Fishing around Smithton

[bessell1955]

I am going up Smithton near Kempsey  in early January for a fish for 7 days.  I plan to fish and crab the river downstream towards Jerseyville.   I wonder if any F. R' s can give me any current advice.  I will be in a boat, not land based.

[big Neil]

Long time since I fished up there but soft plastics cast ahead as you drift along should get some interest. Trolling hard body lures back up the selected drift (against the current) will also do the job. Good luck and have a good break. bn

[bessell1955]

Thank you for your reply.  I will take your advice and give it a go.  Did you do any crabbing there?

[big Neil]

No. In all honesty, I've always thought little of crabbing. Always too eager to catch a few fish. Good luck. bn

[Jimmy_Recard]

I used to catch live Herring around the prawn trawlers at Jerseyville using sabiki bait jigs and then drift them along the northern breakwall on the run out tide to very good success a few years back. Hardest part was keeping the Herring alive

[bessell1955]

Thanks Jimmy Recard.  I am leaving shortly and I will try the break wall at Jerseyville.  I always try the Co-Op there and have never failed to catch something, with a silver hook.

[bessell1955]

Evening all, I have just returned from my sojourn at  Smithtown and I must thank you for all the advice I received.  It truly did assist.  We caught Muddies every day and  released a dozen, due to under-size and  females.  The locals informed me that the fishing was touch and go and one  outing, we fished for 3 hours, our bait was not touched.   The locals stated that due to the prevailing NE winds fish were not on the bite.

We did have one good day where we caught two 40 cm flatties and I caught a 60 cm Cobia.

I do not have a mobile telephone, so no pictures.  The Muddies were all caught in the river about 600 m west of Kinchela creek.  They were so nice to eat.  Thank you Big Neil for your advice!