It’s happy days in Portland for offshore anglers

PORTLAND

Nigel Fisher

We are pretty much in full swing here with our bluefin tuna season. The school tuna have moved in, in bigger numbers, with big tuna still lurking about in between the smaller ones.

We have also seen a very nice mahimahi caught by the crew on Matt Hunt’s Fishing Charters. It’s been a few years since the shelf line and beyond, but the weather really needs to be on your side to make these big trips safe and comfortable. The shelf has also produced some very nice feeds of blue-eye, pink ping, gemfish and blue grenadier. As most people would know, the big electric reels make this type of fishing a little easier reeling from big depths.

Also, we have had some better winter weather for boaties making the trip to Cape Nelson to Bridgewater

Nelson the fishing has still been productive, with sharks, snapper, nannygai and so forth. All are great table fish and great fun to catch.

The bay can sometimes slow down a little in the cooler months, but you can generally pick up a feed –you may just have to work a little bit harder. Although the flathead can get a bit bigger around Lawrences Rock back towards Pivot area in the cooler months, and you can pick up some we have seen these fish so we certainly may see some interesting fish over the next couple of months.

Portland also has a good range of charter operators working the tuna schools if you wish to get some action on these great fish.

I have also heard of some reports of albacore off

Bay, chasing flathead as the main target. We have seen good numbers so it does make these trips well worth worthwhile most of the time. Also in the mix are gummies and schoolies, which make for an even better trip. Most of us can’t resist some great flake.

Back towards Cape nice sizes for a feed. You could also get lucky and score some winter whiting. They’re not always in big numbers, but they’re good-size fish.

Salmon are also firing up, and we get some great sizes in the colder waters. Salmon are great fun land-based. We have the breakwater, Pivot Rocks, Bridgewater Bay and other great spots to chase some decent salmon. With the bigger winter seas and the swell crashing some great fish during these periods.

Inside the harbour, whether you’re in a boat or fishing off the piers, you never know your luck at not far away you have the Glenelg River system for all of the above.

So if you are a mad fisho or just want to get away and throw a line in, around the Corkscrew and the lee breakwater, the land-based fishos will hit the wall as it settles. Here you have the chance of a big snapper or shark, both of which love it when the breakwater gets stirred up after a big swell. However, as it settles right off, so do the snapper until the next swell. There is some good timing and luck required, but we generally do see this time of year, and can go home with a nice mixed bag. We have still seen squid, whiting, salmon, luderick and small pinkies, just to name a few in this area. Also, this is a great spot for children and families to get into the action.

Our river systems are also producing some good quality fish. Surrey River for mainly bream, estuary perch and mulloway, then come on down to Portland and check out what we have on offer, and while you are here, why not call in and see the team at Compleat Angler. You will find us at 61 Bentinck Street, next door to the Gordon Hotel, or contact us on 03 5521 1844, plus we are on Facebook under Portland Compleat Angler.

Have a great month, and happy fishing.