Anglers enjoyed some outstanding surf fishing along the coast last weekend despite big waves.
John Mole and I started late on Anzac Day, eventually fishing below Lorne’s hospital where salmon attacked our lures. Most small, so we moved to Wye River where we caught salmon to 1.5kg and reasonable numbers of couta until the tide dropped too far.
Terry Martin also caught the same species at Wye River, with his best salmon 2.4kg.
Grant Forbes found salmon on the beach at Breamlea, managing a dozen or so to 1kg on high tide. Grant used lures but another angler nearby caught a similar number of fish on red and white surf poppers.
Bay anglers began taking consistent captures of quality snapper, mostly after dark. The area from Point Wilson to the quarries was worthwhile, although the inner-harbour could be worth fishing in the lead up to this month’s full moon.
Daniel Shore fished the shallow grass beds off Hermsley for a bag-limit catch of squid early Monday morning. Then he moved to the spoil grounds where he caught a dozen quality flathead all taken on soft plastics.
Pike were taken on lure from the rocks at North Shore. Guy Stephens landed a pair around 75cm on a blue 25g Sluk lure.
Whiting conditions were less than ideal but some anglers managed bag-limit catches close in at Bird Rock and toward Swan Bay’s entrance.
Paul Jeffries fishing the Swan Bay entrance after dark when his reel soon screamed off with a good fish. Fifteen minutes later he boated a 6.3kg snapper but was interrupted admiring his catch when he successfully hooked up a second fish of 6.6kg.
Kingfish captures slowed down but fish should still be available inside The Rip on live baits and knife jigs.
Chris Pitman and Daniel Baden fished in 20m with Powerbait to catch salmon and trout at Lake Bullen Merri last weekend. Troller using down-riggers set generally at 15m and bait anglers fishing deep with baits such as bluebait or pilchard fillets also caught fish.
Harry Welsh landed two nice trout at West Barwon Reservoir while fishing the right hand end of the main wall. Both fish took a black and gold Daiwa Double Clutch lure.
Neil Batten also caught trout at the reserve while using mudeye under a float.
Fly angler Paul Green reported catching fish from 1kg to 1.5kg at Ballarat’s Lake Wendouree. Paul had the most success on a Mrs Simpson fly fished exceptionally slow late in the evenings.
Bait anglers have done well with mudeyes suspended under a float in shallow water.
Moorabool Reservoir hosted few anglers but remained a viable destination for redfin and trout. Successful bait anglers have used either scrub worms or small freshwater yabbies.
Michael Evans was rewarded for his extensive lure-casing exploits at Wurdee Boluc Reservoir with a magnificent 50cm redfin, which weighed over 2kg. The big fish was one of several he caught on Fish Arrow soft plastics.
Lake Bullen Merri should be worth fishing this weekend from boats with Powerbait or bluebait in around 20m, while trollers will need downriggers.
Send reports and photos to info@raylongtackle.com.au or visit Brian at Ray Long’s Fishing World, 105 Shannon Ave, Manifold Heights.
