When fishing bucktails in a tidal river that I haven’t fished before or haven’t fished in a while, I try stick to a couple of basics. There is usually a lot of water to cover, so it’s important to have a plan.
There is almost always a drop-off or first hole near the mouth where predatory fish will wait in ambush for smaller bait fish and crustacea to be washed off the bank by the incoming tide. In this pic on the right you can clearly see the drop-off. So this is where I like to start on a low pushing tide.
It is here that the humble Bucktail Jig really comes into it’s own. Because it is such a versatile lure, it is the Ultimate Speculator. It can be fished quickly near the surface, slowly on the bottom and anything in between. Fishing bucktails also covers all species. Everything eats a bucktail.
Stay a few paces back from the drop off, especially in clean water, as your target is often holding right at your feet. And keep your eyes open for any signs of feeding fish. Fish quietly, and systematically cover the area. Slowly at first, and then varying your retrieve if you don’t get a bite after a dozen or so casts.
This little Kob couldn’t resist the 1/4 Oz Olive-White bumping slowly along the bottom.
As the water starts to move and surge strongly with the pushing tide, I like to change to a slightly heavier lure to allow me to stay in contact properly during the retrieve. (This is one of the most important aspects of fishing bucktails. Flicking the lure up and down with slack line in between is no good. Chances are if you do get a bite, you’ll probably miss it anyway. It is vital to try as best as you can to work the lure with the minimum of slack line.)
This slightly better 2kg Kob took a 1/2 Oz Sand Prawn in the turbulent water caused by the strong tidal flow.
