Hi everyone,
I went to Red Point (Cape Woolamai) at Phillip Island on Sunday and it was a fun day. There is something special about this spot! I saw an echidna and a penguin which was pretty cool.
As for the fishing, if you like parrot fish (wrasse), this is the place to be! I caught one after the other. I also caught 3 big zebra fish (which i returned to the water since I don't like eating them either). I also caught and kept two leatherjackets. I will post some photos as soon as I get a chance. One was a six spine leatherjacket and it was very colourful.
Its quite a long walk along cleeland bight. At a quick pace it took about 35 minutes from the woolamai car park. There is another inland track but I have never tried it. Has anyone gone along the inland path?? I would be interested to know if it would be quicker.
Cheers, Glen
Hi Glen,
I agree that there is something special about this spot, in summer we take my friend's boat out off cape woolamai to scuba dive for crays, and we motor past the spot where you fished. It does seem like a long way from the nearest vehicle access! But often making the effort to get to these types of locations is well worth it, because not many others are willing to make the trek. I have heard that you can catch salmon and barracouta here if you cast out a long way. I also don't like to eat zebra fish, most of these weed eaters taste like weed to me. Wrasse are not too bad to eat if you make fish cakes out of the fillets with plenty of curry paste. Well done on catching some leatherjackets, I struggle to hook them on a line because they bite so softly.
The underwater scenery a little further towards the point is spectacular, with reefs rising up from 10-12m to withing a few metres of the surface. However you need a calm day, as the swells hitting the cape can get huge ( I have spewed a few times after diving). But the crays can also get huge! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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Here is one of the leatherjackets I caught. I will post more photos soon.
These six spine leatherjackets have a lot of character!
Cheers, Glen
Great catch!<img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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Great photo too.
Here is a photo of one of the zebra fish I caught! They are great fun to catch. Shame they don't taste very nice.
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Cheers, Glen
Hi everyone,
I went to Red Point again today at Cape Woolamai but it was not crash hot. The highlight was seeing a couple of penguins that popped up in front of where i was fishing and then dived underwater in hunt of my fish!! lol <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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I caught a few small sea sweep, some wrasse (or parrotfish), and some small spikey looking fish. I will post some photos of these little critters on the oceanphotography.net site.
I stopped at san remo pier on the way back but i didn't bother casting a line. I still struggle to believe squid are ever caught at san remo pier when the current running through there is so strong!
Cheers, Glen
p.s. I was wondering if anyone has ever fished
Pyramid Rock on Phillip Is. Is it a safe platform? And is it any good? Cheers <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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EDIT: Here is a photo of one of the spikey wish I caught. Its only a couple of inches long. Anyone know what it is?
And here is a photo of the sea sweep
hey glen, jaz.. been a long time since i posted on here
that spot glen.. its awesome.. it is abit of a hike to get too but its worth it
also seen plenty of echidna there too. bad thing though found a washed up penguin pretty cut up n stuff.. <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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also the inland track isnt that much quicker.. we tend to walk the beach at low tide so you save a heap of walking.. usualy stay out there for the whole day and walk back as high tide is running out
hey rx3-boi,
the walk along the beach is easy enough but the last bit (say 500 metres) through the rocky sections is pretty hard going. i did try to cut inland but then the ground is fairly unstable and the vegetation is quite high so you have to be careful you don't step in a hole.
if you go further around the cape does the fishing get better/worse?
cheers, glen <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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Gday Pat, good to see you back! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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I haven't posted on here for a while either, I started a new job this monday and my new employer isn't too hot on web surfing during work hours <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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I've only seen the stretch of coastline you guys are talking about from a boat, but as you get further round the cape the cliffs get a lot higher, in some spots you'd be fishing 20m+ above the water! I have only dived in this area, not where you were fishing glen, but I can assure you that further round the cape the fish are big and plentiful - wrasse, leatherjackets, sweep, zebras, barber perch, pike...and of course crayfish! Quite few guys cast out farther for salmon, and I've heard that this is a reasonable land-based game fishing option (in VIC waters anyway!) for yellowtail kingfish and sharks if you use the right gear at the right time of year.
thanks for the info jazman,
i am not super keen on abseiling to fishing spots so maybe i will give the cliff spots a miss!!! lol but i think i could explore a bit more of the cape than i have.
there were 2 other blokes at red point (to my right another 50 metres or so) and they had about 5 surf rods and were casting far out onto the sand. i didn't see them catching much from where i was. I think they caught a toadfish <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />. I was mostly float fishing close in around the rocks with small pippie baits set to about 2 or 3 metres deep. I was tempted to cast a few lures or squid jigs around but I was too lazy to change my rig! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' /> apart from the odd penguin that popped up and dived down again, i did not see any surface activity all.
i like the idea of catching some snook. i have not caught one yet! they are supposed to be alright to eat aren't they?
cheers, glen <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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i went to red point again today. i don't quite know why i like this spot so much since i keep catching fish that are no good for the table. i caught about 20 parrot fish...2 zebra fish, 2 small sweep. I almost caught a big six spine (purple coloured) leatherjacket but it fell off as i tried to lift it out of the water.
afterwards i tried woolamai surf beach but it was not any good. no one else was fishing on the beach. it was low tide by that stage.
not sure if anyone noticed but i have been away for 2 weeks on a fishing holiday. i will post some photos from my trip soon <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />
cheers, glen
Hi Glen, welcome back, I look forward to seeing some photos from your trip! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':ink' />
Bad luck about losing the leatherjacket - I have lost a lot while rock fishing, mostly due to them biting through the line <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' /> Often with spots like Red Rocks the scenery and isolation make up for not catching a feed. Some people like the blue throat wrasse to eat.....they would be ok in spicy fish cakes, but I find them a bit bland by themselves. From all reports Woolamai surf beach is very hit and miss - the last time I went there it was with a group of 12 surf fishermen, based on the advice of one of them who reckoned it was a guaranteed sure-fire salmon spot, and only 1 salmon was caught! It was by me though which made it a bit easier to bear, but I felt sorry for all the other guys who had travelled a long way to get to Woolamai.
Here is some proof that you can catch salmon there:
[url="http://www.fishvictoria.com/video/050524mike2.php"]http://www.fishvictoria.com/video/050524mike2.php[/url]
thanks for the link jazman.
i did throw a few lures around when i arrived at red point, plus i gave squid jigs a quick shot... but no luck unfortunately. i am surprised there is not more pelagic action in that area. looks so fishy!
cheers, glen <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />
Dear mates, would you please post a detailed direction on how to get to the rock platform we are talking about in this forum (Red Point, Cape Woolamai) at Phillip Island. I only know I need to drive all the way down on Woolamai Beach Road to reach the car park. What is the next step? Thank you very much. <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup2.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />
hi alan,
i can tell you how i get there. i park at the second woolami car park. walk along the sign posted track to cleeland bight (this is a 400 metre walk to the other side). then head to the right when you get to cleeland bight and head up to cape woolami. walking along this stretch can be difficult at high tide so bare that in mind. there is a fair few fallen trees, especially at the start of the walk, and these make it a bit of a hassle to get around them at high tide. you may be tempted to swear as you clamber through these branches!! ...so better to get the tides right and not have this problem <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />
when you get to the rocks, i normally walk about another 400 metres or so. the last bit of the walk is actually a real nightmare. you either cut inland and risk breaking a leg (the grass is high and the ground is very uneven and unstable) OR you rock hop along the shore which is also risky and also take a little longer. i guess the rock hopping option is slightly easier. it should be fairly obvious where to fish because you will get to a point where you really can't go any further unless you are a rock climber <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':ink' />
there might be an easier route available but that is the only way i know.
best of luck, cheers, glen
hi glen, great information. Just wondering, is "the second woolami car park" the car park at the end of Woolamai Beach Road? Thanks. <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />
yes, the one closest to cape woolamai <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />
hi glen, thank you for the prompt response. I think I know exactly where it is now. It is a matter of organising a time to be there and fishing.
Just one more question, (sorry, I got so many questions <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/oops.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' /> )
"when you get to the rocks, i normally walk about another 400 metres or so...you rock hop along the shore which is also risky and also take a little longer...it should be fairly obvious where to fish because you will get to a point where you really can't go any further unless you are a rock climber"
Do we need to hop for 400 metres to find a reasonable place to do fishing or we can stop half way through or just hop for 100 metres or so to start fishing? I am just being purely lazy here and wantto get the best advice from you. <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':ink' /> thanks again.
yeah hopping 200 metres is OK ...you just need a decent depth of water. it should be fairly obvious when you can start fishing.
good luck and let us know how you go! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thumbsup2:' />