GOT ‘EM: Michael Cooper with snapper caught from a jetty, and (above) jetty fishing is a popular pastime, with only standing room available on some days.
WALK the length of any coastal jetty and you will no doubt find anglers both young and old wetting a line in hope of catching a feed.
Jetty fishing is a popular pastime, providing anglers the opportunity to snare different species generally caught by our boat fishing brethren.
Spring is a great time of year for jetty fishers as it marks the start of some excellent angling opportunities.
The snapper run is just starting in our bays, and every season anglers fishing from jetties land some monster reds, often tipping the scales to 10kg or more.
As these large schools of snapper come into our bays, they are followed by several shark species.
These are also a popular catch among jetty fishers, especially during darkness, and none are more prized for their eating qualities than school or gummy shark.
Whiting are always a chance at this time of year, and the southern King George species is the biggest and undoubtedly most popular on the plate.
Squid are another popular jetty species and easily caught as the water warms.
Methods of squid fishing are simple, with a baited jig among the most effective.
A skewer-like device, the jig has several rings of needle-like prongs on one end.
A dead baitfish is threaded on the skewer and clipped on to the line.
When a squid takes the bait, its tentacles become snared on the prongs.
A landing net is used to scoop the squid, but be aware that they will jettison a stream of black ink and are a very good shot.
It is best to allow them to expel this in the water while still in the net.
For more of this story, purchase your copy of Saturday's Sunraysia Daily 22/09/2012.