February Article – Upper Hunter Streams & Moon Island Kings
February proved to be a challenging month on the water for the Reggie’s crew, with poor weather and changing conditions making the fishing slower than we’d normally expect this time of year. The transition from warm water to really warm water across many systems had the fish shut down at times, forcing us to work harder for every bite.
Early in the month, Reggie headed up the coast alongside Brenden and Casey to explore some of the Upper Hunter streams chasing trout and bass. The cooler, shaded stretches of water produced the better fish, with early mornings and late afternoons proving to be the prime bite windows throughout the trip.
Fishing the tighter streams meant keeping things light and precise, and a couple of standout lures throughout the trip were the Cranky C**T 45mm and the Stiff Pencil. The Cranky C**T 45mm proved deadly when worked through the deeper pockets and around submerged timber, with several bass unable to resist the tight action in the slower current. Meanwhile, the Stiff Pencil came into its own during the low-light periods, drawing aggressive surface strikes from bass sitting tight along the undercut banks and shaded edges.
The trout fishing remained patchy due to the warmer water temperatures, but slowing presentations right down and making accurate casts into the cooler water helped turn a tough session into a productive one. Despite the slower bite, the boys still managed to put together several quality fish over the trip.
Once back on home waters, the focus shifted offshore with a few runs made out toward Moon Island chasing kingfish. The kings were far from fired up, but there were still opportunities for anglers willing to put the time in around the tide changes and bait schools.
The Snapper Stopper rod was a standout during the offshore sessions, handling the brutal kingfish fights around structure with ease while still giving enough feel to work surface presentations effectively. Paired with the Drunk Driver 110mm stickbait, the crew managed to tempt several quality kingfish during short feeding windows around the island. The Drunk Driver’s action across the surface proved especially effective when the fish were hesitant to fully commit in the warmer water conditions.
Although February wasn’t a standout month numbers-wise, it was another reminder that fishing is never just about the catch count. Exploring new water, fishing with good mates, and adapting to changing conditions is all part of the experience.
With autumn now approaching and water temperatures hopefully beginning to stabilise, we’re looking forward to more consistent fishing over the coming months across both the freshwater streams and offshore reefs.
The Reggies team crossing a upper hunter stream.
