How To Catch Australian Salmon

I've decided to put together a series of blog posts that will help teach you exactly how to catch many different kinds of fish, starting with a very popular catching and eating fish, the salmon.

About Australian Salmon

When you're lucky enough to see a sizeable salmon launching itself out of the ocean, arching its back in a body-shaking attempt to free your hook, it will pump the adrenalin of even the most hard-nosed angler.  Australian salmon are most frequent off the southern coasts of Australia, and also located in New Zealand waters.  Despite their name, these fish are not related to the salmon of the Northern Hemisphere.

When Is The Best Time To Catch The Fish?

The months of May through to Novemberis best off Victorian beaches, but may be caught all year longin bays, estuaries and from the piers.  In Western Australia, February to April are the greatest times, especially in southern parts.  The best stage of day to catch salmon is either around dawn or dusk, as this is what time the fish are most actively feeding.

Where Salmon Can Be Caught

Lorne and Frankston piers will usually produce good numbers after there's been strong onshore winds.  Albany in WA can also give really heavy specimens at times.  At the beach search for some good gutters with deep water and some wash/whitewater over it.  From the rocks search for areas with some wave action and whitewater coupled with deeper water.  Fishing from the rocks can be perilous, so always be cautious.

The Best Equipment To Use

Great salmon fishing rods are12' with a 600 or 650 alvey side reel, particularly for beach or rock fishing, with a 15lb main line and a 15kg lead will work well.  Fishing for salmon is similar to fishing for tailor, and you can even end up hooking a decent jewfish, gummy shark or even yellowtail kingfish while targeting salmon, so the extra weight on your rig will be worth it just in case.

Light tackle spin gear is also great for catching salmon.  You can use a 3kg outfit rigged with a small chrome slice, soft plastic or bibbed minnow lure.  Trolling with white or pink coloured skirted jigs at six to eight knots is trendy.  At the beach, make use of a fixed paternoster rig with a pyramid-style sinker at the bottom.  This will help to make longer casts, and will hold really well if there's a current.

You can use a berley trail with an unweighted bait if you're fishing off a pier or in a boat.  Depending on your location, you should ask your resident fishing tackle store about the number of wraps you ought to have.  A 6 or a 7 wrap is by and large very good, light enough to have a good feel, yet heavy enough to have a bit of grunt about it and get stuck into the fish with.  Not only do they make for good salmon fishing rods, it will also work well to catch tailor, trevally, bream and flathead.

The Best Bait For Salmon

Salmon's favoured bait is pilchard, whitebait and squid.  Live bait like Tommy Rough works really well, especially from the rocks and under a balloon on your line.  Salmon will go for most fishing lures, however I think that medium-sized raiders are best.  Depending on what they're chasing, you may want to stick to smaller saltwater fishing lures though, as larger ones can be disregarded if the salmon are going after smaller baitfish.

Fishing restrictions can apply, check the regulations in your area.  In Victoria it is - Size limit: Min 21cm.  Bag limit: 20

Escape The Snow Storms - Go Fishing Instead

As I write this, there's been a lot of coverage in the news about the freezing cold weather in the US - massive amounts of snow dumped on Washington, snowfalls in New York, and now a Dallas snow storm is also brewing.

All I can think at the moment is that I'm glad to be in Australia in summertime, where the sun is shining, and the fishing is plentiful!

As promised, following is a list of some of the best freshwater fishing spots in my home state of Victoria, the best fishing rods and tackle to use, as well as what kinds of fish you're likely to catch:

Victoria River

Starts at Dinner Plain near Mt Hotham and flows through rugged country to the Cobungra River.  The Victoria is a small stream and casting can be challenging because of trees.  Downstream access is via a dry weather only road.  A 4WD vehicle is advisable.  Brown trout are a feature during high water.  Beware of brown and tiger snakes; wear thigh waders at all times.

Kiewa River – Mount Beauty

A popular waterway for trout anglers seeking brown and rainbow trout, it combines magnificent scenery with excellent fishing.  Access on both sides of the river.  One of the best stretches is from Dederang to Mount Beauty, with brown and rainbow trout to 1.25kg, but most of the trout, mainly browns, average 450-500g.  In Summer heat, it pays to fish the fast water and shaded areas.

Eildon Pondage

Victoria’s most popular freshwater fishing destination.  Boats are banned, but the pondage is accessible to everyone.  Regular releases of rainbow and brown trout to 3kg ensures ample fish, especially at Riverside Drive, Bourke St, and near the bridge separating the upper and lower pondages.

Fort Courage

About 20km downstream from Murray and Darling Rivers’s junction at Wentworth, NSW, Fort Courage is a caravan park on the Murray.  The excellent boat ramp has one of few registered fish cleaning tables along the river.  Expect to catch Murray cod and yellowbelly.

Otway Ranges

Between Cape Otway and Princetown are two large estuary systems, the Aire River at Hordenvale and the Gellibrand River at Princetown.  Both rivers produce large brown trout.  The Gellibrand also has a large population of river blackfish and estuary perch.

Lake Hume

Highly regarded for redfin, Murray cod, yellowbelly and trout.  Anglers require a licence.  Most anglers fish for redfin among the trees, but there is good fishing for yellowbelly and Murray cod near Tallangatta.  Redfin are caught around fallen timber and dead trees.  Trolling is popular for cod, yellowbelly and trout.

Bundalong

The junction of the Murray and Ovens River at the east end of Lake Mulwala.  The area has a reputation for bigger than average Murray cod.  Also expect to hook yellowbelly, trout, carp and redfin.  If you have a boat and want to catch Murray cod, slowly work your way through some of the dead trees casting spinnerbaits, or find the old riverbed and troll along the edges.

Swan Hill

This is cod country.  If you are into Murray cod, yellowbelly and redfin, it’s a great place to try.  As well as the Murray, the Neimur, Wakool, Edwards, Little Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers are within 40 minutes drive.  The best fishing is upstream of the main bridge.  Popular spots include the willows near Murray Downs and Pental Island.

Tol Tol

About 5km east of the Soldier Settlement town of Robinvale and accessible via dirt track.  Boats are launched over a low-lying section of riverbank using a 4WD.  About 3km upstream is Belsar Island, and halfway between the island and camp is a pumping station at Millers Bend.  All well known areas for cod and yellowbelly.

So if you're in the Northern Hemisphere experiencing extreme cold and snowfalls, then maybe you should consider a trip Downunder to the sun, sand, surf and fishing!  And if you're already in Australia, then I hope this gives you some great tips on places to go fishing, as well as what you should be taking on your next fishing trip.

Fisherman Vs Goose (Who Will Win?)

This was supposed to be a nice day out fishing in calm waters, with a couple of friendly (or so was thought) birds tagging along for the fun of it.

But then suddenly it all changed... watch the video to see the hilarious conclusion!



Thanks to Fishing Fury for this find!

The Best Holiday Fishing Spots In Victoria

Saltwater Edition

I'm originally from Victoria, and I remember many mornings spent taken out very early to go fishing with my dad, and then later on some great days out with friends as well.

Here are some of the best fishing spots around Victoria in saltwater, and next time I'll add to it with a list of freshwater locations.

I've included some of the fish you might expect to catch, and what you might need to catch them.

Lonsdale Bight

Much of the bight is a marine park, but fishing is allowed from Point Lonsdale pier and the beach from Dog Rocks car park east to Queenscliff. You can expect to catch salmon on the beach. If you're fishing from the pier you can add whiting, squid and snapper. Best chances for catching snapper are at night, or on days when the water is soiled. Boat anglers will find above average King George whiting in sand holes, snapper over reefs and a few squid over the weed beds.

Corio Bay

This is very productive water best known for its snapper, but it also offers King George whiting in good numbers, gummy sharks, flathead, salmon and garfish. Boat ramps at Avalon, St Helens and Limeburners Bay. Shore-based anglers can fish from rock walls at St Helens and Limeburners Point, jetties at Rippleside and Cunningham Pier (it has restrictions).

Lorne

A very well known holiday destination, the most popular fishing spot is the pier. Strong southwest winds can churn the seas and salmon sometimes go ballistic. Other species caught include barracouta, silver trevally, whiting and squid. For rock fishing, Jump Rock as you enter Lorne is popular for salmon, pinkies and trevally. There are many rock ledges along the Great Ocean Road past Lorne including Artillery Rocks. The Cumberland River has a small self-sustaining population of brown trout and the Erskine River holds estuary perch downstream and a few trout in the upper reaches.

Lakes Entrance

This is one of my favourite childhood fishing memories, it has excellent facilities with boat ramps on both sides of the Highway Bridge and is an ideal family destination. The town jetties in the Cunninghame Arm produce luderick, trevally and bream. Expect to hook mainly salmon and tailor at the rock wall and jetty on Bullock Island. Beneath the main highway bridge spanning the North Arm is popular for silver trevally, bream and whiting. Other species include yelloweye mullet and garfish. The beach is excellent for salmon and mullet, with the occasional gummy shark caught at night.

Portland

Plenty to offer surf, rock or offshore anglers. Catches include snapper, salmon, King George whiting, yellowtail kingfish and even mulloway. Offshore shark fishing has makos, threshers and blues. The harbour has excellent boat launching and fish cleaning benches. Popular offshore areas include Lawrence Rocks, Black Nose Point and the North Shore. For land-based anglers, the Lee Breakwater on the eastern arm of the harbour has produced big snapper recently. Beach fishing is popular at Shelly and Bridgewater beaches.

Bemm River

Primarily an East Gippsland bream fishery, but you will also catch estuary perch, luderick, dusky flathead, silver trevally, salmon and tailor. Most anglers fish the lake area in boats. The lake is shallow, with an average depth of 2m. Bream and estuary perch can be found mooching among the snags. With the deepest water in the system, it is the place to go for tailor, salmon and trevally. The beaches can fish well for salmon, tailor and gummy shark.

Werribee

Go offshore for whiting, flathead and snapper over the many reefs. Bream fishermen love the Werribee River. Stay in the marked channel and don’t try to head for deeper water until you have passed the large pile mark.

Newport

A new ramp at the end of North Rd launches into the “Warmies”, the hot water outlet channel for the power station. This area is productive for mullet, bream, silver trevally, pinkies, salmon and tailor. The outlet mouth and Yarra River junction produce pinkies, salmon, tailor, bream, flathead and sometimes mulloway.

Carrum

Boat launching facilities in Patterson River are the best in the bay. Inshore grounds will produce whiting, pinkies, squid, flathead and salmon. Many anglers head out to deeper water, 16-20m, for big snapper and gummy shark. Patterson River is well known for its bream, mullet and salmon. Mulloway is sometimes caught here from late January onwards.

Sorrento

Offshore waters offer diverse fishing options. The pier can produce garfish, whiting and squid. Boat anglers work the deeper water for snapper but the best whiting fishing is generally within 1km of shore. You can also expect to catch salmon, garfish, flathead, squid. A dual boat ramp is situated to the west of the pier.

St Leonards

The pier and rock wall are popular and produce good snapper. Boating anglers do best fishing from close to shore out to the edge of Coles Channel for King George whiting and calamari squid. In January, most snapper and gummy shark are caught offshore in 16-20m of water.

Hastings

Having lived in Hastings for several years, I managed to get in quite a bit of fishing here. It's a popular launching point for anglers wanting to work the Middle Spit, and the shallow banks and deeper channels of the western arm of the bay. The Middle Spit is a whiting hot spot, but from Hastings you can also fish the channel edges for big gummy sharks or chase snapper in the deeper water.

Bass Strait

Has a multitude of species. Expect to catch tiger and sand flathead over the sand areas in water from 15-40m. The inshore reefs hold snapper, yellowtail kingfish and King George whiting with the odd big gummy or thresher shark. Australian salmon will be found close to shore while good schools of pick handle barracouta can be found in the strait. Arrow squid start their annual migration through this water in January and for those who crave more excitement you can always fish for bronze whaler, mako and blue sharks.

Barwon River Estuary

Usually experiences a good run of school mulloway in January. The river also fishes well for silver trevally, Australian salmon, bream and even luderick. Worth a go, particularly upstream of the Sheepwash.

Mallacoota Inlet

One of Victoria’s largest estuaries. Anglers can catch black and yellowfin bream, dusky flathead, luderick, mullet, trevally, sand whiting, estuary perch, garfish, Australian salmon, tailor and mulloway. Prawning is also popular.

So grab your fishing rod, tackle, a couple of your favourite fishing lures, some bait, maybe a comfortable chair, and head on out this weekend to see what you can catch!

How To Hook A Fish

A number of fish nibble, others pick-pick-pick, and there are some that simply swallow a bait and swim for it. Knowing when to lift the rod and set the hook will bring you the most success. Should you hang on for two nibbles or three? Should you try to set the hook when the tip of the quill float wiggles, or wait until it is reeled beneath the surface?

You could say yes or no to any of these questions. Now and again pickers need to be left for a few seconds, at other times the same fish will need to be hooked the moment it is felt. As a common ruling, a couple of picks will be followed by a decent bite and the angler will react on impulse.

One of the problems new anglers find is that they are often so eager to set the hook they consistently strike at the earliest indication of a bite. Patience in waiting for the right second is not a virtue - it comes with familiarity that is born of the experience of having been there before.

Once you have cast the bait, set the drag of the reel to something like one quarter of the breaking strain of the line. After that, tighten the line on the rod, then place the rod down nearly in the horizontal position, preferably with the rod aimed at the bait.

Having a slight angle on the rod will make it simpler to notice a bite if fishing on the bottom.

With a number of fish, it might benefit you to open the bail arm to let the line to run without restraint from the reel. In this case, the line is not tense and a small chunk of polystyrene on the line indicates a bite. To cease the line running out with the wind or tide, place a small stone on it. Instead, hook the line between the reel and the first guide around an empty can. When the can falls over the bait has been taken.

When using a quill float, the moment to set the hook is when the tip of the float disappears underneath the surface for a second or so. If the fish is fussy, it could pull the float under for a short time without taking the bait properly.

Once you manage to hook your fish, you are still only halfway to achieving your desired result. Once the fish is on, a gentle pumping action, with line gathered in on the downward stroke of the rod is the right style. Don't rush it, make sure you take your time.

Can I Keep It?

If the catch size is an issue - as in the fish are too small but little Johnny or Jan wants to keep them anyway - make sure you have a bucket filled with water, and put the undersized fish in the bucket so they can be kept alive and returned.

Some convincing may be necessary, but after a while the kids will get as great a thrill putting fish back as they do catching them.