FISHING AROUND AIREYS INLET, GREAT OCEAN ROAD, AUSTRALIA:
Surf Coast Salmon Fishing.
I have been fishing around Aireys Inlet on the Great Ocean Road for quite a number of years, getting back into it after a break of around 25 years while the kids went through school. I have got back into it with a vengeance using short rods and light weight gear. Basically my Bream gear - 4lb braid, 7.6ft spinning rods. This allows me to get longer casts into the channels where the big Salmon cruise up and down looking for a feed.
I like using hard bodied minnows mainly but have recently experimented with the straight silver slugs, mid 70’s to mid 80’s circa and soft plastics. The trouble is getting something that's not too heavy for the gear but to be able to get those long casts out to drop just before the sand bar in front of the channel I am working. It's a bit of a challenge.
My use of lure is dependent on tides and you’d be surprised at what is out within 30 metres of a soft break from the shore.
My gear of choice:
Reel: 2 x Shimano Spinning Stradic Ci4+ 1000’s
Rods: 2 x Nitro Power Bream 702
I like to run 2 rods as I find it easier to lure up before I hit the beach and to swap rods is more timely and easier to manage.
Dylan, George and the boys at Compleat Angler Dandenong really know their stuff. After years of being out of fishing I went to them for their recommendations as to what gear I needed. They set me up with inexpensive spin rods and reels that got my enthusiasm back for the sport. I have now gone on to the Stradics, Nitro rods and Frog 8PE Braid.
They have been a great help to me and I would recommend them to anyone for this type of gear.
Along with the rods and reels I use a Umpqua Ledgers 650 waist pack. The reason I use this pack is that it's easy to slide around and feed out the lures for replacement. The second is that I can slide one of my rods into the side of the belt, between the zipped side pocket and the large part of the pack. Easy to swap rods without leaving your fishing area. Great storage and with front side pockets for small pliers and line clippers. 2 x water bottle holders which I find is a must on the fish.. A bit of a "one stop shop" around my waist.
My preference for a fish is around 45 minutes before high and low tide, fishing for around 1 1/2 hours. If the salmon are on the go I start releasing the lucky ones that I catch later, saying we will meet again.
I target the 50 - 70cm + salmon. Being hit by a 60cm + fish (usually around the 2.0 + kgs/5lb) with 4ld braid, bringing it in through the break and landing it on the wave break is quite a rush.
I have had fish come up the beach on the wave break, turn and strip out line racing back into the surf as the wave recedes. Even while wading for my fish I still have to be aware of where I will be landing anything caught as I do not carry a net. Again quite challenging.
A Salmon hits the hard bodied Duel Hardcore Minnow.
Fighting hard, he trys to flick the minnow as he tails out of the surf.
This one didn't get away. 54cm’s. 1.56kgs/3.4lb
The way I fish for the Salmon is a bit extreme in the fact that you normally get fairly wet, this includes getting cold and exposing your gear to saltwater. I find that if you want to get the big Salmon you need to work for it.
I am not one to sit around waiting for the fish, I prefer to hunt for them. I find this a much more enjoyable way to fish.
Getting wet.
Whilst using lite gear to get the best out of my cast’s I find that I end up wading into the surf, sometimes above the waist to get into the spots where I think the big fish will be. Doing this does expose your reels to saltwater and this becomes my major concern, outside of getting to that spot for the catch. My fishing attire is a bit unusual as I normally fish in bathers and a rash vest for sun protection. Some of the biggest fish I have caught have been around the midday hours 10.30 - 2.00pm. If you are to fish like this you do have to be aware of rips, undertows and the lay of the beach. Also this year there have been quite a few Bronze Whalers and Great Whites around so if wading to get into channels, a keen eye is needed, be very aware of your surroundings.
During the winter months I do wear waders
An unexpected visitor just off the second bar.. It made my GoPro vision.
Thought to be a 3.5mt Great White.. Still chilling at 70mts. Jan 07 2017.
Eating the Catch
Along with the rush of hooking a large fish on lite gear this is what I fish for.. This 1.5kg Salmon
is about to be prepared for a "Fish & Chip" meal.. As soon as I land a salmon its either back in
the drink or I keep it and I bleed the fish straight away. I don’t bother gutting or scaling the fish as when I get home I use a sharp paring knife, the best I have found is the “Victorinox” pointed 8cm serrated paring knife. running it just off the top fin all the way down to the tail. cross cutting at the tail and running the knife along the belly to just after the dorsal fin cross cutting up to the start cut at the top of the fish. Using some paper towel, pulling off the skin exposing the fillet. taking the fillet using a sharp filleting knife. Repeating the process on the other side.
The Batter (very simple)
Chris a good friend of mine that owns Ragazzi Restaurant in Middle Park passed this on to me. Soda Water and self raising flour. I just pour in some flour, depending on how much fish I will be
cooking and create a well and pour in some Soda Water. start to mix it with a spoon and add more Soda Water to get the consistency I am chasing, I like it a bit on the lighter side. This batter will be light and crunchy, doesn’t attract the oil. I have added tuscan seasoning and other herds to taste.
Depending on the size of fish pieces the cook should only last around 1 1/2 minutes each piece.
The oil I use is Canola. Its a great way to eat Salmon.
I need to set up a smoker and start to experiment with smoked Salmon. I have heard its very tasty.
One thing I have found is that skinning the fish makes it alot more tender, whether fish'n chipping or cooking it in the fry pan poached in a bit of white wine, oil and herbs.
This fish was 2.2kgs/60cms and for the action see the video below.
He couldn't flick this minnow as he tails out of the surf.
This is one thing I do try an avoid.. A WET REEL!!!
There is nothing better than seeing a salmon tailing out of the water in a last gasp effort to flick the lure... This one did.. flick the lure..
Saturday the 4th & 5th of February 2017.. I have never had so much fun in the surf with big Salmon. Nothing under 45 cm’s, capping around 55+ cms, In a patch every cast was buckle up your seat and hang on for the ride.. Saturday 12 fish 1 - 2 kgs. Sunday taking it easy 6 fish of the same weight..
What a rush. Used some different techniques and it paid off… It did boil down to the hunt. But when found it was" on for your and old" as they say.. Sore wrist's and scream’n reels..
What got them into such a freenzy?? Good sized Pilchard's
Probably the best one of the Sunday fish?
I took 6 fish and all they were of similar size. They all safely ended up back in the drink.
Had a go for Pinkies early on Sunday morning. 5.30 - 7.30am.. No fish but what a morning.. All the gutters are non existant. Not a great time to fish high tide.
A big weekend.. But where are the Pinkies???
Found them..
The Pinkies are on the move and from reports its all along the West Coast. The best fishing I have had is just after dark with soft plastics. The Keitech 2.8 inch "Silver Flash Minnow" is working a treat. I have been out in fairly good weather but also with a stiff south easterly blowing, making it fairly unsociable out there. Casting into it was not great and I could only tell the cast was good by the noise it made coming off the spool. Probably crazy to be out in it but I did get my best fish for the week. 2 x 35cm + pinkies.. It was worth it..
Just goes to show what you think is bad fishing weather is not what the fish are thinking?
Feb to April should be alot of fun with these little guys.. Got to try to smoke some of these as well. I have heard its pretty good.
Bream Fishing around Aireys Inlet
Strange Happenings….
I am still trying to get +60cms which will be my record on my light gear but 2 lots of gear failure have stopped me I think.
The first was a couple of weeks after Christmas when I had a big fish on only to lose it in a very strange fashion. Normally I get the tail dance with the head flick that tosses out out the lure but this was more of a dive with a tail flick. the result was the top photo, bent hooks??
The second happened today, 25/03/2017 , again hooking what I thought was a fairly large fish, only to lose it with a wimper in a way.. Under full pressure, stripping out some line and on a sever angle up the beach my line went dead.
On retrieving the stick lure I found my leading treble had been pulled off the lure, totally weird but none the less very frustrating as I think it could have been a record.. I know that the lost fish on the silver slug would have been, he was big!!
Anyway this gives me something to do next time to go get’m.
Even More Strange Happenings….
Sunday morning checking out the sand movement from the unusal tide shifts we came across this... A Yellow Bellied Sea Snake. In all the time I have been around Aireys Inlet I have never come across anything like this?? Call the Australian Wildlife Rescue Service and had someone picking up the snake within the hour, hopefully it will be back in the water soon, not near me though?
The other interesting thing was in the afternoon at low tide. Went out to have a crack at some Salmon as the weather was perfect and low and behold I had a first for me.. 1 x 50+cm Taylor was lurking in the blue water and fancied one of my slugs only to end up on the beack in front of my phone for a picy event. I have heard of the odd Taylor being caught in the bay and down towards and along the 90 Mile Beach but I have not heard of one being caught on the South West Coast.? A total suprise. Fantastic fight..
Late March 2017
Another beautiful morning in paradise.. Where are the fish??
First fish for the morning, on the new reel and braid.. really nice..
April 2017.. Its great fun to be out amongst all of this.. I love it..
Lots of fish.. These guys were around the 45cm mark and all made it back into the drink. Most of the fish photo'd on this site are released..I am a firm believer of only taking what you need. Its a waist freezing Salmon and often I will not come home with any of the fish I catch.
If I do take a fish its nice to have a good Pinot with the catch!!
The Storm So-Run Sinking Pencil
I am really enjoying using this Storm, So-Run Sinking Pencil. 8cm/3.5” 18grs/5/8oz.
The big Salmon love them.. I have cast out and hit into big waves only to see a big Salmon cut through the wave and crash them.. Pretty spectacular..
Being 18grs they can be cast out a fair distance on the light gear. They glide well if cast properly which gives them some extra meterage.
You can see by the marks on this new lure, first time out, that the Salmon treat it with contempt.. at their peril..
I am not sure how many fish these hardbody pencils have taken for me but its a lot.. They are turning into one of my favourite hardbodies to get out on to the Salmon...
The days are getting shorter but the water temp has not dropped much.. Still managing to get out in the boardies and a rashy. A much easier way to fish than having waders on.. Who cares how wet you get as long as the gear stays dry and your reel scream's a lot..
May has come around fairly quickly and there seems to be no let up on the big fish in close..
June is here... Still in the boardies.. Still more fish with one curly one thrown in?? This is a first for me down here. I have heard they are around but are mostly taken out wide in deeper water. Photo below..I tried the Salmon with a soft plastic vibe in a Pilchard pattern, It did the job but was not that consistent? (see photo bottom left)
I believe this guy, 44cms worth, was in the wrong spot at the wrong time? I have been experimenting with making my own soft plastic, sort of. Using a jig head and lacing it with squid, making sure I have some trailing tentacles, then using a sprung thread to wrap around it to help hide the head and tighten it up around the hook. Slowly retrieving it with a few stops, mainly chasing some pinkies or whiting. Well this guy bobbed up and took the lot. Nothing better than fresh flathead fillets..
Last of the big ones for June.. Around the 55cm mark... Out comes the winter gear..
Winter has finely come, last Sunday morning the watering cans were iced up and the temp would have been in the minus. at 8.00am it was "0C". Thank goodness for my old Horne waders, they might be 30 + years old from my fly fishing days but they are a god send in this weather..
Some big fish are still around and with the weather we have been having they are a lot of fun, high tide or low.. Last weekend I nailed quite a few but all ended up back in the surf. Had some great tail outs to flick the lures, One made my GoPro vision. He did a full flip which is a bit unusual. See below. This one gave my Nitro and Stradic a fair working over.. Lots of fun.. I have a new hardbody to try out this weekend so looking forward to the hunt. Will let everyone know how it goes.. Also last weekend we did our first Salmon patties. Will put up the recipe in a few days. I might not be letting as many go in the future, it was pretty good.
Today, 23rd September was a bit of fun. I luv it when you throw in a lure and you get a few hits, retreive faster which make the lure hit the top of the water and all of a sudden you see the little ball of 8 - 10 salmon going flat out to catch the lure.. its a bit of a rush, especially when the fish are around the 45 -50cm range then bang. One is faster than the rest. Thats what happened today.
The spot where I was standing last week was around 1 .5mts deep, a big pool right in front of me. the fish I was catching were heading into the rocks where I was standing and it was a good fight to get them out into the open .Lost 2 lures through a little reef in font of my landing area as the fish took me behind the rocks and the braid was no match.. BUGGER!! good fish too. Overall a lot of fun on the Salmon this morning. All but one made it back into the drink.. We are having him tomorrow night.. mmmmm. Pan fry, lots of fresh herbs and some Tuscan seasoning.. 3 -4 mins on the fillets. They're pretty good. Glass of pinot to wash down..
Tried a new slug today. A $4.95 job. It was lethal.. Just goes to show you don’t need to spend a lot of money on lures to have some great fun.. “You do need to find the fish through” See photo.
You might notice its not the standard lure single hook.. I have tried a few different ones and this one is a lot cheaper than the "Single Lure Hook" and is, I belevive, just as lethal.
Below: I like to find a spot where to keep my catch so I can choose what I want to keep and let the rest go.
Wurdiboluc Reservoir
The tides are a bit dodgy at the moment, not really high and not really low, hard to get a good fish in so I decided to go fresh water.
Haven’t nailed a trout for a while so decided to drag out some old, and new lures and see what was on offer at Wurdiboluc Reservoir.
I have fished here once before and it was blowing a gale, not nice at all so I was taking my chances that it was as soft up in the hills as it was at Aireys. Well it wasn’t too bad, a bit breezy and rough but since I went all that way I was not going to throw in the towel that easy.
I wanted to try some poppers on the trout and whilst I did not get a touch I think I will persist with it in the future. Have heard good reports.
Anyway I throw on a Black & Gold minnow, brand escapes me at the moment but will find it.. Had a good run but unfortunately didn’t get any purchase on the fish. Then this one came a long, 45cms and had a lot of toe.. It should have got away as my netting was terrible.. missed it a few times and it flipped out once.. Its a shame I did not have the GoPro on as we all could get a laugh out of it.
Anyway over all a successful trip with some lovely fresh trout and it was very good..
The Pinkies are around again
It does not seem long ago that we were getting into the pinkies but that was 10 -11 months ago, it has flown past
Well there on the go again. I have been creating my own soft plastics style jig replacing the plastic with squid. It has been working nicely. The pinkies like the movement and its a bit more fun that throwing out a sinker’d bait and waiting. The other thing I have been trying is using a Snapper jig. I have had success working these in slowly, similar to a vibe. To spice things up I put on some squid on the trailing hooks which really got them excited. I will pos a picture of the jigs I have been using.
Here are the spoils of one afternoon's work. The 2 wrasse and the salmon all made it back in the drink to fight another day
Fantastic eating. I have found the best way to enjoy these fish is to open bake them for around 20mins. A bit of butter, a few slices of lemon on top and some Tuscan seasoning with a splash of white wine. Serve with a nice Chardonnay and home cooked bread,mmmm looking forward to my next Pinkie meal
