Luderick / Blackfish

Size 500g - 2kg
Legal Length 25cm Bag Limit 20

Where
Luderick are most common along the eastern seaboard of Australia particularly the estuarine and inshore coastal waters of N.S.W. Their distribution extends as far north as Qld., south west into S.A. and northern Tas. Luderick can be found in tidal rivers and lakes, estuaries, bays, harbors and off rocky foreshores. They feed close to rocks beneath floating weed and congregate along the lower reaches of estuaries that are open to the sea, river break walls, along rocky coastal shorelines, sea wall rocks, jetties and bridges. Luderick are mid water feeders found from 4m to the surface and occasionally deeper. Qualities Herbivorous species. Great sport fish which is hard to hook and offers a good fight to land.

Bait
bait: Bass Yabbies (nippers), Beach worm, Blood worm, Cabbage weed, Cunjevoi, Sand worm
Other: Lettuce/cabbage weed: leafy bright green cabbage that grows on rock platforms

Tackle
6kg main line with a 3.5kg 1m or less trace.
Hook: No.4 - 10 Mustad 540 Viking.
Long rod. Floated (quill float) bait set to depth of 1m.

Hints
Early morning fish feed close to rocks. Delay setting hook after bite ensuring hookup. Set float with weight so it is nearly under the water allowing the fish to sink the float easily upon strike. Set bait depth to about 1m off rocks, sometimes shallower in estuaries. Fish respond to berley of chopped weed about 1cm lengths mixed with sand or bread, bran, pollard and minced prawn. Kick local weed off rocks into wash. Fish can be very timid in clear water. Do not use frozen weeds. Essentially a vegetarian but occasionally takes marine worm, prawn and nippers. Use a small hook to suit fishes small mouth.