Whole fish bait

Gardies

Name: Gardies
Brand: Earlybird Bait

Available variants

1Kg packets

Vac Pack 1kg

Australian gardies are slender whole-fish bait with a distinctive bottom jaw. A dependable option for inshore reef species and demersal targets across WA when regulations allow.

Earlybird Bait is wholesale only. See where to buy or apply to stock our range at your store.

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Full product rundown

Practical guidance for storage, rigging and fishing this bait around Perth and wider WA waters.

Freezing and storage

Keep frozen until the night before. Thaw in fridge and use firm fish for clean hook-ups on reef.

Rigs and jigs

Paternoster with 40–80 lb leader offshore; lighter fluorocarbon inshore. Whole gardie on circle or suicide hook through lips and shoulder.

Hook and jig sizes

4/0–8/0 circles for snapper and dhufish; 2/0–4/0 inshore for skippy.

Bait prep and handling

Butterfly larger fish for scent; change bait after crabs or pickers strip it.

Best conditions

Stable weather, moderate current on reef edges; dawn starts often productive.

Where to use in Perth

Offshore reef edges and broken ground across the WA coast — Perth metro reefs, Rottnest approaches, Mid West reef structure and South West offshore marks.

Best target species

Dhufish, Pink Snapper, Samson Fish, Skippy

How to fish this bait

Fish whole or butterflied on a paternoster or running rig. Work the edge of reef and gravel where predators patrol.

Seasonality and local conditions

Year-round where legal; peak activity often autumn–winter on deeper marks. Check current demersal closures — West Coast boat fishing closed until Spring 2027; new statewide limits from June 2026.