ON THE BITE with Peri Stavropoulos
The past week we have unfortunately been dealt some very testing weather to shoot out for a fish, but with small windows and keen anglers there are some good fishing options still on offer.
Starting inside Corio, the black bream seem to be on fire, which is something we don’t hear too much about, but looks like they’re well on the chew among the land-based structures of the inner harbour.
Fishing with ultra-light creature baits and also unweighted baits have been doing the trick on these fish, with anglers landing fish up to 40cm.
Moving out towards the outer harbour, the King George whiting are out in force with anglers finding some fantastic fish right across the peninsula.
Anywhere from Point Henry right through to Portarlington is infested with fish, and with the average size around 38cm it’s well worth having a crack at.
In close Peri and Adam had a walk after work with spotlights and managed a true seafood basket that contained flounder, flathead, sand crabs, garfish, calamari and eels. Light southerly winds are key to chasing them as if there is any ripple (even the slightest) it makes it near impossible to spot them.
Out off St Leonards and Queenslicff in the deep water and channels there are still some nice gummy sharks on offer. Fishing the tides with fresh blood baits is going to give you a great chance to tangle with some of these tasty critters and with fish to 15kg it’s well worth having a look.
The West Coast is still on fire with barrel tuna and, it’s pretty crazy to say, mahi mahi also. There just seems to be heaps out there at the moment, with reports coming through of some boats hooking up to 4 fish a session.
The barrel tuna are still on the chew between Portland and Port MacDonnell with fish to over 100kg being taken. Skirted lures are working a treat as is live baiting.
Lake Purrumbete has continued to fish well for trout, with all varieties of that fish (rainbow, brown, tiger and brook), chinook and redfin all on the go. Casting the weed edges on first and last light is a lethal tactic, and as the day goes on fishing the deep water with bait is working very well too.