Big tommies are back in town

Finn Ancell with some nice King George whiting that were caught. PHOTO: GT FISHING CHARTERS

Here is what was biting and where in the past week.

West Coast

More reports have been coming in from the Far West at Yalata and the Dog Fence.

There have been good numbers of small mulloway being caught on squid and salmon baits. Most of the mulloway have been undersized, but the big ones should not be far away.

Salmon are along these beaches in big numbers, so catching fresh bait is not an issue.

There are also plenty of gummy sharks and a few rays around as well.

Elliston, Venus Bay and Streaky Bay have all been excellent for King George whiting to around 40 centimetres.

Goolwa cockles or fresh squid baits with a bit of berley has been very effective in these locations.

Coffin Bay

King George whiting continue to be caught by both boaties and land-based anglers around most of the bay.

Goolwa cockles have been the most effective bait.

There are also plenty of salmon trout, tommies and garfish being caught.

A few anglers casting soft plastics are still finding the odd flathead on the beaches around the high tides.

Farm Beach has been fishing very well for King George whiting, squid, garfish and salmon.

There have been a few nice King George whiting caught land-based on fresh squid and prawns and as the sun goes down, there are a few garfish around.

Offshore has been pretty quiet again, but there are lots of nannygai, gummy sharks and other reef species around that can be caught on metal jigs, soft plastics and bait.

Snapper have been caught on many of the offshore lumps, so remember that the snapper ban is still active, and you must release any caught immediately.

Port Lincoln

King George whiting have been reported in a few spots around the bays this week.

North Shields, Boston Bay, Proper Bay, Spalding Cove and Louth Bay have all seen a few nice bags of whiting being caught.

Squid, prawns and cockles have all been good baits when used with some pilchard or tuna berley.

The squid are also making a comeback with a few anglers having success on the 2.5 White Glow Sutte R Yamashita jig. Bright pink or orange have also been good colours.

Big tommies have finally been caught inside the bay as well.

Trolling small lures around has been an effective way to catch these fish along the North Shore.

Blue swimmer crabs are still being caught after dark in the shallows of Proper Bay.

They should start to move around with the bigger tides this week, so getting some during the day might be an option.

The Passage and offshore have been quiet again due to the wind and swell.

From the few that ventured out, nannygai, queen snapper and a few gummy sharks were reported.

Tumby Bay

In the bay there have been reports of good numbers of squid and King George whiting.

You do not have to venture too far out to get a good feed at the moment.

Goolwa cockles and fresh squid baits have been the best.

Out at the Group, the few reports have been around some big King George whiting in deep water, squid, snook, tommies, and red mullet in close around most of the islands.

Cowell

Yellowfin whiting have been the most common catch inside the harbour – many are undersized or just size, so make sure that you check them.

Surface poppers, vibes and stickbaits have all been effective.

The blue swimmer crabs are there in numbers, but the majority are females, so maybe wait a few more weeks until the males show up.

Outside the harbour there have been reports of some nice King George whiting, squid and tommies.