Venus Bay beaches 1-5, Sandy Point,

McLaughlins, McGaurans, Woodside, Golden

Beach, Eastern Beach Lakes Entrance, Lake
Tyers main beach, Pettmans beach. The list
goes on! Most of these beaches are within
Surf Secrets 3.5hrs of the store, with plenty more as far as
you can be bothered driving!
Anglers flock to the beach to lock horns with Talk to us in-store for up to date location
the humble Australian Salmon, which can be
reports and information.
caught up 4kg from the beaches around the
state. Surf fishing is by nature a fairly simple Reading the beach
form of fishing, but attention to detail will A high vantage point is your best friend here.
greatly improve your results and enjoyment. A lot of beaches will have a walking track or Using aerial mapping can also provide you
lookout at the top of the dune, and this is with insightful starting points on a new
Autumn and winter are traditionally the best
where you can work out where to fish. Very beach
time on the surf beaches to catch salmon;
plainly, the ‘darker’ blue water is the deeper
however there are still plenty of salmon out Times and tides can play a part in successful
water and generally a good place to start.
there to be caught during the warmer months surf fishing. Ideally the stage around the top
Watching the wave activity around this
of the year. of the tide is the best time to be fishing – as
deeper water will tell you where the shallow
the fish push the bait into the shoreline
Milder weather conditions between early banks and bars are – pointed out by ‘foamy’
gutters and much closer to you.
April and mid-May are best as cool water or breaking waves. Normally a good place to
temperatures bring the bait and the fish in fish is along the edges of where these areas Time of day can vary, but if you could line up
close. Many beaches around the state meet, as the fish will try to avoid shallow a high tide within an hour of dawn or dusk
produce salmon from this time of year breaking water as they don’t want their gills that would the best scenario. The salmon use
through until around September, with a few full of sand. the low light period to hunt the gutters when
closer to the home worth a visit. small baitfish are caught off guard.
Keeping an eye on which way the outgoing
Some notable beaches not too far from the water is moving can also point out where the In saying this there are days when the fish will
South-Eastern suburbs worth a look are as fish may be stationing. If you can position be actively feeding on the ‘wrong’ conditions
follows: yourself off the edge into a deeper gutter – so never write off a session on the beach
with some undertow movement running past just because conditions aren’t ‘perfect’!
Gunnamatta, Woolamai, Kilcunda, Powlett your baits you are in a good position to find
mouth, Williamsons, Inverloch main beach, some fish.
Tackling the beach Talk to us in-store for specific tackle keeps them around, that’s the key. Your
The use of proper gear is paramount on the choices and rigging information berley should be a solid mix of scent and
beach. Trying to get away with short rods or chunks but fine enough so that the fish
the wrong style of reel will result in cannot ‘eat’ it and not your baits. The best
disappointing and potentially frustrating general mix is to make up 20L or so
fishing. There are many different ways of compromising of a base pellet – but NOT
gearing up for the surf, but our basic chicken pellets. Chicken pellets can contain
recommendations are as follows: ammonia which fish don’t like. Your base
pellet can be large and scented and should
Rod – 12-13ft graphite rated 6-15kg line class have a pilchard block or bucket mix layered
with soft tip and powerful butt section. in. Once you have filled your bucket up, a top
*Graphite provides extra casting power and off with 1L of tuna oil will soak through the
distance, with rigidity to hold sinkers in mix and break it down somewhat. Leave it
place overnight or even longer if you need and it
Reel – 8000 – 14000 sized spin reel with will soak in more. A constant application of a
specialized distance casting spool few handfuls every 20 minutes or so will help
*Long cast spool will outcast any other reel in keeping the fish nearby and hungry.
style on the beach
Line-30-50lb thin diameter braided line For any additional information or specifics
*Thinner diameter for extra casting talk to us in-store.
A typical ‘cover all bases’ surf fishing rig.
distance and less drag in wash and waves.
Tangle free and ready to catch fish. Compleat Angler Dandenong
Higher strength for diameter lets angler
muscle fish out of shore break Bait and berley
241 – 243 Princes Highway
Dandenong VIC 3175
There are many popular baits for the beach,
A simple 2 dropper paternoster rig is often but keeping the list shorter helps in not 03 9794 9397
the deadliest rig for the beaches, especially carrying too much down the beach. Bluebait, 0418 252 385
when used in conjunction with a surf popper whitebait, pipi, baby bottle squid and squid [email protected]
or tear-resistant ‘TPR’ soft plastic rigged on www.fishingcamping.com.au
strips are excellent choices and work well.
the bottom hook. Hook styles are many and The use of a ‘cocktail’ of multiple baits on one
should reflect bait type and size. Star or hook can also be very effective when the fish
‘anchor’ sinkers are the most effective in the are picky.
surf - while making sure your rig holds and This handout is for use as information only, and the
suggestions are based on our experiences for
doesn’t tumble back to the shoreline is Berleying on the beach is a MUST. Berley
fishing this particular location and or species.
critical. attracts baitfish and their predators, but it