St Leonard's Report 09/03/2020

Portarlington, St Leonards, Queenscliff
Post Reply
User avatar
Andrews
Rank: Premium Member
Rank: Premium Member
Joined: Mon Oct 07, 2019 2:41 pm
Location: Bellarine Peninsula
Has liked: 265 times
Likes received: 760 times

St Leonard's Report 09/03/2020

Post by Andrews » Mon Mar 09, 2020 6:05 pm

Hey Everyone,

March marks the start of autumn and has brought crisp mornings and clear skies.
Squid are in breeding mode with large squid coming into shallow water to lay eggs amongst the reef and eelgrass. Large numbers of medium and small squid are actively being caught daily. King George Whiting remain productive, thick garfish are sitting above the weed beds and pinkies are seen cruising the shallows.

Tuesday 3/3/2020, overcast evening with a moderate S and a rising, high clarity tide.
King George Whiting were actively feeding amongst the broken sand and eelgrass and casting into a sandy hole produced multiple hookups of medium sized 35-42cm KWG. Two hours and ten whiting later the school moved away from the pier and the squid took their place. Squid are currently in a breeding period resulting in high aggression of larger squid and timid behavior of medium/smaller models. Five smaller squid were caught and replenished the bait reserve ready for the north snapper winds.
lowwhiting.jpg
Wednesday 4/3/2020, overcast evening with low to no wind and a rising, crystal clear tide.
Squid were out in numbers with hundreds of smaller squid sitting all along the pier in the crystal-clear water. Juvenile Pinkies were watched sitting in schools amongst the reef as the Black Faced Cormorants feasted on bountiful produce. As the wind dropped to 5km the squid became active and hunted the jigs with two large 30cm+ hoods following right into the pier and into the esky. The two squid within minutes of arriving were followed by 5 smaller 15-25cm squids and another 5 caught by locals on the pier. Fishing for another hour, completed the bag limit on bait-sized squid and packed up and walked along the pier to see two 40cm+ pinkies cruising the drop off in the shallows. Few casts of the soft plastic had no attention and called it a night with the 10 different sized squid.
inkieslow.jpg

Aiming to get out tomorrow for squid and whiting before Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s north winds and the snapper action it brings.
Attachments
thumper.jpg
Last edited by Andrews on Thu Jul 09, 2020 10:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

Redhunter
Rank: Bream
Rank: Bream
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 12:19 am
Has liked: 138 times
Likes received: 140 times

Re: St Leonard's Report 09/03/2020

Post by Redhunter » Mon Mar 09, 2020 6:48 pm

Squid are in spawning mode? Again? Must be a water temp thing, as I thought Oct/Nov was the time. There ya go! Water temp is a key factor for many species. It’s interesting how the snapper are coming back on the chew (which happens when water temps begin dropping back to prime feeding temp), and yet the kingies are only just firing in the rip (temps are picking up there). The trout are also starting to fire up in some lakes, as they do when water temps pick up during Spring. Interesting times!!
Love your reports man, keep up the great work.

Robbie1950
Rank: King George Whiting
Rank: King George Whiting
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 11:37 am
Location: Altona
Has liked: 213 times
Likes received: 121 times

Re: St Leonard's Report 09/03/2020

Post by Robbie1950 » Tue Mar 10, 2020 7:55 am

Yet again another nice report Andrews!

Anyone know how the ting are going out of Lenny's boat based?

User avatar
Andrews
Rank: Premium Member
Rank: Premium Member
Joined: Mon Oct 07, 2019 2:41 pm
Location: Bellarine Peninsula
Has liked: 265 times
Likes received: 760 times

Re: St Leonard's Report 09/03/2020

Post by Andrews » Tue Mar 10, 2020 9:22 am

Redhunter wrote:
Mon Mar 09, 2020 6:48 pm
Squid are in spawning mode? Again? Must be a water temp thing, as I thought Oct/Nov was the time. There ya go! Water temp is a key factor for many species. It’s interesting how the snapper are coming back on the chew (which happens when water temps begin dropping back to prime feeding temp), and yet the kingies are only just firing in the rip (temps are picking up there). The trout are also starting to fire up in some lakes, as they do when water temps pick up during Spring. Interesting times!!
Love your reports man, keep up the great work.

The water temperature looks to have delayed the movement of some species, but current research suggests that "calamari are capable of spawning throughout the year with peak spawning occurring between spring and summer." - CSIRO, Jigging for Science - Defining the spawning needs of calamari in Port Phillip Bay, 2015. This research is publicly accessible through the VFA. https://vfa.vic.gov.au/science-in-fishe ... hillip-bay
This would explain why there are plenty of juvenile squid and the larger squid are still producing and holding sperm and eggs ready for breeding.

St Leonards with a boat has been productive with plenty of squid and King George whiting caught amongst the weedy bottom, the next few days should be active for pinkies and large snapper with two light N/E winds and a strong N on Friday. Low winds will bring in fat garfish and should stick around before the windy weekend.

dazz999
Rank: Premium Member
Rank: Premium Member
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2017 4:44 pm
Has liked: 5 times
Likes received: 114 times

Re: St Leonard's Report 09/03/2020

Post by dazz999 » Tue Mar 10, 2020 4:58 pm

Fantastic report love reading these thank,s for taking the time i google earthed the pier look,s like a great place

Lightningx
Bluefin
Bluefin
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2014 4:21 pm
Has liked: 72 times
Likes received: 976 times

Re: St Leonard's Report 09/03/2020

Post by Lightningx » Tue Mar 10, 2020 9:38 pm

Great report once again mate with some nice pics!
Cheers :tu:

purple5ive
Rank: Premium Member
Rank: Premium Member
Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2011 1:59 pm
Has liked: 567 times
Likes received: 1011 times

Re: St Leonard's Report 09/03/2020

Post by purple5ive » Wed Mar 11, 2020 8:26 am

Good effort and a great report
Thanks for sharing.
cheers

Post Reply

Return to “Portarlington to Queenscliff”