FINE settled weather over the past week allowed anglers to put in some productive sessions, with most seeking solid snapper high.
Michael Kennedy and son Lachlan ventured down to the jetty at the grammar school lagoon. After a short wait Lachlan was hooked up to fast-running fish, which turned out to be a snapper of around 2k and Lachlan’s first catch of the species.
Mark Ikstrums headed wide off St Leonards where he set a spread of baits and sat back in hope of tanking with some quality snapper. A fish soon nailed one of the baits, with Mark landing the 9kg fish after a torrid tussle.
Shaun Wall targeted snapper off Clifton Springs on Saturday night near the area known as the turn. He managed to drop his first couple of fish but hooked up the last, a 7.2kg fish that put up an awesome fight.
Dalibor Smek and brother-in-law Tim Paps fished the outer harbour on the weekend, anchoring up after finding some fish on the sounder. Soon after rods began screaming under the weight of quality snapper, with the pair catching bag limits of fish between 6kg and 8kg on large pilchards.
Calamari continued making their presence felt right around the Bellarine Peninsula. Fishing World’s Michael Moore headed out with mate Ben McLean to try their luck around Queenscliff where the boys caught 19 squid over a couple of hours, especially on jigs including the Gancraft 3.5 in colour #30 and the Yamashita in R25.
Anglers also reported good bags of squid from St Leonards right around to Clifton Springs. As the season progresses over the next couple of months anglers will continue to see their catches of squid increase.
The settled weather over the weekend coaxed anglers offshore to target snapper and gummy shark.
The 40m line off Barwon Heads seemed one of the more productive areas, producing snapper to 6kg and Gummies to 15kg among anglers’ bags.
School shark to 15kg were also taken.
The various styles of flasher rigs available were the most successful, particularly in sizes 4/0 to 6/0.
When conditions allow the best way to target these fish is to anchor up and lower a burley pot or bag to the bottom near rigs baited with fresh barracouta, salmon or slimy mackerel, all of which have accounted for quality fish.
Anglers drifting in the same area also latched onto some quality tiger flathead to 2kg.
Slimy mackerel nudging 2kg were taken on Sabiki rigs, providing a great tussle on light line as well as an ideal live or fresh cut bait
The Sheepwash area at Barwon Heads was standing room-only as anglers got stuck into the small salmon that invaded the river. Silver trevally to 45cm were also a feature in the same area, where pippies and pilchard fillets were the most successful baits.
This is a great area to take children fishing because it provides safe access to the water as well as plenty of open space for them to run around.
On the freshwater scene, Brian Long fished the Barwon River around Queen’s Park Golf Club where massive schools of redfin eagerly chased down his lures. Many of the fish were small but Brian still managed a couple of reddies nudging 1kg.
Small hard-bodied minnows in red and Fish Arrow soft plastics were his standout lures.
Lake Bullen Merri remained closed to fishing due to an algae bloom but anglers who opted for Lake Purrumbete had reasonable success on brown trout while trolling Daiwa Double Clutch lures in 30m with downriggers set at 25m.
Redfin also became more active as the water warmed, with ice jigs the most productive method of targeting them.
Anyone looking for a fun day out with the family should try the annual Ron Nelson Memorial Junior Fishing Clinic at Deakin University, Pigdons Rd, Waurn Ponds, this Sunday.
The day kicks off at 9am and runs through to 1pm. Entry is free and bait is BYO.
Send reports and photos to info@raylongtackle.com.au. All photos go into the draw for Fishing World Geelong’s monthly photo competition.
