Tuna continue to dominate offshore reports this week, with strong numbers of Southern Bluefin Tuna moving into the region. As expected, the early part of the season has seen heavy boat traffic, particularly at Port Fairy, where keen anglers have been lining up at the ramp well before sunrise to get a head start. Once fish were located, the fleet quickly converged, creating some busy but highly productive sessions.
While several fish around the 100kg mark have already been landed, the most encouraging development has been the arrival of tuna in the 40–70kg range. This class of fish has been less common in Victorian waters in recent years, so their presence in solid numbers points to a healthy fishery. Charter operators out of Port Fairy and Portland have been consistently putting clients onto fish, often securing bag limits of school-sized tuna alongside the occasional larger capture. One standout moment came aboard Salty Dog Charters, where an aggressive tuna struck two skirts in the spread which is proof of just how fired up these fish are.
Most action has been reported in 70–100m of water wide of Julia Percy Island, a central location that allows reasonable access from both Portland and Port Fairy. Spreader bars continue to perform well, particularly premium options like the Bonze range, which have long proven themselves on large tuna. The added visual element of watching fish climb onto the spread makes for an exciting and highly effective approach.
Surface fishing has also produced results, with several quality fish taken on stickbaits. Matching the hatch is key, with redbait and pilchards forming the bulk of the tuna’s diet. The Daiwa Saltiga stickbait range offers excellent profiles and colour options suited to local conditions, and importantly, can be cast effectively without overly heavy tackle making them suitable for both school and larger fish.
We’ve recently expanded our offshore rod range with the addition of Millerods, which have been well received. From dedicated bottom fishing setups through to specialist short “switch” rods for cubing and bait presentation, they offer premium build quality and performance. The workshop has been busy spooling and rigging gear, so if your setup needs attention, feel free to drop it in.
Tuesday stood out as a particularly hectic day, with multiple fish weighed in quick succession. One crew travelling from Melbourne landed a solid 95.8kg tuna, narrowly missing the 100kg mark but still an impressive capture. Shortly after, another crew weighed a 60kg fish, followed by an 82kg tuna landed by Thomas Neal. The highlight of the day was a standout 122kg fish measuring over 180cm, taken on a live bait deployed into a “seal ball”- a tightly packed bait school herded by seals, often attracting feeding tuna. These situations can become chaotic, particularly with multiple boats in close proximity, so maintaining awareness and courtesy on the water is critical.
Interestingly, a number of fish have been hooked on blind strikes, with little to no visible bird activity or surface signs. This often occurs when roaming schools encounter a well-presented spread. Cubing with pilchards remains another effective technique, although it requires careful presentation to ensure the hooked bait sinks naturally with the cube trail. Most anglers are running 80–100lb braid with 150–250lb wind-on leaders to maximise hook-up rates and minimise line belly compared to traditional mono setups.
Productive skirt options have included the Bonze Exocet and Mackenzie Bloodhound ranges, both performing well when run behind spreader bars. Positioning lures around four pressure waves back in cleaner water has been key to consistent results.
In freshwater, the annual Carp Fishing Classic hosted by the Koroit and District Angling Club was held last weekend in challenging conditions. Despite the weather, around 60 anglers participated along the Emu Creek and Hopkins River systems. Shane Lamb took out the overall prize with an impressive 8.993kg carp. Other notable captures included Bannister Waller (8.2kg) in the men’s section and Megan Sexton (6.1kg) in the ladies. Junior anglers also showed great determination, with Kobi Lamb winning the boys division (4.44kg) and Isobel Lamb taking out the girls with a 5.13kg fish. The event removed over 100 carp from the system which is an excellent outcome for local waterways. As always, anglers are reminded not to release carp back into the water.
Looking ahead, favourable weather conditions are forecast for the weekend, with light winds expected. The Warrnambool Offshore and Light Game Fishing Club will be hosting their annual competition, drawing anglers from across the state. A $5,000 prize is on offer for the largest tuna over 130kg, which should see some serious contenders on the water. For further details, anglers can visit the club’s website or social channels.
Tight lines and best of luck for the weekend ahead.