We are now moving into that time of year where the species list is changing and the two things on everyone’s mind are snapper and gummies.

The water temperature rised significantly with the onset of the warmer weather and this put the fish on the bite inside the estuary.

The whiting started to make an appearance and they were all mixed sizes, ranging anywhere from 28-35cm in length. Pipis and Bass yabbies are working equally well and over the next month the whiting are really going to turn on and it will be the best time of the year to get stuck into good numbers of them. You are also likely to encounter 40cm+ specimens.

The blue spot flathead have just started to come on the bite with that warmer water, however currently anglers have been catching them mainly to 45cm in length. Spear fishers chasing flounder have been spearing some big ones, which tells us the bigger flatties are there but aren’t quite biting hard yet on lures or dead baits.

Over the next month, we will just about be in the best part of the year for those big 60cm+ blue spot flathead so it’s going to be worth hitting the shallows on the run-out tide with soft plastics or 40-70mm hardbodies.

Micro jigging is the latest craze to hit Australia and most anglers are only talking about micro jigging in regards to snapper. However there are some lure manufacturers making tiny micro jigs or 7g and up, which I reckon will be perfect for spinning for flathead over the clear sand flats.

The salmon have been the main thing keeping sport fishers happy of late as we have had the spring run of salmon pretty much right on queue and they will stick around until mid to the end of November. This is the time you get your big salmon anywhere from 1-3kg and so far there have been plenty of 3kg specimens caught at either the McLoughlins Beach entrance or Manns Beach entrance.

There has been a bit of weed around so jigging small metals has been really successful, as well as big soft plastics and jig heads.

Inside we have had our first couple of reports of snapper but it will be this month where all the magic happens. We have just entered the biggest and best time of year to chase snapper in this part of Victoria so if you’re not out there now, you are missing out.

Remember that the tide changes are the key. You seldom catch snapper in all parts of the tide and the day.

If you really want to increase your chances of catching snapper inside the inlets, then fish an hour either side of the tides in the mornings and evenings. These times are the most likely times to catch snapper during November.

The Snake Channel has already produced a few snapper and also plenty of gummies. The old port is another prime gummy spot and you will catch snapper there as well.

The gummies have already gone berserk offshore, but it’s now when a heap of these fish move inside the inlet.

Whale Bay always produces good gummies offshore this time of year and you will catch some good snapper here as well. The flatties have been going well in 25m+ of water, but with the warmer water you will be able to drift in close from 12-20m and catch the same amount of flatties as you did in winter out wide. If you can use a sea anchor, do so, as this will slow down your drift and keep your rig on the bottom better.

Again the gummies have been getting caught mainly on the tide changes offshore, so stick to that rule for the next few months.

For more information, contact Will at Allways Angling in Traralgon on 51748544. You will get expert advice and some great deals on fishing bait and tackle. Don’t forget to tune in to Will’s Gippsland report on Rex Hunt and Lee Rayners’ Off the Hook on 1242.