Fishing: Anglers prepare for warm weekend

GOOD CATCH: Boe Sims is all smiles after boating a nice western Victorian redfin.

THE weather over the past week has been hit and miss for fishos across the South East, but the dedicated anglers not put off by average conditions have done quite well.

The offshore scene is starting to fire up this week, with a few more tuna coming from the Port MacDonnell area.

Yougnster Riley Haines caught a nice tuna west of Port MacDonnell on Monday.

There have been multiple reports of big fish numbers fish, all the way through from Beachport to Portland, so if you drive past a few birds working, there is a good chance there is tuna around.

The bottom fishing has been great for flathead and shark in the 100m depth area with some nice snapper and knifejaw mixed in.

The 60m line is still producing nice shark to 15kg which provides another quick option if time is not on your side.

The Kingston surf fishing competition was held over the weekend and although entrant numbers were just below the 1000 mark, the fish did not want to play the game.

Only six mulloway were weighed in, with the winning fish a nice 11.4kg fish, caught by Anthony Trussell of Wistow.

Several sharks were caught, though the size was well down on what is usually expected.

The junior section was hotly contested with a few nice shark, flathead and salmon taking out the top honours.

The fishing locally has been quite good of late.

Canunda has produced some nice gummy shark and plenty of salmon, while the guys at Piccininni and Paradise have found some reasonable snapper, salmon and even the odd legal mulloway too.

Snapper fishos have boated some nice fish this week, with the kelp beds of Green and Danger Points being the best bet.

Morning sessions seem to be more productive than evenings, but those willing to put in the time and effort have been rewarded.

The bronze whalers have still been in good numbers this week, with fish from 5kg-25kg.

There have also been plenty of mulloway around the same areas this week, and although the majority seem to be undersize, there has been the odd legal fish.

Whiting fishos have nailed some good fish this week, but the best catches seem to be coming from the boaties.

Carpenter Rocks, Blackfellows Caves and the Port MacDonnell breakwater have all produced ripper fish.

There have been a few coming from the beaches through Carpenter Rocks and Nene Valley and although the size has remained excellent, the numbers have not been quite as good.

Garfish and tommy ruff catches have been great again this week.

Cape Douglas, Livingstons Bay and Pelican Point have been the most mentioned, but I also know of a few nice fish in the Breakwater and shallows of Eight Mile Creek.

There have been a few squid caught around the place, but the most productive has been the Port MacDonnell jetty.

Prawn style squid jigs under floats, or cast and retrieved have been the best bet.

Portland has also produced some nice squid for those who are heading that way.

Redfin have still been going well in the western lakes across Victoria over the past few weeks, with fish up to and over 40cm.

Small diving minnows, vibes and spinners have been used with great success, or a bunch of worms or small yabby for the bait guys should do the trick.

The Glenelg River has been a bit hot and cold this week, with some anglers finding some nice fish and others struggling a little bit.

Nathan Leggett found a few nice bream and mulloway in the Donovans area on Saturday.

Tim Carrison and Anthony Wilkinson fished Tuesday evening for a mixed bag of bream and mulloway in the upper reaches, all taken on cut pilchard.

There have been some nice fish caught in the estuary by the lure guys.

Small minnows and plastics across the sand flats have been dynamite this week for big bream, and even the odd mulloway, which has been lurking around.

The weather this weekend looks like it could be a warm one and the wind and swell look fishable at this stage.

Until next week, safe fishing.