Tackle Tactics » Tips-Techniques » Deep-Reef-Heavy-Tackle-Offshore » Deep Drop Fishing Tips
Deep Drop Fishing Tips
By Luke Smith
Over the last year or so I have been drawn into driving for hours into the ocean off Victoria before even dropping a bait. I have been getting belted by some changing winds and even worse by the petrol prices, and why you might ask?
Well, there’s nothing quite like dropping a bait down into over 400 metres of water and never knowing what is going to eat it and come back up. Whilst we have target species in mind, with the prized blue-eye trevalla being the number one option, we do also pull up some of the weird and wonderful.
Blue-eye as they are commonly known in Australia, are a fantastic table fish and can be caught along the continental shelf from Queensland, right around the bottom of Australia and in a large area of Western Australia. This makes them a highly targeted species, in locations where access to these waters can be made. They can be found in a variety of depths, with 200-800m being the most targeted range. For me personally, I find 380-480m a sweet spot, that produces time and time again.
Below are some tips to help you maximise your time on the water and hopefully improve your results.
Preparation
Preparation for any trip is always a key for me. There’s no point wasting valuable fishing time on the day by having to fuel up, set up rods or tie new rigs. This is all stuff that can be done beforehand. Prior to every trip I always have a plan of what I want to fish for and how I am going to target them. From here I can organise the outfits that I need to rig and have prepared, the spare rigs I need to have tied, and any other gear that I need to pack. I usually leave all this gear in the front of the shed so that in the morning I can simply chuck it in the boat and go.
By being prepared it saves time as well as eliminating the stress of forgetting something that you need, such as power leads for the electrics… which has happened before and is not a fun thing to forget!
Game Plan
Having a game plan is always a good option as it keeps you focused on the task at hand. This follows on from the preparation done beforehand and it consists of being aware of the launch time, meeting point or launch point, the area you are fishing, tides, and so forth.
A game plan may also include a backup plan or even two, as even the best laid plans don’t always eventuate.
Start Early
Sacrifice some sleep and get up early to maximise the day. Most deep fishing involves travelling a reasonable distance. Some are lucky and it might only be 30km, however for me its 60 to 80km, depending on the marks that I choose to fish. Travelling these distances takes time and more time driving means less time fishing. I like to maximise my fishing time and make the most of the opportunity as work and bad weather make it difficult to make these trips happen.
Locating Fish
Finding blue-eye trevalla can sometimes be trial and error. Even with modern day mapping and sonar, fish can still be hard to find. If you don’t have proven marks, then I would suggest looking at charts and finding areas that have steeper banks around the 380-450m mark. Different depths will work better across the country, with different water temps and currents. For me, in southwest Victoria, I love the 400-430m range. Add in any drop offs, lumps or structure of any sort and you have an area worth exploring.
The Grind
Be prepared to put the hard yards in as the good marks don’t come easy. It can take many trips of trial and error to even get one blue eye. Don’t get disheartened as they do exist. You may also come across gemfish and blue grenadier, which are welcome by-catch that will help to keep you interested.
The Bite
Once you have baits in the water, don’t be afraid to move them around a bit as blue-eye trevalla aren’t always on the bottom.
When looking at fish bites you will notice a massive difference between a blue-eye bite and other species, such as gemfish and grenadier. Blue-eye trevalla are a much more aggressive fish, that will usually be kicking the whole way to the surface.
The Hook
Circle hooks are practically a must as it’s difficult to hook fish with 400 odd metres of line out and then even harder again to keep them on the line the whole way up. Using lights on your rig can also help get extra bites on some days.
Line & Leader
The most important part of any deep-water fishing setup however is a quality braided fishing line. Trying to see bites of any kind, with so much line out, can be difficult and would be near on impossible to see with nylon monofilament as it offers too much stretch. A braid with minimal stretch and a thin diameter, such 80lb Platypus, is a perfect option for deep water prospecting.
I usually run a 130-150lb shock leader, for around five metres, just to offer a small amount of shock absorption and some protection from fish tangling up in the rig. For the rig itself you can get away with light leaders, however toothy critters like gemfish and frost fish will make very quick work of them. For this reason, most run heavier leaders such as Platypus Hard Armour Game Leader in 300-400lb.
The Rig
In terms of rig, I use a paternoster style rig, attaching the hooks to the mainline via a 3-way sleeve swivel, also known as a bran swivel. When dropping this deep it takes roughly 20-30 minutes per drop, so it makes sense to use extra hooks. Please check your local regulations to confirm how many hooks you can use.
Dropping this deep requires plenty of weight, so for a sinker we use the smaller 200ml soft drink cans filled with lead. These usually weigh around 2kg. On stronger current days we either attach more lead or we hold the boat in reverse to try and keep on top of our baits.
Bait Selection
Bait choice isn’t the most critical decision however we always find fresh is best and it’s also best to run a selection of baits. Some days they prefer squid, while on other days tuna is the go, and then other days it does not matter at all.
Cooking
The last piece of advice that I can offer is to brush up on your cooking skills as blue-eye trevalla are far too good to be over cooked.
These are a few pointers that I can offer to try and help you get hooked up down deep. Always remember safety first as you are a long way out, so ensure you have safety gear and communication equipment covered. Like with any fishing, ask a few locals and tackle stores in your area to gain any information to help get you started, while also remembering that time on the water is always the best teacher.
Cheers, Luke
Gearing Up:
Platypus Deep Drop Braid
Hard Armour Game Leader