While there have only been small breaks in the weather the past week, there have been some anglers able to get amongst some nice pelagics down along the west coast. Portland bay has been holding good numbers of school bluefin and kingfish from water as shallow as 10m. These fish have been fairly finicky but there are always patches of feeding fish to catch.

Customers Benny and Damien stayed down at Portland for a few days and had some relaxed fishing, with kings and tuna on the list. While the kingfish were either playing fussy or slamming lures in super shallow water and breaking them off, the tuna were a bit more cooperative. Some patches of fish weren’t interested while others would belt the teaser lines and any lure in the spread. Amongst that, the most productive lures were small 4 inch skirts run behind floppy floppy teasers.

When the weather turns a bit average or chasing flighty tuna and kings about gets old, there are plenty of other options in close to Portland harbour. During a recent trip there customer Mick nailed some thumper whiting like this solid fish. Fishing in close to the harbour and along the scattered North shore reef can see some supersized whiting caught, with fish pushing 50cm not uncommon. Strips of squid are one of the gun baits here too, and while fishing these whiting grounds there are excellent chances that kingfish and even tuna could turn up.