Fishing Report – December 13, 2018

ANGLESEA
» A few pinkies have been reported to be around
» Salmon being reported off local beaches
» Some flathead are being reported offshore.

BARWON HEADS
» Reports of salmon and trevally in the river
» Offshore reports of some snapper being caught
» Reports offshore of some gummy shark catches as well.

TORQUAY
» Reports of some snapper are being received
» Flathead continue to be caught out wide
» Reports of some whiting catches in close
» Nice salmon are still being caught off most beaches
» Spring Creek has bream as usual

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

QUEENSCLIFF
» St Leonards, producing snapper out wide, as well as some whiting, and some good size flathead
» Gummy shark catches are also being reported
» Pt Lonsdale pier is seeing some reports of salmon and trevally being caught
» Queenscliff reports of some good trevally and small salmon continue
» Reports of some calamari catches being in the bight
» White Lady has reports of whiting and squid being caught
» Indented Head is seeing reports of flathead, squid and snapper still being caught out wide
» Clifton Springs has some reports of snapper and squid as well as some flathead

RECORD BASS STOCKINGS INTO BLUE ROCK

IF you are looking at getting away this Christmas and heading down the Gippsland region you will find that Christmas has come early for freshwater anglers thanks to the stocking of 235,000 Australian bass fingerlings into 17 lakes and rivers, including a record 81,000 into Blue Rock Lake.

Victorian Fisheries Authority Target One Million Coordinator Craig Ingram said most of the bass had been stocked into Gippsland to improve inland recreational fishing opportunities.

“Bass stockings are funded by fishing licence fees and the State Government’s Target One Million plan, which aims to grow participation to one million anglers by 2020,” Mr Ingram said.

“Australian bass are an iconic sportfish that can be caught by beginners and experts on a range of tackle including bait, fly and lure.

“Our bass stocking program has been a huge success in Gippsland with several high-profile fisheries such as Blue Rock Lake now hosting bass fishing competitions, which is good for local businesses that depend on tourism.

“This year the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority stocked 10,000 bass into the Nicholson River and 10,000 into the Brodribb River, supported by the Marlo Angling Club and the Bairnsdale RSL Angling Club.

“The remaining 215,000 bass were released into:
• Blue Rock Lake 81,000
• Snowy River 40,000
• Mitchell River 30,000
• Timbarra River 20,000
• Lake Glenmaggie 10,000
• Macalister River 7,000
• Thomson River 5,000
• Lake Narracan 5,000
• Avon River 5,000
• Tyers River 2,000
• Cowwarr Weir 2,000
• Hyland Lake 1,000
• Traralgon Creek 1,000
• Valencia Creek 1,000

Plus, closer to home:
Bass stocking also returned to Lake Bullen Merri, near Camperdown, this season with 5,000 fingerlings. This follows captures of solid bass over 1.5kg from previous stockings and support from local anglers to recommence releases that complement annual trout and salmon stockings.

Mr Ingram said the native fish-stocking season was now underway and anglers could expect to hear more in coming months about the release of Murray cod, golden perch and silver perch, alongside species of conservation significance such as Macquarie perch and trout cod.

For more information visit vfa.vic.gov.au/bassstocking.

Meanwhile, if you see or suspect illegal fishing activity any time over summer please phone the 24-hour reporting line 13 FISH (13 34 74).

PHOTOS

I would also like to remind everyone to keep those photos coming in of your big catch! Please forward them to [email protected], with type of fish, weight, length, location and your name. I am more than happy to place your photos in My Big Catch.