All the latest information on size and bag restrictions, seasonal closures and restricted areas can be found here at PIRSA: www.pir.sa.gov.au/fishing/fishing_limits About 20 minutes later, he slipped the large net under a safe 50 pounds — exactly the fish needed for the mating job. It took another ten minutes to take the necessary photos, revive and release the great golden Mulloway, and be on the way back to the ramp – mission accomplished. We had landed more than a dozen 30 to 50 pounds between us, all of which were unhooked and released in good condition. Never before had any of us experienced a Mulloway bite as eventful as this one. Most Adelaide-based Mulloway enthusiasts begin their training hunting for school-sized fish that are often well catered for in the city. Mulloway is widespread in estuaries and coastal coastal waters (less than 200 m depth) of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, including the subtropical and temperate waters of Australia1–3. In Australia, it is found along the south coast, from Exmouth in Western Australia to the Burnett River in Queensland4. In 2013, a Mulloway reconstruction program was introduced in New South Wales to halt the decline of Mulloway`s commercial and recreational fishery. Changes to the management of the recreational fishery in Mulloway included an increase in the minimum legal size from 45 to 70 cm (the approximate height at maturity for the female Mulloway in New South Wales3,9,13) and a 40% reduction in the catch limit. Changes in the management of Mulloway`s commercial fishery included the aforementioned increase in the minimum legal size (with bycatch restrictions for the mesh net fishery in the estuary) and a speed limit of 500 kg for the beach net sector. The above evidence suggests that current fishing pressure is limited by management to a level that should allow the stock to recover from its overfished recruitment status.
However, measurable improvements are not yet visible. Also known as Golden Barch or Yellowbelly, Callop is primarily captured in the Murray River. Most of the reservoirs with access to fishing are now supplied with Callop. Maximum size: 60cm Find your local Anaconda store and discover our wide range of fishing gear for your next Mulloway mission. I don`t know if I prefer to chase Mulloway off the beach or into the estuary. Both require very different equipment and techniques, and in general, the muzzle option is much less tiring in terms of time and physical exertion. Most of the guys I shared the beach or boat with had a similar passion for what really is a great coastal fish. Hunting Big Mulloway can easily become an obsession that attracts you, sometimes pushes you to the limit and categorically refuses to let go.
Landing a 50-pounder on a wild surf beach or sticking a large one on a soft plastic within the confines of a shallow estuary system are fishing experiences rarely forgotten. The Mulloway Surf Fishing option is close to the ultimate challenge on earth. Whichever area you choose, it`s far from the relative ease and comfort of the estuary and usually requires more planning, more time, and a lot more effort. No matter where you fish, your experience or the quality of your equipment, hunting large mulleraways will always be an exercise in perseverance and dedication. I admit I`ve been slowing down a bit lately, but back when catching Mulloway was my main focus on fishing, I spent countless hours in dozens of places getting results. In general, I was well rewarded for my efforts and I probably won what I caught out of sheer will and determination. I have been lucky on the beaches of the FWC during many years of fishing, rarely facing adverse conditions and almost always catching one or two decent Mulloways. And although I`ve never landed one of the true giants over 70, my record of 50-60 pounds is pretty impressive. They are excellent fish to hang on and fight in heavy waves, often making long powerful runs and regularly taking 15 minutes or more to master. In terms of average fish size, our beaches on the west coast do not have par.
I still have to catch a 70-pound mullloway, but almost every guy I fish with has landed several each, including a few in the `80s and a few real 90s. These are the Mullowways of a life that makes driving, money and time worth it – and the fish that keep us coming back year after year. Another of South Australia`s most sought-after species, southern squid, can be found in coastal weeds and rocky environments throughout South Australia. They have a sensational taste, are quite easy to catch and easily accessible for anglers on land and by boat. The size of the hood is usually less than 30 cm, although winter can produce squid of more than 40 cm! Aiming a little higher, most of Mulloway`s “apprentices” will eventually broaden their horizons and think about leaving the city. It`s a three-hour drive from Adelaide to the surf beaches of Coorong, roughly equal to the Lower Yorke Peninsula and, for those up to the challenge, a ten-hour drive west to reach the beautiful beaches of Australia`s Great Bight. I have done many trips to all three regions and fished some truly amazing Mulloways that have made all the time and effort worthwhile. 1.5 m max or interdorsal length 60 cm max (round body shape radii only need to meet the maximum size limit of 1.5 m) There is almost always a lot of bycatch when aiming at Mulloway`s FWC beaches. Rubber sharks, shoal sharks and whaling sharks can be a regular nuisance, and then there`s the inevitable squadron of rays destroying equipment and losing fishing time during peak periods. On the positive side of the bycatch book, large snapper often catch Mulloway bait, although they must of course return under South Africa`s new fishing regulations.
Summary: Despite being a pest in South Australia, redfin bass is a popular target species because it`s fairly easy to catch and tastes good. Reservoirs are the most popular spots, although they can be caught in the streams and dams of the Adelaide Hills. Maximum size of 50cm. It is a 24-hour fishery that offers constant action day and night. The two-hour period at high tide has always been the most reliable time to expect a bite, as coastal ravines are full and baitfish activity has reached its peak. Mullet and salmon are the most common coastal prey for large marauding mullaways, and if you manage to catch a reasonably sized one and send it as live bait, the chances of a connection increase dramatically. By far my most memorable session on FWC beaches involved good friends Tom Tierney and Richard Webb. The conditions were perfect for our three day expedition and we had our favorite beach to ourselves, so everything pointed to luck.
The late morning flood on the first day produced four 60-pound Mullowways, then Richard landed a 75-pound in the afternoon. Anything from that point on would be a definite bonus. One of my most memorable catches was a few years ago, when I had a very limited fishing window and desperately needed a big loss of mullloss for the cover of my South Australian Angler magazine. It was an important milestone, our 200th, and we needed a special fish for the front page. South Australians love to read about the big Mulloways, especially those trapped in the subway waters, so I decided to pin a 50-pounder especially for the occasion. Changes to legal boundaries and management agreements were finalized this week following extensive national community consultation earlier this year. Summary: School-sized southern bluefin tuna (less than 30 kg) is accessible in offshore waters throughout the state at certain times of the year. Summer is the best time to try popular spots like Victor Harbor, Marion Bay, and Port Lincoln. In winter, Port MacDonnell in the southeastern part of the state keeps a large number of school tuna as well as tuna in barrels over 100 kg! There are no size or pocket restrictions for species not listed in the search. Take only what you need for your personal use. Ferguson, GJ, Ward, TM, Ivey, A & Barnes, T 2013, Life history of Argyrosomus japonicus, a large sciaenid at the southern part of its global distribution: implications for fisheries management, Fisheries Research, 151: 148-157.