Schools of pinkies are moving into Andersons Inlet each day. They are settling deep in the Inlet from Mahers Landing through to Nolans Bluff. The best areas to target them are the Horseshoe, the yellow buoy outside the Venus Bay Islands, and along the green buoys to the mouth of the Tarwin River. Best baits are US squid, pilchard pieces and sauries.
At Stevies Gutter around the low tide, good-sized whiting to 40cm are taking live Bass yabbies, squid strips, mussel meat and pipi (yes, the premium South Australian pipi is available again).
As the tide runs, there is plenty of activity with trevally to 1.2kg and salmon to 40cm.December through to February is the premium time to target the bigger flathead within the Inlet.
On the run-out tide, you can fish the drop-offs from the sandbars into the channels. As the tide runs out, the yabbies, crabs and baitfish get washed into channel, bringing the larger flathead in search of an easy feed. Bait fish with long leaders or cast your soft plastics into the shallows and slowly retrieve them back over the edge. Pay close attention as the plastic drops down at the edge of the channel. Shrimp and prawn shapes are the pick of the designs.There is plenty of gummy shark activity throughout the Inlet, especially at the entrance, Mahers Landing and the bottom of the Horseshoe. Moon phase has been important, with the lead up to the full moon and around the new moon being the pick of the times. Best baits are whole pilchards, fresh trevally fillets, sauries and whole squid.Estuary perch are starting to move up the Tarwin River and good catches have been reported in the lower reaches, as well as around the highway bridge. Also, at the fishing platforms, trevally to 700g and solid mullet to 35cm are moving on the incoming tide. Best baits are whitebait, prawn and pipis.
Offshore, there is plenty of pinkie activity out off Flatrocks and behind the break off the Venus Bay beaches.
Walkerville South is producing good numbers of whiting for anglers drifting over the weed beds in close, while further out good catches of big tiger flathead, trevally and pinkies can be made when conditions are right.
The Venus Bay surf beaches are very productive for salmon, with schools of fish up to 2kg hitting baits and poppers hard at the top of the tide.
Now is the time to consider putting the paternoster rigs away and start using running sinker rigs. All our diaries start to show the time is perfect to target bigger flathead off the beach, as well as 40cm plus pinkies coming inside the break. Target the high tides that fall after dark using fresh fish fillets, sauries and whole squid.
Best Fishes for the Festive Season.
For further information on fishing around Inverloch, drop in and see David Walsh at Rod Bending’s World of Fishing, Shop 1, 8 Williams Street, Inverloch. Alternatively, give him a call on 03 5674 3322, or visit www.rodbending.com.au
Caption
Mac from Rod Bendings World of Fishing at Venus Bay landed this 2kg snapper in Andersons Inlet.
