Hi again. Well, as most will have noticed by now the temp has hit an all time low and I don't know about every one else but I'm bloody freezing all of the time. And just like the weather has its affect on me, so it is the same with fish. A rapid drop in the air and water temp has meant a big drop in fish numbers, but not all species have gone to sleep. This is the time of year when saltwater fish like bream and salmon come into their own and of course you can't forget the speedster of the sea the gummy shark.

Although things are very quiet in Corio Bay there are other parts of the coast that are in fairly good shape. Traditionally this is the time of year when most fishos pack up the fishing tackle until next summer but for me it's time to change tactics. As I said last week, a lot of the water in our Surf Coast rivers is still very high and unfortunately not much has changed over the last week. But we can only hope that the rain that fell in the start of the week may move the sand from the mouth of the rivers, if this happens then the fishing will hot up. (Let's go fishing).

Corio Bay
Well to say the Bay is quiet is an understatement, for most there is a long break between fish and that is if you are one of the lucky fishos to catch. This time of year we normally get a lot of good snapper in the bay but either the snapper fishos are not catching or they are keeping there catches to themselves. For other fishos the flatties are slow as are the trevally and as far as whiting fishing it is non existent. About the only regular catch has been the odd garfish around Limeburners Point. Last week we thought that maybe some good reds were about to fire after a goo report from the Curlewis Bank from a local fisherman. He reported catching 6 nice snapper up to 3kg but it turned out to be a one off catch.

Bellarine Peninsula
Geoff and Shirl From Bellarine Bait and Tackle have been great over the last month or so getting reports for Fishvictoria when the fishing and the weather has been so hard and in a small way they have come through again this week. There are still a few small bay trout (salmon) at Portarlington Pier and further around at St Leonards there are whiting still being caught and although they are only in small numbers they are 38cm plus fish.

Squid are very plentiful over the weed banks and this should continue as long as the water remains clear, there are still some gars about and large numbers of leatherjacket. I have had no reports of gummies this week but I no with the full moon phase getting closer it's a prime time to be out there.

The Cause Way at Queenscliff (as seen in the back ground of this photo - above - of the Queenscliff boat ramp) if you catch the slack of the tide is fishing well for trevally up to 1.5kg, pippies are the best bait. In Port Phillip Heads good salmon up to 2.5kg are about and also some good squid near bell reef for the land base fishermen and the boat blokes just look for the Amada of boats near Point Lonsdale.

Surf Coast
Salmon and more salmon are the talk of the town. If you were to fish the surf beaches of 13th, Banncoora and Torquay using a good load of berley and some nice bluebait you will catch. But it's not a free for all most fish are being caught on the mid parts of the tide and only in the best beach gutters.

A great report from Torquay thanks to Damian at Short and Sharp Hairdressing is of a friend who caught 7 good 7 gill sharks in one night, there has also been good reports of gummy sharks as well. All catches have been on moonlit nights and very calm conditions.

For the fisho seeking a few bream, Thompsons River at Breamlea is fishing well on local crabs and shrimp; as for the Angelsea River it is right up on the roads. A large amount of fresh water has made fishing hard but your persistence will be rewarded. Small crabs and Bass yabbies work best. I urge all to keep an eye on the Angelsea River because when this mouth breaks open and the river becomes tidal it is a hot spot for big bream.

Pankilak Creek at Airies Inlet is also fishing well good bream and the odd estuary perch are still about. Due to the mouth also being shut the fish are congregating near the mouth on the top of the tide, this does not always happen but it is worth a shot.

Till next week,
Good luck,
John Didge

See John's previous report here.