Adam Van der Lugt
Big winter snapper continue to bite in the outer harbour for patient anglers fishing after dark.
Use pilchard or fresh-caught squid fished as light as the conditions will allow, as the winter fish are notoriously fussy.
Gummy shark and flathead can be expected as by-catch.
The inner harbour is fishing very well for smaller snapper and pinkies for both bait and lure anglers.
Land-based around the waterfront, including off the new Wangim Walk Pier, has seen snapper to 55cm caught this week.
Big schools of salmon are also cruising along the waterfront from North Shore to Stingaree Bay with the occasional bust-up occurring allowing anglers to cast lures into the action and catch fish to 40cm.
St Leonards pier has produced the goods this week with gummy shark and elephant sharks being caught in decent numbers – one angler reports catching a gummy and three elephant sharks in a single session while using squid for bait.
Queenscliff Harbour or ‘the cut’ has seen big silver trevally caught by anglers casting soft plastics around the slack tide.
The classic 4 inch Gulp Turtleback worm in pumpkin green fleck colour is a proven favourite that will also pick up a pinkie snapper if they happen to be present on the day.
The freshwater fishing across the state has been fantastic as the temperature cools down.
Wurdi Buloc Res has produced redfin to 45cm for anglers casting lures of a late afternoon.
Those keen enough to be at the water’s edge for first light could be rewarded with trophy-size trout that the lake is known for this time of year.
Upper Stoney Creek Res, just out of Anakie, is reportedly fishing well too with redfin caught on scrub worms, yabbies and Bob’n’spoon lures cast off the rock wall.
Trout are also being caught and fly fishing the lake has proved very effective lately in a morning or afternoon when the fish are feeding over shallow water near reeds and weed beds.
