| ng is something that many people consider a process | | | | crimped onto insulated wire, as micro voltages |
| of luck and chance. For example, the average | | | | generated from bare cable and salt water consistently |
| gentleman who approaches the local waterway on a | | | | deter potential customers. Taped coat hanger wire |
| Sunday afternoon has a chance of catching a | | | | can quickly be converted to a three-prong anchor that |
| specimen. But does his lonely prawn – sitting in | | | | should be bound to the cable to secure the bait to the |
| front of an oversized sinker, slowly drifting | | | | seabed, minimising drift. Furthermore, cable or electrical |
| downstream – set a scene for a positive or | | | | ties are the ultimate devices for securing a large eel or |
| negative chance of a capture? | | | | ray to a rig for optimal bait presentation. |
| I firmly believe that fishing should be approached with a | | | | 4. The right equipment is essential even though it may |
| goal and the necessary knowledge and skills in order | | | | be a large investment. Penn international 50 or 80 size |
| to maximise success. The fisherman who envisions an | | | | reels or similar Shimano Tiagra set-ups work brilliantly. |
| eighty-two centimetre flathead (goal) and visits a | | | | Spooling these units with 80 to 100 pound lines and |
| sandy bank on sunset accompanied by a run-out tide | | | | mounting them on 24 or 37kg rods will usually convince |
| and the correct outfit, is significantly increasing the | | | | most large sharks to turn their head toward the beach. |
| chances of achieving his goal. | | | | Black Magic belts and Braid harness set-ups are also |
| Land Based Shark Fishing (LBSF) can only be | | | | critical when a strike is converted to a battle. |
| successful when skill is relied on, much like the | | | | 5. Using an inflatable craft powered by a small |
| gentleman targeting an oversized flathead. Certainly, | | | | outboard should be enough for bait deployment. |
| someone who views capturing a big shark as chance | | | | Environments such as Moreton Island in Queensland, |
| or luck will never be successful. Catching a large | | | | Australia offer a sharp drop off which means bait can |
| specimen from the beach requires consideration of the | | | | be confidentially dispatched into deep water. Deploying |
| strategic key points that follow. | | | | baits just over drop-offs or in three to ten metres of |
| 1. Choosing the right bait is a large part of this operation | | | | water often produce good results. Remember that |
| and after many years of testing different specimens | | | | deploying baits near the horizon only reduces the |
| the local eel and ray populations have produced | | | | amount of line you have to control a specimen. |
| outstanding results. These baits last in the water for | | | | So are you still pondering whether catching a |
| over twenty-four hours and are gorged on by big | | | | specimen is simply chance? Well, once you consider |
| hungry sharks. | | | | the intimacy of this procedure, and understand that |
| 2. Tide times and moon phases are a primary | | | | serious knowledge and skill is involved, you’re |
| consideration for LBSF and fishing time must be | | | | ready to start. Don’t be discouraged if your |
| optimised around certain strategic points. For most | | | | initial attempts are not successful – simply try |
| sharks, fishing a run-out tide on a new moon will almost | | | | different locations until you get a strike. Following the |
| guarantee results. Some of our local crew have | | | | above recipe will improve your strike rate incredibly |
| predicted strikes within thirty seconds of a low tide | | | | and in a short time you will be predicting your next |
| change. | | | | encounters. |
| 3. Rigs must be made with large | | | | May the hub of your reel be seen regularly! |
| ‘J’-style hooks (14O – 16O) and | | | | |