Smarter and Wiser

By Dan Trotter on March 16, 2016 in Other

Photo: Dan Trotter

As I get older, I’m proving a few clichés to be true. I’m getting smarter and wiser – on the fishing front, at least – and this is in large part due to my diary records and a keener sense of observation of the seasonal patterns under and above the surface of the ocean. One of the keenest ways to observe life in the ocean is to get beneath its surface and see first-hand what the fish and sea life are doing, where they do it and how they behave at different times of the tide, moon phase and year.

I’m often amazed by what I thought I knew to be true but simply isn’t. True scientific analysis aside, you only need to prove something wrong once for it to be wrong, but on the contrary you can never truly prove anything to be true. It’s an interesting concept, and one all of us should consider when we go fishing, because fishing theories are just that – theories based on vague observations. Enough of the confusing mumbo jumbo, though, as you probably just want to know what’s going to happen this month on the local fishing front.

Personally, I love March. It’s possibly my favourite month of the year. It’s full of promise and full of fish, blessed with warm water and 31 of the last remaining days of daylight savings. So what are you waiting for? Finish reading this article, grab your gear and get out on the water.

For fishing enthusiasts, March is full of all types of fish. It’s the month when you’re most likely to see spotted and Spanish mackerel turn up in the harbour and on a few inshore reefs along our densely populated coastline. The big kingies will be about in force too, plus snapper, mahi mahi, marlin, mulloway, morwong, mullet and many more fish that don’t start with the letter ‘M’. They’ll be feding fast and furiously, fattening up for the winter months ahead.

If you’re keen to get out but don’t know where to start, begin the day early and get on the water an hour before sunrise. If lure fishing is your thing, have your outfits rigged and ready to go, check your knots twice, ensure your hooks are sharp and start casting once there’s enough light in the sky to see where your lure is landing. If bait fishing is your priority, spend the nautical twilight catching fresh bait – start on the squid then chase the slimy mackerel and yellowtail scad (in that order for best results). Once your live bait tank, bucket or kiddie pool is full, turn your attention to the main game. Pick your location appropriately, use the right rod, reel and line class for your target species, and say a little prayer to whomever you chose. No matter how good you think you are, there’s always a little luck involved in the most successful day’s fishing!