Marching on strong

Alan Bonnici

alan@fishingmad.com.au

March should continue to see a trend of good fishing locally around Port Phillip Bay and the surroundings of Melbourne. Whether you are fishing in the bay, estuaries or local lakes there is plenty of great fishing opportunities still, with many species fishing well. We should also see some more enjoyable weather for fishing.

Let’s start by talking about whiting, as the whiting fishing has been exceptional lately. Big bags of whiting and often chaotic fishing action have been a feature, especially on evenings around tide changes. I’ve loved being out targeting them and this has been a common theme with many local whiting anglers I chat with regularly.

Areas including Werribee, Corio Bay and the Bellarine Peninsula have been fishing well.

I’ve had several bag-out sessions, chopping and changing between baits and soft plastics. Whiting are being caught in record numbers and perhaps this is a testament to the commercial netting banning coordinated by fisheries in recent years, which we knew would eventually provide some amazing results for locals. Either way anglers around Melbourne are very happy as the action has been frantic.

I’m also noticing a positive pattern of better sized whiting this season in these areas, and certainly finding the bigger ones on soft plastics. Whiting on soft plastics will really surprise many, as they hit and fight hard, much

It’s pretty crazy, so if you can catch whiting using alternative baits that might be a good option.

Whiting might just be my favourite thing to eat in Port Phillip Bay, and they are truly underrated fighters, especially if you use appropriate gear, which in my books is nothing heavier than a 1-4kg rod, 2500 size reel and 8lb line. It also makes the experience far more enjoyable.

The usual hot spots continue to be places like St Leonards, Clifton Springs, Avalon, Wedge Spit and Point Wilson. That pace and spent some time this past month land-based fishing for redfin. The humble reddy brings me back to my fishing roots. It was the first species I targeted and caught with soft plastics and I’m still fond of them today.

I’ve been mainly fishing the upper reaches of the Werribee River, but also snuck in a few sessions at Melton Reservoir, Pykes Creek, Stoney Creek and Moorabool Reservoir. The redfin bites have been most frequent in the evenings, particularly on balmy days. There have been some quiet harder than pinkies and flathead. Worm and crab imitation soft plastics can be irresistible to a local King George whiting. whole shoreline between Werribee and Bellarine Peninsula is fishing well, so don’t be afraid to avoid the boats and find your own patch. It will often take a few small moves to find them, but when you do you will hopefully enjoy the chaotic whiting action.

The usual staple baits including pipis, and much cheaper alternatives including freshly caught squid or purchased mussels, also work great. When did pipis get so expensive!?

Setting out at sunrise.

To keep things interesting, I have changed sessions and some chaotic moments. I managed to catch several redfin over 40cms in one session after putting in the hard yards without much action. It’s really rewarding when you can work your way through those quiet sessions and end up with a haul of great fish. I’m still yet to crack that