On Sun, 30 May 2004 11:44:21 GMT, in aus.sport.fishing you wrote:

G'day Scott,

I have recently become interested in fishing and would like to ask a few
questions if I may.
I am wondering if there is a general best time for fishing. When I say
fishing, I mean beach or estuary fishing.
For example, at low tide, high tide, just before high tide etc etc. Dawn,
dusk, day, night - that sort of thing. Full moon, new moon, the day before
or after blah blah blah.
I have always known fishing is more than dumb luck but the more people I
listen to, the more confusing it gets.
Any help?

You could ask a million fisho's this and probably get a million
different answers.

I don't know much about beach fishing but I do a lot of estuary
fishing mainly around Port Stephens and the Hunter River. Dawn and
dusk are when fish are most active. If you're after bream night time
is when the big ones bite. Flathead are more active through the day,
whiting mostly through the day but I catch the odd one or two of a
night and they are always good fish. Blackfish through the day when
using a float and weed bait, because you can't see the float of a
night (a well lit area or bright moonlight I guess it would work,
anyone ever tried it?), and they do sometimes take a yabby of a night
sometimes even a prawn. Leatherjacket seem to prefer the day as do
mullet and garfish.

I don't think moon phases make much difference. I've heard people say
bream won't bite with a full moon but I've caught plenty under a full
moon. Jew specialists are always talking about moon phases but I don't
target them and have only caught the odd few when fishing for
something else.

Tides are a matter of opinion, I prefer the run out, I don't know why
I just seem to have more luck on the run out but I don't think it
makes much difference. When the water is slack fish tend to stop
biting. The one exception I know of with that is soapy jew which only
seem to bite at the turn of the tide.

I think the best advice anyone can give someone about fishing is to
use live bait whenever possible. Yabbies or pink nippers (depending on
where you live) are good bait for most estuary species, a yabby pump
is a good investment. Bloodworms and squirt worms, live prawns and
poddy mullet are all excellent baits. You're pretty much wasting your
time with a pack of frozen service station prawns. If you can't get
your own bait at least take a drive to your local co-op and get some
fresh prawns.

The other piece of good advice is to fish as light as possible. A huge
sinker generally means no fish, just use enough lead to take the bait
to the bottom. If you're after bream of a night try using no sinker if
the water isn't running too fast or a small ball sinker (number 0 or
00) running right down to the hook.

All this is just my opinion and what works for me. One thing I do know
for sure is, have fun...if you don't catch a fish there's always
tomorrow and like the old saying...a bad day fishing is still better
than a good day at work.

JC