Andrew Johnson with a snapper he caught offshore from Point Wilson last week (Picture: Jenny Johnson).
Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula
Making an early start on Wednesday morning, Andrew Johnson and wife Jenny tried their luck on the snapper, and – anchoring up toward the end of the Point Wilson Pier – Andrew picked up a nice one of just over 5 kg using half a silver whiting for bait.
Fishing for snapper on Sunday morning, Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck were anchored up off Avalon’s Mountain View Quarries shortly after 5.00 am catching three snapper from 4.5 to 5 kg.
Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that dredging operations to restore all-tide access to the boat harbour, and the implementation of additional parking, are both nearing completion.
And, as for his client’s fishing results, Mike says that pinkie snapper and Australian salmon have been the main catch.
Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that clients have taken whiting to 38 cm with squid, some of good size, on offer as well while anglers fishing in the vicinity of the Prince George Pile have caught pinkie snapper, the largest weighing in at around 2 kg.
Eli McLoughlin 4, with one of his carp from the Barwon River at Breakwater (Picture: Kevin McLoughlin).
John Gray holding out a couple of yellowbelly from Cairn Curran Reservoir.
Offshore
Taking a run out into 40 metres of water off Barwon Heads on Sunday, Simon Werner and Mick Spiteri were hoping for a snapper or good size gummy shark, and a 5 kg snapper was the first cab off the rank.
They looked set for a gummy shark as well, but after a lengthy tussle the fish they’d hooked turned to be an eagle ray that was released.
Lily Eales 6, with a yellowbelly from Cairn Curran Reservoir (Picture: Stephen Eales).
Mason Eales 5, with a couple of yellowbelly from Cairn Curran Reservoir (Picture: Stephen Eales).
Freshwater
After trying his luck on the Barwon River downstream from Breakwater, neighbour Rod Butcher, showed me a great catch of European carp on his mobile phone.
By Rod’s reconning, they would have been up to 6 kg. And there were a good many more to be shown that were taken on previous trips as well, all being caught on corn kernels.
Kevin McLoughlin and his 4-year-old son Eli also found the carp in much the same area on Sunday with the lad picking up a couple of nice ones.
Frank Benvenuto fished Melton Reservoir last week, and trolling along the edges with a size 3 Stump-jumper, caught a nice yellowbelly and dropped two others.
Unfortunately, he forgot to bring the battery for his depth sounder, so he was trolling blind. However, he obviously managed to get his lures into the strike zone.
Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that Cairn Curran Reservoir is producing good catches of yellowbelly to 40 odd cm.
Those to get amongst them while fishing with lightly weighed worms amongst the timber, were Stephen Eales along with son Mason 5, and daughters Lily 6, and Amelia 9.
Tullaroop Reservoir’s redfin have become a little harder to find lately said Kevin, but depth may be critical as indicated by Steven Roberts of Maldon who caught several good size reddies downrigging in 12 metres of water.
Michael Evans of Victorian Inland Charters with an 85 cm, 9 kg plus brown trout he caught while fishing the canals in Twizel Country, New Zealand.
New Zealand
Michael Evans, Ash Rawlings, Trevor Holmes, and Bjorn Mair made the journey from Geelong to Twizel Country on the South Island of New Zealand and are currently fishing for, and catching, those extra-large trout that the canals in this area are famous for.
Michael said they were well prepared having acquired a good supply of the imitation fish egg and glow bug pattern flies most suited to the ‘rolling’ presentations known to tempt these beasts.
These were backed up with the more orthodox Daiwa, Double Clutch, bibbed minnows that are particularly suited for cast and retrieve.
There were some beauties among the fish they caught including Michael’s 85 cm, 9 kg plus brown trout, of which he sent in a photo.
Don Rayner holding out a yellowbelly from Cairn Curran Reservoir.
Snapper fishing competition
On Friday October 18, the Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club, Geelong, Victoria, will hold an introductory meeting to the snapper competition they are hosting over November: Entry is free to club members and for non-members entry is $10.00
Guest speaker is fishing Identity, Lee Rayner who will provide the lowdown on snapper fishing. That will take place from 6.00 pm, club rooms will be open from 4.30 pm.
Please send your fishing reports to occytrapper@gmail.com or by phone to 03 5248 1307.