South Australian Angler – June 2018

of options for the land-based angler, from
backpacks to vests. While a backpack
would be suitable, I’d have difficulty
looking for items in it when hundreds of
metres from the shore. It’s for this reason
that I prefer a small bag attached around
the waist. The bag usually sits behind me
and can be turned around in front when I
need to get a lure or the pliers for releasing
a fish. Your rod can easily be secured
under the armpit and the bag is supported
by your waist, allowing you to use both
hands for whatever the task.

IT NEEDN’T BE JUST A

SUMMER THING

As mentioned before, most will

associate wading the flats with

summer and yellowfin, but it can

actually be an all year event. With

a little thought and the addition of

some suitable clothing, winter can

also provide some excellent fishing for

those prepared to enter the water.

The winter months often see me

donning the waders and wind-breaking

jacket, chasing salmon trout and bream

in some smaller systems, or on one of

the many man-made structures. St.

Kilda breakwater is one of the better

known locations to target salmon trout,

and while schools of fish can turn up

at any time of the day, early and late

are perhaps the prime periods. It’s not

unusual to see bag limit catches of

salmon trout, with fish of around 1kg

not uncommon.

Winter is when the southern

estuaries see schools of bream entering

and this is when I’ll be there chasing

them. While getting in the water is not

always required, it helps in accessing

some of the better areas. Larger bodies

of water can be deceptive to read, and

using tools such as Google Earth will

give you a big heads up as to where the

deep water and channels lie. In fact, the

same applies to any form of land-based

fishing in my view. Again, sportfishing is

where it’s at for me here, so there is no

need to bring along anything in which to

take home a feed.

THE END OF THE DAY

So, you’ve been trudging the flats all

day, got a nice feed of fish, maybe some

crabs and perhaps even found some

razorfish to help make up that seafood

basket. You’ve returned to the car and

the tummy starts telling you it needs

some replenishing. What better way to

finish off your day than to have some

tasty sandwiches, fresh fruit and maybe

a cleansing cold ale or a soft drink for

the kids. Having another ice box in

the boot of the car loaded with some

goodies can really help top off a great

day and, if needed, can store the catch

for the ride home.

A boat is not always a prerequisite

for successful fishing. Wading the flats

or walking the bank can be a lot of fun

and also highly productive. It’s relatively

cheap compared with boating, and

remains one of my favourite pastimes

in angling.

Yellowfin whiting are a great summer target

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