A common question though rarely asked here but often asked on the facebook group as we crawl into the winter months. The numbers on the wall tail off almost as much as the days we manage too have one or part of one wall open and the weather takes its toll on the general state of the wall. The pesky algae has often reached a stage where it is unsafe too open large chunks of the wall and combatting it takes longer too remove it than the speed it returns.
October & November have been unusually mild even if the blows and storms haven’t let up in frequency and we are slowly losing the battle too keep bays safe and algae at a manageable level. The irony of a poor year on fish numbers and the fact that we have still had access to the WEST wall, granted very limited for occasional night fishing is extremely unusual.

So, how does todays title relate too days open other than the obvious of erm its not Summer dude so naturally less will want too fish in the cold of winter ? Well a regular angler(Chris H) this year on the wall put over the comment and observation of the lack of catch reports on the marina groups facebook regarding the lack of catch reports and if you look at it he does have a very valid point.
While we may be into the winter months people do still have access too fish at least one wall & v occasionally atm access too both. Yes people are fishing it so you would think that with over 5k members on the FB group there would be at least a few more posts and catch reports, even the blanks are as such catch reports and when things are quiet, much like the supermarket adverts… every little helps.

Now, I tend too agree with him and as admin I also often see why there is a lack of posts. Some ppl are shy and just want too stay anonymous so they read, pick bits of info where they can and get on with their usual routines then go fishing and come too the blog reports & fbook groups too see how others got on. They then neglect or overlook that even their perhaps small report of a blank add too the communal posts and in their own way perhaps encourage others too post.
YUP i get that ppl are wary of posting, lets face it there are enough knobbers on FB that are happy too flame a post or have a dig about sizes etc and yes it has been an issue in the past that put people off. Lets face it, its bad enough trying too catch fish these days yet alone stick ya neck out for the arse wipes too line up and have a go. but, (coz there is always a BUT) the group had changed a bit this last 18 months. One or 2 diks have been removed and admin members are a bit more vigilant on posts and their replies.

There is protection for posters and flame type posts will get removed with offenders being warned and/or removed from the group. I have little too no tolerance of people flaming posts and maintain that if someone has an issue with a post they speak too the posted in private message & dont flame a post. All abusive posters will get removed. The marina fb group is about fishing reports and not there for idiots too hassle posters so please folks,…. if you use the FB group and have been out fishing, share it with us all. Even a blank can be dressed up too create a report of sorts. We have a multi cultural and multi racial group of anglers and the only word of real meaning there is “ANGLERS” so please, next time you visit the group to see how others got on and you was down there visiting or even fishing, drop a line or two in the group and say hi to everyone.

Sermon done, did I visit yesterday ?, yup I did even if my head was screaming too me , oi , moron, do ya know how freakin cold it is ? duh brain I know Im here aint I ?
And so, todays dose of waffle truly begins.
I reached the cafe mid afternoon too be greeted as usual by the 2 stupid dogs (they not really) & as usual Pepsi determined too sit on my lap and get 1st go at the biscuits I carry in my pocket. A quick chat with the guy running the cafe( I really should get his name fixed in my head) & a biscuit or two each for the mutts and onto the wall.
Three regulars were on the first couple of bays and I gather they had a couple of congers although I neglected too get a size estimate while I gossiped ! Bay 5 another regular had got himself a 3-4lb Bass for tea but general feeling was “things seem quiet.” The water colour was decent after 3 days of blows I had expected far more colour and a brisk northerly wind was not only chilling the air but was also putting a bit of chop too the water surface.

The down side of winter catch reports is often the lack of anglers and regularly a general lack of catch info so it was encouraging too see 12-16 anglers on the wall and a few more arriving by time I was leaving. Like yesterday today Mark has opened the wall until 10pm tonight for as Mark puts it “Squidding”
The answer too the next obvious question is YES there were squid caught last night, I dont have any numbers but yes there are still squid too be caught and my head is still struggling with the idea of not only s the east still open on a regular basis this deep into the year but that there is something else out there still too be caught other than the standard “winter mackerel” of whiting and soon too be followed by Craigs old fav of Rockling(hmmm that gives me an idea)

After chats with a few familiar faces it seemed as if yesterday was highlighted as a “whiting sort of day” of which some were decent looking fish and also a healthy size for eating. Close behind the whiting came a few conger catches and also a few dropped, a splash of schoolie bass and just too compliment the whiting some pout that seems too have become the winter bait stealer supreme. Down the sides there are still micro species of blennies and scorpion fish and as recently as 4 days there have been the occasional herring and mackerel.

All in all quite varied for only a few anglers and for those that can manage the colder conditions (unlike the old fart I am becoming) there is still a fair bit of activity in the water.
The EAST after today will be closed upto and including Saturday (unless forecast changes) and the EAST should be back open Sunday morning after a quick once over by the duty warden.

Other than a quick re reminder too share a report or 2 on the FB group I will sign off as usual , and thus, until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F