Geoff Wilson’s Fishing Knots And Rigs

Murray Scott with the kingfish he caught at Coffin Bay last week (Picture Darcy Scott).

Coffin Bay

Murray and Darcy Scott’s annual kingfish trip to the shallow waters of Coffin Bay in South Australia last week began badly, for they both lost good size kingfish on the first day of their trip.

Darcy lost his on light tackle while trying to catch some salmon for bait, and – after successfully resuming the quest for salmon after that disappointment – Murray lost another when his hook fouled the mesh of the landing net and pulled free giving the kingie its freedom.

They had no action at all the following day, but trying at the entrance of nearby Kellidie Bay, Murray hooked up big-time on a fish they estimated to be about 30 kg that was captured after a 25-minute pursuit despite a series of entanglements around boat moorings and other impediments.

Matt Boag with the 5.5 kg snapper he caught out near the mussel farm off Clifton Springs.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Heading out off Curlewis at first light on Friday morning to catch the high tide change, Andrew Johnson anchored up in 4 metres of water where, initially, he was plagued with small whiting.

He was about to move when the bigger fish moved in at around 7.30 am, and they remained on the bite until he took a bag limit catch of whiting from 35 to 40 cm.

With a break in the weather, Simon Werner headed out into 20 metres of water off Indented Head hopeful of catching a snapper or two, but there were none on offer. However, he did catch a nice gummy shark of around 7 kg.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that with good weather on Saturday, Matt Boag, who was fishing out near the mussel farm, topped off a catch of pinkie snapper with a nice red of 5.5 kg that took a strip of squid.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that whiting have been the main catch of late with fish to 40 cm being taken relatively close to shore from Grassy Point, south to St Leonards.

Anglers fishing on the drift, again, relatively close to shore, have been picking up some good size flathead along with whiting and the occasional pinkie snapper, but squid have been scarce, said Rod.

Lindsay Robinson with a sample of his, and brother Gordon’s catch from Lake Purrumbete.

Freshwater

On Tuesday afternoon, Lindsay and Gordon Robinson fished Lake Purrumbete, positioning themselves alongside one of the prominent weed beds in Manifolds Bay just after 2.00 pm, and fishing mudeyes under floats at around two metres, caught two brown trout, each around the 2.3 kg mark.

They also caught four nice rainbow trout using the same method, and – for a bit of variety – broke out the lure fishing tackle that accounted for several respectable redfin.

They detoured to nearby Lake Bullen Merri before returning to Geelong, to find the Lake has suffered no respite from the blue-green algal bloom, which unfortunately, now covers most of the lake.

Acknowledging Lake Bullen Merri’s current algae problem, Jack Passe tried his luck there, also on Tuesday afternoon, and – as luck would have it – he caught a rainbow trout of about 1.5 kg on Berkley Powerbait shortly after he arrived.

But Jack says that it was tough going though, with no more bites, either on bait, or on any of the lures that he tried.

Fish Stocking Coordinator Rhiannon Atkinson advises that Lake Bullen Merri at Camperdown, and Lake Elingamite up Cobden way, are to be stocked with Australian bass tomorrow, Wednesday November 22^nd.

Lake Bullen Merri will be stocked first between 10 and 11 am with 10,000 bass fingerlings that will be weighed in, and distributed from, buckets. Lake Elingamite will receive the same number after that.

Should you wish to attend either of these stockings please let Rhiannon know, either by email rhiannon.atkinson@vfa.vic.gov.au or mobile on 0407 987 016, so she can provide a more accurate ETA.

Lake Bullen Merri is infested with blue green algae, for which there is a solution should funding be made available.

Notice of public meeting

Camperdown’s Lake Bullen Merri is in dire straits with a toxic algal bloom that’s affecting fishing and all other activities related to this water.

A meeting regarding this issue is to be held at the Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club, 711 Portarlington Rd Leopold, 3224 at 2.00 pm next Saturday, November 25. Turn left at the Lifestyle sign and continue north toward the bay: All interested parties are welcome.

Frank Bluch with the 13.5 kg rainbow trout he caught from the Tekapo Canal on New Zealand’s South Island.

Frank Bluch with the 11.65 kg brown trout he caught from Lake Ruataniwha on New Zealand’s South Island.

New Zealand

Just back from New Zealand’s South Island, Geelong fly-fisherman Frank Bluch has added two potential world records to his already impressive list: A rainbow trout of 13.5 kg, taken from the Tekapo Canal on a 3 kg tippet, and a brown trout of 11.65 kg taken from Lake Ruataniwha on a 2 kg tippet.

Cody Formosa with one of the snapper he caught offshore from Point Wilson (Picture: John Formosa).

John Formosa with another good sample of his and Cody’s snapper catch.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Heading out from St Helens at around 3.00 pm early last week with the sounder ticking over, Michael Bealham and Candace Mimms eventually located a large school of snapper and put their lines out.

Over the next three hours they brought any number of snapper alongside, three of which they kept because they were gut hooked, pulling the hooks on another five fish: All the others were released, and those they kept weighed from 3.5 to 7 kg.

Sounding along the north side of Corio Bay’s outer harbour last Sunday afternoon, John Formosa and son Cody picked up some good marks in 6.5 metres of water off Point Wilson and anchored up.

John Formosa with another good sample of his and Cody’s snapper catch.

Over went their lines baited with pilchard, and from then on it was all-hands-on deck with growling reels and buckling rods in a snapper melee, and – while they pulled the hooks on three fish – the four they caught ranged in size from 5 to 8kg.

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

Mark Sesar with a sample from his and wife Tina’s snapper catch (Picture: Tina Sesar).

Launching from Clifton Springs in the pre-dawn darkness on Sunday, Mark and Tina Sesar headed north past the shipping channel, and anchoring up in 8 metres of water, they were soon into good bite of legal-size pinkies.

That wasn’t quite what they were hoping for, but the pinkie bite shut down on sunrise and it wasn’t long before the squid head on Tina’s line was taken by a fish of 5 kg. That was followed half an hour later by another that was later weighed at 8.35 kg, and Mark caught their third and last fish of 5 kg.

Whiting are about as well said Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head, with clients picking good catches, some nudging the 40 cm mark, along with flathead, both species being taken both at anchor and on the drift between Grassy Point and the Governors at Indented Head.

Around 6.30 am on Friday, Andrew and Jenny Johnson headed out off Curlewis after the whiting, and at anchor in around 6 metres of water, they picked up six fish from 38 to 41 cm before the bite shut down.

They made a couple of moves but couldn’t locate any more, but Andrew’s mate Denis was on the blower, already just shy of his bag limit to the east toward the Jack Rabbit vineyard. So that’s where the pair headed, finally topping off their combined catch at 23.

Daniel Johnson with his 1.6 metre gummy shark taken from the beach at Jan Juc.

From the Beach

After cleaning their whiting, Andrew got a call from son Daniel who proposed a surf fishing trip at Jan Juc. But that was a bit much for one day.

So, Daniel and one of his workmates made the trip, and at 10.15, an hour or so before high tide, Daniel hooked what turned out to be a gummy shark that measured 1.6 metres, and which he estimated to be at least 17 kg.

Another good run followed, but that one – obviously, a toothy critter – bit through the trace and escaped, and that was their lot for the night.

Jan and Derek Pope from Ararat with one of the redfin they caught from Lake Purrumbete (Picture: John Clements).

Jan Pope from Ararat with a 2.7 kg brown trout from Lake Purrumbete (Picture: John Clements).

Freshwater

Casting soft plastics from the banks of the Barwon River downstream from the James Harrison Bridge on Friday afternoon, Paul Raduka caught five respectable redfin and a small estuary perch that was returned.

Prior to that though, Paul had teamed up with renowned angler Dennis McDowell on an eel fishing trip on the Waurn Ponds Creek.

Well, I don’t know whether it was the chicken liver and worms they were using for bait, but they finished with their respective bag limit catches of eels before dark, and which are now destined for the smoker.

Brian Atkinson with his young brother Luke and the carp they caught from Lake Victoria at Maryborough (Picture: Kevin Wild).

Ian Morse with his 57 cm yellowbelly from Maryborough’s Lake Victoria (Picture: Kevin Wild).

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that among the successful visitors were Derek Pope from Ararat, and wife Jan (who is deservedly known as the trout master).

They caught brown trout from 1.8 to 2.7 kg on live minnow. They also fished pilchards down deep taking chinook salmon to a kilogram.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that the club had a bank-fishing outing close to home on Lake Victoria and some great fish were caught including Ian Morse’s two yellowbelly of 55 and 57 cm.

In all, 21 legal size yellowbelly were caught during the competition along with a big carp taken by Bailey Atkinson and his young brother Luke. Trevor Perry also caught a 46 cm yellowbelly and a good size catfish.

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

Kevin also took time to head out onto Tullaroop Reservoir with wife Amber last week where they caught some nice redfin, Amber with the biggest at 39 cm.

Dan Gallardo with a sample of the snapper catch off Avalon.

Dan Gallardo with another nice snapper from Corio Bay’s outer harbour.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

On Sunday afternoon, Collan and Jorran Erard went cruising along the channel’s edge between Point Henry and Clifton Springs, picking up some promising marks on the sounder. Among them appeared a very large arch, and that is where they dropped the anchor.

At first, there was nothing doing, but after 20 minutes or so, Collan’s squid strip was taken by a snapper that later weighed 9.1 kg. There was nothing else but flathead after that though, so they headed to a nearby spoil ground where they had some action on pinkie snapper to 40 cm.

After leaving work on Wednesday afternoon, Dan Gallardo, Tony Ortega, and Dule Savic decided that heading out onto Corio Bay after a snapper or two might be time well spent.

Sounding around in some of the spots where they’d caught them previously didn’t reveal much at all, so they headed across the bay toward Avalon’s Mountain View Quarries, and – as they approached the Nine Foot Bank – their screen lit up like a Christmas tree.

So over went the anchor, along with their lines, and within five minutes or so they’d hooked their first fish, the first of five ranging from 5.2 to 7 kg as it turned out, all taken on baits of pilchard and silver whiting.

Collan Erard with the 9.1 kg snapper he caught from Corio Bay’s outer harbour on Sunday.

On Wednesday morning, Andrew Johnson and Denis O’Brien headed into four metres of water inshore from the mussel farm hoping to get onto the whiting.

And not in vain as it turned out, for they got a dozen big ones before the bite shut down. But they knew from their first bite of the cherry that they were in a good area, so they only moved 50 metres or so to the east toward Portarlington.

And it was here, in six metres of water, they topped off their respective bag limit catches of whiting that measured from 35 to 43 cm on cocktail baits of mussel and squid.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that clients who took advantage of the brief spell of good weather last week did well.

Whiting were the most sought-after fish, said Rod, with catches made from Grassy Point to the Governor Reefs which are just out from the Indented Head boat ramp, with anglers fishing on the drift also taking some good size flathead to 45 cm.

Four-year-old Mia Mallet with the snapper she caught while fishing offshore from Queenscliff with her father and grandpa.

Queenscliff

Four-year-old Mia Mallett loves fishing and sometimes goes out in the boat with her father and grandpa.

Last week, they launched at Queenscliff, and fishing offshore from the harbour entrance, Mia hooked what turned out to be her first snapper.

It put up a good fight, but Mia declined any assistance, save for a lift onto the cooler to give her some clearance over the gunwale as she brought it alongside, her dad scooping it up in the landing net.

Charlie Farrugia with a nice rainbow trout from Lake Purrumbete.

Chris Farrugia with a brown trout that was taken whilst downrigging a Tassie Devil.

Barwon estuary

Early last week, Simon Werner returned to the Barwon estuary after his previous success on the estuary perch here the week before, and once again, initiated a casting session along the mangroves upstream from Sheepwash.

And again, estuary perch were on the bite, and while most of those he caught on the soft plastic lures he was using were a bit on the small side, he kept four that were noticeably larger, measuring from 32 to 36 cm.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club with a nice redfin from Tullaroop Reservoir.

Don Rayner holding out another nice redfin from Tullaroop Reservoir.

Freshwater

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that regular trout aficionados Chris and Charlie Farrugia took both rainbow and brown trout while downrigging with a variety of lures over the weekend: Their biggest fish was Chris’ 3.63 kg brown trout.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that Tullaroop Reservoir, which was recently re-opened for boating, has been producing redfin of which he and Don Rayner took a good sample to 42 cm while bobbing with worms.

Kevin also mentions that the Loddon River below Laanecoorie Weir is still producing good size yellowbelly, and among those to catch them here was club member Ian Morse who caught several to 52 cm using worms for bait.

James Lee with a sample from the snapper catch offshore from Point Henry (Picture: Tony Ortega).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

At around 8.30 pm, early last week, Tony Ortega, along with Dule Slavic and James Lee, headed out to a formerly productive spot for snapper just off Point Henry, and, with an assurance to James, who’d never caught a snapper before, that tonight would be the night.

Well, they’d barely put their lines out when Tony handed his rod – which had just buckled over, its reel singing the good old snapper song – to James who was now in the hotseat with his first big red.

Others were to follow, in fact the trio caught twelve snapper on a variety of baits by 11.00 pm, by which time they’d decided to head back to the ramp after a great night’s fishing.

Naturally, others – including Michael Bealham – caught them as well and was also out early last week, fishing in 8 metres of water off Point Wilson. And, after a promising sounding during the mid-afternoon, picked up a bag limit catch of snapper from 3 to 6 kg, all taken on fresh squid.

Michael headed out to the same spot again on Sunday morning with companion Candace Mimms to find the snapper still very much on the bite. They caught eight altogether, five of which they released.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that the boat ramp was certainly busy over the weekend and clients also brought in quite a few fish.

Among them were Darren and Aiden Thomas who caught 17 whiting only about 200 metres out from the boat harbour using squid for bait.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that clients also took good catches of whiting in various spots between Grassy Point and the inner Governor reefs.

Squid were scarce, said Rod, probably due to the discoloured water, but anglers fishing on the drift fairly close to shore took mixed bags of flathead and whiting.

Candace Mimms with her Sunday’s snapper catch taken offshore from Point Wilson (Picture: Michael Bealham).

Michael Bealham with yet another good-size snapper (Picture: Candace Mimms).

Barwon estuary

Simon Werner tried his luck on the mulloway upstream from the Sheepwash on Sunday’s rising tide, but having no success there, he put in a lure-casting session to see what he could stir up in close to the mangroves during the late afternoon.

And as it turned out, he began catching estuary perch. Most were a bit on the small side, but he kept five of the bigger ones, the largest around 750 grams.

Frank Benvenuto’s yellowbelly that he caught from the Werribee River on a size 2 Stump-jumper.

Werribee River

Frank Benvenuto reports that lure-fishing the Werribee River has been challenging of late taking just a few bass and estuary perch, all on Jackall Pompadours and soft plastics, and of which he sent me some photos.

However, some of Frank’s friends have been picking up quite a few bass on unweighted baits of bread intended for carp, courtesy of folk feeding ducks with these doughy delights, and for which the bass have developed a taste.

On Saturday though, Frank stopped by with only one rod to make a few casts with a size 2 Stump-jumper hoping to pick up another bass, but instead – much to his surprize – caught a 43 cm yellowbelly,

Lake Purrumbete

Encouraged by the number of fish moving as they headed out onto Lake Purrumbete on Friday morning, Lindsay and Gordon Robinson had high hopes of a good day’s fishing, and they weren’t disappointed.

Anchored up against the weed bank on the east side of the lake, and fishing mudeyes at a depth of about two metres using bubble floats, they were soon kept busy with a variety of fish, releasing most.

But of those they kept, the biggest was a brown trout of about 3 kg that was followed by another of about half that size. The other fish they caught were a mix of rainbow and tiger trout, and chinook salmon.

Lake Tullaroop

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that Lake Tullaroop was opened to boating again on Friday, and taking advantage, he headed out with good supply of worms with which he took a respectable catch of redfin.

Fishing nearby Cairn Curran Reservoir, club members, Don Rayner and Tony Savage, returned with four really good size yellowbelly and two nice redfin.

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

Jacob Young with the 45 cm redfin he caught from Lake Wendouree at Ballarat.

Lake Wendouree

Jacob Young and his friend Tom Cross, both from Ballarat, ventured out to nearby Lake Wendouree last week despite the cold, wet, and windy conditions that would have dissuaded less adventurous souls.

And, despite the challenges posed by the weather, they caught two nice fish, a redfin measuring 45 cm, and a 50 cm brown trout, both being caught from the bank while casting and retrieving various lures.

Don Rayner of the Maryborough Angling Club with a nice yellowbelly from the Loddon River below Laanecoorie Weir (Picture: Amber Wild).

Ken Hinks and Don Rayner with a sample of their yellowbelly catch from the Loddon River below Laanecoorie Weir (Picture: Amber Wild).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

On Wednesday morning, Andrew Johnson and Denis O’Brien headed out to one of their formerly productive whiting spots off Curlewis only to find an overwhelming presence of small, but legal-size fish that they released.

After making several moves, they eventually found a patch of mainly larger fish, of which they caught 23 keepers up to 42 cm. However, what came as something of a surprize was the capture two snapper, one each, both around the 2 kg mark, that took a fancy to their whiting baits.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that with some good weather mid-week, clients caught reasonable catches of whiting, although there were a good many small fish among them.

Squid were also on offer said Rod, and they were widespread from the Governor Reefs to Grassy Point.

John Clements with 4-year-old granddaughter Adeline with a rainbow trout taken on scrubworms from Lake Purrumbete.

Maryborough Angling Club member Jai, with his prize-winning, 41 cm yellowbelly from the Loddon River (Picture: Amber Wild).

Barwon estuary

Putting in a lengthy session at The Sheepwash on Wednesday afternoon Jasson Treloar and Harley Griffiths were a little disappointed with a very slow tide, and – initially at least – not much interest from the fish.

However, as the tide picked up, so did the fish with mullet and salmon the main catch along with the occasional silver trevally and King George whiting, but even they slowed down later in the tide.

But, as they were in for the long haul with some crabs they’d gathered before going out, they were hopeful of catching a bream or two, and – as the tide slackened off toward evening – their investment in crab gathering paid off with two nice bream, the biggest nudging a kilogram.

Martinus de Lange has spent several evenings casting soft plastics in the vicinity of the Sheepwash boat ramp until well after dark, and has been rewarded for his efforts with several estuary perch to 30 cm.

However, on his most recent visit, he also hooked something that felt a lot larger than the estuary perch he’d been catching, and – after gaining some line – was confident of capturing whatever had taken his lure.

Unfortunately though, he and the fish parted company, along with the lure which had been bitten off. He didn’t get to see his protagonist, but it could have been a fair size tailor I suppose, they sometimes turn up in the Barwon.

Jimmy Oldani with a sample of his redfin catch from Lake Purrumbete.

Freshwater

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports the lake is fishing well with redfin the main drawcard, for Jimmy Oldani and Frank Borg in particular who took good catches of redfin.

John took his 4-year-old granddaughter Adeline out on the lake where their catch included a rainbow trout of possibly 1.5 kg taken on scrubworms.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that around 25 members fished their monthly competition on the Loddon River downstream from the Laanecoorie Weir. Here, 20 odd legal-size yellowbelly to 52 cm were taken, along with several Murray cod that were caught and returned to the water being closed season for that species.

Kevin also reports joining Ken Hinks at Lake Lonsdale near Stawell last week, for a catch of 30 good size redfin that were taken on Beetlespin, soft plastics and soft-bodied Jackall lures.

Paul asks:

Geoff, when do you believe the snapper will come on the bite in earnest this season; those that come into the bay from Bass Strait?

Paul, converging water temperatures of Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait provide the best guide. Please check the following link:

http://www.baywx.com.au/temps.html

When the green line representing the water temperature in Bass Strait converges with the water temperatures within the bay – usually between 14 and 15 C – that is an excellent guide to when it happens.  And, as you can see from the chart, that event is now well underway.

Dragan Medjed with the snapper catch taken offshore from Point Henry (Picture: Dan Gallardo).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Fishing just offshore from Point Henry on Tuesday evening, Dan Gallardo and Dragan Medjed were hopeful of catching a snapper or two, but – although they were getting bites – whatever they were seemed finicky, not at all like snapper.

So, they tried a variety of baits including silver whiting and a snook fillet, but what tempted the two snapper they caught, each around the 3 kg mark, was a pilchard and a strip of squid.

After last week’s report of snapper being caught from the Portarlington breakwaters, I’ve received mail on the downside of what has accompanied the excellent fishing to be found here, and that is the accumulation of rubbish on these structures.

The message is simple: Nothing you bring with you should be discarded inappropriately. If material surplus to your requirements is brought in, it should be taken to a proper disposal site when you leave.

Whiting are still on offer, but an influx of small fish can make prime specimens be hard to find, something Garry Ridgeway and Lindsay Robinson discovered early last week.

However, they stuck it out until nightfall in one of their usually productive spots between Clifton Springs and Curlewis, eventually picking up twenty keepers to 40 cm along with several squid and a decent size flathead.

Fishing for whiting offshore from Point Richards last Tuesday morning, Gordon and Carol Williams were out to catch the last few hours of the incoming tide, but pinkie snapper and small whiting became a nuisance.

However, after making several moves, they found a better class of fish, and using mussel for bait, finished with a respectable tally of keepers to 40 cm before they went off the bite on slack water.

Jimmy Oldani with another good catch, mainly redfin, from Lake Purrumbete (Picture: John Clements).

Freshwater

John Clements of Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that the lake is fishing well with redfin the main species sought.

Some great catches were made by a number of folk over the weekend, including by Jimmy Oldani who used scrubworms for bait.

Simon and Jayden Werner and Michael Dean made the trip from Geelong to Lake Lonsdale near Stawell, and nearby Lake Fyans over the weekend, taking good catches of redfin at both locations. Lake Fyans also produced four pan size trout, three rainbows and one brown.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that club member Ken Hinks also made the journey to Lake Lonsdale where he caught redfin to 40 cm trolling with beetlespins.

Interestingly, when Ken cleaned his fish, he found they’d been dining on yabbies, so there is another species worth trying for.

Kevin also mentions that club member Stephen Eales, along with daughter Lily 7, and son Mason 5, caught 30 redfin to 38 cm fishing the Loddon River downstream from Cairn Curran Reservoir.

Kevin also reports that Tullaroop Reservoir is still closed to boating, but now, with minimal flow over the spillway, he believes that this water will soon be opened to boating again.

Mordialloc

George Vlahogiannis fished Mordialloc Pier on Monday morning, through rain, hail and winds up to 40 knots on occasion, for just 2 pinkies and a 52 cm snapper. However, his companion caught one of 3 kg.

It was much too rough on Tuesday morning though, and when the tide started coming in, it brought in sufficient weed to make it unfishable.

Colin asks:
Is there anything being done at Lake Bullen Merri to solve the blue-green algae problem? It’s really bad.

Colin, an artificial aeration system was introduced at Lake Bullen Merri by VFA in the early 1980s to assist in the destratification of water layers within the lake, a move largely supported by anglers because of the improved water quality – including an amelioration of the algae problem – particularly in the vicinity of this device.

That device was decommissioned after a review conducted in 2009 by VFA on the basis of cost, which was some $15,000 a year, a seemingly small price to pay to help sustain a world class salmonid fishery, but there you are.

More recently, a 12-month trial of four solar-powered. algae-deactivating devices conducted by the Corangamite Shire – which have now been removed – produced encouraging results.

Given the success of this trial, the council hoped Victoria’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) would provide sufficient investment for the installation of, and monitoring of 16 such floating, solar powered devices on the lake.

I have no information that the required investment is forthcoming, which probably means the blue-green algae problem may be here to stay.

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

Rob Walters of Hamilton with his 46 cm redfin from Lake Purrumbete (Picture: John Clements).

Lake Purrumbete

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that the lake is fishing well with redfin the main target species: Robert Walters from Hamilton caught them up to 46 cm using scrubworms for bait in 9 metres of water while John Hewitt from Port Fairy got a nice catch as well, his biggest was 42 cm.

Mind you, John and Jimmy Oldani had crews of their own consisting of Lance Oswald, Mick Ryan, Peter Edgar, Greg Woods, Graham Franklin, Colin Mathes, all coming down from Strathmerton. They managed to cover the cleaning table with redfin with 10 of their fish over the 40 cm mark: their biggest measured 46 cm.

Trophy size brown trout are also on offer said John, but Chris Farrugia’s recent capture of a 4 kg specimen from the lake might take some beating.

Fish stocking coordinator, Rhiannon Atkinson reports that Lake Purrumbete is to be stocked with 10,000 brown trout and the same number of rainbows over the next few weeks. The ETAs for these stockings will be from 1:15-1:30 pm.

First stocking will be next Thursday, the 12^th of October, with one truck holding from 8000-9000 brown trout at an average size of 40-50g. The next stocking will be on Wednesday, the 18^th of October, with 1000-2000 brown trout and 8000 rainbows, all on one truck. The final rainbow trout stocking will be on Tuesday, the 24^th of October.

Please let Rhiannon know by email, rhiannon.atkinson@vfa.vic.gov.au or by mobile, 0407 987 016 if you wish to attend any of these Lake Purrumbete stockings.

Stocking dates for Lake Bullen Merri are dependent on planned boat ramp upgrades and water quality. These will be notified in due course.

John Clements’ crew on a hot redfin bite in 9 metres of water on Lake Purrumbete (Picture: John Clements).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that, early last week, local anglers Peter and Des fished for whiting off the mussel farm, where – initially at least – the fishing was quiet, and battling wind against tide was uncomfortable.

However, after the tide changed – now becoming more aligned with the breeze – they made a couple of moves, eventually dropping onto a good bite that yielded 32 keepers from 36 to 43 cm while using squid for bait.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire, Indented Head, welcomed an improvement in the weather over the weekend with squid of mixed sizes the main catch.

Jeff Richards from Indented Head reports that each of the two breakwaters at Portarlington are producing snapper for land-based anglers with the shorter structure at the north end of Fisher Street arguably the most productive, but watch your step going out here, particularly at night when the bigger fish seem to be caught.

Barwon Estuary

Having acquired a good supply of crabs for bait last week, Jason Treloar and Harley Griffiths headed for The Sheepwash in the late afternoon to catch the last of the incoming tide, and possibly first of the ebb, hoping to catch a bream or two.

They caught three as it turned out; a couple of good ones around the kilogram mark, and another around 700 grams; the action happening as the tide slackened off toward evening.

George Vlahogiannis’ catch of snapper from the Morning Pier last week.

Peter asks:

Geoff, given the glowing reports by some noteworthy anglers, including yourself, on the effectiveness of circle hooks, I’ve tried them, but with disappointing results. Can you provide any advice on their use?

Peter, circle hooks work by trapping any ridge of cartilage, particularly the jaw hinge, in the gap between the point and the shank of the hook, but for this to happen, it is important that this gap not be clogged with bait, or the hook won’t take hold.

Impaling strip baits at one end so that they swing freely from the curve of the hook is effective, up to a point, but are susceptible to pickers and can be easily removed if the fish sought does not engulf them completely.

So, for increased security, binding the bait to the trace with bait elastic – or, as I have done on occasion with large baits, with small cable ties, taking care that the hook stands well clear of the bait – is probably the best option.

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

Aiden Jarosinski and six-year-old son Jobe with the Gummy shark the lad hooked offshore from Anglesea (Picture: Kevin McLoughlin).

Offshore

Fishing offshore from Anglesea on Sunday was Kevin McLoughlin along with Aiden Jarosinski and Aiden’s six-year-old son Jobe.

And while their catch consisted mainly of southern calamari, it was clear what Jobe hooked on the salmon fillet he had on for bait was no squid.

However, with some dutiful coaching from his dad, the lad captured a gummy shark of around 10 kg.

Jude Peace 10, with the 56 cm flathead he caught near Queenscliff’s Bell Reef (Picture: Philip Peace).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Early last week, Philip Peace, along with sons Hartley 13 and Jude 10, headed out into the Lonsdale Bight from Queenscliff where, fishing in around 7 metres of water, they caught 19 whiting to 45 cm.

However, Jude – arguably – caught the fish of the day, a 56 cm flathead that was taken just off Bell Reef on a cocktail bait of pipi and squid.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that fishing has picked up, along with the improvement in the weather, and among those to do well were Clifton Springs locals Peter, and Des.

Although they had a slow start off Curlewis on the outgoing tide, taking only four whiting to 30 cm, a move back to the mussel farm off Clifton Springs on the tide change made all the difference, topping up their catch here with 34 whiting from 34 to 43 cm using mainly squid for bait.

On Friday morning, George Vlahogiannis bagged out on garfish from the Mordialloc pier using silverfish for bait. They were also taking maggots, said George.

Andrew Johnson reports that he and Denis O’Brien headed out off Curlewis early on Tuesday morning last week to find the whiting well and truly on the bite, each reaching their legal limit of twenty keepers before lunchtime.

These ranged in size from 35 to 42 cm and were all caught on squid strips and mussels in 4.5 metres of water.

After an unproductive trip to Wurdiboluc Reservoir on the weekend with rafts of drifting weed making fishing almost impossible, Simon Werner headed out off Indented Head where he picked up five respectable squid.

On Saturday though, Steve O’Keefe took one look at the number of boats fishing in the Lonsdale Bight and headed across the bay to Portsea. And, while he broke no records, he caught six really good size squid including one that greeted the scales for a verdict of 3.2 kg.

Jeff Richards has regularly reported the increasing number of people fishing for, and catching snapper, on each of Portarlington’s breakwaters. On Sunday, said Jeff, the place was crowded, particularly the shorter construction at the north end of Fisher Street, which has been arguably the most productive of the two.

Adam Nolan with his 32 cm snapper taken from the Barwon estuary (Picture: Nat Nolan).

Barwon Estuary

Early last week, Adam Nolan 13, was fishing from the exposed sand at low tide near the Ozone Road jetty with his dad Nat, awaiting the incoming tide and the variety of fish that usually come in with it.

And, using chicken for bait, he hooked something a little different to what was expected; a 32 cm snapper, which – after being photographed – was released.

Jack Kelly from Romsey and Denham Hansford from Drysdale with 3 redfin over 40 cm from Lake Purrumbete (Picture: John Clements).

Freshwater

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club has just arrived in Queensland to fish the Gold Coast Flathead Classic but has stayed connected with other club members who have also done some travelling, but less far.

Fishing at Lake Lonsdale near Stawell, Ken Hinks and John Logan caught a total of 15 really good size redfin to 1.5 kg trolling soft plastics, while Greg Streets and Leonie Jones fished nearby Lake Fyans for a similar result.

On Thursday, Victorian Inland Charters skipper Ken Carmen had clients Steve and his son James, who was celebrating his 17^th birthday, on board at Lake Purrumbete last week, all planning to hit the redfin.

Well, they kept a healthy catch of 28 reddies to 36 cm, a 40 cm tiger trout, along with two small chinook salmon that were returned. All were caught on soft plastics and 3-inch Fish Arrows in the Neon Green/Silver coloration.

Also spending a day on the reddies at Lake Purrumbete were Jack Kelly from Romsey and Denham Hansford from Drysdale who caught a total of 65 redfin, three of which were over the 40 cm mark.

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

Rory Adam with the 132 kg tuna that he and friend Jiles caught offshore from Barwon Heads.

Offshore

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve reported on Portland’s run of large bluefin tuna. Well, they have now turned up closer to home.

With that in mind, and a favourable forecast, Rory Adam, and companion Jiles Gallichan, headed out off Barwon Heads, their attention being eventually drawn to birds wheeling over a disturbance at the surface, which – as they approached with lures rigged and ready – was a veritable zoo of dolphins, seals, and even whales.

And it wasn’t long before one of their reels howled off, heralding a lengthy battle with what turned out to be a tuna that weighed 132 kg.

Hartley Peace 13, with the 40 cm bream he caught from the Barwon Estuary (Picture: Lucky Peace).

Alan Morgan’s surprise catch from The Sheepwash last week.

Barwon Estuary

Spending the school holidays at Ocean Grove, 13-year-old Hartley Peace from Lysterfield made good use of his bait pump on Sunday morning’s low tide, gathering sufficient crustaceans for a session from the bank on the rising tide.

Rigging up with a live pistol shrimp, He cast it out into the deeper water, and within a few minutes, Hartley was in a tense battle with what turned out to be a 40 cm black bream that he estimated to be at least a kilogram.

Fishing the Barwon estuary on Wednesday, but further upstream at the Sheepwash, Alan Morgan had a surprise catch on the cut pilchard he was using for bait that he identified as a quinnat salmon (now referred to as a chinook), and sent in a photo.

Well, it certainly was an unusual catch, and at 820 grams it finished up the table where its pink flesh was enjoyed by the whole family.

Two of several bream taken by George Vlahogiannis from the Patterson River at Carrum using gentles (blow fly maggots), for bait.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Taking a run out off Curlewis early last week, Paul Raduka and Dennis McDowell were after whiting, and after being plagued with small and undersize specimens, a series of moves into deeper water produced a better class of fish.

And, while most of those they caught were in the 30 odd cm range their catch included a beauty of 46 cm, another of 41 cm, along with a couple of nice flathead and a snotty trevalla, all being taken on pipis and squid.

Andrew Johnson reports managing to get out for a fish on Thursday morning and caught 10 whiting before a massive stingray moved in and they went off the bite.

Andrew moved a couple of times and found another good bite in four metres of water off Curlewis, taking twenty keepers from 35 to 41 cm.

Also fishing for whiting from Corio Bay’s outer harbour last week, Gordon and Carol Williams were out to catch the afternoon tide change at one of their formerly productive spots off Point Richards, but pinkie snapper and other bait thieves became a nuisance.

However, after making several moves, a drop in 5.5 metres of water produced a couple nudging the 40 cm mark and were kept busy out there with quality fish until the gathering breeze initiated their retreat, each just shy of their legal bag limits.

Bradon asks:

Geoff, I am going after the tuna, first opportunity, and have bought some wind–on leaders to use. However, I’ve been told that you shouldn’t use wind-on leaders with skirted lures. Is this right, and if so, why?

Bradon, the difficulty arises – particularly with tuna which travel in schools – that when a fish strikes the lure, hooks up and takes line, the lure will slide all the way back up the leader to the loop-spliced Dacron sleeve at the other end where a second strike on that lure is likely to dislodge the sleeve from the leader, freeing the hooked fish.

This event can be easily overcome by rigging your lures on separate leaders, no more than say 1.5 metres in length, which can be attached to your wind-on by means of strong clip and swivel.

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

Adrian Ryan with the 116 kg tuna he caught offshore from Portland (Picture: Portland Bait and Tackle).

Portland

As I reported last week, the fishing is presently good off Portland, and surprisingly, with comparatively few anglers making the journey down that way to share in the bounty.

However, according to the folk at Portland Bait and Tackle, local anglers have been doing well and among the photos they sent me was one of local fishing identity Adrian Ryan. Adrian made the bold move of taking a solo run offshore in search of big tuna and was probably wise enough to have only one lure out when he hooked up.

As you can imagine, he had a battle on his hands with the 116 kg bluefin that took it, and which kept him busy into the evening with the crew from Portland bait and tackle ready and willing to put it on the scales.

Pete Galea with the gummy shark he caught from Portland (Picture: Portland Bait and Tackle).

There were school and gummy shark in the mix as well with local fishing stalwart Pete Galea pictured with a large gummy shark, but with no reference to its size I’d guess it would have been around the 20 kg mark.

Darcy Scott with a 3 kg squid taken out wide from the Lonsdale Bight (Picture Murray Scott).

Martinus de Lange with one of his estuary perch from the Sheepwash.

Bellarine Peninsula

Hopeful of catching squid from the Lonsdale Bight on Sunday morning’s incoming tide, Murray and Darcy Scott were disappointed to find the water heavily discoloured, something which usually puts the squid to ground. A move out into deeper water was also less than encouraging, initially anyway.

Unwilling to give up though, and with the sounder ticking over in just over twelve metres, they found a stream of water clear enough to see the bottom. And the squid, of which they caught 17, including some really big ones to 3 kg. That was before they went off the bite following high slack water.

One of Rob Baxter’s brown trout from Tullaroop Reservoir’s feeder stream (Picture Kevin Wild).

Maryborough Angling Club member John Rivett with his 39 cm yellowbelly from Cairn Curran Reservoir.

Freshwater

Frank Benvenuto has caught bass from the Werribee River over the last couple of weeks, the biggest of which measured 45 cm and took a D-style Reserve, floating minnow-type lure retrieved on a short cast, but that was the only fish that he caught above the weir.

He’d seen it smash prey on the surface for three nights in a row, but in a spot with no casting access. However, the following evening, Frank got as close as he could to where it was rising, flipped out his lure, and within ten seconds or so the big girl smashed it.

One of Frank Benvenuto’s estuary perch from the Werribee River.

Fishing below the weir, he caught another six bass along with the occasional decent size estuary perch. All were taken on 2.75-inch, paddle-tail soft plastics, each rigged with a 1/24^th of an ounce jig head; a good imitation of the numerous galaxiid present here, said Frank.

Fishing for estuary perch from the Barwon estuary on Sunday night was Martinus de Lange and casting 2-inch Z-man grubs in the motor oil colouration from the Sheepwash boat ramp pontoon, he caught several, keeping one of 30 cm and releasing the others.

Fishing Wurdiboluc Reservoir last week was Simon Werner who experienced lean pickings from his prolonged casting session with his old faithful Pegron Tiger, eventually being rewarded with a brown trout of just over a kilogram.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that they had an outing at Cairn Curran Reservoir at the weekend with yellowbelly to 39 cm being taken, both from the bank, and by anglers fishing from boats in relatively shallow water close to shore.

Kevin reports that nearby Tullaroop Reservoir is producing some big redfin from the bank, something to which club member Trevor Perry could attest with his most recent catch on worms including a fish of 47 cm.

And, fishing the main feeder creek into the Reservoir, club member Robert Baxter caught several brown trout, the biggest around 2 kg, using soft plastics.

Some club members have been widely dispersed said Kevin with Ken Hinks making yet another trip to Lake Lonsdale near Stawell where he caught good numbers of redfin to 43 cm on each occasion he ventured out, using soft plastics and beetlespins.

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