Heavy Rain - Where to fish?

[SCOTTYB]

Hi All,

Been thinking about some of the posts I've seen about freshwater/runoff etc. From what I can see, when we have heavy/consistent rain like we've had in Sydney and flooding in other parts of NSW where do you target the fish?

Do you find you have to go further out (ie stop with rivers and move to beaches and rocks), or is this just a jewie philosophy (and if so, is that something you can rely on?

Or, do you find that your fish are still in your favourite location, just hiding much deeper or holding tighter to structure?

I'm not trying to get super scientific here - just that the old man and my brother went for a casual fish yesterday for zip - very unusual, but apparently the current was super fast on the tide change, and most other fishos had grabbed undersized specimens, with the exception of one chap who had fished through both tide changes and gotten some stonker bream.

Probably rambling now, so the simple question - when it rains heaps and for extended periods, how do you change your fishing style, what do you target, and do you change your locations?

PS I've said from time to time that the fish are already wet, so they don't care, but maybe there is more to this....

Interested in Raider Thoughts...

[gummybusta]

well for many of us up here on the mid north coast NSW the flooding mean we may as well fish right out our front doors

nah to be honest the rivers are kapoot at the moment so only place to fish is the deeper reefs outside in about 40m (20fath) as anything more shollow also has too much fresh on it and the fish are sulking

[SCOTTYB]

well for many of us up here on the mid north coast NSW the flooding mean we may as well fish right out our front doors

nah to be honest the rivers are kapoot at the moment so only place to fish is the deeper reefs outside in about 40m (20fath) as anything more shollow also has too much fresh on it and the fish are sulking

Thanks gummybusta - have family that way although they are lucky to be just cut off from town, not floating a bait down the hallway.

No boat for me, although thought that some landbased options would create concentrated amounts of food for different species - or would that also only be at river mouths that open to beaches/rocks etc?

[The Sarge]

Gday, you wouldnt believe it I came on here to ask that exact same question Scotty. I have heard this quite alot and I guess if you think about it, it does make sense. The large amount of constant rain we have had recently would definately dilute the water. Not to mention the clarity of the water. As a train driver I cross over the Georges River at different locations. Today I went over the East Hills rail bridge and the water looked like a clay pan. I later went past Liverpool weir and the water that was pouring from there also looked like pure clay. Looks like I wont bother fishing for some time yet. Glenn.

[SCOTTYB]

Gday, you wouldnt believe it I came on here to ask that exact same question Scotty. I have heard this quite alot and I guess if you think about it, it does make sense.

Cheers Glenn - Dad and younger Bro were out at Taren Point and later Illawong a couple of days ago for zilch. I recall times after just a couple of days of heavy rain we'd do ok in the rivers, but better off the beach if there was a river running out, and rocks would be hit and miss. Haven't fished the Georges for some time myself, but think that the way the bottom changes dramatically in some spots (river bends) perhaps there might be some good fish 'trapped'?? Just a thought...

[helliconia]

I was up at Taree visiting a mate on the Australia Day long weekend and we had some success at the mouth of the Manning River around the turn of the high tide. Got some nice bream on blades off the southern side breakwall on the last of the incoming.

Interestingly, as soon as the tide change the bite stopped on the bream and small tailor started hitting the lures. Lost a couple of my favourite blades to the razor tooth gang with my light leader (10lb Vanish).

About an hour after the tide started running out we saw a load of pelicans show up at the breakwall. They led the wall of mud coming down the river by about 20 feet and just dunked their heads for loads of fish. As soon as the brown hit we left and went home.