Bream and EP are still active in the estuaries

COBDEN Rod

Shepherd

Our estuaries are fishing well, especially for estuary perch as these fish have congregated down near the mouth in search of salty water in which to spawn. Plenty have been caught in the Hopkins, not only in the deeper water near the danger board near the mouth, but either side of the road bridge, within a cast of Lyndoch aged care facility, as well as the mud flats opposite. Fish to 49cm have been caught in recent times, mostly on soft plastics and minnow lures.

In the Curdies, the perch are often found in and around the ‘Aquarium’, which is the area where the river runs into the lake. However, schools have been known to travel down towards the town channel near the main boat ramp, especially if the mouth was recently opened.

Despite the massive fish kill that occurred here a little over a year ago, fish have survived. Recently avid angler Michael Moore travelled over from the Bellarine Peninsula and made Peterborough his home base for a couple of days. Michael and a mate managed some excellent bream and perch in the river working surface poppers and medium diving hardbodies along the river’s reedy edges. I believe all fish were released after a pic or two, which is fantastic as these fish will be needed as future broodstock to repopulate this estuary.

In the Gellibrand, perch can be found upstream opposite bankside tea tree growth, which is found near the Kangaroobie canoe launching area. However, when the mouth is open at this time of year, the fish can be picked up along the reed beds below the footy oval/campground bridge.

So, in summing up, bream and estuary perch are quite active in all three estuaries, and are moving around in search of a feed as well as preparing to spawn. The general rule of thumb is when the respective river mouths are open, you should fish the lower reaches, and when closed, bream can be found scattered right along the river’s length, including right upstream. Don’t discount the odd mulloway either. They are currently believed to be present in all three estuaries, although it’s anyone’s guess how many there are.

In another month or so, the bream will begin to school up in anticipation of doing their own spawning run upstream. How far upstream? Depends solely on how much freshwater flow is working its way downstream.