For some the whiting season is all over, while for others it has just begun. Although the majority of fish have moved offshore to their winter habitats, there is still an abundance of whiting that make Port Phillip Bay home throughout the winter.
These resident fish stay within the confines of the Bay all year and though they are readily available to catch on any given day, they can still pose a challenge from time to time. With a little research and time on the water, you'll be quite surprised at how easy they are to find.
FINDING WINTER WHITING
The secret to finding haunts for winter whiting is fishing in locations with substantial tidal movement. This also corresponds with water depth, so that the movement of the tide disperses your bait's smell and, if you're using it, berley. This will attract fish from vast distances.
In saying that, you only need to fish in depths around 5-10m, but it is the strength of the tide that is the major factor.
The feeding habits of whiting don't differ from summer to winter, and they still inhabit sandy and weedy areas. In Port Phillip Bay, these areas are mainly situated in the bottom end around St Leonards to Queenscliff and Rosebud to Portsea. There is a lot of area to cover on the Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas, but whiting are a good winter option if you're keen to target them.