Geoff Wilson’s Fishing Knots And Rigs

Brooklyn Erard with a nice snapper from Corio Bay.

Bellarine Peninsula

Fishing some distance north of the channel junction off Curlewis on Thursday evening, Jason Treloar and Harley Griffiths were hoping to catch a snapper or two as they’d done before, but all was quiet apart from the occasional small flathead.

It wasn’t until the tide began running out just after dark that their luck changed with a nice snapper of about 5 kg along with a couple of pinkies around the kilogram mark, all being caught on squid.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs boat hire report that that pinkie snapper have been plentiful, but apart from one fish of about 3.5 kg, the larger fish have been a bit scarce.

Flathead were a different story though with some larger fish coming from the shallower water toward Portarlington. Among those to do well on these was Corey Mountney who returned with several good size flathead, the biggest measuring 56 cm.

Mike reports that whiting have been scarce, but whiting specialists Andrew Johnson and Tony Mollenhouer managed to catch 17 good ones to 40 cm or so after making several moves from 4.5 to just over six meters where they found the bigger fish.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that squid and flathead are still on song with most of the better catches coming in during the mornings.

Small barracouta have also been about off the Prince George Bank, but while anglers have shown little interest in these, there’s been some attention from below with something snatching the hapless ‘couta, sometimes with a tussle ensuing.

Michael Evans with his 50 cm estuary perch from the upper reaches of the Hopkins River.

Freshwater

Michael Evans and a companion tried their luck on the upper reaches Hopkins River on Friday, to find the water very clear, and – while a number of good size brown trout followed their lures – they had no takers.

Pushing along in search of deeper pools, one featuring a fallen tree held particular promise, casting his pink minnow-type lure alongside, resulted in a heart-stopping strike by what turned out to be, not a trout, but a 50 cm estuary perch.

John Clements of Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that redfin remain the main chance on Purrumbete and that George Gillies of Winchelsea took them to 700 grams on live minnow, while others had similar success using a variety of methods.

Chris Farrugia of Oaklands Junction and his 8 year old son Charlie, fished Lake Bullen Merri where they caught both chinook salmon and rainbow trout both on bait and lures, and at Lake Purrumbete where their catch included a 1.3 kg brook trout.

Also fishing Lake Purrumbete was Ray Stewart from Melbourne who caught brown trout of 1.96 kg.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that following fellow club members Ken Hinks and Alan Pooles catch of 50 redfin from Lake Cairn Curran last week, he and Don Rayner headed out onto the lake with high hopes of doing likewise.

They caught 17 to just on a kilogram using both soft plastic lures and small yabbies, while Ken Hinks and Alan Poole who were fishing nearby, picked up 20; the hot bite beginning at around 8.00 am and lasting an hour.

Surf

Beach fishing enthusiast Tony Ingram, tried his luck from the 50W area of Thirteenth Beach on Friday afternoon where he’d previously caught good size Australian salmon.

Moving some distance down the beach to remain clear of nearby surfers who were taking advantage of the mid-afternoon high tide and reasonable waves, Tony soon caught two good size Australian salmon. He also caught a tailor of about 2 kg; a species he’d already learned to be wary of after having a close call from a specimen’s sharp teeth one evening after dark.

Ahmed asks:

Geoff, Can you enlighten me as to the use of a bubble float. I can’t grasp the significance of having a float shaped like a bubble. Is it supposed to be disguised as a bubble so as not to arouse the fish’s suspicion?

Isaiah Elgueta 8, with his redfin from Lake Tooliorook (Picture: Victorian Inland Charters).

Clockwise: Angler Nello Sorgiovanni with Ashton Ardiri 11, and Kane Ardiri with Wednesday’s thresher shark.

Offshore

Kane Ardiri, son Ashton 11, and Nello Sorgiovanni headed out off Barwon Heads on Wednesday morning hoping to catch a thresher shark, there having been some about lately.

Their first strategy was to troll deep-running lures, but – apart from an occasional strike from the usual suspects – that created little interest.

However, soaking a fresh barracouta fillet in 25 metres of water off the old Black Rocks’ sewer outfall was more successful; first producing a strike from a small hammerhead –which was something of a surprise – then, signalling action stations on what turned out to be a lively thresher shark of about 65 kg.

Danny Miller with the 110 cm Murray Cod from the Murray River.

Stephen Eales with the 110 cm Murray Cod from Lake Mulwala.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Heading over to Point Wilson around 10.30 on Sunday morning, Kirt Behan’s sounder displayed a promising signal off nearby Arthur the Great. He began berleying with pilchard pieces and caught a snapper of 4 kg after about half an hour: It was actions stations after that, but only on smaller fish.

Interestingly, Kirt found his largest snapper to be in roe, a somewhat puzzling observation for this time of year, March usually being the last month to find snapper in gravid condition.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that there are good size flathead about, and among those to catch them was Brett York who was fishing out toward the No 7 Point Richards channel marker. Brett also caught a 60 cm gummy shark.

Whiting are still about said Mike but you may have to do some prospecting to find the bigger fish, as Dennis O Brien could relate after taking ten keepers to 40 cm or so on Friday. Dennis also caught 7 really good size squid.

Lachie Wombell and Michael Goldby with a sample of their catch of pink ling from the wide grounds off Portland (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Darcy Watts with a pink ling taken offshore from Portland (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Freshwater

Trevor Holmes of Victorian Inland Charters reports a successful weekend on Lake Tooliorook for clients Luis Elgueta and sons Luis and Isaiah 8. In fact, Isaiah caught his first ever redfin, a beauty of 43 cm on a Daiwa Double Clutch minnow. It certainly put a smile on the lad’s face and was one of several redfin that they caught that day.

John Clements of Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that redfin are still the main catch from Lake Purrumbete with Darryn Busfield picking up ten fish on scrubworms, and soft plastics.

Brown trout are also on offer, said John, with Tom Templeton taking a beauty of 3.8 kg while trolling a lure. However, fish around the 1.5 kg mark are more common with Mick Cunningham of Altona picking several of these over the weekend, also on lures.

Chinook salmon are on the bite at nearby Lake Bullen Merri, with Maz Stowalowski picking up fish to 2 kg or so trolling lures, while Les Broughton from Geelong also took several while bait fishing.

Neil Slater fished Lake Mulwala on ANZAC Day and over the weekend, camping at Kyffins Reserve with Roger Dark, Jason Betson and Greg Ainsworth. Their catch included 12 Murrray cod but none of legal length.

Neil goes on to say that, with the infestation of the invasive weed Egeria densa, the lake will be drawn down 3.5 metres to help kill off the weed and provide an opportunity for engaging in foreshore works. More information may be obtained from the website: https://www.mdba.gov.au/media/mr/lowering-lake-mulwala-winter-works-weed-control

Also fishing Lake Mulwala over the weekend were Danny Miller and Stephen Eales of the Maryborough Angling Club, where – on Friday night – they caught a Murray Cod that measured 110 cm, but that wasn’t their entire lot.

On the way home, they decided to launch on the Murray River (whether at the Yarrawonga or Bundalong end of the lake they don’t say, and with the deliberate blurring of the background in the photo, I guess that is to remain a secret) to drown some bait – a generous piece of chicken in this case – an exercise that, around lunch time, resulted in the capture of another Murray Cod measuring 117 cm.

Tom Robley and Adrian Seccombe with the 127.5 kg tuna they caught offshore from Portland.

George Gereige with a frost fish taken offshore from Portland (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Portland

Bob McPherson reports that, on Saturday, a number of large tuna were caught; among the captors was Paul Hourmouzis who has now taken the lead in the “Hooked on Tuna” competition with a fish of 105.9 kg.

As it turned out, bigger fish were taken by anglers not in the competition including two of 124 kg, 113 kg by Mason and Michael Shultze along with another of 98 kg. The biggest was taken by Tom Robley and Adrian Seccombe and weighed 127.5 kg.

As for Bob, he’s made several trips out to the wider grounds variously fishing with Darryl Watts, George Gereige, Lachie Wombell and Michael Goldby, catching blue-eye trevalla, pink ling, ghost cod, eels, various sharks, frost fish and nannygai.

Some of the tuna caught offshore from Portland on Saturday; sorry no names were supplied.

Ben asks:

I have heard that when using threadline reels you should have the handle on the left side of the reel if right-handed: Is that correct?

Linda Stewart with a squid she caught off Curlewis on Sunday (Picture: Murray Stewart).

Michael Goldby with one of the blue eye trevally he caught offshore from Portland over the weekend (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Squid have been increasing, both in size and number, right around the Bellarine Peninsula and in Corio Bay.

Among those to catch them were Murray and Linda Stewart who caught fifteen beauties off Hermsley Road, Curlewis within an hour on Sunday, while others – including Justin Burns – caught them at Queenscliff.

Neil Slater’s father Max, lives in Queensland where catching a fish or two is hardly a problem, but when he came down to visit last week, he convinced Neil to take him out off Queenscliff, hopefully to catch some King George whiting, his firm favourite.

With nothing doing on the ebb tide, things were looking grim. But they persisted, and – while anchored up just north of the submarine wreck off Swan Island – they picked up eight nice fish to 38 cm on pipi and cuttlefish during the first hour of the flood tide.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that among those to take good bags of fish on Sunday were Dean McDermott, whose catch off Point Wilson included a 48 cm gummy shark and a 54 cm flathead, and Ross Francis and Ken Medley who picked up 22 whiting along the southern boundary of the mussel farm.

And, speaking of whiting, Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien took their respective bag limit catches off Curlewis both on Friday and on Saturday.

Friday’s catch came from 5.5 metres of water, but on the following day they were overrun with leatherjackets, persuading a move into deeper water for an even hotter bite from bigger fish – to 44 cm on this occasion – than the day previous.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that squid are still the main chance, but a school of kingfish busting up on baitfish near the wreck of the Ozone livened up proceedings: One angler reportedly hooked one, but none were landed.

Clinton Jackson with the 29.89 kg gummy shark that he caught in 40 metres of water off Barwon Heads on Sunday morning.

Aaron Habgood of Red’s Fishing Adventures with one of the gummy shark he caught off Port Phillip Heads last week (Picture: Red’s Fishing Adventures).

Offshore

Good size gummy shark, some nudging 20 kg, are to be caught offshore from Port Phillip Heads as Aaron Habgood of Red’s Fishing Adventures could relate with recent catches of fish from 30 to 50 metres of water using Australian salmon fillets for bait. And, with good weather at the weekend, Chris Stamalos also joined the party taking two more good size gummies in 30 metres of water off Barwon Heads.

However, it was Clinton Jackson who scooped the pool, after heading out into 28 metres of water off Barwon Heads at first light on Sunday morning, where he fished on the drift out into deeper water: A good move as it turned out, for just on the 40 metre mark around 9.00 pm, he hooked a leviathan gummy shark that measured 1.6 metres and weighed 29.89 kg with its tail still on the ground.

Snapper are also present off Barwon Heads as Deb and Ted Wilson could relate after making launching from Ocean Grove at daybreak on Saturday. Anchored up in 28 metres of water, they each took bag limit catches of snapper to 4 kg using pilchards and squid for bait.

Justin Burns with one of the tuna he and Phil Nelson caught off Cape Nelson near Portland over the weekend (Picture: Phil Nelson).

Justin Burns with one of the squid he caught at Queenscliff over the weekend (Picture: Katryna Burns)

Freshwater

John Clements of Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park said good weather saw many anglers on the lake, among them Chris Farrugia of Oakland’s Junction who took a 4.4 kg brown trout on a home-made lure.

Redfin were the main catch though with Craig Rossa of Geelong catching his share of fish around the 600 gram mark on minnow, while Shane and Prue Hogan coached son Ryan 6, and daughter Charlee 8, in the art of piscatorial assassination also with minnow for bait.

Lure fishing enthusiast Rod Shepherd, also caught an impressive tally of redfin on a 4” Fish Arrow Flash J Grub.

Nearby Lake Bullen Merri is certainly worth a try for chinook salmon said John, with fish to 2 kg or so on offer. Among the successful anglers here were Joel Hodges and son Cody 15, who picked up their share using pilchard fillets for bait, as did Peter Lutwyche from Springvale with the same approach.

Ben Zebic with the 107 kg bluefin tuna he caught off Portland from his small alloy boat over the weekend (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Lachie Wombell with one of the pink ling he caught offshore from Portland over the weekend (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Portland

Bob McPherson reports that with good weather over the weekend, a good many anglers, some in small boats, headed offshore, hopeful of picking up a tuna or two. In fact the biggest tuna, weighing 107 kg, was taken on Sunday by Ben Zebic from his alloy boat which was probably the smallest craft on the water.

Deb Wilson, with a sample of hers, and husband Ted’s respective bag limit catches of snapper taken off Barwon Heads on Saturday morning.

Colin asks:

Geoff, I read your question and answer related to catching gummy sharks in Corio Bay on 03/04/18. I followed your advice regarding the use of larger baits, but have yet to catch a gummy shark, and I too would appreciate a productive spot to fish for them.

Ross Boxhaul with the 7.5 kg snapper he caught from the Lee Breakwater on Sunday morning (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Although stormy weather kept most anglers ashore over the weekend, those who managed to get out earlier in the week, included Justin Burns, wife Katryna and son Jai, who fished for whiting off St Leonards.

At first, there wasn’t much doing with banjo sharks and other unwanted species taking their strips of squid, but toward evening, it was a different story.

In a short window of opportunity as the sun went down, they caught a dozen good size fish before they went off the bite.

The Burns crew also fished the Sheepwash on the Barwon estuary, hopeful of catching a mulloway as others have done of late, but they found elephant fish, not mulloway on the bite as did others.

Unfortunately, anglers are only allowed to keep, or possess, one elephant fish: So, who – for goodness sakes – concocts these stupid restrictions?

Justin Burns with a sample of his whiting catch off St Leonards (Picture: Katryna Burns).

Justin Burns with one of the golden perch he caught at Cohuna on the Murray the previous weekend (Picture: Katryna Burns).

Offshore

Early last week, Chris Stamalos took a run out from Barwon Heads, anchoring up in 25 metres of water off the old Black Rocks outfall: A good move as it turned out for he caught a 13.5 kg gummy shark right away.

Things settled down after that, but then a maelstrom of white water erupted behind his boat, followed by the scream of his reel. As it turned out he’d hooked a 9 kg gummy shark on one hook and a 1.5 kg salmon on the other, something that more or less solved the white water mystery.

Jai Burns with an elephant fish from the Barwon estuary (Picture: Justin Burns).

Hugo Milkunda with the cuttlefish he caught, and later released (Picture: Rod Ludlow).

Corio Bay Bellarine Peninsula

Mike Windsor Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that squid have been the main chance with bag limit catches by no means rare, but bottom fishing out deep has been a rather disappointing with the number of small flathead.

Whiting are about though said Mike, and among those to catch them were Mark Sanders and his two sons who returned with twenty that they caught between the boat ramp and The Dell. However, he said that leatherjackets have been a nuisance on the softer baits used for whiting.

With the ominous threat of an approaching storm late Friday afternoon, Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien braved the gathering northerly and hit the suds off Clifton Springs where they caught six squid.

From then on, they anchored up in 4.5 metres of water inshore from the nearby mussel farm toward evening, and – despite the contrary conditions – they caught a number of whiting with their better fish hitting the 40 cm mark.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that flathead are still about with some really good size specimens coming from the shallows. However, squid are still the main catch, said Rod along with a number of cuttlefish, one of which he sent in a photo of, along with its captor, Hugo Milkunda, who released it from the beach.

Freshwater

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that with stormy weather over the weekend, virtually nobody was fishing. However, earlier in the week, redfin enthusiasts, including Angus Robinson from Altona, took a swag of fish from 600 to 800 grams using minnow for bait.

Lake Bullen Merri was also a challenge, except perhaps for Wayne Black of Camperdown who has taken chinook salmon to 2.5 kg from the bank on several occasions lately, casting out with pilchard fillets for bait.

Clients of Bagout Charters with a sample of the tuna they caught on Sunday morning in 50 metres of water, east of the Portland Harbour (Picture: Bob McPherson.

Portland

Bob McPherson of Portland reports that the aftermath to stormy weather usually provides an opportunity to catch large snapper from the Lee Breakwater, and that was the case over the weekend, where Ross Boxhaul caught a beauty of 7.5 kg on Sunday morning.

And, with an improvement in the weather, clients of Bagout Fishing Charters went in search of tuna on Sunday, and of which they caught several in 50 metres of water some 14 kilometres east of the Portland Harbour.

Celebration day: On Sunday the public were invited to an event at the Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club celebrating the closing of the greater part of Corio Bay to commercial netting: From left to right: Mickey Veitch of the Rod and Gun Association, Lisa Neville, Member for Bellarine and Minister for Police, Geoff Wilson with microphone, Ivan Bereza, Commodore of the Leopold Angling Club and past president of Friends of Corio Bay Action Group (Picture: Neil Slater).

Peter asks:

There are tiny garfish everywhere in the Grammar School Lagoon at the moment: Do you know when they spawn, and how fast they grow?

Henry and Sophia Jankowski with the elephant fish they caught from the Barwon estuary on Sunday (Picture: Warren Jankowski).

Barwon estuary

On Sunday, Warren and Pip Jankowski, along with son Henry 8, and daughter Sophia 5, fished the Barwon estuary above the Sheepwash where Sophia hooked what was obviously a good size fish of some sort before losing it under the boat.

That was followed by a slippery eel, which the kids took turns at trying to hold before releasing it.

But it was Sophia who hooked up yet again, this time to a fair size elephant fish that brother Henry volunteered to hold for a few photos with Sophia before releasing it.

Team effort: Releasing Sophia’s elephant fish (Picture: Pip Jankowski).

Offshore

On Sunday, Murray and Darcy Scott were trolling lures around Charlemont Reef off Barwon Heads by first light and were soon rewarded with a 3 kg Australian salmon and four snook.

With these additions to their bait supply, they headed out into 30 metres of water to be greeted by pinkie snapper to 1.5 kg taking their baits. However, the gummy shark Darcy hooked on a whiting head was more of a handful and greeted the scales for a verdict of 20 kg.

Not to be outdone, Murray followed that up with what turned out to be a 40 kg seven-gilled shark that took a fillet of snook.

Darcy Scott with his 20 kg gummy shark taken offshore from Barwon Heads on Sunday morning (Picture: Murray Scott).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Fishing some distance north of the channel junction off Curlewis on Friday evening, Jason Treloar and Harley Griffiths, initially found themselves harassed by a variety unwanted species, but they stayed on, hopeful of catching a snapper.

They caught two as it turned out on a virtual double hook-up as the tide changed to run out around 8.30 pm. Their catch also included a couple of nice flathead and a gummy shark over a metre in length, all taken on squid.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that several good catches of whiting were taken inshore from the mussel farm north east of the boat ramp where Damian Aquilina and Dominic Romano picked up 20 respectable fish. They also caught 10 squid and several flathead to 49 cm.

Fishing in much the same area were Andrew Johnson, Peter Dawson and Dennis O’Brien who took 17 keepers to 40 cm after returning about the same number of smaller fish. They also took several good size squid and several flathead.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head had plenty of flathead to clean for clients over the weekend, but squid continue to be the main catch said Rod, with clients regularly taking bag limit catches of these tasty cephalopods.

Freshwater

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports good fishing for brown and rainbow trout, which are responding to a variety of baits including pilchard fillets being fished just above the bottom; an approach Angus Robinson of Altona used to catch both species to 1.5 kg.

Redfin are also holding their own said John, and among those to catch a basket full of these to 800 grams or so last week was Gary Drew from Ballarat.

Jony Ai with his prize-winning 29.2 kg tuna from Portland (Picture: Bob McPherson).

Portland

Bob McPherson reports that the second round of the Portland Tuna Competition was won by Jony Ai who weighed in a fish of 29.2 kg; a result that made him the leader so far and $500 richer for his efforts.

As for Bob, he and his Mate George Gereige have been catching whiting, and – when conditions permit – fishing on the wide grounds for blue eye trevalla and the host of other high class culinary fare that comes to the party out there.

Celebration day

On Sunday, 15/04/18, you are invited to the Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club (711-729 Portarlington Road, Leopold) to celebrate the netting ban in Corio Bay, which now extends west from a line connecting Point Wilson to Curlewis at 144, 30, 000 E.

Running from 10.00 am until 5.00 pm, this event is to feature special guests and entertainers, and has the wholehearted support for, and indeed sponsorship from, Fisheries Victoria and our State Government, both of whom are jointly committed to have one million anglers, of all persuasions, actively fishing in our State by 2020.

Baron asks:

Geoff, what’s the advantage is in casting your line out when fishing from a boat? Why can’t you just let it straight down?

Steve Arthey with the mulloway he caught from the Barwon on Easter Sunday.

Barwon estuary

Having just returned from Yalata in South Australia, where he caught several mulloway from the beach, Steve Arthey tried for more of the same in the Barwon estuary on Sunday night.

Using Australian salmon for live-bait toward the change of tide, he caught yet another mulloway at around 9.45 pm. He didn’t say how big it was, but from the photo I would guess at perhaps 80 cm.

Corio Bay Bellarine Peninsula

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that whiting are a bit scarce and that even the specialists have been struggling a bit; something to which Andrew Johnson could relate after having fished with Peter Dawson out off Curlewis on Saturday for a tally of only 17 fish.

However, they did catch several squid, more or less by accident, prompting another trip the following day; this time with Dennis O’Brien. A good move as it turned out, for they both took their respective bag limit catches of squid, and there were quite a few good ones among them.

Mike also reports that squid are abundant off The Springs as well, with Danny and Olivia Ortiz taking bag limit catches between the boat harbour and the mussel farm, as did Joel and Brian Anderson, along with Rob Lomas.

Flathead are also about said Mike, with M &M Pugh taking 33 to 46cm, along with a seven-gilled shark that they released. Bob and Fred Luck found a good patch of flatties off the boat ramp where they picked up a dozen respectable fish.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head also reports that flathead are about in good numbers. However, squid were the main chance said Rod, with bag limit catches being made, both by his clients and other anglers which included Jeff Richards and Chris Hateley who retired from squid fishing in pursuit of the somewhat elusive whiting.

Hovever, having accidentally caught a couple of red mullet (whiskered goatfish), which are a good indicator of whiting ground, they anchored up where they’d caught those. But, while they significantly added to their catch of red mullet, they didn’t even get a bite from a whiting

Freshwater

John Clements of Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that redfin are still the main catch, with Michael Evans of Inland Fishing Charters (South West) picking up a catch of 50 over the weekend. Those were caught. Both while using minnow for bait, and on lures.

Brown trout have also been on the bite said John, with Phillip Pirotta and Tom Hogan both catching fish to 1.8 kg while trolling various Tassie Devil lures, both along the surface, and behind drop-sinkers.

Offshore

Daniel Stranger of Gone Fishing Charters, reports that his clients have been taking mixed bags of flathead, gummy shark along with a variety of other species including mako shark to 30 kg or so. In fact he’s been averaging one mako per trip, with the most productive area down toward Cape Schanck.

Lachie Wombell with a sample of the whiting that he and Bob McPherson have caught off Portland lately (Photo: Bob McPherson).

Portland

Bob McPherson reports that the first of four legs of the annual tuna competition was run over the Easter weekend with Muson Shiltze, who was fishing with his brother Michael, taking out the $500.00 prize with a fish of 22 kg: The competition will continue to run over the next three weekends.

As for Bob, he and Lachie Wombell have been fishing for whiting at various places off Portland, seemingly having no difficulty in taking respectable, if not bag limit catches of fish to 44 cm using squid for bait.

Steve Arthey with one of the mulloway he caught recently from the beach at Yalata in South Australia.

Steve asks:

Geoff, I’ve been fishing Corio Bay for more than 30 years, but all I seem to catch is small flathead. What I would really like to catch is a nice gummy shark. Can you recommend any good spots to try?

Col Erard with the 9.5 kg snapper that he caught in the rain off Leopold on Saturday morning (Picture: Malcolm Erard).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Making an early start from the St Helens boat ramp on Saturday morning, Col Erard and his brother, Malcolm, headed out past Point Henry and anchored up in 6 metres of water off Leopold.

Despite the heavy rain that hit at around 8.30, they battened down the hatches so to speak, and sat it out: A good move as it turned out, for Col’s rod bucked over; the scream of his reel heralding a 10 minute battle that eventually revealed the shape of a big snapper in the heavily discoloured water below.

That fish greeted the scales for a verdict of 9.5 kg, but it was by no means all they caught, with four good size pinkies to follow, along with six really nice flathead, the biggest measuring 50 cm.

Fishing from the breakwater at St Helens on Saturday were Seiya Koyama, his son Gaiji and Seiya’s father in law, Noboru Takefuji; all hoping for some Australian sashimi. Not in vain as it turned out – judging by the photos they sent in – of not only their catch, but a plate of mouth-watering sashimi flathead as well.

With the water heavily discoloured off the southern shore of Corio Bay’s outer harbour, it was no surprise when Andrew Johnson, who was fishing with Dennis O’Brien off Curlewis on Friday, hooked an obviously big snapper on his whiting tackle that unfortunately escaped after a lively tussle.

Fishing on Sunday in much the same area, this time with Dave Walder, Andrew found the wind against tide an almost insurmountable challenge. Never the less, they also finished with their respective bag limit catches of whiting, so good was the bite.

Paul Carson with one of the mako shark he and his crew took during the early hours of Saturday morning off Portland (Photo Kevin McLoughlin).

Barwon estuary

Fishing the Barwon estuary last week, some distance upstream from the Sheepwash, Keith Berry and Tom Robinson were hoping to catch salmon or mullet to use as live bait for mulloway, but it was the last of the outgoing tide and pickings were lean.

The afternoons’ incoming tide saw an improvement though, with both anglers fishing with live mullet on their heavier tackle. However, it was no mullet that was taken, but a pipi on Keith’s small, bait-catching outfit that initiated an extended battle that eventually saw an 85 cm mulloway in the landing net.

Seiya Koyama, his father in law Noboru Takefuji – who is visiting from Japan – and son Gaiji with their catch from St Helens, and subsequent plate of flathead sashimi.

Portland

Around midnight on Friday, Kevin McLoughlin, Brian Nolan, Paul Carson and Frank Farrugia headed offshore in search of mako shark.

During the early hours of the morning, they caught four as it turned out, the biggest around the 80 kg mark, of which they released three and kept one of about 40 kg. Although they stayed until after sunrise, the bite had finished by then.

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park with the 99 cm Barramundi he caught from the South Alligator River during last week’s Kakadu Clash.

Kakadu Klash

John Clements, manager of Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park, along with Chris Farrugia and Bruno Portaro, made up Victoria’s team No 11 (Nitro), that fished the Kakadu Klash; a barramundi – catch and release – competition, held on the South Alligator River in Northern Territory’s Kakadu National Park last week.

They won the competition outright with their largest three barra measuring 99, 89, and 108 cm, accruing a tally of 296 points. Second, was team 24 (Arnhem Land Coastal Camp) with 282 points, and the team from National Australian Fishing Magazine came third with 266 points.

John Clements, Chris Farrugia and Bruno Portaro picking up their winner cheque at the Kakadu Klash.

Doug asks:

Geoff,

Trophy trout: Tim Beusmans 3.94 kg brown trout from Lake Purrumbete

Freshwater

Lake Purrumbete continued to fish well last week while the surrounds of nearby Lake Bullen Merri were under threat from fire.

Down-rigging a Tassie Devil at 12 metres or so with a clip-on weight on Sunday morning, Tim Beusmans once again proved he has the key to catching trophy size brown trout from Lake Purrumbete with a beauty of 3.94 kg.

Michael Evans of Victorian Inland Charters (South West) fished Lake Fyans on Saturday, managing to extract several lively redfin, both while trolling lures and casting soft plastics into the shallows, particularly around the weed beds and bull rushes: His best redfin weighed 1.9 kg, and which was closely followed by another beauty of 1.85 kg.

Michael also caught several rainbow trout to 1.5 kg, and sighted several much larger specimens chasing dragonflies while trolling a variety of shallow-running lures in close proximity to where the water flows into the lake: He suggests that fish congregate here waiting for easy prey.

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park – who is currently fishing for barramundi on the South Alligator River in Kakadu National Park – reports that redfin were still the main catch from Purrumbete last week with Terry Lindsay from Geelong and Jason Eastman from Ballarat among those to catch them.

Fishing the Lake with soft plastics was Norm Armstrong who managed several respectable redfin, while Rod Shepherd also caught them on lures before the wind came up on Saturday.

Jigging 3” Magbite Snatchbites in 15 metres of water at his “go-to” spot, Rod caught most of his bigger fish early on, but from 10 am, the fishing slowed down with only the occasional smaller fish coming aboard.

Two up: Michael Evans with his two largest redfin from Lake Fyans (Picture: Victorian Inland Charters).

Bellarine Peninsula

With strong winds and rough seas stirring up the bottom over the last few days, Jason Treloar tried his luck from inside the breakwater sheltering Portarlington’s harbour on Monday morning.

Not in vain as it turned out, for at around 8.30 am, his rod wrapped over, the reel growling to the tune of what turned out to be a snapper of about 5 kg, which – fortunately for him – attracted the attention of a nearby angler who was able to net it for him.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that legal size pinkie snapper, along with flathead and squid, were the main catch last week with Gerard Miles and Danny Walker catching all three species over the Curlewis Bank.

They also tried for whiting, but those they caught were small, with the ever-present, but undersize pinkie snapper taking their baits.

Whiting though, were on offer for Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien who eventually found a good patch off Curlewis on Friday afternoon in about 4.5 metres of water.

Initially there wasn’t much doing, but after making several moves, they picked up 30 fish to 41 cm following the mid afternoon tide change, using pipis and squid for bait..

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that prior to the heavy weather over the weekend, he had quite a few boats out, all without exception, returning with squid, which have been plentiful over the past few weeks; most being caught between the Governor Reefs and Grassy Point.

George Gereige with a sample of his, and Bob McPherson’s whiting catch off Portland at the weekend.

Rod Shepherd with a sample of his redfin catch from Lake Purrumbete.

Deborah says:

Geoff, I read with interest your somewhat dismissive answer to a question on jellyfish in Corio Bay, 20/02/18, and have decided to respond: Jellyfish are becoming a plague worldwide by clogging fishing nets, power plants, and decimating aquaculture projects.

Pat Stapleton with a nice snapper taken from Corio Bay last week (Picture: Ivan Bereza: Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club Commodore).

Chris Stamalos with the larger of the two gummy sharks he caught offshore from Barwon Heads on Saturday.

Offshore

On Saturday, Chris Stamalos headed offshore from Barwon Heads into 30 metres of water where he was hopeful of catching a good size gummy shark or snapper.

But all was quiet until around nine o’clock when of his rods buckled over, the reel growling to the tune of what turned out to be 10 kg gummy shark, which, in turn, was quickly followed by an even larger specimen of 18 kg.

Also launching at Barwon Heads on Saturday morning, Joash Belousoff, his brother Judson, their father Paul and friend Ben Wickstead, were hoping for a kingfish or two, but there wasn’t much doing there.

Fishing on the drift for flathead in 30 to 45 metres of water proved more effective though, for they caught – in their words – plenty; the biggest measuring 60 cm. And then, a mako shark of about 30 kg showed up in their berley trail.

They wasted no time in presenting it with a large squid head, which it took with alacrity; finishing up as flake after a lively tussle.

Keryn Millard and Adriana Nedelcu with a sample of their spotted ling catch from the wide grounds off Portland (Picture: Bob McPherson).

James Kollaris with a Victorian Scalyfin that he caught from the Lorne Pier (Picture: Mick Kollaris).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Fishing off Curlewis in around six metres of water last week were Ivan Bereza and Pat Stapleton of the Leopold Angling and Aquatic club. Things were quiet at first, but their patience was rewarded when Pat caught a snapper of about 6 kg.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that Shepparton anglers Ross Gibson and Gavin Flanagan triumphed with good catches of squid and flathead from The Dell over the weekend.

Whiting have been the stumbling block for many though said Mike, but once again, Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien found them offshore from Curlewis, taking 30 on each occasion both on Thursday and Friday afternoons.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that reasonable catches of whiting were taken last week, but none were sighted over the weekend.

Squid were a different story though said Rod, with Jeff Richards and Chris Hateley among those to pick up their respective bag limits.

Kevin McLoughlin with the marlin he caught and released at Bermagui at the weekend.

Judson Belousoff with the mako shark he caught offshore from Port Phillip Heads.

Freshwater

Rod Shepherd put in two days work on Thursday, leaving Friday free to lure-fish Lake Bullen Merri. However, it wasn’t until 12.15 pm that he caught his only fish for the day, a reasonable chinook salmon that took a Pontoon 21, Greedy-Guts lure.

So, after Friday’s effort at Bullen Merri, Rod tried his luck at Lake Purrumbete on Saturday, bagging a respectable catch of good size redfin on a 3” Magbite Jig at a depth of around 12 metres.

John Clements of Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that the fishing has been quiet on Purrumbete, but mentions that Mulligan’s luck prevailed when Camperdown angler Brian Jones and Kevin Mulligan from Tassie went head to head, a match during which – in terms of rainbow trout – Kevin caught five to Brian’s one.

Leon Leonardo shows off one of the flathead he’s been catching from Merimbula Lake in southern NSW lately (Picture: Courtesy of Dave Matthews).

Portland

With good weather over the weekend Bob McPherson was out on the wide grounds catching the usual tasty bottom dwellers to be found in around 500 metres of water.

However, he wasn’t alone: Keryn Millard – the most indefatigable fishing lady down Portland way – was fishing nearby, along with her friend Adriana Nedelcu, who’d never fished before: The big surprise was that Adriana caught not only their biggest pink ling at 15.4 kg, but probably the biggest anyone’s heard of from the wide grounds off Portland.

New South Wales

Hoping to catch a marlin, Kevin McLoughlin, Brian Nolan and Scott Smith, headed up to Bermagui in southern NSW. As it turned out, Kevin took the strike and brought a striped marlin of possibly 100 kilograms alongside before releasing it.

Merimbula Lake has always been know for the variety of species that inhabit this water, large flathead being of particular interest, especially of late to Tura Beach angler Leon Leonardo who has tempted some beauties to 92 cm of late using tailor fillets for bait and then releasing them back into the lake.

Doc asks:

Geoff, a friend and I fished off Clifton Springs on Saturday afternoon, but caught nothing of note. However, because it was fairly calm, and probably crowded at the boat ramp toward evening, we stayed out until just on dark when I hooked a huge fish.

Of course it could have been a shark, especially as your line may have been bitten through; some of those tend to get a bit jumpy when hooked.

A shark after dark: Mick Kollaris (in red), Bill Athanasselis (in white with rod and reel), and the night shift from the Hotel Grand Pacific at Lorne, with the shark.

Last month, Mick Kollaris and Bill Athanasselis caught a bronze whaler shark of perhaps two metres in length from the Lorne pier, which we featured on February 20.

Returning on Thursday last week, they bagged another bronzie of about 30 kg just after dark; its tasty fillets being iced down in the Esky … but there was more to come.

From the scream of the reel, both knew this was to be a serious battle, which – by courtesy of modern telephony – soon attracted a crowd of eager bystanders including folk working the night shift at the Grand Pacific Hotel overlooking the pier.

With no hope of lifting a shark of perhaps 150 kg onto the pier, the task of leading it to a nearby beach was accomplished with the aid of many willing hands, followed by the obligatory cleaning process and distribution of the freshest of flake.

Before, or after dark? It could make a difference in the size of your catch, as Boris Stocki discovered (Picture: Steven Kovzan).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that flathead are about and there are some good ones among them as Dean McDermott and Bruno Massara can attest. They caught 17 using squid and pilchards for bait along the southern boundary of the mussel farm; the biggest measuring 55 cm.

Anglers fishing for whiting have complained that leatherjackets have been more prolific than their target species said Mike, but on Friday, Andrew Johnson and his friend Gary Crone – who finished with their respective bag limits of whiting to 38 cm – said the only delay to proceedings was a swarm of pinkie snapper, not leatherjackets, that ravaged their baits for half an hour or so in 4.5 to 6 metres of water off Curlewis.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that a break in the weather saw a good many boats out with squid the main catch. Most are small said Rod, but there are larger specimens to be caught by persistent anglers.

Victorian Inland Charters (South West) client, Nathan, with a 68 cm 3.5 kg chinook salmon from Lake Bullen Merri (Picture; Michael Evans).

Freshwater

Fishing the Murray River near Gunbower last week were Steven Kovzan, and Boris Stocki who was hoping to catch his first Murray cod, but the only one he caught that day though, was undersize.

While fishing into the night using Murray shrimp for bait, the bite nearly pulled Boris’ rod in, but a timely dive resulted in the capture of a 65 cm cod that he released. The only other fish they caught were European carp and several small silver perch.

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that Purrumbete has produced chinook salmon and rainbow trout to a kilogram or so with Jason Eastman from Ballarat among the successful anglers.

Also fishing Purrumbete was Jeff Broughton of Geelong, George Gillies of Winchelsea, and Bryan Nygaard of Bacchus Marsh, who collectively took rainbow trout on mudeye and minnow, and chinook salmon to a kilogram on various baits fished near the bottom, not to mention many redfin to 500 grams or so.

Lake Bullen Merri has been somewhat quiet said John, but Terry Sheppard and Charlie Goral of Regal Marine in Forest Hill, caught several chinook salmon fishing on pilchard fillets suspended just above the bottom.

Bryan asks:

Geoff I’ve been told that you can now fish from the Point Wilson Pier or from a boat alongside. Do you know if this is correct?