Murray Scott with one of the snapper he caught last week.
Darcy Scott with a couple of nice ones.
Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula
Buckling rods and yelping reels had Andrew Johnson, and son Tim, hooked up to at least eight fish during an insane, daybreak snapper bite along the north-eastern edge of the Wilson Spit on Thursday.
They kept four, the biggest nudging 7 kg, releasing the others, all being tempted with offerings of silver whiting and squid heads.
Murray Scott and son Darcy did similarly well with one shy of a bag-limit catch before a fish that Darcy hooked snagged him, forcing him to break it off.
Thinking no more about it until leaving, they found the snagged snapper was actually snagged securely on their stern-weight tether. So, it too went into the fish box, making up their bag limit.
Tim Johnson with a sample of the snapper that he and Andrew caught on Thursday morning (Picture: Andrew Johnson).
George Vlahogiannis with the larger two of the five snapper he caught from the Mordialloc Pier early Sunday morning.
The pair usually catch salmon, squid and the like for bait before heading out; On this occasion though, two of their snapper were caught on a flathead that took a snapper bait; one took a fillet, the other, the flathead’s head.
Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck were anchored up just east of the Nine-Foot-Bank pile by 4.30 am on Friday, each taking their respective bag limit catches of snapper by daybreak before most began heading out.
Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports, that – weather permitting – fishing has been good, especially for whiting which have been mainly caught between Grassy Point and the Governor Reefs.
Darcy Scott with a snapper that snagged him on the stern-weight tether.
Flathead’s head made a successful snapper bait for Murray and Darcy.
Mordialloc
Making an early start from the Mordialloc Pier on Sunday morning, dedicated land-based angler, George Vlahogiannis was in action with a good size snapper at very first light.
He finished up with five altogether. The two larger fish – the bigger of which was abound 4.5 kg – came first, followed by another over 40 cm, then three pan-size pinkies.
George sent in photos of his catch, all of which were either caught on pilchards or Tommy Ruff.
Chris Farrugia with the 5.02 kg chinook salmon he caught from Lake Purrumbete last week (Picture: John Clements).
Tim Raine of the Maryborough Angling Club with a nice redfin from Tullaroop Reservoir (Picture, Kevin Wild).
Freshwater
Anglers have welcomed the larger chinook salmon now to be caught from Camperdown’s crater lakes, and of which I reported last week, the capture of a 3.6 kg chinook salmon from Purrumbete.
Also, last week, regular Lake Purrumbete angler Chris Farrugia. caught another chinook salmon from Lake Purrumbete weighing 5.02 kg, and of which I was also sent a picture.
These noteworthy captures, are directly attributable to the fingerling-sized fish stocked by VFA in 2020 – rather than the larger, and more expensive to produce, and transport – yearlings: End of argument I would have thought!
Gustavo Kurten with his 48 cm redfin from Wurdiboluc reservoir.
Wurdiboluc Reservoir fired for Gustavo Kurten and Mick Szkirka while casting soft plastics last week. They caught any amount of redfin with some good ones among them, their biggest measuring 48 cm.
Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that he and wife Amber fished Cairn Curran Reservoir last week where they caught any number of yellowbelly, although most were a bit on the small side.
However, in addition to the yellowbelly, they caught five really good size redfin. These were caught amongst the timber on both lures and worms.
Kevin also mentions that Tullaroop Reservoir is also fishing particularly well for redfin, with most of the action toward the tower adjacent to the spillway.
Snobs Creek Fish stocking coordinator, Rhiannon Atkinson has announced a planned liberation of rainbow trout averaging 50 grams, into Lake Bullen on Thursday, November 24.
These, hopefully, will be followed on Thursday December 1, with the liberation of 50,000 chinook salmon and 30,000 brown trout fry, also into Bullen Merri.
Both releases are planned for around 1.30 pm, but should you wish to attend, please contact Rhiannon, either by mobile on 0407 987 016, or by email rhiannon.atkinson@vfa.vic.gov.au to be informed of any updates.
The good news is that the long-awaited boat ramp at Lake Bullen Merri is no operational; a huge benefit to those fishing this water.
Kids day
Corio Bay Anglers Club, which is based in North Shore, is holding a fishing day for kids – no age limit specified – at St Helens on Sunday November 27, from 10.00 am till 2.00 pm.
For those without fishing tackle, some tackle and bait will be supplied. Parents may also fish provided they have a fishing license. For more information, please ring Angela on 0432 611 174.
Cornelius asks:
Geoff, I’ve been told that you can get more strength from a knot by first doubling the line before tying it. Is this true?
Cornelius, by simply doubling the line into an unsecured loop before tying a knot makes the knot bulkier and of uncertain strength.
On the other hand, securing that loop with a progressive splice like a Bimini Twist or Plait, provides a significant advantage in strength that simply doubling the line does not.