Tyler Harris with a 7.2kg snapper that he caught offshore from Clifton Springs (Picture: Mike Windsor, Clifton Springs Boat Hire).
Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula
It was all-aboard for Jo and Anthony Catanzaro of Kilmore, who – along with daughters Hannah 14, Hayley 13, Emily 9 and Dusty the Kelpie – hired a boat from Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire, Indented Head on Saturday.
After catching an assortment of the usual suspects, virtually straight out from the boat shed, it became clear that Hayley had hooked something special. It was in fact a 6.5 kg snapper that was eventually hauled over the side to much applause, and a great deal of barking from Dusty.
Rod also had a story to tell, along with some photographic evidence showing what was left of a gummy shark hooked by client Daniel. The ill-fated fish was attacked by a small bronze whaler alongside the boat, which – in turn – was attacked by a much larger bronzie that was taking no prisoners.
When previous co-worker Steve Leaumont called Andrew Johnson from Townsville to say he was coming down south, suggesting a fishing trip, Andrew had some good info.
Son Tim and his pal Callum Olsen had recently caught their respective bag limit catches of snapper out toward the channel between Spray Farm and Portarlington, so that’s where they headed.
Steve Leaumont and Andrew Johnson with a sample of their snapper catch.
That was on Friday afternoon, and despite only fishing for two hours they too took bag limit catches of snapper to 6 kg or so and left them biting.
Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that, not only are there snapper about, there is a variety of fish on offer as Nebz Ristic of Melton demonstrated on Sunday with a mixed bag of flathead, squid, a gummy shark and several whiting.
And speaking of whiting, Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien found a good patch of those in 6 metres of water out toward the mussel farm off Portarlington on Saturday taking 25 beauties to 41 cm.
Jeff Richards, Ken Shae and Corey Verney also found a good patch of whiting near the wreck of the Ozone off Indented Head in 4 metres of water late on Thursday afternoon, from which they caught 17 before electing to try for the pinkies off Portarlington.
Antonio Bellia with a sample his and his father’s catch of squid from Queenscliff (Picture: Tony Bellia).
By 7.00 pm they were anchored some 500 metres out from Calhoun Road where they topped of their catch with 19 good size pinkies from 35 to 55 cm before dark.
Taking a run off Queenscliff, Tony Bellia and his 9 year old son Antonio were after squid, but initially things were quiet. Eventually though, they found a good patch in around 5 metres offshore from the rock wall, just west of the dog beach, from where they picked up some beauties to 2 kg.
Tim Johnson with one of his recent snapper from the Corio Bay outer harbour (Picture: Callum Olsen).
Off the beach
Fishing Torquay’s Cosy Corner from just before midnight on Wednesday, Ray Millman found the tide hadn’t dropped as low as he would have liked, the shore-break surging over the beach with each wave. However, he didn’t have to wait long for a bite on the squid he was using for bait.
His first fish turned out to be a gummy shark of about 3kg. That was followed by a banjo shark, and then a tussle with a fair size eagle ray, the conditions creating some difficulty in flipping it over to retrieve his hook.
After that though, a belief he’d solved the mystery of being bitten off on several occasions previously after catching a small bronze whaler that did indeed bite him off, but not until he’d dragged it up onto dry sand by the tail.
Hayley Catanzaro with the 6.5 kg snapper she caught from Indented Head.
Freshwater
On Sunday night, Kevin and Amber Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club anchored up on Cairn Curran Reservoir where they took a number of modest size yellowbelly while bobbing with worms amongst the timber.
Kevin also mentioned that club member Ken Hinks, and his grandson Brody, fished Taylors Lake near Horsham on their return from Dimboola. They not only caught yellowbelly to 1.4 kg, but caught and released a couple of respectable Murray cod; a promising sign for the forthcoming opening.
John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Angling Club reports that redfin are presently the main catch from the lake with John Eastman of Ballarat and Brian and Jackie Jones from Camperdown taking their share, along with Terry Shepherd who did likewise.