2021 Jan 22nd – fishing at Portland
Not Port Phillip Bay but a nice weekend in Portland.
We arrived on Thursday night and Friday morning already we where chasing tuna. It was a bunch of us and three boats. We started trolling above Minerva Reef in 12m of water and Will Gafa’s dad – 80year old man – was ON. They landed a nice tuna and the happy faces where shining. That was his dad’s first ever tuna and he was over the moon. Highlight of the day is as we watched Will putting arms around his dad and gave him a Kiss! That was something to remember.
We tried hard for the rest of the day but no luck. The very next morning -Saturday- i was with my sons Jordan and Dorian trolling around Julia Reef. No long before we had a triple hook up. After a bit of screaming and laughing we managed to land all three. That was my sons first ever tuna as well. That was all for the morning and we where out by lunch time. In meantime my close friend Adrian and his kids arrived so the afternoon session was kingys. Very close to Minerva reef again but this time in 8m of water we where ballooning. No long and Adrian lands the first kingfish but only 58cm. We had quiet few undersized until one over 70cm we got to keep.
The very next morning Ovi Adrian and Misho where trolling for tuna but no luck. They even went as far as Lady Percy Island bu no action. We where back on to kingy’s and again tons of undersized ones kept us busy. We loved it. Around the boat we had fun with silver trevally’s on light gear.
The next session i went closer in -5m depth- and i managed few big fish, the problem was each time they took a dive it would fry my line on the rocks (reef). We managed another Kingy in 80’s, and we had lots of silver trevallys.
Will Gafa had few kings that he lost as well, but he managed a nice snapper and his old man had a ball catching silver trevally’s on light gear.
Few other friends like Brett, Peter and Jeff all did really good on kingfish. Brett was very successful even on tuna using stick baits.
The conclusions and few tips: After Will got the first fish – Tuna was taking small skirts and very light leader (40lb). Best time was morning at Julia Reef. Kingys where a little different. Just in front of the sheds at Minerva Reef, i 3m of water, trolling was very successful for many boats. Other then that, ballooning a bit deeper around the reef with a piece of squid or trevally fillet worked a min t.
I hope you enjoy the pictures. Great video to come on my happyfishermans youtube channel.
Cheers, Happy Fisherman
