A Time To Focus On The Basics

By Dan Trotter on July 22, 2014 in Other

Crisp mornings, blue sky days and light winter westerlies are what all Sydney anglers hope for across the days of July. Whether your landlocked or boat-based, July is a time to focus on the basics, hatch a plan related to the prevailing conditions and stick to it.

Quality lures, fresh baits and burley are vitally important assets for a winter fishing session. Off the rocks, most of the baits you will want can be found on location (check the regulations for your local area before collecting baits off the rocks as there are restrictions on this). Take along some stale bread from your local bakery, have a handful of lures at the ready and you can expect some truly fun days of fishing.

My personal focus in July is always on the hope of a calm day that allows my mates and I to head wide, stopping for a quick jig on a few known kingfish haunts, before pressing wider with lures in tow, always in search of a temperature break, bait schools on the sounder, rippling on the surface, flocks of sea birds on the hunt for a feed or, if you’re lucky, all of these together – all these signs indicate that torpedo-like tuna could be nearby.

Trolling an array of skirted, bibless and deep-diving lures is the best way to search for tuna. Be ready with the burley and as soon as you hook a decent fish, start cubing. This technique can work wonders and deliver some of the most memorable fishing days you can hope to enjoy. If you are lucky enough to get into a patch of tuna, be respectful in your approach – take one fish each and release the rest. Better still, once you’ve landed a fish, stop fishing and spend the time watching your mates reel in a monster each of their own – there’s no need to harm these amazing apex predators. Always think of the fish, the future and sustainability – not just yourself.

The inshore waters off Sydney can be a tough place to catch a feed during July. Colder water temperatures mean many species’ metabolism slows right down during the winter months, so getting them to bite can be tricky. Remember to keep a diary and look for patterns.

On the Beaches of the East, the Australian salmon and tailor schools will have already moved in. Always be mindful of the other beach users and take your rubbish with you, and fish dawn and dusk with lures and pilchards to catch a feed. Despite what many people say, both of these species can provide a delicious meal. When bled quickly and eaten fresh they are delicious, they come up a treat when smoked and they provide the backbone for some of best fish cakes you will ever eat.

Off the rocks, on calm days when it is safe to fish, blackfish (luderick) and drummer come into their own at this time of year. Try a burley of bread and cabbage weed and fish with weed as bait for the blackfish and bread for the drummer. Drift lightly weighted baits on a sturdy hook for drummer or a small hook under a weighted float for the luderick.

The harbour is also worth a go in winter, particularly in the afternoons. Remember the burley though, and be patient. Always keep an eye out for salmon schools with a small lure at the ready, and to avoid the wrath of other anglers, don’t drive through the schools.

Despite the sometimes biting cold, July is still a fun month to get your woolies on and enjoy the best our seaside city has to offer. See you out there!