Competitors rip with lighter line

Anglers contested the annual King of the Rip last weekend, wielding IGFA-rated light lines from the Barwon River estuary to Swan Bay.
The impressive catches included Jason Hockey’s 3.46kg elephant fish and Keith Chapman’s 4.9kg gummy shark.
Fishing World Geelong’s Michael Moore went out on Saturday night in search of whiting on the grass beds to the left of Queenscliff Harbour. Using tenderised freshly caught squid, he was soon into a frantic session that finished with 14 whiting from 40cm to 43cm.
Daniel Baden and I fished glassy conditions off Barwon Heads on Sunday but the kingfish were elusive. Near Ocean Grove we found a massive school of Australian salmon cruising just under the surface and boated some exceptional fish around 3kg on metal lures fitted with single hooks.
Daniel tried again with wife Lisa on Monday, enjoying similar results in mostly the same area.
Indented Head held good numbers of squid to 1kg in 4m to 6m over reefy ground. Anglers reported better numbers of squid when the water was clear and the wind light enough for a slow drift.
Other anglers drifted out wide in the deeper water for catches of flathead and pinkie snapper on bluebait.
Heading down the Western District last week, I fished the Curdies River. Bream of 30cm to 35cm were present in good numbers and willing to take Z-Man grubs or Cranka Crabs cast hard against the banks.
Port Fairy had southern bluefin tuna holding in close to shore and taking stick bait lures worked through schools of surface-feeding fish. Trolling smaller skirted lures also worked but most anglers found that casting stick baits gave the biggest adrenaline rush.
Hugh Hanson took nephew Noah down to Lethbridge Lake to spin for redfin with Tassie Devils. Noah soon caught his first redfin, a 35cm fish, along with another five for the day.
Darryl Luttrell ventured up to Moorabool Reservoir where he banked a beastly redfin of 44.5cm on a Z-Man grub in the Motor Oil colour. He noted that the lake had high amounts of what appeared to be algae on the surface.
Heading a little further out of town, Ross Threllfall put some time in on the Ovens River. Casting Old Mate lures, Ross boated a personal-best Murray cod of one metre in length.
He mentioned that the cod took him by surprise when it engulfed his lure right next to the boat.
The Easter break should present a few worthwhile angling options.
Whiting fishing should be almost at its best, especially from Queenscliff through to St Leonards, while the Barwon River estuary should produce some huge elephant fish and bream on the run-in tide.
Further afield, a world-class southern bluefin tuna fishery is on our doorstep, so a trip down to Port Fairy might be worth the drive.