Fishing Report – September 13, 2018

ANGLESEA

» Fishing conditions have been poor due to weather conditions over the past week
» Some salmon being caught off local beaches
» Small pinkies are still around but not in great numbers
» Whiting have been reported close but not in any great numbers
» Some gummy sharks have been reported.

BARWON HEADS

» Still reports being received of mulloway catches in the river
» Reports of some snapper offshore
» Reports of trevally catches in the river
» Still salmon being caught off the beaches.

TORQUAY

» King George whiting in close continue
» Pinkies and a few snapper continue offshore
» Flathead offshore in deeper water have been reported
» Salmon still being reported off most beaches
» Gummy shark have also being reported
» Bream continue in Spring Creek.

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, King George whiting, flathead as well as squid have been reported
» Clifton Springs is producing whiting, flathead and squid
» Queenscliff is seeing catches of whiting, flathead, pinkies and squid continuing
» The creek is still producing some small trevally and salmon
» Reports of a few squid and whiting being caught at the entrance to Swan Bay
» Trevally and salmon continuing to be caught at Point Lonsdale
» Reports of whiting and squid continue from the White Lady
» Flathead, King George whiting and squid reports off Indented Head.

FROM this Friday, recreational fishers with opera house nets can swap them for wildlife friendly open-top lift nets for free at any one of 45 tackle stores throughout Victoria.

Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford announced the buy-swap initiative in Ballarat, which will help raise awareness of the impending ban on opera house nets in all waters, both public and private, from July 1 2019.

The program makes it easy for thousands of keen yabby fishers to swap up to three opera house nets for three free wildlife friendly open-top nets.

Open-top nets are permitted in public and private waters, so the rule change next year will make it simpler for fishers who will be able to use the same nets regardless of location.

Opera house nets are associated with drowning wildlife such as platypus, turtles and native water rats, which can be avoided entirely if open-top nets are used instead.

Unlike opera house nets, open-top nets feature a 20cm x 20cm gap at their top, which enables air-breathing animals such as turtles to escape.

Research by the Victorian Fisheries Authority has shown open-top lift nets are very effective at catching yabbies.

The yabby net swap program is funded by the State Labor Government’s Target One Million plan, which is investing a record $46 million to get more people fishing, more often.

A limited number of open-top lift nets will also be available at selected VFA regional events and handed out by Fisheries Officers on patrol in northern Victoria.

The VFA is distributing 10,000 open-top lift nets for the yabby net swap program and is encouraging people to take up the opportunity to swap their old nets before stocks run out.

Learn more, including where to find participating tackle stories, at vfa.vic.gov.au/yabbynetswap.

Ms Pulford said the announcement was a win for local wildlife and a win for recreational fishers who get new yabby fishing gear for the summer season.

“We want more Victorians fishing more often, which is why we are offering a free swap of old opera house nets for new open-top lift nets,” she said.

“Victorian anglers respect the environment and want to do the right thing to protect our wildlife, which is why we expect the yabby net swap program to be a great success.”

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.