Whilst the surf beaches have been firing, the little inlet of McLoughlins has been hit and miss and this is partially because Port Albert and Port Welshpool have been getting most of the attention.

McLoughlins has been mainly producing Australian salmon over the past month. They have been very good and ranging in all sizes from small fish to monster 3kg specimens. Most have been in the entrance, but there have been a few salmon down the shortcut mixed in with tailor as well. Of course the Manns Entrance has produced some good salmon as well.

As for the whiting, they have been a little scarce, and I have only heard the odd report of anglers catching a small amount during the run-off tide. The thing is, is that the water is still cold and the good whiting fishing will happen this month and over the next four months as well. The snapper should turn up inside McLoughlins or already have, you will just need to fish the tide changes early morning and evenings.

The fishing has been far superior here, especially for the gummy sharks and snapper. Gummies have been going crazy in the Snake Channel all the way down to the Blue Hole. Again like everywhere they have been averaging 1m long, however there has been the odd really good fish pushing the 15kg mark. Trusty old squid and pilchards have been as good a bait as anything and as usual all the fish are getting caught on the tide changes.

Gummy sharks are spread as far as the old port channel however most are in the Snake Channel. The snapper have been ok but not as good as at Welshpool. I am impressed this year as we haven’t had any warm water yet but the snapper are still biting. This could mean that we may be up for the best snapper season in south Gippsland in a long time. Over the next month, we will get the warm currents and the water temperature should reach the magical 18C mark, and when it does, the snapper are going to go berserk!

Offshore McLoughlins has been good for the gummies as there is more bait out here than you can poke a stick at, so much that half the gummy sharks that you catch offshore are spewing up whitebait when you bring them on board. The snapper haven’t really come on yet out on the reefs and that is because the water hasn’t reached the right temperature yet.

The flathead have been plentiful offshore Port Albert and most anglers are getting a bag whilst fishing anywhere between the 21m and 40m.

Get ready for the snapper bite as its right on our doorstep and by the looks of it, we are in for a cracker of a summer fishing season.

For more information, contact Will at Allways Angling in Traralgon on 51748544. You will get expert advice and great deals on fishing bait and tackle. Tune into Rex Hunt and Lee Rayner’s “Off the Hook” on 1242 to hear Will’s report on what’s going on in Gippsland!