The Pelican's Pick

Friday, 14 August

Over the weekend, Sabine and her partner Michael packed their winter essentials and headed down to Lake Tooliorook for a two-night getaway.

With Thursday proving too windy, the pair waited until Friday to try their luck on the water, and boy was it worth it. Prepared with their trusty tinny, pink and orange Tassie Devils, blue skies and no shortage of positivity, Sabine was on a mission to land her first every fish.

Sabine was enjoying the serenity when all of a sudden, a nice sized rainbow trout crashed the party. Squealing with excitement, Sabine masterfully reeled in this beautiful fish, and the excitement didn’t stop there, with a 2.7kg brown trout joining in on the action as well.

Sabine wasn’t having all the fun, however, with Michael landing a 43cm reddie on the ever-reliable Tassie Devil.

Sabine ended the day with three fish between 1.5-2.7kg, and by the smile on her face, it’s safe to assume there are many more fishing adventures planned in the near future for the cheerful pair.

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Along the coast

Salmon are still providing plenty of action around Inverloch and Anderson Inlet, but anglers looking to target some other great sport species will find good opportunities for bream and estuary perch throughout the smaller, local waterways. The rising tide has been the most productive, with baitfish pushing into the system and bringing with them hungry predatory fish. Casting around structure, deeper edges and areas holding baitfish has been a good way to find both species. With plenty of water to explore across the wider Inverloch and Anderson Inlet system, it’s well worth spending some time targeting these hard-fighting estuarine species.

Offshore from Portland, anglers have been rewarded with gummies, seven-gillers and plenty of snapper, with one angler landing an impressive 5.5kg queen snapper, also known as blue morwong. These are a highly regarded table fish with firm, sweet white flesh. If you are lucky enough to land one and intend to keep it, bleed it immediately and get it onto ice to preserve the flesh quality. Local squid and wrasse have been the standout baits, with wrasse a particularly effective bait for sharks thanks to its tasty flesh and tough skin, which holds well on the hook and produces plenty of scent.

Down around Apollo Bay, salmon have been showing up at Wye River. Spinning metals from the beach is a good option, as is fishing baits off the beach. Double-hook paternoster rigs can be particularly effective, and locating a school of salmon can often result in a hook-up or two! Fish the rips and gutters where the deep water lies for the best results. As always, take care around the water, particularly with the swell and tides, and dress accordingly for cold and wet conditions.

Around the bays

In Port Phillip, anglers have been getting into several solid squid off Rye Pier, with early mornings and late afternoons producing the best results. It’s a great spot for beginners, with easy access, lighting for night fishing, clear water and forgiving ground, meaning that anglers shouldn’t lose too many jigs to the bottom. The mix of weed and sandy patches around the pier provides plenty of areas for squid to hold, so work your jigs around the weed edges and try to keep it just above the bottom. The distance from the heads also means the current is usually manageable, allowing you to get your jigs down into the strike zone and keep them there for longer. A 2.5 or 3.0 size jig is a good place to start, with natural colours working well in the clear water, and brighter or glow options worth trying around the pier lights in dark conditions.

The whiting have come on around St Leonards on the Bellarine Peninsula! For the best results, anchor up over the sandy patches between the weed beds, where whiting actively feed. Tidal movement is key, with a steady flow of water helping to stir up food and get the whiting feeding. Slightly dirty or discoloured water is also great for productive sessions, with whiting usually being less cautious and more willing to feed. Utilising a steady berley trail can make all the difference, helping to draw fish into your bait zone and keep them feeding.

Land-based anglers have been catching gummies across the mudflats of Western Port, with the high tide providing a great opportunity to target sharks moving into the shallows to feed on crustaceans. Don’t be afraid to fish very shallow, with even a metre or two of water enough to hold fish. Low-light periods and night fishing are the best times to target them, with fresh baits such as yakka, trevally, salmon and wrasse all good options. Berley can also be very effective at bringing fish into the area and keeping them interested. Balnarring is a good option for those wanting to fish from the beach, but anywhere with access to the mudflats is worth a try. If you’d rather avoid getting muddy, Grantville Jetty on the other side of Western Port is another good option.

Inland

Out west at Daylesford, those who aren’t afraid of a little winter chill are being rewarded with some fantastic looking brown trout. Grab your soft plastics and take a day trip to this picturesque part of Victoria, with multiple jetties around the lake, this spot is perfect for beginners and families alike.

Keeping with the trout, head a couple hours down south to Lake Tooliorook and you’ll find yourself in the midst of an epic trout season. This stocked lake is in the middle of a stella season, with impressive 50cm+ brown trout being caught regularly. Whether you’re in the boat trolling or on the bank,a trusty Tassie Devil and a winter sunrise could set you up for a fantastic day on the water.

Up north, it’s no surprise that despite the wet and gloomy conditions, anglers were still out and about searching for the trophy cod that call Lake Eildon home. With all the talk about the meteries that give experienced fishers the thrill of a lifetime, it’s easy to go past Eildon’s smaller inhabitants. Lake Eildon is regularly stocked with cod and golden perch, and the pondage with brown and rainbow trout, but if it’s something less fishy you’re after, anglers are regularly pulling out legal sized crays as well. Whether you’re casting off the rock wall, trolling for trout or on the prowl for a monster cod, Eildon is an ideal location for fishers of all ages and skill levels.

Tight lines – Mr. Percy!