The festive break has been steamy for many residents of the northwest this year with lots of cloud cover, humidity and moisture in the air, but surprisingly very little rain for Exmouth town itself. Many thoughts go out the residents of Carnarvon and surrounding areas that have been effected by the floods.

Locals have been able to get out on the water through the festive break and the fishing hasn’t disappointed. The water clarity has been rather low with muddy green water around most areas that made it difficult for spear fishing enthusiasts. However, it didn’t stop the reef fish biting and even the billfish have continued to bite in the green-coloured waters of the gulf and along the coast.

The Exmouth Game Fishing Club held its annual Tantabiddi Camp out on the first weekend after New Years and what a success it was! There were 63 anglers which is the biggest on record. The majority of these were local residents and it was great to see the swags out under the stars and the campers set up at Tantabiddi for the two-day event. The first day was a little breezy for the west side, but the second day was picture-perfect. There were sections for catch and release with photos from the shore, to the longest spangled emperor, heaviest mackerel and tagged billfish sections. There was even a prize for the heaviest fish caught on a tiny 6lb Durango outfit.

Exmouth Tackle and Camping provided all the great prizes and there was a junior section for each category as well. Some outstanding results were the 14 different species caught from shore with photos by Mark Horn and the massive spangled emperor caught by junior female angler Chelsea Smith on the Durango. Sam Vurgeoine, aged 18, who was visiting from Leeman, caught his first billfish with a sail in the gulf. Another outstanding effort was the tag and release of two black marlin by junior brothers Aiden and Callum Lerch from Wollongong in NSW. It was their first ever marlin and Aiden’s was estimated at 150kg…what a way to start! Brody Woodward caught many species including some ripper mackerel. In fact all juniors enjoyed the event and they are pictured this week at the presentation night.

Lerch boys

Several boats ventured out to the islands during the last few weeks and anchored up under the stars. The diving wasn’t so flash, but the mackerel were biting north of Long Island and a few reds, Robinson sea bream and rankins were among the captures of the day. Free-jumping marlin and sails were about too and a light breeze of an afternoon was welcome on the balmy nights.

Campout juniors