The Pelican's Pick
Friday, 20 February
Anglers at Seymour are seeing some active fish and smashing PB’s! Jason spent a ripper day on the Goulburn chasing Murray cod when a river monster devoured the deliciously seasoned chicken on his hook! It was line-screaming mayhem as he reeled in his biggest cod to date at a whopping 94cm!
Jason jumped into the water to take a photo with his proud catch before releasing it to swim another day. His eyes, now set on his next target, to join the metery club!
To be our next Pelican’s Pick star, submit your photos to pelicanspick@vfa.vic.gov.au, or share your fishing story here.
Along the Coast
Anglers at Lake Tyers are experiencing a fish-on frenzy, with more than enough catches to go around. Dusky flathead are on the chew and they are stunning! Small soft plastics are the key to reeling in these beautifully speckled beasts! Vibration blades are working well for bream and oily pilchards are catching fresh tailor.
Outside of Corner Inlet there’s excellent catches of flathead getting around and gummy shark frequenting the Franklin and Toora Channels. Sandy Point is the place to be if you’re chasing pinkies with fresh squid or get stuck into plenty of flathead in the shallows. Fishers at 90 Mile Beach are also getting in on the flattie action and good catches of gummy too!
If you’re a night owl, head to the Barwon River where after dark surface action is providing anglers with productive sessions. The estuary perch are absolutely hammering surface lures! Opt for dark coloured lures to create a clear silhouette in dark waters. Cast and slowly retrieve around structure for a big bite!
Launch the boat at Warrnambool this weekend with a bucket full of fresh bait because the fish are switched on and the fishing is electric! Gummies and snapper are eating up pilchard cubes and squid strips. Further offshore you’ll find the kingfish highway, where metre long fish can be found cruising along the coast. Yakkas and squid are your best bet to reel in offshore royalty.
Around the Bays
Werribee to St Leonards is producing a fun day on the water for keen anglers. This stretch of water is home to many squid, gummy shark and especially King George whiting. Get cracking with a collection of jigs to land some squid. The gummy shark in the area will be chasing squid so be sure to set some strips on your line to land a bigger catch! Pipis are a whiting’s favourite delicacy and are putting fish on the deck, especially around St Leonards where many fishers are bagging out!
Mornington Pier is productive as always with the usual variety of quality fish. The lower landing is ideal for garfish, but if you’re chasing something bigger head to the deeper water at the end of the pier and you’ll find it! Whiting, pinkies and the occasional flathead occupy this area waiting for fishers to donate some bait - use a sturdy squid strip to land a feast!
The top end of Western Port is delivering the goods. Tooradin is experiencing an influx of gummy shark following a whiting boom! Snapper can still be found using pilchards for those staying persistent. For a reliable catch, target the abundance of flatties around the shallows.
Hastings is an awesome spot for both boat and land-based anglers. Deeper water is proving efficient for gummies and pinkies. While the Hastings Jetty is a whiting and squid haven during a high tide, be ready for anything, as the odd pinkie and trevally may chase your line!
Inland
Nagambie is this week’s freshwater fishing hotspot as cod and yellow belly are feeding aggressively. Cast bright spinnerbaits from the bank or tie the tinny up to a tree and bait fish with worms and cheese, there’s no wrong answer! Using small hard body lures will result in catches of yellas, small cod, and a handful of reddies. Bait is working best for bigger fish in this stretch of the river.
The fishing at Blue Rock Lake has never been better! Bass are biting and anglers are reeling in the rewards. There are heaps of snags throughout the lake which are yielding quality fish. Minnow style swim baits or blades are proving effective at getting results. The odd redfin is about giving anglers a tasty bycatch treat!
Lake Bullen Merri is a deep volcanic lake that offers explosive fishing! Aussie bass are among the popular catches this week using scrub worms. The trout fishing is prime with a variety of rainbows, browns, tigers and Chinook salmon, all responding well to fast-paced lure action!
The Delatite Arm of Lake Eildon has been busy! Large trout and even fatter yellas are being caught on worms and small hard body lures. The Big River Arm of the lake contains heaps of submerged timber and steep banks which is generating some healthy-looking cod resulting in trophy sized catches!
Tight lines - Mr Percy!