Geoff Wilson’s Fishing Knots And Rigs

Kevin McLoughlin with the bronze whaler taken offshore from Point Richards.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Fishing on the drift offshore from Point Richards on Saturday morning were Kevin McLoughlin and his companion, Shane. They were fishing for flathead in around 7 metres of water, but with game fishing tackle out as well in case a shark came along.

They were picking up a good size flathead or two when at around 8.30, the ominous growl of a game reel took their outing to a whole new level.

The protagonist was a bronze whaler of about 2.5 meters that took about 30 minutes to subdue, a catch that should keep them in flake for some time.

Making a 4.00 am start on Wednesday, Andrew Philips and Tony Greck headed off to one of their productive snapper grounds off Avalon, and – with the sounder ticking over – they picked up some promising marks between the wreck of the Aneiura and the Nine Foot Bank.

Needless to say, the well-rehearsed drill of anchoring up and putting their lines out followed, and by 6.00 am they’d taken three snapper of 3, 5, and 5.5 kg on baits of silver whiting and squid.

They stayed on for a while, but after that, all their baits attracted were undersize pinkie snapper and banjo sharks, so they headed back in.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire, reports that the Bellarine Pirates Angling Club held a Flathead Challenge last weekend which was attended by 27 participants who weighed in 15 flathead to 932 grams.

The largest of these being taken offshore from Portarlington. However, another flathead weighing 860 grams was caught from the jetty just outside the Clifton Springs boat harbour.

Mike also reports that whiting continue to be the most sought-after fish from The Springs with fishing stalwarts Andrew Johnson and Denis O’Brien picking up a few nice fish on Thursday down toward McAdams Lane despite an uncomfortable north easterly breeze.

I said a few, not that there was any shortage, but – although legal size – most were a bit on the small side and returned, added to that, the little pinkie snapper bait thieves were really on the job adding yet another level of discomfort.

Nevertheless, they finished with 9 keepers to 40 cm. And surprize, surprize, their unexpected catch of five flathead to 55 cm made the trip worthwhile.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head also mentions that whiting of mixed sizes, including some around 40 cm, have been the main catch, often fairly close to shore between Grassy Point and The Governors.

Michael Dean tried for whiting off St Leonards on Saturday, but the fishing was slow with only a dozen keepers, but a drift out in 18-20 metres produced several flathead to 40 cm, which made the trip worthwhile.

Simon Werner, after tending to his deck duties aboard Adamas Charters, reports that there has been an influx of tuna in the 15-20 kg range offshore from Port Phillip Heads. However, they have been remarkably hard to catch, but of course that can change overnight.

Queenscliff

Heading out off Queenscliff late on Saturday afternoon and hoping to get onto the whiting, Chris Stamalos anchored up off Swan Island, just out from the J3 submarine wreck, and with the tide coming in, found them on the bite.

Using pipis for bait, Chris eventually took a bag limit catch of whiting to 40 cm by 8.30 pm and probably would have finished up even sooner had his baits not attracted the attention small and bothersome, pinkie snapper.

Kevin Wild with one of the large redfin that he and Ken Hinks caught from Tullaroop Reservoir.

Freshwater

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that Tullaroop Reservoir is still the pick of the spots up that way, and that on Saturday, he and Ken Hinks put in solid session taking redfin to 49 cm on soft plastics.

Yellowbelly have been on the bite at nearby Cairn Curran Reservoir with anglers in boats catching them amongst the timber. However, Peter Homebone has caught them to 40 cm from bank near the main wall using worms for bait.

Please send your reports to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au, on messenger, or by phone, 03 5248 1307.

Carina Dawson with her gummy shark from Corio Bay (Picture: Stephen Goodfellow).

Rod Batten with his gummy shark from Corio Bay.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Local angler Stephen Goodfellow reports having friends over from Western Australia, and naturally, fishing was on the itinerary.

Among them, Carina Dawson who was entrusted with a $25 rod and reel in an outing off Clifton Springs, an outfit that the Goodfellows had bought for their daughter some years previous, and Carina soon put it to work on a decent fish.

Mind you, Carina had caught a variety of fish over in the West including sailfish and Spanish mackerel. However, this was her first gummy shark.

Gummies must be about for I was also sent a picture of a another one caught by Rod Batten. Rod was fishing for whiting in Corio Bay’s outer harbour when he added a metre long gummy shark to his tally.

Heading out off Curlewis after the whiting on Wednesday morning, Andrew Johnson and Denis O’Brien found the fishing slow, being continually forced to move because of the abundance of small fish.

Nevertheless, they persisted, eventually finishing up with a tally of 17 really good size keepers; a reasonable catch, but one that required a lot of work.

There are whiting to be caught within Corio Bay’s inner harbour as well, with Mark Richards and Darren Pidgeon picking up a dozen nice fish, and returning a good many small ones, on Sunday evening.

Finn McBarnacle with a fair-sized school shark taken from the beach at Torquay (Picture; Jesse Baron).

Queenscliff

Making an 8.00 am start off Queenscliff on Thursday morning, Stan Owen’s and Jason Treloar’s target was also whiting, but with the tide till running out and not much doing, they tried for squid off the entrance of Swan Bay.

They only caught a couple, but these were welcomed as an addition to their bait supply of pipis and mussels before moving out toward Coles Beacon awaiting the first kick of the incoming tide.

Well, by the afternoon high tide change they’d each taken close to their respective bag limit catches, returning a number of small fish. However, the biggest of their keepers were around the 40 cm mark.

Launching at Swan Bay on Sunday morning, Paul Raduka and Steve Kinney caught ten squid off the entrance on the last of the ebb tide before trying for whiting out toward Coles Beacon on the tide change.

They caught a dozen as it turned out, mostly from 33 to 36 cm. However, one of 45 cm that Paul caught might take a bit of beating.

John Gray with a 53 cm Murray cod from Lake Mulwala (Picture: Amber Wild).

Jason Gray with a 56.5 cm Murray cod from Lake Mulwala (Picture: Amber Wild).

Freshwater

Fishing the Barwon River upstream from Breakwater on Saturday afternoon were Paul Raduka, his son Oscar 9, daughter Layla 11, and Layla’s friend Gracie Stante.

They caught four estuary perch, all of which were returned. Three were caught on worms, while Oscar caught his on a soft plastic.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that he, wife Amber, and several other club member fished Lake Mulwala for three days with strong winds making life difficult.

Nevertheless, they caught good numbers of Murray cod, no really big ones though, with Jason Gray picking up their biggest at 56.5 cm.

Closer to home, Kevin reports that Tullaroop Reservoir is still producing good size redfin with club members Tom Steele and Shaun Crombie, both picking up fish over the 40 cm mark.

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that Paul Austin, Ryan Warren, along with their uncle Jonny and friends Jeff and Brock, caught 115 redfin, 2 tiger trout, 6 chinook salmon and 6 eels.

Chris Zammit of the Greenvale Angling Club with a 2.5 kg brown trout he caught from Lake Purrumbete trolling a bibbed lure.

Chris Zammit of the Greenvale Angling Club also picked up a 2.54 kg brown trout on a bibbed lure.

Pablo asks:

Geoff, we enjoyed dining on a seven gilled shark I caught. My question is: Are the bigger ones a risk because of their supposed high mercury levels?

Pablo, the good news is that most fish in Australian waters have very low mercury levels.

In sharks, larger sharks in particular, the level is elevated but not usually high enough to cause health problems, although authorities warn women planning pregnancy, pregnant women, breastfeeding women and children under six, not to eat shark because of elevated mercury levels.

However, all high-end predators like tuna, marlin, swordfish etc, have similarly elevated levels of organic mercury.

Please send your reports to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au, on messenger, or by phone, 03 5248 1307.

Logan Hunt 3, with the catch of whiting that he and his dad Taylor caught over the Swan Island grass beds (Picture: Taylor Hunt).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Taylor Hunt and his three-year-old son Logan launched off Queenscliff early last week and fished over the Swan Island grass beds for whiting in 3-4 metres of water.

Despite blustery winds, they stuck to their plan, and – using pipis and squid for bait – they did find a hot whiting bite, bagging a dozen fish to 40 cm before enjoying ice creams back at the harbour.

Paul Raduka, Jamie Jackson, and Jaimie’s teenage son Jack, first headed out off St Leonards on Saturday morning catching 15 squid to 800 grams or so, and a cuttlefish of around 1.5 kg on the last of the incoming tide.

Come the top of the tide, they motored out into 16 metres of water hopeful of catching a gummy shark, but it was banjo sharks to the fore, and a false alarm when one of their squid baits temped a large eagle ray.

Well, with around half of the ebb tide still to run after their ill-fated gummy shark trip, they decided to try for whiting off the entrance of Swan Bay, where – anchored up off Edwards Point in just over 2 metres of water – they caught 27 whiting and several garfish before the tide, and the whiting bite, bottomed out in the late afternoon.

Fishing for whiting offshore from Point Richards before the storm front came through last week, Gordon and Carol Williams were out to catch the last few hours of the incoming tide, but pickings were pretty lean with just a handful of small fish that were returned.

However, after a couple of moves, a drop in 6 metres of water produced 10 nice fish before the tide slackened off earlier than they’d hoped, and along with it, the whiting bite. But the largest of their whiting were nudging the 40 cm mark and accompanied by two good size flathead.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that flathead, including some good ones to 45 cm, have been caught by those prepared to try their luck in what is usually less than ideal weather.

However, small, and undersize pinkie snapper have been stealing a lot of baits, said Mike, but there’s nothing unusual about that.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that whiting have been the main attraction with some good catches being made within 500 metres of the shore between Grassy Point and the Governor Reefs with mussels, pipis and squid being the preferred baits.

However, Rod mentions that some bait suppliers have been selling cockles as pipis, and – considering they are not half the bait that pipis are – it’s something to be aware of.

Don Rayner of the Maryborough Angling Club with a 43 cm redfin from Tullaroop Reservoir (Picture: Kevin Wild).

Robert Rayner with a sample of his redfin catch from Tullaroop Reservoir (Picture: Kevin Wild).

Freshwater

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that Tullaroop Reservoir remains the most productive redfin fishery for club members with he, Don, and Robert Rayner among those to partake in the harvest.

Effective methods of catching the reddies included the use of lures, including beetlespins, soft plastics and vibes. However, should you be able to get a supply of small yabbies … Well, need I say more about how effective they are?

Fishing Lake Bullen Merri on Friday evening were Michael Korbut and his friend Boris who caught chinook salmon to 60 cm while suspending pilchard fillets just above the bottom from Boris’ boat.

They tried again the following morning only to find two of Michael’s bait traps, which were properly identified, had been stolen from 8 metres of water; just another disappointment we shouldn’t have to put up with.

Never-the-less, they bagged out on each of the two days they spent fishing with chinook salmon to 2.2 kg, and several rainbow trout and tigers.

The once common trout cod, particularly in northern Victorian waters, is currently listed as endangered and the taking of trout cod from all Victorian waters has been prohibited for some time now.

However, recently announced by VFA is that a $15 million investment from Victorian Government’s Go Fishing and Boating Plan will initiate the expansion of both Snobs Creek and Arcadia Hatcheries where an increased production of trout cod fingerlings will be a priority.

James Harmon with one of the mulloway he’s caught after fooling the sharks of Moreton Bay, and within the port of Brisbane.

Upstate

My friend Scott Goleby from Brisbane often sends me information on Moreton Bay, but lately, sharks have been troublesome.

Simon Harmon, another Brisbane angler should have had a good day in one of his favourite spots on Moreton at the weekend, but lost each of two mulloway he hooked, but got the better part of a snapper after the taxman took his share.

Mind you, that’s only a part of the story with Simon’s brother, James, already getting the job done as Scott describes here:

“In the waters of Brisbane River, its port, and Moreton Bay, angler James Harmon sets out on an exciting quest for Jewfish and Snapper. Equipped with a 95mm Zerek Fish Trap, Nomad Vertrex Max Vibes, and 5-inch Molix Forkflex Plastics, he’s ready for the challenge.

Using side-scan sonar, James locates schools of fish near structures and dredge lines. But there’s a twist: sharks are a constant threat. To counter this, he uses a strong 50lb mainline and 55lb leader, aiming get his catch in quickly.

After a day of fishing, patience, and a few thrilling encounters with sharks, James emerges victorious with impressive catches of jewfish and snapper. James’ fishing affinity in Brisbane River and Moreton Bay is a perfect blend of technology, experience, and a deep respect for the marine world.”

Simon Harmon’s change from the Morton Bay taxman.

Please send your reports to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au, on messenger, or by phone, 03 5248 1307.

Otis Robinson 10, with the 63 cm flathead he caught from the Ozone Road Jetty, Barwon Heads.

Barwon Heads

Fishing from the Ozone Road Jetty at Barwon Heads last week were Adam Robinson, his ten-year-old son Otis, and Otis’ grandfather Colin Nankervis.

And although there were quite a few other people fishing, there wasn’t much doing, not initially anyway.

But Otis soon attracted quite a bit of attention, hooking something obviously larger than usual on a pipi. And, when Adam saw that the protagonist was a big flathead, he leaped off the jetty to grab it, making sure it didn’t escape.

As far as I know it wasn’t weighed, but at 63 cm, I guess it would have been close to 2 kg.

Terry Rayson with his silver trevally from the Point Lonsdale Pier.

Point Lonsdale

There were several of us fishing on the Point Lonsdale Pier last Monday night when somebody asked the question as to what had happened to the vast shoals of silver trevally that used to turn up around the pier after dark.

Some suggestions were made as to the time of year when that happened, when one of our number, Terry, had a bite and did in fact catch a silver trevally of possibly 800 grams.

Well, it was the only one caught, but maybe a harbinger of things to come seeing it was just over a week into the new year.

Stephen Goodfellow with one of the gummy shark he caught offshore from Clifton Springs.

Tayla Goodfellow 15, with a 42 cm whiting taken off Clifton Springs (Picture: Stephen Goodfellow).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Stephen Goodfellow and fifteen-year-old daughter Tayla have put in several trips off Clifton Springs lately catching quite a few whiting, with Stephen admitting that Tayla caught more than he with her biggest measuring 42 cm.

Stephen admits that on their most recent whiting trip, it was blowing a gale, so strong that they were pulling anchor in only 2.5 metres of water. Needless to say, they were soon on their way back to the ramp with just six fish.

However, when blessed with good weather, the pair have headed out into deeper water, where – on the four occasions that they managed to do so – they caught a total of six gummy shark, the biggest possibly 7 kg.

Making a pre-dawn start off Avalon on Thursday morning, Stan Owen’s, and Jason Treloar’s target was snapper, four of which they caught – from 3 to 4.5 kg – before the bite shut down shortly after sunrise.

Fortunately, they had a second string to their bow on this occasion; a bag of pipis. So, with the snapper stowed below deck, they moved into around 4.5 metres of water where they tried for whiting, catching a dozen nice fish before the ebb tide slackened off at around 8.30.

Well, I suppose they could have stayed until the flood tide kicked in, but by then the breeze had picked up. So, with a mixed bag of snapper and whiting that most would have been glad to catch, they headed back in.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that with an improvement in the weather, a good many boats have been out with whiting the main species sought along with an occasional by-catch of garfish, but small pinkie snapper have been a nuisance.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head also reports that whiting have been the main catch along with a by-catch of garfish, but squid – although present – can be hard to find. Anglers fishing on the drift have also taken flathead, said Rod.

Bob Meeuwissen from Mount Waverley with a 70cm, 3.7kg, chinook salmon he caught from Lake Purrumbete.

Freshwater

At the weekend, Paul Raduka, and his nine-year-old son Oscar, gathered up some garden worms and headed down to the Barwon River at Breakwater to see if the lad could catch something.

Well, expectations were well and truly met as Oscar pulled in two good size eels and lost and even larger one. Following that, he also managed to catch a European carp and two estuary perch.

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that Darren Phillips from Heywood and his mate “Garfish” got a nice bag of reddies on minnow and scrubworms and sent in a photo.

John also sent in a picture of Bob Meeuwissen from Mount Waverley with a 70cm, 3.7kg, chinook salmon, also taken from the lake, and is – almost certainly – yet another success story from the release of fingerling chinook – rather than yearlings – into the lake.

Bob says it put up a good fight taking six powerful runs on 3.6 kg tackle.

Please send your reports to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au, on messenger, or by phone, 03 5248 1307.

Jim Gillians and Carter Ryan with the bronze whaler they caught offshore from Clifton Springs.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Launching at Clifton Springs on Wednesday evening, Jim Gillians and his friend Carter Ryan anchored up in 10 metres of water more or less straight out from the boat ramp to try for a shark.

Well, there wasn’t much to do from then on save for keeping their berley slick going, but at 2.00 am, the cuttlefish head they had on for bait was taken by what was clearly a good size shark they didn’t sight for another 90 minutes.

Clearly a large bronze whaler that charged boat on a couple of occasions before swimming well out of reach again, it took them until 5.30 am to secure their catch that measured 2.7 metres.

With no ability to weigh it, they estimated it to be at least 150 kg, and that could have been fairly close.

So, what had their quarry been dining on?

An examination of its stomach content found it had a penchant for banjo sharks with three prime specimens in its belly.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that with an improvement in the weather last week, a good many boats have been on the water targeting whiting, particularly between The Springs and Curlewis with pipis the preferred bait.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head also reports that whiting are the main catch followed by squid which have come on song over the past week or so.

Lockie Wombell with a nice Tassie trumpeter taken off Portland last week,

Lockie Wombell prepares to release a gummy shark taken off Portland.

Portland

With the good weather last week, Bob McPherson and Lockie Wombell headed out into 130 metres of water, where – fishing on the drift – they hoped to catch some Tasmanian trumpeter.

They only caught one as it turned out, but they caught plenty of other fish including three school shark, one large gummy shark that they released, and a variety of other edible species including flathead and morwong.

A 37 cm Macquarie perch caught by Richard Mapson from the Buffalo River in Northern Victoria on a scrubworm.

Freshwater

Lake Purrumbete continues to produce all species of trout previously liberated there, and a good many chinook salmon, mostly yearling releases, some of which are now approaching a kilogram.

However, thanks entirely to the ongoing releases of fingerlings, rather than just the yearling chinook that had become the norm in recent years, some bigger specimens have been caught. They include one of 3.85 kg taken last week by Chris Farrugia who was trolling a Tassie Devil with a downrigger.

Almost certainly, Chris’ fish was one of 40,000 fingerlings released into Lake Purrumbete on November 11, 2021, a trial in progress, that – if it’s run to its obvious conclusion – would almost certainly see the return of trophy size chinook salmon captures from Camperdown’s crater lakes.

Amber Wild with a 66 cm cod from Lake Mulwala (Picture: Kevin Wild).

Heading for Lake Mulwala come the weekend, Maryborough Angling Club members Kevin and Amber Wild, along with their dog Indi, were hopeful of catching a few Murray Cod, and they weren’t disappointed.

They tried both with baits of various types and lures with Amber catching their biggest at 67 cm using chicken for bait. It was released as were the others they caught.

While visiting relatives in northern Victoria, Richard Mapson and his son Archie took the opportunity to fish the nearby Buffalo River below the weir where Richard had previously caught cod on the opening early last month.

They both caught Macquarie perch. The biggest measured 37 cm and was taken on a scrubworm. Archie tried his luck with a Rapala CD5 at the junction of the Buffalo and Ovens Rivers also pinning a Macquarie.

Two Murray cod were also part of their catch: These were taken on Codman Spinnerbaits and released.

Amber Wild and Indi with Amber’s 67 cm cod from Lake Mulwala (Picture: Kevin Wild).

Kevin Wild with a 57 cm cod from Lake Mulwala (Picture: Amber Wild).

Steven asks:

Geoff, in reference to your column of December 12 in which you refer to the yellow buoys marking the perimeter of the Point Wilson exclusion zone, I wish to point out that the lights on these buoys either do not work at night, or they are so poorly lit as to be a hazard to small craft.

Geoff, whose responsibility is it to maintain the bay’s buoyage in working order?

Steven, as far as I know it is the responsibility of the Geelong Port Authority. You may care to give them a call on 03 5225 3565 with your concerns.

Please send your reports to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au, on messenger, or by phone, 03 5248 1307.

Mick Zsargo with the 77 cm snapper he caught from the Point Lonsdale Pier.

Point Lonsdale Pier

Regular Point Lonsdale Pier fishing identity Miklos (Mick) Zsargo has caught a wide variety from the pier, from salmon which can be plentiful, to squid that he uses to tempt some really good-size snapper.

However, things were pretty slow on his last visit, so – on cleaning a Tommy Ruff he’d caught earlier – he thought its head might make a good bait, so he put that on his hook and cast it out.

Well, at 77 cm and at an estimated 6 kg, the snapper he caught was a pretty good return on the investment of a fish head.

Mitch Ilievski 11, with his 4 kg snapper from Corio Bay’s outer harbour.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Taking an early morning run out from St Helens, Adam Ilievski, his eleven-year-old son Mitch, and Mitch’s friend Hendrix, were hoping for a snapper or two as they headed out past Point Henry into Corio Bay’s outer harbour.

As it turned out, they didn’t have very long to wait, for at 6.00 am, Mitch was into what turned out to be a 4 kg snapper. It was followed by another of 1.5 kg before they topped off their outing with several nice flathead.

Making a daybreak start to catch the last of the incoming tide early last week, Gordon and Carol Williams tried their luck off the east end of the mussel farm at Point Richards hopeful of getting onto the whiting.

And initially they picked up a half dozen nice fish, but they went off the bite as the tide slackened off, something which seemed to encourage undersize pinkie snapper and other bait thieves.

Eventually though, as the ebb tide picked up, they finished with a respectable catch of whiting, the biggest nudging 40 cm, along with a couple of really good size flathead, each around the kilogram mark.

Offshore

Simon Werner has been on charter aboard Adamas, with weather the only stumbling block to good fishing. And, while most seem to enjoy catching bottom species, slimy mackerel, snotty trevalla and varieties of shark, and – dare I say it – tuna, are all currently on offer.

Barwon Estuary

Intending to head out onto the bay after a snapper on Wednesday, but with an unwelcome forecast of strong winds, Stan Owen and Jason Treloar

headed down to the Barwon estuary to catch the afternoon’s incoming tide in the Sheepwash.

While they caught nothing really large, a mixed bag was the order of the day with mullet, salmon, whiting and even a couple of small but legal-size trevally that they put out as live bait hoping to tempt a mulloway, which are rumoured to be present, but they had no luck there.

Garry Ridgeway with a tiger and rainbow trout, samples from his and Lindsay Robinson’s last week’s catch from Lake Purrumbete.

Freshwater

Jack Paasse fished Camperdown’s Lake Bullen Merri from 6.00 pm until 9.30 on Wednesday night, baiting up with a live minnow under a bubble float rig, and at around 7.30, caught a tiger trout of about 900 grams.

He thought that might have been his lot for the evening, but the mudeye he was now using for bait, tempted a well-conditioned brown trout that was clearly over 2 kg, and the largest brown trout he’d caught from the lake in ten years when fish of this size, and larger, were a common catch after dark.

Equipped with a good supply of mudeyes, Garry Ridgeway and Lindsay Robinson fished Lake Purrumbete early last week, and with the stiff breeze, they fished the sheltered weed margins on the north-east side of the lake.

And, apart from sacrificing some baits to the recently released chinook salmon yearlings, their trip produced chinook salmon, rainbow, tiger, and brown trout with the biggest of the latter nudging 3 kg.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that members have found good fishing in local waters, at Tullaroop Reservoir in particular where Daryl and Craig Watts have had no problem catching redfin to 1.3 kg on soft plastics and Beetlespins.

Stephen Eales took his five-year old-son Mason to the Loddon River below Bridgewater, and – using cheese for bait – caught a couple of cod in the 55 to 58 cm range in an after-dark session behind the Lauke flour mill.

Nicolas asks:

I recall your accounts in past years of folk catching sharks land-based using a Kayak to deploy their baits; something I’d like to do.

I was further encouraged by a fishing website that did mention people currently doing that, but – except to say they were fishing in Corio Bay’s outer harbour – there was absolutely no detail: Nada!

Can you suggest a starting point or location?

Nicolas, the captures I described were taken mainly from ocean-facing beaches where there were some mishaps, including the loss of a Kayak. So, some risk was involved.

While I have no experience of using this technique in Corio Bay, the main challenge facing you is finding an area giving access to around 5 metres of water reasonably close to shore with no obstacles likely to snag you.

Mind you, the summer run of sharks is not limited to the outer harbour, they may be encountered in the inner harbour as well.

Please send your reports to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au, on messenger, or by phone, 03 5248 1307.

Shae-Lee Cooper and Zac Schmidt with the 107 kg bronze whaler shark they caught off Clifton Springs (Picture: Bailey Cooper).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

With sharks about, as there usually are at this time of year, Bailey Cooper, Zac Schmidt, and Shae-Lee Cooper decided to head out off Clifton Springs early last week to see if they could catch one.

Using slimy mackerel for bait in 8 metres of water with a generous berley trail, they had several half-hearted strikes that left toothmarks in their baits; nothing to get really excited about. Nevertheless, it was an encouraging sign, so they headed out again the following evening at around 7.30 pm.

Unlike the previous evening’s action, there wasn’t much doing, but at 11.00 pm Zac’s 15 kg outfit screamed off, heralding an hour-long battle with what turned out to be a bronze whaler that eventually greeted the scales for a verdict of 107 kg. So, I guess there will be no shortage of flake for a while.

Harley Griffiths and Stan Owen headed across to the Nine Foot Bank off Avalon from St Helens and anchored near the aquaculture sites in 7.5 metres of water at daybreak.

Using squid for bait, they didn’t have long to wait for their one and only snapper of around 5 kg, but as the sun rose, all their baits attracted were banjo sharks and other unwanted species.

Fishing for whiting from Corio Bay’s outer harbour early last week, Gordon and Carol Williams fished the early afternoon high tide change off Point Richards, initially without much luck, so they went on the move.

Whether it was the quickening of the tide, or whether they were lucky enough to drop onto a hot bite off McAdams Lane, it would be a bit hard to say. However, with no need to move, were soon on the way to their respective bag limit catches.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire reports that whiting have been the main catch this week, and there have been some good ones among them.

Most of the action has been between Grassy Point and the Governor Reefs with some catches being made within a few hundred metres of the shore.

Some good size flathead to around 45 cm, have been taken as well, said Rod, mainly by anglers fishing on the drift, with the largest fish being taken closest to shore.

Off the Beach

Fishing Friday evening’s low tide from RAAFs Beach, Ocean Grove, Tony Ingram and Col Simmons were initially plagued by small pinkie snapper, but a nice one of about 3 kg as the sun went down was encouraging.

However, with the incoming tide creeping up the beach they were eventually forced to retreat, adding only a gummy shark of around 5 kg to their bag before the beach became awash at around 9.30.

Freshwater

Lake Purrumbete continues to fish well, both for local anglers and visitors, among them, Graeme Mead from Ballarat and his companion Leigh Idmurn who’ve put in several recent trips.

They’ve had no problem taking bag limit catches of chinook salmon on pilchard fillets on each occasion, the biggest around the 2.5 kg mark along with several brown and rainbow around the two-kilogram mark. These were taken on mudeyes fished beneath floats.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that Tullaroop Reservoir is fishing particularly well for redfin at present and was able to take his long-time friend Robert Cooke from Darwin, out for a productive session.

Fishing nearby, Stephen Eales, his dad Lyal, daughter Lily 7, and son Mason 5. They too did very well on the reddies with soft plastics and Beetlespins among the most successful lures.

Colin asks:

Geoff, an article I read recently suggested the use of a running sinker when fishing for snapper. What is a running sinker?

Colin, a running sinker is achieved by first threading your line through a sinker; usually but not always, a small to medium size ball sinker, before tying on your hook, or leader with a hook attached.

This enables any fish picking up the bait to pull line freely through the sinker, rather than dragging the sinker along behind as would be the case if the sinker were fixed to the line.

Please send your reports to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au, on messenger, or by phone, 03 5248 1307.

Michael Bealham with a couple of nice snapper from Corio Bay (Picture: Candace Mimms).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Trolling lures between Limeburners Point and Eastern Beach after an 11.00 am start, Michael Bealham and Candace Mimms first order of business was to catch some fresh fish, salmon, and pike on this occasion, for snapper bait.

With fresh bait now onboard, they headed east into the outer harbour to find some reds in their usual manner of prospecting in 6-8 metres of water with the sounder ticking over, and at 1.00 pm, they anchored on a good readout.

By 4.30 pm they’d caught eight decent size snapper, four of which they released before heading back to the ramp, again with the sounder running, but resisting the temptation to drop onto other promising readings.

Logan 3, and Vivi Hunt 4, with one of the southern calamari they caught at Queenscliff (Picture: Taylor Hunt).

Queenscliff

After finishing work and picking up his son and daughter – three-year-old Logan and four-year-old Vivi from daycare early last week – Taylor Hunt’s next mission was to break out the crew’s ration of fish and chips before heading out off Queenscliff, hopefully to catch some squid.

Well, they found a good patch off the Shortlands Bluff/Bell Reef area and soon had the succulent cephalopods queuing up for a range of different coloured jigs from 2 to 3.5 inches before finishing in the fish box.

Taking a run down to Curlewis on Wednesday morning, Andrew Johnson was hoping to catch a few whiting, but – initially at least – there was very little doing, persuading him to keep on the move.

And it was in around 4.5 metres of water that he eventually found the fish he was after, taking 18 good size whiting before the bite eventually petered out as the tide slackened off.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head report that whiting are the main species being caught at present, but squid, which are generally on song, are very quiet. Apart from that said Rod, there are pinkie snapper to be caught out near the Prince George Light.

David Fitzallen and Kevin Wild with a sample of their redfin catch from Tullaroop Reservoir (Picture: Stephen Eales).

David Fitzallen and Kevin Wild with a sample of their redfin catch from Tullaroop Reservoir (Picture: Stephen Eales).

Freshwater

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that Tullaroop Reservoir is producing good catches of redfin and there are some big ones among them.

He, Stephen Eales, and David Fitzallen spent a morning session out here last week using soft plastics and vibes and took 80 redfin to 45 cm.

In the afternoon, Stephen decided to take his son Mason 5, out on the Reservoir, and exercise that initially showed plenty of promise, but then the wind came up sending them back to the ramp.

Kevin also reports that Don and Robert Rayner fished nearby Cairn Curran Reservoir taking several nice yellowbelly on small yabbies.

Lake Mulwala

Fishing Bundalong on Lake Mulwala, John Clements and several companions had no trouble catching Murray cod ranging in size from 73 to 95 cm, all being caught on bardi grubs.

The Lake Mulwala Fishing Classic was also held at Mulwala the weekend and attended by some 2000 anglers. A good many Murray cod were caught and released including two of 1.03 metres and another 1.01 metres.

Garry Ridgeway with a couple of the flathead he caught at Lake Tyers (68 cm) and Lakes Entrance (81 cm).

Lakes Entrance

Garry Ridgeway and wife Renater spent the weekend at Lake Entrance, not specifically as a fishing trip, but a fishing rod found its way aboard and was put to good use, first at nearby Lake Tyers where Garry caught and released a flathead of 61 cm, but an even bigger catch was in the offing.

Casting a soft plastic in the vicinity of the bridge over Lake Entrance’s North Arm, he initially thought he might be snagged. However, this snag went on the move and turned out to be an 81 cm flathead that was also released, 55 cm being the largest dusky flathead permitted in Victoria.

Garry actually finished up catching four good size flathead but was only able to keep one of 51 cm. Those he released measured 61, 68 and 81 cm.

Vale Arie De Wit: 18/08/49-30/11/23

A regular contributor to my fishing column from the 1990s until well into the 2000s, Arie – like quite a few others of similar ilk – has now shuffled off this mortal coil as expressed by Shakespeare’s Hamlet while reflecting on life, death, and the human condition.

Harry asks:

Geoff, I’ve just retired and bought a new boat to go fishing. However, while searching for information regarding distance restrictions from wharves, I came across – in a Notice to Mariners (attached) – a 1400 metre restriction around the Point Wilson Pier, which excludes some great fishing grounds.

How many recreational anglers would be aware of this since it is not advertised through normally read channels such as your articles?

If this is allowed to slip through, how long will it be before such exclusions become permanent?

Harry, I rang the port authority to confirm the current notice to Mariners advises that the exclusion zone mentioned was effective from 0600, November 30 until 2000 (8.00 pm) Monday December 23 and was put into effect during the transfer of a potentially volatile cargo from ship to shore.

At a meeting, along with other Bay users, at the Point Wilson facility in June 2006, I was informed that – due to the nature of such cargos being shipped to this destination, the movements of such ships will not be published in the media for security reasons – the only warnings of these extended areas of restriction being enacted, would be a red flag flying from the pier along with flashing lights on the yellow buoys marking the perimeter.

And, if the only notification of such extensions to the restricted area around Point Wilson is via Notices to Mariners, that would exclude 90% of Bay users.

Since transgressing such restrictions is easily done and carries the risk of being fined, we need a better deal than what is currently in place.

Dr Amber Clarke, CEO of Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, and staunch supporter of healthy waterways and fishing, assisting with last week’s estuary perch releases into the Barwon River.

Fish stocking

Over the past two weeks the Victorian Fisheries Authority has been joined by recreational fishers, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and Barwon Water to stocked 120,000 estuary perch into waterways in the Geelong region.

The releases help rebuild remnant native estuary perch populations in these waters and create sensational recreational fishing opportunities. 45,000 estuary perch were released into the Barwon River, 25,000 into Upper Stoney Creek Reservoir, 15,000 in Lakers Cutting, 10,000 into Little River and 5,000 into Painkalac Reservoir. Already recreational fishers are catching estuary perch in the Barwon River to 35cm and fishing will only get better as these fish grow!

Estuary perch are being caught to 50cm in other waters that were stocked 9-10 years ago such as Albert Park Lake, the Werribee River and Devilbend Reservoir.

The VFA have now stocked over 29 waters across the state with more than 2 million estuary perch, and it is resulting in fantastic outcomes for the community and environment. It’s all part of the Victorian Government Go Fishing in Victoria plan to get more people fishing, more often.

For more information, please feel free to contact Taylor Hunt, VFA Fisheries Manager at taylor.hunt@vfa.vic.gov.au

Fish stocking coordinator Rhiannon Atkinson thanks all who participated in the recent release of bass into Lakes Bullen Merri and Elingamite and announces a final release of 5000 rainbow and 5000 brown trout into Lake Bullen Merri on Thursday, December 7^th.

Should you wish to attend please contact Rhiannon by mobile on 0407 987 016 or by email on rhiannon.atkinson@vfa.vic.gov.au so she can put you in touch their technical officer to affirm the truck’s ETA. 

Freshwater

Fishing Wurdiboluc Reservoir last week, Simon Werner put in an honest lure-casting session with nothing to show for it save for some tenuous strikes he put down to small fish.

However, on another outfit, he was soaking a mudeye beneath a float, and when that went off, he knew he had a keeper, a brown trout of a kilogram that at least provided some reward for his efforts.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Following Michael Bealham’s success on the snapper offshore from Point Wilson the week previous, Michael made another 3.30 am start from St Helens, this time with another Geelong fishing identity, John Wesolowski.

Well, the snapper were still there, but on this occasion were just mouthing their various baits, including the fish and squid heads that they tried, which made for a frustrating exercise.

However, they each caught a snapper right on daybreak. Both were around 4.5 kg, catches that many anglers would have been happy to bring home.

Fishing for whiting from Corio Bay’s outer harbour last week, Gordon and Carol Williams were out to catch the morning tide change at one of their favourite spots off Point Richards, but with bait thieves soon becoming a nuisance they were on the move.

In fact, they finished up making several moves until a lucky drop in around 6 metres of water produced a better class of fish, eventually yielding a dozen prime specimens to 40 cm before the strengthening breeze had them heading back to the ramp.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that inclement weather was the stumbling block last week, with Sunday the only day to attract clients, some of whom caught whiting, and an occasional squid.

Barwon Heads

After going to the trouble of gathering some crabs for bait, Jason Treloar and Harley Griffiths put in a session at the Sheepwash on Wednesday afternoon, hoping to catch a decent bream or two on the high tide and ensuing run-off.

With the tide still running in on their arrival though, they opened a few mussels for the meagre return of small mullet and several of the seemingly ever-present toadfish. But as the incoming tide began slackening off, they baited one line with a crab and waited to see what would unfold.

Well, it was quite a wait, but with the tide eventually trickling out toward evening they caught the first of three bream, two of around 750 grams apiece, and the other clearly over a kilogram.

Kevin asks:

Geoff, I am desperate to catch a decent snapper, I see they are on the bite again, but even though I’ve fished just about everywhere, and in some of the spots you’ve mentioned, I still can’t catch one: Could you please advise?

Kevin, movers are often losers when it comes to snapper fishing. I suggest you pick a spot in 8-9 metres of water and be fishing there by the very first light of dawn with the freshest bait you can get and stay there for an hour or so after sun-up. At this time of day, snapper will, most likely, find you.

However, should early rising be a problem for you, then I suggest you fish the afternoon high tides running off in the days leading up to the next new moon which is on December 13 next.

Michael Bealham with a couple of nice Corio Bay reds.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Heading out from St Helens at 3.30 on Friday morning, Michael Bealham throttled back on reaching the outer harbour, and with the sounder running, he picked up a promising reading in 6 metres of water off Point Wilson.

With the anchor down at 4.30 am, he was into the snapper immediately catching five in short order, the biggest around the 4.5 kg mark. Michael also caught a good size gummy shark as well before heading back in.

Simon Werner also picked up another couple of snapper in much the same area during the afternoon, each around the 2 kg mark.

Heading out early on Friday morning after the whiting, Andrew Johnson first tried off Curlewis, but with nothing doing there he began a series of moves, eventually finishing back off Clifton Springs where he began picking up a few nice fish almost straight out from the boat ramp.

In fact, he finished with his legal bag of keepers from 34 to 41 cm in only an hour’s fishing, during which time he also picked up several large garfish from the bottom on his whiting rigs. All of Andrew’s fish were taken with squid strips and mussels on the incoming tide.

Heading out off Clifton Springs to catch the mid-afternoon tide change early last week, Paul Raduka and Dennis McDowell were also after whiting, and – after anchoring up in five metres of water – caught 20 to 41 cm, also using mussels and squid for bait.

As well as the whiting, they also caught a mixed bag that included four beautiful flathead from 45 to 60 cm, a pinkie snapper, a leatherjacket, several squid, and a dozen yakkas (yellowtail scad).

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire reports having only a few boats out during the week with the choppy conditions, but whiting are the main catch, mainly between Grassy Point and the Governors.

Some have been taken on the drift in fairly close to shore, along with several good size flathead, and – although squid have been a bit scarce – one of Rod’s clients brought in a bag limit catch on Sunday.

And, speaking of squid, Steve O’Keefe tried his luck on the squid over the Queenscliff grass-beds off Swan Island, finishing up a bag-limit catch, the bigger ones around the kilogram mark.

Grazio Dalli with the bronze whaler shark he caught from Point Lonsdale Pier at 12.30 am on Monday.

Point Lonsdale

With fresh bonito for bait, Grazio Dalli headed down to the Point Lonsdale Pier on Sunday night, hoping to catch a shark under this month’s full moon.

Well, everything went to plan, and at around 12.30 am – on the high tide – his reel screamed off, heralding a tussle with a bronze whaler of just over two metres.

Freshwater

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports heading out on the lake with Dean Paton of Barongarook, intent on making a dent in the Lake’s redfin population. And that they did, with their biggest fish measuring 43 cm.

Geelong anglers Les and Jeff Broughton also had good day catching chinook salmon with several fish around the kilogram mark taken down deep on cut pilchards.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that he and club member John Gray, fished Tullaroop Reservoir on separate occasions last week, both taking good catches of redfin on a variety of lures including Beetlespins and soft plastics.

Damon Sherriff caught this 10.30 kg snapper in eight metres of water on fresh calamari off Bridport in Tasmania over the weekend.

Thank you

A heartfelt thanks to the attendees of Saturday’s meeting at the Leopold Angling Club regarding Lake Bullen Merri’s current catastrophic algal bloom.

Guest speaker Peter Harries, CEO of EnviroSonic, shared detailed history of the solution to this problem with ultrasound algae controlling units mounted on solar powered platforms.

Peter stated that: “Cyanobacteria or blue green algae blooms are a part of the building blocks of life and different algae species will dominate as a result of nutrients and warming temperatures.”

This technology controls the growth of the algae and was successfully trialled on Bullen Merri from December 2021 to April 2023.

It has been proposed that 8 platforms are reinstalled on the lake so the community can enjoy fishing and recreational activities year-round. A grant of approximately $500,000 is needed and possibly funded by the Victorian Government for this expenditure, including maintenance for five years.

Please email your concerns over this issue to the Hon Steve Dimopoulos, Minister for the Environment and Outdoor Recreation: steve.dimopoulos@parliament.vic.gov.au