Ray Long Fishing Report
On The Bite 23 Mar 2010
KING FOR A DAY
Kingfish seem to have made there presence felt over the past two weeks with numerous reports of quality fish from both offshore and within the bays. When Anthony Dagastino and Simon D’Antino found the fish busting up on garfish and pilchards near the rip there first thought was salmon but once Anthony hooked up they soon realized that the fish they were targeting were in fact Kingfish, an action packed session ensured with a few nice fish to brag about, there best a respectable 6kg.
It must also be mentioned that kingfish were also taken from Alcoa Pier and just beyond the Point Wilson Pier, at times the fish were easy to find but difficult to catch, live baits such as garfish and soft plastics seem to be the best method of late.
Queenscliff has been a main stay for many anglers this week, here good numbers of squid were caught from both Edwards Point and Bell Reef, small natural colored jigs are the go. Whiting were consistent with both fresh squid, pippies and mussel all working a treat, the best reports are coming from just out from the Swan Bay entrance, Coles Channel and near Bell Reef.
Anyone looking to fish soft plastics for the trevally in the Queenscliff Cut should head down now as David Johns found the fish only to willing to take his curl tail grubs this week, the fish certainly fired up as the tide started to run off from high. Whiting are also being taken as a by catch to those casting turtleback worms in this same area. Also fishing the Cut this week was William Ellmer, here he landed two quality calamari squid, similar reports have been coming in from others fishing in and around the moored boats.
St Leonards to Clifton Springs rewarded many with mixed bags including whiting, flathead and snapper. While the whiting were patchy any number of flathead were caught on both bait and lure. Snapper reports have been hard to come by but over the weekend Ken McKinnon found the fish on the Wilson Spit, here he landed four fish the best just over 4kg. Ken caught all his fish on fresh pilchards just after dark on the high tides.
Danny Miles made the trip down from Werribee this week and fishing eel for bait landed any number of gummy shark also from the Wilson Spit area, most were small but made for some fantastic fun, all changed though when Danny landed a beauty of 7kg on Monday evening.
Corio Bay rewarded those who drifted the spoil grounds within Stingaree Bay this week, here flathead and snapper dominated captures with clearly those using soft plastics boating the better fish. Most snapper are under a kilo at present with the better flathead measuring over 60cms. Gulp three inch minnows in both peppered and banana prawn colors were the most successful.
Bird Rock saw some nice whiting captures with the late afternoons the hot time, pippies were the go as far as bait is concerned. This same area also rewarded those who were on the drift with some quality flathead as well.
Surf anglers found the salmon patchy this week but once again Cinema Point proved to be your best option, here lures such as the braid metal baitfish style were working well, most fish were just under the kilo mark.
I received a report a couple of weeks ago from Johnno, the lead singer of the rock band the Galvertrons telling me of the awesome fishing he found in the Aire River. So impressed was he that he headed down again this week where he caught and released over twenty bream, the best close to 1.4kg. Both soft plastics and dried tube worms accounted for his fish.
Estuary fishing has seen both the Anglesea and Barwon Rivers worth your time, bream are available to bait anglers but bait choice is critical, here you will need either bass yabbies or sandworm to be part of the action.
Freshwater captures are still on the rise with many anglers prepared to travel in order to find a fish, none better than the 91cm Murray Cod caught by Steve Bamforth at Euston in NSW, taken on a Bassman Spinnerbait this is Steve’s best cod to date.
Lake Fyans has been a magnet to those looking for redfin with fish to 1.5kg being taken. This is clearly the stand out freshwater destination at present, with both bait and lure anglers alike catching a feed. Mudeye is the bait with lure anglers finding a huge range acceptable to the fish but none better than the Eco Gear SX40s in the coke can coloration.
Closer to home the Barwon River is also worth chasing for some truly awesome redfin, Tackle World staff member Brendan Sheedy has been hounding the river and why not with many of his fish over one kilo in weight. Brendan has found that the SX 40 lures are by far and away the most productive lure to use, any model that is translucent will have you catching fish. Reports are spread all the way from Buckley Falls all the way down to Breakwater.
Trout fishing has been mainly confined to Lake Purrumbete and Bullen Merri, the latter providing those trolling with good numbers of small rainbow trout. Tassie Devils are working well trolled on downriggers at five to eight metres down.
This week’s specials are certainly limited so get in FAST so as not to miss out.
Looking for a small soft plastics/ spin reel we have 20 ONLY SHIMANO NEXAVE 1000FB reels Normally $119 but until sold out $50. These reels are 4 bearing and come with a spare alloy spool.
Also last weeks special on RED ROCKET soft plastics has been continued for just 1 week more, any packet for just $5, normal price is $14.99, this WILL be the last week at this price
I must thank everyone who has been sending in photos of there catch, we have had some fantastic photos to use, but we need more, please email us any current photos of your catch that we can use both on our web site and in the newspaper. Up coming we will be running a competition for the best pic of the week. Will keep you all updated very very soon.
Look to see you all on the water somewhere, Brian, Jeanette, Ray, Brendan & Jeanette.