FISHING TIPS
CATCHING KING GEORGE WHITING:
The best bait by far, is squid candles for King George Whiting, as they are soft and supple, followed by the tentacles, and then the body. Coral prawns just half peeled are good as well. Use a size 1/0 or even 2/0 hooks and dont be afraid to put on a big bait as KGs are a greedy fish. Their bite is usually two or three hard thumping bites followed by a run, so feed them bit of line as they normally dont swallow it right away; just LIFT your rod but dont strike to hard and if you miss it, drop straight back as often they will return.
CATCHING A BALDCHIN GROPER:
Baldies are finicky. They will play with a bait for a while. Fresh octopus or squid is great bait as are crabs if you are prepared. When a baldy starts to play with the bait, keep feeding line until he makes his run then lift the rod and hang on. Using Tuna circle hooks reduces the damage to fish if you have to release them.
CATCHING DHUFISH
Using a paternosta rig, put squid on the bottom hook and a strip of mullet or fresh fish on the top hook. Dhufish often just grab the bait and run. The squid on the bottom with a pair of snooded 4/0 hooks will often catch the KG or Breaksea Cod while the circle hook with a large bait on the top catches the Dhuie. Winding them to the surface slowly will minimise the effects of barotrauma and will make it easier to release them using the release weight.
USING RELEASE WEIGHTS:
West Coast Angling Club uses release weights to increase survival of released fish. A release weight is a teardrop of lead moulded around a steel loop and a barbless hook. A 50 metre length of light cord is attached to the loop for retrieval. The hook is put through the upper lip of the fish which is then speared vertically back into the water. The weight drags the fish back to the bottom and a slight tug on the cord releases it. Not sure of the survival rate of this process but it has to be higher than letting them go on the surface and seeing them float away on the tide. Since mid 2015 we have started using a Vent Right to deflate the Swim Bladder. This is considerably faster resulting in less stress on the fish
COMMONLY USED KNOTS
The Bimini Twist is a knot often used on braided lines to create a strong loop to allow the connection of a mono leader. Because the line is twisted together there is a minimal reduction of the overall breaking strain of the line.
How to tie a Bimini Twist
- Sit on a chair with your feet flat on the ground.
- Pass the end of the braid under your feet and make a long loop.
- Twist the tag end around the main line 35 times keeping even pressure on both ends of the loop
- Gradually spread your knees to open out the loop while at the same time allow the tag end to roll down over the twists.
- When the tag end rolls down the last twist, use the tag end to make a half hitch in one side of the loop. Always keep even tension on both sides of the loop.
- Wrap the tag eng loosely around the loop 4 times and feed the tag end back up through the loop above the 4 wraps.
- Tighten up and trim the tag with some clippers to 2- 3 mm
How to tie an Albright Knot
Now that you have a loop in the braid, you can either connect a swivel or connect a leader. If you choose to connect a leader you need to join the leader to the braid using an Albright Knot. This knot is relatively east to tie and is ideal for joining mono to braid or braid to wire. Many Anglers use wind on mono leaders and this is the ideal knot to connect the leader to the braid as it is very compact and slides easily through the guides.
- Hold the loop from the Bimini that you have just tied between your thumb and forefinger with about 4 cm exposed.
- Pass the tag end of the leader through the loop and wrap it neatly and evenly around the braid 10 times
- Pass the tag end of the leader back through the loop next to itself.
- Lubricate to knot and gently tighten it up
- Trim off the tag end with clippers to 2 - 3 mm
Now you are ready to connect your terminal tackle to your leader and go fishing.