Welcome again to Greg James’ fishing column with all the hot tips for fishing Yorke Peninsula — you can contact Greg at greg@gregjamesfishing.com.au.
Wallaroo: Rat kingfish have been active around the jetty and just west of the new grain offloading groyne, which has had steady shipping traffic over the past week. A few large blue swimmer crabs have also been spotted in the area. Bream are showing up in the marina. Boat crews made the most of calm early morning conditions to head out for King George whiting, garfish and crabs. Squid catches remain low.
Moonta Bay/Port Hughtes: Boaties reported good catches of blue swimmer crabs and a few quality garfish while fishing inside the bay and south of the broken ground near Rifle Butts Beach. Squid are fewer than in previous years, but yellowfin whiting are active off local beaches during high tide. Garfish and crabs are appearing around the jetties after dusk.
Port Victoria: Earlier in the week, boat crews caught KG whiting up to 40cm near Wardang Island. They also picked up small to medium squid and mixed smaller fish around the Songvaar wreck on the way back. The jetty continues to produce a few blue crabs and garfish.
Point Turton/Corny Point: Favourable tides for much of last week gave boat crews a boost after a quiet period. Many launched in search of garfish, tommy ruff (Australian herring) and snook. Most reports of KG whiting came from the deep, clean waters well south-west of Corny Point. The town jetty has been quiet.
Marion Bay/Stenhouse Bay: Pesky snapper are taking whiting baits on the onshore grounds but are not taking the hooks. Other main targets include red nannygai, flathead and small tuna. Shore-based fishers have found mullet and salmon trout along beaches unaffected by the algal bloom.
Ardrossan/Edithburgh: I visited the coastline from Port Wakefield to Ardrossan twice last week and noticed the water was a murky green, which may indicate poor conditions. The jetty remains closed for repairs and seaweed removal at the boat ramp began on Friday.
High tides have led to a slight increase in mulloway, salmon trout and yellowfin whiting moving north.
Tight lines and see you soon!