THE Department of Health is advising Gippsland Lakes anglers to remove and discard guts and gills from fish before cooking.
Fish should not be cooked whole as this will redistribute toxins from the innards to the fish flesh, making it unsafe for consumption. Mussels, prawns and crabs caught here should not be eaten.
Gary Constantine at Eildon says the Main Arm of Lake Eildon is producing yellowbelly to 4kg on scrubworms.
A few Murray cod to 64cm are being caught on Stumpjumper lures in Jerusalem Creek. Redfin to 1kg are taking scrubworms bobbed among the dead trees.
Eildon Pondage is producing brown and rainbow trout to 3.6kg on mudeyes, dough and pink Tassie Devil lures. Top spots include Centre Bridge, Riverside Drive and Cemetery Pt. In the Goulburn River, caddis fly imitations are producing brown trout to 1kg and rainbow trout to 500g.
In the southwest, Neil Shelton at Nelson reports bream to 40cm being caught in the Glenelg River between Donovans Landing and Hutchessons Landing. Best baits are spew worm, whitebait and crab. A few mulloway to 4kg have been caught near the highway bridge at Nelson, and upstream above Sandy Waterhole.
Chris Hall at Portland says the North Shore is fishing well for school and gummy sharks, yellowtail kingfish to 11kg, silver trevally, pinkies to 40cm and King George whiting to about 1kg. Whiting are about in good numbers between Black Nose and Pivot Beach in 3-5m of water. The Lee Breakwater has school sharks to 10kg and pinkies to 40cm.
In the Western District, Doug Lucas reports that the Curdies River is producing bream to 32cm on scrubworms and shrimp. Aire River has bream to 48cm and they have been caught mainly on vibe lures, while the surf beach is holding gummy and school sharks to 12kg and pinkies.
In Port Phillip Bay, Brett Terossi reports King George whiting have come on the bite off Werribee, Frankston to Mornington, Queenscliff, St Leonards, Indented Head, Pt Wilson and Clifton Springs. Most fish are about 28-35cm, with a few bigger whiting caught at the southern end of the bay between Sorrento and Portsea and the Lonsdale Bight. Fresh squid, pipi and mussel baits are producing results.
Snapper from 1.5kg to 6kg are being caught along the eastern seaboard in 18-21m of water. Corio Bay outer harbour has produced snapper from 2.5kg to 8kg. Baits to use include silver whiting, fresh squid, yakka, slimy mackerel and garfish.
In South Gippsland, Alan McFayden reports King George whiting to 45cm in many areas including Middle Spit, Tankerton and Stony Pt.
Holland's Landing jetty and Toms Creek are producing large bream on sandworm and shrimp.
At Lakes Entrance, salmon and tailor are being caught spinning with metal lures off Bullock Island and Reeve Channel.
