Technique Guide
Casting
Surface action and visual strikes.
Quick Reference
Target Species
Giant Trevally, Queenfish, Mahi Mahi, Tailor, Salmon, Mackerel
Lure Types
Poppers, stickbaits, minnows, soft plastics, metals
Best Conditions
Calm water, visible bait or birds, early morning
Skill Level
All levels - simple retrieves to advanced techniques
Why Casting?
Casting lets you target fish you can see - whether that's busting schools, fish following the boat, or predators cruising flats. It's visual, exciting fishing with explosive surface strikes.
Unlike trolling or bottom fishing where you're waiting for fish to find your offering, casting is proactive. You spot the fish, make the cast, and trigger the strike. When it works, it's the most exciting fishing there is.
1. Lure Types
Different lures for different situations. Match your lure to conditions and target species.
Surface Poppers
Target: Giant Trevally, Queenfish, Tuna
Action: Cup-faced lures that splash and pop when jerked. The noise and bubble trail triggers aggressive predators. Work with sharp rod snaps, pause between pops.
When: Calm conditions, early morning, when fish are actively feeding on surface.
Sizes: 80-150mm for most WA species, up to 200mm for big GTs.
Surface Stickbaits
Target: Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Kingfish, GTs
Action: Pencil-shaped lures that walk side-to-side (walking the dog). Subtler than poppers - good when fish are spooky or in clear water.
When: Calm, clear water. When poppers aren't getting eaten.
Tip: Vary your cadence. Sometimes slow and steady, sometimes erratic.
Subsurface Minnows / Jerkbaits
Target: Tailor, Salmon, Mackerel, Trevally
Action: Swimming minnows that dive on retrieve. Twitch-pause retrieves work well. The pause often triggers strikes.
When: Anytime fish are feeding in the top few metres.
Sizes: 80-120mm for salmon/tailor, 120-160mm for mackerel.
Subsurface Soft Plastics
Target: Flathead, Bream, Snapper, Trevally
Action: Versatile - hop along bottom, swim mid-water, or work over reef. Match the hatch with paddle tails, jerk shads, or creature baits.
When: All conditions. The most versatile casting option.
Tip: Lighter jig heads for natural fall, heavier for wind or current.
Metal Metal Slices / Spinners
Target: Salmon, Tailor, Bonito, Mackerel
Action: Cast and retrieve - the lure does the work. Flutter on the drop, flash on retrieve. Simple but deadly.
When: When fish are deep or you need distance. Great in windy conditions.
Colours: Silver/blue for clear water, pink/white as attractors.
2. Reading the Water
Successful casting starts with finding fish. Know what to look for.
Birds Diving
Bait being pushed to surface - predators below. The more birds, the bigger the school. Head there fast but approach quietly.
Busting Schools
Fish breaking the surface chasing bait. The most exciting sign. Cast past the bust-up and retrieve through it.
Nervous Water
Ripples and disturbance from bait being hunted. Subtler than bust-ups but indicates predators are active below.
Colour Changes
Weed edges, current lines, temperature breaks. Fish often patrol these edges hunting bait that gets pushed along them.
Structure & Flotsam
FADs, floating debris, reef shadows. Mahi mahi especially love floating objects. Always worth a few casts.
Approach Quietly
When you spot feeding fish, cut the motor early and drift into casting range. Don't motor straight at them - you'll push them down. Cast past the school and retrieve through it, not directly on top.
3. Gear Setup
Light Casting (Salmon, Tailor, Trevally)
Rod: 7-8ft spin, 6-12kg rating
Reel: 3000-4000 size spin
Line: PE1-2 braid, 20-30lb leader
Lures: 60-100mm minnows, 20-40g metals, soft plastics
Heavy Casting (GTs, Tuna, Big Mackerel)
Rod: 7-8ft spin, PE4-8 rating
Reel: 8000-14000 size spin
Line: PE4-8 braid, 80-130lb leader
Lures: 120-200mm poppers/stickbaits, heavy jigs
Wire Trace for Mackerel
Spanish and grey mackerel will bite through mono and fluoro. Use single-strand wire or heavy fluoro (100lb+) if mackerel are around. Check your leader regularly for nicks.
4. The Approach
Spot the Activity
Scan constantly - birds, splashes, colour changes. Polarised sunglasses are essential. Early morning and late afternoon are prime times when fish feed on the surface.
Position the Boat
Approach from the side or behind, not head-on. Cut the motor well back and drift in. Use wind and current to your advantage - position so you drift toward the fish, not away.
Make the Cast
Cast past and beyond the fish, not directly at them. Retrieve through the school. If they're moving, cast ahead of their direction of travel.
Work the Lure
Start with an aggressive retrieve - often triggers reaction strikes. If no response, slow down and vary the cadence. Pay attention on pauses - that's when many fish commit.
Don't Strike Too Early
On surface lures, wait until you feel the weight before striking. Fish often miss on the first swipe. Keep working the lure - they'll come back.
5. Common Mistakes
Casting on Top of Fish
Splashing a lure directly onto feeding fish spooks them. Cast past and retrieve through. Better to be 10m past than 2m short.
Same Speed, Same Cadence
If fish are following but not eating, change something. Speed up, slow down, add pauses, twitch erratically. Sometimes a dying flutter is what triggers the bite.
Giving Up Too Soon
Fish that have gone down aren't necessarily gone. Wait 5-10 minutes and they often come back up. Blind cast the area while you wait - fish are still there, just not showing.
Match Lure Size to Bait
Look at what the fish are eating. If they're on small whitebait, a 200mm popper won't get looks. Downsize to match. Conversely, if they're smashing big garfish, go bigger.
Target Species for Casting
Click any species for full details on gear, seasons, and regulations.
Giant Trevally
Poppers & stickbaits, 150-200mm. Pilbara & Kimberley reefs.
Queenfish
Poppers, 80-120mm. Gascoyne to Kimberley flats.
Yellowfin Tuna
Stickbaits, cast to busting schools. Gascoyne offshore.
Mahi Mahi
Small poppers or minnows. Around FADs and flotsam.
Australian Salmon
Metal slices, minnows. West & South Coast schools.
Tailor
Metal slices, minnows 80-100mm. Dawn/dusk feeding.
Spanish Mackerel
Long-cast minnows with wire trace. Northern waters.
Golden Trevally
Soft plastics, small poppers. Northern flats & reefs.
Skipjack Tuna
Stickbaits, metals. Northern coastline, busting schools.
Mangrove Jack
Soft plastics, small minnows. Kimberley estuaries.
Casting & Popping Gear Setups
Need rod, reel, and line recommendations for casting? Our gear guide covers spinning setups (light to heavy) and popping outfits for GT fishing.
View Casting Gear →Key Takeaways
Cast Past, Not At
Retrieve through the school, don't spook them
Approach Quietly
Cut motor early, drift into casting range
Vary Your Retrieve
Change speed and cadence until they commit
Match the Bait
Size your lure to what fish are eating