The snapper well and truly come onto the bite over the past week, with fish getting caught all over Corio Bay on various tactics.
The inner-harbour produced plenty of pinkies for anglers fishing off the rocks with bait and even soft plastics. Baits such as pilchards or squid were ideal, while soft plastics in lengths between three and five inches were a standout, in particular the Gulp 5” Jerkshad.
Nathan Wright has been getting stuck into plenty of Snapper lately in the inner harbour on soft plastics, both on the rocks and from a boat. He has caught plenty to 1.5kg, with some much bigger fish to about 5kg thrown into the mix.
St Helens’ rocks returned a few reports of King George whiting being caught by land-based fisherman. Pipies would be the best bait for these fish, with anglers fishing here also a chance of catching other species like pinkies and flathead.
Anglers fishing off the rocks at this time of year should remember that it’s not a silly idea to have a bigger bait out for obvious reasons – big snapper!
The bay’s outer-harbour snapper fishing really started to heat up, with good reports coming from all parts.
Along the channel from Clifton Springs to Portarlington was a hot spot over the past week for snapper to 8kg. Fez Sepic went out from Clifton Springs on Monday night in search of a Snapper, boating a new personal best of 6.3kg soon after dropping anchor.
I snuck out after work during the week with Jamie Marsh and Brad Apps and Myself for a hot session on a wide variety of species including pinkies, flathead, pike, snotty trevalla and a school of busting-up salmon, all of which were caught on soft plastics.
Squid were still going well from Clifton Springs right through to Queenscliff. Anglers drifting in 3m of water while casting artificial jigs enjoyed by far the best results.
Angus Mcginn went for a bit of land-based cast for squid during the week, scoring himself a nice feed of calamari off St Leonards Pier. Meanwhile, Adam Taz and Grace Parker fished from a boat on Tuesday night and managed a cracking haul of squid caught along the Curlewis Bank on small pilchard-coloured jigs.
Offshore fishing was also good for snapper. Anglers fishing in 25m to 45m of water reported plenty of fish to about 1kg, with some larger ones snatching up baits, too.
Anglers fishing offshore the snapper presently should also have a chance of hooking a big gummy shark.
