Big snapper still biting
Reddies in the river, pinkies in the bay and...
PAUL Raduka was coaching his five-year-old daughter Layla on the art of lure casting on the Barwon River in South Geelong — with a Z-Man grub in this case — when a strike followed by a solid hook-up, took them both unawares.
Nevertheless, calm prevailed, and with some sound coaching from dad, Layla was rewarded with a redfin that later weighed in at 780 grams.
Anchored up to the east of Wilson Spit in 8.5 metres of water by 7.30pm Wednesday, Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck had an hour or so to relax before a 3.5kg snapper gained their attention.
There was nothing happening for a while after that but they stuck it out and were rewarded at about 10pm, when they landed the first of three more fish, the biggest weighing 5.3kg.
Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire also reports snapper being still on offer with Chris O’Toole, Cash Sutherland and Lenny Burnham all taking fish to 5kg or so using fresh squid for bait. Good size pinkies have been taken as well said Mike, with Alf Cardarelli taking half a dozen to 40cm, along with flathead to 45cm using squid and salted pilchards for bait.
Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that, while most clients have caught flathead and squid, pinkie snapper to 1.5kg have also been caught between Steeles Rocks at Portarlington and the nearby mussel farm.
Despite an uncertain start thanks to a fairly stiff north easterly breeze, Chris Stamalos and Kelvin McLean were out through Barwon Heads by daybreak and heading west toward Black Rock where there was some shelter.
It was a good move, as it turned out, for not only did the wind ease, but at anchor in 32 metres of water, they each took bag limit catches of snapper to 4.5kg.
Amber Stone and Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club fished Cairn Curran Reservoir last week, and — in their first few minutes of trolling lures — Amber picked up a golden perch (yellowbelly) measuring 49.5cm.
Fishing nearby was John Gray whom they called over, and he picked up another of 56cm. So, with two good size fish taken in short order, it looked as though they were about to have a good day; but all they caught after that were small redfin.
Speaking of redfin, the pair heard a whisper that Walkers Lake near St Arnaud was firing, but it was clear on their arrival that whisper had spread, judging by the number of boats on the water, but redfin were there for the taking by all.
John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that the redfin bite continues, and that George Gillies of Winchelsea picked up his share of fish to 600 grams or so on soft plastics.
Chinook salmon to 1.5kg are also present in good numbers and among those to catch them was Les Broughton of Geelong, who caught several on pilchard fillets suspended just above the bottom.
Brown trout have been a bit scarce though, but Brian Nygaard of Bacchus Marsh has recently caught several on mudeyes suspended beneath a float.
Geoff, on reading last week’s column, I am again reminded of you and your friend’s catches of kingfish at Coffin Bay but the distance has put me off. However, I believe you can now catch a ferry across Spencer Gulf, which would shorten the journey?
Also, when is the best time to go?
Ollie, while the Spencer Gulf ferry, which runs from Wallaroo on the east side to Lucky Bay (near Cowell) on the West side of the gulf, does significantly shorten the jour- ney, a recorded message on their phone (08 8823 0777) confirms the service has been temporarily suspended during a current upgrade of the Lucky Bay port facility.
Kingfish may be caught within a kilometre or so of the Coffin Bay boat ramp in October and November, and probably early December. The most productive tide sequences begin from three days before either a full or new moon, the next occurring this very week and December 4-11. As for accommodation, the caravan park is near the boat ramp.