On The Bite - Al McGlashan

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there are also some serious ‘stud’ bream lurking in this suburban waterway Bream are prolific throughout the system, especially in the upper reaches. 138 gamefishing offshore – including some sensational kingy grounds literally just outside the Heads. YEAR-ROUND OPTIONS The beauty of the harbour is that it offers yearround options. In fact, it is one of the few places where anglers are pretty well guaranteed to catch something every day of the year. That may seem like a tall claim, but the fishing now really is that good. Bream, flathead, jewfish and tailor are yearround options, while pelagics, such as kingfish and bonito, are common from early spring right through to June. During the peak of summer, the East Australian Current pushes a warm tongue of water down the coast, bringing with it a series of tropical intruders like spotty mackerel, striped tuna, amberjack and even cobia. Alternatively, during the cooler months, Aussie salmon invade the harbour en masse and will often hang around right through to the summer months. While the kingfish may slow down inside the harbour during the winter, they are thick over the coastal reefs, also making them a year-round option. Further offshore, marlin and dolphinfish (mahi mahi) are common during the warmer months. This season saw unprecedented hot water push down the coast, bringing with it wahoo and even Spanish mackerel. And as the water cools during the winter, the marlin are replaced by yellowfin, albacore and even the highly-prized bigeye tuna. So, there is always something on the chew. FISHING FOR ALL What makes Sydney Harbour such a great fishing spot is that it is so varied and has great fishing for boats big and small as well as land-based anglers. It may surprise many fishos, but there are also some serious ‘stud’ bream lurking in this suburban waterway. Although common throughout the system, the best fishing is in the rivers. The Lane Cove River is productive throughout its length, but the lower reaches, from Burns Bay Bridge to the entrance at Greenwich, offer the most reliable stretch. Not only does the area produce a lot of bream, but it is also home to some sizeable flathead and even a few flounder. The Parramatta River is even better, but some of the hotspots are around the Gladesville Bridge and my personal favourite is Iron Cove Bay. These areas can be fished just as effectively from a canoe or a ‘pro’ bream boat, and in the case of Iron Cove the land-based fishing is also highly rewarding. In the middle reaches of the system, there is a maze of boat moorings, wharves and rocky banks that all hold fish for both the bait angler and the lure flicker. Bait-fishing the deeper holes can also produce jewfish at night. PELAGIC PARADISE The lower reaches of the harbour still offer some great bread-and-butter fishing, but they are overshadowed by the exceptional pelagic fishing. Every spring, massive schools of whitebait enter the harbour attracting a wide range of pelagic
Top: A light spin rod and a handful of lures can catch an amazing array of species around Sydney. Above: The variety of species on offer around Sydney is staggering; even the oddlyshaped john dory is common. Right: Both baits and lures work around the numerous navigation markers. 140 when the fish are really firing, the action can last all day predators. When the fish are firing, it is possible to catch several different species in as many casts. In fact, one morning while filming a segment for Channel Seven News, I managed three species in three consecutive casts – all on camera! The surface activity is often best early in the morning, but when the fish are really firing, the action can last all day. It is easy to find the fish – just look for commotion on the water, mostly accompanied by a flock of seabirds excitedly wheeling about above. These inshore pelagics can turn up just about anywhere, so the best approach to finding them is to cruise around slowly searching for surface action. Some of the best spots are Garden Island, North Harbour and Clifton Gardens. On the runout tide, salmon will work bait schools between there and North Head. Chasing this surface action is exciting and fast. The best approach is to fish light tackle that allows you to make long casts. The best lures change daily, but small metal Halco Twisties, soft plastic stick baits and flies are the best options.
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On The Bite - Al McGlashan

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