Leatherjackets are one of those underrated bread-and-butter fish that turn up in heaps of Aussie spots and pull well above their weight on light gear. They’re great fun to catch, good on the chew, and famous for their rough skin and sharp little teeth that can wreck a bait in seconds.
In Australian waters you’ll find leatherjackets around inshore reefs, broken ground, weed beds, jetties, bays and sheltered coastal areas. They’re common from shallow water right out to deeper reef edges, often hanging close to structure where they can pick at food and stay out of the current.
They feed by nibbling and crunching on small shellfish, cunjevoi, worms, crustaceans and other little reef critters. Most of the time they peck away around weed, reef and pylons rather than smashing a bait, so bites can be quick, fussy and easy to miss if you’re not paying attention.
Tide changes usually fish best because moving water gets them active, but they still feed in fairly gentle flow around reefs and harbour structure. Low light around early morning, late arvo or overcast weather can help, especially in clear shallow water where they feel less exposed. Light to moderate wind is usually ideal because it gives the water a bit of movement without making it hard to hold bottom or detect those tiny bites. Smaller swell is generally better on inshore ground, especially around reef and wash zones, because enough surge stirs up food but too much swell can shut the bite down or make the spot unfishable.
Keep it simple with a light estuary or whiting-style outfit, small long-shank hooks and a running sinker or paternoster rig depending on depth. Small baits like prawn, squid strips, pipi, cunjevoi and peeled shrimp work well, but check your bait often because leatherjackets are experts at pinching it clean.
Their skin is so tough and leathery that old-school fishos used to dry it out and use it like sandpaper.