Photos by Spero Kartanos.
BY SPERO KARTANOS
The crabs seem to be all over the bay now, from close in between the foreshore and Green Island, St Helena, and Mud Island, and in the deep and fast-running water on the eastern side of the Hope Banks and Amity Banks. I personally love to eat crabs, but I hate the mess of having pots on the boat, so I’m happy when a mate or two drops off a few.
As the water warms up even more, the crabbing should get better, so fresh boiled crabs and chili crab will be on my menu over the summer months.
The whiting fishing should be very good in the Rous and Chain Banks, with squid strips and bloodworms best for bait. I have been trying to save a few dollars and have been using frozen pipis as bait, which is working a treat and is very economical (and I find the paternoster rig works the best).
The school mackerel will be hit or miss this time of the year as the small ones are growing and having a break close in, but it’s worth trying in the shipping channels. I am hoping the spotty mackerel season starts this year, as the water temperature will be warming up nicely – 71 degrees to 74 is the ideal temperature for the spotties to come into the bay. I hope it doesn’t get too hot like last year when the spotties bypassed the bay, but all we can do is get the spinning gear and chrome slugs ready and hope for a good season.
The squire and snapper season should be very good in November, and the fishing should be good around Mt Cotton Reach. The Rous Channel and Harry’s Artificial Reef are two of the best spots this time of year. Whole whiting is by far the best bait, followed by half crabs if you can afford to use them, and octopus and garfish are also very good options.
Wow! What a whale season in the bay! In October, it was amazing to see so many whales in the bay and so close again, and we might still see a few in November as well.
Till next month, good fishing, and good luck in the Melbourne Cup if you are having a bet; I am sticking with Zardozi if she runs … haha!
