BNB Fishing Mag | September 2024

For dad on Father's Day

495

$

Includes GST

September 2024 Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 35, Number 9

Moreton Bay heats up Targeting snapper Crossing coastal bars Mastering flathead

Cracking jewfish

All about sharks

Transition action ISSN 1832-4517

09 Proudly produced and printed in Australia

9 771832 451001

Estuary • Offshore • Freshwater • 4WD • Camping • Touring www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 1

Page 2 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 3

Page 4 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

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From the Bush ‘n Beach Fishing editor

M

ORETON Bay would have to be one of the most diverse fisheries in the world.

I have been lucky enough to fish quite a few places over the years and definitively rate our bay as one of the best.

There aren’t too many regions around the globe where you could fish for whiting on the flats one minute and an hour or so later, if you so desired, set your sights on marlin – plus pretty much everything in between.

While I have never actually tried to target these two species in the same day, it would be possible.

The point I’m trying to make is that we have a large variety of fish available for catching in these waters.

Thankfully, we also have a year-round fishing season, which allows us to target certain species at certain times of the year.

This means that even

when we do have closures – be it snapper, pearl perch, bass, barramundi or any of the others that currently exist – there are still fishing options.

This diversity is why I rate Moreton Bay as one of the best fisheries in the world and is a crucial reason for why it should be well cared for.

Snapper and pearl perch Prior to the closure ending, I was in contact with Fisheries Queensland, which informed me that there had been very high compliance with the snapper and pearl perch closure.

This was fantastic to hear.

It was also encouraging to be told that there was a high level of awareness pertaining to the closure – this was even better news.

Well done anglers, keep up the good work.

Springtime Spring is one of the best times to be out on the water.

Family time on Father's Day is important.

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The blisteringly cold mornings are slowly disappearing and the days are getting longer and warmer – warm enough for only one or two layers, and not too hot, as the middle of summer is.

Best of all, this transition time sees a good mix of winter and summer species, increasing your fishing options.

Though, the more I think about it, the more I realise that most fish can be caught all yearround.

I've chatted to various anglers about this and while there is merit in terms of winter and summer species, peak catch rates predominately occur around their breeding cycle.

Though we tend to target the same fish at the same time of year out of habit, because that’s what we were taught as youngsters.

Is that when they are more prolific?

Or is it a combination of all of the above?

Irrespective, fishing in and around our Queensland waterways is a recreation I truly enjoy – I only wish I had more time to do it.

Maybe when I retire… whenever that will be.

Father’s Day I was lucky enough to be introduced to fishing by both my father and grandfather at a very young age – for my second birthday, I got a cricket bat and a fishing rod.

I still have the rod and Alvey reel – though I’m not sure where the cricket bat ended up?

And I’m also very fortunate that my dad and pop were able to show me the ropes and get me hooked on this ful-

filling pastime.

As we don’t know how many years we have on this planet, unfortunately, I urge all of you to catch up with either your dad, father figure or family to celebrate Father’s Day. Even better if you’re able to, take your father

or your kids fishing or boating on this special day.

Though if not, why not reach out with a text or phone call… and chat fishing.

Fishing is a universal language, spoken by many.

Ben Collins

OUR COVER For dad on Father's Day

$

495

Includes GST

September 2024 Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 35, Number 9

Moreton Bay heats up Targeting snapper Crossing coastal bars Mastering flathead

Cracking jewfish

All about sharks

Transition action ISSN 1832-4517

09 Proudly produced and printed in Australia

9 771832 451001

Estuary • Offshore • Freshwater • 4WD • Camping • Touring www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 1

ALLAN ANDERSON from Yamba cracked this beast of a jewfish on his local breakwall using a hard-body minnow. Read more on this awesome species on page 42.

NEXT EDITION: October edition will be on sale in news­agents from September 20.

SEPTEMBER SUBSCRIPTION OFFER: See the subscription form on page 84 to subscribe this month and to go in the draw to win one of eight Ikipiks from Evolve Tackle and a BNB cap valued at $50 RRP each pack.

JULY PRIZE WINNER: Congratulations to B. Keogh, Bathurst who will receive an Atomic prize pack from Frogley's Offshhore valued at $350 RRP. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 5

September 2024 contents Tide Times - Brisbane Bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P8 Transition time in estuaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Keith Stratford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P8 Mastering flathead fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P10 Brisbane River heats up in September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Paul 'Chief' Graveson . . . . . . . P12 Moreton Bay has lots to offer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mark Templeton . . . . . . . . . . . P14 Fishing Events Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P15 New season, new gear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Justin Willmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P16 All set for a sensational September. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Chris Raimondi . . . . . . . . . . . . . P20 What we can do about shark numbers in Queensland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P22 Gearing up for reef fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P26 Gold Coast Flathead Classic preview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Clint Ansell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P28 Thirty years of Gold Coast Flathead Classic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P30 Time to target solid snapper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mitchel Zygnerski . . . . . . . . . . P32 2024 Tailor Fishing Classic wrap up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P34 Gold Coast tangle bins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P36 Spectacular spring species start to fire up. . . . . . . . . . . . . by Gavin Dobson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P38 Quality water plus quality lures means quality fish. . . . by Brett Hyde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P40 Cracking jew off walls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Tye Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P42 Ten thousand jew released into river. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P43 Key information and advice on bar crossings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P46 Dunbier Mackay announces new releases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P48 Lowrance introduces Recon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P49 Flat out on flathead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Chris Rippon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P50 Rainbow Beach Amateur Anglers Club comp. . . . . . . . . by Mick Clutterbuck . . . . . . . . . . . P53 Tide Times – Waddy Point. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P56 Mind blowing mixed bags. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Tri Ton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P56 JPL Customs fishing rods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Paul 'Chief' Graveson . . . . . . P58 Weather windows for reds and marlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by John Boon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P60 Countdown to Fitzroy River Barra Bash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P62 Charter Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P63 Kurrimine Beach Fishing Classic 2024. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P64 Bagging out on fingermark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Craig Tomkinson . . . . . . . . . . . P66 Leading change for Great Barrier Reef . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P67 Quality reef and coastal fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by 'Billabong' Bazz Lyon . . . . . . . P68 Science needs your mangrove jack frames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P70 Trading Post. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P71 Product News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P72 Isisford Fishing Competition 2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P74 Cool time at Cania Dam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Helen Abdy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P74 Angling for new inland fishing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P76 Dam Levels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P76 Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic 2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P77 Hitting NSW high country in winter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Neil Schultz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P78 Mary River cod floundering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brian Dare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P80 Readers’ Forum ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������P82 Subscription Form ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������P84 Page 6 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

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The Team

EDITOR: Ben Collins ADVERTISING: Chantal Rimmington PRODUCTION: Tiffany Brown Lisa Jones

Bush ‘n Beach Fishing magazine is published monthly by Collins Media Pty Ltd ABN 43 159 051 500 ACN 159 051 500 trading as Collins Media.

Phone 07 3286 1833 Email: ben@collins.media PO Box 162, Wynnum, Qld 4178 PRINTER: SpotNews DISTRIBUTION BY: Wrapaway Max. recommended retail price $4.95 (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 and contributors to ensure the correctness of their claims and statements. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 7

Tide Times AUSTRALIA EAST COAST AUSTRALIA, EAST COAST – BRISBANE BAR BRISBANE BAR LAT LONG LAT 27° 27° 22ʼ 22ʼ S S LONG 153° 153° 10ʼ 10ʼ E E SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER

Time Time

Time Time

m m

Times Times and and Heights Heights of of High High and and Low Low Waters Waters OCTOBER NOVEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER

m m

Time Time

Time Time

m m

m m

Time Time

m m

Time Time

2024

m m

0313 0313 0.18 0.18 0936 0936 2.60 2.60 1612 0.44 1612 0.44 SA SA 2141 2141 1.94 1.94

Time Time Zone Zone –1000 –1000 DECEMBER DECEMBER

Time Time

Time Time

m m

m m

0221 0256 0221 0.43 0.43 0256 0.52 0.52 0754 0832 0754 1.91 1.91 0832 1.80 1.80 1358 0.32 1430 0.44 1358 0.32 1430 0.44 SU MO SU MO 2022 2050 2022 2.56 2.56 2050 2.37 2.37

1

16

0230 0250 0230 0.24 0.24 0250 0.45 0.45 0822 0841 0822 2.23 2.23 0841 1.99 1.99 1435 0.32 1446 0.47 1435 0.32 1446 0.47 TU WE TU WE 2034 2050 2034 2.42 2.42 2050 2.24 2.24

0330 0330 0.50 0.50 0908 0908 1.87 1.87 1508 0.42 0.42 MO MO 1508 2124 2124 2.36 2.36

0310 0352 0414 0318 0.41 0.41 0310 0.17 0.17 0331 0.34 0.34 0352 0.21 0.21 0332 0.37 0.37 0305 0.31 0.31 0414 0.34 0.34 2 0318 2 0331 2 0332 17 0305 0843 0914 0952 1009 0914 2.06 2.06 17 0908 0908 2.37 2.37 0952 2.31 2.31 17 1022 1022 2.63 2.63 1009 2.42 2.42 17 1054 0843 2.05 2.05 1054 2.60 2.60 1522 0.47 0.47 WE WE 1522 2120 2120 2.20 2.20

2

1451 0.24 0.24 TU TU 1451 2106 2106 2.60 2.60

1

16

1528 0.30 0.30 TH TH 1528 2118 2118 2.34 2.34

0303 0303 0.34 0.34 0919 0919 2.27 2.27 1540 0.56 1540 0.56 FR FR 2115 2115 1.97 1.97

1

16

0331 0300 0331 0.30 0.30 0300 0.36 0.36 1009 0932 1009 2.64 2.64 0932 2.40 2.40 1700 0.54 1606 0.63 1700 0.54 1606 0.63 SU MO SU MO 2220 2125 2220 1.75 1.75 2125 1.79 1.79

1

16

1617 0.58 0.58 SA SA 1617 2147 2147 1.89 1.89

1704 0.48 0.48 1646 0.64 0.64 TU 1747 0.57 0.57 SU MO SU 1704 MO 1646 TU 1747 School jewfish are1.82 lots of fun catch on light 2229 2204 1.76 2307 1.72 2229 1.82 2204to 1.76 2307 1.72 gear. This one ate a prawn imitation aimed at bream.

0400 0430 0407 0454 0400 0.35 0.35 0430 0.28 0.28 0407 0.39 0.39 0454 0.41 0.41

0345 0347 0400 0.49 0.49 0345 0.23 0.23 0344 0.38 0.38 0347 0.14 0.14 3 0400 3 0344 3 1026 3 1046 0941 0945 1136 2.52 2.52 0941 1.92 1.92 18 0930 0930 2.18 2.18 0945 2.13 2.13 18 0954 0954 2.48 2.48 1026 2.33 2.33 18 1108 1108 2.59 2.59 1046 2.43 2.43 18 1136

1543 0.43 0.43 WE 1542 0.21 0.21 TU TU 1543 WE 1542 2155 2147 2155 2.34 2.34 2147 2.57 2.57

1558 0.49 0.49 TH TH 1558 2148 2148 2.14 2.14

0426 0426 0.47 0.47 1012 1012 1.97 1.97 1615 0.45 0.45 WE WE 1615 2223 2223 2.29 2.29

1632 0.53 0.53 FR FR 1632 2216 2216 2.05 2.05

4

1619 0.33 0.33 FR FR 1619 2201 2201 2.20 2.20

Transition time in estuaries

1655 0.62 0.62 MO 1757 0.55 0.55 SU SU 1655 MO 1757 2220 2317 2220 1.81 1.81 2317 1.70 1.70

S

1830 0.62 0.62 1729 0.65 0.65 WE TU TU 1729 WE 1830 2245 2351 2351 1.69 1.69 2245 1.73 1.73

0424 0509 0534 0425 0.18 0.18 0409 0.36 0.36 0424 0.16 0.16 0429 0.39 0.39 0509 0.38 0.38 0443 0.42 0.42 0534 0.50 0.50 19 0425 4 0409 4 0429 4 0443 1015 1016 1100 1127 1216 2.42 2.42 1015 2.29 2.29 1016 2.17 2.17 19 1040 1040 2.53 2.53 1100 2.31 2.31 19 1155 1155 2.50 2.50 1127 2.41 2.41 19 1216 1630 0.23 0.23 TH TH 1630 2229 2229 2.46 2.46

1709 0.40 0.40 SA SA 1709 2245 2245 2.02 2.02

1732 0.67 0.67 MO MO 1732 2255 2255 1.73 1.73

1850 0.63 0.63 TU TU 1850

1813 0.67 0.67 WE WE 1813

1911 0.67 0.67 TH TH 1911

2330 1.70 1.70 EPTEMBER sig- 2330 Local Luring 0450 0500 0435 0459 0500 0007 1.60 0034 0450 0.45 0.45 0500 0.18 0.18 0435 0.37 0.37 0459 0.22 0.22 0500 0.44 0.44 0007start 1.60 of 0522 0522 0.46 0.46 0034 1.67 1.67 nals the 5 1043 5 1048 5 1137 5 1209 0615 0.61 0.61 1043 2.01 2.01 20 1100 1100 2.36 2.36 1048 2.19 2.19 20 1126 1126 2.52 2.52 1137 2.28 2.28 20 0550 0550 0.50 0.50 1209 2.39 2.39 20 0615 spring and it also 1648 0.50 1718 0.32 1706 0.59 1801 0.51 1814 0.73 1242 2.38 1900 0.69 1256 2.31 1256 2.31 1648 0.50 1718 0.32 1706 0.59 1801 0.51 1814 0.73 1242 2.38 1900 0.69 TH FR SA SU TU WE TH FR TH FR SA SU TU WE TH FR

by KEITH STRATFORD 2249 2309 2245 2330 2334 1949 1949 0.71 0.71 2249 2.21 2.21 2309 2.27 2.27 2245 1.94 1.94 2330 1.82 1.82 2334 1.64 1.64 1944 0.70 opens up a 1944 few 0.70 more 0535 0535 0532 0019 0120 0515 0.44 0.44 0535 0.22 0.22 0500 0.40 0.40 0535 0.33 0.33 0532 0.51 0.51 0101 1.53 1.53 0019 1.67 1.67 0120 1.65 1.65 anglers 6 0515 6 0500 6options 21 0101 1115 1122 1218 0636 0700 0.72 0.72 1115 2.03 2.03 21 1146 1146 2.38 2.38 1122 2.18 2.18 21 1214 1214 2.45 2.45 1218 2.23 2.23 for 0636 0.64 0.64 in 6 0608 0608 0.53 0.53 21 0700 1900 2.36 1336 2.20 1336the 2.20 local 1722 0.57 0.57 SA 1807 0.46 0.46 1742 0.67 0.67 MO 1857 0.63 0.63 1900 0.78 0.78 Queensland.

1330 2.25 2.25 1255 2.36to SA FR SU WE TH FR FR 1722 SA 1807 SU 1742 MO 1857 WEsoutheast TH 1330 FR 1255 SA The Noosa River is start fire 2316 2350 2315 2038 1950 2029 2029 0.72 0.72 2316 2.10 2.10 2350 2.04 2.04 2315 1.82 1.82 2038 0.75 0.75 1950 0.68 0.68 mangrove jack up from an excellent option for Winter was excellent 0610 0019 0020 0203 0541 0.45 0.45 0610 0.30 0.30 0528 0.46 0.46 0019 1.63 1.63 0020 1.57 1.57 0203 1.49 1.49 0115 1.66 1.66 0212 1.65 1.65 7 0541 7 0528 7for 22 of 7 0115 22 0212 chasing a few jacks their winter slumber.

1149 1157 0615 0731 0.77 0702 0.60 0752 0.84 1149 2.04 2.04 22 1234 1234 2.34 2.34 1157 2.15 2.15 22 0614 0614 0.47 0.47 0615a 0.59 0.59 0731species, 0.77 0702 0.60 0752 0.84 range 1758 0.67 1900 0.62 1820 0.76 1304 2.33 1306 2.19 1422 2.13 1345 2.33 1418 2.08 1758 0.67 1900 0.62 1820 0.76 1304 2.33 1306 2.19 1422 2.13 1345 2.33 1418 2.08 SA SU MO TU TH FR SA SU SA SU MO TU TH FR SA SU They’re still to during this period. particularly flathead, 2345 2347 2001 2000 2131 0.77 2045 0.65 2111 0.72 2345 1.97 1.97 2347 1.69 1.69 2001 0.74 0.74 2000 0.81 0.81 2131 0.77 2045 0.65 2111 about 0.72 I’ve had some really catch year1.68 round, and tailor.

0034 0117 0120 0315 1.69 0607 0.49 0.49 0034 1.79 1.79 0557 0.53 0.53 0117 1.48 1.48 0120 1.52 1.52 0315 1.52 1.52 0222 1.69 all 0315 0315 1.68 8 0607 8 0557 8bream 8 0222 23 1225 1235 0710 0806 0.67 0855 1225 2.01 2.01 23 0647 0647 0.42 0.42 1235 2.10 2.10 23 0700 0700 0.62 0.62 0710 0.66 0.66 23 0841 0841 0.86 0.86 0806 0.67 0855 0.94 0.94 good sessions there at but the warmer months I don’t know how 1835 0.78 0.78 MO 1327 2.26 2.26 1904 0.84 0.84 WE 1400 2.20 2.20 1406 2.17 2.17 SA 1518 2.05 2.05 1441 2.28 2.28 MO 1506 1.97 1.97 SU TU FR SU SU 1835 MO 1327 TU 1904 WE 1400 FR 1406 SA 1518 SU 1441 MO 1506 2004 2115 2111 2224 2158 0.70 2004 0.77 0.77 2115 0.80 0.80 2111 0.78 0.78 2224 0.74 0.74 2140 0.59 2158 action.

0.70 this time of year. see0.59 a lot more long it’s been since 2140 0128 0236 0240 1.52 0426 1.60 1.77 0424 1.76 0015 1.81 1.81 0128 1.57 1.57 0028 1.57 1.57 0236 1.40 1.40 0240 amount 1.52 0426 1.60 0335 1.77found 0424 1.76 It’s a bit of an overI’ve September of quality 9 0015 9 0028 9this 9 0335 0636 0632 0822 0920 0802 0.76 0.76 0822 0.72 0.72 24 0959 0920 0.73 0.73 24 1008 0636 0.55 0.55 24 0731 0731 0.56 0.56 0632 0.61 0.61 24 0802 0959 0.90 0.90 1008 1.00 1.00 to be one of the better lapping month, so 1305 1.97 1429 2.16 1323 2.04 1507 2.09 1514 2.17 1616 1.99 1541 2.22 1601 1.87 1507 2.09 1514 2.17 1541 2.22 1305 1.97 1429 2.16 1323 2.04 1616 1.99 1601 1.87 MO TU WE TH SA TU MO TU WE TH SAtailor andSU SU MO TU bream haveMO 1920 2129 2003 2227 2220 2314 2236 2248 2227 0.79 0.79 2220 0.69 0.69 2236 0.52 0.52 1920 0.88 0.88 2129 0.85 0.85 2003 0.90 0.90 2314 0.68 0.68 2248 0.66 0.66 times of year for big there are still plenty been found in our1.74 bays 0446 0245 0123 0406 0404 0527 0529 0050 1.66 1.66 0245 1.41 1.41 0123 1.47 1.47 0406 1.43 1.43 0404 1.61 1.61 0527 1.74 0446 1.91 1.91 0529 1.88 1.88 numbers of trevally and jewfish 10 0050 0710 0945 0.71 0.74 1125 0.99 0710 0.62 0.62 25 0834 0724 0.70 0.70 25 0930 1110 0.89 0.89 10 1036 1125mangrove 0.99 0834 0.69 0.69 10 0724 0930 0.84 0.84 10and 0945 estuaries.

0.71 25 1110 1036 0.74 25of 2.15 1.79 1354 1.93 1.93 WE 1427 2.01 2.01 FR 1713 1.96 1.96 1700 the 1.79 size 1544 2.09 2.09 1618 2.04 2.04 1622 2.21 2.21 MO 1644 2.15though TU TH SU TU WE TU 1354 WE 1544 TH 1427 FR 1618 SU 1622 MO 1713 TU 1644 WE 1700 jack, feeding in the upper The0.57 flathead 2019 2300 2129 2328 2321 2358 0.60 2330 2338 2019 0.97 0.97 2129 0.90 0.90 2358 season 0.60 2338 0.62 0.62 2300 0.83 0.83 2328 0.73 0.73 2321 0.57 2330 0.44 0.44 has never been great. reaches during Sephas excellent.

0430 0518 0516 1.79 0617 1.89 0551 0623 0250 0141 1.51 1.51 0430 1.39 1.39 0250 1.42 1.42 0518 1.55 1.55 0516also 1.79 been 0617 1.89 0551 2.10 2.10 0623 2.03 2.03 11 0141 26 0.72 1233 0.93 0759 0759 0.70 0.70 26 1002 1002 0.76 0.76 11 0842 0842 0.75 0.75 26 1055 1055 0.82 0.82 11 1103 1103 0.65 0.65 26 1213 1213 0.84 0.84 11 1153 1153 0.72 1233 fish 0.93 havA lot of these tember.

Huge 2.26 1501 1.92 1.92 TH 1702 2.09 2.09 1547 2.05 2.05 SA 1722 2.05 2.05 1725 2.26 numbers 1802 1.94 1.94 ofWE 1745 2.07 2.07 TH 1759 1.75 1.75 MO TU WE FR WE 1501 TH 1702 FR 1547 SA 1722 MO 1725 TU 1802 WE 1745 TH 1759 It makes for some 2147 2256 2147 0.99 0.99 2256 0.80 0.80 quality fish were feed- en’t seen many lures for a while, so0027 they’re fairly exciting fishing 0304 0012 0429 0017 0016 0.44 0.53 0.37 0.56 0012 0.74 0.74 0017 0.65 0.65 0016 on 0.44 the 0038 0038 0.53 of 0024 0024 0.37 0027 0.56 gen0304 1.42 1.42 0429 1.49 1.49 ing masses 12 0913 0701 2.04 2.04 12 0650 0710 2.17 2.17 0913 0.74 0.74 27 0549 1012 0.71 0.71 27 0614 0549 1.50 1.50 12 1012 0614 1.71 1.71 12 0616 0616 1.99 1.99 27 0701 0650 2.28 2.28 27 0710 erally aggressive. * continued P9 1215 0.58 0.78 0.67 0.84 1307 Bram0.78 1332 0.84 1627 1.97 1.97 FR 1704 2.16 2.16 SU 1129 0.72 0.72 1200 0.75 0.75 1215 that 0.58 invaded 1308 0.67very TH SA TU WE TH FR FR 1129 SU 1200 TUbait WE 1307 TH 1308 FR 1332 TH 1627 SA 1704 2325 1807 1814 1822 1847 1845 1852 1847 1.92 1.92 1852 1.73 1.73 2325 0.89 0.89 1807 2.14 2.14 1814 2.07 2.07 1822 2.27 2.27 1845 1.98 1.98 ble and Deception bays 0103 0058 0106 0115 0115 0112 0003 0103 0.64 0.64 0058 0.56 0.56 0106 0.32 0.32 0115 0.46 0.46 0115 0.32 0.32 0112 0.51 0.51 0445 1.45 1.45 0003 0.65 0.65 28 and 13 0445 June 0711 0741 2.17 1041 0645 1.65 1.65 13 0543 0658 1.86 1.86 13during 0711 2.20 2.20 0741 July.

2.17 13 0744 0744 2.45 2.45 28 0753 0753 2.29 2.29 1041 0.70 0.70 28 0645 0543 1.66 1.66 28 0658 1234 0.64 1253 0.68 1320 0.51 1356 0.72 1415 0.61 1423 0.76 1743 2.12 1130 0.60 1234 0.64 1253 0.68 1320 0.51 1356 0.72 1415 0.61 1423 0.76 1743 2.12 1130 0.60 SA MO WE FR SA FR SU SA MO WE TH FR SA FR SU The2.24 baitTH thinned 1859 1858 1915 1930 1941 1807 1859 2.19 2.19 1858 2.09 2.09 1915 2.24 1930 1.89 1.89out 1942 1942 1.90 1.90 1941 1.73 1.73 1807 2.29 2.29 in August and 0145 0132 0151 0.24 0151 0.41 0154 0037 0058 0151the 0.41fish 0202 0154 0.46 0.46 0037 0.74 0.74 0145 0.55 0.55 0058 0.49 0.49 0132 0.49 0.49 0151 0.24 0202 0.29 0.29 14 0602 14 0834 0818 2.28 0835 2.38 2.38 0602 1.58 1.58 29 0730 0730 1.79 1.79 14 0642 0642 1.86 1.86 29 0736 0736 1.99 1.99 14 0800 0800 2.38 2.38 29 0818 0834 2.56 2.56 29 0835 pushed upFR 1441 the 2.28 rivers 1441 0.67 0.67 1510 0.69 0.69 1156 0.58 0.58 SU 1326 0.55 0.55 1238 0.48 0.48 TU 1339 0.62 0.62 1421 0.46 0.46 FR 1515 0.56 0.56 SU TH SA SA MO SU 1510 SA 1156 SU 1326 MO 1238 TU 1339 TH 1421 SA 1515 1941 1936 2004 2.17 2009 1.86 2038 1.84 2027 1.75 1844 1900 2009 1.86 2027 1.75 1844 2.29 2.29 1941 2.23 2.23 1900 2.40 2.40 1936 2.10 2.10 2004 2.17 2038 1.84 and creeks running off 0132 0219 0146 0204 0233 0.19 0226 0.38 0248 0.28 0235 0.42 0132 0.57 0.57 0219 0.49 0.49 0146 0.35 0.35 0204 0.42 0.42 0233 0.19 0226 0.38 0248 0.28 0235 0.42 these bays. 0856 2.36 15 0702 0702 1.74 1.74 30 0807 0807 1.90 1.90 15 0733 0733 2.06 2.06 30 0812 0812 2.11 2.11 15 0849 0849 2.51 2.51 30 0856 2.36 15 0923 0923 2.63 2.63 30 0915 0915 2.45 2.45 1300 0.44 1408 0.50 1339 0.38 1421 0.58 1517 0.44 1524 0.64 1609 0.53 1555 0.65 1300 0.44 1408 0.50 1339 0.38 1421 0.58 1517 0.44 1524 0.64 1609 0.53 1555 0.65 Snot weed started SU MO TU WE FR SA SU MO SU MO TU WE FR SA SU MO 1935 2017 1949 2011 2052 2047 2130 2111 1935 2.45 2.45 2017 2.25 2.25 1949 2.44 2.44 2011 2.07 2.07 2052 2.06 2.06 2047 1.82 1.82 2130 1.79 1.79 2111 1.77 1.77 turning up in these ar0234 0315 0234 0.38 0.38 0315 0.38 0.38 eas at the same time, 31 0845 31 0955 0845 2.20 2.20 0955 2.51 2.51 1638 1501 0.56 0.56 1638 0.62 0.62 TH TU TH 1501 TU so that might have had 2044 2155 2044 2.03 2.03 2155 1.80 1.80 something to do with © © Copyright Copyright Commonwealth Commonwealth of of Australia Australia 2022, 2022, Bureau Bureau of of Meteorology Meteorology the bait disappearing.

New MoonLowest First Quarter Datum Datum of of Predictions Predictions is is Lowest Astronomical Astronomical Tide Tide The water will start FullSymbols Moon Last Quarter First to warm up aFull little this New Last Moon Moon New Moon Moon First Quarter Quarter Last Quarter Quarter Moon Phase Phase Symbols Full Moon month and this will Plenty of 99 flathead will be around this month.

Page 8 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

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Transition time in estuaries * from P8

when you come across a school of bait.

You don’t know what you’re going to hook next, especially when getting your lure to the bottom.

Trevally and tailor will often feed closer to the surface and the jewies, jacks and estuary cod will be found closer to the bottom.

The local rivers around Brisbane will also produce a few mangrove jack.

We don’t get the numbers around here that the Sunshine and Gold coasts get, though they are still worth chasing.

The quality of fish is generally very good, with plenty of beasts over 50cm and even some proper over 60cm brutes turn up each season.

Sunken timber and rock bars will hold most of the fish and they are easily located with a quality sounder.

Barramundi are also increasing in numbers and they are spread throughout all of the Brisbane rivers and creeks now.

They can be found in decent schools with a good sounder but getting them to bite can be a problem.

They seem to be fussier around Brisbane than anywhere else I’ve chased them.

The flathead season down around Jumpinpin Channel and Gold Coast Broadwater really fires up during September.

A lot of the bigger fish move towards the deeper ledges close to the mouth of Jumpinpin and the Gold Coast Seaway at this time of year.

Plenty of school-size

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fish and the occasional crocodile can still be found on the flats as well.

The options are endless in this area, so it’s worth carrying a good variety of lures to target water depths between 0.3-15m deep.

I don’t do much bream fishing these days, however during July I did sneak down to Jumpinpin to see how the bream schools were going.

I took my son Luke for his first proper session chasing bream and we caught a stack of fish.

Most of them were around the 30cm mark, with a few up around 35cm.

They’re good fun to catch on the right gear and the by-catch can be very good when using small plastics in deep water.

We landed flathead, tailor, trevally and a few school jewies when targeting the bream with small prawn imitations.

This month will see the bream schools thin out a little and the fish will have lost condition after finishing their spawning run.

The local rivers will be worth a look upstream for jew and threadfin salmon.

This month has always produced a few threadies for me locally and I’ll definitely be out there looking for a few big fork tails showing up on the sounder.

September is a great month to be on the water in southeast Queensland and we should be able to leave the warm clothes at home towards the end of the month.

Hope to see you on the water.

In September, the upper reaches of the local rivers will have some nice flathead.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 9

Flathead aren’t particularly fussy about what they eat.

Cast into shallow water, allow the lure to sink to the bottom and then retrieve at a slow to medium pace.

Mastering flathead fishing

F

A very capable flathead outfit can be bought for a relatively small amount of money.

Targeting flathead can make for some epic days on the water or from the shore.

LATHEAD are a common estuary species, found around the Australia coastline and often in brackish water far upstream.

Dusky flathead, the most common species, is found more or less along the entire east coast of Australia.

They are a fantastic sportfish, easily targeted with particular tackle and are excellent eating.

Many anglers spend their days fishing, targeting flathead for sport.

They are most often found on the edges of muddy or sandy banks, where shallow waters drop off into a deeper gutter or channel.

It’s here they will ambush small or even large baitfish and readily

When fishing for flathead, try the hour either side of the bottom of the tide.

Page 10 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

strike a wide variety of lures.

When fishing for flathead, I fish the hour either side of the bottom of the tide.

I regularly hook onto fish in no more than knee-deep water.

I look for areas where tidal water is flowing across a shallow section and into deeper water.

This is where smaller baitfish and, with any luck, your lure will get washed off the sandbank and convert your efforts into a reward!

Look for areas with structure, such as a log, obstruction or deep drop-offs, along with some patchy weed and sandy areas.

These are prime flatty territory.

Lizards aren’t particularly fussy about what they eat either.

Many anglers will have their favourite lures, in particular colours and shapes and, with new styles always making an appearance, it’s hard to know what to use.

I tend to use soft plastics and have six to eight colours and styles in my tackle box that I mix and match during a fishing session to see what’s working the best on the day.

Feed the soft plastic onto the hook so the hook is facing downwards and only the

curve of the hook is protruding from the underside of the ‘bait’.

Casting and retrieving soft plastics is also quite simple.

Cast into shallow water, allow the lure to sink to the bottom and then retrieve at a slow to medium pace.

There are several techniques to give the lure its action in the water, but I prefer a ‘jig, jig, wind up the slack’ motion.

Then repeat.

Always make sure the lure is on the seafloor before repeating.

Feel free to mix up your style here.

Variety and natural action are key.

Fishing for flathead is so much fun.

From beginners to weekend fishos and professional anglers, targeting this species can make for some epic days on the water or from the shore.

One of the best things I like about this type of fishing is that you don’t need stinky bait.

A very capable flathead outfit can be bought for a relatively small amount of money and be quickly packed in your boat or car, in case a sneaky cast or two may be on the cards!

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Email: admin@wynnummarine.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 11

C ASTfrom the past

Dave Kellet enjoyed taking these mullet on fly gear.

Brisbane River heats up in September Matt Bom landed this pan-sized squire.

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Page 12 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

F

EATU R I NG a great article from the Bush ‘n Beach Fishing mag archives, welcome to Cast from the Past.

If you have a hankering to read about a certain topic, drop us a line and we’ll do some deep diving.

Here’s a piece by Paul ‘Chief’ Graveson from September 2012 covering the awesome Brisbane River and all it has to offer.

Though I’ve recently been on an outback trip, I’ve still found time to fish the Brisbane River on a number of occasions and can tell you the action is starting to fire up.

September is one of those special months that fall in the middle of the season change.

It is quite common to see a crossover of both

Brisbane River

by PAUL ‘CHIEF’ GRAVESON

winter and summer species.

The recent absence of heavy rainfall will also act in the favour of the angler.

The water clarity has been the best I’ve seen in a long while, so all the above factors should provide the opportunity for the river angler to encounter six species or more in a single session.

Over the coming month, the water and outside temperatures will continue to rise and the process of climbing out of bed and launching the boat on those early mornings should become a much easier task.

Lately the normal

species such as bream, flathead, tailor and snapper have provided anglers with consistent captures, and all have been happy to take both bait and artificials.

Mulloway have continued to keep fishos on their toes and, I’ll say it again, the Brisbane River would have to be recognised as one of the most consistent locations for this species.

If you crave the excellent sport fishing action of jewfish on lures, try the Transam 95 and soft plastics such as white Atomic Plazos Prong, as this will put you among the action and achieving results. * continued P13

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C ASTfrom the past Brisbane River heats up in September * from P12

Live herring and mullet are proven winners for most of the river predators.

There’s nothing better than watching your live bait spring to life as the tip of the rod telegraphs the unfolding story below, right before an interested mulloway smashes your offering.

I was surprised on a recent trip as I used fresh mullet slabs.

Small soapie jew were schooled up in large numbers and quick to engulf the bait.

This occurred around one of the river’s ledges, which dropped from about 3m to 6m in depth – the perfect area to target on the last of a run-out tide.

Speaking of large schools of fish, you may have noticed the gatherings of spawning mullet tightly packed together in a black carpet of dorsal and tail fins breaking the water’s surface.

All the female fish are full of roe and the males contain melts.

Good sized bream have been feeding under these schools and I’ve actually jagged a number of mullet with the small trebles on my bream lures.

It’s always great to see someone trying a new method or obtaining a new personal best, but a big pat on the back must go to Dave Kellet who took advantage of the above mullet and employed the long wand.

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Dave used a 6wt floating line fluoro leader and a 4lb tippet with a bread fly to come tight on a number of the schooled fish.

October and November are the prominent months when it comes to targeting threadfin salmon, though September will see the numbers begin to rise around the usual locations, such as the Port of Brisbane wharves, the sunken wall and of course the pipeline at the front of Boggy Creek.

The fish will be congregating around the deeper areas as their breeding season approaches.

All of this action coincides with a good run of river prawns and shows of baitfish on the sounder.

I mentioned previously about the reoccurring cycle of actions that follow a pattern spanning a number of years.

It seems as though the events continue because tuna have again been seen feeding around the Port of Brisbane wharves.

Many of you will remember the schools of longtail and mack tuna busting up and feeding well into the river system about four years ago.

In fact, I can remember coming across a school of mack feeding in the Clara Rocks area.

There was a time when I’d keep a 6kg spin stick rigged with

a 30g slug on standby, just in case there was a river surface bust-up.

If you can add estuary cod, trevally, grunter and a number of other species to the equation, you have to admit, things just keep looking better for September.

Anyway, I’m back in Brisbane now and itching to get on the Brisbane River for a few hot sessions and to take advantage of what September has to offer.

Hopefully I’ll see you on the water.

Tight lines.

Young Rebecca Cairns with a fine river bream.

A nice flathead and squire for the author.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 13

Moreton Bay has lots to offer

A

Ellis, sporting a huge smile, scored a cracking whiting.

Jack nailed a stonker tuskfish that came in at 10.4kg and 83cm.

–WANTED– Pre-trained old fishing gear!

We will come to you if you have bulk gear!

0402 703 519 Page 14 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

PERSON – who shall remain nameless – recently had eye surgery to remove cataracts.

We organised a fishing trip a couple of days prior to the surgery.

So, being all professional, Ian rigged his rods up the night before.

He tied on a size 6 long shank, did a perfect knot and made sure it was tight by putting more pressure on the leader and hook.

He went to trim the tag end off but realised he’d bent the hook.

So, he cut it off and tied on another one.

On completing the replacement of the bent hook, he inspected it to find it was bent again!

When he looked at the box of hooks, he found he was using Tru-Turns.

I’m sure we all know someone who’s done something similar.

Now, Ellis loves to go fishing with his dad around Sandgate and Brighton.

He loves getting out there and, when I saw him instore getting some live bloodworms, he was very keen to get his father moving.

Not long after, his proud dad sent a photo of Ellis holding a cracking whiting and sporting a huge smile.

It is so great to encourage young anglers to get out there and experience things such as this.

I’m sure this fish went home for a great meal because fresh whiting is unbelievable, particularly when you catch it yourself.

If the kids are a bit funny about the process of catching, cleaning and eating, you can start them off with some catch and release, until they understand how good a fresh catch of fish can be.

If you want to get the

Northern Moreton Bay

by MARK TEMPLETON

kids started, set up for whiting.

They look harmless, they’re easy to find and catch and there is less chance of the kids getting spiked when handling them.

I’m sure Ellis added to this fine specimen and helped his dad provide dinner.

Well done Ellis, we look forward to hearing about your catches the next time you’re in the shop.

When snapper season is closed and you’re keen to get out onto Moreton Bay to make the most of the awesome weather, what do you do?

You rig up for cracker tuskfish.

Jack and Dan did just that – grabbed a perfect weather window and hit the water.

Before long, Jack nailed a stonker tuskie that came in at 10.4kg and 83cm.

This is one of the most awesome looking tuskies I’ve seen.

Well done Jack, a cracker catch indeed!

One of our regular fishos, Harry has been at it again.

When fishing off the Shorncliffe Pier, Harry landed a cracking 63cm flathead.

It is always great to see these young anglers getting out and about, trying new techniques and locations.

Harry really gets into his fishing and is always keen to give new things a go.

Whenever I get out and about on the weekend, I am sure to come across Harry and the crew chasing everything from whiting to tuna!

Great to see you out there and well done Harry, I look forward to seeing what’s next on your list.

It happened!

Lucy caught a great bream on one of her journeys to Shorncliffe Pier.

Lucy loves getting out there losing tackle, but * continued P15

When fishing off the Shorncliffe Pier, Harry landed a cracking 63cm flathead.

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Competition Winning Performance

Lucy caught a great bream on one of her journeys to Shorncliffe Pier.

Moreton Bay options * from P14

this time she caught dinner.

Lucy is one of Tackle Land’s real characters, always in a hurry to get out there, wet a line and relax.

A great catch there Lucy – look out, now the drought has been broken.

So, even after the issues Ian had with getting a straight hook, he managed to catch a stonker winter whiting.

The little beast came in at 26cm and was a fairly beefy fish too.

Ian caught this whiting on the Shorncliffe Pier on a piece of preserved beachworm and a small piece of pink fluro tubing.

We found that you have to try a few different locations until you find the areas they’re feeding.

So, if you’re out there and you’re not getting

bites or fish, give it 20 minutes and move down 20m or so and try again.

We ended up with a great feed this trip, – they came in quickly, once we’d located them.

So don’t give up, move around a little and you will find them.

With school holidays around the corner, the kids will want to do something fun.

For a cost-effective option, drop in and grab some bait or a couple of soft plastics and get them out there.

With so many places in the local Moreton Bay area you may not have explored yet, great places to go explore and make awesome memories with the kids include Bribie Island, Toorbul, Margate or even Nudgee.

Take care out there, come home safe and maintain the passion.

FISHING EVENTS EVENT

DATE

LOCATION

2024 Kurrimine Beach Sep 13-15 Fishing Classic

Kurrimine Beach, Qld kurriminebeachfishingclub.com.au

Woodgate Beach Sep 13-15 Hotel Fishing Classic

Woodgate, Qld woodgatebeachhotelfishingclassic. com.au

Baffle Creek Family Sep 16-21 Fishing Festival

Baffle Creek, Qld bafflecreek.com.au

Flathead Classic Sep 24-27

Gold Coast, Qld flatheadclassic.com.au

Fitzroy River Oct 9-12 Barra Bash

Fitzroy River, Qld fitzroyriverbarrabash.com.au

Tackle World Oct 18-20 Bundaberg Family Fishing Classic

Lake Monduran, Qld masa-fishstocking.org.au

Gold Coast Oct 18-20 Shootout

Gold Coast, Qld gcgfc.com.au

Wyaralong Dam Oct 19 Carp and Tilapia Eradication Comp

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Gold Coast Pest Nov 2 Fishing Classic

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2025 Capricorn King Jan 31 - Feb 3 Yeppoon, Qld of Kings kingofkings.live/tournament

Ian caught this beefy little beast on the Shorncliffe Pier, which came in at 26cm. www.bnbfishing.com.au

Boyne Tannum May 2-4 HookUp

Gladstone, Qld boynetannumhookup.com.au

Rainbow Beach Jun 8-14 Family Fishing Classic & Expo

Rainbow Beach, Qld rainbowsportsclub.com.au

To have your competition listed in the calendar, please phone (07) 3286 1833 or email ads@collins.media Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 15

The three Drop KickerZ colours that the author managed to get his hands on pre-release, Shiner, Bad Shad and Gussy’s Glimmer Blue.

First cast on the Drop KickerZ and fish on, with a nice 45cm tailor caught rolling over the weed beds.

New season, new gear A 1-4oz 1-0 TT HeadlockZ Finesse jig head was perfect for long controlled casts across the flat in the wind.

An instant bream and flathead favourite, the Z-Man Drop KickerZ.

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T

HIS little plastic slays!

This month, I thought I would share a fishing adventure, and the story of how an American dropshot plastic became an instant favourite for me when targeting choice Australian species, using some of our common plastics fishing techniques.

Fish on!

As we roll into a new season, we also see a flood of new gear arriving in tackle stores, following the Australian Fishing Tackle Association Trade Show held on the Gold Coast in Queensland, along with the build-up to the summer holidays and the Christmas shopping period.

I’ve been lucky enough to work in the fishing industry for over 30 years and it’s an exciting time.

A time when all the toand-fro product design, development and field testing comes together to form a selection of products that appear on tackle store shelves, that then find their way into our arsenal of fishing equipment.

Tackle Tactics launched a stack of new gear at AFTA this year

Tackle Tactics

by JUSTIN WILLMER

under the TT, Z-Man and Okuma brands, and I managed to get my hands on some lures to fish prior to their launch.

A lot of the new lure releases have been designed specifically for Australian species, environments and techniques.

However, it was a late addition to the Z-Man range that caught my attention and, as I found out, it didn’t take long to attract the attention of fish.

This plastic was designed for American waterways, species and tactics, yet the first time I held it in my hand, I knew it was going to be a dynamite finesse presentation for Aussie anglers.

The plastic The plastic is the Z-Man Drop KickerZ. Its name is based on its design as a dropshot plastic – a popular technique in the US whereby the angler has a weight on the end of the line and the plastic suspended further up the line, much like a paternoster rig when bait fishing.

This method allows

you to anchor the plastic with the weight on the retrieve, while keeping the plastic up in the face of the fish and allowing small subtle movements.

Dropshot fishing has never really taken off in Australia, however the features that make this plastic ideal for dropshot fishing also make it ideal for finesse fishing Australian species.

Let’s take a closer look at the plastic and then get on with the fishing.

Now that it’s hit the shelves, the Drop KickerZ is available in 2.75” and 3.5” sizes, though in the early stages it was the 2.75” size that I managed to get my hands on, in three colours, Shiner, Bad Shad and Gussy’s Glimmer Blue.

At the head end of the plastic there’s enough bulk to jig head rig well, with a ribbed belly to hold scent and create micro vibrations.

While the back section has cutaway angled sides that I believe increase the hook clearance and in turn hook up rate. * continued P17

www.bnbfishing.com. au

New season, new awesome gear * from P16

Moving to the business end of the plastic, the tail.

This is where I believe the key secret to success is – the long wormlike tail shaft, finished with a bulbous wedgeshaped tail.

The fishing Straight out of the packet, I thought ‘this is going to catch’ and, when I put it in the water, I was excited to see that the wedge-shaped tail gives it a tight swimming action that resembles those small baitfish that predators hunt on the flats.

At rest on the bottom, that worm-like tail moved with the water, and I had the best of both worlds – a plastic that would swim like a baitfish on a variety of retrieve speeds and then, when at rest on the bottom, it appeared worm-like.

I was convinced that this little plastic was going to attract fish and trigger strikes throughout the entire retrieve, making it ideal for anglers who want to give soft plastics a go and deadly in the hands of experienced anglers.

Conditions were poor, with wind and showers, yet I had this new plastic in my hands and I wanted to give it a swim.

I launched the kayak and started a drift across a large flat with

the wind, drifting with a dropping tide in about 1m of water, while fishing over the weed, along weed edges and into the sand pockets in the weed.

First cast, slow rolling the plastic over the top of the weed and the rod loaded, I had a Cheshire Cat grin on my face and a 45cm tailor found its way into the net.

My first cast with a plastic designed for bass fishing on the other side of the world and I had a fish in the net!

After releasing the tailor, two casts later I had a flathead, followed quickly by another – this time hopping and shaking the plastic in the sand patches among the weed beds.

Ten minutes of fishing and I had spent more time fighting fish than I had casting for them.

I continued drifting the flat and picked up another flathead and a tailor, casting into the shallow sand patches and hopping and shaking the plastic out.

I was fishing the Shiner, which is a favourite natural baitfish colour with a ultraviolet-reactive back, rigged on a 1/4oz 1/0 TT Fishing HeadlockZ Finesse jig head.

I didn’t need the 1/4oz for water depth, however the added weight was beneficial in terms of punching controlled

casts in the wind, controlling the plastic on the retrieve and making long casts away from the kayak in the shallow water.

As I drifted off the edge of the flat with the run-out tide, I noted the current line that was created as the water pushed across some sand undulations in the bottom before flowing into deeper water.

These current lines created on the edge of flats are always worth a few casts because they create ambush points for predators, disorientate baitfish and often replenish with fish and bait as the flat drains, and different species are forced off the flat at different stages of the dropping tide. * continued P18

The bream were all over that worm paddle tail.

The versatility of the worm-like paddle tail saw this flathead eat the plastic while dead sticked on the bottom.

The cutaway to the sides creates additional hook clearance and rolls the hook into the fish on the strike. www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 17

New season, new awesome gear * from P17

A nice flathead came aboard the kayak when fishing a drop-off on the edge of the flats.

A handful of flathead and a shower of rain to wrap up a crazy first session on the Drop KickerZ.

Tackle box Justin’s Tackle Box

• TT Red Belly Spin Rod RBS702L 7’ 1-3kg • Okuma Ceymar HD Spin Reel CHD-1000HA • Platypus Pulse X8 Braid 6-8lb • Platypus Hard Armour Leader 10-15lb • Z-Man 2.75” Drop KickerZ • TT HeadlockZ Finesse jig head 1/4oz 1/0 • Pro-Cure Super Gel Scent Page 18 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

The pedal element of the Hobie Outback kayak allowed me to hold position slightly off the edge of the dropoff, make casts up onto the edge of the flat and bring the Drop KickerZ down the drop from 0.5m of water to around 2.5m.

I was confident that, if I systematically cast my way along the 30 or so metres of the current line, I would likely catch a couple of bream, flathead or tailor.

What I wasn’t aware of was how aggressively and actively the fish would eat this little 2.75” hybrid soft plastic.

I made a cast up past the sand undulations on the flat and hopped and shook the plastic back with the flow, connecting to a small bream.

I then allowed the plastic to fall to the bottom and wash over the edge, where it was met at the bottom of the drop by aggressive bites and then a screaming run.

I soon had a tank of a bream in the net and was stoked at how the fish had tapped the wormlike tail before inhaling the whole plastic.

I was having a ball, fishing this plastic finesse on a TT Red Belly 7’, 1-3kg spin rod and Okuma Ceymar HD 1000 spin reel, loaded with 6-8lb Platypus Pulse X8 braid.

Because there had been a few tailor around, I had geared up with 15lb Platypus Hard Armour Leader, but the flathead and bream didn’t seem to mind.

A couple more cracker bream soon followed and it was evident that the design features of the plastic – meant for a completely different species and technique – would also lend themselves perfectly to our species and finesse plastics tactics.

With the tide dropping out further, the big bream had moved on.

I landed a couple of smaller fish before opting for a colour change.

I switched out the Shiner colour for Gussy’s Glimmer Blue, a colour designed by Z-Man pro Jeff ‘Gussy’ Gustafson.

It’s a beautiful clear pearl baitfish colour with a subtle sparkle and glow, and won him the biggest fishing tournament in the world, the Bassmaster Classic.

What would our species think of this iconic colour?

I moved back onto the edge and with the tide dropping out further, it wouldn’t be long before the water on the flats gave way to the weed, sand and mud that I had drifted across earlier.

This fired me up – the last remaining fish on the flat and a favourite of mine, flathead would now be forced to vacate the flat and head for deeper water.

It didn’t take long and I was on to a nice table-sized high 40cm flathead, quickly followed by a couple more in the high 40 to mid50cm range, picking the Drop KickerZ up as it bounced along the bottom, that worm-like tail again attracting the bites.

I had caught a lot of fish in a couple of hours on this new plastic.

It had looked the part out of the packet and proven itself in the water.

Another shower of rain saw me wet and cold, so it was time to head for home to cook myself a hot breakfast.

Yep, all those bites and still home in time for a late brekky.

The verdict I have been fishing soft plastics for over 30 years and seen a stack of developments in this category, including Z-Man’s

10X Tough ElaZtech material, the fine tuning of pre-rigged soft plastics and the innovation across the range of TT jig heads, yet the basic curl tails, paddle tails and jerkbait profiles remain fairly similar in appearance.

Years ago, the Z-Man 2.5” Slim SwimZ blew me away in terms of the underhooked tail design and the action, effectiveness and versatility that you could get out of a small paddle tail.

That little paddle tail is still a staple in my kit and one of the most effective presentations you can throw in the fresh or salt for a wide range of species.

Swimming the Z-Man 2.75” Drop KickerZ gave me a similar feeling to when I first used the Slim SwimZ. I’m excited that this plastic is ideal for beginners and is going to catch a lot of anglers their first fish on a plastic.

I also feel that the versatility of this plastic – with its ability to catch on the slow roll, hopping, shaking and dead sticking – is also going to make it a tournament winner, unlock some tough bites and catch plenty of personal bests.

This was only one of the new releases from Tackle Tactics at AFTA 2024.

There were dozens more, which you can check out in the AFTA Product Showcase video on Tackle Tactics TV on YouTube.

After over 30 years in the trade, I’m excited that the innovation continues in the sport of fishing and pumped to see what you catch on this deadly little Drop KickerZ paddle worm – a plastic that has rapidly found its way into my collection of favourites.

See you on the water.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

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Not many species will let a bite-sized mullet swim by, and these new unrigged Mulletron paddle tails are going to be a sought-after bait for anglers chasing a wide variety of species.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 19

Snapper like this beast are back on the menu.

Matt with a lovely late afternoon snapper.

Tuna have been around in good numbers.

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All set for a sensational September

I

F you told me I could fish for only one month each year for the rest of my life, I reckon I’d choose September.

Throughout southeast Queensland, the cool westerly wind of August indicates that the water temperature is relatively low, translating to species such as tailor and snapper still about in good numbers.

Warmer sunny days are conducive to offshore runs and the cooler water means the strong summertime currents haven’t really kicked in.

This signifies that your trophy reef species – red emperor, sweetlip, tuskfish and coral trout – are all within reach.

In the estuaries, large female flathead typically head to deeper water to spawn and can be targeted where rivers meet the ocean, all the way from the Gold Coast to central Queensland.

Elbow-slapping summer whiting are well worth targeting, particularly around a full moon at night in rivers such as the Nerang and Maroochy and throughout the Pumicestone Passage.

As the month goes by, summer species will start to come out to play.

Mangrove jack in the estuaries and inshore pelagic including mackerel and tuna are at the top of the list.

Fishing Tips

by CHRIS RAIMONDI

Yep, as you can tell, September gets me excited!

Let’s explore a few opportunities worth capitalising on this month.

It’s fair to say that it’s too soon to understand the full impact that the July-August snapper closure has had on stocks.

If the snapper fishery goes from strength to strength, like our post size-limit mulloway fishery, it’ll be exciting times.

Until then though, I’ll admit, it’s a little painful taking a month off from chasing these fish and tasty pearl perch at the height of peak season.

Anyway, that’s all behind us now and they’re fair game once again.

If the snapper fishing only days out from the closure in July was anything to go by, there should be some hot action in September.

As I’ve said many times before, snapper are such a great fish to target in so many ways.

Whether it’s shallow or deep water, bait or lures, snapper are always a great option.

The key to catching them consistently is all about low light periods – early morning and late

afternoon – and fishing as light as possible.

Snapper will leave the bottom to feed, which makes sinker and lure weight critically important.

Lightly weighted bait or soft dropping vibes and plastics will often entice a strike from a hungry snapper.

Employing a berley trail can be an effective way of enticing them to feed.

In the deeper water, pearlies are also back on the menu.

Personally, they’re in my top three table fish, so I love catching them.

They’ll respond to plastics, jigs and vibes but are commonly caught on bait – dead or alive.

As I’ve eluded too, the September options don’t end there.

It’s a great month for chasing red emperor and other predatory reef fish.

Concentrate your efforts in depths of 4575m of water, fishing live bait or fresh strips of flesh such as mullet, tailor or squid.

Variable wind conditions will allow the deep-water brigade to do their thing as well.

Deep dropping in 120* continued P21

www.bnbfishing.com. au

All set for a sensational September

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example of how we can all work together to sustainably manage fish stocks of a bread-andbutter species that is accessible to all.

The bigger female models will typically make their way to the river mouths to spawn at this time of year.

That said, some of the shallow-water flathead drone footage kicking about on social media is insane and shows that the bigger models can certainly be found in knee-deep water.

The size of the swimbaits being thrown at flatties these days is also incredible, with no lure seemingly too big these days.

Well, I’m just about done typing.

September is on the doorstep and I need to get the boats and gear ready!

Catch you out there!

A couple of tasty flame snapper pulled from 250m of water.

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tember remain about the best time of year to chase big whiting in the estuaries, particularly those on the Gold Coast.

The Nerang and Coomera rivers, as well as the Broadwater, have long been incredibly reliable systems for big spawning summer whiting.

Any fish over 40cm in length is a trophy and now is the time to get one.

Live natural bait is normally a must if you want to tempt a big old whiting.

The Gold Coast Flathead Classic takes place later this month.

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500m has becoming increasingly popular, given the technological advancement in sounders and electric reels over the past decade.

Species such as bar cod, bass grouper and flame snapper are all extremely tasty and have become much more attainable for recreational anglers.

Snapper and pearlies are quite commonly caught in the deeper water as well.

On the beaches, there’s been a great run of tailor throughout southeast Queensland and these fish will be around for the majority of September, especially if the water temperature stays cool.

Like many, I’ll be chasing a few of these fish off the beaches of K’gari during the month.

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As one of the apex predators in the ocean, great whites test what they are able to eat by biting it.

What we can do about shark numbers in Queensland

R

ECENT news items indicate that Australia has one of the highest numbers of shark attacks in the world.

Envi ron ment a l ist s however state that sharks are endangered in Australian waters.

These two statements are, to a large extent, contradictory.

How can we have one of the highest number of attacks with so few sharks?

One explanation is

that the statement that sharks are endangered is incorrect.

Yes, certain species of sharks are endangered, but to use these to make a generalisation is incorrect.

Species such as the oceanic white tip are endangered, though we rarely see these in our coastal waters.

Whaler sharks, in particular the black whaler or bull shark, cannot be classified as endangered.

If the reported shark attacks are studied, two species appear to form the majority of attacks.

The first is the great white.

Agreed, the great white was endangered, however it now seems there is a comeback occurring.

With the protection of seals – one of the shark’s main preys – the increase in their food supply has aided in the recovery of their numbers.

Increasing the aggressiveness of bull sharks is the reduction of its natural food supply. Photo: Mark Zatta Page 22 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

Human contact in situations such as shark dives has also decreased the sharks’ fear of humans.

As one of the apex predators in the ocean, great whites test what they are able to eat by biting it, while smaller species tend to nose their larger intended prey first to determine if it could be aggressive back.

With the increasing numbers of great whites and the increasing incursion of humans – mainly surfers and divers – into their habitat, it is understandable that instances of conflict between the two species will increase over time unless some factor changes.

The second shark species implicated in the majority of attacks is the whaler shark, in particular the black whaler or bull shark.

Now there is no evidence that the bull shark is endangered, yet it is protected by Queens-

land regulations, which state that the possession limit for sharks is one, and it is not to be over 1.5m in length.

The increased numbers of attacks on humans attributed to the whaler shark and evidence of increased predication of angled fish by both amateur and professional fishers would indicate that numbers of whaler sharks are increasing in freshwater, estuary and coastal waters.

Note that personal experience on remote reefs also indicates that shark numbers and their aggressiveness is increasing, even on remote and rarely fished reef systems.

The following will concentrate on the whaler shark species.

The first question that needs to be asked is why the number of human attacks and the increased predication of hooked fish.

The first point is the * continued P24

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Of the attacks on humans, two species appear to form the majority – great whites and bull sharks.

What we can do about shark numbers in Queensland * from P22

one shark possession limit.

In reality, this would have minor effect on sharks numbers, unless the species could be harvested in commercial numbers.

The second limit is of greater effect.

The 1.5m maximum size limit has protected the more mature sharks in the system.

This means that the number of shark pups in the system are also increasing.

The larger sharks are also becoming more common and interaction with humans in their environment is also becoming common.

Whaler sharks regu-

larly hunt in murky or dark conditions and are more prone to bite their intended prey first, rather than only nosing to ascertain if the object is edible.

With the increased average size due to sizetake restrictions, these ‘bites’ are becoming increasingly severe.

A further variable that is increasing the aggressiveness of the whaler shark is the reduction of its natural food supply.

Normally whaler sharks would predate on shoaling baitfish.

An example of this is the news videos of sharks chasing pilchard schools along the NSW Queensland coast every year.

A monster bull shark found at Pinkenba boat ramp in 2018.

Page 24 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

These sharks also chase the tailor and mullet schools along the same coastline during their spawning runs.

From my personal experience, in the late 1970s I remember huge schools of mullet travelling past the southern end of Bribie Island being severely harassed by sharks, tuna, mackerel and other larger ocean predators.

These mullet runs appear to have disappeared – I feel mainly due to the increased pressure of beach netters targeting the run as it moves along the coast.

I also feel that this reduction in food is the main reason for the decline of the grey nurse shark.

These mullet migrations formed the basis of the food chain of the grey nurse.

The whaler appears to have adapted to other food sources, however the grey nurse is being starved out.

Just like the kangaroo, when food is scarce, the females will cease any embryo development until better pastures are found.

Perhaps a marine research group should investigate this with regards to the grey nurse.

Indications are that whaler sharks have adapted to the reduced number of schooling

migratory fish by targeting more sedentary fish stocks.

Currently, anglers across Queensland – commercial, charter operators or recreational – are having a large percentage of their catch taken by sharks.

In days past, you would expect to lose a few fish to sharks, yet lately, unless a fish is small enough to be quickly pulled to the boat, it is most likely going to be taken.

Before, you may have lost a part of your fish, as the sharks tended to be smaller and less aggressive, and to have half a 5kg demersal fish come to the boat would normally occur.

The sharks today are in the 2-3m range – this can be easily verified when the shark comes up to the boat – and with the extra competition, they are taking larger fish in single bites.

This is also evident with pelagic fish, which are targeted as soon as they exhibit any sort of stress situation, such as being hooked.

One other point that has become evident is that the sharks are learning to identify the sound of boats, anchor chains and electric motors with the possibility of an easy feed from a hooked fish.

For this reason, the sharks are targeting areas that are also top locations for anglers.

In short, many millions of dollars of prime-eating fish are being wasted to sharks.

It should also be noted that suggesting saving these fish from fishers and that people should be barred from fishing is ridiculous.

Even if the fishos were not there to provide an easy meal, the sharks must still feed.

What can be done in regards to the shark situation?

I feel that a cull of the whaler shark population is required.

This is not to say they should just be killed, but that there should be an industry created to utilise them.

Currently, we have illegal foreign fishing vessels coming into Australian waters to harvest shark – in most cases, solely for their fins.

If commercial fishers were to harvest these sharks for their fins and then distribute these legally to the market currently supplied by the illegal fishers, two outcomes could be met.

The first is that fishers who may be displaced by restrictions could have a viable market to continue earning a living. * continued P25

www.bnbfishing.com. au

What we can do about shark numbers in Queensland * from P24

The second outcome is that by regulating the market, the price of fins would decrease and the incentive for the illegal fishers to come to Australia would lessened.

Shark fins however are not the only marketable product from the sharks.

Shark skin – also known as shargrin – was utilised in Victorian times to cover sword grips, to ensure they were non-slip, even when covered in slippery blood.

A market for this form of non-slip covering could be developed.

Shark livers have previously been used to extract oil, which had medicinal and mechanical application – mako oil is still available.

The cartilage of sharks

was also used for medicinal purposes, especially in the treatment of arthritis.

Shark teeth and jaws can be utilised for tourist mementos.

Finally, the meat of smaller sharks can be sold commercially.

Flake is a mainstay in southern states and would be an alternative to fish such as basa that are imported.

One drawback of using sharks for food would be the levels of heavy metals in the flesh of larger sharks.

Again, a safe size limit would need to be found, but the meat of larger sharks could be used in other ways – perhaps as fertiliser, as is the usage of carp.

By allowing the harvesting of whaler sharks, those fishers

displaced by the gillnet bans and net free zones can continue to operate.

Importantly though, this fishing should be limited to line fishing not netting, as this would negate the benefit of gillnet bans.

Also, reducing the numbers of sharks will decrease the wastage of fish that are taken by sharks.

Likewise, by reducing the pressure of sharks on these demersal and pelagic species, their num-

bers will also benefit.

In conclusion, the reduction of larger shark numbers should reduce the aggression they currently exhibit in feeding and reduce the number of human attacks.

Kevin Behrens

Back in 2019, Brett Clarke landed a good-sized bull shark in the Coomera River using pike eel for bait.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 25

The new Penn Slammer IV is designed to withstand the ultimate test.

Gearing up for reef fishing

W

The Slammer IV, guaranteed strength, power and reliability straight out of the box.

Page 26 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

ADE and Luke Smith, who go by the name of the ‘Bastard Smith Brothers’, set themselves up to hit the reef systems found on the east coast of Australia and learnt the hard way of the importance of quality fishing tackle when taking on the front rowers of the sea.

Hailing from central Queensland, Wade and Luke share their insights and experience using the new Penn Slammer IV against some quality reef fish.

The new Slammer IV series of reels takes tough to the next level.

Improving on the previous Slammer III models, the IV brings models from 2500 all the way through to 10500 sizes, for the ultimate in

power and reliability.

Tested in some of the harshest conditions and on some of the strongest fighting fish around, the Slammer IV has been designed to withstand the ultimate test.

Featuring a reduced minimum drag and reduced rotor weight, contributing to a lighter smoother feeling reel that allows you to fish harder for longer.

Additional seals have been added to improve the IPX6-rated body and spool, which allows these models to handle the harsh conditions and salt spray that gets dished out on a daily basis.

Why the Penn Slammer IV Series?

It’s the feeling of quality when you pick it up, it feels strong and re-

liable, no matter what punishment gets handed out to it.

The angler can have confidence that at the crucial moment, when your gear is pushed to the limit, the Slammer IV will come out head and shoulders above the rest consistently.

From deep dropping on isolated rocks in the middle of the ocean to casting poppers and stick baits at the thugs of the topwater domain, the Slammer IV will have a model for you that has your back from the depths to the surface.

Jigging is made easy with the all-new enhanced range of the Slammer IV, with the varying sizes and drag pressure, you’re sure to * continued P27

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Gearing up for reef fishing * from P26

find a combination to suit your needs.

From lighter inshore jigging with the Slammer IV 3500 all the way through to chasing deep-water brutes with the 10500 model, you are guaranteed strength, power and reliability straight out of the box.

If you’re looking at getting started in the jigging game, you need to identify what your target species and environment will be.

For shallower inshore reefs, look to fish as light as possible, a Slammer IV in the 3500 to 4500 will prove to be a sure-fire allrounder for coral trout, fingermark, nannygai and the other smaller reef species.

If you’re looking to prove just how much the Slammer IV models can take, step into the realm of the pelagic species, including the true king of the topwater, dogtooth tuna – load up, strap in and hang on!

No matter what jigging technique you use, quarter turn, half turn, rod flutter, slow lift or a turn and burn style, the only thing the new Slammer IV will leave you wanting is more.

If you’re more of a traditionalist and prefer to use bait for your demons of the deep, the Slammer IV will impress in the hands of a beginner all the way through to a seasoned

professional angler.

Ensure your bait slab presentation is tight and right, drop it onto your favourite mark and make sure to post it on social media… or else it never happened.

The market is saturated with reels that claim to be value for money and if you’re looking for performance at the moment, the standard trend is that you then have to sacrifice a lot of your hard-earned cash and brownie points with your significant other.

The Slammer IV takes this trend and wipes the floor with it – pulling together an unrivalled toughness, high-end performance and a large range of available sizes into an affordable package that, unlike others out there, give the angler great value for money.

There is a reason so many fishos around our country put their trust in the Slammer series, with the Penn Slammer IV, you only need to relax and let the battle begin.

The Slammer IV has been absolutely phenomenal for us.

To come out with such a compact reel that can take a beating with such drag capacity on it, it’s just about unheard of.

They’re so reliable and bulletproof, you just wouldn’t think about doing it with anything other than a Slammer IV.

The Slammer IV is great value for money.

www.bnbfishing.com.au

Taking tough to the next level.

If you’re looking to prove just how much Penn Slammer IV reels can take, step into the realm of the pelagic species.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 27

Van caught a heap of flathead on lures with Brad Smith on the Tweed River.

Lachie was elated to catch and release a monster 89cm flathead on a charter with the author, using a Samaki Redic 50mm lure in Coral Trout.

Gold Coast Flathead Classic preview

H

School flathead in the 40-50cm range are good points scorers in the Gold Coast Flathead Classic.

Metal blade lures work extremely well for flathead.

The new colour TT Switchprawn+ Cooked Prawn is a winner.

Page 28 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

I everyone, the thirtieth edition of the Gold Coast Flathead Classic fishing tournament will be held on September 24-27, 2024.

The event features three days of fishing, lures only, and heaps of prizes will be up for grabs.

With long days of fishing and plenty going on at event headquarters in the evenings, there will be no shortage of fun for all ages.

The base for the classic is at the Gold Coast Sportfishing Club’s clubhouse and adjacent outdoor area.

This area is next to the Broadwater Parklands Public Boat Ramp and the waterfront Broadwater Tourist Park, which is a great place to stay, with cabins, caravan spaces and tent sites.

Every year is different when it comes to fishing in the classic.

So far, this year’s event is looking to be clean water, unless there’s significant rainfall before the comp – which has happened previously,

Broadwater Guide

by CLINT ANSELL

with hundreds of millimetres of rain falling a few days before the classic.

Let’s look at a few tips based on relatively clear water, considering it has been quite dry for many months in the lead up.

I’m tipping the Jumpinpin Channel will fish well, and the northern Broadwater, from north of Crab Island to Tipplers Passage.

There are a few prov-

en techniques when targeting flathead.

Including spot locking or anchoring then casting lures, drifting while casting and jigging, and trolling hard-body lures.

These days, there are so many choices, however my go-to flathead lures in clear water are as follows.

Soft plastics Z-Man MinnowZ in * continued P29

When they’re shy, smaller lures can work well, such as MMD MicroBait plastics.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Gold Coast Flathead Classic preview * from P28

Opening Night and Disco Cisco, Rapala Crush City Imposter in Neon Yabbie, Fish Craft Dr Prawn in Gummy Bear and MMD MicroBait, Fat Skipper and FlatFish.

Vibes Samaki Vibelicious in Whitebait, Ecogear ZX40 in 440 and TT Switchprawn+ in King Tiger.

Hard-bodies Samaki Redic DF 50mm in Whitebait and Coral Trout.

If there is enough rain to dirty up the water – and/or cloud, wind chop, a run-out tide, early morning, late afternoon – try darker brighter fluorescent colours, whatever works!

Keep trying different things until you crack the code on the day.

For soft plastics, basically I cast over shallow areas that feature a mixture of weed patches meeting sand, then

fan the area with casts.

Using good sunglasses such as Spotters makes it much easier to see these spots.

Let the lure sink, then single and double hops with pauses in between will attract the attention of hungry flathead.

Look for bait balls on the fish finder and birds diving, flathead are usually close by.

Vibe lures work very well drifting along long weed edges or drop-offs and channels.

Cast the vibe out about 15m and don’t wind, just leave it out there while drifting at about one knot, jigging the lure one short and quick lift at a time, with barely a pause.

Use a similar technique when trolling hard-bodies – work along weed edges at a speed of 1.5-2 knots, with the lure 20m behind the boat in depths of 1-3m.

Trolling is especially

useful in strong wind, and when there’s wind against tide and it’s hard to drift or cast.

I use 1m of 8lb fluorocarbon leader for trolling, 10lb for vibes and smaller plastics and 12lb for larger plastics.

Bigger lures will catch bigger fish, though not as many.

If you do want to try for that fish of a lifetime, have a go with the My Lure Box Soft Glide.

It catches a lot of giant flathead.

If you haven’t entered the Gold Coast Flathead Classic before, get a team together and do it!

You can find more information at flathead classic.com.au To book on a charter with myself or Brad, or if you have any fishing related questions, visit goldcoastrivercharters. com, SMS 0432 990 302 or email fishing withclint@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook at Brad Smith Fishing Charters.

Nick visited the Gold Coast, catching and releasing a healthy 60cm flathead on a charter using a TT Switchprawn+.

The Samaki Redic 50mm diver is a consistent flathead-catching lure.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 29

Thirty years of Gold Coast Flathead Classic

G

This event is a union of anglers who live for the thrill of the catch, so gear up and get ready.

ET ready crew, the 2024 Gold Coast Flathead Classic is here and it’s bigger and better than ever.

We’re celebrating 30 years of hardcore angling action, and this is one event you won’t want to miss.

Picture this… 300 teams, over 600 anglers, with a whopping $200,000 plus in prizes up for grabs.

This isn’t a fishing competition – it’s the ultimate test of skill, stamina and strategy.

Over the years, the

Flathead Classic has become the place to be for anglers from all over.

It’s where legends are made, rivalries heat up and epic stories are born – and this year, we’re pulling out all the stops to make it unforgettable.

Our partners at Surf Coast Marine, Quintrex and Suzuki are back, bringing the heat with boat prizes worth $50,000.

That’s right, we have three boat prizes up for grabs – you could be setting off in a brandnew rig.

Let’s not forget the massive $150,000 in team bags packed with gear.

We’ve also got our top-notch category partners Wilson Fishing, Lowrance, XXXX, Club Marine, Switchbait, The Mad Hueys and Minn Kota.

With the full list of 2024 sponsors on our website, these legends are making sure every

moment on the water is packed with excitement.

As we look back on 30 years of the Gold Coast Flathead Classic, we remember the jaw-dropping catches, the fierce competitions and the camaraderie that keeps us coming back.

It’s more than a tournament – it’s a union of anglers who live for the thrill of the catch.

So, gear up and get ready to make history.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a weekend warrior, this is your chance to be a part of something epic.

The 2024 Gold Coast Flathead Classic is waiting for you… and trust us, it’s going to be one for the books.

Join us on the Gold Coast Broadwater and let’s make this thirtieth edition the best one yet.

It’s time to fish hard, make memories and celebrate three decades of angling greatness.

See you on the water!

Over $200,000 worth of prizes are up for grabs this year.

Looking back on 30 years of the classic, it’s the jaw-dropping catches, the fierce competitions and the comradery that keeps us coming back.

Join us on the Gold Coast Broadwater to make the 2024 Flathead Classic the best one yet.

Page 30 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

Three boat prizes could see you setting off in a brand-new rig.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 31

Time to target solid snapper

W The author with a solid snapper on plastic. All photos were pre-closure.

Brandan snagged a school-sized snapper.

ITH snapper season in full swing, we have nice cold frosty mornings out on the water.

At this time of the year, whales, dolphins and turtles are in massive numbers, creating an amazing day on the water when fishing.

Seeing colossal whales jumping, waving and having a good time always entertains a fisho.

So, to the fishing part of the article… this is hands down my favourite part of the year.

Sending a nicely presented bait or lure to the bottom to hook up to an abundant array of species, from snapper, pearl perch, jewfish and many more.

Off the Gold Coast, you can find snapper anywhere – from in 10m of water, all the way out past 100m.

Near the many reefs

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off the Seaway, including Diamond, Casino and the 24, 36 and 50 fathom reefs, you will find snapper and many other species that you can target.

And the reefs off Tweed Heads, including Fido’s, Ballast Rock (Mud Hole), Wonder (10-minute mark) and Nine Mile, make for some prime fishing spots for all species.

The hardest thing about snapper fishing is finding them.

This can test the patience and focus of many a fisho.

You could be driving around for a few minutes to possibly over an hour to find a school of snapper to fish.

Large rocks, ledges or even flat ground with growth are many places to find snapper holding.

In one of the pictures I’ve included, you can see the flat ground with a good amount of bait holding tightly and a school of snapper sitting

around 5-10m above.

This creates the perfect scenario to drop a well-presented bait or lure straight into them and hook up.

When snapper mark up like this, I’ve found they’re feeding and will hit pretty much anything you put down.

Hooking up to fish comes down to many things – from how the bait looks, to making sure your bait isn’t twisted or has any strange hanging parts.

A cut up strip of mullet fillet is a great example.

If the fillet presents flat and straight with the hooks down the middle, it will float down and look a lot better than a mangled piece that has been thrown on.

A number of bait options are available to use for snapper – pilchard being a very popular choice, with squid, yakka, slimies, bonito fillet ticking the boxes as well… there * continued P33

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www.custommarinewelding.com.au Page 32 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

A screenshot of snapper feeding.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Time to target stonking snapper * from P32

are simply too many to list.

So, how much lead is too much?

You want your bait to float down slowly enough that it looks more natural and gives the fish a chance to eat.

As opposed to having a big 8 ball sinker while float lining, dropping straight to the bottom and not catching a single thing, other than a rock cod or the bottom itself.

I’ve found that when fishing in about 40m, a 3-5 ball sinker is the best, given how much current is flowing.

If you drop your bait down and get hit right away, you’ve nailed and executed the bait and size of lead perfectly.

If you’ve gone straight to the bottom, you have too much lead, and if you didn’t get anywhere near the bottom, you don’t have enough.

Though, it could also mean the school of fish may not be feeding at that point of the day, so an idea is to mark where you have found the fish and possibly hit the mark up again later in the day, or when you go out on the next trip.

Getting the drift right when float lining can be a tricky job.

www.bnbfishing.com.au

Accounting for the wind and current to push you in the right direction can take a few drifts to get right, but as I’ve said before, once you have perfected it, the fish will be climbing all over your baits.

While I’m snapper fishing, I like to run straight monofilament on either a spinning reel or a small overhead, such as a Shimano Talica 8.

And 30lb will cover you for everything in the shallows and out to the 50-fathom line.

A set of ganged hooks or snell is perfect for your fishing.

Dropping 7” soft plastics can create an amazing snapper session in the shallow and deep water.

The shallower the water, the less weight you need.

In 30m of water, a 3/8 jig head is the perfect weight to drop your plastic down, with the snapper climbing over the slow falling baitfish imitation lure.

Out wider in about 60m of water, I tend to change over to a 1oz jig head.

It still gives you the best chance of getting snapper mid-water column or on the bottom

with the lure sinking down at a nice slow rate, and running a 30lb leader, you’ll be giving yourself the best chance at landing any species that hit your lure.

In Queensland, there’s a snapper and pearl perch closure that runs from July 15 to August 15 every year.

This is to allow the fish to breed without being interrupted and creates a lifelong cycle of fish for all of us fishos to enjoy.

While the closure is on, it’s a great opportunity to target different species, ranging from kingfish, cobia, jewfish, venus tuskfish and all species out deep past the 150m mark.

With winter, the currents out wider die off, giving everyone the opportunity to push that extra bit wider and get into some tasty fish.

In late August, snapper fishing really starts to ramp up, with the larger models showing up from the depths and larger schools finding their way to shallower water.

I hope this gives you an insight on the basics of snapper fishing.

Until next time… tight lines.

Brandon managed a solid pair of 80cm snapper.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 33

This year’s classic was brimming with camaraderie, skill and plenty of fish.

2024 Tailor Fishing Classic wrap up

W

The family friendly weigh in was a hit with attendees of all ages.

We had 154 fish weighed in, with a total length of 6188.5cm.

Page 34 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

HAT a fantastic event our fourth annual Tailor Fishing Classic turned out to be!

This year’s competition attracted 117 anglers from local and distant locations who competed in both adult and junior divisions over a weekend brimming with camaraderie, skill and plenty of fish.

The 2024 Tailor Fishing Classic saw an impressive array of catches – the biggest and most successful one yet.

We had 154 fish weighed in, with a total length of 6188.5cm – fish measured to the fork.

In comparison, last year’s event had 41 fish weighed in, with a total length of 2063.5cm.

A huge congratulations to all entrants and winners.

Winners of the adult division Sharon Lally took home the prize for the Longest Single Tailor with 49.5cm.

Joel Hodge’s three fish took out the prize for the Longest Combined Length, with 144cm.

Winners of the juniors (13-17) division Cameron White won the Single Longest Fish with his tailor of 45.5cm.

Cody Crockett-Smith took home the prize for the Longest Combined Three Fish, with a length of 145cm.

With over 100 participants this year, the competition was fierce.

Our boundaries were extended for this event, which enabled entrants to fish from the northern tip of North Stradbroke south to the North Wall at Ballina.

Beyond the comp, the Tailor Fishing Classic continued its tradition of fostering community spirit.

The family friendly weigh in was a hit with attendees of all ages.

A special thanks to our partners at the Southport Amateur Fishing Club, our staff and our sponsors for their incredible support.

Alongside the winners of the Longest Single Fish and Longest Combined Three

Fish in both divisions, many anglers walked away with something on the day – simply by showing up to the weigh in.

We distributed an array of exciting prizes, thanks again to our amazing sponsors, including state-of-the-art fishing gear and vouchers.

A heartfelt congratulations to all our winners and participants for making this year’s event one to remember.

As we close the books on the 2024 Tailor Fishing Classic, we’re looking forward to next year’s competition already.

Your passion and enthusiasm are what make this comp special and we can’t wait to see you again.

Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered and supported this year’s event.

Here’s to tight lines and big catches until we meet again.

Happy fishing from us – Paul and the team at The Bait Shop Gold Coast.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 35

OzFish has 30 tangle bins located near Gold Coast waterways.

Gold Coast tangle bins

O

Tangle Bins make it easy to dispose of your unwanted tackle and keep your favourite fishing spots clean and safe.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

CREATING BETTER HABITAT FOR BETTER FISHING Page 36 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

ZFISH Unlimited manages 30 tangle bins on the Gold Coast as part of its nationwide ‘Tackling Litter’ program – aiming to reduce fishing litter entering the environment and removing litter from areas of fish habitat.

The tangle bins are installed at key landbased fishing locations throughout the city, including the Gold Coast Seaway, the Coomera River, Lake Orr and Tallebudgera and Currumbin creeks.

They are specifically designed for anglers to put bait packets, line, hooks, sinkers and other fishing tackle waste in them.

Along with forming a major part of marine debris pollution, discarded fishing tackle – particularly line and hooks – results in thousands of wildlife entanglements each year, with birds and turtles being particularly susceptible to injuries from these.

The tangle bins are a very important frontline defence against these impacts, giving anglers a place to immediately discard their litter, ensuring it doesn’t enter the environment.

The tangle bins are cleaned out on a schedule of between seven and 14 days, depending on how much fishing

traffic occurs at each location and how long the bins take to fill up.

Cleaning out the bins is done wholly by OzFish members and volunteers.

OzFish took over the project from another community group in 2022, and since then the bins have been cleaned out more than 450 times, which has included: • 45km of fishing line • 3800 bait bags • 3300 hooks • 2000 sinkers • 400 lures and floats.

That’s enough fishing line to stretch from Jumpinpin to the Queensland NSW border.

Though the signage on the bins shows specifically that only fishing-related litter is suitable for them, large amounts of other rubbish are put into them, including cans, takeaway food packaging and cigarette butts.

While this can be frustrating at times, it’s still much better than this litter being thrown into the waterways.

The weirdest items found in the bins so far have included a Barbie doll, an intact halogen lightbulb and six brand new spark plugs, still in the box!

OzFish also offers recycling of the waste * continued P37

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Gold Coast tangle bins * from P36

fishing tackle in the bins through its ‘Tackle Loop’ program.

Volunteers can send their tackle back to OzFish, postage paid, where it is then forwarded to project partners to be recycled into other items, reducing waste and keeping the tackle out of landfill.

Useable lures and other pieces of fishing tackle are also regularly placed in the bins and OzFish volunteers often recycle this in another way – by fishing with it!

A number of other community groups regularly assist in cleaning out the tangle bins, including the Coomera River Catchment Association and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Other groups have reached out to identify key areas where bins should be installed – OzFish recently supplied and installed three tangle bins around Lake Orr for Save Our Swans, a group focused on rescuing and protecting black swans on

the Gold Coast.

Outside of the Gold Coast, there are an additional 13 bins within southeast Queensland, managed by Logan City Council and Fraser Coast Regional Council.

OzFish has also been partnering with resorts and body corporates to get bins installed on privately owned jetties.

The tangle bins project is supported by BCF and the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation under the Community Sustainability Actions Grants Program.

We need your help!

We are always looking for more volunteers to assist us in cleaning out the bins regularly and are interested to hear of new locations that require tangle bins.

If you’d like to get involved and help to tackle litter at your local fishing spot, reach out to info@ozfish.org.au or 1800 431 308.

Kaidon Anderson OzFish Unlimited

The fishing line and tackle deposited in three tangle bins in a six-month period.

find us on facebook • Win prizes • Post your brag • Chat to readers shots and writers • Join in on the fun • See who’s catching banter what • Have a laugh Tangle bins are installed at popular fishing spots as a frontline defence against fishing litter entering systems.

www.bnbfishing.com.au

www.facebook.com/bnbfishing Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 37

Suriaya landed her first longtail tuna on a recent trip out of Brunswick Heads.

Spectacular spring species start to fire up

T

HE year of the longtail continues.

Damien took his neighbours Suriaya and Arlia out for a run on the close reefs and on this trip Suriaya felt the dogged fight of the northern bluefin.

Tweed to Byron Bay

by GAVIN DOBSON

Damien told me that both first-time anglers fought their tuna with skills far exceeding expectations.

After struggling to find a snapper, the fishos targeted a few reefies and Suriaya was rewarded with a monster venus tuskfish.

Page 38 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

They went on to catch a few nice reef fish too and, as you can see by the pictures, Suriaya scored a monster venus tuskfish.

Offshore fishing has been fairly good lately.

Though after showing promise early on, the inshore reefs were a little disappointing.

Jewfish have been hard to come by and snapper have dropped off to only a few squire, if you’re lucky.

Longtail tuna have slowed down somewhat, yet they’re still

around and willing to grab a slimy mackerel – of which there have been heaps on the local – or a soft plastic.

However, out wider the fishing has been first rate, with the 32-fathom line of reefs producing teraglin in numbers I haven’t seen for a long time.

As you would expect, good numbers of venus tuskfish were there too and an assortment of by-catch, such as moses perch, maori cod and flathead, to name a few.

Typically, the squire on the 32s were of the smaller size, but they’re there for a feed too.

A much bigger class of snapper were on the

reefs, between depths of 42-52 fathoms.

Pearl perch were mixed in with them, though when float lining, snapper usually come up higher to the bait.

A good old paternoster rig will get to the pearlies.

This month, if the weather allows and the current is still OK, these two species will continue to be on the chew.

A few kingfish were in with them, as well as big bonito, if you drop a jig in the same locations as the snapper.

In some years, the weather and current allow boats to get out to * continued P39

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Spectacular spring species fire up * from P38

the shelf during spring, but in other years, September sees this come to an end.

So keep an ear to the ground and an eye on the current charts because the deep-dropping shelf season is coming to an end.

Springtime is river time for me.

The more the northerly wind blows, the better the summer species bite.

This includes whiting, flathead, mangrove jack, trevally and mud crabs.

Yes, the wind can be a pain when it gets strong, yet there’s usually somewhere to get out of the wind and find some fish.

Winter bream will still be about, however

they don’t respond to the northerly like the other species.

September and October are the best months for chasing flathead in this region.

Not to say that you won’t have good catches of flathead at any other time throughout the year – for estuary fishing, they hold the Flathead Classic on the Gold Coast at the end of September for a reason.

Flathead are very aggressive and voracious feeders.

These days, lures of all descriptions are used, but don’t forget about good old bait such as herring and white pilchard.

I know a fisho who catches large numbers of flathead on

blue pilchard tails.

Trevally also enter our rivers in bigger numbers in September and are a great sportfish.

Some people don’t rate them as a food fish, but I do, particularly a giant trevally of about 1kg.

There’s never any argument about how good a whiting is to eat – they will begin feeding this month after coming into the river during August and settling in their favourite haunts.

There’s always plenty to catch in this region, whether offshore or in the river.

I for one am looking forward to some warmer days chasing a few whiting and flathead.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 39

Quality water plus quality lures means quality fish

W

ELL, I’m not sure about you but I’ve definitely had to pull the winter woollies out over the past month.

The hoodies, beanies, trackpants and Ugg boots have all had a dust off, ready for some winter activities.

The incredibly strong and cold westerly wind finally hit us with a barrage – that most certainly dropped the water and air temperatures down a degree or five.

It signalled to all fish species that we’ve moved into winter mode and in recent weeks, we’ve seen the response from the fish to this cold shift.

There was a concern hovering in the background that by the time

Ballina Bait & Tackle

by BRETT HYDE

this article came out we would have had a significant rain event along the entire east coast.

Time will tell what affect this will have on fishing, though my prediction is that we’ll see a small fresh push out of the river mouth, which will clear up fairly quickly.

This is unfortunate because the river was looking great and the dry spell continuing over the next month or so would have been a fantastic lead up to summer.

For the fishing currently, we’ve had good numbers of bream, with some excellent quality

fish, in the lower reaches of the river.

As is typical for this time of the year, curl tail soft plastics, metal blades and crab imitations have all worked well for the lure brigade.

With the reasonable water quality, natural colours were more effective for the most part, except for a few overcast days when some of the brighter colours were better options.

Many different types of bait have worked on bream, largely because they are aggressive during their breeding season.

Luderick have been found in very similar areas to bream, with good numbers coming from the breakwalls, the lower reaches of North Creek and a few showing up in Mobbs Bay. Occasional fish were also landed as far up as the Burns Point Ferry.

Their numbers should continue to increase in this area as the season progresses.

And the clearer water has encouraged flathead to move well upriver.

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02 6686 2527 Page 40 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

Catches were reported as far upriver as Rileys Hill, with the bulk of fish holding between Broadwater and Pimlico Island.

The cooler conditions in recent weeks have pushed the majority of fish into shallower water, with the 1-2m range being the ideal depth at present.

This has meant that large bent minnow style lures, stickbaits and suspending hard-body lures have all been good options to try.

With no white pilchard available for the past few months, most anglers have had to turn to alternatives such as blue pilchard, prawns and mullet fillets.

Until white pilchard are caught later in the year, these seem to have been slightly more consistent at tempting flathead and will probably be the better option moving forward.

I wouldn’t say this was our best winter for mulloway, yet over the past month there were still quality fish landed.

Given that the water started to cool off only recently, I’m expecting to see their numbers increase over the coming months.

As is usually the case, live bait have been the best bet in the lower reaches of the river around a night high tide.

While the better numbers were probably caught from the breakwalls, the average was down a little compared to behind the CBD. Keep an eye on the weather event predicted to hit before this article comes out to see what affect it’s going to have on mulloway for the rest of the cool period.

The offshore contingent had very little opportunity to head across the bar over the past month.

Typically, at this time of the year, the weather is calmer and more settled – unfortunately this hasn’t been the case.

I am hopeful that over the next few months our usual winter weather pattern will return.

We have started to see an increase in snapper numbers moving into the close reefs from out wide.

Lightly weighted pilchard and squid, along with soft plastic jerk shads have had some success in recent weeks.

As we delve further into winter, it will also be worth trying some soft plastic vibes around the 100mm size.

These lures give off plenty of vibration and will work really well once snapper become more aggressive.

I do prefer some slightly brighter colours, yet that can vary from day to day, so it’s worth having a couple of different options in the tackle box, just in case.

Out wider, the current has slowed significantly, giving boaties the chance to push out to target some deep-water species.

Bar cod, bass grouper and blue-eye trevalla were all landed recently, with the usual bait of mullet and squid working best.

The 48-fathom line produced good quality pearl perch on both jigs and bait, though kingfish and amberjack were a little on the quiet side.

At the time of writing, we hadn’t seen any leatherjacket, but I am expecting them at any tick of the clock.

So, before your next outing, stock up on hooks, leader and sinkers because we all know what a great set of dentures these little beasts possess.

Until next time, tight lines.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 41

Cracking jew off walls

I

Allan Anderson and a cracking jewfish that fell to a hard-bodied minnow lure on the surf side of the Yamba wall.

Allan boated a nice jewfish when fishing the offshore grounds near Minnie Water with live yakka.

Glenn Innes fisho Jimmy Creighton boated a nice snapper near Jackys Bommie, offshore from Woody Head.

Page 42 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

F I had to give the fishing along the Clarence Coast of northern NSW over the past month a rating out of 10, I reckon a seven would be about right.

I’m sure luderick and bream anglers would be giving it a 10, though across the board, it’s a seven from me.

Both jewfish and tailor were playing silly buggers, with neither species firing as good as they normally would during August, even though a few nice fish of each were landed.

As is the case every year, August is the month that sees catches of luderick reach their peak and here on the Clarence River the fishing has been amazing, with fish being taken at almost every fishable platform.

At Iluka, the old ferry approach continues to be the pick of the spots, with fish over 40cm very common and most anglers reached their bag limits each day.

The one downside to this spot is its accessibility because you fish right beside your vehicle and this in turn has large numbers of anglers trying to squeeze into a small area.

On the Yamba side of the river, the approaches to the bridge crossing Oyster Channel have fished well, as too has the mouth of the trawler harbour and out along the breakwall.

I have even seen numerous boats fishing along the Collis and Middle walls – which hasn’t happened for a long time – and I am sure those boats got among the fish as well.

A few fishos have been taking big luderick along the Iluka breakwall and also in the

Just Jew

by TYE PORTER

nursery on the northern end of the Iluka Bluff, during any swell over 1.5m.

Bream were also playing ball as they enter into their final stage of spawning, with excellent catches being reported throughout the lower reaches of the river.

Yes, you can catch bream all year round, however during summer they’re in a much poorer condition after spawning and not quite as aggressive in taking a bait or lure as they are in winter.

Tailor continue to frustrate anglers with their inconsistency in numbers and we’ve had yet another month of anglers catching a good feed along the beach one day then not being able to raise so much as a bite for the next three days.

A few of the anglers that usually catch honking choppers from Main Beach on cut bonito bait have even resorted to driving the length of Shark Bay Beach during the day and tossing metal lures along the gutters in an attempt to get a feed.

Casting slugs or popper surface lures around the headlands has been by far the most productive form of tailor fishing lately, though the size has been average, but I guess a feed is a feed.

Large jewfish were missing in action around Iluka recently, even though the occasional decent fish has been landed along the breakwall, with occasional being the operative word.

Inside the river was

even worse for big jew, with the usual winter run of big fish not coming to fruition this season for some reason, however on the plus side, fish around 6-8kg have been taken regularly.

My son Mischa and a couple of his friends, who were visiting Iluka, fished a few nights at the old ferry approach, using whole squid during a rising tide at night for nice schoolies of about 7kg, yet couldn’t raise a scale on either a live bait or lure, so go figure.

Yamba fisho Allan Anderson rubbed our noses in it by taking quality jewfish from both offshore and the Yamba breakwall – it looks like I may have to start following him to find the fish.

Allan went for a run offshore to our southern grounds off Minnie Water, chasing snapper using live yakka and nailing a beautiful jewfish as a bonus.

Then a few days later, spent three hours casting minnow lures in the shallow gutter on the ocean side of the Yamba wall for another cracking fish.

The T-Piece on the Yamba wall has continued to fish OK for bigger jew, however the numbers have dropped off compared to recent months, which I suppose is to be expected as winter comes close to ending.

There have been a lot of schools of mack tuna feeding along the breakwalls in recent weeks, so if you want a bit of fun, * continued P43

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Cracking jew off walls * from P42

you could do worse than spending a few hours casting small slugs at these hard fighting little critters.

Offshore catches were dominated by snapper, which is usual for this time of year, with Glenn Innes boatie Jimmy Creighton fishing offshore at Woody Head for a few nice snapper and a handful of teraglin.

I’ve included a picture of a trifecta of longtail tuna that Ipswich angler Slaine Dodrill and a friend caught from the Iluka wall a while back – I was to have had it in last month’s issue but, me being me, I lost the copy I had then.

Awesome fishing from this crew in the middle of winter, long after everyone else had stopped chasing tuna.

Which goes to show that dogged determina-

tion will eventually be rewarded, with the best part being that they had the whole wall to themselves.

I’ve been housebound for the past six weeks with vehicle problems.

Hopefully I’ll get these sorted out soon, get back to lurking around the traps and keep my finger on the pulse a little more.

September has never been one of my favourite months for fishing, as you tend to get the winter fish beginning to move out before the summer species arrive.

Having said that, a feed is always on the cards any day of the week and I could think of a lot of worse things to be doing, even if I’m not getting a bite – so get out there and have fun doing it regardless.

Until next month, safe fishing.

Ipswich angler Slaine Dodrill with a nice catch of mid-winter longtail tuna, taken from the Iluka breakwall. www.bnbfishing.com.au

Searle Aquaculture’s Glen Searle and Michael Weatherstone, Yaegl Wadyarr Gargle Land and Sea Contractors Grant Brown, Joshua Hippi, Lawson Dixon, Clarence River Fishermen’s Cooperative’s Brad Dixon and Brad Willis.

Ten thousand jew released into river n White spot recovery program

M

ORE than 1 0 , 0 0 0 mu l loway fingerlings were released into the Clarence River at Yamba recently.

The 10,000 mulloway fingerlings were produced by Searle Aquaculture and the fish re-stocking program was done by the Clarence River Fisherman’s Cooperative.

It is an Australian first – the CRFC has improved the river stock supported with $10,000 funding support from the State Government as part of the white spot recovery program.

CRFC chair Brad Dixon said the program will assist with the ongoing recovery from the impacts of white spot.

Yaegl Wadyarr Gargle Land and Sea Contractors business manager Grant Brown said the re-stocking program was a great boost for the Clarence River and mulloway stocks.

“For the Aborigi-

nal people, mulloway means ‘the greatest one’, demonstrating the significance of the species and representing the regeneration and health for Aboriginal people,”

Mr Brown said.

The program is part of the government’s $21.4 million white spot recovery package, announced in June 2023. indyNR.com

The mulloway fingerlings.

The program will assist with the ongoing recovery from the impacts of white spot.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 43

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 45

BOATING & marine

Wear life jackets while crossing a bar in any boat at any time.

Key information and advice on bar crossings

A

FTER a couple of fatal accidents and a few near misses recently, it may be timely to point out key information on bar crossings.

Bars form at the entrance to rivers and inshore waterways because of sand drifting along the coasts.

Queensland has many dangerous coastal bars.

They are often the only way boats can access or reach shelter from open water.

Conditions on a bar can change quickly and without warning, even on a good day.

Don’t risk crossing a bar if the weather looks bad or is forecast to deteriorate.

Local knowledge, experience and the right kind of boat are critical when trying to cross a bar.

Each state has its own regulations but it’s a good idea to wear life

jackets while crossing a bar in any boat at any time.

Your boat can capsize quickly, and it is almost impossible to put on a life jacket in choppy water.

Conditions offshore can be ideal for boating, but the conditions on the bar can be dangerous.

Never underestimate a coastal bar as weather conditions can change quickly without warning.

Do not try to cross a bar if the weather looks bad or in heavy swells, strong wind or on a runout tide when wave conditions are usually the most dangerous.

Currently in Queensland, it is compulsory for everyone to wear a life jacket while crossing designated coastal bars in open boats under 4.8m.

Designated coastal bars include: • Bribie Island Bar

Page 46 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

• Caloundra Bar • Cawarral Creek Bar • Currumbin Bar • Gold Coast Seaway Bar • Jumpinpin Bar • Mooloolah Bar • Maroochy Bar • Noosa Bar • Round Hill Creek Bar • South Passage Bar • Tallebudgera Bar • Wide Bay Bar. Before crossing a bar All bars are different.

Local knowledge, experience and the correct type of boat are critical when trying to cross a bar.

Only experienced boaters should try to cross a coastal bar and even then you should be very careful.

You need to learn about each bar by asking local boaters, volunteer marine rescue groups or the local marine authorities who cross it regularly for advice.

Make sure you ask

about any leads or beacons that may help you navigate over the bar.

Become familiar with a bar by crossing it with an experienced boater before trying to do it by yourself.

Make sure the boat is seaworthy, suitable and can handle impacts from waves.

Going out Slow displacement boats and high-speed planing boats may handle crossing a bar differently.

The boat must match the energy of each incoming wave by maintaining a speed that will lift the bow over the wave and reduce the chance of the wave breaking over the bow into the boat.

Do not hit waves at high speed but take them as close to headon as possible.

Be prepared to take a wave head-on and take water over the bow if

there is no other way.

When crossing a bar, you should: • Cross on an incoming tide when possible • Look for lulls and choose the line of least wave activity – the calmest water – and avoid breaking waves • Look for the deepest water to avoid grounding • Keep your boat head-on to approaching waves – do not let your boat turn side on to approaching waves • Head up into the waves and accelerate where possible but avoid getting airborne • Head for the lowest part of the wave and continue until clear.

Coming in When coming in, highspeed boats – capable of at least 18 knots – should travel at the same speed as the waves.

Slow displacement boats may have to

* continued P47

www.bnbfishing.com. au

BOATING & marine

Advice on bar crossings * from P46

come in very slowly to avoid surfing and getting caught side on to a wave.

The aim is to travel in on the back of a wave and stay ahead of waves that break behind the boat.

Watch for patterns and deeper areas.

When returning over a bar you should: • Look for lulls and choose the line of least wave activity • Look for the deepest water to avoid grounding • Increase power to maintain speed within the set of waves when approaching from the sea • Position the boat on the back of the wave – do not surf down the face of the wave • Adjust the boat’s speed to match the speed of the waves but do not try to overtake the waves.

In bad conditions, it can be safer to stand off in deeper water or find another shelter instead of re-crossing the bar.

Safety tips It is recommended everyone always wears a life jacket while crossing a bar.

Your boat can capsize quickly and it is almost impossible to put on a life jacket in choppy water.

Assess the wave patterns and choose your route carefully, avoiding high standing waves.

Once you have started, keep going – trying to turn around in front of

www.bnbfishing.com.au

an incoming wave can be dangerous.

Never underestimate a coastal bar.

Even small waves can capsize, swamp or sink a boat.

If you are unsure or inexperienced, don’t go out and risk lives.

Wait until conditions are good for you to cross safely.

While he’s too modest to admit it, Bill Corten is an absolute guru on bar crossings and offshore fishing techniques.

Here are his do’s and don’ts for the safe way to cross the notorious South Passage Bar between South Stradbroke and Moreton islands.

The do’s • Before heading out, check coastal weather predictions, tide times, swell height and direction • Heading out is potentially the most dangerous, so try to cross coastal bars in good conditions and gain experience gradually if new to offshore boating • Log on by VHF radio or phone with the Volunteer Marine Rescue or Coast Guard, and don’t forget to close the loop at the end of the day • Check your boat’s operating systems thoroughly, secure loose equipment and ensure occupants are wearing life jackets where there is potential for interaction with swell • Correct engine trim has a big impact on boat handling while crossing bars

• Trim engine in heading out to sea and trim engine out coming home in a following sea • If there is no surf break on the bar, maintain a steady speed • Where there is break, aim for the area of least wave activity or time the run through the critical section during a lull or flat period • Remember you are responsible for your crew, take a deep breath and remain in control without a sudden rush of blood to the head • When through the entrance, mark it on the GPS and take a note of back marks, or take a compass heading on a prominent feature.

The don’ts • Don’t cross a bar unless you are confident it is safe • Don’t lose your nerve and turn around in the face of a steep oncoming swell, it can be fatal • Don’t use too much power or you will get airborne and out of control • Don’t overtake a wave being ridden unless it has broken, or you can see all its face from behind • Don’t rely solely on GPS when crossing a bar, use it as a guide and react to what you are seeing breaking around you • Avoid large swells and run-out tide combinations until you gain considerable experience.

Maritime Safety Queensland and Cruise Craft

Queensland has many dangerous coastal bars.

Local knowledge, experience and the right kind of boat are critical when trying to cross a bar.

Do not hit waves at high speed but take them as close to head-on as possible.

The aim is to travel in on the back of a wave.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 47

BOATING & marine

Dunbier’s new 2025 Alloy Sports Centreline is designed to meet the evolving needs of Australian boaters.

Dunbier Mackay announces new releases at Sydney International Boat Show

D

UNBIER Mackay debuted their latest innovations at the Sydney International Boat Show recently.

Both were excited to

announce their newest innovations – the allnew 2025 Alloy Sports Centreline and an expanded range of Loader Pro X trailers from Dunbier and an upgrad-

The Mackay Keel Roller series has long been an industry standout as a bulletproof no-nonsense workhorse that simply outperforms others. The 2024 model release has evolved.

Dunbier is expanding its already very popular Loader Pro X range to offer more size options, catering to a wider variety of boat sizes.

Page 48 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

ed MLKR trailer with a cutting-edge rear entry design from Mackay.

Dunbier 2025 Alloy Sports Centreline series Dunbier’s new 2025 Alloy Sports Centreline has a lightweight fully seam-welded alloy frame and features innovative frame design, a world of performance features and incredible hull support.

Designed to meet the evolving needs of Australian boaters, Dunbier’s 2025 Alloy Sports Centreline series provides maximum performance for minimum outlay, giving you a top tier trailer and total bang for your buck.

Dunbier’s new 2025 Alloy Sports Centreline will be available late this year via Dunbier’s network of dealerships nationwide.

Dunbier’s Expanded Loader Pro X range Dunbier is expanding its already very popular Loader Pro X range to offer more size options,

catering to a wider variety of boat sizes.

Known for its toughness and proven reliability, the Loader Pro X remains unchanged in design but now provides even more options for Aussie fishos to go where the fish are.

The expanded Loader Pro X range is available now Australia wide via Dunbier’s dedicated dealer network.

Mackay Trailers MLKR upgrades With an all-new rear entry design, re-engineered frame and key components, the best just got better.

The Mackay Keel Roller series has long been an industry standout as a bulletproof no-nonsense workhorse that simply outperforms others.

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“And with Mackay’s upgraded MLKR trailer, we’re taking performance and reliability to the next level.

“We can’t wait for everyone to get an upclose look at these fantastic new releases.”

www.bnbfishing.com. au

BOATING & marine

Lowrance introduces Recon n Built for fresh and saltwater anglers

L

OWRANCE, a world leader in fishing electronics, recently announced ‘Recon’, a new generation electric steer trolling motor developed for both fresh and saltwater anglers, featuring a unique joystick remote and best in class power and GPS positioning.

Navico Group Fishing Systems vice president and general manager Jeremiah Clark said, “This is an exciting launch for Lowrance because not only are we introducing the next generation of trolling motors but we’re also offering a version for saltwater anglers for the first time.”

“Recon is all about control – of your boat, your position and your catch.

“Between the premium power, GPS and unique joystick remote, Recon takes care of all the heavy lifting so anglers can focus on the fish,” he said.

Recon gives anglers total control and the confidence to go anywhere.

Recon introduces Freesteer, a lightweight wearable joystick remote providing full 360-degree precision steering.

Combining a wireless foot pedal – only included with the Lowrance freshwater model of Recon – with programmable keypad and seamless display integration via NMEA

www.bnbfishing.com.au

2000, Recon delivers precision like nothing else on the market.

Recon is built to put anglers on the target and keep them there.

Best-in-class power and thrust give them the confidence to get into position, while the highly accurate GPS anchor holds them on the target, no matter the conditions, dialling into an incredible 1m radius.

The FreeSteer remote revolutionises positional control with its unique jogging abilities.

Additionally, FreeSteer unlocks the ability to execute diagonal jogs in eight directions.

Anglers also have the option to move anchor positions freely in almost any direction without having to re-anchor the boat.

The brushless technology combined with the weedless propeller allows for searching into the densest weeds, with no loss of control or efficiency.

Recon’s silent brushless motor doesn’t spook fish, and the integrated sonar technology offers the clearest high-resolution pictures.

The Lowrance Recon offers an upgradeable sonar nosecone option.

Starting at around $5300, the Lowrance Recon trolling motor is available in fresh and saltwater versions.

The freshwater is available in 48, 54, 60 and 72” shaft lengths,

while the saltwater version is available in 54, 60 and 72” shaft lengths.

Additionally, the Recon trolling motor comes with a lifetime shaft warranty.

Key features: • Best-in-class power and precision GPS positioning • Near-silent brushless 24V/36V motor • Lightweight FreeSteer joystick remote with colour LCD display • Wireless configurable foot pedal (freshwater model) • Multiple accessory mount points • NMEA 2000 connectivity • Lifetime shaft warranty • Three-year motor warranty.

For more information on Lowrance, visit low rance.com

The Recon comes with a lifetime shaft warranty.

Recon’s silent brushless motor doesn’t spook fish, and the integrated sonar technology offers the clearest high-resolution pictures.

The Recon electric steer trolling motor gives anglers total control and the confidence to go anywhere.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 49

Staff member Wakley Janssen upgraded to a 61cm personal best from a recent trip in the bay.

Flat out on flathead

G

Not to be out done by her dad, Rebecca Clarke with one of a dozen caught in quick a session while on holiday in Tin Can Bay. Page 50 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

’DAY crew, as always, I trust you have all been keeping well and enjoying the beautiful crisp starts to the days we’ve been having lately.

At the time of writing, I sure needed the Ugg boots on – the other week, with that westerly blowing, I was wearing them all day in the shop.

Speaking of the westerly wind and being cold, the beaches have been good places to go hunting for a few fish.

We’ve had some great reports over the past few weeks of whiting, dart, tarwhine and bream in the gutter along Teewah Beach.

Live beachworm and

Tin Can Bay

by CHRIS RIPPON

yabbies proving to be the best bait in the surf for those species.

If you fancy mixing it up, you can also catch a variety of fish on small micro jigs in the breakers – it can be a bucket load of fun on a light 6-10lb 7-8’ spin stick.

Using braided line with a rod length of 6-12lb fluorocarbon leader and casting 7-15g jigs into the gutter – working them with a few rattles of the rod tip – should see you catch a few dart, tailor, bream and even the occasional flathead.

Staying in contact with your jig is key to this shore jigging technique and going as light as you dare on the line class will give you better feel to detect subtle bites.

Back on the Double Island side up to Inskip and over to Hook Point on K’gari, the reports of tailor and tuna have come in too.

Casting slugs and stickbaits at them are winners and great fun off the beach, when they’re busting up, it’s too much fun! * continued P52

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 51

Flat out on fabulous flathead * from P50

Brett Clarke with a donkey Great Sandy Strait flathead that fell to a Zerek Fish Trap.

Isla had a great run with flathead.

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Page 52 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

If this weather keeps up, I’m guessing the tailor run will be a cracker this year.

In the bay at the moment, there are choppers everywhere and, while that can be fun, I would love to see some bigger fish come in.

In saying that, there were legal-sized tailor caught down our end over the past few weeks, I managed a few in the 40cm size range recently when flicking about for a flathead.

Kauri Creek was fishing well recently, despite the boat traffic that was up there.

Whiting have been in good numbers towards the mouth of the creek, with worms and yabbies being the undoing of most fish caught.

Reports of good flatties have also come from Kauri over the past few weeks.

In fact, great lizards have been caught throughout the system lately, with most of the drains on the western side of K’gari producing excellent numbers and good-sized fish.

The entrance into Carlo Point from the cardinal marker heading into Tin Can Bay Marina has also been a hot spot to target a few flat skulls.

Plenty of eaters in the 45-55cm range, with a few trophy fish and personal bests being caught.

Samaki Vibelicious and Zerek Fish Traps have slayed good-sized fish in the slightly deeper water.

You can’t go past a soft plastic vibe – they are such a versatile lure and everything eats them!

And don’t forget to take the new favourite 3.5” Biwaa TailGunR Curly in Watermelon Red when you go out for flick.

Squid in the bay are still playing hard to get, with most catches being reported near the lead ins to Carlo and Norman points.

I received some good intel the other day, that around the entrance to Bullock Point and Pelican Bay there were good numbers, so it might be worth going for an explore.

Also, in the creeks and on most structure throughout the systems, bream are schooling up and getting their fishy thing on.

Stud bream have come from Snapper Creek, from Lee Fishing Company and the moored boats up to the start of the marina.

Flicking lightly weighted prawn lures has seen some great fish caught.

Or try strips of fresh mullet or a lightly

weighted prawn fished back into the structure for a bit of fun getting yourself a feed.

Mud crabs are still about and, while not in great numbers, the quality is there.

Big fresh bait and a good long soak seems to be key in the cooler months.

In the Great Sandy Strait, small schools of mack tuna have harassed baitfish daily.

I’ve found the late afternoon bite to be best and tossing 20g Ignition Metal slugs worked well, matching the hatch.

While not a desirable eating fish, they are a great sportfish, fight like stink and normally give a good account of themselves.

Well, that’s it from me for another month crew.

I’ve got to fly… there’s a fish out there that needs to be caught.

Until then, tight lines!

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Megan Fah produced on the ever popular, and her favourite, Biwaa Curly Grub 3.5”.

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A glorious golden start to a morning fishing session on Teewah Beach.

Rainbow Beach Amateur Anglers Club competition

R

ECENTLY, a few of our members headed up to compete in the Rainbow Beach Amateur Anglers Club monthly competition, as they happen to be members of both the Power Boat Anglers and RBAA clubs.

With the 2.2m swell from the east and runout tide making the

PBA Spin

by MICK CLUTTERBUCK

Wide Bay Bar a nasty beast, the best option was to stay shore-based, with the PBA crew deciding to fish Teewah Beach, as none of them had been there in quite some time.

Helene Wilesmith with a couple of nice swallowtail dart from Teewah Beach.

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They set off at 4.15am and, after picking up Johnny, headed out of Rainbow Beach along the freshwater track, as there was no access from Rainbow Beach to Double Island, due to the swell taking all the sand from Mudlo Rocks.

Hitting the beach at about 5.30am, it was still dark, so driving slow and steady along the beach was the safe option.

Keeping an eye on the water, they found a bit of a calm patch and promptly got the rods ready.

With a little more light, they could finally see that they’d snagged a great gutter and set themselves up, with an angler at each end and in the middle to give maximum coverage of the area.

The next couple of hours developed in to one of the best sessions Helene had ever experienced at Teewah.

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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.

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CORRECTION Rainbow Beach Family Fishing Classic and Expo dates for 2025 are Sunday 8th to Saturday 14th June 2025.

* continued P54

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 53

Rainbow Beach Amateur Anglers Club competition * from P53

Helaine and Peter Lee with samples of Teewah whiting.

RBAA secretary Vern with winning juniors Liam, Mia and Ollie receiving their trophies.

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www.bnbfishing.com.au Page 54 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

Every cast was a fish-producing swallowtail dart, whiting and tarwhine.

Unfortunately for the team, they only brought worms and were being snipped off every now and then by some lovely tailor.

They ended up keeping a few of the dart in the 40cm plus range in the Esky, along with a good feed of whiting and a few tarwhine as well.

As the tide rose the gutter filled, making it harder to get a cast out the back with the whiting gear, so they decided to head off and leave them biting.

Back at base, they got stuck into lunch and worked on a plan for the Sunday session that would most likely see them back at the same gutter.

Saturday afternoon consisted of some liquid refreshments – we all know how that goes – followed by a barbecue with friends.

The decision was made that another early morning was not the go, with the new plan to be a sleep-in until 6am, then fish the Rainbow area instead of Teewah.

It was a good plan in theory, yet try as they might, they couldn’t raise a legal fish.

The crew could see large tailor in the waves but they just weren’t interested in snacking on worms or the slugs being thrown.

Calling it a day, they headed to the weigh-in at The Deck @ Sea Salt and did surprisingly well for offshore fishos who don’t fish the beach very often.

Jim was the only bold soul who braved the bar

and went offshore, being rewarded with some nice grunter and squire for his efforts.

Mal won the target whiting species, with a nice specimen weighing in at 413g.

The junior division handed out a few lessons to the seniors, with Ollie – a local gun fisho – cleaning up with his catches of dart, whiting, bream and trevally.

He took out first place in the juniors, though clearly would have won overall, showing the adults how it should be done.

Mia came in second with her catch of dart, always weighing in every month with her dad Travis.

Gary weighed in a solid crab at slightly under the 2kg mark and maintained his lead in the crab division.

The next competition will be on the August 17, being the second leg of the inter-club comp between local fishing clubs PBA, Caloundra and Bribie Island Amateur Fishermen’s Association Queensland against RBAA. PBA had a good showing last year and caught a great haul of snapper, so we’re hoping we can do our club proud once again this year.

Meetings Any interested parties are invited to come along to our monthly meetings, which occur on the first Wednesday of every month at ‘The Club Manly’ (bowls club), 26 Faine St, Manly from 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

The next meetings will be Wednesday September 4, then Wednesday October 2.

Until next month, safe boating.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 55

Tide Times AUSTRALIA EAST COAST WADDY LAT POINT LAT24° 24°58ʼ 58ʼSS LONG153° 153°21ʼ 21ʼEE LONG

2024 2024

AUSTRALIA,EAST EASTCOAST COAST––WADDY WADDYPOINT POINT(FRASER (FRASERISLAND) AUSTRALIA, ISLAND) SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER

Time Time

mm

Time Time

Timesand andHeights Heightsof ofHigh Highand andLow LowWaters Waters Times OCTOBER NOVEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER

mm

Time Time

mm

Time Time

mm

SCAN Time QR Time mmCODE Time Time

mm

Time TimeZone Zone–1000 –1000 DECEMBER DECEMBER

Time Time

mm

Time Time

mm

0131 0.63 0.63 0047 0.41 0.41 0047 0131 0723 1.42 1.42 0636 1.43 1.43 0636 0723 1253 0.57 1216 0.40 1216 0.40 1253 0.57 SU MO SU MO 1931 1.94 1.94 1848 2.07 2.07 1848 1931

11

16 16

0109 0.51 0.51 0033 0.20 0.20 0033 0109 0718 1.58 1.58 0647 1.78 1.78 0647 0718 1256 0.54 1235 0.33 1235 0.33 1256 0.54 TU WE TU WE 1915 1.78 1.78 1851 1.97 1.97 1851 1915

0158 0.59 0.59 0158 0755 1.47 1.47 0755 1328 0.52 0.52 MO1328 MO 2003 1.92 1.92 2003

0121 0.30 0.30 0130 0.47 0.47 0106 0.15 0.15 0123 0.36 0.36 0142 0.25 0.25 0123 0.39 0.39 0215 0.44 0.44 170121 170106 170142 17 220130 220123 220123 170215 0715 1.57 1.57 0747 1.65 1.65 17 0728 1.95 1.95 0815 1.96 1.96 17 0747 0728 0815 0838 0827 0715 0914 0838 2.32 2.32 0827 2.10 2.10 17 0914 2.30 2.30 1258 0.32 1327 0.52 1321 TU 1258 0.32 TU 1928 2.10 2.10 1928

WE 1327 0.52 WE 1942 1.73 1.73 1942

0.33 TH 1321 0.33 TH 1933 1.89 1.89 1933

1420 0.61 0.61 SU 1507 0.54 0.54 SA 1420 SA SU 1507 2003 1.47 1.47 2003 2044 2044 1.46 1.46

1500 0.64 0.64 MO MO1500 2020 2020 1.35 1.35

TU1400 0.51 WE WE 1341 0.29 TU 2034 1.87 1.87 2008 2.07 2.07 2034 2008

0.54 TH 1359 0.54 TH 2010 1.67 1.67 2010

1410 0.39 0.39 FR 1410 FR 2017 1.76 1.76 2017

1502 0.64 0.64 MO 1607 0.61 0.61 SU 1502 MO 1607 SU 2039 1.41 1.41 2039 2133 2133 1.36 1.36

1546 0.64 0.64 WE 1647 0.67 0.67 by TRI TON TU TU 1546 WE 1647

1529 1.63 1.63 TH 1529 TH 2251 0.86 0.86 2251

1543 1.77 1.77 SA 1543 SA 2245 0.59 0.59 2245

1645 1.70 1.70 SU 1645 SU 2330 0.60 0.60 2330

1649 1.83 1.83 WE 1713 1.49 1.49 TU 1649 WE 1713 TU 2317 0.30 0.30 2317 2327 2327 0.49 0.49

1711 1.55 1.55 TH TH 1711 2317 2317 0.36 0.36

22

11

16 16

0057 0.37 0.37 0057 0744 1.89 1.89 0744 1340 0.59 1340 0.59 FR FR 1929 1.52 1.52 1929

11

0104 0104 0.19 0.19 0751 0751 2.26 2.26 1408 0.49 1408 0.49 SA SA 1956 1956 1.56 1.56

16 16

0128 0050 0050 0.38 0.38 0128 0.37 0.37 0827 0753 0753 2.06 2.06 0827 2.34 2.34 1509 0.58 1415 0.66 1415 0.66 1509 0.58 SU MO SU MO 2040 1939 1939 1.36 1.36 2040 1.40 1.40

16 Fariza11jigged up16 a big diamond trevally.

Mind blowing mixed bags

W

1559 0.61 0.61 TU TU 1559 2128 2128 1.37 1.37

0225 0.56 0.56 0152 0.24 0.24 0149 0.45 0.45 0139 0.15 0.15 0151 0.37 0.37 ELL, that was 0159 0.36 0.54 0222 0.36 0159 0.43 0.43 0259Fraser 0.54 Guided Fishing 180152 180139 180222 330225 330149 330151 33 0905 180259 0825 1.51 1.51 18 0755 1.70 1.70 0816 1.71 1.71 18 0811 2.08 2.08 0848 2.00 2.00 18 0825 0755 0816 0811 0848 0924 2.11 0959 0924 2.30 2.30 2.11 18 0959 2.21 2.21 a very brief 0905 1400 0.51 1341 0.29 1359

2214 2103 1.34 1.34 2214 1.33 1.33 weather win- 2103 0251 0.57 0.57 0225 0.22 0.22 0210 0.44 0.44 0215 0.20 0.20 0220 0.42 0251 0225 0210 0215 0220 0.42 0304 0.49 0239 0.49 0341 0.65 0304 0.49 0239 0.49 0341 0.65 They took plastics, I 2.01 just19 experienced!

190837 190856 19 440855 440846 44dow 440946 191040 0855 1.54 1.54 19 0837 1.82 1.82 0846 1.77 1.77 19 0856 2.16 2.16 0924 2.01 0924 1011 1011 2.22 2.22 0946 2.08 2.08 19 1040 2.08 2.08 1431 0.55 0.55 TH 1426 0.34 0.34 1436 0.59 0.59 SA 1505 0.49 0.49 MO 1550 0.69 0.69 for 1706 0.69 1706the 0.69 1635 0.65 1729 0.74 WE1431 TH 1426 FR 1436 SA 1505 MO 1550 both0.65 heavy and 0.74 lightly WE FR TU WE TH TUme WE 1635 Luckily fish TH 1729 2101 1.79 2051 1.97 2039 1.59 2102 1.61 1.61 2117 1.34 1.34 2101 1.79 2051 1.97 2039 1.59 2102 2117 2225 2151 2258 2225 1.28 1.28 2151 1.31 1.31 2258 1.30 1.30 rigged. were biting and were not 0314 0.59 0.59 0300 0.26 0.26 0234 0.46 0.46 0251 0.31 0.31 0253 0.50 0.50 0253 0423 0347 0.63 0.63 0321 0.57 0.57 0423 0.75 0.75 200300 200251 The curl tails were a 200347 550314 550234 55overly 20 550321 20 fussy.

20 0924 1.56 1.56 20 0922 1.91 1.91 0919 1.81 1.81 20 0943 2.18 2.18 1002 1.97 1.97 1120 0924 0922 0919 0943 1002 1100 1032 2.02 1100 2.09 2.09 1032 2.02 1120 1.94 1.94 1503 0.61 1515 0.46 1516 0.66 1609 0.62 1642 0.75 0.75 WE 1802 0.76 0.76 1726 0.67 0.67 FR 1811 0.79 0.79 TH 1503 0.61 FR FR 1515 0.46 SA 1516 0.66 SU SU 1609 0.62 TU 1642 WE 1802 TH SA TU TH 1726 FR 1811 standout A mixed bag TH 2128 1.71 1.71 2134 1.80 1.80 2111 1.50 1.50 2150 1.44 1.44 2159 great 1.27 2350 2128 2134 2111 2150 2159 1.27 2322 2245 1.27 2322 1.23 1.23 2245 1.27 – smaller 2350 1.28 1.28profile 0.65 on the0513 lighter came aboard, with0.76 min- 0409 0336 0.61 0.61 0336 0.34 0.34 0300 0.49 0.49 0328 0.45 0.45 0329 0.59 0.59 0328 0329 0439 0.85 0439 0.76 0409 0.65 0513 0.85 jig 21 0336 6 0300 21 6 21 660336 6 6 6 21 6 21 0956 1.59 1.59 21 1010 1.95 1.95 0954 1.82 1.82 21 1032 2.13 2.13 1044 1.90 1.90 21 0956 1010 0954 1032 1044 1151 1123 1.95 1200 1.82 1151 1.95 1.95 1123 1.95and 1200 1.82 heads a 5” on the imal interference from 1540 0.70 0.70 SA 1613 0.63 0.63 1600 0.75 0.75 MO 1720 0.74 0.74 WE 1740 0.79 0.79 TH 1859 0.80 0.80 1819 0.68 0.68 SA 1854 0.80 0.80 FR 1540 SA 1613 SU 1600 MO 1720 WE 1740 FR SU FR TH 1859 FR 1819 SA 1854 2157 1.61 1.61 2220 1.61 1.61 2145 1.40 1.40 2241 1.30 1.30 2247 1.20 1.20 2157 2220 2145 2241 2247 2351 1.25 2351 1.25 1oz bombs.

Bruce.

0359 0.63 0.63 0414 0.46 0.46 0327 0.56 0.56 0408 0.60 0.60 0411 0.69 0411 0.69 0038 0.74 0059 0038 1.20 1.20 0504 0.74 0059 1.29 1.29 like There’s nothing Hopefully this trend 77 0504 22 0414 22 0408 22 770359 77 0327 77continues 22 1032 1.60 1.60 22 1102 1.94 1.94 1031 1.80 1.80 22 1127 2.04 2.04 1135 1.82 1.82 22 1032 1102 1031 1127 1135 0545 1219 0612 0545 0.87 0.87 1219 1.87 1.87 22 0612 0.94 0.94 an ‘eat on the into Septem1623 0.81 1728 0.78 1651 0.85 TU 1836 0.81 0.81 1847 0.80 0.80 FR 1.71 1248 1.82 1.82 1914 0.66 0.66 SU 1247drop’ 1.71 on SA 1623 0.81 SU SU 1728 0.78 MO 1651 0.85 TU 1836 TH 1847 SA MO TH SA FR 1248 SA 1914 SU 1247 2226 1.50 1.50 2309 1.42 1.42 2221 1.30 1.30 2345 1.20 1.20 2353 1.15 1.15 2226 2309 2221 2345 2353 2001 2001 0.81 0.81 1944 0.78 0.78 the lighter 1944 jigs though, ber.

0424 0.67 0.67 0456 0.60 0.60 0356 0.63 0.63 0502 0.75 0.75 0507 0.77 0.77 0424 0456 0356 0502 0507 0207 0106 0220 0207 1.23 1.23 0106 1.26 1.26 0220 1.34 1.34 something Amazingly, I 0.93 could 23 1201 23 1231 23 0658 88 1111 88 1112 88 1240 88 0612 23snapper 1111 1.60 1.60 23 1201 1.91 1.91 1112 1.75 1.75 23 1231 1.93 1.93 1240 1.76 23 1.76 0.80 0723 0658 0.93 0612 0.80 23 0723 1.01 1.01 are 1715 0.92 0.92 MO 1901 0.88 0.88 1757 0.92 0.92 WE 1957 0.84 0.84 1959 0.76 0.76 1959 1.72 1.81 1.60 1350 1.72 1318 1.81 1339 1.60 regSU 1715 MO 1901 TU 1757 WE 1957 FR SU TU FR SA SU MO SA 1350 SU 1318 MO 1339 quite happy to do catch a few snapper, 2257 1.38 1.38 2301 1.20 1.20 2257 2301 2106 2011 2036 2106 0.77 0.77 2011 0.61 0.61 2036 0.74 0.74 ularly. even if1.16 it was 0326 only to re- 0227 0450 0.71 0.71 0011 1.25 1.25 0432 0.71 0.71 0125 1.16 1.16 0128 1.16 0450 0011 0432 0125 0128 0335 0326 1.31 1.31 0227 1.34 1.34 0335 1.44 1.44 24 0552 24 0624 24 99 1157 99 1202 99lease 24fish 1157 1.58 1.58 24 0552 0.73 0.73 1202 1.69 1.69 24 0624 0.86 0.86 0625 them 0.81 24 0625 0.81 0.84 0817 0848 1.04 0817a 0.96 0.96 0732 0.84 24 0848that 1.04 eats Another after snap- 99 0732 1826 1.01 1.01 TU 1316 1.86 1.86 1926 0.94 0.94 TH 1344 1.83 1.83 1353 1.75 1.75 SU 1450 1.65 1.65 1419 1.75 1.75 TU 1436 1.50 1.50 MO 1826 TU 1316 WE 1926 TH 1344 SA 1353 MO WE SA MO SU 1450 MO 1419 TU 1436 midwater are2125 tuna. py snap.

2332 1.27 1.27 2048 0.89 0.89 2358 1.12 1.12 2119 0.81 0.81 2103 0.67 2119 2103 0.67 2105 0.55 2332 2048 2358 2157 0.69 2157 0.70 0.70 2105 0.55 2125 0.69 Both Nothing 0522 0.76 0.76 0151 1.16 1.16 0524 0.78 0.78 0301 1.20 1.20 0257 1.24 huge, 0257 1.24 1.42 1.49 0425though 1.42 0338 1.49 longtail 0432 1.57 1.57 and 10 0522 25 0151 10 0524 25 0301 10solid 25 0425 10 10 0338 25 0432 1254 1.56 1.56 25 0711 0.83 0.83 10 1313 1.65 1.65 25 0751 0.91 0.91 10 0756 0.80 0.80 25 1254 1313 0939 1014 0711 0751 0756 0858 0939 0.93 0.93 10 0858 0.84 0.84 25 1014 1.02 1.02 mack a 3kg-ish knobbies 2015 1.04 1.04 WE 1439 1.83 1.83 2057 0.88 0.88 FR 1455 1.76 1.76 1500 1.78 1.78 1.59 1.42 1.69 1544 1.59 1519 1.69happily 1533 scoff 1.42 TU 2015 WE 1439 TH 2057 FR 1455 SU 1500 MO 1544 TU TH SU MO TU WE TU 1519 WE 1533 2221 0.83 0.83 2218 0.75 0.75 2156 took 0.54 a wee 2235 0.62 2205 0.63 2221 2218 2156 0.54 2153 0.47 2235 bit 0.62 of 2153 0.47 2205 0.63 slow-sinking softy. that 0019 1.17 1.17 0336 1.18 1.18 0141 1.09 1.09 0415 1.29 1.29 0404 1.39 1.39 0415 0404 1.67 1.70 0510 1.55 1.55 0437 1.67 mixed 0518 schools 1.70 And 11 0019 26 0336 11 0141 26 11string.

26 0510 11 11 0437 26 0518 0609 0.80 0.80 26 0842 0.87 0.87 11 0644 0.82 0.82 26 0919 0.89 0.89 11 0925 0.72 0.72 26 0609 0842 0644 0919 0925 1044 1016 1119 1044 0.88 0.88 11 1016 0.80 0.80 26 1119 0.96 0.96 1413 1.56 1.56 TH 1552 1.82 1.82 1434 1.68 1.68 SA 1556 1.72 1.72 1558 1.82 TU 1.82 1631 1.54 1.62 1.35 1631 beasts 1.54 1616 1.62 will 1627 1.35have WE 1413 of fish often Handsome TH 1552 FR 1434 SA 1556 MO 1558 WE FR MO WE TH TUmale WE 1616 TH 1627 2155 0.98 0.98 2315 0.76 0.76 2158 0.75 0.75 2258 0.67 0.67 2239 0.41 0.41 2155 2315 2158 2258 2239 2303 2236 2242 2303 0.55 0.55 2236 0.41 2242 0.58 0.58 swimming among – yes, they had proof – these0.41 0152 1.09 1.09 0454 1.26 1.26 0321 1.16 1.16 0506 1.40 1.40 0457 1.57 1.57 0454 0506 0457 0547 0526 0556 0152 0321 0547 1.67 1.67 0526 1.86 1.86 0556 1.82 1.82 12 0724 them.

27 1006 12 0826 27 1028 12with 27bodies.

12 12 1123 27 1210 0724 0.82 0.82 27 1006 0.83 0.83 12 0826 0.79 0.79 27 1028 0.83 0.83 12 1032 thickset 0.62 27 1032 0.62 1133 0.74 1133 0.81 0.81 12 1123 0.74 27 1210 0.89 0.89 1651 1.82 1.82 FR 1651 FR 2352 0.69 0.69 2352

1717 1.30 1.30 FR FR 1717 2317 2317 0.54 0.54

Occasionally, tuna will eat off the bottom too, yet it’s much more likely they’ll take an offering well off the bottom.

At times a big longtail will smash a lure meant for a much tamer species.

For the uninitiated, it can be a gruelling battle on a 6-10kg outfit.

Luckily the winter water temperature can slow the pelagic bodies down a bit, so they might fight below their full potential.

Trevally probably make up the majority of fish in these schools,

* continued P57

0340 1.11 1.11 0542 1.34 1.34 0432 1.29 1.29 0543 1.50 1.50 0542 1.77 1.77 0620 0631 0542 0432 0543 0542 0612 0620 1.79 1.79 0612 2.05 2.05 0631 1.92 1.92 13 0340 0905 0.79 0.79 28 1105 1105 0.75 0.75 13 1000 1000 0.67 0.67 28 1117 1117 0.75 0.75 13 1129 1129 0.53 0.53 28 1215 0905 1215 0.76 0.76 13 1224 1224 0.67 0.67 28 1254 1254 0.82 0.82 1632 1.73 1738 1.82 1638 FR 1632 1.73 FR 2333 0.71 0.71 2333

SA 1738 1.82 SA

1.87 MO 1724 1.68 1.68 SU 1638 1.87 MO 1724 SU 2325 0.43 0.43 2355 0.53 0.53 2325 2355

1736 1.80 1.80 WE 1736 WE 2351 0.22 0.22 2351

1751 1.45 1.45 TH TH 1751 2352 2352 0.43 0.43

1804 1.50 1.50 FR FR 1804 2359 2359 0.33 0.33

1802 1.28 1.28 SA SA 1802 2354 2354 0.50 0.50

0501 1.19 1.19 0019 0.63 0.63 0523 1.44 1.44 0616 1.60 1.60 0625 1.96 1.96 0019 0523 0616 0625 0651 0656 0704 0651 1.89 1.89 0656 2.20 2.20 0704 2.01 2.01 14 0501 1035 0.68 0.68 29 0618 0618 1.43 1.43 14 1101 1101 0.52 0.52 29 1155 1155 0.68 0.68 14 1220 1220 0.48 0.48 29 1254 1035 1254 0.72 0.72 14 1321 1321 0.62 0.62 29 1335 1335 0.75 0.75 1723 1.86 1148 0.67 1726 SA 1723 1.86 SA

SU 1148 0.67 SU 1814 1.81 1.81 1814

1.95 MO 1726 1.95 MO

1758 1.65 1.65 TU 1758 TU

1821 1.74 1.74 TH 1821 TH

1826 1.40 1.40 FR FR 1826

1856 1.46 1.46 SA SA 1856

1845 1.29 1.29 SU SU 1845

SCAN QR CODE

0011 0.55 0.55 0045 0.56 0.56 0001 0.30 0.30 0017 0.46 0.46 0026 0.18 0.18 0045 0017 0026 0019 0032 0001 0043 0019 0.40 0.40 0043 0.33 0.33 0032 0.47 0.47 15 0011 0555 1.31 1.31 30 0649 0649 1.50 1.50 15 0606 0606 1.61 1.61 30 0647 0647 1.70 1.70 15 0707 0707 2.13 2.13 30 0721 0555 0721 1.98 1.98 15 0741 0741 2.30 2.30 30 0737 0737 2.08 2.08 1131 0.53 1224 0.59 1149 SU 1131 0.53 MO MO 1224 0.59 SU 1807 1.98 1.98 1846 1.80 1.80 1846 1807

0.40 WE 1230 0.62 0.62 TU 1149 0.40 WE 1230 TU 1809 1.99 1.99 1828 1.62 1.62 1828 1809

1313 0.46 0.46 FR 1313 FR 1908 1.66 1.66 1908

1334 0.69 0.69 SA SA 1334 1902 1902 1.37 1.37

0035 0.41 0.41 31 0035 0716 1.80 1.80 0716

1415 0.59 0.59 MO 1415 0.68 0.68 SU SU 1415 MO 1415 1927 1948 1948 1.43 1.43 1927 1.32 1.32 0111 0.45 0.45 31 0111 0814 0814 2.14 2.14

1304 0.59 0.59 TH 1304 TH 1858 1.57 1.57 1858

1456 0.62 0.62 TU TU 1456 2010 2010 1.35 1.35

© Copyright Copyright Commonwealth ofFirst Australia 2022, Bureau Bureau of of Meteorology Meteorology © of Australia 2022, NewCommonwealth Moon Quarter Datum of of Predictions Predictions is is Lowest Lowest Astronomical Astronomical Tide Tide Datum

Full Moon

Moon Phase Phase Symbols Symbols Moon

Last Quarter

New Moon Moon New

Page 56 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

First Quarter Quarter First

Full Full Moon Moon

Last Last Quarter Quarter

Peter caught and released a18 solid closed-season snapper.

18

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Mind blowing mixed bags * from P56

with a few different species – brassy, golden, some bigeye and, of course, the magnificent diamond.

They all fight in a similar way, though diamonds certainly have the raw speed.

So, it could be a lucky dip, dropping your lure into what’s uncovered by the Lowrance.

Hopefully they decide to eat easy techniques, such as heavy jig heads or metal jigs.

Jigs in particular are heavy and go down accurately into the target area.

The lack of feel with lighter lures doesn’t let anglers fish with confidence and it often takes them a while to pick it up.

If the conditions are a little less than ideal, it can be really ambiguous.

So, fishing with more weight helps with confidence but doesn’t necessarily improve the bite rate.

The jigs have most definitely hit goals with diamond trevally recently.

In good conditions, a 40g jig was ample to quickly get into the zone.

One day, a slow jig ac-

tion might be better than a faster erratic action.

But it was clear, the diamonds preferred the jigs.

This might not be repeated each year, and I’ve had seasons where light jig heads were the most effective lure option.

Grunter – another of my winter favourites – usually prefer jigs too, particularly jigging tight to the sea floor.

Often, they will eat it dead off the bottom… yes, an inanimate chunk of metal… off the bottom.

They fight fairly hard, though will blow their swim bladder and float rather than fight their way to the surface.

It’s often a giveaway, when what you thought was a trevally suddenly fights less as it ascends.

Luckily, they taste amazing – better than snapper in my opinion.

It’s always something that makes me grin, when people see large fish fall to tiny lures or where certain fish ate in the water column – hooking tuna that were not busting on the surface.

Winter really makes anglers question what they may have assumed about many species.

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Yvonne and her first mack tuna.

SCAN QR CODE

Peter jigged up his first diamond trevally, what a beast.

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Dillon with his first longtail tuna.

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www.fraserguidedfishing.com.au > 0427 230 261 Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 57

JPL Customs fishing rods

H A few rods from the JPL Customs range ready to go.

Josh tackle testing one of his rods.

Quality fish do demand quality gear.

A quality fish for Josh on one of his rods.

Page 58 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

I all, whatever your style of fishing, buying quality gear helps you achieve that continual quest for the next personal best.

When you’ve got a battle on your hands and you need to take control to turn a bruiser’s head, the fishing rod is the most important component between you and your target.

There is so much to consider when finding the precise product required, particularly quality components and attention to detail in the manufacture.

Many times, when buying an off-the-shelf fishing rod, differences can be found between individual examples of the one specific model.

We often purchase products that may not totally fit the bill – that’s the compromise – buying what could only be considered as second best.

Speaking with an artisan custom rod builder is the only way you can achieve exactly what you’re looking for.

A person who can identify the perfect quality blank to cater to your needs, who understands also the characteristics of that blank, with its individual taper and action.

Someone who takes on board where and how you wish to fish the rod, how to maximise user comfort and put a recipe of specific components together to produce the ultimate fishing rod for you.

When you find a gun fisho – such as Josh Lunn from Agnes Water 1770 Bait and Tackle – who consistently battles quality fish on the rods he has built, you know you’ve found a custom rod builder who knows

Product Review

by PAUL ‘CHIEF’ GRAVESON

exactly what he’s doing.

Have a look at a few examples of Josh’s recent captures.

I’ve given you the run down on Agnes Water 1770 Bait and Tackle before, with its large range of everything specific to fishing this area, though I just had to write about the new range of custom-built rods Josh is hand crafting.

Attention to detail starts with selecting the best blanks from the impressive Samurai range.

A favourite blank to many custom rod builders because the leading technology used in manufacture produces excellent quality and performance, with about 70 different blanks in the range.

Josh then uses the best components from Fuji, such as quality reel seats and guides.

Did you know that Fuji produced its first reel seats in 1951 and released its first range of rod guides ‘Kabuse’ in 1955?

And here we are today, looking at some of the most advanced products available.

JPL Customs rods are constructed by choosing the specific components needed to complement how Josh wants the rod to perform and with attention to detail, such as

under and over-binding the guides to the exact position to suit the working curve of the individual rod.

The result is a hand-crafted fully custom-made product to be proud off.

A product that will give you many years of service and help you achieve those personal bests we all dream of.

If you’re interested in enquiring about one of Josh Lunn’s custom-built rods, he can be contacted at Agnes Water 1770 Bait and Tackle on 07 4974 9304.

I’ve seen the quality of his work and have a rough idea of his pricing, so a heads up… it’s well worth giving him a call.

If you’ve made plans well in advance for a fishing holiday around our beautiful Seventeen Seventy coastline, what a fantastic way to start your adventure, with one of Josh’s creations waiting for you when you get here, ready for that fishing adventure.

Whether you’re fishing the estuary, offshore or land based or highspeed spinning, JPL Customs can help craft the perfect rod for you.

Until next time, I’ll keep enjoying surfing and fishing in the warm 20C water here.

A quality under and over-bound finish.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 59

A pigeon pair of solid red emperor wide from Yeppoon for Dan Baker and Les Abdy.

How’s this, local angler Chris Nash from north of Yeppoon captured a black marlin in take-off mode.

Paul Housman with an epic black marlin capture after an intense fight.

Weather windows for reds and marlin

S

INCE last month, our prayers were somewhat answered.

We had a few good weather windows and were able to head out wide, or at least to the islands and beyond.

A few of those windows lasted a considerable amount of time, going for a week or more.

I did receive some great feedback about the red emperor tips and techniques, so a big thank you to those who took the time.

I always hope that anglers reading these ‘how to’ articles take something from them and that putting the tactics into practice do make a difference.

With the good weather periods, red emperor were biting really well.

Capricorn Coast

by JOHN BOON

It’s been great to hear reports that reds have been consistent, biting throughout winter.

As per last month’s tips, anglers who put in an effort to secure fresh bait had better results.

Speaking with one crew, they were on a good red bite when suddenly it shut down – one of the fishos dropped a red.

With some quick thinking, they wound up, then went back and lined up for another drift, sending live yellowtail scad down.

Fortunately, they were able to hook another red, which seemed to spark them into feeding again.

How cool was that?

And full points for being on point with the thought process.

Some of the boats that headed out past the islands had different ideas about which species to target.

While the bottom-bashing brigade were in full force, marlin anglers have also been quietly achieving.

Between August and October is generally the best time to chase this fantastic sportfish.

I’m keen to get out and put a lot more time into them, though the opportunity hasn’t presented itself yet. * continued P61

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Harry Leontsinis with a great example of what to look for on the sounder when targeting marlin – a suspended bait ball with a solid arch.

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Weather windows for reds and marlin * from P60

In my experience, and after speaking with other marlin fishos, you don’t need to go far to find them.

Most anglers target them from slightly outside the Keppel Bay islands, which is about 20km from the harbour, to about the 50km mark.

Depths usually vary from 20-40m.

When targeting small blacks, it’s a matter of finding the bait.

If you can locate bait balls of yellowtail scad, these are prime marlin grounds.

It’s surprising how many fishos I speak to who have caught them in the same area.

Some locals are aware of the bait grounds behind Outer Rock, which

Yeppoon Sportfishing Charters is well known for putting clients onto their first marlin.

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is east of North Keppel Island.

You will need a zoning map as most of this area is a green zone.

The bait grounds I’m referring to are in the yellow zone about 4km from Outer Rock.

When yakka are stacked up here in the September period, it’s a great place to start.

I dropped local charter guru Pete from Yeppoon Sportfishing Charters a message for his wicked marlin tips and techniques.

Turns out, he’s more than happy to help other anglers, so you’re in for a treat.

Here are a few tips I’ve picked up over the 20 years I’ve been doing charters in this and various other areas.

Mix your lure colours * continued P62

A tip from Pete of Yeppoon Sportfishing Charters is to troll a hard-body lure between your marlin skirts.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 61

John Brydon with a lovely locally caught red emperor.

Weather windows for reds and marlin * from P61

up, have bright and darker plain colours.

Keep your rigging simple for the little ones – 5-7” skirts, 1.5-2m 80-100lb clear leader, good quality ball bearing snap swivels, double hook rigs 8/0-10/0 saltwater fly hooks – I don’t use doubles or wind-on leaders because, in my opinion, the less connections the better.

A good class is 10kg tackle, as it still gives you fun but gets the fish in reasonably quick.

If bait fishing, use only light-gauge circle hooks – these give better hook ups, with next to no damage to the fish.

I only use monofilament, as braid doesn’t give any stretch when these fish jump.

Always tow a hardbody – they get a lot of by-catch and hook enough marlin to warrant having one in the spread.

Always keep the boat idling forward because it keeps a constant pressure on the line.

Watch out when marlin get close – while they may seem tired, as soon as you grab their bill, many go absolutely nuts – double hook rigs and a crazy fish isn’t a good mix.

Once again, a big thank you to Pete of Yeppoon Sportfishing Charters.

If you don’t have your own boat and are keen to have a crack at a marlin, drop Pete a line on 0477 073 809.

Well, that’s it for me this month.

The countdown is on for the Humminbird Fitzroy Barra Bash, brought to you by the Frenchville Sports Club.

So, I’ll be prepping for this event over the next couple of months.

Catch you next time.

All smiles, Tom Lunney with a ripper pair of red emperor.

Page 62 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

This year’s Fitzroy River Barra Bash promises an unforgettable blend of sport and camaraderie.

Countdown to Fitzroy River Barra Bash

E

XCITEMENT is building for the 2024 Humminbird Fitzroy River Barra Bash, the premier event of the year for fishing enthusiasts.

Hosted by the Frenchville Sports Club, this year’s tournament promises an unforgettable blend of sport and camaraderie.

From October 9-12, anglers from across Australia will converge on the Fitzroy River to compete for over $90,000 in cash, prizes and giveaways.

The Frenchville Sports Club chief executive officer reflected proudly on the event’s legacy, saying: “We are very proud to run the Fitzroy River Barra Bash each year.”

With each edition, the tournament has grown, attracting more participants and spectators.

The 2024 event is set to be the grandest showcase yet.

Rooted in community pride, the Frenchville Sports Club aims to celebrate the thrill of fishing while benefiting the local community.

The tournament not only highlights the region’s prime barramundi fishing but also serves as a vital boost for local tourism and business.

The success of the Barra Bash relies on the support of its many sponsors.

We extend our grat-

itude to Frenchville Sports Club, Humminbird, Tourism and Events Queensland, Rockhampton Regional Council, Livingstone Shire Council, XXXX, Barra Jacks Rockhampton, Bluefin Sports, The Agency, Bates Fishing Co, Berkley, Bidfood Australia, Bush ‘n Beach Fishing Magazine, Capricorn Enterprise, Coca-Cola, CQ Today, Custom Building Improvements, Daiwa Australia, Diageo, Dobyns Rods, Edge Rods, Guided Fishing DownUnder, Horizon, Icey-Tek, Lucky Craft, Mad Dog Productions, Matai Sports, Morrison CQ Agencies, OSP Lures, Rapala, Samaki, Shimano, Spotters Sun-

glasses, Sunline, Tonic Polarised Eyewear, Venom Rods, Yamaha, Zerek and Zonca Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

Supported by the state government through Tourism and Events Queensland, the 2024 Humminbird Fitzroy River Barra Bash is a highlight on the fishing event calendar.

Visitors are encouraged to explore the diverse tourism experiences this beautiful region offers.

For more information, visit fitzroyriverbarra bash.com.au or contact event organisers Sapphire Newton and Dean Lill at fitzroyriverbarra bash@fsports.com.au

Anglers from across Australia will converge on the Fitzroy River to compete.

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0434 002 644 Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 63

Join us for what will be a non-stop action-packed weekend for the whole family.

Located on the beautiful far north Queensland coast, where the rainforest meets the big blue, this sleepy seaside town comes alive every September.

Kurrimine Beach Fishing Classic 2024

K

Whether it’s up the freshwater creeks, in the mangrove-lined rivers or at Kings Reef, there are so many great options to get out and chase fish.

The Kurrimine Beach Fishing Classic is a fisher’s and diver’s dream.

Page 64 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

URRIMINE Beach is a small seaside town located on the beautiful far north Queensland coast, where the rainforest meets the big blue.

Known to some, yet unbeknown too many, and with a small community of 700 permanent residents, this sleepy seaside town comes alive every September for the Kurrimine Beach Fishing Classic.

Whether it’s up the freshwater creeks, in the mangrove-lined rivers or at Kings Reef, there are so many great options to get out and chase fish in tropical north Queensland, where the fishing is truly world class.

From flathead and whiting along the beachfront, the barramundi that keen fishers wrestle in Maria and Liverpool creeks and the 4kg plus crays among the bommies out front – it is without a doubt a fisher’s and diver’s dream.

We are back this year with the eleventh annual Kurrimine Beach Fishing Classic and the hardworking team of volunteers – known as the classic committee – would like to extend a true north Queensland welcome to all competitors and spectators.

Join us for what is

going to be a non-stop action-packed weekend for the whole family.

Pack the kids, partners, crew, even the grandparents – this year’s classic will have something for everyone.

Walk out to King Reef to see the big blue come alive, then head over to the live music and boogie down to the food vans while grabbing a drink from the bar.

Then there’s the market stall treasure finds, a jumping castle and beach games running all weekend, plus the heart-pounding live weigh-in showdowns.

And let’s not forget, joining us for the weekend is the man, the myth, the legend…

Scotty Hillier!

The event kicks off Friday September 13, with new nominations available until 7pm, followed by the official briefing of competition rules.

Saturday will be all about the fishing, with weigh ins being conducted from midday to 6pm.

Saturday night – known by the locals as ‘brag night’ – is a great opportunity to crow about the one that got away, and the one that actually made it into the boat.

Sunday will be the final chance to land a big

one – or the first one – with weigh-in anticipation at an all-time high from 10am to 2pm.

Official presentations will take place on Sunday, where all category winners, champions and overall champion presentations are done, with the pumping main stage being the centre of attention.

The final attraction will be the promotional draw – where one lucky adult angler will win $25,000 and one junior angler will take home $2000.

Remember, you don’t have to catch a fish to win the promotional super and nightly draws, and don’t forget to throw the kids in to be a part of the ‘Throw Outs’ off the main stage.

With over $150,000 in sponsorship cash and prizes up for grabs, this year’s classic committee is overwhelmed and extends sincere appreciation to all of the sponsors for their generosity in every way – we can’t say thank you enough!

So, if you’re looking for old-school hospitality with the ocean breeze in your hair, a coldie in your hand and the sand between your toes – come see us at Kurrimine Beach.

For more information, visit kurriminebeach fishingclub.com.au

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FISHING & SPEARFISHING CLASSIC 2024 September 13th 15th, 2024

11TH ANNUAL KURRIMINE BEACH CREEK & OUTER REEF FISHING & SPEARFISHING COMPETITION TAIFALOS PARK, KURRIMINE BEACH MASSIVE • PRIZE • GIVEAWAYS! • NIGHTLY DRAWS •

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Registrations | Rules & Regulations Run Down from 4pm @ Taifalos Park, Friday 13th September 2024 www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 65

TOURING& exploring Bagging out on fingermark on exceptional Cape sortie

H

I, it’s Tonk here, sorry I haven’t had an article in this great magazine for a couple of months.

I was away on two northern sorties.

The first was up Cape York to north of Weipa.

I was lucky enough to get my usual spot under the 20m high she-oak trees, where I set up camp and relaxed a bit after the big drive up.

A couple of days later, my friend Rex Keding turned up and camped nearby.

I had my 5m boat ready by then and had made some ice for my freezers, for if I caught any fish later.

While Rex put the finishing touches on his camp, I slipped out for a fish.

When I was at this spot last year, we had some great weather, so I spent many hours sounding and looking for new

Top End Touring

by CRAIG TOMKINSON

ground offshore.

Which paid off big time because I got onto some great fingermark.

In the new area, the fishing was so good I’d bag out, leaving them chewing their heads off.

After catching two fish, the fish hit the squid as soon as the bait was out of sight under the boat on the next drop.

It was awesome fishing, and I was hoping they’d still be there for this trip.

When I got to the area and dropped down, I was on straight away – bagging out as fast as it takes to pull five fingermark to 75cm on a 80lb hand line – plus to brain spike, bleed the fish into a 20-litre buck-

et of seawater and put them into the ice slurry.

I headed in, loaded the boat onto the trailer and returned to camp.

Rex said, “Did you forget something?”

“No,” I said.

“I’ve bagged out on great fingermark, so came in.”

“You can’t be!” he said.

“You’ve only been gone an hour and a half, if that.”

So, I showed him.

Rex then helped me clean the fish, so I gave him some fillets.

We both had freshly cooked fingermark for lunch and dinner.

Rex asked if he could come out to the spot with me next time, yes, no worries I said.

The author with some awesome fingermark and grunters caught with friends.

Page 66 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

So, I took Rex out to the same country a few days later and let him catch his own bag of fingermark.

As he’d eaten the fillets I’d given him, he caught a couple for me.

We stayed for another 3-4 weeks before pulling the pin.

With the sharks on the close ground being out of control, we stopped fishing – it was a waste of time trying.

The rules on sharks need to change.

We could not bag a fish.

I have never seen them as bad as this in my 26 years of fishing the area.

Because of this, Rex and I packed up for home.

I was planning to head out from Mareeba on the Burke Developmental Rd to Karumba and fish a couple spots on the gulf before making

for McGowan Island Beach fishing camp in Western Australia.

Unfortunately, many roads on the gulf were still closed from the wet season, so I headed home.

After about a week at home, I discovered the road to Kalumburu was open, as a fuel tanker had been in and out.

So, I headed off out Roma way early one morning at about 2.30am, then up through Mount Isa, on to Katherine, up to Kununurra, up the Gibb River Rd – which was in good shape – then to Kalumburu and McGowan Island fishing camp, where I set up.

It took four big days of driving to get there, which left me with a few days off to prepare the boat, so after setting up camp, I went on a walk.

Until next month, be safe.

The old Toyota LandCruiser 80 Series and the 5m tinny in tow on the Gibb River Rd near the Pentecost River.

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The Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia Great Barrier Reef Leadership Intensive in Townsville. Photos: Kobie Rhodes, Magnetic Island Photos

Leading change for Great Barrier Reef

A

N OzFish Young Leaders Program participant, Katie Broadfoot was recently selected to attend the Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia Great Barrier Reef Leadership Intensive in Townsville.

This program aims to empower and uplift women who are working to drive change in the climate and environmental space.

In partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, WELA brought together 21 like-minded women for a four-day program that aimed to connect community and First Nations leaders and build their confidence and leadership capacity.

Katie described the experience as a remarkable

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opportunity to consider the unique perspectives and leadership potential that women contribute to the Reef and Reef adjacent communities.

“The incredible facilitators at WELA and GBRF allowed us the time to reflect on the kinds of leadership traits that we see in the women that inspire us,” Katie said.

“Courage, empathy, adaptability, authenticity, inclusivity and tenacity being most resonant.”

The need for new leadership when it comes to making change for our communities and their environments was emphasised.

Katie found that one statement affirmed why taking the time * continued P68

A sentiment echoed by participants was the need to focus on the human side of our waterways and the reef.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 67

Leading change for Great Barrier Reef * from P67

to consider different styles and approaches to leadership was so critical.

“The leadership that got us to where we are today, won’t be the leadership to get us out,” she said.

Providing opportunities such as these to women in the climate, environmental and marine sectors is the perfect way to open the conversation and take note of ways to elevate our influence as leaders of today and the future.

One sentiment that was echoed by many of the participants of the intensive was the need to focus on the human side of our waterways and the reef.

Our environment is capable of recovery, so long as we are striving to reduce our direct and indirect impacts.

“We were all in agreeance that when it comes to making a difference in our local waterways, it is crucial to not underestimate the power of community action,” Katie said.

During a fantastic presentation by Dr Yolonda Waters on climate change communication and story-

telling, she noted that collective individual action can eventually lead to system change.

So not only can our efforts on-ground make a direct difference in the environment around us, they can also inspire change from the top down.

Katie said that as a soon to be university graduate just starting out in an environmental career, opportunities to network and learn from others in the industry are so valuable.

“Being able to meet so many amazing women all working to create positive change for the Great Barrier Reef and the wider environment was a true privilege,” she said.

“It’s incredible how much I learned in just a few days, and I now have a network of supportive and inspiring women who I can look to for advice and encouragement.”

The OzFish Young Leaders Program is a launchpad for ideas, an opportunity for innovation and a catalyst for change.

Learn more and get involved, visit ozfish. org.au/young-leaders for details.

Our efforts on the ground make a direct difference in the environment around us, they can also inspire change from the top down.

Page 68 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

Chastyn Lyon’s snodger great trevally caught off Weipa, held by his dad Josh.

Quality reef and coastal fishing

I

’VE been elsewhere for the past couple of months, so it’s great to be back.

For this dry season so far, the southeast trade wind on Cape York Peninsula hasn’t been as relentless as it usually is for this time of year, and there were even a couple of very welcome ‘calm’ spells.

This has allowed some great reef and coastal fishing opportunities, particularly along the east coast off Cooktown and surrounds, and Lockhart River and Chili Beach further north.

Though at the time of writing, it was quite lively – could blow a dog off its chain.

September heralds a change in seasons and while it’s beginning to warm up with an easing in the trade wind, it can still howl at times.

Check out the gaps between high-pressure systems on the online Bureau of Meteorology maps for calmer opportunities.

From Cooktown, the fishing has been great along the wider reefs.

Anglers have rarely

Cape York by ‘BILLABONG’ BAZZ LYON

missed out on a good catch of coral trout, with nannygai and red emperor in rubble areas and over ‘wonky holes’, where you can find them with your sounder.

If unfamiliar, ‘wonky holes’ are where freshwater bubbles out of the seabed, which attracts a fair bit of sea life.

Both bait – especially pilchard combined with squid – and jigs work well over these features.

The same great fishing has been had on the reefs off Chili Beach and Portland Roads, near Lockhart River.

With great reef and rocky country offering

the same fabulous fishing even closer inshore than at Cooktown.

In the combined rocky coral reef inshore areas there are good catches of large-mouth nannygai and fingermark to be had, with coral trout and the usual tropical favourites and arm stretchers at the more typical coral reefs further out.

There is a proper boat ramp at Portland Roads, though some choose to launch off Chili Beach.

In more remote locations such as these, it pays to bring bait such as pillie and squid, as * continued P69

A tidy feed of Normanby River cherabin.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Quality reef and coastal fishing * from P68

they are often not available.

Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park is currently experiencing the best barramundi fishing year that I can remember.

Even during the cold weather spell in July – when it dropped to 1C at Laura – they remained consistent on the bite.

Cherabin have been off the charts too, with the jump in productivity possibly the result of the run of good wet seasons providing ideal breeding conditions.

As it has been fishing fairly well everywhere, I can’t recommend any specific locations at Rinyirru.

The Normanby River has had a proper scour out from the deluge of Tropical Cyclone Jasper, yet this hasn’t affected the fishing in any way.

Barramundi are still firing there and will hopefully continue to do so.

The evergreen Weipa area has been typically productive too, with

www.bnbfishing.com.au

crabbing in the Weipa rivers the best it’s been for a long time.

Barramundi and king threadfin salmon are always favourites in this area, so try lure fishing snags, gutters and the mangrove edges around high tide, as well as fishing bait in deep holes and creek junctions.

While Weipa itself is an iconic fishing destination, with vast areas of river estuary, coastal reefs and some crackers out wider too, the Pennefather River and Cullen Point also offer some outstanding fishing.

From Cullen Point, in calmer weather and a run across Port Musgrave, it’s possible to access both the Ducie and Wenlock rivers.

And the reefs nearby are rich in fish life too, with tuskfish being caught more regularly here than further south.

Back in May, my son Josh kindly took a few of us south from Weipa on a boat fishing adventure to the remote

Archer River, where we enjoyed some fabulous barramundi fishing – until they decided to shut down, as barra often do.

Such beautiful country and plenty of wildlife to enjoy as well – living the dream.

Well, that’s it for this month – enjoy our wonderful state and stay warm.

Josh Lyon with a solid Cape York fingermark.

Josh, Chastyn and Casey Lyon with a lovely Embley River king threadfin salmon.

Ryan Polderman with a lovely Archer River barramundi.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 69

All fishers in Western Australia’s north are being urged to donate their mangrove jack fish frames to a nationwide study to ensure the species remains sustainable into the future.

Science needs your mangrove jack frames

A

LL fishers in Western Australia’s north are being urged to donate their mangrove jack fish frames to a first of its kind nationwide study of the species.

Scientific research into the iconic mangrove jack is underway to understand the species’ stock structure across northern Australia and ensure this popular fish remains sustainable into the future.

The Department of

Primary Industries and Regional Development is leading WA’s involvement in the Australian Fisheries Research and Development Corporation funded research project ‘Basement Jacks – where’s your stock at?’, which has been running since mid2023.

Mangrove jack is not only good eating but can also live up to 50 years and grow to over 1m in size.

It is known for its ag-

Scientific research into the iconic mangrove jack is underway to understand the species’ stock structure across northern Australia.

Page 70 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

gressive feeding and tendency to school, which makes the species vulnerable to overfishing.

In Western Australia, the daily bag limit is two and a minimum size limit of 30cm applies.

Fishers are being asked to play a key role in this citizen science project by donating fresh or frozen intact frames, which include the head and guts.

The samples can come from estuaries, inshore areas and offshore reefs in the Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley regions.

Senior DPIRD research scientist Michael Travers said the support of fishers was vital to this national project.

“We are seeking mangrove jack fish frames so we can build a better understanding of the species,” Dr Travers said.

“The donation of frames by all WA fish-

ers is a great opportunity to demonstrate how citizen science can play an important role in the improvement of sustainable management of a popular species like this.

“Fishers can keep the fillets and wings, however we would like the frames, labelled with the precise location of where the fish was caught, which can be donated to a number of collection points in northern WA.” Mangrove jack frames can be dropped off at Telomac Tackle and Camping in Carnarvon, Exmouth Tackle and Camping Supplies, Karratha Adventure Sports and Tackle World Broome.

School students and all fishos in the northern regions are being encouraged to participate in the project, with anyone donating a frame receiving a unique Basement Jacks

fishing lure and going in the running to win a mangrove jack fishing shirt.

WA peak recreational fishing body Recfishwest is a partner in the project, with chief executive officer Andrew Rowland welcoming the opportunity for fishers to contribute to a better scientific understanding of the stock make-up of the species in northern Australia.

“Good science is based on good data and this project helps tap into northern communities’ love of fishing,” Dr Rowland said.

“It gives fishers the chance to contribute to the management of the fishery, ensuring plenty of these great fish will be around for future generations to enjoy.

“This is a great initiative and we encourage all fishers who fish for mangrove jack to get involved and contribute their frames.”

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battery power, Lowrance 9” touchscreen GPS/sounder with ‘Structure Scan’ and ‘Active Target’ transducers, VHF, LB tank, deck wash and so much more! Powered by a freshly serviced and warrantied Evinrude 115hp DI engine, trailered on a workshop-serviced Swiftco braked trailer. Priced to sell at $37,995. Phone 07 3890 2322 or visit www.johncrawford QUINTREX 450 FISHABOUT – This terrif- marine.com.au Celebrating 60 years in ic little runabout has plenty of space for 2024. days of fishing, cruising, skiing, snorkelling and everything in between. The large open deck is perfect for family boating.

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ADVERTISERS – To organise a classified ad in the Trading Post, call 07 3286 1833 or complete the form and post it to the address provided or email it through to ads@collins.media

October Edition Copy Deadline – Advertisements must arrive NO later than August 29, 2024

POST TO PO BOX 162, Wynnum QLD 4178 or EMAIL with a photo to ads@collins.media When completing this form please leave one square of space between each word (Hyphens, full-stops, commas, word spaces count as one letter) ALL ADS MUST BE PRE-PAID 1 1 2

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Cost per insertion: 2 lines $15, $1.10 per line thereafter. Contact details must be included in ad.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 71

crease running depth or swum unweighted out of the packet to produce explosive shallow water strikes.

Available in 6” and 8” sizes and six great colours to suit all light and water conditions.

Visit berkley-fishing.com.au

TT Fishing Aruna Rods

TT SwitchPrawn+ New Colours

FROM bass and golden perch to bream, flathead and more, the TT SwitchPrawn+ metal vibration blade has rapidly become a favourite in TT’s comprehensive lure range.

Angler requests following the initial release have inspired the addition of four new colours across the range of 37mm (5.5g), 44mm (8g) and 50mm (13g) models, bringing the overall range to 20 colours.

Mud Bug fulfills the request for a natural brown colour, with orange highlights designed as a strike trigger.

This colour will be deadly across all water colours and when crabs, prawns and shrimp are on the menu.

Bloody Nightmare is that classic deep red and black combination that has proven deadly in deeper and/or dirty water applications.

Cooked Prawn consists of a pearl base with orange highlights – proven to fire up the bite – and will be a standout over yabby beds.

Bimbo is the final addition and follows loads of requests for a pink SwitchPrawn+.

It will be an instant favourite for flathead anglers, while appealing to a wide range of species in both fresh and salt.

With its tight vibration, stand up design and super-sticky Owner assist hooks, the TT SwitchPrawn+ has become an instant preference lure and these four new colours are sure to cement its position as a go-to presentation for fresh and saltwater anglers.

Bring it on!

Suggested retail price from $15.95.

Visit ttfishing.com

HIGH performance offshore rods from TT Fishing.

The TT rods range continues to expand with the development of a series of quality feature-packed offshore rods.

The Aruna Series features slick aesthetics and is built on extra tough 3XP blanks, delivering the right combination of power, feel and weight for anglers taking on larger offshore target species.

The quality build continues with premium Fuji components, including K-Series guides with Alconite rings and heavy-duty reel seats.

The sculptured grip designs and ABS gimbals improve comfort and leverage over extended battles with large fish.

The range includes both spin and overhead models, each with a sturdy butt join for ease of transportation, wherever your adventures take you.

Bring it on!

Visit ttfishing.com

Berkley PowerBait CullShad

THE Berkley PowerBait CullShad takes swimbait fishing to a new level, the CullShad combines big profile drawing power with proprietary Honeycomb technology for the ultimate swim action and robust durability.

The CullShad can be custom weighted by adding Nitro Pro Nail Weights to in-

Page 72 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

TT Hard Core+ Metal Lures

THE versatile and popular TT Hard Core metal lure has been pimped, with new pearl and chrome finishes and an expansion of the range to include 20, 30, 40 and 60g sizes.

A popular option for high-speed spinning for pelagic species, such as tailor, salmon, mackerel and tuna, the Hard Core+ has a reputation for its erratic action and compact profile that represents small bait perfectly, while still carrying the weight for a long cast and to get down in current as required.

Not only a high-speed lure though, the erratic action of the Hard Core+ has also proven deadly when jigged vertically or twitched and retrieved for reef and pelagic species.

Finished with a quality Mustad heavy duty treble, this compact baitfish profile is ready to take on big blue water speedsters.

From the beaches and rocks to the offshore bait schools and bust ups, make sure you have a few of these proven fish catchers in your kit.

Bring it on!

Suggested retail price is from $7.95.

Visit ttfishing.com

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Berkley PowerBait HoneyBall

THE all-new Berkley PowerBait HoneyBall swimbait rolls patent-pending Honeycomb technology, PowerBait scent and a tight swim action into the one soft bait.

Short, fat and wide is what bream and natives love, so we made it!

Visit berkley-fishing.com.au

Palms Slow Blatt Cast

PALMS Slow Blatt Cast lures have become extremely popular for anglers fishing both in the freshwater and saltwater.

The 20, 30 and even 40g models have www.bnbfishing.com.au

been a must-have lure for social and tournament impoundment bass anglers over the past few years as they have been absolutely slaying the bass, accounting for the current world record from Somerset Dam. Both from the shore and from boats, anglers have had success slow rolling and hoping these lures through the schools of Australian bass in impoundments all over the country.

The 20g models are rigged perfectly for bass as they have super sharp assists hooks to pin fish even with the most subtle of bites.

In saltwater, anglers have targeted all manner of species from flathead in the shallows through to big pelagic in the deep water.

Shore-based anglers have caught a whole manner of species from small species such as bream from the sand all the way to big kingfish off the rocks.

Boat anglers have found Palms Slow Blatts an absolute stand-out jig for targeting demersal species as well as pelagic species.

Some models may require heavier assists if targeting bigger species but the action and the quality of the jigs are a level above many others on the market.

Oval The Oval Slow Blatt has the slowest sink rate due to its flat shape, which creates a slow wide sink as the lures slowly plains to the bottom.

The slow speed fall keeps the jig in the face of the target species and the wide action helps excite them to bite.

Especially effective on Australian bass in the freshwater and demersal species in low current waters in the saltwater.

60cm/sec sink rate.

Slim The Slim Slow Blatt in centre balanced to give it a slow and stable fall.

These jigs have fluttering fall that is erratic yet vertically straight.

When jigged they are easy to work as the centre balance has less weight resistance and has a great side to side action.

80cm/sec sink rate.

Wide The Wide Slow Blatt has the fastest most erratic sink of all the slow blatts and the smallest profile for weight.

This is an advantage when fishing deeper water, faster current or when a super

erratic action is required to excite a fish in to biting.

More effort is required to work the wides as they are rear weighted, so heavier tackle may be needed.

90cm/sec sink rate.

Long Like the slim but longer and narrower, the Long Slow Blatt has a similar fall but has a very wide side-to-side action when worked through the water column.

These jigs have heavier assists as the action lends itself to targeting more aggressive species such as kingfish that need more stopping power.

Visit ejtodd.com.au

Status Elite Deep Drop Rods

STATUS Elite Deep Drop range of rods from Shimano, a fusion of the esteemed Status bent butt and the timeless Tiagra game rod.

Purpose-built for discerning offshore fisho, this series offers a competitively priced yet high-performance solution for targeting a diverse array of fish using electric reels.

Crafted with a power carbon composite blank that seamlessly blends E-glass and graphite, the Status Elite Deep Drop rods deliver an exceptional combination of strength and sensitivity.

Boasting a substantial hoop strength and durability, these rods maintain a comfortable bending curve, ensuring optimal performance during prolonged offshore adventures.

Experience the epitome of offshore angling with Status Elite Deep Drop, where innovation meets affordability.

Elevate your fishing game and conquer the depths with a rod that stands up to the challenge, without breaking the bank.

Unleash the power, feel the sensitivity and redefine your offshore fishing adventures.

Visit fish.shimano.com/en-au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 73

John English took home the prize for the biggest yellowbelly at 51cm.

T

Isisford Fishing Competition 2024 HE annual Isisford Fishing Competition saw an impressive turnout for 2024, with 444 adults and 100 juniors participating in the event.

Over 300 fish were measured, showcasing the skill and dedication of the competitors.

John English took home the prize for the Biggest Yellowbelly, measuring an impressive 51cm.

This category was proudly sponsored by Game Meat Processing, Whitman’s Cafe and Ando’s Food Barn.

In the junior category, Dustin Wemyss won the Longest Yellowbelly, with a catch measuring 49cm, sponsored by Lobsies Yellowbelly Hunters.

The Ladies Longest Yellowbelly, sponsored by Mogg Glass & Aluminium, in memory of Lou Bignell, was won by Lorraine White with a remarkable 55cm catch.

The Carole Reynolds Memorial Damper Competition also saw a record number of entries,

with 32 dampers competing.

Ian Reynolds – no relation – took first place in this beloved event.

In the team events, the Barcoo River Rats Longest Combined Length Team Competition was won by the Barcoo Bunyips, with a combined length of 227.3cm.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who travelled from far and wide to make the weekend such a fantastic event.

Your participation and enthusiasm are what make the Isisford Fishing Competition so special.

We also extend our gratitude to our generous sponsors, our tireless volunteers and Nev from Outback Sound, who always gives 100 percent.

Finally, we want to thank everyone for their continued support over the past 23 years.

Mark your calendars for next year’s competition, scheduled for July 25-27, 2025.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Page 74 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

The author and a 76cm chilly water saratoga.

Cool time at Cania Dam

W

HILE the cold weather of winter is a good reason for limiting outdoor activities, fishing dams is not one of them.

Cold water still hold hungry fish, though it is nice that the weather is warming up a little.

Out at Monto, where Lake Cania is, we certainly have some very chilly mornings, with a few dropping to -4C, but the days warm up nicely.

With the cooler water, bass have been schooling, holding closer to the bottom and nearer the deeper channels.

Targeting them by dropping smaller blades about 10g through the schools will stir them up and entice bites.

Same with using smaller vibes, tail spinners and silver spoons.

I’ve also found bass and yellowbelly holding

Outback Fishing

by HELEN ABDY

very close in lily pads amid weeds.

Catching weeds can be frustrating but persistence pays off.

If your favourite method is trolling, slow your speed down and give a few jerks with the rod to give your lure an erratic action.

Troll across the channels, which you can do by watching the sounder screen and seeing the bottom.

The biggest surprise was that saratoga were more active in the cooler water temperature than I remember them being.

This species is usually quiet in cooler temps, however they have been gathering in schools and, if they are hungry, it hasn’t been uncom-

mon to get hits each cast.

My favourite are flies or spinnerbaits.

The best flies are a slow-sink bulky mix of black, purple, white on a mid-sink line close to the lily pads.

For spinnerbaits, I have a favourite red black colour, though lately – or maybe it’s due to the cooler water – gold yellow colours have been working well and it hasn’t mattered if it’s one or two blades.

Geteminya Spinnerbaits in Biloela have a 5/8 spinnerbait with one longer blade – bass and togas love it.

However, keep those hooks sharpened because you know those * continued P75

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Cool time at Cania Dam * from P74

togas have very hard mouths and keeping them attached can be a challenge some days.

Green tagged fish at Cania There’s money in the water.

If you haven’t already got the Queensland Fishing 2.0 app, download it onto your smart phone.

If you do have it, simply open it and it will upgrade to the latest version.

Not only are you able to keep up to date with rules and regulations, but you can also purchase your Stocked Impoundment Permit and keep track of the fish you catch on your fishing trips.

By signing in and recording your catches, you can look back on what you’ve caught pre-

viously at the same time each year.

These statistics also help stocking groups check how much is being caught, which enables them to keep their dams and waterways stocked.

Some of us like to catch and release and perhaps take a fish or two for a feed, therefore restocking our waterways is important for everyone.

So, check out the new version app – it is a good tool and you can help stocking groups put these fish in our waterways too.

Also, an exciting thing happening at Cania is the Fish ‘n SIP$ tagged fishing competition, of which Cania has a few bass that could win you some money.

This is the second year Infofish Australia

has put green tags on 140 fish in eight stocked impoundment dams in Queensland.

The first 15 anglers to catch these fish, following the rules, will receive a nice cheque.

There’s barramundi in Tinaroo Falls, Peter Faust, Kinchant and Callide dams, bass in Cania Dam and golden perch in Wyaralong, Leslie and Baroon Pocket dams – scattered around the state for everyone to have a chance at winning.

So, grab your stocked impoundment permit and enjoy your time on the water – wetting a line might be very worthwhile.

Check out daf.qld.gov. au and follow the links to Fish ‘n SIP$ and you could be in the money.

Hope you see you on the water somewhere.

A beautifully coloured yellowbelly on a cold day.

Geteminya Spinnerbaits, freshwater species love this lure.

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50

GIFT R E H C VOU

Sign up to the BNB e-news for your chance to win $50 to spend at The Tackle Warehouse!

A weekly winner will be drawn from new and existing subscribers.

Winners will be announced in the Thursday e-news update.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 75

Angling for new inland fishing options

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Bigeye trevally swimming in a tank as part of Fisheries Research and Development Project 2022-155.

RIALS will begin this summer on the feasibility of diversifying inland fishing opportunities for recreational fishers in Queensland by introducing two trevally species to selected dams.

Recreational anglers could soon have new sportfishing opportunities with plans to stock dams and impoundments in tropical Queensland with bigeye trevally and giant trevally.

This initiative aims to diversify fishing options in dams currently dominated by barramundi, to attract a broader range of anglers and boost local tourism.

Both trevally species can grow to over 1m in length and require saltwater for breeding but can live and grow in freshwater, making

DAM LEVELS CURRENT AS OF 13/08/2024

DAMS Atkinson * Awoonga Bjelke-Petersen * Boondooma * Borumba * Burdekin Falls * Callide * Cania * Coolmunda * Dyer/Bill Gunn * Eungella * Fairbairn * Glenlyon * Hinze * Julius * Kinchant * Leslie * Macdonald * Maroon * Monduran/Fred Haigh * Moogerah * North Pine/Samsonvale * Peter Faust/Proserpine * Somerset * Teemburra * Tinaroo * Toonumbar Wivenhoe * Wuruma * Wyaralong *

PERCENTAGE APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

81 54 87 86 100 103 17 25 68 100 100 39 63 101 100 86 73 102 100 89 100 67 67 79 100 105 101 81 80 100

82 54 89 92 100 99 17 26 67 100 100 38 63 101 97 86 73 103 100 91 99 67 67 80 100 102 102 82 79 100

82 53 88 91 100 98 17 26 70 99 100 37 63 100 95 85 72 101 100 90 98 66 66 80 100 102 101 82 79 100

78 53 88 88 100 95 76 26 70 98 100 35 63 98 92 85 70 101 100 90 96 64 66 78 100 101 101 81 78 99

77 52 87 87 99 93 16 26 70 95 100 36 63 96 90 84 70 100 100 89 94 63 65 78 100 101 101 80 78 99

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.

Page 76 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

them ideal candidates for stocking tropical dams within 50km of the coast.

Risk assessment Under Fisheries Research and Development Project 2022-155, risk assessment trials will begin in the 202425 summer in Kinchant Dam, 35km inland from Mackay.

Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries principal researcher Michael Hutchison said both trevally species were highly rated sportfish.

Introducing them to selected Queensland impoundments could enhance regional economies by attracting touring fishing enthusiasts as well as local anglers.

“They will be accessible from the shoreline as well as boats and in weather conditions not suitable for offshore boating,” Mr Hutchinson said.

“Inland impoundments will provide anglers with options.”

He added that the first step was a comprehensive risk analysis to ensure trevally do not pose an environmental risk by unbalancing existing fish populations.

Initial trials will also test the ongoing feasibility of stocking fingerlings spawned in captivity in a 35,000-litre tank.

“Kinchant Dam is ideal for the trial because it is already stocked with barramundi,” he said.

“It is an off-river storage, which means, in the rare event of spillage caused by extreme weather, there is minimal chance of fish escaping downstream.”

“Trevally don’t breed in freshwater, so any negative impacts detected in the stocking

trial can be reversed by stopping the stocking and fishing down the stocked population.”

Growth potential Mr Hutchinson emphasised the main goal of the project was to increase the variety of species available to anglers.

“We have other recreational species such as sooty grunter stocked in some barramundi dams, but they are slow growing and not many make it to catchable size because they are preyed on by the barramundi,” he said.

“The trevally, however, are fast swimmers and fast growing.”

He added the other factor that would help trevally reach trophy size is that most recreational fishers in these environments practise catch-and-release.

In the first stage of the three-year trial, researchers will evaluate the survival and development of the introduced trevally fingerlings and study any impacts on prey species such as bony bream and fly-specked hardyhead.

These populations are considered strong and unlikely to be impacted.

The research will also evaluate angler attitudes to trevally in impoundments and catch rates.

Researchers will manage any disease risks by testing fingerlings prior to release and will manage genetic diversity using various broodstock and regularly replacing broodstock fish.

For FRDC, the Queensland trevally-stocking project will serve as a case study for other recreational fishing diversification options in northern Australia and elsewhere, particularly near-coastal impoundments.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

The classic has fishing categories and prizes for each member of the family.

The 2023 top 10 senior major lucky draw winners.

Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic 2024

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HE twenty-fifth Tackle World Bundaberg Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic will be held on October 18-20, 2024 at Fred Haigh Dam (Lake Monduran), slightly north of Gin Gin. Over $40,000 worth of cash and prizes will be up for grabs, including individual fish catch awards and random lucky prize draw sections.

The major senior lucky draw prize, sponsored

by Bundaberg Marineland, is a 390HS Sea Jay boat, 20hp Honda fourstroke outboard, trailer and safety gear package valued at $13,800.

Juniors could win a $1200 kayak and many other great prizes simply by entering and attending the event.

The lucky draws, fund-raising raffles and event briefing commence at 7pm Friday October 18.

To have the best chance of catching a winning fish, listen to the educational talk from local guides with local knowledge, tips and tricks.

Juniors will be entertained over the weekend with a colouring-in competition for ages 3-10, casting competition for all juniors under 17, finding the colour-

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ed barramundi signs around the lake while out fishing and fingerling release on Saturday morning, and every junior entrant will receive a competitor pack when registering for the twenty-fifth Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic.

During the weekend, hungry anglers will have plenty of options, with tasty selections from Piping Hot Woodfired Pizzas.

Coffee Lips will be serving up hot and cold drinks and the Twist N Shake ice cream van will be there to pour swirls of creamy deliciousness.

Our licenced bar will operate each evening and during the presentations on Sunday, where no doubt a few tales will be told of the one that got away.

For those interested in attending the event, registration is $35 for adults and $15 for juniors up to 16 years, which allows for entry in all the random lucky draws and fishing for barramundi, Australian bass, fork-tail catfish and eel-tail catfish (or jewfish), with some senior section cash prizes being $1000.

For entrants over 18, a Stocked Impoundment Permit will be required to fish Lake Monduran.

These are available on-

line (scan the QR code), or in person at Tackle World Bundaberg or the Lake Monduran Holiday Park kiosk.

Registrations for the Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic are now being taken online at masa-fishstocking.org. au, in person at Tackle World Bundaberg or at the Monduran Anglers and Stocking Association office at Lake Monduran from 2pm on Friday October 18.

Follow the MASA Facebook page for the latest updates on this great family oriented event.

Thank you to our many sponsors, including major sponsors Tackle World Bundaberg, BLA and Bundaberg Marineland.

Their support with fund-raising activities and goals will help our volunteer association release 250,000 barramundi in the lake this year.

For further information or to sponsor this event, phone 0497 072 368.

Brayden Charteris with a 98cm barramundi caught at last year’s classic.

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07 4157 3881 or email info@lakem.com.au www.lakem.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 77

No, that’s not snow. It’s an astonishingly heavy frost to the water’s edge.

Hitting NSW high country in winter

W

The big Predatek Sandviper was quite effective in stirring cod into action.

A thick coating of ice crystals on the vehicle was indicative of how low the air temperature was in the hills.

Page 78 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

EATHER reports predicted an Antarctic blast for eastern Australia, timed very inconveniently to coincide with a planned trip to the Granite Belt highlands in northern NSW. This trip was undertaken to get one of my great friends and regular hunting companions onto his first Murray cod.

Hailing from tropical Queensland originally, Mick has plenty of experience throwing lures at mundane species such as barramundi and mangrove jack – humour – but none with our Murray-Darling Basin natives.

We’d made the mission quite difficult by timing it in the depths of winter, which is OK

Fishing for Sport

by NEIL SCHULTZ

for lake-dwelling cod but the least productive season for skinny water high country streams.

Water temperatures drop much lower in shallow streams than in large lakes and this slows the fish’s metabolism, and therefore feeding frequency.

Water clarity is also a factor with gin-clear streams being the norm in winter due to zero algae growth.

Knowing the odds were stacked against us – and that the weather would make camping a little, erm, invigorating – didn’t make us reconsider, so off we went down the New England Hwy.

Stepping out of the vehicle on arrival at our campsite slightly before dark was a shock – it was cold… 6C and very windy.

Several additional layers of clothes were donned before rolling out swags in the old shearing shed and boiling the billy for a very welcomed and steaming coffee.

After the farmer mentioned he had seen recent signs of feral pigs and asked if we’d be able to help get rid of them, a mission was undertaken.

Four hours of cruising around the paddocks spotlighting in pain* continued P79

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Hitting NSW high country * from P78

fully cold conditions proved successful with a few destructive porkers taken out of the ecosystem.

Back to camp and into swags wearing many layers and topping the sleeping bag off with a couple of woollen blankets made for a reasonably comfortable night.

Climbing out of the swag at 5am the next morning felt like stepping into a walk-in freezer – wow!

An indication of how low the thermometer had dipped… when I picked the kettle up to brew a cuppa, it was frozen solid.

Stepping outside, I was greeted by a scene that looked like we’d had a fall of snow, though it was in fact a very heavy frost.

Air temperature at -5C meant that any exposed skin was burning, and touching metal was a bad idea.

Driving around the tracks after the engine had been running for more than an hour, we still had ice on the bonnet of the vehicle.

Yes, it was cold!

Fishing was impossible because water on the line froze within seconds, icing runners completely closed after a few casts.

A hike through the hills with a long lens on the Canon SLR snapping photos of the local wildlife was a pleasant way to fill a few hours while waiting for the sun the warm the air.

Holding off until the last of the frost had melted saw us rigging rods beside the stream at 11am.

The midday hours are generally the least productive when chasing

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most of our freshwater fish, especially so in the shallow crystal-clear water we were fishing.

Here is a method that will help increase the chances of success in such conditions.

Put very simply, look for shade.

Fish will avoid bright sunlight by seeking out a shaded position in the stream.

This might be as obvious as the shadow cast by tall bankside trees, but more subtle positions are often fruitful.

The thin shade line alongside a sunken log or rock is all cod need to feel comfortable and they’ll ambush prey from those spots.

Steep or undercut banks should also be probed with lures if there is a shade line present.

Obviously that little tactic won’t turn a tough outing into a blinder of a session, yet it can yield a fish or two when all has been quiet.

By employing that method, Mick managed a very nice cod for his midday effort, taken from a shaded mid-water snag.

The fishing wasn’t easy, however thoughtful casting into those tight corners out of the midday sun found the fish.

These small streams dictate shallow running lures, but don’t be afraid to tie on a largish lure.

One of my go-to lures for this scenario is the Predatek Sandviper, which at 140mm is a fair lump of plastic.

Though we had an interesting and productive outing, I am very glad spring is finally here.

Mick’s first cod capture, a corker for such skinny water, gently cradled for a quick photo before release.

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FREE Hop on to bnbfishing.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 79

Sonya captured her first Murray cod.

Mary River cod floundering

T

We need this format to start in January 2025.

HE workshop at Murgon brought to light the fact that many stocking groups were under the pump.

The work taking place being done by a few anglers within the local regions.

The author sent this letter to Fisheries Queensland.

Page 80 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

Glenlyon Dam

by BRIAN DARE

With the asking of the same question each year still cropping up… who do we talk to for advice?

This struggle has been over an eight-year period, with little or no advancement during that time.

Mary River cod Right now, this species is now on the near-extinct list.

History, taken from The Codfather by Dr Stuart Rowland, should put a shiver up the spine of those who run the state, either side of the house.

As with other threatened species, genetic diversity in Mary River cod is very low and a threat to its long-term viability.

Studies have found relatively few alleles and loci, and the species’ effective population size is less than 50.

It is generally accepted that the effective population size needs to be at least 500 and preferably over 1000 to ensure long-term evolutionary potential.

The low effective population size places

Mary River cod at risk of inbreeding, genetic drift and decreased ‘fitness’.

There are genetic differences between cod in the Tinana and Coondoo creeks and those in other tributaries, such as the Mary River, SixMile Creek and ObiObi Creek.

This is likely a result of isolation of the smaller Tinana-Coondoo system, which flows into the Mary River well downstream near Maryborough.

The estuary would restrict mixing of cod and gene flow between the two populations.

Distinctly different habitat types may also play a role through local adaptations.

Coondoo Creek flows through coastal lowlands, known as ‘wallum country’, producing water with characteristically low pH, high levels of tannins and tea tree-stained water.

These two distinct genetic stocks provide opportunities to increase genetic variation and * continued P81

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Mary River cod are floundering * from P80

potentially heterosis (hybrid).

Mary River cod is undoubtedly one of the conservation success stories in Australia.

Much credit goes to Gerry Cook, who had the vision and determination to start the breeding and stocking program in the 1980s, and the efforts of Russell Manning and Darren Knowles in following years.

However, low genetic diversity and future development of the coastal valleys in this populous part of Queensland will pose serious threats to the endemic populations of Mary River cod and challenges to the agencies responsible for its conservation.

If you were to speak with Meaghan Duncan

from NSW Fisheries ‘Fish Gen’ and ask how long we have to rebuild the population of the only freshwater cod species in Queensland, the answer would now be less than eight years.

The decline of the Mary River cod population has been known by both of the major parties of this state for the past 14 years.

With the routing of Fisheries, its department biologists and staff nine years ago, the rot started.

With little or no regard to the demise by the new guard, the situation has become desperate.

During the workshop, delegates visited two hatcheries in Murgon.

These two hatcheries, and one other, could be the key to the survival of this special fish.

Funding and frustration Let’s look at $1.75 million annually to at least cover the lost sales of fish fingerlings, bred for restocking rivers, streams and storages.

If not used from those three hatcheries, this would be the loss of income.

Frustrated!

This is only part of the problem.

The stocked impoundment permit system is in slow motion when it comes to returns of funding.

The cost of an annual permit in 2020-21 was $50 and weekly permit sales had 30,374 anglers opt in, to the cost of $10 per person.

With the annual permit discount and weekly sales, the total * continued P82

Jason Austin managed both yellowbelly and cod on his Nunya Lures.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 81

Joan Jensen with a 1m plus Murray cod.

Mary River cod floundering * from P81

collected was about $1.168 million for that period.

In 2024, the cost of a permit was $60.40 annually, $43 and $13, rounded off.

For 2023-24, the total of $1.36 million across the board was collected.

Had the following format been put in place, a significant $5.5 million would have been collected.

Working on $0.10 a day per freshwater recreational angler multiplied by 150,000 who purchase an annual permit at $36.50 locked in for 10 years, $5.5 million would have been accumulated, instead of a mere $1.36.

I have been informed that 200,000 freshwater anglers is closer to the correct figure.

Be that as it may, looking at the total of $5.5 million a year, locking in $36.50 for 10 years would see a substantial $55 million spent on freshwater fishing.

Back to the Mary River cod, look at the breakdown and you’ll see $750,000 set aside for research.

This total could be spent yearly on stopping the demise of a special fish.

It would be a great result, to return such a fish to the forefront of freshwater fishing in Queensland.

Fatigued First of all, a very special thanks must go to Christelle Legrand – what a great effort she put into the workshop, no doubt working out of hours.

Christelle’s offsider John Dexter also had a tough time, with input and management formats.

If you were there, you would have seen the lack of Fisheries personnel, doctors of biology, biologists and projects managers, all of whom would have previously been on tap to speak with while you vented your spleen.

The above brings to notice the need that Fisheries Queensland has to be a separate department to the department of agriculture, due to a conflict of interest.

We see this many times in regard to water, habitat, access and management of our fish species in Queensland.

‘Primary industries’ is farming and grazing, ‘fisheries’ is the managing of aquatic animals, species of fish and aquaculture projects.

Page 82 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024

A monster 102cm barramundi from Lake Monduran on a Molix 140 slow rolled past a weed bed.

Brenton English

Redland Bay Amateur Fishing Club winners of the June/July RBAFC Sports Fishing Competition, which runs monthly. Winner for flathead was Brax Temple with a 76cm lizard, Junior Members’ Choice winner was Brax Temple boating a 52cm snapper, measured to the fork, and Seniors’ Members Choice winner was Matt Loutitt with a 75cm spangled emperor, also measured to the fork.

RBAFC

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Jason D’Silva, Ben Fleming and I made the trip to Roko Island near Bamaga in late June.

It’s a fishing mecca and while the weather was a bit rough, we had a great time on pelagic species.

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

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2024 – Page 83

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