BLOG: The big flush

I THINK it's fair to say we have had some unseasonal weather recently. I can't recall another December where the mercury hasn't hit over 25 degrees. It's somewhat perplexing!

Obviously this has had an impact on our local fishing; some good, some bad.

To start with, as I normally fish the typically muddy waters of the Hawkesbury River, it doesn't take much rain to really murk up the water. As water levels in Sydney's catchments rise well above the 80 per cent mark and the boffins who make sure we pay a premium for a renewable resource release megalitres of excess water into the river, the issue with water clarity has been exacerbated. The river is currently running similar salinity levels as it would in a severe flood. Some days the water continually runs out even against the notorious in-coming Hawkesbury tide, such is the predicament at present.

While some of you might say this is a good thing and fish will congregate in tighter schools in the lower reaches of the river, this just hasn't been the case. The fish have remained in deep holes in the river but have a severe case of lockjaw. It's been difficult to get down deep with a raging current on finesse gear. To use the word challenging would be an understatement.

The upshot has been the quality of fish on offer. While the fishing has been slow we have worked real hard for our modest returns. The fish we have been catching however, are of biblical proportions. The other day we struggled for two bream over an eight hour session – a 1.7kg and 1.4kg fish respectively – over 3kgs for two fish. These are unseasonal catches for this time of year as big bream disappear about September. I'm tending to think we are not the only ones deceived by this weather pattern.

One of the upshots to the current cold snap has been the surf fishing action. I have spent a few sessions with my father fishing from Sydney's northern beaches and the beach bream action has been hot. Usually bream have migrated back into estuaries after their winter spawning run but once again I feel that the low water and air temps have kept them in the suds longer. I saw a bonafide 1.5kg gleaming silver bream get caught off the beach, much to my surprise. It was the largest bream I have ever seen get caught in the surf. I didn't have my camera with me unfortunately, and I've been kicking myself ever since but take it from me, this thing was huge!

Salmon and tailor are also making a strong appearance off the beach, which is a welcome surprise for those targeting more seasonal fish such as whiting.

One thing I have noticed though is a decline in my catch rates of mulloway. Usually at this time of year I'm braining the 5-10kg fish on plastics. I haven't landed one since early November.

So while the conditions at present and favouring some species, as a general observation the current cold weather is having a negative impact on my local fish. It's time the mercury went north of 30 pretty soon!

Has the cold summer impacted your local fishery?