Thread: Blackfishing

Originally Posted by UNDEROVER

Just how imperative is the long sloppy rod/centre pin combo?
the best I can come up with is an old 9ft Snyderglass with 5" Alvey, aside from that it's all H/M graphite...
Also, off the rocks, do you fish in the wash or the edges?
Matt.

The long sloppy rod is used as you are using very light trace and the fish turn and dive quickly so the rod acts like a shock absorber slowing the fish and allowing the rod to tire the fish. Using a centrepin reel allows you pay out line and retreive without having to release the reel out of gear or flip over a bail arm.

Using your palm as the drag also works well.

Off ther rocks I have found they mostly hang where the food is going to come to them so wherever there is a wash going out into deep water that's where they usually are.

As I said before try and make the float neutral weight in the water and adjust the depth you fish until you find where they are - usually just off the bottom.

While on the rocks scrape weed under your feet and kick this into the wash as berley. This really gets them on the chew

If you are on the rocks, one eye on the float and the other one on the swell. It only takes a split second to get your bum wet and into the drink you go.

Hope you get amongst them

A soft flexible rod is particularly important for the above mentioned reasons so its hard to avoid the necessity for it. 9ft is a little short for fishing off the ocean rocks as you may need some better leverage to head them off from rocky edges or kelp.
I learned using a threadline/eggbeater style reel and am very happy with using one. I usually leave the bail arm open and use palm pressure on the spool to stop the line paying out. I can flick the bail arm over with my fingers if I need to rather than by turning the handle which would leave precious moments on no line control. I have used centrepin and sidecast reels but I always seem to end up with a bird's nest and frustration. Remember that for a balanced set-up you should have a low mounted reel if you intend to use a centrepin- but all things are possible.

Thanks for that guys.
Now for the big question, seasons? What time of year for the Coffs Coast if you know?
Sorry for the silly questions, but I'm none the wiser...

Originally Posted by UNDEROVER

Thanks for that guys.
Now for the big question, seasons? What time of year for the Coffs Coast if you know?
Sorry for the silly questions, but I'm none the wiser...

They can be caught all year but the cooler months are better. In Sydney and up at Forster, May is the best month. Not sure about Coffs but I would assume this time of the year would be the go.

Follow some old bloke with a sloppy rod with a float on it - they usually know the spot and the time

Originally Posted by UNDEROVER

Just how imperative is the long sloppy rod/centre pin combo?
the best I can come up with is an old 9ft Snyderglass with 5" Alvey, aside from that it's all H/M graphite...
Also, off the rocks, do you fish in the wash or the edges?
Matt.

Long sloppy rods - as you call them - are the bees knees for Luderick fishing
They act as a shock absorber for fighting the fish which is hooked on very light gear and a very small hook .
If you try to scull drag a luderick fish out of the river with medium weight or heavy weight gear you will get busted off nine times out of ten .
My Dad was one of those 'old blokes' that knew how to do it right and would catch 90% of the fish on any good days fishing with other fisho's on the same stretch of water .
He made his own rods out of blanks and made his own floats from scratch .
cheers .

I must admit, from what I've seen, there is never a lot of urgency when it comes to getting these little battlers to the net. I guess the fairly fragile mouths dictate the need for a softly softly approach.
Time for me to get my A into G and get amongst it. thanks again for answering all my simple questions...

Cheers all, Matt.

By the way,
are those coloured chemically sharpened hooks worth the investment?? or is it a bit of a gimmick??

Couple of Phots of the 'Ol Man' at work