Preparation, Anticipation and Daydreams

By Dan Trotter on April 4, 2018 in Sport

Mike and his Samson fish, a close relative of the yellowtail kingfish, by Dan Trotter.

What an absolute cracker of a month we’ve just experienced. The start of autumn, fish everywhere, warm water and the final days of daylight saving gave us all the chance to jam more into every day.
April, although darker after work, is shaping up to be a stunner too. The Sea Surface Temperature charts are almost unbelievable, with the East Australia Current so strong that the entire New South Wales coast will be embraced by 20-plus degrees of oceanic currents from way up north in the Coral Sea.
The Northern Rivers area is enjoying 28 degree cobalt currents, the likes of which I have never witnessed before, meaning that every Sydney fisherman who has the means to tow a boat north and spend a few days fishing wide should definitely do so. A veritable bounty of tropical sportsfish await; wahoo, mahi mahi, Spanish mackerel, cobia, yellowfin and northern bluefin tuna are all species that would have hitched a ride on the East Australia Current and will be eating their way south.
By the time this magazine hits the streets, that’s just what myself and a bunch of mates will be doing – prioritising passion over work, and our obsession with fishing over everything else. Just writing this has my mind racing ahead, running through the dawns and dusks, and I can’t wait.
The fishing off Sydney in April should continue to be epic. Big kings will be all over the inshore reefs and coastline, the annual run of solid tailor should also make their way north, and the mulloway in the estuaries will be on fire with all of the bait that this season provides.
Offshore, the warm currents will continue to provide a mixing pot of opportunities. If you’re prioritising fishing over everything else this month, your focus needs to be razor sharp and all about timing and targeting. Many a great day on the water has been derailed by failing to keep these two key elements front of mind.
With the shorter days, one of the upsides is that you don’t have to get up so early or stay out so late to fish the change of light, and if you’re going to take your fishing seriously, you’ll have to hit one of these. Dawn and dusk – the twilight hours – are when much of the magic happens, so be on your toes and plan ahead; know which fish you’re going to fish for and where you’re going to fish. Have your tackle all rigged and at the ready, and know where you’re going to catch your fresh bait or which lures you’re going to use.
Add in an hour at the beginning of your fishing day for all the things that make you run late, then get out there and enjoy the magic as it happens. Remember, fishing is about the preparation, anticipation and daydreams just as much as it’s about the catching. If you’re on the water with your mates as the sun rises or sets – well, you’ve already won!