Fishing Report – November 16, 2017

ANGLESEA

» Salmon being caught off local beaches
» Offshore, sand flathead are being caught when boaties can get out
» Couta are also still believed to be around
» Gummy shark catches have been reported
» Still some pinkie snapper being reported
» Whales spotted off anglesea.

APOLLO BAY

» Salmon off Wild Dog and Marengo
» Good whiting being caught still by both land-based fishers and those out in boats
» The harbour is still seeing Grass Whiting, King George whiting and the odd trevally; salmon are still being caught off the wall
» a few reports of snapper and gummy sharks being caught
» The Barham River continues to produce a few small trout in the upper reaches.

For all your bait and tackle, go to Apollo Bay Sports. Phone Steve or Jen, they will be more than pleased to help you. Phone 5237 6434.

BARWON HEADS

» Reports offshore of pinkies, snapper and whiting being caught
» The occasional gummy shark is still being caught off local beaches
» Salmon catches are still being reported off the beach
» The Barwon River still has reports of King George whiting, trevally and salmon being caught in the river.

TORQUAY

» Reports of pinkies and flathead continue offshore
» King George whiting, sand whiting continue to be caught in close
» Reports of barracouta being caught offshore persist
» Some good snapper have been reported off Torquay
» a few gummy shark have been caught off local beaches
» Salmon continue to be caught along beaches on the coast
» The usual from Spring Creek with bream continuing to be caught.

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, or phone 5264 8207.

QUEENSCLIFF

» King George whiting, flathead, and squid off St Leonards
» Out wide, snapper and gummies continue to be caught
» Nice snapper continue being caught, as do pinkies, King George whiting, sand whiting squid and flathead off Clifton Springs
» Queenscliff has trevally, King George whiting, squid and nice salmon are still being caught
» The creek is still seeing trevally and salmon being reported
» Point Lonsdale has trevally, salmon and couta being caught off the pier with the occasional snapper catch being reported
» The White Lady is still producing whiting and squid
» indented head continues with reports of flathead, a few King George whiting and squid all being caught.

SNAPPER fishing in Port Phillip is sensational this time of year. a recent study by fisheries scientists has revealed that the peak annual spawning migration of snapper into the bay occurs when the water temperature reaches 15°C, which tends to happen in october and did so at the end of that month.

Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) chief executive officer Travis Dowling said the snapper tracking study, which was funded by recreational licence fees, used electronic tags to monitor the movement of snapper over time.

“The study showed the majority of snapper migrants should be in the bay by now, and it was just a matter of anglers finding them and hoping they were hungry,” Mr Dowling said.

“Anglers targeting snapper can expect an improvement in fishing this year as several new groups of fish enter the adult and ‘pinkie’ fisheries.

“Annual surveys by VFA scientists indicate that spawning success was reasonably good in the late 2000s. Fish originating from those spawning seasons will be prevalent in the smaller size range of the adult fishery this season, around 2-3kg.

“Furthermore, very good spawning years in 2013 and 2014 should see a major boost in the catch rate of smaller ‘pinky’ snapper up to 35 centimetres in Port Phillip and Western Port.

“VFA scientists have undertaken surveys of juvenile snapper in Port Phillip annually for 24 years and know to expect variation in spawning success depending on environmental conditions.

“Port Phillip is an important spawning and nursery area for snapper and these surveys tell us about future replenishment of the ‘western snapper stock’, which extends from Wilsons Promontory to south-east South Australia.

“It’s important to monitor these unpredictable fluctuations to inform the sustainable management of the snapper fishery.”

Mr Dowling said it takes three to four years for snapper to reach 28cm, the legal minimum length in Victoria, and typically six to seven years to enter the adult fishery at 40cm.

“Based on the last decade of survey data, scientists expected catch rates to drop during the last few years compared to the peak experienced about six-seven years ago. Their surveys of anglers at boat ramps confirmed this, with a decrease in catch rates of large snapper reported from 2014.

“However, the future trend for the snapper fishery is expected to be a moderate increase before stabilising into the early 2020s.”

Mr Dowling said it was important that all anglers abided by snapper bag and size limits to ensure a high-quality fishery that is best able to accommodate the natural fluctuations in spawning success.”

Club Corner

This year 36 competitors entered the Bellarine Pirates Family Fishing Competition, a six-species weekend run by Bellarine Pirates, St Leonards Angling and St Leonards Yacht Club & Motor Squadron, however, conditions kept most off the water.

Matt Paech was the early leader with squid and whiting, however, he was challenged by Joe Scaffidi with snapper, squid and flathead.

Nipper champ was Connor Paech with heaviest whiting (42g), flathead and squid.

Junior champ was Jesse Paech with flathead, whiting and squid.

Runner-up junior was Brandon Scaffidi with flathead, whiting and squid.

Adult Male champ was Joe Scaffidi with heaviest snapper (1.355kg), whiting, flathead and squid.

Runner up Adult Male was Matt Paech with heaviest flathead (327g), heaviest squid (1.185kg), and whiting.

Heaviest Leatherjacket (462g) won by John Bustard.

The $500 raffle on entry tag was won by Glen Wilson from the St Leonards Yacht Club. Early Bird $125 rod reel won by Mitchell family, and rod/reel raffle won by Sam Riggio.

Thanks to the St Leonards Yacht Club & Motor Squadron (Marilyn Smith) for a great venue, good coffee and dim sims.

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.