BNB Fishing Mag | December 2024 by bnbfishing

Merry Christmas 595

Includes GST

December 2024 Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 35, Number 12

Bass fishing techniques

Moreton Bay options

Fitzroy River Barra Bash wrap up ISSN 1832-4517

12 Proudly produced and printed in Australia

Gibb River adventure Tuna time off Tweed

Nerang River whiting tips

9 771832 451001

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

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 1

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 3

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From the Bush ‘n Beach Fishing editor

HAT a big month we’ve had on the political scene. First, a new party leading Queensland, with the Liberals holding the balance of power, and then Trump with a landslide win in the US. I don’t want to focus too heavily on this but it will be interesting to see if and how our economy, and recreational fishing in particular, is impacted. Locally, there has already been a name change – the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is now the Department of Primary Industries, with Anthony Perrett taking the reins. The government has highlighted the responsibilities of this department include biosecurity, agriculture, animal welfare, and food and fibre industry development. Interestingly, the key term ‘fisheries’ has been omitted from all department names. I wonder if recreational fishing will now sit under the tourism banner – time will tell. Hopefully the newly named department will follow through on its key portfolio deliverables – one of which states, “Support Queensland’s commercial and recreational fishing sectors by only legislating scientifically backed changes to regulation, with compulsory regulatory impact statements, and fairly compensating all fishers for any changes required.” It has been widely documented that both the commercial and recreational fishing sectors provide plenty of dollars to the economy, so it is

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essential our resources are managed and accessible. Unfortunately, in the lead up to the election, the current government went into caretaker mode, so there was little movement on the ground. Hopefully this will pick up once the new leaders get settled. Barra off limits A reminder that barramundi are off limits for east coast anglers during the closure, which runs from November 1 to January 31. This means that you should not be targeting them. To remove any confusion, the following is directly off the Queensland Government website. Closed seasons prevent people fishing for certain species at certain times of the year, to protect those species at vulnerable times in their life cycle, such as during spawning seasons. You should not target those fish during a closed season. Recently, there’s been a spate of anglers in southeast Queensland who seem to think it’s OK to target barra if they are released – this is not the case. Thankfully we have several dams in Queensland where barramundi can be targeted year-round. The good news here is that fish numbers and sizes are getting back to what they were at their peak. If you want to chase one of these iconic fish, you simply need to make the trek north to one of the many impoundments where

these fish are stocked. Silly season It’s hard to believe another year is almost done and dusted. At the risk of sounding like a broken record – doesn’t time fly! Each year around the Christmas holiday period, our waterways have an influx of boats, so remember to be patient and plan your trips accordingly. Sometimes leaving later or ducking out for an afternoon fish is a better way to go to avoid the crowds. If you are on the water, make sure you play it safe. That also means using some common sense and ensuring you have all the correct and upto-date safety equipment. And please, also remember to take your rubbish with you. We are lucky to live in a glorious country, so look after it. Ken Browne nailed it with his signature signoff many years ago, “Don’t destroy what you come to enjoy.” Merry Christmas I’d like to wish all of our readers and advertisers a very merry Christmas. Without your continued support we wouldn’t be here. It has been a tough year, yet we have battled through and are looking forward to what 2025 brings – I wonder if I could ask Santa for some better weather next year? I also want to thank the team of writers who keep delivering quality content each month, with the aim of helping fellow fishos improve their catches.

Finally, I’d like to thank the small crew at Collins Media who ensure this mag gets to the printer on time every month, well done team!

I hope everyone has a safe and merry Christmas and you awake to some new fishing gear under the tree. Ben Collins

OUR COVER Merry Christmas $

595

Includes GST

December 2024 Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 35, Number 12

Bass fishing techniques

Moreton Bay options

Fitzroy River Barra Bash wrap up ISSN 1832-4517

12 Proudly produced and printed in Australia

Gibb River adventure Tuna time off Tweed

Nerang River whiting tips

9 771832 451001

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

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 1

JACOB IEDEMA captured a beast of a bass casting a Z-Man ChatterBait MiniMax SlimSwimZ. Read more on this species on page 54.

NEXT EDITION: January edition will be on sale in newsagents from December 20. DECEMBER SUBSCRIPTION OFFER: See the subscription form on page 68 to subscribe this month and go in the draw to win one of six $60 gift cards to spend at Mad Keen Fishing. OCTOBER PRIZE WINNERS: Congratulations to M. Costelloe, Morayfield; J. Kromidas, Goodna; M. Kyriacou, Salisbury; W. Mills, Karama; G. Thiess, Regents Park; R. Thornton, Donnybrook; C. Trace, Pindi Pindi; L. Vuckovic, Nicholls; N. Wickson, Birkdale and R. Young, Moree who will each receive a Jack Jumper premium bucket hat and a pair of braid scissors, valued at $35 RRP each pack. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 5

December 2024 contents Finding consistency for a fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Sean Conlon . . . . . . . . . . . . . P8 Peeking into the secret lives of sawfish story. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P10 Festive season guide to Brisbane River. . . . . . . . . . . . by Paul 'Chief' Graveson . . . P12 Tide Times - Brisbane Bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P14 Merry fishmas and a jawsome new year. . . . . . . . . . by Mark Templeton . . . . . . . . P14

Boat modifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mick Clutterbuck . . . . . . . P18 Stacer’s ultimate fishing boat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P20 Mercury Marine enhances joystick piloting capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P21 Trading Post. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P22 Fishing and camping at Currigee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Clint Ansell . . . . . . . . . . . . . P24 Techniques for Nerang River whiting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Sean Thompson . . . . . . . . P26 Tuna time off Tweed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mitchel Zygnerski . . . . . . . P28 Setting up for targeting spaniards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Gavin Dobson . . . . . . . . . . P30 Tips for success on summer species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brett Hyde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P32 Adventures await at Lake Awoonga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P34 Tide Times – Waddy Point. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P35

Humminbird Fitzroy River Barra Bash. . . . . . . . . . . . . by John Boon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P38 Barra Bash battle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Keith Stratford . . . . . . . . . . P40 Records broken at Barra Bash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P41 Australia’s premier barra fishing tournament. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P43 Anaconda Island adventure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Chris Raimondi . . . . . . . . . P44 Heading east on Gibb River Road. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Ben Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P46 Drysdale River delights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Craig Tomkinson . . . . . . . . P50 BYD Shark 6 2025 hybrid ute. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P52 Bass fishing in summer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Justin Willmer . . . . . . . . . . . P54 Dam Levels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P58

Genesis of a lake’s fishery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Neil Schultz . . . . . . . . . . . . . P60 2024 LAFMA Pest Fishing Competition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P61 Lake Mondy barra. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Helen Abdy . . . . . . . . . . . . . P62 Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic wrap up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P63 Important business arising. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brian Dare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P64 Readers’ Forum ��P66 Subscription Form ��P68 Page 6 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

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The Team

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

Bush ‘n Beach Fishing magazine is published monthly by Collins Media Pty Ltd ABN 43 159 051 500 ACN 159 051 500 trading as Collins Media. Phone 07 3286 1833 Email: ben@collins.media PO Box 162, Wynnum, Qld 4178 PRINTER: SpotNews DISTRIBUTION BY: Wrapaway Max. recommended retail price $5.95 (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 2024 – Page 7

Simon hooked a weighty golden trevally on ultralight gear in an area that was unrewarding earlier in the week.

Finding consistency for a fish

Topping a great session off, Rebecca caught a monster flathead. This spot was unproductive a couple of days previous.

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Page 8 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

ELL, it’s December already… time has absolutely flown by. For me, this year has definitely been one of the toughest, particularly when it comes to weather and health issues. We haven’t been able to put in a lot of time on the water at all. One thing I will say is, bring on next year – hopefully it will be a little better. I think the biggest problem has been finding consistency for a fish. Unfortunately, it was more that things didn’t align rather than the fishing being slow. It was absolutely terrible, though when everything did cooperate, the fishing was fabulous. We do tend to talk more about the good sessions, while for the bad or difficult outings, we’re inclined to close the door and lock them away.

Southern Moreton Bay by SEAN CONLON

Running a fishing charter, it’s amazing to watch these less-appealing scenarios unfold. And I’ve had a few this year. Bear with me while I talk about some of these. I try to encourage

my customers to book the better days of the month for catching fish but, due to their circumstances, some people have only a particular day they can go out. Plus, weather comes into it. * continued P9

Same spots and techniques on a good day, Rebecca made only a couple of casts for a 50cm plus flathead.

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Finding consistency for a fish * from P8

It’s unfortunate, but some charters don’t fall on days when everything lines up and is perfect – it’s just the way it is. Though I do try to avoid the tougher days for my clients. These sessions are very noticeable when I’ve had a few charters in one week. The first couple can be tough days on the water, then for the next, everything lines up perfectly. The fish decide to chew their heads off even though you haven’t done anything differently to the initial sessions. You go to the same spots, you use the same techniques and they’re on, yet two days before, they showed no interest in what was presented to them. For me, this is the tough thing about fishing. If you go out only

once a month, or once every few months, and you hit tough fishing days, you can be left feeling as though there’re no fish at all swimming in southern Moreton Bay. But I can tell you there’re definitely fish in this body of water, it’s simply that they’re not out there waiting to jump on our hooks. Believe me, when I go out fishing, I’m like everybody else. I want to catch as many fish as possible and have the best day on the water that can possibly be achieved. Yet after 15 years of doing this as a job, it doesn’t work that way. When things aren’t aligned – tides, moon phase, water clarity, barometric pressure, weather and such – it makes fishing difficult. Made very apparent when I went out three days in a row – the first two days were tough, really tough.

We had to work very hard to get a few ‘reasonable’ fish. Fish I call ‘reasonable’ include 30cm bream, 50cm flathead, 40cm squire and such. Now, when it’s tough, I’m the same as everybody else, I tend to stay out there longer, which can be challenging for both myself and my customers, particularly if it’s hot or the weather is not quite playing the game. Staying out longer is draining, and you don’t catch any more fish. As I’m writing, I can picture a few of you reading this and nodding your heads. Back to my story… On the third day, I knew there were fish in these spots, so I went back. I worked the same areas with the same techniques – I didn’t change anything because I know that what I’m doing works. * continued P10

A pan-sized squire from an area that produced no fish days prior.

When not everything aligns, you might catch one or two reasonable bream instead of hoards.

A decent southern bay flathead caught on a tough day by trolling bulldog cranks.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 9

Finding consistency for a fish * from P9

A difficult day still produced a nice pan-sized southern bay squire.

Rebecca backed up her successful day with a solid beast.

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So, my clients started casting at the spot we’d fished two days prior for not a lot of reward. Third cast in, whack! A solid 50cm plus flathead. As usual, a few photos were taken, then the clients had their lures back in the water. Three or four casts later, whack! Another nice 50cm plus flatty. Hit repeat. A few casts later, a decent 40cm squire. Happy days. Everything was going well, when a few casts later, a very nice 69cm lizard was in the net and in the boat. This all took about an hour or so – from an area that didn’t produce any fish two days prior. The tide moved too far in for this particular area, so we left. We visited a few other spots where we caught a couple more fish, nothing particularly big yet enough to keep us happy. The tide was then good to fish an area I’d found quite difficult a few days previous. I could see fish on the sounder, though that had happened earlier too, so we had a little drift for squire. We caught a few undersized fish, then bang, a client was on. After a fairly solid ordeal – we were fishing on very light gear, 2-4kg rod and 4lb line – a solid 70cm golden trevally was in the net. Obviously after some pics, the goldie was released to fight another day, as were a few flatties, though we kept a couple for the clients to take home.

So, what does this tell us? While you’re going out and not getting the results you want, getting frustrated in the process, just because an area didn’t produce one day, the next day or the third, it can turn on some remarkable fish for keen anglers There is a wealth of knowledge out there. Read the articles in these magazines, particularly if they’re about fishing your area, see what you can learn from them. Nowadays, there’s also social media – Instagram, YouTube, Facebook – the amount of knowledge available is staggering. However, if you think you’re going to go out there, land on fish and get to take home a quality feed because you saw someone on YouTube do it, perhaps a rethink is in order. If you want consistent results, you need to put in the time on the water and get as much information as you can from various sources. Some of it will be good, some of it not so much.

But by doing this, you’ll give yourself a much better chance of success. That’s it from me for 2024. And I’m quite happy to see the end of it. I can’t wait for 2025, hopefully it’s an easier year. For those who used to buy ‘Gobbly Goop’ fish attractant from me, it’s now back in stock under the name ‘Fish Goop’. If you’re interested in purchasing some, my information is below. 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 Fish ing Charters and Tui tion.

Peeking into the secret lives of sawfish story

OU may have read the article we featured in the October issue on research using genetic techniques to assess populations of the protected narrow sawfish in northern Australia. We note that the piece was from the Fisheries Research and Development

Corporation website and sharing this type of research as broadly as possible is very helpful for the longterm sustainability of our marine life. If you would like more information on this research, including links to referenced projects, visit f r d c. c om. au /p e ek ing-secret-lives-saw fish

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

C ASTfrom the past

The wall in Boggy Creek is worthwhile fishing this festive season.

The author boated some quality Brisbane River squire.

Festive season guide to Brisbane River

EATURING a great article from the Bush ‘n Beach Fishing mag archives, welcome to Cast from the Past. If you have a hankering to read about a certain topic, drop us a line and we’ll do some deep diving. Here’s a piece by Paul ‘Chief’ Graveson from December 2014 covering the diverse Brisbane River over the festive season. We’re coming up to the silly season and holiday time and I’m sure a

Brisbane River by PAUL ‘CHIEF’ GRAVESON

few extra boats will be found on our waterways and dams. I can assure Brissie locals that you don’t have to travel far to find quality fish and have some brilliant sessions in the productive Brisbane River. I just want to share a few locations that I rate highly as fish-rich areas. At the top of the list is drifting the 30m line out

The pipeline area on the northern bank of the Brisbane River just inside the mouth is a good spot for threadfin salmon. Page 12 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

from the main wharves at Fisherman Island. This location has always been great for snapper, threadfin and jewfish, and one of my favourite spots is on the fence line between wharf five and six. It may only take a small structural feature or change in tidal flow to create an area that holds and attracts river predators. Another simple indication of where to fish is looking at the backgrounds of my photos, as I’ve never been one to catch a fish then change locations to take a picture to mislead. One rule I’ve learnt over the years is, if a spot has produced fish before, it will most likely do so again.

I believe storing past results and information gives you a mind full of options and is the key to consistent results on fishing trips. The pipeline area on the northern bank of the Brisbane River just inside the mouth is another reliable location, especially for threadfin salmon. This is a favourite area to target during November and December because fish tend to congregate in the deeper basin to breed. Pylon number 102 is a reasonable place to start. Occasionally you’ll encounter snapper here, and if it isn’t a threadfin, it will more than likely be a jew. Staying close to this area but moving into the shallows you have the rock wall that borders the BP refinery at the entrance to Boggy Creek. Fishing the last two

hours of the run-up tide will produce a good mixed bag of fish but predominantly bream, juvenile giant trevally and of course flathead. For some reason Jackall Squirrels and Atomic Hardz Crank 38s seem to get the best results here, especially if the fish are a little fussy. The tighter vibration of these two lures might be the contributing factor. As you fish the Brisbane River, you’ll certainly find the strengths of various lures. A quick guide and rough starting point for lures from my way of thinking is as follows. In the top of the water column, use a River2Sea Baby Crank D40F for bream, trevally and smaller squire. Target jew, threadfin and snapper in the deep water from 1016m around structure * continued P13

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C ASTfrom the past Festive season guide to Brisbane River * from P12

and pylons with Jackall Transam 95s or soft plastics on 1/4 to 3/8oz jig heads with 3/0H hooks. When fishing the edges and rock walls of the river, Jackall Squirrel 61SPs in Brown Suji Shrimp and Atomic Hardz Crank 38s should see you achieve consistent results. Squidgy Pro Wrigglers and Critters in Flash Prawn and Bloodworm colours would be my choice of plastics. You should find bream, flathead, trevally, estuary cod and a number of other species keen to play around the edges. For fishing the more exposed and open sandbanks and flats with depths of about 0.9-2m, I’d recommend trolling or casting an Ecogear SX48 in gold/red colour. Brisbane River flathead and big bream can’t resist this particular lure. The River2Sea Baby Crank D40F is also a highly productive lure in these conditions, with its aggressive action and ability to stir up a bit of sand. Moving up the river a little farther and on the northern bank, you’ll find the cement wharf. Though I’ve caught jew and snapper here on many occasions, this area rates well for king salmon, especially around both ends of the wharf. The end closest to the river mouth has a structure for tying up that is separate to the main wharf and this tends to

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be my favourite spot to target. All along this wharf is an extreme drop-off from the shallows to deeper water. In between the cement wharf and the Gateway Bridge (now Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges) are two wharves worth drifting. Just remember, you need to stay 30m away from the wharves or a vessel berthed at a wharf. On the south bank you have the Incitec wharf, which will produce its share of threadfin, and almost directly opposite is the commodities wharf where you’ll find jew, threadies and snapper. This area is a favourite of mine and at times has left me speechless as a number of really heavyweight fish have disappeared straight back into the pylons. If there is a high of 2.3m or more, try the sandy ground that stretches between the Incitec wharf and the mouth of Bulimba Creek. The top of the tide and first of the run-out are the most productive, as you start a drift from the mangroves along the wall to the Bulimba Creek mouth. Bream, trevally and estuary cod hunt along these walls and at times you’ll find cracker female flathead that are oversized and need to be returned after capture. Travelling farther upstream to Visy Recycling, you’ll find a single pylon marking a submerged pipe in 4-5m of water.

Drift past this pylon and check out the rocky structure and baitfish that hold here. As you move into the middle of the river from the pylon, you’ll find a number of edges that eventually fall into 11m of water. This little area can really turn on some jew and snapper action, especially on livies. Give it a go two hours before the bottom of the tide and during the first two hours of run-in. Hopefully this will give you a few spots to try over the Christmas break and maybe even get the youngsters onto good fish. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

This 82cm snapper was taken right in front of the cranes the previous year but is a good example of the quality fish that can be caught in the river.

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Tide Times AUSTRALIA EAST COAST EAST COAST – BRISBANE BAR BRISBANE BAR AUSTRALIA, 2024 LAT 27° 22’ S LONG 153° 10’ E

Time Zone –1000 DECEMBER

Time

0331 1009 MO 1700 2220

0.30 2.64 0.54 1.75

Time

JANUARY

Times and Heights of High and Low Waters FEBRUARY MARCH

Time

0.37 2.55 0.60 1.84

0443 1114 TH 1759 2328

0.43 2.52 0.62 1.85

313 936 612 141

0.18 2.60 0.44 1.94

0300 0932 SU 1606 2125

0.36 2.40 0.63 1.79

352 022 704 229

0.21 2.63 0.48 1.82

0332 1009 MO 1646 2204

0.37 2.42 0.64 1.76

0.34 0.37 0518 0.50 17 0414 2 0436 1054 2.60 1115 2.57 17 1147 2.44 1747 0.57

430 108 757 317

0.28 2.59 0.55 1.70

0.39 0454 0.41 0.39 0003 1.86 3 0407 3 0518 1046 2.43 18 1136 2.52 1156 2.56 18 0554 0.58 1830 0.62 1729 0.65

509 0.38 155 2.50 850 0.63

2245 1.73

0443 1127 WE 1813 2330

0.42 2.41 0.67 1.70

2307 1.72

2351 1.69

0355 1035 WE 1721 2239

TH 1803 0.58 2325 1.86

FR 1845 0.57

FR 1829 0.64

SA 1219 2.35 1858 0.65

0.50 1.87 0040 1.86 19 0534 4 0012 1216 2.42 0604 0.46 19 0631 0.69 1911 0.67 TH

SA 1237 2.51 1927 0.56

SU 1251 2.23 1927 0.66

2025

Time Zone –1000 APRIL

Time

0515 1136 SA 1818 2359

0.33 2.63 0.45 2.11

0534 0.59 1142 2.30 SU 1808 0.57

0420 1032 SA 1709 2255

0.30 2.65 0.36 2.31

0443 1039 SU 1700 2303

0.57 2.26 0.51 2.24

0545 0.49 1127 2.15 TU 1743 0.38

0532 1104 WE 1712 2341

0.73 1.88 0.56 2.33

2.06 17 0005 0608 0.69

0506 1111 SU 1745 2340

0.34 2.55 0.35 2.36

0.63 17 0515 1106 2.16

0005 0636 WE 1212 1819

2.56 0.62 1.94 0.48

0.80 17 0608 1138 1.78

TU 1240 2.02 1903 0.64

MO 1818 0.39

TU 1749 0.56

TH 1304 1.73 1900 0.62

FR 1215 1.68 1814 0.71

WE 1314 1.85

TU 1230 2.17

WE 1204 1.89

FR 1413 1.58

SA 1304 1.60

0559 0.42 1215 2.52 SU 1855 0.45

MO 1210 2.17 1834 0.59

MO 1723 0.52 2334 2.25

1 2

TH 1741 0.63

After casting stickbaits and soft plastics near the area, James caught a bull dol0045 2.13 0.43 0041 2.05 0548 0.71 2.48 0015 2.27 3 phinfish. 3 0551 3 0055 0646 0.54 18 0645 0.81 1150 2.39 18 1134 2.03 0736 0.75 18 0648 0.88

MO 1254 2.36 1931 0.48

2.13 0121 2.01 2.37 0008 2.22 2.37 new 0057 2.21 fishmas and a jawsome year 4Merry 4 0025 4 0151 0849 0.86 19 0739 0.94 0.70 19 0730 0.93 0640 0.58 19 0624 0.81

0135 0739 TU 1338 2013

2.15 0.53

1937 0.72 tell 1853 0.46 1816 0.63 1956 0.77 1858 0.80 AN anyone 007 1.60 0522 0.46 0034 1.67 0103 1.88 0121 1.85 0234 2.12 0210 1.96 0114 2.34 0044 2.16 Northern 0300 2.25 0150 Moreton me what hap5 1209 2.39 20 0615 0.61 5 0654 0.55 20 0714 0.82 5 0844 0.85 20 0825 1.04 5 0734 0.74 20 0704 0.91 5 1014 0.89 20 0847Bay2.15 550 0.50 0.96 242 2.38 pened to 2024? 1546 1.53 SU 1414 1.56 1.68 TH 1900 0.69 FR 1256 2.31 SU 1321 2.42 MO 1325 2.09 WE 1430 1.92 TH 1359 WE 1315 1.93 TH 1238 1.75 by SAMARK TEMPLETON 1949 0.71 944 0.70 2010 0.55 2102 0.59 1932 0.57 2117 0.87 2000 0.87 2000 0.68 2020 0.80 1846 0.72 December already and 101 1.53 1.67 0120 1.65 0159 1.90 0345 2.14 1.93 0210 2.27 2.19 0300 2.13 0210 1.84 0125 2.09 here we are waiting 6 0019 21 0315 6 6 6 0418 636 0.64 0608 0.53 21 0700 0.72 0751 0.67 21 0804 0.95 1008 0.95 0944 1.10 for6 0843 0.89 21 0755 1.00 1130 0.84 21 1007 0.92 330 2.25 1541 1.72 FR 1505 1.56 1413If1.71 1714 1.61 1545 get 1.60 out and 1322 1.62 FR 1255 2.36 SA 1336 2.20 MO 1408 2.28 TU 1404 1.93 TH the TH SU MO FR you don’t have a If you can in the 2029 0.72 038 0.75 1950 0.68 2057 0.55 2206 jolly 0.65 man 2124 0.86 red 2023 0.68 2253 0.88 2126 0.88 2042 0.71 1927 0.81 boat, try hiring a tinnie catch your own, it is suit pay a visit. 203 1.49 1.66 0212 1.65 0303 1.95 0310 1.84 0505 to 2.19 0439 1.96 0321 2.21 0221 2.03 0532 2.20 0417 2.17 7 0115 7 7 22 7 731 0.77 0702 0.60 22 0752 0.84 1146 0.94whole 1230 time 0.76 22 0858 0.78 22 0910 1.05 1123 1.07 has7 1015 0908 crab 1.06 pots 1117 0.81 and0.96 set22 a few well spent. This year 422 2.13 SA 1345 2.33 SU 1418 2.08 TU 1502 2.12 WE 1454 1.78 FR 1710 1.62 SA 1637 1.52 FR 1540 1.55 SA 1430 1.52 MO 1819 1.76 TU 1704 1.73 out0.78 while having a great However, 131 0.77 2045 0.65 2111 0.72 2321 0.66awesome, 2148 0.54 2132 0.74 2245 0.85 2029 0.89 2250 if 0.82you are been with 2136 time wetting a line. to do2.27 this, drop 315 1.52 0222 1.69 0315 1.68 0415 2.04 0424 1.89 0620 2.29of fish 0556 caught, 2.07 0445 2.19 0342 2.01 0010 not 0.81able 0526 plenty 8 0806 0.67 23 0855 0.94 8 1015 0.86 23 1032 1.09 8 many 8 1151 0.90 23sand 8 0631 2.24 23and 841 0.86 1044 1.02 1312 0.83 23 1243 0.95 1216 0.67 or mud the lost1.59andSA 1720Fresh 518 2.05 1.56 SU 1608 1.52 0.68 WE 1808 support 1.92 SU 1441 2.28 MO 1506 1.97 WE 1606 1.96 TH 1600 1.66 SA 1835 1.64being SU 1800 TU 1318 down 224 0.74 2140 0.59 2158 0.70 2245 0.52 2233 0.75 0.80 2200 0.91 1.92 crabs on the Christmas1910 local trawler fishers on so many people get- 2308 426 1.60 1.77 0424 1.76 2.17 0537 1.99 0036 0.62 0000 0.76 0602 2.25 table 0507 would 2.09 0.72 0003 0.71 dinner be Sinbad St, Shorncliffe personal 9 0335 9 0527 9 ting 9 0108 0920 0.73 24 1008 1.00 959 0.90 1142 0.87 24 1200 1.04 0722 their 2.40 24 0656 2.23best9 1302 0.79 24 1203 0.91 0718 2.27 24 0623 2.36 1541 2.22 616 1.99 1601 1.87 1716 1.83 1714 1.61 1414 0.71 1340 0.82 1838 1.67 1734 1.63 1357 0.61 0.54or three MO TU TH FR SU catches! MO SU ideal. MO WE TH 1308 and grab a kilo 2236 0.52 314 0.68 2248 0.66 2346 0.50 2337 0.72 1943 1.72 1902 1.71 2325 0.82 1951 2.05 1903 2.12 Island, Jacobs0155 of0.65the 0108 sweetest bestI love this time of year, 0030Bribie 527 1.74 0446 1.91 0529 1.88 0633 2.31 0637 2.12 0103 0.63 0614 2.23 0.60 0140 0.55 10 0704Well0.73 25Cabbage 10 0759 cooked 110 0.89 10 1036 0.74 25 1125 0.99 10 1306 0.81 25 1310 0.93 10 the 0815 anticipation 2.48 25 0745 2.38 2.27 25 0715 2.33and 1302 0.76 Tree 2.41 prawns local of too 713 1.96 TU 1644 2.15 WE 1700 1.79 FR 1830 1.75 SA 1823 1.62 MO 1355 0.69 TU 1838 1.80 MO 1503 0.63 TU 1428 0.69 TH 1430 0.57 FR 1355 0.43 Creek Queensland much food, getting great 1934 358 0.60 2338 0.62 2330 0.44 2034 1.81 2.15 1954 1.85 1.81 all hire tinnies2028 in 1953 2.31– that is well and0.63 I’m sure fish, losing 0159 tackle 617 1.89 0551 2.10 0623 2.03 0048 0.47 0035 0.65 0232 0.48 0.50 and 0130 0035there 0.68 are a0236 money 0.62 0207 spent. 0.52 213 0.84 11 1153 0.72 26 1233 0.93 11 0732 2.45 26 0728 2.26 11 0900 2.52 26 0830 2.52 11 0753 2.39 26 0707 2.38 11 0833 2.25 26 0802 2.40 Is your gear few more about, possihaving the kids run802 1.94 1745 2.07 1759 1.75 1416 0.71 1405 0.82 1545 0.59 1512 0.57 1437 0.62 1352 0.62 1500 0.53 1437 0.34due for WE TH SA SU TU WE TU WE FR SA 1938 1.74 1921 1.69 2117 1.89 2101 replacement, 2.24 2041 2.48 has it been bly1.94 close to1930 you1.98 too. ning around2042 the 1.99 house 2018 038 0.53 0024 0.37 0027 0.56 0145 0.43 0129 0.56 0248 0.39 0.55 times 0134 you 0.54 don’t0314 lost 0302 the 0.46kids put 0316 0.44 0.60 or have screaming that they’re 0219Most 701 2.04 12 0650 2.28 27 0710 2.17 12 0826 2.54 27 0814 2.39 12 0938 2.53 27 0913 2.62 12 0834 2.42 27 0755 2.50 12 0905 2.21 27 0848 2.34 307 0.78 1553 0.48 0.58to TH 1436 far 0.49to get 1621 0.58 I TH TH 1308 0.67 FR 1332 0.84 SU 1514 0.63 MO 1454 0.72 SU 1517 0.29so safe WE bored… SA 1527 it0.50 somewhere have travel wouldn’t missWE 1513 847 1.92 1852 1.73 1845 1.98 2037 1.76 2012 1.77 2127 2.11 2057 2.03 2019 2.15 2128 2.62 2154 1.95 2133 2.30 you can’t find it? a feed. it for quids. 115 0.46 0115 0.32 0112 0.51 0237 0.40 0216 0.47 0300 0.51 0229 0.43 0354 0.43 0335 0.32 0350 0.61 0356 0.44 13 0911Shorncliffe 28 0953 2.67 13 0935 2.15 The28Shed and Tack741 2.17 13 0744 2.45 28 0753 2.29 13 0914 2.60 28 0857 2.50 13 1014 2.41 28 0839 2.56 Pier, 2.51 holidays 0935 2.23 School should 356 0.72 1415 0.61 1423 0.76 1604 0.58 1538 0.63 1545 0.56 1517 0.40 1652 0.58 1632 0.40 1552 0.48 FR SA MO TU TH FR TH FR SU MO 1556 0.28 Land have2.70you covScarborough, Nudgee, be 930 1.89 1942 1.90 1941 1.73 2127 1.79 2059 1.85 2130 2.10 2105 2.31 2229embraced. 2.00 2212 2.22 2205 le 2.36 2215 pre-trained gear Woody Point, Decep-0425 ered, They give you so many 0336 151 0.41 0154 0.46 0202 0.29 0323 0.38 0302 0.39 0429 0.46 0319 0.37 0.63 0447 0.47 14 0942tion0.50 2.38 29 0921 2.56 14 1004 2.08 29 1022 2.09 818 2.28 14 0834 2.56 29 0835 2.38 14 0957 2.60 29 0938 2.59 14 1045 2.46 from The Shed or a new Bay and Pumicesweeks of being able to 441 0.67 TU 1647 0.58 WE 1621 0.56 FR 1719 0.58 FR 1612 0.54 SA 1556 0.33 MO 1617 0.48 TU 1634 0.32 SA 1515 0.56 SU 1510 0.69 2211 1.82 2144 1.94 2300 out 2.03 and about with 2201 2.16are some 2150 2.44 2.38 2301 2.72 009 1.86 2027 1.75 2038 1.84 present from tone of the2236 Christmas get 0404 0.39 0346 0.33 0501 family 0.51 0.52 to 0408 0.67 main0541 0.53will get 226 0.38 0248 0.28 0235 0.42 store places start0.35setting0459 the the and make 15 0410 1012 2.33 30 1002 2.48 15 1033 1.99 30 1111 1.93 856 2.36 15 0923 2.63 30 0915 2.45 15 1037 2.58 30 1018 2.65 15 1115 2.39 1725 0.59 1701 0.51 1744 0.57 1636 0.52 1632 0.30 1644 0.51 1713 0.40 524 0.64 1609 0.53 1555 0.65 you out fishing! your gear for a great WE TH SA some awesome memo-SA SU TU WE SU MO 2250 1.84 2229 2.01 2332 2.06 2232 2.21 2234 2.54 2308 2.37 2349 2.66 047 1.82 2130 1.79 2111 1.77 Both stores have a ries – the ones you talk feed of sandies. 0.31 0.39 0.38 31 0430 31 0456 great range for you to 31 0315 As always, keep about around the barbe1058 2.67 1045 2.34an eye 0955 2.51 FR 1741 0.46 MO 1708 0.31 TU 1638 0.62 pick from and we will cue or at family gather- on your pots 2313 2.07 2319and 2.58 brush 2155 1.80 ings – so much potential up on the new Fisheries keep you fishing over • Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2024, Bureau of Meteorology Queensland regulations. the Christmas holidays. right there. First Quarter New Moon Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Scott and his crew got This year, why not The Christmas dinner Full Moon Last Quarter and hit the wadoMoon something different notMoon be com- together New First Quartertable wouldFull Last Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Last Quarter ull Moon * with the kids? plete without prawns. 9 continued P15 9

Page 14 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

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Merry fishmas and a jawsome new year * from P14

ters of Moreton Bay to celebrate Ethan turning 14 years old. Here is part of their story from that day. I put the call out and had James and Nick jump on board. Nick asked if his friend Wayne could come along with his son Ethan, who’s a keen fisher. It was also Ethan’s fourteenth birthday. The plan was to cross South Passage Bar, get some livies, go to 150m for kingfish and bar cod, head to the shelf at 450m-1000m due east of southern Moreton, then go south. We rallied at my place at 3.30am, which was fairly early for Ethan, but he looked pretty keen. After logging on with

Volunteer Marine Rescue, we cruised through the bay, crossed the bar, picked up live bait and headed towards the 150m mark. Wayne and Ethan were very interested in whether we’d ever caught marlin, asking several times – both had fishing shirts with a black marlin on them. I let them know we didn’t really target that species, considering them by-catch when going for yellowfin. We had no luck at 150m, so took off towards the shelf with the main game-spotting flocks of birds. After investigating a few that dissipated and seeing some large dolphins and whales, I had a feeling we were in a good area.

We saw a discarded small boat fender floating in the water, so given that dolphinfish are attracted to floating objects, we cast stickbaits and soft plastics near the area – the strikes were immediate. As they went off the bite, we got the live bait into the action and had luck. Br i l l ia nt- colou re d dollies came up, with good-sized cows and a bull. After catching the bull, the school shut down and we moved on. We decided to head in towards shore reefs to target jewfish and snapper. Given it was still early, we decided to troll from about 600m deep towards 200m and enjoy * continued P16

After slogging it out for 1.5 hours, the crew got this sizable marlin to the boat. A great birthday present for Ethan.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 15

Merry fishmas and a jawsome new year * from P15

Geronimo almost lives on the pier with his friends, and they never fail to product good fish, including this cracking jewfish.

Chris nailed an awesome snapper from the shallows.

–WANTED– Pre-trained old fishing gear!

We will come to you if you have bulk gear!

0402 703 519 Page 16 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

the sunny weather and super blue water. At about the 400m mark, the long corner rod loaded up and started pulling drag and we saw a marlin launch itself out of the water. It all became a bit frantic, clearing gear and the marlin taking about 350m in the first run, leaving us with only a few wraps on the spool before we were going to lose the lot. After gaining the line and losing to a couple more long runs, the fish went deep and it became a hard slog, gaining 20m and then losing 25m. It took 1.5 hours of the crew alternating but we got it to the boat, to everybody’s relief and celebration. After performing CPR – catch, photograph, release – on the fish, the team was on a high and ready to head home for a rest. What a fourteenth birthday! A great time for old friends, new friends and a father and son. Being in the magazine would be the cherry on the best birthday ‘cake’ ever! What a great session and birthday present, well done to Scott and the crew. The Shorncliffe Pier is still producing great times, with catches such as a cracking jewfish. Geronimo – ‘G’ – almost lives on the pier with his friends, and they never fail to product good fish. Early one morning, G and his crew were on the pier at sparrows, collecting live herring as their bait of choice for the day. It wasn’t long after

they started their morning session that G landed a cracker. Being a smart cookie, he asked his dad Chris for another filleting demonstration. Well done G, we’re looking forward to more photos over the holidays. Not that there’s any competition between Chris and Geronimo – Chris doesn’t mind sharing his knowledge with G. Chris hit Moreton Bay for an early session himself and nailed an awesome snapper from the shallows. We have seen a number of snapper this size turning up in the shallow water around Moreton Bay. It is not only the boaties either, land-based fishos are cleaning up too. Well done Chris, a great snapper. Remember young master fisho Ellis? Well, he’s at it again. Previously we’d seen him catch some stonker whiting with his dad, but he’s outdone himself this time with an awesome little permit.

People have been known to travel to faraway places for the chance of catching this fish, yet Ellis strolled down to the water and nailed one with his dad. Well done Ellis, I may have to set you the challenge of catching a stargazer. Now, if you’re stuck for Christmas gift ideas, we have a couple of stocking fillers for you. The latest release rods, reels and lures in the main store at Tackle Land and some out-ofthe-box ideas in The Shed. Drop in and spend a little time dredging through old and new treasures – you never know what you might find. We’ll be trading through the holiday period, including Christmas Day at this stage, though keep an eye on the Tackle Land Facebook page for trading hours. Be safe out there, check your safety gear before you hit the water and enjoy your break! Tackle Land – maintaining the passion.

Ellis outdid himself with an awesome little permit.

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SEA JAY BOATS NEW MODELS

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For more information visit www.seajayboats.com.au Talk to your nearest Sea Jay dealer for pricing and options. STRENGTH

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WORKMANSHIP

CUSTOMISATION

SINCE 1989

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 17

Before the upgrades.

After the modifications.

The new battery isolators with VSR.

Offshore reef fishing fanatics WANTED One of Brisbane’s oldest deep-sea fishing clubs has vacancies for new members. Owners of suitable vessels encouraged. All levels of experience. Those without own vessels also invited to apply. Approximately 15 deep-sea trips per year. One week-long fishing holiday to town of 1770. Monthly meetings, video shows, guest speakers and free nibbles. 4WD beach fishing and camping. Inshore fishing also on the agenda.

Boat modifications I DON’T think I know of any boat owners who haven’t done some sort of modification to their vessel, and I’m certainly no different. I bought my 2016 Quintrex 510 Top Ended Centre Console nearly two years ago, with the first alterations being undertaken before I’d even put it in the water. I wasn’t happy with the battery isolators and the wiring in general, so I had Tony Dummer from Tony’s Boats and Marine go over it and fix a few things up. All part of the scope were new isolators being fitted to allow me to use the house battery to crank the engine if required, a voltage sensitive relay for charging the batteries when on the move, new switches, a tidying up of the wiring, plus fitting my new

Power Boat Anglers

by MICK CLUTTERBUCK

Lowrance HDS12. An awesome job was done, as usual, and I can highly recommend him for all of your boating needs. I had a few other things I wanted to do too, but those ideas could wait a little longer because I wanted to get out and use my boat, but I also wanted to think through future plans and create a list before getting stuck in. After a few months, the list was pretty much finalised and it was time to start hatching out the plan. The boat comes with an underfloor tank in front of the console, it’s not plumbed but does have a drain plug and, at about 70 litres, is a

good size to use as an additional live well or kill tank. I didn’t really use it because I wasn’t keen on draining blood and guts in the hull of the boat, so obviously a drain line would have to be fitted to run out the transom, plus plumb in a spray bar. I wasn’t going to worry about fitting a new pump, rather tee off from the existing one and add some isolation valves so I could direct the flow where I wanted it. Water level wise, I would use the standard pipe in the drain and add an additional drain through the side of the boat. * continued P19

Interested? Then call Dave (0455 125 358) or Tim (0436 625 590).

POWER BOAT ANGLERS REEF FISHING CLUB INC Page 18 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

The point of no return.

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Boat modifications Marine Electronics * from P18

Next on the list was the addition of a deck in the back port corner – after having one on my previous boat, these days it’s pretty much an essential for me. These jobs required lifting the floor and, as I only wanted to do that the one time, I was fairly thorough in working out what parts I’d need, having them on hand so I didn’t have to keep tripping off to get something I’d missed. With this install, my plan was that once started, I’d get to the point of no return so I would finish everything and not put something off for another day – a good approach for me. Next upgrade was to provide shade by installing a targa top of some sort. I’m not keen on bimini tops because the supports fix to the gunwales and at times get in the way when fighting fish – well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. I looked at a few tops but found many to be a little flimsy. I finally settled for a Fishmaster t-top, which is quite sturdy, and for the price, I found it was too good to pass up. Once fitted, I added a couple of Stedi LED lights for fishing at night. The last improvement

was to fit a new seat that I could slide an Esky into from the rear, with storage under the seat cushion. Since then, I upgraded from AGM batteries to a lithium for my 24V trolling motor. The old AGMs weighed in at 35kg each, whereas the new LiTime 24V 100ah lithium with bluetooth is about 20kg. A great weight saving of about 50kg, gives way more usable power and you have the ability to monitor the condition of the battery on your phone. Fairly sure that’s it for the modifications for now – time to get out and use the boat a little more… if the weather plays the game. If not, I guess I’ll just have to find something else to upgrade. Have a safe time over the Christmas and new year break. 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 of the year will be on Wednesday December 4. We’ll reconvene for the first meeting of 2025 on Wednesday February 5. Until next month, safe boating.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 19

BOATING & marine

Stacer’s ultimate fishing boat

H The spacious front casting platform is a real winner for anglers, providing ample room to cast and reel in the big catch without feeling cramped.

The Outlaw range offers excellent versatility and reliable performance.

EADING into peak boating season, let’s take a closer look at the popular Stacer Outlaw model range, a staple for Australian anglers and boaters alike. First established in 1971, Stacer has become one of Australia’s most trusted aluminium boat brands, known for its exceptional quality and craftsmanship. The Outlaw remains one of the brand’s most sought-after models, offering a versatile range of features that cater to both serious anglers and families looking for a day on the water. The Stacer Outlaw range comes in a variety of configurations and sizes, including tiller-steer (429-469), side console (429-529) and centre console (449-529) models. This provides boat buyers with plenty of

The Stacer Outlaw comes with a range of features that cater to both the serious angler and also families looking for a day on the water. Page 20 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

options to suit their personal preferences, whether that’s the extra deck space of a tiller steer, the comfort of a side console or the fishability and ease of access that comes with a centre console. There’s a Stacer Outlaw model for almost every kind of boating lifestyle. Stacer product manager Lloyd Jaber said, “The Stacer Outlaw series continues to deliver exceptional performance and adaptability.” “Our customers trust these boats to handle Australia’s toughest conditions, and we’re proud of how the range consistently meets and exceeds expectations.” Known for its tough durable construction and impressive on-water performance, the Outlaw range is built to last. Every model features a 3mm bottom and side sheets, Stacer’s Revolution Hull, front and rear casting platforms and a rear live bait tank – all of which make the Outlaw ideal for Aussie anglers. The Revolution Hull is designed to improve stability and provide a smoother softer ride, thanks to its concave bottom sheets. The spacious front casting platform is a real winner for anglers, providing ample room to cast and reel in the big catch without feeling cramped. Storage is a crucial factor when choosing a boat, and the Stacer Outlaw range doesn’t disappoint.

Its range of well-placed compartments ensures you can keep fishing gear, safety equipment and other essentials neatly stowed away and easy to access. In addition, the Outlaw models come with a range of standard features, including side rails, cup holders, side pockets and comfortable seating. For those looking to tailor their boat to their needs, there are plenty of optional upgrades available. Popular choices include a bimini for extra sun protection, a cutting board for preparing bait, a sound system, an electric trolling motor bracket, hydraulic steering, a transducer and sounder for those all-important fishing details, and a marine radio to keep in touch. To top it off, you can give your Stacer Outlaw a unique look with a range of stylish paint colours and vinyl wrap options that are sure to turn heads at the boat ramp. With its robust build, flexible layouts and a wide range of options and upgrades, the Stacer Outlaw range offers excellent versatility and reliable performance. Whether you’re after a boat to take friends fishing or you want a family friendly vessel for enjoying days on the water, the Stacer Outlaw range is worth considering. For more information on the Stacer Outlaw range, or to find your nearest dealer, head to stacer.com.au

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BOATING & marine

If the SmartCraft system detects a change, it automatically increases or decreases throttle to maintain the driver’s desired speed.

Mercury Marine enhances joystick piloting capabilities

ERCU RY Marine recently announced a software update for its SmartCraft operating system that gives Joystick Piloting powerful new capabilities. The system can now automatically counteract the effects of wind, waves and current while a boater is driving with the joystick, giving them the ability to dock and manoeuvre with effortless precision. For more than a decade, Mercury has evolved and grown the Joystick Piloting offering to allow precise 360-degree control and slow-speed manoeuvrability on all primary types of propulsion. The system makes it easier to perform complex manoeuvres, such as docking or navigating in confined spaces.

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Mercury Marine senior category manager Jeff Becker said, “We are excited to continue the evolution of our market-leading Joystick Piloting portfolio with this newest software release.” “Mercury continues to make boating easier, and the features included in the new software provide much more intuitive and consistent performance when operating your boat at low speeds. “The update also further positions the technology and system for future evolution into autonomous boating.” Key new capabilities and features Closed-loop velocity control The SmartCraft system can now detect if wind, waves or current cause the boat to drift off course during joy-

stick manoeuvres. It will then immediately adjust throttle and steering to counteract the force, so the driver does not have to make additional corrections. This affords an unprecedented level of control and operational ease by helping to keep the boat on the driver’s desired course. For instance, during sideways and yaw manoeuvres, boaters can experience up to a 74 percent reduction in unwanted fore-aft drifting. Speed-based joystick operation The software now utilises vessel speed-based joystick operation in place of the prior revs per minute-based system. Previously, when the driver moved the joystick, the engines would accelerate to an RPM level to match the

amount of joystick input. If the boat encountered a force such as a headwind or tailwind, the resulting speed over ground would be impacted. Now, the joystick input translates to actual speed over ground. If the system detects a change, it automatically increases or decreases throttle to maintain the driver’s desired speed. V12 slip control For V12 engines, the software update also enables slip control. This allows the transmission to slip up to 90 percent when needed to reduce propeller RPM and more accurately control the boat’s movements. The results are 25 percent fewer shifts and a 20 percent reduction in heading error during joystick operation or

while digitally anchoring with the Skyhook feature. The enhanced software will now be standard on new multi-engine Joystick Piloting installations from Mercury Verado, Mercury Diesel, MerCruiser and Mercury Racing, with next generation digital throttle and shift controls. Customers who own existing Joystick fitted vessels with next gen DTS controls should check with their local authorised Mercury dealer to see if their system and components are compatible for the new SmartCraft operating system software upgrade featuring new Joystick capabilities. Find out more about Mercury’s Joystick technology by scanning the QR code or visiting mercurymarine.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 21

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MERMAID PRO FISHER 625 – This boat is ready for action and adventure and certainly lends itself to the serious angler looking to tackle their favourite fishing grounds one day and taking the family out for some fun on the water the next. With a big wide full windscreen, this boat is a dream to navigate. A spacious comfortable all-rounder and great choice for those who want to mix fishing with family boating. $85,990. Contact AMC Boats on 07 3808 7333 or visit amcboats.com.au www.johncrawfordmarine.com.au

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Page 22 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

AQUAMASTER 490 CENTRE CONSOLE 2020 – This boat will bring plenty to the table in terms of options, such as two Garmin 95sv sounders, a Minn Kota Ulterra electric motor, VHF radio, battery isolator switch, solar panel, front light bar, deck lights and safety gear to name a few. There’s no need to own a 4WD to tow this boat either – it’s easy to launch and retrieve at the boat ramp. Don’t miss an opportunity to own this very capable fishing boat. $41,990. Contact AMC Boats on 07 3808 7333 or visit amcboats. com.au

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South Currigee is a beautiful and natural campground.

The My Lure Box glides certainly tempt big flathead. This fish was caught and released by Bec.

Fishing and camping at Currigee

The author’s son Jordi with a fresh dinner, caught in the ocean side gutters on beachworm.

I everyone, December already? Where did the year go? Though I did do a lot of fishing, with a big year of charters on the Gold Coast broadwater. Yet it hasn’t been a vintage season for flathead in this spot, with Jumpinpin fishing better. Last year was the exact opposite, so it goes to shows how much things can change. Fishing is not often

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predicable – I don’t bother looking at almanacs anymore. Go when you can and if the fish are hungry, they’ll bite. I recently went for a quick land-based fish with John Costello from My Lure Box fame. We were casting his new paddle glide lures, which have been accounting for some amazing fish since their release, including big mulloway, huge barramundi and monster flathead. I nearly landed my first decent flathead on his new lure after a spectacular surface

smash, but then the fish threw the hooks at the water’s edge. We also had two other big flathead follow the lures in, so it definitely gets attention and has a perfect swimming action and glide. This is a highly addictive form of fishing that I’ll be a doing a lot more of. I took a few days off recently to go camping with family and friends at South Currigee Campground on beautiful South Stradbroke Island. We loaded the boat with all the gear at Isle * continued P25

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Bec runs BKs Gold Coast Fishing Charters with her partner Kaleb and successfully chased flathead on her days off.

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Fishing and camping at Currigee

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across the island from the campground to the eastern side, where you’ll find open beach with lots of enticing gutters. Very big tailor can be caught here at times, as well as whiting, dart, flathead and big bream. It’s fishing paradise, if you ask me. In the broadwater, this month is a great time to go after big summer whiting, mangrove jack and trevally in the estuaries, so get out there and have a go. Until next month, tight lines and happy fishing. To book a charter with myself or Brad, or if you have any fishing related questions, visit goldcoastrivercharters. com, text 0432 990 302, email fishingwithclint@ gmail.com or find us on Facebook at Brad Smith Fishing Charters.

A stunning sunset view at South Currigee.

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Pointing out some bites on the tip just before the rod was pulled down hard by a fish.

A thumper whiting after a great fight near the boat.

Techniques for Nerang River whiting

The author paints his rod tips white and sets them low over the side of the boat, with LED lights inside the boat showing them up.

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Page 26 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

ELL, what an awesome 12 months or so it has been on whiting in southeast Queensland. Not only from the beaches, but also the Gold Coast rivers, including the Nerang. Having not been to the Nerang River since earlier in the year – due to a skin cancer graft on my leg, which also explains my extended absence from articles for 2024 – I was keen to get out, when the wind was a little lighter and, in the lead up to a new moon, with the bigger tides that whiting prefer. Also, as we head from the end of spring to the beginning of summer, the best fishing for whiting in the Nerang is at night, so a late-night session was planned. I needed to buy some bloodworms too, which are the number one bait of choice for whiting in the Nerang – followed by beachworms, then yabbies. You can of course dig for bloodworms around the mangroves and in the muddy foreshores of Moreton Bay, where it’s legal to do so in the area targeted, such as the northern end of Wynnum’s esplanade. It is backbreaking, hot and muddy work though, so I prefer to hand over my hard

Fishing Tips by SEAN THOMPSON

earned then look after the bloodworms in cool sea water, which is changed during the trip. I separate full worms from the ones I trim to put on my hook in a takeaway container. My trip Interestingly, the tide charts were predicting a 7.30pm tide change around the Isle of Capri but, as has been the

case for some time now, the tide didn’t reach the change until an hour later. Wayne ‘Youngie’ Young, former Bush ‘n Beach writer and Nerang whiting guru, confirmed this had been happening. What this meant was that, to begin with, the fishing was terribly * continued P27

Finesse Tru-Turn hooks are the author’s favourite for set rod hook ups.

A small tackle box and pre-made rigs ready for easy re-tying at night.

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Techniques for Nerang River whiting * from P26

slow and I was plagued by ‘pest’ fish, such as bream, tarwhine and schools of pony fish during the run-in tide. However, after a couple of moves, and the eventual tide change, the fishing picked up very quickly as the tide swung around and the fish came along in a few schools, with more damn pony fish! I then had a great couple of hours fishing and left them biting because it was getting late, plus I needed to drive back to Brisbane. Tackle and techniques Fishing for whiting in the Nerang River, or any faster flowing system, is a different kettle of fish than the usual sand flats fishing strategies. Off the shallow sand flats, I use a small size 1-2 ball sinker, a trace of about 1m and usually use a slow retrieve. In the Nerang though, the conditions are vastly different, so require a change of method. Basically, with the river narrowed because of man-made riverbanks, the tide rushes in and out much faster than over expansive wide sand flats, for example. The bottom is also full of sandy corrugations from the water flow and there’s plenty of bait in the canals in the form of wriggler worms. Therefore, the trick to fishing this water is to anchor inside the edge of the channel markers

and fish with heavier size 4 or even size 5 ball sinkers on a long wafting trace of about 1.5m. This water on the edge of the channel and flats varies from about 1.53m. The whiting drift with the tide, flowing up and down the corrugations, looking for food. When they find it, they tend to crush the bait first before swallowing and running off with it. For this reason, you want to keep your rods set low on your boat and don’t touch them, even when you see a bite. Let the fish crush the bait and run, pulling the tip down, before you lift and strike. I find the finesse light gauge Tru-Turn hooks in size 6, with their offset shanks, give me far and away the best strike rate with this technique. To assist with this method, I tie a rope across the stern and side gunnels of my boat and lay my rod on it, so that only the last quarter or so of it is over the edge of the boat. I paint this part of the rod white and use LED lights inside the boat to show the tips clearly at night. The best rods for this technique are longer 2-4kg whippy rods about 9’, these are laid low and fished out the back of the boat, with shorter whippy 7-7’6 rods out the side. Importantly, keep the rods low to the water to

The author’s nice catch, with the fish left biting when heading for home. www.bnbfishing.com.au

reduce resistance to the fish, so they take the bait and can peel line off the reel easier. As it was on my night, you can find some thumper fish that are so much fun on light tackle and are hands down one of the best eating fish in the sea. Tackle recommended • 7’ and 9’ 2-4kg light whippy fibreglass rods • Long 1.5m 6lb fluorocarbon leaders on 6lb Platypus Super 100 main line • Number 4-5 sinkers due to strong run • Tru-Turn finesse size 6 hooks • Set rods down low and parallel to the water for least resistance for fish to run freely. Hope you got a little out of this, with much of it learnt from reading Youngie’s articles in this magazine several years ago. Until next month, I can be found on my Facebook page Ontour Fishing Australia with more tips and reports.

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Tuna time off Tweed

T A lit-up dolphinfish for Pete.

The author and two solid yellowfin tuna.

Page 28 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

HE warm water out wide making its way down the coastline creates a wide array of opportunities for catching some goodsized pelagic species. Sizable yellowfin tuna have made an appearance out on the shelf, with reports of fish being caught anywhere from the Sunshine Coast all the way down to Coffs Harbour, which has generated huge excitement within the fishing community. Many boats that were able to head out and intercept these big yellows had amazing sessions, catching anywhere from two to five fish – some were lucky enough to land eight or nine, releasing most. Quite a few fishos found birds working a bait ball, with tuna jumping in the air in a feeding frenzy. When they were fired up, stickbaits were the go-to lure. Some didn’t even get the chance to flick the bail arm over before the lure was crunched by a yellowfin. Most fish were around the 30kg mark, with a few larger models in the mix.

Coastal Cruising by MITCHEL ZYGNERSKI

The main technique to use to target tuna would have to be towing large skirted lures. The rule of thumb when towing skirts is to have the lighter and brighter colours out the back and the darker natural colours close to the boat. Fortunately, I was invited out by a friend to target yellowfin off the Tweed coastline. Roughly, it was a 45km trip out to about 300m deep, which was where we threw our spread of lures and started trolling. The spread consisted of two skirts, one dark and one bright, with a Rapala X-Rap Magnum diver close to the boat swimming slightly below the surface, while doing a speed of about 15km/h or 8.5 knots. The diver wasn’t too far from the stern of the boat, in fact when we would turn, the lure was trolling through the motor wash. We couldn’t find any tuna jumping but were happy to have two double hook-ups on tuna.

Much to my surprise, the diver got hit first both times. And the bright coloured skirt out the back was hit both times too. What made the excitement of having two reels screaming at the same time even better was watching a big 25kg yellowfin try to attack the teaser only meters from the boat. I have never seen such a big fish attempt to eat a teaser so close to the boat before. That day we ended up with two out of four yellowfin. From that time on, I’ve seen a heap of posts about big yellowfin on social media, which is amazing, and highlights the healthy fishery we have. Recently, I attempted to catch another yellowfin only to find the area abandoned, marking just three fish at 40m the whole morning – needless to say, we packed up and headed in. * continued P29

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Tuna time off Tweed coast * from P28

Along with tuna is a healthy abundance of mahi mahi, which have been cruising at the 150-300m mark. The fish aggregating device off the Tweed coastline was firing, with huge amounts of mahi. Even wahoo were hanging around, eating anything that was put in front of them. A friend headed out with his daughter not so long ago and they had an amazing session on good-sized dolphinfish, even managing to snag a wahoo to round the morning off – all of their fish went to about 1.2m. The easiest way to hit the FAD is with live bait. If everyone else is

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using lures or cubed pilchard, by using live bait, you’re almost guaranteed to catch more fish. A simple rig of a single hook through the nose and either pitch the livie towards the FAD or tow it around slowly. If the FAD is very crowded, try towing out a bit further – you’ll find that the bigger fish tend to hang away from all the boat traffic and spearfishos. If you’re unsure on techniques to catch fish at FADs, there are countless videos on YouTube that go into depth on how to hook a good feed of fish. Now, how do you know when to target pelagic species out wide?

Well, on the Bureau of Meteorology site for ocean currents and temperatures – which is free for the public to use – it shows the body of warm water making its way south. This brings yellowfin tuna, marlin, wahoo and mahi mahi, which in turn – if you are lucky enough to come across them – creates an awesome day on the water. When looking at the water temperature, I focus mainly on the zones over 22C. These will give you the best chance of finding a large ferocious fish. Bring on the mackerel! Cheers to all for reading – I hope to see you on the water in the near future.

Darren with a solid topwater yellowfin.

Sayda managed her first mahi mahi.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 29

Setting up for targeting spaniards

ECEMBER and everyone’s thinking mack-

Toby with a solid bass. He caught the target species at least.

Way up into the fresh, Damien was casting for bass when a flathead jumped on his lure.

Damien landed a little bass on a recent excursion to the upper Tweed River.

erel. And rightly so, I guess – there could be a few popping up at any time now. The fact is that there could be heaps swimming past, but if the water isn’t right, they will not feed. Towards the end of December, they’ll be starting to get in the mood, however in these parts, it’s not usually until the second half of January that they really start to fire up. This is also bait collecting month for me, in preparation for the upcoming months of mackerel mayhem. Tailor and bonito are high on my agenda and first priority as dead bait for spanish mackerel, but big slimy mackerel and pike are also very welcome. There are a few bonito around at present, though they are the large spring models that enjoy the green water on our shallow reefs. If you are into a feed of sashimi, these are great, but I’m after the smaller specimens for tow bait that seem to

Night fishing in December might produce some bait for the mackerel season and a nice feed of fish while you’re at it. Page 30 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

Tweed to Byron Bay by GAVIN DOBSON

like the blue water better. Night trips through January are good because this is the best time to collect pike, and you can fish for a snapper or jewfish as a bonus. Mackerel aside, your best bet for offshore fishing will be to head out wide for a mahi mahi on the 50-fathom line. The fish aggregating device off Cape Byron has plenty of small fish hanging around it, yet finding a legal one among them can be hard some days. Hopefully this improves soon – the fish often do get bigger as December moves along. While you are trolling for a mahi, there could even be the possibility of an early wahoo out wider. Our local creeks and rivers are fishing well for the usual suspects. Flathead are spread throughout the system and in the Tweed River, they are up at Murwillumbah, despite the water being a little fresh. Damien and Toby went up for a bass fish recently and picked up their target species, then a flathead jumped on Damien’s lure. This is in completely fresh water, so when I say they are spread out, I mean it. Big females have been spawning down towards the river mouths, though they’ll be finished now and making their way up the rivers again, looking for herring and prawns and

whatever else they can fit in their gobs. Mangrove jack are a go-to species for the warmer months too and they’re around in good numbers. Any rock bars, snags and pylons hold this fish and at the moment, mid to upstream in the Brunswick River and the middle reaches of the Tweed are where the main bulk of fish are. If we don’t get a fall of fresh, keep heading upstream – you’ll catch them all the way to the freshwater. I think a lot of the time bass fishos get blown away by large jacks and put it down to big bass. A sizeable bass is certainly capable of hanging you up in the snags, but jacks get up there in the fresh too and only occasionally does one get landed on bass gear. Mud crabs are obviously high on the agenda at this time of year, though unfortunately they don’t usually tend to hit their peak until after the school holidays at the end of January. Don’t let this put you off though as there will still be plenty for a feed in varying stages of moult. Just sort through them and chuck back the empties. Mud crabbing and jack fishing always go hand-in-hand for me. I reckon warm summer afternoons having a fish for jacks while the crab pots soak is just about the best this month can offer.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 31

RIP Squidgie and tips for success on summer species

ELLO all, before I get started on this month’s article, I’d like to take the opportunity of thanking Ben (our editor) for his touching tribute to my friend Gary ‘Squidgie’ Palmer, following his passing last month. Many of you may have known Squidgie and I’m sure plenty of you would have read his articles over the years, hopefully learning something from him during his time as a writer for this magazine. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and the wider fishing and sporting community. For those who didn’t know him, he was described recently as a man who loved and was devoted to his tribe, with a few swear words thrown in for good measure. For those who did know him, we would all agree that that is a rather accurate description of him. The world will certainly seem a little quieter and a lot less col-

Ballina Bait & Tackle by BRETT HYDE

ourful without him in it. Another good friend of mine told me recently, “You know you have lived a great life when those who are left recount stories of your life and those stories bring a tear to their eyes or a smile to their faces.” Well Squidgie, you definitely lived a great life! Until we get to wet a line once again my friend, may you rest in peace. Minimal rain over the past month has given the river an opportunity to clean itself to some degree, with the clear water beginning to push up past Pimlico Island during the run-in tides. Hopefully this trend continues over the next month and we start to see good numbers of our usual summer species. Whiting have increased in numbers in recent weeks, with quality fish being caught in the main river

and in North Creek. Worms, yabbies and surface lures have all been good options lately. With the run of warm weather continuing, flathead have moved into some of the deeper channels of the river in an attempt to combat the heat. Their march towards the mouth has also continued, with some improvement in their numbers in the lower reaches of the river. In the meantime, bream are showing up from the ferry to Broadwater, with quality fish coming from the rock walls in this area. Mullet fillets, prawns and yellowtail have all been good bait options, plus plenty of fish have also been responding to hard-body and surface lures during the run-in tides. The warm weather seems to have fired up mangrove jack too. Some quality fish have already been landed us-

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02 6686 2527 Page 32 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

ing hard-body lures and soft plastics this summer, with the rock walls from the mouth of the river to Broadwater all holding fish. As is usually the case, run-out tides later in the day have been the best times to target a few jacks, but some of the larger models have come from live bait at night around some of the bridge pylons. The beaches have fished quite well over the past month. Lighthouse, Shelly, Patchs and Seven Mile beaches have all produced a mixed bag of fish, with bream, flathead, whiting, tarwhine and tailor being landed. Worms and pipis have tempted bream, whiting and tarwhine, while flathead and tailor were keener to chase down blue pilchard or mullet fillets. For most of the species, the numbers of fish reportedly caught have been fairly good, however the quantities of tailor were quite small. Though the quality of this species has more than made up for the lack of numbers, with some extra-large models hitting the sand in recent weeks. Most of these better-quality fish were landed at night, while some of the smaller fish have been taking metal spinners and hard-body lures earlier in the day. As for fishing offshore, at present the current has kicked into normal summer mode and is running to the south at a great rate of knots. The speed has been a little inconsistent from day to day but on the

whole, it’s running and making fishing anywhere wide of the 48-fathom line a very difficult proposition. Most of the fish caught lately were from the 32 and 42-fathom lines. The majority of the better snapper were spread out on the 32s, along with a few mulloway, teraglin and flathead. Soft plastics and octopus-style jigs were the stand out once again, yet a number of fish have also taken bait such as squid, pilchard and mullet fillets. As is typically the case at this time of year, mahi mahi have been inconsistent around the fish aggregating device. Their numbers should continue to increase over the next month or so, but for now, trolling skirted and hard-body lures will probably continue to tempt the larger fish, with blue pilchard or live bait a great option for the smaller models. The current usually makes it rather difficult to target pearl perch, kingfish and amberjack during this period, but those who persisted have managed a few fish using live bait and high-speed jigs. A popular choice lately have been 250-400g jigs – depending on wind and current conditions from day to day. Jigs with a fair degree of silver and/or chrome in them seem to have enjoyed the most success, though a number of other colours have also worked. Well, that’s about all from me this month, until next time – tight lines and happy times.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 33

Local angler Thomas Ryan and his catch of a Lake Awoonga barramundi.

Anglers can go fishing at Lake Awoonga throughout the year.

Adventures await at Lake Awoonga – play, explore and relax year-round

ESTLED in the heart of central Queensland, Lake Awoonga is a destination that promises something for everyone – from avid anglers to nature lovers and everyone in between. Known for its bountiful barramundi fishing and stunning landscapes, this serene spot is a must-visit for anyone seeking a blend of relaxation and adventure. A recreation paradise A stone’s throw from Gladstone and conveniently located near the Bruce Hwy, Lake Awoonga offers yearround public access to a

plethora of recreational activities. Surrounded by the rugged beauty of Castle Tower National Park, visitors can enjoy fishing, swimming, hiking, watersports, picnicking, birdwatching, photography and even their wedding ceremony. Every year, thousands flock to Lake Awoonga to soak in its tranquil beauty and diverse wildlife. Managed by the Gladstone Area Water Board, Lake Awoonga has recently had some enhancements, making this destination even more appealing.

GAWB has invested $7 million into improving its recreational facilities as part of the 20202025 Lake Awoonga Recreation Strategy. The upgrades include expanded waterfront access at Riverston Bay, complete with new picnic shelters, barbecue facilities, more car parks and accessible walking paths, ensuring everyone can enjoy the lake’s offerings. There are brand new swimming pontoons – perfect for families looking to cool off in the lake’s refreshing waters – as well as a boat-loading pontoon

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that provides easy access for those eager to launch their vessels. A recently introduced marine exclusion zone allows swimmers and non-motorised watercraft users to enjoy the peaceful waters uninterrupted, enhancing safety and leisure for everyone. GAWB chief executive officer Darren Barlow said, “We’re proud to continuously improve the facilities for our community and visitors.” “Lake Awoonga is already a terrific destination for locals and visitors to fish, swim, camp or hike, and now it’s even better with enhanced facilities, free for everyone to use.” Unplug under the stars at Boynedale Bush Camp For those wanting to connect with nature, Boynedale Bush Camp – located only 26km south of Calliope – offers free camping facili-

ties for up to seven days within a 30-day period. With composting toilets, picnic tables and fire rings, the camp promotes sustainable low-impact camping experiences. There is no electricity, rubbish bins or potable water, so visitors should come prepared. Lake Awoonga is a wildlife sanctuary and to protect native wildlife, GAWB asks visitors to not bring pets to the area. Small dogs are allowed at the Boynedale Bush Camp and must always be kept under control. Close by is the Trevor Burgess Boat Ramp, providing safe access to the lake for boating, and the scenic Four Mile Scrub to Boynedale Bush Camp rail trail, a 6km walking track that forms part of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail network. * continued P35

FREE Hop on to bnbfishing.com.au Page 34 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

Barramundi fingerlings produced at the Aquaculture Gladstone multi-species fish hatchery.

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Adventures await at Lake Awoonga

vide valuable insights fishing aficionados. Fishing a barramundi and increase your Guided group tours bonanza chances of landing the are available to book, alLake Awoonga is a catch of a lifetime. lowing visitors to learn premier destination for Whether you’re a sea- directly from experts barramundi fishing, re- soned angler or a begin- about fingerling pronowned for its plentiful ner, Lake Awoonga of- duction, the aquaculture stocks and vibrant an- fers a rewarding fishing industry and sustainable gling community. experience set against fishing. Thanks to GAWB’s the backdrop of stun- Wildlife encounters extensive fish stocking ning natural beauty. and natural beauty AUSTRALIA EAST COAST program, more than 8 Speak to the experts Beyond fishing, Lake AUSTRALIA, EAST COAST – WADDY POINT (FRASER ISLAND) AUSTRALIA, EAST C million barramundi in aquaculture, watch Awoonga is a haven for WADDY POINT LATfish 24° 58ʼ S fed LONG 153° 21ʼ E LAT fingerlings have been the big being nature lovers. Times and Heights of High and Low Waters Time Zone –1000 Times and H released into the lake Visitors to AquaculKeep an eye out for SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY since the Time early 1990s, ture Gladstone can Time ex- m pretty-faced wallabies, m Time m Time m Time m Time m Time m Time m Time m Time m Time ensuring 0131 a 0.63 thriving plore an interpretive eastern grey kangaroos 0047 0.41 0109 0.51 0033 0.20 0057 0.37 0104 0.19 0050 0.38 0128 0.37 0252 0.56 0153 0.45 0314 1 16 0647 16 0751 0723 1.42 16 0636 1.43 1.58front 0744220 1.89 bird aquatic ecosystem that display1 0718 at the of 1.78and 1over spe-2.26 1 0753 2.06 16 0827 2.34 1 0853 2.18 16 0942 2.15 1 1002 1256 0.54 1235 0.33 1340 0.59 1408 0.49 1415 0.66 1509 0.58 SU 1253 0.57 MO 1216 0.40 0.59 TH 1618 0.69 TU WE SA 1630 attracts anglers the hatchery, which of- 1.97cies.FR 1929 1.52 SA 1956 1.56 SU 1939 1.36 MO 2040 1.40 WE 1538 1931 1.94 from 1848 2.07 1915 1.78 1851 2156 1.44 2058 1.39 2225 near and far. fers an inside look at If you’re fortunate, you 0158 0.59 0121 0.30 0130 0.47 0106 0.15 0123 0.36 0142 0.25 0123 0.39 0215 0.44 0236 0.47 0359 0328 0.65 2 to0755this1.47effort 17 0715 2 0747 production, 2 even 2 0827 2.10 17 0914 2.30 2 0936 2.18 17 1016 2.04 2 1045 1.65 17 0728 1.95might 0815 1.96 0838 2.32 Central is 1.57 aquaculture spot17 a platyMO 1328 0.52 TU 1258 0.32 WE 1327 0.52 TH 1321 0.33 SA 1420 0.61 SU 1507 0.54 MO 1500 0.64 TU 1559 0.61 TH 1621 0.57 FR 1652 0.74 SU 1710 2003 Gladstone, 1.92 Aquaculture 1928 2.10 the life cycle of fish and 1942 1.73 1933 1.89pus near Boynedale 2003 1.47 2044 1.46 2020 1.35 2128 1.37 2147 1.41 2315 2232 1.42 GAWB’s 0225 multi-species the techniques to 0.15Bush Camp. 0.56 0152 0.24 0149 0.45 used0139 0151 0.37 0222 0.36 0159 0.43 0259 0.54 0321 0.53 0451 0403 0.75 3 0825 1.51 which 18 0755 1.70 3 0816 1.71 18 0811 2.08 Top3five 3 0905 2.11 18 0959 2.21 3 1022 2.14 18 1047 1.92 3 1129 0848 2.00 18 0924 2.30 fish hatchery, rear them. things to do at TU 1400 0.51 WE 1341 0.29 TH 1359 0.54 FR 1410 0.39 SU 1502 0.64 MO 1607 0.61 TU 1546 0.64 WE 1647 0.67 FR 1704 0.57 SA 1724 0.78 MO 1752 1.87 2008 2.07 2010a 1.67 2017 1.76Lake Awoonga: 2039 1.41 2133 1.36 2103 1.34 2214 1.33 2312 1.41 2241 1.41 breeds 2034 barramundi, “There’s real appe0251 0225 0.22 0210 more 0.44 0215 0.20 • Catch 0220an0.42 0304 0.49 0239 0.49 mangrove jack0.57 and sea tite to4learn about 0341 0.65 0.61 0442 0.86 iconic barra 4 0855 4 0924 4 0946 4 0409 4 0013 1.54 19 0837 1.82 0846 1.77 19 0856 2.16 2.01 19 1011 2.22 2.08 19 1040 2.08 1109 2.06 19 1119 1.81 0554 mullet WE fingerlings. aquaculture, luck TUfishing 1431 0.55 TH 1426 0.34 1550 0.69 1706 0.69 FR 1436 0.59 fingerSA 1505 0.49– try MO your WE 1635 0.65 TH 1729 0.74 SA 1749 0.59 SU 1759 0.79 TU 1216 2101 1.79 2051 1.97 2039 1.59 2102 2117 1.34 2151 1.31 2258 1.30 2337 1.41 1837 “Our goal is to ensure ling production and, of 1.61for barramundi in2225 the1.28 0314 0.59 0300 0.26 0234 0.46 0251 0.31lake’s pristine 0253 0.50 waters 0347 0.63 0321 0.57 0423 0.75 0500 0.72 0003 1.42 Lake Awoonga remains course, where to find the 5 0924 1.56 20 0922 1.91 5 0919 1.81 20 0943 2.18 5 1002 1.97 20 1100 2.09 5 1032 2.02 20 1120 1.94 5 1157 1.95 20 0534 0.97 5 0124 0719 0.61 FR 1515 0.46 a premier fishing desbest barramundi 0.75 WE 1802 0.76 TH 1503 SA 1516 0.66 fishing SU 1609 0.62 • Visit TU 1642 Aquaculture TH 1726 0.67 FR 1811 0.79 SU 1835 0.60 MO 1155 1.69 WE 1310 2128 1.71 2134 1.80 2111 1.50 2150 1.44 2159 1.27 2322 1.23 2245 1.27 2350 1.28 1837 0.80 1930 tination for locals and at Lake Awoonga,” Mr Gladstone – don’t miss 0336 0.61 0336 0.34 0300 0.49 0328 0.45 0329 0.59 0439 0.76 0409 0.65 0513 0040 1.43 0111 1.44 0.85 visitors 6alike through Barlow6 said. demon21 1010 1.95 6 1044 1.90 21 6 1123 1.95 21 1200 1.82 6 0600 0.84 21 0642 1.07 6 0249 0956 1.59 0954 1.82 21 1032 2.13the fish-feeding 1151 1.95 0918 0.70 SA 1613 0.63 0.75flocking 0.79 1859 0.80 FR 1540 fingerling SU 1600are MO 1720 0.74stration WE 1740 TH about sustainable “Visitors FR 1819 0.68 SA 1854 0.80 MO 1247 1.82 TU 1234 1.57 TH 1429 and learn 2157 1.61 2220 1.61 2145 1.40 2241 1.30 2247 1.20 2351 1.25 1923 0.62 2035 1920 0.79 production and restock- to the display from all aquaculture 0359 0.63 0414 0.46 0327 0.56 0408 0.60 0411 0.69 0038 1.20 0504 0.74 0155 1.50 0230 1.51 0059 1.29 ing of the lake,”1.60 Mr22 Barover 7Queensland the pontoons 7 1032 7 1135at 1.82 22 0545 0.87 7 1219 1.87 22 0612 0.94 7 0716 0.94 22 0809 1.13 7 0404 1102 1.94 1031 1.80 22 and 1127 2.04 • Swim 1104 1623 0.81 1728 0.78 1651 0.85 1836 0.81 0.80 FR 1248 1247 1.71 SA SU MOafield.” TU TH 1847 TU 1340 1.68 WE 1323 1.45 FR 1601 low said. further – enjoy a refreshing dip1.82 SA 1914 0.66 SU 1944 2226 1.50 2309 1.42 2221 1.30 2345 1.20 2353 1.15 2001 0.81 2016 0.62 2008 0.77 2147 0.78 Fishing 0424at0.67 Lake Thousands of visitors in the 0507 designated swim0456 0.60 0356 0.63 0502 0.75 0.77 0207 1.23 0106 1.26 0315 1.62 0341 1.60 0506 0220 1.34 8 1111is 1.60allowed 23 1201 1.91 23 1231 1.93ming8areas 8 0612 0.80 23 0723 1.01 8 0849 0.99 23 0952 1.13 8 1209 Awoonga have 8already 1112 1.75 walked 1240 1.76 23 0658 0.93 SU 1715 0.92 MO 1901 0.88 TU 1757 0.92 WE 1957 0.84 FR 1959 0.76 SA 1350 1.72 SU 1318 1.81 MO 1339 1.60 WE 1444 1.54 TH 1426 1.34 SA 1720 year-round, however the through the doors since • Hike the trails – ex2257 1.38 2301 1.20 2106 0.77 2011 0.61 2110 0.61 2100 0.75 2253 2036 0.74 best time0450 to catch barits opening November 0.71 0011 1.25 0432in0.71 0125 1.16plore the 0128scenic 1.16 walking 0326 1.31 0422 1.77 0439 1.71 0558 0227 1.34 0335 1.44 9and 9 0732 0.84 24 0848 1.04 9 1029 0.97 24 1110 1.06 9 1253 1157 1.58 24 0552 0.73 1202 many 1.69 24 0624 0.86trails 0625 observe 0.81 24native 0817 0.96 ramundi9 1826 typically falls 2023, 9with eager 1.01 TU 1316 1.86 MO WE 1926 0.94 TH 1344 1.83 SA 1353 1.75 SU 1450 1.65 MO 1419 1.75 TU 1436 1.50 TH 1556 1.43 FR 1540 1.26 SU 1821 between October and to see the ex- 0.81wildlife its natural 2332 1.27 2048 0.89 2358 live 1.12 fish 2119 2103in0.67 2157 0.70 2348 2204 0.60 2154 0.72 2105 0.55 2125 0.69 March. 0522 0.76 hibit featuring 0151 1.16 0524 0.78two rare 0301 1.20habitat0257 1.24 0425 1.42 0517 1.93 0527 1.82 0643 0338 1.49 0432 1.57 10 1254can1.56expect 25 0711 0.83 25 0939the0.93 10 0858 0.84 25 1014 1.02 10 1147 0.90 25 1204 0.96 10 1326 1313 1.65 0751 0.91 • 10 0756 0.80 Anglers fish 10 species, the25 white Camp under TU 2015 1.04 WE 1439 1.83 TH 2057 0.88 FR 1455 1.76 SU 1500 1.78 MO 1544 1.59 FR 1703 1.36 SA 1647 1.24 MO 1906 TU 1519 1.69 WE 1533 1.42 2221 0.83 2218 0.75stars –2156 0.54 a night 2235at0.62 2257 0.57 2249 0.67 2153 0.47 2205 0.63 exciting action because barramundi and golden spend 0019more 1.17 active the fish are barramundi. 0336 1.18 0141 1.09 0415 1.29Boynedale 0404 1.39 0510 1.55 Bush Camp 0605 2.07 0607 1.92 0036 0437 1.67 0518 1.70 11 0609 0.80 26 0842 0.87 11 0644 0.82 26 0919 0.89 11 0925 0.72 26 1044 0.88 11 1016 0.80 26 1119 0.96 11 1245 0.81 26 1247 0.85 11 0724 duringWE this1413 peak season. The facility also hosts and experience the1.54 WE 1616 1.62 TH 1627 1.35 SA 1805 1.35 SU 1746 1.25 TU 1358 1.56 TH 1552 1.82 1.82 TU 1631 FR 1434 1.68 SA 1556 1.72 MO 1558 2155looking 0.98 2315 0.76 2158 0.75 demon2258 0.67beauty2239 0.41stars. 2303 0.55 2348 0.53 2338 0.61 1945 2236 0.41 2242 0.58 For those to fish-feeding of the 0152 1.09experi0454 1.26 0321 1.16Monday 0506 1.40Plan your 0457 visit 1.57 0651 2.19 0645 2.02 0118 0547 1.67 0526 1.86 0556 1.82 enhance their strations from 12 0724 0.82 27 1006 0.83 12 0826 0.79providing 27 1028 0.83 12 1032Awoonga 0.62 27 1133 0.81 12 1123 0.74 27 1210 0.89 12 1333 0.73 27 1325 0.75 12 0803 ence, booking a charter to Saturday, and1.49 TH 1711 1.55 FR 1717 1.30 SU 1901 1.38 MO 1838 1.30 WE 1432 TH 1529 1.63 FR 1651 1.82 SA 1543 1.77 SU 1645 1.70 Lake TU 1649 1.83 WE 1713 2352 0.69 2245 0.59 2330 0.60 2317 0.30 2022 2327 0.49 2317 0.36 2317 0.54 with one2251 of 0.86 the local an engaging experiBoynedale Bush Camp 0340 1.11 0542 1.34 0432 1.29 0543 1.50 0542 1.77 0038 0.49 0024 0.54 0156 0620 1.79 0612 2.05 0631 1.92 fishing13guides can proence for families and are accessible year0905 0.79 28 1105 0.75 13 1000 0.67 28 1117 0.75 13 1129 0.53 28 1215 0.76 13 1224 0.67 28 1254 0.82 13 0736 2.26 28 0721 2.11 13 0839 1.80well-mainFR 1632 1.73 SA 1738 1.82 SU 1638 1.87 MO 1724 1.68round, WE 1736 TH 1505 with TH 1751 1.45 FR 1804 1.50 SA 1802 1.28 MO 1417 0.66 TU 1402 0.65 2333 0.71 2325 0.43 2355 0.53 2351 0.22 1951 1.42 1923 1.37 2056 2352 0.43 2359 0.33 2354 0.50 tained facilities and 0501 1.19 0019 0.63 0523 1.44 0616 1.60 0126 0.48 0106 0.47 0625 1.96 0651 1.89 0656 2.20 0704 2.01 wait-0.72 14 1321 0.62 29 1335 0.75 14 0820 2.28 29 0758 2.18 14 0232 14 1035 0.68 29 0618 1.43 14 1101 0.52 29 1155 0.68abundant 14 1220activities 0911 0.48 29 1254 1821 1.74 1826 1.40 SA 1723 1.86 SU 1148 0.67 MO 1726 1.95 TU 1758 1.65ing TH TU 1459 0.63 WE 1439 0.56 FR 1536 FR SA 1856 1.46 SU 1845 1.29 for you. 1814 1.81 2038 1.45 2006 1.45 2128 Whether you’re 0019 fish-0.40 0011 0.55 0045 0.56 0001 0.30 0017 0.46 0211 0.50 0148 0.43 0304 0026 0.18 0043 0.33 0032 0.47 15 0555 1.31 30 0649 1.50 15 0606 1.61 30 0647 1.70ing,15camping 30simply 0707 2.13 or 0721 1.98 15 0741 2.30 30 0737 2.08 15 0903 2.24 30 0837 2.23 15 0939 1334 0.69 SU 1131 0.53 MO 1224 0.59 TU 1149 0.40 WE 1230 0.62 SA 1602 FR 1313in0.46 SU 1415 0.59 MO 1415 0.68 WE 1540 0.64 TH 1515 0.50 theSAsights, 1807 1.98 1846 1.80 1809 1.99 1828 1.62soaking 2119 1.46 2050 1.52 2201 1908 1.66 1902 1.37 1948 1.43 1927 1.32 this central Queensland 0035 0.41 0230 0.43 0111 0.45 31 0716 1.80gem is ready to wel31 0919 2.24 31 0814 2.14 TH 1304 0.59 FR 1552 0.48 TU 1456 0.62 2136 1.57 1858 1.57come you. 2010 1.35 For more information © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2022, Bureau ofabout • First Copyright Commonwealth of Austra Meteorology New Moon Quarter Lake Awoonga Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astron and Aquaculture GladFull Moon Last Quarter stone, Catch the fish feeding demonstration at Aquacul- First Moon Phase Symbols New Moon New Mo Moon Phase Symbols Quartervisit gawb.qld. Full Moon Last Quarter gov.au ture Gladstone at 11am Monday to Saturday. 18

* from P34

Tide Times 2024

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 35

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 37

The author’s best barramundi for the event at 105cm.

Humminbird Fitzroy River Barra Bash

This is how to take a photo of your point scorers. Supplied brag mat, token, team name and individual all displayed clearly.

T’S been and gone once again and I’m pleased to report that the Humminbird Fitzroy Barra Bash, brought to you by the Frenchville Sports Club, was a huge success. This year’s event managed to break a few records. The first was how

The author’s Humminbird Apex displayed a good stack of fish around timber. Page 38 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

Capricorn Coast by JOHN BOON

quickly the event sold out once tickets were available to the general public. Everyone who participated in the previous year’s event scored early bird entries, so when the remaining tickets went live, they sold out in less than a week. The second record broken was the amount of barramundi caught, which we’ll talk about shortly. The competition was held from October 9-12 with fairly simple rules. You fish in a two-person team and your biggest 30 barra over the two and a half days of fishing are your score. If you catch 30 on the first day, you continue

to upgrade until the end of the event. If you don’t catch any barra for the first two days, you can still catch 30 on the last day. When you catch a barramundi, you put it on the supplied brag mat with the required tokens and take a photo. You record the capture on the scorecard and send it to the headquarter’s mobile number. All your point scorers get tallied and put up on the scoreboard at the end of each day. And there’s a scoreboard blackout for the last day to build suspense. The weather forecast * continued P39

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Humminbird Fitzroy River Barra Bash wrap up * from P38

for the event was quite good – a few showers for day two and a slight change of wind direction but everything pointed to good barra-fishing conditions. This year, we fished as team Humminbird/ Dobyns Rods. Our plan for day one did not go well. I would say it was one of the most frustrating barra fishing days I’ve ever had. We prepared well but luck was not on our side. Everything that could happen did happen. We ended the day with eight barramundi, which was disappointing for us, but it could have been worse. Once the scores were updated, we were sitting about tenth. Last year’s winner Mark Boss had a good day – boating 19 and claiming the top spot. Mitch Anderson from Barra Mafia also had a quality day, which had that team sitting in second place. We had a lot of catching up to do, so we decided to try an area that would either work well or not at all. Unfortunately, it was the latter – we returned to the Fitzroy with no point scorers. We ran down the river and just could not find our groove. A squall came through at about midday and that made conditions a lot tougher. It was the middle of the day and we were staring down the barrel of a doughnut. We pulled into a spot that was all types of wrong – because it had waves crashing on it, I’d written it off. My teammate Luke

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was more persistent and somehow hooked a legal barra. I turned around and saw this barra wave surfing when it jumped. I laughed and shook my head in disbelief at the rabbit Luke had pulled out of his hat. After boating this particular fish, our nerves settled and we got down to business. We fished our way back to the town reaches of the Fitzroy, resulting in eight all up for the afternoon. It was a good recovery, however we were then eleventh on the scoreboard. Mark Boss of team Tupperware had another great day, with a 4m head start on second place going into day three. They were taking control and doing everything right. Day three started well for us, with a 105cm barramundi hitting the deck only 30 minutes after kick-off. That set us up for the day and we were able to put 15 on the board, which gave us our 30 barra bag plus one upgrade. We would have been happy if we salvaged a top 10 finish. However, some magic happened on the third day for the Bluefin team, consisting of Paul Thompson and Bryan Pasani. They landed 13 barra for the final half day, which averaged 105cm, with their biggest going 123cm. This rolled team Tupperware out of first place, which, after they showed great consistency, surprised everyone. Bluefin’s total was 28 barra for 22.11m. Tupperware got their

30 fish bag with upgrades for 21.26m. Barra Mafia took out third place with 18.91m. We managed to salvage fifth place with our 30-fish bag going to 15.71m, which we were stoked about, particularly after what had happened during the first two days. The biggest barramundi went to Nathan Archer at 126cm and the biggest threadfin salmon went to Courtney Rideout at 137cm. The final totals for the competition were 631 barra caught for a total of 37,200cm and 173 threadies caught for 12,999cm. An outstanding event! A big thank you to all the sponsors who make this comp possible, the Frenchville Sports Club, especially Dean Lill, for organising one of the best barra events in the country, and all the competitors. Make sure you keep an eye out for the 2025 dates and register as early as possible if you want to be part of all the fun and excitement.

Nate Archer received the biggest barramundi award from Craig Griffiths of Fishtec Solutions.

Team Bluefin had a magical third day to take out first place.

Team Tupperware were unlucky not to claim the top spot after three days of consistency.

Luke Peisker with a nice school-sized barramundi during the Fitzroy River Barra Bash. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 39

The author hooked a 97cm beast during the competition.

Blue salmon were everywhere this year.

The author caught a small barramundi while pre-fishing for the Barra Bash.

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Barra Bash battle T HE Frenchville Sports Club Barra Bash was held during October this year. So, Benny and I travelled to Rockhampton to see if we could find a barramundi or two. We have fished this competition a few times now and agree that it’s the best-run event we’ve taken part in. Even when the fishing’s tough, everyone involved has a good time regardless. We hadn’t been to Rocky for a couple of years, so we headed off early to have a good look around. We stopped in at Turkey Beach on the way through to see if we could catch a few reef fish. Fellow Bush ‘n Beach scribe Gary Churchward met us bright and early at the boat ramp there. Gary lives in Gladstone, so it was a nice quick trip down for him. We punched out in less-than-ideal conditions and travelled to some good ground found on previous trips. We got stuck into a few cobia, however a

Event Report

by KEITH STRATFORD

combination of pulled hooks, bust-offs and a dirty shark resulted in only one fish landed. We finished the morning catching a range of small reefies before heading to Rockhampton. The river had only recently recovered from a flood, yet while still a little brown, it was salty. Over the following days, we fished from the city out to the middle reaches of the river and found fish in most locations. We had a good look

around the city reaches the day before the competition started and found huge numbers of big and small fish. Getting them to bite was the hardest part. We landed one small barramundi but couldn’t get a bite from the bigger fish. On the first day of the competition, we started out at Port Alma and found plenty of fish early. We lost five before one decided to play nice. After a short but intense battle, a nice barra * continued P41

Ben Monro landed a juvenile black jewfish in Coorooman Creek.

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Barra Bash battle * from P40

at 97cm was in the boat. The first fish always takes a bit of pressure off, however we missed a few more shortly afterwards and then everything went dead. We’ve found that, when fishing for barramundi, following the predicted bite periods is very accurate. The next stint wasn’t due for a few hours, so we pulled the boat out and went back to the city reaches to see if we could find a few smaller fish. We caught cod, threadfin, blue salmon and a dirty catfish, but no more barra. Many teams did very well on the first day, so we had a little work to do. Day two was a lot slower for us, with only a few timid bites. The fish were much quieter on the sounder and we only managed a mixed bag of blue salmon, cod, flathead and fingermark. After day two, the leaderboard was starting to heat up. For the last day of the competition, the live scores are hidden, so no teams can see if

anyone is catching fish. Once again, we didn’t trouble the scorers on day three, however in certain areas the fish chewed hard and a few teams cleaned up. The numbers of big fish caught on the last day alone was incredible, highlighting why the Fitzroy River is one of Australia’s best barramundi fisheries. The Barra Bash presentation is always a highlight and this year’s was no different. Team Tupperware led the competition for the first two days but were run down at the end by a fast-finishing Bluefin Sports. Nathan Archer from one of the Wilson teams landed the biggest barramundi of the event with a monster at 126cm. Thanks to the Frenchville Sports Club for putting on another great bash. They certainly know how to run a comp – everything always runs smoothly, with plenty of great food and drinks. It was awesome to catch up fellow writers Sean Conlon and John Boon too. Catch you at the next one.

A threadfin salmon ate a 95mm Zerek Fish Trap in the Fitzroy River. www.bnbfishing.com.au

Coming in a close second was Team Tupperware with 2126cm.

Records broken at Barra Bash

HE 2024 Humminbird Fitzroy River Barra Bash wrapped up in spectacular fashion, setting new records and reaffirming its place as the region’s leading barramundi tournament. Over the two and a half action-packed days, anglers from all over Australia gathered at the Fitzroy River and its net-free zone, landing an incredible 631 barramundi – the most ever caught in the competition’s history. Together, these catches measured a whopping 372m, showcasing the river’s exceptional fishery. In addition to barra,

participants reeled in 173 threadfin salmon with a total length of just under 130m, adding even more excitement to the competition. The 2024 Humminbird Fitzroy River Barra Bash proudly celebrates the following winners: • Biggest Threadfin Salmon – Courtney Rideout from ‘Court F All’ with a standout 1.37m catch • Most Metres Threadfin Salmon – ‘Lubly Mundies’ duo Luke Smith and Matthew Spyve racked up an impressive 16.88m • Biggest Barramundi – Nathan Archer from ‘Wilson Team 2’ with a com-

manding 1.26m barra • Most Metres Barramundi – ‘Bluefin Sports 1’ team Bryan Pisani and Paul Thompson dominated with 2.211m. The team from Bluefin Sports, Humminbird and Minn Kota put together a stellar boating package – a Horizon 4.38 Stryker with Minn Kota Electric and Helix Mega— valued at $45,000— which was won by Trav Scott from Emu Park. The event’s outstanding success was made possible by the invaluable support of sponsors and partners, including Humminbird * continued P42

Bryan Pisani with one of the fish that made up the winning 2211cm for Bluefin Sports. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 41

Records broken at Fitzroy River Barra Bash * from P41

Michael Slade with a decent 65cm barramundi.

and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland. Their contributions have been essential to the tournament’s ongoing growth and success. Frenchville Sports Club chief executive officer Damien Massing-

ham expressed his pride in hosting the Barra Bash for the seventh consecutive year. “This year’s event has surpassed all our expectations, setting new records and delivering an unforgettable experience,” Mr Massingham said. “With more than 40

Courtney Rideout from ‘Court F All’ with a standout 1.37m catch.

Page 42 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

percent of participants travelling from outside the region, it’s clear the Fitzroy River offers something truly special, and we’re proud to showcase it to anglers nationwide.” With the winding up of the 2024 event, fishing enthusiasts and competitors alike can look forward to the 2025 tournament, which will take place October 2831, 2025. For any inquiries or additional information regarding the tournament, contact fitzroy riverbarrabash@fsports. com.au The 2024 Humminbird Fitzroy River Barra Bash will be remembered as a landmark event, celebrating the dedication of anglers, sponsor support and the natural beauty of the Capricorn region.

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Competitors fish within the tidal reaches of the Fitzroy delta.

Australia’s premier barra fishing tournament

HE Humminbird Fitzroy River Barra Bash, supported through Tourism and Events Queensland, is a highlight on the state’s event calendar. As one of Australia’s premier barramundi fishing tournaments, this competition is about more than just the thrill of the catch. Competitors fish within the tidal reaches of the Fitzroy delta net free zones that extend through Rockhampton Regional and Livingstone Shire Councils. Some great fishing locations are below. Fitzroy River Named by European colonial settlers and pastoralists Charles and William Archer on May 4, 1853, in honour of Sir Charles Fitzroy – the governor of the colony of NSW at the time – the river is famous for housing the most diverse range of freshwater fish in Australia, including the prized Australian barramundi. Most often utilised as a recreation spot by locals and visitors alike, the Fitzroy River offers the perfect setting for a range of activities. From sunset picnics and insta-perfect photo moments to dragon boat racing, rowing and of course fishing, this beautiful natural landscape is where it all starts. Coorooman Creek The locality was named after its former

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railway station on the Emu Park branch line, which in turn took its name from the creek and is believed to be an Aboriginal word ‘coorawan’ meaning ‘kangaroo’. The system consists of three main separate creeks that share a common mouth. Coorooman Creek itself is the southernmost of these three creeks. Corio Bay This broad, shallow and mostly sandy estuary 20km north of Yeppoon is the mutual mouth of Waterpark and Fishing creeks. The bay mostly dries at low tide, leaving shallow shifting channels that finally run to sea past a rocky headland. Careful trip planning and navigation is required. Corio Bay has good yabby banks and a broad spread of species, one being barramundi, which can be found in the low-tide holes and along rocky edges, or where baitfish gather. Port Alma Port Alma is a coastal town, locality and port in the Rockhampton region and is 60km from the town Rockhampton, at the south end of the Fitzroy delta. The town was named by hydrographer Commander J Jeffrey of HM Schooner Pearl in 1864, after a battle site of the Crimean War. Launch your boat at the Port Alma boat ramp and enter a diverse

fish habitat at the Fitzroy River delta. Port Alma is quite a big system, with thousands of likely places to catch a barramundi or threadfin salmon. Minister Stirling Hinchliffe’s message on the website highlights that the Humminbird Fitzroy River Barra Bash is a feature on the It’s Live in Queensland event’s calendar and a wonderful opportunity to showcase the Capricorn Coast as a tourism destination. The Rockhampton and Livingstone community are grateful to welcome visitors who fill their cafes and restaurants, stay in their accommodation, use local transport and explore the area’s unique tourism experiences. That’s why it is supported through the Tourism and Events Queensland’s Destination Events Program because it brings a welcomed boost to the local community and supports local jobs. Events such as the Humminbird Fitzroy River Barra Bash allow friends and family to reconnect and create community pride. When you’re at the bash, be sure to immerse yourself in the local culture and take the opportunity to explore some of the world-class tourism experiences in this beautiful region. Enjoy the accompanying images from the 2024 event.

Launch your boat at the Port Alma boat ramp and enter a diverse fish habitat.

Port Alma is quite a big system with many likely places to catch barramundi.

When you’re at the bash, be sure to immerse yourself in the local culture. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 43

TOURING& exploring Adventure starts here.

Welcome to Anaconda Island.

Anaconda Island adventure

THINK we sometimes forget how lucky we are to live in a country such as Australia. If ever I needed a reminder, I certainly got it when I made my way to Tiwi Island Retreat,

The view on waking up.

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NT Treat by CHRIS RAIMONDI

nestled on the remote Bathurst Island off the Northern Territory. This place is adventure central, and I was lucky enough to work on a campaign recently that turned the place into Anaconda Island. In fact, shopping at your local Anaconda store could see you and nine friends off to experience this amazing location, just like I did – shameless plug! No matter how great or small, every fishing trip is an adventure and Tiwi Island Retreat is certainly at the extreme end of the scale. Having been to adjacent Melville Island a decade ago, as I walked across a red dirt runway to board a bright red helicopter with no side doors, I kind of knew what I was in for. Never in my life have

I put more trust in a seatbelt. Once in the air, the nerves settled and as we left the mainland, I got to take in the amazing view above Darwin, crossing Beagle Gulf and looking out to the distant body of water known as the Timor Sea. Bathurst is the smaller of the two Tiwi Islands and retains true remoteness in its purest form. As we flew above the coastline, we took in an aerial view of crocodiles and sharks hunting in the shallows, less landbased wildlife was spotted. From the sky, you certainly get more of an appreciation for the incredibly harsh terrain in this part of the world. The arrival at Tiwi Island Retreat by air or by water is striking. * continued P45

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TOURING& exploring Anaconda Island adventure * from P44

Tall palm trees line a white sandy beach, on which three or four resident crocodiles lay sunning themselves, keeping an eye on proceedings. A number of umbrellas surround a pool that wouldn’t be out of place at a Gold Coast accommodation complex and the adjoining twin-share rooms are luxurious, air conditioned and contain bathroom amenities – certainly not your traditional fishing lodge experience. We dropped our gear off in our rooms, changed into fishing clothes and then sat down for the best fish burger I’ve ever had in my life. The food bar was set very high right from the start and, I tell you what, it only got better. A few minutes later, we were back on the chopper headed to a notoriously action-packed barramundi spot, at which we had a heap of follows and caught a stack of rats. The potential was there to see but we probably just missed the right tide for the zone and would have to tackle it another time. We headed back to base for a cold beverage and an incredible beach bonfire, where tales of the day were traded in abundance. We were greeted with still conditions on day two, with a trip offshore on the agenda for the morning. The bottom fishing

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was a little slow early on, yet we managed a nice feed of golden snapper – or fingermark – which are arguably one of the finest table fish in the sea. I was a little surprised to discover that sharks were as much of a problem here as they are in my local waters off southeast Queensland. Though we didn’t encounter the big fish-taking models, like at home, we hooked a stack of smaller sharks, so it looks as if their breeding stocks are in full health off the territory. As we approached more protected waters on the way back, a heap of bird and surface activity suggested it’d be a good idea to troll some Halco Laser Pro lures. It didn’t take long for rods to start screaming, as we’d found ourselves in a fairly hot bite of big queenfish. We left them biting and took a few back to base for Chef Locki to work his magic on. An estuary expedition was planned for the afternoon, and I was determined to catch a few barra on the new Z-Man PrawnZ Elite. Like our land-based session the day before, the conditions weren’t quite in our favour, yet we still nailed half a dozen nice barramundi in a system that was literally a few hundred metres from the retreat. A couple of those fell victim to my new lure and one rat in particular ate it in plain sight as it

sank slowly down the face of some submerged timber, which was cool. Night two was a highlight – a surf and turf beach dinner that was truly memorable for a number of reasons… the setting, the company and the food. JZ, Gen and the team at Tiwi Island Retreat certainly have the experience nailed and it’s so great that we’re able to call the place Anaconda Island over the next few years. Shopping at Anaconda is your best chance of winning your way onto the island, plus keeping on top of its social channels to see the island and all it offers come to life. If you’re in the market for a remote retreat getaway and a bit of fishing, check out Anaconda’s website and get a crew together – you won’t be disappointed. Catch you.

Chris Hartley with a nice queenfish.

The Z-Man PrawnZ Elite was snavelled.

No words needed. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 45

TOURING& exploring Heading east on Gibb River Road

All set for our Gibb River Road adventure.

The scenery was simply breathtaking.

One of the many little creek crossings. Page 46 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

ITH our time in Broome coming to an end, it was time to start preparing for the adventure ahead, which was the Gibb River Road. The 660km fourwheel-drive trek is the best way to explore the natural treasures of the Kimberley. Originally constructed in the 1960s as a way to transport cattle from Derby to Wyndham, it is now an iconic journey that is on many a bucket list – including mine. When embarking on any extended adventure, particularly into the remote sections of Australia, it is essential you take enough food and water for your trip. And a decent recovery or breakdown kit is also crucial. Yet if you have a catastrophic failure, sometimes the only way out is via an expensive tow truck. I’m only mildly handy on the mechanical side, so don’t let a lack of this skillset scare you off remote explorations. I find common sense is possibly the best tool to possess – though make sure to use it wisely. After ensuring we were well stocked with all the necessities in Broome, a stop in Derby was required before we hit the Gibb. While we didn’t have an exact itinerary, we planned to spend about

Family Adventures by BEN COLLINS

13 days on the Gibb River Road. Our route was a little loose as well, due to the fact that certain parts of the Gibb weren’t open at the time, so we needed to play it a little by ear. As we embarked on the trip and took the obligatory tourist picture for the start of the Gibb, I wasn’t entirely sure of what I expected out of this next adventure. The last time I was in this neck of the woods, I went the ‘easier’ way, between Kununurra and Derby on the Great Northern Hwy. Admittedly, this was over 25 years ago and I was in an old Holden HX panel van, so things were a little different. Like most avid travellers, we ticked off a few of the key spots we

wanted to see, and allowed enough time for staying a little longer if we chose to or so we could take our time. As the road conditions were mostly unknown, we had prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. Thankfully the start of our trek east was relatively easy, with only mild corrugations. When driving on corrugations, you need to find a speed that works for your vehicle, caravan and occupants in the car, and your driving skill level. Sometimes this might mean going a little quicker to get over the corrugations, so you and the rest of your gear is not pounded to pieces. Conversely, some sec* continued P47

Nothing better than a s'more after dinner.

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TOURING& exploring

The climb down to Dalmanyi (Bell Gorge) was definitely worth it.

Heading east on Gibb River Road * from P46

tions – especially the little rutted-out creek crossings – might need you to slow down to a crawl. Whatever you are comfortable with is fine. However, you do also need to be aware of other travellers who may want to go faster or slower. Fortunately we didn’t have any issues while on the Gibb. In fact, it was a little quieter than expected, which we took as a blessing. Particularly when we had a whole waterhole to ourselves – simply bliss. After a reasonably uneventful first day on the Gibb, aside from taking in the breathtaking scenery, we decided to camp slightly off the road near Lennard River. This was a bush camp

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– which is on WikiCamps – called March Fly Glen. As we were staying for only one night, our setup was very simple – we pulled out the camp chairs and made a fire. Thankfully our JB Scorpion has airbag suspension, which enables us pull up on relatively flat ground and adjust the airbags so the van is level for sleeping. This eliminated the need for chocks or having to unhitch which, when you’re at a place only to sleep, makes the set up and pack up that much easier. Unfortunately, the Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek) National Park section of the Gibb River Rd was closed when we were there, so our first real hands-on experience of the Gibb was going to be Dalmanyi (Bell Gorge). The closest campsite

to Dalmanyi was the Dulundi (Silent Grove) Campground. Our plan was to spend two nights there so we could enjoy Dalmanyi. Dalmanyi Our crew really enjoys bush walking, so the 4km return walk didn’t phase us, even though it was graded level 4, which is hard. The walking trail meandered through the bush, allowing us to take in the awesome scenery. We eventually arrived at the top of the falls, where we took in the breathtaking view. There was also a great spot for a refreshing dip. If you’re keen, you can make the grade 5 walk down into Dalmanyi, where you can swim in the deep hole below the falls, which we did. * continued P48

To get to the pool below, we crossed the Bell River, which was very slippery.

Up close at the Dalmanyi (Bell Gorge) falls. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 47

TOURING& exploring

The rough drive into Adcock Gorge was worth it.

Heading east on Gibb River Road * from P47

A freshly caught coral trout cooked up a treat.

Relaxing at the Dulundi (Silent Grove) Campground after our trek to Dalmanyi. Page 48 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

To do this, you’ll need to walk through the running water, then climb down a steep rocky embankment. At the end of the descent, you arrive at a huge pool with massive smooth rocky cliffs that have been scoured out in the wet season when the water pumps through – what a spectacular place to cool off. A one point we had the whole pool to ourselves, which was unreal. Adcock Gorge Our next planned stop was Adcock Gorge. We day tripped here, leaving the van at Dulundi. It meant a little extra driving but, because you can’t get a van into Adcock Gorge, we would have had to leave it on the side of the road, which we weren’t keen to do.

As mentioned, you need to have a rough plan when heading to remote areas – thankfully we had allowed for extra fuel so we could easily make it to the next fuel stop. However, if you were getting low on fuel, the Imintji Community Store sells it and vari-

ous other items. The road into Adcock was rough but doable. Though we did come across a tour bus that had managed to bog itself in a muddy creek crossing. We helped for a while, however we had to make the call to contin* continued P49

All smiles after a dip at Galvans Gorge.

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TOURING& exploring Heading east on Gibb River Road * from P48

ue on so we could get to the gorge and back to camp again before it got too dark. Thankfully, a crew of about four beasty 4WDs were also making the trek in, so they winched the tour bus out. Depending on your car and driving ability, the last section of the road can be extremely rough, with a little creek crossing and large boulders to transverse. We made it most of the way in before calling it and walking the last section. As mentioned, common sense is often your best tool to have on board. Fortunately, my better half has plenty of this, so we stopped before either getting stuck or damaging the car, which would not have been a good outcome. The walk in was relatively short and before long we were greeted by another waterfall and swimming pool. The girls and I love swimming in freshwater pools – it’s a bit like diving into the surf, very refreshing and invigorating. Galvans Gorge This little gem is only about 1km off the Gibb River Road and is very easily accessible. The trail in would have to be one of the prettiest walks on the Gibb. When you arrive at the gorge, it opens up to a multi-tiered waterfall

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that plunges into a very deep rock pool. As luck had it, we scored this place to ourselves for a decent amount of time, before the next adventurers arrived. Galvans is a great place for simply sitting back and relaxing, or you can climb a particular tree and jump from its branches, which is what we did. As mentioned, the pool was very deep. As a cautious father, I always check how deep the pools are before we jump in, particularly if we are jumping off trees or rock edges. Next month, the adventure continues along the Gibb River Road as we make our way east.

Galvans Gorge - what a spot. We had this place all to ourselves.

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TOURING& exploring

Drysdale River delights

Our camp near the Drysdale rapids.

Our boats up the Drysdale River, near Don’s camp in the Kimberley.

Michael Quadrio caught his first mangrove jack in the Kimberley.

The Drysdale River rapids. Page 50 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

I, here’s part two of my Kimberley trip. With the boat ready, Michael had his gear and bed roll aboard, plus we had 120 litres of fuel, tucker, ice in the Esky and fishing gear. On daybreak, we launched the boat and waited until Jack and Emily did the same with theirs. After a radio check on the VHF, we headed off – 60km up the shallow Drysdale River. We chose these particular days because the weather was great, plus they coincided with big 3m tides that helped us get over shallow sandbanks. The run up was awesome, and after a couple of hours we pulled up at the famous ‘Don’s camp’ and had a look around. What a special place, no wonder he lived there. His camp overlooked the river and gorge country that truly confirms you’re in the Kimberley. He had plenty of freshwater, with a good-sized lagoon about 500m in the bush behind the huts. After we looked around Don’s, we made our way upriver to slightly before the Drysdale rapids, where people from all over the world get flown in by chopper to look at and fish for barramundi. And we were going to camp there! We found a site on the rock ledges above the crocodiles, unloaded our gear and set up.

Kimberley Key by CRAIG TOMKINSON

Once that was done, it was time to collect some live bait. So, we shot back down the river and found a lovely sandbank, where Jack and I got some nice mullet with our cast nets. We washed them, put them in a bucket with an aerator and headed back to camp. Our plan was to fish near the front of our camps, then just on dark, Jack and Emily would go for a fish with livies near the rapids. Success – the crew caught some great queenfish and a couple of mangrove jack. Mick got his first ever jack, he was so happy, however as big tarpon were so thick, that was all the gang could catch. No good barra… oh well. I had a horrible night’s sleep – up constantly checking my boat and making sure it was floating free of the big rocks, so it didn’t get caught and tip over. And it was freezing. I didn’t take enough warm clothes or a good doona. It was about 6C and I hate the cold. Next day, after a lovely brekky, we packed up and fished our way back towards the mouth. Over many hours, we caught jack like they were weeds, and let heaps go, because in this river system, I think you’re allowed only one

fish in your possession per boat. Make sure to check the rules if you go there – Fisheries WA do patrol the area. We fished little feeder creeks and these areas looked to be great crabbing country, the best I’d seen on my trip – if only we’d had some Western Australia crabbing gear with us. After we got out of the Drysdale, we tried chasing some reef fish at a few of Jack’s secret spots, with no joy. We headed back to McGowan and loaded the boats on their trailers. I did think how lucky I was. What an awesome trip, thanks for asking us to tag along Jack and Emily. The next day, after seeing the fuel we’d used the day before was only 45 litres, Michael and I drove the 45km to Koojarra Island and its surrounding shoal. We caught some nice giant and golden trevally and a lovely trout here. Mick and I fished together until I was low on fuel and over the week, we both got our 10kg bags of reef species. Plus, Garry and Robin had given me about 6kg of mackerel. Then it was time to pack up and head for home. Until next month, be safe on the water.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 51

OUTDOORadventures A serious contender in the four-wheel-drive market.

BYD Shark 6 2025 hybrid ute

The Shark 6 Premium comes with a high-tech comfortable interior.

The car’s advanced tech includes near field communication access, allowing entry via an NFC card, your phone or the BYD app.

The hybrid system delivers smooth immediate torque, making traditional diesel utes feel sluggish by comparison.

Page 52 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

HE BYD Shark 6 has arrived, bringing a fresh electrified twist to the traditional Australian dual-cab utility. This plug-in hybrid ute – abbreviated to PHEV – swaps out the familiar diesel engine for a petrol-electric powertrain that aims to run more like an electric vehicle with off-road capabilities, which could make it a serious contender in the four-wheel drive vehicle market. After years of enduring the rattly diesel-powered workhorses, the Shark 6 feels both strangely familiar yet distinctly different – and for the most part, better. With an economical price and impressive list of standard features, the Shark 6 might just shake things up in a segment long dominated by brands such as Ford, Toyota and Isuzu. That said, the vehicles tested for the Australian drive were pre-production models and much of the driving was off-road for a limited time. The suspension and software were still in the works, so let’s see how the production versions perform. Cost Pricing for the 2025

BYD Shark 6 PHEV is $57,900, plus on-road costs. With this price tag, it sits comfortably in the middle of the market, offering a premium experience at a competitive price. The Shark 6 will also qualify for the fringe benefits tax exemption until at least April 2025, which could bring down its total cost if purchased by businesses or through salary packaging. The Shark 6 Premium was the only model available, slated for delivery by December 2024 or January 2025. A more basic version may be released later, though this hasn’t been confirmed as yet. In terms of pricing comparison, the Shark 6 offers Ford Ranger XLT pricing but comes with equipment closer to that of the Ranger Platinum, which starts at a much higher price point. Power The Shark 6 is powered by BYD’s dual-mode off-road plug-in hybrid system – DM-O. This includes a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, an electric motor on each axle and a 29.5kWh LFP battery. Together, they produce up to 321kW and

650Nm in sport mode. Unlike most 4WDs, there are no low-range gears, diff locks or a live rear axle. Instead, it uses independent double wishbone suspension and relies on instant electric torque and traction control to tackle rough terrain. While it lacks the hard-core off-road hardware of traditional utes, BYD claims that the Shark 6 can handle most off-road conditions with ease. On the road, the system is designed to be smooth and efficient, giving the Shark 6 a unique blend of performance. Size and style The Shark 6 is a big ute, measuring 5457mm long, 1971mm wide and 1921mm tall, with a 3260mm wheelbase. By comparison, the Ford Ranger XLT is slightly smaller, but still a big vehicle in its own right. The front of the Shark 6 features a bold design, with a grille shaped like a shark’s open mouth and a shark fin antenna. It also comes with 18” alloys, side steps, roof rails, LED headlights and a tub with a spray-in * continued P53

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OUTDOORadventures

BYD Shark 6 2025 hybrid ute * from P52

liner, hooks, lights and a soft-opening tailgate. The vehicle is also equipped with vehicle-to-load technology – V2L – meaning it can supply up to 6.6kW of power for tools, camping gear or other equipment, a handy feature for tradies or campers. Inside The Shark 6 Premium comes with a high-tech comfortable interior. It features a rotating 15.6” infotainment touchscreen, a digital instrument cluster and a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system. You’ll also find Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless charging and satellite navigation. Comfort is key, with heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone air conditioning and an interior that uses real leather and synthetic materials. The car’s advanced tech includes near field communication access, allowing entry via an NFC card, your phone or the BYD app. In terms of safety, the Shark 6 comes loaded with features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and seven airbags. While it’s yet to receive an ANCAP safety rating, BYD is confident it will score a five-star result. Performance The most impressive feature of the Shark 6 is its powertrain. This hybrid system delivers smooth immediate torque, making traditional diesel utes feel sluggish by comparison.

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When driven in electric-only mode, the ute produces zero emissions and is whisper-quiet, offering a peaceful driving experience. But when you need power, the petrol engine kicks in seamlessly, providing impressive acceleration. The Shark 6 can hit 0-100km/h in just 5.7 seconds, which is faster than a Ford Ranger Raptor. While it may lack the low range gearing and diff locks of traditional 4WDs, the Shark 6 still performs well off-road. Thanks to four selectable drive modes and a traction control system that works across the electric motors and brakes, it can tackle everything from forest trails to moderate cross-axle off-roading. While the Shark 6 is a significant step forward in 4WD technology, there are a few areas where it falls short. For one, its payload is relatively modest at 790kg, and the maximum towing capacity is 2500kg, which is lower than the best in class. The hefty 2710kg kerb weight also impacts the vehicle’s towing capacity, reducing its effective payload when towing at maximum weight. In terms of fuel economy, official figures suggest the Shark 6 can travel 80km on electric power alone, with a fuel consumption of 2L/100km in hybrid mode, when the battery is above 25 percent. In real-world testing, the vehicle averaged around 14-15L/100km

and 14-15kWh/100km, which is still pretty good for a 4WD. On the road, the Shark 6’s ride can be a bit harsh over potholes and rough surfaces, and the steering can feel a little jerky at low speeds. These are things that will likely improve with further refinement, but they’re worth keeping in mind. Buying The BYD Shark 6 is undoubtedly a game changer, offering an electrified alternative in the highly competitive four-wheel drive ute market. With its high-tech powertrain, impressive performance and strong value proposition, it’s an exciting new option for those looking for a greener more efficient 4WD. However, it’s still a new and untested technology in Australia, and there are a few question marks over its real-world fuel economy, towing capacity and offroad abilities in tougher conditions. It’s worth considering whether the Shark 6’s blend of tech, performance and off-road capability fits your needs, and whether it’s ready to tackle Australia’s tough terrain. If you’re looking for a green and tech-packed ute with solid off-road performance, the Shark 6 could be just what you’re after. But, as with any new model, it might be worth waiting a little longer to see how it performs in the wild before diving in headfirst.

Unlike most 4WDs, there are no low-range gears, diff locks or a live rear axle.

The Shark 6 uses independent double wishbone suspension and relies on instant electric torque and traction control to tackle rough terrain.

The most impressive feature of the Shark 6 is its powertrain. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 53

Bass are readily available to anglers fishing from a boat, a kayak or land based.

Bass fishing in summer

A chatterbait has the action, vibration, noise and flash that is perfect for a summer reaction bite. Page 54 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

HE warm weather is upon us and for a lot of anglers this signals the heating up of the Australian bass bite, along with quality by-catch species including golden perch and saratoga. For many, the holiday period also creates the opportunity to explore new waterways, the chance to target bass for the first time or perhaps land a new personal best fish, with a 50cm bass considered a trophy. In this article I wanted to run through five of my favourite types of bass lures and breakdown where and when I fish each presentation. Australian bass are an iconic species that hit hard, are renowned for the power and speed of that first run, the stubborn fight and they photograph well, giving anglers a lasting souvenir of their catch. Quality bass fishing is available to anglers along much of the east

Tackle Tactics by JUSTIN WILLMER

coast, from around Tin Can Bay in Queensland down into eastern Victoria. This freshwater species can be found in many rivers and creeks, along with plentiful numbers stocked into lakes and impoundments throughout their region of distribution. Remember to check your local rules and regulations regarding targeting this species. Over the past 30 years of targeting bass, I have learnt that it’s important to have a variety of presentations at your disposal, as the mood and aggressiveness of this fish will vary dramatically based on variables such as weather, water temperature, wind and available bait species. Factors such as shifts in barometric pressure around weather events,

the lead up to a full and new moon, the rising water temperature throughout the day and afternoon low light – all can trigger a hot bite. Let’s take a closer look at a handful of presentations that have been effective additions to my bass kit over the years. Soft plastics and jig spinners Soft plastics have long been a favourite for anglers targeting bass, as they are inexpensive, look real, feel real and can be rigged to fish a wide range of environments – from topwater to deep schooled fish, even weedless for fishing heavy cover. Two of the most popular options are curl tail and paddle tail plastics, with paddle tails my preferred option, representing the many small baitfish that bass feed on. * continued P55

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Bass fishing in summer * from P54

If I was to suggest only one plastic, it would be the Z-Man Slim SwimZ, a proven tournament winner. I run the 2.5” if the bite is tougher or the average size of the bait smaller, stepping to the 3” model when targeting bigger fish, often in bigger impoundments with larger bait. Slim SwimZ have an underhooked tail that makes them swim on the sink and throughout the retrieve, even when winding extremely slow if the fish are shut down and holding on the bottom. I commonly fish this plastic on a 1/4oz jig head for fishing slower tapering edges, stepping up to a 3/8oz and even 1/2oz jig head along steeper edges and when chasing bass in schools that are commonly holding in 6-12m of water. Colour wise, I’ll run a natural-coloured baitfish such as Baby Bass or Opening Night if the water is clear, switching to a dark silhouette or ultraviolet-reactive colour such as Gold Rush or Blood Oil in dirty water and low light. These can be matched to a colour in the TT DemonZ jig head range, with a 1/0 my go-to hook size for the 2.5” and 2/0 or 3/0 for the 3” Slim SwimZ.

A priceless addition to your kit is a jig spinner – a small stainless-steel frame with an attached blade that can be clipped onto the jig head to add flash and vibration to your soft plastic, attracting fish and triggering strikes. This little accessory can fire up the bite, and I will commonly start the session with a jig spinner attached, removing it if the fish are totally shutdown and are looking for a more finesse presentation. Spinnerbaits Key areas I’ve had consistent success when targeting bass include points, rapid changes in depth and available structure, such as timber, weed, rock and lilies. Structure holds bait and also absorbs warmth from the sun, in turn warming the surrounding water. One of my favourite presentations for targeting bass around structure is a spinnerbait, with its design characteristics adding to its snag resistance. The stainless-steel wire frame allows it to bounce through structure, while the blades produce flash and vibration, and the jig-like head and skirt pulse, creating movement and added attraction. Spinnerbaits can also

A chunk of bass on a Z-Man ChatterBait MiniMax.

* continued P56

A selection of TT Switchblade+ blades ready to fish, including some retrofitted with TT assist hooks. www.bnbfishing.com.au

A double up on impoundment bass, fishing the Z-Man ChatterBait MiniMax.

The author with a solid bass that ate a ChatterBait MiniMax fished through a school holding deep on a weed edge. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 55

Ethan Flowers getting into the bass casting FlashPoint+ tailspinners on light spin gear.

Bass fishing in summer * from P55

Soft plastics are a favourite when targeting bass, Jacob Iedema landed this fish on the proven Z-Man Slim SwimZ. Page 56 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

be fished in open water and slow rolled through schools and dredged along the bottom when fish are shutdown. My go-to spinnerbait is an Australian favourite, the TT Vortex+, with its quality components, hooks and compact frame perfect for bass. My go-to weights include 1/8oz for skinny water creek fishing, 1/4oz for fishing weed and lily edges, up to 3/8oz and 1/2oz for fishing steeper edges and deeper schooled fish. And my go-to colours include whites (Purple Glimmer), purples (Purple Mauve) and golds (Somerset Gold), with a stack of colours available to suit different environments. Chatterbaits If you love bass fishing and haven’t fished a chatterbait, check out the Z-Man ChatterBait MiniMax. It’s built for bass, with a quality 2/0 hook and available in 1/4oz for creek work, shallower weed and lily edge bites, and 1/2oz for deeper

edges and schooled fish. This presentation is one of my summer favourites – it has action, vibration, noise and flash unlike any other lure, allowing you to show the fish something completely different. It is designed with a lead head jig and silicone skirt for movement, with a blade mounted to the jig eye that creates an erratic swimming action, noise as it knocks on the head of the jig and plenty of flash.

This is a great presentation for covering water and targeting active fish or for firing multiple casts at key structure until you stir the fish up enough to make them eat. I fish it with a long cast, allow it to sink to the desired depth, give it a rip or two to fire up some flash and vibration, then slow roll it back. An occasional pause to allow it to sink before commencing the slow * continued P57

Ryan Fogg chased bass from the kayak with a TT SwitchMinnow+ metal vibration blade.

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Bass fishing in summer * from P56

roll again can also trigger bites. A favourite for targeting timber snag piles that I know hold fish, I have cast a ChatterBait 10 times before getting a bite, then landed eight fish from eight casts from the snag pile once they were fired up to feed. Favourite colours again would include purples and golds. Tailspinners Tailspinners consist of a metal body, generally minnow shaped, with a blade on the tail that spins on a swivel to create flash and vibration. Another lure in my kit due to its versatility – they cast long and sink, allowing you to fish at any depth. They are more subtle than a spinnerbait and can also be fished vertically around structure and schooled fish, making them especially deadly for anglers fishing with live imaging sonar, allowing them to watch the fish react to different retrieves until they crack a pattern and trigger strikes. Tailspinners can also be slow trolled – se-

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lect a suitable tailspinner weight and trolling speed to keep the presentation in the strike zone. My go-to tailspinner is a relatively new addition that has already accounted for a stack of fish – the TT FlashPoint+. With its minnow-shaped body that has a subtle swimming action and quality ball bearing swivel that allows the blade to swim at dead-slow retrieve speeds while sinking, making it perfect for vertical jigging, as well as cast and retrieve. FlashPoint+ is available in three sizes, with the smallest 33mm (9g), it’s a great starting point for targeting bass from the edges down to about 6m of water, where I commonly encounter them. The castability of this presentation also makes it ideal for anglers chasing bass land based in areas with minimal structure. Blade lures Blade lures have always been a favourite in my bass kit, again due to their versatility, along with the variety of mod-

els and colours and their proven effectiveness. These metal minnow-shaped blades sink, again allowing them to be hopped and rolled down the edges or fished vertically among schooled fish and around structure. A deadly presentation on winter schooled fish, they are also a favourite for targeting actively feeding fish in summer, with the vibration and flash attracting brutal strikes. I commonly fish blades of about 4244mm (7-10g) as a starting point, with the ability to step down in size for the impoundments that hold smaller bait and fish or up to a larger blade for targeting trophy fish in deep water. This presentation is a favourite for a stack of other species too, including golden perch and redfin. Blades vary dramatically in terms of profile, design, terminal tackle and action, so I carry a selection in my kit. TT Switchblade+ This blade has become a favourite for Aussie

* continued P58

Blades are popular for targeting bass, including the TT SwitchPrawn+.

Blades can be cast long to cover water in search of active bites or vertically to target structure, bait and schooled fish.

David Brace bassing the edges, with a TT SwitchMinnow+ allowing long casts.

Jacob Iedema casting to the lily edges with a Z-Man ChatterBait MiniMax. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 57

Spinnerbaits are a summer bass favourite. Jeff was into a few on the compact-designed TT Vortex+.

Bass hit hard, fight tough and photograph well.

Bass fishing in summer * from P57

Golden perch are another species that can’t resist a blade fished vertically around timber.

DAM LEVELS CURRENT AS OF 12/11/2024

DAMS Atkinson * Awoonga Bjelke-Petersen * Boondooma * Borumba * Burdekin Falls * Callide * Cania * Coolmunda * Dyer/Bill Gunn * Eungella * Fairbairn * Glenlyon * Hinze * Julius * Kinchant * Leslie * Macdonald * Maroon * Monduran/Fred Haigh * Moogerah * North Pine/Samsonvale * Peter Faust/Proserpine * Somerset * Teemburra * Tinaroo * Toonumbar Wivenhoe * Wuruma * Wyaralong *

PERCENTAGE JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

78 53 88 88 100 95 76 26 70 98 100 35 63 98 92 85 70 101 100 90 96 64 66 78 100 101 101 81 78 99

77 52 87 87 99 93 16 26 70 95 100 36 63 96 90 84 70 100 100 89 94 63 65 78 100 101 101 80 78 99

76 52 87 88 100 90 16 27 69 98 100 34 64 97 88 82 69 99 100 93 94 64 64 79 100 100 100 80 78 99

72 51 85 87 99 84 16 26 64 95 99 32 61 96 85 74 69 94 99 92 91 62 62 79 98 97 101 79 77 99

69 50 83 85 98 77 16 26 61 91 98 29 60 96 83 66 68 73 100 90 89 60 61 79 97 91 101 77 77 101

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

Page 58 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

anglers with its proven profile, colour range and action. A great starting point for covering water in search of active fish or targeting fish vertically, the Switchblade+ has a medium vibration at slow retrieve speeds through to more aggressive rips without blowing out. An absolute killer if the bass are feeding on bony bream. TT SwitchPrawn+ A more recent blade addition, the SwitchPrawn+ has a tighter more aggressive vibration that is perfect for targeting actively feeding schools and catching numbers of fish. It also comes fitted with assist hooks rather than trebles, which makes it dynamite for impoundments where the average fish size is smaller, as these hooks do not miss. TT SwitchMinnow+ This is a new addition to the TT blade range and an exciting one in terms of design. The SwitchMinnow+ has a more open subtle vibration on the lift/retrieve and a colour-matched silicone tail that creates a ‘swimming’ action on the sink, making it an effective blade option for targeting bass that are feeding less aggres-

sively, while still maintaining the advantages of a blade – including long casts and the ability to get it down to fish holding deep. Fish on! If you haven’t chased bass before, summer is a perfect time. The warmer weather sees the fish become more active and the edge bite really heats up. If you love bass fishing, I’m sure you have a few of these presentations in your kit already and you’re well into the season, landing some quality fish. Bass are a hard-fighting and challenging species to target, with a mood that changes throughout the season – even during the session – making it more important to have a variety of presentations in your kit. Cover water, change things up – including presentation and retrieve – and, if fishing with other anglers, try each fishing a different presentation or technique until you crack a pattern. Hopefully this article assists you with both targeting Australian bass and also selecting a couple of proven presentations that land you that trophy fish. See you on the water. www.bnbfishing.com. au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 59

Running deep diving lures in open water was the technique that showcased Wivenhoe’s big bass fishery.

Genesis of a lake’s fishery

Steve Timperley in the early 1990s releasing a large tagged bass. A time of dropping water levels before the lake spilled in 1996.

During the very early days, after fish stocking commenced, golden perch were targeted along the lake’s shoreline. Page 60 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

HERE’S a truism that states ‘old age is for regrets’, but I’d rather think that old age is for reminiscing. Sitting in camp during an overnight fishing trip recently, the subject of our early experiences on Lake Wivenhoe was raised. Having lived in the district all my life, we’ve been fishing the big lake since it first filled 40 years ago. As soon as my sons were old enough to walk, they’d accompany my dad and I walking the banks fishing for spangled perch and snubnose garfish. That was in the years before the lake was being stocked with fingerlings, so naturally occurring species were the only fish available. Snubnose garfish thrived in the calm waters of the lake and continue to breed and prosper today, though very few anglers even notice them. My sons honed their fly-fishing skills on those tasty little garfish, in preparation for trout fishing sojourns south of the border. Hundreds of sea mullet were trapped in the

Fishing for Sport by NEIL SCHULTZ

lake when the wall was completed, growing to astonishing sizes in the landlocked environment. They could regularly be seen free jumping – and an 8kg mullet splashing down was an impressive sight indeed. When the lake first overflowed in 1996, the entire mullet population escaped over the spillway, making its way to the ocean. The first fish to be stocked into Wivenhoe were both golden and silver perch, again about four decades ago. Sadly, silver perch are now largely ignored as both a stocking option and as an angling species, largely due to the success of bass in the eastern watershed lakes. During those formative years of Wivenhoe’s stocked fishery, because they’re quite happy foraging along gently sloping clay banks, silvers provided an easily accessed target for shorebased anglers. One of their attractive qualities was their readiness to take a hum-

ble earthworm as bait, making them an ideal starter species for kids. Golden perch on the other hand gravitate towards hard structure, congregating around rocky points often far removed from access points. The fishery in Wivenhoe changed exponentially once the stocked Australian bass reached catchable numbers. Due to low stocking rates (per hectare), unlimited forage and very limited harvest, trophy sized bass became the drawcard for this lake. Bass over the 50cm benchmark were not an unusual sight, with obese specimens weighing more than five old fashioned pounds (2.3kg) being commonplace. A handful of anglers resorted to fishing during the winter months, attempting to avoid the millions of blue catfish naturally occurring in the lake. That winter bass fishing habit soon expanded to other lakes and, un* continued P61

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2024 Logan and Albert Fish Management Association Pest Fishing Competition

HAT a day the Logan and Albert Fish Management Association Pest Fishing Competition was. Yes, it was hot and got a tad windy but there were plenty of laughs and great catches this year. Thanks to everyone who attended. Also, a special thanks to those who purchased tickets online – with no intention of attending – to support our cause, we appreciate the donation so much. Compared to last year’s event, the bite was definitely tougher for the 2024 comp. However, we must point out that some solid hauls of fish were still presented at weigh in. And it was so great to see the younger categories taking out a few

of the bigger fish. A huge thanks to the sponsors and supporters of the day, without you this annual event would not be possible. The Southern Brisbane Sportsfishing and Normanby Social Fishing clubs donated $1500 this year between them, which is a huge boost to our comp before we even get started. Thanks to the members of these clubs for their contribution. So great to see. Onto some statistics for the day: Entrants Junior 39 Teen 63 Senior 144 Total 246 Pests removed Carp 61 Tilapia 426 Total 487 Junior Most tilapia – 13, Jye Roberts

A regular to our dam, Fiona Allen caught 19 tilapia, taking home a new personal best and a lucky draw prize.

Biggest tilapia – 1.83kg, Robin Allen Most carp – 4, Dean Bice Biggest carp – 1.505kg, Dean Bice Teens Most tilapia – 17, Henry Ehrich Biggest tilapia – 2.556kg, Coen Currie Most carp – a twoway tie, 2 each for Harry Wilton and Archie Schipplock Biggest carp – 1.77kg, Archie Schipplock Senior Most tilapia – 36, Clark Brown Biggest tilapia – 2.29kg, Zachary Ward Most carp – a fourway tie, Ricky Ellis, Mark Bartlett, Angus Robertson and Paul Broughton Biggest carp – 4.015, Leon Zhou We hope to see you all back next year. Thanks again for your support, by buying a ticket, you’ve purchased some fingerlings. The funds from our competition will go directly into purchasing Mary River cod and Australian bass fingerlings to stock our dam and rivers. Thank you all. LAFMA

Keen pest fisher Jason Murdoch with a good-sized tilapia.

Anthony Johns with a solid tilapia. Plenty in the dam at this size unfortunately.

Genesis of a lake’s fishery * from P60

surprisingly, produced satisfying results. As technology improved, the images on sonar screens delivered more information to anglers, resulting in open water schooling bass being targeted. And because the bass were uneducated to vertical lure presentations, jigging with metal lures was insanely www.bnbfishing.com.au

productive when it first entered the scene. Following on the heels of the jigging phenomenon came deepwater fly fishing with weighted flies, popularised by pioneers such as John Schofield. John’s successes prompted many who’d never seen a flyrod to take up the discipline purely to access those

mid-lake bass schools. Wivenhoe continued to provide a trophy bass fishery for about 30 years, until significant changes in 2013 when its waters were opened to power boats. The dynamics changed rapidly afterwards. The fishery continues to evolve but that, as they say, is another story.

Fly fishing using heavily weighted flies experienced a boom in popularity during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 61

Renee with her first-ever barramundi at 104cm.

Lake Monduran barra

The Eyles family, Rowan, Kelly and Thomas, landed some good bass, all caught on shrimp. Page 62 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

ON DU R A N Dam, Lake Monduran, Fred Haigh Dam or simply Mondy, as it seems to have been nicknamed, has been living up to its reputation for holding good barramundi. I grew up in this area and saw the dam being built, way back when, not knowing then that it would develop into what it is today. My family and I fished a lot in the lower reaches of Mondy, which is the Kolan River, and even then, we caught many big barra. It has always been a natural barramundi fishery, and along with

Outback Fishing by HELEN ABDY

fisheries, fish hatcheries and the stocking group, it has developed into an awesome fisho’s paradise. The Monduran Anglers Stocking Association held its family fishing competition on 19-20 October – it was a great weekend. Good numbers of competitors, both senior and junior, signed up, plus there were great quantities of fish caught. Barra were active and moving about. And not only in the

main basin area, but also throughout the dam, with anglers having to move around to chase them. As it turned out though, the majority of the barra landed were trolled up in the main basin area, yet you still had to have the right lure or plastic on, and be in the right place at the right time. I’m sharing a little secret now… a few of these barra were caught, landed and recorded on * continued P63

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Lake Monduran barra * from P62

some of the cheaper offthe-shelf plastics and lures. Catching barramundi at Monduran is open to all levels of fisher people. Having said that however, you really do need to use the right tackle to target these fish because they can destroy gear fairly quickly. Those big barra can peel line off a reel at a great rate of knots, so when that monster hits, a good drag system on a quality reel will save you a lot of heartache. Check in with your local tackle shop and get them to set you up with a decent outfit. As most seasoned barramundi anglers know, timing and bite times are key to getting good barra. This was a good weekend for catching this species and a lot of firsttime barra fishos were not disappointed. Not so surprisingly, on the Sunday, the female anglers kicked butt. All the barramundi that were landed and recorded at the weigh station were from female anglers. Also, each barra that came in was over 1m.

I know a lot of these anglers are super keen to get back out there. Over the weekend, there were a lot of first timers landing barra. Sadly for us seasoned anglers, many of the fish caught by the first timers were 1m plus. Have to be happy for them though. You’d think it would be all downhill from there, but at Monduran, it wasn’t. During the competition, before being released as soon as possible, the fish landed were placed on a brag mat with the angler’s nomination card and photographed. Those images were later viewed and recorded. Bass weren’t as prevalent for the event, but what did come in were built like footballs. Very solid fish, probably seasoned from running from hungry barra. They were caught on spinnerbaits, vibes, blades and live shrimp. Barra favourites for the comp were the Pristine Lures PT150 Spangled Perch, Molix Shad Swimbait 140mm and an assortment of hardbody lures getting down to 3-4.5m.

Rowan Eyles and the best bass for the weekend.

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Adam Turner and his monster 122cm barramundi.

Tackle World Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic wrap up

HE Tackle World Bundaberg Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic was held on October 18-20, 2024, with 117 juniors and 410 senior entrants, surpassing last year’s numbers. Without a doubt, the increase in people attending the classic and the funds raised for future stocking complemented the generous donations and kindness from our sponsors and supporters. Thousands of dollars were injected into the local economy by the 527 visitors to Lake Monduran Holiday Park and the surrounding areas over the classic weekend, and preceding and following the event. The luckiest entrant was Adam Mitchell, who was drawn out in the major random lucky draw for the $13,800 boat, motor and trailer package. With the casting competition, colouring-in comp and annual hunt for the colour-

ed barramundi signs around the lake, the juniors had plenty to do. Catering options were well covered with Piping Hot Woodfired Pizzas, ice cream and coffee vans, and the Monduran Anglers and Stocking Association canteen run by the Emergency Services cadets from Gin Gin. With 288 fish recorded over the weekend, many people caught either their first-ever or personal best barra at this year’s event, helping to make lifelong memories. Live barramundi in various sizes accounted for 168 of these fish, with 85 over the magic 1m mark and a massive 122cm barra caught by Adam Turner. The vast range in sizes recorded indicates that the annual stocking of the lake is producing a good mix of fish and surviving batches of fingerling releases are ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of our

stocking program. Live fish captures for Australian bass were recorded as 11, the live jewfish section saw 37 fish and a good mix of 72 catfish were also recorded. Funds raised from this year’s classic will be used to purchase fingerlings to continue building this superb fishery for future generations. A fingerling release in late November of 250,000 barramundi was confirmed, thanks to the great success of this years’ Tackleworld Bundaberg Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic. Next year’s dates are set for October 1719, 2025, so lock this weekend into your calendar and be a part of a great annual family event. Keep up to date with the stocking groups activities via the new Monduran Anglers and Stocking Association Facebook page or masa-fishstocking. org.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 63

Important business arising

Bradley Innes of Goonelabah NSW with two large yellowbelly.

ITH the elections now over and 2025 knocking at the door, there are many things to be done. Things asked for by yours truly back in 2015 were: • To increase the minimum size limit of silver perch and golden perch from 30cm up to 35cm • That 10 in possession for golden perch remain • With silver perch caught on storages, that possession be returned to five. During the last floods

Total number of permits sold, 2018 to 2024.

Total dollars raised per SIPS type, 2018 to 2024. Page 64 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

Glenlyon Dam by BRIAN DARE

in 2021-22, both silver perch and golden perch were sighted breeding 50km upstream of Pike Creek, which is 38km above the end of Glenlyon. The eggs from both fish were sighted floating in mass amounts within grass leaves and small twigs, much the same a frogs’ eggs though not free of debris. Because it was outside the time frame of stocked perch being purchased from the hatcheries, the result of small silver and golden perch being caught 11 months later was that, due to the extra recruitment, they didn’t match up to the usual growth rates. Hatchery fingerlings are ready to eat within 14 months. Little was done about the 2015 request. Then, at the Mackay freshwater workshop, the increase was noted. At Murgon July 2024, we were advised that the freshwater working group accepted the request. It is yet to get to the house – I hope it hits the table soon and is changed to 35cm across the board. If you want confir-

mation on the 2015 request, write to me and I’ll send it out by slow mail, along with six other requests made back then. Accompanying this article are tables showing permit sales, funds collected and totals of what type of permit was purchased. Keep in mind the following costs, at the time of writing – a weekly permit $12.72, annual concessional $43.46 and yearly permit 18 years and over $60.42. Oh yes, and you guessed it, a new consumer price index rise that’s yet to be added – 3.8 percent for 2025, I think. With closed season for Murray cod in rivers, streams and storages now over for all four states, it’s time to start those lure, bait and trolling styles on the big guns in the rivers and secret locations. For those who catch and release, could I ask that you have all your camera gear ready to take those quick shots prior to release? Already there have been sightings of large dead floating cod on Glenlyon’s storage. No, they were not * continued P65

Total dollars raised over time, 2018 to 2024.

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A fence across a river is dangerous, they should be removed before someone gets hurt.

Important business arising * from P64

struck by boats, there were no major markings on the cods’ frames. You will always hear or see the words, “Did you let it go?” Well, if it’s Brian Dare, I ate it. I don’t keep fish from our river systems, it’s tough out there in the scrub and bush systems. Yes, I love the flesh of cod, and it’s such a

pleasure preparing it for eating. Never store fish flesh in freezers for more than two months. Eat what you’ve caught, then venture back out to improve your fishing style. Christmas is getting close, so I’d like to wish you all a merry Christmas on behalf of Debbie and the family and have a great new year.

Total number of permit types sold, 2018 to 2024.

Monthly SIPS sales, July 2023 to June 2024.

GLENLYON DAM TOURIST PARK A great place to fish! • Powered and Unpowered Sites • No Domestic Pets or Generators • Kiosk • Ice • Gas • Petrol • Amenities Blocks and Laundry • BBQs • Hire Boats • EFTPOS • Fishing Permits

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GLENLYON DAM TOURIST PARK via STANTHORPE 4380 Contact Debbie or Brian Dare for more information or for bookings Ph: 02 6737 5266 E: glenlyondamtouristp@bigpond.com Visit our new website at glenlyondamtouristpark.com.au www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 65

A 62cm flathead and my new personal best 40cm bream, both caught in the Logan River. Louis Brown Jacob Margolis and I with snapper caught off Cape Moreton. Blake Rimmington

We caught some quality snapper recently off Evans Head. Greg with the biggest beast for the morning at 84cm, Slater with two quality snapper in the high 70cm range and I scored a nice 65cm fish. James Wimble

An 87cm mangrove jack my son Oisin Buckingham caught a while back. Siobhain Climo

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. Page 66 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

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Out for a holiday fish, we were casting live bait for about 30 minutes when I got a bite. Fifteen minutes later, a horse came up. Smiles and fillets for days. James Jeffery Mohsin Shah caught his first ever jewfish at Sanden National Park. It measured 82cm long. Peter Protheroe

Redland Bay Amateur Fishing Club winners of the October/November RBAFC Sports Fishing Competition, which runs monthly. Boating a 54cm snapper (to the fork) was Matt Savas, landing a 69cm flathead was Jackson Whittell, capturing a 57cm tailor (to the fork) was Koby Savas and hooking a 52cm tuskfish was Duncan Chowns. RBAFC

Our daughter Laura with her catch of a yellowbelly from Glenlyon Dam. David Prow

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 67

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TIN CAN BAY The Chandlery Bait & Tackle Shop 1, The Marina Emperor St, Tin Can Bay www.tcbchandlery.com.au 07 5486 4744 Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 69

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BOWEN Reefside Marine 34 Don St, Bowen Q 4805 P: 07 4789 2944 E: enquiries@reefsidemarine.com.au www.reefsidemarine.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

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024 – Page 71

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Page 72 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2024

BNB Fishing Mag | December 2024

Articles inside

Genesis of a lake's fishery

Barra Bash battle

Setting up for targeting spaniards

Stacer's ultimate fishing boat