Joe Rossi with a nice silver trevally from the Queenscliff harbour.
Queenscliff
Silver trevally have been entertaining anglers within the Queenscliff boat harbour for a while now, both those making the trip by boat from St Leonards and those fishing land-based from the various structures within.
Among these was Joe Rossi who produced a timely catch for the camera.
Andrew Ketelaar with a sample of his Australian salmon catch from Kilcunda.
Off the Beach
Early last week, Andy Ketelaar made the journey to Kilcunda, just off the Bass Hwy past the Phillip Island turn-off in South Gippsland, hoping to catch a few salmon on the afternoon rising tide.
Well, he did that in spades with his bigger fish nudging 2 kg; a great bit of sport on various lures cast into the inshore gutters, some as close as 15 metres.
Closer to home, Tony Ingram and Col Simmons fished Thursday’s late afternoon high tide at Bancoora Beach where they too took Australian Salmon, the biggest also nudging the 2 kg mark, both on bait and lures with most of the action on the start of the ebb tide.
Fishing on into the evening, hopeful of catching a gummy shark or two as they’ve done previously, produced a tailer of just on a kilogram before increased side-drift and an accumulation of weed persuaded their retreat.
Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula
Braving less than ideal conditions last week, Gordon and Carol Williams launched off Clifton Springs, hoping to catch a few whiting.
After the usual few moves it usually takes to find a good patch, they picked up a couple of fish out in around 6 metres of water off Curlewis, and as the low tide change was about to kick in around midday, they waited patiently for what they hoped would follow.
The fishing was a bit slower than they would have liked, but they finished with a dozen nice fish before the breeze freshened to the point they called it a day.
Jenni Behrens with her 11 kg mulloway from the Maroochy River (Picture: Jamie Behrens).
Upstate
Last week, we reported that ex-Barwon Heads mulloway fisherman, Jamie Behrens, who now lives in Bli Bli Queensland, and who – the week previous – took fifteen-year-old Bryce Bartleson out on the Maroochy River where he caught a mulloway of 19 kg.
Jamie’s wife Jenni wanted some of that action. So, after arriving at the same spot in front of a small creek at the last of the ebb where mullet were jumping, a throw of the cast net produced enough for bait. And, on one of which, Jenni caught a mulloway of 11 kg.
Brisbane’s Scott Goleby fishes within its port, either with son John or with his friend George, where their catch is usually flathead or bream.
Of late though, their approach has included live-baiting close to the wharf structures, maintaining position with the electric motor because, like other ports, anchoring is prohibited within a prescribed distance.
The lives of their baits – usually small pike – are short; shorter still are their tussles with powerful fish that take them and bolt for the piles, cutting them off.
That was all except for one that Scott identified as a gold spot cod. It was about a metre in length, and which – inexplicably – bolted for open water, was caught and released.
Fishing Lockdown
I was criticized during the previous closure for publishing fishing reports that occurred during the lockdown.
Fishing was in fact allowed during that period under somewhat restrictive guidelines. The same now follows, the July 15 VFA update reading as follows:
“Recreational fishing and boating are permitted within 5km of your home as long as it doesn’t require use of a facility (the opening of a closed jetty or pier) and for up to 2 hours once per day, and with members of your household or 1 other person”.
Barry asks:
Geoff, I’ve noticed there are Angler’s Clubs and Angling Clubs: What’s the difference?
Barry, It’s a matter of perception. Mine would be that if you belonged to an Angling Club, there would be no doubt that you and other members had joined to participate in the serious pursuit of angling as a club member.
On the other hand, Angler’s Clubs, like Soldier’s and Sailor’s Clubs – of which there are several – suggests, to me anyway, a more social structure where the cut and thrust of the activity described is less pivotal to its members.