The simple things

A recent trip from Inverloch to the edge of Wilsons Prom was a great reminder of some of the simple but great things in life, including in no particular order, the beach, kids and fish - they just work so well together!  The place is a parents, fisho's and photographers paradise, get there when you can

Red is in the air...

Its soon that time again - red fever in Victoria when good weather will be met with a flurry of activity as boaties discover flat batteries, cob webs and corrosion as they pull the cover off the boat and get it ready for the new ‘season’ ahead.  We are all eagerly anticipating this warmer weather and what it will bring, with plenty of conjecture around the timing of the bite beginning, the size of the run and the various views surrounding what the average size of the fish will be are all common discussion points.  We have been as spoilt as an only child of recent years with each season seemingly better then the last – can this trend continue?  I would think at some time the snapper resurgence must plateau but am happy to be proved wrong!  The subject of the success of a season is an interesting point and difficult to definitively measure but it’s certainly been very good over the last decade.  The trial dredging and then the actual dredging of Port Phillip Bay and the resulting failed spawns of those years must surely begin to show soon with gaps in the fish sizes.  As good as our fishery is now; the questions remain for Victorian snapper aficionados can it get better?  Please enjoy this teaser to get the juices flowing and get the boat in for a service now, and remember where these fish come from!   p.s. the bays are full of garfish at the moment, get out early and stock up on some of the best bait available.

Smooth waters

Its was a pretty eagerly anticipated good weather forecast for Melbourne this weekend and many hit the water with winter squid in mind.  It was awesome to be out and enjoy some weak winter sun surrounded by threatening clouds on the horizon on flat waters.  Squidding or the modern evolution 'egiing' is something I love; its low stress, high reward and complete with good company and home made salami (thanks Frank) all I need for a great day.  It seems many did it a bit harder finding squid in the middle reaches and northern end of Port Phillip Bay today however down south the inkers were plentiful although not terribly large around the tide changes.  The amount of bait visible in the water and via sonar shows just how healthy our local waters are at the moment, the fat gannets are a bit of a give away as well.