Anglers have been getting stuck into some fantastic fishing across the region this past week with the barrels down at Portland being on most fisher’s minds.
Portland over the past week and a half has been on fire with anglers flocking down the coast getting amongst the hot action with reports of boats landing up to seven barrels a day.
There has been a wide variety of size in the fish with fish from 40kg right up to 120kg. Trolling between the Cape Nelson through to Cape Bridgewater with 8 – 10 inch skirts proving a stand out with some fish also falling victim to divers and pilchards being dropped into the work ups. The fish have been feeding on squid, couta and big pilchards.
There is plenty of bait there so these fish are expected to go nowhere in a mad hurry.
Keeping it more local there are still plenty of good reports coming from the Barwon Heads through to Torquay with reports of the fish still busting up like crazy right along the coast. Casting stickbaits and poppers into the commotion again is proving to be lethal with anglers picking up lots of fish doing this. Trolling skirted lures and divers are also getting stuck into a fair share of fish also.
Inside the bay has continued to fish well for snapper in the inner harbour with anglers fishing a tide change picking up fish to near 4kg with plenty of fish just over legal size keeping them entertained.
Bait fishing with pilchards and squid has been working a treat and as mentioned fishing a tide change has been the ideal time to wet a line.
Garfish have been in fantastic numbers in the outer harbour as anglers have found fishing around Clifton Springs. Putting burley in the water in the shallows has been attracting lots of fish to the area with anglers not having to wait long at all for fish to be everywhere. Pencil float rigs and a tiny piece of bait is an idea when chasing these guys.
The west coast estuary systems along have been fishing very well for black bream and eps over the past week or so with most systems producing fish. Fishing first thing in the morning, late arvo or into the night with surface lures has been resulting in some fantastic Perch fishing on top water lures and during the day the bream have been feeding well on soft plastics, hardbody lures and vibes.
