Sight Casting Luderick from the Sand

There is an abundance of species that can be targeted across our NSW beaches throughout the year. One such species that will lend to some amazing sight casting opportunities during all the changing seasons are Luderick.

Generally, if you’re having a conversation about Luderick our thoughts are associated with the colder winter months when Luderick inhabit our estuary systems, rock walls and jetties in large schools.  However, if you know what to look for along the beaches you will be amazed to find that luderick inhabit the beach shores all year round.

Every time you visit the beach the landscape changes. Sand shifts with the currents and tides, unearthing hidden rocky outcrops or covering the ones you’ve only recently discovered.

This will have you constantly thinking of how to approach each different scenario and leaving you wondering what the next visit might unfold.

As the seasons change so will your experiences. Summer brings with it warm water and south easterly winds which will have you walking the beach in board shorts but also battling the onshore swell. As winter rolls around the westerly winds will flatten the swell and give you some of the best sight casting opportunities to date, however the water starts to chill and the need to rug up under a pair of waders happens quickly.

FLIES

Luderick are omnivores which generally eat seaweed, green Algae and sea cabbage, although they are known to also feed on small crustaceans, mussels and worms. When you’re walking the beach, be aware of what is washing up onto the sand with the tide. If an area you are walking along has a good abundance of cabbage, you should be able to see small pieces of cabbage being washed ashore. Also have a look along any exposed rocks as the tide retreats and keep an eye out for any string weed growing on the rocks. This will help you with your fly selection for that location.

When stocking your fly box, it’s a good idea to have a variety of flies to choose from.

You will need to have a selection of Brass and Tungsten weighted weed and cabbage flies to accommodate for different water depths and currents.  Unweighted weed and cabbage flies will also need to be available in your fly box in a mix of colours.

There are a range of colours available for weed flies,  Our most productive colour has been the Chartreuse weed fly made from Tiewell Weed Dub and the green cabbage fly. These can be tied on hook sizes 10, 8  and 6  and we generally use the Gamakatsu Panfish hooks in the green colour to discreetly hide inside of the fly.

Tying your own flies is easy to do and a great way to further connect yourself with the process. To get you started BWCflies have a great range of weed flies and cabbage flies to suit all kinds of scenarios.

Another option for fly selection to consider would be a small Gotcha or Micro Shrimp pattern.  With Luderick being known to have a small predatory streak and be tempted by nippers, prawns and worms, casting these smaller shrimp type patterns could possibly be the undoing of these hard fitting fish.

FINDING YOUR LOCATION

When learning a new style of fishing it’s like trying to put pieces of a puzzle together. I’d like to say that you can bound down to the water’s edge, put a cast out and catch a luderick, however like all styles of fishing it can take some time and plenty of observing to figure these fish out.

A great place to start your research is with the use of Six maps and Google Maps. Locate a beach that is the closet to you as this will allow you to have more time exploring and less time driving. Scroll across the water’s edge looking for little rocky outcrops that are only meters from the shoreline. You will generally find these on either side of a point or headland.  If your unable to find much by searching online, its time to grab your gear and head to the beach.

GEAR

An 8wt Saltwater fly rod is a great weight to use when fishing from the beach. This will assist with your casting especially in those windy conditions and is a great back up option in case a school of pelagics start busting up ( make sure you have a few surf candies on the ready )

We both use medium/fast action rods. These have enough power in the butt section to be able to pick up and recast the line with ease. A 7, 8, or 9wt would get the job done.

A fly reel with a sealed drag system will help protect your reel from the corrosion of the salt and sand. If you choose a reel made of machined aluminium and anodised, you will be amazed with the longevity it will bring. And don’t forget to choose a reel that you love the look of.

Choose a fly line that features a clear intermediate head that sinks at around 1.5 inches per second and is suitable for cold water, better still, select one that is fit for purpose right through the warmer months too and you will enjoy the use of the line year round.

A small waterproof sling pack comes in handy to protect your belongings when wading into the water.

A good pair of polarised sunglasses is essential for spotting the luderick amongst the waves. We use a glass amber lens which we have both had for the past 6 years. This lens has helped up sight cast species all over Australia.

During the colder months a pair of waders will make your sessions a lot more enjoyable and most importantly, Dry!  If you’re not keen on wearing waders on the beach then a pair of Simms flats sneakers matched with a pair of wet wading socks or Flyweight Guard socks will help avoid those frozen feet on the walk back. Gravel guards are a great asset in reducing the flyline from tangling around the shoelaces knot and keeping the sand from entering your footwear.

Stripping basket- the conditions will determine whether this is necessary or not. I feel that this piece of equipment is a very individual decision. I prefer to fish light without a stripping basket, however there have been many instances when the swell is pushing and knotting fly line around my boots that I wish I had one. The Ahrex Flexistripper is a great light weight option that is easily moveable around your body. Another style is the Vision Stripping basket This is a bulkier tub style basket that features a place to rest your rod as you change leaders or flies.

SETTING UP YOUR LEADER

Saltwater tapered leaders are used in a 9ft length and vary between 12lb to 8lb. Attached to the end of the tapered leader is the weighted weed fly. Choose between the brass or the tungsten beaded weed fly depending on the conditions.  From the hook bend of the weighted weed fly tie on 30cm of 8lb fluorocarbon tippet, and then add on an unweighted weed fly. This unweighted fly is called the trailing fly and it will waft around above the weighted fly.

CONSIDER YOUR SURROUNDINGS-

There’s a lot to consider before even making a cast. Cross currents, tidal movements, wind direction, the size of the swell are all just a few of the aspects of the beach that need to be taken into consideration. Stay alert to what is happening behind you on the beach. Walkers, joggers, surfers and even dogs are oblivious to your back cast so keep in mind your casting whist others are around.

Safety must come first so although we aren’t fishing from the rock ledges and rock shelves we still need to be aware of dangers such as rips in the water, sand drop offs as you wade a bit further off the edge , shore dumpers that can have you bowled over in seconds and surging water as the water pushes in and out with the tide that can also have you landing flat on your back.

Spend time monitoring your surroundings. Know what part of the tide you are fishing so you can compare your findings each time you visit. You will find a certain part of the tide will be more productive than others, so being able to visit the beach on different tides will allow you to come across a variety of scenarios which will make each session very individual.

SIGHTING THE LUDERICK

Walk the water’s edge and locate a small rocky area which has been submerged by the tide. If you are doing this on a sunny day you will find it easier to see through the water, however if you have an overcast day, you can still do this, but you will need to wait for the waves to rise so you can see through the water as the swell lifts.

Take your time and look at the water and waves, focusing through them and directly onto the rocks. If the fish are there and the water is clear you will be able to see them schooling on and around the rock ledge. If the waves have churned up the sand you may need to wait until the water clears up to find them visible.

The tides will determine how long the luderick will school around certain areas, so when they are no longer visible you will need to move to another location.

TIME TO TARGET

Once the Luderick is sighted it’s time to cast. Keep in mind that if you don’t use a stripping basket you may end up with excess line drifting around your feet. This can be a bit of a hindrance as it washes in and out, so try to only have the amount of line out that you need to cast.

When casting, consider which way the water currents are moving. Use this current and waterflow to your advantage when deciding which side of the fish to present the fly. Ideally, you want to cast up current and allow the flies drop and drift towards the fish.. The bead selection will come into play here and will determine how quickly the flies will sink. Avoid delivering the flies into the face of the swell. By aerolising the fly line and delivery the rig past the swell crest, a more natural presentation of the fly is achieved.

At this stage there is a lot happening in front of you and this is where line management skills are tested. Slack line needs to be avoided whilst maintaining constant contact with the weed flies. The flies can become snagged on the rocks if there’s not much current around and if you allow them to sink in one spot. This is all part of managing the line under different circumstances.

When you get the eat from the fish the feeling can sometimes be just a very soft pull so it’s imperative that you remain focused on what you are feeling through your flyline. Once you feel that slight pull on the line it’s time to strike. Steer the fish off and away from the rocks as quickly as possible. You will have a much better chance of landing the fish if you can get them away from the rocks and into clear water. Timing is everything when bringing the fish ashore so you will need to work with the swell and waves to guide the fish up into the sand. Try to time it so that the fish is coming up onto the beach with the incoming swell. The last thing you want is to have your fish getting dumped by a wave. This could allow the hook to dislodge, and you will be left with questions of what went wrong. Time the beach slide with the incoming water surge. This will assist you to land the fish as far up the beach as possible.

Luderick are very placid fish to hold which make it easy to shoot off a few happy snaps if you want to capture that special moment.  The satisfaction from being able to put all those pieces of the puzzle together is priceless, and it’s an amazing way to spend your time and let the sun and sand sooth your soul.