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| geelong, corio bay & beyond with geoff wilson |
Dated: 4 March, 2012
 | Catherine O’Callaghan with her big squid from Queenscliff (Photo Tristan Cross).
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With rough and windy weather for much of the week there were few people out fishing, never the less some good catches were taken.
Bellarine Peninsula
Late last week Catherine O’Callaghan, Tom Cambridge and Tristan Cross, aboard the ‘couta boat “Defiance,” found a good patch of squid near the Queenscliff Pilot’s Jetty and took bag limit catches that included some purlers, the largest of which Catherine sent in a photo.
Offshore
Making and early start off Torquay in ideal conditions on Sunday morning, Jason Hoekstra and Morgan Hunt were in around 25 metres of water by 5.30 or so where they found aero squid attacking their baits.
After catching several, they put a couple of the heads on for bait hoping to tempt a large Gummy Shark or the like, but all was quiet below.
That was until 9.30, when Jason’s rod buckled to the scream of his reel, and he found himself carefully playing a big Snapper that measured 104 cm and weighed 11.65 kg. However, the weather deteriorated shortly after that and they headed back to the ramp.
Corio Bay
Rough weather last week and over the weekend proved a boon to land-based anglers fishing from various structures around Corio Bay’s inner harbour, and those prepared to brave the elements caught pinkie Snapper from legal size to 35 cm.
The weather had improved somewhat by the time Alex Andjelkovic found his way down to the rocks at St Helens early Sunday morning, but the pinkies – although less numerous than during the days previous – were still about and he caught six along with a couple of decent flathead.
The pinkies really came on the bite in the late afternoon and from 3pm until 6 Andrew Maslen caught at least 25 pinkies with 7 keepers, the biggest at 38cm.
Kingfish have made an appearance in Corio Bay, and on Thursday of last week there was a shoal swimming back and forth along Cunningham Pier. None were caught but it just goes to show they are not just to be found along our coastline and at Port Phillip Heads.
 | Jason Hoekstra with his 11.65 kg snapper from Torquay (Photo Jaap Hoekstra)
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On the beach
Despite the blustery conditions on Saturday evening, Patrick Gough and Bailey Croker 9, fished Thirteenth Beach into the night without much luck.
They were about to pack up at around 11.00 pm when Patrick’s rod signalled something larger than usual had taken his bait, and after some strenuous exercise on the rod, managed to beach a fair sized Seven-gilled Shark that took the squid he had on for bait.
Portland
Picking a break in the weather last week, Lockie Wombwell and Tim Otter headed west around the Portland Smelter to Blacknose Point where they caught 28 beautiful whiting fishing through the evening and into the dark.
Following reports of Mulloway being caught just over the SA border, they took another late afternoon run down to Green Point where they launched from the beach and anchored up a kilometre or so offshore where they soon had a berley trail going.
Their berley attracted dozens of mackerel which proved fairly easy to catch; one of which they put on for bait and caught a 7 kg Mulloway, but that was all for the night.
 | | Andrew Maslen with a double-header at St Helens at the weekend |
Prospects
With unsettled weather and recent heavy rain, prospects for land-based anglers over the coming weekend are not all that bright. However, pinkie Snapper from legal size to 40 cm or so are still an option from any of the structures around Corio Bay, particularly should the water remain discoloured.
For those looking for a larger fish a night vigil may produce the goods: Try the incoming tide from midnight onwards from the jetty at the Grammar School lagoon.
John asks:
Geoff, last Friday week while fishing from “The Narrows” beach at Queenscliff I was accosted by a woman walking her dog who told me that this was a dog beach and I shouldn’t be fishing there. Can you tell me what the status of this beach is, and can one still fish there?
John, you may fish legally from “The Narrows” beach between Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale as long as you don’t go inside the marine park which is clearly marked to the west. Fishermen have always been prepared to share territory with other users. Sadly, there are self-centred folk who would prefer not to share and that is something we’ve increasingly had to live with.
Please send contrbutions to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au
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Geoff Wilson
Fishnet Pro Angler
Email : geoffw10@optusnet.com.au
Fishing reports may be sent by e-mail, or mail to Geoff Wilson:
PO Box 384,
Geelong 3220. |
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