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Turning plastic into tucker

by Scott Amon
Australian Shooter August 2000

Turning plastic into tucker

Turning plastic into tucker

Turning plastic into tucker

Turning plastic into tucker

Turning plastic into tucker
While artificial baits (lures) of varying sorts have been employed for centuries to catch fish, it is only in more recent times that lure fishing has climbed to truly great heights. In particular, the past two decades have witnessed a dramatic increase in the popularity of fishing with lures. As a result of this explosion of interest, many species of fish that were once viewed as ‘bait only’ propositions are now readily accepted as being lure fishing options. The popular trio of flathead, bream and whiting are classic examples of fish species that were traditionally regarded as specifically bait fishing propositions. This article aims to enlighten the unaware of the ease and productivity associated with lure fishing for these popular fish species.

Flathead, bream and whiting are well within reach of the bulk of Australian anglers. Generally speaking they inhabit coastal and estuarine waters around the entire coast of Australia; however, they are most prolific within the coastal belt that makes up the southern two-thirds of this big country. Many of our larger estuarine systems fall under tidal influence great distances from where they meet the ocean. It is throughout these tidal reaches that this trio of fishes predominates.

While a boat (or any watercraft for that matter) is in many cases a distinct advantage when luring our estuaries, it is by no means a prerequisite. Simply walking the banks of a waterway can offer access to productive water, though wading the shallows is infinitely the best land-based approach. For the benefit of the masses, much of this article is centred on the art of wading an estuary.

Many anglers hold the preconceived idea that deep water is where the fish will be found. This is very much a fallacy for most estuary species and very much so for flathead, bream and whiting. In the case of the latter pair, they are foraging species and spend much of their time in search of food items around ribbon weed beds, rocky areas and on the tops of shallow sandbanks during high tide. The greatest abundance of marine life in estuaries is apparent in the shallow areas due to the strength of life-sustaining sunlight. These shallow sandbanks, rocky structures and ribbon weed beds are host to a wide range of marine worms, molluscs and crustaceans. Wherever you find concentrations of such food items, the predators won’t be too far away.

Flathead adopt a slightly different approach to obtaining their sustenance than do bream and whiting. They employ an opportunistic approach to feeding rather than foraging. A flathead will conceal itself by shuffling into the sand, mud or shell-grit bottom, often with only its eyes protruding. It will position itself so as to be in a direct path of smaller fish as they move along the edges of channels and off sandbanks and shallow gutters as the tide recedes. When a hapless baitfish (often a poddy mullet or small whiting) passes too near, the flathead strikes with lightning speed and precision.

Possessing an intimate knowledge of your quarry is essential when consistent fishing results are your goal. Sure you can ‘get lucky’ and score a quality fish every now and again with a half-hearted approach, but time, effort and knowledge are the real keys to consistent fishing results. Obtaining these qualities obviously takes time. The more time that you spend on and around the water, the quicker that it will all come together.

As previously mentioned, wading is a very effective means of lure fishing our estuary systems and gives access to a multitude of productive locations. However, before expounding the best approach we need to have a look at the styles of lures that are best suited to this style of fishing.

Nowadays we have a vast array of lures readily available to the average angler. For estuary work, the most commonly employed style is the small to medium sized imitation fish that we commonly refer to as minnows or bibbed minnows. Some are manufactured from timber, but the majority are now injection-moulded plastics and similar compounds. They have a bib fitted to the front portion of the lure that creates a natural swimming action. The size and shape of the bib will dictate the lure’s inherent swimming action and working depth. A minnow normally imitates a small baitfish, but there are minnow-style lures designed to copy a yabby, shrimp or insect. Other popular styles of estuary lures include soft plastic lures (Mr Twister and the like) and the more recent epoxy prawn and shrimp imitations. Small metal lures such as the infamous Wonder Wobbler and similar metal slices will account for bream, whiting or flathead. However, our new-age minnow and soft plastic lures are generally favoured above their metal counterparts.

The most widely utilised tackle for this style of fishing is the humble threadline reel (often referred to as an eggbeater) and matching rod. The outfit should be correctly balanced and suited to line weights of two- to four-kilogram line, depending on the angler’s personal preference and the nature of the country being fished. Oyster-clad, rocky areas may require a lean toward the heavier line class, while for prospecting around ribbon weed beds and sandbanks the lighter end is fine. The new braided microfibre lines such as Fireline and SuperBraid offer some advantages over conventional monofilament lines - mainly due to virtually zero line stretch, which allows better definition of lure movement and more feel for the angler.

Slightly heavier monofilament leaders (traces) should be used for targeting flathead due to their propensity to shake their heads once hooked. Flathead teeth are extremely abrasive and this action will readily cut through light leaders. There is no need, however, to employ wire traces as was once widely expounded and adopted. Monofilament lines of 15 to 20 kilograms in strength should be enough insurance against most flathead encountered. The use of wire can discourage fish.

In most instances you are far better concentrating your lure casting in waters less than three metres in depth. I have found that an incoming tide can be a superb period to target bream and whiting in water less than one metre deep. The whiting tend to scatter across the broad sandy areas but will also often concentrate in the slightly deeper channels formed by the water movement. Bream too display a strong urge to hold up in these little channels and drains. Recesses in the bottom structure will form eddies during tidal movement and these places offer ambush stations while also giving reprieve from the strong current. Again, bream and whiting show distinct preferences for these areas. Your approach should be cautious so as not to spook feeding fish. Wade into the incoming tide, casting ahead and allowing the lure to swim in with the tide and onto the fish lying nose-first into the current.

Flathead are quite willing to enter shallow water but more so when a high tide coincides with dawn or dusk. Flathead also tend to prefer the run-out tide rather than the run-in. A dropping tide forces their favoured food item, small fish, out of the rapidly draining shallows. The edges of sandbanks and both major and minor channels that carry the water off the shallows are where flathead lie in wait. Significantly larger lures are often used in the pursuit of large adult flathead.

Estuaries that have limited tidal run can also prove very productive for the lure enthusiast. Concentrating efforts around any form of structure is the most effective approach. Structure may be ribbon weed beds, the edges of sandbanks, groupings of rocks or submerged, fallen timber. Even wharf pylons and the like have the ability to hold quality fish. Oyster leases are a favoured haunt of big bream.

A slow retrieve speed seems the most consistent producer, particularly if the lure can be made to bump along the bottom. This approach is well accepted among die-hard flathead enthusiasts, but I have found that it is also highly effective on bream and whiting. Stopping the retrieve can also prove fatally attractive to fish. They can be seen to smash the lure as it lies motionless or just as the retrieve recommences.

If you enjoy your fishing and are keen to try a slightly different approach to conventional bait fishing practices, you would be well advised to follow the above basic guidelines and try lure fishing one of this country’s unique estuary systems. With a little patience and perseverance, you could well turn a handful of plastic into a damn fine feed of fish!