The Pelican's Pick
Friday, 12 June
There’s nothing better than breaking your PB on a long weekend fishing trip! Amanda parked up at a lovely spot along Cosgrove Reservoir for what would become a very memorable session!
Casting out a dalmatian curl tail with a jig spin was the key to landing this whopping 47cm reddie, closely followed by a healthy 46cm fish!
Between Amanda and her fishing partner Donnie they took home a delicious feed of 10 chunky redfin! It’s exactly the way every public holiday should be spent!
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Along the coast
Warrnambool fishers are reeling in a mixed bag this week, with many bread-and-butter species biting hard! Aussie salmon take the top spot for the most consistent catch while gummy shark are the biggest! There’s sporadic catches of flathead along deep edges with pinkies in the mix. Best baits have been mullet, pillies and squid strips.
The Southern bluefin tuna fishing at Apollo Bay continues to thrive with huge barrels and class school fish being caught offshore. Gummy shark have been the most consistent catch off the week. They can be found along deep drop offs with salmon strips. Speaking of salmon, there’s an abundance along the beaches and around the harbour.
Port Welshpool has some dependable fishing across a variety of species particularly around the jetty and further out in deeper water. From the jetty squid have been the most frequent catch with whiting being a close second. If you’re boat based focus on fishing for gummies using blue bait. There are some outstanding flatties to be caught on prawns but they are harder to find so be prepared for a game of patience.
The surf beaches around Lakes Entrance have been producing some beautiful salmon on metal slugs along deep gutters. The Lakes system is also offering up a range of fishing on a silver platter! Some nice duskys are still being caught along deep channels and drop offs as numbers quieten down over winter. Natural coloured lures and bait are working best at securing decent catches of bream around Metung, especially around structured areas where fast moving water moves into slow pockets.
Around the bays
The top end of Western Port around Warneet and Tooradin is full of sea monsters ready to bite on any jig that crosses their path! There’s been some absolute kraken squid reeled in and they just keep coming! Darker coloured jigs are working best to provide a nice contrast against the sandy surroundings. The prime target depth has been around the 3-5m mark.
The lower end of Western Port is producing bigger game for keen fishers. Aim to fish around the deep channels with fresh squid and salmon fillets and you’ll be sure to reel in one of the many mammoth gummies on the chew! There’s been some decent sized salmon schools moving through the area ready to inhale fresh bait such as squid strips and pilchards.
St Kilda has been a productive winter spot with consistent reports of pinkies being caught off several piers in the area especially around tide changes. Cubed up squid is working well and is occasionally reeling in a decent flattie, too. Squid numbers have been rapidly improving with major bite windows occurring around mid-morning.
Squid, salmon and trevally are the standout species around Queenscliff this week and they are giving anglers plenty of rod-bending chaos! Casting out lighter coloured jigs around weed beds will see you land a fresh meal of squid! While those casting out metal slugs in deeper waters are reeling in some quality Aussie salmon. The pier fishing is only getting better as trevally begin to fire up and they are smashing pillies and small squid cubes.
Inland
An arctic blast means Lake Eildon slabs are downing swim baits left right and centre! Fishing the lake at this time of year is a patience game as smaller fish have switched off but there’s a reward ready for those willing to wait. Fishing the arms of the lake will offer you the greatest chance of success in landing a fish, especially the Big River Arm.
The closed season for trout and salmonids in rivers and streams has begun this week but the trout fishing remains hot in lakes and impoundments! The Eildon Pondage, which has been freshly stocked with 100 ex-broodfish browns, is the perfect place to wet some line! Power bait will be your best friend when it comes to enticing these ex broodies!
We said it last week and we’ll say it again this week, how good are the Murray crays coming out of the Goulburn?! There’s been some ripper catches along the stretch of river between Seymour and Shepparton. Chunks of red meat is the usual go-to, but thick slices of pumpkin are working even better as they lure them in with a sweet smell and stay solid in the trap for a longer period of time.
Golden perch are famous for their last-minute feeding frenzies before winter really takes hold. Be ready because the bite is red hot, and the nonstop action will keep you warmer than a bonfire! Rocklands Reservoir yellas are devouring baits such as yabbies, worms and shrimp around mid to late afternoon. The timbered areas around shallow waters are prime hunting grounds with locations near the lower end of the reservoir being most productive.
Despite lowered water levels in the Crater Lakes, they continue to produce quality fish! Anglers fishing Lake Purrumbete can expect stacks of redfin caught on a variety of lures as well as the occasional Chinook salmon, and Lake Bullen Merri has been rewarding land-based anglers with some cracking tiger trout caught on fly and lures.
Tight lines – Mr. Percy!