FIRSTCAST ADVENTURES
Jon Clewow swaps the office for a day out on Port Phillip Bay
The Rip is a 4 kilometre wide piece of water that lies between Point Nepean on the Mornington Peninsula and Point Lonsdale on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria. This tumultuous body of water is the gateway to Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay. It’s the narrow entry and exit for all fish and water to a bay that covers 1,950 square kilometres and has 3.2 million people living around it.

Steve Stojanovski, a Geelong resident who has fished the Bellarine Peninsula area for 20 years, has set up a very professional guiding service. ‘Firstcast Fishing Adventures’ allows the normal man-in-the-street fly fisher to take advantage of the fishery that The Rip provides.

The core fly fishing in this area involves chasing large schools of hard-fighting Australian salmon. These feed on schools of bait-fish and krill, and there is a real knack to locating them. Steve’s understanding of the fishery, with regard to tides, bird activity etc. allows the client a very real opportunity to experience some excellent southern saltwater fly action.

There is also a potential yellowtail kingfish fishery that has yet to be properly investigated.

The Rip is dangerous for boating. With this in mind, Steve has acquired a fit for purpose, 6 metre, side console, custom built Stessl craft. This impressive—and safe—brute of a boat is powered by a 135 HP Mercury Optimax outboard. A 15 HP auxiliary resides next to the big motor should unforeseen trouble occur. Overall, the boat is ideal. It provides room and comfort along with enough acceleration and speed for chasing the fast moving schools of salmon.

Steve has, only recently, added another vessel to his operation—a similar boat but measuring 7 metres.

The salmon fishery is seasonal and Steve chases them between October and May. The other months he may take you to the nearby Barwon estuary system for bream, flathead and possibly mulloway. Corio and Swan Bay are other options for fly-caught snapper and flathead.

Steve can provide all the high-quality gear you need in terms of flies, rods, reels and lines. Most of the fishing is done with 7 and 8-weight rigs. His motivation for guiding in this area is simply because he loves it, and his other business interests allow him to spend time doing the thing he truly enjoys.

Two anglers per trip is an ideal number. With this in mind, the fee is $175 per person for a half day (or $350 for the boat) and $250 per person for a full day (or $500 for the boat).

To be successful, guiding operations need three things going for them: a bona fide fishery, good equipment, and a capable guide. Steve comes through on all of these points. He also has a magnificent head of hair that, despite windy days, has not moved once on the two trips I’ve enjoyed with him.

Get in touch with Steve and book yourself in for a great day on those crazy salmon. Phone Firstcast Fishing Adventures on 03 5222 4246, or visit www.firstcast.com.au