queensland How often?

[samsteele115]

Evening all, 

I haven't caught a noteworthy fish in quite a while; maybe a month, maybe two. Upon reflection of today's landbased mission targeting flatties which resulted in a pike and longtom it got me thinking: Have I got lazy? I know i used to change lures way too often (spending half the time doing so instead of having a line in the water). But in 4 hours today I used 2 lures. Probably the same yesterday too. I think that is a problem. 

 

I'm curious, how often do you change your lure/bait that isn't working? 

[Brodie_S]

6 minutes ago, samsteele115 said:

Evening all, 

I haven't caught a noteworthy fish in quite a while; maybe a month, maybe two. Upon reflection of today's landbased mission targeting flatties which resulted in a pike and longtom it got me thinking: Have I got lazy? I know i used to change lures way too often (spending half the time doing so instead of having a line in the water). But in 4 hours today I used 2 lures. Probably the same yesterday too. I think that is a problem. 

 

I'm curious, how often do you change your lure/bait that isn't working? 

For me it’s around 30 minutes if I don’t get any hits or chases for 30 minutes and I’ve been casting in good spots I’ll change lures sometimes I’ll change lures every 10 minutes depending on the conditions for example when I tried catching sootys for the first time I tried hardbodie divers they didn’t chase em I then tied on a crank bait didn’t chase em either tied on a sugapen didn’t chase that either then I after that I tied on a standard flathead bream plastic 2.5 inch slim swim in opening night matched with a size 1 jighead 1/8 weight I had sooties smashing my lure left right and centre sometimes you just have to keep changing lures until they start biting sometimes they are completely shut down and won’t eat anything and sometimes decent fish aren’t even around but once i find what works well on the day I usually stick with that lure for the whole fishing sesh

[benno573]

Depends... for me it’s a confidence and feel thing. If I’m fishing an area I know and am using a lure I’ve had success with before I’ll probably persist longer than if I was prospecting a new area. That being said, I’ve had days where I have used about 12 or 15 different lures and still caught ef all.

 

And I don’t think I’ve caught a truly noteworthy fish for probably 2-3 years so shut up.

[Junky]

I switch it up every trip till I find the flavour. 

Lures, plastics, bait, leader, weight. All factors that can differ daily. Normally have 4 rods ready to go, all rigged different but they're my go to set ups.... then adjust from there. 

I won't drop until I find fish though. I don't just go to the spot that was good in the past. I have to see a good show of fish on the sounder first. 

[Drop Bear]

I wrote a big answer to your question then deleted it because it was just waffle. I'm not much help soz. I don't do anything consistently... in fishing and in life haha.  

[samsteele115]

Thanks for the responses! I have a fresh wave of motivation to change things up when it's quiet.

This morning I cast a small blade using ultralight gear in the surf. Its something that I haven't done in ages, and I felt it time to give the heavy gear stuff a miss. 

I just wanted a fish or two for breakfast! It didn't take long before I caught a little trev. And a bream soon after. Interestingly the bream went harder. I now remember why I used to be so fond of light gear, it's fun. 

Anyway, I don't usually keep bream but today felt important to cook up a nice feed on a breakfast fire and get my mojo back again. Delicious! 

 

I was that keen that I went out after breakfast to try to catch lunch and dinner. This time on my popping gear using an 80g jig skipped across the surface. Got a little GT (maybe 50cm) and got whacked on top by some larger models. It was nice to catch fish again haha 

[GregOug]

1 minute ago, samsteele115 said:

Thanks for the responses! I have a fresh wave of motivation to change things up when it's quiet.

This morning I cast a small blade using ultralight gear in the surf. Its something that I haven't done in ages, and I felt it time to give the heavy gear stuff a miss. 

I just wanted a fish or two for breakfast! It didn't take long before I caught a little trev. And a bream soon after. Interestingly the bream went harder. I now remember why I used to be so fond of light gear, it's fun. 

Anyway, I don't usually keep bream but today felt important to cook up a nice feed on a breakfast fire and get my mojo back again. Delicious! 

 

I was that keen that I went out after breakfast to try to catch lunch and dinner. This time on my popping gear using an 80g jig skipped across the surface. Got a little GT (maybe 50cm) and got whacked on top by some larger models. It was nice to catch fish again haha 

Great to see you’ve got your mojo back Sam.

[samsteele115]

10 minutes ago, GregOug said:

Great to see you’ve got your mojo back Sam.

It could be a fluke, ill report back after next session 

[Junky]

The force is strong in young samsteele. 

Keep you strong AFO will. 

Fishing Master you will become once again... Hmmmmm. 

[samsteele115]

Got some squid with my girlfriend Victoria today. She also got her first which was pretty cool. I was about to go through the basics of casting with her when she snatched the rod out of my hand, flicked the bail arm over and whipped out a genuinely good cast. Got a squid straight away how dare I assume she didn't know how to fish!! I've learnt to not push my hobbies onto others, so it's refreshing when there is organic interest and a pre-existing learnt skill I had no idea about. 

We were also watching the rescue boats combing the area for the missing kayaker. Pretty heavy. 

I hope everyone had a good weekend 

[ellicat]

Nice one, Sam... on both the keepers.

[Drop Bear]

On 28/05/2021 at 9:42 PM, samsteele115 said:

cook up a nice feed on a breakfast fire

Nice one mate. Good to see they are thick there. 

Most people won't try this but next time you wanna cook fresh fish on the fire, try doing it with gut and gills in. The guts shrivel up into nothing and don't hurt the flesh in any way. When cooked the scales just peel away the skin and there are no burnt bits around where you have cut it open. I know it sounds weird but I only do it this way now and it works. 

[Drop Bear]

16 hours ago, samsteele115 said:

Got some squid with my girlfriend Victoria today.

haha I read this all wrong and thought you were in Victoria and was wondering how you escaped the lockdown. Nice one mate. Looks like a tiger? 

[Old Scaley]

57 minutes ago, Drop Bear said:

Nice one mate. Good to see they are thick there. 

Most people won't try this but next time you wanna cook fresh fish on the fire, try doing it with gut and gills in. The guts shrivel up into nothing and don't hurt the flesh in any way. When cooked the scales just peel away the skin and there are no burnt bits around where you have cut it open. I know it sounds weird but I only do it this way now and it works. 

Pro tip right there. I guess the scales and intact gut cavity would help keep the moisture in the fish as well?  

[Drop Bear]

1 hour ago, Old Scaley said:

Pro tip right there. I guess the scales and intact gut cavity would help keep the moisture in the fish as well?  

Yep they are so good and no one does it this way. just knock em on the head and chuck em on the coals. 

[samsteele115]

3 hours ago, Drop Bear said:

Nice one mate. Good to see they are thick there. 

Most people won't try this but next time you wanna cook fresh fish on the fire, try doing it with gut and gills in. The guts shrivel up into nothing and don't hurt the flesh in any way. When cooked the scales just peel away the skin and there are no burnt bits around where you have cut it open. I know it sounds weird but I only do it this way now and it works. 

Yeah true! Didn't know that about the guts. But yes to leaving scales on and peeling it all off at the end!! Very satisfying 

[Kat]

Ha ha Sam.  Would you have assumed she didn't know how to cast if she was a guy?  Good lesson learned there mate. Actually the one thing my dad did teach me (fishing wise) when I was a kid was how to cast.  I am so grateful cause it is like riding a bike, you don't forget and I expect it is easier to learn as a kid rather than an adult - like most things 

Good to see you have girlfriend who can hopefully share your passion (rather than being a fishing widow).

[samsteele115]

3 hours ago, Drop Bear said:

Looks like a tiger? 

No Robbie, it's a squid

 

Easy mistake with the Victoria misread hahaha that's hilarious 

[samsteele115]

4 minutes ago, Kat said:

Ha ha Sam.  Would you have assumed she didn't know how to cast if she was a guy?  Good lesson learned there mate. Actually the one thing my dad did teach me (fishing wise) when I was a kid was how to cast.  I am so grateful cause it is like riding a bike, you don't forget and I expect it is easier to learn as a kid rather than an adult - like most things 

Good to see you have girlfriend who can hopefully share your passion (rather than being a fishing widow).

If it wasn't mentioned they'd fished before then yep! Stand behind them and gently guide them through the motions all inclusive 

[Kat]

8 minutes ago, samsteele115 said:

If it wasn't mentioned they'd fished before then yep! Stand behind them and gently guide them through the motions all inclusive 

Sounds arousing lol

[Drop Bear]

13 hours ago, Kat said:

Would you have assumed she didn't know how to cast if she was a guy?

haha sick burn Kat. Good pickup haha. 

To be honest lots of my male friends that I take fishing cant cast much. I would be nervous on rocks like that with them too. haha. 

[Drop Bear]

12 hours ago, Kat said:

Sounds arousing lol

Party at Kats house!! 

[Ed.]

14 hours ago, Drop Bear said:

Party at Kats house!! 

I love the way that some threads can get derailed, and so quickly I might add. Deviates ..........and why wasn't I invited?

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Nice squids and GT and Bream Sam!

To answer the original question...

I'm not the best lure fisherman but I normally change once I get snagged and loose my lure due to dodgy casts... Or after I've fished every different structure in the area with about five casts at each new snag.

Cheers Hamish