Peri Stavropoulos
The snapper season has been off to bit of a slow start but after a few days of warm weather the water temperature has increased just enough to get those fish to start chewing.
The outer harbour of Corio has been a prime spot to go for a look for a snapper, in particular out towards Portarlington in the old steam boat channel.
Fishing in 11 metres of water with pilchards and squid has been a lethal tactic in landing a few fish to 6kg.
Fishing on dark or either side of the tide change is the prime time to be soaking some baits.
The Trellys snapper comp is in full swing with still plenty of available spots and time to enter.
The Bellarine Peninsula has been fishing very well over the past week in particular St Leonards through to the Queenscliff Bight being the standout locations.
Casting size 3.5 jigs has been very effective but if you’re chasing the extra edge over your mates try using one with a rattle chamber inside, it has been a killer over the past weeks.
King George whiting copped a hammering over the long weekend with hundreds of boats peppering the whiting ground, making it challenging for anglers to get onto them in big numbers.
Some anglers that managed to escape the large numbers of boats and find their own fish managed to do quite well with fish getting up to 38cm.
Offshore Barwon Heads is still having an incredible barrel tuna bite with plenty of boats bringing in fish well over the 100kg mark.
Trolling skirted lures has been the standout tactic with some boats picking up fish whilst drifting down pilchards into the schools of fish.
Fishing in 65 metres of water anywhere from Torquay to Cape Schanck has been holding tonnes of fish and not showing any sign of slowing down anytime soon.
As well as the hot barrel bite there has been some fantastic bottom fishing with boat snapper and gummy sharks chewing well.
Gone Fishing Charters has been getting its clients onto some perfect table size snapper along with plenty of fish over that 3kg mark.
Matt Magri was fishing offshore during the week for some gummies and managed to score himself a cracking thresher shark on the light tackle.
After a crazy 45 minute fight the fish was his and the smile could not be wiped off his face.
