Can it get any better than this? Snapper, gummy sharks, whiting and the good old flathead are all being caught in inside waters.

OK, OK, I know I said they weren’t opening the pipi season but Fisheries changed their mind and we now have pipis. They are not the cheapest things on the market. Bag sizes may vary from shop to shop and so will the price, so just be aware that not all large bags are 1kg and small bags might not be 500g. But at least we have them!

The Snake Channel, Old Port, the entrance and the Pelican Light have all been producing great numbers of snapper, both big and small. The change of tide seems to be the best time to get these fish. Snapper Flashers with either circle hooks or suicide hooks are working well. Silver trevally, red rockets and small barracouta are also working well as bait for the snapper.

Shane Richards broke down at the Pelican Light and while waiting for a tow caught a nice bag of pinkies. Meanwhile Mark Baird of Robinsons Beach caught a nice mixed bag at the Port Albert entrance. After such a good start to the snapper season, the run of bigger snapper may decline with the warmer water and pinkie snapper to 3kg will become more abundant.

There have been some nice whiting caught at the Basket and in Old Port. The new Slam baits by Rapala in the 2” Worm have taken a good number of fish. Prawns and pipis are accounting for good catches as well.

Nice-sized gummy sharks are being caught down at One Tree as well as at the entrance, and the ever-reliable flathead have been caught throughout the Port Albert system.

Offshore there hasn’t been a lot of action due to some really poor weather and storms.

Port Welshpool has been producing nice snapper and gummy sharks. The change of tide seems to be working best here too, with the Franklin, Toora and Benison channels fishing well. The entrance to Welshpool is also fishing well.

Whiting can be found at the entrance to the Toora Channel opposite Possum Creek. Good-sized flathead abound in Dough Boy and at the front of the Franklin Channel. Local squid, red rockets, small barracouta and pipis are the best baits. Slam baits of 4” have taken good snapper as well for fishers that like plastics.

Happy New Year to All and keep safe over the holidays.