Category Archives: Fish Species Articles

Articles and information on fishing for particular fish species.

Whiting Fishing Tips – How To Catch Whiting

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Whiting Fishing Tips

Whiting Fishing Tips – How to Catch Whiting

“If God told me that I was only allowed to chase three fish species for the rest of my fishing days, Whiting would definitely be in that three.”

Whiting truly are for everyone. If ever there was a ‘people’s fish’ the Whiting would be it. It has launched the angling careers of many a 3 year old. It’s the classic summer holiday fish. It has dedicated lifers who target nothing else. Dyed in the wool Marlin hunters can’t help themselves but beam with joy with a 45cm elbow slapper in their hands. Great chefs have launched careers on their delicate flavour. For most of us, it’s a special, a weekend target or the prize table fair from the day’s mixed bag.

Let’s revisit this old chestnut in some detail. We’ll look at Whiting fishing rigs, Whiting locations, the best lures for targeting Whiting, great Whiting kit and some good old Whiting fishing tips. First, we should have a look at where they live. They certainly get about, but target zones, i.e. the places we catch them, are a little narrower than there distribution.

The Whiting most Australians are familiar with are the Sand Whiting and the famous King George Whiting. Their distribution around Australia is more far reaching than most anglers would probably realise. Sand Whiting can be found as far South as just below the Victoria NSW boarder. In the North, their distribution reaches the tip of Cape York. The likelihood of catching Sand Whiting at these extremes is far less likely however and the target zone starts between Cains and Townsville and stretches all the way down to the far South coast of NSW.

The King George Whiting is fond of the cooler waters. It’s found as far north as southern NSW, all the way around the bite up to just south of Geraldton on the Western Australian coast. It is also found at the top of Tasmania. The target zone would commence at the Victorian NSW boarder, Stretch to Port Phillip, the recommence in on the South Australian coast where King George Whiting can grow beyond 50cm. The bottom end of Western Australia, Albany to Mandurah is also a target Zone.

Whiting congregate in the summer for spawning, hence the term ‘Summer Whiting’. The summer is probably the best time to target Whiting but they are available all year round. Now we’re in the depths of an Aussie winter, it’s probably a good time to restock some of your Whiting Kit. Throughout this article I will refer to fishing rods and reels and assorted kit that are perfect for Whiting. Check the links at the bottom of the article for a range of rods, reels lures and assorted tackle, brilliantly priced to get you kitted out for ‘Summer Whiting’.

The best places to find Whiting?

Beach Fishing TipsWhiting reside in the salt water inshore grounds and are prolific on our beaches. While Whiting can be caught some distance up river, the start of the brackish will generally put the brakes on the Whiting bite. Structure is critical, not the man made pylons and racks that attract Bream, but the holes, hollows, drop offs and subtle undulations of the sea bed. The edges of weed beds, sand and mud banks are perfect locations. Whiting live in the shallows and will forage the sea bed in waters a few inches to 6 meters deep (up to 12 meters for King George), they’re looking for worms, yabbies, pipis and other invertebrates uncovered by wave and current action. They will also take small bait fish. KG Whiting love fresh Squid. Beach gutters, deep and shallow, are brilliant for Whiting. Light wave action is perfect.

 

The best Whiting Fishing Rig – Rods and Reels

A general purpose 7-8 foot rod and 3000 reel combination will see you covered for most Whiting scenarios, a hand-line will suffice for that matter, they’re not a complicated fish. But you can, and maybe should, create a Whiting arsenal that sees you equipped for all locations, conditions, techniques and styles. Essentially, it comprises of 3 rods and 3 reels.

Outfit 1

A 7 foot full graphite spin rod, lightweight, rated 2 to 4kg. Strap on a spin reel to balance, size 1000 to 2500. This is the rod you will be using most of the time. It covers all of your closed water applications from land based to the boat and Kayak. Use mono or braid for casting fishing flesh and live baits or for casting lures. This rig is ideal for the beach also, weather permitting. Whiting can literally be just centimetres from the edge, in less than a foot of water. They comb the wash looking for food, as it slides up and down the beach. Why hold on to a 12 footer if it’s just not necessary. The key feature of the rod is a sensitive tip.

Outfit 2

A 10 to 12 foot full graphite spin rod, lightweight, suitable for a spin reel 3000 to 5000. Again, the tip should be sensitive but strong enough to handle the rigors of more powerful casting. This outfit is primarily for the beach. You will be using mono or braid with flesh and live baits. Essentially, the length is for casting purposes. This combo will also be useful for fishing wider rivers, where the drop off is some distance from a gently sloping river bank. When the tide is in, it can be difficult to reach the strike zone with a smaller rod.

Outfit 3

Outfit 3 is a dedicated beach rod. It’s graphite, 12 to 13 foot and can be spin or Alvey style. For the spin rod, strap a 6000 or 8000 reel to the rod. Yes, this sounds heavy for a humble Whiting. The reason is simple however. Just because the weather is acting up a little and the wave action is a little more aggressive, doesn’t mean there isn’t good Whiting to be had. If you need weight to hold your position or get over a sure break to a distant gutter, weight and strength is the answer. Don’t feel too nervous about upping your mono rating. It’s a lot better than casting with light line, only to hear your line snap under the pressure of the cast. If you have to beat the wind and hold the bottom, weight is the only answer.

Tips for Whiting Rod and Reel Selection

  • Be cautious of being too brand loyal. Understand your budget then look at specs and ratings. There are so many excellent manufactures competing for your dollar. Stubbornly sticking to a brand might see you miss the best tool for the job at a better price.
  • Quality finesse outfits are usually more expensive and often suffer in the hands of children, newbies and careless anglers. For the kids and the ‘rough’ anglers look for an outfit that is a little more robust.
  • Most general purpose rods are a little less sensitive in the tip. This is for obvious reasons, they’re pointed at all sorts of fish. Consider the outfits listed above and purchase, ‘built for purpose’ equipment. A sensitive tip can make all the difference when hunting Whiting.

 

The best Whiting Fishing Rig – Rigs and terminal tackle

For outfit 1, spool up with mono to 6 pound if you’re casting flesh and live baits. Of course you can fish lighter still, depends on how brave you are feeling. For drifting in your boat or kayak, it might be wiser to fish a little heavier. Fluoro leader to 6 pound is ideal, the hot tip is to get a leader as soft as possible. Use a long shank hook, size 4 to 8 and always go for the top brands. They are perfect for baiting live worms, yabbies and pipis and the long shank is easier to remove from the long snout of a Whiting. Run a long leader up to a swivel, and weight for conditions. A ball sinker is best. Simple is always the first option but a variation might be a paternoster rig for drifting or twin hooks on twin leaders for double hook-ups when casting into schools. If using a paternoster, ensure your bait hangs below the sinker.

When casting lures choose braid 2 to 6 pounds. A leader to 6 pound is ideal. A leader length just over a meter is generally advisable for best action and casting balance.

For outfit 2, spool up with 9 to 12 pound line. Feel free to up that to 15 but keep in mind lighter is usually best, depending on conditions. The rig and hook are the same as in outfit one, however a larger ball sinker is likely required but should only be heavy enough to match conditions and casting requirements. Again, a long leader is suggested for inviting more bites but not too long as casting will likely be compromised.

For Outfit 3, Line rating will be determined by the rating of your chosen rod. The first rule is balance. The second is, as light as conditions allow. You are using this rod because the sea and wind conditions are acting up. It’s likely you are using significant led to cast and hold the bottom. You will need a line rating that will handle the pressure of a hard cast.   Again the rig is the same as the first two outfits, with the exception being that you may wish to shorten the leader, for better casting. A larger swivel is also recommended for outfit 3.

 

The Best Whiting Lures

Best Whiting Lures

Whiting will take soft plastics, including grubs and fish tails. Surface lures however like poppers and stick baits have been a revelation for Whiting lure fishing. Casting lures at Whiting is still not widely practiced but there is an ever increasing band of Whiting anglers spreading the word and preaching about its effectiveness.  Braid is pretty well essential. Jerking, blooping or ‘walking the dog’ encourage attack from below. Working out speeds is often based on experiment for each session. Adding pauses to the retrieve is often very effective and erratic retrieves, often a default when experimenting, can entice plenty of interest.

The Best Baits for Whiting

Without a doubt the best baits for Whiting are live blood and sand worms, yabbies otherwise known as saltwater nippers and pipis. King George Whiting are very fond of fresh squid flesh. If you don’t have access to live baits the next best thing would be fresh peeled prawns. Using live baits however, is the key to getting big Whiting. There is nothing better.

Whiting Fishing Tips

  • Keep the bait below the sinker. Even when drifting I would rarely, if ever, use a paternoster rig. This is particularly pertinent to King George Whiting.
  • When fishing the beach and a Whiting shows interest in your bait, back slowly up the beach without striking. The fish will take the bait and you can gently lean back and set the hooks.
  • As with many fish, dawn and dusk seem to be the best times to increase your catch. I would argue that using live bait is more important. With Live baits quality fish in big numbers are possible throughout the day.
  • Look for current and wave action when searching for Whiting. It’s this action that reveals their prey.
  • Saltwater nippers catch the biggest Whiting. Once during a beach session, I fished the same gutter, using, more or less, the same rig as a much older guy standing next to me. The gutter was only about 150 meters long and the tide was receding. I had live sand worms and was catching good fish. He was using yabbies and catching the biggest Whiting I had seen in my life.
  • Avoid striking heavily when a Whiting bite, it’s easy to pull hooks, particularly if you’re fishing with braid.
  • Longer leaders work best with Whiting. It allows live baits to move more naturally for longer, and encourages a more aggressive bite.
  • When fishing the beach, if the tide is receding, fish the front of the gutter. Fish the back of the gutter on an incoming tide.

Whiting put up a fight that defies their diminutive size. This is why they are so much fun and so loved by Australian anglers. Fishing for Whiting can be as relaxing or as intensely active as you choose. From the collection of bait, to catch and fillet, a Whiting expedition is always very rewarding. There’s a 40 cm plus Whiting out there with your name on it. For the South Aussie Anglers there’s a King George over 50cm shaping for a fight. Check the links below, stock up on your Whiting kit, bag out, and then feed the family with some of the most amazing tasting fish the ocean has to offer.

Links

Winter Bream Fishing

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winter-breamBream fishing in the winter can be as rewarding and productive as during the warmer months. In fact your catch quality and quantity needn’t vary between seasons at all. Bream aren’t ‘seasonal’ per se, there is no specific Bream season. It is important to know however, that as water temps cool and winter sets in the habits of Bream change. Understanding these behavioral changes in Bream and, employing winter Bream tactics, allows anglers to enjoy fantastic Bream fishing as the water temps dip to a chilly 15 and below. Bream aren’t bears so they don’t hibernate. They need to eat as they do at any time in the year. This means you can still catch them in winter and all it requires is a little know how, good fishing sense, experimentation and some critical and creative thought.

This fishing article is about getting you on the path to making your winter Bream sessions as productive as they would be at any other time of the year. While the focus is primarily on the abundant Yellowfin Bream, many of the principals, estuary based in particular, apply to Black Bream and include Tarwhine. We’ll address Winter Bream baits, locations, lures, rigs and techniques as well as how to employ old school methods and, by contrast, point you in the direction of modern fishing products that have re-written the books on chasing this tenacious, hard fighting, ever so delicious Australian favourite.

The Summer Time Free-For-All

There is no doubt that summer and the warmer months of the year present Bream anglers with a much easier prospect of bagging out on our much beloved species. Your 6 year old can toss a half rancid prawn head from a wharf, connected to a handline rigged not unlike a vehicle winch, and catch Bream. You can cast top water lures of all shapes and sizes to the river bank for explosive, non-stop action and fun. You’re only slightly surprised when your pilchard rigged gang of 4/0’s placed speculatively in a surfside gutter pulls in a Bream of bragging rights size.

Bait up with lures of all types, use Mullet gut, live Yabbies and Prawns, fish light, fish heavy. If you have a wet bait somewhere in a Bream habitat, it’s odds on that you’ll be rewarded with summer time Bream – such is the Bream propensity for veracious feeding during the hot season. So why does the Bream bonanza go pear shaped come the winter?

Winter Bream Habits

It’s winter, it’s early morning and your cold. You’ve spent the better part of two hours collecting live nippers and you’ve tossed many from your favourite upstream location only to get tiny Bream and a lot of nothing. You’ve released the remaining saltwater nippers in frustration, grabbed your other rod and started on your favourite grub tail lure. Not so much as a sniff. So where did all the Bream go and why are they being so uncooperative?

As winter sets in Bream will generally head to the deeper water around the river mouths and estuary entrances. They congregate much deeper in the water column and, for some reason, get very selective about what they eat. If given a chance to see them, with clear winter waters this is often likely, they appear as if very sluggish. Without going into the science, it is likely that this behaviour relates to the soon to arrive spring spawn. Truth is it doesn’t matter why. This is where they are and how they’re behaving.

This is not to say that your usual locations and techniques will not work. They can and do. If however you’re looking for the percentage play and wish to increase your chances of size and quantity, adapt your tactics to suit. Get creative with your approach and employ a selection of techniques. We’ve no doubt, if you do this, you’ll be more than pleased with the outcome.

Two Old-School Options for Targeting Large Bream

  1. For those with access to deeper harbours loaded with plenty of man-made structure such as wharves with timber pylons, functional or otherwise, you might like to try a handline and pudding bait. Yes, that is very old-school. But if anglers could actually let go of their fancy rods for just a moment and try this, they would realise it is a huge amount of fun, it’s possible from your boat or simply land based and more often than not provides astonishing results in both Bream size and bag quantity.

Fish the evening and get in as far under the wharf or as deep into the structure as possible. You want heavy mono on your hand line. With modern line diameters 10kg is by no means too much. Your line is likely to take a beating and such a line class will take out none of the thrill and sport. Your cold and wet hands are also less likely to get cut trying to drag a 45cm specimen from around a pylon.

Connect a Luderick hook to your mono and fold on a small piece of pudding to cover your hook. A sinker is rarely required. If it is, use a tiny running ball down to the hook. (Pudding bait is more or less like a paste created by mixing cheese, flour and a frankfurt. Check out some of the internet search engines for a recipe.) Bream approach pudding differently to other baits. They will hold it in their mouths and suck it, letting it dissolve. You may feel a slight pressure, and you may feel nothing until they run off with it. The trick is learning when to strike. Try it and discover for yourself.

  1. For massive Winter Bream 40cm and well beyond, hit the ocean rocks with heavy kit using Cunje as bait. The rig is simple. Strap a 5000 size (minimum) spin reel or an Alvey to a rod 12 foot or longer. Spool with 8-10kg mono that has excellent abrasion resistance, you’ll need it. A short Shank 1/0 will hold plenty enough cunje and gives you the weight to cast the required distance. A sinker is rarely required and often ill advised.

The water you are fishing is often shallow, jam packed with rocks, snags and weed. This is why they fish live there. Your baits are carried over these snags via wave and wash into the strike zone. Vigilance is needed to ensure you don’t get caught up too often. You will get hung up and you may go through a few hooks. But with a half dozen Bream in your keeper bag in excess of 40cm, you won’t be complaining. You can also expect a visit from big Drummer and Big Groper. A critical requirement is that you must increase your drag. There is simply too much cover and the fish will run straight for it. Feel free to up your 10kg line class and be ready to hang on! A tip. If your fish does find cover and won’t budge, let your line go slack a give it a few minutes. He may well come out giving you a second bite of the cherry.

River Rigs for Winter Bream with Modern Fishing Techniques

Keep it simple and lighten up to bring on the winter Bream bite on the river. Complex rigs are annoying at the best of times but come the winter, your Bream hunt can be seriously hampered by fancy rigs, heavy lead and a hefty line class. The water is often clear so Bream will spot chunky lines. Bream become sluggish, so unlikely to go out of their way to attack a passing bait not quite in the zone, so you need to get right in their lounge room. They are timid on the bite and their appetite has become very selective, so your baits and lures need to be extra appealing.

If you don’t have a light outfit, on the lines of a finesse style set up, now would be a good time to invest. A sensitive, yet strong rod around 2 to 2.2 meters in a 3kg (max) class would be ideal. Strap on a 2500 size spin reel or smaller then spool it with mono or braid as light as you dare. Leaders should also be as light as your courage allows and as invisible as technology permits. Going super light is critical, particularly if you want to catch winter Bream on lures.

If you’re using flesh baits on mono it is a good idea to fish with no lead at all. We understand that this is often impossible, so where required, use the minimum you can get away with and run a small ball down to the hook or a couple of split shots. There is good evidence to suggest a drop in hook size mollifies the timid biter so if you struggle a little then give this technique a try. Go as small as practical to retain baits and ensure hook up. If you intend to catch and release, maintain a standard size hook or consider using circle hooks.

If you’re in a boat, drifting the banks and drop offs will yield by catch in the form of decent Lizards otherwise known as flathead but you’ll likely miss the Bream. And a paternoster rig, a staple drifting rig, is not exactly keeping things as simple as possible.  Come winter it’s best to select deeper downstream holes and channels using your local knowledge and/or a sounder. Anchor up as far away as possible from your target. Bream will be spooked into inaction during the winter, particularly in heavily fished, high traffic areas.

If you’re land based and looking for access to the river mouth, hit the break walls. Of course you may need to go to a heavier rig but the same principal of keeping it as light and simple as possible applies. Run a sinker to a swivel with a leader length that’s suits your conditions. If you need to cast lengthy distances, you may have to consider shortening your leader.

The Best Baits and Lures for Winter Bream

Winter Bream Lures

While soft plastics like grub tails and fish tails etc. get results, winter is the time when blade lures and hard bodies like Vibes and Cranks come into their own when fishing the rivers, harbours and estuaries. They are brilliant for fishing deeper in the water column and their unique actions can excite the laziest of Bream into a savage attack. They are, arguably, the best lures for catching winter Bream. You will also do well with these lures in your regular spots, on weed beds and structures like oyster racks. We strongly advise having a decent selection of colours at hand in your tackle box. For some reason the winter sends Bream all Barramundi-like and they can get ridiculously selective with colour. Another very good tip is to spend the extra coin and get premium quality, top shelf lures. It really does make a difference. Using a fish attractant on your lures is also wise and has often proven the difference between no Bream and full live wells.

For non-artificial baits, I.e. flesh baits, experimentation is the order of the day. There is however bait/location combinations that have proven results as the best baits for winter Bream. Save your live Yabbies for downstream in the winter. You’ll catch Bream where you catch the Yabbies but they’re likely to be juvenile. Take your hard earned live Yabbies and fish the surf gutters. They’re an excellent bait for winter Bream in the surf. Crabs, both live and dead, are brilliant in the surf and brilliant from the rocks and break walls. Great flesh baits include mullet gut, cubed Bonito or Frigate Mackerel, bread and, particularly if you fish busy city harbours and rivers like Sydney, Wollongong or Newcastle, cubes of beef or chicken. Yes, a cheap piece of chopped up chuck steak can have outstanding results.

Check the Links Below and Kit up for Winter Bream Action

Having read this article we’ve got no doubt many of you will be champing at the bit to hit the water, try some new tactics, confirm some of your own suspicions we’ve covered here or, simply try a new technique. Before you race out the door, check the links below for kit you may require to maximise your chances by equipping to rig effectively for awesome winter Bream.

Trout Fishing Australia – Lures, Tackle & Locations

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Brown Trout Fishing AustraliaTrout Fishing in Australia

 

We all acknowledge Australia is blessed with the most superlative salt water fishing the globe has to offer. From beach and ocean rocks to our blue water  paradise, our much treasured and protected aquatic wonderland is a haven for anglers of all disciplines. As if that wasn’t enough, much of South Eastern Australia and, perhaps to a lessor extent, the southern regions of Western Australia, provide excellent freshwater opportunities to keep the trout enthusiasts engaged in their favourite pastime for a life time and beyond. For the trout newbie, a whole new fishing lifestyle and passion is there to be embraced and explored.

From rural rivers and dams to the remotest high country streams, trout fishing in Australia will see you immersed in our countries postcard wilderness. Trout fishing in Australia embodies all we dream and imagine in the sport. It is you, pristine wilderness, the ethereal sounds of forest and stream, the scents of campfire and no one else for miles. It is you, your kit and your wits pitched against hard fighting, wily trout. They’re incredible sport, delicious on the camp grill and the thrill of the search can only be outdone by the strike and ensuing battle.

Our online Fishing Store sells the latest and best trout lures, rods and reels at unrivalled prices. The old hand can restock their trout kit and upgrade their equipment. The novice can select a custom, scratch built outfit and kit then hit the streams, rivers and dams, entering the sport with trusted, quality gear. Shimano, Daiwa, Rapala, Celta, and Hardy Zenith Fly are just a few of the brands offering outstanding trout fishing equipment. Read on for more information about Australian trout fishing locations, lures and equipment.

A Brief History

Our trout, Brown, Rainbow and Brook, are all introduced species. The 19th Century saw the introduction of these species much to the detriment of many of our fresh water natives. They have adapted well here, particularly the Brown Trout. Such introductions would be impossible in contemporary Australia. Those of us with the trout passion can credit our access to the sport on the dubious biological controls of the past. Despite the trout’s chequered history and the ecological implications of their introduction the trout enjoys nearly protected status. Trout fishing is strongly regulated and our dams and rivers are regularly stocked. The trout is here to stay, the species have adapted and endured, and the continuing Australian passion for the sport ensures we are well supplied with the latest in trout fishing equipment.

How to Catch Trout, Common Methods and Simple Tips

Depending on the location you choose there are a number of popular methods for catching trout. Your approach is likely to be based on your location or of course to your access to travel and purchased equipment. Whatever the case. It is very easy to get started. And there is a method that will suit you.

Fly Fishing: Probably the most recognisable method of trout fishing. Mostly done in streams and rivers where trout are found swimming shallow and attacking the surface. Special casting techniques are required and flies are an art unto themselves. Introduction to the method is often best under experienced guidance. The fly technique can take some time to master, requires patience and great finesse. There are quite a few places that offer lessons. Pflueger and Gillies have great entry level fly fishing rod and reel combos. For the experienced, Hardy Fly Rods and Reels provide the highest of quality.

Casting Lures: In lakes, dams and rivers, casting as you would do it in the salt water. Just add a lure to your balanced spinning rig and start casting lures. This is a very easy way to start the trout battle. Shimano and Daiwa have great light weight, specialised fresh water rods and reels. Be sure to have a selection of lures and lure colours. Different retrieves speeds and techniques can make a huge difference also and can change a sluggish session into thrill a minute. Check out some of the best trout lures listed further below.

Bait Fishing: A sinker and a swivel tied to a leader above a hook. So simple it is perfect. Ideal for lakes and dams, all you need do is add a garden worm to your hook. Look for fresh water reels from Shimano and Daiwa to enhance your trout fishing experience. A 2 to 4kg set up would be ideal.

Trolling: Trolling delivers great results on dams, lakes and in rivers. Check the lures below to see which ones you should purchase. Keep in mind that in certain areas the trout can be very deep, particularly when the sun is bright. A downrigger may become an essential piece of kit for the deeper lakes and dams.

Jigging: Rainbow trout respond well to jigging. Particularly when they are lurking in the depths. This is a great method when the sun is on the river and the fish have left the surface for some protection. Jig the deep holes and remember, jigging is not just for the boaties.

Baits for Trout: Bait fishing is an awesome way to hunt for trout. A fresh water spinning outfit from Daiwa, Shimano Silstar or Okuma provide options for creating an excellent trout fishing rig. Baits are very readily available and include; Garden worms, Wattle grubs, Mudeyes, Cockroaches, Crickets and grasshoppers work well too. Try Live baiting to entice the bigger fish.

Trout Lures

Best Trout Trolling Lures for Lakes and Rivers

  • Rapala Spotted Dog
  • Rapala Ultra-Light Minnow
  • Berkley Power Blade
  • Tassie Devils

Best Trout Lures for Streams

  • The Berkley 3B Fat Dog
  • The Berkley 3B Crank Scum Dog
  • The Rapala Original Floating Minnow
  • Rublex Celta Fishing Lure
  • Berkley Gulp 3 inch minnow
  • Berkley T-Tail Minnow

Best Trout Lures for Lakes and Dams

  • The RMG Scorpion 35
  • The Storm Gomoku stiletto
  • Berkley Powerblade
  • Rapala Original floater
  • Celta lures
  • The Rapala Xrap Series

  SHOP NOW – BUY TROUT LURES HERE

 

Trout Fishing Locations in Australia

There are so many awesome locations for trout fishing in Australia. The list below represents just a handful of the possibilities. You will find Brown Trout just about everywhere. Rainbow Trout are also widely dispersed but not quite as prolific as the Brown. Brook Trout are not as common as its cousins but you will find all of them are fabulous sport fish and all are truly delicious. It is very wise to check the fisheries guidelines for the location you choose to fish as regulations can vary. The list below barely scratches the surface. Google the areas mentioned to find greater detail.

Fishing for Trout in NSW & ACT

  • The New England Region
  • Central Southern Highlands
  • Snowy Mountains
  • Kosciuszko National Park
  • Barrington Tops
  • Gloucester Tops
  • Robertson
  • Goulburn

Fishing for Trout in the Snowy Mountains in NSW

  • Lake Jindabyne
  • Lake Eucumbene
  • Monaro River, lower and Upper
  • Perisher Creek
  • Bobundra Creek
  • Betts Creek
  • Diggers Creek
  • Thredbo River
  • Moonbah River
  • Snowy River
  • Eucumbene River
  • Murrumbidgee River
  • Swampy Plains River – Geehi
  • McLaughlin River


Trout Fishing Victoria

  • Lake Eildon
  • Lillydale Lake
  • Blue Rock Lake
  • Goulburn river
  • Lake Bellfield
  • Lake Wendouree
  • Lake Eppalock
  • High Country

Trout Fishing Tasmania

  • Derwent River
  • Craigbourne Dam
  • Huon River
  • Lake Meadowbank
  • Lake King William
  • Bronte, Bradys and Lake Echo
  • Great Lake
  • Arthurs Lake
  • North Esk and St Pats rivers
  • Lake Barrington

Trout Fishing Western Australia

  • Waroona Dam
  • Harvey Dam
  • Collie River
  • Blackwood River
  • Donnelly River
  • Warren River

Appropriate Trout Fishing Equipment

Trout fishing equipment need not cost you an arm and a leg. The famous brands like Shimano and Daiwa offer fantastic fresh water rods and reels ideal for trout fishing. A rod between 6 and 7 feet rated from 2 to 4kg with spinning reel from sizes 1000 to 3000 will be perfect. Grab a bag of Small Mustad hooks usually size 2 to 6 if you’re using bait, or check the lure selection above.

One of the best investments for standing in a creek or stream are a good pair of waders. Wilson have excellent fishing waders or you could check out the Kokoda Dawn Patrol Waders. Both are fantastic and will keep you dry and just a little warmer for those long spells standing in cold alpine waters.

For those interested in Fly fishing, try Pflueger and Gillies entry level fly fishing rod and reel combos. For the Fly expert and enthusiast, have a look at the Harvey Zenith range of Fly rods. Rumour has it that they are the best trout fishing rods on the market. Check Shimano and Daiwa for a fly reel to match.

Smoked trout are fantastic table fair. To add the culinary touch to your trout fishing expedition, you might like to take a look at the Jarvis Walker Stainless Steel Fish Smoker. You’ll also need smoker sawdust so check out the Tacspo range of smoker sawdust, there are a number of wonderful flavours from which to choose.

You can find all of these on our website by using the handy search tool at the top of our online fishing store. So, what are you waiting for? Buy Trout gear and get out and go fishing!

Fishing For Kingfish in Australia

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Species Article: Kingfish in Australia

 

The yellowtail kingfish is a species much sought after by anglers who like a challenge.  When hooked, a yellow kingfisher will put up a masterful fight, and the species is renowned for fighting dirty.  Read on for some tips on finding this strong, brave and beautiful fish.

 

Kingfish are a pelagic species; torpedo shaped with a bright yellow tail, a dark silver/green back, a gold stripe along their flank, a white belly and yellow fins.
They can be found in cool temperate oceans throughout the world and in Australia they are distributed in the subtropical waters off southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the southern and south-western coast of Western Australia.

 

In these areas you’ll find them on offshore reefs and in close round the rocks.  They like clean water and are likely to hang around structures and wrecks. You’ll also often find them under floating debris where they feed off bait fish. Younger fish weighing up to about 7kg gather in large schools, while larger fish (they can grow to well over 20kg or more) are more solitary.

 

In New South Wales waters, schools of kingfish surface feed during the spring and summer months (from September until February) and schools feeding lower down can also be caught until June often by Jigging or bait fishing. The larger fish are more likely to be found offshore during autumn and winter.

 

Kingfish feeding close to the surface will take live bait such as squid, garfish and slimy mackerel, and they will also take lures. Useful surface lures include poppers, or unweighted soft plastic lures such as slugs and stick baits which kingfish favour.  For kingfish that are feeding deeper, consider using diving lures, or heavily weighted soft plastic lures. Jigging has also become a popular way of angling for kingfish offshore. Ocean Storm Fishing tackle Online Shop stocks a good variety of lures, poppers and jigs designed to target kingfish.

 

A kingfish when hooked close to the shore will head at speed for the nearest rocks, and a kingfish caught on a jig in offshore waters will dive for the bottom. To avoid a kingfish taking off with your tackle, it’s important to have strong gear: line strength at least 8 kilograms, a spool large enough to support the line, and with adequate drag strength, and good thick hooks.

 

Kingfish is one of the best sport fish available in the subtropical waters of Australia.  They provide an exhilarating tussle when hooked and if captured have superb eating qualities.

Want to know more about fishing for Kingfish? Check out the Kingfish Secrets DVD for sale in our online fishing store.

Fishing for Black Marlin

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Species Article: Black Marlin

An angler’s first sight of a black marlin is an unforgettable experience: it is a magnificent fish weighing up to several hundred kilograms, and its size is matched by great power, speed and agility.  It’s therefore no surprise that the black marlin is much sought after by anglers from around the world who wish to take up the challenge of this spectacular fish with its renowned fighting qualities.

The Black marlin is at home in the tropical and sub-tropical waters of our Indian and Pacific oceans. They mostly swim in the surface layer of the sea, near land masses and in the vicinity of coral atolls. In Australia black marlin are distributed throughout the coastal areas of all states, with the most popular recreational fishing grounds being off Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia. Black marlin can be caught almost all year round somewhere in Australia: on the east coast, for example, they are plentiful in north Queensland waters between July and November, off southern Queensland from November to March, off northern New South Wales from December to April and off southern New South Wales between January and May.

Although some tackle has been specifically designed for big game fishing, expensive and sophisticated equipment is not essential if you’re targeting juvenile marlin rather than really big ones.  A lever drag game reel is ideal Such as  A Shimano TLD 50 Two speed fishing reel stocked by our Online Fishing Tackle Shop would be a good choice and you’ll need at least 640 metres of line with break strength of 24kg to suit. A game style rod is ideal, such as the Shimano T-Curve 24kg Stand Up fishing rods for game fishing from a boat or if you are into land based game fishing then you could consider the Live Fibre RLF14 Land based game fishing rod.

The major food of black marlin is other fast-swimming fish species such as tuna, trevally and mackerel and a range of other bait fish. As opportunistic feeders, the black marlin consumes a lot of bait fish, and anglers take advantage of this feeding pattern when seeking out their targets. Some signs that bait is around include hovering birds and objects floating on the surface.

Trolling baits and lures, or a combination of these, are the most usual methods used by anglers to catch black marlin, with lures now being used increasingly in preference to live bait. Our Online Fishing Tackle Shop stocks a variety of marlin lures including the ever popular Pakula Lures range of trolling skirts with an enticing head shaking action. Lures are most effective when several are trolled in a pattern or otherwise known as a spread, but one or two lures can still work well.

The excitement when you hook a marlin is very special. If you win the battle with a marlin, the decision whether to capture or release the fish is yours.  Whatever you decide, you will have had a thrilling tussle with a very worthy opponent.

Check out some useful information on Pakula lure choice: