Sydney
NSW
The value of good timing on the beaches using metal lures. If you’re fishing tiny metals from 10-20g with a strong wind you will find the casting distance can be reduced significantly. In this scenario it’s good to downsize your outfit to 6kg braid and 15lb leader with a med/fast action 10ft rod. This can help you get the smaller 20g lures out 50m+, and even the 10-15g metals can manage a reasonable distance. Why use such small metals, if they’re a hassle to cast? Simple – it’s because the baitfish the predators
SYD ROCK & BEACH
Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au
As we move into autumn, basically everything is on tap, with all manner of species on offer. To maximise your chance of success, my advice is to pursue the seasonal species. I’ll discuss this in more detail below. ROCK FISHING At some of the rock ledges I take my clients to, I can see luderick, rock blackfish and big blue/ brown groper cruising below. At the same time, I may be targeting kingfish and other pelagics. When targeting the pelagics you can take the option of fishing for these other species, but I recommend keeping your focus on kings, bonito, frigate and/ or mac tuna. These species
Power for your GOPRO or VIRB from your navigation light socket
$250 + P&H
are only going be here for a limited time, especially the tuna species, whereas the groper, luderick and rock blackfish can be caught year-round in Sydney. Generally, by mid-May the tuna species will thin out, and you will have the winter/spring period to focus luderick, rock blackfish and groper. That said, as a fishing guide that doesn’t apply
to me because I have to go for the target species that my clients have booked. It’s still enjoyable and I’m happy to do it, but ideally, I want you guys to really get the most out of the warm water species when they’re in season. The smaller pelagics can be targeted in several different ways. Definitely one of the most effective ways to catch them is
Mark Westward with his first king off the ocean rock – a good fish at 75cm. It smashed a whole ganged sea gar. There were other pelagics there too, which is common when fishing for kings.
AVAILABLE FROM:
The 5” Bait Junkie Jerk shad works well on pelagics, snapper, trevally and other species. Bring both bait and plastics with you when you’re rock fishing. 56 MARCH 2023
to the sabiki hooks. Berley up with bread and pilchard mush to concentrate the baitfish in your area. One you have your live baits, you can get good results suspending them under a float, between 2-10m deep, depending on the water depth you’re fishing. While fishing for pelagics at these deeper water rock spots, you can possibly distance cast for snapper or catch them in the whitewater washes. With the water temperature being pretty hot at this time
James Strefner caught four beach worms during his first beach worming lesson. If you haven’t tried beach worming, you’re missing out on one of the most fun ways to catch bait.
www.tournamentboats.com.au
GOPRO not included
are eating are as small or smaller than what you’re casting out. At times, if you cast out 40g+ metals you may miss out. It can get pretty frustrating when you see the fish zapping around the surface and refusing your offerings. When fishing the lower ledges you can use as light as 4-6kg gear, and if you hook a sizeable fish you can wash it up. You can punch out 10-15g metal a decent distance on that gear. However, when fishing the higher ledges you need a heavier line class because
you need to lift up your fish. That also means that you may need to up the size/weight of your metals. Casting out tiny metals on heavier line is not practical. Kings and other good fish will be mixed in with the tuna as well, so having a heavier outfit on standby is always a good idea. I like to use a 7” Bait Junkie Jerkshad coupled with a Bait Junkie 6/0 to 7/0 size 1/4 to 3/4oz jighead. Live yellowtail can be a great way to fish for kings off the ocean rocks. If you’re arriving early, at dawn or before sunup, you can catch your yellowtail, sea gars or, on occasion, slimy mackerel. Small pieces of prawn, small pieces of bonito strip, or an oily fish cut into 3-4cm thin strips will catch live baits. A sabiki rig works well, but if you’re not having any luck, try adding the small fish or prawn baits
the year,you can also catch some tropical species. One type caught every year by some rock anglers is the samsonfish. Generally, the juvenile ones are caught in this part of the world. They’re normally between 3/4kg to 1.5kg, and they’re great fighting fish. Superb on the plate, too. You can pick up a bycatch of snapper while fishing the wash zone. Occasionally they are caught distance casting. Snapper can also be caught on plastics. I have had good success fishing the Bait Junkie 5” Jerkshad in pilchard glo and camo UV, or 4” Grubs in demon blood and pilchard glow, matched with a 3/0 jighead ranging from 1/8oz to 3/4oz in rougher conditions. The way the snapper smash the plastics is bloody awesome! Spots to fish off the rocks for the above species include Bluefish Point
