Simon says plastic is fantastic for catching big bay snapper
WITH snapper about, most use baits of various kinds to tempt them. However, on Saturday, Simon Williams rigged with a soft plastic lure on which he caught, and then released, a prime specimen off Clifton Springs.
Fishing off Point Wilson last week, Gustavo and Alexia Kurten were also hoping for a snapper. They caught two as it turned out, Alexia with the biggest, a beauty of 5kg, along with a gummy shark.
On Friday evening, Gustavo, his friend Matthew Ribcack, and Matthew’s eightyear-old son Zander headed out off St Helens hoping for some snapper action a little closer to hand.
A good move as it turned out, for they caught six, including one approaching 5kg.
They were mostly taken on the low tide change with Zander also into the action, catching his first snapper.
Naturally, others caught them as well including Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien who anchored up just north of the No.9 Wilson Spit channel marker on Friday, taking their first fish before sunrise. They each caught their respective bag limits from 4kg to 5.9kg in fairly short order before completing the day’s outing with the capture of 17 squid from the Curlewis shallows.
After sounding along the edge of the Wilson Spit Channel east of Point Henry on Saturday, Collan and Malcolm Erard anchored up over some promising marks. Each hooked a good-size snapper. Collan dropped his though, while Malcolm subdued one of 6kg.
However, within the hour, Collan hooked up once more, this time to a 6.7kg fish.
Making a 5.30am start north of the No.3 Point Richards channel marker on Wednesday, also after snapper, Andrew Phillips, Mark Sesar and Tony Greck took several fish to 4.7kg. However, they too eventually broke out the squid jigs and headed into the shallower water, each finishing up with their respective baglimit catches of squid that included one of 1.34kg.
With snapper the main focus, whiting have been neglected somewhat, but Mark Sesar and wife Tina made an early morning whiting trip in 5m of water off Clifton Springs.
With a healthy bite kicking in on the incoming tide, they kept 25 good specimens, most from 38 to 42cm.
Rod Ludlow, of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head, reports that whiting are still rewarding clients with the area off Grassy Point in particular, well worth a visit. Squid too, are in good numbers, said Rod, although perhaps not in the quantity seen last week.
OFF THE BEACH
ARRIVING at Jan Juc at first light on Wednesday, Ray Millman made his way up toward Rocky Point where he’d previously been successful on the salmon, and with a rising tide, he was hopeful.
Initial casts with his everreliable 42g Savage Sea Missile, produced no strikes, not until just on sunrise anyway when the bite began, producing salmon to 750g or so on almost every cast.
FRESHWATER
ON Thursday, Gustavo Kurten tried his luck at Wurdiboluc Reservoir and, using soft plastics, he caught several redfin, the biggest at 46cm.
Fish stocking co-ordinator Rhiannon Atkinson reports there is a planned release of up to 1200 tiger trout averaging 600g into Lake Purrumbete at 1.30pm on Thursday, an operation to be initiated from the boat ramp. Dates and times may change, so potential attendees are requested to contact Rhiannon on 0407 987 016 or by email at rhiannon.atkinson@vfa.vic.gov.au for confirmation.