BNB Fishing mag | June 2021 by bnbfishing

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Brisbane River round up Moreton Bay snapper tips Tactics for tailor

Bagging big winter bass Finer points for flathead

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Beach fishing basics for QLD

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From the Bush ‘n Beach Fishing Editor

HIS month, the Queensland Government appointed new members to 11 fishery working groups as part of their continued implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy. In a recent media statement, the Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said there was strong interest to join the groups, which are integral to delivering world-class fisheries management in Queensland. Over 120 nominations were received to join the working groups, Mr Furner said. The panel appointed 96 members who represent a range of stakeholders including commercial and recreational fishers, charter operators, seafood marketers and processors, scientists and conservationist. Hopefully, this mix of stakeholders will ensure our fisheries are moving in the right direction and are sustainable and fair to all sectors. For more information on each of the fishery groups and what they will be looking at, head to daf.qld.gov.au/busi ness-priorities/fisher ies/sustainable/fisheryworking-groups Considering the last

year and a half we’ve all experienced, more and more people are starting to look at what is happening in their own neighbourhood and around the world. Whether this is a shift in thinking through generational change or the fact that more information seems to be available, I’m not sure – may be a mix of both. Either way, there seems to be a concerted adjustment in thinking – where we need to start looking after ourselves and the planet. A recently released Netflix documentary Seaspiracy has made plenty of waves with its depiction of several commercial fishing sectors around the world. While this is not typical for all fisheries – and hopefully not here in Australia – it does highlight the need for worldwide reforms and control, if that’s possible. If you haven’t seen it, it is well worth watching. Like everything it has a bias, but hopefully it will make you stop and think what might be happening and how it will impact us in future. If what they are saying is true, I fear there may be an urge for commercial fishers from other countries to find new grounds that are more

A visit to the spectacular Whitehaven Beach while on a family holiday to Hamilton Island. www.bnbfishing.com.au

abundant with fish, and that is quite likely to be off our shore. Is our government ready to have a hardline policy on these actions if – or should I say when – they start heading here? We have a massive sea border to protect and are very diplomatic in how this is done. As technology improves, who knows… we may have drones monitoring our vast shorelines – or this might be happening already? While I do not expect our newly appointed panel to solve these issues, I do hope they get our own backyard sorted. Fishing Last month would have to have been the worst on record for my time on the water. Unfortunately, weather hampered my ability to get out when I had free time. I guess when you have kids playing sport it does make getting out a little harder, especially when you are also the coach of an under 9 netball team – still scratching my head on how that happened. Thankfully, our family managed a trip to Hamilton Island for the Mother’s Day weekend. While I did not get to wet a line, I did manage a couple of trips over to the majestic Whitehaven Beach (thanks Dave for bringing your boat up – much appreciated). I had never been there before, so it was a joy to have a swim in the crystal-clear waters that lapped the white sandy beach. Hopefully, my next trip there will be on a different weekend, so

we can wet a line! I’m looking forward to my fishing focus changing to flathead, especially as the Classic will be on again in a few months. Of course, I am still

after a cracker Moreton Bay snapper on the troll – though, I probably need to put a few more hours in – hopefully I can nail one before the closure on July 15. Ben Collins

OUR COVER

AXEL with a prized fingermark. Picture by Matt Potter. You can read his article about targeting these fish on page PAGE 59.

NEXT EDITION: July edition will be on sale in newsagents from June 25. JUNE SUBSCRIPTION PRIZE: See the subscription form on Page 81 to go in the draw to win a Kuhny’s Klassic Rod Holder valued at $249 RRP. APRIL PRIZE WINNERS: Congratulations to A Rose, Bunya; A Freeman, Redland Bay; A Ross, Deagon; A Bognar, Victoria Point; C Greasley, Scarborough; D Spain, Southport; I Aylward, Southport; J Hart, Poona; M Hutchinson, Theodore; M Ayre, Bracken Ridge; M Callon, Murarrie; P Hunsley, Mundubbera; P Lorensen, Chatsworth; R Miegel, Karalee and S Sullivan, Spring Grove who have each won a Venom UV Delux Head Scarf valued at $19.95 RRP.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 5

June 2021 contents

Tips for catching snapper in Moreton Bay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brian Webb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P8 Winter tactics for tackling toothy tailor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Justin Willmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P12 Brisbane River snapper and tailor tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Keith Stratford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P14 Winter is beach fishing time in Queensland. . . . . . . . . . . . by Sean Thompson . . . . . . . . . . . . P16 Enticing a big snapper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Ben Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P19 Great white off the Gold Coast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P21 Light tackle fishing in paradise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Clint Ansell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P22 A focus on flathead fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brad Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P24 Mullet are milling but mackerel quiet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Gavin Dobson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P26

Preparation and planning for pelagic possibilities. . . . . . . by Brett Hyde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P28 Tide Times. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P30 SharkSmart drone trial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P30 Cracking fishing around Iluka. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Tye Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P32 Fishing heats up as temperature drops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Grant Budd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P35 Tips to tame tuna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Tri Ton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P38 Offshore areas firing but taxman bites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brad Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P44 Squid Rowe Rainbow Beach Trophy 2021. . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mick Clutterbuck . . . . . . . . . . . P46 Tips for catching a variety of Queensland bait species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P48

Fishing Events Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P50 Readers’ Forum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P51 We want your mackerel frames. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P52 Changing tact for cooler weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by John Boon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P54 Big wet leaves Cape in top fishing condition . . . . . . . . . . . by Dave Donald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P56 Cape York set to fire up this winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Matt Potter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P59 Product News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P63 Insights into boat insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P64 Mercury V12 outboard earns top product honours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P65 Charter Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P66 More on offer at Agnes than a reef. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Paul ‘Chief’ Graveson . . . . . . . P68 A great daytrip is a walk in the park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Ben Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P70 Tableland Fish Stocking Society monitor stocking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P72 Understanding bass behaviour in local dams. . . . . . . . . . . by Callum Munro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P74 Winter bass in the shallows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Neil Schultz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P76 Glenlyon Dam access and funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brian Dare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P78 A high five for high compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P79 Australian bass closed season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P79 Trading Post. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P80 Subscription Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P81 Page 6 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

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EDITOR: Ben Collins ADVERTISING: Tiffany Brown PRODUCTION: Adrian Cardaci, Lisa Jones, Bob Thornton

Bush ‘n Beach Fishing magazine is published monthly by Collins Media Pty Ltd ABN 43 159 051 500 ACN 159 051 500 trading as Collins Media. Phone 07 3286 1833 Email: ben@collins.media PO Box 162, Wynnum, Qld 4178 PRINTER: Spotpress DISTRIBUTION BY: Fairfax CORRESPONDENTS: Editorial contributions are welcome, as is news from clubs, associations or individuals; and new product news from manufacturers. Entire contents copyright. Nothing may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. It is the responsibility of advertisers and contributors to ensure the correctness of their claims and statements. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 7

Moreton Bay snapper

Snapper captured on a plastic.

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ITH winter upon us, it’s time dust the gear off and head out into Moreton Bay, as now’s the time to get serious about targeting snapper. Snapper generally feed while on the move – bottom feeding on octopus and small crustaceans – and will also feed mid-water for squid and baitfish. As offshore fish enter the bay, snapper numbers increase and quite often you can tell the difference between resident bay snapper and offshore ones – the offshore variety tend to be brighter in colour than resident bay snapper, with the pink and blue spots being brighter. You have two ways to target snapper – anchoring or drifting. During weekends, you will often find it difficult to drift due to the number of boats around, so anchoring is generally your only option with a good berley trail. Or get out early, which is the premium time to target snapper before the sun rises over Stradbroke and Moreton islands, and drift until the daylight brigade turns up. The same applies for evening – I will go out around an hour before the sun goes down and sound over the areas I intend to drift. This is mainly looking for bait or trying to find it’s holding. For evening, the best time is an hour and a half before high tide, at around 5-6pm. The morning is the same, when a good high tide peaks at around 4-5am.

Moreton Bay by BRIAN WEBB

Once these times have finished and the daylight brigade turns up in numbers, I usually pack up and do one of two things… go home or head over to the Rous Channel and target squid, diver whiting or try and troll up a few doggy mackerel. When drifting, you rely on two things – a good wind or current. The secret to fishing for snapper on the drift is no sinker or very a light one. This will keep your bait off the bottom and will ensure you don’t get snapped off or that your hook isn’t dragged across the bottom, which eventually causes wear and tear. Bait for drifting is usually whole fish or squid. I very seldom use pilchard as usually they only take one hit and fall apart, but I do use them for berley. I’d rather spend a little more and buy slimy or yakka – though a few of the shipping channel beacons do hold them – or a good strip of fresh mullet is the other option. Make sure your bait is fresh – and I mean fresh. Pilchard disappear or break up quickly when the pickers are about and also when a good snapper hits it. In the squid department, I prefer to use the head as it resembles a small octopus. Cast the bait out and lie the rod down horizontally – not at a 45

degree angle which will make your bait go deep straight away – the ebb and flow of water will cause the bait to rise and fall, which is a natural movement of baitfish and is sure to attract the attention of snapper. Fishing for snapper comes down to a few variants – water temperature, water clarity, the availability of food and the hooks you’re using. Snapper are sensitive to changes in water temperature – a good sounder will display the current water temp. When the wind is calm, the top of the water column becomes much warmer than the deeper layers, but as the wind picks up warmer water mixes with cooler water, which is mainly caused by waves stirring the water up and one of the reasons snapper come on the bite more after strong winds. In calm conditions, the sunlight penetrates the water column deeper and tends to turn snapper off the bite. Yet when the water is choppy, it seems to bring them on the bite. Maybe the turbulence is disturbing the bottom and any food hiding there? Yet at night snapper will bite under the cover of darkness. Have you ever noticed that more species of fish come on the bite when it’s dark? A good way to get your

* continued P9

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Squire snapper from Green Island.

Peter Newton with a quality snapper taken from the bay.

Tips for catching snapper in Moreton Bay * from P8

drift right is to sound the area and mark spots, such as good structure or bait holding near it, on your GPS. Then go up current, taking a wide berth of the area you just sounded and start your drift so that it lines up with the marks you put into the sounder. When starting any of my drifts, I always do the above. Noise is a big factor in turning fish off the bite, especially in aluminium boats. The clunk of a sinker on the side or bottom of your boat echoes below and this is really noticeable when you’re anchoring up. If there are any boats close by, the chains from these boats will certainly make a fairly loud ruckus below. This is where a bicywww.bnbfishing.com.au

cle tube on your chain will help minimise the noise, plus lowering your anchor by hand instead of throwing it over in a big bunch. Carpet on the floor will also help deaden noise. Hooks are a big factor in stopping a snapper and there is no better hook than a circle. Because big snapper tend to run a fair distance before swallowing the bait, drop your drag back and lie your rod horizontal. When they have run a bit, up the drag a touch and the circle hook will do the rest. One of the best reels for fishing for snapper is a baitrunner – Shimano 450 OC and ST models – where the fish can run with no drag, then it’s a matter of hitting the lever to engage the reel.

If using big bait, a double-snelled rig or a two-hook rig with the top hook used as a keeper. Sinkers are next in

getting a snapper to bite. Fishing as light as possible is one of the big factors in getting a fish to take your bait –

either a sinker straight to the hook or a swivel is employed to keep the sinker away from the hook.

* continued P10

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Moreton Bay snapper tips * from P9

Robert Miles with a good bay snapper.

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When fishing the shallow reefs, a light sinker or none is the only way to go. The time to add a sinker is when fishing drop-offs. The period leading up to winter – from the end of February right through to the beginning of July – is one of the best times to chase shallow-water snapper in areas such as the Scarborough shallow reef system, Mud, Green and Peel islands and several of the artificial reef structures. One of the most important ingredients in chasing snapper is water clarity. A westerly wind tends to turn the bay waters cleaner, so being able to see the reef you’re casting at is a recipe for failure. A northerly wind also increases the water clarity in the bay, though allows fish to feel comfortable feeding in shallow waters. The annual run of prawns in the bay is a huge factor as to where snapper will feed, and the same applies to squid during winter, which also attract fish into the shallows. There are several areas in both the northern and southern bay that hold large numbers of prawns, and the old adage that if you find bait, you’ll find fish applies. Areas you’ll find snapper include the shipping channel dropoffs – especially around Curtin and Bulwer where you’ll find good coffee rock structures – the Pearl Channel, Measured Mile and the Brisbane River, which is fishing better than it

has for years, and fresh bait is readily available. If fishing the middle of the bay several of the Brisbane Rd beacons hold slimies, yakka and pike, and so does the beacon from the fours right up to Bulwer – you only have to sound around the beacons to find which ones are holding bait. Gear wise 12-15lb braid or 12-15kg mono, or go even lighter when using plastics, with 1020lb fluorocarbon leader is a good starting point. Choosing gear is part and parcel of fishing the shallows and if you’re going to land a big snapper, you’ll need 6.5-7’ rods around 4-6kg and reels around 3500-4500, plus a fair share of luck. Generally, fishing as light as possible will help but if you have no chance of stopping the fish when you hook them, step up the leader. My choice of plastic is normally in the 3-4” range, and either a paddle or curl tail. A 4” minnow and 3.75 curl tail are hard to go past and colours the same as baitfish are good options, or good old Nuclear Chicken and though most will work on their given day, the most important thing is confidence in your lure choice. Scent is a helpful addition. Jig head size is more important than lure choice in my opinion – your lure must look natural on the drop, that’s when a snapper will hit it. A paddle or curl tail will flutter and wobble on the drop too – that is a key element to

consider and will often help to entice a strike. So, get out and fish an early morning or evening high tide, work the shallow reefs first until the tide peaks then move to the drop-offs. A few of best shallow reefs are Green Island, the Wellington Point drop-offs, and even Mud Island has a couple of good shallow reef systems. If fishing Pearl Channel, fish it on a smaller tide because a stronger tide will cover structure with the movement of sand. If fishing Curtin or Bulwer, fish a smaller tide, otherwise you’ll need heavy sinkers or a downrigger to get near the bottom. If you have live bait on board, these are the areas to use it. From Scarborough Reef down to Macleay Island, you’ll find snapper – you just have to be in the right place at the right time. Snapper enter the bay through the south passage, the shipping channel near Bulwer and also Pearl Channel, so look for structure around these areas to find decent snapper – which is the reason Mud Island and the northern end of Harry Atikinson artificial reef fish so well for snapper, plus the structure along the shipping channel. Just remember, the early bird catches the worm. This will be my last write up for a while because we’ll be touring Australia for a few months, so good luck in your snapper hunts.

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Tailor tactics

Emmett landed quality tailor fishing a Fish Inc. Flanker stickbait around the estuary mouth.

Chopper tailor are often found in large schools that feed aggressively.

Remember, it can often be easier to spot the shadows of cruising fish rather than the fish. Page 12 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

S daylight hours get shorter, the temperature falls and cool breezes blow in from the west, tailor anglers begin to gear up to take on schools of the aggressive feeding and hard fighting tailor that invade our beaches, headlands, river mouths and estuaries. Large groups of anglers have been found standing shoulder to shoulder on beaches and headlands, while clusters of boats in river mouths and estuaries signal that a tailor school has been located… then everyone tries to get in on the action. Locating tailor, the three Bs When it comes to locating schools of tailor, a few signs can assist you in your search. Birds hunting over water and feeding from the surface are an indicator that fish are feeding below, so keep an eye out for birds showing interest in what’s below or actively feeding. Bait is another key factor when targeting tailor and, as the old saying goes… find the bait find the fish. Tailor will often be attracted to key structure, current lines and eddies within the system, as these areas are where bait tends to focus. You can also keep an eye out for bait that have been forced to the surface, creating ‘nervous water’ – a shimmering disturbance or bait showering from the surface as predators attack from below. This brings us to the third ‘B’… bust ups. If you see bait shower-

Tackle Tactics by JUSTIN WILLMER

ing and fish cutting the surface, busting up as they feed – get a lure or bait in there. Another ‘B’ you could add to the list is boats. When tailor are on, you’ll often find a concentration of boats in the key areas these fish feed and travel, or locked onto a school of feeding fish – in a similar way to land-based rock and beach anglers gathering around a school, often bait fishing, and in turn working together to keep the fish fired up with their bait forming berley in the water. Gearing up The gear you use to target tailor will often be dictated by the technique and environment you are targeting the fish. If casting distance is required and you are fishing heavy surf, then longer rods are required, with larger reels to hold more line. In this situation, anglers will often arm themselves with a 12-13’6” surf rod and 6500-10,000 size spin reel. Line choice will come down to personal preference, with many bait anglers running 2030lb monofilament line and a 20-40lb leader, while lure anglers generally prefer braided line for less stretch and increased feel, longer casts and more solid hook sets. Commonly 20-30lb braid is selected, with a 20-60lb leader.

Wire leader is an option, however many prefer to avoid it because it can reduce the number of bites. When boat fishing or spinning areas where there is less boisterous surf, anglers will often downsize the gear – fishing their flathead and snapper combos through to more specialised pelagic spinning combos. This often includes 7-10’ spin rods rated anywhere from 3-6kg and 6-12kg, 3000-5000 size reels and braided lines running from 10-20lb with 20-40lb leaders. This can make for fun fishing even on ‘chopper’ tailor – a name given to the smaller fish – while the larger fish are often referred to as ‘greenbacks’. Bait fishing One of the most popular techniques for targeting tailor is bait fishing with a whole pilchard on a set of ganged hooks. These gang hooks are available pre-made or you can gang the hooks yourself, remembering to check local regulations in terms of the number of hooks you are allowed. Commonly three or four hooks are ganged together – you place the bend of the top hook at the eye of the pilchard and measure where the bottom hook needs to pass through. You then work in reverse, pinning the bottom hook through the

* continued P13

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Fish on! Jude cast to a visible school with a lighter spin combo and a soft plastic.

When tailor schools are located it can get busy, with anglers fishing shoulder to shoulder.

Winter tactics for tackling toothy tailor * from P12

side and right through the body of the pilchard, working back up through each hook until the top hook is pinned through the eyes of the pilchard. Other popular whole fish bait includes garfish and yellowtail pike. The rig is completed with 40cm to 1m of trace, a swivel and a running ball sinker to suit the current and distance required, often ranging from a 4-10 ball. This rig is a good starting point, however you will find many other rigging options available. When bait fishing with lighter tackle, your rig may include a single hook, rigged with a trace and running ball sinker and baited with flesh bait such as mack tuna or mullet, or smaller whole fish such as whitebait or hardyheads. Lure fishing When it comes to fishing lures a popular option is a metal lure – also referred to as a slug or chromie, among others. www.bnbfishing.com.au

These resemble a baitfish profile and are generally fished with a high-speed retrieve to give the illusion they are fleeing. You can also mix up the retrieve with a few pauses if the fish are following and not eating the lure. Common weights include 10-40g on the smaller and lighter spin combos, with 20-80g popular on larger surf rods. Smaller stickbaits have also proven popular, with the Fish Inc. Flanker a standout. These are fished with a high-speed retrieve, along with a burn and kill – a few winds and a pause – or a sweep of the rod tip followed by a pause as you quickly wind up the slack. Stickbaits can be effective when the bite is tough and a slower or more varied retrieve is required, while the metal lure would plummet quickly to the bottom and potentially away from the strike zone. Soft plastics are often not considered due to the razor-sharp teeth of tailor, however in recent

years the Z-Man 10X Tough ElaZtech plastics have become my go-to, especially when the bite is tough. With the tougher material, I have landed up to two dozen tailor on a single plastic, but more importantly, they have eaten the plastic while refusing metal lure offerings from those fishing around me. This seems to be more common when a tailor school is pressured by anglers or larger predators, however they cannot resist a soft plastic. My go-to plastic is a Z-Man 3” MinnowZ in a natural baitfish colour, such as Pearl Blue Glimmer or Opening Night colour, rigged on a 1/2oz 3/0 TT Lures HeadlockZ HD jig head. This allows for a long cast and I will mix up the retrieve between a slow roll – slow wind – hopping retrieve, and burn and kill – wind and pause – until I find what the fish want or change it up if the school is biting and then stops. Other popular lure options include topwa-

ter fishing with poppers or walk-the-dog style lures, however the hook-up rate can be hit and miss, in which case you can stir them up with topwater and then switch to a subsurface presentation. Tailor love eating bait and lures, they fight hard and are good eat-

ing if bled well and eaten fresh. So, keep an eye out for the three Bs while you’re out fishing, do research on tailor in your area and hopefully your rod is buckled and the drag is screaming soon. See you on the water…

Sheri with a nice school-size tailor ready to be filleted and put on the barbecue for lunch.

Larger surf and longer casts require a longer surf rod and larger reel with more line capacity. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 13

Brisbane River snapper and tailor tips

T’S time to get the jumpers and beanies out, because winter is here! All the rivers and creeks are looking excellent after a good flush over Easter. We’ve had a bit of follow up rain too, which has helped. May threw quite a bit of interesting weather our way, with long periods of light wind followed by a couple of nasty storms.

Local Luring by KEITH STRATFORD

It’s uncommon for this area to experience storms during May, especially for a few days in a row. It will be interesting to see what June brings. The fishing has been very good over the past month. I’ve spent most of my time in the Brisbane

Robbie Ashton landed this Brisbane River snapper on a prawn imitation.

River chasing snapper and tailor with success. The river was looking great and with plenty of bait spread out around the mouth. Hardyhead were everywhere, with big numbers of tailor eating them. There were also good quality prawns getting around, with tailor and snapper feeding on them. On one trip to the river, the snapper and tailor were that thick, they were pushing a huge school of jumbosized prawns to surface where seagulls enjoyed a feast. We didn’t have a sounder that day and we were about to head home when we saw birds bombing into something. Quite often it’s a school of small tailor attracting birds, so I’m glad we went and had a closer look. We scored a fish for every cast into that school and left them

The smaller Live Target Fleeing Shrimp lure has been working well. Page 14 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

biting to go home. Most of the snapper were between 35-60cm. The bigger models give an excellent account of themselves, especially around structure. I use a leader between 12-20lb, depending on water clarity and how fussy the fish are. On the day they were eating prawns, I had a baitcaster with 40lb in the boat and the snapper were happy to eat even that. When they’re feeding hard in that manner, they aren’t too fussy. Prawn imitations worked really well. Smaller lures such as 3” Berkley Gulp Shrimp and Live Target Fleeing Shrimp scored a lot of fish, and curl tails and paddle tails in the 3-4” range have also performed. Getting jig head selection right is important. Using the lightest head that gets to the bottom will get the most bites. If the jig head is too heavy, it will make the plastic sink too quickly and it won’t look natural. Jewfish have been super quiet, which is unusual for this time of year.

They can normally be found around rocky ledges, wharves or anywhere there is bait, but I haven’t even hooked one during the past few trips. Flathead numbers should increase this month as the water temperature drops. The past few winters have been fairly average for flatties, so hopefully they come back in big numbers this year. They’re great fun to catch and are excellent on the plate. They’re also a great target for people getting into lure fishing. Threadfin have thinned out around the mouth of the Brisbane River. A lot of these fish move upstream and even out of the Brissie into other rivers such as the Pine and the Caboolture. A good sounder with a sidescan feature finds these big speedsters with ease. Getting them to bite is often much harder than finding them. Get out there and enjoy the excellent fishing winter brings to southeast Queensland. Hope to see you on the water.

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Winter is beach fishing time in Queensland

Y the time this issue hits the stands it will be the start of winter – that means beach fishing time! While the beaches of northern NSW and southeast Queensland can fish reasonably well for one species or another all year-round, winter is when most anglers hit the sand. With the season generally peaking later as you move north to Fraser, you still have a bit of time to get everything ready so as to be well prepared and give yourself the best chance of success. Beach species targets The most popular target species for beach

Fishing Tips by SEAN THOMPSON

anglers in southeast Queensland is tailor. While the arrival of the first schools of migrating tailor vary from year to year, there were reports in early May of tailor in places such as northern NSW, south Stradbroke Island and Happy Valley at Fraser Island. For those chasing bigger fish, mulloway will follow the mullet schools along the coast and generally in better numbers over winter. For light-line anglers, bream and tarwhine are similarly great targets along the beaches from

Packing all the extras into a crate makes planning the next trip easy.

May through to early August. You can throw dart in during these times, if you don’t mind these bait-stealing pests! While available along southeast Queensland beaches over summer, summer whiting can peak from April to June on several beaches, such as Fraser Island’s main beach. However, in the calmer waters on the western side of Fraser or the southern ends of both Bribie and Fraser islands, this peak can be as late as August or September. Preparing your kit All in all, this means June is the perfect time to either hit the beach or take stock of your beach fishing gear and be well prepared for the season ahead. So, make time this month to pull your gear out and see what needs replacing, servicing or what new products might help make your trip more enjoyable or productive. Make yourself a list of what you need and

Winter is the best time to chase tailor off the beach in southeast Queensland and northern NSW. Page 16 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

head to your local tackle shop. You will generally find experienced beach anglers there who can help you with what you need. Also make sure you book your accommodation, camping permits and such well in advance, and write up a list of what you need to take on your trip – including fishing, fourwheel-drive and camping gear if appropriate – and who brings what. Having a plan While it is great to plan an impromptu trip or two over the beachfishing season, for bigger trips it is advisable to have a plan. This means you want to time your trip around the ideal tide and moon for the fish you’re targeting. If you are four-wheeldriving, plan for the best tide to access the beach as well. Checking your fishing tackle No matter what your experience as a beach angler, pull out your rods and examine them for any damage to the runners. If there are any significant nicks or cuts, have them replaced –

otherwise they could cost you the fish of a lifetime. Have a think about the previous season too. Could you cast far enough? Was your rod long enough or sturdy enough to flick your bait or lure out to the back sandbanks when you had too? Or when fishing for whiting, were you finding the fish were picking up your bait and starting to run but dropping the bait when they felt too much resistance from your rod? Maybe it’s time for either a longer or stronger rod for bigger species or a lighter sloppier rod for whiting if you experienced the problems mentioned. The other critical thing to check is the condition of your fishing line. Does it need topping up to ensure you get as long a cast as possible? Under-spooled lines get more resistance coming off the lip of the spool and can cost you valuable metres in a cast. Check the condition of your line and if it shows any sign of weakness,

* continued P18

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www.tohatsu.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 17

Make sure to book your accommodation early in popular winter fishing locations such as Fraser Island.

Winter is beach fishing time * from P16

Don’t forget a headlamp for night fishing!

A few tailor rigs ready for beach fishing season. Page 18 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

cut the end few metres off or replace the lot if in worse condition. Make up your rigs Even when I can’t get out to fish, I find it incredibly relaxing and enjoyable to sit in the garage or on the back deck and making up rigs for the season ahead. I make up bait fishing rigs for tailor in small snap-lock bags and write the details such as line strength and sinker size on the bags. I also wrap the gang hooks in alfoil to stop them tangling. For mulloway, I tend to wrap the heavier rigs around pool noodles and use nails to hold the swivels in place. For light line rigs for whiting, I likewise wrap these around pieces of pool noodle and use coloured pinheads to keep the swivels in place. I then place these in snap-lock bags and store them in an Alvey dry pack when I am

fishing to avoid the saltwater rusting the hooks and swivels. Storing and packing your gear Once you have all your gear prepared, it’s a good idea that you organise it in readiness for your trips. I have dedicated small tackle boxes for my beach-fishing gear, and separate small tackle boxes for mulloway fishing, tailor fishing and light-line fishing for whiting. It is also handy to have a few waterproof tackle boxes with lures for tailor – and the trebles replaced with single hooks on metals for better hook-up rates. For flathead and lure fishing the flats, I prefer to carry everything I need in an over-theshoulder pack that can be swung from back to chest for easy access. This includes jig heads, spare fluorocarbon trace of different strengths, braid scissors, long-nose pliers, scent for lures and lures in

their original packaging. I will then put my gear together for the trip in a car boot organiser or a sturdy storage container with lid. This will include extras such as aerators for live bait, filleting gear, reels in soft store bags, spare line, tackle boxes and so on. I also place the gear I want to access for a beach fishing session using my 4WD – such as waders, spray jacket, socks to prevent ankle rash, headlamp, shoulder bag, ruler, pliers, tackle belt, knife, rigs and lure boxes – in a heavy duty box, so I have everything I need in one place. There you have it. June is a great month to either hit the sand or prepare for a couple of big trips in southeast Queensland or northern NSW. For more tips and advice, check out my Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages – Ontour Fishing Australia. www.bnbfishing.com. au

Enticing a big snapper

HIS time of year is always very exciting. There are plenty of late season prawns still being caught around the bay islands, big mud crabs are crawling around in the creeks ready to dig in before the winter chill hits and all of the cold weather species are starting to show up. May was an awesome month for mackerel and, at the time of writing this article, many boats were still getting great fish. Snapper is one of my favourite species and right now all of us should be making a serious attempt at dusting off our favourite snapper gear and getting rigged for what is going to be an epic season. The Gold Coast Sportfishing Club is running their annual Snapper Classic on June 13, 2021, which is always a great place to catch up with a bunch of top snapper fishos. This is the time to get ready, so I’ll do a quick run through of the gear I use and hopefully you may pick up a trick or two to nail yourself a big knobby this season. First, the rods I’ve chosen this year are 7’ 20-30lb Blade N Tails. They’re a lot lighter in weight compared to the older glass rods due to advancements in blank construction over recent years. The feel through the rod using braid is crisp and precise, making the feel of the bite and the hook-up rate better. I prefer to use overhead for bait fishing and spin for soft plastics. Running good quality www.bnbfishing.com.au

Gold Coast by BEN SMITH

eight-carrier braid is also important because it runs smoother through the guides, makes less noise and increases the chances of better fish. On the spin outfit, a 30-40lb leader is enough for plastics in water around 6070m deep but I usually choose something a little heavier around 50-60lb when I’m bait fishing. I find that mono is better in deep water, more so than fluorocarbon leader, as it feels more supple and less wiry. Keep about 3-4m of leader on so there’s less chance of bigger fish detecting the mainline. Once again two snelled 5/0 suicide hooks and a lumo pink or white egg sinker will do the trick nicely, sliding directly above the hooks. Sinker size will vary depending on depth and current, and I keep all sizes from 1/2-2oz in the tackle box. Good fresh frozen squid, pilchard, yakka and bonito will all entice a big snapper but make sure your presentation is perfect. Check that the bait doesn’t spin or twist on the drop, and if it does re-do it. With plastics I love using anything with plenty of action in the tail. Rig them on a 3/4oz 5/0-7/0 jig head and allow them to drop under their own weight. Don’t disturb the line or lure drop halfway down or it may put the fish off the bite. Allow the line to come

off the reel without resistance. Count the colours of the braid as it drops so you know when you’re getting closer to the strike zone, and be ready for the line to peel off when the plastic gets slammed on the way down. Occasionally though you will still get bricked in the reef – it’s good practice to have another rod rigged and ready to go. * continued P20

Damien Elliott with a little maori cod caught off the Seaway.

A 65cm snapper caught on a float-lined squid off the Jumpinpin Bar in 40m water. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 19

The author scored a nice little lizard when trolling in Coombabah Creek.

The author with a solid buck caught while trolling for flathead up Coombabah Creek.

Enticing a big snapper * from P19

Blade N Tails rigs ready for the snapper season.

Assorted gear to have onboard during winter. Page 20 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

If the bite is on, there’s no time to be tying another rig on – you need three or four rods and reels rigged and ready to go or you’re going to miss out on the bite. Also prepare to be up well before the sun rises, as most big snapper will bite at first light. Alternatively, you will need to follow the moon phases and choose your fishing time based on when the moon rises over the horizon. Quite often there will be an excellent bite mid to late afternoon with the rising of the moon. A good idea is to make yourself familiar with how the moon and tide affect fishing, it is very beneficial and will allow you to make a better choice as to when you head off for a session.

Remember, there is a closed season on snapper and pearl perch coming up, so make sure you check the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Queensland website to keep up to date with all the current fishing rules. Though offshore fishing is plenty of fun, I was missing the enjoyment of the creeks and estuaries. And having a boat ramp at the end of my street is an added bonus. Excited to fish the green water again, I decided to purchase a tinnie so we could get back to grassroots fishing and crabbing. The creeks are a great place to enjoy a quiet troll for a few flathead while drowning a few crab pots for a tide change or two. Recently, I’ve been us-

ing a few Australianmade lures from Morry Kneebone as well as the good old Zerek Tango Shad with plenty of success. Rigged with 10lb spin gear and a 10lb FC leader about 1.5m long, these lures have been pulling eight to 10 flatties in a one to twohour session after work. A slow troll over and around small drop-offs, sand bars and gutters all produced good fish. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon and an opportunity to bag a few crabs at the same time. Though crabs will slow down over winter, flathead will really start to come on and if you enjoy estuary fishing, this is a great time to get on the water and fill the Esky with a few of those tasty winter species. www.bnbfishing.com. au

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• If you catch a shark smaller than 1.5m, handle it with a wet towel, where possible keep your hands, feet and body well clear of the shark’s mouth, anglers and bystanders should always stand well behind the animal’s pectoral fins and where possible behind the tail fin, restrain the animal with one hand on top and behind the first dorsal fin, with the other hand on top and behind the second dorsal fin, keeping hands behind the dorsal fins stops the hands from sliding forward towards the shark’s mouth when it thrashes, be gentle and do not squash the shark’s internal organs • Return the animal to

the water as soon as possible • Avoid removing hooks unless preparations have been made in advance, never remove hooks by hand, use bolt cutters to remove the barb from the hook and use pliers or other

hook-removing devices to remove the hook • Use rapidly degrading hooks. For more information or to download the Queensland recreational boating and fishing guide 2019-20, visit daf.qld.gov.au

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Matt with a nice Gold Coast Seaway school jewfish caught on live whiting.

Annika caught and released her first ever jewfish using a live winter whiting as bait.

Light tackle fishing in paradise

Iszak Fa’asuamaleaui, rising footy star and Tino’s younger brother, caught loads of fish on the day.

I everyone, this month we are well into our dry season and catching classic winter species in the Gold Coast Broadwater. On my daily charters, I fish the area between the mouths of the Nerang and Coomera rivers, and plenty of variety and fishing fun are to be had there. If it’s windy or the tide is too big, we fish between Surfers Para-

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dise and Carrara. If the tide is favourable and the wind is light, we fish between Surfers and the Coomera River. A Gold Coast winter offers plenty of good weather, great fishing and less noise on the water. It’s fishing paradise! When everything lines up, it’s a light tackle fishing hub, with commonly caught species including tuskfish, jewfish, school mackerel, tailor, arrow squid, flounder, bream, sand

whiting, winter whiting, dusky flathead, bartail flathead and tarpon to name a few. As always, live yabbies out fish everything, while over winter Ecogear ZX blades and Samaki Vibelicious vibes work extremely well too. Over the past month, we have already seen the above species boom in number and sizes will continue to increase through June and July. This month, I’ll point * continued P23

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Eddie with a 35cm whiting he caught in the Broadwater on a yabby. www.bnbfishing.com. au

Light tackle fishing in paradise * from P22

out a few tips for catching the local toothy ones – namely tailor and school mackerel. Every year, both of these speedy fish enter the Gold Coast Broadwater to chase bait schools. Locally, the numbers vary depending on the amount of baitfish seeking refuge. Last year, huge numbers of school mackerel hung around in the main channel between Sea World and the Sundale Bridge from June to August. Keep an eye out for big bait balls near the bottom in the 6-7m range… the mackerel won’t be far away. They are terrific fun on light tackle and there are two methods we use to catch and release as many as 50 a day. First, we use small gang hooks with a

white pilchard rigged on a 10lb leader with a small glow bead above the hooks and No. 2 size running sinker. Try not to use a swivel because mackerel will attack it and bite your line off. As you’re drifting along, drop the bait to the bottom until the line goes slack then wind up about 1m or so when the bait is drifting just above the bottom. The school mackerel hit at speed, so keep the reel drag quite loose or they will snap your line within seconds. I use 7’ 2-4kg estuary rods and 2500 spinning reels spooled with 10lb mono line. The other way to catch them is by dropping 20-30g metal slug lures straight down to the bottom then crank it up vertically as fast as you can. If you see mackerel

John landed this pan-sized flathead fishing in the Gold Coast Broadwater on a calm weekday. www.bnbfishing.com.au

chasing the lure up without striking, repeat the process straight away to get them excited enough to grab the lure. They have very sharp teeth, so handle them carefully and use longnose pliers to extract the hooks. These fish grow extremely quickly and a lot of juveniles are found feeding here in winter, measuring from 40-80cm in length. Bear in mind, the legal length for school mackerel is 50cm with a bag limit of 10 per person. Tailor are more sporadic than mackerel in the Broadwater over winter because they constantly move around chasing food. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to encounter them and the presence of birds diving will indicate their location. When they are voraciously feeding, they will smash almost any lure that hits the water – 20g shiny silver slugs work very well, as do trolled hard-body lures. They can often be found from the Gold Coast Seaway to Crab Island, on the eastern side. Their minimum size limit is 35cm with a possession limit of 20 person. Hope this helps and hope to say g’day to you on the water soon. To book on a charter with myself or Brad, or if you have any fishing related questions, SMS 0432 990 302 or email f ish i ngwit hcl i nt@ gmail.com, or find us on Facebook at Brad Smith Fishing Charters.

NRL footy star Tino Fa’asuamaleaui with a nice trevally caught on a charter with the author.

The author caught this beautiful jewfish in the Gold Coast Seaway.

Sonya was all smiles after catching this stunning tuskfish at Crab Island. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 23

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www.bradsmithfishingcharters.com.au Page 24 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

Gold Coast Guide by BRAD SMITH

the year for targeting flathead on the Tweed River and in the Gold Coast Broadwater. We often think of flatties as being lazy fish that pick a resident place to hide on the bottom, waiting for their prey to come to them, but in fact this is not the case. At this time of year, flathead will often school and migrate up and down our waterways following bait, exhibiting explosive bursts of speed when devouring their prey. The first technique we will discuss is deep water jigging with lures – called tea bagging – which is best done with soft or metal vibes and standard soft plastics. We don’t see flatties on our sounders be-

cause they lay camouflaged on the bottom. So, the first thing we do is use our sounders to locate bait schools on the bottom – flathead will usually be lying underneath the bait balls. Once you’ve located a bait school, position your boat directly over the top of it and quickly lower your chosen lure straight down to the bottom – you will know when you’re on the bottom as the line will go slack. From here it is quite simple, but simple done well, as you position your rod tip close to the water and introduce a consistent and very even series of short jigs of the rod tip. It’s important to note that when fishing deep * continued P25

www.bnbfishing.com. au

A focus on flathead fishing * from P24

holes, there is often current or wind to deal with, so you may have to continually use the petrol or electric motor to stay on top of the bait school on the bottom. Another thing to keep in mind is the up flick of your rod tip is visual to the fish but the takes often come on the drop, so it is vital to release your rod tip to allow the lure to sink. The same lures can also be used on the drift through channels by casting out the back of the boat and again using a constant series of even hops along the bottom. Even when drifting through channels or along the edges of sand or mud banks, I still take the time to run my sounder through the chosen drift to see if there are any bait schools along the bottom.

One of the oldest sayings in the industry is ‘find bait to find fish’, and flathead are no different. Trolling a few hardbodied minnows is also a very effective technique for targeting flatties and it allows you to cover a lot of ground, which is often required on quieter days when bait is hard to find on the sounder. Fish are usually facing into the current to both feed on bait coming towards them and to also keep the water flowing through their gills. So, in saying this I have always had more success by trolling with the tide rather than against it. I like to set my lures about 15m behind the boat when trolling and this can be made easier nowadays because you can buy colour-coded braid, which changes colour every 10m. When trolling, it is

vital that your lures are continually tapping the bottom, so choosing the correct diving lure and keeping constant surveillance of the depth on your sounder are key factors to achieve this. It is also important to keep your rods out wide of the boat and down low to the water as this will help keep a spread of distance between lures, and by keeping the rod tip down low it will help maintain the maximum diving depth of the lures. To conclude, the shallow flats and bays should not be overlooked when targeting flathead through winter. During winter, the sun often warms up the shallow water and flatties are not scared to move into ultra-shallow water to feed. I look forward to talking to you again next month.

Nice quality flathead such as this one are keen to take a well-worked lure in winter.

find us on facebook • Win prizes • Post your brag • Chat to readers shots and writers • Join in on the fun • See who’s catching banter what • Have a laugh This flathead swallowed a smaller one and regurgitated it onto the deck of the boat. www.bnbfishing.com.au

www.facebook.com/bnbfishing Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 25

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A flat day in winter means heading wide in search of table fish such as this pearl perch held by Mick.

Mullet are milling but mackerel quiet

V E RY T H I N G seems to be running a little late this season. Normally by early May we’ve had a few cold westerly winds come down the mountains to kick the winter season off. Mullet are milling around the rivers ready to burst because no westerly wind means no spawning run. They’ll have to go

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Tweed to Byron Bay by GAVIN DOBSON

soon, even if it’s on a mild southwesterly. The balmy conditions through May – as pleasant as they have been – have stalled a lot of fish. At the time of writing, mackerel are still thick to the south of us. I would give them a chance this month if conditions are right – with water temperature of 22C or better and good bait around. Wahoo are a great option this month at places such as Windarra Banks off Pottsville and Nine Mile Reef off Tweed Heads. The Mackerel Boulder off Julian Rocks is closed until next January but fishing just outside the sanctuary

could produce a few wahoo too. At the moment, mackerel fishing here has been a bit quiet. As always, the hope is that those fish to the south of us stop in on their northern migration, but it doesn’t always work out that way. With a lull in mackerel fishing, I took the opportunity of fine weather to head out to the 50-fathom line and sound around for pearl perch. It was a bit disconcerting to find over 1.5 knots of current when I stopped on the 32-fathom line. A phone call to a friend on the shelf revealed there was no * continued P27

Steve with a cobia from the local reef. www.bnbfishing.com. au

Mullet are milling but mackerel quiet * from P26

current out wider, so we headed out to the 50s to find about 3/4 of a knot. More often than not, the wider you go the stronger the current gets but occasionally it’s the other way around and this was one of those days. Snapper were very quiet and not of much in size, but we were there hoping for a few decent pearl perch. Mick was fishing with me for the day and things started a bit slow. The fish weren’t schooled up, were sitting away from the reef and were spread out over wire weed. We managed a few nice fish before Mick stuck a circle hook in a perch of slightly over 4kg.

That’s a quality pearl perch in anyone’s book. We came back in to the 32s to find the current stronger than out wider and we got a couple of tuskfish before calling it a day. That was my one and only trip out wide so far for the year and while I enjoyed it, I’m not prepared to give up on mackerel just yet. Even if mackerel don’t show, there’re jewfish and snapper to be caught and even the odd cobia. Yes, almost extinct but not fully. I’ve seen a few caught this season, with the best being a very recent capture by Steve. No mackerel showed up, but his patience was rewarded when the big cobia ate a live bait.

I’m not sure why there aren’t any luderick around. It could be the lack of cold weather, though I think it has more to do with all the floodwater we’ve had since Christmas. Bream are everywhere still, which is great if you enjoy bream and annoying if you’re trying to catch tailor because they will annihilate all your bait. The past few years have seen appalling weather hit our region in June, so we are surely due for a nice sunny start to winter. Whale strikes are becoming more and more common each year. There are more whales and more boats, so be careful over the next six months.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 27

Prepare for pelagic possibilities n Beach options n Offshore

A quality pearl perch taken from the 48-fathom line.

ELL, at the time of writing this article, it would appear summer is determined to hang around and not let winter have a go at all this year, if the weather is any indication. Most of us are still cruising around in shorts and t-shirts, and the summer fish species just don’t want to leave either. Now don’t get me wrong, I am in no way complaining about this as I’m not a fan of the cold weather whatsoever, but if this keeps up it will be September before it gets cold and we won’t see any winter species at all. With the warm weather hanging around, we are still seeing reasonable numbers of mackerel on close reefs, such as Lennox Point and Riordans. And it seems mackerel numbers have improved with the improvement of water quality over the past

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Ballina Bait & Tackle by BRETT HYDE

couple of weeks. Unfortunately, the amount of live bait is still very minimal, so if you are heading offshore chasing these toothy critters make sure you have a few options, such as dead bait for trolling, pilchard for floating out and a couple of lures to cast or troll. With the lack of live bait, spanish mackerel have been on the quiet side, but the spotted variety have more than made up for them. Even though summer seems to be hanging around, we have also had snapper move onto the close reefs recently. Snapper had been on the inconsistent side of things until this point in time – both in quality and frequency – but I’m sure as the weather cools over the next month, this will only improve… fingers crossed. A number of betterquality snapper have been taken using soft plastic vibes. Samaki Vibelicious, Madness Shiriten Vibe 73 and Zerek Fish Trap have all been productive, with a mix of colours catching fish on different days. Mahi mahi have been haunting the fish aggregating devices, but a lack of live bait has made targeting them a little difficult. If you’re going out to chase them, I would suggest taking a few alternatives – such as

skirted lures – because you could be spending a significant amount of time trying to find live bait before heading out there. The 32-fathom line has been producing a few pan-sized snapper, flathead and the occasional tuskfish. The current out wider has settled a bit but has been inconsistent – increasing and decreasing from day to day. Good quality pearl perch have come from the 48-fathom line on bait such as squid or mullet, and a few larger fish have been taken on jigs. Mixed in among them have been kingfish and a chance amberjack, but they have been biting better on days when the current kicks up a little. In the not too distant future, we’ll be able to get out to the shelf to chase blue-eye trevalla and bar cod, so now is the time to start checking your rods and reels and making a few rigs in preparation. Back in the river, we have started to see flathead moving further upstream, even though winter hasn’t kicked in yet. I think this is partly due to the improvement in water quality but also their natural instinct to do so. The ferry to Pimlico Island has been producing better quality fish in recent weeks * continued P29

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Preparation and planning for pelagic possibilities * from P28

and I suspect over the next month, if we don’t see too much rain, we will see better numbers around Wardell Bridge. Currently, small trolled hard-body lures have been the most productive way to target flathead, and this is largely due to the lack of water visibility. Bait such as prawns and pilchard have also had a bit of success, if you don’t have access to a boat. With the 2021 Pottsville Beach Sports Greenback Fishing Competition just around the corner from June 12-13, or if you’re planning on doing a little beach fishing this winter, it will be

worthwhile checking out Kuhny’s Klassic Rod Holder. It is the only legal rod holder system available to transport long one-piece beach rods and it can fold down to make accessing your rods and keeping them out of the sand a breeze while you’re fishing on the beach. They will fit any type of four-wheel-drive ute or wagon and different types of rear access doors are not a problem either. So, check them out before you head away on your next adventure or trip to the beach. Well, that’s about all from me for this month. Until next time – tight lines!

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 29

SharkSmart drone trial

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Page 30 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

HE Queensland Government and Surf Life Saving Queensland have been delivering a SharkSmart drone trial at beaches in southern Queensland. Drones are used to monitor the water, detect sharks and gather data on shark movements and behaviour. If a dangerous shark is spotted, lifesavers and lifeguards will warn water users. The trial began September 19, 2020 and will continue until October 4, 2021, so you may see drones operating at your local beach on weekends, public holidays and school holidays. The clear water of southern Queensland beaches is most suitable for trialling drones. The SharkSmart drone trial commenced at Sunshine Coast’s Coolum North and Alexandra Headland, Gold Coast’s Main Beach and Burleigh Beach and North Stradbroke Island initially and may shift to different or be extended to additional beaches in these areas. Signs will be posted at all trial locations. If a potentially dangerous shark over 2m is spotted near swimmers, the drone will fly lower and follow the shark, then lifesavers and lifeguards will assess the level of risk and if there is a high risk, a warning alarm will sound and the water will be evacuated. Data recorded from the trial to the end of March indicates that from 1899 drone flights, 109 sharks were spotted including 21 large sharks estimated to be more than 2m in length,

and there were two beach evacuations. The benefits and limitations of using drones to monitor sharks • Drones provide a birds-eye view of the ocean and what’s happening beneath the surface compared to traditional monitoring by lifesavers and lifeguards from beach towers or watercraft • Drones are more cost effective than other beach aerial monitoring via plane or helicopter • There is no impact on marine life • Real-time monitoring means lifesavers and lifeguards can respond rapidly if a shark or other marine threat is spotted • Drones improve overall beach safety through monitoring marine threats or assisting with rescues • Drones cannot oper-

ate in poor weather such as strong winds, rain or storms • Drones cannot operate in restricted airspace – this impacts several beaches near the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast airports • Drone monitoring requires highly skilled operators and is labour intensive. The SharkSmart drone trial will be scientifically monitored to determine its effectiveness. The evaluation of the initial trials in southern Queensland locations will help inform how the trial may be extended to other shark control program locations in Queensland. All other shark control program equipment will remain in place during this trial. For more information, visit daf.qld.gov.au/ sharksmart/drone-trial

The SharkSmart drone trial will continue until October 4, 2021. www.bnbfishing.com. au

Switch Your Fish starts on the Sunshine Coast

WITCH Your Fish is promoting different fish to recreational fishers on the Sunshine Coast. Mahi mahi – also called dolphinfish – amberjack and cobia are fun to catch and great to eat. If you haven’t tried these fish before, try your luck and fish at a few of the fish aggregating devices on the Sunshine Coast. You can find mahi mahi at FADs yearround and locals have also reported catches of amberjack too. Switch Your Fish will share tips on

catching and cooking up these species, so follow them now on Instagram and Facebook. You can also share your photos of catching and cooking these fish by tagging them #SwitchY ourFish. We are keen to see fishers broaden the range of fish that they catch and spread the recreational fishing load across more species.

A tagged tuna travel tale

ECENTLY the NSW Department of Primary Industries reported on a long-term yellowfin tuna recapture. The Game Fish Tagging Program received information about another incredible tuna recapture. An albacore tuna, released by Eden Game Fishing Club boat Sea Mode, had been recaptured offshore of New Caledonia in the Coral Sea. The fish was originally measured at 60cm and estimated to be 4kg when it was tagged by Ross Cooper while fishing offshore of Merimbula NSW on June 10, 2017. The fish was recaptured on February 5, 2021 by a New Caledo-

nian commercial vessel that was fishing north of the Chesterfield Isles in the outer Coral Sea. The skipper of the vessel kept the fish aside for fisheries researcher Caroline Shanchez, who works for the Oceanic Fisheries Program of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. The details of the recapture were then forwarded to the program.

Upon recapture the fish measured 99cm fork length and 20.7kg, highlighting solid growth rates! After 1336 days at liberty, the albacore was recaptured about 1230 nautical miles or 2275km from where it was originally tagged. The Game Fish Tagging Program is a great example of NSW fishing fees at work.

Ross Cooper originally caught the fish offshore of Merimbula NSW on June 10, 2017.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 31

Cracking fishing around Iluka

Mal Butchart of Brisbane with a nice Clarence River flathead boated during a recent visit to Iluka.

Mischa Porter landed this little longtail tuna during the first week of May from the breakwall using his trusty Alvey reel and a 14cm X-Rap lure.

Page 32 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

S I predicted in last month's issue, good numbers of longtail tuna made an appearance along both the Iluka and Yamba breakwalls during the first week of May. However, due to poor water clarity and an annoying swell, the fish didn’t hang around for long. The thing that had me laughing was the size of the tuna that finally did show up, as the vast majority of them were little runts around the 7-10kg mark and the smallest fish I saw firsthand would have been flat-out weighing 6kg. Yes, it was a longtail – not a mack tuna. The biggest problem we faced last month was – after months of floodwater pooping out to sea – every time the swell came up, it would stir up silt and sediment from the bottom and turn the water a cold yellowish green colour the pelagics obviously did not care for. Tuna should still be around this month in small numbers, however what will be there will tend to be very big fish and more often than not solitary, which in my experience rarely take a lure. So, if you want to have one last crack at this species before they return north for the winter then live bait is the way to go. Inside the Clarence River, jewfish numbers are still lacking though they are moving in slowly and this month should see the type of fishing we’re used to seeing during winter. Mal, Aaron and Timothy Butchart came from

Just Jew by TYE PORTER

Brisbane to Iluka for a week last month and had a great time boating school jew and flathead on soft plastic lures along the Middle Wall during the day, and on the first night they were here Aaron nailed his personal best jew on his first live bait cast – fishing doesn't get much better than that. Mischa and I were out and about at night chasing jew from the bank around Iluka using both live bait and minnow lures and, while Mischa scored a couple of small fish around 10kg, we had trouble finding a spot that wasn’t lousy with river whaler sharks – commonly known as bull sharks. Any jew taken were within 1km of the mouth of the river because any further upstream was shark central. Hopefully this improves as the river clears up. At night a handful of jew to 12kg have come from the Iluka wall on both fresh squid and soft plastic lures, however a much better class of fish have been in residence on the Yamba wall, with fish to 18kg being taken at night from the T-Piece on 14cm minnow lures and a high tide. The Iluka Bluff has been a bit of a hit and miss affair in the jewfish stakes, with only a few decent fish landed on lures. The biggest problem… the endless amount of weed stirred up in the swell, which in turn chokes your lure

and prevents it from swimming properly. The bright side is that plenty of mullet were moving around the beaches and headlands, so those anglers who persevere should be rewarded for their efforts sooner or later. Tailor have gone back to their ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ act around the headlands and beaches, with nice catches being taken for maybe two days in a row, then not a fish to be seen for the next few days. The pick of the spots to catch a big greenback tailor this month would be Lover’s Point at Yamba on lures, and Main Beach and Back Beach Iluka during at night on a rising tide with a flesh bait, and either the first – Iluka Bluff – or second – Middle Bluff – headland north of Iluka using lures during the day. The second bluff is also home to 30kg plus jew during winter on a low tide with a southerly wind and a swell running around the 2m mark, and any shallow running 14cm minnowstyle lure retrieved at ultra-slow speed being the key ingredient to success. Luderick are currently on the bite at the old ferry approach during a falling tide and while numbers are still lacking, this should improve substantially by the end of the month. Offshore catches have been dominated by snapper and tera* continued P34

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 33

Commercial fishers on shore for mullet season

OLD Coast residents can expect to see commercial fishing boats launching from the beach and netting close to the shoreline until the end of August as part of the annual mullet season. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol

district manager Rob McDonald said commercial fishing for mullet is permitted in tidal waters within 400m of land. “Commercial fishing along ocean beaches for mullet occurs from April 1 to August 31,” Mr McDonald said. “Every year, we re-

ceive calls about the size and location of nets close to the shoreline. “Commercial fishing in the area is permitted with fishers using seine nets to catch sea mullet that annually migrate along the ocean beaches,” he said. The ocean beach net fishery is a highly se-

Expect to see commercial fishing boats launching from Gold Coast beaches and netting close to the shoreline until the end of August as part of the annual mullet season.

lective operation and captures few other species. “Though seine nets can appear to be sizeable from the coastline, they are regulated by length, mesh size and drop,” Mr McDonald said. “QBFP will be regularly patrolling the beaches checking net sizes and lengths as well as operators’ licences, vessels and catch.” Mr McDonald reminded people that it is an offence to interfere with a commercial fishing operation, and on-the-spot fines apply. “Though the netting process is very interesting to watch, please be aware that when the orange flags are up, it means fishing is imminent,” he said. “The beach becomes a very busy workplace

with moving vehicles and heavy loads of fish brought back to shore for sorting. “Beachgoers should remain a safe distance from the action for their own safety.” Mr McDonald said sea mullet was one of the key commercial species monitored by Fisheries Queensland. “Information collected from the ocean beach sector of the fishery includes length, sex and age of fish being caught,” he said. “This information is used to help monitor trends in the status of the sea mullet stock to ensure the sustainability of the fishery and to evaluate the effectiveness of fisheries management strategies.” For more information on sea mullet, visit fish eries.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.

Cracking fishing around Iluka * from P32

Brisbane angler Aaron Butchart was ecstatic after landing this beautiful jewfish at the Middle Wall on live mullet during a recent trip to Iluka. The fish was weighed the next morning and was a few grams under 20kg. Page 34 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

glin in recent weeks, with an occasional nice jew thrown in for good measure, and this trend should continue throughout winter – all things being equal. Dick Richards The local fishing community was saddened by the news of the passing of local fishing writer and avid luderick angler Dick Richards. Dick wrote the weekly fishing column ‘Gone fishing’ in the local papers the Daily Examiner and Coastal Views for over forty years. Any angler who weighed a fish at any of the weigh-in stations throughout the Clar-

ence Valley would have read Dick’s column the following week to see if they had won a certificate. Dick was also very ac-

tive in other community organisations and will be sorely missed by those who knew him. Until next month, safe fishing.

This striped scat was in the stomach of Mischa’s tuna. The author has fished all his life and has never seen any species eat these fish until now. www.bnbfishing.com. au

Fishing heats up as temperature drops

N last month’s article, I mentioned the COVID restrictions that were in place and how restricted we were. Fast forward and take note of just how lucky we all are and what a huge bullet we dodged. Personally, I love this time of year because I hate the heat and humidity. We also have a great range of places to go with a great variety of fish on offer, no matter what your style is. May brought pretty wild weather, with big rainfalls across the state and windy conditions to go with it. The rivers ran muddy from Easter onward, but this flushed a heap of bait out and with that longtail tuna arrived in big numbers. All along the coastline we’ve had big pods of tuna and even school mackerel at times busting through the bait. Of course, this tends to be mid-week when most of us are at work. Those of you who go offshore should try to make the most of the next few months because we are going to be in a period of crossover. A few times a year we see summer and winter species on the catch list which make for great sessions. Once across the Noosa bar, you can go left and fish the shallower waters of Halls Reef. This is well-known tuna and mackerel ground and it goes to show you don’t need to go wide to score big time. You are best to approach this area trolling and casting lures. You can set a few www.bnbfishing.com.au

Sunshine Coast by GRANT BUDD

whole bonito up for a slow troll too because big spanish mackerel can also be found here. If you are new to this, using TT troll rigs will take the guess work out of rigging big bait. Tuna will also work along this stretch, especially up towards Teewah Beach and Double Island. Here you can go with stickbaits from 120180mm, so your casting gear will vary. A great all-round casting rod is the new Murasame Caranx 8’ PE 2-5 with a maximum cast weight of 100g. The rod has a softer tip with great lowdown power that will turn bigger tuna and mackerel around the 20kg mark. This rod would match up perfectly to a Shimano Saragosa 8000 HG spinning reel and casting braid, making for a versatile combo. Sunshine Reef gives the option to fish light with estuary or light jigging gear for the best fun and a few smokings along the way. The latest Storm jigging rods are perfect for doing this and the Storm Gomoku Azzurra 6’3” PE1-3 is a perfect balance of power and weight which means PE1-2 lines are the go. Sunshine holds good pearl perch, moses perch, coral trout, sweetlip, snapper and cod, and it’s definitely worth drifting around here. Coral trout were still

getting caught in May, so don’t be surprised if you land one of these superb table fish. Best bait species have been fresh mullet, pillies and live yakkas on heavier 30-50lb gear. Out wider, Barwon Banks and the Hards around the 90-100m mark tend to hold large pearlies, big snapper, huge amberjack and cobia. Whole squid and flesh bait rigged on paternoster rigs work well here.

Live bait species get the attention of the bigger AJs, but you better have serious gear ready to stop them. Double Island is also a great destination when the swell allows, especially if crossing through the Wide Bay Bar. Here you can find deep water quickly and great reef fishing not far from shore. This area is a great place to try slow pitch and high-speed jigging because many an AJ call this area home. Often loaded with sub-60cm fish, this place throws up a few bigger 80cm fish,

which will stretch anyone’s arms on lighter PE4 gear. If heading wide in the dark, do so with caution because whales start their migration in June and many boaties have accidently hit these huge mammals, often with dire consequences. Ensure emergency position indicating radio beacons and flairs are within easy reach, always wear a life jacket and use kill-switch lanyards too. The gutters and headlands from Noosa’s Sunshine Beach to Pincushion Island are

* continued P36

Jack Bailey and best friend with a good spanish mackerel from Teewah. Photos: fishingnoosa.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 35

Fishing heats up as temperature drops * from P35

great for heavier surf fishing if targeting jewfish and big tailor. Bigger jewies over 1m and plus 15kg patrol this part of the coast but can take a while to figure out. Most anglers tend to

run big bait on big rods and reels backed with 500m of line. Fresh mullet fillets, bonito fillets and live beachworms – as well as tailor fillets if you can get them – are best. When using fresh strip bait, Mustad Penetrator

Matty Williams with a huge bass from one of the local dams.

Matthew Schweikert’s oversize flathead from the Maroochy River, released after a quick photo. Page 36 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

hooks snelled together on 40-60lb leader gives the bait freedom to move but ensures a positive hook-up when it counts. Chopper tailor catches are improving with most fish taken on a run-in tide around the Noosa River mouth during first and last light. If wanting good size tailor, try using bonito or a flesh bait on a strip bait rig after dark. Bigger fish tend to hold around the deeper holes at night and cruise up and down the gutters looking for a feed during lighter tidal flow. The new MJF surf rods are in stock and the wide range includes great options for daytime fishing for whiting, bream and dart. Built on Schneider blanks, they have that great old school feeling that everybody loves on smaller fish. The Noosa River trevally are on the move with many different species on offer. Most sought after are diamond trevally, which can get up to an impressive 80cm. These fish are suckers for prawn soft plastics and micro jigs. Look at the super small 5g Majorcraft Jigpara options and work these around the drop-off of Woods Bay and the current line. Surface presentations have been the way to go early mornings for giant trevally and tailor, with the Zerek Poparazzi and MMD Splash Prawn two great options. Upgrading the trebles is a good idea with smaller lures because

stock hooks can bend during a single session. For fast moving lures, look at Owner ST41BC and for slow light weight lures, look at ST36BC as these weigh less. Flathead are also in great numbers with many fish well over the legal limit. These big breeding females are protected when over 75cm and most anglers return them at 60cm. When taking a photos, it is necessary to support any big fish, especially flathead under their belly to prevent internal injury. Always ensure you never hold big fish up by their jaws with lip grips or worse, pliers! Flathead are one of those fish that lend themselves to lure fishing and are a great beginner target. Drifting slowly down the edge of a bank fishing prawn profile plastics gets the best results. Great places to try this are the current line, Frying Pan and various channels around the mouth of the Noosa River. Z-Man ShrimpZ and the smaller Chasebaits Flick Prawn are a couple of the local favourites that flathead love. Freshwater angling will start to slow before the spawn of wild bass. If on a dam, try to locate the warmer bays where the sun hits the water first. Fish will try to find warmer water for energy, and weed beds trap heat and provide high oxygen content during the daylight hours. During winter, there

is no reason to be on the water at first light if there has been a sudden downpour or cold snap. Dam fish love stability and if we have this then give surface lures a try. The smaller Jackall Pompadour is a great example of a small lure with a big presence that big bass will smash. If working the weed beds, consider the smaller Bassday Suga Deep, Jackall Squirrel, Rapala Shadow Rap Jack Deep and Ecogear SX40. These suspend well on lighter 8-12lb leaders, which most fish can’t ignore. Be sure to flick any laydowns and overhanging branches. As always when leaving Lake MacDonald, be sure to use the washdown facilities to remove any weed from trailers. Cabomba is very invasive in Lake MacDonald and chokes waterways very quickly. Don’t forget, June 1 is the start of the wild Australian bass closure. This means the Noosa Everglades and Mary River will be out of action for fishing for the next few months. Now, for all the latest information, log onto fishingnoosa.com.au for up-to-date bar and fishing reports, and don’t forget to drop into Davo’s Tackle World, Davo’s Boating and Outdoors in Noosa and Davo’s Northshore Bait & Tackle in Marcoola for all the right equipment, bait and advice to get you catching. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and remember, tight lines and bent spines!

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 37

Payday for Reuben with this very long tuna.

Tips to tame tuna

I Reuben with a monster 110cm queenfish on topwater.

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Fraser Guided Fishing by TRI TON

T is technically still tuna season here in Hervey Bay, but looks to be slowing down already! Most seasons we see awesome shows of school fish well into the second week of July, so the tapering off in early May is uncommon. It does feel a bit cooler this year, and the water temperature seems to be dropping quite quickly. We will carry on from where we left off last issue with the bite, strike and fight because these topics are still relevant to tuna and other species. When you detect the bite, do your best to remain connected by winding the reel, as fish will often run towards you after chasing down a lure. Once you feel the rod load up through the mid-section, and it becomes more difficult to

wind the reel, you may then use the rod to set the hook. Wind the rod down towards the fish, then strike again with the rod to make the hook set certain. Even then the lure is occasionally lodged in the mouth and the hook hasn’t penetrated. So, always endeavour to use the reel to help keep that rod tip bent. I find anglers often go too fierce with the rod action when fighting fish. I believe it is better to use moderate rod work but actually use the reel to help maintain a steady constant pressure. Especially with tuna, they often run hard at you. At this stage, you should not pump the rod at all, just maintain a positive connection by * continued P40

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 39

Mav being photo-bombed by Robbie. A nice triple hook-up on a smooth day.

Tips to tame tuna * from P38

Minh with his first giant herring and what an animal it is!

winding… madly. Once they tire out a bit, the fish will tend to sound a bit deeper as opposed to cruising the surface. This is where smart rod work – not strength – will help shorten the battle. Again, be smooth in your rod work and remember, less is more. Use your arms less, keep your core strong and gently rock your shoulders back and forth. Try not to lift the rod foregrip past 45 degrees, wind the reel and drop the rod tip simultaneously to gain line.

Repeat over and over without giving the fish a chance to get its head back down, as each tail beat with its nose slightly up equals faster line gain for you. If you use the butt and mid-section of the rod to lift, you are more able to keep the rhythm. Once you try to lift too hard and high, you load the tip section – the weakest part of the rod – on the next tuna tail beat. It is highly probable its nose will be pointing down and that means you will undoubtedly lose line. Tuna never rest and that is how you should battle them.

Great variety on tour for Rueben, including this cracking giant herring. Page 40 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

Jono with a beautiful trevally caught on a jig. www.bnbfishing.com. au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 43

Will with a lovely coral trout he landed on a recent trip out of Seventeen Seventy in glassy conditions.

Offshore areas firing but taxman bites

E have been lucky in the Bundaberg area recently because we’ve had great weather for offshore fishing. In mid-May, we enjoyed a run of quite a few good days for fishers to head offshore and many took advantage of the opportunity. Our rivers, creeks and estuaries have been a little quieter lately, as we still haven’t had a good fresh flush in our systems… an occurrence that usually helps ensure the food chain stays healthy. Offshore Bundaberg and 1770 There have been a few great opportunities for anglers to head offshore from both Bundy and 1770. We enjoyed a quick evening fish off Bundy recently, departing

Bundaberg Region by BRAD YOUNG

mid-afternoon and returning by 10pm with a healthy bag of fish. The spot we fished is not well-known and rarely has other boats in the same area. We didn’t experience any trouble with sharks – another possible sign that the spot isn’t fished regularly. We had timed the trip to coincide with an evening high tide and enjoyed a good bite window for the hour and a half prior to slack water and before things went quiet for a while, then the bite fired up as the tide started to fall. Once more, the bite lasted for the first hour and a half of the runout tide before the fish

Page 44 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

went quiet again. Chris, who was aboard this trip, was tormented by juvenile red emperor, while I was pestered by slightly undersized largemouth nannygai. This was the first trip to this spot in quite a while and I have tagged it for another visit in the near future. Offshore 1770 has been quite popular at the moment too. There have been several very successful trips, however many anglers have reported quite a few losses of good fish to the tax man. My theory about the large number of sharks is that the floods of

2011 and 2013 provided plenty of food for these predators, with livestock and such washed out to sea. I also believe that a few anglers – either careless or naïve – throw their fish scraps and frames overboard while fishing, leading to a berley trail for sharks and also an ‘expectation’ that a boat is a source of food. I never throw scraps or frames overboard while I’m fishing or when I’m leaving. I wait until I am well underway and a good distance from my fishing spot before I dispose of frames and scraps to reduce the chance of sharks becoming accustomed to a feed near my fishing spot. Will was successful in targeting coral trout

on a recent trip offshore from 1770. Will used an IQF pilchard for bait on a paternoster rig and his electric reel to land it. Bream due in Burnett Traditionally, the end of May is considered the beginning of the bream season in the Burnett River, specifically the end of the month near the show holiday. I have heard reports of several anglers having good catches in the Burnett already and these should continue and improve in both size and number as the water temperature decreases. My favourite bream fishing periods are the last four days prior to a full or new moon. If you drive out to Burnett Heads around

* continued P45

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Offshore areas firing but taxman bites * from P44

these times, you may see quite a few boats anchored up along the North Wall late in the afternoon ready for a fish into the night for bream. Bream are a bread and butter species and can be caught in good numbers when they are ‘running’. The legal size for bream is currently 25cm. Bream can be caught from many of the rocky banks of the Burnett including Queens Park, the jetty near the end of Burrum St, areas up and downstream of the city boat ramp, as well as the rocky banks near the port and Burnett Heads boat ramp, and at the end of River Rd

past the old Fairymead Sugar Mill site. The best types of bait for bream are fresh mullet gut, mullet flesh, yabbies and cubed pilchard. A line weight of 4.5kg – or 9lb – is usually sufficient with a heavier trace beneficial if there are lots of snags. I prefer a light action whippy rod to enable me to detect the bite of a timid bream without spooking it. Berley can help bring on a bite and keep fish around your boat and bait longer. I often use chicken laying pellets because they sink readily and then break down in the water. Rather than large amounts, I usually

throw a small handful out repeatedly. I will be looking at targeting bream over the next month and

hope to have more information ready for the next issue. As always, I can be contacted via email at

f ish nboat@bigpond. com or via mail at PO Box 5812, Bundaberg West Queensland 4670. Until next month…

A nice mixed box of fish from a quick evening trip off Bundaberg.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 45

Not happy Jan – a bit short on one end.

Bruce Carrol holding a noteworthy 4.4kg grass sweetlip.

Rundown on Squid Rowe Rainbow Beach Trophy 2021

ONDITIONS finally came around to looking reasonable for this year’s Squid Rowe competition. Though the sea wasn’t glass, the Bureau of Meteorology forecast was for 10-15km wind and the bar didn’t look to present any issues for our club boats. Saturday saw all boats launch from the Bullock Point ramp – as it’s 10km closer to the bar than Carlo Point –

Power Boat Anglers by MICK CLUTTERBUCK

though the tradeoff was the healthier population of sandflies to contend with. Frejya the big Noosa Cat led though the gutter with two backseat drivers – one being Rob Schomberg and the other vice commodore Helaine Wilesmith. Poor John was getting dizzy receiving direc-

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tions from every which way but kept to his guns and on his preferred track, as a good skipper does. Behind them were Spot X, Reel-em-in, Little Bit, Barcrusher, and Offshore Account picking up the tail. Once through the gutter, it was apparent the wind was closer to 15km southeast, so all boats headed towards the Pinnacles to have it behind on the way home. On arrival, the wind was against the tide and made for lumpy conditions. Frejya tried for a while but found the fishing slow and decided to punch out a further 10km to see if things would improve. The further they travelled the better the conditions became, and they ended up about 35km out and near the fish aggregating device. Reel-em-in wasn’t far

behind, as was Offshore Account – all looking for fish. There were nice dolphinfish on the FAD but they would only follow the bait and lures without striking – live bait probably would have been the go. They kept grinding away, getting a parrotfish and snapper here and there but it was a fairly slow day and they were all safely back to the bar by 4pm. Sunday morning saw all the boats on the water by 5.30am, joined by Lady Bird – the big 233 Formula with Tim, Greg and Bruce on board. First stop for everyone was about 40km out near club mark PBA12, which is a couple of large lines of reef with good drifts and where they proceeded to land cracking tuskfish and an occasional snapper. Barcrusher had a few radio issues, so stopped 30km out and stayed put after finding fish including a nice cobia, while Lady Bird headed to a few of Bruce’s

nearby reds marks, hoping to bag a few. You’d think once one snapper was caught there would be more schooled up but try as they might, only an individual was boated here and there. On Saturday, sharks were an issue – though not taking fish, taking only bait, with most of them under 1m. Sunday however they stepped up their game and just about any fish that had size and took line was cleaned up. John Hooker was on a good fish when hit halfway – he landed a legal-size red emperor cut off square behind the head. There was no gape in the bite, just a straight line – as though it had been zapped off in a band saw – big shark. Professor Schomberg has been playing with a prototype shark deterrent of late and was keen to do a little field testing. He rigged it up and sent it down and immediately hooked up on

* continued P47

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Squid Rowe Trophy * from P46

a good fish, most probably a big red… he said. Five turns in and he was all smiles. However, turn six didn’t eventuate because a shark not only took a fancy to his fish but also to his ‘Shark Shield’, taking the whole lot. Back to the drawing board for another crack at it I’m guessing – mind you, if he does invent something that works, there’s a huge market out there for sure. The rest of the fleet kept looking around, getting a fish here and there and many bagging out on tuskfish, with a few cracker fish among them. Dale was getting frustrated because his deckhand Darren was landing two at a time – over 2kg each – while he could barely manage one. Fishing remained steady but nothing over the top and soon it was time to head in. John Hooker had brought a deck chair so

he could have a rest on the way home and gave the Frejya controls to Schombie. Rob tells us the digital throttle is a bit touchy and takes a little getting used to. Long story short, they copped a big wave on the side and he may have hit the throttle a tad heavy by mistake. End result – John was snuggled in said deck chair wedged into the side pocket with the bait Esky acting as a stopper and holding him there. After a few laughs, he was safely extracted and the trip home resumed – after further instruction to Rob on the use of digital throttles – and all eventually arrived home safe. Competition wise, once the smoke cleared, it was a close race for the trophy. H fished well on the Saturday and Darren fished well on the Sunday and both were clearly ahead of the pack, but when the math was finally done, it was Darren edging H out by a mere .7 of a point.

Congrats to Darren Blackburn, the 2021 Squid Rowe trophy winner. He also bagged the best tuskie of 2.9kg, while the only other fish of note was Bruce’s 4.4kg grass sweetlip. Many better fish were hooked but the sharks have to take their cut and that’s the fishing climate we have to deal with currently. Next meetings Please note that the meeting times have changed and now occur on the first Wednesday of every month at ‘The Club Manly’ (bowls club), 26 Faine St Manly from 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start. Upcoming meetings are Wednesday 2 June and Wednesday 7 July. Until next month, safe boating.

2021 Squid Rowe Champion Darren Blackburn with a couple of nice tuskfish.

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FREE Hop on to bnbfishing.com.au Helaine Wilesmith and a solid snapper. www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 47

Cast nets are great for catching a range of bait.

Yabbies are easy to catch and are great bait for catching popular estuary species.

Tips for catching a variety of Queensland bait species

HE fresher the bait the more appealing it is to

fish. Below are tips for catching and collecting your own bait. Before you go fishing, make sure you are familiar with the fishing rules and regulations for Queensland. It is important you are aware of the possession limits for bait species. Any species without a specific possession limit is subject to a general possession limit of 20. Note that yabbies, prawns, beachworms and Cribb Island worms caught in the white spot disease movement restriction area in southeast Queensland cannot be moved out of the area unless cooked first. For details on in possession limits for fish

and bait species, refer to the fishing rules and regulations for Queensland. Pumping yabbies Yabbies are easy to catch and are great bait for catching popular estuary species such as whiting, bream and flathead. Look for sand flats at low tide with small holes, as this is where yabbies live. Using a yabby pump, pump two or three times and direct the sand and water onto the ground. Look for yabbies crawling around in the sand, mud or water – often spotted by their orange egg sac. Pick them up and keep them fresh in a bucket of seawater. They may have nippers so be careful when

The preferred habitat for Cribb Island worms – great for catching whiting, bream and flathead. Page 48 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

collecting and baiting on your hook as they can pinch. Cast netting Cast nets are great for catching a range of bait species such as prawns, mullet and herring. Fresh prawns are great for catching inshore fish species – whiting, dart, bream, flathead, snapper and mulloway. Learning how to throw a cast net correctly takes practice, but once mastered it is an invaluable skill for any fisher. To get started, speak to the staff at the bait and tackle store when you buy your cast net and they will be able to give you a few pointers on different casting techniques. Alternatively, there are many demonstrational videos available online to help you perfect your technique. For details on size restrictions for cast nets, refer to the fishing rules and regulations for Queensland. Beachworms Beachworms are great for catching inshore fish species such as whiting, dart, bream, flathead and mulloway. Beachworms are subject to a possession limit of 30. Pipis and fish frames

can be used to catch beachworms. Be sure you are within your pipi possession limit of 30 at all times. Using a bait bag or stocking, fill it with fish frames or pilchard, and wash through shallow water on an ocean beach to attract the worms. Once you locate a worm sticking its head out of the sand looking for the food source, place a small amount of fish about 1cm away and 1cm off the sand. Don’t let the bait touch the worm. The worm will arch its ‘neck’ out of the sand and grab hold of the bait. At this point carefully slide your fingers around the worm’s head and grab the worm tightly, but not too tight as to crush it. Slowly pull the worm out from the sand with an even pressure to ensure you don’t break it. Store your worms in a bucket of fresh seawater ready for use. There are many demonstrational videos available online to help you perfect your technique. Cribb Island worms, formerly known as bloodworms Cribb Island worms

are great for catching most estuary species such as whiting, bream and flathead. Cribb Island worms are subject to a possession limit of 50. At low tide look for easily accessible seagrass flats and using a garden fork turn sods upside down, exposing the roots and mud underneath. Look for red-brown worms moving in the mud, pick them up and place in a bucket of fresh seawater. Seagrass meadows are fragile habitats and activities that damage them may affect associated fish populations. People harvesting bloodworms commercially or recreationally must level the working area and replace all seagrass in an upright position either during digging or immediately afterwards. Disturbance to seagrass is an offence under fisheries legislation, so all harvesters must be vigilant during their operations. Pipis Pipis are great for catching small estuary species such as whiting, bream and flathead. Pipis are subject to a possession limit of 30 in

* continued P50

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Tips for catching your own bait * from P48

FISHING EVENTS COMPETITION

DATE

LOCATION

2021 Greenback Fishing Jun 12-13 Pottsville, NSW Comp www.lionsgreenback.com Jun 19-20 Maroon Dam, QLD Charltons Fishing www.qldfreshwaterfishing.com Maroon Melt Down QFF Singles Round 4 Evans Head Fishing Classic

Jun 25- Jul 2

Jul 2-4 Theodore Family Fishing Competition

Evans Head www.evansheadfishingclassic.com.au Theodore, QLD facebook.com/theodorechamber

BP Battle Royal Aug 14-15 Bjelke-Petersen Dam, QLD QFF Singles Round 5 www.qldfreshwaterfishing.com/forms Woodgate Beach Sep 17-19 Woodgate, QLD Hotel Fishing Classic www.woodgatebeachhotel.com/wbhfc QFF Grand Final Sep 18-19 Borumba Dam, QLD Teams Event www.qldfreshwaterfishing.com/forms Baffle Creek Family Sep 20-25 Baffle Creek, QLD Fishing Festival www.bafflecreekfishing.com Gold Coast Flathead Classic

Sep 28- Oct 1

Gold Coast, QLD www.flatheadclassic.com.au

Queensland. Other gastropods and bivalve molluscs are no take in Moreton Bay. More information is available on daf.qld. gov.au On a sandy surf beach, look for small rises about the size of a 50 cent coin in the hard sand between the high and low tide marks. In ankle deep water, dig into the sand about 10cm deep or wriggle your feet side-to-side until you feel a hard shell. Turn the sand over and pick up any pipis you find. Keep your pipis in a bucket of fresh seawater. Open them with a knife or hit them together and thread the soft muscle inside straight on your hook. Bait jigging Bait jigging is a great way to catch a range of small fish species such as herring and yellowtail scad that can be used as live or dead bait. Try jigging from a jetty or over rubble reefs. Buy a 6-hook bait jig from your local tackle store.

The bait rig has a series of small hooks and shiny plastic strips to attract fish and a sinker on the end. Jigging works best near submerged structures such as jetty pylons, beacon poles or rock walls where you find small schools of fish. Bounce the jig up and down in the water until you feel a fish take hold. Keep your bait fish fresh in a bucket of seawater until you are ready to use them. Lures and soft plastics Lures and soft plastics are a great alternative to bait fishing. They are reusable and aren’t messy and smelly, as are several types of bait. There is a huge range of lures and soft plastics available that target different fish species and are suitable for different fishing situations. Ask the staff at your local bait and tackle store for advice when selecting lures and soft plastics or go online and search for demonstrational videos to help you perfect your technique.

Planet 72 Ice Creamery Oct 16-17 Cania Dam, QLD Cania Carve Up www.qldfreshwaterfishing.com/forms QFF Singles Round 6 Monduran Family Oct 16-17 Monduran, QLD Fishing Classic www.lakem.com.au Wyaralong Dam Carp Nov 6 & Tilapia Eradication Comp

Allenview, QLD

QFF Singles Nov 13-14 Dam TBA, QLD Grand Final www.qldfreshwaterfishing.com/forms To have your competition listed in the calendar please phone (07) 3286 1833 or email design@collins.media Page 50 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

For pipis, look for small rises about the size of a 50 cent coin in the hard sand between the high and low tide marks. www.bnbfishing.com. au

Fishing Glass Mountain Creek, I landed this 68cm flathead on a soft plastic. It was a personal best for me, beating my old flathead by 5cm. Johnny

This sure was a moment to remember. The place was the northern Pandora Reef a couple of years back. Len Stead

Thought I’d send in a photo of the stargazer I caught off Twin Waters weir on the Maroochy River using light tackle and squid. Never caught one of these before so quite exciting! Anthony Cross

I nailed these two solid snapper offshore from Moreton Island on a recent trip. Mark Lidgard

To have a photo of your catch featured in Readers’ Forum, simply email ben@collins.media with a good-quality picture, your name and details or hop onto our Facebook page and send us a message. www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 51

We want your mackerel frames

D The Research Angler Program is keen to collect your spanish and spotted mackerel frames.

The earbones – or otoliths – are used to determine the age of the fish.

Greg Gowland has donated plenty of frames, including this 142.5cm 23-year old stonker.

Donate your fish frames in a labelled package at participating tackle store drop-off points. Page 52 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

URING the tail end of the mackerel season on the north coast of NSW, the Research Angler Program is keen to collect your spanish and spotted mackerel frames. It’s easy to participate and you can drop the frames – the entire frame or the head with the fish's total length indicated – to one of the participating dropoff locations. The fish don't need to be trophy specimens as RAP are looking for all size classes. Data collected by this program will contribute towards ensuring continued quality recreational fishing opportunities for mackerel and other key species into the future. Each frame donated earns an entry into the monthly RAP lucky angler prize draw. RAP is also needing fish frames from recreational fishers to help with the monitoring of mulloway, yellowtail kingfish, snapper, dusky flathead, tailor and black bream. Again, the little ones are just as important as the big ones, and all legal-length frames are wanted and will help. The earbones – or otoliths – are used to determine the age of the fish. Age data is used to build a picture of the age structure of the species population. This combined data details how many fish there are of each age in the stock, which helps evaluate the health of the species. By collecting this data over time, RAP can also see how the

structure of fish populations in NSW may be changing. RAP will send you a certificate with the age of the fish and an image of the fish's earbone and you will go into the fantastic monthly prize draw. Find out more about the RAP including your closest drop-off location by emailing research.angler@dpi. nsw.gov.au, phone on 02 4916 3827 or visit dpi.nsw.gov.au This is your NSW fishing licence at work. How to donate frames or otoliths Donate your fish frames at participating tackle store drop-off points. Frames can be donated fresh or frozen. If you are unable to keep the entire frame, the head will do, with the fish’s estimated total length. Fish can be wrapped in plastic bags, cling wrap, foil or other methods, including the capture information in the same package on a piece of paper: • Who caught the fish – name and contact details (phone number, postal and email address) • When and where the fish was caught – date and location name or latitude/longitude if available and either estuary, shore rocks, beach or break wall, or offshore – this information is confidential, so you can continue to keep your favourite fishing spots secret. Keen angler diary Recreational fishers can also participate in the ‘keen angler diary’ program. We’ll give you a wa-

terproof diary along with a NSW Research Angler Program fish measuring mat. Record information on when and where each fishing excursion occurred and the lengths of any mulloway or dusky flathead, retained or released. Fish tagging We are keen to have anglers involved in tagging these great species. If you would like to get involved in tagging, send us an email or phone 02 6691 9602. If you catch a tagged fish, record the tag number, measure the length of the fish, follow the instructions on the tag and pass these details onto the email address above. The crucial data collected by this project will help us to learn more about the movements, growth and post-release survival of these key fish species. Prizes available For each mulloway, kingfish, snapper, dusky flathead, black bream, spanish or spotted mackerel and tailor frame donated, the donor will receive a single entry into the fantastic monthly prize draw, with the winner announced each month on the RAP newsletter update. Newsletter The NSW Research Angler Program newsletter provides anglers with updates on the program, along with interesting catches by other anglers. To receive the NSW Research Angler Program newsletter to your email, visit dpi. nsw.gov.au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 53

Big king threadfin will be harder to get a bite from in cooler water, but not impossible.

Changing tact for cooler weather

Mud crabs are still an option in June. The author’s daughter Brooky with a pair of Coorooman muddies.

Flathead will be a popular target during winter. Page 54 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

OW quickly is time flying by… before we know it the big bearded burbler will be crawling down our chimineas and the Christmas decorations will be going up! Winter is upon us and with the changing season you should also adjust your piscatorial radar. Though, you’ll get the back end of the summer species until we see the first big winter change. Species such as fingermark and mangrove jack are viable targets for June. The better days will be those with nice flat warm stable conditions. Last month, we saw an influx of blue threadfin and steelback salmon throughout the estuaries. You know the season’s changing when blues become a pest, taking lures for barramundi and king threadfin, but for those looking for a fresh feed it shouldn’t be overly difficult to put

Capricorn Coast by JOHN BOON

a few blues on ice. It’s still breeding season for mega threadies, so the extra oversized king threadfin you may see gracing social media pages will continue through to September. With the cooler water temperature, they may be a pain in the butt to get a bite out of. Live prawns are my go-to, if they have proper lockjaw. If you’re not into bait fishing and want to get a threadie on lure, here’s a piece of simple advice. Once you have located a good school of threadies, try and spot lock out to the side of them. By doing this you’ll be able to keep your side imaging transducer continually reading them. This lets you know the target fish are still in the zone.

If they move, try turning the boat to find their location again. Once they are stationary, you can start to try different retrieves and lure selection. My advice is… if you can get a dozen good casts with the same lure through the school and have no luck, then it’s time to change. If you do get a hit, try using the same model of lure but a different colour – varying contrast is very important. If the big threadies are being a pain to get a bite out of, it’s time to downsize everything. On our last trip we downsized leader, line and jig head weight to get a bite. I prefer not to catch big threadies on light gear but if they’re not playing the game then you’ve got to try everything in your power to * continued P55

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Changing tact for cooler weather * from P54

get the nibs. We should start to see the humble flathead start to fire up this month. I’m looking forward to a light gear trip chasing the flat fish. They can be a challenge on light gear because you run the risk of being rasped off by their sharp teeth. The anglers in the know who fish Corio Bay can have days where they bag anything from 10-30 flatties in a day, and many of the fish are around the 50cm size, with 60cm also common models. I’ve heard of a few fishos getting 70-80cm models but haven’t seen these in the flesh as yet. Another great winter option are tiger squid. This is the time of year when the big tigers come out to play. The large breeders come in plague proportions at times and take refuge on the shallow reefs around the Keppel Bay islands. If I was looking for my perfect area to target tiger squid, I would be looking for areas of broken ground with a lot of sand in between. If you can find a bit of weed on top of these areas, I’m sure a few good tigers won’t be too far away. Casting and jigging Yamashita Live Warm Jacket jigs has been my go-to technique for years. I thought the ‘warm jacket’ was a load of rubbish when I first did my research – something about the cloth www.bnbfishing.com.au

turning light to warm and mimicking a baitfish. It turns out those clever clogs at Yamashita were spot on and now those jigs are my absolute favourites. Don’t pack away the crab pots just yet either. Mud crabs will still be on the move and this is one of the best months of the year to catch a full muddy. The best crabbing we’ve done has been in the lead up to a full moon in June. If you’ve got a few friends who come back with reef fish, go and grab the fresh frames and give the pots a soak. You’ll be surprised how much difference fresh bait makes to muddies. Well, that’s it from me this month. I’m off to dust cobwebs off the squid jigs. Catch you next month.

The author’s dad Robin at the office cleaning a few tiger squid.

Exactly what you’re looking for, a school of big blue threadfin salmon on the Humminbird Helix 12. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 55

The queenfish were feeding inside a creek heavy with wet season run-off, with the water almost drinkable! Tom Kelleher landed this ripper on a cast Halco Roosta popper.

This beautifully marked coral trout fell victim to a Berkley Gulp when the author visited the same area with his godson Drew Pearson a couple of days later. Looks as though a top season is coming at Weipa.

Big wet leaves Cape in top fishing condition

HE Cape has experienced its biggest wet season in over a decade, with heavy rainfalls at the end of April cutting the Peninsula Development Rd in many places, including the Hann, Archer and Wenlock rivers. Weipa copped over 2m of rain in a prolonged wet that extended from early De-

Trip to the Tip by DAVE DONALD

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finally – a task that should have the road ready for the major tourist influx, which reaches a peak once the mid-year school holidays commence. On the fishing front, the five months of rain have created ideal conditions for many species to spawn, including barramundi of course. Most of the major rainfalls occurred around the full moon, at the time most probable for barra breeding activities. Though fishers won’t reap the benefits of these optimum spawning conditions for at least three years, the fact that wetlands and billabongs are still overflowing augurs well for fingerling recruitment and survival, which should eclipse most if not all similar events

over the past decade. Meanwhile, catches of estuary species such as barra, mangrove jack, king and blue salmon and grunter have been steady though a little spasmodic, considering the ongoing weather changes. Most rivers have had significant freshwater inflows, and this has tended to push most species towards the downstream reaches. However, this situation will change quickly once the run-off slows down however, in most instances discharges are expected to continue to well into June. One species that is not generally regarded as being compatible with a freshwater runoff is the queenfish, but it has been my experience that this great sportfish is very at home and active when tannin-stained water pours into the estuaries, particularly around river mouths.

A day trip with three local fishers on school holidays confirmed that this was still happening. We headed about 50km south of Weipa to a small estuary that was loaded with darkcoloured water when we arrived. Barra and mangrove jack were our targets but it soon became obvious that both species were a little quieter than normal. However, even though the water was almost drinkable when I tested its saltiness, the creek was full of rolling queenies that responded eagerly to cast poppers. It seemed a little surreal watching big queenfish climb all over fast-retrieved poppers from virtually black water but the fishos quickly got the hang of the unexpected opportunity, landing a heap of the acrobatic

* continued P58

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Big wet leaves Cape in top fishing condition * from P56

performers before we exited over the bar due to the falling tide. Strangely enough,

there was hardly any activity on the seaward side of the creek mouth – the usual spot queenies are expected

to be found. The action didn’t stop there though! I headed to a few offshore marks for the

Brothers Connor and Cadell Ryan got into the hot action landing a double header as Tom kept casting.

fishers to drop plastics on the bauxite lumps. Tom had never used soft plastics before, so I set him up with a 1oz TT jig head sporting a 5” Z-Man Grass KickerZ that he proceeded to drop to the bottom. The bite came almost immediately with a slightly undersized coral trout being boated not long after – not a bad way to start. Tom was slightly more confident on the next drop but appeared a bit bewildered when the rod tip pulled down hard and braid started pouring off his midsize spinning reel at a great rate of knots. Yelling at the other fishos to wind in their lines, I cranked up the Suzuki and started giving chase as the amount of line on Tom’s reel dwindled to a couple of turns. Half an hour and

about 1km later, the spool was still regurgitating large amounts of line while the only thing tiring appeared to be Tom pumping on the rod. It took another 20 minutes and several rod changes through the fishing trio’s hands before we finally saw colour. We were worried that the culprit might be a shark, so the big flash of silver that we saw deep down had our spirits soaring. When I finally got the giant trevally into the net, there were exclamations of both triumph and relief as we manoeuvred 17kg of muscle into the boat. These fishos will remember this catch for a long time – this is what the joy of fishing is all about!

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Tom needed help from his companions to land this monster giant trevally, as well as a bit of hasty boat choreography from the skipper. Not bad for his second fish on a soft plastic. These fishos will remember this beast for a long time! www.bnbfishing.com. au

Located off the Telegraph Track in the Jardine River National Park, the stunning Fruit Bat Falls and nearby Eliot and Twin Falls provide a refreshing and safe place to take a dip when visiting the Cape.

Cape York set to fire up this winter I T has certainly been a cracker wet season here in the far north. Cape York and the Torres Strait have received a drenching, which has revitalised the landscape and been welcomed by locals. As anyone who lives in the far north knows, the wet also brings amazing weather windows, where the wind drops completely and the ocean turns into a millpond. With family visiting us here on Thursday Island, I was able to venture wide on a few occasions to chase a feed on both line and spear. Storm fronts quickly developed on occasion and I played it safe by cutting the trips short and making the dash home. While frustrating, I’ve certainly learnt not to www.bnbfishing.com.au

Cape York & Torres Strait by MATT POTTER

push the limits with Mother Nature over the years. We managed great fishing with nannygai, sweetlip, fingermark and black jewfish coming aboard while dropping fresh bait of mackerel and squid. Crayfish and trout are common catches on the reefs around Thursday Island and it was awesome to bag a few in the shallows, with my nephews and 4-yearold daughter floating around pointing out cray antennae. As the saying goes, ‘start them young’! Spanish mackerel fishing this season has been the best I can recall for many years.

On several trips the action was fast and fierce, with two-way hook-ups on Rapala X-Rap Magnum 30’ divers being the norm once bait was located. After a few have been caught for the Esky, a fun way to target these speedsters is to use topwater lures such as small to medium-sized stickbaits because these fish can get seriously airborne. Other pelagic species such as extralarge queenfish, giant trevally and longtail tuna have been found in good numbers around the tip of Cape York and the inner islands of the Torres Strait.

* continued P60

Longtail tuna or ‘northern blues’ are found in huge numbers on Cape York’s west coast. A Halco Twisty Gold 55g retrieved through the school at speed will soon see line peeling off the reel.

Cobia can show up unexpectedly and require serious wrangling.

Spanish mackerel find it hard to resist a Rapala XRap Magnum trolled at around 6 knots. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 59

TOP LURES FOR TACKLING CAPE YORK Lure

Species

Location and technique

Halco Gold Twisty 55-70g larger pelagics inshore 30-40g river mouths and beaches Note: Must be gold!

Such a simple and highly effective lure for a plethora of species including tuna, trevally, queenfish, cobia and mackerel – add wire if getting bitten off by mackerel. Also, jig for nannygai and coral trout.

High speed spinning rocky headlands, river mouths, beaches – incoming tide – wharfs and jetties, reef edges and schools of feeding fish breaking surface. Tip 1 – Upgrade trebles on smaller models. Tip 2 – Cast long and wind like hell.

Gold Bomber 15A

This lure is no secret and absolutely kills when targeting a range of species including barramundi, mangrove jack, queenfish, trevally, salmon and estuary cod.

Use a range of techniques such as slow rolling, twitches followed by a pause, and even faster retrieves around timber, river mouths and drains. A favourite lure to target barramundi sitting on the edge of shallow drains on a run-out tide.

Zerek Fish Trap 110mm Clear water – natural colours Dirty water – Flouro such as FAB Fat Betty

These are my first choice if targeting mangrove jack. These soft vibes have also accounted for loads of barra, trevally, queenfish and cod. Also, highly effective in deeper waters – inshore reefs, rubble patches, holes – for fingermark, trout, nannygai, sweetlip and black jewfish, use the 160mm model.

This lure is highly effective when targeting jack around river rock bars, oyster encrusted mangroves and headlands. Apply a range of retrieval techniques including slowly ‘bouncing’ over rocks and faster retrieves with pauses. Tip – Quality fluorocarbon leader about 40-60lb is required to stand-up to the oyster encrusted rocks and mangroves where jack are generally found.

Barra Classic Ghost 120mm +10 Favourite colour: Casper (white)

This lure has accounted for a few memorable sessions on big barra. While a range of colours have proven effective, Casper has definitely been the most reliable. You can see this lure in action nailing a few barra on my ‘Fishing Missions’ YouTube channel https://youtu.be/OLJ1jiCCNak

Cast and retrieve on deeper bends, river junctions and fallen trees. Also effective trolling deeper banks. A well-placed cast followed by two sharp jerks and a pause equals bang! Barra often smash this lure as it floats back to the surface.

Rapala X-Rap Magnum 30ft Favourite colours: Limelight UV, Silver Blue Mac and Blue Sardine.

This is an extremely reliable lure when trolling for spanish mackerel in the tropics. Other species this lure has accounted for include giant trevally, golden trevally, queenfish, barracuda, coral trout and longtail tuna. Smaller models are effective on barramundi.

When the water is relatively clear this lure doesn’t last long. Troll at 6 knots around ‘high-spots’ or distinct contours, pressure points of reefs, rocky headlands and working birds and bait. Tip – Run a short Mason single-strand wire trace to avoid bite-offs about 120lb.

Z-Man SwimmerZ 4-6” Favourite colours: Pearl and Golden Boy

First, there are several Z-Man lures that I find highly effective, such as Z-Man StreakZ Curly TailZ, Z-Man MinnowZ and Z-Man ShrimpZ. That said, the SwimmerZ are a top barramundi lure and are also great for coral trout around the reefs. This is a go to lure when barramundi have shut down or are sitting deeper. Bycatch includes mangrove jack, estuary cod, queenfish and trevally. Jig head: TT HeadlockZ HD 5/0 – size varies depending on depth and tidal flow.

These plastics have accounted for a few great coral trout along the reef edges. However, I specifically pull these out of the tackle box when chasing barramundi in remote lagoons or on the deeper bends and banks of Cape York’s river systems. Tip – These lures can be rigged weedless when fishing heavier structure, reeds and lily pads using the TT SnakelockZ jig heads.

Page 60 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

Cape York set to fire up this winter * from P59

These species are great fun as they all know how to pull string. We’ve also lucked on cobia on several trips, which have been hanging off the huge bull sharks that have learned boats equal an easy feed. For whatever reason though, sharks tend to leave cobia alone. Fishing the Cape in 2021 With many travellers cancelling their travel plans in 2020, this year we can expect thousands of tourists flocking to the Cape to explore this epic wilderness. If you’re heading north, it pays to plan well, allow enough time to explore the area, be patient with other travellers, listen to the advice of locals and try to ignore most of the dribble that seems to flood social media groups. One of the biggest

frustrations for Cape York locals and traditional owners over recent years has been the amount of rubbish left behind by many travellers. Keep that in mind when camping, and try to support local businesses when you can because they certainly struggled with the 2020 tourist season being an almost non-event. The good news is the fishing in 2021 will be red hot because the rivers have had a good flush – a plethora of baitfish will be in the nutrient rich waters and hungry predators won’t be far behind them. That said, if you throw a line out anywhere and expect to catch trophy fish, you will probably be disappointed. Many variables come into play and at times the fishing can be slow. With careful planning, you can certainly * continued P62

A pair of Cape York barramundi taken on one of the author’s favourite barra lures, the Classic Barra Ghost in Casper. www.bnbfishing.com. au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 61

Cape York set to fire up this winter * from P60

Start them young! The author and his 4-year-old daughter, who was pointing out crayfish in the shallows.

increase your chances of landing memorable fish. If you don’t have a boat, it is worthwhile jumping on a charter. Not only are you more likely to experience better fishing but it is a great way to venture up remote river systems and see the truly wild side of Cape York that many tourists simply miss. Let’s talk lures Over the past 10 years I have certainly tried an extensive range of lures and techniques, with each having its own purpose depending on the location and target species. For visiting anglers, it is often difficult to know where to begin and what lures to pack

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– and which to leave behind – when heading to the Cape. As most dry season fishos will only be able to access the estuaries and inshore grounds due to the strong southeasterly trade wind, which will blow until November, I’ve suggested a handful of

lures that have proven themselves repeatedly in these areas in the table on the previous page. I recommend throwing a handful of each into your lure box if you are planning on tackling the Cape in 2021. Happy fishing!

The end of another epic day exploring Cape York.

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Check out in-depth video coverage of the latest boat and product reviews plus fishing action and handy tips. Page 62 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

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Z-Man 6” DarterZ

AS anglers, we are always searching for an edge and often for lure anglers this

EXSENCE are a premium reel designed originally for the Japanese market. To ensure maximum longevity in salt water, X Protect employs an internal labyrinth structure that repels water entry, even when exposed to heavy spray. Hagane Gear, Hagane Body and X-Ship combine to provide a balance between strength and smooth winding. Additionally, Rapid Fire and Rigid Support Drag systems provide drag power adjustment at will, and silky line release. For more information, visit shimanofish. com.au

Atomic Casting Gloves

ATOMIC Casting Gloves are designed for hard-fishing anglers who want the best and toughest protection they can get for their hands. These gloves are fingered to be able to cast thousands of times while trying for that one elusive fish and also provide sun and fish spike protection. Available in three sizes, a pair of Atomic Casting Gloves sell for a recommended retail price of $29.50. For more information, visit frogleysoff shore.com.au www.bnbfishing.com.au

comes down to colour selection. Global scent and dye brand Pro-Cure gives bait anglers the opportunity to make their bait stand out from the crowd, or the school, while also colouring bait to suit the conditions, target species or fishing technique. Two deadly options from Pro-Cure are the Bad Azz Liquid Bait Dye and Bad Azz Powder Bait Dye. Change the game with Pro-Cure Bad Azz Liquid Bait Dye and make your bait stand out from the crowd, attract fish and trigger strikes. Give your bait a liquid colour blast in Chartreuse Lime, Magenta Red/Pink, Passion Purple or Scarlet Red, with a simple squirt from the easy applicator nozzle. Remember gloves because this dye is powerful! Pro-Cure believe the Bad Azz Powder Bait Dye is the perfect dye option for big jobs. Whether you’re dying a few dozen herring, garfish, mullet or 5kg of prawns, Bad Azz Powder Bait Dye is the way to go. Pure concentrated bait dyes go a long way in dyeing large quantities of bait and are perfect for preparing bulk bait for your next adventure, while also being an economical option for multiple dye jobs. The powder dye option is available in Chartreuse/Lime, Deep Purple and Brilliant Red to suit a multitude of applications. For more information, visit tackletactics. com.au or call 07 3205 1903

A UNIQUE 10X Tough ElaZtech jerkbait profile, the Z-Man 6” DarterZ features a slender profile and forked tail that mimics garfish and other slender baitfish, considered delectable desirable prey species for many inshore and offshore predators. The unique, horizontal ‘dolphin’ tail creates lift and glide, while the segmented design creates an irresistible action at speed or on a hopping and darting retrieve. DarterZ feature a top hook pocket and belly slot for those wishing to rig it weedless on a 6/0 or 8/0 TT Lures ChinlockZ or ChinlockZ SWS jig head, for fishing the lilies, weed and snags for barramundi, chasing king threadfin on top, working the weed flats for flathead or numerous other applications. Alternatively, it rigs beautifully on a standard TT Lures jig head in a 5/0, 6/0 or 7/0 for targeting everything from tuna, mackerel, trevally and other species high in the water column to reef and pelagic species in the depths. Proudly made in the US and distributed in Australia by an Australian owned and operated family business, the Z-Man 6” DarterZ is going to be a versatile and unique addition to anglers’ kits, from impoundment barramundi to estuary flathead and mulloway, along with a myriad of offshore targets. Fish on! Available in eight colours, with five per pack and a suggested retail price of $15.95. For more information, visit z-man.com. au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 63

BOATING & marine Insights into boat insurance

How to make your marine insurer nervous

ANT to make your marine insurer nervous? Tell them you’re transitioning from small boat ownership – perhaps making the move from a 16-footer to a 30-something footer and built more than 20 years ago. The moment you advise them that you are joining the squadron of owners buying big second-hand cruisers rather than smaller, new trailerable craft, an extensive list of things to be checked will be triggered at the marine insurer and should put you on alert too. Boaties and insurers all understand the appeal of upscaling in terms of boat size and the increased space offered – the greater comfort levels, the capacity to have more

friends aboard, easier overnighting – you name it, there’s a solid list of very good reasons to go bigger. However, marine insurers also know that many boats left in berths at marinas, don’t get treated to the full maintenance programs they deserve. It is not uncommon to find that several of those boats put up for sale have not been touched for years in terms of maintenance. As well, a significant proportion of the boat ‘lives’ under water, so impending problems might not be as easy to detect as those from seeing a boat come off the trailer and back on every time it is taken to a boat ramp. Similarly, unlike a boat on a trailer at your home, you are not walking past the boat countless times

a week to get to the backyard shed, to the clothesline or wherever. So, the chance sightings of leaks, stains and weathering are not as frequent. Those older vessels, particularly if imported from the US as a ‘bargain buy’, could also potentially have electrical issues. Boats and shore power have different power supplies. For example, there might be 110-volt inverters for appliances. There are also the electronics designed to manage the voltage differences. Sometimes those systems are shot. Buying a locally built boat can add a degree of insurance in terms of the likelihood of it complying with electrical and gas supply regulations

prevailing at the time of construction. That larger vessel might also have a barbecue, coffee maker, pie warmer, air conditioner, complex radar and navigation systems, and for many boat owners it might also be their first entry into owning a big diesel motor. Which is a different story altogether from outboards when it comes to maintenance and the list of regular checks that need to be made. Many items such as simple hose clamps are often hidden from view, as are the seals on the propeller shaft. A clamp letting go for no apparent reason can cause havoc. It will take a while for the newcomer to build a knowledge base. So, here’s how to make everyone calmer… Engage a professional to undertake a thorough inspection of the diesel engine and its driveline before purchase. Likewise, arrange to have the vessel pulled out of the water for a full hull inspection by a marine surveyor – and make sure you see their certification

documents. Ensure that specific attention is paid to electrical, gas, fuel and electronic systems. Fortunately, as a specialist marine insurer, Nautilus has experienced operators on staff – people who love boats, people who know boats, people who understand boats and their owners. When buying a second-hand cruiser, it makes sense to call Nautilus before finalising any purchase – that way you can ask if they foresee any problems with insuring the boat if you were to buy it, or any special requirements they might have in terms of ensuring its insurability. When it comes to marine insurance, always check your Product Disclosure Statement and if you have a query, ask your insurer for clarification. Any special conditions and excesses should always be explained clearly in your insurance policy’s PDS. If you need further information, contact Nautilus Marine Insurance on 1300 780 533 for any boat insurance requirements.

Advice in this article is general and might not apply or be right for you. Before acting on it, consider its appropriateness having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. Nautilus Marine Insurance is a business name of NM Insurance Pty Ltd ABN 34 100 633 038 AFSL 227 186 (NM Insurance), the issuer of Nautilus Marine Boat Insurance. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement at nautilusinsurance.com.au before deciding whether to purchase a policy.

Page 64 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

www.bnbfishing.com. au

BOATING & marine

Mercury V12 outboard earns top product honours

HE new Mercury 7.6-litre V12 600hp Verado – the world’s first V12 outboard – has won another accolade, being recognised by the influential US-based Boating Industry media group in its ‘Top Products of 2021’ listing. In determining winners of the top products designation, the judges gave extra weight to products that have unique features compared to others in their category, create a new product category or significantly advance an existing category. Boating Industry managing editor Adam Quandt said, “Mercury continues to push the limit of outboard power out on the water and meet trends of larger and larger boats.” “The innovations on the V12 600hp Verado set a completely new bar for the industry, making it an easy choice for top products recognition.” The development of the V12 Verado outboard is a product of Mercury’s continued commitment to investing in research and development and manufacturing expansion, which includes more than $1.5 billion of investment since 2008. The new V12 is scheduled to start arriving at Mercury Marine dealers in Australia and New Zealand later this year. www.bnbfishing.com.au

ANZP Mercury Marine senior director of engine products, aftersales and marketing Nicholas Webb, “We are very excited about the imminent arrival of this engine.” “With boats continuing to grow bigger and performance expectations continuing to rise, boaters have been asking for a better, more capable high horsepower solution to meet their needs. “The V12 Verado outboard delivers boaters unrivalled freedom, luxury and power to pursue their passions on the water. “We can’t wait for it to start arriving,” he said. The new 7.6 litre V12 600hp Verado is the highest horsepower outboard ever developed by Mercury Marine. In fact, it is the highest horsepower outboard engine in production today. Its naturally aspirated, large displacement, quad cam powerhead generates incredible torque to power large centre consoles, day boats, runabouts, luxury cruisers and more. Product innovations include the following: • The world’s first V12 outboard, the 600hp Verado features a naturally aspirated, large displacement, quad cam powerhead that generates impressive torque to get heavy boats out of the hole

and on plane quickly, and to accelerate up to rated speed rapidly • The industry’s first two-speed automatic transmission for an outboard optimises engine rpm according to workload, facilitating powerful acceleration and highly efficient performance at cruise • The industry’s first steerable gearcase on an outboard pivots independently underwater while the engine’s powerhead remains in a space saving fixed position – this provides more room for multiengine configurations and a wider steering angle for agile handling, with help from contra rotating propellers, it also has better ‘bite’ in the water for docking and other close quarters manoeuvring • Several enhanced Mercury technologies work in conjunction to enable the V12 Verado outboard to deliver exceptional fuel economy and range. For more information, visit mercuryma rine.com

With help from the contra rotating propellers, the V12 Verado has better ‘bite’ in the water for docking and other close quarters manoeuvring.

The new 7.6-litre 600hp Verado is the world’s first V12 outboard.

The industry’s first steerable gearcase on an outboard pivots independently underwater while the engine’s powerhead remains in a space saving fixed position – this provides more room for multiengine configurations and a wider steering angle for agile handling. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 65

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seanconlonsfishing@hotmail.com Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 67

C AMPING & outdoors

Having a great time with Zane Harrison Surf School.

More on offer at Agnes * from P68

All stunning locations. If you’re not into cramped buses and herding along with the crowd, Moondoggie is the ideal way to enjoy a leisurely personalised and affordable tour, as you decide what you wish to see and do and Arty makes it happen. Imagine you’re staying a typical week in this pristine area and you’ve booked a tour at the beginning of your stay. Simply talk to Arty about what you have in mind and he’ll show and give you a rundown on the specific locations. Spend the rest of your break well informed with the best knowledge one can only get from a true local outdoors expert. Bushwalking through flora and fauna from the bush to beach in the Deepwater and Eurimbula National Park areas is amazing. Forget about the guesswork and get in contact with Moondoggie by calling Arty on 0407 118 390 or 07 4974 7916. Another brilliant option while in our beautiful area is to organise a surfing lesson for the family with Zane Harrison. Zane is very family focussed and you’ll regularly find him on the beach with his four little ones. This soft-spoken www.bnbfishing.com.au

surfer is a true gentleman and really relates to kids. I’ve watched him share his knowledge of the ocean and surfing to a wide variety of students of all ages. Put him on a wave and he shreds, however he told me that lately his body has slowed him down a bit. That brings a smile to my face as I feel the twinge in my back simply bending to put the leg rope on. I feel Zane is a unique blend of family man who relates to the young. He is an ex-professional surfer who at 18 won the Sunset Beach Rip Curl Cup and finished third in the trials at Pipeline. He was one of the elite surfers sponsored by Rip Curl but a run of horrific injuries had him battling to keep himself in the water. You can see the work ethic he developed while working with his dad building, and the determination of the comebacks in his professional surfing career from injuries and the gentleness from being a family man. The perfect blend to be an ASI accredited surf coach. As soon as our grandkids make it to Agnes, we’ll have them booked in for a session with Zane. If you’re thinking of taking a break on the Discovery Coast, book

early and arrange a surf lesson by calling Zane Harrison Surf School on 0417 939 134. Beginners, intermediate or advanced – he can help them all achieve more out of their surfing. Well, the butterflies are out in full force as they migrate through town and along the beaches, and this usually coincides with a run of mackerel. Time to hit the water for a spot of fishing and enjoy the pristine coastline of the Agnes 1770 region.

Another good catch for Brad from the reef.

Let Moondoggie Beach and Bush Tours show you a few of our hidden locations. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 69

C AMPING & outdoors

In addition to the waterfalls, Springbrook National Park features amazing sights.

A great daytrip is a walk in the park

E are ext r emely lucky here in southeast Queensland to have several national parks within an hour or two driving distance from Brisbane. A place I recently visited was Springbrook National Park, which is in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Host to several waterfalls, canyons, rocky caves and walks, there is plenty to keep you busy for a day, weekend or even a week. On this occasion, we only planned for a daytrip. It was a bit of a test to see how my girls would go bushwalking, as we have a bigger trip planned for the June and July holidays –

more on that in coming months. While you can easily fill a day with walks and lunch at one of the rest areas, if you want to stay for longer you can camp at the Settlement Camping Area, which is located off Carricks Rd. Campsites here are suitable for tents, camper trailers and

campervans. There is a cooking shelter with electric barbecues and toilets are nearby to make your stay a little more comfortable. Springbrook National Park has several walks on offer including the Purling Brook Falls circuit, Warringa Pool track, Twin Falls circuit, Warrie circuit and

Walking clockwise is the best bet for the Purling Brook Falls circuit. Page 70 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

the Goomoolahra Falls lookout track. The walk we chose was the Purling Brook Falls circuit, which was around 4km – though the GPS on my smart watch said it was over 5km. This may have been due to the number of steps taken as there was a mix of terrains, including smooth walk-

ing tracks, rocky walking trails and plenty of stairs. I feel this walk would be achievable by most fitness levels, particularly if you have a break at the bottom and take in the beauty of the falls. It is recommended that you start this walk in a clockwise direc-

* continued P71

Kids enjoying a playground at Bochow Park. www.bnbfishing.com. au

C AMPING & outdoors

A great daytrip is a walk in the park * from P70

tion, which made sense after completing it, as the gradients and the 450 stairs seemed to be more in your favour. Rated as a Grade 3 walking track by National Parks – parks. des.qld.gov.au – they recommend allowing 2-3 hours to complete. This walk provides a good mix of environments, including clifftop lookouts, dense rainforest with massive tress, a magnificent waterfall and pool at the bottom of the falls. There is the option to do the Warringa Pool walk, which is an additional 1km each way from the bottom of the

Purling Brook Falls, though we didn’t do that on this occasion. If you are planning to do a daytrip and are wanting to pick a couple of top things to do, I would suggest making the trek down to Natural Bridge – a section of the park featuring a picturesque rock formation formed by the force of water falling over a basalt cave. It is an awesome sight, the waterfall cascading through the roof and in front of the cave. It is also possible to explore the cave at night and stand beneath a ceiling of tiny green glow-worm lights. Unfortunately, swim-

Pristine Purling Brook Falls. www.bnbfishing.com.au

ming is no longer allowed here, but you can cool off in the nearby council-run Bochow Park, which is where we had lunch. The park offers a large area for the kids to play, with covered shelters, free electric barbecues, toilets, a playground and enough space to kick a ball around. Situated adjacent to the Nerang River, it’s a great spot to rest your legs and tire the kids out. The river is also deep enough to swim in, though it is a little brisk during cooler months. If time permits – and you don’t stop at the Smoketopia BBQ event near the start of the Purling Brook Falls, which was on the weekend we visited – it would be worth heading down to the Best of All lookout track. This track is around 600m long and is situated near the Queensland and NSW border. As with any national park, please stay on the dedicated tracks because more and more people are visiting these places and we need to keep them as pristine as possible. I would also recommend each person carrying a litre or two of water. We also packed a few small snacks for the kids to give them a little extra energy when theirs started to wane.

If you were after a place to cool off Bochow Park is the spot.

There is plenty to see on the 4km walk. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 71

Tableland Fish Stocking Society monitor stocking

HY are we monitoring? The new Queensland fish stocking strategy requires groups to do their own monitoring to meet the requirements of the management plans they put forward to obtain permits to stock. These are issued by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. We are also users of the many amenities of Lake Tinaroo and have an interest in reporting aquatic weed infestations, fish kills and diseases, illegal tree clearing activities and other detrimental issues to those with authority to act on them. We are responsible for the daily inspection of the barrier net when it is deployed to stop fish escaping over the wall in high dam levels. Lighting must be checked, damage repaired and logs removed from against the net.

What are we monitoring? The core measurements of stocking success relate to survival and growth of fingerlings from each mass stocking. Survival can be inferred by the appearance of large peaks in numbers of ‘rats’ in years following stockings. These peaks can be seen in the length frequency plots in Figure 1. The individual cohorts of stocked fish soon merge and become indistinguishable once the fish reach large size, but the continual tag and release by anglers allows the potential longer-term survival of fish to be considered. There are very old fish in the dam. TFSS ‘Barra Bash’ Facebook page recently featured barramundi of 112, 118 and 126cm long that had been tagged 16.2 to 17.3 years previously.

In the 2014 Barra Bash, Zack Wilkinson caught one 123cm long that had been tagged over 20 years previously. Our fingerlings are too small to tag but their growth can be measured by following length frequency peaks through time. This can be done by actively surveying the dam, using electrofishing and from analysing anglers’ catches. Citizen science The annual Barra Bash event provides an ideal snapshot of fish stocks each year, and the growth of the rats can be seen from event to event through time – as per Figure 1. We also trialled the Infofish Track My Fish smartphone app to allow anglers to provide lengths and dates of fish capture with photographs. Soon we will launch another such citizen science app, with signage on the lakeshore.

TFSS can actively survey the dam using non-destructive electrofishing techniques, as the need arises. Page 72 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

Similarly, dates and lengths from anglers’ diaries and tagging activities are very useful to swell the numbers in our length frequency histories. Contact us if you can help with old data at secretary@tinaroobar rabash.com.au Why not tag the fish? Tags are expensive to purchase and the fish we stock are too small to tag. Our philosophy is to minimise all handling of larger fish stunned by the electrofishing, and mostly they are not even removed from the water. Our core funding goes straight into the purchase of fingerlings for stocking. Funding for other items is obtained by applying for small grants, donations, raffles, t‑shirt sales and profits earned by the Barra Bash events. Several of our members are keen taggers in the lake and participate in programs run by SunTag or the Australian National Sportfishing Association. The data from tag recaptures in the lake is sent to our secretary. What is electrofishing? We can actively survey the dam using nondestructive electrofishing techniques, as the need arises. This serves several purposes. First, we can assess the amount of prey – juvenile bony bream, rainbowfish and hardiheads – and the location of predator concentrations – big barra and mouth almighties – prior to stocking, to find the best release sites. Second, we can ac-

curately measure and release the barramundi stunned and brought to the surface. Stunned fish return to their natural state in as little as two minutes after being caught. Electrofishing delivers direct current at high voltage from anodes hanging in the water from a boat to a cathode – the hull. When a fish within a few metres encounters a large enough gradient in electrical potential, it undergoes uncontrolled muscular convulsion towards the anode poles. The TFSS is very fortunate to have available the local services of Terry Vallance at Tropical River Consulting and his electrofishing boat. The surveys are conducted in times of special need, such as low water levels or when we need to find and measure juveniles. What about fish condition? Stocking programs into impoundments can result in the ‘stunting of fish, if food chains are insufficient to support continual addition of fish. This is known as overstocking and is readily evident in both the lack of growth of fish and their physical condition. We are assessing fish condition using a novel technique of virtual measurements from archived photographs – as per Figure 2. The TFSS has purchased a computer and ‘screen calipers’ software to make three measurements from photographs of Tinaroo fish, and also of ‘wild salties’. * continued P73

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Tableland Fish Stocking Society * from P72

This will allow us to compare our stocked fish with other benchmarks, using the exact same measurements and without the stress of handling and weighing fish. How about disease? There are no larger predators and scavengers in Tinaroo, so dead and dying fish float ashore and are highly visible to the general public. In the wild, such old fish would quickly be consumed by bull sharks, crocodiles and gropers, or their carcasses are cleaned up by mud crabs. Our members have noticed these ‘floaters’ occur mainly in very large size classes and mainly in both the cold snaps of winter and the sudden fall in water temperature during flooding inflows in the wet season. In 2019, the TFSS intercepted samples of dying fish from one of these winter events in the Barron Arm, and organised detailed sampling of all body parts by veterinary fish pathologists at both DAF and James Cook University to investigate the causes. An epidemic of an infectious agent such as a virus was fortunately ruled out, and the fish were found to be suffering from a range of internal organ failures and parasite loads. It was concluded that these were old fish with depressed immune systems, stressed by colder temperatures, succumbing to secondary bacterial infections www.bnbfishing.com.au

blooming in minor cuts and scrapes. The full reports on histopathology from this event are held for reference by TFSS, and we are awaiting the results of ageing of the otoliths of the sick fish by DAF staff. Those laboratory analyses were funded by DAF, and we have no such funds to commission future investigations of disease. However, we played an important role in supplying fresh samples and continue to monitor social media for the floaters. We seek photographs with dates and locations from anglers to better understand this phenomenon – which has also been reported from other impoundments. How can you help? We want your rats. Soon TFSS will launch a monitoring app with signage on the lakeshore. Photographs of fish with rough location, dates and lengths are all we require to conduct our monitoring program. In particular, we want the records of your small fish captures. Historical photographs from both fresh and saltwater barramundi catches would also build up the archives and allow us to compare the condition of dam fish with ‘wild’ fish. Brag photos without a measurement mat are fine for this purpose. For more information, contact the TFSS secretary at secretary@ tina

Tags are expensive to purchase and the fish stocked are too small to tag. TFSS philosophy is to minimise all handling of larger fish stunned by the electrofishing, and mostly they are not even removed from the water.

Figure 1 – Growth of stocked fingerlings can be tracked through time. This graph shows that the stocking in the wet season of 2017 produced a cohort of fish in the high 70cm range by late 2020. A second cohort, indicated by the purple circle, appeared in the 2019 Barra Bash. These were probably stocked in 2018. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 73

Wayne – one of Untapped Fishing Expeditions’ most regular clients – got onto a few crackers with the author.

Understanding bass behaviour in local dams

HOPE everyone has had a cracker of a month and been catching plenty of fish. In this article we are going to cover bass behaviour because now is the best time to target Australian bass in impoundments. Bass are currently heading downstream into the widest and deepest parts of Lake Borumba as it’s coming into their breeding period, and this is what they would do in their native habitats. Now, the best thing to do when fishing either Lake MacDonald or Borumba is to locate the main river channel. If you can do that, you can look for large flats or secondary points just off the main channel.

Freshwater Luring by CALLUM MUNRO

This is where bass will sit. Depending on the lake system, bass will sit at different depths. They will try to locate the ideal depth where the temperature is consistent. I find the best depth at Lake MacDonald is around 5-8m of water, as it is a very shallow lake. This seems to be the ideal depth to find bass. Lake Borumba is a little different however, it is much deeper. I usually find that 6-12m is the ideal depth. At this time of year, bass will typically be

Page 74 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

quite slow to react to lures, especially early in the morning. I won’t hit the water until around 1.00pm, and the reason is because I find bass are less reactive to lures early, but as the day progresses the water gets warmer and bass start to play the game big time. If you were to hit these lakes early, I’d opt to go vertical rather than cast because these fish prefer something that sits in their face. Ice jigs or small blades work extremely well. The best ice jig I’ve found is the Smak 12g

Glider in Summertime colour – this is by far my favourite colour. The best blades I’ve found are the 1/4oz Little Max Blades in copper colour – these slay. However, for the last month or so I have been using the 7g Daiwa Steez Vibes in black. I’m sure these will also perform throughout winter. The key when using these lures is to make small hops just off the bottom. Bass will tend to flat line along the bottom at this time of the year, so it’s very hard to see them on your sounders. But keep in mind, they will start to become more active and move as the temperature starts to heat

throughout the day, and become a lot easier to see on your electronics. As the temperature starts to rise, bass will become more active and this is where casting spoons, plastics or blades comes into play. Nories Wasaby or Halco Twisty are the best spoons I’ve found. But when it comes to plastics, I have a new favourite that I’ve been using on charters and will produce the goods throughout winter. The Daiwa Bait Junkie 2.5” Minnow in Whitebait, Baby Bass or GP Chartreuse matched to a 1/2oz or 5/8th jig head to keep it nice and close to the bottom. When it comes to blades, the previously

* continued P75

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Understanding bass behaviour in local dams * from P74

mentioned brands will work a treat. Now, if you’re a mad keen bass fisher, I’ve got great news… if you haven’t already heard. I’ve created a Facebook group that you can join for free. In this group, you’ll get one-on-one help from myself. You can ask me questions by sending a message and I’ll answer them. You can also participate in the monthly photo competition where you could win a Daiwa Prize Pack, plus you can grab my Bass Blueprint which

www.bnbfishing.com.au

is a 17-page e-book designed to help fellow bass anglers out. It’s got four secret bass techniques and the lures to use for them. I’ll also be running Q&As with several great bass anglers. If you’d like to join, feel free to look up this link https://bit. ly/32hxn9p – a Facebook messenger chat will open with myself in order for you to access the group. Also, if you’d like to book a charter with myself on Lake Borumba, call 0412 887 651 or visit my Facebook page and send me a message.

Big Borumba bass will be more common coming into winter.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 75

Skinny water doesn’t equate to skinny fish. This fringe-feeding bass was in prime winter condition.

A reasonable lump of a bass taken while trolling the shallows along the sunny shore during frosty weather.

Winter bass in the shallows

WO decades have passed since I penned my first piece on catching bass in winter for a national glossy magazine. Recent trips to several lakes in southern Queensland from Monto south to the border led me to review cur-

Fishing for Sport by NEIL SCHULTZ

rent tactics to see how much cool water bass fishing has changed in subsequent years. The verdict is that not much has changed. This fish still behaves

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in much the same way and angling methods have evolved very little, but here’s an update for newcomers to winter fishing for bass. Winter is when the huge high-pressure cells that almost cover the continent are most common. The eyes of those high cells bring clear warm days with little to no wind. The few days of that warm spell, as the high’s centre drifts eastwards, can trigger a period of feeding activity in bass regardless of the time of year. When those weather conditions occur in southern Queensland, you’ll often start the day rugged up Eskimostyle though by 10am stripped down fishing in shorts and a t-shirt while slapping on sunscreen. Angling for bass in the wide-open depths

of our large lakes has become well established and a habit for many fishos. Chasing bass in the shallows is less popular but can be very effective. Outside of drought years, most bass lakes receive enough autumn rain to cause a rise in water levels. Bass are often encountered feeding in very shallow water in early winter and during warm periods. An underutilised method for chasing shallow-feeding bass is to slow troll very small shallow-running minnows. Most of this trolling is done in water from 1.5-3m deep. Our most successful lure during the past twenty or so winters has been the shallow Predatek MinMin. It closely resembles the gudgeons upon which bass feed, in both size and shape. Colours in the range – such as Aussie Gold, Bronze Bass, Black Beetle and Rainbow

Trout – have all produced excellent results in Queensland’s bass lakes. There is no place for rod holders in this style of fishing. Trolling water that shallow involves skimming lures over a lot of aquatic vegetation. A handheld outfit loaded with fine braid allows you to feel when a lure is bumping weed or grass. When this happens, either drop the tip back and then raise it higher to clear the weed or knock the motor into neutral to allow the lure to float up. When fishing from a kayak, simply stop paddling – or pedalling – while the lure floats above the vegetation. Both methods work well if the trolling speed is dead slow, say 1-1.5 knots. Next time you wake to see frost on the ground, don’t get back into bed and pull the covers up to your ears, race over to your nearest bass lake and give them a try.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 77

Glenlyon Dam access and funding

HE following could well be classed as a ‘furphy’ or a rumour, but word has it that anglers who fish local freshwater rivers and streams in Queensland could be facing a lockout. I’m led to believe that the use of water and stock reserves in this state are next in line for new reforms. The word ‘biosecurity’ is being used as a very strong way of closing access to regional sections of land and management formats. This also comes back to the cost of looking after these locations throughout Queensland. An option would be to lease said land to local farmers and graziers, thereby passing on the biosecurity of the location, along with fencing and annual weed control, as their expense. It’s a slap in the face for all recreational anglers on both sides

Glenlyon Dam by BRIAN DARE

of the border when it comes to freshwater fishing and other passive recreational pastimes. No doubt at this moment a user-pays format is being considered – where we pay an access fee – as this is what is currently being looked at in NSW and the travelling stock reserves over the border. There is one possible good outcome from this. Having to pay an access fee means a userpays stocked impoundment permit will not be required. “Why?” Well, the state government will have to do the river stocking of native fish instead of local fish stocking associations. “That’s right, isn’t it?” Look… back to reality…

Over the past 16 years, I have seen a major decrease in the espirit de corps within the freshwater section of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland. The loss of biologists with whom we could ring up and communicate with on things fish and fishing has been detrimental – no silence to speak of… apart from research into Murray cod. This two-way communication took place from 2005 to 2019 and involved community science and cross-border cooperation. To actually film for the first time Murray cod breeding in a natural format anywhere in the Murray Darling system was a big achievement in anyone’s book. Now, there is no direct

contact whatsoever with those biologists because they have either been moved on from freshwater… or stood aside. We have contact with one biologist who looks after the stocked impoundment permit scheme funds format. For the rest of freshwater, it’s office staff at the DAF headquarters. “Information – go to Facebook and look up Fisheries Queensland.” Keep in mind, those within the fish restocking groups are predominately over 50 years of age or are getting ready to drop off the perch! “Thank God,” some may say. Unfortunately, we have not seen new young members because the work has been done since 198788, when a vote of no confidence in fisheries was put forward. A rally took place in Brisbane’s main streets. It was seat-of-thepants stuff back then,

GLENLYON DAM TOURIST PARK A great place to fish! • Powered and Unpowered Sites • No Domestic Pets or Generators • Kiosk • Ice • Gas • Petrol • Amenities Blocks and Laundry • BBQs • Hire Boats • EFTPOS • Fishing Permits

14 CABINS bookings necessary

GLENLYON DAM TOURIST PARK via STANTHORPE 4380 Contact Debbie or Brian Dare for more information or for bookings

Ph: 02 6737 5266 E: glenlyondamtouristp@bigpond.com Page 78 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

and the funding for fish restocking was a major concern. Bush ‘n Beach editor Ben Collins’ dad was in the forefront of this type of action. It took a lot of letter writing and pushing to eventually achieve our goal of SIPS funding for fish restocking. Well, it is that time again! Only this time, let’s talk millions. “Really? How?” I’ve written so many times about $0.10 a day for all recreational anglers in Queensland which would equate to $35 million dollars a year for fishing related requirements. All anglers – salt and freshwater. There are over 1 million of us recreational anglers. At a cost of $35 a year, those retired or working, 18 years and over, purchase a fishing licence or permit at a cost of $0.10 a day… or a weekly licence of $10 a week, which would cover tourists in our state. Having this $35 annual cost locked in for the next 10 years will give us $350 million dollars to spend on all things fishing. Ten years on, make it $45 a year, locked in for another 10 years with $450 million to spend on all things fishing. Give saltwater fishing $18 million to spend each year, $3.25 million on freshwater fishing and $5 million for Great Barrier Reef projects. “Yeah, what about administration costs?” You get $3.75 million a year from all the Queensland recrea* continued P79

www.bnbfishing.com. au

A high five for Australian bass closed season high compliance

ecently Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers patrolled Wuruma Dam and were happy to report all fishers complied with recreational fishing requirements and had purchased their stocked impoundment permit scheme permits. Officers also inspected more than 50 freshwater fishing traps and reported that the majority were marked correctly with the fisher’s surname and address on the trap and surname on the float. A small number of abandoned traps were seized to protect wildlife. Wuruma Dam is stocked by the Wuruma Dam Fish Restocking Association Inc, a small group of volunteers dedicated to the restocking of Lake Wu-

ruma located near Eidsvold – a rural township in the heart of the North Burnett region. Several other fish species including barramundi and red claw are also available. The dam is stocked with Australian bass, barramundi, golden perch and silver perch. In 2017/18, 44,848 Australian bass and 28,030 golden perch were stocked from SIPS permit sales. A total of 139,876 barramundi, 501,347 Australian bass, 63,000 silver perch, 4000 sleepy cod and 320,583 golden perch have been stocked in Wuruma Dam from SIPS. Don’t forget to purchase a SIPS permit on the daf.qld.gov.au website before you head out to one of Queensland’s stocked dams and weirs.

Glenlyon Dam access * from P78

tional anglers at $0.10 a day. “Hang on, let’s talk about it for another 10 years.” Ugh! Back to the ranch. Glenlyon Dam is currently sitting at 54 percent capacity with a bit of gunk floating about the storage, as well as a few logs that are being pushed onto the banks. For the rest of May and into June and July, the cod will be out there feeding up for the August to September breeding season. Last year, a few anglers caught several www.bnbfishing.com.au

good fish over 1m and resulted in big grins – from the catchers, not the catch. Note, fish Glenlyon from 5.30-9.30am, then from 11.30am to 2.30pm and evening from 5.30-8.30pm – and use your lights at night, safety first! The above is only a suggestion, though remember, I have only been out here for 30 years. Feel free to phone me on 0455 042 307, though my phone only takes calls – no texts or messages, as it’s flat out taking smoke signals from 1842.

HE annual fishing closure for Australian bass throughout Queensland tidal waters applies from June 1 to August 31, and in all NSW rivers and estuaries for both Australia bass and estuary perch from May 1 to September 1. Closed seasons prevent people from fishing at certain times of the year to protect species at vulnerable times in their life cycle, such as during spawning seasons. NSW Department of Primary Industries stocking and fisheries enhancement operations program leader Jim Harnwell said, “During winter these popular native sport fish species form large

groups and migrate to parts of estuaries with the right salinity to trigger spawning.” “This closure protects the fish species during this spawning period to ensure they can remain a popular catch with recreational fishers for many generations to come,” he said. The zero-bag limit does not apply to Australian bass and estuary perch caught in freshwater dams or in rivers above impoundments, as the fish do not breed in these particular areas. Fish in freshwater impoundments – such as Glenbawn Dam and Glennies Creek Dam in the Hunter Valley, Brogo Dam near Bega and Clarrie

Hall and Toonumbar Dams in the northeast – are stocked fisheries, meaning anglers may continue to fish for these species in these waters all yearround.” However, any Australian bass or estuary perch caught in rivers during the closure must be returned to the water immediately, with the least possible harm to the fish. For more information regarding the annual closure, visit daf. qld.gov.au or dpi.nsw. gov.au

DAM LEVELS CURRENT AS OF 19/5/2021

DAMS

PERCENTAGE

APR FEB JAN MAR MAY Atkinson 5 3 5 3 5 Awoonga 45 47 49 46 43 Bjelke-Petersen * 8 10 11 8 8 Boondooma * 24 25 26 25 23 Borumba * 82 79 79 78 81 Burdekin Falls * 101 104 114 105 102 Callide * 22 21 22 21 22 Cania * 34 37 37 37 31 Coolmunda * 100 18 20 15 101 Dyer/Bill Gunn * 6 3 3 2 5 Eungella * 83 82 82 83 83 Fairbairn * 20 12 13 14 18 Glenlyon * 53 13 14 14 54 Hinze* 104 100 101 101 101 Julius 98 104 98 99 60 Kinchant * 94 83 82 85 98 Leslie * 27 10 11 10 27 Macdonald* 102 99 105 100 101 Maroon * 97 56 55 60 100 Monduran/Fred Haigh * 42 47 46 41 40 Moogerah * 42 14 15 12 42 North Pine/Samsonvale * 100 71 72 70 100 Peter Faust/Proserpine * 64 61 62 63 63 Somerset * 80 78 78 76 75 Teemburra * 99 97 99 98 98 Tinaroo* 77 64 58 74 94 Toonumbar 101 100 101 103 101 Wivenhoe * 40 37 38 36 42 Wuruma * 38 42 43 38 37 Wyaralong* 100 90 91 90 100 For updates on dams, visit sunwater.com.au or seqwater.com.au *This symbol indicates that a Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish these dams.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 79

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Page 80 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 81

MERCURY

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*Based on testing done by Mercury Marine’s Product Research & Development team. Torque data collected on a Dynamometer at cruise speed, an average of 3500-4500 rpm. Fuel economy testing done using a 23 foot Centre Console boat for both 200hp engines, while a 21 foot Bass boat was used for the 250hp testing.

Go online or contact your nearest Mercury Dealer to find out more about the Mercury V6 / V8 range, taking performance, efficiency and reliability to the next level.

Page 82 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 MM0725 V6_V8_BnBFishing_210x297_v3.indd 1

www.bnbfishing.com. au 18/8/20 2:07 pm

Contact or visit us for more information.

AIRLIE BEACH Whitsunday Outboard Centre 17 William Murray Dr, Cannonvale Q 4802 P: 07 4946 7286 E: woc@whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au www.whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au AIRLIE BEACH Whitsunday Outboard Centre BRISBANE 17 William Murray Dr, Cannonvale Q 4802 Coorparoo Marine P: 07 4946 7286 E: woc@whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au 57 Cavendish Rd, Coorparoo Q 4151 www.whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au P: 07 3397 4141 E: info@coorparoomarine.com.au BRISBANE www.coorparoomarine.com.au Karee Marine 1776 Ipswich Motorway, Rocklea Q 4106 BRISBANE P: 07 3875 1600 Karee Marine E: sales@kareemarine.com.au www.kareemarine.com.au 1776 Ipswich Motorway, Rocklea Q 4106 P: 07 3875 1600 BRISBANE NORTH E: sales@kareemarine.com.au Holt Marine www.kareemarine.com.au 25 Queens Rd, Everton Hills Q 4053 P: 07 3353 1928 BRISBANE NORTH E: info@holtmarine.com.au Holt Marine www.holtmarine.com.au 25 Queens Rd, Everton Hills Q 4053 BRISBANE P: 07 3353 SOUTH 1928 Australian Marine Centre E: info@holtmarine.com.au 3491 Pacific Highway, Slacks Creek Q 4127 www.holtmarine.com.au P: 07 3808 7333 E: info@amcboats.com.au www.amcboats.com.au www.bnbfishing.com.au

CAIRNS Aussie Marine 5 Hannam St, Bungalow Q 4870 P: 07 4033 8800 E: sales@aussiemarine.com.au www.aussiemarine.com.au BUNDABERG Adrians Marine Centre CAPALABA 28 Ritchie St, Bundaberg Q 4670 Mike’s Marine P: 07 4153 1819 E: Smith adriansmarinecentre@bigpond.com 9 St, Capalaba Q 4157 www.adriansmarinecentre.com.au P: 07 3390 3418 E: admin@mikesmarine.com.au CAIRNS www.mikesmarine.com.au Aussie Marine 5 Hannam St, Bungalow Q 4870 GLADSTONE P: 07 4033 8800 Ship & Sale Gladstone E: sales@aussiemarine.com.au www.aussiemarine.com.au Gladstone Marine Centre, Gladstone Q 4680 P: 07 4972 7111 CAPALABA E: sales@shipandsail.com.au Mike’s Marine www.shipandsail.com.au 9 Smith St, Capalaba Q 4157 P: 07 3390 3418 GOLD COAST E: admin@mikesmarine.com.au Nitro Marine www.mikesmarine.com.au 167 Currumburra Rd, Ashmore Q 4214 GOLD COAST P: 07 5532 5812 Nitro Marine E: sales@nitromarine.com.au 167 Currumburra Rd, Ashmore Q 4214 www.nitromarine.com.au P: 07 5532 5812 E: sales@nitromarine.com.au www.nitromarine.com.au

GOLD COAST Onshore Marine Horizon Shores Marina, Woongoolba Q 4207 P: 07 5546 2480 E: onshoremarine@ozemail.com.au www.onshoremarine.com.au GOLD COAST Onshore Marine IPSWICH Horizon Shores Marina, Woongoolba Q 4207 Ipswich P: 07 5546Marine 2480 Centre E: onshoremarine@ozemail.com.au 45 Huxham St, Raceview Q 4305 www.onshoremarine.com.au P: 07 3294 3944 E: enquiries@ipswichmarine.com.au IPSWICH www.ipswichmarine.com.au Ipswich Marine Centre 45 Huxham St, Raceview Q 4305 ROCKHAMPTON P: 07 3294 3944 Rifen Boats E: enquiries@ipswichmarine.com.au www.ipswichmarine.com.au 6 Dooley St, North Rockhampton Q 4701 P: 07 4927 9150 ROCKHAMPTON E: rifen.boats@bigpond.com Rifen Boats www.rifenmarine.com.au 6 Dooley St, North Rockhampton Q 4701 P: 07 4927 9150 YEPPOON E: rifen.boats@bigpond.com Sea Breeze Marine www.rifenmarine.com.au 150 Scenic Hwy, Yeppoon Q 4703 YEPPOON P: 07 4933 6366 Sea Breeze Marine E: info@seabreezemarine.com.au 150 Scenic Hwy, Yeppoon Q 4703 www.seabreezemarine.com.au P: 07 4933 6366 E: info@seabreezemarine.com.au www.seabreezemarine.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 – Page 83

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1776 Ipswich Road, Rocklea | Call 07 3875 1600 Page 84 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, June 2021 www.bnbfishing.com. au