VIC
Reeling in run-off trout WARRNAMBOOL
Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com
What has been the best big tuna season for many a year has continued recently. The focus on barrel fishing moved from Port MacDonnell back east, with fish coming from around Portland as far across as Port Fairy again. A wide range of fish from 60-120kg have been on offer, with trolling again becoming the
preferred technique to find the more well spread fish. With the season being so long and the fish spread out, it means if you find the fish you can often have them all to yourself, something that’s often quite rare in a hot barrel bite. October is usually the end of the big tuna season but given what’s happened so far this season I’m sure there will be some around still. The offshore action hasn’t just been about tuna though. There will be plenty of gummies and snapper on
offer in the coming weeks, with the fish being more available in closer in the 35-40m range, as opposed to further offshore where most good bags have been taken recently. Some exceptional captures of quality snapper were taken offshore in the 120m range recently, with some fish to 7kg taken using a variety of jigging techniques. Warrnambool boat ramp remains closed at this stage, so for those wanting to access offshore fishing it’s best to use Port Fairy ramp. October is often a good
Some bigger trout have been showing up as the rivers rise. From page 78
a feed, whether it’s the tuna, deep bottom fish species, or some tasty table fish from the bay. And for those anglers without a boat, there are some great land-based opportunities. Plus, we are only a short drive away from some great estuary fishing from the Surry, Fitzroy and the mighty Glenelg River. If you are local or
looking at making a trip to Portland, be sure to call into the store and say g’day to the team. We certainly have all your bait and fishing needs covered. You will find us at 61 Bentinck St, Portland, next door to the Gordon Hotel. You can also contact us on 03 5521 1844 or follow us on Facebook. Happy fishing!
month to start fishing the surf. As the weather warms up you can get some nice, flat evenings, and with it being too early for kings and the crayfish season still closed, targeting a gummy in the surf is a great option. After fairly minimal rainfall, particularly compared to the rest of the state, the rivers finally came up and followed hard in late August /September. This produced the run-off fishing that many trout anglers were waiting for. Some seriously big browns to 3kg have been taken by anglers using large lures, such as the 95mm Daiwa Presso Minnow and Gancraft Claw swimbait. It looks as though some of the freshwater rivers might be the perfect height and clarity and still fishing well during October. Just be careful of snakes, because long bushes along overgrown stream areas can be risky at this warmer time of the year. As is often the case in the cooler months, the estuary section of the Hopkins River has been hit-and-miss during early spring. When we finally did get some decent rainfall and the waters dirtied up, the fishing did improve. Good schools of bream and estuary perch started marking up in the lower sections of the river, and bit well on the
This winter has been excellent for big tuna.
FISHING NEWS
New releases from Maui Jim The harsh glare of the Hawaiian sun is what inspired Maui Jim to design a lens that not only shields the eye, but also improves the colour, clarity, and detail of the world around you. Designed with comfort in mind, Maui Jim’s PolarizedPlus2 technology effectively reduces the impact of the sun’s harsh glare,
the reliable fit of a large wrap with Maui Jim’s patented PolarizedPlus2 lens technology to provide long-lasting comfort, unmatched protection, and outstanding views. Seen here featuring the Hawaii Lava lens and Burgundy Stripe frame, this model is available in four different colours, perfect for all conditions. It’s just at home out at sea as it is on land.
Makoa
Crew from Sharkmen Fishing Charters with two nice tuna.
incoming tides.
which makes it ideal for anglers fishing in the harsh Australian sun. There are lens materials and colours for every condition, and they boast superior scratch resistance and a lighter weight to keep you comfortable all day. One of the latest releases from Maui Jim is the Alenuihaha. This rectangular style combines
The Makoa model is set to be a new classic. It features a large wrapstyle design, and is comprised of lightweight and comfortable nylon with embedded rubber nose pads and spring hinges. Available in four unique frame and lens combinations, these striking sunglasses feature the Maui HT low light lens, which is ideal for fishing early in the morning or late
Alenuihaha in the afternoon, as well as overcast conditions when the sun may be less severe. The Makoa also features an impressive matte translucent khaki green frame, complementing the green hues shining through the Maui HT lens. The constellation Southern Cross (known as ‘Hanaiakamalama’ in Hawaiian) is said to have helped some early navigators find the Hawaiian Islands. In the same vein, Maui Jim’s Southern Cross model can
help you find the fish! It was designed to be timeless, with a tripleinjected nylon frame in three unique frame colours to match any style. The model pictured features the MauiGreen lens and a soft matte khaki with brown and black frame – a real standout. For more information on the complete Maui Jim range, including the five lens types you can choose from, visit www.mauijim. com. – Maui Jim
Southern Cross
OCTOBER 2022
79
