Bait and rigs

[MagicRik]

im going out for my first real fish on saturday morning. im setting out at 3.45am because the tide is at its high around 4.15am, ill be fishing off darlin island is sydney.
i was wondering if anyone as fished there befroe and can give me any tip on what bait and rig to use so a can make the most of my first fishing outting.
I was thinking of using green prawn as bait and the paternoster rig.
thanks Rik

[MagicRik]

sorry i forgot something how fresh do the prawns need to be? ive been fishing with some prawn i got on tuesday and ive frozen them twice now do they need binning?

[Fishin_Dan]

Yeah bin them mate! Prawns go a bit funny after the first freeze...

I don't know that spot specifically, but I probably wouldn't be using prawns in a patonestor...?

Try and jig up some livies from the beacons, bridge pylons, etc, on the way out there, and either cut them up as fresh dead baits, or use them as actual livies. That's the best bait you can get!!! If you can find some slimies or yakkas, you'll be set!

If you're using livies, just a 4/0 through the nostrils is enough to hook them, or you can hook them through the back in front of the fin. Use as little weight as possible to get them down in the water column, and if you can, fish a few with different weights (different depths). When you start catching on one, swap the others over to there as well.

If you're using them as dead baits, then around a 2/0 -4/0 with a nice cut piece of fillet will do well. Again, only use the minimum weight. You may need to change your weight several times as the tide runs...

Hope it helps.

[MagicRik]

thanks Dan, oh yeah i got some new soft lures yesterday think i should try them out?

[Fishin_Dan]

Absolutely!!! Flick them around while the bait is soaking! Best of both worlds then!!!

[Duyz72]

Smash up your prawns with some stale bread and any other fishy bits in your freezer, even some dried pet food or tinned cat food. Mix it with some sand and you have some burley.