Around the bay with Jim’s Bait & Tackle

Sleeping in and getting all those odd jobs around the house completed is inviting to most and for the first few lockdowns was a bit of a novelty. Sadly we are all well past that now and there is plenty of uncertainty every day you turn on the news.

Spare a thought for all those in business, who have a considerable amount of time and money invested and are trying to make decisions at a minute’s notice.

Most have been closed more than open, especially over the last month, most are trying to put plans in place for the expected busy tourism season coming up, most are trying to do as much as they can for their staff and most importantly just trying to pay the bills for when they are able to trade.

Add all these up and it leads to a whole heap of extra stress on top of the normal stress of running a business.

Sadly, we have lost a few businesses around the area but on a positive the majority are getting through and doing the best they can.

I hear it all the time in the shop, “of course you should be able to get through the government is giving business plenty of money”. The truth is not all qualify (and so receive nothing) and even those who do get the odd financial help would much prefer to be open and trading than being propped up by the government.

Local support has been by far the main reason that most of these businesses are surviving and getting through.

The only thing we all ask is next time you are asked to sign in, wear a mask or produce ID please just do it. That will save any more unnecessary stress. Remember it’s not our rules but rules we must enforce.

Of our customers very few have been allowed to venture out for a fish as most of them live just outside that 5km travel bubble, so the reports are few and far between.

Those lucky few that did manage to venture to the water for their two hours exercise spent it well. The majority of the few reports we did get came from down towards the bottom of the bay Cleeland bight side.

The main capture being whiting with one lucky customer managing a nice bag full in his two-hour allotted window.

There were also a few small Salmon caught on pilchards down off the Inverloch pier.

If you’re expecting reports full of fishing spots, or an exuberant amount of fishing stories then unfortunately you will be disappointed.

That is the unfortunate reality we have faced this past year with no one getting a good run at finding the fish.

On a positive note, they say every cloud has a silver lining and the last month’s silver lining actually comes in the form of the clouds themself.

The weather has been awful; windy and rainy overcast days … but we haven’t been able open or fish so it’s not all that bad! Hopefully we are getting all the bad weather out the way before the fish turn up.

Don’t be discouraged by the lack of reports, it’s not caused by a lack of fish, it’s caused by a lack of fisherman and will get better.

Winter is nearly a thing of the past, the blossom on the trees is out and turning to fruit which is a sign Spring is nearly here and that means the reds are too.

Snapper season is definitely a time most Westernport fisherman add to their fishing calendar each year.

Now is the time to get all your gear ready, update that rod or reel and tie all your rigs ready for the season.

It’s also time for all the dads to put in the requests for Father’s Day presents – gift vouchers are just perfect.

For those who haven’t been in the shop over the last month or so, next time you come in you will notice a lot of changes as we have done a bit of a remodel and added around 50 new stock items with plenty more to come.

To keep up to date with all the changes and new stock and the many specials we have including some of those stock items we aren’t keeping anymore, follow us on Facebook.

We are still running our weekly auctions and of course as soon as reports come in that’s where you will find them.

The decision has now had to be made to cancel the 2021 San Remo Fishing Festival, and the following statement was released: “The organisers of the 2021 fishing festival have regretfully decided to cancel this year’s festival. Covid has thrown up many challengers over the last 18 months for businesses and events and seems a long way from any sort of normality.

“We have been discussing the Fishing Festival for 2021 and feel to run it this year it would be very restricted and not to a standard that we are trying to achieve but also with the very real prospect it
could be cancelled at a minute’s notice. This is not the end of the festival, and all efforts will be again made to make it bigger and better in 2022.”