DURING the last six weeks, we've seen the temperature of Port Phillip Bay rise almost 4C, and this has produced a noticeable improvement in fishing.

Even the humble flathead, which some have reportedly found hard to catch until recently, are back on the bite, along with snapper, whiting and a few others as well.

While we will probably have to wait a few more weeks before the snapper really get going, we did see a noticeable spike in snapper captures during the last week of September, particularly around the new moon, something we've come to expect at this time of year.

We will almost certainly see the same thing happen toward the end of this month, albeit on a much larger scale.

Large squid are still being taken at Port Phillip Heads, in the Lonsdale Bight, and over on the east side of the bay at Portsea. Some of these beauties have been taken from the Portsea and Queenscliff piers as well.

Silver trevally have been playing a game of hide-and-seek with anglers in the Queenscliff boat harbour.

Some great catches of trevally to 2kg or so have been made here of late. However, harbour refurbishment, including the noisy hammering in of pylons and dredging are being blamed for those days when almost nothing seems to get caught.

Queenscliff has also produced some good size whiting as well, and one of the most productive locations late last week, and over the weekend, was the ground off The Cottage by the Sea. Here, whiting, some in excess of 40cm, have been taken, mainly on squid.

The early flood is reportedly the best time to fish this spot, but judging by the number of boats fishing here on either tide and sheltering from the northerlies we've been having of late, you'd want to be there early if a northerly breeze is forecast.

Large squid are still reportedly being taken from Western Port, particularly at Flinders and around the east side of Phillip Island, downstream from the San Remo Bridge toward Red Point.

Snapper have also made a token appearance in the deep water off Phillip Island where the fast tide requires the use of heavy sinkers. They should become more numerous and widespread over the next few weeks.

At Lakes Entrance, anglers fishing down past Kalimna to Nyerimilang shoals of Australian salmon have been entertaining anglers, both those fishing from jetties and other land-based locations, and those fishing from boats. Most have been taken on glassies (sandy sprat) and cut pilchards, while others have been taken on various lures.