Bait vs soft plastics on the Pine

[Stinkboy]

I recently posted on the saltwater chat site asking for advice on techniques, tips and advice on where to catch flathead in the Pine River. After reading through the advice and tips given (missed Dan88 last tip about the gulps past my bedtime) I loaded up on the soft plastics that had been advised and headed out to the Pine to catch the last two hours of the run out today, my theory was simple head to the areas I had always been successful with bait and see if I could get a coupla of lizards in the same area.

Well to my surprise the soft plastics actually worked, although the fish weren't coming thick and fast, I still got two in the boat from 0545 - 0730 (37cm and 42cm, both catch and release, pinned in the lip which made it easy);D and missed one with the cast net (the biggest one) :( . Effective soft plastics for me today was a 3inch gulp (shad) in pumpkinseed, and a 3 inch power minnow in bullhead brown. Ineffective softies for me at this stage were gary glitter 2 and 3 inch shad, and power minnows in black and fluro pink.

After fishing the runout, I decided due to it being a beautiful calm day I would head out the front of the Hornibrook and flick for a while there as well, ended up getting one small flathead (didn't bother measuring, he was straight back in the drink) on a 3inch gary glitter shad.

Whilst out there got a call from a mate, to pick him up from the boat ramp between the old and the new hornibrook, he said he would bring bait. So loaded up with worms and squid we started targeting whiting out the front of the hornibrook, ended up catching about 50 winter whiting ;D (kept 10 for a feed) and 2 legal summer whiting (found that strange) also one big pike (went out as a livie, but got me nothing) >:(

We came back in as the wind started to pick up, happy with the mornings efforts. Overall happy, got a feed and had a good morning on the water. :)

[shayned]

Glad you enjoyed. :)

[StevenM]

Stinkboy

looks like you might have to change your name now that you are moving to the dark side

heres one

Gulp Juice

Cheers

Steven

[Bundy_Burp]

Sounds like a good mixed session to me


Bundy 8-)

[Craigus]

Stinkboy

looks like you might have to change your name now that you are moving to the dark side

heres one

Gulp Juice

Cheers

Steven

;D ;D

Stinkboy

Well done mate and welcome to the darkside.

[gregdeeth]

sounds like a great day covering different options

[Freeeedom]

Over the last couple of weeks (before spending this week on the Teewah beach getting wet and blown away - by the wind, not the fish) I've had a few sessions in the Pine and Nundah Creek comparing live bait and SP's on flathead. The technique has been to net a few herring and put a couple out as live baits on the drift and then throw Sp's until something grabs a livie. At the moment the scores are about equal with flathead and pike caught by both methods and the odd good bream on the livies. I've also had the odd catfish and stingray on the livies, but no vermin on the SP's. I'll need a few more trips before I can make any firm conclusions - Oh well! Someone has to do it!
Cheers Freeeedom

[Canoedle]

I've got stingrays and catfish on SPs in the pine John, it'll happen one day. ;D
Stinky, good work mate, the big ones are in there, maybe try a bigger plastic, I like the gulp 4" minnows in smelt and 4" swim mullet in watermelon.
cheers, Karl.