Fishing Victoria Forum

Hi All,
The reefs close into the shore at Willy and I assume Altona are finally firing up with some pinkies caught over the long long Easter weekend.
For some of the time today I was only using one rod, the action was fast but not so furious, many many small pinkies caught. Bring plenty of squid. Some tips from experienced anglers that have helped me on these reefs.
It will drive you mad the number of 20 to 25 cms pinkies you catch, but keep moving about and looking for bigger arches etc after reaching your limit of undersized fish number in a row (mine is 8, but when a 25 cms pinkie comes over the side of the boat it is difficult to move). Always try to cast near the boat and far. Sometimes the bigger school is not that far away and always use circle hooks, as stated, you will catch at least 35 fish to get a bag of 10, and some of these size fish will swallow the circle hook as well. I successfully removed the circle hook from 3 or 4 from down the throat, but messed up two.
I’m not sure how all the rain will affect these reefs, but with a long weekend next weekend, I will give it another try.
Anybody else got any other tips for fishing when catching numerous undersized fish?
Cheers.

Just have to move I guess.
Usually same size of fish in the same school.

Up your hook size to a 4/0

Also sometimes shallower water holds better size

Should be plenty of squid about when fishing in close.
Id try deeper for snapper.

bowl wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 11:30 am

Should be plenty of squid about when fishing in close.
Id try deeper for snapper.

fishnut wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 9:34 am

Also sometimes shallower water holds better size

Bit of both above, deeper and shallows!
Regardless, less undersized and sized pinkies this weekend, more Australian salmon but no birds working the salmon which makes them harder to find, but they are so much fun to catch, they fight like crazy. Good luck.

Caught 30 odd pinkies off the Timeball tower on Monday afternoon from the low tide change till sunset. Only 2 keepers but action was pretty steady in 6m.

Used pilchard, tommy rough, mullet and left over prawn and fish caught on all.

Around half a dozen boats were in the area the whole time. Most were shallower than me.

Cut the line if hook is swallowed