SHEEP 0 Posted April 14, 2017 Report Share Posted April 14, 2017 Does anyone catch there own pillies? I do a lot of my own bait collecting cause it's fun and cheaper. But I always find my self picking up a bag of pillies from a servo. So does anyone one know any techniques time of year and where to go? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doobie 5,802 Posted April 15, 2017 Report Share Posted April 15, 2017 I don't catch pillies myself but someone may be able to give some advice soon (although many are away for Easter atm). I just buy the frozen salted ones and are not too dear or even at the markets as fresh (but harder to keep on the hook) and a little cheaper again. Also, I have read that you can buy a Sabiki rig which could have upto 8 hooks on the line - but with only 3 hooks permitted on one line I'm not sure how legal these rigs are or why they are allowed to be sold. So I would just make up your own rig with 3 hooks (even with the little feathers on them) and/or white coloured bait and sinker at the bottom and start jigging away until they hook on. Temperatures also will need to be a little cooler, so maybe another month yet, but where to get them I'm unsure. Meppstas 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
projoe 261 Posted April 15, 2017 Report Share Posted April 15, 2017 You will need a bloody big trawler with a big fine net & get out a couple of hundred kilometers off shore to catch pilchards (the size you purchase in the tackle stores) in this state they do come up this gulf but are usally on the much smaller size (juvenile fish) & will congregate in the port river for a couple of months later in the year then disappear till the following year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smokeykebab 175 Posted April 15, 2017 Report Share Posted April 15, 2017 If cast nets were legal catching pillies would be a breeze. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SHEEP 0 Posted April 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2017 cheers guys for the info. I guess I better get a cast net. I know they collect pilchards just off Lincoln so I thought we might be lucky enough to get them in our gulf. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
archerfish 685 Posted April 15, 2017 Report Share Posted April 15, 2017 Hi Sheep Please be aware that cast nets are illegal to use in SA. (Refer to smokeykebab's post above) Cheers af KIDNEY SLAPPER 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SHEEP 0 Posted April 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2017 I was joking mate! And only if you get caught Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Booma 1,360 Posted April 15, 2017 Report Share Posted April 15, 2017 You get big schools of them mixing with schools of Tommies around the metro jetties at certain times of the year (4-5" fish). Not the sort of thing you could really target reliably though I don't think. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SHEEP 0 Posted April 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2017 Cheers Booma I heard they get them in WA by berlying hard with bread.white Sabaki rig and load up every cast. When I get to Bremer Bay one day I am sure they might know a thing or two as well Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Knackers 696 Posted April 29, 2017 Report Share Posted April 29, 2017 Used to catch them for live bait off outer harbour wharf years ago. Used a big crab net or home made square net with fine mesh. Lower it down so it was about 6 inches deep or so. Then lower a light (kero tilly latern for me) so it was just above the net. They would swim over the top and we would pull the net up to get them. On a single hook and straight to the bottom then reeled up about a metre off the bottom. It was the only way to get the resident mulloway living under the wharf interested. Used to get a few tommies, squid, gar and crabs as well. Always used surf rods as well with the butt held by a loop of rope through the planks to get the pilly as far away from the piles as possible to have a chance of landing them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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