Geoff Wilson’s Fishing Knots And Rigs

Michael Evans with one of the redfin he caught from Wurdiboluc Reservoir just prior to this water being
closed to fishing by Barwon Water.

With poor weather last week, coupled with ambiguous information on where one can fish in respect

of COVID-19, there wasn’t much caught. However, I do have a report and

I’ll deal with that first.

Freshwater

Michael Evans of Victorian Inland Charters, along with a couple of mates, fished Wurdibuloc

Reservoir prior to that water being closed to fishing by Barwon water inresponse to COVID-19 restrictions.

Prior to that, Michael – along with a number of others – had taken both trout,both browns and rainbows to 40 cm or so, and redfin to 43 cm.The trout had been caught on OSP Bent Minnows and shallow running bibbed lures in various colours
and sizes with very first light and dusk being the most productive times to fish.

The redfin were caught on Daiwa double clutch bibbed minnows, Nories Wasaby metal spoons andfish arrow soft plastics, with most success being in the last hour or so of daylight.

Going fishing?

How far may you go?

I’ve had several questions on whether one can go fishing, and where, and subsequentlyobtained the following information from the Department of Health and Human

Services website:

You may undertake

recreational activities including fishing, hunting, boating, surfing, learning to drive and reading in a park, activities that should be untaken at the closest available locations to your home.

I rang the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398, and – after receiving repeated

messages to go to the website https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

– I was eventually offered a call-back.Called back I was,and spoke to a charming young lady by the name of Linda who told me there were no actual restrictions on travel, as long as one didn’t enter the

metropolitan area, but – and here’s the doozy – “…you should be doing the activities described on the website as close as possible to your home.”

Given the ambiguity of these directions, I contacted Victoria Police for clarification and was subsequently advised by Sergeant Anthony Reyntjes to check the DHHS website https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

which is contemporary and up to date, or Ring the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800675398.

However, one of my contributors contacted a regional police station and was told by the Sergeant in charge that travelling 45 minutes or so, or even as much as an hour, from your home to go fishing, wouldn’t be a problem.

I also contacted Travis Dowling, Executive Director of Fisheries Victoria who said:

That while fishing is not allowed in Melbourne Metro, it is presently permitted as ‘exercise’ under Stage 3 in regional Victoria.

However, you must fish as close to your home as you can. So, if you live in Torquay, heading down to Portland to fish would not be acceptable.

My point of view these restrictions have not been debated and enacted by Parliament; they are simply

made by panicked politicians under the guise of a supposed “State of Emergency”.

That is my view which is wholly backed up by an article written by Jeffrey A. Tucker

in the American Institute for Economic Research https://www.aier.org/article/madness-in-melbourne/

The following is an excerpt from that article:

“The Premier” has imposed a vicious police state without precedent in this country’s history. His name is Dan Andrews (a sweet-sounding name that masks the tyrant he has become), and he tweets out pictures of empty streets to

brag about what he has achieved in the name of suppressing a virus … Australia is the only country in the world that has a law that people can’t be mean to each other. Now, it is host to one of the world’s meanest governments.”

Cody asks

In reference to your question

last week about fishing Lake Bullen Merri, what about fishing from the bank, do you still have to berley?

Cody, most anglers don’t berley from the bank because it needs to be dispersed at a distance of several

metres for which you would need a berley wand consisting of a container for the berley taped to, or otherwise attached to a garden stake or piece of a fishing rod past its use-by date.

Chinook salmon and rainbow trout to 1.5 kg or so have been caught from the bank by a good many anglers,

most of whom use Berkley Powerbait, which has positive buoyancy. For this reason, you will need to use a small sinker or fair size split shot to prevent it from floating to the surface.

Please send

fishing reports and photos to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au:

Thank you.

Chris Stamalos with one of the gummy shark he and his brother Daniel caught off Barwon Heads at the weekend (Picture: Daniel Stamalos

Daniel Stamalos with the gummy shark he caught off Barwon Heads (Picture: Chris Stamalos).

Offshore

Fishing offshore from Barwon Heads over the weekend were Chris Stamalos and his brother Daniel. Their hopes for a respectable gummy shark or two were realised by 11 am or so, but around mid-day the seven-gilled sharks arrived.

The first was small and easily handled, and so was next, but everything went pear-shaped when huge seven-gilled shark came up from the depths and had that one for dinner.

Adele and Lucy Micallef with the big squid they caught off Curlewis (Picture: Justin Micallef).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

On Sunday, Justin Micallef along with daughters Adele 8, and Lucy 5, fished off Curlewis. And, in clear water – ideal conditions for catching squid – they broke the jigs and caught 10.

It was young Lucy who hooked the biggest squid of the day and was ably assisted by big sister Adele to bring it aboard.

In search of whiting on Sunday, Collan Erard, his father Ernie and Brother Malcolm, first headed out to the east of Point Henry where they’d previously caught fish, and started off well with a couple of nice fish. But then the undersize pinkies moved in, taking every bait.

Heading toward one of the caravan parks off Leopold proved no good at all, so they continued to move, until – about a kilometre from their last spot – they found productive ground with a good bite going, and in three hours they’d taken 52 whiting, ranging in size from 33 to 41 cm with squid being the stand out bait.

Early on Sunday morning, Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck fished the last of the incoming tide near Coles Beacon, which is just off the mouth of Swan Bay at Queenscliff.

Lachie Wombell with a sample of the Nannygai he and Bob McPherson caught off Portland on Monday (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Lachie Wombell with a knife-jaw that he caught off Portland yesterday (Picture: Bob McPherson).

And, although they had to contend with small leatherjackets and other unwanted species taking their pipi and squid baits, they finished up with 28 whiting, their biggest measuring 41 cm.

With the whiting bite shutting down toward the top of tide, they moved in closer in where they found several good patches of squid, eventually taking their respective bag limits including one of 1.3 kg.

Lachie Wombell with one of the Tasmanian Trumpeter that he and Bob McPherson caught off Portland on Monday (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Freshwater

With the promise of good weather on Saturday, Bernie Bennett of the Bannockburn Angling Club and his mate “Scanno,” headed down to Lake Elingamite – just south west of Cobden in the Western District – putting their minnow trap in overnight.

Come Saturday morning, there were only a couple of minnow in the trap, but one of them tempted a beautiful redfin of about 1.8 kg; that was their only catch here though.

Fishing Wurdiboluc Reservoir on the way home produced a 1.3 kg rainbow trout on a worm and glassie cocktail. Bernie hooked another on a lure he’d been casting out, but it escaped.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that 30,000 trout, both browns and rainbows were released into Tullaroop Reservoir recently and that redfin are still being caught here with the usual approaches.

However, one of the more outstanding catches taken last week was by Peter Conn of Bendigo who was rewarded a for drowning a worm from the bank of the Loddon River – just downstream from the Laanecoorie Reservoir at Baringhup – with a Murray cod that measured just over a metre in length.

Rhiannon Atkinson of the Victorian Fisheries Authority reports that freshwater fish-stocking programs continue with a delivery of 10,000 rainbow trout (average weight 20 grams) to Lake Purrumbete yesterday. And, on Thursday, Lake Bullen Merri is scheduled to receive 5000 brown trout (average weight 30 grams) from around 1.00 pm.

Should you wish to attend on Thursday, and in respect of the current crowd size restrictions, please contact Rhiannon on either 0407 987 016 or by email; rhiannon.atkinson@vfa.vic.gov.au

Ernie, Collan and Malcolm Erard with Sunday’s whiting catch.

Portland

Fishing off Portland in 130 metres of water yesterday, a depth noted for Tasmanian trumpeter, Bob McPherson and Lachie Wombell did indeed catch a couple of good ones.

They also caught nannygai, gummy and school shark, snapper, knife-jaw, rock ling and several other species. Needless to say with such abundance they released much of their catch.

Christi asks:

Please send fishing reports and photos to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au: Thank you.

Bream bounty: Martinus de Lange with a sample of the bream he caught from the Hopkins River at Warrnambool on Friday morning.

Elbow slapper: Geelong Boat Hire proprietor Ivan Bereza with a one of his whiting from Corio Bay.

Taking a run down to the Hopkins River at Warrnambool early on Friday’s chilly morning, Martinus de Lange didn’t have to wait very long before the scrubworms he was using for bait attracted attention from the local bream population at the Deakin University pontoon.

While most were somewhat on the small side, there were a couple of good ones among them, the biggest clearly over a kilogram.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Ivan Bereza of Geelong Boat Hire, and a companion, fished the east side of Point Henry on Wednesday afternoon and soon had a good whiting bite going, and – despite returning a number of small but legal size fish – they were well on their way to bag limit catches.

But by 5.00 pm or so, the undersize pinkies moved in and it began to rain quite heavily, so – with a final count of 36 keepers – they called it quits.

After making a daybreak start off Clifton Springs earlier in the week, the first item on the agenda for Harley Griffiths and Stan Owen was to catch a few squid, but with no wind to speak of there wasn’t enough drift.

However, a patch of surface activity nearby caught their attention, so they broke out the lures, and – as they suspected – Australian salmon were feeding on baitfish, several of which they caught, mostly around 500 grams, before they disappeared.

By then though, a gathering breeze provided sufficient drift over usually productive ground off Curlewis picking up three squid to supplement the pipis they’d brought out as whiting bait, and they too finished with a respectable catch.

Interestingly, as good as the whiting fishing was during the week, from all accounts the bite virtually shut down over the weekend, but I guess that’s why it’s called fishing and not catching.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that anglers fishing on the drift out in the deeper water have had no trouble picking up flathead, but whiting and squid remain scarce.

However, in calm conditions on Sunday, Andrew Phillips and Mark Sesar headed down to Queenscliff where they found a good patch of squid just off the mouth of Swan Bay.

They caught a dozen, including one of about a kilogram. That was before the outgoing tide slackened off at around 12.30, at which time they headed out near the Coles Beacon to try for whiting.

Initially plagued by small leatherjackets and other unwanted species, they moved a couple of times before the incoming tide picked up, bringing the whiting on the bite.

They finished with 26 all up, including some good ones – the biggest measuring 41 cm – before calling it quits at around 4.00 pm.

Lachie Wombell and Michael Goldby hold up a good sample of the weekend’s catch of blue-eye trevalla; the red fish is an Alfonsino (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Offshore

With good weather on the weekend, a good many anglers headed offshore. Unfortunately though, while some caught fish, most of the usual guns had a quiet time catching very little.

However, down Portland way, Bob McPherson, along with Lachie Wombell and Michael Goldby headed out to the wide grounds where they picked up good catches of blue eye trevalla, gemfish and some of the other species often found in almost 500 metres of water.

Holding out: Michael Goldby with the Alfonsin taken off Portland (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Rohan asks:

Geoff, I’m having a problem working at the tides at the Sheepwash. On Saturday, I looked up the low tide for Barwon Heads and it was roughly 9.00 am at the bridge. So, I expected it would have probably been an hour later at the Sheepwash, but the tide just kept running out for ages after that: Can you shed any light on this?

Rohan, the difficulty is that the time of low tide in the Barwon estuary does not coincide with low slack water, which – at the bridge – occurs least is two hours later; later still should there be any significant flow from the Barwon River itself.

And, you are right; low tide in the Sheepwash is about an hour later than at the bridge. But, bear in mind that the change of direction in the current will be at least two hours later than that. So, low slack water in the Sheepwash on Saturday probably would not have occurred until mid day.

Please send fishing reports and photos to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au: Thank you.

Roger Miles with a 48 cm redfin from Tullaroop Reservoir.

Kevin Wild with one of his redfin from Tullaroop Reservoir.

Freshwater

Michael Evans of Victorian Inland Charters covered a bit of ground last week, not only finding fish for his clients on Camperdown’s crater lakes, but caught a couple good size redfin himself from one of his former hunting grounds, Wurdiboluc Reservoir.

Mind you, he was on the job at very first light, and using the somewhat challenging strategy of casting out past the weed beds with his 4” Fish Arrow soft plastic (rigged with a 3/8 ounce jig head), then ripping it back through the weed growth to stir them up, he caught two, the biggest of which measured 41 cm and weighed 1.2 kg.

Michael also found time to go prospecting along the edges of Lake Purrumbete’s weed beds just on dark with his old faithful OSP Bent Minnow where he caught yet another beautiful brown trout that measured 63 cm and weighed 2.85 kg.

Back on the job at Lake Purrumbete, his clients Paul and his son Flynn, enjoyed a half day’s session on the redfin, catching 40 on live minnow from 16 metres of water.

Michael also found the redfin for clients Michael and Bryan, ‘finding’ being somewhat subjective, because – possibly because of cooler water temperatures – finding does not necessarily mean catching.

Never the less, after constantly moving on from shoals of unco-operative fish, he eventually found the players in 25 metres of water, his crew catching 35 before the bite shut down.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that redfin are still very much on the go at Tullaroop Reservoir and picked up half a dozen good ones himself while down-rigging lures at some depth.

Others to do the same included Roger Miles who also took his share that included some beauties up to 48 cm.

Rhiannon Atkinson of the Victorian Fisheries Authority reports that freshwater fish stocking programs continue; the next being a release of 10,000 rainbow trout (size not specified), into Lake Bullen Merri early on Thursday afternoon.

Due to gatherings being currently restricted to 10 people, bookings need to be made by email to rhiannon.atkinson@vfa.vic.gov.au should you wish to attend.

Reddie reckoning: Michael Evans with one of the redfin he caught from Wurdiboluc Reservoir (Picture: Michael Evans).

Michael Evans with yet another brown trout from Lake Purrumbete. This one weighed 2.85 kg (Picture Michael Evans).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

On Friday morning, Andrew Johnson and wife Jenny took a run down to their usually productive area in front of the Leopold Caravan Parks, but despite picking a up a couple of good size whiting right away, things were pretty quiet.

That was until the high tide began running off around mid day when they really came on the bite. Each took their respective bag limit catches, and there were some good ones among them, but Jenny caught their biggest fish at 42 cm.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports a decline in business due to Melbourne’s lock-down, but those who did avail themselves of his services were successful on the drift out deep where flathead provided reliable catches.

Rod also mentioned visiting the St Leonards pier on one occasion, where he was surprised at the number of really good size garfish being taken from this structure.

Jesse Paech, junior winner of the Whiting Classic with one of his fish.

Whiting Classic

Results of last week’s Whiting Classic were something of a family affair: The senior prize for the heaviest bag of five whiting, 1416 grams, was awarded to Matt Paech, while his son Jesse won the junior section with a bag of five whiting weighing 1186 grams.

Victorian Inland Fishing Clients, Paul and Flynn, with a sample of their redfin catch from Lake Purrumbete (Picture Michael Evans).

Barwon Estuary

Fishing upstream the Sheepwash on Thursday morning, Tony Ingram & Col Simmons, had lines out for mulloway, but most of the action came on their light tackle, with which they were hoping to catch some mullet or Australian salmon for live bait.

They had no problem there, and they also caught several good size silver trevally in a burst of activity from around 10.30.

Fishing for bream in the Sheepwash, Jason Treloar picked up a couple of keepers as the high tide began running off, but was surprised to catch a striped fish of about a kilogram, which was almost certainly a luderick.

Sam asks:

In regard to your Q&A on defeating sea lice (GA July 7), my question is; would floating your bait off the bottom also defeat bottom feeders like banjo sharks, which can be a terrible nuisance when fishing for snapper or gummy shark?

Winter reds: Chris O’Toole and Cash Sunderland with Thursday night’s snapper catch from Corio Bay’s inner harbour.

Corio Bay

Fishing near Corio Quay on Thursday night, Chris O’Toole and Cash Sunderland were hoping for a couple of those big snapper that turn up here in the depths of winter. And as it turned out, they caught four from 4 kg to 7.5 kg from between 7 and 10.00 pm.

On Thursday morning, Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck made an early start off the Western Beach moorings for snotty trevalla, and with the help of a liberal berley trail, were soon catching them on their baits of chicken, eventually reaching a final tally of 40. They also caught a number of small pinkie snapper that were returned.

Fishing with Munro soft plastics, Paul Mayer also had no trouble picking up snotty trevalla offshore from the cliffs at North Geelong and North Shore, along with several pinkie snapper to 40 cm.

Also visiting the Grammar School Lagoon, Paul spied a small gummy shark in the clear water. It was hooked on a length of line and snagged on cunjevoi. And, being a good Samaritan, Paul was able to set it free.

Victorian Inland Charters client Rob with his 3.43 kg brown trout from Lake Purrumbete (Picture: Michael Evans).

a mixed bag of fish: Chinook salmon from Lake Bullen Merri and redfin and brown trout from Lake Purrumbete (Picture: Michael Evans V.I.C.)

Michael Evans of Victorian Inland Charters says Lake Purrumbete is the place to go should you be looking for a trophy size brown trout: Michael’s client Rob picked up one of 3.43 kg on Saturday, while on Tuesday, Michael, along with deckhand Rex (Ruff ruff!) caught one of 3.68 kg. Both fish were caught casting OSP bent minnows along the weed beds just on dark.

Michael also fished Lake Purrumbete for redfin on various occasions last week, with clients, Rod, Roy and Roy’s son Sam. And, fishing with live minnow (from Lake Bullen Merri) on running sinker rigs in various depths between 16 and 25 metres, took catches of between 30 and 70 redfin from 25 to 40 cm.

Michael also mentions that nearby Lake Bullen Merri is still producing both rainbow trout to 1.5 kg and chinook salmon to a kilogram; the preferred baits being pilchard fillets and Berkley Powerbait. And, the lake remains a good source of live minnow.

a mixed bag of fish: Chinook salmon from Lake Bullen Merri and redfin and brown trout from Lake Purrumbete (Picture: Michael Evans V.I.C.)

Michael Evans of Victorian Inland Charters with a sample of the redfin to be caught from Lake Purrumbete (Picture: Michael Evans).

Bellarine Peninsula

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that Paul Agterhuis and Kysan Notting, were initially fishing for squid on the east side of Point Henry where they took three good specimens before anchoring up on the whiting. They caught 18 to 40 cm as it turned out, using their freshly caught squid for bait.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that while clients have had no trouble catching flathead on the drift out in the deeper water, whiting have been absent and squid have been scarce.

Never the less, Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck, who – after their successful trip on the snotties off Western Beach on Thursday morning – took a run down to Point Richards after squid. And, although scarce, they eventually found a productive patch in 3-4 metres of water, returning with a respectable catch.

Victorian Inland Charters client Roy and his son Sam with a sample of their redfin catch (Picture: Michael Evans).

Offshore

Fishing for whiting near the wreck of the Orungal off Barwon Heads on Saturday, Simon Werner and a companion found them scarce too. Eventually though, they found a productive patch in 7 metres of water from which they were able to extract 9 good size fish, all around the 40 cm mark.

Fishing out a bit deeper with soft plastics on Thursday, Justin Burns and Simon Williams had no trouble catching any number of unwanted species, but no snapper or other desirables.

But, after coming back into the Barwon River on the evening high tide, they tried one more session, which as it turned out was fairly productive for they caught three silver trevally, all better than kilogram, a couple of good size mullet, and several small tailor.

Whiting competition

Hosted by the St Leonards and Bellarine Pirates Angling Clubs, the 2020 Bellarine Whiting Classic will be held over the forthcoming week: There are valuable prizes to be won in all sections from Nippers (9 years and under), Juniors (16 and under), and Adults.

· Fishing will be allowed from 2.00 pm on Friday July 10 until 2.00 pm on Sunday July 19; ten days in all, but you must enter before competing.

· Entries must be made by email to secretary.fish@bigpond.com and will be accepted up until 5.00 pm Friday July 17.

· Entry fees of $10.00 per person are to be paid by direct credit to BSB 633-000 1348 73140. Details are to include: “WC 20.1, along with your name.”

· Naturally, restrictions in respect of COVID-19 are to be observed.

For more info, phone: Phil 0411 215 146, Joe 0403 287 103 or Peter 0408 581 685.

Conrad, visiting from the Gold Coast, with the 3.71 kg brown trout he caught from Lake Purrumbete (Picture: Michael Evans).

Michael Evans of Victorian Inland Charters reports that Camperdown Lakes, Bullen Merri and Purrumbete are fishing well.

Purrumbete is still producing trophy size brown trout, Michael being able to find one of 3.71 kg for Gold Coast client Conrad who caught it while casting an OSP Bent Minnow.

Michael also reports that, although redfin have been harder to catch from Purrumbete, he’s found that using live minnow on fish schooled up just above the bottom in around 20 metres of water has resulted in some great catches.

Most of the action has come from Lake Bullen Merri though said Michael with rainbow trout to 1.5 kg and chinook salmon taking lures with brothers Storm and Anthony from Bendigo picking up their share on cast and retrieve. That was before heading over to Lake Purrumbete where the pair topped off their outing with a good catch of redfin.

Jesse Baron 14, with a good sample of winter snapper from Corio Bay.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Paul Mayer, along with Jesse Baron and Shane Marriot, fished the Western Beach moorings on several occasions last week, and using Munro soft plastics, they caught any amount of snotty trevalla (Warehou) and small pinkie snapper, which – for the main part – were something of a nuisance.

However, on Friday, they hit a purple patch of snapper from 45 to 60 cm: Great fishing until they disappeared and the smaller fish moved back in.

Initially seeking whiting on the east side of Point Henry, Harley Griffiths and Stan Owen had managed to take several whiting before the wind came up strongly from the south west, causing them to seek shelter near the old Alcoa Pier.

They caught no whiting here, but they continued fishing and were rewarded with a good catch of snotty trevalla. And, when the wind eased, they headed out toward Leopold once more where they did catch several more whiting.

On Wednesday, Dennis O’Brien and Peter Dawson also found the going a bit tough in much the same area, and consequently kept on the move in the hope of finding a good patch. That didn’t happen until just on dusk, but from then on they finished with 26 nice fish.

Storm and Anthony from Bendigo with their mixed bags from Lakes Bullen Merri and Purrumbete (Picture: Michael Evans).

Freshwater

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports on making a visit to Yarrawonga on Lake Mulwala over the weekend but the pickings were lean, with only one small Murray cod, which was released. However, there were two cod, each over a metre in length, also caught and released during his stay.

Kevin also reports that club members have been covering a bit of ground of late with Lake Fyans, on Pomonal Road on the way to Stawell, producing redfin, likewise the Waranga Reservoir near Rushworth.

Daniel Maddalena with the thresher shark that he caught offshore from Barwon Heads (Picture: Daniel Maddalena).

Offshore

Picking a break in the weather, Daniel Madallena, along with his two sons, Sebastian 16, and Hudson 14, headed offshore from Barwon Heads hopeful of catching a good size gummy shark. But out here, in 50 metres of water, what Daniel hooked was a good size thresher shark that kept him busy for an hour or so before he was able to bring it alongside.

Portland

Down Portland way, Bob McPherson reports that tuna are still being caught, mainly in the smaller sizes, but there are some bigger fish among them, the only stumbling block being rough weather for most of the time, but with light winds forecast for most of next week things should improve.

However, Bob, and his mate Lachie Wombell, took advantage of a recent break in the weather to head down to Cape Nelson where they took a respectable catch of sweep.

Gareth asks:

Geoff, a friend and I have been trying for snapper in the Corio Bay outer harbour, but – although we can sometimes find them on the sounder – have had no luck. Another problem is that, after dark, sea-lice sometimes take our baits, is there a solution to that?

Additional solutions include buoying the bait two metres or so off the bottom, either with a piece of Styrofoam gap filler or a partially inflated water-bomb balloon.

Murray Scott (Left) and son Darcy with more samples of their catch taken off Torquay. Inset: Picker proof bait on which Murray caught his gummy shark (Salmon head in a sock sweetened with a strip of squid).

Offshore

Calm seas and mild weather tempted a good many anglers offshore over the weekend with snapper and gummy shark the most sought after fish. However, on Sunday, Murray and Darcy Scott were surprised to also catch two southern saw shark, each around the 8 kilogram mark, over their usual mark in 50 metres of water off Torquay.

These, as were their other fish they caught, took the heads of freshly caught Australian salmon, a tough bait that usually defeats the hoards of pickers sometimes encountered out here. But, going an extra step, Murray baited up with a salmon head in the toe of a stocking (and sweetened with a strip of squid), and that took their biggest fish, a gummy shark of 13 kg.

Darcy Scott with a snapper he caught offshore from Torquay (Picture: Murray Scott).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Making an early morning start in freezing conditions off Western Beach on Sunday morning, Andrew Phillips, along with Mark and Tina Sesar soon had a berley trail going anticipating a catch of snotty trevalla (Warehou), and they weren’t disappointed.

They not only caught 60 snotties, the biggest weighing in at 440 grams, they also caught a number of legal size pinkie snapper as well, the biggest around the 35 cm mark.

Fishing between the east side of Point Henry and Leopold last week were Harley Griffiths and Stan Owen whose first item on the agenda was to catch squid, but they only caught two, both somewhat on the small side. But they made a useful addition to the pipis they’d brought with them, hopeful of catching some whiting.

These were scarce as well, but they did find a productive patch in around 6 metres of water. They too were on the small side, but they persisted, and – on the afternoon tide change – a better class of fish came on the bite and they finished with 18 to 38 cm.

Andrew Johnson took wife Jenny out in the new boat on Friday, and while the whiting took some finding, they came up trumps in 4.8 metres of water off Leopold’s Pelican Shores. Both took bag limit catches, but – dare I say – Jenny got hers first?

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that flathead still remain the main catch, so much so that he had a touch of RSI obligingly cleaning them for his clients. However, while the catches of squid have improved compared to last week, said Rod, they are still scarce.

Squid seekers, Derrick Hargreaves and Jason Treloar, made an early start off St Leonards in freezing conditions on Sunday, and – despite catching several almost immediately – their quarry seemingly went to ground, but their persistence eventually paid off with several more squid and a cuttlefish.

Lachie Wombell with one of the sweep he and Bob McPherson caught off Cape Nelson over the weekend (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Freshwater

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that while Cairn Curran Reservoir was quiet during the week, good size redfin are still being taken at Tullaroop Reservoir. They’re responding best to lures being tolled down deep, along with soft plastics and bobbers worked just above the bottom.

Portland

Down Portland way Bob McPherson reports that southern bluefin tuna attracted a large number of offshore anglers over the weekend and there were some big ones caught. Regular Portland visitor Kevin Agius was among those to catch them; his biggest fish weighed 90 kg.

Lachie Wombell with his, and Bob McPherson’s catch of sweep from Cape Nelson (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Beatrice says:

Geoff, in your description of flies and lures last week, you omitted to mention tube flies, which would be more fitting within your description of lures in that they are designed to slide down the leader and onto the hook.

Beatrice, I am aware of tube flies, which – to the best of my knowledge – originated in Scotland, their origins credited to Aberdeen fly-tier Minnie Morawski, who – back in the 1940s – created them specifically for Atlantic salmon. And, yes indeed – as flies – they do not fall within my distinction between flies and lures.

I also know that tube flies have since been used for a variety of fish in fresh and salt water. However, I stand by my distinction between lures and flies, and if the users of tube flies have had captures legitimized under IGFA or other parent angling body’s rules as being caught on a fly, good for them.