fish-holding structure such as rock bars,
humps, drop offs or even artificial reef
complexes may possibly be best fished through
a controlled drift. I’ll generally choose a
location to fish after factoring in the
prevailing wind conditions to ensure the
maximum time is spent drifting over the
fish-holding areas. Light winds (say, under 10
knots) provide ideal conditions for deep-water
lure fishing, allowing you time to get your
lure to the bottom and undertake an effective
retrieve. However, you can fish quite
effectively in stronger winds through the use
of a sea anchor or drift chute. Sea anchors also
stop your boat or kayak from turning or
spinning during a drift.
It’s usually preferable to cast in the
direction of the drift. If chasing fish such as
dusky f lathead, don’t commence your
retrieve until the lure hits bottom. Retrieve
style will depend on the specific lure type
being used. For example, when fishing vibe
style lures I prefer a reasonably slow lifting
action with the rod to get those fish-
attracting vibrations emanating while the
lure is hopping across the bottom.Good vibes
Talking of vibes, estuary lure fishing has
really been turned on its head with the advent
of these soft plastic lures. They come in a wide
range of configurations including split tail,
paddle tail, ball tail and no tail at all. Until
recently, deep water estuary lure fishing was
largely dominated by the use of traditionaleep-water lure fishing our estuaries is certainly
an addictive style of angling. It rewards those anglers
who are willing to put the hours in and hone their
skills with sounder and rod and reel.”
D
36 | fishingworld.com.au | February 2015
TOP: The
new era of
modern sof t
plastic vibes
are ideal for
use in estuary
systems right
around the
country.
RIGH T:
Traditional
sof ties rigged
on a single-
hook jig head
still dong the
fish, as gun
anglers like
Mick Aubrey
know only
too well.
OPPOSITE
PAGE: The
Swansea
Channel drop-
off is a prime
deep water
location. Many
coastal lakes
and estuaries
have similar
hot spots.