Peninsula Total Tackle Report 31/12/2009

The silly season has well and truly hit the Peninsula and along with it has come a sensational run of Gummy Sharks!  The fish have been thick with many anglers on the Christmas break reporting their first ever catch of the species! Many have also been caught as by-catch while chasing snapper. The main shipping channel and Symonds channel are the current stand-out areas to target these magnificent sportfish. This year we are seeing plenty of bait including big patches of slimey mackerel and yellowtail scad which may be one of the reasons we’re seeing such a fantastic run of gummies down here on the Mornington Peninsula. Find a food source and you’ll find fish! Gummies to 20kg are not uncommon with the average size around 10 - 14kg.

Along with the gummies we have begun to see some awesome Yank flathead. Each year around this time we get an influx of big blue spot flathead that enter the bay. The fish will be here for the next few months and are often encountered while fishing the channel edges for gummy shark. These flatties are commonly seen up to about 80cm but if you fancy a feed look for the smaller models which are definitely better table fair. If you want to target these fish try drifting the channel banks using large fresh fillet baits on paternoster rigs with 5/0 hooks.

Offshore, staff member Paul Barton has been out a few times on the Makos. He has raised a few fish this week including a thresher in the shallows but only boated one fish while fishing with Jay Furniss at 30kg. The Makos are, by all accounts, still a little patchy which could be put down to the fact that the bait offshore is still thin. Arrow Squid, Barracouta and salmon have all been scarce. Finally, everyone has probably heard about the imminent ban on Mako shark fishing and we’d like to encourage everyone to get along to the Westernport Angling Club rooms which are adjacent to the Hastings boat ramp on Wednesday 6th of January at 7:30pm for a public meeting on the issue.

Jay Furniss with his prized catch.

Endagered Sport - Mako fishing could soon be over...

Land based, the Rosebud pier has recently re-opened and is providing the campers with some good fishing. It is quite a sandy pier and is proving great for gars, salmon and flathead, including a 72cm model pulled up this week by one of our staff. We’ve had good reports of mullet in the early mornings from the Rye pier and Sorrento and Portsea continue to fish well for average size squid in the evenings.

The Squid are on Fire.  Jay Furniss.

Finally, we’d like to wish all anglers a happy new year from the staff at Peninsula Total Tackle. And if you are visiting the Peninsula over your break be sure to stop in and check us out at 11 Boneo Rd in Rosebud.