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Homes, you chopp!maybe you missed post no 4 on this thread?http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php/topic,2425.msg25486.html#msg25486And did you know there is a search function on this site? I urge you to become familiar with it... Here is a whole article on it...http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php/topic,1007.msg8775.html#msg8775
Hey Reefz, I have always done it the hard way... I love to throw plugs for GT's, so will put my 5c worth in here.GT's like to come close inshore to feed on a strongly pushing tide, particularly when the sea is on the rough side. They like a lot of milky, foamy water to hunt in. When these conditions coincide with low light (Dawn and Dusk) then you should be on the money. Fish around and over the ledges where the water is rushing, even if it is shallow, you will be surprised how shallow those big GT's will come in. It is advisable to get to the spot you plan on fishing in the dark and cast your poppers while it is still dark in the early morning. I know it sounds strange, but GT's will find it and smash it in the pitch dark. You will sometimes hear them smashing the baitfish. By 7am it is often all over. The same in the evening, keep fishing until it is pitch dark, don't stop when it starts to get dark, you can fish until around 9pm, depending on the tides. I find the best day in a month cycle, tide wise is the second day after the new moon spring tide. This gives you the highest tide movement and the tides are at good times for the GT's.The best poppers to use are those that float at rest and have a cup face (chuggers), these can be worked fairly slowly, as long as they are given a good rip through the water to create a great deal of noise, splash smoke trail etc. You can give them a couple of seconds rest between rips. It is often good to start the retrieve that way after the popper has landed. Give it a hard rip, then rest it for 2 seconds, repeat that three times, then start a retrieve where you bloop the popper with a regular twitching action. These plugs work really well when the GT's are fairly close in, as they are not designed for long casting, more for their excellent action in the water. Large Chisel nosed plugs, such as Aubrey Da Gama's are also excellent and create a lot of splash, making them very attractive. It is a good idea to take a selection of different shaped plugs for different conditions. You may want a few narrower chisel plugs that you can throw into the wind if there is a big North Easter Blowing.You will need the strongest leader you can use when fishing from the side. The GT's are most likely to be hooked over or very close to the ledges, and they will cut you off, given half a chance. A twisty leader or wind on leader is a must. Use only the strongest hooks, split rings etc as well, these GT's put your tackle under huge pressure. If you feel the GT get into the rocks it is not a bad idea to loosen your drag quickly and just keep minimum tension, he will move away fromn the rocks and with no tension on the line it is less likely to be cut. You can tighten up again once he is out over the sand. I normally spin with my drag set hard to stop him reaching the edge of the ledge, but if I can't stop him, then I quickly loosen up as described above.If there is no surface action at all, then you can throw spoons. These rigged with a hsingle on top and one on the bottom can work very well for GT's, particularly when retrieved with a whipping action on the rod, a bit like working a jig.If no action on lures then try live baits. Again strong tackle, fish your livie around milky water where the water washes off the ledges, you don't normally need a long cast. Shad are ideal, rigged with two big singles (8/0) and don't use wire, just fluorocarbon, it is very abrasion resistant.I hope that helps
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Topic: Targeting GT from the shore (Read 22529 times)
