Terry caught a solid giant trevally on a beachworm.
Nick and his son Raff enjoyed a river charter with the author.
The author’s six-year-old son Jordi getting hooked on fishing.
Getting back to basics
F
In the Nerang River, big whiting of 42cm are not rare.
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Page 26 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024
OR me, getting back to basics when river fishing never gets old or boring. There’s something about the old-school way of anchoring and casting out bait. Maybe it’s the tranquility or the ease of it – either way it’s hard to beat for effectiveness and enjoyment. We are fortunate that the Nerang River regularly produces good numbers of sand whiting all year round. Depending on the time of year or rainfall, the fishing can be great anywhere from upriver to the southern end of the broadwater at Southport. Generally, when the water is clear and there hasn’t been heavy rainfall, the fish will move further upriver or feed at night near the council chambers. When there’s been hundreds of millimetres of rain, the best fishing is downstream. Among the schools of big whiting, there will also be juvenile mulloway, trevally, grunter, bream and tarwhine. Nothing is more im-
Broadwater Guide by CLINT ANSELL
portant when river fishing than the right bait. Worms are great anywhere upriver from Sundale Bridge, while yabbies are best in the broadwater. If you can get them, bloodworms are the better option but I use beachworms and they still work well. Next is the right tackle. You don’t need expensive gear for light-tackle bait fishing, though I do like soft-tipped rods of at least 7’ paired with 2500 size reels.
Because 10lb monofilament is an ideal main line for this type of fishing, you don’t need braid for your line. The trace that works for me is a number 3 ball sinker running above a small swivel, then at least 1m of 6lb fluorocarbon leader attached to a number 2 size Mustad fine worm hook. Using a light leader helps fool large wary whiting while keeping the reel drag light * continued P27
Mark was happy with a decent sand whiting.
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