Walkley's Finest Bait & Tackle

14/08/2026

Introducing the HOAD CREW!

For generations, the Hoad family has been a cornerstone of the Goolwa p**i industry. Following in the footsteps of their late father, Kevin Hoad, brothers Darren and Matt have built a reputation for hard work, resilience and determination. Today, that legacy continues with Matt's sons, Jace and Jiye, and Darren's son-in-law, Jimmy, working alongside them.
Long days, tough conditions and unwavering determination are all part of the job. The Hoad Crew's grit, teamwork and strong work ethic ensure the job gets done!

Hoad Fisheries

24/07/2026

A new report reveals what caused South Australia's most devastating algal bloom crisis — 18 months after it first appeared on the state's waters.

16/07/2026

New Snapper Rebuilding Plan released.

The South Australian Government has released a new Snapper Rebuilding Plan, following encouraging results from the latest SARDI stock assessment, also released today.

The assessment found the Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf/West Coast Snapper stocks are now above the biomass limit and have been reclassified from "depleted" to "recovering".

While the latest assessment shows promising signs of recovery, uncertainty remains about the impacts of the recent algal bloom and further monitoring is required before any decisions about reopening currently closed fisheries can be considered.

Additional biomass surveys are planned during 2026-27 to improve understanding of the bloom's impacts and inform future management decisions.

The Rebuilding Plan provides a science-based pathway for the potential reopening of fishing in currently closed areas and outlines key management arrangements to support continued stock recovery, including:
✅ Total catch limits across all fishing sectors
✅ Mandatory catch reporting
✅ Seasonal spawning closures
✅ Protection of key aggregation areas

The Plan, together with ongoing scientific monitoring and future stock assessments, will help inform decisions about any potential reopening of currently closed Snapper fisheries after 30 June 2027.

🔗 Read the Snapper Rebuilding Plan: https://bit.ly/4fovPyp

🔗 Read the latest stock assessment: https://bit.ly/4w8V66N

15/07/2026

Walkley's Finest, turning up all over the place! :)
- photo taken at the magnificent Mitchell Falls, or Punamii-unpuu, an iconic Kimberley landmark and a place of cultural and spiritual significance for the Wunambal people.

09/07/2026

From 1 July, fishing seasons for a number of key recreational and commercial species commence – with rules and limits set to help keep our fisheries healthy and sustainable for generations to come.

Here's what recreational fishers need to know:
🐙 Southern Calamari (where fishing is permitted in the West Coast and South East fishing zones) catch limits return to 15 per person and 45 per boat
🐟 Snapper limits in the South East increase to 5 per person and 15 per boat. Don't forget, all Snapper catches must be reported via the SA Fishing App.

You can see how much of the total allowable recreational catch of Snapper has been caught at 👉 https://bit.ly/4oUE2yu

For our commercial fishing sector, new seasons and catch limits commence for Blue Crab, Vongole, Marine Scalefish, and the Lakes and Coorong fisheries, supporting sustainable harvests throughout the 2026–27 season.

Before you head out on the water, make sure you're up to date with the latest rules 👉 https://bit.ly/4vHSOeH

09/07/2026

09/07/2026

09/07/2026

🎣 Just in time for the school holidays, recreational fishers can once again catch King George Whiting in all South Australian waters following changes to the seasonal spawning closure.

Updated advice from SARDI found the peak spawning period is better aligned with a closure from 1 March to 30 June, meaning the current closure has ended early and recreational fishing can now resume in the spawning closure area.

Please remember existing bag and boat limits still apply:
🐟 Spencer Gulf: 10 fish per person, 30 per boat (3+ people)
🐟 Gulf St Vincent/Kangaroo Island: 5 fish per person, 15 per boat

The commercial closure for marine scalefish in the Gulf St Vincent/Kangaroo Island Fishing Zone remains in place until May 2027 as part of the Algal Bloom Fish Recovery Program.

For the latest fishing rules and limits, visit https://bit.ly/3RmBtsC or download the free SA Fishing app.

05/07/2026

The Coorong National Park is one of South Australia’s most spectacular natural areas, located about 2–2.5 hours southeast of Adelaide. It stretches for around 130–140 km along the coast and is famous for its lagoons, wetlands, sand dunes, and abundant birdlife. 

Some of the best things to do include:
• 🦢 Birdwatching – Over 200 bird species, including pelicans, swans, and migratory shorebirds.
• 🚣 Kayaking and boating – Explore the calm waters of the Coorong Lagoon.
• 🥾 Walking trails – Enjoy scenic trails through wetlands and coastal landscapes.
• 🏕️ Camping – Several campgrounds are available within the park.
• 🚙 4WD on Ocean Beach – A popular activity, but only at low tide and with caution due to changing beach conditions. 

The park is also the traditional Country of the Ngarrindjeri people and is internationally recognised as a Ramsar-listed wetland because of its ecological importance. 

05/07/2026

ICYMI: A raft of changes came into effect on July 1. Link below.