Geoff Wilson’s Fishing Knots And Rigs

Martinus de Lange with his rainbow trout from Lake Bullen Merri.

Barwon Estuary

Fishing upstream from the Sheepwash with fresh squid for bait he’d caught previously, Garry Ridgeway was after mulloway, but by 3.00 pm and after some 7 hours on the water, he was about to give it away when he hooked a good size fish.

The mulloway he caught had just stretched the tape out to 82 cm when his other rod buckled over. But, as is sometimes the case – after taking quite a bit of line – the hook pulled free and it escaped.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

On Friday afternoon, Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien fished offshore from the Pelican Shores Caravan Park at Leopold in 4.5 metres, where – despite the extreme clarity of the water – they eventually took bag limit catches of whiting to 40 cm.

Returning with Peter Dawson on Sunday in the strong north westerly, Andrew found the water discoloured and more amenable to whiting fishing, and indeed they soon had five fish. But then, the undersize pinkies moved in persuading them to move out a bit deeper.

That did the trick as it turned out for, by evening, and in six metres of water with the north westerly dying off, they finished with another bag limit catch.

Also picking up a good tally of whiting out here on evening were Darcy, Murray, Shenae and Sara Scott.

With the strong north westerly discolouring the water on Sunday afternoon, Simon Werner quickly took advantage of ideal snapper conditions from the Portarlington Breakwater, and – as you can imagine in those conditions – he had plenty of elbow room. He also caught several good size pinkie snapper, the largest measuring 40 cm.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that clients have brought in good catches of flathead of late, that’s when the weather has permitted fishing on the drift out in the deeper water.

Squid have been also plentiful with early mornings and late evenings the best times to catch them said Rod. And, with strong winds predicted for Port Phillip on Friday, Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck were among those to make early start.

The weather did close in on them, but by 10.30 they’d taken their respective bag limit catches of squid, the biggest around the 1.5 kg mark.

Matthew Hunt with the tuna taken by clients Dean Todd and Shaun King.

Freshwater

Fishing from the rock wall at Wurdiboluc Reservoir on Saturday, Simon Werner put in a lengthy lure-casting session with a metal spoon. And not in vain either for he caught five rainbow trout, all around the 500 gram mark.

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that some larger redfin have shown up lately, the biggest was taken by Colby Lesko and weighed 2 kg.

John also reports that Lake Bullen Merri is back on line, so to speak, with Steve Moore of Warrnambool picking up both chinook salmon to a kilogram and rainbow trout to 1.5 kg trolling lures.

Fishing from the north bank of Lake Bullen Merri with Berkley Powerbait last week was Martinus de Lange. Initially, all he caught were newly released chinook salmon, but his patience eventually paid off with the capture of a 1.5 kg rainbow trout.

I received notification from Rhiannon Atkinson of the Victorian Fisheries Authority last week, that 2000 cheetah trout and 2000 tiger trout were scheduled for release into Lake Purrumbete on Thursday. And, in addition to that, I got a call on Monday from Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club that VFA were about to release 20,000 rainbow trout fingerlings into Tullaroop Reservoir.

Tullaroop has been producing good size redfin said Kevin, and on Friday, he saw an angler take two very large brown trout while down-rigging.

Jamie Behrens with a nice mulloway he caught from the Maroochy River upstream from Maroochydore

Portland

Early last week, Dean Todd and Shaun King, clients of Matthew Hunt’s Fishing Services, fronted up with 15 kg game fishing tackle, which most would consider a bit on the light side for catching big tuna; something they would soon be able to judge for themselves.

The strike came at 9.00 am in 70 metres of water south west of the Cape Nelson Lighthouse. The fish, a tuna of about 100 kg as it turned out, took Dean, ably assisted by Shaun, four hours and 10 minutes to bring alongside.

Sara Scott with a nice squid from Corio Bay (Picture: Darcy Scott).

Offshore

With good weather on Friday, Dave Batty and Josh Marshall took a run out off Barwon Heads, and – once anchored up in 47 metres of water – were hopeful of catching a snapper or two, or perhaps a gummy shark.

They each took bag limit catches of snapper to 5 kg and a gummy shark that weighed 12 kg, but Dave took the most surprising catch of all, a 1.6 kg crayfish that – obviously attracted to the squid head he had on for bait – became hopelessly entangled in the leader.

Taking a run out off Anglesea, Kevin McLoughlin and his brother Jeremy fished for gummy shark, and with a large bait out heavier tackle should there be any toothy critters about.

They’d caught two average gummies before Jeremy was in the hot seat with what turned out to be a mako shark that Kevin estimated at 40 kg.

Jeremy McLoughlin with his mako shark off Anglesea (Picture: Kevin McLoughlin).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Fishing Geelong’s Waterfront near the Carousel with soft plastics of an evening, Paul Mayer has had no trouble catching snotty trevalla to 400 grams or so and any amount of pinkie snapper. Most are small said Paul, but he’s had a few bigger ones to a kilogram.

Fishing for whiting in 6.8 metres of water off the Pelican Shores Caravan Park at Leopold early last week were Andrew Phillips and Mark and Tina Sesar. Using pipis for bait on the incoming tide, they soon had a good bite going and getting bag limit catches looked to be a lay-down misere: But a fish-thieving seal showed up, so they moved.

As it happened, they finished up with 45 whiting, a pretty good catch considering the seal had driven them off their patch, but they eventually broke out the squid jigs and between the three of them, caught 25 of the tasty cephalopods.

Fishing in much the same area from around mid day, but in 6 metres of water, Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien had no trouble picking up their respective bag limit catches of whiting, and having done so, broke out the jigs and caught 15 squid.

Making an earlier start on Saturday morning was no advantage, for they had to wait for the mid-morning tide change for the whiting to come on the bite, but they did so with a vengeance, yielding yet another bag limit catch for both anglers.

Fishing the same area, but much later in the day was Darcy Scott, sister Shenae and her partner Sara who also took a mixed bag of whiting and squid.

Fishing off St Leonards on Saturday, were Jeff Richards, Chris Hateley and Colin Wilkinson who spent a good deal of time on the drift, but for just one squid.

Whiting were on the go though and they found a good patch just north from the wreck of the Clarence. They had 24 fish to 38 cm on the flood tide before the wind came howling in from the south east persuading them to call it a day.

On the Beach

Early last week, Ray Millman fished at Torquay to the left of the boat ramp, and with a high tide on dark was hopeful of catching a whiting or two, and perhaps a snapper.

Well, the two whiting he caught, one measuring 42 cm the other 45, were a good start, but it all took a turn for the worse after that: Three large skates, a banjo shark, and even a large Port Jackson shark rounded out his catch for the night, all of which were returned.

Freshwater

Simon Werner fished from the rock wall at Wurdiboluc Reservoir on Sunday, taking two brown trout around 500 grams apiece on mudeyes fished beneath a float, and another of the same size casting a Rapala bibbed minnow.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that club members including wife Amber, Ken Hinks, John Wilde and Brodie Harrison have been doing particularly well on redfin from Tullaroop Reservoir lately with fish, up to 47 cm, among them.

Productive methods have included baitfishing with small yabbies, jigging with Baltic Bobbers, and trolling lures at some depth using lead-cored lines, which also proved a good way to find a shoal preparatory to jigging for them.

Portland

Bob McPherson reports that tuna are about, mainly smaller fish, but there are big ones among them as Reg Kalkan can affirm after picking up a good one estimated at 100 kg on Friday. The most interesting thing is that far fewer folk have been fishing for them than has been the case in previous years.

Charlie Powell with the 127 kg tuna he caught from Matthew Hunt’s Fishing Services offshore from Portland (Picture: Matt Hunt).

Portland

Following the six week ban on fishing in Victoria, this immeasurably healthy activity resumed, effectively from midnight on Tuesday May 12. From then – and blessed with good weather – anglers have made up for lost time.

Tuna are still about off Portland, and there are some beauties among them as Charlie Powell discovered around 9 O’clock Wednesday morning aboard Matthew Hunt’s Fishing Services.

Trolling a Pakula floppy-floppy (a ready-rigged daisy-chain) did the trick off Cape Bridgewater in 45 metres of water; the tuna Charlie hooked giving him quite a work-out before eventually greeting the scales for a verdict of 127 kg.

Tuna must be about, for Portland angler Bob McPherson also sent me pictures of several anglers with similar catches.

Dan Mackrell with the brown trout he caught from Lake Purrumbete on Sunday morning (Picture: Mackrell Fishing).

Freshwater

John Clements reports that redfin are well and truly on the bite at Lake Purrumbete and that Brian and Ann Jones of Camperdown, and Les Broughton of Geelong, caught their share with the favoured bait being minnow.

Large brown trout are obviously still about for Dan Mackrell picked up a beauty from Lake Purrumbete in freezing conditions on Sunday morning. There was no weight given but the photo showed it had the necessary credentials to go on the wall.

Lake Bullen Merri also produced a nice rainbow trout of 1.5 kg for Terry Shepherd who fished from the bank using Berkley Powerbait.

Winston Calleja with another good sample from Portland (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

On Thursday afternoon, from 4.30 till 5.30, Anthony Connell and Nam Huyhn gave their Zman soft plastics a run from the waterfront near the Carousel, catching – and then releasing – two good size snook, 6 silver trevally and a good many small pinkie snapper.

Taking a run out in the boat on Saturday, they caught a dozen good size flathead in the vicinity of the Western Beach moorings with the same approach.

Whiting have been the most sought after fish though, and on Wednesday morning Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck, who anchored up in 6.8 metres of water offshore from the Pelican Shores Caravan Park, Leopold, had their respective bag limit catches of whiting, the biggest measuring 43 cm, by 10.30.

Noticing that squid were following their hooked fish, they broke out the squid jigs, and – on a series of slow drifts – they took their respective bag limit catches of those as well.

By Saturday afternoon though, the number of boats on the water had increased substantially, and – as usual when this is the case – fewer whiting were caught, even by experts like Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien.

The pair didn’t catch a fish until dusk, but from then until nightfall, they caught 27 whiting, along with 4 snotty trevalla.

Mind you, there are not only whiting to be caught; Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that Chris Kfowry caught 10 nice squid offshore from the Dell, while Clinton Boyes and Richard Lambert caught 8 legal size pinkie snapper and 15 flathead more or less straight out from the boat harbour.

At Indented Head, Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire had such a busy weekend cleaning flathead for clients he finished up with fish filleters’ elbow.

Rod also mentioned that squid have been plentiful with both clients, and regular anglers – that included Jeff Richards and Chris Hateley– picking up a respectable catches of these over the weekend, the biggest specimens around the kilogram mark.

Whiting were also on the go at Queenscliff. Among those to catch them here were Joe Mortelliti and Col Feldman who’d launched at Queenscliff around 9.30. They anchored up just west of Coles Beacon off the mouth of Swan Bay. But it took a while, and a lot of berley, before whiting made inroads on the various unwanted species taking their baits.

Things were looking up once the bite started though. But, at their pre-arranged time to leave, and not wanting to overdo it – both being 84 years of age – pulled up the anchor and returned to the ramp with 21 good size whiting, along with several garfish and flathead.

Fishing the same area on Sunday were Darcy Scott, his sister Shenae, her partner Sara and Darcy’s partner Allie. They too caught 21 whiting ranging in size from 38 to 42 cm.

Family Fishing Competition held by Bellarine Pirates and St Leonards Angling Clubs in conjunction with the St Leonards Yacht Club and Motor Squadron. Nipper Champ Jesse Paech (5 species), 2nd Nipper Elliott Henderson, 3rd nipper Harley Corries. Junior Female Champ Isla Cotterill. Junior Male champ Brandon Scaffidi. Female adult champ Josie Scaffidi. Adult male champ Joe Scaffidi (5 species), 2nd Matt Paech, 3rd Ted Stannard. Photo back row Matt Paech, Joe Scaffidi, Ted Stannard. Front Row Sam, Tom, Jesse peach, Elliott Henderson.

Freshwater

Farrugia is a common name among the successful anglers on Camperdown’s Lake Purrumbete, and on Saturday, Chris Farrugia, his brother Will, along with their eleven year old sons Jye and Charlie, took a run out onto the lake for an exercise in the gentle art of piscatorial assassination.

Well, the lads didn’t need much coaching with Jye taking a 2.49 kg brown trout, Charlie with another of 2.72 kg, while Will set the benchmark with one of 3.2 kg.

Michael Evans of Victorian Inland Charters has had his work cut out on Lake Purrumbete seeking redfin, but among his clients was Corey Mills who caught two browns of 2.9 and 3.2 kg, but redfin were the main catch.

Geelong anglers Jack and Jak with 108 redfin they caught from Lake Purrumbete at the weekend aboard Victorian Inland Charters (Picture Michael Evans).

Jack and Jak, both from Geelong had never caught a redfin prior to their weekend charter, but finished up with 108 and a photo to prove it.

Maryborough Angling Club member, Kevin Wild reports that fishing was tough during the National Cod Fishing Championships at Lake Mulwala over the weekend. However, it was won with a worthy fish measuring 1.05 metres taken by Bryn Matthews of Wagga.

Kevin reports that Cairn Curran Reservoir is still producing yellowbelly with those catching them, including club member Kevin Parker, having most success with worms among the timber.

Centre, Trent Riley with Zara left and Zane right with their respective bag limit catches of whiting (Picture: Tony Mollenhauer).

Queenscliff

Good size whiting are on offer at Queenscliff, and among those to catch them during office hours on Wednesday were Joe Mortelliti and Col Feldman.

They were onto them pretty well straight away off the entrance of Swan Bay, and there were some better than 40 cm among them, but as the tide slackened off, so did the bite.

Moving out toward the Coles Light, near the other boats provided no more action, so – in anticipation of the flood tide – they returned to where they’d started: A good move as it turned out, for by 2.00 pm, they left with 39 fish and a full-on cleaning job in the offing.

Jye Farrugia with a 2.48 kg brown trout (Picture: Chris Farrugia).

Charlie Farrugia with a 2.72 kg brown trout (Picture: Chris Farrugia).

From the Beach

Fishing the beach at Cosy Corner, Torquay with the low tide on Wednesday evening, Ray Millman was hopeful of catching a whiting or two. He caught three as it turned out, all just over 42 cm and in just two hours before the incoming tide covered the beach.

Once, when about to cast out, he noticed some movement in the knee deep water through which he was wading, and – in the light of his head torch – could see that there were whiting of a similar size in the shallows to those he’d caught, so it makes you wonder just how far inshore these fish come after dark.

Will Farrugia with a 3.6 kg brown trout (Picture: Chris Farrugia).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Last Tuesday, on the day of the full moon, which is not a renowned time for whiting, Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien worked hard for their fish after launching at Clifton Springs, and having made several moves by 3.00 pm had only caught twelve.

They elected to make one more move before calling it quits, and that was in just shy of 5 metres of water off Curlewis where they found a hot bite. Here, they finished off their respective bag limits within the hour, their biggest fish measuring 40 cm.

Fishing off Portarlington early on Sunday morning with cousin Trent Riley and his daughter Zara, and son Zane from Bendigo, Tony Mollenhauer had high expectations.

To say they did well would be an understatement for they each caught their respective bag limits of whiting, the biggest measuring 40 cm, and of which Tony sent in a photo.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that flathead have been a reliable catch on the drift out in 8-10 metres while squid have been the main catch on the bank itself.

Jeff Richards, Ken Shae and Brian Cumming found the squid out toward the Prince George Light on Wednesday and soon picked up eight. And, with an hour of the ebb tide in the offing, they headed down to the Coles light among other boats on the whiting.

Unfortunately though, there wasn’t much left in the tide and they only caught 7 by slack water before calling it quits.

Lockie Wombell with yet another good catch of whiting off Portland (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Asrath asks:

Geoff, in regard to last week’s question about putting injured fish back, do you think – particularly with all the undersize pinkies about – that it would be a good idea to use barbless hooks to make releasing them easier?

Elbow slapper: Ivan Bereza of Geelong Boat Hire and Fishing Charters shows a sample of the whiting to be taken off Queenscliff lately.

Danny Skene with part of last week’s kingfish catch.

Queenscliff

Queenscliff continues to produce excellent whiting, and among those to catch them on Tuesday evening – after first catching some squid off the entrance to Swan Bay – were Ivan Bereza of Geelong Boat Hire and Fishing Charters, and Danny Skene.

They were right onto them on their first drop just north of Coles Beacon, and when that bite petered out, they moved a little further to the south-east where they topped off their respective bag limits and left them biting in the dark.

The following day, Danny and Jake Callaghan made an early start on the squid, eventually picking up their respective bag limits before picking up Phil Dickson to catch the remainder of the ebb tide at Port Phillip Heads with kingfish on their mind.

They picked up six as it turned out, and what beauties they were, and even then they lost a couple more that just had too much stick.

James Galea with a nice kingfish that he caught while trolling offshore from Point Lonsdale (Picture: Michaela Kelly).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Andrew Phillips, along with Mark and Tina Sesar, made an early morning start off the Pelican Shores caravan park at Leopold where they did so well on the whiting last week, and were again on song for another great catch, but the wind – which was sou’ sou’ east – picked up at around 9.30, persuading them to call it a day.

About to head back to the ramp with their final tally of 27 whiting, they were approached by fisheries personnel on jet skis, but with all aboveboard there was no problem there, and the size of their fish duly impressed with several over 38 cm, the biggest nudging 43.

Andrew Johnson, Dennis O’Brien and Pete Dawson tried their luck on the whiting at the Portarlington end of the mussel farm where they caught 15 good size whiting, but small pinkie snapper were a nuisance which prompted a new game plan.

Trent Schiller with another nice kingfish from Port Phillip Heads taken on a knife jig (Picture: Geelong Boat Hire and Fishing Charters).

Moving out into deeper water off Point Richards, they found some promising signals on the sounder, but they too turned out to be pinkies. However, there were some bigger fish among them with fish – some better than a kilogram – topping off a reasonable day’s catch.

And they too were approached by jet-skiing fisheries officers, so it must have been a busy day for those folk.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that squid have been the main catch of late with good catches of specimens to a kilogram or so.

Among those to catch these was Col Simmons who found a good patch on Saturday morning out wide of the Governor Reef, and was well on his way to a bag limit catch when the wind came up from the south east, persuading his return.

Aaron Gawlinski with a 60 cm brown trout from Lake Purrumbete.

Robert Cook of the Maryborough Angling Club with a Murray cod from Lake Mulwala (Picture: Amber Wild).

Freshwater

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that club members have shown an interest in Lake Mulwala with their recent visits proving productive. Robert Cook and Ken Hinks caught and released Murray cod from 58 to 75 cm on their most recent visit which augers well for the forthcoming national fishing championships at Yarrawonga.

Closer to home, club members John Gray and John Wild have caught a number of yellowbelly from Cairn Curran Reservoir of late using worms for bait amongst the timber. The biggest challenge has been avoiding the large number of small fish taking their bait.

John Clements of Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that the lake has been fishing well with redfin the main catch. However, large brown trout are still on offer, and those to catch them include Darren Busfield of Colac with one of 4.14 kg, Michael Buxs of Narre Warren with one of 2.3 kg, and Aaron Gawlinski with a well-conditioned specimen measuring 60 cm with a probable weight of possibly 3 kg.

Ken Hinks, also of the Maryborough Angling Club with another Murray cod from Lake Mulwala (Picture: Amber Wild).

John asks:

Geoff, with the undersize pinkies continually taking our bait, and sometimes swallowing the hook, bleeding and obviously going to die, do you still have to put them back?

Robert Rizzo with the tuna he caught off Barwon Heads.

Ricky Rizzo with his tuna.

Barwon estuary

Despite an ominous forecast for Tuesday, Garry Ridgeway launched at Barwon Heads and was anchored upstream from the Sheepwash by 8.00 am. The tide began running out around 10.30, but initially there wasn’t much doing and the weather was closing in fast.

It was in fact, pouring rain as the pickers began attacking his baits in the early afternoon – and with the canopy up – it took more than their nibbles to coax him out: But line pouring from his reel to the tune of what turned out to be an 81 cm mulloway certainly did.

Robert and Ricky Rizzo tow a trio of anglers back to port when their outboard motor gave them the silent treatment.

Offshore

However, most of the attention has been offshore from Barwon Heads of late as tuna, some approaching the 40 kg mark, have been fair game, and Robert Rizzo and his son Ricky were among those to enjoy the angling challenge they’ve provided.

The pair also proved good Samaritans, towing a trio of anglers back to port after their outboard motor ran out of noise.

Darcy Scott shows the quality of whiting to be caught off Queenscliff lately (Picture: Murray Scott).

Lachie Wombell with some more Portland whiting (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Murray and Darcy Scott were onto the whiting off Queenscliff on Friday, finishing up with 30, all really top quality fish. But in a strong sou‘easter and choppy seas, they deserved every fish they caught.

Corio Bay has also been fishing well for whiting with Andrew Johnson, Dennis O’Brien and Pete Dawson finishing with 36 keepers on Friday after a series of moves between Curlewis and The Dell.

Last Monday afternoon, Andrew Phillips and Mark Sesar found a good patch off the Leopold caravan parks, but as usual, the undersize pinkies moved in, persuading them to move as well.

In fact they’d moved four times by dusk to avoid the pinkies, and of their 24 whiting, it was almost dark when all of their bigger fish – with some around the 40 cm mark – were caught.

On Friday afternoon, Andrew fished with Tony Greck for squid from Indented Head, and – from around 8.00 am on the incoming tide – they each caught their respective bag limits with the biggest nudging 1.5 kg.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire also reports that squid and whiting are about, and among those to find them were Richard Taylor and Ryan Bolding who found both in three metres of water off The Dell.

Chris Farrugia with a 3 kg brown trout from Lake Purrumbete.

Bruno Portello with his 4.42 kg brown trout from Lake Purrumbete.

Freshwater

Back in November we featured a picture of 8 year old Zac McKenzie and the carp he caught from Lake Lorne at Drysdale, something of an inspiration for friends Jade and Jackson Clay aged 5 and 3 who nagged their dad Jon into helping them do likewise.

Well, after several attempts, the young pair finally succeeded at around 4.30 pm on Wednesday when the pink rod that Jade received for Christmas, signalled a bite. From then on, it was a combined effort between the pair, who shared the rod between them until a carp that weighed 4.1 kg, finished up in Jon’s landing net.

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that trophy size brown trout are on offer and among those to catch them was Chris Farrugia of Oaklands Junction who picked up a beauty of 3 kg. Bruno Portaro of Greenvale held the winning hand though with one of 4.4 kg taken on a #94 Tassie Devil.

Jade and Jackson Clay aged 5 and 3, with the 4.1 kg carp they caught from Lake Lorne at Drysdale on Wednesday (Picture: Ben Clay).

But redfin are still the main catch and Jarrod Tyler, who’d travelled all the way from Birchip in the Mallee, held his own on those.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that the club held a competition at Taylors Lake near Horsham over the weekend.

Yellowbelly were on offer and the largest, at 47 cm, was caught by Jason (Boof) Lorenzen. Runner up was Greg Street with one of 39 cm. A good many small cod to 50 cm were on the prowl as well, and one much larger fish was lost beside the boat.

But is it one of ours? Submarine on the port side off Portland (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Portland

Bob McPherson and Lachie (the eye) Wombell, have spent a good deal of time fishing for whiting, but when the weather improved over the weekend, they headed out to the wide grounds for blue eye trevalla, of which they caught a few along with some of the bug-eyed gronkies that regularly come up from the depths.

On the way back though, they were a little surprised by a submarine appearing on their port side, but – fortunately though – there was no engagement.

Jesse asks:

Geoff, Lake Connewarre: What species may be caught, and what are the points of access?

You may also fish from the pontoon adjacent to the boat ramp, but the use of a float may be advantageous given the amount of weed growth on the bottom.

Danny Lees with a sample of the tuna to be taken offshore of late (Picture: David Lees).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Last Tuesday, following the strong easterlies experienced lately, Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck fished just east of Point Lillias in 6 metres of water – which was still heavily discoloured from the rough weather and ideal for snapper – from around 5.30 am on the ebb tide.

They’d barely enough time to initiate their customary berley trail when one of their reel’s growled to the tune of a 2 kg snapper; the first of six they caught from 1.2 to 3.2 kg in fairly short order.

Interestingly, they noticed snook following their lines in on occasion, so – having taken their respective bag limits of snapper over 40 cm – discovered a couple of metal Lazer lures in the tackle box which they put to good use taking five snook from 60 to 80 cm.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that whiting and squid are present off The Springs with Peter Niblock taking both in 2.6m of water just out from the boat ramp, while Leo Flower caught 12 whiting off Hermsley Road, Curlewis using squid for bait.

On Friday evening, Murray and Darcy Scott, and Ben King, fished the Swan Island grass beds for whiting, initially with some difficulty with wind against tide, but – despite the trying conditions – they caught several.

Following the high tide change around 8.00 pm though, it was all hands on deck until nightfall, bringing their final tally of fish – the biggest measuring 45 cm – to 38.

Nathan Scott with another tuna taken off Angelsea (Picture: David Lees).

Offshore

With an improvement in the weather late last week; that’s if you didn’t mind the morning fog and some rain, there were tuna to be caught offshore from Port Phillip Heads and further down the coast toward Anglesea.

Making an early start off Barwon Heads, before the tide dropped too low on Friday morning, it was a case of blind man’s bluff in the fog for Harley Griffiths and Stan Owen, but they found the tuna, each taking their bag limit of two from 15 to 20 kg before filling in enough time to ensure their safe return on the rising tide.

Bob McPherson’s mixed bag of fish from Portland.

Off the beach

With the tides falling particularly low of an evening early last week, Ray Millman headed down to Cosy Corner (64W) at Torquay on Tuesday, but he had no luck until just on dark when he caught a good size whiting, which was followed by numerous pinkies, three of which he kept, each around 35 cm,.

As the incoming tide began covering the beach, he decided to move, a decision finally made when a gummy shark of about 6 kg he’d hooked initiated a tricky snatch and grab exercise as it zoomed around in the shallow water now flooding the beach.

Moving to the beach in front of Price Street (63W), it wasn’t long before he caught another respectable gummy shark, and then a bronze whaler of about a metre or so in length that finished up on the beach before biting off his hook.

On Friday, with the tide rising into the evening Ray visited Jan Juc where a lure-casting exercise with a 40 gram chromed slice produced several Australian salmon, the biggest weighing 1.3 kg.

Brenton Farr with son Lucas 3, and the lad’s Murray cod.

Jason Andriske with a nice brown trout he caught from Tullaroop Reservoir, and returned.

Freshwater

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that Tullaroop Reservoir is still producing redfin, and that local angler Jason Andriske, picked up a brown trout on a bladed lure that looked to be around 2.5 kg in the photo, and which he released.

Kevin and other club members assisted in the released of 100,000 yellowbelly which augers well for the many anglers who fish this water.

In addition to that, Kevin reports that Brenton Farr took his 3 year old son Lucas fishing from the bank of the Murray at Koondrook where the lad got into a tug of war with what turned out to be a legal size Murray cod.

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that redfin remain the main chance on the lake, and that regulars, Jeff and Les Broughton from Geelong lived up to their well deserved reputations with respectable catches, as did Moses Cuvcia and his sons Timmy 6 and Luke 4.

Maryborough Angling Club members Kevin Wild and Ken Hinks (below), assisting with the liberation of 100,000 yellowbelly into Cairn Curran Reservoir (Picture: Amber Wild).

Jack asks:

Geoff, where are snapper at this time of year? All I seem to be able to catch off Clifton Springs are pinkies, most being under legal size.

Jack, fish to 3 kg have been taken off The Springs and elsewhere lately, but historically speaking, a more productive area for the larger fish at this time of year is out on the deep mud (17 to 21 meters) off either Indented Head or St Leonards, particularly at either dawn, dusk or on a tide change.

With the quantity of slimy mackerel about out here, the best approach is to berley some up for bait.

The fillets make great bait, and – should the hoards of undersize pinkies, and sometimes undersize flathead (which are often present out here) be a nuisance – the heads of same make excellent pest-proof baits, that’s provided they are properly presented with hook well exposed.

Trevor and Lynette Hogan of Launching Way at Patterson Lakes, Carrum.

An important issue

The only suitable outcome to this debacle is for Daniel Andrews to overturn this stupid decision. We believe they should issue the Hogan’s with a suitable lease extension that will enable the business to function as usual until the governance review is completed. This needs to happen NOW!

A sample of Peter Marshall’s and Peter McCarter’s snapper catch off Clifton Springs (Picture: Mike Windsor).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Whiting are about, and Ivan Bereza of Geelong Boat Hire and Fishing Charters found a good patch for John Irvine and his mates who took 18 to 40 cm off Curlewis last week. They would have caught even more were it not for the number of undersize pinkie snapper taking their baits.

Mike Windsor of Clifton of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that larger snapper are about as well, and among those to catch them were Peter Marshall and Peter McCarter. They found a good patch out toward the Point Richards Channel, where – using pilchards and squid for bait – they caught 7 from 2 to 3 kg on Friday’s outgoing tide.

Squid have also been about said Mike with Dave McInerney picking up several off the jetty ruins at the Dell. He also caught 7 whiting over the grass beds just out from the boat harbour on the way back in.

Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien put a serious effort in on the whiting off Portarlington, and in around 4.5 metres of water, inshore from the mussel leases; they finished with 15 fish, to 37 cm or so.

It was tough going though, because the number of undersize pinkie snapper moving in on their baits – on every occasion they found a good patch of whiting – continually created the need to find new ground.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that flathead remain the main catch down that way, with most being caught on the drift – weather permitting – along the edge of the Prince George Bank.

Whiting were scarce last week said Rod, but squid numbers have improved with both visiting anglers, and his clients bringing in some respectable catches.

Amber Wild with a nice redfin from Tullaroop Reservoir (Picture: Kevin Wild).

Freshwater

Kevin Wild of Maryborough Angling Club reports that club members have caught any amount of redfin from Tullaroop Reservoir; mainly on bobbers, but baitfishing with small yabbies has also been productive.

Kevin also fished nearby Cairn Curran Reservoir with his father John and companion John Gray where yellowbelly have been on offer. Using worms for bait, they took 8 keepers and returned a good many smaller ones.

Their club trip to Lake Mulwala at the weekend was something of a disappointment with strong winds making the lake virtually unfishable, but they did fish on the Murray River with Kevin’s wife Amber’s catch of four Murray cod to 57 cm, unbeatable.

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that redfin are still on offer with Andrew Kompa of Werribee picking up his share, along with Thirteen year old Josh Shelly of Corio who also picked up fish to 800 grams or so.

Lachie Wombell with a sample of the whiting to be taken at Portland lately (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Portland

Down Portland way, Bob McPherson and Lachie Wombell have caught some nice whiting along the north shore on Saturday, the wind being too strong to do much else.

Other options, like tuna have been on offer during calmer weather, but – the kingfish we usually see off Portland at this time of year – have been on the small side.

Trevor asks

I heard about that great white shark off Anglesea; it’s supposed to be 5 metres long. I know they’re protected now, but what would a shark that size weigh?

Darcy Scott with one of the tuna he caught off Anglesea last week.

Murray Scott with yet another tuna taken off Anglesea.

Offshore

Darcy Scott and his father Murray were confronted with a heavy ground swell on the way out through Barwon Heads. And, although a good many were out looking for the tuna, they’d gone. However, they did catch a couple of kingfish amongst the diving birds.

The drumbeats came from Darcy’s cousin Nathan who was fishing with David Lees, both of whom were into the tuna down past Anglesea and that’s where they headed, each catching their bag limit of two fish – the biggest 30 kg – by 10.30 before heading back in.

Mind you, it wasn’t only tuna present down that way, Aaron Habgood of Reds Fishing Adventures and his crew were about to bring a good size tuna alongside after a long, drawn-out tussle when it was taken by a huge great white shark, right beside the boat.

David Lees with one of several tuna he’s caught off Anglesea recently.

Jeremy McLoughlin with yet another tuna taken off Anglesea.

Off the beach

Fishing the outgoing tide from 63W at Torquay on Wednesday evening, Ray Millman’s biggest challenge was surviving the onslaught of undersize pinkies taking his baits, but sticking it out; he caught several to 35 cm and a whiting of about that size.

Returning early on Friday morning, before the heat set in, it was repeat performance with the pinkies, but this time he only took two keepers, the rest being far too small.

Fishing from the beach adjacent to the Point Lonsdale Surf Club (between 3 and 4W) on Thursday evening were Daniel Johnson, Joel Trezise and Brandon Kelly.

Their catch of 5 gummy shark – all around the 4 kg mark – and several pinkies to 2 kg, was rewarding enough. However, one fish that was hooked after dark would have dwarfed any of those already caught, but – as sometimes happens in fishing – it escaped.

Andrew Johnson, Daniel’s father, did a little beach fishing himself from the bank of Edwards Point, St Leonards, taking two flathead to 38 cm on soft plastics.

Sharing the catch (Picture: Rod Lawn).

Danny Lees with yet another tuna taken offshore from Anglesea (Picture: David Lees).

Bellarine Peninsula

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that some good catches of whiting to 40 cm or so have been on offer, but squid, although present in reasonable numbers have been a little harder to find.

Among those to find both were Jeff Richards, Brian Cumming and Ken Shae. They picked up 7 squid off Grassy Point before anchoring up near Dean Man’s Stick, a little further out on the Prince George Bank.

Here, they took 28 whiting to 40 cm before the breeze picked up, persuading their retreat, but the following day – with more favourable conditions – Brian, along with wife Jenny – returned, taking a catch of 8 whiting, the biggest measuring 42 cm.

Keith Fry, along with granddaughters Heidi 10 and Ellian 8, and their mother April, fished in 20 metres of water off Indented Head taking snapper to 38 cm, flathead to 37 cm, and a 4 kg gummy shark.

However, a stiffening breeze ruined what had been the promise of a great day, causing the anchor to pull and some discomfort amongst the crew.

Rhys Tingay with a yellowbelly taken on a spinnerbait from Lake Chum near Donald.

Aaron Collicoat with a 54 cm yellowbelly that he caught at Gunbower on the Murray River (Picture: Amber Wild).

Freshwater

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that some members, including ex-president Rob Catchell, have taken good size redfin from nearby Lake Tullaroop, while Craig and Rhys Tingay travelled a little farther afield.

They took yellowbelly to 39 cm while casting spinnerbaits from the bank at Lake Chum near Donald.

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that good size brown trout are on offer from the lake, and among those to catch them was Tom Hogan of Drysdale who’s biggest weighed 3.5 kg. It was taken while down-rigging a bibbed lure at some depth.

However, redfin to 800 grams or so remain the main catch said John, with Geoff (Shorty) Woollard of Shepparton among those to take their share.

Lachie Wombell with a zebra fish taken while fishing for whiting off Portland (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Ollie asks:

Geoff, is it worthwhile fishing for mulloway in the Barwon estuary at this time of year? I caught some last year but haven’t heard of any being caught lately.

Darcy Scott eventually plucks a nice one, (Picture: Murray Scott).

Offshore

Darcy Scott made an early start in 30 metres of water off Barwon Heads on Sunday morning but had no response from either the gummy shark or snapper he was seeking.

But at around 8.00 am, a boat trolling lures nearby had a double hook-up on tuna, both of which were eventually caught, and – as word was spread by virtue of mobile telephony – other boats arrived and they too were soon amongst the action.

Having a 24 kg game outfit aboard, along with suitable lures, Darcy joined the fray, soon hooking a good size fish, but as luck would have it, pulled the hook and that was that.

Well, for the time being anyway, but Darcy and his dad Murray returned to the scene of the crime, and this time Darce plucked a nice one. Not sure of how heavy it would have been but you can see how big it is.

Joash Belousoff with a 30 kg tuna he caught offshore from Barwon Heads.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Prior to the tuna encounter off Barwon Heads, Darcy and friend Allie Gebert fished an evening on Corio Bay where their catch included a 10 kg gummy shark off Avalon.

Also, an early morning session with his father Murray produced 15 prime whiting off the Swan Island grass beds at Queenscliff before the bite shut down on sunrise.

Alistair Taylor with a sample of the whiting to be caught off Portland lately (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that although whiting have been tricky to catch, Friday saw Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien with 15 keepers while fishing a 20 knot westerly on the outgoing tide.

Tony and Peter Liddicoat also picked them up off Curlewis, but further out in 9 metres of water, and Matthew Drayton found a good patch near the mussel farm.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head, reports – that despite patchy weather – good catches of flathead have been taken on the drift along the edge of the Prince George Bank, but whiting have been scarce.

Squid numbers have improved though said Rod, as demonstrated by Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck who took bag limit catches after making a 6.00 am start out that way early last week; their biggest weighing 1.5 kg.

Lachie Wombell with a sample of the large Australian salmon currently being taken off Portland (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Lachie Wombell with a good sample of Portland whiting taken by him and Bob McPherson (Picture: Bob McPherson).

From the Beach

Fishing the evening high tide from 63W at Torquay last week, Ray Millman caught two whiting of 44 and 46 cm, but they went off the bite on sunset. Not so the pinkie snapper, and although mainly small, they included a half dozen keepers to 36 cm.

Waiting out the pinkies on a second trip last week produced a silver trevally of 1.5 kg just after dark, and a 6 kg gummy shark toward midnight.

Freshwater

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that redfin to 800 grams continue to be the main catch from the lake with Kurt Rundle of Werribee, Mick and Denise Giles of Bannockburn, and Shane and Rylan Hogan of Leopold all taking their share on live minnow and soft plastics.

Brown trout are still on offer as demonstrated by Wayne Kettner of Geelong who picked one up of 2.4 kg while down-rigging with a Tassie Devil, an approach which also yielded a 1 kg rainbow trout.

A sample of the tuna to be taken offshore from Portland lately (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Portland

Down Portland way, Bob McPherson reports that the large whiting this area have been famous for over the years have been late, but they’re here now says Bob, with some over the 50 cm mark.

Among those to catch them of this size was Alistair Taylor, of whom Bob sent in a photo with a sample of Alistair and his catch from Portland’s north shore.

Colin asks:

Geoff, I’m a little confused about the term flat-line trolling; is that just another reference to surface trolling?

There are a good many examples of line release clips for flat-lining – both for fresh water and big game fishing – demonstrated on YouTube, and advertised on the internet. There are also a good many YouTube depictions of flat-line trolling with the rod tip held by the angler at water level.

The following are just three of many examples:

http://www.escapin.com.au/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1797

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_