Welcome back to Greg James’ fishing column — featuring top tips, ideas and recipes for fishing Yorke Peninsula. Contact Greg at greg@gregjamesfishing.com.au
Australia Day recipe, seafood burger — Ingredients: Fish pieces, crabmeat, prawns, white onion, lettuce, bread rolls, pickled onions (chopped), olive oil, green chilli (chopped), wasabi paste, breadcrumbs. Method: Gently blend the seafood. Mix in a little olive oil, wasabi or chilli, breadcrumbs and caramelised onion. Shape into patties, brush with oil and cook on a medium hot plate for 3-4 minutes. Serve in rolls with lettuce, pickled onions and extra wasabi paste.
Wallaroo: Garfish are plentiful for boat and shore fishers who can find the right spots before strong southerlies set in. The jetty is busy, but fishing has been slow. Yellowfin whiting are biting off North Beach on the high tide, while early mornings are best for King George whiting up to 38cm.
Moonta Bay/Port Hughes: A 3m shark cruised past the Port Hughes jetty last week, creating an exciting moment for jetty fishers targeting gar, squid and blue crabs. Offshore, boat crews are landing King George whiting, garfish, a few blueys and the occasional squid.
Port Victoria: King George whiting are still active in deeper waters off the island’s western side, along with the usual no-keep snapper. Garfish and a few blueys are showing near the jetty and around the Songvaar wreck’s broken ground. Yellowfin whiting are a good option along local sandy beaches.
Point Turton/Port Rickaby: Good-sized gar are being caught in 3-4m of water off Port Rickaby and the Minlacowie grounds. Early starts are best for King George whiting at The Banks and off Point Souttar. Mullet and yellowfin whiting are also on offer for jetty and shore-based fishers.
Marion Bay/Stenhouse Bay: The harmful algal bloom has reached Stenhouse Bay, Pondalowie Bay and Gym Beach. Offshore crews are targeting tuna, red nannygai, whiting and flathead. Mullet and small salmon are coming from local beaches, while the jetties are worth a try at night for tommy ruff (Australian herring) and squid.
Edithburgh/Stansbury/Port Vincent: Several species remain patchy, with slow returns frustrating local fishers. Blue crabs are at Port Vincent’s Back Beach and the Stansbury jetty, though many are undersize. Garfish are around Marion Reef and Wattle Point, while squid have been taken at broken, rocky ground off Port Moorowie.
Tight lines and see you soon!