This week, it was all about inshore fishing due to the snotty winds and swells. Some anglers ventured into the estuaries and along the beaches to get their fix.
Beaches:
Local beaches have been a great option for those without boat access or when conditions are poor. King George Whiting have been a popular target at Killarney and Port Fairy, with some great catches reported. Anglers have been using Black Magic Whiting Snatchers, rigged with either a piece of squid or pippy. These rigs feature a flasher-style attractant on the KL1/0 hook, which helps draw the whiting in from a distance. For a more subtle presentation, try Black Magic's new “Tinga Stinga.” These rigs come with two hook styles: a size 6 long shank and a KL circle hook. Both are excellent choices for our area and will likely be very popular. What sets them apart from other whiting rigs is the short 100mm sinker dropper, which allows baits to sit closer to the bottom. The biggest difference, however, is the 600mm leader to hook distance, which helps the bait float above weeds or in currents. These rigs will likely be a hit for those fishing Killarney in shallow waters, where a double paternoster rig isn’t necessary. Both rigs come with pink attractant tubing on the hook eyelet.
Portland has been producing some impressive whiting recently, with anglers landing fish over 50cm, alongside plenty in the mid to high 40s. Ray and Chris Dorman had a fantastic session, with Chris landing a whiting over 50cm. It's a great area for targeting bigger whiting, with large fish not being uncommon. The downside, though, is the abundance of small snapper, which can be frustrating when using good baits. Locally, our beaches have also been excellent for targeting large salmon, both on lures and baits. Fish up to 3kg have been caught along the beaches, with the new Daiwa casting metals proving to be a standout option for casting anglers. Baits like bluebait and squid have been equally popular. There have also been rumors of bigger tuna mixed with school fish off Portland and Port Fairy, so it's only a matter of time before someone lands the first barrel tuna of the season. With so much bait in the area, it’s no surprise that the big tuna are around.
Estuaries:
The Hopkins River really flexed its muscles on Sunday during the Warrnambool and District Angling Club’s competition. The abundance of small bream in the system is promising for the future, but not ideal for those hoping to land kilo-sized fish like in the past. Chris Allwood, however, managed to land the only bigger fish of the day, a 1.040kg bream, part of a 3.42kg bag of 5 bream. He and his son Jack found success with soft plastics cast into the shallow water. Corey fished with his wife, Merryn, and were plagued by small bream, landing only 4 legal-sized bream on soft plastics. The wind made it tricky to use the light weights needed for bites. Estuary perch were scarce, with only 2 weighed in by the 20 anglers.
The Glenelg River, on the other hand, produced some great catches, including bream, perch, and even the elusive mulloway. Max Fry and Janaka Kandage had a fantastic session above Donovan's, scoring the trifecta on hard bodies. They caught mulloway, bream, and perch using Daiwa Spikes cast along the rock walls that line the bank. Janaka also landed a couple of bream on surface lures, using the Slippery Dog. The bream have been tight against the rock walls lately, and other lures producing well include the Cranka Crab, The Muss, and an unweighted Ecogear pink grub. These lures are producing great results for both numbers and size when used correctly.
Competitions Ahead:
If you’re planning ahead, there are a couple of major competitions coming up. The Koroit and District Angling Club will host its 3rd Carp Fishing Classic from April 11th to April 13th. Fishing is allowed in the Emu Creek and Hopkins River, aiming to reduce the number of invasive carp in the waterways. Over the past 5 years, carp numbers have been growing, with sightings as far down the Hopkins River as the Tooram Stones—a concerning trend. The lucky angler who lands the heaviest carp over the three days will walk away with $1000 in cash!
The following weekend, the Warrnambool and District Angling Club will hold its annual Easter Fishing Classic. This event has grown significantly in recent years, attracting over 150 entrants. The heaviest bream caught and released will earn the angler $1000 cash. In the Open and Ladies sections, the next heaviest fish, whether bream, estuary perch, mulloway, or brown trout, will win $500. Juniors will compete for one of 10 prize packs, including a $500 combo courtesy of Daiwa Australia. It’s shaping up to be a busy couple of weekends for anglers!
Looking Ahead:
The forecast predicts moderate winds, which has certainly been a point of frustration for many, but we're used to it by now. Hopefully, conditions will calm toward the end of the week, allowing more anglers to head offshore for tuna and shark fishing. Until next week, tight lines and best of luck!