Does wind direction affect beach fishing for tailor?

[Robsie]

Gday all

I'm a novice beach fisho, and after reading some of the tailor reports on the goldy was planning on having a go this week after work. I was just wondering if wind direction affects whether the tailor are biting or not? I noticed one post said they will be around as long as the westerlies? Is this because the beach is easier to fish in a westerly, or do they just bugger off when the wind changes? As far as narrowneck goes, do you have to cast very far to be in with a shot? i have recently bought a surf rod, but i am still working out the action to get my bait more then 30 m from shore.

Thanks all.
Rob

[kingkev]

Gutters are usually not too far in however as far as you can is good and then keep your bait moving with a slow retrieve. Tailor like white water and usually westerlies can assist with that as well as your casting.

Happy fishing

[Noelm]

not too sure it makes much difference to the fish, but it makes a difference to the ability and comfort to fish a certain beach if the wind is too strong from the "wrong" direction.

[Blaster Bretty]

From memory a westerly at the narrowneck is really only for comfort as the wind will blow offshore ( from behind you then out to sea) this will help you cast further, as king kev said find the gutters at the narrowneck and the tailor should be there, having said that ive caught tailor in the broadwater on a low tide ( lucky day but) they say the bigger tailor are out just a wee bit further so the further out the better also the edges of the gutters will yield more fish than smack bang in the middle.

[rockfisho]

I personally think the wind direction is of little significance in determining whether the fish will be biting or not, however any wind will disturb the water surface giving the fish a false sense of security. A westerly will increase casting distances though.
But we have caught heaps of fish when the wind is blowing any other direction.
The strength of the wind is more important IMO. But especially the waves and sand bar/ gutter formations.

just do some experimentation.

rockfisho

[Lovey80]

I personally believe that Wind direction has very little to do with the actually fish but more on us.

Lots of old fisho wifes tales about Wind direction and Barometric Pressure I don't believe any of them myself.

Cheers Chris

[Pistol_P]

I think Rockfisho is on the money.
In my opinion wind doesnt affect the fish but it will certainly affect how the beach is and its formations.
If westerlies blow consistently you are usually left with a flat and sometimes featureless beach and very little wave action.
This then affects the feeding patterns as there is very little or NO white water for cover,no wave action to stir up sand and the fish will be more timid.

Pete

[beach4me]

I've generally noticed that the Westerly winds bring them on (when fishing from an east-facing beach). You will see the bait schools come in a lot closer when the wind is from the west or south-west as it flattens out the surf. I once caught a tailor on Teewah Beach in a south-westerly just by dangling a lure from the rod tip and moving it from side to side! (not much fun in that though)

Nothing wrong with a south-easterly either, but (as rockfisho says) any more than about 15 knots makes it tough to cast a pillie to the back of the gutter where the fish will generally be in that wind.

Westerly is best for someone learning to cast a surf rod.

John

[Robsie]

thanks a lot for the tips guys. I will keep that in mind when looking at the weather from now on. Westerlies = go fishing. Anything else = stay at home and stay warm.

[rockfisho]

I wouldn't necessarily write off beach fishing in non westerly conditions. As long as the wind from any other direction (not west) isn't strong, it's definately worth a try.

Owen