Geoff Wilson’s Fishing Knots And Rigs

Linda Stewart with a sample of her, and her husband Murray’s snapper catch last week (Picture: Murray Stewart).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

As he’d done on a couple of occasions the week previous, Murray Stewart went snapper fishing again last week, this time with wife Linda.

Initially, they caught one decent fish at Murray’s preferred mark off Curlewis, but there wasn’t much doing after that; not until a friend who was on a hot bite nearby, called them over; a move that brought their final tally to six fish, the biggest of which weighed 5.8kg.

After waiting for the southerly breeze to die on Wednesday evening, Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck anchored up in 8 metres of water off the Nine Foot Bank at around 8.30 pm, boating their first snapper of 4.5 kg an hour or so later.

Lachie Wombell and George Gereige with a sample of their catch of pink ling off Portland (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Eagle rays and banjo sharks moved in after that, undoubtedly attracted by their intermittent berleying, but their patience was eventually rewarded around midnight with a second snapper of 5 kg, closely followed by another of 5.5 kg.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that lure-fishing enthusiasts Jon Cameron and Jim Charles, who fished south of the channel off Curlewis early last week using soft plastics – Zman Jerk Shadz on that occasion – caught four pinkie snapper to 46cm along with several good size flathead.

Mike also reports that on Tuesday, Peter Clark and Des McKiernan caught 40 whiting while fishing in 4.5m of water between Beacon Point and the mussel farm: The best of these measured 38cm and were caught on squid.

A nice catch of pinkie snapper caught by Julian Gregon and his two friends (Picture: Rod Ludlow).

Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien’s hunt for whiting on Saturday was eventually successful offshore from the Leopold Caravan Parks in 4.5 metres of water, where – after making quite a few moves in less than optimum conditions, and returning a good many smaller fish – they finished with 20 keepers, some better than 40 cm.

Not so long ago, to catch a whiting of 40 or more centimetres was rare, but nowadays, catching whiting of that size is unremarkable. However, on Saturday, Jeff Richards and Chris Hateley’s catch of whiting off Indented Head included a fish that measured 50 cm.

Fishing in close proximity to “Dead Man’s Stick,” a pile marking a high patch of reef on the Prince George Bank, the pair had already caught a number of fish to 44 cm, but the 50 cm specimen – which later weighed a hair’s breadth shy of a kilogram – was a special catch of which Chris sent me a picture.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Heads reports that whiting, some in the 40 to 44 cm range, along with a good many pinkie snapper, were welcome additions to angler’s bags last week; some of the bigger whiting being accidental captures by anglers drifting for flathead in the deeper water, and on hooks – and baits – not usually intended for whiting.

Maryborough Angling Club member, Brody Harrison (who was fishing with his grandfather Ken Hinks), holding the 115 cm Murray cod with which he won second prize at the recent Yamaha Cod Classic at Lake Mulwala (Picture: Amber Stone).

Freshwater

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that golden perch (yellowbelly) have been on offer at Cairn Curran Reservoir, and – over the weekend – he and his father John picked up four averaging 40 cm between 6.00 and 8.00am.

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that Jason Eastman of Ballarat and Brian Jones of Camperdown, have taken both chinook salmon and rainbow trout while fishing land-based from the northern shore of nearby Lake Bullen Merri, with pilchard fillets the preferred bait.

On Lake Purrumbete, Brian Nygaard of Bacchus Marsh continues to take rainbow trout to 1.5kg on mudeyes, while Geoff Broughton of Geelong has done little to diminish his reputation for catching redfin.

Chris Hateley’s 50 cm whiting from Indented Head (Picture: Chris Hateley).

Corey asks:

Geoff, unlike some of the folk featured in your column, I struggle to catch a feed of whiting. My attention was drawn to your mention of using crushed mussels for berley on November 27. Now that we are not supposed to rake the pylons for mussels, where can I get them, and how would you crush them without getting splattered?

I asked Andrew how he crushes them, and who revealed that it’s done one layer at a time, in a 10-litre bucket, with a sledgehammer in vertical disposition. Naturally, Andrew said, the mussels must be first frozen solid, otherwise you will become splattered.

Martin Zeinstra and Murray Stewart with a sample of last week’s snapper catch

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Murray Stewart admitted that on an outing from Clifton Springs with workmate Martin Zeinstra last week, was the first time he’d returned large snapper to the water.

But the evening bite they experienced just north of the channel junction off Curlewis was so furious, that at one stage they had four big fish on at once, their respective bag limit catches of snapper to 6 kg or so being a lay-down misere.

Mind you, Murray’s snapper fishing foray last week didn’t finish there, for another workmate, Paul Lowe, also expressed interest in snapper fishing, and on Friday morning, one of about 5 kg took the flathead fillet he had on for bait.

On Friday night, snapper aficionados, Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck, found their lines fouled with weed at their usual spot and eventually anchored up in 8 metres of water near the “Nine Foot Bank” pile off Avalon: A good move as it turned out, for here they caught two snapper of 2.5 and 3 kg and six flathead, the biggest measuring 50 cm.

Hoping for more snapper they stayed on, and at midnight, they caught another fish of 5.5 kg and yet another at 1.15 am on Saturday that weighed 6.8 kg, only returning to the ramp as the hot northerly breeze kicked in around 3.00 am.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire also reports seeing anglers with good size snapper last week, but the biggest fish sighted was a 2-metre gummy shark that Anthony Saric caught at Queenscliff using Australian salmon for bait.

Pinkies and flathead have been the main catch off The Springs though said Mike, and among those to catch them was Barry Oswald who used pilchards for bait.

Whiting have been a bit scarce though, and although Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien’s battle with wind against the tide on Friday afternoon, resulted in a dozen keepers to 40 cm, they returned a good many smaller fish.

Another try on Saturday morning was also tough going with the northerly pushing against the tide, but they managed another ten keepers.

Rod Ludlow at Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that squid and flathead, along with the occasional catch of whiting, were on offer whenever last week’s patchy weather permitted access for clients.

Martin Zeinstra looking pleased at his introduction to snapper fishing (Picture: Murray Stewart).

Offshore

With a northerly breeze predicted from Saturday, Chris Stamalos headed out through Barwon Heads to his usually productive ground in 32 metres of water out from the out Black Rock outfall site.

Again, it didn’t disappoint, producing three snapper, all around the 3 kg mark, a gummy shark possibly 14 kg, and two large squid, each around the 2 kg mark.

Paul Lowe with yet another good size snapper from Corio Bay (Picture: Murray Stewart).

Freshwater

Despite blue algae warnings on Lake Bullen Merri, John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that much of the lake remains unaffected. Among those to catch fish here was Brian Jones of Camperdown who took rainbow trout and chinook salmon to 1.5 kg while suspending pilchard fillets just above the bottom.

On Lake Purrumbete, Les Broughton took rainbow trout to 1.8 kg on mudeyes fished beneath a float, while Jeff Broughton took redfin to 500 grams or so while jigging in the deeper water.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that a several members attended the Yamaha Cod Fishing Classic at Lake Mulwala, with Brody Harrison taking out second prize with a 115 cm Murray cod; one of several cod caught by club members.

Kevin also mentions that Cairn Curran Reservoir has produced good catches of redfin with Barry and Sean Crombie taking fish to 40 cm, by the dozen, using yabbies and worms for bait.

Holding out: George Gereige with a sample of the whiting to be taken at Portland lately (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Rob asks:

Geoff, I read with interest your treatise on the FG Knot last week, but have to say these joins are a bit complex for me. I use a double uni-knot to join my light braid to a mono leader; do you see any problems with that.

Jetty jubilation: Chas and Jed Laforgia with the 4.8 kg brown trout they caught from the Lake Purrumbete Jetty at the weekend (Picture: Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park).

Freshwater

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that fishing from the jetty is popular and occasionally, equally productive as from a boat, something illustrated by brothers Chas and Jed Laforgia while soaking a mudeye here, beneath a float at the weekend.

John said the commotion this event caused could be heard from his office as the pair eventually subdued a 4.8 kg brown trout with the landing net.

Steve O’Keefe had a story to tell after fishing Lake Mulwala near Bundalong with a few of his mates last week.

While the fishing was slow with yellowbelly scarce, Jamie Avery of Mathoura took a spectacular strike which resulted in a battle through an obstacle course of timber and twigs before he was able to capture, and then release, a Murray cod that measured 1.22 metres in length.

Offshore

Following his previous success on snapper off Black Rock, Chris Stamalos headed over that way again last week, and – anchoring up in just over 30 metres of water once more – picked up two more snapper, the biggest around 4.5 kg.

After that though, apart from having squid take his baits every now and again, things were pretty quiet. However, as he was about to leave, he hooked what turned out to be a large gummy shark of probably 15 kg.

Mark Sesar with a sample of the whiting catch off Point Henry (Picture: Mark Sesar).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Mark Sesar and his friend Peter Richards fished offshore from Point Henry near the Alcoa Pier last week, where they were successful on the whiting during the early morning flood tide.

Using fresh squid for bait, they caught 12 before the bite eventually shut down, and what beauties they were; the biggest measuring 42 cm.

Fishing the ebb tide at one of their favourite whiting marks off Curlewis, in just under 7 metres of water last week, were Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien, who took half a dozen good size fish before they went off the bite.

Moving west off Leopold to another formerly productive spot was no better, so they resumed fishing at Curlewis, where – with the aid of a substantial berley input of crushed mussels – they eventually finished by early afternoon with a tally of 20 keepers to 42 cm and three respectable flathead, the biggest measuring 48cm.

Snook have also been present over the seagrass beds, something mentioned by Andrew and Dennis who lost several through being bitten off on their whiting gear before boating two around the 80 cm mark; others have had little trouble catching them on lures.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire also reports that good size flathead are about, and on Sunday, John Hollis and John Dunlop’s catch included fish to 40 cm; that was before the wind came up, persuading their return.

Gummy shark are about as well said Mike with Lachlan and Jake O’Brien picking up two to 1.2 kg off Portarlington, while Henry Wynhover and Andrew Chandler picked a couple up off Clifton Springs.

Lachie Wombell with a sample of the Portland whiting catch.

Portland

Bob McPherson reports that the fishing has been somewhat slow down Portland way, but he and Lachie Wombell been picking up whiting around the 40 cm mark along the north shore using pipis for bait.

Geoffrey asks:

Geoff, what are your thoughts on the FG Knot? I couldn’t find it in your knot book or video.

Most YouTube versions involve attaching a monofilament leader, the short end or tag being introduced at right angles to the main line, which is held under some tension. The leader tag is then alternately wrapped around each side of the main line until a splice of sufficient length is formed. The fixed end of the main line is then released and used to form a series of half hitches around both the leader tag and main line to secure the splice.

Layla Raduka 5, with the 780 gram redfin that she caught from the Barwon River in South Geelong.

Martinus de Lange with a sample of the 10 bream to 38 cm he caught from the Hopkins River along Mahoneys Road on Friday using scrubworms for bait.

Freshwater

While coaching his 5-year old daughter Layla in the art of lure casting on the Barwon River in South Geelong – with a Z-Man grub in this case – Paul Raduka was in disbelief as a strike, followed by a solid hook-up, took them both unawares.

Never the less, calm prevailed, and – with some sound coaching from dad – Layla was rewarded with a redfin that later weighed 780 grams.

Murray Stewart with a nice gummy shark from Corio Bay.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Anchored up to the east of the Wilson Spit in 8.5 metres of water by 7.30 pm Wednesday, Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck had an hour or so to relax before a 3.5 kg snapper got their attention.

There was nothing doing after that though but they stuck it out, and at around 10.00 pm, they caught the first of three more fish, the biggest weighing 5.3 kg.

Lenny Burnham with a two nice snapper he caught off Clifton Springs (Picture Mike Windsor).

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire also reports snapper being still on offer with Chris O’Toole, Cash Sutherland and Lenny Burnham all taking fish to 5 kg or so using fresh squid for bait. Good size pinkies have been taken as well said Mike, with Alf Cardarelli taking half a dozen to 40 cm along with flathead to 45 cm using squid and salted pilchards for bait.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that while most clients have caught flathead and squid, pinkie snapper to 1.5 kg have also been caught between Steeles Rocks at Portarlington and the nearby mussel farm.

Offshore

Despite an uncertain start because of a fairly stiff north easterly breeze, Chris Stamalos and Kelvin McLean were out through Barwon Heads by daybreak and heading west toward Black Rock where there was some shelter.

A good move as it turned out, for not only did the wind ease off, but at anchor in 32 metres of water they each took bag limit catches of snapper to 4.5 kg.

Amber Stone with a 49.5 cm yellowbelly from Cairn Curran Reservoir (Picture: Amber Stone).

John Gray with a 56 cm yellowbelly from Cairn Curran Reservoir (Picture: Amber Stone).

Freshwater

Amber Stone and Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club fished Cairn Curran Reservoir last week, and – in their first few minutes of trolling lures – Amber picked up a golden perch (yellowbelly) measuring 49.5 cm.

Fishing nearby was John Gray whom they called over, and he picked up another of 56 cm. So, with two good size fish taken in short order, it looked as though they were about to have a good day; but all they caught after that were small redfin.

Speaking of redfin, the pair heard a whisper that Walkers Lake near St Arnaud was firing, but it was clear on their arrival that whisper had spread, judging by the number of boats on the water, but redfin were there for the taking by all.

Lachie Wombell with another nice blue eye trevalla taken by he and Bob McPherson at the weekend (Picture: Bob McPherson).

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that the redfin bite continues, and that George Gillies of Winchelsea picked up his share of fish to 600 grams or so on soft plastics.

Chinook salmon to 1.5 are also present in good numbers and among those to catch them was Les Broughton of Geelong who caught several on pilchard fillets suspended just above the bottom.

Brown trout have been a bit scarce though, but Brian Nygaard of Bacchus Marsh has recently caught several on mudeyes suspended beneath a float.

Daniel Bateman and Mat Singa with the 103 kg bluefin tuna they caught in 50 metres of water off Port MacDonnell on Friday (Picture Bob McPherson).

Ollie asks:

Geoff, on reading last week’s column, I am again reminded of you and your friend’s catches of kingfish at Coffin Bay but the distance has put me off. However, I believe you can now catch a ferry across Spencer Gulf, which would shorten the journey?

Kingfish may be caught within a kilometre or so of the Coffin Bay boat ramp in October and November, and probably early December. The most productive tide sequences begin from three days before either a full or new moon, the next occurring this very week and December 4-11. As for accommodation, there are cabins at the caravan park (08 8685 4170), which is in close proximity to the boat ramp.

Darcy Scott with the first kingfish he and his father Murray caught at Coffin Bay last week (Picture: Murray Scott).

Darcy Scott with yet another kingfish from Coffin Bay (Picture: Murray Scott).

Early last week, Geelong anglers, Murray and Darcy Scott saddled up for the 1300 km journey to Coffin Bay in South Australia to sample what is arguably one of the best inshore kingfish fisheries in the country.

Although tired after one and a half day’s travelling, followed by unpacking their gear, they were on the water by around 3.00 pm, and – after catching some small, but legal-size Australian salmon for bait – Darcy was soon into a kingfish that weighed 21 kg.

Their early success could have been compensation for a less productive trip to the same destination on an earlier occasion, but this time, it was clear their luck had changed for the better with a final tally of four kingfish.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck were persuaded to move from their preferred snapper spot on the east side of Wilson Spit on Saturday evening because of the small fish taking their baits, but the pinkie bite was widespread and continued until dark.

However, the late shift proved more to their liking with the capture of a 4.5 kg snapper at around 10 pm. This was followed by another of 5.6 kg during the last of the ebb tide an hour or so later, their most productive baits being slimy mackerel and silver whiting.

With good weather predicted for Sunday, Justin Burns and Simon Williams were on the water over the Leopold grass beds by first light, and – fishing with soft plastics – they had bumper catch and release session on snook to 80 cm or so, along with the usual pinkie snapper and flathead.

Angler Andy with the 7 kg snapper he caught off the Lee Breakwater at Portland last week (Picture: Whaler’s Rest).

On Tuesday, as unfriendly as conditions were on the bay with strong winds and heavy rain, Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien couldn’t resist another try at the whiting, and – anchored up in 7 metres of water between Hermsley Road Curlewis and the Leopold Caravan Parks – they picked up 25 good size specimens and three decent flathead.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that among those to catch whiting were Ben Patterson and Andrew Young who picked them up just offshore from the boat ramp, while Rhys Davis and Matt Drew caught 8 good size squid in much the same area.

Fishing near the wreck of the Clarence off St Leonards on Friday were Peter Clark and Des McKierana who caught 32 whiting and 8 flathead on the incoming tide

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that fishing over the weekend was surprisingly good with whiting to 40 cm well represented in anglers catches, along with squid aplenty; some of them approaching 2 kg.

There were a variety of other fish taken as well, said Rod including a stargazer that client Greg caught while fishing for flathead.

Royal event: Murray Scott with one of the kingfish he caught at Coffin Bay S.A. last week (Picture: Darcy Scott).

Chris Stamalos with one of the squid he caught offshore from Barwon Heads (Picture: Daniel Stamalos).

Offshore

With good weather predicted for Saturday. Chris Stamalos and his brother Daniel headed out off Barwon Heads before daybreak.

Anchored up in around 30 metres of water, the fishing was slow to begin with, but while bringing up a large squid, the pair were amazed to see a fair size gummy shark grab the squid just below the surface, leaving just a cloud of ink.

Chris wasted no time in dropping a line baited with a trevally fillet over the side, an exercise that resulted in the capture of a 10 kg gummy shark.

Of course that wasn’t the only squid they caught, and there were some beauties among them.

They also caught two smaller gummies, which looked like their lot for the morning, but just as they were about to leave, Chris caught another gummy shark of 16 kg.

Chris Stamalos with his 16 kg gummy shark (Picture: Daniel Stamalos).

Keith Boots with a 72 cm snapper he caught from the Lee breakwater last week (Picture: Whaler’s Rest).

Freshwater

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park report that both rainbow and brown trout to 1.8 kg or so have been caught, both from the jetty and by anglers fishing from boats fishing in the shallows. Among those to do well on these was Gary Holt of Colac fishing mudeyes beneath a float.

Redfin to 600 grams or so have also been taken with Norm Armstrong of Geelong among those to do well on these, while at nearby Lake Bullen Merri, Clinton Jackson has taken both rainbow trout and chinook salmon to 1.5 kg while fishing with his own home-made dodgers.

Bill Athanasselis took his mate Con out to try for a snapper; successfully as you can see.

Lachie Wombell with a sample of the blue-eye trevalla he and Bob McPherson caught off Portland over the weekend (Picture Bob McPherson).

Col asks:

Geoff, as you can see in the photo I’ve sent, there are two snapper that are much darker in colour than any I’ve seen previously. Can you give me any reason or explanation for this?

Jordan Cozzella with a sample of the snapper he caught from Corio Bay lately (Picture: Rowan Cozzella).

Shaun Martin with a couple of the gummy shark that he caught off Indented Head last week using squid for bait.

Using freshly caught squid for bait, Rowan and Jordan Cozzella were among those to catch good size snapper offshore from Clifton Springs.

They’ve had most success between the Point Richards Channel and the munitions pier at Point Wilson said Rowan, particularly when the southerly sea breeze comes in during the afternoon.

With a stiff breeze from the south west on Wednesday afternoon, hopes of a planned trip out on the bay looked bleak for Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck. However, it calmed off toward evening, and – launching from Clifton Springs – they were soon anchored up in around 8.5 metres of water near the Wilson Spit where pinkie snapper were on the bite.

While a couple of these were around 40 cm, they were hopeful of catching something bigger: Not in vain as it turned out for at 8.30 pm they caught one of 5 kg, and followed that an hour or so later with a second fish of 6.5 kg; both were caught on silver whiting.

Chris Stamalos with a 12 kg gummy shark from Corio Bay.

Chris Stamalos with a pair of snapper from Corio Bay.

Chris Stamalos is a magnet for gummy shark, and he’s caught some really big ones, particularly when he fishes offshore from Barwon Heads; but they follow him.

Trying off Clifton Springs last week, his catch not only included two snapper of around 5 kg each, but his legal entitlement of two gummy shark, the biggest weighing 12 kg.

Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien were back on the whiting trail on Sunday, but – apart from the usual, small but legal-size fish that they returned – there wasn’t much doing.

Eventually though, they moved onto one of their formally productive spots in 6.8 metres of water offshore from the Leopold Caravan Park where the early afternoon tide change rang the dinner bell; their final tally of 30 keepers including fish to 43 cm.

Others took whiting as well, as Mike Windsor of Clifton Spring Boat Hire was able to relate: Among them were Frank and Coral Ford who took a mixed bag of whiting and flathead, while Darren Hillier was surprised to catch a blue throat wrasse along with 12 flathead off Point Richards.

A number of snapper were also taken said Mike, with Bernie Dempsey and Chris Lahiff among those to catch them with 3 fish to 4 kg from out toward the No 12 Point Richards channel marker using freshly caught squid for bait.

Kevin Wild catching yabbies at Cairn Curran Reservoir (Picture: Amber Stone).

Yabby feast at Cairn Curran Reservoir (Picture: Amber Stone).

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that pinkie snapper have made a welcome appearance with clients bringing them in over the weekend, along with their usual catch of flathead and some really good size squid.

Among those to do well on the squid last week were Jeff Richards and Bill Pilipasides who picked up a dozen hefty specimens from the outer Governor Reef at Indented Head

before trying for the pinkies, which were a bit on the slow side, but they still picked up several to 40 cm.

Jon Dukker and Stephen Eales with their prize-winning yellowbelly from Cairn Curran Reservoir over the weekend (Picture: Amber Stone).

Freshwater

Kevin Wild reports that the Maryborough Angling Club held a catch and release competition on Cairn Curran Reservoir over the weekend and golden perch (yellowbelly) were on offer.

Largest fish measured 55 cm and was caught by Jon Dukker, Stephen Eales was runner up with one of 54.5 cm, and Kevin came third with another measuring 53.5 cm.

Kevin also caught a pile of yabbies (including some very large black specimens) from Cairn Curran, which were cooked up for a feast.

Members of the Maryborough Angling Club at Cairn Curran Reservoir (Picture: Amber Stone).

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that good size brown trout are still on offer with Tim Beusmans taking one of 2.7 kg. Tim also caught several smaller rainbow trout and chinook salmon, all while down-rigging with Tassie Devils.

Others to do well with the same mix included Ben Moody of Benalla and Jim Cole of Camperdown.

Amber Stone with a 43 cm yellowbelly from Cairn Curran Reservoir.

Rodney asks:

Geoff, on reading your recent fishing columns I get the impression that snapper fishing is better at night than through the day. What are your thoughts on this?

Rod, snapper may be caught both during the day and at night with peak times at dawn and dusk. Likewise, tide changes may also be productive, particularly the afternoon high tide changes during the days leading up to, and over the new moon, which is on Thursday.

Night stalker: Aaron Habgood with two of the snapper he caught after dark off Clifton Springs (Picture: Red’s Fishing Adventures).

Brandon Scaffidi with a squid of 2.68Kg that he caught off Queenscliff, and which won the Bellarine Pirates Angling Club’s Squid Challenge.

Early last week, snapper aficionados Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck launched at Clifton Springs and by 8.00 pm were anchored up on the east side of the Wilson Spit in 8.5 metres of water.

Initially, the fishing was slow, but they caught the first of three snapper – that later weighed from 3.5 to 5.2 kg – at around 10.00 pm using pilchards and silver whiting for bait, the other two soon followed.

Australian salmon are still present, both in Corio Bay’s inner and outer harbours. Among those to catch them from the outer harbour last week was Tony Hargreaves who’d already caught two good size snapper while bottom fishing.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that among those catch snapper last week, were Kiong Wong and Shane Gordon of whom Mike sent in a photo with their catch of fish to 5 kg or so.

Kiong Wong and Shane Gordon with a sample of their snapper catch off Clifton Springs (Picture: Mike Windsor).

Peter on the Lee Breakwater with one of the snapper he’s caught from here lately. This one weighed 7 kg (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Also successful were Paul Agterhuis who caught one of 5 kg and Michael Barallon, whose catch included pinkies to 38 cm and several flathead, all from Point Wilson.

Jeff Richards, of Indented Head reports taking a walk out onto the Portarlington Breakwater early last week to find the water discoloured from the recent onshore blow.

However, as unattractive as it may have appeared to the untrained eye, anglers were numerous and had taken a number of snapper, some proudly displayed by their captors. The biggest would have been around 4 kg said Jeff, but most were in the one to 1.5 kg range.

Andrew Johnson had just returned from the Murray at Echuca on Friday, after which he was proud to announce, that despite his best efforts, he did not catch a single carp. However, using scrubworms for bait, he did catch several golden perch (yellowbelly), the biggest of which weighed 2 kg.

Needless to say, that on his arrival back home, he and Dennis O’Brien went in search of whiting, and at around 10 am on Sunday, found them off Leopold on the outgoing tide: Good size fish certainly, but it wasn’t long before they went off the bite.

Trying other areas with little to show for their efforts, they returned to their original spot at around 3.00 pm, and – as luck would have it – the whiting were back on the bite and they finished with a tally of 20 fish to 42 cm.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that squid have been a little scarce of late, but snapper to 2 kg or so have been taken between the red portside marker off Grassy Point and the nearby mussel farm, something which is fairly predictable at this time of year.

George Gereige with a sample of the blue-eye trevalla that he and Bob McPherson caught offshore from Portland last week (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Lachie Wombell with a sample of the blue-eye trevalla that he and Bob McPherson caught offshore from Portland last week (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Portland

Down Portland way, Bob McPherson reports that several good size tuna have been captured of late and sent in a photo of Bailey Petch and Jamieson Goldby with a beauty of 114 kg that they caught offshore from Cape Bridgewater at daybreak on Sunday; the second big one they’ve caught over their past few trips.

As for Bob, he, Lachie Wombell and George Gereige, have made good use of their sea time bottom-bouncing on the wide grounds where their main catch has been blue eye trevalla, accompanied with the usual by-catch of pink ling and other assorted species.

Bailey Petch and Jamieson Goldby with the 114 kg bluefin tuna they caught off Portland on Sunday.

Mark Asks:

Geoff, who would be responsible for a possible upgrade of the Kirk Point Boat Ramp on Beach Road. Surely in this day and age with fisherman paying yearly fishing licences, and with ever more families getting involved with recreational angling, you would think an upgrade would be warranted.

Mark, the following is part of a submission made to Travis Dowling, Executive Director of Fisheries Victoria on 19/10/16, and to whom I forwarded your question, which in turn received a prompt reply, to both of us, that included the following:

Mark Sesar sent in this picture of the Kirk Point Boat Ramp with his query.

“ Happy to look into this one again. Not sure what happened last time around.”

Kirk Point boat ramp (Melway 40 ref, Page 11, D13).

This ramp is located at the eastern end of Beach Road, Avalon, the last section of the road is badly corrugated; an upgrade is required.

A single lane boat ramp with limited parking, it has no toilets or other facilities other than a wheelie bin for rubbish.
Good lighting is required because this ramp is almost impossible to find when coming back in the dark without GPS.
This ramp is badly exposed to winds, and sometimes swells, from the southwest.
This ramp has no security and thefts from unattended vehicles have been reported.
Fish cleaning facilities would be appreciated.

Martin de Lange with his snapper from the St Leonards Pier (Picture: Rodney Beer).

Fishing from the St Leonards Pier on Friday night were Martin de Lange and Rodney Beer; both rewarded for their vigil with a number of respectable pinkie snapper to 40 cm or so using squid for bait.

However, at around 11.00 pm, Martin hooked a much bigger fish, and taking care not to bring it in too quickly because of the protruding rocks just out from the pier – remnants of what once was a great structure to fish from – the snapper, which would have been about 5 kg, was eventually captured.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that snapper of all sizes have been caught lately, with Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck picking up two of 5 and 6 kg just north of the channel junction at sunrise on Wednesday.

Fishing in much the same area later that morning, were Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien whose initial catch, was a 50 cm flathead. But from 11.00 am or so, they caught four snapper from 3.5 to 5.8 kg and released two others.

Aaron Habgood of Reds Fishing Adventures also reports taking snapper of Clifton Springs; his biggest so far weighing 8 kg. It came from ten metres of water and took a bait of fresh squid.

Aaron also mentions having great success on large squid off Queenscliff, spotting the egg clusters being his key to success.

And, in addition to that, has been able to pick a break in the weather to fish offshore from Barwon Heads where he’s had no trouble catching some hefty gummy shark in 40 metres of water using fresh salmon fillets for bait.

Whiting have also been on offer with Murray and Darcy Scott picking up another bag limit catch off Leopold over the weekend, along with ten good size squid.

Aaron Habgood with an 8 kg snapper he caught off Clifton Springs last week (Picture: Reds Fishing Adventures).

Aaron Habgood with one of the large gummy shark he’s caught off Barwon Heads lately (Picture: Reds Fishing Adventures).

Offshore

Fishing in 30 metres of water offshore from Torquay over the weekend, Kevin McLoughlin was hoping for a good size gummy shark, of which he hooked a couple, neither resulting in a capture. However, he did catch 10 good size southern calamari.

Off the beach

Down Portland way, Bob McPherson reports that his son Scott has been making good use of a drone to take his bait from Narrawong Beach. The added distance he’s achieved with this approach has resulted in the capture of several sharks, including one small mako, and several Australian salmon to 4.5 kg.

Aaron Habgood a sample of the big squid he’s been catching off Queenscliff lately (Picture: Reds Fishing Adventures).

Freshwater

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park, reports that good size brown trout are still on offer with Daniel Sparkes taking a 3.5 kg brown trout while trolling a clown pattern Tassie Devil.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that 14 members fished competitively at Laanecoorie Reservoir for 14 golden perch (yellowbelly), with Craig Tingey taking the biggest at 50 cm, Jon Dukker was runner up with another of 47.5 cm, while Kevin was third with a fish of 44.5 cm.

Kevin also reports that Cairn Curran Reservoir has also been producing good size yellowbelly with local anglers Kevin Parker and Robert Heyen taking fish to 50 cm.

Cam and Ash Rawlings with one of the sturgeon they caught in Canada.

Canada

Geelong angler Ash Rawlings and son Cam, don’t mind covering a bit of ground, and last week sent in pictures of sturgeon they caught from Chilliwack, Canada – presumably from the Fraser River – with the catch and release of eleven fish to 1.8 metres on a day’s charter.

Fishing Clinic

The Ron Nelson Memorial Junior Fishing Clinic, hosted by the Geelong and District Angling Clubs Inc., will be held on Sunday (28/10/18) at St Augustine’s Lake off Pigdon’s Road, Highton/Waurn Ponds. The event will run from 9.00 am till 1.00 pm. Entry is free, but bring your own fishing tackle and bait. For more information, please ring John Hotchin 5248 6817.

Ian asks:

Geoff, no longer willing to cover countless miles to Gippsland and Western Victoria in search of bream, I seek your reassurance that places closer to hand, like Thompson Creek near Breamlea – which you describe in your guide to fishing Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula – remain productive. And if so, could you provide any tips on access and where to fish?

Thompson Creek flows to sea at Point Impossible, but the noted bream fishery is further upstream. Pedestrian access is from the Blackgate Road Bridge, which is but a short distance south-west from Breamlea Road; the most productive water beginning beyond the auspicious left hand bend a kilometre or so upstream from the bridge, and from there, winding several kilometres through sparsely wooded areas, upstream to the weir.

Callum Ritchie with a sample of his squid catch from the Swan Bay channel.

Reece Anticevic and Robbie Scaringi with their bag limit catch of squid off Indented Head (Picture Rod Ludlow).

After strong easterlies discoloured the water last week, several snapper aficionado’s, including Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien, headed out as the wind died away on Friday night.

They began well enough with two fish, the biggest about 4 kg, but despite their ongoing expectations as the light faded, that was it.

Keith Fry, and his friends John Porter and Gary Maya fished out off “Arthur the Great” on Saturday evening, but – what looked to be a promising start – failed to materialize with just a scale, about the size of ten cent piece, impaled on the hook.

While snapper fishing has not lived up to earlier expectations, land-based anglers caught a number of respectable size pinkies – along with the occasional larger fish – inside the Portarlington harbour toward the end of last week, with one reliable witness suggesting that possibly 50 may have caught.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that while flathead and squid have been the main catch, whiting have been on offer for those able to take advantage.

Guy Kemp with his catch of squid at Indented Head (Picture: Rod Ludlow).

Lilly Azzopardi with a nice snook off Altona (Picture A J Azzopardi).

After their OK snapper trip on Friday evening, Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien were onto the whiting off Curlewis on Saturday.

While many of the fish they caught would certainly have been takers, they returned most, with bigger fish – of which they caught 16, a good portion of which were around the 40 cm mark – coming on the bite as the day rolled on.

On Sunday morning, Murray and Darcy Scott managed their respective bag-limit catches of whiting – most of which came from 5.5 metres of water offshore from the Leopold caravan parks – squid being the preferred bait.

Speaking of squid, Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head, said that squid have undoubtedly been the main chance around the Bellarine Peninsula lately, with the bigger specimens coming from the Lonsdale Bight at Queenscliff.

Here, Steve O’Keefe has been among the many anglers to take some beauties to 2 kg, on baited stem jigs in the last occasion, while Callum Ritchie caught five; his biggest weighing in at 1.5 kg: All taken on the drift in the Swan Bay Channel.

However, while the rough weather toward the end of last week shut the squid down, said Rod, he mentions that his last clients to come off the water on Sunday night, Reece Anticevic and Robbie Scaringi, returned with their respective bag limit catches.

John Wild with a nice yellowbelly on Cairn Curran Reservoir (Picture Kevin Wild).

Freshwater

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that the Lake Purrumbete Angling Club held their monthly competition over the weekend, which was attended by 12 members: Nine fish were weighed in for a total weigh of 5.08 kg.

The heaviest brown trout weighed 986 grams and was caught by Brian Nygaard. Heaviest chinook salmon weighed 1.05 kg and was caught by Norm Armstrong who also caught the heaviest redfin at 397 grams. Stephen Hill caught, not only the heaviest rainbow trout at 839 grams, but was the overall winner with a bag of five salmonids for a total weight of 1.99 kg.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club fished with partner Amber Wild at Lake Laanecoorie, and on the Loddon River downstream last week. On both occasions they caught respectable golden perch (yellowbelly), while a respite from trolling to drown a few worms, resulted in Amber catching three Murray cod of 58, 61 and 66 cm, all of which were returned.

Lachie Goldby with a good size gummy shark taken off Portland’s north shore.

Peter asks:
Geoff, how do you work out the tides for Barwon Heads? On Sunday it was supposed to be low at 9.34 am but it just kept running out for ages after that.

Should there have been significant water flowing downstream from the Barwon, then you may have needed to add yet another hour. And, bear in mind that low slack water in the Sheepwash is an hour later than for the bridge, and later still as you progress upstream, toward, and above Lake Connewarre.

A J Azzopardi with one of the large squid he caught off Queenscliff last week (Picture: Cranbourne Fishing World).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Among snapper enthusiasts crowded around the Wilson Spit and Point Richards channel junction over the weekend was Stewart O’Brien who’d made an early morning start, but with nothing doing, neither by he, nor anyone nearby by mid-day, he was on the move.

While slowly motoring back, a promising echo on his sounder persuaded yet another try, which was more successful this time with the capture of a 7.8 kg snapper.

Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien hit pay-dirt off Curlewis in fairly rough weather on Friday catching 20 whiting in disagreeable conditions. So, with calmer seas on Saturday they made it a double with yet another catch of 20 whiting, the biggest measuring 40 cm.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports the boat ramp car park was completely full on both days over the weekend, but good bags of fish – including whiting – were taken.

Among the successful anglers were Murray and Darcy Scott who picked up respectable bags of whiting, and – when one of their fish was pursued to the surface by a large squid – they put a jig over the side, taking three of these tasty cephalopods in quick succession.

Also picking up whiting off Avalon was Les Awty who also caught 10 squid, while Frank and Coral of Ballarat caught 23 flathead off The Springs.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that a good many anglers benefitted from the recent influx of large squid at Queenscliff and around the Bellarine Peninsula with both prawn imitations and stem jigs baited with fish like silver whiting, getting the job done.

Among those to catch them last week were A J Azzopardi who did well in 6 metres of water off Queenscliff, with Diesel Grech and his uncle Silvio picking up some beauties in 4 metres of water off St Leonards.

James Tenaglia and Anthony Dobran who caught the train, and then the bus, from Taylors Lakes and bagged out on squid; picking up two nice flathead measuring 44 and 46cm for good measure (Picture Rod Ludlow).

Offshore

Chris Stamalos and his friend Brendan were on the water off Barwon Heads by 3.30 am Sunday, and by 4.30, Chris caught a large gummy shark that later weighed 23 kg. It was a big slow after that though; their only other catch being a much smaller gummy shark and a large squid that was hooked in the tentacle.

Freshwater

John Clements of Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that redfin have been on the bite with Terry Lindsay of Mario’s Fresh Bait taking respectable bags of fish to 600 grams on soft plastics.

Apart from that said John, it’s been pretty quiet, chinook salmon being the only other highlight with Chris Farrugia from Oaklands Junction picking up several to 1.5 kg, along with the occasional brown trout.

Kevin Wild and Amber Stone of the Maryborough Angling Club fished Taylors Lake near Horsham last week, and it was here they caught a number of golden perch to 42 cm on lures, and a Murray cod that was returned.

On Sunday, Kevin fished Cairn Curran Reservoir with his father John, where their catch included golden perch to 40 cm and eight redfin.

Hugh Johnstone and “Jamo” Goldby with their catch of blue eye trevalla taken offshore from Portland (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Hooked on Bellarine

Hosted by the Victorian Fishing Authority – and to which attendance is free – “Hooked on Bellarine” is funded by the State Government’s Target One Million plan to get more people fishing more often, and is to be held on the Portarlington Harbour foreshore from 10.00 am till 4.00 pm next Sunday, October 14.

Featured will be clinics by fishing experts Aaron Habgood and Kristina Royter, held in conjunction with casting competitions. There will be seafood cooking demonstrations by master-chef Sam Goodwin, along with additional drumbeats from marine scientist Dr Corey Green and Richmond footy star Bachar Houli.

Ollie asks:

Geoff, I read in an early edition of your book, Fishing Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, that you can catch kingfish at the Alcoa Pier, Point Henry. What is the approach?

As for the approach, I suggest being on the water before very first light to get some garfish using a spotlight and dip net, and troll them live along the south side of the pier. Failing that, you could perhaps, catch some small but legal-size salmon and present them in the same manner; but gars are best.