Mornington report - VIC

[shansamara]

Hi guys, I just joined in to this website & this is my 1st post. Thought I'd let you all know something which took place on Sunday the 6th March. I went over to the Mornington Pier around 1am with my mate Rod. There was another guy getting out of his car with fishing gear, so I chatted with him where to cast as the main Pier was still blocked off. He was saying the small Jetty where the Charter Boats are is the only option, & there are small Calamari there. This guy used 2 rods for Calamari using 2.5inch multi color jigs about 1.5m under a float. We only had 3 rods in total, 2 for Calamari using 1.25inch all red or all orange or all pink jigs cast out 8m & let sink to the bottom & then intermittently wound in. I did try a 3.5inch YoZuri natural jig just in front of the Jetty at first, there was a Calamari about the same size hanging around it trying to figure out what to do with it. Thats when I swapped onto the smaller jigs as I gathered the Calamari were small. Anyways, started catching Calamari from 5-7inch hood length. Our 3rd rod was out with a 2 hook paternoster rig with small size 8 circle hooks with a thin Calamari ring on them. I did take a couple of Garfish & a couple of small bait Calamari with me. The Garfish bait did not work that night, yet managed to catch 1 x 35cm Flathead & 1 x 35cm KG Whiting on Calamari ring bait. The other guy after seeing me catching the Calamari & fish, got rid of his floated 2.5inch jigs & borrowed one of my 1.25inch jigs & cast out like me & ended up catching I believe 5 or 6 Calamari 5-7inch hood length. He also deployed one of his rods with fresh calamari tentacles as bait & managed to land 3 x 35cm KG Whiting. We were there till 6am, & was getting bigger Calamari by this time as they were around 8inch hood length, yet had to pack up & return home. Total catch was 16 x Calamari of 5-8inch hood length, also 1 x Flathead & 1 x KG Whiting.



It really is sad & inconvenient not being able to access the main Pier, yet there is no reason why we can't get around it in a little boat, right? This week ALDI stores has 3m basic inflatable boats with Oars & pump, all for AU$59 I believe. Anyone very keen can easily use one of these or similar & paddle around the Pier & look for squid if they really want. I'm thinking of taking my little 4m boat if the weather permits, & going there on the coming weekend as my daughter loved the Calamari, will try to get more fresh ones for her. If the weather turns out too rough for the little boat, I'll still go & fish off the Jetty.



Sorry for the long post, yet had to say a long story. Take care & be safe around the water, bye for now, Shan.