BNB Fishing Mag | December 2023 by bnbfishing

Merry Christmas 495

Includes GST

December 2023 Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 34, Number 12

Brisbane River snapper tips Christmas muddies Mangrove jack magic

Freshwater features Moreton Bay options Getting into drone fishing ISSN 1832-4517

9 www.bnbfishing.com.au 771832 451001

Proudly produced and printed in Australia

Beginners' guide to barramundi

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

Page 2 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 3

Page 4 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

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From the Bush ‘n Beach Fishing editor

T’S hard to believe Christmas is here already! We’ve only recently taken Halloween decorations down and now Christmas lights are on show. Life just keeps getting busier. While I definitely had more spare time when we were travelling, I still don’t know how I managed to get everything done. I guess we prioritised things and had a vastly different routine. On that note, I wanted to clarify that we’re back in Queensland now. A few people I’ve met around the traps were surprised to see me in person because they’ve been following the Western Australia stories in the mag. The delay in writing about where we were was because fellow scribes Craig Tomkinson and Matt Potter were travelling in the same areas at similar times. I’ve added more detail on the places we visited so as not to double up on information. And it’s always good to read about different experiences at the same place as it can provide a varied and new perspective. Though, and Craig and Matt would agree, the South Australian and WA coastlines are spectacular, no matter how you write about them. Barra closed season I touched on the barramundi closed season – which on Queensland’s east coast is November 1 to January 31 – in one of our recent e-newsletters because there was plenty of discussion about it online. Unfortunately, a few too many people are jumping on the band-

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wagon of saying they were targeting mangrove jack and simply hooking a barra as bycatch. Yes, barra can be bycatch when chasing jacks, but that was definitely not the case in some instances. Fishos hide behind the ‘I was targeting jacks’ statement because they know it would be hard for Fisheries Queensland to prove otherwise. As detailed on the Fisheries website, you can’t target barramundi for catch and release during these closed seasons as the stress of capture may prevent a fish from spawning. This raises the questions – are the fish breeding in these areas, have they been placed there or are they fish that were relocated there? I don’t know the answers and there are good points on both sides of the argument. Maybe Fishery Queensland needs to investigate this, so we’ll know beyond any doubt. Holidays With the recent interest rate rises and the cost of living going up, many people will be staying home these holidays to enjoy our awesome fishing and boating paradise. Our family will be ‘staycationing’ and I’m sure plenty of others will also. Which means, if the weather’s good over summer, our boat ramps will be jam-packed, so you’ll need to either be patient or try picking times when less people are at the ramp. Please also be aware that Fisheries will be out and about over the silly season, and it should go without saying but, be sensible when on the water.

If you are the captain of the boat, you are in charge. It’s your responsibility to make sure all life jackets are current and that passengers know where the jackets are – there should be a sticker stating this too. You also need to ensure you have the right safety gear for the type of water you’re fishing or boating in. If you are not certain, check this link out, it lists what’s required – msq.qld.gov.au/safety/ safety-equipment-recre ational-ships Marine Assist We are very lucky to have a well-run volunteer search and rescue service for boating in Queensland, which consists of the Volunteer Marine Rescue and the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard. Both organisations run off the service of volunteers and they do an amazing job. However, that job comes at a price. They need to maintain their fleets so they’re at the ready, which isn’t cheap. Therefore, if you do need their services for a tow due to engine failure, you’ll pay a substantial amount for the service. Unless you join Marine Assist, which for members of the Manly VMR costs $80 per year, which is great value. It provides you with peace of mind if something goes wrong on the water – and it can, even to the most well-maintained boat and engine. Plus, if you don’t need their services, the money goes to a good cause. Merry Christmas The team and I would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas.

It was another wild ride this year, though I guess we’re getting used to it, or maybe we’re becoming more resilient? I’d also like to thank all our writers, readers and advertisers, plus the BNB crew. Without you all, magazines such as ours would

be a thing of the past. Thankfully, there still seems to be a strong want or need for printed information – particularly from the more mature, or should I say wiser, fishing folk! Take care and stay safe on the water. Ben Collins

OUR COVER Merry Christmas

495

Includes GST

December 2023 Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 34, Number 12

Brisbane River snapper tips Christmas muddies Mangrove jack magic

Freshwater features Moreton Bay options Getting into drone fishing ISSN 1832-4517

9 www.bnbfishing.com.au 771832 451001

Proudly produced and printed in Australia

Beginners' guide to barramundi

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

LUKE STRATFORD landed a nice snapper on a Jackson Puri Ebi soft plastic. Check out Keith Stratford’s article on page 24 for tips on targeting this species in the Brisbane River.

NEXT EDITION: January edition will be on sale in newsagents from December 22. DECEMBER SUBSCRIPTION OFFER: See the subscription form on page 84 to subscribe this month to go in the draw to win one of 10 Zerek Slick Back lure packs from Wilson Fishing valued at $57 RRP each. OCTOBER PRIZE WINNERS: Congratulations to G. Bletchly, Coorparoo; M. Costelloe, Morayfield; P. Dahl, Birkdale and P. West, Caboolture who will each receive a Saltwater Estuary tackle box from Tackle Club, valued at over $75 RRP each. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 5

December 2023 contents

Persistence pays off in Moreton Bay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Sean Conlon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P8 Power Boat Anglers club trips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mick Clutterbuck . . . . . . . . . . . P12 Fantastic festive season fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Keith Stratford . . . . . . . . . . . . . P14 Tide Times - Brisbane Bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P14 Tips for catching muddies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Sean ‘Skip’ Thompson . . . . . . P16 Fishing Events Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P19 Wishing all a merry fishmas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mark Templeton . . . . . . . . . . . P22 Brisbane River snapper guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Keith Stratford . . . . . . . . . . . . . P24 Top Christmas gift ideas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P26 Sensational Samaki Redic 50 review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Clint Ansell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P28 Drone fishing is taking off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Andy Melville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P30 2023 Gold Coast Flathead Classic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P32 Angler’s Almanac. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P34 Hats off to mangrove jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Gavin Dobson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P34 Saving saltmarsh habitat means more fish. . . . . . . . . . . . by Paul Suttor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P36 Solid start to summer mahi, kingies, AJs and crabs. . . . by Brett Hyde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P38

Fantastic fishing free for all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Tye Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P40 Recreational Fishing Trust Grants open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P41 Product News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P42 Chasing mighty mangrove jack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Chris Rippon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P46 Delving into deep-diving lures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Tri Ton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P48 Tide Times – Waddy Point. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P48 Helping nature when on holiday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Paul ‘Chief’ Graveson . . . . . . . P50

Fishing during Christmas rush. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Gary Churchward . . . . . . . . . . P52 2023 Fitzroy River Barra Bash wrap up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by John Boon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P53 Quintrex launches parts and accessories range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P56 New TruEcho Chirp fish finders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P57 Topnotch Whitsundays fishing trips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P58 Sensational south WA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Ben Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P60 Tripping on Notch Point and Paluma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Craig Tomkinson . . . . . . . . . . . P64 Gulf barra season closed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P65 Eco-friendly Bouncee Coolers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P66 Charter Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P68 Response to October’s near extinct trout cod article. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P70 Beginners' guide to dam barra. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Neil Schultz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P74 LAFMA Carp and Tilapia Eradication Fishing Comp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P76

Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P78 Dam Levels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P79 Impacts of storage outflows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brian Dare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P80 Trading Post. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P82 Readers’ Forum ��P83 Subscription Form ��P84 Page 6 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

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The Team

EDITOR: Ben Collins PRODUCTION: Tiffany Brown Lisa Jones

Bush ‘n Beach Fishing magazine is published monthly by Collins Media Pty Ltd ABN 43 159 051 500 ACN 159 051 500 trading as Collins Media. Phone 07 3286 1833 Email: ben@collins.media PO Box 162, Wynnum, Qld 4178 PRINTER: 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, December 2023 – Page 7

Ian with the biggest snapper of the day at 48cm, caught on a McCarthy Bait.

Flathead can still be caught in the warm Caught on a Zerek Bulldog Crank was shallows by trolling hard-bodies such as the best flathead of that particular charter. the 70mm Duo.

Persistence pays off in Moreton Bay

Ian and Mick with a double hook up to a couple of southern bay flathead.

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Page 8 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

OW, while we probably say it every year, “I can’t believe it’s nearly Christmas,” this year has definitely flown by, so Merry Christmas everyone! Thank you for reading my articles for the past 12 months, I hope you’ve enjoyed them. I’ve revelled in spending time on the water and catching fish with family, friends and clients, which helps to make these articles possible. And the more time I spend on the water, the more information I’m able to gather. Occasionally people will say that Moreton Bay’s fished out or they’re struggling to get fish. That’s possibly because they don’t get enough time on the water – due to work commitments, family obligations or simply poor weather throughout the year. Now sometimes, you have to go fishing when the conditions aren’t perfect. I’m definitely not saying go out when the weather doesn’t allow it.

Southern Moreton Bay by SEAN CONLON

I’m saying that perhaps consider fishing when the moon phase isn’t perfect or the wind direction isn’t right – it doesn’t always have to be spot on. Other factors, such as getting out early in the morning or late in the afternoon for the sunrise or sunset bite, can be changed up.

Occasionally, having a fish at the ‘wrong’ times can teach you a lot more about certain areas. You’ll be surprised at what you can catch when everything isn’t in your favour, simply by being out there and being persistent. This is what’s happened on a few occa* continued P9

Rung captured her first-ever squire on a Zerek Flash Minnow Wriggly.

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Persistence pays off in Moreton Bay * from P8

sions over the past month for me. The first charter, four fishos wanted to learn about Moreton Bay, fishing in general and also catching fish on lures. And though it took some organising to schedule a date that worked for everyone, we eventually found one that worked with reasonable tides. However, the weather forecast was not favourable, with wind against the tide all day – not dangerous but not ideal. Due to the amount of planning it had taken, the anglers were keen to keep the original date if they could. So, we had a 15-18 knot southerly with a run-in tide. For me, wind against tide almost all day does not equate to fun. But with a nice early low tide, we headed out to see if we could get flathead first up. I thought we’d do okay but unfortunately, the fish didn’t bite. And even though we

caught only one flathead and one 52cm grunter on soft plastics, the crew were happy with that. However, the wind picked up and started to blow fairly hard from the southeast. We tried a few spots, but they were basically unfishable, so I had to come up with something to get us back in control – which meant trolling. We headed to a little area, tied on some ripper divers and started trolling hard-bodies to see if we’d get snapper. And it didn’t take long before the fishos picked up their first fish – a nice 42cm southern bay snapper. We kept using this technique and picked up a legal squire, a 34cm bream and a sand flathead before the sharks moved in. While our trip was coming to an end, we had a nice high tide, so I steered us out of the breeze to work the mangrove line for flathead on the way home. Lucky enough, we pulled into a spot, had a

few casts and picked up a nice flathead. We decided to have a troll on the way back in and picked up the best flatty of the day on the ever-faithful Zerek Bulldog Crank. So, for a day where all the conditions weren’t perfect, by staying out and persisting, the crew picked up a nice feed a fish and learnt a few different techniques. The second ‘persistence pays off’ charter for the month was with Jason and his partner Rung. We had a good high tide scheduled for the morning, so we should have been able to get into a few nice flatties fairly early for a nice easy day. Unfortunately, the flathead decided they didn’t want to bite that morning, which made things a little harder. We quickly ran out to some rubble ground and caught a few fish by drifting before the northerly picked up. * continued P10

A decent 52cm grunter caught on a Zerek Live Shrimp Hot Legs.

A lovely 66cm snapper managed by Rung in 1m of water against mangroves.

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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 A Zerek Ripper Diver was used for this southern bay sand flathead. www.bnbfishing.com.au

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

Persistence pays off in Moreton Bay * from P9

A very happy client used a Zerek Ripper Diver on his first ever snapper.

A nice 44cm snapper caught by Ian on a Zerek Flash Minnow Wriggly.

Mick hooked a decent flathead using a Zerek Flash Minnow Wriggly. Page 10 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

Then we were in the same predicament as the previous charter, with wind against the tide. We tried a few spots with bait, but these were unfishable. Jason asked to try one more location on the way home to see if we could hook a flathead. So, as the tide was getting low, we headed to an area out of the wind to cast a few soft plastics. The water was putrid brown and though we had a couple of taps and bumps from flatties, we could not get them to commit. And then Rung hooked up to a solid fish. It really played up on the light gear. We were fishing in about 0.5-1m of water against the mangrove line for flathead, so it was a surprise when – in filthy water, on an outgoing tide, at 2pm in the afternoon, with a northerly breeze – a 66cm snapper was safely in the net and onboard. The crew were very happy – I mean, we could see the boat ramp from where we caught the snapper! A great example of when persistence absolutely pays off. Lastly, number three for the month – with Ian and his brother Mick – was an interesting charter. I had prepared to cancel this particular trip – one, because my back wasn’t playing ball and two, it was predicted to blow 20 knots from the north straight off the bat and all day. However, Mick had come from Ipswich to celebrate Ian’s birthday and had booked accommodation, so it had to go ahead. In my favour was an

early morning low tide and an incoming tide with a northerly wind – wind and tide travelling in the same direction is always a plus. We headed out early and hid around the islands. The fishos picked up a couple of flathead but it was a fairly slow start. As the tide started to increase, I pushed out to some rubble ground. With the northerly blowing 15-20 knots, we drifted with soft plastics and, while we didn’t have a ball, we caught a nice feed of 42-48cm snapper and plenty of 34-35cm fish that we enjoyed catching and releasing. Mick picked up a nice flathead and, on the final drift, Ian picked up the best snapper of the day at 48cm. By that stage, the wind was fairly strong, so we called it. For a day that we probably would have given a miss to under normal circumstances, the crew scored a nice feed of fish. And because the wind and tide were moving in the same direction, it wasn’t too uncomfortable. The standout lures for

the day were McArthy Baits and Zerek Flash Minnow Wrigglys – they basically caught everything. So, there’s a few stories of persisting and staying out on the water when everything may not be ideal. As I said, we were not out in dangerous weather conditions, but not all elements were in our favour. However, just by being out there, some nice fish were caught. Perhaps over the Christmas holidays and with a bit of persistence you too could pick up a couple of nice fish to take home for the table. Merry Christmas and stay safe. 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.

Rung was very happy catching bream and other species.

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

What a wahoo! Roy Lane managed to drag this 21.7kg beast to the boat.

Dave Alexander bagged a nice 58cm snapper when drifting over barren ground.

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Power Boat Anglers club trips

HE month started off with not our normal offshore trip but rather a PBA social Moreton Bay gathering and quite possibly the first non-Seventeen Seventy raft up. The weather outside the bay was blowing the proverbial dog off a chain but inside, the forecast was excellent and lined up perfectly with a public holiday, so a social gathering was organised for Horseshoe Bay. Graham, Tim and their lovely wives kicked off the day with an early whiting fish, while Grant and Rhonda got to Peel Island early to lock in a decent spot before the masses arrived. The whiting were well and truly on the bite and, after bagging out, Graham and Trish joined the party, making the rest of the boats look a little small. All had good time, however with the wind forecast to crank up after lunch, they decided to part ways and head for home at about 1pm. Lakis and Dave decided to brave it and continued south, ending up at Sanctuary Cove and treating themselves to

Power Boat Anglers by MICK CLUTTERBUCK

a luxury boating weekend. Deep Tempest Five boats lined up for this trip, including Ocean Pearl, Aquaholic, Reel Them In, Bundy and Just Neat, with three departing from Manly and two from Raby Bay and meeting in middle channel inside the bar at 5.30am. It was about 30 minutes before low tide and all wondered what depth was under them and how the trek out would be with a 1.5m east-southeasterly swell. While all pondered this question, Frenzy Charters motored by, so they quickly fell in behind and followed the boat through the bar. As it happened, the depth was 1.6m, so there was plenty of water and, as the bar wasn’t working that hard, it was pretty much a dream run out. Once through the bar, the crews dispersed to their various spots with heaps of communication throughout the day, and fellow mem-

ber Lucky on Hooley Dooley called in from the other side of Moreton too. Brad and Chris were into the action with some nice snapper and a great pearl perch at 59cm, though while the early signs were good, it turned into a tough day with only occasional action. Dave bagged a nice snapper at 58cm while drifting over what appeared to be barren ground, however when moving from spot to spot, Robin bagged another at 5.5kg on a first drop. He was lucky to get it in the boat though because a rather large grey mass was coming in hot on its tail just as the fish hit the net. All boats picked away until stumps were called at about 1pm, then met slightly outside the bar to return home in a group. Bundy had arrived early to the spot and elected to drop anchor, unfortunately though it * continued P13

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Power Boat Anglers club trips * from P12

had caught a trawler net and steel cable. It was a fair struggle but after much frustration, plenty of sweat and a few choice words, they managed to get themselves free. In the end, it was a great day on the water with fantastic weather and, while most got a feed, there wasn’t anything worthy of a brag. Moreton Bay Graham Bell decided on a trip out in the bay and Dave and Warwick were lucky enough to receive invites for the ride on the big GradyWhite. Spot X was the first stop of the day and it wasn’t long before Graham was onto something big. Whatever it was, it was

fairly big and stubborn, so Graham decided to share the love, with all the fishos having a go at reeling it in. And at one stage, another boat about 100m or so away, hooked or tangled up with the same fish. Warwick finally persuaded the other boat to let it go as, being the first ones to hook up on it, it was their fish. In hindsight, they should have let the others keep it because, after another hour of battling, they managed to get a good look at the big fish and realised it was a big shark ray. From there, it was quickly released and they went back to fishing. Graham bagged a few pan-sized snapper for

the box, along with a nice-sized flathead. Apart from that, it was a slow day, though all enjoyed a good day out on the water. Better luck next time – beats sitting at home. Upcoming meetings Any interested parties are invited to come along to our monthly meetings that occur on the first Wednesday of every month at ‘The Club Manly’ (bowls club), 26 Faine St Manly from 6.30pm for a 7pm start. The last meeting for the year will be Wednesday December 6 and we’ll recommence in February 2024 on Wednesday 7. Until next month, safe boating and the best of wishes for the festive season and new year.

This decent snapper was captured by Chris before things got tough.

Brad hooked a great pearl perch at 3.2kg.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 13

Tide Times AUSTRALIA EAST COAST EAST COAST – BRISBANE BAR BRISBANE BAR AUSTRALIA, 2023 LAT 27° 22ʼ S LONG 153° 10ʼ E

Time

0443 1122 1804 2323

Time Zone –1000 DECEMBER

0.36 2.42 0.63 1.70

Time

JANUARY m

Time

Times and Heights of High and Low Waters FEBRUARY MARCH Time

Time

2024

Time

Time Zone –1000 APRIL m

Time

0511 0.49 1200 2.34 FR 1851 0.74

1.98 0.48 2.47 0.48

0113 0711 TH 1315 1948

1.88 0.82 2.05 0.68

2.16 0.85 1.86 0.62

0038 0648 FR 1234 1856

2.08 0.82 1.95 0.65

2.28 0.89 1.66 0.70

0141 0824 MO 1351 1949

2.15 0.96 1.59 0.79

0520 0.42 1208 2.39 1858 0.67

0007 0547 SA 1240 1932

1.57 0.59 2.25 0.78

0016 1.75 1.70 0153 1.99 17 0604 2 0105 0652 0.74 17 0748 0.63 0.43

0200 0801 FR 1354 2029

1.87 0.94 1.90 0.71

2.12 17 0326 0954 0.97

0118 0734 SA 1313 1930

2.04 0.93 1.80 0.71

2.17 17 0249 0947 0.98

0251 0953 TU 1523 2113

2.12 0.95 1.55 0.84

2.07 17 0440 1147 0.86

0015 0605 1300 1959

1.63 0.50 2.34 0.69

0051 0630 SU 1322 2018

1.53 0.69 2.16 0.81

0114 1.74 1.69 0254 2.00 18 0700 3 0155 0743 0.85 18 0852 0.78 0.52

0300 0909 SA 1448 2123

1.87 1.03 1.75 0.74

2.12 18 0444 1131 0.98

0210 0836 SU 1406 2021

2.01 1.01 1.66 0.78

2.11 18 0407 1121 0.96

0418 1121 WE 1658 2245

2.16 0.86 1.64 0.79

2.09 18 0544 1235 0.78

0117 0702 1358 2105

1.57 0.59 2.30 0.67

0145 0722 MO 1409 2109

1.51 0.80 2.08 0.80

1.71 0402 2.05 0217 1.76 19 0803 4 0256 0844 0.95 19 1008 0.89 0.62

0417 1034 SU 1603 2231

0234 0814 1502 2210

1.57 0.66 2.27 0.61

0253 0826 TU 1502 2202

1.52 0.89 2.01 0.76

1.78 0514 2.13 0327 1.83 5 0407 20 0914 0958 1.01 20 1134 0.92 0.71

0534 1203 MO 1725 2343

0355 0935 1609 2309

1.66 0.69 2.25 0.52

0407 0941 WE 1600 2254

1.60 0.93 1.97 0.69

1.90 0620 2.23 0436 1.94 6 0516 21 1030 1116 0.99 21 1257 0.87 0.77

0515 0.36 1201 2.56 SA 1857 0.56

SU 1250 2.51 1948 0.56

MO 1341 2.44 2040 0.55 TU 1435 2.33 2132 0.53

WE 1532 2.21 2225 0.50

0022 0609 MO 1245 1928

1.70 0.64 2.26 0.73

TU 1323 2.17 2006 0.73

WE 1404 2.06 2050 0.73 TH 1452 1.95 2140 0.71 FR 1549 1.85 2234 0.68

0058 0653 TU 1316 2003

WE 1402 2.28 2047 0.51 TH 1454 2.07 2136 0.54 FR 1554 1.88 2230 0.57

SA 1705 1.73 2330 0.57

2 3

0220 0834 FR 1418 2044

SA 1524 1.66 2142 0.70

SU 1653 1.55 2255 0.75

2 3

0148 0824 SA 1351 1955

SU 1507 1.51 2056 0.83

MO 1651 1.49 2225 0.90

2 3

0324 1045 TU 1629 2147

2.10 0.92 1.51 0.98

WE 1739 1.64 2316 0.94 TH 1831 1.79

1.93 0559 2.18 2.00 0527 2.11 2.28 0.85 Passage pumping with 4Pumicestone 4 0324 4 0536 19 0021 1.05 19 1254 0.89 was 1005 1.03 19 1232bread-and-butter 0.87 1232 0.71species 0634such 2.14 as flatMO 1820 1.57 head.1.65 0.73

MO 1531 1.56 2141 0.81

TU 1811 1.59 2353 0.86

TH 1812 1.81

0453 1143 TU 1708 2310

0630 2.17 1323 0.78 WE 1905 1.73

0005 0640 FR 1329 1911

FR 1315 0.70 1914 1.93

20 5 20 5 20 Fantastic festive season fishing

2.05 0.98 1.63 0.68

0013 0700 TU 1352 1923

0.73 2.26 0.79 1.67

2.08 0.95 1.59 0.76

0.67 2.41 0.56 2.00

0112 0717 SA 1350 1951

0.77 2.18 0.62 2.06

0.66 0609 2.23 0057 0.76 0.53 0156 0.69 T’S that time 21 0116 6 0114 0750 2.33 of 6 1300 0.80 21 0719 2.24 0733 2.52 21 0754 2.19 1437 0.71 1826 1.71 1403 0.70 1417 0.44 WE WE TH SA SU Local Luring1422 0.56 year again… al2012 1.77 1948 1.86 2002 2.18 2026 2.17 ready. STRATFORD 0506 1.82 0616 2.06 0031 0.56 0048 0.57 0207 0.58 0026 0.64 0145 0.67 by KEITH 0213 0.42 0236 0.65 0514 1.73 0542 2.09 7 1056 0.92 22 1146 0.78 7 1231 0.92 22 0718 2.34 7 0736 22 0832it’s2.38time 7 0711 2.41 22 0800 2.29 7 0821 2.56 22 0828 2.18 1053 0.66 2.39 right, That’s 1713 2.24 1400 0.64 1438 0.65 1500 0.35 1452 0.51 TH 1656 1.94 FR 1734 1.97 SU 1756 1.75 MO 1402 0.78 WE 1420 0.70 TH 1515 0.66 for manTH 1929 1.86 FR 2024 1.97 SU 2050 2.34 MO 2100 2.27 1926 1.67 1940 the 1.78 bearded 2050 1.85 2343 0.61 the0.46 red suit to 0.53 bring 0131 colour into tions 0003 0.42 0.56 0128 0.53 0146 0248 0.49and can 0227 produce 0.60 0.36 0315 the 0.62 rivers 0608 1.89 0011 0.42 8 0024 8in 8 0804 8 0306 8 1203 0608 2.01 0709 2.23 23 0808 2.41 0828 2.55 23 0909 2.41 2.56 23 0837 2.32 0905 2.52 23 0900 2.14 0.87 23 0641 2.24 us all some new fish-FR some good 1206 0.62 1449 0.51fairly 0.60 fish0.30creeks. MO 1336 0.82 TU 1455 0.70 TH 1513 0.57 FR 1547 0.63 SA 1509 MO 1540and TU 1521 0.48 FR 1749 1.92 SA 1300 0.75 1810 2.20 1855 1.75 2020 1.71 2036 gear 1.88 – so 2124 2.06 2136 2.47 2133 2.34 1834 1.88 ing get1.92 your 2022 However, there isn’t ing2.02all 2057 year-round, 0053 0.34 0115 0.48 0217 0.49 0241 0.34 0229 0.36 0303 0.55 0324 0.49ear0356 0.36 0.62 0028 0.52 0100 0.39 orders in nice and any serious rain foreparticularly for bread9 0655 2.06 24 0734 2.37 9 0758 2.38 24 0852 2.45 9 0915 2.68 24 0943 2.42 9 0851 2.67 24 0909 2.32 9 0948 2.43 24 0354 0702 2.19 0931 2.08 1313 0.58 1601and 0.47 hopefully 0.40 SU 1537 species 0.56 0.28 so 1550 0.46 be anTU 1434 0.71 WE 1539 0.66 FRly SA 1617 0.62 heSA 1534 TU 1616cast, WEit SA 1303 0.80 SU 1404 0.70 could and-butter 1903 2.14 1951 1.78 2105 1.76 2127 1.99 2111 2.16 2129 2.13 2155 1.98 2220 2.56 2206 2.39 1838 1.90 1930 1.81 come through with the such as bream, whit- other dry month. 0137 0.28 0204 0.40 0300 0.47 0332 0.26 0357 0.48 0321 0.28 0338 0.54 0444 0.40 0431 0.64 0110 0.45 0147 0.37 0751 2.34 10 0738 2.22 25 0822 2.46 10 0845 2.51 25 0931 2.47 10goods! 1000 2.76 25 1013 2.41 10 0936 0939 2.30 10 1030 2.28 1004 2.00 As 25 I mentioned earing2.71 and25 flathead. 1412 0.55 WE 1528 0.61 TH 1617 0.65 SA 1646 0.40 SU 1644 0.59 SU 1615 0.33 MO 1603 0.53 WE 1650 0.31 TH 1618 0.47 SU 1358 0.72 MO 1500 0.65 December is a good lier, And it’s time to get 2215 2.08 2225 2.03 2158 2.29 2200 2.20 2303 2.60 I prefer 2241 to 2.41fish the 2045 1.82 2144 1.80 1952 2.05 1926 1.88 2023 1.76 month a few 0409 River the 0.25 mud crab 0252 0.34 0337 0.45 0420 0.22to chase 0429 0.49 0412 pots 0.55 out 0531Brisbane 0.50 0509 0.68 at this 0217 0.26 0150 0.39 0230 0.37 1045 2.77 26 1041 2.38 11 1018 2.67 26 1007 2.25 11 1112 2.09 26 1038 1.92 0837 2.45 11 0820 2.35 26 0906 2.51 11 0932 2.62 26 1008 2.47 11fish around the Bristime of year. again this month. 1505 0.54 TH 1618 0.54 FR 1650 0.65 SU 1728 0.36 MO 1709 0.57 MO 1654 0.30 TU 1630 0.50 TH 1723 0.38 FR 1647 0.50 MO 1448 0.65 TU 1550 0.63 2137 1.86 2217 1.83 2302 2.16 2243I 2.38 2231 2.25crab- 2347 2.56 2.41species 2038 1.95 2011 1.85 2111 1.74 bane area. 2256 2.07 And my2315 target don’t bother 0507 0.25 holidays 0501 0.54are 0456 0.29 0446 0.59 0620 0.62 0547 0340 0.29 0411 0.46 0255 0.26 0230 0.34 0309 0.38 School threadfin bing for muddies dur- are snapper, 0.73 0920 2.52 12 0902 2.45 27 0947 2.51 12 1018 2.69 27 1041 2.45 12 1126 2.71 27 1108 2.31 12 1059 2.55 27 1035 2.17 12 1154 1.89 27 1114 1.83 1807 0.35 0.56 aTU 1730 0.49 SA 1717 0.55 1556 0.54 which means jewfish and ing 0.31 spring. MOback, TU 1734 WE 1655 0.50 FR 1757salmon, FR 1706 0.48 SA 1719 0.65 TU 1537 0.60 WE 1634 0.63 2349 2.20 2329 2.10 2327 2.43 2303 2.28 2353 2.37 2228 1.91 2248 1.86 2122 1.86 2057 1.83 2154 1.73 lot more boats on the While there are crabs grunter. 0427 0.27 0443 0.48 0554 0.34 0535 0.61 0543 0.40 0.65 2.47 0.79 0330 0.28 0309 0.31 0345 0.40 I don’t spend to be 28 0520 13 0031 28 0630 1207 2.56 28 1136 2.22 13 1139 2.36caught 1103then, 2.07 they 0713 0.76 1155 1.74a lot of 1001 2.53 13 0945 2.53 28 1026 2.49 13 1103 2.72 28 1111 2.42 13water. 0.38 WE 1800 0.57 1803 0.36 TH 1721 0.53 1239 1.70 SU 1752 0.62 1643 0.57 SA 1753 0.45 SU 1746 0.65 TU 1845 WE SA WE 1626 0.57 TH 1714 0.64 I spend nearly all can be a 2336 lot 2.27 of hard 1832time 2317 1.94 2320 1.89 0.62 targeting thread2204 1.77 2144 1.81 2233 1.72 of my2.22time 0002 chasing they get work. 0514 0.29 0516 0.52 0036 2.10 a 2.43 0556 0.73 0119ies 2.34 because 0035 2.33 0403 0.33 0349 0.31 0421 0.44 29 14 0012 29 0642 0.49 0610 0.71 0630Mud 0.55 29 1134 will 1.95 14 0815a 0.87 0721 0.84 1042 2.50 14 1030 2.57 29 1102 2.44 14 1148 2.70 29 1141 2.37 14range of species in the lot of pressure and crabs get 1727 0.62 SU 1838 0.44 MO 1814 0.64 WE 1247 2.35 TH 1204 2.10 TH 1218 2.13 FR 1747 0.57 SU 1335 1.55 MO 1246 1.66 TH 1715 0.55 FR 1749 0.68 2355 1.90 1921 0.44 River 1827 at 0.60this 1837 0.45 as 0.77 release 1837 well 0.69 when 2245 1.69 2232 1.79 2309 1.71 Brisbane better December 1915don’t 0007 1.96 0551 0.60 0125 of 2.20year. 2.37 0011 2.21 0129 2.28 0437 0.40 0430 0.32 0455 0.49 time from deep waprogresses, and2.24 they’ll 0215caught 15 0058 0721 0.73 30 0634 0.82 15 0930 0.93 30 0827 0.86 1121 2.43 15 1115 2.58 30 1137 2.39 15 0602 0.36 30 1211 2.29 15 0733 0.67 Rivers were wanting really to 1.83 fire MO up 1454ter, 2.11 such as theFR 1300 1.88 start 1.48if you 1.61 1810 0.68 MO 1232 2.61 TU 1843 0.64 TH 1330 SA 1208 TU 1354 FR 1806 0.55 SA 1821 0.70 1921 0.45 2000 0.52 0.57 1816 0.63 2016 0.91 1939 0.77 2326 1.62 2323 1.77 2345 1.71 Pine and Caboolture 1912 to let them go. early into next year. 0050 2.20 1.90 0530 0.55 can be very quiet durOn a positive note There31 should 31 0031 31 1211 0720 be 0.90a few 0629 0.70 2.33 1250 about 1.70 SU WE 1241 2.18 SU 1853 0.72 ing December, unless though, they are excelprawns getting in 1853 0.71 1914 0.65 you’re specifically some of the holes later lent eating. © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia Bureau ofjack Meteorology If I catch one, I’ll norchasing2022, mangrove this month as well. New Moon First Quarter Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical or sharks. Tide This will be helped mally keep it and move Full Moon Last Quarter from the area so I if we get aFull few decent awayLast PasNewPumicestone Moon First Quarter Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Moon Full Moon Last Quarter don’t hook any more. storms putting a bit of sage offers more op7 9

TH 1632 2.09 2318 0.46

SA 1653 1.78 2330 0.62

SU 1819 1.67

Page 14 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

0640 2.21 1319 0.84 TU 1837 1.68

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Townsville 07 4721 1554 Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 15

Steep muddy banks under mangrove trees are top spots for targeting mud crabs. The author with a crab taken near a creek offshoot under mangroves.

Tips for catching muddies

H Crab ropes can be secured with a name tag above the high-tide mark.

Undercut banks around mangroves are worth soaking a pot near.

Page 16 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

I folks, well summer is upon us and with that comes seafood season! This means mud crabs, sand crabs and, as summer progressives, banana prawns in southeast Queensland. I’ll save the banana prawns and sand crabs for future articles, with the focus for now being on catching a haul of beautiful mud crabs. December crabs December is a great time to chase mud crabs, for a couple of reasons. First, as we experienced through spring, a persistent northerly wind has made it increasingly hard to get into Moreton Bay or offshore. Therefore, crabbing in the protected estuaries becomes an excellent option to get your boating fix and a good feed too. In addition, December is the perfect time to chase muddies because during October and November mud crabs in southeast Queensland moult, so are much harder to catch. Crabbers should also be aware that during these months particularly, if they catch light crabs with clean shiny green shells, they are likely to fail the ‘full

Crabbing Tips by SEAN THOMPSON

crab test’ and should be returned to the water. Crabs with a newly hardened shell will have little to no meat. You can access how full a crab is by turning the crab over and firmly pressing the abdominal plates adjacent to the second walking legs. If there is no flex the crab is likely to be full of meat. With that in mind and to maximise your chances of success, let’s take a look at the when, where and how to catch muddies. Best times There are a few key factors to consider with regards to the best time to target mud crabs. First, mud crabs are most active at night. This does not mean you won’t catch them during the day, especially after rain, but during the night is when they typically forage for food. During the day, they are more likely to hide in mud pits away from predators. A word of caution though if setting your pots but won’t be about during the day or night. Sadly, there are a

small number of criminals – yes, they deserve that title – who like to raid and even steal mud crab pots. If crabbing overnight, put your pots in late in the day and recover them first thing. The other thing you can do is try to make your pots less obvious by tying your rope to a fixed object above high water, such as a jetty or tree. The rope must have a tag attached to it above the high-water mark, with the user’s surname on it. Sunken and unmarked pots are illegal. Camouflaged rope is a good idea in this situation, which you can easily buy. Second, bigger spring tides normally associated with a new or full moon period tend to produce more crabs. Bigger tides push further up creek and river systems, with their offshoots giving crabs access to new food. With these bigger tides, if you do crab throughout the day, it can pay to move your pots up and down the estuary. * continued P17

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Tips for catching muddies * from P16

However, if crabbing overnight, it is worth leaving your pots in these less frequently accessed areas, provided you time your tides to return to them in the morning. Third, rain will also get the crabs moving, but where you set your pots depends on how much rain there has been. It was a very dry spring, meaning mud crabs are likely to be dispersed further up the estuaries, as the saltwater intrudes further upstream. As a result, it might be worthwhile to put your pots further upstream than usual. However, if summer sees a few showers or a storm, it’s worth spread-

ing your pots through the system to locate the crabs. Rain will flush them out of their holes to feed, however if there is a lot of rain over a day or more and the water becomes too fresh, the crabs will move with the current towards the entrance of the estuary. In this situation, move the pots to deeper water because the more-dense saline water will sit below the muddier fresh water on top and move them closer to the entrance. Lastly, as a general rule in summer, especially after moulting in early spring, mud crabs are more active in warm water temperatures. However, it is a myth that you can’t catch

crabs in months with an ‘r’ in them. While there may be fewer crabs, winter crabs can often be very full. More the issue is that in winter, their activity slows, so moulting ceases and size doesn’t change, therefore stocks of legal-sized crabs will not increase and in fact decline with catches. Where to set your pots In general, the best crabbing is up estuaries or creeks in areas lined with muddy mangrove lined banks. However, mud crabs can also be found in a few open coves, such as Moreton Bay. In these more open areas, they can be located around the edges of mangroves on the bay * continued P18

Be sure to feel under the crab’s body to see if it is full of meat.

The author’s friend Craig with a lovely rusty full buck.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 17

Tips for catching muddies * from P17

Even small drains are worth putting a pot in front of.

Rocky shorelines and bottoms provide homes for mud crabs.

Rectangular two-entry pots will catch crabs but need some refinements.

islands, around muddy bottoms where it drops off into channels and also along muddy rocky spots where the crabs make homes under the rocks on these mud flats. Be aware when setting your pots that the Queensland Fisheries website notes it is best practice to make sure your pots or dillies are in water deep enough at all stages of the tide, so marine animals caught in the gear are not exposed to the sun and unwanted crabs can be released alive. Furthermore, according to a Fisheries Ministerial Statement from 2020, it is an offence if your crab apparatus contains marine product and is out of the water. Otherwise, entrances to creek drains that are lined with mangroves and wide enough to get a small boat into are

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perfect locations for mud crabs. Try to get your pots as far up the drain as you can, and under water at all times. If you can’t, place the pots at the entrance. Steep muddy banks – particularly those under fallen trees, overhanging trees or mangroves – are also top spots. The tree roots help hold the mud together, providing a permanent secure home as well as a bit of a break in the current, which can concentrate food sources washed down in the flow. A particularly good spot worth crabbing is near fallen trees around sharp bends in creeks that have channelled out a deeper hole. The current will also carry the crabs through here after rain. Types of pots There are a number of considerations in choosing the right crab pots, including price, quality, size and weight. If you intend to crab in areas with a reasonable current and want to have your pots for a long time, go for heavy duty higher quality pots. When I go crabbing with a friend, we often set and collect our legal maximum of four pots each. So, setting and collecting eight pots can take a bit of time. Consequently, my favourite crab pots are big round four-entry pots that have collapsible aluminium struts, which make set up and collapsing a breeze. You can also get some with plastic pipe legs that are permanently connected to the base of the pot and have an indent on the other end of

each leg for securing to the top ring of the net. The latter pots can take a bit of muscle though, particularly to pull the rings far enough apart to get the last leg in – but you can now buy a ‘crab pot spreader’ from Crab n Gear to make this job easier. I find pots with connected legs are better than the removable leg pots because occasionally you may lose a leg or two, plus they take longer to put together. The other big advantage of the deluxe or heavy duty round pots is that they usually come with huge built-in bait bags. These allow you to put lots of bait in the pot but not have it exposed and easily eaten by crabs and fish, as wire bait holders do. While you can still buy the old lightweight rectangular crab pots with two entries, they tend to have an inferior catch rate due to only two entries. Furthermore, you also need to buy a portable bait bag to put inside them, and often the entries are very loose upon purchase and need tightening up with snap-lock ties in order to create a springier entrance, which is also harder for them to escape out of. If you do make those refinements, these are probably good pots for land-based anglers who have to walk a reasonable distance because they’re less heavy. Floats and rope Floats are a personal preference, provided they meet with the state regulations. That is, they must be light coloured for vis* continued P19

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A very full big crab caught after heavy rainfall.

Catching muddies * from P18

ibility to boaties and must be no less than 15cm in any dimension. There are also some good crabbing kits on the market that are very handy and include floats, ropes, tags, marker pens and more. Another tip to reduce motor strike on your ropes is to use lead weights on them, so they’re not floating just below the surface. Best bait Fresh bait is best for crabbing, so if you leave your pots in the water, you should always replace your bait once or twice a day. Top crabbing bait includes chicken carcasses, chicken pieces, pil-

chard, mullet or other oily fish. I go to my local butchers for cheap chicken carcasses at $0.50 each or fresh seafood shops for cheap oily fish carcasses. If you do use whole fish, if frozen make sure you defrost it first and also make some cuts in it to help release smells and oils. Hopefully these tips will help you to catch a few extra crabs this summer and beyond! For more tips and reports, check out my social media pages, Ontour Fishing Australia. Until next time, bag your friends, not your limit.

FISHING EVENTS EVENT

DATE

LOCATION

2023 Springfield Lakes Dec 3 Pest Fish Classic

Springfield Lakes, Qld facebook.com/BrisbaneValleyAnglers

Kids and Families Dec 17 Fishing Lesson

Wellington Point, Qld 2bentrods.com.au/events/

2024 Shimano King Feb 1-4 of Kings

Yeppoon, Qld kingofkings.live/tournament

National 4x4 Mar 15-17 Outdoors show

Brisbane, Qld 4x4show.com.au

Boyne Tannum May 3-5 HookUp

Gladstone, Qld boynetannumhookup.com.au

Womens Fishing May 11 - Jun 8 Southeast Queensland Classic womensfishingclassic.com.au Sanctuary Cove May 23-26 Gold Coast, Qld International Boat sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au Show

The author’s favourite type of easy set up four-entry crab pots. www.bnbfishing.com.au

Rainbow Beach Jun 1-8 Family Fishing Classic & Expo

Rainbow Beach, Qld rainbowsportsclub.com.au

Evans Head Jul 5-12 Fishing Classic

Evans Head, NSW evansheadfishingclassic.com.au

AFTA Tackle Show Aug 15-17

Gold Coast, Qld afta.net.au

Baffle Creek Family Sep 16-21 Fishing Festival

Baffle Creek, Qld bafflecreek.com.au

Fitzroy River Oct 9-12 Barra Bash

Fitzroy River, Qld fitzroyriverbarrabash.com.au

To have your competition listed in the calendar, please phone (07) 3286 1833 or email ads@collins.media Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 19

Changing seasons and catch limits

What you need to know Spanish mackerel MANAGEMENT CHANGES*

Management changes to recreational catch limits – 1 fish per person, or 2 fish per boat with 2 or more recreational fishers on board a boat. *the boat limit does not apply to charter fishing trips. CLOSED SEASON

Shout-out to our stocking volunteers across the state We know our fish stocking volunteers are currently busy releasing fingerlings at more than 100 locations across Queensland, but we wanted to give them a shout-out to mark International Volunteer Day on 5 December (and every other day of the year as well!). Without their tireless energy and boundless enthusiasm, many anglers would miss out on the opportunity to take their friends and families on trips of a lifetime across our wonderful state.

DAF2103 11/23

Our stocked impoundments and waterways also support small businesses in our regional and rural communities, and are yearround destinations for visitors. Most importantly, stocked impoundments and waterways provide fishing opportunities that relieve the pressure on wild populations. And we’re sure every barra angler is especially grateful this time of year! “Fishing for the Future involves all of us who love fishing, and

everyone who loves eating Queensland seafood,” Fisheries Queensland executive director Dallas said. “We can’t do this alone, and all our volunteers who gladly donate their time and effort to work with us and in their local communities, make great contributions daily. They’re the unsung heroes of our fishing sector, so if you’re out and about and meet up with a member of a stocking group, don’t forget to thank them – or better still find out how you could be involved as well!” Funds raised from the sale of stocked impoundment fishing permits (or SIPs) go directly back into fish restocking programs across the state. Find out more about fishing in stocked impoundments across Queensland by scanning this QR code.

More info

Queensland east coast waters north of 22˚ South (located slightly north of Stanage Bay) • 10 November – 1 December 2023 Queensland east coast waters south of latitude 22˚ South (located slightly north of Stanage Bay) • 1 February – 21 February 2024 • 1 March – 21 March 2024

Barramundi CLOSED SEASON

Closed during spawning period. Gulf of Carpentaria • 7 October 2023 – 31 January 2024 East coast Queensland tidal and freshwaters excluding selected dams • 1 November 2023 – 31 January 2024

Spanner crab CLOSED SEASON

All Queensland tidal waters • 1 November 2023 – 15 December 2023

Tropical rock lobster CLOSED SEASON

Queensland east coast north of latitude 14˚ South (just north of Port Stewart) and Gulf of Carpentaria waters • 1 October 2023 – 31 December 2023 Note: unless otherwise stated, closed seasons commence immediately after midnight at the beginning of the first mentioned day, and finish immediately before midnight at the end of the last mentioned day. Search fisheries.qld.gov.au for ‘closed seasons’ or ‘closed waters’, or use the Qld Fishing 2.0 app to find out more.

Download the free ‘Qld Fishing 2.0’ app from the App Store or Google Play DAF2103 11/23

Page 20 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

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When the opportunity to help out with fish research bites…please hook up and get involved There are many researchers studying our Queensland fish populations to ensure they are sustainable. We combine scientific biological monitoring information with a variety of other information, including commercial catch records and estimates of recreational catch to assess the sustainability of important Queensland fish species. These data are used to assess the health of fish stocks, it guides harvest strategies and the management of our fisheries.

You might see our Fisheries Queensland researchers out and about asking to measure your catch, or interviewing fishers at boat ramps. Please get involved in this valuable research because future generations will be thankful for the time you spend helping all of us understand our fisheries and keeping stocks sustainable.

More info

Join Tracy and the rest of the team at the WIRFN their captures, is nearly as good as fishing itself nowadays. “Over my many years I have picked up many fishing and boating skills, mostly through my trial and error.

Meet Tracy, one of the Women in Recreational Fishing Network (WIRFN) leaders in 2023. “I fell in love with fishing in the late 1970’s, I have either been fishing or helping others find their passion ever since. In the early 2000’s I had a medical condition, which has left me not being able to fish as often as I like … that’s why, when the opportunity arose to join WIRFN, I applied. I wanted to be able to create, share and encourage the love for fishing I have in others. Seeing the joy and excitement others have with

“In 2008 my husband and I moved to the Bundaberg area and became actively involved in the Bundaberg Sportfishing Club. Using the contacts I have made from this club and the knowledge that I have learnt from us hosting events, I am keen to be able to host or coordinate events in the Wide Bay through WIRFN. “In the new year I’m teaming up with our local Tackle World and am looking to host sessions for women in the art of fishing, from knot tying to best lines and rods and everything in between.

estuary or reef. Me, I love it all, as long as I’m on the water somewhere!” Do you love the outdoors, have a passion for fishing or just don’t know where to start? Looking for a network that is a safe and supportive online community? The WIRFN aims to encourage women to participate in recreational fishing in Queensland, and encourages all skill levels to get involved and share their knowledge and passion for fishing. Join up now at the ‘Women in Recreational Fishing Network Qld’ Facebook group. More info

“Our area is so diverse when it comes to fishing, you can choose between fresh water,

fisheries.qld.gov.au 13 25 23 FisheriesQueensland FisheriesQld DAFQld www.bnbfishing.com.au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 21

Wishing all a merry fishmas

T Martin bagged the motherload of horse whiting, with an average size of 40cm and most weighing between 600-642g.

Martin rarely fails to find a great patch of whiting to work.

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0402 703 519 Page 22 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

HE end of 2023 is looming, though we still have to get through December. We have our special guest in the red suit making an appearance, the kids are running around the house on school holidays driving their parents crazy and everyone is getting ready for the big day of heat, presents and of course the traditional food coma! One thing you can do with your kids is dust off the crab pots, load them up with mullet and chase some sand crabs for Christmas lunch. There have been so many caught around the Moreton Bay area, both land-based and by boaties. Not sure if it’s the dirty water caused by the wind or if they’re simply hungry – either way they are here in good numbers! For a great feed of sandies, Shorncliffe Pier, Scarborough, Nudgee, Woody Point, Deception Bay and Pumicestone are a few places to start the hunt. As always, keep an eye on your pots and brush up on the new Queensland Fisheries’ regulations. The Christmas dinner table would not be complete without prawns. If you can get out and catch your own, it is time well spent. However, if you’re not able to do this, drop down and support the local trawler guys on Sinbad St at Shorncliffe and grab a kilo or three of the sweetest best cooked local prawns in Queensland – that is

Northern Moreton Bay by MARK TEMPLETON

money well spent! If you’re looking to take the kids fishing over the Christmas holidays but they need a new rod and reel, drop into The Shed at Tackle Land and check out the range of new and second-hand fishing gear. Get some great gear and save a few dollars too. While you’re in the shop, have a crack at the Lure Machine – it’s loaded with great quality lures such as Jackal, Nomad, Daiwa, Shimano, Rapala and L Wilson. On the whiting scene, Martin Cowling headed to Moreton Bay and found a couple of cracking fish. Martin is bit of a veteran when it comes to whiting and rarely fails to find a great patch to work. Normally, he’ll use fresh live yabbies or live bloodworms to catch a feed.

On this particular trip, he bagged the motherload of horse whiting, with an average size of 40cm and most weighing between 600-642g. I don’t know anyone who would knock back a feed of these. Martin did leave a couple with us at Tackle Land, which were very quickly prepared and demolished for dinner. You simply cannot compare fish that fresh to anything bought in supermarkets. Thank you Martin, they were greatly appreciated. Question… How many times have you seen a fisho put their fishing rod down straight after casting it? This is one of the best ways to come home with one less rod in your collection. Tony, who works hard preparing awesome meals for clients * continued P23

Michelle and Tony scored a cracker flathead after nearly losing a rod.

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reels and lures can be found in the main shop at Tackle Land and some out of the box ideas are available from The Shed. Drop in and spend a bit of time dredging through new and old treasures – you never know what you might find! We will be trading through the 2023 Christmas season, including Christmas Day at this stage. For trading hours during this period, keep an eye on the Tackle Land Facebook page closer to Christmas. Take care out there and check your safety gear before you hit the water. Enjoy your break and maintain the passion at Tackle Land.

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While Tony may tell a different version of this event, we prefer Michelle’s. Occasionally you won’t have to travel far to have a bit of fun with your friends or family. Zac ventured down to one of the local canals with his crew and caught an awesome little cod. Our canals hold so many different species, you never know what you’re going to come home with or what you’ll release to fight another day. Congratulations Zac, a great catch and an awesome time well spent. Now, are you stuck for Christmas gift ideas? We have a couple of stocking fillers for you – the latest release rods,

in their homes, loves fishing with his family when he gets a chance to take a break, as I have highlighted in a couple of previous articles. Recently though, when out with the family, he must have switched off. He cast out, put the rod down to do something else and before he knew it, there was a fish on. Heroine of the day was Tony’s wife Michelle – she leapt into action and, with no regard for her own safety, grabbed the rod that was about to be lost and landed a cracker flathead! Well done Michelle, always at the ready to save the day.

* from P22

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 23

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Luke Stratford landed a nice snapper on a Jackson 3.25” Puri Ebi plastic.

A solid Brisbane River snapper taken when casting a soft plastic into structure.

Brisbane River snapper guide A nice snapper taken on a prawn imitation in the Brisbane River.

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Y favourite fish to target in December are snapper. The Brisbane River can turn on some excellent snapper fishing in this month and they’re a stack of fun to catch on lures. While I spend a bit of time targeting them on bait as well, I’ll concentrate on lures for now and take a look at bait fishing in a future article. The action has been a bit hit and miss leading up to November but they should start to turn up in better numbers. The two things to consider when looking for snapper are structure and bait. If you find both, you’re in with a good chance of connecting to a Brissie River snapper. The fish in the riv-

Targeting Tips – Part 1 by KEITH STRATFORD

er average about 4050cm, with plenty of better ones in the 6065cm range regularly turning up. There are bigger fish in there, however they can be very hard to keep out of structure when hooked. Different elements to look for in the river are rock walls, rock bars, pylons, channel markers and steep drop-offs. All of these attract baitfish, so it’s a matter of sounding around until you locate the fish or bait. Most of the snapper schools I come across in the river are fairly small, consisting of two-10 fish. Though once located, they tend to bite when

a lure is presented in front of them. They’re a very aggressive fish and will often eat the plastic as it’s sinking in front of them and before it hits the bottom. The strike can nearly rip the rod from your hands if you’re not ready for it. Usually I find they eat the lure while they’re on the move and keep going after eating it. They can pull some serious line on the first run, and they always fight all the way to the boat. A 60cm fish can be a real handful on lighter gear. When they are hooked close to rough * continued P25

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Brisbane River snapper guide * from P24

structure, the battle can be over in seconds. In areas such as this, it’s a bit like mangrove jack fishing. Leaders need to be kept as light as possible to get the bites. Snapper can be very leader shy, particularly in cleaner water. I’ll go as low as 12lb when the bites are hard to come by but prefer to use 20lb, and I’ll never go above 20 because it reduces the number of bites you get. Jig head selection depends on the depth of water you’re fishing. I generally alternate between a 3/8oz and 1/2oz head. The deeper water around the wharves at the mouth of the river needs a 1/2oz head to get to the bottom, but the fish will sit mid-water when there’s bait in the area. A 1/4oz or 3/8oz head is a better option in this situation as it will sink slower, so the fish will have time to eat it. The current can run hard in some areas in the Brisbane River. Snapper will still bite in very strong current but it’s harder to get a lure in front of them. I’m not a fan of when the tide has completely stopped. I find snapper much harder to catch and a lot of the smaller annoying fish such as moses perch and pike are more active. If I had the choice, the last two and first two hours of the tide are my favourite times. Though occasionally, we don’t get to pick the perfect times, so it’s worth getting out there and trying to work out a pattern for yourself.

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Snapper will eat a wide range of plastics, however I don’t like anything too big for them and find the 3-4” range to be perfect. Prawn imitations are generally my first choice for snapper in the river and there’s a stack of good prawn plastics out there. My two favourites are the Pro Lure 92mm Clone Prawn and the Jackson 3.25 Puri Ebi. Though the Jackson Puri Ebi is becoming my number one for snapper, and they catch plenty of other species as well. Paddle tails around 3-4” are also a great snapper plastic and there’s a huge range of these on the market too. Personally, I prefer a slightly slimmer plastic instead of the bulkier versions. Curl tails also work very well on snapper, with the Berkley Gulp Nemisis 4” an excellent option. Colours are a personal choice, however make sure you have a range of natural colours such as browns and silvers, as well as some brighter colours. I normally start with a bright fluoro colour in the paddle tails, because I’ve had more success with them in the past, however use natural colours in the prawn and curl tail presentations. If the bright colours aren’t working, try switching over to a more natural colour to find out what they want on the day. We’ll continue with tips and techniques for targeting snapper in the Brisbane River next month.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 25

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The new Samaki Redic 50 jerkbaits.

Brenden trolled up solid flathead using the Samaki Redic in Crystal Prawn on a charter with the author.

Sensational Samaki Redic 50 review

This big whiting smashed a Redic in Coral Trout colour.

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Page 28 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

I everyone, it was great to receive at least a little rain in November, to settle dust and subdue bushfires. In the rivers, rain is essential for good fishing, and both Brad and I have seen some excellent catches. At AFTA 2023, I had a preview look at the new Samaki Redic 50 hardbody lure and couldn’t wait for its release. It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Blue Fish Imports’ wide range of high quality brands, including Samaki rods and lures, XBraid, FishCraft lures and Meiho tackle storage. Samaki is Australian owned, designed and developed, offering an extensive range of fishing tackle from rods, lures, line, tools and apparel. In particular, Samaki Vibelicious 70mm soft vibes have been one of our top lures on charters. For us, small lures have a great strike rate, keeping the scoreboard ticking and our cus-

Lure Review by CLINT ANSELL

tomers entertained on a variety of estuary fish from small to big. Previously, the Samaki Redic hard-body range of lures was released in larger sizes, down to 60mm, great for chasing big fish such as barramundi and larger flathead. With the release of the 50mm version, this is a lure that is now a mainstay in our daily tacklebox. Alongside the 48mm Pontoon 21 Crack Jack 48SP DR minnow, we rate the Redic 50 as our all-time best hard-body trolling lure. The main reason – these lures catch fish and a lot of them! During the first two weeks of Brad using them at the Tweed River, and myself at the Nerang River and Gold Coast Broadwater, we caught well over 200 fish, including flathead, bream, trevally, grunter, big whiting, floun-

der, tarwhine, mullet and even blue swimmer crabs on more than one occasion! On the Tweed River, Brad caught four mullet in a row on these lures. While at the Gold Coast, I’ve had days catching up to 10 whiting on them, measuring 30-36cm. Trolling is so much fun and incredibly effective, particularly with good lures such as the Samaki Redic. The Samaki Redic 50mm lure is a minnow-shaped jerkbait hard-body that comes in two models, MF and DF. The MF is a shallower diver, reaching slightly over 2m deep when trolled, and the DF is a deeper diver, diving to over 3m deep. They can of course be cast and jerked to great effect – however trolling gets the job done effectively on charters. * continued P29

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Sensational Samaki Redic 50 review * from P28

They are currently available in a range of eight colours and retail for a very reasonable $16.95 each. They swim true, with a great vibrant action straight out of the packet, and I haven’t had to tune one yet, even after many fish. All the colours are good and will work in various conditions depending on water clarity, wind strength, time of day and sky state. Also, the natural bait present in the system determines what the fish are feeding on and whether it’s prawns or baitfish. Our favourite Redic colours have so far been Coral Trout and Crystal Prawn, and Whitebait, Ghost Shad, Gold Assassin and Pinkbait all have days when they get absolutely slammed. Lately, I’ve been using my Minn Kota Ulterra to troll – it’s so easy to maintain an even speed of 1.5 knots and stay in a straight line with the electric motor. I have a BLA lithium 36V battery and, after a whole day of trolling, I use only 20 percent of the battery charge. My favourite light trolling setup is a Samaki Archer 692SXL spinning rod with an Okuma ITX 2500 reel,

spooled with XBraid Upgrade Pentagram PE 0.6 and 8lb fluorocarbon leader. With this combo and a Redic 50 tied on, you have a devastating fishing weapon, whether by kayak or boat. Trolled in depths of 1-3m in the same direction as the tide, it’s never long before the rod is suddenly loaded up with a good fish. Set the lures back about 20-30m to ensure they are often tapping the mud or sand – this will greatly increase the success rate. When trolling, I always keep an eye on my Humminbird Helix 10 fish finder to find what areas baitfish are holding in. Inevitably, the bites will come in those areas, and change every day and during tides. Samaki Redic 50 lures are worth a try casting in the shallow flats for flathead and whiting too, that’s what I’ll be trying next. My favourite local fishing shop – Sporty’s Warehouse at Bundall – stocks these dynamite lures and all my favourite tackle. A merry Christmas and happy new year to you. I hope you get some quality fishing time in over the break.

There’s nothing like fishing to escape all the worries of the world. To book a charter with myself or Brad, or if you have any fishing related questions, visit goldcoastriverchar ters.com, SMS 0432 990 302, email fishing withclint@gmail.com or find us on Facebook – Brad Smith Fishing Charters.

Callum with a decent dusky flathead taken on the Redic in Pinkbait colour.

Jason captured a nice school flathead on a charter with the author.

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A big whiting caught on a Samaki Redic lure.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 29

Drone fishing is taking off

Verdine Weale droned a healthy snapper on the beaches south of Perth.

Darren loves to fish elevated dunes using a mix of bait and hollow-core flashers with circle hooks.

NITIALLY, the thought of using drones to drop long distance bait seemed a strange combination of slightly whacky and somewhat genius – yes, that’s what we thought too. We’d heard of underwater remote-controlled drones deploying long lines for snapper in New Zealand and kites suspending trolled bait on a spread for sailfish, so why not take advantage of new age technology? This method has had outstanding success in Western Australia, especially in the southwest chasing snapper from the dunes, with welcome by-catch such as dhufish and mulloway, and some not so welcome sharks and rays. Gearing up for the event of bigger by-catch is optional, though you would generally expect to go fairly heavy anyway – to exert enough force to have the constant advantage at distances anywhere from 200m as far out as 500m, in the absence of instant line feedback to let you know what the fish is doing. There are two rigs recommended for this technique.

Ray Capegrego managed to hook into a good snapper before the drone had a chance to return to base. Caught using fresh mullet.

Page 30 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

Gold Coast by ANDY MELVILLE

The first involves a one or two-bait dropper rig spaced 2m apart from other terminal points, with enough swivels to prevent spin, and grip sinkers to help anchor along the inside of a reef, channel or dropoff. This rig is ideal for chasing mulloway, snapper and cobia. The second comprises of a live bait or well-presented single dead bait dropped into the patrolled sections out the back of surf, which can produce seriously big pelagics and more than memorable fights to go with them. A single circle hook for live bait or snelled offset circles for presented dead bait are suggested, not only for the welfare of the fish that might be released but for a solid hook up where slack line and delayed strike indication calls for lots of line retrieval, followed by generously setting the hook. Navionics and Google are essentially a recipe to get started on the technology side of things, whereas for setup, try a larger surf rod paired with a big line capacity reel for thinner braid and 100m or more of top shot and a decent leader. Lastly, a release clip to drop at your command is critical, otherwise you risk crashing your flying investment when you lock off your reel. If I give one piece of advice in this article it is to test your drop distance and flight paths on dry land first, before even thinking about heading out over the water.

Thank us later. Don’t be fooled by thinking there’re no fish in shallow water. Quite often there are fish, they simply get spooked by the boat, or you can’t fish safely because of the sweep of water or wind blowing you uncontrollably close to the surf. A stealthy drone dropping an irresistible bait is a winner. Fraser Island and the northern beaches of NSW offer some great opportunities to target tuna, mackerel and mulloway off the long beach breaks and shallow water structures, reefs or wrecks. Kingscliff offers some great ground to drop multiple bait over a session to hunt mulloway or big tailor holding up on rough ground. If you’re camping at Moreton Island, it also has artificial reefs very close to shore that can be fished by the bold angler for jewfish and snapper at slack water. Otherwise, the northern end – behind the surf lines and out of green zones – holds great little patches where good grass sweetlip offer exceptionally good fun, with the chance of something bigger hanging around. Inside Moreton Bay there are plenty of coffee rock breaks that can be fished from an angle without running too much line over rough ground or being busted off at the first instance of engaging running fish. Shallow reef lines and drop-offs can be found using Google Maps to * continued P31

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Daniel Horner is the face behind One Drop Cartel. He consistently shows great results across his YouTube channel.

Drone fishing is taking off and delivering * from P30

zoom in on the colour changes or with Navionics by studying the contours and cross referencing them with what you can see from satellite images or local knowledge. And after sounding up by boat on previous

occasions, GPS marks can also mean the difference between finding a decent corridor or a random patch of sand. Simply link them to the software available for your drones and go for gold. Keep an eye for out for the follow up of this

article, when we look at the technical bits of rig building and line choice, along with how to use your technology to your advantage. In the meantime, tight lines.

Using drones to drop long distance baits is genius.

www.suncoastskutes.com A stealthy drone dropping an irresistible bait is a winner.

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Flashers and pre-made rigs focused on SEQ water all year round Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 31

Champion senior angler 2023 was Tyne Cuttance from MMD Fishing. George Sands was the Last Man Standing boat package winner, curtesy of Surf Coast Marine, Quintrex and Suzuki Marine.

2023 Gold Coast Flathead Classic

T Winners of the Champion 3 Angler Team category The Mad Hueys Heritage, consisting of Ben Job, Brad Job and Ross McCubbin.

HE 2023 Gold Coast Flathead Classic has come and gone, and what another awesome year! With 239 teams and 641 anglers competing, we had a whopping 6699 flathead caught and released! Congratulations to all who attended, it was a great success. Special congratulations to all the winners, but in particular to our overall champion team The Mad Hueys Heritage, consisting of Ben

Job, Brad Job and Ross McCubbin, and our champion senior angler Tyne Cuttance from MMD Fishing. It was good to see so many of our Gold Coast Sport Fishing Club members among the winners. A massive thank you to all our sponsors for their continued support – we had an incredible total value of sponsorship and prizes of $443,000 this year! And this event would certainly not be possible without you – we

commend your generosity. Thank you to Surf Coast Marine, Suzuki Marine Australia and Quintrex for providing those incredible boat packages. We know those lucky winners are beyond grateful and living the dream in their new boats. We hope to see you all back next year! In the meantime, keep fishing and honing your flatty skills, you never know who could come out on top next year.

Glenn Brazzill won the seven-night Solomon Islands trip worth $10,600, courtesy of Freedom Adventures and Solomon Airlines.

We hope to see you all back next year. Page 32 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

A whopping 6699 flathead were caught and released.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 33

Hats off to mangrove jack

Angler’s I Almanac December 2023

DAY Above Below Fri.

LAST GIBBOUS

Sat.

Sun.

Mon.

Tue. LAST QUARTER

Wed.

Thur.

7 Fri.

8 LAST CRESCENT

Sat.

Sun.

Mon.

Tue.

Wed. NEW MOON

13 Thur.

14 Fri.

15 Sat.

16 FIRST CRESCENT

Sun.

17 Mon.

Tue.

Wed. FIRST QUARTER

Thur.

Fri.

Sat.

FIRST GIBBOUS

Sun.

Mon.

25 Tue.

26 Wed. FULL MOON

27 Thur.

28 Fri.

Sat.

Sun. LAST GIBBOUS

1.43am

Notes

2.10pm

2.35am 3.00pm 3.23am 3.47pm 4.08am

4.30pm

4.50am

5.11pm

5.30am

5.50pm

6.09am

6.30pm

6.49am

7.10pm

7.31am 7.53pm 8.16am 8.40pm 9.05am

9.32pm

9.59am 10.28pm 10.58am 11.29pm 12 Noon 1.02pm 12.32am 2.03pm 1.34am 2.59pm 2.32am 3.51pm

3.26am

4.41pm

4.17am

5.28pm

5.05am

6.15pm

5.52am

7.03pm

6.39am

Summer Solstice: Longest Day

7.52pm 7.28am 8.45pm 8.19am 9.40pm

9.13am

10.36pm 10.09am 11.32pm 11.05am 12 Noon 12.25am 12.52pm 1.15am 1.40pm 2.02am 2.24pm

Minor Times: Add 6 hours

Page 34 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

HAVEN’T been able to get offshore for a month. Since I submitted my article for November there’s been only one small window to get offshore, and I couldn’t capitalise on it. The rest of the time it’s been blowing 35 knots from the north, then turning around and gusting 40 from the south. It has made fishing anywhere hard, let alone from offshore. With the need for a fishing fix, I headed to the river to fish the sheltered banks with a flick stick and not much in mind except for maybe a few bream. I had been fishing for a while with not much to show for it when another fisho came along and set up for a fish. First cast and whack! He was on, but only to his hat! With so much force as he cast, the little lure hit his hat, took it clean off and hoisted it into the river. When he had got himself re-organised, I wandered over to say g’day. “I saw that,” I laughed. “Bit embarrassing,” he grinned back. “At least it didn’t go in my skin.” After a quick chat, we both recommenced fishing. About 15 minutes and a couple of small bream later, my bait got smashed. It was the kind of hit that had such force, I knew it wasn’t a bream. Even a 2kg bream couldn’t hit that hard. I did all I could do in the situation… which was hang on and wait for the inevitable bust

Tweed to Byron Bay by GAVIN DOBSON

off on one of the many pylons, rocks or old ropes the suspected mangrove jack had to choose from. The run ended, but I was still connected. Some serious pumping and winding ensued, and I could feel the line rubbing on something.

I couldn’t believe the connection had lasted that long, though of course, the fish had more runs in it. Even with very light line, after several minutes I got the fish close enough to see a flash of red. I could still feel the * continued P35

The author managed to sneak a selfie between drenching rain squalls.

Occasionally it’s better to be lucky than good. The mangrove jack featured in the story.

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Hats off to fishing for mangrove jack * from P34

line rubbing on something, however it cleared after a while. I dared to think I might just land the fish. My friend Damien had arrived when I’d hooked up and had been laughing throughout the show, but even he got serious as the fish came closer. Damien summoned the other fisho over because he was smart enough to bring a net. Our new friend was only too happy to oblige and netted a beautiful jack for me. I was stunned. I’d heard the occasional story of people landing a good jack on light line, though I’d never even come close, despite hooking quite

a few over the years. When the other two asked me what poundage my line was, I thought it was 8oz. Yet, after digging out the spools, it was 6lb braid and 6lb leader! Fluke? You bet! I forgot to measure the jack, however it weighed exactly 2.5kg, so I’m guessing mid50cm. The fight, while tough, wasn’t the standard explosive first run that usually occurs with light line before the jack chooses which snag it’s going to wipe you out on. The water was quite cold and I wondered if that had anything to do with my good fortune. Any which way, I’m going to take it.

With the atrocious weather, I have nothing to report offshore. If the water looks right this month, it won’t hurt to try for an early season mackerel. The rivers are fishing well for flathead and whiting. A few small crabs are moving around, though nothing of too much consequence. Upriver, bass are fattening up and will hopefully hit surface lures on the hotter afternoons, when the barometer is falling and cicadas are dropping from overhead trees. All in all, even if the wind is blowing 40 knots, you can still sneak away somewhere. We are lucky to live where we do.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 35

Using local expertise in conservation and land management, volunteers worked on public and private lands along the Richmond River.

Saving saltmarsh habitat means more fish

I Groups joined forces to take action to protect and improve the remnant portions of the saltmarsh communities remaining in the region.

F we want the old saying of ‘there’s plenty of fish in the sea’ to remain true, then saltmarsh restoration is a key issue that needs to be addressed. OzFish Unlimited has been working hard on its ‘Saving Our Saltmarsh’ project on the lower Richmond River estuary as a way of helping to resolve this problem, which can be found throughout Australia’s shorelines. Members from the Richmond River Chapter have volunteered many hours of their time for this project which, as local recreational fishers, they are incredibly passionate about making a sustained success.

Saltmarshes are essential for healthy fisheries as they provide food, refuge or a nursery habitat for fish and other aquatic life including shrimp and blue swimmer crab.

Page 36 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

Saltmarsh and other lowland threatened ecological communities that accompany them – including the swamp floodplain sclerophyll forest, the coastal floodplain forest and the lowland floodplain rainforest – are critically important to the health of the lower Richmond River. These ecological communities are important to maintaining water quality and bank stability – which ultimately reduces erosion – and as a vital fish habitat and food source for several native and recreational fish species. OzFish Richmond Chapter volunteers, Ballina Shire Council and Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council had noted the historical decline of these communities and as a result, the loss of their benefits on the Richmond River. These groups joined forces to take action to protect and improve the remnant portions of these communities remaining in the region. Using local expertise in conservation and land management, Traditional Owners and Rich-

mond River Chapter members, the volunteers worked on this partnership on public and private lands along the Richmond River. They have put up fencing, removed weeds and rubbish from illegal dumping, formalised access points and used vegetative buffers to protect and improve these important threatened ecological communities. OzFish director of habitat programs Cassie Price paid tribute to their dedication in improving the environment for the local community and the aquatic species who rely on it. “Saltmarsh damage can take up to 20 years to recover and when you know that and how important it is for fish, you’re much more careful about standing on it or driving on it,” Ms Price said. “Saltmarsh plants are entirely fascinating – mostly grasses and small succulents. “They have developed the most amazing coping mechanisms for the level of salt they need to deal with. * continued P37

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Saving saltmarsh habitat means more fish * from P36

“And they’re edible too, you might see them on the menu at your favourite fancy restaurant. “It was a pleasure to share my saltmarsh knowledge with the Richmond River Chapter fishers – they were blown away by the importance of saltmarsh to their fish and some of the fascinating facts about the plants. “I know they don’t look at the grassy salty plains the same way they used to.” The aim of this project is to not only protect and restore the saltmarsh but to raise awareness of its role as a vital fish habitat. Saltmarshes are essential for healthy fisheries as they provide food, refuge or a nursery habitat for our fish and other aquatic life including shrimp and blue swimmer crab. Over 70 percent of all recreationally targeted saltwater fish species are thought to rely on saltmarshes for at least some of their life cycle. The saltmarsh is high in nutrients for estuarine and ocean species. This area is only inundated with water on the super high tides, which means it’s collecting nutrient-dense food over time before being carried out to the estuary. It is also a nursery for smaller species such as flathead, bream and prawns to get up into these areas and feed in a habitat that also acts as a safe haven from predators, especially in those early stages of their life. The Saving Our Saltmarsh project on the Richmond River is being conducted over a five-year period. The main areas of hab-

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itat restoration at Fishery Creek, North Creek and South Ballina will be monitored on an annual basis, to get a gauge on the progress that has been achieved from the hard work of the volunteers, with OzFish members already racking up more than 100 hours on this project. At Fishery Creek, indications were that there has been a slight increase in the coverage of saltmarsh plants and a slight decrease in dead plants, which was a positive result. OzFish senior project officer Taylah Kirk said, “We observed a small decrease in the crab and snail population.” “There was an increase in the mangroves growing into the saltmarsh area, which is less positive and likely a result of higher tidal reach over 2021 as a wetter year than 2020,” Ms Kirk said. At the North Creek site, there was a decrease in the saltmarsh plant coverage but less of it was dead plant cover – a net positive. There was also an increase in the crab and snail population. “With reduced weed impact and less litter and dumping impact from the work of our local OzFishers, the saltmarsh is thriving and the data clearly shows an improvement in the health of almost 20 percent,” Ms Kirk said. “At the South Ballina site there was a decrease in the dead saltmarsh plants and a healthy coverage of plants overall. “The crab and snail population remained the same. “OzFishers have been working to remove the litter washing up with

the tide at this site and the effect has been noticeable in the data, with a 5 percent increase in overall health at the site.” All three sites are still considered healthy, and Ms Kirk said they hoped to see continued improvement in the next survey. “Our hard-working volunteers are going to make surveying over the next five years possible,” she said. “Volunteers are a very important and valued aspect in our OzFish community. “Several of our projects would not be possible without our fisho volunteers.” The program is being funded by the NSW Government through a partnership between the Saving Our Species program and the Environmental Trust and supported by the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts. Paul Suttor OzFish

The saltmarsh is thriving, the data showing an improvement in the health of almost 20 percent.

OzFishers worked to remove tidal litter. The effect was noticeable, with a 5 percent increase in overall health at the site.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

CREATING BETTER HABITAT FOR BETTER FISHING Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 37

Solid start to summer mahi, kingies, AJs and crabs

ELLO all and welcome to this month’s issue. The year has absolutely flown by again, though I’m not really sure where it went. Perhaps it’s gone into us trying to finish off the rebuild of our house and shop, which were both damaged in the floods of early 2022. Trying to complete all of this work and fit in the normal day-to-day tasks that life throws our way can definitely make the time fly. I’m hoping for a heap more normality, a lot less work, tonnes more family time and certainly more fishing than

Ballina Bait & Tackle by BRETT HYDE

I’ve been able to do this year. I’ll take this opportunity to thank all of you – the readers of this wonderful publication – for continuing to read our articles and supporting the magazine. Without all of you, we don’t get to do what we do, so I do hope you all have an amazing Christmas with those who are near and dear to you and a safe and happy new year. I’m definitely looking forward to enjoying

more of the four Fs in 2024 – family, friends, fun and fishing! As for the fishing, we’ve kicked along into summer rather well, with the current picking up offshore and streaming down the hill at around two knots on a regular basis at present. Mahi mahi have already made an appearance around the fish aggregating device but have been fairly reluctant to take anything other than lightly or unweighted pilchard. Good quality snapper have shown up on the 32-fathom line recently and bright coloured soft plastics and octo jigs have proven to be the most productive. With the increase in the current over the past month, baitfish have begun to school up a little more around structure. This has meant that slow pitch and knife jigs were popular options for many anglers wishing to target kingfish and amberjack in par-

BALLINA

BAIT & TACKLE

Murph with a quality snapper caught off Ballina.

Ballina West Shopping Centre Pacific Hwy, Ballina NSW

02 6686 2527 Page 38 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

ticular, but also pearl perch if the current wasn’t too bad. Back in the river, the run-in tide has been producing a few quality blue swimmer crabs. This is a little novel for us because it’s probably been five or six years since we had a run of them in the Richmond River. This was largely due to the discoloured water from frequent downpours. As long as we don’t have a significant rain event over summer, I would expect to see this run continue through to Easter next year. The mud crabs have certainly been on the quiet side in comparison to blue swimmers, however the slightly drier weather should ensure a solid run of them over the warmer months. To try your luck – the most productive areas recently were North Creek and the main river, between the ferry and Broadwater. Flathead have continued to migrate towards the mouth of the river, with better numbers showing up below the ferry in recent weeks. With the amount of wind we’ve experienced, trolling small hard-body lures has been a fairly productive technique. Lures that dive 1.53m were the best bet, with the more natural colours having slightly better success. On the calmer days, large surface lures and swimbaits have tempted better quality flathead over the shallow sand flats. Lures that are white or predominantly white

have been the standout by far. The warm weather has also meant that the whiting were engaging in a little surface activity. Small poppers and stickbaits being the choice of lure recently, though a number of fish also showed plenty of interest in prawn imitation surface baits. Mangrove jack have been enjoying the summer heat and quite a few nice fish were found between the ferry and Broadwater. As is usually the case, the rock walls in that section of the river produced the bulk of these fish and suspending hard-body lures such as Lucky Craft Pointers and Jackall Squirrels were the best of the bunch. If you do want to target jacks at night, I suggest trying your luck around one of the bridge pylons with a live bait or a small slab of mullet. Either way, you better take the big gear and be ready to hang on. Further up the river, bass were also enjoying the warmth, with plenty of fish attacking surface lures early morning and late afternoon. During the heat of the day, the better fish have shown some interest in chatterbaits and skirted jigs worked slowly along the bottom. As the mostly dry conditions continue, I’m expecting this species to move further upriver, so both river systems, from Coraki and up, will be the areas to spend a little time this summer. That’s all from me this month – until next time, tight lines.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 39

Fantastic fishing free for all

This pan-sized flathead was missing the usual black spot on its tail, which signifies a dusky flathead.

VER the past month, fishing throughout the Clarence River catchment has been excellent – both fresh and saltwater species biting freely. Good catches of Australian bass were reported from almost all of the upstream tributaries, with catch and release totals of over 20 fish per session being quite commonplace, and those anglers fishing towards the headwater encountered numerous eastern freshwater cod, which were duly released as they’re a protected species. Pan-sized flathead were still a dime a

Rebekah out-fishes Mischa most days and when she doesn’t, she lands the biggest. Page 40 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

Just Jew by TYE PORTER

dozen throughout the river system, from the river mouth upstream to Grafton, and soft plastic lures accounted for the majority of fish below Maclean, with green prawns doing the damage upstream from there. A spot at Iluka that my son Mischa and his girlfriend Rebekah fish from the banks of flicking lures is an area of no more than 50sq m, yet day after day there’s an endless number of fish of all sizes available. Even Lismore angler Guy Stewart has been bitten by the light line and lure fun that flathead fishing provides, after spending a long winter chasing elusive mulloway. Decent-sized whiting were hard to find inside the river recently, though I suppose the large numbers of ‘just better than legal size’ fish have more than made up for it. The old ferry approach was keeping die-hard luderick fishos in a feed of fish, however it’s taking a lot longer now the bulk of them have moved out of the river. Even reports of school jewfish catches have gone quiet, as most anglers turned their focus to along the walls and beaches. The Iluka breakwall yielded reasonable numbers of school jew to about 8kg on 6” soft plastics during low water, while those anglers who have preferred to drown a squid bait at night landed the oc-

casional larger fish to 15kg. On the Yamba breakwall, solid jew to a tad over 20kg were taken on hard-bodied minnow lures from the shallow gutter on the ocean side during high water at night. Local angler John Fletcherson was one of a handful of anglers who was spinning the Iluka Bluff headland with both soft plastic and minnow lures, and was rewarded with small yellowtail kingfish, turrum trevally to 7kg and the random 8kg school jew. Other spin fishos who use only high-speed metal slice lures returned with good feeds of tailor around the 1kg mark from the reef at the northern end of the headland. And Main Beach has finally seen another short live run of bigger tailor being landed on cut flesh bait. A few nice snapper were taken from the rocks at Woody Head on squid bait, which is a fairly common event, particularly on the back of a large swell, before the sea goes totally flat again. The top end of Ten Mile Beach at Shark Bay has had some excellent formation, running right up to the coffee rocks, with school jew, ample chopper tailor and bream taken late evening. Further along the beach, between the ontrack and One Tree, has been the pick of * continued P41

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Fishing free for all * from P40

spots for a decent whiting feed, with plenty of tasty critters about 30cm landed on live worms and pipis during a making tide. Offshore at Woody Head, the first of this season’s spotted mackerel have been boated and, while both numbers and sizes were small, this month will see things kick into full gear, plus their bigger spanish cousins won’t be far behind them. As I said last month, early in the season the majority of spotties will be taken by trolling lures at first light, then by Christmas, trolling at daybreak will see this continue – but you can then anchor later in the morning and berley the fish to your boat.

The great thing about berleying is that you can also attract other species such as snapper into your trail, and that results in a win win situation. So, for December, you can catch bass until your heart’s content in freshwater or visit the salt on the coast and chase mackerel, tuna and snapper offshore or jewfish, whiting, tailor and flathead from the walls, beaches and headlands. As long as Mother Nature plays her part and doesn’t bring excess rain, this is shaping up to be one cracker of a Christmas period for all who love fishing. Stay safe, look after each other and have a very merry Christmas.

Recreational Fishing Trust Grants open

OULD you like to improve recreational fishing in your local area? Fishers and community members are encouraged to apply for funding from the Recreational Fishing Trust for projects that improve and promote recreational fishing across NSW. This year the grants program will have an additional focus on

encouraging applications for projects that will help open up fishing opportunities for people with disabilities, such as fishing platforms in popular fishing spots that don’t have one or that need an upgrade. Anyone can apply for funding from the Recreational Fishing Trusts, including fishing organisations, councils, universities, community groups

and individuals. Funding guidelines and application forms are available at the NSW DPI website – https://bit.ly/3Ers2MD Applications close on 5pm December 18, 2023. Recreational Fishing Trust can be contacted by email on recrea tional.fishingtrust@ dpi.nsw.gov.au This is a great example of your fishing licence at work!

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FREE Mischa with an average-sized flathead, which were in huge numbers recently. www.bnbfishing.com.au

Hop on to bnbfishing.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 41

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formance at an incredible price – from $149.90 each. TT Rods come with a one-year warranty against manufacturer defect – proof of purchase required. Visit ttfishing.com

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Page 42 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

CATCHING squid is super easy with the Yamashita Egi-Oh Live range. Yamashita developed the unique Egi-Oh Q Live squid jig featuring a patented thermo-storage cloth called a ‘warm jacket’. The cloth reacts to light – any form, sunlight or artifical light – and will maintain its temperature for longer than traditional cloths. With the capacity to hold heat similar to natural fish, the Live jigs are more successful in attracting squid interest because they can recognise temperature variations when hunting prey. Yamashita also patented the nose design. The Egi-Oh Live Squid Jig features a slim nose that lets it move effortlessly through the water and sink down to the perfect level to catch attention. It is the thinnest nose available on any of their jigs but does not compromise its strength. This gives it the advantage of minimising water resistance when hopped, which gives the jig more action for less effort. It also has a much longer casting distance than many other jigs. Squid will dart after this lure in shallow water and will stay hooked with the super sharp double crown hooks. The environmentally friendly tin sinker jumps higher and is more responsive to rod action compared to standard lead sinkers. Visit ejtodd.com.au

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Abu Garcia Zenon MG-LTX

THE Zenon MG-LTX from Abu Garcia sets the bar for lightweight LP design. This ultra-lightweight reel has been purpose designed for anglers who want to use an LP reel for finesse-style fishing. Utilising an ultra-lightweight spool design that is 10 percent lighter than the MGX and X spool, combined with Ceramalite bearings, gives anglers the ability to accurately throw lighter weight baits. Visit abugarciafishing.com

TT DemonZ Jig Head

MATCH the hatch or stand out from the school. TT DemonZ jig heads are hand-painted with realistic 3D eyes, allowing you to match the hatch or stand out from the school. DemonZ are built on quality Gamakatsu chemically sharpened black nickel hooks and feature the AFTA award winning ‘head lock’ grub keeper, designed to lock your soft plastic in place. www.bnbfishing.com.au

The colour range has been customised by our pro team to match popular soft plastic colours, along with baitfish that commonly inhabit our freshwater and saltwater systems. DemonZ are the ultimate jig head for light line sportfishing, targeting species such as bream, bass, flathead, redfin and golden perch. Available in seven colours – Golden Boy, Green, Purple Minnow, Red Nightmare, Pearl, Chartreuse and Pink – and eight size combinations of 1/6oz 1H, 1/6oz 1/0H, 1/4oz 1H, 1/4oz 1/0H, 1/4oz 2/0H, 1/4oz 3/0H, 3/8oz 2/0H and 3/8oz 3/0H. Visit ttfishing.com

suited to bream or trout, the Tatula XT series is a 13 model – nine spin and four baitcast – range, selected and tuned for the Aussie market. Fuji’s O-ring stainless steel guides deliver guide-train confidence and performance, while Daiwa designed reel seats provide ultimate in-hand comfort and control. Split EVA grips feature throughout the range and are both stylish and comfortable, and have been designed and selected to suit the application and fishing style of each model in the Tatula XT range. Adorned in Tatula’s unique and subtle styling, the Tatula XT is a series that is impressive in looks and performs well beyond its price tag. Visit daiwafishing.com.au

Daiwa Tatula XT

Yamashita Egi Sutte-R Squid Jig

FEW names are as iconic to Daiwa as Tatula. The Tatula XT rod series has been a standout performer in the Daiwa line-up since it was first introduced in 2013. A global collaboration project, Tatula XT has been years in the making and has been meticulously crafted and designed to deliver anglers a rod series that is market leading in design, performance, and price. HVF graphite blanks are combined with a combination of X45 and Braiding-X technology to deliver crisp and powerful blanks that are sensitive in feel and light in weight. Careful consideration has been taken to produce a series of actions tailor made for Australian anglers and species. From short powerful baitcast rods for barramundi through to ultralight actions

AVAILABLE in six sizes, the Egi Sutte R squid jig range features skeleton glow bodies that are suitable for both night and day fishing. The slim head design and knife-edge sinker give these jigs an easy darting action, and the super-fine stainless-steel hooks enable excellent hook-ups without rusting issues. Five types of cloth are available, as indicated by the first letter of each colour: • R is lamé cloth • B is classic cloth • X is classic cloth with rainbow under-tape • N is natural baitfish coloured cloth • P is no cloth painted body. Visit ejtodd.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 43

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Page 44 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

www.bnbfishing.com. au

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

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 45

Tully Fuss was stoked with this decent mangrove jack.

Land-based Chappy hooked a mangrove jack that was tagged and released.

Chasing mighty mangrove jack

G Chop and Jack Walton scored a nice haul of Tin Can Bay mangrove jack.

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• Kayak Hire • Fishing Rod Hire • On water 24hr fuel • Full range of chandlery • Paints & antifouls • Bait • Tackle • Ice • LPG All the BIG brands right here in Tin Can Bay!

Shop 1 The Marina, Emperor St. Tin Can Bay, QLD 4580 e - chandlery@bigpond.com www.tcbchandlery.com.au

Page 46 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

’DAY crew, I trust you’ve all been well and getting stuck into a few fish over the past couple of weeks. I know the team in the shop were out when they weren’t working – taking full advantage of the good weather windows. The weather’s heating up and so is the fishing! Up the creeks recently, we’ve had good reports of mangrove jack, cod and a few barramundi being caught. For jacks, try fishing a lightly weighted strip of our fresh and local flicker mullet or a live herring back into the snags. But don’t take your eye off the rod or the game will be over before you know it! Once a mangrove jack has hit your bait, it’s already halfway home, so for you, it will be an uphill battle from that point on. Lure wise, jacks have been taking a variety of hard-bodies and plastics. Lately, tried and tested jerkbaits – such as Lucky Craft Pointer

Tin Can Bay by CHRIS RIPPON

78XDs and 60-88mm Samaki Redics – have worked well when fished deep into the cover. These bibbed hard-bodies are surprisingly snag resistant and, being a suspending or a very slow float lure, they tend to bounce off snags quite well. When it comes to plastics, you all know I love my Molix 4.5” RT Shads for most of my jack fishing, especially for skip casting, but there are others on the market and that we stock. When rigged on a TT Fishing ChinlockZ with a TT Fishing SnakelockZ head, Z-Man 4” DieZel MinnowZ are a great choice, and these things are virtually snag proof. They’re also a great option if you want the kids to start tossing a few lures around but don’t want to spend all day unsnagging them. I use them all the time

with Howard and Charlotte – makes my day a lot easier and much less frustrating, plus I get to have a fish myself. Another great option is the Zerek Live Cherabin. These things are tough and come prerigged with a weighted worm hook, so they’re good to go straight out the box. On the mangrove jack front, the Tin Can Bay Tag-a-Jack 2023 fishing competition will be held from November 18 to December 17. Thanks to the comp sponsors, with this year’s prize pool of over $5000. In no particular order, the event sponsors are Shimano Australia Fishing, Garmin Marine, EJ Todd, Century Batteries, Samaki, Spotters Sunglasses, Sam Allen Wholesaler, Relaxn, Wilson Fishing and Profishent Tackle. It’ll be a cracker of a comp this year, and I’ll hopefully have a write * continued P47

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Chasing mighty TCB mangrove jack * from P46

up for you on how it went. What else has been going on in the local systems? Whiting have been in good numbers on the flats on a making tide, with fresh yabbies a proven winner to bag a few. We got stuck into a few at Crab Creek throwing poppers one afternoon on the start of a run-in tide. It was good fun and turned out to be a great little session. The flats near Searys Ledge and out the front of Temptations were also fishing well for whiting and flathead. A few nice grunter have been up creeks too over the past few weeks, with squid bait

and yabbies working well for them, along with vibing lures when worked back with the current. At Inskip and Big Mick (the green directional marker), tuna and school mackerel were still out and about, and trolling or casting lures were good ways to target these species. I found them frothing the water to foam one day, then all but gone the next, and back again the following day. Who knows where they go? Here’s one we don’t talk too much about… The local freshwater reaches up the back of Snapper Creek and into Cooloola have been fishing well for Australian bass.

These provide great fighting and underutilised native fishing in our local area! A light spin or baitcast outfit with 6-10lb main line, 10-16lb leader and a few small 2-3” lures is all you need… oh, and a sense of adventure. Though you’ll need to jump on Google Maps to get your bearings and find a few of the local waterholes they reside in. Or pop in and have a chat to Chappo – be nice and he may even reveal his Spot X. That’s all from me for another month – take care and get out there. Tight lines from the Chandlery Bait and Tackle, for all your fishing and boating needs.

Barry Nalder nailed a pre-closure barramundi when out chasing mangrove jack.

A nice sunrise mangrove jack for Jacko.

GREAT SANDY MARINE PARK Zoning and management changes are planned to increase conservation across this iconic marine park and support and enhance the region’s much-loved recreational fishing lifestyle. Learn more about the Great Sandy Marine Park Zoning Plan at www.qld.gov.au/greatsandymarinepark

Authorised by the Queensland Government, Brisbane. www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 47

Tide Times AUSTRALIA EAST COAST AUSTRALIA, EAST COAST – WADDY POINT (FRASER ISLAND) WADDY POINT 2023 LAT 24° 58ʼ S LONG 153° 21ʼ E

SLAND)

ime

Time Zone –1000 DECEMBER

Time

0.48 2.20 0.56 1.33

Time

0418 1111 MO 1802 2337

JANUARY m

0.77 1.87 0.80 1.30

Time

0458 0.68 1150 2.02 TU 1823 0.59

234 941 620 145

0.38 2.12 0.63 1.33

0307 1018 FR 1715 2225

0.62 2.05 0.78 1.25

314 028 720 239

0.49 2.06 0.67 1.25

0347 1058 SA 1801 2315

0.72 1.95 0.81 1.22

0.85 0031 1.50 0.58 2 0508 17 0406 1153 1.77 17 0558 0.84 1116 2.11 1845 0.78 1240 1.84

400 122 824 349

0.61 1.98 0.70 1.20

1.31 0146 1.55 0.80 0503 0.69 3 0047 3 0437 0613 0.94 18 0715 0.97 1145 1.84 18 1212 2.00 1238 1.67 1333 1.65

0314 1022 SA 1710 2242

Times and Heights of High and Low Waters MARCH FEBRUARY

SU 1804 0.59 2346 1.31

1913 0.64

SU 1852 0.82

MO 1859 0.62

457 0.72 227 1.90 932 0.69

0026 0543 MO 1239 1949

0057 0607 TU 1310 1956

0214 0728 TH 1327 2020

118 612 337 039

1.20 0.79 1.85 0.64

1.46 0420 1.77 1.22 0215 1.39 5 0328 5 0201 0849 1.04 20 1042 1.04 0659 0.93 20 0723 0.87 1422 1.47 1550 1.37

TU 1340 1.66 2049 0.75

WE 1409 1.77 2053 0.59

241 739 444 137

1.28 0.81 1.83 0.56

0321 0817 WE 1440 2138

0332 0852 TH 1509 2143

0425 1012 SA 1521 2152

352 909 545 224

1.42 0.77 1.80 0.47

1.72 0602 1.99 1.42 0435 1.68 7 0510 7 0420 1120 0.95 22 1253 0.89 0933 0.92 22 1018 0.90 1621 1.34 1805 1.30

TH 1533 1.55 2214 0.58

FR 1610 1.55 2228 0.52

449 024 639 304

1.59 0.70 1.76 0.39

0504 1037 FR 1619 2246

0525 1129 SA 1707 2309

0549 1214 MO 1715 2318

537 123 728 339

1.77 0.64 1.70 0.33

2.00 0022 0.62 1.70 0609 1.98 9 0626 9 0541 1302 0.76 24 0723 2.11 1129 0.81 24 1227 0.80 1807 1.32 1403 0.75

1.20 0.88 1.74 0.81

1.31 0.94 1.60 0.67

1.56 0.87 1.50 0.49

1.32 0.79 1.88 0.62

1.52 0.91 1.65 0.56

1.84 0.85 1.46 0.49

1932 0.75

2107 0.65

1.59 1.02 1.39 0.59

2235 0.54

SA 1702 1.46 2317 0.41

SU 1800 1.41 2349 0.47

0614 1217 SU 1743 2348

0651 2.09 1318 0.75 MO 1850 1.38

0002 0705 WE 1347 1858

1.84 0.75 1.43 0.35

1.36 1.01 1.57 0.70

1.86 0.86 1.31 0.49

1.65 19 0309 0857 1.05 FR 1436 1.49 2102 0.69

2157 0.69

0515 1202 SU 1702 2249

1.89 0.97 1.31 0.68

2337 0.65

0644 2.06 1330 0.82 TU 1857 1.33

0.44 2.13 0.65 1.36

2006 0.67

1940 1.38

0105 0801 TH 1439 2018

0.59 2.13 0.71 1.41

Time

0110 0723 FR 1259 1918

Time

1.74 1.05 1.50 0.77

Time

0031 0730 SA 1232 1824

1.93 1.05 1.37 0.87

Time

0214 0959 TU 1533 2017

1.88 0.96 1.30 1.06

0534 0.96 1148 1.65 TH 1823 0.75

0058 0643 FR 1227 1904

1.78 1.67 0148 1.90 1.80 0323 1.83 A solid gave a run for his money. 17 0234 2 0005 17David 2 0145 0921 1.10 queenfish 0612 1.08 0924 1.05 0917 0.98 17 1048 0.90

1.48 1.06 1.53 0.74

0508 0.98 1106 1.57 FR 1712 0.74

2024

Time Zone –1000 APRIL

SA 1415 1.35 2021 0.83

0026 0739 MO 1222 1756

1.81 1.05 1.28 0.87

SA 1144 1.45 1750 0.77

SU 1407 1.27 1937 0.95

TU 1410 1.25 1918 0.90

WE 1639 1.38 2140 1.02

0107 0744 SU 1233 1842

0307 1051 MO 1554 2100

0305 1020 WE 1542 2100

0421 1122 TH 1723 2243

3 18 3 18 lures Delving into deep-diving

1.53 0353 1.85 3 0217 0810 1.12 18 1112 1.04

SA 1314 1.42 1953 0.74

SU 1550 1.27 2131 0.86

HERE

was

1.67 1.12 1.35 0.81

1.89 0.99 1.27 0.99

1.85 0.84 1.31 0.86

Fraser Guided Fishing

1.81 0.83 1.46 0.95

1.62 1.91 1.70 0416 1.89 1.95 0506 1.80 special 4 0330 19 0456 4 0229 4 0410 0957 1.10 1214request 0.96 0943 1.07 19 1139 0.92 1109 0.69 19 1151 0.76 by TRI TON

1717 1.27 1.27 TU 1711 1.33 TH 1651 1.43 FR 1758 1.55 thatMO I pen pieceMO 1401 2236 a 0.84 1953 0.83 2216 0.96 2228 0.74 2328 0.86 about my go-to lures1.79are so0510 simple mercial line1.80fishos 0429 1.74 0546lures. 1.96 0343 1.89 and 0506 2.06 0543 5 1113 20 1248 5 1052 5 1151agree 1.00 0.89 0.94 20 1209 0.86 0.55 20 1214 0.68 And though you may very often overlooked with me1.65 too. 1550 1.27 1813 1.32 1542 1.26 1755 1.40 1745 1.57 1830 MO TU TU WE FR SA 2155 0.69 2329 0.79 0.80 2313 0.88 0.60 be a regular reader and 2121 by anglers who are too 2326 Slukks are rigged 0519 1.88 0626take 2.00 an 0551the 1.91 next 0554 2.13 quality 0005 Seahorse 0.78 probably keen1.92to try 6could 6 0444 6 1227with 1207 0.86 21 1312 0.82 1142 0.78 21 1233 0.79 0.44 21 0615 1.78 1701 1.27 WE 1853 1.39 1.33 TH 1828 1.48 1.72 1233both 0.62 ends, guess, I amWE 1658 TUeducated SA 1829 SU on sensation. 4H rings 2300 0.62 2247 0.69 2355 0.79 1900 1.74 finding article ideas First, I would like to if they don’t have suita2.03 0.72 0536 2.06 0626 1.92 0.50 0040 0.72 7a0605 22 0014 7 0014 22already. little 1252 0.72 challenging 0703 2.03 at 7 1225 0.63 22 1258 0.72 use 0638 0645 1.76 mention… please ble2.15 ones 1.43 FR 1859 1.56 WE 1802 1.33 TH 1338 0.75 SU 1301 0.37 MO 1254 0.56 the so 1.46 here TH 1758 single-hook configura2355 moment, 0.52 1927 2344 0.56 1911 The 1.88 Seahorse 1930 1.84 rings we tion2.18 – it is vastly supe- 0059will the 0.70 eye of a 0648go! 2.17 0053 0.64 0624 0030 0.70 0.46fit in0116 8 1333 8 1304 23 0657facets. 8 07202/02.10Big23Gun. 0.59 23 0737 2.04 1.93 0715 1.71 Chrome metal jigs – FR rior 0.50 in many 1847 1.56 0.34 TU 1317 0.52 TH 1855 1.41 FR 1407 0.70 SA 1322 0.66 MO 1334 1958we 1.51 1928 1.63 Big 1954 2.01 1.93 or ‘slukks’ as call I use Mustad So, let’s 2001 clarify – one 0044 0.43 0128 0.60 0032 0.44 0103 0.64 0146 0.48 0154 0.71 Gun 2/0-4/0 – they are them – are always tied hook rigged in the 9 0732 2.28 24 0808 2.03 9 0707 2.26 24 0727 1.91 9 0802 2.00 24 0747 1.66 rear 1413 0.68my SA 1339 0.41 widely 0.62 0.36 WE 1343 0.51 FRon SA 1434 on SU 1344available TU 1408 cheap, as0.48 an option end. 1944 1.51 2027 1.55 1930 1.69 1957 1.70 2038 2.12 2033 2.00 and have stood the test boat. Maybe I’ll delve in0131 0.36 0159 0.59 0116 0.37 0135 0.62 0236 0.57 0234 0.74 10 0817 25 2.35 25 0838Hervey 1.99 10 0750 2.28 25 0755 1.87 10 0846 1.85 0822 issue 1.60 next of time. Regularly, to the hook SA 1452 0.42 SU 1500 0.68 SU 1415 0.36 MO 1406 0.59 WE 1443 0.44 TH 1411 0.53 I know they a bait 2124month. Bay 2033 has 1.60pelagic 2055species 1.58 2015 1.80 2027are 1.77 2.18 2108 2.05 hook, 0217 0.35 and 0232 0.38I know 0210 they 0.64 are 0331 Generally, 0.71 0319 0.80 they 0.61 often 0201 lures I 11residing 0902 2.35 26 0905 1.93 11 0833 2.23 26 0823 1.82 11 0930 1.69 26 0900 1.53 offset and I also know fall to these cheap opclassify are 0.55 FRas 1441slukks 0.58 SU 1533 0.40 MO 1524 0.68 MO 1451 0.37 TU 1429 0.58 TH 1518 2122 1.66 2125 1.61 2100 1.90 2211 2.18 2.05 they work! 2058 1.83 tions. meant for 2145 fast retrieves. 0.41 0305 0.67 0248 0.46 0.84 0409 0.86 Plus, local0.70 These * continued P49 12 0304 27 glamorous 27 0246 12 0437 0948 2.26less 0933 1.86 12 0917 2.10 the 0853 1.74com1016 1.52 27 0941 1.45 SU 1424 1.32 2050 0.72

619 1.93 216 0.60 813 1.63

014 700 306 857

0.30 2.07 0.59 1.55

0048 0.39 0143 0.58 1.97 0029 0.47 11 0647 1302 0.69 26 0731 2.16 11 0747 2.25 26 0837 2.11 1432 0.55 1512 0.70 MO 1825 1.41

TU 1406 0.70 1937 1.37

048 740 356 940

0.31 2.17 0.60 1.47

0022 0722 TU 1347 1909

0109 0811 WE 1451 2021

0137 0833 FR 1517 2043

123 821 448 023

0.36 2.21 0.63 1.40

0353 0.54 0340 0.76 0338 0.62 0326 0.78 0553 0.95 0506 0.91 0226 0.37 0250 0.62 0148 0.52 0.30 13 0059 0800 2.19 28 0849 2.17 13 0921 2.34 28 0940 2.00 13 1034 2.11 28 1002 1.77 13 1000 1.92 28 0926 1.66 13 1106 1.39 28 1025 1.37 1656 0.51 1613 0.70 1606 0.52 1520 0.62 1633 0.81 1551 0.76 1602 0.46 1613 0.74 WE 1435 0.57 1956 1.40

TH 1533 0.69 2100 1.35

158 900 540 105

0.43 2.20 0.67 1.34

0140 0843 TH 1526 2047

0224 0926 FR 1611 2133

0315 1011 SU 1649 2232

232 939 628 145

0.53 2.14 0.73 1.29

0405 0.54 0359 0.75 0000 1.73 0.39 0300 0.63 15 0226 0931 2.25 30 1000 2.03 15 1101 2.18 30 1039 1.85 15 0553 0.91 1736 0.53 1713 0.76 1205 1.70

0.31 2.09 0.63 1.41

0.33 2.25 0.54 1.39

FR 1618 0.53 2143 1.36

0.49 2.19 0.68 1.36

0.58 2.11 0.72 1.33

SA 1647 0.76 2206 1.32

0.69 31 0336 1035 1.95 SU 1723 0.78 2245 1.30

New Moon

Full Moon

Last Quarter 18

1950 1.41

0.36 2.33 0.48 1.46

2138 1.48 0.43 2.29 0.48 1.49

2329 1.49

2051 1.43

0218 0909 SA 1544 2120

2149 1.43

0323 1009 MO 1642 2223

29 TU

0.59 2.06 0.72 1.43

0.67 1.93 0.75 1.44

2304 1.45

MO 1613 0.44 2212 1.70 TU

2303 1.72

0447 0.72 1119 1.91 WE 1739 0.60

1824 0.69

TU 1548 0.69 2158 1.64

2235 1.66

0421 1032 TH 1641 2317

0.87 1.67 0.71 1.67

TU 1528 0.42 2147 1.96

2236 1.98

0437 1044 TH 1645 2329

0.80 1.72 0.63 1.97

WE 1454 0.59 2132 1.87 TH

2208 1.89

0409 1001 FR 1547 2247

0.88 1.56 0.67 1.88

FR 1553 0.67 2259 2.13

SA 1514 0.66 2226 2.02

2353 2.05

0713 1.00 1211 1.29 SU 1729 0.93

2312 1.96

0.95 29 0612 1117 1.29 MO 1636 0.84

0.96 0459 0.97 0059 1.96 0009 1.90 15 0555 1132 1.52 30 1037 1.46 15 0843 1.01 30 0729 0.94 FR 1728 0.75

0.85 31 0441 1111 1.75

SA 1619 0.74 2330 1.84

MO 1355 1.26 1852 1.02

TU 1238 1.25 1740 0.91

1.04 31 0604 1120 1.36

WE 1746 0.75 2355 1.46

SU 1658 0.81

©First Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2022, Bureau of Meteorology Quarter Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide

Last Quarter

Moon Phase Symbols

Page 48 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

New Moon

First Quarter

Full Moon

Last Quarter

This stonking trevally was hooked by James.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Delving into deep-diving lure options * from P48

And the classic scenarios are simple, see a bust up or see fish deep. For the bust up, you’ll want to cast over or into it. If they want to chase flying fish or garfish, you might choose a broader rear end on the lure. The broader lure will skip on the surface better. If they’re on small bait, you’ll want smaller signature and less action, and you might also need to sink the lure for longer too. For fishing deep, simply sink it to the desired depth and spin it back. You can also incorporate jigging and twitching motions. Vary the cadence if you want, and you can slow jig it too! Just remember, these lures were around catching fish before techniques were refined, relabelled and remarketed. Another lure used in the same fashion as a slukk is a heavy 1oz soft plastic. Usually, it’s a 5” Z-Man StreakZ for me. You can use this down deep, exactly like the metal chrome. It has a much softer and natural feel that

will appeal to the fishy senses. Obviously, you can use different patterns such as a paddle tail to achieve more vibration, and all using the same heavy 1oz jig head weight. I prefer 5/0 TT Lures HeadlockZ because they fit the multitude of lure patterns I use and with the shank being a bit shorter, it can make the soft lures easier to rig straight. I find most of the lures I use with this jig head from the Z-Man range easy to rig and they stay rigged without the use of glue. And yes, you can also cast these at bust-ups, even with the large profile they still catch fish, and the more natural feel can trick the fussiest of species. As opposed to a metal lure, it’s also easy to maintain a fast constant pace with these straight soft plastics. Twitching and jerking retrieves on surface feeders work too. And, if you scan trevally or snapper under the surface feeders, sink it down. Plastics in my opinion have an edge over slukks there. For those deep schools, I love slow jigs, such as the Palms Slow Blatt Cast Wide

with an upgraded assist hook to a Vanfook 1/0. They hit the target fast and accurately then, with the right manipulations of the rod, they flutter and dance to entice a strike. Yes, they’re a modernised and specialised version of a slukk, but that’s why they work better in this situation. They are not as versatile as the slukk though. That gives you a rough idea on what gets a run on my boat. Much is about efficacy and versatility. Easy use is also a major consideration. And, if everyone was a pro, I wouldn’t be writing these verses.

Jack was stocked with this decent trevally.

James was super happy with his first Hervey Bay tuna.

Jacob caught a solid longtail.

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Angelo captured his first big trevally, and Geoff helped him hang on. www.bnbfishing.com.au

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Helping nature when on holiday

A brilliant Tahitian sculpture respecting our relationship with the sea.

Turtles nest right on Agnes Water’s beautiful main beach.

Christmas holidays are coming to Agnes Water, with Anita battling a cobia off the headland.

Riley with a nice Seventeen Seventy barcheek coral trout.

Page 50 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

I all, it’s so good to be home after our amazing trip to Hawaii and Tahiti. It was a highlight to see such cultural connections with the ocean on so many different levels. Personally, simply crossing the equator in a ship was something that had such a profound effect on me. It may be a bit of romanticism on my part but the experience of dodging tropical lows and encountering 100k/ hr winds at sea made me appreciate and respect the power of the ocean. By comparison, I was amazed at the sudden changes of weather to total glass outs on moonlit nights in the middle of nowhere. With thoughts of passing over ocean trenches so incredibly deep and simply wondering what’s beneath and how prolific fish life is. As a fisho and surfer, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect and build an appreciation for what we have on our own doorstep, and what we’ll lose if we don’t manage and care for it. We travelled for a month and unfortunately, I arrived home as the deadline for this article was due. So, for me, the past four weeks have completely disappeared, and I didn’t have an opportunity of getting among the action happening around the Discovery Coast. It didn’t take long for me to hear about the school and spotted mackerel, as well as the sizable queenfish,

Agnes Water by PAUL ‘CHIEF’ GRAVESON

cobia and golden trevally all making solid appearances around the headlands of Round Hill and Bustard Head. Believe me, I would have jumped in the boat and been out there if it hadn’t been for the strong northerly that welcomed me home. My next thought was wow, it’s Christmas and here comes the holiday season, which is something I love seeing – families enjoying our pristine beaches and waterways at Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy. Holiday makers aren’t the only visitors to make their way to this special part of the coastline. November to April is the time for loggerhead and green turtles to breed and they lay their eggs along our coastal beaches. I’ve also been lucky enough to watch a couple of endangered gigantic leatherback turtles mating in front of Deepwater National Park. The future of all our turtle populations is dependent on each successful breeding season. There are several things we can do as beachgoers and campers to help these majestic creatures. Remember, it is illegal to have fires on any of our beach unless you have a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service designated fire pit. Unfortunately, many past fires have been built on nesting sites,

where a whole brood of future hatchlings were destroyed due to heat. That round depression you find in the dunes may appear to be the perfect place for an open fire, but it may also be the result of a nesting turtle. Many of our sand dunes on the Discovery Coast and in the national park areas are unfenced, so it’s very important to keep off pristine dunes – in vehicles as well as on foot. Stick to the provided walkways and tracks to help prevent damage and erosion to not only our turtle nests but also the natural vegetation in dune environments. Predation from foxes and wild dogs has had a major impact over the past few years and also from our unrestrained domestic pets. Be aware, many beaches in the area are baited to help prevent the impact of foxes mainly. These baits do not discriminate between wild and domestic animals, so keep an eye on any beloved pets and stop them from wandering unsupervised. We all know how dogs love to dig to locate a strange smell and increase their overall appeal to their owners by rolling in it, so be mindful that the female turtle leaves behind a pheromone scent at the nest site, which could be the cause of some canine curiosity. My last tip is to keep * continued P52

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 51

Plenty of mack tuna were available, with this one taking a plastic on a fast retrieve.

Kym caught her first coral trout at Rock Cod Shoals on a 5” white jerkbait.

Fishing during Christmas rush

Phil managed to wrestle a nice blackspot tuskfish away from the reef on a 4” prawn lure.

Gaven and a nice mangrove jack taken from the Boyne River on a vibe worked over a deep rock bar.

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ELL, it’s the ‘man in the big red suit paying us a visit’ time again and another year is over. Many people have their annual holidays over the festive season, and this means the waterways become extremely busy. For some, this can be one of the few times during the year that the boat sees the water, so my recommendation is to do a few basic checks at home before you head off to the boat ramp. Flat batteries, stale fuel, wheel bearings, trailer lights, boat electricals and safety gear are only some of the simple checks to do at home. These checks could save embarrassment and frustration if you drop the boat in the water and it doesn’t start, or worse, a dodgy wheel bearing may mean you don’t get to the ramp at all.

Gladstone Region by GARY CHURCHWARD

Boat ramps will be busy, with people out and about chasing seafood for Christmas Day – be patient or maybe even offer to lend a hand to those who need help moving off the ramp quicker. Make sure your boat is ready to move away from people waiting in the queue to put in or pull out their boats. The top of the ramp is not the place to be unstrapping and getting your boat ready – if you do, expect to hear some unfriendly words uttered in your direction. On the fishing front, the days will be getting extremely hot – try fishing early morning and late afternoon into night, these will be the best times to miss the crowds

and the heat of the sun. Mangrove jack will be on the chew and nailing a well-presented lure or bait, so if you find a snag with bait near it, jacks won’t be far away. The smaller creeks off the main rivers and channels will give you the best chance of tackling a few of these brutes. Trolling can be an effective way to find jacks, and keep your eye on your sounder, it’s also a great way to find new structure. Fingermark were being caught in decent numbers and surprisingly good sizes during November, and these fish will still be about in December. Most of my success on * continued P53

Help protect nature when on holiday * from P50

your campsite lighting and environmental footprint to the bare minimum. We camp in these areas to get away from the rat race and enjoy nature to its fullest. Personally, one of

the best camping highlights is sitting in the darkness – you can relax, look at the stars and truly listen to the ocean and sounds of surrounding nature. I look forward to seeing everyone en-

joying the approaching holiday season and wish you a safe and wonderful Christmas. I’m ready to get back in the groove and catch up on some serious fishing adventures!

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Fishing during Christmas rush * from P52

fingermark has been over deeper rocky sections of the rivers and through the harbour. Vibration lures work extremely well because they replicate one of this species favourite foods, which is herring, but a prawn-style lure such as a Berkley Gulp Shrimp or a Pro Lure Clone Prawn will also catch their share. Grunter have been caught in good numbers and sizes, falling mainly to fresh and live bait fished over broken rubble patches. If you’re chasing them with lures, try downsizing your presentation to a smaller vibe or small baitfish or grub-style plastic. Your bread-and-butter species such as bream, whiting, flathead and estuary cod will still be available and willing to take a bait or lure. Mack tuna have been harassing the bait schools out the front of North Entrance, between Facing and Curtis islands. While they’re not great table fish, they are good fun to catch, with their first run usually taking plenty of line and a ‘never give up’ attitude to match. They have been feeding on whitebait schools, so as the old saying goes, match the hatch to get them interested. Hopefully, we’ll get a break from the relentless wind we’ve had, especially on weekends. Small windows have been offered up www.bnbfishing.com.au

during the week for the lucky fishos able to take advantage of them. The reefs have been fishing well for coral trout, redthroat emperor, grass sweetlip and tuskfish and, as you move deeper, a few red emperor and nannygai were about. Sharks were an issue in some spots, so either be prepared to put some hurt on the fish to get them past the taxman or move until you find an area where they aren’t. Awoonga Dam was going strong for barramundi, so if you’re chasing a fix, this will only improve over the next few months. Make sure all your gear is up to scratch, as the average size of barra being caught is well on the rise towards the 1m mark. Port Alma will be a great option during the holiday period with threadfin salmon, fingermark, grunter and blue jewfish all available, noting that if you do hook a barra, please release it quickly. Mud crabs will be a target for many leading up to Christmas. The reports I’ve heard were that they have been patchy and you’ll need to constantly work your pots to find enough for a good feed. Sand crabs can be found in the deeper cleaner water at the mouth of the rivers and in the harbour. Hopefully everyone has a safe and happy Christmas and new year period. Cheers and happy fishing from Gladstone.

Double trouble. The rat bags were on.

2023 Fitzroy River Barra Bash wrap up

HIS month, we’re going to wrap up the 2023 Humminbird Fitzroy River Barra Bash, held from October 5-8 and brought to you by the Frenchville Sports Club. Being the primary local barramundi event, we all look forward to this competition each year. I know, I know, I’m running very late with putting all the good information into an article, but better late than never. We were fishing as team Humminbird Lucky Craft, which consisted of myself and good friend Luke Peisker. We were hoping for some great weather for this comp, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. Though it would have taken some fairly horrible weather to top that of last year’s event. We did a pre-fish on the same tides the month prior and, I hate to say it, but the barra fishing was easy. The conditions were absolutely perfect for targeting barra and they responded accordingly.

Capricorn Coast by JOHN BOON

Fast forward to slightly before the competition and Friday’s forecast looked to be the best day, with a 25-knot southeast change coming through for the Saturday and Sunday. The registration time on the Thursday was changed to midday, which was a great idea. We had time to catch up with a few friends, have a few beverages, listen to the rules and regulations, with plenty of time to go home and set up for two and a half days of full on fishing. On Friday morning, we were on the water super early.

Our plan was to chase some bigger barra early with the better conditions. We were about halfway down the river and heading to the mouth, when suddenly we ran into a wall of cold air. We looked at each other and, before we knew it, it was raining. It gave us bad memories from the previous year’s event. That little weather event seemed to scatter the schools we wanted to fish. We were flogged by wind and rain and still driving around at five * continued P54

Luke Peisker with day three’s first barramundi. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 53

2023 Fitzroy River Barra Bash wrap up * from P53

One of the author’s better fish taken on Zerek Live Shrimp.

The Humminbird Apex clearly showed where to cast.

The author and Luke Peisker took out second place.

Champion team Mark Boss and Steve Nuttal from Gone Nuts.

Zac McClintock took out the biggest barramundi at 114cm. The prize was presented by Craig Griffiths from Fish Tec Solutions. Page 54 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

minutes to kick off, looking for a reliable spot. I reckon we would have burned through half a tank of petrol before the 5am start. There was a small rule change too this year. In the past, it was your biggest 10 barra each day. If you caught more than 10, you started to upgrade. This year, it was open slather for your biggest 30. You could catch 30 on the first day if you wanted to and then upgrade. With our bigger-fish spots not looking great, we started cycling through smaller-fish spots. We got our first rat about 30 minutes after kick-off. It’s always a good feeling to get the monkey off the back. Our next spot set our day up – we pulled nine barra from it. No big models though and all around 40-50cm in size, but they count just the same. We moved on to our next spot and were rewarded with a mid60cm model. The fishing wasn’t easy by any means, but we persisted all day and were stoked to have landed 22 barra for the day. At the end of day one, we were in top position, and about 2m clear of second place. It wasn’t a comfortable lead because we had a lot of small barramundi in our bag. Day two started out better than day one. While the rain had vanished, the southeast change had arrived.

We pulled into a snag we’d found during the pre-fish and the barra were stacked up nicely. We managed a high 60cm and mid-70cm barra from it before the fish shut down. Once again, we kept persisting but could only manage smaller models for the rest of the day. We had 10 that we were happy with and had two upgrades because we had our total of 30. Though, Team Gone Nuts had a cracker day, rolling us out of first place and being 1m clear. It definitely went down to the wire. Our third day plan involved chasing 70cm plus barramundi. We weren’t sure if the plan was going to pay off, however when Luke put a mid-70cm model on the deck about an hour after kick off, we both breathed a sigh of relief. We added another mid-60cm and high 70cm to our tally and, just when we were on a roll, the wind changed direction and completely shut down our spot. With the questions remaining, had we done enough and how many barra did Gone Nuts land? The presentation was a gem. The Frenchville Sports Club always does a great job with this event and somehow it keeps getting better. We’ve had Steve Lill as the MC since the competition started, and I’m yet to see an MC who can match him. He’s a great person with an awesome sense of humour and is made for that position.

It was a nervous wait for the top 10 teams to be called out. Eight out of the 10 had been named and only us and Gone Nuts were left. Would you believe it, we came second by just 25cm. We were proud of our efforts because it was our best finish, though it was still heartbreaking to get so close. A big congratulations to Gone Nuts, which comprised of Mark Boss and Steve Nuttal. We know these anglers well and they’re absolute champions. They ended up with 1548cm and our team Humminbird Lucky Craft had 1523cm. A big surprise for third place going to Samaki x Irukandji with 1404cm. This was local guru Coby Pascoe’s team. This was their first Barra Bash, and they absolutely killed it. Coby and Jake will be the team to watch in future – mark my word. The biggest barramundi went to Zac McClintock with a 114cm beast. The biggest threadfin was caught by Mervyn Matton at 136cm. Team threadfin was won by Little Gimp with 1336cm. A few quick stats from the comp – there were six barra over the magic 1m mark this year, there were 452 barra caught (that’s 33,720cm) and 60 king threadfin (5245cm). This year, the event sold out in only two weeks, so if you’re keen to give one of the best barra comps a run, make sure you jump onto the Facebook page to stay up to date – face book.com/fitzroyriver barrabash

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 55

BOATING & marine The fishing and boating accessories are now available to purchase with new Quintrex boat packages and to the general public as loose items.

Quintrex takes a big step in its endeavour to make boating easier by releasing its all-new parts and accessories range.

Quintrex launches its first ever parts and accessories range

O Included in the accessories range are coolers that best suit the vessel for a seamless integration.

Size variant fish bags are easy to carry on and off the boat, as well as store while onboard.

Quintrex offers a variety of trailer guards and covers to suit a wide range of boats. Page 56 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

FFERING mo re Australians the opportunity to become part of the country’s most sought-after brand, Quintrex is launching its first-ever loose parts and accessories range. Dialling up the all-inclusive product offering, select from an array of boating essentials to either complement your vessel or purchase as a loose item to use in dayto-day applications. Quintrex sales manager Drew Jackson said, “An incredibly exciting milestone in the history of Quintrex, our parts and accessories range looks to further offer the brand quality, longevity and practicality across not only boating but also the everyday essentials that are typically added to a boat.” “This is the next step in making boating easier and more attainable by offering a one-stop shop for all your boating and fishing needs, while also tapping into those camping essentials.” Transpired from a

wealth of market research and insights, the parts and accessories are not only set to meet the needs of boaters but also further elevate the boating and fishing lifestyle. Items include a wide range of size variant iceboxes and coolers to suit any boater’s needs. Where applicable, all new Quintrex boats can be recommended and fitted with the cooler that best suits the storage compartment or area of their vessel for the utmost seamless integration. Providing avid anglers a sturdy reliable option to store live catches, size variant fish bags are easy to carry on and off the boat, as well as store while onboard. For any boater, the care of their vessel is as important on the water as it is off, so to ensure the longevity your boat, Quintrex offers a variety of trailer guards and covers to suit a wide range of boats. From seat to boat and spare-wheel covers, Quintrex literally has

your boat covered. Beyond coolers and covers, comes a long list of other boating essentials, including a triedand-tested boating-capable phone charger, rod storage, sound systems and underwater lights. In its endeavour to offer the Quintrex exclusive product range to all boaters, items are not exclusive to Quintrex boats and can be purchased for any new or previously purchased vessels. “From our conception in 1945, we have upheld and committed ourselves to the promise of boating made easy,” Drew said. “The accessory range is testament to this commitment, as we invest in new ways to make the buying process easy. “With innovation at the heart of everything we do, Quintrex is all about pushing boat manufacture norms.” The launch of its parts and accessories range comes simultaneously with the brand’s 2023 * continued P57

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BOATING & marine Quintrex parts and accessories range * from P56

model release, revealing a number of product changes to continue enhancing the overall customer experience. It also follows on from the launch of its latest innovation with the Freestyler X, set to redefine boating by optimising the unusable space of a traditional outboard and completely redesigning the transom. “We have a legacy of building high-quality products that bend the boundaries of innovation,” Drew said. “Quintrex is constantly challenging where

we can go next and this goes hand-in-hand with our success. “We are hungry to continue enhancing the overall customer and on-water experience, which is backed by market research to ensure we continue meeting the needs of all boaters. “With an exciting history, the future is only up from here – now owned by BRP, global leader in power sports.” Australian built and available from an expansive network of the country’s best marine experts and dealers, Quintrex boats and now

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By combining Chirp and traditional CW transducers, you’ll see crisp Chirp echoes on the screen while the ‘Accu-Fish’ and ‘Bottom Discrimination’ functions from your CW transducer work in the background, overlaying important information on your Chirp returns. You will be able to see fish targets, fish size assessment, fish depth and bottom composition. Up to three frequencies can be saved as preset selections. Heave Correction with satellite compass The ‘Heave Correction’ function has been a must-have feature with Furuno’s commercial fish

finders – such as the FCV-1150 and FCV1900 – but now this useful feature is available with the compact stand-alone FCV-600 and FCV-800 models. Particularly now that the compact satellite compass, Furuno SCX-20 (NMEA2000) and SCX-21 (NMEA0183) are available at affordable pricing. Heave Correction can now be easily offered to smaller boats. TruEcho Chirp Operates across a wide range of frequencies using a broadband transducer for better signal clarity and target definition. For more information, visit furuno.com. au/post/new-truechochirp-fish-finders

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Heave Correction in very shallow water (SCX-20 input). Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 57

Topnotch Fishing Charters are the experts when it comes to fishing the Whitsundays. Photos: Topnotch Fishing Charters

The Whitsundays’ most popular pelagic catch is undoubtedly spanish mackerel.

Hook, line and sunshine with Topnotch Whitsundays fishing trips

HE Whitsundays are synonymous with great fishing, famous beaches and sunshine, and while Mother Nature takes care of the latter two, the dynamic team at Topnotch Fishing Charters are the experts on fishing in the Whitsundays. Fishing isn’t a hobby here, it’s a way of life, and the Topnotch team deliver a fishing trip like no other. In the Whitsundays, two primary categories of fishing reign supreme – reef and pelagic. And if you’re won-

dering what these areas hold, the answer is simple… a smorgasbord of incredible fish that will make your angler’s heart sing. Reef fishing Many keen anglers have booked a trip to the Whitsundays for the sole purpose of a reef fishing expedition, which is no surprise to anyone who has fished the Great Barrier Reef. The Whitsundays are home to a dazzling array of reef species, from delicious coral trout to prized red emperor. Alongside these, you’ll find grass emper-

or, cobia, Indonesian snapper, fingermark, black jewfish, moses perch, grass sweetlip, a variety of different cod and many more. But if there’s one that wears the crown in this category it’s the largemouth nannygai, the true hero of the Whitsundays’ reef-fishing experience. Pelagic fishing Get the adrenaline pumping and challenge your fellow fishos on a pelagic fishing trip. Targeting fast-moving open ocean species, this method will separate the well-fished from the novices, as

For a fishing adventure like no other, try the Whitsundays. Page 58 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

the fight exhausts the latter. Pelagic fishing in the Whitsundays can reel in black marlin, sailfish, spanish mackerel, spotted mackerel, giant trevally, cobia, longtail tuna, yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi and barracuda. But the Whitsundays’ most popular pelagic catch is undoubtedly spanish mackerel. It’s an experience that puts your angling skills to the test – when you feel that tug on your line, you know you’re in for a thrilling fight. Seasonal highlights While the Whitsundays are a year-round fishing paradise, there are some seasonal highlights to look forward to also. From August to December, it’s billfish season – perfect for those wanting to try their hand at the ultimate in big-game fishing. Tuna season runs from May to August, a great time for targeting these fast and powerful fish. And during the cooler months, you can expect bigger spanish macker-

el weighing 30kg and more. Memorable days on the water The Topnotch team has had its share of unforgettable days on the water and one charter in particular stands out. With Sydney guests aboard The Pirate, a full-day sports and reef-fishing charter turned into an angler’s dream. From the first drift, quality big reds – including red emperor and nannygai – graced their lines. It was one of those days when everything seemed to align perfectly. Double hook-ups on spanish mackerel, a four-way hookup on longtail tuna and more quality reef fish, including a dinosaur-sized coral trout and a magnificent giant trevally. So, if you’re ready for a fishing adventure like no other, the Whitsundays are waiting. Hook, line and sunshine – that’s the promise these waters hold, and they deliver it in abundance.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 59

TOURING & exploring

There were plenty of walking tracks to explore around Pemberton.

The Pemberton Cascades were well worth checking out.

Sensational south WA

The simple things in life can also be very enjoyable – the ever-reliable tractor tyre tube.

Enjoying an afternoon in the Pemberton Pool.

Page 60 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

S much as I love the sunny state of Queensland, our counterpart on the other side of the country also has a special feel to it. Thankfully, our plan of skipping poor weather in South Australia and spending more time in Western Australia turned out to be a smart choice. With my in-laws and stepson with us for a few weeks, we modified our plans slightly – detouring around some areas south of Perth to possibly return after our additional travellers had left for home. I don’t enjoy back tracking very much but because WA is such a long way from home, it’s much easier to duck back a few hundred kilometres to see places when you’re in the state. Plus, with diesel cheaper than we’d budgeted – which was a big plus – adding a few more kilometres to the

Family Adventures by BEN COLLINS

lap wasn’t an issue. We also managed to get better fuel economy than we’d planned. I’ll cover fuel usage in a separate article next month because it’s a big cost and concern for many travellers. Pemberton This quiet little town in the middle of karri trees had plenty to keep us occupied for a couple of days. With our base camp out the back of South-

ern Forests Chocolate Company, we were able to explore most of what the town and its surroundings had to offer. This included the Pemberton Pool, close to the town centre – a welcome place to cool off after a long day of exploring. Another top spot to cool off was Fonty’s Pool, situated about 30 minutes north and also a caravan park. * continued P61

It does look like Australia’s tallest lighthouse from this viewpoint.

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TOURING & exploring Sensational south Western Australia * from P60

We didn’t stay there, however you can day visit, with an entry fee of $3 per person. Locally known as the fountain of youth, the fresh spring water is contained in a manmade pool that is about an acre in size, offering plenty of room for people to enjoy. Throw in a heap of tractor tubes and a jumping platform and it’s the perfect spot to keep the kids busy for ages while the adults relax on the green lawns. An additional mustdo when in the area is the Cascades, situated within Gloucester National Park. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to Big Brook Dam or the coastal sand dunes – guess they’ll have to go on the list for our next visit. Cape Leeuwin I don’t know what it is about lighthouses, but I

enjoy looking at them and learning about their history. I guess the nautical side of me comes out when I’m around them. I’m amazed thinking back to what early explorers had to deal with – and it does make you appreciate how easy we have it today, with GPS, sonar and auto pilot. The historic Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse sits at the tip of a spectacular peninsula where the Southern and Indian oceans meet, which is the most southwesterly point of Australia. It is worth noting that the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia and is still working to this day as an important navigational aide. As you may have guessed, it was extremely windy when we visited, though that didn’t take away from the rugged beauty of the place.

Hamelin Bay Situated on the west coast, this small town has some amazing scenery, with white sand and clear blue water. We didn’t stay at Hamelin Bay on this trip, opting instead to day trip to see the infamous sting rays, and we weren’t disappointed. Soon after arriving on the beach, they appeared, along with a bus full of tourists who were also day tripping. Guess we couldn’t have paradise to ourselves for too long. There wasn’t much to do in this spot – particularly if you didn’t have a boat or kayak, which could be part of the attraction and why it might be a great place to stay for a few weeks. Margaret River This is one place you must visit if venturing to or near Perth. The town reminds me of how Byron Bay was 20 years ago and

One of the Hamelin Bay locals.

It was good for the kids to be able to get up close and observe the rays. They appeared to be very used to people, almost like pets.

* continued P62

The crew was ready to explore some of the spectacular Margaret River caves.

The family at Cape Leeuwin – it was so windy.

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Snack time in Margaret River – the food was awesome! Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 61

TOURING & exploring Sensational south Western Australia * from P61

A sugar hit from the Margaret River Sweet Shop.

hopefully it doesn’t change too much. However, with its proximity to Perth and how enjoyable it was, I feel more people may end up calling this place home. Our family could have easily done exactly that, so no doubt plenty of others will over coming years. Margaret River had a little bit of everything, so it ticked all the boxes – beautiful surf beaches, vineyards, country living, caves to explore, quality Australian wine, great food and a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you were watching the sun set on the coast or grabbing a bite to eat in town, it all had a very relaxed feeling to it, and is a place

You need to experience the caves in person to fully appreciate their beauty. Page 62 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

we’d like to spend more time exploring. If you’re into exploration, and we are, there are plenty of caves to visit, and all with their own unique history. The views in some of the caves, particu-

larly when mixed with lights, were simply spectacular. It is hard to take a picture that truly represents what they look like, so this is something you’ll need to visit yourself.

The sheer size of these caves was amazing. Though you do need a reasonable level of fitness to explore some of them.

Matia took advantage of the hands-on opportunity in one of the caves.

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TOURING & exploring

One of the very nice beaches the author and his family explored.

Tripping on Notch Point and Paluma

H The four-wheel-drive at Cape Palmerston.

Under the bridge on the way to Paluma. Page 64 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

I, here’s the second leg of our family trip up along the Queensland coast. After a great night’s sleep at Notch Point, we were up early, had breakfast and, leaving the van behind, headed off to Cape Palmerston National Park to check it out. What a lovely national park! And you don’t need a day-use permit to visit, you’ll only need permits if you intend camping there. We let our tyres down and drove north up the beach – it was a lovely hard beach to drive on. After a few kilometres, we saw what we thought was a dead turtle on the surf edge. So, we parked the four-wheel-drive and walked over to look at

Touring Queensland - Part 2 by CRAIG TOMKINSON

the turtle, which looked quite dead. We walked around it, taking photos and Donna had just walked to the front of the turtle when it lifted its head, opened its eyes and took off! It had been sleeping in the shallow warm water. We hopped back in the car and drove along the beach as far as we could, then turned around and headed back because the tide had changed and was running in. As we weren’t familiar with this beach, we thought it would be safer to go back, park and spend an hour or so walking along the foreshore, which we did and

without seeing another person or vehicle. Later, we checked out the small village of Green Hill, which was a lovely area. From there, we stopped at the Ilbilbie service station, bought a feed and fuelled up, then headed back to the van and spent the rest of the day walking on the beach. We stayed there the night and headed north the next morning. From Notch Point, we left late morning in the direction of Mackay. From there we went to Finch Hatton Gorge, where we stopped at a horrible parking area that was built for tiny

* continued P65

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TOURING & exploring Tripping on Notch Point and Paluma * from P64

cars not 4WDs towing a camper trailer or caravan. The turning bay at the end was only just wide enough for us to turn around in. We walked to the swimming holes a few kilometres in and saw people jumping into very deep water, so my son Gavin and I gave it a go. Holy cow! The water was freezing! One jump was plenty. After checking the area out, we then walked back to the car and headed south along the back road to visit Teemburra Dam. It’s a steep road up, let me tell you. As the day was getting on, we went looking for a camp in the Cathu forestry area. We were headed for a camp on the river, however one app had it as a free camp and another as a paid camp that you had to book online. There was no phone or internet reception in the

area to do that, so we found a gravel pit area well off the main road and set up there for the night. While my sons and I set up the van, Donna and Lauren went for a walk to look for birds and critters to photograph. We love pulling up to a new area at about 3.30-4pm, setting up camp and then going for a wander to suss the place out. At this spot, we made sure there were no fire bans in place before making a lovely little fire in our stainless-steel fire drum just on dark, then we all sat watching the bush TV and eating our dinner. The next day, we headed north to Bowen where we spent the day sightseeing, including the Catalina Flying Boat Memorial on the foreshore, it was a lovely spot and worth checking out. And the displays of where they filmed the movie Australia were great too, as were all

the lovely beaches we explored. From Bowen, we headed to Wunjunga Beach and free camped there. We spent a few hours walking along the shoreline, as it was so nice. From Wunjunga, we headed to Townsville, where we shopped for food and visited the Maritime Museum, which was quite interesting and had many displays. Then after driving to Crystal Creek free camp, we found a site, unhooked the van and headed to Little Crystal Creek for a swim. From there we headed to the scenic Paluma Range and Paluma area, where we spent the rest of the day looking at the dam, the falls and doing walks, coming back to the van to set it up for the night. While I’d been to nearly all of these spots before, I wanted to take my family to share them all. Until next month, stay safe.

A dam was releasing water when the author visited.

The overnight camp in the Cathu forestry area.

The stunning beach at Crystal Creek.

Gulf barra season closed

CLOSED season for barramundi has begun in the Gulf of Carpentaria and runs through to 11.59pm on January 31, 2024. During this time, it’s also prohibited to deliberately target barramundi for catch and release, as the stress of

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capture may prevent a fish from spawning. However, the closure doesn’t apply in exempted stocked waters in the Gulf of Carpentaria, which include East Leichhardt Dam, Belmore, Corella, Julius, Fred Tritton and Moondarra lakes, and to waterways upstream

of these impoundments. So, grab yourself a stocked impoundment permit if you want to keep chasing this species. For more information, download the free Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Qld Fishing 2.0 app.

The Gulf of Carpentaria closed barramundi season has started. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 65

TOURING & exploring

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Bouncee’s matching ice bricks and thermal dividers. Page 66 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

N a world constantly on the lookout for innovative and eco-friendly solutions, Australian designers have taken a giant leap forward with the introduction of the amazing Bouncee Coolers – the first-ever lightweight collapsible cooler made, designed and supported right here in Australia. Designed to revolutionise the way we keep food and beverages cold when on the go, Bouncee Coolers are the must-have accessory for adventurers, outdoor enthusiasts and eco-conscious consumers alike. Bouncee Coolers are not your ordinary cooler, featuring a bevy of cool design benefits. Portability meets durability Bouncee Coolers are engineered to be incredibly lightweight, making them easy to carry wherever you go. But don’t let their feather-light design fool you, these coolers are super durable and built to withstand the toughest of outdoor conditions. Cool temperature zones With Bouncee’s matching ice bricks and thermal dividers, you can create different temperature zones for chilled, frozen, hot or ambient goods. Bouncee is endlessly configurable. Ice cold or piping hot – Bouncee does both. Space-saving magic Unlike bulky

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Sampled Murray cod estimated 75cm total length. Photo: Grant Peelgrane

Response to October’s near extinct trout cod article

’M writing in response to the recent article on trout cod in the October issue. It is misleading to claim that trout cod were not even identified as a separate species until 1972. The reality is far more complex than that. Indigenous people have known trout cod were a separate species to Murray cod for millennia. And by the mid to late 1800s, many observant amateur and commercial anglers were well aware that trout cod were a separate species to Murray cod – a classic example among many can be found at nla.gov.au/nla.news-ar ticle58572931 In fact, trout cod were so widely recognised as a separate species at this time that the name ‘Murray trout’ was widely used to separate them from ‘Murray cod’. Furthermore, by 1909, the NSW fisheries department’s own chief naturalist DG Stead had

recognised trout cod as a separate species based on clear biological differences. The most important and pivotal being a vastly smaller size at first sexual maturity than in Murray cod – nla.gov.au/nla.news-ar ticle145112993, nla. gov.au/nla.news-arti cle238222241 and nla. gov.au/nla.news-arti cle100698505 Mr Stead also published a major newspaper article on trout cod in 1929, nla.gov.au/nla. news-article160393152 For almost two decades after his recognition of the trout cod species, the various state and territory fishery departments happily accepted Mr Stead’s correct advice that trout cod existed and were a separate species to Murray cod. These fishery departments regularly listed trout cod in their fishery reports and fishery regulations. As examples, you can view numerous gazetted fishing regulations

Page 70 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

from the 1910s and 1920s from NSW, nla. gov.au/nla.news-arti cle141671422 and nla. gov.au/nla.news-arti cle108157447, and the ACT, nla.gov.au/nla. news-article232531090, nla.gov.au/nla.news-ar ticle1218753 and nla. g o v. a u / n l a . n e w s page25066301, that include trout cod. These regulations listed trout cod as a separate species to Murray cod and often specified differing regulations for them to Murray cod, recognising as they did the species-defining biological differences between them. However, by the early 1930s it was clear that some vested interests were starting to push the line that trout cod weren’t a separate species. Alien trout-obsessed fisheries departments of the time appeared keen to push this line, particularly as they were busy wiping out trout cod populations in upland streams with continual alien

trout stockings – often against significant community uproar and protest – nla.gov.au/nla. news-article16469007 and nla.gov.au/nla.news -article139299696 Their actions justified with a false narrative that there was one species of cod that was found only in warm lowland streams and therefore, conveniently, didn’t overlap with alien trout and alien trout stockings. One prominent fishery official of the time repeatedly pushed this false narrative in newspapers and debates, even though, through both his work and his personal fishing activities, he would have known full well that these claims and this account were untrue – nla.gov.au/nla.news-ar ticle3963903 and nla. gov.au/nla.news-arti cle48171983 At this time, phrases such as ‘Murray or trout cod’ started appearing, falsely implying uncertainty about their separate species status.

Finally in 1937, a shoddy and extremely unscientific ‘review’ by the ichthyologist Gilbert Whitley erroneously concluded there was only one species of cod, and that trout cod were simply juvenile Murray cod. The existence of trout cod was then determinedly ignored and denied for the next 35 years, causing immeasurable harm to their conservation. In summary, a more accurate way to describe the situation would be to say that in earlier times it was well-recognised that trout cod existed and were a separate species to Murray cod, but that some interests preferred to insist there was only one species of cod – for non-scientific reasons – until blood serum and protein research in 1972 forced them to admit there were two cod species. And this was after those interests ignored earlier research in 1952 * continued P71

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Response to October’s near extinct trout cod article * from P70

by TC Roughley –nla. gov.au/nla.news-arti cle248644606 – that also used blood serums and showed trout cod were a separate species to Murray cod. Ignored all of DG Stead’s research and conclusive evidence from the early 1900s. And ignored the advice and astute observations of many recreational and commercial fishers and Indigenous people. A big issue with current trout cod recovery efforts is the all-pervasive insistence to misrepresent trout cod as a lowland native fish and that their decline is primarily about timber snag removals in alluvial lowland rivers. This push commenced in 1994 and is ongoing. This is a serious misrepresentation, both of the trout cod’s former distribution and the location of their previous distribution where they were most abundant, most dominant and to

which they were most biologically adapted (size at first sexual maturity, spawning season, spawning temperature, egg and larval size, larval and adult swimming ability and such). While small populations of trout cod were historically found in the upper sections of some lowland stream habitats, these were secondary habitats for trout cod. They were always a minority species in these lowland stream habitats compared to other large-bodied native fish. It is also noteworthy that on the Murray River, trout cod were extremely rare below the Euston Weir and almost non-existent in South Australia, with only extremely rare vagrants recorded – nla. gov.au/nla.news-arti cle160732702 It’s also worth noting that when the newly re-recognised trout cod first started being the subject of conservation

concern in the 1970s and early 1980s, there were at that time far more populations surviving in upland stream habitats – such as the upper Murrumbidgee, upper Buffalo and upper King rivers, Cudgewa Creek, upper Seven Creeks (translocated), upper Murray River at Bringenbrong and Tintaldra – than in lowland stream habitats. With only one population being in lowland stream habitats – the Murray River around Tocumwal. This fact alone is a clear statement on the species’ primary habitats. It doesn’t take much prompting to suspect that misrepresenting trout cod as a lowland native fish happens because it facilitates the alien trout-obsessed culture and management that has been in place in southeast Australia for nearly 100 years. Lowland streams are conveniently unsuit-

The head of a Lower Goodradigbee River pool where particularly high numbers of ulcerated alien carp were observed. www.bnbfishing.com.au

ed for alien trout and don’t interfere with alien trout stockings and management. Regardless of this misrepresentation, historical and biological research show clearly that trout cod are primarily a montane upland native fish and their primary habitats are montane upland rivers and streams, including some surprisingly small streams and some astonishingly high altitudes. Their loss from every such habitat was the invasion and domination of these environs by alien trout and was reinforced by the constant saturation stockings of alien trout – nla. gov.au/nla.news-arti cle136976453 Cadwallader and Gooley said it best in their ‘Past and present distributions and translocations of Murray cod and trout cod in Victoria’ March 1984 research – biodiver sit yl ibr a r y.org /pa r t pdf/303027 –

... In general, a ‘good trout stream’ is also a good trout cod stream. Perhaps it is more than coincidence that the areas formerly occupied by trout cod in northeastern Victoria, from where the species appears to have been almost eliminated, are areas which have been heavily stocked with trout. Trout cod shared these montane upland river and stream habitats with Macquarie perch. Unsurprisingly, Macquarie perch are also almost entirely lost from these stream habitats because of alien trout domination and constant alien trout stocking. Unsurprisingly, this also is not acknowledged in most recent recovery efforts. And unsurprisingly, Macquarie perch are also frequently misrepresented as mid-lowland native fish rather than a montane upland native fish. * continued P72

The pool (yellow pin) in context of the observational kayak journey from Flea Creek to Wee Jasper. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 71

Response to October’s near extinct trout cod article * from P71

Incidentally, the publicly available Sustainable Rivers Audit 1 and Audit 2 show many of these montane upland river and stream habitats are in excellent ecological and hydraulic condition. The popular excuses of “habitat degradation, dams and [alien] redfin” are not applicable to them and are not an explanation for the disappearance of trout cod and Macquarie perch from them, but do show they are heavily dominated by aggressive predatory alien trout species and are profoundly lacking in native fish species, native fish numbers and native fish biomass. The 29-year long and continued misrepresentation of trout cod as a lowland fish also ties in to claims that

largely unsuccessful trout cod stockings in both small and large upland streams in the late 1980s and early 1990s were a disaster. Those making these claims never acknowledge that these streams were mostly always dominated by alien trout already and were usually being further sabotaged with constant and much larger stockings of alien trout. So that far from being a surprise, these trout cod stocking failures were to be 100 percent expected. How could trout cod fingerlings be expected to survive the onslaught of high densities of voracious alien trout? There was also the fact that these trout cod stockings were always far too small in terms of numbers and were not repeated annually

Alien rainbow trout predation on native two-spined blackfish. Source: publish.csiro.au/PC/PC21048 Page 72 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

for a substantial number of years – which is what you need to do to achieve success. In summary, these trout cod stocking failures are most certainly not evidence that upland stream habitats are unsuited to the trout cod, as is usually implied. They were not fair or adequate trials. We know that historically trout cod, and Macquarie perch, abounded in such habitats and, in the absence of alien trout and trout stockings, could do so again. Even in recent times we’ve had past small trout cod stockings in the upper Murrumbidgee River and current small trout cod stockings in the lower Goodradigbee River being sabotaged by huge annual stockings of predatory alien trout, despite warnings against it. And we still mass-release predatory alien trout into endangered Macquarie perch habitats of the upper Murrumbidgee River every year, even though it is correlated with the accelerated decline of endangered Macquarie perch since the 1980s, and historical and scientific evidence strongly indicates it threatens their long-term survival. Would we breed and release foxes into endangered bandicoot habitats? Would we deliberately push cats into endangered bilby habitats? Would we pretend that this wouldn’t threaten their survival? Or is it different because they have fur and

warm brown eyes? There’s only a tiny proportion of the community that enjoys fishing for alien trout. For a small number of people to engage in a niche form of recreational fishing, the community as a whole, as well as fish ecologists, should be up in arms at this disregard for threatened native fish and their conservation and survival. These are only some of the problems and issues that the current ‘accepted’ approach to trout cod – and Macquarie perch – recovery skirt around, and largely or wholly fail to acknowledge. Speaking of trout cod recovery, it’s a gross exaggeration to suggest that trout cod are now ‘recovered’ or are ‘saved’ simply because stockings have managed to re-establish two small fragile patchily recruiting populations in largely unrepresentative lowland habitats of the mid-Murrumbidgee River, and one similar population in the lowland habitats of the Ovens River. Furthermore, the NSW Government has recently released the Draft Trout Cod Action Plan 2023 to 2033, which states that the two re-established m id-Mu r r u mbidge e populations are the only NSW populations that aren’t seriously hybridising with Murray cod. It also states that these populations are in serious decline. Why then does the October article suggest trout cod can be down listed to ‘vulnerable’? On the topic of extinct

native freshwater fish species, it is not correct to say there are none. We have lost a number of discrete native fish populations in southeast Australia, and we can say with a high degree of confidence that some were distinct species of native fish and would have been scientifically described as such if they had survived long enough. These include: • Macquarie perch endemic to the Shoalhaven River system • Eastern cod once endemic to the Brisbane River system • A number of galaxias populations in southeast Australia, extirpated by alien trout. Finally, the recent discovery of the tiny and easy-overlooked bald carp gudgeon, found only in a couple of tiny creeks near Gunning in NSW, reminds us that southeast Australia must originally have had a number of divergent or relictual native fish species with incredibly small and vulnerable distributions, often in small headwater streams. It is crystal clear that many of these species must have been lost to alien trout introductions and alien trout stockings long ago, before people even recognised they existed. We have without a doubt lost a number of species and for the most part we don’t even know what we’ve lost. However, it is well recorded that such losses have happened with several populations-cum-species in the mountain galaxias species complex. Codman

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 73

Early morning Predatek Spoonbill twitching in the shallows of Eungella Dam, inland from Mackay, produced a typical well-conditioned barramundi for Rosemary. They don’t only feed at night.

The wide open spaces of Lake Awoonga hold schools of baitfish mid-water that naturally attract the predators. A 1m plus midday barramundi for Graham on his trolled Pretatek Viper.

Beginners’ guide to dam barra W AY back in 1998, I was invited by Queensland Fisheries staff from Walkamin to visit Lake Tinaroo in an attempt to achieve repeatable results on the temperamental barramundi living there. Locals from Cairns had been struggling on the lake despite angling barramundi very successfully in saltwater environs. Our approach was to call on our extensive experience on southern Queensland’s stocked lakes, putting temperate still-water tactics to the test in the tropics.

Fishing for Sport

by NEIL SCHULTZ

We were pleasantly surprised by the success of that first excursion, with fish in excess of 1m hooked during the first afternoon. During the second afternoon, we landed three barramundi – from a petite 11kg specimen to a 1.25m leviathan. Over the course of the following week, we achieved similar results with 1m plus barra caught every afternoon.

Trolling in the dark Why were we achieving consistent repeatable success when locals struggled to take even a strike? Simply put… we didn’t use barramundi techniques, using instead exactly the same methods proven successful on Murray cod in lakes close to home. The only change we made was to use a slender barramundi-style lure instead of the

Lake Monduran is producing the goods. This average-sized fish fell for a trolled Predatek SandViper. Page 74 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

chunky wide-actioned models used for cod. During that first excursion and during the 25 years since, the standout trolling lure for impoundment barramundi has been the Predatek Viper. Colour preferences change occasionally, however the first Redhead pattern I had so much success with during those early years still kicks goals. Ghostrider, Tarpon and Barra Blue are common to see on the lines of successful anglers too. The most success on that first and numerous subsequent sojourns at Tinaroo was had by trolling in 4-5m of water from sunset until about 10pm. Yes, trolling – a tactic some seem to have an aversion to but it should not be overlooked. Trolling allows areas to be explored quickly, which can be quite advantageous during a trip of short duration when time on the water is precious. Lures were run around 15m behind the boat, travelling at idle

while following the depth contour. Shorelines without masses of drowned trees were chosen simply because landing a 20kg barra in thick timber in the dark was unlikely to be successful. Slow is the catch word when it comes to trolling impoundments for barramundi. Idle speed in my 4.2m tinnie with a well-tuned 30hp Honda is spot on. A good electric with ample battery storage would no doubt be just as effective, possibly even better. Our time at Tinaroo was so productive that we saw no need for further captures on that lake and headed south to fish lakes elsewhere. Anchor and cast Wind the clock forward a few years and Lake Awoonga near Gladstone has been stocked with barra for a couple years now, making it ripe for an exploratory visit. As was the case with Tinaroo, Awoonga was proving a tough nut to crack, though our early forays did yield cap* continued P75

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Dam barra beginners’ guide * from P74

tures each visit. Early outings there saw us sticking with our proven trolling methods from several years of regular trips to Tinaroo. By the mid-2000s and after a drop in lake levels, it became known that anchoring and casting around the fringes of the lake was a great way to connect to a barramundi or two. Several lure manufacturers and my wife and I hired a houseboat for a solid week of product testing on the lake’s big barra. Casting at dusk along the shorelines of relatively shallow bays proved to be the most productive technique, with quite a few quality fish being caught and released by all team members. Logically, in lakes with hundreds of kilometres of shoreline to fish, not all fringes will yield barramundi on any given day. Trial and error indicated that, early and late in the season, the downwind shore will hold more feeding fish than upwind areas. This is due to the surface water warmed by the sun being blown to the downwind side. Being most active in warmer water, barramundi will bite best in areas with elevated temperatures – even by only a few degrees. You can identify this without a temperature reading because the baitfish on which barra feed – namely snub-nosed garfish and bony bream – can be seen flicking on the surface. Select a bay with plen-

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ty of baitfish activity and cruising barramundi will eventually arrive, though it can take some patience to sit in one spot casting repeatedly without a hit. Proven from decades of fishing barramundi lakes, the most productive casting technique for us was to anchor within casting distance of the shore and blind cast. Retrieves are what is known in some circles as ‘the barra twitch’. The barra twitch can be challenging to learn but once mastered comes quite naturally and can be repeated for hours on end. A short rod is best as the retrieve is made with the tip held low and flicked downwards in a short sharp snap of the wrist. The rod tip only moves 30cm or so, just enough to have the lure dart forwards the same distance. As the rod tip is lifted for the next twitch, slack line is retrieved and the lure pauses – this is often when the barra hits. We have had extraordinary success ‘twitching’ with the Predatek SandViper – the shallow version of the lure used for trolling. For a smaller lighter casting lure, the same manufacturer makes an 85mm lure called the Spoonbill, which has caught scores of impoundment barra using the same retrieve. As long as the water temperature is right and there is plenty of baitfish activity, you can confidently sit in one spot for at least an hour casting before moving.

Once you’ve hooked a barra in any given lake, it is worth returning to that spot and putting in long sessions. Success breeds success too, so you’ll be able to seek out similar spots in barra lakes right around the state with a good chance of duplicating those results. Now is the right time of year to be on the lakes chasing these awesome fish, though naturally not all lakes will be firing at the same time. Currently, Lake Monduran is the pick of the southern locations, with barra right through the size range from yearlings to monsters being caught. All of the northern lakes will produce fish at this time of year – you simply need to be on the water investing a little time to pinpoint their current feeding locations. Good luck.

Any extra-large sized barramundi are best unhooked and photographed without lifting them from the water, to ensure the safe release of the fish in perfect condition.

find us on facebook • Win prizes • Post your brag • Chat to readers shots and writers • Join in on the fun • See who’s catching banter what • Have a laugh

www.facebook.com/bnbfishing Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 75

We removed a significant number of pests from the waterways, including this massive carp. The funds raised from this eradication event go directly to restocking the waterways with our natives.

We’re a small bunch of like-minded people trying to make a difference in our local waterways, and we could certainly use some more help!

For this year’s event, we had 298 entrants, removed 198 carp and 1237 tilapia and filled nearly two bins for a total weight of about two tonne.

Page 76 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

LAFMA Carp and Tilapia Eradication Fishing Comp

HAT an amazing day we had on Saturday October 21 at the Logan and Albert Fish Management Association Carp and Tilapia Eradication Fishing Competition. Great weather and an awesome atmosphere, with many fish removed. We had 298 entrants, removed 198 carp and 1237 tilapia and filled nearly two bins for a total weight of about two tonne. Our winners were: Junior Most carp: Dorina Gyurcsik 12 Biggest carp: Enoch Zhang 3.485kg Most tilapia: Lucas Trad 23 Biggest tilapia: Jack Turner 1.51kg Teen Most carp: Krisztian Gyurcsik 5 Biggest carp: Liam Hopkins 2.355kg Most tilapia: Kobe Benstead 55 Biggest tilapia: Isaac Zhang 2.035kg Senior Most carp: Chunhau Ji 68 Biggest carp: Mark Bartlett 4.48kg Most tilapia: Keiran Dau 136 Biggest tilapia: David Smith 2.405kg

A big thanks to everyone – we couldn’t do this without you. Each and every one of you help make the day special, and it was fantastic to see so many juniors and teens walk away with a prize and a big smile at the end of the day. If you’re in their store or talking to them, please help us in thanking our sponsors – their generosity really does make this event. Our government support is from the Scenic Rim Regional Council, Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol, Fisheries Queensland and Seqwater. And thank you to all competitors who entered the competition, bought our barbecue and our worms, and removed these pest fish. You’ve all helped us to

not only remove a significant number of pests from the waterways, but the funds raised will go directly to restocking the waterways with our natives. We hope you’ll be back to join us next year. Our aim is to make 2024 bigger and better than ever. If you would like to become an active member of LAFMA, send us a message via facebook. com/lafma or attend a meeting. We desperately need some new faces on board to help do what we do. We’re a small bunch of like-minded people trying to make a difference in our local waterways, and we could certainly use some more help! See you all next year!

Many juniors walked away with a smile at the end of the day. www.bnbfishing.com. au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 77

2023 Tackle World Bundaberg Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic

ELLO, I’m happy to be back home in Queensland and enjoying our state again. I’ve spent the past 12 years working in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and western Queensland, which was fantastic. When I could, I fished in a lot of bucket-list places and not only fishing but seeing what’s out there… the scenery was definitely worth a look. It is a great country we live in, so if you have the opportunity, organise to go on an Aussie adventure. But for me now, it’s great to be home and I’m again enjoying fishing the fantastic freshwater dams we have in this state. I grew up near Bundaberg with Lake Monduran just down the road. Back then, I had a bit to do with the early days of stocking the dam for future fishing,

Monduran Dam by HELEN ABDY

so seeing how that has paid off is very rewarding. Eventually, we put barramundi in the dam, which attracted anglers from all over. I reconnected with the Monduran Anglers and Stocking Association after a call from new president Kevin Charteris and am happy to be a part of this stocking group once again. The Family Fishing Competition was held October 21 and 22 and was a great event, run by a passionate group of fishos who simply love this dam. Over 510 people from both near and far nominated for the event, and even a few of the grey nomads camped at the Lake Monduran Holiday Park joined in on the festivities. It’s such a friendly welcoming event, with

woodfired pizzas, coffee van, ice cream van, Pristine Lures, Nudicover outdoor wear, Brian Charteris and his popular sharpening steels, Adrians Marine Centre’s boat display and FFSAQ’s freshwater fish display all on offer. As well as raffles, kids’ casting competition, junior selfies with painted barra banners ‘hidden’ up the dam and viewing tanks with barra to look at – there was plenty to see and do. Bundaberg Sportfishing Club catered for the weekend from the huge kitchen, with food available all day. And they were up early with pre-ordered brekkies ready for collection by anglers on their way to the ramps. On the fishing side, an overall total of 274

fish were weighed in for the day and a half of fishing. Here’s the rundown on who got what. Barra were the main species and a total of 120 very healthy solid barra were caught, recorded and released, with heaps over the 1m mark. The best senior barra, worth $1000, measured 107cm and was caught by Nick Parkyn on Sunday. Other barra winners on Saturday were first Colin Bruss with 105cm, second Deanne Gersekowski 103cm and the mystery length winner was Andrew Gatt 88cm. On the Sunday, second was Kyle Woodrow with 105cm and the mystery length winner was Aaron Pryor 96cm. Local lure maker Adam Turner from Pristine Lures – using his relatively new PT range of plastics – was the first angler to bag out on barra.

He went on to win the Barra Buster award for the weekend with his five best fish. Bass weren’t as plentiful, but they were big and healthy. Best bass for a senior angler and $1000 was 53cm and caught by Kelli Eyles. She also won first and the mystery bass on Saturday, and Sunday first, second and the mystery weight on bass. Kelli had a great weekend, also winning the Bass Buster category, with the biggest weight of bass. Other bass winners were on Saturday in second place, Steven Binney. Dean Pym won the Brian McCarthy prize for the best three species and the overall biggest bag of catfish at 19.095kg. In the junior section, the overall winner for longest barra was Josiah McKeough with 102cm. * continued P79

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Colin Bruss was stoked with his 105cm barramundi.

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Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic 2023 * from P78

Other winners on Saturday were first Brayden Charteris 98cm, and second and mystery length of 65cm Kale Osbourne. Junior heaviest bass overall winner was Thomas Eyles with a 35cm bass. On Saturday, Thomas also won first and the mystery weight – there was no second place bass caught. He also caught enough catfish for a bag of five for a weight of 2.94kg. On Sunday no junior bass were caught. Jewfish were quite plentiful over the competition weekend for both senior and junior anglers. Overall heaviest senior winner was Stephen Wolski with 2.24kg and junior was Kolbie Hadwen with 2.19kg. For Saturday, first was Kolbie, second Karda Berthelsen and mystery Zack Dayag. And for Sunday, first was Aaliyah Dayag, second Zayden Croucher and mystery Karda Berthelsen. Catfish were plentiful, and those big ones sure can put up a fight. Not everyone’s cup of tea, though you can’t say they don’t have you thinking twice when you hook one up. Senior overall heaviest catfish was 5.249kg caught by Paul Wedel. Junior overall heaviest was 5.176kg caught by Lincoln Wedel, who also got the best bag of five for a total of 16.352kg. A couple of tilapia were also caught over the competition week-

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end – they were a fair size at 40cm and 41cm and were disposed of quickly. For 20 years now, Adrian from Adrians Marine has supported the club and sponsored a registered Stacer tinnie with Mercury motor, trailer and safety gear that can be won simply for nominating. This year, Wally London walked away the winner of this great prize. Congratulations to all the winners. Seven bass, 120 barramundi, 58 jewfish and 60 catfish went towards the total of 274 fish recorded by anglers, with junior and senior bags of catfish making up the difference. Rob and Kelly from the Lake Monduran Holiday Park – who look after the grounds, two amenity blocks, the camp kitchen and fully stocked shop – are an integral part of the weekend and can be contacted via their website for bookings. If you’re interested in more information, get in touch with Monduran Anglers and Stocking Association via Facebook. So many sponsors have helped make this event what it is today and most have been with the group for many years – all so special and very much appreciated. See you next year on October 18-20, 2024 for the twenty-fifth Tackle World Bundaberg Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic. We may even see you at Monduran over the Christmas break.

Thomas Eyles took out best junior bass.

Kelli Eyles cleaned up at this year’s event, pictured with her best bass at 53cm.

DAM LEVELS CURRENT AS OF 15/11/2023

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 JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

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

59 57 77 75 83 76 19 30 81 48 97 33 88 82 89 70 86 72 94 90 80 49 66 77 98 79 87 66 81 92

52 54 72 73 77 69 18 27 73 43 95 29 79 80 86 62 83 64 91 86 77 47 64 75 95 73 87 64 77 91

For updates on dams, visit sunwater.com.au or seqwater.com.au *This symbol indicates that a Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish these dams.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 79

Impacts of storage outflows

Rick from Levos Lures with a nice yellowbelly.

OR the past five weeks, we have seen a constant flow of water heading downstream to the west. The releases were small to start with, then went to 1000 megalitres a day, bringing the storage percentage down to 82, as at the time of writing. This in return saw good numbers of golden perch being caught on bait and lures. The same took place with silver perch, giving bait a good going over as well as small blades.

Tenterfield locals with a good catch.

With cod, it’s been a little quiet. Though small undersized 25cm models through to legal 97cm fish have been caught. Page 80 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

Glenlyon Dam by BRIAN DARE

Silver perch up to 48cm were being nailed, striking at fast speeds and fighting well, which gave anglers something to think about. I was able to try a good feed of silvers, and the way to prepare this fish for cooking is to leave the fillets on a plate in the fridge for 24 hours. Bring out the plain flour, put some into a medium sized bag with salt and pepper, add the fillets and shake until the flesh is covered. Add about a tablespoon of butter or margarine to a frypan, bring the heat up to medium-hot and cook the fillets until they’re golden – delicious! With cod, it’s been a little quiet. Though small undersized 25cm models through to legal 97cm fish have been caught. The release of water has had some effect on cod looking for good nesting sites. The drop in water makes them move on until they find a set level of stationary water. During the past month, as you may know, we’ve had fires in the region, so the water-bombing aircraft have been pulling water from the dam each day. I ask all anglers to keep in mind that it’s tough work for the pilots to get a good straight run to pull water. So, at all times when on the water, keep to

either port (right) or starboard (left) of the centre of all water storages, which will give the planes right of way. If it were not for these people doing such a fine job, our region would have been burnt out. We were lucky the entity upstairs was looking after us too, as we received 10-27mm of rain on Friday November 3, which gave us some time to recover from the good flogging the fires gave us. Each year, I mention how river rock is being used as fireplace enclosures – don’t use it! When cooling down, these rocks explode or crack apart without warning, causing cuts or small fire outbreaks, leaving people unsure of what to do. We are not over the bushfire period, in fact, we’re just heading into it, with prime dry and dangerous conditions ahead. For the next three months, we should all be on bushfire alert. We haven’t had monsoonal rain and cyclones during December-April for four years. It must be due soon. I think the 2024 period could well be the start. Fish restocking of rivers, streams and water storages is not far off. Allocations of funds from the permits purchased have arrived and orders are currently being placed for fingerlings. * continued P81

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Storage outflow impacts * from P80

Though lack of flow is the norm for upstream creeks and rivers at the moment. Earlier I mentioned storage outflows, so when using canoes or kayaks, keep in mind any flow over 400 megalitres a day in the upper regions below dams will be dangerous. Cold water, covered logs and tight bends can and will force you into tight situations, which will require some fast thinking or pulling up and floating your water craft down by rope. No car or truck tubes should be used when these flows are occurring. One other thing to keep in mind is access to water on large dams.

The bank may look solid and firm but, to date at Glenlyon, five tow-outs have had to be undertaken. Use the ramps with care and caution. Check them all out beforehand, even concrete ramps. Paddle into these to check for cracks or holes that may exist from previous flows. Also, be advised, if you are caught either pulling up traps and pots that are not yours, or taking bait from these, it will cost you $1475 per trap. This includes crab and red claw traps. If you intend on doing it, bring your money with you… as they used to say in the Nock and Kirby ads from years ago.

Kevin Sharman scored a 97cm Murray cod on shrimp.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 81

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January Edition Copy Deadline – Advertisements must arrive NO later than November 30, 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

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.: ___ ___ ___ ___

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Page 82 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023

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ADVERTISERS – To organise a classified ad in the Trading Post, call 07 3286 1833 or complete the form and post it to the address provided or email it through to ads@collins.me dia

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Kye Hammond with a 54cm bass from Maroon Dam in Queensland. Caught on a free-weighted worm I was stoked with the 1m queenfish I caught off the using a 1/0 hook around midday Riley Constable with a 80cm barcheek corbeach at Lucinda in Queensland. al trout caught off Seventeen Seventy. mid-October. Ray Bone Darren Constable Kelly Ryan 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.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 83

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2023 – Page 85

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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, December 2023 – Page 87

SALE

DEMO

481 CRUISEABOUT

510 FRONTIER - MERCURY 115HP PRO XS CT

With savings from both Mercury and Quintrex - you won't be disappointed

A dream for the dedicated fisher – there're not many places you can't go

JUST IN

SALE

590 TERRITORY LEGEND

420 RENEGADE - MERCURY 50HP

Taking the challenge straight to the water

The outlaw of the Quintrex family will turn heads at the ramp

IN STOCK

SALE

520 OCEAN SPIRIT PRO - MERCURY 115HP

600 FISHSEEKER - MERCURY 90HP

The only decision you have to make is Tangalooma or Stradbroke

This hunter of fishing waters will have you craving weekends

* 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, December 2023

BNB Fishing Mag | December 2023

Articles inside

Hook, line and sunshine with Topnotch Whitsundays fishing trips

Solid start to summer mahi, kingies, AJs and crabs

Fantastic festive season fishing

Eco-friendly Bouncee Coolers