mate

a great start would be to get yourself a chart of the area, have a look for the marked drops/lumps so to speak, big changes in depths..... learn how to take take the gps co-ords of the map (very easy once you know how) and give it a go.

i got given a map from a freind which is one of the local fishing clubs map and they have marked spots all over it....very nice indeed.

while your heading out keep an eye on the sounder for any drastick changes, stop give it a go or mark it for next time.

i also keep a record so to speak of what i have caught from where and when, its handy to look back on and see which spots fish the best.

for instance i have fished from the sound out to the fads and one of the spots that has produced the most/best quality fish, is in 8 metres of water on the bank, who would think.

good luck

a couple of areas to try is around the 5 fathom bank you could get anything along there  and along the 30mtr mark at the back of the 5 for kg's , you could also get into some pinkies , dhuies etc , anything is possible. just look for any lumps or bumps on the sounder.

I started out of a smaller quinnie before I upgraded to my current boat.  We always come home with something to eat unless we are being picky.

My first tip is to learn what the bottom looks like on your sounder.....I blew this off in the beginning which was a big mistake!  The next day with low wind and swells, motor around the area out back of Garden Island and the 5 fathom until you can distinguish sand, weed and coral on your sounder.

Next decide on the fish you want to target and learn as much about them as possible and pick some areas previously discussed and keep notes on tides, wind directions, bottom etc, where you catch fish. 

It took me awhile to start catching legal pinkies, black arse but in the meantime I caught plently of thumper whiting, KGs, skippy and tarwhine in less than 15 metres of water, many times without berleying up.

PM me if you are interested in some areas back of GI that will provide some good eating whiting and herring while you figure evrything out.

Good luck out there mate.

Ben

Once you have found a bit of good bottom, do not go directly from it to the ramp or another spot.Move over 50 metres each time so you are covering new ground each move/trip.

Sometimes finding a good lump is a difference of turning left or right.So when neare a spot have a good look around it,there is more than likely more in the close vicinity.

That worked for us this Thursday ...we hit our regular spot with no luck yet new drift close by worked like a champ