FISHING REPORT – MAY 16, 2019

ANGLESEA
» Weather has been extremely poor so report are general in advice
» Reports of small salmon off local beaches where being received
» Reports offshore when fisherman can get out have consisted of a few small pinkies the occasional flathead
» The occasional gummy shark had also been reported
» The occasional whiting had been caught in close
» Mullet off the boat ramp with reports of taylor.

Report provided courtesy the Anglsea Rusty Anglers Angling Club

BARWON HEADS
» Snapper, pinkies and flathead where being reported offshore
» As had a few gummy shark
» The river was seeing some small King George whiting along with the occasional catch of both trevally and salmon
» Salmon had been reported as being caught off the beaches.

LORNE
» The great fishing is continuing off Lorne with the water still sitting around 17 degrees.
» Snapper around the 45cm mark are being caught in good numbers with the odd 60cm fish among them
» Still the odd nannygai and swallowtail getting caught
» Lots of salmon busting the surface but have been hard to approach
» Gummy sharks up to 18kg which are well over five-foot long being landed.
» The blue mackerel and yakkas are still abundant with small couta now joining them.
» No reports of King George whiting at the moment with most anglers giving up on them. That’s two years in a
row that they haven’t arrived in good numbers and yet east of Lorne they are having a great run.

» Flathead are still on the chew but the real big ones have moved on.
» The Lorne Pier is fishing well with squid, trevally, tommy ruff, salmon, mullet and the odd snapper being landed.

Report provided courtesy the the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club.

TORQUAY
» Reports of a few King George whiting in close
» A a few snapper and pinkies offshore
» Reports of the occasional gummy shark were coming in
» A few Flathead being reported when fishers can get out
» Salmon were being reported off local beaches
» Small bream are still in Spring Creek.

Torquay Tackle and Sports.

QUEENSCLIFF
» St Leonards reports of King George whiting, flathead and squid are still being received
» Reports from Clifton Springs have whiting, flathead, squid with some pinkie snapper also
being reported
» Queenscliff has reports of whiting, flathead, pinkies and squid continuing
» The creek is reported to still be producing the occasional trevally
» Swan Bay is seeing pinkies, flathead and calamari near the mouth
» Point Lonsdale has reports of trevally, King George whiting, salmon, and squid being caught
» The White Lady has reports of whiting, calamari and flathead still occurring
» Indented Head has reports of flathead, King George whiting, squid, snapper and gummy shark being caught.

The state government is working with Warrnambool City Council to upgrade Warrnambool Harbour, giving recreational fishers and boaters in South West Victoria the facilities they deserve.

Minister for Fishing and Boating Jaala Pulford recently announced $420,000 in funding to start planning and design work to upgrade the boat launching facility at Warrnambool’s Lady Bay.

“We’re working with Warrnambool Council to get the ball rolling on the planning and approvals needed to start the upgrade of Warrnambool’s Lady Bay boat launching facility.

“Warrnambool is one of the gateways to wonderful fishing and boating.”

The funding will be used by Warrnambool City Council to prepare the business case, detailed design, planning and approvals for an upgraded Warrnambool boat ramp.

The Labor Government has worked closely with the Warrnambool City Council and has already provided funding through the Boating Safety and Facilities Program for a new navigational aid and light on the end of the Warrnambool Harbour breakwater.

In March, the Warrnambool boat ramp was named as Victoria’s worst in an RACV boat ramp survey and today’s funding will play a key role in assisting with the development of a much-needed upgrade.

It comes as the state government has committed to establishing the Better Boating Fund, which will use funds from boat registration and marine licences for boating facility upgrades and safety initiatives.

MY COMMENT
The Warrnambool Boat ramp has been a sore point of contention for many years now among recreational fisherman, the local community and the local council. I have held conversations over the years with recreational fishers, councillors and local businesses about the opportunities that were going missing as recreational fishers drove to Portland chasing southern bluefin tuna that so many recreational fishers search after.

Now they have the funding to start planning and design work to upgrade the boat ramp.

Let’s hope that this does lead to that actual upgrade of the boat ramp for the benefit of the community and recreational fishers and all the businesses that will benefit throughout Warrnambool; and that this grant will achieve a solid result for all.

If and when this eventuates, c If and when this eventuates, congratulations will be in store for all those who helped make
this happen. In the meantime, we watch this space.

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).

CLUB CORNER
The Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club recently held its first Winter Cup Fishing Competition for the year.

The conditions weren’t ideal but some good fish were weighed in.

The results were as follows: Winner, Ian Middleton (the salmon king) with a big salmon 2,840 points.

Ian never misses a comp, he drives down from Bendigo and fishes off the rocks. He consistently catches huge salmon and cleans up at a lot of our competitions.

Runner-up, Steve Arundell with a good size trevally, which he caught off the pier 2,220 points.

Third, Brett Stewart with a mullet 2,210 points.

After the presentations a scrumptious and free mixed grill was served up to our competitors and members.

Our next competition is on Sunday June 9 with a free roast lunch for all competitors.

Shortly after that we are holding the inaugural World Sausage Roll Championships. Free sausage rolls will be
handed out all weekend and judging will start at 5pm. Come and join in the fun.

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.