Ray Long Fishing Report
On The Bite 7 Jan 2010
NEW YEARS RESOLUTION FISH MORE
Amazing is the only way to describe some of the captures over the Christmas New Year period with both fresh and saltwater equally as productive.
How anyone could go past the Barwon River here in Geelong is beyond me with some truly huge redfin on offer to both bait and lure anglers. While live minnow are the standout bait they have been difficult to obtain, this has resulted in many fishing shrimp lightly weighted under a very small float with devastating results. Personally I have been concentrating on casting lures with SX40s clearly the best hard body lure but on many occasions small minnow pattern soft plastics have been a great option. While most of the better fish are just under the kilo mark we have had fish to 1.8kg. Queens Park all the way to the second breakwater has produced with the warm but cloudy conditions perfect.
Wurdee Boluc Reservoir has been another freshwater hot spot with quality redfin and trout eager to hit a lure. Here lures such as Pegron Tiger Minnows, Vibrax and Power Minnows have all been successful. This water would be a great option for all fly fishers to try at present. =
Ten year old freshwater specialist Laughlan McDowall has once again been persisting at the McCleods Watering Hole at Drysdale with awesome results, here big carp and eels are only to willing to take a bait. This is a fantastic and easy place to take the kids fishing over the school
holidays. = Cunningham Pier has been producing snotty trevalla with chicken clearly the ideal bait, if possible try fishing just within the first thirty metres of the pier as this is where the schools seem to be holding. It also helps to marinate your chicken bait in tuna oil the night before you are heading out, the extra scent is a great attractant.
Ken Alford has been trying the soft plastics on the trevalla here in the bay and he has had success although he has caught just as many flathead as he has trevalla of late. Worm pattern lures are the go fished on very light jig heads. Fishermans Pier has also been producing the same species and by the same techniques.
Stingaree Bay spoil grounds is holding good numbers of whiting and garfish with at times large numbers of tiny snapper also a problem. Pippies will account for the whiting and silver fish suspended under a quill float will have the garfish biting, berley will also make a huge difference to your day.
Outer harbour reports have come from two main areas with Bird Rock producing a variety of species to both bait and lure anglers alike. Pike, flathead, snapper, whiting and garfish are all available and this area will only get better with the onset of hotter conditions. Alcoa pier has had a consistent number of salmon holding along the outer edge, unfortunately the local seals are also inhabiting this area and can make for some frustrating times as they remove hooked fish from anglers lines.
While snapper reports are patchy those fishing the eighteen to twenty metre line off St Leonards are still doing ok. Silver whiting and fresh squid have been the baits for if you use a softer bait the small flathead will pick the hook clean in only a few minutes.
Best whiting captures have come from St Leonards to Queenscliff with South Australian pippies and fresh squid what is required at present. Early morning and evenings are the prime time especially on the ebbing tide.
Swan Bay has been a favorite of late with some big flathead to be taken while fishing blue bait under a float, in this area fish in under 1.5 metres of water and berley for the best results. At present some huge garfish can also be taken as they are attracted also by the berley.
Edward Point a renowned mark for those chasing squid has not disappointed with the evenings and after dark producing close to bag limit captures, as always small dark colored jigs seem to be the best.
Silver Trevally can be caught from the Queenscliff cut at present, bait anglers will need to use pilchard fillet but soft plastics anglers will always do best here, lures such as turtleback worms and mojo curl tails are proven fish magnets from this water.
Salmon while not running red hot in the rip they are still there to be caught, the ebbing tide will see the fish push the baitfish to the surface and give you your best chances.
Des Fielder along with many others has seen action in seventy metres of water for both blue and mako shark, small baits and plenty of berley should see some flake on the table. Des has even reported the capture of two kingfish from offshore over the past week, a species that many see as a rewarding challenge.
Surf anglers should look to Black Rock where trevally, whiting and snapper are all being taken in good numbers, in this area long casts are needed with the last two hour before dark showing all the action. Fresh squid is clearly the bait to use.
Cinema Point just past Eastern View has been rewarding those prepared to make the long walk with salmon to 2kg and whiting of 900 grams, here the evening high tides are always best. I also saw a nice 2kg snapper taken last week from the rock platforms in this area.
Today has seen many anglers finding snapper of 35 to 45cms off Bird Rock, soft plastics were hot with turtleback worms and gulp minnows in both 3 and 4 inch great. Colors varied with lime tiger, nuc chicken and peppered prawn clearly best.
Hope to see you all on the water somewhere this week, Brian, Brendan, Ray, Jeanette and Hudson.