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Surf Casting and Angling Club of W.A. (Inc.)
Fishing and Casting Hints and Tips, etc. |
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Club members have many years' experience with all types of surf fishing and other shore based salt water
fishing under all weather conditions, and casting all types of rods and reels. They can give lots of hints and tips about
fishing techniques, fishing tackle, rigs, casting your rods and everything else about fishing in Western Australia under all
conditions.
Even though reading about hints and tips may be interesting, there's nothing like seeing them in practise to really understand
them and get the full benefit. So join the club or come to any of our events as a visitor, where the members will give you lots
of practical hints and tips, including those which you can only get while out fishing, or while handling the tackle.
This page will contain some of those tips and hints on fishing, casting, tackle, rigs, etc. Articles will be added as they are
ready. Check What's New for updates.
 Rod Stand |  "Guides ain't guides" | Smells ain't smells anymore |
| Waders | Catch and Release | Preparing fish for cooking |
| Reef Bags | Reef Boots | Landing net for Photos |
| Using Alvey Reels |
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Rod Stand.
The photo shows a light weight adjustable and folding rod stand used by several club members. The 20 litre bucket of water, sand or rocks is to give it stability. A stand like this is really useful where you can't push an ordinary rod holder into the ground. Used on flat reefs as shown, or when fishing from rocks, or even on the beach. It's also great for holding the rod while you have a balloon bait out, while rigging up, and you can also hang some gear up out of the water, if it won't tangle the line. This version takes two rods. A stand like this can be made by a handy person in a few hours from a few lengths of aluminium extrusions, with simple tools like a drill, hacksaw, hammer and a vice. We've added more detailed photos and description if you would like to make one for yourself. Main Photo:- Andy Woodford. |
Waders.
Next time you are replacing your chest waders, consider trying on a pair of neoprene waders. They are more expensive, but due to
their flexibility they are much more comfortable to wear and a lot easier to move around in.
I know that I won't go back to rubber waders.
Andy Woodford.
Catch And Release.
Catch and release fishing is gaining in popularity, which is good news for our fisheries. Catch and release angling is one of
the most important tools that recreational anglers can use to preserve and manage a fishery.
If you intend to release the fish that you catch, there are important steps you can take to improve your chances of releasing a
fish that will live another day.
Landing the Fish. Over-exertion/exhaustion will kill many of the fish you release, so use common sense. Using extremely
light tackle will prolong the fight and delay the landing of your catch, and in certain conditions it can result in death to the
fish. The first key to proper release is to play the fish quickly.
Landing the fish can also cause physical stress to the fish. A big nylon net with large-string netting can become caught in the
gills of a fish and cause serious physical damage. This damage often results in a dead fish. Use a catch and release net made of
a fine cotton mesh. Using it will vastly improve the chances of survival for the fish.
Not using a net at all is the altogether best choice as long as you keep the fish in the water. Many anglers lift the fish out of
the water. This action simply deprives the fish of water and oxygen. A fish can only breath when it is in the water. The less time
out of the water for the fish, the better. Ideally the fish should never leave the water. If you want to photograph your catch,
have the camera ready and minimize the time that the fish is out of the water.
Releasing the Fish. Use care and be gentle when touching a fish. Don't squeeze the fish to get a good grip, you'll
traumatize the fish by crushing its internal organs and by removing its protective slime coating. This outer slime coating
prevents disease and is essential for the fish's health.
Always keep your fingers out of the fish's mouth and gills, and use needle-nose pliers to remove embedded hooks. Turning a fish
upside down sometimes calms it and makes for an easier release.
Fish with barbless hooks or with crushed barbs whenever possible. There are three obvious advantages to using barbless hooks:
1. If you hook yourself at all, the hook will come out without you having to visit the emergency room.
2. You will hook your fish easier because a barbless hook penetrates a fish's mouth better than a barbed hook.
3. Barbless hooks are much easier to remove from a fish's mouth, so you release the fish quicker.
If the fish swallows your hook, cut the line as close to the mouth as possible without causing injury to the fish. The hook will
dissolve quickly, provided you are not using stainless steel hooks. If you're really serious about catch and release, don't use
stainless steel hooks unless they give a real advantage for your type of fishing.
Finally, you will need to release the fish. While gently holding the fish's tail and supporting its underbelly, guide it through
the water to exercise its gills. Face the fish into the current so that it can control it's breathing. The fish will usually
swim away when it is ready.
Andy Woodford.
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"Guides ain't guides" - or "Horses for Courses" - or "You get what you pay for - maybe?"
Members of the Drycasting group were given a very compelling demonstration of the differences between different types
of rod guides / runners.
A very strong guy grabbed a few short lengths of 20kg mono - you know the
stuff you can sometimes use to haul big fish out of the water against their will.
He threaded it through a guide and got someone else to hold the rod tightly each side of the guide. He then held the mono so that
it was doing nearly a 180 degree bend through a runner, loaded up the line and pulled it back and forward as fast as he could over
the runner surface.
Well, the results were amazing. On "normal" run of the mill runners, it took only five or six stokes for the line to break. The
mono was flattened and curled - absolutely destroyed by the friction.
Even on "top of the line" runners - read "quite expensive" and with a very good reputation, he broke the line after about twelve
strokes - better than "normal" runners, but the line was still destroyed - flattened and very badly curled.
He then repeated this on silicon carbide guides. The count got to about 30 and he eventually had to stop because the line was
cutting his hands - but the line didn't break - and it was still round, with no obvious flattening - an absolutely amazing
difference.
Sure, this is a brutal way to treat line - but we've all met a few brutal fish - haven't we?. This has convinced me that if you
want to use light mono on fast running fish, then getting the right guides could make the difference between a break off or a
successful catch. And they would obviously reduce the wear on your line over time and probably let you cast further, and also
help avoid those dreaded "break offs" while casting.
This demo can easily be repeated at a club meeting so that you can get the details of the runners which performed best.
Terry Fuller
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Reef Bags.
John Jardine says:-
I know personal preference plays a significant role in the ultimate choice but I would like to highlight an important feature.
When fishing on deeper wave-washed reefs where there is a chance of copping a wave on the chest, there is a possibility of the
reef bag quickly filling up with water. Quick draining bags (eg. those with one mesh wall) allow the water to pass through and
out. Solid bags and those with small drain holes fill up and act as drogues and may pull you over or may be so heavy when full
of water they hamper your movements and recovery.
Furthermore the solid bags allow your gear inside the bag to float around and gear may be lost. In the open-walled versions the
current passes through and down and in fact the current flow tends to keep fish and tackle boxes in the bag.
Having watched some folk struggling on the reefs at Rottnest on the last Field Day brought this into clear focus.
Some negative thoughts on the mesh sided reef bags were raised and in fairness these should be raised in a general discussion.
It was felt that because they drained so well these bags tended to act as berley bags and while wading on the reef can attract
wobbegong sharks to your feet or immediate vicinity.
This has certainly happened to me and I suppose this will happen with all bags that have some form of draining holes. But it is
something to bear in mind.
Andy Woodford says:-
The solid type with small grommets in the bottom doesn't let the water out fast enough. It's hard enough regaining your feet on
the reef at the best of times, let alone with three or four gallons of water hung around your neck.
My favourite reef bag now has solid sides, but a totally mesh bottom.
The other benefit of the mesh bags is that, if your using them to hold your catch, they sweat a lot less, keeping your fish in
better condition.
About wobbies being attracted:- This has also happened to me on several occasions. I'll be quite happily standing on the reef
when there is a big bump against my legs that makes me jump out of my skin. It's a wobbie attracted by the scent of my mulies.
I just don't see this as a problem, more of a bonus.
The wobbies that I've encountered on the reef have never been a problem. They have never bitten or even attempted to bite me.
I had one sit on my feet for ten minutes or more at Kalbarri once, only moving when I had to step forward to maintain my balance.
They just like to hang around and collect any bait scraps that you discard.
I'd rather a wobbie giving me a start on the reef than six kilos of water around my neck trying to prevent me from getting up
after I've been knocked off my feet on the reef.
John Jardine and Andy Woodford.
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Smells ain't Smells Anymore.
What fisherman hasn't had something that smells like it died several days ago. I mean those shoes, that fish bag, that wet towel,
or some clothes that got fishy. Reef bags often get on the nose, because the fish smell gets into the seams and brews there -
phew !!!
Anyway, there's a simple cure. It's called Napisan. Many years ago, I figured that if it could fix kid's nappies, then it would
fix anything which can be washed in water - and it does.
Just get a bucket, enough hot water to cover the item, and mix in some Napisan. Soak the item for a day or more if it's really
smelly, giving it a stir every couple of hours, or whenever you remember. Things can be left in for three or four days without
the water going yucky, if you put enough Napisan in.
And it's great for all your clothes when you are on fishing holidays.
Rinse well in clean water, hang out to dry - and it's as good as new.
And for that ice box, esky, fridge or freezer with the pongs, clean it, dry it, and wipe it out with vanilla essence - as used
in cooking.
Terry Fuller
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Reef Boots.
For almost any time you need to go onto rocks or reefs, you will get a great grip with reef boots fitted with steel spikes, as
shown in the photo. These ones, Mirage Rock Hoppers, cost me around $69 last year and were the best investment in fishing shoes I have every made.
Much better than any other soled shoes for almost any hard surfaces. The high sides give some support to your ankles, which
is important on the rocks and reefs.
They have a block tread which is good on sand, and the steel spikes cut though slime and grip on weed, limestone rocks and reefs,
and even on hard granite rocks.
The uppers are made of neoprene type material and the soles of rubber. So they can take getting wet and are still comfortable to
wear. Try a size that fits over a pair of thick woollen socks, so that you can wear them in comfort and don't get blisters from
rubbing and from any sand which might get in the boots. Good wool socks will be OK when wet, too.
And when the steel spikes wear down, as they will eventually, you can cut some of the block tread away to expose the spikes, or
hang the expense, buy a new pair - they are worth it.
Don't forget the steel spikes when you're wearing them - they definitely DON'T go well on polished timber floors.
Terry Fuller
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Preparing Fish for Cooking.
We've all heard comments like "You can't freeze tailor", "Salmon aren't worth eating", "Eat herring fresh, they're no good after
they've been frozen", etc.
But sometimes there is a good reason to freeze a few fish, eg when you're away from home for a while and want to take some
fish home for the family. If you have caught and kept a few fish, then it is important they are not wasted, and that you get the
best out of them. This way really works, and will improve the taste and texture of any fish.
First of all - look after your fish. Bleed them all as soon as they are caught. Gill and gut them as soon as possible.
Keep them cool, and put them on ice as soon as possible. Even icing half an hour sooner while driving back home makes a big
difference in any weather. Any fish to be frozen should be packed and frozen as soon as possible.
Thawing frozen fish. Make sure the outside of the pack of fish does not get warm while the inside is still thawing -
thawing in the fridge guarantees this but takes a lot longer. The next step can be done once the fillets or the fish can be
cut, even if they're still a bit icy.
Cutting up. Either fresh fish or frozen fish. Larger fish:- lay the fish fillet skin side down on a cutting board, and
take off slices of fish around 10 -15 mm thick. Trim off any dark flesh and skin. Fillets of smaller fish like herring can be
left whole but may be skinned if you like it that way.
The Secret. Put the fish pieces in a container and cover them with milk - full cream milk seems best. Put in the fridge
for 12 to 24 hours. When ready to cook, drain off the milk, partly dry the fish pieces using paper towels, and cook the fish
your favourite way. Try coated in beaten egg and dipped in flour or breadcrumbs.
When and how to freeze fish for the best results? And what to do with all those juicy fish scraps? - check back for these tips.
Terry Fuller.
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Use a Landing Net when Fishing for Photos.
I've found on several occasions that when I'm fishing catch and release, that I don't end up taking photos of a lot of my better
fish. This is because after a long fight I'm keen to get the fish back into the water as quickly as possible. This means that
I don't want to carry the fish to shore and leave it out of the water whilst I find and set up my camera for a photo.
If I use a landing net I can keep the fish in the net, but under water, whilst I get myself organised. Then it's a simple case
of removing the fish from the net, taking the picture and then returning the fish to the water.
Another good tip if you're fishing alone is to set your camera up on a tripod with the timer selected ready before you start
fishing. This way when you catch a fish all you have to do is push the button, assume your position, and the camera, which
has already been set up, takes the photo. This allows you to return the fish in the minimum amount of time.
Andy Woodford.
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Copyright © 2002 Surf Casting and Angling Club of W.A. (Inc.)
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This page was updated on 30 November 2005.
Display of this page was updated on 12 February 2009. Contents updated as above.
