Whiting worth the wait
Conditions a little rough for anglers, but ...
IT was a waiting game for whiting aficionados Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien on Sunday, with a strong nor’easter ruling out the waters off Clifton Springs. But with a change in the weather forecast, they were hopeful.
Not in vain either, for when the wind dropped they were on the water by early afternoon, making the first of several moves by 1.30pm, picking up a handful of fish each time before swarms of undersized pinkies moved in on their baits.
Eventually, though, they hit paydirt in 4.5 metres of water off Leopold, topping off their respective bag limit catches with not another boat in sight.
Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that while whiting and squid have been taken in good numbers, flathead remain the best chance for most. Among those to be successful on the flatties was Darren Hillier, who found a good patch in 4.5 metres of water off Portarlington, bagging 20 that ranged in size from 33 to 51cm.
Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that flathead whiting and squid were all dependable catches over the Easter break, both by his clients and local anglers — that included Jeff Richards, who also did well on both squid and whiting.
Fishing with Ken Shae on the Prince George Bank near the pile known as Dead Man’s Stick, the pair caught 26 whiting between them using pipis and squid for bait, 15 of which they caught on the drift before anchoring up on the whiting.
OFFSHORE
Taking a run offshore from Torquay over Easter, Murray and Darcy Scott headed to their never-fail gummy shark spot, in about 50 metres of water.
Well, there’s a first time for everything, for they caught no gummies. Nevertheless, their mixed bag of fish included a snapper of 4kg, so it wasn’t a wasted trip.
FRESHWATER
Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that members Craig and Rhys Tingay made the journey to Lake Tchum, which is just off the Birchip/Wycheproof Road shortly after leaving the Sunraysia Highway at Birchip.
Their journey proved worthwhile, with the capture of a dozen golden perch (yellowbelly) to 48cm on yabbies and worms.
And, although they took a boat, most of their fish were caught from the bank.
Fishing from the bank of the Loddon, just downstream from the spillway, club member Paul Droney caught yet another respectable Murray cod measuring 84cm. And although he doesn’t provide more detail as to the variety, he used cheese for bait.
Kevin and his longtime fishing companion Amber — now his wife — who had just returned from their honeymoon, found it hard to resist a trip to Lake Mulwala near Yarrawonga on their return. Here they caught and released 13 Murray cod, with ‘Old Mate’ lures a standout.
HAMZA ASKS:
Geoff, I’ve heard that estuary perch may be caught from the Barwon estuary; can you give me likely locations, and the approach?
Hamza, both tributaries off the north-west side of the Sheepwash — one just west of the golf course and adjacent to the Ocean Grove boat ramp, the other a little further upstream and almost opposite the Sheepwash boat ramp — have both produced estuary perch.
Both are navigable by kayak or small dinghy. Both are shallow at the entrance and may require a dismount and a push to exit at low tide.
There used to be pedestrian access (with appropriate footwear) to the Ocean Grove golf course tributary from the west side of Wallington Road opposite Thacker Street, and that may still be the case.
Estuary perch have also been caught from the upper Barwon estuary running north from the west arm of Lake Connewarre to the second break, access being with a kayak or small dinghy from Tait Point via Stacey’s Road, Connewarre.
As for the approach, estuary perch may be caught on a variety of lures fished close in to the reeds, particularly on warm evenings, or on a range of live baits from bass yabbies to black crickets, which may be attached to the hook with a wrap or two of bait elastic.