BNB Fishing mag | July 2018 by bnbfishing

Wicked winter ﬁshing action

450 Includes GST

July 2018

Epic expedition to Kenn Reefs

Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 29, Number 7

How to catch flathead The humble yellowfin bream Trips to the tip of Cape York

Guide to Gold Coast snapper Planning for a Fraser trip Moreton Bay winter whiting Boat reviews • Stessl 485 Apache Pro • Stessco Catcher 449 Limited • McLay 651 CrossXover Hardtop ISSN 1832-4517

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 1

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For more details contact your local Tohatsu dealer or visit Page 2 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

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Inside this month Winter species

Jewfish

P30

P24

Big doggies

Freshwater action

P41

We employ a simple technique consisting of 9lb line, a running sinker, swivel, 60cm of trace and a small long-shank whiting hook baited with a little strip of fresh squid. On average, over a few hours the clients are taking home 40 to 50 whiting, which is plenty for a feed between a couple of people. We’ve been keeping the

OUR COVER

DANE RADOSEVIC caught this monster coral trout on a soft plastic around the shallow edges of Kenn Reefs. For more amazing Kenn Reefs captures, see GREG LAMPRECHT’S article, Page 41.

Ben Collins Daniel Tomlinson Ben Collins, Ashleigh Bartlett Jo Hendley

Phone (07) 3286 1833 Fax (07) 3821 2637 Email: ben@bnbfishing.com.au Internet: www.bnbfishing.com.au PO Box 387, Cleveland, Qld 4163 Unit 2, 39 Enterprise Street, Cleveland, Qld 4163 AFTA PRINTER: Rural Press, Ormiston DISTRIBUTION BY: Fairfax Max. recommended retail price $4.50 (includes GST). 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 to ensure the correctness of their claims and statements. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. G IN

FISH ING ’S

E TUR FU

☛ continued P4

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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.

AUST

AUGUST edition will be on sale in newsagents from July 27. See subscriber offer on Page 68 to go in the draw to win a mega Okuma prize pack including two spinning combos. Total value over $350!

bigger ones and letting the smaller ones go. It’s definitely not hard work, you just need wind and tide running in the same direction for a nice little drift over the banks out in the middle of Moreton Bay. I’ll be targeting whiting over the next few months because nothing beats a lovely feed of crumbed whiting fillets in my family. The other fish around in numbers is the humble flathead. So far these fish have been active on both the high and low tides. Areas to look around include the southern Moreton Bay islands down towards the Logan River mouth and Canaipa Passage. I dare say over the next few months they will be chewing all through the Broadwater and Jumpinpin area. These fish are quite happy to take a soft plastic if you enjoy casting for them, as well as trolled small hard-body lures if you prefer a more relaxed approach. You will need a 2-4kg graphite rod with a 2000/2500-size spin reel, 6lb line, 12lb leader, a handful of 1/8oz and 1/4oz jig heads and a few different plastics and away you go. Flathead are great fish on which to learn about soft plastic fishing as they are quite willing to take lures. The equipment you need is not going to break the bank. Other species biting quite well lately are squire, bream and tailor. A few squire have been caught on soft plastics and soft vibes. We have been using a

ATI ON

by SEAN CONLON

The anglers who have wanted to take a feed of fish have come home with a nice bag of winter whiting, flathead, squire, bream and tailor. Our winter whiting have been of reasonable size and plenty of them.

Southern Moreton Bay

HE fishing over the past month has been pretty good but unfortunately my weekday bookings have been fairly slow and we haven’t had a lot of charters out on the water, but those who have gone out have done quite well.

Southern Moreton Bay ..............by Sean Conlon ...................................P3 Cathedrals off Straddie .............by Bill Corten .......................................P6 The humble yellowfin bream...by Brian Webb.....................................P9 Planning a Fraser Island trip ...by Sean ‘Skip’ Thompson ...............P12 Fishing tuition for flathead .......by Sean Conlon .................................P14 Getting back into fly fishing.....by Peter Herbst..................................P15 Moreton Bay whiting .................by Mark Templeton ..........................P18 BNB Fishing in the digital age ... by Ben Collins .........................................P18 Fish n Chicks ................................by Syl Cron .........................................P20 Flathead around Brisbane ........by Keith Stratford..............................P21 Gold Coast snapper......................by Wayne ‘Youngy’ Young ..............P23 Fish light for a winter bite ........by Darren Rama ................................P24 Tricks of the trade .......................by Brad Smith ....................................P25 Big bream on bait .......................by Gavin Dobson ...............................P26 Ballina round-up ............................. by Brett Hyde ...........................................P27 Evans Head bream......................by Gary ‘Squidgie’ Palmer..............P28 Recipe ............................................by Melissa Frohloff ..........................P28 Just Jew ........................................by Tye Porter ......................................P30 Sunshine Coast............................by Wade Qualischefski...................P31 Bottom bashing off Fraser ........by Noal Kuhl ......................................P33 Squid Rowe Trophy ....................by Mick Clutterbuck ........................P34 Hervey Bay....................................by Tri Ton .............................................P35 Preparation the key ...................by Joel Johnson................................P38 Burnett River bream ...................by Brad Young ...................................P39 Gladstone fishing trip ................by Lachie Baker ................................P40 Epic Kenn Reefs adventure ......by Greg Lamprecht ...........................P41 Wilson Fishing puzzle page .....................................................................P42 Stessl 485 Apache Pro...............by Ben Collins ...................................P43 Insights into insurance..............by Nautilus Marine ..........................P44 Stessco Catcher 449 LTD...........by Ben Collins ...................................P45 McLay 651 CrossXover ..............by Daniel Tomlinson ........................P46 Charter Directory ................................................................................. P48,49 Canoe sailing ...............................by Dan Owbridge..............................P50 Gladstone Region ........................ by Gary Churchward .......................P51 Capricorn Coast...........................by John Boon .....................................P52 Glorious Stanage Bay ................by Von Ireland....................................P53 Top end fishing options .............by Helen Abdy ...................................P54 Trip to the tip ................................by Todd Eveleigh ..............................P55 Doing the Cape – part three .... by ‘Billabong’ Bazz Lyon ................P56 Off-roading 101 ............................by Jase Andrews..............................P57 Outdoors ........................................by Paul ‘Chief’ Graveson ................P58 Camping at Inskip Point ..............by Craig Tomkinson .........................P59 Freshwater Impoundments ..... by Matthew Langford......................P60 Monduran Dam barra ............... by Donna Gane .................................P61 Waking up green fish .................... by Neil Schultz ........................................P62 Red claw at Callide Dam ..........by Glenn Hobson...............................P63 Readers Forum.............................................................................................P64 Wivenhoe fishing comp ............................................................................P65 Glenlyon Dam...............................by Brian Dare.....................................P66 Trading Post.................................................................................................P67 Subscription form ......................................................................................P68

FIS

Flathead and squire in southern Moreton Bay

P60

PRO TE CT

A 40cm southern bay squire hooked on a Zerek Live Flash Minnow Wriggly.

HAT a cool start to winter we have had in southeast Queensland – well most of the state and the southern part of the continent.

HIN G T R A D E

Despite it being a bit harder to get out of a warm bed and face the bonechilling breeze, the awesome fishing on offer has made it a little easier. I’m not sure if it is the cold snap, cracker prawn season or some other variable, but flathead in Moreton Bay, the Jumpinpin region and Broadwater have started to fire. Hopefully this hot bite continues through to the annual Gold Coast Flathead Classic, which will be held in the last week of September. This year the comp is scheduled during the first week of the Queensland school holidays, and if you have never fished it before, it’s worth considering. It is a well-run event with plenty of prizes and a focus on catch and release. Being solely a catch and release competition, all fish are returned to the water to fight another day. Educating people about this form of fishing and how to handle fish carefully is great for the fishing industry. Speaking about educating the wider fishing fraternity, I think the time has come for Queensland to embrace the idea of an all-waters fishing licence. Just to make it clear, this is not a tax, but a fee where most of the money goes back into the recreational fishing industry. We currently have such a system in the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme for certain freshwater impoundments, but it makes sense to have an all-waters fishing licence. If managed like the SIPS scheme where say 15 percent goes towards administration fees and the rest back into the industry, I see it as a good thing. An all-waters licence is currently mandatory for fishing in NSW and that system seems to be working pretty well. Funds can be used for setting up wash-down facilities at boat ramps, constructing fish-cleaning tables, buying out commercial licences when there is an oversupply, creating artificial reefs and various other things to improve recreational fishing in Queensland. Submitting your details to buy a licence would also mean Fisheries Queensland could collate a massive database of email/postal addresses, which would be very useful when transmitting information and asking for feedback. This can only be a good thing. I know some people will say: “Why should I pay to go fishing?” Well, try to see this as paying to improve your fishing experience. And the price of the licence wouldn’t be much. Currently it costs $85 for a threeyear NSW fishing licence. I think this is affordable, and when you fish in NSW you can see where your money has gone. Queensland is meant to be the ‘smart state’ and I think embracing this idea is not only a smart move but the right way to go moving forward. I see unlimited potential with the addition of artificial reefs, increased stocking of native impoundment species and the list goes on. Ben Collins

May prizewinners Congratulations to Steven Otto, Victoria Point; Michael Harris, Cleveland; Nathan Weimer, Meringandan; and Rod Wylie, Stanthorpe who have each won a SoftGaff AccuMat fish-measuring device valued at $99!

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 3

A 38cm squire caught on a Zerek Fish Trap.

Plenty of nice flathead of this size are Young James with a lizard that ate a quite willing to take a lure. Zerek Tango Shad.

This young fella was stoked with his This solid lizard hit a Zerek Ripper Diver first-ever flathead on a soft plastic lure. in 6m of water.

This chunky flathead was captured on a Zerek Live Cherabin.

Flathead and squire in southern Moreton Bay ☛ from P3

3-6kg rod with a 3000-size spin reel spooled with 10lb braid and 12lb leader and jig heads weighing 1/4oz and 3/8oz. When it comes to soft plastics, anything works, from a curl grub to a jerk shad or paddle tail. Squire are not fussy. During winter, the early morning bite when we don’t have too much run in the tide is ideal. Sending out a berley trail and floating back lightly weighted squid, pilchards or even a fresh strip of mullet has been key to catching extra species to put in the Esky to take home. If putting them in the Esky is not your thing, then just give them a kiss and send them back, as Rexy would say.

When chasing these fish on bait, use a 3-6kg rod, 3000-size spin reel, 12lb mono line and 15lb mono leader with a running ball sinker down to the swivel. Ganged 2/0 or 3/0 hooks are perfect for baits such as pilchards and strips of mullet, while if using banana prawns with a strip of squid I like a longshank 3/0 whiting hook. It’s very important you always use the lightest sinker possible to get you down to where the fish are. Regardless of what fish you’re chasing, at the moment I think it’s quite important you get out for the early morning bite. So if chasing flathead, try to time your session with a low tide or high tide as the sun is coming up. If you chase snapper on

bait or plastics, try to coincide your session with the sun coming up and the tide a couple of hours before the top. For whiting, I like to fish in the middle of the tide when I get a bit more run over the banks. If that part of the tide coincides with the early morning bite, then I’ll be

chasing whiting anyway. If you’d like to join me on a charter, give me a call on 0433 732 310, check out moretonbay charters.com.au and don’t forget to visit the Moreton Bay Charters Facebook page to see all our recent catches. Until next month, stay safe on the water.

A few nice squire are out there for the fishos willing to get up early in the morning.

No line fishing within 100m of prawn farms along the Logan River Logan River

100m

No ﬁshing zone

100m

Inlet channel

100m

Prawn farm

Heavy penalties apply Report illegal ﬁshing – call 13 25 23 or visit www.daf.qld.gov.au/wsd CS8193 04/18

Page 4 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

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Fishing restrictions in place along Logan River

ISHING restrictions are in place around all prawn farms in the Logan River region. Because fishing near these farms could introduce serious diseases, line fishing is prohibited with-

in 100m of prawn farm water intake and outlet channels and all fishing is prohibited in drainage channels surrounding these prawn farms. Crab pots, cast nets and yabby pumps can be used

A prawn with white spot disease. Photo: Dr Ben Diggles

in waterways adjacent to prawn farms, unless signage states otherwise. Raw prawns, yabbies and marine worms cannot be moved out of the white spot disease movement restriction area. The fishing restrictions apply to waterways surrounding prawn farms in Alberton, Coomera, Gilberton, Helensvale, Hope Island, Jacobs Well, Norwell, Ormeau, Pimpama, the southern Moreton Bay Islands, Stapylton, Steiglitz and Woongoolba. Why are the fishing restrictions in place? Prawn farms are highrisk areas for aquatic diseases.

Fishing in these areas may increase the likelihood of a disease being introduced to the farm if contaminated bait is used. How long will the restrictions be in place? The fishing restrictions are in place indefinitely. Where exactly are the restricted areas? The restrictions apply to all prawn farms in the Logan River region. A map showing the locations of where fishing is now restricted is available at daf.qld.gov.au/wsd What is white spot disease? White spot disease is a highly contagious viral infection that affects crus-

taceans such as prawns, yabbies and marine worms. When found in highintensity production areas such as prawn farms, white spot disease results in the rapid mortality of prawns. The virus that causes white spot disease does not affect humans at all, so prawns are safe to eat. How do I report illegal fishing? If you see illegal fishing, please report it via the 24-hour Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116, phone the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries on 13 25 23 or visit daf.qld. gov.au/wsd

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Final guidelines for vessel tracking released

ATELLITE technology will be used to help protect Queensland’s fishing industry under final vessel tracking guidelines released recently. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said vessel tracking would provide critical information to assist with on-water compliance, validating logbook data to improve the accuracy of information and assist with monitoring the sustainability of fish stocks. “The new Vessel Tracking Policy and Guidelines set out the rules and requirements and a list of approved vessel tracking units, which describes units and data plans approved

for certain fisheries, with a focus on net, line and crabbing,” he said. “Vessel tracking will be required for net, reef line and crabbing this year, and by 2020 for other activities. “Vessel tracking is a key element of the Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2017 – 2027 released in July 2017, paving the way for a world-class fisheries management system.” Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority chairman Dr Russell Reichelt said the Great Barrier Reef Blueprint for Resilience highlighted the Authority’s support for implementing vessel tracking on all commercial fishing vessels operating in the marine park.

“We believe vessel tracking is an important step to increasing compliance with marine park zoning rules,” Dr Reichelt said. “Given that accumulated pressures are impacting the Reef’s resilience, the benefits of protecting no-take zones by enhancing compliance are more important than ever before.” Minister Furner said the trawl fishery has had vessel tracking for 15 years, with many commercial fishers saying it was the best thing ever introduced. “It’s helped them demonstrate the sustainability of their fishery, particularly operating in a World Heritage Area,” he said.

“The Vessel Tracking Policy and Guidelines were finalised following feedback on draft policy and guidelines released for consultation in January 2018. “Fisheries Queensland met with more than 280 people over the consultation period and received numerous responses to a survey, emails, letters and phone calls. “The Government has addressed concerns raised in the feedback about costs, protection of people’s location data and ensuring flexibility if vessel tracking units malfunction. “The government, with assistance from the Authority, has set aside up to $3 million to help fishers pay for set-up costs.

“Fishers will be able to apply for rebates through the Queensland Rural Industry Development Authority.” Details of the scheme will be released in coming months. “The government is also working with data providers to ensure the best possible data plans are available to reduce the costs,” Minister Furner said. “We have also finished a trial of smaller, more affordable units and a number have been added to the list of approved units. “Price Waterhouse Coopers has been commissioned to undertake an independent audit of the safeguards in place to protect individual vessels’ tracking data.”

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HE Queensland Government will fund two innovative companies to develop high-tech systems to monitor commercial fishing location, effort and catch.

Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said Anchor Lab and Fish-e had been awarded funding of $278,300 under the Advance Queensland Small Business Innovation Research program. “The two companies will develop systems that include location tracking, smart sensors and image recognition of fish species, which are designed to replace slow and costly manual logbooks with automated real-time monitoring,” Mr Furner said. “This innovative project has benefits for Queensland’s commercial fishers, the government and community. “Automated technology will save fishers time and money by reducing the burden to record their daily catch and fishing effort in traditional hardcopy logbooks. “Fisheries Queensland will receive more accurate information in real time rather than waiting for logbooks to be sent in and data entered, giving the community greater confidence in the quality of data.” Innovation Minister Kate Jones said the SBIR program seeks out-of-thebox solutions to challengwww.bnbfishing.com. au

es across government. “The SBIR program is a great way for government to engage with innovators to solve some of the toughest challenges we face here in Queensland,” Ms Jones said. “We’re helping innovators to develop new intellectual property, which they can take to a broader market, growing their businesses and creating jobs. “Solving this problem will save time and money for commercial fishers and give the community greater confidence that the information about catch details is accurate and timely.” Fish-e is a Brisbanebased startup and Anchor Lab is a small business attracted from Denmark, who will be setting up business in Queensland and working with local contractors as part of the SBIR challenge. Fish-e director Karina Mauer said her company was pleased to be working with the Queensland Government to test the feasibility of its units within the Queensland fisheries market. “We always look to use innovative solutions to get the best outcome for our clients and the SBIR program gives us the chance to engage with the Queensland Government where as a startup we may not have been able to in the past,” Ms Mauer said. Anchor Lab co-founder Brian Cowan said he was excited about participat-

ing in the SBIR challenge. “It will give us a great opportunity to investigate how certain new technologies can be applied to the fisheries environment, while further enabling the sustainable management of important resources to local communities,”

Mr Cowan said. The two companies will test the feasibility of their solutions over the next six months and be eligible for up to an additional $500,000 to demonstrate proof of concept over 12 months. This will include trial-

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CONTACT YOUR NEAREST DEALER BRISBANE (NORTH)

BRISBANE (BAYSIDE)

Brisbane Yamaha Bruce Highway Burpengary, QLD T: 3888 1727

Wynnum Marine 31 Fox Street Wynnum, QLD T: 3396 9777

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Tony Kickert with a 90cm snapper from the southern end of the Cathedrals.

BRISBANE

BRISBANE (SOUTH)

A closer look at the Cathedrals

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HE Cathedrals area, located southeast of Point Lookout, is a broad expanse of reef characterised by many steep pinnacles, sharp ledges, gravelly low-profile bottom and interesting drop-offs. On the right days it can be an adrenalin rush fishing the region with live baits for big jewies, snapper and cobia on some of the isolated steep pinnacles. On other days it can be a matter of grafting away because there are plenty of good parrot,

Offshore by BILL CORTEN

big pearl perch and a broad range of cod and other species. Along the deeper sections it is even possible to catch the occasional bar cod that comes in from the much deeper waters to the east they mostly frequent. Some good long drifts on the flat hard sections of reef and

Chris Wright was happy with this 60cm pearl perch taken while drifting the wire weed flats in about 70m on the Cathedrals.

Ben McKee captured a 55cm venus tuskfish from the northern end of the Cathedrals.

Page 6 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

wire weed can produce amazing fish at times, including big amberjack on the prowl around any of the large bait aggregations you come across, and providing you are on or around reefy structure you are in the game for great fish. There is also the added incentive of visiting the wave buoy in the area for a dolphinfish in season. The buoy is tethered in deep water out on the eastern side where it is inside the shipping lane and in a rocky area that trawlers do not frequent. So generally speaking, miles of ground inside the line of the buoy can be fished and explored. In the old days we used to run out in a roughly southeasterly direction from the gorge at Point Lookout and look for the steep cathedral spire-type pinnacles to appear on the old black and white sounder. We would either take some quick landmarks or drop a marker buoy and sound around to then fish the part of the reef showing most promise and gradually work further afield as the day went on. It didn’t take long to build a good list of landmarks in the ‘bible’ of sketches and even photos of prominent features using zoom lenses. Depths ranged from 45m to close to 80m but the old drilling track reef in about 45m that is inside the line of pinnacles we mostly fished became a perennial favourite before we even knew what it was called. We used to call it “Jew Ledge” because it was home to some pretty amazing jewfish and excellent snapper and was easy to line up using the mining track in relation to Mount Hardgrave. It doesn’t fish so well these days because it is so well known but plenty of other equivalents are in the area for you to explore, fish and make your own luck from. With GPS it is easy to map out the area identifying individual pinnacles and ridges of reef and it has proven to be an area far more extensive than we originally knew. That whole area seaward of Point Lookout can cop a lot more current than you would normally get off the Moreton Island reefs, so it is best accessed on a day of slight cur☛ continued P8

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 7

A closer look at the Cathedrals ☛ from P6

James Allan landed a PB jewie from the southern Cathedrals.

Daniel Kickert scored a Cathedrals cod.

rent and light breeze. If current is running, fishing the inner lines of the Cathedrals works and often if you push on a bit further past there, less current is generally encountered as North Stradbroke Island curves inward towards Jumpinpin. In fact, the ground down that way that morphs on from the Cathedrals into the 28 and 36-fathom reefs often has green water and a good mixed population of big and small snapper, cobia, jewfish and teraglin. I recently did a couple

of trips that took in the southern end of the One Mile through into the Cathedrals and just beyond to obtain some up-to-date photos to showcase what is available in the area. The trips were just before and after the full moon, which is when I prefer to work that area. For the record, the Cathedrals does not fish well at night, but the areas immediately south and north certainly do. On both trips the parrotfish were biting very well and in reasonable numbers.

Luke Trigar with an excellent pearl perch from the Moreton Island 37-fathom reef.

The best was a 55cm fish caught by Ben McKee and the majority were solid fish that anyone would be very happy with. A detour east to the 50-fathom ground just to test the water to put some kingies and pearlies into the icebox saw us in three knots-plus of current and after the first drift of 750m in no time, the consensus was to head back in out of the current. We came in to a different section of reef about a kilometre south of where we’d been fishing and quickly identified three nice pinnacles in a line along a raised rock platform, with plenty of interconnecting flat-bottomed wire weed country. Nice fish were holding on this ground, the best being Chris Wright’s 60cm pearl perch caught on a livie. The dairy farmer from Allora had been having a good day on the fish and didn’t waste any time rubbing it in to the crew either, offering them plenty of fishing tips. A few days later I was down that way again after Tony Kickert asked me to get his gold medal-winning, Australian basketball-playing cousin Dan-

MORETON ISLAND FISHING CLASSIC 2018

iel out for a fish before he took up playing duties with the Sydney Kings. I’d been following Dan at the Brisbane Bullets and got a buzz out of watching him smashing baskets for Australia in the recent Commonwealth Games. A gold medal winner at the games, Dan turned things into gold out on the water too. Because Dan is a tall lad at 6’10”, his biggest problem was not with the fishing, but avoiding hitting his head on the rod holders of the rocket launcher on my 685 Cruise Craft. He was a champion companion on the boat and in the rarefied air up there spotted our first whales for the season and quickly settled into a fishing rhythm with some nice snappery squire, parrot, moses perch and cod. His cousin Tony stole the show though, with a cracking maori cod from 60m at the northern end

of the Cathedrals and a 90cm snapper later in the day. A cracking fish, it couldn’t resist a livie floated down on an isolated pinnacle at the southern end of the Cathedrals not far from Jew Ledge. An abundance of baitfish was present and the livie on the ganged hooks couldn’t evade the lurking predatory snapper. Close by on another pinnacle, James Allan landed a 120cm jewie that went 13kg on a paternoster and the boys were happy to call it a day not long after with a very good mixed bag of fish and some lasting memories from our first whales for the season off Point Lookout. A word of advice if fishing the area is to avoid the strong northerlies because wind and current travelling in the same direction can make the fishing difficult and a hard run home into the northerly can take the gloss off the day.

A sounder image of pinnacles on the Inner Cathedrals taken while cruising along at 23km/h.

29 AUGUST TO 2ND SEPTEMBER 2018 8

Good snappery squire such as this one caught by Daniel are available while fishing the bottom in the vicinity of raised structure throughout the Cathedrals.

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Tyler Beattie captured this horse 41cm bream on bread.

The humble yellowfin bream

ELLOWFIN bream remains a staple fish species for many in southeast Queensland.

Most of my bream fishing is done on the western side of Moreton Bay or at Jumpinpin and at night during late autumn and winter. The legal size for yellowfin bream in Queensland is 25cm, with a limit of 30 fish per person. Really, the legal size should be 30cm, as a 25cm bream is a small fish and not worth filleting in my opinion. How many of you think the same? Like any fish I target, I like to have an understanding of the species. I like to understand why things are the way they are and find the underlying patterns.

Moreton Bay by BRIAN WEBB

Yellowfin bream are endemic to the east coast, with the spawning period from around July to August, occurring near surf bars. Jumpinpin is the best-known spawning location in the Moreton Bay region. Whether the proportion of adult fish participating in the annual spawning migration varies between years is unknown. So what does all that mean? Let’s look at the movements of adult fish. While they can be found anywhere, from October to April they tend to be in rivers and creeks.

The condition of fish in October tends to be poor, so the name ‘razorbacks’ came into play in years gone by. If we get substantial rain over summer, they end up highly dispersed. As daylight shortens, the fish from May onwards will commence their migration run to their spawning locations, though some may have already moved downriver, for example in the Brisbane River in April. Not all fish participate in the migration, so some fish are available in the creeks all year round. It is likely that some fish go back and forth to the spawning locations during winter from adjacent areas. Bream do not use the open expanse of the bay but tend to hug the shoreline, and this is where they are targeted. When fishing the shorelines, you are fishing along the bream’s migratory path, hence they are hungry and will readily take a bait. Why do they migrate to the surf bars? By spawning on the flood tide, they maximise the dispersal of larvae through a system. From September onwards, most of the bream will be heading back to the creeks.

This was a good start to the day.

☛ continued P10

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A whopper 42cm bream from Mud Island.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 9

The humble yellowfin bream ☛ from P9

Whitebait are good for both bream and flathead.

There are no secret spots in the bay. Over the years I have targeted bream around Victoria Point, Mud Island, the Brisbane River, Nudgee Creek, Dunwich and from the Logan River mouth to the Pin.

A nice bream landed while walking the bank along Tiger Mullet Channel.

The morning after a night at Mud Island.

Wherever you look for places to fish, it always pays to search around at low tide for structure you can return to at high tide. Isolated stands of mangroves can be good but they can also be loaded with small fish. If you are in an area with plenty of structure, you should look at finding patches of rocky ground somewhat different to the surrounding areas, or patches of rubble. I only fish at night because this is when the bigger tides occur in winter. Winter also brings clearer water and big bream can be timid during daylight. I have never found any differences in catch rates between the full and new moon periods. Which is surprising, given the shallowness of the locations I fish. There is no best bait, and what works one night may be hopeless the next. I never go bream fishing with only one bait, but my bait choices are anything but random. The key with baits is to have a variety. I will never go without baits including fresh mullet and chicken breast. These are great, particularly mullet fillets if small fish are around. I always have whitebait or pilchards handy too. Some nights the bream will really go after whitebait above anything else. The advantage of using these baits is they in-

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crease your chances of a flathead and you’ll often catch tailor as well. While it is common to be asked what bait you are using, rarely does anyone ask what size sinker you are using. However, sinker size is just as, if not more, important than bait. Depending on the night, I will use anything from a 4 ball to an unweighted bait. If fishing around rocky locations, in most circumstances I would not use anything above a 2 ball. If you use the same sinker for the whole session, you have either been lucky to find the fish and the fish have stayed put, or you are not fishing optimally. In my experience you can fish too heavy and you can fish too light. If I had to choose a single sinker, it would be a 0 ball. When I am not catching fish, I regularly change my sinker. You always want to get your bait to the fish with the minimum amount of lead, though you still need to reach the fish. Early in the flood tide and after it has turned

I will often use a heavy sinker in order to cast further. At the top of the tide I favour an unweighted bait or a 00 ball sinker. However, I will try all options to find the fish and hopefully present them a bait in a way that won’t spook them. My preference is for a good-quality hook. I have bought the cheap bulk packs and found the points are poor and don’t hold up well. I now use a 1/0-2/0, especially with flesh baits because I am trying to target the larger fish. For two-hook rigs, I use penetrator or suicidestyle hooks. I have also experimented with braid and mono and found over a period that monofilament outfished braid at a ratio of three to two. But as all my reels have braid on them these days, I run a longer leader to offset the braid. I typically use 10lb braid with a 12lb fluorocarbon leader. Line colour doesn’t matter because I am fishing at night. Fish do not know how much you paid for your rod and reel.

You do, however, need a rod and a reel that matches the line class you are using. I have a general preference for Alvey reels, but also use spinning reels. Spinning reels costing about $50 catch just as many fish as the $200 ones. I prefer rods with plenty of flex. Stay away from the dreaded chain store rod and reel combos because the rods almost never fit the bill in terms of being light enough and tend not to be well balanced with the reels. I prefer to fish where there is little or no light and try to keep bright lights off the water if possible. At times I have used a chemical light stick attached to the end of the rod. If you put the light stick in the freezer when you get home, you’ll get another trip out of it. I am not the first to say this, but wherever possible, fish with a slack line. There is no need to keep the line tight. You don’t want a fish feeling the resistance of the rod the instant it grabs the bait.

Fishers hooked on proposed legislation changes

ISHERS want heavier penalties and stronger compliance powers to tackle black marketing. Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said respondents to a public survey expressed overwhelming support for proposed changes to modernise the Fisheries Act 1994. “We received more than 230 responses during public consultation, with more than 90 percent of respondents agreeing that the enforcement powers of fisheries inspectors and penalties to address serious fisheries offences such as black marketing should be strengthened,” he said. “There is evidence that illegal fishing operations are becoming more sophisticated and organised, particularly in high-value fisheries such as mud crab, shark fin, coral trout, spanish mackerel and tropical rock lobster. “Black marketing has the potential to undermine the viability of commercial fishing, impact on legitimate seafood businesses and lead to unsustainable fishing practices.”

Minister Furner said survey respondents also supported other proposed amendments to the Act to modernise the objectives and deliver more responsive decision-making. “More than 80 percent of respondents agreed the objective of the Fisheries Act should be modernised and the interests of key stakeholder groups recognised,” he said. “Additionally, more than 55 percent of respondents agreed the roles of the minister responsible for fisheries and the chief executive in managing Queensland’s fisheries be clarified, and more responsive decisionmaking through the use of harvest strategies be allowed for. “More than 84 percent of respondents agreed a reduction in the complexity and removal of redundant provisions was required. “Some people expressed concern that possession limits might change. “It’s important to understand that the proposal is only for Fisheries Queensland to be able to adjust possession limits if it is outlined in a pre-agreed harvest strategy that has been approved fol-

lowing public consultation.” Mr Furner said the proposed changes to the Fisheries Act 1994 were needed to provide the legislative foundations to support the implementation of the Queensland Government’s Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2017-2027. “The Palaszczuk Government is committed to protecting the state’s valuable fisheries resources and delivering a world-class fisheries management system through the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2017-27,” he said. “Feedback received from recreational and commercial fishers will play an integral role in updating the Act to meet community expectations for fishing laws that are contemporary, practical and simple to understand. “The results of consultation will be considered when drafting the Bill, which will be put to Parliament later in the year.” A detailed report on the results of this consultation is available at daf.qld.gov.au/sustaina blefisheriesstrategy For more information, visit daf.qld.gov.au or phone 13 25 23. www.bnbfishing.com. au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 11

Planning a Fraser Island trip

RASER Island… to many, the mere mention of this place triggers people to think ‘beach fishing mecca’, but Fraser is so much more than that.

Some beach and flats fishing ‘essentials’ the author takes to Fraser.

The sand flats fishing on the western side and at times the fishing at Sandy Cape and Hook Point is hard to beat for quantity and quality of a variety of fish all year round. Add to that the natural beauty of the place and the freedom to drive along much of the beach and it really is heaven for anglers. It is for all these reasons

Trip Preparation by SEAN ‘SKIP’ THOMPSON

and more that I will be off to Fraser for my 22nd year in 2018. I have a June and July trip staying in units at Eurong Beach Resort as well as an August trip to Happy Valley planned this year. Fingers crossed, if the weather and fishing are good I will be reporting on these trips in the next three months in this magazine. But for this month, with my first trip in just over two weeks at the time of writing, I thought I’d share some tips on what you can catch and when, what to take, and how and where to fish when you are there. Time of year While Fraser fishes well all year round, some seasons are certainly better than others, depending on the fish you are chasing. For the dedicated beach angler, the tailor fishing is at its best from August through to October, though the signs indicate an early start to this season, with small numbers of tailor already around in late May. Though tailor numbers thin out later in the season, the fish quality improves, particularly in late September and October. For those chasing whiting off the main beach, whiting fishing is best around May-June. You can pick up some real thumpers during this time. Bream and the mighty mulloway are also best targeted in the cooler months, with June to September ideal. Dart, for those who don’t mind catching these scrappy little fighters, are available all year round but can be a real pest to anglers chasing whiting during the middle of the day in tailor season. For the rock angler, given the main rock fishing destinations of Indian Head and Waddy Point are off-limits for tailor spawning in August and September, October can

see some great but rather crowded fishing as anglers chase bigger tailor, the occasional pelagic and other usual rock species. I have enjoyed excellent fishing off the rocks in January as well. For the sands flats anglers, whiting reach their peak in August-September on the western side and far southern (Hook Point) and northern (Sandy Cape) ends of the island. Flathead have a slightly longer peak season, coinciding with the cooler water from late June to September. Beach formations to look for For tailor anglers, look for deep green water in a gutter with a shallow sandbank out the back within casting distance and preferably an entry and exit point to the north and south. A steeply shelving beach into the water is another good sign of deep water. Deep holes are another decent option, but also a particularly good spot to set up for jewfish after dark. For those chasing whiting off the main beach, Fraser Island whiting are best targeted an hour before and after low tide. The best gutters are those with clear water in a shallow gutter and a shore dump, blind corner (close up to the beach) at one end and a back sandbank

at 45 degrees to the shore or blind corner. Great spots to send out the drone or a slide bait are around rocks such as Ngkala Rocks, Poyungan Rocks and Indian Head or Waddy Point (outside the closure from August to September). Other spots include where nearby reef is located offshore or simply deep drains or channels with big entry points to the sea. On the western side of Fraser, fish the drains and melon holes along the foreshores or around creek mouths and mangroves at high tide for whiting and bream. For those chasing flathead and other fish on plastics, fish the last couple of hours of the runout and first two hours of the run-in around creek mouths, drains, the edge of drop-offs and sand patches between weed. Rods and reels When it comes to beach fishing, especially on open beaches such as Fraser Island where the waves can pound into you on the shore, the Alvey reel stands without peer. The great news is Alvey is back on its feet and has filled its backorders, so you can get one from all good tackle shops now. A 6”-6.5” Alvey (600650 series) filled with 20lb line is a good choice for tailor fishing. This is best matched to a 13’6” composite rod with a low mount (to suit your Alvey). A low mount simply means your reel is posi☛ continued P13

A section of tailor lures the author uses at Fraser Island.

Pre-made whiting and tailor rigs ready for this year’s trips.

Page 12 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

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A guide to planning a Fraser Island fishing trip ☛ from P12

tioned lower or closer to the butt of the rod, making it much more comfortable to fish with and allowing longer casts. Alvey makes some great rods to match its reels, but a variety of rods will do the job. I also take a cheap backup rod in case one of our rods breaks over a long trip, and the Jarvis Walker Aurora Tailor Taker has delivered in times of emergency, even landing a couple of mulloway. If you want to throw lures for tailor, a light graphite rod of 9’-11’ and a matching light 2500-size reel is perfect. I fill the reel with 15lb Platypus P8 braid (which is an eight-strand, ultrathin and tough line) and 20lb Sunline FC Rock fluorocarbon leader. My mates and I have been using the 10’6” Lox Iridium surf rods in 6-10kg for a few years now and they cast a mile and are an absolute pleasure to fish with. For light line fishing for whiting and bream, use a 10’6” whippy or ‘slowaction’ rod. A 500 or 5” series Alvey rounds out the perfect combo. If you are in the market for one, Wilson Fishing’s Snyder Glas Crusoe Island in 10’6” or 11’4” is a great option, as is the Mag Bream and Gary Howard’s Breambo. No more than 6lb line is necessary off the beach for whiting and bream. My favourite mono line for whiting is the Platypus Super-100 due to its very fine diameter (0.19mm in 6lb, compared to others that are up to 0.25mm). The thinner the diameter, the less drag in the water, the more natural the presentation, the harder it is to see and the further you can cast. If you are keen to chase flathead or bream on plastics, you need another setup. A 7’-7’6” graphite rod and a 1000-2000 series reel spooled with 4-5lb bright-coloured braid and 10-14lb leader is perfect. I have been using Lox graphite rods for this purpose and again, they haven’t let me down. I also love how Lox rods come with their own carry case and bag. Go for a 1-3kg or 2-5kg (at most) graphite rod for

chasing flathead, bream, whiting and the odd grunter and trevally on the western flats. Just make sure the rod has a cork butt because foam butts absorb some of the smaller ticks or hits from a fish on the line transferred to the rod. In terms of reels, you don’t need to spend several hundred dollars. A good entry level is about $100 retail, but if you wait for specials you can get some decent reels from the likes of Shimano and Daiwa discounted to about $50. Speak to your tackle shop for more information. If you want to chase jewfish or join the ever-growing slide bait or drone fishing fraternity, throw in another 13’6” heavierrated rod and spool another 650 series Alvey with 40lb line. In recent years, captures of spanish mackerel and snapper have been coming in on drones and slide baits. Lures and rigs Lure fishing the surf can be a lot of fun, particularly on lighter graphite rods as mentioned above. A huge number of lures are on the market, but those that keep working for us are 40g and 65g Halco Twisties in Gold and Silver and blue Spanyid Raiders in 40g and 65g. Another favourite in recent years has been the Duel Adagio lure in 105mm and 125mm in pink and blue. These bibless lures cast a mile, have three flat flashing sides and an incredible swimming action and keep producing year after year. For lure fishing the flats, I find small plastics, as small as 2.5”, and light jig heads (1/8oz to 1/4oz) will cover all the fish mentioned above including flatties to 80cm. Z-Mans, Gulps, Squidgies and the exciting new range of Madeye soft plastics from Halco are all worth a go. You can also try casting small hard-bodies in creeks like Wathumba, with Tilsan Minnows and Lively Lures Micro Mullets great options. In terms of whiting and tailor bait fishing rigs, check out the diagrams on the previous page. We pretty much solely use Tru-Turn hooks. For tailor we use the

swivel-connected gangs and for whiting the finesse Tru-Turn 860 Blue Aberdeen whiting hooks, which are extremely lightweight and excellent for big wary fish. Before you go on your trip, also make sure you do up a bunch of rigs on pool noodles, or the heavier rigs in small snack size snap-lock bags. Other accessories To keep you dry and protect you from the elements on those cool winter nights chasing bigger predators, waders are a must-have for a lot of beach anglers. For me, an essential item is a shoulder bag. Alvey’s Deluxe Wading Bag is the pick of the bunch with a heap of accessory holders, a drink

holder and even a reflective strip for safety when fishing at night. Other must-haves include bait buckets, a closed shoulder or waist bag for fishing the flats, a ruler, knife, stink bag for worming, yabby pumps and aerators and the odd bucket or two. In terms of headlamps, we love Korr’s new lightweight T335 and the older 10W headlamp for sheer brightness and night vision options and be sure to throw a couple of other portable LED lights in the four-wheel-drive (check out the new Korr Unilight, which is cheap as chips retailing at just $29). Finally, make sure you throw in a filleting table. We have used The Ice Box Bloke Filleting Table for over 10 years because

it is big, collapsible, tough as nails and allows two filleters at once with ease. The new version just got better with the addition of a spray coil hose as well. Of course, on top of all that you need to remember all your 4WDing safety gear, including MAXTRAX, tow straps, dampeners and temporarily replacing your tow ball with a tongue and heavyduty D shackle in case you need a rear recovery. So there you go, I hope these tips help you in planning a trip to Fraser Island this year. Get out and try the techniques for yourself soon! Don’t forget to check out my Ontour Fishing Australia Facebook page and let me know how you go if you do get to Fraser.

The author’s preferred choice of Tru-turn hooks for whiting and Tailor.

A selection of headlamps and the new Korr Universal Lantern, which the author will take to Fraser.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 13

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Fishing Tuition

by SEAN CONLON

tor have allowed me to hone my skills and adapt to the advances in the gear we use, such as soft plastics and hard-body lures, carbon fibre rods, braided line and fluorocarbon leader. Fortunately for me, by turning my passion for fishing into my job I’ve had the privilege to watch many clients catch their first flathead on a lure or land their trophy flathead, no matter what size. For some strange reason I cannot explain, I still get a buzz out of seeing flathead reach the boat, whether they are 3” or 95cm in length. One day I may get to see one of those magical metre-long jobs, though there’s still plenty of time for that. Now, a few readers may know I offer fishing tuition, which involves teaching people how to better fish Moreton Bay and gives them an insight into how I approach my fishing from the perspective of a charter operator. One of the species we offer is quite an in-depth course on catching flathead on lures in Moreton Bay. There is an off-water course that takes about four hours as well as a one-on-one on-water course to put into practice what was learnt in the classroom. Here’s an idea of how it all works. I got a phone call from a client named John and he had invested good money in buying a boat, so when he gets it out on the water he wants to have an idea of what gear he needs, what lures he should buy, what techniques he should use, what tides to target and at what time of year he should chase flathead. Obviously I said I could help, so we booked John in for his four-hour classroom session and then for a tuition session on the water. After doing the off-water course, John understood many things about chasing flathead including that there are two key times: the bottom of the tide and the top. John requested two onwater sessions, one on the high tide and one on the low. So I organised two days where the tides were the right size for us to maximise our time on the water for the best result. On John’s first tuition session we had a high tide around 8.30am, so met at the ramp at 6.30am and headed out to put into practice what he had learnt in the classroom. Once at our location, I put the electric in, hit the spot-lock button and started to explain why we were at this particular spot. I then got a rod ready for John, discussed what size jig heads we should use for the depth of water we

were in and talked about the plastics we were going to use. The colour of that particular plastic was determined by the colour of the water that morning. I then made a couple of casts and showed John the retrieve and the direction he should be casting in. Before he made his first cast, we added a bit of my favourite gobbledy-goop scent to the lure. As far as I’m concerned, if you can get 1 percent more of an advantage, why not give it a go? So John made his first cast and attempted the retrieve I showed him. He then made another cast into the same spot, we tweaked his retrieve a little to get it just right and he retrieved the lure well all the way back to the boat. So now by the third cast he pretty much had the retrieve down pat. The lure hit the water and sank to the bottom, John gave it a couple of quick hops and clunk, the rod buckled over and he was onto his first fish. This fish put up a pretty good fight and a couple of times we called it for a stingray because it kept heading back to the bot-

tom and sitting in one spot, but John was patient and took his time and soon enough a very nice flathead came to the surface and we slipped it gently into the net. We kept the fish in the water in the net while we got the brag mat and everything ready for the fish and then carefully lifted her out of the water and placed her on the brag mat. It was then we realised John’s first-ever flathead measured 85cm. I know a lot of anglers who could only dream of catching that fish, but John did it in three casts. To say he was pretty stoked is a slight understatement, and again I was privileged to see a client catch a trophy fish. Remember, these are our big breeders so please handle them with care, always support the whole fish and get them back into the water as quickly as possible. Give them a good swim and watch them swim away to make plenty more flathead in future. John and I went on to catch a few more lizards that morning on vibes and soft plastics. Putting into practice what was learnt in the classroom resulted in a very successful morning. John’s second session was basically planned the same but with a low tide around 8.30am. We did everything the

same, meeting at 6.30am and then heading to an area where on the low tide it obviously looks completely different. We cast some soft plastics and then I showed John how to troll hardbodies for these fish. One of my main goals was to show him the types of drains and areas where we target these fish during the low tide because it looks very different to high tide. All in all we had a very productive day and the biggest fish measured 69cm, which is nothing to be sneezed at. For a quick early morning session John caught about 10 flathead between 50cm and 69cm. Once again we put into practice what was learnt in the classroom. We went out there with a specific goal and achieved it, so I must say thank you very much to John for allowing me to take him out and teach him how to catch flathead. Let’s hope with his newfound knowledge and new boat and gear that he has plenty more fun days on the water. I just don’t know how long it’s going to take him to beat that 85cm PB. If you want to learn how to catch flathead or many of the other species in Moreton Bay, give me a call on 0433 732 310. Until next time, stay safe on the water.

John held an average size lizard of John with a 69cm flathead released 50cm caught trolling a hard-body. unharmed to fight another day.

The author at roughly two years old with his first flathead experience. Though caught by his father, this big The author’s dad with the results of 5.2kg lizard kicked off his lifelong love a classic flathead session from about 1970. of the species.

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This massive threadfin salmon on fly was a lifetime fishing highlight for the author.

For his first time fly fishing in 20 years, the author was hooked after this jew.

Getting back into fly fishing D

OING the same thing over and over in fishing can make it a little stale at times, and trying new things is one way to keep fishing fun. I’m always keen to try something new, whether it’s new lure types, techniques or tackle, both to get a kick out of making it work and finding something more effective than before. I had been toying with

Fly Fishing by PETER HERBST

the idea of revisiting something I had not done for a very long time: fly fishing. My memory of fly fishing was it was quite hard but I had great satisfaction when I achieved success. I caught a few Australian bass, tailor and even hooked a longtail tuna

back in the day but had not really thought about trying it again until a year ago. I think the difficulty of casting was in the back of my mind, telling me not to try again, even though the concept of the technique appealed to me. Finally, I bit the bul-

let and bought a 9 weight Temple Fork Outfitters BVK fly rod and reel with a Snowbee tropical sink tip line. On practising my casting in the park, I was quite surprised how easy it was. The gear I had was clearly a lot better than the stuff I used 20 years ago. I was confident to go for a fish with the fly rod and not totally frustrate myself, which I think is

important with any fishing technique. On my first trip out with the fly rod in the boat I found a good school of jewfish and was very keen to catch one. After getting one on my normal baitcast setup, I told myself to persist and give the fly a really good go. I employed my same technique of finding the fish with the sounder and ☛ continued P16

Bass schooled under that boat are easily targeted on fly.

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Getting back into fly fishing ☛ from P15

A nice golden trevally that took a prawn fly.

This big tailor was great fun on the fly rod.

Page 16 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

positioning the boat so I could drift my fly through the school. It was hard work trying to present a fly to fish at that depth because it took a lot longer to get the lure down to the fish, but after a good hour of casting I finally hooked up on a H20 SF deep clouser minnow fly. The difference in fighting a fish with a fly rod is massive compared to conventional tackle. Having the fish on, the line running through my hands and trying not to get tangled on anything when the line got back to the reel was really fun. I think it is fair to say that first trip and fish had me hooked on fly fishing! After that trip, I wanted to explore fly fishing further and had more target species in mind, thinking I might need to change my gear a little to do so more effectively. Fly fishing can be pretty complicated, but with advice from a couple of local tackle shop guys at the Tackle Warehouse and Jones’s Tackle, I then purchased a faster sinking line to try. Getting used to the timing of letting the line reach where I wanted it and bringing the fly through the strike zone was a challenge. With normal tackle it is

Getting used to the timing of letting the line reach where I wanted it and bringing the fly through the strike zone was a challenge. easy to know where your lure is in relation to the bottom, but fly fishing line is quite different and counting the line down based on its stated sink rate is tricky. It is very easy to drag

the line too much on the bottom if left too long, or strip the fly too high above the fish if not left to sink long enough. Like anything though, the more you do it, the better you get, and I’m

still not great but have been able to catch some really nice fish on fly over the past three months. By far the highlight was my first threadfin salmon on fly, which was a massive 123cm beast! Catching fish on fly has become a heap of fun and species I would previously not have been excited about catching are now loads of fun when I do it on the fly rod. I have a number of species I still really want to catch on fly and ticking them off the list should be rewarding. My collection of flies has grown and I now have two rods and reels with two extra spools with different lines on them (at least flies are cheaper than most other lures!). Yep, I’m hooked!

The author’s thready went 123cm on the mat.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 17

On the hunt for Moreton Bay whiting ■ Fishing the flats around Shorncliffe

T’S cold and the kids are bored, so what do you do… rug them up, get them out and hunt some whiting!

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limit but do it by catching absolute stonkers. When was the last time you bagged out on stonkers? I would guess it has been a long time. Fishing with the kids has helped me rethink my strategies and expectations and I must admit I have found my recent trips to be far more rewarding, not only in the size of fish being caught but also the enjoyment of being out there with friends and family. What I am trying to get across here is that sometimes it is a matter of putting the heavy tackle away, grabbing that old light gear sitting in the shed collecting dust, get out there and fish like a kid. So keep it simple, grab a mate or the family, ditch the seriousness and have a few laughs – you will not regret it. Now back to that important issue of catching whiting. Nudgee Beach through to the mouth of the Caboolture River has produced a good feed. A lot of fishos have given us the good goss, and peeled prawns or live bloodworms and a small piece of pink tubing has been putting fish in the bag. Like most whiting guys, I like to use about 8lb mono and a size 4 longshank baitholder. If I am feeling a bit lazy, I run a 1 ball sinker straight to the hook but if I put the effort in I will run a 60cm leader. Either way, I get to sit back and relax for a few minutes before I get back into rebaiting. If you are trying to find out where to search for a feed of whiting, young Tyler has jotted down a few

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Flathead are normally associated with being lazy, but I beg to differ. I have seen flathead chase a lure right into the shore. Lately I have been quite lucky while chasing flathead and bream on the flats with soft plastics. Some of that luck has come from using an awesome plastic from Chasebaits called a Flick Prawn that is now my new ‘go-to’ lure (until I find my next one). The Flick Prawn comes in 95mm and 125mm sizes and five colours. It has a truly realistic action and a small rattle chamber, so when twitched it lets everything hungry know it’s dinner time. I use the 95mm in Jelly Prawn colour and bream and flathead seem to just about fall over themselves to get to it. I hope this helps you catch the fish of your dreams!

Harrison was stoked with his whiting.

Prime country in which to target bream.

BNB Fishing in the digital age EFORE you get worried, we are not going to stop producing the printed magazine.

! t u o t i Check

notes on his experiences out there. Fishing and reading the flats – Tyler Browne The local flats around Shorncliffe hold a variety of species such as flathead, bream and whiting. Lately I have found the flats a very productive area to fish. The key to fishing the flats is understanding the fish’s habits and habitats. Fish in the shallows and on the flats are often aggressively hunting their prey, which makes them more willing to eat something they probably wouldn’t if they were in deeper water. The ability to read the flats and identify where the fish may be feeding will take a little practice but once you’ve worked it out, your fishing experiences will improve. I find that areas with rocks, weed patches with sand in between, or with a slight rise in the sand to form a small drop-off are the most productive. The fish normally shelter in the rocks or feed on the crabs and growth and come out in the sandy patches looking for other tasty morsels. Fish will also sit in or on the edge of the weed. Flathead will hide at the edge of the weed and pounce on any baitfish

that cruises by, unaware of the danger. You will normally find bream and whiting zig-zagging in and out of the weed, feeding on crabs, worms, shellfish and whatever happens to swim by. They are constantly on the search for an easy meal or any scraps of food that may be lying around. When you fish an area with a slight rise in the sand that creates a small ledge, you are in nature’s ‘natural ambush zone’ where you will often find flathead laying patiently in wait. You may also see the humble whiting cruising by and searching for a feed of shellfish, yabbies and worms. However, while feeding, the whiting become a meal for the flathead! Flathead spread out along the ledge, sometimes in small to mediumsize groups and can stay in one position for hours waiting for that perfect strike.

We still have a huge demand for the printed edition, so it’s not going anywhere. What we are doing, however, is adding more online content, so you can get an even better BNB Fishing fix whenever you want it. Issuu In addition to the printed magazine that you can still find at newsagents, BCFs, selected tackle shops and a variety of other locations, we now have an online version of the magazine available through Issuu. Currently you can buy single editions for $4.50, or if you hit the ‘buy’ but-

ton you will be forwarded to a new page where you can get a two-year subscription for only $45. This is a huge saving versus the printed edition and might suit some readers better. Best of all, you can view back issues of BNB Fishing for free.

Yes that’s right, all back issues (apart from the most recent edition) are free to view and read. The online magazine also features direct links through to advertisers’ websites. As we expand this side of the publication with more video product tests

FREE

and the like, links will be made to direct you to this content as well. So make sure you jump online at issuu.com/bnb fishing and hit the ‘follow’ button. This is free and you will be notified when a new edition is available. ☛ continued P19

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BNB Fishing in the digital age ☛ from P18

As I’ve said, you can then view back issues of the mag whenever you want. bnbfishing.com.au A couple of years ago we developed a new website with the aim of creating a massive database of fishing and boating information for keen fishos to check out. Well the website has continued to grow, with increasing numbers of visitors each month, which has been great to see. On the website you’ll find a mix of articles, boat tests and product news. And you can now easily subscribe and buy merchandise online though our secure web cart. If you haven’t checked

out our website, it is a must. There is also a ‘Useful Links’ page, which I suggest you bookmark on your device or phone because it has links to all fishing regulations, a heap of marine park maps, weather forecasting platforms and much more. A ‘comments’ section exists at the bottom of each article too, so feel free to add your point of view or ask questions here. The more information on the web posts, the better. YouTube What better way to bring the magazine to life than through video. Sure, it is great seeing pictures of boats and fish,

but video can increase that experience tenfold. For this reason, all the boat tests featured in the magazine will have a corresponding video on YouTube. This way we can give you all the finer details through print in the mag, but you can check out how the boats perform through video, giving you an even better understanding of them. If you want to be updated each time we post a video on YouTube, make sure you subscribe to our channel BNBFTV. This is free, so just hop onto youtube.com/BNB FTV and subscribe to be notified each time we upload a new video. Facebook For readers who have a Facebook account, it would be worth searching for Bush ‘n Beach Fishing Magazine if you are not already a ‘liker’ of our page. Love it or hate it, Facebook allows us to get information out to the wider public quickly and easily. However, the algorithms used by Facebook mean you need to make sure you are ‘following’ the page in addition to liking it. If you have liked the page but don’t find you’re seeing much of our content, following the page will remedy that.

You’ll also get more BNB action if you select ‘see first’ in the news feed. While we publish mainly fishing and boating content, we use the page for fun as well, with a mix of interesting posts. Check it out. Instagram For those not sure what this is, Instagram is a platform where people post and share pictures and videos. Instagram is a great way to instantly let people know what you are doing. If you have an Instagram account, make sure you are following @bnbfishingmag. Our Insta account features a mix of pics and videos relating to all things fishing, boating, kayaking and 4WDing. If you are a keen fisho and want to be part of the Bush ‘n Beach family, tag your photos and videos with #bnbfishingmag. I hope I haven’t bamboozled you with all this ‘tech’ stuff but more and more people are using digital platforms to stay in touch and discover information, so we are doing our part. As I said, the printed edition is here to stay, but to get even more out of what we do, make sure you check out our digital components too. Ben Collins

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 19

Finding squid in the shallows ■ Land-based whiting ■ Flathead on plastics

INTER is well and truly here and goodquality fish are biting.

Kayla Hindley caught this barra on her favourite Lethal Lure.

Kelly Bettles got comprehensively coated in squid ink.

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As promised last month, I would like to announce the winner of the Fish n Chicks Mother’s Day competition. We had over 200 entries of ‘proud mum moments’ photos, and they were all amazing. A huge congratulations to our lucky winner Tanya Bevan with her photo of Charlee (Miss One). Tanya won a Plano tackle bag full of goodies that she should thoroughly enjoy. Fish n Chicks welcomed Tackle Land Sandgate aboard as a new sponsor this month. Tackle Land is conveniently located in Rainbow St, Sandgate. If you head in store and mention you are a Fish n Chicks member, you will get 10 percent off terminal tackle, lures, line, selected rods and reels and bait (fresh and frozen). Mark and the boys have amazing knowledge of all the local areas and will do all they can to hook you onto that big fish. Pop in for a chat and a coffee anytime – I do! Here’s a little story from one of our members, Kelly. I thought you would enjoy it as I did. “Hi Syl, my partner Rod and I are keen shallow water snapper fishers. Our strategy is to scope out squid spots the day before and load up on squid and cuttlefish, both for eating and gun snapper bait. Our favourite baits are squid candles on light jig heads for fishing the midnorth coast of NSW. This event happened in Port Stephens. The big squid were on the bite and lots of small cuttlefish were floating over the shallow weed beds. On hooking this squid, we knew it was a really big one with a hood length of over 30cm. We got the Environet ready because these nets tend to allow a quick capture at the boat, allowing us to quickly cast the jig back into the same spot as quite often another big squid will be hanging there. With the squid secured in the net, it gave one last attempt to fight us off and let go with the mother lode of ink. Squid have such amazing eyesight and aim. It was the perfect shot and covered me from head to toe. Not allowing this to dampen our spirits, we both laughed and got the camera out, quickly followed by the towel. A speedy clean-up of me and the boat, which also got a good covering, and we were ready to go again. We used the squid tentacles the next day and had great success on the snapper.” Kayla Hindley is a very

SEQ Round-up by SYL CRON

keen fisherwoman based in Rockhampton. Kayla has invited me to team up with her in the WTF Women That Fish Barra Classic in Rockhampton this September. Kayla has competed every year since the competition started in 2012 and has won some amazing prizes. We are called ‘Team Baradise’ and hope we fish well and catch a huge barra, but most of all aim to have fun and enjoy fishing together and with other women. Keep an eye out for us. Kayla caught the barra pictured in the comp last year near Nerimbera. She’d learnt to fish the outgoing tide dirty water line after watching Johnny Mitchell fishing DVDs and it worked, with Kayla catching three fish over the two days. I cannot wait to fish with this young lady. Member’s tip of the month – by Brendan Dunn This is my guide to landbased sand whiting. Success is not guaranteed but persistence works. To improve your chances of catching sand whiting from land, use live beach/bloodworms and yabbies. Fresh bait such as peeled prawns (but not sunburnt) and cured beach/bloodworms, pipis and cured yabbies are great options for bait when catching your own is not possible. Buying them is a bit expensive though, so if you’re just short on time you can gather the bait prior to the trip and keep it on ice for maximum freshness. Light spin rods no longer than 7’ with a soft tip and light line of 6lb is plenty. For rigs in calm waters, use a sinker no bigger than a one ball, a light enough swivel to allow the bait to drift naturally with minimal resistance and a trace from 40-60cm because you don’t want it so long it makes casting difficult or creates line twist from the tide and swivel counteracting one another. What you should look for when chasing sand whiting is yabby holes, crab holes, crushed cockle/pipi shells, submerged sand bars and deeper drop-offs in front of submerged sand bars on high tide or behind them on low tide if the water is shallow enough to walk on or the drop-off is within casting distance.

Whiting are wary foragers and my rule of thumb is to keep your steps light and as silent as possible to minimise vibrations. As for wading, go no more than knee deep because the whiting can see your body under water. I hope this helps. Tight lines. Stuart Parrant’s report Two of us were using 4” Z-Man soft plastics in Bleeding Banana and slowly drifting the shallow waters of Pumicestone Passage, looking for sandy/weedy patches

where dusky flathead hide when hunting. It was a nice day with not too much wind, which allowed us to cover the areas without any hassles. Some good size flathead are around for this time of year, with large females getting ready to start the breeding cycle. A number of these are oversize and must be immediately released. The flathead pictured are what I call good pan size and make for excellent eating. It sure looks like it’s going to be a good flathead season. Final note Thanks to all those who contributed to this month’s report! By the time you read this, we’ll have been on another awesome Fish n Chicks charter aboard Top Catch Charters off Mooloolaba. Stay tuned for photos and stories. Until next time, remember to stay safe and tight lines.

Tanya Bevan was the Mother’s Day photo comp winner with this shot.

Stuart Parrant with a good haul of flathead from Pumicestone Passage.

Brendan Dunn with a whiting.

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Ashlee Levy caught this flathead sitting right up in the mangroves.

The 4” Z-Man Curly TailZ in Space Guppy has been a standout this winter.

How to catch flathead around Brisbane

ELCOME to the middle of winter.

This month I’ll run through what gear to use for flathead in the local waters around Brisbane. I’ll also talk about different types of lures to use, which techniques work well with each style of lure and areas to look at when chasing flatties. Flathead are ambush feeders. They use the bottom to camouflage and in soft ground like sand and mud they will bury themselves to hide from any unsuspecting baitfish swimming past.

Local Luring by KEITH STRATFORD

Most anglers think flathead only live in sand or mud but this is far from the truth. They do spend most of their time like this, but will feed in plenty of other places. Gravel and shell banks will hold good numbers of flatties as long as bait is around. They may not be able to bury themselves here but are still able to camouflage really well. Rock bars and rock

walls also hold a lot of flathead. Flathead aren’t shy about sitting on top of rocks, especially big slabs of flat rocks that are used to make the walls running into the ocean. It’s not uncommon to catch flathead off rock bars while chasing jacks. I’ve hooked them in good numbers sitting among oyster-encrusted rocks. Areas like this attract plenty of bait and where

there is bait, a flathead or two will be close by. Fallen timber is often overlooked by anglers chasing flathead. Trees attract baitfish and flathead will get right up into the trees to feast on the big schools of herring and mullet. Years ago, when Kalinga Bank at Jumpinpin had a lot of large trees along it, we would hook cracking big flatties on top of the trees. These were big trees that would rise 3-4.5m off the bottom. We would mark the trees on the sounder and jig the bottom leading up to

the tree with 6”-8” plastics, then wind up before we got snagged and drop back down on top of the tree. There was only one reason these big fish were sitting in these trees and that was to feed. We still got plenty of snags, but the fish were always big shovel-headed things, so it was well worth it. Weed beds are another good area to look for flatties. You won’t find a lot of weed in the rivers and creeks on the northside of Brisbane. ☛ continued P22

The author with a better than average lizard taken on a 3” Z-Man MinnowZ in Opening Night.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 21

How to catch flathead around Brisbane â&#x2DC;&#x203A; from P21

presented cut baits work well but I find lures more productive and enjoyable. Soft plastics are my favourite and I also use small hard-bodies for trolling. Both work really well and if one is getting results on a certain day, the other often will too. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good idea to be prepared to try a few different things if the fish arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t playing the game. Soft plastics represent the most popular style of lure for chasing lizards. They come in a huge range of shapes, colours and sizes. It can be quite daunting walking into a tackle shop and selecting a packet of soft plastics from the wall with which

to chase flathead. The good news is most plastics will catch you a flathead. Some work a lot better than others though, and once you work out what the flathead are focused on, your catch rate will increase dramatically. Choosing the right style of plastic on the day is more important than colour selection. Colour can play a big part on some occasions, but most days the style and presentation are far more important. The most common types of plastics used for chasing flathead are paddle tails, curl tails and prawn imitations. I mostly use the Z-Man range.

The company has a vast line-up to choose from, including all models just listed. The colour palette is extensive too, which allows you to choose a variety of colours to try on each occasion. Paddle tails are my favourite for flatties and they catch a lot of other species as well. The 3â&#x20AC;? MinnowZ is my favourite, followed by the 4â&#x20AC;? SwimmerZ. They are both excellent plastics for casting, but when vertically jigged I find the tails catch up occasionally. Jigging the lure on an angle so the plastic isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t directly under the boat can help with this. Curl tail plastics are great for flatties. The 4â&#x20AC;?Curly TailZ have been catching big numbers of fish this winter. Space Guppy colour has been a real standout. Curly TailZ have a big action at slow speeds. Even when just sitting on the bottom, the current is enough to make the tail move. If the fishing is a bit slow, it can pay to leave the lure sitting on the bottom for a few seconds before the next flick. A good scent also helps when using this technique. I use Pro-Cure and find it to be a great scent. Blue Crab and Mullet are my favourite flavours. Prawn imitations work really well on flathead also. Everything loves to eat a prawn and flatties are no different. Prawn imitations are very versatile plastics and can be cast or jigged with great success. I have a lot of luck on the

Z-Man 3â&#x20AC;? Shrimpz and EZ ShrimpZ. Both work well when rigged on a heavy jig head for deep water or on a lighter head for casting around the flats and over the top of weed beds. Gear Flathead can be landed on just about any gear. It all comes down to what you are comfortable with. A light to medium weight spin outfit is perfect for casting plastics all day and this outfit will easily handle any flathead you come across. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re planning on jigging deeper water and are likely to come across big flathead and larger bycatch such as jewfish and threadfin, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth using something a bit heavier. Dragging a fight out on a big fish you are planning to release is pretty irresponsible. A heavier outfit that will get the fish to the boat quickly is a lot better for the fish. Leader is an important part of the setup. In shallow and clear water you might need to drop your leader down to 6-8lb to get the bites. This can be very risky once a fish is hooked though. Flathead have a serious set of teeth and will easily rub through leaders of this strength. I generally donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go any lighter than 10lb, with 1214lb being standard. The winter flathead season has been a cracker so far and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only going to get better. I hope these tips help you get among a few fish and I look forward to seeing you on the water.

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Double hook-ups on flathead can be common during winter. A 3â&#x20AC;? MinnowZ and 4â&#x20AC;? Curly TailZ did the job on this occasion.

Pumicestone Passage has a lot and southern Moreton Bay into Jumpinpin loads too, but rivers like the Pine and Caboolture rarely have it. Weed beds attract a lot of activity such as small baitfish, prawns, crabs and squid. If you can find a weedy area with sand patches among it, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the right spot. Flatties love sitting in these sandy patches feeding around the edge of the weed. They get right up on top of the weed but seem to favour the sandy patches. Lures I like to use a variety of lures to chase flathead. Live baits and well-

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Prawn imitations such as the Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ are deadly on flathead.

Page 22 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bush â&#x20AC;&#x2122;n Beach Fishing, July 2018

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Guide to catching Gold Coast snapper ■ Tailor ■ Whiting ■ DI trip

I everyone, we’ve had cool mornings with warm sunny days and the fishing is getting better and better.

Hopefully a run of good weather will see us all heading offshore to chase snapper and jewfish. We’ve seen great catches already, with a 93cm snapper caught last month on the 30m reef. While a large variety of gear can be used, and some quite expensive, as an old fella I prefer practical, reasonably priced gear that is perfect for my fishing and works great. The two offshore rods I like are the Shimano Terez TZS72MHPW and the Gary Howard Mooloolaba Snapper. Both are strong with very sensitive tips. Combine these with 5000 size Shimano Stradic or Sustain reels and you have a well-balanced combo that is perfect for fishing offshore reefs on the Gold Coast. While you can run 30lb braid and leader, you will find 20lb braid and leader better because the slightly lighter line definitely attracts more bites on the days when the fishing is a bit tough. We have found float lining to be far better than using a paternoster rig on our closer reefs down this way, as the bait is presented more naturally

Broadwater Region by WAYNE ‘YOUNGY’ YOUNG

and keeps the bait off the bottom where you’re more likely to get rubbish fish. Both snelled hooks and gangs are popular, though I prefer gangs of Mustad 5/0 7766 hooks. These are strong hooks and I use them with number 5 Shogun rolling swivels between each hook and one on the top hook. You will find having swivels between the hooks makes it much easier to bait up and also allows for a better hook-up rate on the fish.

This rig is also good for beach fishers chasing big tailor and jew with pillies and flesh baits. Sinker size will depend on how strong the current is and at times you can even get away with no sinker at all. It is extremely important when allowing the line to go out that you run it through your fingers rather than just leave the bail arm open and let it free fall. Letting it free fall allows the sinker to go down before the bait,

which means the bait will likely twist around the leader and main line. If this happens and you get a bite from a good fish, you will be busted off from the extreme pressure on the twisted line. The other advantage of letting the line run through your fingers on the way down is you immediately feel if a fish grabs the bait on the drop, as most big fish will do this. You’ve got plenty of good baits to try. Pillies and squid are the most popular but flesh baits and livies will sometimes account for the better-quality fish. A very early start before sunrise and plenty of

Gus with one of the many quality mud crabs captured recently in the Coomera River.

berley (if anchored) are essential. Once at anchor, turning your sounder off is also recommended. The constant noise from a sounder pinging the bottom can certainly put snapper off the bite. If there is one problem with fishing the Gold Coast on weekends, it is boat traffic. Nothing is worse than being at anchor and berleying hard just to have some inconsiderate boatie go through your berley trail at full speed. It will be a good 30 min☛ continued P24

The author held a jewfish caught using the gear, technique and tackle mentioned in the article.

Young Tyler landed a nice whiting during the author’s recent houseboat trip.

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The typical tiger squid hooked on the slack tide.

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Brandon Gosbell with a quality snapper.

A yellowbelly captured on a Damiki Backdrop.

Fish light for a winter bite W

INTER has well and truly kicked in, with cold mornings and nippy wind, but it has been a pretty successful cold season so far, with plenty of fish caught inshore, offshore and in fresh water. Offshore anglers are enjoying good snapper fishing on small drop-offs using 3”-4” soft plastics on light 1/6oz and 1/4oz jig heads, which gives the lure a more natural movement. Targeting 40m of water has proven the most rewarding, with by-catch of maori cod and jewfish common. Squidding is back and they seem to be in good numbers. Lately I’ve been using size 2.5 squid jigs in brighter colours, with the best time to target them the top of the tide. It’s often a very productive time to chase squid and a good thing to do while waiting for the tide to start running again to target other species. Fishing for squid with lighter line and leaders is beneficial. I use a 1-3kg rod with 4-6lb leader, and when you hook a squid the trick is to not strike because you will pull the jig out of the tentacles, though you

Nerang Rooster Report by DARREN RAMA

need to maintain tension so the hooks stay embedded. Serving dinner with a fresh plate of calamari never goes astray. Flathead and bream are in good numbers thanks to the cooling water temps, with flathead caught either on drop-offs as they wait for baitfish to swim over or right up in the shallows on an incoming tide. Fishing the shallows for flathead adds a great visual aspect because you often see the fish eat your lure. One technique everyone seems to be having success with at the moment is trolling hard-bodies that dive to about 2m. Their bib is generally long enough to bump over snags and they usually measure 50-100mm. Bream are schooling in the deep and pushing around the Seaway as they plan their yearly spawning run. Tailor are harassing baitfish all through Jumpinpin Bar and they are being caught in good numbers off the beaches on a mixture of metal

slugs and pilchards. Targeting them in the breakers from a boat can be very productive but making sure you’re clear of all waves is a must because freak waves can appear out of nowhere. A watchful eye is always needed. In the fresh water, fish are still feeding on the edges early in the morning before the sun rises and then moving into deeper schools once the sun is up. Fishing the edges with small spinnerbaits, jig spins and jerkbaits is quite productive. Targeting the schools with metal blades and sur-

prisingly micro jigs has worked a treat. Recently I have been using the Damiki 20g Backdrop micro jig. Using this lure offshore is very popular but in fresh water it is often overlooked. Fishing a fluttering jig in a school will either generate a reaction bite or the fish will end up

competing for the jig. One thing that helps is using a sounder and looking for fish sitting either on the side of bait schools or stacked up and suspended. I would definitely give the cooler mornings a chance. It’s well worth braving the cold and going fishing.

This Hinze Dam bass hit a jerkbait.

A flathead caught while trolling from a kayak.

Guide to catching Gold Coast snapper ☛ from P23

the t u o Check e g n a r ew n c i p e ! l e r a p of ap outerline.com.au

Page 24 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

utes before you get another bite. It is very annoying and can be easily avoided. You have plenty of areas to fish off the Gold Coast, even in close, with some very good structure in 3035m just out from the sand pumping jetty. I usually start in 40m but will always try closer in on the way home. While snapper and jew will be the main species caught, a good mixed bag of reefies is also possible. Back in the estuaries, unfortunately the tailor fishing has been slow in the Broadwater. With the lack of rain, the upper reaches of the Coomera River have been best. Further north, Jumpinpin has been the best place to target tailor on the inside of the bar on a run-in tide. We recently had overseas visitors staying with us and took the opportu-

nity to hire a houseboat from Coomera Houseboat Holidays. This gave me the opportunity to fish and crab both the Coomera and Pimpama rivers. The Pimpama was no good, with only a couple of muddies and a few whiting. The Coomera, on the other hand, was fantastic, with good catches of muddies and quality whiting between Hope Harbour and Sovereign Island. Crabbing the deeper water opposite Sovereign Island was the secret to catching the muddies, which is normal for this time of year. In the Nerang River it is business as usual, with good catches of 20-30 whiting per daytime trip upstream between Bundall Rd Bridge and Carrara. Once or twice a year I try to get away to Rainbow Beach and fish with my mate Greg Pearce

from Double Island Point Fishing Charters, a great skipper who really knows his area well. We caught a wide range of good-quality eating fish such as red emperor, pearl perch and grass sweetlip. Anyone who wants a great day out on the water should give Greg a call on 0417 073 313. With only four fishos per trip, it is very comfortable fishing. There have been rumours of big changes to

estuary bag limits in future but I have yet to see anything in writing. I would prefer to wait and see before making any comment, however the last three big changes made to flathead, snapper and jewfish limits have all been for the best. Especially jew, as they have gone from being hard to find to turning up regularly, which our Gold Coast fishos are loving. ‘Til next month, fish for the future.

Hawaiian visitor Bradd Hitsuka with a school mackerel hooked off the Gold Coast.

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Tricks of the trade – part one G

’DAY everyone, this month I will pass on some tricks I’ve learnt in 25 years as a professional fishing guide.

After 25 years of working most of the rivers and creeks in southeast Queensland and northern NSW with lures only, you get to see new lure technology advancing all the time and my job is to take full advantage of it. It is important to note that although new lures are coming out all the time, my basic techniques for using them have hardly changed. I regularly have new people coming on my boat who have never used a lure before, so I have had to develop a program of basic techniques so as to not intimidate my clients. Guess what, the simple forms of using the lures seem to work best. In fact, I guarantee they work, hence I can guarantee my clients will catch fish with me. Technique one I call this technique ‘twerking’, and no, not the Miley Cyrus kind. It is a basic way to fish soft plastics, soft vibes and metal blades in water under 4m in depth. I say 4m and under because I use very small vibes no longer than

Gold Coast Guide by BRAD SMITH

50mm in length and small soft plastics that are lightly weighted with a 1/4oz jig head. I have found any deeper and these lures start to lose contact with the bottom. Twerking simply involves drifting with the tide and throwing the lure about 20m behind the boat, evenly hopping it across the bottom at 30cm intervals. To achieve this, you must control the rod tip with very even 30cm flicks, with the perfect scenario being three hops per metre. Take note that when doing this you do not need to wind because you are drifting and the boat’s movement continually takes up the slack line for you. The big advantage of this technique is the evenly spaced hops draw more strikes because the fish can predict and time their attack better. You are also covering more water than anyone else as you are drifting. In a nutshell, you are covering a lot of water with your lure and maximising its time in the strike zone.

Technique two Tea bagging is a technique I have written about quite a lot over the past few years and it is based on using the same lures as above but this time in water over 4m in depth. I find the deepest holes in the rivers and look for bait or fish on my sounder holding on or close to the bottom. Then I vertically drop the lure down to them. Once the lure hits the bottom your line will go slack, so quickly flick the bail arm over on your reel and commence a series of 30cm vertical hops off the bottom without winding up. The key is once you flick your rod tip 30cm, release it quickly so the lure drops rapidly back to the bottom. About 90 percent of all strikes on these lures come from the fish engulfing them on the drop. I use my tiller-steer motor to continually back up and keep my lures directly below the boat, but the same can be done with an electric motor. If you are not prepared to back up, sometimes the boat can drift faster than the lures and cause them

to lose constant contact with the bottom. Once again you will be maximising your lure’s time in the strike zone and minimise the chance of snagging and losing your lures while fishing reefy areas. Your lure is being fished vertically, so it will hit the dance floor and bounce up and away from the snags. Some of my clients ask me why I like small lures and will they catch a big fish. My answer is big lures usually only catch big fish, while small lures catch all fish and lots of them. The old saying when using small lures and catching big fish is “elephants eat peanuts”. Last month I discussed how well the Zerek Fish Traps were working for me and they still are. Another lure I have been smashing the fish on for the past month with the techniques explained above is the Atomic Semi Hardz. My friends at Frogleys Offshore know how I like to fish and sent me some of these small soft vibes that deserve to be in every angler’s tackle box. The model that works best for me is only 40mm long but weighs 10.6g, which is quite hevay for a small lure. This extra weight is

an advantage for holding near the bottom while both twerking and tea bagging. Next month I will give you a complete overview of another trick of the trade: how I troll my lures.

A couple of Atomic Semi Hardz vibes in Ayu and Muddy Prawn colours.

An 80cm flatty scoffed an Atomic Semi Hardz in Ayu colour while twerking across the bottom in shallow water.

This quality jewfish took an Atomic Semi Hardz vibe while tea bagging in deep water.

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@frogleysoffshore Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 25

Big bream on bait at Brunz T

HE sight of all the big bream swimming around the harbour was getting the better of me, so I told Keira she needed a day off school so we could go and catch some.

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Of course Keira wasn’t upset with the idea of having the day off, so we completed a few jobs in the morning and then headed down to the harbour after lunch. The procedure is pretty simple: a little tackle box I’ve had since I was seven years old, a knife, a foam box with a bit of ice in the bottom and a couple of buckets of berley. You can’t over-berley bream. When the co-op was operating here at Brunswick Heads, it would sometimes dump hundreds of kilos of fish frames off the end of the jetty. This was the biggest bream magnet around and within an hour the whole lot would be demolished. Keira and I had chosen the start of the incoming tide to fish because the water is dirtier on the low tide. If you can see bream swimming around the tide is likely high, and because the water is clear the fish will be hard to catch. Go back when the water is dirty and it can be a different story.

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www.facebook.com/bnbfishing Page 26 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

Tweed to Byron Bay by GAVIN DOBSON

When the water is a bit cleaner, head for the thickest structure you can find because the bream will be hanging there for security. Keira and I set up in our usual haunt and threw in some berley and expected immediate results. Unfortunately, we were disappointed and didn’t get a run. We moved location and this time the results were instant, with a hook-up for Keira. We were fishing in a tight location with boats, ropes and pylons everywhere and Keira did well to steer the fish clear of all the obstacles. This is another trick for bream fishing. When the water is a bit cleaner, head for the thickest structure you can find because the bream will be hanging there for security. Even though we were on a low tide, we haven’t had a lot of rain recently, so the water was relatively clean. With a good fish on ice, Keira was quick to get another bait in the water and she hooked a solid fish of about 35cm and guided it to the surface after a couple of nervous moments with an oyster-encrusted pylon. Another fish soon followed its mates into the ice and then things started to go a bit quiet and the little bream were annoying us. This is the signal for more berley, so I tipped in another bucket of fish scraps. This was met with instant success and another good bream went onto ice. Keira caught one more and released it and we left the fish to the leftovers of the berley and went home having completed our mission of getting a feed of bream for the lovely elderly lady a few houses down the road. I guess the trend these days is to teach kids to use plastics around boats and pylons and practice catch and release only. I like that idea but I also like the idea of sourcing a feed, and we felt good about catching only what we needed and helping out our neighbour who can’t drive to the nearest fish shop. We are in the thick of winter now, so our cold weather species are the obvious targets. Bream are on the chew in the rivers and surf. A few tailor are kicking around but unfortunately I’m still dreaming of the old days and ‘proper’ tailor seasons.

Big seas haven’t helped, so hopefully by the time you read this we have had a flat spell and the beaches have had a chance to form up again. After several bumper blackfish seasons, this one seems a bit slow here on the Brunswick River. There’s still time though, so it could improve. The past few years the blackfish have stayed on the bite well into spring. It’s been a pretty good mullet season, hence jewfish have been around. In some regards the big seas have helped those throwing lures for jew because there has been some good white water around the headlands and river mouths. Offshore, snapper have been very quiet on the shallow reefs but maybe like the tailor I’m still thinking about how it was over 20 years ago. A few squire are being caught but I haven’t seen one decent knobby come in.

Jew are on the shallow reefs and while conditions have only occasionally lent themselves to night fishing, those occasions have been productive. The deep reefs have been loaded with great pearl perch and some squire. It’s the best I’ve seen the pearlies for quite a while, with quality fish averaging 2.5kg. The squire on the 50-fathom reefs are a bit patchy, with some schools only yielding just-legal fish. The next school half a mile down the track is often quality 1-2kg fish, so it pays to move around. On the few better days boats have headed to the continental shelf and

scored bar cod and nannygai. With electric reels becoming more affordable all the time, the shelf is often busier than the shallow reefs on the good days. Whales are moving through in droves now, so be careful, but a bit of night fishing is on the cards this month on Windarra Banks or the 45-fathom reefs for good squire and teraglin. It’s always pleasant to spend an afternoon drifting the 32-fathom line at this time of year for a tasty feed of parrot, squire, flathead and the other odds and ends that might happen to jump on your hook. Best of luck.

A good feed and great fun.

Keira pulled this nice bream out from between some serious wharf structure.

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River moves into winter mode ■ Bream ■ Flathead ■ Jewfish ■ Richmond River

ELLO and welcome to this month’s edition of BNB.

by BRETT HYDE

and estuary perch in rivers and estuaries (May 1 to August 31), and while you are permitted to fish for them, it is a zero bag limit at this time of year. So give them a kiss (optional) and release them back into the water as quickly as you can. While bream have been playing in the lower reaches of the river, flathead have been spread upriver from Pimlico Island all the way to and even beyond Rileys Hill. The run-out tide has been the best time to try your luck as the water has been a little warmer. A number of betterquality fish have been taken on 4” and 5” soft plastics, while the smaller models have been showing interest in prawns, white pilchards and mullet fillets. With the cold weather well and truly here, it will pay to target some of the shallower sand flats, but don’t forget about the rock walls and bridge pylons. They will warm up during the day and the base of these structures will hold heat and attract fish. As is typically the case at this time of year, the high tides at night have been producing quite a number of mulloway. I’m not sure if more are being caught this winter or more anglers are spending cold nights chasing them, but a large number definitely seem to be biting. The usual spots such as the breakwalls, behind the CBD, the Porpoise Wall and some of the deeper holes further up the river are all holding fish. Live and dead baits as well as some large lures have all tasted success during the past month, and with any luck this trend should continue over the next couple of months. Unlike mulloway, luderick have had a fairly quiet

start to winter. The recent rain has made sourcing green weed for bait a very difficult proposition for most anglers. Many have resorted to using cabbage from the rock platforms. While this has worked at times, those anglers with the weed have certainly had better and more consistent results. Prospect and Missingham bridges, the top end of the Porpoise Wall and behind the CBD have

all produced a few fish but the wind may decide where you spend your next session chasing these hard-fighting weed munchers. Much like the river, the beaches have really kicked into winter mode, with great reports coming back of solid tailor numbers, along with goodquality bream, tarwhine and flathead. This is the best tailor season we have had for a number of years, so presents a great chance to dust off the surf rod and waders and get down to your nearest beach as soon as you can.

The daytime tides have been a little on the small side, so the better-quality fish have shown up during the larger night tides. Pilchards, mullet fillets and bonito are the pick of the baits, but a few keen anglers have also been throwing metal spinners in the 30-60g range. Typically early morning and late afternoon have been best for the spinners, but if you are heading to the beach I suggest having a spare rod rigged with a spinner in case a school starts busting up nearby. Pipis and pilchards have been the favourite fare for ☛ continued P28

Ryder held his 34cm whiting caught on the beach.

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AU ST

Well it finally looks like the rain may have decided to give us a break. Over the past month we had a huge amount of rain dropped on us, but the silver lining has been the bulk of the rain has fallen directly on the coastline. Had it rained more inland, we may have seen major effects on the water clarity in the Richmond River. At the time of writing, the river looks quite nice. Unfortunately, if the predictions from the weather department are correct, we are in for a wetter winter than normal. I suppose as long as the pattern of dropping the water over the coast continues, I can live with some more rain during winter. I guess it will beat having the crunch of dead grass under your feet, though the clover may get out of hand in the yard… It seems the river has kicked into full winter mode, with good-quality bream showing up in numbers from the mouth and spreading up past the Burns Point Ferry. The best baits have been prawns, mullet fillets, worms and squid. Curl tail soft plastics in more natural colours have also enjoyed success, but the larger tides have required 1/8oz and 1/6oz jig heads on some days. The run-in tide has been the best option because the bream have been moving from some of the nearby beaches and coming in ready to breed for winter. A number of anglers have also run into estuary perch while bream fishing further up the river and in Emigrant Creek. Most fish have been hitting prawns and small soft plastics, with a 1/8oz jig head the ideal weight. This is a good time to remind anglers we are in a closed season for bass

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Rick with a nice tailor taken from the beach at night.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 27

River moves into winter mode ☛ from P27

the beach bream and tarwhine. They have mostly been by-catch for those out chasing tailor, but as far as eating quality goes, a bream or tarwhine from the beach is hard to beat. A trip to the beach to chase bream at this time of year can be well worth it. While the river and beaches are fishing quite well, the offshore fishing still seems to be in a transition phase from summer to winter. A few snapper and mulloway have been on the close reefs, but the water temperature is still a little high for them to really fire. I think things should improve over the next month as the weather

continues to cool. The 32-fathom reefs have produced pansized snapper, flathead and tuskfish, but for the most part it has been hard going, with the current very inconsistent. Pilchards and squid have been the pick of the baits, while a number of fish have also grabbed slow-pitch jigs in the 80-150g range. With any luck the current will continue to ease and the wind will settle, which should make fishing the continental shelf and chasing bar cod and blue-eye trevalla over the next couple of months a lot easier. Well that’s all for this month. ‘Til next time, tight lines!

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Get set for snowy bream sessions T O me, July means big bream on our shores and through our river systems.

I know we have bream already but I mean ‘snowy bream’. These are the big fish that love to push us to the limits, the ones that bust us off all the time around oyster leases and walls, the big brutes that know every snag in our rivers and beaches. I just love catching them and they are not too bad on the tooth. I don’t eat many but I do take a feed of them each year. First off, I think the most important thing is choosing the right gear for the job. For the river I use a 302 Samurai Reaction 6-12lb rod. It gives me a bit of grunt and is light enough to play the fish out. Often I will finesse a fish out from around a jetty. Some like to skull drag them out but I enjoy the fight. I’m just fishing for fun, and the fun for me is beating that bream at its game. That can be bloody hard because these bream are masters at what they do. I use fairly expensive gear but you don’t need to buy dear stuff. You can pick up good rod and reel combos for $100 or less that will do the job, just don’t grab a combo that is like a pool noodle as it just won’t work. Shimano, Daiwa, Jarvis Walker, Samaki and others often have great deals during the holidays, so grab a bargain or even ask the tackle shop owner if he or she can do you a deal, as most will look after you. Bream that live under pylons and pontoons are there for one reason, and that is to ambush their prey. They know every centimetre of their chosen spot, so once you hook one, be ready for a fight. I would not use braid here because it will not handle the oysters and barnacles that live on the pylons, so it’s 12lb Platypus Platinum mono for me. My light Samurai rod helps during the fight. It bends into a shape I initially thought would

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Evans Head

by GARY ‘SQUIDGIE’ PALMER

break for sure but it handles it all. I’m amazed at what today’s rods can do. They can fight a fish well above their weight rating but sometimes it takes just the smallest stab of the tip and the bugger will break. I love fishing for bream in rivers because of all the places you can find them. They can be anywhere from pylons to snags, deeper riverbanks and rock walls. I have even found them just sitting on the bottom where there is no structure at all. You also have to watch for bream when schools of prawns come through. I’ve been sitting in the boat and drifting over the deep bream-holding holes when all of a sudden bream start smashing the surface all around me. I rush to get the surface gear ready but by the time I’ve got it together the bloody bream have gone. Damn, should have set that gear up before I left the boat ramp. Fishing the surf for big snowy bream is one of my favourite ways to target them. I’ve said a few times how much I love beach fishing, be it with a small 7’ flick stick or a 12’ Wilson surf rod. When the big snowies are on it’s the 12’ Wilson rod with 12lb line for me. I mainly use herring as bait but bonito, cut mullet, mullet gut, garfish and freshly cut tailor are effective too. I generally use a 30cm leader, but sometimes I change its length, letting the surf tell me what it wants. Then I will cast an 8 ball sinker and 1/0 or size 1 hook to the back of the breakers if I can cast that far. If not, I’ll cast to the end of the gutter that is running out, as this will take my bait where it needs to go. Sometimes the big bream are sitting in the hole just in front of you, so have a good look at the white water and try to see what it is churning up. You will be surprised at what you can see with a

good pair of sunglasses. My mate Keven Hetherington and I used to walk up to our chests in the water to get a good cast at the big fellas. We had Alvey 650 reels and 12’ Wilson rods and boy we used to catch some very nice fish. You’ve just got to pick the right gutter. You want it to have an entry and exit and a bit of white water. We always tried to land our baits at the back of the breakers and let the gutter do the work. With a ball sinker, the bait will roll with the pull of the gutter, and if it’s

one of those long gutters you will almost certainly get a good bream. Sometimes tailor get in the way of bream but normally the tailor are big ones. An Alvey 650 star drag reel is what I use but any reel will do the job as long as it can hold 12lb line or more. You need at least 300m on your reel just in case you run into a jewfish or a really big tailor. Beach fishing can be a family affair too. Pick a good gutter, give the kids rods and let them have fun with the smaller bream and whiting in the gutter. You never know, they might be the ones who bring home the bacon. I have caught blackfish, bream, tailor, dart, whit-

ing and snapper off the beach on different occasions from beach gutters and quite frankly when I catch pan size snapper I’m a very happy chappy. Overall, Evans Head has not been fishing too badly, with some nice bream and flathead in the Evans River and bream, whiting, flathead, tailor and jew on the beaches. Out in the deep blue, the odd mackerel is still being caught, but I think they will be just about gone by the time you read this. If so, snapper and pearl perch should keep you interested through winter and snapper season. ‘Til next month, remember: limit your kill, don’t kill your limit. Tight lines and smelly fingers.

by MELISSA FROHLOFF

Pea and ham soup Ingredients • 1 bacon hock • 250g yellow split peas • 2 potatoes, chopped • 1 large onion, diced • 2 carrots, chopped • 1 large zucchini, chopped • 1/2 sugar loaf cabbage, finely sliced • 2 cloves garlic, crushed • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

Method 1. Add bacon hock and split peas to a six-litre slow cooker and 3/4 fill with water. Cook on high for three hours. 2. Take the bacon hock out of the slow cooker. Remove the outer skin and any excess fat from the hock. 3. Peel the meat from the bone. 4. Add remaining ingredients and meat from the bone into the slow cooker. Reduce heat to low and simmer for a further three hours.

This is one of the author’s mum’s traditional winter warmers. Prep time: 20 min | Cook time: 6 hours | Serves 6-8

Stacer’s revolutionary new Sea Master runabout

TACER’S bestselling runabout range has a complete new look for 2018 with the new Sea Master featuring the new Revolution Hull. The new Sea Master range is available in a line-up of new sizes including the 429, 449, 469, 499 and 519 and will replace the current Seaway and Bay Master line ups. A variety of new standard features have been added to the range, sure to make them a hit come boat show season, including a larger side sheet creating increased freeboard, 3mm topsides and

fully welded side decks. The all-new rubber gunwales, semi-hookless Shark Carpet, under-dash storage with solid foot bar and stainless steel ladder add a few creature comforts to the family favourite. Boaters can choose from a number of new options including a redesigned transom door and a factory drum winch option across the whole range. The 469, 499 and 519 models feature a walkthrough dash with the Low Profile Sports Deck for a sportier look, while the underfloor storage

adds practicality. Stacer national account manager Dominic Smith said it was well known the Stacer brand is synonymous for its runabouts, with the Seaway having been a popular model for a long time. “The 429 comes standard with the Revolution Hull, Shark Carpet,

smooth sides, rubber gunwales and fully welded side decks,” he said. “I challenge you to find a better value runabout in the market at the moment.” For more information on the new Stacer runabout range, contact your local dealer or visit sta cer.com.au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 29

The jewfish have arrived – no surprise

EWFISH and tailor dominated catches during June here in the Clarence Valley, which is to be expected.

Mischa Porter of Iluka and Tai Donelan of Coffs Harbour spent a few nights hunting jewfish with live mullet and hit a purple patch, snaring two fish each in the one session.

I’ve been writing about it for 27 years now and it was happening long before Captain Cook touched down, so it amazes me the number of people still surprised by the yearly event that happens right along the coastline. Winter equals a lot of mullet, which in turn equals a lot of jewfish that eat mullet, simple as that. Don’t think for a minute that this only happens on the Clarence River because the same thing is happening now to a lesser or greater extent on the Macleay, Evans, Richmond, Brunswick and Tweed rivers and wherever else you find flat-tail mullet.

Gulmarrad angler Fran Dowsett kicked off her jewfishing career with this solid fish from the Yamba breakwall on a fresh squid bait.

Just Jew by TYE PORTER

Those anglers not sitting at home waiting to be told where the fish are biting have been out and about in stealth mode landing plenty of nice jewfish on a mixture of baits ranging from the humble mullet fillet to whole and stripped squid, hard-bodied lures, soft plastics and of course live mullet. Sorry to be a tad sarcastic but I have always had a low tolerance for ignorance and laziness, so here ends my bitch for the month. Those anglers not sitting at home waiting to be told where the fish are biting have been out and about in stealth mode landing plenty of nice jewfish on a mixture of baits ranging from the humble mullet fillet to whole and stripped squid, hard-bodied lures, soft plastics and of course live mullet. During the past month, jewfish of varying sizes were taken from Harwood Bridge downstream to the mouth, on both the Yamba and Iluka breakwalls and the majority of beaches and headlands in the area. No, not every spot produced fish every night because that just does not happen, however those anglers who have been successful have also been versatile in trying differ-

ent spots with different baits and lures until they find a patch of fish, not sitting at home watching Facebook for outdated and second-hand news. Main Beach at Iluka

produced really nice tailor last month on bonito strips and whole garfish, with 2-4kg choppers the norm. As long as the shoals of whitebait keep hanging around, anglers should continue to enjoy quality fishing throughout July, so here’s hoping for very few big ground swells and high wind. I am yet to fish for jew this year, however my offsider Ted McLean and I have plans to fish spots X, Y and Z in the near future, even though the closest we have come so far is sitting on our respective lounges eating alphabet soup. The beaches and headlands are starting to produce healthy numbers of solid bream and tarwhine. Inside the river, bream

are slowly building in numbers, with Turkeys Nest and Middle Wall the pick of the spots so far. Luderick have been missing in any number or size in the lower reaches of the Clarence River, with even the ever-reliable old ferry approach here at Iluka failing to produce numbers. Snapper and trag are keeping the offshore brigade amused, with reasonable catches reported, so here’s hoping July will be just as good. All in all, there is no reason you won’t be able to get a good feed this month, as long as you remember to turn your phone off and actually go fishing. ‘Til next month, safe fishin’.

Mischa Porter with a typical Clarence River winter jew taken on live mullet.

New V8 and V6 engines for Mercury’s powerful Pro XS range

ERCURY has announced the addition of multiple new Pro XS outboards – V8 4.6-litre engines in 200hp, 225hp, 250hp and 300hp, along with an all-new V6 3.4-litre 175hp model. These powerful and precise new engines further expand Mercury’s already outstanding offering, representing the next generation of performance. Mercury Marine vice president of global category management John Buelow said, “The unveiling of these powerful, high-horsepower Pro XS models is the culmination of a process we began in 2016 to comprehensively elevate the entire Pro XS brand with engineering that delivers higher performance, better fuel economy, uncompromising reliability and durability in a lightweight four-stroke design.” “We now have a complete family of top-performing Pro XS outboards from 115-300hp that boat owners will love.”

Page 30 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

New V8 4.6-litre 200300hp Pro XS The new 200-300hp Pro XS models are built on Mercury’s new V8 engine platform and boast a class-leading 4.6-litre powerhead that delivers phenomenal torque while weighing just 229kg. During testing, the 250hp Pro XS set new standards for high performance, outpacing the leading competitor by 20 percent for 0-32km/h acceleration under heavy load while also delivering up to 16 percent better fuel economy at cruise. The 200-300hp Pro XS models also feature a robust 3.2cm-diameter prop shaft and are available with a next-generation Torque Master gearcase that offers a 1.75:1 gear ratio and low-water pickups on the nose-cone for added mounting and trimming flexibility. Producing a wonderful V8 rumble at start-up, these engines then transform to be smooth and quiet at cruise. New V6 3.4-litre 175hp Pro XS The new 175hp Pro XS model is built on the

3.4-litre V6 platform that Mercury introduced at this year’s Miami International Boat Show, and which won the NMMA Innovation Award. To maintain the Pro XS hallmark of ultimate performance, Mercury engineered this largedisplacement engine to deliver higher maximum RPM at full throttle, while retaining the Mercury V6 platform’s peerless light weight (213kg for the 175hp Pro XS) and fuel economy. Additional intuitive features • Digital or mechanical controls: Available for 200-300hp Pro XS models. • Regular unleaded (91 RON): Both V8 and V6 Pro XS engines deliver peak performance and reliability on regular unleaded fuel. • Advanced Range Optimisation: Improves cruise-speed fuel efficiency by automatically adjusting fuel delivery so seamlessly the operator won’t feel or hear it. • Idle Charge BatteryManagement: When battery voltage is low, the engine will automati-

cally increase idle RPM to boost the alternator output and recharge batteries to the proper level, protecting operators from draining their battery while trolling. • Electronic Oil Level Sensor: Optional electronic oil level sensor automatically alerts operator to low oil level. • Top Cowl Service Door: Simplifies routine maintenance by allowing easy oil checks and oil fills without removing the cowl. The Top Cowl Service Door also houses the latch release and a carrying handle. • Adaptive Speed Control: Pro XS outboards automatically maintain a desired RPM, regardless of changes in load, resulting in increased throttle response and a ‘sportier’ feel for the driver. • Pro Black Accent Panel: Personalise your Pro XS outboard with a factory-painted Pro Black accent panel. Made of thin and durable polycarbonate that adheres firmly to the cowl, the panel is available from your local Mercury Dealer for 175-300hp Pro XS models. www.bnbfishing.com. au

Sunshine Coast alive with flathead ■ Beaches ■ Offshore ■ Estuary action

HE rivers on the Sunshine Coast are alive with flathead, especially the Maroochy and Noosa river systems. We are fortunate on the Sunshine Coast that our winter isn’t as cold as our friends further south. Local anglers have worked out that flathead will remain active in water temperatures from 1620C. The trick is to find out where the warmer water is and subsequently where the fish will be most active. Tidal flow and a bright sunny day are the keys to finding warmer water, so concentrate on the run-in tide when the sun is high because this is when the current is warmest. The best areas will be any sand flats inside the river mouth, Woods Bay and Lake Weyba in the Noosa River and Black Banks and Goat and Chambers islands in the Maroochy River. Avoid windy conditions and stick to fishing the last half of the run-in tide. Trolling along the sand flat contours is a good method, as is throwing brightly coloured soft plastics. Retrieve the plastics at a moderate speed with a fast rip mixed in.

Sunshine Coast by WADE QUALISCHEFSKI

Other species on offer in the Maroochy include tailor around the motorway bridge, with most fish taking trolled lures and metal slugs if the fish are schooled up. Further upriver in the deeper holes around Coolum Creek is where we are seeing good-sized jewfish. Live baits on a snooded rig or big prawn imitations such as the Fish Candy 125mm Smash Flick Prawn will land you a trophy fish. It’s that time of year in the Noosa River when we see good catches of tailor. Due to the large number of baitfish upriver, we find the tailor and sometimes trevally force baitfish to the surface. This allows anglers to cast surface walkers such as the Cultiva Zip ‘n Ziggy into the schools for amazing surface action. Heading back down to the ski run and the Tewantin stretch is where you will find jewfish in the low-light periods. A proven tactic has been slow trolling suspending minnows such as the Lucky Craft Pointer

100DD along the deeper edges of the channel. A top spot for a great family fishing session is the sand bags and Munna Point where bream and whiting are responding well to live yabbies and worms. The beaches are in their usual top July form, with tailor on the menu. Best times for the bigger fish have been the run-in late of an afternoon and into the night, with chopper tailor favouring the early morning. The open beaches are full of top gutters thanks to all the erratic swell we received from the start of the year right through to May. The trusty pilchard on a gang of three 4/0 hooks connected to Black Magic Tough Trace is the perfect way to ensure a hook-up. It’s important to use a good-quality leader on the beach and I find the Black Magic Tough Trace the best because of its high knot strength, ultra-clear colouring and super abrasion resistance. Jewfish are quite prevalent between Yaroomba and Pincushion Island. The new moon is the

perfect time to target jewies. Make sure you have plenty of fresh mullet fillets, squid and live beach worms because these will be the top baits. If you require any rigging advice, call in and see any of the Davo’s tackle outlets where one of the staff will be only too happy to help.

Teewah Beach has produced large bream at first light on bonito fillets and chicken gut. The trick to scoring bigger bream is to throw a handful of Big John’s Berley into the white water and let it work its magic as it slowly disperses through the gutter. Tailor are in the higher ☛ continued P32

Jay Hargreaves secured this grass sweetlip while micro jigging at his favourite local reef. Photos: fish ingnoosa.com.au

Dylan Versteegen held a quality winter flathead taken in the Maroochy River on a soft plastic.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 31

Offshore reef fishing fanatics WANTED One of Brisbane’s oldest deep-sea fishing clubs with a 100 percent safety record has vacancies for new members. Owners of suitable vessels encouraged. All levels of experience. Those without own vessels also invited to apply. Approximately 15 deep sea trips per year. One week-long fishing holiday to Town of 1770. Monthly meetings, video shows, guest speakers and free nibbles. 4WD beach fishing and camping. Inshore fishing also on the agenda.

Sunshine Coast alive with flathead ☛ from P31

water gutters at the southern end of Teewah starting from the third cutting, and they have been responding well to pilchards. Catches of dart are still available, with most fish taking pipis and worms in the lower water gutters on the open beach. Try the top end of Teewah Beach and from

Marcoola to Mudjimba because these areas have produced the better catches. Getting offshore on those flawless afternoons will be the ticket for this winter’s snapper fishery and things will only improve as July goes on. My picks for the southern reefs will be Wide Currimundi, Murphys,

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Adam Clinch snagged this 15.9kg jewfish off the beach at Marcoola on the new moon.

Outer Gneerings and the bottom end of the Barwon Banks. The areas of broken reef that hang off the southern end of the Banks are dynamite for big snapper. The key is to have a good sound around this zone to find a lot of the bigger fish hanging off the back end of the little reef structures. With the depths averaging about 40m, try using a running single dropper rig and float lining with pillies, squid and cuttlefish down a constant berley trail. Further up the coast off Noosa, Sunshine, North and Chardons reefs are producing snapper, cod, sweetlip and big maori cod. All these local reefs are receptive to both bait and micro jigs. I find the jigs in 40g size just right, or 60g if the current is a little strong. For the bait anglers, try using a two-hook TruTurn 5/0 rig on a running sinker if the fish are a little timid. Double Island Point has been the pick if you’re wanting to see red. Reefs east of the point have produced legal size red emperor and largemouth nannygai along with snapper and pearl perch. The bigger fish are taking hussar fillets, large whole squid, big pillies and butterflied slimy mackerel. Don’t forget to check out fishingnoosa.com.au for all the latest info on fishing and bar crossings. The knowledgeable teams at Davo’s Tackle World Noosa and Davo’s Northshore Bait & Tackle at Marcoola can provide you with the right equipment, bait and advice to ensure success!

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Formosa’s new lockable enclosed cabin Hard Top

LUMINIUM plate boat manufacturer Formosa Marine has released a lockable enclosed cabin Hard Top with a roller door.

This new option is now available for the Half Cabin and Centre Cabin models in the Offshore range in sizes 580 to 740 and the Classic 580. Discover the 7.4m range. The Half Cabin, Centre Cabin and X Bowrider models are available in a 7.4m configuration – the largest boat built yet by Formosa. The 740 has a sharper deadrise of 20 degrees without compromising the optimum stability a Formosa boat is known for. Formosa’s 740 features the V2 Plate Hull, a large deck space, higher sides, 300-litre fuel tank and more room for underfloor auxiliary fuel/water tanks. The build The V2 Hull features the strength of a plate boat construction. It has the ultimate deadrise for greater trim range, softer ride and quick response, providing great stability and safety. The V2 Hull maintains a true selfdraining deck in the Offshore range, which many other boats can’t replicate, and one of the largest freeboards per size in the industry. Large range Formosa offers a full range of open boats to cabin hard tops, with sizes ranging from the 4.55m Classics to the

latest 7.4m in the heavyduty Offshores with self-draining decks. And don’t forget the Barra Pro range for any backwater location. Check out the huge variety of options available for each model on Formosa’s website formosamar ineboats.com.au Celebrate To celebrate 20 years of building quality aluminium boats, Formosa is installing a free Railblaza StowPod on every ‘Bait Board with Bait Tank’ option added to boat orders in 2018. Southeast Queensland Tomahawk dealer Australian Marine Centre stocks the Formosa Tomahawk range and would be delighted to show off these boats at 3491 Pacific Highway, Slacks Creek. You can also have a look around the Formosa factory to see the build process and the models going out the door. Offering the boating know-how you need AMC has a dedicated sales team on hand to help you get on the water with the right Formosa Tomahawk model to suit you. AMC also stocks a range of Garmin quality electronics, Minn Kota electric motors and the ultimate fourstroke Suzuki outboards. The dealership offers full service and spare parts to ensure you remain on the water. Phone Rod on 07 3808 7333 or visit am cboats.com.au

e be We won’t b

Caloundra Marine 8 BA L DW I N STRE E T, CALO U N DR A Q LD 4551 | PH 07 5491 1944 Page 32 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

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The early morning action was within a stone’s throw of Double Island Point, with pearl perch on the chew to get the crew motivated. Fellow BNB scribe Melissa Frohloff scored a quality specimen.

An early morning workout for Lachie was a great start to the day, with a spectacular background adding to a promising fishing session.

Bottom bashing off Fraser Island I

T had been eight years since I’d last had salt air entering my lungs, so passing up an opportunity to go fishing off Fraser Island wasn’t an option when invited on board with a day’s notice. The plan was simple – scout around Fraser to see what was on the chew with a variety of baits including pillies, mullet and squid between the livies. Lachie’s 7m boat was comfortable and well worth the investment and gave us the legs to get out into less-targeted territory. We travelled a significant way east before the boat’s motors idled over the first outcrop. I asked the skipper since we were this far out if we could call in on Gilligan on the way back to see how he was faring, or at

Fishing Trip by NOAL KUHL

least give Mary Ann and her coconut cream pie an audition on My Bamboo Kitchen Rules. The bites were plentiful, though we found on this trip that once we dislodged a fish from the school or its reef dwelling, it would get hammered by sharks. So once old grey coat got in on the action it was time to shift reef and stop handing out a free feed. One or two reefs gave us an opportunity to bring up specimens for the table between the undersized fish. It’s just one of those things where you hope the next reef will give you something better.

The mullet fillets worked better for me with an 8/0 circle hook and 80lb leader. We were in about 55m of water and going by the write-up of another BNB scribe in a previous edition, were in the right depth to catch red emperor. Which we did, although they were undersized. This was a productive depth as previous trips to Fraser had seen us tangling with reds in a similar area. Hussar were boated in patches but not much else made it to the surface without embedded teeth marks blatantly advertising ‘cut along here to open’. We anchored for the night with a pod of dol-

phins encircling the boat, and I took this as a good omen as I’d always believed dolphins and sharks don’t mix. I obviously watched too much Flipper when I was young because the sharks on the first drop spoiled the afternoon sunset mood and the wonderful reef fish being hooked, giving us yet more knot retying practice. I stayed up for the graveyard shift, which commenced around 8pm because everyone else thought sleep would offset the hard yards of line-screaming action encountered all day with the sharks. Pretty soon I felt like the anchor had let go because the nibbles stopped and going across the GPS screen was a very evident skid mark. After resetting the anchor during the night, we shifted location very early

in the morning (about 4am) when I accidentally woke everyone by headbutting an aluminum rail, courtesy of tripping over what I thought was a rolled-up blanket until the skipper appeared from underneath rubbing his noggin. We headed in to what we thought would be workable reefs without the grey coats loitering about expecting breakfast. A couple of quality pearl perch were first up on pillies, squid and small fillets, which boosted the morning morale of those on board. And with a glorious sunrise to boot, we finally brought some squire aboard to make the photographer’s trip worthwhile. The wind started whipping up just before lunch, so we headed in with a feed that we offloaded to Gilligan on the way through.

Skipper Lachie Moore started off the trip with a welldeserved redthroat emperor.

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Once the pearl perch action slowed, squire were ready to take over biting stations, with a soft plastic mixed with a pillie head proving the winning combination.

Photo courtesy of Australian Master Marine

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Page 34 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

Squid Rowe Trophy – Rainbow Beach

S has been the case with many weekend forecasts of late, the weather predicted for the Rainbow Beach trip was looking pretty sad to say the least. We had boats coming and going in the lead-up until it finally looked like we’d have at least one fishable day. With a trip window confirmed, a few boats managed to get out for a fish on the Friday. Salty with Helaine as Rob Schomberg’s deckie made it one better and they headed up on Wednesday night as Thursday looked good for a trip. They logged on and headed to the bar with Bernie in Fang 3 who they had met at the ramp and elected to head out through the bar for a change. They passed Fishermans Gutter and it was hard for Rob not to turn and go through the calm waters. As it turned out, that would have been the better option as Rob was thrown into the cabin on one wave and Bernie took one on the outer bar. They were both OK but the bar showed it still demands respect. Once out, Salty headed east and Bernie north. First stop was to hit the Taipan Star wreck to see if anyone was home. Nothing resulted from the show on the wreck, though they boated a few small-mouth nannygai on the outskirts along with a squire. Next they headed further east and with the conditions not improving elected to stay put at the 40km mark and look around. They landed more snapper and nannies with a few parrot and a nice sweetlip thrown in for Helaine. With the weather not playing fair, they pulled the pin at 4pm and headed in to the bar. As they approached, they could see white water all over the outer mark and had to travel a kilometre further north where it was fine to cross. Apparently the government has resurveyed the bar but has not released the marks, which makes it difficult for the Coast Guard. On Friday a few more boats were about, with Salty, Mad Dog, Fang 3, Explorer and Roy at the ramp and SiSu, Reef Runner and Summer Salt waiting at the bar after spending the night aboard the boats at Inskip. This is not a bad idea as it saves the hassle and cost of accommodation. On the other hand, it’s hard to beat a hot shower and comfy bed after a hard day on the water. The fleet elected to head through Fishermans Gutter and while a few different tracks were taken, all made it out safely and headed into the sun, which was pretty bright and annoying when heading to the east. Once out, boats took off

Power Boat Anglers by MICK CLUTTERBUCK

in all directions to their favourite patches. Salty loves a big red, so headed to the northeast to one of his red spots near the continental shelf. After travelling 60km, it was time for a drop. Great shows were on the sounder but the baits were smashed by lancers. They were so hungry that they were like piranhas, even eating themselves. After an hour of this it was off 95km northeast to the big pinnacles in the area. Shows were great and the seas flat, making for great fishing conditions. Rob dragged a pillie through three good shows and it came up half an hour later untouched. They persisted and checked all the marks in the area, finally hooking some good fish, only to find out they were sharks. One of these was chased to the surface by a bigger model the size of the boat that made Helaine leap into the cabin. The smaller model wasn’t too keen on being lunch, so it went about releasing itself before it was part of the menu. After four hours of futility despite shows everywhere, Salty headed off again, this time 25km south. Finally finding some fish that would bite was great, though undersized reds on every drop wasn’t exactly what they were after. Moving again they managed to find parrot and hussar, but with news of a boat overturned on the bar they elected to start moving back towards home with only eight fish in the box. Elsewhere, the southern travellers had done OK, with Roy Lane bagging a 15kg wahoo at the pinnacles. The boats that went north had better bags of good parrot, while Nick Cooper got the only decent red. Mad Dog, who travelled east, also landed a school red and some nice parrot.

Saturday’s weather looked good for the morning, with a southerly blow to start during the afternoon. All boats elected to head south and fish until the wind started to get up. As this was the official club scoring day, it was a dash for cash. The gutter was choppy but still good, as were the offshore conditions. Outside were huge bait shows with heaps of yakkas and bonito but little else. Salty headed to his chosen mark to find he had been beaten to the punch by Stewy and John who were parked atop it. Sounding around, they located a show and dropped down. Helaine was smashed immediately and soon had a good fish that was sharked seconds later. Rob hooked a 10kg cobia only to have it throw the hooks at the boat before they could gaff it. Next drop he was on again and going flat out to get it up when it grew 200kg. After a tug of war for a minute or so, Rob had the head of a cobia that would have topped 15kg. After watching Reef Runner and Summer Salt 50m away bringing up numerous parrot without a shark problem, they pulled the pin and headed east. Checking out new marks drew a blank, and with

Seabreeze indicating 30 knot wind at Cape Moreton at 11am, there wasn’t much time to go. Heading back to the pinnacles, Helaine landed a 4kg trout just as the wind puffed up to 15 knots. One more drift produced a nice maori cod for Helaine and then it was time to head to the bar as the wind got up. Back inside, Chris and Brad could be seen at the caravan park cleaning their fish, one of which was an amberjack that might have taken the trophy but it was hard to weigh as fillets. Helaine with the trout, maori cod and snapper took out the Squid Rowe Trophy for 2018. It wasn’t the most highly contested trophy this year but winners are always grinners. While not the best trip to Rainbow, it was a good show of boats and members considering the

dodgy forecast. The guys who camped out headed back to Brisbane on Saturday arvo, leaving nine people for the Saturday night barbecue. All were suitably fed and watered and had time to reflect on the days on the water and what could be done differently. Everyone had a safe return home but the thought of the incident on the bar lingered. The sea can be a wicked mistress sometimes and can never be taken for granted. Next meetings The next club meeting will be held on Monday, July 2, followed by Monday, August 6. Meetings are usually held on the first Monday of the month at the Bulimba Bowls Club located in Quinn St, Balmoral. Please feel free to come along and meet us. Safe boating.

Result of what can go wrong on the bar. It wasn’t a member of the Power Boat Anglers but apparently experienced locals. Not sure what happened.

Helaine Wilesmith picked up a 4kg coral trout from Rainbow.

Helaine with a maori cod from offshore of Rainbow Beach.

Rob Schomberg held an after-tax cobia.

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COMPETITION DATES Michael from Tide Apparel represented with a solid longtail.

COMPETITION

Tuna continue, snapper to show

E are well into winter now and it has been chilly.

Hopefully the water temperature drops and the snapper come in to play. The weather is still a bit crazy but we’ve had a decent number of beautiful days recently. There seem to be very few moderate days – it is one extreme or the other. In the meantime, I am happy to report the sharks appear to have subsided and the fishing

Fraser Guided Fishing by TRI TON

remains pretty steady. Schools of longtails are still around in Platypus Bay and mack tuna are abundant throughout the region. Mack tuna are often fussy and might be best targeted by fly anglers. Bigger longtails are still about but are not commonly seen. The bigger boys usually roam in much smaller

packs and are generally a lot subtler when feeding. Often it’s a case of being Johnny on the spot. The trevally have been biting but they’re mostly smaller fish, with a few smaller queenfish mixed in. It is always nice to see a bigger fish come through. Snapper are often caught with trevs, though I haven’t hooked too many

Luke managed a beautiful yellowfin tuna. While not common, at times they can be caught inside Platypus Bay.

> Hervey Bay > Fraser Island > Sandy Strait

decent-sized ones yet as the water temperature is still over 20C. I believe the Sunshine Coast has been going well on the snapper front, so I hope they’re not too far away for us. On a recent trip I had two blokes on board and we enjoyed magical weather and a great deal of success. Good weather and tides don’t always go hand in hand, but luckily for the three of us we were quite time flexible. We could choose days on short notice to maximise our opportunities. Something worth noting is the guys were given the trip as a present from their wives at Christmas. A gift voucher from my business doesn’t require you to book and set a date, and it does not require you to still go out if the weather suddenly turns sour after planning. I am quite flexible, especially when the weather is cooler and the surfacefeeding pelagics thin out. And I am already earning interest on the voucher fee! Jokes aside, consider putting a gift voucher on your wish list as it can be very rewarding, especially if you are time-flexible. ☛ continued P36

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 35

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Tuna continue, snapper to show in Hervey Bay ☛ from P35

Your other half might also enjoy a chartered fishing trip alongside you more than a trip in your own boat. Often couples bicker when on their own boat together, and the day can be too emotional to be enjoyed. Coming out on a charter with me means no stress about boat towing, parking, launching and that is even before we think about finding fish or criticising each other about casting and missed opportunities. Being taught by someone you are emotionally attached to is not always the easiest, and can cause conflict and friction. “Why don’t you tell me how to do this?” followed by the rapid and short reply of “I do!” is a common scenario when couples are fishing on my boat. Soon the conversation

crumbles and the mood on the boat reflects it. However, whether or not someone is right or wrong is irrelevant to me, so I have a giggle and tell them they are quite normal and the embarrassment soon fades and we get back to the task of me helping them catch fish. I teach people the basics every day and make them rethink their old ways, if not forever, at least for long enough to

hook a fish on my boat. Talking to people every day, breaking down what they are doing wrong quickly and adjusting as quickly as possible is not always easy. Throw in an emotional attachment and it can be an explosive mix. So go easy on each other when I am not there to referee the bouts on the water. Most likely you are both trying to get the most out

of your time on the water, but pressure will ruin that if you let it. Most people don’t have the finer knowledge of the biomechanics of a human-rod interface, and most aren’t able to communicate those concepts in a fashion to disarm and

package it in easily digested parcels. In saying that, if you can’t let go, it will continue to be frustrating for all on board, and in that instance I must let go as well and resign myself to a day of missed bites and dodging lures.

Damien with a cracker diamond trevally.

Ben hooked a great golden on a jig.

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HE following is Seafood Industry Australia’s response to Graham Edgar, Trevor Ward and Rick Stuart-Smith’s research article ‘Rapid declines across Australian fishery stocks indicate global sustainability targets will not be achieved without an expanded network of ‘no-fishing’ reserves’.

SIA CEO Jane Lovell said this paper is an ideological attack on fisheries management and fisheries science, based on the belief that marine parks solve everything. “They don’t,” she said. “Fisheries management is far more responsive and adaptable than this paper makes out. “The Australian seafood industry supports a system of comprehensive, adequate and representative marine parks. “But let’s be clear, marine parks are for managing the conservation of marine biodiversity, they are not a fisheries management tool. “The basic premise of the paper is not supported by any evidence or credible scientific literature on Australia’s

fisheries or fish-stock levels publicly available. “The paper is based on data related to 190 species, however only 11 of these are commercially caught.” With more than 600 species commercially caught in Australia, it is impossible to make inferences about the entire commercial fishing industry, from questionable data, which covers not even 2 percent of the catch. The paper confines its surveys to the generally shallow waters over temperate reef areas close to shore, and does not look at the major commercial catch areas of tropical prawn fisheries, subAntarctic fisheries and pelagic fisheries. These are Commonwealth-managed fisheries that start at three nautical miles from the coast, in typically deep water. The paper accurately points out the size of some commercial catches have decreased. But inferring the size of a fishery’s commercial catch is in indication of fish numbers is just plain wrong. There many reasons

why catch sizes rise and fall over time, including seasonal fluctuations and market demand. It is far more likely the reduction in catches is due to active fisheries management. Catch limits are often reduced, based on the best available science, to ensure our fisheries are sustainable well into the future. The paper uses 2005 as the baseline year for commercial catch figures. This is the year before Australia adopted its current, more responsive fisheries management approach. This makes the comparison invalid and grossly misleading. After 2005 there were major government buybacks, lowering catch sizes and the introduction of stock limits that are the most conservative in the world. As fishers, our priority is the ocean. We advocate the health, sustainability and future of our ocean. Our aim is to keep providing fantastic Australian seafood to Australians.

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Bush â&#x20AC;&#x2122;n Beach Fishing, July 2018 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Page 37

A great spanish mackerel caught on a live slimy mackerel.

A ripper cobia or black kingfish hooked on a lightly weighted strip bait on the turn of the tide.

Preparation is key to success I

N the build-up to winter, the Bundaberg area was experiencing little to no good weather for offshore fishing, and when a weekend finally arose, other commitments prevented me from heading out.

Sandy Johnson with a lovely grass sweetlip.

But at long last a weekend came along when nothing stood in the way and once Friday night arrived, the boat was packed and the alarms set for the morning to come. When planning my trips offshore, being aboard a

Longtail tuna are great fun on light tackle.

Leeah Bahr captured a beautiful yellowfin tuna.

Page 38 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

Bundaberg Offshore by JOEL JOHNSON

5.2m vessel means I still have to be fairly conscious of weather changes, whereas bigger boats often have a greater threshold of when to ‘call it quits’. This means planning is involved when it comes to getting the most out of a day on the water, and going to the extent of planning for a weather change before it’s forecast. Let’s face it, as much as we like to hope the prediction is spot-on, weather can change in an instant and quite frankly leave you with aches and pains from a bone-shattering journey home in a rough sea, or worse, a lifethreatening incident. Another consideration to definitely be on the safe side of is fuel. Unlike in a car where running out of fuel can simply mean phoning a friend to bring a jerry can, being at sea with no fuel can mean drifting aimlessly or anchoring until you find a way of getting out of danger. With the new technology of electronic engine gauges, life is made easy with an economy average displayed on the screen. With a standard analogue gauge or no gauge at all, it is important to work out your engine’s economy for planning trips that could potentially stretch the limits of your fuel tank. I like to calculate the fuel consumption of my total predicted distance travelled using the worst possible consumption numbers. This ensures I have enough fuel to make it home in the worst of the worst conditions. There’s no excuse if you’re the silly one who didn’t account for a swell coming home. With this in mind, I planned our trip heading due east with the predicted light southwesterly wind at our back. I then planned for us to make our way through a number of reefs to end up northeast of our starting point so that if and when the wind swung around to the north as predicted later that evening, we would be able to come home

with a following sea. A plan is something most people might make up on the day, which can be an exciting way of going about a trip offshore, but I know confidence in a well-thought-out plan can be the difference between catching fish and not, however, safety is always the priority. If you believe that where you are and what you are doing is right, then you’ll try your best to catch fish as opposed to giving it one drop and moving on if you don’t land that trophy fish straight away. After putting the plan into motion on Saturday, we were blessed with a beautiful calm morning on the water, so plenty of boats were out. This of course meant I had to position the boat on a good patch of reef that wasn’t already occupied by another boat. After some sounding around, we anchored on a likely looking patch of structure before starting to fish. I deployed the one and only live bait captured on the way out, so I hoped it caught us a beauty! Before even finishing tying my bottom rig, the live bait was smashed and we were on. Taking the telltale burning run of a spanish mackerel, I knew the morning would be kicked off well if I could only get it in the Esky. Sure enough, it was a beautiful eating-sized spanish mackerel weighing about 10kg. We continued to hammer this spot on the bottom, but as the tide slowed for the turn, even the pesky tea-leaf trevally stopped biting. I decided to reduce the size of my ball sinker right down to something that would steadily reach the bottom and keep the bait looking as natural as possible. With a sizeable strip bait on my snell rig, I floated it down. I got some subtle but decent thumps, and soon enough they converted into something solid. Fishing in fairly sharky waters, we had to make quick work of any fish

hooked, so whether big or small, any fish was a battle. Finally the fish surfaced and it was a lovely surprise of a small cobia measuring about 70cm, which we released after a quick photo. Next drop led to hookups all around the boat, with almost all of us blown away and busted off by some big brutes suspected to be larger dirty-fighting cobia. I upped the ante and sent down another bait with a locked drag and my game face on. The fish were giving the subtlest bites before launching into one hell of a fight once hooked. I had hooked up and was being stretched by a much better model. When I bought my Shimano Torium 20 with 80lb jigging braid, I felt as though this combo was almost unstoppable, but when this fish was truly stretching my arms I began to think otherwise. I managed to turn its head and won the fight, this time landing a great cobia over the metre mark, weighing about 10kg. This fish was by no means ‘big’ by cobia standards but the epic fight means they are excellent sportfish at any size. The cobia seemed to have moved on, so after playing around with micro jigs on bottom species, we were almost ready to leave when Leeah’s quick thinking had her hooked up to something that busted up at the front of the boat. Judging by the screaming runs and endurance, it was obviously some kind of tuna, but after a good 10 minutes of fighting and still no sign of the fish, we

began to wonder how big this fish was. Finally we saw colour and as the fish neared, the telltale long pectoral fins and yellow stripes made it clear that Leeah had hooked a passing yellowfin tuna. After getting fingertips to the fish’s tail time and time again, followed by blistering runs, the fight was nerve-racking as we knew tackle failure was a big possibility after a long fight, especially considering it was only a 20lb barramundi fishing outfit. Eventually I got a good grip on the fish’s tail and landed it. What an epic and beautiful fish! Another hard-fighting brute was added to the day’s tally. After such an enduring fight, the fish still managed to give us all a shower as it kicked off on release. We next moved to a number of other reefs where nothing spectacular was landed but a few quality fish were definitely added to our bag. As predicted, the wind began to get up from the northeast, and knowing we had quite a journey ahead of us, we decided to head for home. My plan had come together like clockwork, and instead of an uncomfortable, wet journey home, we had the chop to our back and got home with no trouble whatsoever. Any day on the water is a good day, especially when quality fish come over the side, but everything is made easy with some planning. Knowing safety is a priority, you should always consider the essentials before embarking on a trip offshore.

Leeah landed a spangled emperor.

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River brimming with bream I

HAVE received many reports of bream being caught in good numbers in the Burnett River, with a number stating the fish are of good size. I touched on some prime bream spots and techniques in a recent article but can offer more ideas this month. Land-based strategies Bream are scavenging fish and will almost always be found near rocks or other structure such as jetties and pontoons. Plenty of these features in our local area offer land-based anglers the chance to target this species. At the old Midtown Marina wharf and waterfront area, anglers can

Bundaberg Region by BRAD YOUNG

set themselves up for an afternoon or evening of fishing in relative comfort and with a good chance of catching a fish. The area on the downstream side of the town boat ramp is another likely spot to try for bream. As you move further downstream, the rock wall areas of the lower reaches provide good structure. The rock wall areas near the entrance to the main boat harbour/launching ramp at Burnett Heads also provide plenty of places to wet a line. Remember that bream

A good sized pikey bream was boated by Rachel.

are often caught ‘right at your feet’ using an unweighted or lightly weighted prawn bait, as well as further out from the bank. This highlights the two rigs I spoke of in my previous article. Fishing light close to the rocks requires a very basic rig with sometimes just the hook to the end of the line. This rig, with the bait simply dropped into the water against the rocks, will see bream readily taking the bait. The other rig option is casting your line further out from the wall where the tidal stream (current) is running more swiftly. In these circumstances you’ll need to use a longer trace of about a metre in length with a swivel and then a heavier sinker to anchor the bait to the bottom. This rig will prevent your line being swept sideways by the current and into the wall but will ensure the bait remains lifelike as a result of the long trace allowing it to waft to and fro in the current.

Jacob with a nice whiting and bream taken from the Burnett River.

If you are fishing close to a rock wall, it may be necessary to increase the line strength you are using as a trace from 3-4.5kg to 6kg to enable you to lift the fish over the rock wall when landing it. The stronger line will also be less likely to fail from abrasion against the rocks. Always take the time to check your trace after landing each fish before casting out again. This simple step can help ensure you do not lose a prize fish. Boat-based breaming The North Wall is an iconic bream fishing area. It has become silted up over the years as sand has settled along its length. When I first fished it in the early 1990s, there was plenty of rock and our main strategy was to beach our tinnie on the sandbank opposite the harbour mouth and fish the walls to both the left and right of us. In this case, your strategies are similar to that outlined above for landbased fishing. In particular, we used an unweighted prawn as the best bait. If fishing from your boat, there are two ways to anchor. You can anchor by the bow, whereby the boat will face into the tidal stream and you will be able to (generally) sit in the front of the boat with your rods facing out the back over the transom. Just remember that if there is a breeze blowing and/or the tide has almost topped/bottomed, your boat may begin to move about in an arc. This can be both annoying and dangerous if you are anchored close to the wall. The second method is to anchor by both bow and stern. The best way to set up your anchors is to first identify the area where you wish to fish.

Plan an approach to that spot from the upstream side of your target area, dropping your first anchor in the deeper water away from the wall at the stern of your boat. After setting this anchor, continue slowly towards the wall with your bow anchor (a small reef pronged anchor will usually be ideal) and move in close to the wall using extreme care. When in reach, place/ throw your small pronged anchor into the rocks above the water line and then pull backwards towards your rear anchor, tying both anchors off securely with your boat sitting at right angles to the wall. Ensure you have allowed sufficient room between your bow and the wall to cope with any wash/ surge from large vessels or swell/surge rolling in (if near the mouth of the river). By anchoring this way, you sit sideways across the tidal stream and can fish your rods along the length of the boat. A great hint here is to use a little berley to bring the fish towards you and concentrate and hold them in your area. One of the best and cheapest methods is to buy laying mash pellets. They sink readily, can have tuna oil/aniseed added to them and are cheap to buy. Throwing a handful at a time over the up-current side of your boat will see the pellets sink to the bottom and create a ‘food trail’ for the fish to follow. It is shaping up to be a great season, so make sure you make the effort to chase the bream this year! As always, I can be contacted via the Bush ‘n Beach website, by email at fishnboat@bigpond.com or post at PO Box 5812 Bundaberg West Queensland 4670. Until next month…

JL Audio launches the MM50 marine audio unit

L Audio, an innovator in high-end audio solutions, recently announced the launch of a new 2.8” weatherproof, powered marine source unit.

The MM50 is a highperformance, singlechassis, powered source unit with outstanding audio performance and advanced audio features, specifically designed for marine applications. An easy-to-read, highbrightness, 2.8” fullcolour LCD display with separate day/night lighting and display themes, an intuitive interface with large, easy-to-use backlit controls and independent user settings for display brightness and remote brightness make the MM50 engineered for real-world marine duty. Flexible zone controls give you complete command of your marine listening experience. www.bnbfishing.com. au

Configurable master volume control with independent feature/control options including tone controls for bass, midrange, treble and balance, independent or linked with zone 1; level controls so you can manage volume levels, together or individually at any time and a max volume limit where a set volume level limit can be applied for each zone. The built-in amplifier generates 100W of highfidelity output to power two main zones with both main zone output types including a high-pass crossover feature with selectable frequency selection. Designed for today’s modern media environment, the MM50 features a digital AM/FM tuner with Radio Data System display info (where available), along with the ability to store up to 18 of

your favourite AM/FM stations. Bluetooth compatibility allows you to stream topquality audio from compatible devices and a USB 2.0 direct-digital connection accesses music files on your USB storage device or compatible smartphone. NMEA-2000 certified compatibility provides the user with full control of their digital audio content via select multifunction displays including Low-

rance HDS Carbon, Simrad NSS evo3 and NSO evo3 along with B&G Zeus3. Multifunction displays offer an efficient and user-friendly interface for navigation, radar and sonar information and audio content in one easy-to-use display. The MM50 has three remote controller options (each sold separately) to help you create a versatile audio command centre:

the MMR-10W wireless remote controller system, the MMR-20-BE wired remote controller and the full-function MMR-40 NMEA2000 Network controller with LCD display. Distributed by Navico, parent company to Lowrance, Simrad and B&G, the MM50 is available now from authorised dealers at $449 RRP. Please contact Navico on 1300 NAVICO for more information.

Okuma LRF rods

HE LRF range of rods features Okuma’s patented Unidirectional Fibre Reinforcement technology, a breakthrough in rod strength and sensitivity.

This patented manufacturing process utilises an outer layer of longitudinal fibres around the rod blank to significantly increase rod strength as well as power and sensitivity in the tip section. These fibres increase the rod’s lifting power and maximum strength of the rod by up to three times that of a standard rod blank. Other features on these rods include quality Seaguide XO guides, with SS316 frame and SIC inserts for long, smooth casts, full grip design for comfort and use in rod holders, comfortable reel seat design, hi-vis

yellow tip section and slick-looking black and gold highlights. The end result is a series of rods that casts lures well and offers excellent feel, while also having the sensitivity to transfer well to bait fishing applications. The additional strength and durability has also seen these rods punch well above their weight on a range of species in both the fresh and salt. With seven models in the range, the LRF has you covered from skinny water bass and trout missions with the 5’, 1-3kg, through a selection of line ratings in 6’ to 7’ rods and a 7’4”, 2-5kg model that is perfect for long casts on the flats. A quality, versatile rod option that offers excellent value for money with SRPs from $89.90-$99.90. www.okuma.com.au

The new computer program for the fisherman. Keep your catch, mark and GPS records in a database for quick and easy entry and analysis. The package also features: Graphical tides (moon and sun times) Mark and GPS waypoint databases with map display Coastline maps covering all areas of Australia Fishing knots and ‘Fish Facts’

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 39

Sensational Gladstone fishing

ICKING up where I left off last month, the boat was once again in the drink before sunrise and we cruised up Gladstone Harbour to an interesting spot.

Dan with a quality grunter extracted from a rock bar in a Gladstone Harbour creek.

This fingermark grabbed a 95mm Zerek Fish Trap on a deep corner of a rock wall.

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Page 40 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

There was a gravel spit off the edge of a fallen concrete slab and Dan called that fish would be there. Almost instantly we had a triple hook-up and two cod and a fingermark were a welcome start to the morning. I also made the big mistake of giving dad stick for getting smoked because he hadn’t set his drag properly. I made the smartass remark that he was running ‘Hollywood drag’. What a mistake that turned out to be. The day continued as per the last, with a few blue salmon in the mix. These bruisers go like trains in the shallows on spin rods. Dad landed a cracker at 82cm, which would’ve made for an awesome photo if it didn’t kick out of his hands and fall over the side in almost comical fashion. Dad and Dan were fishing well but I was having a shocker. Everything that could go wrong did, with hooks pulling, lures getting snagged and missing fish left, right and centre. I would’ve caught one fish for every three of Dad’s and he was making me look rather silly, but that’s Karma. After a hot little bite on blue salmon as well as grunter and a lone fingermark, we headed up a creek hoping to fish some rock bars. First cast saw Dan land a grunter of 60cm, which is a cracking fish for the creeks. We continued picking away at the standard grunter and fingermark but decided to move. While travelling to the next spot we ran over a spread-out patch of huge barra, which had us all excited. We started launching vibes, plastics and deep-diving hardbodies into the school, switching lures around and attempting to get a bite. I threw almost every lure in my tackle bag but to no avail. The school spread out after half an hour or so and we reluctantly moved away. As we were travelling up the creek, I spotted some huge splashes and boofs on the bank opposite. It had to be barra feeding in the shallows, so we shot over and started casting at where we thought they might be. Unfortunately, they had moved on by the time we arrived. The only fish remaining in the area were the ever-present cod, which I caught and threw back in disgust. These Gladstone barra were proving extremely frustrating. We moved back into the harbour and found another hot little pocket of blue salmon. The fish were stacked up on the edge of a rock wall and it was almost a fish a cast. These little goers put on some awesome aerial displays, leaping around and shaking their heads like barra. When they went quiet, we pushed around to the deep front edge of the wall and picked up a few fingermark and cod. As we rounded the next corner, we came to a small junc-

Fishing Trip – Part 2 by LACHIE BAKER

tion that screamed fish to all of us. We began bombing plastics and hard-bodies into the shallows and working them back to deeper water. We picked up the usual cod, fingermark and grunter but one fingermark in particular was very special. Dad had been after his fingermark tagging achievement award for years and he finally got it. We travel to Hinchinbrook every year to chase these fish but all it took was two sessions in Gladstone Harbour. We were so pumped he had achieved one of his long-term fishing goals, and it was certainly unexpected. The fishing action slowed to a trickle, so we pulled the pin on day two. The last morning of our trip had come and we had a 3.30am start in the hope of getting a barra early. My goal for the trip was to catch just one, so it was going down to the wire. The sun was just about to pop up and we had been casting for about an hour when my lure got tangled with the snap swivel during its flight. I quickly brought it in and began rattling it undone when Dad landed a cast in the spot I had just ripped my lure from. I looked down to fix my tangle and then heard braid getting ripped off a baitcaster. Glancing over, I saw Dad getting into a good fish and then a barra leaping out of the water. I thought ‘you can’t be serious’ as Dad just started laughing. I shook my head in disbelief and refused to get the net, but luckily Dan was feeling generous and scooped Dad’s fish into the boat. The morning went on and the fingermark, cod and blue salmon kept us entertained and hopeful. We had another hot bite on blues on the flats, which was an awesome 10 minutes of fishing. We got nailed almost every cast and when they run towards timber in 60cm of water it certainly makes for a bit of fun. After they went off the bite, it was just about time to call it a day and head home, so I had to accept defeat on my barra mission.

I will be back soon with a vengeance. While driving home, we tallied up the number of fish we tagged and estimated how many we threw back without tags. We tagged 130 fish and guessed that we threw back another 30 without tags, so figured we’d had a good two and half days of fishing. All credit to Dan, who took us out and put us onto the fish, let us stay at his place and gave us his tags after we ran out. The gear Dad and I were running consisted of 6kg and 8kg Wilson Venom baitcast and spin rods, 30lb and 40lb Zerek Hy-Braid and 3000-4000 size spinning reels and 200 size baitcasters. Depending on the structure, we threw 95mm Zerek Fish Trap vibes, 89mm and 120mm Tango Shads, Zerek Live Shrimp and Powelly’s favourite Berkley Gulp Shrimp. We ran 1/4-1/2oz jig heads depending on the depth and current. We banged the hard-bodies and plastics along rock walls and threw vibes towards deep corners and points. Something I struggle with when chasing barra away from Hinchinbrook is the severe lack of timber to cast at. In these cases you have to rely more on the sounder as well as watching the water and how it swirls around deep submerged structure. Watching Dan gave me an insight to how he is so successful and now I have to re-evaluate how I go about my fishing because I have to consider a whole new element when casting. I’m excited to fish Hinchinbrook and this year’s Rocky Barra Bounty after learning from Dan. Hopefully I will be able to put some of his techniques into practice. With the awesome fishing we experienced in this region, I’m confident in saying we will return soon. Our long-time favourite Turkey Beach lies to the south and the mighty Fitzroy River to the north, so surely we will make time to stop in and have another crack at a Gladstone barra on one of our trips to central Queensland.

Glen Baker boated a fingermark on a plastic.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Clint Fannin from Wilson Fishing with a one of the many monster hard-fighting dogtooth tuna caught on Venom rods and Zerek lures.

Jason Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait & Tackle in Port Macquarie held a cracking Kenn Reefs GT caught while trolling Zerek Pelagic Z hard-body lures.

Epic expedition to Kenn Reefs S

OMETIMES in life you sit back and pinch yourself.

I recently found myself doing just that when boarding Big Cat Reality Charters for an epic fishing expedition to the Kenn Reefs in the Coral Sea. Kenn Reefs is located 520km northeast of Bundaberg or 680km due east of Mackay, close to the international waters border. Tackle company Wilson Fishing had organised this mega trip and invited many tackle shop owners/staff, fishing charter operators and a couple of ring-ins such as myself, Liquor Legends MD John Carmody and Nigel Webster from the AFN Fishing Show. Although Big Cat Reality specialises in trips to the Swain Reefs and several other locations in the Coral Sea, it was a lengthy process getting the necessary permits to venture all the way out to Kenn Reefs for the first time. At lunchtime Monday we made our way out from Burnett Heads, Bundaberg and the excitement and anticipation was through the roof. The only downside to travelling to such remote places is the time it takes to get there. We travelled all afternoon, all night, all the next day and all the next night to finally arrive at Kenn Reefs early in the morning after a massive 40 hours of steaming. These trips are self-

Fishing Trip by GREG LAMPRECHT

guided, meaning once you reach your destination you are given one of the many well-equipped 4.3m poly tenders to go and explore and fish your heart out. Big Cat also has the ability to carry two of your own vessels of a bigger size, which is a great option, and for this trip Wilson Fishing brought along a 4.8m Polycraft and 5.8m plate boat. The Big Cat crew works fast to unload the boats and organise everything required for a quick departure to ensure you’re on the water and fishing in no time. Day one On the first day of fishing, John Carmody and I fished together and headed to the northern point of one reef system. It wasn’t long before we spotted birds working its western side. We hooked up on the first troll past the birds and soon had rainbow runners and green jobfish coming over the side in quick succession. After throwing back a small green jobfish that had been half eaten by a shark, I saw a big fish (not a shark) nail it on the surface not far from the boat. I quickly worked my Zerek Zappelin stickbait past the area and it instantly got smashed, leaving a mass of white water

on the surface. After a solid fight, we had a nice GT in the boat but it was clear this wasn’t the fish that smashed the half-eaten jobfish on the surface moments before. That fish was a much larger predator that inhabited the Kenn Reefs. We continued to troll the area and caught more green jobfish before we hooked a line-burner on a Zerek Pelagic Z hardbody lure. After several strong runs, I caught a glimpse of colour under the boat and we soon had our first dogtooth tuna come aboard. What a great start to the trip and we soon backed it up with several more dogtooth tuna and green jobfish before heading over to the edge of the reef to jig a 15m-plus ledge we had come over. John was using a slowpitch metal jig while I worked the new Mustad Bucktail Big Eye Jig with a 4.5” Zerek Flat Shad plastic. It wasn’t long before I got absolutely smashed and had line screaming off my reel and the Wilson Venom 350g PE3-8 jigging rod fully loaded up. The fish ran straight for deeper water and we had to chase it as my Jigging Master PE5 reel was getting low on line.

After gaining plenty of line back, I could feel a change in the fight and it soon turned into a dead weight. That normally means only one thing, and sure enough up came the big head of a large dogtooth tuna that had unfortunately been sharked. We headed back to the Big Cat for lunch. After lunch, a few boats decided to head around the eastern side of the reefs to a small area that on the maps showed an extended rise that dropped away very quickly on each side. By now it was absolutely bucketing down with rain but we braved the conditions and made our way around the outside of the reef. We started trolling the eastern side in 30-40m of water and the action was crazy. It was double hook-ups on good size dogtooth tuna left, right and centre and every boat was hooked up to good fish. Most of us hadn’t even made it to the area of interest yet but Troy Dixon was there first in the Wilson boat and soon let us know they had caught some monster doggies over 50kg on the troll. We all made our way there and decided to jig a nice ledge running from

60-90m with lots of big fish along it. Nigel Webster and the cameraman were on Troy’s boat and first to drop as we positioned our boat beside them. It wasn’t long before Nigel got smashed and line began screaming from his reel at a ridiculous rate. Johnny and I hit bottom and began working our jigs, which were both eaten quickly by small fish. Johnny’s turned out to be a small cod and mine was a beautiful coronation trout that once again had been eaten in half by a shark. I dropped the jig down again and this time hooked a monster fish, watching the 130lb Jerry Brown braid pour off my Accurate Boss reel with a stupid amount of drag pressure. The Venom PE5-10 jig stick was loaded to the max and I quickly went to sunset on the drag in hope of slowing the monster down. Unfortunately, it wasn’t working. The reel was super-hot from the crazy drag pressure and all I could do was lock myself in the corner of the boat to make sure I didn’t get pulled out. Moments later the monster busted me off, all ☛ continued P42

Big Cat Reality Charters not only has six 4.3m poly tenders loaded on the top deck, but also has the option for you to take two of your own larger boats if desired.

The author used a Mustad Bucktail Jig with a 4.5” Zerek Flat Shad plastic to catch this big dogtooth tuna that unfortunately got eaten by a shark.

Breaksea & Beyond DVD Join Greg Lamprecht and his Wicked Fishing crew as they fish the Breaksea Spit region north of Fraser Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef. Featuring 24 different species of fish including red emperor to 17kg and drag-screaming marlin and wahoo action. Experience fascinating and rarely seen underwater footage of fish roaming the reefs in their natural habitat. Greg combines this footage with sounder readings to create a fantastic learning tool that won’t be forgotten.

20 Species Fraser Island Rainbow Beach & Double Island Point Rarely Seen Underwater Footage

Vol. 1 & 2 TWIN PACK ONLY

James Clarke from Barra Jacks captured a beautiful coral trout on a stickbait fished around a shallow reef edge.

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Epic fishing expedition to Kenn Reefs ☛ from P41

Dogtooth tuna were in great numbers at Kenn Reefs and not only do they look fierce, they fight hard, as Locki Nichols from Tasmania found out.

TURKEY BEACH 2 Bedroom Villa Holiday Rental • Outdoor BBQ and pergola For • Fish cleaning facilities enquiries • Large yard with room and for the boat bookings • Undercover carport phone • Close to boat ramp 07 4974 2153 • Linen available

while Johnny was in a world of hurt himself and his Stella was screaming on a big fish. I watched in amazement as he pulled the hooks on that fish and hooked up moments later to another massive fish that screamed back towards the bottom. Johnny was in some serious hurt but the hooks pulled again and he seemed somewhat relieved, but it wasn’t over yet. As he began winding his jig up, he got smashed once again, not far from the boat. He was yelling “No, not again!” and was totally exhausted from the two prior fish giving him a massive workout. He was running massive drag pressure and this time the assist hook cord on the jig broke and the battle was finally over. Nigel had landed his 30kg fish and Wilson’s Clint Fannin and Russell Bowman from The Lure Shop Tackle World in Cooktown had also trolled up a horse of a doggie not far away. Unfortunately we had run out of time and needed to head back to the big red cat, but what an epic day, and it was only day one of six.

Day two The wind increased on the second day and we were all forced to fish the western side of the reef, which was protected from the wind. Most of us jigged up plenty of jobfish, coronation trout and doggies on the closer deep pinnacles before throwing stickbaits along the reef edges for beautiful big coral trout and GTs before heading back to the Big Cat for lunch. With the windy and rough conditions, James the owner/skipper of Big Cat said he was happy to take us out trolling and jigging from the big boat, allowing us to hit some of the more exposed areas we wanted to target. We trolled past the southern end of the reef system and started catching green jobfish and rainbow runners, soon followed by a three-way hook-up on dogtooth tuna. The fishing was red hot and we wouldn’t get far before another reel would start screaming. James had his young son Charlie along for his firstever trip and we encouraged him to come and pull in a fish. He was a little unsure at first but after some quick

guidance from Dane and myself, we had him pumping and winding on a great fish, which turned out to be a solid GT and an awesome sight considering it was his first-ever decent fish. We had another big hook-up but one of the rail-mount rod holders failed and among the commotion of other hook-ups and the shifting around of rods, a lanyard wasn’t put back on my Stella 20,000/Venom rod combo and it shot out the back and disappeared into the deep blue. To say I was devastated would be an understate-

ment, and it was even worse knowing that so much care was being taken to ensure lanyards were on the reels to prevent such a thing from happening. After trolling around and locating some pinnacles in 45m of water, we went back to jig them. It was a cool sight watching everyone line up down one side of the big boat ready to drop jigs. The action was crazy, with hook-ups left, right and centre. Gregg Chapman from Secret Spot Bait & Tackle in Yeppoon pulled up a cracking coral trout and

others caught a range of species including good size dogtooth tuna and highfin amberjack. Day three The next day saw a howling 25-plus knots of southeasterly wind and once again we spent the day fishing from Big Cat in pretty ordinary conditions, though it was comfortable and loads of fish were caught including GTs, doggies, yellowfin tuna and much more. Read next month’s edition of BNB for part two of our wicked Kenn Reefs expedition where the fish just get bigger. Until then, tight lines.

John Carmody with one of the many green jobfish caught on Zerek Pelagic Z hardbody lures in Fusilier colour.

PUZZLE PAGE w i l s o n f i s h i n g .c o m

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Words can run vertically, horizontally, diagonally and back to front.

R W A

T W Q

Y M C

H W H

L W

W H

O W

H M

W X

M C

R M O

M N

W O

B M X

M X M O

U W L

BEACH WORM BLOODWORM GARFISH HERRING MULLET

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Catch me Y R A F K Q X T H R E J if R you T U J D W Y C G A X I can! M U T Q M J G V Q

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Page 42 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

M O V

X W W O D

X M V

SOLDIER CRAB SQUID WHITEBAIT YABBY YELLOWTAIL

WIN a Wilson Fishing prize pack worth over $50! For your chance to win, simply solve the puzzles, take a picture and message our Facebook page or email design@bnbfishing.com.au before Thursday, July 19, 2018. GOOD LUCK! Congratulations to Jackson Arnold on being the winner of the June puzzle competition. T&Cs: One winner per month. One entry per person. www.bnbfishing.com. au

BOATING & marine Deep sides and a full transom gave a feeling of a much bigger boat.

The Stessl looked good on the water with the Yamaha donk.

Yamaha’s 75hp four-stroke had plenty of get up and go.

Stessl 485 Apache Pro review H

AVING owned and fished out of a side console for over 10 years, I have a bit of a soft spot for this style of boat. The reason I feel this way probably relates to how I use the boat, which usually involves fishing two or three-up with a mix of casting and trolling lures or bait fishing, crabbing and family activities. So, when I got the call from Will Lee at Yamaha saying he had the new 75hp Yamaha four-stroke on the back of a Stessl 485 Apache Pro, I was more than keen to go for a run and test out this sweetsounding package.

Boat Review by BEN COLLINS

Apart from being a side console, it also had the new 75hp Yammie on the back, which I hadn’t had a chance to test yet, and it had been a while since I’d jumped aboard a Stessl, so it was a win-win for me. Though badged a 485, the Stessl had an overall length of 4.95m and a good size beam of 2.2m, which provided plenty of room to easily move about. In terms of material thickness, the sides and bottom were both 3mm

think. More and more manufacturers are choosing ‘plate-look’ sides, which is exactly what Stessl has done with this model, and it really does lift the appearance in terms of a modern, tough and sleek finish. As mentioned, this boat was fitted with the new Yamaha 75hp four-stroke, but the maximum rating is 80hp. The 75hp is a new-generation engine with a big displacement of 1832cc

and is based on the very popular and proven F115B four-cylinder power unit. Combine this power with reduced weight and increased fuel efficiency compared to previousgeneration motors and you have a potent package that is going to perform more than adequately and won’t break the bank in terms of purchase price or at the bowser. Something to consider when weighing up your boat-buying options and comparing prices is the list of standard inclusions. In this instance, the only options on the boat tested and pictured are the sounder, accessory kit and paint.

So, standard fit are the bow rails, navigation lights, bowsprit, bollards, side pockets, four seat bases, plumbed live bait tank, underfloor storage or kill tank, sizeable 80-litre underfloor fuel tank (and the list goes on). The beauty of this is these are all things you really should have in your boat and here they are, without the extra price tags. Additional standard features that make this a well-appointed fishing boat include the raised front casting platform, which has ample storage underneath, and a solid side console with plenty ☛ continued P44

Check out the footage by searching for BNBFTV

The helm had room to top or flush mount electronics.

Create your adventures

485 SUNRUNNER Featuring a Hydro Lift hull, wide beam and live bait tank. Built tough with 3mm bottom and sides.

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SPRINGWOOD | Neptune Marine 7 Judds Crt, Slacks Creek Q 07 3290 6370

HERVEY BAY | Barney’s Marine Shed 3A Nissan St, Pialba Q 07 4124 3170

GOLD COAST | Marine Tune 64 Kortum Dr, Burleigh Heads Q 07 5576 7388

WHITSUNDAYS | Whitsunday Outboard Centre 1 William Murray Dr, Cannonvale Q 07 4946 7286

H O R I Z O N B O AT S . C O M . A U www.bnbfishing.com. au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 43

BOATING & marine The side console layout provided plenty of room.

Designed to fish with a decent front casting platform.

Stessl 485 Apache Pro review ☛ from P43

of room for gauges and electronics. The Apache Pro also has a full transom, which gives the boat a more solid and safe feel and means you can fish in more trying conditions without the worry of waves coming over the back of the boat. The rear duckboard is

quite large too, which allows for easy boarding, and the transom has a plumbed 30-litre live bait tank incorporated as standard. In terms of performance, the 75hp Yammie punched out some impressive numbers. With two people on board and a full un-

Top-quality seats made the ride ultra comfortable.

derfloor fuel tank, the boat easily jumped onto the plane and accelerated quickly once over 2500rpm. A quick adjustment of the trim and you were well on your way to a top speed of about 65km/h. As mentioned, the new 75hp is more fuel efficient and this was evident during test usage, where at wide-open throttle on this boat it averaged over 2km per litre. However, if I backed off to the most economical sweet spot in the rev range (3500rpm in this case), the motor achieved a phenomenal fuel efficiency number of over 3.7km per litre. Not bad at all considering at those revs we were also moving along at a tick over 37km/h. It’s worth noting you can increase the revs to

4500rpm and still average over 3km per litre, but in this instance scooting along at about 50km/h. These are genuinely impressive numbers, and I think almost all fishos would be more than content with the 75hp’s performance. Overall, the finish of the Stessl was very good, with fully welded side decks giving it a tidy look. I’ve said this before, but being built like this not only looks better, it also adds to the longevity of your boat. Other notable positives were the comfortable seats and good driving position, large side pockets and while not fitted to the test boat I would look at adding some vertical rod holders around the console to provide some out of the way storage.

For more information on this boat and others in the Stessl range, check out stessl.com.au and give the team at Bluefin Sports in Rockhampton a call on 07 4922 2211. Boat, motor, trailer packages with a 70hp start from a very reasonable $31,900.

PERFORMANCE RPM

KM/H

1000

6.60

2000

10.75

3000

28.90

3500

37.25

4000

43.90

5000

56.20

5700

65.10

Insights into boat insurance

USH ‘n Beach has brought Nautilus Marine Insurance on board to expand the fine print and provide readers with clear, easy-tounderstand and helpful tips on protecting their boating assets.

The scenario Queensland’s waterways are renowned for being home to many magnificent examples of runabouts from the 1970s and 1980s that have since been refurbished, repowered and kitted out with contemporary electronics. Some of their original manufacturers have even created new corporate divisions that specialise in undertaking these refurbishments. And the standard of work undertaken in some of these restoration projects is so professional it’s not uncommon for these boats to be worth far more than they were when they left the showroom with their original owners. The 1971 CruiseCraft Rapide pictured here is a classic example of just

how good the end result can be. The vessel was bought by an executive of an electronics company and brought back to original condition earlier this year. And the good news is that while some insurance companies will not even look at providing cover for a boat more than 20 years old, specialist marine insurers such as Nautilus Marine will help you protect your investment, provided you take a couple of simple steps. If your boat is a trailerable vessel that was manufactured 20 years or more ago, you simply need to tow your boat to a well-recognised marine dealership and have them prepare a condition report on the hull, trailer and motor. Staff will look for evidence of such things as corrosion, stress fractures, the ingress of water or areas of potential leaks, the performance of bilge pumps, lighting and other equipment as well as the overall integrity of the vessel.

They also will inspect any maintenance records available. Having this check performed by a professional is a good idea in any case – it’s somewhat like a safety check. The dealership will also examine the motor and trailer and give you a document you can then attach to your application for insurance cover. The inspection also will give you an indication of the value of the trailer boat, which will assist you in securing an appropriate amount of insurance cover. Undertaking this inspection requires expertise and takes time and accordingly, you can expect to pay a fee for this report. A report from a mobile mechanic or an amateur boatbuilder who lives nearby is not going to cut it as far as an insurer is concerned. The requirement is for it to be undertaken by a dealership with proven expertise in preparing these reports. If your vessel is a

moored craft, then the inspection will need to be undertaken by a qualified marine surveyor or shipwright. Given that these vessels are obviously spending more time in the water than vessels on a trailer, the inspection is required for vessels of 15 or more years of age. The inspection undertaken by a marine surveyor will make an assessment of the vessel’s overall integrity and condition. The value of a moored vessel will, however, need to come from a recognised boat dealer or yacht broker. Finally, as with all insurance policies, always check your product dis-

closure document and if you have a query, ask for clarification. If you need further information, you can contact Nautilus Marine Insurance on 1300 780 533 for any boat insurance requirements. Win a Nautilus Prize Package Nautilus will also be answering your boat insurance questions of a general nature and will be offering a great bimonthly prize to the best questions received. The prize is a Nautilus Marine merchandising pack comprising a collapsible chiller bag, a handy marine sports bag and a cap. Just email your questions to qld@nautilusin surance.com.au

Side pockets are always handy in smaller boats.

New marine centre opens on the Sunshine Coast

UNSHINE Coast boaters and ski riders are the big winners with the opening of the coast’s newest marine dealership, Sunshine Coast Yamaha, at Warana.

Offering a strong line-up of new Stessco aluminium boat packages, Yamaha outboards and Yamaha WaveRunners, Sunshine Coast Yamaha has everyone covered, from the casual family boater and ski rider to the hard-core offshore fisher and thrill seeker. Located in a brandnew purpose-built building, the dealership has been designed around a modern vehicle dealership with a massive range of boats, outboards and WaveRunners all housed undercover in a family friendly showroom. The dealership is co-owned by South African ex-pats Grant Fordyce and Stephen Dold, who have a long history working together and running a large Yamaha dealership back in South Africa. “We set out to design a unique customer experience rarely seen in the marine industry, with lounges, coffee facilities and all our marine products completely under cover,” Grant said.

“Our aim is to make families just as comfortable coming into a marine dealership as the most experienced boater.” The dealership offers customers a complete one-stop shop, including Yamaha finance and insurance, a stateof-the-art full-service mechanical workshop and a strong marine parts and accessories range covering all the big-name marine electronics and equipment brands. “As part of the customer experience, we will also be launching personal watercraft ride days that will be open to all ski brands, not just Yamaha,” Grant said. “This is a great way for owners to meet other likeminded people in a fun and social environment. “We will also be offering on-water testing of boats and WaveRunners, which gives our customers the chance to try before they buy, ensuring they are matched to the right vessel for long-term boating enjoyment.” For more information regarding Sunshine Coast Yamaha, contact Grant on 0477 540 808, email grant@ sunshinecoastyamaha. com.au or visit sunshi necoastyamaha.com. au

Any advice contained in this article is of a general nature only and may not apply or be right for you as it does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any advice provided in this article, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

Page 44 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

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BOATING & marine Stessco Catcher 449 LTD

S much as it is awesome fun to run around in flash big new rigs for boat reviews, sometimes it is good to get back into something that would suit a mix of boaters from the first-timer to the hard-core fisho and crabber.

In this instance I’m referring to the Stessco Catcher. For many years, the 4.3m Stessco Catcher was one of the most popular, well-priced open boats around. While Stessco still makes this model (now the 429), I was keen to have a run in its bigger brother, the Stessco Catcher 449 Limited. This boat has an overall length of 4.65m and a beam of 2.11m, which equates to plenty of fishing room and that is evident as soon as you hop on board. The tiller-steer test boat was powered by a Yamaha 50hp four-stroke, which is the maximum-rated donk you can put on the back. I didn’t see this as overkill, and in fact it was quite pleasant to drive, especially with the trim built into the hand throttle control. The rear grab rail was also in a good position to hold onto, so you were well braced when travelling along and cornering. In terms of fit-out, there is a decent-sized casting platform at the bow and its length is effectively extended by having it at the same level as the front bench seat. In the Limited models,

Boat Review by BEN COLLINS

this is a standard feature and something I would include even if going for the standard model. While not massive, you still have plenty of room for two anglers to easily flick lures at the same time. The carpeted casting platform also makes a good place to stand when entering the boat from a pontoon or similar. It also gives you a huge amount of under-deck storage, which is gold in a smaller boat. Pockets down both sides of the boat provide more storage, and you have the option to change up the rear of the boat and add an extra casting platform. A rear casting platform was not fitted to the test boat, but it’s something I would consider to make the boat more of an allrounder. Sure, it is already a perfect platform for hardcore fishos and crabbers, but an additional casting platform would make the boat more versatile for different styles of fishing such as luring. Given the boat is of reasonable size and depth, it would be at home both in Moreton Bay chasing big longtails and in places such as Monduran Dam targeting the iconic barramundi. To take this boat to the next level, I’d also add an electric motor. While electric motors were initially used to

move around in silence chasing fish, more and more people are using them as anchors. This is a great idea, especially with the selfdeploy motors available these days, as it makes anchoring much easier for people with back prob☛ continued P46

At WOT with two people on board the Stessco Catcher 449 Limited hit a fraction over 54km/h.

A boat for every budget... FISH HUNTER 459 centre console

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Plate-look sides, plenty of ribs and a casting platform make this a tough fishing rig.

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SUNSHINE COAST Laguna Boating Centre

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45 Huxham St, Ipswich ipswichmarine.com.au 07 3294 3944

16 Project Ave, Noosaville lagunaboating.com.au 07 5442 4872

50 horses on the back was ample to get you up and moving along.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 45

BOATING & marine Check out the footage by searching for BNBFTV

The 651 CrossXover’s hull is built to handle the toughest conditions New Zealand can throw at it, so a Moreton Bay glass-out was a doddle.

Viewed side-on, you get an idea of the considerable size of the cabin, yet an expanse of fishing room is still on offer out back.

McLay 651 CrossXover Hardtop E

VERY now and then I come across a boat with a fit and finish so fine it’s akin to a luxury car.

Removable footrest replaced with bunk extension. Truly clever design.

This was exactly the case when I hit Moreton Bay in the McLay 651 CrossXover Hardtop, which is interesting as this boat is marketed as a hardcore fishing weapon. Leading up to this boat

Carpeted interior surfaces minimise noise transmission throughout the cabin, while hardtop layout brings interior lighting, sliding side windows and windscreen wiper.

Boat Review by DANIEL TOMLINSON

test, McLay’s reputation for producing rugged and durable fishing boats to handle the wild conditions often experienced in the brand’s New Zealand home waters had me thinking this rig might be a bit rough and ready. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The bigger brother to the 611 CrossXover Hardtop, the 651 is aggressively styled to make an impact on the water, both figuratively and literally, with a hull hell bent on punching spray a long way out either side of the boat yet still providing a soft and stable ride. It seems whenever I test a small boat the conditions are terrible but when a big offshore boat is on the menu it’s a glass-out. And so was the case on the day of testing the 651 CrossXover, with nary a

Stessco Catcher 449 LTD ☛ from P45

lems or who are not as agile as they used to be. In terms of performance, a quick twist of the throttle had the Stessco Catcher 449 up and moving. With two people on board we reached a top speed of just under 55km/h, which is quick for a boat of this size. The best thing is, at full speed you are still getting excellent economy at just under 3km per litre (2.91), which gives an impressive range. Even better was at about 3500rpm you can travel at a respectable 30km/h while returning an economy figure of 4.3km per litre, which opens up a whole range of fishing opportunities. If you were thinking of using this boat for

trolling for flathead, snapper or other species, at 1000rpm or just in gear, average consumption is a meagre 1.55 litres per hour. These figures mean you can put in plenty of hours on the water dragging lures around and use only a very small amount of fuel. Overall, the Stessco Catcher 449 Limited presented as a no-fuss fishing boat with all the things you need to get out on the water. Add a few options and you soon have a very capable fishing boat that is going to lend itself to a mix of fishing situations. The current driveaway RRP for this boat with a Yamaha 50hp four-stroke outboard, trailer and rego is $18,699 as supplied by the team at Sunshine

Page 46 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

Coast Yamaha. However, tell them Ben said to ask for your best deal on this package! For more information on this boat and others in the Stessco range, call 07 5346 9981 or check out sunshinecoast yamaha.com.au Alternatively, drop in and see the team at the new dealership located at 14 Machinery Ave, Warana.

PERFORMANCE RPM

KM/H

1000

5.6

2000

9.75

3000

21.85

3500

29.7

4000

35.25

5000

46.35

5700

54.2

Large side pockets are a great storage option. The author would also add in a rear casting platform for even more fishability.

wave to be seen on sometimes sloppy Moreton Bay. Supplied by Karee Marine, the test boat was fitted with Mercury’s latest-generation 200hp FourStroke motor, which certainly made a design statement. Featuring a maintenance-free valvetrain, dual overhead cams and Transient Spark Technology, the new 3.4-lite V6 from Mercury is an absolute cracker. Heading out from the Raby Bay ramp, the heavily sloped cowl on the Mercury caused me to second guess the engine’s trim position, but the awesome VesselView Link display on the Simrad NSS evo3 assured me it was trimmed correctly. Well, better punch it then! Wow, hole shot from the big Mercury was instant, and damn it sounded good. Emitting a throaty growl as load was applied, the big-displacement V6 could almost be mistaken for a sizeable V8, both in terms of noise and performance. Working in concert with the McLay’s exceptional hull, the big black motor had us on the plane with next to no bow lift and minimum effort. Being a brand-new motor, I was hesitant to give it full throttle, but at 5100rpm (700rpm shy of the limiter), we had the 1000kg hull (dry) fairly cooking along at 66km/h. Playing around with props would easily see this combo topping 80km/h once revved out, which is more than quick enough for most. Especially when as tested a happy and economical cruising speed was 50km/h at 4000rpm. Making the most of a sizeable 175-litre underfloor fuel tank, driven sensibly this is not a combo in which you’d get range anxiety. However, I found it somewhat hard to drive sensibly because the rolling mid-range urge of the 200hp Mercury V6 was genuinely addictive. Chugging along at

40km/h feeling totally invincible in hardtop comfort, aggressively punching the throttle resulted in neck-snapping acceleration. The motor just felt so muscular and I couldn’t get enough of it, constantly bringing the revs back and spinning the steering wheel, only to drop the hammer again and experience the acceleration rush as we flew over any boat wakes we could find. Properly good fun. As mentioned, McLay Boats is based in New Zealand, where far less than favourable offshore conditions mean boats need to be built tough. I think it’s time for a spec check. The 651 CrossXover measures 6.6m long and is built with 5mm bottom sheets, 4mm sides with 720mm of freeboard, a 4mm welded floor across a 2.3m beam and a fulllength keel protection strip for fearlessly pulling up on rough sand and rubble. Additionally, the CrossXover range incorporates hundreds of litres of closed-cell foam under the gunwales from the transom to the anchor bay as well as underfloor buoyancy. This super-tough and safe design ethos contributes to the 651 CrossXover’s feeling of invincibility when sitting in the comfy bolstered helm seat and cruising across whatever the ocean throws at you. It didn’t matter at what angle or speed I attacked the boat wakes in the bay (the only waves around), the big McLay just flattened them and refused to be flustered. While demolishing

waves, I felt the snazzy McLay-embossed footrest moving ever so slightly and wondered if it had come loose. Of course it hadn’t, as Trevor from Karee showed me the footrests are removable to make way for additional bunk cushions that slot neatly between the existing cushions and helm seats to ensure even a pro basketballer would feel comfortable sleeping in the cabin. This simple yet thoughtful touch was not a oneoff, as smart design was everywhere to be seen throughout the McLay’s interior. For example, the fully carpeted dash, cabin interior and hardtop underside minimised the booming echo that can resonate through the hull of many plate boats, making for one of the quietest plate rides I’ve experienced. Stepping out from under the hardtop and back into the cockpit, you’re presented with beautiful Nyalic clear coated, brushed aluminium surfaces on all sides. Nyalic is a self-annealing and ‘repairable’ clear coat finish that is super hard-wearing and smooth, designed to last the life of the boat. The test boat was optioned with the full Ultralon synthetic flooring kit (usually checker plate alloy floor) that extended to the gunwale tops and rear platform. I am a huge endorser of all the new-generation synthetic floor coverings and much prefer them to exposed checker plate or carpet. Not only do they look great, they’re super hard ☛ continued P47

Anchor well is easily accessed through a huge forward cabin hatch. When closed, hinged anchor well lid keeps the front end looking svelte.

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BOATING & marine McLay 651 CrossXover Hardtop MotorGuide releases new Xi3 and 72” Xi ☛ from P46

wearing, non-slip, easy to clean and feel awesome under foot. An option well worth ticking in my books. Elsewhere out back the thoughtful design touches continued, with genuinely useable side pockets, a fold-down rear lounge that tucked up flat (and locked in) with the rear platform to maximise fishing room, a plumbed live bait tank with Perspex viewing window, recessed section to allow access in and out of the boat and chunky boarding ladder, hand rails and bollards. I also came across one of the coolest things I’ve seen on a boat. The solid bait board with tackle tray is fitted

on a slide, so by unhooking a bungee cord, you can easily slide the whole bait board assembly left to open up a capacious storage cubby that could be a kill tank or whatever you want it to be. It’s just another example of the engineering and design smarts evidenced throughout this awesome boat. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, I found the passenger side seat base housed an 80-litre ‘chilly bin’ able to be pulled out and slid securely back in place, while the driver’s side incorporated two tackle trays and a big storage compartment. I’m sure with more time aboard I would have continued to find ‘Easter egg’

design features all through the big McLay. I think it’s obvious by now that I’m quite smitten with the 651 CrossXover and wouldn’t hesitate in dropping the cash on Trevor’s desk to take the big rig home (if I had any cash, ha!). The tested package is available now from Karee Marine for a smidge over $100,000 (including all optional extras), and I can whole-heartedly say it’s worth every cent. To book a water test and get a hands-on idea of what the McLay CrossXover range is about, contact Trevor at Karee Marine today on 07 3875 1600, visit kareemarine.com.au or stop by the yard at 1776 Ipswich Rd, Rocklea.

PERFORMANCE

Brushed aluminium, Nyalic-coated interior surfaces a highlight. Slide-away bait board an awesome innovation.

RPM 600 1500 2500 2800 3500 4000 4500 5100

KM/H 5 12 21 32 42 50 57 66

O T O R GUIDE’S newest release – the Xi3 – is the quietest and easiest to use motor in its class.

Indeed, rigorous testing has proven it to be up to 40 percent quieter than its nearest competitor. But there’s a lot more to it than that. MotorGuide’s latest offering also has wireless control straight out of the box, with a handheld remote standard on all models. So right from the start, anglers will be able to fish from anywhere on the boat. The motor’s SecureStep system ensures stowing and deploying the Xi3 is safe and easy. SecureStep lets users release the motor from its locked position without having to reach over it, while providing a clear visual and audible signal to confirm the motor is stowed and locked correctly. The Xi3 also boasts the world-class Pinpoint GPS module, which allows anglers to focus on

the fishing while taking advantage of amazing GPS functions such as Anchor, Jog, Heading Lock, Route Record and more. Available in 12 and 24V options with thrust ranging from 55lb to 70lb, all Xi3 models are Lowrance, Simrad and Mercury VesselView connectivity compatible. Anglers also have the option of freshwater (black colour) or saltwater (white colour) variants, along with the choice of 48”-60” (122152cm) shaft lengths. A three-blade Machete propeller is included as standard with all Xi3 models. Built-in sonar is optional for selected motors. Simply put, Xi3 is another great motor in the MotorGuide range that’s packed full of features: • Available with the most-accurate GPS; • Out-of-the-box wireless remote; • Lowrance, Simrad and Mercury VesselView connectivity compatible; • Stealthy operation

(up to 40 percent quieter than the leading competitor); • Easy to use, stow and deploy 72” shaft Xi5 now available Meanwhile, the MotorGuide Xi5 just got even better with the release of a 72” (183cm) shaft version, which is great for boat lovers who want to go further offshore.

See the latest electronics, safety equipment, ﬁshing tackle & ski gear, with world class aluminium & ﬁbreglass boats.

Designed to exceed expectations, the hugely popular Xi5 boasts class-leading features that include Pinpoint GPS, which now connects to selected Mercury VesselView and Simrad screens, in addition to the existing Lowrance compatibility. For more information, contact your nearest MotorGuide dealer.

24-26

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K AYAKING & canoeing

The author’s sailing companion in his beautiful handmade timber canoe.

Sailing on Lake Wivenhoe near Logan’s Inlet – the author’s favourite.

Canoe sailing on Somerset’s dams I T’S no secret to anyone who has known me for more than 30 seconds that I’m a huge fan of canoes.

Catching up to the kayaks under sail on Lake Wivenhoe.

The primary reason for this is their incredible versatility – one simple craft can perform so many tasks. One of my personal favourites, aside from paddling of course, is canoe sailing. Canoes have a relatively stable and efficient hull and lend themselves very nicely to sailing. While not as capable as a dinghy of withstanding an overturning force, with the correct rig they make fun and effective sailing boats. You’re never going to

CLASSIC AUSTRALIAN-MADE CANOES

Canoes | Repairs | Hires 0424 001 646 | onetreecanoe.com Page 50 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

Canoeing

by DAN OWBRIDGE

win an America’s Cup, but you can sure have a great day out on the water when you fit a sailing rig to your canoe! Having said that, canoe sail racing is quite a big sport in the UK, particularly around the Lakes District. The rig I choose for my canoes is called a lug sail rig. It’s an older design developed for fishing and coastal sailors around the 17th century. Its ease of use and good performance to windward have made it a design that has seen continued use even in racing dinghies today. The main reason I use it on my canoes is it has less overturning force than a lot of modern rigs, so you’re less likely to take a swim. When fitted to my 14’ canoe, I’m able to get up to speeds of about five knots (9km/h), which is certainly faster than I can paddle for any length of time. I have taken it out in breezes approaching 15 knots, but anything more is a little too exciting for comfort! So, the question begs to be asked, where do you take your canoe if you want to go for a sail? While we have a number of great options in southeast Queensland, my favourites have to be the dams in the Somerset region on the Brisbane Valley rivers. Both Lake Wivenhoe and its smaller brother Somerset make excellent locations for sailing any sort of craft, as evidenced by the location of Brisbane Valley Sailing Club at Logan Inlet on Wivenhoe. With good access to the

water, plenty of interesting scenery and a consistent breeze during summer, it makes for a great day out on the water. Average wind speeds for the area tend to be around 10-12km/h in the mornings, with a slight increase in the afternoons. Certainly enough to push a small sailing canoe along at a nice pace but not so much that you could spill your drink. As any sailor will tell you, sailing involves picking a direction to travel in and then going in another direction entirely. Canoe sailing is no different, as Mother Nature has a nasty habit of sending a breeze from exactly the direction you’re intending to travel in. With that in mind, sailing locations with plenty of open space in which to manoeuvre are always best. If all else fails, you always have a paddle… On Wivenhoe, the launch sites at Billies Bay and Logan Inlet offer plenty of open water and a favourable prevailing breeze, while on Somerset the Kirkleagh area

is best, especially if you head north and away from skiers. For my money, I think it’s hard to beat sailing out from Logan Inlet, across and around Pelican Island and then back again. The scenery on this route incorporates the full range of what Wivenhoe has to offer, with glimpses of the D’Aguilar Range and the many wooded inlets at the southern end of the dam. As with any water-based activity, make sure you check the weather forecast before heading out. The old saying “You can have too much of a good thing” definitely applies when sailing. Wind speeds between seven and 15 knots are perfect, especially if they’re coming from behind you on the homeward leg of your trip. Anything more will be a handful for most paddlers and anything less is really just a paddling trip with an annoying sail flopping about in your face. Also make sure you check wind direction to determine the best route for your trip. Catching a free ride on the end of an extended paddling journey can turn a long slog on open water in-

to a pleasurable run home. The best part about canoe sailing is how easy it is. You don’t need a professionally made sail kit, as any flat surface will catch a tailwind on a paddling trip and provide an easy ride. In fact, anyone with a hiking fly in their shed can jerry rig up a sailing rig for their canoe. For handier paddlers, building a homemade sail kit is relatively straightforward and you’ll find plenty of photos on the internet for inspiration. Retrofitting to an old or existing canoe is straightforward and can be as simple as lashing a couple of paddles together. It really can be as simple or complex as you choose to make it – you’re only limited by your creativity. So, if you’re looking for something new to try with your old favourite canoe, or a new way to traverse our inland waterways, I highly recommend you give canoe sailing a go. To find out more about how to fit a sail to your canoe, or having one made professionally, give One Tree Canoe Company a call and we’d be delighted to help get you under sail! www.onetreecanoe.com

Sailing on Lake Somerset near Hazeldean.

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Barramundi still a solid bet J ULY has arrived and it’s meant to be winter but this winter has been warm so far around Gladstone.

The odd cold morning and evening has dropped the water temperature a few degrees but not enough to affect barra and jacks biting. They are still being caught in good enough numbers to actively target them until the water temperature drops a bit more. Awoonga Dam is a consistent option for a barra fix, especially if you concentrate your efforts in the afternoon on shallower, warmer points. Blue salmon can be found in decent schools through Gladstone Harbour if you put in the time to find them. Smaller schools are around in the rivers and creeks, and I am finding them more consistently in deeper water around rock bars and holes.

Gladstone Region

by GARY CHURCHWARD

Zerek Fish Traps or similar vibes allow you to get down quicker in the deeper water and stronger currents. If you find the fish unwilling to take a vibe or they are being tentative when biting, try getting a 3” minnow soft plastic down to them. They tend to hit minnow-profile plastics harder and once hooked on a jig head you will drop fewer fish. Size has been average, with the standard size in the mid-50cm range, though the odd 70-80cm fish has been mixed in to keep you on your toes Big tarpon of 60-70cm have been swimming in the same schools as the salmon and will take the same lures. Fingermark numbers are

still good, with plenty of school-sized fish being caught around deep rock bars and headlands in the harbour. If you can find bait schools around these areas as well, you’re in with more of a chance again. A vibe or plastic worked around these locations will catch a few fish. Jewfish are showing up through the harbour, with the odd fish coming from deeper sections in the rivers. I found a school in the Calliope River, and after hooking three unstoppables in a row that wrapped me around the pylons, a smaller version of about 70cm decided to bite. Slightly bigger plastics between 4” and 6” got their attention and tempted them to bite.

Barra are still an option. This fish hit a 3” minnow in the Calliope River.

These fish only hung around for half a tide before moving on. Tuna can be found towards the entrance of the harbour and into the shipping channel. To locate them, just look for feeding fish on the surface and birds working the schools. A fast-retrieved soft plastic seems to be the best way of getting a bite from them. A small metal slug will also work. Big queenfish are being caught around the current lines and marker pylons at the southern end of Facing Island. Mackerel have turned up on the outside of Facing Island. Most are school mackerel, with the odd spanish mackerel and cobia caught as well. Flathead, bream and whiting will all be in good numbers through the colder months, though the typical locations and techniques will be working. It is still worth throwing a few crab pots in as you go fishing because crabs will hang around through winter. Drop into your local tackle shop to get the best information on what’s biting where and the best way to catch them. Enjoy the better weather we should have over the next few months. Get on the water more often and explore what the region has to offer. Cheers and happy fishing from Gladdy.

Blue salmon are in good numbers, with vibration lures working well.

Mack tuna are around. Phil got this one on a 5” Z-Man soft plastic.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 51

Capricorn Coast winter options T HE temperatures may be dropping but the action sure is firing up here on the Capricorn Coast.

Brendan Warren with a beastly black jew from one of the local estuaries.

The first species well worth a mention in the colder months is the humble flathead. These guys would have to be up there as the number one target for locals during winter. Over a short distance they are one of the quickest fish in the estuary. It gets the blood pumping when a decent flatty climbs on the light stuff and the drag sings those sweet sounds.

A Humminbird Mega Imaging shot of the fish scanned between moored boats in the Fitzroy River.

The author with some quality Fitzroy by-catch. Flatties will be on the move during July.

Robin Boon, aka the author’s old man, with a fine Fitzroy chromie tagged and ready for release.

Page 52 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

Capricorn Coast by JOHN BOON

I’m sure everyone would agree flathead are a bloody mongrel to get a good photo of due to their body shape. We have been catching a few in the Fitzroy River as by-catch when targeting other species, so I’m sure this means good numbers are about. Most of the locals head for Corio Bay to get their flathead fix. I haven’t been a big fan of fishing there due to how shallow it gets around low tide, though I have only fished there a handful of times. I’m thinking I’ll have to make the effort this winter to get up there and suss the place out. Some of the best plastics for flathead at the moment are 3”-4” grub tails from either Z-Man or Berkley Gulp. Using these types of plastics, I have found a straight slow retrieve just off or just bumping the bottom seems to work the best. I’ve still caught fish on these lures with a lift and drop but have had better results on a slow wind. Another winter favourite is bream. Check out the horse Grant Jenkings caught in the middle of Keppel Bay Marina. Speaking with locals, the better catches are coming from around oyster rocks, which is common for this time of year as many species chase warmer water. The bait fishos have been doing well on fresh yabbies and sand worms. It’s good news for the Fitzroy River, with all the bait species including mullet, prawns and yorkies (Hamilton’s anchovy) pushing back up to the town reaches. Some horse threadfin salmon have been caught off the south side boat ramp pontoon. Threadies over the metre mark aren’t an uncommon capture off the ramp. Any fresh bait from the area has been working well. Several times I’ve had the sounder running when coming back to the ramp and found threadies stacking up on a small drop-off near the ramp. On our last trip up the Fitzroy we were idling along looking at the side imaging among the moored boats and spotted thousands of small forktailed fish. We knew they were forktailed as that’s exactly what the Humminbird Mega Imaging showed us. I’ve discussed this topic with a lot of people and as yet we still don’t have a positive ID on these fish. Have a look at the sounder shot and see what you reckon.

One report was a bloke got a cast net full of catfish when he tried to find out what they were. I really hope they are baby threadfin because that would be a big thumbs-up for the future. I’ve heard suggestions from the likes of tarpon to blue salmon, catfish, big yorkies and threadies. It will get the better of me and I’ll throw the cast net in on the next trip to see if I can find out what they are. The reports of barra in the town reaches are getting better with each set of neap tides. At the time of writing, I had just driven over the river and it was starting to get that lovely green tinge back. By the time this fine publication goes to print, the Frenchville Sports Club Barra Bash will have come and gone. You will have to wait for next month’s edition for a full run-down of the event. I can tell you there were a lot of excited teams ready to rumble in this brand-new comp for the Fitzroy River. Out the front This is the best time of year to get out and hit the close-in islands from Yeppoon to Emu Park. We will get really long periods of good weather, so the bay should clean up well, which will bring the bait in closer and the pelagics will follow. The small tinnie brigade will be onto this, so keep an eye on boats sitting at places like Iron Pot and Ritamada. Even the headlands would be worth a try. Setting off on foot and rock hopping around while casting will get you into the action. The yorkies are now thick in the harbour, so it’s only a matter of time before the school and spotted mackerel follow. The headlands north of Yeppoon up to Cape Man-

ifold have been on fire of late. Spanish mackerel, nannygai, fingermark, black jew and various trevally species have been climbing all over jigs and vibes. Sharks have been active but should slow in the colder months. Squid reports are a bit sketchy. Every time I’ve had an opportunity to get out and chase a tiger squid it has been eaten up by either work or family commitments. I’m looking forward to dusting off the squidding gear and getting out for a bash. Offshore grounds have been fishing well, with large-mouth nannygai making up most of the successful reef trips. I haven’t heard any reports about yakkas getting caught in numbers but I’m sure they won’t be far away. Take it steady It is predicted we will see above average numbers of whales making their way past the Capricorn Coast this season. Please be careful when travelling around this great piece of paradise and if you can avoid it, try not to travel at night. Even last year during daylight hours we had a few close calls. I’ve chatted with some people who were unlucky enough to hit one and they do a great deal of damage to the hull, not to mention throwing people around inside the

boat and causing injury. Our first lot of whales showed up in May, which is extremely early. This is a good indicator that the predictions will be right for above average whale activity. If you are interested in jumping on board a vessel to have a look at these magnificent creatures, you can give Freedom Fast Cats a call to book your spot. This is the first year this operation has run whale watching cruises and just adds another reason why the Capricorn Coast is a fantastic holiday destination. A big congratulations to young Sean Cumberledge who took out the Secret Spot Bait & Tackle photo of the month competition. Sean caught his beast of a spanish mackerel while on the water with Hooked Fishing Charters and had his dad James by his side each step of the way. Lifelong memories there for sure. Sean has won a $50 gift voucher to be used in store and I can tell you he is one excited fisherman. If you would like to be part of the photo comp, post your fishing photos on the Secret Spot Bait & Tackle or Fishing Central Queensland Facebook pages – it’s that easy. Well that’s it from me this month. Stay safe on the water with all the whales around and I’ll catch you next month.

Grant Jenkins caught a quality bream inside the Keppel Bay Marina.

Sean Cumberledge took out the Secret Spot Bait & Tackle photo of the month competition with this ripper spanno. Well done mate.

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One serious moses perch!

Coral trout in shallow water make for great fun.

Trout were on the chew.

Glorious conditions at Stanage Bay

OW, what wonderful weather winter brings with it.

The sea has been smooth as far as the eye can see. The road in is much rougher than the ocean, believe me. Livingstone Shire Council has still been concentrating its budget closer to its office, leaving the rural coastal areas to jiggle their vehicles apart thanks to the nowhuge potholes, sunken grids and corrugated unsealed roads. However, it’s no stress if you slow down and watch the road in front of you. You and your gear will arrive at Stanage Bay in one piece if you refrain from stargazing.

Stanage Bay by VON IRELAND The curse of the road is really our saviour because a ‘crowd’ at the boat ramp can comprise just your crew and nobody else. The estuary has been working really well, with monster muddies still on the chew and steelback and blue salmon, flathead and big bream a common sight on most boats. Crews fishing with bigger tackle for jewfish in the holes have been rewarded with strong fighters. A fellow with a jewfish

was pictured recently in a Brisbane paper, which called it the fish of a lifetime. Maybe it is down south, but here at Stanage Bay, pulling in 12kg-plus jewfish is a regular occurrence.

These jewfish are free of worms and are very clean and tasty. If you haven’t caught one, pop in to Stanage and give it a go. I recommend it for fishos coming back into the estuary off the reef who arrive too early for the tidal boat ramp. Simply pop over to the jew hole until the tide comes in enough to get up the ramp.

On the reef and around the islands, most boats have bagged out on legal to champion size red emperor and nannygai (both large and small-mouth). Coral trout, sweetlip, stripies, parrotfish, redthroat and beautiful spanish mackerel have all been on offer. Until next time, enjoy the cool, calm weather and keep those rods bent and wet.

It’s mission accomplished when one of these comes over the side.

Farewell Vonni

SADLY, since submitting this article, Von Ireland passed away on June 19, 2018 surrounded by family and friends who loved her dearly.

We thank Von for her continued contributions to the mag over many years. We truly appreciated her good-spirited banter,

genuine passion for fishing and fierce devotion to her beloved home, Stanage Bay. Rest in peace Vonni. BNB Fishing Team A beautiful example of a Stanage cod.

Fishing madness at Corio Bay Classic

IXTY anglers hooked into more than 150 fish at the seventh annual Corio Bay Classic just north of Yeppoon recently. Some of the standout fish caught included a 73cm flathead landed by Aaron Bell and a 73cm blue threadfin salmon boated by Chris Hancock. Renee Shaw showed the lads how it should be

done by taking out the barramundi category in the senior division with a healthy 83cm specimen. In the junior section, Kalani Walsh caught a 36.5cm whiting and Brendan Reed reeled in a respectable 68.5cm flathead. The event centred on the magnificent Corio Bay with its sandy waterways and mangrove-lined creeks.

Keppel Bay Sport Fishing Club publicity officer Nathan Johnston said the Corio Bay Classic has been running for seven years now and it is a great opportunity for keen anglers and families to get out on the water and enjoy a day in the great outdoors. “Anglers were able take a photo on a brag mat with a special token and then either release the fish or

keep it for a fresh healthy meal, ensuring anglers were given the choice with what to do with their catch, which we believe is important when fishing for sport and for food,” Nathan said. “The day was all about encouraging participation, giving the public opportunity to explore the great fishing options in Corio Bay and providing a glimpse of what it means to

Brendan Reed notched up a top 68.5cm dusky to win the junior flatty category.

Aaron Bell took out the senior flathead category with this cracking 73cm dusky flathead.

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Harry Daniels scored equal first place in the junior category with this yellowfin bream.

be involved in the Keppel Bay Sport Fishing Club. “Of course there was also over $1300 worth of prizes up for grabs thanks to the kind support of Barra Jacks and the Secret Spot.” The club now turns its focus to enjoying monthly outings before hosting a King of the Fitzroy competition in August. “We are hosting a King of the Fitzroy fishing competition on August 18 and 19 to celebrate the king threadfin, one of Australia’s iconic sportfish,” Nathan said. “Fishing boundaries for this event will include the Fitzroy River to the mouth and also Casuarina Creek, with great prizes for various fish categories up for grabs. “Registrations are being capped at 60 participants and event headquarters this year will be at the much-loved Criterion Hotel in the heart of Rockhampton, with a basic meal included in the very affordable registration fee of $60 for seniors and $30 for juniors.” To find our more about the King of the Fitzroy Fishing Competition for 2018, visit facebook.com/ events/182647292394368 And for any more information about Keppel Bay Sport Fishing Club, head to kbsfc.org

Kalani Walsh landed this fine 36.5cm whiting to win the junior category.

Renee Shaw secured the longest barramundi for the comp with a respectable 83cm specimen.

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Aparadise fisho's

Monster crabs

Awesome fishing stanagebay.com Call Von 07 4937 3145 Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 53

Corroboree Billabong saratoga are so colourful.

Al with his best barra at ‘the south’ going 89cm.

Top end fishing options F

IRST, I must apologise for being very absent in the mag lately.

When the author and crew could get out of Dundee, the queenies were playing.

A late-arvo flick off the rocks at Dundee.

The mornings out of Dundee were beautiful. Unfortunately, the conditions didn’t remain good for the rest of the day.

Page 54 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

Too much work and not enough play I reckon. I have a plan however, and that’s going to change in the not-too-distant future. But for now, I finally got some quality time off work and ventured into the NT – that place on everyone’s bucket list. At present I’m based in Mount Isa, so with my still newish 4.1m Polycraft Challenger and 50hp four-stroke Honda, I headed north for a leisurely day and a half drive to the top end. First stop was the Darwin Flyrodders Territory Freshwater Fly Fishing Open at the famous Corroboree Billabong. I’ve fished this comp a few times and Corroboree Billabong is still my favourite freshwater place in the top end. Situated in the upper reaches of the Mary River, it is a magical spot. If you are a fly fisher, this two-day event is at the very pinnacle of fly comps in the country. Some of the best flytaking fish are all in one place: saratoga, barramundi and tarpon, which are all acrobatic species and spectacular in both their takes and love of surface flies. You’ve gotta love that. Check out darwinfly rodders.org.au Corroboree Park Tavern is a 15-minute drive from the billabong and is situated on the Arnhem Highway, making it the perfect base camp. Peter and Linda run this fantastic facility with powered and unpowered sites, camping and cabins and along with their great staff have not only the best meals but also the coldest beer. It’s a great place with a great atmosphere. This year the top end had a pretty good wet season, which put a lot of water on the floodplains. Fish head up there to

NT Fishing by HELEN ABDY

breed and feed, then as the levels drop the bigger fish are the first to head back into the rivers. They then hang there, waiting for the remaining food to head back into deeper water. After Corroboree, it was another hour-long drive east into Kakadu to spend a few days fishing the South Alligator River. We camped at the very comfortable Aurora South Alligator Resort, which is only a kilometre from the boat ramp. This was my first time at ‘the south’ as the locals call it, and it delivered. Big tidal differences made the neap tides the best to work the rock bars and because of a slight drop in temperature, it turned out I had a 20-minute window on the turn of the incoming tide to produce. I found any lure worked as long as it was green, green/gold, green/white or green/red. The Classic in Guns N Roses and Reidy’s B52 are ideal but I had neither, though I did have a green Richo Extractor 110 – winner. These three lures were the most popular with fishers during my trip, though the Richo is the only lure made of timber, and hence has no rattle, but it really did produce. After a few days the tides began getting too big, which meant too much run made it too hard to fish, so it was time to head off. Friends of mine headed back to Shady Camp on the Mary River below Corroboree where the fresh meets the salt. They didn’t have a boat, so fished off the barrage and had fun catching rat barra one after another. I couldn’t help myself and headed back to Corroboree and with a little less water on the flood plains I had a great time,

landing some good toga on fly. The next day I left the fly rods in the ute and used a spin rod with success, especially with black/red spinnerbaits, though I must admit the fly found more toga. Then it was time to head off to Dundee Beach where my long-time friend and fly fishing partner for Corroboree now lives. Dundee is a good hour’s drive west of Darwin and a popular fishing spot in Fog Bay. There is a caravan park with cabins and a lodge/ tavern with fuel sales and a newly updated boat ramp. Launching your boat here used to involve hiring old mate with the tractor to put your boat in and out. He’s since retired. A bit of controversy surrounds the new ramp though because it silts up and makes it impossible to

launch and retrieve at low tide, especially for bigger boats. Apart from that, once you get out there the fishing can be awesome. It’s better still if the wind isn’t blowing a gale, which unfortunately it was, making it very uncomfortable. After a few days we settled for the more closed-in area of Bynoe Harbour. Bynoe is about halfway back towards Darwin and has a couple of ramps, the most popular of which is at Sandpalms Tropical Motel. Tom and Julie have all you need including the best wood-fired pizzas in the north, which go down well with a coldie by the pool. You have so many options if you’re venturing up that way. If you need to plan well ahead of time, usually mid-April/May is a pretty good time to fish the top end. I had a fantastic few weeks, with so much to see and do. Maybe next time I’ll see you in the NT.

A hungry barra at the south.

Tarpon are awesome fun no mater what size.

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Trip to the tip – part one W

HAT does a fishing guide do on his holi-

Cape York Adventure by TODD EVELEIGH

days?

He goes fishing of course! I have always wanted to travel to the very tip of Cape York but have never been able to get there until now. Tackling Cape York can sound quite daunting – we’ve all heard of the notorious Tele Track and seen amazing photos and videos of Gunshot Creek crossing where crazy buggers push their fourwheel-drives to the limits. It seems you need to have all the accessories to make it to the very tip. If you happen to travel the Telegraph Track, you probably do need your 4WD kitted out with a winch, diff locks, suspension lift, bigger tyres and so on. But I hate to disappoint you, as pretty much everybody can drive to the very tip of Cape York in a 2WD car with good suspension. The development track was very good in May, with only 60-70km of bad corrugations and a bad washout here and there. But if you take your time, there is no reason why you can’t conquer the Cape with an almost standard car. I really enjoyed our trip.

We were a group of eight good lads comprising myself, Gavin, Cory, Clint, Ricky, Christian, Mark and Soren in three 4WDs towing three tinnies, with none of us having been to the Cape before. We were all keen to fish new waters and test our skills in finding some fish. The Brisbane boys turned up at my place at about lunchtime, where we had to fix a couple of spotlight issues and then we were back on the road by 1pm. We drove through until about 7.30pm, which saw us reach Coen, where we pulled up at a roadhouse and had a beautiful steak and veggie dinner. After dinner we proceeded up the road another 20-30km to a WikiCamps site, which was pretty much where the roadworkers mine gravel to help maintain the roads. We all had just a couple of beers and crashed out under the stars. Not much is better than lying in your swag looking up at the stars. However, I had a pretty ordinary sleep due to some severe snoring from

This sizeable barramundi was caught tight along heavy snags.

One of very many fingermark for the author.

A solid mangrove jack hooked by the author.

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a couple of the lads. Man, these guys could give the Olympic snoring event a run for its money! We were back on the road by about 6am and stopped at Archer River Roadhouse for a muchneeded coffee and brekkie. A plan was hatched to get to Fruit Bat Falls by that afternoon, and when we reached this location, boy was there some spring in everyone’s step. The falls were amazing and everybody went for a swim and had a couple of beers. The water is crystal clear at Fruit Bat Falls and the water temperature was spot on. It was good for a bit of a wash too. There is no camping at Fruit Bat Falls, so after a couple of hours floating around in the water, we hopped back in our cars and headed 20-30km north to a little camping spot that again was a big flat quarry area. Here we cooked up some dinner, had a few beers and talked in anticipation of the fishing planned for the next day. The next morning we drove for about 25 minutes before reaching the Jardine River and the boys were in high spirits. Let’s face it, we were all itching for a fish. The boats were launched, fishing gear rigged and on my third cast I had a nice Jardine saratoga. Not long after that, Gav had his as well. It was a great day with lots of laughs and all the boys managed to catch saratoga and barra. We decided to pull the boats out at about 3pm and get the ferry across the river to head to Loyalty Beach, which was only about a 45-minute drive from the ferry. We had organised to rent a house at Loyalty Beach Campground, which was a fantastic decision, as the house overlooked the water with amazing views. The staff at Loyalty Beach Campground were obliging and friendly, the meals at the restaurant great and the drinks very affordable. Loyalty Beach was a great place to base ourselves because we had so many options within a half hour drive. We caught some fantastic fish in Jackey Jackey Creek, but being such a large system it would take a little time to really nut it out. Regardless, we managed to encounter plenty of nice fish in the system. We also targeted the Escape River just southeast of the Jackey Jackey. Two creeks cut through from the Jackey Jackey to the Escape but unfortunately we only fished the Escape for one day, and in the northern arm. We caught solid barra,

jacks and fingermark but the place seemed to be infested with those fingermark. I had the StructureScan activated on the Simrad and as we were moving down the banks casting at snags I was keeping an eye on the screen for deepwater snags. I found one in about 6m of water and we dropped little vibes down and must have caught about 25 fingermark in 20 minutes on this one snag. Definitely more fingermark than mangrove jack seemed to be in these systems. We really wanted to explore more of the Escape River but due to the strong wind that seemed to blow 25-30 knots every day from the east, we only spent one day in the Escape and two in the Jackey Jackey. They were very interesting systems to fish and we found the bigger barra around the mouth of the Jackey Jackey as we fished colour changes out of larger drain mouths. Sinking little plastics and vibes around the snags resulted in lots of fingermark, and casting some of the shallow flats equalled smaller barra and queenfish Tackle wise, we were using G. Loomis EX6 1020lb rods with Shimano Curado K reels spooled with 20lb braid and 55lb Schneider Crystal Clear leader. The lures doing the damage on the barra were Lively Lures 3” Mad Mullets, which also worked extremely well on saratoga and jacks. Gav was catching plenty of fish on the Reidy’s B52s and 4” Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ, while Threadybuster vibes accounted for a lot of fingermark when fished deep. Next month I will talk about our trip along the western side of the Cape. Until then…

Experienced local guide

The author picked up a ripper saratoga.

Gavin got in on the saratoga action.

Fruit Bat Falls is a place of immense beauty.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 55

Richo and Eligh boated a large-mouth nannygai.

Looking out along Chilli Beach towards Restoration Island.

Doing the Cape – part three L AST month saw us pulling up at the Port Stewart/Coen area on our journey to the famous tip of Cape York, the northernmost part of the Australian mainland.

The tip of Cape York, the holy grail for many four-wheel-drivers to the Cape. Eborac Island lies just across the channel.

Just as a reminder, this ‘general’ itinerary is based on having about a fortnight on the actual Cape itself. So that rules out more far-flung destinations such as Cape Melville and Oyala Thumotang national parks. The first option to reach the alluring east coast after leaving Coen is the Iron Range area, adjacent to the Lockhart River

Cape York

by ‘BILLABONG’ BAZZ LYON

Aboriginal community. The drive in is quite pretty, and it is well worth pulling up at the Tozers Gap viewing platform to gain a view out across the ranges, clothed largely in heath/woodland. In the Kutini-Payamu National Park (formerly Iron Range) three camping areas set in the rainforest (Gordons Creek, Rainforest and Cooks Hut) are fantastic for nature lovers. The striking and unfor-

Yorkeys Knob boat ramp coming soon to Cairns region

HE Department of Transport and Main Roads is progressing a project to construct a new recreational boat launching facility at Yorkeys Knob.

Recent investigations have clearly demonstrated there is an urgent need for additional recreational boat launching facilities to cater for current and future forecast demand in the Cairns area, particularly in the northern beaches. The new boat ramp and associated on-land facilities will be constructed on vacant state-owned land outside Yorkeys Knob Boating Club and Half Moon Bay Golf Club, with an access

road on land between the two clubs. The ramps themselves will be built immediately west of the existing harbour at Yorkeys Knob, outside the marina walls. This new facility will improve safety and reduce ‘ramp rage’ and wait times, which means more time on the water for boaties. Project scope • Six-lane boat ramp with two floating walkways; • Two new breakwaters for wave protection; • A dredged basin at the end of the ramps; • An access channel connecting to the existing dredged entrance servicing Half Moon

Page 56 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

Creek, Bluewater Marina and Trinity Park canal estate; • A sealed car trailer park on state land to accommodate cars with trailers; and • A new access road to connect the proposed boating facility to Buckley St. Time frames There is still a lot of work to be done before construction can commence. The project team will undertake a number of marine approvals and geotechnical investigations, as well as develop designs. As the proposed site is also located within the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park, TMR

needs to obtain appropriate approvals from associated environmental agencies. Construction is hoped to begin in 2020, however this is dependent on a number of variables and subject to change. Why Yorkeys Knob? Yorkeys Knob was identified as a strategic location for additional boat launching facilities through TMR’s recreational boating survey undertaken in 2016. The study concluded there is an urgent need for additional boat ramps north of Cairns, and Yorkeys Knob was the most suitable location for such a facility due to its central location, access to the open sea and prox-

imity to the Great Barrier Reef. In 2016, a reference group including elected representatives, TMR, Cairns Regional Council and local boaties investigated multiple locations between Cairns and Ellis Beach and found most were unsuitable due to tide restrictions, availability of suitable land, environmental impacts, exposure to open waters and dredging requirements. The group eventually identified Yorkeys Knob as the preferred location to focus further investigations. TMR’s earlier proposal to construct new ramps inside the marina was found to be problematic, and, after community feedback, was abandoned in late-2017. More information TMR needs your input to ensure it delivers a functional facility that meets the needs of Cairns boaties and is acceptable to local residents and clubs. If you have any questions or feedback, or would like to be added to the project mailing list, please contact the project team on 07 4045 7115, by email at boat inginfrastructure@tmr. qld.gov.au or online at tmr.qld.gov.au/Yorkey sKnob

gettable calls of the magnificent rifle birds, palm cockatoos and other jungle birds frequently pierce the jungle and make you realise you are well and truly deep into the northern tropics. These are also good places to escape the howling southeaster if it is cranking (which it often is!). However, Chilli Beach, a little further on, is the largest and best-known camping area. Set along a scenic stretch of coastline, it offers many shady campsites, some with reasonable shelter from the trade winds. In good weather you can beach launch your boat for excellent reef fishing, even around Restoration Island just to the north. This island paradise was aptly named by Captain Bligh, who, along with 18 other sailors, had been set adrift by the mutineers of the Bounty. With little water and food, they miraculously navigated 4000km across the Pacific Ocean in a small boat before reaching this island. The sailors feasted on oysters and native fruits, helping to ‘restore’ their health and spirits, before continuing on to Indonesia. For anglers, large-mouth nannygai and fingermark are common captures over rubble patches and jumpups around the island. Further seawards, extensive reefs offer excellent fishing for various types of coral trout, red emperor, jobfish, giant trevally and many other species. It is well worth paying a visit to nearby Portland Roads, which was an important wartime harbour in the 1940s. Fuel and food are available at the Lockhart River community, however don’t take in any grog – this is an alcohol-free community and the ban is enforced. Heading south, about a kilometre before the airport on the right is a short track that heads into a fascinating area of underground bunkers and other storage areas, again legacies from World War II. Remnant anti-aircraft

gun pits are are also evident out wider – these can take a bit more finding. Heading ‘northish’ again, diverting to Weipa is well worthwhile. Boat ramps on the Hey and Mission rivers and Andoon Creek open up huge stretches of water for estuary, coastal and reef fishing. In fact, there is so much country here it can pay to go out with a guide for a day or two to tune in to the local scene. Weipa Sport Fishing has excellent guides and great long-term knowledge of the area. Western Cape Eco Tours offers first-class, guided riverboat cruises, and mine tours are also available. Those with a little more time might choose to travel up to the freshwater reaches of the Wenlock River adjacent to Stones Crossing, and then to either the Pennefather beach area or Cullen Point just beyond Mapoon Aboriginal community. Beach camping is available by permit from the rangers, and these areas offer memorable views of the beautiful northern Gulf of Carpentaria coastline as well as excellent fishing. Even those without a boat can catch blue and threadfin salmon off the beaches. From Weipa, you can head back to the main peninsula road via Batavia Downs and camp at either Moreton Telegraph Station on the Wenlock River, Bramwell Station or Bramwell Junction. The ‘Junction’ of course is the starting point for the infamous northern section of the Old Telegraph Track. Needless to say, vehicles need to be well prepared to tackle this, and it is an advantage to travel with other vehicles in the event of mishaps. Bush camping is possible beside many of the beautiful streams encountered. And there are often ‘chicken track diversions’ for those wishing to avoid any tricky sections of the OTL. As far as travelling the northern Cape, my suggestion is to do the Tele Track or as much as you want one way, and perhaps the Bypass Road the other.

☛ continued P57

www.bnbfishing.com. au

4WDING & off - road Doing the Cape ☛ from P56

The country around Heathlands ranger base features vast swathes of tropical heath, and further north significant tracts of rainforest. Visiting both Fruit Bat and Eliot falls is a must. The abundance of crystal-clear freshwater streams often with carnivorous pitcher plants growing along their banks defines this part of Cape York. There is a common and alluring theory that all the water comes from New Guinea via an underground aquifer. However, the reality is the local sandstone and bauxite landforms act as huge geological sponges, absorbing heavy monsoon rains. This water then bubbles out as springs year-round in what is often termed the ‘Wet Desert’. And beware the depth of these champagnecoloured streams as they are deeper than they look. Eventually, after negotiating the many adventurous stretches of the OTL, you will ferry across the pristine Jardine River. Cracking camping spots are available along its banks to the east – just be aware estuarine crocodiles live all along here. Another roughish track not far to the north heads out to Ussher Point on the eastern Cape, with a limited number of shady campsites set back from the wild, remote beaches. Back on the main road, it’s not far to the various Aboriginal and island communities of the Northern Peninsula Area. I suggest doing a reconnaissance of the available campgrounds: Seisia, Alau and Loyalty beaches, which all have their

own attractions. The wharf at Seisia is great for fishing from too. You can bush camp at Mutee Head, and stay further north at Punsand Bay, which offers camping, cabins, meals and a bar. Once camp has been established, it’s time to tackle the final, exciting stretch to the tip. This last part involves a walk of about 500m over the rocky headland, and requires a moderate standard of fitness. The effort is well and truly worthwhile! As well as reaching the very top of mainland Australia, the views are staggering. And the water that surges through this part of the Torres Strait reflects the meeting of two oceans – the Pacific and the Indian. Congratulations, you have made it after a memorable adventure through one of the most special regions on the planet. Make sure you also divert to Somerset to check out significant local history, and the eastern beach run is fun too and offers superb coastal views. There’s still the return trip down the Cape of course, where you can try to visit places missed on the way up. One is the scenic Captain Billy Landing abutting the Coral Sea, reached by diverting off the Bypass Road not far before Heathlands. The headlands and sandy beaches here are again wildly beautiful, and camping (by permit) is allowed. However, be aware this place is very exposed to the trade winds. Remember to drive to the conditions and stay out of each other’s dust! Safe and happy travels!

Sam Mason with a cracker large-mouth nannygai and fingermark taken just a few kilometres off Chilli Beach.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Off-roading 101 T

HERE’S nothing better than exploring the outdoors and venturing off the beaten track, but I know from first-hand experience that an off-road adventure doesn’t come without its risks.

That’s why it’s important to be knowledgeable and prepared for all the potential bumps Mother Nature may throw your way. Prep for emergencies When embarking on your four-wheel-drive adventure, don’t forget to pack the necessities so you are prepared for anything unexpected that comes your way, in particular: a shovel, air compressor and MAXTRAX. While not many would think to keep a shovel in the boot, when you’re offroading, there’s nothing better to keep on hand. Be sure to invest in a good-quality shovel with a sturdy handle that won’t break when you need it most, and the one from Rhino-Rack is great! Installing a winch and having MAXTRAX as part of your kit is a great investment – they’re exactly what you’ll need when stuck in a tricky situation. But if you haven’t already invested in a winch, using MAXTRAX with sand or leaves works well to create traction where there is none, giving your tyres something to grip onto. Low pressures for increased grip To prevent the need to put that shovel to work or whip out the bog boards, an air compressor will allow you to adjust your tyre pressure to the terrain you’ll be conquering. Very low pressures of 20psi and under will provide more contact with the ground for increased grip and will lessen the risk of punctures when driving over rocky surfaces. On sand, a lower tyre pressure allows you to remain on top of the sand instead of sinking into it. Know your gears Knowing your driving gears and their different uses is important when off-roading. Four-high (4H), which is

high-range, is suitable for the easier unsealed tracks, however once you reach more difficult terrain and steep inclines, you’ll want to use 4L, which is lowrange 4WD. Hands on the wheel When venturing off the beaten track, how you hold your steering wheel makes all the difference to protect your hands and ensure you have control over your vehicle. Because your wheels will find gaps in the rocky terrain, your steering wheel is likely to be wrenched away from you without warning – so if your grasp is too tight, you could seriously injure yourself. With a loose grip on the steering wheel, your wheels will be able to find the ruts and gaps in the road. And when bogged, your steering wheel could turn suddenly, so making sure your thumb is always on top will avoid a trip to the emergency room. Test the waters before entering When you’re approaching unfamiliar terrain, especially rivers or creeks, check the depth on foot or using a stick to ensure you aren’t in for any surprises. Always check the current and make sure the

water is moving at a safe speed. Try to avoid driving in bodies of water that are higher than half the height of your wheels to prevent your engine from flooding. If your tyres get caught, don’t panic and continue to drive slowly so your vehicle can get a better grip of the surface. Always remember to remain calm if things don’t go as planned. If you stall, try to rock the car forward on its own gear in order to get out of the water. This is where that trusty winch and mate can come in handy! Be tame in your offroading endeavours – don’t try to plough through the road or show off by driving faster than the conditions allow. There’s no sense in being overconfident, as things can go wrong very quickly, so be sure to remain calm and drive with caution. Have fun out there on the open road and be safe! To see us in action, All 4 Adventure will be back for an encore this winter! Tune in to Channel ONE every Saturday at 6pm to see us tackle the Territory in our latest season. Jase Andrews

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0401 221 596 Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 57

C AMPING & outdoors Imbil campsite reopens H The author used the BoardCarry with his new Friar Tuck.

The sign says it all.

I all, the winter nights in the Mary Valley have been perfect for sitting around an open fire cooking up some chilli beef stew and breathing in the smell of fresh damper as you lift the lid off the camp oven.

I’m lucky enough to do this in my own backyard under a star-filled sky. It seems we have set a yearly tradition for a group of Brisbane-based mates, as they set up camp on my place and enjoy what the valley has to offer. Families have been doing the same thing for years at the old Island Reach Camping Resort at Island Rd, Imbil. Unfortunately for campers and townsfolk, the camping ground ceased to operate and was vacant until it was sold at auction a number of months ago. This is where the good news begins, as the campground reopened on June 15 under the new name of Imbil Camping Retreat. The new managers have been hard at work clearing scrub, cleaning up the

Beautiful views of Yabba Creek from the bank of the campground.

Well-maintained grassy sites with shady trees.

Page 58 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

Outdoors by PAUL ‘CHIEF’ GRAVESON

campsites and bringing new life into the property. I was lucky enough to have a look around prior to the official opening and speak to the managers Brett Officer and Cheryl Trotter. The new name of the site is Imbil Camping Retreat. I know a lot of plans have been submitted to council for future park improvements and it will continue to develop as time permits, but what I’ve seen so far is an upgrade of the ground’s facilities such as new barbecues and fridges in the camp kitchen. Access to Yabba Creek has been improved through vegetation management and the place just looks fantastic. The opening weekend’s Saturday night featured live entertainment around the main camp fire. Cheryl has a number of local musicians booked to play on various weekends, so this looks like it could be a major attraction for the park. The main objective for the campground is to provide a very family oriented environment. Cheryl also told me about interactive games being designed to keep the young ones happy. Families have returned year after year to this campground and kids have grown up spending their holidays here building friendships. I can see this continuing to happen under Brett and Cheryl’s guidance, especially with their attention to detail and attitude to providing a quality experience for all. Picture the beautiful piece of country a short stroll from the main street of Imbil nestled on the banks of Yabba Creek. This creek offers a safe environment for children but also has a population of wild bass and saratoga. It makes sense to have kayaks available for hire at a reasonable price to the park’s visitors so they can explore this waterway. Well not only are there kayaks available but stand-up paddleboards as well. Paddling along the creek on a SUP would be the perfect way to view the large lungfish that inhabit Yabba Creek. These fish can be seen breaking the surface to gulp in air before slowly returning to the deep. This really is worth seeing and something I always encounter when kayaking between the camp-

grounds and train bridge stretch of the creek. Just a short stroll from the campgrounds is the main street of Imbil and around the town are a number of quiet streets perfect for a leisurely ride on a pushbike, and Cheryl has a range of cruiserstyle bikes for hire at the campground. Jump on a pushy and take a ride up to One2One on Yabba coffee and cakes and know you’ve earnt the right to indulge, or grab a great pizza from the Rattler Café. I choose to live in this area because it’s a beautiful part of Queensland and perfect for outdoor activities such as four-wheeldriving, kayaking, fishing and bush walking, yet it’s just a hop, skip and jump to Noosa and Eumundi for a day trip to the beach. Bookings at the new campground have been steady, so I wouldn’t procrastinate too long before giving Brett and Cheryl a call. Call 0447 135 471 or email info@imbilcampin gretreat.com.au You can also check out the Imbil Camping Retreat Facebook page, which keeps everyone up to date with what’s going on within the park. Open fires are permitted at campsites, which is great on those chilly valley nights and powered or unpowered sites are available. Powered sites start at $35 per couple and $20 per couple for unpowered sites and the park is pet friendly, though you will need to inquire about restrictions. I know the closing of this facility had a damaging effect on the area’s

economy, so local businesses and townsfolk are looking forward to returning visitors. Do yourself a favour and contact Brett and Cheryl and I’ll catch you in the Mary Valley. It was only about nine years ago that I started camping around Imbil and Borumba Dam and one day I just stayed. If you love the country, this is a must-stay camping retreat. I applaud people having a go and bringing new products and services to market, especially small outdoor-related businesses in Queensland. In a previous article I mentioned I’d bought a new custom Friar Tuck kneeboard. Whether travelling abroad or transporting my board in the tray of my truck, I want to give it the ultimate protection, so a quality board travel bag is a must. Most of these products offer a shoulder strap for ease of carrying, providing the perfect way to walk long distances to the beach, but when you get to an isolated spot and decide to go for a surf, how do you secure this expensive piece of equipment? You paddle out while leaving $300-plus sitting on the beach, and let’s face it, we don’t live in a perfect world. I can park at the Noosa

River mouth and walk for miles around Noosa Heads carrying a board 24” wide and this alone can put a bit of strain on the arms. A friend of mine recently gave me a simple product to try called BoardCarry. Designed by a Sunshine Coast man, the lightweight strap secures to the front and rear of your board while a padded midsection sits over your shoulder and allows hands-free transportation, with the board’s weight distributed over your shoulder. You can walk for miles without using the energy required for a session of paddling. The beauty of this product is when you find a wave and it’s time to hit the water, the whole thing folds down to a product that is very easily concealed under a towel or placed beside a tree or rock. The BoardCarry set comes with a number of attachments, giving you the option to carry SUPs, surfboards, snowboards and even skateboards. I reckon this would be perfect to assist in moving a small fishing kayak to some of those out of the way areas. If you’re interested in this handy little product, hop onto boardcarry.com or contact Stu Leake on 0418 688 001 or stu@ boardcarry.com

A clean and tidy camp kitchen area.

Seas the day on Stradbroke Island – it’s whale watching season

TAY in any Minjerribah Camping Point Lookout campground and book the Quandamooka Walking Tour for half price.

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This offer is valid until November 30, 2018 and in off-peak only. Online bookings only – book accommodation and add a tour before checkout. Conditions Valid for Adder Rock, Home Beach and Cylinder Beach campgrounds. www.bnbfishing.com. au

C AMPING & outdoors Camping holiday at Inskip Point H I, it’s Craig Tomkinson here.

With July upon us, hopefully it gets colder, as the cold mornings and clear blue sky days are fantastic. The fishing in close will get harder through the day because the calmer weather allows more boats to get offshore. Early mornings, late arvos and overnight fishing will be your best bet to catch a good feed. Snapper will be everywhere and spawning on the moons as well as many other reef fish. We are lucky we do not have the spawning closures like the Great Barrier Reef but one day we might see these closures. Try to target a few different types of fish and don’t flog one spot to death like your pet snapper spot. We might get spawning closures if snapper numbers drop any lower. I had a month off and in that time I went to Inskip Point. Our son Troy and I towed our old rebuilt Jayco van to Inskip and on the way I got our permits from the national parks office at Rainbow Beach. It cost $191 for a week for my son and 24 days for me. While I did not get the solar-friendly spot I was after, it was lovely all the same. Troy and I set up the van, pulled an 8x7m tarp over the top and tied it halfway down on the southern side, leaving about 5m of tarp on the northern side of the van as an annex. We used several tent poles and when pulled tight, the annex gave us shade and privacy. Then we set up our two old 60-litre gas fridges on 12mm ply bases with 70x45mm pine timbers screwed under the ply to lift the fridges off the sand so we could open the doors. I fired them up on the gas and checked they were not leaking with detergent, then set up the kitchen gear for a cuppa. Once the fridges were running cool, we headed back to my house, got a

Noosa to Fraser Coast

by CRAIG TOMKINSON

load of firewood in the back of the 80 Series LandCruiser and hooked up the 5m tinnie. It was dark by now, so we stayed home and headed back to camp early the next day with more gear and the boat. We got to Inskip around 8am, unloaded the gear and got the crab pots ready by checking the names and addresses were still readable and sewing up any holes in the pots. With them ready, we let the tyres down on the 4WD and boat trailer to about 14psi and drove out to where the barge to Fraser departs, launched the boat and put the pots out in the Bullock Point area. As we motored past Bullock, we could see a brand-new three or fourlane boat ramp under construction – how good is that! We shot the pots out and went chasing squid at the mouth of Carlo Creek. We started drifting and got nothing on the pink jigs, so I changed to a green jig with instant success. Troy and I got about five nice squid for a few hours on the water. The next day we checked the pots for a couple of sand crabs and one nice muddy, and because the water was oily calm we shot up 20km to Poona to go squidding. We picked up a dozen good squid and headed back to camp. After four days Troy was bored with crabbing and squidding, so I ran him home. A day later, my mate Jim Munro came up for a couple of days. We checked the pots and found five muddies and sand crabs and then went and scored a few squid, but they were scarce. Jim headed home and my mate Dave Kowitz from Toowoomba turned up. Dave and I squidded and crabbed and fished

offshore for the next two weeks. We managed three days offshore. The first was out near Double Island Point but it was quiet, so we moved north a bit and straight away were on and catching good moses and pearl perch, grass sweetlip and venus tuskfish. With about 18 fish, we headed back to camp and cleaned them. The next day we rebaited the pots with fresh reef fish frames and raw chicken frames. We shifted them to a spot my neighbour Ray Hempsall told me about 20 years ago, though I had never crabbed there. We idled in the first time and checked out the little creek and it looked fantastic. So we put the seven pots out and headed off squidding. Dave and I got a measly four squid before we headed back to camp. That afternoon we checked the weather forecast and it looked great, so I got the boat ready for the next day. The next morning, with four whole squid and a dozen squid heads – that’s all the bait we had – I called Coast Guard Tin Can Bay and logged on as we headed out over Fishermans Gutter, and once outside the gutter we

headed out about 14km to the area where we found the fish on our last trip. I found a good ledge and anchored and from the get-go we were on. We got our bag of snapper and some good size moses and pearl perch, grass sweetlip and tuskfish. With about 30 quality fish on board, we headed for camp and checked the pots on the way. We got six cracking big muddy bucks, so I shot home to give them to my wife and kids. On the way I bought a new 9x9m tarp as the old one was leaking. The next day I was back up around 9am and Dave and I cleaned the fish, which gave us more crab pot bait. We had started giving crabs and fish to the campers near us because we were walking sideways from eating so much crab. The wind then blew for nearly a week, so we checked the pots every couple of days and they just got fuller and the numbers kept coming, with 12 big muddies the best lift. Our neighbouring camps loved us. The weather came good, so I got the boat ready and put in 60 litres of extra fuel. The next morning we checked the pots and got five big bucks and then crossed Fishermans Gutter about 9am. We fished about 14km offshore but it was dead, so around 11.30am we moved out another 25km.

I normally would not go past that 14km ground with my 5m tinnie but I have a good VHF radio, was logged on with the coast guard and know my phone works on the ground I was going to. I also had a near-new 6hp auxiliary outboard with plenty of extra fuel and the weather was oily calm. We arrived at the mark and it looked great on the sounder, so we drifted and on the first drop I got a double-header of big green tuskfish and Dave a big hussar and tuskfish. We did a couple of drifts and anchored, and then bagged out on big hussar and tuskfish and caught a few highfin snapper and wire netting cod. Soon we shifted and went looking for other reef fish but there were so many hussar on all my marks that we caught nothing else. We were going to stay until after dark because we would have had bright moonlight that night but could see big storm clouds to the southwest, so pulled the pin and headed in at 3.40pm. It was so calm that we travelled the 42km to the gutter and up to where the barge lands in one hour and 12 minutes. By the trip’s end we would have captured 5060 mud crabs, 12 good sandies and some lovely feeds of fish and squid. The squid should get thicker this month too. ‘Til next month, be safe on the water.

The author’s camp at Inskip Point.

The author and good mud crabs from Tin Can Bay.

Dave with some lovely reef fish from Double Island Point.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 59

Cold mornings and big natives in the South Burnett

HE past few weeks in the South Burnett have seen the water temps slowly drop as winter has well and truly moved in.

The Ecogear ZX 40 is a real standout when the water is cold and the fish are close to the bottom.

Anthony Melchior with a cracking yellowbelly caught from the edge in the Stuart arm on a 3/8oz Bassman Spinnerbait.

The fish are still active and hungry but it pays to be smart about the way you approach fishing on the dams. Shallow flats have really fired up and you should be able to bag very healthy bass and yellowbelly over coming months. The great thing is at this time of year the bass and goldens are fat and healthy and a whole array of lures can be used to target the natives in our local dams. Lake Boondooma (BjelkePetersen Dam) The best areas to hit early have been the shallow edges with lipless cranks and spinnerbaits. Rocky or weedy edges are ideal. Early in the morning when it’s quiet and still is the best time for this type of fishing because the water temps are at their lowest and the dam at its quietest. Some awesome yellowbelly fishing can be had at the start

y Guided b g f o rd M at t L a n

Australian Freshwater Fishing Charters 0408 658 592 | australianfreshwaterfishing.com

DAM LEVELS CURRENT AS OF 18/06/2018

DAMS

PERCENTAGE

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN Atkinson 14 10 15 14 11 8 Awoonga 100 98 100 98 97 95 Bjelke-Petersen * 19 17 22 22 22 21 Boondooma * 45 42 44 42 41 39 Borumba * 100 101 101 100 100 100 Burdekin Falls * 74 79 110 104 99 97 Callide * 83 80 79 77 76 73 98 Cania * 97 99 98 97 95 67 Coolmunda * 52 49 45 43 41 9 Dyer/Bill Gunn * 4 9 8 5 5 Eungella * 92 92 94 100 100 99 Fairbairn * 28 26 29 27 26 25 Glenlyon * 68 58 57 54 50 50 Hinze 100 99 102 101 100 98 Julius 74 72 100 98 95 93 Kinchant * 54 52 68 84 86 87 Leslie * 13 12 12 11 11 11 Macdonald 98 102 103 101 102 103 98 Maroon * 97 100 100 99 97 101 Monduran/Fred Haigh * 102 101 100 99 98 92 Moogerah * 89 92 91 89 87 North Pine/Samsonvale * 75 72 90 90 89 87 Peter Faust/Proserpine * 68 67 81 73 72 70 Somerset * 77 77 78 79 77 77 Teemburra * 92 91 93 98 98 98 Tinaroo* 36 47 74 95 97 95 Toonumbar 99 99 100 100 100 100 Wivenhoe * 71 68 78 77 77 75 Wuruma * 100 100 100 99 98 97 Wyaralong 98 97 100 99 98 97 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.

Freshwater Impoundments by MATTHEW LANGFORD

of winter along the edges, so if it’s yellas you want, this is where I would start. Cast your spinnerbaits up to the weed edge and begin a slow roll back to the boat. Later in the morning I would move off the bank and look for active fish in 6-12m of water. When a school is located, position the boat towards it and cast 1/4oz or 3/8oz Ecogear VX, ZX or Little Max blades. Let the blade hit the bottom and use a slow hopping or rolling retrieve. Occasionally change it up and use a slow roll and kill technique because the fish will hit the lure when it’s close to the bottom, as it’s falling or just after it has rolled off the bottom. Later in the day (after lunch) when the water heats up, I’ve found bigger bass can be caught using Nories tailspinners, with 12g the best weight. Throw the tailspinner out with a long cast and let it sink to the bottom, wind up the slack and slowly lift the rod tip then drop it back to the bottom, keeping in contact with the lure at all times. The fish at this time of year love a bait that is falling in their face and tailspinners suit the bite perfectly. Fish will generally hit the tailspinner as it’s falling after the lift, so be on your toes for the bite. Ice jigs present another great way of catching the schooled fish because these lures are constantly in their face. Keep an eye on the sounder with this technique though because you’ll get more bites when the fish rise off the bottom. This generally means they are flared up and ready to eat. Trollers are getting good yellowbelly in the arms of the dam by trolling spinnerbaits. Troll in close to the timber near the rocks in the Boyne arm but make sure you have a lure retriever handy because you will get snagged occasionally. However, your hard work will be rewarded. Bait fishers are best off fishing the trees in the arms in 6m of water with live shrimp. You can catch the shrimp using opera house pots just below the kiosk baited with a bit of steak. It pays to get live bait, and it’s even better when you can get

it from the dam you’re fishing. We’ve had great reports of good numbers of big red claw coming in. Dog biscuits and soft vegetables have proven to be perfect bait for the opera house pots. Rocky ledges and points are the best spots to drop your pots, but make sure they are clearly marked with your name and address. Lake Barambah The fish have been up on the edge early when the water is cool and I’ve been catching good bass and yellowbelly using 1/2oz-rigged grub-tail plastics. Target rocky ledges with a bit of timber or rocks. As the sun gets higher, I always move deeper and target areas around points and flats. The outside of Lightning Ridge, Bass Point and the Quarry are likely places. If the regular deeper areas don’t produce, it’s a good idea to sound around the outskirts of the dam and find fish sitting in 3-6m feet of water. Once located, target them with the techniques I mentioned for the Boondooma flats. Blades, tailspinners and ice jigs are the go-to lures when the fish are sitting out deep. Both dams are reasonably similar but sometimes it pays to experiment with your lure selection. The bass are getting bigger,

and models up to 45cm have been caught off the edges and on the flats. Trollers are getting yellowbelly up in the timber of an afternoon but be very wary as the water is shallow going into the timber. You can still troll through the timbered areas up the back of the dam with shallow to medium-diving hard bodies. Some bass have also been mixed in. Bait fishers have been having success catching mixed bags of yellowbelly, silver perch and bass from the timber. Tie up to a tree and use live shrimp as bait. Drop your bait to the bottom and slowly jig it. If your first spot doesn’t produce, don’t be afraid to move several times until you know you’re sitting on active fish. Red claw are still around but you’ll have to put in the effort for a feed. Target rocky edges or spindly timber and use soft veggies for bait. Fishing charters Don’t forget you can book a fishing charter with me on BP and Boondooma dams. If you’d like a great day out and all the info and knowledge to catch bass and yellowbelly in our two great dams, make sure you give me a call on 0408 658 592 and I’ll be happy to take you out for a great day’s fishing. You can also check out my website australianfreshwater fishing.com Until next time, tight lines and bent rods.

Adrian Melchior scored a couple of bumper winter bass from the shallow flats of Boondooma using 3/8oz blades.

The author landed a big fat bass wide of Bass Point on a plastic.

Page 60 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Casey loves winter on Lake Monduran. It was his first time out in a while and he nailed this cracking barra.

CATCH BARRA

at Lake MonDuran

Geoff captured this 70cm fish in the afternoon.

Thinking outside the square for winter

INTER at Lake Monduran typically produces big broad bass and healthy barramundi. During these cooler months it is best to think a little outside the box regarding what lures to use. It is quieter on the water in winter, with fewer bugs and wildlife, so focusing on getting on the lake when the sun is up and light is penetrating the water is not a bad option. In summer, with the longer days, the algae grows more rapidly, absorbing all wavelengths of

Monduran Dam by DONNA GANE

light except green. Green will then be the most visible colour at depth, where other colours will only be visible closer to the surface. Colours other than green will appear in greyscale and have limited visibility at depth. By the time winter arrives, the shorter days and reduction in algae growth leaves the water crystal clear.

This in turn allows the light to penetrate much deeper than in summer and more colours become visible. This could be why Lake Monduran produces quality barramundi and bass in winter, even though so few anglers are around. Maybe try blue and multi-coloured lures during the middle of the day when the light penetration

Karen doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fish a lot but she got a 69cm barra and fought it like a pro.

is at its strongest. Lures that have a lot of bling are more likely to attract fish from quite a distance away, while lures with holographic, chrome and metallic flake finishes have an added dynamic, creating a flash that entices the curious fish. Other lure colours are more suitable for other waterways. For example, bright yellow and chartreuse lures work well against the blue background of the ocean and pink lures are effective against the green backdrop of vegetation. A prime lure and from no particular brand is the white hard-body when used in timbered areas as it stands out against the dark colour of an underwater log. On the opposite side of the spectrum, dark lures will stand out against a sandy or light-coloured bottom and produce results. There is a lot to know and even more to learn when it comes to choosing a lure. Think about a few fundamentals including the lure weight to match the rodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capabilities and the

depth you plan to fish at. Stick to the lures that fit the bill as looking at others will only add confusion. Next, think about the topography and vegetation in the water. As mentioned, in summer the green tinge influences lure colour selection. Another thing to consider is whether the hardware is adequate for the size of fish you want to land. All our Australian-made lures come completely ready to fish with more than satisfactory hardware. When Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m showing customers lures at Barra Havoc, I also bring out the Black Magic ultraviolet torch to show our anglers the lure how the fish see it. With the chosen lure in hand, venture out onto the lake, find a prime position on a point and cast that prize lure with positive energy. Attitude is a major key to angling success! Call into Barra Havoc on the Bruce Highway at Gin Gin and we will help you with your selection and get you onto some top catches.

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The Okuma Komodo has made a name for itself as a big fish stopper, handling large barra, cod, PNG black bass and even holding its own in offshore jigging applications. The Komodo SS features a stainless steel main gear, pinion gear and drive shafts along with a multi-disc, highoutput Carbonite drag system, giving it a level of power and durability to top its class. Incredible drag output levels include 11kg maximum drag on the 350 www.bnbfishing.com. au

size and 14kg maximum drag on the larger 450 size. The high-quality build includes ALC: rigid diecast frame and side plates with CRC: Corrosion-Resistant Coating process and A6061-T6 machined aluminium anodised spool. A micro-click drag star allows precise drag settings and Japanese ABEC-5 spool bearings and six-pin Velocity Control casting system afford long and smooth casts. The 350 size is fitted with 6HPB+1RB stainless steel bearings, while the 450 size boasts 7HPB+1RB for

smooth operation. Other features include a synchronised levelwind, optimised for braided line, zirconium line guide inserts for use with braided line, dual anti-reverse for maximum reliability and an on/off clicker for trolling and bait fishing. This beast of a baitcast reel is available in 350 and 450 sizes in both left and right hand models, a 350 size in Power Handle version and a Power Handle available separately for the 450 size. KDS-364 models have a SRP of $379 while KDS-463 models retail for $399. www.okuma.com.au

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Drought conditions and small water like this didn’t stop the big lures from tempting a few cod. Cod don’t shy away from large prey – a disposition demonstrated by this determined little fish that hammered the large Oar-Gee Malibu.

Waking up green fish A

NOTHER month and another frosty weekend spent sleeping in the swag under skies with impressive numbers of stars.

Aussie design wins out again: it is not by chance that the Malibu is effective on cod. It was purposedesigned for the species by Wayne Lennon.

Another cod that fell to the Malibu in shallow water.

Page 62 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

Following some successes on the Murrumbidgee last month, another foray into cod country was a must. One of my long-time fishing and drag racing cobbers Roxbee and I had been trying to organise a weekend on cod water for quite a while, but busy lives kept plans on hold until now. Knowing that several of our favourite locations had been subject to significant angling pressure in recent days, we opted for a low-key overnighter, mainly just to spend a little time in the bush. While the opportunity presented for some time on the water, we’d swim a few reasonably new additions to the tackle box. Rolling out of the driveway early enough to see us in Stanthorpe at first light meant we’d have a couple of hours travelling at prime kangaroo time. Fortunately, although we saw plenty of roos along the roadside, this trip didn’t include any collisions with wildlife. We had a few hours’ stop in Stanthorpe because I was a volunteer at a running event to help out the small group of organisers. Timekeeping duties completed, we trundled off down the highway to a small stream I knew held a few fish, though it sees a lot of anglers. An hour later, we pulled up under the shade of a peppermint tree beside the stream and, knowing the prime morning bite was over, we weren’t expecting too much action. Upon seeing just how low the water level had dropped in the drought conditions, our expectations decreased even further. We each grabbed a lure, quickly rigged a rod and

Fishing for Sport by NEIL SCHULTZ

wandered to the closest pool for a few casts to get our eyes in after a month away from the water. I’ve never caught a fish from that first pool, probably due to the intense volume of fishing traffic it sees, and this trip was no exception. Lack of water saw us walk past the next pool in the stream, which regularly produces fish when there is a flow, but being able to see every inch of the bottom, we deemed it unfishable. Continuing downstream, we noticed footprints and even kayak drag marks across the gravel in a dry section of the stream, evidence of recent angler activity. The next pool was more promising, being a couple of hundred metres long, and though relatively shallow, it had plenty of shade from bankside box trees and a liberal scattering of basalt boulders throughout. Midway along its length was a junction of a small side stream with pockets of deeper water among the stones. This spot had never failed to produce a cod or two during the decades we’d been visiting. I have fond memories of trips here with my sons when they were much younger, and one in particular when the stream was running high during a fresh and fish came along every few minutes. Memories of encounters with tiger snakes here are also numerous and I mentioned this to Roxbee as we prepared to fish the pool. In a case of perfect timing, just after mentioning the need to keep an eye out for reptiles, I pointed out a sunning tiger lying on the track we were following.

Suggesting the junction was worth a thorough exploration, I left Roxbee to it and wandered off to the tail of the pool to snap a few photographs. Our lure selection may have seemed out of sync with the small stream we were fishing, as we’d both opted for the rather large Oar-Gee Malibu lures, which at 115mm long may seem too large for the average-sized fish we encounter here. Cod, however, are no respecters of size and will tackle seemingly outsized prey items including turtles, waterfowl and snakes. The Malibu is what is currently known as a ‘wake maker’ lure designed to run close enough to the surface to leave a vee-shaped wake in its path. These ‘not-quite-surface’ lures have come back into vogue in recent years with a resurgence of interest among cod anglers, triggering a boom in new designs from local lure makers. Those of you who were fishing for freshwater natives in the seventies will be familiar with this style of lure, the most popular of which was the renowned Heddon Meadow Mouse, which accounted for thousands of bass in Aussie streams. An audible ‘boof’ let me know Roxbee had managed to locate a cod, even before he shouted the news to me. No hook-up was had, but as he put repeated casts back across the spot, the fish came back to chop at the lure. On its fourth attempt, the fish actually hit the lure instead of short striking and Roxbee’s Ugly Stik took on a familiar curve. The identity of the fish

was never in doubt and a handsomely marked little cod was soon to hand, photographed and back in its hide. We both commented on how lean the fish appeared, a reflection on the drought conditions that affect life both above and below the waterline. Mission accomplished, we strolled back to the vehicle for the 80km drive to our next venue for the weekend. We’d selected a public water supply lake near Stanthorpe for our camping spot and evening session on the water. Setting up camp consisted mainly of unrolling swags and unpacking the cooking gear from the truck. Domestic duties didn’t take long and we quickly untied the Hobies and were on the water with time to spare before dusk. Once again, we’d elected to try for a quality fish and each tied on an OarGee Malibu. Roxbee persisted with the chartreuse pattern with which he’d had success during the day, while I chose a metallic dark blue. That our colour choices were poles apart was of no consequence to us as we would be fishing low light and after dark. Regardless of the hue of a lure, they are all seen in silhouette by the fish when viewed from below in low-light conditions. Trolling over a shallow stony section of shoreline produced the first fish, a tiny but enthusiastic cod that demonstrated the appetite of these fish. It wasn’t until just on dark that the next fish was located, with a hair-raising surface strike on the blue Malibu. This was an aboveaverage cod for the district, being well above the Queensland legal size benchmark of 60cm (though regardless of size, during 40 years of catching them I’ve never kept a

cod for the table). We skidded the Hobies into the bank and both stood in the water while I lifted the fish for a quick photo. After a few close-up portrait snaps of the fish in the water, it was released without trying to weigh or measure the animal. Any additional handling puts the fish’s health at risk, so we do absolutely everything practical to minimise time out of the water. Plummeting air temperatures chased us off the water for a hot feed before crawling into swags for a few hours of shuteye. True to tradition, next morning I was out of the swag in the dark, with the campfire coffee percolator soon steaming a fragrant brew. I pushed the Hobie into the darkness with a travel mug of Lavazza in the cup holder and an Ugly Stik towing a Malibu in the rod holder. The first cod for the morning came from the same corner as the chunky fish the previous night, just metres from the choice snag. More in the usual size range encountered in the area, this cod of about 45cm was unhooked in the water without any fuss. Roxbee was fishing further along the pool and also hooking into some of the resident cod by trolling from his little Hobie Sport kayak. By midmorning the fishing slowed and we were out of time, needing to get the camping gear stowed and some miles behind us if we were to be home before dark. We had been angling in tough conditions in hardfished water but scored more than enough cod to prove to ourselves the effectiveness of Aussie-made cod lures. www.bnbfishing.com. au

Jim Gurnick and Hans Thomas enjoyed a feed of red claw.

A top spot to drop an opera house trap.

10am at Cania Dam.

Red claw time at Callide Dam

OWDY folks, it’s that time of year already, with short days and very low night and daytime temps.

The best part is we can sit around a nice campfire at night and sleep in during the morning to then fish the warmest part of day. Callide barra go very quiet during winter because even shallow bays are too cold for them, so out come the red claw. Red claw are catchable all year round but as the

big barra aren’t as active in winter they get on the move. We only check the opera house pots once a day, usually midmorning, rebaiting at the same time. Our favourite bait is dog biscuits, along with any veggies such as pumpkin, potato and rockmelon. Place your pots anywhere from 3-12m deep in and around rocky and timber structure. You can cook these tasty critters in many ways, but we like to butterfly

A morning’s catch of Callide red claw.

red claw as you would a prawn in a bit of garlic and cooking oil on the barbecue. Lake Callide Retreat is well and truly operational now with cabins, powered sites and a large area for self-contained camping. Plenty of info is on the Facebook page, or give the friendly staff in the kiosk a call on 07 4993 9010. Cania Dam Cania Dam is set in the Cania Gorge National Park among high mountainous country, so the temperature can be quite a lot cooler than most other places in the North Burnett. On our last couple of fishing trips it was very foggy, so we didn’t need to start early and could instead sit back and enjoy a couple of hot coffees. With the heavy fog, the edge bite fished well on a variety of lures including spinnerbaits, beetle spins and tailspinners cast close

A cracker Cania bass landed by Shane Rideout on a very slowly rolled soft plastic in 12m of water.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

to the weed beds that are all round the dam. Good size saratoga have been caught using this method. Bass are being captured in big numbers a little later in the morning. Cania’s fog can be seriously heavy and at times doesn’t lift until 10-11am, which is when the bass have been most active from the weed edge out to 12m deep. They are liking the warmest part of the day, generally staying on the bite until mid-afternoon. As the colder weather comes in they will school up more readily. We found very slowly rolling 1/2oz jig heads matched to Slider Grubs close to the bottom was the trick, also mixing it up with tailspinners. Once you find these finicky fish, try spot locking on them with an electric motor and then ice jig. Be patient because quite often bass will hit the lure a few times before hooking up. Sit back and enjoy the beautiful crystal-clear days that this time of year brings us. ‘Til next time, get hooked. Glenn Hobson.

Excellent grassed areas with fire pits in the self-contained section at Lake Callide Retreat.

Cameron Hobson with a 70cm early morning Cania toga.

jdlurestas.com

Huge range of lures from 40mm to 150mm to suit all types of fishing. Catch Murray cod, yellowbelly, trout, bream, bass, redfin, barramundi, flathead, mangrove jack and more. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 63

This snapper came from the Moreton Bay artificial reefs and was hooked during a night sesh. Gregory Curtis Here is a pic of a nice jewfish I got on an RMG Scorpion lure from a northern NSW headland. Leon Mcclymont

Hi Ben, Please find attached my very proud personal-best moment, which I hope can be published. I caught this 30kg, 1.16m goldspotted cod off Caloundra using a live bait on a Shimano Game Type J rod with 40lb braid. Kind regards, Kristy Di Mauro

Hi Ben, Check out this quality muddy from Turkey Beach. Cheers, Chris Maxworthy

Haille Duffield caught and released this 17.5kg black bass in Papua New Guinea using her new Shimano CT300D/Raider Magnum/50lb Power Pro braid combo. Rod Henderson

John Levitt caught this 47cm flathead on a trolled Zerek Tango Shad in southern Moreton Bay while fishing with his life mentor, all-round good guy and fishing coach BNB subeditor Dan.

Hi Ben, Here is my daughter Grace with her PB flatty of 67cm caught at our secret Russell Island spot. Regards, Brendan Hutchinson

Hi Ben, Just spent 10 days at Orchid Beach, Fraser Island going offshore fishing. This snapper is one of many awesome reefies captured. Cheers, Mick Brown

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

■ Readers Forum ■ Readers Forum ■ Readers Forum Page 64 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Reel Wivenhoe Classic 2018 ■ August 18-19, Captain Logan Campground

ITH the year ticking away quickly, it is fast approaching August and the Reel Wivenhoe Classic at Lake Wivenhoe.

We have touched on the event in a previous issue, however interest in the competition has been very high and we have been asked quite a few questions. To clear up some of these questions and others, I will go over the outline of the event, information on the location of the event, activities at the event, timing of these activities and facilities available. The Reel Wivenhoe Classic is a Somerset Regional Council event, run by Fishing Freshwater. It is a family friendly event with activities to entertain the whole family. With the assistance of Seqwater and BelgraviaPRO, Lake Wivenhoe is the obvious location, however more specifically Captain Logan Campground. Exclusive use of Captain Logan Campground and Lumley Hill Campground has been secured for the event. The key activities for the event will run from the main oval at Captain Logan Campground. Camping is only available to Reel Wivenhoe Classic tournament entrants over the weekend. If you want to camp at the grounds over the weekend, you will need to enter the event. Captain Logan will be open to the public on Saturday, August 18 from 12pm until 10pm and again on Sunday, August 19 from 9am onwards to allow non-entrants to join in the festivities. The public will have pedestrian access only during these times. Vehicle access will be restricted to camping entrants only. Parking will be available along the road on the way into the campground. The main activity over the weekend will be the fishing tournament. This is a catch and release tournament with several categories. It is a lure fishing tournament (no bait). If you are using a lure and complying with all current fishing rules and regulations, then trolling,

casting, fly fishing and jigging are permitted. Fishing for entrants can be from designated shore fishing locations, boat, kayak and canoe as long as it complies with all current boating regulations. Vessels can be launched from any designated launch point on the dam, however catch sheets need to be returned and collected from Captain Logan Campground at the designated times. There are restrictions on the types of vessels allowed on Wivenhoe, mainly around the type of engine used. Electric, four-stroke and direct-injection twostrokes that are emission compliant are allowed, most others are not. If you are unsure, please contact us on the details below. Prizewinning categories are biggest bass, biggest yellowbelly, biggest catfish and most combined legal bass and yellowbelly. More than $20,000 in prizes is available to be won, including a boat/ motor/trailer package, Garmin sounders, Evakool fridge/freezers and Eskies, Dream kayaks, Okuma fishing tackle and more. There will be lucky draws and raffles over the weekend as well. You do not need to enter the tournament to enter the raffles and lucky draws. Come along for the day and you could win a boat. Bring the family and enjoy two large jumping castles, multi-lane giant slide, rock climbing wall, kayak testing/demonstrations, food vans and sausage sizzle from 12pm Saturday. Rides will finish at 6pm Saturday and recommence 9am Sunday. There will be live music on Friday and Saturday nights from 6pm for campers and entrants to enjoy. Make sure you hang around for the fireworks display at 8pm Saturday. A colouring competition is available for children aged four to 12. Children have the chance to win part of a total prize pool of $700 by entering the competition. One prize will be awarded per age category. You can download the colouring-in competition form from fishingfresh

water.com.au or collect one from Somerset Regional Council offices and visitor information centres throughout Somerset. Make sure you read the terms and conditions on the colouring-in competition form for more information. Entry into the Reel Wivenhoe Classic fishing tournament can be as a team for $100 (up to three adults and unlimited children under 16 – one vessel), as an individual adult for $50, or as a child for $25. Children under 16 can enter on their own, however they must be accompanied by an adult not fishing.

All entries will be treated as a team for scoring purposes, whether one person or 10. For more information, please feel free to email info@fishingfreshwater. com.au or phone Andrew at Fishing Freshwater on 0419 031 182. For updates, go to face book.com/reelwivenhoe classic Nominations are filling up fast. We have over 45 teams registered already and will be limiting entry numbers to about 75 teams. To book your entry, visit fishingfreshwater. com.au We look forward to seeing you all there.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 65

These shots show undercuts in the riverbank where cod nesting sites are on dry ground in the Mole River.

Freshwater Dry spell west of the Great Divide T workshop This really is the ideal time I to check out the locations HIS month it’s not about the dam, it’s about the weather.

T has been nine years since the last workshop for freshwater fishing in both north and south Queensland.

A group of anglers recently voiced concern about the above. This was the start of a suggested format for a workshop that would combine both north and south regions. Our peak representative body the Freshwater Fishing and Stocking Association of Queensland worked in the background to arrange funding. An approach was made to Fisheries Queensland with the following in mind. Suggested timing for the workshop was either October 2018 or March 2019.

It was felt by the groups that the sooner the better would net the best result. With this in mind, a location was chosen for the meeting and costs factored in. The executives of FFSAQ have proposed to Fisheries Queensland that Leslie Dam, Warwick be nominated as the location and the tentative dates for the workshop be November 2-4, 2018. This is a precursor to advise that further input on this subject will be forthcoming from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. The final decision is to be advised by DAF and the management team within Fisheries Queensland.

You could say lack of good conditions, only that if we ever get rain, we get frosts. Well we could do with them and downpours as well. We are going to look at a couple of locations that some of our regular anglers would fish from a canoe or kayak. The point being it is photo time on locations some would fish knowing the little cod they caught last time should still be there if they practice catch and release like I do on the rivers. What is of concern is whether that fish died due to a lack of water or whether it knew there’d be no rain and moved on before the dry event. The other point to be raised is that with breeding season just one month away, what’s going to take place on the rivers? Well I guess a lot of anglers and stocking groups would say “not a problem,

Glenlyon Dam

by BRIAN DARE

you would normally fish to get a better idea of the lay of the land. we will just chuck in some more cod” – smart, eh! No, it is not. As our results to date on the upper Murray-Darling river system study points out, we have an oversupply of cod in the upper reaches of our river systems. We should be talking to biologists from fresh water. Go ahead and give one a ring in Queensland. Anyway, it is crunch time for both anglers and

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fish west of the Divide. Yep, whack the kayak on the roof and go fish that big hole you know about. You should have brought the camera instead though, as you would have got some good shots of what’s below the surface in that secret creek hole. It’s all dry! Point is, water storages are the best bet to fish at the moment. A lot of us have put a yak or canoe on big water and found it fun.

Four kilometres of pushing your legs up and down or dipping the paddle into the water is bliss. Or you can use an electric motor to go head-on into a six-knot wind to reach the first spot to fish. Then you’ll be looking for an electric gum tree to power up the battery again. Fun… By now you’re probably thinking what a bloody cynic I am. Well, two-thirds of the time that’s me folks. What you should be doing is getting in the fourwheel-drive and heading out this way with your camera. This really is the ideal time to check out the locations you would normally fish to get a better idea of the lay of the land. Don’t camp on the riverbanks as it’s too dry and there’s bushfire and serious snake danger. Instead, use the small local towns as your destination points. Go on and inject some

cash into these bush townships. While there, talk to the locals about the usual access points, go visit those spots and photograph your haunts where you previously caught fish. You’ll find you can walk into holes that used to be 3-6m deep. Take note of the riverbanks and the undercuts on those banks, as it is possible to spot nesting sites that were used in better conditions and times. I’ve attached shots of such spots to give you a head start as well as pointing out the catfish nesting sites that show up. Think about the regions you’ve fished and visit them for a look. One thing we don’t really like to hear is: “Gee, we’re sick of the rain, you can have some of ours.” We know you’ve been getting rain on the eastern side of the Divide as we keep watching the weather forecasts, hoping to get some of what you’ve been lucky enough to get.

2018 state budget backs Queensland’s fishing industry

INISTER for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the Queensland Government’s plan for the industry was charging ahead at full steam.

“We’ll continue to implement the Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2017−2027 announced last year, which provided additional funding of $20.9 million over three years to ensure fisheries resources are managed in a sustainable and responsible manner that recognises the interests of all Queenslanders,” he said.

“Excellent progress has already been made with a third of the Strategy actions completed in the first 12 months. “More than $7.8 million will be allocated in 2018-19 to support the Strategy, which will include working with industry to help minimise the costs associated with vessel tracking.” Mr Furner said the fisheries sector would also benefit from 20 more compliance officers across the state. “This includes 16 in the Great Barrier Reef region,” he said. “We are also invest-

ing in additional monitoring, harvest strategies for all fisheries and vessel tracking on all crab, net and line boats by the end of 2018. “The Queensland Government will provide the remainder of $100,000 pledged last year to the Rockhampton, Mackay and Cairns Regional Councils to help promote their net-free zones. “An upgraded recreational fishing app and new commercial fishing app will also be funded this year, making it easier for all fishers to comply with the rules.” www.bnbfishing.com. au

Bush ‘n Beach merchandise HOLIDAY RENTALS BUXTON – Modern brick home, fully s/c sleeps 7. Fish the Burrum, Gregory, Isis & Cherwell Rivers & Hervey Bay from one Great Location, OS $350 p/w Ph 0428 262 976. RUSSELL ISL FOR FAMILIES OR INDIVIDUALS – 3 bedroom $350/week or $30/night. 0404 866 571.

FOR SALE & WANTED ARVOR 555 SPORTFISH (NEW!) Mercury ProXS 115Hp EFI 4S, Dunbier braked trailer, SmartCraft hydraulic steering, Electronics Pack incl. Simrad 7” GPS/Sounder & Stereo w. Bluetooth, Smart Pack incl. Cabin & Cockpit Comfort Pack, Sun Awning, Interior curtains, Roof Hatch, Fish lockers, Selfdraining Cockpit, Bow roller and so much more!... $81,995 tow away - Now at John Crawford Marine, call today Ph: 07 3890 2322 more photos online at www.johncrawfordmarine.com.au BLUEFIN 4.35 WILD CAT – huge Mercury 75Hp Optimax DFI 2S low hrs, Motor Guide wireless electric motor, Redco Sportsman braked trailer, Lowrance HDS5 colour GPS/Sounder, Plumbed LB tank, Rod locker, Painted hull. Awesome head turning, eye watering sports fishing machine! @ $22,995 tow away today! - Call the team at John Crawford Marine Ph: 07 3890 2322 more photos online at www.johncrawfordmarine.com.au CAMPBELL CRAFT 6M CENTRE CONSOLE (2011). If you are looking for a centre console that can take on the rough stuff, look no further. Powered by a Suzuki 90hp four-stroke with 80 hours, the boat features an alloy custom targa top, hydraulic steering, Lowrance Elite-7 HDS, under water lights, VHF radio, dual-axle alloy trailer, spare wheel and long rego. Come and have a look at this great offshore fishing boat priced at just $34,990 driveaway. Call Trevor at Karee Marine today on 07 38751600. CLARK 427 PURSUIT OPEN ALUMINIUM TINNIE (2016) with Mercury 30hp outboard. No-fuss fishing boat with side decks, a front casting platform (with front hatch and bulkhead) and rear step and rails. Perfect boat for both estuaries and lakes! $8990. Call Wynnum Marine on 07 3396 9777 or visit wynnummarine.com.au LATE MODEL USED ALUMINIUM BOATS WANTED from Quintrex, Stacer, Ally Craft, Stessco, Bar Crusher, Bluefin, Brooker and Clark – Make selling your boat simple and hassle free - Cash or Consign – John Crawford Marine Queensland’s Used Boat Specialists since 1964 www.johncrawfordmarine. com.au Ph. 3890 2322. QUALITY USED BOATS WANTED. We have been in business 50-plus years and have clients chasing boats now. Call us today to see how we can assist you. Cash paid or consign. Northside Marine – Ph07 3265 8044. QUALITY USED FIBREGLASS BOATS WANTED from Haines Hunter, Signature, Cruise Craft, Baysport and Whittley – Make selling your boat simple and hassle free - Cash or Consign – John Crawford Marine Queensland’s Used Boat Specialists since 1964 www.johncrawfordmarine. com.au Ph. 3890 2322.

QUINTREX 420 BUSTA – (2017) Why buy new?! Yamaha 40Hp 2S balance of factory warranty, Quintrex trailer, Lowrance colour GPS/Sounder, Folding bimini, 2 bench seats, Wide gunnels, Transom boarding platform, Safety gear. Unbeatable value!...@ $11,995 tow away- Call the team at John Crawford Marine today Ph: 07 3890 2322 more photos online at www.johncrawfordmarine.com.au

ORDER FORM Item

Size (S-3XL)

Qty

Cost

x $35

Polo Blue/Gold

x $35

Polo Navy/Red

x $35

Polo Navy/Gold

x $35

QUINTREX 510 FREEDOM SPORT (2009). 90hp Mercury Optimax with 131 hours and alloy trailer. Just reduced to $28,500! Northside Marine – Ph 073265 8044.

T-Shirt Stone

x $18

T-Shirt Lt Grey

x $18

T-Shirt Blue

x $18

QUINTREX F390 EXPLORER – (2016) Evinrude ETEC 30Hp only 11hrs use & transfer of remaining factory warranty, Oceanic trailer, 4 adult life jackets, Sand anchor, 2 bench seats, U/F bow storage, Bow casting platform, Bow & transom handles, 2 rod holders. Amazing value!..@ $8,995 tow away - Call the team at John Crawford Marine today Ph: 07 3890 2322 more photos online at www.john crawfordmarine.com.au

Cap Blue/Grey

RAE LINE 186C (2008) powered by three-litre MerCruiser with 57 hours. $31,900. Northside Marine – Ph 073265 8044. STABICRAFT 1600 FRONTIER (2016) with 70hp Yamaha and Minn Kota i-Pilot. Like new and just $41,900. Northside Marine – Ph 07 3265 8044. STEJCRAFT ISLANDER 580 (2015) powered by a Yamaha 115hp four-stroke with 79 hours. Including Reelax game poles, dual batteries, plumbed live bait tank, electric drum winch, bimini and rocket launcher, bunk cushions, Lowrance sounder/GPS, GME VHF radio, Fusion stereo, removable fibreglass bait board and Oceanic drive-on/off trailer with alloy wheels. This boat won’t break the bank at $37,990 drive away. Call Trevor at Karee Marine today on 07 3875 1600. STREAKER 502 CENTRE CONSOLE DEMO (2018) that’s only done 10 hours! Mercury 75hp four-stroke on premium Easytow galvanised trailer. Features bilge pump, LED nav lights, pop-up cleats, transom storage/bait bins (not plumbed yet), underfloor fuel tank with deck filler and fuel filter and much more. Priced to move at $41,990. Call Wynnum Marine on 07 3396 9777 or visit wynnummarine.com.au SURTEES 750 GAMEFISHER LOCK-UP CAB. F250XCA, 139 hours. Fully optioned and with 300litre fuel tank. Price further reduced to $144,900. Northside Marine – Ph 07 3265 8044. WANTED – LATE MODEL USED BOATS. Cash or consignment. When you buy a used boat from Karee Marine you know it has been through our workshop and checked over. A RWC is given with each boat sold. We have a fully insured undercover showroom so your boat will not be left out. Call Trevor at Karee Marine today on 07 3875 1600.

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Do you want to know more about bar crossing & offshore ﬁshing? Tuition with Bill Corten – successful offshore ﬁsherman and commercial skipper

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QUINTREX 420 DORY (2002) with good late-model direct fuel injected Yamaha 40hp four-stroke with low hours, Furuno sounder, marine radio, Dunbier trailer and smooth water safety gear. Just $7990. Call Trevor at Karee Marine today on 07 3875 1600.

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Bar crossing courses: • Hands-on experience crossing ossing sing coastal bars safely • Direct supervision p masterin mastering all bar crossing skills • Fine-tuning of skills in bbreaking swells wells an and white water • On-water training in the safety of a Cruise Craft Explorer 685 ﬁlled with upright buoyancy to naval architects’ speciﬁcations • Overcome your fears and learn vital skills as part of an onwater course

Offshore ffshor shore fishing fi ng co courses: •C Comprising mprising sing a nnight of theoryy and a ffull day’ss practical training raining on ooffshore reefs • Finding reefs • Locating different fish species • Bait rigging • Shallow and deep reef fishing techniques • Using a full range of rods and reels • Sounder and GPS instruction • Offshore anchoring • And much more

Contact Bill Corten T: 07 3286 3647 M: 0447 233 247 0447 ( a f f a i r ) E: reel_affair@yahoo.com Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2018 – Page 67

Subscription offer for July* Subscribe this month for your chance to win a mega Oku Okuma p prize p pack!

ITH barra season in full swing, John Campbell is flat out – showing ‘southerners’ some of the best sportfishing available along the north Queensland coast.

Includes two combos – Estuary Spin & Bay Spin

Valued at over

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JC’s barra business “Most of my clients come here from southeast Queensland and NSW, some from overseas, looking for something special, and we can offer them metre-plus saltwater barra, which we have in large numbers,” John said. John’s thriving business – JC’s Guided Sportfishing – is based in the magnificent Burdekin District, an hour south of Townsville, where the Burdekin River hits the ocean. “It’s pretty much catch and release, though we do keep the odd fish to eat,” he said. “I show guests the various fishing methods that work up here and tell them a bit about the area. “Some people come for the day, while others stay at the lodge and get right into it.” Born and raised in the north, John went to college in the US, chasing his dream of becoming a professional golfer. “When I realised I was never going to be as good as I wanted to be, I came

back here to do something I absolutely love. “When I was in the States, I always had a fishing rod with me. “Even on the golf course I used to throw a line into the lakes after we’d finished playing.” While John has a choice of three boats to use depending on conditions and need, he takes the majority of his guests out in a 5.2m ‘barra boat’ he had custom built by O’Brien Boats in Townsville. “The boat is rated up to a 115hp engine, but I decided to use a 75hp Mercury SeaPro and it’s turned out to be ideal,” he said. “It has a great power-toweight ratio and is as torquey as anything, right the way through the power range. “There are bars we have to cross in some of the creeks and rivers – not huge ones – but it’s great to be able to give the engine a little squirt when you need it and get instant response. “And it doesn’t seem to notice if there are two people in the boat or four, the power’s always there.” As a businessman, John’s also delighted with the SeaPro’s fuel efficiency. “I thought I’d use 30-35

litres a day, but it’s never been that high,” John said. “If I have a massive day of fishing with the boat full of people I use less than 30. “An average day is less than 20. “The fuel economy is amazing – it’s far exceeded what I was expecting.” John has paired the 75hp SeaPro with a 17” fourblade Mercury Vensura prop, and while he might tweak the prop in future to see if there’s an even better combination, he’ll be sticking with Mercury. “I’m a Mercury guy,” he said. “I have three boats and three Mercury engines. “The dealer up here in the Burdekin is Peto Marine, and the team does a great job. “They convinced me to swap to Mercury years ago when I got a 40hp Mercury outboard. “I was over the moon with it and since then haven’t changed my opinion. “I’m still going to Peto and they’re still selling me Mercurys. “Touch wood, in the six years I’ve had this business and I’ve been running Mercury, I have never missed a day’s fishing because an engine let me down. “Not a day.”

Family and fishing with the all-new Stacer Crossfire

HE family favourite Crossfire range now features the Revolution Hull across the entire range and a large list of new features.

With a model to suit every boater, the Crossfire range now offers a line-up of 469, 499, 519, 539 and 589 models, all available with a side or centre console configuration. Stacer has introduced several new standard features to the Crossfire range. Boaters will now receive a larger side sheet that will create increased freeboard, an alloy live well with viewing window, fully welded side decks, a scupper drainage system, a grab rail on the console, sea tread on the transom and underfloor storage. There are also some new options available including drum winches on offer in all sizes, a redesigned transom door, lockable rod locker with aluminium lid, an extra-large transom and a cutting board/ski pole combo. Stacer also offers a more fishing-focused version, suitably named the CrossFisher.

This specialty boat includes a raised casting platform (200mm from the gunwale) and has room for a 100-litre Esky under the casting platform. National account manager Dominic Smith said the Crossfires have gone from strength to strength over the past year, proving very popular at boat shows with both families and dedicated fishers. “With the new Revolution Hull, these boats will go to another level again,” Dominic said.

“The finish has been improved with an alloy live well with glass plus the huge list of new standard features. “For the diehard fisher, ask for the new CrossFisher option and you will get a raised casting platform perfect for sighting fish and laying out long casts with enough room to fit a 100-litre Esky underneath.” For more information on the Crossfire range, contact your local Stacer dealer or visit stacer.com. au

www.bnbfishing.com. au

GO TO THE END OF THE EARTH... AND BACK AGAIN.

Leave the land behind with the ultra reliable, unrivalled performance and colossal power of the Mercury 135 - 150hp FourStroke, knowing that you can get back home in a ﬂash. Learn more at mercurymarine.com.au

See your authorised Mercury Marine Dealer today. BRISBANE Coorparoo Marine 57 Cavendish Rd, Coorparoo Q 4151 P: 07 3397 4141 E: info@coorparoomarine.com.au W: coorparoomarine.com.au

BUNDABERG Adrians Marine Centre 28 Ritchie St, Bundaberg Q 4670 P: 07 4153 1819 E: adriansmarinecentre@bigpond.com W: adriansmarinecentre.com.au

GOLD COAST Onshore Marine Horizon Shores Marina, Woongoolba Q 4207 P: 07 5546 2480 E: onshoremarine@ozemail.com.au W: onshoremarine.com.au

BRISBANE Karee Marine 1776 Ipswich Motorway, Rocklea Q 4106 P: 07 3875 1600 E: sales@kareemarine.com.au W: kareemarine.com.au

CAIRNS Aussie Marine 5 Hannam St, Bungalow Q 4870 P: 07 4033 8800 E: sales@aussiemarine.com.au W: aussiemarine.com.au

INNISFAIL Coastal Marine & Outdoors 178 Edith St, Innisfail Q 4870 P: 07 4061 8272 E: joel@coastalmarine.net.au W: coastalmarine.net.au

BRISBANE EAST Manly Harbour Marine 570 Royal Esplanade, Manly Q 4179 P: 07 3893 2199 E: info@manlyharbourmarine.com.au W: manlyharbourmarine.com.au

CAPALABA Mike’s Marine 9 Smith Street, Capalaba, Q 4157 P: 07 3390 3418 E: admin@mikesmarine.com.au W: mikesmarine.com.au

IPSWICH Ipswich Marine Centre 45 Huxham St, Raceview Q 4305 P: 07 3294 3944 E: enquiries@ipswichmarine.com.au W: ipswichmarine.com.au

BRISBANE NORTH Brisbane Marine 306 Dufﬁeld Rd, Clontarf Q 4019 P: 07 3889 3033 E: info@brismarine.com.au W: brismarine.com.au

EVERTON HILLS Holt Marine 25 Queen Rd, Everton Hills Q 4053 P: 07 3353 1928 E: info@holtmarine.com.au W: holtmarine.com.au

SUNSHINE COAST North Coast Boating 264 Nicklin Way, Warana Q 4575 P: 07 5493 9376 E: sales@northcoastboating.com.au W: northcoastboating.com.au

BRISBANE NORTH Cunningham Marine Centre 23-25 Snook St, Redcliffe Q 4019 P: 07 3284 8805 E: ian@cunninghammarinecentre.com.au W: cunninghammarinecentre.com.au

TOOWOOMBA Water Skiers Warehouse 91-93 Neil St, Toowoomba Q 4350 P: 0400 379 514 E: info@waterskierswarehouse.com.au W: waterskierswarehouse.com.au

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115HP CRUISE SPEED 115HP FUEL CRUISE EFFICIENCY SPEED FUEL EFFICIENCY MERCURY’S NEW 115HP VS. CURRENT FOURSTROKE AND OPTIM VS. CURRENT FOURSTROKE AND OPTIMAX FOURSTROKE g/kWh

MERCURY MERCURY 75-115HP 75-115HP FOURSTROKE RANGE FOURSTROKE RANGE

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PREVIOUS MERCURY FOURSTROKE 1.7L

BSFC dyno testing; data is an average of 60%-80% rated MERCURY PREVIOUS NEW MERCURY engine speed based NEW OPTIMAX MERCURY MERCURY OPTIMAX on standardMERCU ICOMIA emissions test. FOURSTROKE 115hp 1.7L 2.1L 115hp 115hp 2.1L 11 Photos for illustration purposes only. SU SC N ATA

IPSWICH ROAD

DS T

IPS

WIC

OA HR

D SERVICE RD

Randolph St

WIC

IPS

Blackd own St

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