VIC
Fishing pressure eases up PORT PHILLIP NE
Wayne Friebe wfriebe@bigpond.net.au
Cold, wet, and windy winter conditions have continued for a major part of the last month on the bay, providing limited fishing opportunities and small windows of calmer weather. While recent lockdown measures in metro Melbourne and across regional Victoria have altered the fishing focus and the opportunities of many anglers, fishing locations
especially important for the yearly snapper migration into the bay. So fingers crossed this continues into the coming months as well. During the late autumn and through the winter months, we enjoyed a prolonged late run of snapper out from the wider marks around Mornington and Mount Martha. This is normally a feature around the changes of seasons in late autumn. And while most anglers focus and opportunities have changed, there have been enough resident reds still around to keep dedicated
get longer and warmer towards the end of the year. Land-based anglers tend to get amongst the action earlier in the season than the boatbased anglers do, so expect to see these captures feature in reports over the next couple of months. Land-based anglers can fish for snapper during the worst weather too, so there’s plenty to look forward to for all the bay’s anglers in the months ahead. The most consistent fishing over the past couple of months throughout PPB has been for bread-and-
The squid fishing along the local inshore reefs has also been very good after a slower start but has been confined to the sheltered and protected bays closer to shore during the consistent wind. Periods of rain have tended to keep things quiet for a while, especially when this affects water clarity, but fishing deeper and slower during these times generally gets results. Once again, Mornington pier and the surrounding reef areas have been the most reliable areas. Big schools of salmon have been around our part of the bay all year, but have also been feeding closer to shore, and in the protected areas due to the persistent onshore winds. Mornington and Frankston piers have been very consistent, as well as the mouth of the Patterson River. Weather permitting, boating anglers have reported some great sessions on massive schools of fish casting lures and plastics into the feeding fish. The lack of recent boat traffic also means that these schools will often feed on the surface for much longer periods of time, much to the delight of anglers. The Patterson River has
Expect smaller pinkie snapper and larger school fish to become the big feature in the coming months. once again been the saviour for many local lure and bait anglers and has really produced over the past month. Lure anglers have been cashing in throughout the canal system and have been getting plenty of perch as well. Small vibes and soft plastics have been the best. Heaps of perch have also been reported, many of them smaller models from recent stocking by Fisheries, but some larger models have
been taken as well, once again by lure anglers. Bait fishers have been doing very well as well, accounting for most of the larger bream in the main river when the water has been discoloured. During these times, scrub worms are a very productive bream bait. There have also been plenty of mullet in the river, and schools of smaller salmon near the mouth in the rougher weather.
Both pinkies and larger snapper respond well to lures like jigs, as well as traditional bait presentations. closer to home have become more of a focus for many of the bay’s anglers. Luckily, those out there who are having a crack on the better days close to home have been enjoying plenty of shorebased opportunities for ‘bread and butter’ species. Much like the same time last year, when we experienced a prolonged period without any fishing being allowed at all on the bay, the recent weather has provided much the same relief on the bay in terms of fishing pressure. Long periods of substantial and consistent rain over the winter months have also been great for the bay’s food chain, and are From page 78
if you catch one there will be others in the immediate area. Those lucky enough with an electric motor can hold their line on productive grounds and really maximise these windows. It’s also a great excuse to get out and test some of the new squid jigs on the market. I’m in awe of some of the new colours and designs. I’ve been using the new Shimano flash boost squid jigs in cloth and nude variations and having a great deal of success. While also playing with some new UV variations from Yamashita and Inku.
anglers interested. There has also been plenty of nice gummies and other sharks around the shipping channels and further south in the bay as well. By the time you are reading this month’s edition of VFM, some of the bay’s snapper die-hards will already be in full swing out on the water looking for an early season red, but for many this will start when the footy season is finished at the end of the month. Many have predicted that the coming snapper season will be the best for some time, due to strong recruitment in past seasons, so there’s plenty to look forward to as the days
butter species, lockdowns notwithstanding. While these species might be less glamorous, they are accessible to all anglers and from many different locations right around the bay. Mornington Pier has been especially consistent for garfish and calamari, and prevailing northerly and northwesterly winds have kept the resident schools and bait inside the harbour, and anglers have been really cashing in. I’ve been talking to many of the local anglers who have all been getting amongst the action when they can, collecting bait for the season ahead, and getting amongst some great table fish as well.
I’m not sure if all these flash colours, shapes and designs are created to hook the angler or the squid but I’m certainly a sucker for this marketing hype and technology advancements. I find myself loading up on new squid jigs even though I have countless in packets never used. I’m sure many reading can relate to that. Hang in there everyone, some level of normality and consistency in our lives will be back on its way soon and so will some great fishing, I’m sure of it. Until next time, good fishing everyone. Please feel free to reach out to me directly to share your
fishing experiences and catches around Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay and beyond which we can feature in next month’s article. You can contact me by email at alan@fishingmad. com.au. Also don’t forget to follow my fishing adventures through my website www.fishingmad. com.au, and to subscribe to the FishingMad YouTube channel www.youtube. com/c/fishingmad. You can also follow us on social media on Facebook page www.facebook. com/fishingmad.com. au, Instagram page w w w. i n s t a g r a m . c o m / fishingmad.com.au.
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