Salmon Time: Australian Salmon

Catching Australian Salmon is great fun; they can be found in large numbers, hit a wide range of baits and lures and pull hard. Salmon fishing is addictive and once you have tangled with a big Salmon you will be left shaking as you hurry to get the line back into the water and get back into the action. There are a variety of techniques and tackle options you can use to target this fish, let’s have a look at some common methods.

Where to find them

Being a seasonal fish, salmon often migrate from one place to another. They are most commonly encountered on beaches, along the shore in gutters and channels, as well as around rocky ledges and outcrops. They can also be found schooling just offshore allowing them to be targeted by boat anglers.

Rod, Reel and Line

When fishing from the beach, a rod of at least 8 – 12’ is advisable. Generally the larger the surf, the longer the rod should be. This allows longer casting distances so the angler can reach beyond the breakers and keep their line as far as possible above the wash.

A medium to large spin reel is ideal, that is capable of holding approximately 200m or more of your chosen line. A good quality monofilament line with a breaking strain of 20 to 30lb is more than adequate.

When spinning for Australian Salmon from a boat, anglers often prefer to rig lighter and get the most out of this great sportfish with a 7’, 2-6kg rod and 2500 reel, loaded with 10-15lb braided line.

Rigging Up

The easiest way to go about catching these fish is using a pilchard / mulie on a set of gang hooks, rigged on a paternoster setup. A decent size star sinker on the bottom of your rig gives you not only a good cast weight but also the ability to maintain your bait’s position out from the beach in heavy surf and strong currents.

Attach the set of ganged hooks on a dropper loop, about 60–80cm up from your sinker. Another 40cm or so further up the line finish the rig by attaching a swivel to minimize line twist and connect this to your main line.

Lures

Another way of enticing these fish is with lures. This is especially effective when the fish are able to be seen schooling in good numbers. A variety of lures will work effectively, though the most conventional would be a metal lure. A metal lure has excellent casting range, even in the wind, and mimics a fleeing baitfish when retrieved rapidly. Matching the metal lure to the baitfish in the area, generally referred to as ‘matching the hatch’ is a good starting point.

Other effective lures include poppers worked across the surface and diving hard bodies that can be both cast and trolled. Trolling hard bodies around the edges of schools, feeding birds, wash areas and the back of the breakers is especially effective.

Although Salmon are not regarded highly for their eating qualities, they are a popular target because of their solid strikes, screaming runs and dogged fight. Gear up and next time the Australian Salmon are running in your area be among those with the bent rods, screaming drags and smiling faces.