Kevin McLoughlin with the bronze whaler taken offshore from Point Richards.
Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula
Fishing on the drift offshore from Point Richards on Saturday morning were Kevin McLoughlin and his companion, Shane. They were fishing for flathead in around 7 metres of water, but with game fishing tackle out as well in case a shark came along.
They were picking up a good size flathead or two when at around 8.30, the ominous growl of a game reel took their outing to a whole new level.
The protagonist was a bronze whaler of about 2.5 meters that took about 30 minutes to subdue, a catch that should keep them in flake for some time.
Making a 4.00 am start on Wednesday, Andrew Philips and Tony Greck headed off to one of their productive snapper grounds off Avalon, and – with the sounder ticking over – they picked up some promising marks between the wreck of the Aneiura and the Nine Foot Bank.
Needless to say, the well-rehearsed drill of anchoring up and putting their lines out followed, and by 6.00 am they’d taken three snapper of 3, 5, and 5.5 kg on baits of silver whiting and squid.
They stayed on for a while, but after that, all their baits attracted were undersize pinkie snapper and banjo sharks, so they headed back in.
Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire, reports that the Bellarine Pirates Angling Club held a Flathead Challenge last weekend which was attended by 27 participants who weighed in 15 flathead to 932 grams.
The largest of these being taken offshore from Portarlington. However, another flathead weighing 860 grams was caught from the jetty just outside the Clifton Springs boat harbour.
Mike also reports that whiting continue to be the most sought-after fish from The Springs with fishing stalwarts Andrew Johnson and Denis O’Brien picking up a few nice fish on Thursday down toward McAdams Lane despite an uncomfortable north easterly breeze.
I said a few, not that there was any shortage, but – although legal size – most were a bit on the small side and returned, added to that, the little pinkie snapper bait thieves were really on the job adding yet another level of discomfort.
Nevertheless, they finished with 9 keepers to 40 cm. And surprize, surprize, their unexpected catch of five flathead to 55 cm made the trip worthwhile.
Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head also mentions that whiting of mixed sizes, including some around 40 cm, have been the main catch, often fairly close to shore between Grassy Point and The Governors.
Michael Dean tried for whiting off St Leonards on Saturday, but the fishing was slow with only a dozen keepers, but a drift out in 18-20 metres produced several flathead to 40 cm, which made the trip worthwhile.
Simon Werner, after tending to his deck duties aboard Adamas Charters, reports that there has been an influx of tuna in the 15-20 kg range offshore from Port Phillip Heads. However, they have been remarkably hard to catch, but of course that can change overnight.
Queenscliff
Heading out off Queenscliff late on Saturday afternoon and hoping to get onto the whiting, Chris Stamalos anchored up off Swan Island, just out from the J3 submarine wreck, and with the tide coming in, found them on the bite.
Using pipis for bait, Chris eventually took a bag limit catch of whiting to 40 cm by 8.30 pm and probably would have finished up even sooner had his baits not attracted the attention small and bothersome, pinkie snapper.
Kevin Wild with one of the large redfin that he and Ken Hinks caught from Tullaroop Reservoir.
Freshwater
Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that Tullaroop Reservoir is still the pick of the spots up that way, and that on Saturday, he and Ken Hinks put in solid session taking redfin to 49 cm on soft plastics.
Yellowbelly have been on the bite at nearby Cairn Curran Reservoir with anglers in boats catching them amongst the timber. However, Peter Homebone has caught them to 40 cm from bank near the main wall using worms for bait.
Please send your reports to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au, on messenger, or by phone, 03 5248 1307.