Fishing Report – February 8, 2018

ANGLESEA

» Fishing reports out of Anglesea are still slow
» Some pinkies have been caught
» A few flathead as well.

BARWON HEADS

» The river is still producing salmon, trevally and a few King George whiting.
» Flathead, snapper and pinkies continue to be caught offshore
» Gummy shark catches are still being reported.

TORQUAY

» Reports of snapper being caught off the beach as well as offshore
» Flathead and King George whiting in close and off the beaches
» Salmon in numbers and size are being caught off most local beaches
» A few gummy sharks have been reported
» Spring Creek fishing still continues to produce some nice bream.

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: snapper, pinkies out wide continue. Whiting on the improve, flathead also being caught
» Gummy shark plus squid in numbers being caught
» Pt Lonsdale: salmon, trevally, good-sized whiting as well as squid being caught plus reports of some kingfish in the Rip.
» Queenscliff Harbour: a few trevally, salmon and some pinkies
» White Lady, a few whiting, squid as well as flathead are being caught
» Indented Head, flathead, squid, a few whiting and the odd snapper are still being caught with some gummy shark on the 20-metre mark being caught
» Clifton Springs has some nice flathead reported along with some nice-size pinkies
» Swan Bay has reports of some nice garfish.

A LAKES Entrance man has been convicted and fined for exceeding the catch limit for bream, attempting to bribe authorised officers and escaping from lawful custody in the Bairnsdale Magistrates Court this week.

In late 2017, fisheries officers observed the three people near Lake Tyers setting a monofilament mesh net across the Toorloo Arm Bridge on the Princess Highway.

The trio was intercepted by officers, and during their interactions the officers uncovered the set mesh net under the Toorloo Arm Bridge which contained 48 bream, two luderick and 11 mullet.

During their discussions with the group the male and another male absconded and were found several hours later by officers at the accused’s residential address.

Victorian Fisheries Authority regional fisheries manager Bill McCarthy said the vehicle and equipment used by the man and two other people he was with to try and net fish was also forfeited.

The male was convicted of attempting to bribe a public official, escape from lawful custody of a person, using commercial fishing equipment and using commercial fishing equipment to take more than the catch limit. The vehicle involved was also forfeited and they were fined $850 with a further $257.50 in costs.

Anyone who sees or suspects illegal fishing is urged to call the 24-hour reporting line 13FISH (133474), anytime.

Better angler access to Hazelwood Fishery

Anglers in Victoria will now have better opportunities to bag a barramundi at Hazelwood pondage with 500 metres of new fishing access officially opening on February 1.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing declared that recreational anglers chasing barramundi at Hazelwood Pondage would have better shore-based access to catch that fish of a lifetime.

Gippsland Water have agreed to open a 500-metre stretch of land alongside the pondage channel where plenty of stocked barramundi now reside.

This initiative is consistent with the Labor government’s comprehensive water plan, Water for Victoria – which sets out to ensure local communities can enjoy recreational benefits that our waterways provide.

Under the plan water authorities are required to consider these benefits when managing our water resources – and Gippsland Water’s efforts at Hazelwood are an example of the plan in action.

The new access arrangements have been funded by the state government’s Target One Million plan, which aims to grow participation to one million anglers by 2020.

Intensive monitoring of the fishery since April 2017 suggested that around 1,500 barramundi had survived the cold winter and were now confined to the upper reaches of the 36-hectare channel.

Stocked barramundi are now actively feeding again in the pondage channel, which has reached 30 degrees, so anglers have a good chance of enticing a strike on a cast lure.

The access improvements include a road, fencing, signs and a new car park, all of which will keep Hazelwood Pondage a family-friendly option that can be enjoyed by locals and visitors.

To ensure the fishery provides year-round angling opportunities for people of all ages, the Victorian Fisheries Authority will continue to stock rainbow trout in winter, grown at Snobs Creek hatchery. The release of Australian bass fingerlings will also be considered.

Anglers are reminder that they need to hold a Victorian recreational fishing licence to fish in Hazelwood Pondage, including the channel, unless exempt.

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.