Okay, I admit it. I am completely addicted to surface fishing. It is without doubt, visually exciting. The feeling of anticipation that one feels, as the tension builds. When you can see fish following your lure. Striking at your lure, but not quite hooking up and then finally that take!!
A massive explosion of white water surrounding your lure as your prey inhales your offering. Followed by the sound of drag screeching and a sense of uncontrolled weight on the other end of your line. It takes my breath away each and every time.
Locations
Within a short distance of the Urangan boat harbour in Hervey Bay. Are dozens of locations which suit a dedicated surface fishing session. Sure, many people head north, cross the deep-water channels feeding the Great Sandy Strait. Skirt past Moon Point and continue north into Platypus Bay and even beyond Roonie Point chasing surface feeding pelagics.
A proven option. However, it takes time and burns fuel. As I often witness boats screaming past in the early hours of the morning. I wonder if they realise the close in treasures which they are missing. Some only 5 minutes ride from the marina.
A Theory
I served over a decade of my life in the Australian Army. Although it has been well over a decade since I left the green machine. The lessons I learnt are still very fresh in my mind. I still remember ‘standing to’ for the first time. Nineteen years old. Laying on my stomach in a shallow, hastily dug pit, gripping my rifle and staring out into the predawn gloom. Watching, waiting! I was about to learn a fascinating lesson which I still use today while targeting large predatory fish, feeding in the shallows.
Our platoon sergeant, a very angry man, otherwise known as ‘god’ at the time. Had explained to us the evening prior. The reasons why military forces have for hundreds of years stood ready for an attack. Especially one before dawn or after dark.
It has a lot to do with natural light. As those first rays of sunshine illuminate the horizon, colours are not quite colours. Shapes seem to shift or seem distorted and sound seems to be amplified. He explained that we needed to look at things differently. Search our surroundings from right to left not left to right like you normally read. This way you will notice more detail and not skip things as your brain compensates for the familiar.
Booking.comThe Lesson
At first, I thought it was a bush, then it moved. Or at least I thought it had moved. The snap of a twig echoed like a door slamming. Where did that come from? I heard myself say. Where did that bush go? I was thinking. The two other recruits lying next to me were also confused. We were all nervous and concentrating so hard on the gloom to our front, that we completely forgot what we had been told the evening prior.
Suddenly, we heard that sound, ‘psssssst’. It was like someone was shouting in my ear from only a foot away. My heart skipped a beat and all three of us turned to our left. Not three feet away was the bush, except this one had two arms, two legs and that very familiar angry look on his face. He suggested that we needed some more practice.
Bite Time
As anglers, we all know that a prime bite time is just as those first rays of sunshine illuminate the horizon, why? Well, for the exact reasons I mention above, colours are not quite colours, shapes seem to shift or seem distorted 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. And as an angler I use it to target those trophy predatory fish.
Stealth is vital. There is no point in roaring up to a likely fishing location and dropping that heavy, noisy anchor as links of chain disappear over the bow roller. Each link announcing its arrival and the anchor landing with a massive thud on the bottom. Worse when you clang and bash about in your boat moving items, slamming esky lids and setting lines, remember sound is amplified, you want the heightened senses of the fish to focus on your offering, not your boat.
I always stop my engine well short of my intended fishing location and use my Minn Kota electric motor to sneak into position. If you do not have an electric motor, try drifting after easing back on the throttle and slowly making your way into location. I have even witnessed some anglers using towels to dampen the sound of their anchor chain as they delicately and painstakingly fix themselves in position.
Lures
Poppers, stick baits whatever your favoured lure might be needs to take advantage of the low light period. Again, noise if amplified. So a solid rattle or the cupped face of a popper scooping up water is going to produce a very loud and noticeable sound. It will get a predatory fishes attention.
Colours are not quite colours. Meaning a flash of white, gold or red will again gather a hunter’s attention. Shapes seem to shift or seem distorted. The game is to entice that reaction bite through the presentation of a lure surrounded by noise and commotion. Which due to the low light encourages predatory fish to take a gamble and strike at a likely meal rather than miss the opportunity when they do not have the luxury of sussing out exactly what it is that they are chasing.
The Battle
On this outing, using my 55lb MinnKota electric motor I slowly positioned my 440 Quintrex Renegade within casting range of one of the shallow rock ledges located only 10 minutes from the Urangan boat harbour. First light was due at 4.40am with sunrise around 5.30am, it was 4.30am and I could already hear but not quite see schools of bait fish being herded into the shallows by an unknown predator. I followed my usual fishing pattern, starting on the surface and then working my way down through the water column.
First cast was with a Austackle Spritz, a 93mm, 13g surface lure in white demon pattern. This lure has large cut away pockets on the face and a keel to enhance a ‘walk the dog’ style action and produce a large amount of spray during the retrieve.
Ten casts produced one follow, with a large boil of water signalling to me the fish had certainly heard and seen the lure but were not quite convinced to attack it. Next up was the Austackle King Stik 95 a sinking stickbait rigged with a treble and in white. I cast it right up amongst the rocks and started reeling it in with haste. Not allowing it to sink any more than a foot and hoping to take advantage of a flash of colour and fast movement to entice that reaction bite.
Booking.comTension Builds
BANG, a solid hit, but no hook up, this time they were striking at the lure, not just curiously following it, time to persist. Next cast and immediately upon hitting the water I felt another strong hit. As I reeled the lure back towards the boat I felt another. They were right behind the lure trying to eat it. I slowed my retrieve only slightly and within a few metres of the boat the hit happened, BOOM !
All I saw was white water engulf the lure, due to the low light I could not make out the fish species, I just saw a dark shape and a slight flash of red. The drag on the Austackle Verto 4500 spin reel started to scream as 15lb Platypus P8 braid was stripped at a ridiculous rate. Luckily the fish headed for deeper, open water as I was not in control.
After what felt like a full minute the fish stopped pulling line and headed deep, I gave chase over a short distance with my electric motor. It all happened so quickly, my heart was racing. As I gathered my thoughts I began to feel that familiar tail thumping as the circle work under the boat began, it was Trevor.
Final Thoughts
After an epic battle, a couple of quick photos, I released Trevor to fight another day. He seemed a little angry with a look on his face that almost looked familiar. He had almost escaped but as he swam away healthy albeit a touch angry, I thought to myself, ‘he needs some more practice’.