Sunday 5th February, 2012
G'day Reel Time friends and customers,
Whiting, Gummys, Snapper and dreaming of the Tuna season almost upon us, the action never stops here at Reel Time! We have had a fantastic couple of weeks catching Melbourne's tasty King George Whiting in great numbers. Most recently, the Reel Time skippers have been specifically targeting the bigger Whiting and coming up trumps with plenty in the high 40's!
Now that's a Whiting! Reel Time regular, Mario with a thumper 47cm
Barrels!
Bugger the fishing, let's EAT!!
Western Port Gummy Shark
Western Port is well known for it's variety and although we mainly focus on the Whiting, we have been doing the odd Gummy Shark charter and finding them in good numbers. It will only get better as we now head into February and then into March! Click here for availability
We have been getting onto good size with Gummys up to 16kg this week
Reel Time regular, Greg & crew with another keeper!
Who's having flake for dinner?? Yummy Yummy
Port Phillip Bay Snapper
With Reel Time #2 moored at Patterson Lakes, it is still very convenient for us to do Port Phillip Bay Snapper Charters on request. Because the Snapper aren't in peak season, we don't promote these charters and they can't be booked online for now, but if you are interested in booking the boat for a Snapper charter, just call us on 0438 302 093 and you can be assured that every avenue will be exhausted whilst you relax on our 9m Clayton Gallant "Barrel Buster". If you would like to target Snapper in their peak season of October to December, we are already taking bookings! Click here for availability
The boys from Sydney came up trumps on Snapper Friday morning!
Another Snapper trip with quality fish up to 6kg
Portland Southern Bluefin Tuna
Bookings are coming in thick for the upcoming Portland Tuna season but with two vessels in offshore survey, there is still plenty of availability! Our 9m Clayton Gallant "Barrel Buster" will be available from 1st April and our 7.4m Seatamer "Eliminator" will follow suit in the busiest months of May to July. This is world class fishing in Victoria and should not be missed! Now is the time to book a date and get your accomodation organised. For more info, call us on 0438 302 093 or just Book Online
The Reel Time vessels comply with all offshore survey requirements and
Reel Time #2 is one of few that is licensed to travel 30 nautical miles offshore
99% success rate in 2011 and new and improved state of the art vessels
Book with Reel Time for an experience you won't forget!
Carrum Boat Ramp Update
When it was first suggested that Parks Victoria planned to automate one of the state's busiest boat ramps at Patterson River, our fishing fraternity, among others were up in arms and weren't going to let it happen without a fight! After much support and loud voices from the local community and MP's, the Minister for Environment, Hon. Ryan Smith, visited the ramp on Wednesday and officially announced that it would remain manned. It was said that out of all of Parks Victoria's millions of hectares of land, Launching Way Boat Ramp, Carrum was the most utilised and the efficiency and safety for users was too important to ignore. Big smiles all round and a great result for all!
Behind the Scenes
Reel Time is in the process of developing another vessel to add to our already awesome fleet!
The NEW Reel Time #1 will be a huge 8.5m Alufarm 3.2m beam centre cab with walk around deck and powered with twin 175hp Suzuki's. We hope to launch by Snapper Season 2012, maybe earlier if all goes to plan! This addition is not to try and get more 'bums on seats' but instead to give our customers the comfort they deserve with more fishing room, plumbed toilet and the inclusion of a walk around deck. Custom built to inshore and offshore survey, the new vessel will only compliment our endeavours in Melbourne and Portland so stay tuned and WATCH THIS SPACE!!
Reel Time skipper, Matt Cini and Huong from Transtyle Trailers
with the new trailer that was delivered this week
With Matt Cini's style of fishing, it was essential that the new boat
be trailerable and a regular 4WD just wasn't going to cut it!
Have a great week and I look forward to hearing from you!
Mel @ Reel Time Fishing Charters 0438 302 093
Monday 23rd January, 2012
G'day Reel Time friends and customers,
It has been an exceptional couple of weeks for Reel Time crew & customers targeting King George Whiting in Western Port. The numbers and size of the fish, averaging 35-40cm and some days 40-50cm, can only be described as phenomenal and has even surpassed last year, when I said - quote "This is the best Whiting season we have ever seen!"
Click here for more info on Western Port King George Whiting Fishing Charters
Reel Time skipper, Matt Cini loves the 'Tings'!
Jake with a King George Whiting 0.05mm off 50cm!
Friday the 13th... Bad luck?? Nope!
Reel Time regular, Sam with some thumper Whiting!
Thursday's charter had an awesome time albeit a few fish from bagging out!
Big fish again with my old boss, George from GMC Products
Macca's birthday parties just don't cut it for the young anglers in Melbourne!
Happy Birthday and well done kids!!
Since posting this photo (see below) on facebook last week of our yummy dinner of KG Whiting fillets cooked with Uncle Fred's Beers Batter, I was inundated with emails asking where to buy 'Uncle Fred's Beer Batter'? The funny thing is, Uncle Fred is literally Matt's Uncle and it is a homemade recipe that is not complicated at all. So I thought I should share the recipe in this weeks report as it is absolutely delish!
Uncle Fred's Homemade Beer Batter
SERVES 4
1) Place 1 Stubby of Beer (we use Corona) in the freezer for two hours
2) Add 3 Cups Self Raising Flour, 2 whisked eggs and a pinch of salt to a large mixing bowl
3) Start whisking in the beer, adding it slowly until it forms a nice batter consistency (we used about three quarts of a stubby)
4) In a large frypan, heat oil (roughly 2mm in depth) on a medium heat
5) When the bubbles in the batter disappear, dip Whiting fillets into the batter and then fry immediately
6) Cook for a few minutes on each side or until golden brown
7) Remove from frypan and drain fillets on absorbent paper before serving with chips & salad
What's better than catching Melbourne's King George Whiting?
Eating them of course!
Western Port Gummy Shark
Reel Time skipper, Matt Cini chartered a Western Port Gummy Shark trip in the wee hours of Friday morning and came up trumps with three nice sized Gummys up to 17kg! All Gummys over 15kg are recognised as breeding females and with respect to the fishery, we practice catch and release, not before a quick photo though!
Click here for more info on Western Port Gummy Shark Fishing Charters
BIG Gummy Shark with Reel Time customers, Mitch & Ronnie
Estimated at 17kg, she was set free to see another day!
Nice start to the Gummy season!
Targeting Gummy Sharks is a different game to targeting school fish, requiring patience and small groups are advised. Each season we study the tide/moon chart and compile a list of dates and times to give you the best shot at catching a BIG Gummy! If you would like to Book the Boat on one of these dates, call us on 0438 302 093 and I would be more than happy to advise you OR if you are just wanting to book a spot on a Gummy Shark Individual Charter (Only FOUR customers on the boat) the dates/times advertised on the online booking calendar are from "Cini's List" Book Online
Port Phillip Bay Snapper
Although both trailer boats are based in Western Port to target Whiting & Gummys, we are still honouring a few large group bookings that require our 10 seater vessel. If you are intersested in booking Reel Time #2 to have a go at the Snapper, you will need to contact us on 0438 302 093 to check the skippers availability. Keep in mind that peak Snapper season is October to December and we make no guarantees as the fish can be feeding very well one day and then lie dormant the next.
Nice Snapper up to 6kg on Saturday night!
Coming up next . . . Portland Tuna
Only 67 sleeps to go until we pack our bags and head to Portland for 14 weeks of Tuna mayhem!
Book Online to secure your date... first in, best dressed to get aboard Reel Time #2 "The Barrel Buster"!!
The Reel Time vessels comply with all offshore survey requirements and
Reel Time #2 is one of few that is licensed to travel 30 nautical miles offshore
Click here for more info on Portland Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishing Charters
Have a great week and I look forward to hearing from you!
Mel @ Reel Time Fishing Charters 0438 302 093
Thursday 5th January, 2012
G'day Reel Time friends and customers,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I hope you all had a great festive season! The Reel Time crew worked non-stop until Christmas Day and then we all took turns having a couple of days off to spend with family and friends who haven't seen much of us since the Snapper came in the bay. It has been a phenomenal Port Phillip Bay Snapper season with record catches and close to 300 charters conducted between both boats in the last three months, 110 charters in December alone!
Western Port 2012
We had originally planned on targeting Snapper until the end of January but it has been a bit hit and miss recently as the water temperature climbs and schools of Snapper begin to head out to cooler waters. Being a trailer boat business, we go where the action is best! With fantastic reports of plentiful King George Whiting and BIG Gummy Shark, we are heading over to Western Port which is the HOT BITE right now. Stay tuned for some bumper reports to come!
Click here for info on Western Port King George Whiting Charters
Click here for info on Western Port Gummy Shark Charters
Ting Ting Ting... Our first KG Whiting Charter for
the season and the crew came up trumps!
Book Online
The Online Booking Calendar is proving to be a great success! You can Book the Boat, Individual and Tuition Charters or even just check availability if you prefer to book over the phone. It's super easy to use but for those of you who may be unsure, I have put together a screenshot tuition with more info. Check it out here!
Monday night's Individual Charter had a ball
bagging out on Snapper after a scorching hot day!
What's for dinner? Snapper with a side of Gummy!
Reel Time regular, Andy Dang and the crew from Crown Casino
Coming Soon . . . Portland 2012
Click here for more info on Portland Southern Bluefin Tuna Charters
2011 PB - 145.5kg Tuna caught by Reel Time regular, Alex Saisanas
Thank You!
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has supported us throughout year, we couldn't do what we love to do everyday without you all!
Forgive me if I have left anyone out, but here goes... Most importantly, our customers!! New faces and the regulars who come back every year, if not more, to enjoy a great day out and for their kind word of mouth, our terrific families and friends for their encouragement and patience, our new marine mechanic, Danny, who has become an absolute asset to us and the most reliable marine mechanic ever! Trevor & Lynette Hogan and the staff at Launching Way Carrum for their relentless support and the odd wake up call, all the tackle shops and their staff - Fishing Fever, Tackle World, Gone Fishin', Compleat Angler, Peninsula Total Tackle and more... fellow charter operators and fishos who team together on the water and make the season even more enjoyable, the DPI Fisheries department for involving Reel Time in such significant projects and for consistently working to sustain our amazing fishery, Dave Frankland from Hella Marine, Adam from Nautek Marine, Sandy's Bait, Shaun & Colin from Zealcol Berley, Juro McLoughlins Bait & Berley, Nick from Marine Ink, Jason Kennedy & the Fishin' Trip crew, John Cahill plus Matthew Elliott, Mark Campanella, Theo (Wog Boy), Orazio, Bell, John and finally, our business wouldn't be what it is without the strength of a fantastic crew... Reel Time skippers, Matt Cini & Matt Boulton, Reel Time deckies, Mitch Bertacchini, Aleks Matic & Jakob Martin and behind the scenes crew, Jan & Roger 'slave labour' Boulton.
Have a great 2012!
Mel @ Reel Time Fishing Charters 0438 302 093
Saturday 24th December, 2011
G'day Reel Time friends and customers,
We would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and thank you for all your support in 2011!
NEW Online Booking Calendar
We are proud to introduce our NEW Online Booking Calendar!
FINALLY the NEW Online Booking Calendar is LIVE! This system has taken months to design and is customised to be informative and totally secure. You can now Book the Boat, book an Individual Charter or Tuition Charter OR just check available dates. Take the time to browse and if there is anyway that we can improve the system we would really appreciate your feedback!
The next step will be to be to implement a feature to allow customers to redeem their gift vouchers online so WATCH THIS SPACE!!
We have been getting onto some quality sized Snapper this week!
Aleks Matic and Reel Time skipper, Matt Cini with some cracker Snapper!
Reel Time regular, Patrick enjoying a bi-catch Gummy!
... and yet another Port Phillip Bay Gummy bi-catch
Other than Christmas Day and New Years Day, it will be business as usual and charters are available seven days a week. Have a great Christmas and we look forward to hearing from you!
Mel @ Reel Time Fishing Charters 0438 302 093
Friday 9th December, 2011
G'day Reel Time friends and customers,
We've well and truly entered the silly season that is December! The weather has been reasonably kind with only a few days having to be called off due to strong winds. As you can see from the photo's of the last fortnight, Snapper season is far from over! For those of you wanting to experience Port Phillip Bay Snapper before Christmas Day, availability is as follows...
Book the Boat
Tuesday 20th December @ 10:30am and Saturday 24th December @ 10:30am.
Individuals
Check out the Individual Charter Timetable
Matt Cini took his boys, Marlon & Blake out for a quick session when
he knew it was going to be a hot bite and an hour later they were back on land!
Young guns, Matt (left) and Jake (right) achieved their Snapper PB on
board last nights charter plus it was Matt's birthday too, what a present!
Last night's Individual Charter had great fun bagging out on
Snapper in no time... I mean Reel Time LOL
Reel Time regular, Nick and his family braved the rain to get onto some Snapper action!
Reel Time customers, Brendan & Tessa from Darwin
got smoochy while visiting Melbourne!
Reel Time regulars, Colin & Mario with some lovely Snapper..
Colin & Mario kept bumping into each other on Individual Charters,
eventually realised they were neighbours and have been mates ever since!
Private Tuition Charter with John and the boys and a bag out to boot!
The team from Breadsolutions were a happy bunch
after a great session on Melbourne Snapper
We have noticed significantly bigger flathead as bi-catch this season
Reel Time customer, Enio couldn't wait for his kids to
experience Port Phillip Bay Snapper mayhem!
Reel Time regular, Andrew & crew braved the heat of the day for Snapper galore!
Reel Time regular and good mate and sometimes decky, Orazio and crew
Reel Time skipper, Matt Cini and customer, Heba couldn't be happier!
Tuition Charters with Matt Cini
The last Snapper Tuition Charter for the season will be held on Monday 12th December @ 10:30am-3:30pm. Call us on 0438-302-093 and mention th
0438 302 093
