King George Whiting Fishing in Western Port – Fishing the Big Run-Out Tides
King George whiting fishing in Western Port can be outstanding when you fish the run-out tide correctly. On March 1st I headed out to Western Port for a whiting session with my son Cooper, who is quickly becoming my young apprentice when it comes to chasing King George whiting.
We launched out of Hastings around 3:30pm and made our way toward the East Arm. Conditions were excellent, with very little wind and a light southeasterly breeze. The water temperature was sitting at around 22°C, which is prime territory for good whiting fishing.
Before heading out I spent some time studying the tides on WillyWeather, something I always do before targeting whiting. The tide that afternoon was dropping to around 0.4 metres. When the tide drops that low in Western Port it forces bait and fish off the shallow banks and into the deeper run-offs, which is exactly where I like to fish.
Fishing the Last of the Run-Out Tide
Because the tide was going to be so low, I focused on fishing around 7 metres of water where the draining flats push fish into the deeper channels.
During summer I’m always watching for very low tides anywhere between 0.1 and 0.6 metres. Those tides often concentrate fish and can produce excellent whiting fishing if you position yourself in the right depth.
The bite really started to turn on about two hours before the low tide, roughly around 4pm. That last part of the run-out tide in Western Port can be incredibly powerful because the water movement forces bait and fish into predictable areas.
The Rig and Technique
For this session we were using the Reedy’s Rigs Tinganoster Whiting Rig and keeping the presentation simple. The key was fishing the line vertically and gently lifting and lowering the rod tip to create a little movement in the bait.
That subtle movement often attracts curious whiting and encourages them to investigate the bait. If you’re new to whiting fishing and want to see the exact technique we were using, you can watch the short video here:
Watch the technique on the Reedy’s Rigs Facebook page
Best Baits for Western Port Whiting
This year I’ve heard anglers experimenting with a lot of different baits. Some people are using prawns and others are fishing big long strips of squid.
For me though, when the bite is a little cautious, nothing beats a pipi or mussel. Both baits have a strong smell and plenty of natural juices which the whiting absolutely love.
If the fish are biting aggressively I’ll often just use squid because it’s tough and lasts longer on the hook. But when the bite slows down, pipis and mussels can make a huge difference.
A Great Bag of Fish
The tactic worked well and the whiting kept biting steadily through the final hours of the run-out tide.
By the end of the session we had a really nice bag of fish with an average size around 40cm, which is excellent fishing anywhere. We also managed three cracking fish measuring 46cm.
It was a great afternoon on the water and even better sharing the session with Cooper while he continues to learn more about chasing whiting in Western Port.
Key Lessons from the Trip
- Watch for very low tides between 0.1m and 0.6m
- Fish deeper run-off areas around 7 metres
- The last two hours of the run-out tide can be very productive
- Pipis and mussels are excellent when the bite slows down
- Keep your bait moving slightly to entice curious whiting
Learn More About Whiting Behaviour
If you're interested in understanding how these fish feed and behave, have a read of this article:
King George Whiting Feeding Behaviour
Winter Competition Coming Up
Also worth keeping an eye on is the upcoming Lord of the Snapper winter competition. This year the competition includes a whiting category, which should make things interesting for anglers chasing King George whiting during the colder months.
Learn more about the Lord of the Snapper winter competition
You can also browse more fishing reports and tips on the Reedy’s Rigs blog:
Where to Find the Tinganoster Whiting Rig
During this session we were using the Reedy’s Rigs Tinganoster Whiting Rig. The rig is available in both circle hook versions and long shank hook versions.
Personally I prefer the long shank version because I enjoy striking the fish myself rather than waiting for the rod to load up. I normally fish with two rods and like to keep things simple, so I tend to run two long shank rigs rather than mixing hook styles.
While circle hooks are often marketed as self-hooking, a long shank will still hook fish very effectively when fished properly. For me it keeps things more interactive and enjoyable when chasing King George whiting.
I also occasionally use paternoster-style rigs when fishing offshore or in areas with heavy weed where lifting the bait slightly off the bottom can help. But in most situations I simply stick with the Tinganoster rig — it’s the setup I’ve fished with for years and it continues to produce consistent results.
Reedy’s Rigs are stocked in many tackle stores across Australia including BCF, Anaconda, Compleat Angler, Gorn Fishing and many independent local tackle shops throughout Victoria. If your local store doesn’t have them yet, ask them to get them in.
Hi again do you know if Jim’s tackle in Sani have the Tinganoster rigs
Thanks
Whiting seem a bit scarce should I try towards corinella
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