BNB Fishing mag | Oct 20 by bnbfishing

Spring species on fire

450

Includes GST

October 2020

Chasing jewfish off Iluka Bluff

Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 31, Number 10

Tips for tailor

Fishing therapy

Offshore outings

Freshwater features

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From the Bush ‘n Beach Fishing Editor

S this edition hit the printing press, I was packing the Kedron for our annual September school holidays family trip to Noosa. We are lucky enough to have a regular site at the Noosa River Caravan Park at Munna Point. Noosa is a great spot for a family holiday, with heaps on offer to keep both kids and adults busy. Anyone who has been fortunate enough to stay at Munna Point will appreciate how good this place is. Even though there is no kids club, swimming pool or games room, the kids love it and rate it highly. I guess that can be attributed partly to the atmosphere and proximity to a combination of things. Everyone seems to be friendly and willing to have a chat or pass on a few fishing tips as to where whiting and other species are holding. Situated on the Noosa River with a sand boat ramp, this caravan park

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makes the perfect base to launch your small boat or kayak. Though you don’t need a boat or kayak, as we have caught plenty of fish straight off the bank in front of the park. Simple bait rigs consisting of freshly pumped yabbies score a mix of fish including bream and whiting, with most being legal size. Hopefully, by the time you read this, I’ll be sitting back watching the sun set as the kids bring in a feed of whiting from the banks of the river. Fishing Last month I talked about setting goals and having a plan. Well, it almost went to script, with a legalsize squire landed by trolling lures in Moreton Bay. Despite putting plan B and C into action, unfortunately I was unable to score a trophy fish… but I guess that’s fishing. And just being out there is often reward enough.

Though not all was lost as I did discover a patch of very interesting ground that I’ll be putting a bit more time into over the coming months. If you’re trolling, no matter what species you are targeting, make sure to continually keep an eye on the sounder. It is amazing how much structure is out there and, if you can find that isolated piece of ground, it should pay dividends. The digital age Don’t worry, we are still printing the mag. There are too many people wanting the printed hard copy edition to go solely digital. Though, to keep up with the times, we are moving in that direction – with both a printed and free digital format. And while they have been around for sometime now, QR codes have become popular again thanks to COVID-19 restrictions. They are now part and parcel of our everyday lives, especially if you eat at a restaurant. To make the mix of print and digital easier, we are running QR code in the printed version of the mag and click-through links on the digital version. Activation of the QR code requires you to simply hover your phone camera over the code or scan it with an app. Once activated, you will either be taken to a video on YouTube, a web page with more information or other places in the digital world.

To give you an example if you scan or hover your phone camera over this QR code, it will take you to our free digital magazine. The digital version already has click-through links for advertisers with a webpage, and the YouTube icon will take you straight to videos. We are also in the process of upgrading

this and hopefully, by the time you get the November digital edition, it will have video embedded in it. Ben Collins

SCAN QR CODE

OUR COVER

MISCHA PORTER with a chunky north coast jewfish from a hot session on the rocks. You can read all about his dream fishing day in TYE PORTER’S article on Page 29.

NEXT EDITION: November edition will be on sale in newsagents from October 23. OCTOBER SUBSCRIPTION PRIZE: See subscription form on Page 81 to go in the draw to win a massive Z-Man pack. AUGUST PRIZEWINNER: Congratulations to Brian Carroll, Victoria Point who has won an amazing fishing pack valued at $350.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 5

October 2020 contents

Tips for tackling Moreton Bay. . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mark Templeton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P8 Underwater drone review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Adam Foley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P12 Still time for tailor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Robert Payne . . . . . . . . . . . . . P14 Plenty of variety on the Gold Coast. . . . . . . . . by Clint Ansell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P17 Tips to try on the Tweed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brad Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P20 Working deeper edges for flathead. . . . . . . . by Justin Willmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P22 Angling options for Tweed region . . . . . . . by Gavin Dobson . . . . . . . . . . . . . P25 Action around Ballina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brett Hyde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P26 Six things knot to worry about. . . . . . . . . . . . . by Ryan Moody . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P28 Dream fishing session. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Tye Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P29 A mix of opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Grant Budd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P30 Fraser Island trip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Sean Thompson . . . . . . . . . . . . . P32

Product News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P36 Readers’ Forum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P37 Fraser Coast foray. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brian Webb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P38 Tin Can Bay options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Chris Rippon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P40 Persisting through tough conditions. . . . . by Tri Ton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P44 Centre console car topper review. . . . . . . by Ben Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P46 Yak Hunters series. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Wayne Petherick . . . . . . . . . . P48 Time to prepare the crab pots. . . . . . . . . . . by Brad Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P50 Plenty of offer for Central Qld. . . . . . . . . . . by Gary Churchward . . . . . . . . . P51 Charter Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P53 Offshore action on close-in reefs. . . . . . . . by Bill Corten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P56 Last chance to get your barra fix. . . . . . . . by John Boon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P59

Hinchinbrook in a tinnie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Keith Stratford . . . . . . . . . . . . P61 Annual trip to west Cape York. . . . . . . . . . . by Craig Tomkinson . . . . . . . . . . P63 Recipe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Melissa Frohloff . . . . . . . . . . . P64 Fishing therapy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Dave Donald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P65 Hot action on Cape York. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Matt Potter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P68 Paronella Park a favourite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Paul ‘Chief’ Graveson . . . . . . . . P70 Caravanning trip continues. . . . . . . . . . . . . by Todd & Raylene Eveleigh . . P72 Barra explode at Kinchant Dam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P75 Bass firing on all cylinders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Robbie Rayner . . . . . . . . . . . . P76 Tips for catching golden perch. . . . . . . . . by Neil Schultz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P77 Thirty years: the last hurrah. . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brian Dare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P79 Trading Post. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P80 Subscription form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P81 Page 6 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

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20 Like us on Facebook (Bush ’n Beach Fishing Magazine), post your photos, share in the laughs and win prizes!

32 Check out our YouTube channel BNBFTV for boat tests, product reviews and other interesting videos.

Follow @BNBFISHINGMAG on Instagram to see cracking catches from all around the country.

Subscribe to the FREE BNB e-news on our website to receive email updates packed with the latest fishing news and important information.

Our website bnbfishing.com.au is updated several times a day with the latest news and handy fishing articles.

The Team

EDITOR: ADVERTISING: PRODUCTION:

Ben Collins The BNB Team Jo Hendley, Lisa Jones Bob Thornton

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

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 7

Luke got second prize when a longtail decided to join the party.

Riley bagged his first ever tarwhine off Woody Point Jetty.

Top tips for tackling Moreton Bay in spring

Pat pulled gold out of the Pine River with this cracker bream coming in at 41cm.

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HAT an awesome time of the year to be out and about targeting a few Moreton Bay thugs. Mackerel, cobia, longtail tuna are just a few that will be showing up over the next few months in our local waters You don’t have to own a boat to get in on the action – but it helps to have a friend with one – and many of these species can be caught in good numbers and size from local piers such as Woody Point Jetty, Redcliffe Jetty and Shorncliffe Pier. Even walking the foreshore around Brighton, Margate Beach, Pelican Park and Redcliffe can result in a great fight and feed. We have seen great results from both Shorncliffe and Woody Point piers, with people using lures – it doesn’t matter if you’re using a Halco Twisty, CID Sprat or Nomad Riptide, get it out there and hook into a few freaks. Young Luke scored again, putting out a Nomad 200mm Riptide looking for spanish mackerel but got sec-

Northern Moreton Bay by MARK TEMPLETON

ond prize when a longtail decided to join the party instead. Well done Luke, another great score. Plenty of action is to be had in the Bay and most people will start around the beacons, chasing fresh bait and a few mackies. Though don’t be surprised if you end up doing battle with a cobia or two as they will strike a livie and be on their way before you know what’s hit you. There are three things you should keep a close eye on when spending a day on Moreton Bay – the weather, your fuel

gauge and the birds. People often ask, “How do I find where the mackies are?” Well, the best ways are simple – find bait fish and watch the birds, and when fish are feeding, everything joins in for a feed even if it’s the free scraps. When you find a school feeding, the general rule is to stay a little wider and slow down. If you come in all guns blazing, the school will quickly go deep in most cases, and then you have to spend * continued P9

Asher caught an unexpected mackerel out of the Pine River. www.bnbfishing.com. au

Top tips for tackling Moreton Bay * from P8

quality time looking for them. Let them come to you or work the edges and pick off a few before they know what’s going on. There are many varied opinions and techniques out there, so go with the one that works best for you. It’s now time to give the bream and flathead gear a break for a day or two. Dust off the slightly heavier gear and get into the action from our piers, foreshore or beaches. Given a chance at a bait fish school, fish will come within casting distance. For those of you who are new to fishing – it doesn’t matter what age – kitting out with a new

rod and reel combo, a new tackle box and bait to go is an awesome feeling. We had the pleasure of meeting young Riley in store, and we decked him out with his first combo, taught him a new knot, topped up his enthusiasm and off he went, with mum and dad in tow. It didn’t take long for Riley to bag his first ever tarwhine off Woody Point Jetty. Well done Riley and we hope there are a lot more to come. The Pine River has always been a place that throws up very nice fish and you can often pick up the unexpected. Asher hit the Pine and picked up a very unexpected mackie! When you fish places like the Pine, you never

know what you’ll bring into the boat. Pat pulled gold out of the Pine with a cracker bream coming in at 41cm – even for the Pine it was a very respectable fish. This month we should see the Brisbane River fire up, particularly with steady rain which will stir up bait. So, if you want a stretch, grab yourself a supply of live prawns, herring and poddy mullet, throw out a few vibes and chase your personal best threadfin salmon. Spring is great fishing, so dust the gear off, check lines and leaders, get out there with your family and friends, and have a great time. Maintain the passion!

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HE Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival, scheduled to take place November 13-15, is shaping up to be a bumper event following the launch of exhibitor bookings. More than 60 prominent marine brands have already secured prime positions including Riviera, Maritimo, Princess Yachts Australia, Horizon Yacht Australia, Integrity Motor Yachts, Whitehaven Motor Yachts, Beneteau, Clipper Motor Yachts, Fleming Yachts, Hampton Yachts, Fairline Yachts, Alaska Motor Yachts, Eyachts and Lagoon. A host of big names in the fishing and trailer boat segment have also confirmed their attendance, with the likes of Australian Marine Centre, Game and Leisure Boats, Nautique Central, Surf Coast Marine, Cobalt Boats, Hurricane, Sailfish Catamarans, Nitro Marine, Whittley Marine Group, Mag Bay Yachts and Northside Marine on display throughout the vibrant Marine Village. A precursor to the 2021 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, the Sanctuary Cover Boating Festival is a free three-day event that aims to whet the appetite of marine enthusiasts after SCIBS 2020 was cancelled, due to COVID-19. SCIBS sales and partnerships manager Dominic O’Brien said exhibitor interest and bookings have been extremely strong. “The level of industry support has been very

gratifying,” he said. “Exhibitors have secured sites on both land and water, which reflects industry desire to showcase the best the marine sector has to offer. “After a challenging year, it is important we support the local marine industry with a smaller, yet meaningful and safe event.” Riviera’s owner Rodney Longhurst, one of the first to secure space at the event, said they were gearing up to premiere a number of new models on water. “The Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival will be a great opportunity for boating enthusiasts to step aboard a premium showcase of Riviera motor yachts at a boat show, for the first time this year in Australia,” Mr Longhurst said. Maritimo’s lead designer Tom BarryCotter said the luxury motor yacht brand was looking forward to showcasing its latest models. “We hope the boating festival will give people an opportunity to see firsthand our latest models in the water and innovations we have in development,” Mr Barry-Cotter said. “We’re looking forward to an actionpacked three days.” One of Australia’s largest marine dealerships Northside Marine has also signed up. Managing director Greg Nickerson said they were extremely happy to hear Sanctuary Cove had announced a marine event for late 2020. “With the cancelling of all other boat shows

this year, an opportunity to display our great range of boats to a wider audience is welcomed,” Mr Nickerson said. “While the event will be on a smaller scale compared to a traditional SCIBS format, I believe it will bring fantastic crowds to the world-class Sanctuary Cove facility and we are very much looking forward to participating.” The event will be set against the backdrop of the Sanctuary Cove Marina, which has recently undergone a $12 million expansion, providing an opportunity to explore the new world-class facilities. Boating enthusiasts and families looking to make a weekend of the festival can opt to stay in the stunning InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, which has also recently undergone a $9 million refurbishment. Access to the Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival is made easy with free on-site parking available. To ensure the safety of all patrons, visitors must pre-register their attendance online. Registration and access details will be released closer to the event date as organisers work closely with health officials to ensure the event complies with COVID-safe practices. Exhibitor spaces are selling fast and limited spots remains. To join the ocean’s finest at the Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival, visit sanctuarycove boatshow.com.au/boat ing-festival www.bnbfishing.com. au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 15/7/20 2:31 11 pm

The author recently captured this epic shot with the FIFISH underwater drone off Stradbroke Island. A Queensland groper, grey nurse shark and snapper in the one picture.

A southern Moreton Bay red emperor had been inhabiting this rock for a few months â&#x20AC;&#x201C; filmed at this spot for a second time.

Did the miles but no smiles â&#x20AC;&#x201C; QYSEA FIFISH review

HOPE everyone is well and getting out to enjoy the decent weather weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had. Great snapper and pearl perch are biting offshore. Is this because of the recent month-long closure or due to the moon phase, decent weather and everyone finally being able to target South East Queenslandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most sought-after fish? Either way, this season has seen exceptional captures, though not for me unfortunately.

Moreton Bay by ADAM FOLEY

I finally headed out for a day offshore with my partner Sarah in our 5m Bluefin tinnie and we ended up doing 140km for the day, circumnavigating North Stradbroke Island. All this effort yielded two small snapper and two flathead. This was extremely painful to accept, considering how keen I

was to get a snapper over the side for the first time this season. We headed south of Point Lookout in search of a 10kg model by drifting with live bait all day. We persisted in a strong north to south current and 15-knot northerly wind, and after five hours of persistence Sarahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shimano

Many pearl perch were seen in this spot. An inquisitive species, they are always first to inspect the drone. Page 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bush â&#x20AC;&#x2122;n Beach Fishing, October 2020

Baitrunner 6500 started to sing. At the time Sarah wasâ&#x20AC;Ś letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just sayâ&#x20AC;Ś relieving herself after a few beverages and was unable to get to her rod, so it slid and bumped the ratchet, which switched off. The weight of this fish told me that it was possibly the one we had been waiting for, and the schools of snapper up high on the sounder confirmed the species. After about 30 seconds into the fight, the hooks pulled and it was over, and apart from a few humpback whales trying to play tennis with our tinnie, this was the only action we had all day. Unfortunately, you usually risk quantity when targeting quality and on this day that was true. I would like to talk a little about a new product, that over the past six months Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had the privilege to become the main Australian affiliate for, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the FIFISH V6 underwater drone from QYSEA.

No doubt many of you would have seen my videos on Facebook showcasing what this machine can do. This drone can dive to 100m, has a 4-hour battery life and films in full 4K resolution! A depth hold function allows the drone to stay in the exact desired depth no matter what buttons are pressed. It can be operated via remote control with your phone slotted in as a display, but it also comes with virtual reality goggles, which is my preferred way to use it because this blocks out sunlight and makes for an extremely realistic and clear experience. You can use the head tracking function too, where the drone will follow wherever you look and is very responsive. The FIFISH has been very helpful in allowing me to understand and interpret my sounder better, and to identify different fish species. I have been finding * continued P13

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Did the miles but no smiles * from P12

red emperor in southern Moreton Bay in places you wouldn’t even think they could exist! I’ve also used the drone to see what species are on the spot I’m fishing and then tried the recommended bait to catch these fish, and it’s worked perfectly. At Double Island Point I found nannygai and big coral trout by using the drone. I never thought they would be in this close, so I switched to live bait and started catching nannygai instead of the pearl perch I was originally targeting. Another time I found tuskfish on a spot where

I was chasing snapper and cod, so I put down a little crab bait and straight away pulled in the two tuskies I’d seen on the drone. These fish were released. All of the trips can be viewed on my Youtube channel Outer Line Adventures and on the Facebook page of the same name. It really is a game changer for keen fishers and boaties. If you have any questions about the drones or for special deals, you can get hold of me on Facebook Messenger at Adam Foley and I am more than happy to help.

Check out more photos for the article online at www.bnbfishing.com.au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 13

Big fish often sit towards the back of a gutter and metal lures give the ability to cast to this area.

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Page 14 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

ESTERLY wind and spring spell tailor season, and whether you’re an avid beach fisher or boat angler, this is a great species to be targeting. Queensland’s southern surf beaches and rocky headlands are popular destinations for tailor fishing, with Fraser, Moreton, North and South Stradbroke islands and the surf beaches of the Sunshine and Gold coasts all fantastic places to wet a line. If you’re a boat fisho, tailor are readily available and can be found around schools of baitfish – often signalled by feeding birds – with trolling and lure casting both productive methods. With the Jumpinpin Channel being my local fishing haunt, I tend to anchor the boat and

Fishing Australia by ROBERT PAYNE

walk over to the eastern surf beach on South Stradbroke Island. It’s a bit more of an effort but you’ll usu-

ally have the beach to yourself if you do this. Look for deep holes and gutters that have

* continued P16

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 15

Still time for a tailor * from P14

Metal lures have long been one of the more productive lures when casting for tailor in surf.

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an entrance and an exit. If fishing from a boat, you can target these areas and cast lures into the gutters, however an extremely good understanding of the ocean is mandatory, and you do have to pick calmer days to do this safely. In the past, I’ve used West Australian pilchard for bait with an Alvey reel but have recently changed to lure fishing because I find it more enjoyable. Metal lures can be slightly more costly, though being able to cast these further than a standard pilchard on a gang of hooks means you can reach the back of a gutter, where big tailor – also known as greenbacks – can be found. A 50g Sure Catch Bishop is a great choice and offers less wind resistance when casting compared to a pilchard and is durable enough to withstand many tailor attacks. These lures can be used at any stage of the tide, even if a strong sweep is in play. With this lure it’s a matter of casting out, wait a couple of seconds for the lure to sink and then start the retrieve. The past couple of trips to the island, I used the Zerek Zap-

pelin 115S and opted for the sinking model, which has been producing outstanding results. These lures, as for metal lures, are easier to use with a spinning reel, which require less action and effort to make the lure give off the desired result. As always, a variety of retrieves may need to be trialled to see which one works best on the day. A surf rod with the power to set hooks into fish and the length to cast further would be my recommendation. Tailor need immediate bleeding to get the best out of a fillet and should then be put on ice. I suggest consuming these fish straight away rather than freezing the fillets because they become mushy when defrosted. In Queensland, tailor have a minimum size of 35cm, with a bag limit of 20 fish per angler. The only closed water is on Fraser Island for those chasing tailor and other fin fish – from 400m north of Waddy Point to 400m south of Indian Head. Between August 1 and September 30 each year, there’s another closure 400m out to sea from the eastern foreshore at low tide.

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Plenty of variety on the Gold Coast

Broadwater Guide by CLINT ANSELL

I have never seen this many though – we’ve had large numbers of schoolies feeding every day for weeks now. They are voracious predators and reach 50cm – legal size – in

A school mackerel caught on a Pro Lure V35 blade in Ayu Coffee colour.

their first year of life. You will rarely see them busting the surface, instead this fish prefer to hold near the bottom and round up baitfish. We’ve caught up to 60 a day on silver 20g and 35g Samaki Flash lures. The best way to work them being to drop the lure straight to the bottom and then crank it to the surface as fast as you can. School mackerel are easily caught with white pilchard rigged on small gang hooks and a small ball sinker, just heavy enough

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Plenty of variety on the Gold Coast * from P17

Gary and his nice tuskfish caught with yabbies.

Joe took this pair of arrow squid in the Broadwater.

Stephan’s first ever mulloway caught and released using an Ecogear ZX43 vibe. Page 18 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

to reach the bottom in 5-7m depths. Wind your bait up about a metre so your bait is visible to the pelagic mackerel. Hopefully, all the activity signals a good summer ahead for other mackerel species on the shallow offshore reef. Purple tuskfish is another species present in good numbers around the Broadwater recently, and it’s great to see so many juvenile models in reef and seagrass areas. They love attacking yabbies and small metal vibes, and put up a furious fight on light tackle. They are a high-quality eating fish, though we prefer to keep only a few for a feed and release most. Active most of the time – apart from the hottest and coldest weather periods – tuskies have a 30cm minimum legal size in Queensland. October is a month when snot weed can spoil the fishing, so keep moving to areas clear of it and you’ll find fish. It’s also a change of

fishing season, with mangrove jack and sand whiting becoming more active, with live beachworms proving great bait for whiting. This month is also one of the best times to catch trevally in local rivers, and the most common species are giant, bigeye, brassy and tealeaf trevally. They will readily attack lures whether small trolled hard-bodies or surface lures cast toward surface feeding fish. Early in mangrove jack season, you’ll find mullet fillets fished around bridge pylons and rock bars work well. And we can expect to catch winter whiting, squid, flathead, flounder, blue swimmer crabs and many others in the Broadwater. So, get out there with yabbies and vibes and enjoy our amazing waterways! To book on a charter with myself or Brad, or if you have any fishing related questions, SMS 0432 990 302, email f ish i ngwit hcl i nt@ gmail.com, or find us on Facebook at Brad Smith Fishing Charters.

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Tips and techniques to try on the Tweed

N this month’s article I hope to give you a few tips on what species to target and the best techniques to use with them. I call October a transitional month, because several winter species start to slow down and local species that relish warmer conditions start to fire. Whiting thrive from spring through to summer, particularly during

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Gold Coast Guide by BRAD SMITH

the weeks leading up to a new and full moon. Whiting congregate throughout these lunar cycles to spawn and are usually active and hungry in this time. This species can’t resist a well-presented live worm or yabby, but I prefer to target them with lures. Trolling small minnow style lures around 50mm long or less is a great technique for whiting, and as long as your lures are continuously hitting the bottom when you troll, you’re in with a good chance. I believe the sand, mud and shell grit that puffs up when the lure hits the bottom to be the big attraction because it looks like a small fish, yabby or prawn foraging. The best locations I’ve found when trolling for whiting are in the mid to upper reaches of rivers, where the water is discoloured. After trolling a few whiting, I mix it up a little and cast small metal vibes for them, with any

vibe around 40mm and less a good option. I prefer to drift when fishing with vibes and use a very small flick of the rod tip at a rate of around three hops per metre. One of the fastestgrowing activities over the past few years has been targeting whiting on surface lures, and spring is the perfect time to do it. Shallow flats that have a mixture of seagrass and yabby holes are the best areas to fish. Keep an eye out for any bird and surface activity while fishing the flats for whiting, because tea-leaf trevally choose to roam the shallows through to summer and will readily take your surface lure if you cast in range of them. Mangrove jack are another species on offer as water temperature begins to rise. These much-coveted fish thrive on ambushing any baitfish that come into range of the * continued P21

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Tips and techniques to try * from P20

heavily structured areas they live in. Rock walls, bridge pylons, rock bars and old trees that have fallen into the water are the types of location to target jack. As with most species, jack seem to primarily spike in their feeding activity around tide changes. If you plan your attack on a tide change during very early morning, late

afternoon and at night, your chances of success definitely increase. Jack are not fussy about what they attack – whether live or cut bait, trolled or cast lures – as long as your presentation is as tight into the structure as possible. During October and November, I have always had great success with one of the biggest predators in our rivers – the mighty mulloway, or jewfish as they are often called.

This nice little mangrove jack absolutely smashed an Atomic Hardz Shiner 85 Double Deep lure.

This species prefer the deepest holes in our rivers and thrive on feeding around tide changes. The deep holes that hold big schools of baitfish are the ones to target this apex predator, so having a good sounder, and knowing how to read it is a definite advantage. Jewfish go for a wellpresented live bait and herring or poddy mullet are favourites, but as always lures are the way to go for me. Soft plastics and metal or soft vibes worked along the bottom in deep holes are irresistible to jew. Jewies give a dogged fight, which makes them an addictive target. Thanks everyone – I look forward to talking to you next month.

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Working deeper edges for flathead R A solid hook set in the top of the mouth ensured this flathead came to the boat.

Ron with a nice estuary cod landed after working a rocky edge.

Ron and a solid flathead on his go-to Z-Man 3â&#x20AC;? MinnowZ Gold Rush.

E C E N T LY, while taking advantage of the good weather and fishing local rivers and estuaries with soft plastics, we encountered a neap tide or two. A neap tide occurs just after the first or third quarters of the moon, when there is least difference between high and low water, and anglers often use the phrase â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;no run, no funâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; because the bite can be a little slower. I love flats when targeting bream and flathead, and fishing depths of 0.5-1.5m. However, a neap tide with less run allows me to work deeper edges of systems that with current, I would possibly struggle to fish. Spring also lines up with flathead spawning season, meaning larger numbers of fish can be found along these deeper edges, including solid models in the mix. We simply locate deeper edges through prior knowledge of the

Ron nailed this flathead on a deep edge session. Page 22 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bush â&#x20AC;&#x2122;n Beach Fishing, October 2020

Tackle Tactics

by JUSTIN WILLMER

system or with the use of a sounder, and we generally drift or work the edge on the electric motor, targeting banks that drop to 2.5-5m. By doing this, you may encounter good by-catch such as snapper, estuary cod and mulloway. My go-to technique when fishing this type of structure involves casting a Z-Man 3â&#x20AC;? MinnowZ onto the edge and hopping the lure down the drop-off, then back to the boat. This plastic has a good profile for fishing deeper water, appeals to a stack of different species and has loads of action to help the fish locate it. I rig the MinnowZ on a 3/8oz TT Lures Big EyeZ jig head, with Black Glow EyeZ and Chartreuse Red EyeZ a couple of proven favourites. Gear wise, I run 7â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 2-4kg and 3-6kg rods, 20-30 size reels, 10lb braid and 10-15lb Platypus Stealth FC leader. The 2-4kg rod is fun to fish with, while the 3-6kg is handy when the wind picks up and you really need to punch a cast, and when fishing heavier structure. Key things to look for when selecting edges include rock and rubble, drains coming off the bank, timber, points and other structure that

will break the current up, provide ambush points for flathead and attract bait. It is amazing how often the bank holding the bait is also the bank holding the fish, so keep an eye out for movement in the water and on the sounder. We commonly target the last couple of hours of a run-out tide and the first hour of a run-in. We generally drift a cast distance from the edge, then cast back to the bank slightly ahead of the drift and tight to the edge, where we allow the plastic to sink and hop it back to the boat. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to give the plastic time to sink and once you get the cast angle right, you should be able to see the line go slack when the soft plastic has hit the bottom. The cool thing about this presentation is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s swimming on the drop, so often it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even hit the bottom before you feel a tap. If you feel a knock, set the hook â&#x20AC;&#x201C; more likely than not, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll load up on a solid fish. If you miss the hookup, allow the plastic to fall back to the bottom because the fish will often return for another go. I always apply ProCure Super Gel Scent to my plastics, as I want the fish to commit to * continued P24

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 23

TT Lures Big EyeZ in Black Glow EyeZ colour definitely helped fish find the lure in deep water.

A bigger model flathead ready for release.

Working deeper edges for flathead * from P22

the strike in deeper water, where feel can be reduced. As mentioned, you will often feel a tap as the fish eats the soft plastic on the drop, otherwise most of your hits will come as you pause

the plastic after a few hops or shakes. It’s also a good idea to fish a couple of different soft plastic colours until you find what fish want to eat on the day, and we mix it up between a dark silhouette, a fluoro and a light

natural colour. The first two are our go-to in dirtier water and darker conditions, and the light natural colour is a winner on bright days and in clear water. Make sure you have a decent-sized landing net in case you hook

that trophy fish, as well as a set of lip grips to handle the fish in a safe manner for both the fish and yourself, a measure mat to record the length of your catch and a camera or phone to capture the moment. If you haven’t ex-

plored the deeper edges in your waterways yet, take advantage of a neap tide and the influx of flathead into many systems. Get out there and get into them! See you on the water…

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Angling options for Tweed region T HE doldrums of winter are behind us, but spring definitely presents its own difficulties. Northerly wind, offshore currents and clear river water make things challenging. For river anglers the answer is simple – that is to fish upstream. I know I bang on about it all the time, but it’s because I firmly believe your best bet is above Tumbulgum in the Tweed River. I regularly drive Tweed Valley Way and naturally my eyes wander to the river whenever possible. During spring, I continually see the same boat between Stotts Island and Murwillumbah, and it has Brad Smith’s Fishing Charters written on the side of it. He’s up there for a reason! Prawns will be coming down the river and eating the detritus at the bottom of deep holes. Well known deep holes are below the bridges at Tumbulgum and Murwillumbah, but there are plenty of others too. Use your sounder to locate prawns and then get lures down among them because where there are prawns there are predators. Currently plenty of herring schools are travelling upriver and these are favourite tucker for flathead and trevally. With them are shoals of tiger mullet, which

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Tweed to Byron Bay by GAVIN DOBSON

are a mainstay for many species. Our resident sea eagles rely on mullet for raising their chicks. Sea eagle chicks start with sea mullet and when they leave the river for their annual sea run, tiger mullet school up and see them through the second half of their chick stage. Watching the eagles will tell you where schools of mullet are. An eagle sitting high up in a tree preening itself or with its back to the sun is just resting. However, an eagle sitting midway up a tree will most likely be scanning the water where the school is. Sooner or later, when it spots a weak or distracted mullet, it will make its bombing raid. If you are after big giant trevally or bull shark, fish where tiger mullet are because these big predators also love to eat this species. Offshore this month can be hit and miss as the East Australian Current gains momentum. Trying to pick a day where there’s little wind can be hard in spring. Inshore a few snapper have been caught and, while not in great numbers, there are enough to make the effort worthwhile on most occasions. The odd jewfish is still around, but no big

schools from reports I’ve received. Around Black Rock and the Plonk Hole you should be able to scratch up a feed of moses perch, small snapper, maori cod and tuskfish. If you can manage to get out a bit wider, there should be good tuskfish angling to be had on the 32s. Probably the best thing you can do for a feed this month is to take the dillies out and grab a feed of spanner crab, and from now through to Christmas is the best time for these tasty crustaceans. Out from Brunswick Heads or the Tweed region around depths of 45-50m should see action. Make sure you take a good weight or anchor and a decent float in case the tide is running hard.

Head upstream for estuary jewfish like this one caught by Toby.

Watching the eagles like this osprey can help to locate mullet schools.

Spanner crabs will be in good numbers for those after a tasty feed. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 25

Action heating up around Ballina

HE weather is starting to heat up and spring has certainly sprung in and around Northern Rivers NSW. The beauty of fishing during this time is the many awesome options to choose from. In freshwater, bass are firing up and it won’t be long before they’re happily attacking surface lures. The same goes for flathead and whiting in saltwater. Bream, tailor and mulloway are still hanging around in num-

Ballina Bait & Tackle by BRETT HYDE

bers significant enough to make chasing them worthwhile. Don’t forget the fun offshore, where snapper and mulloway are hanging in close, and mahi mahi, kingfish, amberjack and pearl perch are waiting out wider for anglers. It’s an amazing time of year with the bonus weather, which is in that ‘Goldilocks’ category – not too hot, not

too cold – just right! Offshore The close reefs have been a little on the quiet side recently, but I am expecting them to be more productive from now until the heat of summer kicks in. Frozen pilchard and live bait with little or no weight have been the ticket to success in close, particularly up at Black Head and Lennox Point. A few nice snapper on bright-coloured soft plastics have also come from this area, but make sure you keep the weights to around 1/4oz, as red rock cod will find them quick smart if you’re too heavy on the lead. Out wider, we have been seeing a mixed bag of quality flathead, tuskfish, pigfish and snapper – all on the 32-fathom line. In most cases bait such as mullet, squid and yellowtail have been productive, but a few better-

BALLINA

BAIT & TACKLE Sam and a Richmond River flathead.

quality fish have fallen victim to several slow pitch jigs around the 60120g range. With weather warming up and a small burst of current flowing south, we have seen our first mahi mahi hanging around the wave recorder buoy. As summer ramps up, we should see better numbers of these brightly coloured acrobats, but for now it will be worth packing a few skirted lures and dragging them around on the 32 and 42-fathom lines. Large models will usually show up early in the season, so now may be your time to bag a big mahi and trolling is a great way to do it. Beaches Back on the beaches, we have unfortunately seen Australian salmon hanging around. Before you howl me down for being negative about this species, let me say this… Yes, they are good sport… yes, they give a good fight… but, they do have the potential to decimate our bait schools if they show up in large enough numbers.

When this happens, we see a significant decline in our catches of bream, flathead and tailor due to the heavily reduced volume of food. So, while a few salmon are fun, keep your fingers and toes crossed that we don’t see too many of them. South Ballina has been producing quality tailor and bream in recent weeks. The usual bait such as pilchard, mullet and bonito have all been working well. The better fish have certainly been showing up late afternoon and into the evening with an incoming tide. Unfortunately, we have had problems fishing the beach on a number of nights due to a strong rip to the north, which has made it nearly impossible to fish without using the largest of sinkers. River The river is certainly showing signs of summer, with a few mangrove jack having been caught this season on live bait along the rock walls. We have also seen the first signs of whit* continued P28

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 27

Six things knot to worry about when fishing

OOK up the term ‘fishing knots’ on Google and you’ll be confronted with more than 50 million results. Fishing coach Ryan Moody believes you don’t need to wade through all those references – you probably only need to know how to tie six basic knots. He lists the essentials as a FG knot, a perfection loop, a bimini twist, a paternoster dropper loop, a blood knot and an Albright knot – including his own modified

version with a leading ‘ramp’ to let it run more smoothly. With over 30 years as a combined formal fishing educationalist, champion game fisher, charter skipper, webinar tutor and marine electronics tutor there are solid, factbased reasons for using these particular knots. It’s more than just selecting a way to attach a hook to a line, it’s why and when to use a particular knot – the answer goes way beyond the simplification of its effect on a line’s

Instructor Ryan Moody recommends six knots as essential for every person who fishes.

breaking strain. Ryan advocates strategies such as using a loop connection from your line to a shallow, hard-bodied lure, rather than a snap swivel, when targeting large barramundi. A big barra can open a snap swivel when it slams its jaws shut on the lure and when performing acrobatics under water. Affectionally called ‘barra boofing’, the fish will make an effort to chuck the lure. You can get away with a snap swivel with smaller, school-sized barra but you had better arm yourself with a perfection loop if you’re going after one metre bruisers. Watch them feed underwater and see how hard and fast they snap their bottom jaw. “If a snap swivel comes into contact with their jaws, they pop the sides of the snap swivel to-

Action heating up around Ballina * from P26

ing in better numbers, and while they haven’t been terribly aggressive with surface lures as yet, you should be able to tempt a couple on a run-in tide with either a beachworm or live yabby. Flathead have been making their way towards the mouth of the river for their breeding run, with a few of the better eating-sized fish from 40-60cm being landed recently. Larger females will start to show up over

the next few weeks in similar areas, so it may be time to catch live bait or dust off those over-sized soft plastics and swimbaits in preparation. Mulloway and luderick have started to slow down with the warmer weather, but quite a few fish are still to be caught if you’re willing to persist and put time in. As usual, luderick have been biting a little better on an incoming tide, but I would recommend having some berley

Page 28 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

handy – this may make the difference when they’re playing hard to tempt. Though showing up on a slack tide at night, we have seen mulloway numbers drop off around town. Despite this, good quality school-sized fish have been taken around Pimlico Island and Wardell Bridge, so it may pay to check out the deep holes further upriver over the next month. Well, that’s all from me. Until next time – tight lines!

gether and open them up very quickly,” Ryan said. “I’ve seen this happen on numerous occasions.” The FG knot provides a near-seamless way to join a leader to the main line, which will pass easily through the guides on a fishing rod – that applies to tiny, micro-guides on specialist jigging rods too. This slimline knot is part of what constitutes a ‘wind-on leader’. It feeds through the guides on to the reel and allows anglers to retain a long leader that otherwise could not be wound onto the reel. A long leader is essential for species such as coral trout, mangrove jack and fingermark, which when running for cover and flicking over sharp rocks and coral will cause abrasion to a lighter mainline. The FG is castable and strong and is ideal for joining a mono leader to braid – it’s a must have in a serious angler’s armoury. The Albright knot is an alternative to the FG knot in terms of being able to flow through rod guides. It binds a length of braid around a monofilament loop. Ryan’s version has a small build-up of line in front of the line proper that eliminates the leading edge which occasionally forms on the knot. Ryan recommends doing half a dozen wraps – called hitches – of braid in front of the mono to form a leading ramp. The bimini twist is an essential part of game fishing but it’s a versatile knot many fishers

could use for other applications as well. It has the fantastic advantage of being a shock absorber knot – retaining a little elasticity to counter the shock of a heavy hit from a fish – and is a popular choice on game boats. The bimini twist can be a daunting knot for many people, though with practice it can be tied in around 20 seconds. Similarly, a paternoster dropper loop often is thought of as a deepsea rig, however it’s also a great knot for snaggy areas and landbased fishing from rock walls. And, the blood knot, of which there are various versions. The basic one is used for tying mono to hooks, though the double blood knot is a great choice for joining mono to mono. You do this when adding an extra shot of line to your reel. Key to becoming proficient with knot tying is knowing where to put your fingers and when – to hold the twists in a bimini before locking it off or to keep the middle loop open in an Albright while doing 10 wraps. Ryan offers a series of videos explaining exactly that – detoxing the complexity of knot tying. Access the free videos at ryanmoodyfishing. com Ryan Moody

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Dream fishing session n Jewfish from Iluka Bluff on plastics

VERY now and then you have one of those dream fishing sessions that you don’t ever want to end – such was the case recently when Mischa decided to have a few casts for jewfish at the southern end of the Iluka Bluff using soft plastic lures. When he arrived at the headland, gulls and terns were diving on large shoals of whitebait seeking shelter in the wash. A 1-2m swell was rolling in and breaking on the reef. On his first cast, a nice school-size jew wacked his lure before he had time to turn the handle, and this set the scene for a couple of hours of fishing that everyone dreams of. The accompanying photos are a small taste of the action because space doesn’t allow for them all. Needless to say, Mischa hooked and landed around a dozen fish, only keeping a 15kg model, and had more than double the number of strikes and hits without hooking up. If nothing else, it sure blew the old-school theory of ‘not releasing fish where you catch them for fearing of spooking the rest of the school’ right out of the water. It was only the incoming tide that forced a halt to fishing in safe conditions, even though the fish were still biting when he left. He returned the following day to catch and release another half dozen barely legal school fish before the wind changed direc-

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Just Jew by TYE PORTER

tion, which saw the bait move on. Not to be perturbed, he flicked the same paddle tail soft plastics along the Iluka breakwall at night for solid fish to 16kg. So, it shows that if you want to consistently catch fish, you have to be adaptable and change location the same as fish do. October is definitely the month to start haunting your local breakwall during the day with fresh or freshly frozen octopus on a big spring tide, as big smelly jew are around this area all year, they simply change their diet. On the far north coast of NSW, squid and live yellowtail as bait at night will attract jew year-round, so don’t despair if you can’t find time to fish during the day tide. Another species that has been in good numbers near the headlands has been turrum and, while we don’t get monsters as they do in the tropics, there are loads of these hard-fighting fish up to 7kg currently taking lures. Chopper tailor around 2kg are in reasonable numbers along both Back Beach and Main Beach at Iluka, while on the Yamba side, the rocks at Plumbago and Lovers Point are producing similar classes of fish on lures. Inside the Clarence River, luderick catches are beginning to wane as the bulk of fish move

back along breakwalls and headlands for summer. The good news is reports of decent whiting are filtering in and these tasty little critters should be in abundance by the end of October. Offshore at Woody Head, snapper and smallish teraglin have dominated catches, though it won’t be long before the first spotted mackerel of the season begin to get boated. Believe it or not the occasional longtail tuna is still being landed, which is rare at this time of year. For me, September was another month I didn’t pick up a rod mainly due to health issues. Hopefully, I’ll find the energy to waddle out to the wall with octopus bait during high tide, and maybe even have a cast with live beachworm for a feed of tasty whiting along Shark Bay or the southern bank of Goodwood Island at night. Regardless of the species you choose to target this month, the fact remains that any day fishing is a great day, and if you happen to do it with a good friend then all the better. I never thought I’d see the day Lisa Simpson and unicorns would have anything whatsoever to do with jew fishing, but I have pics to prove they did and will have them in next month’s column. Until then, safe fishing.

This fish engulfed Mischa’s Shimano Squidgy Whip Bait Soft Plastic lure.

Mischa with a nice 15kg jewfish taken from Iluka Bluff on a soft plastic lure.

Jewfish came in all sizes during a hot bite at Iluka Bluff. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 29

Troy Beitzel managed to land this solid giant trevally. Photo: fishingnoosa.com.au

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Page 30 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

This nice jewfish was captured by Roy Helling.

Warm weather provides a mix of opportunities

ITH winter behind us, water temperature is increasing and the species list on offer is improving. Estuaries will show packs of whiting and bream during the day, with flathead one of the biggest targets and there are huge models out there. Offshore, we can expect to find large jewfish, trout, cobia, pearl perch and even early pelagic action. In dams, saratoga will be pairing up and breeding, making bass and yellowbelly a great alternative target. Offshore Double Island, Barwon Banks and beyond will carry pearl perch, snapper, jewfish, cobia, goldband snapper, tuskfish, red emperor and a few hefty amberjack from deeper water. With snapper firmly back on the menu, bulky fish are still

Sunshine Coast by GRANT BUDD

available and 5-7” soft plastics on 5/0-7/0 hook size jig heads are most effective. Make sure you have jig heads up to 2oz for stronger currents and be sure to pack a couple of high-speed jigs – the Samaki Hummer V2 is a perfect jig when upgraded with a Decoy DJ-500 Grand Pike Single Assist 5/0. For those looking to stay in close, North Reef features pearl perch, tuskfish, snapper, cobia and jew. Running the sounder in zoom mode will help you find small lumps that often hold larger fish. Sunshine Reef, Halls Reef and other inshore reefs heading north will often hold coral trout, pearlies and sweetlip as well as cobia, snapper

and maybe a pelagic tuna or mackerel. Slow drifting and casting soft plastics or smaller jigs in the 4060g range is a great way to discover new ground and find schools of snapper, sweetlip and pearlies. Be sure to break out a 20lb outfit if you have one, and if you’re looking for a lighter jigging setup, take a look at Storm Gomoku rods, especially the Vanuatu. Surf Medium-sized dart and tailor continue to hang around Noosa North Shore gutters and south to Peregian and Marcoola. Pilchard, bonito strip and fresh mullet with ganged or snelled 3/04/0 hooks are popular choices. * continued P31

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Warm weather provides a mix of opportunities * from P30

Snelling hooks is an important skill to know for bait presentation. Be sure to ask us how if you need help. Don’t forget a short length of bait wrap to keep bait in place when powerful casting is required. The Noosa and Maroochy River mouths have held a mix of quality bream, trevally, flathead and whiting. Big baits work well in these areas for larger species such as flathead, and light lines, beachworm, pea sinkers and whippy surf rods keep it fun when fishing for smaller bream and whiting during the day. River The upper reaches of the Noosa River between the lakes is a great place to locate mangrove jack. To get the best results, try casting deep into snags with baitcast gear on 20lb lines like Suffix 832 for the best abrasion resistance. Weedless paddle tail plastics like the Keitech Swing Impact Fat 3.8” on Owner Weighted Beast hooks work very well during the burn. Mangrove jack will crunch and run for cover super quickly, so be sure drags are set high and you’re on your ‘A’ game. Trolling hard-bodies over various rock bars will work well and may even pick up smaller jewfish. Lucky Craft Pointer and Jackall Squirrel lures in various gold and red colours are standouts. Downstream towards the mouth of Lake Cooroibah and into the ski www.bnbfishing.com. au

run, jewfish have been taken on various plastics and soft vibes. Plastics in the 3”range such as the Shimano Squidgy Prawn Paddle tail in Bloodworm with plenty of scent works well. This is also a great place to find decent flathead, which are partial to live bait as well as slow-trolled hardbodies – think Zerek Tango Shad and Samaki Redic in this area. If the water is dirty, you can step up to 16lb and 20lb for jack fishing. Also, around the ski run small giant trevally, bigeye trevally and little queenfish can be found. These fish love smaller 2-3” prawn-style plastics, with the Zerek Live Shrimp and the Atomic Prong converting. If you’re fishing

around the lower estuary, surface fishing for trevally on first and last light is a must. Lighter leaders provide the best action and 70mm stickbaits are best for these areas. Be sure to have a Bassday Sugapen, MMD Splash Prawn or Lucky Craft Gunfish ready to flick. If you are going to be running fluorocarbon leaders, keep to 400-600mm in length because they tend to sink the lure, especially during slower walk-thedog style retrieves. Freshwater Bass are becoming increasingly active, with fish taking lures off the top. Lilies that died off during the drought are back and fish are sitting under these because they trap the heat. If you want a great sur-

face lure try the Chasebaits Bobbin Frog, which is super soft and hooks up easily. For those flicking the edges with hard-bodies, the Jackall Squirrel and Nories Laydown Minnow are two favourites. Use leaders up to 12lb when you’re deep in the snags as the bite is more reaction-based than working a lure along the bottom. Z-Man Curly TailZ plastics have also been working well, with tough Entice grubs claiming good-sized bass – especially when used as a trailer bait on spinnerbaits for yellowbelly. Another lure that continues to provide is the Hot Bite Gang Banger and is a staple in many a bass angler’s kit. Finally, as October is often accompanied by a bigger swell, be sure

to watch for set waves when crossing the Noosa River Bar. If the swell is from the southeast, a big sneaky set often comes through, so it pays to sit and wait on bumpy days. Don’t forget to check flairs and EPIRB expiry dates to ensure you’re compliant at all times. For the latest information, log onto fishingnoosa.com.au for upto-date bar and fishing reports, and don’t forget to drop into Davo’s Tackle World, Davo’s Boating and Outdoors in Noosa and Davo’s Northshore Bait & Tackle in Marcoola for all the right equipment, bait and advice to get you catching. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and remember, tight lines and bent spines!

Gabriela Soos was super impressed with her 4kg snapper. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 31

Tackling tough conditions on a Fraser Island trip

Josh with a lovely flathead caught on a Z-Man Slim SwimZ in Midnight Oil colour – perfect for sunny conditions.

Don from Tackle Giants explained a few of the finer points of slide baiting and drone fishing. Page 32 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

Y second Fraser Island trip this year was a particularly challenging trip for a few reasons. We had weed along most of the eastern beach, while on the western side we had regular strong northwest or southwest wind blowing in our faces. But all was not lost. On the eastern beach, we tested the water by doing quick gutter hopping checks. Any aggregation of weed on the line and the rods were quickly back on the vehicles and we were off to the next area of cleanerlooking water. Another thing we did was kept our ears to the ground for reliable updates from Drew at Gardiner Fisheries Tackle Shop at Rainbow Beach and Don Butler and his crew from Tackle Giants. As it turned out, the Tackle Gaints staff were on the island and did a free slide baiting and drone fishing course, which was excellent. Jump on the Tackle Giants website for videos and information on where to buy gear – true experts in this field – they are wholesale distributers for Assassin Australia, Kingfisher Australia and CutaCopter. While gutters and weed concentrations changed day-to-day, there were a couple of

Fraser Island by SEAN THOMPSON

lessons from our trip and the weeks following. In general, direct westerly wind can help to push weed out but anything with a bit of northerly seems to push weed back in. An interesting thing about tailor season over the past month was that fish came on when cleaner water was pushed into deep shore gutters on high tide. This included even the middle of the day. Another successful tactic was berleying gutters with smashedup pilchard to bring fish in. Bait choice and long casts were another factor when fish were scarce, particularly slightly after dusk. When bait fishing, I am an unashamed fan of fresh, individually quick-frozen pilchard on Tru-Turn swivel-

joined gang hooks for school fish around dawn and dusk. However, after dark, strips of bonito on two gang hooks accounted for some better than average fish caught from the back of the gutter using size 8-9 ball sinkers. On our last full day, we noticed about a dozen schools of tailor 200m out. I did my best throwing a few very long casts with lures and my Alvey Orbitor SR200, but only managed several stray fish. The lesson could be to try lures if you can see fish but can’t reach them. Try and time a western-side session with a light southeasterly breeze, because anything too calm can make fishing a bit tough. * continued P33

These were the biggest tailor of the trip. www.bnbfishing.com. au

The author’s son Josh with an absolute stonker of a barred javelin he caught on light 6lb Playtpus P8 braid and a light 12lb leader.

Tackling tough conditions on a Fraser Island trip * from P32

That said, wind under 12-13 knots in most directions can be OK. The other factor we considered for the western side was tide height. With over 24 years of fishing the island, my diary entries indicated that the best quality and quantity of fish came in the four days leading up to a new and full moon, while after, quality dropped a little but quantity was still good four days post. For flathead we chose the bigger spring tide, when the water level dropped enough to empty drains and fish concentrated around the entrance of the drains and ledges into deeper water. That said, you can’t always get the wind and tide on your side. When the wind is coming hard at you

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side-on, try to position yourself so you’re casting lures or bait with the wind and not against it. On this trip, we managed a couple of very nice mixed-bag sessions in spells of less wind or battled through it to get acceptable catches in periods when it was stronger. Live beachworms cast and retrieved slowly on little 5-5.5” Alveys and 10’6” rods did the job on whiting. The best action was during the mid-stages of the tide. The most productive locations were edges of higher sandy spits and in the darker shallow drains that were full of yabby holes. On the soft plastic front, we caught a variety of fish including grunter, flathead, bream, tarwhine, estu-

ary cod, swallowtail dart and even a remora! Our tackle of choice was light 6lb Platypus P8 braid, light fluorocarbon leaders of 1014lb and TTs jig heads and mostly Z-Man soft plastics. For the jig heads, we used 1/8-1/6oz weights in calmer conditions but went to 1/4oz in stronger wind. Z-Man colours such as Midnight Oil and Motor Oil worked best in clearer water but when stirred up, white and pink colours worked best. I hope these tips help you on your next Fraser Island trip. For more tips and reports, be sure to like my Facebook page, Ontour Fishing Australia, or Instagram by the same name. Until next month, cheers.

Chris with one of two nice flathead over 70cm for the trip, with white being his go-to colour in dirtier water.

A great haul of whiting put together using live worms for bait.

Matt took this stunning estuary cod using a slightly larger plastic than that normally used for flathead. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 33

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 35

C-MAP rebrands navigation app

C-MAP, a leader in digital marine cartography and cloud-based mapping, has renamed and enhanced its ‘Embark’ app to the ‘C-MAP: Boating’ app, bringing it further in line with the brand’s portfolio of charting products, services and identity. The C-MAP: Boating app is free to download and offers the user access to a range of charting and features, free of charge and with a free trial of Premium features, which can be accessed on phone, tablet or computer. New navigation tools As well as improvements to charting, the app boasts a new measure distance tool and search by coordinate tool, both aimed at enhancing the navigation experience on the app alongside its current popular auto-routing, personal waypoints, routes and tracks features. Latest and detailed weather data The app’s marine weather forecast has also been updated, with users able to discover the moon phase for their upcoming fishing or sailing trip. In addition, users can now view conditions along their whole route, whether its precipitation, wind, tide or wave information. Thousands of new points of interest In partnership with Navily, a leading social cruising guide on anchorages and marinas, the app now lists thousands more destinations around the world – allowing users to easily search for a mooring or other points of interest, including beaches, shops and much more. This data includes additional informa-

Page 36 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

tion on amenities available, VHF channel, telephone number, quantity of berths, draft, length, and photos and reviews from users. Now available in six languages The C-MAP: Boating app has also broadened its global presence and is now available in German, Italian, English, French, Spanish and Norwegian. The C-MAP: Boating app is free to download and access on a range of devices including your phone, tablet or computer. Users travelling to an area without internet or cellular data coverage can upgrade to Premium and download offline maps and weather, to stay safe wherever the onwater journey leads. Download the app from App Store or Google Play. For more information about C-MAP and the app visit c-map.com

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Lockie with his biggest fish – a 39cm tuskfish caught in the Broadwater. A proud dad moment. Johnny Andrews

Chris Edwards with a threadfin salmon hooked in the Logan River.

My friend’s son Joseph caught his first kingfish on a Zerek Zappelin 160mm, which measured 90cm and was caught at Wild Banks Artificial Reef. Luke Kenny Maxxy (11yrs) broke his arm recently, but it didn’t slowed him down with the rod. He had a good day on tailor recently, which included landing a personal best of 64cm. Scott Boothey

This big estuary cod was caught off Port Douglas recently. Rob Mendham

Caught this hairtail on a Samaki Vibelicious vibe around Russell Island in Moreton Bay. Ricky Buttigieg

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

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 37

This 82cm red emperor was a great reward for Cameron’s hard work. The crew with a great mix of species.

Fraser Coast foray to find tasty reef fish

O Brett showing off the quality of snapper taken for the trip.

Scott landed this lovely maori cod.

N August 16 we booked a charter with Rainbow Escape Charters, to leave Bullock Head boat ramp aboard an 8m Cougar Catamaran with twin 250hp engines. I had fished with two local charters for years and didn’t know of Rainbow Escape Charters, skippered by Dave. We opted for the extended charter, which was a 13-hour session, and left the ramp at 4am. The weather that morning wasn’t the best and the bar was a little lumpy but conditions

Cameron, Brett and Scott with the best red emperor caught on the day. Page 38 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

Moreton Bay by BRIAN WEBB

flattened a little around lunchtime. We travelled north towards the SS Maheno shipwreck about 30km off the coast and fished our way back towards the bar. The Cougar cat handled the chop in the 200km we travelled. We fished in 45-55m and picked up a heap of slimy mackerel and yellowtail on the way, which we used for our bait as well as dead pilchard and squid. We didn’t know what to expect from this new charter, but the skipper knew the territory well. There were eight onboard, with most bringing their own gear. Our first stop was at the skipper’s snapper ground and – with it being the season reopening date August 15 – we went close to bagging out on snapper in the first 90 minutes of dropping bait to the depths. Most of the snapper were around the 50cm

mark, with a few 6070cm models thrown in. We caught several other reef species and while others used baits, I gave soft plastics a go and landed most of my snapper that way. Berkley Gulp soft plastics in Nuclear Chicken colour proved to be the best option on the day. Tailor were in abundance and Bush ’n Beach editor Ben Collins seemed to be the tailor expert, with most of his drops yielding two at a time. Our next stop was Dave’s red emperor ground and before long we had two lovely models in the boat, both measuring 82cm and weighing around 10kg, caught by Cameron and Brett. The rest of us managed a few smaller reds, with only one being legal, before they went off the bite. We then moved * continued P40

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 39

Chippy and friends with the spoils of a great trip out wide.

The author with a healthy fly-caught bass.

October opens up bay options

O A great flathead catch for Joelene Thorburn.

Fraser Coast foray * from P38

around to different marks and caught a variety of cod, spangled emperor, frying pan snapper, pearl perch, morwong and a mix of tuskfish, with Ben bringing a nice tomato rockcod aboard as a bonus. Our last spot was the skipper’s hussar ground, and with virtually every drop hussar and moses perch were coming aboard. I think we ended up boating around 40 fish from this final spot! We were back on land at 5.30pm and ended up with around 30 fish each after dividing the

catch back at Dave’s house. He also has accommodation for eight people at his house, which costs $25 per head. For those wanting a fish-abundant trip, I highly recommend you book a fishing foray with Rainbow Escape Charters. Dave trails his boat to the Bullock Head boat ramp to launch and he caters for short or longer trips. You can find out more on the Rainbow Escape Charters Facebook page and via rainbowes capechar ters.com. au

Page 40 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

VER the past few weeks, we’ve had plenty of tourists through Tin Can Bay. Many came for a day visit to feed a dolphin, others to dust off the caravan and stay a few days, and plenty for a fish and to explore the Great Sandy Straits. The hard stand in the marina has been pumping! Boats have been in and out non-stop, either for their yearly maintenance or a couple of quick fixes. So, how has the fishing been the past few weeks? From all accounts... damn good! Bread and butter species have been in good numbers in the bay, keeping fishers busy. Winter and summer whiting are still being caught in quantities, along with squid. Try hunting mangrove lines on a making tide for a feed of

Tin Can Bay by CHRIS RIPPON

summer whiting. You can target them with worms or yabbies, but if you’re up for a challenge, try using small poppers and stickbaits such as Bassday Sugapen and Nomad Dartwing for a surface bite. If you’re after an even

bigger challenge, try small plastics and flies in yabby patterns. Sight fishing for whiting can be great fun, and when you hit a good school it can result in a fish a cast. Using a light spin rod around 1-3kg or a 5-6 weight fly rod will

Hans Brix enjoyed kayaking off Rainbow Beach. www.bnbfishing.com. au

October opens up bay options * from P40

make it feel as though you’re fighting a small marlin in the shallows. Good numbers of flathead have been turning up on the flats recently, with most of the better fish succumbing to 4’’ soft plastic lures, and the flats along the western side of Fraser being prime. Good reports of sand crabs have come through over the past couple of weeks. The stretch of water from Alligator Creek to the green marker – known locally as ‘Big Mick’ – bringing the best results for sand crabbing. Mud crabs have been a little harder to find in cooler water, however the upper reaches of Kauri Creek are worth a look if chasing a feed. Offshore, great catches of snapper have been taken from in close to Four-Mile reef. Jewfish were also caught in close, as well

as a good mix of blackall, grass sweetlip, hussar and nannygai. If you’re keen for a road trip, hit up Borumba for a little freshwater action – bass can be a great target and are easy to find. Currently schooling in deeper water close to the dam wall in an attempt to spawn, you’ll need to be quick because as water temperature rises, this species will start to head back up the dam and spread out. Using your sounder to find schooled fish in the basin is the best way to target them. Having an arsenal of small metal jigs and plastics will definitely help to get them biting. The most popular jigs being Palms Slow Blatt and Bit Arts Miniature Dax in 20g, 14g and 10g weights, but don’t forget the faithful Halco Twisty. These lures have been eaten by bass for years.

Retrofit them with twin assist hooks at the top and bottom of the lures and it’s game on! Remember, if you are heading to Borumba – which is part of the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme – you’ll need a SIPS permit to fish there, and these are available from qld.gov. au The best thing about the SIPS program is that the full amount of your permit cost goes back into your nominated dams. The other good thing about hitting the dams is that it’s a great way to give the trailer a good wash down in the fresh, and there’s not too much to clean up once you get home. That’s it from me this month, so stay safe and get out for a fish! Find us at the Tin Can Bay Marina on Emperor St for all your boating and fishing needs.

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For more info visit: www.yamaha-motor.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 43

Kyrle and his mate Phuong wrestled this monster cobia.

Sean with a solid winter queenfish.

Persisting through tough conditions

OR the most part fishing is so simple and straightforward, but at other times it can be frustrating and tiresome. I’m lucky with what I do, and as a guide I know somewhere,

Fraser Guided Fishing by TRI TON

somehow, something will give, even on the toughest of bites. Staying sharp and on the ball when fishing is

Paul enjoyed learning how to catch reef fish on lures. This beautiful maori cod was caught on a heavy skirted slow jig. He also caught trout with soft plastic on the same day.

> Hervey Bay > Fraser Island > Sandy Strait

slow is critical. Mental fortitude will allow you to make objective decisions and making those simple decisions is key to success. This may not mean you catch a trophy fish every time, but it does put you in the running at the very least. Additionally, healthy eating and drinking on board pays off in these circumstances. On the past few trips I’ve experienced a couple of trying sessions. We’ve suffered through inexperienced

anglers, bad weather, inconsiderate boaters… you name it. On one particular day, I found myself on a patch that usually produces for me and I had one angler on board. Conditions were not particularly difficult to fish in. On the first drift we hooked something decent, but the hooks pulled. A common occurrence recently, with fish not really committing and instead swiping tentatively at the lure. The strike rates in-

creased to the point where I left the angler to fish on their own, hoping to see them snare a trophy. Every time they came tight it was something smaller, but I could clearly see bigger models on the Lowrance, so it was just a matter of time. Then the crowds came. Several vessels I knew and believe should have known better. They crowded me out from the fish I’d found and had been on all

* continued P45

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The author loves catching grunter on Palms Slow Blatt jigs and managed to put John onto this specimen. www.bnbfishing.com. au

Persisting through tough conditions * from P44

morning. An angler I know came over, waved and sat there with their electric motor deployed. I see this sort of behaviour a lot, and in my opinion, waving doesn’t make being lazy and using someone else to find fish excusable. If you’re one of these people, please stop it. I soon left to catch tuna I’d seen on the previous day. Later, thinking it would get tough and the vessels would all leave, I returned – and sure enough, they had all left, so we hooked a few small tuna and pulled hooks on a big model. While the events made me angry, I didn’t let it cloud my thoughts and realised that having several back-up plans was helpful. A similar thing occurred a day later, only this time we hadn’t yet boated a fish. The two anglers fishing with me asked if it was common to catch nothing, to which I replied “No.” I was confident we would catch something and had a very easy back-up nearby – that I didn’t want to use because of shark numbers there. The fishers were both greenhorns and struggled with depth perception, so I gave them heavy lures to bang on the bottom. Eventually they both hooked fish and landed them. Nearby boats ventured in, and suddenly three boats were circling. One of the other boats got fish occasionally and I managed a few by www.bnbfishing.com. au

fishing around them. I knew the bite was hot – I just needed the anglers to get the technique right with the lighter lures the fish preferred on the day. One of the fishers managed to convert with nice reef fish on soft plastics, which was a first for him. The best thing about this day was by the time the bite got hot, everyone else had given in, leaving my crew to catch them. These examples show that success doesn’t always mean big catches, particularly when you take into account how difficult everyone else did it. That said, when other vessels come in close around you, keeping your cool and making

objective decisions will help keep percentages in your favour. Lose it and you’ll only defeat yourself. Remember to keep your baits in the strike zone. Quite often persistence pays off.

Troy’s first coral trout ate a Zerek Live Shrimp.

Norm caught this lovely golden trevally.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 45

BOATING & marine Possibly the first centre console car topper.

The helm position provided good visability.

Centre console car topper from Ocean Craft

C By removing a pin the console can be folded.

Console folded below the seat height.

Fully removed and stowed.

Page 46 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

A LOU N DR A based boat builder Ocean Craft has recently come up with a new design for their Car Toppa range. The range now includes the option of a removable or fold-down centre console, which is a first for car toppers. The unique design offers boaties the choice of whether to run a tiller steer or centre console for their car topper boat. Initially designed to meet the needs of a buyer wanting to place the boat underneath the boom on their sailboat, it is now a standard option for all boat buyers. Having a console changes the perspective of this 3.3m boat and gives it more of a presence on the water with awesome visibility for the driver. The test was conducted with a tiller engine, as the owner of the boat intends to fit his own outboard which will be connected to the console.

Boat Review by BEN COLLINS

Despite this, the functionality of the centre console was evident. In terms of how it works, you simply remove a pin and it folds down on hinges to lay flat. Alternatively, you can slide it out of the hinges and place it between the front casting platform and the seats. The console also provides a space for electronics such as a GPS or sounder unit. Obviously, there would need to be an allowance for a little slack in the cable so it could be removed when the unit is folded down or removed, but it would work. Another advantage of the console is it provides a good spot to grab onto when getting in and out of the boat from a jetty or pontoon. Though these boats are exceptionally stable

– with large buoyancy chambers – the position of the console provides that little extra peace of mind when boarding. Another addition to this boat is the tow point at the rear, which can be removed by undoing a couple of bolts. A request from the buyer that increases the function of the Car Toppa. Extra rod holders will also be attached, making the boat extremely versatile for a variety of applications. Having the ability to customise your boat is a big advantage when buying a vessel and is a consideration for all potential purchasers. Having your boat made exactly how you want it will translate to you getting more enjoyment out of it. For more information on these boats, go to oceancraft.com.au

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L m

K AYAKING & canoeing A fishing club founded on sustainable fishing, respect and camaraderie.

The Yak Hunters Kayak Fishing Series is now the biggest kayak fishing competition in Australia.

Yak Hunters competition series adapts and succeeds

HIS year has seen an unprecedented number of rapid changes in how we run our businesses and live our lives. The Yak Hunters Kayak Fishing Series is now the biggest kayak fishing competition in Australia. With around 25,000 members nationwide, the four competitions held throughout the year are significant activity for our member base and a large part of

what it means to be a ‘Yak Hunter’. Yak Hunters is not only a fishing club, it is a community founded on the principles of ecologically sustainable fishing, mutual respect and camaraderie. As such, the comps are a significant part of our community spirit – where you can catch up with friends, make new ones and engage in just the right amount of smack talk, while vying for a spot on the podium.

The fishing zone was expanded enabling anglers to spread out. Page 48 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

Restrictions on group gatherings saw an end to group launches, briefings and weighins. While we managed to squeeze in our first comp of 2020 at Paradise Point on the Gold Coast, Round 2 had to be cancelled, and significant changes had to be made to Round 3 if we wanted it to go ahead. Almost every day we heard an announcement cancelling another event and soon realised the serious damage caused to the momentum of a fishing comp series. It was time to adapt. Previous competitions had been run to a format of anglers registering with staff, where they were provided their angler ID tag and a measure mat – if it was their first comp of the year. Anglers then gathered for the group safety briefing, which would include advising of first aid procedures, the

fishing zone, what to do in case of an emergency and other pertinent administrative and legal information. Entrants then set off to fish their chosen part of the allocated fishing zone. A few would do this solo, while others would take the opportunity to catch up with friends and fish in groups. With restrictions in place, the physical check-in was changed to a virtual registration, where anglers ‘entered’ the comp by logging into the Yakhunters Australia app. Here they were greeted with the competition code, which had to be written on the measure mat and photographed to count as an entry. The app stores and logs each catch, with a moderator checking the location, time and length of the fish to ensure all fish were caught on the day in the correct system and were measured accurately.

The app also provides a running tally of each angler’s catch, the biggest bonus species and their overall bag length for the target species. The physical safety briefing was replaced with a safety video posted to state groups the night before comp day. Launching and social distancing were potential problems, so the fishing zone was expanded to anywhere along the system, enabling anglers to spread out more while launching and not bunch up at a defined fishing space. The expansion eliminated almost every possible instance of contact and made it easier to follow social distancing and gathering guidelines. Barring future changes due to COVID-19 and owing to the massive success of a socially-distanced Round 3, we have every confidence that Round 4 will be as good, if not better! Wayne Petherick www.bnbfishing.com. au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 49

Time to prepare the crab pots W HILE many anglers focus on fishing in October, some turn their attention to mud crabs. As well as adding a degree of extra interest and excitement to the day, the rewards from a successful overnight soak of the pots are fantastic. Doing things right For those who have never turned their hand to crabbing, a few easy basics will help you out. First, remember you’re allowed up to four pots per person in the boat in Queensland, with each float and pot marked according to the current regulations. Your float must be a minimum of 150mm in all directions. The name of any minor under 18 with you, must be on the pots ‘assigned’ to them. If you choose to tie your pot to a fixed object rather than use a float, the pot must be tied off above the high tide mark and have a tag identifying the user visible above the waterline. A broad range of products are available when purchasing pots, with the range in price generally reflecting the quality of materials and ‘strength’ of the pot. Lighter duty pots are suitable for anglers doing a couple of trips each year, though it is worth investing in better quality gear if you’re looking at doing regular trips through the season. Here’s a summary of crab pot regulations for tidal water in Queensland: • No more than four pots, dillies or a combination of both may be used per person • There must be no

Bundaberg Region by BRAD YOUNG

more than four pots per person on a boat when on the water • You must have an identification tag on your pot bearing the surname and address of the person using the apparatus • All crab pots must have a light-coloured solid float attached when not tied to a fixed object, and the float must display the user’s name and not be less than 150mm in any dimension. • When the pot is tied to a fixed object, a tag must be attached to a part of the rope above the high-water mark that identifies the user’s name • A dilly for spanner crabbing should be made of solid steel with a thickness of at least 6mm and not exceed 1m in each dimension • Crab pots are not permitted in freshwater. Size and possession limits of crab species for tidal water in Queensland are: • Blue swimmer – 115mm minimum and possession limit of 20 • Mud – 150mm minimum and possession limit of seven per person or 14 per boat with two or more people on board • Spanner – 100mm minimum and possession limit of 20 • Three-spot – 100mm minimum and no possession limit • Female mud crabs and blue swimmer crabs are no take • Egg-bearing spanner crabs and three-spot crabs are no take.

Page 50 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

Best bait and location From my experience the best bait by far for mud crabbing would have to be fresh mullet frames. The oily flesh of mullet seems to travel well through the water and attracts crabs from far and wide. It is also easy to attach the frame to the inside of the pot using wire or clips through the eye socket. If fresh mullet frames are not available, other successful baits include fresh fish and chicken frames. When planning a crabbing session, a bigger tide around a full and new moon are usually the best times because crabs become more active and scavenge across flats covered by a higher tide. Mangrove and mudcovered banks are good areas for muddies as well as deeper zones nearby. The presence of crab pot floats will often be a sign that a spot is holding. Be aware, a few people on the water may be happy to take your crabs, slash your pots to access your crabs if the pots are cable tied closed and even take your complete pot. Unfortunately, it’s a risk we have to take. For this reason, many crabbers will drop their pots in and fish nearby, where they can keep an eye on them. The upper reaches of the Elliott, Burnett and Kolan rivers all hold mud crabs and are worth a shot in the Bundaberg area. I hope these tips help if

you’re thinking of giving mud crabbing a go. Target species With spring well and truly here, species that become more active in warmer water are starting to appear in catches. Mangrove jack have made an appearance, particularly around the bottom and top of the tide in rocky and snagridden areas. The best bait for this species is mullet, as live fillet bait or freshly dead. Make sure to keep your rod handy because jack usually attack the bait while simultaneously turning back towards their ‘home’, and it doesn’t take long for these smart fish to retreat to their favourite snag and cut your line. As well as mangrove jack, barramundi also become more active as water temperature warms up. They respond well to live bait of mullet and sprat and can often be a bonus catch when targeting jack, especially at night. Good catches of flathead and whiting have been taken in local estuaries. These species are

popular bread and butter fish in Bundaberg and are great to get kids hooked on fishing. Prawns have been castnetted in the Burnett River, and it’s usually super easy to see where they’re located because there’ll be a small flotilla of tinnies with two people in each, taking turns to cast their nets. Likely areas include near the rum distillery, Strathdees Rd and near the port. The best place to get information about prawning is from the staff at one of the local tackle stores. As well as giving you tips on where and when, they can also help you select an appropriate cast net and give you instructions on how to throw it. With a La Niña weather pattern forecast, it is likely we’ll have good rainfall between now and the end of the year. The fresh water will be good for our systems. As always, I can be contacted via the Bush ’n Beach website, by email at fishnboat@big pond.com or post at PO Box 5812 Bundaberg West Queensland 4670. Until next month…

The rewards from a previous trip.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Ryan Stimson has spent a heap of time figuring out local barramundi and it’s paid off with cracking results.

Plenty on offer for Central Queensland anglers

OR all varieties of angler, Central Queensland covers most of your fishing options, goals and needs. Central Queensland runs from Gladstone in the south to Mackay in the north and covers about 500km of coastline. With many locations reachable only via sea, most areas are virtually untapped. Here’s a breakdown of what CQ has to offer in fish species and where you are most likely to find them. The iconic barramundi is likely the prime sought-after estuary species in the region. Central Queensland has a great natural population of barra, which is only getting better with the introduction of net-free zones in Rockhampton and Mackay. While barramundi can be caught throughout most of the region, Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River into Port Alma

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Gladstone Region by GARY CHURCHWARD

has become a fantastic fishery and one of the best for consistent large fish. Hard to believe, I recently read an article by John Boon who caught metre long barra as bycatch when targeting threadfin salmon. This was awesome news and – the fact that many of the best fish come from rocks in the middle of town on a consistent basis – is a great indication that the area has so much going for it. It doesn’t matter if you like trolling lures, soaking a bait, flicking at shallow timber or fishing the many deeper drop-offs and rock piles, the Fitzroy has something to suit everyone’s fishing style. The Pioneer River running through Mackay also has a fantastic barra fishery and regu-

larly produces good numbers and size. Gladstone also holds good barramundi in its rivers, creeks and into the harbour. The many creeks and headlands covering the coastline up and down the region, will all hold barra. There are a few stocked impoundments that regularly produce great fish and as a bonus you can score the odd saratoga or sooty grunter. Impoundments are a good option during the closed season – which starts November 1 – or when the weather isn’t quite right for hitting the salt. Personally, it would be hard to go past Rockhampton and the Fitzroy River system to target barra. Threadfin salmon * continued P52

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 51

Clint with a typical mid-sized creek barramundi caught on a live mullet in the Calliope River.

Plenty on offer for Central Queensland anglers * from P51

are another option in Central Queensland, and while they can be caught along the entire coast, the Fitzroy River and Port Alma region is the standout. The sheer volume of schools that move through this system is mind-blowing, and the sizes these fish reach are incredible. Gladstone does hold a few threadfin but they are typically found as single fish or small schools, however towards Mackay they become a more common capture. Black jewfish are quite common along the coastline and the further north you go, the more common they become. Typically, black jew will be found around local reefs and isolated rocky outcrops, which litter the coastline. The odd fish have been

caught in deeper sections of rivers, though usually smaller models. Gladstone Harbour can at times hold good schools of this fish, specifically around the rocky headlands that fall into deep water off the islands. Remember, black jewfish are a no-take species until next year and they do not release well when caught from deep water, so if you start pulling these fish from deeper water it’s a good idea to move elsewhere. Queenfish, trevally, mackerel and tuna can also be targeted along the coastline. To find these species, target pressure points where tidal flow is pushing bait up against structure. Many of the islands off the coast have at least one spot around them where this occurs during a tidal cycle. If they don’t, it’s still

Page 52 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

worth a crack before moving on because these locations are regularly frequented by a variety of large predators. The shipping channel and markers through Gladstone Harbour can hold decent queenfish schools at any time. These fish are one of many trophy or bucket list species readily available in the Central Queensland region.

Most of the prime locations can be accessed by your average trailer boat, depending on weather conditions. When you add species like mangrove jack, fingermark, blue salmon and grunter, along with reef and bread and butter species, it’s obvious CQ has it all. Plenty of smaller towns along the coast make good spots for spending

a few days, to hit the water and explore this wonderful region. If you don’t want to drag the boat around or spend time searching for fish, a number of extremely good charters operate along the coast. Now we’re into October, I’ll be heading to the Fitzroy River and Port Alma to chase a few barra before they’re off limits until next year.

Phil and a school-sized black jewfish taken on a Zerek Fish Trap. www.bnbfishing.com. au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 55

This grassy sweetlip gave George Baumber a good workout.

Luke Trigar with a solid coral trout from an isolated rubble bottom.

Changing it up on close-in reefs

FTER our Swain Reefs sortie, George and I decided to head to Turkey Beach for an overnight fishing trip because we hadn’t fished that region since October last year. Weather, circumstances and other com-

Offshore by BILL CORTEN

mitments kept getting in the way and unlike many other fishers, we chose not to fish the area during the COVID-19 lockdown good

weather, when social distancing and travel radius from home restrictions applied. Because the snapper and pearl perch closure

was still in effect, we decided to focus on closer reefs to try stuff we don’t normally try – and not venture out to the wider ledges we prefer. This was our effort to minimise the likelihood of catching snapper and pearlies, and as it turned out it was a good choice. As our start point, we stopped at the ‘outer wides’ and worked patches of rubbly broken bottom on the eastern side – and there were good fish in the icebox from the very first drop. A little run in the current meant it was

a struggle to keep bait close to the bottom, so I was surprised when my first drop of the day resulted in a double hookup of a good tuskfish and a very respectable coral trout. George and our friend Luke were doing well too, and eventually we were harassed by red emperor within a centimetre or so of legal size – uncharacteristically, there were stacks of this fast-growing and resilient species. With a good feed of fish in the box we headed off and steered in a northeast direction, sticking to the theme * continued P58

TURKEY BEACH

Goldband snapper are great eating at this size. Page 56 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

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Changing it up on close-in reefs * from P56

of doing what we don’t normally do. We travelled over a heap of flat barren bottom until we found the smallest rise with hints of life and growth showing on the sounder. Rather than sound around and potentially spook any fish in residence, we started a drift up-current and dropped our rigs to test the water. Straight away, George pulled up a cracking grass sweetlip of

around 6-7kg that made the old broomstick bend and the 925 Alvey load up. A few people knock the concept of an older rod and reel combination, but it worked so well for George... and because he consistently pulls so many big fish with it, why fix what isn’t broken? After a few drifts over this location for several stonker tuskfish and mixed species, we moved to find more low-profile rises

of hard bottom, with a couple yielding more nice fish. Quite a few kilometres further on – and only by watching the sounders – we ran over more patches of rubble, and one drift yielded a cracking red emperor for me and a ripping coral trout for George. These fish were hanging close to a vertical patch of bait, so we hung around for a while. George and I were having a good day and

were beginning to think Luke was intimidated in our company, but he kept chipping away and quietly contributed to the box. The one thing that helped find these small isolated pieces of bottom was the dual-frequency transducer on the Lowrance HDS. Set to a broader manual range and zoomed in several times to a small window of about 12m on the screen in 200 kHz, the 20-degree cone angle was light-

The author and George with a cracking red emperor and a ripping coral trout caught on the same drift over a rubble bottom. Page 58 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

ing up the screen every time we went over isolated rubble. Not only was the view of the seabed widened considerably, the bits of growth on top of the seabed were clearly visible. Now, I’m not knocking my Furuno 587 standalone – which performs very well in deeper water – but the 1kW narrow beam through-hull transducer has a cone that’s far too narrow to perform comparably in shallow water. If it was the standard P66 600W transommount, it would have been a different story. On one of our first trips to Turkey Beach, we managed quite a few good red emperor on the eastern side of Lamont Reef, so we headed there to try our luck. We had no success with big model reds, though we hooked stacks of larger but still undersized specimens, and a few other species for the icebox. After that, it was up to the inside of Sykes Reef to explore that area more. Redthroat emperor, tuskfish and coral cod made up the bulk of the catch, with an occasional coral trout. After an overnight at Sykes Reef and a good sleep, we were energised and couldn’t resist breaking the trip theme by heading east to a deeper ridge in search of bigger fish. George pulled a pearl perch around the 60cm range, which went back, and I scored one slight* continued P59

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The author always finds school-size threadfin salmon great fun.

Dan Baker with the results of a double hook-up offshore.

Last chance to get your barramundi fix

CTOBER is a month of mixed emotions. It’s one of the best months to chase saltwater barramundi on the Capricorn Coast, but sadly it’s the final month of the season. East coast saltwater barra closed season starts on November 1

Capricorn Coast by JOHN BOON

through to January 31. This means October is the time to grab your barra gear and head out for a crack before it’s too late. There’s a question that keeps coming up when

fishing the mighty Fitzroy River in Rockhampton: “What lures should I bring if I want to catch barramundi or threadfin salmon?” I joke with a few close friends about this very

Changing it up on close-in reefs * from P58

ly over 50cm that also had to go back. Though George’s large goldband snapper made up for the returned pearlies, we got back on track with the game plan and worked our way back to Sykes – putting in time and effort to fish parts of the reef we hadn’t fished before. I’m so glad we did because trout were hitting hard and the icebox glowed with www.bnbfishing.com. au

distinct shades of orange and red. Luke changed his gear from the previous day so that all three of us were fishing light outfits on spin reels, using the smallest amount of weight to get to where the trout were most active. Eventually, we had a good fill of excellent fish and headed home via the pieces of broken ground we’d fished the day before – to see what

they would offer. While we didn’t catch more big reds, we landed a few big grassies and tuskfish, which rounded out a great trip. For us, doing what we don’t normally do worked a treat, so the next trip will be a toss-up between travelling to the further grounds we like or sticking in close. We do like the thrill of the chase and the fun it puts into fishing.

subject all the time. We tend to hit the river with a boatload of lures, but at the end of each day there’re generally a couple of standouts – often the 95mm Zerek Fish Trap and Berkley 3” Gulp Shrimp. Fish Trap lures are a soft vibe you can work at any depth and the Gulp Shrimp can be run with a standard jig head or weedless hook and thrown straight into the thick of cover. These are two different lure options that cover many different scenarios and will catch fish. So, what’s been happening around the local area recently? There seemed to be an influx of smaller threadies around 50-60cm in the town reaches of the Fitzroy. It’s fantastic to see the little tackers attacking lures and it proves there’s been good recruitment over the past few years. The giant threadfin reports have slowed

somewhat, but barra captures have taken over with the increase in water temperature. I’m hoping we have a good wet season this year. A big flood around November is what we need, and barra numbers will go nuts if it happens. Mud crab reports have been patchy but if you put in the effort you should get the rewards. The fishos who constantly move and think about pot placement get the big rusty bucks. Try and get the freshest bait possible to increase your chances when crabbing. There have been a few chances to punch out wide and now the westerly wind is gone, we should see better consistency from the wide ground about 50-60km from the harbour. Make sure to check the weather forecast because storm season is coming, and 60km offshore is not a good * continued P60

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 59

Last chance to get your barramundi fix * from P59

place to be if the weather turns bad! Our last trip wide chasing red emperor was an absolute cracker. We covered a chunk of ground and found great

new country south of Barcoo Bank. We worked hard to secure live bait and also fresh flesh bait, and the results reflected the hard work put in. We scored a few nice

redthroat emperor, with the biggest taking a tiger squid head and going over 10kg. The rest of the icebox was made up of maori cod, tuskfish, reds, coral trout and

Tom Baker and a great red emperor caught wide of Yeppoon.

spangled emperor. We don’t usually chase spanish mackerel when we are out wide because we put all our focus into quality bottom species. Most of the offshore anglers I’ve chatted to have said they’ve been getting good results, which is encouraging for everyone. Those putting time into pelagics have also been doing well. The current lines off Perforated Island have been turning over giant trevally and top specimens of mackerel. Bigger tides around the full and new moon have been the picks. The headlands and wrecks north of Yeppoon have been another great location for local pelagic species. Fingermark have been the main target, with

black jewfish as a regular by-catch. Jewies go back in but fingermark aren’t so lucky. Soft vibes worked close to the bottom have been doing the damage. This month will see the Fitzroy River Barra Bash go ahead. We’re so glad to have at least one saltwater barra competition this year. I have heard a sneaky rumour there are a few spots left, so if you’re quick you might get a shot. It starts on October 7, so get on it if you’re keen. That’s it for me this month – now it’s time to get my barra prefish on, which I’ve been waiting all year for. Stay safe and be sure to make the effort to get the family outdoors.

With increased water temperature, barramundi and threadfin salmon become more active, and the Humminbird Helix will leave no doubt what you’re casting at. Page 60 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 www.bnbfishing.com. au

A solid mangrove jack taken from a tight creek Hinchinbrook Channel.

Hinchinbrook in a tinnie – part two

HIS month we’ll be continuing with part two of our Hinchinbrook tinnie trip. The morning after our epic mangrove jack session, we took dad out to the end of Lucinda Bulk Sugar Terminal. Almost everything lives around the terminal, so you never know what’s going to eat your lure next. I landed a small coral trout on a Zerek Fish Trap Soft Vibe lure on the first drop. Plenty of trevally and queenfish were showing on the sounder, but they were sitting mid-water and not keen to eat. I eventually hooked one but got towed into the pylons very quickly. www.bnbfishing.com. au

Fishing Trip by KEITH STRATFORD

Other than that, it was quiet, and we didn’t see anyone else catch a fish around the terminal for the rest of the morning. A 5-10 knot breeze kicked in from the southwest, which was enough to put a ripple on the surface but by the time we dropped dad off, it started to glass out in the channel. Chris and I went back up the channel to look for fingermark, though the tide barely moved in our preferred area. So, we decided to have a look in the Seymour River because we hadn’t been there before.

The Seymour was different to the other creeks that run into the channel in that there’s a lot of white sand and it’s very shallow in places,

particularly where the channel crosses from one side to the other. The water was cleaner than the other creeks we’d been fishing and there were plenty of snags to fish. After fishing a few, we ended up pulling a stack of big pikey

bream out of every one. This was a bit of fun, while we killed time before heading back to the mangrove jack spot we’d fished the day before. We managed to get into the creek an hour earlier than the previ* continued P62

Collapsed banks held plenty of mangrove jack. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 61

Hinchinbrook in a tinnie * from P61

Chris caught this sand bass jigging the deep water for fingermark.

Estuary cod are abundant around any rocks in the Hinchinbrook Channel.

ous day and the water was so much lower. We saw a crocodile on a mud bank on the way in, which is always a bonus. After floating over a couple of shallow sections, we finally got the same snag we’d caught jack from the previous day. The water was nearly a metre lower, with about two feet of water over the snag, so we waited for the tide to rise a little. The first baits in the water saw a couple of solid pikey bream come aboard. I don’t mind catching them at the start of a session because they chew pilchards up and create a berley trail. The trail is what attracts fish from other

Two full-time local guides!

snags to come and join the feed. It wasn’t long before estuary cod and jack got in on the action and we scored several nice models of each species. The wind was really getting up by this stage, and we still had to get back across the channel to Lucinda in my father’s little tinnie. It wasn’t the most enjoyable trip back, but we got there eventually. Sunday morning was our last morning at Lucinda. We took dad up to look for fingermark, but once again the tide was slow. So, we stuck it out for a while and finally the tide picked up and fish began to bite. We missed a couple of fish and then I scored a fingermark around

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40cm on a 3” Berkley Gulp Shrimp. Unfortunately, we had to get dad back to the Lucinda Fishing Lodge to check out. Chris and I stayed out for a while and decided to have a deep troll along the sugar jetty. We had a perfect troll run, with Chris on the inside using an Atomic Hardz Shiner 85 Double Deep hard-body and me on the outside running a Killalure River Rat lure. The sounder was showing plenty of fish and my lure was eventually crunched by an angry fish, and while we managed to tow it out of trouble, the hooks pulled. With time running out, we had a cast with heavy plastics where the fish were showing. Chris hooked a good barra that ran him straight towards the pylons, and the hook fell out… again. It wasn’t our day, so we packed up and headed home. Over the few days at Hinchinbrook, we had an absolute ball and landed plenty of nice fish. It was a bit difficult without an electric motor in the tighter creeks, but with an open mind it’s possible to catch heaps of fish up the Hinchinbrook Channel in a tinnie, and I can’t wait to get back there.

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The view from the author’s campsite at Janie Creek.

Dave Kowitz with a personal best 62cm blackspot tuskfish.

Awesome annual trip to west Cape York

Y annual trip north with my friend Dave is over, but it was a cracker. We weren’t sure if we’d get to Weipa to begin with because people on the northern forums said it was closed for the rest of the year due to COVID-19. A good friend, who was heading north to camp at the same spot (and has a relative at Queensland Health), told us Weipa would be open in time for our trip, so with that in mind I prepped my gear ready to go, just in case. I did all the usual maintenance – checked the four-wheel-drive and boat trailer wheels, the bearings, and changed the oil and filters on the motors and gearboxes. That done and gear packed, we planned to head off on Wednesday July 15, after my last two shifts on Monday and Tuesday. The day came and www.bnbfishing.com. au

Cape York Trip by CRAIG TOMKINSON

Dave turned up. We loaded his gear and hit the road. We decided if we were stopped going north and weren’t able to get to Weipa, we’d come back and stay at Stanage Bay. A couple of days later, we pulled in at Barramundi Gardens at Julatten – a barra farm owned by Snow, Linda, Tim and Gayle – and stayed the night. We left early and as we drove past the quarantine station north of Coen, Dave and I highfived because we were in the northern zone and our trip had officially started! We arrived in Weipa around 2pm the same day and shortly after headed to Mapoon. We met our friends Arthur and Sandy at Cullen Point, where we stayed the night.

The next day, we aired down and drove to Janie Creek where we found a cracking campsite. Two other sites were being used but as they both left within two days, we had the place to ourselves for a good stretch. It was unreal and we were glad we made the trip north. Fishing this trip was as good as I’ve experienced, with big grass sweetlip and blackspot tuskfish everywhere we fished, and plenty of trout and fingermark as well. About a week later, Rodger and his family arrived and set up camp. Deon and Lane showed up and established their site shortly after, and then Deon’s friend Spud and his wife came and chose a spot near him.

Over a week of fishing, we got to know Deon and Spud. Rodger, Deon and I hatched a plan to do a 100km run up the ‘hard to access by 4x4’ west coast of the Cape to Vrilya Point in our boats – Deon’s 4.55m TABS Territory and my 5m Quintrex. Sure, this trip’s a nonevent for locals but it was a trip I had wanted to do for over 20 years. We planned to take our swags and stay overnight on a random sandy beach.

Dave sat this sortie out. Rodger and I went in my boat, and Deon and Spud in the TABS, with extra fuel, ice and tucker. It took a few hours to get south of Vrilya Point – where I just started looking for new ground – and the country was so flat, I knew if I found any little lump it would be loaded with fish life. Rodger put out a lure and caught a few justlegal school mackerel, * continued P64

These 40-56cm blackspot tuskfish were all caught in about half an hour. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 63

Awesome annual trip to west Cape York * from P63

though after a couple of hours of looking I found nothing along the contours, so we headed 12km north where my dad and I had caught good red emperor back in 1987. We got nothing there either, so we decided to look for a feed of blacklip oysters on the red rocks. We called Deon on the VHF radio and suggested they come over for a feed too. A little later, Deon said he and Spud would go and start cooking, so Rodger and I fished our way back to the mouth of the Cotterell River. Here we found Deon baking a whole 55cm tuskfish on coals with potatoes and onions in foil. Next day, we were back in the boats and spotted feeding tuna, so we decided to try and catch one for bait. After seeing them, I told Rodger that my dad and I used to find reef by finding tuna, which were

usually chasing bait off a reef. Rodger flicked out and was on to a mack tuna. Under the tuna we found a great little bommie about 1.5m high and covered in fish life. Once the tuna was landed, we anchored up and were on big grass sweetlip and marginally under legal-size nannygai and red emperor. Every good fish Rodger hooked was taken by a shark, however I pulled big tuskfish past them on my 80lb handline! For about an hour I must have let go dozens of big sweetlip and tuskfish, but any red fish was either slightly under legal size or taken by a shark. Fishing our way back down the coast to camp, we arrived at around 4pm with fish to clean. A week later we packed up and headed for home. Until next time, be safe on the water.

by MELISSA FROHLOFF

Spicy tuna pasta bake Ingredients • 300g dried penne • 2 tbsp butter • 2 cloves garlic, crushed • 1 brown onion, finely chopped • 1 tbsp dried mixed herbs • 2 tbsp chilli flakes • 700g tomato passata • 2 tsp raw sugar • 1 1/2 tsp salt • 1 cup pitted, sliced black olives

Page 64 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

Method 1. Cook pasta until almost tender, slightly undercook. Drain well. 2. Preheat oven to 180C. 3. Heat butter in frypan over high heat. Cook garlic and onion, stirring until golden. 4. Reduce heat. Add passata, herbs, sugar, chilli and salt, bring to simmer, add olives and tuna. Toss to combine.

• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, grated

5. Transfer mixture to a baking dish. Sprinkle with cheeses and bake for 25 minutes or until cheese is golden.

• 1/2 cup tasted cheese, grated

6. Sprinkle with parsley to serve.

• 425g tuna in spring water, drained, flaked

Jamie Kowitz and Damo stayed a week and landed plenty of great fish.

• Finely chopped fresh parsley to serve

fresh

Prep time: 15 min | Cooking time: 25 mins | Serves 4 www.bnbfishing.com. au

Fishing therapy

Tom snared a healthy red devil – in the best mangrove jack fishing session the author had seen in that area for ages.

OM and I were motoring up a small side creek on the electric against a slow run-out tide. The waterway was barely a cast wide but had already produced a few feisty barramundi and a couple of bumps from big blue-lipped pikey bream. Overhead, the tops of the mangrove forest were buffeted by typical dry season trade wind but only an occasional gust deflected our lures as they sailed towards the root-lined banks. Tom’s Aldi-bought offering landed beside a brushy looking fallen

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Tips for the Tip by DAVE DONALD

mangrove tree and was smashed immediately after it moved. A 50cm lates calcarifer hit the air seconds later as I readied my Leads Hijacker for a cast to the same spot. My young companion was experienced enough to handle his own fish – and would probably out-fish me if given leeway! Suddenly, Tom yelled that a big cod was chasing his barra, but my lure was already inbound.

As Tom lifted the barra aboard, my Hijacker lure was snatched by a mangrove jack, which disappeared in a huge crimson boil and had angled the braid into snag before I could lift the rod to come up tight. I could feel the line rubbing on timber as I tried to wrestle the jack into open water and was succeeding when again the voracious big blackspotted cod decided to join the party. * continued P66

The author’s mixed catch and his ruined Leads Hijacker lure. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 65

Fishing therapy – a positive outcome for anglers * from P65

The greedy bugger grabbed the jack by the head, then powered back towards the snag leaving a hole the size of a kid’s swimming pool, but I managed to halt the run because the cod had snavelled a treble and my adversaries were now fighting each other instead of their potential captor. I yelled at Tom to take a video of the mayhem, but he decided to grab the net instead and somehow scooped the

duo into its folds. The mangrove jack had been savaged around the head and measured 47cm, so it was quickly brainspiked, bled and iced for the kitchen. Ol’ mate Mr Greedy monster had chewed the rear hook out of the lure body but was sent back to ravage another day. In the interim, while the cod was detained in the boat, Tom had cast back in the same spot and removed another smaller red devil from

its snaggy home. That one went back too, and I managed to pull another barra from the upstream side of the snag on a replacement lure, just to put icing on the salty cake. Encounters like that make mangrove lure casting one of my favourite fishing activities, with the results exciting and unpredictable. Losing is almost as much fun as winning – and an expected part of the deal! We managed around

This cod was obviously hungry. After taking a swipe at Tom’s barramundi, it decided to grab the author’s mangrove jack and snagged itself on a treble in the process. Double headers like this don’t come often – or in such spectacular fashion!

30 barramundi for the morning, a fairly typical total for spring, if you work the right tide and area. Though the majority were undersized, there were a couple of males that appeared to be showing signs of maturity ahead of the coming breeding season. This could be confirmation that a La Niña event is not too far over the horizon, an option that will certainly be welcomed after a number of lean wet seasons on the Cape. Getting a fishing fix has been a vitally important ‘chore’ during the COVID crisis. If ever the powers that be needed evidence of the contribution recreational fishing makes to the ongoing mental health of the community, its value has been clearly demonstrated during the lockdowns that have limited many other social activities. When camping and out of town trips were prohibited at the peak

New lure, new mangrove jack! Note the tight mangrove creek where most of the action happened. Page 66 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

of the restrictions, the boat ramps at Weipa were overflowing with trailers every weekend, as residents escaped to the water in search of a feed for the family. There is little doubt that the ability to carry out this normal activity in the midst of virus chaos helped many people cope with the massive change forced on them. To boot, recreational fishing and boating have also been major contributors to our much-depleted economy, with tackle and boating shops reporting increased turnover contrary to national trends. A great positive story in a seemingly endless stream of negatives. But back to the fishing… A warmer than usual winter has kept water temperature in a range that suits barramundi activity, so there have been plenty of small fish around creeks and rivers with an occasional horse making an appearance. Cod, mangrove jack, fingermark, grunter and small queenfish have been on the chew on the bigger tide. However, numbers of blue and king threadfin salmon seem to be well down this year, which may change for the better once hotter weather arrives. This year, with the lack of visitors – in the charter industry and drive-in fishers – fishing seems to be noticeably better for both estuarine and offshore. Tuna, mackerel, treval-

* continued P67

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Thoughts on the upcoming Queensland election

OVID-19 has changed our world, so its vitally important that, as recreational fishers, we seriously consider where to place our votes later this month. All states are now recognising the economic and social benefits of encouraging a vibrant recreational fishery, but Queensland continues to fall further and further behind as both major parties continue to treat us as an afterthought. The rollout of commercial regulations – contained in the Sustainable Fisheries Reforms – that was ‘promised’ last December, has still not

Comment by DAVE DONALD

happened. This is a slap in the face for Queenslandbased recreational fishers because our new restrictions were on time and effective in August 2019. A perfect reason for more than 900,000 adherents to put the party concerned as last preference on ballot papers in protest. But is the alternative any better? The other main party has repeatedly sided with commercial fishers, opposing the establishment of the three highly successful net-free fish-

ing zones, then threatening to hand those areas back to netters if they get re-elected. Having been approached on many occasions, senior members continue to be openly antagonistic towards our representatives. So, where does that leave those of us who want to make our votes count towards policies that better support Queensland’s $4 billion recreational fishing, boating and tourism sectors? There is one party that has shown interest in pursuing a more

balanced view of our state’s fisheries management. While this small right-wing party will be standing candidates predominantly in western and northern-based seats, they have the potential to become a major force in the parliament, particularly in the event it becomes ‘hung’. All three sitting members are recreational fishers, so they understand many of the issues with current unresponsive and archaic political policies. An increased parliamentary ‘block’ of these members would appear to offer the best overall outcome for outback and north-

ern communities – including recreational fishers. Our advocates have tried repeatedly to talk sense with both majors, only to be repeatedly let down and patronised. It’s time to register our protest and give somebody who appears to be interested in a better outcome a go. I’ve mentioned before how far Queensland lags behind other states in recreational fishing terms. We will only keep going backwards if we vote as we always have and the status quo is maintained. Fishers, make your vote count this election!

Fishing therapy – a positive outcome for anglers * from P66

ly and queenfish appear to be a little more prevalent, while fingermark, cod, coral trout and tuskfish are being taken regularly around the bauxite reefs. A few days of fishing with my daughter Mel and her husband Ben – who had planned trips to New Zealand then Melbourne before being locked down – proved to be a fairly hectic affair. On our first day we found a patch of 6-8kg grey mackerel that were feeding on bait schools wide of Red Cliffs. As usual, trolled Halco Scorpion 90mm divers did the trick, with fish largely unresponsive to other models. Thankfully, the sharks

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left us alone long enough that we were able to put a few mackerel in the icebox – for a couple of feeds at home plus half a dozen frozen packs for my visitors to take with them. The following day, we topped the visit off with a few nice upriver barra. The local game fishing club experienced several memorable days on sailfish when weather allowed, with boats landing and releasing more than 10 fish in a session. Estimated at over 250kg, one large black marlin was tagged during a marathon session by a member fishing a trolled lure – a fantastic effort. The Weipa Billfish

Tournament is still scheduled for the first weekend in October, so checking what COVID restrictions apply may be a good idea. Due to an inability to travel to other parts of Australia or overseas,

quite a few Queenslanders have taken the opportunity to visit the Cape at short notice, and we’ve seen a steady flow of drive-in visitors, with many towing a boat. Though summer can

get very hot and humid, the fishing more than makes up for the uncomfortable conditions. So, if you have the chance, it’s definitely a good time to head to the pointy part of Australia.

Mel and Ben landed this double header of grey mackerel on a beautiful morning wide of the Gulf coast. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 67

A monster Cape York mud crab picked up by the author in mangroves.

Sandy Kirk with a solid fingermark.

Freediving is a great way to see the reef and get a feed of crayfish.

Clayton with a couple of large-mouth nannygai captured on new ground. Page 68 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

Hot action on Cape York

CTOBER is an exciting time to explore Cape

York. Fishing will fire up as water temperature continues to warm. Better weather windows will also present with the build-up to the wet season. This allows avid boaties to travel further and access exceptional fishing. Spanish mackerel will certainly be one target species to increase in numbers over the coming months. Trolling Rapala XRap Magnum 30s is an effective way to target these speedsters. As well as beautiful eating, they make a gun bait for red emperor, fingermark, coral trout and large-mouth nannygai, which are a few of my favourite species to target on the bottom. Each trip I aim to find new ground and I will always have a game plan in mind prior to leaving the boat ramp. Navionics is useful for identifying contour

Cape York & Torres Strait by MATT POTTER

lines or prominent high spots to drag a few lures around for mackerel. The bonus is these same areas generally hold good country for my favourites and I’ve located productive ground while dragging a couple of X-Raps. If the water is clear I’d much rather be in it spearfishing, which can be exciting when putting together a feed from the local and more remote reefs. Common targets include crayfish, blackspot tuskfish, mangrove jack, coral trout and spanish mackerel. You learn a lot about fish behaviour by observing them underwater. This translates back to understanding fish behaviours when targeting them with rod and reel. Just as slow movements and stealth are required when spear-

ing, the same apply if fishing shallow reefs because noise travels quickly underwater, and an anchor dropping or sound system blaring is enough to send fish scattering. Natural lure and bait presentation are also important. I’ve seen coral trout staring at an unnatural looking bait on the bottom, which has been dropped from the boat by one of the crew. Chasing barramundi At the time of writing, I was gearing up for an annual week-long trip to chase a few tropical species in a remote part of Cape York, namely barramundi. My dad, father-in-law and nephew will once again be joining me as crew for this sortie. It is rewarding to share epic fishing experiences in a magic part of the world with * continued P69

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The author with a 91cm barramundi caught earlier in the year.

The author and his nephew Axel with a couple of nice Cape York barramundi from last year’s annual trip.

along deep banks, casting hard-bodies around rock bars, feeder creeks and drains, jigging soft plastics and vibes around deeper snags and holes, and live baiting all of the above when fishing seemed a little slow have proven effective methods for bagging nice barra around the Cape over the years. Each year fishes a little different to the previous, and the two biggest factors to impact barra fishing in these parts are tidal run and

Elliot Falls, Twin Falls and Fruitbat Falls – three reasons to put Cape York on your bucket list for 2021.

Hot action on Cape York * from P68

close family. Prior to the barramundi closed season, fishing will fire up as barra become more active in warm water. Last year we managed several great sessions catching and releasing barramundi on an assortment of lures. We use a range of techniques to target these fish. Location and what stage the tide is at will dictate the techniques I use. Trolling hard-bodies

Twin Falls.

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water temperature. The river can fish well during the outgoing tide because fish are forced out of the mangroves and into deeper holes. The opposite can be said for rocky headlands and beaches, which I find fish better with an incoming tide. We’ve had some great barra sessions along the beach, which is an area often overlooked by travelling anglers. The timing for this type of fishing is important. * continued P70

Fruitbat Falls.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 69

Hot action on Cape York * from P69

You want to be fishing just as the flats are starting to flood and baitfish – such as mullet – are pushing up to feed. Barramundi, salmon, queenfish and trevally won’t be far behind. Stealth is needed, and a good pair of polarised sunnies can help you see nervous baitfish in the shallows. Once the flats are flooded and the water is too high, fish disperse and are much harder to spot. I’ve spent my fair share on lures over the years and the well-known models of Classic Barra, Gold Bomber, Reidy’s B52s, Halco Scorpions, Rapala X-Rap 15s, Z-Man SwimmerZ, Squidgies range and similar all do the job. I find that fishing the right lure for the depth is more crucial than brand. There’s no point

flicking a Gold Bomber at snags when fish are sitting 4-5m deep, which can be the case in the upper reaches. Barra can be lazy and it’s important the lure is in the strike zone. The water is relatively clear in the areas we fish, so natural colours work best. While your 2020 travel plans to explore Cape York may have been postponed until next year, when you do make the trek north, it is well worth including a couple of days out on a local fishing charter, if you’re not bringing your own boat. Not only can you partake in amazing fishing, you will also experience the wild and pristine Cape York. Check out some of my remote fishing adventures on my Fishing Missions Youtube Channel and Facebook page. Tight lines.

Luke Vearing with a nice spanish mackerel landed on a Rapala X-Rap Magnum 30. Page 70 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

C AMPING & outdoors

The architecture at Paronella Park was beautiful.

Mena Creek was the source of Jose’s hydroelectricity.

Paronella Park is a spectacular sight at night. www.bnbfishing.com. au

C AMPING & outdoors

A blend of tropical garden and landscape construction.

Paronella Park a particular favourite

E’VE been t r avel l i ng and exploring northwest Queensland and having an absolute ball. A few days of around 38C had us searching for a cool retreat and a waterhole to wash off the dust. I can honestly say our new On the Move Vortex Black Edition caravan has kicked butt throughout this trip, and with so much to see in this beautiful state of Queensland, free camping off-grid is a wonderful way to travel. We have, however, occasionally used a few touristy caravan parks associated with a main www.bnbfishing.com. au

Outdoors by PAUL ‘CHIEF’ GRAVESON

attraction and place of interest. A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of calling into Paronella Park at Mena Creek. This was one of my favourite places to visit because it had it all – hardship, sadness and determination to make something out of nothing. The short version of the story tells of an immigrant from Spain who came to Australia to make his fortune. He left behind a sweetheart and told her he would return, but after eleven years passed

without a letter, she understandably married someone else. He returned eventually to find his love had married, so he married her younger sister. He brought her back to Queensland and began to build his dream of a Spanish castle in the north Queensland rainforest. What Jose Paronella achieved is unbelievable, especially his use of a natural creek and waterfall to create hydroelectricity. It was 1933, and he had supplied enough

electricity to run what could be considered Queensland’s first theme park. The rest of the region wouldn’t have electricity until 1966. During World War II, American troops based in Queensland queued to use their rest and recreation time in this beautiful tropical location. Today the beautiful ruins, waterfall and gardens are owned by Mark and Judy Evans, and they provide the same enthusiasm once generated by Jose and his family. It is a unique place to visit and one of Queensland’s true gems – a must on any traveller’s bucket list.

You must stay overnight and do an evening tour of the ruins. Partake in the wonderful experience of viewing the tropical landscape and structures caressed in a light show to the soundtrack supplied by a local classical quartet. To sum it up, it is a masterpiece and equal to any of the glorious natural locations available throughout Queensland – I’ll let our pictures do the talking. I’m writing this while sitting on the banks of the Dawson River in Baralaba and enjoying this unbelievable country, with a campfire lighting up the evening sky!

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 71

C ARAVANNING & adventure

Steep Point is mainland Australia’s most western point.

Stunning Shark Bay and Steep Point WA

T The view from Zuytdorp Cliffs and the treacherous Indian Ocean.

Page 72 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

HIS month we would like to tell you about Shark Bay and the most western point of the Australian mainland, Steep Point. On the way to Shark Bay, a couple of amazing natural wonders are worth a look. The first is the stromatolites at Hamelin Pool, which is one of only two places in the world where living marine fossils can be seen at low tide. The flies were horrendous, so I recommend you have fly nets on hand when travelling anywhere along the west coast – they are out of control in places

Caravanning by TODD & RAYLENE EVELEIGH

and will drive you nuts. At any given time, there could be a fly in each nostril, each ear and in both eyes. They can make your visit unbearable and unenjoyable, so for $5 purchase a fly net – it is well worth the money and will allow you to hang on to your sanity. Further along from Hamelin Pool was another amazing natural formation called Shell Beach. The whole beach is made up completely of tiny shells from one type of animal – the

fragum cockle, with deposits 10m deep in places. Nice camps were available on the way to Denham, though you have to get a permit from the Denham Tourist Information Centre, and these were $15 per night. Several of the camps were on the waterfront, and we witnessed fantastic over-water sunsets while enjoying a cold one. Shark Bay in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia takes up

* continued P73

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C ARAVANNING & adventure

Stunning Shark Bay and Steep Point WA * from P72

23,000sq km and is a World Heritage site. With numerous beaches and headlands to explore, amazing fishing is also on offer, particularly for snapper, which West Australians call pink snapper. Keep in mind this area has arguably Australia’s strictest fishing regulations, so you do need to check the Western Australia’s fisheries website for licencing, closures, size and bag limits. We camped for a few days at Tamala Station, which gives access to the special countryside in Shark Bay itself. The campsites were quite large, but you had to be totally selfsufficient and take in water, food and a portable toilet. It is very rugged, with many rocky outcrops and sand drifts making up much of the terrain. Goats and different sea birds nestled on top of the rocky outcrops were highlights of the wildlife scene. The goats were amusing, as they had their own little caves they would hide in during the heat of the day, but when it started to cool off in the afternoon, they piled out one-byone to forage. It was similar to watching ants leave the nest. The goats would even

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stand in the water and then walk under rocky overhangs to get shade and shelter from the hot sun. They were very amusing. We used Tamala Station as a base for day trips out to Steep Point. The drive to Steep Point was along a series of corrugated dirt roads, with small sections of bitumen until Edel Land, where areas of sand dunes with steep inclines and descents wait to be conquered. Once the dunes have been mastered, you’ll find yourself out on a beautiful beach with amazing crystal-clear water and a perfect view of Dirk Hartog Island. It was a truly wonderful place and felt like one of the more remote locations we’d been to. Follow the beach until you find a few breathtaking beach spots and campgrounds. The sand is replaced by solid rock and shaly tracks to the carpark, nestled high on a cliff overlooking the deep blue ocean, with signs marking the most western point of the Australian continent – look north to see Dirk Hartog Island. After snapping a couple of photos, we followed a track south through Edel Land where signs told of

the shipwreck history along the rugged coastline, and with amazing blowholes and spectacular lookouts. The road eventually linked back to the main road we come in on – the scenic loop was worth doing to see Steep Point and the sur-

rounding areas. We chose to leave our caravan at Tamala Station because we were travelling on our own and were cautious about all the sand drifts and dunes. Saying that, many people were in convoy towing boats and

smaller trailers to the amazing campgrounds of Steep Point and Edel Land. If you had a travel buddy to help tow and possibly drag you through the soft sand, it would be possible to drive out there.

* continued P74

Goats around Tamala Station were a constant source of amusement.

Hamelin Pool is one of only two places in the world where you can see living stromatolites. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 73

C ARAVANNING & adventure

Stunning Shark Bay and Steep Point WA * from P73

Steep Point is one of the best land-based fishing destinations in Australia, where fishers can balloon live baits out as well as spin off the rocks for incredible spanish mackerel, cobia, small marlin and snapper. While we were there, we saw large schools of pelagic fish feeding offshore and several huge fish frames from previous catches of big spanish and cobia ly-

ing around. It would be very easy to launch a boat off the calm beaches sheltered inside the bay and run out through the heads to fish offshore or go exploring the huge waterways of Shark Bay. A barge will ferry your vehicles and camper trailers over to Dirk Hartog Island, which would be another amazing place to explore. After doing our reconnaissance of Steep

Point, we will definitely try to get back there – to spend more time at Steep Point itself and perhaps incorporate a week on Dirk Hartog Island. A definite for my ‘must do’ list, and with a truly spectacular camping area on the beach with beautiful clear water. It was one of those places that will stick in your mind and had the feel of a remote slice of paradise all to yourself.

I would recommend doing this trip with two vehicles because the sand was quite soft, and

if you’re towing you’ll require assistance at times to access this piece of paradise.

Tiny shells from Shell Beach.

Understanding how lithium batteries work

AST month I mentioned lithium batteries and wanted to share what we found, hoping it may help others understand, and save time and stress. I can honestly say our new On the Move Vortex Black Edition caravan has kicked butt throughout this trip, but earlier we did have concerns about the capacity of the battery system and our ability to stay offgrid for a reasonable

amount of time. We seemed to be using a lot of battery just to stay comfortable, especially if we had the van parked in semi-shaded areas. We run three 150W solar panels to recharge two 100Ah lithium batteries. We did have an occasion where our whole system crashed in the early hours and we were left without power. The sun the next morning didn’t seem

The author’s brilliant 100Ah lithium batteries. Page 74 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

to be charging the batteries to their maximum potential. To say we were concerned would have been an understatement, so I contacted Lennie Mifsud who, with wife Jennifer, own On the Move Caravans. Lennie is a qualified auto electrician and relishes in the latest technologies available to the caravan industry. My dealings with Lennie have led me to know this guy as a straight shooter and I trust any of his recommendations. He carefully explained to me that when a new mobile phone is purchased, the battery always seems to die quickly. This is because it

actually takes a few cycles of recharging for the phone to reach its full holding-charge potential. Lithium batteries in caravans are exactly the same and require a number of crash cycles to offer full working capacity. They can also crash into a dormant state and need to be jumpstarted back to life. We followed Lennie’s advice to jump start our deep cycles by charging them with the truck and then, at the same time, on a secondary charge with our Honda generator. The crashed batteries sprang to life and from that time on our system has provided us with the most efficient energy source

we could ask for. The batteries crashing benefitted us and allowed us to discover their true potential. I’ve spoken to a few people who’d experienced the same charging problems and were left wondering what the hell they had paid all that money for. They had taken their vans to auto electricians who told them their batteries were rubbish and to look for alternatives. Like I said… I’m sharing our experience, what we were told and how to achieve maximum potential. Right or wrong, I really couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. Paul Graveson

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Barra numbers explode at Kinchant Dam

VER the past three years 197 fish-attracting structures have been installed in Kinchant Dam in a joint venture between council and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Recent electrofishing surveys revealed a staggering three-fold increase in barramundi numbers at the 36 sites where structures have been installed in the dam. Mayor Greg Williamson said this was a tremendous result for local anglers and the tourism industry. “The goals of the project were to increase structural fish habitat diversity, improve angler experiences and catch rates, and reduce the number of anglers fishing along the dam infrastructure in closed zones,” he said. “The fact we’ve been able to increase the number of barramundi found in fish-attracting sites by three times the amount found in open water is testament to the success of this project.

“Mackay is known for its fishing, and these structures will allow anglers to have a more enjoyable fishing experience at Kinchant Dam by allowing them to fish in more locations while avoiding snags. “We believe this will be a great tourism asset to our region, as there are significant economic benefits associated with fishingbased tourism. “The annual economic value of the Kinchant Dam fishery is currently estimated at $1.1 million per annum and with projects like this we hope to see that number increase into the future.” Mayor Williamson said community participation was vital to the success of this project. “Without the help of volunteers who generously donated their time to construct the fish-attracting structures at a number of community workshops, this project would not have been economically viable. “The structures in-

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ David Nixon and Jenny Shiau with barramundi captured during electrofishing surveys at Kinchant Dam. Photo: Andrew Norris. www.bnbfishing.com. au

clude 88 synthetic trees, 39 pipe bundles, 30 synthetic hedges, 23 Georgia cubes, 12 Kinchant cribs and three suspended fishattracting structures. “All the structures have been designed with durability in mind, to ensure they have no detrimental impact on the aquatic environment, and they are relatively snag-free meaning anglers can fish right in the habitat with less risk of losing fishing gear,” he said. Council and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries would also like to thank Mackay Area Fish Stocking Association, Walkerston Rotary and St Patrick’s Senior College for their contributions to this project.

Freshwater Fishing booklet on the Hooked On Mackay website mackayre gion.com/ hooked-on-mackay

To view the GPS coordinates of the Kinchant Dam fishattracting structures, download the Mackay

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DAM LEVELS CURRENT AS OF 14/9/2020

DAMS

PERCENTAGE

MAY JUN AUG SEP OCT Atkinson 5 5 5 13 5 Awoonga 66 66 65 64 63 Bjelke-Petersen * 20 18 17 16 14 Boondooma * 36 35 34 34 32 Borumba * 97 96 93 92 82 Burdekin Falls * 94 95 92 90 84 Callide * 30 30 28 27 25 Cania * 52 50 58 50 49 Coolmunda * 29 29 28 29 32 Dyer/Bill Gunn * 3 3 3 3 3 Eungella * 88 88 87 87 86 Fairbairn * 14 13 12 11 10 Glenlyon * 5 13 14 14 15 Hinze* 96 95 93 93 91 Julius 92 91 88 87 85 Kinchant * 85 86 85 84 80 Leslie * 13 13 13 13 13 Macdonald* 100 100 102 102 101 Maroon * 58 57 56 56 54 Monduran/Fred Haigh * 60 59 58 57 55 Moogerah * 32 30 27 26 24 North Pine/Samsonvale * 64 62 60 59 57 Peter Faust/Proserpine * 68 68 67 66 65 Somerset * 79 78 78 78 77 Teemburra * 99 99 99 99 98 Tinaroo* 73 72 71 69 65 Toonumbar 66 66 67 68 67 Wivenhoe * 50 49 48 46 45 Wuruma * 61 60 60 58 57 Wyaralong* 96 96 95 95 94 For updates on dams, visit sunwater.com.au or seqwater.com.au *This symbol indicates that a Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish these dams.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 75

Tunza with a personal best, which he attributed to his bright shorts.

Bass firing on all cylinders

S Archie Richters and his personal best 43cm forklength bass, caught on his favourite Hot Bite Jets in Maggot colour. He cast and retrieved the lure by himself.

PRING is well and truly here and bass are finally waking up. They seem to be a month behind compared to previous years, in both location and size. The season started off quite well, with plenty of great catches – big yellowbelly and bass were prominent. I’ve had great success

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Somerset Dam by ROBBIE RAYNER

in timbered sections on the edges of the dam with Jackall TN60 lures and skirted punch rigs with a craw plastic. I’ll cover these techniques in another issue. Trolling has been super effective this month, with bass sitting at depths of between 6-9m. The new Whiptail Lures Necromancer is currently number one and was actually made to meet our request to get to these depths. The AC Slim Invader is another great fish catcher and worth trying. The area around Kirkleagh – in front of the cabins on the eastern side of the riverbed – has been holding seriously big bass, and if

you’re able to tempt them into eating your lure, you can have a great time. Live bait has seen a few anglers rewarded, and trolling will produce for those who prefer to use lures. Casting spoons and blades was the go-to early on in the month, selecting out bigger fish – though fewer of them. Halco Twisty lures, PML Diamond back spoons and Nories Wasaby spoons have accounted for the majority of catches for lure casters. Later in the season, fish will sit at Red Rock and bass have been found sitting in 12m or deeper – we’ve had sev* continued P77

• Fishing tools • Storage • Clothing • Terminal tackle

Shop online or visit the shop at: 78 Kirkleagh Rd, Hazeldean QLD E: sales@somersetfishing.com.au W: somersetfishing.com.au Page 76 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

Ty Richardson of Kilcoy trolled this bass in a timbered section of the dam. www.bnbfishing.com. au

Going for gold n Tips for catching golden perch

B Assist hooks instead of trebles can be great for hooking tentative fish.

Young Levina has a knack for finding quality golden perch in the lakes of South East Queensland.

ACK in July we explored the options for tangling with golden perch during the slow months in winter. Now, mid-spring is prime golden perch time – presenting opportunities unequalled in other seasons. Populations of favoured food sources – shrimp and crayfish – are booming and golden will be targeting these prey now. As is common with most of our angling – if we focus on where the food is, we’ll find the fish. Shrimp feed on algae, so will be most plentiful in margins of lakes where sunlight promotes algal growth. Thick beds of hydrilla and other aquatic plants provide both food and

Fishing for Sport by NEIL SCHULTZ

shelter for shrimp and therefore are worth being sought out by anglers chasing gold. Working lures around edges of thick weed bed is a good method, with bladed spinners being a sensible lure choice. More water can be covered by trolling bibbed divers along margins of weed bed in lakes, where steeply sloping banks create a well-defined delineation. Crayfish are the favourite food of larger trophy-sized golds, which prefer a sizeable meal, especially during spring when roe is forming. Look for hard, steep-

ly sloping clay banks and those studded with stones and you will be in the right type of real estate to have a decent population of crayfish. Cover those areas with your lure of choice and the chance of success in your quest for a photo-worthy golden is high. There’s no need to try to closely imitate a crayfish or shrimp with your lure because most commonly used freshwater lure styles will catch these fish. Being semi-ambush predators, large golds will react to movement and quickly inhale prey-sized lures pre* continued P78

Bass firing on all cylinders around Somerset Dam * from P76

eral huge sessions here. Tailspinners have been working consistently in this area and we should see more caught on Jackall Deracoup lures, Impact PML Tailspinners and Hot Bite Jets – all have been proven winners, especially when cast long and given big lifts off the bottom. The Bay of Plenty has had a few catches and is great for an early morning session, though in recent weeks fish have moved. Red claw crayfish have been active, with rockmelon bait and www.bnbfishing.com. au

pots set at around 10’ depths near rock being a good bet. We are still getting reports of saratoga being caught mostly in the timbered section. Remember, this area has a speed limit of six knots, and is for your safety. We welcome the new bass tournament series this month, with Queensland Freshwater Fishing Tournaments holding their first ever round at Somerset. Parents are encouraged to enter with their children – entry for kids up to 16 is free and every child receives a

certificate, with medals for first, second and third place. Seniors have an 80 percent payback in prize money, so it’s well worth entering. The first round kicks off September 26-27. Look up Queensland Freshwater Fishing Tournaments on Facebook to enter. Also, this month, we want to remember two very significant people. Marie, the wife of Peter Gray from Somerset Tackle, who will be taking a short break. And Trevor Burgess of Happy Rock Softies – barra and bass legend and mentor to many.

Both will be sorely missed by the fishing community. Until next month, stay safe on the wa-

ter – ensure your kill switch is attached and your lifejackets are handy in case of an emergency.

Kilcoy local Nathan Mitchell with a couple of great bass taken on Halco Twisty lures in green. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 77

A mid-sized golden perch from Lake Somerset found a 65mm Boomerang in Aussie Gold colour irresistible. A red-hot colour this season.

Going for gold * from P77

This solid golden perch was taken on a deep diving Boomerang from a stony bank.

sented within range. Bladed spinners, soft plastics, wobble jigs and bibbed divers are all effective on goldens – large and small. Whether to cast or troll comes down to personal preference, as both tactics work quite well. As a general rule of thumb, trolling covers more water when fish are scattered throughout a lake, while casting comes into its own when schooling fish are found or when pinpoint

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presentations into snaggy areas are required. Neither method is more or less noble than the other, so you can use whichever tactic most suits your chosen location and presentation. I find bibbed divers between around 6580mm are most practical for golds from school-sized to trophy models. Lure colour is an often-debated subject and most anglers will develop a preference based on personal success. Bright hues have proven to be very effective, so I’ll usually have at least one lure with plenty of yellow colour in the water, particularly on western lakes. Fluorescent colours appear to be chiefly effective in dirty water, with chartreuse, green and orange all worth having in the tackle box. Just to provide the exception to the rule, lakes on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range often yield good results on purple and black lures, possibly due to the presence of dark-coloured red claw crayfish. One last thought, larger goldens are very ordinary on the plate, so we always release big models and keep smaller fish in the 35-40cm range for the table, because they are far less fatty.

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Thirty years: the last hurrah

ACK in 1987 a bloke called Warren Steptoe wrote for Modern Fishing magazine and had a section called ‘The Sunshine Connection’. In November 1987, my wife, two daughters (Debbie, Gemma and Lori) and I ventured into a major project. To build a caravan park at Glenlyon Dam. It was given approval by the Department of Natural Resources and the Border Rivers Commission back then, who are – along with Sunwater – so helpful. Warren wrote about a chap called Tom Burns, a keen angler and member of State Parliament who put out the Burns Report for recreational fishing in Queensland. I was lucky enough to meet Mr Burns, who has now passed. Steptoe wrote: Only Tom Burns was game to mention fishing licences. A man with vast expe-

Glenlyon Dam by BRIAN DARE

rience in handling hot spuds. Tom didn’t pull any punches when he suggested that when the time comes to react to the imposition of licences, we are probably coming to a position where most people see freshwater licenses as inevitable. However, in agreeing to licencing, we should do so in the same manner you would hand feed a great white shark; a fair comparison when the odds of a noah biting off the hand that feeds it are stacked up against our chances of licence fees being spent on effective fishery management. So, 30 years down the track and there’s no fishing licence or permit for all waters in

Queensland, and we are still dragging the old ball and chain. With a complete lack of willingness to bite the bullet, we don’t have an all waters licence at a cost of 10 cents a day – it’s a joke. It makes Queensland recreational anglers look foolish if we don’t push for an all-water licence! Surely there’s a group in the political jungle with intestinal fortitude and good foresight to put this in place? I can see a million votes go begging all ‘for 10 cents a day’. Read the proposed draft by FFSAQ and show it to your local State Parliament member – find out if they’re listening to you, the voting recreational angler.

An 118cm Murray cod ate Gavin Morris’s Barambah Lures Bidjiwong 200 topwater lure.

Thoughts on all-water licence for Queensland

HAVE read with interest an article in your April 2020 edition of Bush ’n Beach Fishing magazine, submitted by Brian Dare titled ‘Comments on decline of freshwater fishery in QLD’. I am not in a position to understand the ‘decline’ referred to. I have a great interest in fishing as a hobby and have fished all my life, and I am now 75 years old. I don’t fish for or eat freshwater species as my personal preference is saltwater fishing, so I’ve had no connection with impoundments, however I realise Stocked Im-

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poundment Permits currently raise funds and there’s a suggestion to implement an all-water licence. A ‘reef tax’ is paid as part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority charter fishing fees to assist in funding the care and rehabilitation of the marine park. While I totally agree that security and safety of all public boat ramps and pontoons are a high priority and fish cleaning tables are always handy, one aspect of fishing licences should be carefully considered. I support the exemption of the following groups from paying

for recreational fishing licences – anglers under 18 years of age, pensioners who hold a Department of Veterans’ Affairs service pension card, pensioners who hold a Centrelink Age Pension Concession card, ex-service personnel who hold a DVA Gold Veteran card and all anglers over seventy years of age. Fishers in these categories have already paid a significant contribution over many years, and their worthiness cannot be denied. Any other readers’ opinions would be appreciated. Len Stead

Jarrod Tait from the Gold Coast caught and released this 115cm model at night.

Jeff Carter getting stuck into cod at night. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 79

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Page 80 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020

CLARK 520 SUN SEEKER - Why Buy New?! 2019 package Mercury Pro XS only 20 hrs serviced & factory warranty, Oceanic trailer, Lowrance Hook colour GPS/Sounder, Fusion stereo, Hydraulic steering, Elec. Drum anchor winch, Bimini top, Storage cover, 2 pedestal seats, Rear lounge, Bow lounge = All seating with custom green/back upholstery. LB tank, Ski pole & loads more… $44,995 tow away – Call today 07 3890 2322 – John Crawford Marine Queensland’s Used Boat Specialists since 1964 www.john crawfordmarine.com.au EVOLUTION 500 CUDDY WITH 90HP SUZUKI (2013) - with a Suzuki 90hp 4-stroke with only 190 hours. Dunbier custom trailer, with folding drawbar. Contact Brisbane Yamaha today on 07 3888 1727 or visit bris baneyamaha.com.au FORMOSA SEA-ROD 480 CC - What an optioned package! Mercury 90Hp CT 4S with factory warranty, Motorguide bow mount, Redco RS trailer, Raymarine Axiom 9RV touch, Simrad touch GPS/Sounder, Stereo, GME VHF radio, EPIRB, Hydraulic steering, 80L UF fuel tank, Bait board, 3 pedestal seats and loads more! NOW reduced to $46,995. Call today 07 3890 2322 – John Crawford Marine Queensland’s Used Boat Specialists since 1964 www.john crawfordmarine.com.au JOHN CRAWFORD MARINE have numerous genuine buyers on the books for quality brand name, late model trailer boats. If you are looking to sell, avoid the pitfalls and hassles that come with a private sale, have the team at JCM handle the sale for you. “Qld’s Used Boats Specialists since 1964” 07 3890 2322 – John Crawford Marine Queensland’s Used Boat Specialists since 1964 www.johncrawfordma rine.com.au Ph. 3890 2322 QUINTREX 500 FREEDOM SPORT (1999) - This used Quintrex 500 Freedom Sport is perfect for the family on a budget. Well powered with a reliable Yamaha 90 hp oil injected outboard. Presenting in very www.bnbfishing.com. au

Subscription prize for October! good condition for its age, with new upholstery in the bow and new rear lounge, and new carpet. The trailer was upgraded in 2017. Contact Brisbane Yamaha today on 07 3888 1727 or visit brisbaney amaha.com.au QUINTREX 530 RENEGADE SIDE CONSOLE WITH 115HP SUZUKI (2018) - This is a new Quintrex Renegade side console fitted with a used Suzuki 115hp fourstroke. We are selling this boat heavily discounted, it is old stock and has to go. The Suzuki 115 Fourstroke has been checked and approved by our workshop with good compressions, and no mechanical faults. Contact Brisbane Yamaha today on 07 3888 1727 or visit bris baneyamaha.com.au STACER 429 RAMPAGE - Evinrude ETEC 30Hp low hours, Swiftco boat trailer (2020), Trolling feature on motor, Bimini top, 2 padded bench seats, Bow & side rails, Transom handles, 2 rod holders, Safety gear. Great value @ $11,495 tow away – Call today 07 3890 2322 – John Crawford Marine Queensland’s Used Boat Specialists since 1964 www.johncraw fordmarine.com.au STACER 429 RAMPAGE - Yamaha 30Hp 2S ES + MS & serviced Sept 2020, Stacer boat trailer, Humminbird sounder, Quality foldable bimini top, 2 bench seats w. 2 padded swivel seats, Bow & side rails, Boarding platform. Sensational condition estuary package! Bargain @ $10,495 tow away – Call today 07 3890 2322 – John Crawford Marine Queensland’s Used Boat Specialists since 1964 www.john crawfordmarine.com.au WANTED - Quality, used trailer boats – make selling your boat simple and hassle free with John Crawford Marine, “Qld’s Used Boat Specialists since 1964”! Call today to see how our experienced team can help you on 07 3890 2322. www.johncrawfordmarine. com.au www.bnbfishing.com. au

Subscribe this month to go in the draw to win a massive Z-Man pack!

Valued at over

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zmanfishing.com * Valid until October 31, 2020. Picture for illustration purposes only.

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YES, please send me two free BNB stickers Send your cheque, money order or credit card details for $50 or $95 (inc. GST) to Bush ’n Beach. We’ll advise you when your subscription runs out. Return completed form to: Bush ’n Beach Fishing PO Box 162 Wynnum 4178, ph 07 3286 1833 or go online www.bnbfishing.com.au Name:.......................................................................................................................... Address:...................................................................................................................... .......................................................................... Postcode:.......................................... Date:.................................................................. Phone:............................................... Email:.......................................................................................................................... PAYMENT DETAILS

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 81

MERCURY

NO SACRIFICES NO COMPROMISES NO APOLOGIES

BETTER ECONOMY

MORE TORQUE

V6 3.4L 200HP FOURSTROKE

12-16% BETTER

FUEL ECONOMY

12-15%

LEADING COMPETITOR

20%

VERADO

TORQUE

V8 4.6L

250HP PROXS

16% BETTER

FUEL ECONOMY

LEADING COMPETITOR

TORQUE AT 3500-4500 RPM

FOURSTROKE

LEADING COMPETITOR

TORQUE

200HP

4.6L

300HP

LEADING COMPETITOR

V6 3.4L

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

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

Page 82 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 MM0725 V6_V8_BnBFishing_210x297_v3.indd 1

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

Contact or visit us for more information.

AIRLIE BEACH Whitsunday Outboard Centre 17 William Murray Dr, Cannonvale Q 4802 P: 07 4946 7286 E: woc@whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au www.whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au

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

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

BRISBANE Coorparoo Marine 57 Cavendish Rd, Coorparoo Q 4151 P: 07 3397 4141 E: info@coorparoomarine.com.au www.coorparoomarine.com.au

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

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

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

GLADSTONE Ship & Sale Gladstone Gladstone Marine Centre, Gladstone Q 4680 P: 07 4972 7111 E: sales@shipandsail.com.au www.shipandsail.com.au

ROCKHAMPTON Rifen Boats 6 Dooley St, North Rockhampton Q 4701 P: 07 4927 9150 E: rifen.boats@bigpond.com www.rifenmarine.com.au

BRISBANE NORTH Holt Marine 25 Queens Rd, Everton Hills Q 4053 P: 07 3353 1928 E: info@holtmarine.com.au www.holtmarine.com.au

GOLD COAST Nitro Marine 167 Currumburra Rd, Ashmore Q 4214 P: 07 5532 5812 E: sales@nitromarine.com.au www.nitromarine.com.au

YEPPOON Sea Breeze Marine 150 Scenic Hwy, Yeppoon Q 4703 P: 07 4933 6366 E: info@seabreezemarine.com.au www.seabreezemarine.com.au

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 – Page 83

’

DON’T MISS OUT! Order NOW to be on the water this summer!

BOATS ARE HERE!

Finance & Insurance available

UNBEATABLE UNBEATABLE

340

330

320

310

300

g/kWh

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

115HP CRUISE SPEED EFFICIENCY 115HPFUEL CRUISE SPEED FUEL EFFICIENCY MERCURY’S NEW OPTIMAX 115HP VS. CURRENT FOURSTROKE AND FOURSTROKE OPTIMAX VS. CURRENT AND FOURSTROKE

300

290

280

270

260

PREVIOUS MERCURY FOURSTROKE 1.7L

DELIVERS UP TO 14% BETTER CRUISE SPEED ECONOMY

BSFC dyno testing; data is an average of 60%-80% rated MERCURY NEWMERCURY engine speedNEW PREVIOUS based OPTIMAX MERCURY ICOMIA MERCURY OPTIMAX on standard MERCURY emissions2.1L test. 115hp 115hp 2.1L 115hp115hp FOURSTROKE 1.7L

* Mercury Finance terms and conditions apply. Photos for illustration purposes only.

Can’t make the yard? Shop online! For quality new and used boats! www.kareemarine.com.au

1776 Ipswich Motorway, Rocklea | Call 07 3875 1600 Page 84 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020 www.bnbfishing.com. au