Garfish is a great fish species to target throughout Port Phillip Bay especially within the summer. A very prolific and relatively easy fish to target for any land-based angler and they can be caught from any pier or Wharf around Port Phillip Bay.
Their most identifiable feature is their small yet long slender body and a protruding lower jaw which forms a spear like spike at the end of the fish. Garfish are silvery in colour with a light blue to greenish back.
Garfish can be a good table fish as they do have very sweet flesh but can be delicate to handle. Most people avoid Garfish altogether when it comes to cooking as they can be a bony fish to eat. But often the hassle can be worth it especially grilled on the bbq.
Garfish are a schooling fish and swim within the top and middle water column. Often this species is spotted amongst man-made structures including piers and wharves. Garfish can also be found over grassy seabed within shallow waters.
Garfish can be caught throughout the day but most effectively caught with a run in tide during early mornings. Garfish are opportunistic feeders and where ever an easy meal is available they’ll be schooling there.
When it comes to catching Garfish a lightweight tackle setup is best as they are a very small species. A lightly weighted 1-2 kg rod and 1000-2500 reel spooled up with a 6 lb mono or braid will be more than enough to do the job.
Garfish are best caught on a float rig either with a bobber or quill float and balanced with split shots or a lightly weighted ball sinker. Bait fishing with a burley trail is best when chasing Gars. Use a size 10-12 long shank hooks baited with small pieces of fish flesh, squid, prawns, and even bread dough.
Check out our Garfish bundle below if you want to pick up everything you need to start chasing Garnishing in one go ready to fish bundle:
Garfish Bundle Pack Fishing Tackle
$11.90
$24.95
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