A bumper of a summer fishing season has unfolded in Victoria with big numbers of tasty King George Whiting on offer, in fact many seasoned whiting anglers are saying it’s the best season they have seen for many years. Then to top it off the snapper still continue to be found in good numbers with some quality fish in the 3-7kg size being found out in the shallower areas of Port Phillip Bay.
In other locations there has been plenty of other options for anglers with the west coast areas of Portland and Port Fairy producing some lovely yellowtail kingfish, especially for Adventure Bound presenter Scott Gray who has taken 15 kings over the past weeks, all of which have been between 10-16kg and every single one of them has been caught on the Williamson Jet Popper and the Rapala Sub Walk lures. Best of all these fish are hooked in only a few meters of water where it becomes a real case of light drags, smooth rod work and a cool head to lead these bruisers out into deeper water where they wont destroy you on the hard reef in the area.
Back closer to home Westernport has been a great place to fish over the past months with huge numbers of whiting with bulk amounts of school fish to be found on the shallower banks, while the deeper dropoffs are producing some of the best big fat whiting we have seen for many seasons. These deeper areas are also holding numbers of gummy sharks and some nice snapper, while those anglers who like a lack of sleep and enjoy the challenge of collecting fresh bait to head before heading out in search of mulloway are also finding great success with several jewies begin taken over 25kg in weight.
All this great fishing looks like it will continue over the coming weeks and months but as we near easter and the onset of Autumn it heralds the start of some of my favourite fishing of the whole year.
Firstly for one of the tastiest species in the ocean the trusty of calamari squid, and while they are common all year round its during the cooler months we tend to fish for them a whole lot, especially as there is the real chance of finding yourself with some of the real hooters that often weigh several kilos.
However for the keen gamefisherman now is time to prepare for tuna season as the annual run of Southern Bluefin move into the waters of Victorias west coast. Here the seas are often big and the temperature is cold but I personally wouldn’t swap it for the world with, large amounts bluefin in the 15-35kg size, not to mention the big albacore, some of which are of world record size, however its the monster bluefin that many “me included” dream of with each season producing several fish over 100kg in weight, genuine giants in anyones book.
If you plan to head out for the bluefin, or any tuna for that matter manke sure you have a range of Rapala Xrap 20 and 30 lures, especially in Bonito Silver Blue and the two new colours that I am busting to try in the Yellowfin Tuna and Blue Bonito, both of which are sure to smash them.
Other lures you will need are the Pakula UZI and FLUZI, Cockroach and small sprocket especially in lumo, evil angel and frigate colours.
If there is one bit of advice I can give you all over the next months its definitely not time to pack away the fishing gear with heaps of fish still out there to be caught
Lee Rayner
