The Nearly Winter Blues

By Dan Trotter on May 27, 2014 in Other

Despite the fact that May is officially still in autumn, I’m already feeling the winter blues. It seems with every passing season another of my closest fishing mates departs the city I know and love for greener pastures, fishier waters and a less stressful existence. I have to say, it’s not the most warming of thoughts with a wild, windswept and woolly winter ahead.

In the face of such situations there is really only a handful of things to do: throw yourself into work, live healthier, fish more often and make new friends.

Looking at the month of May through the years in my now well-worn fishing diary, one of the most evident patterns is the variance of water temperatures from year to year. Some years show warm water lapping the coast across all the days of May, while others illustrate the onset of the colder waters of the Southern Ocean pushing a northwards wedge, solid as an anvil, up the coastline, sending the EAC back from whence it came.

One thing is for certain, May is a month of change in the ocean and as anglers we should be attuned to this and ready to act upon nature’s cycle.

The SST (Sea Surface Temperature) charts for this year indicate that we will be enjoying the warmth of the ocean’s northern waters for sometime yet. With this in mind, the days to target are the first days after a heavy low-pressure system and a solid, sustained southerly blow. Try to sneak out as soon as the decent weather returns, hope for some scattered cloud and a light northeasterly breeze and you should enjoy some top quality fishing action.

Wide offshore, those anglers keen on chasing billfish species are likely in for at least another month’s worth of decent fishing. The dolphinfish (or mahi mahi) that have been about in solid numbers for months should also stick around, though their numbers will start to thin. It’s worth noting that the lead up to the full moon in late May is an opportune time to head well offshore and put some time in chasing yellowfin tuna, because unless you go you will never know.

Closer to shore the 100-metre, 50-metre and 30-metre high profile, vertically pronounced hard reefs will be holding some very large kingfish. Fish large live baits on the heaviest tackle you own, practice your Hail Marys and hold on tight. Bonito, which were a late show this year, have been small in size but there numbers seem to be on a steady increase. Hopefully this trend continues and they stick around all winter.

Possibly my favourite target fish these days, snapper will also start to grace dedicated anglers’ social media pages and dinner plates as the days get shorter and the ocean currents start to cool. Try casting soft-plastics on light tackle in water depths under 30 metres, or anchor up and float baits down a continuous burley trail around the tides or at dawn and dusk for best results.

Sydney Harbour, which has been alive and firing all summer, continues to prove that it is probably the fishiest harbour on the doorstep of large metropolis anywhere on the face of the planet. Put your efforts in around the tides and change of light, fish fresh baits off wharves, boats, beaches and rocky headlands, be single-minded in the species you target and you should be able to catch a healthy feed.

With winter’s chill knocking knocking on the door, it is time to fish at every opportunity and make the most of time with mates doing what you love.