Cracking The Code: Catching More Fish In Estuaries

If there's one thing that always holds true about fishing Aussie waters, it's that having the right technique and gear can make all the difference. Whether you're chasing flathead on the sand flats, bream around structures or whiting on the surface, using optimal methods and the perfect soft plastic bait or hard body lure can make the difference between a disappointing day and an epic session.

When you're fishing in estuaries, this is especially true. But by knowing what to put on your line, where to drop it and how to work it, you can make estuary fishing pay off for you and bring home a bumper catch!

Quick Links

• Finding The Best Spots To Fish In Estuaries
• Soft Plastics: Your Estuary Fishing Secret Weapon
• Winning Techniques For Fishing In Estuaries
• Catching Whiting On The Surface In Estuaries
• Using Hardbaits In Estuaries For Flathead & Bream

Finding The Best Spots To Fish In Estuaries

Unsurprisingly, one of the biggest keys to success in estuary fishing is knowing where to find the fish. Locations that can usually be counted on to produce include:

• Tidal Sand Flats & Drop-Offs - Flathead love lying in wait along the edges of flats, ambushing bait as the tide moves.
• Mangrove Edges & Creek Mouths - You can pull plenty of bream and flathead from these areas, especially on a run-out tide.
• Weed Beds & Seagrass Flats - These spots attract baitfish, making them prime territory for predatory fish.
• Rock Bars & Artificial Structures - Hard body lures work great here, triggering aggressive strikes from bream and flathead.

Soft Plastics: Your Estuary Fishing Secret Weapon

If you're not using soft plastics like those from Berkley, you're seriously missing out. Their scent dispersion and natural movement make them irresistible to fish. Some go-to picks include:

• Berkley Gulp! Salty Nipper - These are perfect for bouncing along the bottom and imitating a prawn.
• Berkley Gulp!Turbo Shrimp - A killer bait for bream and flathead, especially when worked with subtle twitches.
• Berkley Gulp! Jerkshad - These are great for an erratic retrieve that drives predators nuts.

Winning Techniques For Fishing In Estuaries

When you're fishing in estuaries, the best advice is to keep it simple. Use a light jig head and a fluorocarbon leader line for stealth, and retrieve with a slow hop-and-pause motion. Flathead, bream and even the occasional jewfish won't be able to resist.

Catching Whiting On The Surface In Estuaries

If you haven't tried topwater whiting fishing, do yourself a favour - it's one of the most exciting ways to fish! Seeing whiting chase down a hard body lure like a Berkley Pro-Tech Prawn Walker on the surface and smash it is next-level fun!

Some tips for getting the best results:

• Fish The Shallow Sand Flats - Low-light periods like early morning or late afternoon are prime time.
• Master The Walk-the-Dog Retrieve - A steady rod twitch keeps the prawn walker dancing across the surface.
• Stay Calm When the Fish Strikes - Whiting will often follow and peck at the lure before fully committing, so keep the lure moving!

Using Hardbaits In Estuaries For Flathead & Bream

When you're fishing deeper structures or drop-offs, swap out the plastics for hard body lures. These hard body lures from Berkley can help you land some impressive flathead and bream:

• Berkley Pro-Tech Bender - Perfect for working over sandbanks and weed beds, with an erratic action that drives fish wild.
• Berkley Pro-Tech Money Badger - A go-to for rock bars and deeper sections where bream and flathead hang out.

Use a twitch-pause retrieve, keeping the lure in the strike zone as long as possible. Flathead love smashing these as they suspend just above the bottom.

Discover the Quality Berkley Range and Get All The Gear You Need To Hit The Water At Anaconda

With the right tactics and a solid lineup of lures from the Berkley Gulp! and Pro-Tech ranges, you'll be well on your way to landing more fish in the estuaries. Whether it's bouncing soft plastics along the bottom, walking surface lures for whiting, or twitching hard body lures for bream and flathead, the Berkley range has you covered.

Shop Berkley

Before you head out, make sure you have all the fishing gear you need by exploring our extensive range of quality fishing rods, reels, fishing lines, fishing hooks and more at Anaconda. Plus, ensure your tackle stays organised with our tackle boxes, tackle bags and more fishing storage plus great accessories. Visit your local Anaconda store and browse our extensive range. Play More and Pay Less with Anaconda and gear up for your next fishing adventure!

Also, be sure to check out our Adventure Centre for helpful fishing articles and tips like these:

• Everything you need to know about Estuary Fishing with Hard-Body Lures
• Fishing Licences in Australia
• The Secret to Finessing Your Rock Fishing Game