Fishing: Salmon, pinkies from waterfront

Geelong’s waterfront provided fast-paced fishing action right over the long weekend.
Australian salmon averaging 1kg, which have been hanging around for a few weeks, were landed on Gulp three-inch minnow soft plastics in either Smelt or Watermelon Pearl colours.
Anglers chasing the salmon noted that allowing the lures to sink below the fish sometimes caught some respectably-sized pinkie snapper.
Joe Han and son George fished the Limeburner’s Point boat ramp rock wall last Friday, catching pinkies to 40cm along with six garfish to 42cm.
St Leonards was consistent for squid. Anglers fishing the weed beds in 5m to 6m had the best results, with Yamashita size-3 squid jigs the standout lure.
Portland had an influx of anglers seeking southern bluefin tuna. Anglers fishing out wide encountered smaller albacore, while school-sized tuna were taken in closer on the ever-reliable Rapala X-Rap 30.
Numerous anglers returned to report that the tuna were still holding in close off Port Fairy, taking small metal lures of 25g when feeding on the surface.
Ben Mclean and son Angus trolled skirted lures in 40m off Port Fairy on Sunday morning, taking bluefin to 15kg on Richter skirts. The pair tried again Monday morning but found the fishing tougher in the calmer conditions.
I ventured down to the Curdies River in search of bream. The fishing was tough on lure but I saw anglers fishing live shrimp catch bream to 38cm throughout the lake section of the system.
Alex Hagarth tied a wooly bugger and a worm-pattern fly which he put through their paces for two feisty rainbow trout taken in the Leithbridge area.
Wurdee Boluc Reservoir produced some chunky Redfin on classic Pegron tiger minnow lures fished between the prominent weed beds.
Just down the road, West Barwon Reservoir fished well for smaller rainbow trout on pink Tassie Devils cast off the rock wall. Anglers fishing around sunset did best.
Lake Bullen Merri remained productive for Chinook salmon. Fishing deep with either bait or lure was essential.
With rivers and streams closed to trout fishing until midnight 5 September, attention has turned to the lakes. Bullen Merri, Purrembete and Wendouree have been stocked well, so they should provide excellent fishing for both boat and land-based anglers these winter months.
Send reports and photos to info@raylongtackle.com.au or visit Chris at Fishing World Geelong, 105 Shannon Ave, Manifold Heights.