FISHING REPORT – June 13, 2019

ANGLESEA
» Weather conditions have still been poor and reports are affected accordingly
» Reports of small salmon catches off local beaches continue
» Those fishing for whiting have caught some reasonable size fish in close but not a lot of boats have been getting out
» Reports of the occasional gummy shark and some flathead have been received.
Report provided courtesy the Anglesea Rusty Anglers Angling Club

BARWON HEADS
» Not much has changed here reports are spasmodic at best
» But reports of snapper, pinkies and flathead where last received
» The occasional gummy shark was also reported
» A few small whiting plus a few salmon in the river
» Small salmon being caught off the beaches.

TORQUAY
» Once again conditions have been affecting reports
» But some good King George whiting catches and snapper both land based and offshore have been reported when fishers get out
» Reports of couta with plenty of baitfish around
» Salmon reports increasing in both number and size off local beaches
» Spring Creek producing small bream.
Torquay Tackle and Sports

QUEENSCLIFF
» St Leonards has reports of a few good-size King George whiting, flathead and a few squid
» Clifton Springs is reporting whiting, flathead, squid along with pinkies being caught
» Queenscliff is still seeing whiting, flathead, pinkies and squid being caught
» Reports from the creek consist mainly of some small trevally
» Swan Bay has reports of pinkies, flathead and squid all being caught near the mouth
» Point Lonsdale pier is still seeing a few trevally, King George whiting and salmon
» The White Lady has reports of whiting, squid and flathead being caught
» Indented Head is producing reports of flathead, King George whiting, squid and snapper.

Abalone duo fined $15,000 and lose car

TWO men have been fined $15,000 and had their car forfeited after pleading guilty to possessing nearly 300 abalone at Altona in January.

The two men faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court recently and pled guilty to charges of taking a commercial quantity of abalone, taking abalone during the closed season and taking undersize abalone.

Victorian Fisheries Authority Acting Director of Education and Enforcement Brooke Hall said the men were found in possession of 298 abalone, 291 of which were undersize.

“The pair’s illegal haul is nearly 30 times the daily recreational bag limit of five abalone per person,” Ms Hall said.

“The men were arrested in January about 48 hours after Fisheries Officers received a tip off via Fisheries’ 13FISH (133474) illegal fishing reporting line.

“Officers and Fisheries Investigators intercepted the pair at Altona Reef in the early hours of the morning after watching them dive. Nearly 300 abalone were found in their vehicle.

“After a search warrant was obtained, Fisheries Officers searched their home and found freshly shucked abalone shells and further evidence of largescale abalone harvesting.

“The men’s vehicle, dive equipment and abalone were seized on the spot.

“The pair were fined $7,500 each with conviction, and their diving equipment and a Ford XR6 worth $5000 was ordered forfeited by the magistrate.”

Ms Hall said this was a great example of 13FISH working at its best.

“We received a phone call, followed it up quickly with thorough investigation and surveillance using expert staff from across the organisation, then apprehended two offenders who posed a serious threat to Victoria’s valuable abalone stocks.”

If you see or suspect illegal fishing activity any time, phone the 24-hour reporting line 13 FISH (13 3474).

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

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.