Des

On 22/8/2022 at 7:34 PM, JosephY said:

 

Yesterday went to west lake for my first ever kayak fishing session. And some how I knock my rod into the water went for a swim but couldn’t get it back. Brought the rod and reel less than a month 🥲🥲 anyone had same experience ?

 

Damn! Thats a great combo too

These must be the easiest of lures to work. They also cast a mile with ease  ... Into the wind too!

Keep it simple. A constant rolling retrieve across the bottom of a sand flat, will have the Yellow Fin Whiting chasing and hitting it. Never pause with YFW. Keep retrieving even when they strike lightly. They will only chase and hit it harder.

If there is a little structure around, and a possible Flathead around, then I add in a few smooth rod lifts and drops. 

This also applies for KGW when fishing the blueline weed edges.

I very rarely fish Bream areas but I have read they will hit them on the pause.

Apart from YFW and FH the Salmon Trout love them (annoyingly)...  aaand  ... Bloody Puffers too unfortunately !

I have had some success on FH and a few YFW with the Strike Pro and TT Lures models.

But the absolute stand out are the Ecogear ZX. 

The largest 43mm size works best for me with YFW and FH. However drop down to 30mm if you are in a KGW area.

My favourite colours are; #418 - Bleeding Prawn and the #402 UV Pink

Always get some spare Assist hooks. They also work well on other surface lures.

Good luck. I am sure you will enjoy using them.

Cheers Des.

12 hours ago, yellow door 1 said:

Yeah you cant get a better endorsement than that -

There really is some magic going on with those shirts

I was a bit Skeptical when Buying my new fishing shirt - It didnt make sense these new shirts could be cooler than cotton.

I wouldnt have even bought it if I didnt have a voucher, I didnt know what to buy with.

I was always told cotton was the best  - and for a long time it probably was - but the breathability claims of cotton now have some serious competition. The newer polyester shirts are well worth checking out. 

I just went outside and blew air through the 2 sorts of shirt - Forcing air through the Polyester was about 3 times easier than cotton

 

You always go that extra yard !  

On 17/8/2022 at 5:19 PM, MAH said:

Any recommendations, anything you have been particularly happy with?

For several years I've worn Columbia long sleeve shirts when fishing and any outdoor activity. They have been excellent, lightweight, quick drying, roomy allowing free movement; but they are getting pricey. Cheapest I've found is $75, which is bit of coin when you want to buy 2 or 3.

If I can't find anything else, I'll just buy the same shirts again, because even if it's pricey, it's better than sunburn and the risk of skin cancer.

My favourite is the Columbia "Blood & Guts" fishing shirts. 

For all the reasons you have already mentioned. But also their water resistance and they are very stain resistant.

$75 is good value. Considering they last for ages.

A few rods that I am aware of,  but have not checked them out as I would probably end up buying them!

I keep lists of them just in case 

My list only has rods below $500. Although some are inexpensive like the below Abu Garcia at $160

Abu Garcia Veritas PLX Tournament, VRTT-S 721UL 1-3kg 7' 2" 2-8gms 1pc

Daiwa 20 INFEET EX 752ULFS-ST 7'5"  Line 0.5 - 3Kg  Lure 0.5-5gms  2-Butt    

Diawa 22 TD ZERO 762ULFS, 0.5-8g, 1-3kg

OCEANS LEGACY QUEST  QSR732XUL 2-8LB Weight 58gms 

Shimano Anarchy 21AN782ULF 7'8" 1-4 Kg, 1-5 gm

Have fun looking for your new rod.

My favourite ultra light for lure casting at Yellow Fin Whiting is the: 

Abu Garcia Eradicator Real Finesse ERFS-76LT-TZ  7' 6" 2pce Line 0.6-3lb Lure 0.1gm-12gm

Not sure if they are available now. There were some on ebay. The 7' 6" Rod only 66 weighs grams !!!

A couple of slightly heavier models I have (amongst too many others!), which are also good for YFW lure casting,  yet easily handle a few big Flathead or Salmon:

Shimano T Curve Premium 21TCP782LC … 7' 8" 1-4 Kg line,  1-7gm lure. 2 pc

Shimano Zodias ZOD270UL+ 7ft  Line 3-5 lbs  Lure 2-7gms   JDM model

All the ultra light models need some care.

Cheers, Des

20 hours ago, Des said:

Yet to brave the cold 

Funny. I can go wading in the cold water, on the sandflats in Winter. You keep moving and warming up.

But I struggle sitting on a jetty, staying put in a burley stream with little exercise to warm you up. 

Now to test the salted worm out in the water

On 30/6/2022 at 10:56 PM, Wert said:

How's the gar hunt going Des?

Yet to brave the cold 

2 hours ago, Yorky said:

They once were a commercial item, don’t know if their still available 

Might try repurposing the spring of a wooden clothes peg 

1 hour ago, Rybak said:

Snelled Hooks

  I will have to play around to try and do that. Mine look like @yellow door 1 photo. The trace goes through the eye.

5 hours ago, Softy said:

Trying to come up with a cheap rod holder for my spare room... I thought i know a man who likes to do stuff on the cheap.  Do you have a vertical rod holder? It's for my spare room, considering just buy a strip style holders and screwing into the plaster wall.

I adapted an old Ikea clothes rack. Using velcro cable ties up top. The attached picture is how I have mine set up.

They have them from $25 for a double sided (for rods) and on rollers. So easy to move around and access both sides. https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/rigga-clothes-rack-white-30231631/ 

You may be able to modify to suit your customised needs.

12 hours ago, yellow door 1 said:

I haven’t had a snell fail yet 

only possible issue is if you bind it the wrong direction around the hook eye  or your hook eye has particularly sharp edges 

 

i just tie the simple version like Lee Rayner 

 

 

12 hours ago, Wert said:

I also run 20lb tough trace (among others) find it to be really good but it is unforgiving if you don't get your knots right, I suspect due to its stiffness.

The hooks themselves can be a problem too, some hooks can have a sharp edge at the end of the hook where it forms the eye, 20lb is pretty light line for an average 3/0, the snood may be slipping up and getting cut almost like clippers if the eye's "join", hope that makes sense, it's a bit hard to explain without demonstrating.

My last thought is perhaps a lighter gauge hook like a mustard penetrator (my go to for lighter tackle before moving to circles) will help with your problem.

Hope that helps, mysterious line breakage is very frustrating so hope you get it sorted and if I happen to have helped fix your problem I wouldn't be opposed to you PMing me the location of one of these sweet flats you fish

Thanks guys. @Wert the eye of the hook my well be it. As this is where the trace is breaking on the top hook. I think I have to be more careful around the eye of the hook. Start the winding on the snell going away from the join in the hook eye as pointed out by @yellow door 1 . After checking a couple that I already have made up, I also noticed on a couple that I have inadvertently passed the leader through the top of the eye rather than up through the bottom. That certainly would have put more stress on the leader.

Certainly have to pay attention to the small details. 

Cheers, Des

25 minutes ago, projoe said:

Bad knots? are you applying saliva to the knots before pulling snug? could be a bad batch of trace material & yes it happens

 

Yes I apply saliva when tightening.

I think my knots could be improved. So looking for any tips, videos, etc that just might improve things.

Or a better leader material.

2 hours ago, Rybak said:

A wire trace is another option. Bust offs on what fish/circumstances & chasing what fish?

Thanks Rybak. Wire might be going too far. I like the variable spacing when snelling my own ganged hooks.

Mainly very big Flathead busting me off. Occasionally I tangle with some big Salmon and Rat Kingfish on the Sandflats.

I do bring out a wire traced with ganged hooks if I want to tangle with a Bronzie. 

Cheers, Des

I am using 20 lb Black Magic Tough Trace leader for snelling 3 x 3/0 ganged hooks. I have had a couple of bust offs at the trace recently.

Any alternative trace suggestions .. or 

What is the best way for traces on 3 ganged hooks?

Any video links?

Thanks for the help , Cheers, Des

Mainly a steady retrieve over structure and Flathead Lies. A little quick variation at times, but I only pause when I see a non comital follower. Then they usually strike.

Yes a few fish attack the float. On a few occasions I have recognised them as Flathead. They tend to be the smaller ones. But mostly down here the Salmon Trout attack the float. 

Give it a crack over structure and snaggy ground.

Would love to hear how you go. Good luck. 

Cheers Des

VISON versus VIBES

I was fishing the Northern Sandflats yesterday.

The whiting fishing was a bit slow, so I quickly shifted my attention to Flathead.

There was something on my mind. I was curious to know. Which sensory stimulus was most likely to attract a Flathead strike?

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I lean to vision being the most important sense that a Flathead employs in hunting prey. As all my successful Flathead fishing has relied on placing my offering in a highly visible “Strike Zone” above their eyes …  unconventionally under a float.

Yes I have taken the occasional Flathead, on a bloodworm intended for whiting, while trolling and dragging it along the bottom in sand. And I have caught a few Flathead, bouncing blades and vibe lures, across the sand. Again while targeting whiting. But these have always been incidental catches. Nonetheless, Vibes and movement along the bottom has produced the occasional result.

I have tried fishing the bottom for Flathead with a lot of intent and effort. Using blades as well as an array of soft plastics. Working, bouncing and retrieving my offering across the sand in front of Flathead. Success has been minimal when relying on vibrations and bottom movement. Where as capitalising on their sharp vision by keeping my presentation, above their eyes under a float has been enormously successful.

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I was keen to explore this further.

I was starting to assume that bounces, shakes and vibrations, meant little and it was all about vision. Flathead had a dysfunctional lateral line. Very little feel for vibrations, jiggles or bounces.

I asked the S. A. Flathead Guru and “Doctor of Yellow Fin Whiting” Bill Goh from Adeliade Uni. His reply:

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“ the flathead’s lateral line is very pronounced (even hard to get the scales off), and it is orientated closer to the top (dorsal). So when a flathead digs itself in, the lateral line is more exposed.“  https://www.facebook.com/groups/970345633507487/permalink/1095174604357922/

Maybe I had underestimated the effect of vibrations with Flathead. Now there was no option but to have a head to head comparison for the two senses in the one session, using the two different techniques. Floating a soft Plastic below a float (VISION) versus Bouncing, jigging and vibrating a paddle tail plastic along the bottom (VIBES) .

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THE TEST

Berkley Jerkshad 120mm was in the “VISION” corner, Versus Squidgies Bio Tough Paddle Tail 100mm in the “VIBE” corner.

Overcast skies yesterday, I felt would be putting the “Visual” presentation at a disadvantage. From the Flathead’s view looking up, there would not be as strong and contrasting a silhouette against dark clouds.

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The test did not need to be conducted too long. The slender fish like Jerkshad suspended under a float got all the fish! I am sure the most important sense for a Flathead is Vision. Make your offer most visual and obvious for the best results. I chose to use a float to do this.

TERRAIN

Is it all about the Habitat and Terrain?

On the Northern Sand Flats of the upper S.A. Gulfs, the terrain plays a most important role. With the bigger tide movements of the upper Gulfs, I find most Flathead in the faster tidal flow areas. Usually in weed filled channels, broken weed beds with sand patches, and along weed lines. Occasionally slightly reefy patches. But always in a high tidal flow area. The Southern Bluespotted Flathead, (Platycephalus Speculator) seems to love sitting in or around some structure, rather than being buried in an open sandy area, which occasionally happens.

I prefer fishing the run off tide. With the draining run off tide, baitfish get concentrated into these areas of structure. The easiest and most trouble free, snag free, way of covering this terrain, with the best visibility … is under a float.

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This terrain and heavy weed growth restricts the Flathead’s vision to a mainly upward line of sight. Making its hunting heavily reliant on its vision, in this habitat. The terrain and heavy weed growth would also somewhat dampen any of the other stimulating senses.

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Yesterday I managed 2 Flathead at 61cm and another 3 in the mid 40s. Along with half a dozen whiting in the low 30s.

It was a great day. It could have been brilliant if I had not lost a further 2 good fish today. Both bust offs. They get very angry in shallow water! I am still using my ultra light and well worn whiting lure gear and line. Time to step up and gear up seriously to target these guys over Autumn.

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Cheers and Tight lines, Des

1 hour ago, Rybak said:

Gar are normally a bottom weed eating fish hence the green goop that comes out of the backside. They stick around the ocean floor in winter. 

Would you not bother float fishing Gar in winter? 

Is there a weed type bait that can be successfully used for Gar. As there is with some other species like Luderick?

I am looking to turn my attention to Garfish this winter. I am a total Newbie with Garfish.

I have an underlying assumption (possibly incorrectly) that the better size Garfish are more often caught in winter.

Can anyone offer any advise on catching Garfish in winter?

Perhaps covering some of these points;

1) Seasonal movements

   a) in the Gulfs

   b) change of Habitat/ Terrain

   c) in the water column

2) Weather conditions: Ideal conditions: Temperatures (Air & Water),  Winds, Atmospheric pressure

3) Change in diet/prey. Availability of prey/food

4) Change in behaviour/feeding patterns

Subsequently ...

   5) are there different rigs for winter

   6) different baits

I look forward to an engaging discussion involving all these aspects.

Cheers, Des

@MIKECATTS Is Kast King any good for flicking light lures for YFW. If so, which one do you use for this application?

Thanks, Des

BYCATCH to MAIN CATCH … Season’s Change to FLATHEAD

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I have picked up a Flathead on each of my last 4 Yellow Fin Whiting lure sessions.

There are still plenty of YFW about for the whiting bait angler, however they have slowed up for the whiting lure fisherman.

The water is cooling a bit for YFW on lures. But is also the reason for the increasing presence of the Flathead.

The cooler Autumn water temperatures now have the ambient conditions to hold a larger number of baitfish in the shallows.

And along with the baitfish arrive a lot more Flathead, in these cooler waters of Autumn.

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UNCONVENTIONAL TACTICS

I have always taken a skeptical view, of some assertions made by some fishing experts.

It’s best to do your own trials and testing and arrive at what works for you … for the areas that you fish.

There are claims of many must do techniques. Most based, I feel on false assumptions. And in the main anglers have quietly and benignly accepted them.

With Yellow Fin Whiting there was even an ‘expert” that asserted a surface lure mimicked a fleeing Benthic (bottom) dwelling Clicker on the surface !!!  All fishing techniques have to consider the target species, their morphology, behavioural traits, their prey and the habitat in which it has all evolved. So when it comes to some “expert” techniques, it must measure up against these factors. When Flathead fishing with soft plastics, people have often claimed; “Always bounce the soft plastic in the sand to create a puff of sand to attract a Flathead”

… Nah! Nah! Nah! Never !!!! This has a detrimental affect, when I fish wading the shallow sandflats.

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I employ some unconventional tactics for catching Flathead  … I float fish them.

Do not bother bouncing lures along the sand. I have FLIP-SIDED the whole concept and suspend Soft Plastics and Bait under a Float. Always presenting them above the Flathead’s eyes !!  It is where they can see it the easiest and react the most. Their Strike zone. Their area of Binocular vision.

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Having viewed underwater footage of FH taking soft plastics. I noticed they were repetitively taken at the top of the lift when the SP was bounced. Always well above and out in front of their eyes. In their “Binocular Vision Strike Zone”. So I decided I may as well put my Soft Plastics there in the first place. Drawing it past them … under a float.  I do not use any jig-heads.

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Some more alert experts are now agreeing, that in fact disturbing the sand in front of Flathead is counter productive.

Karl Attenborough of the “Sand Flat Fishing Australia”  YouTube channel says:  “Touching the sand with your lure in shallow water spooks the fish.”

Refer: 9.35min in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NHJ02NUoiQ

Or in this Doc Lures Podcast : https://doclures.com/nsw-mid-north-coast-flathead-attenborough/  … Refer ~ 17min 10sec onwards.

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As fisher-people we are always trying to present, a favourite food in the most irresistible and obvious manner, to our target species.

I have been floating Baits, Gulp Minnows and Jerk Shads under a small split turnip float for a long time. With great success.

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MORPHOLOGY

Prey usually have eyes on the sides of their head so they have a large field of view, from which to avoid predators. Predators usually have eyes in front of their head so they have better depth perception.  Benthic predators, like Flathead have eyes arranged so they have a binocular view of what is above them as they lie on the bottom. Their field of vision is strongly biased to a bait or lure being presented out front and above them. Rather than it bouncing in the sand ahead of them.

These great videos clearly illustrate the Flathead eye placement and function:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC7Ig4NJmtE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrCjZJWGFHI

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HABITAT

The other most important factor for using floating baits and lures is the sandflat Habitat in which the Flathead hold.

In the upper gulf sandflats that I fish, Flathead are most often found on;  broken weedy ground, in and alongside weed filled channels, or alongside mangrove edges full of aerial roots. Here they lay and wait to ambush any prey that passes above. It is very hard to get a weed free, snag free retrieve over this terrain. So the most effective method is to present and draw a bait or lure over them, suspended under a float. There are some suitable floating lures, but their trebles foul easily on the floating ribbon weed.

Flathead most commonly lie on the leeward side of a weed hump or structure in a strong run off. I rarely come across them on clear open sand flats. They have a preference for the bigger and faster run off tides. I find the best strategy is an overhead bait/lure presentation, suspended by a float, drawn across their likely lies behind structure.

The weed line or “blue line” which can also channel a stronger flow of water, will also hold them. The irregular weed line will frequently obstruct and hide your lure if you are working the bottom. Under a float, your offering can easily work, over, across, in and out of the weed line, with out fouling. Weedless rigs worked lower are never as effective for me.

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RIGS & LURES

Today the very successful floating Glide baits and swim bait lures, do exactly that, swim above the eyes of the Flathead. Stay out of the weed and never touch the sand. I have yet to given them a try.

My favourite lure is Rapala Shadow Rap a floating lure with a small bib and a shallow dive.

It is interesting to note how many Flathead have been taken on a floating Squid jig.

But I have taken the most Flathead (along with X Large YFW) on Soft Plastic Minnows or Jerkshads simply fed onto a #4 long shank hook that I have been using for YFW.  under a float.

Tight Lines.

Cheers, Des

I prefer my dominant ... and more dexterous hand holding the rod.

Stronger = less fatigue, longer casts

Dexterity = better and more subtle lure manipulations. More responsive to situations.

Whereas the non dominant (left in my case) merely has to wind and hold the net. Occasionally simultaneously. 

I switched to winding with my left hand a while back after some joint issues.

I am forced to alternate occasionally due to lure casting RSI 

Maybe saving all their poop and coating it over the other baits my well be an answer

On 13/4/2022 at 1:53 PM, MAH said:

Examining the gut contents showed the green, heavily macerated condition of the seagrass was consistently fresh throughout the entire study

Wonderfull information 

It can't but help your curiosity and wonder:

On 13/4/2022 at 1:53 PM, MAH said:

The feeding patterns of southern sea garfish followed a strong diurnal cycle; consuming seagrass fronds during the day, to predation of hyperbenthic planktonic invertebrates during the night. The shift from seagrass, which is an unlimited, highly accessible resource, to the nocturnal consumption of invertebrates, coincided with significantly higher abundances of invertebrates in the water column during the night.

Do all our regular baits like maggots, silverfish, chicken or pilchard slivers etc. work better at night?

Is there a seagrass type bait that can be used very effectively in the day time?