Trellys Fishing Report
OFFSHORE
The talk of the local fisherman over the past few weeks has definitely been the pelagic fishing off Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove with Tuna, Kingfish, Makos and even some Threshar Sharks all in fantastic numbers. The Tuna have been holding in a variety of depths but anywhere between 25 to 50 metres is worth starting. Anglers trolling small skirted lures have been having good success but by far the most effective method is to approach the schools quietly and cast lures into the schools of fish on the surface. Small floating and sinking stick baits have been working well, in particular the Nomad Riptide 125 and 155. The latest hotspot for the Tuna has been inside the rip, this report literally came in as this was being typed out.
Kingfish have been holding in the same areas as the Tuna and mainly just cruising under the surface of below the schools of monster salmon. Most fish have been ranging between 60 – 80cm with the odd bigger fish getting around also.
Mako Sharks have been reported to be in big numbers local at the moment with lots of boats sighting, catching or having fish snatched by them. Would be well worth looking for one out in the deeper water off Barwon Heads and setting out a burley trail. Snapper still continue to bite very well offshore too with reports of large numbers of fish being caught to 5kg, drifting the 50m line with fresh squid has been a lethal tactic to put a few on the boat.
QUEENSCLIFF
Queenscliff through to St Leonards has still been holding great numbers of Calamari and King George Whiting for the anglers staying inside the bay as well as Garfish and some monster Flathead. The whiting have been biting best during the tide and when the water is moving its fastest with pipis and squid being the best baits. Garfish have been in good numbers from inside Swan Bay right through to St Leonards, well worth throwing out some squid jigs when chasing the gars too.
GEELONG WATERFRONT
The Geelong Waterfront is still offering some great fishing for the holidays and with heaps of safe fishing platforms it’s a great spot to take the kids. Pinkie snapper, flathead, salmon and pike have all been in good numbers. Bait fishing with blue bait and squid has been working well and so too has soft plastics.
GOULBURN RIVER
We are still getting heaps of great reports about the fishing in the Goulburn River this week. Murchison area seems to be a real hot spot at the moment with some reporting double figure catches in a session on bait and lures. Cheese, chicken and even Cabana has worked well for those bait fishing and those who are lure fishing finding that trolling has worked best. Closer to Shepparton there has been some good fish caught behind aqua-moves off the bank casting small Spinnerbait or bait fishing with worms.
BROKEN RIVER
With some rain upstream the Broken River had a little rise over the last week this sent the Yellowbelly into overdrive. Many who reported back to us about the hot Yellowbelly caught there fish with Small Oldmates, Fishtraps and Mask Vibes. Bait fishing was also a great way to land both Cod and Yellowbelly as well with scrub worms and shrimp working best.
SHEPPARTON LAKE
The summer months we can normally see a drop off in catches from the Shepparton lake but this week there were a few reports of Redfin and Yellowbelly caught trolling the towing lanes with either Tn50s or shallow diving Rapala’s. Fishing from the bank has also worked this week for targeting Redfin with casting weedless rigged Keitech 3inch easy shiners around the weed edges or up and down the bit ramp edges being the best method.
IRRIGATION CHANNELS
The main eastern channel has switched right back on this week after a few quiet weeks. Cod, Redfin and Yellowbelly have been caught on all different lures and baits. The stand outs with lures have been zx40 blades, TN60 jackals rigged with beetle spins or Spinnerbaits. Bait fishing has been all about scrub worms or night crawlers lightly weighted around weed edges or rocky banks.
LAKE MULWALA
There has been some monster fish being caught at lake Mulwala lately with plenty having success on the flats sounding up fish casting big swimbaits. Surface lures your around Bundalong has been a great way to target fish in the evenings with the Bassman Aussie Crawler accounting for some big fish lately. Cheese and chicken Mulwala foreshore has been a hot spot for those bait fishing with good numbers of smaller fish being caught this way.
LAKE HUME
There has been some Big Redfin schools located in the past week. Trolling smaller diving lures with a soft plastic trailer has been a great way to catch these fish or if you can spot lock on the schools another great way to land these fish is to vertically jig blades and ice jigs. Yellowbelly are holding on the trees still with worms or bobbing yabbies working a treat. There has been a few reports of cod being caught this week especially on the troll, these cod have mostly been around the 40/60cm size range.
LAKE EILDON
There has been Plenty of cod being caught on the troll around Howqua with fish around the 50/80cm mark being reported. Stumpjumpers, Ballista Dynos and Oar-Gees have all been popular choices this week. In the evenings the bigger cod have been caught either by those Sounding up these big cod and throwing big swimbaits and soft plastics. Or those who have just been covering water casting in all directions with surface lures. During the heat of the day many have shifted into the trees to target Redfin and Yellowbelly with worms working best for the bait fisherman and black Gulps for the lure fisherman. If you're wanting to chase the bigger cod during the heat of the day using both Mumblers and Big Bladed Spinnerbaits will be your best option.
BLUE ROCK DAM
The fishing is red hot at Blue Rock lately with heaps of 40 plus cm Bass being caught. This is perfect time for chasing bass at blue rock with a great surface bite in low light periods and a great reaction bite on Spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits during the day. It’s not only Bass that are on the bite with a few bug trout and plenty of carp being caught. It’s a big month for tournament fishing at blue rock with the Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series round to be held Saturday 22nd of Jan followed by the ABT round on the 5th & 6th of Feb.
