Gummy shark

Scientific name: Mustelus antarcticus
Common names: Gummy Shark, Flake
Average size: 5–15 kg
Trophy size: 20–30 kg+
Activity pattern: Primarily nocturnal bottom feeder

Distribution and key locations (Australia)

Gummy sharks occur throughout southern Australia and support major recreational fisheries across multiple states.

Prime regions

• VIC: Bass Strait, Western Port, Port Phillip Bay, Ninety Mile Beach
• TAS: East Coast, North Coast, Bass Strait islands
• SA: Spencer Gulf, Gulf St Vincent, Yorke Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula
• WA (south): Albany, Esperance, south coast reef systems
• NSW (south): Far South Coast and adjacent offshore grounds

High-percentage areas

• Reef-to-sand transitions
• Gravel patches
• Broken reef systems
• Offshore rubble grounds
• Deep surf gutters
• Large bay channels
• Estuary entrances

If you’re fishing featureless sand, you’re usually fishing below your odds.

Habitat features to look for

Gummy sharks spend most of their time feeding close to the seabed.

Key structure

• Reef edges
• Broken coffee rock
• Gravel beds
• Rubble patches
• Sand adjacent to reef
• Drop-offs and ledges
• Channel edges

The most productive locations usually contain both structure and nearby sand.

Water conditions

Prefer:

• Clean to lightly coloured water
• Moderate tidal movement
• Stable weather patterns
• Areas holding squid and cuttlefish

Unlike mulloway, gummies generally do not require dirty water.

Seasonal patterns

Best seasons

• VIC: Autumn → Winter (peak)
• TAS: Autumn → Spring
• SA: Autumn → Winter
• WA: Winter → Spring

Why winter?

• Large fish move into accessible coastal grounds
• Increased feeding activity
• Cooler water temperatures
• Reduced boat traffic

Many of the largest gummies are caught between May and September.

Weather and tides (critical)

Ideal conditions

• Stable barometer
• Moderate tidal flow
• Overcast conditions
• Light winds
• Building evening tide

Avoid

• Extreme tidal run
• Heavy swell over shallow reef
• Large storm events
• Excessively dirty water

Best bite windows

• Last two hours of daylight
• First three hours after dark
• Tide changes
• Building tide periods

Most large gummies are captured after sunset.

Bait – what actually works

Gummy sharks are highly scent-oriented feeders.

Top natural baits

• Fresh squid (gold standard)
• Cuttlefish
• Octopus
• Australian salmon
• Trevally
• Mullet
• Slimy mackerel

Bait rules

• Fresh beats frozen
• Tough baits beat soft baits
• Large baits attract larger fish
• Squid outfishes almost everything
• If squid are available, start with squid.

Tackle and rigs

Rod and reel

Boat fishing

• Rod: 6–8 ft overhead or spin
• Reel: 6000–10000 spin or equivalent overhead
• Line: 20–50 lb braid
• Leader: 50–100 lb mono

Surf fishing

• Rod: 10–13 ft surf rod
• Reel: Large surf reel
• Line: 20–30 lb braid or mono
• Leader: 60–100 lb mono

Terminal gear

• Circle hooks: 6/0–10/0
• Running sinker rigs
• Paternoster rigs
• Minimal terminal hardware

Common rigs

• Running sinker to swivel
• 60–100 cm leader
• Single circle hook
• Enough lead to maintain bottom contact

Berley (when and why)

Unlike many fish species, gummies respond extremely well to scent trails.

Effective options:

• Crushed pilchards
• Fish frames
• Tuna oil
• Chopped salmon
• Squid offcuts

Berley should attract fish, not feed them.

Keep it light and consistent.

Time of day

• Best: Dusk through midnight
• Good: Dawn
• Average: Daylight hours

Although gummies can be caught anytime, darkness consistently produces larger fish.

Common mistakes

• Fishing featureless sand
• Using stale bait
• Not fishing near structure
• Too much terminal tackle
• Lifting sinkers off the bottom
• Leaving productive areas too early

Most gummy fishing success comes from location rather than technique.

Final rule of gummy shark fishing

Find reef adjacent to sand, fish fresh squid on the bottom after dark, and stay patient.

Most anglers leave long before the gummies arrive.