|
 TECHNIQUE - tips & hints
See also Reader Questions & Answers.
See also fishvictoria.com Fish Files.
See the Competitions page to find out what you can win, simple by sending your tip or hint in!
<< BACK TO TIPS MAIN PAGE
Tips added to Fish File pages
 Look for this "Readers Tips" logo on each Fish File page to see the tips sent in from readers for that particular fish. Send in your own tip and be in the running for some great monthly prizes!
Releasing fish with hook
From: Kyle Walters
When you catch a fish and can't get the hook out just cut the line as close to the hook as possible and the hook will rot away in about a month.
(20 July 2004)
Finding a good spot in the surf
From: Steve
Stand on top of a high area like a hilltop and check out the surf conditions and look for long dark areas, this is where the fish are. If you can't see any then use your binoculars to locate one along the beach - make sure you do this at low tide. Imprint this in you mind and fish when the tide starts coming in and you will certainly catch fish unless there are people swimming there or surfers crashing your scene...
(20 July 2004)
Surf casting tips
From: Dave
With winter coming surf and salmon fishing are all the go. This is a technique I like to use to obtain a further more accurate cast to reach those gutters and holes which always seem to far away. Firstly I don't load up with a ton of lead, when it is combined with your bait it all adds up to a lot of weight and cast distance is lost as well as a lot of energy used. I use at the most a 1.5-2oz swivel bomb sinker in a paternoster rig with hook and bait to suit your target fish. Once the rod is behind in the casting position I start a pendulum (swinging) action with my rig, when I have built up enough momentum I then cast when the rig is on its outward swing. You will find, after setting up your rig to suit your rod, with practice this technique will be very usefull in acheiving accuracy and distance when needed. Good luck and all the best, Dave.
(27 May 2003)
Improving your surf fishing technique
From: Milton Linardis
When surf fishing, look up and down the beach for higher level platforms of sand near the shore. If there is a gutter in front of you, cast your line out then walk back a few metres and stand on these natural sand platforms. Also hold your rod straight and high, the major advantage of fishing this way is more of your line is out of the water and you get far less side drift in the surf and your bait is in the most productive areas longer. So you don't find your rig washed up on the beach continually. I also like to have a sinker leader of about 60cm to try to avoid sand crabs.
(2 May 2003)
Hooking more flathead
From: Jack Nugent
When you're fishing for flathead use 2 hooks on each line and when you feel one on the end, hook it and hold it down there for 10-15 seconds because it regurgitates when it is stressed and this acts as a berley and your are likley to pull up 2 of them.
(2 May 2003)
Give yourself a fighting chance
From: Dave
Just a tip for those of you that like a bit of rock fishing. To give yourself a fighting chance if you do happen to fall in wear a life jacket. You can purchase them for as little as $20 for a standard one. I actually wear a vest type which fits under my jacket and it is a bit more comfortable and you have more freedom.
(20 March 2003)
Staying safe on the rocks
From: Pat Formston
Use a heavy duty retractable dog lead attached to your belt and a rock friend on the other end and secured in any suitable crevice. Available at pet shop. You can feel safe when that big wave comes and still have the freedom to move around. Hope it helps someone.
(14 February 2003)
Catching big trout at night
From: Jack Lanyon
When I lived in the high country of north east Victoria we used to fish in the rivers at night (no moon) using bardi grubs for bait. What we used to do was use a closed face reel with the button on the back and long shank hooks, no weight and cast out into a bit of back water and then slowly retreive. Once the fish strikes press the button and let the fish run pulling the line gently through your fingers, once he stops give him about 2 minutes and then strike. The best I did one night was 16 out of one hole and some of the fish were huge. I can assure you this is the only way to catch big trout at night. Make sure you put a loop over the grub's head to keep him straight and try not to shine your torch on the water. Also, don't be frightened to use big bardies, even the small trout will go for them. Good fishing, Jack Lanyon.
(14 February 2003)
Rock and weed snagging tips
From: Lachlan K
When rock fishing always use a light sinker because you WILL get snagged, and when fishing around weed fish VERY close to the weed but not on the weed.
(7 January 2003)
Safety first
From: Jesse Dyke
Never touch or handle a fish or creature that you can't identify. It may bite or sting.
(10 December 2002)
Spotlighting gummy sharks
From: Troy Harding
In shallow water (less than 3 feet) a good way to find gummy sharks is to spotlight them. Using a strong spotlight, motor slowly through the shallows scanning the water with the light. Gummy shark eyes appear a bright blue under the light. When a gummy is spotted anchor up and throw out some berley. Within 10 minutes or so your reel should scream and you are on. This way is better, as constant berley in the one spot attracts too many unwanted fish such as skate and mullet. Large flathead (over 60cm) can also be caught using this method. This technique has proven very successful in the shallows of Swan Bay where gummies have been caught in under two feet of water.
(6 December 2002)
Squid the easy way
From: David
All you need is one pilchard, two rods. Place a half pilchard on a hook, cast up the current and allow the bait to flow down the current. Once you have cast it get a squid jig (buy one or make one, if you make one you can make it so you use the other half of the pilchard) and release the bail arm. Pick up the other rod which should feel like it is snagged (a squid is holding it) and reel it to the surface. Just below the surface release the squid jig right next to the squid and jerk away the pilchard on a single hook. The squid will get annoyed and grab the squid jig and high tail it out of there and all that you have to do then is strike. GAME, SET & MATCH!
(27 November 2002)
Fun catching carp with squid pole
From: Bruce Stegeman
Just for fun and a brilliant fight, try using a squid pole for carp. 10 kilo line unwieghted with No.8 hook loaded with corn. Tried this in the Barwon River when it's to blowy for the piers and had a ball.
(25 November 2002)
Take time to study the beach in advance
From: Riley Davison
 Here's a tip for avid surf fisherman (like myself) in order to save time locating good fishing territory without the hassle of lugging all the gear down only to find the water completely fruitless. Take time to study the beach at low tide too see the patterns of the exposed sands and reefs and again at high tide to look for the feeding places indicated by changes in colour and the movement of the waves. Swelling, unbroken waves indicate deeper water, while those that curl over and break indicate shallows. Rips (run-outs) create gutters, which are detectable by short choppy waves and the movement of whitewater out to sea. I hope this helps in some way and please feel free to contact me with any other questions regarding the surf. Tight lines! Riley.
(22 November 2002)
Leave the bail arm open
From: Brett Phillips
Leave the bail arm open after you have cast your bait. Place a small coin on the line or hook the line around a empty drink can. When the coin falls you know that a fish has your bait.
(6 November 2002)
Twisted dropper knot for the surf
From: Jo Delac
When surf fishing with a paternoster rig, I usually use the twisted dropper knot (found in Geoff Wilson's book of fishing knots and rigs) instead of a three-way swivel set up. It saves you from plenty of tangles which will make your fishing far more enjoyable.
(11 July 2002)
Trace tip for the surf
From: Tune
I find when I fish from the surf to prevent traces wrapping around your line just simply use a heavy line for your trace, before tying your trace on double it over then tie using a half bloody then all you have to do is slide the closed end through the eye of your hook then slip it over then pull tight, this also allows you to change the hook if need be. It works !!
(10 July 2002)
Redfin like good cover
From: Mark Sammut
When fishing for redfin, try and find a tree standing in the water or lying down because that's where the redfin feed. Cast near the submerged tree branches.
(4 July 2002)
Best time for jewfish
From: Linda Ponting
Best time to fish for jewfish is two nights after a full moon, on the run up tide. Use live squid or poddy mullet bait.
(2 July 2002)
Avoid spooking salmon feeding on the surface
From: David
A tip for when salmon are feeding on the surface. If you see obvious signs of feeding fish, don't drive your boat through them, or speed around them just to get in front of the other boats. It sends the fish down and only stops others and yourself from catching these great sport fish. If the fish move, sit tight for a little while. The school will probably return and will likely surround your boat.
(27 May 2002)
Half pilchard is better for elephant sharks
From: Michael Ketelaar
Elephant sharks are more easily hooked if you only use half a pilchard for bait. Keep plenty of the hook exposed and it will be easier to remove as well.
(22 April 2002)
Softly, softly when after trout
From: Michael Ketelaar
When spinning for trout, try to keep out of the main current stream wherever possible and walk slowly, trying to make as little disturbance as possible. This way you won't spook the fish as easily.
(22 April 2002)
Spare a thought for future generations of fish
From: Bob Meeuwissen
A couple weeks ago in Western Port I caught several gummies. Not knowing that the 6 foot female had young until I bled her and later that night finding out I had 9kgs of tough fillets individually wrapped and frozen. The jelly-like flesh was tough and tasteless unlike the males and non-pregnant females.
Not sure if this is always the case, but certainly has been the same with female elephant fish, which is why I always throw them back.
Should there be a ban on keeping female gummies during breeding season? I put the dozen or so young into the water but doubt if they would survive.
I dropped this into the Forums but it would be worthwhile informing anglers who may also kill a gummy with young and that is unpalatable.
(16 April 2002)
Tips for catching bream
From: Julian DeNardis
You can catch bream easily with a leader and a running sinker. Use a longshank hook about size 10. I use them and I catch them. I think suicide is better but I've never tried. The best bait is fresh sandworm, nippers and shrimp. You can use prawn. You can catch them with a float on a 2-3 metre leader. I do catch them like that. Good luck on catching the bream.
(19 March 2002)
Open bail arm for trout
From: Karen O'Riley
When targeting trout with bait, whether it's gudgeon, mudeye, yabbies, worms, etc., fish with an open bail arm. When the trout picks up your bait it then feels no resistance from your drag. No matter how lightly set you have it, I've seen a lot of baits and fish lost because the bail arm has been closed. It will improve your hookup rate and tight lines will be yours. Karen O'Riley.
(18 January 2002)
Lead weighted line for trawling
From: Bob Grimwood
My fishing partner always uses a lead weighted line for trawling. Not my choice, (don't argue with females), but, must admit the colored sections take away the guesswork on how much line you have out. I now trawl with a line which I assemble from the many colored nylons available on the market. Repeatability of depth is assured and it adds color to your day. Wrinklybob.
(5 December 2001)
Avoiding the slime
From: Katherine Kot
The best way to make sure that you don't get eels to leave their slime on your hand is to grab them in either newspaper or something else that will grip them. DON'T use your hands.
(8 October 2001)
Wake up call for Murray Cod
From: Peter Jolly
If you are fishing a snag and all is quiet, try tossing a stone or two down into it to wake the lazy fish up. I know this sounds very weird but it does work, at times this is all that will get the fish going on a quiet day.
(27 August 2001)
Flathead on fly!
From: Michael Ketelaar
Flathead on fly provide great sport. The flathead on sand bars and estuaries like to ambush their prey, so any drop offs, small channels or weed bed edges should be targeted first, especially on a falling tide as this is where the fish will be!
Sweep on the rocks
From: Michael Ketelaar
Rock fishing for sweep can be dynamite when the strong easterly and northerly winds blow. Sweep can be taken at any stage of the tide and respond very well to a steady berley stream of bread crumbs and tuna oil. Small pieces of pippie fished on a No.6 long shank hook under a free running bobby cork float in the berley will get results!
Slow retrieve for gars
From: Michael Ketelaar
A good tip for garfish is to very slowly retrieve your float shortly after casting. The gars are quite agressive and will often try to race each other to the bait!
More flathead tips
From: Mark Bolger
When fishing for flathead, search for sandy areas, with nearby broken ground, which can consist of rock, weed or reef material such as shellfish and kelp. Also, try fishing the mouths of local creeks - no matter how dirty. Recently, a 5lb flathead was caught in the mouth of Kannanook Creek near Frankston using a clouser, cast into the mouth of the creek. Clouser's hit the bottom and run along the sand, which stirs up a lot of interest. The best time to fish creeks is on falling tides, when water is running out. This stimulates the fish into a feeding frenzy. Good luck!
Catching Garfish
From: Mark Bolger
When trying to catch garfish, remember one thing... BERLEY! Tuna oil and bread is perfect! The oil is a smelly attractant and sinking breadcrumbs add a spectacular visual component to the mix. Also, when fishing for the gars, have a drop underneath a quill or pencil float of around 3-7 feet. This gives the perfect length to get amoungst the sinking breadcrumbs.
And a tip for your next fishing trip, take a rubbish bag with you and collect as much rubbish that you can fit into it. If we all do a little bit, our favourite fishing spots will be preserved. Try to leave the place cleaner than when you arrived.
Good Fishing to you all.
<< BACK TO TIPS MAIN PAGE
|
