Structure

[adamski]

Hi folks,

I'm a newbie from Scotland and joined the forums a few weeks ago. I had a couple of replies to some previous posts where the word "structure" was mentioned quite a lot. I did a couple of searches on the site and couldn't really find a proper definition for the term, so I looked it up on google and now I understand the concept a little better. What I was wondering was whether there is a general rule for how different types of structure affect the types of fish you are likely to find in a given location, and whether there are decent websites or even maps that identify different types of structure in specific spots around Sydney.

Thanks in advance,

Adam

[Jew Stalker]

Hello again Adam. Structure plays an important role in pretty much every fish's life... In most animals also, even humans... You could put a rubbish bin in the middle of a school playground with nothing else around and watch the kids drift toward it hehe. Different fish like different forms of structure and I can give you a little run down on some basics around the estuaries.

Bream like a few different things depending on what is around. If you are in a creek they like hanging near edges with submerged trees or branches. In estuaries though they have a tendency to hang around weed beds and rocky edges which have oysters over them as they like to eat them when tides rise and they especially love hanging around oyster leases where there is plenty of cover for them and enough food to go around.

Flathead like sandy areas close to weed beds and places where sand flats drop down into a deeper channel or holes and even shallow sandy areas where current eddys around a bend in the river.

Whiting love shallow sand flats especially if weed is nearby where prawns can occasionally be swept out of the weed into the flats where they are more than happy to snap them up.

Jewfish love deep holes in the estuaries. They sit down in them and relax out of the current and occasionally rise out of them when a tasty morsel swims by. They also like hanging around bridge pylons usually on the backside of the current where they can also stay out of the main stream and lie in wait for said morsels to come their way. The best time to go fro them though is when the water is still at the turn of the tide... They like to come out and swim around and actively feed for this short period of time before the tide starts to run again as they are a bit lazy and don't like to work too hard for their food. So if you flick around the pylons at this time a jewfish is most definitely on the cards as a possibility.

If you have any more questions feel free to ask and I will try to clarify things for you.

Good luck mate.

Luc.

[adamski]

Hi Luc,

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply, that's really insightful and I'm sure it will be useful next time I'm out.

I know this probably sounds like a silly question, but is there a technique to identifying structure? I mean, you mentioned deep holes for jewfish, but how do I know where a deep hole in an estuary is? The same with things like weed beds, apart from identifying them by eye (which means going at a lower tide/getting snagged on them!), are there tell-tale signs I can use to start reading the water a little better while I'm actually out fishing?

Sorry, I know it's time-consuming writing a detailed reply, that's why I was asking if it's possible to buy maps or whether there are websites specifically devoted this sort of thing.

Thanks again!

[Jew Stalker]

To be honest mate I don't think there are maps which show these things, the closest you might come to this would be using Google earth.

As for identifying drop offs and weed beds it is pretty simple if the water is relatively clear. For drop offs look for where the colour of the water changes from a lighter colour to a darker shade of the same colour. For weed beds look for a significant change in colour, like going from a light green to a very dark green or brown. Once you start to recognise the features it will become second nature and more fish will come your way. As they say... 90% of the fish are in 10% of the area. I will do my best today to get to a few areas and take some photos of these areas to give you a better idea.

[adamski]

That'd be amazing! Thanks very much.

[Jew Stalker]

It has been pouring rain here today so I didn't get the chance to head out. I will however not forget your thread and when I get the chance with some good weather I will do it for you and point out the areas.

[calvinching]

It has been pouring rain here today so I didn't get the chance to head out. I will however not forget your thread and when I get the chance with some good weather I will do it for you and point out the areas.

Luc,

This will be very educational for me as well, would like to know more about this.

[Witha]

Nice work Luc, love hearing your input.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[Jew Stalker]

Hi Adam, I got a chance to get out today to take a few photos of some structure for you. Unfortunately the water wasn't as clear as I hoped it would be due to the heavy rains but it is clear enough to see what is going on.

Above is a channel marker, these are usually good for a rough idea where channels in lakes and estuaries rise up into shallows and warn boaters to steer clear of.

This is some shallows where there are sandy patches among weed beds.

This is a big sand flat which is surrounded by weed. The sandy spots near weed beds are prime targets for flathead and whiting with bream hanging near the edges of the sand above the weed.

Hope this helps mate.

Luc.

[Witha]

Hi Adam, I got a chance to get out today to take a few photos of some structure for you. Unfortunately the water wasn't as clear as I hoped it would be due to the heavy rains but it is clear enough to see what is going on.

http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/public/style_images/master/attachicon.gif lake 1.jpg

Above is a channel marker, these are usually good for a rough idea where channels in lakes and estuaries rise up into shallows and warn boaters to steer clear of.

http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/public/style_images/master/attachicon.gif lake 2.jpg

This is some shallows where there are sandy patches among weed beds.

http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/public/style_images/master/attachicon.gif lake 3 copy.jpg

This is a big sand flat which is surrounded by weed. The sandy spots near weed beds are prime targets for flathead and whiting with bream hanging near the edges of the sand above the weed.

Hope this helps mate.

Luc.

Mate those are excellent shots! Great photos and advice Where is that if you don't mind? You've got a structure heaven right there! Looks fishy!

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

Edited March 31, 2014 by Witha

[Jew Stalker]

They are all in merimbula lake from land based positions. The first location is in Spencer park and the next 2 are from the bridge heading towards pambula. You can fish all of those areas with relative ease.

[adamski]

That's brilliant, thanks so much for the effort! I'll be out fishing later in the week, so I'll re-read your advice and try to use it then. I'll take my camera too and I'll try and get some photos of structure (and hopefully fish!) then.

[Robinsoi]

Welcome to Australia Adam and hope you enjoy your stay here

Thanks so much Luc for going to such lengths to put up great information and photos explaining all about this topic. I like your analogy about the kids in the playground drifting towards the bin, another would be a solitary tree in the middle of a park which will draw the kids in to play around the tree, climbing it and swinging from the branches and of course providing shade and shelter from the elements. From your photos it looks like you have some great looking flats to fish right at your doorstep! In your second photo bottom right hand corner, it looks like flathead have burried themselves in the sand on a higher tide. Thanks again Luc for taking the time and effort to put this up, your input on the Forum is invaluable

Great stuff

Ian

[Jew Stalker]

Thanks Ian and Witha. Much appreciated.

I have learned so much from this forum that it seems only right to do what I can to help others.

P.S

Yes I do believe they are flatty digs at the bottom of the second pic. The shot was taken at low tide and the water level comes up well over that sandy spot.

Luc.

[Paikea]

Great posts Trout Stalker and very good advice.

Isn't wonderful the trouble that Raiders go to on this site to help others?

Cheers

Paikea

[adamski]

Thanks again to Trout Stalker, gotta agree with everyone, it's great the efforts people on this forum go to to help you out! I'm just popping up a fishing report from yesterday at Roseville where I tried to use everyone's advice a bit more.