Ray Long Fishing Report
On The Bite 9 Dec 2009
COD ALLMIGHTY
Last week saw the official opening of the cod season and while reports were mixed from all around the state some absolutely outstanding captures were had, none come better than the 21kg beauty landed by Geelong & District Angling Clubs Norm Armstrong, this was in addition to the 16kg fish he landed a few days earlier. Norms fish were caught a short distance out from Wentworth, I’m sure a few more trips will be had to this spot over the coming months.
Lake Mulwala was one of the hot destinations for many anglers, here large numbers of under size cod were caught and released along with a quite a few fish averaging 65cms. Bait played a major role in fish captures due to the discolored water currently present in this lake.
Canberra angler Joe Morrison potentially landed the largest cod over the opening weekend from a secret location close to home, measuring 1.51 metres and estimated at over 45kg. Joe is renowned for his captures of large cod and he informs me of a larger fish lost at the net when the hook on his spinnerbait straightend out. Both of these captures were caught on film so look out for the footage in the media upcoming.
Also on fresh water the Barwon River has cleared slightly and the trout and redfin have started to fire with redfin of all sizes coming from Breakwater, Buckley Falls and Queens Park. Lures are accounting for most of the fish with deeper running bibbed minnow patterns clearly a favorite followed by soft plastics in the clear 3 inch minnow versions. As for the trout bait has certainly been the way to go, shrimp fished around one metre below a very tiny float will work perfectly, fish close in to the under cut banks and sure you will do well.
Corio Bay has seen consistent captures over the past few weeks and this should continue with the warmer weather, Cunningham Pier is producing Trevalla and garfish early morning and Fishermans Pier has been ideal on the gars throughout the day. Also land based North shore rocks has produced pike all this week on the last two hours before dark, small baitfish profile lures are bringing the best results.
Stingaree Bay has been consistent with whiting to 33cms with a few pinkie snapper of 40cms, evenings have been the best and this area will generally continue to produce over the entire summer months.
In the outer harbour large shoals of salmon seem to be cruising the bay with many fish on the small side around 500grams but Peter Carmichael hit a shoal this week just off Bird Rock that averaged over a kilo, all Peters fish were caught trolling laser lures.
This week has seen snapper anglers a little frustrated with many finding fish hard to locate, this is not uncommon for the start of December as we soft plastics anglers find that the larger volumes of fish seem to move into the shallower waters, feeding on the tiny scallop shells that attach to the sea grass found in close. As a result most of the better snapper reports have come from those using soft plastics such as red rockets and gulp minnows in under five metres of water. Bait anglers would be well advised that if they are not having success do try in a lot closer to shore.
On snapper the best reports came from the spoil ground off Hermsley this week where large numbers of 35 to 40cm fish were caught, the best fish that I know of pulled the scales at 4.1kg and taken by Simon Forbes, this was along with two other fish both over 3kg.
Good numbers of whiting were taken from the mussel lease off Point Richards this week while most fish are averaging 33cms a number of fish pushed 44cms, pippies and fresh squid are the baits the latter can be caught from this area early morning or evenings.
Edwards Point was a magnet for Paul Tamis and Danny Klapinski this week, here drifting and casting soft plastics resulted in a productive session landing a number of flathead to 2.6kg. Similar results were had by Noel Norton and his brother landing over a dozen fish from 1 to 2.4kg also on soft plastics.
Peter Burke sent in some photos of the squid he has been catching in close to Duck Island of late, after dark is the go here at present with small dark colored Clicks jigs the best performers. Some nights Peter has had his bag limit of ten in under an hour.
Swan Bay has seen very few anglers fishing after dark but for those putting in a few hours here still some nice gummy shark to around 5kg are being caught, with fresh squid and eel the baits.
Queenscliff Cut the home of silver trevally has once again seen some nice bags of fish landed, as always soft plastics such as turtleback worms are taking the majority of the fish and some are a respectable 2kg plus at present. Along with trevally, tommy rough and salmon are also a consistent by catch at present.
Bell Reef has been ideal for land based anglers wishing to chase squid, next weeks evening low tides will make this platform an ideal choice, once again the use of small natural colored jigs will only enhance your success.
Offshore has seen most anglers fishing wide in sixty to seventy metres of water finding both blue and mako shark, while sizes have been varied many fish are around the 2 meter mark, good fun and good eating. Snapper are still being taken off the reefs in 35 to 40 metres of water along with quality gummy shark to 20kg.
Surf fishing for snapper is always good at this time of the year and for your best chance you should fish Black Rock, anywhere from the Blow Holes to the Wells is great fishing over perfect reef. It must also be mentioned that the East Rocks can also be good but the reef extends further out requiring longer cast to get into the action.
Just 15 DAYS left for the big fella to collect all his BIG BOYS TOYS from Tackle World, put your order in fast so as not to miss out, hope you get all you ask for.
See you on the water somewhere, Brian, Ray, Jeanette, Brendan & Hudson.