FISHING REPORT August – 23, 2018

ANGLESEA
» Fishing conditions have been extremely poor over the past week
» Salmon off local beaches
» A few small pinkies inshore reported
» Some whiting have also been reported.

BARWON HEADS
» Snapper are still being reported occasionally
» Small trevally have been reported in the river
» Salmon off the beaches are still being caught.

TORQUAY
» Reports of a few King George whiting still in close
» Pinkies offshore but not in great numbers
» Reports of flathead offshore continue
» Salmon catches off most beaches
» Bream in Spring Creek to be caught.

Remember Torquay Tackle and Sports. For all the best available advice in Torquay on tackle and bait, drop in and see Ross or Josh. They will do their best to ensure you get the most up-to-date information available. Phone 5264 8207.

QUEENSCLIFF
» St Leonards reports a few King George whiting, with flathead and squid
» Clifton Springs has reports of a few whiting, as well as some flathead and calamari
» Queenscliff is still seeing whiting, flathead, pinkies as well as some calamari being caught
» The creek occasional reports of small trevally and salmon continue
» The entrance to Swan Bay is still seeing reports of a few calamari and whiting
» The reports from Point Lonsdale have been of both trevally and salmon
» The White Lady continues to produce a few whiting and calamari
» Indented Head has reports of flathead, King George whiting and squid being caught.

VRFish, the peak body representing Victorian recreational fishers, is calling on federal Assistant Agriculture and Water Resources Senator Anne Ruston to shelve ongoing tactics to lock the Victorian State Government into changing recreational fishing rules for our iconic Southern bluefin tuna.

VRFish chairman Mr Rob Loats said, “We are extremely annoyed the Commonwealth continues to ignore Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford’s logical and pragmatic calls to first complete a recreational catch survey of SBT across Australia”.

“Victorian recreational fishers are prepared to go to any lengths to back up Minister Pulford to protect our valuable SBT fishery,” he said.

“Making premature and uninformed decisions puts our fantastic recreational SBT fishery into very dangerous territory which VRFish will not stand for under our watch,” Mr Loats said.

A Commonwealth-funded 12-month catch survey is already planned to begin in December this year, with results available in 2020.

“Victorian recreational fishers have a demonstrated track record of fishing sustainably, responsibly and rebuilding fish stocks,” he said.

“It’s again a reminder to all Victorians fishers the importance of having a strong and independent recreational fishing peak body protecting their interests,” he said.

According to an economic study in 2012, the SBT recreational fishery is estimated to contribute as much as $9 million to Portland’s economy.

Fishers can refer to VRFish’s SBT policy on its website and are encouraged to adopt best practice through following the tuna code of conduct.

Visit vrfish.com.au/2018/08/16/fisheranger- that-tuna-limits-are-still-at-risk.

NEW FISHING PLATFORM AND FAMILY EVENT
A new fishing platform will be built on the banks of the Goulburn River in Seymour to improve accessibility to the water for fishing, particularly making it safer for kids to have a go at wetting a line.

Labor Upper House Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes, visited the site at Goulburn Park recently with fishing icon Rex Hunt to announce a free kids’ fishing event to be held during Children’s Week in October as part of the State Labor Government’s VicFishKids program.

The fishing platform and VicFishKids event are both funded by the State Labor Government’s Target One Million plan, which is investing a record $46 million to get more people fishing more often.

Ms Symes has been working on obtaining a fishing platform for Seymour for almost a year. It will be built by the Mitchell Shire using a $100,000 grant from Target One Million’s Better Fishing Facilities Fund, which has funded similar infrastructure projects for anglers right across the state.

The platform will be a multi-level design to cater for height changes in the Goulburn River through the year.

“The platform’s location in Goulburn Park is ideal given it is in the middle of town, a short walk from the holiday park and close to an existing playground with toilet amenities,” Ms Symes said.

Meanwhile, anyone with information relating to illegal fishing is encouraged to ring the illegal fishing reporting number on 13FISH (133474).

PHOTOS
I would also like to remind everyone to keep those photos coming in of your big catch!

Please forward them to mybigcatch@ bigpond.com, with type of fish, weight, length, location and your name. I am more than happy to place your photos in My Big Catch.