Mulloway takes bait
Soft plastics land big catch near Sheepwash
LAST week kayakers Mitch Wolak, Marcus Devlin and Klynt Holwerda ventured upstream from the Sheepwash on the last kick of flood tide, targeting mulloway with soft plastics.
They had a couple of strikes on the way upstream, and one good hook-up on a solid fish that lasted a couple of minutes. But with nothing since, their hopes began to fade.
That was until Mitch hooked up once more on the way back to the Sheepwash and, after a tactical duel on light tackle that lasted at least 10 minutes, caught an 89cm mulloway that was hooked by the skin of its lip.
Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula
On Friday night, Darcy Scott headed out into 8m of water off Curlewis where he hooked what was obviously a goodsized snapper within minutes of anchoring up. Unfortunately, it escaped but at 8pm a second fish of 7.5kg wasn’t so lucky.
On Sunday, Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien found a good patch of whiting off the south eastern (Point Richards) corner of the mussel farm, and in fairly strong winds and choppy seas, they caught 22 to 40cm and several flathead to 48cm.
Mike Windsor, of Clifton Springs Boat Hire, reports that there are also good-sized whiting to be caught off Curlewis, and among the successful anglers were Peter Clark and his grandson Jack McTaggart who sent in a photo of their catch.
Rod Ludlow, of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head, reports that whiting have made a welcome return to clients’ bags, and that more would have been caught in better weather. Good-sized pinkies have been caught as well, said Rod, but land-based anglers fishing from the Fisher Street Breakwater at Portarlington have caught some much larger fish.
Scott Teesdale and a companion had another try for the kingfish at Port Phillip Heads after the previous week’s dry run. This time they caught three of 6, 9 and 12kg while drifting with freshly-caught squid for bait on the ebb tide.
Freshwater
John Clements, of Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park, reports that since the algal bloom has dissipated on Lake Bullen Merri, some great chinook salmon, mostly in the 3-4kg range, have been caught, both on baits like pilchards and glassies and on various lures.
The biggest by far measured 1.1m in length and probably would have weighed 9kg. It was caught by Terry Sheppard of Regal Marine who released it for another day. However, Terry did catch another fish of about 3.5kg that he kept.
Lake Purrumbete is still on song for large brown trout said John, with Johnno Currie weighing in one of 4.2kg that he caught using a downrigger.
Australia Day fishing competition
St Leonards and Bellarine Pirates Angling Clubs are hosting a flathead fishing competition over the Australia Day weekend from 6pm on Friday to 3pm on Saturday. Prizes include $200 for the heaviest flathead plus $200 for the entry tag raffle. Competition headquarters and weigh-in will be at the Clifton Springs boat ramp.
Entry fee is $10 per person and must be paid by Thursday, January 25, either by money transfer to Bendigo Bank, account 134873140, along with ‘FH18 and your name’.
Or by post to PO Box 1070 St Leonards 3223.
For more information, phone Phil Walters on 0411 215 146 or email secretary.fish@bigpond.com George asks: Geoff, I’ve heard there is good land-based squid fishing from Bell Reef. Can you please tell me where it is, and if there is anything else to be caught there?
Geoff says: Bell Reef is below Queenscliff’s white lighthouse and becomes sufficiently exposed for relatively safe fishing on tides falling to 0.3m or less. But you’ll need to wade out from the beach through a shallow channel to reach the reef itself.
Squid are caught from the Point Lonsdale side of the red port side marker, usually with a baited stem jig fished under a float with rod and reel. But snapper and the occasional kingfish have been caught from the Queenscliff side of the marker by casting into the obvious tidal stream with a sufficiently heavy sinker to hold bottom.