On the Bite, by Chris Pitman
Anglers increasingly succumbed to the region’s annual outbreak of snapper fever last week.
Clifton Springs was a likely location, but anglers again had to contend with strong winds. Tide changes that lined up with sunrise or sunset led to some anglers boating fish to an impressive 7kg.
Squid were available nearby for fresh bait supply, with 3m to 4m of water giving up specimens to about 700g on size 3 Yamashita jigs.
Over at St Leonards the whiting appeared to be in greater numbers, with the Bourke Street area though to the mouth of Swan Bay providing fish to 40cm. Pippies and tenderised squid were the number one baits, especially when rigged on a running sinker rig.
St Leonards also hosted vast amounts of flathead near The White Lady for anglers drifting with bluebait.
Point Lonsdale Bight was popular for squid, big ones too. Large baited jigs worked down deep hooked squid to 2kg.
Not all the action was confined to boats, though, with land-based anglers getting into the action from Bell Reef when casting artificial jigs at low tide. Anyone intending on fishing the reef should be mindful of the swell and tides.
Chris Valisevski’s Gone Fishing Charters clients boated numerous large King George whiting around grass beds nearby.
Offshore anglers continued enjoying great success, with gummy shark to 20kg devouring fresh salmon fillets in 30m from Point Lonsdale to Barwon Heads. Snapper appeared as a welcome by-catch.
Valisevski also took clients offshore for catches of gummies to 10kg along with snapper to 6kg during the week.
Surf anglers spun up numerous Australian Salmon to 1.5kg from Bancoora and other Surf Coast beaches. The lead up to high tide fished best, with Sea Iron Pelacus lures working a treat.
Heading west, the freshwater fishing was on fire at Lake Purrumbete. Brown, rainbow and brook trout all snapped up Tassie Devils slow-trolled along the east bank, while anglers casting lures and flies around the weed beds during the middle of the day boated browns to 4kg.
Lake Bullen Merri was worth the trip for Zac Whitford, who caught a Chinook salmon of 2kg while trolling a Daiwa Double Clutch 75. Casting lures from the lake edges also resulted in good numbers of Chinook.
Deep Lake continued producing a good mix of brown and rainbow trout to 2kg for anglers slow-trolling Tassie Devils.
Next week should see snapper season really kick into gear, with offshore areas also worth trying for gummies and tuna, with some serious bait and birds working off Barwon Heads.
