Rigging Cunjevoi

Cunjevoi is regarded as one of the best all-round baits for fishing off the rocks. When you cut through the leathery exterior of the cunjevoi you will find a dark red to purple muscle that has a couple of breathing holes. You will need to dig this muscle out and depending on its size, you can either use it whole or cut it down the middle, leaving an air hole in each piece.

If you are the type of angler who tends to think out of the square, try using cunjevoi while fishing out of a boat offshore. There are many different fish species that love a feed of cunjevoi.

You could try using the running sinker down onto the bait rig and cast it into a wash from the boat or use it on a double hook paternoster rig over those close inshore reefs.

Don’t forget to check your local Fisheries rules and regulations for bag limits and where you cannot harvest this great bait. At the time of writing, in NSW you are only allowed 20 per person.

Technique 1

When chasing bream, trevally, drummer, snapper, leatherjacket, wrasse, luderick and groper off the rocks, in amongst the wash, you will find that you tend to get snagged a lot. This is where the combination of the lightly weighted cunjevoi bait and a running ball sinker down onto the top of the bait will help it float around in the wash and look as natural as possible.

When putting the bait onto a bait keeper style hook, you will need to pass the hook through one of the air holes and make sure that you have the hook point out of the bait. The combination of the bait keeper style hook and threading the hook shank through the air hole will keep the bait on when you cast it.

Technique 2

You can help toughen up the freshly harvested cunjevoi (check you states Fisheries regulations) by putting some baits into an ice cream container and then adding a handful of salt. Put the lid on the container and shake it all about. The salt will help toughen up the cunjevoi, while keeping some moisture, making it harder for the pickers to get it off the hook.

Technique 3

When cutting the cunjevoi off the rocks you should cut it as close to the rocks as possible. Once you have done this, you then need to dig out what’s left in the body that is still attached to the rocks. This will act as burley for when you start fishing.

Depending on the size of the cunjevoi you can use it either whole or cut it in half, making sure that you pass the hook through the breathing hole. I usually use either a turn-down or turn-back eyed bait keeper hook as the sliced barbs on the shank and the eye help hold it in place. You could put a couple of half hitches around the breathing hole to help secure.

Mainly used when targeting drummer and groper, when fishing off the rocks. I have also caught bream, trevally, tarwhine, snapper, sweep, red rock cod and wirrahs on cunjevoi.

Suggested Combos -

Barbarian Spin Rods - BN-S-1162NT, Med/Light, 11'6" Nibble Tip, 2-6kg rod matched with a size 55 to 60 Okuma threadline (spin reel) for off the ocean rocks. Spooled with 6 to 8kg Platypus Pulse Mono or 6 to 8kg Platypus Envy Mono.

Surf-XT Surf Rod - SFXT-S-1202SFM, 8-10kg rod matched with a Rockaway RA-6000 with its 12kg drag for either off the rock, breakwall or ocean rocks. Ideal for chasing mulloway and the likes off the rocks and breakwalls. Spooled with your choice of one of the many Platypus braids.