AUSTRALIA 



are the fish that the anglers are primarily interested in 

 catching. 



The usual run of bluefish in Australian waters weighs from 

 4 to 7 pounds but lo-pounders are not uncommon and many 

 are taken averaging 1 5 pounds. The present record from the 

 beach is zoVz pounds. Southam concentrated his remarks on 

 how to take the bluefish or tailer, for this fish also is found in 

 abundance in American waters and is much sought after by 

 our anglers. 



Like the South Africans, the Australians use long, one- 

 piece rods, usually between ten feet six inches and eleven 

 feet in length. The reel, while not as low as their African 

 cousins prefer, is fairly well down the butt. In Austraha, 

 squidding with metal lures is called "spinning," and using a 

 bait is "bait fishing." 



In bait fishing the Australians use a wire rig— a 3/0 to 

 4/0 ring hook attached to about a two-foot tracer or leader, 

 the lower four or five inches of which is light wire. A great 

 many ringhooks are in use out there. Fishermen seldom use 

 a swivel, preferring a small brass ring about eighteen to 

 twenty wire gauge with %_q- to !4-inch holes. The bait is 

 usually cut into strips about 2 Yz by Yi inch in size with about 

 /4 to Yi inch of flesh thickness left attached to the skin. 

 Entering the bait about the middle, the hook is passed, via 

 the fleshy side, through the skin and returned to the fleshy 

 side near the bottom. The top piece of the strip is then tied 

 above the eye of the hook onto the wire part of the leader. 

 This is very important because it keeps the bait in shape, and 

 the tailer returns to it after taking a first bite. 



In bait fishing with one-piece rods, the Australians use a 



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