is always great family fun!! You don’t need a high-powered boat. Just a tinny with around 20hp will happily tow a single ski tube or kneeboard.

A few basic rules to keep everyone safe:

• use a proper ski tube rope with a ski bridle and float attached to tow handles or ski hooks on both rear corners of the boat.

• never tow off only one corner as this may cause the boat to be unstable at speed.

• ensure that everyone on board and the person on the tube are wearing approved life jackets or buoyancy vests.

• you must have a responsible observer whose job it is to be additional eyes and ears for the boat driver.

• as the driver, be aware to keep well away from other vessels allowing for the length of the tow rope and the large turning circle needed.

• avoid high speed turns as this may put the ski tuber into a dangerous whip causing injury.

As the master of the vessel towing any type of water toy, you need to be super aware of everything going on around you, ensuring you exercise caution and common sense at all times. If you do all this, you and your family will have a fun day out on the water.

For advice on all the right products, check with your local marine accessory shop. Always make sure you check all safety gear.

Remember as the master of the vessel YOU are responsible for the safety of everyone on board.

Happy and safe boating, Roger