Big snapper still biting
Land-based anglers get in on the action
SNAPPER are still on offer and there are some good ones, like the one Aaron Habgood, of Red’s Fishing Adventures, caught on calamari ring in 10m of water offshore from Clifton Springs and estimated to be at least 7kg.
On Thursday night, Andrew Phillips and George Uranus were surprised to see a good many boats in their usual snapper spot north of the Curlewis channel junction and put their anchor down some distance away.
However, conditions were less than encouraging with a fair bit of chop and banjo sharks taking their baits of silver whiting.
They persisted, and about 11pm Andrew caught a snapper of 7.5kg.
By this time the sea had calmed, but it was another long wait before George picked up a snapper of 6kg in the early hours of Friday.
Mike Windsor, of Clifton Springs Boat Hire, reports pinky snapper to 40cm are also on the bite off Curlewis, with Lee Cleary catching them on silver whiting fillets.
Flathead are also about, with Jake Williams catching several to 48cm. However, salmon continue to be a big attraction — fish to 50cm have been taken between Curlewis and Point Henry.
Rod Ludlow, of Beachlea Boat Hire, at Indented Head reports patchy weather kept many boats ashore. However, land-based anglers caught snapper from the Portarlington breakwater and St Leonards Pier over the weekend.
Offshore
Making an early start offshore from Torquay on Friday, Kevin McLoughlin and brother Jeremy headed out deep looking for snapper. There was not much doing, so they moved in much closer looking for a whiting or two.
They caught only one as it turned out, but Jeremy was kept busy by whatever took the fish fillet he had on for bait, and which turned out to be a 20kg school shark.
Freshwater
Lake Purrumbete continues to produce trophy-size brown trout, as Paul Rahman could relate after catching a beauty of 4.6kg on Saturday. He, and Paul Kovzan, who deftly netted the big fish, also caught eight smaller fish to 1.4kg. All were taken on mudeyes fished beneath bubble floats.
John Clements, of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park, reports Warrnambool fly fisher Paul Barnaby took a 4.2kg rainbow trout on the fly. However, redfin remained the main chance on the lake, said John, which was demonstrated by “Ferno” and “Bathy” from Cobram who put their catch of 180 fish down to the efficacy of their Fish Arrow J Huddles in Wakasagi silver.
Portland
Down Portland way, Bob McPherson reports that tuna, some well over the 100kg mark, are still being taken offshore. Simon Rinaldi, of Red Hot Charters, had no trouble finding them for his clients, who have weighed in fish to 144kg. Mind you, a good many others have caught them as well, including George Hemmings and his crew, who caught a beauty of 152kg from 70m of water offshore from Lawrence Rocks.
Bob also mentions that bottom fishing out wide from Portland is still producing a variety of fish including blueeye trevalla, one of which Keryn Millard — who fishes with her father, Dean — caught last week weighing 20kg.
St Leonards Yacht Club and Motor Squadron at 1001 Lower Bluff Rd, St Leonards, is hosting a family fishing competition next weekend.
Lines may be down from 6am on the Saturday with fish to be presented for weigh-in no later than 3pm on Sunday.
For further information please contact secretary.fish@bigpond.com or Phil on 0411 215 146.
A total prize pool of $2500 is on offer for a family entry fee of $10, which covers all sections.
The sections are: nippers (male and female) of nine years and under; juniors (male and female) aged 10-18 years; and adults.
Payment may be made by direct credit to Bendigo Bank BSB 633-000, Account 134873140 as “Family 17” (with surname and initials included), or by post to PO Box 1070, St Leonards 3223.