We are trying a lot of new spots this season, particularly chasing blue fin tuna. A couple of weeks ago, we tried Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road for the first time. It was a bit difficult to get too, because we either had to drive along the Great Ocean Road, or down the hills through the Otways.
Apollo Bay was the location of the recent fishing competition run by the Victoria Game Fishing Club. We went and caught a few school tuna on Saturday, but nothing on Sunday. The fishing was pretty quiet, and so was the life in general. The abundance of life was nothing like what we’ve seen recently at Port Fairy and Portland. But the current and tides were probably wrong. The weather was also reasonable, and it seems that you catch less when the weather is good!
Here’s a run down on the fishing scene in Apollo Bay, taken from the Geelong In Town website:
Fishing in Apollo Bay can be be quite lucrative no mater what type of fish you are after. Popular spots are all along the shorefront or off the pier, good fishing can also be found from a boat or at several of the river inlets that can be found between Lorne and Apollo Bay.
Fish popular to the Cape Otway area include salmon, trevally mullet squid, salmon and barracouta. Most of these can be picked up with a range of pilchards, squid, pippies or whitebait and many of the service stations and general stores around the area sell all the bait you need.
Most of the fishing around Apollo Bay is boat based, some good catches occur within the bay but many head for the larger fish out in the deep waters of Bass Strait hunting for shark, large salmon or pike and barracoutta. The waters have many reefs which are very popular for schools of fish.
Another very popular location is off Blanket Bay, good catches of snapper and squid are regally reported while flathead can be found just about anywhere there is sand and take just about any bait you try.
On the breakwall or in the boat harbour squid and trevally are usually the most popular catch. You are bound to see families or the die hard fisherman waiting for a catch at the breakwater.
Marengo is a popular surf beach fishing spot and salmon and trevallay being popular catches, while some good bream and mullet can be found around the Baram River entrance.
Apollo Bay is not only home to a large fishing fleet but several operators who offer fishing charters, which are a great option where people can experience the thrill of fishing, with someone who is experienced in the waters and know where the best fish are biting. Some operators offer inshore fishing which is suitable for those not wanting to experience the open ocean, while others offer deep see fishing where sharks and other large fish are caught. The operators supply rods and bait- all you need to do is put on something warm and turn up.
Apollo Bay is a custom to sudden changes in weather and extra caution should be exercised when fishing on rocks or in a boat.
