The South Coast of New South Wales has a very diverse game fishery.  It is possible, to catch all species of Marlin as well as Spearfish, Broadbill Swordfish, Kingfish and most of the Tuna and Shark species that inhabit the waters surrounding Australia.

It is also nearly a year round proposition with only late winter and early spring being generally the quieter time.

The South Coast over the years has accumulated some pretty impressive statistics, with the largest Blue Marlin, Striped Marlin, Broadbill Swordfish, Yellowfin Tuna, Bigeye Tuna and Bluefin Tuna all being taken within its waters.

The other species encountered, also obtain a large size for their respective species, and there have been other countless State, Australian and some World Records taken as well.

The season really gets under way from mid spring and this time of the year generally sees a run of Albacore, Yellowfin Tuna and Mako Sharks along with the possibility of some Bluefin Tuna.

Water temperature and bait will be the trigger when the fish begin to appear, but if the water temperature hits sixteen degrees you can expect Albacore and Bluefin.  A rise of another degree or two will see Yellowfin and Mako’s turn up.

Other than the Mako’s which are a berley trail proposition,  these early season Tuna are invariably taken whilst trolling,  for their disposition at this time of the season sees them spread out and covering water fast.

Skirted surface pusher and cutface trolling lures, subsurface metalheads and bibbed and bibless minnows are the norm when targeting these fish.

Once hooked up and the Tuna are close to the boat , it always pays to have a couple of knife jigs handy to drop down, for the rest of the school will often will often follow the hooked fish to the boat.

This time of the season will see most of the action along and beyond the edge of the Continental Shelf, but they will move inshore if water temps, bait fish and currents are favourable.

These Spring Tuna are generally smaller than the later season run but of course this can vary and some very respectable fish have been taken over the years.

The Mako Shark fishery can be outstanding throughout late spring with all sizes being encountered and it’s a bonus if a school of Albacore or Yellowfin take an interest in your berley trail.

Although at times Marlin will be encountered prior to Christmas, it is from that time on that they make their presence felt and, they are predominantly Striped Marlin.

The Striped Marlin really hit their straps when the water temperature reaches twenty one to twenty two degrees with January, February March and April being the prime months but having said that, May even June can at times run a hot bite.

Trolling skirted lures either pusher or a cutface style is popular. So is slow trolling live baits or skip or switch baiting.

The predominate live or skip bait is the Slimy Mackerel and once a school is located it is generally a simple procedure to jig some up to fill the bait tank.

No matter what technique you use, it is around these bait schools that you must focus your attention for when the bite happens, these are the locations to be.

Striped Tuna also make great live bait and sportfish and can be procured by trolling small skirted lures around the schools and again once bridled up; drop it back in amongst the school.

If the bait is loading up along the edge of the shelf, this is the number one location but you will encounter Stripes beyond the edge and on the inshore grounds particularly the reef systems if they are holding bait.

Depending on the season Blue Marlin can be a regular capture and very large fish can be encountered with the biggest of this species having all been taken on the South Coast.

Although at times they will venture inside the edge of the Continental Shelf, they are a species that prefers the wide grounds from the edge of the Continental Shelf out through the Canyons and beyond.

They like warm water, from twenty two degrees and above and proven methods to take them are by trolling large skirted lures or slow trolling large live baits like Striped Tuna or small Yellowfin Tuna.

Black Marlin some seasons are a frequent by-catch when targeting Stripes and will respond to the same methods but some seasons depending on the inshore currents there can be a run of generally smaller fish on the inshore grounds.

Throughout the Marlin season you will encounter School Yellowfin, Dolphin fish (Mahi Mahi) and numerous different species of sharks and there is also the off chance for a Spearfish or Wahoo.

Generally late autumn heralds the start of the Tuna season and it at this time of the season everyone is focused on Yellowfin Tuna with Albacore as a by-catch which is understandable for again the biggest of the species have been taken on the South Coast.

Most of the action will be concentrated from the edge of the Continental Shelf and beyond and the trolling methods described earlier with the spring fish will prove very productive but once the fish are located, cubeing and live baiting can be spectacular.

Focus your cube trail with just a little berley and deploy two live bait rods with one sinkered down at thirty meters whilst the other is free swimming just below the surface and then deploy two cube rods but remember, don’t over berley or cube for you want the fish at the boat.

Do not complicate your methods as four rods is plenty and you have covered your options, but have a fifth rod ready in the boat for a Mako Shark for from now on it is prime time for them.

Broadbill Swordfish are another species that frequents our waters this time of year and although classed as the Holy Grail, they are quite catchable if your persevere.

The Canyons are a favourite haunt of this species and Squid are high on his tucker list and he will rise from depths toward evening and pursue his food throughout the night

Although Broadbill can be caught on all phases of the lunar cycle, it is the lead up to the full moon period that appears to be most productive and again don’t complicate your methods.

Three Squid baits in conjunction with light sticks set at depths from fifty meters down to one hundred and fifty meters will cover the strike zone with a Slimy Mackerel set just below the surface being a further option.

The biggest Broadbill in this country have come from the South Coast along with other species that has made its mark recently the big Southern Bluefin Tuna.

So far, June and July appear to be the best time to pursue this species and it relevant to how close inshore they will move as to successfully target them.

Distances of thirty to forty miles offshore are the norm and although big numbers can be taken whilst cubeing, trolling lures has accounted for the biggest fish so far.

You will handle the smaller gamefish on the lighter line classes even the smaller Black and Striped Marlin but if you are serious about a big Tuna, Blue Marlin and Broadbill, twenty four kilo tackle could see you under gunned.  Thirty sevens are more appropriate and on the bigger boats sixties are not out of the question.

Remember the biggest fish that swim, are yet to be caught.