Fishing in the ocean is full of surprises; you never know what you might haul out of the depths and that makes it all the more exciting. Whether you prefer to fish off the pier or book a spot on a deep-sea fishing boat, both fishing methods have pros and cons; fishing from land means you won’t get seasick, while you are much more limited in the species of fish you can catch.
Pier Fishing
We are assuming that you have acquired the necessary fishing equipment (tackle), which would include the following:
- Fishing rod
- Reel
- Nylon filament line
- Hooks/lures
- Lead weights
You will also need enough bait for the duration of your session and prior to fishing, talk to a local to find out the best baits and times to fish off the end of the jetty.
Boat Fishing
By far the most popular way to fish in the sea, book one of the Merimbula fishing charters that you can find online and the great thing about boat fishing is the tour operator provides everything you need. The crew will even teach you how to fish and that is included in the price and after a few hours, you should have quite a haul of fish that you can eat.
Dressing for the Weather
If you are going deep-sea fishing, make sure that you are suitably dressed; the weather can flip at any time and if you are 15 miles out to sea, you should be wearing a waterproof jacket to keep you dry. Wear a wide brimmed hat and shoes with good grip, as the deck can be very slippery.
Motion Sickness
If you are not a regular on boats, you might not know if you will suffer from motion sickness and in that case, it is a good idea to take some medication about an hour before the boat is due to leave the harbour. Unfortunately, the crew are not permitted to dispense medication to passengers, so you can’t rely on any assistance when on the vessel.
Fishing Techniques
There are 3 main fishing methods; fishing on the surface, fishing mid-water and fishing on the bottom; the technique you use would depend on where the fish happen to be feeding. Certain species are bottom feeders, while others look for prey on the surface; you need to educate yourself about the feeding habits of various fish species. Some fish are predators and using a lure to mimic the actions of an injured fish can tempt a predator to strike, while other species feed on worms or shrimps.
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