Hope we're having a good week.
Back out again chasing some local seafood.
Location and Conditons:
Bellarine, Saturday 22 March 2025, 7.30am - 11.00am.
Light to moderate winds blowing SW.
High tide running out.
Experience
The forecast couldn't have been more perfect, and with high spirits, it was time to head out and chase some calamari before zeroing in on King George whiting (KGW).
The early morning slack high tide set the stage for an exciting start and with a hot tip from some friends we found a promising patch of calamari. The first sign of action came as the rod bent sharply, and within moments, a group of four calamari followed, leading to a thrilling two minutes of non-stop activity. Five smaller hoods were swiftly brought onboard—certainly not a bad way to kick things off!
As the tide shifted, the focus turned deeper, to about 3 meters near the edge of a bank—an old whiting favorite spot. With burley deployed and fresh baits in the water, expectations were high, but the fish had other plans... nothing. Undeterred, I made a couple of moves before anchoring in a small channel flanked by eelgrass and sandy bottom—a promising combination.
The change in location paid off. Instant bites signaled we were onto something, and sure enough, the KGW made their appearance. At first, they were on the smaller side, averaging around 32 cm, consistent with a previous session. Just as we settled into the rhythm, chaos broke loose. Both rods doubled over, and the sound of screaming drags filled the air. Expecting salmon, the surprise was even better—a solid KGW that kicked off a series of quality catches. The bite wasn't frenzied but steady, with rods bending every five minutes. Among the day's haul was a local personal best KGW measuring an impressive 40 cm!
As the tide slowed, the final tally was five calamari and eight KGW—a productive and satisfying session all around.
