Warrnambool Fishing Report 12/06/2026
Winter weather has arrived in force, and with it, a noticeable drop in angler enthusiasm. However, for those willing to brave the rain, wind, and cold conditions, there is still some excellent fishing on offer across the region.
This time of year is traditionally dominated by tuna reports, and 2026 has been no exception. The past few months have produced outstanding fishing, with tuna of all sizes being caught offshore. A particularly exciting development has been the influx of tuna in the 60–100kg range. These fish have attracted anglers from across the country, all hoping to tangle with one of these powerful "kegs," as they've become affectionately known. While the term "barrel" has long been reserved for tuna exceeding the magical 100kg mark, these slightly smaller fish have certainly earned a nickname of their own. During our recent Tuna Mystery Competition, more than 80% of weighed fish ranged between 61kg and 95.8kg, highlighting not only the quality of our local fishery but also its overall health. It's been many years since we've seen such strong numbers of tuna in this size class, demonstrating excellent recruitment and a promising future for the fishery.
As always, anglers are encouraged to take only what they need. A single tuna can provide an enormous amount of meat, and many anglers quickly discover that processing and consuming multiple fish can become overwhelming. Encouragingly, more anglers are embracing catch-and-release fishing, allowing them to enjoy the fight of a lifetime while helping preserve these valuable fish stocks. If you're planning to release a large tuna, there are several important considerations. Use appropriately heavy tackle to minimise fight times and reduce stress on the fish. Avoid removing the fish from the water for photographs, as this can significantly reduce its chances of survival. Many anglers are now using a gaff placed carefully through the lower jaw to control the fish while reviving it boatside. Allow water to flow through the gills until the fish begins kicking strongly. Just remember to remove the gaff before the fish powers away or you may lose some expensive equipment! Take the time to remove hooks wherever possible before release. Leaving stainless hooks in fish can cause ongoing issues and reduce survival rates.
One of the standout techniques this season has been casting large topwater lures. We've recently sourced Maria Pop Queen 200mm poppers, which have proven ideal for these fish. At 100g, their small cup face allows them to skip across the surface rather than creating the large splash typical of conventional poppers. They can be rigged with either single hooks or a combination of assist and single hooks depending on personal preference.
While tuna continue to steal the spotlight, they're certainly not the only offshore option available. Bottom fishing remains productive, particularly for school shark and gummy shark, both of which thrive in cooler water temperatures. Focus your efforts around the 50-metre mark, or venture deeper if conditions allow, where shark numbers are often excellent throughout winter. When fishing deeper water, durable baits are essential, as you don't want your bait stripped while waiting for it to reach the bottom. Fresh salmon is one of the best options, thanks to its tough skin and oily, blood-rich flesh that creates an effective natural berley trail.
Fortunately, salmon are currently abundant along the coast. Locations from Port Campbell Pier through to Portland and almost every suitable beach in between have been producing fish. Casting metal lures has been particularly effective, allowing anglers to cover large areas of water quickly. Metals in the 20–65g range have accounted for plenty of fish, with salmon to 3.5kg reported recently. Using a 9–10ft surf rod will maximise casting distance while helping keep line above the shore break, resulting in a more natural lure presentation.
Recent rainfall has delivered much-needed fresh water into local estuary systems following last year's relatively dry winter.
The Curdies River was running exceptionally high over the weekend, although reports suggest it has since been manually opened, which will be welcome news for many anglers. We recently made the trip to Boggy Creek, only to discover water levels were too high for a safe launch. We instead relocated to Peterborough, where unfortunately our day was cut short after striking a submerged log and damaging a prop bush.
Despite the challenging conditions, the system has been fishing exceptionally well. The number of smaller boats launching at Boggy Creek was a clear indication of the quality fishing on offer. Boats were even launching between the two jetties on the southern side of the bridge, an area that is normally little more than a shallow drain. Estuary perch and bream have been responding well to hardbody lures and soft plastics. As water clarity continues to decrease, metal vibes are likely to become increasingly effective.
The Hopkins River has also been producing consistent catches of bream and perch. Metal vibes have been particularly productive in 1.5–3 metres of water, where cold, discoloured conditions favour vibration-style presentations. Our own session on the Hopkins across Sunday afternoon and Monday morning produced approximately 40 mixed bream and perch. While there were no standout fish among them, it was encouraging to see strong numbers throughout the lower half of the system. Short strikes on plastics and dropped fish on blades were common, suggesting plenty of active fish are present.
The Glenelg River continues to fish well. Thanks to a healthy river mouth opening, clean saltwater has pushed well upstream beneath the fresh water, creating ideal conditions for mulloway.
Fish around the 15lb mark have been reported, with live mullet remaining the premium bait option whenever they can be sourced. If live bait isn't available, soft plastics, hardbody lures and metal vibes all remain excellent alternatives.
The trout season has started exceptionally well, largely due to increased flows and slightly discoloured water throughout local rivers and creeks.
Young angler Fergus Mahney recently enjoyed a memorable session on the Merri River, landing an impressive 62cm, 7.5lb brown trout on a soft plastic while fishing with his father, Mick. The fish displayed an extraordinary body condition, highlighting just how aggressively local trout have been feeding.
Large numbers of baitfish are currently present throughout the system, something we witnessed firsthand while assisting a customer with his LiveScope setup during the week. After noticing a large trout feeding on the surface, we moved closer for a better look. Once the LiveScope was deployed, we observed a dense school of baitfish being actively worked by a sizeable trout beneath them. Seeing both the fish and lure in such detail was an impressive demonstration of the technology and certainly left everyone onboard amazed.
The upper Hopkins River and Emu Creek continue to produce quality trout, with several fish exceeding 60cm already entered into our trout competition. Walking the streams with shallow-diving hardbody lures and lightly weighted soft plastics has been particularly effective. The ever-reliable Berkley T-Tail in Black Gold remains a standout option when water clarity decreases, offering excellent action at both slow and fast retrieve speeds. For most situations, a 1/16oz or 1/12oz jighead works well. In very shallow water, consider dropping down to a 1/20oz head. Regardless of weight, ensure you're using a quality hook in at least a size 1 or 1/0 to handle larger fish.
Don't forget our Tackle Shack Winter Trout Competition, with more than $1,100 worth of prizes up for grabs throughout June and July. There are three ways to enter. The biggest trout prize scores an Abu Garcia Revo rod & reel. Photograph your biggest local trout on an approved measuring mat or sticker. A spool of leader must be visible in the image as proof. For the best photo category (another rod and reel combo), submit your favourite local trout photo via email or social media. Our three favourite images will be selected, with the winner decided by public vote. Fish size doesn't matter in this category. And for the random draw, which is a huge lure pack, receive one entry for every $50 spent on trout-related or Pure Fishing products in-store.
A huge thank you to Pure Fishing for supporting this year's competition!
The forecast for this weekend looks challenging, although Sunday appears significantly more favourable.
Whether you're chasing bream in the estuaries, trout in the rivers, or gummy sharks offshore, there should be plenty of opportunities for anglers willing to make the most of the conditions. Tight lines and good luck on the water.