Home » Sport » Whiting on the bite

Whiting on the bite

A nice long weekend with good weather saw anglers flock all over the region to chase a feed of fish, with Corio Bay and the outer harbour producing some great fishing.

King George whiting have been well on the chew all over the place, with some current hotspots being Stingaree Bay, Hermsley, Clifton Springs and Bird Rock.

Fresh pipis and squid have been dynamite baits and fishing the faster tides has been the most productive time, if you can time that on sunrise or sunset even better.

Pinky snapper have also been on chew across the bay and over the next few months the inner harbour should really fire up.

There have also been some great reports of larger fish around the six kilogram mark being caught in the outer harbour.

Anglers soaking baits like pilchards and fresh calamari have been having the best results and yet again fishing the tides is ideal.

Calamari have been hanging around in great numbers right across the Bellarine Peninsula with St Leonards being the standout location, where bag limit captures have been on offer.

Drifting in 2.5 to five metres of water has been the prime depth and finding clean water has been key.

Natural coloured jigs in 3.0 and 3.5 have been doing all the damage.

Offshore Barwon Heads has continued to fish well for bottom fish such as flathead, gummy sharks and snapper.

Some quality captures for all three species have been on offer with the 40-metre line producing plenty of fish for the table.

School bluefin tuna have still been in great numbers offshore with anglers still finding them thrashing into schools of baitfish off the surface.

The fish are pushing west towards Anglesea but if you’re up for a small drive the fish are there.

Further down the coast from Apollo Bay to Port MacDonnell has been a hot barrel tuna bite with further west seeming to be better.

The fish have been eating a whole variety of lures including skirts, divers and topwater lures with sizes ranging anywhere from 30-150kg.

Wurdi Buloc Reservoir is still fishing very well for trout and redfin, yet again the rockwalls producing some cracking fish on spoons and hardbodies.

Strike Pro Bobbin spoons have been a standout for the spoons and Megabass X70s are another great option.

Digital Editions


  • Mussel Festival delights large crowd

    Mussel Festival delights large crowd

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 523479 Voice photographer Ivan Kemp went to Portarlington Mussel Festival on Saturday 10 January to capture these images.

More News

  • Top shelf but lots of competition

    Top shelf but lots of competition

    Gosh it seems like a long time since the Australian launch of the Polestar 2 EV. It was fresh, it was entirely new and it was late November, 2021 –…

  • From the archives

    From the archives

    10 years ago 6 to 19 January, 2016 Barwon Heads resident Sally Smith is searching for five heroic beach-goers, who she says saved her life just days before Christmas. Sally,…

  • Tribute to the godfathers of metal

    Tribute to the godfathers of metal

    Australia’s premier Black Sabbath tribute band comes to town next weekend. Sydney band Sabbath Bloody Sabbath will bring all the iconic hits, sludgy riffs and shredding solos of the preeminent…

  • 10 in a row for Moolap

    10 in a row for Moolap

    Tennis Geelong’s Thursday Triples season culminated on grand final night late December with eight sections all enjoying some fabulous hitting and competition. Moolap’s Two Phones Chol were hoping for their…

  • Community calendar

    Community calendar

    Bellarine Historical Society Open to the public. Discover the area’s past. Every Sunday until end December, 10.30am-12.30pm, Courthouse Museum, 11 High St, Drysdale. ■ bellarinehistory.org Ocean Grove Day VIEW Meets…

  • Beach cricket at summertime

    Beach cricket at summertime

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 526485 Harvey, Violet, Maisie and Lenny are pictured playing some beach cricket at Ocean Grove main beach on a lovely Tuesday 6 January before…

  • Mussels back on the menu

    Mussels back on the menu

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 451995 The region’s favourite culinary-themed festival is back this weekend, drawing thousands of foodies to the region for a celebration of seafood and community.…

  • A voice for queer youth

    A voice for queer youth

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 526483 Imogen O’Shannessy has packed a lot into her 18 years including being nominated as a finalist in the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards. Justin…

  • Lifesaver receives national award

    Lifesaver receives national award

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 527217 A local lifesaver has had their years of dedication and service recognised by the nation’s peak body. Surf Life Saving Australia awarded the…

  • Total Fire Ban on Friday

    Total Fire Ban on Friday

    A statewide Total Fire Ban has been declared for Victoria tomorrow, Friday 9 January, with Catastrophic Fire Danger Ratings forecast for the South West, Wimmera, Northern Country and North Central…