New squid on the block
Snapper, whiting caught over weekend, but check out the ...
Among snapper enthusiasts crowded around the Wilson Spit and Point Richards channel junction over the weekend was Stewart O’Brien, who had made an early morning start.
But with nothing doing, neither by he, nor anyone nearby, by midday, he was on the move.
While slowly motoring back, a promising echo on his sounder persuaded yet another try, which was more successful this time with the capture of a 7.8kg snapper.
Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien hit pay-dirt off Curlewis in fairly rough weather on Friday, catching 20 whiting. So, with calmer seas on Saturday they made it a double with yet another catch of 20 whiting, the biggest measuring 40cm.
Mike Windsor, of Clifton Springs Boat Hire, reports the boat ramp carpark was completely full over the weekend, but good bags of fish, including whiting, were taken.
Among the successful anglers were Murray and Darcy Scott who picked up respectable bags of whiting. Not only that, but when one of their fish was pursued to the surface by a large squid they put a jig over the side, taking three of these tasty cephalopods in quick succession.
Also picking up whiting off Avalon was Les Awty who also caught 10 squid, while Frank and Coral, of Ballarat, caught 23 flathead off The Springs.
Rod Ludlow, of Beachlea Boat Hire, at Indented Head, reports that many anglers benefitted from the recent influx of large squid at Queenscliff and around the Bellarine Peninsula with both prawn imitations and stem jigs baited with fish such as silver whiting, getting the job done.
Among those to catch them last week were AJ Azzopardi who did well in 6m of water off Queenscliff, with Diesel Grech and his uncle Silvio picking up some beauties in 4m of water off St Leonards.
Chris Stamalos and his friend Brendan were on the water off Barwon Heads by 3.30am Sunday and, by 4.30am, Chris caught a large gummy shark that later weighed 23kg.
It was a bit slow after that though, their only other catch being a much smaller gummy shark and a large squid that was hooked in the tentacle.
John Clements, of Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park, reports that redfin have been on the bite, with Terry Lindsay, of Mario’s Fresh Bait, taking respectable bags of fish to 600 grams on soft plastics.
Apart from that it’s been pretty quiet, John said, with chinook salmon being the only other highlight with Chris Farrugia, from Oaklands Junction, picking up several to 1.5kg, along with the occasional brown trout.
Kevin Wild and Amber Stone, of the Maryborough Angling Club, fished Taylors Lake near Horsham last week where they caught a number of golden perch to 42cm on lures, and a Murray cod that was returned.
On Sunday, Kevin fished Cairn Curran Reservoir with his father John, where their catch included golden perch to 40cm and eight redfin.
Hosted by the Victorian Fishing Authority, the Hooked on Bellarine event is funded by the State Government’s Target One Million plan to get more people fishing more often, and is to be held on the Portarlington Harbour foreshore from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, October 14.
The free event will feature clinics by fishing experts Aaron Habgood and Kristina Royter, held in conjunction with casting competitions.
There will also be seafood cooking demonstrations by MasterChef’s Sam Goodwin, along with additional drumbeats from marine scientist Dr Corey Green and Richmond footy star Bachar Houli. Geoff, I read in an early edition of your book, Fishing Gee- long and the Bellarine Peninsula, that you can catch kingfish at the Alcoa Pier, Point Henry. What is the approach?
Ollie, I suggest it’s a bit early to look for kingfish around the Alcoa Pier with February and March historically being best. As for the ap- proach, I suggest being on the water before very first light to get some garfish using a spotlight and dip net, and troll them live along the south side of the pier. Failing that, you could perhaps catch some small but legal-size salmon and present them in the same manner; but gars are best.