Chris Pitman
TRAVIS Man and son Hunter set out in search of snapper off Clifton Springs, anchoring up just out from the Point Richards channel.
The pair had a pleasant surprise when their new rod and reel loaded up with a snapper of 4kg.
The spoil grounds off Clifton Springs remained a solid option last week, offering some protection from strong southerly winds. Anglers casting soft plastics at first light caught snapper to 50cm.
Numbers of small mulloway entered the grammar school lagoon system, with anglers using soft plastics or bait at night catching some of the hard-fighting fish and some respectable-sized flathead as by-catch.
Kingfish fever remained in full force, with anglers finding Queenscliff a quick and easy fix. The Rip produced fish to 12kg on knife jigs.
Gone Fishing charter clients enjoyed some intense jigging on kings to 70cm.
The Surf Coast was a challenge in the windy weather but anglers who got out caught kingfish to 70cm around inshore reefs. Casting metal lures or trolling white occie skirts with a squid strip attached worked well.
Dan Ford took young Zaden to the Barwon River estuary to catch his first fish. After baiting up and waiting patiently, Zayden caught a silver trevally of 25cm after an outstanding fight on light tackle.
Anglers fishing from the banks of the estuary also landed some large black bream to 42cm.
Live bass yabbies or shrimp pumped from nearby sand flats were effective.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Lake Bullen Merri continued producing some of the best freshwater fishing around. The Chinook salmon, now an average size of 2kg, respond well to lure or bait.
The odd rainbow trout pushing 2kg has been a welcomed by-catch for anglers targeting the salmon. Powerbait on a small treble hook has worked well on the rainbows.
Wurdee Boluc Reservoir was the chosen destination for Darryl Latttural and Michael Evans, who began casting lures along the rock wall where they caught redfin to 37cm. Casting distance and covering ground are the key to success at Wurdee Boluc.
With better weather forecast, anglers seeking kingfish should be able to access areas such as The Rip and offshore from the Surf Coast. Offshore anglers should try locating schools by trolling either a hard body-lure or a white four-inch occy skirt with a squid strip.
The entrance to Corio Bay should also be worth drifting while casting soft plastics such as Turtleback worms in Pumpkin Green for pike and larger-model flathead. Spinning the beaches is always a great option this time of year, with Australian salmon of 2kg available.
