Australian salmon

[Gordie]

Gday fellas, just after a bit of advice.
I like to target different species and I can't remember if I have ever caught a Salmon.

We are in SE Qld and a mate and I are planning a trip south to have a go at them and fish the beaches'

Just wondering which is the best time of the year.

How far into NSW do we need to go to find them in good numbers.

I understand Patinoster rigs are the way to go, which bait would you recomend.

How about the Slugs we use for Tailor would they work.

Both pensioners so I think that gives us permission these days.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Regards Gordon

[hooknpull]

try gangs with a pilchard mate. ive never heard of them being caught with patinosters but hey im still learning too.. also use chromies on them thats pretty fun. i dont know how far up they go but i can recall a few of the qld guys here saying they got some up that way this year. they are a winter plague species like the lether jackets down here..

[stonecold]

Rabbi, tells me the blighters are still here on this very day (Ballina that is)....They were thick at flat rock and angels beach last week. They have normally moved south by this time, but they're still here!!!.......3 months ago you could catch em on a bare hook from most beaches aqnd certainly off the Nth and Sth wall.......pillies, worms, strip baits, metal slices, soft plastics. Really just about anything you chucked into the water. Glad I didnt have to wash my hands. Mind you I wouldnt jump n the car and head down this weekend for a reliable chance I'd be waiting until June-August

Cheers

[rabbi]

Yeah, they are still here at Ballina.
They are here in reasonable numbers and around the 2 to 4kg size.
Few Trevally getting around here too.
Great crab bait(salmon)
Cheers, steve.

[nathank]

when they are on you can catch them on anything mate..just about.. a paternoster rig will work fine with a half pilly or just gangs and a whole one.. you can cast a paternoster further though usually.. any chromy will work and they will grab them a bit quicker than you would retrieve for tailor.. i used to live down south and moved up here to get away from them lol... great cat food/crab bait, but really good sport if you havent caught many of em before

[Jarrah Jack]

They can grow very big and know how to put up a fight. I've had big ones take live bait meant for Kingys. You'll more than likely encounter the smaller ones who take the baits and lures already mentioned.

[Gordie]

Thanks for all the above fella's, you are a great help.

Looks like we will be going south for winter, might take the waders for that trip.

Regards Gordon

[Kiwipea]

Caught plenty this year on Central Coast 100k north of sydney, yes a patanoster rig and a pillie bait but then had a surf popper on a short trace bout 20cm above bait trace and hooked 70 t0 80% of salmon surf popper. rubbish hooks on the surf poppers, had a few of them break off.
All good fun, and yes waders a good idea for winter months

kp

[Hi tide]

any one chasing tailor on gold coast/ seaway,pump jetty etc will tell you they prob caught more salmon instead last winter . pretty much take the same rig (ganged pillies) and were there in droves in the tailor season just gone. More than there's ever been up that way. a good fight but different reports on eating quality. Best bled and eaten fresh (as with any thing i suppose).......