It’s time to pull out your winter woollies and enjoy the opportunities these colder months have to offer with great results for those who tough it out.

The gars have arrived in their numbers throughout the system so it looks like the next couple of months may be worth taking advantage of, with the average size gar being around the 25cm mark, however it isn’t unusual to see the odd fish up to 50cm. On a light outfit and light tension drags you are set to have an absolute ball on these fun little fish. Number 10 long shank hooks under a quill float preferably but any float will work.

Keeping a berley trail is important, as a fine and consistent surface berley that will keep the gars feeding up on the surface. Give the berley a chance to work, and it may take 20 or so minutes before you have them behind your boat. On a good day with the use of polarized glasses you can see them in your trail, visually making them more entertaining to pursue. Gars are easy to catch, so don’t forget the generous bag possession of 40 garfish.

Trevally are being caught right throughout Port Albert. Bait fishermen doing well on whitebait and bluebait, but to increase your enjoyment (and maybe your catch) on the day, don’t hesitate to throw out a soft plastic for some silver action.

Squidgy Wriggler type plastics with a jighead weight that suits wind and tidal conditions is the most productive. Although boat fishermen have an obvious advantage, the structure of the jetties are a great attraction for these erratic and fun fighting fish.

Flathead have been around, but not of any great size and definitely not in their numbers this time of the year.

Salmon should be around but to be honest I haven’t chased them and haven’t heard a great deal about their numbers or size, not meaning they are not around. As always, the salmon will be where yu find them, especially in the faster currents and places where baitfish can hide.

When the weather has been generous and anglers have had the chance to venture offshore there has been some big winter gummy shark caught. Frozen bait will work but for the keen angler who want the best chance at these magical sharks remember there is an array of bait fish within the port that will always give you the best chance on the day.

The odd gummy shark is also being caught inside, although draughtboard sharks tend to be an annoying by-catch this time of the year. especially with the use of berley.

Around the same time last year we caught around 20 of these pesky fish before seeing a gummy. But don’t forget that the gummies are still in amongst these sluggish and unattractive sharks. Because the draughtboard shark put up a dismal fight they are quick and easy to retrieve, then release.

For any fishing stories or photos from the Port Albert area please send to --e-mail address hidden-- or give me (Andrew Mangion) a call at any time at Get Wet Outdoors on (03) 5174 3999 we are more then happy to share any information with you.