FISHING REPORT – January 17, 2019

ANGLESEA
» Reports of salmon off local beaches still being caught
» Reports of a few small pinkies being caught
» The odd snapper has also been reported
» Some flathead off the beach
» A few kingies have also been spotted
» The occasional whiting is still being caught in close.

BARWON HEADS
» Consistent reports offshore of snapper and pinkies
» Reports also of some nice flathead catches offshore
» Whiting, trevally and some small salmon in the river
» Local beaches are also reporting some salmon.

LORNE
» The flathead are going crazy with most anglers coming in with their bag limit. Some good size ones amongst them
» The snapper are going well with some nice 3kg plus being caught
» Plenty of big gummy sharks are still biting well
» King George whiting are still a bit patchy with the odd decent catch coming in. Hopefully they appear in good numbers soon.
» The blue water that brought all the plankton in is still there but the plankton appears to have gone so hopefully it won’t come back.
» The slimy or blue mackerel are everywhere at the moment with some huge ones in amongst them. They are great fun on light gear and if you surface berley you can catch your bag limit which is 40 in no time at all.
» The pier is fishing extremely well with plenty of salmon, snapper and calamari being caught.

Thanks to the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club for the report.

TORQUAY
» Reports of King George whiting in close
» Pinkies and snapper catches are increasing
» The odd mako is starting to appear
» Plenty of baitfish around
» Flathead reports still offshore and the beaches
» Squid are being caught
» Gummy shark reports are still being received
» Still salmon are around off the beaches
» Some bream being caught in Spring Creek.

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 is still reporting catches of King George whiting, flathead and calamari
» Reports out of Clifton Springs is still seeing, pinkies, whiting and flathead
» Queenscliff has reports currently of whiting, flathead, salmon and calamari
» The creek is still turning in reports a few trevally and salmon
» Swan Bay is producing calamari and salmon according to reports
» Point Lonsdale, trevally, salmon and snapper continue being caught
» The White Lady is still producing reports of whiting, pinkies and calamari
» Indented Head has reports of some snapper, flathead, King George whiting as well as a few squid.

As part of Operation Jazz, Fisheries Officers have seized two boats and four men will face charges relating to the alleged illegal harvest of calamari near Queenscliff in recent months.

Victorian Fisheries Authority CEO Travis Dowling said more than 210 recreational anglers had been inspected during the operation and most were found to be doing the right thing.

“Port Phillip is in great shape and Target One Million is committed to getting one million Victorians fishing by 2020. Fishing for calamari, snapper and King George whiting is stronger than ever and we want to keep it that way, which needs everyone to fish responsibly and abide by bag and size limits,” Mr Dowling said.

“Operation Jazz ran from October to December 2018 during the peak calamari spawning season when large aggregations gather around the southern end of Port Phillip Bay.

“Fisheries Officers will allege that a boat was used, on two separate days, by various men known to each other, to take more than the daily bag limit of 10 calamari per person. It will be alleged the men made several boat trips in one day, taking calamari on each trip, an activity commonly referred to as multi-tripping.

“One of the men was observed making three separate boat trips on a single day. That vessel was later allegedly found to contain 22 calamari concealed within the vessel.

“Several of the men will be charged with exceeding the catch limit, hindering Fisheries Officers, providing false and misleading information and matters relating to marine safety. They face maximum penalties of up to $27,000 and 12 months imprisonment.

“In another instance, a man had his boat seized for allegedly multi-tripping. Having launched at Sorrento, he drove the
boat to Queenscliff where he was observed by officers taking calamari. He was subsequently seen taking more calamari
and was inspected later in the day having taken more than twice his daily bag limit.”

Mr Dowling said some infringements notices were also issued during Operation Jazz, including three to one angler for various offences, worth more $1,100 in total.

If you see or suspect illegal fishing call Fisheries’ reporting line 13FISH (133474) anytime. Some of our best intelligence about illegal fishing activity comes from keen recreational anglers, so make the call and make the difference.

CLUB CORNER
If you are an angling club and you wish to let people know what’s going on within your club as well as help promote your club, email [email protected] and we will post your club news here. 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.