Tuna fever has officially hit the coast! The past couple of weeks have seen some incredible fish being weighed and released offshore, and the action shows no signs of slowing. But don’t worry—if tuna isn’t your thing, there are still plenty of other species to sink your teeth into.
As mentioned, the barrel tuna fishing has reached a level of consistency we didn’t see last season. The abundance of baitfish—pilchards, slimy mackerel, sauries, redbait, and squid—has made for ideal conditions, and the tuna are responding in a big way. Lure colour has been a hot topic, with some anglers reporting success on blues and silvers, while others have found darker colours like black and green to be deadly. It’s a great time to get out there and target these incredible fish. Portland has been the go-to launch spot, with reports of tuna showing up just behind Lawrence Rock. That’s great news for smaller boats too, as the proximity to shore makes access more manageable—weather permitting.
One lure that continues to shine is the Bonze Exocet in redbait, a proven performer that excels as a shotgun or long rigger lure. It’s not ideal for the prop wash but absolutely sings when swimming further back in the spread. On the other hand, the Bonze D-Shackle with its large cup face creates an epic smoke trail and performs well closer in. Both are excellent behind a spreader bar, which often triggers the first strike when you run through a school. Another standout is the Nomad DTX 220 minnow, which can dive up to 40 feet—perfect for reaching tuna feeding below the bait schools. With ultra-realistic colours and heavy-duty inline single hooks, they’re ready to go straight out of the box.
Need a hand rigging up? We can spool your reels with fresh line, rig your lures, and tie your doubles—just drop them off and pick them up later the same day, ready to chase giants.
Over in Port Fairy, the Moyne River has delivered some fantastic trevally action, especially around Martins Point. Light bait rigs and small soft plastics have been the key. These fish put up a spirited fight and are perfect fun for young anglers. Small pieces of prawn on a long shank or bait-holder hook in a burley trail can also tempt bream, pinkies, and the occasional whiting. King George whiting have been biting well after dark. As the water cools, they slow down a bit, but anglers putting in the effort are still being rewarded with fish over 50cm.
The Warrnambool & District Angling Club’s Annual Easter Fishing Classic was a big success, drawing over 160 entrants to rivers from Yambuk to the Curdies River. Top honours went to Kurtis Power, who landed a monster 1.409kg bream at Yambuk on a soft plastic. He took home $1,000 cash and a $500 Garmin voucher. The Hopkins River was the most popular spot, with second and third place in the open section coming from there. The juniors fished their hearts out all weekend, with Blake Treloar taking the win thanks to a 1.085kg bream from the Hopkins. Smiths Lane was a hotspot for both bank and boat anglers, with scrub worms and live yabbies being standout baits. The Curdies also fished well, especially the lower reaches, with plenty of bream and the occasional perch falling to soft plastics and vibes. Special mention to Wendy Pemberton, who won the ladies' section with a 1.216kg bream caught on a live yabby. As always, Wendy put in the time on the water—and hats off to her for putting up with Tom out there too!
Trout have been a bit elusive lately, likely due to low water levels and poor water quality. However, there are signs of increased activity. During the comp, Jason Harper managed a couple of nice hens at Hopkins Falls, though he was the only one to land trout. We’re hoping for a wet winter to get those rivers flowing again and bring the trout back on the bite. Lake Bullen Merri continues to fish well for Chinook salmon, whether trolling or dropping unweighted pilchards down a berley trail. Use your sounder to locate the fish—once you’re on them, they’re pretty easy to catch. Patience and precise searching are key to success here.
With another long weekend coming up, expect plenty of boats heading to Portland chasing barrels. If you’re lucky enough to bring one home, please remember proper fish care—bleed them, gut them, chill them on ice or in cooler bags. Treating the fish right ensures premium eating quality and minimal waste.