Fishing for Whiting in the Surf
If you want to get started on catching some whiting, check out the
surf gutters. Quite often you can catch the whiting on a beach just a
short cast out from the shore. This is because they will enter a gutter
running along the shoreline that fills with water whenever the tide
rises. Those tides bring in goodies for the whiting to eat, like beach
worms and pipis that are bury themselves in the sand.
When the tide moves out, it leaves the heads and shells of these
irresistible baits exposed, and the whiting come into the very shallow
water to dine. You can fish with one of these naturally occurring baits
and are sure to get yourself a catch.
TIP: Again, you don’t have to cast out more than 20 or 30 feet – if you
do you might cast right past the whiting.
Working the Tides
To get the best results, fish the tides when the water is running
fast. You’ll catch more fish as the tide picks up, and accordingly, the
bite will slow down as the flow of water does. The bigger the tides the
better, so check your lunar calendar.
This happens because without much water movement, there is also very
little movement from bait on the bottom, but if the water is moving
faster, everything gets stirred up and it makes it easier for the
whiting to find the bait. This works both day and night, in both
incoming and outgoing tides. You can probably find a tide guide book for
the area you plan on fishing to help you get locked in on this.
Where to Fish for Whiting along the Shores
There are a lot of canals to be found near the shores that can hold a
lot of whiting, both large and small. The banks of these canals hold
large populations of natural forage for the fish, such as soldier crabs
and yabbies. You can use these as fresh baits, or if you prefer you can
find them fresh at a nearby bait shop. Live worms and peeled prawns will
also do well in the canals.
If you are fishing at night and don’t have a boat, try fishing from a
low bridge over a narrow, shallow channel which divides two sections of
land. To get from one place to another, the whiting will have to move
through these channels and it gives you a great opportunity to take
advantage of this. Night is recommended because it keeps the fish from
seeing you on the bridge (if you can see them, they can usually see
you). |
