Watching a lure being shadowed and snatched in less than a metre of water is a real thrill and sure to get the heart racing. Brent Hodges offers some thoughts on stalking bream, whiting and flathead across shallow estuary flats this summer.
The arrival of warmer weather over the summer months signals increasing water temperature, which is good news if you’re keen to get into some ultra shallow lure casting action. At this time of year, bream, yellowfin whiting and dusky flathead can all be found casing the flats in the lower to middle reaches of various east coast inlets, rivers and creeks. Here, prawns, shrimp, crabs, yabbies, marine worms and small baitfish all become fair game, which brings lures such as shallow diving minnows and surface presentations into play.
ENGAGING THE SENSES
Exploring the shallows, and in particular sight casting on the flats, is highly intriguing and incredibly exciting. Indeed, anticipating the moment of impact as a fish homes in on a lure engages a number of our human senses. Observing fish behaviour and the changes in body language when hunting and feeding is interesting enough. Being able to actually see the take unfold in water barely deep enough to cover your knees is truly captivating.
Hearing the splashes, slurping and popping sounds as a bream or whiting attempts to suck down a prawn imitation amplifies the experience, resulting in further engagement. All this information, transferred via our eyes and ears, stimulates the brain well before any contact is made through the line, rod and reel handle. Setting the hooks into a bustling blue nose bream or thumping big whiting, and feeling the weight, headshakes and every kick of the tail finally brings our sense of touch into play. Most species seem to find another gear on the flats, running further and pulling harder all the way to the net, which really gets the adrenalin flowing.
nticipating the moment of impact as a fish homes in on a lure can be gripping.
POWER OF OBSERVATION
The more time spent drifting over shallow flats from a vessel or wading on foot, the more detail is exposed. At an initial glance, some areas may seem devoid of life. Closer observation, aided by a pair of polarised lenses to block out glare (as well as perhaps a more careful approach, which we’ll cover later), can be telling. Try to look through the surface and watch for shadows and signs of movement, as opposed to actual fish shapes. It’s generally quite easy to see fish darting away in fright once disturbed. The challenge is to spot them up well before they become spooked by our presence.
Sunlight reflecting off the flanks of a bream, for example, stands out like a beacon to the trained eye. Likewise, surface disturbances, caused by say a fleeing prawn or nervous baitfish, become more obvious (even in windy conditions) to the skilled observer. Listening for the sounds of bait skipping hurriedly across the top or indeed a predator rising to engage prey at the surface also helps to identify targets outside of our immediate line of sight. Over time, experienced eyes soon become trained to recognise more of the subtleties, such as traces of bream and whiting rummaging below in the sand in search of tucker. These dinner plate sized dig-holes can usually be identified from quite a distance by several darker grey or brownish coloured silt stains spread across an otherwise sandy bottom.
When actively foraging, there may even be signs of discoloured or cloudy water in the surrounding area, which is a dead giveaway. Evidence of fish feeding in this manner is also available when walking the flats at low tide. Again, take note of the holes or digs, as well as markings where flathead have been lying up. Areas of hardened or corrugated sand, due to continuous strong tidal flow, tend to hold very little in the way of burrowing bait. Instead, look for the richer soft sand or silt dotted with yabby holes or crawling with crabs when exposed at low tide. Slightly deeper runs, formed as a result of sand shifting in the prevailing winds and tidal runoff, are also likely to hold fish. Flathead, in particular, use these subtle changes in depth as ambush points. Likewise, bream and whiting congregate along these lines, especially during the latter stages of a receding tide.
Other forms of more obvious structure, such as patches of rock, weed beds, or perhaps a solitary log, which might have come to rest on a shallow sand bank after being washed downstream during a previous flooding event, each has the potential to attract and hold fish on the flats. Interestingly, the feeding habits of stingrays, which involve digging in the sand and sucking up crabs, worms, yabbies, and the like, act as a mobile attractant for scavenging bream hoping to snare an easy meal. These indicators (and many more) vary from one day to the next according to the local conditions. It’s a matter of absorbing as much detail as possible and quickly processing the information to develop a stealthy plan of attack.
STEALTH MISSION
Prior to even making a cast, perhaps the greatest challenge is concealing our presence. Once a fish becomes spooked on the flats, it ceases all feeding activity immediately. Bream are especially sensitive in this regard and it doesn’t take much for panic and preservation mode to set in, which usually involves bolting erratically for the safety of deeper water. Whiting and flathead seem more tolerant in this regard, but once on high alert, they certainly won’t chase an artificial either.
There’s generally a barrier surrounding the boat within which fish have become aware of our presence, and all but uncatchable in most instances. Weather, water clarity and the ability of those onboard to adopt a stealthy approach determine the parameters of this invisible boundary. Wind is both friend and foe. Too strong (>20 knots) and the drift speed becomes way too fast and conditions difficult for lure casting. Even so, the fish are likely to be on the chew, taking advantage of wind lanes and surface chop, which bring both food and cover. Periods of strong wind push warm water and loose ribbon weed (which also carries food) to one side of a lake or inlet and the fish follow. This is particularly pertinent in systems periodically closed or separated from the ocean.
Constant wave action stirs up the bottom and encourages fish to feed in the shallows for longer. It also muffles any sounds from the boat so we can get closer without them realising. It may be uncomfortable and near impossible to re-tie knots or take a decent photograph, but (as long as it’s safe for boating) drifting the flats in the wind can be epic. By contrast, when the wind is light (<5 knots) or perhaps non-existent, we don’t cover as much ground, casting distance is reduced and fish are quickly put off by boat noise, which is amplified under a glassed-out surface or calm conditions.
Ideally, moderate wind speeds of about 8 to 12 knots are preferable, though fish can most definitely be taken outside of this range by varying our approach. A drogue is helpful to slow the drift in strong winds. Some circumstances may even warrant the use of an anchor, stake/power pole or electronic spot-lock function to hold position. More often than not, drifting silently with the breeze behind us is the go. Bringing the boat to shore and walking or wading may provide another level of stealth. Either way, long wind-assisted casts bring the most consistent bent rod action. Likewise, a quiet approach, be it from a boat or on foot will always result in more enquiries.
Boat noise can be minimised by cutting the engine early and gliding into position under electric power. Trim the outboard up so that it won’t scrape across the sand, and switch off the depth sounder, recirculating live well and automatic bilge pump. Once a drift line has been established, try to avoid overusing the electric motor to continually correct or reposition the boat. Although relatively quiet, even a short pulse of the propeller is likely to spook any fish nearby, therefore lengthening the ‘no catch’ zone. Avoid knocking or banging the hull with items such as rod tips, landing nets, lures, keys and so forth.
Lastly, remaining light on our feet when moving about the deck, carefully opening and shutting storage hatches and placing items such as scissors or pliers down gently after use may seem trivial, but it all counts when working in less than a metre of gin clear water. It’s no surprise, nor coincidence, that when my young daughters (aged 4 and 2) are on board and clanging things about while playing (as kids do) that fishing the flats becomes far more difficult…
FLATS TACKLE
In terms of tackle selection, stalking bream, whiting and flathead on the flats requires some attention to detail. In ultra-clear conditions, semi-translucent lure patterns, which allow sunlight to pass through, are far more realistic. It’s also well worth experimenting with the leader length and diameter. About two to four rod lengths of 4 lb fluorocarbon is the norm when pitching shallow divers at bream. A shorter length of 6 lb monofilament is a good starting point for surface presentations intended for both whiting and bream. Upgrading to say an 8 or 10 lb leader is theoretically a better option when specifically chasing flathead to combat their raspy teeth. In reality, however, often all three species can turn up in the same areas where they can be coerced and played out on the same gear.
THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE
Flats lure casting is dangerously addictive; dangerous in terms of becoming completely mesmerised by fish that simply won’t eat a lure. Over the years, I’ve been guilty of wasting away hours in this fashion. When all the elements align and everything clicks in terms of our approach and presentation, however, there’s some incredible fish-a-cast action on offer. Knowing how exciting and satisfying it can be makes it tough to move away, even when conditions are clearly unfavourable.
Despite the fickle nature of sight casting on wide open estuary flats, the ability to visually locate fish and execute a plan to deceive and coerce one into eating an artificial (and then repeating the process over and over), is the ultimate sport fishing challenge. Irrespective of the environment, be it a high-country stream, inland lake or as discussed in this piece, a coastal estuary, sight casting is about as good as it gets.
Brent Hodges has been fishing the western side of Port Phillip Bay and its tributaries for more than 20 years. He has also fished extensively in both salt and fresh water around Australia. Brent writes regularly for a range of print and online publications, including Sport Fishing Australia and Freshwater Fishing magazines. Currently he is sponsored by Berkley, Abu Garcia and Honda Marine. As well as a keen angler, Brent is also a school teacher and sub-district cricketer/coach.
