YELLOWBELLY are biting along the Murray River but anglers are being annoyed by Murray cod, which are out of season and must be returned.

Rod Mackenzie reports yellowbelly to 2kg are being caught on worms, shrimp, small yabbies and spinnerbaits.

The hot spot is Wemen, but catches are coming from Pental Island, near Swan Hill, and Belsars Island, near Robinvale.

Redfin are on the bite in the channels between Lake Charm and Kerang Lake.

In the North East, Geoff Lacey reports Pretty Valley Creek and the east Kiewa River are fishing well for brown trout to 450g taking worm and lures.

Mt Beauty Pondage is excellent with many rainbow trout falling for worms under a bubble float and lures.

The Kiewa River, from Mt Beauty to Mongans Bridge, is flowing clear and icy cold, with lots of wild brown trout and rainbow trout in the system.

Many trout to 650g are being caught.

Lake Catani at Mt Buffalo has good numbers of brown trout, and most are being caught on small lures, weighted wet flies and nymphs.

The upper Mitta Mitta River, from Sunnyside to Taylors Crossing, is producing brown and rainbow trout on worms and lures.

The Cobungra River has brown trout taking drifted worms and the Victoria River is holding good numbers of large trout.

Lower Mitta Mitta River near Eskdale has good numbers of brown trout and Snowy Creek continues to fish well with unweighted worms producing trout.

Eildon Pondage has good numbers of rainbow trout, with a brown trout mixed in. They are up to 3.5kg and taking Tassie Devil lures and Powerbait.

In the Western District, Doug Lucas reports that Lake Bullen Merri is producing brown trout to 4.9kg and rainbow trout to 1.5kg.

Trolling orange Lofty lures are working well, as is shore-based fishing with gudgeon under a bubble float.

In the southwest estuaries, the Curdies River has sparked up with bream to 47cm caught on shrimp and vibe lures.

Gellibrand River has estuary perch to 38cm taking hard bodied lures and a few bream downstream of the bridge.

At Aire River bream to 42cm are being caught on shrimp near the Ford River inflow.

Salmon are running again along many surf beaches including Princetown, Peterborough and the Aire, with most fish 700 to 900g.

Apollo Bay also has smaller salmon albeit smaller with most fish to 700g.

The harbour is producing King George whiting to 700g and silver trevally.

Anglers venturing down to cape Otway are catching gummy sharks to 12kg.

Brett Torossi, at Billfisher Tackle, reports Port Phillip Bay snapper are still slow with a smattering of reports of reds to 6kg coming from Carrum, Clifton Springs and Pt Richards.

Most snapper are being caught on pilchard and squid.

Calamari squid to 2kg are taking jigs in the Lonsdale Bight and off Portsea.

In Western Port, King George whiting to 38cm are taking squid in Coronet Bay.

Warneet jetty is producing snook on lures. Anglers fishing off Lysaughts have caught snapper to 7.4kg.

Snapper to 8kg are being caught in the Western Entrance, with smaller snapper to 2kg biting off Tankerton, Hastings and Long Reef.

Ian Page at Lake Tyers in the Gippsland Lakes reports the water has been running hot for bream to about 38cm on hard bodied lures and local prawn.

Flathead numbers are building and most of those being caught are up to 40cm and taking soft plastic lures.

At Bemm River, the lake is producing quality bream to 45cm and luderick to 2kg on sandworms and local prawn.

Source : Weekly Times Now