The first SBT bought into Portland for season 2010 weighed 32kg.

This was caught while he was out bottom bouncing for blue eye trevalla at the horse shoe along the continental shelf.

Since then the run of SBT landed has been 20-35kg with the largest to date being 42kg. Larger fish have been sighted up to 100kg by well respected angler, Bob McPherson, along the shelf between 800-1000m.

Other anglers trolling this area have also confirmed these sighting of large tuna. As we get further into March the fishing for SBT will only increase with more anglers out chasing these magnificent fighting fish.

When the ban was proposed on mako sharks was planned for the end of January, I have never seen so many mako sharks being bought in to the tables, with the biggest weighing in at 196kg.

In a normal year would have been released, so this ruling just made more people bring these fish in as they were of the opinion that they would not be allowed to catch them in the future. It was absolute slaughter and should never happen again.

Along with SBT, albacore up to 25kg have also been coming in to the cleaning tables. As this is just the start of the season make sure all you gear is up to scratch and all your safety gear is up to standards required, as the water police will again be targeting those that venture out to the shelf.

For those who aren’t chasing SBT, the yellowtail kingfish have also been keeping anglers occupied over along the north shore, with the latest being landed by Frankie Farrugia of Portland along with Pud from Bellarine Angling club, weighing in at 8.8kg.

These mighty fighting fish normally stay around this area for another couple of months, and it is a good time to get over here as most people are chasing tuna and you won’t have the hassle of competing with another 50 boats.

Also along the north shore there have been good bags of snapper, whiting, trevally and calamari squid along with some good catches of gummy shark and school shark.

Boating parties between Lawrence Rock and Cape Bridgewater have been coming home with good feeds of flathead, snapper, blue morwong, coral perch, whiting, gummy shark and school shark.

If you’re heading around this area keep your eyes open for birds working and diving, as it is not unusual for a school of tuna to be lurking in these waters.

When the weather has been against the boating parties the harbour has been fishing well with good catches of snapper, whiting, trevally, salmon and kingfish between 1-3kg.

Surf fishing along the north shore has produced good catches of snapper, whiting, trevally, salmon, mulloway, gummy shark and school shark

Fishing off the Lee breakwater snapper, whiting, salmon, calamari squid, kingfish and gummy shark along with the odd mulloway have been the most recent catches; best times are early morning and evening as well as fishing the tides.

Bridgewater Bay and Discovery Coast have had good catches of school shark, gummy shark and the odd mulloway up to 10kg.

For those freshwater fishing, the Fitzroy and Surrey rivers have been producing good catches of bream with the odd mulloway from the Fitzroy River.

So if you’re heading down Portland way give the boys at Portland Bait & Tackle a call on 0355235213 for all your latest fishing and weather reports. We are open 7 days a week from 7 to 7.