HOT SPOTS - Corio Bay

By Peter Jolly
See Peter's weekly report for fishvictoria.com here.

This is one of my favorite parts of the bay. Situated on the western side of Port Phillip Bay, Corio Bay is overlooked by the City of Geelong. There are numerous shipping terminals around here and you definitely have to keep your wits about you, especially when fishing the Inner Harbour. I will run through all the areas where I have caught fish and the types of fish you may expect to catch.

Above is a map of Corio Bay with numbered areas where I have had success. Obviously there are many more spots within the bay but this is a pretty good starting point.

1. Inner Harbour
Area 1 is straight out from the St. Helens ramp and starts from the channel edge to out near the reef area that divides the inner and outer harbours. Here you may expect to catch snapper, both big and small, and flathead. The bottom is muddy so there are no real whiting marks here. Fishing along the main channel is OK and you will find some good reefy, shelly areas along here using your sounder. Try not to use to much berley as it will attract those blasted banjos.

2. Shell Refinery
Turning left out of the boat ramp, going towards the Shell Refinery, you pass Corio Quay and the North Shore rocks. This is a good spot to fish for snapper but beware of the ships. Fishing out the front of the refinery pier is a good place to have a go at some snapper both in and out of season. There is a water cooling inlet and outlet just past the pier and the water that gets pumped out after being used for cooling sometimes get fairly warm so closer inshore pinkies often congregate at sunup and sunset. The bottom around here is muddy.

3. Limeburners Bay
This area  is only 200 metres to the north east. Here you can catch whiting, big flathead and some very good snapper. The bottom changes from mud to sand on the east side of the small channel here. I find difting for whiting (sand whiting) here works well with some decent sized fish being taken. There is a small ramp here but is only good for anything around 4 metres at high tide and at low tide you could just about forget it.

4. The Paddock (between Avalon & Pt. Wilson)
Start off by using a bit of berley to get things going and then settle in to have a fish for just about anything. Snapper, gummy, flathead, whiting to name just a few. Let's just say be ready for the unexpected. One rod out with ganged hooks and wire trace will not go astray.

5. Pt. Wilson
This has to be one of the prime whiting spots in the whole of Port Phillip Bay. There are heaps of spots around here and all you really have to do is move around until you find them. Once you find them, lightly berley to keep them interested. Also just out from the pier is a good place to have a go for snapper.

6. The Turning Bouy (out near Clifton Springs)
This is to snapper what the last spot is to whiting. One of the best spots for snapper that's going around. Fishing near the edge of the channel with your baits spread to go into the dropoff and onto the flats on the side of the channel is a good way to get started. Also, as with most snapper spots, there can be some pesky flathead but be patient. When you anchor make sure you don't swing into the channel or believe me you will cop a big surprise. There are a few leatherjackets taken when really close to the markers but not to often.

7. The Chair
Here we can get snapper, flathead, whiting and leatherjacket. There is alot of weedy/sandy bottom here and this is good for whiting nearer the shore. There are some reefy areas as well. This is a large area to cover with most of it being productive. On the way back to the ramp give the Alcoa Pier a go in winter/spring for salmon that collect there.

Summary
The overall experience of fishing here is very good. If you are going from the Inner to Outer harbours or visa versa, stick to the main channel until you get used to the area. There is some very shallow water on the edges here and it pays to be cautious. Be very alert and look out for container ships as they can sneak up on you. Remember when fishing here be ready for an ambush from the big one because it will happen and if you are not ready it will bust you off.

(22 March 2001)


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