Marcus Pearson with one of the gummy shark that he and Kevin McLoughlin caught offshore from Torquay (Picture: Kevin McLoughlin).
Zac Cross of Cross Country Fishing Charters with a thresher shark taken off Port Phillip Heads (Picture: Cranbourne Fishing World).
Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula
Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien were somewhat disappointed to be confronted with a 20-knot southerly on arrival at the Clifton Springs boat ramp on Saturday, but decided to head out anyway.
The boat swinging on the anchor made fishing difficult, a problem partially solved by bridling up with a second rope, which steadied the boat, but most of the whiting they caught were small – and although above legal size – were returned.
Despite the difficult conditions, they made several moves, eventually finding the bigger fish in 6 metres of water off Curlewis, finishing with 23 keepers, the bigger ones stretching out the tape to 40 cm.
There are whiting within the inner harbour as well, and Mark Richards, son Teddy and friend Carl Alexander could attest after finding a good bite in Stingaree Bay, but once again, most were a bit on the small side. Never the less, they finished with a dozen or so keepers.
Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that, weather permitting, the fishing has been good with good numbers of whiting being caught anywhere from Grassy Point, Portarlington, to the Governor Reefs off Indented Head.
Squid are on offer as well said Rod, but – once again – flathead are the main chance with anglers catching their share while fishing on the drift out in the deeper water along with a by-catch of good size pinkie snapper and gummy shark, some of the latter being large enough to create a challenge.
Simon Werner reports wading the shallows off Beacon Point again last Thursday, and – casting and retrieving soft plastics – picked up four flathead measuring from 50 to 63 cm, which just goes to show these larger flathead are to be found close to shore.
John Gray of the Maryborough Angling Club with a 42 cm redfin caught from Lake Tullaroop (Picture: Kevin Wild).
Guy Rayner with a Murray Cod from Lake Mulwala (Picture: Kevin Wild).
Offshore
Simon also reports good fishing from the charter boat Adamas with a variety of fish, from Australian salmon in the Rip, to tuna offshore – the latter being something of a challenge to tempt – regardless of the methods being used.
Taking a run out from Torquay last week, Marcus Pearson and Kevin McLoughlin were hoping to catch a gummy shark or two, and – anchored up in 30 metres of water – they caught their legal bag of gummy shark to 8 kg or so and tagged, and released, a couple of others.
Michael Evans with one of the two brown trout that he caught from Lake Purrumbete (Picture: Victorian Inland Charters).
Lachie Wombell with a couple of the Australian salmon that interrupted their whiting session off Portland (Picture Bob McPherson).
Freshwater
Kevin Wild reports that he, wife Amber, and Guy Rayner, all members of the Maryborough Angling Club, fished Lake Mulwala last week, taking – and releasing – any amount of Murray cod to 64 cm, both on surface lures, which is pretty exciting, and on various baits including chicken and cheese.
Somewhat closer to home, Kevin fished Lake Tullaroop with fellow club member John Gray where redfin to 43 cm were on the go, and eagerly taking the bobbers they presented.
Redfin have also been the main catch for clients of Michael Evans of Victorian Inland Charters on Lake Purrumbete, some coming from as far away as Echuca.
Michael’s been using live minnow for bait, and usually finding the reddies in 8-12 metres of water.
But finding himself with a free session on his hands last week, broke out the downrigger for some deep-water trolling.
And, as Michael said, luck was with him on this occasion for he caught two brown trout, one a hen at 3.56 kg, the other a 3.3 kg buck brown, both taken on bullet lures at depths from 10 to 20 metres.
Michael Evans (centre) with regular Melbourne clients Joe and son Kurt after a session on the Lake Purrumbete redfin (Picture: Victorian Inland Charters).
Portland
Bob McPherson and Lachie Wombell were out on the whiting off Portland, and – as usual – picking up a few when a shoal of Australian salmon moved in on their baits, and event that really tested their whiting tackle.
Ben Sherriff with a 57 cm whiting that he caught off Waterhouse Island in northeast Tasmania.
Damon Sherriff with a 58 cm whiting that he caught off Waterhouse Island in northeast Tasmania.
Tassie whiting
We’ve already reported on Damon Sherriff’s bream and snapper catches close to where he lives in Bridport Tasmania, but it would seem there are even more strings to Damon’s bow.
Making a visit to Waterhouse Island last week, which is some 30 km northeast of Bridport, this time with son Benjamin, they snared eight whiting, and what beauties they were.
None were much under 50 cm, said Damon, and he sent me photos of a couple of fish of 57 and 58 cm, all taken on freshly caught calamari.
David says:
Geoff, I was annoyed that you mentioned that the tiger flathead are back off Port Phillip Heads. As you said, they were once plentiful, but the trawlers regularly took them out until they eventually disappeared altogether.
Now that they are back, the last thing we want is for that to happen again,
David, we just have to live with the fact that many of the fish in our waters are commercially harvested. However, I doubt very much that commercial fish-harvesting operators depend on fishing writers for their information.
According to the Department of Primary Industries, the tiger flathead fishery is considered sustainable https://fish.gov.au/report/325-Tiger-Flathead-2020 So, I guess we’ll have to live with that.