Dr Amber Clarke, CEO of Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, and staunch supporter of healthy waterways and fishing, assisting with last week’s estuary perch releases into the Barwon River.
Fish stocking
Over the past two weeks the Victorian Fisheries Authority has been joined by recreational fishers, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and Barwon Water to stocked 120,000 estuary perch into waterways in the Geelong region.
The releases help rebuild remnant native estuary perch populations in these waters and create sensational recreational fishing opportunities. 45,000 estuary perch were released into the Barwon River, 25,000 into Upper Stoney Creek Reservoir, 15,000 in Lakers Cutting, 10,000 into Little River and 5,000 into Painkalac Reservoir. Already recreational fishers are catching estuary perch in the Barwon River to 35cm and fishing will only get better as these fish grow!
Estuary perch are being caught to 50cm in other waters that were stocked 9-10 years ago such as Albert Park Lake, the Werribee River and Devilbend Reservoir.
The VFA have now stocked over 29 waters across the state with more than 2 million estuary perch, and it is resulting in fantastic outcomes for the community and environment. It’s all part of the Victorian Government Go Fishing in Victoria plan to get more people fishing, more often.
For more information, please feel free to contact Taylor Hunt, VFA Fisheries Manager at taylor.hunt@vfa.vic.gov.au
Fish stocking coordinator Rhiannon Atkinson thanks all who participated in the recent release of bass into Lakes Bullen Merri and Elingamite and announces a final release of 5000 rainbow and 5000 brown trout into Lake Bullen Merri on Thursday, December 7th.
Should you wish to attend please contact Rhiannon by mobile on 0407 987 016 or by email on rhiannon.atkinson@vfa.vic.gov.au so she can put you in touch their technical officer to affirm the truck’s ETA.
Freshwater
Fishing Wurdiboluc Reservoir last week, Simon Werner put in an honest lure-casting session with nothing to show for it save for some tenuous strikes he put down to small fish.
However, on another outfit, he was soaking a mudeye beneath a float, and when that went off, he knew he had a keeper, a brown trout of a kilogram that at least provided some reward for his efforts.
Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula
Following Michael Bealham’s success on the snapper offshore from Point Wilson the week previous, Michael made another 3.30 am start from St Helens, this time with another Geelong fishing identity, John Wesolowski.
Well, the snapper were still there, but on this occasion were just mouthing their various baits, including the fish and squid heads that they tried, which made for a frustrating exercise.
However, they each caught a snapper right on daybreak. Both were around 4.5 kg, catches that many anglers would have been happy to bring home.
Fishing for whiting from Corio Bay’s outer harbour last week, Gordon and Carol Williams were out to catch the morning tide change at one of their favourite spots off Point Richards, but with bait thieves soon becoming a nuisance they were on the move.
In fact, they finished up making several moves until a lucky drop in around 6 metres of water produced a better class of fish, eventually yielding a dozen prime specimens to 40 cm before the strengthening breeze had them heading back to the ramp.
Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that inclement weather was the stumbling block last week, with Sunday the only day to attract clients, some of whom caught whiting, and an occasional squid.
Barwon Heads
After going to the trouble of gathering some crabs for bait, Jason Treloar and Harley Griffiths put in a session at the Sheepwash on Wednesday afternoon, hoping to catch a decent bream or two on the high tide and ensuing run-off.
With the tide still running in on their arrival though, they opened a few mussels for the meagre return of small mullet and several of the seemingly ever-present toadfish. But as the incoming tide began slackening off, they baited one line with a crab and waited to see what would unfold.
Well, it was quite a wait, but with the tide eventually trickling out toward evening they caught the first of three bream, two of around 750 grams apiece, and the other clearly over a kilogram.
Kevin asks:
Geoff, I am desperate to catch a decent snapper, I see they are on the bite again, but even though I’ve fished just about everywhere, and in some of the spots you’ve mentioned, I still can’t catch one: Could you please advise?
Kevin, movers are often losers when it comes to snapper fishing. I suggest you pick a spot in 8-9 metres of water and be fishing there by the very first light of dawn with the freshest bait you can get and stay there for an hour or so after sun-up. At this time of day, snapper will, most likely, find you.
However, should early rising be a problem for you, then I suggest you fish the afternoon high tides running off in the days leading up to the next new moon which is on December 13 next.