Richardson Marine In Depth Fishing Report

Fishing rods and reels in the ocean © American Sportfishing Association

Due to the absence of reports last week, we've decided to combine the two weeks into one this time.

Many of the events from last week are still relevant this week, so we'll dive right into it, especially with whispers of giant fish and actual reports of impressive catches over the past two weeks.

Saltwater

Exciting news for anglers: there are reports of giant bluefin tuna off our coast! These big fish are being spotted from Apollo Bay all the way to Portland, mixed in with school fish. Bluefin tuna are among the largest fish in Australia, drawing dedicated anglers during winter and spring. While chasing these giants requires significant investment, the rewards are exceptional. Not only do you get an unforgettable fight that could last hours, but you'll also enjoy high-quality tuna for the table.

However, it's essential to treat these fish properly to ensure their quality. We often see fish returned to shore in poor condition due to inadequate care, including failure to ice the fish, improper bleeding, or leaving them exposed to the sun. To preserve the quality of your catch, follow the Ikijime method, which is widely used to paralyze the fish and ensure proper bleeding. Here's how:

1. Proper Bleeding: Use a short-bladed knife to cut the artery near the pec fin. The artery lies just beneath the surface along the body, and a small incision will release blood. This step is crucial for removing the majority of the blood from the fish.
2. Brain Coring: Locate the soft spot on the top of the fish's head, just above the eyes. Make a small hole in this spot to access the spinal cord, then sever it with a piece of thin wire or heavy mono leader. This method paralyzes the fish and relaxes the meat, improving its flavour.
3. Chill the Fish: Place the fish in a large chiller bag with ice to lower its body temperature quickly. After gutting, pack ice inside the fish's stomach cavity and gill plates to maintain the freshness, especially if you're traveling home after a day of fishing.

Lures for Bluefin Tuna

With so many lures on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. Here are some proven favorites for targeting jumbo bluefin tuna:

• Bonze Exocet Lures: A standout in recent years, particularly the smaller bullet-sized heads with longer skirts. They now feature holographic wing sets that attract big fish.
• Colour Options: When choosing colours, match them to what the fish are feeding on. For instance, redbait, pilchards, and squid are favorites. Redbait-colored skirts, primarily blue and pink or red, mimic the redfin on pilchards. Paris-colored skirts have also been very effective, with many 150kg+ fish caught using them. Exocets work well in both long corner or shotgun positions, especially when used with Bonze spreader bars.
• Jaks Zeus Lures: The redbait colour of the Jaks Zeus, with its cup face head, creates a strong smoke trail that attracts fish from a wide area. It's been a reliable choice for many successful trips.
• Black Magic Flea Squid Lures: Particularly the Flaming Squid colour, these bright lures replicate a squid's movement and work best in long corner or on spreader bars.

The Glenelg River came alive this past weekend during the Warrnambool and District Angling Clubs competition. Lewis Holland took home the prize with a 9.104kg catch, including the heaviest bream at 1.139kg. His technique involved casting live crabs along the banks while using his electric motor to cover ground. His partner, Jessica Lane, won the ladies' section with a bream weighing 982g, also caught on a live crab. Young angler Flynn Colins, fishing in Nelson for the first time, caught the heaviest bream in the junior division at 789g. Other juniors, including the Treloar siblings, all had successful outings with bream over 600g. Well done to all the participants who braved the heat and enjoyed a great weekend. While there were a few small mulloway caught, none were significant enough to weigh in. Small perch were also a nuisance for those using lures and soft plastics.

Closer to home, the Allansford and District Angling Club hosted their annual Harry Taylor Memorial Trophy competition on the Hopkins River. The heaviest bream of the day, a whopping 1.818kg, was caught by Slick Pemberton. It's been years since we've seen a bream of that size, and it gives us hope for more big catches in the future. The river remains a prime location for targeting large fish, especially with the water levels still high, keeping bream in the shallows where food is abundant. Meanwhile, the Curdies River has experienced a local fish kill, a frustrating situation for regular anglers. Early reports indicate it may be due to a lack of oxygen in the water. Authorities are investigating the cause, and we hope it's a localised issue rather than widespread, as we've seen in the past.

Looking Ahead

While the weather may deter some anglers this weekend, we encourage anyone who does venture out to share their reports with us. We'd love to feature your successes in next week's update. Until then, tight lines, and best of luck on your fishing adventures!