Dart on the sunny coast?

[Dug]

Is it too late in the year to find decent dart around the Sunshine Coast beaches?
Do they mind the dirty water around at the moment?
Any hints, tips on bait or locations to try?

Do you know the winning Tattslotto numbers for next Saturday night? #

Cheers Doug

[SeaHunt]

Hi Doug,
You will find Dart in the gutters pretty much all year round.
I have not got any good locations for you , I have caught 90% of mine on Fraser Island, but I would try any good looking gutter you can find.
As for bait I think pippys are best, collect about 20 big ones shell them, cut in half drown them in salt and leave in a bucket overnight so they really stink, the salt also makes them rubbery and they stay on the hook better.
Also I have caught heaps while targeting tailor with pilchards on gang hooks, and I have found if they are thick they dont mind having a go at slugs. I caught about 20 in two hours last year on Frazer Island while spinning for Tailor , one even swallowed the untire treble which is a good trick considering the size their mouths.
They can be fairly close to the beach also, when I was catching them on my tailor slug , if I got hit 40 or 50 metres out it was a tailor if I got hit 10 to 20 out it was nearly always a dart.

[Aaron_Fogarty]

Dart are predominately sight feeders, and after ten years of club fishing for them the best bait for them is yabbies before dark and blood worms with a green glow beed after dark. They prefer the white water caused by breaking waves when they are feeding. Ive had most success with and anchored bait (5 to 8 ball sinker) and Ive caught them up as far as "the Marshell Islands" Microneasia. Around Brisbane however, the Inside of Moreton Island from Comby point to north light is one of the hot spots for big dart over the christmas season. For the sunny Coast I would be trying the North shore of the Maroochy river targeting the edge of the white water. Id also be taking my tailor rod as some big Tailor kick around there this time of year.
Hope this helps
Aaron

[Da-Jew-Man]

Hi Doug,
Can't say I Have fished Sunshine Coast but in Nthn NSW I look for a good gutter and fish the incoming tide. As the tide comes in and there is a good swell with good clean waves the dart will come over the bank into the gutter.Sometimes you can actually cast into the wave break or just ahead and wait for the hit.
I use Metho'd worms frozen in a dash of Tuna Oil and the Dart go mad on this
Only problem is though if you get bitten off you know the Tailor are around.
So be prepared. Good fishing.
8)

[SeaHunt]

Yep you can get them right in the top of waves about to break.
I snaffled one like that from a shore break, when I struck it ripped him straight out of the wave and the fish came flying back past my ears and landed 10 metres up the beach behind me #
The fight lasted all of .02 of a second.
Good fish too about 60 cm.

[CHRIS_aka_GWH]

I'm different to Aaron - I like a very light & moving bait for dart. I only go the stonker (but I still want the bait moving in the drift) in BIG southerly seas, which is when I find the big uns best, - particulary with clouds & lightning in the sky - their backs go an electric green.

I always use a trace as long as my arm - a gamakatsu worm holder hook with a red bead on top during the day - incorporate the bead in the hook's knot so it doesn't fly up the line - cuts down bite off from other fish. I like the fine gauge of the worm holder for pippis & yabbies & its parrallel tip keeps the point exposed in what can be a bulky bait for the size of the hook.

I fish the top of banks into drains - sometimes you are literally fishing parrallel to the beach. The dart cruise on sets across the banks into the suds of the drains, mill around the opening then return on the next set.

Cast out, rod at about 45^o angle, on the take lower the tip & feed some line, then lift & wind when the weight is felt. I fish with my rod high on my chest & get wet - sometimes you need to wade with the light weights involved.

In big seas it's a bit different - the banks are getting blasted so you cast to the drains & let it suck to the entrance - a big dart's take doesn't frig around all you do is set the hook & hold on - watch out for the handles on the ALVEY.

Bled, kept wet & cool, then filleted & skinned immediately after the session - dart is a very decent table fish - i luv the fillets crumbed.

seeyainthesurf,

chris


ps those numbers 3, 8, 23, 17, 42, 38 12, 39

[Da-Jew-Man]

Doug,
I fish with light line ie 8lb Berkley Trieiline ( sorry about spelling) which gives me excellent casting distance. I also like Chris prefer to have the bait moving around so I use a 4 ball sinker. Be prepared though that when the big ones are on they will hit the bait and take off before you have the slack wound up.I almost am winding in slack just as the bait hits the water.Once you feel the weight strike and then let the rod and drag do its job.Always bring in gently on the waves.
I like light line as big dart fight hard and when they get in the waves they run parallel to the beach back and forth.A great sight.
To cast into the wave and catch that particular fish and then fight him in the wave is exhilerating.
As Chris says they are an excellent fish to eat, and I am dumfounded when I run into people who turn there nose up when you mention eating Dart

[Dug]

6 replies only one set of lotto numbers.
If we win the 31 million I will shout the next meet and greet OK!

Thanks guys

[Sergio_kutz]

Hey doug,

No idea about up at the sunny coast. But down at tugan/currumbin just a basic rig with as light a sinker as possible and a 40-60cm trace with a yabbie on a long shank hook always gets eaten. And i mean always. The bigger ones are usually out near the back of the gutter but if you don't quite get the distance on every cast you haven't got a hope of getting your bait back to shore before it gets eaten. If there are dart around in a gutter... you'll know about it pretty quickly. Heaps of fun on 6lb line and a little bream rod. Actually got busted off by one as it used the wave to good affect. Great fun anytime!