BLUE PLANET
With an ice box full of flatheads we decided it was time to try something different and make our way in the flattening water back in the direction of Portland and a reef mark in search of snapper. It was midday by now and the temperature in this part of south-eastern Victoria was forecast to reach 36°c as the late summer mini heatwave continued. At this point I should mention that throughout the course of the morning we had been followed or joined by small groups of bottlenose dolphins, either riding the bow wave of the boat or following us out of curiosity.
Halfway to the reef mark Hugh pointed into the distance towards a flock of gannets and mutton birds pounding into the water after bait fish being pushed towards the surface by predators below – something we had been keeping an eye out for just in case the bluefins had made their way here already. As we approached it became clear they weren’t the only ones to have found the bait fish as what I can only describe as a ‘Blue Planet’ experience unfolded. All around the boat, hundreds of bottlenose dolphins joined the feeding frenzy. Giant white capped albatrosses, with their 10-foot wingspans, swooped overhead and finally groups of southern fur seals appeared as they got in on the action too. No doubt there would have been sharks somewhere down there – makos and quite possibly great white sharks in this part of the world.
All we needed to complete the scene was for a humpback or southern right whale (both use this part of the coast to calve their young) to emerge from the depths and engulf the bait ball in front of us. Alas, this last bit didn’t happen. None the less I was still left wondering if what I had witnessed had really just happened as the bait fish dispersed and with it the wildlife spectacular. Dumbfounded and believing I had just witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime experience I said to Hugh, “have you ever seen anything like that before?”. “Oh yeah, mate” he replied, nonchalantly, “It’s quite a common sight.”
Once at the reef mark we sent down what many UK anglers would think were crudely baited two hook rigs. ese were almost instantly hit by an endless stream of vividly coloured but increasingly unwelcome sea perch. Would we get a nice snapper before heading for home? On the final drop I had a more solid bite and lunge before ‘ping’ the line went slack and the rig had gone. Hugh reckoned it may have been a barra’ but it didn’t return and we will never know as it was time to fire up the outboard and get back to Portland. A couple of lures were trolled behind the boat for the last mile or so, just in case any Australian salmon were present, but after eight hours at sea in the searing heat, dry land and a cold beer were looking increasingly tempting!
With the boat on the trailer all that was left was to fillet the fish. Australia is a country
White Capped Albatross
A magnificently coloured gurnard
Filleting the fish at the cleaning station which is set up for recreational anglers and Portland, like virtually every other fishing venue across the country, is blessed with purpose-built fish cleaning stations where you can clean and fillet your fish before heading home. Flathead fillets, like anglerfish (or
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