REEF TRICKS
THE reefs and gravel patches along the South Coast are producing mixed bags of flathead, snapper, morwong, trevally, nannygai, and more.
Reef fishing is pretty straightforward: use a 2oz to 4oz sinker with two 4/0 hooks above it. A 6kg to 10kg braided main line is ideal. Don’t use rigs with line any heavier than 10kg or you won’t get as many bites.
You might have to change the rig after a dozen fish if it is getting chafed, but that’s better than not catching any fish.
Many reef anglers pre-make a few rigs so they can simply loop on some hooks and sinkers when they need to change rigs.
Standard baits are squid and pilchard cocktails; the pilchard provides the oil and strong scent, while the squid stays on longer. Tuna strips are even better because the skin holds the tasty tuna flesh on but, on the downside, tuna fillets are expensive.
Carp fillets are becoming
popular and Charles Armstrong wrote in with the following handy tip:
“I do a fair bit of fishing on the South Coast, mostly at Tathra and also Eden. As far as using carp for bait, it’s a sure winner and has accounted for most of the mowies, snapper and flathead I have caught.
“I fillet the carp, sprinkle a little Ultrabite and tuna-oil over the fillets, cover them in sea salt and wrap them in a few layers of newspaper. They are then placed in the fridge for a day and the freezer for about two weeks. As easy as that and they are by far the most effective baits I use. The salt makes the fillets tough and they have a tuna look and texture when ‘cured’.”
Great tip, Charles.
At this time of year you may strike some cool water harbouring green algae, which gets on the line. It entangles the line, makes fishing harder and the fish won’t bite as much, but you will still catch a few. An old rag held on the line will wipe it clean as you reel in.
This same cool water can carry barracouta and chinaman leather jackets which bite off a lot of gear. You have two choices: put on a heavier trace and catch the leather jackets (good table fish) and/or keep a few barracouta for bait.
The alternative is to change spots and try again. If the gear-stealing green toads turn up, the choice is simple: move on; these nasty poisonous critters are no good for anything except being left alone.
Sometimes moving in closer to the reefs less than 20 metres deep gets rid of the pests; and switching from drifting to anchoring-up is the go. Use berley and lighter tackle again if you decide to put the pick down. You can catch some stud snapper this way.
If you are really stuck, talk to the local tackle shop. They know the waters intimately and can help you with any specific problem you may have.
HOT NEW KAYAK RODS
The boom in kayak fishing is behind the design of some pretty cool specifically designed tackle. I have been trying out the Baidarka range by Okuma. They have features like an integrated rod leash anchor point, line channel on foregrip (overhead models), and floating grip (when the reel is not too heavy, of course), and more.
Best of all, though, the butt length is perfect - long enough to keep the reel dry in the holder in most conditions yet not so long that you can’t cast in various directions while sitting down.
My two favourite models are the BK-S-761 ML for throwing larger lures and baits (jewfish, kings, etc) and the BK-S-761 L for throwing smaller lures for flatties, bream, whiting, salmon, tailor and snapper, etc.
Good thought and testing has gone into their design.
Rob’s columns brought to you by the Hellenic Club, Canberra
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