Fishing reports this week have been good although the opportunities again were limited, especially if you simply looked at the forecast.
While the forecast and the actual weather over the last month or so haven’t been too different we had a few days this week where it was almost completely opposite.
There were a couple of days that turned out to be perfect despite the forecast of moderate ordinary conditions and the lucky few that could, took advantage and headed out.
What they found were some very good numbers and quality of fish, not straight away but after a little bit of searching.
Calamari are still inconsistent but certainly better in numbers and still on the improve both on land and from boat.
The best out of everywhere has been the beach in Cleeland Bight where we have had several reports of people catching very close to their bag.
Boats in Cleeland Bight have done well but for some reason the numbers aren’t as good as off the beach.
The beach at Ventnor and the jetty at Cowes are getting better but with less numbers and very mixed sizes.
Newhaven jetty has produced several, and the other boating spots like Reef Island and Dickies Bay have also produced.
While they started a little slow, the size of the calamari is more than making up for it and you almost feel disappointed with anything under 1.5kg.
Snapper reports are continuing to come in and are now typical of where and when you expect to find them.
There is the odd report of bigger snapper coming from the corals, but most are very small which will change as the temperature comes up in the bay.
The majority of the reports coming from the spit point and fingers area with the deeper areas further down along French Island and off Rhyll the best.
There have been some solid snapper 6kg and over, with the majority around 4kg to 5kg with several baits successful. A little more temperature is needed to get them to spread out where we will see
reports of multiple snapper caught as well.
Reports of whiting numbers were good this week and were probably the best for the season so far, customers bagging out or getting very close.
The quality of whiting was good and most had several in the 40cm.
The average size was up on the last few months with the condition of the whiting improving as well. The best we had reported this week was a once in a lifetime 50cm plus one caught from a land-based customer.
The best boating spot this week was below the bridge in Cleeland Bight and make sure you have a squid jig ready with several reports of calamari following up their hooked whiting.
There are still plenty of salmon swimming around in the bay but not much has changed and they are slow off the beaches and jetties.
A handful of trevally reported from the jetty at Newhaven and from the rocks at Smiths Beach.
There is still the odd report of draughtboards coming in but it will only be a matter of a few warmer days to send them back to the depths offshore.
We haven’t seen any mackerel as yet but plenty of yakkas for those chasing some baits.
Gummies have been the very small ones and only the odd bigger one this week.
For more local news, subscribe to our digital edition.