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| canberra, south coast & snowy mtns with rob paxevanos |
Dated: 27 June, 2012
 | | BIG NEWS FOR ANGLERS: Catching Kayak Blackfish on blades has opened up a whole new fishery for south coast anglers. |
Rob's weekly fishing southern NSW report 0708 written for the week of Wednesday 27/6/2012
SIZZLING HOT NEW TECHNIQUE FOR SOUTH COAST ANGLERS
Blackfish fight hard, taste great, are prolific, live in stunning and user friendly sheltered estuary systems…but there hard to catch in numbers!
So there is cause for excitement when someone figures out an easy and fun new way to catch them. This week Craig Coughlan shares his delightful discovery; here’s Craig:
During the warmer months of the year, i spend a majority of my time on the water chasing Bream, Whiting and Flathead on topwater and shallow hardbody lures, and during the cooler months my time is spent chasing Snapper and Salmon, but every now and then I feel like a change and target something different.
Around this time every year, I have great success targeting Luderick on lures, either deep diving harbodies, or metal blades, the latter being the more successful of the two in most South Coast estuaries. On recent trips to Tuross lake, the Moruya river and the Clyde river the results have continued to impress with good numbers of fish.
The first few Luderick I caught on blades were by-catch while fishing for Bream at St.Georges basin, and after catching quite a few over a few different trips it got me thinking why these fish couldn’t become a specific target. And after a lot of trial and error, a few changes in the technique and fishing ideal locations I soon figured out that regular catches are possible.
Luderick are usually found in schools so when you hook one more often than not there will be plenty more willing to take a lure, and it makes for an awesome day on the water when they are on the bite. They are up there with the best of fighters when it comes to light line sport fishing and are regarded by many as a sensational table fish.
Most of the Luderick I hook are towards the mouth of the systems, usually in crystal clear water where the small size and stealth of a kayak is needed to sneak up behind them. Critical in the whole process is my Hobies mirage drive which allows me to hold position facing upstream in the current with my hands free to concentrate on the fishing.
I look for water between 2 to 3 meters in depth, with patches of weed or reef, or a thick weedbed along the edges dropping into the deeper water, these area’s almost always have Luderick hanging around them making them an ideal place to get started.
It is a fairly simple technique, I fish the smallest blades I can in the conditions, if it’s a very strong current the bigger and heavier blades are required but always try to keep the lure as small as possible.
Casting the lure directly up current as far as possible, once the lure hits bottom all that is required is a slow lift and drop technique bringing the lure back with the current, and nine times out of ten the Luderick hit the lure as its being lifted off the bottom. If the hooks fail to connect a Luderick will usually come back for a second go after repeating the process.
Amongst many other species Bream, Trevally and Flathead are a likely by-catch using these techniques and even though the blades are small, they catch their fair share of big fish as well. Fishing the blades very slow is key, and adding a bit of scent to the lure helps to create a bit of interest as well.
I always fish natural colours when using blades for Luderick, browns and olive greens have by far been the most successful and when possible, those colours in a matt finish have been my preference.
Luderick have a small mouth so as a result, they are only lightly hooked which can mean the risk of losing a fish or two is fairly likely but fishing a slightly lighter drag than usual will help prevent pulling the hooks from the fishes mouth during the fight.
Luderick are not a common target for anglers using lures but consistent numbers are easily achievable once the technique and location is right and they can provide hours of fun once it all starts working.
See you on the water
Craig Coughlan
tournamentfishingaustralia.com
This Column Brought to you by the Wollongong Council Tourist Parks at Bulli, Corrimal and Windang. Superb locations, family friendly and great fishing. More information at www.wollongongtouristparks.com.au
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| Rob Paxevanos
Fishnet Pro Angler
Report brought to you by fishingaustralia.tv
Email : robpax@netspeed.com.au
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