Now that winter is here, salmon are moving in along most beaches to provide some great winter sportfishing. With most methods taking fish, they are accessible to all anglers.

The most productive method lately has been using metal lures like Raiders, Lasers, Gillies and similar lures in the 15–40g range. Various colours will work, but blue, green, red and silver are the best ones to start off with. It is a sporting method by which to catch these fish. It is best to use lighter gear, for example a graphite rod of approximately 2.4m matched to a 2000 size spinning reel, spooled with 4kg mono or 8–10lb braid, with a leader of about 10–15lb mono or fluorocarbon. It is a good idea to use a good quality snap swivel to attach the lure, to reduce the chances of line twist. It is great fun when you hook a fish that is 1kg plus on light gear in the surf.

Bait fishers have also been taking their fair share of fish when using bluebait, whitebait, pilchards and pipis. Surf poppers in various colours, soft plastics and saltwater flies are all worth including on your paternoster rig. The best times to fish are at first and last light and it also is good when an incoming tide corresponds with these light periods.

Most fish have been around 500g, but there are fish up to 2kg in amongst the smaller fish. Persistence pays off, as Mark Klijsma found out at Lake Tyers recently when he caught salmon of 1.9kg. Tailor have also been taken when targeting salmon, with some fish getting up to 1kg.

The odd gummy and seven-gilled sharks have been taken for those braving the cold nights around the new and full moon. Squid, pilchards, bluebait and fresh fish fillets of salmon, tailor and trevally are the best baits. The average size of gummies at this time of year is better than during the summer months, but the there is more water between sharks.

With some good sport still available it is worth spending at least a few hours on the beach with a light spin rod and some lures.

In July, a walk along Ninety-mile Beach armed with a spinning rod and a pocket full of metal lures will almost certainly yield Australian salmon.