Surgeonfish

[ireallylovefishies22]

Hi everyone, I've been on the hunt for my first sawtail surgeonfish for a couple months now at my local wharf on the harbour. I've seen them a couple times among the pylons after I burley with bread, but they seem pretty smart and don't really take my bait even on 6lb. They seem to be around 50cm on average. I've heard they like prawns, cabbage weed and bread, which is what I mainly use anyways. I've only managed one hookup on 6lb which lasted only a couple seconds and the fish busted me off. I do have heavier line, but I think they're line shy and wont eat anything too heavy. If anyone has any suggestions on catching these fish, please leave them down below. Thanks

[wazatherfisherman]

Have a look in the 'library' section here, go to 'waza's yarns' then 'Evil Lurking Surgeonfish' there's a few tips on them there

[noelm]

Can’t say I have ever targeted them specifically, and don’t really know anyone who does, but they are quite common, you see lots of them diving, but mostly smallish ones.

[Dan1979]

All I can say is they are one of the dirtiest fighters about. They would give a king a run for there money if they grew to the size of kings. 

Search for Dan & Greg (members) 

That was my old account before I changed emails & forgot my password so I had to create a new account. 
Many fishos targeting blackfish encounter Surgeons. Rarely (<5%) land them. 
Great fish to tangle with. 

Dan. 

[mrsswordfisherman]

11 hours ago, Dan1979 said:

All I can say is they are one of the dirtiest fighters about. They would give a king a run for there money if they grew to the size of kings. 

Search for Dan & Greg (members) 

That was my old account before I changed emails & forgot my password so I had to create a new account. 
Many fishos targeting blackfish encounter Surgeons. Rarely (<5%) land them. 
Great fish to tangle with. 

Dan. 

Hi Dan have sent you a message

[sw1fty123]

I can offer some advice as someone who has targeted them on a number of occasions from the ferry wharves on the northern side of the harbour. 

Yes they are a very frustrating fish to target, I have only ever landed one at about 30cm.

We used to burley up with bread and you would see them come up the burley, but usually barely coming out from under the wharf. Best to burley on the up current side of the wharf so the burley drifts down under it. We would use a small piece of prawn as bait, about 1cm cubed. No weight, just drifted down the burley. Watch your bait or your line as strike hard if you get a bite, you have to try to pull them out asap before they bust you off on the pylons, or bite you off... Most fights lasted less than 5 seconds.

We found we couldn't get a bite on more than 10lb leader. We used size 8 gamakatsu panfish hooks, they have to be fairly strong hooks.

[ireallylovefishies22]

42 minutes ago, sw1fty123 said:

I can offer some advice as someone who has targeted them on a number of occasions from the ferry wharves on the northern side of the harbour. 

Yes they are a very frustrating fish to target, I have only ever landed one at about 30cm.

We used to burley up with bread and you would see them come up the burley, but usually barely coming out from under the wharf. Best to burley on the up current side of the wharf so the burley drifts down under it. We would use a small piece of prawn as bait, about 1cm cubed. No weight, just drifted down the burley. Watch your bait or your line as strike hard if you get a bite, you have to try to pull them out asap before they bust you off on the pylons, or bite you off... Most fights lasted less than 5 seconds.

We found we couldn't get a bite on more than 10lb leader. We used size 8 gamakatsu panfish hooks, they have to be fairly strong hooks.

thanks for the advice, those things you mentioned were pretty much what i was doing when i manged my one and only hookup.