They may not be considered a prized catch but there’s no denying the sporting ability of the Australia salmon. Add surface strikes into the equation and it gets even better. Andrew McGovern explains the most effective techniques to snare sambos off the top.
Over the past few years the volume of media attention given to chasing huge giant trevally on poppers has been nothing short of staggering. Granted this is all warranted, as there are few fish in the ocean that can deliver the punch and fight of a 25 kg plus GT all off the surface. Unfortunately for many southern estuary anglers we will never get the opportunity to experience such amazing piscatorial pursuits. However, all is not lost as there is a pugnacious fighter that is available all year round, frequents the estuaries from southern QLD all the way around to southern Victoria, and can be prolific at times.
Of course I am talking about one of our toughest, most resilient species, the Australian salmon. Sambos as many call them, are often referred to as a poor man’s gamefish; however, when you nail a few of these torpedoes off the surface, your perception completely changes. When the fish are schooled up and on the job it is nothing to land 20 plus fish in a short session off the surface. So for those who can’t afford a trip to the far north, or who may never get the opportunity to chase those massive GTs, here is some detail about how to go about having some fun on south coast salmon.
Profile of a hard fighting Australian Salmon
The visual aspect of surface fishing adds another dimension to southern sport fishing.
WHERE
There are a number of areas within an estuary system where you are likely to find schooling salmon willing to nail a well-worked surface lure. In no particular order here are several of my favourite areas to concentrate on when I first start fishing a system. Near the entrance of the lake is always a reliable area for any pelagic fish. There are numerous reasons for this with one of the most obvious being that pelagics such as salmon, trevally, and tailor will follow baitfish into the lake, river or estuary mouth. South coast salmon in particular will often school up and hold off nearby headlands and beaches waiting for the right tide and current movement to power into the mouth.
The salmon are quite clever and I have witnessed, on more than a few occasions over the past few decades, masses of sambos using the cover of foam and white water to sneak over shallow sand bars to get themselves into the calm protected waters of an estuary system. There is a twofold reason why salmon use the white water to gain access. Firstly, to ensure that they are not picked off by pelicans, sea eagles, or other feathered foe, and the second is so that baitfish are not aware of their presence. This leads me into the issue of tides.
An incoming tide is by far the best time to work the front end or mouth of an estuary. This is mainly because of the reasons stated above, but also the fact that the incoming tide will bring in nutrients from the ocean, which will attract vast numbers of small baitfish schools and crustaceans depending on the moon phase.
Another good area to search for salmon on the surface are acute or sharp bends in the waterway. If there is deep water nearby or adjacent to the bend then this area is more likely to attract fish. The reason bends are so good is that there will be back eddies and holes or troughs gouged out thanks to the current. These areas, particularly back eddies, will allow schools of salmon to hold and attack passing baitfish as they move with the current. The deeper holes will attract and hold the baitfish that will seek refuge from the powerful current, which may be too strong for the fish to swim against. The final area that is worth prospecting around is weed beds close to deep troughs that run parallel to the weed. If the bottom of the trough or channel is made up of partly broken reef and shell beds then you will have the added bonus of by-catch such as bream, whiting, and flathead.
CASTING STRATEGY
There is a misconception that once you find some fish that the rest will pretty much take care of itself. I have seen big schools of salmon going berserk on the surface only to see a boat power right up on top of them and put the school down. On other occasions, even with a slow, smooth approach, you can’t get to within casting range under the power of a petrol motor without spooking the school.
What we have found to be the best approach strategy is to use your electric motor. The idea is to find the fish breaking the surface (and at times birds working) and head in the general direction under petrol power. Once we get within about 80 m or so we cut the petrol motor and deploy the electric. At full power of the electric we attempt to move up current of the school. Then using the current we drift back onto the school waiting until we can get that first cast to the edge of the school. Resist the temptation to cast right over the fish because if you hook up there is a good chance your line will be cut by another fish in the school. The other benefit of working the edge of the school is that the big predatory salmon will often be on the alert for a small baitfish that has been separated from the main school. These fish are easy picking and any interest generated on the outer edge of a school is often a solid, sound hook up.
Carry a mix of surface lures will ensure you have the correct presentation if the fish become finicky.
STAYING CONNECTED
With any style of surface fishing, staying connected at times can be difficult. Regardless of the species, when working the surface, fish have an uncanny knack of throwing the hooks. One strategy we have found that has significantly helped us increase the ratio of hooked to landed fish is by keeping our rods low and to the side just after hooking up. The reason I believe this keeps us solid to the fish is that many anglers will inadvertently create a very minor bow in their line when swiftly moving from the low retrieval rod position and the high fighting rod position. This bow of line releases the pressure on the main line that transfers through to the lure and gives the fish just enough time to throw the hooks. The split second creation of the slack line means that the hook points can be easily maneuvered with a violent head flick or flaring of the gills.
The important factor here is to maintain a taunt line so that you do not give the fish any opportunity to use the weight of the lure to flick out or dislodge the hooks. When you get a strike resist the temptation to instantly lift the rod, instead continue to wind until you feel you have a good solid hook set. This is generally only a few seconds after hook up as salmon are renowned for an initial long power surge of a run. The low rod position, taunt line, combined with the pulling power of the fish will more often than not result in the angler coming up tight.
LURE STYLES
In most scenarios I will use a cup-faced popper as the bopping, popping, splashing action is highly attractive to sambos. Some fishers still struggle to master the popping action with a cup-faced lure. The benefit of the cup face is that it will shoot a blob or stream of water in front of itself as the angler retrieves it. The angle of the cup in relation to how the lure sits in the water in combination with the depth of the cup, will dictate how big or small the splash forward is.
I prefer a relatively shallow cup combined with a slight overhang at the top of the cup. This design will deliver a short, subtle forward squirt of water as the lure is ripped through the water. There are two basic ways in which you can retrieve a cup-faced style popper. The first is a relatively slow constant retrieve with the occasional rip. The rip is important, as it will transfer to the lure; allowing the cup to catch more water and generate a larger, more violent water jet. The other option is to impart numerous pauses of varying lengths as you retrieve the lure.
There are a number of other variations to these two methods outlined above and on any given day a combination of the two can work. Generally it only takes a few retrieves to work out what the salmon are responding best to. Personally I prefer the first option, as the firm, downward flick with the rod tends to attract fish from a good distance away. When using this technique, if you receive a few strikes yet don’t hook up, after a strike, immediately stop winding and pause the lure. After a few seconds twitch the lure a couple of times like you would when chasing finicky bream around the racks. After you have imparted a few twitches, pause again, and then recommence your retrieve. This method replicates exactly how a baitfish that has been stunned by a ferocious hit from a predator would react. It will be rare that you will get to complete that retrieve before it is nailed by a fish.
TACKLING UP
Tackle for surface salmon does not need to be anything specific. A general fast taper 7 ft graphite spin rod with plenty of backbone to turn a two kilogram plus salmon is perfect. I use a 2500 size reel filled with 6 lb braid and 8 or 10 lb leader. I avoid fluorocarbon leaders when surface fishing as fluorocarbon sinks and can affect your presentation on the pause. A rod length of monofilament is perfect for this application. Some anglers use a snap clip to attach their popper and others like a loop knot. Personally I prefer to tight my knot hard against the tow point as I feel I then get full value for money with every twitch and rip I impart with my rod tip.
Salmon may not be everyone’s cup of tea but they are a fact of our southern estuaries. If you want to have your first crack at experiencing some exhilarating surface fishing in your own back yard then you can’t go past the sensational Sambo!
Andrew has been fishing the Canberra, Monaro, Snowy Mountains and south coast of NSW region for almost 40 years and is considered one of the country’s most innovative and competent anglers. He has been a freelance journalist for almost 17 years, has written two extensive books on the region, and featured in numerous AFN tactics DVDs. He regularly undertakes all forms of fishing. Andrew is currently a Pro Angler with Jarvis Walker Australia and endorses their range of products.
