Tim Carroll with the 6.5 kg snapper he caught off Curlewis (Picture: Mike Windsor).
Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula
Early last week, Andrew Phillips and George Uranus settled in for an evening’s fishing in 8 metres of water between the Mountain View Quarries and the Wilson Spit, and – with generous baits of silver whiting and squid – they were hoping for a snapper or two.
The first rod buckled over just on dark, heralding the capture of their first fish, but the action was by no means fast and furious. In fact they were out until well after midnight for a catch of four snapper from 4.3 to 5.5 kg, along with some pinkies that they returned.
Also successful in much the same area were Daniel Stranger and Kevin McLoughlin who first caught some squid for bait off Curlewis. A good move as it turned out for their catch included a snapper of 5.8 kg.
Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that good numbers of snapper to 2.5 kg or so are coming in off Curlewis. Some have been a good deal bigger than that with the best sighted last week weighing in at 6.5 kg. Tim Carroll caught that one out toward the channel, also off Curlewis.
King George whiting have been about as well said Mike, and among those to catch respectable bags were Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien, who – in 5 metres of water off Curlewis – took a bag limit catch using small strips of squid for bait. Some of these were really good size fish measuring around the 40 cm mark.
Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that whiting have put a smile on angler’s faces off Indented Head, and off St Leonards where Aaron Habgood picked up a bag limit catch last week, his fish ranging in size from 35 to 43 cm. Aaron also picked up a good size snapper or two but admits to covering a bit of ground to find them.
Whiting have also been caught by anglers fishing from the pier at Portarlington, and – at about 2.00 pm on Sunday – one angler was seen to catch two snapper of about 3.5 kg apiece from the breakwater section of pier, one on each of his two rods: Such are the possibilities while the water remains discolored from our recent rough weather.
Kevin McLoughlin with a nice gummy shark that he caught from his new boat.
Kevin McLoughlin with one of the snapper he caught from Corio Bay last week.
Freshwater
On Thursday, Garry Ridgeway met up with Camperdown fishing legend, Roger Tolland at Lake Bullen Merri, hopeful of catching chinook salmon, and indeed were encouraged as anglers came off the water that morning with bag limit catches.
Anchoring up in 20 metres of water they soon had a good stream of berley – consisting of pilchard pieces and poultry pellets – going, which was soon followed by some interest in the baits they’d suspended just above the bottom. They finished up with time to spare, each taking bag limit catches.
Trevor Holmes and wife Natalie took a trip to the Delatite arm at Eildon where they caught several nice golden perch to 52 cm. These were taken on Berkley black grubs slowly worked along the bottom, and on Jackalls.
Bream are active in the Curdies River at Peterborough, and it would seem there are more anglers than ever fishing for them. They were in evidence last week as both bait fishermen, and lure fishing enthusiasts casting from Kayaks, were equally successful.
Trevor Holmes with a nice golden perch taken from the Delatite Arm at Eildon (Picture: Victorian nland Charters).
Natalie Holmes with her golden perch taken from the Delatite Arm at Eildon (Picture: Victorian nland Charters).
Jack asks:
Geoff, I was pleased to see that you referred to amateur fishermen in your question and answer last week. We were all amateur fishermen once, but now we are called recreational fishermen: How come?
Jack, the term amateur means that, although an individual may be totally committed to his or her sport or endeavor, their activity is unpaid. On the other hand, the term recreational infers that the activity involved is done as a form relaxation or escape from the work-a-day world; a hobby so to speak.
In reality though, some of us are indeed dedicated amateur fishermen while others go fishing purely as a recreation. What else must be clearly understood is that some of our number, those who work in the industry like paid fishing guides, fishing writers, tackle designers etc, are neither amateur nor recreational.