Episode 606: Land-based Lure Fishing Mackay With Luke Galea

Luke’s Tips For Land-based Luring Mackay

• Catching good fish off the bank is possible, despite the common misconception that a boat is necessary. Being smart about where to fish and putting variables in your favour increases the chance of catching fish from the bank.
• Water flow, the presence of bait, and fish-holding structure can make a big difference to your catch rate.
• Being land-based allows the angler to work their lure back through structure where a bosting angler would be retrieving the lure out of the structure. The lure is in the strike zone for longer when fishing from the bank than from a boat.
• Luke has caught some great fish from the bank, including quality barramundi, and in fact can’t recall a boat fishing session that trumps his best land-based barra session. He also catches everything from bream, whiting and flathead through to jacks, queenfish, trevally, grunter, threadfin and more casting lures from the bank.
• Land-based fishing is simpler than boat fishing and requires less equipment. There’s no washing, fuelling or maintaining a boat and the angle can take advantage of very short opportunities when launching a boat wouldn’t be worth the effort.
• It’s important to be croc smart, never wade more than calf deep and only then if you have 30-40m of clear water around you and no drop-offs from where a croc could ambush. Fishing with a mate is a good plan, stay alert and watch out for each other. Wear wetsuit booties for protection whilst wading.
• The last couple of hours of the runout tide and the first couple of the run-in tide are the prime times. These times are when the structures and drop-offs are accessible by wading and casting.
• Look for pressure points where currents strike banks or structures and give fish places to stay out of the flow but leap out and ambush food items that wash down. Google Earth is your friend, study the places you plan to fish for access tracks, structure and likely pressure edges.

Recommended Tackle

• It’s good to have a couple of decent quality travel rods tucked away in your car so you can take advantage of opportunities that arise.
• A good general combination is an When fishing for barramundi, a 8-16 pound line class, 7’ Atomic Arrows spin rod, 4000 size spin reel, 20-30lb braid and 30-40lb leader.

Luke’s Lures For Land-based Fishing Around Mackay

• The Atomic Semi-Hardz Vibe is available from 40 to 110mm sizes, but Luke’s favourite size for land based fishing in estuaries is the 50mm size, which will catch most species, including surprisingly large barramundi. It casts like a bullet and can be fished in areas that don’t have too much hard structure to get snagged on. Work it with small, gently hops of 30-50cm, allowing it to sink to the bottom between. Don’t be afraid to leave the lure stationary on the bottom, fish will often take it when it’s not moving.
• If you’re fishing rock bars, mangroves and other places that eat soft vibes, then a soft plastic lure rigged weedless isa very good option. How you work it depends on the conditions, target species and structure you’re fishing. It’s important to stay alert and look for hints. For example, if you see prawns flicking it might be time to cast a soft plastic prawn around!
• Topwater lures can be deadly, especially on trevally and queenfish. If you see slashing and chomping on the water surface it’s worth casting a popper or stickbait around. Because they are on the water surface they don’t get snagged like other lure styles. Luke likes the 70mm Bassday Sugapen, worked with four twitches of the rod tip for every turn of the reel handle. This keeps the lure swimming with an enticing side to side action.
• Downsizing lures during the winter months when fish are sluggish and have less appetite can also be effective.