On the Bite, by Chris Pitman
Last Sunday’s weather allowed anglers to set out offshore from Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads again.
Peri Stavropoulos, father Michael and Andrew Whitford spent a few hours anchored up in 30m off Barwon Heads, where they baited up with freshly-caught Australian salmon for gummy sharks. The fishing soon lived up to expectations, with the trio boating five gummies to 7kg and releasing three, with Andrew also catching a snapper of 5kg.
Alex Surdich ventured out offshore during the week and boated a well-conditioned fish of 75cm.
Back inside the bays, Kevin Hunter and I caught a few squid out the front of Swan Bay on Sunday with Shimano 14T jigs in size 2.5 and 3.5. Other anglers fishing down towards St Leonards boated whiting and squid too, with the Bourke Street area a hot spot.
Clifton Springs allowed anglers to cross paths with a few early-season snapper. The Point Richards Channel was a great starting place, although anglers needed patience to wait for a big fish.
Fresh squid or pilchard was an effective bait, with snapper to 7kg boated.
Corio Bay played hosted to salmon to 1.5kg, with soft plastics anglers fairing the best. At times the salmon were spread from St Helens to Limeburner’s Point.
The inner-harbour also produced another exciting report of snapper off the rocks at St Helens, along with the odd flathead.
Tuna continued tempting anglers between Apollo Bay and Portland, with southern bluefin over 100kg possible. Large skirted lures trolled out from Cape Otway were the go.
Freshwater anglers fared well at Deep Lake. Trolling Tassie Devils in white colours along the lake margins did the trick on brown and rainbow trout to 2kg.
Lake Elignamite, near Cobden, fished well for large redfin and the odd rainbow trout. Hard-body lures worked well when kept weed-free.
Lakes Bullen Merri and Purrumbete still gave up good numbers of brown and rainbow trout. Anglers casting lures among the weed beds at Purrumbete found better numbers of trout.
Wurdee Boluc Reservoir, The Lake of 1000 Casts, lived up to its reputation as anglers put in plenty of time for only a few redfin.
Next week’s improving weather should spoil anglers for choice, with offshore fishing likely to boast plenty of gummies and snapper, which should also be on the move at Clifton Springs. Land-based anglers keep St Leonards Pier in mind as a renowned early-season mark for snapper.
