BLOG: Top 5 holiday fishing tips

Merry Christmas everyone! For a good majority of you, Christmas is the time of year you get to dust off the fishing gear and partake in a quintessential Aussie institution: the family holiday to the coast. Here are 5 tips to make your holiday with your family and friends not only adventurous but productive on the fishing front as well.

1) Plan ahead – It’s easy to throw some gear in the boot and suss out the options when you arrive, but don’t expect good results. My advice is to research the destination via websites like Google maps to get a lay of the land, internet chat forums to seek local advice and study the tide charts. You may only get a few hours to fish every day in between family outings so be selective and fish the prime time. Once you have researched the area and know what fish are available, select your gear appropriately. This might mean you actually pack less stuff, giving you a tick of approval from the missus...

2) Source fresh bait – I see it all too often, fishos buying bait form the tackle store, or even worse, the servo! If you’re serious about putting a few fillets on the table or simply want to keep the kids interested longer, there is no better way than collecting your own bait. In fact, when I was a kid, digging worms or pumping nippers was as exciting as the fishing. It can be a real family pursuit, once again getting the nod from the other half. Live bait can include, netting prawns, chasing soldier crabs, pumping nippers, digging worms or catching small baitfish such as poddy mullet or herring. The extra effort will almost certainly produce more and better quality fish.

3) Try something new – Every holiday I endeavour to try a new lure or technique. If you haven’t tried using surface lures for bream or whiting yet, this is the perfect time of year to give it a go. Perhaps you might be a soft plastic cynic and want to discover what all the fuss is about. Give yourself a goal and see if you can master it. The first fish caught with a new technique is always exciting.

4) Service your gear – For those of you who don’t get to fish regularly, make sure you inspect your gear and service it appropriately before you head off. This needn’t be an onerous task. Apply a little oil and grease to moving parts on reels and inspect if the fishing line has degraded by UV light and basic wear and tear. Rods are easier. It’s a matter of inspecting the guides to see if corrosion is present. Inox should sort it out pretty quick. I also run a stocking through my guides to see if hairline cracks have appeared in my guide rings. If your taking terminal tackle, inspect rusty hooks and swivels and make sure you replace rusty trebles on lures. A little bit of maintenance before you leave means fewer headaches once you are away - and fewer lost fish.

5) Include the family – Where appropriate, try and include the family. I love nothing more than taking my dad and my grandfather out for a day on the boat. If you have kids, include them in the plans as well. We all need to pitch in and educate the young ones as they eventually will become the future of our sport. Besides, it might just give them a break from the Nintendo DS or Playstation and get them into the sunshine.

Thank you to everyone that has participated and responded to my blog this year. Your comments and input is greatly appreciated and welcomed. I hope you find the time next year to participate.

So, in the famous sentiments of the man in the big red suit - Ho ho ho! See y’all next year…