Reel Life

As you would expect, I spent most of my time indoors. Not like some hardier types who actually went fishing — all for little result. An occasional bite, but generally not a thing to talk about.

Riverbanks are wet and slippery, and water levels are rising. Usually a rising river is a good time to fish, but with the cold and wintry conditions, even the fish will take a break from biting — as this past week has shown.

Nothing to report from Nagambie in either the lake or the river, and my footy team lost as well — not a good week at all.

But let’s keep the chin up and keep trying. Luck should change for the better.

Saw some images of Lake Mulwala and it is currently just an old river course with a few deep holes surrounded by timber. I am not sure when it will be refilled. I suspect it should not be too long before it can be fished all over.

At present, I would go to Eildon for the best fishing. There are still reports of cod, yellowbelly and trout. Redfin are also to be found at Eildon, but with the onset of the cold they are getting harder to find.

The word from Waranga Basin is patchy although one positive has been the upgrade to the boat ramp at Harriman Point.

With the start of winter comes the opening of cray season. The taking of Murray crayfish is permitted, but remember there are stringent regulations on size and conditions of egg-carrying females.

It is your responsibility to know them. There are also restrictions on nets, size of nets, type of nets, and you must have your name and address on the net as well.

Make sure you are aware of all the rules and regulations, including bag limit and size.

Cray season will run until midnight on August 31.

Saltwater fishing has been good when the weather permits, according to Rod Lawn from Adamas Fishing Charters at Queenscliff. Rod said pinky snapper were being caught along the usual marks both inside the heads and off the coast.

Rod said in most cases, snapper were taking fresh squid or fish baits but on some occasions could be caught using soft plastics. Other fish being caught were flathead and silver trevally.

Rod said reports from Portland along the south-west coast were that southern bluefin tuna were being caught by anglers using skirted lures trolled behind a boat a couple of kilometres along the coast from the port. Most of these fish were about 15kg, but tuna up to 60kg were to be found 30km to 40km off shore.

Rod said Western Port Bay was also worth a visit. Anglers fishing the rubble beds on the edge of the shipping lanes were catching pinky snapper as well as leatherjacket.

Gummy shark were being taken in the deep water off Phillip Island and San Remo. Fresh fillets of salmon and squid were the best baits.

North of the border at Eden, John Liddell said Mark from Freedom Charters said the snapper were a better size and were all along the inshore reefs between Boyd’s Lookout and Green Cape.

Other fish being caught were morwong, gurnard, flathead and rock cod.

The report from Graham Cowley further up the coast at Narooma was that quality flathead were being taken along the sandy bottom around Montague Island.

Graham said kingfish bigger than those at Eden were to be found off the shelf to the north of Montague.

He said there was no sign of yellowfin tuna, but an occasional bluefin was to be had off the shelf.

Stay safe and good luck