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Giant Trevally

Pelagic Fishing In Estuaries: Expert Tips for Your Next Adventure!

Estuaries, where freshwater rivers meet the salty ocean, are rich ecosystems and hotspots for anglers seeking encounters with pelagic species. On a recent trip to Central Queensland’s Port Clinton, we experienced an action-packed pelagic fishing adventure. The mix of ocean and freshwater creates a unique environment where various pelagics thrive, offering endless surprises for anglers. This blog post provides insights into the species we encountered and tips for those looking to explore similar waters.

Understanding Pelagic Fishing In Estuaries

Estuary Pelagics are fish that usually live in the open ocean but come into estuaries to hunt for food. These fish can include some of the most sought-after catches for recreational anglers. They’re known for their toughness and strength and often put up formidable fights that test anglers’ skills and equipment (And sometimes their backs too!).

Pelagics that are found in estuary environments consist of a range of species, including the following:

  • Grey Mackerel: A schooling fish known for its speed and acrobatic fighting style.
  • Big GTs (Giant Trevally): Powerful predators that can grow to impressive sizes –> Fishing Tips for Giant Trevally!
10kg+ GT on Barramundi Gear in Port Clinton, using our Shallow Diving Hardbody “Scaleblazer” Lure!
  • Various Tuna Species (e.g. Bonito): These highly sought-after fish are known for their speed and endurance.
Maxy caught a good-sized Mackerel Tuna on our Scaleblazer Lure, by casting straight into the area where birds and fish were crashing on the surface!
  • Queenfish: Fast and aggressive feeders that put up a good fight.
Big Queenfish caught on our Levitator Jig in Port Clinton (Central Queensland) when we had our Live Bait VS Lures Challenge.
  • Tailor: Another hard-fighting fish prized by anglers.

Our latest Youtube Video offers a firsthand glimpse into the excitement of pelagics fishing in estuaries. We not only encounter Queenfish and fight Mack Tunas but also hook up a 10kg+ GT, that Ryan challenges to reel in during a 20 minute fight.

Tips for Anglers When Fishing For Pelagics In Estuaries

1. Finding the bait

  • Look for surface activity and diving birds Small splashes, baitfish skipping on the surface, and the presence of diving terns or gannets are good signs that baitfish are being pursued by pelagic predators.
Pelagics and Birds crashing on the surface is a good indicator and worth fishing
Birds And Mack Tuna crashing on the water’s surface. Pelagic fishing requires observation – always keep an eye out for scenarios like this!
  • Look for colour changes and bait schools on the sounder Baitfish schools will often show up as bait balls or clouds on your fish finder, especially around current lines, depth changes, or colour variations in the water.
  • Check out our Locating Livies course for chasing all manner of live bait and bait habits Learning about live bait is very productive for all manner of fishing. Where there is bait there is generally big fish.
Use our Big Picture Sounder Presentation to help understand your fish finder better to find all manner of bait species and trophy fish.

2. Ideal Estuaries for Pelagic Fishing

Our video highlights that not all estuaries are created equal for encountering pelagics. Estuaries with cleaner waters and characteristics resembling rocky headlands with sand (as opposed to muddy bottoms) are more likely to attract baitfish (like herring) that these predators follow. These open-water estuaries also allow anglers to use lighter gear while still having space to battle large fish.
  1. Current lines: Areas with currents and tidal flows that create rips, eddies, or colour changes often attract baitfish and the pelagic predators that feed on them like giant trevally, and queenfish.
  2. River mouths: The mix of fresh and saltwater at river mouths creates an environment that draws in baitfish and pelagic species like mackerel and tuna species. Garfish will also quite often come inshore in the winter months as well and this is when big Spanish Mackerel and big GTs can follow. For those keen on trolling when the garfish are inshore, try this rig.
  3. Clean Rocky Headlands: These areas attract herring schools and are a popular haunt for Queenfish and Giant Trevally (GT’s). In some cases at low tide, herring are pushed off the rocks into open water where other pelagics like mackerel and tuna can smash them.
  4. Channels, drop-offs, and holes: Deeper channels, holes, and drop-offs provide holding locations for species like herring, especially around tide changes, where pelagics can hunt baitfish.
  5. Weed beds and isolated rocks: Submerged isolated rocks and weed beds are prime areas for baitfish to gather, attracting pelagic predators.
In summary, the key to successful pelagic fishing in estuaries is to target areas with structure, currents, and high concentrations of baitfish like herring, mullet, and garfish. Pelagics will patrol and hunt in these zones, especially during feeding times around dawn, and dusk, and at night under lighted areas.

3. Common Gear for Pelagic Fishing in Estuaries

  • Rods:

    • Spinning Rods: A popular choice for estuary fishing, offering a good balance between casting accuracy and fighting power. Look for rods in the 6”6 to 7′ range with a weight rating of 6-10kg depending on the target fish.
    • Baitcasting Rods: These more specialised rods similar to what you would use for barramundi, don’t quite have the casting ability (or retrieve speed) as a spin rod but are a great challenge to catch estuary pelagics on light gear. And that’s what happened in the video. Sign up for our gear and tackle cheat sheet for options on all manner of gear and electronics used by us.
  • Lines:

    • Braided Line: The braided line offers superior strength, a thin diameter for long casts, and good sensitivity for feeling bites. Common choices include 8-10 kg braid depending on the target fish.
    • Fluorocarbon Leader: While a fluorocarbon leader can be used for abrasion resistance against rocks and oyster beds, a good quality mono leader like Ande will suffice. Use a leader with a breaking strength of 60-80lb. A wind-on-leader system is essential for casting long distances. Leader line length depends several of factors outlined here.
  • Knots:

    • Wind on leader system
      Take the time to learn the knots required for the wind-on leader system. We explain why we don’t use swivels here. 
    • Perfection loop
      I’ve had snap swivels fail when catching big fish as they can open them with their jaws. Don’t risk it and learn the perfection loop

 

Our Scaleblazer lures give you a range of options for chasing big fish. From barramundi to GT’s and Spanish Mackerel, they are dynamite when a shallow diving minnow is required.

4. Pelagic Fishing Techniques

  • Match the lure size to the local baitfish 
    Pelagic predators target specific baitfish. Tuna prefer small bait fish (that the small terns dive on) and Spanish mackerel and giant trevally (GT’s) prefer bigger bait like garfish which are dived on by bigger birds like gannets. It is crucial to match your lure’s size and profile to what they are currently feeding on. Common baitfish in estuaries include mullet, herring, and garfish.
  • Consider lure action and retrieve 
    For aggressive surface feeders like trevally or queenfish, use fast erratic retrieves or surface lures like poppers and metal slices.
  • Live Baits
    In clean estuaries around tide changes, large live baits like mullet, can attract a GT as they go deeper around the tide change. To easily catch live bait (even at high tide) check out our locating livies course. A whole fresh gar on ganged hooks unweighted and floated out with current can attract Spaniards in major clean water estuary systems in winter.
  • Fishing with the Tide
    Understanding the tide is crucial. At higher stages, fish are spreading over sand flats, weed beds, and rubble patches. In lower stages, they’re retreating into channels. Predators often wait on the edge of channels or the mouth of drainages for smaller fish and crustaceans to be swept toward them.

Challenges For Fishing Pelagics In Estuaries

  • Sharks: Sharks often follow schools of baitfish, which attract larger pelagics but also pose a threat to hooked fish. Anglers must be quick and smart to land their catch before a shark gets it. Our video demonstrates sharks hanging around with GTs and Queenfish.
  • Stamina: Reeling in large pelagic fish is very tiring and can involve long battles. Anglers need strength and endurance to succeed.
Pelagics Fishing requires stamina
Even for an experienced angler like Ryan, pelagics like those 10kg+ GT will hurt your wrist and/or back after a 20-minute fight!
  • Lost Fish: Estuaries often have hidden structures like rocks and logs that can snag or break the line during the fight. Be careful if they take you towards isolated rocks. Also, the strong runs of large pelagic fish, like that big GT, can cause fishing lines to break, especially if your drag is not sticky and not well maintained (we show you how here), if it’s not set correctly, or if the line if frayed (always check!). We show you how to service your drag here.
  • Mobility Of The Fish: Pelagics move a lot and will go in and out of estuaries based on changing conditions like water temperature, salt levels, and the presence of baitfish.

Find the Bait, Find the Fish!

Estuary pelagics offer an exciting fishing adventure for anglers due to the variety of species, their fighting spirit, and the element of surprise.

Understanding their behavior and habitat preferences is key. While estuary pelagics might not be a specific course offering, the knowledge you gain from our existing courses can be incredibly valuable for targeting these hard-fighting fish.

  • Sounder Skills: Understanding your fish finder is crucial for success. Learn to “see” the underwater world, identify baitfish schools, and locate potential holding areas for pelagics.
    Unlock the basic secrets your sounder holds –> ON SALE – Sounder Skills 1.
    Sharpen your sonar skills. Enroll in our comprehensive Sounder Skills 2 today –> Sounder Skills 2.

  • Locating Live Bait: Boost your pelagic fishing success by mastering the art of finding live bait, a vital food source for pelagics. Learn proven techniques to target baitfish like mullet, herring, and prawns, which can lead you right to the predators themselves.
    Check out the Locating Live Bait course –> Locating Livies.

BECOME A MASTER ANGLER WITH RYAN MOODY FISHING


Feeling inspired to experiment with pelagic fishing in creeks and estuaries? Take your fishing skills to the next level with our online courses.

Our comprehensive courses cover everything from essential fishing techniques to species-specific strategies.

In addition, here are a few more FREE resources you may find helpful and entertaining.

MORE GREAT FISHING CONTENT

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Picture of Ryan Moody
Ryan Moody
Ryan Moody started his fishing career on the reef boats before catching bucket list marlin for the likes of champion heavy tackle angler Johnno Johnson, INXS and the King of Sweden. Branching out in the late 80's to guided barramundi fishing, Ryan has made a name for himself as a Big Barramundi specialist and to date has put clients onto over 2000 metre plus barra. That is over 2 kilometres of metre plus barra! With attitudes changing from 'keep all you can' towards catch and release, Ryan has decided to share his extensive knowledge and hopefully inspire people of all ages to get out from behind the computer screen/TV and into the fishing outdoors lifestyle he has spent his life perfecting.
Picture of Ryan Moody
Ryan Moody
Ryan Moody started his fishing career on the reef boats before catching bucket list marlin for the likes of champion heavy tackle angler Johnno Johnson, INXS and the King of Sweden. Branching out in the late 80's to guided barramundi fishing, Ryan has made a name for himself as a Big Barramundi specialist and to date has put clients onto over 2000 metre plus barra. That is over 2 kilometres of metre plus barra! With attitudes changing from 'keep all you can' towards catch and release, Ryan has decided to share his extensive knowledge and hopefully inspire people of all ages to get out from behind the computer screen/TV and into the fishing outdoors lifestyle he has spent his life perfecting.

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