Fishing Report – May 31, 2018

Weather conditions are still poor and limiting reports

ANGLESEA

» Pinkies are still being reported
» Some good-sized snapper have also been caught
» There are still flathead and whiting catches but few and far between
» Salmon catches continue off most local beaches.

BARWON HEADS

» Some reports of pinkies
» Some reports of nice gummy and school shark catches
» Tiger flathead offshore
» Whiting, trevally and salmon.

TORQUAY

» Still some whiting as well as pinkies to be caught
» Off our local beaches, some good-sized salmon catches have been reported
» Some thresher sharks and the odd mako
» Flathead reports continue offshore
» Spring Creek has some nice bream reported.

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

QUEENSCLIFF

» St Leonards: whiting, squid, pinkie and flathead catches continue
» Indented Head: reports of whiting, squid and flathead
» Swan Bay: some flathead, King George whiting and salmon are being caught
» Point Lonsdale pier continues to produce salmon, whiting and the occasional trevally
» The White Lady continues with a few squid and whiting being caught
» The creek is producing a few salmon.

GOOD NEWS FOR ANGLERS: SNAPPER SURVEY REVEALS BABY BOOM IN PORT PHILLIP

A recent fisheries survey in Port Phillip Bay has recorded the highest abundance of baby snapper in 26 years, easily surpassing the previous peaks in 2001 and 2004.

Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) CEO Travis Dowling said the snapper baby boom would see an unprecedented influx of small snapper in 2022 and bigger snapper over 40cm in 2025.

“Our fisheries scientists have simply never seen baby snapper numbers as good as this in all the years they have been conducting the surveys,” Mr Dowling said.

“Port Phillip Bay is the most important spawning area for snapper in central and Western Victoria, so this is very good news for anglers who love catching this iconic fish.

“VFA scientists undertake the annual surveys of baby snapper in late March and know to expect variation in spawning success depending on environmental conditions.

“The survey measures the abundance of newborn snapper between 3 and 10 cm that have survived from the recent spring-summer spawning season.

“Anglers will notice exceptionally high numbers of undersize snapper over the next few years in Port Phillip Bay, Western Port, and central/western coastal waters.

“It’s important that these undersize snappers are handled with care and released as soon as possible to maximise their survival, which is typically high.

“The minimum legal size for snapper in Victoria is 28cm, and the daily per person bag limit is 10, of which only three fish can be equal to or greater than 40cm.”

Mr Dowling said the baby boom for snapper complemented excellent settlement of King George whiting recently too, which bodes well for a thriving bay fishery in the years ahead.

“The State Government’s Target One Million plan is also bringing an end to all commercial net fishing in Port Phillip Bay by 2022, which will mean more snapper and whiting for recreational anglers and their families.”

Target One Million is investing a record $46 million to get more people fishing, more often, and delivered on a flagship commitment on 1 April when commercial net fishing ended in Corio Bay. Learn more at vfa.vic.gov.au/targetonemillion.

PHOTOS

I would also like to remind everyone to keep those photos coming in of your big catch!

Photos: Please forward them to the email address below, with Type of fish, weight, length, location and your name. I am more than happy to place your photos in My Big catch. Email photos to [email protected].