You can bet that with every salty adventure with a hook involved, you will learn something new, adding more information to your fishing knowledge. And the very best place to start your fishing odyssey is down at your local wharf.
While the gear may be smaller in size, many fishing situations in the future will most likely involve a rod, a line, hooks, swivels, sinkers and bait. Generally all these components just get a bit bigger as you start to target larger fish.
The first good thing about doing it at a wharf is that it’s a great stable environment to fish from. It is also often a very social spot, where you can observe and interact with other anglers, young and old.
My suggestion is to ask someone with fishing experience to join you on your first couple of missions off the wharf. Most fishers love any sort of fishing, and get a big buzz from sharing their expertise and teaching you some good habits to take on board.
You will learn how to tie your first knot, how to bait a hook, how a fishing reel works, how to cast and how to release a fish – or, if you are keeping them to eat or for bait, how to end a fish’s life in a quick and humane way. Also, very importantly, you will learn how to look after your catch of the day.
There may also be things you have not thought about. What is the forecast? What time is low tide? Which footwear is good to wear when fishing from a wharf? So much to learn and so much fun to be had.
I am 60 years of age and I still love fishing from a pier. While there are lots of varieties of small fish you may catch that are good to eat (sprats, piper and even spotties), once you get the knack of it all, you can upsize your gear and catch the larger eating fish that often have a habit of hanging out or turning up at your local spot. I have witnessed large kingfish being landed off jetties, wharfs and piers on more than one occasion.
So have a go off the wharf – it’s a cracking place to kick off what is sure to be a lifetime of adventures, camaraderie and hopefully stories about the one that didn’t get away. Good luck out there!
Key things to bear in mind
- Keep it simple when starting out fishing from a wharf. A lightweight rod and reel is the way to go. There are plenty of inexpensive choices at your local tackle store to help you start.
- Using smaller hooks will increase your hook-up rate.
- For bait, I’d go for squid as it’s a tough bait that stays on your hook well and can be cut into very small pieces to suit your hook size.
- “Fish your feet” is a term you will often hear, which means fish the water close to you before casting further out.
- Vary your depth. Start with your sinker on the sea floor, then try winding it up a metre or two. You will then find the sweet spot where the fish are located.
- Early morning and late afternoon, when the light is low, are usually more productive times.
- When you land a fish, handle it with a sea-soaked wet rag or towel, then gently remove the hook.
- If releasing, slip the fish as gently as possible back into the briny.
- If keeping the fish to eat or for bait, the most humane way to dispense of it is to use an iki spike on the head of the fish, killing it immediately.
Your wharf fishing kit list
- Rods and reels
- Tackle box
- Hooks of various styles and sizes
- Sabiki rigs
- Sinkers of various sizes
- Swivels
- Monofilament leader of various weight strengths
- Pliers
- Snips
- Knife
- Small chopping board
- Iki spike
- Bucket
- Bait
- Old towl or rag
- Chilly bin with salt ice
- Drinking water and snacks
- First-aid kit
Master the lingo
Part of fishing is being a good storyteller – so pepper your yarns with a few of these words and it’ll seem like you know what you’re talking about!
Bag limit The amount of fish you’re allowed to keep per person per day.
Bird’s nest Massive tangle in your fishing line. It’s a nightmare and a high-anxiety moment.
Fish on A popular saying when you have hooked and are playing a fish. For some reason, as soon as the words leave your mouth, the fish often gets off.
Foul Rocky terrain, usually underwater. Fish often hang around foul.
Large fish (to be used regularly) Monster, stonker, lunker, donkey, hog, horse, whopper.
Skunked “I got skunked” means you didn’t land a fish.
Small fish (to be used as little as possible) Tiddler, sprat, shrimp, small fry, dink, minnow.
Tackle All your fishing gear, including rods, lines, hooks, lures, sinkers and so on. You can never have enough tackle!
Edited extract from Hooked: Learning to Fish by Al Brown, illustrations by Hope McConell is available to buy at Mighty Ape and Amazon.
