The Pelican's Pick
Thursday, 25 September
Dad (Neil), Andrew and little Tommy headed out in the hopes of catching a few golden perch in Lake Hume, and in typical Victorian fashion, what started out a calm day turned into wind, rain and crazy thunderstorms. While Andrew taught his dad some new techniques on live scope technology, they braved the weather and ended up catching a whole bunch of yellas, the biggest going 64cm! Although it’s early spring, the fishing is definitely firing up! Three generations all fishing together – what more could you want.
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Along the Coast
Windy conditions over the past week kept plenty of fishers land-based, but with the long weekend here and school holidays rolling on, we’re hoping for a break in the weather. With our beloved AFL season wrapping up this week, we hope it means more weekends out on the water!
In the southwest of the state, sharks continue to be on the bite in Portland, and despite not getting the boat offshore, they have been biting off the breakwater. In Warrnambool, there have been a few solid reports of gummies and salmon at the breakwall – both loving the fresh bait. Trevally have also been on the bite throughout this week, with plastics doing the trick.
Over in Gippsland, 90 Mile Beach is providing yet again, with salmon straight off the sand using squid. Gummies are also taking the bait, loving fresh eels, salmon, squid, and blue bait. For those chasing the bream, there have been a few solid fish coming out of Bairnsdale, with estuary perch also biting in the Tarwin.
Around the Bays
Windy conditions didn’t stop anglers from landing solid fish in the bays, with most happening land-based.
Closer to the CBD, snapper have been biting off Princess Pier on plastics, while St Kilda Pier is producing plenty of flathead. The Warmies have been hit and miss this week, with some anglers getting a few bites, and others none. Those that got the snapper bite had success using chicken as bait. Portarlington continues to deliver solid snapper catches from the pier, rockwall, and shallow reefs, with squid and pillies landing fish over 60cm. Snapper action has also been steady at Avalon and Point Lonsdale.
Over in Mornington, fishers are landing large snapper off the pier, with the rocks also providing solid squid. Salmon are also on the bite off the north end of Mount Martha Beach.
As usual, fishers in Western Port are having some fun. With a few keen anglers taking the boat out, majority stuck to land. For those chasing the squid, they’re hiding in the weeds off Flinders and Stony Point piers. Gummies and snapper also continue to be on the chew off Flinders Pier and Lang Lang wall, with salmon doing the trick for bait. Those with a boat have been heading to the top end of Corinella. Targeting reef structures and using fresh salmon and squid seem to be doing the trick.
Trevally have joined the party, with solid catches off Hastings and Flinders piers. There have been reports of small barracouta and salmon out of Tooradin, with pillies the bait of choice. Whiting have also been on the chew, with fishers catching their bags across Western Port, Balnarring Beach and the Fingers providing solid fish.
Inland
The yellas are out and about, with their activity expected to increase as the surface temperatures rise. Lake Hume continues to provide solid fish, with anglers finding success in water around 4-5m deep using worms, yabbies, and soft plastics. Reddies have been a tad more elusive than the yellas, but they’re around and will put up a fight when hooked.
For those still chasing the cod, whether it be a metery or something a little smaller, target dense habitat, specifically logs, stumps, and fallen down trees. Fishers continue to reel in solid cod in Lake Eildon and the Rocklands. If you are targeting them, ensure it’s in a permitted waterway.
The Goulburn is running high at the moment due to increased water flow, which has limited success for some trout anglers. If you still want to chase river trout, try some of the smaller tributaries and if the water is dirty after all this rain, drifting worms is a great way to land trout. Brown trout continue to be caught around Noojee in the LaTrobe River, taking hardbody lures and worms. Decent trout are also being caught in the northeast of the state in the Mitta and Kiewa valleys, which is great to see this early in the season.
Tight lines – Mr. Percy!