WITH recent weather significantly impacting local fishing, I wanted to share insights into one of my favourite angling passions deep dropping.
The Mid North Coast offers some of Australia’s premier deep drop locations.
This technique, long utilised by commercial fishers, targets species found in depths of up to 600 metres.
I still recall, as a kid, watching commercial boats return with fish bigger than me, fuelling a dream to one day catch such huge fish.
Fishing at these extreme depths demands skill and most commonly the use of electric reels.
Thankfully, advancements in technology have made these reels more accessible and affordable for recreational anglers.
On the Mid North Coast common catches include blue-eye trevalla, bass groper, bar cod, hapuka and kingfish.
These fish are renowned for their exceptional taste and can easily exceed 50 kilograms making an electric reel an invaluable tool.
Now, I know some might argue that using electric reels is “cheating”, but deep drop fishing involves considerable skill.
Hitting a fishing mark the size of a caravan in over 400 metres of water, especially with challenging currents and wind, presents a true test of an angler’s ability.
My own journey into deep drop fishing began nearly a decade ago with a local commercial fisher and I’ve been hooked ever since.
While I previously owned a Miya Epoch, I found them a bit slow for my liking.
I now rely on two Shimano Beastmaster 9000s which I can’t fault.
These reels have consistently hauled in fish up to 40 kilograms and have proven incredibly durable.
In fact, my partner and I started making deep drop rigs for local anglers and they’ve become so popular that we now sell them in local fishing tackle shops.
Local Fishing Update
Fishing across the region has been significantly impacted over the past week due to torrential rainfall and widespread flooding.
The continuous downpour which has unfortunately persisted for the last 10 weeks has severely limited angling opportunities.
We’re all hoping for a quick clearing of the weather so that fishing can resume as normal.
Offshore fishing has been very quiet due to the challenging weather.
While a few keen anglers ventured out last Saturday, initial reports are still pending.
As the weather improves, snapper fishing is expected to be a primary focus, while mackerel fishing may be more variable.
A comprehensive offshore update will be provided next week once conditions have fully cleared.
Anglers planning to head offshore are strongly advised to remain vigilant for floating debris, such as logs, which pose a significant safety risk to vessels.
In the Hastings, despite the challenging conditions, the influx of freshwater has triggered a mulloway fishing frenzy along the local breakwalls and beaches.
The northern breakwall of the Hastings River has been a hotspot, attracting numerous anglers.
While the southern breakwall and the coal wharf also saw some mulloway catches, the northern breakwall consistently yielded the best results.
As the floodwaters recede and debris clears, we anticipate a surge in mud crab activity in the lower reaches of the Hastings, as they are typically pushed towards the river entrance during heavy rain.
The Camden Haven has seen a similar increase in river activity, with reports indicating mulloway preying on mullet near the breakwalls, and some successful catches made using live bait.
Off the rocks, particularly around the southern ledges of Dunbogan and Crowdy, anglers have successfully targeted drummer.
On the beaches, bream and tailor have been reported around Lake Cathie, offering consistent action for shore-based anglers.
Further north, in the Macleay River, a surge in bream activity is anticipated as the system begins to clear.
Mullet gut and strip baits are recommended, while those who prefer lures may find success with soft vibes and plastics fished in deeper sections.
Offshore activity has been limited here too due to the recent weather, but anglers are expected to resume trips this week, eager to see what the ocean will bring.
By Kate SHELTON
