East Coast
VIC
Check out hot spots for flathead BEMM RIVER
Robyn Sturgess
At the time of writing, the entrance remains open and the fishing is unbelievable. The channel, just past the storm hut, has been a hot spot for flathead, which have been taking plastics in recent weeks. The bream have also been biting well on frozen prawn in the Siberia and Mahogany area. Please be mindful that the water level is still low. For those who know their way around the inlet, Bobs Bay is producing nice flatties and bream. The river has slowed down but is still producing bream and perch further upstream early in the morning and late in the afternoon. The salmon and tailor are also great fun on the incoming
Good-size flathead have been taking soft plastics and bait.
tide at the entrance. All ocean beaches have been producing salmon, tailor and sea bream on the incoming tide. A warning to all anglers who fish with their creel over the side of their boat – the resident ‘Sammy Seal’ takes pleasure in taking all creels within his reach. As always, make sure your safety gear is up to date, and start thinking about booking your Easter holidays now as the season continues to improve. • For on the spot and up to date fishing reports check out Robyn’s website: www. bemmaccommodation. com.au or ‘like’ us on Facebook – Bemm River Holiday Accommodation Phone: (03) 5158 4233/ Mob. 0427 584 233 Email: bemmaccomm@ bigpond.com.
A nice gummy shark and salmon.
Plenty of offshore catches MARLO
Jim McClymont mcclymont@net-tech.com.au
Weather permitting the offshore fishing has been great with anglers reporting good catches of flathead, gurnard, squid, barracoota, salmon, pinkie snapper, morwong and gummy shark, and that’s only the anglers who prefer to use baits. The game fishing brigade are having a great time fishing for kingfish on Marlo and Tamboon reefs, and this year for the first time in years schools of bluefin tuna have appeared in numbers and giving anglers plenty of action. As mentioned last time, the new boat ramp at Cape Conran has been very popular with the ocean-going anglers who have rated a great improvement. I’d also better mention that the entrance at Marlo is still navigable on a good day with a lot of boaters taking advantage
Good catches of bronze whalers are being reported.
MARLO
OCEAN VIEWS CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK
of a good entrance. With the good entrance, the fishing in the estuary is great with plenty of fish throughout the entire system. Most species are in abundance so anglers are having a great season catching plenty of bream and mullet up both rivers and up into Lake Coringle and Lake Curlip. Anglers are using several baits, including frozen prawn, sandworm, black crab, pipis and your secret baits. The anglers who prefer to catch their fish on lures are also having plenty of success using soft plastic and hardbodied lures. Ludericks are in big numbers schooling along the rock groins and mud banks, best results using sandworm. Estuary perch are in good numbers and can be found up both rivers schooling on snags and other structures. Best results using live prawn or lures. Dusky flathead are also in good numbers in the shallows along the sand flats that run from the Marlo Jetty all the way down to French’s Narrows, best results spinning with lures.
Anglers have been enjoying decent catches of gummy shark.
21 Marine Parade MARLO VIC HOSTS: Les & Kathy HEYNE
03 5154 8268
• Deluxe cabins • Cabins with ensuite • Budget cabins • Premium ensuite vans • Powered & Unpowered sites • Pet friendly • Boat friendly • Undercover BBQ areas in Marlo Largest park • Large oval • Kitchen • Camp fires • Kiosk the beach Short walk to • Coffee shops
www.marlocamping.com.au 88 MARCH 2023
Plenty of bream are being caught on bait and lures.
The reason the flathead are there is they are waiting for the prawns to move onto the sand flats before the run to the ocean on the right moon and tide. The flathead are not on their lonesome, plenty of anglers (and non-fishers) also are in competition for the succulent prawns for the dinner table. Salmon and tailor are entering the estuary on the incoming tide and giving anglers using lures plenty of action.
