new south wales I keep losing baits

[Idan]

Hi All,

 

New to fishing here, I recently moved to Sydney from Auckland. Here I went to the store and got size 2 hooks, running sinkers, frozen prawn and pilchards. I cut the pilchards to 3 and was also taught how to half hitch the bait.

To my surprise, even with every parameter changed, the same thing that used to happen before happens here as well: I cast, I make sure the line is taught, nothing happens, I check it 5 minutes later and the bait is gone. Not even entirely sure what happens to the bait.

Meanwhile the guy next to me keeps reeling in fish left and right! I asked him for advice, but he didn't know what I was doing wrong. He also used frozen bait.

I also tried cotton before and it didn't help.

Lost and frustrated, though it must have happened to others before I couldn't find too much information on it... tips will be much appreciated.

Idan

[Brodie_S]

6 minutes ago, Idan said:

Hi All,

 

New to fishing here, I recently moved to Sydney from Auckland. Here I went to the store and got size 2 hooks, running sinkers, frozen prawn and pilchards. I cut the pilchards to 3 and was also taught how to half hitch the bait.

To my surprise, even with every parameter changed, the same thing that used to happen before happens here as well: I cast, I make sure the line is taught, nothing happens, I check it 5 minutes later and the bait is gone. Not even entirely sure what happens to the bait.

Meanwhile the guy next to me keeps reeling in fish left and right! I asked him for advice, but he didn't know what I was doing wrong. He also used frozen bait.

I also tried cotton before and it didn't help.

Lost and frustrated, though it must have happened to others before I couldn't find too much information on it... tips will be much appreciated.

Idan

Try unweighted baits a lot of Aussie fish are smart and used to seeing things like sinkers and poorly rigged baits sometimes bream will take awhile just to eat berley . Try using unweighted bread or any bait just the hook and bait also try using a light leader of 4-8lb hold the rod keep slack line when the slack line slowly gets tighter let more line out and wait for a fish to take it for a run . You will know a fish has taken the bait when a fish is taking lots line off your spool .

[Brodie_S]

Also try using smaller hooks size 4 at largest for bream and flathead and if you’re just going after bream use a size size 6-10 hook if you’re using bread or dough though a size 4 will work fine with prawns and Philchards

[ellicat]

The smallest size hook I'd use in pilchard cubes or tails/heads is a 2/0. Anything smaller won't hold it properly. Match the hook to your bait size. For prawns use a longshank hook that will neatly fit the bait.

[GregOug]

2 hours ago, ellicat said:

The smallest size hook I'd use in pilchard cubes or tails/heads is a 2/0. Anything smaller won't hold it properly. Match the hook to your bait size. For prawns use a longshank hook that will neatly fit the bait.

I was thinking the same thing Brian. A size 2 hook, let alone a size 4!, would get lost in a third of a pilchard. Size 2/0 sounds about right to me.

[Brodie_S]

6 hours ago, GregOug said:

I was thinking the same thing Brian. A size 2 hook, let alone a size 4!, would get lost in a third of a pilchard. Size 2/0 sounds about right to me.

Really I’ve always found size 4 hooks to have good hook up rate anything bigger I’ve found you hook a lot of small fish and it makes the bait look unnatural i normal would use half a philchard unweighted with a size 4 and end up with good results . I could understand using a 2/0 for a whole phillchard but half a philchard or with cubes doesn’t make sense to me won’t there be more hook then bait . I’ve also found larger hooks can ruin/tear the bait 

[ellicat]

Are we talking WA pilchards about 10 to 15 centimetres long and an inch thick ?

[Junky]

6 minutes ago, ellicat said:

Are we talking WA pilchards about 10 to 15 centimetres long and an inch thick ?

Yeah I'd say we have a mix up. Im with you.

A Frogmouth pilchard would need a 2/O or larger. Larger imo. 

I use 7/O' and if the pilchards are fat it can be difficult to get the point exposed with a 7/O. 

If the hook doesn't pass all the way through, you're wasting your time. The point must be exposed and clear of any scales.  

 

Also, cut pilly in half, not 3rds. 

 

I'd also put a full pilly out. 

 

 

[Drop Bear]

Yep mate your hook is too small for big pilchards. 

Get some frogmouth pillies for bream if you wanna use #2 hooks or bump up to #2/0 - 4/0s if you want to use bits of large pillies. 

I often catch bream on 6/0 circle hooks when targeting snapper. While I sure am not recommending this for a bream it is interesting that they can still take such a big hook. 

IMHO 2/0 circle hook with a frogmouth pilchard will see you do better. 

 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hey Idan

Welcome to AFO!

Some excellent advice has been given above. I just wanted to say to the opposite - you could try different, smaller baits. For example, you could try little prawns or bits of pipis which would hopefully see you get similar results with a smaller hook, which means you'll still hook up to fish with the smaller hook  

Cheers Hamish

[GregOug]

56 minutes ago, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

Hey Idan

Welcome to AFO!

Some excellent advice has been given above. I just wanted to say to the opposite - you could try different, smaller baits. For example, you could try little prawns or bits of pipis which would hopefully see you get similar results with a smaller hook, which means you'll still hook up to fish with the smaller hook  

Cheers Hamish

I always wondered what those small hooks in my tackle box were for.

[Idan]

Thanks everyone, I certainly have many tips to try out. I am fishing in Blues point and other spots around central Sydney, if anybody else from the area wants to go for a fish that would be best.

[GregOug]

2 minutes ago, Idan said:

Thanks everyone, I certainly have many tips to try out. I am fishing in Blues point and other spots around central Sydney, if anybody else from the area wants to go for a fish that would be best.

Mate, we’re all poor on here. Can’t afford to live in Sydney. In fact , most of us can’t even afford to live on the Northside of Brisbane. They’re stuck on the Southside.

[Angry51]

Or Ravenswood NQ.

[Idan]

6 minutes ago, GregOug said:

Mate, we’re all poor on here. Can’t afford to live in Sydney. In fact , most of us can’t even afford to live on the Northside of Brisbane. They’re stuck on the Southside.

Poor are the ones who have to grind a 9-5 in Sydney, to be able to afford buying a place outside of it in the future!

 

[Kat]

I hate using pilchards and frozen prawns aren't much better.  I really don't understand how all the guys I know use pilchards so successfully.  So yes I really understand where you are coming from.  I will try and follow all this advice too - but if you want to have a little break from the frustration try a bag of baby squid!!  Doesn't disappear anywhere near as quickly and if it is picked at  - at least you generally feel the bites

[SuperHans]

Hi Idan,

Maybe the other bloke had lighter line and/or lighter sinkers/fluorocarbon leader? 

I am guessing that the fish the other bloke was catching (and pinching your bait) were bream? Was he also using pilchards? Pilchards have advantages like being oily but also have drawbacks like being soft and easier to strip. Frozen baits will do when its the only option but you could consider others like fresh or even better, live bait. I think this is more important in heavily fished areas like Sydney where the fish may be a bit more educated.  Nippers, worms or my favourite poddy mullet. Any fish that fancies a whole pilchard will crawl all aver a live poddy, they don't break up because they are soft, and give out the visual and vibration signals of a fish in distress. Poddies are probs too big for bream but are brilliant for bigger fish like flathead. 

If using fresh bait like squid, small whole fish or fish flesh, I buy the squid,  small whole or a fish fillet from the local fish shop- if its fresh enough for humans to eat its fresh enough for your target fish, and its not that expensive. Only thing that tops this is 'screaming live bait' (sorry to all of the lure enthusiasts out there, but the real thing generally beats a pale imitation  ).

Research the fish you want to target (season,

tides, terrain, feeding etc). See if there is a fishing club you can you can join and ask the locals where and how to fish. Local pubs often have social fishing clubs.

 

Good Luck