The Pelican's Pick
Friday, 20 March
Every fisher knows the feeling of trying to chase the elusive fish that always seems just out of reach. Kaleb learnt this feeling early after countless of trips and near misses chasing his goal to catch a gummy shark.
Launching the boat at Port Welshpool for a night mission with his dad, Kaleb was determined to achieve his dream! Finally, his rod buckled, the reel screamed and Kaleb reeled in this whopping 110cm gummy shark!
Kaleb’s achievement is a shining example of perseverance, dedication and with some hard work your fishing dreams can be achieved! Ripper catch Kaleb!
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
The Gippsland estuaries are buzzing with activity, signalling that there is a quality fishing session ahead! The bream fishing is off the scale at Metung with large and consistent catches keeping anglers on their toes! Meanwhile, Lakes Entrance is producing impressive dusky flathead along the sandy flats, giving land-based fishers a prime opportunity to score prized catches!
Flathead fishing is on fire at Port Albert, with a few large gummies to be found on fresh squid. Offshore at Cornet Inlet to Port Welshpool, giant gummies are swarming and are sinking their not so large teeth into slimies! Keep an eye out for weed beds and spot the kraken sized squid lurking in the reeds ready to latch onto dark coloured jigs.
It’s a prime week to fish around Lorne and Apollo Bay, with a wide variety of species biting. Wet your line around our Fish Aggregating Devices to target large pelagic species such as yellowtail kingfish and tuna! Salmon are proving most productive around the rocks, while flathead around the harbour are a reliable catch. It’s the end of the run for snapper but the odd pinkie is still around!
The salmon fishing at Portland has been world class! Keep your eyes peeled for bust ups and birds and get ready to cast metal slugs or poppers. Be prepared because in amongst the action you may receive a visit from royalty with kingfish on the hunt. There are quality whiting and pinkies waiting to be caught on oily baits like pilchards and the odd gummy shark can be found chomping on squid strips.
Around the Bays
The Hasting area is best fished on a run in tide with anglers bagging out on large whiting. With the current whiting fishing frenzy, please remember the bag limit is 20 per person. The best bait to score your bag is pipis and bass yabbies. Further up the channel at Warneet there is bigger game to be caught, with huge gummies actively feeding on slimies and salmon.
There’s plenty of gummies around Cowes, as long as you’re casting out fresh oily baits they’ll be bound to bite! For those wanting to find fresh bait you’re in luck, with plenty of mackerel in the area. Once caught, cube up to seek out well conditioned pinkies!
Port Phillip Bay is producing for determined anglers that stay consistent. Look for deep patches to score some big snapper still hanging around feeding on squid chunks and pilchards. If fishing in shallow waters target the artificial reef at Kerferd Rd Pier to reel in class flathead.
The stretch from Queenscliff to St Leonards has got it all for a good session on the water. If you’re looking for a feed there are squid on the chew around the sandy flats and soft plastics are getting ambushed by flathead. Fast flowing water is sheltering silver trevally and they are hammering small pilchards. If you’re keen to head out to the rip there’s massive kingies and tuna with the odd salmon school busting up! Stay clear of the main shipping channel and ensure all your safety equipment is up to date.
Inland
Rocklands Reservoir is a standout developing fishery and should be on every anglers must fish destination. The cod continue to mature and more fishers are reeling in metre long trophies! To join this exclusive club, be prepared with a variety of lures and cast at big snags. Mix it up and continuously swap lures and locations, if you put in the hours, you’ll be sure to get the reward!
The Goulburn River is a diverse fishery and has been producing good catches across a variety of species! Nagambie to Seymour is producing quality yellas and Murray cod on worms and chicken. Further upstream the Goulburn near Alexandra has mega catches of brown and rainbow trout on small hard body lures.
Lake Eppalock is giving anglers a challenge that is testing both skills and patience. Fishing at first light is proving most effective for those targeting cod and yellas. Reddies are biting throughout the day and are taking a liking to small hard body lures. If fishing from the bank, have plenty of bait ready with chicken, cheese and worms enticing stubborn fish.
Speaking of redfin, if you’re after a fresh feed of great eating fish, look no further than Waranga Basin! While it also has some cod and good yellowbelly fishing, Waranga is renowned for the quality redfin caught from its waters. A combination of using scrubworms for bait or casting soft plastics and vibes near structure will get you onto reddies that are definitely worth bringing home to the family.
Lake Eildon continues to be the must visit destination to set new PB catches! The Murray cod getting hauled in are well over a metre and they are chunky! It’s great to see anglers handling these treasured fish with the utmost respect and ensuring they are safely returned to the water - For more information visit our website here. The record catches don’t end there, with mammoth golden perch being reeled in on spinners and worms.
Come join us at the Arcadia Native Fish Hatchery Open Day on Saturday 21 March, 9am-4pm to explore behind the scenes and see our amazing facilities which produce up to 6 million Murray cod and golden perch each year!
Tight lines - Mr Percy!