Hotspot: Fishing for flatties in the Clyde River

The author’s largest flatty to date at 74cm. This fish was caught on a plastic while fishing the flats.

by Toby Grundy •

One of my favourite species to target during the cooler months is flathead, and there is no better place to pick up a nice bag of crocs than the Clyde River. This is because there is a variety of locations on offer within the system which represent prime flathead country and all within a short paddle. It’s also one of the most scenic areas along the South Coast of NSW and almost worth the visit for the backdrop alone.

Facilities

The Clyde River runs right into Batemans Bay, meaning the facilities available to anglers are very good. There are several well stocked tackle shops in the town along with cafes, restaurants and supermarkets where you can stock up on supplies.

I fished pretty far up the system and remained in mobile range the entire time. However, if you’re venturing a long way, it pays to have some safety equipment packed in case of an emergency, like a beacon. I would also recommend wearing a life jacket as conditions can change quickly and big tidal movements can catch a novice kayak angler unawares.

Due to the proximity of the river to several local shops, it’s possible to pack light and restock as you go. Plenty of water is always a must.

Species

I target the flathead, but there are also plenty of bream, estuary perch and tailor in the river along with some large mulloway. These fish are hard to catch, especially when there are a lot of boats on the water.

Another flatty in the net.
The fish in the Clyde are in great condition.
A good sounder means you will find the fish, sometimes in the middle of nowhere.
Wide open spaces are where larger kayaks excel.
An average sized Clyde River flatty.
A solid flatty polarioded on the flats.

Techniques

I use a variety of lures in many different ways depending on where I am fishing on the Clyde. If I’m fishing the edge of the oyster leases, I use small vibes and employ a burn and kill retrieve. First I let the lure sink to the bottom then I wind quickly (burn) before abruptly stopping the retrieve (kill). This mimics a fleeing or injured baitfish and usually the flatties hit the lure on the pause.

When fishing the flats (by far my favourite), I use soft plastics and Sugapen surface lures. I find a Wriggler in the 65-80mm range will account for a lot of fish, especially when twitched close to the bottom in about 1-2m of water. Likewise, Sugapens worked slow in shallow water close to overhanging branches can result in some epic topwater takes.

I have found that most of the surface action is during low tide with some really big specimens belting the lure into oblivion.

The Kayak

On a calm day, it’s possible to fish the Clyde in a very basic, inexpensive yak. However, on rough days I would recommend using a kayak of a reasonable size so you have plenty of stability. Paddle or peddle is fine, provided there is a lot of storage (for lures) and a spot for food and water.

I used my Native Slayer 13 and this yak proved perfect. It has the necessary stability for standing and casting at structure. Being able to peddle back also makes all the difference at the end of a long day. Though this kayak isn’t particularly manoeuvrable, this isn’t an issue on the Clyde, as most of the fishing is done in open spaces with plenty of room to turn.

The Sounder

It is important to use a good sounder when fishing the Clyde. Sometimes the fish will be holding in an area without any obvious structure above the surface. Without a sounder, it can be pot luck whether you find the fish or miss them completely.

Having down and side scan is great for prospecting the oyster racks and being able to mark the areas holding fish really helps, especially if you time your angling around the tides. If you’re travelling a long way, having a GPS on your sounder makes finding your way back a lot easier.

Locations

Start at Chinamans Point. There is plenty of structure in this area including oyster leases and submerged timber. It’s a great place to give your sounder a workout as schools of tailor and isolated mulloway often hang a few metres from the structure looking for an easy meal.

There are a lot of flathead in this area. If you can’t find them, head to the edge of Waterfall Creek and fish just before the sanctuary zone. I have always caught good numbers of fish here, especially at dawn and dusk.

Timing

The Clyde River fishes well all year round. I like fishing it at the end of winter as the crowds are down and the fish seem more ready to strike due to less traffic on the water. Fishing at this time of year means you are always in with a chance of a monster flathead with the 1m fish (holy grail) being the aim of most kayak fishos who hit the river throughout the cooler months.

Tackle

I use a Daiwa Harrier 1-3kg ultra-light spin stick matched to a Daiwa Certate 1000 size reel spooled with 4lb fluorocarbon straight through. This is a very light outfit, but I find that finesse is needed when targeting flatties in areas that are fished heavily. I get the odd bust-off, but I catch a lot more than I lose and get the added bonus of an amazing fight.

Conclusion

The Clyde River is a great spot to introduce novice kayak fishos to flatty fishing. It also has a lot to offer the more experienced angler. It’s a beautiful system rich in marine life and stunning scenery and all within a short distance from the main hub of Batemans Bay.

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