Offshore Lakes Entrance

[Tackleberry]

This was on the 9th

[Geoffski]

Brains trust (re-tyred & Tackleberry) - To an inshore fisherman, would you mind explaining the significance of these observations please.

[Tackleberry]

Mike can better than me but from my point of view Certain fish prefer a specific water temperature, namely large snapper and gummy sharks. once that water gets below fourteen fifteen degrees they disappear from the shallow water 25m to around 10m .
for me the better eating size snapper of between 30 and 50cm school up on the reef and are very easy to find in winter with a watertemp of around 15 and below .

[re-tyred]

The temp plunged from 18 C to 13 C in 24 hours. Only explanation is an upwelling of cold water from the Bass Canyon offshore from eastern Vic. This would be caused by a strong east to west eddy down deep. Usually associated with increase in nutrients pushed from the deep to the surface. Fishing wise could cause a temporary slowing of fish catches in the cold areas but and increase fish activity on the fringes where the temperature change zone is. Often find pelagic fish in these areas.

[Geoffski]

Many thanks Guys

[Paulanderson]

Had a fun trip this morning. Anchored in 12 m just past the pines with a burley bomb down. End result was two decent Gummies retained, a smaller Gummy released, another Gummy lost - and then the rays arrived! Two I fought up to the boat and cut off and two much larger rays broken off when it became obvious they were rays. All bites were on salmon fillets - pilchards and squid completely ignored. The ramp was like Bourke St in peak hour with a fair few learners at work! Only one other boat out of about a dozen had any fish to clean - a very large Gummy caught down off the Bluff. The New Year is off to a good start!!!

[Tackleberry]

Nice one Paul was the squid fresh or just bait squid .

[Paulanderson]

Sort of fresh LOL - I bought some from the Coop last day they were open and froze it straight away.

[Paulanderson]

Went back to my (not so secret) spot early this morning and managed two more Gummies slightly smaller than yesterday. I decided to head in before the rays decided to pay me a visit. One on salmon one on bluebait. Beautiful morning and smooth as glass.

[Paulanderson]

Two more trips chasing Gummies in the usual spot. First trip resulted in a solid Gummy about 1.2 m and 3 small ones released. Trip 2 was 4 hours without a bite - not even pickers! The water was fairly dirty, a slow current to the East, with quite a bit of weed. One can but try!!!