[fishsnatcher]

Bait fishing is often less suitable than spinner fishing for salmon in rivers around NZ but in Dunedin harbour and other places [Kaipoi i believe]

it is often successful and the most commonly used technique.

So why wouldn’t live mullet be more appealing?

People often use live-bullies for salmon, I’ve done this in Twizel fishing for lanlocked salmon.

And sea-run salmon feed on yellow-eyed mullet at sea aswell as other small fish.

So the theory is good…..

What about the real thing?

Has anyone else tried live-mullet for salmon?Was it successful?

[yellowfin]

Bait fishing for salmon isn’t permitted in most areas, otherwise people would do it in more places. Only whole baits are legal. Prawns and pilchards are used in the kaiapoi, I guess these must catch more salmon than mullet.

I don’t know if it’s true or not, but one guy was telling me that bait fishing was permitted in the waimak one year, and became accessible to the point that families and kids turned up and actually had a chance of catching a salmon, but the old fashioned spin brigade got upset about being outfished and this was restricted to the kaiapoi river only. Anyone know if this really happened?

[fishsnatcher]

well im in Dunedin soooo…. I’ll have to ask the local tackl stores about live-bait.

Wait “only whole baits are legal?

So no live mullet?

[yellowfin]

Once a salmon swallows it.. whos gonna know??

[fishsnatcher]

Hehe good point as long as i put the fish in the water when no-one notices, they MIGHT notice it flapping.

Anyway if it is legal or not any ideas on how to get it out there? its not as if i can cast it
Though i could as long as it was a real short cast……

Any ideas

[Miliwolf]

The Salmon in Dunedin harbour are governed under mfish rules not Fish and Game. So I suspect live baiting would be allowed.

For suggestions on how to get the bait out read a few of the “Kingfish” threads, the same techniques would work.

[fishsnatcher]

Would a yellow-eyed mullet have any trouble pulling out a reasonbale sized float? in flat water?

[yellowfin]

u would need a reasonabvle sized float for a yelloweyed mullet could pull the float under as well

[fishsnatcher]

Thought they could handle it, I used to love [and still do] to catch those little fellas on super light spinning gear. either jigging or with tiny baited hooks.

I was just gonna do a 2 hook rig 1 in the tail 1 in the top jaw with bait-holder hooks [the ones with barbs on the shank of the hook]

What about circle hooks? Then i could leave the tention on relatively tight [obviously not so tight i lose the fish!] and when the salmon mouths it he gets hooked? Hopefully…

Edit: Maybe salmon are lazy and can’t be bothered chasing a little livie

[fishsnatcher]

Hehe I thought somthing was funny when i made this thread…. meant to put it in salmon forum

O well

[fishsnatcher]

Arggghhhh… just realised live-mullet might mean i catch barracoutta, and that is not what i want…
I could just use a steel trace but it will still mean less time with my line in the water for a salmon.
.

[yellowfin]

Depends where you’re fishing and if Barracouta are around. If they are around, they will probably go for it, so a light wire trace could be handy.

[fishsnatcher]

Yeah they are deffinitly arround though not often targeted, and not in huge numbers or so i think

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