It has been more than several weeks since my last trip to Apollo Bay, and with the cooler weather settling in I thought to try for some salmon off the break-wall. I left home around 3am to time my arrival an hour'ish before sun-up. The last 40km drive through the Otways had me slowed down to only driving at 35km/hr after two very near misses at 80km/hr from collecting large gum tree branches in the middle of the road. I guess the cooler weather is making the gum tree loose their branches? Anyway..arrived just on sun up and in one piece.
Geared myself up, and found a decent rock-spot halfway along. With a light wind at my back, and an a very decent swell pushing through I only put one rod out to test the water so to speak. After 30 mins soaking Pillies I thought to throw about some lures to see if that might turn a trick... and nope! Just a single 15cm salmon. So I moved along the breakwall back towards the carpark end, to escape the big swell and seek some shelter of the rocky reef. By now its probably gone on 10am, with only the one hookup and nary a bite, the wind starts shifting around to more northerly and making it very conditions so I thought to pack up and move around to the other side of the bay and put the wind behind my back.
So, just where the northern Bay beach starts turning rocky is great little turn-out to park the car , I changed into my waders, carried only just what I needed and made for the beach. How great was this spot, I found a giant square rock 10-12 foot above the waterline, it had great access to the flat top, it had a natural rock well of saltwater for my catches.... perfect !! So I spent the next 2+ hours throwing pillies into the gutter 40 meters out and managed to land five x 35cm salmon and lost a few more on missed strikes. So an enjoyable day, and a new spot for me to try on my return trips.
Question: has anyone else sworn off from using Bonza pilchards from the servo's ? My gosh, they just turn to mush when they are defrosted completely. I wasted a lot of bait that just flew off the hook.
Cheers Folks
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