An opportunistic hot bite- Mid winter south coast surf fishing

Southern surprise

It was mid Sunday morning and I decided after checking numerous weather and surf reports that I would head to the south coast for a much needed surfing trip. I decided that I would also pack my surf fishing gear to have a cast in the late evening.

When I arrived to the coast the swell size was far down, yet I still endeavoured to surf. The swell was so down, that it was breaking on the second sandbar from the beach then reforming as it crossed a gutter that was nearly overhead depth. As I had located this gutter which was only 70 metres or so from the high water mark I decided that I would have a fish here instead of heading to waits or parsons targeting salmon.

While getting changed out of my wetsuit and unpacking the fishing gear in would need I realised I had forgotten my second surf real. Therefor instead of having two surf rods I would have to use my lighter 902 Starlo-Stick by Shimano running a Diawa 3000 exceler reel as a makeshift surf-rod, accompanying my 4120 10’5 fish striker running a PENN 560 Slammer as my main surf outfit.

Once I had the gear sorted I proceeded to walk the short trip from the carpark to where I believed the gutter to be. After watching the water for 5 minutes I discovered that I had to be prepared to wade but the gutter was accessible all the way along the beach. I then set the PVC rod holders firmly into the sand in water that was varying between 2 and 15cms in depth depending on wave action. I then created two different rigs for each surf rod, on the 4120 I had a two ounce star sinker and ganged 7/0 hooks on a paternoster rig mad up from 60lb trace, set up for whole pilchard baits. The starlo-stick The Starlo-stick was running a 2 hook trailing rig with two 5/0 hooks set for ½ pilchard baits. Each cast required a 20metre walk from the rod holder which enabled casting right to the outer edge of the gutter.

By 4 :45 pm I had finally got both rods set with baits and to my surprise the 4120 was bumped by something, the movement on the rod was not great but it was enough to make me suspicious. As I focussed on the 4120 my peripheral vision caught my attention , I turned my head and I saw the starlo-stick rattling violently. I ran to the rod wound up any slack and set the hook, the fish ran straight in towards the shore and then did some aerial work just before it reached the shore break. The aerial work revealed that it was a very plump Australian salmon. I used the wash to carry the fish up the beach where I was able to pick it up. I decided I would keep this one and I took it to my measuring mat which revealed the fish to be 55cms I was quite happy with this as it was the first fish I had caught at this location.

Once the fish had been put on ice I re- baited both rods and cast them both back into the gutter. Not 5 minutes had passed when the starlo- stick again was hit, this time the rod was doubled over with line pouring out, again I ran over and set the hook this time there was far more weight, but again the fish was running in towards the beach which allowed me to gain the upper-hand quite quickly. Once the fish had realised it was in shallow water it tried to run again but was unsuccessful due to the receding wave . This time the wash revealed an elephant shark, my first and at 90cms it was of decent size too. By this stage I was quite excited I had landed two decent fish within 15 minutes. I quickly de-hooked the elephant shark and got a photo taken with it by some beach walkers before releasing. Whilst the walkers were taking my photo I could see the tip of the 4120 heading towards the horizon. However there was nothing I could do at that point so I let the bite go, released the elephant shark and again rebaited both rods.

After re-casting it took another 10 minutes before I was to get a hit, but this time it was on the 4120, after a short fight I landed another elephant shark, this time much smaller at about 60-65cms in length I quickly released this fish and headed back up the beach to grab some more bait. As I headed back up the beach I was able to catch a glimpse of the starlo- stick which was just starting to bend over, I was able to sprint back down the beach and set the hook. Once the hook was set I could feel the tell tail head shakes of a mulloway, the fish didn’t feel weighty but was certainly putting up a good fight on the 3000 sized Diawa reel. Once I turned the fish from its first run I was able to land it quickly with the help of a nice wash up created by a large swell. As I was expecting a mulloway was kicking around at the edge of the water which I quickly de-hooked. In the fading sunlight this fish looked very close to being legal so up the beach it went with me where I gave it a quick measure. At 71cms it was a good fish for light gear but had to go back. Once back in the water the fish released very well.

I again rebaited and re-casted both rods to which every 10 minutes or so I had a hit for the next two hours. I caught another 3 elephant sharks between 60-85cms and another 3 Mulloway at 55, 65 and 68cms before the action slowed significantly. I had a half hour without getting a touch, so I decided to rebait both rods and start packing up my gear.

As I was putting away my tackle I saw the 4120 start to bend and rattle, by the time I had made the run down the beach to the rod the line had come in slack so I picked it up and started winding until I felt weight, I then set the hook and felt again the tell-tale headshakes of a mulloway, this fish felt far larger as it ran across the beach I pursued the fish for a good 50 metres across the beach before I was able to turn it. The fish then went for a short second run but again got stuck with the receding wave action. I then used the wash of the next wave to properly beach the fish, this one looked legal so I quickly carried it up to my measure, which revealed this nice little mulloway to be 80cms and dinner for the family for the next few nights.

After landing the legal I had one more cast which resulted in a small mulloway at about 50cms which was quickly released. At this point I was starting to lose proper function of my fingers and I decided it was time to pack up and call it a night . This was one of the hottest beach fishing sessions I have ever had and after landing a decent salmon, 6 elephant sharks and 6 mulloway it was time to head home feeling very content with what I had achieved.