As we wind out of winter and into spring, I can’t help feeling a level of excitement. For me this period of the year heralds the start of the ‘fishing season’.

The football will soon be over and for many that coincides with furious snapper fishing. But it is not only the snapper I look forward to at this time of year. We often see fantastic, big calamari and a host of other species returning in big numbers to the bay. It is certainly time to do a once-over of the fishing gear, re-spool, wash-down and get ready for the busier six months of the piscatorial fishing calendar.

Probably the most notable, and I will say a bit unusual, catches over the last four weeks have been the number of snapper coming from the Western Port side of the Peninsula. It has without doubt been the best winter snapper fishing (outside Corio Bay) that I have seen in recent years. The quality of the fish, often 4kg and above, and the numbers caught have simply been staggering.

Mostly caught at night on fresh squid, good snapper have been found from Hastings right up to the Bouchier and Boultons channels. Hopefully a sign of a cracking season ahead!

Salmon have really produced for land-based anglers this year. And although winter surf fishing has been around since grandma was a girl, I dare say it is still increasing in popularity as the years go by.

In recent times, anglers realising the ease with which they can ‘spin’ or cast lures for salmon has really got a lot of attention. Lures are, quite simply, a quick and easy way to fish that lots of people appreciate during the cool winter months. Anglers don’t necessarily want to spend hours dragging gear up and down the beach in the more traditional form of surf fishing.

As far as reports go, we had plenty of big schools moving around the mooring areas inside the bay. Sorrento to Rye has been the hottest patch with all the piers in this area seeing sporadic action. Blairgowrie Marina and Rye Pier were probably the pick of the bunch this year but guys were also finding them right up near the Rosebud Hospital, usually out of a kayak in a couple of metres of water.

The favoured back beach down here, Gunnamatta, has seen some exceptional fishing over the last month. For the lure fishos, the blue mackerel metal slug has been by far and away the most popular of the season, indicating that the fish have probably been feeding on small pilchards.

There has still been good action for the bait fishos too, with blue poppers also doing plenty of damage for those wetting a line.

I am predicting straight off the bat that we might see some unique calamari fishing over spring. The numbers of squid on the southern Peninsula and right up to Mornington and Frankston has been sensational this year. There has simply been no let-up.

For those seeking big calamari we have already been seeing quality examples coming from around the Portsea Pier, Lonsdale Bight and even up towards Queenscliff. This has all the hallmarks of a fantastic big squid season, so stay tuned!

Well it’s arrived – spring! And no doubt a happier, busier time for most of the fishing fraternity in greater Melbourne. Many anglers will this month begin their hunt for snapper, often doing reconnaissance of old marks and bait collecting. My hope is that we see a serious bite off Mt Martha this year as, unfortunately last year was a bit of a disappointment as most of the snapper stayed in the far north of the bay. Time will tell.

Finally, my shop previously known as the Peninsula Total Tackle has now joined the Compleat Angler chain. No change to management or staff so business as usual from our end but you might expect to see different signage the next time you visit! Happy fishing!

For more information feel free to drop in and see the boys at Peninsula Compleat Angler, 11 Boneo Road in Rosebud or phone: 03 5981 1994.

1

Jon Maslin from the Western Port Fishing Club with an absolute honker 20lb snapper taken in Western Port.

2

Mason also got in on the winter snapper action taking these fish off Hastings.

3

So many salmon! It’s been a great year with anglers finding plenty of fish in the bay and on our back beaches. Jules Frank with a nice ‘gunna sambo.

4

Carl Gustafson and mates heading home after a day spinning at Gunnamatta.