Big GT on flats!

[Cy and Kerrin Taylor]

Hi,

 

We were wondering if anyone has any experience targeting Big GT on clear sand flats?

On a recent trip around the Whitsunday islands, we often spotted large GT cruising the sand flats individually.

Most fish were in about 1.5m of water.

They had a long escape route of about 50m to deep water!

Cy and Kerrin Taylor
Whitsundays QLD

[Brandon Khoo]

I've done a fair bit of fishing for GTs along sand flats in the past. GTs like these areas as they go into the shallows looking for baitfish like mullet. It's a good place to hook them because you've got a really good chance of landing the fish. One thing I have noticed though is that the GTs inevitably head for deep water when hooked so don't be too liberal in how much line you give them.

[Cam Foley]

Have seen some kingfish on the flats ,looked like they were chasing stingrays or flounder awesome sight and quite common here in NZ.

[Brandon Khoo]

Cam - that would make them a viable target on poppers or stickbaits then, wouldn't it? Yellowtails would be amazing if you could target them this way.

[Cam Foley]

Yer it sure would ,got to get me a flat bottom boat most of this action is inside the harbour ,in water under 1 meter deep,one could wade out there but you risk getting done by sharks ,there has even been orcas seen doing the same sort of thing [hunting stingrays]in a bit deeper water.

[Luke Wyrsta]

Cy & Kerrin,

Since the water is unwadable - unless you start finding them a bit shallower, you will obviously need to be as stealthy as possible (i reckon using a Minn Kota in this situation would be awesome). Alone and solitary, a fish like that on the flats will probably spook very easy - i reckon people would be amazed by the amount of big GTs they buzz before even throwing a popper. Depending on how far you can easily spot them, keep your distance and make a far a cast as possible. Don't donk it on the head - 10 metres either side should get it's attention easily - even further will work.

In this situation you could probably use a stickbait but i would probably reach for a big blooper first.

Obviously use the shallow water and boat to your advantage. I would be going as hard as possible but you have some insurance with the sandy bottom - use it to your advantage!

Good luck mate - can't wait to see some results

[Duncan O'Connell]

Have a look at the latest Fly Angler magazine, it has a good article on chasing big GTs on the flats at Christmas Island. I'm sure there would be some info in there that would be useful and if not, the pictures are great anyway!
Duncan

[Brandon Khoo]

The guys from Coho Fishing Tackle in Singapore run regular trips to the Christmas Islands to fly fish the flats there and they have landed some very nice GTs in these areas.

Luke is right though in that the fish do tend to spook quite easily in the flats as their natural instinct would tell them they are exposed in these areas. The way to go is to look for nervous baitfish and cast towards those areas. With a decent popping outfit, you should be toss the popper 70m so with a little care, you should be able to avoid spooking the fish.

I've more often than not had queenfish and golden trevally chasing huge poppers in these areas before. These smaller fish will hit the popper but very rarely hook up.

Have a look at the latest Fly Angler magazine, it has a good article on chasing big GTs on the flats at Christmas Island. I'm sure there would be some info in there that would be useful and if not, the pictures are great anyway!
Duncan

[MikeOsborn]

Have seen some kingfish on the flats ,looked like they were chasing stingrays or flounder awesome sight and quite common here in NZ.

sounds like you need to come on a far north trip with me next summer. I have often seen 2 or 3 kings "tailing" stingrays in the shallows over the sand in gin clear water. I have never been allowed to throw poppers as my purist friend always wants to stick a fly in front of them......

[Brandon Khoo]

it really reads like the kings are a very viable target on poppers..........

[MikeOsborn]

Definatley Brandon. I always stop at bits of man made structure on my way out on calm mornings to throw poppers and stickbaits and they work a treat. the only problem is getting the fish away from the structure although next summer I will be better equiped with my 6500exp

you may want to check out the footage below

[Brandon Khoo]

bloody hell - are there any charter options in that area?! Popping for kings would be like popping for GTs - hwo good would that be? What size fish do you get there?

[MikeOsborn]

The biggest I have got on a popper was probably a coule of kg smaller than my avatar pic which was around 26kg. Biggest Kingfish I have ever seen would have been around the 100lb mark.

There are charters that target kings but mostly jigs and livebait or towing poppers. It is too much of a hit and miss fishery I think as most of the large congregations of kings are on the deeper pins and reefs.
I have no idea where they are fishing but I could findout


here is some SWF kingi action
http://www.intrepidangler.com/index.php?section_id=3&video_id=11

[Greg Burt]

Mike, nobody will go up the far north with you if your friends fishing with you! It's great being impure .

[MikeOsborn]

its ok as I have my own boat now