I love November, and with this month seeing the snapper season hitting full swing I can only see the love deepening.

The other bonus it that November sees the start of some great fishing for other species, especially towards the end of the month and into December as many anglers have their fill of snapper then turn towards other species such as whiting, Australian salmon and even some early season yellowtail kingfish. Either way if you haven’t got the boat out or dusted off the rods now is definitely the time to do so.

While snapper are definitely the talk of the town, October produced good hauls of mullet in the creek, and it doesn’t look like it is slowing just yet for the anglers fishing with small floats and baits of dough or peeled prawn.

The pier itself however is at peak time for land-based anglers with any windy afternoon seeing the end of the pier loaded with a bunch of anglers in search of big shallow water snapper. There has been a few of over the past weeks with snapper to 4kg being taken.

The Hump area out to the yellow buoy straight off Mordialloc have seen some good catches of quality snapper over the past weeks, with the pre-dawn to first light period producing the best results, especially for those fishing with baits of fresh squid. Out from there the 16-17m area has good numbers of fish. Anglers getting the best results report finding fish on the sounder then anchoring up and getting a good steady berley trail going. The action then often follows with multiple rods going off.

In Beaumaris Bay the pier is fishing well for squid and a few nice pinkies have been taken off it in recent weeks. For the boat anglers, the back of the mussel farm has held snapper in the rough weather and good numbers of squid along the edge of the reef up to Ricketts Point, while out deeper the Gasso area has as usual had good numbers of snapper on it. The following weeks should see it go just a bit silly.

Just wide of the Gasso and heading north it’s time to fish along the edge of the shipping channel heading north with loads of snapper schooling up along the edge. Make sure you are not anchored in the shipping channel, which is clearly marked by yellow buoys or you will get a fine.

Along the edge of the reef Between Ricketts Point and Black Rock there has been pinkies with some quality fish mixed among them which are no doubt on the inshore areas giving the big numbers of squid a serious hiding.

It’s also the prime time to be trolling deep divers and working plastics through the area, especially on first and last light. Finally the Ricketts Point areas has seen a few anglers getting some sneaky catches of decent whiting, so hopefully the coming weeks will see more of them in the area.

Out from Sandringham there have been some great reports of snapper along the edge of the shipping channel, especially up around the Fawkner Beacon. For those anglers who like to target the bigger snapper the inner reefs have held some quality snapper, with the Anonyma Shoal and just wide of it producing several fish over 5kg in recent weeks.

Other areas to look are in 6-8m between Sandringham Breakwall and Brighton Breakwall. These are also red hot areas to be fishing with lures – either trolled deep divers or casting soft plastics.

Off Brighton Breakwall, reports have been scattered, although you would expect that the following weeks should see some red hot fishing here for land-based anglers, especially if we can get some good south west blows to stir up the inshore waters.

Up off Green Point and towards North Road boat ramp garfish reports are starting along with good numbers of bait sized squid on offer.

From North Road to St Kilda now is the time to suffer serious lack of sleep with some great snapper fishing on offer in the really shallow water with 3-5m often producing some of the best action. Naturally in these areas it’s a late night ordeal as the snapper move into the shallows well after the sun has set.

Areas to look at are up off Elwood and towards St Kilda breakwall. Here the bottom is heavy, made up of big cunjevoi beds that provide heaps of food for the snapper but also provide plenty of snags for anglers so if fishing this area, make sure you have plenty of terminal tackle.

Much the same as the Elwood to St Kilda area with good snapper in shallow water, although in these areas you can be fishing slightly deeper with the good water in this area being in the 7-10m area.

In close to shore Kerford Road has been producing some garfish and squid and with fish numbers really improving over the next few weeks it will be well worth getting onto Kerford Road Pier.

Up at Station Pier the deeper water has been producing some decent flathead and you are always a chance at getting a good snapper off the end of the pier with November being the perfect time to do so.

If a bit of inshore land-based interests you then its also a great time to get out to Karkarook Lake as Fisheries Victoria have stocked it with a whole pile of rainbow trout that are keen as mustard to grab a variety of lures. It’s also a great chance to hone your soft plastic fishing skills.