Oyster leases

[kruzenvax]

Hi all,

I hope somebody could give me a hint. Never foshed oyster leases before, today I bumped into what seemed to be a huge set of oyster leases; spent about 1.5 hours there but came empty handed.

Those leases looked like a huge grid, whcih lines we made by pairs of poles with about 1.5 metres beetwen poles in pair, there were also some pieces of wood beneath the surface, old tyres, etc. I tried everything, just a lot of snags.

My question is: where do I cast SP or HB: near the pole (e.g. to the pole closest to me), over them (incide the grid), or between pairs (not sure how to achieve this as my boat was almost all the time prependicular to the line of poles)?

Many thanks

[panger]

I only fished leases a handful of times but had good success rolling HBs parallel to the lines of poles. Just get up close one of the poles cast straight down the line of poles.

[kruzenvax]

Thanks panger,

So this is to the outer side of poles (e.g. the same side where my boat was).

Thanks, will try that!

Originally posted by panger
I only fished leases a handful of times but had good success rolling HBs parallel to the lines of poles. Just get up close one of the poles cast straight down the line of poles.

[panger]

Yes the outside edges. I'm assuming there weren't any trays of oysters on the racks you were fishing. If you fish on the inside you get tangled up on the cross beams.

[kamikazeghost]

Oyster leases are awesome fun as the big bream just love lurking there. Forster is a prime example.

Fish the incoming tide is one option, especially if there are oyster trays. You can use a hardbody using the "aggravated twitch" method which just makes them go beserk (so get ready to strike and wind and pull all at once - otherwise, expect a bust up).

Or SPs on light weighted jigheads........ even HWS if very little current. cast accurately, let it go under trays, and get ready to use brute force to pull them out.

U can fish the ebbing tide, just need to cast under trays with simple backflicks, and then once again, get ready to muscle them out.

Fish with at least 6lb fireline or braided line with 8lb leader minimum!

I went to Forster once during the best season and boy, it was a great day around the leases, but also a day the tackleshop was going to enjoy as well.

Over 30 fish, with the biggest blue nose oyster cracker going 1.4kg and many more like him. But, a lot of bust ups as well.

I tried fishing light....... a really, really stupid idea. So on went 6lb fireline with 12lb leader........ still got done a few times, but was able to muschle them out easier. It was a memorable work out.

Good luck.

[kruzenvax]

Thanks guys,

Kamikazeghost, could you please tell me what is the "aggravated twitch" method?

Also - those trays - how do they look like? Leases I've been to look like just pairs of poles...

Thanks

Originally posted by kamikazeghost
Oyster leases are awesome fun as the big bream just love lurking there. Forster is a prime example.

Fish the incoming tide is one option, especially if there are oyster trays. You can use a hardbody using the "aggravated twitch" method which just makes them go beserk (so get ready to strike and wind and pull all at once - otherwise, expect a bust up).

Or SPs on light weighted jigheads........ even HWS if very little current. cast accurately, let it go under trays, and get ready to use brute force to pull them out.

U can fish the ebbing tide, just need to cast under trays with simple backflicks, and then once again, get ready to muscle them out.

Fish with at least 6lb fireline or braided line with 8lb leader minimum!

I went to Forster once during the best season and boy, it was a great day around the leases, but also a day the tackleshop was going to enjoy as well.

Over 30 fish, with the biggest blue nose oyster cracker going 1.4kg and many more like him. But, a lot of bust ups as well.

I tried fishing light....... a really, really stupid idea. So on went 6lb fireline with 12lb leader........ still got done a few times, but was able to muschle them out easier. It was a memorable work out.

Good luck.

[panger]

Aggrevated twitch - fairly aggressive short sharp twitches interspersed with pauses. Rile them up with the twitches then park your lure in their face so they have to hit it.

The trays sit on top of the pairs of poles. They'll be obvious when you see them, their just trays full of oysters.

[kruzenvax]

Thanks.

[kamikazeghost]

Yes, panger is on the money there.

There are about 2-4 different subtlies in the "aggravated twitch" apart from what panger described.

On the high tide as the water is over the top of the trays, you generally cast over and across the oyster leases trays with a gentle landing. Or, cast down the length of the oyster lease and twitch along the length of it.

Aggravated twitch:

1. Little finesse shakes of the rod tip to impart the action on the shallow diving lure, with a number and variety of lengthed pauses.

2. A lot less subtle shakes of the rod tip (more jerky) with the pause and imparting more action to increase aggression when they're aroused from underneath. (You can sometimes see them just come from under and swoop on it and you get the almightly splash and crash)

3. twitches not generated from the rod tip but rather the lower end of the rod which gives a very aggressive twitch pattern interdispersed with pauses. (I was shown this method and does work well on schooling bream which aren't easily spooked). The smaller ones seem to look at it, and then you'll get this bruiser that will push the other out of the way and slam it..... This one I use when you really are wondering where the hell are they?

4. Little finesse shakes of the rod tip without a pause on a very slow retrieve.

It is a very affective technique and one I learnt very early on 8-9yrs ago for HBs before I added SPs to the game.

OH, if you pride your HB collection and really don't want to lose them, may I suggest you go 12lb fireline or braid with 16lb leader, obviously depending on the size and brutality of bream you're encountering. It is worth it.

I think on a few occassions I've required therapy after the loss of HBs on big bruisers....... LOL. It can get depressing.

In NSW, Forster and Hawkesbury are probably the most well known. There are a couple others which are also awesome. I don't know about Vic, WA, Tas, or SA. In Qld, you don't have many, but there are a few around and it's a challenge.

Hope you'll remain upbeat after your trips. Good luck

Sorry, one more thing, if you cast a HB, along the length of the leases, and get a couple of follows, immediately drop the rod and cast an SP, and work it back. They'll be curious and hyped up normally and will in general have a go at it.

I'm one who works oyster leases slow and not hurried. I always believe each cast will produce a fish. More often than not, it does when it's on. So, don't rush or hurry your day on the water on good leases.

Season: I like April, May, and June. Just when they're coming from the sea.

[kruzenvax]

That's a ready-to-go chapter for a book! That is some description - thanks for that, things look much clearer to me now.

Can I ask another question please?

Seriously - weather and family permitting I'm going to try this ASAP.

The interesting thing is that I felt more confident when I didn't have a boat and was using those tinnies-for-hire; I didn't have a choice of where and how to fish so I was doing the only thing avalioable to me and was getting some good fish. Now, with the boat, leccy, fishfinder, etc - it's like learning from scratch, hence a lot of questions.

Thanks again.

Originally posted by kamikazeghost
Yes, panger is on the money there.

There are about 2-4 different subtlies in the "aggravated twitch" apart from what panger described.


Skipped

[kamikazeghost]

Please, ask away.

I honestly don't mind passing on the knkowledge I've learnt over the years I've been doing this. Considering I learnt this from the very beginnings in Australia and have pick up things from USA as well, I'm happy to help out.

When I first started I used to ask questions as well.

I remember Tim Morgan at Mossops and I peppered him with questions and listened intently following everything he knew and taught me at the time. Unfortunately he went tourney fishing and I went to continue studying.

i doubt he'd remember me from way back then, but it was a privilege and honour to know him and for him to give me my first set of learning curves, knowledge and skills in this field.

I have good colleagues in the US, some who on the odd occassion fly with the tourney scene over there. They do things a little differently over there, but overall, not too much, and I've learnt a bit from there as well to incorporate it to our conditions.

Good luck and please don't hesitate to ask

[kruzenvax]

The other question (might be slightly offtopic) is how do you use your leccy / position the boat (considering the current/wind) againstthe leases?

What I mean is sometimes (often) I feel like I'm using more leccy than actually fishing...

So how do you position the boat and do you let it drift with the current/wind, (using leccy with short powerfull bursts to avoid collisions) and than turn and bring the boat back to start or you somehow manage to keep it steady all the time? How far are you from the leases in an "ideal"position?

With those bursts I feel the leccy still creates distrubance (eben on the surface) so should I minimise the use of it?

I hope I haven't overloaded you with that... Should be the last for a while...

Thanks

Originally posted by kamikazeghost
Please, ask away.


Skipped

Good luck and please don't hesitate to ask

[kamikazeghost]

A very valid question indeed. In fact, in some ways, it is one of the most important topics....... postioning the boat and use of the electric motor.

There is no point having it all set to go, and you're not too sure how to use it, or use it so that you're not in the strike zone consistently.

it was certainly one of the finer points of angling that I first learnt as well........ to use the electric motor efficiently and effectively.

with oyster leases, normally they are set up to run the length of the current rather than in the transverse position.

What I normally do, is actually run the boat against the current along the length of the lease and cast therefore into the current so that the SP is coming towards you. Why? The SP will be at the bottom where the fish are. If you're going with the current and casting with the current you'll cover less territory and if you're not using the right weight jighead, you'll be fishing on the surface more often than not. So, going against the current you'll cover more territory and be able to get the SP where the fish are.

To position the boat, I normally go nose straight into it so that I'm casting straight at the point where I want to be. And then I motor so that I'm getting just enough speed to move along very slowly. Sometimes with the wind, of course you'll need a couple of taps left and right to adjust your position, but you do that more effectively when you do it more often.

It looks easy, but by the sounds of it, it's harder than it looks.
Example is a friend of mine who I set up his boat to do this in. I showed him how to do it, and put him onto fish consistently. He had fun. Then he wanted a go........ said it was easy. I said go ahead, you need to learn. Problem - not easy. he couldn't control it at all. Too fast, too slow, zigzag everywhere.

After 6mths, he still is having problems. So, it does take time.

I can tell you, at times, if I'm not concentrating, I'll do something stupid with the electric. it's just practise.

Obviously with the SP coming towards you, you have to be more aware of the positioning of the line and striking.

I hope that helps. What I suggest is to just even take the boat out, not fish for an hr, just to play with the electric in different spots. Get to know the speed of it on your boat, etc.

Some would say not to do that. I entirely disagree. It's a worthwhile learning curve as you'll be concentrating on motoring the boat then and getting a really good feel for the way it moves. It's like just practising casting in the backyard. I still do the basics. cos your foundations is what keeps you going and improving.

Have fun

[kruzenvax]

Thanks a lot for that. You have also answered my another question (which I have not posted for obvious reasons) - e.g. casting with or against the current. I'll do just that (with the boat) next time ... and I'll have no problems doing "just practice" having my family with me - they will be very happy to fish while having somebody (me!) as a chauffeur.

Thanks!

Originally posted by kamikazeghost
A very valid question indeed. In fact, in some ways, it is one of the most important topics....... postioning the boat and use of the electric motor.

Skipped

I hope that helps. What I suggest is to just even take the boat out, not fish for an hr, just to play with the electric in different spots. Get to know the speed of it on your boat, etc.

Skipped

Have fun

[kamikazeghost]

That's no problems at all. Anytime.