A guide by Fishing Australia’s Rob Paxevanos.
If there is a heaven on earth for anglers, it is the Eurobodalla as summer cools off and Autumn settles in. Alongside the fish mentioned in my earlier three articles, the air temperatures is now perfect for anglers, the weather patterns stabilize producing generally calmer seas, and the hot ocean currents are at their peak bringing from the tropics all manner of prized game fish.
Game fishing
The east Australian current streams past Eurobodalla in full force in February, mixing with the nutrient rich southern waters. Then, then like a gift from above, the currents slow up as Autumn sets in and the bait fish settle along the coast. And hot on their heals are the giant gamefish that feed voraciously, putting on kilos of powerful omega 3 drenched muscle every week.
Highly prized Marlin are top of the list for most anglers. They are fast, strong, and acrobatic. We are talking a fish that can swim 100kph and jump 5 metres out the water (while yielding a sword) …ain’t no AI needed when you chase Marlin!
There is no better place on earth that matches the mix of quality and numbers of Marlin than Eurobodalla at this time of year . Average Black or Striped Marlin size is 75 to 120kg. And there’s Blue Marlin that are often un-stoppable. Want proof? Go and check out Melanie Kisbees 452kg (997 pound) Blue on the wall at the Catalina Club. Literally awesome!
The continental shelf is where the Marlin hang out, because the water drops from 100 meters to 1000 meters deep very quickly. This produces upwellings of nutrients, turbo charging the food chain.
Eurobodalla is blessed with the continental shelf swinging in closer to the land than the rest of Australia. It starts as close as 19kms offshore in places, so an abundance of Marlin congregate within a more comfortable distance of the shore than from most ports. It’s about a 1.5 hour run to the shelf depending on the boat and the conditions.
Once on the shelf the hunt really begins. And once you’re hooked up you better be ready! The standard sized 100kg Marlin will test your strength and endurance like few other fish. But a good skipper at the helm can often drive the boat to make it easier for you…if you’re nice to them 😊
BOOK A CHARTER OR TOW YOUR OWN BOAT
Most charter boats know exactly how to catch Marlin. There’s brilliant charter operators at Batemans Bay, Moruya, and Narooma. The main advice I can offer is try going during the week and if possible stay at least 5 days. This allows the skippers the potential to move your day a bit to suit the weather, which is handy because the wind and swell will dictate if you can get out and how far you can get.
They supply the boat, tackle, bait and skill needed to navigate the bar and catch Marlin. It’s not a lucrative business. They do it for the love of it, so support them and learn from the experience. That’s half the fun!
If you take your own boat the bar at Batemans Bay is the safest place to cross into sea, but still needs to be treated with respect. You really need to cross a bar with another experienced skipper a dozen times before you can take the helm. There’s a lot to it. You’ll also need an experienced skipper to help you fish safely for Marlin, so find a friend to help. It’s usually easy if you own a boat!
Chat to the local tackle stores about tackle and spots. They are helping people catch Marlin every week at this time of year.
My fav technique is bait and switch. You tow around a skirted lure that has a bait inside it, but with no hook! Yep no hook! This often works better than skip baiting or towing live baits because you can go faster and cover more ground, which is needed to find Marlin. When the Marlin sees and attacks this offering they often get mad they can’t stop it from getting away and repeatedly attack so you see the whole thing for better and longer. It’s one of the best parts of the whole experience. Then all you do is throw back a livey or dead bait. Usually a live slimy mackerel which usually pushes the hookup rate off the charts!
If it’s hard to see the switch bait lure, then trolling lures, skip baits or livies work well too. Especially reliable if you can find bait balls with Marlin on them, and Eurobodalla is famous for that in Autumn.
If you don’t have sea legs, talk with your doctor or chemist about sea sickness remedies. They really do work and can make the difference between having a miserable long day or an amazing and unforgettable experience out on the water.
What are the odds?
This season has been exceptional with some boats tagging as many as 20 marlin a day!!!
Usually, if some of the boats are tagging 3 of 4 fish a day I am comfortable that there’s enough about that you will get a couple. But please, understand even one Marlin is something special, and some days you won’t get any.
Most of all it is about the hunt. Us keen game fishos are on the edge of our seat looking for little things that can make or break the day. Eyes are peeled for any bird activity, baitfish, fins in the water, and keeping an ear out for reports on the radio from other boats. Any intel helps you find where they are hanging out and increases your chances dramatically. Everyone on board should be scanning the sea. It’s a team sport!
While you’re chasing Marlin, it’s not uncommon to catch tuna, mahi mahi or other game fish. If it’s really quite game fish wise then some reef fishing on the way in will snare you a feed of quality kings, snapper , flatties etc.
And more fishing options abound! All the species mentioned in my previous 3 articles are available at this time of year. This includes in rough order of ease – bream, salmon, flathead, whiting and jewfish.
Sustainable Fishing
Bag and size limits are set by Fisheries to ensure fish stocks stay healthy. Rules change so get the latest printed copies from your tackle store, OR keep this link handy. https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/fishing-rules-and-regs/saltwater-bag-and-size-limits
Charter boats know all the size and bag limits. If you’re doing it on your own memorise the size and bag limits of the common fish discussed above so if you catch an undersized or oversized (breeder) you can can get it back as quickly as possible. If you can’t get a fish off quickly, keep it in the water until you can so it can breathe and stays wet. This ensures a high chance of the fish surviving.
If you catch something you are unsure of then apply the rule – if in doubt let it back out. This helps look after species you might not realise are protected.
And remember, the biggest fish are the best breeders, so consider letting them go even if you are allowed to keep them. A middle sized is typically the most sustainable fish to keep.
Want More?
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Don’t forget to subscribe and see a new episode of Fishing Australia in Eurobodalla this march.
And for the members of the family that want to give dad a break 😊, there is LOADS to do on the Eurobodalla while he’s out fishing, have a peek here!
It’s been a pleasure writing the four articles about fishing in Eurobodalla. Remember this is a guide only and sometimes you catch a fish out of season…I mean it is a nice place for a fish to call home right!
Enjoy your time here and investigate other fish on offer like freshwater bass, calamari, and many others so you’ll always have something new to target and catch.
See you on the water.