Overview
Luderick are primarily herbivores, feeding on green weed and cabbage weed, which makes them one of the few Australian sportfish targeted almost entirely on vegetable baits.
Float fishing for them is a craft: balancing the float, setting the depth precisely and drifting the bait naturally through the strike zone.
They pull far harder than their size suggests, especially in the wash off rock platforms.
Where to find them
- ▸Estuary rock walls and breakwaters.
- ▸Ocean rock platforms with weed growth.
- ▸Bridge pylons and wharves in the lower estuary.
Tackle
- ▸Rod: 10'–12' float rod with a centrepin or small threadline reel.
- ▸Line: 6–10 lb mono with a 6–8 lb leader.
- ▸Baits: green weed, sea cabbage, with a steady weed berley trail.
Tips from the water
- ▸Adjust float depth until you find the feeding zone; a few centimetres matters.
- ▸Keep the berley trail constant — luderick hold in a trail and leave without one.
Regulations
Size and bag limits apply in most states.