BNB Fishing Mag | October 2023

Angler’s Almanac inside 495

$

Includes GST

October 2023 Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 34, Number 10

Sharpen your fishing skills Mahi mahi magic

Going light for flathead bites Moreton Bay bread and butter species ISSN 1832-4517

10

9 www.bnbfishing.com.au 771832 451001

Proudly produced and printed in Australia

Lake Somerset techniques Gearing up for jacks

Targeting barra Pilbara adventures

Estuary • Offshore • Freshwater • 4WD • Camping • Touring Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 1

Page 2 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 3

FLOATS LIKE A BUTTERFLY, FIERCE LIKE THE SEA

INTRODUCING THE ALL NEW DF75, THE PERFECT BLEND OF POWER AND PRACTICALITY, TAKING BOATING TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Page 4 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

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From the Bush ‘n Beach Fishing editor

D

ESPITE talking about and referring to the different fishing closures, size limits and possession limits that exist in the areas I fish, I occasionally still need to refer to the web and the Qld Fishing 2.0 app.

Due to the number of rules – and they do change periodically – it is impossible to keep abreast of them all, particularly if fishing for different species and at a variety of locations.

If I’m in front of a computer, I tend to refer to the Queensland Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries web page, daf.qld.gov.au It can be a little clunky at times due to the sheer volume of information, so you may need to look a little harder, however by using it frequently, you’ll quickly work out your way around it and find what you’re looking for.

I find it can be beneficial to check either source before heading out especially if you haven’t been on the water in recent times as it will give you a refresher.

As an example, coral reef fin fish have two five-day closures coming up in October and November, but their dates change each year.

This year, the dates are October 12-16 and November 10-14.

One of the reasons I check before heading out is because, when using a mobile phone, service is needed to check the app and the website, and this isn’t

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always available, particularly if heading a long way offshore or to a more remote fishing destination.

As you would check the weather before heading off on a fishing trip, I recommend getting in the habit of checking the regulations as well.

Closures While on closures, the Gulf of Carpentaria has a barramundi closed season from October 7 to January 31.

The second year of spanish mackerel closures is almost upon us too, with the northern closure running from October 12 for three weeks and November 10 for three weeks.

These closures change each year because they coincide with the new moon phase.

The southern closures come into effect in February 2024.

Tropical rock lobsters have a closed season between October 1 and December 31 for northern Queensland waters.

Please make sure to check the web or the QLD Fishing app 2.0 for more details on these and other closures.

Rubbish Unfortunately, more and more rubbish has been found floating in and around our beautiful – or in these instance not so beautiful – waterways.

Among the rubbish are too many bait packets, which is disappointing to see.

I know that anyone can buy a packet of bait from a service station, and while these

people may not be diehard fishos, they’re still fishing and need to respect the water.

That statement might be off target because even seasoned fishos can still buy bait in packets from their local bait and tackle shop – so this goes out to everyone – put your rubbish in a bin.

I keep a bag or a bucket with a lid handy to keep my rubbish in, which I’ll drop in a bin when back at the ramp.

Sometimes these bins can be overloaded, with rubbish spilling onto the ground.

Obviously, our local councils need to do their bit in ensuring these bins are emptied more frequently.

However, if they’ve failed to do their duty, it only compounds the issue when rubbish is jammed in – it’s more than likely going to spill on the ground – so take it home and put it in your own bin.

If you do have old bait you want to get rid of, perhaps empty that while on the water and bin what it was wrapped in.

We need to keep our waterways clean.

It would be great if more fishos put in extra effort to pick up any rubbish they see when out on the water or on beaches.

Your efforts will be commended.

Unfortunately, littering on land and water has become a huge issue, as Paul Graveson highlights in his article on page 62.

Education is key here, so make sure you show the younger generations what to do too.

My girls are super

fastidious when it comes to picking rubbish up off the ground and, on our lap around the country, they would

often make a game of seeing who could collect the most – proud dad moments.

Ben Collins

OUR COVER Angler’s Almanac inside

$

495

Includes GST

October 2023 Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 34, Number 10

Sharpen your fishing skills Mahi mahi magic

Going light for flathead bites Moreton Bay bread and butter species ISSN 1832-4517

10

9 www.bnbfishing.com.au 771832 451001

Proudly produced and printed in Australia

Lake Somerset techniques Gearing up for jacks

Targeting barra Pilbara adventures

Estuary • Offshore • Freshwater • 4WD • Camping • Touring Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 1

JAMES ‘JIMMY’ MUNRO with a solid barramundi caught during the recent Lake Monduran round of the Queensland Freshwater Fishing Tournaments. James and his son Callum finished second overall for the team event. Photo: Callum Munro

NEXT EDITION: November edition will be on sale in news­agents from October 27.

OCTOBER SUBSCRIPTION OFFER: See the subscription form on page 84 to subscribe this month and go in the draw to win one of four Saltwater Estuary tackle boxes from Tackle Club, valued at over $75 RRP each.

AUGUST PRIZE WINNERS: Congratulations to A. Ryder, Suffolk Park; D. Foreman, Jindalee; E. Horton, Oakey; K. Watson, Strathpine; M. George, Wavell Heights; N. Cumner, Manly West and G. Petrulis, Tarragindi who will each receive a $25 voucher from Suncoast Skutes and a BNB beanie, valued at $40 RRP each.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 5

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October 2023 contents Fishing is child’s play. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Sean Conlon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P8 Fishing Events Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P10 Fishing Moreton and Tangalooma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mick Clutterbuck . . . . . . . . . . . P12 Moreton Bay bread and butter species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mark Templeton . . . . . . . . . . . P14 Getting ready for red dogs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Keith Stratford . . . . . . . . . . . . . P17 Tide Times - Brisbane Bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P18 Time for a mahi mahi switch up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Andy Melville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P22 Going light for a flathead bite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Clint Ansell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P24 Various species love versatile yabbies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Gavin Dobson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P26 Straight into spring species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brett Hyde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P28

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Octopus is go-to bait for big jewies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Tye Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P30 Insights into boat insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P32 Mercury Marine launches Avator 20E and 35E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P34 Product News - AFTA 2023 Special Edition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P36 Charter Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P42 Jacks, knobbies and longies fire up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Chris Rippon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P46 Tips to sharpen fishing skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Tri Ton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P50 Tide Times – Waddy Point. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P50 Best month to target chromies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by John Boon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P52 Interim management arrangements for mulloway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P54 Angler’s Almanac. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P55 Adventures around Pilbara. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Matt Potter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P56 Road to Quilpie central Queensland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Paul ‘Chief’ Graveson . . . . . . . P59 Fantastic fingermark at Pennefather. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Craig Tomkinson . . . . . . . . . . . P61 Time for trash talking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Paul ‘Chief’ Graveson . . . . . . . P62 Driving to Cape York from Cooktown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by ‘Billabong’ Bazz Lyon . . . . . . . P63 Magical time around Hyden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Ben Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P66 Near extinct trout cod fight back. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Paul Suttor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P70 Infofish Australia Crystal Bowl x four lakes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P72 FFSAQ at Ekka 2023. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P74 FFSAQ SIPS survey results. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P74 Increasing chances to snag a bite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P75 New fish passage for Fitzroy Barrage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P75 Notes for Lake Somerset newbies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Neil Schultz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P76 Wyaralong Dam Carp and Tilapia Fishing Comp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P78

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Closed river fishing for cod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brian Dare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P80 Dam Levels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P81 Trading Post. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P82 Readers’ Forum ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������P83 Subscription Form ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������P84 Page 6 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

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

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

The Team

EDITOR: Ben Collins PRODUCTION: Tiffany Brown Lisa Jones ADVERTISING: Laura Campbell

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: Wrapaway Max. recommended retail price $4.95 (includes GST).

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

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 7

Kids can pick up nice bream on bait rods when waiting to catch fish on lures.

A young angler captured his first fish on a lure, a southern bay squire.

Fishing is child’s play

I

Chantelle caught fish on lures and on bait.

For All Your Needs and More...

Shop 4, 127 Colburn Ave

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Page 8 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

T’S been an interesting month for chasing flathead.

We’ve noticed that many of the school fish have moved and on recent days out, we’ve picked up bigger individual fish.

We still run into patches of school-sized fish from legal to about 55cm, but there are definitely less of those.

Of the single fish we’ve caught, they are in the 60-70cm plus range.

So, if there’re less school fish over the coming months, I’ll have to cover more area.

To do this, trolling hard-bodies and drifting large areas along the mangrove line or bank casting soft plastics are techniques that work best.

If you’re finding fish few and far between but their quality is good, maybe try a couple these techniques.

However, if you’re finding plenty of fish, pull up, put those casts in and pepper those fish

Southern Moreton Bay

by SEAN CONLON

all day long!

Since having the slightly bigger boat up and running over the past six months or so, there’s been an in-

crease in the number of children on the fishing charter.

Kids frequently came out on my Bonito six

* continued P9

This fisho was rapt with a decent southern bay flathead.

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Taking kids out for a fish * from P8

years ago, but with the smaller boat not so many, possibly only one with one adult.

The increase has been good – I’d forgotten what taking groups such as this fishing was like.

When I take kids fishing, I have a totally different focus than for an adult.

If there’s a child onboard and fish aren’t caught, they get bored very quickly.

And if they’re not having fun, no one is!

So, my focus is to catch a lot of fish as quickly as possible and to achieve this, we do more bait fishing than for other charters.

Then throughout the session, we mix it up with a little lure fishing – to potentially get a ‘take home’ fish and also a nice photo.

Keeping children occupied for the length of the charter increases the chances of them catching bigger fish.

Though with three or four children onboard, things can get tricky.

To keep them all keen and involved for the whole charter, I’ll teach them how to use lures, with the possibility of pulling slightly better fish.

For any parent taking kids out fishing, this is a lot easier said than done.

Positioning the boat in a way that you can have some rods out the back with bait on them and casting a few soft plastics from the front of the boat creates its own problems.

I’ve found that if you take your time and position the boat where everyone has a shot at the fish, it can be achieved.

Something to note is when the children first get onboard – they all want to use bait.

Yet once we get a few soft plastics going and they start catching fish on them, suddenly they all want to use a lure.

Once the young anglers get the technique right and hook a fish, it’s great.

The actual technique of working the lure keeps them occupied.

Then, if a couple of the bait rods go off, it’s surprising how much action you can quickly create for them.

The action keeps them occupied and happy.

Also, keeping them well fed gives kids the stamina to stay out for the full length of the charter.

If you’re a parent reading this, your budding fishos may be occupied for longer and stay happy on the water with these fishing and feeding suggestions.

With younger people onboard, make sure the rods and reels are not too heavy.

I find a nice softtipped glass rod in the 6-7” range with a 25003000 spin reel and 1012lb mono line is a good balance when kids are fishing from the boat.

And don’t tighten the drag up too much – let the rod, line and drag do all the work so you don’t wear the little ones out.

Not all kids want to catch big fish and have * continued P10

When kids cast lures, they may land a strange catch, such as a giant herring.

Showing how it’s done, Chantelle had a great day.

Tick all the boxes and catch more fish!

FISHING TUITION

WITH SEAN CONLON

A four-hour off-water course for up to four people covering: Target species BOOK TODAY Moon phases Weather and tides Techniques Environment Tackle tips

0432 386 307 Chantelle’s dad joined in on the fun, catching plenty of fish. www.bnbfishing.com.au

seanconlonsfishing@hotmail.com Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 9

Taking kids out for a fish * from P9

This 70cm flathead was caught by trolling a Duo Realis Shad hard-body.

their arms stretched – I’ve learnt that along the way.

With kids, don’t use big hooks when bait fishing – any longshank whiting hook will do the job.

Use bait that are harder for the fish to pull off, such as squid or mullet.

Or try a bit of chicken breast soaked in garlic or chicken thighs, these work well, as does cuttlefish.

Also, if you’ve got a berley pot – a good investment – get a good trail going.

Nothing too complicated – some leftover bread or bread rolls will work fine, as will a can of cat or dog food.

If you want to get a little more elaborate, go to your local tackle shop, they’ll have berley pellets, and a bit of tuna oil will entice a bite too.

When it comes to fishing soft plastics with kids, try not to put the lures on fibreglass fishing rods.

Buy a cheap graphite rod – it doesn’t have to be expensive, and it will work better for them.

For lures, use something in the 3-4” range, in a curl tail grub or paddle tail.

Even if the action is a bit erratic, they can easily wind those lures in slowly, cast them back out and wind them steadily in again – it’s amazing how many fish

you can catch using this type of lure.

Basically, this style of lure makes its own action, which is great for young anglers.

There you go, a couple of tips to keep kids fishing focused when you’re on the water.

If not, come out with me – I’ll do the hard work while you sit back, relax, have a fish, take photos and make memories with your family.

As we all know, with our jobs and lives we are time poor, so if you can learn more to optimise your time on the water, why not – remember knowledge is key.

Until next month, stay safe on the water and, if you’re interested in our fishing tuition or want to do a fishing charter, give me a call on 0432 386 307, send an email to seanconlonsfishing@ hotmail.com or check out the Facebook page Seano’s Inshore Fishing Charters and Tuition.

FISHING EVENTS EVENT

DATE

LOCATION

2023 Fitzroy River Barra Oct 5-8 Bash

Fitzroy River, Qld fitzroyriverbarrabash.com.au

Wyaralong Dam Oct 21 Carp & Tilapia Eradication Comp

Wyaralong, Qld lafma.org

Tinaroo Barra Bash Oct 27-29

Tinaroo Atherton Tablelands, Qld tinaroobarrabash.com.au

2024 Rainbow Beach Jun 1-8 Family Fishing Classic & Expo

Rainbow Beach, Qld rainbowsportsclub.com.au

To have your competition listed in the calendar, please phone (07) 3286 1833 or email ads@collins.media Page 10 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

A happy customer scored a solid 72cm flathead.

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Email: admin@wynnummarine.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 11

Shags taking a rest from the sun at Tangalooma jetty.

Fishing Moreton and Tangalooma

N

A Tangalooma whiting taken on a plastic.

MORETON BAY BOAT TRIMMERS

Specialising in: n Canopies n Side Curtains n Seating n Bimini Kits n Storm Covers Unit 2/19 Thorne St Wynnum Ph: 3396 1617 • Mob: 0402 755 189 www.moretonbayboattrimmers.com.au

Offshore reef fishing fanatics WANTED One of Brisbane’s oldest deep-sea fishing clubs has vacancies for new members.

Owners of suitable vessels encouraged.

All levels of experience. Those without own vessels also invited to apply. Approximately 15 deep-sea trips per year. One week-long fishing holiday to town of 1770.

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Interested? Then call Darren (0413 511 436) or Tim (0436 625 590).

POWER BOAT ANGLERS REEF FISHING CLUB INC Page 12 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

OT a heap has happened this month in the way of club trips, however I am expecting some decent stories next month, once a few of our members return from their trip to Swain Reefs.

The trip was taken with Big Cat Reality Fishing Charters again, so we’re sure it was a cracker.

Father’s Day Because we were catching up as a family for lunch, it wan’t going to be a big day out, however the opportunity to head out for a few hours in Old Ben with my son could not be passed up.

While the target species for the day was winter whiting, I wanted to use it to explore a few new areas close to the mainland.

I’d recently added more electronics to the boat – a Lowrance Point 1 Antenna and Elite 9 unit – and wanted to make sure these were calibrated and networked to the HDS unit correctly.

We launched from Nudgee Creek in what was one of the lowest tides I’d ever seen there, which required a slow departure into the bay to avoid any extra shining of the skeg and propeller.

Once out, the bay was fairly flat, so we decided to head first to Moreton for a look and

Power Boat Anglers

by MICK CLUTTERBUCK

then to Wynnum to check out a couple of marks I’d been given.

On the way over, Josh spotted something that looked like it didn’t belong in the water and we headed over to find a slightly deflated helium birthday balloon floating on the surface.

This isn’t the first time we’ve found them out there and unfortunately it won’t be the last.

If you use these things, try to keep them indoors – they end up landing and polluting our waterways.

The conditions were great over on the island, though we could not find a fish.

We looked all over the place and only scratched up grinners.

One plentiful species throughout the bay was longtail tuna – they were everywhere we went and in good numbers, however we weren’t geared up to chase them.

With nothing around Moreton, we headed to Wynnum to have a look at the new marks.

And… first drop, we were on!

Interestingly, we noticed was how dark these were compared to their counterparts on the other side of the bay.

We poked around a heap of spots in the area

and found fish everywhere, ranging from tiny to a reasonable size.

We kept a couple but it was mainly a catch and release session – we’ll definitely be back for a concerted effort.

Thanks for the mark, Tony.

Tangalooma Recently, my wife and I and many other guests, had the pleasure of attending the wedding of Sarah and Tim Waters at Tangalooma.

We hadn’t stayed at the resort before, so decided to make the most of it, heading over on the Friday and returning on the Monday for extra rest and wellearned relaxation.

I’d fished Moreton Island for years but hadn’t done that much fishing off the beach in the Tangalooma area, so decided to throw a couple of light spin outfits in with our luggage – for the bride’s father Darrin and myself to flick a few plastics about if the opportunity presented itself.

I went for a walk along the beach on the Friday to check things out and noticed that there was a nice gutter to the south of the jetty, where the barges come in.

It was shallow either side but dropped off * continued P13

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Fishing Moreton Bay and Tangalooma * from P12

nicely and looked like a good place to start targeting flathead.

I spoke with Darrin that night over too many beverages and we decided to have a crack first thing on the Saturday morning.

The next morning, it was quite cool in the shade of the hills, and I was happy to have a jacket on for warmth.

Casting about, we had plenty of interest though, while fun to play with, they were obviously small.

Out wide we had whiting bites and in close the toadfish took chunks out of the bait.

Darrin was the first to get something decent, with a nice 40cm sand flathead that was released to fight another day – not a bad size for this species.

I was getting plenty of bites but struggled to hook anything when the unluckiest whiting in the water took my plastic.

At no more than about 15cm, it didn’t give much of a fight – I guess its big brothers were out there somewhere.

After getting a few more plastics chewed off, that was it for the day and time to prepare for the wedding.

Sunday I was up fairly early and decided to take a walk to the south.

I was about 2km south of the resort when I found a dead loggerhead turtle on the beach.

I rang Moreton Bay Marine Park and let them know the GPS location, they said they’d send someone to pick it up so they could do

a necropsy to see how it died.

Such a shame for a beautiful creature.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, please contact marine park authorities.

After the walk we had another quick fish and while no fish jumped on, it was a relaxing way to burn a few hours.

We loved the weekend and will definitely do the hop across the bay again.

Please note, the meetings occur on the first Wednesday of every month at ‘The Club Manly’ (bowls club), 26 Faine St Manly from 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

Upcoming meetings are Wednesday October 4, then Wednesday November 1.

Until next month, safe boating.

The sunset at Tangalooma was the icing on the cake.

An offensive balloon found polluting the water.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 13

Nate decided to make a few memories landing a nice pearl perch.

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0402 703 519 Page 14 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

Renee dropped her favourite SnapBait over the side and before long she was fully loaded up with a beast of a cod!

Moreton Bay bread and butter species

Y

OU never know what this month will produce around the Moreton Bay region.

Hopefully we’ll have some awesome weather windows to get offshore to chase dolphinfish, tuna and marlin.

The great thing about our bay is that it’s a Pandora’s box, you never know what’ll show up, but after the floods last year and the weather doing its thing, it is going to be a cracker season.

Over the past month, we’ve seen great results with the bread-andbutter species closer to shore.

Bream, flathead and huge amounts of whiting have been caught from the Brisbane River through to Pumicestone Passage.

Live bloodworms accounted for most of the whiting, however prawn and cured beachworm were as effective in filling the bucket.

Many believe a live worm is the only way to catch great whiting, though if you get your hands on well-cured

Northern Moreton Bay

by MARK TEMPLETON

beachworms, they can be just as good.

To make your bait stand out a little more, try adding a piece of pink or red tubing as an additional attractant.

From past sessions fishing with Ian, I wasn’t using pink tubing, he was, and he out-fished me four to one.

While not admitting that Ian was right, my day did turn around significantly when I added pink tubing.

Though I’m sticking to the theory that I found

a bigger and hungrier patch.

So pink or red tubing and a quality preserved beachworm are musthaves when hitting the beach.

Recently, we had the pleasure of spending a couple of months with Renee helping us out in the shop.

Renee’s very familiar with the offshore scene, getting out with her family whenever time permits.

On a recent trip with * continued P16

Recently Scarlet came into the shop, chose her bait and got straight into landing some very healthy bream.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 15

Moreton Bay bread and butter species * from P14

Piere hit the bay, dropped some livies down and landed a horse of a jewfish.

out, Renee dropped her favourite SnapBait over the side and before long she was fully loaded up with a beast of a cod!

From her cracking smile, Renee was very pleased with the day’s outcome, and in the knowledge that the fish would put many meals on the table.

Best thing about landing these brutes is that every time you cook up a piece and take a bite, you can re-live the day and the excitement of the catch!

Well done Renee – enjoy those memories.

It just so happens that on the same trip with Renee catching the beast cod, her son Nate decided to make a few memories of his own – cracking a cheeky smile when he landed a nice pearl perch.

The way young Nate is going, it won’t be long

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before he’s standing beside his mum with a beast of his own.

Well done Nate, we look forward to more of your cracker catches!

Young Scarlet doesn’t mind getting out on her own to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet, and her way of relaxing is to wet a line.

Not only does she like to fish but she also enjoys the challenges that come with it.

Recently Scarlet came into the shop, chose her bait and got straight into landing some very healthy bream.

As Scarlet knows, fishing can replenish what a busy week has taken out of you, plus you get to explore new places and learn different techniques along the way.

It’s also great that more females are out there enjoying this awesome pastime.

Well done Scarlet, we hope to see many more of your accomplishments.

Luke and Piere hit the bay and, after finding bait around one of the markers, they decided to drop some livies down.

It wasn’t long before they encountered some horse jewfish, and the battle was on.

Piere proudly showed off one of the jewies they landed in that session, a horse indeed.

Well done and thank you for the photo.

I thought I’d save one of the best until last – a very colourful character, V is out fishing in the bay as often as his job allows.

He loves chasing mack tuna or anything else that puts a smile on the dial and stretches his arms.

We gave V the new nickname of Big Mac because no matter who he fishes with or where in the bay he finds himself, all he’s been able to catch for months are mack tuna.

Recently Big Mac had a change of heart – not a big change, but a change all the same.

He managed to land a nice little squire.

Many may not appreciate the importance of this catch, but it was a huge win for him, as his smile indicates.

Well done Big Mac, hopefully the mack tuna curse has been lifted and you can now lose some real tackle out there.

Until next month, be safe, fish hard, lose tackle and maintain the passion!

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Page 16 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

Catching a little squire finally changed Big Mac’s mack-tuna-only streak.

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Most mangrove jack are released by anglers who chase them regularly. They’re too much fun to catch only once!

Dougy Jarvis ripped a decent mangrove jack out from some tight country.

Getting ready for red dogs

O

CTOBER is one of the best months to chase mangrove jack around southeast Queensland.

The water temperature will be on the rise and the angry red fish will be hungry and looking to empty your wallets.

Many years ago, I used to keep records on all the jacks I’d caught, and October was always one of the best months.

Back then, not many anglers would start chasing them until November, and I tell you, they definitely missed out.

Though times have changed and anglers are chasing MJs year round now.

They can be caught in every month of the year, however it takes a little more effort during cooler months.

Many people assume mangrove jack move

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Local Luring

by KEITH STRATFORD

out of the estuaries during winter, but that’s not the case.

The Gold Coast Broadwater, Jumpinpin Channel and the Tweed River all have deep bar entrances where schools of jacks can concentrate during winter, but a lot of fish will stay in the upper reaches.

They don’t need to feed as often as they do during the warmer months, but they still need to eat at some point.

They will be a lot more active this month and will be happy to eat a well-presented lure or bait.

Mangrove jack prefer to hang around structure such as fallen trees, rock bars, jetties, pontoons, rock

walls and deep holes.

Getting your lure or bait as close as possible is the key to getting a bite from these aggressive fish.

They spend a lot of their time deep down in cover but under the right circumstances they will happily rise to eat a surface lure.

Times of low light such as early mornings, late afternoons and into the night tend to get the most action on the surface.

Other species – trevally and the occasional barramundi – will also happily eat a persuasive surface lure in the right conditions.

Look for snags higher in the water column, particularly if they are

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* continued P18

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 17

Tide Times AUSTRALIA EAST COAST -

2023

STRALIA, EAST COAST – BRISBANE BRISBANE BAR BAR

R R

Time Time

LAT LONG 153° 10ʼ E LAT 27° 22ʼ S Times Times and Heights of High and Low Waters OCTOBER NOVEMBER

m m

0419 0419 0.42 0.42 1010 1010 2.03 2.03 1619 1619 0.45 0.45 2219 2219 2.24 2.24

0443 0443 1044 1044 1703 1703 SU SU 2252 2252

Time m 0409 0.19 1021 2.36 0.35 MO 1643 2219 2.20

0446 0446 0.40 0.40 1045 1045 2.07 2.07 1655 1655 0.50 0.50 2248 2248 2.15 2.15

0515 1127 MO MO 1748 2330

0.23 2.37 0.48 1.99

0514 0514 0.40 0.40 1119 1119 2.09 2.09 1731 1731 0.58 0.58 2317 2317 2.04 2.04

0.32 0506 0.38 3 0545 1209 2.32 18 1134 2.26 1835 0.63 1802 0.67

Time Time

1 2

16

m 0.33 2.25 0.53 2.00

0.34 17 0438 1057 2.27 1721 0.59 TU 1721 0.59 2253 1.89

Time 0505 1143 WE 1823 2344

1

m 0.35 2.40 0.66 1.63

0537 0.46 1225 2.29 TH 1912 0.76

2

Time 0443 1122 TH 1804 2323

16

Phil Gregory landed a lovely giant herring in Moreton Bay recently.

m 0.36 2.42 0.63 1.70

0.42 17 0520 1208 2.39 1858 0.67

FR 1858 0.67

1.50 0015 1.63 3 0027 0613 0.59 18 0605 0.50 1309 2.17 1300 2.34

Getting ready for ripper red dogs Time Zone –1000 DECEMBER

Time

Time

m

m

* from 0511 0.49P17 0515 0.36

1shaded 1200 2.34in16 2.56 the1201 mornings 1851 0.74 1857 0.56

FR 1851 0.74

SA 1857 0.56

and afternoons.

0007 1.57 0016 1.75 During the night, 2 0547 0.59 17 0604 0.43 moveSUaround 1240 2.25 1250 2.51a lot SAjacks 1932 0.78 1948 0.56 and will hang around 0051 1.53 0114 1.74 that 3the 0630 lights 0.69 18 0700 baitfish 0.52 1322attracted 2.16 MO 1341 SUare to. 2.44 2018 0.81 2040 0.55 This is a 0217 good1.76time 0145 1.51 4to0722 0.80 a19 hook big0803 fish0.62 away MO 1409 2.08 TU 1435 2.33 from structure.

2109 0.80 2132 0.53 The1.52MMD 0253 0327 Splash 1.83 5 0826 0.71 0.89 20 0914 0.71 is an 2.21 1502 2.01 1532 2.21 TUPrawn WEoutstanding 2202 0.76 2225 0.50 lure to chase MJs0.50with 1.94 0407the 1.60 0436 1.94 surface.

6on 0.77 0941 0.93 21 1030 0.77 1632 2.09 1.97have 2.09 WE 1600 TH 1632 They accounted 2318 0.46 0.46 2254 0.69 2318 for a stack of mangrove 0542 2.09 2.09 0514 1.73 0542 22 1146 7jack, along with0.78 other 1146 0.78 1056 0.92 1734 1.97 1.97 FR 1734 TH 1656 1.94 FR species.

2343 0.61 If 1.89 jacks 0011 aren’t 0011 0.42 0.42 bit0608 8ing 23the0641 0641surface, 2.24 1203 0.87 2.24 on 1300 0.75 0.75 SA 1300 FR 1749 1.92 SA 1834 1.88 to 1834 1.88 try switching over 0.52 0100 0.39 0.39 0028 0.52 0100 a weedless-style plas9 0655 2.06 2.06 24 0734 0734 2.37 2.37 a hard-body 1303or0.80 0.80 1404 0.70 0.70that SA tic SU 1404 SU 1838 1.90 1.90 1930 1.81 1930 gets down into the1.81 fish’s 0110 0147 0110 0.45 0.45 0147 0.37 0.37 10 face.

0738 0738 2.22 2.22 25 0822 0822 2.46 2.46 0.72 1358 0.72 give 1500 0.65 SU 1358 MO MO 1500 Don’t each0.65 snag 1926 2023 1926 1.88 1.88 2023 1.76 1.76 one cast and move on 0150 0230 0150 0.39 0.39 0230 0.37 0.37 11 –0820 2.35 0906 2.51 0820 2.35 26 0906 2.51perit can take a lot 1448 0.65 0.65 TU 1550 0.63 0.63 MO MO 1448 TU 1550 sistence patience 2011 1.74 2011 1.85 1.85 and 2111 2111 1.74 to

TU 1835 0.63

WE 1802 0.67 2330 1.76

FR 1309 2.17 2009 0.84

0.43 0.43 2.09 2.09 0.68 1.90

0008 0616 WE 1254 1928

1.77 0.43 2.23 0.78

0.44 19 0537 1215 2.22

0120 0657 SA 1400 2115

1.41 0.73 2.06 0.87

0117 1.57 19 0702 0.59 1358 2.30

0608 0608 0.47 1234 2.07 1234 1852 0.77 1852

0050 0651 TH 1344 2034

1.56 0.56 2.12 0.88

1.63 20 0013 0615 0.52

0235 0800 SU 1502 2221

1.37 0.85 1.99 0.84

0234 1.57 20 0814 0.66 1502 2.27

0025 0641 1320 1947

1.75 0.53 2.04 0.86

0145 0737 FR 1445 2203

1.40 0.70 2.01 0.91

1.52 21 0111 0707 0.61

0408 0924 MO 1610 2318

1.42 0.90 1.96 0.77

0355 1.66 21 0935 0.69

0114 0726 1423 2107

1.59 0.60 2.02 0.90

0319 0846 SA 1600 2323

1.32 0.82 1.96 0.85

1.46 22 0234 0821 0.69

0516 1.55 1047 0.87 TU 1712 1.99

0506 1.82 22 1053 0.66

0230 0835 1545 2246

1.47 0.67 2.05 0.84

0500 1.38 1021 0.85 SU 1714 1.98

1.52 23 0411 0951 0.69

0005 0608 WE 1153 1802

0.67 1.71 0.80 2.03

0003 0.42 23 0608 2.01

0413 1.46 1006 0.67 1709 2.16

0019 0604 MO 1141 1811

1.69 24 0529 1114 0.60 1748

0045 0651 TH 1247 1846

0.57 1.87 0.72 2.06

0053 0.34 24 0702 2.19

0010 0539 1130 1818

0.69 1.58 0.57 2.31

0101 0.65 0042 0.44 0122 0.48 0137 0.28 10 0650 1.68 25 0630 1.89 10 0730 2.02 25 0751 2.34 1238 0.68 1226 0.50 1336 0.65

0113 0645 1242 1915

0.52 1.75 0.44 2.45

0131 0.32 0157 0.40 0217 0.26 0.56 11 0138 0729 1.82 26 0723 2.07 11 0808 2.15 26 0837 2.45 1325 0.59 1329 0.42 1421 0.60 1505 0.54

0204 0741 1344 2006

0.37 1.93 0.32 2.54

0215 0.24 0230 0.35 0255 0.26 0230 0309 0.48 0230 0.34 0.34 0309 0.38 0.38 12 0211 0803 1.94 27 0811 2.24 12 0845 2.27 27 0920 2.52 12 0902 0902 2.45 2.45 27 0947 0947 2.51 2.51 1407 0.52 1424 0.37 1506 0.57 1556 0.54 1537 0.60 1634

0249 0830 1439 2051

0.27 2.08 0.25 2.56

0.42 0254 0.20 0303 0.31 0330 0.28 0309 0345 0.28 0345 0.40 0.40 0309 0.31 0.31 13 0242 0838 2.04 28 0856 2.36 13 0923 2.35 28 1001 2.53 2.53 13 0945 1026 2.49 2.49 0945 2.53 2.53 28 1026 1446 0.49 1515 0.37 1549 0.56 1643 0.57 1626 0.57 1714 0.64

0330 0916 1530 2133

0.20 2.21 0.23 2.50

0312 0.37 0330 0.19 0335 0.30 0403 0349 0421 0403 0.33 0.33 0349 0.31 0.31 0421 0.44 0.44 0912 2.13 29 0939 2.45 14 1001 2.41 29 1042 14 1526 1042 2.50 2.50 14 1030 1030 2.57 2.57 29 1102 1102 2.44 2.44 0.48 1604 0.40 1632 0.56 1727 0.62 1715 0.55 1749 0.68

0408 1000 1617 2214

0.18 2.30 0.27 2.38

0341 0.34 0403 0.21 0408 0.32 0437 0430 0455 0437 0.40 0.40 0455 0.49 0.49 0430 0.32 0.32 15 0946 2.20 30 1021 2.49 15 1041 2.43 30 1121 1121 2.43 2.43 15 1115 1137 2.39 2.39 1115 2.58 2.58 30 1137 1604 0.50 1651 0.47 1717 0.59 1810 0.68 1806 0.55 1821 0.70

0540 0540 1155 1155 1809 1809 2348 2348

4 5 6 7 8 9

0.75 1.52 0.78 2.05

TU 1238 0.68 1858 2.12

WE 1325 0.59 1937 2.18

TH 1407 0.52 2012 2.20 FR 1446 0.49 2045 2.20

SA 1526 0.48 2116 2.16

SU 1604 0.50 2147 2.09

TH 1850 0.74

FR 1305 2.18 1951 0.80

SA 1408 2.14 2113 0.81

SU 1525 2.15 2236 0.72

MO 1642 2.21 2345 0.59 TU 1748 2.30

WE 1226 0.50 1845 2.37 TH 1329 0.42 1935 2.38

FR 1424 0.37 2021 2.33

SA 1515 0.37 2103 2.23

SU 1604 0.40 2145 2.09

MO 1651 0.47 2224 1.94

4 5 6

7

8

9

FR 1336 0.65 1927 2.06

SA 1421 0.60 2004 2.04

SU 1506 0.57 2041 2.00

MO 1549 0.56 2118 1.94

SA 1300 2.34 1959 0.69

SU 1358 2.30 2105 0.67

MO 1502 2.27 2210 0.61 TU 1609 2.25 2309 0.52

WE 1713 2.24

TH 1206 0.62 1810 2.20

FR 1313 0.58 1903 2.14

SA 1412 0.55 1952 2.05

SU 1505 0.54 2038 1.95

MO 1556 0.54 2122 1.86 1.86 TU 1643 0.57 2204 2204 1.77 1.77

TU 1632 0.56 WE 1727 0.62 2157 1.87 2245 2245 1.69 1.69

WE 1717 0.59 2238 1.79

TH TH 1810 0.68 2326 2326 1.62 1.62

0434 0.26 31 1101 2.47 1736 0.56 TU 1736 0.56 2304 1.78

consistently catch MJs on lures.

Some days you will nail a mangrove jack first cast and other days it will take 500 casts.

When I fished for jacks exclusively, I would choose a stretch of bank of about .5-1km long and work that for the entire session.

It’s a good way to get to know the river you’re fishing.

Trying different tides and techniques takes a lot of dedication, but it’s a real buzz when it all comes together.

Mangrove jack are a very addictive fish to chase and they put a real dent in your wallet, however they’re well worth it.

I recently upgraded my boat to a 4.5m Polycraft – mainly to expand my options and to

get my family out in a little more comfort – so I’ll be doing a lot more fishing in the bay, along the front of Bribie Island and some offshore stuff when the weather allows.

A couple of fishos were coming back across the bay recently and stopped to have look around when they noticed a stack of fish on the sounder, so they dropped some lures down and were both immediately hooked up to giant herring.

They had a ball landing and losing plenty of these speedsters.

These are only some of the species that are becoming more common in the bay.

That’s it from me this month, hope to see you on the water.

0.63 TU TU 1537 0.60 WE WE 1634 0.63 2057 2154 2057 1.83 1.83 2154 1.73 1.73

WE WE 1626 0.57 2144 2144 1.81 1.81 TH TH 1715 0.55 2232 2232 1.79 1.79

FR FR 1806 0.55 2323 2323 1.77 1.77

TH TH 1714 0.64 2233 2233 1.72 1.72

FR FR 1749 0.68 2309 2309 1.71 1.71

SA SA 1821 0.70 2345 2345 1.71 1.71

0530 0530 0.55 0.55 31 1211 1211 2.33 2.33 1853 0.72 SU SU 1853 0.72

monwealth of Australia 2021, Bureau of Meteorology NewTide Moon First Quarter ons is Lowest Astronomical

bols

Last Quarter New MoonFull Moon First Quarter Full Full Moon Moon Page 18 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

Last Last Quarter Quarter

99 Boyce with one of the many giant herring he captured.

John

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 19

Keeping native animals out of freshwater traps Freshwater anglers can do their part to protect Queensland’s platypus and freshwater turtle populations.

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) officers responded to a recent complaint about an unmarked freshwater trap set in Petrie Creek in Nambour.

“Fishers using traps need to be conscious that platypuses and turtles living in these creeks can drown if caught in freshwater traps,” QBFP manager Greg said.

“All freshwater traps must have a tag on them displaying the surname and address of the person using them.

“A light-coloured float displaying the user’s surname must also be attached to the trap if it’s not fixed to something stationary above the waterline.”

If you see any unmarked traps, call the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116. For details about fishing in freshwater, download the Qld Fishing 2.0 app or visit fisheries.qld.gov.au.

Changing seasons What you need to know Spanish mackerel

Barramundi

Recreational catch limits: • 1 fish per person, or 2 fish per boat* with 2 or more recreational fishers on board. * the boat limit does not apply to charter fishing trips

Gulf of Carpentaria • 7 October 2023 – 31 January 2024

MANAGEMENT CHANGES CLOSED SEASON

CLOSED SEASON

Closed season: Queensland East coast north of 22˚S (located slightly north of Stanage Bay, between Mackay and Yeppoon) • 12 October – 2 November 2023 • 10 November – 1 December 2023 Queensland East coast south of latitude 22˚S (located slightly north of Stanage Bay, between Mackay and Yeppoon).

• 1– 21 February 2024 • 1 – 21 March 2024

Queensland East Coast • 1 November 2023 – 31 January 2024

Mary River cod

CLOSED WATERS • 1 August 2023 – 31 October 2023

Murray cod

CLOSED SEASON

All Queensland fresh waters in the Murray-Darling Drainage Division • 1 August 2023 – 31 October 2023

Coral reef fin fish CLOSED SEASON

For more details of these changes please download the Qld Fishing 2.0 app

Two five-day closed seasons in October and November each year.

Queensland East Coast • 12 October – 16 October 2023 • 10 – 14 November 2023

SCAN ME

Download the free ‘Qld Fishing 2.0’ app from the App Store or Google Play DAF2069 08/23

Page 20 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 2069 Bush and Beach October 2023.indd 2

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www.bnbfishing.com. au 21/8/2023 3:24 pm

These women are leading the Future of Fishing!

We’ve welcomed our second leadership cohort to the Women in Recreational Fishing Network Leadership Program!

They’re pictured at our stall at the recent Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA) 2023 Tackle Show on the Gold Coast.

These keen anglers are committed to Fishing for the Future and are leaders from across Queensland.

SCAN ME

Join the movement by searching for the Women in Recreational Fishing Network Qld Facebook group, or scan this QR code. The online community invites women of all skill levels to get involved and share their knowledge and passion for fishing in a safe space.

Weipa legends have fab time at FNQ FAD Fish aggregating devices (or FADs) are taking game fishing to another level in our Far Northern waters.

Thanks to these keen anglers from the Weipa Billfish Club and the Queensland Game Fishing Association, who recorded their recent catch and release experience with a curious sailfish.

Recently, this sailfish was fitted with an external acoustic tag to help us with our ongoing research. Did you know our FADs are fitted with acoustic receivers as part of the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) array, which tracks tagged animals around Australia?

The four surface FADs off Weipa are contributing to the understanding of the movement patterns of sailfish in the Gulf of Carpentaria. You can help us monitor fish at FADs by providing details of your FADs recreational fishing experience via the FADS fishing form. Learn more about FADs, where they are, and how to record your catch, by visiting fisheries.qld.gov.au

SCAN ME

fisheries.qld.gov.au 13 25 23 FisheriesQueensland FisheriesQld DAFQld www.bnbfishing.com.au 2069 Bush and Beach October 2023.indd 3

RIGHT

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 21/8/2023 2023 – Page 21 3:24 pm

The spoils of war, one snapped rod later and a very happy young fisho!

Suncoast Skutes Hollowcore Flashers are the only flasher on the market that doesn’t go down the hatch with the business end of the rigs.

Suncoast Skutes enjoyed some epic research and development.

Still providing sensational sport on the FADs, 20lb mono and light spinning gear.

Page 22 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

Time for a mahi mahi switch up

H

AVEN’T had a crack at a mahi mahi or two off the fish aggregating devices yet?

Why not?

It can be very easy to drive right past the FADS in search of your usual reef fish as the temperature starts to rise slightly, but as a novice to this species and different style of fishing, if there’s something holding you back, read on.

If you’re heading out for snapper on the 36-fathom lines, chances are you have everything set up anyway.

Producing a feed of tasty fillets and plenty of sport too, there’s been heaps of mahi mahi action on the Gold Coast FADs. Most commonly associated with their bright gold flanks, electric greens and iridescent blue spots, mahi are also known for their instinctive aerial escape attempts during combat – particularly on light spin gear.

We’ll get to that soon… first let’s talk about the basics for catching mahi – also known as dolphinfish.

Mahi are one of the fastest growing fish in the ocean and favour a huge range of temperatures, which makes

Gold Coast

by ANDY MELVILLE

them a fairly predictable target for trolling lures, casting stickbaits or floating pilchard tails in a small berley trail.

The obvious first port of call is on the FADs that are dotted offshore between the 60-80m reefs.

GPS coordinates can be found at qld.gov.au/ recreation/activities/ boating-fishing/rec-fish ing/fish-aggregating-de vices/find-a-fish-aggre gating-device These act in two ways to attract target fish.

First, the chains and the large buoy grow weed, creating an ideal habitat for baitfish to seek refuge in open water, which of course opens up a food chain gathering point.

Second, mahi are a pelagic species and spend most of their active life near the surface scanning for food and migrating, so when they

come across structure of any kind they will seek shade on particularly bright days.

In the past, I’ve always favoured floating baits into the FADs using pillie tails because that’s what I’ve set up for the day chasing other reef fish.

However, various slow pitch jigs and jerk shads mechanically cranked, stickbaits cast and sunk deep or even bucktails rolled through a school will get smashed.

Keep in mind, that as for any school of fish, they will shut down after too much disturbance and may need to be fired up again.

In an ideal world, you could catch live bait the night before and keep them in a river, or get lucky on the way out and get them as the sun comes up… but that’s unlikely. * continued P23

Sinking pilchard tails with Hollowcore Flashers on a single hook are to thank for this stunning shot.

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Time for a mahi mahi switch up * from P22

Live bait are usually a winner, with a couple of free swimming yakka chucked in at the same time.

If not, then time to move on.

You’ll see plenty of anglers focus their efforts on quality over quantity, trolling 6-8” skirted lures or shallow divers, such as Rapala X-Raps, with 10-15kg plus bulls in mind.

And over the next couple of months, these won’t be too uncommon around the wider outskirts of the FADs and closer to the marlin grounds as the season progresses into warmer months.

If you’re not in any great rush to get to your next mark, trolling between spots is always worth a punt.

Typically, spin gear with nothing heavier than 30lb braid and 40lb leader.

Trace-wise, short 60cm 40lb fluorocarbon with a single 6/0 octopus beak is ideal.

Alternatively, 20-30lb monofilament with a small profile swivel is deadly for getting bait to sink slightly at the start of a drift.

Heavier leaders and traces will be springy and present unweighted bait very un-naturally, particularly if you want them to sink a little to get past the rat-sized models in the top couple of metres.

Gear sorted and time to bait up.

A pillie tail cut on the

bias leaving the back side longer and the tail trimmed – as per the picture – is by far one of the best baits you can get.

Threaded once and a half hitch at the eye of the hook to hold everything straight is best because it allows for better hook exposure and less spin in the water against the current.

Quick flick into the current along with a couple of cubes from the head and that’s you fishing.

For even more appeal, a Suncoast Skutes Hollowcore Flasher can be used for added trigger points, which generally has more success on larger models.

Particularly fished a little deeper by dropping boat side and feeding a bit of line to sink before the current takes it.

Keep it feeding out at a slightly faster rate than the current and your bait should stay fairly deep, before tension on the line starts to cause the bait to rise again as you drift past the FAD. No takes?

Retrieve steadily, new bait and repeat the drift process, taking care to abide by boating etiquette if you are taking turns drifting with other boats.

Deploying a bait seems fairly simple, though it is often very tempting to cast it far out to the side or towards the FAD. As long as there isn’t

too much slack line, this is generally fine.

However, feeding line out through your fingers on an open bail arm or Baitrunner leaves you in better stead for setting hooks once a mahi has picked up your bait and is running with it – similar to snapper fishing and feeding out floating bait.

The main difference is that striking often pulls hooks, unless they are gut hooked.

This is when single hooks are brilliant because you simply cut them off at the chafing and tie a new one on for quickness and safety – these fish cause a bit of a riot on the deck.

To finish off with a bang… club them and you’re done, and the fish is done.

And I’m done… for now.

Happy fishing everyone.

Pilchard tail cut on the bias for a well-presented streamlined snack.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 23

The author tested the new TT Fishing SwitchPrawn+ blade with great results.

John caught and released a 69cm flathead using a Pontoon 21 Crack Jack 48mm SP DR lure.

Going light for a flathead bite

T

Tim boated a dusky flathead from the Nerang River on a Pontoon 21 Crack Jack.

Tom caught and released a 65cm flathead using a Z-Man Slim SwimZ soft plastic.

Page 24 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

HE fishing so far this spring has been good but not epic.

Plenty of flathead are about to keep us entertained, yet the average size is down on what we expect for this time of year.

We do need more rainfall to liven things up.

Though with a dry summer forecast, this seems unlikely.

Never underestimate Mother Nature however, it only takes a few storms to flush the waterways.

Also, during large daytime tides, a rapid influx of baitfish can move into the Gold Coast Broadwater from offshore, then suddenly hungry predators such as flathead, tailor, queenfish, mackerel and trevally appear in numbers.

It looks to be a productive couple of months ahead for the incredibly prolific sand whiting, with an early start to the season.

I’ll cover how to tar-

Broadwater Guide

by CLINT ANSELL

get this sporty and delicious eating species in coming editions of this publication.

For now, the hunt for dusky flathead continues.

I love how these fish can turn up literally in any part of our waterways, from the shallowest shores to the deepest drop-offs.

Recently, the best tactic for me has been using small lures.

I noticed schools of tiny whitebait in the

shallows and decided to match the hatch – literally.

Some of the best soft plastics for this are Z-Man Slim SwimZ and Fish Arrow Flash-J Shad in 1” and 2”.

To go one step further, I use colours that closely imitate the natural baitfish – including Opening Night, Smelt and Bad Shad in the Z-Man Slim SwimZ and Ghost Wakasagi, Live Ayu and Smelt Au* continued P25

Simon had a good day using a 3” Z-Man Slim SwimZ and landed his personal best flathead.

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Going light to get that flathead bite * from P24

rora in the Fish Arrow Flash range.

These work great on sunny calm days.

If there’s cloud and or choppy water, it pays to experiment with darker and fluorescent colours.

Using small plastics resulted in more flathead caught, and not only small fish.

Plenty of 50-69cm fish were among the 3050cm models.

A change of usual tactics is required to use these smaller soft plastics.

First, lighter rods of 1-2 or 2-4kg ratings are ideal, with 1000 and 2500 size reels, PE 0.6 braid and, instead of a 10-12lb fluorocarbon leader, we have been dropping to 6-8lb.

This allows for the most natural presentation but remember to set the drag lighter or flathead will quickly wear through the leader.

It is important to match the right sized jig heads to little plastics.

For the 3” Z-Man Slim SwimZ, I find the 1/4oz 2/0 TT DemonZ jig heads are perfect – and even lighter and smaller jig heads down to size 2 hooks and 1/8oz for the 1-2” plastics.

I’m very fussy about rigging plastics perfectly on jig heads and

always hold the hook alongside the plastic to measure where the hook point needs to pass through.

Then ensure the hook is horizontally middled through the plastic, check it looks correct after rigging and test by dropping the lure in the water next to the boat and swimming it.

From there on, it’s a matter of targeting weed bed edges and drains between 1-3m deep and casting the lures parallel to these edges.

If there’s enough drift, we’ll basically troll the plastics by casting them 20m out the side of the boat, leaving them out for a few minutes while wriggling the lures with a slight flick of the wrist up and down to get the rod lifting and dropping too.

I like to keep the lift very short, so that I foul the hook on weed less often.

Even the tiniest bit of weed on the line or lure must be cleaned off constantly.

If there’s not much tidal flow or the wind is against the tide, the best tactic is to cast with the wind and retrieve the plastic slowly in the same direction as the tide.

Fan casts through an area to find where flat-

head are lying and keep moving around to find actively feeding fish – while keeping an eye out for bait balls on the sounder, birds diving and pelicans feeding.

Often a flathead bite can be subtle, so be ready for any taps you feel through the braid and rod.

It can pay to pause for a second and drop the rod tip to let the fish engulf the lure more before striking hard once or twice.

Light tackle angling is a heap of fun on flathead from boat or shore.

Try it where you live, it’s surprising how productive it can be!

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Catch you next month and tight lines!

Tom captured his first ever fish on lures on a charter with the author.

Mick managed a school flathead on a Z-Man soft plastic.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 25

Various species love versatile yabbies

I

Flathead will be abundant this month and love a live yabby.

HAD no photos for this month’s article – the ideal excuse to get out for a fish.

So I headed up the Tweed River looking for the usual suspects.

In springtime, this means whiting, trevally and flathead for me.

Mangrove jack will also be getting targeted by now, however they weren’t on my radar.

I needed a bit of variety for some pictures instead of a dedicated jack session.

I didn’t set the world on fire, though I ticked off the species I was hoping for.

Fishing the edges of the shallows for the first few hours of a rising tide gave me not only the photos I needed but was also very enjoyable – in the spring warmth with a gentle northerly blowing.

Springtime for me is all about relaxing and

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enjoying the warmer weather, gently drifting around with bait and lures.

Bait wise, all you need to do is head out on the last of a run-out tide and pump some yabbies.

I always cast a bait out from where I’m pumping yabbies.

Usually, I’ve got the boat pulled up on the sand and I’m casting out and putting the rod in the holder in the boat.

I keep an eye on things as I wander around pumping yabbies and run back when the rod bends over.

More often than not, it’s just a pesky shallow-water bream however occasionally, it’s a good whiting.

On the good days, I’ve had three or more whiting on ice before the fishing begins in earnest.

In the old days, when I went fishing with my parents, we owned only one rod each and my dad loaded them with 12lb monofilament –

this had to cover all our fishing needs.

There were more fish in those days, and we did quite well.

I still employ the same principles as my dad – catching the bait at low tide and then fishing in the vicinity of the yabby beds on a rising tide.

The 12lb line has halved though and the leader is fluorocarbon.

While I prefer some sort of marine worm too if I can get them, yabbies appeal to a wide variety of species and I always make them the main bait for the day.

I can’t say I’ve ever caught a monster flathead on a yabby, yet they are great for lizards up to 1.5kg.

The same with trevally, I’ve never caught a really big one, but fish up to 1kg love them.

As you would expect at this time of year, the fish are spread out in the river, and this will continue until some type of flood event. * continued P28

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 27

Straight into spring species

H On light gear, trevally always provide great entertainment.

Versatile yabbies * from P26

I concentrated my efforts around Chinderah, even with the fish well upstream, the yabby beds are in the lower half of the river and that’s where I stayed to fish to keep things simple.

I also wanted to throw a couple of dillies in to see if I could get some sand crabs.

There were a couple of small ones getting around, however nothing to write home about.

Offshore this month is a great time to get the flat dillies out and catch a feed

of spanner crab.

The deeper reefs have schooling snapper on them and, at this time of year, expect the drift to be fairly quick.

Unless there’s a forecast that’s just too good to refuse, my preference is to knock about in the river for the next couple of months.

I’ll either be drifting for a feed or tucked up in a corner somewhere fishing for a mangrove jack or a jewfish.

Either option sounds like a good trip to me.

ELLO all, this year I waited patiently for winter to kick in.

However, at this point in time, I can say fairly confidently that on the fishing front, we are not going to get a winter.

Now don’t get me wrong, we have still had a reasonable run of mulloway and bream, and tailor have vastly improved from last year, but it wasn’t as good as it could have been and snapper fishing on the close reefs was very quiet.

If I were a betting man, I’d say we were going to swing straight into some spring summer fishing over the next month as the weather and water temperature start to heat up.

I guess time will tell.

As mentioned, we have already experienced a good run of tailor this ‘winter’ and the past couple of weeks were even better, with some of the best fishing I’ve seen for several years.

I don’t think we’ve seen the quality of fish that we do get at times, but the sheer numbers

BALLINA

BAIT & TACKLE

Ballina Bait & Tackle

by BRETT HYDE

of fish have been amazing.

Most of them have been in the 35-50cm range which, in my opinion, are the perfect size if you like to smoke them.

Metal spinners in the 40-65g range have been the most consistent producers of fish, however a few fish have taken a liking to shallow diving hard-body lures too.

Large schools of baitfish have been the main driving force behind the large numbers of tailor, and longtail tuna have also taken advantage of these food sources, with a number of fish taken from the rock platforms and beaches recently.

Along with good numbers of tailor hanging around the rock platforms and beaches, we’ve also had a good run of mulloway in these areas.

As per usual, large soft plastics and hardbody lures were the most productive techniques, yet cut bait such

as mullet, bonito and strips of squid have also enticed a few fish.

In the river, a few flathead have begun to make their way towards the mouth of the river for summer and, while this may be the case, the larger numbers of fish are still between Pimlico Island and Broadwater.

Pilchard, prawns and mullet have all been good bait options in recent weeks, along with some vibes and curl tail soft plastics.

If the weather starts to heat up over the next month, as I suspect it will, we should see flathead start moving into some of the deeper channels in order to beat the heat.

The early heat has also started to encourage a few mangrove jack to venture about a little more, with a few early season fish already landed using 4-5” soft plastics along the rock walls upriver. * continued P29

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A late season estuary perch.

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Straight into spring and summer species * from P28

With bass season due to start at any tick of the clock, this warm weather is great, and we have already begun to see fish showing interest in a variety of surface lures.

Frogs, poppers, stickbaits and buzzbaits have all accounted for fish in the past couple of weeks and, as we get further into the season, I’m expecting plenty of fish to be landed using cicada imitations.

The warm weather may also cause bass to sit lower in the water column, and the higher water temperature will encourage yabbies to start moving around – so it will be worth trying some skirted jigs on bass over the next month.

Almost any colour

will be worth trying, but I prefer something with a little brown in it early in the season and then, as summer goes on, I change it up and try a straight black or some slight variation, such as a black blue or a black green combination.

Offshore has been a similar story to the river, with the warmer water conditions making fishing slightly different to what we’re used to.

While we continue to have a good run of tuna on the close reefs and, as long as the large schools of bait remain, tuna will not be far away.

On the other hand, snapper numbers were rather disappointing to say the least.

I do suspect the warm water is, for the most part, keeping snap-

per out on the 32 and 42-fathom lines, and unless we have a sudden drop in water temperature, I can’t see too many fish moving closer to shore.

The current hasn’t picked up yet, so fishing the wider grounds such as the 48s and beyond have been fairly easy.

Pearl perch have shown plenty of interest in jigs recently, particularly anything with some silver chrome in the colour scheme.

Quality bass grouper have turned up on the shelf, noting that next month will possibly be your last chance to fish some of the shelf locations before the current kicks into gear for summer.

Well, that’s about all from me, until next time – tight lines!

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Mitch Singer with a 52.5kg bass grouper caught off Ballina.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 29

Octopus is go-to bait for big jewies

W

This nice fish was taken at the Iluka Bluff on a lure during low water.

Queensland visitor Greg with a thumping bream taken along Ten Mile Beach at Shark Bay

Page 30 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

ELL, that’s another winter done and dusted, and it’s not hard to tell that spring has well and truly sprung, with daytime temperatures in the low thirties soon to be the norm.

The tides have changed over to big kings during the day, instead of at night as it is in winter.

I love this because I can spend a few hours each day drowning whole octopus on the river side of the wall over the high water for large jewfish.

Octopus is my go-to bait during the day – it is the only bait that can withstand the constant hammering from bream for any length of time.

In my younger days, I would use a Butterworth SU9177 9 wrap rod fitted with my trusty 7” Alvey reel, loaded with 70lb Platypus line, 10/0 Eagle Claw hooks and up to three 10 ball round sinkers, depending on the strength of the run in the water.

These days, old age has me using all the same gear apart from the rod.

I now use my Pacific Composite FSU 5162, which is a hell of a lot lighter but still puts a lot of hurt on the fish.

I had wanted to have a few photos from the wall showing how I bait up and such, however my vehicle has been off the road for nearly a month, though I will definitely have a few happy snaps in the next issue for sure.

Sadly, with winter ending, so has the excellent run of big jew inside the river.

Just Jew

by TYE PORTER

And yes, while you can fluke the occasional good fish anywhere at any time, the bulk of them will have moved back out along the walls, beaches and headlands for the summer.

Mischa had a spin with a hard-bodied lure on the southern end of the bluff just on dark recently and returned with a nice fish – this style of fishing is hard for me to watch because I lived for it before ill health put a stop to it.

Having said that, I reckon I will take the risk one day and go for a spin on the headland.

There is no better feeling than washing up a nice 20kg jew after guiding it through a minefield of bommies.

Lismore angler Guy Stewart – who has featured in this column with an array of sharks and jewfish – has found a new pet species to call his own.

This poor fisho has been plagued by dogfish both inside the river as well as out along the breakwall, and whether he used live mullet, whole squid or octopus, the doggies made his life a living hell, some of them pushing the 6kg mark.

The odd couple from Queensland – also known as Richard and Greg – paid another visit to Iluka recently and while Richard missed out on his usual Shark Bay jewfish, Greg came up trumps with a cracking big bream.

Inside the Clarence

River, luderick catches have begun to taper off, which is to be expected as we head into summer.

Though frankly, if you have the hours to kill, a feed can be had year-round.

Whiting should be in full swing this month, or at least I hope so because last year the fishing was fairly ordinary, though we were coming off the back of endless floods.

October is definitely the month for mega cobia in the warm shallow waters of Shark Bay, slightly offshore from the four-wheeldrive access track near Jackie’s Bommie.

When shark fishing, local shark fishos have regularly landed stonking big fish as a bycatch, with a handful of them sight casting on clear sunny days.

This month will also see small schools of big brute yellowtail kingfish cruising the Iluka breakwall.

A couple of years back, a big school of this species were netted inside Iluka Bay, adjacent to the Clarence River Fishermen’s Cooperative – that’s the co-op to the locals.

The wall should also produce some good fishing for small mack tuna and bonito on the very calm days – these are great fun when the bigger fish are not around.

With no rain in sight, October should be all systems go, so get out there and enjoy.

Until next month, safe fishing.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 31

BOATING & marine Insights into boat insurance

Good reasons for checking with insurer before buying

W

HEN under ta k ing research before buying a new boat, don’t consider only the boat size, your primary uses for it, where you’re going to store it, likely destinations you are going to visit, your budget for the purchase and the on-going running costs.

Yes, they are all important factors, but so are the insurance implications, and it’s good advice to consider these before putting down a deposit.

There are several key reasons for recommending this course of action.

The first is to gain some understanding of whether the boat will be insurable, and that means contacting a specialist marine insurer.

The vessel you’re considering buying might be insurable on face value, alternatively though, it may require a specialist inspection from a qualified person or be built of materials or to a design that’s not considered insurable.

Obviously, the best time to find this out is before you own the boat.

Another key consideration will be your experience as a boat owner and a skipper.

If you’ve come into a few dollars and are moving up from a small aluminium runabout to a 55’ Riviera with an integrated propulsion system pod drive, you can expect to be presented with some questions about whether you have experience

driving such a vessel.

In other words, the vessels might be totally sound and insurable, but your skills as a skipper may not be.

It is not unknown for insurers to insist you undertake an approved training course or that you’re required to have a more experienced skipper on board for the first 12 months of ownership and use.

A few decades ago, a Brisbane-based journalist named Chris Black decided to purchase a boat in Townsville, from memory.

One of Chris’ conditions of purchase was that the current owner show him how to handle the vessel and so, Chris allocated a few days for some on-water instruction before handing over the money.

The vessel you’re considering buying might be insurable on face value, though it may require a specialist inspection from a qualified person to be considered insurable.

As the story goes, the owner took Chris out on the water, showed him around the vessel and some very basic functions and after a successful session, Chris was looking forward to further tuition the next day, given that he was going to steer this vessel back to Brisbane.

According to Chris, the owner showed up, pointed south, said “Keep Australia on your right” and then left.

Any requirement from an insurance company that you undergo a course of instruction and familiarisation is going to be a lot more demanding than that type of ‘training’ exercise.

Power or sail, it doesn’t matter.

Insurance companies can tell any number of stories about exotic places such as Nouméa being planned as the first destination in a newly acquired vessel.

And where you are planning to store the boat is another key consideration in terms of insurance.

Some time back, it was ultra-difficult to secure a berth for vessels in Brisbane.

It reached the point where some boat sales-

people and brokers would first ask, “Have you got somewhere to store it?” before spending a minute more on the possible purchase.

A boat swinging on a mooring in a sheltered part of the bay will be an unacceptable risk to a few marine insurers.

Likewise, whether the vessel is to be stored in a dry rack at a marina, a wet berth or a hardstand will generate different responses from different insurers.

That’s why making a specialist marine insurer one of your first starting points in the purchasing process is such a good investment.

As always, what is and what may not be covered will always be decided in accord with the terms of insurance as defined in your insurance policy’s product disclosure statement.

That’s why it is so important to read it thoroughly and to note any special conditions and excesses, which should be explained clearly in your PDS. If you need further information, you can contact Nautilus Marine Insurance on 1300 780 533 for any boat insurance requirements.

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Page 32 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

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WATCHING THEM LEARN. IT’S A STACER MEMORY WORTH KEEPING. For more than 50 years we’ve been building strong, reliable, aluminium boats you can depend upon, right here in Australia.

Whether for fishing or family fun, the Stacer range has an enviable reputation for not just affordability but also great re-sale value. Have a talk to your local dealer – and start creating your very own Stacer memories.

Creating Stacer Memories is easy with the all NEW boat packages.

Build your perfect boat in just three easy steps.

For more information contact your local Stacer Dealer:

WYNNUM | WYNNUM MARINE 31 Fox St, Wynnum P 07 3396 9777 E info@wynnummarine.com.au wynnummarine.com.au

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See stacer.com.au for details.

BOONDALL | NORTHSIDE MARINE 2294 Sandgate Rd, Boondall P 07 3265 8000 E info@nsmarine.com.au northsidemarine.com.au

ROCKHAMPTON | RIFEN MARINE 6 Dooley St, North Rockhampton P 07 4927 9150 E rifen.boats@bigpond.com rifenmarine.com.au

CALOUNDRA | NORTH COAST BOATING 22 Enterprise St, Caloundra West P 07 5493 9376 E sales@northcoastboating.com.au northcoastboating.com.au

BUNDABERG | ADRIAN’S MARINE 28 Ritchie St, Bundaberg P 07 4153 1819 E admin@adriansmarinecentre.com.au adriansmarinecentre.com.au

ASHMORE | WHITE WATER MARINE 10 Hinde St, Ashmore P 07 5532 4402 E sales@whitewatermarine.com.au whitewatermarine.com.au

MACKAY | PHOENIX POWERSPORTS 165 Paradise Street, South Mackay P 07 4952 2436 E admin@phoenixpowersports.com.au phoenixpowersports.com.au

STB&B 006

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Memories for a Lifetime.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 33

BOATING & marine

Mercury Marine launches Avator 20E and 35E electric outboards n Raising the bar across the board

M

The new Avator models, the 20E and 35E will be available from October 2023.

Page 34 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

ERCU RY Marine introduced the Avator 20E and 35E electric propulsion systems recently.

The new models join Mercury’s electric propulsion line-up alongside the award-winning Avator 7.5E outboard, which launched in January at the annual Consumer Electronics Show.

Two more electric outboard products will be unveiled in the coming months as Mercury advances on its commitment to be the leader in electric propulsion.

Mercury Marine president John Buelow said, “We’re thrilled to advance our electrification strategy and the Mercury Avator brand with the introduction of the 20E and 35E electric outboards.”

“Building off the success of the Avator 7.5E, these outboards set new benchmarks for innovation, performance and connectivity.

“The investment and advancements we’re making position Mercury to continue expanding our Avator portfolio and soon deliver additional industry-changing low-voltage electric outboards.”

The 20E and 35E include many of the same innovative features as the 7.5E – the industry-first transverse flux motor technology, a vivid full-colour intuitive display and an ambidex-

trous tiller handle.

The new models offer more power and the ability to connect multiple Avator batteries to extend range and run time, plus full access to the Mercury Marine app with the integrated SmartCraft Connect module.

The Avator 20E and 35E outboards generate 2200W and 3700W of power respectively at the propeller shaft.

The 20E can produce similar acceleration as a 5hp FourStroke outboard, while the 35E generates acceleration that is comparable to a Mercury 9.9hp FourStroke outboard.

Offered with tiller or remote steering, both are ideal for powering small vessels, including aluminium fishing boats, micro skiffs, rigid inflatables, tenders and small pontoons.

Mercury Marine vice president of product development and engineering Tim Reid said, “Avator outboards are intelligent electric propulsion systems engineered to deliver a superior boating experience, with flexibility to easily extend range and runtime.”

“Up to four of Mercury’s new 2300Wh batteries can be connected and managed through our exclusive Power Centre, which safely merges power, enables communication between the batteries and

outboard and allows single point charging.”

The 20E and 35E outboards will be available for sale October, 2023.

Batteries and chargers The Avator 20E and 35E 2300Wh lithium-ion battery was developed in partnership with the Navico Group’s Mastervolt brand and engineered exclusively for marine applications.

It’s a safe reliable power source that’s been drop-tested and IP67 rated for water resistance.

Boaters can choose to connect directly to one 2300Wh battery for peak simplicity and portability or extend their range and runtime by adding an Avator Power Centre and connecting up to four batteries.

The Power Centre serves as a central hub for power cable connections, allowing for a clean and organised boat installation.

Power cable connections to the battery are fast and easy with the toolless twist-lock connector.

Avator smart chargers constantly monitor voltage and current to deliver a safe effective charge and can shut down to protect the battery if there is an issue.

The 230W Avator charger can recharge a fully depleted 2300Wh battery in approximately 10 hours. * continued P35

www.bnbfishing.com. au

BOATING & marine Mercury Marine launches Avator 20E and 35E electric outboards * from P34

A higher speed 520W charger is also available, which can cut the charge time by more than 50 percent.

Motor and performance Avator’s industry-first transverse flux motor technology delivers reliable quiet power.

The Avator 35E electric outboard is 63 percent quieter than a 6hp four-stroke outboard at full throttle.

The motor generates high torque with little effort, maximising battery life and range while contributing to faster

www.bnbfishing.com.au

acceleration and more efficient overall performance than similar competitive products.

Avator propellers are crafted of a highstrength impact-resistant composite material.

Their three-blade design maximises thrust for peak battery life with minimal noise.

Remote controls Avator digital controls deliver instant throttle response with zero hesitation and keep boaters connected with the outboard for easy safe driving.

There are three remote throttle controls

designed to fit the helm styles popular on small boats.

Connected devices A Mercury SmartCraft Connect module comes pre-installed on Avator 20E and 35E models, allowing boaters to wirelessly connect the outboard to the Mercury Marine app via mobile device.

The app displays a range of performance data points, along with a GPS map with visualised range estimates for planning trips.

Commitment to sustainability The Avator program

continues Mercury’s commitment across all product lines to redefine marine propulsion in ways that leave a positive impact on the environment.

Avator outboards transform the boating experience by making boating possible with no

exhaust fumes and zero direct emissions.

Each electric outboard is also crafted with many components that are recyclable or reusable.

For more information about Avator electric outboards, visit mercu rymarine.com/avator

The Avator 20E and 35E 2300Wh lithium-ion battery.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 35

AFTA 2023 SPECIAL EDITION Huk Rogue Wave Boots

SOMETIMES, the best fishing is found in the worst conditions.

Huk Rogue Wave fishing boots are specifically designed for all-day comfort and engineered for optimal performance in any situation.

These slip-on style boots are constructed of incredibly durable neoprene rubber and are carefully designed with positive traction in wet conditions, ensuring stable footing that grabs in all directions, no matter how slick the boat deck or dock may become.

Breathable mesh liners help ensure the boots stay dry on the inside, keeping the wet on the outside.

The comfortable rounded toe and non-marking outer sole help make the Huk Rogue Wave Boots the right fit for wet weather.

Visit jmgillies.com.au

G Loomis IMX-PRO V2

INTRODUCING IMX-PRO V2, providing anglers with actions that put the bug where your brain wants it every time.

Developed to cover a broad spectrum of modern freshwater applications, IMX-PRO V2 boasts a mix of standard and technique-specific actions curated to offer anglers tools to elevate every on-water experience.

G Loomis design engineers rolled this collection of smooth recovering actions using a new blend of technologies — conduit core and GL7 resin system — to increase strength and impact resistance without the extra weight.

Designed to be day-in, day-out ‘workhorses’, the IMX-PRO V2 oozes performance and utility, making it incredibly enjoyable to fish with.

Visit flyfishingoutfitters.com.au

Barambah Chin Nuts

RELEASED at the recent AFTA 2023 event, Barambah Chin Nuts certainly have anglers talking.

With a passion for excellence by Matt Fraser, the Barambah Chin Nuts are truly authentic, creative and innovative in design, defined by attention to detail, inspired by nature and engineered to perform!

Twist on, twist off… Chin Nuts have easy twist-on wires for quick changing and attach to chin eyelets or the front treble eyelet.

Change them out to float, suspend or sink!

Barambah Chin Nuts are available in three pack sizes – small, regular and large – and are live sonar compatible, with the ability to sink and work your lures into the zone.

Visit barambahlures.com

Bassday SugaPen Splash 75

THE Bassday SugaPen Splash is an award-winning and highly acclaimed fishing lure designed with precision and innovation.

This topwater lure delivers exceptional performance and is specifically crafted to entice predatory fish, particularly whiting.

The SugaPen Splash features a unique and realistic design, mimicking the appearance of a small prawn struggling on the water’s surface.

It’s concave face creates a captivating splash and popping sound, creating a commotion that attracts fish from a distance.

One of the standout features of the SugaPen Splash is its versatility.

Whether you’re fishing in fresh or saltwater, this lure adapts seamlessly to various fishing conditions.

Visit frogleysoffshore.com.au Page 36 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

www.bnbfishing.com. au

AFTA 2023 SPECIAL EDITION Wilson Electric Assist Wecom3

THE use of electric-powered overhead reels matched to purpose-built rods has revolutionised ‘deep drop’ fishing for tasty and keenly sought-after denizens of the abyss, such as blue-eye trevalla, gemfish, hapuka, ling and bass groper.

No longer do anglers need to wear themselves out cranking rigs or hooked fish hundreds of metres to the surface.

Instead, it can all be done with the push of a button or the flick of a switch!

Queensland-based Wilson Fishing deservedly took out the Best Combo category at this year’s AFTA Show with its unique and competitively priced electric deep-dropping rod-and-reel combo.

Visit wilsonfishing.com

Tonic Polarised Outback Lithium Blue Water Mirror

TONIC Outback offers a style that is both modest and extremely comfortable, suitable for all day wear in any conditions.

The rectangular frame features a flat top and a slim-line silhouette fitted with copper photochromic lenses that will cut through glare and increase clarity.

This lens technology will adapt to the light conditions and darken to offer a higher lens category from a 2 to a 3.

Available in the SliceLens and Blue Mirror glass, Outback sunglasses are perfect for fishing or whatever activity you’re involved in.

Visit toniceyewear.com

Ocean’s Legacy Keeling Pop

OCEAN’S Legacy pride themselves on designing original and functional fishing gear for every angler, from the freshest of fishos to the most experienced angler looking to take their fishing to the next level.

Their prototypes were battered on the harsh proving grounds of the Cocos Keeling Islands, which is where this lure takes its name.

You can be confident when targeting inshore and offshore predators, with six sizes across the range providing versatility.

Cast at coral bommies for hard-fighting reef species such as trevally, coral trout and emperors.

Fantastic for land-based applications, including from beaches and rocks for yellowtail kingfish, tailor and Australian salmon.

Visit oceanslegacy.com

Shimano Speedmaster Game

THE new Speedmaster Game series utilises Shimano’s strong and lightweight TC4 blank technology to deliver a dependable tournament game fishing and deep drop line-up.

To guarantee your favourite Shimano game reel fits perfectly to the rod, an aluminium Pac Bay reel seat and channel lock butt is used for the ultimate in strength and durability – especially important as the strength and rigidity of your outfit will be upheld when under fighting load.

Tested on some of Australia’s hardest fighting game fish, the Speedmaster Game series covers five models across 15, 24 and 37kg line classes for trolling and live-baiting, including a dedicated 7’ 24kg landbased game rod and a 5’6” PE 8-10 deep drop rod.

Visit fish.shimano.com/en-au www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 37

AFTA 2023 SPECIAL EDITION TT Sling Bag

FOR the agile land-based angler, this durable tackle sling is loaded with practical features, including one large and two small pockets that easily fit a selection of tackle trays and accessories.

Comfortably sling over the shoulder, then quickly spin around for easy access, with a handy rod holder to slot a rod into for free hands while re‑rigging on the go.

It also has an external pliers or scissors pouch, plus three carabiner points to attach accessories.

Checkout the TT tackle trays that fit perfectly in the TT tackle sling.

The small tackle tray fits in the front pockets and the medium tackle tray fits in the largest pocket.

Visit tackletactics.com.au

Rapala Crush City Imposter

THE Crush City The Imposter is the perfect prawn or shrimp imitation.

Made from Supersoft TPE material and infused with shrimp scent, The Imposter is designed to produce subtle movements to mimic the real thing – fooling even the wariest of predators.

When rigged on a VMC Brawler jig head, The Imposter will hop and dart, providing a seductive swim with its appendages vibrating in the water.

When rigged weedless, The Imposter utilises the back slit to help hide the hook so anglers can fish it deep into snags where predators lurk.

The Imposter is one of the most realistic prawn imitations on the market and will deceive fish anywhere.

Visit tacklewarehouse.com.au

Shimano Stradic 23

STRADIC has made a quantum leap forward with the advanced features of its flagship model.

Infinityxross, which greatly improves gear durability.

Powerful reeling achieved by Infinitydrive for improved ‘reeling’ performance.

Antitwistfin suppresses line trouble and increases casting safety.

Duracross with enhanced durability of drag washers supports fighting under severe conditions.

Stradic rewrites existing performance.

As the new standard for Shimano spinning reels, this is the one we want to offer to anglers who aspire to a higher level of performance.

Visit fish.shimano.com/en-au

Daiwa Goretex Rain Jacket

GORETEX fabric is unmatched for foul weather performance, and Daiwa’s Goretex line does not disappoint.

The Daiwa Goretex Rain Jacket features YKK AquaGuard zippers – arguably the best quality zipper on the market – and a concealed bottom hem cord stopper that can sinch down the bottom of the jacket without loose cords and stoppers to tangle in wayward fishing line.

The hood has a high-stand collar with laser drilled ventilation that can be worn over the face for cool morning boat rides, and also features an air-tunnel opening to make high-speed boat rides no problem.

Finally, double-cuffed sleeves prevent the dreaded water seepage down the arm when fishing with your hands up in heavy rain.

Visit daiwafishing.com.au Page 38 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

www.bnbfishing.com. au

AFTA 2023 SPECIAL EDITION Road Chef Mico Dingker

TAKING the best outdoor camping product win at the recent AFTA Awards, the Road Chef Mico Dingker uses amazing new technology that allows you to cook your toasted sandwich, and more, perfectly in your microwave!

The silicone-lined advanced alloy cooking plates distribute the heat quickly and evenly, making the outside of your food crisp and golden while the microwaves heat your food from the inside out, keeping it juicy and oozy.

More than a toasted-sandwich maker, cook hamburger patties, chicken thighs and wings, bacon or even crab cakes from scratch.

Only your imagination will limit you!

Visit rpminnovations.com.au

Minn Kota Instinct

BIG water, bigger boats – that’s where Instinct comes in.

A motor designed to not only handle the elements but to thrive in them.

With available shaft lengths up to 100” and the most dependable automatic stow and deploy ever built, Instinct comes ready to go where other trolling motors won’t.

The new Quest series of dual 24-36V brushless trolling motors was designed for anglers who demand the best from their equipment – even in the harshest environments.

With a reinforced motor and mount, more advanced GPS functionality than ever and even an eco-mode to extend battery life, Instinct is ready to tackle the elements where the waves are high – and so are the stakes.

Visit minnkota.com.au

Daiwa J-Braid 8 Expedition

J-BRAID Expedition’s silicon coating means the braid does not absorb any water, importantly this means the braid also doesn’t absorb silt and sediment present in water, which is the major cause of braided line wear over time.

By shedding the water thanks to its hydrophobic properties, J-Braid Expedition will last longer than traditional braided lines, providing more value and greater performance.

The benefits don’t stop there either, with an incredibly high weave count, J-Braid Expedition is braided tighter than almost any other line on the market, providing an incredibly round profile braid that will not separate and fray when in use.

Visit daiwafishing.com.au

Shimano Zodias Travel

THE revolutionary Zodias Travel rods are equipped with advanced features that redefine the standards of sensitivity and portability, delivering an exceptional angling experience to enthusiasts around the country.

Designed with a carbon monocoque grip, this cutting-edge technology allows anglers to feel even the most subtle strike, enhancing their ability to detect bites and improve their overall catch rate.

The hollow structure of the rod ensures unparalleled lightness, further enhancing its responsiveness and manoeuvrability.

Zodias Travel rods have already received widespread acclaim and are making their way to the Australian market as a compact travel model, providing unmatched performance and versatility for all anglers.

Visit fish.shimano.com/en-au www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 39

AFTA 2023 SPECIAL EDITION Ocean’s Legacy HD Offshore Pliers

TYING for the win at the recent AFTA Awards, Ocean’s Legacy HD Offshore Pliers will be a winner for you too.

Visit oceanslegacy.com

Toit Aluminium Prussian Kit

TYING for the win at the recent AFTA Awards, Toit’s mission is to develop, improve and reimagine fishing tools with overarching themes of reliability, functionality, durability and environmental sustainability.

That’s why Toit create products that resist corrosion and do not rely on superfluous plastic parts that limit the product’s useful life.

Toit designs are elegant and understated, they feel good in the hand and are pleasing to the eye.

Visit wilsonfishing.com

Daiwa 23 Exist SF 1000S-P

THE 23 Exist SF Super Finesse spinning reels are specifically designed for light tackle, with up to 4lb mono and #0.6 braided lines for trout, bass and saltwater light games.

Compared to its base 22 Exist spinning, Exist SF has a smaller gear box, shorter spool and lighter rotors to maximise sensitivity.

It allows professional anglers to sense the bottom touch of 1g sinker at 10m deep with 2” worms.

The shortened spool reduces drag pressure changes by the position of line-to-line rollers to keep lines better.

Drag is finely tuned to offer lines more smoothly.

The key features of 22 Exist are still on this SF model.

A metal monocoque body holds the mechanical insides steady, while offering large inner space for over-sized gears and providing more efficient gearing.

Tough Digigear is made from

Page 40 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

cold-forged extra strong duralumin, machined to make more precise smooth gear teeth.

The strong gears offer superior smoothness and longer life.

A magseal is now at the rotor top to offer extended durability.

Magseals on the line roller and drive gear are replaced by regular ball bearing support to remove frictions.

A ball bearing Twist Buster three-line roller, which has a

new groove at the roller, keeps lines straight without twisting.

ATD Type-L drag system – which offers more stable drag force at line acceleration than regular ATD – ensures increased drag when lines are pulled faster.

Saltwater-resistant CRBB bearings offer extended life.

With these features, 23 Exist SF is the best light weight spinning feel for freshwater and light saltwater fishing.

Visit daiwafishing.com.au www.bnbfishing.com. au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 41

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ACKLEED T L L A 30 years’ local experience D PROVI Targeting all estuary species Bookings and inquiries: Lure fishing specialist 0419 028 704 Personalised service

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Like to learn more about crossing coastal bars safely and using electronics?

Tuition with Bill Corten Professional coastal bar crossing instructor and offshore fishing trainer since 1996.

Coastal bar crossing and electronics tuition: • Hands-on experience crossing • Learn how to get the most out of your GPS and sounder coastal bars safely • Interpret sounder readings • Direct supervision mastering and shows all bar crossing skills • Fine tuning your sounder for • Fine-tuning of skills in breaking better results swells and white water • Using your electronics to • Overcome your fears and learn find reefs and structure vital safety skills as part of an • And much more. on-water training course.

Contact Bill Corten M: 0447 233 247 / 0447 ( a f f a i r ) E: reel_affair@yahoo.com Page 42 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

www.bnbfishing.com. au

C HARTER directory TIN CAN BAY

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Fozie’s Fishing Adventures 0427 834 376

• Half and full-day adventures • Whale watching • Scattering of ashes ceremonies

info@foziesfishing.com.au www.foziesfishing.com.au

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• 39 years family owned and operated • Fishing Swain Reefs, Kimberley, Gove • Meals included

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0428 753 293 Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 43

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*Terms and Conditions: All prices stated are GST inclusive. Promotion available on all new F30 to F130 Yamaha outboards between 1/08/23 to 15/11/23 through participating authorised Yamaha dealers, while stocks last. ^$20 off per horsep F30 to F130 and subject to change without notice. The $2600 saving is based on current recommended retail price for the buyers only. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers. See your participating authorised Yamaha outboard dealer Pty Ltd. ABN 88002556989.

Page 44 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

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00 *

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BRISBANE | Northside Marine P: 3265 8000, 2294 Sandgate Rd, Boondall, QLD www.northsidemarine.com.au BRISBANE (BAYSIDE) | Wynnum Marine P: 3396 9777, 31 Fox St, Wynnum, QLD www.wynnummarine.com.au BRISBANE (REDLANDS) | Marine Care Qld P: 3186 5270, 30 Gordon Rd, Redland Bay, QLD www.marinecareqld.com BRISBANE (NORTH) | Brisbane Yamaha P: 3888 1727, Bruce Hwy, Burpengary, QLD www.brisbaneyamaha.com.au BRISBANE (SOUTH) | Stones Corner Marine P: 3397 9766, 117 Old Cleveland Rd, Stones Corner, QLD www.stonescornermarine.com.au BUNDABERG | Bundaberg Marineland P: 4130 0500, 95 Targo St, Bundaberg, QLD www.bundabergmarineland.com.au CAIRNS | Bills Marine P: 4051 6733, 136-138 Lyons St, Carins, QLD www.billsmarine.com.au CANNONVALE | Whitsunday Powersports & Marine P: 4948 3298, 4/11 Shute Harbour Rd, Cannonvale, QLD www.whitsundaypowersports.com.au GOLD COAST | Gold Coast Boating Centre P: 5576 7388, 66 Kortum Dr, Burleigh Heads, QLD www.gcbc.boats GOLD COAST | Whitewater Marine P: 5532 4402, 10 Hinde St, Ashmore, QLD www.whitewatermarine.com.au GYMPIE | Watson’s Marine Centre P: 5482 2135, 52 Wickham St, Gympie, QLD www.watsonsmarine.com.au KARUMBA | Jones Marine P: 4745 9159, 30 Yappar St, Karumba, QLD www.jonesmarine.com.au MACKAY | Reef Marine P: 4957 3521, 26 Prospect St, Mackay, QLD www.reefmarine.net SUNSHINE COAST | Sunshine Coast Yamaha P: 5346 9981, 14 Machinery Ave, Warana, QLD www.sunshinecoastyamaha.com.au

s sold, installed and warranty registered power is available on all outboards from e F130. Promotion is available for private rship for details. Yamaha Motor Australia

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 45

Captain Jonathan Mallard boated a nice clean snapper during a hot afternoon bite.

Megan with an early season mangrove jack.

Jacks, knobbies and longies fire up

G Literally matching the hatch.

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Page 46 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

’DAY crew, I hope you’ve been keeping well and, when the weather played the game, were able to get out for a fish.

As a father of three and running a small business, some days making time can be a stretch, though I do try to get the boat wet at least once a week.

Normally, I’ll take my son out for a little quality time either on the boat or walking the flats plucking a couple off with him and, whether we catch anything or not, we usually have a laugh and make a few memories.

So, what’s been biting at Tin Can Bay over the past few weeks?

Up by the barge landing and towards the bar, longtail tuna have finally turned up.

While they’ve been everywhere offshore, their presence has only recently been seen in the bay.

Having some fairly reliable intel, we made

Tin Can Bay

by CHRIS RIPPON

the most of them before they were harassed too much.

Most fish were 8595cm long and about the 8kg mark – perfect for the table.

Matching the hatch is key, as it often is with tuna.

The slug of choice was the EJ Todd 20g Ignition, in Chrome Iwashi 03 and Pearl White Glow Belly 05,

with a 30lb fluorocarbon leader on a 20lb 7’ spin outfit being more than enough for fish this size.

If you’re going to keep a couple for a feed, it pays to look after them.

Bleed them well, brain spike them and get them on ice as soon as possible.

Don’t be afraid to let * continued P47

Our newest team member, Tye Ost scored his first longtail tuna and did it with a broken shoulder.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Jacks, knobbies and longies fire up * from P46

the fish sit on ice for 2-4 days, this allows for rigor mortis to set in, and you’ll end up with a far superior product by doing it.

Personally, I apply this to all the animals we catch, kill and are going to consume.

Mangrove jack have started to fire up early this year in the creeks – even when the water temperature was down to about 17C, fishos were catching quality fish from these areas.

Many customers we spoke with towards the end of winter were surprised that people had caught mangrove jack in winter, the common train of thought being that they’re only about in warmer months.

However, I’m always

telling people that just because it’s cold, it doesn’t mean jacks aren’t eating.

Most of the fish early in the season were tempted with offerings of smaller live bait and strips of fresh mullet.

And now, with the water temperature climbing up to 21-23C, the creeks are heating up and MJs are starting to chew their heads off.

So don’t be afraid to toss out a much larger livey to upsize the mangrove jack.

I know I’ll be tossing flies and lures into the deep dark corners of snags and skip casting into mangroves and under overhanging tree lines.

I love using the tried and tested Molix 4.5”

RT Shad and slow rolling crank baits out of the snags.

When I get a chance to tuck up a creek in the next week or so, I’m keen to give the Rapala Crush City Heavy Hitter a go.

And I’ll be focusing on tossing flies more for local jacks this season.

Not that catching MJs on flies is something new to me, but giving the local population a touch up with a few homemade flies will be cool.

Trevally and queenfish are still playing the game in the creeks too, making for great fun on light tackle.

Targeting moorings and other floating structures on the top * continued P48

The author managed a decent bay longtail tuna.

Dave Brodie snared a solid red emperor on a recent trip out.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 47

Thomas May captured a Tin Can Bay tuna.

The author managed a decent snapper on the SnapBait Australia Proto-J jig.

Jacks, knobbies and longies fire up * from P47

A bay longtail tuna hooked by Captain Jonathan Mallard.

Russell Reedman bagged a nice swag of whiting fishing the night high tides.

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half of a flood tide were the go, while focusing around creek mouths on an ebbing tide has also seen plenty of action.

Bait gets pushed out of the creek and bigger predators follow it out.

Using a mix of small micro jigs, smaller soft plastics and poppers will be on the money.

Good summer whiting were getting about and those who took the time to pump yabbies were rewarded when they fished the same banks on a run-in tide.

Fishos who fished the bigger night tides were also rewarded with numbers and quality fish.

I don’t fish for whiting often these days, but recently I had a good session out the front of the house in ankle-deep water tossing Bassday SugaPens about.

I didn’t land anything of size, however it was almost the best fun anyone could have with their clothes on!

Multiple strikes and hook-ups from aggres-

sive fish racing up to my feet until I pulled the lure out of the water – I’ll be doing this again.

Offshore fishing has been great for anyone who managed to get out.

Snapper and pearl perch played the game inshore and further afield, and the red emperor weren’t shy either.

Reports of tuskfish, trout, nannygai, jewfish, grass sweetlip and solid grunter have been coming in thick and fast.

One afternoon, we snuck out for a quick run, looking for a few for the table – it was one of those quick trips we just couldn’t miss!

The only problem was catching a snapper under 75cm – if you can call that a problem.

When at AFTA this year, I was given a 90g Proto-J jig in Blue Shine by Paul from SnapBait Australia.

It was by far the winner on the day.

John threatened to cut it off and use it

himself, if I didn’t tell him what it was and to give him one.

Sorry, I had only the one.

First drop was a small red, second drop was a pearl perch, third drop was a 74cm snapper and the fourth drop resulted in a 76cm snapper!

It had a rest for three drops then boom, up came an 86cm snapper, followed by a 77cm knobby on the next cast.

John caught one and I pulled in a couple more before calling it because they were all big… we headed home very happy.

By no means am I a snapper expert, however for a quick afternoon run, it was a fairly good snapper session on the metal.

Well, that’s enough of me blowing my own trumpet.

Take it easy, get out there and bang a few crew!

Tight lines and visit The Chandlery Bait & Tackle for all your fishing and boating needs.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 49

SCAN QR CODE

Tide Times AUSTRALIA EAST COAST WADDY POINT LAT24° LAT LONG 24°58ʼ 58ʼSS LONG 153° 153° 21ʼ 21ʼ EE

2023

LIA,EAST EASTCOAST COAST –– WADDY WADDY POINT LIA, POINT (FRASER (FRASER ISLAND) ISLAND)

RR

Times Timesand andHeights Heightsof of High High and and Low Low Waters Waters OCTOBER NOVEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER

me mm Time

Time Time

m m

Time Time m m 0205 0205 0.32 0.32 0847 0847 1.88 1.88 MO 1445 0.57 0.57 MO 1445 2040 2040 1.56 1.56

Time Time m m 0257 0257 0.48 0.48 1002 1002 2.10 2.10 WE 1644 0.75 0.75 WE 1644 2204 2204 1.31 1.31

TU

TH 1746 0.82 2252 2252 1.22 1.22

237 237 0.49 0.49 851 851 1.59 1.59 432 0.53 432 0.53 052 052 1.73 1.73

SU SU 1500 0.48 2114 2114 1.74 1.74

300 300 0.49 0.49 921 921 1.63 1.63 507 507 0.60 0.60 120 120 1.65 1.65

0313 0313 0.37 0.37 0949 0949 1.96 1.96 MO 1554 0.63 0.63 MO 1554 2155 2155 1.57 1.57

323 323 0.50 0.50 955 955 1.66 1.66 544 544 0.69 0.69 152 152 1.55 1.55

0347 0302 0347 0.48 0.48 0302 0.42 0.42 1035 1002 1035 1.95 1.95 1002 1.92 1.92 1701 0.78 1618 TU WE 0.72 TU 1701 0.78 WE 1618 0.72 2239 2157 2239 1.40 1.40 2157 1.36 1.36

347 347 0.54 0.54 032 032 1.67 1.67 627 627 0.80 0.80 225 225 1.45 1.45

415 415 0.59 0.59 113 113 1.67 1.67 721 721 0.89 0.89 302 302 1.33 1.33 447 447 0.65 0.65 202 202 1.65 1.65 840 840 0.96 0.96 346 346 1.22 1.22 531 0.72 531 0.72 313 1.64 313 1.64 041 0.94 041 0.94

109 1.13 109 0.78 1.13 638 638 1.68 0.78 441 441 1.68 204 0.82 204 0.82 309 1.13 309 0.78 1.13 814 814 1.78 0.78 552 552 1.78 259 0.67 259 0.67 431 1.21 431 0.69 1.21 002 002 1.90 0.69 652 652 0.52 1.90 344 344 0.52 532 1.34 532 0.55 1.34 108 108 2.01 0.55 743 743 2.01

023 0.39 023 1.48 0.39 618 618 0.41 1.48 158 158 2.07 0.41 829 829 2.07 058 0.30 058 1.62 0.30 659 659 0.32 1.62 243 243 2.08 0.32 911 911 2.08 132 0.25 132 1.75 0.25 739 326 739 0.30 1.75 951 326 2.02 0.30 951 2.02 205 0.24 821 205 1.86 0.24 412 821 0.36 1.86 033 412 1.91 0.36 033 1.91

0239 0.28 0.28 110239 16 0905 0905 1.93 1.93 16 1500 0.48

22

1

Time 0307 0307 1018 1018 FR 1715 FR 1715 2225 2225

m m 0.62 0.62 2.05 2.05 0.78 0.78 1.25 1.25

Time Time 0314 0314 1022 1022 SA 1710 SA 1710 2242 2242

m m 0.48 0.48 2.20 2.20 0.56 0.56 1.33 1.33

FR 1720 0.67 2239 2239 1.25 1.25

SA 1801 0.81 2315 2315 1.22 1.22

SU 1804 2346 2346 0503 0503 1212 1212 1859 MO 1859 MO

0.59 1.31 1.31 0.69 0.69 2.00 2.00 0.62 0.62

16

2117 2117 1.47 1.47

0411 0411 0.72 0.72 1133 1133 1.91 1.91 1850 FR 0.86 FR 1850 0.86 2355 2355 1.16 1.16

0333 0333 0.51 0.51 0506 0.83 0.83 4 0506 19 19 1231 1044 19 1044 1.88 1.88 1231 1.80 1.80 SA 2003 0.86 TH 1718 0.80

TH 1718 0.80 2242 2242 1.25 1.25 0411 0411 0.62 0.62 1134 1134 1.82 1.82 1835 FR 1835 0.83 0.83 FR 2339 2339 1.16 1.16 0501 0501 0.72 0.72 1243 1.78 1243 1.78 0.80 SA 2007 2007 0.80 SA

20

0039 0039 1.16 1.16 0608 0608 0.84 0.84 1335 1.76 FR 1335 1.76 FR 2130 0.89 2130 0.89 0234 1.13 0123 1.13 0234 1.13 0123 0.79 1.13 0617 0734 0.91 0734 1.72 0.91 0617 1.78 0.79 1406 SA 1453 SU 1453 0.82 1.72 SU 2123 1406 0.71 1.78 SA 2236 2236 0.82 2123 0.71 0411 1.18 0300 1.19 0411 0.91 1.18 0300 0.79 1.19 0756 0901 0901 1.71 0.91 0756 1.83 0.79 1517 SU 1559 MO 1559 0.74 1.71 MO 2219 1517 0.58 1.83 SU 2316 2316 0.74 2219 0.58 0506 1.26 0413 1.32 0506 0.84 1.26 0413 0.70 1.32 0936 1014 1014 1.72 0.84 TU 1618 0936 1.89 0.70 MO 1651 1651 0.66 1.72 TU 2304 1618 0.44 1.89 MO 2346 2346 0.66 2304 0.44 0543 1.35 0509 1.48 0543 0.74 1.35 0509 0.57 1.48 1044 1106 1106 1.74 0.74 WE 1710 1044 1.93 0.57 TU 1732 1710 0.34 1.93 TU 1732 1.74 WE 2343 2343 0.34 0012 0.58 0555 1.64 0012 1.44 0.58 0555 0.47 1.64 0615 1136 0615 0.64 1.44 TH 1756 1136 1.93 0.47 WE 1145 1145 1.75 0.64 TH 1756 1.93 WE 1805 1805 1.75 0034 0.49 0017 0.26 0034 1.54 0.49 0017 1.80 0.26 0645 0636 0645 1.54 0636 0.41 1.80 1220 0.55 TH FR 1224 1220 1.75 0.55 FR 1838 1224 1.88 0.41 TH 1836 1836 1.75 1838 1.88 0054 0.42 0049 0.22 0054 1.63 0.42 0049 1.95 0.22 0714 0716 0714 0.50 1.63 SA 1310 0716 0.41 1.95 FR 1254 1254 0.50 1310 0.41 1905 1.73 1918 1.79 FR SA 1905 1.73 1918 1.79 0116 0.36 0121 0.23 0744 0757 0116 1.73 0.36 0121 2.06 0.23 0744 0.49 1.73 SU 1357 0757 0.46 2.06 SA 1330 1330 1.69 0.49 SU 1959 1357 1.67 0.46 SA 1934 1934 1.69 1959 1.67 0139 0.33 0154 0.27 0814 0839 0139 1.81 0.33 0154 2.13 0.27 0814 0.51 1.81 MO 1448 0839 0.55 2.13 SU 1406 2006 1.63 2041 1.54 1406 0.51 MO 1448 0.55 SU 2006 1.63 2041 1.54 0226 0.36 0921 2.14 0226 0.36 0.65 TU 1543 0921 2.14 1.42 1543 0.65 TU 2122 2122 1.42

3

0400 0400 1122 1122 SA 1824 SA 1824 2349 2349 0457 0457 1227 1227 1932 SU SU 1932

0421 0421 0.60 0.60 1125 1125 1.90 1.90 WE 1820 0.88 0.88 WE 1820 2329 2329 1.26 1.26 0503 0503 0.73 0.73 1223 1223 1.83 1.83 1949 0.92 TH TH 1949 0.92

SA 2003 0.86

18

0.61 0.61 1.98 1.98 0.70 0.70 1.20 1.20 0.72 0.72 1.90 1.90 0.69 0.69

0134 0118 0134 1.14 1.14 0118 1.20 1.20 0629 0612 0629 0.91 0.91 0612 0.79 0.79 1340 1.71 1337 SU MO 1340 1.71 MO 1337 1.85 1.85 SU 2118 2039 0.64 2118 0.82 0.82 2039 0.64 0312 1.19 0241 1.28 0312 1.19 0241 0.81 1.28 0756 0.93 0739 0756 1.66 0.93 0739 1.83 0.81 MO 1451 TU 1444 1451 1.66 1444 0.56 1.83 MO 2212 0.74 TU 2137 2212 0.74 2137 0.56 0417 1.28 0352 1.42 0417 0.89 1.28 0352 0.77 1.42 0917 0909 0917 1.65 0.89 0909 1.80 0.77 1545 TU 1549 1549 0.65 1.65 WE 1545 0.47 1.80 TU 2249 WE 2224 2249 0.65 2224 0.47 0502 1.39 0449 1.59 0502 0.81 1.39 0449 0.70 1.59 1021 1024 1021 1.64 0.81 TH 1639 1024 0.70 1.76 WE 1635 1635 0.55 1.64 TH 2304 1639 1.76 WE 2316 0.39 2316 0.55 2304 0.39 0539 1.51 0537 1.77 0539 0.72 1.51 0537 1.77 1109 1123 0.64 1109 1.63 0.72 FR 1728 1123 0.64 1.70 TH 1713 1713 0.45 1.63 FR 2339 1728 1.70 TH 2339 0.33 2339 0.45 2339 0.33 0611 1.64 0619 1.93 0611 0.65 1.64 0619 1151 1216 1.93 0.60 1151 1.62 0.65 SA 1216 1813 0.60 1.63 FR 1747 FR 1747 1.62 SA 1813 1.63

55

20 20

66

21 21

77

22 22

88

23 23

99

24 24 25 25

66

21 21

77

22 22

88

23 23

99

24 24

10 10

25 25

10 10

11 11

26 26

0002 0.36 0014 0.30 0002 1.77 0.36 26 0014 11 0641 0700 0.30 2.07 11 0641 0.60 1.77 26 1306 2.07 0.59 SA 1230 SU 0700

12 12

1

W

0232 0314 0406 0.58 in0232 0.35 0.35 0331 0.60 0.60 0314 0.49 0.49 0347 0.72 0.72 HAT 0406 an 0.58 17 2 0331 2 0347 1046 0923 1058 1116 2.11 2.11 17 0923 1.92 1.92 1046 2.02 2.02 17 1028 1028 2.06 2.06 1058 1.95 1.95 17 1116 TH 1746 0.82 FR 1720 0.67 TU 1528 SA 1801 0.81 credible SU 1804 0.59end 1528 0.64 0.64

18 18

55

Mick captured a trevally on a jig.

Tips16 to sharpen fishing skills

Time Time m m 0234 0234 0.38 0.38 0941 0941 2.12 2.12 TH 1620 0.63 0.63 TH 1620 2145 2145 1.33 1.33

33 44

Time Zone –1000 DECEMBER

27 27

1230 SA 1820 1820 0027 0027 0712 0712 SU 1309 1309 SU 1854 1854 0054 0054 0744 1350 MO 0744 1931 MO 1350 1931 0125 0820 0125 1435 TU 0820 2012 TU 1435 2012 0158 0858 0158 1524 WE 0858 2056 WE 1524 2056

12 12

13 13

28 28

13 13

14 14

29 29

14 14

15 15

30 30

15 15

31 31

0.60 1.59 1.59 0.30 0.30 1.89 1.89 0.57 0.57 1.56 1.56 0.26 0.26 2.00 0.56 2.00 1.52 0.56 1.52 0.26 2.08 0.26 0.57 2.08 1.47 0.57 1.47 0.30 2.13 0.30 0.59 2.13 1.40 0.59 1.40

1857 0.59 1.55 SU 1306 1857 1.55 0048 0.31 0048 0740 0.31 2.17 1356 2.17 0.60 MO 0740 1940 0.60 1.47 MO 1356 1940 1.47 0123 0.36 0821 0.36 2.21 0123 1448 2.21 0.63 TU 0821 2023 1.40 1448 0.63 TU 2023 1.40 0158 0.43 0900 0.43 2.20 0158 1540 2.20 0.67 WE 0900 2105 0.67 1.34 WE 1540 2105 1.34 0232 0.53 0939 0.53 2.14 0232 1628 2.14 0.73 TH 0939 2145 1.29 TH 1628 0.73 2145 1.29

27 27

to winter, I have no memory of an 3 18 August being so warm.

A strong 0057norther1.32 0026 1.20 1.20 19 0057 1.32 4ly0026 0543 0.88 0607 0.79 0.79 the replaced 0543wind 0.88 19 0607 1239 1.74 TU 1310 1310 1.88 1.88 MO 1239 1.74 MOsouthwesterly TU 1956 that usu1949 0.81 0.62 1949 0.81 1956 0.62 ally me 0201 reminds 1.22 0215 that 1.39 the 0201 1.22 20 0215 1.39 55 0659 0.93 20 0723 0.87 0659 on.WE 0723 1340 0.93 1.66 1409 0.87 1.77 TUEkka’s 1340 1.66 TU 2049 0.75 WE 1409 2053 1.77 0.59 2049 Springing into 0.59 Sep0.75 2053 0321 1.31 0332 1.52 tember, we can expect to 0321 1.31 0332 1.52 66 0817 21 0817 0.94 21 0852 0.91 0.94 0852 1440tuna 1.60 returning 1509 0.91 1.65 WEsee TH closWE 1440 2138 1.60 0.67 TH 1509 2143 1.65 0.56 2138inshore, 0.67 2143 0.56 er along with 0420 1.42 0435 1.68 0420 0435 1.68 7more 22 0933 1.42 0.92 1018 activity 0.90 mackerel 7 22 0933 0.92 1610 0.90 1.55 TH 1533 1.55 FR 1018 1533 1.55 1.55 THand 2214 eventually 0.58 FR 1610 2228 another 0.52 2214 0.58 2228 0.52 good marlin season.

0504 1.56 0525 1.84 1.84 1037 1.56 0.87 23 0525 0.85 88 0504 If you’re a 1129 novice 0.87 0.85 1619 1.50 23 1707 1.46 anFR 1037 SA 1129 1.50 1.46 FR 1619 SA 1707 2246 0.49 2309 0.49 gler, good time 2246 now 0.49 is a2309 0.49 0541 1.70 0609 1.98 learn new1227skills or 0541 1.98 99to1129 1129 1.70 0.81 24 0609 0.80 0.80 1702 0.81 1.46 24 1800angling 1.41 SAsharpen SU 1227 your 1.46 1800 1.41 SA 1702 2317 0.41 SU 2349 0.47 2317 0.41 2349 0.47 tools.

0614 1.84 0651 2.09 0614 1.84 0651 10 25 2.09 These 1217 0.75 spring 1318 species 0.75 10 25 1217 0.75 1318 1743 1.43 1.38 SU MO 1850 0.75 for that.

1743 1.43 1.38 2348excellent 0.35 MO 1850 SU are 2348 0.35 Tuna1.97will 0029 help0.47you 0647 11 0647 1302 1.97 0.69 26 0029 0731 0.47 learn how to cast2.16 long 11 1825 0.69 1.41 26 1406 2.16 0.70 MO 1302 TU 0731 1825 1.41 1406 0.70 1.37 deMO and flat, with TU 1937 some 1937 1.37 0022 of 0.31accuracy.

0109 0.49 12gree 0022 0722 0.31 2.09 27 0109 0811 0.49 2.19 0437 0437 1145 1145 1852 SU SU 1852

0.80 0.80 1.84 1.84 0.82 0.82

12 1347 2.09 0.63 27 1451 2.19 0.68 TU 0722 WE 0811 13 13

28 28

29 29

14 14

29 29

30 30

15 15

30 30

Page 50 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

by TRI TON

Casting is not about brute force, it’s about timing and feel.

It’s also about understanding how your body mechanically interfaces with a rod and reel.

The power comes from where your two hands are placed, as well as your stance.

You and the rod are one machine, the simple mistake of removing one hand during the casting stroke of a rod is essentially breaking that machine.

Retrieving the lure fast will teach you how to control a rod and reel to maximise the efficiency of your technique.

Again, visualising the body and reel as a ma-

1909 0.63 1.41 WE 1451 2021 0.68 1.36 TU 1347 1909 1.41 2021 1.36 0059 0.30 0148 0.52 0800 0.30 2.19 0849 0.52 2.17 0059 0148 1435 2.19 0.57 TH 0849 1533 2.17 0.69 WE 0800 1956 1.40 2100 1.35 WE 1435 0.57 TH 1533 0.69 1956 1.40 2100 1.35 0140 0.33 0224 0.58 0843 0.33 2.25 0926 0.58 2.11 0140 0224 1526 2.25 0.54 FR 0926 1611 2.11 0.72 TH 0843 2047 0.54 1.39 FR 1611 2133 0.72 1.33 TH 1526 2047 1.39 2133 1.33 0226 0.39 0300 0.63 0931 0.39 2.25 1000 0.63 2.03 0226 0300 1618 2.25 0.53 SA 1000 1647 2.03 0.76 FR 0931 2143 1.36 2206 1.32 FR 1618 0.53 SA 1647 0.76 2143 1.36 2206 1.32 0336 0.69 1035 0.69 1.95 0336 1723 1.95 0.78 SU 1035 2245 0.78 1.30 SU 1723 2245 1.30

28 28

onwealth of Australia 2021, Bureau of Meteorology New Moon First Quarter monwealth of Astronomical Australia 2021, Bureau of Meteorology ns is Lowest Tide ns is Lowest Astronomical Tide Full Moon First Quarter Last QuarterFull Moon ols New Moon ols New Moon First Quarter Full Moon

Fraser Guided Fishing

chine is very important.

Striving for smooth function will reduce fatigue and ultimately mean more hook ups.

One of the biggest mistakes is holding the rod too close to the butt end.

Stability is not great once the rod hand is at or below the reel seat.

A wobbly rod means it’s harder to spin fast on the reel handle and the jerky motions of the rod tip may cause the lure to roll too much to entice a strike.

Incorrect grip on the reel handle will also mean fatigue, less than optimal speed and blisters.

* continued P51

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31 31

Last Quarter Last 18 Quarter 18

Ben with his fish of a lifetime.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Tips to sharpen fishing skills * from P50

The most important thing tuna will teach you is how to fight a big strong fish.

And since tuna are plentiful, it means you can test yourself repeatedly, hopefully in preparation for the day you hook a big longtail tuna, marlin or trevally.

It is important to learn how to control the fish on a tether ‘angling,’ as opposed to always trying to overpower it.

It is not always an option to overpower a fish, so one must redirect and lead it with minimal line loss.

In understanding how to angle the fish, you will realise there are opportunities to gain line without brute force, slowly tipping the scales in your favour.

Mackerel fishing can be similar to tuna fishing, especially when they feed on the surface.

But school mackerel are often down in the water column.

Chasing these will teach you to know when you have hit the bottom.

It will also reinforce the fast-spinning technique – this old school technique is still very effective, if done correctly.

It will educate you on the correct striking technique for species that hit the lure and run at you.

Surprisingly, the little speedsters are the most destructive when it comes to rods.

So, it will teach anglers how to absorb a blistering run without breaking the rod.

And their erratic fights will teach you how important it is to use the reel, sometimes more so than the rod.

I will often direct novices to fishing at this time of year.

While these less glamorous species aren’t high on bucket lists, they are extremely important when building a ‘tool kit’ – more important than an extensive and expensive lure box.

Their prolific numbers help hone and reiterate angling skills, some of which are quite subtle and nuanced that you might forget them until the next time you chase tuna.

And you’ll be happy to have these abilities up your sleeve for the off-chance hook-up to a big bucket lister as by-catch.

This experience is what will help you land that hero fish.

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Mick was happy with his first longtail tuna.

Arthur with a lovely dusky flathead. A good fish to target when the wind is up.

Mick managed a very tasty grunter.

> Hervey Bay > Fraser Island > Sandy Strait SCAN QR CODE

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Full and half day tours All levels of experience Experienced guide

Mick landed a few jigging. This mack tuna was a powerful adversary. www.bnbfishing.com.au

www.fraserguidedfishing.com.au > 0427 230 261 Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 51

Nothing beats spending time with the family and tagging a few barramundi.

Matthew Zahl with an absolute beast of a salty barramundi caught in the town reaches of the Fitzroy River.

Best month to target chromies

Local gun Coby Pascoe with a big saltwater barramundi from the Fitzroy River.

The author and his daughter Brooky caught a great king threadfin salmon out of the little tinnie. Understanding electronics is the business if you want to be consistent.

When between boats, the author used a little tinnie for well over 12 months. While it was only the Humminbird Helix and Minn Kota for most of that time, plenty of wicked captures graced the floor of this vessel.

Page 52 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

O

CTOBER is an exciting month, though it’s a bit of a sad time too.

You see, it’s the final month of the open saltwater barramundi season on the east coast.

Which is not easy if you’re an absolute barra nut like me and many other local anglers – to stop chasing a fish you love so much – so make the most of it.

Sure, you can chase them in impoundments but it’s just not the same in my opinion.

I think the difference is that when you’re fishing saltwater, there’s a long list of by-catch to be caught when chasing salties or if the barra are hard to catch.

Targeting a different species is only a matter of adjusting your technique and perhaps a quick location change.

If you’re targeting them in freshwater and they aren’t playing the game, there aren’t too many other options.

I get asked how I catch barramundi a lot.

There’s no short answer to that question and a detailed description would need an entire novel to cover all the information.

If you want to get good at catching barra, you’re

Capricorn Coast

by JOHN BOON

going to need to invest some money.

A lot of people tell me how expensive electronics are and that’s true but, at the end of the day, if you want to become consistent, there are two pieces of technology you’ll need.

And you can’t look at these types of purchases as expenses – they’re investments.

The two pieces of electronics you need are a good detailed side down image sounder and a reliable electric motor.

With these two installed in your boat, it doesn’t matter what type of tinnie it is, as long as it floats.

I’ve proved that you don’t need a big flash boat to catch good fish, only a detailed understanding of working your electronics.

I had a Minn Kota Terrova and a Humminbird Helix mounted in my stepfather’s tinnie for more than 12 months.

The tinnie would have been worth about $1000 all up and had a reliable two-stroke Tohatsu on the back, with the hull made in the 1970s, and

I was still able to spot lock and target trophy sized fish.

One day, I caught a black jewfish in it that was about the same width as the tinnie!

I almost tipped it trying to pull that fish into the boat for a photo.

Some of the biggest creek mangrove jack I’ve caught in this area came from using this tinnie.

Because it was small, I could get it into places other boats couldn’t venture.

Check out the photo of this tiny tinnie if you’re keen.

The point I’m trying to get across is do your research, save your dollars and make the investment.

The electric motor will be able to hold you in position – spot lock – while you make your casts.

You can also use it to gently motor along a bank while making casts to snags and such, and it will also make retrieving a snagged lure easier.

A good quality side * continued P53

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Targeting saltwater barra in spring * from P52

imaging sounder will find where fish are hanging out.

If you’re going to try different techniques, knowing you’re casting at fish is important.

It can be a frustrating process, however it is a great way to get into barramundi fishing.

Currently, the Fitzroy River is on fire.

It doesn’t appear that we’re going to have any flooding, so the river will continue to fish well around neap tides for barra and king threadfin salmon.

The town reaches are a great place to target barramundi on bigger tides around a full and a new moon because the barrage stops a lot of the run.

The rock piles under the old bridge have been

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very reliable, as has the old collapsed wharf at the mouth of Gavial Creek.

If you have a good side image sounder, simply run along some of the timbered banks in the Fitzroy River because there are small barra everywhere.

Now is the time to get into barra fishing, with all the new recruits keen to eat lures or live bait.

Big thready schools have been common out at Port Alma and the mouth of the Fitzroy River.

Some of the schools have been in their hundreds, which are very impressive to see on the side image sounder.

So you can keep your side imaging on them, sitting out to the side of the school – by doing this you know they are

still there and haven’t moved.

When the weather windows have lined up, some great reefies were on offer.

Red emperor and trout were a fairly common catch.

The anglers who put the time in to jig live yakka up have done a little better than others.

At the time of writing, it was only a few days before the 2023 Humminbird Fitzroy River Barra Bash kicked off on the mighty Fitzroy and throughout the Rockhampton net-free zone.

We’re expecting big things this year, so stay tuned for a run-down.

Hopefully our team will remain consistent and stay up the pointy end – only time will tell.

The author’s son Braxy about to release a caught and tagged barramundi.

Big king threadfin salmon will be easier to catch in warmer water. Luke Peisker with a big Port Alma model.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 53

An iconic species for NSW commercial, recreational and Aboriginal cultural fishers, mulloway stocks in NSW are currently classified as ‘depleted’.

DPI Fisheries sought advice from the Mulloway Harvest Strategy Working Group and established advisory councils on additional interim measures to protect the depleted stock.

New interim management arrangements for mulloway

M

U L L OWAY are an important and iconic species for NSW commercial, recreational and Aboriginal cultural fishers, however stocks in NSW are currently classified as ‘depleted’.

Recovering mulloway stocks in NSW is a key priority for NSW Department of Primary Industries Fisheries.

Despite a range of fishing arrangements being implemented in the past, given the reported data DPI Fisheries managers and scientists have not yet detected measurable improvement in the stock.

However, it is noted that recent unprecedented flooding events may assist in improving future recruitment to the fishable biomass and any juvenile mulloway need to be adequately protected to max-

imise the success of future recruitment to the fishery.

Based on available data, the recreational and commercial sectors each harvest similar proportions of about 50 percent of the mulloway catch.

A Mulloway Harvest Strategy Working Group was established in 2021 to develop a forward-looking harvest strategy for mulloway in NSW. The harvest strategy will provide a framework and decision rules to promote stock recovery and equitably manage catch among user groups in the longer term.

In the short to medium term, interim management arrangements are required that will afford greater protection to the depleted stock and support the recovery of mulloway.

DPI Fisheries sought advice from the Mulloway Harvest Strategy Working Group and

Page 54 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

established advisory councils on additional interim measures to protect the depleted stock.

DPI Fisheries considered the available data and has implemented new interim management arrangements in all fisheries from September 1, 2023.

These interim arrangements have been designed using the best available data to achieve reductions in retained annual catch across all stakeholder groups.

Size limit Continuation of the 70cm minimum legal length – all sectors.

Bag and boat limit for recreational fishers Continuation of the daily bag limit of one mulloway per person and a new boat limit of two mulloway per boat per day.

Boat limit for the charter sector A new boat limit of

three mulloway per boat per day.

For take and possession limits for commercial fishers, visit dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing The aim of these new interim measures is to provide greater protection to adult fish in order to support the recovery of the currently depleted mulloway population, which will allow all stakeholders to enjoy sustainable access to the fishery into the future.

These arrangements are interim, pending the finalisation and implementation of the formal harvest strategy for mulloway, which will involve new approaches to management of mulloway catch and effort across all fishing sectors.

The draft mulloway harvest strategy will be finalised by the Mulloway Harvest Strategy Working Group soon and this

will provide a further opportunity for stakeholder consultation.

DPI Fisheries will continue with the work already underway to promote protection for juvenile mulloway across all fishing sectors.

The work underway to enhance mulloway by-catch reduction in NSW commercial fisheries will continue and technical support will be available to those fishers who require additional assistance to modify fishing operations to avoid mulloway bycatch as part of adapting to the new interim measures.

DPI Fisheries will also continue the recently enhanced compliance and data collection programs for mulloway fishing in NSW across all fishing sectors.

The harvest strategy will provide further guidance to these initiatives.

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Angler’s Almanac October 2023

DAY Above Below Sun.

2

LAST GIBBOUS

Tue.

3

Wed.

4

Thur.

5

Fri. LAST QUARTER

6

Sat.

7

Sun.

8

Mon.

9 Tue. LAST CRESCENT

10 Wed.

11

Thur.

12

Fri.

13

Sat.

14

Sun. NEW MOON

15 Mon.

16 Tue.

17 Wed.

18 FIRST CRESCENT

Thur.

19 Fri.

20

Sat.

21

Sun. FIRST QUARTER

22

Mon.

23

Tue.

24

Wed.

25

FIRST GIBBOUS

Thur.

26

Fri.

27 Sat.

28 Sun. FULL MOON

29 Mon.

30 Tue.

31

©

1

LAST GIBBOUS

Thur.

12.42am

1.09pm

1.34am

2.02pm

Fri.

2.28am

2.57pm

Sat.

3.24am

3.52pm

2 3 4

Sun. LAST QUARTER

5

4.19am

4.46pm

Mon.

5.12am

5.39pm

Tue.

6.03am

6.28pm

6.51am

7.14pm

7.35am

6 7

Wed. LAST CRESCENT

8 Thur.

9

7.58pm

Fri.

10

8.18am

8.39pm

8.58am

9.19pm

9.38am

9.59pm

Sat.

11

Sun. Mon.

10.18am 10.39pm

Wed. Thur.

16 Fri.

17 Sat.

1.50am

3.17pm

2.48am

4.17pm

3.47am

5.16pm

4.48am

6.13pm

5.46am

7.07pm

6.41am

18

Sun.

19

Mon. FIRST QUARTER

20

Tue.

21

Wed.

22

Thur.

23

FIRST GIBBOUS

7.59pm

7.34am

8.48pm

8.24am

9.38pm

9.14am

2.34pm

3.01am

3.29pm

3.55am

4.20pm

4.44am

5.08pm

5.30am

5.53pm

6.14am

6.35pm

6.55am

7.15pm

7.35am

7.55pm

8.14am

8.35pm

8.55am

9.17pm

1.10pm 12.41am

FIRST CRESCENT

1.22pm 12.57am 2.18pm

2.06am

12.11pm

15

12.31pm 12.07am

1.38pm

11.16am 11.44pm

14

11.44am

1.09am

Notes

10.25am 10.51pm

13 Tue.

11.00am 11.22pm

Below

9.38am 10.02pm

12

NEW MOON

Fri.

24

Sat.

25 Sun.

26 Mon.

10.28pm 10.03am

FULL MOON

Partial lunar eclipse

2.11pm

1.41am

3.11pm

2.42am

4.09pm

3.41am

5.03pm

4.37am

5.54pm

5.30am

6.42pm

6.19am

7.30pm

7.07am

8.18pm

7.55am

9.08pm

8.43am

10.00pm

9.34am

10.54pm 10.28am

27 Tue.

11.19pm 10.54am

11.51pm 11.23am

28 Wed.

11.47am

12.29pm

29

Thur.

12.13am 12.42pm

Minor Times: Add 6 hours

www.bnbfishing.com.au

DAY Above Wed.

12.17pm

1 Mon.

November 2023

Notes

30

©

12.48am

1.16pm

Minor Times: Add 6 hours

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 55

TOURING & exploring

Adventures around Pilbara

M A stunning Australian wildflower, the Sturt desert pea is spotted along the roadside throughout the Pilbara region.

Kicking back by the campfire at 40 Mile Beach.

The author’s family explored Kalamina Gorge in Karijini National Park. Pictures do not do it justice.

Page 56 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

Y family and I have been travelling Australia, working our way north along the stunning Western Australian coastline.

After a few weeks of exploring the Ningaloo Coast, we departed Exmouth and headed 500km into the sparse Pilbara region, stopping halfway for lunch at Robe River.

Gnoorea Point Campground and 40 Mile Beach We finally arrived at Gnoorea Point Campground and 40 Mile Beach, which are located 40 minutes south of Karratha.

Fortunately, the wind was down for our stay at Gnoorea Point and we had a magic spot overlooking the beach and natural boat ramp.

On arriving at a new spot and after setting up camp, I usually jump in the car and do a bit of reconnaissance mission, checking the area out, which gives me an idea of what I’ll target and the rigs to use over the coming days.

I headed about 5km along the coast on a corrugated track, passing numerous osprey nests, blooming Sturt’s desert peas and an impressive monument to an old mud crabber decorated with the carapaces of big mud crabs.

This campground had endless options, with rocky outcrops, stretches of mangroves, small creeks and bommies.

The difference between high and low tide

Travelling Oz

by MATT POTTER

was significant, with 5m highs.

I kicked off the account by night fishing the rocky headland at high tide and caught a couple of ever-present spangled emperor on a dropper style rig to avoid being snagged in the rocks.

I generally release spangled emperor, as they’re a common capture along the WA coast, however on this occasion they were bait for my crab dillies.

As I was making my way back to camp shining the spotlight on the rock pools, I saw a solid mud crab sitting out the front of his hole in a pool.

It was the last place I was expecting to see a crab.

Seeing he had only one claw, I pinned him easily.

It was a solid buck and full too!

The next day on the dropping tide, my kids and I had a look in the mangroves for crab using the wire hook, which is legal in WA. However, after putting in a good effort, we came up empty handed.

I dropped the dillies in the creek while the kids had fun pulling in small bream and estuary cod on their Ugly Stik Tackleratz combos, using prawns as bait.

After checking the dillies several times, we got a second quality crab – the two crabs were

boiled in a pot on the coals that night, providing a great feed.

The next day, the wind completely dropped out and the boat ramp was busy with tinnies coming and going.

Again, envious of campers with boats, I threw on my wetsuit and mask and paddled out to some bommies in the kayak in search of lobster.

For campers on shore watching, it would have been comical seeing me roll out of the kayak then nearly flip it trying to pull myself back in – it was good fun, nonetheless.

With no initial luck, I pulled up at a rocky outcrop covered in large oysters and proceeded to chip away at them using my dive knife and a rock.

The oysters were smoked on the fire that night.

As I paddled back in, I checked a few more bommies for lobster and found two nice painted models sitting under a small rock with nowhere to go.

My skills at grabbing lobster have certainly improved on this trip – grabbing both to accompany the oysters.

I crossed off the species of lobster I was hoping to get on this trip – the western rock lobster and the ornate rock lobster, also called painted crayfish. * continued P57

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TOURING & exploring Pottering around Pilbara perfection * from P56

We met a family who were equally keen to dive and fish and as often happens, we continued to bump into Paul, Kimberley and their two kids Jack and Bailee at other camps along the WA coast.

One of those campgrounds and places we could easily have stayed at longer, 40 Mile Beach certainly produced the goods over the several days we were there.

However, it was time to head 50 minutes north to Karratha to catch up with family and stock up on groceries, before driving 20 minutes west to a small caravan park in the seaside town of Dampier.

Dampier This coastal town is a major industrial port for iron ore, salt and natural gas.

After stopping at the Red Dog monument for a quick photo with the kids, we pulled into the little Dampier Caravan Park on the water, overlooking Hampton Harbour and Rio Tinto’s massive ship-loading facility.

With the wind still down, no time was wasted.

I immediately looked into hiring a boat to explore the Dampier Archipelago – a group of 42 spectacular islands.

I got onto North West Boat Hire and hired out their 4.6m side console that looked almost new and had a quality Lowrance HDS Live 9 set up to read the bottom at speed.

I was able to pick the

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boat up from Karratha the evening before, meaning I could be packed and on the water before sunrise the next morning.

With shipping traffic, submerged rocks and heaps of channel markers, plenty of hazards were around to navigate, so I waited until there was enough light to see.

Lauren, an avid angler and spearfisher friend who lives in Karratha, came to see us and gave me an indication of a few areas to try around the Dampier Archipelago.

I was particularly keen to catch a spanish mackerel.

So, with a game plan and great weather forecast, solo I headed out 18NM through the maze of islands and started sounding around.

I trolled two Rapala X-Rap 30cm Magnums as I kept an eye on the sounder.

After 30 minutes of trolling, I had nothing, though was able to mark some good ground, so I went back to have a drop with a slab of mullet on a paternoster rig.

I had a good fish on almost immediately but halfway up it was sharked, something I was warned about.

I went back over the mark that was showing some good fish – however, I just could not get a fish past the sharks, which was frustrating.

With my small supply of snapper leads depleted, I moved on.

There were whales

breaching everywhere and that was a little daunting.

I sent the drone up for a bird’s-eye view and got some great footage of a whale and her calf.

An additional challenge was getting the drone back in the boat – after a few failed attempts, I was relieved to have it back in my hands.

I headed further out to try another area and, moments after spotting bait and couple of arches on the sounder, both rods started screaming.

I grabbed the rod that I thought had the better fish and, after a couple more screaming runs, had a nice spanish on the gaff and in the boat.

The second fish had dropped the lure, which was probably a good thing.

I set up a troll run again and, because I was fishing solo, decided to use only the one rod.

It didn’t take long to hook up again and I * continued P58

The author hired a boat to explore the Dampier Archipelago and target spanish mackerel.

Gnoorea Point at 40 Mile Beach is a great campground, with heaps of fishing options.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 57

TOURING & exploring Pottering around Pilbara perfection * from P57

A whale with her calf off the Dampier Archipelago.

The author’s daughter with one of many bream caught from an island off Dampier, with the 4.6m hire boat in the background.

The author’s daughters had a ball fishing Dampier.

Page 58 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

landed another nice mackerel that had a couple of big bull sharks on its tail.

As the bag limit is three and because there were plenty of people to share the catch around with back at the caravan park, I was keen to get a third spaniard.

I released a few smaller fish and eventually upgraded to a solid model of about 15kg.

Even with bull sharks circling, it was mission accomplished!

I headed back to the ramp at 11am and picked up my family for a little cruise and fish.

We found a nice beach with crystal-clear water on a nearby island – it was then the girls’ turn to catch a few.

As we pulled into the beach, I noticed a few big bream at the back of the boat, so I made a berley with pilchard and my daughters had a ball catching some very solid bream on their Tackleratz combos.

In 90 minutes, they had caught and released over 30 big bream and a couple of golden trevally, which had them running up and down the beach.

Had it been any earlier, the bream would have returned home for dinner.

With mackerel in the Esky, it was a fun catch and release session, with their prawns being taken within seconds of hitting the water.

It was a great day on the water and the Pilbara certainly delivered.

We shared the mackerel around the caravan park and gave a couple of bags of fillets to a family in Karratha, then spent some time checking out the local sights.

My daughters – fiveyear-old Lyla and sevenyear-old Zahlee – have become very keen little anglers, so the next day we headed over to the beach opposite the caravan park at high tide.

Again, the fishing was great.

They caught and released some beautiful little blue bone by floating prawns across the reef.

Dampier had certainly produced some of the best fishing of the trip to date.

It was then time to pack up and move on – 45 minutes up the road to a coastal camp called Cleaverville.

Cleaverville The area was huge – we had another great campsite overlooking the beach at Cleaverville.

Western Australia certainly has some incredible coastal camps and most have a caretaker on site.

Though unfortunately, the good weather had come to an end.

We had a strong 25-knot wind blowing onshore – a shame because I believed Cleaverville would have produced similar results to 40 Mile Beach.

That said, I couldn’t really complain, having had over a week of glassy conditions.

I spent a couple of hours fishing from the

bank of the small creek and caught an estuary cod, several small bream and a couple of blacktip reef sharks.

The area was said to produce good crabs, however I had no luck with the dillies at the small natural boat ramp.

Cleaverville was a place where a rooftop tinnie would definitely open up the fishing options.

As I was collecting a few livies with a cast net, a couple of Victorians – who’d ‘had a few’ – came over for a chat, having never seen a cast net thrown because they’re not permitted in Victoria.

I did my best to give them a lesson, and after a few laughs they eventually got the hang of it.

With a couple of days of relentless wind, sand blasting and the forecast showing similar conditions for the next week, we decided to pack up early.

We made our way to Port Hedland and checked out the small towns of Cossack, Wickham and Point Sampson along the way.

Point Sampson was said to be a great fishing location too, but with the wind absolutely howling and the ocean a milky washing machine, I didn’t bother getting the rods out.

Port Hedland and Karijini National Park As we arrived in Port Hedland, it became clear that mining is big business in this Pilbara town – said to be the * continued P59

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TOURING & exploring Road to Quilpie central Queensland

H

A beautiful painted crayfish from 40 Mile Beach.

Pilbara perfection * from P58

world’s largest bulk port, with exports of salt, iron ore and lithium concentrate.

After checking out Port Hedland for a couple of days and with the wind not easing, we stocked up on supplies and headed 350km inland to Dales Campground at Karijini National Park.

As expected, I couldn’t leave Port Hedland without having a quick fish, so I headed to 6 Mile Creek to flick a Gold Bomber from the rocks and landed a couple of little giant trevally in quick succession.

It looked like the area would hold mangrove jack and barramundi at times and would definitely be worth investing a little time into if you’re travelling to the area.

On the drive out to Karijini, there were numerous road trains, with some stretching to over 70m long.

Com municating with a UHF is vital if you plan to overtake

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them or vice versa safely.

At Dales Campground, we set up camp on the red dirt and explored the stunning ancient landscape over the next few days.

We did a couple of the easier gorges and lookouts with the kids, including Dales Gorge, Fern Pool, Fortescue Falls and the beautiful Kalamina Gorge.

With dingoes howling in the distance, we caught up with some friends over a couple of beverages as the sun set.

While Karijini National Park wasn’t on the original plan, I’m glad we made the detour inland because it was both rugged and stunning.

After a few nights at Dales, we headed back to the coast and continued north towards Broome, stopping along the way to camp at Cape Keraudren, Eighty Mile Beach and Barn Hill Beach Side Station, which I’ll write about in the next article.

I all, we travelled to Quilpie in central Queensland recently – to walk in the steps of my wife’s mother, who was born and raised in the town.

Sadly, Erin passed away not that long ago.

So, keen to find out what life was like for a bunch of kids growing up in such a harsh environment, we met up with two of her brothers and a sister.

We set up camp on the banks of the Bulloo River just out of town and were quickly warned that, at the first sign of rain, “get yourself off that flat or that dust will turn to mud and you’ll have no chance of getting out.”

All it would take was 30-50mm, so we watched the clouds build and a touch of lightning flicker in the distant sky.

It was enough for me to hook the caravan up in case we needed to break camp – thankfully, it was only a few drops, not enough to even settle the dust.

Quilpie is in harsh country, but it has such a charm to it.

Perhaps it’s the beautiful boulder opal found in the area or simply the beauty of our Queensland outback.

Slightly out of town is a piece of jump-up called Baldy Top Lookout.

It’s only a short climb, though offers a surprisingly beautiful 360-degree view of the harsh landscape.

Sunrise and sunset are ideal times to take in the

Central Queensland

by PAUL ‘CHIEF’ GRAVESON

view but be careful on the tracks.

Now, here’s the heads up on what the locals call ‘goats head prickles’.

Wearing thongs around your camp site in the evening is probably not a good idea.

This demonic vegetation’s prickles will pierce through your thongs effortlessly and tend to break off into unsuspecting tissue.

I can still feel a few spots where I haven’t been able to remove the offending booby traps, but as they say, do the crime, do the time.

The Quilpie Anderson descendants have been living in the area since the town was first gazetted in 1917 with the arrival of the railway.

That very same year, a young Lesley Anderson, then aged 13, was given a .22 rifle as a gift.

Family accounts have it that Les placed his rifle against the wall by his window.

He leaned out of the window to talk to some-

one and the gun discharged, fatally wounding the young man.

He was buried in the first Quilpie cemetery.

Two souls were put to rest in the earth here before the town realised the graves were located on a flood plain.

A new cemetery was located on higher ground, but the two original burial sites were left and forgotten to the scrub.

It wasn’t long ago that the family searched and found the old burial sites – they cleared the bush away and placed a metal plaque on the site to acknowledge that the young man was not forgotten.

When you travel to Quilpie, make sure you take time to view the alter at St Finbarr’s Catholic Church.

The original old wooden church was demolished and unfortunately replaced with a modern structure, however the original alter – made of * continued P60

A couple of the old spinning wheels on display at Amby’s Spin a Yarn.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 59

TOURING & exploring St Finbarr’s Catholic Church opal altar.

Viewing the landscape from Baldy Top Lookout.

Road to Quilpie central Queensland * from P59

An abundance of handmade products on display at Spin a Yarn.

The old family grave reclaimed from the scrub.

An old shearing machine. One person would turn the wheel to power the person with the shears.

Page 60 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

polished boulder opal – still captures the spirit of times passed.

It’s a reminder of the beauty that emanates from this harsh country.

It’s a land of contrasts – from the dancing brolgas on the Bulloo River to a drove of insects drawn to your campsite lights.

Leave your caravan light off or you’ll find many visitors wishing to share the comfort of your bed.

A quick tale to finish off on… Tonia and I always set up camp away from everyone – the darker and quieter, the better – so, we camped well away from the road and among the mulga bushes.

Returning after dark to an unlit black caravan provided a problem in itself – we couldn’t agree on where we’d left the van.

I suppose 20 minutes up and down tracks with a spotlight isn’t the end of the world.

It’s all part of the adventure.

We’re not sure if it

was the personal connection to the place or the harsh and untouched landscapes that left such a lasting impression on our hearts.

Another simple highlight for us was calling into the town of Amby when journeying through Maranoa country.

I’m so glad I stuck my head into the town hall there, meeting the ladies from ‘Spin a Yarn’ – a great display associated with the history of wool in the district.

The volunteers here provide a little break for weary travellers, consisting of a beverage and tasty homemade scones.

However, the true passion is the craft of spinning wool by hand, dying the wool and creating quality products using the skills and equipment from a bygone era.

I pray these historic skills are never lost.

One of the ladies even spun her own yarn from the fur of a long-haired Alsatian dog and produced a beanie.

You’ll see samples

of yarn produced from camel, mohair, cotton and alpaca, and I’m sure that at least one of the ladies had the notion of harvesting my hair.

The displays and historic records are well worth taking the time to see.

It really is a hidden gem and, if you didn’t know it was there, you’d probably drive straight through.

There were five historic spinning wheels on display and the products available for sale were of the highest quality, with most items having a unique one-off feel.

We didn’t leave the hall without Tonia making a purchase of one of the most stunning beanies I’ve ever seen.

I doubt I’ll ever see another like it.

Honestly, it looked like a designer piece from a fashion collection.

A heads up… call into Spin a Yarn – its open Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 10am to 2pm.

Thank you ladies, for your hospitality and knowledge.

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TOURING & exploring Fantastic fingermark at Pennefather

H

I, here’s the last story on my Nhulunbuy to Weipa trip.

I’d been at Pennefather River for about seven to 10 days and was able to fish and crab quite a few times – it was great fun.

At about 10am one morning at camp, a Hilux four-wheel-drive towing a 4m tinnie drove in.

Initially I thought ‘you cheeky sod’, then realised it was my old friend Eddy Bloomfield.

After chatting for a minute or two, he said the rest of his party – sister Shirley, brothers Rod and Max and Rod’s wife Ruth – were stuck.

So, having unhooked the tinnie from the Hilux, I hopped in with Eddy and we towed them out.

They returned to set up camp near me, and over the week or so I helped tow Eddy’s boat to and from the water.

Which meant, if I wanted to go fishing too, I had to then unhook his and hook my own boat back on.

On a trip upriver one day to scoop mud crabs, I left my 5m tinnie anchored in shallow water.

The next minute it was on the bottom – we ended up stuck for a couple of hours while waiting for the tide to come back in – lucky I scored five full bucks.

Up there with that adventure, when driving the 4WD along the river dragging the bait net in the shallows, Eddy, Max and I saw four crocodiles about 1-2m long.

We went back to camp

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Touring FNQ

by CRAIG TOMKINSON

to tell the others and decided to drive them back in the dark to spotlight the crocs – it was amazing.

While launching my boat one day, I got chatting to a couple of people from Mackay, who said three days of lovely calm were coming, so I thought I’d go looking for new ground.

I launched the boat and was planing along when I noticed the telltale wasn’t passing water, so I stopped, switched the motor off and trimmed it up to see if it had picked up weed or a plastic bag – no, it was clear, so I trimmed it down and started it up.

I took the cowl off to make sure the motor wasn’t overheating.

It wasn’t that hot and no alarm was going off, so I put the cowl back on and slowly headed in.

I loaded the boat on the trailer, took it up to camp and took the leg off to check the water pump impeller, which was new and fitted before this trip.

It looked fine, so I put the hose over the pickup pipe running up to the motor and found it was clogged.

I took the hose off and a heap of sand and water ran out.

After repeating this a few more times, the water started to go right through the motor and out the telltale.

I fitted the spare impeller – which comes on

every trip – and put the leg back on, then ran the motor on the muffs and everything was great.

So I was off fishing again because the day was oily calm, which is rare at Pennefather River.

Travelling a fair way north and offshore a couple of clicks, I sounded around and ran over a cracking show of bait.

I pulled up, dropped half a squid on a 80lb handline over the side and next minute it took off… I was onto a lovely fish.

Fighting it to the top and you ripper – it was a cracking fingermark!

I brain spiked and bled the fish into a 20-litre bucket of fresh seawater and dropped down again.

Bang, halfway to the * continued P62

The author’s bag of cracking fingermark. It took 10 years of looking to find the new ground they were on.

Max scored a couple of awesome blue threadfin salmon.

Rod, Max and Eddy Bloomfield with some lovely Pennefather River mangrove jack.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 61

TOURING & exploring

Time for trash talking

T Do the right thing, take your rubbish with you and call out those who don’t give a toss.

Keeping it clean, Ocean Crusaders organised a clean-up day around the Seventeen Seventy boat ramp and surrounding parklands.

HIS month I thought I’d write a piece to convey the disappointment we felt on our recent caravan trip out to Quilpie.

Just before we left our hometown of Agnes Water, Andy and Gemma from Ocean Crusaders organised a clean-up day around the Seventeen Seventy boat ramp and surrounding parklands.

Have a look at the picture of how much the crew picked up in only a few hours.

As an angler, I was embarrassed when told of the plastic bait bags accounted for in the tally.

I know when launching from the marina I often find McDonald’s cups and the food bags left at the top of the ramp.

I throw the garbage in the tray of my truck and place it in the bins pro-

vided when parking the trailer.

Sadly, the nearest McDonalds from Agnes is either in Bundaberg or Gladstone.

Surely if you’ve driven all the kilometres to get here, walking an extra minute to the bin is not too much to ask?

As we travelled out to Quilpie, we were so grateful to the many shires we passed through and the fantastic facilities they provided free to travellers’ – facilities such as overnight areas, dump points and water.

I was shocked to see how some people simply do not appreciate the opportunities provided to them.

Look at the picture of how these local councils are repaid for being considerate.

I mentioned dump points for toilet cas-

settes – which are dotted along our highways – we also have rest areas and toilets.

However, occasionally you’ll find an isolated area that has been littered with toilet paper and the stench of human urine.

Thank goodness the problem disappears the further west you travel, unfortunately though this behaviour is something I have trouble understanding.

Do the right thing!

Take your rubbish with you!

Leave the area in a natural state for others to enjoy.

Sorry to gripe – I know most look after and respect our outdoors.

But, come on people, call out those who just don’t seem to give a toss.

Paul Graveson

Fantastic fingermark at Pennefather * from P61

An amazing feed of trout and mixed reef fish.

Page 62 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

bottom was another fingermark about 70cm, so I pulled my bag and headed in.

The next day, I took Eddy and Max out to the spot and they pulled 15 cracking fingermark to 70cm – they were blown away!

It was some of the best offshore fishing they had ever done up Penny way.

And wow, I was over the moon too.

I’d put in about 10 years of looking in this area and finally found

some new ground with cracking fish on it – I cannot wait to go back to see if they’re still in the area, and what else is around there too.

We came back to clean the fish to find Rod, Ruth and Shirley were packed up ready to leave.

Because Rod’s inverter had stopped working and not wanting to go into Weipa to buy another one, they decided to leave.

Eddy and Max headed off a few days later, so I loaded them up with

fish and gave some to other friends as well.

I couldn’t help myself… I slipped out to the fingermark spot and they were still there!

I pulled five of these awesome fish in, then left them chewing their heads off and headed back to the camp.

I packed up over the next day or so and headed home.

What a great five weeks away I’d had – it was the trip of a lifetime.

Until next month, be safe on the water.

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eral chilling out.

The list of my favourite camping areas is almost too long, there are so many!

But here are some that have partial shade and great views over water.

Heading south to north along the Normanby River – Twelve Mile Lagoon, Old Faithful Waterhole, Mick Feinn Waterholes, Kalpowar Crossing,

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

in sprawling savannah landscapes that are dotted with countless giant termite mounds and intersected by abundant rivers, billabongs and swamps.

Covering more than half a million hectares of land, the park boasts 130 different campsites.

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HILE there are three ways to head north to Cape York Peninsula from Cooktown, the most commonly used route is out to Lakeland Downs, then to Laura and continuing up the Peninsula Development Rd. This time however, we are heading up Battlecamp Rd and through Rinyirru National Park – formerly Lakefield – and eventually to Marina Plains and Lilyvale roads to Musgrave.

This vast gem of a national park is clothed

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 63

03 5022 7 03 5152 3 03 5562 6 03 5443 5 03 5822 2 03 5174 1 03 9397 6 02 6024 6

TOURING & exploring Driving to Cape York from Cooktown * from P63

A solid estuarine crocodile on the banks of the Normanby River – taken with a zoom lens.

Reflections on the Normanby River. Rinyirru National Park is fabulous for photography, as well as camping and fishing.

Old Faithful Waterhole on the Normanby River is very scenic, a great barramundi habitat and a good place to see crocodiles.

Page 64 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

which does have amenities with some sites that are away from the river, Midway Waterhole and Hanush’s Waterhole, Orange Plain Waterhole and Top Whiphandle and Bottom Whiphandle waterholes are all tops and, except for the last location which has some tidal influence, all are on freshwater.

Melaleuca Waterhole is a beautiful 5km long permanent hole fed by the Normanby River in the wet season and is home to some large barramundi, as all the waterholes are.

To the west, it’s possible to camp next to the tidal Jam Tin Creek and along the fabulous North Kennedy River at the Seven Mile waterhole and Hann Crossing sites, all of which are on freshwater, except for camp 20 where it’s brackish.

Bear in mind that the campsites above the Hann Crossing are relatively shallow, the remainder are beside much deeper water.

Then further west and much closer to the Marina Plains Rd is Saltwater Crossing camping area, which is brackish, and the mosquitoes can be overly friendly!

Access to the estuaries for boat fishing is possible at Bottom Whiphandle, Brown Creek on the Bizant River and camp 20 on the North Kennedy River.

From the latter two, you can easily boat

down to the distant but magnificent Princess Charlotte Bay or fish for estuary species and mud crabs.

On high tide, fishing the mangrove edges of Princess Charlotte Bay for barramundi can be epic – the fish here must be on steroids.

The Rinyirru National Park website – parks. des.qld.gov.au/parks/ rinyirru-lakefield – has further information about the size and characteristics of each camping area, people and vehicle capacity and any boat ramps.

As with most Cape York rivers, beware of rock bars – they are plentiful!

Wildlife lovers and photographers will discover that Rinyirru abounds with wildlife and great photography opportunities.

Magnificent red-tailed black cockatoos are often seen feeding beside roads, as are imposing brolgas, while the many lagoons are home to abundant waterbirds, from hundreds of honk-

ing magpie geese to stately black-necked storks.

And of course, both estuarine and freshwater crocodiles are plentiful, though not always easy to see.

Most of the campsites are shady, however a tarp or vehicle awing is also quite useful.

Campsites need to be pre-booked – either online or by phone.

There is a phone for such purposes at Lakefield Ranger Station and mobile reception beside the road at the QPWS New Laura Ranger Station.

Distance wise, it’s 110km from Cooktown to the Old Laura Homestead – a great historical site to check out – another 60km to Lakefield Ranger Base, and a further 110km to Musgrave Roadhouse – a total of 280kms.

Mostly gravel, of course.

Rinyirru National Park is a fabulous and iconic part of Cape York Peninsula for sure!

The scenic North Kennedy River, slightly below Hann Crossing.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 65

TOURING & exploring

While not quite the swell Amaya was after, we still enjoyed exploring Wave Rock and the surrounding area.

A two-legged hippo in front of the Hippo’s Yawn.

Relaxing and enjoying having the weight of the world off our shoulders.

Page 66 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

Magical time around Hyden

A

FTER absorbing as much white sand and crystal-clear water as we could manage around Esperance and Cape Le Grand, it was time to spin the compass and head back inland.

As previously mentioned, we didn’t have a fixed plan, only a set timeline for our trip.

This flexibility is certainly a bonus because you can chop and change depending on what interesting places you hear about or find when searching the web – that’s if your Starlink is working of course, but I’ll leave that topic for another time.

In Australia, we’re fortunate to have country surrounded by spectacular coastlines, which we love,

Family Adventures

by BEN COLLINS

yet we’re also spoilt for choices as inland and the outback are just as amazing.

Hyden – Wave Rock and Hippo’s Yawn The decision was made to head to Hyden and check out Wave Rock.

Initially the name put a big smile on Amaya’s face because she was getting into surfing, but this particular ‘swell’ rises from the outback plains with no surf in sight.

Despite this, she and the rest of our crew were still keen to check it out.

We arrived late to Hyden, so the plan was to set up camp at the local caravan park –

entry to Wave Rock, Hippo’s Yawn and Lake Magic is part of your night’s accommodation, so it’s well worth it.

Though be sure you’re aware of what times you can see these attractions – we were a little time poor and had only a morning to fit it all in.

That said, we’re always keen for a power hike, and we set off to explore Wave Rock.

Standing about 15m tall and having a concave shape, the massive rock did resemble a wave that our kids pretended to surf.

Aside from this novelty, the sheer size of * continued P67

www.bnbfishing.com. au

TOURING & exploring Magical time around Hyden * from P66

the rock ensured its impressiveness.

Measuring close to 110m long, the massive ‘surf’ break depicted an array of colours that changed depending on the direction the light hitting it was coming from.

The ancient granite formation was said to be around 2.7 billion years old and formed from years of wind and rain.

Not even half a century… yet, I felt a little better about my age after climbing and exploring the rock.

From the impressive Wave Rock, a short hike around the base of it sees you at another tourist attraction – Hippo’s Yawn.

These names, while interesting to say the least, are quite descriptive, with Hippo’s Yawn looking exactly like one.

This spot provided

the opportunity of a little climbing, and we traversed the back of the mouth of the ‘hippo’.

Wave Rock Salt Baths Despite being under construction or renovation when we visited, the Wave Rock Salt Baths were still an amazing place to check out.

A short drive from the caravan park at Wave Rock, you’re greeted by a circular pool that is said to have better buoyancy and therapeutic properties than the Dead Sea. As you slowly walk into the bath, you realise instantly how buoyant the water is.

And rather than struggling with it and trying to swim, simply rolling over and laying on your back will ensure you’re in the best position to enjoy this unreal spot.

Lake Magic Situated immediate-

ly opposite the Wave Rock Salt Baths is Lake Magic, which gets its name from its ability to change colour from green to pink over the course of the day.

The angle of the sun has a lot to do with this phenomenon, so no matter what time you arrive, the colour will be slightly different when you leave.

Sunrise and sunset are the pick of times to view this unique lake.

And, Lake Magic is another salt-dense lake that you can float in.

If you are going for a swim, make sure to park the car away from the edge because it can be fairly boggy and there’s a $500 fee to get your bogged fourwheel-drive out.

Granite Skywalk Despite arriving slightly before sunset with a storm approaching, we made the call to try smashing out the * continued P68

An aerial view of the spectacular Granite Skywalk.

www.bnbfishing.com.au

The wind pumped at the summit of Castle Hill and on the Granite Skywalk as a storm closed in. Thankfully, the author’s not afraid of heights, though that can’t be said for all of his family.

The final section of the Granite Skywalk required clambering along a rockface while hanging onto grab rails, which was then followed by an enclosed ladder climb.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 67

TOURING & exploring Magical time around Hyden * from P67

We found that by making the walks fun for the kids meant they powered through as we smashed them out in record times.

Nature is amazing – this massive boulder was perched precariously on the edge of a mountain near the top of the Granite Skywalk.

Page 68 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

4.7km return hike up the Castle Rock Trail in the Porongurup National Park.

Thankfully our crew is well versed in pumping out treks, so all were keen to start on the hike, which had a gain in altitude of over 260m, including a 6m ladder at the end.

The upward walk winded its way through a jarrah-lined forest that kept the temperature down as we maintained a steady pace.

After stopping for a quick photo and drink at the balancing rock, we were soon on our way again.

When you arrive to the lower lookout, you can choose to head up the final climb or simply enjoy the view.

Of course, we chose the latter and were soon scrambling our way along grab points, up the enclosed ladder and along the suspended skywalk.

Despite there being a

fair bit of cloud and pumping wind, the reward of a spectacular view was worth the effort.

I could have spent ages watching the storm clouds forming but we needed to get back before it rained, and find a free camp for the night.

Free camping One of the reasons we opted to take our caravan was its ability to be off grid for a few days or more – if the sun was shining or you had a drive, both or either would charge the battery.

The beauty of free camping – aside from it not costing anything, and these days you can pay about $100 a night for an average caravan park – is it gives you a little freedom.

And freedom was a big part of what we wanted to achieve on this holiday.

We wanted to get away from the daily

grind – the 8-5 Monday to Friday workday.

Another bonus of free camping is no checkin or check-out times, though we tried to not arrive too late if we were at a popular spot.

Not only to ensure we scored a place to camp but also out of respect to fellow campers.

While occasionally this isn’t always possible, when arriving late, if you keep noise to a minimum, other campers should be happy with your efforts.

For us though, we frequently tried to find a little secluded spot away from others.

And this was done carefully, taking into consideration travelling with three females, touring by ourselves and selecting isolated places.

If you use some common sense and read previous reviews, you should be fine – we were for our entire holiday.

Our free camp for the night was next to a vineyard and just down the road from the skywalk, and we had the place to ourselves.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 69

Up until about half a century ago, trout cod were not even identified as a separate species to Murray cod.

Near extinct trout cod fight back

B With trout cod, population re-introduction was into small creeks of about 400 fish.

Habitat loss and alien fish are mostly responsible for the decline in trout cod numbers.

Renowned fish ecologist Associate Professor Mark Lintermans tells OzFish that all of the re-introduction efforts were a numbers game – it’s about how many fish you can put in and how long you can do it for.

Page 70 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

Y the time trout cod were identified as a species in Australia, they were almost extinct.

But, according to renowned fish ecologist Associate Professor Mark Lintermans, thanks to decades of conservation efforts, they are on the verge of being upgraded from endangered to vulnerable.

University of Canberra’s Centre for Applied Water Science, Freshwater Fisheries Ecology and Management, Assoc Prof Lintermans has been at the forefront of native fish protection and habitat restoration for more than 30 years.

Up until about half a century ago, trout cod were not even identified as a separate species to Murray cod.

They are currently listed as endangered, and anyone who catches one must immediately release it back into the water with minimal harm or face heavy fines.

As part of an extended interview with OzCast – the official podcast of OzFish Unlimited, Australia’s fishing conservation charity – Assoc Prof Lintermans said, “They are a species that was so misunderstood.”

“Trout cod was de-

scribed as a separate species in 1972 and since then there’s been another two cod species described.

“We have four freshwater cod in Australia – they’re all threatened.

“A fish is a fish to a whole lot of people’s eyes, and they don’t understand the subtle differences.

“Murray cod are a yellow-green colour with coarser mottling and trout cod are this blueygrey speckled colour.

“By the time they were recognised as a separate species, they were in deep trouble and we’ve been pedalling as fast as we can to try and recover them.”

In the 1800s and early 1900s there were commercial fisheries all through the Murray Darling Basin, so huge amounts of fish were going to markets for food after being caught in totally unsustainable ways.

Trout cod disappeared altogether from several rivers in Victoria, NSW and around Canberra in the 1970s.

“They’re a great angling species, a bit more aggressive than Murray cod,” Assoc Prof Lintermans said.

“If you had the two cod species in one lo-

cation and you flicked a lure out, trout cod would hit it first and hard.

“People loved to fish for them.

“Back in those days, fish were a limitless resource.

“There were millions of them in the water, so you’d just catch them hand over fist, and that didn’t do them any favours.

“They tend to occur in slightly faster and deeper water and they’re slightly more aggressive, so the remaining isolated populations got hammered harder by recreational fishers, but it was habitat loss and alien fishes that are mostly responsible for their decline.”

The major factor that has helped their partial recovery and upward trajectory is that they breed well in captivity, with as many as 40,000 eggs produced by single female trout cod.

“We’ve been going at it for 30 years, but I think they’ve improved in conservation status,” Assoc Prof Lintermans said.

“They’re still listed as endangered, though we did a review about three years ago and we reckon they have improved to ‘vulnerable’. * continued P71

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Trout cod fight back after near extinction * from P70

“With trout cod, we started re-introducing populations into small creeks and we would put about 400 fish in a stream.

“All of these re-introduction efforts are a numbers game – it’s about how many fish you can put in and how long you can do it for.”

Assoc Prof Lintermans has worked extensively with OzFish and other community groups and government agencies in habitat restoration, which is crucial to ensuring methods such as restocking waterways for threatened fish to have a better chance of success.

Stocking on its own is not enough, with a project in the Ovens River in northeastern Victoria where about 30,000 trout cod were stocked annually for a decade highlighting how it’s not a sure-fire solution.

“In that 10-year stocking program, there were only two where the stockings did really well,” Assoc Prof Lintermans said.

“What you’ve got to do is keep things going for a length of time, so you can hit the good years when the flows and temperature are just right and you’re in the ‘Goldilocks’ zone – everything is just right and your stocking takes.

“If you did it for only two years and they were bad years, then you’ve

missed out, you’ve failed.

“It’s about perseverance, it’s about bloody-minded people who just want to keep going.”

There’s often an outcry when a native animal becomes extinct, though Assoc Prof Lintermans said aquatic species don’t get the same kind of attention as their landbased counterparts.

“We have no freshwater fish known to have become extinct in Australia,” he said.

“We probably lost some before we knew they were species.

“It’s currently estimated that we’ve described only two thirds of our freshwater fish.

“Some of them we sort of think we know what they are.

“The majority of those are small bodied.”

Some people argue that animals that are endangered should be left to become extinct because they’re not tough enough.

“Well, I don’t think that’s right, otherwise you’d just let everything go,” Assoc Prof Lintermans said.

“You could kiss koalas goodbye for starters.

“You say that to people and they’d be up in arms.

“If a fish goes extinct, they’re probably a little more relaxed about it.”

The delicate balance between fish and surviv-

al hinges upon the restoration of vital habitats.

As the plight of threatened fish echoes through Australia’s rivers and streams, the urgency becomes ever more apparent.

By embracing the call to action, we hold the power to rejuvenate these aquatic ecosystems, ensuring the continuity of both the intricate biodiversity they harbour and the stories they whisper for generations to come.

With Mark Lintermans and other dedicated people fighting the good fight for Australia’s native fish, their chances of survival are on the rise, particularly with the backing of organisations such as OzFish.

Mark Lintermans is considered a leading expert in freshwater ecology and fish conservation in Australia.

The second edition of his book Fishes of the Murray-Darling Basin was released recently.

Paul Suttor OzFish Unlimited

Assoc Prof Lintermans confirms trout cod are on the verge of being upgraded from endangered to vulnerable.

As part of an extended interview with OzCast, Assoc Prof Lintermans said, “They are a species that was so misunderstood.”

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Mark Lintermans is considered a leading expert in freshwater ecology and fish conservation in Australia, with the second edition of his book Fishes of the Murray-Darling Basin released recently. www.bnbfishing.com.au

CREATING BETTER HABITAT FOR BETTER FISHING Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 71

Below are the Crystal Bowl dashboards for Baroon Pocket and Borumba, Maroon and Moogerah dams, thanks to Bill Sawynok of Infofish Australia and Lloyd Willmann from FFSAQ.

T

HIS dashboard is a 10-year summary of stocking and tagging in Lake Maroon and a five-year summary of taggers and those recapturing fish.

Lake Maroon

Lake Maroon

has been regularly stocked with Australian bass, golden perch, silver perch and Mary River cod by the Maroon-Moogerah Fish Management Association.

While bass and gold-

Fishers 2019-June 2023.

T

HIS dashboard is a 10-year summary of stocking and tagging in Lake Borumba and a five-year summary of taggers and those recapturing fish.

Lake Borumba is stocked by the Lake Borumba Fish Stock-

Lake Borumba for most of 2022, with a peak in February.

Conditions in the lake were difficult and catch rates were low, so the tagging effort dropped dramatically, as did recaptures.

It is likely that significant numbers of

fish left the impoundment during spilling events last year.

There were eight recaptures below the dam, even though flooding conditions limited fishing activity, and there were no recaptures in the lake.

Since the spilling,

Fish 2014-June 2023.

Product of Infofish Page 72 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

eight fish tagged per day, while the level of trophy fish over 50cm tagged remains around 0.5 percent.

The tagging effort has increased in 2023.

The longest time out for a bass after

Fish 2014-June 2023.

ing Association with Australian bass, golden perch, silver perch, southern saratoga and Mary River cod.

For every 10,000 fingerlings stocked there were 88 bass and four golden perch tagged.

Borumba has spilled

Fishers 2019-June 2023.

en perch have been stocked in similar numbers, the ratio of fish tagged is 44 bass to one golden perch.

The tag rate for bass has remained consistently high over the past decade at over

tagging was mostly around 13 years, however one fish was recaptured after 19.4 years.

Fishers recapturing fish mostly live less than 100km from the lake, coming from Ipswich, Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Scenic Rim. Despite the extensive flooding in southeast Queensland in 2022, reports indicate Lake Maroon did not spill to any extent and no fish were recorded as being caught outside the impoundment.

fish have been recaptured as far down as Maryborough and in Tinana Creek.

The low level of effort has continued in 2023 with no recaptures in the lake and 11 below the dam, suggesting there was a significant exodus of fish during the spilling.

Fishers recapturing fish are mostly from the local Gympie area, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, however it draws fishers from the Darling Downs, Hervey Bay and interstate.

Supported by Suntag & FFSAQ www.bnbfishing.com. au

T

HIS dashboard is a 10-year summary of stocking and tagging in Lake Baroon and a five-year summary of taggers and those recapturing fish.

Lake Baroon is stocked by Ewen Maddock Fish Management Inc with

Lake Baroon

Australian bass and Mary River cod.

Lake Baroon has been regularly stocked with Australian bass and Mary River cod by the Ewen Maddock Fish Management Inc. From 2012-2020 there were 77,200 bass and 6500 Mary River cod stocked.

T

Lake Moogerah

Lake Moogerah has been regularly stocked with Australian bass, golden perch, silver perch and Mary River cod by the Maroon-Moogerah Fish Management Association.

While 24 percent more bass than golden perch were stocked, the ratio of tagged

Fishers 2019-June 2023.

fish is 102 bass to two golden perch.

The tag rate for bass rose steadily from 2016 to over 20 fish per day in 2022, however the last year’s figure has been influenced by some taggers using bait and catching large numbers of fish per day.

The tag rate re-

mains high in 2023, at around 15 fish per day.

The high tag rate is likely to have contributed to the increase in tagging effort.

The longest time out for a bass after tagging was mostly around 12 years, however one fish was recaptured after 26 years.

Fish 2014-June 2023.

Product of Infofish www.bnbfishing.com.au

per day, however that is influenced by a number of days where bait fishing resulted in large numbers of fish, over 20, tagged.

The lake spilled on a number of occasions during 2022 making fishing conditions difficult, which restricted tagging.

Fish 2014-June 2023.

Fishers 2019-June 2023.

HIS dashboard is a 10-year summary of stocking and tagging in Lake Moogerah with a focus on both the fish and the fishers that take advantage of the impoundment, providing an overview of trends in aspects of stock and activity.

From 2014-2023 there have been 1150 bass tagged for 78 recaptures – 6.2 percent.

There were insufficient days fished to provide an annual recapture rate.

The overall recapture rate from 20142023 was 10.6 fish

The spilling resulted in fish leaving the lake and, along with the fishing conditions, this resulted in a reduction in recaptures.

Tagging in the first half of 2023 was also limited.

With the spilling of the lake in 2022, fish have been recaptured all the way down the Mary River as far as Maryborough and even in Tinana Creek.

Based on where recapture fishers live, Lake Baroon is mainly fished by locals from the Sunshine Coast with some fishers coming from Brisbane.

This was a fish tagged in 1994 and recaptured in 2020 in Tingalpa Creek and was the longest time between tagging and recapture for a freshwater fish anywhere.

Fishers recapturing fish are mostly local living less than 100km from the lake, coming from Ipswich, Brisbane and the Scenic Rim. Following the 2011 spilling of the lake, six bass were recaptured below the dam, while following the 2022 spill, there were 13 recaptures, all immediately below the dam.

Supported by Suntag & FFSAQ Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 73

FFSAQ Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme survey results

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A display by the Freshwater Fishing and Stocking Association of Queensland featured at Ekka.

FFSAQ at Ekka 2023

F

OR the nine days of this year’s Royal Queensland Show – known to Queenslanders as the Ekka – a display by the Freshwater Fishing and Stocking Association of Queensland was featured.

The display included an aquarium, information and fishing and trail guides, and was included in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ stand.

Many show visitors checked out the display, asked many questions and sought general information about what fish are stocked in the impoundments, and the impacts of the noxious fish they are catching in their local waterways.

Many copies of the SIPS Dam Trail Guides were handed out for the five regions

of Queensland, with the most interest in the southeast Queensland guide.

More than 2700 copies of the July 2023 Queensland Recreational Fishing Guide were handed out to showgoers, as were the Women in Recreational Fishing Network cards, with about 10 females signing up to the network during and since the Ekka.

Having the Queensland Fisheries and Boating Patrol compliance officers on the stand to answer and explain the many rules relating to freshwater fishing and the marine sector was also beneficial.

A thank you from FFSAQ to DAF for the invitation to setup on the stand and for supporting the dissemination of information to the angler sector.

Show visitors checked out the display and asked many questions.

Page 74 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

HE survey regarding the current Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme fee structure sent out by the Freshwater Fishing and Stocking Association of Queensland at the beginning of July is now closed and the results are below.

Nineteen responses were received with seven supporting the pre-2015 fee structure and twelve supporting the post-2015 fee structure.

There were a number of comments included with the survey responses received, some are below.

I would spend a fair and reasonable amount more money each year to include my wife on my SIPS. I only purchase one SIPS each year, it would be nice for retired couples to both be able to afford to go freshwater fishing in Queensland.

Change name to ‘All Freshwater Fishing Permit’, been working a treat in NSW for many years, cheaper permit, more dollars for administration and restocking.

Should be altered from Stocked Impoundments Scheme to Freshwater Permit Scheme, then fees reduced to $36.50 a year, no concessional, and $10.00 weekly – then more total fees.

I would love to be able to afford to go freshwater fishing with my husband, we used to fish together when the SIPS allowed for the spouse or partner to be in-

cluded on one permit.

If the SIPS cost half the price again to include spouse or partner, I think that you would find an increase of revenue from the huge amount of grey nomads who can only afford to pay for one $60.00 permit.

One $90.00 permit for two anglers would see your revenue increase by 50 percent from the masses of oldies hoping to enjoy their retirement.

Perhaps the SIPS scheme could also come into line with boat licenses and be charged to anglers 16 years and older.

Grey nomads take more than their fair share of stocked fish.

If they can afford a van and big 4x4, they can afford two permits.

I would like to see the reintroduction of a spouse or partner permit as this will generate more revenue than purchasing a weekly permit for your partner.

I also believe that the SIPS permit age limit should be reduced to 16 years of age as this is the age to obtain a boat licence.

Most of these 16-18-year-old people will out-fish an adult.

What about introducing an ‘All-Waters Permit’ – saltwater and freshwater.

It has been talked about previously and I believe it is operating interstate quite successfully.

I would like to see the reintroduction of a spouse or partner permit.

Lower the age that you have to have a SIPS. Introducing an ALL-water permit – saltwater and freshwater.

I would like the SIPS to include the spouse again.

I would be happy to pay extra but not for the price of two permits.

If you need to raise revenue, consider introducing an ‘All-Water Permit’ like NSW and include saltwater and freshwater rivers.

Perhaps consider lowering the age for a SIPS from 18 to 16 to come in line with boat licenses, that will also gain more revenue.

The SIPS permit has become very expensive.

While I understand that funds need to be raised to purchase fingerlings for stocking, I wonder if a permit like NSW might be an idea and raise funds from all anglers in Queensland.

That may also fund the reintroduction of the spouse or partner to the SIPS. I fish with a lot of younger anglers who can out-fish many adults, they have their own boats and a lot of time on their hands.

I think that if you are old enough to operate a power boat, you are old enough to pay for a SIPS. Reintroduce a family or partner permit.

Look at reducing the age for a permit to 16 years of age.

Introduce a freshwater or an all-water fishing permit.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Increasing chances to snag a bite

F

Camden Council completed a project to encourage the population of Australian bass to increase in the Nepean River at Spring Farm. Before completion.

After the project completion. The works will also assist the passage of the Australian bass through that area.

ISHING in Camden is set to get a whole lot better after Camden Council completed a project recently that will encourage the increase in population of Australian bass in the Nepean River at Spring Farm.

The works will also assist the passage of the Australian bass through that area.

Project works included: • Bank stabilisation and erosion control • Addition of large woody debris as fish habitat • Ongoing removal of balloon vine

carry out this project to make their wishes come true,” Mayor Cagney said.

“We hope that in time these works will allow Australian bass to thrive through the Nepean.”

Funding for the project was assisted by NSW Department of Primary Industries Fisheries’ Recreational Fishing Trust’s Habitat Action Grant Program.

You can find out more about the project by visiting Camden Council’s website – camden.nsw.gov.au/en vironment/waterways/ waterway-projects

• Planting more than 1500 native plants to stabilise the bank and provide habitat.

The more than 1500 plants were planted, thanks to 55 volunteers who took part in the council’s ‘Plant trees to help fishies’ event.

Camden Mayor Ashleigh Cagney said local anglers would be incredibly pleased with the works.

“We’ve received a lot of feedback from locals saying they would like to fish in the Nepean River and its surrounding lakes and so we wanted to

New fish passage for Fitzroy Barrage thanks to Rookwood Weir

T

HE Rookwood Weir project is helping fish species move safely and more freely in the lower Fitzroy River system.

As part of the project’s environmental offset strategy, a $7 million fishway is to be added to the Fitzroy Barrage, located at Rockhampton, downstream of the weir.

Construction of the fishway will support 12 jobs and provide 31 native fish species access to 545ha of habitat.

The new fishway design features ‘cone’ type blocks throughout the structure and will enable smaller fish to

migrate upstream and downstream of the river from the north side of the barrage.

The infrastructure will be built on the north side of the barrage, which is the left bank when looking downstream, and supplements two fishways on the south side, or right bank.

Q ue ensla nd-ba se d construction firm Pensar Infrastructure will construct the fishway and work was scheduled to start in August.

Sunwater has worked closely with owner of the barrage, Rockhampton Regional Council, to ensure operation of the new fishway main-

Rookwood Weir proposed three-dimensional plan.

Source: Sunwater www.bnbfishing.com.au

tains water security for the region and complies with regulations.

The fishway is one of the six additional projects being delivered as part of the Rookwood Weir Project.

Road upgrades at Gogango and Thirsty Creek have been completed, as has construction of the 260m long Riverslea Bridge.

Work on the Hanrahan and the Foleyvale crossing upgrades has also commenced.

Rookwood Weir, located approximately 180km upriver of the Fitzroy Barrage, has one of Australia’s most innovative fish locks.

This landmark piece of infrastructure and the new Fitzroy Barrage fishway will allow for effective species migration and better connect fish populations to their habitat.

The Rookwood workforce continues to make great progress on-site with construction of the weir more than 90 percent complete.

Federal Minister for

the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek said, “The fish lock and fish passage as part of the Rookwood Weir project is a great example of environmental, economic and social benefits being delivered hand in hand.”

“This will connect

fish to their natural habitat where they eat, shelter and breed.”

The Queensland and Australian governments have contributed $183.6 million each to the total spend and Sunwater is funding the remainder of the $568.9 million Rookwood Weir.

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A nice by-catch when targeting bass. There are some quality golden perch to be had at this time of year.

Violet with a victim of her favourite lure, the OarGee Plow. She loves catching bass but not holding them.

Tony captured the type of bass that draws anglers to Lake Somerset, taken on a 60mm Oar-Gee Plow.

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www.bnbfishing.com.au Page 76 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

Notes for Lake Somerset newbies

F

OLLOWING the theme of helping newcomers to the sport by providing a little factual information as a head start, this month we’ll be looking at one of southeast Queensland’s most popular man-made lakes – Lake Somerset.

Somerset was my regular stomping ground through most of the 1980s, from when it was home initially to hatchery reared golden and silver perch.

The lake’s popularity ramped up substantially with the advent of bass stocking and later when open water angling for that species was being explored.

Though the average size of bass caught here – and in most other lakes – has dropped since those glory days, there are still trophy class fish caught every year.

If my recall is accurate – a rarity these days – the current all-tackle world record was caught in Lake Somerset.

As mentioned, the bass fishery in Somerset is largely an open water scenario.

Large schools of fish congregate along the edges of the sunken river channel and other drop-offs in the main basin of the lake.

Fishing for Sport

by NEIL SCHULTZ

You can justifiably ignore any areas of the lake north of Kirkleagh Rd and concentrate your efforts anywhere between there and the Spit.

Check out one of the Australian Fishing Network fishing maps of the lake and you’ll pick up the local names for various spots.

Reliable areas vary from year to year, so a little local knowledge can shortcut your exploration.

Asking at any local tackle outlets will usually reveal up-to-date information on which spots are producing bass.

As a general rule of thumb, schools of bass will be holding in water between about 7-12m.

When searching for bass schools, we’ll start trolling from the ramp basically and make our way along the edge of the sunken river channel, sticking to our elected depth contour.

Once a strike is taken, we’ll mark the spot on the GPS and make repeated passes, particularly if fish are visible on the sounder.

If no subsequent strikes occur and the school looks good, try changing lure size and colour to see if that’s the trigger.

Once convinced the fish are inactive, re-commence your run along the edge of the channel until another school is found or strike * continued P77

Old reliable, the 65mm Predatek Boomerang. If I had a dollar for every bass I’ve caught on these, I could buy a new boat!

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Notes for Lake Somerset newbies * from P76

is taken, then repeat.

Trolling is a most effective way to explore new water and will cover more ground per hour than other methods.

Tackle for bass trolling can be either spin or baitcast, whichever you have on hand – my preference has always been baitcast tackle.

Rods should be a fast taper with a rigid bottom half and a firm enough tip not to fold over too much under the load of a deep-running lure.

When it comes to line choice, the finer the line the more strikes you’ll acquire, so load up a very fine braid with at least 1.5m of 4kg leader.

Lure choices are numerous, with Australian manufacturers answering the call for small

slim-bodied deep-diving lures.

Like most old-timers who’ve been into the sport for decades, I’ve run hundreds of different lure models through our bass lakes.

Though I keep going back to a couple of reliable designs.

I’m never on a bass lake without a 65mm Predatek Boomerang in the water.

When I was keeping accurate records, that lure design accounted for more than 2000 bass in one year in my boat.

I run both the deep and ultra-deep models in several colours, with black or purple being a good choice on most days, though Hot Tiger also accounts for a lot of fish in Lake Somerset.

Another favourite is the 5m model of the

60mm Oar-Gee Plow in colours RD, MF and F being productive – possibly because they’re the ones currently in my granddaughter’s tackle box, so go in the water most frequently.

Popular wisdom for trolling speed is as slow as possible, however we troll at ‘bass speed’, which is 2.2 knots, or 4km/h on the GPS. Lures are run 20m behind the boat at the start of the day, with drop back lengthened or shortened to alter the running depth as required.

If you spend a day trolling in about 8m of water between the Hump and Queen St, you’ll be in the right region to score one of those fat impoundment bass for which Lake Somerset is renowned.

Something a little unusual, a stunning Lake Somerset tilapia taken on a trolled Predatek Boomerang.

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Winners will be announced in the Friday e-news update.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 77

By entering the Wyaralong Dam Carp & Tilapia Fishing Competition, you’ll be helping to remove some of the noxious carp and tilapia from the dam. Photos: Jason and Nicole of Pest Fishing Adventures

So, if you’re free on October 21, come out to Wyaralong Dam, bring the kids, throw a line in and help eradicate some of these pest fish.

Wyaralong Dam Carp and Tilapia Fishing Competition

I

T’S on again, the annual Logan & Albert Fish Management Association’s Wyaralong Dam Carp and Tilapia Fishing Competition will be held Saturday October 21, 2023.

This is a one-day family oriented fun fishing event aimed at catching pest fish.

By entering this competition, you will help remove some of the noxious carp and tilapia from the dam, as well as help LAFMA raise funds to supplement money received from the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme.

This is also a major fundraiser for the stocking of the Logan and Albert rivers system because no annual funds are allocated from the Queensland State Government for this purpose.

There are heaps of prizes and giveaways, plus one lucky entrant could go home with a kayak.

You don’t even have to catch a fish to be in the running for this ripper of a prize.

Fishing can be done from the bank, kayak or canoe, even your boat – as long as you don’t

start the motor, this is an electric only impoundment – motors can be left on but must not be started.

We are now 25 years down the track from where it all started.

The ‘carp out, natives in’ concept was started by a small group of concerned anglers in the Rathdowney Beaudesert area to get introduced noxious carp out of the Logan and Albert rivers system and replaced with native fish.

Wyaralong Dam, 14km northwest of Beaudesert, was completed in 2011 and filled almost on completion.

LAFMA decided to take on Wyaralong Dam as a project for its fish stocking program in 2012.

As the Logan and Albert rivers system was

Page 78 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

already infested with carp and tilapia, we knew it wouldn’t be long before these pests took over the dam.

Ranked in the top 100 invasive species worldwide, tilapia have a wide range of environmental impacts in Australia and internationally.

From spreading diseases and parasites to damaging the banks and bottoms of rivers, carp and tilapia can make waterways unliveable for our native species and less enjoyable for recreational swimming, boating and fishing.

Tilapia and carp fishing can be a challenging and enjoyable experience, and is encouraged to help control populations, though what should you do with them once they’re caught?

It’s important to re-

member that tilapia and carp must not be kept or released.

Instead, humanely dispose of them as soon as possible, either in a bin or buried above the high-water mark.

Even dead tilapia can spread their young as females carry eggs and babies in their mouths.

We all have a biosecurity responsibility to help protect our waterways from further tilapia and other invasive species introductions.

In 2013, we re-invented the Carpbuster competitions of old, though concentrated on Wyaralong Dam only.

All net profit from these competitions will be spent on Australian bass and Mary River cod fingerlings to stock in both the dam and Logan and Albert rivers system.

LAFMA, in conjunction with Fisheries Queensland, decided to make Wyaralong Dam a trophy Mary River cod fishery, stocking mainly this species with a backup of Australian bass.

Since 2014, 95,600 Mary River cod fingerlings and 200,000 bass fingerlings have been released into the dam.

As the dam has been on the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme for only a few years, these competitions and other fundraising activities have allowed us to supplement the SIPS grants and provide funding for re-stocking the Logan and Albert rivers system with bass and the endangered Mary River cod.

For the 2022 competition, 280 competitors – including 98 juniors and teens – removed a total of 1174 pest fish from the dam.

There were 244 carp and 930 tilapia removed, with the heaviest carp weighing in at 4.305kg and the heaviest tilapia at 2.855kg.

So, if you’re free on October 21, come out to Wyaralong Dam, bring the kids, throw a line in and help eradicate some of these pest fish.

For more information, entry forms and further details, go to our website - lafma.org For those 18 years and over, note that a Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish Wyaralong Dam. Lloyd Willmann LAFMA Secretary 0429 614 892

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Carp Comp Flyer 2023 Final.pdf 1 24/08/2023 5:33:37 AM

WYARALONG DAM CARP & TILAPIA FISHING COMP SATURDAY 21 OCTOBER 2023

Fishing from 7am

Weigh-in closes 2pm. BBQ & drinks all day!

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Prize Categories:

Nominations:

• • • •

Registrations will be taken on site at the dam from 4pm to 6pm Fri 20th Oct & from 5.30am Sat 21st Oct 2023. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for links to online rego.

Senior, Teen & Junior Biggest & Most Carp Biggest & Most Tilapia Registration prizes (Rego prize winners don’t even need to catch a fish to win but must be at the draw!)

• PLUS HEAPS OF GIVEAWAY PRIZES

Fees: $20 Seniors, $5 Teens (12 to 17yrs), Juniors (11yrs and under) $5, but free if with a paying adult.

Bait: (Worms & Corn) Available at the registration area from 6am Saturday 21st.

Fishing on the Dam: From the bank, canoe, kayak or boat. No outboard motors to be used. (But may be left on your boat.) Note: a Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIPS) is required to fish Wyaralong Dam. Event Contacts: Lloyd Willmann 0429 614 892 Mark Ward 0400 272 201 Glenn Cahil 0400 399 958

Entry information online: www.lafma.org

Latest updates and important information on the competition will be posted on our Facebook page, including announcements on the day.

Please Support Our Sponsors:

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 79

Closed river fishing for cod

E

Chris Coulthard with a 116cm Murray cod from the bank on a Barambah Bony Shad swimbait.

On day one, Tony Galacic scored a 97cm Murray cod.

ACH year, throughout the northern headwaters of the Murray Darling system, you’re able to fish for cod on all water storages in Queensland.

The closed season for cod on all rivers in the Murray Darling Basin in Queensland starts in August and ends in October each year.

Meanwhile in NSW, the season is closed from September to November yearly.

Within NSW, only Copeton Dam in the north and Blowering Dam in the south are open yearround to Murray cod fishing.

It may take time for all NSW storages to come online as Queensland has, improving with the change to Murray cod breeding numbers, to increase each year.

Meanwhile, our yellowbelly numbers in

What a trip for Chris Coulthard, managing a hefty 121cm Murray cod.

Page 80 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

Glenlyon Dam

by BRIAN DARE

the upper regions of the basin are still not up to par, as per the Goondiwindi Miles region, and it’s quite the opposite with cod out in the western river systems in Queensland.

During the 2021-22 flooding, we saw heaps of water head south.

And now in 2023, the results of that are only just starting to show, with small yellowbelly and silver perch turning up in rivers and storages by the hundreds.

The reason for such a strong return was due to large areas of flood plains and low-lying land areas being inundated with floodwaters above any flow since 1966-67.

With the receding water flows, both in water storages and river systems, improvements have been seen threefold to previous small flood flows.

The drawback was the amount of sand build-up within the small creeks and river systems in the upper regions of the Darling River.

I know it sounds silly, but we need another flood to move the sand on.

If you like to paddle in water and access on foot, then you’ll have a ball.

By canoe or kayak, it’s called portage – which means ‘to carry’ – or dragging your gear behind you.

So, we see an increase in silver perch and yellowbelly numbers, and with this we need to see protection of these two species for reproduction in rivers and

storages of Queensland.

It was put forward at the Queensland freshwater workshop in Mackay in October 2022 that a size limit of 35cm be put into action – this is yet to take and needs to be pushed to the forefront of changes to protect these species.

Many recreational anglers at Glenlyon Dam and other storages have asked when are they – Fisheries Queensland – going to get this in place?

There are changes to be made and research required into our freshwater recreational pastime and pursuit.

With elections in 2024, we all need to think as recreational anglers about our fishing and the cost for a freshwater fishing permit… ‘He’s harping on again’, I hear you say.

Maybe, but it has to change, and without the attachment of the consumer price index increase to the price of a permit each year.

A couple of weeks ago, at a local regional get-together held at Mingoola Public School – down the road from Glenlyon Dam – I was able to talk to some of the farmers who live along the Mole River system.

They spoke of the changes taking place along the whole system.

Purple-spotted gudgeons were back in force, as well as Australian smelt, carp gudgeon, bony bream, hardyheads, catfish, olive perchlet or Agassiz’s glassfish, rainbowfish, flyspecked hardyhead * continued P81

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Closed cod river fishing * from P80

and good old spangled perch that, while as tough as old boots, is a great survivor in our river systems.

With November not far off, we’ll see outflows from Pindari Dam, Glenlyon Dam, Leslie Dam and some releases from Coolmundra Dam for crops that have been planted.

As summer turns up, so do the risks of bushfires in our region, so I ask all anglers to look after the campsites, limit rubbish and big fires, and don’t use river rock around your fireplace – they explode after the rock cools down.

Rock fragments can cause bad cuts and have been known to cut fuel lines when going off.

We heard about one angler and his son hav-

ing to walk out from a fishing spot to get help from such an event.

Well, fishing wise, it’s the storages to be hit in late October for big cod, as they feed up after breeding season.

As for yellowbelly and silver perch, shrimp should start to have their shells harden up for bait fishing around the end of October.

The major problem on storages is that night fishing brings out the ‘secret squirrel’ anglers.

These are people who don’t have running lights switched on as a safety precaution when other craft are out there fishing too.

Keep in mind ‘no port left’ – that’s the side you pass an oncoming boat – give way to the left on water.

Safe fishing.

DAM LEVELS CURRENT AS OF 13/09/2023

DAMS Atkinson * Awoonga Bjelke-Petersen * Boondooma * Borumba * Burdekin Falls * Callide * Cania * Coolmunda * Dyer/Bill Gunn * Eungella * Fairbairn * Glenlyon * Hinze * Julius * Kinchant * Leslie * Macdonald * Maroon * Monduran/Fred Haigh * Moogerah * North Pine/Samsonvale * Peter Faust/Proserpine * Somerset * Teemburra * Tinaroo * Toonumbar Wivenhoe * Wuruma * Wyaralong *

PERCENTAGE MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

80 61 89 87 96 97 23 35 99 86 100 42 98 92 95 78 94 82 99 98 92 57 71 80 100 98 99 74 89 96

77 60 87 85 95 94 21 34 99 80 99 41 98 90 93 74 92 85 98 97 90 55 70 79 100 95 100 73 88 96

73 59 86 83 94 90 21 31 98 71 99 40 98 87 97 72 90 86 97 96 88 53 70 79 100 91 100 71 87 95

69 58 84 81 92 87 20 30 96 61 100 38 97 86 95 77 89 84 97 95 86 51 69 78 100 89 98 70 86 94

65 58 82 79 90 83 20 30 92 54 99 36 97 84 92 77 88 79 96 93 84 51 68 78 100 86 95 69 85 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.

GLENLYON DAM TOURIST PARK A great place to fish!

• Powered and Unpowered Sites • No Domestic Pets or Generators • Kiosk • Ice • Gas • Petrol • Amenities Blocks and Laundry • BBQs • Hire Boats • EFTPOS • Fishing Permits

14 CABINS bookings necessary

GLENLYON DAM TOURIST PARK via STANTHORPE 4380 Contact Debbie or Brian Dare for more information or for bookings Ph: 02 6737 5266 E: glenlyondamtouristp@bigpond.com Visit our new website at glenlyondamtouristpark.com.au www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 81

TRADING POST Surtees, Stessco and Sea Jay. Make selling your late-model trailer boat simple and hassle free through John Crawford Marine, Queensland’s Used Boat Specialists since 1964. Call JCM on 07 3890 2322 www.johncrawfordmarine.com.au HOOKER SERIES II CENTRE CONSOLE – A magnificent fishing rig purpose-built to suit the avid angler who wants extra space for moving around. Designed to suit our local climate and sea conditions, it has many fishing features and certainly looks the part. You’re sure to enjoy this Aussie-made heavy-duty all-fibreglass fishing boat, with its uncluttered fishing decks, easy-care layout, agile performance and wonderfully soft ride. You can have plenty of fun with family and friends too, which makes this boat the perfect choice. Visit our yard and climb aboard to see how great this boat truly is! $75,990. Contact AMC Boats on 07 3808 7333 or visit amcboats.com.au

LATE MODEL TRAILER BOATS WANTED – We are seeking premium condition trailer boats to purchase. Brands wanted Quintrex, Signature, Cruise Craft, Stacer,

KELLERCRAFT 1980 – 5.5m half cabin in good condition. 130hp Yamaha 290 hours, Savwinch, perfect tandem trailer. $16,500. Ph: 07 4693 1478

FREWZA F18 CENTRE CONSOLE 2021 – NZ cylinder boat, Honda 100hp BF100E, tandem trailer, freshly serviced by JCM, Garmin 953XSV sounder/GPS, VHF, Savwinch anchor winch, dual battery system, hydraulic steering, walk-through

transom, 4mm bottom sheet, deck wash, factory T-top, two Eskies. Make for an excellent dive boat and offshore fishing platform. Crazy $49,995! John Crawford Marine, Queensland’s Used Boat Specialists since 1964. Call JCM on 07 3890 2322 www.johncrawfordmarine.com.au

AQUAMASTER 420 RUNABOUT – A cool little boat that can provide loads of fun for family and friends. Go tubing with the kids up the dam, chuck a few pots in the creek, cruise the bays or fish with your family and friends. Can be easily towed behind your car and be manoeuvred single-handedly on the launch ramp. It’s also easy to store or garage, what more could you ask for? This is a boat the whole family can get onboard! $18,990. Contact AMC Boats on 07 3808 7333 or visit amcboats.com.au

November Edition Copy Deadline – Advertisements must arrive NO later than October 5, 2023

POST TO PO BOX 162, Wynnum QLD 4178 or EMAIL with a photo to ads@collins.media When completing this form please leave one square of space between each word (Hyphens, full-stops, commas, word spaces count as one letter) ALL ADS MUST BE PRE-PAID 1 1 2

2

3

3

4

4

5

5

6

6

Cost per insertion: 2 lines $15, $1.10 per line thereafter. Contact details must be included in ad.

NAME: ...................................................................................... PHONE NO. ...................................................

MONTHS OF INSERTION: ...................................................... AMOUNT: $ ...................................................

CREDIT CARD NO.: ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___

EXP DATE: ..................................................................... SIGNATURE: ..........................................................

Page 82 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

STACER 609 OCEAN RANGER 2022 – In as new condition, upgraded Suzuki 140hp DF140BG with digital shift gearbox, Stacer alloy trailer, Lowrance FS9 sounder/GPS, VHF, Fusion stereo, dual batteries, Muir drum winch, LB tank, safety gear, deck wash and so much more...

Why pay new price? Only $79,995 tow away. John Crawford Marine, Queensland’s Used Boat Specialists since 1964.

Call JCM on 07 3890 2322 www.john crawfordmarine.com.au

ADVERTISERS – To organise a classified ad in the Trading Post, call 07 3286 1833 or complete the form and post it to the address provided or email it through to ads@collins.me dia

www.bnbfishing.com. au

A recent catch from the Sunshine Coast, a nice 80cm snapper from the inshore reefs. Caught on my bass setup of 15lb braid and 14lb leader.

Kirk Fox

Cooper’s first flathead, a 60cm model caught in the Burnett River on white- Kaizyan caught a 70cm flathead on a bait. live poddy on the NSW central coast.

William Brown Deanly Hollsa

Eight-year-old Jordan Brown caught a Murray cod in the Murrumbidgee River near Maude that measured exactly 1m. Pictured with sisters Zoey and Emma, and with dad Justin.

Talitha Brown

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

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 83

Subscription offer for October!

Subscribe this month to go in the draw to win one of four Saltwater Estuary tackle boxes from Tackle Club!

Valued at over

75

$

RRP each

www.tackleclub.com.au www.suncoastskutes.com * Valid until October 31, 2023. Picture for illustration purposes only.

SUBSCRIPTION FORM

n O NE YEAR $50 (inc. post)

Receive 12 issues delivered.

n T WO YEARS $95 (inc. post)

n New subscriber

Receive 24 issues delivered.

November edition will be posted to you on October 25, 2023

OR

n Renew/extend subscription

n 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: ..........................................................................................Email: ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Address: ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ .......................................................................... Postcode: .............................. Phone: ......................................... Date: ����������������������� PAYMENT DETAILS

❑ Money Order

❑ Cheque

❑ MasterCard/Visa

Card No: ................................................................................... Expiry date: .................... Phone: �������������������������������������������������������� Name: ............................................................................................................. Signature: ���������������������������������������������������������������������

GIFT CERTIFICATES

❑ Merry Christmas

❑ Happy Birthday

❑ Happy Father’s Day

❑ Happy Mother’s Day

❑ Happy Fishing

To: ................................................................................................ From: �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Subscriptions are non-refundable. They can be transferred to another subscriber.

Page 84 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

www.bnbfishing.com. au

MID RANGE 75-90-100-115-140HP FOUR STROKE World First in Outboard Technology 4-2-1 Performance Tuned Exhaust 9 9 9 9

✓ Powerful acceleration Outstanding fuel economy ✓ Outstanding fuel economy Superior durability and optimised weight Exhilarating boating performance ✓ Ultra-low emission Fine-tuned ECU programming ✓ Japanese engineering

t model variation

ore details contact your local Tohatsu dealer or visit

www.tohatsu.com.au

BOWEN Tropical Trailerboats 32 Gordon St, Bowen www.tropicaltrailerboats.com.au 07 4786 3899

GOLD COAST (NORTH) Slades Marine 16 Paradise Pde, Paradise Point sladesmarine@bigpond.com 07 5577 1011

TIN CAN BAY The Chandlery Bait & Tackle Shop 1, The Marina Emperor St, Tin Can Bay www.tcbchandlery.com.au 07 5486 4744

BRISBANE Neptune Marine Oceania Unit 1/3361 Pacific Hwy, Slacks Creek www.neptunemarine.com.au 07 3290 6370

MACKAY Phoenix Powersports 165 Paradise St, Mackay www.phoenixpowersports.com.au 07 4952 2436

TOWNSVILLE InTune Marine U4/179 Ingham Rd, Townsville www.intunemarinetownsville.com.au 0401 794 384

GLADSTONE Motz Marine 2 Enterprise St, Boyne Island mikemotzo@gmail.com 0401 697 295

SUNSHINE COAST Port O’ Call Boating 29 Production Ave, Warana www.marinecenter.com.au 07 5493 2255

WOODBURN Woodburn Marine 83 River St, Woodburn woodburn.marine@outlook.com 0402 512 603

www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 85

LIGHT, POWERFUL, DURABLE…

INTUITIVE

CONTROL

The game has changed… The ALL NEW Mercury 15-20hp FourStroke battery-free EFI range changes the way you will think about portable outboards.

• 13% lighter than previous model • Battery-free EFI for fast, reliable starting • New exclusive multi-functional tiller handle, adjustable for left or right handed operations Page 86 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Available now from:

Available now from:

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

GOLD COAST TR Marine 167 Currumburra Rd, Ashmore Q 4214 P: 07 5532 5812 E: elle@trmarinegc.com.au www.trmarinegoldcoast.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

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

BRISBANE SOUTH Australian Marine Centre 3491 Pacific Hwy, Slacks Creek Q 4127 P: 07 3808 7333 E: info@amcboats.com.au www.amcboats.com.au

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

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

SUNSHINE COAST North Coast Boating 22 Enterprise St, Caloundra West Q 4551 P: 07 5493 9376 E: sales@northcoastboating.com.au www.northcoastboating.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

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

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023 – Page 87

SALE

IN STOCK

450 FISHABOUT PRO - 60HP

550 FRONTIER - 135HP

Includes: Mercury 60hp ELPT, painted sides, live bait tank, alloy trailer

Includes: Mercury 135hp, transom door, hydraulic steering, alloy trailer

NEW INTO STORE

SALE

590 CRUISEABOUT - 150HP

530 RENEGADE CENTRE CONSOLE - 115HP

Includes: Mercury 150hp, live bait tank, bunk infill board, alloy trailer

Includes: Mercury 115hp, bimini, painted sides, Lowrance sounder, hydraulic steer, alloy trailer

IN STOCK

NEW INTO STORE

540 OCEAN SPIRIT PRO - 135HP

460 RENEGADE SC - 60HP

Includes: Mercury 135hp, live bait tank, bimini and envelope, alloy trailer

Includes: Mercury 60hp CT, raised front cast deck, alloy trailer

Finance & Insurance available

* 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.brisbaneboatingleisure.com.au 1743 Ipswich Road, Rocklea | Call 07 3875 1600 | Formerly Karee Marine Page 88 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2023

www.bnbfishing.com. au