Fishing in the Narooma District. Narooma has some of the best fishing waters in New South Wales. Nearby Montague Island is an angler's paradise, its clear blue waters providing the most diverse fishing along the coast. You can catch marlin, shark, yellowfin tuna, kingfish, morwong and snapper.

Wagonga Inlet is also one of the State's best estuaries for fishing, probably because it is closed to all forms of netting and trapping. Like Port Hacking and Brisbane Waters, Wagonga Inlet has been set aside for anglers. Nets are also banned in Whittakers Ck, just north of Narooma, and the bream fishing is brilliant.

Since 1994 prawn scoop nets (for prawns only) and bait traps are the only exception to the net and trap closure in Wagonga Inlet.

A fish attaction buoy has been installed at Narooma to improve fishing for recreational sport and game anglers. Read more about the buoy and its location.

Location
Narooma (pop. 8,000) is centrally located, 300 km south of Sydney, 220 km from Canberra and 600 km from Melbourne. Montague Island, a world-renowned game fishing ground, is about 7 km to the south-east. The continental shelf is about 14 km wide at this point.

Facilities
Narooma and Bermagui to the south, both have safe harbours, excellent boat ramps and cleaning tables. At Narooma, there is a dual ramp, with ample trailer parking and toilets. There are similar facilities at the headland ramp at Bermagui. Talk to locals before using the ocean ramps at Mystery Bay, Dalmeny and Tuross - they can be rough with the occasional bad surge.

Fishing Montague Island
Berley will attract nearby all species of fish.

Marlin (black, striped and blue). From Montague I. to the edge of the shelf in summer. Blue marlin are rarer due to the cool water. Use 15-37 kg breaking strain line. Live bait best (striped tuna, slimy and frigate mackerel) but will take lures. Fish: 60-140 kg.

Kingfish. In summer, use 15-24 kg line around the island for fish 3-6 kg: in winter, there are fewer fish but they are larger - around 10 kg. Bait: yellowtail, slimy mackerel, squid, jigs.

Tuna (albacore, yellowfin, striped, southern bluefin). From the bar to the shelf and around Montague I. Best at the shelf. February to June (best May and June). Bait: cubed slimy mackerel or pilchards; live yellowtail, slimy mackerel; lures. Yellowfin to 60 kg; albacore and striped tuna up to 10 kg, depending on species.

Reef Fish (morwong, snapper, redfish, wrasse, leatherjacket, trevally, sweep). Reefs inshore and around the island all year. Use 6-15 kg line. Bait: fish and squid strips.

Flathead (sand, spiky, tiger). All year on sand drifts between mainland and island, even when other fish are not biting. Use 6-10 kg line. Bait: squid, mullet, fish strips, lures.

Bait
The best grounds for getting live bait (yellowtail and slimy mackerel) are:

off the surf beach at Narooma
off Hogan's Hole, Narooma
off Pat and Gill's Restaurant, Kianga
off Dalmeny Point
around Montague Island
Bait fish are attracted by a berley of bread, meat and fish. Handline with a small hook (size 8-12, long shank) and 3-5 kg line. Most anglers enjoy catching bait as much as chasing the big ones.

Frozen bait is available at tackle shops and most service stations. As they do not open really early, ensure your supply by buying the day before.

Charters
There are plenty of charter vessels at Narooma and Bermagui. The experienced skippers know the fishing grounds. All gear and bait is supplied. Dive charters are popular, largely because of Montague Island's resident seal and penguin populations. Arrange at Tourist Information.

Sea Safety

• You must comply with all NSW Waterways requirements.
• Ensure the vessel is seaworthy and fuel tanks full.
• Check batteries beforehand.
• Run the auxiliary motor periodically.
• Ensure the vessel is fully equipped for emergencies.
• Know how the safety gear works.
• Make sure everyone knows where the safety gear is stowed, and how to use it.
• Let someone know your expected time of return.
• Advise the local Coastal Patrol as you leave port (on 27.86, 27.88 MHz AM, 2182 KHz SSB and VHF channel 16).
• Take plenty of food and water.
• Wear non-slip shoes.
•  Take raincoats and warm clothing.
• Wear a life jacket whenever you cross a bar.
• If possible, fish with another vessel (in an emergency, the other can help or radio for help).
• If a front approaches, or the weather changes suddenly, head back in to the ramp.

Bar Crossings
Bar crossings can be dangerous and require utmost care. Narooma bar is particularly dangerous and has claimed lives and vessels. It is worst on an ebb tide with a nor'easter.

• Use a tide chart; expect nor'easters every day in summer.
• Study the bar from Wagonga Head lookout; study boats crossing the bar.
• Wear a lifejacket each time crossing the bar.
• On approaching the bar, stop and watch the wave pattern. At the end of a wave set, move to sea steadily without stopping.
• Do not go if in doubt or if you lack experience. It is not worth your life, and perhaps the lives of others, just for a day's (probably unenjoyable) fishing.

Weather
Narooma district has a temperate climate. Westerlies predominate during winter, flattening the seas inshore, but with high seas further out. Watch the commercial boats; if they stay in, it is for a good reason. If they head for home, the weather could be about to change.

Fishing Laws
Regulations are designed to protect and conserve our fish stocks and their habitats. At Narooma and Bermagui, expect to see Fisheries Officers patrolling foreshores, ramps, and offshore. They will be keen to help and advise, but will also have an eye out for illegal fishing. Bag and size limits are set out in the advisory material available free from tackle shops or the Montague Fisheries Office.

Fishing Licence
You need a licence to fish in any waters in NSW. You also need a licence for spear fishing, diving for fish, hand gathering and bait collection. Children under 18, Aboriginals involved in traditional cultural activities and holders of pensioner concession cards or equivalent do not need a licence.

You can buy your fishing licence from hundreds of local agents (bait and tackle shops, caravan parks, general stores and service stations); on the internet or by phoning 1300 369 365. Your fishing licence supports your sport.

All licence fees are put into special trusts overseen by angler commmittees to improve recreational fishing by:

• protecting and restoring habitat
• promoting responsible fishing
• creating recreational fishing areas
• stocking from fish hatcheries
• investing in more research.

Tag-and-Release

Tagging can be a great help in understanding fish migration and growth. If you would like to take part, as many club members do, call the Cronulla Fisheries Centre on 02 9527 8411, for tags, tagging devices and information.

Catch and Release is also growing in popularity as a true 'sporting' way of fishing. Keep what you want to eat, but return the rest, particularly the bigger fish, to live and grow for another days catch. NSW Fisheries supports 'catch-and-release' as good conservation.