Well, so they said. Yes, times have changed, but from all reports, while fish don’t jump out, they are still plentiful — not in huge numbers, but there is still variety. I have caught cod, yellowbelly, silver perch, redfin and yes, carp. But not so many of late. I have also landed trout cod and even a catfish, so the Goulburn is still a good place to fish.
Of course, not every time I fish do I get a catch, but that is why it is called fishing and not catching.
Not all fish are giants, but there are still fish that leave anglers watering at the mouth. Just a fortnight ago, a metre-plus cod was landed near Nagambie, and just last week another metre-plus monster was caught almost in the centre of Shepparton. I know the people that caught it, so I know it is a true story.
I have been sworn to secrecy as to its exact location, but it is close enough to walk to after lunch or before breakfast.
So let me say that as far as I am concerned, fishing in the Goulburn River is as good as it has ever been.
The same goes for the Murray River, as well as the Broken River between Benalla and Shepparton. All you have to do is to put some gear together, get some bait and go fishing.
Reports are that the number of fish being caught is above that of the past, although most fish are below keeper size. A good thing, if you believe that fish (especially cod) are breeding up in numbers.
Another place fishing well is Lake Eildon where the water is nearing 90 per cent capacity. Cod up to a metre or more are being caught almost on a regular basis.
Anglers using big baits or big lures, fishing the river arms, as well as the deep water near the wall and rocky walls, are doing well. Fishing is good on dusk in the big river arm, Delatite arm and at Jamieson and Bonnie Doon.
At this time of year, trout are starting to bite at Eildon and trophy-size fish are starting to be caught.
Speaking of trout, Dartmouth is becoming the place to catch trout. Fish in the early morning when it is cooler and the trout are feeding near the surface — trolling a Ford Fender behind a boat works well. It will only get better as we move closer into winter, which, by the way, is just three weeks away.
Late season redfin are still being caught at Lake Hume, as well as at Waranga Basin.
If you are into saltwater fishing, Rod Lawn from Adamas Fishing Charters said he was still picking up pinky snapper along the inshore reefs, as well as silver trevally, salmon on the run-out tide and flathead off the sand.
Rod said reports from Western Port Bay were much the same, with whiting being caught along the shallow grass beds and gummy shark biting along the deeper water near Phillip Island and San Remo.
North of the border at Eden, John Liddell said most of the action was between Boyd’s Lookout and Green Cape, with snapper, morwong and flathead biting on the inshore reefs.
As an aside, John said one of the trawlers tied up at the jetty loaded with 47 tonnes of salmon sank at its moorings. So far, its cargo of fish has not been recovered.
At Narooma, Graham Cowley said all the inside reefs were fishing well for snapper, morwong and other table fish.
Graham said flathead were also being caught along the sandy bottom in front of Montague Island.
He added that when it was too rough to go off shore, fishing inside the lake was producing bream and flathead around the oyster leases.
According to James Luddington at Flinders Island, flathead and gummy shark were still being caught around Lady Barron but it was time to take a winter break.
Finally, at Portland, Rod Lawn said schools of bluefin tuna were starting to appear close to shore. He said it was looking good for a strong season.
Stay safe, and have a good time fishing.
