Fishing Report |
Fishing Report
Yes, It's spring and that means that the weather is all over the place! Yep, one day it's fine 28c and the next, it's blowing its guts out raining and 13c. Welcome to Melbourne! Weather forecasts should be checked regularly as they can change with little or no notice.
All anglers should have Melbourne's 128km radar, and one of the many wind-indicating and forecasting links bookmarked on their smart phones. At any hint of bad oncoming weather, anglers should pack up and head back to the safety of the ramp. Both Port Phillip and Western Port Bay are capable of going from perfectly calm, to dangerously rough. It's always better to wish you were on the water rather than wishing you're not!
On the fishing side of things, the fishing has been just like the weather! Great catches one day, followed by not much the next. This is all due to the weather and the water temperature, as springs climate stabilises from winter to spring, into spring to summer. All this will change. The only sure thing at the moment, is that you will only catch fish if your lines are in the water!
All anglers should have Melbourne's 128km radar, and one of the many wind-indicating and forecasting links bookmarked on their smart phones. At any hint of bad oncoming weather, anglers should pack up and head back to the safety of the ramp. Both Port Phillip and Western Port Bay are capable of going from perfectly calm, to dangerously rough. It's always better to wish you were on the water rather than wishing you're not!
On the fishing side of things, the fishing has been just like the weather! Great catches one day, followed by not much the next. This is all due to the weather and the water temperature, as springs climate stabilises from winter to spring, into spring to summer. All this will change. The only sure thing at the moment, is that you will only catch fish if your lines are in the water!
Snapper
Matthew Hunt from Matthew Hunt Fishing Services (ph: 0419 760 510) reports that the Snapper are a little inconsistent, yet for those willing to put in the time and effort, good results are achievable. He recommends fishing 12-16 meters off Mt Eliza when it's rough, 18-21 meters out from Carrum and Mornington when it's calm and off Williamstown after the rain. He also said that Pilchards will out fish all other baits by about 10:1 at this time of year.
Matthew also said that as the water temperature rises, that the snapper are only going to get better and will be going nuts by cup weekend. Snapper ranging from pinkies to 3kg have been caught from both Black Rock and Mornington's Mussel farm.
At Schnapper Point Boat Hire, we have seen a few Snapper to 5kg, best results have been at the Mussel Farm, off the pier and also in 19 meters in front of the pier. In Western Port Bay, some good catches of Snapper are getting boated at Lysaghts, and in front of Watsons inlet, Eagle and Crawfish rock are also worth a try as well. For those fishing off the piers, some great snapper to 7kg have been caught at Mornington, Mordialloc and Stony Point. The best results are when it's rough and windy.
Matthew also said that as the water temperature rises, that the snapper are only going to get better and will be going nuts by cup weekend. Snapper ranging from pinkies to 3kg have been caught from both Black Rock and Mornington's Mussel farm.
At Schnapper Point Boat Hire, we have seen a few Snapper to 5kg, best results have been at the Mussel Farm, off the pier and also in 19 meters in front of the pier. In Western Port Bay, some good catches of Snapper are getting boated at Lysaghts, and in front of Watsons inlet, Eagle and Crawfish rock are also worth a try as well. For those fishing off the piers, some great snapper to 7kg have been caught at Mornington, Mordialloc and Stony Point. The best results are when it's rough and windy.
Squid
Squid have continued to be consistent in Southern Port Phillip Bay with some up to 2.5kg being boated, while at times they have been hard to find. Once anglers locate them, some very good results are being achieved. Many anglers fishing Portsea have traveled up as far as Rye to escape the crowds. Further up the bay, however towards Mornington and Frankston, fishing continues to be very slow. In Western Port, good squid to 3kg have caught from Stony Point to Quail bank.
For both bays size, 3.0 jigs have been doing the damage. For those fishing the piers, Sorrento, Portsea and Blairgowrie have been the best in Port Phillip, while it's Stony Point, Flinders and Warneet have got the results in Western Port Bay.
For both bays size, 3.0 jigs have been doing the damage. For those fishing the piers, Sorrento, Portsea and Blairgowrie have been the best in Port Phillip, while it's Stony Point, Flinders and Warneet have got the results in Western Port Bay.
Whiting
Southern Phillip Bay from Rye to St Leonards has been seeing the best results, however some nice whiting are also getting caught off Sunnyside in Mt Eliza and Mills Beach in Mornington. Best results are on Pippies, Squid and Mussels. In Western Port, the Whiting are just like the water temperature and starting to warm up. The best locations are Watsons inlet and Quail Bank. Best baits have been pippies and mussels.
Gummy Sharks
Some nice gummy sharks are being caught on the change of tide off Rye in Port Phillip Bay, and from Eagle Rock in Western Port Bay. Best Baits have been fresh salmon and squid fished on a running sinker rig.
Flathead
Some large catches of flatties have been boated from Schnapper Pont and Yaringa Boat Hires. They have been a good stable for when the snapper have failed to bite, with most fisho's at least going home with a feed of fish! Best baits have been squid and blue bait and best results are in 6-12 meters of water.
Yaringa Harbour
Jonny from Yaringa Boat hire reports Tyabb Bank is producing leather jacket, Squid, grass whiting and king george whiting, while the mouth of Watsons Inlet is seeing snapper and a few gummy sharks. Best Baits have been mussels on the banks and pilchards and squid in the deeper water.
Tip of the week
Always fish with the lightest sinker that the conditions will allow. This will give the bait a more natural presentation and hence help you catch more fish!
Tight Lines and Calm Seas
Paul Pingiaro
Managing Director
Mornington Boat Hire, Bait & Tackle Pty Ltd
Schnapper Point Boat Hire, Mornington, Port Phillip Bay. www.fishingmornington.com
Yaringa Boat Hire, Somerville, Western Port Bay. www.westernportboathire.com.au
e: spbh@bigpond.com
p: 0417 551 373
Tight Lines and Calm Seas
Paul Pingiaro
Managing Director
Mornington Boat Hire, Bait & Tackle Pty Ltd
Schnapper Point Boat Hire, Mornington, Port Phillip Bay. www.fishingmornington.com
Yaringa Boat Hire, Somerville, Western Port Bay. www.westernportboathire.com.au
e: spbh@bigpond.com
p: 0417 551 373
