🌙 Night Fishing

Many of the best fish feed after dark — night fishing is when the surf and estuaries come alive with kob, sharks, grunter and bigger fish that are wary by day.

Why it works: low light emboldens predators to move into the shallows and feed hard. Kob in particular often bite best in the first few hours of darkness, and big sharks patrol the surf line at night.

Set-up: keep it simple in the dark. Rig before nightfall, use a headlamp (red light preserves night vision and spooks fish less), and use rod-tip lights or bells to detect bites. Fresh, smelly baits — sardine, chokka, mullet — work well because fish hunt by scent at night.

Safety is everything: never fish rock ledges alone at night, tell someone your plan and return time, and know the tide so you don't get cut off. Watch your footing, keep clear of the water's edge, and be aware that sharks are close inshore after dark.

Comfort matters on a long night session — warm clothing, a chair, a flask and a rod holder turn a cold vigil into an enjoyable, productive session.