FISHING REPORT – 16 February 2025
Fishing Reports thanks to MBGLAC

The outside flathead fishing is still giving up some good feeds for those able to fish during the week. Those fishing out off Tathra are catching sand and tiger flathead in 45 metres from Tathra Point back to Kianinny boat ramp. Merimbula anglers are catching them off Tura Heads back to Short Point. I also had a report from Friday that in 24 metres, straight out from the bar in Merimbula Bay, good numbers of sand flathead to 50 centimetres being caught.

There are also odd gummy sharks in the mix. The in shore water temperature has also dropped with all the rain water run off and now a cool current has pushed up around Green Cape, bringing with it 18 degree water on the bottom. However, it now is coming to the surface, so now possibly more gummy sharks will be in the mix.

The reefs are still giving up a few pan size snapper and morwong and a selection of nannygai, red rock cod and reef species. The rain run off will only help the reef fishing. Use pilchards or fresh fish baits and fresh squid to give yourself the best chance of catching that feed.
The surf fishing and headlands are still producing salmon and occasional tailor. Any river mouth that has opened since all the rain has fallen is totally worth a try for a feed. Mogareeka at Tathra, Bournda Beach, and Wallagoot if opened are all worth a try with fresh fish strips and beach worms. There is not only salmon to be caught, but also bream, whiting and possibly a mulloway.

The lakes and estuaries are still fishing well. Unfortunately, over the weekend, we had to postpone the MBGLAC Dusky Challenge due to the Gale Warning issued on Friday. However, Saturday was still fishable and boats that fished Merimbula Lake caught bream, trevally and blackfish in the front lake and up the Top Lake they caught dusky flathead, tailor and pinkies. Those that fished the Bega River at Tathra, caught bream, dusky flathead, perch and some small mulloway. Lures caught the majority of the fish but for those using baits, nippers and striped Tuna were best.

I haven’t heard much on the game fishing scene over the last week. The water has cooled a bit, sitting between 22 and 23 degrees on the shelf. Batemans Bay held their rescheduled Tollgate Island comp. Seventeen boats entered for 9 dolphin fish, 2 black marlin and 12 striped marlin. There was a few marlin caught at Bermagui on Friday and Saturday as well. Our area has been quiet and nothing to report.