Trellys Fishing Report
Offshore
The big fishing hype and talk around the local fishing community this week has got to be the Bluefin Tuna off Barwon Heads, Peri got 2 little ones. This week we have seen our ‘first official’ reports come through with anglers finding large numbers of Bluefin Tuna just outside the heads. The majority of anglers are doing very well trolling small skirted lures (both with and without spreader bars) and hard body divers around. Anywhere from the rip to Barwon Heads in 20 – 50 metres of water have been holding great numbers of fish ranging anywhere from as small as 5kg right through to 20kg. The water is still quite dirty at the moment but is starting to slowly improve. Anglers have also been finding great success casting small sinking stick baits into fish on the surface thrashing through bait fish or just sitting high in the water column. Offshore is still continuing to produce plenty of good snapper reports with anglers picking up fish both jigging and dropping baits. Out a bit deeper in 50m seems to be where majority of the better fishing is coming from. Anglers have been hauling up snapper to 3kg in weight along with plenty of gummy sharks making up for a fantastic by catch.
Corio Bay
Inside the bay the snapper just seem to keep going and going with showing no sign of slowing down. The weather we have been having lately has really warmed up the bays water temperature and has certainly turned the snapper on. The bend of the channel, the Mussel farms and Portarlington have all been producing some great numbers of fish. Bait fishing on the tide changes has been very productive.
Bellarine Peninsula
King George Whiting and Calamari have been chewing quite well this past week right across the Bellarine Peninsula. Right along the coast from Clifton Springs through to Queenscliff have all been producing the goods. The whiting don’t mind the dirty water but when chasing the squid definitely try find the best quality water possible.
Stoney Creek
Stoney Creek Reservoir is still fishing very well for Redfin over the past week, anglers fishing with both live worms and lures are finding plenty of fish. Soft plastics and spoon style lures have been a hot favourite lately and with redfin to over 40cm being taken this is a great fishing option over the Christmas break!
Broken River
The Broken River is now fishing as normal after all the floods the water has now hit a steady level
And the fish are responding. Smaller Bassman Compact Spinnerbaits have been working well this past week for those casting a bladed lure with Balista Dynos being the hardbody of choice. There seems to be plenty of small fish on the edges and fish caught are spewing up plenty of bait so make sure you try match the hatch colour and size wise. Bait fishing has been great are broken river drive with some legal sized cod and Yellowbelly reported on scrub worms and shrimp. Up towards the weirs and Benalla the fishing has also been great on both bait and lures. The top water bite has also returned to normal with some locals catching 8/10 cod a session mostly using pompadours.
Goulburn River
The Goulburn reports this week have been dominated with bait. Trellys chicken, scrub worms or Bardi grubs have been the best baits with some quality fish being caught around Shepparton, Murchison, Arcadia and above Nagambie. There seems to be plenty of cod being caught amongst the odd legal sized Yellowbelly. Trolling Spinnerbaits, old mates and Codgers has been another way to target cod this week with some reports of fish up to 76cms being caught on the troll out towards Undera.
Kialla Lakes
The lake is full of activity at the moment with heaps of locals casting a line out chasing both Redfin and Yellowbelly. An exciting report this week was Redfin taking top water lures. Small cicadas and walk the dog type top waters have been the best with some Bent minnows and X-Rap 6s working just under the surface. There is plenty of smaller Redfin being caught on crank baits and Tn50 jackals also especially near the island. It’s a great place to take younger fisherman or those new to the sport as there is minimal snags and on light gear even the smaller fish can be a blast to catch. Beetle spin rigged keitech lures are now becoming a stand out Yellowbelly set up in Kialla with some reports of 3/4 fish a evening being caught around the willow trees.
Irrigation channels
The local irrigation channels are fishing well for both Yellowbelly and cod with reports coming in from all directions. The channels near the Waranga basin, out towards Katandra, Shepparton east and Murchison have produced legal size cod this week which has been great to see. The usual spots such has drop bars, syphons and bridges have been the best spots to fish. Small square bills and Spinnerbaits have been the stand out lures alongside of soft plastics around the 3-to-4-inch range. Bait fishing this week has also been a successful method with night crawlers being the bait of choice for those chasing carp, Redfin and Yellowbelly. Trellys chicken and cheese has been the best baits for cod
Waranga Basin
Redfin are going crazy at Waranga with heaps of reports of good-sized fish around the 28/35cm range being caught regularly. Trolling in around 10/12ft with the small Codgers and old mates has been a successful depth with those fishing deeper using the Crazy deeps.Fishing off the bank with small crank baits or Jerkbaits is producing fish so is blade or plastics on points or off the banks. Bait fishing while drifting is another great way to target Redfin in the basin as long as it’s not too windy. Worms and small yabbies are great baits at Waranga this time of year.