Andrew McGovern unlocks some hidden secrets into some of the more unusual, yet productive areas and techniques to target the illusive ‘Grey Ghost’.
Profile of the mysterious mulloway.
Having been involved in sport fishing for over four decades now, I am confident in saying that no fish is held in higher regard than the magnificent mulloway. The long hours’ surf anglers spend on secluded, remote beaches targeting these silver slabs is only matched by the hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of casts that an estuary fisher executes over the course of a jewie session.
Often called the ‘Grey Ghosts’ of our estuarine systems, the mystic of these apex predators provides an almost spiritual connection between angler, fish and environment. When the net is finally slipped under that first capture, the obsession transforms to a level few will ever understand. Breaking the mulloway duck will turn that lure casting passion to target these special fish, into what many refer to as an unhealthy compulsion. For some anglers this preoccupation takes over all logical thinking and has turned normal healthy individuals into raging mulloway fanatics where all other species, hardly warrant the time and effort to target.
My estuary mulloway exploits were very slow to get started, not because I wasn’t putting in the effort and hours on the water, but moreso the fact I was searching in the wrong areas of a system. Coupled with this was the fact I regularly packed away the mulloway tackle and lures to bend a few rods on other estuary species. The last two seasons have further enhanced my understanding of some reliable locations in an estuary to target mulloway as well as how to modify my retrieves to get more bites. Read on, but be warned, targeting the mysterious mulloway on lures is highly addictive and the only cure is to fish more often, for longer.
SHALLOW SURPRISES
In the early days many anglers’ targeted areas situated around deep sections of water. Large numbers of anglers firmly believe that these big-bodied fish could only be found lurking in the deepest, darkest sections of a river or estuary system. Pockets of deep water found on river bends, significant reefs, rock bars or other subterranean features found in water which sunlight would struggle to penetrate, as well as the base of huge bridge pylons, are top of the target location list for those kicking off their mulloway assault. No doubt these areas will produce fish but you may be surprised as to how many mulloway can be found and caught in the shallow margins of a coastal lake or river.
It wasn’t until Scotty Mitchell; quite a few years ago now, shared his experience of seeing a handful of metre-plus mulloway free swimming the sand flats down at Mallacoota, that I first started giving any thought to chasing silver beasts in the shallows. The last few seasons we have started concentrating our casting in water three metres or less with results indicating a far better strike rate than deeper sections of water.
In conjunction with more strikes, the conversion rate of strike to hook up to landed fish has been more profound than our deep water pursuits. Having digested this information and discussed it with several well versed estuary fishers there are several possible reasons for the success rate in the shallows. The most logical of these theories is that because you have less line out when casting and retrieving in the shallows, there is a reduction of slack line or bows forming in your main line which in turn means fish have less loose line to throw the hooks. Following the same thought pattern is that there is simply a reduction in the amount of line between the spool of the reel and the tow point of the lure so anglers have a more direct link to the fish and can therefore set the hooks quickly and firmly.
There is also a good chance that we are over complicating the issue and the simple fact is that mulloway hit a bait with more gusto in the shallows and then take off like a freight train to assist in embedding the hook point well into the fish’s bony jaw. Regardless of the reason why, the fact remains that we have landed way more fish in the shallows that any other areas in recent seasons.
SUBTLE SANCTUARIES
Mulloway will cruise the flats and intermittent tidal zones in small pods of 6 or 8 fish up to large schools in excess of 20 fish. Rarely will these fish remain stationary, only momentarily holding in a defined location for a short period of time. These periods are generally when the tidal flow it at its strongest and the large bodied mulloway attempt to conserve energy when water movement is at its highest velocity.
With these factors at the forefront of your mind, anglers need to adapt their approach in the shallows, which means remaining mobile and constantly moving across the flats. During this time you should always be looking for areas that have the potential to capture the fish’s attention as an area that will either hold bait or an area that will provide them transitory sanctuary from the current. Along the flats these areas are quite subtle. Undulations in the sand are one such feature that very few estuary anglers target. If you mark any significant undulations on your sounder, immediately take a way-point and revisit the area at a different part of the tidal phase. Other more obvious areas are submerged timber that have been washed onto the flats from previous floods, mounds of reef and weed bed combinations, and raised or sunken shell beds.
Another highly sort after feature in a saltwater lake or river is surface foam. Often formed by whirling back eddies or where currents and water flows from varying directions collide to create a blanket of foamy suds. The foam will tend to gather together, resulting in patches of various sized foam to form a temporary haven for schools of baitfish (See: Tech Tip). Mullet, herring, hand sized tailor and even bream will position themselves high in the water column under the foam.
Under the myriad of baitfish will be larger predators such as tailor, salmon and juvenile mulloway. At the very base of this piscatorial food pyramid will be the larger mulloway, and in some systems, sharks. To successfully find the correct the water depth to work your presentations you will need to work all levels of the water column with a methodical approach. I tend to work the bottom layer thoroughly before decreasing the depth of my retrieve. If you have marked large fish holding mid water you should obviously work this band of water immediately rather than waste casts, and possibly spook fish, by working retrieves underneath the fish.
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
It goes without saying that having an electric motor will assist in a stealthy approach in shallow water; however, we have found the less you can use the electric the better the chance of generating strikes from jewies. This fact is even more evident in heavily fished waters or during holiday periods where boat traffic can be at its peak. Constant clicking of the electric in and out of gear, the low buzzing noise of a rotating prop, and the short burst when the head of the motor is adjusted to change direction can all alert mulloway to boat traffic. Where possible, position yourself so that you can use the current and/or the wind to propel you in the direction required.
This mulloway completely engulfed a 120 mm soft plastic in two metres of water.
The other huge advantage when chasing mulloway is having a second sounder mounted near the front of the boat. Several years ago I was fishing with good mate Ben Lemmon in the Clyde River on the New South Wales south coast just after he had mounted his new Lowrance Elite-7 to the bow rail at the front of his boat. Working both deep and shallow sections of the river, the bow-mounted sounder allowed us to quickly and easily identify bait schools as well as mark mulloway. The key was having the sounder just below our eye line while fishing. This meant that the screen of the sounder was in full view while we cast, retrieved and searched for new areas. Not long after that trip I purchased an Elite-7 and it has made all the difference for more effective mulloway pursuits. The wide, well-defined display from the Elite-7 has provided me with hours of clear pictures over the last three seasons.
When venturing out for your next mulloway assault, point the nose of your boat towards the shallows. Cut the motor once you get close and minimise the use of your electric motor. Start searching with long casts using a stealth approach and you may just unlock the secrets of the ‘Grey Ghosts’.
Andrew McGovern has been fishing the Canberra, Monaro, Snowy Mountains and NSW south coast region for over 40 years and is considered one of the country’s most innovative and competent anglers. He is AFNs most published writer and now takes up a key position as Field Editor with AFN. Along with two extensive books, Andrew has featured in numerous AFN Tactics DVDs. Andrew is currently a Pro Angler with Jarvis Walker Australia and endorses their range of products.
