A guide by Fishing Australia's Rob Paxevanos
What’s not to love about spring in Eurobodalla? The weather starts to warm, the flora starts to bloom, and lots of fish species dust off the cobwebs and start to come out after hibernating
It's time for our most prized fish
The mightiest catch of them all, the mulloway, also know as jewfish, are most active in spring. These are our largest and most prized estuary species growing over 1.5 meters and near 100 pounds. Although around 1 metre and 20 pounds is considered a great catch and will thrill even seasoned anglers.
In spring, many jewfish are hungry and easier to catch because winter’s cold slowed their metabolism and food was scarce.
Also, once considered a very hard catch, mulloway, numbers are now bouncing back in droves since the introduction of the Batemans Marine Park saw commercial netting banned in their key system, the Clyde River.
The Clyde River is NSWs largest unchecked coastal river, which means it has no dams or weirs impeding its flow. Furthermore, it rises in the vast Budawang National Park and hence flows through pristine bushland…all of this make it a key breeding ground for big jewfish, and ideal habitat for small jewfish to get the best start in life.
These Jewfish are spilling out onto the beaches, headlands and into the smaller rivers and inlets in Eurobodalla, but I will focus on the Clyde.
The Clyde River is NSWs largest unchecked coastal river, which means it has no dams or weirs impeding its flow. Furthermore, it rises in the vast Budawang National Park and hence flows through pristine bushland… all of this make it a key breeding ground for big jewfish, and ideal habitat for small jewfish to get the best start in life.
These jewfish are spilling out onto the beaches, headlands and into the smaller rivers and inlets in the Eurobodalla, but I will focus on the Clyde.
Smaller Jewfish in the 45 to 70cm bracket are in huge numbers in the Clyde River these days. Even at this size they will fight hard enough to really enlighten anglers chasing fish on smaller bream sized tackle. In fact, these small jewfish respond very well to the bream and flathead techniques detailed in my previous two articles. But they must be let go at this size.
Once above 70 cm, jewish become a legal size, and a first-class table fish at that. Many anglers practice catch and release of the fish over a metre as they are simply too good a fish to catch once, and are also our best breeding stock. But the call is yours as long as you stay within the latest bag and size limits (link at the end of this article).
Here’s the key tips to catching these special fish…
Targeting Clyde River Mulloway
Mulloway are a clever fish. They rest out of the current while the big tides of the Clyde sweep in and out. Resting spots include anywhere that is out of the current such as rock headlands, big bends in the river, deep holes, or bridge pylons etc.
Then, like clockwork, when the tides starts to slack off about an hour before the tide change, these wily fish sense it’s time to move and feed up. With the slackening flow they will leave their resting lairs and morph into genuine predators. This peak period lasts up until about an hour after the tide changes, after which the flow starts to speed up again.
There’s plenty of exceptions to the rule where eddies or other sneaky flows create the same effect as a tide change. But around the tide changes is by far the most reliable time to catch jewfish.
Secret Spots
I used to think there were secret spots on the Clyde, but even with the better numbers, it’s all about understanding the above tides and habitat.
Even before their recovery, my family and I have caught jewfish off every headland in the river from Batemans Bay township to up Nelligen… and then some. Ditto with the deep holes, bridges and jetties.
Ambush 'em Back
The next step is to have your baits ready on the bottom, starting an hour before the tide change.
You want to cast your bait near the structure, but not right on it or you will get snagged. You can be right next to their lair when the current is running hard and you won’t get a bite…but you can be 20 meters from the same lair when the tide changes and they will come out and find you. Furthermore, the current will carry the scent of your bait well down stream and lure the jewfish over.
Use big baits around 8 inches long, e.g. a Tweed mullet fillet, striped tuna strip, yakka, tailor fillet, fresh squid strip, garfish etc. Anything that’s juicy and stays on well.
Approximately 20 to 30 pound main line going down to a running sinker rig with 30 pound leader and a 8/0 circle hook is the go. You will land good sized jewfish on this sized tackle unless they can make a run to a nearby reef, so go heavier if the underwater landscape is gnarly. Conversely, for smaller jewfish in less snaggy country you can go much lighter, and the fight is great fun on light gear.
The bream and other small fish will likely pick away at your bait continuously while you wait for the jewfish. If the pickers stop your bait is gone, replace and re cast.
You will know for sure when a jewfish hits. They take off suddenly and with an immense burst of speed… like 0 kph to 50kph in a spilt second! Once you see it you will never forget it.
If stingrays or shovel nose sharks etc are in numbers, you can avoid them by suspending your bait off the bottom with a balloon. Simply drop your sinker to the bottom then pull it up 2 meters and tie on the balloon and let this drift back in the current to near their lair.
Sinker size will vary depending on the depth and current. Usually between 2 to 4 ounces as a starting size.
Live baits also work very well for jewfish. Yakkas, legal sized tailor, squid, garfish, small salmon etc, all work great. There is also very little chance of hooking stingrays on the live bait. Again, if you can suspend the live bait a couple of meters off the bottom it will remain stingray and snag free, ready for when the jewfish move through. This has been my most productive way of catching jewfish, sometimes so much so that my daughters wanted to see a flathead to see something different than a jewfish (all my daughters have caught a good number of jewfish on the Clyde).
Enjoy The Wait
Jewfish took me, and most experienced locals, a while to master. While they are easier these days, they still take a bit of time and effort. But the tides will swirl enticingly as you fish, and you will find peace from any unrest and learn a plenty along the way.
You will never forget your first decent jewfish. They are beautiful, powerful sprinters well worthy of their top shelf status. If you get onto a few decent ones, consider just keeping one for your group. They will feed you all a few times over.
Luring Jewfish
Lures work great too, especially soft plastics, and again an hour either side of a tide change is best. When the tide is flowing fast it is typically too hard to get a plastic down. But when it starts to ease, a 4 to 6 inch softie on a 14 to 28 gram jig head will flutter down to the bottom at the right speed to be attractive to jewfish. Cast directly up current as far as you can and hop the lure back across the bottom just like you would for flatty’s. Keep slack out of your line during the drop of each hop so you can feel the bottom and the bites
A heavy clunk is a jewfish bite and, if you hook a good one, the first run is unmistakable.
Right on slack tide is the most user-friendly time to cast plastics for jewfish. It’s easy to reach the bottom and you will feel the lure hitting the bottom easier too, and the jewfish are out looking for a feed at this time. You’ll get some big flatty’s and other species along the way.
Boat Or Land Based
Land based spots for jewfish include the rock wall near the Batemans Bay Marina, the jetties in town, the camp grounds and near the bridges.
A boat opens up the whole river. Pick a headland anchor upstream and set your baits.
If you really want a magic experience, hire one of the house boats. We’ve caught jewfish at every mooring spot because they are mostly deep water, sheltered headlands…prime real estate for both houseboats and the jewfish.
Living on a Clyde River Houseboat is one of the most incredible nature experiences you can imagine. And it makes it easy to fish the tide changes whenever they fall. The excitement of a line suddenly screaming off during a board game with the kids, or during a late night card game with adults, is an experience you will fondly remember forever.
The Moruya River, Wagonga Inlet and Tuross Lake also produce good jewfish. The surf fishing for jewfish can be great too. Chat with the local tackle stores for more info.
By-Catch
You will catch XL flatty’s and other species while targeting jewfish, but remember like most big fish , the big flatty’s are breeders. A flatty around 40 to 55 cm is considered the most sustainable size.
Easier Species Abound
Flatty’s, bream and whiting all bite really well in spring. The salmon are still around in numbers too! Batemans Bay, Durras, Moruya, Narooma and everywhere in-between has these fish … it is a land of many waters after all. Check the methods detailed in earlier articles, noting that spring is typically easier for all these popular species.
If you’re after a charter boat on the estuary there’s some great ones. Josh Badenoch at Batemans Bay gets lots of the above… and they don’t call him Jewie Josh for nothing.
Ocean Fishing For Yellowfin
As I type, this spring is seeing one of the best yellowfin seasons in 30 years. These incredibly fast sleek and tasty tuna are revered by game fishos the world over. To think they are in such good numbers here in Eurobodalla is mind blowing!
Yellowfin grounds usually start around 12 miles out from all the major ports, but at the moment the yellowfin are within a few hundred metres of the coastline at times.
Trailer boat fishos, especially newbies, best go from Batemans Bay or Bermagui where the bar crossings are typically safer. It’s far too complicated and dangerous to try and explain how to cross bars in this article. Variables like tides, swell, wind, changing sand bars etc can all bring you unstuck… and sadly, fatalities happen every year. There will be days it’s simply not safe to go out. There are also days where it takes experience and skill to get out safely.
So, join a game fishing club or go on a charter until you’ve seen the bar in its various states and have the experience to cross the bar safely. Only experience will teach you to know when it’s better to stay inside and chase jewfish and flatty’s.
There’s a bevy of absolute gun game fishing charter skippers that operate from Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma. They supply the boat, tackle, bait and skill needed to navigate the bar and catch the tuna. It’s not a lucrative business. They do it for the love of it … so support them and soak up their knowledge, it’s worth it’s weight in gold. The screaming reel and long fight of a big yellowfin is what they want to show you. It’s the ultimate reward for all aboard.
But, be mindful that us keen game fishos are on the edge of our seat looking at all the little factors that can help us catch these prize fish. That includes staring out, looking for any signs of life that can mean yellowfin. This makes the hours in between bites go fast. But if this isn’t working for ya, ask the skipper to chase reef fish. You’ll get bites almost every drop…with snapper, morwong, the delectable pig fish, flatty’s, trevally and kingfish all common catches.
Sustainable Fishing
Bag and size limits are set, monitored and managed by fisheries to ensure that the fish stocks stay healthy. And they do 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, memorize the size and bag limits of the common fish discussed above. Then, if you catch an undersized or oversized (breeder) you can can put 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 apply the rule – if in doubt let it back out. This helps look after species you might not realize are protected.
And remember – the biggest fish are our best breeders, so consider letting them go even where you are allowed to keep them – a middle sized is typically the most sustainable fish to keep.
Want more?
We also have a few Eurobodalla specific episodes and clips you can look for on our Fishing Australia social channels here:
Don’t forget to subscribe as we just filmed a new episode of Fishing Australia in Eurobodalla that will be released soon.
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.
Enjoy spring in Eurobodalla… all kinds of natural. It is truly a land of many waters and fishing opportunities! There’s so many more fish on offer like freshwater bass, calamari, kingfish and many more – your fishing rod is bound to become heaven on a stick.
See you on the water.