Anglers spread their tentacles for squid

Queenscliff’s annual run of large squid continued shaping up well over the past week.
Anglers boated squid from the Point Lonsdale Bight, Bell Reef and the grass beds to the east of the harbour.
Drifting using large 3.5 sized jigs was the most effective tactic, especially on the run-in tide.
Other areas such as the mouth of Swan Bay were also productive but the average size was smaller.
Whiting were snapped on the grass beds as well, with the key to success moving position until a decent patch of fish was located.
Corio Bay was again a bit hit and miss, with snapper still holding around the Western Beach moorings.
Stingaree Bay’s spoil grounds were a great choice for anglers casting soft plastics, with pinkie snapper devouring turtleback worms.
Snapper were also boated in 40m off Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads, along with gummy shark to 10kg. Fresh baits such as squid and salmon returned the best results by far.
Surf anglers beached some impressive salmon to just over 2kg from Bancoora and Jan Juc Beaches. Walking the beaches on a rising tide while casting 25g to 30g lures on a light spin set-up was ideal.
The rock platforms either side of Lorne produced salmon of larger size.
Tuna continued to lurk off Portland and Port Macdonald, with dedicated anglers weighing in fish over 100kg.
Trolling skirted lures in and around bird activity was definitely the way to go.
Lake Purrumbete proved fickle, with limited numbers of trout taken.
However, anglers casting or trolling Daiwa Double Clutch lures around bait balls caught some good-size redfin.
Lake Bullen Merri was similar next door but with the odd rainbow trout and Chinook salmon taken while trolling Tassie Devils and hard-body lures.
Tackleworld Geelong’s Adam Van Der Lugt ventured up to Bright again where the streams produced numerous brown and rainbow trout to 40cm on both fly and lure. Adam said the streams were still high and dirty but flowing slightly less.
Darren Wlock and Aaron Wilson fished Lake Eppalock, casting lures from a boat to catch a 52cm yellowbelly along with plenty of redfin that they found in schools with a sounder.
Next week should be worth fishing for snapper off Clifton Springs, while Queenscliff’s squid action should only increase.
Freshwater anglers are advised to stay focussed on Lake Purrumbete with the rain sure to put the trout on the chew.