BNB Fishing mag | Oct 2017

Top tips for fishos, from fishos

4

$

50 Includes GST

October 2017 Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 28, Number 10

Bumper bass biting Flathead, flathead and more flathead Gold Coast going off

Remote fishing adventures Taking on epic estuary species Sand crabs in Moreton Bay

Options on offshore reefs

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 1

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Page 2 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

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Inside this month Mangrove jack

P56

lion people on its doorstep.

I am a great believer in rolling together a range of factors that determine fishing choices

OUR COVER

MATI BATS landed this red emperor on a large mullet fillet skipped along the bottom with a running ball sinker on 30lb gear. Check out his article on Page 41 for more big red action.

EDITOR: SUBEDITOR: ADVERTISING: PRODUCTION:

Ben Collins Daniel Tomlinson Ben Collins, Kacie Hubbert Jo Hendley

Phone (07) 3286 1833 Fax (07) 3821 2637 Email: ben@bnbfishing.com.au Internet: www.bnbfishing.com.au PO Box 387, Cleveland, Qld 4163 Unit 2, 39 Enterprise Street, Cleveland, Qld 4163 AFTA PRINTER: Rural Press, Ormiston DISTRIBUTION BY: Fairfax Max. recommended retail price $4.50 (includes GST).

CORRESPONDENTS: Editorial contributions are welcome, as is news from clubs, associations, or individuals; and new product news from manufacturers. Entire contents copyright. Nothing may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. It is the responsibility of advertisers to ensure the correctness of their claims and statements. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.

G IN

FISH ING ’S

E TUR FU

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☛ continued P4

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.

RA

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Offshore Report............................by Bill Corten .......................................P3 Moreton Bay crabs.....................by Brian Webb.....................................P7 Flathead in southern bay ..........by Sean Conlon ...................................P9 Epic estuary species...................... by Keith Stratford....................................P12 Bribie Island whiting .................by Chris Raimondi ............................P13 Outboard Review ........................by Greg Lamprecht ...........................P16 Broadwater Region......................by Wayne ‘Youngy’ Young ..............P18 Superb spring options ...............by Brad Smith ....................................P19 Snapper off Gold Coast .............by Scott Van Burck...........................P20 GC summer species ..................by Darren Rama ................................P21 A deep-dropping dilemma........by Gavin Dobson ...............................P22 Insights into boat insurance ....................................................................P23 Options around Ballina................. by Brett Hyde ...........................................P24 Bass and bream...........................by Gary ‘Squidgie’ Palmer..............P25 Iluka wrap-up ..............................by Tye Porter ......................................P27 Hard-bodies for bass..................by Nathan ‘Nath’ Palmer ................P28 Rainbow Beach rewards..........by Mick Clutterbuck ........................P34 Sunshine Coast............................by Wade Qualischefski...................P36 Hervey Bay....................................by Tri Ton .............................................P37 Fantastic Fraser Island ..............by Sean ‘Skip’ Thompson ...............P38 Getting back to basics...............by Joel Johnson................................P40 Experiencing Bunker Group ....... by Mati Bats .............................................P41 Gladstone Region....................... by Gary Churchward .......................P42 Stanage Bay .................................by Von Ireland....................................P43 Hinchinbrook News ...................by Todd Eveleigh ..............................P44 Kayaking............................................. by Mitchell Townsend .........................P46 Kids and canoes ..........................by Dan Owbridge..............................P47 Fun for the family ........................by Tom Laszlo ....................................P48 Readers Forum.............................................................................................P49 Charter Directory ................................................................................. P50,51 Levuka 4x4 Park ..........................by Greg Bell .......................................P53 Trip to the tip ................................by Brad Young ...................................P55 Weipa fishing adventure...........by Robert Payne ................................P56 Cape York ......................................by ‘Billabong’ Bazz Lyon .................P57 Fishing Northern Territory ........by Zac Panaretos ..............................P58 Camping Tips............................... by Melissa Frohloff..........................P60 NSW salmon spinning .................. by Neil Schultz ........................................P61 Monduran Dam ........................... by Donna Gane .................................P62 Western rivers yellowbelly......by Noal Kuhl ......................................P63 Competition Report.....................by Drew McGrath .............................P64 Borumba Dam .................................. by Callum Munro....................................P66 Freshwater Impoundments ..... by Matthew Langford......................P67 Freshwater Fishing.................... by Steve Wilkes ...............................P68 Bass and barra ............................by Glenn Hobson...............................P69 Glenlyon Dam...............................by Brian Dare.....................................P69 Mary Valley fishing comp.........by Paul ‘Chief’ Graveson ................P70 Trading Post.................................................................................................P71 Recipe ........................................... by Melissa Frohloff..........................P72 Subscription form ......................................................................................P72

AUST

NOVEMBER edition will be on sale in newsagents from October 27. See subscriber offer on Page 72 to go in the draw to win one of two 65-litre Osprey Transporter series expedition duffel bags valued at $200 each.

on any given day.

Things like moon phase play a big part in determining where I fish and which species I target.

The state of the tide has a big effect, and I also run with several other selfdeveloped rules of thumb about barometer, when some places fish better and what is likely to be on the menu.

That isn’t to say I never have an off day.

We all do at times, regardless of how much effort we put in, and that is why our pastime is called fishing, not catching.

Conversely, at certain times of the year some places fish well regardless of moon phase, but with experience comes knowledge and options that can turn slow days into something a lot better.

Recently I was contacted by an interstate visitor who wanted me to pick up himself, his mates and family members from a cruise liner anchored at Tangalooma overnight so they could enjoy a day’s fishing offshore while in our region.

After discussing logistics and their expectations for the day, I was looking forward to delivering a fun day that would be different to the run-of-themill offshore fishing trip.

After a simple pick-up off the beach when the first tenders went ashore, we were off up around Moreton Island to a live bait ground to the east.

The livies were not cooperating, which was a bugger, so we tried another spot and found nothing happening, with big

P66

ATI ON

by BILL CORTEN

Bumper bass

CI

Not bad for a location that has something like 2.2 mil-

Offshore Report

Weipa trip

O

T

HE fishing on the reefs offshore from Brisbane has been superb on occasions, with plenty of light wind days allowing access to shallow and deeper reefs, with some cracking fish caught too.

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Adapting to factors that affect your fishing

P12

PRO TE CT

Cameron Masters nailed the best pearl perch of the day using a Wilson Venom overhead combo south of Point Lookout on the full moon.

Offshore action

HIN G T R A D E

I

FEEL like I say this a fair bit, but doesn’t time fly when you are having fun.

I can’t believe the October edition is done and dusted.

One of the reasons this year is racing by is plenty has been happening on the fishing and boating scene.

First, I would like to thank everyone who attended the recent Brisbane Boat Show.

It is never an easy event for the organisers to put together but I think the number of new boats on display was very impressive.

If you dropped past the Bush ‘n Beach Fishing stand, thank you very much – it is always good to catch up with readers.

The shows present a great opportunity to meet you and we always welcome your feedback.

Another event just around the corner is the Gold Coast Flathead Classic, which will be held the week after this edition hits the stands.

If you haven’t fished this competition, it is one to put on the bucket list.

The catch, photograph and release comp seems to go from strength to strength and I’ll be fishing it again this year.

However, fellow BNB team member Daniel Tomlinson has jumped ship this year and will be fishing in a second BNB Fishing team, so I’m sure there will be a bit of friendly rivalry and maybe even a liquid wager.

Again, this event offers a fantastic chance to catch up with fellow fisho folk and share tales of recent fishing adventures and how your day on the water went.

While it is a competition, the Flathead Classic has a very friendly vibe, which is probably why most anglers come back year after year.

If you haven’t managed to do much pre-fishing for the event (like me), you’ll find plenty of tips in this issue to point you in the right direction.

In this edition you’ll also find an article from Brian Webb, who graced these pages for many years before having a spell from writing.

It is great to have Webby back on board because over the years he has provided numerous anglers with key information for fishing around Moreton Bay. Not too many people know the bay better than Webby, so keep an eye out for his articles to pick up a few hot tips.

Finally, the Product Emissions Standards Bill, which I briefly spoke about last month, looks set to be passed in the Senate soon.

The Bill will see the end of noncompliant two-stroke outboards, with import restrictions starting in mid2018.

It is worth noting this does not include modern direct-injection outboards such as Evinrude E-TECs, which meet and in fact far exceed the current emissions standards.

Ben Collins

August prizewinner Congratulations to Kim Johnson, Deebing Heights who has won a massive Old Dog lure pack valued at over $360.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 3

James Allan got a solid workout on this live baitcaught yellowtail kingfish.

Not bad for the first spot stopped at early one morning.

Amberjack have been in good numbers on the more isolated pinnacles around the new moon period.

Adapting to factors that affect your fishing ☛ from P3

This young fella was very happy with his best snapper of the day from the 33-fathom reef line.

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snapper and lippers not co-operating either.

I decided we’d run seaward and focus on baits, micro jigs and deep jigs.

Micros were very slow but the bonito they hooked were going to be awesome baits for somewhere I had in mind for later in the day.

We then moved out a bit deeper to work over a few other lines of reef and it was a little slow, but with some snapper and other keepers in the box, things were looking better.

With the emphasis not on what was in the box, because the cruise ship would not allow them to return with fish they had caught, the challenge was to give the crew not only an enjoyable day but to get them doing something out of the ordinary or catching something they wouldn’t at home.

Well, turns out they hadn’t done any deepwater jigging before and were keen to give it a go.

So, off we went to some craggy pinnacle country

Bonito

that just happened to be loaded with bait to see what was lurking in the area.

The young fella on the crew was a bit of a footy whiz and fit as, so after a bit of a tutorial he got the rhythm going and worked up a few solid kingies.

His peers were not as fit it turns out and soon wore out while on the jigs, but did manage some decent fish on baits.

These guys said they didn’t get pearl perch down south and I really wanted them to see how big they can grow up here.

So it was off to a quiet little rise in deeper water where I found plenty of the tell-tale light-blue dots and streaks hugging the seabed on the sounder screen.

That’s them for sure, I thought, and dropping hooks loaded with bonito fillet into the thickest patches worked a treat.

It was the right part of the day in terms of tide, moon and location and it was a good session, with some nice fish also released because they have

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good survivability.

The crew had worked pretty hard all day and their reward at the end was to sit on the anchor off Yellow Patch on a totally glassy sea in a lovely warm environment (unlike anywhere down south in winter) and enjoy several local beers I happened to find in the fridge while I cooked them up a feast of fresh pearl perch fillets.

It wasn’t hard to impress because those pearlies are so moist and literally fall apart in your mouth when they are that fresh.

We all had a good chuckle enjoying the northern sights of Moreton Island in the warm late-afternoon sun wondering if the rest of the cruise ship passengers had had a day anywhere near as good as this crew’s.

As we get on in the year, the increasing water temp (it was 21.9C at the time of writing) will see a reduction in snapper numbers as the species spreads more widely.

Pearl perch have been biting particularly well lately and will continue to go really well until later in the year.

Coinciding with all this has been an increase in the number of amberjack and teraglin on the reefs and I’ve had a few bookings lately to specifically target them.

The smaller teraglin south of Point Lookout have been very active and I have noticed more of the bigger teraglin north along Moreton appearing in our catches.

The midrange lines of reef fished well for amberjack over the last new moon period and live baiting for them has been a lot of fun in anywhere between 55m and 75m of water.

Being prepared by deliberately pre-setting drags to the right level, upgrading to heavier leader to absorb the impact and ensuring the rig has no nicks and abrasions will count for heaps with these fish.

You will see a lot more of them in coming months and they go hard when hooked up.

The bag limit of two amberjack and two kingies per person is about the right level and helps ensure plenty are around for the future as they can be over-fished.

Countering this, the increasing water temperatures see numbers of dolphinfish moving in from warmer waters and they provide plenty of fun and sport for everyone who hooks up on them.

The wave buoy off Point Lookout is a very popular place for them and we can only hope no tragedies occur there this summer.

The numbers of spearos in the water holding onto the buoy that is clearly

signed ‘keep clear’ waiting to ambush a big dollie and the number of people moving around in boats casting live baits increases annually.

It is a potentially deadly combination where common sense is required.

Tony Kickert worked hard for this live bait-caught amberjack that was photographed and released to fight another day.

Maddie Kickert was happy with her first pearl perch.

A cracking late-afternoon deepwater pearl perch from north of Deep Tempest.

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Boatie prosecuted for obstructing fisheries officers

A

BRISBANE boat skipper who refused to stop his vessel and motored off on the Logan River has been fined $1500 for obstructing fisheries officers.

Beenleigh Magistrates’ Court imposed the penalty for a charge of obstruction, a serious offence under fisheries laws that has a maximum penalty of $126,150.

Queensland Boating and

Fisheries Patrol field officer James Hohenhaus said officers were on patrol near the Alberton boat ramp in the early hours of the morning in August 2016.

“A vessel was being put onto a boat trailer and while fisheries officers were speaking with the vehicle’s driver, the boat was reversed into the Logan River,” Mr Hohenhaus said.

“Despite being directed

to stop, the vessel’s master continued downstream without navigation lights on and failed to return to the boat ramp.

“The boat skipper deliberately obstructed fisheries officers in the course of their investigation.

“His actions meant we could not inspect the vessel to ensure the fishing catch on board complied with fisheries laws.”

Mr Hohenhaus said fish-

eries officers have powers under the Fisheries Act 1994 to stop and search a vessel.

“This is a reminder that any person who obstructs an officer from doing their duty can be prosecuted,” he said.

“It’s important that everyone abides by the rules as fisheries officers carry out the important task of protecting Queensland’s valuable fisheries stocks from

exploitation.”

If anyone suspects illegal fishing activity, they should report it to the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116 so it can be investigated.

For more information on Queensland fishing rules and regulations, visit fish eries.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.

You can follow Fisheries Queensland on Facebook and Twitter (@FisheriesQld).

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Research to investigate concerns with carp control plan

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SU BSTA NTIAL investment has been made under Australia’s National Carp Control Plan to explore the viability of using the carp virus, cyprinid herpesvirus 3, to control the pest species carp in Australia’s waterways, and ultimately improve water quality and ecosystem health.

A comprehensive research program is central to this approach under the Australian Government’s $15 million NCCP, to address remaining knowledge gaps and understand key risks and opportunities.

The University of Adelaide is leading two pieces of research looking at key aspects of water quality.

One project will assess the risk of anoxia – no oxygen – in rivers, wetlands and floodplain habitats following

carp mortalities, while the other will investigate the risk of harmful blue-green algae blooms caused by carp mortality events and how best to avoid them.

NCCP national coordinator Matt Barwick said: “We acknowledge that low oxygen levels – something that already occurs from time to time in some Australian waterways – and algal blooms are a concern for stakeholders, so both these research projects are vitally important.”

Principal researcher Prof Justin Brookes, director of the Water Research Centre at the University of Adelaide, said: “We know oxygen is very dynamic in aquatic ecosystems and some areas and habitat types already experience low oxygen levels from time to time because oxygen can change with things like wind flow, velocity

and high-dissolved organic carbon.”

“Under the anoxia research project, we are combining field-based experiments with hydrodynamic-biogeochemical modelling to help us understand how carp density and flow might alter the risk of hypoxia (low oxygen) or anoxia.”

Meanwhile, the related project looking at the risk of blue-green algae blooms aims to determine how mortality of carp following the potential carp virus release may affect nutrient concentrations, and therefore risk of blue-green algae growth.

“We are aiming to predict the impact of carp mortality on key aspects of water quality in wetlands, rivers and floodplain habitats and whether strategies including water flow management can mitigate the risk,” Prof Brookes said.

“We appreciate that tackling the carp problem on a continental scale is complex, but these research projects, along with the other eight research projects already under way, will ensure we have the evidence to determine the best way forward to help promote recovery of Australia’s waterways and aquatic biodiversity,” Mr Barwick said.

Some of the other major projects forming part of the NCCP research program include: a biomass study to estimate carp density in Australian waterways; completion of trials to confirm that only carp are affected; developing strategies for cleaning up carp waste if the virus is released; and a quantitative economic and ecological risk assessment of carp biocontrol.

“The NCCP is a robust

planning process,” Mr Barwick said.

“We are committed to undertaking the extensive research needed to make an informed recommendation to government at the end of 2018 on the most appropriate methods to control carp.

“At the end of the day, this national program aims to identify how best to reduce carp numbers in order to return our waterways back to healthy and vibrant ecosystems.”

In addition to research, a comprehensive stakeholder engagement plan will be undertaken over the next 18 months to consult with and seek feedback from the general public and special interest groups.

To be kept up to date on the NCCP, please visit carp.gov.au and sign up to the newsletter or visit the ‘contact us’ page to leave feedback.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 5

Page 6 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

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When you put in effort like Craig and Tim you get the results.

Swimming sideways F

EW things in life are tastier then freshly cooked crab.

Queensland has stringent laws regarding the use of crab pots and dillies and the capture of crabs.

Commonly called sand crabs, sandies and blue swimmers, these crabs happen to be one of the most abundant species in Moreton Bay, with about two million caught annually by commercial fishers (C1).

Up to four pots or dillies or a combination may be used per person in Queensland, and all must be marked by an identifying tag bearing the surname and address of the owner.

When not fixed to something land based or sunken, the pots must have a surface float in any colour other than yellow measuring at least 15cm in all dimensions, with the name of the owner clearly written on it.

You are also not allowed to place your pots in any shipping channels.

After you’ve captured your crabs, you must not have on board crabs with their carapace missing, crab meat or female crabs.

The minimum legal size of 11.5cm (males only) is measured from notch to notch.

This measuring procedure was brought in to stop the illegal activity of tipping crabs for sale.

Sandies, as their name indicates, are commonly caught in areas with sandy bottoms, but can also be found in muddy areas and around weed beds and shallow reefs.

Their depth range spans 50m waters to tidal zones, but they are mainly targeted in 4-30m of water.

In Moreton Bay, spawning peaks in spring, when females prefer to release eggs in sandy areas.

The eggs hatch into zoea after 14 days and float in the current until they have gone through four moults, when they change into megalopa and move to the seafloor before moulting into juvenile crabs that prefer close inshore shallows.

This whole process takes about 30 days, depending on temperatures.

Moulting is the process wherein a crab sheds its shell

Crabbing

by BRIAN WEBB

to grow.

Sandies can grow as much as 3cm each moult, and crabs caught immediately after a moult are known as soft shells.

In Moreton Bay, sandies can reach legal size in 12 months, with sexual maturity reached somewhere between 7.5cm and 12cm.

Males are generally larger and can reach a carapace size of 20cm.

Mating only takes place when males are between moults and females have just moulted.

The male clasps the female with his legs, holding her under his body and staying attached for a couple of days until the female’s shell has hardened.

The female holds the eggs (about two million) under her body flap until she’s ready to lay.

Females can produce up to 12 batches of eggs in a lifespan.

Sandies’ movements are governed by water salinity and temperature.

They don’t appear to move huge distances, mainly heading to deeper waters as they grow.

Feeding is dictated by moulting and they will usually stop feeding before a moult.

They become more active in their search for food around dusk and dawn and can often be found in areas where trawler by-catch is discarded.

Sandies are susceptible to a parasite barnacle that is visible as a brownish egg mass appearing under the flap on both sexes.

It is responsible for males looking like females but still having male reproductive organs.

The peak catches in Moreton Bay usually occur after Christmas and decline towards the end of winter.

Otter and prawn trawlers also take their fair share of sandies but quality is usually down due to the capture method, whereas pots produce better size and quality.

For us rec fishos, some of the better areas to target sandies are the 4-5m contours around the bay islands, the drop-offs on the western side of Amity Banks and the Rous Channel and north towards Shark Spit and the drop-offs and channels from Pearl Channel to Middle Banks.

Numerous rec fishos fail to ☛ continued P8

Blue swimmer or sand crabs are abundant in Moreton Bay and easy to catch with the right methods.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 7

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A feed of sandies – swimming sideways ☛ from P7

think of current, rope length and placement of pots or dillies when dropping them.

The result is the propellers on passing boats often cut long ropes when the float is nowhere near the sunken pot.

Current also drags and moves the pots from where they were placed, resulting in pots being lost or remaining permanently in the environment where other fish species can be caught and killed over time.

Before you buy your pots, you must consider a few things.

One is their bulk – four or eight rigid pots in a small boat won’t leave a lot of room.

By far the most popular type of pot is the collapsible mesh type.

They are simple to erect and the crabs are easy to empty out by pulling a drawstring.

They are easy to carry and once collapsed can be stacked on top of each other.

Without doubt, fresh mullet or fresh fish frames are the best crab baits.

A misconception exists that if the bait is old and smelly, it will work better.

This is not the case.

Just ask yourself what you would prefer to eat: a nice fresh mullet or one that stinks to high heaven.

Put the whole mullet in the pot and cut the belly cavity open to let out all the juices and leave a nice

berley trail for crabs to follow.

Whole chickens also work a treat.

A word of warning: even though sandies’ claws aren’t as powerful as muddies’, they can still leave a nasty imprint on your hand.

The best way to handle any crab is to put downward pressure on top of the carapace, then with your free hand grab the crab where both swimming flippers join the body.

Sandies only live for 1520 minutes out of water, so once caught, get them straight into a slurry or wet hessian bag.

Before cooking, make sure the crab is dead.

Sandies usually are by the time you get home.

Don’t use fresh water to cook, rather take a 20-litre drum of salt water home.

Once brought to the boil, place the sandies in and reduce the heat to a simmer for about 10 minutes.

I was once told to never eat hot crab, but warm crab melts in your mouth.

Otherwise, put the cooked crabs on a tray and place them in the fridge until they cool.

There’s nothing mysterious about catching crabs, especially sandies.

Just wait for the warmer weather, use fresh bait, work the rising tides and check your pots regularly.

And these days it pays to not travel too far away because there always seems to be someone wanting to check your pots for you.

!

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Marie caught and released this 68cm flathead on a trolled Zerek Bulldog Crank.

Mal with a lizard hooked on a Zerek Bulldog Crank.

Flathead, flathead and more flathead

F

OR the past month it’s basically been flathead, flathead and more flathead on my charters.

Last month we were getting more of the bigger fish but now we are right in the middle of the school-sized flatties of 50-65cm.

These are perfect eating size if you like to take home a feed.

The flathead have been hanging out in the usual

Southern Moreton Bay

by SEAN CONLON

areas around the southern Moreton Bay islands, preferring the mangrove lines at high tide and the drop-offs at low tide.

As always, trolling Zerek Tango Shads in 1-1.2m of water and Zerek Bulldog Cranks in 1.2-2.5m of water at

roughly two knots and making sure the lure hits the bottom is ideal.

Another technique that always works is casting soft plastics.

Throw them along the mangrove lines at high tide and at the big drains with water running out

leading to low tide.

Zerek Flat Shads and Gobblers Curl Grubs and Paddle Tails have all been working well.

Because Zerek Flat Shads are a bit more buoyant than most plastics, I’m able to use a heavier 1/4oz jig head and still get a nice sink rate that is not too fast and not too slow.

Another advantage of using the 1/4oz jig head is I can cast further and

penetrate through wind more easily.

However, if I’m using a Gobblers Paddle Tail or Curl Grub, which is less buoyant and sinks faster, I’ll rig up with a 1/8oz jig head so I can get the same steady sink rate that is a definite advantage in really shallow water.

Darker green and brown plastics have been the most effective, especially in those muddy areas ☛ continued P10

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 9

A flathead that smashed a trolled Zerek Bulldog Crank.

Roman snagged this lizard on a fresh mullet strip.

Roman with a bay island squire captured on a fresh mullet strip.

Flathead, flathead and more flathead ☛ from P9

This young fella was pretty happy to catch his firstever flathead on a Bulldog Crank.

around the bay islands.

The other areas definitely worth a look for flathead are the Broadwater, Jacobs Well, Cabbage Tree Point and Jumpinpin.

When fishing Jacobs Well and Cabbage Tree Point, you’ll find the bottom quite muddy and the water dark.

Here I use the same techniques as in Moreton Bay but once I head down towards the Broadwater and Jumpinpin areas where the water becomes a lot cleaner and clearer with nice white sand on the bottom, my lures and techniques change.

The current runs a lot harder in these areas, so I usually fish in the 3-4m range and even a little deeper up against the edges of islands.

I mainly look for patches of bait, and once I find it I cast Zerek Fish Traps and soft plastics rigged

with 3/8oz or 1/2oz jig heads (depending on current speed).

I keep the lure as close to the bottom as possible and work it back to the boat to pick up the lizards.

As the current slows two hours either side of the tides is the prime time for catching flathead.

The smaller tides present my favourite time to visit these areas.

I try to avoid the really big tides around the full moons.

When fishing the shallow banks in these areas, I use the same techniques as in Moreton Bay such as trolling Tango Shads and casting lightly weighted soft plastics in 1-2m of water.

I like to change to brighter colours including pink and yellow as well as clearer lures when the water is nice and clean with a sandy bottom.

When using soft plastics in these areas, I run a

Tick all the boxes and catch more fish!

FISHING TUITION

slightly bigger jig head such as a 1/4oz and employ a faster retrieve.

I think the heavier jig head puffs up a little more sand and the faster retrieve with a bright lure tends to stir up the flathead.

I feel the Gold Coast flathead hunt more with sight rather than vibration.

If you’re heading south of Moreton Bay, definitely check out the Jumpinpin Bar, the mouth of Duck Creek, Millionaires Row, Crusoe Island and Tabby Tabby Island.

The areas close to Jacobs Well, Cabbage Tree Point and Tipplers have been quite productive of late too.

If you’d like to join me on a charter, give me a call on 0433 732 310 or check out the Moreton Bay Fishing Charters Facebook page to see our recent catches.

Until next month, stay safe on the water.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 11

Chris Stratford caught this quality jewie in the Brisbane River.

Mangrove jack will be active this month. The author pulled this one off a rock bar a few seasons ago on a Z-Man 3” MinnowZ.

Estuary cod are common by-catch when targeting mangrove jack.

Time to tackle epic estuary species

O

CTOBER is a great month in which to target a wide variety of species in southeast Queensland.

Plenty of big flathead will be around during October.

The author jigged this one up around the bridge pylons in the background.

Mangrove jack will be at the top of many anglers’ lists.

This month is one of my favourites for chasing these brawlers.

Flathead will also be a popular target, especially on the Gold and Sunshine coasts.

The annual spawning season for flatties will be in full swing during October and plenty of big fish will be spread out on the flats and in the deep water.

School size fish will also

Local Luring

by KEITH STRATFORD

be in good numbers in the same areas.

The Brisbane River should see solid numbers of jew showing up during October.

A lot of fish between 70cm and 90cm have been turning up at this time over the past couple of years, so hopefully the trend continues this year.

Mangrove jack All the rivers and creeks around Brisbane hold populations of jacks, but the systems on the Gold

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and Sunshine coasts have larger numbers.

I don’t chase jacks on the Gold Coast often, but the region seems to hold the better numbers of big fish.

I spend more time on the Sunshine Coast targeting natural structure such as rock bars and fallen timber.

The Noosa and Maroochy rivers have loads of this structure and both rivers have healthy jack populations.

The Noosa River is my

favourite, especially the stretch between Lake Cootharaba and Lake Cooroiba.

It’s not uncommon to hook 10 fish in a few hours there.

How many you land is up to you!

On average, the jacks in this stretch aren’t overly large.

A 50cm fish is a good one for up there, but plenty of fish in the 40-50cm range will provide a challenge.

The by-catch can be really good at times too.

Trevally are probably the most common species encountered other than jacks and they can have

you thinking you’ve got a big jack with their fast runs.

Estuary cod are also quite common, with some real brutes in that region.

Cod are funny fish.

I’ve called plenty of cod for jacks over the years.

Sometimes they belt a lure and pull like a train, but the next one might suck the lure in and fight like a wet rag.

They’re cool fish and love eating lures, so are great for filling in time between bites from the target species.

Jewies can also turn up in numbers in the stretch ☛ continued P13

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Maurice Lonzar Memorial Whiting Competition After a day’s fishing offshore from Mooloolaba with his father Ninno, Maurice returned home not feeling himself.

Tragically, Maurice had suffered a stroke and passed away in hospital only a few days later.

Last year, in his honour, the inaugural Maurice Lonzar Memorial Whiting Competition was held at Bribie Island.

The competition is organised by friends and family and is not your typical fishing comp.

It’s not about winning and it’s not about catching sheer volumes of fish, it’s about spending a day with feet in the sand and lines in the water in honour of Maurice.

He won’t mind me saying this but Morry was a guy who didn’t really rate going to work.

He worked hard and

Competition Report

by CHRIS RAIMONDI

providing for his family was his number-one priority, but if the weather was good, the tides were right and the fish were on, his desk would be empty.

It’s that kind of attitude we can all take something from.

Sure, we all have responsibilities and most of us need to work but if there are things in life you love doing, do all you can to make sure you spend time doing them.

The turnout was again strong this year as near on 60 anglers showed up to chase Bribie Island summer whiting.

Maurice was a true allround angler, excelling in basically every type of fishing you could imagine, but catching whiting in the surf was like walking and talking to him; he did it with ease and loved every minute of it.

Time to tackle epic estuary species ☛ from P12

between the lakes.

I’ve had good sessions on jewfish there but the size is always lacking.

Legal fish are quite rare but still good fun.

One recent session there with a mate produced jacks, trevally, cod, bream, flathead, tarpon and jewies – all in the one spot.

A big school of prawns had congregated over a rock bar and every species in the river was gorging on them.

It was one of those days where you couldn’t get a lure to the bottom without it being eaten.

Brisbane River The Brissie River should be firing this month.

Jewies will be the most common species encountered.

Threadfin salmon will also be around in numbers and they like to feed in similar areas to the jewfish.

The wharves towards the mouth of the river are the most popular spot for both species to hold up.

It can be a case of feast

or famine out there some days.

The wharves are mostly carbon copies and don’t have any bottom structure to attract fish to the area.

The best way to find fish is to sound around until you see bait schools or predatory fish on the sounder.

This can be time consuming but there is no point fishing an area with no life.

Once you find the fish, it’s just a matter of dropping a lure in their faces and hoping they are hungry.

These fish can shut down at times and it can be very frustrating when you can see them on the sounder but can’t get a bite.

If this happens, try mixing up your lure selection a bit.

Scent can also entice the fish to bite.

If none of this works, leave the fish for half an hour and come back to them.

That’s it from me this month.

I hope to see you on the water.

Last year, the conditions were absolutely perfect and the fishing didn’t disappoint, with anglers ticking both boxes of quality and quantity.

This year, conditions looked just as good, with light wind, a perfect tide and sunny sky.

However, as anglers scoped out the likely spots, it soon became clear a significant amount of weed in the water was going to play havoc with anglers.

It’s not a very technical term, but this ‘snot’ weed is a whiting angler’s worst nightmare.

It attaches itself to bait, sinkers, swivels and line, causing havoc as monofilament passes through the guides on long, whippy rods.

On this particular morning, the beaches were chock full of it and although the odd whiting was being caught, anglers had to spend valuable time ridding their gear of the weed each and every cast.

The fish were there, it just required a lot of pa☛ continued P14

Maurice was a brilliant Moreton Bay angler.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 13

2017 winner Troy Howard with Gab, Stella and Maria Lonzar.

It was all smiles for the Howard juniors.

Maurice Lonzar Memorial Whiting Competition ☛ from P13

The Argus boys wet a line for Morry.

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Bribie Island is a great spot to chase whiting, particularly from September through to Christmas.

Location wise, they can be caught anywhere from Bongaree right around to the surf side and up towards the Caloundra end of the island.

When you think of the number of fish that must reside in the Pumicestone Passage and move out to spawn, it’s no surprise that great catches of quality whiting occur at Bribie Island year in, year out.

The area around Red Beach through to Skirmish Point and Woods Bay is particularly popular.

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Typically, the softer the worm, the better the results, so rock worms and wrigglers are perfect.

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that you buy from your local tackle shop can also work well.

Yabbies and soldier crabs are similar; some days they’ll be dynamite, while on others the fish just won’t want them.

Fish with light gear comprising 6lb monofilament and fluorocarbon leader because it is almost invisible in the water.

Run 2”-3” of red tubing above your hook to help attract fish to your offering and use a fairly long leader of 60cm to 1.2m in length to allow your bait to waft naturally in the current.

Whiting rely on spotting movement when searching for a feed, typically moving along the edge of sandbanks and waiting for tidal movement to dislodge worms and crustaceans from the sand.

The beach at Bribie doesn’t usually cop strong surf conditions, so there are no really deep surf gutters that you’d generally look for when beach fishing for whiting.

Focus your fishing on areas of moderate current flow and don’t be afraid to fish fairly shallow water, especially on an outgoing tide.

Over the course of the morning, those who persisted managed to put together a feed of whiting.

Although nowhere near as many fish were caught as the year prior, a fair few over 30cm were weighed in, with some anglers ending up with 15 or 20 whiting for the morning, which was a decent effort considering the conditions.

Leading the way was competition winner Troy Howard.

Troy persisted in his favourite whiting spot on the island and despite the weed, put together a nice bag of fish.

His longest whiting went 33.4cm and his five longest registered a total length of 148.8cm.

It was enough to take out the second Maurice Lonzar

Memorial Trophy.

For his efforts, Troy also received a Garmin Striker sounder/ GPS combo, a stack of Garmin gear and a BCF voucher.

Troy’s kids cleaned up the junior categories, both boys and girls, and picked up a heap of tackle from JM Gillies.

It really was the Howard show this year, with the family having a great day on the whiting.

The best thing about this particular competition is the coming together of friends and family for Maurice.

A wonderful barbecue was enjoyed and many a tale was shared about our great mate Morry.

A huge thankyou must go to the Lonzar family, particularly Maria, and her daughters Stel-

laand Gabriella and their partners, who did the bulk of the work to make the day happen.

And a special mention must go to Mauro Raimondi, Ninno Lonzar and Drew Argus from Pro Throw Cast Nets, who all worked tirelessly in the lead-up to the event and on the day.

The day couldn’t have gone ahead without sponsorship from the likes of Gordon Triplett from Garmin, Andy McGrath from BCF and Pat and Billy from JM Gillies.

Collectively, the prizes they donated were brilliant and it’s well worth noting that those particular fishing brands continue to give back to the fishing community.

Until next year, here’s to Maurice and his legacy.

Catch ya.

A very happy Troy Howard with his new Garmin Striker.

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I T H O U T doubt the most important piece of equipment on your boat is the outboard motor.

The new Suzuki DF250AP provides exceptional fuel economy and allows the author to drive further and search harder for trophy fish such as this 15kg red emperor.

Over the years, outboard technology has advanced dramatically to give users more power, greater fuel efficiency and most importantly, reliability.

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Outboard Review

by GREG LAMPRECHT

dent that you’re making the best choice.

Now I will be honest and say most brands are reasonably good these days, though some have clever marketing campaigns and pricing to make them look more attractive than others.

I’ve never been one for publicly putting other

products down, instead preferring to highlight and promote products I personally know and use.

For more than 15 years I’ve used Suzuki outboards and can honestly say I’ve never once had even the slightest issue.

After running a Suzuki fuel-injected two-stroke back in the early to mid2000s, I then had a new boat built and decided to put a DF225 Suzuki fourstroke on the back, which I owned for over eight years and 1300 troublefree hours.

I put a huge amount of faith in that single outboard while fishing remote areas up and down the Queensland coastline, often with no radio or phone reception.

That outboard still looked and ran like new until I sold it last Christmas.

Rumours were that early model four-stroke Suzukis had corrosion problems, so I had Jon from Bayside Suzuki Marine in Cleveland do a thorough inspection for interest’s sake and found it to be in exceptional condition.

It just goes to show that it pays to look after your outboard with regular maintenance and services to ensure its longevity.

With outboard technology getting better and better, I was hugely interested in achieving better fuel economy to extend the range on my big offshore trips.

I had been looking at various brands, seeing what was on offer in terms of performance and economy while keeping the reliability I always had.

I’ve always been a bit cautious when it comes to new technology and I will often sit back and wait for products to prove themselves before making a purchase.

Suzuki’s 250AP and 300AP Lean Burn outboards were living up to expectations, and after talking to a few fishos who were using them I knew my choice in Suzuki outboards would once again be the correct decision.

After chatting with Bayside Suzuki, Jon suggested the DF250 would be ideally suited to my boat and fishing needs.

The Suzuki 250AP is a four-litre V6 Lean Burn engine weighing 290kg.

It uses drive-by-wire throttle control, which means there’s no conventional mechanical throttle cables but instead a small wiring harness between the throttle control and outboard.

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Page 16 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

At 4000rpm and 50km/h the new motor was achieving 1.5km per litre (0.66 litres per km).

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tend the range to remote areas but also spend more time fishing these locations.

The technology works by the engine computer processing real-time information supplied by various engine sensors.

This allows the outboard to calculate and deliver the optimum air/fuel ratio, which reduces fuel usage dramatically.

Tests between the same outboards with and without Lean Burn have shown an average of 14 percent better fuel economy on the DF250AP and

DF300AP, which is highly beneficial in extending trip range and reducing costs.

Happy with the choice in new outboard, I had Bayside Suzuki Marine fit the motor along with a new Suzuki digital gauge and troll switch.

Jon suggested going to a smaller 16 x 17 threeblade propeller would suit my application and give better results in performance and economy.

When picking it up, I couldn’t help but smile because it was a bloody sexylooking outboard with its high-gloss black look and silver Suzuki decals.

At 4500rpm and 58km/h the Suzuki was getting 1.4km per litre (0.7 litres per km).

Bayside Suzuki Marine did a great job with the fitment and I can’t thank the team enough for the advice and help given.

The time to test it out had come and I was hanging out to see what the performance and economy would be like on my Riptide boat.

The Riptide is a 7m (7.6m LOA) custommade plate alloy boat and weighs in just under 3.5 tonnes fully loaded on a heavy-duty Riptide alloy trailer.

It’s no lightweight boat and my big offshore trips with three or four people, 480 litres of fuel, loads of ice, bait, tackle and other gear really puts the outboard to work.

My old Suzuki DF225 four-stroke was achieving about 0.9km per litre fully loaded (1.1 litres per km) and got worse after fitting a large fairing block in the keel to mount three transducers.

On the day of testing the boat, I had a full tank of fuel, two people and an average amount of gear.

I launched the boat and went for a run in Moreton Bay to test it out and begin the run-in process.

As per all Suzukis,

it was very quiet and straight away I felt the difference in increased power and torque over my old outboard.

Varying the revs around 3500-4000rpm seemed to be its happy spot as I watched the fuel usage on the Suzuki digital gauge.

Now, to say I was tad excited would be an understatement.

The fuel usage was showing 1.6-1.7km per litre (average 0.6 litres per km) at 3600rpm and 45km/h.

I actually thought I must have been reading the data incorrectly because the fuel economy was way better than I had anticipated.

Upping the revs to 4000prm and 50km/h, the big 250hp was achieving 1.5km per litre (0.66 litres per km) and at 4500rpm and 58km/h it was getting 1.4km per litre (0.7 litres per km).

Knowing that I was in calm Moreton Bay waters, I was eager to sneak out South Passage Bar and see what it was like offshore in 15-20 knots of northerly wind and choppy seas.

This was also a good chance to test the lowdown power at the bar.

As expected, the throttle

response and power got the boat on the plane very quickly and out past the breakers in a short time.

Heading into the sloppy seas at 3700rpm, the engine was achieving 1.4km per litre (0.7 litres per km) and better when running with or side-on to the sea, which I was very happy with.

I’ve now had the new Suzuki 250AP for almost 10 months and I’m still blown away by the performance and fuel economy.

Even in average offshore conditions with four blokes, a full fuel load, ice and a boat load of gear it performs really well and will get 1.2-1.3km per litre (average 0.8 litres per km) no problems.

The great fuel economy has truly blown me away and given me a whopping 150km extra range over the old engine.

There’s no doubt Suzuki outboards have the winning formula in performance, fuel efficiency and reliability.

To size up a Suzuki to suit your needs, call the team at Bayside Suzuki Marine on 07 3488 2019.

Until next time, tight lines.

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MARINE Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 17

Whiting go wacko for warmer water W ARMING water signals whiting time for a lot of

fishos.

While I chase whiting all year round, October is the start of spawning, which is when the big girls come out to play, and these are the fish you brag about.

Not much has changed since the 1960s when Len Mossop and his mates started catching these fish, with the gear, baits and techniques all very similar nowadays.

The technique is as easy as you will find in fishing.

You cast out, place the rod almost horizontal in the boat and watch the tip like a hawk.

The hardest thing is not picking up the rod too early.

The rod tip will quiver as the whiting mouths and crushes the bait.

Never touch the rod while this is going on.

Wait until the rod loads up with the weight of the fish and then lift the rod and start winding.

Using this method allows you to fish multiple rods and increase your catch rate (just check the rules for your area regarding the number of rods you can use).

The rods used are between 7’ and 10’6” long with very soft tips.

The three best whiting rods I have ever used are the 7’6” Wilson Live Fibre Live Whiting, Gary Howard 9’ Estuary and Wilson Snyder Glas Crusoe Island.

While I prefer Alvey reels with no drag for my whiting fishing, many of the more inexperienced fishos use spinning reels with a drag that will take the stress out of the lunges a hooked whiting will make near the boat.

I run 6lb Schneider or 8lb Platypus Platinum monofilament line.

Braid is not recommended because the lack of stretch will cause you to pull the hooks on some fish.

A 6lb fluorocarbon leader is preferred, not necessarily for being less visible but for the fact it is heavier than monofilament and holds the bottom better.

A variety of hooks can be used, with size 4 and 6 short-shank hooks preferred by those using worm baits and long-

Jessica with a soft plastic-caught whiting – an unusual catch.

Wayne captured a pair of cracking Broadwater flathead.

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Broadwater Region

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shank hooks for those using yabbies.

Your trace should be between 1m and 2m long, and while sinker size depends on current flow I always recommend using a heavy sinker in the Gold Coast’s fast-flowing waterways.

I run no less than a 3 ball and up to a 5 ball at times around the bigger tides on the full and new moons.

This may seem heavy but our whiting prefer a bait that is not moving in the current.

Bait preferences are varied, with some fishos spending almost as much time getting their bait as fishing.

I prefer worm baits including mangrove bloodworms, Redcliffe rockies, wrigglers and Cribb Island bloodworms.

Yabbies are OK but if using them you want the river you’re fishing to have yabby banks.

The most consistent whiting locations on the Goldy are the Pimpama, Coomera and Nerang rivers, with the western foreshore of the Broadwater not too bad for land-based anglers.

The Pimpama is the shallowest of the three rivers and the edges of the many sandbanks up to the Stockyards just past Diamond Head are worth trying.

Both yabbies and bloodworms can be dug here on low tide.

A run-in tide is best here because catfish can be a problem on the run-out,

especially at night.

You’ve got deeper water to fish in the Coomera River, and a good area for big whiting is the stretch from Sanctuary Cove down to the tip of Paradise Point.

In this area, using your sounder to find a corrugated sandy bottom on the edge of the channels can be a great way to pick up your new PB whiting.

I prefer the run-in tide in the Coomera as well because catfish are a problem here at night too, especially upstream towards Sanctuary Cove.

The Nerang is probably the most well-known whiting river in southeast Queensland and for good reason.

All the canals on this river make it the perfect whiting environment.

These canals have plenty of worms and small crustaceans but the main river holds the better fishing spots.

The area on the southern side of Sundale Bridge is worth a look, however the fish here tend to be smaller but legal male fish waiting for the big girls to head to the Seaway for spawning.

Between Budds Beach and Chevron Island Bridge is worth trying and it’s a six-knot zone, so is much quieter.

While the Council Chambers is the most well-known whiting spot in the river, it can be very hit and miss at times.

But if it’s firing, there is no better place to fish.

Bryce scored a whiting on a surface lure around Wave Break Island.

The author held a typical night-time Nerang River whiting.

Gordy with a couple of trag from offshore.

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This is a much better and safer option than sitting in the dark and trying to see the bites with glow sticks on your rods.

Surface lure fishing has become popular for catching whiting over the past few years, and the clean and clear water of the Broadwater is great for this technique.

The western side of Wave Break Island and the shelly bank in the middle of the Broadwater opposite North Currigee are great spots to try.

Small Bassday Sugapen surface lures have been the best of late.

If you want to fish for something other than whiting this month, plenty of flathead are around.

The bigger fish are sitting on the edges of the channels from the Seaway to Sovereign Island.

Offshore is still fishing OK, with a few snapper around and trag being caught the week before the full moon on the 24-fathom reefs.

‘Til next month, fish for the future.

From the Chambers up to Isle of Capri Bridge is one of my favourite sections of river.

Commonly referred to as the Powerlines, it holds great fish.

The most popular fishing time in the Nerang at this time of year is between late afternoon and midnight.

This gives you time to set up in daylight and fish into the evening.

Always try to fish without having to sit through a tide change because you’ll experience very slow fishing at this time.

Remember: no run, no fun.

To have a safe and successful night, always keep a second anchor in the boat so you can anchor the back of the boat as well.

If it’s windy or there’s lots of boat traffic, this will prevent the boat swinging wildly from side to side.

Good interior lighting in the boat and painting your rod tips white will help you see the most timid of bites.

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Sand whiting are a fabulous light-tackle sportfish that will readily take a wellpresented lure.

Quality jacks will start crunching lures this month.

Superb spring options G

’DAY everyone, I would like to discuss some options for the upcoming months, with whiting and mangrove jack at the top of the list.

October sees the water temperature in our rivers and creeks really start to warm at a rapid rate, which sparks the metabolisms of both whiting and jacks.

Let’s begin with techniques and locations for whiting, which are fantastic light-tackle sportfish.

The best times to target them are the weeks leading up to the full and new moons, which are the spawning periods for

Gold Coast Guide

by BRAD SMITH

whiting through summer.

This sees the whiting concentrated in numbers and size, hungry and very territorially aggressive.

The best locations to find these fish are the mid to upper reaches of rivers, usually where the water starts to become a bit discoloured.

Large shallow sandbanks and the shallower outside bends of rivers are consistent haunts for this species.

Drifting across the shallow sandbanks in water

less than 60cm deep while casting small poppers and stickbaits is my favourite way to target whiting.

Watching the whiting pursue and crash the lure on the surface is addictively good fun.

It is important that you keep the retrieve going when whiting are in pursuit of your surface lure because they tend to give up the chase if you pause or stop.

My favourite surface lure for the job is the

Bassday Sugapen.

This lure is designed to walk from side to side with twitches of the rod tip in a technique known as walking the dog.

The Sugapen also has a small cupped face that spits water as you retrieve.

Whiting can also be targeted by trolling very small shallow-diving minnows across the top of sandbars and adjacent drop-offs, with the main criteria for success being that the lure continually taps the bottom.

As the lure hits the bottom it stirs up the sand or mud, which is a major attractant for whiting. ☛ continued P20

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 19

Emma did well to boat this quality snapper.

Philip Lee with a fantastic knobby.

Snapper the standout species off GC

A

S spring brings colour back to our gardens, Gold Coast residents can honestly say they had a beautiful winter.

Two ripper mulloway landed by Alan Niland.

Sunny skies, good fishing days and strong numbers visited the Gold Coast and improved the sad fishing tales that followed cyclone Debbie.

Snapper were the choice species over the cooler months, which was a big improvement on the previous year.

Respectable plate size fish were abundant, with the jackpot of 90cm-plus knobbies coming through occasionally.

With customers primarily choosing full-day charters and landing plenty of quality fish, all on board were able to take home not only good variety but praiseworthy catches.

Being ‘big fish season’, most of our regulars took repeated trips, with each trip bringing more enthusiasm and positivity in the hope of beating the last catch.

Our Asian group of Jin Hong, Sam Ho and Brian Huang had Chinese luck

Fish the Deep

by SCOTT VAN BURCK

on their side as each charter had the group bagging out on teraglin and snapper as well as picking up the odd amberjack.

Snaring pearl perch, the tastiest fish in the sea, ensured all would return to try to tick more fish off their bucket list.

August and early September were awesome, with snapper once again going off.

Even the recreational boats were bagging out and offering extra fish to add to our great catch already in the box.

Thanks to Ewan Johns and Cameron for the extra fish that topped off a brilliant and breathtaking day of fishing the high seas.

A cracking mulloway was the icing on the cake for one lucky guest who unfortunately lost three other mulloway, but that’s fishing.

The crew braved a strong northwesterly on a handful of days in quite sloppy conditions.

Their effort was rewarded with stupendous boxes full of fish, with the biggest snapper going 98cm, which was our biggest for the season and just 5cm short of the boat’s record.

So onwards and out into the blue yonder we’ll continue to go, searching for that record-breaking snapper.

Spring has brought mixed bags of snapper, teraglin, pearl perch, pigfish, flathead and bonito, with regular customer Peter Wright nailing an 81cm snapper.

There were no complaints from Peter and he will return to try to break the boat’s record.

The spectacular weather on the Gold Coast is continuing, though some wet weather to freshen the very dry grass wouldn’t go astray.

Regardless, Fish the Deep has continued taking solid catches of amberjack, snapper and pearl perch.

Kingfish have been in limited numbers this season.

Those caught have been big fish but in small numbers.

Normally the 50-fathom areas produce quality kingfish but it appears the kingies are not holidaying on the Gold Coast this year, which is disappointing for those craving this bucket list specimen.

Mullet have been substituted as bait instead of the usual squid, with all varieties of fish keen to feed on the tasty fish.

Quality squid has not been available for over a year, so good mullet has served well in combination with pilchards, used on float lines to entice the snapper.

The next big fishing session will occur during the September/October school holidays.

So drag out the kids’ fishing gear and head for the high seas where you might find the catch that makes for a great day’s fishing.

‘Til next issue, enjoy the fishing.

Darren Thrum was all smiles with this snapper.

Superb spring options ☛ from P19

Whiting can also be captured in deep water and I have found over the years that they go deep when we receive long periods of southerly wind.

The best lures to use when fishing the deeper areas are without a doubt

small metal blades.

Hop these lures at small, even intervals across the bottom to enjoy success.

Strike Pro Cyber Vibes and Atomic Metalz are my favourite blades.

The mighty mangrove jack, known for their hard-hitting aggressive

Catching your first jack is bound to put a smile on your face.

Page 20 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

strikes, will also start to become more active this month.

This species is a cunning combat fighter and relies on explosive bursts of speed to attack prey in and out of very heavily structured areas.

Some of the areas to look for include rock walls, fallen trees in the water and areas with a natural reef bottom.

The best times to target jacks are early morning, late afternoon and nighttime tide changes.

Good planning can definitely help you achieve success.

Cranking deep-diving minnows and soft plastics tight into structure works a treat for these fish, with accuracy, repetition and patience the key criteria.

You may have to put in

hundreds of casts before getting the unmistakable strike from a jack, but trust me, the wait and hard work is all forgotten when the time comes.

Trolling deep-diving minnows along rock walls, jetties and rocky bottoms is a favourite technique of mine because trolling allows you to cover a lot of territory.

Just like when you are casting, it is vital you keep the lures as tight to the structure as possible.

This article is intended as a brief outline to provide awareness of the sizzling opportunities coming up.

I will write a more indepth report on targeting both these species in the near future.

Thanks for reading, I look forward to talking to you next month.

This whiting hit a blade. You can see by the girth of its belly that whiting are starting to spawn.

This whiting smashed an Atomic blade hopped evenly across the bottom.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

A flathead taken on a Fish Arrow Huddle Minnow.

A big carp landed while bass fishing.

The author picked up this bass while walking the banks of a river.

Gold Coast systems showing summer species

W

E have just hit the midway mark of spring and it already feels like summer!

The fishing will start to improve this month as the weather warms, and in turn more people will be tempted to hit the water.

Summer species really start to kick off this month and leading into the holiday periods.

The talk of the town during October will be the Gold Coast Flathead Classic and how everyone went.

With the Classic being held midweek this year, hopefully more big fish will be caught due to the lack of weekend boat traffic.

However, like other years the battle with snot weed in the water may play havoc with anglers’ strategies.

The techniques that will produce the most fish will be fishing plastics and

Nerang Rooster Report

by DARREN RAMA

vibes in the deep, trolling and throwing swimbaits or jointed lures over the shallow flats.

This last technique is gaining momentum and playing a bit more of a role for keen flathead fishers.

It is also proving to be quite successful on the bigger fish because they are not shy about chasing a larger lure and hunting it down.

With almost 300 teams entered in the Classic, plenty of fish will be caught over the three days of competition.

In the Gold Coast canal systems, we’ve seen both regular summer species and not so common species showing up.

Different types of trevally are being caught more regularly on the

Gold Coast, which is good to see.

Places like Noosa are well known for a wide variety of trevally, so to see golden, pennant and diamond trevally becoming more common on the Gold Coast shows the waterways are still healthy.

A great sportfish worth targeting but often overlooked because of poor eating quality is tarpon.

On light gear, these sportfish can be a lot of fun.

They have strong runs and can show off an acrobatic display, though that’s when they are likely to shake the lure free.

Finding tarpon is easy if they are finning on the surface.

The water movements are subtle but can be enough to give away

their location.

A 3” paddle tail plastic presented on a light jig head will more often than not be enough to convince them to feed.

In the fresh water, Hinze Dam is slowly starting to produce better sessions, with more reports of fish readily hitting lures higher in the water column.

Finding the shady pockets still seems to be the key to getting the bites.

Spinnerbaits between 3/8oz and 1/2oz have been the most consistent on both bass and saratoga.

In the first month since the opening of the bass season in tidal waters, creek fishing has been quite productive.

Good-quality fish have been taken in the middle reaches of rivers as anglers intercept the fish trying to push upriver to feed on insects in the shallow pools.

Smaller presentations such as jig spins and cica-

da imitations fished early morning and late afternoon can result in a few good size bass.

One fish that seems to be popping up more consistently in rivers is the European carp.

Carp must be killed and disposed of appropriately if caught because they ruin the systems for our native fish by taking away all the food sources and breeding rapidly.

Around the Gold Coast, carp have been reported in the freshwater sections of the Albert, Coomera and Nerang rivers and Canungra and Mudgeeraba creeks.

Targeting them can be great fun because they fight hard and grow fairly large, and helping out the native fish population by eradicating the carp is always a good thing.

The best way to catch fish is to be out there trying, so make the most of this month!

A solid tarpon captured by Chris.

Mick nailed a 90cm flathead on a swimbait.

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A deep-dropping dilemma S

OME things about fishing bug me, mainly because I don’t have answers for them.

Recently, Lewan and I were fishing a rock we stumbled across in 38 fathoms.

The show on the sounder was amazing but two drifts yielded nothing.

I decided to do one more drift.

I was only using small pieces of mullet as bait on little circle hooks hoping for a trag, parrot or squire.

A sharp tap on the line caused me to lift the rod tip, only to have it yanked back down again.

The battle that ensued was stubborn but with no long runs.

I was in two minds because I was fairly certain the fish I had on was a big cod of some description, likely a black cod.

The problem was I couldn’t rule out a big stubborn cobia.

Despite my better judgement, I continued the fight instead of breaking the fish off, a decision that has since caused me some regret.

Tweed to Byron Bay

by GAVIN DOBSON

Alas, the slim chance of a huge cobia was dashed when I felt the fish starting to float.

A very large black cod popped up and I gave myself a mental uppercut.

Taking the hook out with the cod still in the water, I vented the fish and was successful in releasing a fair bit of gas.

Despite this, the cod still showed massive signs of barotrauma and no less buoyancy was evident.

Sinking the cod was the next option but four house bricks barely made the cod’s head tilt down.

I had no more weights in the boat.

I had only taken a few bricks out just the week before because I was sick of carting them around and never using them.

Four bricks might have sunk a 10-15kg fish but not the 50kg beast we had by the boat.

In my opinion, sinking won’t bring much chance

of survival to a blown-up fish anyway because the internal trauma is huge.

This fact was brought home to me when I was telling a mate about this predicament.

He fishes the continental shelf a lot for bar cod and he said even the next day when he takes the fish frames back to the river, the cod heads just float away, and this is minus a body and swim bladder.

The expanding gasses in the fish’s head and around the internal organs must cause massive trauma.

Add to this the fact that their stomach comes out their mouth or gills and gets damaged and things aren’t looking good.

Anyway, my cod was stuffed.

I hoisted the big fish out of the water for a picture and with much sadness watched it float away with the wind and tide.

Legally I had done nothing wrong, because I had released a protected species.

Morally though, it didn’t sit well with me.

Killing a fish is one thing, but wasting a fish, especially one as magnificent as this, is another.

Like I said, I don’t have the answer.

Retrospectively, I wish I had broken the fish off in the early stages of the fight, but without getting into the realm of crystal balls, there was no way I could have 100 percent identified the fish before I saw it.

I wish there was a good solution for this predicament.

I believe most fish brought up from the depths don’t survive.

On the same day, I noticed the squire we were bringing up were releasing large amounts of bubbles about 5m below the surface.

Now, for bubbles to be coming out of the fish, something inside it must have popped.

Think about your own body: if something inside has popped then it’s time to get to the ER pronto.

Anyway, I’m no scientist but I can’t see how the end result can be good for the fish.

On a lighter note, I once caught the same black cod in three consecutive trips to the same spot.

It was about 10kg and the first two times it ate my bait but the third time it grabbed a kilo squire I was winding in and despite not being hooked, the cod just wouldn’t let go.

I actually poked it a couple of times with the butt of the gaff before it opened its big mouth and swam away.

The water depth on these occasions was 12m and obviously barotrauma wasn’t a factor.

Otherwise, the fishing hasn’t been too bad

around here over the past month.

Some fairly significant surface current came in for a while but it abated to about half a knot and made things pretty fishable on the wide reefs.

Interestingly, some warm currents pushed in and brought mahi mahi with them.

Fish from 3-8kg were landed around the FAD. Jewfish went a bit quiet this month and the tailor I was so happy to see racked off to other places.

The whiting I mentioned I could see in the water last month are now on the chew and I’ve seen some nice ones landed.

A few flatties are getting around and Lewan ducked upstream in the

Brunswick River the other day to pick off a few solid grunter bream on vibes.

Trevally usually start getting around this month, and lures and livies will attract their attention in the holes and around structure such as bridges.

I reckon if I get the time in the next month I will be chasing a few whiting.

The other thing I know for sure is when I hook what I think is a big cod in deep water, I will break it off.

Sure, there is always the chance I could be breaking off a more desirable fish but I think I will sleep better wondering what it could have been than knowing I had harmed a magnificent creature.

Black cod are protected in NSW, which is good because their population plummeted back in the sixties. Unfortunately, they don’t release well from deep water.

The target species was plate-size fish including pearl perch.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

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enter or exit the boat from the bow.

It’s perfect for those who dislike wading through the water from the transom or sliding over the side of the boat.

It is also handy for exiting when nose-in to the beach.

Check out the video on how the ladder works on Formosa Marine’s ‘News & Reviews’ web page: for mosamarineboats.com.au/ news-reviews This option will fit on Formosa’s standard 2017 aluminium bow roller designed and built in-house for its boats.

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Swap the options using the same connection point in the transom battery compartment.

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The scenario Holidays are here and you’ve headed to the northern coast of NSW with the family for a week of camping, sightseeing and fishing in your new 4.5m plate alloy centre console.

Those new Shimano Stella reels and Terez spinning rods you also bought are going to work their magic – or at least they were going to until you came back to camp on the first day to find they, along with all your lures, knives, landing nets and other gear, had been taken from your boat.

You think they may be included in your boat insurance cover, but are they?

The answer If your insurance is with Nautilus Marine and the gear was locked in the rod locker running down the side of your boat, then you most likely are covered.

However, if the rods and other gear had been left sitting exposed and unsecured in your open boat, then probably not.

The key here is the way and ease in which your prized gear was stolen – the phrase ‘violent and forcible removal’ is a determining factor.

If the thieves levered locks open to get access to the contents of the locked rod locker, that most likely would constitute violent and forcible removal.

If the thieves simply

had to reach into the boat and take them, then regrettably, but very clearly, it was a very foreseeable theft.

Anything in between those two extremes becomes a matter for individual assessment.

The take-away message from this is to always secure the equipment in your boat.

A length of plasticcovered chain or wire, a secure padlock and one or two turns around an internal transom support or other part of the

boat’s structure – even just a good-quality padlock on your foredeck locker – will all count in your favour at claim time.

As with all insurance policies, always check your product disclosure document and if you have a query, ask for clarification.

If you need further information, you can contact Nautilus Marine Insurance on 1300 780 533 for any boat insurance requirements.

Win a Nautilus Marine rod Nautilus will also be answering your boat insurance questions of a general nature and offering a great bi-month-

ly prize to the best questions received.

The prize is a custombuilt 15kg Nautilus Marine-branded overhead

5’6” light game and reef fishing rod crafted by Gary Howard and featuring Fuji guides, a graphite reel seat and roller tip.

Each rod has a retail value of about $300.

Just email your questions to qld@nautilusin surance.com.au

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

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 23

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Bryce Cameron with a nice knobby he scored offshore recently.

Exploring options around Ballina ■ Flathead ■ Mud crabs ■ Bream ■ Bass

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I can’t believe that a few short months ago we were surrounded by water, with two floods within a matter of weeks.

Lismore had one of its worst floods in living memory, and many other areas were hit almost as badly or worse.

Fast forward to today and the countryside is looking brown as we enter our warmer months, with a potentially bad bushfire season ahead of us.

It just doesn’t seem real, but we need a good dose of rain and we need it very soon to not only help those on the land but fire up the fishing as well.

With fairly warm weather of late, flathead have started to show up in better numbers and seem to be making their way down the Richmond River for their breeding season.

The larger concentrations

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Ballina Bait & Tackle

by BRETT HYDE

Bream also seem to have kicked into gear, with most fish hugging the rock walls from the mouth of the river all the way up to Wardell Bridge. of fish are still appearing between the Burns Point Ferry and Wardell Bridge, however fish are certainly able to be caught outside these areas.

Some of the shallower parts of the river and the drop-offs from the sand flats have been prime areas to target.

Prawns, white and blue pilchards and live herring have all been good bait options, especially during the run-out tide.

As the weather continues to heat up over the next month, you will have to start looking at some of the deeper holes, especially during the day, because the flathead will be holding in these areas trying to keep themselves a little cooler.

This run of slightly warmer weather seems to have kick started some of the mud crabs into action too.

At this stage we have not seen any significant numbers, but if you are keen to throw in a trap or a couple of witches hats you may be rewarded for

your crabbing efforts.

Both the creeks and the main river have produced crabs in recent weeks.

The run-out tide during the day has certainly been the best option because this is when the water is at its warmest.

Bream also seem to have kicked into gear, with most fish hugging the rock walls from the mouth of the river all the way up to Wardell Bridge.

The odd school of fish is holding closer to the mouth and sitting in deeper water, though a few can be found over the sand flats too.

Your best bet is to cover some ground along these walls using pilchards, mullet fillets, prawns and chicken gut.

Metal blades, soft plastics and diving hard-body lures have all tasted success of late, but try using more natural colours because the water is incredibly clear from the lack of rain.

Bass season has opened and we are seeing a number of quality fish along

with good numbers of smaller fish.

Late in the afternoons, lucky anglers have enjoyed early season surface action but during the day most of the fish are grabbing lipless crankbaits, soft plastics and spinnerbaits that get down a little deeper.

Try picking more natural colours and stick to silver blades on your spinnerbaits because the water is fairly clear in most locations.

The bulk of the fish are well and truly above Coraki, so if it was me, I would put my boat in further upriver and work my way back down until I found active fish.

The fish are spread right out, so you may have to do some miles to find a few on your next trip.

While the river seems to be kicking into summer gear, offshore is still chugging along in winter mode for the most part.

The water temperature is hovering around 20C depending on where you take your reading.

I’m pretty confident that in the next month we will see some pelagic species such as mahi mahi start to show up.

As we know, this is very dependent on the warm currents pushing down from up north, and at the moment the small amount of current has made fishing the 48-fathom line and beyond a much nicer prospect.

We are still hearing of quality kingfish and pearl perch coming from the 48s, as well as the usual deepwater species including blue-eye trevalla, bar cod and bass groper out

on the continental shelf.

Now is the time to make the most of this type of fishing, because once the current picks up for summer it will be all over.

The beaches have been the most disappointing place to wet a line.

Our tailor season has been almost non-existent once again this year.

This seems to be the case up and down the coast, with just the odd pocket of fish showing up.

Bream have been a little better than tailor but still not up to their usual numbers.

Bream like to follow the tailor around and clean up the scraps the tailor have chopped up, so the lack of tailor may have been a factor in the reduced numbers of bream.

On a positive note, we have seen flathead and dart on the beaches of late.

Pilchards, worms and pipis have all been good bait options when the swell and wind has dropped off enough for us to get out there.

Mulloway have also been showing up on the beaches at night.

Slab baits and large live baits are best for the larger models, though some of the smaller school-sized fish have taken beach worms if you have the time and a good enough back to grab some fresh ones.

Beach worms will be a great option over coming months as the whiting start to show up on the beaches with the increasing water temp.

Well that’s all from me this month.

Until next time, tight lines! www.bnbfishing.com. au

Bass and bream the best bet S

PRING has sprung, the weather is heating up and I can now leave my doona early in the mornings to chase topwater whiting, bream and bass.

Bass will be hitting surface lures early this year due to a lack of rain.

The winter days were

Evans Head

by GARY ‘SQUIDGIE’ PALMER

brilliant and warm too, so I’m thinking the bass will be hitting all manner of surface lures.

I have had loads of pictures sent to me during

my five months of not fishing due to extended stays in hospital (thanks guys for rubbing it in).

I’m really not sure when I will be able to get back

This quality pearl perch was taken off Evans Head.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

into my boat but at least I can now walk up the beach and watch fish being caught.

I have been thinking of selling my boat and downgrading to a small tinnie because I built my boat to fish tournaments but those days are long gone.

Anyway, back to the fishing.

The bass will be spread throughout the river, so I would start at Coraki and work either the Richmond arm or the Wilson arm.

Normally I would launch at Coraki and then head downriver to fish some of the banks with overhanging trees, steep banks and weeded banks.

Surface lures are my first weapon, with Megabass Dog-X Jnrs, Lucky Craft Sammy 65s, Bassday Sugapens, poppers and any lure that looks like a cicada or bug getting tied on first.

Once the sun is up, I will switch to Bassman Spinnerbaits, casting right up as close as I can to the banks.

If you are not catching trees and snagging banks, you are not close enough.

And of course I do a lot of koala fishing, so a long lure retriever is needed in my boat because I spend a lot of time in the trees.

I also use a variety of hard-body lures when chasing bass.

I like Lucky Craft

Clutch DRs and MRs, Lucky Craft Pointers, Atomic Hardz deeps and mids and Atomic Shiners.

Most hard-body lures I use for bream and flathead I will use for bass.

It just depends where I’m fishing and the depth of the river.

You don’t have to buy the best lures or the best rod and reel.

I like a 7’, 6-12lb rod for spinnerbaits and a 4-8lb stick for lures.

For surface lures I’ll use a 2-4lb rod, which may seem a little light, and I ☛ continued P26

Kev caught and released this lovely wild bass.

The snapper season has produced plenty of smiles this year.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 25

Bass and bream the best bet ☛ from P25

Flathead are haunting the lower reaches of the Evans River.

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have been brought undone a few times, but that’s fishing.

I use a lot of baitcaster setups as well, with 4-10lb and 6-12lb rods my favourites.

With such setups I’ll generally run braid from 10lb up to 20lb.

You can always use light leader but in heavy timber and weeded areas you will need stronger main line.

Bream are still going strong, with a lot of good fish towards the bottom of the rivers.

As the weather heats up, they will move upstream too, so try the lower reaches and then work your way up.

Once again I would be using surface lures early of a morning.

However, if you’re a bait fisher, you can’t go past prawns and cut baits fished very light around walls and pontoons.

I would also fish weed beds because these areas hold heaps of bait that bream and flathead love.

If bait fishing, try using no lead at all and move your bait ever so slowly over the weed beds.

The good-old yabby is a brilliant bait when moved slowly across weed beds and sand flats.

Yabbies almost guarantee you a feed of bream and f lathead

when used correctly.

The humble yabby was one of my favourite baits back when I was bait fishing.

I would gather yabbies as early as possible and if the tides were wrong I would keep them in a cool spot until it was time to fish and then head to my fishing spots.

If I was after flathead, that would mean sandbanks, broken rock areas and any deep holes, most times in the lower reaches, but never overlook further up your river system.

Fish as light as you can but reasonably heavy leader is needed for flathead.

My leader of choice is Sunline FC Rock in 1216lb, sometimes heavier.

I pair this with a 7’, 4-8lb rod.

If chasing bream, I just love bridges and pontoons but any reef areas and rock walls will produce too.

Once again, fish as light as you can.

For my bream leader, I’d run anything from 1lb and up.

I mainly use 4-6lb but once again it depends on the area you fish.

When using yabbies for bream, I like a long-shank or bait-holder hook.

Often bream will take the head of the yabby and not return for the rest, which really pisses me

FLUSH YOUR ENGINE WITH

off, but that’s fishing.

From what I’ve been hearing, bream are in most gutters from Main Beach up to the coffee rock.

Jewfish have been caught on the beaches at night on whole mullet and cut baits.

Flathead are also on the beaches, with yabbies and salted whites the best baits.

Worms are enticing bream and school jew, and I would chase whiting with worms and pipis.

A few dart are being caught in the white water too.

The Evans River is holding flathead and bream in the lower reaches, though I would fish the walls at night.

It hasn’t been a good blackfish season this year but if you want a feed of them, try the headlands.

Just be very wary because snakes are out and about early this year.

At the headlands you should also get the odd bream and tailor.

Out in the deep blue, snapper, jewfish, pearl perch and trag are on most of the closer reefs but I would go wide to get away from the crowds as the fishing out there is OK as well.

That’s it for me this month.

I hope I get a chance to wet a line without having to visit my second home again.

If you are down my way and want a bit of info on where to fish, you can always contact me via email at squidgie@

bigpond.net.au or call me on 0402 415 487.

I’ll be more than happy to help you out.

‘Til next month, remember: limit your kill, don’t kill your limit.

Tight lines and smelly fingers.

This hungry bass smashed a jig spin early in the season.

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The things you see when you don’t have a rod ■Cruising kingfish ■School jewfish ■Beach fishing

W

HILE the old saying “The things you see when you don’t have a gun� may not apply to fishing, “The things you see when you don’t have a rod� surely does.

My son Mischa and I were fishing the ocean side of the Iluka breakwall for bream in the middle of the day in early September when a surfer walked past and said we were fishing on the wrong side of the wall because big fish were swimming behind us on the river side.

We immediately went over to have a look and were blown away when we saw a school of 15-20 horse yellowtail kingfish cruising tight against the wall and heading out to sea.

I would estimate the fish to have ranged in size between 15kg and 25kgplus, so needless to say the 6lb mono we were using for bream would not have been much use.

I saw a similar event about this time last year when I witnessed two bottlenose dolphins attacking a school of large kingfish in the shallow water near the carpark at the beginning of the wall.

This was captured on video by a guy from Casino who just happened to be flying his drone at the time.

A few days later, a large shoal of white pillies

Just Jew

by TYE PORTER

The good news is October and November are the prime months for kingfish off the breakwall, so you could do worse than spend a day or two suspending a live yakka or slimy mackerel under a float in lovely spring weather. came inshore at the northern end of Main Beach and was duly smashed by a big school of tuna averaging 25kg or so.

The shoal of pillies was estimated by the commercial fishos waiting to net them to be about 40 tonnes, but once the tuna began feeding, the pillies headed back out to sea, taking the tuna with them.

The good news is October and November are the prime months for kingfish off the breakwall, so you could do worse than spend a day or two suspending a live yakka or slimy mackerel under a float in lovely spring weather.

Jewfish of any real size have been scarce to say the least, however decent numbers of small fish from 7-10kg have been taken from the breakwalls

on 6� soft plastic lures and fresh squid baits.

As long as I can get a hold of fresh whole octopus for bait, I will be spending many a day in the coming months drowning a bait during the high water in the middle of the day.

Inside the Clarence River, flathead have dominated catches in recent weeks, with good catches of pan-sized fish boated throughout the lower reaches on a variety of baits including white pillies, prawns and soft plastic lures.

My favourite spots for flathead from a boat are the shallow waters at the eastern end of Rabbit Island amongst the fallen trees and old pylons, in front of the old caravan on the western side of Free-

burn Island and the mud flats directly opposite the old ferry approach in the north arm of the Clarence.

When fishing from the shore, the pick of the spots is near the green buoy at the eastern end of Moriatys Wall.

It’s well worth flicking plastic lures over the weed beds along Marandowie Drive and the shallow gutters along the beaches during the low tide.

Whiting will begin to move into the river this month as the weather warms but remember that fishing at night will always produce a much better class of fish because the small pickers are a lot less active and the bigger fish become far less timid under the cover of darkness.

Most of the spots that produce good whiting at night during summer will also fish well for jewfish with a live legal size whiting as bait.

The jew switch from chasing mullet during winter to eating whiting in summer.

The local beaches are keeping anglers in a feed of whiting, bream, dart and tarwhine, with tailor still the one species that continues to be absent in any real numbers.

Sydney angler Wendy Kellet made the most of her recent visit to Iluka by landing whiting to 420g on beach worms in the shallow gutter at

the northern end of Main Beach next to the Bluff.

Woombah angler Dan Pianti was one of the many fishers taking turrum and school jew from the southern end of the Bluff on lures, while Iluka local Alf Pilch has been snaring the odd big luderick to 1.4kg on cabbage from the Nursery on the northern end.

Back Beach has been yielding quite a few large swallowtail dart on beach worms.

Just north of the big wash-out on the beach at Shark Bay has seen baits including pipis and worms accounting for plenty of bream and tarwhine.

Offshore catches have been dominated by snapper, with both the northern and southern grounds fishing well of late.

Iluka boatie Geoff Selstead landed fish to 6kg down south off Angourie while Graham Osti of Iluka took nice fish to 4.7kg on the northern grounds at Black Rocks.

October and November are the months when horse cobia can be boated in the shallow waters near Jackies Bommie, which is only a few hundred metres from the beach on the southern end of Shark Bay. All in all, fishing here on the Clarence Coast is finally looking promising, so get out there and get amongst them – I will be. ‘Til next month, safe fishin’.

Mischa Porter landed a small school jew while fishing for flathead with his godfather Tony Arnold at the old ferry approach.

Tony Arnold of Iluka with a little schoolie hooked while fishing for flathead using 5lb braid and a 3� soft plastic.

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.com.au/brand/ZMan Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 27

The 45mm and 60mm Zoomy Bass Whackers.

Ben Canvin nailed a 46cm bass.

The author picked up a 43cm bass.

Dusting off the hard-bodies for bass

T

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Come September 1, we all dust off our favourite hard-body lures and get ready for adventure in the hope of scoring that PB fish.

Just after the season opened, I went chasing wild river bass with Ben Canvin.

We were only on the water for about three hours and landed 14 fish, which was a fantastic start to the bass season.

We ended up leaving them biting because it’s still bloody cold down here and after the sun starts to hide behind the mountains around 4pm it

3WAYSFISHIN – Newcastle

by NATHAN ‘NATH’ PALMER

cools off quickly.

It was hard leaving them biting, but it’s the start of a new season and I’m sure it’s going to be great fun.

Good mate Jeremy Menchin from Zoomy Lures has been hard at work creating awesome timber hard-body lures that work a treat on bass.

The standouts on the trip

with Ben were the Zoomy 45mm and 60mm Bass Whackers.

Jeremy has been making hard-body lures for a few years now and is coming up with new stuff all the time.

I’m very glad to be sponsored by this talented man because his lures make my life easy.

Jeremy has just created a new lure in the form of the 60mm Bass Dozer.

This double-jointed surface lure works unbelievably well, and just hearing it walk across the water is amazing.

The sound this lure emits readily triggers surface strikes and I’ve seen first-hand how well it works.

The Bass Dozer will be my go-to lure when the weather warms, that’s for sure.

Mr Zoomy has a huge range of standard colours and he can even custom paint your lures.

Jump onto the Zoomy Lures Facebook page to see what Jeremy has in stock and I’m sure you’ll find a perfect colour wait-

ing for you.

Recent weeks have been very trying for anglers wanting to fish Lake Macquarie because the wind has been so bad it’s blown the feathers off ducks’ backs.

While most anglers have been blown off the water, those who’ve ventured out are onto the new thing, which is using Samaki soft vibes to entice flathead.

Jeremy has been landing great flathead, with one of his biggest for the year going 78cm.

While that might seem small compared to the metre-long monsters we know are around, when the wind is flogging you it’s a hard slog to find a calmer spot ☛ continued P29

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Page 28 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Dusting off the hard-bodies for bass ☛ from P28

and spend a decent amount of time on the water.

Luckily the 115mm Samaki played the game and scored Jeremy a solid fish.

When the wind backs off, Lake Macquarie has been fantastic, with cracker flathead, bream, whiting and jew all on the chew when you get the tides right.

Anglers have scored good catches from Green Point and Toronto and the fish are still there now.

If you want to try these spots but don’t know where they are, download the Navionics app and take a look, as it shows you all the fishing locations around you.

This app shows you so much and will help you learn where to put a line

A stonker 78cm flathead was hooked by Jeremy.

in and hopefully land great catches.

Regardless of where you are, check it out because it’s well worth the money.

Newcastle Harbour is still a great place to find a few fish.

Good size flathead will chase your plastics around Hexham, the chip yards and wherever you can find a deep hole or a shallow bank on a run-out tide.

I haven’t heard about jew on the chew in the harbour but Stockton Beach has been producing the odd one here and there.

A night-time high tide has been the key and the right bait is a must.

Fresh squid has been the standout bait for jewfish.

Bream, flathead and whiting are also biting in the mornings and late afternoons on the right tides.

Fishing for snapper offshore has been a blast, with a few good mates scoring great catches.

By far the standout was Jason Didio’s cracker PB

93cm snapper.

Jas is a pro staff angler with a great sponsor in GT Custom Rods.

He is blessed to be able to use incredible rods crafted by Geoffrey.

Jas reckons his GT Custom rod played a great part in helping him land the epic snapper.

As most of us who use Geoffrey’s rods know, they are just so good.

So a big congrats to Jas on his PB. Ben Canvin and Nick Berry have again been scoring a few snapper as well.

It’s great to see and hear the snapper are around in great numbers this year and I can’t wait for the weather to warm so I can go night fishing for these amazing fish.

That’s all for this month.

I look forward to getting on the water a bit more and scoring a few awesome fish myself in the next month.

Until then, stay safe on the water.

Jason Didio with his 93cm PB snapper.

Nick Berry scored a quality snapper.

Gamakatsu Hooks are chemically sharpened to provide maximum sharpness and are forged in Japan using the highest quality steel. Each hook pattern and size is individually tempered to provide maximum strength.

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Perfect for deepwater paternoster “dropper style” rigs.

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A strong hook perfect for cut baits such as squid and cut fish baits.

A 4x strong hook perfect for stopping larger fish. Suitable for cut baits.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 29

Zerek Giant Ruby THE Zerek Giant Ruby crankbait is a beefed-up cousin of the Ruby Crank.

Armed with a bigger bib, this formidable addition to the Zerek family is set to stir up the underwater currents with its wide wobbling action as it meanders through the underwater obstacles between the depths of 4m and 5m.

The Giant Ruby’s robust form further enhances its castability, while the heavy-duty construction, using quality ABS material, helps withstand the crushing jaws of voracious predators.

In addition, the superior buoyancy of this crankbait’s design permits the use of heavy-duty reinforced trebles specially designed to subdue dirty-fighting predators.

Add to this a brilliant casting system where a casting weight transfers to the rear of the lure during casting before being rolled and locked near the front of the lure during retrieve, and the Giant Ruby can cast the extra yards and dive just that little steeper when required.

Weighing 28g and available in 10 colours, the Zerek Giant Ruby will appeal to anglers chasing large predators such as barramundi, Murray cod, golden perch, flathead and Australian bass. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

Bone Combat Beast four-piece travel rod

Mustad Graphite Travel Bags

THE Wilson Bone Combat Beast series of rods, as the name suggests, is built specifically to take on the biggest predators fishing can throw at you.

And the Combat Beast four-piece travel takes all the design features of the series and places them into the hands of travelling anglers.

Crafted using high-performance Toray carbon material, the blanks have a fast taper that allows for a solid hook set and high backbone that allows the angler to turn the heads of powerful fish.

An ingenious four-axis carbon slit cross wrapping eliminates blank twist and reinforces the overall structural stability, giving these rods incredible strength and ultimate performance in the field.

The rods are fitted with high-quality Fuji components including Fuji K-SIC guides that have been optimally placed to maximise blank integrity, making the Combat Beasts the ultimate performance rods developed to take on the ultimate beast.

Visit wilsonfishing.com.au for more information.

MUSTAD has released a new series of travel and storage bags for the new season.

Attractively finished in a graphite grey with blue trim, the Mustad bags include four dry bags that are classically styled, a 30-litre dry backpack and a range of larger travel bags that are also highly water resistant.

Constructed from waterproof PVC, all zippers and clips have been tested in the field for durability and long life.

A large fish bag is easily stored and insulated to allow ice and fish to be kept for days.

Constructed from PVC leather on the outside and 500D PVC tarpaulin on the inside, the fish bag is a distinctive white colour and features heavy-duty zippers and very sturdy carry handles to ensure even the luckiest of anglers won’t overload these stress points.

For more information, visit wilsonfishing.com. au

Zerek Flat Shad Pro TAKING in the revolutionary design features of the original Flat Shad, the Flat Shad Pro comes with a series of innovations to make the lure even more amazing.

At the heart of the new Flat Shad Pro is a softer TPE material.

This softer material allows the lure to swim at slower speeds, enables lighter weight jig heads to be used and yet still retains the same strength and resistance to damage via stretching.

The weedless worm hook that comes with the lure has also been tinkered with.

First, it has been constructed with a little less weight because the softer material does not need as much weight to get the lure drifting through the water column attractively.

There is also a stinger attachment loop moulded into the hook’s lead belly weight that is perfect for attaching a belly stinger hook or tying a longer assist style hook to.

Smart anglers are also attaching a small spinnerbait blade to this attachment to provide extra flash.

The options are endless with this attachment loop.

Lastly, the Pro series features a range of exciting colours anglers have been asking for.

Five new colours will be released to give anglers plenty of options when the conditions change.

Available in 7”, 5”, 4.5” and 3.5” versions, the Flat Shad Pro makes an already unbelievably successful lure even more so. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

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Page 30 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

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BOATING & marine Whittley boats power up with new management system

M

AKE your boat safer and easier to run with Whittley Marine’s new engine and power management system.

The company has joined forces with Garmin and Volvo Penta to release the system, which will be standard on all models from the giant-killing Whittley SL 22 and evergreen CR 2380 cruiser all the way up to the largest vessels in the fleet.

It will display Volvo Penta engine diagnostics through a standard Garmin 7” multifunction screen, with 12” or 16” model display upgrades available.

At the push of a button, users can see accurate engine data including fuel flow levels, distance to empty, battery performance and other automotive-like integration.

There is no need for mechanical gauges to be cut into the dash, resulting in a clean, modern look free from cumbersome wiring.

The new management system also integrates to

Volvo’s new Battery Control Module, which manages the electrical system.

The BCM acts as a power hub, featuring pushbutton membrane switch panelling to replace traditional barrel-style battery switches.

The system manages the charging and distribution of power between batteries from the motor, as well as power usage throughout the boat.

Whittley Marine managing director Neville Whittley said, “Whittley now offers a complete engine and battery management system that is easy to operate and takes the hassle out of many elements of traditional boating.”

“Owners can head out fishing or skiing with the family with the confidence that the boat system will work every time, while giving optimum power efficiency where it’s needed.

“It’s especially reassuring for boat owners who spend extended time living aboard.”

Whittley sterndrivepowered boats will also come standard with a built-in waterproof battery charger.

This will enable batteries to always be fully charged, increasing their lifespan.

It is operated by plugging into a 240V power source, ideal for boats trailered at home or moored dock-side.

The new power and battery management system can be easily upgraded to the Pulse system, which is exclusive to Whittley.

The Pulse features digital switching via the Garmin screen, a separate 2.5” screen for battery diagnostics and an E-key remote that controls engine start-up, along with battery ‘on’ and ‘off’ functions.

Whittley Marine design director Steven Whittley said, “Customers are the big winners from the partnership between Whittley, Garmin and Volvo Penta, with new and exciting technology to continue to

come into the future.”

“Ensuring our high-tech trailer boats have big boat technology and advancement all standard in our larger boat packages is a win-win for all parties and the consumer.

“Whittley boat owners can now get the latest technology to suit their boating needs, all through the one integrated system, available through one place of purchase.

“I encourage all new boat buyers to use the boat shows or visit your local authorised Whittley dealer to learn more about the new system in our boats.”

The new management system as well as the Queensland release of the new Whittley CW 1950 and SL 25HT were recently displayed at the Brisbane Boat Show.

To see more of the extensive Whittley range, contact Northside Marine.

For further information, visit whittley.com.au or northsidemarine.com.au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 31

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AVICO – the world’s largest manufacturer of marine electronics and parent company to the Lowrance, Simrad and B&G brands – recently announced that a Texas federal jury found that Garmin Ltd wilfully infringed two of Navico’s DownScan Imaging sonar patents and awarded Navico $38,755,000 in damages.

The district court judge has discretion to increase the damages to account

for the jury’s finding that Garmin’s infringement was wilful.

This unanimous jury verdict validates Navico’s long-standing claims against Garmin.

The infringement finding concerned two of Navico’s patents relating to marine sonar technology – US patent numbers 9,223,022 and 9,244,168 – and the finding is consistent with separate rulings by an International Trade Commission administrative law judge and by

US Customs and Border Protection concerning Garmin’s infringement of additional Navico patents.

Navico CEO Leif Ottosson said earlier this year, the ALJ recommended a fine of $37 million against Garmin for violating cease-and-desist orders issued by the ITC to stop Garmin’s infringement of two more Navico patents.

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importing all infringing sonar products,” he said.

“Now, a federal jury in the US District Court has confirmed that Garmin is infringing two other Navico patents – with all eight jurors voting unanimously that Garmin’s infringement was wilful.”

The wilfulness finding means the jury found that Garmin knew about Navico’s patents and engaged in conduct that “was egregious, reckless, wanton, malicious, done in bad faith, deliberately or consciously wrongful, or flagrant”.

As part of the civil lawsuit, Navico also accused Garmin of false advertising relating to false and misleading assertions regarding its transition from the infringing DownVü sonar-scanning to the replacement design called ClearVü, which lacks a true down scan element.

Although the US District Court judge opted not to submit this issue to the jury, during the trial Garmin’s sonar design engineer confirmed that ClearVü can miss objects directly be-

neath a user’s boat.

Garmin sells ClearVü sonar technology in the US without a down-facing transducer element, relying on data from sidescanning elements to compile and synthesise a scanning image beneath the boat.

A down-facing transducer element is included in all ClearVü products outside the US, beyond the scope of Navico’s US patents.

Navico continues to believe that Garmin’s abrupt transition from DownVü to ClearVü in late 2016 included false and misleading statements about the features and capabilities of ClearVü.

Garmin’s actions confused the marine electronics market until Garmin acknowledged the limitations of ClearVü in March 2017, six months after the technology was announced.

At the present time, a decision to reverse a June 2017 ruling by the US Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in favour of Garmin is under review.

Shipmate puts the SEQ essentials in your pocket

T

HE second annual (20172018) southeast Queensland print edition of Shipmate – the free recreational boater’s essential guide has landed and is already finding its way into the pockets of on-water wanderers.

Acting as the conduit between the marine industry and recreational boaters, the nationwide guide is a completely free resource produced by boaters for boaters.

Originating in Victoria in 2005, localised annual print editions are published in Victoria and southeast Queensland with 10,000 copies distributed free to boaters in each state.

It offers a complete list of marine trades and services listed by category as well as detailed listings for marinas, shipyards, yacht clubs, marine organisations and government agencies as well as tide tables.

This comprehensive, 136-page, full-colour, handy pocket-size guide doesn’t just come as a hard copy, but is also available online and optimised for tablets and mobiles, with the website receiving over 40,000 visits per month and between 200,000 and 600,000 page views.

According to Shipmate founder and wellrespected industry expert John Zammit, the reason

why the marine directory continues to be the go-to guide for boaters is because it’s so accessible.

“I’m a boater and the concept works for me,” Mr Zammit said.

“When I’m in my office and looking for something for my boat, I’ll use my desktop computer and when I’m out I’ll access the website via my tablet or smartphone.

“However, when I’m out on the boat or a marina in the sunshine with my (polarised) sunnies on, I’m not able to see my screen as clearly, so I use the handy pocket print edition.”

Boaters can pick up a free copy from yacht clubs, marinas, shipyards, chandleries, boat sales outlets and selected marine businesses.

“We are always tweaking and adjusting to provide a better Shipmate experience for boaters and the industry alike,” Mr Zammit said.

“Listings are free to any business or organisation that supplies products, trades or services direct to boaters.”

Any marine business that would like a free listing can visit the website at shipmate.com.au and submit their details, call 03 9399 9194 or email info@ shipmate.com.au Keep up to date with Shipmate on Facebook and Twitter. www.bnbfishing.com. au

New Z-Man 3” Slim SwimZ F

OLLOWING on from the popularity of the Z-Man 2.5” Slim SwimZ and driven by angler requests, Tackle Tactics has now released a 3” version of this deadly little paddle tail plastic.

This realistic baitfish profile is constructed from 10X Tough ElaZtech, allowing you to catch more fish per plastic.

The super-soft, flexible and realistic feel of the

ElaZtech combined with the unique under-hooked paddle tail design gives this plastic an incredible life-like action in the water.

It’s an action that sees this compact baitfish punch well above its weight on numerous species.

Species landed include big flathead, mulloway, bass, mangrove jack, barramundi and many more.

Rugged Pelican iPhone 8 cases

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HE wait for the new Apple iPhone is almost over, and Pelican Products Australia has got all bases covered with the release of a new range of iPhone cases to keep the next-generation devices safe from accidental damage or breakages – ensuring your new phone goes the distance.

Unique for the new Apple smartphone, Pelican will add ‘Adventurer’ and ‘Voyager’ cases to its extensive phone protection collection, which brings with it both military-grade protective technology that far surpasses the rest of the market and modern design and functionality.

The Adventurer offers a low-profile slimline de-

sign but with the same invincibility that Pelican has become globally recognised for.

Combining force impact technology on the exterior with a soft inner layer to absorb drop energy, the Adventurer is the perfect phone case to offer both every day and off-thebeaten-path protection.

The Voyager features military-grade guard technology and is designed to withstand multiple drops.

Boasting a scratch-resistant screen protector and an easy-to-use holster with swivelling belt clip, this is the outdoor enthusiast’s dream.

Literally guaranteed for life, the Pelican Adventurer and Voyager cases

are the best way to ensure your new iPhone lasts the distance and withstands the adventure.

As with all Pelican products, these new cases for the upcoming iPhone are guaranteed for life.

Meaning if you break the case, Pelican will replace it… forever!

The Pelican Adventurer

iPhone case has a RRP of $39.95 while the Pelican Voyager iPhone case retails for $59.95.

Pelican’s Adventurer and Voyager are available nationally from pelican store.com.au and select Telstra stores.

For more information about Pelican products, visit the website.

The buoyancy of the ElaZtech helps bring the 3” Slim SwimZ to life in the water, with a tailup, natural ‘feeding’ pose when at rest on the bottom.

The lively paddle tail provides action on the drop and retrieve, making it an excellent option for both beginner and experienced anglers in the fresh or salt.

Available initially in 12 of the most popular colours, the 3” Slim SwimZ comes in a pack of six with a SRP of $10.95.

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Reaping rewards from Rainbow Beach

T

HE Power Boat Anglers AGM was held at the last meeting and a new committee elected.

Rob held two snapper landed on the Wednesday.

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

Interested? Then call Darryl (0407 596 822) or Robin (3269 5013).

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Page 34 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

5 4

3

Well I say new but they’re the same people as last time, though two swapped positions with each other.

I can tell you this though, it’s good we don’t have to pay long-service leave because Daryl Burgess has been secretary or treasurer for the 17-plus years I’ve been with the club and Rob Schomberg isn’t too far behind him as commodore.

We as a club are extremely lucky to have such dedicated people who put so much into the club and probably don’t get the thanks they deserve.

So on behalf of the members, a big thankyou to all the committee members.

While on the thankyou horse, I’ve got to send a thanks to John Josefski and VMR Raby Bay. John recently put a few of us through the 27MHz radio training course ‘Australian Waters Qualification’ at the operation’s headquarters.

The training is designed for anyone who needs to use a 27MHz radio within 12 nautical miles of the coast and I would highly recommend it.

The course only takes a few hours of your time and teaches, among other things: the correct channels to use; distress and safety procedures; how to respond in an emergency; how to use your radio/ what the buttons do; and correct radio protocols.

For more information, contact VMR Raby Bay on 07 3821 2244 or get in touch with your local VMR. Rainbow Beach trip There had been mutterings of a raid to 1770 and with a window looming, those who could get away midweek for a couple of days were watching the weather every hour.

As time ticked by, the window started to close out but at the same time things were on the improve closer to home, offering an opportunity to get out for a couple of days at Rainbow Beach.

Initially four boats had

Power Boat Anglers

by MICK CLUTTERBUCK

shown interest but this dwindled to just Amity and Lucia, setting off Monday night for a morning start and two days of fishing off the Wide Bay Bar. Tuesday didn’t start well, with Sil and Dan on Lucia finding a fuel leak at 6am that needed fixing and a visit to the servo for a top-up.

This left Rob and Helaine in Amity floating around Carlo Creek trying to catch squid to pass the time while they waited.

They managed a couple before Sil and Dan arrived with fisheries officers hot on his heels, and after the usual inspections and conversations they departed for the bar.

The crossing at Fishermans Gutter was a nonevent, with only a couple of lumps to get around.

It was then off to Double Island Point and thanks to an extra 10 knots of wind than forecast it was a bumpy trip.

Once at the marks, it was evident to Rob and Helaine that the fish were not playing and had lock jaw.

They opted to move around close to the marks to try to find something while waiting for the wind to drop out.

Sil elected to head north while the others headed east.

The further Amity went, the better it got until it was totally glassed out.

Sil on the other hand was still putting up with 12 knots in closer.

Rob and Helaine sounded around and found some shows and a school of snapper to play with.

It was great for them to get quality snapper on plastics for a change, with Rob bagging fish to 5kg, though Helaine landed one at 5.5kg, which slightly dinted his smile.

They persisted until the fish went off the chew, only managing a tuna for their late efforts.

Sil and Dan persisted in closer, anchoring and boating a mixed bag in addition to the nice jew

picked up earlier on a bait school.

Wednesday dawned, and with the wind backed off, Rob and Helaine decided to head wide early.

Travelling over marks that had fired previously without stopping for a drop can be hard, but sometimes it’s best to make a plan and stick to it.

Helaine had bought a 925 C5 Alvey a month or so prior to the trip and was keen to get the hang of it, so it was her weapon of choice.

On the first drop it loaded up and although not really set up drag wise, she still managed a 63cm red emperor with ease.

It was high fives all round but unfortunately not another red could be found.

On the upside, they did net cracker parrot and two good snapper of about 6kg before the bite shut down.

A quick check with Sil found he had stopped short and picked up a couple of snapper and assorted reefies and was now heading another 20km north.

Amity stayed put and sounded around, landing more parrot before eventually deciding to go and find Lucia for a bit of recon.

After about 15km of travel, they could see Lucia, so set about scouting around.

The ground and shows were awesome but they just couldn’t get a bite.

Sil then piped up on the radio saying he had dropped a couple of big reds on the spot, so that may have been the issue.

Rob decided to move down in hook size to add fish to the box, with his ploy paying instant dividends and adding more parrot and hussar to his tally.

It had been a good trip but now it was time to head for home.

As they neared the coast, it was evident the 20 knots of northwesterly forecast for 8pm had come in early and there would be no more quick stops, just a

wet run for the bar.

The bar itself didn’t look too bad but because the boats didn’t have any new marks, they took the safe option and went in through Fishermans Gutter.

Fisheries officers were waiting inside the bar and came over for their usual chat and inspections again.

This was the third encounter in two days and it seemed they were inspecting everyone on the water, including the barges.

It’s good to see them out there keeping everyone honest, even though it can be a pain when you just want to get home.

But they’re only doing their job and it’s ultimately for our benefit.

All in all, it was not a bad trip, with good feeds taken on both boats and Helaine boasting the nice red she caught to christen the new Alvey.

No doubt plenty more midweek raids are to come.

Next meetings The next club meetings will be held on Monday, September 25 (due to the public holiday in October) and then on Monday, November 6.

Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month at the Bulimba Bowls Club located in Quinn St, Balmoral.

Please feel free to come along and meet us.

Until next month, safe boating.

Helaine Wilesmith with a Rainbow Beach red emperor.

Rob Schomberg lifted two lovely Tuesday snapper from Rainbow Beach.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 35

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Stann Anderson was bumping around Sunshine Reef on a not-so-pleasant day when he picked up this longtail tuna on a prawn-profile soft plastic bounced off the bottom.

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ITH winter on the Sunshine Coast effectively coming to an end earlier than usual, the pelagic season has also commenced early.

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Page 36 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

For those excited by the thought of pelagics, we are already starting to see signs of yet another great season.

Traditionally we see smaller school mackerel, then spotted mackerel and then of course spanish mackerel, however this year we are already seeing good spaniards boated from areas including North, Sunshine and Chardons reefs.

Trolling large lures is a great way to cover a lot of ground in the hunt for mackerel and this can be very productive.

There has been a big move towards the slower trolling method over the past couple of years and the crews at Davo’s tackle stores have their own distinctive lure called the Spanish Special.

This lure is purposebuilt and designed for the low and slow technique now being used by anglers all over the Sunshine Coast.

Larger, faster-moving lures seem to be the most successful for spotty mackerel and tuna anglers, with the Samaki Pacemaker perfect for the job.

This lure comes in a great range of colours and can be trolled up to 12 knots.

The good-old trusty pilchard floater presents another great way of tangling with pelagics.

October is one of the best times of year to go fishing, with the wind lighter in the mornings and the sun on the rise early, giving offshore anglers the best of both worlds.

On the bottom we’ll see larger snapper, cobia, pearl perch, sweetlip and redthroat emperor, while in the middle of the water column, dolphinfish will be on the chew.

Fishing the bottom with micro jigs has to be one of the most exciting forms of angling.

Sunshine Coast

by WADE QUALISCHEFSKI

Micro jigs will often out-fish baits.

These lures are specially designed to imitate wounded baitfish as they make their way to the bottom, looking like an easy meal for a hungry reef dweller.

A great many jigs are on the market but some of the standouts include the Palms Slow Blatt Cast Oval and Blue Blue SeaRide.

Micro jigging rods have come a long way in the past couple of years, with most manufacturers offering ranges of both overhead and spin models.

The top end of the Noosa River is firing for large flathead, with some well over the 80cm mark.

These big female fish are crucial for the future of our river systems.

Working bright soft plastics such as Fish Candy Paddle Vibes around the snags should secure you a big flatty.

Don’t forget that flathead over 75cm in length must be immediately and carefully released.

Plenty of whiting are around in the lower reaches in locations including Weyba Creek, Munna Point, the Frying Pan and the Sandbags.

The best baits for securing a feed have been live yabbies and worms on long-shank size 4 or 6 hooks with running sinkers.

Don’t be afraid to increase your sinker size while whiting fishing and use a long fluorocarbon leader to increase your catch rate.

For those anglers chasing trevally, head down to Woods Bay where the goldens are in good numbers.

Most catches have occurred in the early morning or late afternoon.

Ima micro jigs worked with a lift and quick drop technique have proven very productive.

The Maroochy River has seen a few mangrove jack playing the game.

These toothy red critters are awesome fun for both the experienced angler and first-timer.

Near the bridges at Twin Waters is a good location to look for jacks after dark with unweighted bonito fillets.

Try to fish this area on a dark night with little or no moon.

Further upriver, fish with suspending lures such as the Lucky Craft Pointer 78mm and 100mm.

Productive areas include Coolum Creek and Cook Road Bend.

Whiting are in good numbers around Chambers Island and the Black Banks, with worms and live yabbies producing some elbow-slappers.

Trevally are also numerous, with the bigger fish taken on the high tide around the Sunshine Motorway bridge.

On the beaches, the Mudjimba to Coolum stretch is the whiting hot spot, with worms and pipis the better baits.

If you love the rocks, try Yaroomba with a fresh mullet strip on a Tru-Turn strip bait rig to put yourself in with a good chance of catching squire and grass sweetlip.

Teewah Beach is giving up greenback tailor, with most fish taken after dark on pilchards and bonito fillets.

The best tide for tailor is

the last of the run-in, with the added bonus of the last half of the tide yielding large whiting on sandworms and pipis.

Surprisingly, flathead have been active on the open Sunshine Coast beaches, with pan size fish taking peeled prawns in low-water gutters.

To avoid bite-offs, use a long-shank bait-holder hook such as a Tru-Turn 063 size 2.

Finally, if heading to Fraser Island, the closed season in the area between Indian Head and

Waddy Point finishes on September 30, so Waddy Point and Indian Head will be the perfect locations to target a large tailor or jew.

For all the latest information, including up-todate bar and fishing reports, log onto www.fish ingnoosa.com.au Don’t forget to drop into Davo’s Tackle World in Noosa or Davo’s Northshore Bait & Tackle at Marcoola to find out where the fish are biting.

Tight lines and bent spines!

Peter Huitema fished the top of the Maroochy River chasing jew but scored decent by-catch in the form of an 82cm flathead.

Dean Adam from Tinbeerwah headed for the Barwon Banks on a charter out of Noosa and came up trumps with this quality snapper.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Warm water on the way to Hervey Bay

W

INTER is long gone and I am about to head into my silly season.

As the northerly wind comes through, it will warm the water.

The sea will start to boil with life as pelagics come out to play and Hervey Bay becomes a lure caster’s dream.

It is hard to doughnut on trips with tuna and mackerel in abundance.

For most anglers, the tuna and mackerel that at times plague my waters are exciting quarry.

The visual aspect makes it very entertaining and the tuna battles are tough and a great start for beginners learning how to

Fraser Guided Fishing

by TRI TON

subdue big fish.

In saying that, most of the tuna are sub-10kg, so they are not back-breaking fish.

They will eat a number of lures from flies to soft plastics, metals, subsurface hard-bodies and topwater plugs.

Some diehards will only chase them on fly or surface lures.

The smaller tuna are usually easy to catch, so beginners can have a chance even if their skills are not quite up to the task, and the number of

fish gives them a few goes if they fail at first.

If you have friends and family who are keen, now is certainly a good time to try sportfishing with me.

If you have your own boat and want to try spinning your own waters for tuna, a huge number of articles have been published on the topic, with just as many on the breakdown of essential gear.

Contact Ben or Dan at BNB and they will be able to send you specific volumes from the past.

One thing not stressed

A lovely golden for Callan on the jig.

enough is how you approach a school of feeding fish.

Don’t rush in too fast.

Take your time and judge the conditions.

One good approach and cast is better than many bad ones.

You would be surprised how the small things can add up to success.

Now I will briefly sum up the past couple of months in Hervey Bay. It was a fairly warm winter again this year.

We were fortunate to see a good number of golden trevally help our customers buckle rods.

The other trevally running hot are diamond and pennant trevally.

While not always big, they are fast and powerful fish that keep us entertained, especially when hooked on a relatively light snapper stick.

The trevally have taken both jigs and plastics.

Soft grubs were the most successful lures by a long shot, though a few also ate vibration lures, both soft and hard.

And the winter special, snapper, were not too bad.

Some good specimens popped up here and there but I cannot say it has been a smashing year.

Most snapper were hooked on slow plastic presentations.

The water temperature may have been too warm for the snapper to really fire, with temperatures even warmer than last year.

Many people are surprised how hard snapper fight when hooked up.

They are highly underrated as a sportfish, and when they are on the chew, they hit the lure on the drop at a rate of knots.

Not many fish hit like that, especially non-tuna species.

A few longtail tuna have been about, and they make life interesting when you accidently hit one while fishing deep for snapper.

Yes, you can catch tuna when they are not busting on the surface!

Big ones are a real handful for novices.

We also had a good run of school mackerel that were handy when a feed was required.

These speedsters were

Baden boated a solid winter longtail on a Keitech soft plastic.

☛ continued P38

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Mick worked hard and at the end of the day boated his first cobia.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 37

Fantastic Fraser Island fishing trip

A

NOTHER year, and another great Fraser Island trip has come and gone for me, a couple of my brothers and three of our mates.

A cracking spanish mackerel landed on the beach at Fraser Island.

This year, which was my 21st on the island, we decided to do something a bit different and stay at Orchid Beach for a week.

On the way up to Orchid, we stopped and stayed at Fraser Island Retreat for a night to support my good mate Larry Ray. Larry puts an enormous amount of effort into the Fraser Island Annual Tailor Season Weigh-In competition to help fund the CareFlight helicopter service each year.

The competition is now more diverse and you can weigh in pretty much any species.

There is also a catch and release section where you take a photo of your catch next to a waterproof identification card you can buy at the retreat.

Another bonus is the enormous number of weekly and end of season prizes on offer.

The event unfortunately wraps up on October 6, but if you miss it this year, be sure to get along to Fraser Island Retreat at Happy Valley next year.

Warm water on the way to Hervey Bay ☛ from P37

usually taken on a fast retrieve with a metal lure, though the toothy table fish can be a nuisance when trying to target other species.

They take the lures as they sink and you often feel nothing, with some anglers left wondering why their lure hasn’t hit the bottom yet.

I usually leave when I encounter hordes of mackerel because they are not much fun as sportfish.

However, if you do want to catch them on light gear for some fun, please use a single hook because trebles will wreck their mouths and cause damage to their gills.

If you notice the fish is quite damaged, then bleed and ice it for a meal.

Do not waste the resource.

This brings a common question to the fore: how should you keep the fish?

Some say fillet then ice, some say gut and gill then ice.

I am of the opinion that you should do nothing until

> Hervey Bay > Fraser Island > Sandy Strait

you are ready to do it all in one hit.

First, bleed the fish, and brain spike it if you wish.

Then plunge it straight into an icy slurry because the fish will last for ages like this.

Once you cut the fish open, you expose the flesh to bacteria and water.

That is why I leave the belly intact.

Most of us do not have sophisticated facilities that will both chill the fish and keep it relatively dry.

The fish’s scales and skin

are like a natural cling wrap that protects the flesh.

Then do everything in one hit.

Bag the flesh in airtight bags (vacuum sealed is best) and freeze or refrigerate.

Done properly, I have had sashimi like that after thawing the flesh from frozen months later.

The only real difference is the flesh becomes a bit softer over time in the freezer.

If I cooked it, I’d be hard pressed to tell the difference.

Mick Torley got his first pennant trevally.

Fishing Trip

by SEAN ‘SKIP’ THOMPSON

And if you are looking for a quick and easy place to stay, either for a night or a week, give Larry or Deb at Fraser Island Retreat a call to discuss their accommodation options.

If you mention this article at the time of booking, you will get 10 percent off two or more nights’ stay up to December 1, 2017.

The fishing The variety of catches from the beach and western-side flats was once again a highlight of our trip.

This has continued to be the case since, with reports coming in thick and fast to my Ontour Fishing Australia Facebook page.

The eastern beaches While we were lucky enough to have a mostly weed-free trip, the weed has come and gone a bit since, particularly down the southern end of the beach and up to about the Cathedrals.

When you don’t have to worry about the weed, however, it is just a matter of finding the fish.

Tailor We had good sessions on average size tailor, with the odd bigger fish showing up too.

Interestingly, we found that with a low tide in mid-late afternoon and a waxing gibbous moon (the lead-up to a full moon), the tailor didn’t really come on the bite until the moon rose over the horizon.

When it did, the action was thick and fast and we would leave the fish biting.

In the morning, the fish came on towards the top of the tide, often biting to as late as 9.30am.

When choosing a gutter, particularly not long after low tide, we stuck to those where the beach shelved steeply away into the water.

In addition, we were choosing gutters that had at least one entry point, deep water close to the shore and a shallow back sandbank within casting range.

Monster mackerel and more Mackerel catches on Fraser are becoming more common, with the craze of slide baiting fast being complemented (rather than necessarily replaced) by drone fishing.

While at Fraser, we were very pleased to witness Keith Melksham land a magnificent 1.5m

spanish mackerel at Ngkala Rocks.

Keith and his mates sent out a drone with a slab of mullet on a wire trace and two hooks.

He landed the fish on a trusty Alvey reel loaded with 40lb monofilament line.

A great capture from the beach!

Subsequent to our trip, I’ve had two of my Facebook page followers, Steve Longwill and Ashley Kirkup, send in their awesome captures of spanish mackerel, sharks and even a thumping snapper after using drones and slide baits.

Baits varied from live and dead tailor to a ganged pilchard.

Ashley said they got the fish at three locations on the island, from a few kilometres south of Indian Head to a few kilometres south of Sandy Cape.

He said they even saw mackerel (as dark shadows) in the three locations, either in the shallow gutters smashing mullet or free swimming out the back.

To top things off, they even picked up some giant trevally north of Ngkala Rocks while throwing MB Custom stickbaits.

Light-line species Fishing around the rocks at Ngkala, we encountered plenty of bream that took a liking to our live beach worms.

Unfortunately, our couple of sessions chasing whiting on live worms from Sandy Cape to Orchid Beach resulted in 99 percent dart captures.

These ‘pests’ may be great fighters but they were everywhere, even in our favourite ‘blind-end’ whiting gutters in the peak time from one hour

before to one hour after low tide.

The whiting were few and far between, unlike on the western side.

The western side With or without weed, Fraser’s flats are always a great option for some variety, both in terms of your catches and your techniques and tackle requirements.

We made three trips to the western side, with one to Wathumba Creek and two further south.

Wathumba Creek At Wathumba, the best fishing is inside the creek rather than outside on the ‘beach flats’.

As we experienced, the creek can be extremely clear, so you need to target areas where there is either shelter, food, or preferably both.

Some of the best areas that provide a bit of shelter for the fish include: • The deep hole on the southern side – a few hundred metres from the carpark/camping ground; • The discoloured tea-treecoloured water in the same vicinity; and • The deeper discoloured water, littered with snags on the northern bank of the creek.

This area normally has a couple of yachts moored in the vicinity.

All three locations are good target areas for flathead and bream on soft plastics.

We picked up a few in these locations using our usual spin tackle comprising Lox Yoshi 7’6”, 1-3kg rods, Shimano/Daiwa/Wilson 2000-size reels and Platypus Platinum+ 5lb braid or 6lb Platypus P8 braid with 10lb fluorocarbon leader.

Our lures consisted of 2.5” Z-Man SwimZ in Motor Oil and Pink and Berkley Gulp 2” Minnows in a variety of col☛ continued P39

A hard-fighting grunter pulled from the ledges off the westernside flats.

Get into the best fishing action!

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www.fraserguidedfishing.com.au > 0427 230 261 A tailor caught by the author with a big cast to the back bank of a gutter before dusk.

Page 38 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

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Ashley with a quality GT hooked after sight casting an MB Custom stickbait.

Keith Melksham with a lovely spanish mackerel caught while drone fishing at Ngkala Rocks.

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ours, all rigged on 1/8oz or 1/6oz TT jig heads.

Other key target areas in the creeks are sections with faster-running rippled water where some of the drains and channels intersect.

This attracts baitfish and therefore bigger fish.

These were our main target areas for chasing whiting on live beach worms and yabbies.

These areas are best

fished during the middle stages of the tide when there is maximum water movement.

The action can slow around the change of tide.

We picked up reasonable numbers of whiting in these areas using a slow retrieve technique.

Our bait fishing tackle was made up of Wilson Synder Glas 10’6” Crusoe Island rods, Alvey sidecast reels in the 500 series or the new 625 Ripfighter

Use light jig heads and small lures to nail decent flathead on the flats.

and Platypus Platinum 6lb mono line with 6lb fluorocarbon leader.

The rig incorporated an 80cm trace with three or four small pieces of red tubing (1cm in length) above a size 4 Tru-Turn light-gauge hook.

Above this trace we ran a 2 or 3 ball sinker between two small swivels and a soft green bead to cushion the sinker against the swivel knot.

Other flats locations A range of other flatsbased options exist on Fraser, including Woralie and Awinya Creeks, Kingfisher Bay and Ungowa.

Target locations are slightly different in these areas because the creeks are much smaller.

In such areas, you want to be targeting whiting in the drains and melon holes on the beach flats out the front of the creeks, while for flathead you want to fish the entrances of the creek mouths and drains as well as sand patches amongst weed in those areas with sandy/ muddy flats.

Once again, discoloured tea-tree water at the creek mouths is a good target area for flathead.

One thing to note is you want to hope the netters haven’t been through.

They seem to be a more common sight in recent years, trying to spot whiting schools as they patrol the shallows in their boats.

On the dead low tide, you can also wade out and cast to the ledge or dropoff from the flats to target fish including grunter.

We landed beautiful grunter to 59cm and 2.5kg using this technique.

Trying to land such thumpers on 5lb line in a foot of water is awesome fun.

Likewise, any flathead over 50cm is a handful in such shallow water on light gear.

It is a completely different scenario and fight compared to raising the fish from the depths of the Jumpinpin area on 1015lb braid.

During a couple of trips, we employed plastics to land grunter, flatties to 63cm, a number of bream, dart and other odds and ends including a shovelnose ray.

All in all, it was another great Fraser Island adventure.

• Lures • Rods • Reels • Fishing line • Terminal tackle

I hope the tips mentioned in this article help you on your next trip to Fraser.

Jump on and like my Ontour Fishing Australia Facebook page for up-todate reports, giveaways, tips and more.

Until next time – bag your mates, not your limit.

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The author extracted a beach worm destined for whiting baits on the western side of the island.

Hydraulic boat steering for a hard day’s fishing Go wherever and whenever the fish are biting with confidence!

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‘Matt the chef’ from Piefection Gourmet Pies with a 37cm whiting from the flats.

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For product information and to find your nearest authorised dealer contact Graham HyDrive Engineering Pty Ltd – Queensland Unit 12, 73-75 Shore Street, Cleveland 4163 T: 07 3821 6580 E: qld@hydrive.com.au W: hydrive.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 39

Getting back to basics I

T’S too easy to become caught up in the hype of light tackle fishing, and though it can bring great sport and finesse to targeting ‘bread and butter species’, it always pays to get back to the roots that urged you to fish harder.

I’m thinking back to some of my earliest fishing memories of shooting up the creek with my parents in the tinnie to our favourite spot and fishing with freshly dug yabbies, hoping for a bite.

Over time, we homed in on a few spots that at times put fresh whiting, flathead and bream on the dinner plate, developing my love for fishing.

Slowly I took interest in soft plastic and lure fishing, and persisted with limited knowledge but enough ambition to keep casting.

A juvenile dusky flathead was enough to forever hook me on lure fishing.

After years of trial and error and far too much money spent on fishing tackle, I have realised you never stop learning.

Our oceans and waterways are constantly changing and right when you think you’ve got them figured out, they surprise you.

No matter how experienced you are, getting back to the basics of fishing will always strengthen the foundations that allow you to progress.

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Page 40 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

Bundaberg Estuaries

by JOEL JOHNSON

mud to pump yabbies might seem like a troublesome task to you but an exciting adventure for others who don’t get to experience these things as often.

Feeling a whiting or flathead come along and engulf a live yabby still gets my heart racing and is something I love doing when time permits.

On a recent Sunday morning, my girlfriend Leeah, her older brother Jacob and I decided to head to the Elliott River not far from Bundaberg to target whiting at a spot that had produced good numbers of fish on another occasion.

Setting off just before lunch with an upcoming low tide gave us the perfect opportunity to dig yabbies on an exposed sandbank before fishing the turn of the tide, a key feeding time for many river species.

I had planned to travel up a small creek not far from the fishing spot where I knew some sandbanks were home to a good population of yabbies.

Having been so long since I had fished this spot, I was unaware of how much the sand had shifted.

The channel had changed to the extent of nearly being sealed off at low tide and forcing us to change our plan.

We headed upstream, hoping we’d find yabbies elsewhere, and it didn’t take long for us to come across them, so we wasted no time pumping our fair share of bait for the afternoon.

Dropping anchor in a prime position to fish the turn of the tide at spot X, we all rigged up.

Fishing with small running ball sinkers, long-shank hooks and very light leaders, we cast in multiple directions and soon had our first inquiry.

Leeah was first to hook up and the fish ran straight towards the boat soon after being hooked.

I initially thought she had scored a nice whiting, our target species.

After fighting the fish to the boat, we were surprised when it turned out to be a lovely flathead that measured just shy of 50cm, which made for a great start to the session.

We kept fishing, hoping to set the hooks in more great fish.

Soon after taking care of Leeah’s fish, Jacob was on.

The sound of his drag peeling was music to our ears, indicating this fish could be quite large.

Big flathead and light leaders often don’t mix well due to the species’ highly abrasive teeth and sharp gill rakers, so Jacob was playing this fish very lightly.

Big head shakes and bursts of power had us all on edge, but there was no rush.

When fighting big fish on crazy light gear, all you can do is keep steady tension on the line and let the fish tire itself out, which Jake was doing brilliantly.

Slowly but surely the fish neared the boat, so ready with the landing net I took my chance and brought the fish aboard.

A beautiful big flathead

measuring just under 70cm was an awesome achievement on a 6lb setup.

Yet to be a part of the action, it was my turn to land something other than juvenile stingrays, but as the afternoon wore on and the tide changed, I almost conceded it was not my day.

One final cast before making a move upriver saw me hooked up and fighting another great flatty.

Sure enough, the beauty approached the boat and though it wasn’t quite as big as Jacob’s fish, it was still a quality flathead.

Happy to make a move and try our luck at another spot close by, we upped anchor and progressed upstream with the tide, making our way to a location that had produced good results in the past.

Not long after anchoring, we landed a number of small

grunter but had no luck hooking the bigger specimens that might have been lurking amongst them.

We were landing a fish every cast, varying in size but still nothing over the 40cm mark.

Even though these fish were small, they put up a great fight on light tackle and made for a fun session.

Gloomy overcast weather moved in as the sun neared the horizon, so we made the mad dash for the boat ramp before rain moved in.

A great day on the river was had by employing a simple and easy method to land awesome fish.

Too often fishing is overcomplicated by the latest trends and most technical methods.

This trip is just one example of how effective it can be to simplify your approach to targeting quality fish while enjoying it along the way.

Get back to basics every now and again, target those species that got you hooked on fishing and you might be surprised at how much fun you have.

Jacob was stoked with his personal-best flathead.

A great-sized flathead caught on a live yabby intended for whiting.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Peter caught this spanish mackerel on his first cast with a 140g stickbait in the shallows.

Peter spotted a slight rise on the sounder screen when travelling at 25 knots. He marked the spot and turned around to check it out. Sure enough, on the first drop this red emperor was boated.

Experiencing the Bunker Group F

OR most southern Queensland fishos, the Bunker Group is otherwise known as paradise.

It’s a place where the fishing is almost unbeatable, the water crystal clear and the scenery nothing but amazing.

The Bunker Group is made up of a group of islands/reef systems at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Bunker Group name came about after being discovered in 1803 by captain Eber Bunker of the whaling ship Albion.

Planning a trip off the Group can be quite frustrating in terms of know-

Fishing Trip

by MATI BATS

ing what to take, who to take and when to go fishing.

One of the most important things to consider before heading out is feeling confident in your vessel.

Although you can hope the weather is perfect, the fish are biting and the boat is running perfectly, you need to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

For us, most cases fishing off the Bunker Group result in an overnight stay on the reef because we

The author landed this red emperor on a large mullet fillet skipped along the bottom with a running ball sinker on 30lb gear.

are based on Brisbane’s southside.

Our trips consist of six and a half hours of driving to 1770 by car, then roughly one and a half hours of driving in the boat out to the reef, depending on the weather.

It is important before fishing the Bunker Group that you have familiarised yourself with the marine national park zoning maps, which can be found at gbrmpa.gov.au/zoningper m its-and-plans/zon ing/zoning-maps Ensuring all your safety equipment is up to date is another vital aspect of planning any trip, and choosing the right crew can be just as important.

Fishing healthy reef systems can sometimes be a problem if you’re only wishing to target certain species.

We sometimes dedicate whole trips to chasing red emperor and will pack the boat accordingly.

Many people get caught up and fill the boat with trolling gear, bottom gear, diving gear, topwater gear and so on.

In most cases, not everyone has a big enough boat to pack so much gear and it can become quite unsafe if the boat becomes overloaded.

We try to pack no more

Daniel found this trout looking at the crew’s pillies but it wouldn’t hit the baits. He asked the author’s permission before shooting the trout, which made a beautiful meal for he and his family.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

than two rods per person and the tackle required for the species we are targeting.

Most anglers have a preferred reef/island to fish off the Bunker Group, and for us it has to be Sykes Reef.

Sykes is located 80km northeast of 1770 and is home to a large number of reef species.

Whether it be big red emperor on the deeper edges of the reef system or trout in the shallows, this is a place we call paradise and covers almost anything an offshore angler could ask for.

A lot of people head out to the reefs with a couple of GPS co-ordinates their mates have given them, thinking that’s all they need to catch fish.

Like everyone, we start somewhere.

Whether it be a mark someone has given us or a contour line on the GPS that shows good ground, it is important to run quality marine electronics.

We recently had a Furuno upgrade in our boat and could not be happier.

From sounder readings to understanding how the units operate, the Furuno gear has certainly played a big role in our fishing and has made isolating little rocks for red emperor even easier.

If your sounder is not showing accurate readings while travelling or even at rest, it’s going to make your life a lot harder.

In many cases we find the fish feeding away from structure.

As a matter of fact, all our larger reds have come a fair way off our GPS marks.

It’s not about finding the rock/ledge and turning the motor off right above it.

Yes, that works at times, but nine out of 10 times the larger trophy fish will be lingering around the outskirts of the structure, and having the right sounder setup to find these larger fish is hugely beneficial.

Another amazing form of fishing on offer around the Bunker Group is spearfishing.

The clear water makes for phenomenal visibility.

Although I am no expert diver, I dive with someone

who is and who has a great understanding of the ocean.

Diving around the shallow edges can lead to rewarding catches and benefits when the fish have gone off the bite.

Experiencing the feeling of being in the water with the fish teaches you to respect the fishery that little bit more.

It is important to remember when entering the water that you are entering the fish’s world.

You are the unexpected guest, not them.

A lot of people fear what can be found in our Queensland waters and it is only normal in the beginning, especially being a fisher and knowing that about 20 percent of fish caught in the shallows get sharked.

If you chose to dive off the Bunker Group, I strongly advise diving with a buddy.

Everyone has their favourite form of fishing and no one is right and no one wrong.

At the end of the day, if what you’re doing is working and you’re following the law safely, that’s all that matters.

We are so fortunate to have such a beautiful place on offer in the state we live in and it’s up to us as anglers to ensure this fishery remains sustainable for our children and grandchildren in the years to come.

The author held a few crayfish that came out of the shallows of Broomfield Reef.

A common catch off the Bunker Group is the spangled emperor. These fish are known to school in large numbers and can put up an amazing fight.

Daniel captured this shot of Mitso pulling in Peter’s 20kg spanish.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 41

Last chance to target barra T

HE fishing really turned it on during September, with the increase in temperature bringing jacks and barra on the bite.

Phil nailed this jack on a Samaki soft vibe off a deep rock bar in the Calliope River.

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Page 42 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

Throw in fingermark, salmon, bream, flathead and the estuary speedsters queenfish, tarpon and trevally, and everyone was catching their share of fish.

Jacks made their presence felt, with multiple hook-ups on most trips on fish ranging from 2555cm and enough bustups to keep the adrenalin pumping.

Fallen timber towards the top of the Boyne River has produced quite a number of jacks and barra.

Weedless 4” plastics were getting the most attention.

The hook-up rate can be a problem when fishing weedless but you need to get your lure as far into the snag as possible.

Prawnstars are good lures to use in heavy structure because they are relatively snag resistant and can be worked slowly through a snag.

Floating hard-bodies would be the go around timber so you can float the lure up and over the snags.

Vibes are working in the deeper rocky sections, with big barra taken by anglers targeting the deeper areas.

Lightly weighted live baits fished around deep rocks are a great alternative, or you could try fishing one under a float just above the timber.

Both the Boyne and Calliope rivers are giving up good fish on vibes and plastics worked from shallow water down the rocky drop-offs and into deeper water.

This has been the most consistent way to catch fish.

If you can find bait schools on your sounder, fish including tarpon and blue salmon won’t be far away.

Graham Creek is only a small system but still holds surprising numbers of solid fish, with plenty of jacks to be found.

Rocks are the common fish-holding structure in this creek and by continually moving between them during the tides you will usually find active fish.

The most consistent system for jacks is Baffle Creek between Gladstone and Bundaberg, which features lots of different structures.

It’s a long system that can be hard to navigate around low tide but once you get to know the layout you will be able to fish it on all tides.

The Fitzroy River is only getting better and will fish extremely well in the lead-up to the barramundi closed season in tidal waters (November 1 to February 1).

The Garmin Rockhampton Rumble was held in early September, with loads of fish caught over three days.

A couple more fishing comps will be held on the Fitzroy before the closed season, with the WTF Women That Fish Barra Classic on the last weekend of September

Gladstone Region

by GARY CHURCHWARD

and the Gracemere Hotel Rocky Barra Bounty the last weekend in October.

It might pay to avoid the river during the competition days because a lot more boats than usual will be on the water.

Head to the local tackle shops in Rockhampton to get the best advice on where they’re biting and what bait or lures to use.

Fingermark have been biting strongly through Gladstone, with the deeper sections in the Calliope River holding the best numbers.

Paddle-tail soft plastics and vibes are your best option to get the lure to the bottom quicker and stay in the strike zone longer.

Live herring and whole fresh small squid fished in the same locations will also get their attention and can turn quiet fish into feeding fish.

You will find the odd school of blue salmon still around, though they will become less frequent as it heats up.

Threadfin salmon are in great numbers in the Fitzroy River, with most of the river fishing well for them if you can find the schools.

Between the city and Devils Elbow holds the best numbers and trolling deep-diving lures such as Lethal Lures will help you locate the fish.

Once you find them, you can try casting plastics and vibes.

Live prawns are great

baits to use in the Fitzroy River and both threadies and barra will take them, though catfish can be a nightmare when using prawns.

The odd thready is being caught around Gladstone, though there is no consistent location to

find them, you just have to be in the right spot when they cruise past.

Small queenfish and trevally have been harassing bait in the Calliope and Boyne rivers, with 3” plastics, small vibes and poppers all options depending where they are in the water column.

Chasing flathead along the edges of sandbanks will be worth a shot during October.

Their size won’t be huge,

but you should get good eating size fish.

Mud crabs will be more active and a bit of rain would do a lot to stir them up.

It’s well worth dropping a couple of pots in on the way to your fishing spots.

Let’s hope the barra stay on the bite during October and we can all get a few before the season closes.

Cheers and happy fishing from Gladdy.

Wayne with a healthy Boyne River barra taken on a foggy and cold morning.

Bridge pylons are a good place to look for fingermark. This one took a 4” Z-Man plastic jigged at the base of a bridge pylon in the Calliope River.

Fisheries offences net fine

T

WO commercial fishers were found guilty in the Gladstone Magistrates’ Court for netting offences in the Port of Gladstone Rodds Bay Dugong Protection Area and were collectively fined close to $10,000.

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol investigator for Central Queensland Deryk Smith said in April 2016, QBFP officers intercepted the fishers as they were pulling up their commercial fishing boat at the Gladstone Yacht Club boat ramp.

“The officers found evidence of nets having been set in the DPA, including information on a chartplotter,” Mr Smith said.

“The officers instructed the fishers not to relaunch, or go anywhere near the locations identified on the plotter.

“Despite this, QBFP officers found evidence that the fishers had defied these instructions by returning to the water and pulling up or tampering with nets.

“Failing to comply with this lawful direction led to charges in-

cluding obstruction and attempting to conceal unlawful behaviour.”

QBFP officers found unmarked and unlit nets, including one net that looked as though its anchor rope had just been cut.

Officers also observed the defendants’ boat leaving one area at high speed.

QBFP officers found a quantity of barramundi, sharks and one turtle, all

of which were released alive.

One of the men received a $6000 fine, with no conviction recorded.

The second man received a $3500 fine, with no conviction recorded.

Although commercial fishers can use nets within the DPA, there is an increased level of regulatory requirements, including number and lengths of nets and attendance provisions.

The Queensland Recreational Boating and Fishing Guide provides a comprehensive guide of boating and fishing rules and responsibilities, and is available at fisheries.qld.gov.au To report suspected illegal fishing activity, call the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116.

You can follow Fisheries Queensland on Facebook and Twitter (@Fisheries Qld).

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Sensational Stanage Bay W

ELCOME to the wonderful world of Stanage Bay, the Percy Isles, Shoalwater Bay and all the surrounding islands.

Stanage Bay’s driveway is slowly deteriorating into corrugations and sly potholes, appearing where least expected.

With the country drying at a rapid rate, it is very important to not throw out your cigarette butts or rubbish.

If camping legally with a small fire, please make sure it is contained and sparks do not go astray.

Naturally, try to leave the site looking even better than when you got there.

No hot ashes and no rubbish, just foot and tyre prints.

Small fires can very quickly become cata-

Stanage Bay

by VON IRELAND

strophic if they get out of control.

Camping is still allowed in some parts of the Stanage township if a donation is paid.

All donations are gratefully accepted and receipted via the Plumtree Store or Stanage Bay Marine & Accommodation (at the back of the boatyard).

Money received goes towards the upkeep of the whole township, including the rescue helicopter pad and medical building, which is like a mini emergency first-aid clinic.

For a donation, the Thirsty Sound Coast Guard will give rainwater

Jess Connelly landed this 61cm grass sweetlip and enjoyed it for dinner.

to campers if you have a 20-litre or bigger container.

All money given to the coast guard is for the coast guard and not the township or camping.

Moving on to the fishing, the estuary has been very tired and lazy in sharing any type of seafood with us.

The muddies have gone to ground or out to sea, resulting in the end of another mud crab season.

Muddies around here usually fire from December to July and in the off-season shed their carapaces, fatten up and breed.

Don’t bother buying tackle, crab pots, bait or ice for the trip in Rockhampton because Rocky has smaller tides than Stanage and the advice given will not be from locals.

If towing, it’s generally a three-hour drive from Rocky to Stanage, so there’s a significant distance between us.

We use and sell the best crab pots (for the area), floats, ropes, ID tags and bait at Stanage Bay Marine & Accommodation, all at very affordable prices.

Bream and grunter have been a little quiet unless there’s been a bigger tide

to stir up the bottom.

Pier Head, High Peak Island, Middle Percy Isle and the Dukes have all been reluctant to yield legal reefies.

Sounders have picked up terrific shows from the bottom to halfway up the water column, but the quality fish have had their fill and felt no need to continually feed.

The crews that have tried the usual bait and lures have been surprised when changing to a different bait.

We can always learn by experimenting.

Squid, pillies, mullet and slimy mackerel are still best around Stanage, however large prawns, sauries and yellowtail are also proving successful on the reef.

Stanage Bay Marine & Accommodation generally stocks all the above.

Hannah Rock has been producing coral trout for anglers using prawns on the southern edge.

Howard Point and Normandy Rock are the spots for red emperor, though mostly undersized.

The Dukes and between Goat Island and Bamborough Island has seen nice catches of sweetlip and parrot.

Large and small-mouth nannygai have been taking pencil squid with a pilchard slipped inside the tube fished on a paternoster rig.

Or do what I do and run

a full squid on the first hook and then half or a full pilchard after it for berley.

Both methods will work if your skipper puts you on hungry fish.

Lucy Ravel Point was kind to Jess Connelly and Joel Ganter, who enjoyed catching a huge cod and bigger than average grass sweetlip.

Birthday boy Joel caught and released a mighty metre-long cod, so well done mate.

Meanwhile, his darling Jess pulled in a cracking 61cm grassy sweetlip.

Love the pics Jess, thank you.

Until next time, cheers without beers.

This cod was caught by Joel Ganter and came in at just over 100cm. The fish was released in good condition.

C O N TA C T Y O U R N E A R E S T D E A L E R

Boondall Northside Marine 2294 Sandgate Rd, Boondall Q 4034 Phone: 07 3265 8000 info@nsmarine.com.au northsidemarine.com.au

Noosa Laguna Boating Centre 16 Project Ave, Noosaville Q 4566 Phone: 07 5442 4872 info@lagunaboating.com.au lagunaboating.com.au

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

Sunshine Coast North Coast Boating 264 Nicklin Way, Warana Q 4575 Phone : 07 5493 9376 sales@northcoastboating.com.au northcoastboating.com.au

Gladstone Curtis Coast Marine 40 Chapple St, Gladstone Q 4680 Phone: 07 4972 0135 sales@curtiscoastmarinecom.au curtiscoastmarine.com.au

Whitsundays Whitsunday Outboard Centre 17 William Murray Dr, Cannonvale Q 4802 Phone: 07 4946 7286 woc@whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au

Gold Coast White Water Marine 10 Hinde St, Ashmore Q 4214 Phone: 07 5532 4402 sales@whitewatermarine.com.au whitewatermarine.com.au

Wynnum Wynnum Marine 31 Fox St, Wynnum Q 4178 Phone: 07 3396 9777 info@wynnummarine.com.au wynnummarine.com.au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 43

Graham nailed a mangrove jack.

Ross was happy with this fingermark.

Finding the fish when the stars and moons don’t align

I A fingermark worked up by Graham.

Ross extracted a quality jack.

T is definitely warming up in beautiful Queensland.

Plenty of spanish mackerel and millions of golden and bludger trevally have been on the chew for micro jigs.

We’ve also hooked fantastic GTs on poppers and stickbaits around pressure points of reefs and islands.

The thing about being a guide is when all the stars and moons align and we get good tides, good weather and good water temperatures, the fish bite really well and it makes your job easy.

But unfortunately this only happens a few times a year and tides and moons definitely have a huge impact on fish behaviour.

It’s great to be able to pick and choose when you take clients fishing with good tides and moon phases and know you are going to get reasonably good results, but for most of us, the best time to go fishing is simply when we can.

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Hinchinbrook News

by TODD EVELEIGH

As a guide, you need to think outside the box and really put the effort in to get results.

We all know Hinchinbrook Island can fish exceptionally well, but the old saying: “If there’s no run, there’s no fun” certainly applies here.

I’ve been working on quite a few theories about where to fish after the full moons and spring tides and coming back to the neaps.

On the smaller tides I have been working hard in areas with high water flow because on the bigger tides these places are unfishable due to the large amounts of run.

But on the neaps when there is very little run, you can check out new areas that don’t cop much fishing pressure due to high water flow.

On these smaller tides, the deeper areas in Hinchinbrook Channel really come into their own and fish extremely well for fingermark, grunter, nannygai and even the odd big barra.

It is worthwhile having a look around in the deeper water for natural ridges, high points and undercut ledges.

This is where structurescanning sounders really come into their own.

We love to lure fish, but on the bigger tides baits can be the only way to get results.

Dropping a live legalsize greenback tailor, herring or live squid down on a ledge can be dynamite.

You can have epic jack sessions by actively hunting out the last decent

snag on a big straight with lots of running water.

Anchor the boat upstream and use a small running ball sinker rig baited with either a live mullet or herring and cast it back towards the snag.

Early in the season, strip baits and pilchard tails can work well too.

Again, it’s beneficial to pick the snags that are normally unfishable on bigger tides.

Hopefully these tips help you find some country and fish that are not so pressured and can be captured on those tougher tides.

Until next month, cheers from Crackajack Sportfishing.

Boris boated a fingermark in stunning conditions.

Two boats available catering for groups of 2-8

Experienced local guide Come on a Hinchinbrook wilderness fishing holiday and tick some of those trophy fish off your bucket list – barra, mangrove jack, coral trout, GTs, sooty grunter, spanish mackerel, black marlin queenies, nannygai and more!

Todd & Raylene Eveleigh T: 07 4777 2968 M: 0417 192 318 E: barra@crackfish.com www.crackfish.com Page 44 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

This big fingermark made for a tough battle for one of the Stoddart boys.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 45

K AYAKING & canoeing Transporting your kayak

T

YING down your kayak incorrectly can get you in trouble with the police, cause an accident with another vehicle or damage your kayak.

Following are instructions for safely securing a kayak to the RhinoRack Nautic Kayak Carrier range and JStyle Kayak Carrier range.

When positioning the kayak, make sure the weight distribution is even on the kayak carrier.

Always use at least two straps to tie down the kayak hull to each roof rack.

If the kayak will be left unattended for some time, it is recommended you use the Locking Rapid Straps for added security.

These straps have an inner lining of polyurethane-coated wire and with a lockable casing to help prevent theft.

Nautic Kayak Carriers Strap the body of the kayak by looping the straps around each roof rack.

Fasten using the cam buckles and tighten so it is secure without placing too much pressure on the kayak and roof racks.

If you cannot reach under the kayak, consider placing the strap down on the far side and walk the straps around the vehicle.

The Rhino-Rack Wheel Step is suitable for some vehicles to assist in securing loads.

J-Style Kayak Carrier Strap the body of the kayak by looping the strap through the top of the J-rack and then under the roof rack bar.

Coil the excess strap and then use the Velcro wraps to hold them in place to prevent wind flapping.

When carrying a kayak – or any long load – the front and rear must be anchored to avoid rocking.

Rocking can cause damage to the vehicle, kayak and roof racks.

Some vehicles come with anchor points under the bonnet and boot for towing while other vehicles may need to use alternative securing methods.

Rhino-Rack has two alternative securing methods for long loads; the Bonnet Anchor Strap and Rhino Anchor Strap.

Rhino Anchor Strap These straps provide anchor points at the front and rear of the vehicle by using existing bolts to hold them in place.

Check the vehicle has appropriate points to secure the straps by looking for bolts to the side of the chassis that only secure metal components.

Do the same for the rear of the vehicle.

Bonnet Anchor Strap The Bonnet Anchor Strap allows you to secure a long load without needing to modify the vehicle.

The anchor straps are placed under the bonnet and the boot, allowing for a safe securing method for the bow and stern straps.

Use tie-down straps to secure the bow and stern to the anchor points and either use points on the kayak to secure the strap or use the Rhino-Rack Bow Strap Bonnet Tie Down.

Page 46 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

This kayak tie-down strap has two cam buckles, one to fasten the strap around the kayak and the other to the vehicle anchor point.

Once attached to the kayak, pull through the anchor point and twist the strap around itself to reduce vibration.

Use the cam buckle to tighten the straps and always coil the excess to prevent damage from wind flapping.

Warning flag Finally, to improve visibility and help prevent damage from other road users when carrying long loads, secure a fluoro warning flag to the rear of the kayak.

In some states and territories, it is mandatory to have a warning flag on long loads.

Always check the local laws.

The Nautic Kayak Carriers and J-Style Kayak Carriers all come with some tie-down straps.

These straps are essential for safely securing your kayaks.

If additional anchor points and straps are required, they are available for purchase separately.

Driving tips Always check the kayak is secured firmly to the carriers before driving.

To check the kayak is secure, move the kayak left to right from the rear and front of the vehicle.

The vehicle and kayak should move in unison if the load is secure.

New ropes and straps may stretch and road vibrations may cause straps to loosen.

Check the kayak is secure again after driving a short distance.

Drive cautiously as longer loads can change the handling of vehicles, especially at higher speeds and in heavy wind.

Be mindful that the length of your vehicle may have changed and always check how far the kayak protrudes and drive accordingly.

This barra fell to a MadZ Skew while Hayden was fishing in his Dragon 2.8m Pro Fisher.

A solid mangrove jack taken while fishing out of the Dragon 4m Hunter.

Dragon Kayaks the key to success

W

ITH the weather well and truly warming, there is no better place to be than on the water.

Whether you are just enjoying being out in the sun, fishing the bay or exploring new creeks, the Dragon Kayaks range has something to help you enjoy summer that little bit more.

Dragon Kayaks offers a variety of different kayaks including fishing kayaks, recreational kayaks, rudder kayaks, pedal-powered kayaks, kids’ kayaks and even stand-up paddleboards.

I own the 2.8m Pro Fisher model as well as the 4m Hunter and these two models are what I would recommend to any kayak fisher.

The 2.8m Dragon Pro Fisher is the most versatile in the range.

It is designed here in Australia, weighs 22kg, has a weight capacity of 150kg and is backed by a five-year limited warranty.

The engineered bow and stern design enhances manoeuvrability, tracking and speed as well as ensuring comfort and safety for the kayaker.

I love fishing out of the 2.8m Dragon Pro Fisher when exploring skinny creeks and impoundments such as Lake Kurwongbah.

Lake Kurwongbah is an ideal spot for kayakers because it is a small dam with lots of fish.

You are only able to kayak on the dam from Sunday to Wednesday because the ski club uses the dam from Thursday to Saturday.

As the morning temperature rises coming into summer, the surface bite will get better.

Throwing small poppers, walkers, cicadas and frogs to the edges with weed or lily pads will give you the best chance of hooking both bass and saratoga.

Once the sun is up, I like to change to subsurface lures such as spinnerbaits, small jerkbaits and weedless-rigged soft plastics.

My favourite colour to use at Kurwongbah is a white/clear MadZ Grub

Kayaking

by MITCHELL TOWNSEND

or Mini Skew.

I will sometimes add a jig spin to the jig head to create extra appeal.

When fishing by myself, I am easily able to lift the Pro Fisher kayak onto the roof racks of my ute.

The large hatches also allow me to stow my gear out of the weather to remain nice and dry.

With bass season now officially open in tidal waters, I can’t wait to explore new ground, doing those long trips up creeks looking for deeper pools holding bass.

The new and upgraded Armour seat allows me to remain comfortable on the kayak all day.

This seat has fibreglass rods as well as thick memory foam that ensure my back stays pain free.

I also love venturing out to river mouths and even Moreton Bay on the Pro Fisher.

It handles the chop extremely well and the stability of the kayak makes me feel safe at all times.

However, when taking this kayak into non-calm waters you should carefully read the weather forecast and choose the right tide to fish because you do not want to be paddling in fast currents and choppy conditions.

The Dragon 4m Hunter, on the other hand, was designed specifically for open water fishing.

It comes standard with four built-in rod holders, large storage hatches and a foot-controlled rudder system.

The rudder system is my favourite feature because it allows me to move and position my kayak in the current hands free.

The 4m Hunter is my preferred kayak for fishing areas with strong current because I can position myself just by adjusting the rudder.

At only 33kg, I can quite easily lift this kayak onto the roof racks of my ute.

Fishing for snapper out the front of Redcliffe in

the kayaks is lots of fun.

Being able to navigate the shallow reefs while staying stealthy provides an advantage over petrolpowered boats.

When fishing for snapper around Redcliffe, I like to use a mix of plastics.

The MadZ Mini Skew and Bug are great plastics for snapper when rigged on 1/8oz, 3/0 jig heads.

I have also had success on small vibes and other lightly weighted prawnimitation soft plastics.

The snapper will usually take the lure on the drop, so I like to use light jig heads to ensure I have an extended free-fall time where my plastic is fluttering to the bottom.

Storage space in the Dragon 4m Hunter is great.

A large waterproof hatch at the front is ideal for storing food, jackets and tackle.

The pod between my legs when seated is where I keep my phone, keys, headlamp and battery for my sounder that is mounted on top of the pod.

Behind the seat is a small hatch and a large well is situated behind that.

The Dragon Hunter is perfect for open water applications but is still very usable in rivers and creeks.

Due to its greater length though, it is not as manoeuvrable as the Dragon 2.8m Pro Fisher.

While these are the two main kayaks I fish from, Dragon offers a huge range of kayaks, accessories and paddleboards, so be sure to check out dragonkayak.com.au or search for Dragon Kayak on Facebook.

I hope you have a good month on the water and make the most of the warmer weather.

Don’t forget to check out the Pine Boys Facebook page to keep up with my fishing adventures.

Until next time.

An awesome bass captured from the 2.8m Pro Fisher while exploring new ground.

A lovely bass caught in Lake Kurwongbah.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

K AYAKING & canoeing Kids and canoes A

LOT of people ask me when is a good time to take their kids paddling.

My answer is always the same: when isn’t a good time?

Realistically though, as soon as a child can sit up by themselves and you can get a correctly fitting PFD, it’s time to get on the water.

At the risk of sounding biased, I am a firm believer in getting my kids out amongst it.

It seems to me that kids exposed to outdoor recreation and the environment become more well-rounded, considerate adults.

Now, I’m not about to say that taking your kids paddling is going to make them the next Steve Irwin, but I do whole-heartedly believe it will put them on a path of greater appreciation for the great outdoors and all it has to offer.

And with summer approaching like a runaway train, there’s no better time than now to get your family out on our local waterways.

To that end, here are a few tips for successfully getting your kids on the water this summer.

The first thing that you must consider is the safety of your kids and yourself.

When carrying your kids in any boat, let alone a canoe, it’s always wise to have them wear a PFD. For children under 12, this is compulsory and it’s a great idea for all other passengers in the craft to wear PFDs too.

Canoeing

by DAN OWBRIDGE

There are two really good reasons for this.

First, it sets a great example to little ones and makes them less likely to fight having to wear a PFD. Second, it makes you a lot more able to effect a rescue in the event of capsizing.

The next thing to consider is organisation on board the canoe.

A tidy boat is a safe boat!

Keep things you need access to stowed in your PFD or small dry bag.

Pack everything else away in a large waterproof pack secured to the canoe.

Items rolling around loose inside a canoe can make paddling uncomfortable or awkward, and could potentially cause you to capsize.

These same items then become potential entanglement points or flotsam in the water if the boat tips over.

Wherever possible, stow it!

On the theme of avoiding capsizing, the single best way to get wet when paddling with kids is to let them get uncomfortable.

Some adult paddlers will spend time and effort getting their seat set up with padding and back support and then expect their kids to sit on the hard floor in the bilge water.

Uncomfortable kids are

wriggly kids.

Wriggly kids in a canoe are a sure-fire way to end up going for a swim.

The good news is it isn’t hard to set them up for a great trip.

My usual setup for little ones is a couple of foam camping tiles from BCF placed underneath a small cushion wrapped in a beach towel.

The camp mat keeps them out of the water and the cushion provides a comfy and dry seat from which to watch the world go by.

It’s just the right height to keep the centre of gravity low for the odd fit of the fidgets and high enough that they can see over the side and dangle their fingers in the water.

Older kids who are less prone to fidgeting can sit on a drop-in middle seat, and even better, be given a paddle to join in the fun.

Better still, once they are old enough to paddle, sit them in the front seat and let a parent have a break in the middle.

Kids will naturally want to join in with Mum and Dad’s activity, and I have found that once they hit about 10 years of age they are ready to undertake a short journey with paddle in hand.

Don’t expect them to contribute all that much, or to be paddling in anything resembling a con-

Older kids appreciate the chance to paddle themselves – just keep the distance manageable.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

sistent manner.

With time and encouragement will come the development of hopefully the next Jess Fox (Australian world champion slalom canoeist).

Contributing to the paddling effort certainly helps keep their attention in the boat, which brings me to my next point: keeping them from getting bored.

I would encourage parents of small children to pick shorter-duration paddles with plenty to see on the first few trips.

A bored kid is a fidgety kid, and again, a fidgety kid is going to give you a swim.

I find that a paddle length of about 6km in total with a good break in the middle is enough for most younger kids.

Pick spots such as narrow tree-lined creeks and rivers with lots of trees, birdlife and things of interest to look at and talk about.

Some of the coastal estuaries around Brisbane are perfect for this – just make sure you have a landing site at the halfway (or turnaround) mark so the kids can get out and have some time to stretch their legs.

Not a bad idea for older paddlers either!

My final tip for success is to keep kids’ bellies full.

Make sure you have some snacks at hand and give each kid their own water bottle.

A sip of water and a nibble of a treat could be all the incentive you need to keep a potential future paddler focused on the beautiful waterway gliding past them and not on their empty belly.

Even more so if they have been contributing to the paddling effort.

I know I’m keen on a nibble after paddling for a couple of hours, and kids are no different.

Taking kids paddling is one of the most rewarding activities to experience as a family.

And if you follow a few simple rules, keep the kids occupied, safe and comfortable, paddling could become a lifelong pastime.

I hope these few pointers will be of use and I look forward to seeing you on the water.

If you need any further advice on paddling with your family, choice of craft or equipment, please contact me at Natureline Australia on 07 3390 4106, canoes@natureline. com.au or follow us on Facebook for regular paddling hints and tips.

Happy paddling.

Canoes are a great way to teach teamwork to smaller children in a group setting.

Seat your small passengers on the floor of the canoe, making sure they are comfortable and dry.

e Get back to natur • Can noes • Kayyaks • Acccessories • Rep pairs • Boaat hire • Lesssons

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natureline.co om.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 47

K AYAKING & canoeing It doesn’t take long for the young ones to get the hang of paddling.

Fishing kayak or family fun kayak?

Where to have fun with the whole family

N The ride to Point Lookout is well worth the effort.

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail loosely follows the Brisbane River to Linville.

North Stradbroke Island is an awesome paddling destination.

Tilapia and carp fire up as summer approaches. Grant held one of the Brisbane River pests.

Page 48 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

OT everyone likes fishing, it’s true.

This month I’ll cover a few options that allow you to bring the significant other (and/or kids) and do different things at the same destination.

The upper reaches of the Brisbane River comprise a fishery that is well covered within fishing publications such as this one, but the focus of the articles often leave out the wildlife you encounter while paddling through the countryside.

Plenty of paddlers hit the river just for the relaxing pace and to soak in their surroundings.

Many of the fast-moving sections of water can be negotiated safely and easily by novice paddlers.

Species you are likely to encounter on a quiet paddle down the river include lungfish, platypus and countless bird species.

Another drawcard for the non-fisher in your family might be the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, which loosely follows the river between Fernvale and Linville and then beyond, stretching more than 150km.

The trail is suitable for walkers, bicycles and horses.

Because the trail is a disused rail corridor, there aren’t any steep hills or real obstacles, apart from a few creek crossings.

Free camping is available at the old Linville station and the trail’s surface is suitable for most types of bicycles apart from skinny-tyred road bikes.

The trail can be tough on tyres though, so knowing how to repair a flat and carrying a spare tube and puncture kit is a must.

North Stradbroke Island is another great destination to share with the family.

You can take your kayak on the vehicle ferry as a

Kayaking

by TOM LASZLO

walk on for $25 return.

At Dunwich, launch ramps lead into usually crystal-clear water and Peel Island is an easy paddle from the terminal.

Otherwise, as you paddle up and down the western side of Stradbroke Island you’ve got plenty to see, including sunken yachts, derelict barges and dugongs.

This is a great destination for photography buffs too.

Bicycles attract no extra charge as a walk on to the vehicle ferry, with return tickets for adults $10 and kids $5.

A concrete skate park is within sight of the Dunwich ferry terminal, with a junior skate bowl and some good BMX street stuff too.

For the road cyclist, the island’s main roads are well maintained and have a good-sized shoulder running all the way to the north end of the island.

If you wait 20 minutes after arriving on the island for the barge traffic to leave, the roads are relatively deserted.

The ride to Point Lookout and back is about 40km, but be prepared for long hills that never seem to end.

A bus connection runs from the passenger ferries to the top end of the island where you’ll find plenty of walking tracks and cracking scenery.

Around the island are quite a few cafes and restaurants that serve a great feed once you’ve worked up a good appetite.

Jetty fishing at Dunwich requires minimal effort.

Bring a comfy chair and some bait, hop off the ferry and get comfy on the jetty.

A bit of berley will bring the fish in close and you never know what might turn up on the end of your line.

The bonus here for the people who don’t have the fishing bug is you don’t have to wait very long for something to take an interest in your bait.

As a final option, most Queensland dams and

lakes allow paddle sports.

Even the youngest members of the family will just love hitting the water.

My kids loved sitting in the front hatch before they could walk.

As they grew, they sat in my lap and tried to paddle, becoming quite capable paddlers from the age of four.

They can now keep themselves amused with their kayaks between stints of fishing by paddling, swimming and even kayak jousting!

Louis Tobin cracked the kingfish code on a recent Dunwich jetty session.

A golden trevally was a surprise for Maxi after catching several bream.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Allen hooked this metre-long Copeton Dam cod in -2C temps on a KingFisher surface lure.

Ron Bull My PB spangled emperor went 10kg and was taken off 1770 on a live yakka.

Jacob Pyke

Tyler Green with a nice Hervey Bay bream.

Don Green

My first jack of the season was captured in a little creek at the Gold Coast on a Zerek Live Shrimp, which is my favourite jack lure and good for snags.

Eti Alefosio

Ron Bull with a 98cm Copeton cod that smashed a Jackall Gantia.

I caught these red emperor around Lady Musgrave Island on whole legal size tailor.

Steve Askew

Karen Easton broke in her new boat with a quality flathead in southern Moreton Bay. Chrissy Maree Smith

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

BNB team member Daniel Tomlinson scored this 52cm flathead during a sneaky pre-fish for the Gold Coast Flathead Classic. Whether he catches any flathead during the comp will be another matter entirely.

Just thought I’d share this Brisbane River jewfish with you guys.

Chris Acworth

■ Readers Forum ■ Readers Forum ■ Readers Forum www.bnbfishing.com. au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 49

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 51

Competitors’ boats lined the shore at Mingo Crossing.

Champion angler Helen Johnston.

Catch a Catty Family Fishing Comp T HE weekend of the Catch a Catty Family Fishing Competition held at Mingo Crossing on August 26 and 27 was just magnificent.

The senior male and female catfish winners.

The senior major lucky draw winner.

Saturday was quite chilly, with a cool wind blowing and making the fishing a bit tough.

Sunday was perfect for fishing and heaps of fish were caught.

Competitor numbers were the highest ever, with 296 adults and 130 children nominating for the weekend.

The largest catfish in the senior male division (sponsored by Burnett Livestock & Realty) weighed 6.05kg and was captured by Phil Driver.

Weighing a whopping 6.99kg, the heaviest catfish in the senior female division (sponsored by Ken Mills Toyota) was landed by Michelle Humphries.

The biggest catfish in the junior male section (sponsored by Murt’s Plumbing Services) weighed 2.4kg and was hooked by Lincoln Pearace while the junior female section (also sponsored by Murt’s) saw a 1.655kg specimen captured by Sarja Clark.

Champion angler for the

weekend was Helen Johnston.

Other category-winning weigh-ins were as follows: yellowbelly 2.14kg; bass 2.365kg; sleepy cod 1.825kg; silver perch 1.355kg; spangled perch 0.155kg; and eel-tailed catfish 2.045kg.

As usual, the elusive barra was still not caught, much to the disgust of some fishers.

Lucky draws were held

on Saturday and Sunday and prizes were donated

by Tackle World Bundaberg, Barra Havoc, Countr y2Coast Bait & Tackle, Bundaberg Marineland and numerous others.

The junior male and female major lucky draw prizes were kayaks donated by Koastal Kayaks and T & B Stanley and J & R Rokesky.

Boyd Cronin and Hay-

ley King were the lucky juniors who took home a kayak each.

The winner of the 3.5m Sea Jay boat, motor and trailer package was Sheldon Belings of Toowoomba.

The weekend was finished off with a multidraw raffle, with lucky competitors going home with one of the 10 prizes.

First prize was a 120A

solar panel donated by Road Tech Marine.

The committee would like to thank all the sponsors and competitors for their support, for without them the weekend would not have been such a huge success.

Their support ensures our ability to buy more fingerlings and introduce them to the dam for future competitions and recreational fishing.

Hayley King scored a kayak.

Boyd Cronin was the happy winner of a kayak.

Quality yellowbelly were captured during the comp.

The yellowbelly had certainly been feeding well.

World leader in portable cooling extends the new Evolution CFX range

D

OMETIC, the world leader in portable cooling, has launched the CFX75DZW portable fridge/freezer; an evolution of its predecessors that is designed for excellent cooling performance in the harshest Australian conditions.

The Waeco CFX range of portable refrigerators revolutionised mobile living for campers and the CFX75DZW further enhances the experience.

The latest WiFi technology has been included in CFX75DZW units, allowing you to control or monitor the temperature of your unit remotely.

Whether you’d like to check the temperature of your fridge during a long four-wheel-drive trip, or you’ve jumped into bed after a long day of exploring only to realise you’ve forgotten to turn off the cooler; you can simply control the unit Page 52 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

from your smart device via the Dometic CFX app.

Senior product engineer Steve Elliott said, “We are excited to be able to offer WiFi technology in the CFX75DZW along with the Dometic CFX app.”

“Extensive research and development has gone into these two products and we’re confident they will greatly enhance the user experience.”

The CFX75DZW has inherited all the great features you’ve come to expect with Dometic portable fridges.

The CFX75DZW features improved Variable Motor Speed Optimisation, which enables the compressor to optimise the cooling speed of the unit through automatic selection between ‘soft start’ and ‘turbo’ modes.

This clever feature ensures the temperature you set is reached faster and keeps your food and

drinks cool more efficiently.

The CFX75DZW features two separate cooling compartments, allowing greater flexibility while on the road.

Excellent cooling performance and a low power draw are achieved through the inclusion of extra-thick polyurethane insulation throughout.

Combined with the tight seal created by the lid design, cooling efficiency is greatly increased.

Due to its low power consumption, the CFX75DZW is also ideal for use with a solar panel.

In addition to the genuine Waeco compressor, the CFX75DZW also boasts robust lid latches and hinges, strong factory-fitted, spring-loaded handles and a USB charging port.

The interior of the CFX75DZW is equipped with crisp LED lighting and a hidden magnetic switch for on/off func-

tionality upon opening and closing.

The evaporator plates are flush mounted, which makes for easy cleaning, in addition to drain plugs in both compartments.

Two baskets are included in the CFX75DZW, with the larger basket featuring a removable divider.

The CFX75DZW would not be complete without accessories to maximise its use.

Accessories include the new CFX-IC75 insulated cover for protection and added insulation, and the CFX-SLD75 fridge slide for in-car safety and access to your fridge.

Power solutions such as a remote battery pack, wiring kit and solar panels are also available to make the most of your fridge/freezer, wherever you are.

For more information on the Dometic CFX75DZW portable refrigerator, please visit dometic.com www.bnbfishing.com. au

4WDING & off - road

The Milk Carton demonstrated its articulation.

One of Levuka’s many picturesque views.

Loving Levuka 4x4 Park F

LEXIBLE 4WD Solutions is often asked where novice off-roaders can go to learn how to handle their vehicles and experience top-notch camping, and our answer is always Levuka 4x4 Park in Urbenville, NSW.

Not only are we massive fans of Levuka, but it is also where we cut our four-wheel-driving teeth.

To truly understand how beautiful Levuka is, you need to experience it yourself, however in this article I will do my best to paint a picture.

Levuka is an extremely scenic property located on the southwestern edge of the Scenic Rim. Entering from either Woodenbong or Urbenville, you will find yourself on Beaury Creek Rd before turning onto Plantation Rd and arriving on the property.

Robert and his wife Rosemary are extremely passionate about their property, the environment and four-wheel-driving and strongly believe in sharing their passion with the community.

4WD Trip

by GREG BELL

Both Robert and Rosemary continue to have significant involvement with environmental agencies in order to ensure they can both protect the environment and share their beautiful land with all who are interested.

In 1908, Robert’s family won the property in a land ballot, and Robert has lived on the land since birth, eventually buying the property from his father in 1990.

After five years, Robert and Rosemary made the decision to turn the property into a nature-based tourist attraction and Levuka 4x4 Park was born.

Levuka is the pinnacle of rainforest camping: with over 700 acres of tracks and 150 acres of campsites covered in lush green grass, nothing beats it.

We have explored nearly every square metre on the property.

From midweek trips

H G U TO AR S GETOUGH TRUCK FOR

to Easter charity events, we have never once felt cramped or become frustrated from overcrowding while on the tracks.

With flushing toilets, free hot showers, cheap as chips firewood and 2WD accessibility, nothing is stopping you from checking out Levuka.

Now I’ve mentioned the picturesque camping, it’s time to get into the nitty, gritty, filthy mud-filled fun side of the park.

Levuka’s tracks are effectively the old logging tracks, which wind through the thick rainforest and can get truly slippery with just slight drizzle.

Please be aware of the conditions and talk with Robert and Rosemary about the tracks before venturing out on your own.

The tracks range from easy (1) through to extreme (5) and are well marked at intersections.

Now, I could talk about the easy tracks, but where is the fun in that?

Some of Levuka’s most legendary tracks include Test Track, Rosemary’s Road, Play Pen, Track 4 and Rock and Roll Gully.

Test Track Let’s start at the Test Track, and as the name suggests this track is designed to test your 4WD and ensure a quick introduction to what you are in for.

Sitting just next to the homestead, this track features a short muddy section to test your diff clearance and articulation in a safe, localised area.

The track then drops into a sticky mud hole before providing a photoshoot opportunity while you perch your rig up on some rather large logs, but please ensure you have a spotter on hand if you aren’t confident with wheel placement as it is unforgiving if you get this section wrong.

From here the track makes a muddy loop before spitting you back out ☛ continued P54

The Milk Carton loved playing in the ruts.

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A failed attempt to show off.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 53

4WDING & off - road The Flexible 4WD Solutions Milk Carton cruised back to camp as the sun set.

Max wanted to show off his coat.

Loving Levuka 4x4 Park ☛ from P53 The Milk Carton climbed the logs on the Test Track.

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Page 54 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

next to the logs ready to give it another go.

Rosemary’s Road Rosemary’s Road is one of those tracks we all love and can never skip when we venture out to Levuka.

Starting at the base of the Test Track, Rosemary’s Road drops straight into the hard stuff.

This track makes a steep off-camber descent before crossing through a small running creek and back up one of the slipperiest climbs you’ll come across.

This climb, even in drought conditions, remains as slimy as your dodgy ex-boss, and each time we have conquered this track it has been at full noise in third low, so please make sure if you attempt this track you have sufficient recovery gear and a second car at a minimum.

Following the track down through the next gully, you will find another creek where you can take one of two lines – one over a large log and the other over some funsized rocks that make for a short technical section.

Straight after this creek you will come across a large hillclimb that seems to go forever, so if you are playing in the wet you are best to keep up your momentum until you eventually hit the top.

The cheers from our mates when we first took them up this hill in the wet were second to none – I had never seen them so pumped.

After defeating this hill, the remainder of the track consists of one large descent and a lot of tight, windy sections that provide a great rainforest vibe followed by a relaxing drive out to the open.

Play Pen You’ll be as happy as a pig in mud when you hit Play Pen. This track is most fun in the wet and it provides a proving ground for all levels of experience.

With observation areas, picnic tables and straight slippery climbs, the Play Pen allows for a common area where the masses gather to watch peers attempt the climbs and lis-

ten to everyone’s rigs roar into action.

During our last trip, we sat down with Rosemary and had an in-depth conversation about the environmental impacts of running the park and the measures they had taken to ensure the park leaves the smallest possible footprint.

Rosemary largely talked about the park’s creeks flowing into the Clarence River, explaining the largest impact is the silt being dispersed from cars driving through the creeks – one of the biggest ones found in the middle of the Play Pen. To counter this, downstream from these obstacles Robert and Rosemary have placed a number of silt traps that have proven quite effective.

Additionally, they test the waters up to three times a day during the peak season and will close tracks if the environmental impacts are above acceptable levels.

Track 4 Track 4 has such a simplistic name, but what a track!

This track drops directly down a slippery slope before entering a long bog hole that winds through a number of trees before exiting up

another slippery slope.

This little track can’t be described well enough with text – all I can say is walk it first and make sure you are ready to get filthy!

Rock and Roll Gully Rock and Roll Gully is one of our favourite tracks.

During our lengthy discussions with Rosemary, she outlined the history of this track.

Essentially, this track was created due to Robert and Rosemary’s overwhelming hospitality.

Numerous visitors had requested a track that drove up a creek, and so Robert and Rosemary developed Rock and Roll Gully.

With minimal flow in the dry and natural silt traps in the wet, the chosen creek was the perfect spot for a tight, challenging track for more adventurous visitors.

Rock and Roll Gully lives up to its name too, consisting of a gully full of large rocks.

We have conquered this track a number of times now and each time the challenges have differed.

With a very tight oneway track and large boulders, we urge all who are contemplating this track to walk it right through to

the end to be quite confident your vehicle will make the distance.

The end of this track features oversized boulders that you will need to climb over while simultaneously turning almost 90 degrees around a tree and going up another muddy climb before exiting back onto one of the access tracks.

Levuka 4x4 Park is an

amazing haven for fourwheel-drivers and lovers of the outdoors.

If you have not been yet, I urge you to make the trip.

For more information on the park, visit levuka. com.au I hope to see you on the tracks and will catch you again next month for one of our more intense adventures, so stay tuned.

This sign gets straight to the point.

The big Nissan Patrol only just fit between this boulder and a mud wall.

You’re only as strong as your spade

E

QUIPPED for an adventure that veers you down the ‘road less travelled’ or takes you ‘off the beaten track’?

There are some essentials to have with you and your vehicle, and the new spade from RhinoRack is one such item.

When you’re off-roading, overlanding or adventuring with mates, the quality of your tools is one of the most important considerations.

Quality ensures they’re in working condition every time they’re needed and minimises the need for maintenance.

The strength of the new spade from Rhino-Rack lies in its solid dual-core

construction, which is crafted and reinforced using heavy-duty heat-treated high-carbon steel and finished with zinc plating and powder coating, resulting in a reliable tool with maximum strength and rust protection.

The spade from Rhino-Rack is detailed with a slip-resistant grip so that when you’re down and dirty it doesn’t get

away from you.

It’s designed for comfort, ease of use and convenience.

Rhino-Rack’s spade is a compact 42” in length for increased manoeuvrability under vehicles.

Its compact size also aids in storage, whether you keep it inside the vehicle or utilise a mounting bracket.

The versatile spade al-

lows you to dig out your vehicle when it gets stuck in the sand or mud, or assisting with many other adventure-related events.

Whether unforeseen or expected, it will always come in handy.

The spade has a RRP of $49.

For more information on the entire RhinoRack range, visit rhino rack.com.au

www.bnbfishing.com. au

4WDING & off - road

Fruit Bat Falls provided a chance to cool off and gain some relief from the dust.

The author and crew made it all the way to the top of mainland Australia.

Trip to the tip – Cape York adventure

I

T is amazing how trip plans can change as a result of road conditions.

We had been following the Cape York Adventures Facebook page and were often amused as travellers asked what the current road conditions were like.

This question is nigh impossible to answer because it is based on one traveller’s experiences, vehicle and temperament.

For us, our roughest road experience was the short section of the King Edward River Rd from the

Cape York – Part Three

by BRAD YOUNG

Drysdale Station-Kalumburu Rd to the King Edward River crossing on the way to Mitchell Falls on our Western Australia trip in 2008.

Second to this was a section of the Mereenie Loop (Northern Territory) in 2005 where the corrugations were deep and wide apart.

We have always found dropping our tyre pres-

The sign to Alau Beach.

It was great to see quite a few Bundaberg-built Sea Jay boats at the tip.

The Five Beaches Track provided some fantastic views.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

sures to 25-28psi and our speed to 60-80km/h has seen most roads driveable, though still corrugated.

Following on from last month, we left our campsite at Bramwell Station and headed north towards our planned camp at Eliot Falls, however we had heard the crossing on the southern approach was fairly deep and may prevent us from accessing our booked campsite.

On arriving at Fruit Bat Falls, we took the time to have lunch and a lovely refreshing dip in the clear waters.

The falls could also be used to provide quite a firm shoulder massage.

This stop was a great chance to escape the dust that was so characteristic of our trip.

After taking some time to refresh, we made the short journey back to our vehicles and headed towards the first unnamed creek crossing on our way to Eliot Falls.

When we arrived, we found several vehicles lined up awaiting a chance to cross, their drivers walking the crossing.

It immediately looked as though we would be giving this crossing a miss because the water was close to thigh deep.

We watched two vehicles cross and then heard from them via UHF once they reached the other side that they had taken some water aboard via their doors.

Not good news for us because we didn’t have snorkels and were also not keen on taking on water.

We watched the next two vehicles add tarps across their bonnets/grills and then slowly make their way across.

Again, they took on some water and this was enough for us to make the decision to stay on the Peninsula Development

Rd and head further north.

We were looking for a track into Sams Creek where we believed we could enter and travel southward along the Old Telegraph Track back to Eliot Falls.

As we headed north, we kept an eye on the trip meter and on the righthand side of the road as we looked for the turn-off to Sams Creek.

Unfortunately, we missed the small sign (there is a story to be told later) and eventually gave up the search and decided to continue to the Jardine River Ferry and Bamaga.

It is important to remember that the ferry stops for a lunch break each day from 11.55am to 1pm, so you need to time your arrival to suit.

Long queues can form during the lunch break.

Our cars were third and fourth in line when we arrived, so after paying our fees it wasn’t long before we were boarding and being transported quickly across to the northern side of the Jardine.

The road north from here was quite good as we headed towards Bamaga.

The last kilometres into Bamaga became rougher and it was a great relief from vibrations and noise when we hit the blacktop on the outskirts of Bamaga.

We headed straight to the Bamaga supermarket and bought basic supplies before heading to Alau (Umagico) Beach Campgrounds, which were mentioned to us by someone at Fruit Bat Falls.

This was a great campground at which to spend a few quiet days before we headed closer to the tip at Punsand Bay. It wasn’t long before Lachy was playing with some of the local boys who took him up a steep hillside to ride down on sheets of cardboard... a fun afternoon.

We had the opportunity to fish here on two occasions and I landed a just-undersized cod that

was quickly returned to the water.

The locals will warn you about a resident croc here too.

After three days, we broke camp and made our way to Punsand Bay. Here we spent four nights, taking in the tip early one morning (leaving before dawn to see the sunrise and enjoying an hour without having to share it with others), the Five Beaches Track and the Croc Tent.

The Corrugation Bar at Punsand Bay is a wellknown gathering place for campers and locals alike, with Sunday afternoons a popular session, especially for the Bamaga locals.

The wood-fired pizzas are fabulous and the bar prices reasonable.

The kids enjoyed the pool here as well because it provided a great opportunity to cool off.

We also travelled to Seisia early one morning for the Thursday Island/Horn Island Tour; two small islands each with much history and many stories.

Young Ryan, one of the other campers, landed a solid salmon off the beach while we were there and was very proud of his catch.

We had encountered a few good salmon runs while fishing (and I ended up with some nice line cuts from my handline) but this was the only fish we saw landed.

We also had some visitors overnight but were unsure if the two sets of tracks were two crocs arriving or one arriving and one leaving the lagoon that ran along the beach and into the dunes as a small creek.

The four days at Punsand Bay seemed to go quickly and soon it was time to head south again, with the aim of locating the Sams Creek turn-off and the opportunity to get to Eliot Falls.

I’ll cover this section of our trip in the next edition.

Until next month...

Thursday Island is an island of history. The island was prepared for the Russians in World War I.

Ryan with a nice salmon from the Punsand Bay beachfront.

The author’s camp had a visitor during the night.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 55

Weipa fishing well worth the effort

M

OST anglers have destinations on their bucket list that they would love to visit just once, however my bucket list can easily fit Weipa onto it several times over.

Travelling with the tinnie strapped to the back of the Trophy made the trip to the south of Weipa a quicker proposition.

Catching fingermark during the journey south was a definite highlight of the author’s trip.

Hooked up for the umpteenth time on fingermark.

Fishing around Australia for several years while caravanning and living the nomadic lifestyle made me realise just how special the fishing in Queensland really is.

We’ve got fabulous river systems, impoundment fishing, beach fishing and offshore fishing and a lot of it is within cooee of our cities and large towns, which means access is usually pretty good.

Weipa is situated on the western side of Cape York Peninsula and has long been a popular destination for fishers and fourwheel-drive enthusiasts.

The drive to Weipa is slowly but surely becoming an easier ordeal, with roads regularly graded and upgraded to bitumen.

Regular flights into the community have made it even easier for anglers to gain access to Weipa’s world-class fishery.

I have driven to Weipa several times, flown

Camp was simple, with the author sleeping on the bank and Dwayne in the boat.

It wouldn’t be a Weipa trip without catching one of the popular targets: the golden trevally.

Page 56 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

Fishing Australia

by ROBERT PAYNE

in many more times and have helped take a mother ship from Cairns and around the tip to Weipa on a couple of occasions as well.

As it had been two years since my last fishing trip to Weipa, it was really kind of Leeann to send me off for my birthday for a week of fishing with my good mate Dwayne Jay. Dwayne originally guided in Weipa for a number of years before settling down to take a position in the mining industry.

We teed up the itinerary for my trip months in advance and planned to target the large barramundi to the south of Weipa, catching a couple of reef fish along the way as well as pulling some drag on the big population of sailfish situated off the Cape’s coastline.

The plan was to fish from Dwayne’s smaller tinnie in the creeks and rivers, which are quite shallow, which meant it could be towed behind the 7.3m Trophy at a snail’s pace, however to traverse south from Weipa at some sort of respectable speed, Dwayne had made a cradle so the tinnie sat in the Trophy.

As we ventured south, we paid particular attention to the sounder and any indication of a reef, particularly new ground that we would fish for our first target of fingermark.

We took no bait with us, which meant every fish from the river to the ocean would be caught wholly and solely on lures.

Once we had marked a reef, we dropped our Zerek 110mm Fish Traps into the depths to work them in a drop and draw method.

That is, if we could actually get them to the bottom without a fingermark smashing the lure first.

No Fish Trap colouration stood out to be better than another and myriad methods could have been used, however the simple drop the lure to the bottom before raising the rod tip method worked without getting too technically minded.

The fishing was fast and furious, and being such a remote destination, we easily reached our bag limit, however we returned each capture and happily left them biting after we’d had enough of fishing for them.

The fingermark came from a water depth of 14m.

Our barramundi fishing for the trip was disappointing by Weipa standards.

We were to fish the Kirk River, however the river was running a putrid brown.

In another turn of events,

the Holroyd River was being fished by netters and a bunch of nomads had set up base along the foreshores, meaning we were definitely not going to have the place to ourselves as planned.

We ventured north, entering a long-time favourite river of Dwayne’s to cast the mangroves at high tide, where we started picking off some barramundi.

The rivers are home to a large number of species and we also encountered queenfish (hard not to in Cape York!), mangrove jack, small fingermark, pikey bream, trevally and cod to name just a few.

Zerek Barra-X Pros and the Fish Traps were our go-to lures and although the action wasn’t thick and fast, enough was on offer to whet our appetites but it definitely wasn’t up to my expectations due to outstanding experiences on past trips.

A trap for young players is navigating through the shallow river systems, as with discoloured water comes the inability to see sand and mud banks as you are travelling.

As it was, even with a

lot of experience on board we managed to get the little tinnie stuck for a couple of hours late in the afternoon.

Thankfully it was only a short while and an incoming tide saved us from spending a whole tide on the bank.

Leaving the tinnie in the creek, we were able to head offshore to target sailfish, which have been a very popular target for Weipa locals.

The billfishing is sensational and we came across a couple of pods of sails ☛ continued P57

The sailfish fishery offshore from Weipa is exceptional.

The Zerek Fish Trap was deadly on fingermark and negated the need to carry smelly bait.

Dwayne with a smaller barra hooked while casting at the mangroves.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Richard Pillans with a stonker Gulf coast threadfin salmon.

While barra are off-limits in Gulf country catchments as of October 7, they are still able to be taken in east coast areas of the Cape until October 31.

A cracking Wenlock River sooty grunter.

Cape York a phenomenal and fishy place

O

CTOBER is ‘build-up time’ on Cape York, with increasing temperatures and humidity, perhaps the odd storm about, and the start of the closed season for barramundi in western coast catchments (October 7).

Those still chasing these chrome-plated beauties (or bronze for those that have been land locked for some time) in east coast streams and billabongs can experience cracking action this month.

Warmer water equals faster metabolisms and a greater need to feed.

Whereas anglers tended to target fish hanging out in sun-warmed water during winter, barra are now spread more widely.

On hot days, it is even worthwhile fishing shady areas as barra seek shade to try to avoid the heat.

Try fishing at night with poppers and fizzers too, because they can go off.

As a change from luring, catch some cherabin (yabbies) and toss one out live.

Some people use a float to keep the bait from getting snagged in timber, however in open water this is not needed.

Favoured baits for yabby pots include parboiled or old potatoes and dog kibble in a punctured plastic

Cape York by ‘BILLABONG’ BAZZ LYON

jar to let the smell out.

Meat can also work at times, however may attract crocodiles, bull sharks and turtles.

It is best to check yabby pots periodically at night and place any captures in a live bait bucket.

This is because once daylight comes, these crustaceans often find the way out through the openings and do the ‘Harold Holt’.

Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park is probably the favoured location for barra fishing in October, and of course offers great fishing for a wide range of other estuary fish species as well as the tasty mud crab.

Other prime destinations include the Bathurst Heads and Cape Melville area, best accessed through Rinyirru and Kalpowar, or for the more adventurous, up the Starcke road from Cooktown.

This route has been hammered by a couple of cyclones over previous years and is pretty ordinary.

The Heads is renowned as a barramundi destination and these fish can

also be caught along the beach, headlands and small creeks in Bathurst Bay, west of Cape Melville.

Then there is Port Stewart, accessed from the Peninsula Development Rd about 27km south of Coen.

This is certainly a fishy place.

I recently returned here after many years, and although I didn’t have time to fish, I was blown away by the huge barra boofs near the boat ramp.

They were really going off, sounding like serious explosions and leaving huge swirls on the surface.

A campsite near the river nestles amongst the trees and harbours some ever-friendly mozzies and sandflies.

You really need a boat to properly fish the Heads and Port Stewart.

Should the southeasterly wind drop, which usually happens this month, all these places, and the stunning Chilli Beach near Iron Range, offer access to nearby reefs and islands for excellent fishing.

Spaniards, queenies, longtail tuna and various species of trevally will be hassling the baitfish,

while bottom dwellers including trout, nannygai, sweetlip and red emperor are widespread across the myriad reefs.

Many people bring frozen bait such as pilchards with them, otherwise a cast net is the go for catching fresh bait.

Mullet are present in every creek and estuary and are the universal selfcaught bait on the Cape.

Of course, herring and gar are also excellent.

Just keep an eye out for box jellyfish – their tentacles sometimes get caught up in the mesh and contact with them will ruin your day.

Remember too, crocodiles occur all around Cape York.

One of the most dangerous things to do is to throw fish frames off the beach or bury them near where people camp or are even likely to camp.

Crocodiles are scavengers and this will definitely attract them.

I’ve seen tracks where crocs have crawled more than 100m up the beach to dig up buried fish frames.

Places where boats regularly anchor along the coast can be a worry, because crocodiles are attracted to the food scraps people throw overboard.

Near the cyclone monument in Bathurst Bay is

Weipa fishing well worth the effort ☛ from P56

that were very keen to take our trolled lures.

It certainly reminded me of the great billfishing I had experienced in the past at places such as Broome, where schools of sails can be seen swimming on the surface.

Trolling a lure around this area, the hungry pack just couldn’t keep off the pushers we were using.

I could only imagine how good fly fishing for these fish would be because the odds are definitely on the angler’s side.

I field tested several of the new award-winning Wilson Bone rods, with the distinct advantage of the four-piece rods being stowed in my duffel bag for the flight.

The rods used were: www.bnbfishing.com. au

Heavy lures/estuary – Black River BRC664RXH four-piece baitcaster; Estuary – Voyage BVC654M four-piece baitcaster; and Sailfish – Voyage BVS764XXH four-piece spin.

As this issue hits the stands, the Gold Coast Sportfishing Club’s annual Flathead Classic will be running.

And with plenty of good flathead fishers in the mix, it will be a very interesting podium finish on the final day.

Teams have been honing their skills for the past couple of months using various techniques and have caught loads of fish and some bloody big ones at that, so I imagine it’ll be a great competition.

Good luck to all.

Small tinnies are very useful in narrow creeks.

The barramundi fishing wasn’t quite up to Weipa standards, though plenty of fish were caught.

one such place and here at least one big croc has taken up residence.

While barramundi will soon be off the available list along the west coast, threadfin and blue salmon, jewfish, estuary cod, mangrove jack and fingermark are still legal to take, and all can be locally common or even abundant.

As well as rivers and creeks, rocky coastal stretches can be hugely productive.

Then of course there’s offshore for those wanting to chase reef fish and pelagics.

Fingermark are usually the most common bottom dwellers caught, while spaniards are frequent captures near the surface.

The fishing for longtail tuna in Gulf of Carpentaria waters is legendary.

For some reason, feeding tuna are usually much easier to approach here than off the east coast, where they can spook quite readily.

Another feature of the northwest Gulf coastline is manta rays, which often have cobia accompanying them.

It’s well worth casting a fly or lure nearby manta rays.

Keep in mind the ‘westerlyish’ sea breezes that are pretty well a daily event along the western Cape coastline, and the northeasters on the east coast when the southeasters ease.

Both can stir up uncomfortable chop.

Otherwise, October is an excellent time to camp in the fresh beside a river or billabong and fish for sooty grunter and saratoga.

These fish are so underrated, and the country they live in is usually very scenic, which is an attraction in itself.

October is a great month in that while it is warming up, the weather is not as full on as we’ll experience in November and December – more like signalling what is to come.

The Bureau of Meteorology is suggesting the early onset of storm activity on Cape York this year.

While such activity should be fairly isolated this month, it would pay to have your campsite waterproofed with a good-sized tarp.

See you up here!

Early storms building over Rinyirru National Park.

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Unique fishing experience in the Northern Territory N U M B U LWA R is an Indigenous community in Northeast Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.

This is Paul, who the author met in ankle-deep water chasing mud crabs and stingrays. The locals still use old techniques successfully to get the job done.

The author wouldn’t go anywhere without his favourite all-round rod, blue water or estuary: the Samurai Kestrel.

One of the locals, Thadeus, nailed a monster queenfish. Over a metre long, the fish was handled easily on the Samurai Kestrel and Bassday Bungy Cast.

The Bassday Bungy Cast is a lure that can be thrown a long, long way because of its bullet profile. It was by far the best lure for catching queenfish when combined with a fast retrieve. It also proved a great way to show the locals how to use a rod and reel because it was just cast and wind.

Page 58 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

Its population fluctuates during the year depending on seasonal change and cultural proceedings, but around 687 people call Numbulwar home.

The community is nestled between spectacular sand dunes that overlook the Gulf of Carpentaria towards the Queensland coastline, the magnificent Rose River and floodplains that seem to stretch out to the horizon.

In the wet season, daily torrential rain fills the plains, providing the opportunity for an abundance of wildlife to spread throughout the region.

The only road in and out is rarely driveable, though kamikaze fishers occasionally brave the roads to appreciate the plethora of fish.

This year was the longest wet season in decades, bucketing right through May and into June.

The buffalo could not get enough of the deluge.

Stiff wind reminds locals the wet season is coming to an end and the dugong will be moving towards the mouth of the Rose River to escape the battering.

Limited rainfall and plenty of UV rays gradually drain the wetlands via creeks and tributaries to the rivers and finally the ocean.

Large crocodiles and fishers join together to intercept the retreating fish during the run-off.

The dry season offers a different scenario.

Once the wind calms, it presents a great opportunity to seek out large pelagic fish such as sailfish and spanish mackerel.

Towards the end of the long and hot conditions, electrical storms frustrate inhabitants, plants and animals.

This state of mind, commonly known as ‘mango madness’, is only relieved by the breeding female barramundi as they prepare to lay their eggs in the Rose.

A light shower becomes pouring rain, life returns to Numbulwar and the wet season begins again.

Overview My name is Zac Panaretos and I am privileged to be able to call Numbulwar home.

I work at the school here, teaching a class with year 7, 8 and 9 students for whom English may be their third or fourth language.

Cultural beliefs and practices are strong within the community.

Regular ceremonies involving traditional dancing and music demonstrate the unique connection the traditional owners share with the land.

It is humbling when elders invite outsiders like

Northern Territory

by ZAC PANARETOS

me to join in festivities and become a part of the community.

Prior to arriving, I had no idea that communities like this one are not only culturally surviving, they are thriving.

Unfortunately for numerous remote communities such as Numbulwar, living conditions, hygiene and health are not up to the normally high Australian standards.

This article aims to share what I have observed and learnt from the locals about the land, culture and most importantly fishing over the past year.

Several of the locals have taken me to their ‘country’, which are various outstations that are accessible by invite only.

Spending time with the traditional owners in the bush highlights their deep understanding and knowledge of its full potential.

I see a simple eucalyptus tree, whereas the locals know that peeling its bark off, mashing it up and spreading it through a billabong will deoxidise the water, stunning small fish so they are easily collected for tucker.

From the same tree, boiling the leaves will act as an antibacterial oil, and rubbing the sap on a stingray wound will help numb the pain.

Deciding to venture from teaching at an allboys catholic school in Sydney to an isolated location that took three flights to get to was easy.

I just had to come with the right attitude that I would be able to learn far more from the Indigenous people than I could teach.

Fishing Huge tidal movements exist in Numbulwar.

On low tide, it can be an extra 500m walk from the beach to the water’s edge.

The locals arrive two hours prior to the tide change to have enough time to collect bait before

the action begins.

Blue salmon and queenfish are the main targets.

I did what most fishers trying a new location would do: copy what everyone else is doing (almost).

The traditional owners collected bait with extensive drag nets in crocinfested waters while I’d use a cast net instead and remain on land.

Amazingly, instead of using live bait, they cut the fish up and throw them out on handlines with 50lb monofilament running straight to a sinker and hook, which are about $2.50 each from the town’s only shop.

Dragging large logs all the way out to their favourite fishing spot allows them to hang their lines up while they wait for a bite.

I was throwing metal slugs and using live bait to attract the bites but the Indigenous people always seemed to out-fish me with their simple techniques.

However I was still having fun and getting a feed, showing some people how to use a rod and reel and picking their brains for the best barramundi spots at the same time.

Coming from Sydney and never having been to the Northern Territory, a barramundi was right at the top of my list.

A small creek I had fished a few times with no luck would fill right up on the full moons and king tides.

Normally the creek had bait everywhere and it was the perfect sanctuary to cruise around willy-nilly without being hassled.

When the tide pushed in, all the bait would vanish and this was when the area would fish well.

I know most people say bait is the first sign of predatory fish, but this spot was different.

Only on these particular

tides would a small pool connect with the ocean, allowing access for bigger fish.

This was only a theory but it was proven on an afternoon about two weeks after I had arrived in Numbulwar.

We sat with a few live mullet on floats, Gamakatsu 4/0 live bait hooks and Samurai Cruisers rods.

These rods are fantastic because they fold up into four pieces and fit in a carry bag, which is great for walking through the mangroves.

Soon the green ocean water started to flood in, mixing with the brown fresh water.

The float on my live bait was following the colour change in the water and within 15 minutes, boof, I had hooked my first barra.

Thanks to the grunt in the Samurai rod, I was literally able to lift the fish over a small tree to land it on the bank.

The monkey (or barra) was off my back and I had finally developed my own successful plan in the Northern Territory.

We had a lot of fun in this creek, catching mangrove jack, golden trevally and barra, but it was time to try to find some bigger models, as new spots were beckoning.

A 45-minute drive from the town is Policemans crossing.

During the majority of the wet season, torrents of water cut this location off from the rest of the world.

However, some serious four-wheel-driving and a ‘can-do’ attitude will get you to its closest bank for a fish.

The first time one of the community members took me out, I loaned him my 100mm Atomic Hardz Shiner in Grey Ghost colour.

Most people would consider this a high-quality lure, and it also matched the silver mullet scurrying around.

He tied the lure to his handline, gave it a few ☛ continued P59

The Numbulwar School sign. With the dugong and turtle being paramount to the community, it is easy to see why they are featured in the emblem.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

A few of the author’s students from school. Their amazing accuracy with a spear resulted in enough fish to feed the whole family.

Numbulwar from the sky. The Rose River snakes alongside this small community. You can see that Numbulwar is all built on sand.

Unique fishing experience in Northern Territory ☛ from P58

whirls above his head as if he was lassoing a horse, cast out and began to work it like a seasoned angler.

I was amazed at his ability to do this without a rod.

I noticed he was even mixing up his retrieves, varying from slow to fast and employing downwards and upwards cranks of the line, forcing the lure to produce more or less action.

Obviously, I was very impressed, even more so when he was able to outfish me again, even when I had a rod with the same lure.

We fished Policemans crossing regularly over the following months, rarely going home emptyhanded.

As the water levels eased, we were able to access more back country and little creeks and keep exploring beyond the crossing’s reach.

A few billabongs stacked with water lilies were an amazing spectacle for wildlife.

An incredible biodiversity incorporated snakes, dingoes, buffalo, jabiru, spoonbills, eagles and wallabies, to name a few.

The chorus provided by the birds is something that will resonate with me for years to come.

The beauty of these fishing spots was the main drawcard but we still wanted to catch fish.

A primary difficulty is you can’t get too close to the edge because of crocs, though the trees also make it impossible to cast a long rod naturally and the lilies and snags mean accuracy is vital.

My choice of equipment immediately gave me the upper hand.

I used the Samurai RunOff 6’, 17lb stick, which was accurate amongst the overhanging trees because of its short length and stiff tip.

I also combatted the lilies by using Gamakatsu EWG Worm hooks to weedless-rig Atomic Plazos 6” Jerk Minnows and Barra Worms.

The advantage of using this style of rig was I didn’t have to land my lure in front of the lily pads, instead I could go beyond and bounce over them because I had no hook exposure.

It also kept my lure in the strike zone for as long as possible.

During the wet, the water pours over the top of the infamous Policemans crossing, making it impossible to cross.

Unfortunately, the prehistoric saratoga I was hoping to catch did not jump on my line but some golden barra joined the party.

By this stage of the year, the water was just a thin layer over the top of Policemans crossing at high tide.

This proved a productive time to fish the crossing because you could walk along it casting at numerous holes and snags on both sides.

Angling is intensified by being on the same level as your acrobatic opponents, which could be jumping at your feet and sometimes even onto the road.

I was using the Atomic Hardz 85mm Shiner in a camo colour called Ghost Green Shad with a midrange bib.

Not having much luck, I decided to mix up my casts.

I threw the lure parallel to the road of the crossing, landing in the deepest part of the pool about an inch from its edge.

Cranking the lure down hard, I was buckled over in what I thought was a snag.

Irritability turned to astonishment when a monstrous barra leapt out of the water literally an arm’s length away.

I was new to the Territory and still naïve – I mean, I had caught large tuna and mackerel on 30lb leader, surely a barra without razor-sharp teeth wouldn’t get the better of me.

Let’s just say I now use 60lb Unitika fluorocarbon because during this amazing animal’s hurdles its sharp gill rakers snapped my leader in a flash.

On a low tide you can walk another 500m-plus from the beach to the water’s edge.

With the morning sun reflecting onto the remaining pools of water it can sometimes look like something from the amazon.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Lesson learnt.

We went back that night with live bait and fished right through the full moon, landing plenty of solid barramundi with red crocodile eyes supervising.

However, I remain haunted by the sight of that fish of a lifetime getting away at my feet.

The last week of school before the major holidays was culture week.

I had the opportunity to go out into the bush with some of the boys from school collecting all the necessary equipment to make didgeridoos and spears with the guidance of a few elders in the community.

This is strictly men’s business, so no women or girls were able to attend.

My girlfriend Chelsea, who came up to join me in the Territory, was told not to touch the didgeridoos or she would not be able to have children.

We went deep into the bush, trying to absorb the wealth of knowledge the older men offered.

I had never seen my students so engaged in learning.

This was my most memorable experience in the Territory because I was able to observe the Indigenous culture in its purest form, with elders passing on knowledge to youths in the bush, the home of their ancestors.

We took all the different things we had collected back to school and spent the week working on spears and didgeridoos.

The best part was actually being able to go out and use the spears on the beach.

On a mid to high tide you can walk across a fantastic sand flat that is about knee deep.

The boys ran around all day, hunting stingrays, small fish and mud crabs.

I waited by the fire to reap the rewards of their eagle-eyed accuracy.

One of the older men from the community, Wayne, spent time demonstrating how to use the spears correctly.

A woomera is used to increase the speed and accuracy of the throw.

It is basically a detach-

able handle connected to the end of the spear.

Wayne was incredible, being able to spear tiny mullet for bait 5m away and even larger queenfish and golden trevally cruising the flats.

This was all just a simple day in the life for Wayne.

Numbulwar has been a massive eye-opener with respect to the Indigenous cultures and affinity to the land.

Material things have no place here, and the isolation means a limited influence from the media or how people should look or what is considered acceptable behaviour.

I am privileged to have made great friends with the people who represent the true Australian outback culture.

Any teachers reading this who are struggling to find work or feel like a change – we need you up here!

The people are awesome, the country is beautiful and my belly is thinning, mainly because it’s a dry community (alcohol free).

Hopefully that doesn’t scare you off.

My experience has given me a much greater respect for traditional owners who have an amazing culture and way of life.

The surrounding billabongs are great fishing spots to take in the local ecosystems. When casting for barra, black bream and saratoga, stay well clear of the edge.

You never know what is lurking in the dark water.

A barra caught while walking up a river casting alongside the reeds. The author’s favourite lure in the Territory was the Atomic Shiner 85mm. This lure can vouch for 80 percent of the barra he has caught.

You would be surprised how many you can catch in a year’s time.

The ‘yellow shirts’ at school are part of a government organisation that helps encourage students to come to class and usually go around the community on the bus to help out. Dave manages the yellow shirts in Numbulwar and also loves to go fishing after work. Golden barra: tick.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 59

C AMPING & outdoors Preparing a remote camping pantry

B

Y the time you read this, we will be camping and fishing in a remote part of East Arnhem Land as part of a seven-week adventure.

The author and her husband enjoy Asian flavours and these few ingredients have become part of their pantry.

Dehydrated foods are light and don’t require refrigeration.

You have a huge range to select from once you start shopping and looking for camp-style food.

Page 60 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

During our preparation for such trips, we carefully review items of food that are practical, lightweight and don’t require refrigeration.

Every year we manage to find new products that suit our needs to support this style of camping.

Those who have already experienced a remote getaway and been based in isolated areas for several weeks at a time will know the importance of packing the maximum amount of food in minimal space to allow room for other essentials.

For those who haven’t, I hope some of these tips help you get started when it comes to organising your grocery list.

When preparing for a remote trip you quickly learn the difference between food you must have and food you would like to have.

Fresh milk, cheeses, fruits and salads are nice to have.

Fresh salad packed carefully in the fridge will last for about 10 days.

If fruits and vegetables get bruised on your travels, their lifespan will reduce quickly.

I suggest you buy what will see you the distance such as half-green tomatoes, small cucumbers, apples and oranges.

In the vegetable department, unwashed potatoes, orange sweet potatoes, onions and garlic last extremely well.

Pick small jap or butternut pumpkins when making your selection.

Once you cut a pumpkin,

Camping Tips

by MELISSA FROHLOFF

you need to get full use of it before it starts to rot.

Store all these vegetables in a cool, ventilated and shaded area.

We take extra potato bags for this purpose.

Frozen pre-packed vegetables are nice to have, but the amount you can bring depends upon freezer space.

Our meat department comprises a mixture of steak, bacon, sausages and mince packed in the freezer.

We like roasts and pickled meats, and when I choose these cuts they are ones without a bone, such as rolled roasts or butterflied lamb, which makes more space in the freezer.

Dehydrated foods take up minimal space and weigh less, with shitake mushrooms and surprise peas prime examples.

I dehydrate mangoes, bananas and apples myself at home before a trip.

We also buy frozen corn kernels and dry them, which make for a tasty addition to fritters and mince dishes.

I always make a large batch of jerky before a trip away too.

Spices, mixed herbs, sultanas and a selection of nuts are great to have.

Tinned food offers you such variety including capsicum, pineapple, beetroot, asparagus and the list goes on.

Keep in mind that the weight of tinned food can add up, which is why we always choose dried food over tinned products where possible.

Dried coconut milk powder or UHT coconut milk is preferred over

tinned coconut milk.

Wherever possible, take plastic containers over glass.

Plastic containers can serve double duties for handy storage around camp too.

It is difficult to find every food item you would like to have without taking a few jars away, and if this is the case, secure all bottled goods in bubble wrap.

I buy self-raising and plain flour already packaged in plastic containers, which I also use to store bulk sugar, rice and other food items.

Mission wraps generally last the distance.

I like to use Lighthouse bread mix because it is well packaged and the yeast is provided.

We always take some pizza base mixes.

Nothing beats camp oven pizzas and I pack extra cheese in the freezer for this reason.

We take MasterFoods, Maggi and Lobo sachet bases for meals where most of the ingredients are contained in one packet – you just add meat or fish and a few vegetables.

Rice, pasta, cous cous, egg noodles and quinoa expand and double their quantity when cooked up in a dish and they all go a long way.

What about packing the eggs?

Simple.

Double-fold paper towel over the eggs and close the lid of the carton.

You don’t want them broken.

If the eggs rattle around, add more paper towel until the eggs are

secured firmly.

No Egg is a powdered product that substitutes fresh eggs when you run out.

One container is equivalent to a dozen eggs.

Creams and milks in cardboard long-life packaging travel well.

However, powdered milk is preferred and cuts weight compared to UHT milk in cartons.

We have learnt to drink our coffee and tea black to reduce our milk requirement.

Rice bran oil is a popular choice when it comes to cooking oils.

You can reuse the oil several times because it doesn’t burn at high temperatures and of course you want crispy chips to go with your fresh fish.

Salt is both a curing agent and adds a nice flavour to a meal.

If you are thinking about smoking fish, you will also need salt for making brine.

Putting some thought into food selection and going the extra mile when packing for a trip will certainly be rewarding when you make it to your destination and the food you will live on for the following weeks is in one piece.

As a result of careful and proper packing, we travelled over 2000km of dirt roads on a previous trip without damage to any of our food items.

I hope these general guidelines help get you packing.

Everyone has different taste buds, so you will have to customise the food groups to suit your desired flavours.

You can follow our Northern Territory adventures on our Appetite 4 The Wild Facebook page.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Salmon spinning in southern NSW I ’M tapping the keys of the laptop while it is -4C and snowing heavily outside.

Obviously, I’m not in Queensland, but in Victoria exploring Alpine National Park on the southern leg of a three-state road trip.

I’ve never been a fan of cold weather, suffering severely from the winter blues each year.

However, a few species that I quite enjoy chasing lure me out into the elements each year when the frost is on the ground.

As you would expect, most of these are saltwater species, with luderick always a winter favourite, providing a relaxing change of pace from my usual lure casting outings.

One other species that has great appeal, possibly because I don’t get to encounter them too often, is the Australian salmon.

During the last week of August, I was competing in a half marathon in the NSW coastal town of Huskisson, near Nowra.

We decided to make a holiday of the event and I took a week of annual leave to allow Rosemary and I to visit a few new locations.

Being on the southern NSW coast would put me in the heart of prime salmon water, so a light surf rod and spinning reel were jammed in with all our other luggage.

After overnighting in Huskisson, we followed the highway south towards the Victorian border to the aptly named township of Eden.

Eden used to be the hub of a commercial salmon fishery until rapidly declining numbers of fish brought the harvest to a halt.

For the trivia buffs among you, Eden was actually one of the frontrunners to become the national capital before Canberra was granted that honour.

Apparently the politicians of the day were concerned that due to its excellent deepwater port, Eden would be in direct competition with Sydney for international shipping business.

Eden has long been recognised as a fishing destination for bluewater anglers targeting various game species from southern bluefin tuna to marlin and swordfish.

Wide of the coast, deep fishing techniques produce catches of prime table fish including gemfish and blue-eye trevalla.

Historically, Eden was also a renowned whaling port where the legendary killer whale Old Tom and his pod used to actively assist whalers to capture larger humpback, baleen, right and even blue whales.

The pod of killer whales would herd a humpback into Twofold Bay and alert the whalers to its presence.

Old Tom would often tow a whaling skiff to the prey

Fishing for Sport

by NEIL SCHULTZ

whale, evident by the teeth in his now-preserved skeleton being worn down by the tow rope.

In return, the whalers allowed the killers to feast on the lips, throat and tongue of the harpooned whales.

Our second port of call upon arriving in Eden (the first was a coffee shop) was Eden Outdoors & Marine, handily located on the main drag in the CBD. Here Barry was able to supply up-to-date local fishing information and was even happy to share some of his personal favourite salmon spinning locations.

On our first afternoon in town, we went for a late-afternoon drive to suss out a few beaches in the daylight in preparation for a pre-dawn start the next day.

After inspecting a couple of beaches from the top of the dunes and finding no impressive gutters, I eventually ended up in Ben Boyd National Park.

At the far northern end of the park, just south of a rocky headland, was a beach with a good-looking surf gutter.

As I strolled down from the carpark, the tip of a surf rod became visible, so I wandered over to say g’day to the lone angler.

When I first spotted the 650 Alvey slung under the fisho’s rod, I thought I may have stumbled across another travelling Queenslander, but it turned out he was from Western Australia.

Steve Trew is an accomplished surf angler in his home state and no stranger to pulling salmon from the beach.

While we chatted, he landed a couple of average-sized salmon on pillies (mulies to Steve), rigged on ganged 2/0 Mustad 4202 hooks.

In spite of his invitation to join him for a cast, I would have felt uncomfortable casting lures just because I’d seen him catch some fish, so instead kept him company and chatted about fishing like old friends (as like-minded anglers do).

Once the sun dipped below the banksia scrub on the dunes behind us, the temperature dropped, so I left Steve with the fish biting and headed back to the warmth of our cabin.

The next morning, I was back at North Long Beach way too early and made my way across the dunes to the water’s edge with an air temperature of -2C. As soon as I could make out the water’s edge in the pre-dawn gloom, I commenced casting.

My gear was a mixed combination of my 12’ light graphite luderick rod and one of my HSS Pflueger tuna spinning reels.

I had bought speciality salmon slugs while in South Australia last year and tied one on as the first option.

After half an hour, I changed to a chrome slice with a Mediterraneansounding name that produces well on tailor and trevally at home.

Another half an hour of casting and I figured another lure change was in order, so tied on a chrome 50g Lazer, my all-time favourite tuna lure.

I was a little stunned when I hooked up on the first cast with the Lazer and was quite happy with the fat 45cm salmon that was the culprit.

This was not classic salmon fishing from a beach as I’d experienced

before further north.

At this time of year there were no schooling fish to be spotted and sight fished on the southern coast.

Instead it was a matter of finding a promising-looking gutter and putting in as many blind casts as it took to either find a fish or give up and look elsewhere.

After finding which lure the fish wanted on the day, I was hooking up every 10 minutes or so, with the fish mostly in the 45-50cm size range.

After a couple of hours, I was chilled from the cool breeze on my back and the icy sand underfoot, so content with the results, I took the pair of fish I’d kept for the table back to camp to clean.

Treated like any dryfleshed pelagic fish, salmon are top notch on the plate.

I skinned the fillets, sliced them thinly and cooked them very quick-

ly – just long enough for the flesh to change from opaque to white.

One tactical adjustment that needed to be made when changing target species from the mackerel, trevally and tuna of my home waters in southern Queensland to these coldwater salmon was retrieve speed.

Instead of trying to get the lure moving as quickly as possible with a flat-out retrieve, a very moderate pace is most successful.

Just enough speed to keep the lure swimming correctly is all that’s required, which is quite fortunate because it also allows more time in the strike zone per cast.

One more session on the beach was all that time would allow before we hit the road again, travelling south into Victoria to fish for different species.

But that, as they say, is another story.

Western Australian angler Steve Trew with an average late-winter Eden salmon taken on his trusty Alvey outfit.

The ever-reliable 50g Lazer proved irresistible to the salmon of the southern NSW coastal beaches.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 61

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Barra Havoc

Robyn with a great bass catch. Good luck in the WTF Women That Fish Barra Classic.

Where to find barra in the wind T HE past few weeks have been a bit challenging on Lake Monduran, with only a few smaller barra caught, but with this fabulous spring weather, now is the time to get the boat out and head to the dam.

As I have mentioned previously, the wind plays an enormous part in where to catch barra in this massive lake.

As I write, the constant warm northerly wind bodes well for the conditions to be spot-on for awesome action and record-breaking catches.

When the northerlies are upon us, some of the best places to try are Bird Bay and the Rainforest.

When the weather changes and the southeasterly is around, try Jacks and the island out the front of Insane Bay. The small bays at the southern end of the dam can also hold a lot of surprises, especially the one next to the concrete boat ramp.

This bay holds big fish that feed around the edges

Monduran Dam

by DONNA GANE

and small inlets at night.

The far end of the basin around the small grassy island is another good spot to cast as the barra move up onto the shallows to feed after dark.

An option here is to tie up to one of the small trees on the island and hang back.

By doing this, you can cast along the shallows and steep drop-offs where the barra cruise before moving up onto the shallows to feed.

By listening and taking note of where the barra are boofing, you can move quietly into that area and improve your chances of a hook-up.

WIN Television Family Fishing Classic The Monduran Anglers and Stocking Association will be holding the WIN Television Family Fishing Classic at Lake Monduran on October 14 and 15.

MASA created, maintains and is further de-

veloping the recreational freshwater fishery at Lake Monduran for current and future generations of anglers.

The WIN Television Family Fishing Classic is one of the biggest freshwater fishing competitions in Queensland and is the major fundraiser for

the stocking of Lake Monduran.

Every year, competitors keep returning and introducing new friends to what can only be described as a great family fun weekend.

This year will see more catch prizes and junior registrations are free.

We at Barra Havoc will be there and we would love to see you there too.

Check out the 2017 WIN Television Monduran Family Fishing Classic

Facebook page for more details.

Thanks once again to Jamie Bein from Lake Monduran Barra Charters for the great photos.

If you need a charter, he is the man.

As you can see, his charters have been very successful, even in the tough times.

Don’t forget to pop into Barra Havoc when passing through Gin Gin for all the latest news and tips on Lake Monduran.

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www.barratackle.com.au Page 62 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

Jamie Bein with the barra he caught late in the afternoon/early evening.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Yellowbelly are a sought-after species in western Queensland where carp usually reign supreme, though Warren Bradford did well during this session.

At the end of a day’s fishing, cooking your catch over a campfire satisfies taste buds and the mind.

Yellowbelly on the western fringes

I

LIKE targeting yellowbelly on the Q ue ensla nd / NSW border rivers for a couple of reasons.

They are relatively easy to catch on a wide variety of baits and taste great once cooked on a campfire not far from where they were caught.

I’ve sampled a few fil-

Fresh Water

by NOAL KUHL

lets over the years from many different waters, with the majority extracted from Queensland impoundments.

You would think the pristine waters in the

Using large worms and plenty of them on a 2/0 hook in western Queensland border rivers increases the opportunity to catch yellowbelly. Brett Ciesiolka consistently scored fish during a midmorning session.

headwater dams such as Cooby and Connolly would be the premium choice.

When I first ventured out west 17 years ago, my taste buds received a surprising treat of how delicious native fish can be when pulled from sediment-clouded waters.

I immediately bleed all fish destined for the table and place them in an ice slurry to ensure a topnotch taste.

The ever-muddy waters of the Weir River near Talwood hold decent stocks of yellowbelly with fillets that have a unique clean and sweet taste.

I usually coat the fillets in beer batter containing rice flour and drop them into hot rice bran oil because this oil is flavourless and leaves you with the real taste of the fish.

There is no room for lemon at my bush table – that’s for the rubbish imported fillets found at takeaway shops.

The best way to catch yellowbelly is using worms and shrimp for bait, and the larger, the better.

Making the effort to track down and dig the more robust worm species such as bloodworms and a large brown variety that I call scrub worms is worth it.

Worms bought from a shop are usually African night crawlers, which look very appealing due to their size, though I find them too soft in this hard country because they are stripped off the hooks by fish with little effort.

The fish get impatient with tougher worms and tend to swallow them aggressively.

Fishing for yellowbelly should be kept simple.

Therefore, 10lb main line with a 2/0 long-shank hook is all you need.

Very rarely are sinkers required because three or four worms dangling from a hook adds enough cast weight.

The worms must be pinned in several places, allowing a lot of wriggling movement, because this attracts the yellow-

belly – they love a moving bait and winding in very slowly improves the odds.

The last worm should cover the hook point and stationary lines should be checked every 20 minutes or so.

If the hook point is uncovered when you wind in, your bait has probably been sampled, so rethread more worms over it before recasting.

Very rarely have I caught a yellowbelly with a hook point exposed.

If sinkers are needed, a running sinker is the best approach because it creates the least amount of resistance.

Despite the width of any river, I find the first 4-5m from the bank to be the most productive because yellowbelly forage the edges, especially during the cold of winter as they search for food in warmer water.

Fishing close to the bank also minimises your chances of snagging when winding in to check the bait, so why increase the difficulty when catching fish in close is doing the job.

When yellowbelly are on the chew it’s a matter of letting the fish set the hook while they are in a ravenous mood. Catching carp may not be what anglers want, though the big specimens are great fun on light gear.

Quality yellowbelly can add delight to any angler’s day, with Geoff Thomas claiming bragging rights as usual. Unlike lake-caught yellowbelly, little fat is added to the bigger river specimens.

WIN Television Lake Monduran Fishing Classic

T

HE annual WIN Television Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic will be held on October 14 and 15.

This popular fishing classic has been running for 19 years and will again offer great prizes for both senior and junior entrants.

The major lucky prize for senior competitors is a boat and trailer package from Adrians Marine Centre, while the major junior lucky prize is a fishing kayak.

As always, hundreds of giveaways for senior and junior competitors will be up for grabs throughout the weekend.

The event has long held a focus on encouraging junior anglers to participate in the competition and experience the fun of a family weekend fishing competition.

This year, juniors (15

www.bnbfishing.com. au

and under) can enter for free, as the usual $10 fee has been waived.

Juniors will still have to register to receive their registration card for the weigh-ins and lucky draw prizes.

A casting competition will also enable juniors to show off their casting skills.

Serious anglers, both senior and junior, will contend for cash and prizes in the various fishing categories.

The major prize for senior competitors is $1000 cash for the angler who catches the longest barramundi.

A $500 cash prize will go to the angler weighing in the heaviest bass, and $250 each to whoever catches the heaviest catfish and the heaviest bag of 20 catfish.

Daily prizes will also be on offer in all categories.

Official fishing times are 6am-5pm on Saturday and 6am-10.30am on Sunday.

All competitors over the age of 18 will require a Stocked Impoundment Permit to fish the dam.

You can obtain a SIP either online (qld.gov. au/recreation/activities/ boating-fishing/rec-fish ing/dams) or in person at any Australia Post outlet.

The WIN Television Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic presents a fantastic opportunity to take the whole family camping, with unpowered sites at the Lake Monduran Holiday Park just $8 per person, per night for the competition weekend.

The campgrounds are quite spacious and feature two amenities blocks and two camp kitchens with barbecue facilities, a microwave, fridge and running hot water.

If you require a little more comfort with a powered site, you can book through Rob and Kelly at the park prior to the comp on 07 4157 3881.

A licensed bar will keep anglers hydrated over the weekend, and offer plenty of food and drinks from the wellstocked canteen.

One of the most popular attractions is the camp oven stews available on Saturday night only.

Breakfast can be bought both mornings to ensure you are adequately fuelled for the days of fishing ahead.

All money raised during the weekend goes towards restocking the dam with barramundi and bass fingerlings to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks for the future.

Hope to see you there!

Monduran Anglers & Stocking Association

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 63

Dean Silvester and fiancée Marnie Watson with Dean’s trophies.

Dean’s massive winning bag.

Silvester claims the 2017 Atomic Championship H OW do we define a champion?

Mitchell Cone’s second-placed bag.

Brett Turner was all smiles after placing third in the Pro division.

Daniel McCoy was the champion Co-Angler.

Page 64 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

Being a great angler doesn’t mean you are a good person, but being a great angler and a good person means you are a champion.

With the best 32 Pro and Co-Anglers of 2017 hitting the shores of Lake Boondooma in the South Burnett region recently, we had an absolutely titanic battle of will and determination, with one angler showing his dominance on the Australian bass fishing circuit.

Dean Silvester took out his first Atomic B.A.S.S. Australia Nation Championship and will now represent Australia in the US this October.

The word ‘champion’ can be thrown around a lot in this day and age, but with this championship win, and three out of the past four Samurai Rods Angler of the Year titles, Dean has surely cemented himself as the ultimate benchmark in the Australian bass tournament scene.

In the Co-Angler ranks, a new angler emerged as a force to be reckoned with.

Daniel McCoy stepped up to the plate on Sunday and weighed in the largest sack of the tournament to claim his first title and the Australian Co-Angler Championship.

Fishing only his third tournament, Daniel clawed his way back from 23rd place and leapfrogged a huge number of anglers to shock the crowd and claim the Atomic title.

In winning the Atomic Pro title, Dean landed sixout-of-six fish totalling 6.9kg.

For his efforts, he picked up the Atomic B.A.S.S. Australia Nation Champion Trophy and representative trip to the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship in the US, a Garmin Quatix watch, Tonic polarised

B.A.S.S. Australia Nation

by DREW McGRATH

eyewear and customised Australian representative tournament shirts for a total package value in excess of $10,000.

With so many tournaments under Dean’s belt over his career, he had consciously made the decision to focus more on where he was heading and look to chase the ultimate dream of fishing in the US. This meant that for the next few seasons at least, Dean was not planning on fishing the local circuit, making this his last big tournament in Australia.

So with that in mind, the pressure to give claiming the Atomic B.A.S.S. Australia Nation title one last shot to help fast-track his international career must

have been immense.

With some incredible anglers chasing this victory, the last session of the year had Dean sitting 650g behind local favourite Matthew Langford, with five anglers all within 1kg of claiming the title.

This left Dean with one shot to claim the elusive title, and he had saved up a milk run that produced 2.5kg of bass to see him finish 740g clear of Mitchell Cone in second place.

Before the event started, I spoke to quite a few anglers and the word ‘adaptability’ came up in nearly every conversation.

The angler who could best adjust to the changing wind, light and tempera-

ture would be the one to claim the title.

We had three sessions across two days, with the wind changing through each session dramatically from south-southeasterly to north-northwesterly and finally southwestwesterly on Sunday.

This type of change generally makes for very tough fishing, but Boondooma still gave up amazing action and we saw the big girls brought to the weigh station.

Drawing 31st out of a 32-angler start line wasn’t ideal for Dean, and with only an hour and a half to go in the first session he had nothing in the well, so the signs were not good.

Moving away from the standard community holes the majority of anglers were fishing, Dean headed out on his own and picked up a Jackall Squir☛ continued P65

Jill Wales scored the title of number-one female bass fisher in Australia.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Silvester claims the 2017 Atomic Championship ☛ from P64

rel 79DD jerkbait to fish on his Quantum Smoke S3 baitcaster and Dobyns Champion 684 rod rigged with Sunline Super PE8 braid and 12lb Sunline FC Sniper leader to try to recover from his bad start.

Slow twitching this lure through the shallow banks of Boondooma, Dean quickly picked up his bag and managed two important upgrades to end up sitting in equal eighth place, a mere 470g behind the leader.

At the start of session two, Dean headed back to a main community hole and alternated between Palms F-Leads and Slow Blatts on his Dobyns Champion Extreme 743 rod, Quantum Smoke Speed Freak 30 reel, Sunline PE EGI ULT 0.8PE and 10lb Sunline FC Sniper leader.

These spoon-like lures work well when slowly retrieved through the schools of bass sitting suspended across Boondooma’s flats and points.

Putting together a solid bag moved Dean into third place and kept the dream alive.

With only 650g separating him from first place, Dean went back to his honey hole for the final session.

He had stayed away from this spot in the Stewart arm since the first session to not over-fish it before his final charge.

After changing techniques and gear to a Keitech Swing Impact swimbait and 1/4oz jig head, Quantum Smoke PTiA 25 reel and Dobyns Champion 701 rod, he managed to work the area and pick up multiple upgrades to put together his largest sack of the tournament.

With it all in front of him now, Dean can relax and focus on Lake Hartwell, South Carolina and look to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.

Heading to a different country to chase a different species is difficult, but with his professionalism and determination, we are sure Dean will do Australia proud in midOctober.

Finishing second in the Pro division was last year’s champion Mitchell Cone with a six-out-of-six bag totalling 6.26kg.

Mitchell earned himself a $1000 Atomic cheque, $1000 Frogleys Offshore voucher, Garmin VIRB camera, Tonic Eyewear, $590 Atomic entry credits voucher and the Atomic Championship secondplace trophy.

Mitchell gave it his all and really stepped up in this big event, proving how much ability he has across state lines.

So many anglers struggle to compete on interstate waterways and it seems the biggest challenge for NSW anglers is working out the northern strain bass. www.bnbfishing.com. au

This result will go a long way to help Mitchell in future events and he can walk away with his head held very high.

He had the determination to keep a hold of the title and only one angler stopped his march to a back-to-back victory.

With limited practice and experience on Boondooma, Mitchell worked out a solid plan that almost pulled him through.

Using his electronics, he looked for fish holding on or near ledges and gutters.

He had worked out that the bass needed different presentations depending on their location and used small hopping, burn and kill, slow roll and bottom shake retrieves through the tournament.

His go-to gear consisted of a Millerods US BassFreaK matched with a Shimano Ci4 Stradic reel and spooled with Sufix 832 4lb braid and Sufix Super 21 FC leader.

The third-placed Pro was Brett Turner whose six-out-of-six bag totalled 6.19kg.

Brett won a $600 Atomic cheque, Garmin VIRB camera, $590 Atomic entry credits voucher and the Atomic Championship third-place trophy.

Brett is a Kingaroy local who seems to improve in every tournament.

Having an early draw in the first session, Brett decided to attack the community holes and had a specific location near the Carsberg area in 12-18m of water.

Catching over 40 bass through the tournament, all Brett needed to do was look for solid upgrades, and he worked out that mixing up a variety of spoons through the day resulted in success.

His go-to spoons were the Nories Metal Wasaby, new Maria Mucho Lucir and Smak Knife.

He mentioned the Maria was by far the standout, and fishing both the 25g and 35g lures meant he could change setups to make the lures work the way the fish liked.

Brett’s lighter setup comprised a Dobyns 701 rod matched to a Daiwa Certate 2000 reel spooled with 6lb Berkley FireLine Exceed and 10lb Sunline FC. When he picked up the heavier 35g lure he switched to a Dobyns 743 rod and Daiwa Certate 2500 reel with 8lb Berkley FireLine Exceed and 12lb Sunline FC. The difference in line weight also affected the sink rates and allowed Brett to have complete control over the fall of the lures.

After this solid third place, it will be very interesting to see how Brett takes on next season and how he improves.

In the Co-Angler division, Daniel McCoy’s four-out-of-six bag weighed a solid 5.35kg, which was enough for him

to take the title.

Daniel won two Garmin Striker 7DV fishfinders with GPS, a Samurai Refraction rod, Samurai Reaction rod, Tonic polarised eyewear, $100 motackle.com.au voucher, the Atomic B.A.S.S. Australia Nation Champion Co-Angler trophy and the Atomic Championship prize pack.

Daniel is the perfect example of how an angler can improve over a short season and in three quick tournaments claim the Atomic B.A.S.S. Australian Championship along with a swag of gear.

Being so close on Lake St Clair in a recent tournament, Daniel has vivid memories of Rob Tilley snatching victory from him.

So when Rob stepped to the stage at Boondooma as the last to weigh in, Daniel mentioned how he felt a strong sense of déjà vu, and in the end couldn’t believe he came from so far back to take the title.

Practising all year with good friends Garry Harman and Justin Freney, these three anglers devised a plan that they stuck to all weekend.

The plan involved fishing a combination of Nories Metal Wasaby spoons and Halco Twisties for the duration of the three sessions.

Seeing Daniel waiting in the morning to board Mitchell Cone’s boat, he was holding just one main setup in his hand and said he was in the last session just to try to help Mitchell succeed in the Pro division.

Well that one setup did its job well and consisted of a Daiwa Generation Black Wild Weasel rod matched to a Daiwa Gen Black 2500 reel spooled with 8lb Daiwa J-Braid and 12lb Sunline FC Rock leader.

The trick to his success in the last session was the movement of his lure, and he mixed it up with hops, shakes and pauses to allow the ultra-big bass to hit the lure like trains.

Managing the Tonic Eyewear Big Bass of the event, Daniel landed a 2.21kg Boondooma monster to also score a set of Tonic sunglasses.

Daniel now has a huge amount of tackle to top up the box and is superkeen to get stuck into next season.

The second-placed CoAngler was Justin Freney with a six-out-of-six bag weighing 5.18kg.

Justin picked up an Atomic Arrowz rod, Samurai Reaction rod, $100 motackle.com.au voucher and Atomic Championship prize pack.

Rounding out the top three in the Co-Angler division was Andrew Carlyle whose six-out-ofsix bag pulled the scales down to 4.65kg.

For his efforts, Andrew went home with a Samurai Inflict rod, Atomic Arrowz rod, $100 mot

ackle.com.au voucher and Atomic Championship prize pack.

Andrew is no stranger to success on Lake Boondooma, having taken the win in a previous qualifier, and he was again at the top of his game, managing the all-important six from six limit throughout the tournament.

Landing over 40 bass in the weekend, Andrew used a vertical hopping technique to entice the hook-ups on a Palms Slow Blatt 30g lure.

His setup comprised an Ecooda Black Hawk rod, 2500 Shimano Sustain reel, 10lb Shimano PowerPro braid and 10lb Sunline FC Rock leader.

The Atomic Championship wrap We have run a huge number of events this year and over the past four years, but this recent event was easily the best tournament we have put on in the four seasons.

The professionalism of the sport is ever-increasing and the anglers really need to pat themselves on the backs with the huge effort they have put in this season.

A special thanks needs to go to all the sponsors that have contributed so much over the season, and especially the Frogley’s Offshore family.

Without all their help, the sport wouldn’t be in such good shape and we are looking to go bigger and better in 2018.

A special thankyou also to the South Burnett Regional Council and staff of the Lake Boondooma Caravan and Recreation Park: the area is looking fantastic, the lake is fishing well and we are thankful for your support.

Do yourself a favour and get online today to book your next fishing and camping trip to Boondooma, catch the bass of a lifetime and enjoy the outdoors like no other place on earth.

Visit lakeboondooma. com.au for more information.

The staff and helpers at B.A.S.S. Australia Nation are the final pieces in the puzzle that make this all possible, so thanks to Cameron Jones, Tracy Brown and Lauren Kelly for an amazing season.

Stay tuned for announcements regarding next season.

The dates are already online, so head to bassau stralia.com.au and search for ‘dates season 5’.

Book your holidays now, before you miss out.

Keep an eye on these pages as we bring you all the highlights from Dean Silvester and Dylan Fryer’s trip to the US in October.

We are super excited to put these two anglers together and are very interested in seeing how they do on Lake Hartwell.

Thanks to all the fans who tuned in; see you next season.

Dean Silvester and Daniel McCoy are the 2017 Australian champions.

Daniel McCoy with his trophy.

Justin Freney with his Co-Angler second-placed bag.

Andrew Carlyle took out third place in the Co-Angler division.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 65

Foggy and cool mornings are epic on Borumba Dam.

Wayne and the author with an awesome haul of bass.

Bumper bass sessions at Borumba Dam

I

ABSOLUTELY love fishing Borumba Dam in September.

The dam is amazing, with cold, foggy mornings, big fish, big numbers and minimal skiers.

I headed out to the dam a couple of times during September and on both trips my good mate Wayne Nettleton and my dad came with me.

Every year, Wayne comes up from Melbourne to visit and he is an absolute mad-keen fisher.

I’ve taken him out over the past few years always with one goal in mind: to get Wayne a bass over the 50cm mark.

This time he was definitely in with a good chance.

Wayne held his first bass of the day.

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DAM LEVELS CURRENT AS OF 14/08/2017

DAMS

PERCENTAGE

APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP Atkinson 9 7 6 6 6 5 Awoonga 104 100 100 98 98 97 Bjelke-Petersen * 25 24 24 22 22 19 Boondooma * 54 52 51 49 45 51 82 Borumba * 82 82 81 80 75 Burdekin Falls * 105 97 99 95 91 86 Callide * 93 92 90 87 86 85 Cania * 81 99 98 96 95 92 Coolmunda * 100 98 97 95 93 89 Dyer/Bill Gunn * 20 10 9 9 7 7 Eungella * 101 100 100 100 99 98 46 Fairbairn * 44 43 42 40 38 Glenlyon * 76 75 76 75 75 74 Hinze 105 100 101 100 99 98 Julius 97 94 91 89 87 84 Kinchant * 88 84 86 84 81 75 Leslie * 19 18 18 18 18 17 Macdonald 101 99 98 93 89 84 Maroon * 100 99 99 100 99 98 Monduran/Fred Haigh * 104 101 100 99 98 97 Moogerah * 102 100 99 98 97 94 73 North Pine/Samsonvale * 71 70 70 68 67 Peter Faust/Proserpine * 70 75 78 78 77 75 Somerset * 76 76 76 77 76 75 Teemburra * 101 100 100 100 100 98 Tinaroo* 54 50 50 50 48 44 Toonumbar 100 100 103 100 100 98 Wivenhoe * 75 73 71 70 68 66 Wuruma * 100 99 98 98 97 95 Wyaralong 100 100 99 99 98 97 For updates on dams, visit sunwater.com.au or seqwater.com.au *This symbol indicates that a Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish these dams.

www.livelyluresonline.com.au Page 66 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

Freshwater Luring

by CALLUM MUNRO

First trip For the first trip, I organised to head out to the dam midweek.

I like fishing the dam on a Wednesday or Thursday because of minimal boat traffic and skiers.

Dad and I picked Wayne up in Noosa and headed out to the dam.

The trip out takes about an hour, so Wayne had plenty of time to talk about his latest fishing trips, including a Papua New Guinea barra expedition that certainly got me pumped about barra fishing.

However today we were bass fishing, so I had to remain focused.

We arrived at Borumba around 10am and planned to fish until 5pm to give us plenty of time to whack some big Borumba bass.

After launching, we headed across the dam to an old rock wall drop-off that seems to hold a lot of fish when the dam is sitting at around 80 percent capacity.

I started by jigging Smak Ice Jigs, and wow did the fish smash these.

I used the 12g Darter version in Summer Time colour.

Fishing a steep drop-off where most of the fish are sitting on the bottom in 8.5-12m of water, it’s a must to keep your lure right on the bottom.

The rod and reel combo I use for this technique is an old favourite – an Abu Garcia Vanguard 7’, 3-7kg baitcaster rod matched with an Abu Garcia Revo Premier reel.

I love using baitcaster combos for ice jigging because you can keep in contact with the bottom much more easily than with a conventional spin outfit.

I leave the reel in free spool and manage depth with my thumb.

This technique is basically a must when fishing steep rock walls.

At this first spot we caught about 10 fish.

No big ones but it was good to see the fish were biting.

After this, we headed up the dam to the start of the trees.

This is where the fun really began.

We found two locations where the fish were thick.

I had recently bought a Humminbird Helix 12 sounder with Mega Imaging.

This unit is 10 times better than my old Humminbird 1198

and has made fishing so much easier.

I’d suggest anyone in the market for a new sounder should have a serious look at these units because they’re absolutely amazing.

Once we located the fish, it was game on.

Most of the fish were hugging the drop-off in 9-15m of water.

The lure of choice was the old faithful Baby Bass Slider matched to a 1/2oz Berkley Dam Deep jig head.

Wayne was having a ball casting these plastics.

The retrieve used was pretty simple: cast out, let the lure hit the bottom and then slowly crank it back in.

With the 1/2oz head, you can keep the lure right in the strike zone down the bottom where the fish are holding.

For about an hour we were continuously getting hits, landing fish and sometimes being smoked.

It was an epic session where we caught about 30 bass between us.

However, we didn’t land any of those elusive 50cm-plus bass.

We came close a couple of times but the big bass got the better of us.

We ended up landing over 40 bass for the day, which was a fantastic result.

Second trip This second trip was to be Wayne’s last before he had to head back to Melbourne, so we hoped the fish would play the game.

We headed straight to the area where we had caught heaps of fish on the last trip but a couple of boats were already there, so we decided to travel further up the Yabba arm to target the riverbed drop-off.

We managed to land a few fish but no big ones, and they were nowhere near as active as on the previous trip.

So we changed tack and headed back down to the main basin.

The first spot we tried was a flat near the second yellow buoy.

As we drove over the dropoff, the sounder showed the fish were thick under the boat, so we dropped in the electric motor and started firing casts.

We were still targeting the main drop-off from 7.5-12m, hopping Evergreen 1/4oz Little Max blades.

These little blades did the damage and Wayne, Dad and I were getting triple hook-ups.

We would drop a fish and as soon as we’d drop it, another fish would eat the blade.

This is what fishing is all about.

Wayne loved every minute of it but we still didn’t manage to catch that cracker 50cm bass.

There’s always next year!

It was an awesome trip and we landed over 50 fish, with heaps around the 40cm mark.

Until next time, I hope you enjoyed the read.

Wayne with a couple of crackers.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Freshwater fishing a big hit in the South Burnett

I

T’S finally the time of year I always look forward to.

The water temperature is gradually increasing and our native fish in the stocked impoundments are really springing to life and starting to gorge themselves, which means it’s a great time to be on the water.

Lake Boondooma In my last report, the water temperature was hovering around 16C and the fishing was good, but as I write the temperature has increased slightly and the fish have really started to fire.

The edge bite has slowed a little but the flats fishing has been insane.

Some good yellowbelly and bass can still be caught from the edges early if you’re casting lures.

I’ve found the best areas to target are the steeper rocky edges with timber and the remnants of the weed beds that outline the dam in 2.5-3m of water.

Productive techniques for targeting fish on the edge include using suspending jerkbaits and 12g spoons burnt over the top of submerged weed.

Both presentations entice the fish to come out of the weed and smash the paused jerkbait or chase the moving spoon as it zips past overhead.

The jerkbait presentation involves a slow retrieve with a lot of pauses and the spoon presentation is all about long casts and a steady fast retrieve to keep the lure above the weed.

I find dropping the spoon back to the weed occasionally is a good way to keep that lure in the zone.

The old submerged weed edges are still holding cracking bass but I’d be moving to the 6-9m flats around midmorning as the day starts to heat up.

I like the Junction to Pelican Point edges about 80m from the bank in 6-9m of water.

A few baits have worked really well but if you cast anything that imitates a bony bream you’ll be in with a good chance of hooking a cracking fish.

The 12g Nories tailspinners, spoons and 1/4oz blades have accounted for plenty of fish,

Freshwater Impoundments

by MATTHEW LANGFORD

Productive techniques for targeting fish on the edge include using suspending jerkbaits and 12g spoons burnt over the top of submerged weed. but soft plastics have also resulted in a few good sessions.

The key to using a spoon on schooled fish is to let the lure sink to the bottom and slowly wind the bait through the fish.

If you think you’ve got the lure running too high, make sure you drop it back through the fish and start the retrieve again.

Eventually you will get a bite, and persistence is a big key when fishing anywhere.

Bait fishers have been doing well on the flats.

Use your sounder to locate a solid showing of fish in the 6-9m range.

Once you find a good show, anchor up and drop down using live shrimp.

The great thing about live shrimp is you can catch them fresh in the dam.

It shouldn’t be long until you have quality fish coming to the boat.

Make sure your bait is fresh and your knots are tied well because the fish on the flats can be big and leave you broken hearted if you’re not prepared.

If you’re trolling, the fishing should improve as the water temp continues to rise, though I’ve heard reports of fish being trolled up in the timber of the Boyne and Stuart arms.

The key is to use deep-diving hard-bodies in dark colours.

Red claw have been moving well, with the warmer water bringing them back to the pots.

Lake Barambah The same is happening at Lake Barambah, with the water temp on the rise and the fish really active.

Fish are responding to most lure techniques and the bigger fish have been coming from the points and edges.

The most effective lures have been 1/4oz blades, spinnerbaits, lipless cranks and 1/4ozrigged 3” plastics.

You’ll note that most of these baits imitate the bait the bass and yellowbelly are feeding on, which is masses and masses of small bony bream, gudgeon, sleepy cod, barred grunter and spangled perch.

I’ve been fishing the dam quite regularly and have enjoyed some of the best fishing from the edges that I can remember.

Cracking yellowbelly and big bass have been taken every trip.

The key to success is finding the right bank to fish.

If you’re an avid lure angler like me, pick an edge and start moving along it.

I like to sit about 30m from the bank and fan out casts, trying to cover as much water as possible.

Keep moving along the edge and eventually you’ll come across a lure that works for you.

Once you’ve caught a fish, there’s a big chance more will be in very close proximity, so

make sure you cover the water thoroughly.

Big fish have been hanging out together, so if you get one there’s every chance you’ll get a few.

Bait fishers have been catching good bags of fish around the edges of the dam and from the shore using live shrimp, saltwater yabbies and worms.

Trollers are scoring the odd fish around Lightning Ridge and the edges of the dam.

The trolling will be fantastic in coming months as the fish move up in the water column and start to suspend with the warmer weather.

Red claw have been moving, with big numbers being caught, so now’s the time to drop the pots in.

Park news If you’re an avid troller or hard-bodied lure enthusiast, the Golden Lure comp will be held at Boondooma Dam on October 20, 21 and 22.

So if you are looking at coming to either of the dams to stay, make sure you call ahead to book a site tailored to your needs.

Give Yallakool Park (at Barambah) a call on 07 4168 4746 or the Boondooma kiosk on 07 4168 9694.

Until next time, tight lines and bent rods.

The local yellowbelly are in great condition and willing to take a well-presented lure.

A pair of stout bass caught from the edge by burning spoons over the submerged weed beds.

A cracking bass from the edge at Barambah.

Barambah yellowbelly love spinnerbaits cast to the edge in spring.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 67

Perseverance is often the key in tough fishing conditions, and Ellie topped off her birthday celebrations on camp by catching an Australian bass and this 42.5cm silver perch.

Mariné picked up this 43cm silver perch around the timber in the upper reaches of Moogerah Dam. There was plenty of excitement and the screams of joy were priceless.

Cristiano was in the thick of the action at Hinze Dam with this brute of a bass.

Sports Tuition groups enjoy southeast Queensland dams

I

Maria caught this Australian bass that was the highlight of her freshwater fishing experience at Moogerah Dam as part of her year 10 school camp with Sports Tuition.

T’S prime time to target freshwater species.

As the weather continues to warm, surface action will fire up.

Plenty of fun will be had on surface lures early of a morning and late of an afternoon and species such as Australian bass, yellowbelly and silver perch will be more easily tempted on a range of diving lures as the day progresses.

Working key times and avoiding the middle of the day will ensure the best catch rates.

A couple of large Sports Tuition groups recently enjoyed southeast Queensland’s local impoundments, namely Hinze and Moogerah dams.

A group of fathers and

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Freshwater Fishing

by STEVE WILKES

their sons from year 2 at Churchie converged on Hinze for a weekend of fishing and adventure, while it was year 10 school students from The Lakes College on a remote school camping experience who had the chance to wet a line at Moogerah.

Both groups used live shrimp as bait.

Catching bait the night before is part of the educational process for these programs.

Participants learn how to catch shrimp, and critically, learn how to keep them alive.

The group involved at Hinze Dam comprised a total of 50 fathers and sons.

Having so many people on the water certainly made it easier to locate the fish, particularly as all the boats carry radios, making communication simple.

Once a school of fish was located, the group tended to home in on that area, which resulted in plenty of fish being landed by everyone.

The group worked the upper reaches and mainly focused on the timber regions.

The catch consisted of Australian bass and eeltailed catfish.

All the catties were re-

leased but most of the bass were kept for dinner.

Australian bass have very clean, white fillets, and cooked up fresh are quite tasty.

There are never any complaints and it’s very rare to have leftovers.

The boys also did a great job of breadcrumbing the fillets before they were dropped into the deep fryer.

Luckily, this Churchie father and son group was greeted with lovely constant conditions.

The year 10 group that fished at Moogerah, however, had to deal with very ordinary conditions.

A change in the weather came through and the wind was quite gusty.

The boats are powered by electric motors and in one session we needed every bit of the 55lb Minn

Kotas’ thrust to push through the wind.

The students at Moogerah caught nothing like the numbers landed at Hinze the week prior, however they did manage to boat a few different species.

And because the weather wasn’t great, the group had to cover quite a bit of territory in search of fish.

Wind is the key element that can shut down a freshwater impoundment.

In an effort to find protected areas, the group picked up yellowbelly at the mouth of the creek in the very far upper reaches.

A couple of quality silver perch were caught at the base of the trees, measuring 43cm and 42.5cm.

One of the teachers hooked an eel that put up a great fight and a number of Australian bass were among the catch.

It was definitely a mixed bag and one that provided plenty of fun and excitement for the students.

It was a great team effort by Zane and Sam to land this bass during the father and son weekend at Hinze Dam.

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www.kareemarine.com.au Page 68 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

It was all smiles for Blake and Andrew as this bass would later become their dinner.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Bass and barramundi biting well S PRING is here and it’s barra time in Callide Dam.

The next two months present a great chance to target our impoundment barra.

These fish will move out of deeper water where water temps don’t change much through winter in the search for warmer water and baitfish.

You’ll generally pick up the bigger barra from late in the afternoon to after dusk.

I find a week either side of the full moon is ideal.

At this time of year, these hungry barra will smash a variety of shallow-diving lures and soft plastics.

Don’t forget the Lake Callide Family Fishing Classic will be held on the last weekend in October (October 28 and 29).

Free camping is available in designated areas at Lake Callide Retreat.

Along with prizes for capturing barra, yellowbelly, sleepy cod and eeltailed catfish, hot food and delicious drinks will be available all weekend.

Nominations can be made at Daves Disposals in Callide St and the stocking shed at the dam.

You can find heaps more information on the Callide Valley Native Fish Stocking Association Facebook page.

Cania Dam With a good weather forecast recently, a few mates and I decided to camp at Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat for a weekend.

Friday night was all about strategies, sitting around a fire and having

a couple of drinks.

And boy, didn’t the bass come out to play on Saturday!

They were everywhere from the timber to the edges and anywhere from 6-30m of water.

When Cania bass are on, they will eat anything.

As we landed the bass in the net, they were coughing up bony bream up to 12cm long.

I fished with a couple of young fellas and trolling was a good option for us.

These boys had a ball with double hook-ups on

Smak Brolgas in the main basin.

We trolled the lures in water from 5-9m deep and it was as easy as looking for feeding birds and trolling near them.

The Lake Cania Fishing Classic will be held on November 11 and 12 and makes for a great weekend for the family.

For more information and to register, email ca n ia d a m f ish st o ck i ng@ gmail.com ‘Til next time, get hooked!

Glenn Hobson

Kris Lassig with a 62cm barra landed during a hot evening bite.

The Cania bass are fired up and hungry. If you can match the hatch, you’ll be on.

Tyler Kruger and Shane Rideout held a couple of bass trolled up on Smak hard-bodies.

A good size barra landed off the bank of Callide Dam in September.

Cod research findings

L

OOKING back over eight years of working with cod, with two professors, two doctors of biology and three biologists, not to mention 100 mad-keen cod anglers who stuck tags into over 1500 of these great freshwater fish, what has happened with the results?

In Queensland, we are still using the same size limit for cod.

Thank god.

While in NSW and Victoria there is a slot size limit of 55cm to 75cm to take a fish home.

I would like you to read the results we came across from our Murray cod research project (breakout box, right).

Unfortunately it will be two years before there’s any chance of shutting down this slot size debacle in NSW and Victoria.

A computer can only give results on what it is fed.

Science involves getting your hands dirty and writing down results that come from good hard-

Glenlyon Dam

by BRIAN DARE

proven findings, not rehashed information from the late ‘70s and ‘80s.

Cost cutting won’t work – you need bodies on the ground doing the research.

Check out Table 1 to see the time fish spend in the slot size range.

You then need to look at stocking rates.

Back in 2002, someone stated we needed to bring our cod populations back to the pre-European visitation levels.

It worked all right, to the point of having no thought given to stocking golden perch, silver perch and catfish at the same time as cod.

We now have an imbalance within our local rivers and streams, with no golden perch, silver perch or catfish to talk of in our upper river reaches.

Sitting somewhere in an office are over 1500 DNA samples from Murray Age (years)

cod and 313 Murray cod otoliths taken from the Gwydir, Macintyre and Dumaresq rivers, which are yet to be processed due to lack of funding.

At the time of writing, 100ML of water was going out of Glenlyon Dam while the cod in the river are on nesting sites.

This amount of cold water should not affect the breeding format.

It works both ways though, and cod are on nesting sites in the dam too, so if the water drops too far we will see egg sites exposed on the storage.

Pindari Dam was outflowing 100ML into the Macintyre River and Copeton Dam was outflowing 2000ML. Let’s hope it won’t get pumped out before it gets to where it has to do its job.

Weight (grams)

550mm

750mm

Time spent in slot

550mm

750mm

Dumaresq

8.2

14.4

6.2

2276

6220

Macintyre

6.1

10.7

4.6

2521

6823

Gwydir

7.5

12.9

5.4

2308

6178

Historical

3.6

7.3

3.7

2677

7328

Location

Table 1: Age and weight estimates for Murray cod at the lower and upper range of the current slot limit of 550-750mm in the Dumaresq, Macintyre and Gwydir rivers (post-2010) and combined historical samples from across the Murray-Darling Basin (pre-1985).

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Zac Whitfield with last year’s winning sleepy cod at the Lake Callide Family Fishing Classic.

Conclusions and recommendations from the Murray cod study

T

HIS study was the first comprehensive research undertaken into the biology of Murray cod in the Border Rivers region of northern NSW and southern Queensland.

We successfully quantified the age and growth, reproductive biology and diet of cod in three of the major river systems in the region.

We also quantified the fish assemblages in the same three rivers and described the Murray cod popula-

tions in each system.

Finally, we monitored and described the movement patterns of Murray cod in an upland stream at the northern extreme of its range, which also hadn’t been done previously.

Major recommendations from our study are: • Refine techniques and strategies used in angler survey in the Dumaresq to allow the roll out of wider programs across the Murray-Darling Basin.

• Review current stocking practices to ensure

a more ecologically balanced and sustainable Murray cod fishery in the Border Rivers region.

• Monitor Murray cod stocks across the Border Rivers region to determine if recent changes to the slot and size limits in NSW is adversely affecting populations.

• Review closed season for Murray cod so it better incorporates the entire breeding season of the species in the northern extremities of its distribution.

• Ensure environmental flow strategies consid-

er the need for Murray cod to move throughout the year but particularly during the breeding season – August to October.

• Improve connectivity throughout the Dumaresq to allow migratory species such as bony herring and golden perch to more readily move into the upper reaches of the system.

• Review current water release strategies from Glenlyon Dam to assuage the effects of coldwater pollution.

To view the complete report, go to bnbfishing. com.au

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Mary Valley fishing comp on again

H

I all, I’m glad to be back after a health scare and a tough month of recuperation.

Glenn Baker from the Gold coast competed in the 2016 comp.

It seems both me and the Mary Valley region are in a state of rejuvenation after a long and dry winter.

Now is the perfect time of year to explore and fish Borumba Dam, the Mary River or one of our many creeks.

A lot is happening in the valley but the major date claimer is the annual Lions Mary Valley Family Fishing Classic.

Last year’s competition was a great success and the organisers (Mary Valley and Gympie Lions) are

Sienna Patterson earned competition bragging rights.

Tahlia Patterson with a nice Borumba bass.

THE 6TH ANNUAL

Mary Valley Family

Fishing Classic

Borumba Dam near Imbil

Nov 4-5

• Entertainment • Prizes • Food on site

FIND US ON FACEBOOK: MARY VALLEY FISHING CLASSIC

www.gympie.qld.lions.org.au Page 70 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

Outdoors

by PAUL ‘CHIEF’ GRAVESON

once again working hard to keep this event growing in popularity.

You may remember one of my recent articles talking about the fingerlings released into Borumba Dam as a result of proceeds raised from last year’s competition.

This year the event will take place on November 4 and 5.

The Saturday night entertainment will be provided by performer Graeme Jensen and you can take advantage of the on-site catering and buy a fabulous two-course roast dinner for $12 per adult or $6 for kids under nine years of age.

To make this comp affordable for families, entry fees are capped at a maximum of $60, which includes two adults and two or more kids, but the normal cost is $25 for an adult and $10 for a junior.

Camping facilities and competition HQ are located at Borumba Dam Camping Grounds.

Before I bought a property in the valley, this campground rated as one of my favourite locations for a weekend away.

You can book a site by contacting the grounds on 07 5488 6662.

The boat ramp and access to the dam is only a few hundred metres from the camp and it’s a short scenic drive back to the township of Imbil.

A local tip is if you get the chance while you’re in the area, call in to One2One on Yabba, which is a fabulous coffee shop in town.

Grab a coffee and try any of Jo’s home-style baked treats.

Jo’s shop is just down the road from Borumba Fishing ‘n’ Outdoors, where owner Graham can help you with any last-minute tackle purchases or give you the drum on what’s been doing the damage on the local bass and yellowbelly.

Borumba has been fishing well and good catches of bass have been reported of late, so this year’s comp should provide memorable captures.

Mark it in your calendar and don’t forget you will need to buy a Stocked Impoundment Permit to fish the dam.

Let’s make this year an even bigger success.

I hope to see you at the event.

A few months back I reported on the Gympie Regional Council undertaking a project to improve access to local waterways for canoe and kayak fishers.

I thought I’d give you the run-down on two that have just been completed.

Both of the following kayak launches are similar in layout, with vehicle

access from a well-graded dirt road easily accessible by a small two-wheeldrive family car.

Both have circular turnaround areas and parking for a number of vehicles.

The first is situated just out of town at the beginning of Mary Valley Rd. Right on the southern side of Normanby Hill Bridge beside a small park you’ll find the canoe trail entrance.

The park here has a picnic shelter, water and toilet facilities.

A walking path leads down to the Mary River where a grassy area provides the perfect place to launch.

This stretch of the Mary River runs from Normanby Hill Bridge for 26km to Traveston crossing near Kybong.

I’ve included a couple of pictures showing the entry point into the river and the first stretch of this fishable waterway.

You will notice the easy graduation of the walking path to the water’s edge.

It may be worth noting that after returning from a paddle, you have to carry your craft back to the parking area.

Although an easy walk of about 30m, some may find it a bit demanding depending on the weight of the craft.

A simple wheel system or trolley would make easy work of the final retrieve process.

A few kilometres away and right in the heart of Gympie you will see the signage on the Bruce Highway to Southside.

Take this exit and head right to Kidd Bridge.

Just before the bridge on the left-hand side you will see a blue sign stating ‘river access’, and this is where you’ll need to enter.

Here the council has provided wide platform stairs from the carpark to the river’s edge.

Also provided is a pipe slide ideal for easing your kayak down the slope to

the launch area.

This offers you another stretch of the Mary River to explore and allows you to paddle from the weir to Widgee crossing, which covers just under 5km of fishable water.

I’m excited by the council’s approach in providing greater access to the Mary River and look forward to the next project opening right in my own area of Kandanga.

This is a productive fishing location, with bass and cod available, and I understand this launch area should be open before Christmas.

Perfect timing for those hot and steamy early mornings and afternoons

when the bass are active and aggressively feeding.

Just a final word: like most areas in southeast Queensland, the Mary Valley is longing for rain and is extremely dry.

Please be careful when driving through the valley, especially those who smoke, and please do the right thing when disposing of cigarette butts.

Also, stock are overly active in searching for feed and they will challenge fencing to find any little bit of roadside growth, so keep that in mind.

I hope to see you enjoying yourself at the 2017 Lions Mary Valley Family Fishing Classic.

Tight lines.

The view from Normanby Hill Bridge towards Traveston.

The view from Kidd Bridge carpark to the Mary River’s edge.

Looking from the Kidd Bridge Weir to Widgee crossing.

The pathway down to the sandy launch area at Normanby Hill Bridge.

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•O Online at www.bnbfishing.com.au fi • Post to PO Box 387, Cleveland Q 4163 • Fax to 07 3821 2637 • Phone 07 3286 1833

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

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

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Contact Bill Corten T: 07 3286 3647 M: 0447 233 247 0447 ( a f f a i r ) E: reel_affair@yahoo.com Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017 – Page 71

A duffel down for some action

O

SPREY is proud to announce the new Transporter duffel series.

Subscription offer for October* Subscribe this month for your chance to win one of two 65L Osprey Transporter series expedition duffel bags!

Valued at

$

200 each

Designed to be your rugged go-to carry-all for any situation from kayaking to climbing and even your next gym session, these bags are ultradurable workhorses that are engineered to carry any load, no matter how heavy.

Design details include dual-sided TPU coating inside and out, burly hardware, stiffened main body fabric with protective accent ribs and overlapping zipper rain flaps that protect your gear from the elements.

The Stowaway Spacer mesh harness comprises a full yoke and contoured harness straps, soft breathable contact surface for comfort and adjustable sternum strap with safety whistle.

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The Transporter duffel is available in the following colours: Keystone Grey, Kingfisher Blue, Ruffian Red, Sub Lime and Black.

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w w w.ospreypacks.com eypacks.com * Valid until October 31, 2017. Picture for illustration purposes only.

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Return completed form to: Bush ’n Beach Fishing PO Box 387, Cleveland 4163 ph 07 3286 1833 or fax 07 3821 2637 or go online www.bnbfishing.com.au

by MELISSA FROHLOFF

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❑ Happy Birthday ❑ Happy Father’s Day

❑ Happy Fishing ❑ Merry Christmas

To: ..............................................................................................................................

Shepherd’s pie Ingredients • 1kg beef mince • 1 large onion, finely diced • 1 carrot, finely diced • 100g green beans • 1/4 tsp fresh oregano, finely chopped • 1/4 tsp fresh thyme, finely chopped • 1/4 tsp sage, finely chopped • 1 tbsp tomato paste • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce • 2 tbsp kecap manis • 1 1/2 cups beef stock • 2 tbsp plain flour • 1 pinch salt and pepper to taste Topping • 750g potatoes • 60g butter • 1/4 cup milk • 1 pinch salt to taste

Method 1. Place mince in pan, cook over high heat, stirring until meat is brown.

2. Pour off excess fat, add onion, carrot and beans. Cook onion until transparent.

3. Add herbs, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, kecap manis, stock, salt and pepper and mix well.

4. Reduce heat to simmer. Stir in flour until mixture thickens.

5. Place mince in oven-proof dish.

6. For the topping, boil potatoes until tender, then drain and mash.

7. Add butter and milk to potatoes and beat until smooth.

Season with salt and pepper.

8. Spread potato evenly over meat and bake on 180C for 45 minutes or until potato turns golden brown.

From: .........................................................................................................................

Serves: 4 | Prep time: 30 minutes | Cooking time: 90 minutes Page 72 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2017

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