On the Bite, by Chris Pitman
Anglers crossed paths with Australian salmon to just over 1kg while casting around Geelong’s waterfront Carousel area.
Trelly’s Fishing World Geelong Adam Van Der Lugt cast soft plastics on 1/8oz jig heads during a morning walk around the waterfront, snagging some impressive salmon. At times, the salmon put on a show, erupting on the surface in feeding frenzies.
Pinkie snapper and flathead were also taken from the waterfront.
Plenty of garfish were available from the rocks at Limeburner’s Point boat ramp and even further round to the grammar school lagoon.
Squid kept anglers busy around the Bellarine Peninsula, with St Leonards through to Queenscliff giving specimens just over 1kg.
Gummy sharks were boated on fresh squid strips in 20m off St Leonards. Whiting were on the chew all along the section of water labelled Bourke Street, with the evenings producing bag-limit captures.
Queenscliff Harbour was again a great land-based anglers option for silver trevally on soft plastics.
Surf fishing really fired up with salmon, gummy shark and mulloway. Casting lures on a rising tide during the day was ideal for salmon to more than 2kg, while fresh salmon fillets or squid took gummies to 8kg and the odd school mulloway after dark.
The best local beaches were from Bancoora through to Jan Juc, with the run-in tide again fishing best.
Bluefin tuna began schooling in larger numbers down the coast. The 55m-to-65m line held the biggest numbers of fish, which averaged around 15kg.
Samaki Pacemakers in the 140D were great lures for the tuna, along with green skirted designs. Dolphin fish were even taken as a by-catch off Portland.
Freshwater fishos found trout with Wurdee Boluc, mostly rainbows to 1kg taken on spoon-type lures. The odd large redfin to 45cm was also banked.
Stony Creek Reservoir continued producing brown trout to just on 1kg. Anglers fishing all tactics caught fish, with fly anglers having a ball around the shallower margins.
Lake Purrumbete remained on fire for large numbers of redfin, although most anglers had their sights set on large brown trout.
Lake Bullen Merri was consistent for Chinook salmon and rainbow trout, with the odd brown taken too. All methods worked well, making Bullen Merri a great option for land-based fishing.
Next week should provide good fishing along Geelong’s waterfront for salmon, pinkie snapper and flathead, especially on soft plastics. Surf fishing should also be worthwhile, while freshwater anglers would do well to make the trip to Bullen Merri.
