Geoff’s Fishing Report

 

Offshore

Fishing offshore from Anglesea on Sunday was Kevin McLoughlin along with Aiden Jarosinski and Aiden’s six-year-old son Jobe.

 

And while their catch consisted mainly of southern calamari, it was clear what Jobe hooked on the salmon fillet he had on for bait was no squid.

 

However, with some dutiful coaching from his dad, the lad captured a gummy shark of around 10 kg.

 

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Early last week, Philip Peace, along with sons Hartley 13 and Jude 10, headed out into the Lonsdale Bight from Queenscliff where, fishing in around 7 metres of water, they caught 19 whiting to 45 cm.

 

However, Jude – arguably – caught the fish of the day, a 56 cm flathead that was taken just off Bell Reef on a cocktail bait of pipi and squid.

 

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that fishing has picked up, along with the improvement in the weather, and among those to do well were Clifton Springs locals Peter, and Des.

 

Although they had a slow start off Curlewis on the outgoing tide, taking only four whiting to 30 cm, a move back to the mussel farm off Clifton Springs on the tide change made all the difference, topping up their catch here with 34 whiting from 34 to 43 cm using mainly squid for bait.

Andrew Johnson reports that he and Denis O’Brien headed out off Curlewis early on Tuesday morning last week to find the whiting well and truly on the bite, each reaching their legal limit of twenty keepers before lunchtime.

 

These ranged in size from 35 to 42 cm and were all caught on squid strips and mussels in 4.5 metres of water.

 

After an unproductive trip to Wurdiboluc Reservoir on the weekend with rafts of drifting weed making fishing almost impossible, Simon Werner headed out off Indented Head where he picked up five respectable squid.

 

On Saturday though, Steve O’Keefe took one look at the number of boats fishing in the Lonsdale Bight and headed across the bay to Portsea. And, while he broke no records, he caught six really good size squid including one that greeted the scales for a verdict of 3.2 kg.

 

Jeff Richards has regularly reported the increasing number of people fishing for, and catching snapper, on each of Portarlington’s breakwaters. On Sunday, said Jeff, the place was crowded, particularly the shorter construction at the north end of Fisher Street, which has been arguably the most productive of the two.

 

Barwon Estuary

Early last week, Adam Nolan 13, was fishing from the exposed sand at low tide near the Ozone Road jetty with his dad Nat, awaiting the incoming tide and the variety of fish that usually come in with it.

 

And, using chicken for bait, he hooked something a little different to what was expected; a 32 cm snapper, which – after being photographed – was released.

 

Freshwater

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club has just arrived in Queensland to fish the Gold Coast Flathead Classic but has stayed connected with other club members who have also done some travelling, but less far.

Fishing at Lake Lonsdale near Stawell, Ken Hinks and John Logan caught a total of 15 really good size redfin to 1.5 kg trolling soft plastics, while Greg Streets and Leonie Jones fished nearby Lake Fyans for a similar result.

 

On Thursday, Victorian Inland Charters skipper Ken Carmen had clients Steve and his son James, who was celebrating his 17^th birthday, on board at Lake Purrumbete last week, all planning to hit the redfin.

 

Well, they kept a healthy catch of 28 reddies to 36 cm, a 40 cm tiger trout, along with two small chinook salmon that were returned. All were caught on soft plastics and 3-inch Fish Arrows in the Neon Green/Silver coloration.

 

Also spending a day on the reddies at Lake Purrumbete were Jack Kelly from Romsey and Denham Hansford from Drysdale who caught a total of 65 redfin, three of which were over the 40 cm mark.

 

Please send your reports to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au, on messenger, or by phone, 03 5248 1307.