I mentioned in last edition that the baitfish have arrived and the predators won’t be far behind them. Now, it’s all happened, and the kingfish have shown up, although not in huge numbers, with only several reported to over a metre in length.

The big news was the capture of the first broadbill swordfish caught in Victorian waters and several striped marlin again making our bit of coastline the premium game fishing destination in Victoria. The sad thing is although Cape Conran boat ramp is the closest ramp to the shelf, the boat ramp can only cater for small boats with the larger trailer boats having to enter Bass Strait from Lakes Entrance, making the trip to the continental shelf many more nautical miles travel than it should be.

Fishing offshore from Cape Conran ramp is excellent for the anglers who prefer to fish closet to shore, and reports of good bins of flathead, gurnard, arrow squid, salmon, barracouta and gummy shark have been the norm from this area.

So far, there’s been no reports this month of marlin being caught just off the boat ramp, but lots of anglers have been hopeful.

The surf beaches are still fishing at a premium, with salmon and tailor in good numbers and anglers getting good results bait fishing with surf rods and using blue bait, squid, pilchards or eel for bait.

For the anglers who prefer to use light tackle, there are also getting plenty of good size salmon and tailor available for those spinning metal lures.

The adventurous young anglers who prefer to use game gear and target bronze whaler sharks by paddling their big baits out with a surf board are still getting good results.

While the prawns are still here in good numbers, the fishing will remain excellent, and flathead can be found along the sand flats that run from the Marlo jetty all the way down to Frenches Narrows. The best results have come from anglers using soft plastic lures. Salmon and tailor are coming in with the tide, giving anglers plenty of action either trolling or casting lures.

Bream are here in good numbers and are being taken from the entrance up into both Lake Corringle and Lake Curlip. Sandworms, prawns, nippers and shell baits seem to be the best option.

Luderick can be found schooling along the rock groins and mud banks, and most so far have been taken on sandworm.

Golden eye mullet are also in good numbers and can be found throughout the whole system. If you’re after mullet, sandworm and shrimp are working brilliantly at the moment.

The weather may be cooling off, but there’s no reason why you can’t still catch fish. You just have to don your winter gear and tough it out!