St Kilda Pier first time fishing in Oz

[in2nettt]

Hi
I recently made a post about been new to Australia and Sea fishing, yet been a course angler in the UK for 20 years not knowing much at all about sea/pier fishing. I was in debate about what rod to buy etc but with some help I went into the CBD and into Complete Anglers shop, I was given a Penn Spinfisher SSM and reel combo with the rovex pro power 6000 reel for $117. I was told the main fish I would be catching would be after snappers, he handed me 4 leads/sinkers of 3oz in weight and a couple icon Takeshi Reef Dweller 4/0. 40LB rigs and a 1kg bag of pilchards. I had already bought a couple of things like a tackle box and landing net and terminal tackle for K mart on the cheap as I am traveling Australia and am only in st Kilda area for around 4 months.
HOPEFULLY THIS STUFF WILL DO THE JOB?

I have been down twice now 2 hours either side of the high tide, whilst been there I had only seen 2 pinkies caught and a small ray. I had no luck apart from a decent size crab! I also had a TAP TAP bite then the line went realy slack... this happened twice over the period of the two sessions, would people be striking at this? as I just wound it back tight and waited for another 10 mins before reeling it back in to see nothing was on the end of my hook anymore.

Would people be trying any different baits? I have a lighter spinning rod which I could put out on a smaller set up maybe with squid etc? any help will be much appreciated!

I am so wanting to catch a snapper or two! Hopefully one day soon!

[Fish-cador]

I also had a TAP TAP bite then the line went realy slack... this happened twice over the period of the two sessions, would people be striking at this?

most probably flathead. how big was your bait?. Try to down size if you are using a whole tuna.

[in2nettt]

I also had a TAP TAP bite then the line went realy slack... this happened twice over the period of the two sessions, would people be striking at this?

most probably flathead. how big was your bait?. Try to down size if you are using a whole tuna.

Pilchards tail so like half a pilchard

[Scraglor]

You should hire a bout for half a day and see if you can get onto some that way imo

[in2nettt]

You should hire a bout for half a day and see if you can get onto some that way imo

They expensive to hire?

[Lightningx]

Mordialloc is a popular place to hire a boat for the day.

[azkay]

I also had a TAP TAP bite then the line went realy slack... this happened twice over the period of the two sessions, would people be striking at this?

most probably flathead. how big was your bait?. Try to down size if you are using a whole tuna.

Fish-cador is probably right, although i've seen banjo's do this heaps around that area as well, no point striking a loose line unless you hit him on the tap tap otherwise just tighten the line and have a feel..

[Fish-cador]

I also had a TAP TAP bite then the line went realy slack... this happened twice over the period of the two sessions, would people be striking at this?

most probably flathead. how big was your bait?. Try to down size if you are using a whole tuna.

Fish-cador is probably right, although i've seen banjo's do this heaps around that area as well, no point striking a loose line unless you hit him on the tap tap otherwise just tighten the line and have a feel..

banjo can cause loose lines but not the tell tale TAP TAP. They will crush your bait to oblivion. Micro pinkies can be a suspect too..and the tiny bay trouts (Salmon, not SALMIN) :rofl:

[Lightningx]

Many times while fishing for bay trouts I have had this tap tap then the line goes loose and the fish is gone. It was most likely a smaller fish like a small bay trout or a small pinkie