Spinning Off The Rocks

[Jake]

Thinking about doing some spinning off the rocks?

What's the go in winter in Sydney - salmon, tailor etc?

Do you need it foamy, with deep water in close?

Best time/tides?

Best lures?

Cheers

[caranx]

Salmon, tailor, some bonnies still around, and striped tuna. All depends on where you are fishing. Times and tides are the same as in summer, with change of tides around sun up or sundown best. The only difference is that at sun rise you will be wearing a heap more clothing as its pretty cold lately in the mornings off the rocks.

[Jake]

Salmon, tailor, some bonnies still around, and striped tuna. All depends on where you are fishing. Times and tides are the same as in summer, with change of tides around sun up or sundown best. The only difference is that at sun rise you will be wearing a heap more clothing as its pretty cold lately in the mornings off the rocks.

Does it matter if it's low or high tide?

How much wash do you need or is it not important for pelagics?

I'm fishing off the northern beaches of Sydney headlands/rocks, mainly Curl Curl/Harbord.

Thanks

[bobfish]

Hey mate,

I've been doing a lot of rock spinning and live baiting on the northern beaches in the past month, using metals of all sizes, chug poppers, skip poppers and minnows.

My best bet is the poppers, metals don't seem to be doing it at the moment but I've caught three mid sized kings in my last three sessions, all at different times of day (one at midday) on chug poppers. Specifically, the new saltist version that looks like a pilchard and a yo-zuri one that looks like a slimey.

Find a nice safe ledge with a good wash, most of these are frequently fished and talked about, so it wont be hard. If you fish the ledge regularly you will work out when the most productive times are. I fish my best ledge on a low in the afternoon, as this seems to be a more productive time by a long shot.

Good luck mate, Bobfish

[Jake]

Great info, cheers Bobfish!

Yeah i'm lucky that i work near Curly and have been trying a spin at lunchtime. Only caught pike so far out of my 2 attempts (on 5 inch shads). Tried slices and poppers too. Will keep going back as it should only be a matter of time before something is about or cruizing past ... i hope.

Do I have to try and cast it as fas as possible or work the washes in closer??

Thanks

[bobfish]

When spinning I work my lures both in the wash and in the clearer water. I have caught fish in both although kingies seem to like the clearer water whilst tailor and salmon generally congregate under the wash.

Pelagic fish roam constantly, so I feel the longer the cast the better. It means you cover more area, have less casts and your lure stays in the water longer per session. I've hooked mackerel on the instant my lure hit the water 80m out and looked down a big kingys mouth at my feet whilst it was boofing at a popper. Anything can happen.

When its overcast or raining keep your lures close to the surface but if it's a sunny day you may have to present your lures deeper as the fish are generally shyer.

Next time you catch a pike, regardless of the size, and if you have suitable gear, send it back out on a two hook snell rig 6 foot under a float. If there's any thumpers out there its a great way to find out.

Cheers, Bobfish

[Jake]

Thanks again.

Yeah a jew or king wouldn't say no to a medium pike mid water hey. However, I only have an hour for lunch so not really enough time for live baiting.

[caranx]

In some of those areas around there you need to cast far to get past the reef edge and all the rough stuff in close. Some spots work better on a falling tide, others on a rising tide and its something you will need to find out with practice and observation. ie..when the tide is dropping in some places, the baitfish end up falling back close to the edge of the dropoffs and more pelagics come in close. In other spots, its better when the tide rises as the larger fish can get in close to other structure. Keep an eye out to see how the baitfish react along those ledges to get an idea.

Try and aim along wash zones so that lures cross the foamy areas into clear areas etc, and work the water column. If poppers fail , switch to minnows that dive under the surface, then after that to metals which you can let sink for longer. Tailor are usually more active in cloudy overcast days, or when there is a good wash zone. They will sit deeper on bright days usually. Salmon will be anywhere....

[Jake]

In some of those areas around there you need to cast far to get past the reef edge and all the rough stuff in close. Some spots work better on a falling tide, others on a rising tide and its something you will need to find out with practice and observation. ie..when the tide is dropping in some places, the baitfish end up falling back close to the edge of the dropoffs and more pelagics come in close. In other spots, its better when the tide rises as the larger fish can get in close to other structure. Keep an eye out to see how the baitfish react along those ledges to get an idea.

Try and aim along wash zones so that lures cross the foamy areas into clear areas etc, and work the water column. If poppers fail , switch to minnows that dive under the surface, then after that to metals which you can let sink for longer. Tailor are usually more active in cloudy overcast days, or when there is a good wash zone. They will sit deeper on bright days usually. Salmon will be anywhere....

Cheers, nice one caranx.