Shades Fishing News

Steve Cooper

THE biggest event on the anglers’ calendar this summer is the opening of Murray cod season in Victoria and NSW on Monday, December 1.

In terms of publicity and public involvement, the Murray cod opening has developed into a more anticipated event than the trout opening.

Cod stocks in Victoria’s northern rivers and lakes have gone from boiled sweets to chocolates.

The fishery is testament to the determination of Fisheries biologists in Victoria and NSW to renew Murray cod.

In many waters, the species has been brought back from the brink of extinction to a dominance it held when white settlers arrived.

Almost three months after cod season closed, most native fish anglers are starting to think about where they will be heading.

Some anglers will take the first week of December off work to chase cod because early season fishing can be excellent.

If you are planning a cod trip, now is a good time to find where the cod are, and which rivers and impoundments hold enough water, so you can decide where to go.

Long-term stocking in Lake Eildon in Victoria has seen hundreds of thousands of Murray cod released and anglers trolling large bibbed minnows down deep in the Delatite Arm can do well. Cod in excess of 25kg have been caught in this water.

Victoria’s Kerang Lakes have been stocked with cod. Lakes Boga, Charm and Kangaroo, and Middle Lake don’t hold monsters, but they do have legal size cod.

Victorian rivers to try include the lower Goulburn, Broken River (Benalla to Shepparton) and the Loddon River, above and below Bridgewater.

The Campaspe River from Elmore to Echuca has cod but is a small boat or bank fishing option.

Along the Murray River, there are many opportunities.

The Mitta Arm at Lake Hume (classed as Victorian water) and Lake Mulwala at Yarrawonga (classed as NSW water) produce good results.

Lake Mulwala is generally regarded as the most productive cod fishery in Australia in terms of numbers of cod caught.

Gunbower Creek, near Cohuna, produces cod as does another anabranch, the Little Murray River near Swan Hill.

The Murray River upstream of Swan Hill to Pental Island is a consistent stretch of water.

Alternatively, the Wakool River at Kyalite or the Edward River upstream of Kyalite fish well for cod early in the season.

Other places along the Murray worth trying are Boundary Bend and further downstream from Euston Weir to Wemen.

The Murrumbidgee River at Balranald, Maude and Hay has earned a reputation for producing good numbers of Murray cod early in the season.

Tackling up for cod isn’t difficult. Most bait fishers prefer 6-8kg threadline outfits.

To rig up, use a running sinker to a No. 2-4 straight hook or a 6/0 Suicide pattern. A leader of a minimum 15kg breaking strain should be used in case you hook into a big cod, which will wear through lighter leader material.

Best cod baits include bardi grubs, shrimp, yabbies and scrubworms. Cheese baits also do well.

Lure trollers tend to use baitcaster outfits, with a large difference between the rod rating and the line used.

The popular rod is rated for about 6kg but the reel will be spooled with 15kg breaking strain braid to stand the wear and tear of timber.

When using an outfit configured this way, set your drag on the reel to suit the rod, not the line - otherwise you may end up the owner of a two-piece rod.

The same outfit can be used for casting lures into snags.

When you attach your lure, use a loop knot as clips or snaps have a nasty habit of opening up at inopportune times - like when you are hooked up.

As a rule of thumb, the most productive early season lures are in bright or fluoro colours.

Successful cod lures include Stumpjumpers, Mongs, Halco Poltergeists and Scorpions, AC Invaders and Oargee, and spinnerbaits and mumblers like those produced by Bassman.

* Steve Cooper can be heard on the Casting Off program on Radio Sport927 between 4.30am and 6.30am on Saturdays.

Source : Weekly Times Now

The new 2009 Go Fishing in Victoria calendar is available now free of charge as part of the Brumby Government’s commitment to fishing in Victoria.

Minister Responsible for Fisheries Joe Helper said the theme of the 2009 Go Fishing in Victoria calendar is fish friendly farming.

“Each month has its own colour illustration depicting how farmers and the community can help fish and their habitats by protecting the environment in and around waterways while fishing in adjacent rivers and lakes,” Mr Helper said.

“Activities carried out by the community ranges from calling Fisheries Victoria’s 13 FISH (13 3474) reporting service if they suspect illegal fishing to fencing off stock and using fertilisers responsibly.

“The calendar also lists important fishing dates in 2009 such as closed seasons for species such as trout, Murray cod and blackfish, and important farming dates such key agricultural field days.”

The illustrated calendar also highlights fun events for new and experienced recreational fishers, including details of Family Fishing Festivals at each of the five Premier Lakes next year.

The 2009 Family Fishing Festivals will be held at Eildon Pondage (April 18), Lake Hyland, Churchill (May 2), Kennington Reservoir, Bendigo (August 9), Lillydale Lake (September 19) and Jubilee Lake, Daylesford (October 18).

Mr Helper said access at the Premier Lakes is being developed by the Brumby Government to make fishing more appealing to people of all ages and abilities.

“These lakes offer great fishing as well as facilities such as toilets, barbecues, picnic tables and playground equipment to help make the fishing experience more enjoyable for the whole family,” Mr Helper said.

“The Family Fishing Festivals teach children skills that will enable them to fish more successfully on future trips to premier lakes and other Victorian waters.”

The calendars and Family Fishing events are part of the Brumby Government’s $3.2 million Go Fishing in Victoria initiative which aims to increase participation in fishing by improving facilities and promoting angling as a fun and healthy outdoor activity for the entire family.

To obtain a free copy of the calendar visit your nearest DPI office, send an email to go.fishing@dpi.vic.gov.au which includes your postal address, or call the DPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

For more information about the Go Fishing in Victoria initiative visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au/gofishing

(Ed. Note : The 2009 Calendar is not available for download from the DPI site, you must email or ring the customer service centre )

Source : Candy Broad MLC

GEELONG residents yesterday sent a strong message to pesky carp in the Barwon River.

Hundreds of locals gathered at the Barwon Valley Park to let the fish know they were coming to get them.

The gathering was the official launch of Clean Up Australia’s 10th Catch-A-Carp Day.

The launch ensured the public received all the information they needed on the Saturday, October 18, event.

Clean Up Australia chairman Ian Kiernan was there to show his support for the event and tell people about the problems carp caused.

“Carp are an introduced species that destroy the habitat native fish rely on for survival,” Mr Kiernan said.

“For everyone who loves and enjoys the Barwon River, your help is needed to rid a menace that, unfortunately, we are all responsible for creating.”

Entry is free and open to fishers and non-fishers alike.

The fish-out will run from 7.30am to 2pm and participants can enjoy a wide variety of events, which include fishing clinics for children, marine conservation workshops, prize drawings and a free barbecue.

Registration is essential.

Source : The Geelong Advertiser

ANGLING clubs can apply for State Government grants of up to $2200 to hold events that will contribute to the future of recreational fishing.

South Eastern Metropolitan MP Gordon Rich-Phillips said grants were now open for submissions from local angling clubs as part of the State Government’s 2008-2009 Recreational Fishing Grants Program (RFGP).

“The purpose behind RFGP is to improve areas in recreational fishing in Victoria, such as sustainability and habitat - including fish stocking - access and facilities, education, information and training, and research,” he said.

“Local angling clubs that have ideas on improving education and training in recreational fishing will also have the opportunity to apply for grants that will fund small events that enhance awareness, skills and knowledge of recreational fishing.

“Local angling clubs who wish to apply for funding for small events will have the opportunity to apply for grants of up to $2200.”

Applications close on 27 February 2009. Eligible projects will be funded from August 2009.

To obtain entry forms and for further information visit: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/ or contact Gordon Rich-Phillips on 039794 7667.

Source : Star News Group

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

A man caught with thousands of Bass yabbies - a prized species investigators suspect is being targeted in organised crime poaching - has received a prison sentence and been fined and forced to forfeit his expensive boat.

Bach Nguyen, 39, was arrested and charged after taking 3823 yabbies in a wetland area of Western Port Bay. He pleaded guilty in the Frankston Magistrates Court to six charges.

Nguyen and others were targeted during a Victorian Fisheries operation between 2006 and this year in a crackdown on environmental crime recognised by the Australian Crime Commission as a growth area for organised crime gangs.

Prosecutor Ben Carroll yesterday told a court that Fisheries officers who raided Nguyen’s Tecoma home in January found equipment and items to support the take, storage and distribution of large quantities of live Bass yabbies.

Mr Carroll said a search found numerous aquarium air pumps, air hoses and air stones, 20 litre plastic water containers, food containers, tubs and old bait pumps.

He told Frankston Magistrates Court that Nguyen claimed the reason he caught the yabbies in one day was because the “tide went out and his boat got stuck so he just kept taking them”.

Nguyen said sometimes friends paid him for petrol, food and accommodation in exchange for yabbies and admitted he could sell them but only to pay for petrol for his next fishing trip.

He pleaded guilty to six charges that included three of taking fish for sale without authority and using commercial equipment to take more than the catch limit.

Magistrate Ross Betts said jail was warranted for such serious offences and that others had to be deterred. Nguyen was sentenced to six months’ jail, suspended for two years, fined $2000 and had his boat and equipment taken.

Source : The Age

Steve Cooper

PORT Phillip Bay snapper reports are starting to filter through.

The first reports of snapper usually come from anglers fishing offshore from Barwon Heads or Torquay in Bass Strait, which are already happening.

Next are reports of small numbers of snapper off Portsea and Sorrento, which is also happening.

Then follows a trickle of snapper from Mornington to Black Rock. During the past few weeks snapper to 9kg, with most 3-5kg, have been caught along this stretch of Port Phillip Bay.

Not many fish, but enough to send a spark of hope into the heart of a red-blooded snapper aficionado.

The optimum time is usually from mid-October.

Seasoned hands don’t need to be told what they need for snapper fishing, but newcomers to boating and snapper always have plenty of questions.

The most common questions usually focus on the desirability of spending extra dollars on technology in the form of a sonar (depth sounder) and Global Positioning System or GPS.

Will you catch more snapper with a sonar and GPS? The answer is yes - most of the time, perhaps.

Sounders are great value because not only do they reveal any fish that happen to be about your area, they also show the terrain, depth of water and most have water-temperature gauges.

The transducer signal is cone-shaped and most show a 2m diameter window in 7m of water.

It is a narrow window, and because no arches show on your sounder does not necessarily mean there is no snapper.

GPS units offer a sure-fire way to specific marks or way-points where you may have previously caught snapper. They are also the best way to mark the spot you happen to be fishing.

Most anglers will buy units that combine sounder and GPS in one.

In recent years I have used many different makes and models, including Garmin and Lowrance. I now use a Navman 6570, which has been renamed Northstar 657.

Apart from the name change, the only other discernible difference is the buttons have gone from blue to grey.

In price terms, it is a mid-range unit and features things such as maps, tides (based on location) and moon phases.

As with most combination units, this one allows you to have the sounder and GPS on at the same time.

The value of a GPS is manyfold. These units have removed the need for triangulation - sighting up three fixed objects on land to find a mark.

And the map facility shows you where you are on the bay, which can be seriously handy in the middle of the night or in a fog.

GPS technology works by receiving signals from satellites that are then interpreted by the GPS to give you a position calculated as latitude and longitude on the water. This is a measure of distance, not time.

In that regard, one degree equals 60 nautical miles or 111km; one minute equals one nautical mile; and one second equals one-60th of a nautical mile.

As for accuracy, if you can get within casting distance of a mark, you are close enough.

If you are still unsure, start sounding around until you find fish or the terrain you seek.

While GPS units have taken off among snapper enthusiasts, the reality of the technology is that the way-points should only be used as a starting point.

They are not a guarantee for success because snapper tend to move about as they graze the seabed.

Source: Herald Sun

ANGLERS looking for a school holiday treat should travel to East Gippsland in Victoria for this year’s Festival of Fishing.

The event kicks off on September 20 with a two-day Fishing Expo at the Lakes Entrance Mechanics Hall. Fishing clubs, tackle stores, environment groups and tour operators will provide displays and demonstrations to introduce visitors to fishing and East Gippsland’s favourite fishing spots. Gold coin entry fee applies.

Exhibitors include Nicholson Angling Club, Gippsland Lakes Fishing Club, Fishcare, Coastcare, VRFish, Parks Victoria, and charter and tackle operators.

From September 22 to 26, a series of daily events will take place at various locations under the Get Into Fishing banner.

Anglers can participate in the free events, including fishing for beginners workshops with Fishcare and angling clubs, discovery walks along the coast, or hop aboard an affordable fishing trip or eco tour on one of the amazing East Gippsland lakes.

At the end of the week, September 27 and 28, a family fishing competition will be run by the Gippsland Lakes Fishing Club at Lakes Entrance.

The competition covers rivers, lakes, surf, or ocean with a prize for heaviest fish in each of 13 species categories: tailor, Australian salmon, black bream, luderick, flathead, whiting, snapper, trevally, trout, estuary perch, Australian bass, gummy shark and carp.

Each competitor may only weigh in one fish per species over the two days of competition. There will be additional prizes for entrants with a disability card, 10 years and younger, and women who weigh in a fish.

Any entrant weighing in an undersized fish will be disqualified from the competition.

Entrants may pre-register (before September 24) for the competition by phoning 1800 637 060, visiting www.fishcare.org.au, or registering on either day of the competition at the GLFC rooms from 7am. Entry to the competition is free, and open to everyone.

GLFC will host a barbecue on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at their clubrooms near North Arm boat ramp at Lakes Entrance.

Steve Cooper

Source: Weekly Times Now

By Monique Ebrington

THOUSANDS of Casey children and families will benefit from a $12,000 state grant for the introduction of recreational fishing days in Casey Fields Lake.

Local fishing guru Paul Worsteling is also urging budding anglers to make the most of some free fishing information.

The funding comes after a Brumby Government commitment to improve fishing opportunities in the City of Casey and is taken from recreational fishing licence revenue.

The local Futurefish Foundation will receive the funding to continue running projects such as family fishing days at Casey Fields Lake.

Last year over 1000 people attended a day in which all participating children received a fishing rod, reel, line, lure, bait and bucket to keep.

Directors of Futurefish, David Kramer and Mr Worsteling created the family fishing day after watching the progress of Casey Fields Lake.

“We’re locals and we saw a new lake that didn’t have any fish in it and we thought how about we get some fish in there and get the kids involved,” said Mr Kramer.

The City of Casey, in conjunction with Futurefish, released over 800 edible sized fish and a few ‘monsters’ into the lake last year, with 500 more to be released in early October. “You don’t have to travel far or go to a pier or own a boat to fish because there’s a great little lake full of fish right here in Cranbourne,” said Mr Kramer.

With the distinctive fluorescent pink and blue rods given out at the family day, Futurefish has seen hundreds of children returned to the lake to fish in their own time.

“We wanted to get kids off computers and get them out of the house and out fishing.

There’s a beautiful lake in Cranbourne that I reckon not a lot of people know about,” Mr Kramer said.

Anyone wanting a set of the Let’s Go Fishing cards can call 136 186 or send an email to go.fishing@dpi.vic.gov.au

Source: Star News Group

MURRAY cod season has closed and trout season is now open in Victoria.

However, NSW anglers have to wait another month for their trout season opening.

Rod Mackenzie reports that anglers fishing the Murray River are catching yellowbelly to 1.2kg at Swan Hill and Mildura in Victoria on yabbies, worms and bibless minnow lures. Carp are being caught at Mildura on surface poppers. The Wakool River has small numbers of yellowbelly to about 1kg being caught on bait.

Mick Hall at Eildon, in Victoria, says the Eildon Pondage is fishing well, with rainbow and brown trout being caught. Most fish are from 400g to 1kg, but a few bigger trout to 3kg are also being caught. Rainbow coloured Powerbait, maggots and locally-made dough are producing good results for bait fishers.

Fisheries Victoria released another 5000 mainly rainbow trout, weighing 200-250g, and 200 brown trout from 2-4kg during the week. This brings to 15,000 the number of trout released into the Pondage this year, with another 5000 still to come. Mick Rantall at Warrnambool, in Victoria, reports the Merri River is producing brown trout to 1.8kg on lures and worms. The hotspot is Lake Elingamite where brown trout to 2.5kg and redfin to 1.5kg are being caught consistently on lures and bait.

Best lures are Tassie Devil and Vibes, with mudeyes and minnows the preferred baits. Lake Bullen Merri is producing rainbow trout to 4kg on Stick Caddis pattern flies fished under a Glo Bug fly.

At Lake Purrumbete, in Victoria, redfin are consistent, and reasonable catches of brown trout to 3.5kg are being reported. Mudeye and minnow baits, and soft plastic and hard body lures, are producing results.

On the estuary scene, Mick says Victoria’s Fitzroy River has been producing bream and estuary perch to 34cm, but the Hopkins River is a better option for bream to 45cm and estuary perch to 38cm.

Most fish are being caught on cut mullet, brown shell, shrimp and some on lures. Levis Beach in Victoria has produced salmon to about 3kg on daylight on pilchard strips. Bream to 43cm are being caught on shrimp in the Aire River at Horden Vale.

The Barham River at Apollo Bay, Victoria, is producing bream to 37cm on spider crab and shrimp.

In Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay, off the Pt Lonsdale pier has been good for salmon to about 1kg on whitebait and metal lures. Snapper are building with reports of fish to 5kg being caught off Portsea, Mornington and Carrum. King George whiting to 40cm are taking mussel and fresh squid baits off St Leonards, Mt Eliza, Mornington and Safety Beach. Calamari squid are becoming more consistent in the Lonsdale Bight and off Portsea. Most are being caught on baited jigs.

In Victoria’s South Gippsland region, Western Port has calamari squid being caught from Flinders pier, Sandstone Island to Stony Pt and on the Tortoise Head Bank, where King George whiting to about 40cm are being caught on squid and mussel. Gummy sharks to 8kg and snapper to 4kg have been caught off Corinella. In the Gippsland Lakes, Hollands Landing has bream and mullet biting in The Straits and Toms Creek on prawn. The Mitchell River has been steady for bream in the Backwater, at Eagle Point and Grassy Bank on crab and prawn.

In the Tambo River, bream are biting at the mouth and Rough Road, and the Nicholson River has produced bream and mullet throughout the system.

Lakes Entrance has luderick, yelloweye mullet, tailor and silver trevally being caught on sandworm, weed and pilchard strips. Lake Tyers has bream to 30cm biting on peeled prawn in the arm.

Source: Weekly Times Now