On the Bite, by Chris Pitman
Anglers bagged a huge range of species over the past week, with everything from trout to tuna on the chew.
Corio Bay hosted fantastic soft plastic fishing for pike, pinkies and flathead. The area out from St Helens was the most productive, along with the spoil grounds off Limeburner’s Points.
Clifton Springs produced some impressive snapper, especially along the Point Richards channel around tide changes. Allan Brow and John Buckis ventured out on Saturday, with John’s rod soon screaming to life under the power of a 7.6kg snapper.
Snapper anglers also reported gummy sharks to 5kg as a common bycatch out from Clifton Springs.
Nearby, a handy supply of squid was still available in 3m to 4m along the weed beds on the Curlewis Bank.
St Leoanrds’ Bourke Street area gave up large numbers of whiting again in some of the best fishing it’s hosted since perhaps Easter. Pippie or tenderised squid worked well in conjunction with running sinker rigs weighted enough to hold bottom in the stronger tides.
Whiting of around 38cm were common, with a few larger specimens to 44cm also taken.
Queenscliff remained home to monster squid. Bell Reef was a perfect location for land-based anglers, while boaties snagged a few in the deeper water out from the bight.
Queenscliff’s whiting were harder to tempt but the harbour was on fire with snapper to 3kg spread along the main cut. Casting Gulp Turtleback worms in Pumpkinseed worked very well when the tidal flow slowed.
Silver trevally were also taken from the harbour, along with the odd squid.
Jae Peters spent a few hours chasing bream in the Barwon River estuary over the past week, enjoying great results on fish to 50cm. Using fresh live bait was key to Jae’s success.
Down toward the mouth of the system mullet and smaller King George whiting kept anglers entertained.
Gummies remained on the bite in 30m out from Barwon Heads, along with the odd snapper to 6kg.
Down the coast, Portland had another run of large southern bluefin tuna to more than 100kg. Trolling skirted lures again resulted in numerous hook ups.
On the freshwater scene, anglers enjoyed all-time fishing on western district lakes.
An ANSA competition on the weekend allowed anglers to fish various lakes in the area, with brown and rainbow trout to 2kg taken on a variety of methods such as Trolling Tassie Devils and fishing Powerbait or mudeyes.
Trelly’s Geelong’s Kevin Hunter boated a well-conditioned Chinook salmon on a pilchard fillet fished just out from Potter’s Point at Lake Bullen Merri.
Closer to home, Graeme Findlay banked numerous redfin from Wurdee Boluc Reservoir’s margins while casting Pako spoons. Some of his reddies pushed 40cm.
Thes annual Ron Nelson Memorial Junior fishing clinic runs from 9am to 1pm Sunday 29/10 at Deakin University Waurn Ponds. Families are encouraged to bring children along for the fun of catching rainbow trout.
Otherwise, snapper should be a great option along the Point Richards channel for anyone looking to head out onto the saltwater over the next week.
