Like most anglers, I love the sound of a fishing reel’s drag screaming. As a fish makes a run for freedom, viciously shaking its head trying to dislodge the hook and using all its might. In what sometimes feels like an effort to pull we, the angler, into the water. King Threadfin Salmon, more commonly referred to as threadies. Are one species which never fail to provide a couple of solid line ripping runs. Testing an anglers gear at every critical point and ensuring that a reel’s drag washers are never left idle.
The Mary River and Great Sandy Straits fishery provide the perfect habitat for threadies to thrive. In the months leading up to and just after Christmas they feature more prominently as regular catches by local anglers. Most specimens measure in between 60 – 90cm. However, when the water temperature is nearing its peak and with increased movement of bait within the waterway. Fish breaking the 1 metre mark are more common, with some reaching well past 1.2 metres.
Set the Scene
The end of 2016 and start of 2017 saw the Fraser Coast Region swelter through rolling heat waves. Very little, of the usual deluge of rain, that we are used to experiencing during this time of year fell. Consequently, the expected flush of bait from the myriad of smaller creeks and muddy drains had not occurred. Forcing predatory fish species, such as threadies to travel further upstream into shallow drains and skinny creeks in search of a feed. These conditions matched with an early morning low tide make it an ideal time to sight cast for threadies in shallow water as they tail after bait.
A Few Key Points
Threadies don’t have teeth but instead are armed with raspy lips which can make short work of light leaders. I tend to use 30lb fluorocarbon leader attached via a double uni-knot to a good quality 15lb braid spooled on a 4000-size reel which is mounted on a 5-7kg rod. This outfit is well suited to landing a 1 metre plus thready.
When dedicating a session to hunting for threadies I prefer days on which low tide occurs shortly after first light. As anglers, we all know that one of the prime bite times is just as the first rays of sunshine illuminate the horizon. Colours are not quite colours, shapes seem to shift and sound seems to be amplified. Predatory fish with their tuned in senses use this confusing period of transition in light to stalk, trap and kill prey.
Where to Fish
I deliberately target areas within narrow creeks and which feature several shallow drains. Using my bow mounted electric motor to maintain stealth I search for signs of threadies feeding on jelly prawns, especially as the water amongst the mangroves drain off the mud flats and into the narrow creeks. Pushes of water on the surface followed by exposed fins and forked tails are the usual tell-tale signs that threadies are about and actively feeding.
Threadies on the hunt have a spectacular way of announcing their arrival and it is quite a spectacle to witness spurts of water erupt as a thready chases a tasty meal into the shallows, with so much momentum that the entire fish becomes exposed. Before wriggling itself back into the waters depths.
My Lure Choice
Over the years, I have discovered that vibrating lures with a dash of bright colouring, such as chartreuse, tend to result in a higher hook up rate. I believe this is due to the vibrations of the lure mimicking the vibration made by prawns as they move through water and the bright colouring simply makes it easier to grab the fish’s attention and allow it to hone in on the lure, especially in dirty water.
I use a simple single hop retrieve of the lure as I bring it back towards the boat, after casting it as far into a drain as I possibly can. Hoping to imitate a prawn or small bait fish making a dash from the drain and heading for the safety of deeper water.
On some days, although I can see threadies feeding it may take several casts of a lure, before suddenly feeling weight on the end of the line and almost as suddenly, hearing line ripping through shallow water as the hooked fish realises that it is pinned and makes a blistering run for deeper water.
Here Are a Couple of Tips
As mentioned threadies have very raspy lips, so regardless of your preference for mono or fluorocarbon leaders. Make sure you up your leader size to avoid being cut off mid-fight, I recommend 30lb as a minimum.
Although threadies generate immense speed from their large powerful tails. They generally only have 2 or 3 solid runs in them before they tire and become easier to bring to the boat. If you have no obvious structure around, don’t be afraid to let them run and to tire themselves out. If there is structure around, then good luck!
I find a lure which generates a subtle vibration and is bright in colour works best. My theory being, that this allows the fish to sense the vibrations through its long whiskers. Even in dirty water and once close enough the colour catches its eye, hopefully drawing a bite.