Fishing with a prawn lure, whether it's a real prawn rigged as bait or an artificial imitation, is an incredibly effective technique for catching a wide variety of fish species. Prawns are a natural food source for many aquatic predators, making them an irresistible offering.
Understanding Prawns as Lures
Prawns, both live and dead, serve as exceptional natural lures due to their scent, texture, and visual appeal. Artificial prawn lures mimic these characteristics, providing an alternative, often more durable option. This guide will focus primarily on effectively utilizing real prawns as bait, as their natural qualities often yield the best results and the rigging techniques apply directly to their use.
Why Prawns Attract Fish
- Natural Scent: The distinct aroma of a fresh prawn acts as a powerful attractant, drawing fish from a distance.
- Natural Appearance: Their shape and movement, especially when rigged correctly, closely resemble live prey.
- Texture: The soft, fleshy body of a prawn is appealing to fish, encouraging them to hold on longer after striking.
Essential Gear for Prawn Fishing
Having the right tackle significantly enhances your chances of success.
- Rod and Reel:
- Light to Medium Rod: A 6-8 foot rod with a sensitive tip is ideal for detecting subtle bites.
- Spinning Reel: A 2000-3000 series reel spooled with 6-10 lb line is versatile for most inshore species.
- Fishing Line:
- Monofilament or Fluorocarbon: Good for main line due to stretch and stealth.
- Braided Line: Offers sensitivity but often requires a fluorocarbon leader for invisibility.
- Hooks:
- Baitholder or Suicide Hooks: Sizes #1 to 3/0 are commonly used, depending on the prawn size and target species.
- Circle Hooks: Excellent for reducing gut-hooking, especially when targeting catch-and-release fish.
- Sinkers:
- Running Sinkers (Ball or Barrel): Allows the bait to move naturally with the current.
- Swivels: To prevent line twist and connect main line to leader.
Mastering Prawn Rigging
Properly rigging your prawn is crucial for maximizing its effectiveness and ensuring it stays on the hook.
Rigging a Whole Prawn
When rigging a whole prawn, the goal is to make it look as natural as possible while securely attaching it to your hook.
- Preparation: Ensure your prawn is fresh. If using a dead prawn, it should be firm, not mushy.
- Hook Insertion: Carefully guide the hook through the prawn. As you maneuver the hook, you'll want to bring the prawn around the hook. The prawn will naturally start to turn as it goes around the hook, allowing for a good fit.
- Secure the Hook: The crucial next step is to slide that hook up inside the fleshy section of the body of the prawn, ensuring it's firmly secured for casting and resisting bites. This method keeps the prawn intact and looking natural.
- For live prawns, hooking lightly through the tail segment (just above the last joint) or through the head (avoiding vital organs) allows for maximum movement.
Other Rigging Options
- Peeled Prawns: Removing the shell exposes more scent, making it highly attractive. Hooking a peeled prawn can be done by threading the hook through its length multiple times.
- Prawn Pieces: For smaller fish or when bait is scarce, cutting prawns into smaller segments can still be effective.
Effective Fishing Techniques with Prawn Lures
Once your prawn is rigged, selecting the right technique based on conditions and target species is key.
1. Still Fishing / Bottom Fishing
This technique is effective when fish are holding close to the bottom or structure.
- Setup: Use a running sinker rig, allowing the prawn to move freely a short distance from the weight.
- Action: Cast your rigged prawn near structure like jetties, rock walls, or mangrove edges. Let it settle on the bottom and wait for bites.
- Ideal for: Bream, Whiting, Flathead, Snapper.
2. Drifting
Mimics a natural, free-swimming prawn being carried by the current.
- Setup: Use minimal weight or none at all, allowing the prawn to drift naturally with the current.
- Action: Cast upstream or upcurrent and let the prawn float down through fish-holding areas.
- Ideal for: Estuary Perch, Trevally, Flathead.
3. Light Casting and Retrieving
This method can imitate a live prawn darting through the water.
- Setup: Use a lightly weighted rig or an unweighted prawn.
- Action: Cast out and retrieve with slow, short twitches, pausing occasionally. This makes the prawn "hop" and "swim" enticingly.
- Ideal for: Flathead, Bream, Trevally.
4. Under a Float
Keeps your prawn at a specific depth, away from the bottom and potential snags.
- Setup: Use a float (bobber) set to suspend the prawn at your desired depth.
- Action: Cast into feeding areas, allowing the float to drift. The float will dip or go under when a fish bites.
- Ideal for: Garfish, Bream, Luderick, sometimes Mullet.
Tips for Maximizing Your Catch
- Freshness is Key: Always use the freshest prawns possible. Live prawns are often the best, followed by fresh dead prawns.
- Match the Hatch: Use prawn sizes that are common in the local ecosystem.
- Presentation: Ensure your prawn looks natural and appealing on the hook. Hide the hook point where possible.
- Stealth: Approach fishing spots quietly. Fish, especially in shallow waters, are easily spooked.
- Observe Your Environment: Pay attention to tides, currents, water clarity, and signs of baitfish or predators.
Common Fish Species Targeted with Prawn Lures
Prawns are a universal bait that attracts a broad spectrum of saltwater and freshwater fish.
| Species | Preferred Location | Rigging Suggestion |
|---|---|---|
| Bream | Estuaries, Jetties, Rocks | Whole/Peeled, Bottom Rig |
| Whiting | Sandy Flats, Beaches | Peeled, Running Sinker |
| Flathead | Sand/Mud Flats, Drop-offs | Whole/Peeled, Drifting |
| Snapper | Reefs, Offshore, Channels | Whole, Heavily Weighted |
| Trevally | Estuaries, Harbours | Whole/Peeled, Light Cast |
| Estuary Perch | Rivers, Structure | Whole/Peeled, Drift/Float |
| Mangrove Jack | Mangroves, Structure | Whole (live), Strong Rig |
| Barramundi | Estuaries, Rivers | Whole (live), Strong Rig |
| Cod (various) | Reefs, Structure | Whole, Bottom Rig |
| Mullet (larger) | Estuaries, Beaches | Peeled, Under Float |
By understanding the appeal of prawns and employing effective rigging and fishing techniques, you'll significantly increase your success on the water.
