My big catch

Recreational game fishers in Portland will be encouraged to properly handle their southern bluefin tuna catch as part of the national Tuna Champions campaign.

Minister for Fishing and Boating Jaala Pulford joined members of the Portland Sports Fishing Club to announce a $5,000 grant to spread the ‘Care for your Tuna catch’ message to visiting sport fishers from across the country.

“We’re backing the Tuna Champions campaign for sustainable fishing because we recognise how significant this game fish is to recreational fishers and dependent businesses,” Ms Pulford said.

“Being a tuna champion is all about knowing and respecting what you’re catching – this grant will help people fishing in Portland do the right thing with their Southern bluefin tuna.”

The grant is funded through the Andrews Labor Government’s $35 million Target One Million plan to get more people fishing, more often.

The Government will also partner with the Glenelg Shire Council to host the ‘Hooked on Portland’ event over the Australia Day long weekend next year, which celebrates recreational fishing and what it means to the region.

Recreational fishing for Southern bluefin tuna in Victoria’s southwest is worth around $12 million to the local economy and provides a massive boost to small businesses in the tourism, boating, accommodation and tackle industries.

Campaigns like this help to educate fishers with the small things they can do to make a big difference on the water.

Tips for proper handling of bluefin tuna include reducing the fight time, gutting, bleeding and icing the catch immediately, using single hooks rather than trebles on lures, and taking great photos of tuna quickly if destined for release.

School holidays

Families keen to learn more about fishing with the kids this spring can cast their eyes towards four free fishing events that will run from September to December.

VicFishKids ambassadors and fishing TV personalities Rex Hunt and Lee Rayner will be there to inspire young and old with expert tips and entertaining tales.

All four events run from 10am until 4pm;

Sunday 15 September at Pakenham Lake, Pakenham

Sunday 6 October at Goulburn Park, Seymour

Saturday 2 November at Lake Fyans, near Halls Gap

Saturday 7 December at Victoria Lake, Shepparton.

The events are an opportunity for kids who are curious about fishing to give it a go in a safe and supportive environment.

Local angling club and Fishcare volunteers, along with Fisheries staff will lead the free fishing clinics where youngsters can learn how to cast, tie knots and what to do with a fish when they catch one.

Everything will be supplied for the fishing clinics, so all families need to do is turn up. Each event will also have 200 rod and reel outfits giveaways to encourage kids to keep practicing at home with family and friends.

Catchable size trout will be released prior to the clinics and everyone can help stock a few more on the event day too.

Meanwhile, 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.

Anglesea:

• Fishing conditions continue to be poor over the past week
• Salmon off local beaches and for those
• Some flathead have also been reported
• A few gummy sharks have also been caught
• Some whiting starting to appear.

Reports supplied by the Rusty Anglers Anglesea.

Barwon Heads

• Snapper are being reported occasionally offshore
• Small trevally have also been reported in the river
• Reports of salmon off the beaches being caught.

Torquay

• A few King George whiting are reported to be around
• Flathead offshore when fishos can get out
• Salmon catches off beaches
• Spring Creek continues to produce bream.

Queenscliff:

• St Leonards is still seeing reports of some King George whiting, along with flathead and squid.
• Clifton Springs has whiting, flathead and some squid
• Queenscliff reports whiting, flathead, a few pinkies as well as some squid
• The creek is still seeing the occasional reports of a few trevally and salmon
• The entrance to Swan Bay has reports continuing of a few squid and whiting.
• Point Lonsdale has both trevally and salmon being reported
• The White Lady is still producing a few whiting and squid.
• Indented Head is seeing flathead, King George whiting and calamari being reported.