It has been good to see some big rainfalls this winter and the local rivers are looking in great condition after the early September deluge.

Black bream have been taken from the Barham and Aire Rivers on scrubworms, prawns and small hardbodied lures cast around submerged snags.

Bream to 40cm have been caught and at this size really test your gear especially when fishing near structure. These rivers have been fishing best once the water clears after heavy rainfall and there is still a good flow coming down from the hills. These conditions are also very good for trout and the fishing has been excellent in the Aire, Barham and Ford rivers with fish taking a liking to Ecogear SX40 lures cast from the bank.

The smaller streams around Apollo Bay such as the Wild Dog Creek, Skenes Creek and Grey River are also producing plenty of feisty little trout, most have been taken while fly fishing with small nymphs although bait anglers are still landing their share on worms cast into the rapids and let drift down into the deeper pools.

Along the coast

Species such as King George whiting, snapper, flathead and gummy shark have moved back along our coast this month and will hang around for the next six months or so.

Blanket Bay and Cape Otway have been the proven areas to dangle a line between 35-40m of water, with both areas producing snapper, gummy and school shark and some decent flathead which have measured up to 50cm.

King George whiting have been found closer to shore in areas such as Marengo and the Eliot River reefs with pipis fished on a running sinker rig being the most productive method. Fishing the slack water period at the top of the tide has been producing the hottest bites.

Berley made from pilchards bread and tuna oil will improve your catch rates while fishing for whiting and will also tempt any silver trevally in the area to bite.

On calm windless nights schools of yellowtail mackerel have been congregating around the light on the end of the pier and these are easily taken with small pieces of unweighted pilchard for bait or tiny soft plastics twitched just below the surface.

Keep your eye out for any schools of barracouta that maybe in the area as well.

October is a great time to target squid in the harbour and they can be taken right throughout the day from off the pier or while casting from a boat inside the harbour. I have most success by casting my jig over the seagrass beds, as this is where the squid like to hideout during daylight hours. They will seem to appear from nowhere to eat your jig.

Trout are biting well in the local estuary systems on SX40 lures.