What a difference one month can make to the weather. It’s been raining on and off but the wind has dropped below a dull roar. The mornings have been quite brisk although you could be forgiven for thinking it was still autumn.

With that in mind the keen anglers who have been fishing the Port Albert area have been rewarded with good catches of seven-gill sharks or as the local fishos call them ‘tigers’. They’ve been caught out wide off Cliffy Island to Whale Bay and from the little known reef off the Port Albert entrance to the front of Manns Beach.

The Ward boys have been at it again with the number of seven-gill sharks nearing double figures this season. They are a determined pair, fishing daylight to dark in pursuit of the old ‘tigers’.

The best baits according to Charles and Andrew have been whole salmon, mullet, and eel fillets. And lo and behold a pesky skunk shark has taken one shark.

The best way to catch a seven-giller is to fish any of the previously mentioned baits or tuna fillets in a good berley trail of chopped pilchards and tuna oil. Set the baits on the bottom, sit back and wait for a strike.

One little word of warning though. They have teeth and an ability to turn their head around further than you think.

The flathead are still outside in good numbers with the 33m mark the best depth. If you are a diehard flattie fisher and are having trouble getting a feed then here’s one of my favourites marks: S 38 50 250 E 146 47 360.

The inside fishing has slowed right down with people working hard to get a feed, There have been a few reports of small salmon being caught at Manns Beach.

The gars are very hard to find but are of a good size. The edges of weed beds on a falling tide will produce the best results.

The estuary that feeds Port Albert, being the Albert and Tarra, is holding small numbers of estuary perch. They are very elusive but well worth the effort. Steve Pike and his son Jack put in a six-hour lure session for one perch of around 1kg.

If you find yourself in the area and need a fishing update then call in at the Alberton Roadhouse for the latest news or give me a bell on (03) 5183 2450. Get Hooked! Wheelo.