VICTORIA'S annual snapper run hit top gear this week with reports of fish to 8kg being taken in Western Port and Port Phillip bays.
On the freshwater scene, Eildon has received a large injection of trout into Lake Eildon and Eildon Pondage. Fisheries Victoria released 10,000 rainbow trout averaging about 300g into Lake Eildon and 1000 larger brown and rainbow trout of 1kg or more, including large ex brood stock fish, into Eildon Pondage.
Rod Mackenzie reports that yellowbelly ranging from about 650g to 2kg are being caught on shrimp, scrubworm, and small yabbies in the Murray River from Swan Hill to Mildura.
He says the Wakool River and the Murrumbidgee River at Balranald are also fishing well for yellowbelly.
Redfin to about 1kg are being caught at Lake Charm on shrimp and local whitebait.
Mick Hall at Eildon says the yellowbelly fishing has taken off in Lake Eildon with good catches of fish to 8kg reported. Stumpjumper lures and scrubworms are accounting for many captures.
Mick says rainbow and brown trout to 4kg are being caught in the Pondage on pink lures and powerbait.
Doug Lucas in the Western District reports Lake Bullen Merri continues to produce rainbow trout to 900g on powerbait. At Lake Purrumbete, brown trout action has slowed but rainbows to 1.5kg are being caught on mudeyes under a bubble float and flatline trolling.
Redfin are starting to come on the bite and these fish are to 800g and being caught on gudgeon.
Doug says the Merri and Hopkins rivers, and Mt Emu Creek, are fishing well for trout. The fish are up to 2kg with most being caught on hard body lures.
The Gellibrand River estuary is producing bream averaging about 34cm on shrimp, with best results coming upstream of the bridge.
Surf fishers are catching gummy sharks to 1.3m from Clifton, Princetown, and Johanna Beaches. Cured eel was the most successful bait.
In Port Phillip Bay, Brett Terossi reports snapper to 5kg are running well along the eastern seaboard in 18-21m. Top spots include Mornington, Frankston, and Carrum. Reds are also being caught from St Kilda to Port Melbourne, Altona to Williamstown in 12m and Clifton Springs to Portarlington.
Piers at Brighton, Mordialloc, Mornington, St Leonards, and Altona are also producing snapper. Pilchard, silver whiting, garfish, and squid are the preferred baits. Mick Kaksa reports the Maribyrnong River is holding large numbers of bream and yelloweye mullet, with mulloway busting up the mullet schools. In the Werribee River, bream to 1.5kg are being caught.
Squid to 2kg are being caught in the Lonsdale Bight on baited jigs. King George whiting to 35cm are taking mussel, pipi, and squid off Frankston, and from Mornington to Rye.
In South Gippsland, the snapper bite has been going well in Western Port. Snapper to 5.6kg are being caught in many areas including Corinella, Elizabeth Island, Silver Leaves, and Lysaughts. Fresh squid, trevally and salmon fillet, and pilchard are among the best baits.
In the Gippsland Lakes, the Mitchell, Nicholson, and Tambo rivers are all producing bream on crab and prawn. At Metung, prawn baits are accounting for silver trevally in Bancroft Bay.
