Fishing with John Curtis 14th Jan 2012
14/01/2012 , 8:46 AM by Olivia Holmes
SATURDAY BREAKFAST FISHING REPORT FOR 14TH of JANUARY 2012
SOLUNAR PREDICTIONS, TIDES AND SUNRISE / SUNSET TIMES FOR THIS WEEK
SOLUNAR PREDICTIONS
DAY / DATE
PREDICTION
PREDICTED PRIME TIMES
MOON PHASE
Sat 14/01
POOR
01:59 - 03:59
14:24 - 16:24
Sun 15/01
POOR
02:48 - 04:48
15:14 - 17:14
Mon 16/01
POOR
03:39 - 05:39
16:06 - 18:06
Tues 17/01
FAIR
04:32 - 06:32
17:00 - 19:00
LAST QUARTER
Wed 18/01
GOOD
05:28 - 07:28
17:57 - 19:57
Thurs 19/01
GOOD
06:26 - 08:26
18:55 - 20:55
Fri 20/01
FAIR
07:25 - 09:25
19:55 - 21:55
LAST CRESCENT
These are the predicted MAJOR Solunar periods this week, adjusted to Perth time. For minor periods add approximately 6 hours 45 minutes. For anglers in the Pilbara and Esperance they will need to deduct approximately 20 minutes.
SUNRISE AND SUNSET TIMES FOR PERTH FOR THE WEEK:
DAY / DATE
SUNRISE
SUNSET
MOONRISE
MOONSET
Sat 14/01
05:24
19:26
21:50 p
10:17
Sun 15/01
05:25
19:26
22:26 p
11:21
Mon 16/01
05:26
19:26
23:03 p
12:26
Tues 17/01
05:27
19:26
23:43
13:33
Wed 18/01
05:28
19:25
00:27
14:39
Thurs 19/01
05:29
19:25
01:16
15:43
Fri 20/01
05:30
19:25
02:11
16:44
p = previous day; f = following day.
Where a rise time is noted with a 'p', it means that the time listed is for the previous day. Where a set time is noted with an 'f', it means that the time listed is for the following day. This complication is because the Moon rises, transits and sets almost an hour later every night, so every few days there is a 24-hour 'calendar day' in which the Moon either doesn't rise, or doesn't set.
These times will be adequate for general purpose use in the Perth metropolitan area. However, corrections must be applied for other locations in Western Australia.
PREDICTED TIDES FOR FREMANTLE THIS WEEK
DAY / DATE
TIME AND PREDICTED HEIGHT
Sat 14/01
06:40
0.52
14:42
0.78
17:49
0.75
20:38
0.77
Sun 15/01
06:33
0.54
15:19
0.84
Mon 16/01
06:32
0.54
16:02
0.90
Tues 17/01
05:21
0.51
16:53
0.96
Wed 18/01
03:31
0.45
17:52
1.02
Thurs 19/01
04:04
0.38
18:46
1.07
Fri 20/01
04:40
0.34
19:33
1.09
NOTE: These are the predicted tides for Fremantle and there may be some variation due to wind strength and direction.
GENERAL FISHING:
A disaster has befallen W A anglers over the past few weeks. I am told that most of our local tackle shops have run out of the ever popular mulies, the number one preferred bait for tailor anglers. Shops that have supplies, are limiting customers to only one or two bags of bait per person. Others have small stocks of ‘scalies’, which are a bigger bait and generally not preferred for tailor. Some shops also have only small numbers of baby mulies, and are limiting the sale of them as well.
Commercial mulie boat operators say that there are plenty of mulies out there, but they are too far offshore and it is not economically viable to go and catch them. The dollar value return for effort required is not viable The cost of fuel and time in travel does not make it worth their while. To break even retailers would have to charge almost$25 per block Are you prepared to pay that for bait?. What has happened to cause this problem?
Weather and the environment has always played an important part in the anglers luck and ability to catch fish. Over the past few weeks we have had relatively mild summer conditions in the metropolitan area. That has meant gusty easterly winds in the early morning and late afternoon sea breezes, ideal condition for some good tailor fishing. With a cyclone hammering the Pilbara coast over the past few days things are changing even more so. Part of the process that sees cyclones form is that the sea surface temperature gets up to around 26 - 280C. Currently sea surface temperatures in and around Perth are getting up to 260C, and I think that we can blame a little bit of the problem of no baitfish on the Leeuwin Current.
There is not a lot known about this enigmatic current, but scientists are starting to unravel some of its mysteries. When compared with other Southern Hemisphere currents that flow along the west coast of Africa and South America it is radically different Both the Humboldt Current, off South America, and the Benguela, off the coast of West Africa flow south to north, the Leeuwin flows south. These other currents are associated with upwelling’s, rich in nutrients which stimulate plankton blooms and support a prolific food chain of marine species.
It would appear that the Leeuwin Current appears to suppress upwelling’s, and as a result supports much smaller populations of plankton-eating baitfish such as anchovies and pilchards which, in turn, provide food for larger predatory species. Consequently, unlike the great pelagic fisheries of South America and Africa, West Australia’s commercial fisheries are dominated by bottom-dwelling species such as rock lobster and prawns, which depend on food produced directly from the sea floor communities.
Last week in this column I mentioned that there has been a regular increase in the sea surface temperature along the metropolitan coastline, and referred readers to the B O M website for a current map indicating sea surface temperatures at http://www.bom.gov.au/oceanography/forecasts/idyoc10.shtml?region=10&forecast=1)
These colour-enhanced images show how the current meanders as it flows down the coast, pushing whirls and eddies of warm water off the main stream and into bays and areas along the inshore coastline. These warm water eddies raise water temperatures and cause several species to leave and move to more suitable cooler waters.
Species that can be affected by this temperature variation include; salmon and herring, pilchards. western rock lobsters, scallops, prawns, scaly mackerel, bronze whaler sharks, Spanish mackerel, baldchin groper, bar- tailed flathead, and giant herring. There is however at least one positive to arise from this. The Leeuwin Current also carries with it the eggs, larvae and adults of a myriad species of sea life into new habitats and nursery areas such as Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds and the Swan River.
Research has shown that the Leeuwin flows strongest during the winter months from April to October. It pushes warm, low nutrient tropical water from the seas around Indonesia and the North West of Australia, south along the edge of the WA Continental Shelf. The current is generally about 100 kilometres wide and between 150 and 200 metres deep near Exmouth, but narrows to about 30km wide as it follows the WA coast south to Cape Leeuwin, where it rounds the corner and flows on into the Great Australian Bight.
In the case of winter salmon fishing in the metropolitan area, the strength of the warm Leeuwin Current flowing south, appears to exert a major influence on how far north this cold water species will travel during its spawning run, and whether or not salmon schools will lie up along beaches. In practice this often means that during years of strong Leeuwin Current flow, patches of warmer water form near the shoreline and salmon schools move offshore into deeper water in order to avoid them.
Because salmon fishing is largely beach based, when this happens both professionals and anglers encounter fewer salmon and catches drop. I believe that this is what has happened to the mulies and other cooler water fish at the moment and we have other species replacing them, albeit most only accessible to boat anglers.
As research continues and understanding of the current grows, it’s becoming clear that it has a profound influence on not only the behaviour and feeding patterns of W A’s Continental Shelf fish and crustacea, but also their life history. It’s also clear, that the Leeuwin Current sets the scene for many other life forms fundamental to W A’s marine ecology including seagrass, seaweeds, corals, and further up the food chain, sea birds. The strength and timing of the Leeuwin Current obviously has a significant impact on the distribution of a variety of species. Two significant fish that are a prime recreational target in the Swan and Canning Rivers are the Bar-tailed flathead (Platycephalus indicus) and the Yellowtail Flathead (Platycephalus endrachtensis) and these have an obvious Leeuwin Current link. They are a sub-tropical species, found mainly from Shark Bay northwards, so it’s odds-on that their eggs or larvae drifted south in the warm current at some stage. The Leeuwin Current is likely to be the reason why we are catching several pelagic species as far south as Rottnest Island. Another species that sportfishing anglers seek in the Swan River is the giant herring. Every year there are several of this species taken in the Swan ranging between about one and three kilos.
So if you’re not catching any tailor at the moment, you can blame the Leeuwin Current. Just try this for a different excuse, ”the water temperature was ‘too hot’ ”. If you are not sent to the ‘rubber walled room’ you may be allowed to go fishing again, but you will have to find a different excuse next time.
Good anglers limit their catch, rather than catch their limit.
WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT POPULAR FISHING LOCATIONS
MANDURAH.
Crabs in the estuary are still plentiful. You can get a feed fairly quickly in some locations and have to work hard in others. Make sure that you check the size of each as some are not quite legal. In some locations the water is still a bit murky so try waters that are a little clearer for better results.
It shouldn’t be too long before big mulloway start to appear more regularly on the southern metropolitan beaches. Two good mulloway up to 23kg have been caught in the last week from the beaches to the north of Mandurah and rumour has it that there have been several more. The beaches at Golden Bay, San Remo, Singleton and Madora are all worth a closer look if you are seeking these larger fish. The Golden Bay area has been producing some good catches of tailor, herring and whiting. One of these used as a fresh bait is perfect for a big mulloway.
South of Mandurah, Tim’s Thicket and White Hills have been consistently producing good tailor with some fish better than 50cm being caught. There are also a few small salmon still around the area as well, so make sure that you identify them correctly - they are not big herring, and they do have a size limit.
The Dawesville Cut is still producing good results for anglers most of the day. There are yellow-finned whiting, tailor and herring biting freely during the day and tailor and herring after dark. There are also some skippy and tarwhine to be had from either end of the Cut as well.
Bream are still active in the Serpentine with an occasional larger fish keeping anglers interested.
SECRET HARBOUR / PORT KENNEDY / ROCKINGHAM / SAFETY BAY
The surf beaches at Long Point, Kwinana and Warnbro have all been producing reasonable tailor during the last week. There has been some excellent fishing for yellow-fin whiting, with good reports of herring, tailor and plenty of crabs out in the deep water.
The jetties are turning on herring early in the morning, along with squid and blue mackerel. Many of the jetties are producing herring and tailor. Shoalwater is still producing some good catches of both yellow-fin whiting and an occasional King George whiting. There have also been some good catches of tarwhine and skippy taken as well in the incoming tide.
COCKBURN SOUND:
Garden Island Causeway has fished well for herring and whiting during the week, along with a few tailor and squid. In deeper water there are reports of some good snapper and herring.
There are plenty of crayfish throughout the area,with divers around Point Peron and Penguin Island getting their limit. Boaties have also been doing well behind Garden Island, around The Sisters and along the Five Fathom Bank.
Boaties chasing a feed of squid are still doing quite well in Sulphur Bay on Garden Island and in Mangles Bay as well.
KWINANA / WOODMAN POINT:
Tailor, herring and blue mackerel are being caught from the beaches at Coogee and the Ammunition Jetty is also a spot worth trying for tailor, herring, blue mackerel and squid. There are still a number of small sharks and stingrays being taken after dark. With plenty of baitfish around there should also be a few mulloway.
FREMANTLE
Anglers fishing from the North Mole report that there are plenty of herring along with a few big skippy in the late afternoon and that there are plenty of tailor about after dark. The South Mole is the place to be for a feed of tailor. Reports indicate plenty of fish.
Beaches to the south of Fremantle continue to keep anglers interested with catches of sand whiting. There have been a few tailor taken particularly just on dusk.
Tarwhine, yellow-fin whiting and flathead that averaged 45cm are reported from E Shed in the Inner Harbour. Upstream around the Left Bank and the Red Herring, yellow-fin whiting continue to turn up of an evening.
ROTTNEST
The reefs to the north west of the island have been producing some good bottom fishing. Further out, sportfishing charter boats fishing deeper waters for samsonfish are catching some big fish. Yellowtail kingfish are the go at the moment both from boats and the shore at the West End. There are plenty of herring, a few tailor and some good skippy for shore based anglers. The south side of the Island is producing good King George whiting, with some big skippy and the odd yellowtail kingfish also being taken.
PORT BEACH / LEIGHTON / COTTESLOE / SWANBOURNE
Anglers fishing the northern end of Port Beach report good sand whiting and herring and garfish. There have been a few tailor around and best results have been on the afternoon sea breeze. Cottesloe groyne and the beaches adjacent to the reefs north, towards Swanbourne, have been producing good tailor late afternoons. Anglers fishing at the Swanbourne Drain are still taking tailor on dusk and an odd small mulloway. Early morning anglers report a few tailor and herring from this spot. Dinghy anglers trolling out of casting range have also been taking tailor.
CITY BEACH / FLOREAT / SCARBOROUGH / TRIGG ISLAND
Tailor, whiting and flathead, tarwhine and some big skippy are being caught regularly along these beaches. Sizes have been a bit average but a bag of reasonable fish can be taken.
Small sharks and rays are being taken after dark along with an occasional mulloway. Smaller sized fresh fish baits such as these can prove the undoing of a good mulloway at this time of the year along these beaches. I would suggest that you have a good look at the beach formation during daylight hours and look for gutters and any formations that will hold bait and smaller fish. You are more than not likely to find a mulloway there after dark. Whiting are still thick along all of these beaches, although their sizes aren’t too big and these make a perfect bait for larger fish. A tip to help stop the by catch of a variety of unwanted rays, is to use a cork to lift the bait away from the bottom.
HILLARYS / OCEAN REEF / MINDARIE
Tailor have been a bit thin at the Hillarys and Ocean Reef Marinas but there have been some good fish taken fishing into the sea breeze from the south west corners of the structures. Beaches adjacent to the marinas have been very productive late in the evening. During the day there have been herring, odd skippy and whiting taken from the rock walls.
A few herring and tailor are still being taken from the south wall of the marina at Hillarys and also there are reports of good tailor from the beaches to the south of the marina. There have also been some good tailor taken from the rocks at the Mindarie Marina. Beaches adjacent to the marinas have been very productive quite late in the evening with tailor, skippy and herring.
YANCHEP / TWO ROCKS / MOORE RIVER
A location a little to the south at Quinns, known locally by anglers as the ‘kingie hole’ has been producing some good fishing for tailor and mulloway. Not big numbers of fish, but good ones. Mulloway have also been taken from the beach near the groyne, along with tailor. The lagoon at Yanchep is still producing some tailor after dark.
The marina walls at Two Rocks and the beaches to the south have been producing some tailor up to 85cm. The Three Mile reef at Guilderton is still producing good fishing as is the beach in front of the caravan park.. Further north, Seabird and Lancelin have also been turning on some big tailor
BOAT FISHING:
Offshore from Mandurah there are plenty of King George whiting and skippy on the Five Fathom Bank. There are also a few snapper and Westralian Jewfish being caught on the deeper reef areas.
A few snapper and big skippy are being taken in the deeper waters of Cockburn Sound. Anglers are reporting some good squid catches from waters adjacent to Garden Island.
Anglers fishing from dinghies out from the northern beaches have reported that whiting numbers are down on recent weeks and it would appear that the fish have moved to deeper (cooler?) waters. Most fish are coming in from 20 m of water rather than the usual 8 – 12 m. King George whiting numbers are stable, but again most fish are coming in from deeper waters. Small snapper are in plague proportions in some areas.
Strong afternoon sea breezes coupled with larger than normal swells have been cutting fishing time for off shore but there are still good catches of Westralian Jewfish and King George whiting in waters over 45 m. Snapper are also being taken from the offshore reef systems and from many of the lumps on the broken coral bottom in 35 – 45 metres out from Mindarie.
One angler, using jigs in deeper water, caught a pink snapper and Westralian Jewfish in 50m of water out from Ocean Reef. With not a lot of bait available maybe this is the way to go fishing for these species.
SWAN AND CANNING RIVERS
The lower reaches of the river are still producing tailor and flathead and an occasional flounder. Be aware of the minimum size of the tailor as some fish are not quite legal. There are some big scales near two of the boat ramps in the lower reaches of the river, so it would appear that some mulloway have been taken recently. A small tailor lightly hooked is an ideal bait for a river mulloway.
A few crabs are being taken from deeper water in the lower sections of the river. Further up stream locations around the brewery and around Matilda Bay are also producing a few crabs.
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