PHP Warning: Use of undefined constant VBA_SCRIPT - assumed 'VBA_SCRIPT' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in ..../includes/functions_navigation.php(802) : eval()'d code on line 1 Iluka - Fishing land based at Woody Head
I have just returned from a week camping next to the Bundjalong National Park at Iluka. I fished the rocky headlands around the mouth of the mighty Clarence River. I had a number of great fishing sessions and I will post a report on each, over the next week or so. I arrived for a midday session on Monday. It was low tide and I decided to get straight into the fishing at Woody Head. This can be a difficult spot to fish from the rocks. It is only really possible at low tide when there is a very calm sea. There are stepped rock ledges all around the headland and if there is a serious swell it is very hard to land a decent fish. On Monday I was very fortunate as there was a limited swell, very little wind and I arrived just before low tide. I was fishing plastics using my current favourite rock fishing rod – the Rovex Bario 6811. It is an 11 foot, 3.3 metre rod. It is great for plastics fishing. It is strong enough to drag a decent fish up the rocks but also light enough to feel the bites and work the plastic. Obviously there is only limited action and it does not compare to a light spin outfit but it is a good compromise between strength and feel. It is also excellent for casting out heavy metal slugs and poppers for Tailor/ Tuna if you wish to change strategy halfway through a session. I partner the rod with Stradic 6500 spin reel, 20lb Fireline and usually, a 25lb Fluorocarbon leader. For jigheads I usually start with a 3/8th 3/0 size and put on something like a 4/5” Jerkshad or Minnow shaped plastic, in a fairly neutral colour. I was looking for anything but predicting Tailor or Australian Salmon - or perhaps a very hungry Bream. I moved along the rocks casting at each small patch of deepwater that was in reach of the shore. I lost several jigheads to the rocks and then, just as I got to a large rock called ‘Barnacle Bob’ I hooked a decent fish. I played it for about 30 seconds before it wedged itself down below the rock ledge and the wave action sawed through the leader. It was a good sized Tailor and I was sorry to lose it. Next cast I was bitten off, clean, on the drop so I switched to a 45lb leader. This took a while and when I returned the Tailor had obviously cruised past. After a few more casts I hooked up again. This time it was a nice Trevally. I took him to safety and cast out in the same spot with exactly the same result – another similar sized Trevally. I switched to a new GULP 4” Pearl Watermelon Minnow and remained with the 3/8th 3/0 jighead, after a couple more casts I caught a smaller Big Eye Trevally which I released. Over the next hour I lost 4 more to the rocks and was bitten off, clean, again. I swapped between the 4” Minnow and a 5” Pumpkinseed Jerkshad and the fish were interested in both. By now the swell and the rising tide was making it too difficult to fish and I was getting a regular soaking from the waves, so I turned for home. Please remember - no fish is worth risking your life to catch – always be sensible and take appropriate precautions when fishing the rocks. Good rock fishing shoes and a clear understanding of the terrain and sea movements are essential. Fish with a mate and let someone know where you are going and when you will be back. Follow the land angler’s blog at http://landangler.wordpress.com
Looking forward to the rest of your reports MM, but I'll have to wait to read them. I'm heading for Iluka for a week tomorrow morning. Hope to be well into the fish by the evening session.
Cheers Freeeedom
nice report, i love getting onto those little trevs as they do go hard. looking forward to hearing more as i get down that way a few times each year and so far i have only had marginal success. at least someone is catching something down there, it gives me hope that i will nut the place out over time.
That rovex rod is the same as the penn big game rods and hell yeh they are good for the price.
Lost Near Bribie - As you may have realised I put the tackle through its paces - reels don't usually last more than a year or two with me. The problem with the Stradic is the drag ratchet - the thing that clicks when the fish takes line. I have broken four so far. The guys at Jone's Tackle are v. good and they replace them for me but I think they are just made too soft.
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