Luderick
LUDERICK a.ka. black Bream
Luderick are a popular sport fish and a great table fish. A devoted band of anglers keenly fish for Luderick and no other species, and with its' reputation as a fish that tries every trick in the book to escape, it's no wonder they're such a popular catch.
Physical Description: Luderick are a powerful fish with deep bodies and broad tails. Luderick found in estuaries are dark olive brown with a purplish tinge and dark, narrow, vertical bars across the body. Open water Luderick are paler in colour with silver bellies and a bronze sheen. The dark bars are more pronounced on open water species.
Size: Luderick can exceed 2kg but are more commonly caught between 0.5 to 1kg.
Habitat: Luderick can be found in estuaries and inshore ocean rocky areas. Luderick feed on weeds and can be found in rivers or lakes around tidal channels and weedflats with well shaded areas. They can also be found around ocean rocks after they have been inundated by the tide as this gives them access to beds of green cabbage weed. The best time to fish for Luderick is during the day in any type of weather.
Hint! Many fishermen die each year when fishing from slippery rocks so always be careful and remember that Luderick will be there at all times anyway so don't die trying to catch one in bad weather.
How to Catch:
Bait - Luderick prefer thin weeds from estuaries, breakwalls and rock shelves such as cabbage weed and botany weed. You could try using bloodworms and pink nippers but using local weed is preferable.
Hint! Bait must be presented well as luderick will only take bait that looks natural.
Rod and Reel - Light gear is needed for luderick fishing. Use a flexible, soft-tipped rod with a sidecast reel or centre pin reel.
Line and Tackle - Try a float, running or fixed, with lead beneath it. The precise amount of weight should enable the float to slip beneath the slip when a fish takes a bite. Line should be 3-4kg, with split shot sheet lead.
Hot Spots: Luderick occupy estuary and inshore waters of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania predominantly, but can also be found in Southern Queensland and Western Australia.
