The Pelican's Pick
Friday, 2 October
This week, Roko experienced the highs and lows of fishing the 90 Mile. What started out as ‘ridiculous conditions’ with side wash and weed making fishing almost impossible, the outlook for the day was fairly bleak.
Roko sent out some fresh big chunks of salmon 180m out on 6/0 circle hooks with 80-pound leader and 40-pound braid with the hope that something big might might bite!
And bite something did! After a tiring fight, Roko landed this whopping 91cm snapper and absolutely smashed his PB! Roko still can’t believe he caught this beauty!
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Along the Coast
Dusky flathead are waking up from their winter hibernation across East Gippsland and these lizards are hungry! Casting metal blades and soft plastics along shallow flats is proving to be most successful. As these fish are ambush predators, the closer you can get your lure to mimic baitfish, the better. Reeling in your line at different speeds and imitating a twitching action may just land your lure in the strike zone!
The Port Welshpool Jetty is the longest in Victoria, so there’s plenty of room to set up the rods and enjoy a flick. The top catch for this week has been squid. Using natural-coloured jigs with mixes of silver and gold will stand out against the jetty pylons where the squid aggregate. Flatties and whiting and regularly being reeled in using pipis, pilchards and small prawns.
The fishing activity around Port Cambell is expected to pick up over the weekend. Pinkies have been loving small squid cubes and so have silver trevally. Whether you’re fishing the jetty or out in the boat, be ready to reel one in! Good catches of gummy shark can be found further out using big chunks of salmon or squid. Target areas with deep drops offs near reef structure.
The Glenelg River has the perfect estuarine fishing session instore for anglers keen to cast a line. This river holds a large population of estuary perch ready to be reeled in. Target deep banks with soft plastics and hardbody crankbaits. Good sized bream can be found around structure and snags with blood worms and imitation crabs. There are deep pockets holding prized mulloway which can be tempted with some fresh squid or mullet, stay consistent and you’ll be in for a chance!
Around the Bays
Snapper, snapper, snapper – It’s all anyone is talking about across Western Port! There’s big catches now being reported across the bay from Warneet to Corinella. Squid and pilchards are giving anglers the most consistent results. Fish along the edges of deep channels or move into the shallows on a flooding tide. Always remember, the minimum legal size for a snapper is 28cm with a bag limit of 10 of which no more than three fish can exceed 40cm in length.
The bottom of French Island is serving up a treat in shallow waters. Whiting have been fairly active and are inhaling pipis and small bits of pilchard. Fishing approximately in 4m depth near weed beds is resulting in delicious catches! There’s lots of squid out and about, with anglers opting for lighter coloured jigs to create a clear silhouette amongst weed beds.
The snapper frenzy is spreading across to Port Phillip Bay, and Cliffton Springs is the place to be! This snapper hotspot continues to fire with anglers reeling in big fish! Squid has been the most popular bait and it’s almost safe to say it’s guaranteeing a fish on the end of your line!
The Bellarine Peninsula is giving anglers a successful day on the water! The squid fishing has been consistent, especially for land-based fishers on the jetties. Whiting are the main species being caught, with fishers getting to take home a nice feed. Flatties are in the mix and they are loving natural-coloured soft plastics.
Inland
The fishing at Lake Purrumbete is firing on all cylinders with stonker browns, rainbows and Chinook salmon on the chew! This deep volcanic lake offers plenty of opportunities to score a catch by mixing and matching your methods of fishing. Trolling hardbody lures along deep edges and weed beds will help you find a trophy! Dropping a variety of baits such as mudeyes, worms and Powerbait have also proven extremely effective especially if fishing from the bank.
Lake Eildon Murray cod are on the move as the weather warms! Smaller fish are officially ‘defrosting’ so expect catches to become more common. Dawn and dusk are the ideal times to target fish near the bank as they move close to shore to feed. If fishing the midday session, deeper waters will give you a great chance at landing a fish on the deck in this stunning year-round cod fishery. Bait has been working well with yabbies, cheese and chicken proving they are always reliable options!
With low flows keeping the Goulburn River very accessible to wading, excellent catches of trout are being reported from Alexandra to Eildon. Brown and rainbow trout to 4kg are being caught on a variety of baits, lures and flies. Targeting the heads of pools below the fast runs is effective but make sure you have a stealthy approach so that you don't spook fish in the clear water.
If you’re looking for something to do on the last weekend of school holidays, check out some of the 75 lakes that were stocked with “ready-to-catch” rainbow trout around Melbourne and regional areas. It’s the perfect chance to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. Using Tassie Devils, Powerbait or even worms will help you land one of these awesome fish!
Youtuber Brenton Clarke sent in this cracking Lake Eppalock report: “With Eppalock rising to 100% capacity over recent weeks, the fishing has picked up nicely. I have found redfin and yellowbelly hard to come by, but trolling lures has still been producing the odd Murray cod. Given the AFL Grand Final public holiday, I went out for a morning session trolling yellowbelly with lures and got off to a good start, landing two small cod and a small redfin early on. Things quietened down for a while, but I persisted hoping for a golden perch—and eventually, one hit the lure to complete the trifecta. Happy with how the morning turned out, I left the lure in the water and on the way back to the ramp and was rewarded with a 77cm Murray cod to wrap up a great trip!”
Tight lines – Mr. Percy!