Christmas, Crustaceans And Connections

By Dan Trotter on December 16, 2015 in Other

With our favourite time of the year almost upon us, it really is time to finalise holiday plans, study your fishing diary, check the tides, memorise sunrise and sunset times, familiarise yourself with the moon phases, and get to thinking seriously about the fish you want to catch.

The Christmas and New Year holiday break is both the perfect time to stop and do nothing and also to get in some dedicated fishing sessions, whether solo or with those who share the passion by your side. Make sure you start to factor this very important time into your and everyone else’s schedule and let them know how important it is to you. You don’t work hard all year just to be told you can only fish when it suits everyone else. Make the plans, make yourself heard, and get others to work around you, or have them make their own plans so you can have the time you’ve been looking forward to on the water chasing your favourite finned adversaries.

If you’ve been reading The Beast for a few years, or any fishing magazine in Australia, it should go without saying that you need to focus your efforts on the change of tides, the change of light, and ideally the days leading up to the full moon, all of which will be near perfect in the week leading up to Christmas. This this year the high tides fall within an hour of dawn and dusk across the 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th of December, and a full moon will rise on Christmas night. There really isn’t much more you could ask for, except maybe for it to fall a week later, when it’s guaranteed you will be on holidays.

As for target species, it really has to be about mulloway on the inshore and estuary grounds, yellowtail kingfish almost everywhere, and tasty crustaceans wherever you can find them. Crabs of all species should be around in decent numbers both up and down the coast, with the muddies getting evermore plentiful the further north you travel. There should also be a handful of crayfish for those amongst us who are partial to time beneath the surface, eyes searching dark cracks for antennae and spiny signs of life.

Of course the harbours and estuaries are likely be full of life and the cobalt currents far offshore will be wild with mahi mahi, marlin and occasional tuna.

If you’re keen for a seafood feast this Christmas, it could be worth investing in a vacuum sealer: catch your fish now, scoop your prawns on the next dark of the moon and preserve them all carefully for a feast you can be proud to say you caught yourself. Be sure to abide by the laws, know your size and bag limits and make the most of the bounty you take from the ocean.

Thanks for reading my articles the past 12 months, have a great summer holiday, love your partners, care for your parents and enjoy your friends – it is them that make our lives so special.