Victorian Fishing Journal – November 2004

Welcome to another ‘Off the Spool' a journal devoted totally to fishing in Victoria.

Melbourne Fishing Report

30 year veteran fishing writer Geoff Wilson once wrote an article titled ‘Snapper Psychosis', it talked of the obsessive behaviour of anglers when the snapper are on. We have had good seasons in the past, but this year is hot, and many anglers are suffering from a serious bout of snapper psychosis, the only cure or therapy is an early morning sojourn onto the briny.

Port Phillip Bay

Where? mostly deep water from 16 to 20m between Black Rock and Frankston, yes a wide range. Whilst you can ‘ambulance chase' other boats fishing on traditional marks it is best to use your sounder and locate the snapper. Early morning timed with a change in the tide is ideal.

Reports of snapper on soft plastics are increasing at an incredible rate. One report was a snapper of 4.5kg caught in 16m off Black Rock on a 4 inch soft plastic jigged off the bottom. Shads, stickbaits and baitfish profiles are working the best with Fin-s Fish a popular lure choice.

The usual baits like pilchards, silver whiting and sauries are of course still taking fish. The bigger fish are spread out with reds averaging 2 to 4kg the most common. The eastern part of the bay is out fishing the western at present with Altona anglers reporting reasonable numbers.

The Docklands has been dirty and quiet after consistent rain since Cup Day. As the weather improves and stabilises so should the bream fishing, in fact it will be prime time in the next couple of weeks, so don't forget the lower Yarra River in your fishing plans.

Western Port

Crawfish Rock is producing snapper to 8kg on pilchards. Gummy and school shark are also in residence with the best around the12 kg mark, squid the popular choice for bait. Anglers at San Remo are getting amongst the King George whiting with fish to a healthy 45cm, a few small snapper are also about in the 1kg range. The Western Entrance is producing snapper and big rock ling (5kg) on squid and pilchards.

Thanks to Rudi of the Compleat Angler Melbourne Ph 9620 3320 and Paul Worsteling of Cranbourne Fishing Tackle Ph 5996 6500 who supplied much of the information in this report.

In Profile: Pat Levy – the name behind the names

Pat Levy may not be a household name but the brands his company imports, distributes and markets are well known to most of us.

These include: Plano Tackle boxes, Stumpjumper Lures, Tassie Devils, Cortland Fly-line to his ‘house' range of Gillies Tackle, in particular lures and terminal tackle.

Pat is an active board member of the Futurefish Foundation and has been heavily involved with the Australian Fishing Tackle Association for many years.

Here's a bit about Pat,

Born: Melbourne

Lives: Hawthorn

Current Occupation: Managing Director of JM Gillies P/L (Fishing Tackle Company)

Local fishing hole: Millbrook Lakes, private fly fishing lakes near Ballarat.

Favourite Victorian fishing hole : Lake Eildon, trolling with deep diving lures for Murray cod.

First fish: Redfin out of Lake Eildon.

Best fish: 7kg snub-nosed permit caught at Weipa trolling a Stumpjumper lure!

Best fishing experience: Fly fishing for longtail tuna around the river mouths off Weipa.

Boat: Don't own a boat

How did you start GM Gillies?: “Started as a storeman in 1978 worked my way up to Manager and then eventually bought the company in 1988”.

Where do you see the fishing tackle industry heading?: “I see things getting tougher, as leisure time contracts and with so many other activities open to people. Also it is getting harder to keep attracting the younger generation as fish stocks decline and a kid can't go down to the Albert Park Pier and expect to catch a fish”

What is your opinion on VRFish?: “ They are group of people who represent a small minority of anglers”

Number one thing to change about the Victorian fishery?: “ All recreational fishing people be able to have input into managing the fishery, to have a say and determine where the funds from the fishing licence are allocated.”

JM Gillies website : http://www.jmgillies.com.au

Victorian Water Storage levels mid Nov 2004

Holiday Hotspot: Glenelg River – emerald magic

Limestone cliffs, boat sheds and wide sweeping bends characterise the majestic Glenelg River that traverses the Victorian and South Australian borders. Navigable for over 70 kilometres the Glenelg River winds its way through the Lower Glenelg National Park in south-western Victoria, crosses into South Australia for a handful of kilometres before returning to Victoria, and then running to the sea at Discovery Bay.

Big southern black bream inhabit the Glenelg River. Some have been caught more than 50 kilometres upstream from the mouth. The river is originally sourced from Rocklands Reservoir just west of the Grampians National Park. Much of the water in the Glenelg is clear, green and tidal.

When mixed with the limestone cliffs it creates an unusual environmental habitat for a Victorian river. The area reminds me of the Hawkesbury River and parts of Broken Bay just north of Sydney.

Coral encrusted rocks and submerged timber provide an enormous food source for prospecting bream. The bream actually feed on a tiny aquatic worm found inside the coral. The greatest concentration of coral is found at the base of the limestone cliffs which line the banks at varying points. These areas are often intersected by weed beds where estuary perch and smaller bream are found. However the bigger bream are generally found feeding on the corals. The coral reefs and limestone cliffs provide an ideal environment for the lure chucker.

The prime bait for big bream is black crab. These can be collected using small tins baited with fish flesh and are best left overnight. The crab can be presented either whole, or cut in half depending on the mood of the bream on the day. The idea is to cast right in close at the base of the cliff, literally 6 inches from the wall if possible and be ready for a strike.

Next to the Barwon River near Geelong and lower Yarra River, the Glenelg River is a major stronghold of mulloway or jewfish in Victoria. There are many devotees who troll live baits (small salmon or mullet) and lures behind boats powered by oars, electric motor or single piston diesel engine ‘putt putts'.

The Glenelg River mulloway range from 3 to 7kg. They are mostly caught in the lower reaches around Flat Rock, Popes Nose and a channel marked by a line of poles. Anglers fishing through the night further upstream often encounter them as well.

There are boating speed restrictions of between 5 and 8 knots throughout most of the Glenelg River. The exception is Taylor's Strait which is set aside for water skiers , however a transit lane is marked for anglers. A small boat is all that is required on the Glenelg as it is a very protected water.

Now that has been ‘discovered' by the Australian Bream Tournament people its secret maybe out, fortunately though the Glenelg is far enough away from Melbourne to provide a combination of good fishing and that getaway from it all appeal.

Fast Facts – From Melbourne via Ballarat travel on the Western, Glenelg, Henty, Princes Highways & Portland-Nelson Road (478 km's). From Geelong via the Princes Highway and the Portland-Nelson Rd it is 355 km's. A top place to stay is at the historic Nelson Pub. Clean rooms, good food and fishing info'. Neil Shelton is your host, he's a top bloke and bloody keen mulloway angler.

Bend a rod

Reidy