DESPITE all the changes wrought on our waterways, the Australian bass lives on, and there are plenty of our favourite freshwater scrapper in what is shaping up to be the best bass season in eons.
Reports are flooding in of terrific catches everywhere from the upper Hawkesbury/Nepean through to Glenbawn Dam near Scone, the big bass capital of NSW.
However, the Aussie battler's native waters are the eastern-draining rivers from the Mary in Queensland to the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria. Thanks to fishing licence funds, bass are stocked in impoundments.
The Department of Primary Industries says the latest production season has been one of the best on record at the Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, putting 280,000 bass fry into 15 NSW impoundments.
Releases included 70,000 fry in Glenbawn Dam, 15,000 in Lake Lyell at Lithgow and 65,000 into Tallowa Dam near Nowra. Several smaller locations, such as Flat Rock Dam at Nowra and Jerrara Dam near Kiama, also received stocks.
Commercial hatcheries will also supply more than 100,000 bass to fishing clubs and community groups in the dollar-for-dollar stocking program supported by funds from the Recreational Fishing Trusts.
These stocked fish can't breed, as bass need to get to the brackish reaches of coastal rivers to do that. Hence the closed bass-fishing season from June 1 until August 31.
Now, after two big wet years, the bass are snapping, even in the Woronora River, Lane Cove River, upper Middle Harbour and Manly Dam.
While there's a two-fish bag limit, with only one of more than 35cm, 99 per cent of anglers let them go.
The fish are a national treasure. Crimp the barb on hooks to aid easy release.
Meantime, excellent snapper reports are in from the central to south coasts. Young Campbell Rawiller, son of jockey Nash, caught his bag limit while fishing with his dad and John Singleton off Broken Bay. Long Reef and the Hump off Stanwell Park have been fishing well.
But a cold current and deep algae layer are bringing mixed fortunes. Central coast skippers say the kingfish are hot and cold. Yet flathead are in terrific numbers.
On the shelf, there's the odd small yellowfin and albacore. Marlin are on the way via bountiful reports in southern Queensland.
Hawkesbury guide Ron Osman has been getting stuck into the Aussie salmon in Broken Bay. Oodles of big luderick - more than 40cm - are around Brooklyn.
A few flathead are jumping on soft-plastic lures in the Hawkesbury, with even more and bigger specimens in Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay.
There are good reports of school jewfish in the harbour before their usual November run.
Botany Bay is better for trevally, with big luderick around the mouth of Port Hacking.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
What’s happening in the current Australian bass season and where are the best bass fishing locations?
This season is shaping up to be one of the best for Australian bass in years. Top places with strong catches include the upper Hawkesbury/Nepean, Glenbawn Dam (near Scone, a big bass capital), Woronora River, Lane Cove River, upper Middle Harbour, Manly Dam and impoundments such as Tallowa Dam, Lake Lyell, Flat Rock Dam and Jerrara Dam.
How many bass fry were released this season and which impoundments received the largest stockings?
The Port Stephens Fisheries Institute released about 280,000 bass fry into 15 NSW impoundments this production season. Major releases included 70,000 fry into Glenbawn Dam, 65,000 into Tallowa Dam and 15,000 into Lake Lyell, with several smaller dams also stocked.
Why can’t stocked bass reproduce in impoundments and what are the closed-season dates for bass fishing?
Stocked bass cannot breed in freshwater impoundments because Australian bass need to reach the brackish reaches of coastal rivers to spawn. To protect natural breeding runs, there is a closed bass-fishing season from 1 June until 31 August.
What are the legal bass bag limits and what catch-and-release practices are recommended?
The bag limit is two bass per angler, with only one allowed to be over 35 cm. Most anglers are releasing bass — the article notes 99% let them go — and it’s recommended to crimp the barb on hooks to help with easy, low‑impact release.
How are fishing licence funds and Recreational Fishing Trusts used to support bass stocking programs?
Fishing licence funds help finance stocking of native waters and impoundments. The dollar-for-dollar stocking program supported by Recreational Fishing Trusts also helps pay for additional fish supplied by commercial hatcheries to fishing clubs and community groups.
How many bass do commercial hatcheries supply to clubs and community groups under the stocking program?
Commercial hatcheries are supplying more than 100,000 bass to fishing clubs and community groups as part of the dollar-for-dollar stocking program backed by Recreational Fishing Trusts and licence funds.
Which other species are showing good catches right now besides Australian bass?
There are excellent snapper reports from the central to south coast, plenty of flathead (including in Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay), occasional small yellowfin and albacore on the shelf, marlin reports from southern Queensland, big luderick around Brooklyn, Aussie salmon in Broken Bay, and trevally around the mouth of Port Hacking.
How have recent weather and ocean conditions affected fishing for bass and other species?
Two big wet years have boosted freshwater flows and helped a strong bass season in many rivers. By contrast, a cold ocean current and a deep algae layer have produced mixed fortunes for snapper and kingfish on the central coast, making some species hot-and-cold in different areas.
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