Hands up: Chris Stamalos with two gummy shark he caught off Barwon Heads.
A gummy shark that was attacked by two seven-gillers on the way up (Picture: Chris Stamalos).
Offshore
After making an early start in 30 metres of water off Barwon Heads, Chris Stamalos was hoping for decent snapper or gummy shark; the latter soon coming to the table, and it was soon followed by another making up his legal bag of two.
Still hopeful of catching a snapper, Chris persevered, and soon hooked another gummy shark that he intended to release. Unfortunately for the gummy though, two large seven-gilled sharks appeared on the scene and there wasn’t much left of it after that.
Mark Sesar with a 40 cm whiting from Corio Bay.
Fresh fish: Keryn Millard with a sample of the catch taken by herself and her father Dean off Portland (Picture: Bob McPherson).
Corio Bay and the Bellarine Peninsula
Following his offshore venture, Chris made another early start off St Leonards, along with Kelvin Maclean, in search of whiting. Pickings were lean though with four or five fish for each drop of the anchor.
Never the less, their persistence paid off, and by mid day, and a good many moves, they’d caught their respective bag limit catches.
Last week, Mark Sesar and partner Tina, fished for whiting off Point Henry from mid morning, and – using pipis for bait – they caught 15 over the grass beds near the Alcoa Pier. While most were between 30 and 35 cm, their biggest fish measured 40 cm.
They would have kept fishing had not the wind picked up to 20 knots or so, persuading them to raise their anchor and return to the boat ramp.
Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that Lindsay Smith and a friend took 30 good size whiting along the southern boundary of the mussel farm, while others like Damien Aquilina took mixed bags of whiting, snook, pinkies and good size flathead.
Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head suffered some level of fatigue over the weekend with all of the fish – mainly flathead – that he cleaned for clients; most of which were taken on the drift along the edge of the Prince George Bank.
Making a 4.00 am start on Saturday, Darcy Scott and Scott Teesdale fished the last of the flood tide for a catch of 20 good size whiting near the Coles Channel beacon – which is off the entrance to Swan Bay – all before daybreak: Then they tried for a kingfish.
With a good many of them turning up inside Port Phillip Heads and along the South Channel last week, they caught several squid for bait, and then – with the tidal current now on the ebb – they put in a sterling effort, but as it turned out, they had no luck on the kingies.
George Gereige with a good sample of whiting from Portland (Picture: Bob McPherson).
Portland
Bob McPherson reports there were good pickings for bottom-bouncing crews in deep water offshore from Portland last week. Among them were Keryn Millard and her father Dean, who returned with a great catch blue eye trevalla to 9 kg and pink ling to 12.5 kg.
Bob has continued to fish for the whiting in various places around Portland with Lachie Wombell and George Gereige, and – as usual – they’ve picked up some good catches.
Lachie Wombell with a nice sweep taken at Cape Nelson (Picture: Bob McPherson).
Freshwater
John Clements of Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that both brown and rainbow trout were taken last week with Bannockburn anglers Harry Stanford and Lachy Groves picking up both to a just over a kilogram. However, Geelong angler Steven (Stormy) Winter, caught the best fish; a 2.3 kg rainbow trout while fishing a minnow on his grand-daughter’s pink rod.
Redfin have been the main catch though said John, with Max and Jason Eastman picking them up to 1.4 kg using minnow for bait.
Snapper Competition
St Leonards and Bellarine Pirates Angling Clubs are currently hosting a snapper fishing competition, which will run until Sunday 01/04/18. Entry is open to the public and fees – which must be paid before any fish are presented for weighing – range from $20.00 for anglers aged 18 years and older, and $10.00 for those yet to turn 18.
You may pay by money transfer to Bendigo Bank, account 134873140, detailing “Snap18-1 and your name.” Or, by post to PO Box 1070 St Leonards 3223. For more information, ring Phil Walters on 0411 215 146 or email secretary.fish@bigpond.com
Ollie asks:
Geoff, I recall that in past years, you’ve had a lot of shark reports during this period. You don’t seem to have had any lately: Surely sharks are still about?
Ollie; I used to be deluged by reports of, and opportunities to photograph locally caught, mako and blue sharks, which are usually found well offshore. That’s no longer the case, but since those species are caught offshore from Portland and elsewhere, they should be here as well.
Species encountered closer to shore like bronze whalers, seven-gillers and threshers are still present as before, so either fewer people fish for them, or those who do, don’t advertise.