Hey everyone!
I wanted to give a quick update on the calamari being caught land-based at St Leonards Pier.
Squid are still productive, but the fishing pressure has caused lower numbers to be caught the past few days. Most successful days being mid-week with a nice run in/out water movement on both sunny and clear days.
Fished Wednesday 18/11/2020 at midnight, super hot night with a few locals bagged out pretty quick within an hour, all smaller 20s hood.
Saturday 21/11/2020, light easterly morning on a run out tide with crystal clear water moving from light clouds to full sun.
Water was beyond awesome in clarity and light winds made for some pleasant fishing. Fished 10am-12:30PM.
Took these snaps on the way home.
Squid #1 Light clouds kept the light down so I went bright green matching the deep green water and for high activity! First cast hook into this nice squid! Unfortunately a solo swimmer.
Squid #2, Clouds started dissipating and I swapped to the favourite white jig. The jig might be mangled but it sure works! Few casts later hooked into a squid. He had two friends following but they weren't as keen as he was.
Squid #3, Few people had been watching and moved over to where I was hoping for a squid. Kept casting into the current and connected with another squid.
Squid #4, recasting the same spot I hooked into his friend. The older fellow next to me was getting pretty annoyed since he'd yet to get one. Every single cast after this squid he'd cast within a foot on my jig, same distance, same spot. Asked him politely not too, was told to mind my own business. So, I started casting further out where he couldn't reach. Some people are so desperate for a squid.
Squid #5, casting out further where he had no hope of reaching I hooked up to this nice squid. I took my time winding this one in. Again, he'd cast across my line behind my jig but whatever, he didn't get any squid. Fished for another hour and a half after this without seeing any caught, the only five caught during my time there was the five I had. Tide dropped a little low and I decided to head out, gave away two squid two the young family next to me. Older guy wasn't happy with that, started being a bit abusive towards me and a few others, same time fisheries and VicPol were walking up the pier as part of Operation Bellarine. Minute he saw them he started packing up real quick, they saw that and went straight to him, turns out he was unlicensed and they'd actually been told by someone else about him being abusive. I stuck around out of interest, slapped him with a $500 for no license, fine for no mask and then a warning for the abuse before escorting him off the pier. Seeing that was better than the squid.
Cleaned the squid on the beach, gave away the heads/wings to a few people fishing for fresh bait. Kicked back and cooked some on the beach for lunch using a small gas stove. Rest for dinner.
