Fishing Victoria Forum

Been a while since I did surf fishing. After reading some reports, I got motivated. Plus a mate wanted to try surf fishing.
Went to gunnamatta beach for an afternoon session, few cars, few people fishing and surfing.
Darn those surfers, some of the good spots occupied by them.

Got there around 2:30pm, checked the condition and where the gutters are, walked about 1-2km to the left, pretty long walk on the sand with a lot of stuff on hands.
Set the burley (burley block with expired bread in onion bag), first cast and bang! 29cm salmon. Few taps after that. The swell was pretty high, reckon missed a lot cos hard to feel the bite in that condition. Probably small fish anyway, big fish would hit like a truck in any conditions.

Gone quiet for a bit, guy on the left caught 3-4 salmons and I got a second. Both salmons caught on surf popper with a bit of pipi. One on red and one on blue. Mate tried metal lure, nothing.
Not big salmons but they'll make great bait.

Weather : sunny 16 degrees, 17-20kmh north wind
Tide : high 4pm, we fished 3pm-5:45pm
Moon : waxing crescent 30%
Barometer : 1022 and slightly dropping
Gear : 12ft surf rod, 4oz star sinker, 4000 spin reel, 20lb braid and 20lb leader, 1/0 hook for bluebait
Bait/lure : bluebait, surf popper red and blue, 28gm metal slug (jarvis walket version of halco twisty)

Such a nice day to fish, though not a donut trip but would've been nicer if bigger/more fish caught.
Surprisingly the water wasn't that cold.

how far into the water did you go?

e.welch wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 09, 2019 8:05 am

how far into the water did you go?

Waded about a knee deep and 20-30 meter cast

ok thanks

e.welch wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 09, 2019 10:19 am

ok thanks

Depends on the situation and condition. Some deep gutter only needs 10-20 m cast and ankle deep. Reading the beach condition can make a huge difference.

Nice report and pics Seb!
I also love my surf fishing mate as you know from my recent Venus bay report
Those surf poppers always get me the fish as well when fishing from the surf! It’s a must.
I can’t wait to go again! Have to get a few more trips lined up before snappers season starts!
Cheers :thumbsup:

Great report, photos and information Seb
Looks like a magic day on the beach
Cheers Gra

I don’t bother with baits down there so good on you for giving it a go. Some days baits outfish lures but for sambos I only use lures.
I like the nice shiny ones so when I’m casting into channels I can see if I can land a Quicksilver, Billabong or Hurley

Lightningx wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 09, 2019 1:23 pm

Nice report and pics Seb!
I also love my surf fishing mate as you know from my recent Venus bay report
Those surf poppers always get me the fish as well when fishing from the surf! It’s a must.
I can’t wait to go again! Have to get a few more trips lined up before snappers season starts!
Cheers

The water somehow wasn't that cold. I haven't surf fished for a while but I remember being the water was super cold.
There's still plenty of cold water surf fishing til snapper season :thumbsup:

FishnMiss wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 09, 2019 10:27 pm

I don’t bother with baits down there so good on you for giving it a go. Some days baits outfish lures but for sambos I only use lures.
I like the nice shiny ones so when I’m casting into channels I can see if I can land a Quicksilver, Billabong or Hurley

I like lure fishing for salmons, especially with nice light outfit. No need to bring heavy rod sinkers etc. Very mobile and look for the fish.
I was introducing surf fishing to my mate, hence we tried both bait and 28gm metal. Few more trips and he'll get the hang of it, and be ready for surf/rock fishing for salmons on metals.
And yes, sometimes bait outfish lure and lure outfish bait. Has its own place.