Curdies River Fishing

Curdies River Fishing

Fishing Areas and Conditions

• The river mouth has produced bream and schools of small salmon. Farther upstream, the river becomes freshwater, with trout and redfin.
• For lure fishing, work the edges, bridges, drop-offs and visible structure. Crankbaits and hardbody lures can also work in open water.
• Estuary perch can feed at the surface on warm evenings with little wind. Breaking water can reveal their position.

Rigs, Bait and Lures

• Riverbank bait options include shrimp, yabbies, scrub worms, prawns, sandworms, maggots, mussels and chicken.
• For bream, try lightly weighted 2½-inch grub or paddle-tail soft plastics, crab and yabby imitations, shallow-diving hardbody lures, surface lures, blades or vibes. Work lures slowly and vary the retrieve.
• For estuary perch, fish small surface poppers, cicadas, surface minnows, pencil lures or shallow-diving hardbody lures along structure. Lightly weighted 2½-inch grubs and minnows are also options; vary retrieval speed and pauses.
• An ultralight 7 ft, 1–3 kg or 2–4 kg rod with a 1000–2500 size reel, 2–6 lb braid and matching leader is suggested for bream lures. For estuary perch, the suggested range is a 7 ft, 1–3 kg or 2–4 kg rod with a 1000 or 2000 size reel, 2–8 lb line and matching fluorocarbon leader.
• For estuary perch bait fishing, use a float or small running sinker to a swivel and fine leader.

Access and Hazards

• Accessible riverbanks provide land-based fishing.
• Shallow bars and heavy weed have historically blocked sections of the river. Kayaks and vessels suited to shallow water can fish the system.