Matt Cooper and Rici Redditch with the pregnant gummy shark that they released offshore from Breamlea (Picture: Ian Tipping).
Offshore
Heading out off Breamlea at daybreak early last week, Rici Hedditch, Matt Cooper and their captain, Ian Tipping, first tried their luck in around 25 metres of water where they caught several slimy mackerel for bait, and using same, soon hooked a good size fish.
What they eventually subdued was a pregnant, female gummy shark of at least 30 kg that they released after taking a photo.
A second gummy shark was lost after becoming tail-wrapped in the line. Another soon followed though, along with a catch of nine snapper from 2 to 4 kg and a sevengilled shark that topped off their catch before heading back to the ramp at around 11.30.
Nathan Halliwell 10, with the 52 cm flathead he caught off Thirteenth Beach (Picture: David Halliwell).
From the beach
Fishing Thirteenth Beach early last week, David Halliwell and his ten-year-old son Nathan were hoping to catch a few salmon.
They had no luck there, but Nathan caught a 52 cm flathead on the pilchard he was using for bait: A surprise but welcome catch.
Part of Jacinta Kelly’s catch was this 48.5 cm redfin from Lake Purrumbete (Picture: John Clements).
Freshwater
John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that there are chinook salmon to be caught with most around the kilogram mark. Highton angler Les Broughton had no trouble taking a bag limit catch on cut pilchards suspended above the bottom.
John also reports that redfin is still very much on offer and among those to catch them was Drysdale’s Jacinta Kelly whose biggest fish – which was caught on scrubworms – measured 48.5 cm.
And while other species have been on offer, said John, Tiger trout from one to 2 kg have been taking mudeyes fished beneath floats by anglers seeking brown trout, which seem to become most active during the last hour of daylight.
Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula
I have no reports from Corio Bay this week, mainly because the strong northerlies and nor-westerlies have kept most folk ashore.
Land-based anglers continue to catch snapper from the Portarlington breakwater though, and according to Jeff Richards, one of his neighbours – who is a little publicity shy – caught several fish to 5 kg here last week.
However, Simon Werner tried his luck here again on Sunday morning, and while he caught no large fish, he did catch pinkie snapper to 32 cm that were only too eager to take his baits.
A sign alerting potential ramp users that Avalon Ramp is no longer available for public use. Fair enough I suppose, but it’s right down the bottom of Avalon Beach Road where anybody, unknowingly venturing to the ramp, may find it difficult to turn around with a boat in tow.
Avalon Beach boat ramp upgrade
With strong north and nor-westerly winds, like we’ve had over the past week or so, Corio Bay anglers have historically had access to the Avalon Beach boat ramp on Corio Bay’s northern shoreline, which has always enabled the sheltered launch and retrieval of boats.
However, with major works planned for this facility, and already begun, that won’t be the case until those works have been completed by the nominated time of October: Of course, with historic delays of such works, that timeframe may be extended.
And, in addition to that – particularly with the expected increase in traffic on completion of this upgrade – once having crossed the Dandos Road intersection, the road’s pavement to Avalon Beach and the boat ramp turn-off – some 2.5 kilometres – still narrows to the point that it’s only wide enough to permit the passage of one vehicle.
So, when two vehicles towing boats, each travelling in opposite directions must pass, both must put their respective offside wheels off the road’s shoulder and into the soft roadside earth, creating a potentially unsafe situation.
Col Asks:
Geoff, how do you know at what tension to set the drag on your reel? I’ve heard it should be one third the breaking strain of your line, is that right?
Col, drag settings based on a proportion of the line’s breaking strain only apply to designated I.G.F.A. line class tackle for game fishing.
Assuming you have a spring-balance or other scales and are using a reel with a facility to pre-set the drag, you can easily ascertain your primary drag setting by first threading line through the rod’s guides and tying off the end to your scales.
Then, with your rod in a secure holder, you can increase tension on the line until the rod is loaded to the point where it becomes obvious the reel should be yielding line. At that point, a reading from the scales will indicate your primary drag setting.