Autumn is prime time for chasing a wide range of species across Australia and New Zealand.
Scott Thomas reports.
The change of season can be a challenging, yet highly rewarding time of year to fish. Autumn is a bitter sweet time for many fishos. The days are getting shorter and the water, with a few exceptions, is getting cooler. Those warm days spent chasing fish will have to wait and a change of tactics is always required if you plan on consistent catches of fish.
Autumn is also a season of opportunities. Once you work out a few things, it can be the best season to take a few days off and catch that fish of a lifetime. Over the next few pages, let’s look at where, why, and what you should be chasing on the water at this time of year.
Locations
Finding where fish are is half of the battle at this time of year. Many fish migrate and that typically happens during a change of season. Many of these fish are moving up and down rivers to congregate and spawn. Some fish migrate and even scientists have little idea why or where they are heading.
My advice is to choose a species and general area and work out seasonal movements of fish at different stages of the year. For example, Australian bass typically congregate in the brackish and saltwater rivers and estuaries over the cooler months. They use spring flood to push back up river between September and November each year. Throughout summer they live in the upper freshwater reaches and move back downstream every autumn to repeat the process. While there are exceptions to the rule with changes in rainfall and temperatures, you will usually find an abundance of fishing in certain areas through the cycle of seasons. It differs for locations and species. Marlin and tuna are also highly migratory fish. They show up for several months of the year and migrate to other parts of Australia and even other parts of the world. Your job as a fisho is to understand when this migration happens and be sure you’re on the water at the right time. That means choosing the right season and even the right day.
Species
We’ve already mentioned bass and marlin. One is a small fresh water and coastal fish and the other, an enormous gamefish that lives in deep water off the continental shelf of Australia. Let’s look at some more species that are worth targeting over this period. In the fresh water, practically all species are abundant during autumn. Trout prefer cool water and will start to become more active and feed more as the water cools. During summer, fish like trout tend to sulk and many don’t survive prolonged periods of hot weather.
Island native fish such as Murray cod and golden perch are much the same. Although these native fish are far tougher than trout and will survive most droughts and heatwaves. Even so, they tend to switch to night feeding during hot days and can be tricky to catch. Once the days cool the fish reemerge and become easier to catch. Murray cod in particular become feistier around the first frost heading towards winter. It makes sense.
The sudden drop in temperature must signal that it’s time to feed up ahead of a long, cold winter.
Saltwater fishing in the estuaries can be less predictable. Some fish migrate while others stay put. It pays to fish regularly and follow the movements of fish as the water cools.
Warm currents
While the days are shorter and getting cooler, many people would be surprised to know the water remains quite warm throughout autumn and even into early winter. Of course, this all depends on where you are located around Australia or New Zealand.
Along the East Coast of Australia, the warm currents run from late summer and until late autumn and carry all sorts of tropical species within reach of Australia’s major population centres. You can catch marlin, mahi mahi, mackerel, tuna and more. The warm ocean currents also make their way upstream into estuaries and rivers and prolong the season in many parts of the East Coast.
The run off
The “run off” is an iconic event in the top half of Australia. It refers to the mass of water that runs off the flood plains after the tropical wet season each year. Some years are better than others and the fishing is best during years of abundant rainfall.
This occurs all across the top end of Australia, although certain areas are more prolific. The most famous area for run off is in the Northern Territory. Areas outside Darwin such as the Mary and Daly Rivers are famous for a big run off of barra.
I recall a trip several years ago to a small coastal creek about three hours from Darwin. It was April and the weather was still scorching hot. The heat season was practically over and the floodplains were full of water and full of life. We made the long trip along the coast and snuck into a smallish creek just before the incoming tide turned. As the tide turned, the water changed from clear to chocolate brown. The dirty water from the flood plain was flushing out to sea and, lucky for us, carried thousands of small baitfish and big barra. We could hear the water and baitfish make its way downstream.
When it reached the river mouth, dozens of big barra smashed the bait before it escaped into the ocean. For an hour or so it was mayhem and we caught and released many fish over the magic metre mark.
This only happens during a short period during autumn and it’s one of the reasons I consider this changeover season to be the best for fishing.
Less crowds
Less people on the water equals more fish. As the days get cooler, some people hang up their boat keys and wait until next summer. As a boater, I wouldn’t recommend it and we’ve covered this in other editions of this magazine. The days are mild, not cold, and you have more space at the boat ramp and less crowds on the water itself.
If you live in an urban area or a holiday town, you will typically see a decline in fish over the peak holiday period. The fish avoid boat traffic and the hordes of people throwing bait and lures day and night. Come autumn, when the crowds disappear, fish seem to feel that it’s safe to actively feed ahead of winter. Many serious fishos who live in holiday towns either hang up their gear during the peak season or find remote areas to fish.
Once autumn hits, they start fishing local again. I find my home waters around Sydney Harbour and the Hawkesbury fish significantly better once the pressure eases.
Try something new
The change of season is a great excuse to target a new species or find a new location where you have never fished. Your favourite summer fish may have moved and it’s time to rethink your strategy.
I really enjoy beach fishing at this time of year for the same reason. It’s something I don’t do during other seasons and the increased fish along our beaches gives me a perfect excuse to get sand on my feet and catch a few new species.
The wrap up
The change of seasons isn’t easy. You may at first find it difficult to locate fish or find your favourite spices aren’t there anymore. It’s time to do some research. Read more articles and get online and learn where, when and what species are best to target at this time of year. Whether you’re in Australia or New Zealand, there’s always water worth exploring and fish to catch. Good luck!
The April-May issue of Nautilus Marine Magazine is out now.
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