Fishing Monthly Magazine | June 2024 by Fishing Monthly

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LOCATION SPOTLIGHT

Jamie Robley explores Tuggerah Lakes

Features

Spotlight: Tuggerah Lakes • How to catch more bream • Starlo’s fishing essentials • Tested: Shimano Stradic FM reel • Local area reports •

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Our Cover

Contents

From the Editor’s Desk... It’s been a ridiculously busy start to the year at the FM Offices, even though all of the staff went home at COVID and didn’t come back. ABT, Fishing Monthly’s sister company, powers along and when we do ABT road trips, we usually incorporate a boat test or three at the same time. After all, we can’t just drive to Melbourne at the drop of the hat. We’ve just spent a week in Sydney for a couple of events (including the Daiwa BREAM Australian Open and the Maui Jim round of the BREAM Series) and let me commiserate with y’all who live there. I managed to get a parking ticket for

parking my trailer at the boat ramp. Granted, I didn’t read the fine print on the sign. We removed the vehicle to go and run the event with and when we got back, the $129 infringement was neatly tucked under the 7-pin flat plug on the unloaded, unattached trailer. The sign read “24h parking for boat trailers with vehicles attached”. But it wasn’t the first time I’d been fined while out fishing. In Brisbane, to stop people car-camping at West End, there’s a rule that you can’t park a vehicle anywhere near the boat ramp between midnight and 3am. Bad news if you meet someone for a late night threadfin or mulloway session.

That one was only $90, even though it was pretty obvious that there was nobody camping in the car. But I like to take a positive attitude, and at least there was free parking at both of these locations. What I really get cranky about is at boat ramps and service centres where single cars park in the trailer spots. Strangely, I get madder about that than the poor old parking officer doing his job. We just need old mate to be there with his tickets when Jack-the-Dog-Walker reckons that the last trailer park at the boat ramp is a great place to leave the car. So close to the water! Enjoy this issue.

INSIDE This Issue

QLD NSW

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FISHING MONTHLY MAGAZINE Qld Fishing Monthly Pty Ltd

Tathra

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Gippsland Lakes

REGULAR FEATURES Spotlight: Tuggerah Lakes

Breamtopia

Starlo: fishing essentials

Tagging Tales

Marlo

Sheik of the Creek

Mallacoota

Testing Booth

Robinvale

Phases of the moon

Yarrawonga

Bendigo

Fun page

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What’s New Fishing

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COMPS AND OFFERS 69

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FISHING MONTHLY MAGAZINE PUBLISHED JUNE 2024

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Leon McClymont with a lovely tuna from Queensland’s south coast.

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FEATURE

Location

FMM

Exploring the delights of the Tuggerah Lakes CENTRAL COAST

Jamie Robley

The Tuggerah Lakes system lies roughly 100km north of Sydney and has been a popular angling destination for over a century. It’s such a great location that a large percentage of the local population is made up of people who’ve relocated from the Sydney area. My family has called this region home for around 200 years so I have some local knowledge up my sleeve when it comes to the fishing around here. Hopefully, some of the info in this article will help you catch a few more or bigger fish around the lakes. I’ve long believed that these lakes are underrated and misunderstood. Even as a kid I remember hearing people say the lakes are fished out and full of stinking weed and mud. “Hardly worth fishing these days,” they said 50 years ago! Fast forward to 2024, and some people still think that. Such words tend to come from those

who either don’t live around the lakes or have little interest in fishing. Yes, the lakes are very weedy, and they may not be the greatest angling location on the planet. However, they are home to an extraordinary amount of marine life. The weed is home to millions of juvenile bream, mullet, garfish, shrimp, crabs and many other organisms. People would be amazed if they knew how full of life the lakes really are. Another thing I hear is that the lake is “netted out”. Yes, the lakes are still open to commercial harvesting. However, the local netting, crabbing and prawning is nowhere near as damaging or drastic as many people assume. Firstly, far fewer commercial fishers are working the lakes than there were 20 or 30 years ago. Government regulations and economic realities have greatly reduced the commercial fishing industry here. Secondly, the vast weed beds act as a barrier, making netting, trapping and even line fishing techniques nearly impossible around a large percentage of the lake margins. This is where most

Most of the bream caught in the lakes are on the small side but there are definitely bigger bream here! 8 JUNE 2024

fish and crustaceans live, so they’re in a safe zone. Lastly, as someone who spends a lot of time on and around the water here, I’ve been seeing far less commercial activity than I did years ago – and the little I do see has a minimal impact. FISHING WITH WEED If you’re going to cast a line here, you’re going to be dealing with weed, and it can be problematic. The first thing to consider is that some parts of the lakes are much weedier than others. The weedier areas are the eastern and southern parts of Lake Munmorah, the eastern and western sides of Budgewoi Lake and the southern, eastern and northeastern parts of the larger Tuggerah Lake. I don’t fish much in those sections because it’s just too difficult. The Entrance is also very weedy but there are plenty of clearer, sandy flats and sandy channels adjacent to the weed, and this scenario makes for excellent fishing. Other parts of the system have little or no weed at all. There’s some good fishing up the feeder creeks – Wyong, Wallarah and Ourimbah – which all flow in from the west. The lower reaches of these creeks are still lined with weed, but once you get past the first 800m, the weed becomes less and less until it’s all just steeper banks with fallen timber, moored boats, pontoons and a few bridges – all great habitat for bream and other fish. Each side of Toukley Bridge is mainly rocky, with the remains of the old timber bridge and, of course, the large concrete bridge pylons. These structures are home to bream, flathead and other species. Budgewoi Channel, which links Lake Munmorah and Budgewoi Lake, is also a bit deeper, with rocks, bridge pylons and a few other artificial features. As you can see, there are various forms of

fish-attracting structure around the lakes without too much weed to deal with. Wind is a very important factor to consider when it comes to dealing with the weed. Whichever way the wind

Above: The feeder creeks that flow into the western side of the lakes are Ourimbah, Wyong and Wallarah. The upper reaches of all three creeks are excellent places to cast lures or flies for bream. Main photo: Try Toukley Bridge for bream and flathead on baits or lures in summer and autumn, or luderick in winter. A few tailor, whiting, EP, flounder and even the occasional mulloway can be caught here. The key is to fish close around the pylons instead of casting further out into the lake. is blowing, that’s the same way it will move weed across the surface of the lake. A strong westerly wind, for example, will push lots of weed to all eastern

Location FEATURE

FMM shorelines. A southerly wind pushes weed to the northern shorelines, and so on. By keeping track of the wind direction you’ll have a better idea of where to go fishing. If it’s been blowing from the east for a few days, it’s better to try your luck somewhere on the eastern side of the lakes, such as Budgewoi or The Entrance. Things become more difficult during prolonged, calm periods, or when there has been variable wind. This means drifting weed can be randomly floating around almost anywhere. In this case, you could consider trying up the creeks where there is generally no weed, or closer to the mouth at The Entrance as the tide is rising. The incoming tide mainly pushes in clean ocean water, as opposed to the ebbing tide, which tends to pull weed from the lakes towards The Entrance. Just remember, the abundant weed is actually beneficial because it shelters millions of juvenile fish. It’s a safe zone where netting, trapping and line fishing is often impossible, so the fish population has protection from overfishing. That can only be a good thing. BREAM The dominant target species throughout the lakes is bream. They can be found everywhere, from the surf zone just out from the mouth of the lakes at The Entrance, right up to the extreme limits of brackish water up

Wyong, Wallarah and Ourimbah creeks. The number of juvenile bream in these lakes is far greater than most people could ever imagine. It’s easy to think that all the bream here are small, but there are some big fish amongst them. The biggest bream I’ve ever seen was caught in front of me in Budgewoi Channel many years ago. It was close to the 3kg mark and fell to a bait of luderick gut in the middle of winter. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that you’ll run into a beast like that these days. However, it is very possible to catch bigger bream, well over a kilo, almost anywhere around the system. My best bream have mainly come

When the weather is calm the lakes are like giant mirrors.

Flathead are widely available around the entire Tuggerah Lakes system. Many are a bit small, but it’s not uncommon to catch a better class of fish.

from Toukley Bridge, the lower reaches of Wyong and Wallarah and Lake Munmorah. Over the years, I’ve caught a lot of 1-2kg bream in those locations. In my experience, you’re more likely to encounter bigger bream during autumn and winter. Good quality natural baits like mullet gut, fresh local prawns, live prawns, fresh garfish and freshly caught tailor are proven baits here. The fresher the better. It’s also important to fish your baits in the right manner, i.e. with light line, small, sharp hooks and very minimal sinker weight. Just the tiniest of ball sinkers threaded up the line, running straight down to the hook is all you need in most places. Sometimes,

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FEATURE

Location

though, the current at The Entrance or Toukley Bridge may mean a slightly larger sinker is necessary. Almost all the bigger bream I’ve caught here with natural baits have been hooked at night. Lure fishing will also score bigger bream, but you’ll need to sift through plenty of smaller ones along the way. Don’t be discouraged by all these small

FMM the bream situation, most flathead tend to be small, but there’s always a chance of a better fish if you persist. Generally, the best area for flathead is around The Entrance. You can catch them from the surf zone just outside of the channel mouth, up to the bridge and further out amongst the weedy flats and sandy channels that flow into the main body of Tuggerah Lake. The Entrance is also where you’re more likely to find bigger fish, especially down towards the mouth. Other reasonable flatty spots are Toukley Bridge and the lower sections of Ourimbah, Wyong and Wallarah or Budgewoi Channel. Although many

Autumn and early winter is the time to target bigger bream. This one took a small metal vibe in 2m of water off a shallow rocky point. bream. Just because you only caught little ones the last few times you went out, doesn’t mean a big one won’t turn up on your next trip. Persistence is the key here. Most lures that tempt bream anywhere around the country will work here. My main go-to lures are small surface pencil or stickbait types through the warmer months, and a variety of soft plastics, hardbody crankbaits, and small metal vibes. Most of my lure caught bream in recent years have fallen to small metal vibes, but I often start out early in the morning with surface lures. If the fish are responding to surface lures, I’ll stick with that approach until things slow down. Each day is different, but I’ll often swap over to a sinking vibe, softy or crankbait once the sun gets up a bit. Bream are available every month of the year, but I enjoy summer and autumn the most. Things can get tough

Whiting are quite common and more active during the warmer months. This one snatched a soft plastic meant for a bream. flathead hover around the 35-40cm mark, it’s not uncommon to get 55-60cm fish. These sizes are perfect for the fry pan if you’re that way inclined. Most of the flathead I catch here are a bycatch while targeting bream, so they clearly like the small bream lures I use. If you want to specifically chase the flatties though, it’s hard to beat a good soft plastic around 100-120mm. Casting softies around The Entrance or Toukley Bridge at night, in the illuminated water, is a sure way of finding fish.

The Entrance bridge is a hotspot for bream, luderick, tailor and flathead. Plenty of fish are also caught on the western side of the bridge in the sandy patches between the weed beds. in July, August and September. I have occasionally run into some reasonable bream fishing up the creeks at that time of year, but most of the time I’ll target other species during those slow months. FLATHEAD Although not quite as widespread here, flathead are still very popular. Like 10 JUNE 2024

The lakes are home to prawns during the warmer months, so they make extremely effective baits when fished live around The Entrance or Toukley Bridge. Whitebait or thin strips of garfish, mullet or tailor are other top-notch baits to try. OTHER FAVOURITES Luderick are a popular winter species

MONTH-BY-MONTH GUIDE January A fantastic month for bream, flathead, whiting and prawns. It can get very crowded at The Entrance but many parts of the lakes don’t cop much holiday pressure. Fish early in the morning, before the wind picks up. February A better version of the previous month. Lure casting for bream is particularly productive, with a few flathead and whiting over the shallows. Bream, bass and perch are possible further up the creeks, and prawns or crabs are normally going well in the lakes. March Another excellent month and much the same as February. The persistent onshore sea breezes start backing off so afternoon fishing around the lakes is easier. Some years though, heavy rainfall can wipe out the fishing here at this time of year. April The seasons are changing now. Bream are still in good numbers throughout the lakes and creeks but they can get a little harder to tempt after a cooler patch of weather. Tailor and luderick become more active, and flathead and whiting are still easy enough to find. May The fishing is starting to slow down. Bream are beginning to thin out but bigger specimens are on the cards, especially around Toukley Bridge, Budgewoi or The Entrance. Tailor and luderick are noticeably more active this month. June Getting slower now. Bream become harder to find around the main bodies of the lakes, but the creeks can fish quite well for numbers of smaller to averagesize bream and a few perch, luderick and tailor. The Entrance is the place to be for luderick. July A much slower month. Luderick are the main option at The Entrance, Toukley Bridge or Budgewoi. There are a few bream up the creeks or at The Entrance. August Traditionally, the toughest month of the year. If the luderick aren’t biting, consider fishing the local beaches, rocks or offshore. September Another slow month, but a few warmer, sunny days will help raise the lakes’ water temperature. A few bream and flathead start to spark up but luderick remain the main target species. October Warming up now and fishing improves as the temperatures increase. Bream and flathead are well worth chasing, more so in the lower reaches of the creeks, around Toukley Bridge, Budgewoi or The Entrance. A few late-season luderick are also likely at The Entrance. November Coming into a good time of year for lure casting for bream throughout the whole system. Surface lures work well around sunrise. Try soft plastics, crankbaits or sinking vibes as the sun gets higher. Prawns become more active now and make a great bait for local bream, flathead and whiting. December Things are in full swing now. Bream are abundant and easier to catch on a variety of lures and baits. Flathead and whiting are also widely available. The creeks can also go well for bream, perch or bass up in the freshwater. Be aware though, while bass fishing here you’ll probably share the water with other kayaks and canoes. More people are also out and about as we approach the holiday season.

and like the flathead, the main area to find them is around The Entrance. Other spots worth a try through the cooler months are each side of Toukley Bridge, Budgewoi Channel and some of the deeper rocky points such as Buff Point. Whiting are also on the list, mainly through the warmer months. Most whiting are caught around The Entrance but I’ve caught them everywhere from the northern end of Lake Munmorah through to the upper reaches of the creeks. They’re pretty widespread. Tailor, flounder, bass, estuary perch, longtoms, mullet, garfish and leatherjacket are other species you’ll encounter when fishing the lakes or

creeks here. At times, the tailor can be quite prolific and they’ll bite you off in the blink of an eye, so be careful when casting expensive lures around, especially at night. Crustaceans like prawns, blue swimmer crabs and mud crabs are also widely available around the lakes. Many locals like to put out a few witches’ hats for the blue swimmers through summer and autumn, and at times this is very productive. All in all, Tuggerah Lakes may be weedy, but the system is also teeming with life. If you put in the effort and do things right, this is a very rewarding waterway to fish.

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FEATURE

Species

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Breamtopia: lowdown on catching more NEW SOUTH WALES

Aaron Roddam

Bream fishing is a popular and rewarding angling pursuit that attracts both seasoned anglers and beginners. These feisty and cunning fish can provide an exciting challenge, testing your skills and patience, making them a thrilling opponent. Bream can be found in rivers, lakes and estuaries, along with coastal areas. They are opportunistic feeders, known for their sharp vision and wariness, making them difficult for anglers to target. To increase your chances of success it’s crucial to select the appropriate gear, time and location, and also familiarise yourself with bream behaviour and characteristics.

Teaching them young! Teaching our children to practice catch and release is important to keep fish populations sustainable. 12 JUNE 2024

SPECIES Australian bream are a group of fish species that belong to the family Sparidae. They are highly sought-after by recreational anglers for their spirited fights, delicious taste, and widespread distribution along the Australian coastline. In Australia, several species of bream are commonly targeted by anglers. The three most notable species are: • Yellowfin bream (Acanthopagrus australis): yellowfin bream are among the most popular and widely distributed bream species. They are found in estuaries, rivers and coastal areas along the eastern and southern coastlines of Australia. Yellowfin bream have a distinctive yellow dorsal fin, which gives them their name. • Black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri): Black bream are mainly found in the southern and western regions of Australia, particularly in the estuaries of South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. They are known for their dark colouration and strong fighting ability. • Pikey bream (Acanthopagrus berda): Pikey bream are found in northern Australian waters, including Queensland and the Northern Territory. They have a slightly different appearance from their southern counterparts and are known for their adaptability to various habitats. GEARING UP Using the right tackle and gear is essential to maximise your prospects. An ideal outfit is a light-to-medium action spinning rod (6-7ft) paired with a highquality reel (e.g. a 6-7ft, 2-4kg rated spinning rod coupled with a 2000-2500 size reel). You want a rod that allows you to detect subtle bites. Hooks should be small and sharp, in a size appropriate for your bait, generally #6 to #10. This

combination offers the sensitivity required for accurate casts and effective hooksets. You should spool your reel with a 6-10lb monofilament or braided line.

clear water. Regularly change your leaders to maintain optimal performance. Your tackle arsenal should include a diverse selection of jigheads, hooks, and

Above: A 40cm bream caught at St Georges Basin, a well-known spot where sizeable fish can be caught. Main photo: Releasing undersize or breeding fish preserves the fishery for future generations to enjoy. Mono is a good choice when fishing higher in the water column or during low light conditions, though braid is a more durable line. A running sinker rig with a size 1-2 ball sinker above a swivel, followed by a fluorocarbon leader, works well. Adding a fluorocarbon leader is great to enhance stealth and reduce visibility. Tie the leader to braid with an FG knot; this is one of the best knots to use. Adjust the leader length based on water clarity and conditions. When it comes to fishing lines and leaders, fluorocarbon leaders in the 4-10lb range excel for bream. Their low visibility and abrasion resistance increase your chances of fooling wary fish, especially in

sinkers. Having a variety of hook sizes ensures you’re prepared for various bait options and bream sizes. Fine-tune your configuration by adjusting weights based on the water depth and current. Using a lighter jighead will let your lure suspend for longer in the water column, staying in the strike zone longer. Invest in a compact, organised tackle bag or box to keep your gear easily accessible. Look for compartments tailored to different lure types, tackle and tools. A well-organised tackle system saves time on the water and increases overall efficiency. Don’t overlook the importance of personal gear. Equip yourself with a

Species FEATURE

FMM wide-brimmed hat, polarised sunglasses and sunscreen for protection against the elements during those long hours on the water. BAIT Bream are omnivorous and rely on a variety of prey, including mussels, crustaceans and small fish, as well as aquatic vegetation for sustenance. When it comes to bait, live options such as sand worms, whitebait (small fish) and prawns are effective choices. Prawns are the quintessential bream bait. They can be threaded onto a small hook, with a splitshot sinker for added weight, and cast near underwater structures or vegetation

A little afternoon fishing with good weather conditions can be rewarding. where bream love to hide. Artificial lures like soft plastics, small crankbaits and spinners can also successfully entice a bite. Opt for natural colours that mimic the bream’s natural prey. Ultimately, fishing is a trial-and-error process, so experiment with different bait options to determine what works best in your location and conditions. LURES Soft plastic lures, emulating grubs or shrimp, are proven performers. Their lifelike action and adaptability make them ideal for diverse fishing conditions. For an adrenaline-pumping experience, turn to surface lures like poppers or walkers. These lures create captivating ripples and splashes, drawing in bream that lurk near the water’s surface. Vibes and crankbaits effectively mimic the movement of baitfish – a preferred meal for bream. Vary your retrieve speed and depth to pinpoint the optimal approach, and consider lures equipped with rattles for added attraction, particularly in murky waters. FINDING THE FISH To find bream, focus on areas with ample cover and structure. These fish are often found near structures including submerged rocks or logs, fallen or overhanging trees, jetty pylons, weed beds and rocky outcrops. Look for areas with cover as well as an abundant food supply. Bream tend to congregate around these spots, seeking shelter and easy access to

food, and prefer to stick to water on the shallower side. Timing also plays a vital role in bream fishing. Of course, they can be caught throughout the day, especially on overcast days when they venture closer to the surface. However, early morning and late afternoon are generally the most productive times, as bream are more active during these low-light periods. Additionally, be observant of weather conditions and the moon phase to maximise your chances of success. That first week following a full moon is a top time to try your luck. It’s also good to keep abreast of local fishing reports and trends. Understanding seasonal changes, bait movements, and water temperatures can significantly improve your chances of a successful fishing expedition. TECHNIQUES When targeting bream, finesse is key. Cast your bait near the structures where bream are likely to be hiding, allowing it to sink naturally. Use a slow, twitching retrieve to mimic injured prey. Bream have a keen eye for detail, so be mindful of your bait’s movement and avoid sudden or unnatural motions. Patience is crucial, as bream can be cautious feeders. Experiment with different retrieval speeds to determine what triggers a response from the fish. Bream can be easily spooked, so approach your fishing spot quietly, and avoid sudden movements. Exercise patience and maintain a stealthy presence to increase your chances of success. If fishing from a boat, try drifting over likely bream-holding areas and allowing your bait or lure to drift naturally with the current or wind. This technique can be particularly effective when targeting schools of feeding bream. If one technique or bait isn’t producing results, don’t be afraid to switch things up. Bream can be selective, so try different bait presentations, lures or fishing spots until you find what works best on a given day. CATCH AND RELEASE Whilst Australian bream are a cherished fish species that offer culinary delights, responsible fishing practices are crucial for the sustainability of bream populations. Consider practicing catch and release whenever possible to ensure the survival of undersized or breeding fish, to preserve the fishery for future generations to enjoy. When you’ve successfully hooked a bream, handle it gently and return it to the water as soon as practical. Using wet hands or a landing net is helpful to avoid damaging their delicate scales and slime coat. Bream also have delicate mouths, so taking a considerate approach minimises the risk of the hook pulling free. If you do choose to keep a few for consumption, be sure to adhere to local size and bag limits. TOPWATER LURE FISHING Once you’ve gained some confidence in your abilities, why not challenge

yourself to learn the skill of topwater fishing? Of all the techniques I’ve tried, topwater fishing has been one of the most difficult but definitely the most rewarding. There’s something truly exhilarating about watching a fish explode onto the surface as it strikes your lure. Topwater bream fishing is a thrilling technique that can yield incredible results. Selecting the right lures is crucial for success in topwater bream fishing. Consider using lures that mimic the natural prey of bream, such as poppers, floating pencils or walking baits. These lures create enticing surface disturbances that attract the fish’s attention. Experiment with different lure types, colours and sizes to find what works best in your specific fishing conditions. Be prepared to change tactics when conditions change, or you’re not getting the desired results. When fishing for bream, it’s important to keep your lure close to any structure. Using a sinker or jighead with your lure can help achieve this. Bream are bottom and surface feeders, so it’s important to keep your lure in their feeding zones. These fish are more likely to rise to the surface and strike lures when they feel most comfortable, so topwater fishing in dimmer light conditions can be highly successful. If you prefer a more passive approach, they also respond well to berley, so throw a bag in the water and bring the fish to you. Lures that have a very lifelike quivering action are the best, and they are often hammered hard when the fish are in an aggressive mood. If you like trolling for bream, a lifelike lure is definitely one of the best for the job. Lures in darker shades of green, brown and purple, along with silver and gold, are generally the most appealing

Surface lures can be very effective when fishing the shallows on a run-out tide. excessive splashing. It’s also important to use light fishing line and tackle to ensure a natural presentation and prevent spooking the fish. The retrieve technique can play a vital role in attracting bream to your lure. Start by casting your lure to the desired spot, then let it settle for a moment. Next, impart action to the lure by using short, sharp twitches with your rod tip. This creates splashes, pops, or a zigzagging action, depending on the type of lure. Mimic the movements of baitfish to trigger aggressive bream strikes. Successful topwater bream fishing requires patience and persistence. Bream may be hesitant to strike at first, so don’t give up easily. Experiment with different retrieves, lure colours and sizes until you find what piques their interest. Remember, bream can be selective, so it may take time to figure out the winning combination. By choosing the right lures, timing your fishing correctly, mastering the retrieve technique, targeting the right locations, staying stealthy and being patient, you will increase your chances of success. So, head out to the water, armed with these techniques and tips, and

Leaon Walker with a trophy-winning bream caught on a Cayman lure from Crackerjack Lures. to bream. I have had particularly good success on transparent colours in clear water, and darker colours in more discoloured, murky water. Approaching your fishing spot with caution is crucial for topwater bream fishing. Bream can be easily spooked by excessive noise or sudden movements. Keep a low profile, cast your lure without making unnecessary noise, and avoid

prepare to witness the explosive strikes and unmatched excitement of topwater bream fishing. Bream fishing is a challenging pursuit that requires skill, knowledge and – as with all fishing – a bit of luck. Remember, fishing is also about appreciating nature and enjoying the experience, so take the time to savour your surroundings and embrace the thrill of the chase. JUNE 2024 13

FMM

BACK TO BASICS

Fishing’s essential building blocks NSW SOUTH COAST

Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

Fishing is a life-long journey of learning or at least, it should be! Believe it or not, I’ve now been writing my ‘Back To Basics’ column for this wonderful publication for more than 12 years. That means I’ve produced close to 150 of these damn things! You might think I’d have run out of fishing ‘basics’ to talk about a long, long time ago, but you’d be wrong. Truth is, there’s always room to learn more in this game. The other thing worth remembering is that fresh, new anglers are constantly coming along, joining our ranks, and doing their best to learn the ropes. Information and tips that might seem overly simplistic or even old hat and ho-hum to you could well be game-

Having a well-informed personal mentor — be they a family member, friend or club mate — is a huge help, but even if you don’t have such a guardian fishing angel, there’s a wealth

A lure is a “lie told by a fisher to a fish”, but unless it’s convincing and presented in the right way and at the correct moment, that lie is unlikely to be swallowed!

popular of all — YouTube. Beyond those absolute fishing basics that I’ve already mentioned, we move up the learning curve into the next-tier of skill sets: areas of expertise such as bait rigging, lure presentation, “reading” the water and understanding fish behaviour. These aren’t always things you can easily and quickly learn just from books, magazines, TV shows or even YouTube videos, but those resources will definitely help. I suggest you eagerly devour them! For me, the bottom line is this: we NEVER stop learning! Or at least, we shouldn’t. I pick up at least one new

Putting together your first outfit and tray of tackle can be a daunting experience for the new chum. ended learning experience. From what I’ve seen, those folks who reckon they know it all very rarely do. With all of this in mind, I

Fancy knots like this plait look very impressive, but you’ll get by through most of your fishing life using much simpler connections. However, it’s still critical that they are all tied correctly — every single time. idea, trick, tip or subtle nuance every single time I go fishing, whether it’s on my own or with other anglers of varying skill levels. It’s vitally important not to be too proud to admit to such an open-

recently kicked off a new video series on my “Starlo Gets Reel” YouTube channel called “The Building Blocks of Fishing”. It assumes absolutely no prior knowledge on the part of the

Surf or beach fishing is incredibly popular, especially around the southern half of our vast continent. However, many anglers remain hungry for additional information on how to improve their catches.

14 JUNE 2024

of information out there. When I was a novice, it mostly came from books and magazines, but these days we can add all of the electronic and on-line media sources to that mix: TV shows, videos, podcasts, websites, Facebook, Instagram and — perhaps the most

While lure and even fly fishing gets lots of airtime and social media coverage, bait is where it’s at for the vast majority of new chums — and bait fishing is a very good place to start your angling career.

YOUTUBE

changing for them. When you get right down to it, there are just a handful of absolutely fundamental skills that are essential to becoming a consistently successful angler. They’re things like being able to tie a knot that won’t easily slip or break, construct a rig that appeals to fish, cast that rig far enough and with sufficient accurately to reach those fish, and then knowing how to detect a bite, set the hook and land the catch. None of these things are rocket science, yet it’s surprising how often newcomers and casual ‘danglers’ get them a little bit wrong. Critically, falling even 10 per cent short of getting these things ‘right’ can dramatically impact your fishing results — often spelling the difference between a happy, fruitful day on the water with a couple of nice fish to bring home and eat, and the dreaded “walk of shame” to the fish shop instead! Fortunately, there are plenty of resources on offer that can fast-track your acquisition of these basic skills.

We never stop learning — or at least, we shouldn’t! Starlo has really enjoyed his recent YouTube collaborations with beach fishing guru Roger Osborne, and has picked up plenty of tips himself from this gun angler.

Watch the first part of Starlo’s “Building Blocks” video series.

viewer, instead taking them by the metaphorical hand and leading them gently onto the easiest beginners’ slopes of that never-ending learning curve. If you’re interested, you can use the QR code hereabouts to navigate straight to the first episode. But whether you do that or not, I urge you to have an open mind and to be a sponge keen to soak up knowledge. I guarantee that attitude will ultimately make you a better fisher.

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QLD Southern

FMM

Gold Coast beaches brimming with bait THE TWEED

Leon McClymont

There are plenty of whitebait and mullet running along the beaches, which have seen an abundance of species on offer. Very good-sized whiting, high40cm stuff, have been following under

45-65g slugs are generally the go-to. Fishing bait, such as pilchards and cut baits, will keep the tailor in the gutter/area biting longer, as the bait gets distributed whilst fishing it keeps them more active and feeding. Big mulloway have been following the schools of mullet along the beaches. Fishing the gutters on a rising tide of an evening is the best

Local land-based frother, Damo Norman, with a well-deserved Spanish taken on a dead tailor slide baited from a local ledge.

Blake Harris with a late season mangrove jack. the whitebait schools, pillaging off the smorgasbord of whitebait in the gutters. Using the whitebait or beach worms has been doing the damage. There have been lots of dart in the wash along with greenback tailor in good numbers. If you can find the birds and bait, the fish will also be there. Using small metal slugs is the most effective and very fun way to target the dart and tailor, using

option for targeting a mulloway off the sand. Some good gutters along Casuarina Beach, back of Cabarita Pub, and Fingal Beach north of the headland; all these gutters have been holding plenty of bait and good fish. If beach fishing isn’t your scene but you’re also wanting to target mulloway, then they are also congregating at the headlands and break walls waiting for the mullet to

come to them as the mullet transit the river mouth entrances. Throwing hardbody lure or soft plastics to imitate the mullet is a great way to target them. Mulloway are also very good bait feeders; they feed a lot from the bottom off the sand. Fishing baits, such as cut mullet or pilchards, are great and will work, but you can’t go past a well-presented beach worm or a fresh squid; big mulloway love them both. Beyond the breakers, the tuna are still around. Mack and longtail tuna are making the most of the abundant whitebait on offer, along with spotty and Spanish mackerel. This is the back end of the mackerel season, so it

The boys onboard Degenerate produced a game boat grand slam! They caught all three species of marlin in one day! Left to right: Simon Hindmarsh with a blue and a black marlin, and Cav Lollback with a striped marlin. 16 JUNE 2024

can be a bit slow at times, but the fish class is usually rather good with big fat winter mackerel making their way back north. The inshore reefs have been firing with snapper as they have moved right in from the outer reefs. Plenty of cobia have also been on offer as they follow the whale migration north. Pearlies and trag jew are biting well on the 36-50s. Fishing cut mullet, pilchard, and squid on paternoster rigs have been the most productive. Slow-pitch jigging has been the new go-to thing for targeting bottom and mud-water-dwelling species, such as snapper, pearlies, and kings. The current has been fairly good lately, but if you’re having trouble keeping your bait or jig on the bottom and remaining over your bait, then upgrade your sinker or jig size and use the boat to your advantage; reversing back up on your line/baits to keep them on the bottom and in the bite zone. June is your best time to head wide to the continental shelf for some deep-dropping action targeting bar cod, nannygai, and flametail snapper, as we have very calm days and the current is very minimal this time of year. Still, plenty of marlin around from the reports from the game boat anglers, one of the local boats producing a grand slam for the boys on the boat Degenerate, skippered by Nick Foster and Kurt Donnelly runs the deck with a couple of other mates on board. They recently had an amazing bite resulting with what is known as a grand slam, capturing all three species of marlin in one day, an amazing achievement for any game boat. Well done, guys.

QLD Southern

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Transitional species and trophy catches GOLD COAST

David Green

This month sees the water temperature drop on the inshore grounds and a lot of the pelagics start to move north to warmer waters. Despite this, it is a good time to chase big mackerel and wahoo, and a lot of the biggest of these species will turn up in June. Trolled baits from a downrigger is the best method to catch big mackerel. There have been a few huge Spanish mackerel caught off the Gold Coast this season. Bottom fishing improves this month and snapper, teraglin, parrot fish and pearl perch start to show on the 36 and 50 fathom reefs. Float lining, soft

A typical size winter flathead.

A double hitter of snapper from the author. plastics and live baits are all effective. Fish dawn and dusk for the best results. Mulloway start to turn up in numbers on the inshore grounds at night and live slimy mackerel, tailor and tarwhine are all effective baits. Cobia also show up in June and the 20 fathom reef is a good place to look for these fantastic fighting fish. Cobia like big soft plastics and large live baits. A lot of berley also helps and it pays to be patient and wait for the fish to come to you. Cobia around 30kg are fairly common in June, although the seasons tend to be quite erratic from year to year. The artificial reef located in 23m of water northeast of the Seaway also commonly holds cobia. The area just east of the Jumpinpin Bar is worth a look on the last of the run-in tide. This area holds long tail tuna, some big Spanish mackerel and quite a few spotted mackerel. Look for the birds and bait schools and cast metal lures, stick baits and large soft plastics. If the water is blue and warm the fishing can be very good in this area. Trolling bibbed minnows or garfish is another good alternative to try. The long tails can sometimes be just at the back of the surf line. Keep your distance and make long casts. A high speed retrieve

is essential, and these tuna are fantastic fighters that can take a long time to wear down. Out on the continental shelf the water generally remains warm throughout the month and it is a good month to chase blue marlin, with increasing numbers of striped marlin showing up as the water cools down a bit. Most of these are caught on trolled lures. These fish are a great challenge from a small boat but for best results invest in a few 37kg trolling outfits. On 24 or 15kg gear it can be nearly impossible to get the fish up to the surface when they go deep. Deep dropping with electric reels is another good option this month as the current slows. Flame snapper, bar cod and big pearl perch are the main targets. ESTUARIES AND RIVERS The change in seasons sees a lot of fish movement throughout the estuary

generally pretty clean in June and this makes for excellent lure fishing. Work the tops of the flats on high tide and the draining channels as the water runs back off. I generally mix trolling and casting at this time of year. While you may catch the odd big flathead, most of the fish encountered are between 40 and 60cm in length which are the best eating size. Trolled Micro Mullets and Zerek Tango Shads are very reliable and catch flathead of all sizes. For casting I like to use a mix of soft vibes like the Fish Trap, small prawns, soft plastics and blades. It pays to experiment as the tastes of our local flathead seem to vary from day to day. Mulloway are another good target this month, and tend to bite best on tide changes in the Seaway and Jumpinpin entrances. Live mullet and live pike are the preferred baits. I like to fish a high tide change between 7 and 10pm and most of the bites come as the water slows down. I prefer to use mono to braid for this type of fishing as the bigger fish are easily spooked and I’ve noticed that they often drop the bait on braid. The mulloway action increases towards the end of the month and generally peaks in July. During daylight hours the entrance of Swan Bay is a great place to try using live pike or big soft plastics. A lot of mulloway over a metre long are caught here. Mud crabs slow down this month but there should still be plenty of sand crabs around on the run-in tide close

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Kord Lucas with a decent wahoo. and big schools of mullet start to move towards the entrances. The water cools and the fishing generally improves. Flathead and bream start to show in numbers and increasing numbers of big mulloway start to move into the estuary at night. If you are targeting flathead, work the central areas of the estuaries and up the creeks. The fish are yet to start their downstream movement in preparation for spawning and most are feeding actively. There are usually quite a few white pilchards in the estuary in June and these attract a lot of attention from tailer and flathead. The water is

to the weed beds. Use mullet, flathead or whiting frames. Sandies are probably the best eating of all the crab species and make a delicious feed when steamed in salty water. Good areas to try for sand crabs are around the eel grass beds in 4-6m of water near Crab Island. They tend to be much more active when the water is clean, conditions are calm and the tide is running in. Overall, June is very much a month of transition when it comes to fishing on the Gold Coast. Conditions are generally good with calm seas and not much rain. There are plenty of good options this month.

QLD Southern

FMM

Mulloway mayhem and winter flathead JUMPINPIN

Bo Sawyer

G’day everyone! I’ve had a bit of a break from the writing side of things while trying to get my first year of chartering under the belt. I’m excited to be back again and would like to say

a big thanks to the Fishing Monthly team for welcoming me back. At the time of writing we’ve had a lot of southerly winds with some nice weather in between the windy days. Water quality has been quite good (if you’re not fishing near sewage spills anyway) and there’s been plenty of bait around, which is something we always

Arwen caught her first mulloway and Dad couldn’t have been more proud..

FG KNOT

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like to see. If you haven’t been living under a rock for the last several weeks you’ve probably heard that the prawns have been firing on all cylinders. At the time of writing, they’ve definitely been in good numbers but I would expect them to pull back a fair bit in June. From the reports I’ve heard the size has been all over the shop but there are definitely some good-sized ones getting around. It doesn’t take long to locate them with the big groups of cast netters getting their fill of prawns, however, don’t be afraid to go and do a little sounding on your own as you may get a big bunch all to yourself. Winter is my favourite time to chase flathead in SEQ and I’m expecting it to be an awesome year for the flatties. It’s usually a solid season after good rainfall and things might be lining up perfectly for us. I’ll be looking for areas with the cleanest water and if I can line a low tide up with dawn or dusk then even better. The best places to aim for are along weed edges, weed patches and drop offs. Look for large banks that have drained off as this will concentrate the fish in a smaller area. Try 3-4”

Ryan caught this 90cm monster and won 1st place in the Pirtek Challenge. plastics with slimmer profiles and a 1/8-1/4 jighead and 2/0-3/0 hook. The average size won’t be massive but the numbers should make up for that. If you want to fish bait then try white bait, pilchards or fresh prawns. If you can catch livies then herring, mullet and prawns are great options. Any banks

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Elijah got this stonker flathead that landed him a 2nd in the Pirtek Challenge.

Southern QLD

FMM around Jacobs Well, tipplers and closer to the pin bar have the potential to hold big schools. Keep an eye on the water temps as they will more than likely be in areas that are a few degrees warmer. June should also see some monster bream around the pin in deeper water. Try and find bait schools to increase the amount of fish you’ll hook. There’s a ton of bait holding in the deeper water around Crusoe and this will be a great place to have a look. Kalinga bank will be another great option and there should be plenty of bait getting around which the tailor will help you locate. Speaking of tailor, there have been plenty getting around at the moment and I can’t see them slowing down

numbers grow over the next couple of years. Well, that’ll just about do me for this month guys. Hopefully you’ve all entered into the King of the Pin and get stuck into some of the great prizes they have on offer. • Don’t forget to see Brett at Jacobs Well Bait and Tackle before you head

Plenty of nice mulloway are getting around at the moment.

Kevin with a solid tailor.

anytime soon. Pilchards, metal slugs or plastics will get the job done and they’re not very picky when they’re in a feeding frenzy. Cast your offering into the bust ups and you should be on before you know it. Our clients have been catching a few in the 60cm bracket and they’ve been putting up an awesome fight. It’s been an incredible bite for the mulloway lately, I’m looking forward to the average size increasing over winter and I’ll be out there with 95mm soft vibes hopefully smacking a few. For bait fishos try live mullet around the 5-7” mark or big pike. There are plenty of mulloway in the 50-70cm size at the moment and I can’t wait to see these

Scanning around bait schools is a great way to find hungry mulloway. out, and if you’d like to learn how to catch flathead on plastics this month please shoot us a message on the Capn’s Charters Facebook page we’d love to have you out. Stay safe out on the water and tight lines.

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QLD Southern

FMM

It’s always worth the effort! BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Now that we are well into brass monkey season with extremely cold air temperatures, early morning starts and night time sojourns require several layers of clothing and some warming liquids to tolerate it. However, for many, winter fishing is appealing enough to make the effort worthwhile. During the coming month there’s an extensive array of species available including snapper, mulloway, luderick, tailor, bream, squid and several other prime targets. However, we can also expect to see captures of longtail tuna, school mackerel, sweetlip, threadfin salmon, flathead, morwong and many others. Rug up, tackle up and get amongst a few of these prime cold weather targets. SNAPPER Most bay anglers look forward to the colder months as the snapper fishing is at a premium with good numbers of quality fish on offer. Snapper can be found in a broad array of locations throughout Moreton Bay and the lower reaches of rivers filtering into this zone. Common

Plenty of undersized snapper will be caught in the coming months. It is important to handle these with care and release them quickly. bay locations such as the numerous artificial reefs, grounds surrounding the bay islands, submerged wrecks and prominent ledges are all good grounds to probe in your search. These can all be fished in a variety of ways with some techniques suiting various locations better than others. Both lures and baits will tempt snapper and those anglers with the better presentations are most likely to score. Water clarity will be affected by wind direction and rainfall and this dictates how finesse you need to go for best results. Westerly winds tend to create very clear water conditions. The use of lighter fluorocarbon leaders, minimal sinker weights and hooks buried well in baits with just the points exposed will 22 JUNE 2024

go a long way to improving results. Lure fishers will also improve results with lighter fluorocarbon leaders, braid mainline and more neutral-coloured presentations. I find that smaller presentations will also improve results on the tough days. Trying several different offerings on any given day can also improve results, especially when you are sounding fish but not getting bites. Bait fishers have a lot of prime offerings at their disposal that snapper will eat. However, some offer better opportunity that others, especially in the more hardfished areas. Live baits are probably the best with yakkas, slimey mackerel, pike, squid, cuttlefish, herring, mullet, gar and pike being a couple of the better offerings. The same can also be utilised in a deceased state however the kicking vibration of a live offering is hard to beat. Other baits such as pilchards, banana prawns, grinners and fillet baits from mullet, gar, tuna, bonito, pike and others will all work well. Salting pilchards and fillet baits, especially tuna and bonito will increase their durability a good degree. Presenting baits so that they are streamlined and waft in the current instead of spinning makes them appear less conspicuous. Fillet baits work best presented on a snelled hook rig with the leading hook in the top of the bait. Whole dead fish baits such as pilchards, gar and the like are can be presented on a snelled hook or ganged hook rig. The leading hook should be placed centrally in the head between the eye and the nose to promote wafting instead of spinning. Lures such as soft vibes, blades, octo jigs, micro jigs and a broad array of soft plastics (commonly jighead rigged) will all work well when presented properly. Cast and retrieve presentations should be cast upcurrent or across current, not against the current. Vertical presentations like octo jigs and micro jigs are ideal for when you are drifting grounds and fish sound directly beneath the boat. I often have a rod rigged ready then simply freespool once a prominent mark shows. The 25g or 40g (dependent on current) Oceans Legacy Roven have a nice fluttering action and have been producing the goods for me. A fluttering jig will often get eaten on the drop, before you even start working it. Drifting the fringes of the bay islands or around artificial reef areas can often reward when you have gang-hook rigged pilchard or lightly weighted plastic dragging aft. This is likely to produce better quality snapper lurking higher in the water column or perhaps a mackerel or tuna. MULLOWAY Plenty of quality mulloway will be caught by anglers targeting snapper, as they readily respond to the same techniques and lures. However, specific targeting can increase results considerably. Mulloway commonly lurk around any areas with structure that attract baitfish, squid, and crustaceans. This can include artificial reefs, wrecks, ledges, deep holes, channels, and gutters. Mulloway often

roam in schools, sometimes comprising over fifty individuals. These schools will show prominently on marine electronics, and anglers will often search likely areas until they find these conglomerations. Then, they are targeted using soft vibes, micro jigs, blades, or soft plastics such as jerkshads, paddle tails, or curltails. In the southern bay, sharks can be a real problem and will quickly pounce on any hooked fish. Once they turn up, it’s best to abort your efforts, as you will repetitively lose every hooked fish and the lure. The same occasionally happens in the Brisbane River, yet it is nowhere near as frequent. However, around the Harry Atkinson and the shipping channel beacons at the mouth of the Brisbane River, you have a decent chance of securing most hooked fish. In all these areas, larger fish can be targeted using live baits including mullet, herring, pike, slimey mackerel, cowanyoung, and even grinners. These are commonly fished close to the bottom from either an anchored craft or while drifting. The dredge holes at the mouth of the Brisbane River are a good option for nighttime sojourns. Anchor upcurrent of the drop-off and drift baits back into the deeper water. The same baits can be fished around the fronts of the shipping terminals and along the edges of the declines into the main basin. Some of these spots will also produce quality snapper, threadfin, cod, and others on live baits. Many will also achieve good results using lures, however, I believe most quality fish around the 120cm mark are more likely to fall for live baits. Mulloway numbers should be healthy over the coming months due to the nutrient increase into inshore waters due to the early year rains. THREADFIN Threadfin numbers have remained healthy in the lower reaches over the last few months; however, by now, the better numbers will more likely be further upriver. Anglers commonly catch threadies all the way up to the Mount Crosby reaches during the colder months. Many target them using live baits in these upper reaches; however, they are certainly a viable target for those using lures such as vibes, plastics, and even minnow lures. Side imaging electronics will easily detect any fish as they show prominently due to their sizeable air bladders. In some areas, they will be seen harassing baitfish and prawns along the edges, their tails, heads, and whiskers often breaking the surface as they feed. Around the city reaches, anglers often fish adjacent to the lighted areas at night. The illumination attracts baitfish, which in turn attracts threadfin, mulloway, and occasionally even tailor and other species. These lighted areas can be found around the city cat terminals, riverside restaurants, and other structures. Some fish better than others on certain nights, so it pays to travel around and visit numerous locations on any given night.

Bream, like this one Mason caught recently, are a great species for anglers of all ages and skill levels. Heightened numbers will flourish in all saltwater environs over the cooler months. Live baiting along the declines into the main river basin and other spots where prawns and baitfish transit with the tidal flow is likely to reward. Some anglers achieve regular results on quality threadfin with this technique and have now worked out where and when offers the best opportunity. Specimens to over 130cm are possible, and several can be taken in a session. While there is nothing wrong with taking a couple of fish for the table, releasing unwanted fish carefully is highly recommended. It is best that these are unhooked boatside and not removed from the water. Sometimes you will need to vent (deflate) the swim bladder to allow the fish to again return to the depths. A release aid (weight) is also useful in getting fish back down. During winter, the better numbers of threadfin will be in the upper reaches of the river, but they can still show almost anywhere along its length. TAILOR Tailor will show almost anywhere at this time of the year, even well up the rivers and estuaries. Plenty are caught from land-based locations such as the Woody Point Jetty, Scarborough Jetty, Manly Rock Wall, Amity Point Wall, Dunwich Jetty, and Hornibrook Platform. Anglers fishing along the Brisbane River often encounter them well up past the Gateway Bridge, especially around lighted areas at night. They respond to a wide array of whole fish baits, fillet strips, and various lures. Land-based anglers can deploy a whitebait, herring, small gar, pilchard, hardihead, or fillet strip under a float or just unweighted. The strikes are often quite aggressive, and as they are a schooling fish, usually, you will catch more than one per session. Casting small chromed slugs and slices, blades, plastics, or even topwater presentations such as small poppers and stick baits can produce some exciting action. Out in the bay, tailor frequent the bay island shallows (especially on early morning high tides), the sand hills area, Rous Channel, artificial reefs, and numerous other spots. A day trip can be made to South Stradbroke Island on the ferry before catching a bus over to Point Lookout. Once there, you can fish (either with bait or lures) from the rocks at Point Lookout or walk the first few kilometres of Main Beach. Tailor,

Southern QLD

FMM bream, flathead, sea mullet, trevally, and several other species are all possible. You also have the option of going to Amity to fish from the rock wall or just staying at Dunwich (where the ferry lands) and fishing there. It can be an enjoyable and rewarding day out. LUDERICK Although luderick aren’t commonly caught by the average angler, they can be readily caught with the correct approach. Luderick are primarily vegetarians, although occasionally one will take a peeled prawn or yabby. The best baits, however, are weed baits, with string, cabbage, and several other weeds being effective. These can be gathered around foreshore areas at low tide, where luderick can be caught during higher tidal stages. These baits are commonly drifted along rock walls, canal walls, harbour walls, and other areas where these aquatic weeds grow, using a near-neutral buoyancy float. This allows the luderick to mouth the bait and begin swimming away without feeling virtually any resistance from the float. When the pencil float dips (a down) or rises (an up), you will strike to set the hook. The distance between bait and float can be varied by altering the float stopper. It’s important to drift baits at different depths along the wall until you determine the depth at which the fish are feeding. This can change several times over a few hours of tidal flow. Luderick fishing is a

little more technical than other forms of fishing, yet very rewarding. It can be done with any rod and reel outfit; however, for the best approach, it’s recommended to use a 9-12ft slowaction rod, centrepin reel with floating monofilament line, pencil float, sneck hooks, fluorocarbon leader, and split shot sinkers. Luderick are great eating; however, for the best flesh quality, keep them alive, then dispatch just before filleting. Remove the black gut lining and skin soon after. I like to soak the fillets in some saltwater for an hour or so. BREAM During the cooler months large numbers of bream can be found throughout the rivers, creeks, estuaries, canals and bay. These can be caught by anglers of all skill

levels from small children to tournament pros. Bream offer quality table fare and sportfishing potential. They will fall for a great array of baits and numerous small lures. A simple running ball sinker rig is commonly used for baits including prawns, yabbies, whitebait, flesh strips, chicken fillet, fowl gut, mullet gut, worms and others. Using minimal sinker weight, sharp #6 to #2 hooks and fluorocarbon leader can increase results however it is not essential. Around artificial structures such as pontoons, docks, jetties and the like, an unweighted bait allowed to slowly waft into the depths will commonly tempt. Casting small diving minnow lures, soft plastics, blades and other small lures can also work and has become a fishing artform for tournament anglers. If you are wanting to

get any novice anglers into fishing then bream are a great first time target that can be caught in nearly any saltwater location. Use quality baits, keep rigging simple and you are likely to score a few bream. SQUID Good numbers of arrow and tiger squid will be caught around the Moreton Bay foreshores, bay islands and major channels. Areas that have reef, rock, rubble or weed beds are ideal spots. Casting egi then retrieving with a series of hops and pauses or a slow wind and pause is enough to tempt most squid. Land-based locations at Scarborough, Wynnum, Manly, Amity Point, Dunwich, Sandgate, Wellington Point and Victoria Point can all produce. Drifting a baited squid skewer behind the boat can also reward. Adding a few squid to the days catch can offer a great feed or prime baits for other species. CONCLUSION With so much on offer during the coming month, anglers will be keen to get out amongst it. I must admit that cold nights, chilly early morning starts and often cold westerly winds during the day are not my cup of tea personally however the array of awesome species on offer will encourage me to rug up and head out. The on water temperatures are usually a few degrees lower than the land temperatures so that is also encouraging. You will be able to score some prime species over the coming month in the Moreton Bay area so throw on a few extra layers and get amongst them.

Threadfin salmon are still on the angling menu during winter, however anglers will generally need to fish higher up the systems to target them.

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QLD Southern

FMM

Westerlies are here, and the rivers are alive BRISBANE

Bob Thornton tackleworldlawnton@gmail.com

After several months, we finally have a run of stable weather! The westerlies have kicked in, the bay has cleared up, and the rivers are alive with their usual seasonal arrivals! Winter has well and truly landed, and if you’re a bit like me and don’t really like the cold, the fishing action we experience throughout winter can make it bearable. More than bearable, in fact! I’m genuinely excited to see what this winter brings, and I know I’m not alone. The captures we saw through April and May were very promising, and if this winter is anything like last year’s, it’s going to be a good one. The massive volume of fresh that flowed into our local estuaries and finally into Moreton Bay over summer and autumn is still providing micro-organisms with life-giving

trevalla, bar cod, bass groper and flame snapper on the menu. Electric reels make the job far easier, and the good news is that we sell them at Tackle World Lawnton! These days electric reels come in a variety of sizes, including models as small as a large low-profile baitcaster! If you’re looking to search the depths for some of the best seafood imaginable, make sure you check our range of electric reels, bent-butt rods, and deepdropping rigs. Moving a little closer, the snapper offshore really come into their own at this time of year. The calmer weather generally allows more trips for trailer boats during winter, and this coincides with hordes of XOS snapper schooling up over shallower reefs in 20-50m of water. Reef systems, shoals and ledges such as Currimundi, Murphys, Caloundra Wide, North West Channel and Hutchies will be good areas to look. While soft plastics in the 5-7”

When you find tiger squid in shallow water they can be very aggressive, with double hook-ups common. nutrients. A population explosion of smaller animals almost always leads to heightened feeding activity further up the food chain. This is exactly what happened last winter, and so far, it looks to be repeating itself! OFFSHORE The offshore reports leading up to this report were few and far between, however by now there should be ample weather windows for a trip off the coast. Crews have now largely shifted their attention from seasonal pelagics to the bounty found closer to the bottom. At this time of year, the currents slow down out wide, and right now they’re running at around half a knot. Deep dropping out beyond the 100m mark becomes popular in June, with species like blue-eye 26 JUNE 2024

range with around 1oz of weight are the preferred approach for most offshore snapper fans, trolling with hardbodies has recently become a go-to method for some forwardthinking anglers. Lures around 80-120mm long that dive to between 6-10m will get the job done, especially if you can troll them along at 2-3 knots. Sticking the edges of the reef will give you the best chance of nailing a big snapper, but don’t be surprised to have spangled and grass emperor, large cod, GTs, mackerel, or quite literally anything else jump on! Trolling is a technique that can really broaden your possibilities in terms of by-catch, so why not give this criminally underrated technique a go? Another method of selecting out extra-large snapper is to use a technique called floatlining.

This 60cm tailor was spotted ‘boofing’ prawns in the shallows and had Tom calling it for a mulloway as he made a cast toward the commotion. While not a mulloway, this is an exceptional river specimen – taken on fly under the Story Bridge, no less! Floatlining involves an overhead set-up spooled with monofilament line (which floats), and a basic running sinker rig baited with a dead bait. Dead baits can be squid, a whole pilchard, strips of flesh and so on. The idea is to gradually feed out line with the overhead reel out of gear, allowing it to gradually waft down through the water column. Big snapper feeding in mid-water are usually quick to find a well-presented floatline rig. One thing to remember is to not put too much weight on the rig, as you want it to waft slowly toward the bottom, and not plummet like a stone. BEACHES While only at the beginning of our usual ‘beach’ season, our customers who beach fish are telling us there is already some solid whiting and dart mooching through local surf gutters. The best reports have come from Double Island and Teewah Beach, as well as the main beaches along Moreton (Mulgumpin), North Straddie (Minjerribah) and South Straddie. Mainland beaches such as Coolum, Perigian and Mooloolaba can fish well too, however hitting the water early in the morning or late in the afternoon will boost your chances, given the amount of fishing and swimming traffic in these densely populated areas. People do still swim and surf through winter, so it’s best for everybody if we respect their space to do it and avoid fishing too close. Low tides have been best for dart, whiting, bream and flathead, with beachworm, pipi and yabby baits all claiming their share of quality fish. Tossing a pillie on gangs into any larger gutters that form on a high

tide is a chance of an early tailor, though reports of tailor along the beaches have been a bit thin so far this year. Last year we experienced a later beach run than usual, so at this stage I’m expecting this season to pan out in a similar way. One very underrated beach adversary in this part of the world is big mulloway. Last year saw a handful of incredible captures from the sand, with areas such as Caloundra Bar, South Straddie and

Blackfish (also known as luderick) are at their best in our estuaries through the winter months. SEQ is home to some very large luderick, with this one measuring in the mid-40s.

Southern QLD

FMM Jumpinpin mentioned. These beaches are all abound with tailor and mullet through winter, so fishing large baits (live or dead) off the beach at night, however difficult, is probably the best way of hooking a really big fish in excess of 30kg from the shore. Live tailor and mullet are two highly sought baits, though whole live beachworms, squid (live or dead), along with most other fish fillet baits will suffice if you can’t get livies. Fillets of mullet and tailor are a good option if you wish to collect some baits ahead of time and keep them frozen for when conditions are right. Tide changes are usually favoured along any parts of the beach that offer a deep gutter relatively close to shore. You might need to cast a fair distance to reach the sweet spots at times, but generally anything that offers a few metres or more of depth within casting range is a good zone to position your bait. MORETON BAY One of the joys of SEQ in winter is the magnificent conditions in the bay. Light westerly winds create glassy calm days with amazing water clarity, which is ideal for species like squid and tailor. Additionally, the excellent boating conditions allow anglers to access the open parts of the bay to search for pelagics, as well as hit the

metals around the shipping beacons and drifting with unweighted pillies should still get you a bag. On the tuna side of things, good numbers of longtails have been landed in recent months, with quite a few over the metre mark. Autumn is the best time to find numbers of these enigmatic fish, and as winter sets in many of them begin their migration back to the tropics. Not all the tuna leave, however, with many of the larger ‘resident’ specimens sticking around through winter and spring. These are the times when it’s possible to catch trophy longtails, though like any bay longtails they’re seldom easy to fool. Mac tuna have been ever-present, often beating the longtails to lures, but they too are good sport. Even though the macs don’t perform nearly as well on the table as longtails, they make excellent bottom bashing and crab pot bait, so holding onto one or two is always a good idea. The snapper fishing is what many local anglers wait for in winter, and June is a great time to gather a feed of these incredibly tasty fish. The cooler months are the time to find good numbers of fish in Moreton Bay’s shallows, as opposed to summer when numbers are lacking but size is at a premium.

One drawback of squidding is the likelihood of getting ink on your clothes, boat and sometimes even your face. Tackle World Lawnton owner Ryan was the unfortunate victim of this ink-splosion. deeper reefs and wrecks. This autumn saw the pelagic activity peak, with heaps of spotties and schoolies taken trolling, spinning metals and drifting with baits. As it cools the mackerel activity will start to taper off, with spotties often disappearing for a few months over the coolest parts of the year. Schoolies tend to take over as the main mackerel species in the bay through winter, and trolling with paravnes, spinning

This means that some days you may need to sort through dozens of undersized fish to score a keeper, though the action is usually pretty constant once you find them. Along with the usual shallow spots like Scarborough, Woody Point, the rock walls along the Port of Brisbane and Mud, Peel and Green islands, the deeper marks will also fire for snapper. In fact, the bay’s scattered deeper marks are a good bet if you

wish to find larger snapper, though they can also sometimes be overrun with undersized fish as well. Harry Atkinson, West Peel, Captain Nielsen and Curtain are a few well-known artificial reefs and wrecks that hold big snapper and mulloway through winter, though there are plenty of other small

is also deadly in this scenario. Bent minnows, walking stickbaits, poppers you name it, they all work! The trick is to keep casting and hope that they show up. When they do, the action can be fast and furious for half an hour or so, before they move on and everything goes quiet again. Autumn saw some early

The run of chopper tailor was exceptional last winter, and this year it’s looking to be as good or better! isolated marks in 10-20m of water that are worth fishing too. In these deeper areas, a 1/2oz and even a 1oz jighead is needed to find the bottom if using soft plastics. Softies around the 5-7” mark are ideal if chasing the bigger oolgies that live off these marks, though don’t discount using a smaller presentation, especially if bites aren’t coming easy. Last year I caught a 76cm snapper on a 3” curlytail soft plastic, and the old saying ‘elephants eat peanuts’ couldn’t be more true with big snapper. Tailor have been having another excellent season, both in the bay and the estuaries feeding it. With big fish turning up as early as March, things are looking really good for the rest of the season. Land-based anglers fishing off the jetties at Woody Point, Shorncliffe, Bongaree and Redcliffe have had little trouble finding a feed when conditions are right. In winter, any time you can get a high tide coinciding with dawn or dusk is a good time to be fishing for tailor, but especially if you’re on a jetty and waiting for fish to push in close. Drifting unweighted pillies on gangs is the number one method from the jetties, but a few anglers have been hedging their bets by tossing a lure while they wait for their pilchard to get eaten. Metal lures in the 20-60g range are useful for punching out long casts and covering water, however it’s hard to beat a topwater strike from a tailor, and a topwater lure around 80-100mm long

indications of a better squid season this year. Last year things were a little slow to get going, but this year it seems to be a different story. So far tigers have been spotted and caught from locations such as Woody Point, Redcliffe, Cleveland, Wellington Point and most of the bay’s islands. Arrow squid have also shown promising signs, with these tasty critters reported from a variety of locations, including inside the Brisbane River! By now most squid will have matured enough to take an interest in jigs between size 2.5-3.5, and any shallow margins with adequate structure and water clarity is a good place to start looking. Crabbers can usually do well in winter. Setting your pots in 5-6m of water should put you in the zone for sandies, which tend to move a little deeper at this time. Pot and crab theft has been an issue even out in the bay, so staying nearby your pots while they soak is a good approach for avoiding this. RIVERS AND ESTUARIES As the water in our estuaries has begun to clear we’ve seen our winter predators venturing into our local systems in search of a feed. Threadfin salmon and mulloway have been the main targets for lure enthusiasts chasing big game, though there are plenty of other options if these two estuary trophies don’t want to budge. Thready numbers have been growing steadily, with deep JUNE 2024 27

QLD Southern bends, rock bars, and other large structure like bridges holding these guys in the Brisbane, Logan, Pine and Caboolture rivers. While not always keen to eat, they’ll often hang in certain areas and feed periodically when conditions suit them. Once a thready-holding area has been identified with a sounder, peppering the spot with deep-diving jerkbaits, 4-6” soft plastics and 60-100mm soft vibes will give a good indication of whether they want to eat or not. If not, returning at a different stage of the tide could be the answer. Mulloway have been a little more forgiving, though they are far from being pushovers. While happy to hang out in similar areas the threadies, they are far greater in population and therefore can be found in many more places, but are usually happy to eat the same lures. Mulloway hotspots lately have been the Bribie Bridge, Hornibrook Bridge, South Pine mouth, the Port of Brisbane, and the Caboolture River around Beachmere. At night their habits can change a little bit, with jewies often venturing into shallower water to hunt, especially in places where mullet or tailor schools nearby. Fishing flats areas, like Bongaree, Clontarf, Boggy Creek and Toorbu,l at night with either big shallow-running lures or large live baits can get you into some exciting action at times. Already this year we’ve had several good reports of big fish landed in shallow water, and I suspect July and August will see more of this action. Tailor are one of the main drivers for shallow water mulloway, but they are a great winter estuary target on their own. This year has already seen large schools of better-than-average fish moving into our rivers and nearby flats. A recent trip up the Brisbane

FMM

Mulloway can be caught any time of day, but the cover of darkness often brings them into shallow water where they can be targeted in exciting ways. This 68cm model ate a Daiwa Steez Current Master twitched under a light pool. River at night with my cousin Tom highlighted just how thick they have been at times. We initially set out to chase mulloway, though upon landing a few tailor in the 50cm+ range, it quickly turned into a tailor session. Over the next few hours, we caught 15 tailor, jumping off many more, with some even getting into the ‘greenback’ class. They were definitely some of the biggest tailor I’ve ever seen in a river, and just another great option in the estuaries this winter! Those who’ve been waiting to target big flathead will be getting excited. Conditions are just starting to shift enough to favour of the big girls. During winter these fish will be looking for large meals to build conditions ahead of their spawning, and is the reason why so many anglers have started throwing larger lures for these fish. Virtually any shallow flat is a

While not available in huge numbers, Somerset’s toga are usually slabsized like this 80cm fish caught by Joe Enders. If you want a toga through winter it’s definitely worth hitting the arms and inlets of Somerset and Wivenhoe dams, however the best action will be on the warmer days. Photo courtesy of Joe Enders. 28 JUNE 2024

good place to start, but finding a flat that has undulations, good current flow and plenty of bait holding on it will tip the odds in your favour. Large swimbaits, glidebaits and jerkbaits have become standard big fish finders in recent years, though live baits fished in the same areas will produce similar results. Whiting, mullet, gar and herring all make excellent live baits for big flatties. Luderick (or blackfish) are another fish that have entered spawning mode, with certain channels adjacent to river and creek mouths holding good schools of these rough-and-tumble omnivores. The Mooloolah River mouth, the rock walls near Military Jetty, the port of Brisbane and Jumpinpin are all areas known for holding luderick in winter. I recently found a few early season models around the Port, with the best going 43cm, so my hopes are high for a productive season. String weed and cabbage baits fished under floats are the go-to method for the few who chase these brutes around here, but I’ve found fly fishing with weed imitation flies to be highly productive as well. FRESHWATER Anglers tend to lay off the fresh in winter, and while things can slow down a bit as it cools, there is still some awesome opportunities if you know where to look. The big lakes in the areas like Somerset, Wivenhoe and Samsonvale have already seen fish schooling up on points and deep flats in 6-8m of water. This action usually peaks around August and September, though so far this year a handful of anglers have managed to crack 50cm+ fish from either of these three dams. Winter techniques in deep water tend to take the form of small 2-3” paddletail soft plastics, spoons, vibes, ice jigs and fast-sinking fly presentations. The edges of the lakes can

fire too, though smaller dams like Kurwongbah, Maroon, Borumba, Ewen Maddock and MacDonald are better for a winter edge bite. The trick on the edges is to fish slow, with suspending jerkbaits being one of the best presentations, particularly if there is weed, rock or timber around the lake’s edges. Targeting the edges can also be productive in Somerset, Wivenhoe and Samsonvale at times, with fish usually few and far between, but often of trophy size. The weedy points of Wivenhoe in particular are known haunts for big winter bass, but be prepared to throw many casts and to try a few spots, as they don’t come easy. Saratoga aren’t something we hear a lot about during the cooler months, but they are still an option. The arms and inlets of Somerset, Wivenhoe and Samsonvale are all viable toga fisheries these days, and while not known for producing the numbers we see in Borumba, Kurwongbah, MacDonald and Ewen Maddock, the average size more than makes up for it. Any warmer mornings or afternoons through winter will be good times to get up in the shallow stuff, away from the boat traffic, and search for a big winter toga. The toga are a great back-up option if your bassing mission doesn’t go to plan, and I will certainly be packing some spinnerbaits and a medium-heavy baitcasting set-up next time I head to Wivenhoe or Somerset. WR AP-UP We braved a tumultuous autumn period with weather, and now we’re hopefully sitting at cruising for the next few months. What we’re experiencing now on the fishing scene should only get better, so make the most of any free weekends and days off you get! Cold mornings and nights are one small price to pay for the amazing daytime conditions we can expect through winter, and that’s not a bad trade-off if you ask me! • Thanks to all our wonderful customers who send us photos and give us intel over the counter. If you’re in the Brisbane North/ Moreton Bay region, make sure you swing by Tackle World Lawnton on 640 Gympie Road and check out our range. We stock everything you need to chase local species, plus a great selection of fresh bait as well. • Thanks to all our wonderful customers who send us photos and give us intel over the counter. If you’re in the Brisbane North/Moreton Bay region, make sure you swing by Tackle World Lawnton on 640 Gympie Road and check out our range. We stock everything you need to chase local species, plus a great selection of fresh bait as well.

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Sunny Coast rivers are producing the goods! NOOSA

Peter Wells

There have been some great opportunities for offshore anglers in smaller craft. Many anglers were eager to get out before the snapper/pearl perch closure begins. Areas where fish were spotted included the Gneerings, Currimundi Reef, Coolum Reef, and Caloundra wide, where snapper, grass sweetlip, and Maori cod were all active. Using quality baits like pilchards and

heads proved effective. Mackerel are still present, with some good spotted mackerel taken on floater baits and slow-trolled baits. Bird activity has also been indicative of the location of these fish. Out of Noosa, Sunshine Reef has been productive, yielding snapper, tusk fish, cobia, sweetlip, and occasionally coral trout. Live bait jigs are recommended, as coral trout are inclined to take live bait. Best baits include live yakka or slimys on a two-hook rig.

Aiden got this big 16kg high fin amberjack from a great day off Rainbow.

A huge longtail that smashed a fast burnt stickbait. local squid fished through a berley trail ensured better catches. A good mixed bag has been reported, including tusk fish, Maori cod, sweetlip, and mulloway. The slow sinking floater method appears to be the most productive, with plenty of fish taken as the bait moves through the water column. On the Barwon Banks, snapper sizes increased, with the middle to the top of the banks producing the bigger fish. All species responded well to local squid, pilchards, and live baits. For lure anglers, slow-fall jigs or 7” soft plastics on elevator

Longtail tuna are still around, with Handcock and Coolum Reefs being successful spots. If using lures, small baitfish profile slugs or fast-moving soft plastics in smaller fish profiles are recommended. Cobia are in abundance, particularly in the deeper reef belts. Most fish have been caught mid-water, so having a floater out the back is advisable. The Sunshine Coast rivers have been very popular over the last month. In the Maroochy, flathead are taking soft plastics around the back of Goat Island and up

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mullet strips, and salted bonito. The Marcoola to Mudjimba Beach stretch is showing some perfect holes that will hold dart and whiting, with the bigger dart found at the rear of the gutter when it’s at its fullest. Whiting will favour the last half of the run-out tide while staying closer to the gutter. Use popular baits like worms, pipis, and fresh yabbies for a quality catch. Pin Cushion would be the pick if looking to throw a pilly for tailor. Try the gutters just on the northern side of the rocks as well as Pin Cushion itself. Stick to the run-in tide using pilchards on a gang of 3 x 3/0 or 3 x 4/0 hooks.

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the top side of Eudlo Creek. For bait fishing, try the mouth of Petrie Creek and downriver from the motorway bridge to the Nojoor Road boat ramp. Baby blue pilchards on a small ganged hook setup seem to be the most effective approach. For the run-in tide, try the shallows along Chambers Island and Picnic Point for some decent whiting. Whiting have been abundant, with larger fish in this area, mostly caught using fresh yabbies and worms. Trevally and tailor are also active, with surface lures proving popular. Bream are plentiful in the Noosa System, with some large fish landed

recently. Lightly weighted prawn baits and live baits of herring have been effective. Areas with good structure have been producing nice fish on mullet strips, bonito strips, prawns, and fowl gut. Smaller soft plastics on lightly weighted jig heads have also been successful. Golden, diamond, and giant trevally, along with tailor, have been caught in and around Woods Bays, especially early morning and late afternoon, with surface lures yielding good results. There have been reports of good-sized winter jacks from the creeks, particularly the back of the Noosa Sound. Live baits seem to be the most effective, with most fish caught at night. The beaches have been a bit cool with the winds at this time of year but well worth a trip to Noosa’s North Shore. Anglers have reported good catches of chopper tailor, along with nice bream, flathead, whiting, and bigger dart. Most anglers are bait fishing with pilchards,

There are quite a few worms available along the beaches at the moment. To maximise your results, grab yourself a whole mullet and scaler bag for a greater scent trail. Having a pipi in hand will also help encourage them out. In the fresh, the Mary River is still seeing plenty of bass, with kayakers reporting some better fish. For beginners, the area just south of the weir has been productive using garden worms and small pieces of prawn. The area from Traveston towards town has also seen a couple of saratoga taken. • Don’t forget to check in to www. fishingnoosa.com.au for all the latest up to date info on fishing and bar crossings. The knowledgeable teams at Tackle World Noosa, Northshore Bait & Tackle at Marcoola our new store The Tackle Shop in Gympie can provide you with the right equipment, bait and advice to ensure success!

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Coral trout take centre stage in June BUNDABERG

Luke Truant

Over the past month or so, there haven’t been many opportunities to head offshore. However, some anglers have managed to get out and have done very well, especially with trout. The sharks have backed off a bit lately, which is fantastic. There have been reports of people fishing near Musgrave, and other heavily-fished areas, without

Matilda with a solid mud crab caught in the Burnett. Image courtesy of Tackle World Bundaberg.

getting sharked. Some of these guys have fished for over an hour, with children pulling up fish super slowly, and still not been sharked; it’s every angler’s dream. The inshore fishing has still been excellent, with a solid late run of grassy sweetlip (grass emperor). Anglers fishing out to about 20 miles have been doing exceptionally well lately. By the time you read this, many grassies will be moving from shallower water (around 10-25m) to depths of around 30-45m, and the average size should be a lot bigger. Whole squid is always a great bait for this species, and the bigger grassies (over 50cm) will readily take live baits as well. June is the time to catch massive grassies. That said, the main focus on my boat in June is coral trout. Live baits are the prime bait for trout at this time of year, and sometimes I’ll even go all the way out to the Five Degree to get livies, or the Kolan Patch to get the extra-large bait. If you don’t know where these marks are, you can Google them. As well as bait, you can also get good trout at some of the livie spots; the 5 Degree is especially good in June. At this time of year, we catch a lot of coral trout in shallower water (around 20-28m) rather than deeper water. The few trout you do catch in deeper water will be absolute monsters, but if you want numbers, I would fish shallower. The ideal depth in June is normally 23m. I recommend fishing your live bait on a single hook paternoster, with a long loop to allow the livie to swim more freely. I use an 8oz snapper lead on the live bait rig, 32 JUNE 2024

with 55lb Schneider leader. To cover all your bases, you should always fish a dead bait amongst the livies. The smelly dead bait often attracts smaller fish, which pick at it and create a commotion that draws the attention of big trout, who want to see what all the fuss is about. As the trout gets closer, it will hopefully spot one of the nearby livies. Of course, trout themselves will often take a dead bait – and the bait doesn’t have to be big, either. Sometimes, we’ll get half a dozen trout around 2kg on a small pilchard or little square of mullet amongst the live baits. If you’re going to fish dead baits for trout, you’ll get better results using a running ball sinker rig rather than a paternoster. Sweetlip also prefer a running sinker rig (tuskfish don’t care). If I’m fishing in current I’ll use a size 8-10 ball sinker down to an 8/0 live bait hook. When you’re fishing with a dead bait, make sure you don’t move it once you get to the bottom. Trout don’t like it when you flick the bait around; that will spook them. If you’re getting picked by hussar, let them pick. Don’t move. You can even let line out. Patience is key to catching big trout on dead baits. In the coming weeks, I recommend you stop and have a quick troll on the Spanish patches, e.g. on the Five Degree on your way past, or any other grounds close to Bundy and the FADs. Spanish mackerel in June are usually solid fish over the 10kg mark. The run of tuskfish usually continues in June, with good fish coming from the rubbly areas off the side of the reef, and from wire weed country down to around 45m. You can definitely catch them a lot deeper – down to 70m – but you’ll have to travel a long way out. We can expect a lot of windy days this month, but they’re not always a write-off. We fish a lot of the heavy southwesterly days, which might blow 20 knots in the morning. I will travel in the direction that gives us options to come home if it doesn’t stop blowing. However, it usually stops around 11am, and by 3:30pm you’re right to travel home in a calm sea. Just make sure you use BOM before going out on those days, because it’s the only one I’ve found to be accurate and believable. You

A quality bar-cheek trout caught at this time last year. want the forecast to show the wind will die down in the afternoon for your run home. RIVERS The Burnett River has been firing for prawns for months on end. They are really good-size banana prawns, and you’ll find them at the Port, Sail Club, and Strathdees, for the last half hour of the run-out tide down to the dead low. The incoming tide usually puts them off. Over the moons the prawns have been tough, but on the neap tides they’ve been amazing. The prawns have also been very good down at Woodgate, with phenomenal amounts caught in short periods of time. Remember you can only keep one 10L bucket per person or 20L per boat. The prawns at Woodgate have been in their usual haunts at the southern end of the beach. If you’re unsure, look for the other boats. The mud crabs have been absolutely firing in the Kolan, Burnett, and Baffle Creek, and they’ve been beautiful, full, winter crabs. In the Baffle, they’ve been in the middle channels in the weed areas, and in the Burnett, they’ve been more in the mangroves. The good crabbing should continue until about the end of June. The yellowfin bream are just starting to ramp up and they’ll be at their best through June and July. I like to target them on the edge of the rocks with a nice chunk of lamb or ox heart and a 1/0 live bait style hook. You just throw in your

The author with a barra caught from the shore, north of Weipa.

bait and let it drift with the current. It can be very helpful to cut up some of the heart into tiny chunks and use it as berley. The berley will inevitably attract some undesirables, such as butter bream and undersize Moses perch, but it can also entice better species like cod. That’s it for this month. I haven’t supplied many offshore photos in this report because I’ve been up the Cape for

Fletcher James with a cracking mangrove jack caught in Baffle Creek. Image courtesy of Tackle World Bundaberg.

work, teaching coxswain’s courses. I’ve been fishing every chance I get, catching barra and trout off the shore, and I highly recommend you get up here if you ever get the chance! I’ll be back home soon, though, fishing our local waters, so I should have some nice trout photos to share next issue. • Truansea Charters specialises in 10-hour day trips chasing prized reef targets such as coral trout and red emperor and arm-stretching pelagics like Spanish mackerel. The maximum number of anglers is 6, so you’ll never feel crowded. The price is $370pp (or $350pp if you book the whole boat), which includes all gear, fuel, bait, ice, chilled water/soft drinks and laughs! You’re welcome to bring your own reef fishing gear if you prefer. Other charter options include half-day reef trips, half-day river trips and private guiding. To learn more, visit www.truansea.com.au, look them up on Facebook, or call Luke on 0423 015 490.

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Barra are still turning up for patient fishos MACKAY

Tackle World Mackay

How lucky are we to live in Mackay! Winter is upon us but we still have so many species to target. We should also see some better weather on our doorstep, with hopefully more breaks in the wind.

of big grassy lipper and largemouth nannygai when the weather has given us a chance. Spanish mackerel have also been abundant around all the likely spots. Areas like Singapore Rock, Baileys Island and North Overfalls have all been holding good fish. CREEKS Blue salmon have been showing

Double trouble – Hayden with a nice brace of jacks. Image courtesy of @haydensgonefishing.

those who have a little patience, slow rolling prawn imitation lures. Zerek Shrimp and Chasebait Flick Prawns are always worth a go. Focus your efforts on the warmer water around shallow sand and mud banks in the afternoons. Thanks to all the rain we’ve had this year, quality crabs are still being caught in good numbers. Putting pots

in on the building tides has been a surefire way to catch a feed. The creeks that have been firing are Sandy Creek, Pioneer River and Rocky Dam. DAMS We are still getting reports of barra being caught at Kinchant Dam. Finding the areas out of the wind in behind points and in the back of the bays has seen some good surface

Ben was flicking plastics in a drain when he scored this quality barra. Image courtesy of bens.fishing. INSHORE Spanish mackerel and longtail tuna have been showing up in good numbers along the coast. Cleaner water along the coast means the tinny brigade are getting in on the spoils as well. Slade Rock and Round Top islands have been producing some nice fish. My preferred bait is ribbonfish. You can either troll it along the current lines with chin weight so the bait trolls straight or at anchor, floating one under a float behind the boat. This method allows you to catch tasty reef fish while waiting for a Spanish mackerel to come past. Plenty of blackspot tuskfish and grassy lipper have been caught in recent weeks, along with a few early snapper. Blacks Beach and the south wall of the harbour have seen some action on the pelagics. Chrome lures like Halco Twisties, Samaki Flash, and Arma Anchovies have been working well, as they can be cast a long way out to the feeding fish. School mackerel and queenfish have been making up a lot of the catches off Blacks Beach. The harbour wall has seen the same fish, plus a couple of longtail tuna for those who have been throwing bigger stickbaits. The best time to fish is early in the morning. OFFSHORE We’ve been seeing good catches 34 JUNE 2024

up in good numbers in most creeks of late. They are great fish to catch and can be targeted in a number of ways. If you’re a bait fisho, the best options are cut flesh baits like ribbonfish, mullet or half a pilchard on a running sinker rig. If you prefer to use lures, Zerek Vibes, ZMan 3” Minnows or Flasha Spoons will see you covering your bases. Creeks that fish well are Rocky Dam, Constant Creek and Reliance Creek. Some of the adjacent beaches will see some good numbers, too. Barra are still being caught by

Billy and Brendan with a 110cm queenie, which was released to fight another day.

Lane with a thready caught on a Chasebaits Flick Prawn. Image courtesy of dobesfishin.

action in the mornings. Most of the action is quite visual, up on top of the weed banks. The standout surface lures are the Zerek Live Mullet, Rapala Pencil stickbaits and ZMan Frogs in the 4” size. Keep your eyes open as some fish can be spotted before being cast at. • Tackle World Mackay has one of the largest ranges of fishing and boating accessories in North Qld. They cater for all fishing needs, from fly fishing to game fishing. The friendly staff are all keen anglers and will throw in some great local fishing spots, techniques to try, and the genuine friendly assistance of real fishos who love to share their knowledge. Drop in and see them at 318 Shakespeare St, give them a call on 07 4957 2145, or visit tackleworldmackay.com.au.

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QLD Tropical North

FMM

Keen anglers are still targeting barramundi TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

Just about every North Queensland fisher knows that a big wet is important if you’re to have a good following year. While I wouldn’t say

The Bassday Splash is a perfect subtle winter presentation. This colour scheme is ideal when the water clears and cools.

we’ve had a huge wet, it has been longer than usual. It wasn’t until the end of April that the rains began to back off enough to be able to plan a trip that didn’t include raincoats and Max Trax. Crabbers are already seeing the results of the wet, with ridiculous numbers of mud crabs being taken in a very short time. The crabs were floaters (empty) for a few weeks, but that’s all been forgotten as they’re now heavy and feisty. Please keep an eye on your bag limits and keep up-todate on the rules and regulations. I had a young fella new to NQ come into the fishing Warehouse the other day, telling me how he caught 31 legal bucks and threw back 20, only because he had nowhere to store them. He didn’t sound that worried when I told him what the legal limit was (seven per person), but if he decides to continue on that path, things will get expensive for him! Finally, the prawns have shown up in decent numbers and sizes – something else that’s directly linked to the rain and runoff. This is great for the fish that rely on the prawns for survival, particularly this year’s

Tagging Tales Suntag is a world leading citizen science volunteer fish tagging program that is part of an Australian program that has tagged over 1,000,000 fish and was the first volunteer program in the world to reach that milestone. Data collected through the program is used to improve our knowledge base of recreational fishing by providing near real time information on the

When using downsized tackle in winter, the many ‘rats’ you’ll hook along the way will put up a better fight. Isaac Chaplain caught this one on a small Sugapen Splash popper. spawned barramundi, mangrove jacks, and so on. Every fish we’ve been catching lately has been packed solid with prawns, and they’ve all been fighting fit and pulling like a truck. Prawn lovers have been getting more than enough for a feed in a few casts in some locations, so between the barra, muddies and prawns, it’s a seafood

lover’s dream. CHANGING WITH THE SEASON At this time of year, one change that often gets anglers scratching their heads is what to do as the water cools. Many anglers pack the barra gear away and get ready for the mackerel season, where the results can be a little more predictable. If you don’t want to give

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status of coastal estuaries and inland impoundments. Thanks to the fish, we can provide you with some interesting stories that they tell. JACK MOVED TO AN INSHORE REEF SYSTEM Although being recaptured not long after it was tagged (105 days), this mangrove jack had relocated from Pancake Creek onto a nearby inshore reef system. This make you wonder how often these fish move from one system to another in their lifetime. Food for thought. WHAT TO DO IF YOU CATCH A TAGGED FISH The information you will need to report your recapture is. The length of the fish and the location it was captured. Get a photo if possible. To report the details of your recapture you have two options: Call 1800 077 001 or go to crystalbowl.infofishaustralia.com. au/suntag/recaptures/recapture_ form_1.html and fill in the form. In return you will receive a certificate providing the details of the tagging and recapture of your fish, as a thank you for providing the information.

38 JUNE 2024

Tropical North QLD

FMM up on barra though, there are a couple of things you can do to stay connected to them through the colder months. The first thing is to downsize your lures considerably. Of course, this means using lighter rods and smaller reels, so you have to be committed to giving it a red-hot shot. Lighter leaders are also important if you’re to get the best results. When chasing barra in winter, we often have to go down to the 3” Atomic Prongs or the thinner-profiled Paddle Prawns before we start getting

action. Usually these are fished on 25lb leaders, 10lb braid and 1/8oz to 1/4oz heads with #1 hooks. We use Seeker Jigheads because of their super-sharp Gamakatsu hook. If you’re looking for the schools that often sit in 4-6m of water, the smaller tides will help you reach them with the small lure approach, and the 1/4oz heads will be best for this. If it’s the bigger tidal runs and drains that you want to have a crack at, a 1/8oz head will be better. Whilst down at the Boyne Tannum

Twitching a hardbody, like this 120 Halco Laser Pro, around horizontal timber can be productive in the afternoon when the water has warmed a little through the day.

Hookup this year, my young fella went for an early morning flick along the breakaways in the middle of town. He managed to land a legal-sized doggie mackerel, and hit a big barra that he couldn’t stop, so don’t think you need a pimped-up 4WD or flash boat to get a feed. Walking and thoroughly casting lures along creeks, break walls, beaches, and headlands is a great way to bend a rod. Walking is good exercise, too. To take on the land-based challenge, all you need is a small tackle box in a small backpack. A basic selection like poppers, shallow divers, and soft plastics (weedless or jigheads) will cover most of your bases. Drinking water is very important in NQ, even in winter, so you should bring at least a couple of litres. That will add a couple of kilos to your carry weight, so it’s better to use a backpack than a shoulder bag. Shoulder bags can get uncomfortable with an extra couple of kilos swinging off your shoulder. Also, if you intend to keep a fish for the table, you’ll need ice; that’s another couple of kilos if you’re freezing ice cream containers. It’s a great time of year to do this, and the weather is more comfortable and enjoyable. The water also clears up, which allows more sight-casting options, and some more stable weather

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Af Phil’s

You’ll catch lots of little barra in winter but they still fight well on light tackle. makes time on the water a dream. Finally, here are three myths that you can forget about: “you won’t catch fingermark in winter”, “impoundment barra don’t count”, and “it’s not worth fishing the rivers in winter”. The truth is, the fish are still there and will still feed – it might just require a change in approach. It will be interesting to see what I can report on next month, as the fishing can be a bit unpredictable during the initial cooling off period. Until next time, good luck to you all.

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QLD Tropical North

FMM

Grunter are around in good numbers HINCHINBROOK

Ian Moody info@ianmoodyfishing.com

We are now deep into the cooler time of year. Anglers fishing in the Hinchinbrook Channel waters should start to take a different approach to get more bites. Most species,

year breeding cycle starts. However, during these colder months, I find that getting on top of these fish and starting to introduce plastic imitation prawns, casting across the school and slow rolling them ever so slowly, often does the trick. One such plastic I love using is the 4-5” swim prawn made by Holt Productions. They have unique moulded legs, which create a very lifelike effect when slowly retrieved through the water. Also, the same should be applied when lure casting with hardbodies as well, slowing that retrieve right down and even offering smaller sized lures as well. June can see the return of much higher barometric pressure associated with the trade winds. Often, I find above 1020 HPA can make fishing become quite difficult. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do about them, but it can explain why your day out might have been fruitless. Grunter have been showing up quite regularly while live baiting for

There have been some decent sized grunter around, this one measured 68cm. fillets. Also, regularly catching them on shallow flats with shallow diving hard body lures. June will have a lot more smaller neap tides which makes it a great time

Isaac Hubert took advantage of the numerous grunter around at the moment. especially barramundi, become quite timid during the fluctuations and fall in water temperatures that occur this time of year. But once we get those stability periods, they should

Dave with a respectable 62cm barramundi. to look on the deep ledges and holes for fingermark. The Port Hinchinbrook marina is full of mud and greenback herring, which make great live bait for them, though just remember if you

intend to release one hooked out of any water deeper than 9m you are better off keeping it for a feed as their survival rate is not that good. A release weight getting them back down to depth quickly is a good idea. However, we take what we need to eat then move on to chasing something else. Migratory Spanish mackerel have been coming in closer to inshore in greater numbers. Inner islands like Eva and Pelorus are great places to have fun with them over the coming months as the migratory schools arrive. Metal slices are a great way to chase these kinds of pelagic species, the faster the retrieve, the better. So keep this in mind when purchasing a reel for this type of application, high-speed spinning reels are the best option. There are many different brands and styles of lures for this kind of fishing, they will all work as it’s more to do with the retrieve that gets the bite. Keeping a lookout for birds dive-bombing bait schools usually does indicate where the Spaniards will be. • We still have quite a few available spots for charters for this year and for next year. Gift vouchers can be purchased if your looking for birthday gifts. You can email us at info@ianmoodysportfishing. com or phone us on 0402 339 459.

Barramundi are in good shape this season. Jack Maguire with a 65cm barra. become a bit more used to it and go about their normal business. They will start pushing their way back up into river systems and start building aggregations again before the end-of40 JUNE 2024

barramundi, and some have been quite good in size, even in the lower 70cm bracket. These are a very welcome bycatch as they are very tasty and due to their shape, produce good-sized

Grayson was happy with his 82cm barra.

Tropical North QLD

FMM

Persistence is the key in June CAIRNS

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

June is an interesting time in the Trinity NFZ. Most people are put off by the cold weather, but I reckon it takes a lot longer to cool down than it

though they might be sluggish if you sit in a spot and cast at it for 10 minutes they will eventually bite. Sometimes when you get one to bite you can fire the rest up and have a half decent session. Whilst we have had some big flooding, the upside is there have been plenty of barra lost from the barra farms all up

have put on some length. Most reports of anglers running into these fish are saying that they are all around that 60cm size, which in my opinion are the best fighting fish. They love to jump and are fit enough to pull a bit of string. On light gear they are super fun. Mud crabs will be in full swing in June, and they won’t be hard to catch. I have already been running the pots with success and the bucks are big and full. The bigger tides will crab the best so make the most of the king tides and spring tides over this period. Next month the water will begin to cool but if you do what is mentioned above and persist a little longer you can get the jacks and barra to bite. The crabs will continue to run hard but will begin to drop off as we get close to the end of the month so make the most of them.

Mud crabs will be big and full this month.

Barra will be biting but will take more casts than usual. does to warm up, especially on those really sunny days. Whilst it might be crisp in the morning, the middle of the day is still warm and tropical and it’s worth throwing a lure around, especially for a jack. Even in the cool weather jacks will bite well, but you need to get those lures tighter to the snags and put in a few extra casts. Barra are the same and even

and down the coast. As a result, the land-based fishing has been the best we have ever seen in the NFZ with the beaches on fire. It’s actually better off the bank than on the boat and there have been plenty of anglers making the most of it. The other good news is these barra have begun to settle into their new homes and are feeding up hard. Many of the rats have become nice and fat and

Jacks will be still biting as well but will require more precision casting.

Wind reprieve signals good opportunities PORT DOUGLAS

Lynton Heffer www.fishingportdouglas.com.au

Looking forward, we still have a really strong period of fishing opportunity on the calendar with a change of the seasons. Water temperatures will suit both inshore and offshore for all prime target species for this time of year. We just need a reprieve from the winds to truly explore the many fishing opportunities we have on offer up in tropical FNQ. As it stands, due to a blast of extended south-easterly winds, the rivers and creeks have been the safe haven to go fishing of late. Not to be disappointed, they have fished exceptionally well. It will go down as one of the best barra seasons for a very long time with consistent catches, especially from our neighbouring Daintree River system. The barramundi run continues

with quite a few bona fide sized fish around 80cm+. Live baiting has been a rare occasion due to conditions, but trolling lures and casting soft plastics did provide adequately. It’s all about timing and where to be. The turn of the tides are the active times, which is no surprise for most forms of fishing

in general. Fingermark and mangrove jack have also added to the action, making for a nice trifecta and payout. We expect that as winter approaches, we’ll see some handy big queenfish action come back into the frame. Mud crabbing season is also here, so the calm water scene will remain a

A beautiful 25.5kg black cobia caught on board Escapade Extended Reef Charters.

valued option. On the rare calm days we have had to play with recently, the outer reef is ripe for the picking. There are serious signs of fish on the chew, including coral trout, largemouth nannygai, cobia, Spanish mackerel, and some big packs of sportfishing trevally. These opportunities have been far and few between, but a solid run of good weather will pay dividends. Water temperatures are close to optimal levels for reef fishing, so watch this space. Another positive indication is that the school mackerel have already shown development, which is another indicator. Following a big wet season, there will be a lot of bait out there to feed the natives for some time to come. The big question on everyone’s lips is - have the trade winds kicked in early this year? As we do in the Far North, we have a positive attitude and say hopefully not because the fishing will be awesome. JUNE 2024 41

QLD Tropical North

FMM

Anglers change tactics as cold wind blows in COOKTOWN

Justin Coventry

The weather has changed and the southeasterly winds are in full swing, with upwards of 25 knots constantly blowing the dog of the chain here in Cooktown. The barramundi fishing has been great but they will become a bit harder to catch as the temperatures drop. This means changing tactics and trying to get a reactive bite, or offering up a

from the shallows into the drop-off usually produces the goods. The waterholes in Lakefield National Park are producing at the moment. The roads have been hammered by the wet this year, so many areas have received less fishing pressure than normal. The water levels are also still up and the fish will be moving around before they get trapped in a large waterhole for the dry season. There should be some great opportunities this month, although cooler conditions will impact the bite. Late afternoon, as the sun warms the water, could produce better. Also, I’ve found luring just on dark can be a winner. A little movement on the surface can bring a big explosion from a resident fish in a deep hole. With the cooler conditions, the camping and fires come into their own,

Wayne and his son Chase had a good session with 20 fish landed and a few lost while fishing one of the deep holes. However, be mindful of the big resident crocs as it’s not so easy to move about on the sand edges; it’s a dangerous location for an ambush by these man-eaters. The size and boldness of the crocodiles in Lakefield is becoming a concern, and the fatality last year of a local publican from Laura highlights the risks. Take care and be croc wise. At the wharf, fishos have been reeling in some nice fish, and bait has been back in numbers, so it’s a good option for anyone visiting Cooktown. The presence of bait is key because it attracts the predators. The schools attract some trevally, and there are still some barramundi and resident jacks being caught there. The rock wall and

Wayne Hunt with a barra caught from a sand drop-off.

Chase Hunt with just one of 20 barra he and his dad caught at Lakefield. small, tasty treat to get them interested. Small soft plastic prawns can come into their own at this time of the year, and fishing the shallow streams in deep holes can be productive. The drop-off is an ambush point for hungry fish looking for any morsel venturing downstream. So, bouncing a prawn

Wazza with a lovely salty barra. and make for a great weekend away, even if the fishing can be a little slow. Early access to some areas allowed some locals pick up a few nice fish.

PROVEN WORLD LEADING

back eddy areas along the edges are the hot spots, as the fish wait to ambush the bait coming through on the tide. The pressure points are the tide receiving area of these locations, but I prefer a dropping tide because the baitfish make a run for it as the tide drops, and hungry

predators can often be found lying in wait for an easy feed. The outside reefs will receive less fishing pressure for the next couple of months as the winds deter anglers from venturing out. Calm weather windows will only occur between the highpressure systems, and are likely to be very short and winds should still be fairly strong. There is, however, always a chance that the calm weather will hold long enough for a quick reef trip, so you have to be ready. Have the maintenance done on the boat, and service your fishing gear early. Then, if by some miracle it does calm down, you are ready. All in all, there are some good opportunities for anglers heading up the Cape this month to access some of the areas drying out. You can catch some quality fish if you are persistent and change up your lures to see what works. Remember to drop your lure size, and maybe try a tasty prawn to entice a bite.

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David Kamholtz got in on the barra action.

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QLD Tropical North

FMM

Inshore fishery hitting its straps on West Coast CAPE YORK

Tim O’Reilly wildrivercompany@gmail.com

Following a good bang to the end of the wet season, Cape York is at its colourful best. The creeks are still flowing with a decent amount of vigour, and the landscape is green upon green,

the waterways at their best, the weather is typically cool, the biting insects have subsided from their wet season terror tactics, and the Cape’s roads are mostly passable. In saying that, there will still be a few sodden tracks this year after some decent late wet season falls in remote locations. With slightly higher water

GTs and other trevally species are common catches.

The mackerel fishing is warming up. as the forest and rivers melt into one another. The birds are chirping, fish are biting; what’s not to love about June in Cape York? There is a reason why this is such a popular month for travellers. Not only are

Jigging is a fun way to catch bottom species like red emperor.

temperatures than southern areas, the barramundi fishing tends to hang on a little better this far north. You still get some harsh glare and warm days in June, despite it being the first month of winter. If a cool southerly change pushes through (as it often does), you might need a long-sleeved shirt or a wind jacket if you’re scuttling around in a boat at 6am. However, this will be as drastic as things get. As the river flow starts to die off, many of the west coast systems will fish very well for barramundi in June. The fish tend to find their settled feeding locations and start moving shorter distances between the spring tides. The commercial fishers do well during these times of high movement, while we rec fishos do better when the fish are a little more stationary, gathered in groups of similar size, and

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feeding as the mood strikes them. The best thing about the barra congregating in certain areas is their competitive instinct, which kicks in when a fish is hooked – even if only a couple of fish are present at that moment. The underwater swim bladder expelling air, and the jumping antics of the fish, tends to bring others in on heat. I have seen a slow bite gain traction quickly, and fish seem to appear out of nowhere to smash any lure hitting the water. Mangrove jack will still feed well during the warmer days of June, and out on the reefs and river holes, fingermark will be stacking on weight in the form

continue for the next few months. It can be tough for the trailer boat brigade, with persistent 15-25 knot southeasterlies blowing every weekend. Even the weekdays get a touch up this time of year! For those who can get out there,

Plenty of trout are being caught.

Luke Truant with a barra caught on a popper off the beach near Mapoon. of prawns and small baitfish. Queenfish and small trevally schools will be making their way into the creeks and rivers of the Cape, pushing further up as salt replaces freshwater, and feeding strongly on the incoming tide. Over on the East Coast, things will be getting a little breezy, and that should

the mackerel fishing will be warming up, and fishing for most pelagic species will generally be very good. Over on the West Coast, the inshore fishery will be hitting its straps, with almost all species on offer. Fishing on the shallow reef and shoals will be super productive for all manner of small reef species, and the contour lines and rocky patches will be getting red-hot for a host of mackerel, trevally and tuna species. June is a special time up in Cape York, and it presents both an easy time to travel and experience all the best fishing the Cape has to offer. Sure, some of the super calm weather later in the year and the spectacular scenes of the wet season might have vanished, but the all-round experience makes it a special time of year to travel to remote northern Australia.

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QLD Freshwater

FMM

Be prepared to change to Plan B, or even C QLD FRESHWATER

Peter Jung

This is only my third freshwater report and already I am realising how difficult predicting what the fishing may do through the change from the warmer weather to the cooler months. There are a number of factors contributing to this. Mainly the amount of rain many of our catchments have received and the rise and fall of our waterways this creates. Until this truly settles, it will be SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND BRISBANE AND SURROUNDS LAKE KURWONGBAH Anglers fishing lake Kurwongbah have been finding the fishing tough. This is due heavily to the large amount of Cabomba weed present at the moment. Anglers who enjoy casting lures to weed edges or structure are really struggling to find the areas the fish are hiding. Most of the normal zones are full of the Cabomba weed and are predominantly unfishable. This doesn’t mean you can’t catch fish, it just means you will need to

The timbered sections of Somerset Dam have been producing great southern saratoga captures. This one was caught by Ty Laverick on a medium diving hardbody lure. search a little more than in the past to find concentrations of them. There are definitely signs that the fish are starting to school up on the deeper drop offs (mainly off points at the time of writing). Most anglers targeting these fish will hop blades or slow roll plastics through the schools when they find them. Popular blades are the Ecogear ZX40 or the TT Switchprawn+, while most 3-4inch paddle tail soft plastics will do the job. With the blade most will vertically jig them, while with the plastics, it is long casts, let the plastic get to the bottom and slow roll it back to you. Pauses during the retrieve can help and I am also a firm believer of using scents on my lures. Garlic and 46 JUNE 2024

hard to know where the fish will finish up and what the best techniques to target them will be. It is certainly a time when you need to have a plan A, B, C and maybe even D when you hit the water. Due to this haphazard fishing you will see a common scenario amongst the reports which is trolling. It is a great way to search a waterway and with so many lure manufacturers now producing so many different diving depths options and in many different sizes, there is bound to be a lure that suits your preferred waterway and fishing situation. It certainly offers

an opportunity to turn a bad day into a good one. The other thing to be aware of from the 1st of June is the Australian bass season closure in tidal waters. This closure applies through until the 31st of August. Please remember Australian bass migrate from the freshwater to the saltwater to spawn and catching them during this process interrupts their spawning cycle and more than likely they will not spawn. As much as I love fishing our creeks and rivers for bass, this is a time to leave them to do their thing in all situations I believe, tidal or not.

aniseed-based scents are very popular with bass anglers, but there are many options our there these days, so find one that gives you confidence and use it. I believe they make a difference. Fishing where the weed edges drop into deeper water is still an option. Spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits for me are great ways to search these zones. Although air and water temps are slowly dropping you may still come across one of the many Lake Kurwongbah saratoga. Their captures will become fewer, but they are always a nice bonus when they come along. Lake Kurwongbah anglers will be hoping that the cooler weather reduces the weed growth and reduces the number of other users of the waterway. • Lake Kurwongbah is a paddle craft only fishery. There are launching and zoning rules in place. To find out more about these rules go to the SEQ Water website and look up Lake Kurwongbah. LAKE WYARALONG Wyaralong is one of the lakes struggling to recover from the regular heavy rain we have had over recent months. The water throughout the lake is dirty and has been very slow to clear. Most anglers venturing out have pushed up the system looking for any semblance of cleaner water (more than a few feet of visibility). The area around Crow Creek is beginning to show these signs and few bass have been caught. Most anglers have caught fish on either lipless crankbaits or suspending hardbody lures. As Wyaralong is an electric motor only waterway many anglers take the opportunity to troll while making their way

to their preferred fishing location. This has resulted in some nice fish being caught. Lures that dive between 2-3m and trolled in four to 5m of water have been getting better results. Depending on how much more rain we receive the water in Wyaralong should only get better and the fishing will improve with it. Don’t forget that Lake Wyaralong is part of the 2024 Fish ‘n SIP$ competition. Plenty of people have their eyes on catching a $20,000 fish and Wyaralong. is one of the places you can do it. • Lake Wyaralong is an electric motor and paddle craft only fishery. No fuel powered motors may be used on the waterway. To find out more about these rules go to the SEQ Water website and look up Lake Wyaralong. SOMERSET Fickle would be what I would call the fishing at Somerset dam at present and this seems to be what we can expect for a little while yet. No question, in particular the bass, have made their way in good numbers further down the lake. Areas like the mouth of Beams Creek, Bay 13 and Pelican Point can all have plenty of fish in them, the challenge has been getting them to bite. For many it has been small finesse presentations fished tight to the bottom that has offered some success. Small blades fished vertically or even cut down paddle tail plastics fished the same way or rolled slowly back to the boat kept in contact with the bottom have resulted in that much needed bite and then the mayhem that can ensue when the school of fish fires up. Most of the active fish will be in that 20- 35 feet zone (6-10m) The fish are not always this fussy and the usual spoons and even spinnerbaits rolled close to the bottom can prove successful. I guess what I am trying to say is if you are planning to fish Somerset have a few options up your sleeve and one of them should be trolling. There are plenty of lures available these days that will dive to 5m plus and will get you results in these same areas. Either troll the areas with consistent depth or move across old creek channels or riverbeds. The fish sitting on the rise and fall can be more active and offer up some fun all those on board. The stocking group for Somerset and Wivenhoe have for many years been

Jake Williamson enjoyed seeing Maroon Dam for the first time recently. He was pretty happy to catch his first bass from the waterway.

Don’t forget if you have any news you would like to place in the news section of this report, please email it to pjung@ fishingmonthly.com.au and I will do my best to get it into the report. Until next month, see you later from PTP Fishing. FRESHWATER NEWS Australian Lure & Outdoors Expo 2024 – A great opportunity to see many of Australia’s best lure makers all in one place and buy a few lures of course. Dates for the 2024 Expo are 6-7 July at the Fernvale Showgrounds. Go to www.lureshow.com.au for more details.

Trolling can be a very effective option at this time of the year. Ashton Wohlsen enjoyed a day at Somerset Dam trolling 5m diving lures in 8m of water with some great results. stocking golden perch and more recently (in bigger numbers) southern saratoga. Both these species have been very active. The goldens can be a bycatch when fishing for the bass (mainly when trolling) while the saratoga seem to have made the timbered zones of the lake their home. Both species are worth focusing on if the bass are not cooperating. Blades, soft vibes hopped around the timber is a great option to target the goldens, as well as fresh shrimp or garden worms for the bait anglers. The saratoga tend to prefer a moving target, so spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and hardbody lures rolled in and around the timber is your best option with them. The bite will slow down for these species as the water temps drop, but certainly at the time of writing, some good catches of both fish were being made. • For up-to-date information on what’s biting and where to go see Somerset Tackle and Boat Hire at Kirkleagh (right near the boat ramp). You can hire a boat or just pick up some tackle. Open 8:30am – 5:00pm Friday to Sunday. MOOGERAH Moogerah has been by far the best of the fisheries in and around Boonah. Although the best fishing locations seem to change on almost a daily basis, when you do find the fish, they seem keen to eat. The fish are certainly in the process of relocating out of the creeks and

Freshwater QLD

FMM timbered sections and are slowly schooling up on the drop offs and point around the lake. As mentioned they are moving a lot, with the anglers I spoke to saying that even from one day to the next, the main schools of fish were moving into different locations. Plastics and blades have been the most successful lure options, while spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits still proving to be the best options in the timbered zones. All predictions for Moogerah point to the fishing continuing to improve, so outside of

the larger waterways it is most probably a good option to try. MAROON I have had a couple of fishing sessions at Maroon since my last report and I must say I was a little surprised by what I saw. I have always loved Maroon because of the weed in the waterway and the zones it created to target the bass and golden perch in the waterway. I was intrigued when Barry Oxford (he helps me put the Maroon and Moogerah information together) told me that the majority of the weed was not there this year. It certainly

DARLING DOWNS AND GRANITE BELT

trolling can also be a good option. Match the depth that your lure runs to the depth you are fishing and more than likely you will pick up a few fish. • Cooby is open to paddle and electric motor-powered craft. The gates are open from 6am-8pm. Fish’n’Bits tackle store in Toowoomba can help you out with all your bait and lure fishing needs. LESLIE Speaking to John at Warwick Outdoors and Sport, he said things are slowing a little at Leslie on the golden perch front. Cooler water has pushed the fish up shallower giving shore based lure casters an opportunity to pick up a few fish (bait fisho’s as well of course). Most of the better goldens have fallen to blades hopped in along drop offs or around structure. The ever reliable ZX40 is always a popular option with 7 and 6 blades not far behind. Fish deeper in the morning and push into shallower water as the day progresses. There are also good signs that the cod are on the move. Some recent captures of a 93cm and an 87cm fish shows that with the cooling water the cod are feeding up. This will only get better as we push into June, July and August. Don’t forget that Leslie dam is part of the 2024 Fish ‘n SIP$ competition. Plenty

COOBY The fishing in Cooby seems to be a little bit like the weather. When we get a stretch of better weather the fish have been coming out to play. The golden perch have definitely pushed closer to the edges allowing them to be targeted by both shore based and anglers fishing from a boat. The northern arm continues to fish well, while the bank in front of the boat ramp as well as the sailing club are also worth a look. Hopping blades like a ZX40 or a TT Switchprawn+ is always a good option at Cooby, while soft vibes like a Zerek Fish Trap are also worth a try. For those soaking a bait you can’t go past a saltwater yabby or fresh worms. As the fish are now a little shallower,

Beautiful golden perch are being caught in Connelly Dam. CAPRICORN REGION AWOONGA There is no question that the winter pattern is now upon us. Unlike in the past where people suggested that the barramundi fishing in waterways like Awoonga was a waste of time during the cooler months, time on the water now suggests that this is not the case. The fish still need to eat and it is really all about finding the zones that they feel the most comfortable and putting a

lure in front of them. This generally means getting on the water late morning and focusing on areas where the sun has had the opportunity to warm the water a little bit. This tends to be at the backs of bays or shorelines that have had consistent wind blowing on them. Weedy areas will also offer slightly warmer water as well, so if you find a combination of the three you could well be in business. Like the more southern bass lakes, trolling can be very effective through the cooler months. The main basin

There are still some good barramundi to be caught at Awoonga in the cooler months. Warmer shallower water is definitely a key component to success.

was not and with the weather cooling and water temperatures dropping, the fishing in Maroon will change with it. The lack of weed will see the bass looking to school up on the drop offs on the various points around the lake and in the mouths of the feeder creeks to the lake. The other thing that will reduce with the weather cooling will be the boat traffic (non-fishing related). I think this will get the fish moving and active as on my two trips to the lake, the fish I found were hugging the bottom and had lockjaw. My mate and I managed to get a few to bite

rolling small paddle tail soft plastics tight to the bottom and using Rapala 5cm V-Blades fished the same way. The bites were tentative, but we managed to have a bit of fun. The many spangled perch bites in between certainly kept us entertained between bass bites. I think June will produce much of the same. The key will be finding schools of fish and figuring out what they will eat. Trolling is often a great option to find fish and with the lack of weed in the waterway currently, it may produce better than many other methods.

Wyatt Fretwell has every reason to smile after catching this 60cm fish. of people have their eyes on catching a $20,000 fish and Leslie dam is one of the places you can do it. • The local blokes at Warwick Outdoor and Sport in Palmerin Street can point in you in the right direction and hook you up with the good gear and bait to catch the fish at Leslie. CONNOLLY DAM I hadn’t intended to write anything about Connolly this month, but when John sent me a few pics of some of the quality golden perch being caught, I felt I

needed to add a few words to the report. Although the fishing hasn’t changed much (the weedy zones are the main focus for anglers), the size of the fish being caught is hard to ignore. Plastics are a popular option on the goldens there. The fish tend to hold in the weed looking to ambush anything that swims past. Don’t forget there are also Murray cod stocked in the lake and as the outside temps drop, these fish should get more active too.

tends to be the most popular location to do this. Just keep in mind the same principals as if you were casting lures and troll areas where the water may be warmer. It only takes a degree or two to make the difference between a fishless day and a day of a lifetime. • Gladstone Fly and Sportfishing

(0429 223 550) run guided trips on the lake. Both cater to the needs of the angler and can do fly or conventional tackle trips to target the lake’s barramundi. It is hard to beat time on the water and a guided trip is a great way to learn more about this lake and its fish.

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JUNE 2024 49

Sydney

NSW

FMM

Water temps still warmer than air temps SYDNEY ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

The fishing has been pretty damn good lately off the stones, and this should continue in the coming weeks. If you don’t like fishing early in the morning or evening because it’s a bit chilly, you may get some good fishing during the day, thanks to the shorter days and milder sunshine in winter. Rock blackfish (black drummer) are best caught an hour or two before dusk, or from sunup to a couple of hours afterwards. However, they can also be L-R: Daniel Wang, Matthew Chung and Billy Hong with a bag of kings. It’s great to see a bunch of mates having a great time. When done properly, ocean rock fishing can be a relatively safe sport and very rewarding.

Greg Seeto, Managing Director of Daiwa Australia, and his son Ben have been getting stuck into the rock blackfish. Ben caught the best pig of the trip, which weighed over 2kg. They had a lot of fun fishing this ocean rock spot, and released several fish. caught during the late morning/early afternoon during high tide periods. It’s not the ideal time to go, but you’ll still have a reasonable chance of catching fish. Perhaps bring your luderick gear as well, because luderick will also be in numbers this month and are more than willing to bite throughout the day. Spots to try are Little Bluey near Shelly Headland in Manly, Long Reef Collaroy the front of the high tide island, and Warriewood gutter. For Warriewood, there is a short but very steep rope climb.

The kings are on and they’re being caught in reasonable numbers. One fish caught recently measured 103cm and was caught on a live yellowtail suspended under a torpedo-shaped float, fishing approx. 3m deep. The kingfish have been hammering the whole sea gar baits as well. A set of four 6/0 to 7/0 hooks should suffice, depending on the size of your gars. If you prefer to use plastics, I recommend the 7” Bait Junkie in the grey nomad or pilchard glow colour with a 1/4oz to 1oz jighead. Do yourself a favour and use 24kg gear or heavier just in case you hook a monster king (I recommend the Saltist MQ 8000 to 10,000 with Expedition braid 60-70lb and Saltiga nylon leader 80-100lb). And remember, even a mid-70s size king can cut you off on a sharp rock/reef if given half a chance. Big bonito are still around but in lesser numbers, and only if the current is close enough. Mac tuna and frigates are also there, along with tailor and salmon. I’ve had good results on 30-40g OT jigs in sardine glo or silver. Locations to try this month are The

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Hat at Manly, North and South Curl Curl ledges and South Whale/The Ovens. Snapper, trevally, bream, tailor, and salmon are some of the species frequently caught wash fishing in June. Lately there have been good catches of snapper to 48cm mixed in with some larger fish to 61cm. We’ve also been encountering trevally between 0.5-1.2kg, bream to 900g, and sizeable tailor and salmon. It pays to have a set of gang hooks handy in case you encounter tailor whilst wash fishing. Unless you hook them in the mouth less than 1cm down, you will likely get bitten off on lighter 6-10kg mono or leader. Give the tailor a bit of metal to chew on, like a set of gang hooks. Good baits are whole or half pilchards, squid strips, peeled prawns and fish baits like tailor or bonito. For your berley, use wet bread, fish bait, some finely-chopped prawns or squid strips, depending on what you’re using for bait. Try Mona Vale pool front ledge on the flatter days, Dee Why, North and South Curl Curl ledges wash fishing. Preferably fish the lower light periods for better results for these species. Bream are still in good numbers off most rock ledges, especially Long Reef shallows. If you can brave the cold, wade around and hop on top of a boulder from half tide to two hours out. A beach whiting outfit will suffice, with prawns, pilchards or pink nippers for bait. You will need a shoulder bag whilst wading so you don’t have to go back to base to put a fish in the bucket or keeper net.

Sayf Ali with his first mulloway. Beach mulloway fishing is a hard gig but worth it. That distinct bite, the bounce-bounce from the head shakes, the runs, then finally sliding up the beach with a wave is something you never forget. BEACH FISHING Some people assume it’s not worth trying for a beach mulloway at the time of the year. However, they’re definitely still worth a shot, even though it is pretty cold in the evenings. Bring a head torch, look for a gutter that has little to no kelp, and fish the correct evening high tides.

It’s also important to rug up with a beanie and jumper, a raincoat to block some of the wind, and appropriate footwear like a pair of 3mm surf boots, which will keep your feet warmer. When you’re rugged up like this, you’ll be

A bag of snapper to 48cm and trevally to 42cm caught fishing the ocean rocks. Salmon and bream were also part of the mixed wash fishing bag. more comfortable and likely to stay longer, giving you a better chance of nailing a jewie. There is a plethora of bait you can use for beach mulloway. Mullet and yellowtail make great live baits, or you can butterfly them or use fillets. Other good baits include whole squid, squid strips, and legal-size whiting. One of my clients caught a 105cm mulloway which had a 28cm whiting and a 30cm garfish in it, indicating it was hunting for smaller beach species in close. When fishing for beach mulloway you are likely to encounter other species like big tailor up to 65cm, and occasionally salmon that are even bigger. Late-season dusky whaler sharks up to 1.5m can also turn up at times. Whaler sharks pull hard, and rip a lot of line off your reel when they get to around 1.3m+. It’s great sport. The vast majority of whiting anglers have given up fishing for them by the time June rolls around; most people only target them during the warmer months. However, you can still catch whiting at this time of year. When you put your feet in the water you’ll notice it’s much warmer than the air temperature. This month the water temperature should be hovering around 19°C or even 20°C, meaning that the whiting should still be around. Often good bream will be part of your catch. Fish baits work well on bream, but for the whiting you will need pink nippers or beach worms for better results. You can fish for whiting and bream during the day or even in the evenings. After dark you can catch them in shallower water than usual; sometimes they’re in water less than 1m deep. If you’d like to target tailor,

Sydney NSW

FMM

Good catches of bream, flathead and whiting SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

We’ve been getting plenty of reports of great catches from those fishing in Botany Bay and the Georges River. Michael Beam from Sutherland reported that he and his father caught whiting, flathead and bream while drifting off the end of the third runway while using live nippers from Mac’s Bait Bar. Robert Peters and his son have been

kingfish with either small yellowtail or whole squid. I had a couple of customers who came into the BCF shop at Taren Point to buy completely new fishing outfits after losing theirs overboard. It pays to not rest your live baiting rods against the gunwales and put them into your rod holders. This month, the oil wharf will be worth a shot for trevally, bream, slimy mackerel and the odd kingfish on a run-out tide. I’ve found that over the years of fishing this place, you need to

laying them skin side down in a container, spread salt over them meat side, and repeat this until you fill the container up. You’ll find that they will never freeze in the freezer – they’ll just toughen up. Further upstream in the Georges River, there have been a number of reports coming in from Stephen West. He has been catching small and legal mulloway on 1/4oz TT UV Switchblades in golden minnow and nightmare. He has also been using the 4” ZMan unrigged Mulletron in the Houdini and gold rush colours on 1/4oz and 3/8oz DemonZ jigheads. Luderick and mullet have started to show up in numbers around Lugarno, the Moons and Picnic Point. The key to success is getting good quality green weed and using a small but steady stream of berley. Sean Riley has been getting a few bream on a rising tide while fishing off

There are still a number of dusky flathead about in the rivers and creeks. Try flicking lightly-weighted soft plastics in close to the mangroves. getting blue swimmer crabs off the point at Dolls Point beach. The baits they used were fillets of mullet they caught while fishing up in the Georges River near the Como Bridge. The pair also caught a number of bream off Towra while waiting to check their traps. The best lure was the Chubby in brown suji shrimp. Colin Festival anchored up off Trevally Alley and berleyed up plenty of silver trevally, although most were under the legal size of 30cm. There has also been the odd legalsized snapper caught off Trevally Alley by those who have been live baiting for your best bet is still the traditional whole pilchard and a set of 3-hook gangs in the 3/0 to 5/0 size, depending on the size of your pilchard. Flesh baits also catch their share, and you can get good results on a fillet of mullet, yellowtail, or even tailor, cut into strips around 15cm long. Salmon should be part of the mix, and you may even encounter a nice mulloway. If you’re getting smaller pecks without hooking up, tie a 30cm leader of 30lb with a 1/0 to 2/0 hook and a half pilly or fish fillet to suit the size of the hook. This should entice bream or even trevally if they’re in the area. Locations to try include Manly/ Queenscliff beach, Dee Why, North Narrabeen, Newport, and Avalon beaches. These are the beaches I know have produced recently, but there are others that you can try. Find the gutters and fish from half tide in to a couple of

berley or you will either get nothing or just small snapper. Watts Reef is worth a shot for squid, bream and trevally on both the run-out and run-in tides. Anchoring up works the best for me. Peeled Hawkesbury River prawns, pilly tails and strips of fresh squid will do the job. Peter Tully from Brighton has been drifting offshore for sand flathead and the odd snapper. He’s found that the best depth has been 28-31m. He has been using salted slimy mackerel caught while fishing just inside Henry Head. You can salt freshly caught slimy mackerel by

Andy (8yo) caught this magnificent flathead while fishing with soft plastics. Kelso Beach with chicken breast for bait. The main rig he has been using is a running ball sinker down onto a swivel and a leader length of 1-1.2m. The Milperra Bridge is worth a shot for bream, mulloway, flathead and the odd bass and estuary perch. Try working

Steve Frith with a healthy kingfish, which was part of a mixed bag of bonito, tailor and mac tuna. All were caught on XL sea garfish and OT Jigs in the 30g size. Steve and the author changed locations on the headland twice for this result.

Keeleigh Shephard with a pair of bream caught on hardbodies. blades and soft plastics around the pylons and parallel to the shoreline. In the Port Hacking, Gunnamatta Bay and Gymea baths and the Lilli Pilli Pool have been producing squid, bream, leatherjackets, dusky flathead and the odd kingfish. The work on the Gymea Bay baths has been finished and the Lilli Pilli pool can get a bit crowded. As for the Gunnamatta Bay baths, there is plenty of room. You could also try the ferry wharf at Bundeena for squid, bream and flathead. Small frigate tuna have also been caught there, so don’t forget those small plastics and metal lures. By the time you read this report, the Port Hacking will hopefully have started to clear up to what it’s normally like, and the big logs will have ended up on the shore. Tailor, bonito and salmon are being caught off Salmon Haul Bay on whole pilchards, squid and small metal lures. The beaches in Bate Bay have been producing whiting, bream, dart, salmon, tailor and the odd ray or two. The best baits are live beach worms and pilchards. Don’t forget to keep those short reports coming into gbrown1@iprimus.com.au. hours out. Sydney beaches are notorious for kelp, and many a disgruntled angler has given up because of beach kelp. To avoid disappointment, do a reconnaissance mission and check whether your gutters have kelp in them or nearby. Enjoy this month before the water cools off by mid to late July. • Alex Bellissimo is an experienced rock fishing guide with proven teaching formulas. If you’re an experienced angler, he will bring your abilities to new heights. And if you’re new to rock fishing, Alex will teach you all the fundamentals so you can consistently catch fish -- and stay safe at the same time. All tackle and bait is supplied. To find out more, visit www. bellissimocharters.com.au, email alex@ bellissimocharters.com.au, or call Alex on 0408 283 616. JUNE 2024 51

NSW

Byron Coast

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Quality flathead stacked up along the mud flats BALLINA

Anthony Melchior

As the cooler months set in we will start to see the tailor move in on the beaches, sitting in the deeper gutters and in the whitewash you get when the waves come crashing in on that back of the gutter. The tailor will spread out along our beaches and break walls, and casting

can be hard to find these fish in the deeper holes out towards the mouth of the river. However, if you have a great sounder, you may be able to see these fish around 4.5m-6m holes, and even on those bigger drop-offs around that 8m mark. When chasing mulloway you should use the freshest of fresh baits. With the abundance of mullet in the river you won’t be short of a decent

Tim with a cracking flathead.

Dominic with a longtail he caught while fishing for snapper. slugs is quite an effective method for these aggressive fish. Using pilchards off the beach can be just as effective, or even better. Make sure you are using your wire traces because even with heavy lines these guys will snip you off without a problem. Most of the tailor caught off the beach have been around 30-50cm, which is the perfect eating size. There have been reports of bigger fish in the mix, up to 70cm+, so it’s shaping up to be a decent tailor season along the beaches of Ballina and South Ballina. After the rain the Northern Rivers received over the last few months, we’ve been finding that the bream, whiting, and dart have been pushed down and out to the beaches. Here they are mixing with the running tailor and mingling with the massive amounts of mullet along the beaches. You can catching these guys on beach worms if you are quick enough, and pillies and pipis also will do the trick if you are looking for a quick feed of fresh, clean fish off the beach. RIVER The cold conditions will have a huge positive effect on larger saltwater species such as mulloway and snapper. Be prepared to have these guys schooling up in massive numbers around Missingham Bridge, off the north and south walls, and in the deeper holes off the edge of the Porpoise Wall. Mulloway can be a cunning fish, and often elude the best of anglers. It 52 JUNE 2024

bait; catching these little fellas on bread can be very effective. With clean water in the system, the yellowtail or yakkas may even come in the rivers, sitting under the lights of the north wall and over at Missingham Bridge. You can catch these guys on herring jigs. After big rains, you can catch mulloway along the north and south walls on big hardbodies and large plastics as well as your live baits. The flathead have been on the chew as well. These guys loved our last little blast of fresh from the rain,

and you will find them stacked in great numbers off the mud/sand flats. They’re a great target, whether you’re looking for a decent feed or just want to have some fun. The flatties have been coming off the flats early, and can be found sitting in those typical ambush spots – pressure points coming off rock walls or the edges of the big sand and mud flats around the Pimlico and Wardell area. Keep an eye on the tides when targeting these areas. The mud crabs have been on the move with this fresh flush. Throwing a few pots or dillies out with some fresh mullet for bait is a great way to get a nice feed of muddies. They have been reported from areas ranging as far up as above Wardell, and all the way even up North Creek. Be sure to check the rules about where you can use pots and dillies. Please keep an eye out for bass this time of year; you can’t target or keep them because they are spawning. The bass season reopens in September. In the meantime, if you are looking to

chase some, there is no closed season in the local dams such as Toonumbar. The bass there are schooling up down deep and can be a lot of fun to catch. OFFSHORE Bigger snapper come in closer around this time of the year. They sit on the shallow reefs very close to the bar, and it’s a nice, easy drive out there if you can snag a nice little westerly

Archie with a nice bycatch that turned up while he was fishing for bream. He released it after a quick photo.

Anthony and Tom with a double hook-up of dart off the beach.

wind and a little swell. I recommend throwing 5-7” soft plastics in natural colours. Use 1/8oz to 1/4oz jigheads with a hook to suit the size of the bait. Chumming is quite effective on those shallower reefs as the fish come up to feed. If you throw an unweighted pilchard chunk on a hook in your chum trail, you’re nearly guaranteed to catch your target species. It can also bring a range of other species up from the depths.

Coffs Coast NSW

FMM

Coffs Coast marlin fishery doesn’t disappoint COFFS COAST

Rob Taylor

We’re now entering winter but as I always say, don’t hang up the mackerel gear just yet. June is a cracking month to chase big Spanish

mackerel, and anglers in the know will now start trolling big dead baits. When I say ‘big’, I’m talking footlong baits, such as tailor or bonito, rigged on wire with multiple hooks and trolled dead slow. There’s no more certain way to bag a 25kg+ Spanish at this time of year. Plenty of big longtail tuna are patrolling the headlands, and good numbers of mulloway are feeding along the beaches. We have also had a good start to the tailor run, and this should only improve as the water temps drop and the beaches and washes start to fire. However, the real anticipation at this time of year is for big snapper to start falling to the soft plastics

However, Coffs is now showing some flashes of the old days. Last year, we had Troy Boulton score a grand slam in one outing, and this year it’s happened again. Local marlin guns Don Cummings, Sam Biddle and captain Chris Jauffret (fishing on Basil 2) initially headed out recently to spend the day chasing striped marlin but ended up scoring a black and a blue in the morning, dragging a spread of Chris’s own locally-made Reload Lures. Then, not long after the lads had lunch, they were all on the flybridge when the shotgun went off after being inhaled by – you guessed it – a lit-up stripe. The boys were excited to say the least, and I’ve dedicated most of the pics accompanying this month’s article to that fantastic achievement. Needless to say, we should all keep an

eye on the Coffs marlin scene over the coming seasons. CREEKS AND RIVERS There’s still some good flathead fishing in the creeks and rivers, with plenty of local fishos landing (and releasing) some solid fish over 70cm. It’s amazing watching the progression of the lizard fishery from the old days, when the old timers got them exclusively drifting with bait and usually kept them all, to today where they are almost exclusively targeted with lures and usually released. Good stuff. Casting big, soft glidebaits over large sandflats has been accounting for some bigger flathead, and soft plastics and crankbaits have also been working well. Winter bream and blackfish will start to increase in numbers in

OFFICIAL DEALERS FOR Local marlin guru Don Cummings with the first fish for the grand slam, a nice healthy black.

AIL AB AV

FINANC E

Don Cummings with a striped marlin to round out the grand slam.

This blue marlin completed the grand slam for the boys on Basil 2. An amazing day on billfish for anywhere in the world, and a good example of how good Coffs can be when it all comes together.

brigade in close. This month should see the first big reds starting to feed on the 20m reefs and shallower. MARLIN I have to dedicate a part of this month’s column to the Coffs marlin fishery. It’s certainly had its ups and downs over the years, but there are some solid indicators that Coffs Coast bill fishing is making something of a comeback. Don’t get me wrong, we get reasonably solid marlin numbers every season, but there aren’t too many places where grand slams go down each season.

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Coffs Coast

the lower reaches of the creeks and rivers this month. Check out any of the bigger systems that have rock walls, or which empty out next to a headland, and you’ll find fish. I like a run-out tide for the luderick and if you’re after a challenge, try green weed imitation flies for some fun. Although the jacks will now start to go quiet, using live baits at night is a great way to chase river mulloway.

FMM There will be plenty of silver ghost action over the coming weeks. ROCKS AND BEACHES It’s been a mixed season for the land-based game fishos, with some great days off the rocks followed by prolonged spells of green water that were hard to fish. Not to worry though, as the longtail run seems to get later every year, so some big fish will be patrolling the headlands and

There will be a few longtail heading north this month, making them a great target off the rocks and from boats.

break walls this month. Tailor numbers have been increasing, and a dawn or sunset session throwing stickbaits or big metals off the rocks or into beach gutters will no doubt find some choppers. There will also be solid drummer starting to feed in the washes, so look for wash areas without sand, and berley hard with bread. You can have an absolute ball on bream, drummer, tarwhine, and dart at this time of year around Coffs. OFFSHORE As mentioned, it’s been an up-and-down kind of season for pelagics. There have been moments of mayhem, but protracted weather events have kept the water green and lifeless for much longer than anyone would like. The jellybean yellowfin never showed; only a handful of wahoo were caught, and the Spanish were there one day, gone the next. There is still time for the pelagic run to finish on a high note but that will need some good luck with the currents and weather. Fingers crossed. Don’t forget the upcoming 2024 Trophy Hunter Snapper Bash, which is held off Coffs in July. It’s a great event with plenty of laughs, and really shows the almost cult-like following snapper have off our part of the world – and rightly so.

READER’S

PICTURE

Willow Godden caught this frigate mackerel while spinning for pelagics with an Ironbark Lure jerk bait.

Manning River Marine

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54 JUNE 2024

Regal Marine

Coffs Coast NSW

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Warm water species mixing with cool water fish the local beaches. Live beach worms, pink nippers, and pipis are the best baits for the sand. June on the Mid-North Coast is still a great time of year, with plenty of warm water species mixing it up with the cooler water fish. Pick those glamour winter days with light winds and blue skies, and you should be rewarded with some great fishing. • Vic Levett and his son Zane run Oceanhunter Sportfishing charters out of the beautiful South West Rocks. They target all manner of sports fish from kingfish, mackerel, cobia and all way through to the famous black marlin of Trial Bay. Whether you’re a beginner or

SOUTH WEST ROCKS

Vic Levett

Winter is here, and the icy westerlies are making pre-dawn starts just that little bit harder. The good news is that the offshore currents have slowed and the big mulloway are starting to mooch around in the estuaries. OFFSHORE May saw some outstanding Spanish mackerel captures off the Mid North Coast, with many fish over the magic 20kg mark. Spotty mackerel were almost non-existent, but longtail tuna filled the void. The mackerel will thin out throughout June as the offshore water temps slowly drop. Keeping a sharp eye on the water temps will be the key to a successful day. Fishing the wider grounds usually sees a few late-season fish as the water temps should be slightly higher. Unfortunately, it’s been difficult to catch quality livies such as slimy mackerel most days. Kingfish will start to improve in size and numbers this month, and places like

Kingfish should improve in size with the cooler water. be in full swing and big fish won’t be too far away. Using large live baits fished along the wall with an incoming to high tide will be a good start. Live baits and hot coffee go hand-in-hand when targeting mulloway on those cold nights. Luderick will also start infiltrating the estuaries in the coming weeks. Incoming tides in the creek and river should see them on the chew. Try local green weed

Luke scored this late-season mackerel on Oceanhunter Sportfishing Charters.

Jack with a nice blue-eye. There’s a lot of focus on deep dropping at this time of year. Fish Rock should start to fire. May had some reasonable numbers of kings but unfortunately, the sharks made it unviable to target them. The odd wahoo also started to aggregate around the rock, but only the spearos seemed to be able to entice them to their flashers. Some wahoo were taken on trolled lures further out from the rock, but they were very few and far between. Mahimahi will also be a target species in June, and hopefully the DPI FAD will still be in place. If not, there are plenty of fish traps in the 60-100m line. Beyond the shelf will also be worth fishing for marlin and tuna, as water temps offshore should remain high. Bottom fishing has been very productive in recent weeks, with plenty of morwong, pearl perch, pigfish, trag and snapper taken drifting the 100m line. ESTUARY Mulloway will be on the agenda for many people in June. May saw good numbers of fish caught in the river and headlands. The annual mullet run should

or even some of the weed flies that are available. Bream continue to be a great target for visiting anglers. Any of the jetties and wharves are good places to start, and don’t be afraid to use live herring if you want those bigger bluenose bream. May had plenty of mud crabs for those who made the effort, and crabs should still be on the move this month. BEACHES Mulloway and tailor will be your best bet for June. I recommend hardbody lures such as the Levies and Croakers for mulloway, and chromies or pilchards for the tailor. I heard rumours of a 35kg mulloway taken off the rocks, which took a lure on the first cast of the pre-dawn morning. Mitch for MNC tours has been at it again with his Drone Tours. He has been getting huge Spanish, cobia, longtail, and kingfish, and will be targeting giant snapper in the coming months. Wash fishing on the headlands and

ledges for drummer and bream will be keeping the land-based guys busy. Bread berley and lightly weighted prawn or squid baits fished in the white water will attract plenty of attention. Whiting, dart, and bream should be found in one of the many gutters along READER’S

an experienced angler, the boys will put you onto the best fish available. To find out more visit www.Oceansportsfishing. com.au, Insta Ohsportfishing, Facebook Oceanhunter Sportsfishing. Email vic@ oceansportsfishing.com.au, or call 0414 906 569. PICTURE

Johnny Scott headed down to the Avon River in Stratford for an afternoon session and was delighted with a PB bass measuring 40cm. The fish was released after the photo.

JUNE 2024 55

NSW

Macquarie Coast

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Chasing target fish species through the seasons PORT MACQUARIE

Kate Shelton

There’s something undeniably thrilling about deep-drop fishing. Here on the Macquarie Coast, we boast some of Australia’s finest spots for this unique fishing technique. Deep dropping takes skill, often relying on electric reels to manage the immense pressure. Thankfully, technological advancements have

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56 JUNE 2024

Jacob Pope with a cracking 74cm flathead he caught on a live garfish in Limeburners Creek.

are in for a treat. Luderick fishing has been fantastic in the area, offering a rewarding experience for many anglers. For those who prefer night fishing, school mulloway remain abundant in many locations. Fresh garfish is the perfect bait to tempt these smaller fish. Keep your eyes peeled for larger mulloway lurking in the shadows. Migrating mullet schools often attract these giants, presenting an exciting opportunity to land a good fish. As the weather cools, flathead fishing remains excellent in the Hastings River. Live garfish and soft plastics are doing the trick. Luderick numbers are on the rise! Both cabbage and weed flies are proving effective. The break walls and local wharves are worth checking out. Bream fishing remains steady further upstream in the Hastings. Mullet strips and lures are both working well. For offshore anglers, the Macquarie Coast reefs are packed with a variety

made these reels more accessible to recreational anglers. The rewards are more than worth the effort. The Macquarie Coast offers a bounty of delicious deep-sea dwellers: blue-eye trevalla, bass groper, bar cod, hapuka, kingfish, and gemfish. Some can tip the scales at over 50kg, and that’s where the electric reel comes in. So, if you’re looking for an unforgettable fishing adventure, consider venturing into the deep on the Macquarie Coast. Drop in to Ned Kelly’s Bait n Tackle in Port

PJ White with a tripletail – a fish more at home in tropical waters – reeled in right here off the Macquarie Coast. Image courtesy of Ned Kelly’s Bait n Tackle.

Ben Hill with a blue-eye trevalla he caught off Port Macquarie on a Bay Explorer Marine deep drop rig. Image courtesy of @kegrocks.

Macquarie, or Outdoor Adventures in South West Rocks, ask the staff about deep drop fishing and check out my hand-made rigs that are sold in-store. The relentless wet weather in May has left many of us longing for calmer seas. Thankfully, June is just around the corner, and with it, hopefully, comes a shift in the weather patterns. This update dives into what fishy friends are waiting to be caught on the Macquarie Coast. Good news for beach anglers! Tailor are in plentiful numbers across most local beaches. Choose your weapon – lures, pilchards, or whitebait – all are effective in enticing these tasty fish. If you’re chasing a trophy catch, consider using slab baits after dark. They might just attract a much larger specimen. Anglers venturing to Camden Haven

of fish. Snapper and pearl perch are plentiful in depths of 30-50m, both off Point Plomer and Port Macquarie. Venture a little further out, and kingfish numbers are on the rise! Catches around 10kg have been reported near Trag Rock and Lighthouse Wide off Port Macquarie. For those seeking a deep-drop adventure, even greater rewards await. Bar cod, hapuka, and blue-eye trevalla are biting well in deeper waters at the moment. • Kate Shelton is the proud owner of Bay Explorer Marine Services, and she specialises in making deep-drop fishing rigs for blue-eye trevalla, bar cod, king fish, and bass groper. For more info look up ‘Bay Explorer Marine Services’ on Facebook and Instagram, or find her store on eBay.

Macquarie Coast NSW

FMM

A winter fishing paradise in the estuaries FORSTER

Luke Austin

Welcome to winter, and what a beautiful start to the season it has been so far! We have had some cracking weather to kick off the cooler months – perfect for getting out and hitting the water in search of a few fish. The Great Lakes area is a fishing paradise over winter, with loads of fishing options on offer, so rug up and get out there!

the school of fish and you will be onto a fish before it gets to the bottom! Local luderick anglers are well and truly out and about now, and most have been finding a few fish. The bite seems to be much better on the run-in tide, and the fish have been taking a range of baits as well as the good old synthetic weed flies. While luderick can be found all over the place, the better numbers seem to be schooling up along the northern rock wall and down around the Fish Co-op. Flathead are definitely still there for

The rock walls are loaded with solid bream at the moment. This little ripper was landed by Shane Sypher. Our estuary has been on fire of late. The winter fishing pattern is starting to settle in now, and we have started to see some big numbers of bream enter Wallis Lake and settle in the lower sections of the system. With the nice, clear high

those wishing to chase a tasty feed. You will have to move about to find the fish, but for numbers, you are best off heading upriver a little, with the bottom of Wallamba River fishing particularly well. For land-based anglers confined to the area down near the mouth of the estuary, staying mobile is the key to winter flathead fishing. While most of the fish have headed upstream, there are always stragglers that seem to hang down the bottom for longer (or for the whole of winter). Covering ground while throwing 3-5” soft plastics on the run-out tide will give you the best chance. Make sure you fish nice and slow, and keep that lure in the zone for as long as you can. The winter beach fishing season is off to a cracking start, with loads of great reports filtering through. At the top of the list is the mighty tailor. These fish seem to be schooling up on all of our beaches

at the moment. 7 Mile is still probably the stand-out beach but this may be due to the fact that this beach sees the most angling activity. I have been getting plenty of reports from up around Diamond Beach and Redhead, as well as Tuncurry and even One Mile! Lures have been out-fishing baits of a morning and evening, but the really big fish have been hammering baits once the sun goes down. Bream are well and truly on the move, and huge numbers of fish are sitting on certain beaches. Try fishing the corners of beaches to start with, as the fish often school up in the gutters towards the ends of the beaches. At the moment there are great fish to be caught at Janie’s Corner as well as the southern end of One Mile Beach. While the good old bream will smash just about any bait offering you choose, if you fish worms or pipis, you have a much better chance at scoring some amazing bycatch in the form of large whiting and possibly even a mulloway. It will also give your bait a chance to get past the tailor sitting up high. Local rock fishing anglers have been loving a nice early start to the winter season with some really nice drummer, bream and luderick getting about as well. There has also been the odd groper and snapper turning up. Finding a decent bit of wash close to town has been a bit difficult, but the rocks down south have been consistently fishable. Hitting any headland and throwing metals or surface lures about has been great for chasing some tailor. There is still the odd tuna sneaking about, so you just never know what might turn up. OFFSHORE Reports from offshore have been all over the place. Some anglers have returned to port defeated and downtrodden after hours of fishing hard for only a few fish, while other boats have returned buzzing with excitement and carrying a box full of awesome tablefish. The successful anglers

There are plenty of solid tailor getting about along our coastline. Brad caught this cracker on a popper. have all had one thing in common: they have been fishing out wider than 50-60m. The deeper reefs have been holding some nice mixed bags of fish, including some very respectable pearl perch, with a couple of big 5kg fish coming in. Unfortunately, the 20-40m ground has been pretty slow for most. This will change though, and the gnarly shallower stuff will start to fire any day now! The super shallow stuff has been producing the odd cracker red, but you need to be fishing very hard into the wash zones to get any action, and once that sun gets up, it’s all over! • Luke is the owner of Great Lakes Tackle your ‘local’ bait and tackle store. They only sell the best brands and offer sound, friendly advice on where you can go to land your next trophy fish while visiting the wonderful Great Lakes region! Open 7 days in the main street of Tuncurry, ph: 02 6554 9541 or find them on Facebook to see what they have been up to!

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Chasing luderick on artificial weed flies is awesome fun! tides, now is a great time to get out for a walk to see where the fish are. You will be amazed at how many fish are sitting in tight to the rock walls, under the moored boats and along the jetties. The clear water is perfect for sight fishing; just flick a lightly weighted, small soft plastic into the school and wait for it to disappear. Once it’s gone, lift the rod and go hard! You can do the same with unweighted baits, too. It doesn’t really matter what bait you use; just float it into

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Scott Adams with a lovely shallow water snapper.

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Hunter Coast

NSW

FMM

Prime time to chase bream on bait and lures time of year around Port Stephens. The first is fishing too late in the day, and the second is using a sinker that’s too heavy. Low light periods are when

PORT STEPHENS

Paul Lennon

In the estuary, luderick numbers are building along the Anchorage and Nelson Bay rock walls, which have already produced some great catches. Luderick would have to be one of the easiest fish to catch this time of year. They can be caught at any time of day, especially if you fish around the tide changes. While the slack tide tends to be a slow time for luderick, fishing the period either side of this (when the tide is just starting to slow down and just starting to pick up again) is the best time to catch these fish. For luderick, if the swell allows you to, you can collect sea lettuce for bait from the ocean rocks on low tide. Alternatively, you can source green wire weed, which may be found in a variety of places, sometimes along estuary beaches or around stormwater run-off points. Winter is also a prime time to catch bream. They can be caught right throughout the system this time of year, taking both bait and lures. The best land-based areas for bait fishing are the Torpedo Tubes, The Boulders, and the Anchorage and Nelson Bay Marina rock walls. Live nippers are my favourite for bream, and they’re worth the effort to pump along Corlette or Taylors Beach. While you will still catch numbers of bream in these parts during the day, fishing into the night is by far the most productive time. For lure fishers, the walls and islands around

A couple of big bream caught close to structure inside Port Stephens. the estuary over the last few months, which is a little concerning for this time of year. However, there have been a few lurking around the new and old bridge pylons at Karuah, and the deeper holes around Soldiers Point. There is no better time to be fishing off the ocean rocks than winter, with a range of species on offer. The wash zone will produce a mixed bag of species, with bream, drummer, squire, leatherjacket, and luderick all on the cards. You can get good results bait fishing with a lightlyweighted peeled prawn or fresh piece of cunjevoi in the whitewater. The calmer bays and coves will be stacked with luderick as well as squid, which also prefer the shallow, sheltered waters. Any point or headland that juts out into deeper water, fished at

You don’t need to go far to catch big snapper in Port Stephens. Soldiers Point through the Tahlee and down to the Short Cut area are full of quality fish, some well over the 40cm mark. You can catch them on shallowdiving crank lures or lightly weighted 2-3” plastics. Mulloway have been a bit tough in 58 JUNE 2024

dawn or dusk, is ideal for targeting tailor. You can catch them on a whole pilchard or garfish rigged on a gang hook, or with 20-40g metals. OFFSHORE I’ve been getting reports of excellent snapper fishing from the

shallow reefs off Fingal Island over the past month, and catches should only get better through the winter months. That’s the great thing about fishing for snapper in Port Stephens – while Broughton Island and Seal Rocks are legendary for reds, you don’t need to travel anywhere near that far to catch some donkeys. Tomaree, Fingal, Big and Little Island all consistently produce great fish less than 10 minutes from the heads. There are two common mistakes that snapper anglers make at this

Drummer are great through the winter months. most of the action happens, and when fishing the shallow reefs, your sinker should be no bigger than a pea. In fact, most of the time I don’t use a sinker at all when bait fishing.

Rain for long term gain SWANSEA

Jason Nunn

The heavens opened in May, and we exceeded our monthly average rainfall in the first week. The influx of freshwater wasn’t favourable for anglers in the short term, but now as we move into June we’ll start to see the benefits for both estuary and offshore fishing. Traditionally, June marks the end of the Lake Macquarie Game Fishing Club’s summer season. As we know, game fishing has been a roller coaster ride this year. There was no inshore marlin bite at all, an abundance of mahimahi in the latter part of the season, and a late run of striped marlin throughout April. June is when the yellowfin usually start to come down, and we are all waiting for them. If the June long weekend is a good weather window, we’ll get out and have a look for them. A few years ago we caught two cracking yellowfin in June, measuring 58kg and 53kg, and lost one that would have been 80kg, eaten by an enormous mako at the boat. You can look for yellowfin anywhere from 500 to 1000 fathoms, and popular lures to troll include

JB Dingo skirts, Halco Max bibless minnows, and Profidgie trolling soft plastics. The Halco 190 Max is the perfect lure for running off corners, as it’s a trembler lure that works about a metre below the surface, and you can send it back a bit. We’ve caught plenty of tuna on the Max, including a 58kg yellowfin. My preferred colours are FIFO (orange/ silver) and silver slayer (grey/silver). When chasing yellowfin, we generally run a Profidgie off the shottie, skirts on the left and right rigger, and a couple of Max 190s down the middle. The yellowfin are feeding on bait, and it’s possible a winter striped marlin could be feeding amongst them, so don’t be surprised if you hook one on the skirt. Deepwater fishing on the Farm, and down as far as Texas, will also pick up this month. Snapper, trag, and longfin perch are more common at this time of year. It can also be worth doing longdistance trips down to Norah Head and beyond in search of kingfish. Guys have been having more success using knife jigs rather than live baiting down that way. The depth is anywhere between 55-60

Hunter Coast NSW

FMM

Good month for fishing off the rocks and beaches CENTRAL COAST

Jamie Robley

We’ve had plenty of nice weather and some great fishing conditions over the past few months. Historically, June also tends to have a lot of stable and sunny weather. However, this is also a month when the dreaded east coast lows can hit us. We’ve had a few patches of heavy rainfall through autumn, which has helped clean our waterways and keep the resident fish happy and healthy. We don’t need

another flush-out, but we might get one all the same. Aside from rainfall, another thing that kicks in a bit more at this time of year are the westerly winds. Normally, however, the westerlies don’t interfere too much with fishing, unless they’re particularly strong. Offshore anglers love this early winter period, with the prolonged calm patches of weather it brings. This allows for more time on the water and also makes things easier for those heading out wide. June is also a month where it’s possible to enjoy some first-rate fishing

The author with a decent late bream from the lakes. They can become harder to catch as it gets colder, but you’ll still find them in the lakes and Brisbane Waters this month. fathoms (110-125m), and jig weights will range from around 120-250g, depending on the current. The kingies themselves are usually found above the bait, midway in the water column; say, around 80m if you’re in 120m of water. You can opt for a fast jig up through them or drop a couple of live baits down amongst them. The inshore reefs are still producing fish. Anglers fishing depths around 25-40m have been catching snapper, trag, tailor, flathead, and a few bream. When fishing inshore, my tip is to anchor up and berley hard, and fish as light as possible to maximise your hook-up rates. Around 12lb line is ideal. Weather permitting, we can expect good catches of inshore snapper and trag in the coming weeks, and some pearl perch should turn up as well. ESTUARY FISHING After all the rain, the lake has started to finally clean up. Tailor numbers have started to increase, some nice mulloway have been caught, and we’ve seen a lot more flathead move back into the system. The flatties will congregate in a lot of bays in the coming months. In the lake, if you find a school of tailor demolishing a bait school,

try dropping down a lure to the scavengers lurking below the melee. Flathead, snapper, and mulloway like to eat the tailor’s scraps, and will readily take a well-presented jig, vibe, or soft plastic. One of the great things about winter is that you can fish all day, and the flathead are usually concentrated near schools rather than being spread out, as they are in summer. Winter flathead will often stay in the same spot for weeks on end, making them easy to catch, so please keep only what you need. That’s about it for this month. Remember to check my weekly fishing reports on the ‘Fisherman’s Warehouse Marine’ Facebook page or YouTube channel, and I’ll catch you next time. • Fisherman’s Warehouse Marine, run by Patrick Nunn, is your one-stop shop for outboard sales, repairs and servicing. They are the local Honda outboard dealer (sales and service), and also service Yamaha, Mercury, Suzuki, and Tohatsu outboards, and sell spare parts. For more information call 02 4945 2152, email enquiries@ fishermanswarehouse.com.au, or drop in and see the guys at 4/2 Suite Street, Warners Bay. Subscribe to the Swansea Fishing Report YouTube channel or Fisherman’s Warehouse Marine Facebook page for weekly Swansea fishing reports.

Salmon should become more common along our rocks and beaches in the coming weeks. This one nailed a Maria popper at sunrise off the rocks. closer in or further out. Many local anglers target kingfish this month, using live yakkas, squid baits, or jigging the 70-120m grounds. If the dreaded leatherjackets are out in full force, forget using squid or any sort of cut baits. These baits will only serve to attract the jackets and get bitten off. Although jackets will still snip lines and have a go at jigs, it’s a faster, more efficient way of fishing for winter kings, which doesn’t add extra berley to the water. Back in closer, there may still be some decent kingfish around the headlands, bommies, and shallow reef areas. This is often the case when water temps remain a bit warmer for longer or when baitfish are still abundant closer to shore. Some good-size bonito, snapper, mulloway, flathead, trevally, and morwong are also on the cards this month. So, it’s largely a matter of keeping an eye on weather forecasts, ocean temperatures, internet chat rooms, or social media. It doesn’t take much investigation these days to find out what’s been caught during the week so that you can give yourself a clearer plan made up by the weekend. Overall, it should be a good month offshore. Rock and beach anglers may also do well in the coming weeks. Normally, I would mention groper as a species worth chasing off the rocks this month, or through the cooler months. Unfortunately, groper are off the target list now, thanks to the foolish parliamentary decision to ban recreational fishing for them. Hopefully, that issue will be sorted out by this time next year. Bream, drummer, luderick and tailor are all worth pursuing through June. If all goes well, a few salmon should also show up more often from now on. Last year though, they were very late and in fewer numbers than normal along our part of the coast. I remember anglers were catching salmon from the Sydney rocks and beaches in early winter, but they weren’t here, which was quite weird. Each year is a bit different. Some decent mulloway have been caught on our beaches in recent weeks,

and I’ve found June is also a good month for them. Fresh tailor fillets, a whole mullet, tailor head, or a decentsize squid bait will bring some nice fish undone this month. Just be sure to land your bait on the edge of a deeper gutter, where it meets shallower whitewash. Casting out into clear, open water with no foam over it can often be a waste of time; mulloway like a bit of foam over their heads. Some younger and keen beach anglers have been casting larger lures for mulloway at the beach, and have been doing well. It can be a hit-or-miss

Flathead don’t disappear in winter, but they tend to be found in deeper water or further up the local feeder creeks. style of fishing, though; you could get lucky and nail one on your first outing, or it may take 10 or more trips to get a result. Either way, big soft plastics or hardbodies around 150mm are a good starting point, and obviously a bit of weight in the lure helps when beach fishing. Lures can score mulloway in the day or night, but in most cases it’s best to fish around sunset or sunrise. Bait fishing can also produce results around sunset or sunrise, but those anglers who do the best are the ones who fish well after sunset. To be fishing at night now though, you’ll want to wear waders, unless you don’t have a nervous system! Back inside the lakes and Brisbane Waters, the bream, flathead and whiting are still available, although things are slowing down. Conversely, silver trevally and luderick will start showing up more from now on. JUNE 2024 59

NSW

Illawarra Coast

FMM

Plenty of productive locations along coastline ILLAWARRA

Greg Clarke

June can be a tough month for fishing in the Illawarra region, with short, cold, windy days and long, cold, windy nights. There is the odd, calm day thrown in here and there, though, and when you get one, you have to take full advantage of it. Keeping an eagle eye on the weather is a good start to being successful.

break wall, is a gun blackfish spot when it gets big and rough. You even have a jetty to fish from on one side, and the road wall on the other. Safe as houses. Wollongong harbour is next. The inside of the western wall and around the little lighthouse are good spots for blackfish, while near the boat ramp is good for bream. Port Kembla harbour break walls on the inside are great blackfish spots, and with a bit of bread berley there are bream, drummer and trevally on offer.

A few tailor are on the cards if you get a good day casting around the back of the beaches. No prizes for guessing where this one was caught. June is also when the big blows start from the south and the west. The westerlies calm the ocean for a while before the swell comes back with a vengeance, while the southerlies make for an instant ugly ocean that gets nastier the more the wind howls. This is when the clever and creative anglers look for the protected little coves, inlets and harbours to chase the bream, blackfish, drummer and trevally that take refuge from the boiling outside ocean. Unfortunately, these conditions attract idiots to fish the open rock platforms. These people inevitably get washed in and drown or cause a dramatic and dangerous rescue operation, which puts their rescuers at risk as well. If there is any swell, stay off the open ocean rocks and live to fish another day. Back in the sheltered coves and harbours it can be shoulder-to-shoulder as the blackfish really get on the chew. It can be hard to get good green weed at this time of the year, but it’s well worth the effort for a good catch of blackfish and drummer. There are plenty of productive places all along the coast, with the most obvious being the harbours. Bellambi, although small and only protected by a 60 JUNE 2024

If you must put the boat in, it’s protected for a bit of plastic work around the walls for bream and mulloway and, at times, a few big trevally, tailor and salmon. Shellharbour has blackfish from its walls and bream in the evenings, with good old prawns doing the job on the bream. Kiama Harbour also has the reliable blackfish in a storm, with bream on prawns and fish strips. Alternatively, you can even spin up a few tailor and salmon in the evenings close to the entrance wall on the eastern side. In all these places it’s safe and you won’t even get wet unless it rains. Between all the above spots are little coves and protected spots, which sometimes fish better than the harbours; all you need to do is look. When the ocean is calm, there are some nice trevally on the deeper ledges. A bit of bread berley will also bring drummer into the area, along with any bream in the vicinity. Salmon are the pick though, and they seem to be on most rock ledges. The good old pilly on a 3-hook rig is hard to beat. For an even safer option when the seas get angry, the lake and Minnamurra are still worth a look, particularly around the entrance to the

lake and the southern break wall. On the high tide, the salmon and tailor keep on coming in through the entrance, so casting metals and cranking them back should be fun around dusk and dawn. At night you can catch some nice bream along the walls, and you don’t have to try and cast to the other side. Try just a splitshot on light line and a prawn for bait. Cast it upcurrent and let it come back to you right next to the wall, while all the time taking up the slack line. You will get the odd snag but you’ll also get a lot of bream. If you get a nice-sized tailor, send it back out with a big hook because June is big mulloway time. You know how the fish get under the bridge; they swim up along the wall. In the lake proper, there are some nice bream around the islands and the weed beds along Primbee way. If the pros haven’t given them a flogging there should be plenty of fish there this month. Minnamurra is worth a shot around the entrance for a mulloway and some bream, but the rest of the system will be on the quiet side. On the beaches, it’s mega mulloway time, with the big high tides during the evenings giving them plenty of water to get right in close. Big slabs of tailor, blackfish, or mackerel are great baits, as long as they have been caught that day and kept on ice; if you caught them at your chosen mulloway spot, that’s even better. A nice fresh squid is another great bait, if you can get one. You may score a mulloway on a piece of salted yakka, but fresh bait multiplies your chances a hundredfold. Just about any beach along the coast with a good gutter is worth a shot – just go for a drive at lunchtime to pick your

it will be cold, so rug up and keep warm. Waders are a handy item on the beach this time of the year. If you set your sights a bit lower, there are good numbers of big winter bream in the gutters, along with salmon, tailor and even the odd big winter whiting, if you are brave enough to get your feet wet catching worms. Offshore there are limited options as we are in between prime times. A few cuttlies will start to show up and the odd good snapper will be caught, but don’t get too far ahead because the main body of snapper are still a few weeks away yet. Still, it’s fun trying. Some good bream are getting about in the shallow bays and the calmer areas inside the headlands and around the islands. A bit of berley and cubes will do the job and you may even score the odd snapper in the mix. The trevally seem to be about but they are only smallish so far. In close around most headlands there are the ever-reliable salmon, and there’s even the odd stray legal kingfish around the islands. One thing the local game fishos will be hoping for is the appearance of the southern bluefin. I am sure they will be carefully tracked up the coast if they show. Fish to 150kg are something else, and they’re on all game anglers’ bucket lists. There have been a few yellowfin out wide on the shelf and beyond. They haven’t been in great numbers or sizes but that can change at any time. The albacore shouldn’t be too far away either, but you need good weather to tackle any tuna at this time of the year. For the bottom bouncers, it’s lean pickings. The flathead have slowed and the leatherjackets are in their millions,

There is always the chance of a bonus red this month when berleying the shallows for bream. spot, ready for the evening session. Even if the wind is howling from the west and the ocean is dead flat, it’s still worth a crack because under the cover of darkness the fish will come right in, virtually at your feet. On any night when chasing big mulloway, there is one thing for certain:

and will mob you in a short time – that is, unless you like the jackets. A few mowies and small snapper are around the edges of the reefs, and some nice pigfish are over the reefs, but it can be tough going. Still, next month we have the snapper to look forward to. Good luck.

Batemans Coast NSW

FMM

Bluewater fishos looking for big, yellow sickles BATEMANS BAY

Anthony Stokman

This month, we are anticipating an increase in yellowfin and bluefin tuna. There will be plenty of boats out and about, looking over the continental shelf for one of the most sought-after gamefish that swims the oceans. The yellowfin tuna can be caught several ways. In years gone by, it was by trolling lures of various kinds and pulling up and cubing (a berley technique that brings them to the boat). Today we still troll lures, but don’t berley or cube so much. Instead, we approach them busting up on the surface and cast stickbaits in the hope they like what we’re presenting. We use the shiniest, fanciest, and sometimes

and never got produced again. In my experience, Profidgies catch tuna better than any other trolled lure, so you can’t go without them. The next must-have would be the Nomad Madmacs or the Halco Max; you can’t go wrong with a good vibe lure. Good diving lures you can troll include the Nomad DTX and the old classic Rapala X-Raps and Halco Laser Pros. The new lure on the block, which is yet to prove itself this season, is the Nomad Madscad. It’s a kind of hardbody Profidgie that can be trolled up to 25 knots. It will be very interesting to see how these lures perform this year. RODS AND REELS You need a good rod and reel for casting stickbaits. A 7’6” to 8ft rod with a

Tommy caught this quality flatty on a Molix glidebait. most expensive stickbaits possible to get the bite. STICKBAITS AND POPPERS In my experience, the best value-formoney stickbaits and poppers are the range of Marias. The Loaded, Rapido, Legato and Rerise models are all great, all still made in Japan, and cost under $50. Nomad lures, although made in China, are also good quality, and the cost and performance are about the same. Tackle House Canary stickbaits are another Japanese-made stickbait that is great value at $59.99. If you want to spend more, there are plenty on the market over $100; some are even over $300. If you are going to spend that kind of money, you want a lure that’s handmade, beautifully crafted, strong and swims well. Sea Falcon Sauries are Japanese handmade stickbaits that swim and cast beautifully, and cost between $99 and $150. A good handmade Australian option is Malosi lures, which tick all the boxes also. TROLLING LURES When trolling and looking for bust-ups, you can’t go past the Profidgies. They are the copy of the Shimano Bluewater Livies that led the way

bit of play in the tip will cast 50g to 120g lures as far as you need. The next most important piece is a reel that can wrestle fish as large as 80kg. There aren’t many reels that can do the job under $200, except the Quantum reliance and maybe a Fin-Nor. Otherwise, it’s best to spend the money

The estuary will still provide this month – just ask Jay Allen, who caught this cracker of a bream. and look into a Shimano Saragosa or Penn Slammer under $400. If you want to spend more, I recommend the Daiwa Certate, Daiwa Saltiga, Shimano Twinpower, and Shimano Stella. You need serious gear when you chase serious fish. WHAT’S BITING It’s not only tuna we chase out that wide at this time of the year. As the currents slow down, the electric reels come out and we start fishing the bottom. Over the past month there have been some good catches of blue-eye trevalla, gemfish, ling, bar cod and ocean perch. Some fellas enjoy the exercise that comes with fishing the bottom manually. They have been fishing in 200-400m, dropping 400g+ jigs down, and have been successful on the blue-eye. If you want an outfit for this kind of fishing, I recommend using a Talica 20 matched with the Oceans Legacy Deep Element overhead rod. Another offshore species that comes into the limelight at this time of year is the mighty swordfish. Techniques, rigs, gear and new information has evolved over the years. These fish used to be mainly targeted at night, but now they’re targeted at all times of the day and with great

Joey Moran with a decent South Coast snapper.

success, especially further south where the monsters swim. We tend to get smaller models here, but now and then some bigger specimens get hooked. The inshore reef fishing has been exceptional over the past few years and there’s no reason yet why that would change. We should continue to see the snapper bite, as well as other reef species like morwong and flathead. Bonito, longtail tuna, mac tuna and mahimahi – all the warmer water pelagics will have retreated by now. There’s maybe a chance of a kingfish, which can remain during cooler months. As it gets colder, our estuaries become quieter and the fishing gets tougher. Still, if you don’t mind the cold, the estuaries on the south coast can be a place of solace and beauty. If you want more results in your fishing this month, the beaches will be holding salmon and tailor, with a chance of mulloway. The rock fishing is great in June if you are targeting drummer, which is the bread-and-butter species throughout winter for land-based fishers. Bream, trevally, salmon, and tailor often share the same location and are typical bycatch. Snapper is another great target that has been getting caught land-based, although a little more difficult than drummer. You need the right baits and the right locations if you want snapper land-based, so don’t be afraid to ask for advice. I guess that just about sums it up. Nobody is going upstream at this time of the year. If you are going in that direction, keep going over the hill to chase trout, which many fishos like to do from here. Until next month, get the thermals out, fill ya Yeti with something warm, and go fishing. • Anthony Stokman is the owner of Fish Batemans Bay, your one-stop shop for tackle, bait and valuable advice on how to catch more fish. The crew are always happy to chat about what’s been biting and where, so drop in and say hi. You can find them at 65A Orient Street, Batemans Bay, or give them a call on (02) 4472 2559. JUNE 2024 61

NSW

Eden Coast

FMM

Bermagui fishing in June: cool water, cool fish BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Although water and land temps have cooled, this doesn’t mean there are no fish on offer. In fact, there are plenty of cool fish on offer for those who get up off their butts to go chase them. Some of the biggest fish around Bermi are caught at this time of year. Yellowfin are the most soughtafter species at present, and there are reasonable numbers around. Out over the Continental Shelf is the favourite area, even out to 1000 fathoms, and trolling, cubing, and live bait have all been catching fish. Mixing with the yellowfin are albacore and striped tuna. Sharks such as makos, blues, and

Luderick are another cool fish only too willing to perform when it’s not so warm.

whalers are also likely to turn up in berley trails. If water temperatures stay up, there is even the possibility of a late-season striped marlin. Bluefin tuna have been increasing in numbers every season, but it’s anyone’s guess as to when they’ll turn up. Last season it was July/August, whereas the year before it was June/ July. You’ll need to keep inquiring if there is any sign of them, because when they turn up you usually have only a month or so to chase them. Kingfish are still present, with some big fish hanging around Montague Island and some of the reefy areas out from Bermagui. Mixing in with them are quite a few bonito, which are only too willing to take a bait or lure. Reef fishing is very good at this time of year, with plenty of cool,

Facing the challenge of finding fish in winter TATHRA

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

As we move into winter, finding fish can be difficult, but there are still plenty of options for keen and adventurous anglers. Whether you like fishing the blue water, watching the sun rise while patrolling a beach, looking through the spray of a wave as it crashes along a rocky coastline, or slowly moving through the earlymorning mist over a river or lake, there are fish to be found this month. In the Bega River, estuary perch can be found in the deeper, low sections of the river. After you have located them with your sounder, they

structure, including the rock walls and bridge in the river, the coastal rock platforms and the popular local wharf. The wharf is a prime area for migrating fish with species like salmon, bonito or kingfish coming within range of anglers. They are visiting here following the smaller baitfish – slimy mackerel, yellowtail, garfish and pilchards – which themselves provide lots of fun on light gear. There are also some sizeable silver trevally to wrap lines around the pylons. At night, tailor are a good option as they seek out the baitfish. Species like salmon, tailor, mulloway, bream, and whiting are also moving along the beaches, providing excellent angling. There are plenty of very deep gutters to accommodate these fish. Those keen anglers willing to brave the conditions at night may find themselves attached to some tasty sharks like gummies or whalers. Out at sea, snapper are moving along the coast and appearing on most of the reef structures within the area.

It has been a great season for big flatties and there are still more on offer. During calm conditions, try anchoring and berleying in various depths to attract them. Both soft plastics and baits will produce. Another species on offer is kingfish, and in the past couple of years they have appeared more frequently in the winter. There

If you use berley the bream will find you, whether you’re fishing the rocks, estuaries or beach. can provide plenty of action at times. Also moving in the river are flathead, which are more active towards the entrance. You can also encounter some lovely southern yellowfin bream, silver trevally, tailor and the occasional mulloway. Black bream are found throughout the system and are a good lure option, although many casts may be required to coax them out of their lairs. Luderick are a prime target species. You will find them hugging 62 JUNE 2024

Salmon are a popular winter fish and they’re easy to find.

are also the regulars like morwong, leatherjackets, perch, and nannygai. Anglers with the right gear to reach the deep water of the canyons will encounter some interesting fish this month. There are those tasty deep water giants, the beautiful bigeye trevalla, maybe a hapuka or two, some of the biggest ocean perch you may encounter, cod, gemfish, sharks and others that will have you searching the fish identification books. Back closer to shore, it’s sand flathead time, with plenty to be found in around 30m of water. Gummy and whaler sharks are also on the shortlist, along with some nice gurnard. Finally, the last of the migrating species available for the game fishos is tuna. The normal small species like striped and albacore tuna are around in reasonable numbers, while the mighty yellowfin have appeared out over the Continental Shelf. Let’s hope that those beautiful bluefin tuna will appear again this season.

Eden Coast NSW

FMM

Less than a kilometre from shore, there are plenty of winter flatties. calm days to give anglers every opportunity to get on the water. Snapper are the most sought-after target at present, and they can be found from the inshore reefs out wide

to the Twelve Mile Reef. Mixed in with the snapper are the usual species like blue or jackass morwong, ocean perch, nannygai, pigfish as well as those lovely Tassie trumpeter that may visit the deeper reefs. There are still flathead, mostly sandies, lingering around the 30m mark, where some reasonable gummy sharks are also appearing. If you have the gear to go wide to fish the Canyons, species like gemfish, hapuka, blue-eye trevalla and other deepwater species are there for the taking. The beaches are spectacular at the moment, with some interesting fishing to go with them. Salmon are, of course, the most common catch. They can often be targeted through the day by viewing passing schools, and then all that’s needed is a wellplaced lure. Other fish that are still around include bream, mullet, and a few whiting. In the late afternoon and evening you can expect tailor, small sharks, and the odd mulloway. Along the rocky shoreline, salmon and tailor are a good option for those wishing to toss a lure, and the prevailing offshore winds make for easy access to the stones. Don’t be surprised to find kingfish around, too, which can be tempted with live baits. Winter is drummer time, and the

rocky shorelines around Bermagui have plenty of them. The best time to chase drummer is late in the afternoon when the shadows from the cliffs creep over the ocean. There are some nice luderick there as well, along with a few bream, leatherjackets, and some lovely silver trevally. The estuaries are not firing the best but there is enough activity to keep anglers entertained. Southern yellowfin bream are the most likely catch towards the entrance, when the warmer water pushes in from the ocean with the rising tide. Using berley like tuna or pilchards in

the channels as the tide rises will produce these fish, along with other species like tailor, trevally, flathead or salmon in the larger systems. You can then fish the flats as the tide starts covering them, using baits like nippers, worms or prawns as the fish graze these areas. Blackfish, whiting, and mullet will also feed on the same grounds, and will often take the same offerings. The structured areas of the Bermagui River, rock bars and jetties, are prime locations to target luderick on weed, and there are some exceptional fish at present.

A little mixed bag of tasty fish. You don’t have to get up early to find them.

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JUNE 2024 63

NSW

Freshwater

FMM

Don’t miss your chance to fish the full moon chance at success. It’s well-known that fish behaviour is often affected by the moon phase, and in June there’s an extra benefit for anglers – most

NEW ENGLAND RIVERS

Adam Townsend

The New England Tablelands area is generally known for its big frosts and ‘5-month winters’, and the chilly weather has definitely set in. Despite the cold, it’s an awesome time to be getting outdoors enjoying the milder days. Don’t get me wrong – if you aren’t a seriously mad-keen angler, the freezing weather can really suck. However, at this time of year, we hear the phrase ‘’a fish of a lifetime’’ a lot. There are many big fish caught in June. Although massive Murray cod are usually on most people’s minds, we can’t forget about the fish species

Chatterbaits are a cod favourite, and can be worked at any depth at any time of day. This fish was caught in the middle of the night on a gorge trip with Jacko. in the smaller streams – and time is running out to target them. Trout season will close on 11 June, at the end of the long weekend. With many of the

The author with a massive Copeton Murray cod, caught on a very cold morning.

smaller streams being listed as trout waters, that also means no targeting of other species such as redfin during the 3-month closure (check the DPI website for more information if you are not sure). Around the New England area, the water levels in the larger impoundments stayed pretty consistent in recent weeks, with few fluctuations. However, as I type this report, there are some showers predicted that could cause a rise in levels. If I could only fish one moon phase for Aussie natives, it would definitely be the full moon in June, which will be above on the 22nd this time around. If you are fishing on one of the larger impoundments or your favourite sections of river during this time, you’ve given yourself a good

Exploring local waterways and throwing big lures for Murray cod is a lot of fun. bait life is dormant, both above and below the water, due to the cold. The Murray cod have less food to eat, so it makes sense that your lure has a better chance of being eaten by these

Catching fat bass on soft plastics over the flats HUNTER VALLEY

Nick Price

This month, I will continue discussing plastics and jerkbaits, particularly on the flats. I will also go through a few more techniques that catch fish at this time of year.

The Glenbawn bass are fat and healthy. 64 JUNE 2024

Winter is my favourite time to fish; I love this edge bite and flats fishing. Remember bass season is closed in the local rivers but open all year in Lake Glenbawn and Lake St Clair. If you want to fish Glenbawn over winter, the flats in and around Big House Bay and up around the Soil Conservation shed are good places to start. Sometimes you’ll find the bass in large schools, while at other times they’ll be spread out over the flats in groups of two to half a dozen. If you are using LiveScope, these fish are easy to target. If not, once you are in the correct depth, fan your casts around the boat. Generally, the boat should be in the 20-30ft range, with the bass cruising these flats. Long casts are necessary for this kind of fishing so you’ll generally be using a rod over 7ft. I use 8lb braid and similar leader. Cast your lure out, a long cast, keep the bail arm open and let the plastic hit the bottom. You will see the line go limp at the rod tip. Often the bass will hit while the plastic is in freefall, as your paddle-tail looks like a small, dying smelt or gudgeon. Stay alert! Once on the bottom, do a few winds

Although the mornings are cold, the fishing is worth it. to lift your plastic off the bottom. Stop winding, open the bail arm and shake your rod. Stay alert for bites on the drop. Try different shaking techniques, ranging from subtle to more aggressive. Always stay alert for a bite, as it can

come at any time. Repeat this process, bringing your lure back to the boat. This technique mimics a wounded baitfish while keeping your plastic close to the bottom and structure, where most bass are sitting. It also makes it easier to keep your plastic in the correct depth, e.g. if the bass are sitting in 20ft, then sit on a flat in 20ft. This technique differs from catching bream, where the shake is on the wind. If you’re from the coast heading inland, be mindful of this. We have had many anglers fishing for a few days without a bite until they come into the shop and we show them how to adjust their approach. Bass can be very finicky, with slight variations in technique causing a big variation in catch rates. Local fishing guide and tournament fisherman, Fordey of Inland Fishing Charters, can also help if you’re fishing Glenbawn and want to learn the techniques. Remember, when working plastics, the rod action makes a big difference; the rod needs to be a fast action for both punching out the lure and controlling the fish when hooked. Rod action is also

FMM

Freshwater NSW

opportunistic feeders. The new moon will fall early this month, on the 6th, and it’s also worth putting on the calendar if you have the time to get out on the water. With the air and water temperatures being so low now, it is not uncommon to find big fish up in the shallows, even in the daylight hours. That means surface lures and shallow-diving lures are both really good options. Chatterbaits work well, as they are perfect lures for covering ground quickly, are pretty snag-proof and can also be worked at most depths, making them pretty versatile during these times. Personally, I think it’s hard to pass up throwing suspended swimbaits in the cold. Fishing them slow and steady will usually get the bites. If you know

DAM LEVELS

LIGHT, POWERFUL, DURABLE…

DAM

JUNE

Copeton Dam

64%

Pindari Dam

50%

Glenlyon Dam

61%

Malpas Dam

90%

Split Rock Dam

96%

Lake Keepit Dam

38%

Chaffey Dam

81%

INTUITIVE CONTROL

* Levels current at the time of writing

the fish are close by, it’s just a matter of keeping the lure in front of their face as much as possible. Regardless of the approach you take, June is a good time to be out on the water. Good luck this month, and tight lines.

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A chunky cod caught from the river on a lizard-style surface lure. important when working the plastic. There are a few rods that really work well for this type of fishing, and you are always welcome to drop in to the store and ask. Having the right action definitely catches more fish. There’s no river fishing for trout or bass at the moment, so it’s a good time to re-spool reels, tie a few flies, get organised for the warmer months and go catch a few fish at Glenbawn and St Clair. The fishing is great, it’s

nice going camping with a big fire, and there are generally very few boats on the lakes. The fish are big and fat at the moment, too. • If you’re heading up to the Barrington, Glenbawn, Hunter River or St Clair, drop into the shop and talk to Nick, Liz or Cooper at the turnoff to Glenbawn in Aberdeen. Ask about the different techniques and what they are biting on. The store stocks all the quality tackle that you need.

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With the bass and trout streams closed it’s a good time to organise gear for the warmer months. JUNE 2024 65

NSW

Freshwater

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Last chance to get your trophy trout fix BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

With less than two weeks left until the end of the trout season, my first recommendation for this month would be to get your trout fix before that option is taken away from you. Most anglers that haven’t already gone up will be heading to the Eucumbene River to get stuck into some trophy-sized trout as they attempt their spawning run. If you are not into shoulder-toshoulder fishing, there are still plenty of options for you. The Tumut River, The trout streams and rivers of the Snowy Mountains are super popular at this time of the year, and with good reason – there’s great fishing and spectacular surroundings.

The Tumut River is a great alternative to the crowded spawn-run streams. There will be far fewer anglers on the Tumut and just as many trout. the Goobarragandra River and all of the smaller trout rivers and streams in the area will all be worth fishing this month. Most fish will be either preparing to spawn or starting to spawn, and anglers can legally take advantage of this. Fly fishos will find it hard to beat the good old glo bugs this month, as a lot of fish will be picking off the eggs from the early spawners. Using a floating glo bug as well as a sinking one could see you hooking crazy numbers of fish. Alternatively, you can use large nymph patterns or big wets. There is a lot

of food about for the fish at the moment, and you need to use something big to get their attention. Bait anglers will do well this month with big juicy grubs or any artificial egg bait like PowerBait. Use either or both of these baits with a small splitshot sinker, just heavy enough to get you to the bottom of the creek or river you’re fishing. Allow the bait or baits to drift along naturally and you will bring plenty of fish unstuck. Lure fishers should also do well this month, and largish hardbodies like the Rapala CD5 and CD7 are good options. Even the 9cm and 11cm models are worth a chuck. Alternatively, you can use spinners like Rooster Tails, Insanity Tackle Bling Spins, and Cocktails. Brightly-coloured lures that feature pink, red, green or yellow will account for plenty of fish. Work these lures quite quickly to generate aggressive reaction strikes from the fish. TROUT LAKES A good alternative to the often super busy rivers and creeks at this time of the year are the trout lakes. There are plenty of lakes to choose from in the area, including Jounama, Tantangara, Talbingo, 3 Mile and Eucumbene dams, to name but a few. By the time you read this, some of the

Even on a good day, the temperatures are often below freezing. If you are planning a spawn-run trip, pack all your warm gear and bring a spare set of clothes in case the weather closes in and soaks you to your core. 66 JUNE 2024

of the day to bask in the sun. Like any opportunistic fish, if there happens to be an easy feed around whilst they are up there, they will make the most of it. The best way of targeting these fish is with big, long casts, as the Murray cod can be very flighty in the crystal-clear shallows that Blowering is famous for. Repeat casts with large lipless crankbaits, shallow-running hardbodies, soft plastics, Angel Baits and chatterbaits should see you in with a good chance of hooking into a few cod. Natural-coloured lures like greens, golds, and browns will work best when the water is clear. Conversely, if we have just had a heap of rain and the edges are dirty, try very dark colours like blacks and purples, or very bright ridiculous colours like the Elton John colour (fluoro pink,

The trout lakes like Jounama are a great alternative to the spawn run. Focus on the shallows and the mouths of the feeder creeks or rivers, and you’ll have a great chance of hooking big, hungry trout. trout in these lakes will have already shot upstream to try to spawn. The remainder will be very active as they try to pack on as much weight as they can before they try to make the annual pilgrimage upstream. Fishing the shallower margins of these lakes can be done all day long this month, as the water temperature is right at the trout’s comfort zone. As all good anglers know, the fish in the shallows are up there for a reason – to feed – so catching them is far easier than trying to catch the fish holding out deep in the lake. The best lures for casting around the shallows are the ones I described for the running water, as well as soft plastics like Ecogear Grass Minnows, Power Shads and small blades. Alternatively, you can try to annoy the deep-holding fish in the lake by hopping lures like blades and rubber vibes in their faces. BLOWERING NATIVES When targeting Blowering Dam’s Murray cod during the warmer months, the best results come from fishing after dark. This can also be the case during winter, but the cod will quite often move up into the shallows during the middle

With countless fish like this on offer during the spawn run, it’s easy to see why anglers travel here from far and wide. bright yellow, bright orange). Golden perch can also be caught this month but the bite window can be very small at this time of the year. Generally, they come on the bite for about an hour or so during the middle to late part of the day, when the water is at its warmest. Just like Murray cod, these fish are best targeted in the shallows with long repeat casts. However, using smaller lures will increase your chances with the golden perch.

Freshwater NSW

FMM

Big Murray cod on offer in June; let’s go! ALBURY/WODONGA

Connor Heir

It feels like only yesterday I was sitting in the shade to escape the heat, writing about the summertime fishing, and now the temperatures have plummeted. It’s time to rug up and fight the cold, pack the thermos and

it, but this is actually the best time to be fishing, as the water typically cleans right up and the snags become better exposed. It is hard to predict exactly what the water releases will do, particularly below Lake Hume. However, with the lake sitting below 70%, I’d assume the flows should be reasonably decreased this winter. The last few seasons, we

A beautiful 104cm Murray cod caught by Jack on a recent river float. haven’t seen a super low flow for long, as Lake Hume has just been so full. This is exciting; fingers crossed the action will be as good as we’re hoping for! It’s going to be a great winter, and

the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers. MEMORABLE CATCHES Cod aside for a moment, I’d love to share my experience from a recent trip to the Top end. Like many anglers,

This 130cm fish was handled with care and immediately released after a photo.

A high 80s cod taken off the top on a Kuttafurra Joe The Rat.

Bigger lures often get reaction bites as it starts to cool off. up those leaders, because wintertime brings some serious opportunities for big fish. Typically, this time of year you catch far fewer fish. You can go days without any action at all. However, getting that one bite from a big Murray cod is like nothing else! Fishing in winter separates the regular anglers from very keen anglers. The cold can be brutal, and your patience can sometimes wear thin. However, if you persist, you will get that bite from a trophy fish. Normally, we see the river levels drop back a lot and flow much lower this time of year, as water isn’t in as much demand for irrigation and other agricultural uses. Many people look at the river when it’s low and disregard

now is the time to be out to catch that trophy fish. Myself and my friend Jack have been bumping into some nice river fish lately. The photos with this article are all from recent floats we have done on

The author’s PB barramundi from a recent trip to the NT. This fish measured 107cm.

I’ve always dreamed about going to the NT in pursuit of big barra. I wasn’t disappointed! I was lucky enough to find a few fish, with my best going 107cm. If you’ve ever dreamed of catching barra up north, I highly recommend you take the opportunity as soon as you can. The experience alone is something I’ll never forget. Another story I’d love to end with, going back to Murray cod, is catching a 130cm cod. Now and then, you see photos pop up of that elusive 130, and you fantasize about catching a fish that big – although I never really expected I would. I was fishing the middle of the day in under a metre of water at Lake Mulwala, using a small, single-bladed Spinwright spinnerbait. The old saying, “always expect the unexpected,” is often true in fishing, and elephants do eat peanuts. As long as you’re on the water having a crack, you just never know. That’s all for this month. Best of luck everyone, tight lines, and stay warm. JUNE 2024 67

ACT

Canberra

FMM

Casting soft plastics for big, golden footballs CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

Winter has well and truly landed in the ACT, which means it’s time to talk about cold water yella fishing. Canberra is one of those quirky places where the golden perch action doesn’t slow up to the same extent as in

a frosty morning. LOCAL LAKES Lake Burley Griffin continues to fish quite well. Yes, the water temperature has dipped dramatically, but the redfin are still on the bite and can be caught in a variety of locations across the lake, ranging from the concrete walls at the entrance to the Carillion but also the ledge behind the Boat House restaurant.

The redfin are on at Lake Burley Griffin. surface lures in the early hours of the morning. I have been fishing the dam off and on since the start of May, and have hooked and landed some decent redfin next to the pontoons behind the

always my go-to winter yella fishery but my focus has shifted to LBG. While there are still some enormous golden perch in Lake G, and they do bite in winter, the weed is still a major

June is a great time to head out and chase some yellas. other places in and around us (such as Googong). True, the goldens don’t bite with the same tenacity as in autumn and spring, but they will still readily take a lure, especially during low-light periods and in places like Lake Burley Griffin. In fact, my best session on the yellas while fishing LBG was in the middle of June a year or so ago, and I

I have landed a lot of nice fish in recent weeks by shifting back to an old favourite of mine: the Squidgy Wriggler 80mm in ‘redrum’ rigged on a 1/8oz jighead. I use a walk-the-dog style retrieve, which many anglers use when working surface lures for saltwater species. I have found it to be a great retrieve when using plastics. Lake Tuggeranong is also fishing well. I have had so many reports and seen so many images of big fish from local anglers who hit the lake regularly. Most anglers have reported catching yellas right around the length of the dam using small spinnerbaits and beetle spins attached to paddle-tail plastics. There have also been some big cod caught of late by those fishing

The golden perch fishing has been superb. College, and I caught a small golden perch under the bridge while slow rolling a Jackall TN50. Lake Ginninderra remains a bit of a puzzle. A few years back, Lake G was

Smaller yellowbelly are still feeding up. landed 16 fish of various sizes. All the fish were holding along the concrete wall behind the National Museum. It was a case of catching one, walking a few metres, casting again, hooking another, and repeating the process. So, whatever you do over winter, don’t put away the light spin gear. Instead, head out with a small bag of soft plastics, a couple of jigheads, and have a cast for a big golden football on 68 JUNE 2024

The carp are ever-present in the ACT.

problem for anglers looking to fish the points where the big yellas take up residence in winter. That said, several anglers fishing from boats and using Livescope have caught some very nice cod on spinnerbaits out in the middle of the lake. Yerrabi Pond is another great winter option. The weed issue has improved as the cooler mornings have killed off some of the weed in this very shallow waterway. Yerrabi has become a fishery where all you need to do is wait for a windy day and hit whichever bank is clear, while the wind pushes the weed from one side of the pond to the other. The golden perch and redfin have been hitting ZX blades fished slow and close to the margins, and also up around ‘Blue Chair’. The cod have been hitting surface lures but seemingly only after dark. At the time of writing, the Murrumbidgee River is clear and slowing up, and the cod are on the bite. The mighty Murray cod which call

Hobart TAS

FMM

Pursue favourite species in settled conditions HOBART

Andrew Large

What a month it has been in Tasmania, with SBT and broadbill swordfish still on the bite, and our winter trout fisheries still producing healthy brown and rainbow trout. Healthy mixes of both jumbo size and school bluefin continue to

The Black Magic Lumo Saury has been producing the goods on the Tasman Peninsula. entertain anglers in the southeast of the state. Fish throughout May nudged 110kg, and the action shows no sign of abating any time soon. Tasman Island and the Hippolyte Rocks seem to be the pick for good fish at the moment. Southern bluefin action has been insane all along the coast, with a healthy mix of 15-25kg, 50-70kg, and 100-110kg barrels being caught nearly the ‘Bidgee home have had a lot to deal with in recent months, with flooding and land slips right along the river corridor. However, the fish are as hardy as ever. While many of the larger fish have moved from the

Fish Googong now as the carp will soon take over.

the entire length of the Tasmania’s east coast. There’s still a sprinkling of action occurring around Burnie and Table Cape; a Bass Strait barrel is still a strong possibility. We had one of the driest summers on record for the state, and the continued presence being felt from a lingering marine heat wave has seen many saltwater species staying well into June. Calamari are available from the southeast around Bruny Island to the northeast tip at Musselroe Bay. Easterly ground swell makes them retreat to deeper water during such times. This southeast running swell has been with us for well over a month now. The channel area south of Hobart and its many coastal jetties is always a good spot to try in such conditions, as seaward impacts are reduced and the squid are more settled. Tiger flathead have been reported from Bicheno and Freycinet Peninsula in 80m of water but are slowing for winter as temperatures drop. Sand flathead are still biting well. Even on the toughest of days, this species is available to the persistent angler. Anglers fishing deep for striped trumpeter have found them running well in most areas, with fish being caught in relatively shallow waters as well. The best locations seem to be around the peninsula and further south around Pedra Blanca. Sea perch have provided anglers with consistent action in peninsula waters around Fortescue Bay and Munro Bight. These fish are always a delight during winter, and are a relied upon staple around our coastlines. Large Australian salmon to 3.7kg have tempted those anglers brave enough to fish in testing conditions in the rather large southeast groundswell that has been running over the past few fast water, it is still possible to hook a big fish on surface at the beginning or end of a rapid. There are also smaller fish cruising the edges of the deeper, slower pools, and these fish will hit a spinnerbait fished close to the bank. SURROUNDS The fishing on Googong Dam has slowed up in recent weeks. For a while there it seemed like the golden perch would keep biting well into June, but near the end of May, the crazy yella sessions came to an abrupt halt. Anglers have now shifted their focus to catching one of the mammoth Murray cod that inhabit the waterway. Sadly, it has been confirmed that carp have made their way into the dam. This was not a surprise to any regular visitor to Googong who has glanced into the shallows on a clear day and spotted the many mud marlin

The author tagging one of six SBT caught recently. weeks. Large lumo poppers have been very successful bouncing around in the whitewater. The southeast surf beaches have seen the majority of the action but nearly all east coast surf beaches will keep anglers entertained. Our trout season has been and gone, but winter waters remain open, and they’re producing good trout. What a month of freshwater fishing we have experienced so far! Nearly all off-season open waters have been producing fat, fit fish to kick off the spawning run and winter in general. Great Lake has fished well so far this winter season, and although open 12 months, it has still seen a fair amount of patronage. Well-conditioned browns have been picked up around the shores. More recently, rainbows have been taken by trollers in open water. These fish are in great condition and about to spawn. Sea-run trout have been chasing whitebait in many of our estuary systems, and this will only get better as we head into July and August as part of the new season. These trout are easy to target at the moment as they are very

opportunistic and are scavenging on a multitude of estuary bait. Local River Derwent anglers have noticed higher than normal amounts of seal and dolphin activity. That’s a sign that healthy populations of baitfish are present for our sea trout and black bream. Anglers have also reported healthy out-of-season whitebait runs in the Huon River, with sea trout feeding heavily on them in recent weeks. This has made for some exciting fishing on the river. Black bream continue to smash bait in the shallows from the Tasman Bridge to New Norfolk in the river Derwent. Fly fishers have experienced incredible sight fishing as the waters remain clear as a result of the lack of winter rains. It’s all happening around the state, with angling pressure probably a bit heavier than normal in most locations this year, undoubtedly because of the milder winter weather. Most anglers seem to be making the extra time to pursue their favourite species in the settled conditions.

The river has been fishing well. feeding on the edges. Still, it’s very sad to read the recent Fisheries reports on the state of the carp population in the dam. The clear water of Googong may

become increasingly discoloured over the next few years as the carp take over, so take advantage of Googong now. JUNE 2024 69

VIC

East Coast

FMM

It’s tuna time off Portland for game fishers PORTLAND

Nigel Fisher

Just like a light switch, the tuna turned on. We started with some good sizes, with fish well into the 100kg mark. As I write this report, the school tuna are quite wide, either right up near Port Fairy or far southwest towards the South Australian border. However, by the time this report reaches you, we should see those smaller fish moving in closer around Cape Nelson, Bridgewater and even Lawrences Rock.

How long the big tuna will hang around is unknown, but judging by previous years we should get multiple hits at these big fish in the coming weeks and months. The big tuna have also turned on at Port McDonald, and there have also been some good sizes around Port Fairy and Warrnambool. The barrel tuna have been hitting skirts in 8-10” sizes. Popular colours such as lumos, redbait, blues and multi-colours have been doing the damage. Hardbody lures in redbait, pilchard, and king brown in 140-200mm sizes have also been producing the goods. When

grab your family or your mates and check out the charter options for your next adventure. If you’d like some pointers, just drop into the store and we’ll help you out. Happy fishing! • For the latest on what’s biting and where, call into Portland Compleat

Tony, Long and Kip with a massive 150kg barrel caught just behind Lawrences Rock.

The crew had a ripper day with school tuna on Kraken Fishing Charters.

the school tuna start to really fire, you’ll want to downsize your skirts and hardbodies to match the size of the fish. Another great option to look at is teaser bars, which can work very well, especially if the fish are a bit finicky. Over the last couple of tuna seasons, we have also seen more anglers dropping large live or dead baits like pilchards and mackerel into schools. This has also done the job well, especially when cubing pilchards to entice the tuna to feed and stay around. As you can see, there are plenty of options to chase these great sportfish, whether it’s school fish or the big boys. If you don’t have a boat or the gear, we have some good charter operators at this time of year, so

The crew from Matthew Hunt’s Fishing Services with an impressive 122kg barrel. Angler and say g’day to the friendly team, and check out what they have on offer. You’ll find them at 61 Bentinck Street, Portland (next to the Gordon Hotel) or you can give them a call on 03 5521 1844 or look them up on Facebook.

Mick, Cullen and Ben scored this nice 82kg tuna on a trip with Bag Out Fishing Charters. 70 JUNE 2024

East Coast

FMM

VIC

The trout action is picking up as temps drop WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com

June may signal the beginning of winter, but there are still plenty of things to get anglers excited. Trout fishing picks up as the waters cool and rise, and with the Merri, Hopkins and Mt Emu Creek remaining open all winter and well stocked, there should be plenty of trout on offer. After two cool summers in a row, there should hopefully be some well-conditioned fish about. The weir at Broomfield St in the

Merri was recently removed to aid the migration patterns of native fish. It’s hard to know what the reduction in water levels in the upper Merri area will have on the local trout population. Time will tell. The Hopkins River closed over fairly quickly after its recent opening. The local bream population has begun to school up in the middle of the river in the lower reaches, and can provide some good captures when the bite is on. Mulloway are conspicuous by their absence. Even the reliable Glenelg River has been super slow for this popular species.

Trout fishing is popular locally during the winter months.

Plenty of estuary perch have been encountered throughout the system, from the upper freshwater reaches right down to the lower estuary. They will become more prevalent in the estuary as we head into winter. The Warrnambool Offshore and Light Game Fishing Club recently held the 2024 South West Victorian Game Fishing Classic. Southern bluefin tuna were the focus, and some glorious autumn weather treated the field of anglers to some great conditions. There were some great line class captures in the comp, including a pending State Record Junior capture to Archer Mills of a southern bluefin tuna of 17.94kg on 6kg line. Well done Archer, and the crew aboard Barzerk, skippered by Peter Goode and crewman Kevin Mills. The crew of Anne-Belle, skippered by Stephen Rhook, won Champion Boat Tag and Release, and Peter Goode won Most Meritorious Game Capture of a 12.56kg SBT on 4kg line. A big barrel-size tuna was taken on the same weekend, but the crew unfortunately didn’t make it to the weigh-in in time. The tuna will still be present in June; it’s just a matter of getting suitable conditions to get out amongst them.

Some tasty denizens of the deep: blue eye and pink ling. Offshore deep dropping is also a good option during the cooler months. With many of the closer inshore areas slowing as the water cools, a run out deep on a cold, calm morning can see you amongst the tasty treats of blue-eye, pink ling and trumpeter.

Low-light conditions will produce the goods COBDEN

Rod Shepherd

Sizeable bream are still being caught in the Hopkins River, with many exceeding 1kg. The best times to wet a line are dawn, dusk, and after dark. During daylight hours, many anglers have been inundated by undersized fish, while the bigger specimens have been elusive. Some good catches have been coming from the shallow mud flats (e.g. next to Mahoneys Road, the fence just upstream of the institute, and Rowans Flats). Soft plastics cast towards the bank and worked back to the boat have been working, and surface lures have also been catching their share. We are talking depths as shallow as 50cm. The bream have been burrowing into the mud, looking for tasty morsels, and they can sometimes be seen ‘tailing’ or disturbing the water’s surface tension as they hunt for food. Bank anglers have been getting a few from in and around the institute and from Rowans Lane. The key is to hang back from the water’s edge to avoid spooking the fish, and cast out only 3-4m with baits such as crab and brown shell. Again, in low-light hours. It seems we have a bit of a run of King George whiting, which is not unusual and can last into the winter

months. Soon after, most of the fish will move out to much deeper water, until warming water temperatures signal a move back into the shallows to spawn. The Port Campbell pier and Warrnambool breakwater have seen fish up to 39cm landed on a variety of baits, including softened squid meat, pipi and mussel meat. Land-based spots such as Newfields and Worm bays should also be firing, especially on a rising tide. Kelp worm is also a top bait,

and can be found in the sand under clumps of washed-up kelp at low tide. Remember that digging implements such as shovels are banned; a pair of sturdy gloves is what’s needed to dig down. Adding berley into the wash can only improve the bite. The inshore reefs and bommies have been holding good schools of sweep to over 2kg. Anglers have also been picking up the odd pinkie snapper, along with rock cod, morwong

A nice bag of reasonable bream, which were released back into the Hopkins. Most fell to Damiki blades in black, fished along the rock walls.

and leatherjacket. The best baits have been soft baits, particularly pipi and craytail. Hosiery elastic is needed to keep the bait on the hook. Most of these spots can only be accessed via boat, and keeping a vigilant eye on the sea whilst keeping the motor running is the only safe way to fish these bommies. So, unfortunately, the skipper must miss out on playing a fish. Plenty of schooling southern bluefin tuna have been taken along our coastline, and not too far offshore, either. Most fish have been schoolies, both in size and weight, compared to what’s to come. Still, they put up a great fight on medium gear and are the perfect size for the table. Diving flocks of seabirds working the surface are a dead giveaway for a school of tuna mass feeding on sauries or mackerel. Surface lures worked in and around the school have been picking up a few fish. There have also been plenty of yellowtail kingfish about, and they can often be found lurking near schools of feeding tuna. Plenty have been caught on minnow lures trolled and cast, but jigging seems to be the way to catch a few, with knife jigs the go. As with the tuna, the average size of the kings seems to have fallen, with many ‘rats’ being caught as opposed to the larger ‘hoodlums’ we saw back in summer and autumn. JUNE 2024 71

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Pan-size snapper being caught along the coast GEELONG

Neil Slater slaterfish@gmail.com

June is a good time to check out the local reservoirs for larger redfin. You’ll catch fewer fish, but more often than not, they’ll be good sizes. Chris Pitman from Drysdale Bait and Tackle has had a few goes out at Wurdee Boluc Reservoir near Moriac. Using soft plastics twitched slowly along the bottom, Chris managed seven whopper reddies up to 48cm in one weekend session, and another three rippers mid-week.

Logan and Vivi fished with Taylor and Pa Todd to land this feast.

Lachlan fished with his dad Brian and Pa off Barwon Heads for this haul of pinkie snapper. The reservoir looks quite low so be sure to keep to the designated fishing areas. Another reservoir to try is Stoney Creek reservoir out past Anakie; there are some fairly chunky redfin in there. I’ve had a few goes along the Barwon near Breakwater and noticed plenty of big carp scales along the bank. While I was there one arvo, a lad was fishing with his grandfather and landed a ripper carp around 3-4kg using corn for bait. The visibility in the Geelong stretch of the Barwon was OK for lures (around 30-40cm), but that didn’t do me any good whatsoever! Inside Corio Bay there have been good numbers of pinkie snapper and flathead available to both land and boatbased anglers, with the odd patch of salmon showing up here and there. Landbased anglers have done best at dawn and dusk, while soft plastic fishos have done well over the spoil grounds and along the shipping channel edges catching pinkies and flathead. Luke Kerr-Graham fished St Helens rock wall with his dad David recently. Using squid for bait, Luke managed his first-ever pinkie snapper! He sure looks pumped in the pics David sent in. Gummy sharks have shown up over near Point Wilson, and although they are not big, there are a few being landed. Pilchards are the best bait. King George whiting have been biting 72 JUNE 2024

very well around the Bellarine lately. Plenty of anglers have enjoyed quality fish, from legal length to 40cm, from Leopold to Queenscliff. Pipis have been the best bait but squid isn’t far behind. Taylor Hunt has been fishing around the Bellarine of late and has sent in a wide variety of pics. Taylor found the southern bluefin tuna in tight schools off Barwon Heads, where he caught a small fish casting a Slug-Go soft plastic. Other anglers have enjoyed good numbers of gummy and school sharks out near the graveyard between Breamlea and

Dad and Pa. They headed out to the 30m mark where they spotted a few fish on the sounder, and sent baits down but only caught gurnard and other small reef fish. The lads then went further out to the 45m mark, where they caught a few slimy mackerel. Loading up on the mackerel for bait, the lads managed to boat a few nice pinkie snapper to 45cm while on the drift. Michael Belo was staying in Anglesea recently and decided on some after-dark beach fishing. He had good conditions, with light onshore breeze and next to no moon. Michael fished several places but was hammered by seaweed so he decided to move to Fairhaven Beach. The open beach had much less weed and he caught two gummy sharks around a metre long at the top of the tide. Michael went back the next night and got another around 80cm. All were caught using pilchards on a paternoster rig. Michael said, “We had the best feed of fresh flake that weekend. I love fishing along the Great Ocean Road. You never know what’s going to hit your line next!” Michael managed to get some

on the feast of whitebait, and just about every fish caught had some in its belly. Salmon, barracouta, mackerel, flathead, and seabirds were all having a go. The whitebait hung around for a week or so, and then disappeared. Keith added that the fishing around

Chris from Drysdale Bait and Tackle used soft plastics to nab these Wurdee redfin.

Tuna bites can be tough going. Taylor caught this fish on a soft plastic.

Luke was excited to land his firstever pinkie from St Helens rocks. Torquay in about 50m of water. Taylor took his son Logan out to fish the grass beds just north of the Queenscliff harbour entrance, where they managed a calamari feast drifting with jigs. Back inside Corio Bay, Taylor fished with Bert Hallam, Peter McCullough and Todd Rivett where they caught a nice feed of sand flathead and King George whiting off Point Richards near Portarlington. Todd had another crack off Portarlington with Taylor and got a nice feed of flathead and whiting. Todd brought his grandkids along and they had a great time. Lachlan Scarlett had a 5am start at the Ocean Grove boat ramp with his

footage up on YouTube which is worth a look too. Commodore of the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club notes there was a massive “whitebait event” around Lorne that saw the water blacked out with tonnes of whitebait along the main beach. The predators went nuts, gorging themselves

Logan looks pumped with this haul of calamari.

Lorne has been fantastic, with snapper appearing in huge numbers along the coast. The snapper haven’t been huge but many have been perfect pan-sized fish, which taste magnificent. Plenty of gummy sharks, school sharks, flathead, King George whiting, trevally, teraki, and big schools of mackerel with yakkas have been caught by anglers fishing offshore recently. The Lorne pier has been fishing well, with good captures of salmon, trevally, mullet, leatherjackets, King George whiting, snapper, mackerel, yakkas and calamari. Further west, Daniel Kent from Apollo Bay Fishing Charters has had a great burst of southern bluefin tuna to around 25kg, trolling skirted lures around Cape Otway. Fish HARD – die happy! • Catch a few around Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula or Surf Coast to Lorne recently? Send a report to slaterfish@gmail.com with “FMG” in the subject field or give me a call on 0408 997 348. Please include where (without giving away your secret spot!), when, what on, and who caught the fish.

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As temps drop, time to use different techniques PORT PHILLIP BAY WEST

Alan Bonnici alan@fishingmad.com.aua

Air and water temperatures have plummeted in recent weeks – a friendly reminder that winter has arrived. At this time of year I start preparing for the slog ahead and draw from past experiences on where to fish and what to target. It can be challenging at times, particularly when you’re primarily fishing

The author with a solid winter whiting. from a kayak. That said, understanding how water temperatures impact different species allows you to still fish the colder months with confidence – and you can still catch plenty. Historically, I have done well at this time of year targeting King George whiting in shallow waters. I prefer to catch them using soft plastics, not because it’s more effective than fishing with bait but because it’s much more fun, and requires less gear and less prep work. It allows me to fish on the move with light spin gear, which is enjoyable and rewarding. The ideal outfit for this is one that’s comfortable, responsive, and lightweight

but powerful enough to handle some decent fish. In recent weeks I’ve been breaking in a new Shimano Expride ML spin rod paired with a Vanford 2500 reel, which has been perfect for this style of fishing. At this time of year, I also catch plenty of bread-and-butter species, including flathead, squid and trevally. Locally, there is some great fishing from Port Melbourne through to the Bellarine Peninsula. I spend many hours fishing by kayak, boat, and land-based at Altona, Werribee, Wedge Spit, Kirks Point, Avalon, Limeburners, St Leonards and Clifton Springs. Homing in on a single target species can make a massive difference to your catch rates. I study the wind direction, water clarity, temperature and grounds to make an informed decision on the best place to fish and which species I should target. Different species switch on in different situations. For example, squid prefer clear water conditions, flathead prefer sandy shallow flats, and King George whiting prefer weedy zones and stirred-up water conditions. We anglers need to adapt to the conditions rather than fight them. Watch the conditions 2-3 days in advance and formulate your game plan. That way, when you hit the water

A cool, crisp morning on the water.

Winter mornings on the yak can be pretty cold. you can be confident you’ve understood the conditions and given yourself the best chance to catch fish. The fishing will still be strong for a little while, with good numbers of fish, but as we get deep into winter and the water temperature plummets, the fishing does become more challenging. So, make the most of it now. If you want to catch a good feed of flathead, head to Altona or Werribee. I catch plenty of them between 4-8m deep. My preferred way of catching them is on the drift, marking waypoints and setting drift lines. I primarily use soft plastics such as 4” paddle-tails, but you can also drift hardy baits like squid strips or pilchard tails on a paternoster rig, with the smallest bomb sinker size you can get away with. This works well as it helps to avoid snags and gets your bait into prime strike zones. Flathead are bottom-dwellers, so keep your baits low and soft plastics worked slowly off the bottom. These simple techniques are easy to employ. You should expect to catch plenty of flathead, most between 35cm and 55cm. Port Phillip Bay has plenty of them but we don’t get huge ones like the duskies we see

in East Gippsland. The rivers are also fishing OK. There are plenty of bream in our metro systems, and estuary perch numbers are increasing, thanks to stocking efforts in recent years. As the water temperature drops it’s time to use different techniques to catch these fish. They are no longer holding around the shallow edges, so surface lures have been left behind. I recommend using blades, vibes and soft plastics worked really slowly. You may need slightly heavier jigheads, as these fish will start the hold deeper. Also, coarse fishing techniques work well this time of year; you can use berley cages and nibble-tip rods to encourage bites. Berleying an isolated area, and using live baits like scrub worms, yabbies, and maggots is a technique that has always been effective on our local species. Those who enjoy a challenge can consider targeting mulloway this time of year. There are plenty of them in the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers. You see them caught in areas including the CBD outskirts, Docklands, Richmond, Yarra Bend, Footscray and Port Melbourne near the warmies. These magnificent

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Quality fish for keen anglers at Westernport PHILLIP ISLAND

Craig Edmonds

Fishing in Westernport used to be a race that had to be won in spring and summer, but not anymore. The weather system over the last few years has been changing, with a decline in fishable days over the spring/summer period,

many anglers find it’s a good way to supplement their food bills. LAND-BASED FISHING Winter fishing doesn’t need to be all about the boat; there are many different options for land-based anglers these days. You’ll also save money on fuel and you won’t have to worry as much about the weather.

A handy offshore catch late in the season to fill the freezer for winter.

Winter can produce some quality offshore catches. and more of our customers have begun fishing in late autumn and winter. Westernport Bay produces quality fish in winter, and all you need is a warm hat and coat, and a few little changes to your approach. It’s better than being stuck on the couch all weekend, and

Our boat-based customers often tell us they don’t like land-based fishing because “you need to carry so much gear with you,” which isn’t correct. You just need to decide what you want to do – bait or lure– and set up from there. For lure fishing (plastics, metals,

fish should command our respect and be protected by local anglers. I have never kept one; I always release them. There is chatter about reducing catch limits on mulloway, which I think would be welcome news to keep the population sustainable. Hopefully, this article has shared some insights on fishing techniques that work well this time of year, and locations that will produce fish even though it’s getting colder. I hope I’ve encouraged you to study the conditions and maximise your time on the water. We all love fishing but I’m sure we’d all prefer to be catching! Until next time, good fishing

everyone. Feel free to share your fishing catches and photos around Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay and beyond, which we can feature in next month’s article. You can contact me at alan@fishingmad.com.au. • Become a FishingMad member at www. fishingmad.com.au/member for fishing reports, workshops, podcasts, and exciting monthly giveaways. Also, don’t forget to follow Alan’s fishing adventures on the FishingMad YouTube channel www. youtube.com/c/fishingmad, and social media on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ fishingmad.com.au), Instagram (www. instagram.com/fishingmad.com.au) and on Channel 31 Tuesday evenings at 8.30 pm and Saturday afternoons.

A nice rock flathead.

or squid jigs), all you need is a small shoulder bag, a good casting rod (you can use one of your snapper reels), find a beach and just start walking. When land-based fishing, you can get squid for the table and the bait freezer; salmon for patties, soups, curries and bait freezer; flathead and early snapper from the back beaches and rocks, plus whatever else wants to take your lures. You’ll get a bit of winter sun, exercise, and a possible feed of fish – and once set up, you’ll pay no more than the cost of fuel to drive there. A pretty good winter’s day, I would think. WHAT’S BITING The season has been inconsistent and very frustrating for many anglers. Conversely, other anglers have told us how good the season has been. From what we have seen overall, it’s not as bad as some people make it out to be. The whiting have come in waves: big, nothing, average, nothing. Now we are seeing that wave of good quality winter fish again. The fish are less plentiful but the average size is much better. We aren’t seeing as many caught in very shallow water; depths of 4m and above are better. Those anglers having the most success have been using a decent-size piece of squid with pilchard, bigger hooks (1/0 to 2/0) and quality berley. The area and tide haven’t made a lot of difference, with anglers just fishing their favourite spots and times. We’ve had no numbers of snapper as yet. The bigger pinkies have disappeared, leaving the odd resident big fish, and the tiny pinkies that have been too lazy to swim home. Most people heading offshore have been concentrating on the barrel tuna, but the handful heading to reefs looking for gummies have found a couple of decent snapper already. It won’t be long before the big snapper are in the bay, and early to mid-August should be the best time to chase them, if the last few years are any indication. The very unsettled spring weather over the last few years has made that traditional early-season unfishable. Regardless,

with the season just around the corner, don’t forget your bait collecting over the winter. It’s also gummy time, especially for those anglers who fish off the land. We have had a few reports from the surf at Anzacs and Williamsons, but both were the result of several all-nighters by some very keen anglers. In winter, the best of the gummy land-based reports tend to come from those fishing the moons, a few days either side. There have been second-hand reports from Stockyard and Temby

A solid handful of calamari for Kolby. of smaller gummies and a couple of elephantfish. However, our clients have reported catching mostly rays or nothing. ‘Calamari’ has been a bit of a dirty word this season, as most anglers have struggled to catch them. The only advice I can give is to just keep trying! I am confident that the calamari haven’t gone anywhere – they just seem to have spread out all around the bay, and haven’t been as concentrated in the one area. We will find out in the next month or so when the Back Beach carparks fill up when the tide is high in the evening. JUNE 2024 75

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Winter is a win for keen anglers in Port Albert PORT ALBERT

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

Break out the beanie and gloves because there’s plenty of fishing on offer. The squid are starting to fire up, and a few whiting and small rock flathead are still

holes you can, and work your jigs in a ‘tea bag’ method. Vary the retrieve from super slow to a few fast rips and a pause. The best-known trick when catching squid is to cast another jig behind the squid you’re about to land. More often than not, one or more squid will be following behind. It even pays to leave your catch in the water until someone else can cast behind it. I’m also starting to realise the value of casting out a ‘sleeper’ squid jig that sits out there, without retrieving it. Just stick the rod in the holder while you drift with the tide or wind. PERCH AND ROCK FLATHEAD You probably won’t find big numbers of rock flatties this month, but they are still there to be caught. Picking the right tide is crucial to getting them to bite, and your window can be just the last two hours of the run-out tide. If you persevere, you will also find a few small yank flathead that might be big enough

Often, I see anglers set up for a day, rug up to beat the elements, and stock up with bluebait and squid. They can expect to catch trevally, good tailor, flathead around 35cm, and small salmon, all from the same spot, and working the changing tides. My best tip is to cast one bait out wide and drop another down beside the pylons, and eventually the fish will let you know where to cast. The new Port Welshpool jetty is an impressive structure, measuring 800m long. Flathead, salmon, garfish, whiting, leatherjackets and squid are all a regular catch here. The jetty extends right out into deeper water, giving you the chance of catching a kingfish or a nice snapper. Quite a few anglers fish from the jetties well into the night, targeting squid with a range of coloured jigs. If you notice ink-stained areas on the jetty as you walk its length, you can bet the locals have been busy, and it will be one of their hotspots.

Mild weather options

The Hurricane Sprat 85 has been the author’s number one perch lure lately.

LAKES ENTRANCE

getting caught. It’s time to get ready for the salmon, which have arrived early for another season, and the perch will be right behind them. WINTER OPTIONS There are two types of anglers – those who refuse to fish during the colder months, and those who rug up and chase whatever is on offer. I love winter for the following reasons: fewer people, no flies or mosquitos, you don’t get cooked under a scorching sun, and often there are spells of calm days with bright blue skies. You can also target summer species, like rock flathead and estuary perch, by simply shifting where you target them or changing your tactics. SOUTHERN CALAMARI This month can see some of the biggest calamari caught, even if the numbers are yet to peak. Some modest bags have already been caught this season. The best time to target squid is about two hours each side of the high tide. Check with the locals and tackle stores before heading out because the best squid locations can vary from week to week. You should also pay attention to which channels other boats are drifting along. Size 3.0 and 3.5 jigs are your best bet. I’ve yet to find a certain colour that works better than others; I’ve seen black jigs work as well as multi-coloured ones, pink, orange, purple, or even plain white ones. If the tide is flowing fast, cast your jig upstream into the current and retrieve your jig with the flow, to ensure you cover the whole water column. At dead low tide, find the deepest 76 JUNE 2024

Winter is the start of squid season.

Steven Pryke

Whiting can be caught all year round, and Rhys Smith has been getting a few on blade lures.

Winter has settled over East Gippsland, with cool, crisp mornings matched with beautiful winter days. LAKES ENTR ANCE The wonderful winter weather has made for endless angling opportunities, and the lower lakes areas such as Metung have been full of fish. Bream, trevally and salmon have been schooled up in big numbers around the many wharves, and locating these schools has been half the battle. Making the most out

to include in your bag. As far as the estuary perch go, we can expect them to be hard to find this month. Still, if they do turn up, it can be in cricket scores. They can fire up at any time of the tide, although I’ve found that an hour either of the high can be the best, and dead low tide is your secondbest option. The best lures are soft plastics, and fish them slow. The go-to areas for perch and flatties are the best weed beds between Manns and Port Albert. JETTY OPTIONS If it’s a bit windy and cold for boating, you can always rug up and catch a wide variety of fish from the safety of the top-quality jetties in the area. They are kid-friendly, suitable for wheelchairs, and there’s room for dozens of anglers. They often have permanent rod holders and cleaning tables, and at Port Albert you have a fish-and-chip shop on the jetty right next to you.

John Laszczyk with an impressive 91cm dusky caught at Lake Tyers.

of a quality sounder is critical. Once you have found the fish, lures such as blades and heavily-weighted soft plastics worked through the school can be productive. A few bigger bream have been found off the sides of these schools in loose packs, making their way around the many wharves. Lightly-weighted soft plastics and the Muss vibe are always good producers. Anglers fishing off the beach have been reporting good catches, with plenty of Australian salmon being caught. Fishing during low-light periods spinning with metal lures is always very productive, and a great way to cover a lot of water. All the calm conditions lately presented a great chance to throw surface lures in the surf, treating anglers to some awesome surf bites and smashes as these aggressive hunters chased down their lures. It’s great fun; there’s nothing like watching your topwater lure getting destroyed. This time of year is one of the best times to target gummy sharks off our local beaches. Beaches such as Lake Tyers and Lake Bunga are generally patchy for gummies, but June/July can be the best time for the whole year. Big cut baits such as squid and salmon fillets are my go-to, and then it’s just a matter of setting a good spread of rods and waiting. Drones have become a massive part of my beach fishing. Being able to get your baits out wide and work the drop-offs is a massive advantage, and

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Gippsland Lakes is a black bream Mecca GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

I’m going to declare the Gippy Lakes the capital of the biggest and bestlooking black bream in the country! I know Tassie anglers will laugh it off, but the run of bream here over the last four months has gone to another level. In this month’s report, I’ll discuss the great bream fishing available at the moment, and some tips for catching them. LAKE VICTORIA Last year, from February to the

Ben Hotchkins caught this 40cm Hollands bream on a Muss lure with his first cast of the morning. definitely outweighs the cost of buying a drone LAKE TYERS The lake is up to its usual tricks. Lake Tyers is truly challenging in winter, especially with the combination of high water and the entrance being closed. Using quality electronics to locate schools of bream has been half the battle. Once you’ve found them it’s a matter of getting them to bite. Small blades are always a good option and will generally get bites even on the toughest of days. Give your blade some small, sharp hops, then allow it to settle. UV-colored soft plastics are always a good stand-out and generally produce better quality fish. The monster flathead that call Lake Tyers home slowly disappear for the winter months. In recent weeks anglers have struggled to find the flatties, but once found some very impressive fish have been landed, including good numbers of 80cm+ fish. • If you have been out for fish lately and have a pic, send it to

end of June, we saw some of the best bream captures in years, from Loch Sport all the way to Lake Wellington. We all hoped this would happen again this year, and it sure has! Even better, this year saw a run of even bigger bream, with many of us getting quite a few trucks around 46-47cm. However, the most remarkable thing we are all rejoicing in, is the continued run of many bream from 40-45cm. I checked my fishing diary, and out of 18 trips to Lake Victoria, 14 saw me score at least a handful of big bream between 43-47cm. The best thing was that all of the fish were caught in shallow lake water on hardbodies or soft plastics. Another outstanding thing is that stacks of anglers have also discovered this area, mainly due to tournament anglers weighing in record-breaking bags and social media pics. It was great to catch up with Lee Rayner there and also spend some time with Alan ‘Fishing Mad’ Bonicci and his buddy Jason, who landed a thumping 46cm bream. It seems all the best anglers had turned up for a taste of the great fishing on offer. On the day I got to fish with Alan I ended up with just over 30 bream, including two at 45cm, another two at 44cm, and a couple at 43cm and 42cm. It took all day to find the better fish, but it was worth it. The only sad thing is, we have to get ready for every single bream to disappear almost overnight, and not return for nine months! This is why the area can beat us all, even those who fish it often. It’s very boom stevenpr ykefishing@g mail.com with a short description and you could be featured in the edition of Fishing Monthly.

Two quality gummies caught off the sand.

and often the fish won’t feed at all. Sometimes I think they attack lures out of aggression rather than hunger. One thing I’m struggling to figure out is why the bream seem so eager to eat the Muss lure when they refuse most other baits and lures. Ben Hotchkins continues to catch plenty of truck bream on the bigger black Muss. He has opened the eyes of many hard-core lure anglers around here, and pulls in big bream when many other lures fail dismally. ESTUARY PERCH The most enigmatic fish that have ever lived, estuary perch, continue to bamboozle us. Just recently, they turned up in the rivers, especially the mid-sections of the Mitchell, and were stacked up big time. I was able to put some pretty good tallies together, and over three trips scored between 30-40 perch to 38cm. I used a heap

Cold and foggy winter mornings often result in big tallies of large bream schooling up in the rivers. and bust. The real trick is to track down these big bream and find out when and where they move to. One trigger for sure is dropping water temps, and right now they are falling fairly quickly. THE RIVERS Another reason lake bream disappear at this time of the year is to head off for the breeding season. It’s still a bit early, but over the next six weeks the bream will start to school up and head for the rivers. Already we are finding some cracker bream each side of 43cm in the lower Nicholson and Mitchell rivers, and I’m quite sure the lower Tambo is also now on everyone’s radar. Normally, the smaller breeding bream will school up in huge numbers and be very easy to sound up. They range from 26-34cm usually, and can be fairly easy to catch. The much larger females are harder to track down and will sometimes be mixed in with a heap of smaller males. The frustrating thing is that although you can easily locate these big groups of large bream, getting them to bite is a whole new story! The trick is to drop lures down to them, and start with super slow and long pause retrieves. Often, they will stay shut down for most of the day, and have a few random bite windows that may only last for an hour or less. Small soft plastics can be your best bet at these times, and you have to work them super slow. I find blades are much less effective when the fish are in that semi-shutdown mode. Bait fishing can be even harder,

Perch love winter time and even on the coldest days will eagerly hit surface lures like this Switch 66 bent minnow. of different hardbody lures, and even pulled out some old favourites like the RMG Scorpion, and the fish ate it with gusto. Even better, I tricked a handful of perch with the Hurricane bent minnow, and it was a surprise to see them attack surface lures in such cold water conditions. A few big bream to 45cm also jumped on the lures, and made a welcome surprise by catch. A few days before writing this report, I returned to the hotspots that had been holding big numbers of EP, anticipating some good fishing. Instead, I discovered that the fish had completely disappeared! I have no idea where they have moved to, and no clue when they will turn up again. Ah, the joys of being addicted to chasing perch! You have to accept total defeat more often than for any other species. JUNE 2024 77

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Find the bait schools, you’ll find the predators MALLACOOTA/EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

Over the past month we’ve had some great weather, with little rain and just a few cold days to let us know winter was on its way. Now, the far south coast and Gippsland region quietened right down, with fewer visitors to the area. As winter sets in, there will be even fewer people. Still, the fishing in the lake has been great, and good fish have also been

This yellowfin bream was caught at the back of Goodwin Sands. The fish are in top condition after feeding up over the summer months.

caught along the beaches and offshore. This time of year can offer some of the best fishing in the lake. The fish are in top condition after feeding up in the warm water during summer and autumn. As we head into winter, and the water cools down, the black bream start moving out into the deeper water and begin schooling up. Over the coming months, fishing with the sounder will be very productive. The key to success is finding the schools of bait, because that’s where the predators will be. These include yellowfin bream, black bream, flathead, mulloway, silver trevally, and tailor. The back of Goodwin Sands through to Fairhaven has been fishing well, with the bait moving back and forth on the tide. A variety of soft plastic lures have been catching fish, along with blades. Yellowfin bream are also being caught in good numbers out towards Harrisons channel, where a variety of hardbody lures have been effective. Some good fish have been caught through the Narrows and out into the Top Lake. Plenty of dusky flathead have been

Micky Vucic with a great bass. Wandering the bank and flicking lures can be rewarding in the Gippsland region. turning up in recent weeks. These fish will be in schools, so when you catch one flathead, concentrate your efforts in the area because there will be more about. Amongst the usual good eatingsize flatties, there have been some better fish over the 70cm mark. Fish are being caught right through to Gypsy Point and above. Along the beaches, salmon become the mainstay over the winter months, with plenty of 1kg+ fish. It’s not uncommon to encounter bigger

fish to 3kg. Tailor can also turn up, with fish over 1kg the norm. Heading offshore, both sand flathead and tiger flathead have been caught over the past month. However, with the water temperature dropping, the fishing will start to slow down. Out wide, the water temperature is cooling off, and at the time of writing there have been no reports of southern bluefin tuna. However, they should put in an appearance soon.

Best fishing we’ve seen for quite a while MARLO/ORBOST

Marlo Ocean Views

It is almost like someone flicked a switch and the fishing in the local rivers and lakes really turned it on. Luderick, bream, yellow-eye mullet and the odd estuary perch are all being caught by anglers visiting Marlo. Luderick and bream have been the focus for most people, with fresh sand worm or prawns producing the best results. The sand worm in particular for the luderick. The quality of the fish has been exceptional, with some absolute clunkers amongst them. The averagesized fish is around the 35-40cm mark, with plenty of 45cm+ fish also being caught. The sticking point for many anglers

Greg Trewin with a clunker of a luderick caught on fresh sand worm.

MARLO

OCEAN VIEWS CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK

HOSTS: Les & Kathy HEYNE

03 5154 8268

• Deluxe cabins • Cabins with ensuite • Budget cabins • Premium ensuite vans • Powered & Unpowered sites • Pet friendly • Boat friendly • Undercover BBQ areas in Marlo Largest park • Large oval • Kitchen • Camp fires • Kiosk the beach Short walk to • Coffee shops

www.marlocamping.com.au 78 JUNE 2024

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has been the large numbers of yellow-eye mullet in the system, pinching baits before the bream and luderick can get at them. For those who like a feed of mullet that obviously isn’t an issue, but for those who don’t, it is a matter of wading through the mullet to get to the desired species – or switch to other bait options. Black crab can be that option; black bream love eating the crabs, while the mullet don’t. Trying your hand with lures is another option. Small hardbody lures, soft plastics and Cranka Crabs will all catch fish and avoid the mullet that keep pinching your baits. Beach anglers are also having some success. The local anglers targeting shark for the beach are picking up enough fish to keep them going back. It is mainly bronze whalers being caught. This action should only improve as we push into June. Surprisingly, the waters on our offshore grounds continue to be a little murky, and this seems to have kept the kingfish we would expect to see away. June and July are generally when the water is at its clearest off Marlo, so we might see a few kingfish. That may depend on water temperatures, too. Marlo Reef has been producing a few nice pinkies with the odd snapper mixed in. The bigger fish are not huge (3-4kg), but are well worth the effort. Expect to find the odd gummy shark around as well. Sand flathead are a mainstay of the inshore grounds and tend to be a big part of most anglers’ catches. Flathead numbers have fluctuated quite a bit over the last few months. The most success has

been by those anglers prepared to move around a bit to find concentrations of the fish. Unfortunately, the weather patterns have made getting out to find them a little tougher than we are used to. Hopefully, June offers up a few more chances to venture out to catch yourself a tasty feed of flathead. Don’t forget the fishing is just one good reason to come and visit Marlo. • Les and Kathy Heyne are the owners of the Marlo Ocean Views Caravan and Camping Park. It has 13 acres of beautiful grassed parkland just a short stroll from the beach, with both powered and unpowered sites, and cabins available. There are two undercover BBQ areas, a full kitchen, and an onsite kiosk and LPG refills. For more information, visit marlocamping.com.au or call 03 5154 8268.

A great mixed bag of fish caught from the Snowy River by Ron Fulton and his family.

More homes for fish at Eppalock Lake Eppalock’s fish habitat just got a whole lot better thanks to your recreational fishing licence fees and Ozfish Unlimited. The Ozfish team and contractors used the $80,000 grant to install more than 50 logs and root balls, thus creating more habitat for iconic Murray cod and golden perch. The logs and root balls were attached to existing tree structures in the lake to avoid movement during periods of flooding.

This additional fish habitat will provide homes for some of the 3.3 million Murray cod and golden perch we’ve stocked over the last five years. Go get ‘em!

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Big bite is coming soon in local waterways ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

Like the weather, the fishing locally in has been nothing short of fabulous. Warm, sunny days with little breeze, backed by clear water and hungry fish, has produced a ripper month to be on the water. In the Murray River around Swan Hill, anglers continue to catch both

Another giant Murray cod that scoffed the Bassman Scope Bait. Murray cod and golden perch on bait and lures. Brooks Lane has been a popular haunt for Murray cod, with some good-size fish landed this past month. Most cod are taking lures, and the biggest landed to date stretched the tape measure out to 103cm. Other cod to 80cm have also been landed, with most of the action coming on

the troll. The area from the road bridge to the steps at the riverside park is another spot that’s producing cod on lures, smack bang in the middle of town. A few perch are also hitting lures, but fresh shrimp seems to be the best bet for boating a few of these feisty snag-dwellers. Things have slowed down in the local lakes, with the only worthy mention being some good-sized redfin coming from Boga on bait and soft plastics. Of course, this can all change, with some solid golden perch and the odd cod always a chance. The Wakool at Kyalite River continues to fish well, with Murray cod to 80cm on trolled lures and some solid golden perch to 55cm on bait. Back onto the Murray River, Boundary Bend is producing both Murray cod and golden perch. With the Murray running clear it’s not surprising that lures are the go-to choice for most anglers that are doing well. Even the perch are chowing down on trolled lures, with some solid specimens to 55cm having a crack. Cod sizes have ranged from 50-80cm. The Murray River at Robinvale has some good-sized perch on bait around the snags and Murray cod to 75cm on trolled lures. It’s a similar story below the weir and downstream of Euston, with good numbers of Murray cod and golden perch on the chew. Red Cliffs on the Murray River continues to produce good numbers of golden perch and Murray cod on trolled lures. Larger lures upwards of 120mm are bringing the best results,

Golden perch and Murray cod have been slamming large trolled lures like the new 120 Cod Lollys. 80 JUNE 2024

Tim Polis with a large Murray cod landed on a Bassman Scope Bait. These larger cod are being landed from Red Cliffs downstream into South Australia. with Murray cod to 118cm and some good-sized perch also having a crack. The larger cod in the system seem to be from this area back downstream. It’s a similar story from Mildura to Wentworth, with trolled lures producing plenty of Murray cod up to and well over the metre mark. Golden perch are also thick in these waters and a consistent bycatch for those seeking out the larger cod. The Murray River from

Wentworth through locks 9-8 all the way down to lock 1 and below are fishing well for larger Murray cod and perch. If the clarity in the Murray River continues as it is, there will be some ripper winter cod fishing all the way down this section of the Murray River. Fingers crossed, as this would provide heaps of different locations to target giant Murray cod – something we haven’t had for quite a few years now.

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wedding present of all when her cast Bassman spinnerbait was slammed by a beautiful cod. After a tense struggle, Tori landed a beautiful 97cm model. Next up, I got a report of a whopper caught by local character Chris ‘Huggy’ Huggard. Huggy was fishing above Bundalong in the river. I had had a yarn with him the night before and he told me he planned to soak some big baits in search of a monster or two. Ultimately, the carp’s head Chris was using as bait got engulfed by a great specimen that measured 115cm. Another fish that deserves a special mention was caught by a young fella from Seymour, Julian Barnes. Julian is very passionate, and has been highly driven with his cod fishing this season. Most weekends he and his family are here spending plenty of hours on the water. In search of a big one, Julian persisted in casting a large Balista Tremor. With plenty of big hits and misses, his line finally came up tight on a proper one! After a great fight he had a 115cm beast boatside. The joy was unbelievable for the family; his father proudly told me he had tears in his eyes thanks to sharing the moment with his young fella and with mum in the boat. Not bad for a young fella about to turn 14! For those visiting over the

Fish before chill sets in Tony Bennett

What are you waiting for? Get out there while the going is good, because it won’t be long before mid-winter is here. It’s time to rug up and have a crack at landing a cool-water cod at Lake Mulwala – the ‘Home of the Murray cod’. Traditionalists say native fishing is no good during the cooler months. Sure, things slow down a bit, but it’s still possible to catch a big cod if you persist. 120mm+ sized lures will be your best option, be it a cast or trolled hardbody, swimbait, bigger spinnerbait, or soft plastic. Any of these will give you a chance at tangling with an elusive Mulwala giant. Giants shouldn’t be your only target, though; any cod, regardless of size, is a wonderful thrill, especially the thrill of an unexpected hit. Kids – don’t think every cod has to be a monster just to be enjoyable! Looking back, April again proved to be a prime month to be fishing in and around Lake Mulwala. After Easter and into the school holidays, we were flooded with great reports. One came from a young lass, Tori Kavanagh who was here celebrating her wedding and honeymoon. Camping downstream, Tori received the best

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Anglers put in the hard yards for big rewards Fishing during the coldest months of the year is never easy. During early morning starts, we are regularly confronted with frost and wind that often feels like it could cut you in half. When you talk to people about the conditions you are confronted with, they’ll often say, “You must be mad!” There is some truth in that. We are a bit mad! Still, as keen fishers, we know rewards are there for those who put the time in. Fishing at this time of the year is less about the numbers of fish you catch, and more about the average size. It’s a time when we can be rewarded with some terrific-size fish. Also, there’s less boat traffic because many casual anglers have put the boat away in hibernation. It’s not uncommon to fish a section of a waterway in winter and to have it to yourself for the whole day. Another big positive is the water clarity. The water clarity significantly improves at this time of the year, mainly because of the end of the irrigation season. Less water is being released from impoundments, so the water has a chance to settle, and the

clarity improves. How long the water stays clear depends on rainfall events. Over the last couple of months, we’ve had belowaverage rainfall, which has helped the water clarity improve in our local river systems. So, while the conditions are improving, I encourage you to put in the hard yards and you may be rewarded with your personal best for the season. As we all know, the weather can change quickly, and it only takes a couple of significant rainfall events for the water clarity to deteriorate. LAKE EPPALOCK Lake Eppalock is at 92% of capacity, water levels are slowly declining, and the clarity is good. Redfin are still the main target species, and most are being caught in 6-8m water. Finding a good concentration of redfin has not been easy; you need to be prepared to hunt around a lot. Don’t spend too much time at one location if you’re not catching them; either troll the area with deep-diving hardbodies, or cast the area with soft plastics or soft vibes. If you don’t start catching a few fish within 15 minutes, move to a new area until you find a good concentration of redfin. Catches of golden perch and

next month or three, keep in mind that the lake will be lowered during winter. I’m not sure how much it will be drawn down, but we are guaranteed it will be lowered somewhat. History tells us that when the lake is being drawn down it fishes extremely well. Cray season starts on 1 June and runs through to 31 August. If you want to target crays, ensure you keep up to speed with all the latest rules and regulations. You can find them at vfa.vic.gov.au. If you’re heading out this month,

I urge you to be safe, especially if you are boating at night in the shallow and cold waters you will find downstream in the river. • If you are visiting town, call into Lake Mulwala Fish Camp & Ski, the shop with the big green cod out the front (opposite the Post Office) in Mulwala or check out our Yarrawonga store located between Rivers and One Zac in the main street. We’re Yarrawonga / Mulwala’s fishing specialists and specialize in all things “Green”! For information on the upcoming events or fishing reports give us a hoy on 03 5744 3133.

BENDIGO

Roger Miles codhuntertours@bigpond.com

Julian Barnes with a 115cm monster.

During the cold months the willow trees drop their leaves, giving anglers better access to productive locations. Try to present your lure underneath the willow tree’s root system. Murray cod have been OK over the last month. They’re not in big numbers but the average condition of the fish has been excellent. Thanks to good fish stockings from Victorian Fisheries over the last few seasons, fishing opportunities will continue to improve for these iconic species. If you want to target a larger Murray cod in Lake Eppalock, this is a good time of the year. One good technique is casting swimbaits early in the morning, late in the afternoon, or at night. Alternatively, you can troll larger hardbody lures or troll large, heavierweighted spinnerbaits. CAMPASPE RIVER The water clarity in the Campaspe River is the best it has been all season. How long this will last depends on when the region receives significant rainfall. If you are planning a day or two fishing the Campaspe River this month, I recommend focusing on the deeper sections of the river. At this time of the year, the shallower sections of the river cool down quickly, prompting large numbers of baitfish to leave the shallows and congregate in the deeper sections, where the water takes longer to cool down. Where the bait moves, the Murray cod and golden perch follow. Catch rates are usually low during this time of the year, but if you put the time in, the rewards can be excellent with some quality golden perch and Murray cod waiting to be caught. With the improving water clarity, I recommend lure colours that create dark silhouettes, such as black, purple, dark green and brown. White or chrome-coloured lures can also be good at this time of the year, and during periods of low light I prefer to use bright, UV-coloured lures. CAIRN CURRAN Cairn Curran is at 72% of capacity, and the water clarity has improved only slightly; it’s still below average.

There haven’t been many fishing reports over the past month, aside from a few reports of small redfin and small golden perch being caught on bait. Once the region receives good rainfall and water levels start to rise, bait fishing the shallower edges with worms, gents and corn will be worthwhile to target the lake’s resident trout. LODDON RIVER The water clarity in the Loddon River is still below average, which is frustrating for those who like fishing this system. Anglers have still been getting OK numbers of cod and goldens, but catch rates for the season have been down compared to the average year. The clarity should improve this month but it will only be slow, and I don’t expect a significant improvement in catch rates. Still, if you put the time in, there’s the opportunity to catch some quality Murray cod and golden perch. When selecting lures, I recommend that you think big – big swimbaits, spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and hardbody lures. These large lures often work well at this time of the year, and help in the process of landing quality fish. A slow retrieve speed is crucial when fishing during the coldest months of the year, because the fish’s metabolism slows down and the fish become sluggish. If you haven’t had any success trolling or casting lures, there’s a good chance you are fishing too quickly. If you are trolling, make sure you troll over the area several times before moving on, as this will help stir up the fish to entice a strike. If you are casting a likely piece of structure, make sure you spend the time making lots of casts and working the area well before moving to the next structure. At this time of year, fishing fewer structures and spending more time at each one, is a great tactic. JUNE 2024 81

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Crayfish make braving the cold worthwhile WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

Welcome to winter 2024. As I type this report there are many unknowns about what this winter might bring. Some days the weather forecasters say we’re in for another wet winter, and some days they say there’s a drought coming. I think it depends on which side of the bed they climb out of.

year, but to try and lift your expectations of good cod fishing in Wangaratta in June would be a bit misleading. Lake Mulwala and the Murray River in general tend to fish better for Murray cod in June than the Ovens River does. This is likely due to the fact that the Murray River has a regulated water flow thanks to Lake Hume. For your best chance at catching a June Murray cod, give Lake Mulwala a try. YELLOWBELLY Sadly, the yellowbelly fishing is also very slow in June. Just like Murray cod, yellowbelly tend to fish the best in the warmer months. Last year I caught three lovely yellowbelly in Lake Nillahcootie in June but I think that was a bit of a fluke. In fact, I think any yellowbelly that I have ever caught in North East Victoria in June is a fluke. There are plenty of yellowbelly in the Ovens River around Wangaratta. My advice would be to go bait fishing, using two fishing rods (that’s the maximum you are allowed to use). Have one rod baited with cheese for Murray cod, and the

Murray crayfish have a minimum AND a maximum size limit. This one was oversize and released. Make sure you are up to date with the cray fishing laws before you head out. MURRAY COD The Murray cod fishing is usually quite slow around Wangaratta in June. I catch very few cod at this time of the year, and the ones I do catch are usually caught bait fishing, using cheese as bait. This is certainly the ‘off season’, despite the Murray cod season not closing until the end of August. If bait fishing for Murray cod around Wangaratta in June, try using cheese and be prepared to be very, very patient. You may be sitting stationary for long periods of time between bites. If you are lure fishing, my best advice is to get down on your knees, close your eyes and pray. I have caught cod in June in Wangaratta, and hope to do it again this

Choose your beanie wisely! Last June we caught some nice redfin in Lake Buffalo. other baited with worms for yellowbelly. Don’t forget to take a comfortable chair and a book because it can be a long wait between bites. Winter is a patience game for both Murray cod and yellowbelly. REDFIN The redfin may or may not still be biting in Lake William Hovell and Lake

Orange-coloured soft plastics, such as this Strike Tiger Nymph in orange spawn colour, can be very effective when trout fishing in June. 82 JUNE 2024

All crayfish with eggs must be returned to the water, regardless of size. Buffalo in June. It is not uncommon to catch redfin in either lake in June, and some quite large ones can turn up at times. It can be hit-and-miss, but the chances of catching a redfin in June are greater than the chances of catching a Murray cod or yellowbelly. Last year my dad and I experienced some great redfin fishing in Lake Buffalo in June. We had to move around a lot in search of schools of redfin, but when we found a school we generally caught quite a lot of fish. It wasn’t easy fishing; we had to work for them, but we were rewarded with some great winter redfin fishing for our troubles. We used baits of worms and small yabbies. We also caught plenty on a variety of lures, including soft plastics, lipless crankbaits, and small diving hardbody lures. All of those baits and lures will be worth trying this June. Both Lake Buffalo and Lake William Hovell are situated at the base of the Victorian Alps and can be bitterly cold in winter, so make sure you take plenty of warm clothing. TROUT The Victorian trout season closes at midnight on the Monday of the King’s Birthday weekend, so you only have a week or two of June to try and catch a late-season trout. By the start of June many brown trout are already spawning, or getting very close to starting. At this time, they can be very hard to catch. Try using large minnow-style lures as the trout are more likely to hit a lure out of aggression rather than out of hunger. If we get a bit of rain in May leading up to June, it may be worth drifting a bunch of worms through the deeper pools. Something I have a lot of success with really late in the season is bright orange soft plastics. A small orange soft plastic such as the Strike Tiger nymph in orange spawn colour can work very well late in the season. This is because trout often feed on other trout’s eggs. Even if other trout in the stream have not started

spawning yet, the trout instinctually know to start looking for orange trout eggs. Fly fishers often use a fly called a ‘glow bug’ which mimics a trout egg. These are quite a controversial fly in the fly fishing world, but are very effective. So, if you are lure fishing in the closing weeks of the trout season, try anything with fluorescent orange on it. OTHER SPECIES The big news for June is the opening of the Murray cray fishing season. It

Sunrise is a great time to catch carp at Lake Moodemere during winter. opens on 1 June and closes at midnight on 31 August. There are strict size and bag limits around catching Murray crayfish, so ensure you are up to date with the rules and regulations before you head out. The Ovens River, from Wangaratta downstream, has a healthy number of crayfish but the Murray River is a much better option, especially if you have a boat. Lake Mulwala is also a bit of a cray fishing hotspot.

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Bait fishing off the bank in the winter sunshine SHEPPARTON

Nick Brown teamriverrats@hotmail.com

As I write this report, the weather is great and many locals have been spending time on the banks of the Goulburn River. Bait fishing has been very popular lately, with plenty of worms being purchased from local tackle stores. I have heard reports of yellowbelly and cod being caught behind the Shepparton Lake boat ramp and around Jordans Bend. The fishing has slowed as the nights have cooled, but it’s still worth spending a few hours on the banks of the Goulburn during the day. It’s not just natives being caught, with plenty of big carp also reported, with worms and corn being the best baits. Lure fishers have been picking up the odd cod with fluoro green lures trolled super slow. A couple of Murchison locals have also caught a few cod recently casting TN70s rigged with single hooks, and slowly rolling them back to the boat. BROKEN RIVER Like the Goulburn, the number of fish reported has dropped off,

but locals are still catching fish if they’re willing to put the time in. Towards Benalla, we are still getting a couple of surface lure captures, with Pompadours being the best surface lures for that section of river. Downstream below the weirs, there are still fish being caught on TN60 Jackalls and small chatterbaits with a slow roll and the odd pause being the best way to fish those lures. Bait fishing around the Broken River Drive area has also been productive during the day, with a couple of cod and yellowbelly reported amongst plenty of carp. KIALLA LAKES The lake is super low, which can make it hard for those using heavy lures or deep-diving crankbaits. There are still some good fish being caught out of the lake but they are eating small baits such as 2-3” Strike Tiger or Keitech plastics and also Jackall Chubby 38s. The key has been fishing along drop-offs as the fish are still sitting reasonably shallow in the warmer water, and ambushing lures as they come up the edge. The redfin have been reasonably

active in the willow trees. Floating worms is the best way to target these fish as you can get the worms really tight to the structure. You don’t need to be super deep with the worms; a foot under the float has been best. IRRIGATION CHANNELS The annual drawdown period has arrived, and if the channels haven’t been fully dropped by the time you read this, they will be shortly. This can be one of the best periods to fish the channels as there is less water to search in, and the fish also concentrate in common areas. I usually find that the bridges, syphons and drop bars are the holding points for fish on the drawdown. Around the bridges, casting square bills or small cranks works well. The fish are usually keen to bite, especially before it gets too cold. In the deeper water around the drop bars and syphons, beetle spinrigged plastics or TN60s are ideal because you can keep these lures close to the bottom. Bait fishing is also a great way to target fish when the channel is low, but remember to stick to the main structures. Not many fish get caught out in the open when the water is

low. Floating scrub worms around the bridge pylons is a great way to chase cod and yellowbelly. WAR ANGA BASIN During the cooler months, fish numbers usually drop off at the basin. Don’t let that put you off though, because the quality of fish seems to get better in winter. There are still plenty of smaller fish biting off the edges in the early morning with small crankbaits working best for those using lures. Worms are a popular bait for anglers fishing from the banks, and recently we’ve seen some nice eating-sized redfin caught on night crawlers. Out deeper, the bigger fish have been more active, with trolling being the best method. Rapala DT14s have been a great lure lately and get down nice and deep. It’s a bigger profiled lure, and the larger fish have been responding to it well. If you like smaller lures, the 10ft Old Mates, run in around 12ft of water, have also been producing good-sized redfin. There is still the odd fish being caught on points casting Z X40 blades, but this has mostly been in the mid-morning once the fish on the edge head deeper.

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Fishing action shows no signs of slowing down hatchery has ever had, which is testament to the closure. Hopefully, the results will be the same this year. TULLAROOP Garry Allen has been fishing Tullaroop Reservoir and catching some excellent-sized redfin around the 40cm mark, trolling pink Tassie Devils down deep with a downrigger. Garry’s primary target was trout, but the only trout he caught were very small. I ventured up to Tullaroop myself as

BALLARAT

Shane Stevens

Generally, the fishing reports slow down at this time of the year, and far fewer people go fishing. Only the die-hard anglers, rugged up in their winter gear, are willing to venture out. This year, by contrast, the fish are still biting in many of our waters around the district, and it’s not just the die-hard anglers who are enjoying the action. WENDOUREE Lake Wendouree is the standout performer when it comes to trout fishing. Right in the middle of Ballarat, this unreal fishery continues to produce the goods, with anglers coming from all over the state to fish Wendouree. It’s a real pat on the back for the Victorian Fishing Authority

Steve Angee with one of two 45cm redfin he caught on Lake Wendouree using soft plastics. Image courtesy of Steve Angee. excellent, averaging around 45cm, with my best being 55cm. All the trout I caught were in magnificent condition. My son Maxi and his mates have been regularly hitting Wendouree after school and on weekends, either casting lures or fly fishing. It’s great to see so many young anglers out fishing. Maxi and his mates (Mitch, Lachy, Harry and Ollie) have caught some ripper brown trout lately, mostly casting bent minnow surface lures. The boys said they often got a lot of fish following the lures and not eating them, and then suddenly one would just engulf it. This is to be

Garry Allen caught redfin up to 40cm trolling pink Tassie Devil lures down deep at Tullaroop Reservoir. Image courtesy of Garry Allen.

Craig Mitchell with a 55cm Moorabool brown trout caught on an orange Woolly Bugger. Image courtesy of Craig Mitchell.

The Lake Wendouree closure sign. and the fishing stocking program currently in place. Last month, I fished on Wendouree every chance I got. I’m continually amazed at how good the fishing is; my best session for the month saw me landing seven brown trout on olive and orange Woolly Bugger flies stripped fast in a few hours. The size of the trout has been 84 JUNE 2024

expected at this time of the year, when the trout are in spawning mode and very territorial. They see the lure as a threat to their area in the lake, and chase it away. Steve Angee has caught some rippers over the past month. In one session, Steve landed two big redfin, both around 45cm, as well as some smaller models. During another session he bagged 16 fish, averaging around the 30cm mark. “I was drifting along a weed bed when I caught one, landed it, and cast in the same spot,” Steve said. “Bang – another one hit, and it happened again.” At this point, Steve decided to put his

spot lock on his electric motor, and caught a total of 16 fish, all on soft plastics. High hopes for spawning closure Last year, the Ballarat Acclimatisation Society asked the VFA to temporarily close a 200m section of Lake Wendouree on the western side (commonly known as the ‘pipe area’), to protect spawning trout. Fisheries agreed, signage was erected, and Fisheries officers patrolled the area regularly. The Acclimatisation Society requested another closure for this year, which has been approved, and will run from 1 June to the end of July. For those who don’t know, the hatchery nets Lake Wendouree in winter. They remove the eggs from the females, fertilise the eggs from the males, and then return the fish to the lake. The eggs are taken to the hatchery, where volunteers look after them, hatch them out and grow them to a 50g size (around 15-20cm long). These juveniles are then released back into Lake Wendouree at no cost. Approximately 6000 brown trout are released into Wendouree by the hatchery every year. The closure of this small section of the lake is very important for the netting program that the hatchery does. Last year was the best year the

Neil Charter caught this ripper rainbow trout fly fishing from Greenhill Lake near Ararat. Image courtesy of Neil Charter. I’d heard the water clarity was good. This proved to be the case; it was as clear as it was a couple of years ago. I fished the Gulloways Lane area with lures and flies with no success. I will head back again in search of smelt-feeding trout over the winter months. Greenhill Lake at Ararat has been fishing well over the past couple of months, with excellent catches of rainbow trout. They have been caught by anglers using bait, casting and trolling lures, and fly fishing, from boats and the shore. The rainbow trout have been averaging 1.5kg. Neil Charter recently headed up for a look, as he’d heard on the grapevine that rainbows were on the bite. Neil had a great fly-fishing session, landing

Max Stevens with a 55cm brown trout from Lake Wendouree, which ate his OSP Bent Minnow in the gold colour. Image courtesy of Max Stevens.

Freshwater

FMM

VIC

Lots of redfin fillets INTUITIVE CONTROL LIGHT, POWERFUL, DURABLE… CRATER LAKES

Rod Shepherd

After a year or so of above-average rainfall, this autumn has been rather dry. Hopefully, by the beginning of winter some solid rain will have refreshed and topped up our local rivers and lakes. That’s not to say the water levels are critical, but an injection of fluid from the sky will keep the fishing side of things ticking along nicely. On a lighter note, there are plenty of school redfin on offer at depth at Lake

on a depth sounder as a cloud coming up off the bottom, but this doesn’t always mean that the fish are on the chew. Using berley and working an area for at least 30 minutes is the go. If the fish are not biting after that, move a short distance and try to sound up another school. The better redfin here average between 26-32cm, but when you bring in 20 or more fish in a session, there are plenty of fillets for everyone. There’s also the chance that something bigger might come along and snap up your offering. Many boaters target the shallow weed beds that surround the lake, as many

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fight. This waterway is one to keep on your radar this month. MOORABOOL Moorabool Reservoir has dropped to the lowest water level I’ve seen for a few years, which is not a bad thing. The edges of Moorabool are very muddy and boggy, so anglers who head out there will need waders or rubber boots. The water is crystal-clear and looks very fishy. I fished out there recently, landing one small rainbow trout around 1.5lb on an orange Woolly Bugger. I did have a big fish have a go at my fly but the hooks didn’t stick. One of my fishing

has produced quite a few fish over 10lb, although they have eluded me so far. Still, the anticipation that one of these big fish will grab my fly or lure brings me back. Craig Mitchell had a ripper session out there recently, landing two magnificent brown trout of 55cm on an orange Woolly Bugger fly pattern. Craig said the fish were in close, although he didn’t know what they were feeding on, as he didn’t see any fish move during the afternoon. Moorabool fishes very well during the winter months; the trout generally focus on feeding on smelt during the midge early mornings and evenings.

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JUNE 2024 85

Freshwater

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It’s a great feeling catching fish on the cast EILDON

Daniel Piazza

Winter is here, and many of us are keen to target some thumper cod over the King’s Birthday long weekend. I’m sure the crowds are ready to hit the water with the latest lures and technology. Lots of Murray cod have been reported from the Big River area, and I’m sure they are feeding on all the thousands of trout on their way to do their annual spawn. Match the hatch, fish slowly and patiently, and rewards will follow. Hopefully, the trout will start showing

up early this month, and the main areas to target these fish will be the bays and main arms leading into the main feeder rivers. Tassie Devils are a reliable way to catch them, and don’t be shy to start throwing plastics once you start finding a few fish on the troll. There’s no better feeling than catching fish on the cast. When winter arrives, yellowbelly have a few weeks before they slow right down, but that doesn’t mean they’ll refuse a serving of fresh worms or yabbies. Even some frozen, crumbed chicken pieces can get them to eat. You can also try black grubs retrieved slowly up the trunks of

Trolling to the green shed.

the trees. Redfin are everywhere, so sound up a school and send down every lure you have until they chew. It’s fun trying to guess what lure they will take; it’s different every time. It’s an enjoyable way to catch a free feed, and there’s nothing better than home-cooked fish and chips with a cold beer. Bonnie Doon has slowed down but the local punters are still catching fish. Very long trolling runs, from the Kennedys Point to the green shed, are worth their weight in gold. There are lots of trees that can hold fish, so make sure you have a punnet of scrub worms on board to turn a donut day into a bragging session. This month, focus on places with constant flows and bait on the sounder, and cast lures madly like no one is watching! Until next time, tight lines and stay safe on the water. If you have any Lake Eildon photos, I’d love for you to send them to me on my Instagram (@ PrimalSpinbaits) and you could feature in an upcoming edition of the magazine. • Daniel Piazza is the creator of Primal Spinbaits – quality handcrafted, Australian-made spinnerbaits with a

Ben from Summit Outfitters caught this solid cod on an Italianbuilt spinnerbait in the Delatite Arm on a nice clay bank. wide range of coloured heads and skirts. These spinnerbaits feature heavy-duty wires and high-quality finishes, and are proven effective on our native fish. Google ‘Primal Spinbaits’ to see where you can buy them.

Plenty of off-season options in local waterways WEST/SOUTH GIPPSLAND

Martin Auldist

Sadly, by the time this edition of your favourite fishing magazine hits your mailbox or news stand, the fishing season for river trout in Victoria will be closed, or very close to it. Midnight on Monday, June 10, marks the end of legal trout fishing in almost all rivers and streams in the state until September 6. Still, late-season fishing here can be good if the weather remains stable as it often does in autumn. Any of the usual rivers will be worth a shot using bait, lure or fly, including the upper Bunyip, Latrobe and its tributaries the Loch

and Toorongo, Tarago, the twin Tarwins, Traralgon Creek, and so on, so try to get out there in the dying stages of the season. Once the season has closed, there are still plenty of options for local anglers to get their freshwater fishing fix. First among these are river blackfish, the season for which remains open until September 1, so they fill in the void left by trout almost perfectly. These endearing natives are a legitimate angling species that grow much larger south of the Great Dividing Range than they do to the north. There are some very big specimens captured each year in this region. They are best targeted close to or after dark, but I have caught them during the day, too, and sometimes even sight fished to them in the clear water of West Gippsland streams.

Blackfish are a good option for anglers seeking some freshwater fishing action during the closed season for river trout. 86 JUNE 2024

Tom Bingham and Billy Auldist with two stonking redfin from a nondescript creek in Warragul. The quintessential method for catching blackfish is to go right back to basics. Anchoring an earthworm to the bottom of the deepest, darkest hole you can find is the way to go. Bear in mind these fish are extremely timid, so keep quiet and be patient. You won’t need huge hooks, but don’t go too small either; a suicide pattern in 1 or 1/0 will be perfect. Blackfish also take lures on occasion, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for some variety. Another great option during the closed season for trout are the myriad waterways to be found in and around just about every country town, and in many city suburbs too. Housing estate dams, council lakes, decorative ponds at old folks’ homes, golf course water traps, you name it – just about any substantial waterway will have fish available for

targeting all year round. Most often, this means redfin or carp, but you’ll often find the strangest waters secretly stocked with trout or even natives such as bass or golden perch. I have been amazed to see the size of the fish my sons catch just because they bother to stop the car and have a few casts. So, give it a go… but it’s best to ensure you’re not trespassing first. Finally, there is Blue Rock Reservoir, which is open for trout fishing all year round, and also contains a burgeoning population of Australian bass. A small boat or kayak is best for fishing this fairly expansive lake, but there are plenty of spots for land-based anglers as well. Winter options include trolling close to the banks for trout and jigging for bass in 3-12m of water.

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TESTING BOOTH

Shimano Stradic FM is the reel deal FISHING MONTHLY

Peter Jung

One of the more talked about releases for 2024 has been the latest iteration of the Stradic reel from Shimano, the FM. Prior to its release in Australia at AFTA 2023 it had won multiple awards at various international shows, so Aussie anglers really wanted to see what all the hype was about, including this intrepid angler. The hype has been justified, with stores quickly selling through initial stocks and the feedback has been nothing but positive. I am sure you can imagine how

happy I was when, amongst the items to be tested from Shimano came, a 1000 sized Shimano Stradic FM was one of them. I have now had the reel for nearly six months and feel I can offer you an insight into this reel and a few other items I was asked to test. I have had plenty of excuses to get out on the water. What is all the hype about? Shimano Stradic reels have been a mainstay within the Shimano range of spin reels for a very long time. In my early fishing retail years, one of my first memories of the name Stradic was the twin handled Aero Stradic I felt I had to have after selling plenty to our customers. White in colour, it really stood out

The new Shimano Stradic FM reel straight out of the box. PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY JUNE 20242023 88 1 NOVEMBER

in the reel cabinet and the Stradic reel has continued to evolve with each new release since then. Part of this evolution has always been the inclusion of improved technologies from reels higher up in the range within the Shimano portfolio. This is the case again with the FM range of Stradic’s, and is also one of the main reasons for all the hype. Four key technologies from the legendary Shimano Stella reels have now been included in the Stradic FM range. First and foremost is the addition of the Anti Twist Fin to the reel. Anybody who is constantly casting when fishing will appreciate this upgrade. Line twist and the tangles that can occur because of it, are one of the biggest pains in the butt you can have on the water and the Anti Twist Fin pretty much takes this out of the equation. As someone who is constantly flicking a lure of some sort around while fishing, I was very interested to see the effectiveness of this feature – in five months of use I am yet to get a wind knot or tangle with either braid or spinning fluorocarbon lines. That is an amazing result! Another component to this result is the Infinity Drive system Shimano uses in the FM Stradic reels. This super oscillation and line lay system ensures the line going back onto the reel is even and firm, helping with castability and assists avoiding the dreaded wind knots and tangles. Another key change to the FM range is the inclusion of a Duracross drag system. This is a hybrid felt and cross carbon drag washer system.

The Shimano 1000 size Stradic FM is the perfect reel to cast small lightly weighted soft plastics. This combination of a felt system (low inertia initiation and very smooth) with a cross carbon system (excellent durability) provides peace of mind when you have that fish of a lifetime on and that the reel drag system is built to last. Last but not least is the Infinity Cross gears now used by Shimano in the Stradic FM range. In a nutshell, a wider surface area for the winding gears to mesh has been created (50% more than previously) resulting in an even better mesh and a smoother feel when turning the handle. This isn’t something you will always notice, but you will appreciate after fishing all day or several years down the track, hence the saying it still feels like I just took it out of the box. The Shimano Stradic FM range comes in six sizes (including a new 2000 sized reel) from a 1000 up to a 5000 sized reel. The reel drags vary

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TESTING BOOTH from 3kg in the 1000 and 2000 sized reels to 9kg in the 2500 and 3000 reels and an impressive 11kg in the two larger sizes. Certainly, enough drag to cover most fish species you would target using these sized reels. As you would expect with reels of this quality they are light weight as

My main focuses for this outfit were going to be flicking small plastics, hardbody lures and surface lure around the local creeks for bass, making use of some the Shimano Bantam lures also supplied in our local bass impoundments as well as cranking for bream. With more time and opportunity, it would also be an ideal set up for trout fishing (lure casting in my case) in either a river or lake situation. The Expride rod most probably deserves its own testing booth. It is one of twelve rods within the range (four baitcast and eight spin options) and offers what is an incredibly sensitive rod to use. What do I mean by this? Shimano’s combination of a High Power X wrapped blank construction with a

A well balanced combo. The Shimano Stradic FM 1000 and the Shimano Expride 6’4” ultralight rod.

Many flathead anglers would choose to use a larger sized reel for their flathead fishing, however the 1000 size Stradic is more than capable of doing the job. well as strong. The weight of the reels ranges from 185g (the two smaller reels) up to 290g (the 5000 size reel). Putting it to the test Other than the unboxing of the items Shimano sent to be tested, I think half the fun is getting things set up, matching outfits together and tinkering/pondering what will go with what? What species can be targeted, how will that swim and, in my case, certainly running a UV light over things to see what stands out. It is all part of the discovery process and for me the spark to get out on the water to use it. In the case of the Stradic FM 1000 reel, I matched it with a Shimano Expride 6’4” 2-piece Ultra Light rod (22EXP264UL) which is from one of their JDM rod ranges. It was spooled with 4lb Power Pro braid in the Hi-Vis yellow colour.

Not all the bass in our small creeks are big. Most times it is all about being able to explore and figure out where the fish may be hiding. Carbon Monocoque butt featuring high grade cork grips and a CI4+ made reel seat plus Fuji SiC premium guides offers maximum feedback to the angler through the rod. This ensures you feel the smallest change to your lures swimming action or if a fish has picked up your lure or plastic. An essential feature when fishing light lines and finesse fishing. Add to that most of the rods in the range are a fast taper, so plenty of tip to cast small offerings while absorbing any

lunges and runs while fighting a fish using light lines. All this with plenty of power in the butt section to help turn the tables in your favour during the fight. The tested combo was/is a beautifully balanced outfit to do the

enjoying the better living conditions. Some of these creeks are accessible and it is an outfit like the Stradic/ Expride combo that is required. Shorter in length to allow you to cast in tight situations and to have the ability to flick small lures and lightly weighted plastics. In these creeks a legal bass (30cm) is a big fish and they can be a handful, however many of the fish are much smaller, so it is more about the exploring and figuring out where a fish might call home. It is a tremendous test of the castability of your gear, as well as drag settings and rod suitability. The Stradic/Expride combo has been fantastic, however looking at the Expride rod range, the 22EXP259UL rod may be even better. At 5’9” it may be better suited again to the tight casting conditions. This type of fishing really reminds me of the small stream trout fishing I did as a young man and this outfit would be amazing for that as well.

A nice yellowfin bream caught on a Shimano Bantam Enber 60SP Flash Boost lure.

That is a 95mm Squidgies Wriggler Prawn in this flathead’s mouth. Matching the hatch proved to be fruitful for the author.

types of fishing mentioned. With the wetter than normal summer experienced in SE Queensland many of our small freshwater creeks have maintained higher water levels than normal and the Australian bass in them are

As much fun as the small creek bass fishing is, the other thing I was looking forward to was doing a bit of cranking for bream and bass with a few of the Shimano Bantam lures that also arrived to be tested. The four lure options that arrived (Pablo Shad

NOVEMBER 202389 JUNE 2024 2

TESTING BOOTH 52SP, Pablo Shad 59SP, Enber 60SP Flash Boost and the BT Bait 99) all screamed bass, bream, flathead, trout and redfin to me and with the weather slowly cooling a suspending minnow bass edge bite was calling. Another exciting way to catch a bass, this simple technique involves casting a suspending hardbody lure

combo. A smooth drag, good castability and a rod that helps absorbs the lunges of these fish is essential. You generally fish light leaders and cast around structure or over shallow broken bottom and bream can certainly play dirty when they want to. I prefer a floating lure to do this, however it was silly not to give

The author spent a lot of time flicking lures and soft plastics in his local creeks for bass using the Stradic FM 1000 size reel matched to a Shimano Expride 6’4” UL rod spooled with 4lb Power Pro braid.

The author has every reason to smile. This 35cm tip bream ate his Shimano Bantam Pablo Shad 52SP as he bounced it through a rubble patch in less than a metre of water. like to above into a likely looking zone, cranking it down to depth and then letting it sit there (5-10 seconds) and then rolling it a bit further before stopping again. Many of the hits from the bass come on the pause or just as the lure begins to move again. It is amazing to see your line just take off or to feel the bass nab your lure as you twitch or move it. I managed to get bass on all the suspending lures mentioned (they did slow float in freshwater), while the BT Bait 99 (a small slow sinking swimbait) was ridiculously good fun to fish with in the same situation. You need to fish it much slower, but the takes were spectacular. Unfortunately for me, a big Maroon dam bass got the better of me and I didn’t get to use this lure for anywhere near as long as I would have liked to. Cranking for bream is another option for Stradic FM and Expride

A beautiful small creek bass caught using the Stradic/ Expride combo mentioned in this testing booth. the Bantam lures a try. Interestingly the Pablo Shad 52SP and the Enber 60SP provided the better results. The Flash Boost system in the Enber

This 50cm+ flathead ate a Squidgies 80mm paddle prawn in the bloodworm colour. PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY JUNE 20242023 390NOVEMBER

60SP may have been a contributing factor, the extra flash it offers, I believe made a difference when the water was dirtier. Again, I managed to get fish on all the crankbaits. The outfit was certainly proving to be versatile, although the 6’10” Expride

rod (22EXP2610ML) may be better suited, as it may offer a little more casting distance. Back to the Stradic 1000 FM reel, I had one more test, which for me would round out this review nicely. Hopping plastics for flathead and an opportunity to use trying some of the Squidgies prawn soft plastics Shimano sent. I replaced the rod with one more suited to casting 3/8oz jigheads and hit a couple of my local flathead hotspots. The Squidgies prawn offering come in a paddle tail (80mm and 110mm) or a wriggler tail (65mm, 95mm and 110mm) and are available in eight proven colours. I had a few of the 80mm paddle tail versions as well as some 65mm and 95mm wriggler tails to play with. With so many prawns in the system at the moment, matching

the hatch seemed the right way to go and the results reflected my theory. Many anglers doing this type of fishing would opt for a larger size reel (possibly the new 2000 size or the 2500), but the 1000 size Stradic FM did not feel under gunned in any way. I just upsized the leader tied onto the 4lb Power Pro braid and fished away. Both plastic styles offer plenty of action and I am always a fan of UV enhancements in a lure or soft plastic. The Squidgies prawns are all UV enhanced and I think this can make a big difference, especially in the dirty water we are experiencing in SE Queensland at the moment. You will see that I did have some success, with the bloodworm, black and gold and estuary prawn colours becoming immediate favourites. Final thoughts I can totally understand the hype surrounding the new Shimano Stradic FM series of reels, the 1000 size reel tested had been a pleasure to use, and it is going to be hard to give it back to the team at Shimano. Outside of how smooth it feels to use the standout feature for me has been the Anti Twist Fin and for me the complete reduction of wind knots and tangles. I did not have one during the entire testing period. With the amount of casting I do, I think that is amazing. Although the smallest reel in the range, it offers plenty of versatility re fishing applications and you can certainly see how the Stradic FM range of reels can suit your needs whether finesse fishing or are focused on bigger target species. 100% worth checking out when you are next in your local tackle retail outlet. You can check out the Shimano Stradic FM reels and all the other products mentioned in this testing booth at www.fish.shimano.com.

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

GARMIN ECHOMAP ULTRA 2

Garmin’s EchoMap Ultra 2 chartplotters, available in 10” and 12” sizes, have the highest screen resolution in the EchoMap series, for ultra high-definition scanning sonar images. Notable features include preloaded Garmin Navionics+ mapping, a 1-year subscription for daily updates, depth range shading, and detailed 1” contours, to help you identify fishing hot spots. Additionally, optional Garmin Navionics Vision+ gives you features such as high-resolution relief shading, satellite imagery and more. You can also capture your impressive fish catches with the new screen recording feature. If you have more than one UHD2 or Ultra 2, you can network them wirelessly to share sonar, waypoints and routes. Wirelessly connect to your Force trolling motor to navigate to waypoints, draw and follow routes and more, and get improved position accuracy in areas where the signal is weak with multi-band GPS. Price: from SRP$3999 (including transducer) www.garmin.com

••••••••••••••••••••••••••

RAPALA X-LIGHT CRANK

Shimano’s Extraction rods have been engineered with cutting-edge technology and premium materials. At the heart of the Extraction rod range is the revolutionary T45 High Modulus Carbon Graphite Blank Construction. This carbon graphite material combines strength, lightweight properties, and exceptional sensitivity. It enables anglers to detect very subtle bites, and enhances overall responsiveness. The Fuji K-Series Tangle-Free Guides with SiC Insert ensure a smooth and effortless line flow, for accurate casting. The spin models feature the Fuji Graphite DPS Reel Seat, renowned for its lightweight construction and secure fit. For the Overhead Models, the FUJI Graphite PSS Reel Seat with a power screw lock mechanism ensures the utmost stability, particularly in overhead and trolling setups. The machined aluminium lock nut fittings provide a secure connection between the reel seat and rod blank and enhance the rod’s overall strength and durability. High-density DURA-EVA handle grips offer superior comfort and a firm hold, ensuring a fatigue-free fishing experience. The range consists of 11 spin and four overhead models, with weights ranging from 10-80lb and PE 5-8. Price: from SRP $249 www.shimanofish.com.au

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Coming in shallow and mid-runner models, the X-Light Crank from Rapala is perfect for targeting smaller fresh and saltwater species. The X-Light Crank has a seductive wiggle and a finesse rattle, which the predators can’t resist. Highly versatile, the X-Lite Crank can be steadily cranked or twitched in the strike zone, or you can use the burn-andkill technique to trigger bites. The shallow version can be used as a wakebait on the surface with a slow retrieve, and will dive to just under a metre on a steady retrieve. The mid-runner will dive to 1.8m. These lures come in a range of proven colours, featuring detailed and textured finishes, and are fitted with sticky sharp VMC trebles. Price: SRP$14.95 www.rapala.com.au

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DAIWA J-BRAID EXPEDITION

SHIMANO EXTRACTION RODS

Featuring the same IZANAS fibre construction of other J-Braid lines, J-Braid Expedition features Daiwa’s Silicon ‘Coating PE’ technology to create a slicker, smoother braid with hydrophobic properties. The result is increased durability and enhanced feel. J-Braid Expedition’s silicon coating means the braid does not absorb any water. Importantly, this means the braid also does not absorb the silt and sediment in the water, which is the number one cause of braided line wear over time. By shedding the water, thanks to its hydrophobic properties, J-Braid Expedition will last longer than traditional braided lines, providing better value and performance. With an incredibly high weave count, J-Braid Expedition is braided tighter than almost any other line on the market, providing an incredibly round profile braid that won’t separate and fray when in use. J-Braid Expedition is available in two colour options – hi-vis orange and metered multi-colour – in 150m, 300m, 500m and 3000m bulk spools across PE ratings from #0.6 (8lb) through to PE #8 (90lb). www.daiwafishing.com.au

PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY

DUO TIDE MINNOW SLIM 200

Building on the success of the Tide Minnow Slim 140, DUO has released a 200 model. The larger model has a different design from the original, with a slimmer body to reduce air resistance, as well as the perception of size. The lip has been fixed into the lure to create a very sharp action that fish love, while a brass weight is located just behind the lip for perfect lure balance. Two 6mm tungsten balls and a 6mm stainless steel ball are located in a track that allows these balls to roll to the tail during casting, for extra distance and stability in the air. The balls then roll forward when the retrieve starts. You can fish this versatile lure with a jerky retrieve for species such as flathead, or take it to the next level chasing mulloway, threadfin salmon, barra and more around weed beds and drop-offs. Price: SRP $34.99 www.wilsonfishing.com

••••••••••••••••••••••••••

TT TACKLE STORAGE BAGS

Keep your tackle safe and sorted with the new range of TT Tackle Storage Bags, available in a Standard 22L option and Large 36L model. These tough tackle bags feature a durable, water-resistant outer material, combined with a rubberised internal lining to protect your gear from the elements. A hard, moulded base provides additional protection while maintaining the structure of the bag, making it easy to access tackle trays and other gear. Externally, the bag is loaded with storage compartments and finished with quality SBS zippers to ensure smooth and easy access. An additional mesh pocket allows for the drying of wet items, such as fishing gloves or water shoes, while the bungee cord on top of the bag provides additional storage and quick access to another tackle tray, rain gear or other items. There’s also an internal storage pocket in the lid of the bag. Both models feature sturdy side carry handles, along with a comfortable, removable shoulder strap. Price: SRP $99.90-$129.90 www.ttfishing.com

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au NOVEMBER JUNE 2024 2023 91 2

South Coast

FMM

DROP IN TO YOUR LOCAL QUINTREX DEALER! QUEENSLAND

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Land-based options ESPERANCE

Murray Johnson

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MANDURAH OUTBOARDS

Winter weather is now here on the south coast, bringing changing opportunities and different species to target. Species like skippy become larger and more prevalent at this time of year, and smaller mulloway will also be more common catches. Beaches close to town, such as Fourth Beach and Wylie Bay, have been producing plenty of fish, with salmon around the 5kg mark, skippy to 2kg, plenty of herring, and the occasional smaller mulloway. We are also still seeing the occasional gummy shark being caught, and flathead as well. At beaches such as Roses and Thomas River, we are still seeing bigger schools of salmon, and also skippy up to 5kg. There are plenty of bronzies around, too, along with the occasional tailor. Heading further east, out towards Poison Creek and Israelite Bay, more mulloway are being caught, along with the usual salmon, tailor, flathead and herring. West of town, out near Munglinup, we are seeing smaller schools of salmon, skippy around the 2kg mark, and plenty of herring. While fishing off the beach for salmon and the like, a couple of good lure choices are Ocean’s Legacy Slingshots in the lumo colour, and Halco Twisties. In town off the jetty, squid everywhere, with plenty of samples of hoods going 45cm. 3.5-size Harimitsu squid jigs in pink have been working well. Anglers are also catching herring and plenty of garfish. Bandy Creek Boat Harbor is still producing plenty of smaller King George whiting, and there are also more bream with the water flow coming from the lake system, bringing more and bigger fish into Bandy Creek. Anglers have been catching plenty of flathead and herring in there, and some smaller skippy. The bream lakes such as Woody and Windabout have been producing plenty of bream around the 30-40cm mark. A stand-out plastic for the bream has been the Daiwa Bait Junkie Flick 2.95” in red herring. Boat-based anglers in the bay have been getting good numbers of squid, herring, snook, and the occasional bluefin tuna. Anglers fishing around the islands have been reporting plenty of queen snapper, sweep and breaksea. Ve xed W hiting R igs

(paternosters rigged with a soft plastic bloodworm) have been catching flathead out towards Observatory Island, and other bottom species. Further out, when the opportunity arises, we are still seeing nannygai up to 60cm, plenty of samsons around the 20kg mark, a few yellowtail kingfish, plenty of queen snapper up to 8kg, breaksea cod, harlequin, and the occasional groper. Vexed Bottom Meats and orange Dhu Slow jigs have been working well for many anglers. THE MONTH AHEAD As winter settles in, the falling water temperatures will see different species coming closer to the shoreline, including samsonfish. Some nannygai will also come in around the islands, and more gummies and mulloway will be caught off the beach. • Established in 1986, Southern Sports and Tackle specializes in supplying and servicing fishing equipment. They have an extensive knowledge of the local area and provide all brands, whether you’re fishing from the beach, jetty or boat. Come and chat with the friendly staff at Shop 16, The Boulevard, Esperance or phone 08 9071 3022. READER’S

PICTURE

Tia Horton with a lovely 68cm bonito she caught off Newcastle.

JUNE 2024 93

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Salmon runs and demersal delights AUGUSTA

Anthony Gillam

This must now qualify as the longest summer weather for decades in this area. With no more than a light drizzle or two during autumn, the warm weather continued to dry out the land and sucked the life out of the southwest Karri forest. Although the warm, dry weather has caused much angst to those living in the area, with the threat of bushfires ever increasing, it has also resulted in a huge influx of tourists seeking to escape the lingering heat in the north of the state. The annual salmon run has also been long and drawn out, with schools

currently being fished from Albany all the way up the coast to the metropolitan beaches. In unprecedented numbers of schools, they have been in holiday mode, not seeming to be in the usual rush to race up the coast to spawn. Reported catches have been very good throughout WA, with many fish also making their way into the bays and beaches of Augusta. Most fish have been in the 5-7kg range and in great condition, with large amounts of fat lining their stomachs showing that they are feeding very well on their travels. Herring numbers have also been very good, with the average size being in the low 30cm range. Commonly called bull herring, they are misnamed as generally the female fish are the biggest. This is

The author with an Augusta rock lobster, one of the region’s premium products that can be caught all year round within 10 minutes from shore.

probably much of the reason for the salmon being so healthy, as the nutrientladen fish bursting with eggs are the perfect food for them. Many fish have been caught by those targeting salmon as by-catch. However, many people rely on them for a cheap, readily available source of protein. They can be caught on many of the same lures that salmon can, just scaled-down versions such as the Halco Twisty or Richter Sea Iron. I usually swap out the treble hooks for an inline hook like Owner or Mustad, which generally has a better hookup rate on bigger fish and causes much less damage to those you want to release. Being oily, they are great grilled whole, filleted, or smoked. Fishing on the river has been very pleasant, with many low wind days and warm sunny weather making catching anything a secondary thought as it was just nice to be floating about. The whiting numbers have been well outstripped by the herring, with the odd salmon slipping into the inlet causing a commotion on light gear. Trolling small lures when boat or kayak fishing has always been a good way to pick up a feed. Crabs are still being caught, probably due to the lack of rainfall, which usually pushes them out to sea by April. The numbers are dwindling, however, and I would expect that they will peter out reasonably soon. The rock-wall at the marina is fishing well for the usual species such as skippy, tarwhine, and herring, with the occasional squid and cuttlefish also making an appearance. Demersal fishing will conclude soon,

A typical flathead caught at the Augusta marina using a piece of fish fillet as bait. so people are currently taking every opportunity to get out into Flinders Bay, where the reports of dhufish numbers continue to be very promising. The pink snapper catches have seen a decline, as has breaksea cod and harlequin. Large cuttlefish have been responsible for the destruction of many soft plastics, with their large beaks making short work of them. Fortunately, when hooked, they make an excellent cut bait but an even better meal. They are well sought after by all demersals, and often if they are being a bit finicky, it will be a big piece of cuttlefish that turns the tide. A piece on a Vexed Bottom meat is dynamite. There have been a number of salmon and tuna schools entering the bay with mixed success while trolling. With tuna, to avoid spooking them, it is important to not cut through the school as they will head deep and stop feeding. Salmon

Target pink snapper for inshore success established, all you need to do is present an unweighted or lightly weighted mulie/scalie on a gang or snelled hooks with hook size determined by the bait used; 4/0 to 6/0 sizes are the most common. I have found occasionally pink

BUNBURY

Whiteys Tackle and Camping

With winter rapidly approaching, thoughts turn to the inshore pink snapper fishery, with these pink slabs coming in close to shore in great numbers. The rough weather presents a good opportunity for the pink snapper to forage for food that gets bashed around and dislodged during and following the numerous cold fronts that will be coming through over the next few months. Due to the fact that they move around a lot looking for their next meal, the best results usually come in the form of setting the pick and getting a solid berley trail going, bringing the fish to you. Some days it will only take minutes for them to appear, and once they come up in the berley trail, the fishing is generally hot with fish coming one after the other. A berley that consists of fish frames, old bait, and scraps works a treat but can be a messy job to do 94 JUNE 2024

Vincenz doesn’t muck around when it comes to snapper fishing. at home. Nowadays, though, there are quality frozen berley options available in good tackle shops that are perfect for the job. Once the berley trail is

An impressive wintertime snapper! Photo courtesy of @moefish4

snapper will go off the bite (usually when you drop a fish!), and then it is a good idea to change it up to get them switched on again. By that, I mean put the baits away and try a couple of lures, with good results coming on soft plastics, with the vibes being especially deadly; they can change the mood of the fussy pink snapper. With lures, they will hit it out of aggression and can get them feeding freely again. Another technique to get them biting is to drop down a micro jig in the 5-20g range, and this smaller offering flicking and darting off the bottom will replicate a small baitfish; you could also get a bonus bycatch of any skippy that are milling around the berley trail. This is also a fantastic time to tick off the bucket list item for many anglers: a pink snapper from the sand. A solid berley trail and a juicy bait like a whole herring or squid are your best friend while fishing for these elusive sunburnt bream. Almost any beach is worth a crack for these prized fish; as previously mentioned, they

South Coast

FMM

LIGHT, POWERFUL, also haveDURABLE… a habit of getting off at the rocks

are not so easily spooked, and it is often possible to motor alongside a school and flick lures into their midst. Try feather skirts for tuna on the troll and as usual match what they are feeding on when flicking lures. Sometimes that is a lot smaller than what you would expect. Rock lobster fishing has been productive, with large crays dominating currently. Potting and diving have been equally successful, with deeper water reef holding the best numbers.

LIGHT, POWERFUL, DURABLE…

INTUITIVE CONTROL

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if you waste time working out what to do to get them up to you. Remember to berley, berley, berley with either old bait, fish oils, or a commercially made product. They really do increase your catch off the rocks as it basically provides a direct line between the food source they can detect and where you are standing, hopefully with a tasty bait waiting to be eaten. • Should you decide to give rock fishing a go please remember that it is dangerous

MELBOURNE MELBOURNE MARINE CENTRE

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393-399 South Gippsland Hwy Dandenong South P: (03) 9703 2003 info@melbournemarine.com.au The Vexed jigs strike again with a solidE:dhufish caught in Flinders Bay. SHEPPARTON W: melbournemarine.com.au

BOATS AND MORE The weather has been very good

Road Shepparton off 207 the Numurkah rocks where salmon and herring P: (03) 5822 2108 have dominated. As usual, however, it is F: (03)to5821 possible get 2908 a really good mixed bag of W: boatsandmore.com.au species while on the rocks, so it pays to try

a few different techniques such as lures, MORWELL bottom baiting, and floating lines. In CRAWFORD MARINE Augusta, there is the possibility of catching 71-77 Chickerell Street Morwell many of the demersals that boaties catch, P: (03) 5134 6522 so a gaff or net is a good addition to your F: (03) 5134 6455 tackle. These are especially handy if you W: crawfordmarine.com.au manage to hook one of the prevalent shark species of the area, bronze whaler, ECHUCA gummy, or XTREME whiskery.MARINE Great eating, they EADES

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at times and careful consideration of MORNINGTON where and whenPENINSULA you fish must be done. MY MARINE Unpredictable weather can quickly affect Cnrfishing Nepean Highway and & slippery rocks the conditions Ponderosa Place Dromana are a recipe for disaster. Please remain P: (03) 5987 0900 vigilant when rock fishing; wear a life W: mymarine.com.au jacket and tie off to something solid. You can hire one for free from Augusta Xtreme MORNINGTON PENINSULA Outdoor Sports at 66 Blackwood Avenue, NAUTICAL MARINE Augusta -the local tackle shop, boat hire 141 Hotham Road and font of all local fishing knowledge. Sorrento Look for the big green sign on the roof, it’s P: (03) 5984 1666 right next to the BP Service Station in the E: info@nauticalmarine.com.au centre of town. W: nauticalmarine.com.au

another massive factor in getting a hook into one of these brutes, using a GEELONG medium to high-end 14-15ft rod with EDENCRAFT MARINE a 22-30 cast weight 5-6oz will help close Buckley of Grove Moolap the distance between you and one of P: (03) 5248 4520 these shallow water crab crunchers! E: admin@edencraftmarine.com.au ToW: further your cast distance even www.edencraftmarine.com.au

more, we recommend using a harbour TOORADIN sinker clip to keep your CENTRE sinker and bait P&J MARINE SERVICE P/L aerodynamic in your cast. 101 Tooradin Station Road Tooradin • The crew at Whiteys Tackle and P: (03) 5998 3107 Camping in Treendale are always more E: pjmarine_services@bigpond.com than happy to share their knowledge of the southwest and fishing techniques so don’t be shy, come on in and say hi, show MELBOURNE off your Mcatch and ask any questions TRIPLE MARINE you may have. 117 Northgate Drive Thomastown

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ROCKINGHAM MIDWAY MARINE 43 Hurrell Way ROCKINGHAM P: (08) 9527 6963 E: info@midwaymarine.net.au W: midway marine.net.au WANGARA HI TECH MARINE 12 Uppill Place WANGARA P: (08) 9309 2888 FB: @Hitech.Marine.Australia IG: @hitech.marine TT: @hitech.marine YT: @hitechmarineau E: sales@hitechmarine.com.au W: hitechmarine.com.au

The Chook with an impressive kidney slapper. JUNE 2024 95

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As the water cools, the fishing will change METRO

Jacob Crispe

For a couple of months now, I have discussed the changes that rain will bring to the Perth metro fishing. This rain has not come in any real capacity so far, but with water temperatures cooling, change is inevitable. SWAN RIVER With water temps cooling, the fishing in the Swan moves into the deeper water.

the mouth of the system, and species like tailor and mulloway will move quickly. It’s not unusual to have crazy fishing on the river side of North Mole after a rain event.

like skippy, herring and squid. As always, using berley is the key. I would never fish our rock walls without using berley. King George whiting numbers should increase this month. Tenderised squid baits, coral prawns, and even mulie strips are all great baits for the whiting. Our beaches should also continue to fish well, and the usual suspects like herring, skippy, sand whiting, tailor, and even the odd salmon will be on offer. Like

Josh brockhurst with a welcome by-catch while out chasing snapper. Reece Harvey with giant bass grouper weighing in just shy of 50kg!

Young gun Jordan Z is kicking some serious goals with this absolute donkey of a land-based snapper. He caught it while fishing with his Dad Peter from the beach. Species like flathead, tailor and mulloway will hold on the drop-off zones and around structure in deeper water. This is where their food source is, and where the temperature is comfortable for them. A species that many anglers will target is the black bream of the Swan. They remain spread throughout the system and love to hold in and around structure. This means they are very accessible for anglers using many different methods. For most it will be a coral prawn, a river prawn, or even a bony herring strip fished close to some form of structure, while lure anglers will bounce or bobble a hardbody or soft plastic lure around the same structure. The bream are aggressive, fun to catch and there’s a multitude of areas to fish for them, from East Fremantle to the

ROCK WALLS AND BEACHES Our rock walls are good places to fish through this cooling water phase. As mentioned, the mulloway fishing can

Jay Simpson is not complaining with this horse of a metro dhuey! the rock walls, a berley bag placed in the wash will improve your fishing. The other key is to take the time to pick the better gutters on the beach you are fishing. The biggest mistake I see people make is they are in the right area, but cast beyond the

Ayden Z with a haul of prawns he caught while dabbing with his Dad Peter Z. be excellent post some rain, while the storms that produce the rain can stir up the water along the rock walls and bring in snapper to feed on the dislodged food.

Paul Coelho having some fun on the pelagics! He got into some nice shark mackerel around Rotto.

Paul with a lovely stripey tuna. Causeway. A good family-friendly option is the walkway around Garvey Park. If we get some heavier rain, this will concentrate the fish’s food source towards 96 JUNE 2024

best spots in a gutter. Knowing where the gutter is, and getting your baits in it, are vital to beach fishing success. Other target species at this time of the year are snapper, mulloway and gummy shark. Floreat, Trigg and a little north Yanchep are all good beach fishing options. INSHORE Many of our inshore anglers have been focusing on the excellent snapper fishing we have been having. One of the keys has been to get to your favourite fishing spot prior to the sun coming up, and to be fishing during the light change. It’s also important to have a

Tailor are also attracted to the baitfish bounty after storms. Outside of the weather events, calm conditions are best when targeting species

Jarrad Prieto with a decent pinky he caught while casting baits from Freo rockwalls.

good berley trail. Mulies will be one of your better bait options, and placing a glow squid above your bait can improve your catch rate. Another product that has impressed me is the Vexed Elastic bait thread. When wrapped around your mulie baits, it protects them and makes them hold together for longer – hopefully long enough for that bigger fish to find it. Other inshore options are squid in 3-6m of water, and King George whiting amongst the broken ground in the 6-12m zone (there have been some good flathead bycatches in the same areas). Drifting the shipping channel for sand whiting is another great way to pick up a feed. There have also been some good gummy shark captures in Coburn Sound, so targeting them is another option this month.

West Coast

FMM

Fishing fortune will favour the brave MANDURAH

Jesse Choy

June holds a lot of promise for fishing in Mandurah and what it can offer to anglers. June can be quite a wet month with conditions that may deter many casual anglers, although if you are brave enough to endure the conditions, you are likely to produce some good quality fish that thrive in the stirred-up inshore and offshore waters. While beaches will be a great option to target larger species like pink snapper or mulloway, anglers are wise to consider rock fishing as a viable option too. Regardless of the area you choose to fish,

If you do enough searching, you are likely to come across some fishy stretches of beach that are yet to be inundated with seaweed. free of the mentioned obstacles. Fishing in clean water is not a necessity when it comes to targeting fish in winter, with many smaller species seemingly relying on debris as protection, especially when they are

comes to bait or lure fishing in the rivers at any time of the year, you will find fish are willing to act on the opportunity to feed with less hesitation; otherwise, it could be seen as a missed opportunity that may not present itself again. If you are struggling to find fish in the stretches of river abundant with current, it is always worth trying your luck around deeper sections of the river or perhaps areas where you have pockets of slack water. Both deep and slack waters are great options to try when all else fails, as fish will inevitably seek refuge in these locations attempting to regenerate their energy levels for future endeavors. Mother Nature will often dictate whether you are able to head offshore due to the increasing wind and swells. If you are able to find a gap in the weather, it is fair to say you will start to see a noticeable increase in pink snapper quality and quantities being brought over the side of the boat. Though some

Morning fishing on the rivers can be quite pleasant, with plenty of action to be had throughout the entire day when conditions are right for the fish. whether done by drone or casting, the main consideration is finding water clear from seaweed and floating debris. Many anglers tend to fish close to the oceanside

rocks of town or cuts as they are heavily influenced by heavy currents that bring about constant change, making them some of the first places to be clean and

OFFSHORE Anglers are enjoying being able to target whatever they want to in our offshore waters. In my experience, the most productive zone is 30-50m of water, and once you’re there it’s just a matter of enjoying what species are on offer. Dhufish, snapper, queen

Slow pitch jigs can be particularly useful at tempting lazy fish in the winter months, triggering an aggression bite when fish are not particularly hungry.

Not a bad mixed bag for a metro tinny bash by Paul Coelho and friend.

Jay with another 5 star fish from the bottom – a bright red nannygai! They are not a common capture in these waters. snapper, baldchin groper, breaksea cod, harlequin fish, and nannygai are just a few of the species on offer. It is also worth trolling a few lures around between fishing locations. Southern bluefin tuna will be your main target

when doing this, and the odd yellowfin has also been caught this way. Sashimi is never a bad addition to the menu when you get home. The cooler months also offer some weather windows to head out even wider and hit our deep-drop grounds. Species like greyband, hapuka and blue-eye trevalla (just to name a few) are all considered some of the best eating fish available in our waters. I hope you all enjoy your fishing in June and I will catch you next month.

moving through expanses of water that are foreign to them. Fishing around or near it can be a great way to find lurking predators, though finding clear water certainly provides you with a much more comfortable experience, allowing you to fish more consistently without worrying about your bait and whether it is presented well. Throughout the rivers, inshore fishermen will start to notice water levels rising and clarity worsening as the rougher conditions become more prevalent. Despite the environmental changes in the rivers, anglers will find that some of their best fishing sessions will come in these winter months when fish are seemingly everywhere throughout our local systems. With the change in conditions, fish are typically forced to adjust so they can condition themselves for the coming months, which results in river fishing becoming easier in many ways and a lot less finesse approach. Though there is such a thing as fishing too heavy when it

days you will find it difficult to get a bite despite your best efforts, pink snapper are well renowned for their foraging habits, and the weather at this time of the year often encourages them further out of the structure in search of an easy meal. Other than pink snapper, you will still come across species like samson, dhufish, and various bottom-dwelling species like your breaksea or King George whiting. Although some species are much more active in cooler waters, you may find that certain species and individual fish will be harder to tempt than usual. It is always best to maintain the mindset of understanding that fish can be quite like us in the sense of laziness, though they will eventually need to feed in order to keep existing. If you are marking up fish but they will not feed, sometimes a change of location is all you need and will quite often put you onto fish that are more motivated to commit with little to no convincing. Be sure to keep persisting! JUNE 2024 97

North Coast

FMM

Demersal season set to soar LANCELIN

Peter Fullarton

Demersal season remains open until the 1 August. The best catches have been coming from Direction Bank. At this time of year, we expect some demersal species to move towards shallower grounds. It’s a time of year when drifting the flats around the mid-30s can yield great results and offer a very relaxed way of fishing. Instead of having to work baits and the boat to hold on to structures, like lumps and coral patches, set up the boat for drift fishing. I usually drop a line with a single hook paternoster and snapper

or plastics to each lump is an interesting variation on the usual deep dropping most people do out of Lancelin and will account for a good number of dhufish too. Recent years have seen snapper go from strength to strength. A few years back, hordes of undersize fish were a nuisance. Those fish seem to be growing up, and now we have seen schools of hundreds of fish 50-60cm in the shallows and had some amazing sessions. It is the rewards from protecting stocks when they are most vulnerable, schooled together to breed. Something Fisheries WA need to extend to dhufish and other demersals so we can see similar gains in those species. Often overlooked by fishers accustomed to heading out wide, snapper are most

come along. Herring normally show up at some stage in the morning if you keep up a steady berley trail. There has been a resurgence in King George whiting numbers inside

Increasing numbers of snapper have made for great nearshore fishing. They are a reliable catch from the kayak these days.

Brendan Gow had a great day christening the new boat, with a heavy bag of five species taking out the Lancelin angling club ANZAC cup.

on something decent, then samson fish have been hanging around the jetty and inshore reefs and can turn up at any time in the bay. Most of the tailor have moved off with

the bay. Just keep the berley in the boat to avoid attracting too many trumpeters and butterfish. If you do throw a berley pot over the side, floating larger baits like half or whole pilchards will attract the attention of skippy, snook, tarwhine,

Emin with a typical metre-plus mulloway we see through the start of winter. Schoolies should become more prolific in the gutters moving to spring. lead straight down and place that rod in the holder. Then set a second rod with a bottom meat with a lighter weight that will drift further back from the heavier snapper weight. Alternatively, a big paddle tail or curl tail plastic will fish well out the back too. Just kick back with rods in the holder waiting for a bite. If the wind is up and the lines don’t hold bottom, set up a sea anchor to slow the drift. Breaksea cod move right in close. While you will catch them through the 20s and 30s, the lumps inside the White Bank have good numbers of those big pink breaksea usually associated with deep water. They are mostly found on the more prominent lumps that are prolific through 10-15m depths. Dropping baits, vibes,

Tailor have been fussy on lure size, with an abundance of small baitfish along the beaches. Nathan found the CID Spratt lure fitted the bill to tempt them into striking. 98 JUNE 2024

active from dawn to mid-morning. Setting up a berley trail inside the White Bank can result in some sensational sessions with fish schooling near or under the boat. Taking floating pilchards on medium to light gear is a lot of fun, running you around the boat compared to deep-drop crank ‘em up. Bycatch is often thumping skippy, mega tailor, gummy sharks, bronze whalers, and even the odd dhufish. With the increasing numbers catching them off the cast from the beach has become a viable proposition too. This year, some days with a dozen or more pinkies in a few hours casting and drone fishing take it to the next level off the beach. While most people might not be thinking of pelagics in winter, June is the last good month to have a crack at a Spanish mackerel. Look for the slimy mackerel schools in 15-25m; find them, and the Spaniards will be there too. Offshore random schools of striped or bluefin tuna will be indicated by feeding birds. Winter is a great time for the bread and butter species of herring and sand whiting. The town jetty can be as good a place as any to gather a feed. Often the worse the weather, the better the fishing; it’s a great option during big swells or passing fronts. Casting towards the shore by day for the whiting or nighttime sees schools of herring gathering under the lights. Along the surf beaches, the average size of the sand whiting is up, well worth casting a few small baits while waiting for that big fish to

Blue spot flathead are always a welcome bycatch when casting baits from the beach.

This 6kg dhu tells a story, I tagged it as undersized, then caught it within metres of the same spot some four years later at 74cm. and believe it or not, some decent-sized snapper are becoming a thing in the bay’s shallows, especially when the swell is up! If you want to stretch the arms

the cooler waters from the open beaches, although you can still find a few decent specimens casting poppers or stickbaits to the reef breaks. Mulloway—it’s a bit of a transition between a few big fish on the open beaches and schoolies in better numbers in the gutters. On calm nights, walking the bay’s shallows with a hand spear has found some big cobbler. Other than fish, cuttlefish are still in good numbers drifting the flats 25m+; it is a very good time for blue swimmer crabs and squid in the bay.

Quality reef fish EXMOUTH

Barry Taylor

This month’s report has been supplied by James Fitzgerald. Over the past month, the billfishing on the west side has been a little slow, but there have still been a few sailfish and black marlin turning up. In the deep water, from around 180-400m, quite a few people have been hitting big ruby snapper, bass groper, comet groper, and a few big bycatch pearl perch. Closer in, from 30m to 120m, there have been quite a few red emperor, gold-band snapper, and Robinsons sea bream. Most have been caught on bait,

but jigs have also been catching their share. Popular options include the Cast SPJ Series, Vexed Bottom Meats and Vexed Dhu Slows. Longer knife jigs are better for red emperor and gold-

Connor Luff with a solid GT caught on a 30lb Spartan outfit.

North Coast

FMM

Pelagics steal the show DAMPIER/KARRATHA

Troy Honey

It has been a great month for fishing off Karratha and surrounding areas, with arguably the widest variety of species being caught anywhere in Western Australia. Kicking off this month’s

Troy Honey found plenty of Spanish mackerel trolling 220mm lures outside of Hammersley Shoal. report, we can’t go past the pelagics brought to the boat. Big Spaniards, stunning wahoos, and for those who were equipped and put the time in, plenty of monster-sized dogtooth tuna. All of the shoals around the islands such as Hammersley & Courtenay, plus rocks Miller, Nelson, and Roly, then out wide to the gas rigs Wandoo and Stag, including the ship’s anchorage in between, are all holding plenty of Spanish mackerel, with the areas out wider also presenting opportunities for the more prized wahoo. If you are fishing further south, try for Spaniards around Steamboat and Great Sandy Islands or head out to Rosily Island if departing from Onslow. Of course, the Montebello Islands are a haven for pelagics, especially off the west end, where you will find Spaniards, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna between the islands and Tryal Rocks. band, while flutter-style jigs are particularly effective inshore on trevally species, coral trout, and more. Quite a few nice mackerel have been caught on the back side of the reef recently, including a 29kg model caught skipping a gar. In the Gulf, the water has finally cleared up for the spearos, fly fishers, and anglers casting stickbaits in shallow water. Some big golden trevally and solid queenies have been moving through, and anglers have been having a blast. Good lures include the Nomad Mad Scad in the 95 and 115 sizes, and Cocos Keeling from 80-160. There have been good catches of coral trout and blueline emperor in the Gulf, with many caught on vibes such as the Squidtrex and Vertrex. Hitting the shoals like Cooper Shoal, and fishing the drop-offs, can also produce blueline

If you are more serious and want to get into the ultimate of pelagics, the mighty dogtooth tuna, the waters off Karratha are one of the best locations to try. Head out behind Tryal Rocks, Rankin Bank, or Glomar Shoal, where the edges of the steep drop-offs into 150m+, combined with using heavy gear and jigs, you will not take long to find them. Local anglers have been very successful in May, bagging out on big dogtooth with the average size over 1.5m and weighing 80-100kg. They can grow as big as 2.5m in length and 150kg. Dogtooth tuna are a prized catch and they will make any angler find his limits of strength and endurance. Mahimahi are another prized pelagic that can be caught off Karratha at the moment, and they are an amazing table fish. Four FADs (Fish Attracting Device) have now been deployed off Dampier and Point Samson, and it is these FADs that are attracting big numbers of Mahimahi, along with other pelagics, such as mackies and tuna. You can search the Recfishwest website for the exact GPS locations. There are three out behind Enderby and Rosemary islands and one directly out from Point Samson. There are plenty of sailfish turning

Local fisherman Kody Bernard with a couple of 165mm Nickol Bay blue swimmer crabs caught last month. emperor, which are top table fish. Shore-based anglers have been catching squid from Learmonth Jetty, the marina rock wall, and Bundegi boat ramp. Around the west side, some big spangled emperor have been caught in recent weeks, with models up to 80cm. Most have been caught on bait but stickbaits have also been effective, and even poppers, depending on how shallow it is. A few people have targeting the FADs with fly gear, and have been getting good catches of mahimahi. On the Gulf side, a lot of grey nomads have started aiming at yellowfin whiting, bream, and mangrove jack in the canals and the creeks. The most popular approach is using baits of squid or coral prawns, or flicking grub-style plastics. A standout at the moment is the 2.5” Gulp Grub in starry night or pearl white.

Big Chinaman fish teach most anglers who aren’t ready a lesson in fighting. John Palermo got the better of this monster specimen off Onslow recently. up around the ship anchorage behind the islands and east and south from there. The next couple of months is the prime time for sails and the local fishing clubs all hold their annual billfish competitions, so if you are travelling through and can line up your visit with any of the comp dates, they are always welcoming to have new teams enter as well as providing training nights for rigging and setting up your boat. So many options when it comes to pelagics in the Karratha region, and that also includes all of the trevally fishing where we enjoy a great mixed range such as GTs, golden trevally, brassy, bludger, diamond, and gold spot, just to name a few. The archipelago is a great place to start, with the majority being caught there as well as plenty of golden and brassy trevally out wide that are often caught as by-catches when demersal fishing. Trevally can be caught all year round, although the warmer months are generally better. The demersal fishing could not be any better at the moment off Dampier and Point Samson and further out at the Monty’s. Red emperors, rankin cod, coral trout, and bluebone are all being caught regularly in their usual spots of around 40-50m, with the latter two also being caught all around the islands. Sharks continue to be the biggest challenge outside of the few windy days we suffer

Jolina with two beautiful Gulf trout caught on rod and reel.

this time of year, but besides that, your biggest problem is deciding what jig to use or even go bait. They are both working a treat. Shore-based, the action has been red hot in Karratha with mangrove jack, queenfish, coral trout, bluebone, and even

Cobia on fly is a bucket list for any keen fly fisher. John Palermo ticked that off with a solid example that will be long remembered. the odd barra unable to resist a live mullet are being caught. For easy access options, try in the Point Samson marina and along the Dampier foreshore and rock walls, and if you have 4WD access, then head out to any of the creeks or areas, such as 40-mile and Cleaverville campgrounds which are all good options and offer protected and easy fishing options. Jacks have been taking the same baits and plastics, and also 3-5” paddle-tails and jerkshads in Wapet and the Bay of Rest. Plenty of nice longtail tuna have been caught in the Gulf and extending out to the islands, including a 20kg specimen caught by Tackle World team member Josh on a Saltiga Rough Ride stickbait. The tuna have been feeding on small anchovies, so small metal slices have been working well. • For the latest news on what’s biting and where, drop in to Tackle World Exmouth at 3 Maley St, Exmouth or call them on (08) 9949 1315. You can also view the range at www.tackleworldexmouth.com. au, and see the latest catch photos on their Facebook page. This family business stocks a large range of tackle, from light spin to big game. The staff have a wealth of local knowledge and expertise, and are always happy to help. JUNE 2024 99

Freshwater

FMM

Dams are filling and rivers are flowing FRESHWATER

Peter Fragomeni

June is normally the time of the year when dams are filling and rivers start flowing, with rapids forming in all the usual spots. The trout normally move from the pools and take up station at the head of these

the inland waters I have never seen it so dry. Most of our rivers have stopped flowing and the dams are extremely low, which is not good for our trout that thousands of anglers enjoy chasing every year. To say we need rain and, lots of it, is an understatement. The general reports coming through are indicating that most trout anglers are returning home emptyhanded. There are a few locations that are producing a few good trout and its these areas that are susceptible to overfishing. I was very concerned after seeing an angler holding up four nice size trout he posted on social media, he repeated it again only a few days later with three trout he caught from the same location. The trout were caught from a waterway, which is one of the only places that doesn’t have redfin. We need to look after our limited trout fishery in this state because, our only option without trout is redfin. This is the case in some locations this season with trout being absent compared to

Wellington Dam is suffering from low water levels after the above average irrigation draw occurred this last summer. Care is needed if you are launching a trailer boat as the banks can be very muddy. recorded or spotted recently. Redfin catches seem to have slowed down compared to previous months.

Darrell Higginbottom with a small redfin he caught early one morning at Harvey Dam. His ailing health is not stopping him from what he loves to do, he is an inspiration to us all. pools, where the fast flowing water offer a perfect environment with plenty of food and oxygen. The bays of the dams offer plenty of food as the water encroaches the shallower areas and it is these areas the freshwater anglers would target. Unfortunately, this is not the case as of up to the time of writing we have experienced the driest period ever recorded in South West WA. In over four decades that I have been fishing DAM LEVELS South West WA Overall storage in our dams that allow public access and recreational activities are currently 30.8% at the end of April compared to 49.8% as of the same time last year. It’s officially the driest year on record with the South-West region of WA going six months without any decent rain. Glen Mervyn is basically empty with Waroona, Harvey and Wellington dams lower than usual for this time of the year. WAROONA DAM DRAKESBROOK WEIR LOGUE BROOK DAM HARVEY DAM WELLINGTON DAM GLEN MERVYN DAM BIG BROOK DAM 100 JUNE 2024

23% 72% 51% 34% 30% 2% 48%

Winter can be the best time to catch trout in WA. This little brown hit Wendy’s Tassie Devil trolled at a fast speed. other years.

REDFIN The ever-reliable redfin are loving these conditions with a few good ones being taken in a variety of waters throughout the South-West. This is the time when most of the schools are well established in our dams and the river fishing is at its best. AUSSIE NATIVES I was saddened to see a few dams out in the Western wheat-belt totally dry. Some of these held only silver perch that can be replaced as they are readily available here in the West. However, the ones that held other species like cod, yellowbelly and bass will suffer as these species have a translocation ban and can’t be purchased over here. The few locations that haven’t suffered from low water have been turning up some nice cod and the occasional bass. DAMS Waroona Dam Extremely low with no trout being

Drakesbrook Weir The same is to be said at this little dam with trout refusing to put in an appearance. Local Jonah Chiera has been monitoring this water and reports that the water level is also very low. He observed schools of

tiny redfin cruising the edges and only a few pan size ones taking lures. Hopefully, a good stocking will change this situation. Logue Brook Dam The future of this dam as a camping destination could be jeopardised if it’s not better policed. We have a track record of closing areas off here in the west, instead of policing them and curbing the problem before it gets out of hand. It’s normally caused by a few individuals that disregard the simple laws that are in place. I hope this doesn’t occur because it’s the only place where we can camp on the water and flick a line at any time of the day or night. As far as the fishing goes it seems a few anglers are starting to catch a few trout with a bit of perseverance. It’s extremely important that we preserve the trout stocks in this water as it is the only dam that is trout-only water. Harvey Dam Although, the trout fishing has been slow the redfin have made up for the shortfall with good catches of pan size fish in the 25-30cm range being caught by both shore base and

Redfin are loving the low water with plenty being caught in all the major rivers around Pemberton.

Freshwater

FMM boat anglers alike. The ever-reliable soft plastics seems to be working the best, however, a slowly trolled deep diving lure is preferred if you want to cover lots of water. The deep water is producing the bigger redfin although local Darrell Higginbottom is getting his fair share off the shore. As with all our dams a good drenching of rain is needed as levels are extremely low. Wellington Dam A few reports have come through of trout being caught up the back of the dam on a variety of lures however, I can’t confirm this as I haven’t seen any photos. It had a good stocking last year so whether they have survived the very hot summer is yet to be seen. The redfin have been harder to locate as some areas have been void of any great numbers. It’s very hard to be consistent if you are limited to bank fishing as it’s not hard to be in the wrong spot and moving a few hundred metres can make the difference between catching or blanking. Having access to a boat or kayak is a great advantage as you can move around and find where the fish are holding and a good sounder is imperative. A warning that the low water has created muddy banks so be careful if you are launching a trailer boat although, you can normally find a gravel bank that only has a few centimetres of silt over the top. Remember this water is a electric

The extreme heat and lack of rain over summer has caused havoc on dams that were home to East Coast native freshwater species. With translocation laws in place, many of these species can’t be replaced.

chances. Fish heavy and deep when the water is high and fast and adjust your technique with different river conditions. Collie River above Wellington Dam This section has produced some nice redfin over the autumn with some quality specimens being caught. Lures like red spinners and also soft plastics have all been working and it seems like everyone has their favourite patterns. Blackwood River Very low so I would avoid until we get some decent flow. Warren River As with most waters this river has been very quiet in the way of trout captures. This will change with some rain as it will push any fish held up in the pool that have been inaccessible to most anglers. The redfin fishing has been very good and in some situations,

conditions with rainfall being well below average. A few nice trout have been spotted, however they are very wary at the moment. A good rain event should get things going. RIVERS Murray River No trout are showing up in the main river with a few little rainbows still active in a couple of the spring fed feeder streams that flow into the system. Redfin are widespread in the deeper pools with the better areas being well upstream of Dwellingup.

Blair from Blair Hutton Fishing YouTube had a good day chasing trout down the Donnelly River. He also caught some nice black bream while chasing the trout.

A selection of flies that work well in WA dams and rivers. powered vessels dam and any petrol engine must be no bigger than 5 hp. Glen Mervyn Dam I have never seen this dam so low. It is almost empty at only 2.5 %. Surprisingly, a few redfin are coming out as they are concentrated in a tiny part around the wall. Lake Kepwari No reports but I wouldn’t let that deter you as the redfin would be schooling this time of the year. Big Brook Dam This little scenic dam situated in the heart of the state’s best trout fishing is lower than usual for this time of the year. Pemberton hasn’t escaped the extreme weather

As with most deeper pools the humble soft plastic on a small jig-head cast to submerged structure will get some interest from any redfin in the area. Collie River below Wellington Dam Because of the dry conditions and the longer than usual irrigation needs this section had been flowing nicely over the last few months. The fishing has been inconsistent with some anglers having success while others finding it hard to even get a strike. The trick is to keep moving around because the more water you can search the better your

June can be cold at our Inland dams, so a good fire and a nice red keeps the bones warm after a hard day’s fishing.

superb. The long dark pools are home to some of the best redfin in the west. Most of the action has been coming to those that have a kayak or small boat as access to the prime structure is key to success. All the typical redfin lures have been working so don’t be particularly fussy on selection. Lefroy Brook By far the best little stream in the south-west as its fed by water let out of Bigbrook Dam over the summer. The trout have been very wary in the clear shallower area so I would put some leg work in and target the timbered sections. Small flies and lures are required but that will change when we get good rains. Donnelly River Blair Hutton from Blair Hutton Fishing YouTube has been exploring the lower section and has been getting into a few trout with an added bonus of landing some black bream that inhabit this area. The upper reaches are dry so unless you have a boat or kayak then I would try the other rivers. That raps up another report and whilst things are looking bleak so far, things will improve as the Hatchery has lots of yearling trout ready for stocking. Until next time. Stay Connected. JUNE 2024 101

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Tournament Calendar 2024 DATE

Tournament

Location

State

Contact

1-2 Jun

Daiwa BREAM QLD OPEN

Moreton Bay/GC

QLD

abt.org.au

15-16 Jun

Daiwa BREAM Series R7

Blackwood River

abt.org.au

15-16 Jun

Vic Bream Classics R3

Warrnambool

VIC

www.vicbreamclassics.com.au

16 Jun

ECBS Fishing Addiction

Hawkesbury River

NSW

wsbb.com.au

20-21 Jul

Daiwa BREAM Series R8

Richmond River

NSW

abt.org.au

23-24 Jul

Daiwa BREAM Series R9

Tweed River

NSW

abt.org.au

17-18 Aug

Vic Bream Classics R4

Mallacoota

VIC

www.vicbreamclassics.com.au

26-27 Aug

13Fishing BASS Pro R5

Somerset Dam

QLD

abt.org.au

29-30 Aug

13Fishing BASS Pro R6

Wivenhoe Dam

QLD

abt.org.au

13-14 Sep

Zerek BARRA Series R1

Monduran Dam

QLD

abt.org.au

15 Sep

ECBS Round 5

Botany Bay

NSW

wsbb.com.au

16-18 Sep

Zerek BARRA AUS OPEN

Lake Awoonga

QLD

abt.org.au

28-29 Sep

13Fishing BASS Pro AUS OPEN Glenbawn Dam

VIC

abt.org.au

1-3 Oct

13Fishing BASS Pro GF

Lake St Clair

NSW

abt.org.au

12-13 Oct

Vic Bream Classics R5

Marlo

VIC

www.vicbreamclassics.com.au

13-14 Oct

Zerek BARRA Series R2

Lake Tinaroo

QLD

abt.org.au

15 Oct

Zerek BARRA Series R3

Lake Tinaroo

QLD

abt.org.au

20 Oct

ECBS Grand Final

Sydney Harbour

NSW

Sydney Harbour

11 Nov

Zerek BARRA Series R4

Teemburra Dam

QLD

abt.org.au

12Nov

Zerek BARRA Series R5

Teemburra Dam

QLD

abt.org.au

14 Nov

Zerek BARRA Series R6

Peter Faust Dam

QLD

abt.org.au

16-17 Nov

Zerek BARRA Series R7

Peter Faust Dam

QLD

abt.org.au

23-24 Nov

Vic Bream Classics GF

Nelson

VIC

www.vicbreamclassics.com.au

29 Nov-1 Dec

Daiwa BREAM Series GF

Lake Macquarie

NSW

abt.org.au

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Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au Just supply a date, venue, tournament name, telephone number and contact name. JUNE 2024 103

BASS SERIES presented by

Heath masters Reef to win Clarence BASS Pro Southgate local Taigan Heath showed that you don’t need a big, fancy boat to win an ABT BASS Pro Qualifier when he set up shop at Maclean reef to win the Maui Jim round of the 13 Fishing BASS Pro series on the Clarence River. Fishing in his modest 4.5m aluminium centre console powered by a 70hp outboard, Heath made his way down 38km of river each day to a single rockpile on the seaward side of the structure and peppered it with a variety of presentations to keep a steady stream of bass coming into the boat. With the event run on the ABT app, these fish are released back into the water at point of capture, allowing spectators to keep a close eye on the live scoreboards.

Taigan Heath shared his Clarence River win with the family - the kids were quick to make their claim on the big cheque! Scan the QR code to watch the Boater Winners Interview

Patience on the Maclean Reef paid off for Taigan Heath working a variety of baits to land his limits each session. Lengths are converted into weights by a lengthweight curve. Heath narrowly outdistanced a fast-finishing

Aaron Swanson to take the $3,500 payout and an instant qualification in the BASS Grand Final to be held on Lake St Clair later in the year.

BOATER RESULTS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 104 JUNE 2024

Angler Taigan Heath Aaron Swanson Robert Blackeby Cameron Hall Tom Deer Tom Slater Braden Schuch Mitchell Cone Troy Lowe Tim Jones

Fish 10/10 10/10 10/10 8/10 8/10 10/10 10/10 8/10 10/10 6/10

The winner of that event takes home a $50,000+ Alloycraft/ Mercury boat package. Here’s how he did it. Day 1: 5/5, 4.203kg Day 2: 5/5, 3.876kg Total: 10/10, 8.079kg “I had the good oil from one of my mates that the bass were holding on the reef at Maclean after the recent influx of fresh water,” Taigan explained. It was the opposite plan to the previous iteration of the event, where Heath travelled as far as he could up the Orara River to land his limits. Spot Locking on a single rock, Heath made repeated casts with a variety of plastics, blades and crankbaits to get bites, but his main weapon was a Daiwa BaitJunkie Minnow fished on a TT Rev Head, 6lb Sunline braid and

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 8.079kg 7.906kg 6.881kg 6.806kg 6.618kg 6.274kg 5.885kg 5.75kg 5.693kg 5.429kg

Payout $3,500 $1,700 + $250 Merc bonus $1,250 $1,000 + $125 Merc bonus $900 $800 + $75 Merc bonus $700 $600

6lb Sunline FC leader on a custom made Gen Tek rod. “I tried to throw everything in that chartreuse colour in the dirty water and it seemed to work,” Heath continued. “Both of my non-boaters caught fish there, too and it was pretty continuous action until the tide slowed down,” he concluded. SWANSON PLUNDERS DRAIN FOR SECOND Evans Head’s Aaron Swanson missed the top spot by less than 200 grams and caught the majority of his fish from a single drain on his bream fishing gear. “I had the outfit left over in the boat from the last time I was bream fishing - it is a Samurai Infinite 2-6lb 6’9” with a Daiwa Luvias DA and straight through 3lb Sunline FC,” Aaron explained. Scan the QR code to watch the Field Highlights

“I did catch a couple of fish early upstream of Grafton, but after that, every single bass I caught came from that drain,” he continued. The drain was near Ulmarra and he certainly didn’t have it to himself. “I noticed that the bass were feeding on small gudgeons and the 2” Z Man bloodworm coloured grub I had on was a pretty close imitation of what they were

BASS SERIES presented by eating,” he said. Swanson would fish the drain, catch a fish, and then rest the area for around 40 minutes before he’d return to

fish he needed to take the title. “If I was going to lose to anyone, Taigan’s the one, he’s a deserving winner,” he concluded.

One, a bigger bag on Day 2 ensured his victory by 375g over Bobby Hart. Day 1: 3/3, 1.747kg Day 2: 3/3, 2.119kg Total: 6/6, 3.866kg He fished with Tim Price on Day 1 and Tom Slater on Day 2 - both days up the Coldstream River. “The water was cleaner the further we went up

a #2 TT beetle spin blade) that he’d custom painted orange and loaded with a 3” prototype Crush City paddle tailed grub. He cast it on a 13 Fishing Omen 6’6” L that he usually uses for bream, paired with a Daiwa 2500 TD Black, Sufix 0.4 Egi braid and a Sufix 12lb fluorocarbon leader. Harry would slow roll the

Aaron Swanson concentrated his efforts on a drain near Ulmarra to secure the second place finish. bag another single fish. This plan yielded 6 bass on Day 1 and 7 bass on Day 2. “I really think that my bait choice made the difference,” Swanson continued. Aaron saw on the scoreboard that he was one upgrade away from victory, but he just couldn’t find that bigger

SCHOFIELD BEST FROM THE BACK Brisbane’s Harr y Schofield won his first BASS Pro event he fished as a non-boater. He was also the only non-boater to assemble a full bag of 6/6 over the two days of competition. Sitting in second place after Day

Harry Schofield kicked off his BASS career with a Non Boater win!

BIG BASS PRIZE

Crushed it! Crush City plastics were Harry’s go-to bait on the Clarence. Brisbanite Brad Wickson landed the Maui Jim Big Bass of the event. It went 44.5cm (1.715kg) and ate a D-Style Crawl Up crankbait (distributed by JML Trading) while spot locked on the reef at Maclean. He pocketed $500 and a brand new pair of Maui Jim sunglasses for his efforts.

NON- BOATER RESULTS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Angler Harry Schofield Bobby Hart Benjamin Crispin Corey Goldie Brent Garde Jill Wales Karen Van Bael Simon McAlpin Jake Hardie Damien Winters

Fish 6/6 5/6 4/6 3/6 3/6 4/6 3/6 2/6 3/6 2/10

Weight(kg) 3.866kg 3.491kg 3.374kg 3.073kg 2.698kg 2.267kg 1.904kg 1.745kg 1.410kg 1.302kg

the Coldstream - like it hadn’t been raining at all,” Harry said. He mainly cast a beetle spin (1/4oz TT jighead with

Full results at abt.org.au

Payout Rapala pack + $250 Rapala bonus Bassman pack Duo pack Keitech pack Tackle Tactics pack Ecogear pack Samaki pack Keitech pack Atomic pack

Scan the QR code to watch the Non-Boater Winners Interview

bait as soon as it hit the water and most fish came early in the retrieve,” he said. Working for Rapala, Harry opted to donate his prizes for the win to fellow non-boaters. “I distributed it to all of the nonnies I could find wearing a Rapala jersey. Thank you for supporting the brand,” Schofield said. He also said, “ I crushed it.” JUNE 2024 105

BASS SERIES presented by

Johnson dominates Richmond River drain-fest Chinchilla’s Mick Johnson had a day to remember on the first day of the Atomic round of the 13 Fishing BASS Pro Series on the Richmond River. He threw topwater frogs in a series of drains running into the river proper to put together a seemingly insurmountable 8.37kg of Australian bass. Come Day 2 and suddenly the impossible seemed possible. With Cameron Hall and Dylan Walsh quickly assembling quality limits and Johnson stuck on a single fish for what seemed like hours, the live scoreboard told a story. That story was ‘catch your limit or lose this event.’ With a couple of hours to go, Johnson downsized his soft plastic offering to a diminutive Rapala Crush City Suspect and the fish started to flow. By the end of the session, he’d won by over 2kg and pocketed $4,250 for his efforts, which consisted on a $3,000 winner’s payout and a bonus $1,000 from Atomic for running an Atomic sticker on his boat as well as the $250 bonus for the highest placed Mercury owner.

Mick Johnson has racked up his second win for the 2024 13Fishing BASS Pro Series, putting himself in serious contention for Angler of the Year. Day 1: 5/5, 8.370kg Day 2: 5/5, 4.149kg Total: 10/10, 12.519kg “I admit that I did start

to look at the scoreboards when I only had a couple of fish at 10:30 and I started to panic a little,” Mick said,

After the drains suffered from a heap of pressure, Mick downsized to a Rapala Crush City Suspect in Motor Oil colour that

Scan the QR code to watch the Boater Winners Interview

Dylan’s second place finish on the Richmond has secured him a spot in this year’s BASS Pro Grand Final.

Downsizing his plastics was key to Mick getting the right bites on pressured drains on the Richmond.

BOATER RESULTS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 106 JUNE 2024

Angler Mick Johnson Dylan Walsh Cameron Hall Glen Bailey Aaron Swanson Mitchell Cone Joey Urquhart Keeghan Painter Mick Horn Tom Slater

Fish 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10

“you can’t back off in these events because someone will always catch them.” Mick caught 10-12 bass on Day one, and they were the right ones, with several fish in the high-40cm class. On Day One, his main bait was a Daiwa Kikker Curly frog that he fished in a rotation of drains from ‘Lismore to Woodburn’.

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 12.519kg 10.270kg 9.731kg 8.790kg 8.392kg 8.326kg 7.687kg 7.674kg 7.654kg 7.598kg

Payout $3,000/$1,000 Atomic/$250 Merc $1,500 + $125 Merc bonus $1,000/ $500 Big bass/ $75 Merc $900 $800 $700 $600

he fished on a 2/0 worm hook. “The heavy hook allows the bait to sink a little, so I could use it as a topwater or subsurface presentation,” he said. Mick delivered the bait on a 13 Fishing Omen ML 6’8” coupled with a Shimano Vanford spin reel loaded with 17lb Sufix Egi braid and 15lb Sufix leader. “That rig has the tip to cast the smaller baits but the strength to haul them out of there. Every bass came over logs and sticks. Some came over 10 sticks on the way in,” he continued. With his instant qualification into the BASS Pro Grand Final already redeemed after his win at Lake Glenmaggie in February, Second placed

BASS SERIES presented by Dylan Walsh got the Golden Ticket to St Clair. WALSH A SOLID SECOND Lismore’s Dylan Walsh made the most of his first BASS Pro entry for 2024 to take home $1,625 for second place and an auto-invite into this year’s Grand Final, due to the fact that Mick Johnson has already qualified for the year. “This year I learned from my mistakes at previous events and concentrated on fishing like I usually do and not trying to change and fish like someone else,” he said. The tactic yielded his two consistent bags and a healthy payout. He led the event for a while on Day 2. Day 1: 5/5, 4.886kg Day 2: 5/5, 5.384kg Total: 10/10, 10.270kg In the mornings, he would fish in the snags at the mouth of Swan Bay with several other boats and bag a quick limit until the bite slowed down. After that he’d fish the current-washed banks of the main river with Scan the QR code to watch the Field Highlights

BIG BASS PRIZE

Coffs Harbour basser Cameron Hall won the $500 and pair of Maui Jim sunglasses with a 49.5cm (2.422kg) giant that obliterated a black Daiwa Kikker Curly Frog upstream of the start line. It anchored a big bag for Hall and moved him into the lead at one point of the morning on Day 2.

a beetle-spin to add to his limit, following the flow to keep the bass biting. Dylan used a Daiwa Zillion reel spooled with Atomic Linez 16lb braid and 10lb Sunline FC Rock leader with a Bassman #2 beetle spin (gold blade) matched with a 1/4oz Bassman head and a 3” Gold Rush coloured Z Man Diezel Minnow. The rod was a Samaki Zing 2-6lb 6’4”. “I didn’t expect the river

to fish so well during the event - it’d been really tough right up to the prefish ban,” he said, “and it’s been fishing great ever since the tournament.”

he finished dead last. Three days later he was at the other end of the field, picking up a 13 Fishing outfit and great Rapala pack as well as some cash and a fancy trophy for winning the Richmond River event. It shows that you can experience the highs and lows of this sport in a single week. Two consistent bags over two days was enough to beat Grafton local Mat Cameron into second place by nearly 500g. “The first day I drew Glen Bailey and it was in insane morning. We fished a snag around the mouth of Swan Bay and you could hear the bass chopping into bait when we got there. I had six fish in the first 40 minutes and it was some of the best bass fishing I’d ever experienced,” Chris said. The second day Chris fished with another local, Greg Burke, and visited an entirely different part of the river.

By wearing his Rapala Jersey on each day of the tournament, Chris also secured a Rapala Cash Bonus with his win.

Chris Rawlings experienced the lows and highs of tournament fishing during the NSW double-header.

NON- BOATER RESULTS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Angler Chris Rawlings Mat Cameron Kelvin Hatton Jake Hardie Bridgett Currey Ryan Vanderburg Paul Mazaroli Blair Shapland Reece Winters Karen Van Bael

Fish 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 5/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6

Weight(kg) 5.204kg 4.712kg 4.677kg 4.611kg 4.208kg 4.003kg 3.977kg 3.916kg 3.759kg 3.558kg

Walsh also wants to come and fish one or both of the SEQ BASS Pro rounds - depending on how work shapes up. Both rounds are mid-week. LAST TO FIRST PLACE TURNAROUND Chris Rawlings did not have a spectacular Clarence River event. When he added a late penalty to a small bass, Full results at abt.org.au

Payout Rapala pack + $250 Rapala + $500 Atomic Bassman pack Duo pack + $125 Rapala bonus Keitech pack + $75 Rapala bonus Z Man pack Ecogear pack Samaki pack Keitech pack Atomic pack

Scan the QR code to watch the Non-Boater Winners Interview

“We started at the Broadwater mill outlet and I landed a decent bass on a TN60 rigged with a single hook. After missing some topwater fish on some banks we ended up at the Woodburn reef and I landed three more fish on a deep crankbait,” he continued. The bait was a Storm Arashi Rattling Deep 10 crankbait in Tilapia colour (now discontinued) that he fished on a Millerods SwitchFreak UL paired with a Daiwa Tatula 100SH reel loaded with 15lb J-Braid Grand and a 12lb fluorocarbon leader. JUNE 2024 107

BOAT TEST

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MORE ONLINE

Haines Hunter 595 Offshore Yamaha 200hp FMG

Steve Morgan

SPECIFICATIONS Length Overall .......................... 5.95m

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Beam ................................................ 2.40m

Some boat dealers do demo boats well, while others don’t put that much energy into it. Phil and the team at Port Phillip Boating Centre at Point Cook in Melbourne definitely don’t fall into the latter category. We caught up with them earlier in the year to check out their Haines Hunter 595 Offshore demo boat, powered by a Yamaha 200hp 4-stroke outboard and loaded with essential options. “I set up the demonstrator boats as if they were my own,” Phil explained. “This one has all of the kit to go marlin fishing offshore, with tubes and riggers. You just need to put in the snapper racks and she is ready to go and catch a feed in the bay.” The dealership uses these boats for formal demo days, social fishing and trial

Height ................................................. 2.2m Hull weight....................................870kg Fuel .......................................................200L trips with interested customers – exactly how they should be used. Broadly, Haines Hunter hulls are built with enough mass and vee in the hull to offer a smooth ride in most conditions, and Phil has been their advocate for over two decades. The whole time he has been in business, he’s sold the one major boat and outboard brand. This was the case on the test day. It was by no means rough, but rough enough to be a little careful when recording the performance data. The boat landed softly and seems very capable of handling the

upgraded horsepower bolted on the back. And like most planing outboard powered rigs, economy was best in the mid-rev range, with 3500rpm yielding 36km/h at 1.8km/L. Coupled with a 200L tank, this gives a theoretical range of around 350km in ideal conditions. And as is always the case, the economy halves when the throttle is pushed all the way down; 6000rpm gives 74km/h and a thirsty 0.9km/L. The Yamaha F200XSA features integrated electro-hydraulic steering that integrates with Yamaha’s digital helm offerings. It’s a 2.8L inline four-cylinder. The demo boat is rigged with Helm Master and the electric/hydraulic steering, and it was smooth and effortless throughout the steering range. The helm is great, with plenty of room for flush-mounted electronics, and all of them that we’d want in a boat of that size. There’s a footrest, too, which is essential for a boat you’ll be doing some miles in out in the ocean. The cabin is definitely big enough to stretch out and sleep, although there’s no lockable door to secure your gear on longer trips. We loved the underfloor wet storage area, which can act as a kill-box or hold wetsuits and other watersports gear. The cockpit has high gunwales, and the proportion of cockpit space to cabin PERFORMANCE RPM Speed

(km/h)

The demo rig allows interested customers to feel the Haines Hunter ride. 108 JUNE 2024

Economy

(km/L)

600 ............................ 5 ............................3 1000 ...........................7 ........................2.5 2000 ........................12 .........................1.5 3000 .......................26 .........................1.6 3500 .......................36 .........................1.8 4000 .......................47 ......................... 1.7 4500 .......................53 .........................1.5 5000 .......................60 .........................1.3 6000 ....................... 74 ........................0.9

space is pretty standard. The stainless-steel framework has plenty of places to hang on and the mandatory overhead rod storage and lighting. I personally loved the trailer design – maybe because it shares a lot of characteristics with a bass boat trailer. A C-section frame allows you to easily wash all of the salt out and, with carpeted bunks taking most of the hull weight with the assistance of keel-only rollers, you get a rig that’s low maintenance and easy to drive on and off the trailer. Fewer moving parts

Main: Port Phillip Boating Centre are big on their demo boats, and Phil sets them up as if they were his own. This one is good for everything from bay whiting to marlin out wide. Above: For a big glass boat, the economy can be surprisingly good. The 200 Yamaha delivered 1.8km/L at 36km/h. means fewer problems. Boat/motor/trailer packages for the 595 Offshore start at $110,990, although the demo boat had lots of options and at the time of testing, comes in at $168,000. Contact the team at Port Phillip Boating Centre for more information, a quote, or to take a demo ride for yourself.

FMM

Top: The combination of heavy hull and deep vee at the transom translates to a smoother ride in choppy conditions. Above: Here’s some efficient use of space – side pocket mounted rod storage.

BOAT TEST

Phil rates the bunk system with keel-only rollers as the best and lowest maintenance, especially when combined with the galvanised C-section framing on the trailer.

Top: The bowsprit is significant and easily carries the anchor type needed in a boat this size. Above: That’s some pretty fancy pedestal storage.

There are plenty of places to hang on here, and storage for excess rods.

The helm is comfortable, with a footrest and heaps of room for flush mounting a suite of electronics.

Top Left: There’s no problem getting some rest in the cabin, although it doesn’t have lockable doors. Top Right: Yamaha’s electric-over-hydraulic steering is smooth and consistent throughout its range. Bottom Left: The trailer is fitted with electric brakes. They’re not obligatory, but stopping is important if you’re doing the miles on the road. Bottom Right: The spacious underfloor wet tanks can hold fish or wet gear from family activities.

Left: The Yamaha 200hp 4-stroke can be fitted because of a transom upgrade to hold the weight and horsepower. The usual maximum is 175. Top Right: Even though this isn’t a Digital Electric Steering model, it can still run the full Yamaha HelmMaster system. JUNE 2024 109

New South Wales Tide Times

Victorian Tide Times

2021 2024 Times and Heights of High and Low Waters20212021 Local Times andLocal Heights of Time High and Low Waters T 33° 51ʼ SDENISON) LONG 151° SOUTH 14ʼ E WALES Times and Heights of High and Low Waters Time LAT 38° 18ʼ S LONG 144° 37ʼ E POINT LONSDALE – VICTORIA EY (FORT – NEW POINT POINT LONSDALE – VICTORIA Y (FORT DENISON) DENISON) – NEW SOUTHWALES WALES

SYDNEY (FORT DENISON) – NEW SOUTH WALESPOINT LONSDALE – VICTORIA SYDNEY (FORTLONG DENISON) – NEW LAT 33° 51ʼ S 151° 14ʼ E SOUTH WALES LAT 38° 18ʼ S LONG 144° 37ʼ E T DENISON) – NEW SOUTH LONSDALE VICTORIA LATSOUTH 33° 51ʼ S POINT LONG 151° 14ʼ E SYDNEY (FORT DENISON) – WALES NEW WALES POINT–LONSDALE – VICTORIA LAT 33° 51ʼ S

LONG 151° 14ʼ E

2024 2024 2024

LAT 38° 18ʼ S

LONG 144° 37ʼ E

2024

JULY MAY AUGUST JUNE MAY Times and Heights of HighJUNE and Low Waters Time Times and Heights of High and Low Waters and Heights ofSSSHigh and151° Low Local Time JANUARY FEBRUARYTimes andLAT MARCH APRIL Heights ofLocal High and Waters 38° 18ʼ LONG 144° 37ʼ EE Time LAT33° 33° 51ʼ 51ʼ LONG 14ʼ EWaters LAT LAT 38° 38° 18ʼ 18ʼSSTime LONG 144° 37ʼLow LONG 51ʼ LONG 151° 14ʼ E Time m Time m m Time m m JULY Time m Time m TimeLAT m m JUNE JULY MAY AUGUST Time m Time m Time m Time JUNE MAY Time m Time m Time m Time mLocal Time Time m Time m Time m JUNE JULY AUGUST and Heights ofTime and Low Waters Local TimeTime m Times and Heights of High Waters Times Times andJUNE Heights Heights ofmHigh Highm and Low Time Times High Heights ofm Highand andLow Low Local TimeTimeTimeTimes MAY Time m Time m Time of Time mm TimeWaters m Time Local m Time Time m and Heights Time Time m Time m JULYTime Local m and TimeWaters m

0519 0.58 0633 0.53 00061.36 1.68 0145 1.34 0150 1.40 1.26 0554 0.36 0037 1.78 0057 1.60 0557 0452 0623 0.51 0052 1.4816 02081 1.63 1.41 0134 m1.71 0205 16 1.57 0046 0.69 0122 1.60 0034 1 1.26 0113 1.39 0028 1.52 m Time Time Time m0.49 Time Time m0.54 16 1 1 JUNE MAY AUGUSTm 1 0034 Time JUNE AUGUST JULY JUNE JULY JULY MAY MAY AUGUST JUNE AUGUST 1155 m1.39 16 0740 0744 1117 m1.28 1238 1.30 0646 0.43 m 0750 Time 0.51 0807 0.62 JUNE JULY AUGUST Time m Time Time m Time m Time Time m 0735 16 1 1 16 16 1 16 1 16 1 1 16 1148 0.55 1.30 1041 0.38 1158 0.58 0735 1.47 0821 0.65 0637 0.48 0835 0.56 0825 0.55 0923 0.65 0601 0.67 0706 0.68 0642 0.62 16 1 1 1 16 1 16 1 16 16 SU0633 1MO 1225 TU 16 1 1SA0037 16 17251.78 0.65 1345 1.33 1358 1.38 16400.53 0.75 1804 0.76 1303 1.43 1430 1.59 1446 1.43 WE TH FR SU MO 1.68 0150 1.26 00570452 14121904 1.18 0034 1257 1.41 1.79 0006 14301748 1.31 0623 1.22 0.69 1.18 1.42 1.36 1.37 0145 1900 1.50 0.80 0.58 1.58 1.54 0.75 TU1.60 TH 1307 FR FR FR 12381.40 SA 14161.34 TU 1533 0.51 SA MO TU 1245 WE 1245 0207 0557 0046 23141.30 1.71 1910 1848 0.66 MO 2110 0049 0.56 2114 0.76 23590.49 1.8816 1238 1911 0.79 19400.62 0.78 1 1.62 16 1 16 0740 0744 0.54 0646 0.43 0750 0.51 0807 1935 0.78 1932 0.32 2028 0.60 1949 0.71 2042 0.88 0.51 1928 0.56 1835 0.59 2319 0.74 1928 1.54 1935 1.44 1 0938 1 1158 1 1041 1 16 0.55 0735 1.30 0.38 16 0.58 16 0735 1.47 16 0748 16 16 11 WE 110030 16 1345 1.33 1358 16 1.38 FR 1303 1.4311 MO 1430 16 1446 1602331.59 11.43 1TH 1257 161.35 SA 110.43WE 1804 16 11TH 1.27 16 SU 1606080.760.61 0118 16 1015811148 1616 1427 1900 1.50 1245 1748 1.58 1904 1.54 1245 0.75 1.68 1.18 0301 1.25 0.87 0138 1.66 0148 1.47 0100 1.58 0.800225 0255 07000.79 SA MO FR TU 0146 1.50 1848 03070534 1.60 1.63 1.58 0317 1.52 1.41 0108 1.52 0.66 2110 0.56 2114 0.76 1911 1940 0.78 0023 0.74 0135 0.68 0043 0.65 0130 2057 2 17 17 17 2 2 2 17 17 1207 1.25 2 2 0648 2 17 20801 0.730.521717 2 17 22 1300 1.31 2 17 2 17 0858 0.65 0853 0.56 1.42 0.54 08281.38 0.58 0733 0.45 2319 0.74 1928 1.54 1935 1.44 1922 17 17 17 2 2 0739 0.541720724 0955 0.62 0941 0.61 0938 0.65 1021 0.65 0.710835 0733 0.67 17 0301 17TU 0842 2 1121 215310735 2 0849 0.47 0656 1.29 1.40 1.50 17261.68 0.80 1.34SA 1544FR 1542 1.47 1538 1.32 1.64 1447 1.35 14510.42 1359 1.49 TU MO 18251.66 0.74 MO 1350 1.62 TH 1.17 15341.25 1.13 1.17 WE 1636 1.24 1.54 1353 1.58 1.31 1323 1.27SA SU WE1.47 SU TU 1305WE FR1335 SA 1.41 0030 0255 1.18 0138 0148 0100 1231 0.65 0.89 1.52 0.68 0.85 SU WE SA TU TH 1345 0315 0023 0.74 0135 0534 1.38 0043 0.65 1906 0.77 2227 0.72 2230 0133 0.50 0.57 2019 0.82 2045 0.81 1957 0.67 0.68 2021 0.40 2126 0.68 20530.56 0.79 20521256 0.81 0130 2157 0.47 0.85 1336 1948 2007 0.61 191317 0.66 0853 17 0724 2 1836 2 0.54 17 17 0.52 0858 0.65 0835 0.54 0828 0.58 0733 0.45 17 17 17 2 17 2 2 2 17 17 2 17 2 2 1947 1.44 2019 1.40 1959 1.51 2023 1.50 17 17 17 2 2 2 2 17 2 17 17 2 2 2 2 2 17 17 2 0656 1.29 0842 1.32 0848 1.37 1043 1121 0.42 0735 1.40 0849 1.50 1542 1.47 18 1.3518TH 1335 1.34 1451 1.41 SA 1359 1.49 1538 1.64 MO FR 1.29 TU 3 0.890342 0406 181345 3FR 1347 18 3 3 3 0206 3 18 18 3 1447 18 0421 0.85 1.52 0422 0243 1.53 0248 1.42 0415 3 1.58 01563 1.50 WE 03431336 1.56 1.59 00000.77 1.66 1.16 0239 1.56 0245 1.37 0200 1.48 1.22 0.95 01000.82 1.77 0126 1.63 1231 0.65 1542 1836 1.52 1256 0.68 SU SU SA TU TH 1906 2227 0.72 2019 2045 0.81 1957 0.67 2230 0.50 18 18 08470.570.601830815 18 3 18 3 0116 0.75 0230 0.65 0001 0.75 0144 0.59 0230 0.43 1109 0.63 0.750925 0908 0.75 1119 0.62 0836 0.70 1100 0.64 1053 0.59 3 3 18 3 18 3 0809 0.49 18 0702 0.62WE 0742 0953 0.66 0911 0.61 0825 0.47 1001 0.57 0.50 1947 1.443 2019 1.403 2009 1.383 2205 1959 18 1.51 2023 18 1.50 1723 1.32 1.45 1450 1.45 FR 1451 1.48 1.22 1.12 1421 1.18 17051.22 1.13 1.22 1.44 0808 1.26 0628 0958 1.55 TH TH1.37 SA1433 SU 1.46 MO 13031.63 1.24 1349 TH 1637 1.52 1544 1.40 15431.34 1458 1.57 WE 1656 1645 1.36 1.72 14141.56 1.28 1.41SU 1712SA TU TU0858 SU WE 0945 MO 0406 1.16 0422 0239 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2355 1.81 2316 1.67 1603 1.82 1704 1.68 1634 1.71 1704 0524 1.61 1532 1.75 TU FR SA SU WE 0544 0.52 0528 0.38 0527 0.33 0316 0.51 0345 0.25 0417 0.50 0519 0.32 0437 0.40 0254 1.58 0400 1.48 0343 1.49 0426 1.43 0236 1.48 0425 1.56 31 31 2332 1.39 2300 0.67 1.72 1.83 2229 1.99 2154 1.84 2250 1.78 13 28 13 28 13 28 32133 2127 2235 0.70 2212 0.66 2256 0.62 2110 0.76 12 27 12 12 27 27 12 1210 1.45 1133 1.40 1142 1.51 0913 1.41 28 0945 1.50 0445 1015 1.32 1120 1.39 1036 1.35 0856 0.21 1000 0.44 0929 0.40 1016 0.54 0830 0.36 1006 0.47 1102 14 29 291.68 WE 1724 14 29 14 0024 1.65 29 0557 0.57 0616 0.36 0.54 1.76 29 0610 0.58 14 0.41 29 0458 0.56 141532 29 0527 14 290541 140004 14 14 29 14 29 14 14 2915210.320.51 14 2931 29 14 31 FR0519 31 0.64 29 1715 0.59 1.71 0.50 1450 0.62 1540 0.68 1649 0.61 1608 0.59 1603 1.82 1704 1.68 1634 1704 1.61 1.75 1652 SA 1820 WE FR 1737 TH 0.33 0544 0.52 0417 0.50 0437 0.40 0528 0.38 14 29 14 29 14 29 14 29 TU FR SA SU WE MO 0627 0.40 1200TU 1.47 1221 1.54 1139 1.40 0708 0.55 1206 1.26 1116 SU 2.01 1120 1.69 MO 0338 1.55 0315 1.48 0446 1.42 0430 2245 1.49 0.43 0510 2331 1.40 2331 1.64 0.66 2347 1.60 21191.32 1.7928 1120 21541.39 2.08 2213 1.81 2318 1.87 2235 28 WE 13 2127 0.67 2235 0.70 2212 2110 0.76 1.51 1015 1036 1.35 1133 1.40 1238 1.69 1804 1142 0.53 181728 0.47 1210 17241.45 0.60 1.20 2256 1725 0.62 0.76 1759 0.19 1751 0.44 TH TH 1.81 FR SU 13031042 MO SU 13 MO 13 28 13 0942 0.28 0906 0.37 0.52 28 1014 0.46 13 1053 0.62 © Copyright of Australia of Meteorology 1737 0.50 Commonwealth 1820 1540 0.68 MO 1649 0.61 1608 0.59 1715 1855 0.59 0.36 23520.64 1.66 18182019, 0.80 Bureau 2356 1.37 FR SA TU WE 0015 0519 1.28 1.55 0609 0.38 1.40 0500 0.51 0610 0.40 0518 0606 0.45 03551.81 0.52 04431.87 0.28 1.75 1.73 1.61 1.68 1.56 WE 1647 TH 1611 SA 1743 SU 1714 MO 1735 0607 0338 1.55 2331 1.48 0446 1.42 0430 1.49 0510 Datum of 0.41 Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide 2347 1.60 2213 2235 1.81 1.64 30 15 30 15 30 15 29 29 14 292318 14 29 14 4Copyright Commonwealth Australia 2020, Bureau Meteorology 30 150315 15 30 15 30 15 30 15 30 15 15 30 151.37 30 15 0619 0.59 30 1232 1.54 1059 1.30 1213 1.37 1122 1.36 1218 1.40 0.46 0952 1044 of1.43 2209 0.67 2146 0.75 2318 0.70 2257 0.61 2332 0.60 0100 1.65 0006 1.71 0000 1.46 0114 1.64 0043 1.77 0626 0.58 0537 0.59of 30 30 15 30 15 13 28 13 28 13 28 13 0942 0.28 0906 0.37 1053 0.55 1141 1042 0.52 1014 1053 0.62 Times15 are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) 30 or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in 15Moon 15 30 15 301804 1.43 1.63 0.55 1622 0.71 1744 0.67 1656 0.61 0.66 1.68 1524 0.66 0.59 atum of 0.51 Predictions is1614 Lowest Astronomical Tide 0816 0.62 1735 0713 1.56 0.59 0540MO 0.43 0727 0.48 07161.61 0.46TH 12211.28 1.32 1154 1.62 TU SU 1254 SA 1838 FR SA 0015 0500 0610 0.40 0518 0.41 0606 0.45 0609 0.38 1647 1.75 1611 1.73 WE 1730 1759 1743 1714 WE TH TU TH SA SU MO New First Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon 0421 1.50 0355 1.46 0534 1.37 0521 1.47 0558 1.37 1919 0.69 2254 1.78 2319 1.76 2155 22461.37 2.01 1416 1.17 1310 1.24 1206+10:00) 1.93 1330 1.49 1315 1.36 1757 0.66 1821 0.47 29 14 29standard 14 29 MO TU MO TH FR SA TU mes are1.30 in1.78 local time (UTC or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect 0619 0.59 1059 1213 1122 1.36 1218 1.40 1232 1.54 2209 0.67 2146 0.75 2331 0.39 2318 29 0.70 2257 0.61 2332 29 0.60 14 0041 14 1131 0.70 0.86 0.61 1827 0.80 1101 0.54 1845 1939 0.66 0.48 14 1900 SU 0.60 1254 0.36 0943 Last 0.39 1.43 1622 0.71Symbols 0.67 1656 0.61 First 1838Moon 0.55 TU 1744 WE 0.24 TH 1804 SA 1025 oon Phase New Moon Quarter Full Quarter19241120 1.46 0007 1.74 0013 1.50 0542 0.34 0545 0.53 0601 0.42 0435 0.54 0106 1.17 31 1731 1.67 1650 1.69 1819 1.55 1754 1.63 1.51 31 31 31 31 TH FR SU MO TU 1806 0006 31 31 31 1919 0.69 2254 1.78 2319 1.76 0421 1.50 0355 1.46 0620 1.53 0534 1.37 0521 1.47 0558 1.37 31 31 0032 1.64 1.3830 0658 0.47 15 5 1033 1.32 30 1143 1.38 15 0657 0.45 30 2344 0645 0.52 15 14 1146 0033 1.29 12110.69 1.39 30 0703 0.65 2252 2225 0.74 0.56 14 29 14 29 29 14 1025 0.36 0943 0.39 1141 0.65 0658 1120 0.61 1101 0.54 1131 0.70 311304 31 0717 0.62 0619 0.64 WE 1305 1.36 1.56 MO 1346 1.42 1.40 17091.74 0.66 1710 0.73 17491.46 0.64 FR 16000.53 0.71 SU SU 1328 1806 TU SA 0013 1.50 1.69 TH 0041 0545 0007 0601 0.42 1.17 1731 1.67 1650 1.55 0106 TH FR WE 1813 FR 1220 SU 1819 MO TU 0.70 13101754 1.24 1229 1.53 SU WE 1948 0.57 1.51 0622 1839 0.73 15 0507 1859 0.72 1.63 0001 23410.47 1.91 15 1211 2339 1.73 22321.29 1.7530 0658 2030 0.70 1.58 0010 30 30 1.43 0437 1.44 1.46 0.59 0645 0.52 0657 0.45 1146 1.39 0703 0.65 2252 2225 0.74 1836 18382344 0.73 0.56 1853 0.69 0.51 15 30 15 30 15 1107 0.45 1023 0.43 0630 1.32 1151 0.64 0650 1.35 1304 1.40 1328 1.56 1710 0.73 1305 1.36 1749 0.64 1346 1.42 FR SU WE TH MO © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2023, Bureau of Meteorology © © Copyright Copyright Commonwealth Commonwealth of of Australia Australia 2023, Bureau of Meteorology nwealth ofofAustralia 2023, Bureau of Meteorology nwealth Australia 2023, Bureau 0642 0.42 00580.70 1.37 0213 1.58 1.10 Australia 2023, Bureau of Meteorology 1859 0437 0.72 1.44 1948 0001 0.57 0.70 2339 1.73 1839 0.73 2030 1815 1.58 1731 1.64 1200 0010 0.70 0.59 1838 1212 0045 0.79 FR SA MO TU WE 0507 1.43 0018 0.37 0622 1.46 31 31 31 1244 1.34 0723 0.58 0.70 Datum Predictions Lowest Tide Datum Datumofofof0.43 Predictions Predictions Lowest Lowest Astronomical Astronomical Tide1151 sisisLowest LowestAstronomical Astronomical Tide AstronomicalTide Tide © Copyright Commonwealth Australia Bureau ofisisisMeteorology 2336 0.71Astronomical 2305 0.72 1.49 1.35 0800 1.47 15 30 15 30 15 30 15 1107 0.45 of 10232023, 0630 1.32SA 0650 0726 1.51 1842 0753 0.64 1857 1807 0.73 1353 1.41 1448 1.42 MO TU 0058 1.37are 0213 or Times inininlocal time +10:00) daylight savings when in in effect effect Times Times are are local localstandard standard standard time time(UTC (UTC (UTC +10:00) +10:00) or1.10 daylight1.58 savings time time (UTC (UTC +11:00) +11:00) when ndard time +11:00) when inineffect effect (UTC +10:00) +10:00) or (UTC +11:00) when in andard time(UTC +10:00)or ordaylight daylightsavings savingsoftime time (UTC +11:00) when effect 1815 1731 1.64 1200 0.70 1212 0.79 1230 0.75 1304 1838 Datum Predictions is1.58 Lowest Astronomical Tide FR SA MO WE TH SA TU 2001 0.76 2148 0.68 31 31 0723Moon 0.58 0800 0526 0.70 1.42First New Moon Last1.52 Phase Symbols Moon Moon Moon Phase Phase Symbols Symbols Full Full Moon New New Moon Moon FirstQuarter Quarter Last Quarter Quarter slss Full Moon New First Quarter Last Quarter Full Moon NewMoon Moon Last Quarter 2336 0.71 2305 0.72 1857 1.49 1842 1.47 1900 1921 Full Moon Moon FirstTimes Quarter Last Quarter are in local standard (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect 1353 1.41 1448 1.42 31 SAtime TU 1107 0.49 2001 0.76 2148 0.68 Moon First Quarter SU 1815Full1.59 Last Quarter Moonof Phase Symbols 2020,New Moon 0526 of1.42 0110 0.37 © Copyright Commonwealth Australia Bureau Meteorology 2351 0.69 31 31 1107 0.49 0832 1.50 Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide 0519 0554 0.36 1.39 Time Time 1117 mm m 0.65 SU 1640 0304 1.66 1.66 2314 1.88 0304 1.66

ee1155 mm A 1725 2 1.52 2359 2 1.52 0.66 11 0.66 1.30 990700 1.30 1300 0.88 99 0.88 U 1825

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0057 1.60

0452 0006 1.681.41

0557 1.26 1.36 0150

06231.34 1.40 0145

0046 0.69

1947 1.44

1959 1.51

2019 1.40

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1822 0.83

2129 0.81

2015 0.75

2050 0.82

1929 0.84

2234 0.78

2128 0.70

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22 0423 0.71 0.71 22 1100 1.46 1.46 H77 1716 0.59 0.59 2307 77 1.64 1.64

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1923 1.97

1905 1.82

0407 1.65

1955 1.93

0021 0.67

1928 1.90

0540 1.52

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1.39 1903 0.50 2127 0.67 2235 0.70 2110 0.76 1730 0.58 1523 0.58 1627 0.53 1644 0.47 FR MO TU TH 0129 1.56 0112 1.44 0235 1.51 0220 1.49 0304 1.57 0608 0.56 0100 1.31 2332 1.39 2154 1.84 2250 1.78 2300 1.72 0235 0235 1.51 1.51 0304 1.45 1.45 0303 0303 1.57 1.57 0129 0129 1.56 1.56 0112 0112 1.44 1.44 0220 1.49 0608 0.56 0100 1.31 0608 0.56 0100 1.31 0338 1.55 0315 1.48 0446 1.42 0430 1.49 0.40 0731 0.21 0716 0.38 0813 1240 1.43 0.53 0841 0841 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.37 0904 0.48 1014 0848 08480.46 0.40 0.40 0731 0731 0.21 0.21 0656 0716 0716 0.38 0.38 0.28 0841 0813 0.36 0.36 1042 0904 1240 1.43 0656 0.53 0942 0906 0.52 0.48 1240 1.43 0656 0.53 0528 0.38 0527 0.33 0544 0.52 0437 0.40 1601 1.73 1.86 1423 1.76 1529 0.72 1334 1.63 1647 1611 1.73 1.61 1.66 1714 SA SU TU TH 1551 1551 1.74 1.74 WE 1601 1.66 15451.68 1.73 1.73 1444 1444 1.86 1.86 1423 1423 1.76 1.76 1.75 1529 1.76 1.76 1848 0.72 1334 1.63 TH 1.74 SA 1743 SU FR SU MO TU TU1551 TH FR 1545 SA SA1444 SU SUWE WE WE 1848 0.72 1334 1.63 SU MO SU1848 MO 1133 1.40 1142 1.51 1210 1.45 1036 1.35 0.51 2057 2008 1959 0.86 2209 0.67 2115 2146 0.70 0.70 0.55 2115 2115 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.75 2145 0.70 2257 2130 21300.61 0.51 0.51 2057 0.77 0.77 2318 2145 2008 2008 0.76 0.76 0.76 2022 1959 1959 0.86 0.86 2022 0.55 2022 0.55 1715 0.59 FR 1737 0.50 SA 1820 0.64 TU 1608 0.59 WE 2331 1.64 2347 1.60 2235 1.81 0421 1.50 0355 1.46 0534 1.37 0521 1.47 0319 1.48 0308 1.51 0347 1.44 0356 1.60 0214 1.56 0155 1.47 0037 1.28 1.17 0319 0319 1.48 1.48 0347 1.44 0356 1.60 1.60 0214 1.56 0212 0155 0155 1.47 1.47 0308 1.51 0037 1.28 0212 1.17 00370214 1.281.56 0212 1.17 1025 0.36 0943 0.39 1120 0942 0.61 0.55 1101 0.44 0859 0937 0.47 0818 0.23 0754 0.35 0646 0.61 0.63 0923 09230609 0.44 0.44 1.69 0942 0.55 09370.54 0.47 0.47 0818 0818 0.23 0.23 0754 0754 0754 0.35 0.35 0859 0.39 0.39 0754 0.63 0646 0.61 0646 0.61 0754 0.63 0015 0606 0.451.67 0923 0518 0.41 1731 1650 0.38 18191.28 1.55 MO 1754 1.63 TH FR 1.69 SU 1630 1609 1.74 1630 1.71 1529 1.83 1503 1.77 WE TH FR SA SU MO 1329 1.43 1441 1.61 1630 1630 1.69 1.69 1630 1.63 1.63 1623 1623 1.71 1.71 1529 1529 1.83 1.83 1503 1503 1.77 1.77 1609 1.74 1.61 0619 FR 0.59 1218 1.400.69 1232 1122 1.36 WE WE SA SU SU 1.43 MO MO TH MO TU MO TU 1329 1.43 1441 1.61 MO1329 TU1441 2252 2225 1.54 0.74 2344 0.56 2159 0.76 2222 0.42 2142 0.70 2051 0.74 2036 0.83 2159 2159 0.76 0.76 2222 0.66 0.66 2216 2216 0.42 0.42 2051 2051 0.74 0.74 2036 2036 0.83 0.83 2142 0.70 1955 0.75 2147 0.56 2147 0.56 1955 0.75 1254 1.43 1804 0.66 1838 0.55 1656 0.61 SU TH SA WE 1955 0.75 2147 0.56 0507 1.43 0437 1.44 00010.69 0.70 0622 1.46 1919 2319 1.76 0358 0257 1.55 0237 1.48 1.61 0402 0402 1.44 1.44 1.44 0.43 0430 1.42 1151 0358 1.52 1.52 0630 0430 0257 0257 1.55 1.55 0340 0237 0237 1.48 1.48 0.45 0402 0450 04500.64 1.61 1.61 0135 1.18 1.11 0340 1.11 0135 1.18 1107 1023 1.32 1.42 0340 1.11 0135 1.18 0601 0.42 0013 1.501.58 1003 0106 0.52 0945 1017 0903 0.28 0833 0.35 0.56 1815 1731 1.64 12001.17 0.70 0.62 1003 1003 0.52 0.52 1.46 1017 0.62 0945 0.45 0.45 0903 0903 0.28 0.28 0904 0833 0833 0.35 0.35 1025 10251.58 0.56 0.56 0734 0.66 0.68 0904 0.68 0734 0.66 FR SA0041 MO TU 1838 0904 0.68 0734 0.66 0657 0.45 1211 1.39 0645 0.52 0703 0.65 2336 0.71 2305 0.72 1857 1.49 1657 1.77 1.75 1.68 MO TU 1704 1704 1.63 1.63 1.63 FR 1657 1.60 1.60 SU 1648 1.71 1.71 SA 1612 1612 1.77 1.77 1544 1544 1.75 1.75 TH 1700 1.68 1.68 1.45 1553 1.60 1553 1.60 1425 1.45 TH TH1704 SA FR1648 MO MO1612 TU TU1544 SU 1700 TU WE WE TU 1553 1.60 1425 1.45 WE TU1425 1328 1.56 1749 0.64 1304 1.40 1346 1.42 SU TH FR MO 2241 2229 2258 2132 0.74 2114 0.81 0.36 2241 2241 0.75 0.75 0.75 1.42 2258 0.63 0.63 2229 0.63 0.63 2132 2132 0.74 0.74 2304 2114 2114 0.81 0.81 2302 2302 0.36 0.36 2114 0.73 0.53 2304 0.53 2114 0.73 2304 0.53 2114 0.73 0526 1948 0.57 1859 0.72 2030 0.70 1107 0.49 0339 1.51 0318 1.48 0447 1.39 0450 1.51 0514 1.59 0339 0339 1.51 1.51 0318 0318 1.48 1.48 0447 0447 1.39 1.39 0450 1.51 0514 1.41 1.41 0549 0549 1.59 1.59 0249 1.12 0500 1.13 0500 1.13 0249 1.12 0500 1.13 1.37 0249 1.12 0058 0213 1.10 SU 1815 1.59 0946 0.35 0913 0.37 1042 1033 1053 0.66 0946 0946 0.35 0.35 1015 0913 0913 0.37 0.37 1042 1042 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.69 1033 0.54 0.54 1053 0.70 0.70 1111 1111 0.66 0.66 0832 0.70 0.67 1015 0.67 0832 0.70 1015 0.67 0832 0.70 2351 0723 0.58 0800 0.70 1.69 1624 1.72 1725 1.63 TU WE 1653 1653 1.69 1.69 1624 1624 1.72 1.72 1737 1737 1.58 1.58 1.58 SA 1727TU1.67 1.67 1725 1.56 1.56 MO 1739 1.63 1.63 1700 1.63 1529 1.49 1.49 1700 1.63 TU TU1653 WE WE FR FR1737 SA1727 SU MO 1739 TH WE WE TH 1353 1.41 FR 1448 SU 1.42 1700 1.63 1529 1.49 SA TH WE1529 2214 0.74 2153 2322 2316 2331 0.34 2214 2214 0.74 0.74 2153 2153 0.78 0.78 0.78 2322 2322 0.73 0.73 0.73 2316 0.56 0.56 2331 0.60 0.60 2347 2347 0.34 0.34 2231 0.67 2231 0.67 2001 0.76 2148 0.68 2231 0.67 2155 0.79

0402 1.47 0422 1.45 0402 0402 1.47 1.47 0422 0422 1.45 1.45 0003 0003 0.47 0337 1.23 0410 1.12 0.47 0222 0337 0410 1.12 0222 1.28 1.28 0337 1.23 1.23 0410 1.12 0003 0.47 0954 0.41 1028 0.44 0954 0954 0.41 0.41 1028 1028 0.44 0.44 0558 0558 1.19 0924 0.60 0940 0.69 1.19 0837 0924 0940 0.69 0837 0.65 0.65 0924 0.60 0.60 0940 0.69 0558 1.19 1705 1.67 1733 1.61 TH WE 1705 1.67 1733 1.61 1119 0.63 1610 1.68 1631 1.57 1119 0.63 1.57 TH TH 1705 WE WE 1733 FR MO TU TH FR 1522 1.47 1.47 TU 1610 1.68 1.68 TH 1631 1.571.61 1119 0.631.67 MO1522 TU1610 TH1631 FR 2235 0.75 2255 0.76 2235 2235 0.75 2255 0.76 1756 1756 1.67 2308 0.56 2334 0.57 1.67 2153 2308 2334 0.57 2153 0.78 0.78 2308 0.56 0.56 23342255 0.570.76 1756 1.670.75

0455 1.19 0455 0455 1.19 1.19 1025 0.62 1025 1025 0.62 0.62 1711 1.72 WE WE 1711 1.72 1.72 WE1711

0449 1.45 0449 0449 1.45 1.45 0047 0.43 0047 0.43 0047 0.43 1039 0.48 1039 1039 0.48 0.48 0642 1.25 0642 1.25 0642 1.25 1.62 FR 1747 1747 1.62 1.62 1212 0.57 1212 0.57 FR FR1747 SA SA 1212 0.57 SA 2320 0.71 2320 2320 0.71 0.71 1842 1.70 1842 1.70 1842 1.70

0536 0550 0536 0536 1.35 1.35 1.35 0550 1.51 1.51 1119 1123 1119 1119 0.69 0.69 0.69 1123 0.64 0.64 1810 1.53 1807 1.63 SA 1810 1.53 1.53 SU SA SA 1810 SU SU 1807 1.63

2023 1.50

2009 1.38

2124 1.47

2102 1.35

0224 0.42 0.42 0224 0124 0124 0.45 0.45 0959 1.49 1.49 0223 0230 0.43 0959 0905 0905 1.39 1.39 0.55 0958 1.55 0949 1444 0.98 1357 1.00 1.40 FR 1444 0.98 SA FR SA 1357 1.00 1453 0.92 SA 1449 FR 2106 2106 1.38 1.38 2006 1.32 1.01 2006 1.32

0332 0.45 0332 0223 0223 0.46 0.46 0.53 0320 0338 0.45 0.39 1103 1.49 1.49 1103 1015 1015 1.40 1.40 1.46 1050 1103 1.61 1602 0.99 0.99 SA 1602 1508 1508 1.02 1.02 1.02 1600 1608 0.94 SU SA SUSU SA 2216 1.35 1.35 2216 2120 2120 1.30 1.30 1.34 2229 1.46 2203

0422 0445 0.36 0336 0.44 0.48 0443 0.45 0.45 0336 0.44 0443 1147 1205 1.67 1123 1.45 1.52 1206 1.52 1.52 1123 1.45 1206 1709 1720 0.92 MO SU 1628 0.97 0.99 1720 0.95 0.95 SU 1720 0.97 MO MO 1628 SU 2331 1.47 2308 1.35 2325 1.35 1.35 2245 2245 1.32 1.32 2325

0545 0.33 0545 0.44 0.44 0545 1301 1.72 1302 1.55 1.55 1822 0.87 MO 1302

0520 0.43 0450 0450 0.41 0.41 1.59 1240 1221 1221 1.52 1.52 0.93 1807 TU

0030 1.49

0010 1.39

1827 0.87 0.87 TU MO 1827 1740 0.85 0.85 MO TU 1740

0639 0.31 0611 0027 1.37 1.37 0027 0001 0001 1.39 1.39 0.38 1353 1.75 WE 1329 1.65 TU 0638 0638 0.43 0557 0557 0.38 0.38 0.85 1915 0.43 0.81 1856 1349 1.59 1.59 WE TU 1349 WE 1311 1311 1.59 1.59 TU 1922 0.78 0.78 0123 1.50 0105 1922 1840 1840 0.70 0.70 1.44

0729 0.33 0121 1.40 1.40 1440 1.75 WE 0121 2005 0.75 0726 0.44 0.44 0726

0659 0.35 0106 1.50 1.70 1414 0106 1.50 TH 0655 0.37 0.76 06551942 0.37

1427 1.61 TH 1356 1.65 1.65 WE 1427 WE 0213 1.61 1.50 TH 13560157 2007 0.70 1931 0.55 1.49 2007 1931 0.55 0815 0.70 0.36 0745 0.34 1.73 TH 1522 0210 1.43 1.43 0210 2052 0.71

FR 1456 1.73 0203 0203 1.60 1.60 0.67 2027 0807 0.46 0.46 0807 0747 0747 0.39 0.39 1458 1.61 1.61 0259 1.49 FR 0246 TH 1458 1437 1.68 1.68 1.53 TH FR 1437 0859 0.41 0831 2045 0.63 0.63 2045 2020 2020 0.41 0.41 0.35

FR 1600 1.70 2136 0.67 0253 1.46 1.46 0253

SA 1535 1.73 2113 0258 0258 1.67 1.67 0.58

2217 0.64

2159 0.50

0845 0.51 0837 0837 0.43 0.43 1.55 0845 0343 0.51 1.46 0335 1525 1.61 1.61 FR 1525 SA 1515 1515 1.69 1.69 0.40 FR 0939 0.47 SA 0918 2120 0.57 0.57 2107 2107 0.30 0.30 1.71 1633 1.66 SU 1614 SA 2120

0332 1.47 1.47 0332 0350 0350 1.71 1.71 0426 1.43 0425 0920 0.56 0.56 0924 0924 0.49 0.49 1.56 0920 1006 1016 0.54 1553 1.68 0.47 1551 1.59 SA 1551 1.59 SU 1553 1.68 SA SU 1652 1704 1.61 MO SU 2153 2153 0.23 1.68 2153 0.52 0.52 2153 0.23 2245 0.43 2256 0.62

0410 1.48 1.48 0410 0442 0442 1.70 1.70 1.55 0510 1.40 0519 0954 0.61 0.61 0954 1009 1009 0.57 0.57 0.55 1053 0.62 1053 1617 1.57 1.57 1735 1.56MO 1730 SU 1617 1631 1631 1.64 1.64 1.63 MO SU MOTU 2224 0.49 0.49 2332 0.60 2331 2224 2238 2238 0.21 0.21 0.39 0620 0558 1.37 0446 1.48 1.48 0534 1.65 1.53 0446 0534 1.65 1141 1131 0.70 1028 0.67 0.67 1052 0.64 0.65 1028 1052 0.64 1813 1.58 1806 1.51 TU 1645 1.55 1.55 TU MO 1645 TUWE 1710 1710 1.59 1.59 MO 2256 0.47 0.47 2256 2323 2323 0.24 0.24 0010 0.59

0018 0.37

0527 1.48 1.48 0527 0629 0629 1.58 1.58 1.51 0650 1.35 0726 1103 0.74 0.74 1212 0.79 TH 1230 1135 1135 0.72 0.72 0.75 WE 1103 1842 1.47 1900 1715 1.51 1.51 WE TU 1715 1752 1.52 1.52 1.52 TU WE 1752 2328 0.45 0.45 2328 0110 0.37

0832 1.50 0611 1.46 1.46 0008 0008 0.30 0.30 0611 FR 1324 0.84 1140 0.80 0.80 0726 0726 1.50 1.50 1.47 1140 1954 1748 1.46 1.46 TH WE 1748 TH 1220 1220 0.80 0.80 WE 1840 1840 1.44 1.44

0600 0650 1.57 0600 1.40 1.40 0650 1.57 1.57 1130 1158 0.76 1130 0.78 0.78 1158 0.76 0.76 1755 1.52 1820 1.57 MO 1.57 MO 1755 1.52 TU TU 1820 1.57

0057 0.38 0.38 0001 0.45 0.45 0057 0001 0828 1.42 1.42 0701 1.43 1.43 0828 0701 1310 0.87 0.87 1218 0.88 0.88 FR TH 1218 FR 1310 TH 1936 1.36 1.36 1825 1.41 1.41 1936 1825

0.35 0034 0034 0.35 0.35 1.53 0753 0753 1.53 1.53 0.85 1245 0.85 0.85 WE WE 1245 1.51 1907 1907 1.51 1.51

0154 0154 0.46 0.46 0931 0931 1.38 1.38 1414 0.92 0.92 SA SA 1414 2047 2047 1.29 1.29

SU 1815 1.59 FR 1324 0.84 ustralia 2020, Bureau of Meteorology Times Tide arepredictions in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time Australian (UTC +11:00) when in effect 2351 0.69 1954 is1.47 for Port Phillip Heads have been formatted by the National Tidal Centre, Bureau of Meteorology, Copyright reserved. All material supplied in © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2019, Bureau of Meteorology stronomical Tide Moon Phase Full Moon New Moon First Last Quarter good faithSymbols and is believed to be correct. It is supplied on the condition thatQuarter no warranty is given in relation thereto, that no responsibility or liability for errors or omissions (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) whenDatum in effectof Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide is, or will be, accepted and that the recipient will hold MHL and the Australian of Bureau of Meteorology Australia free from all such responsibility or liability and from all loss © Copyright Commonwealth Australia 2019, Bureau of Meteorology Full Moon Times are inLast w Moon First Quarter Quarter local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (U or damage incurred as a consequence of any error or omission. Predictions should not be used for navigational purposes. Use of these tide predictions will be deemed to Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide New Moon First Quarter Moon Phase Symbols include acceptance of the above conditions. Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effec New Moon First Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon

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