Queenscliff report - VIC

[supersquid]

h-h-h-hi g-g-g-guys

It 3.45am tuesgay moring and I just got back from Queenscliff pier and Im frozen stiff all for one measely squid

Its school holidays and the squid season and the pier was empty just me another bloke and the seal as usual.

Its good to see the boaties are still doing well but its got me buggered why the peir is so dead .I know theres been theories about the sand levels rising and this has effected the squid fishing but I think its more than that

I think our mate the seal seems to be keeping the squid away as he seems to be there all the time.

Some people have the opinion that if the seal is around then there musi be squid around but they are too spooked to bite

There was also alot of bait fish around, makes sense baitfish = squid = seal

This would have to be one of the worst seasons Ive had for squid as far as Queenscliff goes, might give Mt Martha rocks a stab in the next few days stay tuned peoples. Im determined to bag out atleast once this season I HOPE



SUPERSQUID

[glen]

Hi Supersquid,



Last time i went to mt martha (about a week ago) it was lousy. Didn't get a touch!



I think the rain stuffs things up a bit. Too much freshwater in the bay. <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' /> <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wh' /> <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wh' />

[aok47]

Hi guys,



I am thinking of hitting queenscliff with the boat on Monday 13th October. Where would i be in with a good chance of some squid? between the pilot jetty and pier, or maybe just around the corner in lonsdale bight?



Anyonw had any success? john how have things been this week?



thanks guys <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



AK

[Guest]

Bagged them pretty quick today(13th) 19kg for 10 Aok.

plenty of boats not catching any though, noticed heaps with too little lead and too many boats speeding back up the drift, they must think its a race somedays.

The pilot pier has plenty of small ones and the bight has plenty too 3kg.

out again at 5.00am tommorow at least it will be a bit quieter.

Regards John

[aok47]

gday john,



i fished queenscliff yesterday (monday 13th) and didnt do too well <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':beer' /> only got 2 medium sized calamari. I got them in the Lonsdale bight close to the bluff near pilot jetty, in 3m of water.



i saw the HORDE of boats, i counted 25 boats!!! Anyway i joined the huddle and saw some amazing sized calamari being pulled in, but as you said not everyone was getting them. I saw what rigs the guys that were catching were using and adjusted my technique but failed to get any. all i managed was to have one follow my jig up to the surface and then he darted back down <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol' />



I was in a carribean concorde, white hull with wide blue stripe under the mould line... hehehe freaky we were both in the same area at the same time <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />



AK

[Guest]

I think l saw you AOK,

mine is the 30ft plate alloy, navy blue with white cabin.

Went again today , quite in the morning but bombed them on the flood tide.

couple of snapper offshore as well.

Say G'day next time.

Regards John

[Guest]

gday John,



aaaah yes how could i forget a boat like yours and the big calamari we saw you pull in just as we moved into the huddle of boats to try our luck <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':beer' /> i think we were drifting side by side a few times



I saw a few different rigs being used by people, some had a long leader with a jig on the end and a running bomb style sinker, others didnt have any sinker. We tried a paternoster type rig with one dropper where i attached the jig and a sinker on the end to know when i'm on the bottom. We tried silver whiting and artificial jigs but no success <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



Do the calamari still stay in the area when the tide is running hard or only around slack water?



I will say HELLO next time now that i know its you <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol' />



<img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />



AK

[aok47]

John,



With the strong NW~W winds it looks like i may be hitting queenscliff bright and early sunday morning. Are the spawning calamari still there? <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />



With so many of the buggers i would've thought there'd be a few baracouta and other predators having a feast but this doesnt seem to be the case?



AK

[Guest]

The coutta do give them a hiding at times and your jigs for that matter but at present the dolphins and seals would help keep them away although its not much good for the squidding either.

They have become a little patchy over the last few days but another wave of them will arrive soon.

Sunday could be the day, I will be out so say G'day.

Regards John

[aok47]

John,



Did you brave the wet and cold conditions? i got up at 3am with the best of intentions, checked the forecast and radar and went back to bed! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />



i'm looking at the webcam today and wishing i was out there.



AK

[Guest]

Unreal weather Aok.

sweating on Sat. shivering and wet on Sun.

54 for the weekend and 20 today same spots.

New wave seems to have shown with some real crocs amongst them (3kg+)

Water is getting dirtier by the day so they may slow a little.

Regards John

[Guest]

Hi all,



Got a few on the weekend at Queenscliff. 5 Saturday morning (a bit slow-should of got up earlier) and another 9 in the early evening-6-8PM.



Got up at 4AM sunday morning feeling keen but the way the trees were bending over made me go straight back to bed.



Tried again in the arvo but the tide and wind were pretty strong-could'nt keep the jigs down.



Any suggestions on rigs and techniques when the drift and tide are running hard would be greatly appreciated.



I usually just drift with a jig tied straight to the line and maybe one bait tied straight to the line as well trailing behind the boat just off the bottom. The problem is as soon as the wind or tide picks up the jigs come straight to the surface. I considered a patternoster rig with an unweighted jig above but always thought I'd be constantly snagging the sinker.



John, I noted in one of your previous posts you mentioned fishing at anchor. I always thought you had to drift for squid-shows what I know. Do you mind sharing and techniques you use while at anchor? Thanx in advance.



By the way my boat's a 5.4m white and blue f/glass kingfisher runabout with the the letters D.J. on the side(don't ask why-already there when I bought the boat and still hav'nt thought of a good name). If I see your boat on the water I'll say g'day. Same goes for AOK.



Cheers



Simon

[Guest]

Simon, you need some serious lead to fish at queenscliff ,we used 12oz. on sunday.

a paternoster rig with 4 feet to the jig and 1 foot to the sinker is the go , hit the bottom and haul it up 4 feet and you should be away.

The squid at queenscliff are spawning at the moment ,this is when they are really tight on the marks ,find the spawn ,anchor up tide 20 meters and experiment which size lead will hold you at that distance.

Its not something that you learn over night but practise will get you there.

Regards John

[Guest]

Hi John,



Thanks for the tips. A patternoster rig with plenty of lead to get you down but wound up off the bottom makes sense when drifting. I actually gave this a go on Sunday drifting over the marks where I'd previously caught both drifting and on the anchor with no luck, but that's fishing. I'll just have to persist.



When you say experiment with the weight of the lead to keep you at that distance when anchored, do you mean a lead that is light enough to stay off the bottom and back 20 metres with the force of the tide but not rise too high up the water column? At anchor I actually used plenty of lead and wound up a few feet off the bottom as you said but that had the bait almost under the boat which I suspect is not the best.



Once again, many thanks.



Simon

[Guest]

Just enough Simon so that if you let of the line the lead hits the bottom almost straight away , you will have to change the lead size up and down as the tide varies.

Regards John

you could always try a charter <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />

[aok47]

wow john,... thats alot of calamari rings :blink: was there a preference shown towards bait/jig/colour?

Weather permitting, and if they are still about i am planning on making a trip saturday or sunday. There is a high tide just after 11am i think.



how long does the spawning run usual go for?



keep the reports coming through <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />



AK

[Guest]

Another 32 today Aok, biggest 3.5 kg.

4 happy clients.

Green 4.5's @ $4.50 each

Pink " " " " "

And my home made sand whiting colour.

All are working .

o we where the only boat today which is fine by me <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' /> .

Regards John

[Guest]

Hi John,



You recommended a charter in your last response and made a reference to four happy clients in your last post-do you actually run a charter? If so, let me know your details and I'll book a trip.

If not, can you recommend any in the area?



Thanks





Simon

[aok47]

Glen we need a smilie which has an angry GREEN face so i can respond to John's latest report,... i am green with envy John!!

Leave some for me when i get down there on the weekend <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':o' />



cheers <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/beer_mug.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />



AK



PS. Simon i'll keep an eye out for you whenever i fish queenscliff. Are you a local there?

[Guest]

Simon,

I run Gone Fishing Charters out of Queenscliff.

You can check my website at:-[url="http://www.gonefishing.com.au"]My Webpage[/url]

Give us an email- John@gonefishing.com.au

Regards John