The true kings of Western Port

by Jarrod Day on 19 Jan 2012 Western Port supports a rather excellent population of whiting year round. In saying that, the warmer months are when they are at their most prolific and anglers don’t hesitate to take advantage. Early morning and late evenings seem to be the times of choice but in my book, as long as you’re on the water with a bait on the end of your line you’re in with a chance.

Locations: Well known locations such as the Quail and Tyabb Banks in the Northern end of the Port, Middle Spit, Tortoise Head Bank, Coronet Bay, Balnarring, Flinders and Cat Bay are all prime locations in which to catch them. Even so where ever you can find a sandy bank where vast areas of weed are nearby will still hold numbers of whiting.

Whiting are constantly on the lookout for food and in these areas they are searching for small crustaceans, worms and molluscs. Weed and sea grass beds are natural habitat for these organisms and whiting know this well. If you want to be successful on whiting, then these are the location required to be fished. For an angler in search of whiting, the most effective baits that can be used are pipi’s, mussel, tenderised calamari strips, beach worms and live bass yabbies.

Whiting gear: While any rod and reel will do the job, I like to get a little specific with my gear depending on where I’m fishing. When fishing Western Port you can fish in two totally different locations for whiting that require two different outfits. For shallower water, I favour a 2-4kg 7ft spin rod coupled with 1000 series reel. This is loaded with 4lb braid and works very well considering you’re only requiring one to three ounces of lead. When I’m fishing deeper water up to 10 meters or so I fish a little heavier outfit. The rod, a 4-6kg texalium with 2500 series reel that is loaded with 6lb braid. This rod can support weights of up to six ounces when the tide is running hard. The reason for fishing deeper water is that you’re more likely to encounter larger fish rather than your typical school fish in the shallows.

There are two main rigs used for whiting. One is a running sinker rig allowing the bait sit right near the bottom. This rig is ideal when fishing sandy areas where the hook and bait won’t get snagged in the weed. When it comes to fishing the weed beds, a paternoster rig with twin droppers is more suitable. This allows two baits to be suspended about the weed preventing snagging. Either rig can be tied from 8lb leader although due to the odd pinkie snapper taking the bait, I suggest tying the rig from 15lb fluorocarbon. Alternatively, pre-tied rigs such as the Black Magic whiting snatcher are exactly that, a 15lb fluorocarbon paternoster rig designed for whiting.

Techniques: When fishing for whiting it is very important that you’re quiet. The reason for this is because whiting fishing can be conducted in such relatively shallow water and they can be easily spooked with noise.

When anchoring it pays to gently lower the anchor over the side or if you have an electric anchor winch, coat the chain with a fire hose or other type of hose to reduce the noise of a rattling chain when lowered. Even while fishing, keep your noise levels to a minimum. This means no dropping sinkers on the deck, no loud music and try to keep your voice tone down a notch.

Once at anchor, it is best to begin a berley trail before casting out your rods. Berley can consist of chook pellets mixed with tuna oil and for an extra fishy smell, mash in some pilchards. This mixture is extremely effective and attracts whiting quite quickly.

This mixture can be placed into a berley pot with fine holes. Should the pot with large holes be used, the berley will flow out to fast, it is imperative that the right pot be used so not to fill them up. Berleying should be done from the seafloor. As whiting are a bottom feeder, an established trail being scattered along the bottom is sure to bring the school to your fishing location.

After the trail is established, cast your rigs directly into the trail. You must remember that the fish are going to swim right to the source and if you’re casting left and right of it, you more than likely to catch less fish.

Once you begin to catch whiting, continue to cast into the exact spot. If you notice the bites are becoming fewer it is most likely that your berley is running thin. Simply shake the berley pot and before long you will be back in action.