East Coast Australia

I've started planning my trip to Australia next Xmas. I'm going with the missus (honeymoon) and my spinning rod and lures for 3 weeks or so. The trip will start in Cairns and finish in Sydney. I'd appreciate any kind of advice on marks/areas along this coast and species to be caught spinning/plugging. I'm looking mostly to fish from the shore, but feel free to suggest good and affordable charters. I promise I'll write a lengthy report with pictures when I get back! Cheers!! :D

I like you're thinking Inigo, bringing the spinning rod on the honeymoon. I intend to do the same but mine isn't for a while, not sure where we are going to go yet but it'll be somewhere with good fishing. :wink:

Anyway here's a couple of sites to wet your apatite, both seem to be fairly active and I'm sure a good source for some local info.

[url]http://www.sportsfishaustralia.com.au/[/url]

[url]http://www.fishnet.com.au/[/url]

The saying "something old, something new, something borrowed something blue" well the guy who wrote that was talking about fishing lures :lol: and what better place to use them than Cairns...mmmm the Golds Coast.....never been but is always on my wish list.....the shore fishing there must be fantastic, from either rocks or beaches....why do you want to finish up in Syney though :lol: :lol: :lol: stay up the coast and have fun :lol: :lol: :lol:

Nice one man! I hope it comes off for you.

Tom.

Hi Inigo....here one of the thread from the other forum so that u can have an idea on what kind of fish and fishing can be done over there specifically in sydney....theres a lots of lure fishing can be done there in oz....from light spin/plugging to the land base big game.....damn i miss their chopper/taylor fish.....
[url]http://www.fishing.net.my/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12272[/url]

ah mate! SNAPPER! youll no all about it if you hook a big one! ... and BIG stingrays if your bait fishing...fishing is great that side of the world, warm clear water...

and BIG ANGRY Barracuda! ;) ... there like pike on steroids!

Thanks for the info guys. Looks like there's loads of fish down there, many of them with sharp teeth. I reckon I'll have to buy some wire... What do you recommend for 10 and 20lb braided when shore fishing?

Hi Inigo.....i dont think that u need a wire trace unless u re really intentionally targeting the cuda or broad bar mack or king mack or spannish mack....maybe u got lucky if they re around near shore....but the cuda yes...they regularly patrolling close to the shore line....i dont fancy them much for the damage that they can make to the lure....not worth the fight they give ....what i can say is they do fight hard....but lack of stamina even the 10kg size...as oppose to cuda...mack fight better.....long blistering run and a sudden u turn to confuse the angler and sometimes to go after mainline after an attempt of biting thro the traces fail....the minimum of 20lb wire....u can go up to 40lb....

Other species....flathead....soft lure with jighead....if ur lucky maybe a bream.....on lure...small minnow lure or softies.....quenie/queen fish.....pencil bait or popper...australian salmon...taylor/spinner/spanyid lure.....mulloway...jewie....most of their species can be target on lure.....

travel light...if u have extra budget...just get the lure over there....theres a lots of oz fishing product....their famous platypus line.....tasmanian devil lure.....halco lure...squidgie softies....atomic softies.....spanyid spinner/spoon....predatek lure.....loads of fishing stuff there including their amazingly weird alvey reel....

what i can say...other than japan....oz and nz are crowded with angler....have fun and enjoy....

Try out these guys , on my first day I caught marlin and yellow fin. http://www.gamefishingcharters.com.au/

Try light tackle off woolloomooloo pier for flatheads and brim - I lived in Woolloomoolloo for a year and did this 2 or 3 times a week with a few tinnies - looks onto Sydney Harbour and Bridge - beautiful at sunset !

Fraser island off the pier is fantastic sport if you can get a spot - it's packed.

Cairns in the mangroves - I took a charter and caught prawns for bait - then any number of species - absolutely class - all the charters go to the same places so I'd look for the comfiest boat and a good rate. Fishing off Cairns Pier is great craic too. Saw a small hammerhead caught there.

Darwin for barramundi, but you need to get the season right as they are out of season for a good part of the year - and you will be fishing in the same waters that hold big salties - try not to hook one .

Am I jealous - too right !! Enjoy !!

Hi guys. Thanks for all your tips. Unfortunately, driving 4000 km with the campervan and trying to see as many things as possible in 3 weeks didn't leave much room for fishing (just a couple of days). When we stopped near the sea, we couldn't stay out of the shade or we would've got seriously burned. Still I got burned twice... So I didn't get to fish much, but the wife didn't sunbathe either! I suppose I'm not obsessed with fishing.. yet! And being our honeymoon I didn't want to push it.

All in all it was a terrific trip. What an amazing country! I'll be back, and will hopefully do some proper fishing next time.

Cheers!