Copy Copy: Kallie Engels, and sister Sjoukje 17, in action on the whiting off Clifton Springs at the weekend (Pictures: Tib and Rita Polgar).
Bob McPherson took this photo of a killer whale that was stealing fish from their lines in 500 metres of water off Portland.
Corio Bay Bellarine Peninsula
On Friday afternoon, Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien were out in seas that were rough enough to deter all but the very keen. But whiting were about, and in 4.5 metres off Clifton Springs; they caught 22 good ones before cleaning up the boat; a process interupted by Dennis’ rod buckling over with the catch of the day; a whiting that measured 45 cm.
While cleaning their fish, Andrew’s friend Peter Dawson happened by, and was booked in for the next day’s whiting foray, which from the outset was none too productive. Never the less, they persisted, and just prior to the evening tide change, they came on the bite, and – with a tally of 30 – they called it quits.
Australian salmon have been about, and on Sunday, Justin Burns and Simon Williams had no trouble catching fish to a kilogram on a cast and retrieve mission with lures, just offshore from the Limeburners Point boat ramp. Eventually, they broke off the engagement to catch some flathead for the table on the drift.
Early last week Andrew Phillips and George Uranus returned with bag limit catches of squid from Point Richards, making it back to the ramp just before the rain poured down.
Inspired by that success, Andrew returned on Sunday, this time with James Robinson: Again, they took bag limit catches of squid; mixed bags this time as it turned out with quite few aero or flying squid, which seemed to be out in the deeper water.
Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that on Sunday, whiting aficionados Tib and Rita Polgar, took Kallie Engels, along with sister Sjoukje 17, out off Clifton Springs as an eighteenth birthday celebration for Kallie, and although it was their first boat trip – and in a choppy sea – they caught several whiting and can’t wait to do it again.
Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that while squid have been the main catch, a variety of fish have been taken, including slimy mackerel and barracouta.
Also of interest said Rod, are the numbers of snapper to 2.5 kg or so being taken from the breakwater extension to the Portarlington pier, probably because of the discoloured water.
Natalie Holmes with the 2.58 kg redfin she caught from … Well husband Trevor won’t let her say, so your guess is as good as mine (Picture: Victorian Inland Charters).
Cole Sheppard with a 15 kg albacore he caught offshore from Lakes Entrance (Picture: Kevin McLoughlin).
Freshwater
John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that some good size fish have been caught from Lake Purrumbete: These include a 4.1 kg chinook salmon taken on Thursday by Cobden angler Gerard Loving on a mudeye suspended beneath a float.
On Saturday, the Sunbury Angling Club had an outing on the lake, and – although no names are available – their biggest fish was a 4.3 kg brown trout that was taken while trolling a Tassie Devil.
Gary Drew and Jason Eastman from Ballarat demonstrated that the lake’s population of redfin are still healthy by catching 100 weighing up to a kilogram using minnow for bait.
Brian Nolan with a school shark that he caught off Portland last week (Picture: Kevin McLoughlin).
Lachie Wombell with yet another pink ling taken offshore from Portland (Picture Bob McPherson).
Portland
On April 18, I reported that fifteen year old Hugh Johnstone of Portland took the lead in the four week Portland tuna competition with a fish of 60 kg; a catch that enriched him by $500.00. With the competition now over and no bigger tuna taken since, he’s taken the grand prize of $5000.00, which you can bet on being invested in more fishing tackle.
Jake Donaldson with a school shark that he caught last week (Picture: Sam Donaldson).
Sam Donaldson with a whiskered gummy shark that he caught at Kangaroo Island last week (Picture: Jake Donaldson).
Kangaroo Island
Jake and Sam Donaldson headed off to Kangaroo Island last week, an area they’d fished a time or two; hopeful of a good result. And, judging by the photos they sent of some of their bigger fish, it’s certain that they will be going back again at the first opportunity.
Sam Donaldson with a Gummy shark that they caught at Kangaroo Island last week (Picture: Jake Donaldson).
Sam Donaldson with a Blue Morwong that he caught at Kangaroo Island last week (Picture: Jake Donaldson).
Ollie asks
Geoff, I’ve just discovered I’ve been breaking the law throughout my fishing career by using some my catch of squid for whiting bait and flathead for snapper bait. Is it really true that I can’t use any of my catch as freshly-caught bait before returning to shore?
Ollie, you wouldn’t be Robinson Crusoe: Anglers fishing from boats target squid for whiting bait and other fish, including flathead, for snapper bait, and on the same outing: It’s one of those anomalies in the Fisheries Act that have engendered the old saying: “Fishing rules are made by people who don’t fish for people who can’t fish.”
Naturally, I can’t recommend that you break the law, even should it not reflect reality. Bear in mind though, that since this restriction could not be applied to land based-anglers, since they are already ashore, it clearly discriminates against those fishing from boats.
Levi Berry and Sam Donaldson with yet another catch from Kangaroo Island last week. (Picture: Jake Donaldson).