St Leonard's Report 26/11/2019

[Andrews]

Hey everyone,

Reporting on the last three weeks of fishing and observations from this end of the Bellarine.

Last two weeks we've noticed decreased squid numbers and activity during the day and peak dawn/dusk.
We've gone from large numbered squads moving in on the tide/wind change to more singles or doubles.
People have noticed and are actively commenting on this. Kayaks and boats aren't having much luck either unfortunately.

Friday 22/11/2019
Fished the pier during the morning, 9AM-12PM. Overcast day with a high-water clarity and light northerly wind.
Landed two squid, decent sized and saw another 2 between 5 people caught. Swapped over the soft plastics and landed one pinkie sized 34cm from under the pier. Saw around 4 other pinkies landed, one being undersize.

Saturday - Sunday
Didn't have the chance to head down, but the word was that the garfish moved in and a healthy amount were being caught.

Monday 26/11/2019
Swung down in the morning, 9AM-2PM, started on a WNW, to a WSW, then a S before becoming a N. The wind was moderate before dropping and creating glass-like water. Squid were quiet, still appearing as singles or doubles, but were more actively feeding during the wind changes. Water started a deep green murky, to a crystal clear. Large schools of sardines moved into the pier, matched by jig with their colour. Plenty of leather jacket being caught, one nice sized. Garfish and pinkies didn't stick around and weren't seen all day. Landed 3 squid and saw another 10 caught.

Hopefully the numbers pick up all round.

Photo of something a little different, had this black-faced cormorant running up and down the pier trying to snatch squid as they were being landed.

[bowl]

Awesome to get to squid during day....
Ta for info

[Andrews]

Just an update to the following weeks fishing.

Wednesday 27/11/2019

Arrived at around ~3:30PM towards peak high-tide, overcast day, relatively clear water with a deep green colour, moderate S winds. Action started on the first cast with a nice sized squid hitting at mid-water. At around 4:30PM a large squad of squid moved into to the pier and were sitting facing into current, they sat deep, and their behaviour was less aggressive towards the jigs. Each squid was actively attacking the jigs, but for every five strikes you would only catch one squid. Caught 4 squid and saw another 8 caught between three of the locals.

This behaviour was unusual, I target squid at this location every 2-3 days and this is the first time in a good 4 months that they'd been so cautious. You'd think as an active predator that they'd always be aggressively hunting and not passing up baitfish. Has anyone had experience with this?

The squid returned like clockwork every 30 minutes in large numbers. Each time they were striking multiple times and sitting head on with the swinging current, I finished the evening with another 3 squid and saw another 5 or so caught. Total of 8 squid caught with others between 6-8 each. Speaking to people on the way out, they unfortunately had not seen or caught any squid at the other end of the pier during my time there. Squid used to move down into the shallower water by the pier when spooked, past few months they'd been pushing deeper away from the pier.

Friday 29/11/2019

Windy S, with a dropping tide, deep green water with an overcast rainy day.
Squid were quiet and didn't push into the pier until the later evening, they were more aggressive, and I caught three within 15 minutes. Called it quits once the rain set in, word of mouth is that the rest of the night was quiet.

Real windy week this one, should get out the next three days.

[Pedro]

Thanks for the report. Interesting how the squid behaved.

[Lightningx]

Very nice mate! You’re doing well down there.
Seems like there’s quite a few around!
Cheers

[Andrews]

The squids behaviour was interesting, I've noticed decent sized chunks or "bite marks" taken out the wings of multiple different squid the past week. Might have been been some larger fish in the area spooking them.

Thanks! Always an enjoyable day fishing when everyone catches a feed.