The Pelican's Pick
Friday, 27 February
Leonie was enjoying a ripper weekend on the water with her fiancé in Portland targeting whiting in the shallows when something massive grabbed her line!
They’d rigged up heavier gear just in case and it turned out to be a decision that’d pay off big time! Leonie’s rig included a 7/0 hook tied to 70cm of 80lb leader, baited with a cuttlefish head dropped into just 3.5m of water!
The 11kg gummy measured 92cm and set a new PB for Leonie. It was one of two the couple boated on the day. An unforgettable session with the perfect mix of luck, fine company, preparation and excitement!
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Along the Coast
Lakes Entrance is the gateway to incredible fishing from catching meal sized specimens to chasing large game - it’s got it all and the fish are firing this week! There’s been a recent influx of giant snapper and anglers can’t get enough. Fresh bait is working best with quality catches on squid. Pilchards have been productive too. As warm currents push down from NSW into Bass Strait it brings down a variety of baitfish and pelagics with the key highlight being massive marlin that can be found anywhere from 50-100m depths offshore.
The estuary system around Metung is a popular bream hunting ground. Target the slow-moving water, especially around structure, as these spots provide prime feeding zones. The boardwalk and sandy grass beds are offering up decent bream on soft plastics and fresh prawns.
The prawns are still firing in the Gippsland Lakes and Lake Tyers and are the size of mini lobsters! There are heaps for everyone to enjoy so don’t be put off by the crowds.
Port Welshpool is the perfect destination to cast lures and reel in class flatties. Try drifting jigs in the Long Jetty area around the flats to put you amongst the squid. It’s an awesome spot to launch a kayak too or simply enjoy dropping a line off the jetty. If you’re in a boat, target the gummy sharks that frequent the deeper water.
The Great Ocean Road has astonishing views and more importantly phenomenal fishing! Anglers wetting a line around Apollo Bay are in for some mayhem with flathead on the chew, snapper and large gummy sharks. Baits of fresh squid are the go!
Around the Bays
Mornington’s been a hot spot this week. Close to shore there’s been abundant pinkies feeding on small squid strips along with garfish nipping at small pieces of shrimp. Squid are there for the taking, just keep moving till you find a patch then work them with repeated drifts or by anchoring upwind and casting back to them from the stern. Brown jigs have been working well for a few fishers lately. They might look boring on the tackle shop shelf but some days they’ve been outperforming other colours 5-1. If you’re boating out into slightly deeper water off Mornington, some anglers have tangled with respectable gummies. Best baits have been fresh squid or chunk baits of fresh wrasse.
If you love whiting, head to St Leonards where fish are everywhere and rods are screaming! Anglers are bagging out and taking home a delicious feed. Baits of squid, sandworm and prawn are getting the job done. There’re heaps of squid around the Bellarine, chomping on dark coloured jigs. Take the squid home to eat or use small cubes to get stuck into plate sized trevally!
The top end of Western Port continues to perform for the crowds and there’s no sign of that slowing down. Fishing at Corinella on a run out tide is securing top-tier whiting. Please note the bag limit is a combined total of 20 for one or more species of whiting with a minimum size of 27cm for King George whiting.
Launch the kayak at Tooradin to fish the sandy banks for a chance to haul in flathead, squid and whiting. Around the tidal channels there’s larger fish to be caught. Use fresh oily baits for gummy and snapper. There’s the odd salmon about on an early tide. They’ll become more common as we head into the cooler months.
Inland
The high-country rivers have been providing cool, consistent flows creating ideal conditions for trout fishing. Some of this recent rain will get those trout feeding too!
The Goulburn River between Eildon and Molesworth has been productive with browns and rainbows taking a liking to worms and grasshoppers while dough baits are proving popular at Eildon Pondage for trout we’ve stocked.
Exceptional fishing can be found on the lower Goulburn where massive natives call the river home! Anglers using yabbies and cheese as bait are getting cod-sistent bites. If you’re more interested in finding gold, try casting lures in Gunbower Creek for cracking yellas!
Increasing numbers of Murray cod are being caught at Lake Eppalock where our record fish stockings are paying dividends. Boat and land-based fishers are experiencing consistent catches on spinnerbaits, small hardbody lures and baits of raw chicken.
You can discover perch fishing excitement at Lake Neangar with silvers and yellas hammering worms. Casting out small blades may also result in a welcome by-catch of delicious redfin.
The Loddon River is offering great fishing and is an amazing spot to flick lures while drifting in a kayak. There’s been reports of beautiful cod being caught amongst snags on cheese while bowling ball yellas are hitting lures hard.
Rocklands welcomed a few club gatherings last weekend and saw great catches of Murray cod and golden perch by anglers young and old. Trolling floating hardbodies like #2 StumpJumpers accounts for plenty of fish at Rocklands, as does casting lipless crankbaits and soft plastics from a drifting boat or one under gentle electric power. Fishing baits of worms and small yabbies from the shore at low light is another great way to make the most of this fantastic spot.
Tight lines - Mr Percy!