Fishing Monthly Magazine | October 2021

FEATURE PACKED SPRING EDITION • CATCHING CRAYFISH Species Spotlight

Robbie Alexander brings us the age-old art of yabbying QLD

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WA

Features

Age-old art of yabbying • Redclaw crayfish equation • Tilapia pest program • Big barra at Callide • How sustainable are flathead stocks?

• Tech Tricks: Simple Snell rig • Match the catch •

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Aussie-made Jigging Lures • Anglapro Escapade 554 Elite with Yamaha 130hp •

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CONTENTS

OUR COVER October 2021, Vol. 2 No.6 VIC

TAS

QUEENSLAND Gold Coast Jumpinpin Southern Bay Brisbane Northern Bay Noosa Bundaberg Mackay Whitsundays Townsville Hinchinbrook Cairns Port Douglas Lucinda Cooktown Freshwater

22 24 26 30 32 34 35 38 40 42 44 44 46 46 47 50

NEW SOUTH WALES Pittwater Sydney North Sydney Rock Sydney South Ballina Coffs Harbour Coffs Coast Hastings Forster Port Stephens Swansea Central Coast Illawarra Batemans Bay Bermagui Tathra New England Rivers Hunter Valley Batlow Albury/Wodonga Lithgow/Oberon Canberra

58 61 60 62 64 68 69 70 71 72 72 73 74 75 76 76 78 78 80 82 81 83

VICTORIA Warrnambool Portland Cobden Geelong Port Phillip West Port Phillip East Gippsland Lakes Lakes Entrance Marlo Mallacoota Robinvale Bendigo Ballarat Wangaratta Shepparton Crater Lakes Eildon Yarrawonga Gippsland Freshwater

88 88 89 90 92 93 94 96 94 96 98 98 101 100 102 104 104 103 102

TASMANIA Hobart

85

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Esperance Augusta

113 114

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OCTOBER 2021

From the Editor’s Desk...

WA

Stephen Booth with a couple of quality red claw crayfish from Somerset Dam in Queensland.

A Peter Jung image.

As I write this, I know that I’m in a fortunate position up in Queensland.

We’re in the middle of running a couple of BREAM and BARRA tournaments in the central coast around Gladstone and Bundaberg.

All of our problems are First-World.

Need to make sure there’s fuel in the boat, rods are rigged. Making fishing plans.

Checking out boats. Checking results.

We’re proud of the data that we collect in the events – the BREAM images (the event is run on the ABT App) go towards assessing waterway health in Gladstone Harbour and the BARRA data gets supplied to Gladstone Area Water Board and the stocking groups to help with their community monitoring.

Come and visit Fishing Monthly Group’s official Facebook page for all your monthly fishing information. Download QR Reader to access.

Bunbury Metro Mandurah Lancelin Geraldton Exmouth Karratha Broome Freshwater

115 116 118 120 121 121 122 123 124

14 32

REGULAR FEATURES

Published by:

Age-old art of yabbying Redclaw crayfish equation Starlo’s back to basics Tilapia pest program Big barra at Callide Sheik of the Creek Kayaking: spring catches How sustainable are flathead stocks?

Tech Tricks: Simple Snell rig Fun page/Sub page Tournament Calendar Tournaments What’s new fishing Testing Booth: Jigging Lures Recfishwest Trades and Services Boat test: Anglapro Escapade Tide page

8 12 14 16 18 29 52 54 56 84 103 106 108 110 112 126 128 130

COMPS AND OFFERS Find the logo

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We know that a lot of Australians don’t have that luxury and are locked down to varying degrees. We hope up here that your return to some sort of normality happens sooner rather than later.

Every week we think that we will be next to be locked down. Luckily we haven’t been. Touch wood.

One thing that I have noticed though, is that as long as we can do some sort of fishing and boating, we can stay mentally sound and soldier on through whatever else we have to do to keep the community safe.

Ultimately, I think we all know that’s our pathway out of COVID. All do our part and what we have to do to get back the way we like to live our lives. I got vaccinated. Didn’t die or have any overwhelming side effects.

Same as all the other vaccinations I’ve had in my life.

Do your bit and help us all get back on the water, sooner.

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The age-old art of yabbying WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

“What the hell is a yabby?” This is a question that I get asked a lot on the yabbying videos on my YouTube channel, usually by people from other countries.

The word yabby comes from the word ‘yabba’, which was the name given to small crustaceans by the Aboriginal people, in particular the Wemba Wemba people who were believed to populate areas of the Murrumbidgee River catchment.

Although the name ‘yabby’ is most commonly used to described the common yabby, scientifically known as Cherax destructor, the name is often given to many other species, from the small sand yabbies on the east coast to very

A feed of freshly cooked yabbies is a feed fit for a king.

It is common to catch yabbies with parasites on them. The best way to get rid of them is to soak the yabby in salty water for a little while, and they will drop off. large marron in Western Australia.

In this article I will be focussing on the common freshwater yabby, otherwise known as the Cherax destructor.

waterway dries up they will often burrow into the mud, digging down deeper and deeper as the drought drags on. They have been found as deep as 5m underground in extreme cases.

These crustaceans do not need to live in

CHERAX DESTRUCTOR The common yabby has now been split into a couple of sub-species, sometimes called swamp yabby, broad clawed yabby

A lovely feed of yabby tails. The juicy white flesh really is a delicacy.

Yabbies live in a range of water conditions, from fast-flowing clear water streams with a lot of oxygen, to filthy farm dams

water to survive. They just need their gills to be damp. During these tough conditions, their breathing will slow right

the water again….and hopefully into my wellplaced net.

CATCHING YABBIES There are a number of ways to catch yabbies.

From nets (which I will go into shortly), to rolling over logs in muddy swamps, and hand lines, commonly called the ‘meat and string’ technique. There are also differing rules from state to state around the types of nets, and ways to catch yabbies, so it pays to always keep up to date with the rules in your state.

Meat makes excellent yabby bait, particularly bloody meat such as lamb’s fry. Fatty meat such as lamb off-cuts is also very good. I often use venison which works well, and occasionally rabbit.

One of my favourite baits is dried dog food.

Goodo’s are excellent bait; a bag of Goodo’s lasts a very long time, is cost effective and the yabbies love it. In nets with bait pouches you can just put the dog food in and zip up the pouch, although in nets without bait pouches you

Yabbies held in a foam container. The water you catch the yabbies in is the best water to store them in.

Yabby meat is a delicacy, and the sweetest meat is found in the claws. Big yabbies with big claws are very sought after.

8

OCTOBER 2021

or spanner yabby. To the untrained eye they are all much the same thing.

They are small to medium freshwater crustaceans that are fun to catch, and much sought after for their amazing white, juicy meat that can only be described as an absolute delicacy.

Spring and summer are the best times to catch yabbies, but it is possible to catch them in winter too. This year (thanks to COVID lockdowns forcing me to think outside the box close to home) I have caught more winter yabbies than ever before. I find in winter that leaving nets in for long periods can result in a few yabbies here and there, as opposed to catching heaps of yabbies in a short timeframe in spring and summer.

A nice pair of winter yabbies caught in Wangaratta during August. with little to no dissolved oxygen in the water. It is in these dirty dams that I tend to catch the most, and the biggest yabbies.

One of the greatest traits of yabbies is their ability to survive through drought conditions, including prolonged droughts. When their

down to a bare minimum as they enter a survival mode. By conserving energy in this way, they can survive lengthy periods without eating.

Once the rain returns and the waterway fills back up, the yabbies will come back out of their holes and move freely around

will need to buy a stocking to put the dog food in.

I have also had great success with tinned tuna.

Just poke a few holes in the tin and tie it in the net and it works a treat.

On one occasion when I forgot my bait, I found a few squeezy sachets of tartare sauce in my car so

squeezed them into the bait pouch and even that worked well. I caught a heap of yabbies on squeezed tartare sauce sachets.

After being encouraged for a long time to try using soap as bait, I gave it a go. It was terrible. I only caught one yabby in the soap net, while catching dozens in the net baited with meat only a few metres away.

The only benefit that I found to using soap as bait was that I ended up with a very clean net!

NETS There are a number

of different types of nets that can be used to catch yabbies, but the rules vary from state to state so I strongly encourage you to check with your state fishing rules to ensure that the nets I mention below are legal.

• Opera house nets.

These are totally illegal here in Victoria. They are prohibited from being used in ANY waters including both private and public waters. They were allowed in private farm dams, but because people just continued to use them in

public waterways where they catch a lot of platypus and water rats, eventually they became outlawed. I suspect other states will eventually ban them if they haven’t already done so.

• Collapsible bait traps.

These are my favourite nets. They fold like an accordion, and fold down to sit flat for storage. When opened they are a square net with a small hole at each end that the yabbies can climb into. The yabbies then become trapped, and it is hard for them to get out. Over time they can

and often do find their way out, but it takes them a long time.

These nets have a bait pouch, making it easy

places with a lot of yabbies I like to give them an hour in the water in between checks. In waterways with fewer yabbies, or in the

they really became popular here in Victoria when opera house nets were banned.

The Victorian Fisheries Authority ran a hugely

The three most commonly used types of yabby nets. Left to right: drop net, collapsible bait trap and open top lift net.

A great catch of yabbies in a collapsible bait trap.

to use any type of bait including dry dog food or a tin of tuna. Collapsible bait traps are best left in for long periods of time, making them ideal for ‘set and forget’ type yabbying. In

cooler months, I usually just put them in and leave them there all night.

• Open top lift nets, usually called pyramid nets. Although these nets have been around for years,

successful program where we could swap our old opera house nets for the new open top lift nets.

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although I don’t think they are as effective as a ‘set and forget’ net as the opera house nets were. On the upside, turtles, platypus and water rats can easily get out of them if they end up in there.

With the open top lift nets, I like to give them anywhere between half an hour to an hour in between checking, depending on the waterway that I am yabbying in. The yabbies seem to be able to enter quite quickly, but can’t easily get out. They can, and will get out but it takes them quite a while to figure out how.

Due to the shallow depth of the nets, any bait that floats can make

Drop nets sit flat when in use, then when checked the sides pull tight, trapping the yabbies in the net.

HOW TO FIND A GOOD YABBYING SPOT Yabbies can be found anywhere there is water in the Murray Darling

water dams. Look for a dam with filthy water with almost zero water clarity.

The next step, which is the most important step, is to go and knock on the land owner’s door and ask permission. Don’t just jump the fence without asking.

That is trespassing and is illegal.

You can also try your local river or creek, or the nearby lake.

One thing that I have found is that in really clear water the yabbies tend to be more active at night time when there are no birds hunting, or down deep where they are out of reach of most birds.

Dirty water tends to yabby best during the day.

That is just a personal observation, and as stated at the start, spring and summer seem to be the best times.

STORAGE Storing yabbies is easy

climb the foam and stick their heads out of the water, but in plastic they can’t, so you need to ensure that the water is only just deep enough to cover their heads so that they can stick their heads out.

My favourite way to store them is in foam containers, but one thing worth mentioning is that they will burrow into the corners and eventually dig through the corners and escape as well as letting the water out. Keep your eye on the corners of the foam container, and once they start digging a small hole, place a marble or something similar in it and that will prevent then tunnelling out.

ONE LAST THING I know I am repeating myself here, but PLEASE make sure you read the rules before you go yabbying. They change all the time, and vary from state to state. What might

An open top lift net. The yabbies climb the sides and then fall into the net, while the large opening ensures that any platypus or water rats that become trapped can get out easily. it easier for the yabbies to escape as the floating bait lifts them up closer to the top.

smaller bait-sized yabbies.

• Drop nets Drop nets are the most exciting yabby nets. They

as easily.

When these nets are checked, the sides come up, trapping the yabbies

Open top lift nets are prohibited in many areas containing Murray crayfish. catchment, from permanent lakes and rivers to small farm dams and even table drains on the side of the road.

I like to drive around and look for farm dams, particularly the ones with really dirty water in them.

Yabbies love these dirty

as they do not require aeration. You can store them in any form of container. A plastic tub, a foam container or even an old bath will do.

The most important thing to remember is that they need to be able to breathe air.

If you’re storing them on a foam container, they can

be allowed now might not be allowed at this time next year, and if a Fisheries officer catches you doing something wrong and you use the excuse “Robbie said we can do it this way”, they won’t buy it, because knowing and following the rules is your responsibility.

A collapsible bait trap folded down for easy storage takes up very little room.

The other downside to the open top lift nets is the square mesh that they are made of. The holes are a lot bigger than they are on the bait traps, making it much harder to trap 10

OCTOBER 2021

are basically the same as a cray pot.

They are designed to sit flat on the bottom so that the yabbies can walk into the net to get the bait, and can walk out equally

in the net, making these ideal for shorter checks.

I usually leave my drop nets in for around 15-30 minutes depending on the waterway in which I am yabbying.

A collapsible bait trap unfolded and ready to use.

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The redclaw crayfish equation BRISBANE

Peter Jung

As someone who enjoyed fishing for blueclaw crayfish or yabbies for the first 25 years of my life (generally with a piece of meat on a string and a butterfly net) I have been fascinated by the northern version, the redclaw, since moving to

South East Queensland.

This fascination has been tempered though, as finding out information about how to catch them (meat and string will not work), is generally vague and a little confusing. I will say here and now that this article will not provide all the answers, but it will give you an insight into what has led to me catching more of these tasty crustaceans.

RULES AND REGULATIONS In Queensland there are strict rules regarding catching redclaw crayfish in their natural range, which is far North Queensland.

However, outside of this natural range, possession limits etc are removed – in fact, you legally cannot return a redclaw to the water outside of its natural range – and only rules

based around the equipment used are in place. Check the rules at www.daf.qld. gov.au or get your hands on a current Queensland Recreational Boating & Fishing Guide.

The basics are: four pots per person, pots must be labelled with your name and address, the float attached to your rope must be solid, at least 15cm in diameter, it must be round and light in colour. This float must also have your name on it. If fishing from the shore your rope must be tied to a solid object.

WHERE YOU WILL FIND THEM?

Most of the impoundments and some waterways from the Queensland border up to the northern extremes hold redclaw crayfish. Outside of the northern natural

Stephen Booth showing that kids of all ages enjoy their redclaw fishing.

Somerset Dam, like many impoundments in Queensland, has plenty of redclaw in it.

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This is what you like to see when you lift your pot after an overnight soak.

range, they have been translocated by humans and are considered an invasive species. This explains the ‘no return to the water’ rules in place below the Normandy River basin in the north of the state.

TIME TO CATCH A FEW Unlike the yabbies I was used to catching in our local dams down south, redclaw do not seem to be very active during the day, and therefore a piece of meat on a string is very unlikely to work. A bait trap or opera house pot is the preferred method, with an overnight soak your best option for success.

BAITS What I have found most interesting when trying to find out about redclaw is what baits to use in your pots. I have been told everything from soap, various fruits (rockmelon was the most

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OCTOBER 2021

There are many bait options when it comes to chasing redclaw, however the author has found dry cat or dog food has resulted in his best captures.

popular) and vegetables to kangaroo tails and chicken necks. All of these have worked, plus fish frames and canned tuna or salmon, but my greatest success has come using dried dog or cat food in a fish-based flavour. Tied to the centre of the trap in a stocking or a container with holes, it has been by far the best bait I have used.

BEST LOCATIONS FOR YOUR POTS Weed and structure seem to be the two constants when I have had

the most success chasing redclaw. An established weed bed in deeper water (10-20ft) is ideal, while having timber or rock nearby can further improve your chances. Edge-based weed with deep water not too far away is another great option. Placing your pots near the edges of the weed, near structure or on a drop-off in the above depth range has proven to be the most productive.

What has surprised me is that large areas with established weed but with

a consistent depth can be very hit or miss (more miss that anything). A depth change nearby in my opinion is very important.

POT SECURITY It is important that you have ropes long enough so that your pot can settle on the bottom flat, and so that most importantly you don’t lose your pot.

I wish I didn’t have to write this, however there seem to be people out there that like to check not only their pots but yours as well. I add some well-

Redclaw aren’t too bad to handle, just watch out for those claws!

Blueclaw (aka yabbies) can also be present. Here a redclaw on the left and a blueclaw on the right.

placed zippy ties to my pot closures to ensure I enjoy the fruits of my labour.

LOOKING AFTER YOUR CATCH One of the reasons redclaw crayfish are a popular target in our freshwater is that they do grow quite large compared to their southern cousins, and the return (fleshwise) is quite large. Even the smaller crayfish have plenty of flesh in the tail section. It pays therefore to look after your catch.

Any esky with ice or iced water to put them in for transport is ideal. The cooler temperature slows

them down and stops them fighting with each other, while also allowing you to get them home alive.

Once at home I like to put them in a tub of fresh water. Once in this fresh water they tend to purge or clean themselves, making the final cooked product even nicer to eat.

COOKING Like all crustaceans, redclaw can be cooked many ways. My favourite is pretty simple. Boil them in heavily salted water, peel and put the meat on some toast with some mayonnaise (maybe a little lemon juice). Heaven!

GIVE IT A TRY The warmer months seem to be the preferred time of the year to give redclawing a go, however they are an all year round option. What I have discovered recently is that they really move about when the impoundment has had inflows, no matter what time of year it is.

Hopefully this has provided a few hints for you to go out and give redclawing a try. Remember to follow the regulations, get the kids involved – that’s kids of all ages – and don’t forget to enjoy where you are and what you’re doing.

OCTOBER 2021

13

Match the catch!

NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

We all know about ‘matching the hatch’, but what about ‘matching the catch’? Believe it or not, choosing a lure that imitates the fish you’re chasing can sometimes be at least as

albeit to imitate very different critters to the mayflies and caddis moths of a trout stream.

So, if tuna, salmon or kingfish are chasing little matchsticksized, silvery baitfish, we know it makes perfect sense to use a lure or fly that looks at least a bit like one of those morsels. Similarly, if flathead and bream are hunting prawns, an offering shaped

swimming depth of a certain prey item. Yet, on some days, following this path can be frustratingly unproductive and success could ultimately mean throwing the rule book out the window and trying something distinctly left-field.

Believe it or not, sometimes you’ll actually do better by imitating the target species itself (at least in terms

Notice the similarity in colouration between this mangrove jack and the old Tilsan lure that brought it undone… this is more than simple coincidence.

‘Matching the catch’ means imitating colours, shapes and actions seen in the target species themselves.

That could mean using a trout-

species actually makes perfect sense on several levels. For starters, many fish are highly cannibalistic and will readily prey on juveniles of their

or dirty water conditions. So, it’s highly likely they will see a lure or fly that looks a little like them, and almost as likely that they may attack it or try

Trout-patterned lures have a long and illustrious history of catching trout. This big rainbow fell for a Rapala that closely imitates one of its smaller brethren. effective as mimicking its common food sources!

The concept of ‘matching the hatch’ is one of lure fishing’s more widely accepted ‘rules’. This commonsense approach of

and coloured like a prawn and worked to imitate one is very likely to get belted.

Matching the hatch means precisely what it says: imitating as closely as possible the size, action, colour and

of colour and shape) rather than what it might be eating. I call this somewhat unorthodox approach ‘matching the catch’ and it has a proven history of success in a broad range of scenarios: salt and fresh.

This bib-less lure provides a reasonable imitation of a small jobfish: common tucker for big, bad dogtooth tuna along the outer reef edges.

Matching known food sources makes a great starting point for the lure selection process, but it’s not the only game in town.

Bass-coloured lures appeal strongly to bass. choosing a lure that looks (at least vaguely) like a prey item the target fish is familiar with owes its origins to fly fishing, especially for trout.

Many of the insects trout hunt begin life as aquatic nymphs, crawling on streambeds. As they mature, these nymphs swim to the surface, crack open their little shells and ‘hatch’ into flying adults. Fly fishers imitate the various stages of these insects with their fur and feather creations.

In other words, they try to ‘match the hatch’.

Lure and fly fishers targeting all manner of species in both fresh and saltwater use exactly the same principle, 14

OCTOBER 2021

patterned minnow to fool a trout, a Murray cod coloured deep diver to catch a big cod, or a rusty red, deep-bodied shad to trick a mangrove jack.

While it might seem counter-intuitive at first glance, this idea of imitating certain aspects of your target

Trout-coloured soft plastics are one of the author’s favourite picks when hunting trout.

A classic example of matching the hatch or food source: in this case, snub-nosed gar in a barra dam.

own species.

Secondly, there are often territorial and aggressive responses to the presence of smaller members of their own kind within their ‘personal space’ or territory. Finally, it’s perfectly reasonable to assume that the eyes of any species are well suited to seeing and recognising its own colours, patterning and body shape, even in low light

to eat it.

Whatever the precise mechanisms at work here, ‘matching the catch’ very often does the trick, and is an excellent alternative strategy to have up your sleeve when lure or fly fishing, especially if the more conventional approach of ‘matching the hatch’ draws a blank. But don’t take my word for it: give it a try!

Tilapia pest program reaches 10 year milestone QLD

Rod Cheetham

2021 marks a significant 10-year milestone for the Tilapia Exclusion Strategy. For 10 years this program has successfully aided in keeping the Murray Darling Basin tilapia free.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) Demonstration Reach Program began the Tilapia Exclusion Strategy in 2011 and continues to fund an education program, which aims to keep the basin free of the pest fish Tilapia or Mozambique Mouth Brooder. So far, despite tilapia infestations in catchments close by, the Basin has remained tilapia

translocate tilapia 3. Monitoring by training the community to identify and report tilapia should an incursion occur.

This has been facilitated through the distribution of tilapia education material and identification resources.

Pre-Covid, tilapia experts made regional visits to high risk areas. High risk areas are usually those with populations of tilapia already in the regional waterways, and geographically close by to the northern reaches of the Murray Darling Basin.

Typically these are in Queensland.

The same experts would visit and present at regional shows, schools, fishing clubs and Landcare groups within the Northern Murray

catchments that is definitely not a welcome addition to the fish community in the basin.

Covid unfortunately has severely reduced face-to-face educational opportunities, and so this year the project is trying a more media focused approach, with more articles such as this one and on line education.

The tilapia has already been implicated in the rapid demise of native fish in many other parts of the world, such as the pacific islands and now even in parts of Australia. There are real fears by Fisheries Authorities that if tilapia become established within the MDB an already stressed native fish and aquatic community will be changed

Nicole Whysall doing her bit by removing a large tilapia from the waterways. Photo courtesy of Jason of Pest Fishing Adventures. free, and this is great news.

If Covid has taught us anything, it’s definitely prevention is a far more desirable outcome than infection. The same applies to the pest fish tilapia.

The program has three parts: 1. To raise awareness through education.

2. Prevention by educating the community not to

darling Basin itself, such is the risk of tilapia becoming established in the Murray Darling Basin.

For many decades now the aquatic ecosystem as well as anglers, stocking groups and clubs within the MDB have been impacted by the pest fish carp. Tilapia is another, possibly more sinister pest fish already established in adjacent

irreparably, particularly the smaller fish species. Tilapia also impact on the water quality, cause blue green algae and eat native fish.

The invasive tilapia or Mozambique Mouth Brooder, (Oreochromis mossambicus) is a native to Africa, and has unfortunately become established and continues to spread in a number

A tilapia with typical red fins suggesting breeding is about to occur. Photo courtesy of Jason of Pest Fishing Adventures.

of Queensland and NSW coastal river systems. It is even present in a catchment in Western Australia.

Invasive pests of all kinds have had huge and often devastating effects on Australia’s unique ecosystems, particularly throughout the Murray Darling Basin (MDB).

This great country has seen the devastating impacts, both economic and environmental of rabbits, feral pigs, feral cats, blackberry, lantana and carp just to name a few.

All pests are not helpful for agricultural production or ecosystem preservation.

The Mozambique Mouth Brooder has a number of enhanced breeding and living strategies to enable reproduction under stressed environmental conditions that may provide a significant survival advantage over Australian native fish. In particular breeding rapidly in drought refuge waterholes when stressed, pushing out native fish. In large numbers they are capable of re-suspending nutrients creating blue green algae blooms which can become toxic to native fish and impact on people’s health.

As the name suggests it is a mouth brooder. The female provides a safe haven for its eggs and young within the mouth, leading to high survival of young.

As stated earlier, this tilapia pest species has already been implicated in the rapid demise of native fish in other parts of the world, such as the Pacific Islands and within Australia.

At this 10-year anniversary, of successfully keeping the basin tilapia free can I encourage you all to spare a thought about the risk tilapia pose to our largest and unique river system that drains around 15% of mainland Australia.

Many of you would have heard of Fisheries Scientist, Dr Stuart Rowland and the huge volume of work he has done for and on behalf of the native fish of the MDB. In retirement Stu is still battling for the native fish within the Murray Darling Basin.

In Stuart’s recently published book, “The Codfather” he suggests in the chapter titled ‘Goodbye Darling’ that the Darling River ecosystem as a whole is already extinct. Stuart suggests that given the existing degradation of the Darling River in particular, and given the present management systems in place, the system is more likely to experience periods of low to no flow.

It is conditions like these that tilapia will most likely thrive in.

If this is so, imagine what an infestation of tilapia would do. Or any

other aquatic pest for that matter. Dr Rowlands book is well worth a read by anyone interested in the history of the unique Murray Darling river system and the iconic native fish such as the Murray cod and golden perch that we have all come to know, respect and even love.

At the very least, we as a community can remain vigilant and alert. Please report any suspected tilapia sightings in the MDB to the relevant authorities.

In NSW, pest fish sightings can be reported on the DPI 24-hour Hotline: 1800 675 888. Or online complete the form or Email: aquatic.biosecurity@dpi. nsw.gov.au.

In Queensland, report suspected infestations to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Biosecurity section on 132523 or get on the DAF website and follow the pest fish prompts.

Those of you who live, fish, travel and camp anywhere within and along the Murray-Darling Basin, watch out for potential infestations. Check on any unusual and dead fish you observe or catch in rivers and waterways. Know what tilapia look like. Many of us in Queensland unfortunately are already familiar with this pest. Even so I have included a few illustrations with this article to make identification a bit easier.

Don’t let our politicians and civic fathers off the hook either. Let them know the community values our unique natural systems.

10 years tilapia free is a great result. Let us all keep tilapia out of the Murray Darling Basin!

If there is anyone out there who would like further information on tilapia or pest fish identification material, you can contact Rod Cheetham on 0427514704.

– Rod Cheetham, Fisheries Aquaculture & Wildlife Developments

Physical differences between tilapia and Australian native fish: the tilapia (right) has a continuous dorsal fin but a typical native fish has a dent or gap in the dorsal fin.

16

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Catch a big barra at Callide QLD

Wayne Kampe

Spring’s sprung! And about time, too, after a serious winter that started around the end of April and just seemed to keep us on

supply water for the nearby Callide power station, which is located some distance from the lake’s northwest corner.

The huge chimney stacks of the power plant are very conspicuous, which means there’s not quite the pristine fishing experience of our

in the adjoining Lake Callide Retreat’s Office shows without doubt there are some mighty large barra in this lake. Fish over the magic metre mark seem to dominate the wall space, and are surpassed only by the grins of the anglers gripping the fish.

FISH THE CLOSE WATER FIRST As is the case with every other barra impoundment, you don’t have to travel to the furthest corner of the dam to look for fish. Although any barra snoozing there as you launch at daylight or late afternoon will gently move away, they usually won’t go far so it’s always worth a good look along the nearby banks before you turn the ignition key. Stealthy assessment of any fishery is, after all, one of the key bonuses of electric motor ownership.

And here’s another clue: one of the main boat ramps at Lake Callide is located at the

Big fat barra, like this fly-caught fish taken by Denise Kampe, are stocked in Lake Callide.

Reckon there might be a barra skulking behind that bit of timber? Well, there was. edge with endless westerly winds and weekends of wild weather. And what better way to welcome the change of season than to make plans to catch a big, strong impoundment barra?

A combination of warming weather and lengthening daylight hours certainly seems to kick start their metabolism into a feeding frame of mind, so dust off the tackle and start thinking barra!

ONE MORE DAM OFF THE LIST! As a freely admitted barramundi addict, I’ve fished a lot of our recognized barra impoundments over the last two decades, with two notable exceptions: Callide and Tinaroo. I live on the south side of Brisbane, which is a 20-hour drive from Tinaroo, but Lake Callide, being only a short distance west of Calliope (near Gladstone) would see far less time behind the wheel – so that’s the dam I chose. The drive to Calliope takes around six hours, and the dam is about an hour’s drive west from there.

A SOMEWHAT FISHING EXPERIENCE This is an interesting impoundment. It’s an old timer, having been built in 1965 to

other barra impoundments!

However, it’s pretty easy to overlook this fact when your boat is approaching some of the lake’s standing timber and your sounder is showing lovely images of fat fish on side scan imaging.

WELL STOCKED IMPOUNDMENT Besides barra, the dam is

OCTOBER 2021

The well-kept Council park is a bonus attraction for those visiting the dam. to the job and selection of a likely area where fish should be passing as they move about are certain stepping stones to barra success.

If, like the Kampe team, you choose to have a crack at the fish with a fly there are ample areas close enough to timber, points, and other features that have that fishy look about them, yet have

Lake Callide, as seen from Lake Callide Retreat. also stocked with sleepy cod, golden perch and saratoga. And while these great natives are certainly possibilities, I really think that the main drawcard will be good old barra. A glance at the imposing images

Comfortable cabins are on hand for those not wanting to camp at Lake Callide Retreat.

18

NO INLAND SEA Lake Callide is by no means a massive impoundment when compared with the likes of Awoonga, Monduran, or Peter Faust dams. Its capacity is much less than any of these which, in theory, should make the fish easier to find and catch. As I found out, they are indeed easier to find,

after the other commencing to shake or move as the fish further entangles itself at the end of a fly line is pretty deflating. From experience, even the 10wt fly outfits we use in impoundments just don’t stop fish the way 50lb braid and 80lb leaders can.

WHERE TO STAY Lake Callide is located around 15km east of the town of Biloela. This town, which is a significant centre for the adjacent mining area, has virtually the lot as far as infrastructure goes.

While accommodation in town is available, including motels and a caravan park, those of us who like to stay close to the fishing action will find Lake Callide Retreat is perfect for those early starts and late nights we barra anglers enjoy.

The Retreat is next to the lake and has a quite large camping area serviced by excellent facilities with both powered and unpowered sites available. There’s also a small store attached to the Office. The Retreat also

but catch? Remember, this is barra we are talking about and these critters have a mind of their own when it comes to bite times and cooperation with anglers!

On the positive side, the impoundment’s level has been reduced for some time, which has allowed excellent weed beds to form, and structure in the form of rocky banks, timbered flats and the like to emerge and become excellent habitat for the barra and other fish to prowl when it’s time to hunt down a feed.

So while there are few lily pads these days, the ample structure, especially the timbered areas in the back of many bays, is where you should concentrate your efforts with a lure, or (as we do) a fly tied on a 4/0 hook.

western end of the waterway (not far from the dam wall), and prominent features include handy bays with small scatterings of standing timber close by along the southern bank. On the first morning we launched at Callide we saw fish on the side scan in the closest bay we sneaked into, and were rewarded with a solid hit on a fly which unfortunately failed to retain a hold on the fish. Now, that’s what I call a welcome to new waters – a hit on virtually the first cast.

AN OVERVIEW Lake Callide has terrific potential in that the fish are certainly present and are quite accessible, and the change of seasons should see barra addicts rewarded with great fishing. Careful assessment of terrain, a very quiet approach

Evening barra habitat at Lake Callide: a lightly timbered point to explore with lure or fly. sufficient clear area nearby for the angler to control a big, strong fish without it powering into timber and causing some teeth gnashing.

Allowing a big barra to head into timber when fly fishing is road to ruin; offering slack line to slow a fish might work with strong braid but seeing one tree

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Southern

OLD

Plenty of optimism for October GOLD COAST

David Green

On the wider grounds the current is unseasonably warm and a surprising number of marlin are being caught from the 36 fathom line east. Graham McCloy fishing from his game boat, Kaboom, recently caught a 740lb blue marlin, an exceptional fish for August.

In October there are often

good schools of yellowfin tuna around the 1000m line, and there is always the chance of a blue or striped marlin from the 100m line and beyond. There may also be a few striped marlin on the 36 and 50 fathom reefs with the odd black marlin turning up as well.

If the water is blue and there are gannets and sauris leaping out of the water, it is definitely worth a troll.

Deep dropping in 250-300m

of water is worth a go this month when the current is slow; there have been excellent catches of bar cod and flame snapper at the time of writing. Hopefully we can stay out of lockdown and enjoy some great fishing this month.

Snapper will still be around in numbers on the 36 fathom line this month, although most fish have spawned by this time and the numbers drop off a bit. After

Sue Sullivan with an excellent example of a big eye trevally.

22

OCTOBER 2021

the closed season was over in mid-August the snapper fishing has been very good.

There should also be good numbers of pearl perch on the 50 fathom line and any isolated pinnacles you find out to 150m will also produce pearl perch.

October is an excellent month to chase kingfish, amberjack and samsonfish on the wider reefs using live baits and jigs. Some of the biggest amberjack of the year turn up in October. The high pinnacles at the northern end of the 50 Fathom Reef can be particularly productive in October, with the odd fish over 30kg turning up. Most of the bigger fish fall to live baits.

In closer to shore, the water is generally cooler.

The 18 and 24 fathom reefs should produce a few snapper, teraglin, tailor and the odd cobia and at night there should still be a few nice mulloway on live baits and pilchards. Anchoring up and berleying is a great method to try, and if you keep a good constant berley trail of tuna, chopped pilchards or any oily fish you will attract fish in from a considerable distance.

Mulloway catches on

The author with a nice flathead. They will be a prime target this month. the offshore grounds have been excellent and these fish should still be around in October. A deep live bait and a second fished mid water and a third rig with a slow sinking pilchard is a reliable

way to cover all available options. Soft plastics can also be extremely useful for both snapper and cobia. I have found 7” Gulp Jerk Shads in white or nuclear chicken To page 23

OLD From page 22

colour to be very reliable when fished on a 5/8-1oz jighead, depending on the water depth.

Spinning with metal lures, soft plastics and stick baits in close to shore can

be a good option this month.

Tailor, mackerel tuna and bonito should be around in reasonable numbers. There will also be the occasional longtail tuna just off the surf line, especially just to the south of the Jumpinpin Bar.

Kord Luckas with a bar cod and flame snapper.

Deep dropping your lures to about 250m has really produced good results this month.

ESTUARIES Flathead are a major target species this month.

Unfortunately, due to Covid, the Flathead Classic will be a virtual tournament this year but the flathead fishing has been very good so far this season. Up on the flats, particularly on high tide early in the morning, there should be quite a few big fish over 70cm long. These are quite susceptible to swim baits, shallow running hardbodies and large long soft plastic stick baits such as Sluggo’s and Silstar Slapsticks. The secret is to use minimal weight and work the lure in a series of long sweeps.

It is important that the lure maintains a horizontal lie.

Another great lure to try is the Storm Jigging Eel fish on a 10/0 worm hook.

Trolling is also very effective in the feeder channels and up on the flats. Lively lures Micro Mullets and Zerek Tango Shads are both very effective troll lures. In deeper water try the smaller Bomber Long A deep diver, Jonesy’s lures or the Tilsan Bass.

These get down to in excess of 4m and it is important to have your lure close to or on the bottom.

Mangrove jack become increasingly active in October as the water warms and there is increased baitfish activity up in the canals. Casting

suspending hardbodied lures such as Lucky Craft Pointers, Tango Shads in the medium size or some of the Atomic range can be very effective, as are 4” paddle tail plastics in white. Surface poppers are another useful lure in the canals, particularly early in the morning. In October both the Nerang and Coomera rivers can fish very well. Quite a few fish around 50cm can turn up this month.

As well as jacks, expect

giant and big eye trevally and a few estuary cod. There is also a chance of catching a barramundi, which seem to becoming more common every season.

Whiting become increasingly active this month and there should be a few mud crabs and sand crabs starting to show up. It is a good month to start throwing a few small poppers and stick baits over the flats. Catching whiting on poppers is a fun way to fish

Southern

between checks of your crab pots. A few fish around 40cm in length turn up early in the season. My favourite surface lure for whiting is the Bassday Sugar Pen. Due to Covid it is hard to predict what our fishing will be like this month. Hopefully the restrictions in NSW will start to ease off and life will hopefully start to return to normal, but I think that is a long way off yet. Please get vaccinated!

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23

Southern

OLD

Warm water species will fire up JUMPINPIN

Bo Sawyer

I hope everyone caught some cracking fish over the last few weeks. With October upon us we will start seeing water

more on the southern end of the Pin where the water is usually a bit cleaner. Time will tell, and if we do get a few big downpours make sure you’ve got the crab pots ready.

Well the start of the big flathead season is here,

of the bigger lizards will be.

Crusoe Island, the bedrooms, Kalinga Bank and the mouth of the Pin are great places that regularly produce good fish.

The Logan River mouth will be a good spot to try as well, I think people often forget about how big they grow in the Logan. Try flicking soft plastics around the 3.5-5” mark and chuck on some scent. If they miss on the first strike the scent will greatly increase the chances of them having another crack. Paddle tails have been working better for

me at the moment as well.

If you’re after a monster on bait, try big gar or 6” mullet and feed your line out every so often if you’re anchored up. Otherwise go for a drift, covering ground will increase your chances.

Still lots of bream getting around. Try Kalinga Bank and the eastern side of Crusoe Island. There’s also been a ton of bait getting around Gold Bank so I would definitely give there a try as well.

There’s been some great catches of tailor with plenty being of legal size. Small

Marty with a couple of nice flatties.

Benno has been doing very well in the northern Jumpinpin areas. temperatures rise and the warm water species fire up a little more.

There’s the potential for a fair bit of rain this spring, I’m hoping it doesn’t dirty the system up too much.

If it does, I’ll be focusing

reports of sizeable flatties have already started popping up. If you are looking at breaking your PB, now is a great time to target these fish. I like fishing closer to the Pin bar in these warmer months as this is where a lot

Jaiden nailed this nice mulloway at Jacobs Well boat ramp.

Halco spinners are your best option and you can get one per cast when you find a fired up school. I was on a good school just recently and I couldn’t get my lure past them without hooking up. If bait is more your style, chuck on the humble pillie, live herring or some white bait.

Whiting have been on the chew and yabbies or worms are the best choice.

I’d recommend buying a yabby pump and doing a little extra work, it’ll save you a lot of money in the long run and it’s great fun for the kids. Just a quick tip when pumping, take note of the amount of pumps it takes to get the most yabbies. No point pumping 4-5 times for a few extra when 2-3 pumps are giving you the best numbers. Try for whiting

in the deeper water during the day and shallow yabby banks at night. The banks between Cabbage Tree Point and the Powerlines, Gold Bank and the northern tip of South Straddie should get you some nice fish.

Try for mulloway along the deep edges of Swan Bay and the mouth of the Pin. Focus your efforts on the drop off ledges. The mouth of the Pin has a ton of current so plan on fishing it on the tide changes. This is when the mulloway will be the most active anyway.

• Good luck this month everybody. Don’t forget to stop into Jacobs Well Bait & Tackle on your way out and see Brett, he’s always got plenty of bait and yabby pumps as well. Stay safe out there.

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Southern

OLD

Flatties at the forefront SOUTHERN BAY

Nick Whyte

Things are warming up, and so is the fishing. With the big flatties in numbers, mangrove jack more active and the summer whiting showing their faces.

October is definitely the best month to catch large flathead. The large fish will be in big numbers towards all the bar entrances and river mouths. Within sight of

the South Passage, Pin Bar or Seaway will see you in with a good chance. Along with large soft plastics and vibration baits, like the Zerek Fish Trap in the deeper water and large hardbodies or swim baits, like the Zerek Affinity up on the flats.

You’re not going to catch heaps of fish using large lures but the size is definitely going to be up there. Look for areas with clean water and lots of bait and the big flatties won’t

be too far away and will see you with the best results.

If you are targeting large flathead remember these fish are a no take species over the 75cm size.

Take care of all fish that are to be released by using a fish friendly net, make sure you have cameras ready to grab that great pic and not keep the fish out of the water too long. Use gloves or boga grips and always support the body weight of the fish.

Mangrove jack will be

A good Jumpinpin fish from Pandanas Island. active enough again to annoy lure fishermen. They can be such a frustrating fish for lure fishers – big hits and big bust offs. Long hours with no action, but that jolting bite and crazy couple of seconds that follow is what keeps us

Summer whiting are in good numbers at the moment.

The best places to look have been the Logan River around Aggester Sands, the mouth of the Pimpama River, Coombabah Creek and up the Nerang River on

Dave Hall with a nice flatty on the Zerek Flat Shad.

TROLLING MOTOR ACCESSOR IES Glen Kampe with a nice Pin flatty on the Tango Shad.

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going back. Best to look for areas with good current flow and keep your lure or bait as close as possible to the structure.

The 3.5-5” Flat Shads from Zerek are a great lure to swim around the floating structure. They come rigged weedless to fish in tight around natural structure, like your rock bars and sunken timber, or jighead rig them to swim down the sides of your pontoons and boat hulls.

Try and work your lures reasonably fast as you are trying to trigger that reaction strike. These fish will hit a reasonably big bait for their size so don’t be scared to run big lures up to 7-8” plastics and swim baits alike.

the inside bends throughout.

Good fresh worms or large stick bait poppers around 70-90mm are the go to target these guys. Look for the shallow banks that have a little bit of run over them and some reasonably clean water and keep the poppers moving fast across the top.

There’s been a few threadies being caught around the port of late. There hasn’t been massive schools but for those doing the hard yards and spending the time to sound out fish there has been a few gold nuggets as reward. The ever-faithful Zerek Fish Trap has been the most consistent for lure fishers but the live baiters have been having good success as well. There’s also the odd mulloway getting around in there at the moment. If you are planning to release these fish please release them as quickly as possible as they tend to suffer from lactic build up after the big fight. They will usually have the strength to get themselves back to depth and not need to be vented for barotrauma if you work fast.

If you have a great capture from the southern bay you would like to share email them through to nick@ techfishing.com.au Till next month. Tech-it-easy!

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Firstly, Stuffer has to but it turned out Boobies go to some function on was now waiting on a keg Thursday morning, so delivery (he also doesn’t while I was planning to even work in a pub) so I was always of the opinion leave Wednesday with could me and Stuffer drop that as I got older I would Doughers could I now wait Doughers at Manboob’s become more organised, until Stuffer finishes his place so Doughers could less inclined to dither function, and go with him? go up with Manboobs while and blither, and more That would mean Pommers me and Stuffer waited at inclined to make good could get across to meet Skippers for Pommers. strong decisions based on Boobies at Skipper’s place Then Skipper found he had available evidence. I was where me Stuffer and to select just three of his certain that my life would Doughers could meet on estimated 920,000 rod and become a streamlined and the way to the rental house reel combos to take which calm Zen-like existence. up the coast. But then meant a delay of 24 hours, FOURSTROKE had to organise or 48 hours if he had to tie Sadly, that40-60HP opinion has Boobies gone the way PERFORMANCE of crocodile something at his work, leaders on. headphones as I discovered so he would be delayed, Pommers, unfortunately this week when attempting so then, would I be able drank the keg instead of to pin five other Dudds to wait for Doughers and putting it in a store room down to a ‘well earned leave earlier while Stuffer for a later function, so break’ as they say on the could wait for Boobies and he had to delay 24 hours.

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29

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Moreton Bay spring mayhem continues BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

With conditions recently starting to warm, we have witnessed a change in the prominence and aggressiveness of many species in the Moreton Bay area.

Mangrove jack, threadfin salmon, school mackerel, flathead, tuskfish, crabs and several others will come to the fore over the coming month.

Continuing to be found in decent numbers will be snapper, sweetlip, mulloway, bream, whiting and many other popular species. Let’s explore some of the October offerings that you may wish to target.

SCHOOL MACKEREL A favoured sport and table fish for many bay anglers are school mackerel.

These are relatively plentiful, aggressive, fight well and great table fare.

They are definitely the most commonly eaten fish for my family as they are not hard to source once you understand their habits. They have similar habits to flathead in many bay areas, especially the banks and channel areas of the central region.

On the lower stages of the tide they roam the major channels, patrolling the edges as the tide makes.

Once the water on the flats is deep enough that they don’t feel conspicuous, they will then go up onto the banks to hunt baitfish, squid and crustaceans. As the tide falls they will again move back into the channels to feed on the food sources forced from the banks with the receding tide. Every area is a little different however, and the size of the tidal movement will additionally affect the timing of their pattern.

Chances are if you catch mackerel in an area one day they will also be there the following day at the same stage of the tide.

Additionally, schoolies will patrol the fringes of the bay islands, artificial reefs, around the beacons and anywhere else baitfish are likely to be. Anglers fishing the banks areas for whiting or the bay islands for snapper are advised to have a pilchard aft to tempt any schoolie that happens by. If the current is strong then you may need a small sinker to keep the pilchard a few metres under the surface, however in slower currents you will need a float to stop it sinking to the bottom. A ganged-hook rig is optimal; I often make mine with a 4/0, 3/0 and 2/0 tapered configuration to suit a mid-sized pilchard.

This presents a thinner 2/0 hook at the rear of the bait, 30

OCTOBER 2021

This solid mulloway fell victim to a Nomad Vertrex Max that Chris hopped adjacent to submerged structure east of the Brisbane River. which is less bulky in the thin section of the pilchard.

Additionally, a thinner hook is more likely to set when the mackerel slashes at the bait. The leading 4/0 hook is pinned centrally down through the top of the head just in front of the eye.

The remaining two hooks are pinned centrally down through the back. Make sure the pilchard is nice and straight and it should just waft in the current instead if spinning. This will definitely catalyse you more bites, as the offering presents more naturally.

Trolling spoons behind paravanes and trolling boards is another popular way to entice school mackerel. This rig can be trolled in the channels and along the edges of the banks where mackerel are likely to be found and is a great way to cover a good degree of water due to commonly trolling at speeds between 5-7kg knots. I prefer to use a 50lb handline for trolling spoons as it is convenient to have permanently rigged and ready for service plus it is nice to feel the strike of the fish. You will need a glove of some sort to prevent line burns, which is also the reason for the thicker mainline. Halco Barra Drones, Halco Kimberley spoons, Smiths Jigs and many others will work a treat. The coming months should see school mackerel numbers and average size on the increase.

THREADFIN SALMON As water temperatures

rise, threadfin salmon numbers will increase in the lower reaches of the Brisbane River. Rainfall promotes this movement as it will push prawns down the system due to lowering salinity. Threadfin will be located in popular areas such as the Swing Zone, ledge in from the sewerage chute, Oil Pipeline drop-off, declines into the main river basin, around the dredge pipes and the dredge holes near the retaining wall at the mouth and adjacent most of the wharves and jetties (adhere to port distance restrictions).

Those with side imaging sounders and good knowledge of their operation will soon be able to locate

any threadies as they show prominently due to their large air bladders. However, getting them to bite can often be difficult, especially when the prawns are prevalent.

Hopping or slow rolling soft vibes is a proven method although a good array of other artificials can be employed, including soft plastics (paddle-tail shads, crustacean profiles and jerk shads), blades, micro jigs, trolled minnow lures and an assortment of flies.

Live baits, such as banana prawns, mullet, herring, gar and pike can be deployed close to the bottom in these areas. These baits can be fished from an anchored or drifting perspective and are a more relaxed approach than lure fishing. Live baits will often produce when the bite on lures is slow, especially when the prawns are running. Threadfin move around quite a bit during the tidal phase therefore chances are heightened of them finding your offering.

MANGROVE JACK Warmer water temperatures and rising barometer readings can really get the jacks fired up.

Already this season there has been some creditable fish taken in the canals, rivers and amongst the estuarine snags. I have heard of quality specimens scored from systems such as the Pine River, Logan River, Raby Bay Canals, Scarborough Boat Harbour, Newport Waterways, Sovereign Waters and the Coomera River. However, there are plenty more areas that will produce the goods.

Lure casting to bankside structure and rock bars is a popular pursuit, however, live baiting around deeper holes and prominent structure such as rock bars, bridge pylons and mangrove snags can also work a treat.

Banana prawns, herring, mullet and pike can all work well when presented in these zones with a minimum of lead. Late afternoon, early morning and night-time sessions will often produce the best action. Rapidly rising barometric pressure will really fire up the jacks and make them super aggressive.

This usually occurs with impending storms however, caution needs to be observed when on the water in these conditions, even in the estuaries.

Estuary cod, trevally, flathead, mulloway and several other desirable species will be encountered whilst t a rg e t i n g mangrove jack.

As temperatures rise over the coming months, jack activity should increase accordingly with the bite getting more aggressive due to their metabolism increasing.

MULLOWAY Whilst mulloway are considered more of a cool weather species, there will still be some cracking fish to be caught over the coming months in the rivers and throughout Moreton Bay. In the lower reaches of the Brisbane River, mulloway will be most likely be caught in the same places and with the same techniques as the threadfin. Further out into the bay around the shipping channel leading into the Brisbane River, the artificial reefs and some areas around Mud and Peel islands, mulloway numbers will be healthy for some time yet.

Some target threadies by firstly locating them with the sounder, whilst others deploy live and dead baits in likely areas and wait. Obviously, snapper will also be caught in good numbers by those targeting mulloway. I tend to try and locate decent bait schools in these areas and

Mark with an early morning 15kg longtail hooked on a sinking plastic while targeting snapper.

then hop or slow roll soft vibes such as the Samaki Thumpertail around these zones. Soft plastic shads, blades and even micro jigs can all be put to good use. Wherever a good concentration of bait is found in the rivers it is highly likely that a mulloway or two might be lurking close by.

Lighted areas at night will attract baitfish and are great areas to target. This can often be done from a land-based perspective.

Submerged ledges and deeper holes are also likely to produce.

If there is one mulloway around, it is likely that there are multiple fish as they commonly school. In some areas such as the Peel Artificial Reef, sharks can be a big problem and will eat any hooked fish. Good numbers of these spectacular fish will be around for some time yet but now is a great time to get amongst them.

LONGTAIL TUNA October can offer some decent longtail tuna fishing for anglers prospecting Moreton Bay. Whilst large surface feeding schools aren’t that common, longtails are still around to be caught.

I have caught quite a few over winter, mostly taken as by-catch whilst targeting snapper. A soft vibe or soft plastic shad has often been eaten as it sinks, with all captures being early morning within 30 minutes of dawn.

Specimens between 103cm and 112cm were eventually captured after a sizeable tussle on a 2500 sized spinning reel.

Many of these captures were around the artificial reefs or Mud Island where baitfish are common.

For those specifically targeting longtails, live baits fished around the major shipping channel beacons, current lines or other areas where baitfish are common, is a good ploy. Yakkas, pike, slimey mackerel, cowanyoung and several other species can be used.

I like to present one live bait mid-water and a second about a quarter of the way down, usually suspended beneath a balloon. Circle hooks are ideal for this type of fishing, especially when used in a snelled rig with the leading hook pinned through the nose and the trailing hook near the tail. (See my Tech Tricks article in this issue on making a snelled hook rig). Fish your reels in free-spool to allow the fish to run with the bait and then simply engage the drag and allow the tension to take up.

This will usually result in the circle hook pinning the fish in the corner of the mouth, which is the best spot.

Occasional surface feeding longtails might be sighted

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and these can be targeted with cast and retrieve offerings such as stickbaits, casting minnows, jigheadrigged jerkshad plastics, baitfish profiled flies, metal slices and pencil poppers.

CRABS Crabbing has been decent over previous weeks with most returning home with a solid feed after setting four pots over a tidal change.

Blue swimmer and sand crabs are most commonly found around the outer fringes of the bay islands, in the major channels between the banks systems, along submerged contours and deeper ledges. Observing the depths at which the commercial sector are currently setting the majority of their pots will give a good indication of the depth at which the crabs are likely to be. However, do not set yours in the same area as the pros. Find a similar location some distance away.

Fish frames, whole mullet and chicken carcasses are some of the more popular baits that get results. Mud crabs will also be available for those setting pots deep in the mangrove systems and upper reaches of the creeks and gutters feeding out of the mangrove expanse.

At this time of the year, those who set their pots in the harder to reach areas

will generally achieve the best rewards. Ensure you are aware of the difference size and bag limits for each crab species and have an accurate measuring device aboard.

There are also regulations in regard to pots and the labelling of them that must be adhered to otherwise you risk a fine.

SQUID Providing we haven’t had any serious rainfall, there should still be squid to be caught throughout Moreton Bay including the foreshores, canals and harbours. Squid like clean water, therefore if murky it is unlikely that you will get results. Better specimens can

Jemma scored a nice tiger squid in the upper Rous Channel on an egi. There should still be a few decent ones around during October.

often be taken later in the season. Arrow squid can be especially prevalent at this time of the year, especially in the major channels such as the Rous and Rainbow.

Sometimes they are hard to tempt on egi and you will need a baited skewer to get results.

Good spots to try for tiger squid include the shallows of the bay islands, the weed beds and discoloured edges of the major channels, the weed beds north of Tangalooma and south of Dunwich and other areas where clean water flows over reef, rock, rubble or weed.

CONCLUSION October is a great month to get out on the water.

Warmer conditions make those early morning sessions a lot more bearable and weather patterns are usually a little more stable. A great array of species will be on offer in the bays and rivers.

Prime targets for the inshore fraternity are flathead, threadfin and mangrove jack whilst many bay anglers will have their sights on school mackerel, snapper, tuskfish and mulloway. Add in succulent seafood including sand, blue swimmer and mud crabs or some tiger and arrow squid and you have the best part of a feast. Get out and explore some of October’s offerings.

Jason Habchi caught this magnificent snapper off the coast of North Stradbroke Island using pilchards.

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31

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Good catches across the board NORTHERN BAY

Tackle World Lawnton

There have been some good catches across the board the past month from the dams to offshore.

Tailor continue to be caught but school sizes are getting smaller as they move

popular choices.

A few mulloway are still being caught off shore and in the estuary systems, but they are definitely slowing down as we come out of winter.

Some big Spanish mackerel have been caught of the northern tip of Moreton Island and into the bay.

You can expect numbers to

warm up it’s a good time to start targeting the ever popular mangrove jack. Although they are a species caught all year round, they become more active in the warmer months.

Jacks can be caught in many places, but they are best targeted tight into mangroves, tree laydowns and unnatural cover like pontoons and jetties.

They are ambush predators and often after a hard strike they will head straight back to the protection cover.

Mangrove jack can be caught on many different baits.

We would recommend live baiting with a poddy mullet or herring, or throwing out a nicely presented unweighted strip bait. When it comes to lures try a larger suspending

THE BAY In the bay this month there should be plenty of options to get offshore and give it a red hot go. You can still expect to catch a few snapper this month by targeting the rubble grounds and wrecks. Floating lining a bait is always popular but it’s also worth throwing a plastic or octo jig type lure down as well to try your luck.

If fishing the wrecks expect a few mulloway as well, which is a welcome by-catch.

Squid numbers have been good with many anglers getting a good feed. Numbers will slow down a little as we come out of winter, but you can still get a feed if you put the time in. As always, find those weed beds and there’s

Good flathead are around. Young Coby caught this nice specimen from the Pine River. species liven up in October so be prepared if you see some bait schools starting to chop up on the surface.

DAMS We are in that transition period with bass. You will find the schooled-up bass will start to disperse more as the water warms up, so it’s worth mixing up your approach when chasing a fish

It’s been a good season for tailor but it will slow down this month. through the estuaries and beaches. Preferred methods for tailor are pilchards on gang hooks or throwing metal slugs to ‘match the hatch’ in size and colour of the bait fish they are chasing.

Plenty of flathead are still being caught throughout the estuaries using plastics and trolling or casting hardbodies.

Diving hardbodies lures such as the Zerek Tango shads and Daiwa Double clutches are

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increase as we get into the warmer months.

The local freshwater dams have been producing well over the cooler months with Bass naturally schooling up as well as a few stragglers throughout the systems. Spoons and Slow fall jigs have been working well on those schooled up fish.

Here’s what to expect in October.

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OCTOBER 2021

or two. Make sure you try targeting the edge bite with spinnerbaits and suspending hardbodies.

A slow to medium retrieve with the spinnerbaits or chatter baits – vary up your retrieve to see what the fish are interested in on the day. Make sure you give some good pauses in between jerking those suspending

Marco Grubb with a lovely bass from North Pine Dam. hardbody slow rolled or twitched through the impact zone or a weedless rigged paddle tail soft plastic thrown deep into the mangroves and slowly retrieved past fish holding structure.

October is a great time to begin targeting those prized XL flatties! The larger fish are going to be found more commonly at the mouths of the systems. Don’t be turned off if you are catching smaller models – they will be hanging around and sitting on some larger females, so it often means you’re in the right spot. When chasing that PB lizard try throwing larger lures around. Large soft plastics and the increasingly popular swimbaits are great options.

Summer whiting will start to show up in the shallow parts of the estuaries. You can’t go wrong with a well present bloodworm on a long shark hook. Also if you want to try catching a whiting on the surface, now is the time to give it a go. Small poppers and pencil style lures using a walk the dog action is the go!

Mud crabs will also become more active as well.

Make sure you have all your pots and floats marked as per DPI regulations.

a good chance you’ll get yourself a feed.

October also means we are going to see pelagic species in bigger numbers come out to play. There has been some cracker Spanish caught off the surface and sub-surface using floating and sinking stick baits by a few of our customers – such a fun way to catch these toothy critters!

You should expect to also see other mackerel and tuna

Hayden Townsend with a decent jack. They will start to get more active in the warmer months. hardbodies as well – you would be surprised how many bass will take these lures after a long pause.

When chasing fish on that edge bite you’re also in with a chance of encountering a saratoga or two as the water warms up, so be prepared and hang on!

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Big spring tides will get the fish firing!

The big tides we have at this time of the year really seem to stir up the reef fish. The reefs off Double Island have been very popular with some great sized fish coming over the side. Snapper numbers have been very good with

the Ribcage jig from Samaki or the Flipper jig from Black Magic at around the 80-100g mark to cope with the run.

Larger craft also made their way to the Hards and the Barwon Banks with some outstanding results; quality snapper, pearl perch, tusk fish and even some yellowtail kingfish were all boated. Live baits and big strip baits fished

are working well with snapper and sweetlip the main target.

Various cod species and tuna also getting caught on a range of baits and soft plastic lures.

Having a good berley trail is all important when fishing the reefs, frozen blocks of tuna oil mixed with berley pellets, sand and minced pilchards makes a great berley. If you can’t be bothered to make your own, Davo’s has its own special recipe in the freezer ready to go.

In the Noosa River, flathead numbers are at their absolute peak at the moment.

There are plenty of fish about with good numbers of fish taken from the same area.

These fish are hungry so close to their annual spawning time.

Please keep this in mind as the big breeders are crucial to keeping up good stocks and a good local population. A great way to target them is with plastics and the colour that is doing most of the damage at the moment is bright pink. The Nemesis Tail from Power Bait has been the number one in the stores with anglers reporting good captures just working these slowly across the bottom

on the run out tide. For the bait anglers small fish baits on small gangs has been working very well.

Whiting numbers are also improving at the very top of the tide and the start of the run out around the dog beach and the frying pan. Live worms, peeled prawn and yabbies have been working very well, prawn coloured surface walkers like the EcoGear PX 55 surface walkers are the perfect lures for whiting as they have great trailing assist hooks that pick up the whiting when they bite short.

The back of the sound and around Munna Bridge has seen mangrove jack being caught on the run out tide. Live baits and fresh mullet strips being a real drawcard. Jacks will really start to come on as the waters warm and they get a little more active.

Trevally and tailor have been worth targeting in Woods Bays on surface lures like Strada Viral, Bassday Sugapen and Gladiator Prawns have all been working well with a good coating of pro cure scent.

In the Maroochy River, Bli Bli Islands has been the

Kane with this perfect breeding flathead at 84cm, the fish was returned after the photo. plenty of anglers bagging out in the first couple of hours.

Other species that have been plentiful are pearl perch, mulloway, red emperor, trout and some big cobia. There has been a far bit of run with the big tides so upsizing your snapper leads is a must. For the anglers that love to work those jigs, the slow fall type have been very effective. Try

hard on the bottom have been the way to go with heavy leaders a must. Soft plastics have also been excellent and are great when there is a lot of smaller pickers as they tend to find the bigger fish, snapper love those with 7” Jerk Shad style plastics with the motor oil, coco ice and nuclear chicken the most popular colours.

Sunshine and Halls reefs

Isaac and Harry with a couple of quality snapper coming from the Barwon Banks.

New staff member Ryder with a very clean tailor from the beaches around Marcoola. hot spot for some quality flathead. Best to fish this area on the runout tide with bright coloured plastics casting upstream and working them back with the tide. For the bait angler’s baby blue pilchards on small ganged hooks have picked up some nice fish.

Tailor and trevally have been in good numbers around the Jet Ski run all the way down to the mouth. Smaller jigs and slugs have been ideal worked at speed or trolled. Remember to upsize that leader for those sharp tailor teeth.

On the beaches the tailor numbers are still not as good as they could be, when you are my vintage you can remember filling the esky in no time from beaches like Kawana and Marcoola. With the reports coming from Fraser it seems the fish are still there but are bypassing us and swimming the coasts of Morton and Stradbroke coming in around Teewah and heading north to Fraser. For those that are looking for a good feed you may have to make the pilgrimage to Frazer or just south of Double Island to find the big schools. There are still

a few schools locally but it is really hit and miss.

The kids have been having a great time fishing the close gutters for dart and whiting, collect some pipis or worms from the beach is the ideal bait. The fish are not far out if you find the right gutter with a fish a cast is not unusual at the right time of the day. It does seem that they are all simular size so if you are looking for bigger fish then a long cast to the back of the gutter should see you rewarded.

The rocks around Pincushion Island, Yaroomba and the Noosa National Park have been very good for some bigger bream, these fish have just finished spawning and will be feeding hard. Small cut baits of mullet, pilchard, or bonito are ideal.

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Central

Catch big fish on frames BUNDABERG

Luke Truant

The fishing over the past month has seen some species wind down while others are ramping up. Catches of tuskies and sweetlip have come right down – we’re getting only 1-2 per trip – but trout and reds have been on the increase. Depths of 32-38m have been producing the most fish.

However, with the weather being so dicey, you should take every chance you can get. We have still caught good fish on the full moon, just not as many.

The time of day doesn’t matter too much; between 11am and 1pm is always going to be tough, but aside from that you can catch them pretty much any time – although you won’t generally catch trout at night. I personally love fishing the moonrise (when it occurs after dark) because you tend to

The author with an 86cm red emperor.

Unfortunately, the sharks have also been around, but we combat this problem by moving often and moving large distances. I move a minimum of at least a mile. That gives you at least a half an hour’s head start on the sharks if they’re not already there.

When it comes to which time of the tide is best… well, that can change. Over the last two years I’ve had a massive preference for the incoming tide, but over the past month I’ve caught hardly any fish on an incoming tide – only fish on the outgoing. I have no theories, only observation!

At the moment I like to fish the first hour and a half of the outgoing tide, or even just as the tide starts slowing.

The day before and for 3-4 days after a full moon will always be the toughest days.

get a better class of fish. And when the moon is nearly full – 4-5 days before the full – it definitely helps. The Spanish mackerel pros are strong believers of that too, so look it up in your plotter or tide times.

We have been catching most of our big fish on livies lately, including an 86cm red I caught on a live yellowtail while I wasn’t paying attention.

I was busy freeing a tangle on another outfit, while the yellowtail was in freespool. I eventually walked over to the livie outfit and put it in gear, and discovered I had a fish on.

When I got it up, I found that the red had absolutely inhaled the yellowtail; the hook was so far down its gullet that I couldn’t even see it. It would have to be the world’s unluckiest red emperor. You can fish your whole life trying to catch a fish

like that, and you screw up and catch one when you’re not even paying attention. That’s fishing!

Dead baits and hussar strip baits, which are traditionally fantastic, haven’t been working very well lately. However, what has been very effective has been a 30cm hussar frame, tail removed, wings removed, and a single hook through the lips.

We have been catching 3-4 fish a day on that, with plenty of big trout and XOS cod up to 10kg+. If you haven’t had a hit in two minutes, pull it up and try something else. Otherwise, as soon as it hits the bottom it will get eaten. It’s an ideal bait if the hussar are thick and eating your live bait before a larger fish can snaffle it.

Wings by themselves are effective too. Insert a hook through the thickest part of the wing, just once. It’s important to remember with bony baits like the hussar heads and wings, make sure the whole hook is protruding so that it can hook the fish. A soft flesh bait is able to fold away on the strike to reveal the hook, but a bony bait is too stiff to do this; the hook needs to be fully exposed.

When you’re hooking a head, start under the bottom lip and bring the hook up through it, and then out through the top lip, so the mouth is shut (if you don’t keep the mouth shut there’s too much drag in the water). Again, ensure you have as much of the hook exposed as possible.

The fishing has been very quiet in the shallows for us lately. There’s been a multitude of small sharks, surprisingly.

Fortunately, sharks that are only 2-3ft long are actually great eating, with a beautiful, delicate flavour – but hardly anybody knows this because they’ve never tried. If you’ve never kept a small shark for the table, you really should. Stand on its back just in front of its dorsal fin, make a slice just

behind its head down through its spine, and the shark will stop moving. This simple cut, which goes through a soft part of the shark, also allows you to bleed the shark, ensuring the best quality flesh. When you fillet the shark, remove the bloodlines as you would with a mackerel, and you’ll have some beautiful tasting fillets.

Just check your bag limits. And preferably wear shoes!

Big Maori cod have been showing up as well. They are particularly susceptible to barotrauma, so if you’re releasing one please vent its swim bladder to give it the best chance of survival. It’s quick and easy, and you can do it with a venting tool or a syringe.

October is one of those dicey months when you have to cross your fingers and hope for good weather! When you do

A mixed bag of red emperor, Spanish mackerel and coral trout. lies flat and wafts in the current.

If you hook it in the middle, the bait will fold in half and not look as enticing.

If you prefer to use gangs, I recommend using swivels between the hooks or learn how to tie a snood and run a stinger rig with two hooks.

This month we can expect more of the same fishing, and hopefully we’ll get a lot of

Cod are one of the best eating fish around. get a good weather window, be sure to take full advantage; it could be a while before another comes along.

This month the live baits are going to start disappearing if they haven’t already, so you’ll have to fish a bit smarter.

Use those hussar frames and long strip baits. Strip baits should include the tail, and it’s important to insert the hook at one end (the thick end), rather than in the middle, so the bait

tuskfish as well. At the time of writing, they’re thick north of 1770, so hopefully they’ll be here soon. They’ll eat anything but they particularly like squid, and local Australian squid out-fishes the imported stuff by a big margin.

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It’s rinse and repeat for October spring catches MACKAY

Keith Day habdays@bigpond.net.au

October will see much the same weather conditions, species and such, as reported in last month’s issue. The main difference will be the weather heating up, but for anglers so will the fishing, particularly for pelagics.

September saw the bait schools move inshore and October should see this continue with plenty of action around the harbour, close islands and along the nearby beaches. The bait schools will have fish ranging from around 30mm up to larger greenback herring around 100mm and at times, unless you are matching the bait size, it can be hard to score fish.

Mack and longtail tuna sometimes become totally fixated on bait size, so it pays to have a range of lures rigged and ready. Curly tail plastics, hard and soft vibes, paddle tails, hardbodies and slugs/shinies will all work and catch fish, but check what size and type of bait is being smashed, then select the right size lure. The fish are not hard to locate as they either feed on the surface or if not, keep a keen eye out for baitfish spraying out of the water in panic. That’s a sure sign of predator activity.

Most times the best way to fish these bait balls is to stand off and cast around the edges of the mayhem, but dropping a larger jig right in the middle and letting it flutter down can sometimes score a bigger fish. Often times there will be various mackerel species,

cobia, trevally and sometimes queenfish hanging under the bait schools. Bait anglers traditionally use pilchard rigs, but live herring caught either with jigs or cast netted in the harbour will also score plenty of fish. I prefer lure or fly fishing as that way I get more actual fishing time by not having to mess about getting live baits.

This type of pelagic action will be ‘on’ from the top of the NFZ, right along the coast down past Sarina Inlet, so there is plenty of spots to try. The easiest and most convenient is to launch a small tinny from the harbour multi lane ramp and then go exploring. While the ramp is great, there is

unfortunately limited parking for cars and trailers and you may have a long walk to get your rig when you have ended your session.

Of the other local ramps, the best is the Victor Creek ramp at Seaforth, which gives access to all the islands, reefs and creeks in the NFZ and there is a heap of parking spaces there as well. If visiting the area talk to the staff at Tackleworld in Mackay for the good info on ramps, species, tackle and tactics.

Reef fishing will be popular during October as the N/NE winds will mean calm seas at least until around lunchtime most days. The islands in the NFZ fish well for

Trout, like this one Tim Swann scored, are regularly caught around the close inshore islands around Mackay. smaller reef fish like trout, cod, grass lippers, golden snapper, stripies, blueys etc. This is shallow water country so a quiet approach is needed and use as little lead as possible to get your baits down to the fish.

Fish baits, pilchards, herring, prawns, yabbies or small crabs will all work, and it

Mackay anglers will be out in force trying to score a salty barra like this 83cm ripper, before the November 1 closed season. pays to work some soft plastics as well while baitfishing.

Make sure you are aware of the green ‘No Fishing’ zones around the islands and carry a chart with you.

Closer to Mackay, there are spots around Slade, Flat Top, Round Top islands and Danger reef that can fish well for these smaller reef fish. The best spots are closely guarded secrets but modern electronics particularly with split screens showing down and side views makes it much easier to find suitable grounds and/or fish.

October also sees anglers putting in plenty of time on saltwater barra leading up to the closure in November.

Barra have been on the chew through September and this should continue right up to the closure. In the Pioneer River, both bridges hold barra, and the rocks around the highway bridge are popular with anglers and barra alike. Around the highway bridge, live baits score well and other species likely to be caught here include jacks, cod, trevally and the odd golden snapper.

Down towards the mouth the V and the run throughs in the trainer walls are worth a shot, and on top of the tide get out on the flats, and any bit of

rubble or isolated rock is well worth checking out for barra.

Night fishing can be really productive in these areas using either live baits or lures like large vibes and swim baits.

The river will continue to fish well for flathead, whiting, bream, grunter, etc and all can be caught on baits lures and flies. Bait can be cast netted near the ramp, and yabbies pumped opposite the boat ramp. Yabbies are probably the preferred bait and will catch all fish mentioned as well as scoring on permit (snub nosed dart) that also move into the mouth of the river and rove over the clean sand flats. Not a fish usually targeted and most are caught by accident when chasing whiting etc.

Barra will be on the move in all our systems, and places like Reliance, Constant and Murray creeks will all get plenty of attention. To the South, Sandy, Alligator, Plane and Rocky Dam creeks are the main ones while Sarina inlet can also fire for barra.

Any of the dozens of smaller creeks will all have some barra at certain stages of the tides, but many of them dry out at low tide, making boat access or even walking a problem.

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The Holy Grail, a permit caught by Nic Goddard on a charter with Inshore Sportfishing Mackay. Permit are quite common around Mackay’s shallow sand flats and respond to fresh baits, lures and flies.

creeks so keep an eye out and stay out of the water.

Run out tide drain fishing is a good way to work the creeks for barra and a personal favourite. Casting lures, flies or walk the dog style surface lures up into the drains and working them out into the main stream flow is good fun.

The dams are fishing well with the warmer weather for both barra and sooties. Kinchant dam has the reputation for huge barra and around full moon sees the car park full of cars and boat trailers. I prefer Teemburra dam as it is usually considerably quieter, and there is plenty of timber areas where I like to ‘mooch’ around on the electric casting hardbodies or surface lures at any likely spot.

Both dams are more or less primarily ‘points’ fisheries with Teemburra having very prominent points, while Kinchant has weed bed ‘points’. Kinchant also has the FADs installed and the co-ordinates are shown on the board at the ramp. Well worth checking out and they are designed and placed in deeper water with lure trolling in mind. Big paddle tails, swim baits, vibes and hardbodies will all score fish as will surface lures around daylight and dusk. Night time surface fishing for barra is great with those explosive takes happening almost boatside.

Awesome fun!

Depending on storms, the freshwater sections of the Pioneer system will see sooties and barra on the bite. Shallow head waters up in Cattle Creek hold plenty of sooties and smaller barra and walking and casting small lures or flies is a great way to spend an hour or two.

October sure can be a hot month in Mackay, but the quality and diversity of fishing means there will be plenty of opportunities for some fun fishing and scoring some top quality eating fish. So why not come to Paradise and experience it for yourself? See you at the ramp.

OLD

Seize the spring catches WHITSUNDAYS

Mick Underwood

The run of glamour winter weather that we had been enjoying came to an abrupt halt a few weeks ago. An extended run of stiff southeasters and some unseasonal rain has put the breaks on any offshore fishing during recent times.

The outer reef, the shipping lanes and anywhere around the outer

Jenny Savige always kills it on Reel Addiction.

Golden trevally have been happy to eat whatever gets thrown at them. This one nailed a soft plastic. islands has seen very little angling pressure with the fish in these areas getting away largely scot-free the last few weeks. I can hear coral trout at the outer reef laughing at us from here in my office. It’s not only the trout out there that are having fun, the nannygai are the same on the ‘shoals’ as are the Spanish mackerel around the outer islands.

Not to worry though, we are into spring now and that typically signals the end of the trade breezes for another year.

Lucky that here in the Whitsundays we have a nice vibrant inshore fishery and plenty of islands to hide behind and still enjoy a fish.

Being the tail end of winter there has been plenty of pelagics to get after and for me the most predominant fish to be found has been

golden trevally. They have been around in droves, which is cool and have saved plenty of tough days. Very few have been caught on bait, it’s been lures that have been getting the job done.

On the whole they haven’t been too choosy about what sort of lure to smash, as long as you have put some thing in front of them they have been happy to eat it. Even the big gaudy chatterbaits have been getting eaten with gusto.

Mixed in with the goldies there have been a

few XOS sized queenfish and some tasty school mackerel. Queenfish once they reach the upper end of their size range are a superb sports fish. The school mackerel might not be quite so exciting to have on the end of your line but if they are around in numbers then they are an easy way to get a tasty feed in the ice box.

Over recent weeks the inshore fringing reefs have thrown a few nice plump coral trout but they haven’t been that easy and it’s only the wilier of anglers that have been getting the right results.

On the beaches and even the shore fishing hasn’t been pumping at anywhere near its best. I’ve seen some nice flathead caught but that has

Queenfish have been the saviour this month!

Peter Rheinburger enjoyed the recent good queenfish bite, catching this nice model on a hardbody.

Aaron with a nice flathead that he caught flicking a hardbody off the beach at Cape Gloucester.

been about it. I have had no shortage of grey nomads whinging at me at the lack of whiting this winter, which is a little unusual as they are typically thick through this stage of the year. Who knows, maybe they’ll show up this month?

Our local estuaries haven’t seen a lot of angling pressure through August but that is typical for now as the water temps are currently stagnated at the bottom end of their annual scale. This is all about to change now that spring is here, as during October there is normally so much variety in the

Another goldy on a hardbody. I have been thankful for the presence of these guys in recent weeks.

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Starting up in the creeks, and the angling activity should increase dramatically, especially for glamour species such as barramundi and mangrove jack. Now that the water temps are climbing steadily these fish will be coming out of their winter slumber and be keen to have a feed. Also with it being the last month of the barramundi season for the year, this will encourage a lot of people to get one or two before they become off limits. Due mainly to

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OLD

commercial netting pressure we don’t see a hell of a lot of barramundi caught here at Hydeaway Bay anymore but to the north up around Bowen there is still some quality fishing to be enjoyed.

The southern rivers and creeks of our region still hold some good sport fishing

options, in particular any of the systems that run out into Repulse Bay. Having such a large tidal range down there though limits the days when you can get at the fish. During spring tides there is way too much water movement to be able to fish successfully and, as such, fishing missions have

Young Oscar with his first ever longtail tuna. We should be catching plenty more of these over the coming weeks.

to be planned around the neap tides.

Out the creeks and around the islands, the fishing activity should increase this month, especially by fishers keen for a feed of coral trout.

As we get closer to their spawning run they will get more active and will smash whatever lure or bait you put in front of them.

The pelagic fishing on the inshore grounds will start to change and possibly start to wane a bit as well.

The big queenfish will get harder to find but there should still be some golden trevally about and a few school mackerel. Spring quite often brings the best tuna bite of the year and already they are showing up and providing some good entertainment. The only thing with them is you never know when or where they are going to be. So far I’ve been running across them everywhere from right in the back of Edgecumbe Bay out into the shipping lanes.

Out around the outer edges of the islands we’ll see an increase in activity and, as long as the weather allows, is where I will be focusing most of my attention this month.

Species, such as Spanish mackerel will get harder to catch but in their place

This goldy was happy to scoff a chatterbait. should be some nice little black marlin and sailfish. I don’t need to rattle on too much as to how cool they are to catch. Out in the same areas but down deep on the bottom and there should be some nice fish to be caught there this month.

It’s prime time to bust out a few jigs and start chasing species such as fingermark and grunter.

Fingermark in particular are a personal favourite of mine, not only do they pull like a proverbial freight train, they are photogenic and insanely good to eat.

There we go, there is no shortage of angling options in the Whitsundays during October. Make sure you make the most of it and get out on the water as much as

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41

OLD

Signs point to an early wet TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

The wind in the north has been absolutely relentless, and fishos are seriously over it. When it has been good enough to go out wide, the Spanish have been pretty full on, and long trips haven’t been needed to get a good catch.

has worked for many of the anglers I’ve spoken to over the last month or so, who have been able to get out. While not a technique meant for those 20kg+ monsters, it is very effective on the more schoolsized fish of around 10kg.

Try a few drops with wire first. If the fish are still there but no action has been registered, try removing the wire and go again. Yes, you will get

for a while to come. Trolling small gar, yakkas or flicker mullet is pretty much standard for the switched-on anglers, while small skirted pushers are another technique, particularly when looking for schools of bait being harassed by the small billies. 8-10kg mono with a 100-150lb leader should be around right for that raspy bill.

If you’re after more in-depth info on the local billfish fishery, get onto the Townsville Game Fishing Club and I’m sure they’ll be more then helpful as there are some exceptional anglers involved there.

RIVER AND CREEKS Some of our favourite locations haven’t fired over the last couple of months, but there have still been enough fish to keep us interested. The one trend over recent weeks has the fish sitting deeper than would be expected at

Even average sized barra can fit a big lure down their throat when the temps are appropriate.

Don’t be afraid to use big weedless hooks on big plastics to get a better hook-up ratio.

Apart from the standard trolling of wolfies at a slow speed, lures are also doing their thing at a much higher speed, around 6 knots. While this should be no surprise to a Spanish fan, one thing that has proved to be successful also is to drop down a metal lure such as a 80g Halco Twisty in the deeper stuff when there’s a show on the sounder, and crank back at warp speed. This

presentation in 4m+.

Downsizing lures has been a major technique alteration that has helped convert slow days into something with a bit more action. It’s going to sound strange to many people who have never tried this variation on luring for barra, but when the fish are tunnel visioned on smaller food, that’s what you need to replicate. 3” Atomic Prongs and 3 1/4” Plazos are always with us when we hit the water. We rig them on either a 1/6oz or 1/4oz Atomic Seeker Head with a heavy 1 sized Gamakatsu hook. These hooks are sharp and strong, and match the profile of the tiny plastics. These little softies would seem more at home in a bream fisher’s kit, but they really produce in the north.

Line and leaders too need to be downsized to fish these tiny things, and we generally use between 6-10lb braid with a 2m long 20-25lb Dangan

When things are tough, try slower presentations that still have plenty of action. Tannhym nailed this big jack in tough conditions on a weedless-rigged Atomic Curly Tail worked through the snags. about it WITHOUT OUR HELP. If you see something suspicious, please take the time to report it ASAP. Black market sales of fish and crabs

know soon enough. What this means for barra stock will rely on where they are when the season is closed, and how many will be able to avoid the nets.

At the time of writing, many of the jacks have been sitting very deep, and a smaller profiled diver that has greater depth ability is a very successful option if you don’t mind trolling. These smaller lures get eaten by a range of species including fingermark, jacks, barra, grunter and so on.

I like the 50mm Poltergeist with the extra deep bib on it.

This lure gets down to 8m on braid, and it also has a strong action at a low speed, which is particularly handy in dirty water scenarios.

If I’m using a lure like this on my light tackle, I leave the original hooks on.

However, if I happen to be after bigger, harder-hitting species then I’ll upgrade the trebles to ‘whopper stopper’ grade.

Leader size for us is still in the 30lb class, and this allows the max depth achievable, while still giving abrasion resistance.

Anyway, the season should start making a few serious changes in the coming weeks, so adaptability will be the secret to success. Think outside the box and be willing to experiment, and who knows what you’ll come across.

snipped off sometimes, but when they’re hooked in a good spot the catch rate is very high. The average depth that these schooling fish have noted has been around the With the water temp on the increase, large soft plastic prawn imitations will become 25-30m mark. a standout for bigger fish. They can be rigged unweighted and fished on the surface, The recent Billfish or weighted and sunk to deeper fish. This fish fell to a 7” Halco Paddle Prawn.

Tournament held offshore from Townsville produced this time of year, and jacks, FC leader. is a massive problem, and the plenty of action considering barra and fingermark have The big problem we have fishery can’t withstand the the conditions, and no doubt been the reward for either is finding a weighted weedless relentless pressure, so do your this action will hang around working a vibe or deeper hook small enough to rig bit to protect what you love. them for the snag bashing FORECAST stuff, while still being strong It seems that the crocs enough to stop an angry jack. have been pairing up, ready However, we have a few for an early mating season, things in our bag of tricks to and mango trees around town try in coming weeks, so we’ll have flowered way earlier than keep you posted on that. usual. These two factors could In recent weeks the be an indicator of an early wet standard 4 and 5” plastics have season, and obviously we’ll had less than half the strike rate of the smaller 3” models, but Ramping it up a notch with as the water warms, the bigger HEAVILY this new model, stock boat on lures will get more bites. If FACTORY the weather cools a bit it’ll be order with Mercury 225Hp inc OPTIONED straight back to the small stuff DTS, Redco Alloy Series TA730 I’d reckon. trailer, Bow thruster, Toilet w Over the past month or so, holding tank, sliding doors, one of my favourite systems Elec anchor winch, Stereo, has become just about void of Simrad electrics, LB tank, barra. It’s an out of the way Walk thru transom and so spot which has been netted consistently for weeks on much more! end – and word has it, it’s Arrange your inspection and not just the professionals that • Comfort in all Conditions call QLD’s Arvor Dealer today! are hitting it. Illegal netting in this part of the world is 1029 Manly Road, Tingalpa Lure manipulation is a big part of lure presenting. If a huge problem, and with limited staff and resources, you use a rod with a crisp blank, such as the Samurai 07 3890 2322 View the entire range at Fisheries management or DPI Infinite, you’ll find that it allows tiny shakes, shudders www.johncrawfordmarine.com.au and taps of the rod tip to be effortlessly transmitted. have Buckley’s of doing much

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The last tango for 2021 barra HINCHINBROOK

Ian Moody info@ianmoodyfishing.com

We’re getting into the last hurrah of the barra season now with the season ending at midnight 31 October. It

who knows?

We have been finding some good numbers of barramundi throughout the channel, but most are suffering from stubborn lockjaw with the instability. Biggest barra we got to the boat last month was for client Kieren Stratti

the previous two months that I will continue to plug away on during October. Hopefully with rising temperatures as we depart winter we will see them become more active to feed.

This month I anticipate it’s going to be erratic if there are constant windy weather

jumps up will be a factor I will be using a lot during October.

Also a shift to a more northerlybased wind direction will open up some other favourite spots of mine that I usually love to fish from February onwards.

Can’t wait to shift to more of a lure fishing focus during summer as my brother Ryan Moody has just released his own favourite lure range. A 125mm hardbody called a Scaleblazer with an awesome

Even though a lot of barra are suffering from lockjaw, Kate was pleased to catch this 67cm model.

Kieren Stratti with his 97cm barra he caught recently. has probably been the most erratic weather pattern I have seen for some time, rarely getting two days of the same weather at Hinchinbrook. Unstable constant changes has made for some difficult periods of fishing.

I’ve even noticed very unseasonal appearances of big hair jellys at the mouths of creeks and rivers on the mainland near Cardwell since the start of September. Perhaps this is a sign of a large wet season to come for next year,

who was travelling back home to Covid ravaged NSW and thought he would try his luck at getting his first ever saltwater barra. Within 10 minutes of the morning he had a fine 97cm model take to the air upon hook up. Not bad for a first, but so frustratingly close to the magic metre mark.

We also hooked two bigger models, well over the metre mark, during September but unfortunately just not able to seal the deal.

I have found a couple of big schools of large barra over

patterns continuing. Making the most of the areas in the early morning before the wind

There are some decent numbers of barra throughout the channel.

Scaleblazer hardbodies will produce good results this summer.

slow roll action coupled with good hardware and in a few favourite colour patterns of his liking.

This month I’d be keeping an eye out for those surface feeding boofs during the day, as quite often if you cast your lure close to the same area where one occurred there is a high chance there is a barra still very close to the spot.

October also sees the tide patterns increase in size, which I find makes for more enjoyable lure fishing scenarios. I much prefer the larger tides at Hinchy as quite often it helps us interact with the larger fish travelling out on the flats a lot more and getting into backwaters and current lines.

• If you’re looking to try your luck at ticking that metre-plus barramundi off your bucket list, it is best to get in and book early for 2022 as the good tides often get snapped up by my regular clients. The months of February, March, April and May are also prime times for large barra at Hinchinbrook. Gift vouchers can also be purchased if you’re looking for birthday or Christmas gifts. You can email us at info@ ianmoodysportfishing.com or phone us on 0402 339 459.

Barra season closes midnight 31st October, so get in early to secure a booking for this year or for the 2022 season.

Get out and fish this October CAIRNS

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

October is one of my favourite times of the year to be fishing the net free zones. It’s one of those times of year when ‘dream sessions’ happen

the fish are lining up to jump on your lure.

It’s this very reason if you haven’t got your gear ready then get onto the job now. Get down to your local tackle shop get your rods, reels and line up to scratch and get in the NFZ as you don’t want to miss out.

What I love about this

factor is that there are plenty of fish around. In particular, there always seems to be an abundance of smaller ‘rat’ sized barra around that 58-65cm mark. Whilst many anglers don’t rate these fish highly, I love them because they fight hard on light gear, jump everywhere and if you are going to take one for the table, this is the size to do it.

You also tend to find these fish in numbers so when you get onto one you tend to get a few more, which always make the session interesting.

The Cairns Inlet is

probably your pick of the creeks for getting onto these fish and many are hanging off the snags on the corners of creek mouths or on likely looking snags. The run-out tide is always the best, especially if there is good flow across the face of where you are fishing.

The other ideal spot is to flick the drains in the inlet on a run out tide, especially on the king and spring tides.

This month is the start of the big tides during the day and the 3m+ ones will be ideal for this. Slow hopped soft

The ZMan GOAT has been a real standout as both a surface lure and a subsurface plastic. and the fish just bite like crazy. It’s almost as if all things align and water you have been grinding over for a fish here and there becomes alive and 44

OCTOBER 2021

time of year is the water temps are hot but not too hot, the rivers are clear, and the wind is down, which makes for excellent conditions to fish the creeks. The other

Here you can see a group of barra hanging out off a drain, ready to bite.

Rat barra will be everywhere this month. plastic prawns (Zereks) or shallow running hardbodies are awesome. Also keep an eye out for little ledges of sand coming off the drains as this is where they often sit as the drains spill out.

If the barra fishing is going well, then the jack fishing is going even better in October. Jacks always fire up first over the barra, and this is because they are just hungrier and meaner.

Jacks will be on the chew right through the NFZ in all systems and peppering snags on the incoming or last of the outgoing with plastics like the 3-4” RT Molix or 3” Diesel minnows will do

the damage.

If you love your surface lures for jacks then check out the new ZMan GOAT range. Unreal plastic for fishing subsurface or fish light for a frog like presentation off the top.

One of my favourite plastics at the moment.

Next month the fishing will be just as good but temperatures will start to get up there making the water a little warm for my liking. The fish will still be around but they will be seeking the shade and feeding a little differently.

So get out there this month and make the most of it!

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45

OLD

Exciting times in NQ LUCINDA

Jeff Wilton jeffwilton83@hotmail.com

Sitting here typing this month’s article I can’t help but think how lucky we are in NQ. Whilst most of the southern parts of our great country are enduring lockdown after lockdown we are basically

rods here. The best thing about this time of year is everything is active and hungry, add to this normally good consistent weather with sunny skies and lighter winds, and Lucinda becomes a postcard-perfect tropical paradise.

HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL With the barra closed season looming a month

If you have limited time, get your map out and choose a certain section of the channel and spend your time fishing that area.

Pretty much every part of the channel has barra, some areas seem to have better numbers but you will find them everywhere.

Concentrate your effort according to tide charts, half tide down to low –

Toni with some barra by-catch, blue salmon.

Skipping for jacks, is a must do! free to carefully do as we please.

For anyone down south that is going through tough times I hope that sooner or later you can pack the car, hook the boat up and get out and onto the water. Better still with all this time on your hands, start planning a few tropical fishing escapes in the future.

For those that can visit our perfect part of the world, the fishing in October should be really good. I’m pretty sure I write that every month but although certain species may slow down there are always fish willing to bend

away, this is the last month to target these great fish.

The Hinchinbrook Channel is the perfect place to target barra with hundreds of kilometres of mangrovelined creeks, rock bars and mud banks. The sheer size of the place is what most anglers struggle with and getting lost with no idea where to go is a horrible feeling that I remember very well. I have the conversation regularly with traveling anglers struggling to get results, and it always seems they are spending more time traveling and searching than actually fishing.

halfway up is easily the best times.

Water is moving out of the mangroves and pushing bait past snags and drains will have predatory fish lining up to feed. An electric motor has changed the entire game in regards to lure fishing but most use them now for bait fishing also. The ability to silently push yourself along your chosen stretch of creek whilst peppering the bank with lures or spot locking and deploying some baits really is too easy these days.

Jacks have been on fire over the last month with double figure sessions

Get into these guys before closed season.

46

OCTOBER 2021

a reality if you’re lucky enough to find them stacked up. They love the water warming up and, in my opinion, Sept/October is the best months to chase them hands down.

It’s no secret that skipping topwater plastics is my favourite way to target jacks but they will respond well to small hardbodies and soft plastics worked close to structures.

No matter which technique you want to use, the main thing is that casts must be made tight to where they are sitting. Jacks will rarely travel more then 50cm from where they are waiting unless really fired up. Tight drags and quick rod work are necessary to stop their first dive for cover on the strike, if you are not quick enough, they will normally get home and you will be re-tying

another leader.

JETTY, ISLANDS AND REEF Fingers-crossed October brings with it some settled weather meaning calm seas and clear skies.

It has been an average few months in terms of light winds and the amount of chances to head towards the reef have been far and few between. I have not much to report in regards to how the fishing has been but can say that if we can get out this month the fishing should be red hot.

Chasing trout around the reef edges and red fish in the deeper rubble to get some tasty fish in the freezer will be priority, I’m guessing most people are running low on reef fish due to the horror weather. The odd Spanish mackerel will still be patrolling the reef points and major current

lines around the islands. A few hours relaxing with a few rods out trolling some lures or gar will be time well spent. A lot of people think that you must use wire trace if targeting mackerel, this isn’t true.

Trolling larger lures will normally see mackerel’s teeth staying away from the leader so you are normally safe. When you’re using soft plastics or jigs, the use of fine wire can be very helpful as lure losses can be extremely high. If you can learn a knot that will join leader to wire instead of using bulky swivels or clips.

The sugar loader jetty will always be worth a stop and a fish. There is just something special about that place and so many trophy fish have been caught there over the years, but I must add plenty of dream fish have been lost due to the heavy structure.

Anglers on tenterhooks PORT DOUGLAS

Lynton Heffer www.fishingportdouglas.com.au

In August we saw a crippling effect on our fishing charter vessels due to Covid with an 85% reduction in trade.

We are not sure how the September figures will pan out but we know it will be a mere shadow of normal times in what is typically one of our busiest periods of the year.

In the tropics this is reflected across the tourism business as a whole and our seaside fishing village is reeling. Future cancellations are rampant and it’s been a hard pill to swallow watching dollars walk out the door through no fault of our own. At one point it felt like half the country’s population was coming to visit our piece of paradise. It’s an absolute

shame because the weather is idyllic at this time of year and as a package the fishing is awesome across the board.

In the minimal trade we have been able to achieve the reef fishing continues to be a number one choice, and for reason. Coral trout have lead the way in a major way being the main catch.

They have been caught in all levels of the water column frequenting more up along the ridges into the shallower water. They may spawn in early October thus the transition from the deep. Accompanying the highly sort after trout have been good dividends for the likes of red emperor and the nannygai duo.

They have been bobbing up with regularity and have been sourced in the deeper water 30m plus.

Spangled emperor, reef mangrove jack, long nosed emperor and gold spot trevally have continuously

put on their guernsey as part of the reef team as well. Spanish mackerel had their big run in the cooler times but they will continue to be part of the outer reef action and will get bigger in size after a good feeding season on the reef.

The small black marlin season has gradually hit its straps peaking around the start of September. We expect to see them for a touch longer before a real shift in focus turns towards the shelf for the anticipated arrival of the big black marlin. Seasons have changed quickly, almost overnight with warmer day temperatures which in turn rises the sea temperature.

They say optimum sea temperature for the marlin congregation is above 27-28ºC and that’s not too far away.

To page 47

OLD

Where there is bait, there are fish still some fun to be had.

The weather has now improved and the herring are in massive schools around the wharf with pike also in large numbers. This means one thing, the fishing is about to go nuts!

Mackerel will soon be here in large numbers as the bait school continue to grow, and the resident barramundi will be lurking underneath to pick and chose any straying bait fish. The wharf will see plenty of action this month and there will be little room there as the locals and tourist

COOKTOWN

Justin Coventry

The weather last month was expected, with strong winds and light showers, but it made fishing hard and venturing out to the reef almost impossible. So the only option was heading out camping and fishing outside of Cooktown with the rest of the southern state escapees who have taken over the Cape.

The camping adventure did provided some much needed fishing action.

Although still hard as overcast days seemed to shut down the fish, but there was still the odd one here and there.

Barramundi can be finicky fish with weather changes, and will often follow your lure without much conviction to strike – it’s frustrating to say the least when you can see

The changing weather can impact barramundi’s enthusiasm for following lures. But persistence will get results.

When targeting some archerfish, the author’s son James caught this monster catfish. them but can’t get them to strike. As I’ve said previously, dropping lure size can help, and it’s better to be fishing than sitting around home!

Well, maybe not on those

The author with a beautiful looking 74cm saratoga.

rainy days…

The top water action was still great as we came across some nice saratoga, the largest being 74cm, and they are such a beautiful looking fish and very aggressive, even when the weather is poor. We also managed to find a few large catfish, which push the limits on the barra gear and lures.

Some of the lure bibs where bent and busted after the encounter, but it does make for a good fight. I’m sure some eat ducks looking at the size of them, but they will eat anything.

My son James tried to catch some small archerfish with a spinner lure but managed to catch a monster catfish. The spinner managed to survive and bring the monster in after a mammoth fight. So there has not been much barramundi action but

Saratoga put up a great fight, even when the weather is poor. descend to catch some fish for dinner. So if you’re in Cooktown this month, check out the wharf and see if you can catch a barramundi before next month’s closure, or perhaps see if there’s a nice Spanish or small school mackerel around.

Barramundi are very good at running under the wharf and rubbing the line around the oyster covered pillars so having heavy lines is the go.

However, it is still hard to stop a large fish from cutting through the thickest mono on those sharp oysters. Going hard on the fight puts a lot of strain on your gear and I’ve seen a 9/0 straighten on some big barramundi, but it’s either going strong or suffering the wrap around under the wharf.

Anyway, it’s a very exciting fight to be had. The reef fishing should be great. As the weather windows will start to

open up, there will be plenty of hungry fish out there and should be easy to get some nice fresh coral trout for dinner. The mackerel will be active as well.

The small marlin should be in close to give the small boat fishers some fun, if they put the time and effort into trolling the channels between reefs. So much to look forward to and the start of the best time of the year with regard to some great fishing opportunities.

Now is the best time to be on the water at Port Douglas.

From page 46

This type of water temperature has already awoken the likes of barra and mangrove jack in our calm water coastal systems. The coming weeks are ideal for these highly requested species. We don’t receive much rain and the river

conditions are aided by good water clarity and handy tides. To add to the side show we’ll still have high quality fish on the go including 1m queenfish, stocky golden and river trevally plus the local favourites of good sized golden snapper and grunter.

These last two mentioned

species are just superb on the palate.

As you may get the gest this is the best time of year to be part of the fishing action with all and sundry firing on all cylinders. We pray to see as many of you up here soon to enjoy as to what I describe as the best fishery in the world!

There has not been much barra action last month, but they are still around.

OCTOBER 2021

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Take your spring pick TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

There are so many great places and fish to catch this month.

Bass are still chewing and golden perch have fired up.

The impoundment Murray cod are winding up their breeding season and the barra are a lot easier to target for the average angler.

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK CLOSEST TOWN: CROWS NEST Some quality bass have been caught at Cressbrook over the last month. As a distinct thermocline develops, the deeper holding fish will move shallower and concentrate at a comfortable depth.

You would think all the fish holding at one depth would make them easier to find but it can still be tricky. Unless they are actively roaming around, the bass love to sit tight to the bottom on drop offs.

You can pass through an area known to hold fish and miss them if you don’t look in the correct depth. These bottom hugging fish are harder to catch and ideally they should be at least a metre off the bottom for best success.

Spoons and metal jigs are likely to be the best offerings when lure casting.

Trolling will be steady until next month when it will pick up. Bait fishers using live shrimps will fare well if the position themselves right on top of the fish.

• Fish’n’Bits in Toowoomba has all the gear and tips on

In this crazy world we live in, fishing and being on the water is a great way to forget about life’s worries.

Enjoy it when you can.

Until next month, buckled rods from The Colonel. how to chase the Cressy fish.

They are an excellent store specialising in all freshwater lures and tackle. If you want an early or late session, don’t forget the longer open hours are to 6am to 8pm.

SOMERSET CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, KILCOY Somerset should continue to fish well but the fish will start to move around and undergo a few changes.

The big schools at Kirkleigh will continue to hold in the area but could move about to new ledges. Some will start making their way to the south and find new homes in the lake’s middle reaches.

Using side image to locate schooling bass has cut the search time a lot. When the fish are holding this wide away from the boat they generally chew pretty good.

Schooling fish were holding around Red Rock and Bay of Plenty last month. These fish are very mobile and move around a lot during the course of the day. If you were able to track these movement, cricket score catches could be enjoyed. Unfortunately as the thermocline gets stronger, these deeper holding fish will lift up in the water column and start to hold around flats and ledges of the old riverbed drop off. They will be a bit less nomadic and their feeding will slow down after last month’s feeding frenzies.

I expect the fish to hold wide on Pelican Point on some of the higher humps and along the riverbed drop off. Another good portion of fish is likely to hold around the southern side of The Spit.

A mix of lures will tempt them this month. Spoons and metal jigs will continue to

score reasonable numbers along with 5/8oz rigged soft plastics. Small blades and the Spectre Vibration Jig will also start to attract the bites more as the fish spend more time holding closer to the bottom.

• Somerset Fishing has their store based at the area above the day use boat ramp. The store is open over holidays and otherwise from Thursday to Sunday.

Orders can also be made online via the website www. somersetfishing.com.au .

They have an excellent range of gear suited to fishing for bass and golden perch.

WIVENHOE CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, LOWOOD Wivenhoe has been a bit hit and miss. When the bass schools are found, they seem quite willing to chew.

Morning and afternoon will be the prime times and the fish will be quite mobile.

Fishing through the middle of the day can be a lot slower, especially when lure casting.

The fish schools tend to break up making them more catchable when trolling lures. You will need to sound around on the flats near Billies Bay to find them. Trolling deep diving hard bodies is an effective search method.

Both bass and goldens can be caught in this area. If chasing golden perch you can try some of the steeper banks that border the dam or even better still are steep structure laden drop offs, which are submerged.

Boats can be launched at the ramps at Billies Bay and Logans Inlet. There is a 6 knot speed limit and if you are petrol powered, you need to have a 4 stroke or low emissions outboard and travel at 6 knots in all areas when on this lake.

The big fat bass will slow down a bit this month. They start to lose condition but they’ll still be angry and pull hard.

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50

OCTOBER 2021

Themoclines will be re-established and will dictate bass behaviour and drive their movements this month.

OLD

DARLING DOWNS AND GRANITE BELT COOBY CLOSEST TOWNS: HIGHFIELDS, TOOWOOMBA Golden perch numbers will start to increase this month. Hopefully we can enjoy the fishing as things continue to warm up as the warmer water also triggers the growth of the algae which closes the lake to fishing. Trolling TN60 Jackalls around the weedy edges is a great way to lure a few golden perch and smaller cod. If good numbers of fish are spotted in an area on the sounder, casting is a better option.

Lipless baits can be cast and worked down the weed face and then allowed to follow the contour of the bottom with frequent pauses to allow them to sink. Hopping small blades like the ZX40 is also a great way to entice the fish when casing.

There is no need to use big casts when using blades.

They work well on top of concentrated fish and can even be jigged vertically.

Bait fishermen will do well on live shrimp and saltwater yabbies. It will be necessary to move around and find the best numbers of fish. The lake is quite low with heaps of weed beds.

Look for a healthy weed edge on the sounder and drop to open water right on the edge of weed.

Murray cod are always a possibility. The smaller fish tend to show up when chasing golden perch but the big ones are rare. The activity of catching a few fish can attract them as they come and investigate the commotion. I have had big ones trying to eat hooked golden perch at the boat.

Now that I run Active Target and can pinpoint their

movements I think it will be worth having a rod rigged with a big lure ready to go at all times.

COOLMUNDA CLOSEST TOWNS: INGLEWOOD, TEXAS At close to full capacity,

soft plastics and swimbaits presented at the right depth.

A few will also fall to trolled lures. When they are found, you can tempt them on an assortment of other less used offerings such as soft and hard vibes, big blades and spoons.

Around the prime afternoon and night feeding times, barra will venture in to the shallower water and hunt for bony bream. Points on the windy shoreline will be a favourite spot and you may need to get there early if the lake is busy. With the lower levels, there will be plenty of new spots to check out including the weed island behind Dingo Island and a few very wide weed edges. You can try rolling soft plastics on the outer edge of the weed as the fish more through. If the weed grows off the bottom to around midwater, try rolling lures faster over the top of it.

• Justin Nye from Gladstone

Fly and Sportfishing runs fishing charters on the lake.

He caters to the needs of the angler and can do fly or conventional tackle trips to target the lake’s barramundi.

He successfully guides clients onto fish right through the year and has a good understanding of fish movements. It is hard to beat time on the water and this is a great way to learn more about this lake and its fish.

You can contact him on 0429 223 550 or visit the website gladstoneflyandsportfishing. com.au.

• Mark from Awoonga Gateway Lodge always has a few productive secret spots to share. The Gateway lodge is on the way in to the dam after turning off at Benaraby. The accommodation is great with plenty of boat parking space right beside the comfortable air conditioned, self-contained cabins each with its own veranda. To book in a stay give Mark or Lyn a call on (07) 49750033.

CALLIDE CLOSEST TOWN: BILOELA October should see good numbers of big barra actively chewing. It was early October last year that we had our fishiest sessions. The bigger fish are likely to work their way around the deep water of the lake down the wall end where they will suspend at the most comfortable depth. Schools of bony bream supply them with an endless food source that has them thriving and super fat.

I love to hit the dam from before first light to mid-morning. This period has the fish up higher in the water column. If you can find good numbers on the sounder you can cast soft plastics and swimbaits to them. Trolling was a great way to locate the better concentrations and catch heaps of fish last year. The 5.5” Zerek Live Mullet tossed out a full cast and trolled at 2.5-3km/h was deadly when the fish were active and sitting higher in the water column.

In the afternoons, the fish can be a bit tougher to find.

They move around more and break up into smaller packs.

You can bang a few in the deep water if you find them there but expect to get them closer to

CAPRICORN REGION AWOONGA CLOSEST TOWNS: BENARABY, GLADSTONE We are set for a busy but productive end to the year. Old spots will be back in play as the water is now a lot lower and acres of weed beds are set to take over the shallow flats. Most barramundi should have left the shallows and will be patrolling the edges of the weed. The bigger fish are learning new habits. Some will soon start to live in the weed while others will head out wide into deeper water and suspend. Both locations have an ample supply of food and the bigger fish do not feel threatened sitting in shallow water or out in the vast openness of the big lake.

Barra up in thick weed can be tempted on weedless rigged soft plastics. The deeper suspended fish will take

The timbered flats in Coolmunda will be the place to lure up a Murray cod. Closed season doesn’t apply to the stocked Queensland lakes.

Coolmunda is set to produce good results for lure casters looking to target Murray cod.

The timbered areas of the

dam are again productive fish holding flats. The stained waters and warming conditions will be ideal for casting big spinnerbaits.

Morning and afternoon sessions will be the best times to try your luck. Slow down a little more and fire in a few more casts at each likely spot.

The dirtier water will reduce the vision of fish so they will be relying on other senses to help them find their next feed.

Hopefully, I am wrong and water clarity has improved more than expected. When it does Coolmunda will really fire up.

Golden perch numbers will be on the rise. Lure fishers will struggle while the dam has less than 60cm of visibility. Bait will be the way to go with live shrimp and frozen saltwater yabbies the preferred baits. You can source some local live shrimp in traps set along the rock wall that extends from the ramp to the wall.

Barra will be roaming the deeper sections of Callide Dam. Locating them before casting or trolling soft plastics and swimbaits to search for them will produce more bites. the shoreline as well. The fish will move around the points and bays and at times find a prime spot full of bait to feed in. If you can manage to find one of these feeding zones, you’ll catch plenty of fish. The Zerek Live Mullet is still a favourite and the Molix Swim Shad 140 and Barambah Bony Shad also perform well.

It pays to change it up and fish to the most productive depth. Barra will feed through the water column when they are active but you’ll get a lot more bites if you deliver the

exact presentation they are chasing.

• You can stay close to the dam at Lake Callide Retreat. The park has basic camping, powered sites for camping and vans and also self-contained cabins.

There is a well-equipped camp kitchen and toilets and showers up in the main part of the park near the office. Make sure you bring all of your fishing tackle.

The kiosk has a limited amount of fishing gear but it is well suited to the lake.

Gary’s Marine Centre

Chris Vitale with a beautiful mahimahi he caught while trolling lures 50nm off the Gold Coast Seaway.

3201 6232

217 Pine Mountain Road, BRASSALL OCTOBER 2021

51

Yakkers have spring in their step SE QLD

Troy Brown

It’s that time of year again.

Kayakers start getting a little edgy, work is more of an inconvenience than usual, and everyday tasks become a loathsome burden. Like an addict, hands tremble as they

water of the bay. While that sounds unappealing for a kayaker, the creek is very wide, but much of it is too shallow for boats to navigate. When the tide is up, the prolific flats become a hunting ground for flathead, bream, whiting and some other surprise species.

In addition, there are some complex water flows that run

be disappointed on even the busiest day.

For such a small, yet heavily fished system, you are likely to be surprised by the healthy population of fish. The locals who crowd the shoreline certainly know its potential, often standing within arms reach of each other. With stellar fishing both north and south of

first introduced me to the area, I was very sceptical about why he’d choose such a busy location. Once again, Nirmal proved he has great judgement, as I was impressed away by the diversity on show.

Nirmal has fished the area many times, which meant that I was the beneficiary of some fast-tracked local knowledge. Sadly, in my couple of visits I’ve failed to bag a trophy fish, but I’ve certainly witnessed a large array of species and whet my appetite for a return visit.

If you’re new to the area, I’d recommend you arrive on low tide. This will give you an opportunity to see potential ambush sites for fish, scope out some flathead lies, plus show you a pathway through the

Nirmal got busy racking up a variety of species. larger species moving in and out of the system. Mostly, there are smaller fish such as bream and flathead working the edges of the channel, with small tailor also taking a liking to a lure. On our recent visit, big arches on

The Nudgee Beach boat ramp is a good choice for a trouble-free launch. dream of stalking their prey, using instinct, skill and determination to outwit their quarry. Spring has arrived and for a flathead fisho, this is an exciting time!

The smaller fish that have plagued us over the winter start to be joined by some larger relatives, ready to challenge anyone brave enough to confront them on light gear. While large fish have certainly been in the system during the colder months, numbers are far lower and the average size rarely inspires us to roll out the brag mat. If you’re one of the very lucky or exceptionally talented who continues to catch huge flathead during winter, I both applaud your skill and envy your fortune.

Kayaks are the ultimate weapon when chasing estuary flathead. While they are a stealthy alternative, kayaks are somewhat vulnerable around larger vessels, so it makes sense to find locations where there is a degree of separation from boats. Apart from the safety factor, finding areas with low boat traffic usually means the fish are less pressured, with reduced disruptions from motor noise and dropping anchors. Often, these ideal fishing areas are not hidden in a narrow creek, but sitting to the side of an otherwise heavily trafficked waterway.

Kedron Brook is a great example of the principle, as this busy location is bombarded by locals fishing the shoreline, as well as boats working the passage and transiting into the deeper 52

OCTOBER 2021

over the flats, causing eddies, traps and drop-offs, which can be used to advantage.

The choices of launch are relatively limited, as

Nudgee Beach, you’d think the close proximity of other anglers would encourage many to fish elsewhere, but when fish are being landed,

This modest mackerel gave the author a desire for something larger. Based on the sounder image, he suspects he pulled the smallest fish from the school!

Nirmal’s willingness to share his local knowledge was invaluable. the best fishing is mostly towards the mouth of the system. For those car-topping their kayaks, there is a reasonable amount of parking near the Nudgee Beach Dog Park, however the only viable sandy launch point is a moderate walk to the north. The launch is between a small man-made rock wall, so care needs to be taken or you could add some unflattering scratches to your hull. The nearby Nudgee Beach boat ramp offers a far simpler launch, but once again parking can be an issue for those car-topping their kayaks, as the nearest car parks are inconveniently located. If, like me, you prefer to carry your yak on a trailer, this site has numerous parks and you’re unlikely to

there’s little incentive to relocate. Certainly, when fellow Qld Hobie Crew member, Nirmal Sumy,

shallows. Another advantage of arriving at low tide is that you’ll extend the time you have to fish the flats, as well as nearby Jackson Creek, which after only one visit became a place which is on my ‘must return’ list. While waiting for the incoming tide, you’ll be well entertained while fishing the edges of the banks, plus jigging the deeper section running to the mouth.

The mouth of the channel contrasts with the inner banks. There is a deeper section running between the navigation markers, which at times can be a conduit for

our sounders inspired some hope of a larger catch, but the deep channel was mostly unproductive. Some days, you just can’t unlock the code, which leads to success, so it’s simply a case of persistence. Regardless, fishing the flats for flathead and bream on light gear is intoxicating stuff, so if the larger fish in the channel aren’t playing fair, the flats will keep you smiling.

Pay particular attention to the direction of the tide, as some of the most productive sections are the areas where the water is pushing over the back of the banks,

While chasing flathead in the shallows, you’ll encounter plenty of bream and whiting. Small baitfish imitations are nearly always effective.

congregating predators waiting for an easy meal.

As you exit the creek, on the right side you’ll see the entrance to Jackson Creek.

In my opinion, if you don’t fish this section of water, you’ve wasted a massive opportunity. It can be tricky to navigate and is best explored on an incoming tide.

Enter the creek the moment you have enough water to do so, or simply drag your kayak over the sandbanks.

This small but diverse creek is difficult to access by boat, so you’ll mostly be alone in a kayakers paradise. Flats, good tidal flow, tree-lined edges and a deep hole; what more could you ask for? It’s a very small system and could be over-fished quite easily, so practice catch and release, have some fun and move on.

My recent venture into lure making has been enjoyable, but at times has ruined what may have been a productive session. If I want to test a new lure, I often waste a large portion of the session throwing a lure which isn’t productive, simply because I want it to work. The reality is, even if it isn’t catching fish, the lure itself may be fine. Due to bait which are prevalent in the area, water clarity and a number of other factors, sometimes even the best lures simply won’t entice fish on the day. If I watched another angler continually casting an unproductive lure, I’d advise them to make a change. Change lure profile, colour, size, technique or all four. Despite my one-eyed obsession with testing lures on my last visit, I still managed a number of smaller fish. Nirmal used a more logical approach, cycling through a combination of soft and hard bodied lures, so he deservedly enjoyed a better size of catch, while also snaring a diverse range of species. I struggled to get a fish onboard, until that moment I let logic win over ego and put the prototype away. Fishing with an older design, as well as a couple of ‘brand name’ lures, my ego was saved by some late catches.

On the flats, small

paddletail plastics with profiles similar to the 2” Keitech Easy Shiner are typically engulfed. Smaller lures may seem counterintuitive if you’re chasing a larger flathead, but they are often the perfect presentation if they ‘match the hatch’.

Conversely, don’t be afraid to tie on large lures, especially if you see larger mullet being harassed. While light jigheads are favoured when fishing around structure, it is beneficial on the flats to increase your cast weight, as it’s otherwise difficult to get your cast well away from your kayak. Wind can assist your stealth by causing a ripple on the surface of the water, but for me a longer cast is your best friend in this situation. Flathead don’t seem to care if your lure is nose down and dragging through the sand, which is what may happen with a larger casting weight. Try to balance the weight, aiming for long casts and a slow wind to keep your lure just above the bottom, it’s only

Looking at the serene conditions on the flats, you’d never know there was heavy boat traffic in the main channel to the left.

the tide is moving quickly over the shallows, casting directly into the tide can be too difficult, as maintaining contact with your lure and slowing its movement are near impossible. In that situation, casting forward of your kayak at a 45º angle allows you to slow your retrieve, while allowing better feel of potential strikes. Flathead struggle to resist an easy meal, so maximising time in the strike zone is your main priority.

If the flathead aren’t cooperating, or perhaps you prefer to chase a different species, don’t hesitate

a matter of time before you fell that first big bump travel up your line, followed by a welcome bend in your rod.

While I favour soft plastics, hardbodies worked over the shallows are deadly.

For those chasing the thrill of a surface strike, the mouth of Jackson Creek and virtually all the areas on, or around the vast flats will keep you smiling. When

YAK TIP OF THE MONTH Pedal kayaks make fishing easier, but occasionally wind and tide can make your rudder momentarily ineffective, preventing a turn. Before you reach for your paddle, try leaning into the turn. In most situations, this will improve your turn speed and radius. Take care though, as you don’t want to find the tipping point of your hull!

to explore a little further.

I only managed a small mackerel outside the mouth, but I’ve heard reports of bigger specimens caught between the mouth and a

be had nearby, but please be aware of the nearby Green Zones. Tidal flow through the mouth can be a challenge at its peak, so if you’re in a smaller kayak, I’d suggest

Not quite the monster flathead the author was chasing, but still fun on light gear. Now is the time to chase some larger fish.

Nirmal cast a diving hardbody across a deeper hole, then cranked it down into the strike zone.

Pausing the lure resulted in a solid strike.

nearby beacon. The larger arches on my sounder in the mouth weren’t identified, but with locals reporting big mulloway and threadfin salmon being pulled from that precise spot, I suspect it’s worth at least a few casts.

Nirmal knows the area well and found a mulloway within easy reach of our launch, so I suggest you explore the area extensively. There are plenty of opportunities to

you stick to the flats and Jackson Creek.

If you’re looking for a system that offers plenty of action in a small area, Nudgee Beach is unlikely to disappoint. Whether you’re chasing flathead, you want a quiet float in a secluded creek or you just like watching boaters ram into sandbanks, this is one location which should not be missed.

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OCTOBER 2021

53

Sustainability: how the flathead stocks rate MELBOURNE

Ross Winstanley

During 2019, teams of fisheries scientists around Australia conducted the fifth in a series of assessments of major Australian fish stocks.

Among the 148 species covered were four flathead species taken by commercial and recreational fishers in two or more states: • Bluespotted flathead Platycephalus caeruleopunctatus • Dusky flathead Platycephalus fuscus

in the past, the bluespotted flathead in NSW waters is not considered to be depleted to the point where recruitment, or spawning success, is impaired. On this basis, the species is classified as a ‘sustainable’ stock.

Note: the bluespotted flathead should not be confused with the southern bluespotted or yank flathead, Platycephalus speculator, which occurs in inshore waters, bays and inlets across southern Australia.

DUSKY FLATHEAD Dusky flathead occur and are fished commercially

Duskies offer the lot – sport, a feed and a trophy photo.

• Southern sand flathead Platycephalus bassensis • Tiger flathead Platycephalus richardsoni BLUESPOTTED FLATHEAD Bluespotted flathead were assessed at the level of the biological stock, which extends from southern Queensland to eastern Victoria, eastern Bass Strait, and Tasmania’s north coast.

Almost all the information of use in assessing this stock comes from NSW, with commercial catch data since 1947/48. In the 10 years to 2019, annual catches there averaged 120 tonnes.

Estimates of recreational catches are hampered by much of the data being for mixed ‘other ocean sand flatheads’.

After being heavily fished

and recreationally throughout East Coast estuaries and inshore waters, from northern Queensland to southern NSW; they are also a popular angling species in eastern Victoria.

In the absence of genetic information, dusky flathead are regarded as a single stock with at least some limited movement between estuaries.

The 2019 assessments were conducted on the basis of the separate Queensland, NSW and Victorian management jurisdictions.

Queensland In the Moreton Bay region, the dusky flathead ‘spawning biomass’ was estimated to be reduced to 36-39% of the unfished stock.

The estimated Maximum Sustainable Yield of 104-112 tonnes/year matches the

current combined commercial and recreational catches from this region. Fishing pressure was much lower in the Fraser Island region, where the spawning biomass was estimated to be 70% of the unfished stock there.

Government buy-outs of commercial licences had effectively reduced commercial net fishing to an all-time low in 2019, and the most recent estimate of recreational fishing effort showed a decline since 2001. Taking into account the reductions in fishing pressure, the dusky flathead in Queensland waters is not considered to be depleted to the point where recruitment is impaired. On this basis, the species is classified as a ‘sustainable’ stock.

New South Wales In recent years, commercial landings of dusky flathead fluctuated between 116 and 172 tonnes, mainly taken in mesh nets. The recreational retained catch in 2017/18 was estimated to be 190 tonnes, although as many as 55% of the total numbers caught were released, due to a combination of catchand-release fishing and the daily catch limit specifying only one larger than 70cm.

Survival rates of duskies released by anglers have been shown to be very high, and recent compulsory changes to commercial nets have reduced the incidence of releases and associated mortality rates.

Thus, the overall impacts of fishing on this popular species have been contained.

On the available evidence, dusky flathead are classified as a ‘sustainable’ stock in NSW waters.

Victoria Through the 2000s, commercial fishing was removed from Mallacoota Inlet, Tamboon Inlet and Lake Tyers through a series of licence buy-outs. Despite this, angler catch rates have not recovered to former levels, believed to have been driven by strong recruitment events.

Anglers have readily accepted tightened catch limits as part of their commitment to rebuilding dusky flathead numbers.

The last Victorian commercial inlet fishing licences – for the Gippsland Lakes – ceased in 2020, followed in 2021 by the release

DAILY RECREATIONAL CATCH LIMITS Current daily recreational catch limits for flathead species around Australia.

Note: additional fishing restrictions also apply in some states.

State Species Size limit/slot Daily bag limit QLD Dusky flathead 40-75cm 5

Other flatheads combined 30cm 5 NSW Dusky flathead 36-70cm 10 (1>70cm)

Bluespotted and tiger, combined 33cm 10 VIC Dusky 30-55cm 5

Others, combined 27cm 20 TAS Sand and tiger, combined 32cm 20

Southern bluespotted and rock, combined 40-60cm 5 (1>60cm) SA Flatheads, combined 30 cm 10 WA Flatheads, combined 30 cm 8 54

OCTOBER 2021

There’s nothing sophisticated about flatty fishing. of 45,000 dusky flathead fingerlings into the Lakes, plus 5000 into the Bemm River.

Despite the removal of all commercial inlet fishing and the introduction of tight recreational catch limits, dusky flathead are best classified as an ‘undefined’ stock in Victorian waters.

SOUTHERN SAND FLATHEAD For more than a century, the southern sand flathead has been a popular ‘breadand-butter’ favourite with recreational fishers. While particularly popular in Victoria and Tasmania, sand flathead occur in bays and inlets, and in shallow coastal waters from central NSW, around the south coast, to southern Western Australia.

Tagging, growth rate and larval studies suggest that sand flathead in Port Phillip Bay form a distinct biological stock, growing more slowly and to smaller maximum sizes than the sand flathead stock occurring in other southern waters. The SAFS assessment examined southern sand flathead at a biological stock level in Port Phillip Bay; at a management unit level for other Victorian waters; and at jurisdictional levels for Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.

Victoria Port Phillip Bay After a century of catches of up to 300 tonnes annually, the commercial fishery tapered off to less than 10 tonnes after 1997, and will effectively be zero when the last commercial net fishing ends in 2022.

During the post-1990 period, when sand flathead numbers declined by almost 90%, two estimates put the recreational catch at 322 tonnes (in 2000) and 110 tonnes (2006).

After reaching historically low levels since about 2008, catch rate information suggests that flathead numbers are stable, and possibly increasing.

At a time of reduced overall fishing pressure, this has been aided by moderate recruitment in 2009 and 2013. On balance, southern sand flathead in Port Phillip Bay were rated as a

‘recovering’ stock.

More recently, monitoring in 2021 found that the Bay stock experienced the largest annual recruitment seen in 25 years, improving recreational fishing prospects in years to come.

Victoria Other waters Commercial catches of southern sand flathead from ‘other’ Victorian waters – except Corner Inlet – have averaged less than two tonnes since 2000; there is no estimate of the recreational catch. Long term commercial catches from Corner Inlet averaged 11 tonnes until 2000. Since then, they have averaged less than two tonnes, probably as the result of licence buy-outs.

There are no estimates of the recreational catch and, on the basis of the limited available evidence, southern sand flathead in ‘Victorian other’ waters are classified as ‘sustainable’.

Tasmania During the past 25 years, southern sand flathead have moved closer to being a recreational-only species. Over this period, annual commercial catches – by various hook and net methods – have declined from 10-15 tonnes to less than five tonnes.

The recreational catch was estimated as 184 tonnes in 2017/18.

Annual surveys over the past decade indicated low numbers of legal-sized fish. While reductions in recreational size and bag limits in 2015 may be beneficial to flathead numbers, current fishing pressure “remain above recommended levels”.

Based on the 2019 assessment, southern sand flathead is classified as “depleting” in Tasmania.

South Australia Over the ten years to 2019, the commercial catch of all eight flathead species, combined, taken commercially in SA’s coastal waters, by hook and net fishing, averaged two tonnes annually. The recreational catch of all flathead species was estimated at eight tonnes

in 2013/14.

In the absence of assessments of fishing for southern sand flathead, or estimates of recruitment or biomass, the species is classified as an undefined stock in SA waters.

Western Australia Having never been targeted, caught and reported in appreciable numbers, the stock status of this species is regarded as “Negligible” in WA. TIGER FLATHEAD Occurring off NSW, eastern Victoria and Tasmania, tiger flathead has historically been a target species for the offshore trawl fishery, these days managed by the Commonwealth Government as the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF). It is also the flathead species most commonly targeted by anglers in offshore waters.

Regularly reviewed, the ‘global’ catch limit makes allowances for smaller statemanaged inshore commercial and recreational fisheries off these southern states. As well as the retained catches by all of these sectors, the rigorous stock assessment and catchsetting processes take account of mortalities of released and discarded flathead, aiming to maintain the adult stock at 40% of the unfished level.

Thus, while the recommended upper ‘fishing mortality’ limit set for all fishing was 2826 tonnes for 2019/20, the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) was set at 2468 tonnes.

Recent assessments have shown the spawning stock to be at 32% of the unfished stock in 2018, that is, below the target level. As a result, TACs have been set aimed at rebuilding the stock while also compensating for recent below-average spawning successes.

In 2018/19, the total commercial tiger flathead catch of 2167 tonnes comprised 2057 tonnes in the SESSF, 91 tonnes in NSW, 17 tonnes in Tasmania and 2 tonnes in Victoria. In 2017/18, the estimated recreational catch of tiger flathead off NSW totalled 49,000 fish, of which 25,000 were retained by anglers. While ‘flathead’ form the most popular target species group for Tasmanian anglers, accounting for 70% of all finfish, tiger flathead make up just 3% or about 30,000 of the 1.7 million flathead caught in 2017/18.

All the available evidence points to tiger flathead being a “sustainable” stock off southeastern Australia.

NATIONAL REPORTING Definitions of ‘sustainability’ and quoted passages in this article are taken from the Status of Australian Fish Stocks 2020 Reports. Details can be found at www.fish.gov.au/reports

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Tech Tricks

The Simple Snell BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Presenting baits well will increase their effectiveness greatly. A bait that is straight is less likely to spin in the current and appears more natural.

Using a rigging system that promotes better presentation whilst offering increased hooking potential when that strike does come, will maximise your chances of returning home with a few quality fish in the esky.

One very easy, yet highly effective, hook rig that can be made to any size and with multiple hooks is the simple snell.

The simple snell rig is basically two or more hooks, which are attached to the leader a set distance apart.

How far apart is up to you and you can quickly make this rig to fit the particular bait that you wish to present on it. Whether assembling a size 2 rig with suicide hooks for presenting a whitebait to a flathead or a 10/0 circle hook rig to pin on a fusilier to target a cobia, the simple snell will allow you to do it all. Sometimes a rig might be made with two different sized hooks such as when you want to present a tapered fillet bait.

The leading hook may be a 3/0 and the trailing hook, which goes in the thinner portion of the fillet might be a 1/0.

These rigs can be made on leaders of many sizes and with the hooks at any desired distance apart. One stipulation is that the leader needs to be passed through the hook eye twice. It won’t

work too well if trying to snell a large hook onto very light leader however common sense says that you don’t do that anyway.

If unsure, make the rig and then do the tug test to ensure it will hold, which it will with most sensible leader and hook combinations. Because this rig is so simple to make, you can quickly assemble it whilst you are fishing. This allows you to customise it to the particular bait type and size that you get. This is especially good when catching live bait as you don’t know what size it will be until it is secured. Snelled rigs allow more flexibility and less metal than a ganged hook rig which means a fish will usually mouth and hold onto a bait longer. Let’s look at how easy the simple snell is to make.

2 Both monofilament and fluorocarbon leaders can be used to make simple snell rigs. As mentioned previously the leader will need to be thin enough to pass through the hook eye twice. I have made simple snell rigs with leader material as light as 15lb and as heavy as 200lb.

4 Turn the remaining leader slightly back towards the hook gape and begin wrapping around the shank. It doesn’t matter whether you go clockwise or anti-clockwise with your wraps.

56

OCTOBER 2021

1 The snelled rig will work with most hooks whether they are suicides, circles or heavy gauge live baiting hooks. Hooks with a slightly turned out eye (such as the three on the left) offer better presentation than a straight eyehook.

The stiffer connection that a snell offers is ideal for circle hooks and actually increases their effectiveness.

3

Cut a section of leader that is a little longer than you want the finished leader to be. Pass one end down through the eye of the hook and hold it against the hook shank between your thumb and forefinger.

5 Wrap the leader down the hook shank with 6-8 concentric wraps (for this example which is 80lb leader and 7/0 hook). In heavier leader you will do less wraps and in light leader a couple more.

Tech Tricks

6

Hold the bottom couple of wraps between your thumb and forefinger to prevent them undoing then take the tag end from the other end of the leader and pass it up through the hook eye as shown.

7

Hold the hook securely and pull this tag end up very tight. The tighter you pull, the more the knot will lock down on itself making it even stronger under pressure.

8

Now that we have the first hook attached, we need to do the second one. Pass the leader up through the back of the hook eye then place your rig next to the desired bait. Alter the distance between the hooks until you get it how you like. For this pilchard I want the leading hook to pass through the head and the trailing hook roughly where the tail section begins to taper down.

9 Hold the second hook between thumb and forefinger at this position with the hooks the desired distance apart and both facing the same way.

10

Do the same as with the previous hook – 6-8 wraps around the shank and then pass the tag end of the leader back up through the back of the hook eye. Pull up firmly so it all locks down.

12 11

I prefer to present my pilchard baits in this manner with the rear hook through the side of the pilchard and the leading hook through the tougher part of the head. This helps to hold the bait securely and keeps the mouth closed, which minimises bait spiralling and reduces the possibility of blowing out the gut cavity.

Often when float-lining I will snell three hooks on like this having all three penetrating the bait from the top of the head and along the back as shown.

This increases the chance of the bait holding onto the hook maximising the chance of a solid hook up. The upper rig is a basic snelled circle hook rig, which is ideal for live baits. Whilst you may want to make a few snelled hook rigs before heading out, they are so quick and simple that you can just make them on site to suit the particular baits you have at hand.

OCTOBER 2021

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Enjoy the moment PITTWATER

Peter Le Blang plfishfingers@bigpond.com

With another lockdown in Sydney it has meant most of us charter operators have been unable to do charters for a long time now. We unfortunately have been restricted when it comes to numbers of people, distances and areas that we could fish, and a lot of the time it just hasn’t been feasible to charge the amounts of money to one customer for a fishing charter.

Hopefully in the very near future this will change.

We are all looking ahead over the next month and waiting to be given the green light to do a job that we all love so dearly – showing customers beautiful areas, new techniques and ways to catch fish.

When we are given the green light to go ahead, every day will be precious, as we

will not look at our jobs or beautiful areas the way that we used to. Most of us enjoy the company of meeting new people but everyone enjoys our beautiful country, and this will not be taken for granted ever again.

So over these next few years we should all enjoy the moments that we are able to grab when on the water.

Some of us will be spending time with family or friends and loved ones catching fish and enjoying the outdoors, with other anglers will be enjoying the peace and serenity of fishing alone.

I am looking forward to the fast-approaching kingfish season along Pittwater and Broken Bay, with the odd trip along the coast. This month we should start to see more kingfish coming from the north with the East Australian Current as it pushes its way south.

Each year we see schools of baitfish getting pushed into Broken Bay as well as Pittwater, and hot on their

tails are kingfish as well as other pelagic species that we can all tangle with over the warmer months.

In my area, the first places to see kingfish being caught tend to be Broken Bay at Barrenjoey Head, West Head and towards Lion Island. Working seagulls and seabirds tend to mark the areas that schools of kingfish are feeding at. This surface activity is always exciting and it doesn’t matter how many times you have seen it in your life, your heart races, the adrenaline pumps and expectations climb.

Casting soft plastics and metal lures can be the undoing of many of these fish, and most times matching the size of baitfish they are chasing is crucial to hooking up on one of these hard-fighting, brutal fish.

There are other ways to target these bruisers, and of course live baiting as well as downrigging are great ways to catch good numbers of fish. Yellowtail and slimy

A couple of tasty squid destined for the dinner plate.

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OCTOBER 2021

Sunny days, calm water and decent kingfish – what else would you need for a smile? mackerel can often be used as well as squid strips.

If you are going to downrig around the surface activity it’s important to make sure you don’t travel through the school and to target fish at the edge of the school whilst casting surface lures. You’ll not only attract fish towards the boat but have some fun with lures at the same time.

After a week or two the surface activity usually moves into Pittwater, making it easy for everyone to find them.

It is amazing though that after only a short time of the kingfish being in Pittwater, they seem to change over to preferring squid instead of yellowtail. They will happily feed on small hardyheads or whitebait but yellowtail doesn’t seem to appeal to them on most occasions.

Other species to chase along Broken Bay include flathead and flounder, and jewfish should make their presence known as well.

Flathead can be encountered whilst drifting between Patonga and Lion Island whilst using pilchards, fish fillets, prawns or squid strips.

Drifting with a paternoster rig and using two hooks will quite often see two flathead come into the surface once a patch of fish has been found.

Most of the points around Broken Bay (providing they have some current) should also see a few flathead being caught for those of you who wish to anchor and berley.

The areas to target jewfish include Flint and Steel Reef, Walkers Point, Juno Point, Eleonoras Bluff and the pressure wave between the last two mentioned points.

All these areas over next month should see jewfish of varying size being caught.

All these areas are more productive around the change of tide, and by using a berley

trail you can attract baitfish to your boat, which will bring in the larger fish.

Squid along Pittwater can be caught in all the usual haunts, with some of the better areas being Mackerel Beach, the weed beds at Palm Beach, Careel Bay as well as Coasters Retreat, just to name a few.

Most of the squid will be pretty small so using size 2.0 squid jigs should tempt most.

A variety of colours should be ready to use because normally at this time of the year they’ll prefer natural colours one day and then fluoro colours the next.

For those anglers wanting to go offshore, the 50m mark over the sand will traditionally see a lot of blue-spot flathead being caught. Drifting these areas should also see the odd snapper as well.

The deeper reefs from 60-80m of water should also see a lot of activity, with passing schools of kingfish as well as morwong being caught, along with snapper,

trevally and so on. Remember to find schools of baitfish hanging around deep in the water column before you start fishing.

So as you can see, this upcoming month should give you plenty of opportunity to enjoy a great deal of things.

Please support your local charter operator because these last few months have been difficult to say the least. Most of us thrive on seeing smiles on faces whilst catching fish and enjoying the scenery. One of the best things for customers is the knowledge they are able to gain whilst on charter. This knowledge can be new areas, new techniques and even using new fishing equipment that you are able to use yourself once back in your own areas.

Hope to see you aboard soon!

• Peter Le Blang operates Harbour and Estuary Fishing Charters, phone 02 9999 2574 or 0410 633 351, visit www.estuaryfishingcharters. com.au

Kids love time on the water spent with family.

Recreational Fishing Update New Angler Opportunities Near Lithgow

The hard work of dedicated volunteers from the Wallerawang branch of the Central Acclimatisation Society (CAS) is paying off as two important recreational fishing enhancement projects near completion.

This work involves the construction of an access platform at Lake Wallace, a popular mixed fishery near Lithgow, plus site enhancements at The Mill Pond, an exciting new trout fishery being developed

at The Foundations at Portland, about 30 minutes’ drive from Lithgow.

Both projects are supported by the Recreational Fishing Trusts and it’s great to see proactive organisations such as the Wallerawang CAS take the initiative to enhance access for local and visiting fishos.

For more info on The Mill Pond fishery, search the The Foundations Portland online and check projects on the site.

Keep An Eye Out For Tagged Trout

Bass/Estuary Perch Season Now Open

Anglers fishing for trout can help NSW DPI fisheries find out more about trout survival and growth rates in several NSW impoundments.

If you’re lucky enough to catch a tagged trout, forward the tag number, species, length and location to NSW DPI online and search tagged recapture.

Anglers who report details of their tagged catch will receive a lure as a reward for their help.

Tagged trout as part of DPI’s tag recapture program can be found in Ben Chifley Dam, Blowering Dam, Carcoar Dam, Dumaresq Dam, Khancoban Dam, Lake Lyall, Lake Wallace, Malpas Dam, Oberon Dam, Thompsons Creek Dam and Wyangala Dam. Anglers should keep an eye out for new signs that are being installed at the various impoundments over the coming months.

Following a four-month spawning closure which ceased on September 1 anglers are once again able to take Australian bass and estuary perch in rivers below impoundments and estuaries.

When fishing in these waters a total bag limit of two of each species per person and a total possession limit of four applies, including only one fish over 35cm in length.

The four-month closure protects schools of fish during spawning season in estuaries, with the September 1st opening marking the period where Australian bass and estuary perch return to feeding grounds higher in the catchment.

Fishing laws are designed to protect, conserve and improve our fisheries resources for future generations.

Information on freshwater fishing rules can be found in NSW Fisheries printed rules and regulations handbook available at most tackle retail outlets, alternatively download the FishSmart app or check the NSW DPI website online.

Marlin Travels From Port Mac To PNG

From time to time NSW DPI receives details of recaptures that come from remote regions of the Pacific Ocean.

Recently, details of a black marlin recapture were emailed to the NSW DPI Tagging program from MRAG Asia Pacific, an independent fisheries management consultancy firm. One of their associate fisheries observers had received the details of the recapture from a local subsistence fisher who was fishing offshore of Rabual, Papua New Guinea.

The fish was recaptured on 7 July 2021 and was estimated to be 50kg.

A search of the tagging database revealed that the fish was released offshore of Port Macquarie, NSW, on 10 January 2021 during the annual Golden Lure tournament. The fish was caught and tagged

by Newcastle and Port Stephens GFC member Joel Abercrombie, who was fishing aboard The Omen.

The Omen team went on to win champion boat for the tag and release category of the competition.

The juvenile black marlin was estimated at 40kg when released. The fish had spent only 178 days at liberty and but was caught more than 1625 nautical miles (~3005km) from its original release location.

Each reported recapture contributes to our understanding of pelagic fish species. If you are lucky enough to recapture a tagged fish, please ensure you report it using our online recapture form which can be found on the NSW DPI website by searching “tagged recapture”.

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au OCTOBER 2021

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Fish metabolism increasing SYD ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

At the time of writing there is a 5km limit on how far you can travel.

I am very fortunate to

ROCK FISHING The run of rock blackfish (AKA pigs, black drummer) are biting well.

Fish to 50cm have been falling for fresh cunjevoi, peeled Endeavour prawn or a well-presented cabbage weed bait. There have been

The spear fishers have also been getting stuck into the pigs. Recently I saw a good fish of at least 55cm amongst the red morwong and other assorted fish they often spear. This was from Dee Why headland.

You may notice when cleaning your rock blackfish that they will be really fat in the belly compartment.

That means they are likely

cannot catch red crabs.

Also remember that safety is paramount, so wear a life jacket (I like the Hobie AS4758 50+) and steel spike boots when you rock fish or bait collect. In my opinion, bait collecting for crabs is more dangerous than fishing off the rocks because you need to be down close to water level at low tide. That being

This blue was one of several caught on the outing. All fish were released.

Fishing for rock blackfish is generally done during the day, but it is possible to catch them after dark. Rock fishing, especially at night, should only be done on the flatter seas, and with the right safety equipment. If you haven’t tried it before, go with an experienced angler. live close to the sea, but for the vast majority of Sydneysiders, travelling to their fishing spots is not possible. My report this month is more based on what I have been catching and the occasional client I have been taking out.

I feel for all the people of NSW and hope that COVID goes on a permanent holiday out of this world so we can start holidaying ourselves.

reports of even bigger pigs from the upper northern beach suburbs rocks like Barrenjoey, North Avalon and South Avalon rocks.

These headlands mentioned are open to a southeast swell, and I recommend fishing them when the swell is only up to 1m. You can fish these headlands in a larger swell but you will be more restricted to fishing only some higher ledges or high boulders.

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Seija Roenneberg, a first-time beach angler, caught four legal whiting on this outing and several more smaller fish returned. Her big smile says it all. to be in spawn or in milt. I recommend that if you catch enough for a feed to look out for the fat belly fish and maybe release them for future stocks. I’m not saying you should release all your pigs at this time of year, but it’s good to release the bigger fish which are the breeding stock for the future. Besides, the larger fish are not as good on the plate as the smaller fish (i.e. from around 0.75kg to 2kg). Fisheries research has indicated that large pigs around that 55cm mark or 3.5kg are at least 40 years old.

Groper are also prevalent as well, with fish to 8kg+ being landed. One local caught and released a 12kg blue groper, which is an impressive fish.

Red crabs are regarded as the best bait for this species, but you have to be practical. The crabs you see above the high tide mark are also a great bait for this species if you

the case, you are more vulnerable to waves when collecting in often waveimpact zones whilst bait collecting amongst the red weed beds and cracks.

Please take note!

Some plate-size snapper have been caught distance casting off Freshwater Rocks.

Fish below the ramp approximately 50m to the north and cast wide out there about 70-90m.

There are some trevally and tarwhine amongst the mix as well. The baits used are squid strips, salted mackerel fillet and peeled prawns.

Kings are showing up

A warm evening could mean mulloway.

This nice school mulloway was caught off the beach on a live mullet.

during their migration run. Some good fish are being speared off this headland and being caught by anglers as well. A good bait is a live yellowtail cast out on the bottom and suspended under a float rig. The Daiwa Power Splash popper and Break Through, both 140mm long, have been catching fish as well.

BEACH FISHING The Aussie salmon run will continue and you will find that they will be in good volume this month, with fish to 3.5kg and possibly even larger being caught. Ganged pilchards are the go-to bait. You can also tie a leader of about 20cm on the swivel that is tied to your main line, and put on a fly or surf popper with your ganged pilchard below, and cast it out. Sometimes you won’t get a strike on the pilchard but on the fly or popper!

The beginning of the whiting run for 2021-22 is about to start. Generally, October still has chilly water temps off the ocean beaches, although there can be a change in water temp by a tongue of current moving in. A southerly at this time of the year can bring the water temperature up as little as 1-2°C which can make a substantial change from nil to whiting caught on the day.

This month should be good for tarwhine and bream also migrating, but remember that the beginning of this month can be slow. Later in the month can be better, although that can vary To page 61

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Sydney

Beating the lockdown blues SYDNEY NTH

Steve Winser

With water temps still low in the Harbour, it’s been a mixed bag lately.

The lockdowns and the diabolical run of weather have been playing havoc with our guiding business, but we have been managing to get out occasionally.

Winter time species such as bream and blackfish have been continuing to go well in the shallow water.

Our best bream recently was 44cm, with good numbers of fish in the high 30s. These fish have been in very shallow water often less than a metre. We like to fish for them in a bread berley trail with baits suspended under a small bobby cork.

Kingfish catches have been very sporadic as these lower temps slow their metabolism. Lately they have been feeding on one day out of four. Some good fish around the metre mark are out there to be had, but be prepared for plenty of

From page 60

slow sessions as well. As usual, fresh squid is the key.

The squid have been going well over both the ribbon weed and the kelp.

One good session we had was with Peter and Tracey doing a Harbour half-day trip for Pete’s birthday.

Usually with half-day trips, the limited hours also limit the variety of species we will target, but this trip managed to vary it up a bit.

After a good session on the bream and blackfish in the shallows, I had a little bait from a wash trip in the esky and with conditions good, we went out the front to an area I usually can’t access as it requires a very low swell. Our target species was bluebone.

They were a bit tricky on the bite to start, with soon Pete got his eye in and after a couple of intense battles, he wound up with a matching pair of big blues around the 10kg mark.

Even on the 24kg king gear, these things go like freight trains, so for a first effort he did remarkably well!

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Pete with one of two big bluebone he caught on a half-day guided trip.

What better way to spend your birthday than catching blues.

work, Peter!

This month should see a continuation of the great run of the cold water species – bream, blackfish, drummer and groper. In regards to kingfish, unless we see a new batch of fish enter the harbour, I suspect the fishing will remain similar to last month.

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and will continue through until late June next year, or even later. However, I have caught jewfish on every month of the year.

With the abundance of food ever increasing on the beach and the slow climb in water temp, the metabolism of the warmer water species is increasing. They will digest food quicker and will want to feed more frequently. Small tarwhine or whiting are good bait (obviously only use legal size fish for bait), along with big beach worms, live yellowtail, mullet and any of these fish filleted or butterflied. And of course, a fresh squid whole or in strips is always welcomed amongst your bait arsenal.

When targeting

to Collaroy and Dee Why beaches for any of the above species.

If by some chance the people of NSW are able to fish this month, I think you will cherish the moments with gratitude, peace of mind, and a sense of calm and relief.

In the meantime, keep researching on YouTube (my channel is youtube. com/c/AlexBellissimo), read this great magazine and stay enthusiastic!

• For rock and beach guided fishing or tuition in the northern Sydney region, visit www. bellissimocharters. com.au, email alex@ bellissimocharters.com.au or call Alex Bellissimo on 0408 283 616.

from day to day and from beach to beach. You may notice when you’re on one beach that the water on your toes is quite cool, then when you go to another beach that chill is not as obvious; it may be slightly warmer.

Some bay-type beaches facing more to the eastnortheast may not get the ocean currents from a specific direction, therefore the water temperature is colder on one beach and warmer on another – something to take note of at this time of the year.

Anglers often ask this question: when does the jewfish season start?

They start this month

These bigger blues are the breeders, so after a couple of happy snaps, they went back to swim away. Nice

mulloway, most anglers prefer the PM period, starting an hour or two before dark. However, if you’re really keen, starting at 3am or even earlier allows you to have a go at a jewfish and there will probably be very few anglers on the beach. Then around dawn or a little after you can start fishing for whiting and bream. You may want to catch some bait or fishing for whiting and bream beforehand and then targeting jewfish on dusk and into the dark period.

Literally all of the surf beaches produce fish throughout Sydney, but some fish better than others. In my area, you can fish Palm Beach, Newport, North Narrabeen

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OCTOBER 2021

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How to fish the boat ramps SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

Hopefully by the time this report hits newsstands and letterboxes, lockdownaffected anglers will be able

to get out on their favourite waterways, whether it’s from the shore or out of a boat.

I have been one of the lucky ones, in that I’ve been able to go out on the Port Hacking and Woronora rivers in the Sutherland Shire and

Bay, Water Street in Burraneer Bay, Port Hacking Road in Dolans Bay and at the end of Gunnamatta Bay. The first four will accommodate small to large boats, while the last one is mainly used by small tin boats.

One thing that I have found over the years is that they all will produce fish throughout the year. It’s just a matter of working out which one produces what at what time of the year. To give you a bit of a heads up in this month’s column, I will let you know what each ramp is better and for what species.

• Swallow Rock Drive at Grays Point: whiting, bream, flathead and poddy mullet. Mainly at the top of the tide.

• Wonga Road in Yowie Bay:

poddy mullet and garfish.

All of the above ramps would be a great place to take the kids for a short fishing session. The only problem is that they can become very busy on the weekends during the summer months.

Other places that you could try drifting would be the stretch of water just downstream of the Woronora Bridge, in the middle of the channel on the downstream side of the 8-knot area at Lugarno, between the Tom Uglys and Captain Cooks Bridge, in 5m of water off Brighton-Lee Sand Beach and along the outside edge of the groynes at Silver Beach, Kurnell.

Whether you are fishing off Coogee, Maroubra, Wanda, Cronulla or any of the Royal

If you don’t have a boat, try fishing beside a boat ramp. Just remember to fish very light.

Squid should still be about in big numbers and big sizes.

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OCTOBER 2021

get amongst a few fish, from both the shore and out of my own boat.

I have received a number of reports of dusky flathead, bream, mullet and whiting being caught while drifting in the deeper bays of the Port Hacking River and just upstream of Bonnet Bay in the Woronora River.

Try using whole prawns for bait the next time you are out. When drifting for flathead I prefer to have a running ball or bean sinker down onto the swivel with a leader of about 45cm and a number 1 or 2 long shanked hook. This way the hook can go right through the body of the prawn, and the bend comes out in the head.

If I was using a live prawn, I would use a 1/0 Owner circle hook and pin it through the bottom part of the prawn’s tail.

Those of you who have already fished in the Port Hacking would know that there are only five boat ramps.

There is one at the end of Swallow Rock Drive at Grays Point, Wonga Road in Yowie

You can catch your own beach worms down in Bate Bay. If you are not good at it, you can buy frozen king worms at stores like Fergos Tackle World. King worms are great for whiting, bream, trevally and flathead. bream, squid, tailor, kingfish, flathead, leatherjackets, luderick, poddy mullet and garfish. Any tide.

• Water Street in Burraneer Bay: Poddy mullet, leatherjackets and luderick.

Any tides.

• Port Hacking Road in Dolans Bay: bream, squid, tailor, kingfish, flathead, leatherjackets, poddy mullet and garfish. Any tide.

• End of Gunnamatta Bay. Bream, flathead, whiting,

National Park beaches you will be in with a chance to catch yourself a few bream, salmon and the odd tailor while using half pilchards. What you will need to do is find yourself a deep gutter and work your bait right through the gutter, as the fish may be feeding on the edge rather than in the deeper part of the gutter.

The next time you try fishing off one of the above beaches you could use set of ganged hooks with either a

If you come across a school of feeding tailor, try casting a small metal lure into the school. If you are trolling one, don’t just drive through the school – go to the side of it.

whole pilchard or garfish with a running ball sinker down on top. After casting it out into the surf slowly, wind it back in. To stop the bait from twisting you should rig the bait so that the top hook of the set of gangs is pinned through the eye.

Bonito, striped tuna, tailor, salmon and kingfish can be trolled up close inshore from Boat Harbour and down to the Sea Cliff Bridge. Small skirted lures, shallow and deep diving hardbodied lures like the Bagley Rumble B 09 and 11s.

You could also try working the washes with small metal lures like the TT Metal Series Hard Core.

If the swell is not too big offshore then you should try fishing off the beaches in Bate Bay. A mate of mine has been catching a few beach worms off the beach at Greenhills and then turning them into some stud whiting, bream and dart. I am not a good beach wormer, but I can get enough to get me by for a few hours on the beach. I prefer to use pilchards in a bag as the attractor, and a whole pilchard squashed up in a stocking as the teaser that goes in your hand.

Off the rocks there are still plenty of squid about, making it worthwhile to remember to put those squid jigs in the bag.

Find the kelp and sand off the rocks and you will find the squid. Boat Harbour is worth the walk in for squid, bream, trevally and luderick.

Garie and Stanwell Park beaches should start to fire over the next month or so.

Whole pilchards or garfish for the salmon and tailor, squid for the mulloway, half pilchards and beach worms for the bream and trevally, and if you are fishing in the gutters next to the rocks you should try using peeled whole prawns. Remember to take a few metal lures with you as well for those fish that are feeding out wide.

Of late I have been working the flats, where there are weed beds in the Port Hacking and have had very good success using lightly weighted ZMan Slim SwimZ and GrubZ. Working them as slowly as possible has been getting the results. A number of the bigger fish have come from just leaving the plastics sitting on the ribbon weed.

As usual, the Port Hacking has plenty of leatherjackets feeding along the rock/weedy shoreline and around pontoons and wharfs.

Try using a paternoster rig and either small piece of peeled prawn or squid for bait.

If you like a bit of a slower pace in your fishing you could always grab a few floats and some green weed or cabbage and have ago for luderick. There are still plenty of them about. Tailor and the odd salmon or two will start to show up in the back areas of South West Arm and off Bonnie Vale.

Try pumping a few nippers at Maianbar and then wade across the creek that leads to the Basin and then have a fish off the sand spit on the run-out tide.

Don’t forget to keep those reports and picture coming in to gbrown1@ iprimus.com.au, and don’t forget I don’t want to know about your secret spot, just what you caught it on.

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Battle the winds out deep pick up the odd big sea-run bream and flathead in the gutters as by-catch and the big bream can really give you some curry on light gear.

The lower reaches of the Richmond River should see some mud crabs fire up as the warmer weather brings them in. Emigrant Creek and North Creek are the spots to start looking for these tasty guys. The best baits are blackfish frames and any mullet frames left over from your bait fishing trips.

If you are after a feed of flathead, now is a great time to get out in the Richmond River and get amongst them.

The deep water right in front of the Porpoise Wall, the channel in front of the RSL Club and the deep hole

BALLINA

Joe Allan

The close-in reefs will still produce good snapper although towards the end of the month they will start to move out to the 32 fathoms. This is where to look when you can get there, when the tide allows you to fish it.

The northeast winds that will start over the next few months will make it harder to fish the deeper reefs, but as the water warms the cobia and mahimahi should start to move onto the close reefs.

Getting some live baits such as yakkas and slimy mackerel and throwing these around the FADs is always a good start. I like to rig these on Gamakatsu Live Bait hooks.

The beaches are fishing well, and the dart have started to come on nicely.

The Gorilla Big Eye slugs are a great profile to use for these guys.

You may still get the odd tailor off the beach, but these will still start to become scarcer. You will

Fin Crisp with a feisty bream.

The author with a nice early season bass caught on a Bassman Spinnerbait.

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Noah Rampling is starting to out fish his old man regularly with catches like this beautiful mulloway from the river.

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OCTOBER 2021

Ben Rampling with a couple of crackers offshore from Ballina.

upriver from the Burns Point Ferry are some good places to start looking. Big, bright soft plastics with tails that disperse a good amount of water are key. Also, live bait is also irresistible to these big girls, and as the water warms up you can come across some large mangrove jack as by-catch. A by-catch like that is awesome!

Over the flats around the town stretch of the river, the whiting should start to come on the bite for anglers using surface lures.

Try targeting the shallow flats as the water moves up with the incoming tide.

The best lure to try is the Sugapen from Bassday, and I can’t wait until this time of year to get into these tasty things. I have found that retrofitting Atomic Trick Bitz Assist Hooks for those non-committal fish

can turn an average day into a really good one.

The Aussie bass season is now open and in full swing, and this is my favourite time to get out and chase these feisty fish.

They will be on the move to the upper reaches of the creeks and river arms, but don’t overlook the main river stretches also. The fish are always hungry this time of year after doing their business, I like to use big Bassman Spinnerbaits and Atomic Hardz Vib 70 with rattle. The best colours to try in the Atomics are black beauty, rock crab and gold wolf.

As the weather warms up and the bugs start to get out, the surface action will hot up – but most likely it won’t be that great for a little while yet. Any surface crawlers should work well though when the cicadas start to sing; it can be cricket scores on this style of lures.

Until next month, tight lines.

Zac Skyring channeling his inner male model while catching bream on Atomic Cranks.

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NSW

Fishing is heating up COFFS HARBOUR

Dayne Taylor

Spring is a fantastic time to hit the coastal estuaries – the days are magic, and the weather really turns it on. Just like the daytime temperature, the fishing really heats up!

The first couple of hot days where the humidity cranks it right up in spring

the job just fine.

The NSW bass season has officially been open for the past month, and a lot of great fish have been caught and released already. I’d expect the topwater action to improve over the next month as the water temp rises and the cicadas start to emerge, and the bug life increases with the warmer weather patterns. Spring is an ideal time to get that aggressive

to get her to bite also.

On the beaches and around the headlands we are continuing to see a good run of tailor, and the odd salmon has been hanging around also. Both metal slugs and ganged pilchards have been doing the trick.

Off the headlands, some really nice-sized mulloway have been taken. Paddle tail plastics and shallow diving crankbait lures around the

Snapper are being caught on a range of lures and baits.

reaction bite out of a bass, so traditional methods like spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and soft pastics with a beetle spin attached are perfect this month. Never rule out a topwater either though!

The flathead fishing has been great down around the middle sections of our estuaries, and some quality larger female fish have been caught and released in recent weeks. Typically, you will come across a patch of fish in the mid-30s to mid-40s hanging around a larger female trying to impress her, if you start to catch a couple, keep plugging away because you might be lucky enough

6” size work well to mimic a mullet or tailor in the washes. Be sure to upgrade the hardware to handle these big powerful fish. And of course, your line and leader will need to handle some serious abrasion, so a leader and line class around 60lb or more is required.

A few locals have also enjoyed some quality black drummer fishing from a few small headlands lately. If you have not fished for drummer, I suggest you give it a crack.

They pull extremely hard and are the masters of bricking you in rock ledges. Find an area adjacent to a ledge that has a good amount of white

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the sounder on a downrigger is very irresistible though.

Slimy mackerel and yakkas are my preferred live baits, but the kingies will also make short work of a whole squid.

Until next month, cast like there’s no tomorrow and retrieve like you have all the time in the world.

Some good pearl perch are being caught by anglers targeting snapper.

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course, the Coffs Coast has a population of kings all year round, but traditionally we see some better numbers of 1m+ kingfish through springtime.

Topwater stickbait lures and big knife jigs are a great way of tempting one of these bigger fish. A well-presented bait dropped to marked fish on

LE

are a great time to go and target a few mangrove jack.

We are lucky enough to have jacks call our part of the world home all year round, but they really do come to life when the water temp starts to climb. Reaction baits like topwater poppers or walk-the-dog style floating stickbaits are great tools to help search for a pack of fired-up jacks. Once you have encouraged a bite or two, switch things up between suspending jerkbait lures and soft plastics.

Anything that replicates a poddy mullet around the 100- 80mm size in either a paddle tail or curl tail will do

AVA

Whiting are always a welcome catch.

water covering it, berley up with some bread, and fish with a small bean sinker and a size 1 hook. I suggest a 30lb line minimum, as they do pull you through a lot of nasty stuff on the rocks and the sheer size and weight of these fish can sometimes take a bit of lifting from the water to land.

OFFSHORE Snapper are plentiful at the moment, and the larger models have made their way towards the deeper reefs and gravel grounds in around the 30-60m range.

Slow pitch metal jigs, octo/ squid style jigs and of course strip baits dropped in these depths will provide great numbers of snapper along with a plethora of other mixed reef species schooled up together. Some great pearl perch, Venus tuskfish and teraglin are always welcome by-catch whilst fishing these same depths. A quality GPS/ sounder makes finding and staying on these deeper water fish much easier.

The kingfish will be in town this month. Of

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NSW

The deep blue yonder COFFS COAST

Rob Taylor

Unable to travel far afield due to COVID lockdown rules across the state, NSW fishers have had to concentrate on their home fishing grounds this past month. There was initially plenty of confusion about where we could fish, who we could fish with, or whether we could fish at all, but it gradually became clear that fishing within Local Government Area boundary limits was the best scenario that regional NSW anglers could hope for. Fortunately, plenty of fish were still landed despite the rules.

The creeks, rivers and estuaries all produced catches typical of this time of year with winter whiting, bream and flathead all on the bite for those anglers willing to put in the time on the water. Bass too have also started their early spring stirrings in the lower reaches, with some solid fish taken just above the brackish line.

The beaches and rocks have been all about tailor again, with plenty of reports of elusive silver ghosts hitting the sand and more than a few sharks taking baits intended for mulloway.

The talk of the stones has been the run of solid longtail tuna still cruising just beyond the white water, but the hard part has been getting a bait past the tailor and then keeping it away from mac tuna long enough for a longtail to find it.

fellow New South Welshmen.

Looking ahead, and local Coffs Harbour anglers can expect plenty of fishing options to be on the table as the weather transitions into spring and all the promise that brings.

to arrive.

Bass season will be kicking off in earnest and some rivers will be opening back up after annual eastern cod closures, although I suspect only locals will get to enjoy the fruits if we’re

Marshal Bye with a cracker dawn snapper taken on a plastic.

The author with one of the many mac tuna feeding voraciously off the coast at the moment. Both kayakers and boaties have been having a ball spinning the tuna schools with metal slugs.

bagged two solid fish well into September, which is a time of year when my longtail gear is usually gathering mothballs.

It may well become the norm that these fish run later into each year, potentially becoming a viable all yearround target.

The rocks will also

CREEKS, RIVERS AND ESTUARIES The creeks, bigger rivers and local estuaries will start to see some big lizards moving down around the mouths. Although extra-large glide baits seem all the rage at the moment, any number of artificials can lure a big flatty into a take. And, as always, don’t overlook bait options, with yabbies and live poddy mullet a sure-fire alternative to lures.

Bream and whiting will also be on the cards, although the whiting tend to thin as we prepare for the summer run

given time, reef and gravel patches from 8-50m depths will almost certainly hold fish.

Expect to also get pearlies and trag, particularly when the

A nice-sized bass taken just above the brackish line.

These little battlers will be heading upstream by now. sun starts to set. Big ocean mulloway will also be hunting these same reef systems. For snapper, either drifting with plastics or anchoring and float lining will find the fish, or in the latter’s case, bring them to you.

On the offshore pelagic front, it’s hard not to notice

Moving offshore, and most of the boaties have stayed in close given the mixed messaging from the government over the (apparent) 3nm limit rule. Most anglers chose to play it safe rather than cop a hefty fine for venturing out to what must be one of the more COVID-free areas, the deep blue. However, plenty of snapper, pearlies and mulloway have helped assuage a grumpy boat fleet so all told, I think we’ve had it rather good when compared to some of our

still in lockdown. Some solid bass have been taken in the lower reaches of our bass systems, while tiddlers are already taking lures higher up.

Expect the fish to move along the creeks and rivers upstream as their annual return to the higher reaches gets underway.

ROCKS AND BEACHES I’ve been shocked at the continuing run of longtail tuna we’ve been enjoying of late; I

Marshal with a solid offshore mulloway.

be worth a look for winter faithfuls such as tailor, bream and mulloway, while drummer numbers will tend to fade as the end of year approaches.

I’ve noticed some extra-large blue groper cruising the rocks while longtail fishing, so these bruisers are also well worth a shot.

On the beaches, expect to see this extraordinary run of tailor fishing slowly fade, but good fish will still be hunting the gutters for another month or two. Mulloway will also be in the gutters, and there’s no better bait than live tailor so if you manage to spin up a chopper and you have a decent gutter in front of you, swim it back out with hooks in it.

OFFSHORE We’re right in the midst of peak snapper time, with plenty of stonker reds there for the taking by boaties and kayakers alike. While it’s always difficult to pinpoint exactly where they’ll be at any

throughout October and are always a ton of fun on light spin gear. Position yourself upwind of a feeding school, cut your motor and cast metal slugs over the feeding frenzy for some old-school spinning fun. Flat-out retrieve rates are needed to get the strikes.

ROCKS

Marshal Bye with two solid reds taken from Station Creek.

Brad Bye with a perfect sized red that fell for a Gulp 7” Jerk Shad in white.

the huge schools of mac tuna, bonito and salmon that have been feeding heavily off the beaches, and these schools should still be forming up

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NSW

Oktober Fish Fest!

THE HASTINGS

Mark Saxon castawayestuarycharters@bigpond.com

We might not be able to attend the famous German beer festival – as a matter of fact we may not be allowed to do a lot of things – but at the time of writing this report we can still go fishing in most parts of NSW, if you do it locally.

Hopefully we are out of lockdown when you read this, and life is returning to a bit of normality. Let’s look at what has been happening on the fishing front as well as what you could do to get your fishing fix.

The bass season kicked off with some very nice fish in the Wilson River and Maria section, and the fish were very receptive to diving

hardbodies such as Jackall Chubbys around the edges.

Soft vibes (e.g. Samaki Vibelicious) and metal blades in the deeper sections have also proved effective. The quality of the early season fish is outstanding, and on a recent trip we got several in the mid to high 40cm range.

Something fishos need to do, especially when fishing the Wilson River, is come prepared to try a few

Beware – the addiction of surface fishing is real! jighead to your leader, and then pick out a plastic to suit.

Seriously, it is that easy and if you’re not sure on gear go to your local tackle store they will help you out. Once you have started it’s a great way to relax and de-stress, plus get a feed of fresh fish.

The great thing about flathead is they are in good numbers in our local waters, and there are many ways to target them. Those anglers who have fished for them for a while will know how well they respond to surface lures on the shallow flats.

What was once considered a by-catch while fishing for whiting on poppers has now evolved into a full-on sportfishing technique, and some anglers may be confused when they see another fisho throwing 20cm+ surface lures on big heavy rods, looking for all the world like a cod fisher who’s lost the plot (I won’t mention swimbaits – not at this stage anyway).

This style of fishing is not about catching big numbers of fish – although you can have multiple big

fish days – it is more about fooling that bigger girl into biting. If that interests you, all you have to do is find shallow flats in your local waterway, and grab one of the many surface lures that are now available. I find it hard to go past a Crossfire Bent Minnow style lure, which has accounted for a few beasts, sits well in the water for my retrieve style, and makes a commotion.

You can also get results on other big bents and the larger Sugapens.

Happy croc hunting!

Mick Britten with a great upriver mulloway.

Flatties love big surface lures.

different techniques. Just because a lure was catching fish last week does not mean it will work next trip, so be prepared to find out what is best on the day.

Flathead fishing in the Hastings has continued to be excellent since the floods, and good catches are being taken all through the system using soft plastics along the edges. This has been simple, and a feed is usually forthcoming if you move around a bit. If you’re new to using plastics, a light spin stick with a small threadline reel spooled with 3kg braided line and a length of 4-5kgo leader will get you started.

At the working end, connect a 1/6oz or 1/4oz

James with a quality bass taken on a Jackall Chubby.

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OCTOBER 2021

A nice Wilson River bass.

NSW

Bring home mixed bags FORSTER

Luke Austin

This month can be absolutely amazing here on the mid north coast of NSW. Nice calm, cool mornings give way to perfect sunny spring days, and as the days and aquatic environments warm, so do the appetites of those predatory species that we all love to catch!

Wallis Lake is a real

have been very good lately and have been hitting the cleaning tables by the boatload. If you decide to chase these tasty little fish please remember that there is a limit of 20 per person, and make yourself familiar with the differences between sand whiting and trumpeter whiting.

Sand whiting have also woken up in a big way in recent weeks. We have been having a ball chasing them on surface lures, and

Shallow water snapper can be amazing this month.

Ash pulled this beaut fish from the reefs to the north. mixed bag in October and will fish well for most species. With water temperatures up over 20°C in most parts of the system, there is plenty of bait on the move and loads of predators in tow looking for an easy meal! Flathead can be caught all over the place now, with the run-out tide an essential piece of the puzzle. The fish are in great condition at the moment with bellies absolutely full of small prawns and baitfish so getting them to bite can be hard. Small 3” soft plastics seem to be working the best but that tide has to be well and truly running out to get any bites!

There have been a few bigger flathead taken down around the Fish Co-op by anglers drifting live baits and whole pilchards, but for numbers you are better off concentrating your efforts up around The Cut, Twin Islands and the back of Wallis Island.

Trumpeter whiting

while you can find them just about anywhere, at this time of year I like to focus on the flats up around Wallis Island, The Cut, Yahoo Island and

Coomba Park.

October will see good numbers of bream up in our rivers. The Wallamba has been fishing particularly well, and the fish are hammering all sorts of hardbodied crankbaits and surface lures. The fish on the weed beds are definitely there in good numbers but there don’t seem to be many big fish among them at the moment. The bream are hitting surface lures though which is still great fun no matter the size!

This month can be somewhat hit and miss on our local beaches from a fishing perspective. There are some great whiting starting to show up now and most bags are consisting of a real mixture of species, including bream, dart, salmon and tailor. Now is the perfect time of the year to get the kids down onto the beach to have a play and fish. Mastering the art of beach worming is an insanely fun family activity and once you (or the kids) get the hang of it you will have an endless supply of one of the best baits you can get!

The local stones are still producing some nice drummer and the odd groper, although bream numbers have thinned out considerably. October is a great time to hit the ledges in search of big kingfish, but you do need to be patient and lucky to find them – and even luckier to land one. Still, we often see very nice fish up to 35kg taken on the spear this month so they are definitely there!

I love fishing the shallows for big snapper this month! The mornings are often dead calm, and the trip up along the coast is a lot comfier than it was a month ago. The biggest key to a successful shallow

The local rock walls are always worth fishing this month, and you can bet there are plenty of mulloway holding there! water mission is to fish the twilight hours and/or tide changes. These are the prime bite windows, and you will often struggle to land a single fish if you’re fishing outside these times.

The deeper reefs are holding some nice trag now, however you will most likely have to fish into the evening or really early in the morning to get onto them. You can also expect to find a few nice pearl perch and snapper mixed in.

If you happen to struggle to find the reef fish out there, rest assured that you can always fill your box with some nice sand flathead on the way home.

There have been loads of these tasty treats about out there, and flathead tails are pretty hard to beat on the plate I reckon!

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NSW

No need to travel far PORT STEPHENS

Paul Lennon

Inside the estuary the flathead fishing has been exceptional, particularly up the Myall River and

dirtier water. Pinks, whites and motor oil are my go-to when fishing these areas, and hardbodies around 100mm with a rattle in them also work well.

Bream are also in good numbers, with the rock walls,

The apprentice Joey Lennon showing his dad how it’s done. west of Soldiers Point through to Allworth and Oyster Cove. These upper parts of the bay will fish well for another month or so, then a lot of the fish will start to make their way down the system to spawn.

There should be some real crackers around, with fish up to the magical metre mark a possibility. Just remember these big girls are full of millions of eggs for the next few months and should be handled with care before being released.

I am a big fan of natural coloured plastics for flathead, however I find the best for the upper parts of the system are those that stand out in the

Port Stephens Estuary Charters

oyster racks and rock bars around Soldiers Point and Pindimar producing some monsters well over 40cm.

It’s the right time of year to catch mulloway in the river, with the Karuah bridges holding fish to 20lb.

Fish the backs of the pylons with soft vibe style lures around 80-120mm long on the tide changes, especially early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

There should be some good blue swimmers getting around now as the water is starting to warm up. Try throwing a trap in around Tilligerry Creek, Tahlee or North arm cove areas.

There are still a few blackfish on the Nelson Bay and Anchorage rock walls and on the other side around Windy Whoppa, but they will taper off as we get further into the month so take advantage of them while you can.

ROCKS While the water has warmed up there still seem to be plenty of winter fish around, with drummer being caught from the wash zones around Fingal to Rocky Point.

There are also good luderick still being caught from the ocean rocks, with any sheltered bay or cove firing when there’s a bit of swell on.

Joel Muddle with a tidy little river mulloway.

When there’s no swell, those same protected areas are well worth casting around for some squid. I like to use 3.0 size jigs off the rocks, with pinks and greens being my favourite colours.

BEACHES It’s coming into one of the best times for beach fishing, and there should be some nice whiting starting to appear. Live worms or pipis on a two-hook long shank rig is the most effective way to target them. This way of

fishing is also deadly on bream and dart, and will pick up the odd salmon and tailor too so more often than not it results in a great mixed bag.

There are always a few mulloway on the beaches through October, with Stockton, Samurai and Fingal the pick of the places to find one. While you can catch them during the day, the best time to target beach mulloway is those first couple of hours after dark. I like to use a live bait of some

Spring kicks into gear SWANSEA

Jason Nunn

AThe anglers who live in Lake Macquarie must be the most fortunate anglers on the NSW coast at the moment – we have the biggest saltwater lake in the southern hemisphere with no commercial fishing, plus adjacent beaches and the channel out to the sea. We’re blessed for choice in spite of the restrictions.

At the time of writing, if you’re within Lake Macquarie, you can fish as far north as Dudley North headland, as that’s where our LGA finishes, and to the south as far as Ghostlys Headland. Any further south than that and you’re in the Central Coast shire. If you’re heading out to sea, you can’t travel any further out than 5km.

You can fish with multiple people from your household, or fish with one friend from another household – provided your boat is big enough

Good snapper have been coming from close in around the islands.

ens estuary system the beautiful Port Steph signed g charter that can be de with a calm water fishin family bait fishing to to suit your needs from hing anglers. hardcore lure and fly fis

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OCTOBER 2021

description such as whiting or tailor, but whole beach worms or mullet fillets will also work well.

OFFSHORE I think the 5km restriction during lockdown has taught many anglers that they may not need to travel as far as they usually do to catch quality snapper. Little Island through to Fingal Bay down to Fishermans has produced some beautiful big reds to 6kg recently for both bait and plastic fishers.

There are still plenty of luderick in Swansea Channel.

to allow the two of you to socially distance. If you like, you can wear a head sock instead of a traditional mask.

Remember that restrictions can and do change, so keep an eye on the latest health advice and restrictions to make sure you’re fully compliant.

WHAT’S BITING At this time of year we start to see that spring theme kick into gear. Northeast winds have already started offshore, and that will continue for most of this month.

Inshore there are still a few squire getting caught on the inshore reefs, but again, you can only travel 5km from shore, and once you get past the inshore reefs there’s not much else. You can drift and catch a flathead, but with the fluctuations in water temperature, the fishing might be a bit hit-and-miss.

Still, it might be a good thing that the fish are getting a rest from angling pressure offshore. We may see better fishing when we come out of lockdown.

Big schools of Australian salmon are prowling offshore at the moment, and they will probably still be there in the coming weeks. They’re at the tail end of their spawning period, and will start to leave the area soon, and won’t return until the new year.

Yes, there will always be To page 73

NSW

Fishing options opening up CENTRAL COAST

Jamie Robley

Hopefully by the time you’re reading this we are starting to enjoy some more freedom, after months of lockdown imposed upon us.

Luckily, many of us in our coastal region have avoided the worst of it, and a large percentage of local anglers live quite close to the water,

so fishing has remained within travelling limits.

Last year I relocated to a different suburb and now live in a spot surrounded by water, some of which is incredibly close to my front door. So obviously this makes things easier. Although I do feel sorry for a few mates in Sydney who’ve not been able to get out of their local government area for months on end and I know how keen they are. There’s no

real bright side, although I’ll say that if anything, this has mainly occurred during our slower fishing months.

Looking ahead now, things are definitely opening up as far as fishing options go.

The lakes have been gradually warming since late August and fish like bream, flathead and whiting are much more active now. Typically though, weather at this time of year can be a bit unpredictable and

The channel running straight past the town at Woy Woy is an excellent place to look for flathead this month. A few bream and whiting can also be expected here.

From page 72

stragglers, but not the vast numbers that you get in the cooler months.

Most of our attention this month will be focussed on the estuary, because the lake has a fairly consistent water temperature, as it’s protected from the brunt of the cold currents along the coast. In the beginning of the month we could see the first of the prawn run. Admittedly in previous years the October run hasn’t been great, but this year we did have a warmish finish to winter, and we’re already seeing quite a few juvenile greasy back prawns. That may indicate we’ll get an October run (7-10 days after full moon), although the better run will be in November.

Bream and whiting numbers increase in conjunction with prawn run.

When the whiting build in numbers, live prawns and tube worms will be very effective, and you can expect a by-catch of bream. Through October and November, we get a spawning run of bream, with travelling fish move back in. We can expect a lot of school size fish between 23-26cm, which will be on the sand flats where the whiting are, particularly when the prawn run is on. Over time the fish have learned they can get a feed there while they spawn. A few bream will be in and around Belmont Bay and Swansea Flats, but the channel will be better during the prawn run.

Swansea Bridge always good as well, and most

anglers use bait here, because the current runs so quickly. It’s best to time your trip around the tide change.

Salts Bay is better for targeting bream on lures. You can get good results on 2-3” soft plastics rigged on 1/12oz or 1/8oz jigheads and nice light line, around 3kg fluoro and 3-4kg braid.

While you’re targeting bream on lures, the flathead won’t be too far away. A lot of guys will start targeting the flatties in these shallower areas, as they are moving out of the deeper water where they’ve been holding up during the cooler months.

Anglers are still catching plenty of luderick but in the coming weeks these fish will thin out. A fair few schools that were in the estuary will move out and be caught from the rock platforms along the ocean.

Depending on current, we’ll see the whiting and bream numbers along our coastal beaches increase in October. The mulloway guys fishing the build-ups to the full moon should also be rewarded. Along the beaches we’ve seen some really nice holes and little gutters forming, which bodes well for the fishing in the coming weeks and months. The condition of the beaches should further improve as summer sets in, as the prevailing northeasterlies will form the beaches up a bit better.

In October we traditionally see an increase in blue swimmer crabs – just remember that you can only use witches hats or drop dillies in the lake. Closed round or rectangular mud crab

pots are illegal.

We are starting to see some squid already. They are patchy though; some guys have been going out there catching 12-14 in a quick session while others are struggling. Regardless of the brand, small jigs (1.8-2.5) are the most effective jigs in the lake. Natural colours (blues or greens) are always productive during prawn run, but it’s still good to have something with a bit of colour, such as orange or pink, in case that’s what the squid want on the day.

A few kingfish have been getting caught in the lake in recent weeks, generally by

changes quickly. So as I often say, keep an eye on weather forecasts to plan your fishing to coincide with potentially productive slots in the weather.

Don’t forget to factor in the moon when planning ahead, as generally the darker moon phase and the week leading up to the full moon is better than the first week after a full moon.

The worst period is often the few nights when the moonlight is strongest, and particularly the first few mornings just after a bright full moon. Keep that in mind and I can assure you, failed trips will become less common!

As mentioned last month, flathead kick into gear in September and October and this is very much what I’ve encountered in recent weeks.

Like many of us, I really enjoy tucking into a feed of flathead and I’ve been finding a few in the lower reaches of the local feeder creeks and the southern end of Lake Macquarie. But I can highly recommend hitting Woy Woy and The Entrance for those living in the southern or middle sections of the Central Coast. Both places are pretty easy to fish, although weed drifting along with the tides page to keep abreast of the latest restrictions, see our fishing reports, product news and competitions. You can also visit our store to buy bait, you’ll just need to collect your order at the door rather than going inside.

• Fisherman’s Warehouse Tackle World has a large range fresh and frozen bait as well as a huge range of rods, reels, lures and accessories.

They also sell and service outboard motors, and have a competitively-priced selection of new and second-hand boats. The friendly staff are all experienced local anglers,

A monster Swansea Channel tailor. anglers targeting jew with live squid or live yellowtail. Some of the kings have been over a metre long, which is a great size for the lake.

Hopefully some restrictions will have eased before the next issue of Fishing Monthly, and I’ll have more to report. In the meantime, you can check out our Facebook

and they’re always happy to share their knowledge, whether you’re a novice or experienced angler. Drop in for a chat at 804 Pacific Highway, Marks Point, or give them a call on (02) 4945 2152. You can also find them on Facebook, or check out their website at www. fishermanswarehouse.com.au.

October is normally a prime time for flathead. This Tuggerah Lakes flatty was kept for the dinner table. can be a bit annoying at times.

Aside from that, there are plenty of spots for shore-based anglers around Woy Woy and The Entrance. When fishing close to major towns like these though, keep any COVID-19 restrictions in mind, if they are still imposed.

Beach fishing starts to

years off our local rocks at this time of year.

Unfortunately though, October can also still have some persistent westerly winds which flatten out the sea and generally make rock fishing more challenging. This is particularly so when winds turn more northwest, which

Although salmon are the main species likely to be encountered at the beach now, you can still catch other species like bream and tailor. pick up a bit more now. While salmon are very much still the main player along our beaches, I’ve been finding a mixed lot of species in recent weeks.

One night I picked up a couple of solid tailor, with no salmon at all and another afternoon I found heaps of bream up past Budgewoi, with no salmon either. So although I keep mentioning salmon as being common at this time of year, it certainly doesn’t mean that’s the only thing you’ll catch.

The rocks tell a similar story, with a number of different species quite possible this month. Chances are if you cast out a whole pilchard you will end up finding a salmon.

There’s also every chance a decent tailor, bream or silver trevally will pick it up too.

While October isn’t regarded as a good month for bream off the rocks, I’ve certainly caught plenty of good bream over the

they often do during October.

Like a bright full moon, a northwesterly wind is another thing fish don’t like.

Offshore fishing can still be quite patchy this month and it suffers similar problems to rock fishing, with westerly winds.

As well as the seas becoming flat, the water also clears up more. When this happens, the two best strategies are to go out wider and fish deeper or, if you’re in a smaller vessel close to shore, try casting lightly weighted baits close in around any washy spots near shallow reef, bommies or headlands.

It’s very important to remain vigilant and sometimes keep the motor running when fishing very close to shallow reef or headlands, but it can provide some action if there’s some whitewash to cast towards, as this is where species like bream, trevally or tailor like to feed.

OCTOBER 2021

73

NSW

Good start to the season ILLAWARRA

Greg Clarke

October is usually a good month for anglers in the Illawarra, so this month we will see how things go as to whether we will be able to get out and have a crack, or not. If you are lucky enough to live close enough to wet a line and not get booked, this is what you might find, and what the lucky anglers who can get out have been catching.

catches. Those anglers fishing with prawns or squid and drifting the gravel have been getting good bags of mowies up to almost 2kg.

Small snapper are about but they are patchy, while the sweep have started to make their presence felt over most of the reefs. Throw in a few leatherjackets and pigfish and you can get a good catch, but if you are looking for a feed you should stick to the flathead.

The small pelagics that

There are a few small snapper in close over the reefs. The bigger ones are out wider.

Everyone’s favourite, the good old sand flathead, has made a good start to the season. Catches of good size fish have been coming in from almost all of the sand patches off the coast.

They started back in the middle of August and have been on the bite ever since.

Usually this is the month that sees them getting on the tooth, but they decided to start early this year and no one is complaining.

If you happen to venture onto the gravel and the edges of the rock while drifting you should pick up a few nice mowies, as they too have been in most

were about last month are still going at it, with heaps of salmon, tailor, a few rat kings, trevally, bonito and even the odd striped tuna.

The islands off Port Kembla, Bass Point and up off National Park have seen plenty of action, and as usual small lures are the key to a successful day spinning.

Last season we saw a fairly good showing of yellowtail kings locally for those anglers who were in the right spots. Well, some of the kingies have put on a few kilos over winter. They are a little wiser this early in the season, but if you are

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OCTOBER 2021

willing to spend a bit of time catching some yellowtail or slimy mackerel or squid and keeping them alive, then casting them into the feeding schools of fish on the surface or slow trolling down deeper there is a good chance you will find a decent king or three hanging around underneath.

It will be worth a look out around Wollongong Reef (if the distance from home limits have been lifted), where you can drop some livies to the bottom for some better kings.

For those who haven’t had the pleasure off being dragged around by a big king, head down to the Banks off Greenwell Point.

It is only an hour and a bit to down there from the ‘Gong, and it should be starting to fire for kings over the next month or so.

At this time of year, 20kg fish are not uncommon – that is, if you can get them out of the water. Of course, it all depends on whether restrictions are lifted.

Back home, further offshore the yellowfin tuna were about before lockdown. The temperature charts still look OK, and historically this is always a good month for ‘fin out wide. You will usually find more albacore on the troll if you use smaller lures, then you can get them on the cubes. Most of the action has been off Bass Point and Kiama, and further south from about 50 fathoms onward, but be advised they can be patchy. Many boats miss out altogether, while others score multiple hook-ups with some yellowfin up to 70kg hitting the scales.

A few striped marlin should start to show as the water warms, and there will be plenty of sharks with the most common species being makos. They are usually very prevalent at this of year, and there are usually some casual blue sharks about as well, so you can have a very eventful and exciting day on the water out wide if everything works just right.

Back in closer there is the odd snapper still hanging about in the evenings over the inshore reefs, but you have to be lucky as most of the fish are out over the deeper reefs in 40m+ of water.

A few bream are in the bays and washes but you will have to work hard for them. By far the most common fish are the trevally. These fish are over most of the inshore reefs and getting ready to make new trevally, so a school should not be that hard to find. Usually they find you

There’ll be plenty of silver trevally about this month, but not all are as big as this one Jon caught. if you use a bit of berley.

All the salmon and tailor are not in large schools working baitfish on the surface, so you can have a good morning casting pilchards into the washes along the coast for a bit of fun.

You can do the same off the rocks around Kiama, Bass Point and Port Kembla as well as the harbour break walls for some action, particularly early in the morning, and then try using a few pieces of pilchard to pick up any trevally that seem to follow the action.

Bream have been a bit scarce but there are a few about if you work hard and use a bit of berley late in the evenings in the quiet bays.

Drummer are the main rock species at the moment, and they are still as active as they were last month with some solid fish up to 3kg coming from some of the recognized drummer spots.

With the demise of the yellowfin tuna and kingfish stocks, and marlin only a summer option, live bait fishing from the rocks seems to have lost a bit of popularity. However, there is still the chance of a few large mackerel tuna off the stones, particularly around Kiama this month.

Then there is a chance of a kingfish as they are starting to reappear, and maybe – be it ever so remote – a yellowfin tuna.

You can spend your time waiting by spinning up a few salmon.

Gone are the days that you could not get toehold on the rocks around Kiama during October to drift a live bait out, and yellowfin tuna up to 50kg were a daily occurrence along with back breaking kings, mac tuna and even the odd southern bluefin. My, how things have deteriorated over a few short years.

In the lake there are some flathead starting to

show in the main channel, along with blackfish on the edges of the weed beds if you can find some. The bream have started to move out of the creeks, and if they make it across the lake there will be some nice fish in the deeper holes in the channel and under the bridge at night.

A better bet would be Minnamurra, where there are again some flatties and blackfish in the channel along with the odd trevally or two.

On the beaches things are starting to happen as the first of the serious jewies for the season start

to appear. A couple of fish around the 16kg mark have come in, and the first of the schoolies up to 10kg have shown up, so things will get better from now until Christmas.

The usual early morning and late evening salmon and tailor have been busy, and there have even been a few flathead and the odd whiting reported on some beaches, so now that it’s warmer it’s worth a throw off the beach. The whiting will only get better as the weeks roll on.

That’s it for another month. Good fishing if you are allowed.

Isaiah Brown, 9yo from Old Bar NSW, caught this nice 57cm flathead on a ZMan Slim SwimZ Calico Candy in the Manning River near Old Bar.

NSW

Fishing in lockdown BATEMANS BAY

Anthony Stokman

As COVID-19 continues to affect our lives it also affects our lifestyles, which includes fishing.

Rules can change by the day, but at the time of writing we are allowed to fish as long as we are within our Local Government Area (LGA) and/or 5km from our front door if leaving our LGA. Fishing from a boat means staying in your LGA and no more than 5km out from the coastline. You can fish with one other friend or anybody in your household.

The difference this year is that tackle stores are unable to open, unlike last year. However, they can perform click and collect, so you can be served at the front door.

Unfortunately, some fishos are stuck in an LGA where there is no water and no fish. The

obviously been within the 5km range from the coastline due to restrictions. Lockdowns mean it hasn’t been super busy on the water, but what boats have been getting out have been finding some average to good days on snapper, mowies, sharks, flathead, nannygai, ocean perch and so on.

The lockdown has turned my extremely busy life to just busy, so I managed to get out for a look myself with mate Rob Frawley. We tried an early morning plastics flick in the shallows, and it seemed the water was very clear and quiet, so we moved out to put some baits down and micro jigged. First drop and had a snapper on within seconds on bait. It wasn’t long before the micro jig connected on a fish, and from there in 30-60m of water we were getting fish in every depth with micro jigs and many different species. I had six drops in a row with a micro jig

Georgia Poyner switching onto some spring bass. other big downside is that offshore fishing for tuna was prohibited throughout August, September and possibly into October.

The months of August and September would have seen some good tuna fishing, and as we go into October there is still a chance for tuna, particularly albacore.

We did have a good run of 20-30kg yellowfin in close last spring, so if restrictions ease, I expect boat ramps to be full of fishos itching to get out and see what’s out there.

The best fishing has

and got a different species each drop.

I was using a 60g pink and glow Nomad micro jig and it was performing extremely well until a barracuda stole it. I then dug around in Rob’s tackle box to find something similar. I found a 40g Samaki Ribcage that was also pink and glow. I was a little unsure about the weight, but conditions favoured us, and I was able to get it down even in the 60m depth, although I had to cast ahead of the drift.

Once I found the bottom

and jigged it I then kept releasing line out to stay close to the bottom before retrieving and doing it all over again.

I found I was getting a lot of hits and hook-ups from being quite aggressive with the rod tip. The jig was naturally rising off the bottom due to the drift, and without retrieving line I’d flick the rod tip up and down quite violently about six times, and then let the jig dance around and flutter down – then moments later I’d get hits or hook up. It was working extremely well.

One thing to keep in mind is there are no rules to micro jigging. I quite often start fishing them quite subtly and then try other things. Flicking them aggressively this day was the key and got us a good feed of snapper, mowies, ocean perch, leatherjacket and so on.

Other boats have been experiencing good catches with bait, plastics and jigs also. It really depends on the day and it’s good to have a few tricks up your sleeve if one method isn’t working.

As we go into October and into November, a lot of attention turns to snapper fishing as it can be one of the best times of the year for them. They are typically found in the deeper waters, spawning in big numbers up and down the coast.

Micro jigs are definitely a great option in the deeper waters, and going up to 120g or 150g will be needed on faster drifts.

It will surprise you how aggressive the fish can be; they’ll sometimes take jigs bigger than themselves!

The most accessible fishing during lockdown is land based, and fishing from the rocks and ledges can be good at this time of the year. Being early spring it’s cooler water fishing that applies, so snapper, drummer, bream, grouper, salmon and tailor are traditionally the most prolific species during October. Baits, plastics and metals with a number of approaches and rigs usually work best. But what’s now starting to be explored here in our area is slow pitch jigging, land based. I can see myself at this time next year writing more on landbased slow pitch jigging with micro jigs, as it is becoming more popular.

Obviously being land based and in shallower water, it makes sense to use a 7’6” or longer rod to work the jig away from snags and navigate hooked up fish.

Expect to see more of this style of fishing.

Harry Young with a pre-lockdown tuna.

A very popular landbased species at this time of the year is squid. There is always a great run of squid in spring when they also tend to spawn. Boat ramps are always a very popular location, and ledges that have a lot of weed or dark structure. The key to finding squid is finding the clear water. Squid love the clear water over weed and

dark areas. A good tip is to ask the spearfishers in the area where the best water quality is, because that’s what spearos are looking for and that’s where the squid will be.

Although it’s spring, the beaches will still be affected by the cold winter waters during October.

Species like salmon, tailor, trevally and bream can be

Right species, wrong size. The author with his smallest catch ever on a jig.

expected before the water temperature catches up to the air temperature, and we start seeing species like whiting.

The estuary fishers start getting excited now as they get their big plastics, swimbaits, and oversized surface lures out to chase metery flatties as they come out of their winter hibernation. This has become a popular endeavour and has made lures like big Crossfires, big Sugapens, jointed swimbaits or big cod lures become very popular for this style of fishing.

From now on, the estuary will continue to heat up, and with spring being a good time for estuary mulloway fishing there will be a lot of attention on these waters.

It will be interesting to see how the mulloway adapt to the new Batemans Bay bridge in the Clyde River.

I think it won’t change the mulloway, it’s the anglers who will have to change their fishing spot.

Upstream, bass fishers are getting their vibe on.

Vibes, small hardbodies and small spinnerbaits are popular before the surface lures come out when the temperature increases.

We are all welcoming the temperature increase as we move through spring.

It’s great to be able to pack your thermals away and enjoy a flick in the warm sun.

• For more up-to-theminute information on what’s biting where, drop into Compleat Angler Batemans Bay and have a chat to Anthony or one of the other friendly staff.

They’re located at 65A Orient St, Batemans Bay (02 4472 2559).

OCTOBER 2021

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It all flows through BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Thanks to late season winter and early spring rains, the Bermagui area looks fantastic, with green, rolling hills, along with plenty of water in the rivers, streams and dams.

With plenty of water around flowing all the

way from the mountains to the ocean, all areas are fishing brilliantly for this early in the season.

Freshwater species like bass and estuary perch are benefiting from this rain, which has flowed through to the local estuaries where some great early season action is happening.

On shore with the warming weather there is action starting to take place

in the many estuaries that surround Bermagui, most of which are containing prawn stock, which estuarine fish love to chew on. This is a good time for anglers wishing to toss lures, with prawn imitations taking the lion’s share.

Most upper shallower reaches of the systems are producing some reasonable flathead, bream, tailor and the occasional jewfish,

Tuna of all different species are likely to show in early October.

Silver trevally are a powerful cool water spring option.

with Wallaga Lake being the pick. For those wishing to fish baits like nippers or prawns, the Bermagui River is loaded with big luderick over the weedy flats. These fish are only too willing to accommodate an angler who can place a well-presented bait.

Joining in on the fun are other species like whiting, bream, trevally or mullet.

This is also a good river to target at night under the lights of the main bridge.

Here the lights reflect

the silhouettes of passing baitfish or crustaceans, making for easy prey for the many predators lurking in the shallows. Here anglers can use either lures or baits to enjoy some very interesting sessions.

In seasons past, October can be the beginning of the game season with many small to mid-range tuna, sharks and maybe even an early season billfish, so I reckon you have to give it a try.

Trolling is the obvious

way to go at this time of year. It can often be necessary to try a variety of different lure styles and actions to determine what the fish are focusing on.

Try a mixture of small to medium skirts with a couple of bibbed or bibless lures. Once you find what the fish prefer, you can concentrate your efforts.

Tuna like albacore, stripes, bluefin or yellowfin are all likely to submit to this method, with the better To page 77 (Bermagui)

Bega River Aussie bass TATHRA

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

A quarter of a century has passed since a group of keen anglers got together at the Bermagui Country Club to form the Far South Coast Bass Stocking Association, with the aim of stocking Brogo Dam with Australian bass to create a freshwater fishery for all to enjoy.

Following on from the success of this fishery for Brogo, there are now plenty of escaped bass from the dam in both the Bega and Brogo rivers.

These fish have now replenished these rivers, where there are some exceptional size fish to be found.

One such area is Jellat Jellat, about halfway between Tathra and Bega. Here the Bega River meets the salt, and after the past few seasons of heavy flooding, many new deeper holes with new structure have been formed. This is a good location for kayak fishing, and with 76

OCTOBER 2021

a pre-arranged pick up it is quite possible to put in at Bega and be picked up further downstream

towards or at Tathra. As well as bass, other species like bream, estuary perch, whiting or flathead will

The final result of years of stocking bass. They are in both the Bega and Brogo rivers, with many larger fish yet to be found.

The Brogo-Bega bass fishery starts with the release of bass fry.

become part of the equation as you venture further into the salt.

At Bega the junction of the Brogo and Bega rivers occurs, and here within the Brogo system there is also some very nice water which is likely to host bass moving back up the system after their annual spawning migration. Where access can be found along the river right through to the wall of Brogo Dam, most holes will be home to a few if not many fish.

Then you have Brogo

Dam itself. Although not fully fired up yet, as the days warm so should the fishing in there.

Not only has the warming of the fresh gotten the fish active, most of the estuaries within the area are starting to fire. The shallow upper margins are well worth a look because this is where the prawn stocks lurk and the fish follow. This is a good time to lure fish, and with the many prawn imitation lures now available, species like flathead, trevally, jewfish

or bream are likely to be ahead on the list.

This month is arguably the best month offshore to target big, juicy tiger flathead. They generally move into the waters offshore from Tathra, especially the area down out from Bournda.

Here it is quite possible to obtain a decent bag in a very short time, in water depths ranging from 40-60m.

Once you have acquired your bag of To page 77 (Tathra)

NSW From page 76 (Bermagui)

areas being wide of the Continental Shelf.

If you are lucky enough to have found tuna, or you want something different and bigger, try berleying with the tuna out over one of the canyons for a big

this, kingfish may or may not have turned up at Montague Island, but it would definitely be worth a look just in case.

What has turned up offshore are flathead, and plenty of them. Big, juicy tiger flathead that is, which

For those who are interested, the annual Brogo Bass Bash comp will be held from 3-5 December, COVID dependant. It’s run by the Far South Coast Bass Stocking Association, and if you would like to enter this great fun weekend,

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Just another spring bream coming in from the shallows. mako shark. They are likely to be following these fish, giving anglers a chance to target them. While you’re waiting for a shark to come along, and if you have the appropriate reels, try some deepwater angling for the blue-eye trevalla, ling cod, perch, hapuka or gemfish that lurk here.

By the time you read From page 76 (Tathra)

flatties, try moving to the reefs where the chance of capturing some nice snapper, morwong, nannygai or pigfish is a likely occurrence.

On reefs in very deep water out towards the Continental Shelf, you can catch Tassie trumpeter with the aid of an electric reel. You can also opt to go further afield, where even greater species like ling, blue-eye trevalla, hapuka or gemfish are

seemingly are spread up and down the coast in water depths ranging from 40-60m+. Mixing in with them are some nice sandies, a few gummy sharks and the odd small whaler. If you drift onto the reef, you’ll find that snapper, morwong, perch, pigfish or nannygai are also likely to start featuring.

you can contact me on 0427 934 688, FSCBSA Secretary Jan Redman on 0427 934 857, email scbsa_brogobassbash@ hotmail.com or go to the website at www.fscbsa. weebly.com.

You can also check out the FSCBSA Facebook page at www.facebook. com/fscbsa.

likely to make up the bulk of the captures.

While out in the deeper water, this month often will host some tuna in the form of small to mid-range yellowfin, albacore, bluefin and stripies often easily obtained on the troll. At this time of year, it goes without saying that if you have tuna you will have makos, and some very big ones at that, so have some big gear handy and hang on.

For those who are interested, the annual

Brogo Bass Bash comp will be held from 3-5 December, COVID dependant. It’s run by the Far South Coast Bass Stocking Association, and if you would like to enter this great fun weekend, you can contact me on 0427 934 688, FSCBSA Secretary Jan Redman on 0427 934 857, email scbsa_ brogobassbash@hotmail. com or go to the website at www.fscbsa.weebly.com.

You can also check out the FSCBSA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fscbsa.

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The results of stocking bass – a 1 year and 2 year old fish.

OCTOBER 2021

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Catching spring goldens NEW ENGLAND RIVERS

Adam Townsend

The NSW lockdowns have definitely slowed the fishing opportunities, with travel now being put to a halt.

However, fishing is still classed as exercise, and is permitted within your LGA. The New England is pretty lucky in this case, with most of the country towns having plenty of creeks and rivers surrounding them, if not running straight through the middle. This will easily keep you within the ‘5km limit’

Zac Manning with a beautiful yellowbelly caught from the river and released for someone else to catch. wattle is also fully blooming, which is a tell-tale sign for spring perch fishing.

Copeton Dam has been the pick of the lot, with both yellowbelly and Murray cod being caught around the dam lately. The yellowbelly have

started schooling up in good numbers, and a well-presented lure or bait can usually see some good quality fish being caught. Hopping blade-style lures or vibes down the rocky points or even slow trolling Mazzy Vibes through the tops of the trees, trying to replicate fleeing bait, are really effective methods on any perch species.

Sometimes even the Murray cod like to come along and eat the smaller lures and perch as well, which can make for some pretty exciting fishing.

With that in mind, and with the warmer water temperatures around this time of year, I would recommend getting yourself a release weight of some kind, especially if you are intending on looking after your catch. Our Aussie native fish, including big Murray cod, are known to suffer from barotrauma if brought up from deeper waters,

A spring golden perch caught using a lipless crankbait – a favourite for many species at this time of year, due to the abundant baitfish in the warmer water. when on the water, so long as you don’t suffer from ‘next bend syndrome’ too much!

The Murray cod season remains closed, which means

it is the perfect time to be thinking about the perch species as the weather continues to heat up with these consistent warmer days. The

Redfin can be found in big schools and are often found in many small creeks and streams.

Exploring new waterways can often be fruitful.

Murray cod can be caught as by-catch fairly often, so make sure you do the right thing and look after them, especially in fisheries that are closed for targeting Murray cod at this time of year.

Keep them in the water as much as possible. where temperatures are a lot colder compared to surface temperatures. Copeton Dam is currently sitting close to the 83% mark.

There have been no reports fishing-wise from Pindari Dam lately, however it is still holding at full capacity with small inflows still making their way into the dam from recent rainfalls. This will make for some really good fishing once the lockdown is over and travel is allowed again.

The Beardy River is still currently closed as it is a listed trout water, although it will

open up very soon, usually around the October long weekend. If you are looking at fishing this waterway once it re-opens, just make sure you gain permission first as most of the river’s edge is privately owned.

The Severn River is currently closed for Murray cod breeding season. There have been no golden perch catches reported of late.

Good luck to all getting out on the water this month, and I hope you get to enjoy some awesome spring fishing.

Tight lines.

Getting results on spinnerbaits HUNTER VALLEY

Nick Price

While writing this we are still in lockdown with Glenbawn closed. There is a good flow of water coming into Glenbawn and St Clair, and the lakes

during the spring bite. Early October is spinnerbait time, so I will focus on these in this month’s report.

SPINNERBAITS There are lots of brands and types of spinnerbaits. There are different coloured skirts and different blades, and once you mix in the combinations

spinnerbait or something that stands out, depending on light conditions and mood of the bass. When fishing the edge, I prefer willow blades or a willow and Colorado. When fishing deep I prefer to use a Colorado.

During October, fishing a spinnerbait with a large single Colorado through the tops of submerged trees can be very productive. If you have Garmin Livescope and you can watch your lure move through the tree tops, you can avoid snags and watch

the fish. The Colorado blade worked slowly through the treetops must give a good thumping vibration that the bass just can’t resist. This is a good way to target the larger fish as well as numbers.

Like all bass techniques, there is a lot to spinnerbaits if you want to consistently catch fish. They can be easy on a good day, but if you know the tricks to using them it turns a good day into a great day, and a bad day into a good day.

We are lucky enough to have Fordey from Australian Inland

Local guide Fordey with a Glenbawn bass. have been rising. The fish are fat and I predict the fishing will be insane for the reaction bite this year.

You can target the fish using spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and lipless crankbaits such as TN60s 78

OCTOBER 2021

of skirts and blades it can get confusing! Please drop into the shop (Aberdeen Fishing & Outdoors) so we can show you and explain when and where you should be using what.

Like when fishing plastics, I either fish a natural coloured

With the huge array of spinnerbaits out there, it’s good to get expert advice on what to use and when.

The bass are fat and fighting hard.

Fishing Charters guiding on Glenbawn and St Clair, and he runs both full day and half day charters. Fordey can teach you both how to catch fish and how to get the most out of your Garmin sounders. He also works in the shop on a casual basis so drop in and pick his brain!

THE MONTH AHEAD During October the fish still take plastics consistently.

Just hang on. During the warmer months the fish hit hard and they are in superb condition after the 18 months of good rain. Expect the fish to hit on the run, and many bust-

offs using plastics.

Next month I will focus on fishing the edge using lipless crankbaits, and look at some of the different techniques and how to ‘trick up’ the baits. I will also look at a few bass swimbaits, which work well when the sun is up and the fish are a little less aggressive.

And remember, if you’re heading to Glenbawn or St Clair, please drop into the shop at the turnoff to Glenbawn in Aberdeen and ask about the different techniques and what the fish are biting on.

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NSW

The best month of the year BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if, for some ungodly reason, you could fish Blowering Dam only one month a year, it would have to be October. It is one of the few times when

time up around or near the surface of the lake, and can be caught flat lining with Tassies, Stuckeys, Sso Minos, Merlins, Trollcraft Frys and an array of lipless crankbaits.

The above-mentioned lures work really well at this time of the year as the resident golden perch love to hit them when slowly

fly and nymph dropper. I also saw another angler achieve this while he was on a guided trip with me.

For this to happen you have to have a bit of luck on your side, but most importantly you have to have good fish numbers present in the first place.

On top of the great numbers of fish, we also had

high flows, but it is always good to try something different to increase your chances of catching those big, educated trout. Lipless crankbaits in trout colours work really well in the high flows, as do soft plastics rigged on fairly heavy jigheads around the 1/4oz to 1/2oz mark, depending on the flow.

Bait drifters can have good results in the high flows also. Rigging your bait so that it’s slowly drifting along the bottom of the river is the most consistent technique, but bait drifted along under a float can also be deadly on Tumut river trout.

Fly fishos get good results from weighted nymphs fished under a big dry fly, and glow bugs also have their moments at this time of the year.

All the above mentioned techniques will also work in the low flows, however if

Other than Blowering Dam, Murray cod are off limits in all our creeks, rivers and dams this month. Any by-catch cod need to be released in the best possible shape.

Blowering has been at or near capacity for several months, and these conditions have washed plenty of good tucker into the system regularly. That, combined with the fact that October is when all species start to fire, is enough to get any angler pumped. all fish species in the dam are firing or starting to fire. Mixed bags of fish are not only common but

trolled past as well. I also like to use most of the Viking range of small lures when specifically targeting

A double hook-up of two trout on the same double fly rig, a feat seen three times last season by the author. All signs are pointing towards this season being even better than the last. expected and, depending on what you are using, you can never anticipate what species of fish is going to hit your offering next.

Although golden perch are the main target species at this time of the year, anglers can expect to find trout, redfin, hybrid carp and even Murray cod hitting their offerings. This makes for some very exciting fishing in anyone’s books.

Throw in the fact that the dam has been at or near capacity for the last few months and most fish are in absolute prime condition, and this October is shaping up to be one to remember.

TROLLING Trolling can be a very rewarding way of fishing during the spring months at Blowering Dam. Trout still spend most of their 80

OCTOBER 2021

golden perch, as well as the AC Slim Invaders (when they are holding deep), Trollcraft Double Downers (in amongst any mudlines formed) and lipless crankbaits when I’m trolling in water less than 10ft in depth.

TUMUT RIVER After quite a long wait for some people, the trout season will finally get back underway come the beginning of the October long weekend. Last year’s running water trout season can only be described as brilliant, with great numbers of fish present in most of the streams and rivers in the area. Even catching two trout at once was possible at times. I caught two trout at the same time twice last year, both times whilst fly fishing with an indicator

huge rainfall events through winter and the beginning of spring, which were perfect trout spawning conditions, so this running water trout season is set up to be even better than the last. It sure gets the trout angler’s anticipation levels soaring.

At what level the Tumut river will be flowing at is anyone’s guess, but whether the flow is low or high there will be plenty of anglers out getting their first trout fix for the year (unless that option is taken away from anglers). You will need your heavy trout gear to give yourself a fighting chance if the river is in high flow, but if the flow is low (under 1000 megs) then I recommend you go as light as you dare.

Lure fishing with the local favourite Tassie Devil lure can be productive in the

Brendan Williams with a good example of the type and quality of redfin that have been almost on tap recently. the river is in low flow it’s hard to beat casting with small feather-tail spinners such as the Rooster Tails,

Gillies Cocktails and Insanity Tackle Bling spins to name but a few, or small minnow-style hardbodies

The long weekend marks the official beginning of the running water trout season, meaning anglers can now fish their favourite creeks, streams and rivers in hope of some great trout action.

like Insanity Tackle Sso Minos and Rapala CD3 or CD5 lures. To achieve the best results with these lures it’s best to jump in the river and walk upstream, casting ahead of yourself the whole way.

It’s also worth noting that regardless of the flow, the Tumut River fishes really well at the beginning of the season. Most fish have just finished spawning and will be out gorging themselves on anything that fits in their mouths, to put some weight back on. On top of that, they aren’t too flighty as they haven’t received any angling pressure for months, making them much easier targets than at any other time of the season.

So, dust off the trout gear and go get amongst some awesome fishing.

NSW

Hopes for the fishing LITHGOW/OBERON

Glen Stewart stewie72@bigpond.com

Hopefully the COVID situation across NSW will have settled somewhat by the latter parts of spring, allowing anglers to venture out to fishing destinations beyond the boundaries of their LGAs.

TROUT OPENING Trout opening plans are in full swing, and rivers and creeks have been full to overflowing for months now. Natural recruitment is limited, but it’s made up for with good stocking commitment from the local trout acclimatisation societies.

Mid-morning insect hatches generated by the

the season.

Tussock-lined creeks in the Oberon district – some so small you can nearly straddle them – can be quite a surprise, and corner pools will generally hold the bigger fish. Once again, stealth is key. These fish are very used to what surrounds them, and if they spot any changes then it’s curtains for at least an hour.

n Trout Hatchery e d a G

Gaden Trout Hatchery Gaden Trout Hatchery

Fly selection for trout opening can be a little daunting. Visible fish will generally give you a pretty good idea of what’s to their liking.

when restrictions are dam for a few days. lifted, a convoy of cars and The spawning urges in boats will be heading to golden perch at this time Windamere, and it will be of year change things. interesting how a forced Aggression levels in young lull of activity followed by male fish can make it hard an avalanche will affect the to get to some of the bigger fishing. Being there to view females, and sounder or Open 10 am–4 pm daily. leaping fish 4 species the mayhem, soak up some scope technology will Closed Anzac, Christmas, Boxing day. aquaria, breeding show in be aponds, game AV changer sun, catch up with some this regard. mates and maybe catch a beautiful picnic–BBQ area Guided tours 10 am and 2 pm. few fish will be so worth it. No need to fret if such smoked trouttechnology for sale does not exist Self-guided tours on selected days.

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fish. That bit is important, rarely do you see the whole deal. Seeing them and catching them are two very different things, casts made too close can scare the daylights out of them. Better is a careful presentation that comes into view then tries to slide away unnoticed.

Mood picking via body language plays a big part in success rates and only comes with exposure to as many different fish as possible.

COVID BE GONE In my experience challenging times bring about many good things not the least of which is the appreciation of what’s been lost.

Looking forward to seeing you all on the water soon.

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81

NSW

Springtime gold – the basics ALBURY/WODONGA

Connor Heir

October is here and the warmer days are quickly becoming more frequent. This causes water temperatures to rise, which is a key element in getting impoundments firing.

With now being a great time to be on the water, for this month I thought I’d put together a guide on how to get started on catching golden perch for anyone who may be new to the sport, or for anyone wanting to gain further

NUMBER 1: BLADE While blades can be used in rivers, they are more commonly used in impoundments. These lures work really well casting into the banks from boat, and can be used on foot also.

Most blades come rigged with a lure clip on the top of the lure, and you’ll notice a few different holes. These holes are for the clip to clip into, and each hole will give the lure slightly different vibrations in the water. Blades can also be jigged on the bottom, or retrieved vertically up alongside structure, such

You don’t always need a boat to catch golden perch.

Spawning golden perch take to the banks, and often it only takes short casts to find them at this time of year. knowledge on catching these awesome fish.

The first question that is often asked is: ‘Where can I go to catch a golden perch?’ To answer that question, we are pretty spoiled for choice living in the Albury/Wodonga area for locations to go target golden perch. Both Lake Hume, and the Murray River below Lake Hume are good starting points to target this species. These fish can be found anywhere throughout Lake Hume, and in the river as well. There are elements to look out for, both in Lake Hume and the river, which I will go into more detail further on.

The second question that is often asked is ‘what tackle do I need?’ This is a super important question, because the right gear can often be the key to getting these fish to bite. Golden perch can be super stubborn at times, and very finicky, so attention to detail and being prepared is quite important.

A spin reel combo is usually a good choice for anyone getting started. A light rod with a 2500-sized spin reel is a good all-round choice.

For fishing line, I’d recommend 8lb braid with a 10lb leader if you’re just starting out. True, you can definitely go lighter or heavier if you feel more confident, but generally 8-10lb is a great starting point.

Now comes lure choice.

For many anglers, this is where the fun starts!

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OCTOBER 2021

as trees. Blades can often be a really good lure choice when fish are finicky.

The make of blade in the photo on this page is an Ecogear ZX35.

NUMBER 2: SOFT VIBE This lure style is probably my favourite to cast in the impoundments. They’re super easy to use, and there are heaps of different brands on the market. I don’t really have a favourite brand for these lures, but as a personal preference I do like anything that is around 20g in weight. These lures sink quickly, and are easy to cast even when wind conditions

aren’t the best. Again, much like a blade they can be cast at banks from a boat, or land-based casting as well. These lures work really well just hopping them off the bottom; simply cast the lure out and let it sink to the bottom, lift your rod between 45° and 90°, let the lure sink again and retrieve the slack.

The make of soft vibe in the photo is a Jackall Transam 95.

NUMBER 3: LIPLESS CRANKBAIT Lipless crankbaits are probably the most well-known lure type for golden perch.

There are stacks of brands and styles on the market, and the one pictured is a Jackall TN60.

These lures can be cast the same as blades and soft vibes.

The advantage to most lipless crankbaits is their internal rattle, which gets the fish’s attention.

While a loud rattle isn’t always the best option, it can be exactly what the fish want. It’s all about playing around with lures to see what the fish prefer on the day. There are heaps of different sounding rattles out there, and you can also get lipless crankbaits that are silent. All styles definitely do have their purpose, and as you begin to fish more you’ll develop your own preferences. The Jackall TN60 range in the ‘Iyoken’ sound is my personal favourite.

NUMBER 4: FOOTBALL JIG These guys in my opinion are super underrated in the golden perch fishing world.

These lures are really popular on bass in the USA, and there are so many different plastics/ teasers you can rig on them to make them more desirable.

Casting these lures can be hard to get used to; they don’t really have an action unless you properly work them. These lures come in handy in places where weed is thick on the bottom. A lot of brands that make these lures will include a weed hook guard on the front. The one in the image I have trimmed down, but it did come with one rigged.

Often it is a wise choice to leave

A river golden perch from a backwater eddy. Small hardbody lures are a popular choice in the rivers.

the weed guard on if you are fishing a place that is thick with weed, but sometimes the weed guard can reduce the hook-up rate, hence is why I have trimmed the one in the image.

You work football jigs in a similar way to the other lures mentioned, but try to keep them on the bottom as much as possible, putting in small twitches to imitate crustaceans.

Another similar lure to these is a chatterbait, which comes rigged with a metal bib to the front of the lure that gives it a vibrating action when retrieved.

The jig in the photo is a Molix Kento jig.

NUMBER 5: HARDBODY LURE Out of the lot, the humble old hardbody lure is probably the easiest to use. Either cast or trolled, the action starts the second you start retrieving.

You don’t really have to do a lot other than put in the occasional pause or dart.

Hardbody lures come in

The author’s top lure choices for golden perch.

A Lake Hume golden perch taken while fishing trees vertically with a soft plastic rigged with a beetle spin. a huge range of brands and sizes. During cod season closure, I’d recommend not using any hardbody lures over 65-70mm in length, to avoid catching a cod.

Hardbody lures are such a good lure to use, especially in rivers because of their snag resistance. If you hit a snag with a hardbody, simply give it a pause, allowing the lure to float up, then keep retrieving.

These lures are commonly used on the troll in impoundments, and this technique has been used for decades, still to this day being a very effective technique. Many anglers will troll hardbody lures until they come across a school of golden perch, and then once the school is found they will begin casting other lures.

The hardbody in the photo is a Kuttafurra Mudhoney (65mm).

NUMBER 6: SOFT PLASTIC Rigged on a jighead, soft plastics are a very effective lure to use on golden perch when they are schooled up on structure, in particular trees. The technique is so simple: pull up at a tree, let the lure sink to the bottom, and slowly vertically retrieve the lure up alongside the tree.

This technique is easy to do, and it’s a really popular one to get kids involved with.

The hit you get is awesome, and it’s a really cheap way of fishing. It’s not always the most exciting technique as it can get repetitive, but it works very well.

The soft plastic pictured is a ZMan 3” Curl Tail Grub rigged on a 1/4oz Berkley Dam Buster jighead.

NUMBER 7: BEETLE SPIN Beetle spins are a super

popular lure for bass fishers, but they can also be very effective on golden perch. You can fish these vertically like a standard plastic rigged on a jighead, or you can fish these like you would a spinnerbait. Cast it at a bank, let it sink and just slowly retrieve it. Sometimes that little added bit of flash can really turn the fishing on. You are able to find beetle spin clips from most good tackle stores.

The brand of beetle spin in the photo is unknown.

FINDING THE FISH Now with having all the gear sorted, you need to know what to look for. To keep it simple, just look for any life in the water. If there are baitfish around, that’s usually a really good starting point.

Depth also plays a huge part in fishing for these fish.

A lot of the time they aren’t sitting on the bottom, so it pays to vary your retrieve rate. In rivers, looking for eddies is a great place to find golden perch.

They will position themselves in the current in search of food.

The biggest hint with fishing for golden perch is to continue moving until you find a school of them. They will often stack up in random areas, so don’t be afraid to cast everywhere. They can be very surprising fish! Time spent on the water really helps. The more time and effort you put in, the greater your chances of being rewarded.

Again, I will mention that during the cod season closure, it’s important to reduce your chance of catching a cod.

Please stick to smaller gear, and don’t fish spots that are likely to hold cod. If a by-catch of a cod is caught, if possible try to keep it in the water and remove the hooks for a safe release.

Best of luck, and tight lines!

ACT

Canberra

An in-depth look at ponds CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

I have written about ‘pond hopping’ in Canberra many times over the last few years, but I will cover this idea

cruising along the edges in the same pond at dawn and dusk and is yet to be caught. However, this pond is not even one of the better ones to fish in the ACT. LOCAL LAKES/PONDS Lake Burley Griffin is starting to fish well

caught plenty of good-sized yellas and lots of small redfin. Most fish have been fooled into taking a beetle spin with a paddle-tail or grub-tail plastic attached, but a few of the bigger specimens have been caught by anglers using

There is also plenty of action up in the shallow area of the lake at Greenway, with redfin and carp attacking plastics on bright, windy afternoons.

Gordon Pond is about 10 minutes from Lake Tuggeranong and fishes well through spring for yellas and redfin. There are some enormous golden perch in the pond, so size up your leader and upgrade the hooks on all lures. I like to fish the Jim Pike Avenue side of the pond because it is a bit deeper in this section and there are fewer snags.

Lake Ginninderra is producing small to medium sized yellas. A lot of fish have been caught by anglers using spinnerbaits and slow rolling these lures almost parallel to the points which lead up to the main bridge.

The area immediately

The yellowbelly action has been excellent.

The fish are feeding along the edges. in more detail throughout this month’s report.

There are a number of small, medium and large sized ponds scattered

again after a long lull in the angling action. Those who have been able to fish the lake in recent weeks (despite the lockdown) have

Lake Ginninderra is a good waterway to try. throughout Canberra, and most have healthy populations of both native fish and pest species. This is mainly due to anglers and the general public releasing pest and native species into these ponds, which is an illegal practice unless it is approved by the ACT Government. However, it is perfectly legal to fish the majority of these ponds, so while they shouldn’t have been stocked in the first place, these small fisheries do represent a welcome spot to cast a line while Canberra is in lockdown.

One particular pond was stocked with silver perch after a group of high school students took a large number of fingerlings and poured them in. A big Murray cod can be seen

Jackall TN50s fished slow and parallel to the halfsubmerged weeds which line parts of the lake.

Nerang Pool connects to LBG and is a good pond to fish during low light periods when the golden perch population become less wary and venture out from the lily pads.

A well-placed fly or soft plastic attached to a 1/16oz jighead fished tight against the bank often results in a bite.

Lake Tuggeranong is proving to be a reliable option and is fishing well.

There have been plenty of small to medium sized redfin caught, along with a few big yellas by fishos targeting the edges and working plastics slow.

David Pidcock with a big LBG yella. behind the college is also worth a look and, as always, the old police jetty and the area directly adjacent can yield massive yellas, especially on days when the wind picks up in the late afternoon. There

are also a lot of great little ponds to check out in and around the Belconnen area.

are hitting all sorts of offerings, from paddle-tail plastics right through the creative baits fished using a punch rig. The key to a successful Yerrabi session is to fish the lure as close to or even in the weed, and allow for the lure to sit for long periods between winds. The yellas sit right in the thick of the weed and sometimes need plenty of time to view a lure before striking.

There are a few excellent ponds in Coombs which are worth a look, especially as they can be easily fished over an hour or two, and there are some thumping redfin in a number of these ponds.

The fish here are fond of plastics, especially in natural colours, and are incredibly fun on light

Canberra’s ponds are proving to be a good option for anglers during lockdown.

There are plenty of small golden perch about.

Jump on Google Maps and have a look.

Yerrabi Pond is fishing particularly well at the present time. This pond fired in late August and the action hasn’t really slowed down. The yellas

gear. For pond hopping, I use a 1-3kg spin stick and a 1000 sized reel spooled with 3kg fluorocarbon.

This is an ideal outfit if you’re hitting the ponds in and around Coombs as it does maximise the sport.

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Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

Tassie trout are turning it on HOBART

Andrew Large

With spring well and truly having announced its arrival, we find saltwater anglers struggling to find breaks in the blustery weather for an offshore sortie, while freshwater fishers are making the most of the season, taking great trout across many state waters.

Spearos have found flounder to be almost non-existent due to bad weather causing a lack of calm conditions needed for lighting and spearing. Occasional breaks in the weather have allowed clear waters for lighting to occur, and some great spring captures have been made.

As our state waters turn the corner and begin to warm for the year, sand flathead are continuing to bite on the right day in deeper water. Fortescue, Tasman Island and lower Channel, Bruny Island and Mercury Passage are producing quality fish to 500mm.

Big calamari are building in numbers in southeastern waters. Bright jigs are working in cooler spring waters.

Triabunna, Mercury Passage and Marion Bay seeing goodsized squid caught. Anglers are

finding that a little travelling may be required to find fish.

Winter swell activity has kept schools fairly deep.

Large numbers of silver trevally have been encountered throughout the Channel and lower Huon estuary. These fish have been caught at night amongst schooling mackerel under lights around jetties and near rocky structures.

Large spring run Australian salmon have been taken in good numbers around Cremorne and Clifton Beach and further along the east coast towards Mayfield. Some fish along the east and southeast coast have nudged 3kg and have taken Halco 30g and 40g Twisty and Sliced chrome lures. I recently tried the 105 Slidog in H89 in the River Derwent on busting schools of salmon with great success.

Deepwater tiger flathead have started to bite well off Bicheno, Schouten and Maria Islands, and further south at Pirates and Storm Bay closer to Hobart – fish have been caught in 50m+ of water.

Large schools of morwong perch are plentiful around the Peninsula and Schouten Island and Storm Bay, with anglers enjoying catching them on Black Magic Snapper Catcher rigs.

The striped trumpeter fishery is halfway through its annual closure, and will reopen on 1 November.

Southern bluefin action saw a return to levels we had been used to on the Peninsula, with fish to 28kg taken in recent weeks. Hotspots include Tasman Island, Hippolyte Rocks and Fortescue Bay at The Lanterns.

Nearly all anglers have enjoyed exciting estuary action over the last month, with an influx of larger garfish harbouring in the larger systems state-wide.

Both the Derwent and Huon estuaries have seen sea-run trout activity increase, with all methods taking fish.

Drift spinning and spinning from the shore has yielded fish up to 2.7kg. Trolling the higher reaches around Millbrook Rise has seen the best of the action in recent weeks. Tasmanian Devil lures in 63, BR and 44 are taking fish.

Fly fishers have done well fishing the edges and following bait schools, and Daiwa Bait Junkie soft plastics have been taking their fair share of fish too.

Bream are a little quiet but can be encouraged to scruff a 50mm bibbed lure flicked at structure. These fish are becoming more active as

whitebait numbers build for the season.

Freshwater fishers are reaping the rewards of another wet winter across the state.

There are rumours that nearly all waters are fishing well again this year, particularly Bronte Lagoon, Lake Leake, Tooms Lake, Woods Lake, Four Springs and Great Lake.

Both the River Derwent and Huon River inside the freshwater limits are rewarding anglers with healthy resident, estuary and sea-run trout and Atlantic salmon.

Craigbourne Dam is still producing nice fish. It’s full and the water is semi murky. Bright, flashy lures and flies have taken nice browns to 2.1kg, and a $2000 tagged fish from IFS was caught last month by two lucky anglers.

Higher in altitude, Great Lake has been producing brown trout to 2.1kg on the right day.

Unpredictable fish and weather have been making life hard for the keen angler, and the action has been a little patchy so far, but it will improve as spring progresses. Tasmanian Devil 13g Cobras in BR, S12 and 121 are doing well again.

Bronte Lagoon is still producing good trout. Levels have been predominantly high but drops have occurred to a

A well-conditioned trout caught while it chased whitebait in the tidal shallows at 2pm. certain degree. The good news is that the fishing hasn’t been affected so far, with all facets taking fish over the last month.

Early duns have been exciting dry fly fishers.

The pick of them all so far is Lake Leake, with both rainbows and browns taking lures and fly readily in recent weeks. Fish to 3.7kg have been landed. October last year saw some fantastic rainbow trout captured, with fish up to 3.5kg.

Suffering low water in

recent years, Tooms Lake is still spilling. This is great news on the back of severe drought and excess water draw. Fish are biting eagerly, and condition has picked up where it was down post-spawn a few months back. This water is well ahead of most others for the time of year as it warms early, allowing an abundance of fly life to make an appearance. Trout have been seen smashing 70mm galaxia over the rocky shorelines.

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www.vrfish.com.au #makefishingbetter

VRFish Update Access, Access, Access, Whiting and Water Of the many issues affecting recreational fishers on my desk, none gets my blood up more than the locking out of recreational fishers by taxpayer funded departments, authorities or publicly funded land managers. I must sound like a broken record by now, or maybe Chicken Little, and if the last few months have been anything to go by, I’ve got a hell of a lot more work to do in making sure the people making the decision to reduce or refuse access to recreational fishers are either better informed or held to account.

Recreational fishers in Horsham raised concerns with me during lockdown that they were unable

to go boat fishing for exercise (allowed under lockdown rules) on the Wimmera River due to the big chains across the council managed boat ramps.

These fishos then came out of lockdown only to find the same boat ramps still locked up, despite enquiries from Better Boating Victoria receiving assurances from the land manager (Horsham Rural City Council) that the ramps were indeed open and in fact were open for the entire lockdown period.

provided the following advice “As per Local Government Act 1989 - SECT 205(1)( c), Council are responsible for the care and management of all public highways on Crown land”.

The State Government also know they could implement statutory access requirements on unused road licences (not having these requirements is the reason so many are being

The erection of barriers across public roads under unused road licences (leading to public riverbank land) continues unabated with a regional council even writing to me requesting assistance. I did point out that the council in question managed the public road and I made a formal written enquiry with Alpine Shire council, over a public road that had been blocked, only to be phoned and told that rate payers didn’t want their money wasted on maintaining access to rivers for fishers.

Meanwhile, the locked gate at Goomalibee on the Broken remains shut as Benalla Rural City Council pretend that DELWP are to blame and have now stopped answering my emails. I made the mistake of pointing out that DELWP’s regional manager

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blocked to us now) but have been silent on the issue. Rest assured I will not be.

management. He wants to see 10-15t of KGW caught by the trawlers next year, to see if catch increases the year after that, and that KGW are a nice side earner for the trawlers.

Riverbank Fishing at Night September saw the release of the long awaited ‘camping on crown land’ regulations. The formal name for the new law is the Land (Regulated Watercourse Land) Regulations 2021 and just as I expected they are unworkable, thanks to the inability of one part of the State Government to adequately argue the toss for improved public access with another. While I was happy that I can now drive to the Mitta and have a nap in the car before I drive back to Melbourne (the definition of camping in the regulations is to even possess a sleeping bag) without being fined the cost of a week’s lure supply, the outlawing of cooking baked bean jaffles beside a river was a little disappointing.

Those writing the regulations did see fit to exempt “wooden fishing rods” from the Introduction of Vegetation offence though. You cannot make this stuff up.

Game time. If I haven’t shown rec fishers what $1.70 from their fishing licence, that they pay to VRFish each year, is worth by the time you read this article they can carry me off on my shield. Suffice to say that if AFMA can’t hear the voice of recreational fishers then their political masters will.

Victorian Boating Strategy A brighter light in all things recreational fishing advocacy was the recent release of the State Government’s Draft Victorian Recreational Boating Strategy. This is the investment framework for the next 10 years and public recreational boating facilities get a big chunk of the Better Boating Fund (the return of all marine licence and vessel registration fees). The plan outlines a minimum of $150 million to be spent on new, upgraded and maintained public recreational boating facilities across the State. This is an impressive amount considering we would have seen about $30 million invested under the old system. “Making sure the investment is targeted to deliver the benefits recreational boaters want and that management of these public facilities is better than we currently get, will be the next task.”

King George Whiting At the time of writing this article, the Commonwealth trawl fishery targeting spawning aggregations of King George Whiting issue has kicked off,with the boss of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority telling recreational fishing reps that he doesn’t consider recreational fishers should have a say in Commonwealth fisheries

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VIC

Exercising on the water WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com

Fishing once again has been severely restricted by lockdowns, even for anglers in regional areas. Those of us living in Warrnambool are fairly fortunate though in that most of us have access to a trout river (Merri River) an estuary (Hopkins River) and a beach/ramp for a saltwater fix within the 5km travel limit. And fortunately, unlike some states, fishing is still seen as exercise.

The Merri and Hopkins have continued to flow high and brown for most of the recent weeks, too high for successful fishing. The Merri, being a smaller catchment, has dropped in flow a few times in-between significant rainfalls, and produced some quality fish. After a wet/cool summer, the trout this winter have been in good condition, if not big numbers, with most fish being over 50cm.

At this time of year, many anglers move on from a winter’s trout fishing to different species, but with such a wet winter, prime time could come in October. Just

watch out for all the snakes waking from their winter hibernation. Lake Pertobe has also been turning up a few decent rainbow trout to over 2kg for those putting

in the time.

On the estuary scene, the Hopkins has started to produce some decent fishing as the massive flows of fresh finally started to slow

Gage from Spinwright Lures with a quality 60cm Merri brown taken just before lockdown.

Vibration lures like this Daiwa Steez vibe have been the go-to lures in the dirty water when the fish have been holding deep.

down. In October as the waters warm and clear, lure anglers in particular will be looking forward to fishing the edges more as fish move out of spawning mode and the deeper water. Smaller systems such as Yambuk Lake were fishing well for bream just before lockdown; the water clears quicker in these smaller systems.

Killarney Beach has still continued to produce quality salmon for shore-based

anglers wandering along casting lures. This has been perhaps the most consistent this area has fished for a number of winters. Stocking up on some salmon for bait for the next couple of months is also a benefit of putting in a session on these fish, because they make great snapper and gummy baits.

October is often a good month to do some surf fishing for other species as well. There’s still the chance

of some good salmon being around whilst the summer species such as pinkie snapper and various shark species should also be an option. A nice calm evening on Yambuk, Fitzroy, Logans or the Cutting beaches could provide some good action.

Let’s hope things are beginning to return to normal in October and everyone can get out and enjoy some fishing as the weather warms and the days get longer.

Anglers embrace spring weather PORTLAND

Nigel Fisher

G’day everyone, I’m sure you are very frustrated by now with all the lockdowns over the past

up, trading and seeing friendly faces again. We also send our well wishes to all who are fighting this terrible virus.

Now to the fishing.

With limited opportunities of late we haven’t been

and sharks, and we’re also starting to see some whiting.

When the opportunities have arisen, the deep water fishing has been good, with snapper, nannygai, queen snapper, gummies and schoolies.

In October the weather should get better, with more opportunities to get out. At this time of year we generally start to see whiting and flathead around the bay, plus numbers of squid also. By the time you read this, hopefully the snapper are starting to

show up on the breakwater, plus squid, whiting, salmon and sharks, just to name a few.

The chance of tuna behind Lawrences Rock through to Bridgewater is still on the cards. You can also pick up good feeds of flathead and gummies around Bridgewater. Remember there is still an abalone restricted area from Cape Grand to Bridgewater, but trolling and fishing lures off the beach are still permitted. For more information you can contact

The new town jetty will be complete for the summer season.

Young Riley with some eels caught on a camping trip. eight months. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone the very best heading into summer, and hopefully we will all be open or opening 88

OCTOBER 2021

able to access a lot of our favourite spots. However, in saying that, the breakwater has fished well, with salmon up to 3kg. Anglers are also encountering coota

Lewis with an eel caught in the Surrey River.

us or Local Fisheries.

The north shore should start fishing well this month, with sharks, snapper, squid and whiting on offer. As the water temperature rises the kingfish will start to appear, but they are not always caught in numbers until the summer months.

Our river systems are always a great option also, especially for bream, estuary perch and mulloway. The Fitzroy River, Surrey River, and the mighty Glenelg River are the best for these species.

Freshwater is another option in Portland, with Bridgewater Lakes and Fire Dams around the area, and we are not that far from Rocklands and

other lakes and rivers in Western Victoria.

Last of all, we are very excited to nearly see the completion of our town jetty, which will be great for kids and families. This will provide easy access to all.

Cheers and happy fishing.

• For all the latest updates and news, and all your bait and tackle needs, call into Portland Compleat Angler and say g’day to the Fisher crew. You will find them at 61 Bentinck Street, next to the Gordon Hotel. You can also contact them on 03 5521 1844, or look them up on Facebook. They are always happy to point you in the right direction.

VIC

Intrepid anglers have braved the bluster COBDEN

Rod Shepherd

I must say that it’s been rather hard to gather any solid fishing info, due to COVID. Not helping the situation is the blustery and very wet, early spring weather which makes it hard to muster up the courage to get out there and wet a line. However, a few intrepid anglers have hit the water, and I’m glad to be able to pass some piscatorial info on to you.

The Hopkins River has seen a few solid bream taken in the ski run on bait such as worm, prawn and whitebait. Static fishing the shallows adjacent to the channel has shown the best results. The bream should be further upstream around Kinnear’s hut and beyond on their annual spawning run, however the sheer influx of dirty water pushing downstream has kept the majority of fish further down in the system.

Reports of mulloway taking bream baits on bream gear have also surfaced, with a few boaters being busted off by so-called

unstoppables.

The Curdies estuary has been great for bream and perch, with both the lake and river firing. The top of the tide has been good in the lake, and working the line where dirty water

meets the salt has been best. The lower reaches of the river has been hot at times, but fishing at depth is the key. In winter with a solid flow the bottom holds cleaner water. Working the bottom in 3m+ depth just

off the bank, near weed growth, has seen some good captures. Metal blades in black or dark colours just hopped off the bottom are working well for many, as they often do at this time of year.

I’ve once again done well trolling deep diving Legend minnows in green near the river mouth as these (long since unavailable) lures seem to do the trick on deep holding bream. The action,

Another post winter and flood deep holding bream taken on a classic diver, the Legend.

and possibly colour has worked here for me for many, many years.

Those who have managed to launch offshore have reported an influx of pinkie snapper to 38cm being taken on reefs from 10-20m depth.

These anglers have been doing very well for pink ling in the same areas and have just started to pull in a few red beasts in recent weeks. Bottom bouncing squid baits has done the job, along with added berley sent down deep to be dispersed via a berley bucket or cage.

Blustery conditions have kept most of us grounded, but some good news is that schools of salmon have begun to move close inshore en masse. They can be now caught just outside the breakers along most of our beaches. Squid baits fished on double paternoster rigs along with added berley have seen some sizeable fish hooked and landed.

The average fish size is around 600g, but a few solid fish around 2kg have also been dragged up onto the beach.

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The lowdown during lockdown GEELONG

Neil Slater slaterfish@gmail.com

Lockdowns have hampered the fishing once again but a few anglers who have some water within 5km (or managed a fish between lockdowns) have a bit to show.

snapper pushing into the Surf Coast and the bays around Gelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.

The reefs in Bass Strait always hold quality snapper this time of year. The deeper areas from 25-35m hold less but larger fish, which have nudged 9kg in the past, while the shallower reef areas around 5-10m, hold

Gabriella has caught a few solid flathead out of Clifton Springs.

The Barwon River in Geelong has remained dirty due to the rains, which makes lure fishing difficult.

Small redfin and estuary perch have been biting in the Geelong section of the Barwon River on baits such as worms. Estuary perch have been stocked in the Barwon by VFA since 2018.

Those that have shown up in recent captures are of at least two separate year classes (sizes), which is a great sign that they are doing well.

Wurdee Buloc Reservoir near Moriac has risen 20% since June and at the time of writing, was nudging 90%. We haven’t seen it this full for a while, so expect some big trout to be poking about the shallows on that southern shore. Mudeye under a float fished from the east wall is a real killer here for big trout first and last light so as long as you’ve got a light easterly breeze to take your bait out or no wind, this is the number one possie for big trout near Geelong and the Surf Coast this October.

This month is pretty much peak hour for the region with the red tide of 90

OCTOBER 2021

more snapper but they tend to average smaller sizes.

First and last light is by far the best for the shallower areas but you can pick up decent snapper fishing the deeper areas during the day.

The southern half of Port Philip is subjected to strong currents making fishing deep for snapper difficult. Wider areas off St Leonards and Indented

Head do offer less current but the snapper here tend to be scattered. Portarlington and Clifton Springs are popular launching places to head into snapper season as they offer access to the shipping channel and some quality snapper around this time of year.

Soft plastics enthusiasts should hit up the Geelong waterfront, Point Henry and the Curlewis Bank in depths of four to seven meters.

Drift your plastic slowly and close to the bottom for best results. Land based anglers should try St Helens rock wall, Cunningham Pier and both St Leonards and Portarlington piers are well known snapper producers after dark.

Rod Ludlow from Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head says it has been the windiest winter he has had. Rod says between lock downs and wind he has been pretty quiet. Those hire boats that have been out have caught plenty of flathead straight out off Indented Head drifting in about 14m of water using bluebait and squid. Rod suggests the flood tide has been slightly better.

Rod reports that the squid and whiting have been hard to find but expects things to improve dramatically very soon.

There seems to be some solid numbers of flathead around Geelong and the Bellarine with 50cm fish becoming more common over the last few years. Clifton Springs to St Leonards appears to be the best with the most consistent captures in the deeper water over five or six meters.

Gabriella Costa has been doing well catching a few flathead to 49cm out off Clifton Springs drifting and using salted pilchards.

Corio Bay has seen a few nice bream caught by anglers fishing soft plastic lures around the pier pylons.

Nathan Wright fished with his son Ryder and managed to pull a beauty out of his snag using soft plastic lures and Blake West had caught some rippers to 45cm using the same method.

Wangim Walk on Geelong waterfront has seen plenty of small salmon and pinkie snapper kicking about with both bait and lures working well.

BOAT RAMP UPGRADES Stage one of the Queenscliff Boat ramp upgrade was completed on time and the ramp was opened for use at the end of August. The works included dredging of the ramp and remodelling of the car park plus sealing of an overflow carpark, which was previously a vacant dirt block.

Stage two will run from March to May 2022 and will include the installation of a

William with his first Lorne Pier gummy.

Nathan and his son Ryder managed to withdraw this solid bream from the pylons.

This is what it’s all about – a solid October snapper from Corio Bay.

third boat ramp.

Stage one of the Point Richards boat ramp car park upgrade has also completed on time. The upgrade included the addition of 50 extra car and boat parking spaces increasing its capacity to 83 parks for car and boats plus 14 new single car spaces. Stage two includes an overlapping rock groyne to be constructed early 2022 to help stop the masses of seagrass that gets dumped on the ramp rendering it unusable. For more information, head over to betterboating.vic.gov.au/ boat-ramp-upgrades/ October often sees an increase in both school and gummy sharks along the surf coast. Draft board or

swell sharks are also thick and more of a pest than anything else.

Lorne has seen a few good flathead and pinkie snapper caught by anglers drifting using fish baits such as pilchards.

William Ferguson and his dad have spent many hours hoping for gummy sharps off the Lorne Pier without much luck. Another assault saw the father son team get to the pier in time for the change of tide and flicked out a big squid bait.

William says it was slow going at first as the pesky swell sharks were taking just about all the baits.

William had a much better bite which transmitted some good head shakes up the line while swimming sideways before he saw a big port Jackson shark about 1.2m long revealed itself.

The next bite, the surf rod started going nuts and William says the fight felt the same as the port Jackson. That was until the line screamed off! After a torrid tussle, William’s dad dropped a gaff over the edge and pull his prize capture up. This was William and his dad’s first gummy off the Lorne pier after countless hours spent fishing there.

FISH HARD – DIE HAPPY! Catch a few around Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula or Surf Coast to Lorne recently? Send in 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.

Pictures are always great, but please make sure they are at least 1mb (file size).

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Snapper on my mind PPB WEST

Alan Bonnici alan@fishingmad.com.au

This is the time of year when excitement starts to settle in. We’ve battled through a long and challenging winter, but the freezing conditions and severe COVID lockdowns are easing. The reward for many local anglers will be simple pleasures of life and some level of normality – being able to venture outside, soak up some warmer weather conditions and of course, targeting Port Phillip snapper.

This is my favourite period of the year, and October through to February is usually considered peak fishing time around Melbourne. Port Phillip Bay will wake from its slumber, and the fishing will go from strength to strength. The water temperature is still quite cold and early spring

is notorious for heavy rain, but as we progress through the month the days will get longer and the water temperature will rise.

It all feels a little like déjà vu. Last year we spent August and September stuck in lockdown, then we were finally allowed out in October. I spent my first week back on the water catching plenty of early season snapper. The key surprise last year was the volume of early season reds caught in the shallows, easily accessible by a small boat or kayak using light gear that I usually target flathead and pinkies with. I have a sneaking suspicion that things might just repeat themselves, and I already have a game plan ready.

Throughout October I will be spending some time fishing locally around P2 and the Cardinal in Altona and around Williamstown opposite the footy ground.

I’ll also spend some time

straight out from Wyndham harbour until I reach 12m deep, which historically has been good grounds for early season snapper. I will often anchor up and set out a berley trail of cut up pilchards, which we refer to as cubing.

Pest species are in ample supply around here, and snapper fishing around Werribee means you must be prepared for a barrage of banjo sharks and Port Jackson sharks. However, don’t get let this stop you it’s just part and parcel of the experience. I have good mates who are gun snapper fishos who say they’ll catch one snapper for every 10 banjos in this area.

I’ll also be prepared to drift around and see if we can find schools of pinkies and a few snapper within them. Last year we noticed salmon in the areas being chased by snapper, and often breaking water was a sign of reds in the area. Drifting

Spring will see the pinkies return.

It’s a great time of year to be out in the kayak. with soft plastics is also a great way to avoid many of those pest species.

Snapper will happily take well-presented baits which may consist of silver whiting, squid, pilchards and chunks of mackerel or salmon. Plus the volume of good soft plastics available for snapper is amazing, and we are spoiled for choice with countless options: 3”, 4” and 5” paddle tails; 3” and 4” grubs and equivalent in jerk shads, and worm imitations all work remarkably well.

A nice, slow lift-and-pause approach works very well, and some of my best snapper last season came using this exact type of gear and technique.

The standout plastics for me last season were the Daiwa Bait Junkie 3.2” paddle tail in yabbie UV, the Savage Gear 8.4cm Fathead curl tail in motor oil, and the 7” Berkley Turtleback Worm in camo colour. However, I think if you can find the school then the colours and sizes don’t matter so much.

Often a school of fish will be fighting for food, which in this case will be a nicelypresented soft plastic.

I suspect after a long lockdown that people’s patience will be shorter this

season as the masses hit the boat ramps and local waters.

Please show some patience and kindness to your fellow anglers, and remember that fishing is a booming sport and people have different levels of experience and skills. The boat ramps will be chaotic as fishing grows, and it only adds more pressure to our local boat ramps, which are already at capacity.

I sincerely hope that the key fishing bodies have a genuine look around the greater Altona and Werribee area. I’ve seen countless anglers go at each other, which is often more a case of lack of ample facilities which has flared tempers.

We also need more land-based options. Let’s face it – between Altona and Werribee we have two ramps and one pier that’s shared by tens of thousands of residents in one of the highest and quickest growing population areas.

I consider myself an experienced boater and angler, but even during these peak times I find it quite overwhelming and often take my kayak out instead mid-week to avoid the boat ramp chaos.

If you’re new to snapper fishing and wondering what

gear to use, start with a 5-8kg rod that’s 7-8’ in length. Depending on your fishing style you can go slightly lighter or heavier.

Paired with a 3000, 4000 or 5000 size reel spooled with 20lb braid is a great starting platform. I have many outfits that are specific to the technique. Whippy rods with long handles are ideal for sitting in the rod holders with baits, and thinner, stiff rods are more suited to flicking soft plastics.

We’ve all done it tough in recent times, so let’s hope this is the start of an epic season ahead of us.

Feel free to reach out to me directly to share your fishing experiences and catches around Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay and beyond, which we can feature in next month’s article. You can contact me by email at alan@fishingmad.com.au.

Also don’t forget to follow my fishing adventures at w w w. f i s h i n g m a d . c o m . au, and to subscribe to the FishingMad YouTube channel. You can also follow us on Facebook (facebook. com/fishingmad.com.au) and Instagram (instagram. com/fishingmad.com.au).

Until next time, good fishing everyone.

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The shallows will hold good numbers of fish this month.

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Welcome the warmer months PORT PHILLIP NE

Wayne Friebe wfriebe@bigpond.net.au

After another cold and wet month in lockdown in Metro Melbourne, there have been mostly limited opportunities for the bay’s anglers. The arrival of spring, the warmth in the air, and the prospect of easing of the current restrictions have all been welcomed with open arms by everyone, but especially the anglers living along the eastern seaboard of PPB. At the time of writing, these stay-at-home restrictions have been applied to the entire state of Victoria, but unlike last year, anglers are still able to fish within 5km of home.

In contrast to previous winters when we received only small amounts of rain, this year the rain has been constant and plentiful, and this trend has continued into the start of spring as well. Although the dirty water around the inshore areas can be annoying, spring rains are often crucial to kick starting the bays food chain, especially for the annual snapper migration, so let’s hope that the current trend continues for some time to come.

Traditionally, many of the bay’s anglers are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the snapper season at this time of year, and normally Western Port Bay will be already

producing some big fish at the top end of the bay. The end of the AFL season is the real start for many anglers. With the footy finals being moved interstate for the second year running, I’m expecting more anglers to start earlier this year if they are fortunate enough to live close to the water.

Fairly consistent snapper reports have been coming in

for the past couple of months, mostly from kayak and small boat anglers targeting the resident snapper population closer to the top end of the bay, especially around the piers and docks close to the mouth of the Yarra River. Anglers fishing with lures amongst the pylons and rocks have been doing particularly well. This is a great sign for the start of the

tends to scatter the schools for a while, but Mornington pier is till producing consistent numbers on the calmer days.

Some good bags of big gars are still being reported with the use of burley. Silverfish and peeled prawn have been the best baits fished under a lightly weighted float, as well as maggots.

Big schools of salmon have still been harassing the local baitfish population around Mornington as they have done for the most of the year. Recently they have been popping up close to shore, especially during strong onshore winds, and have been providing land-based anglers with some good sport on light line around the rocks and jetties. Small baitfish profile lures and plastics are best, and small slugs that can be cast further are worth trying as well.

Reliable and consistent numbers of whiting still coming from the southern areas of the bay is a great sign for the months to come as well, providing another option close to home for many anglers. Those that have persisted in local areas have been doing well also, particularly around Mount

Mark Keaveny and son Eoin have been cashing in on the squid during the calmer days around Mornington lately.

Eliza and Mount Martha.

Patterson Lakes has been consistently fishing well for bream for the past couple of months, especially when the water is dirty. This is when the bait fishers generally does the best in the main river system

using scrub worms and small freshwater yabbies for bait.

Plenty of small salmon have been hanging around the river mouth as well, and there’s always a few EPs for the anglers fishing with lures after dark.

The squid fishing continues to be very consistent along the inshore reefs and from the piers and rocks.

Sunny Martins with a Nagambie Lakes redfin caught while targeting golden perch on the edges.

migration, as the snapper tend to head for this area of the bay first when they enter the bay from the ocean to feed.

Recent local land-based snapper captures during rougher weather from various locations around Mornington and Mount Martha have been very encouraging, and I would expect to see many more of these in the weeks to come.

Areas further north, especially around Sandringham, Brighton and Mordialloc have also been producing a few nice reds as well when the conditions are right.

The squid fishing continues to be very consistent along the inshore reefs and from the piers and rocks, although the wet weather and windier days tend to dirty the inshore water, which can keep slow things down for a short time. Mornington Pier and the surrounding reefs has been by far the most reliable and consistent location for land-based anglers. Natural coloured jigs like red/brown and green have been the best, as well as UV white in the dirtier water and black.

Kayak and boat anglers have once again been doing most of the damage in close from Frankston to Mount Martha during the calmer days.

Garfish numbers have slowed up a little in recently, and once again the dirty water

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Rivers fill with big bream GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

This season will go down as the year bream began their spawning run way back in August. This is one of the earliest starts I’ve ever seen because they normally get going in mid October or even early November. A few lucky anglers have been there to greet them, and the reports have been quite impressive.

Of notable absence these last few months have been any real numbers of dusky flathead caught.

NICHOLSON RIVER The star of the Gippy Lakes has been the Nicho River, mainly because it has remained fairly clean while other streams have remained a bit coloured after floods. The best bream have been found way upstream from the Straight Six area to the backwater.

The best method by far was by throwing very light weighted soft plastics hard up to the edges in the best snags and deep edges.

Typical for the Nicho, you don’t get a lot of fish but those that reach your net will be big. Some of the best bream landed were between 43-46cm, and that puts them into the 1.5kg or even 2kg mark.

Around the bridges and downstream towards the entrance there is still the odd school of smaller bream hanging around.

These fish are typically 25-32cm, and respond best to small blade lures.

There are also small tailor in that area that will jump on nearly anything you put in the water. Bait anglers are struggling with frozen prawn but shrimp baits are getting good results on the bream.

TAMBO RIVER For the last few months all the action in the Tambo has been from the boat ramp down to the entrance.

The bream have been very mobile, and for the best success you need to keep

searching all day.

A common mistake amongst anglers is to sit on big schools of bream for way too long. It’s one thing to sound them up and find good numbers of fish – that’s the easy part. You will usually hook a few straight away but eventually (and at times rather too quickly), the school of fish will wise up and totally shut down. They will ignore all lures or even live baits, and I’m pretty sure most anglers have witnessed this

return to the old school after three or four hours, but often those fish remain cranky for the rest of the day. So, when it comes to the Tambo and targeting those schooling bream, even if you’re bait fishing from the bank, the real trick is to keep on the move.

MITCHELL RIVER The bream have been very hit-and-miss in the Mitchell and have been spread far and wide. The water cleaned up for a while but then ran dirty

the bream spawning run is two months ahead of schedule. This means that we will have to start looking for bream out in the open lakes area from

November onwards. I also expect Hollands Landing to fire up now as big bream come out of the rivers out into Lake Wellington and Lake Victoria.

MARLO

Jim McClymont mcclymont@net-tech.com.au

Some big estuary perch call the Mitchell River home, especially around the Bairnsdale area. behaviour. There’s some firm science around how bream can communicate and send stress signals to each other. In layman’s terms, the fish that are hooked and disappear to the surface let their mates know something is drastically wrong. The rest of the school pick up the distress call via the lateral lines along the length of their sides.

Now, to beat this problem you need to make a significant move and go look for another school. In my experience it requires a move of at least 100m and maybe more to find ‘fresh’ fish. Sometimes you can

after even moderate rain events, making the bream difficult to target.

Of greater interest are the anglers hooking bass and estuary perch in the fresh, coloured water, especially around the township of Bairnsdale.

At least the locals living in town can use their two hours of exercise to go fishing within the 5km limit. A lot of the EP have been well over 40cm, and it’s a real joy to see them turn up in numbers. Most of the bass have been around 35cm, and I’m tipping they are the stocked fish from years gone by.

These fish will be in

OCEAN VIEWS CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK

With spring in the air it’s the time of year for renewal. Not only do the blossoms burst into bloom, but the fish begin their spawning runs up into the rivers and small streams, creating a new generation of fish throughout the estuary.

Along with the new fish, the prawn larva are also up into the small creeks and lakes in the reed nurseries, growing until they reach maturity in summer and emerge from the reed nurseries and down to the sandflats near the entrance.

Here they will wait for the right tide to make their escape to the open ocean to complete their life cycle.

As the warmer months arrive, the fish will appear in greater numbers as they come into the estuary to feed on the maturing prawn.

Hopefully this month there will be more opportunities to hit the water.

Hopefully with the warmer weather, COVID might abate a little and allow us to go fishing and get back to a bit of some sort of normality.

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Bryan Lazzaro with two thumping Hollands Landing bream before release. We can expect more fish to turn up there over the next few months.

Zero in on the prawns

MARLO

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the lower reaches of the river looking for breeding partners, and the real exciting thing is that hopefully this will turn into a self-supporting population of bass into the future.

Interestingly, a lot of eels have turned up this year, taking all sorts of bait and even the odd blade lure.

PAYNESVILLE MULLET Good news for a lot of anglers has been the healthy number of yellow-eye mullet around the Paynesville jetties.

Cured sandworm is by far the best bait, but it’s hard to source at the moment. I’m hearing some anglers are using shrimp bait with good results. I’ve also found that small soft plastic grubs and lures that represent sandworm will work well on those finicky mullet.

LOOKING AHEAD After an outstanding near 12 months of rainfall,

There will be plenty on offer once the state is out of lockdown.

Lockdown gives all of us a chance to service our fishing gear, oiling up our reels and changing old line, checking the runners on our rods, and touching up anything that needs some attention. With all the time in the world, we can dream of what it might be with fine weather, flat seas, pleasant winds and lots of baitfish supporting big schools of kingfish, stripy tuna, and marlin.

I’d better stop there as I have more gear to get ready, more lines to change, and more lures to rig up.

Hopefully next month I’ll be able to talk about some great captures from the anglers who have been out and about fishing.

First-class facilities at Lake Purrumbete Taking home a trophy trout or redfin from Lake Purrumbete has never been easier with new fish cleaning tables funded by your fishing licence fees and the State Government’s $35 million Go Fishing Victoria plan to get more people fishing, more often.

Upgraded facilities include three new large fish cleaning tables that are undercover with overhead running water and lighting so they can be used 24/7.

The tables enable fishers to clean their catch including redfin and stocked rainbow, brown, tiger and cheetah trout, and Chinook salmon, year round and in all-weather, without making a mess in the kitchen sink at home.

Existing wooden jetties are also being replaced with safer and more durable floating pontoons thanks to the Lake Purrumbete Foreshore Committee of Management and a $312,000 grant through Better Boating Victoria’s Boating Safety and Facilities Program (BSFP). The new pontoons will increase berthing capacity and make it easier to launch and retrieve boats.

Since being established in 2000, the BSFP has reinvested a portion of your boating registration fees to 1,400 projects, worth $69 million, to make boating even better.

Future improvements at Lake Purrumbete include barbecues, tables and chairs to help families clean and cook their catch.

Learn more at www.vfa.vic.gov.au/gofishingvic

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VIC

Plenty of fish in the lake LAKES ENTRANCE

Steven Pryke

In the Gippsland region we’ve experienced many different weather conditions lately, along with large amounts of rain and the typical winds that we get at this time of year. With the days growing warmer and longer, anglers have begun to make the most of the opportunities arising.

COVID restrictions

have made fishing hard, with reduced session times making anglers really think about their chosen location and trying to pick the peak bite time for success in their quick fishing sessions.

LAKES ENTRANCE Our small coastal town, like many towns throughout the state, has been extremely quiet lately.

Restrictions have slowed down the amount of fishing action lately, with very few anglers venturing out.

Beach fishing has

been the most popular option lately, with good numbers of Australian salmon being widespread along the 90 Mile Beach.

Anglers have used many different techniques, but spinning a smaller metal lure around the 15g size has been highly productive.

Small micro jigs also work well, with the Majorcraft Jigparas becoming my personally favourite. The jigs have a great action on the drop, allowing you to either crank your lure

Lake Tyers Beach has been popular lately.

A typical copper-coloured bream from the higher reaches of Lake Tyers.

in fast like traditional spinning for salmon, or to allow it sink and give the rod short, violent rips, causing the lure to hop and dart around. This has been extremely productive and has produced fish on days when nothing else has.

With the warm water currents making their way down the coast, it won’t be long before the local shark scene will be in full swing.

LAKE TYERS The lake has taken on many different forms in recent times, with the lake open briefly to the sea then closing back up. Since then the lake has already begun to rise, flooding some of the smaller islands in the

main lake.

Lockdowns have resulted in fewer anglers venturing out on the lake, but there are still plenty of fish about. The Nowa Nowa arm has held good numbers of bream in the deeper margins, and locating these fish has been the main part of the game.

Areas such as Iron Stone Bay and Devils Hole have been ideal locations to start your search. Making the most of quality marine electronics has been a big advantage as these schooling bream are not everywhere. Fishing them hasn’t been easy as they have been very picky, but a well-presented grub on

a light jighead has been a good option.

With the lake slowly warning up, many species such as bream and flathead have begun to push their way up on the shallow edges and rocky areas. Small Chubby-style hardbodies have been a productive option, especially something that will run around the 1-1.5m range.

HAVE YOU BEEN FISHING? If you have been out for fish lately and have a great pic, please send it to stevenprykefishing@ gmail.com with short description and you could be featured in an upcoming edition of Fishing Monthly.

A glimpse of freedom MALLACOOTA/EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

It’s a sad world we are living in when words like ‘lockdown’ and ‘quarantine’ are becoming part of our everyday vocabulary.

Under the latest restrictions some fishing has been done with great results, and if we were free to live our lives and participate in the activities the area has to offer, I would have a lot more to report on.

Fishing along the beaches is still all about salmon, which love the cold water. A greater variety of fish will not be available until the water warms over the coming months.

Fish are being caught around Bastion Point beach and down to Betka Beach, with plenty of good gutters to choose from. Rising tide has been fishing the best.

The few anglers that have been heading offshore have been catching plenty of quality 96

OCTOBER 2021

gummy sharks, with fish over 1.5m not uncommon.

Tiger flathead and sand flathead are still not really on the bite, but the cold

water will soon be gone and these fish will fire up once again. There are a number of locations where flathead are being caught, with

Chris Wright with a cracker of a bass. Rain earlier in the year got these fish on the move.

Yellowfin bream are still being caught. This one was taken on a blade in around 12ft of water.

the reliable area in front of Gabo Island providing good fish.

The fishing in the lake has been good for those anglers getting out there for their allocated time to go fishing. Some great fish have been showing up, with quality yellowfin bream,

black bream and flathead being caught. With limits on how far and how long you are allowed to go fishing, much of the fishing has been done in the Bottom Lake.

Once again, moving around to find the fish has been the key to success. Once you find fish, it’s just a matter

of keeping on moving because they were there yesterday, they won’t be far away today.

Hopefully restrictions will ease soon, and allow people a glimpse of the freedom they used to have – and then there will be a lot more fishing to report.

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VIC

High flying pooch hones skills ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

A quote from Ardhur Schopenhauer, a philosopher from the mid-nineteenth century,

rings true of the current COVID conundrum: ‘Every possession and every happiness is but lent by chance for an uncertain time, and therefore be deemed back the next hour’.

And so it has been with

Lockdowns provide other fishing-related opportunities, like the chance to pimp up lures for the coming cod season.

the great sport of angling.

One minute you can, then the next you can’t. Trips held off for better conditions were cancelled by the spread of the bug, and the opportunity to wet a line was put on hold until the vaccination process was complete.

I find myself on the slippery dip side of my angling life, traveling down at a rate of knots, and the restrictions have all but sawn two seasons from the end of my ride. Let’s just hope by the open of next cod season we are back on the water wetting a line with minimal restrictions, and this bug and its saw are all but gone.

For those lucky enough to live a short 5km from the water, a chance to wet a line is still available albeit under the guise of exercise.

Two hours of angling a day is gold, and something not to be squandered. Out here in the Mallee my 5km radius is void of water, and is haven to few critters other than rodents and reptiles.

Perhaps lizard on fly could be a COVID challenge that might at least continue to hone casting skills.

I have found some angling antics in an aeronautical pooch that launches itself skyward in an attempt to catch the fly during backyard practise sessions.

The feather-clad package is void of hook, so injury in

flight to this dog is more likely to happen during the uncoordinated crash landings after the missed attempt to snatch the fly. Making the most of life is exploiting the opportunity to do what you love, regardless the obstacles placed in your path. And so it is that me and the dog practise every afternoon.

While his jumps get bigger my casts get better, so it’s

The author’s high-flying pooch tries desperately to snatch the fly mid-air. Exercise for him, casting practise for the author.

Clinton Hann with a ripper warm weather golden perch taken on a Bassman Tubby. win-win for both of us.

If you do by chance live close enough to our local water, the spring run of golden perch is well underway albeit in a river that’s running high and dirty. Bait fishing in the back waters and river line

eddies is always productive as the water temperature starts to climb.

I remember numerous seasons where water conditions similar to now were the prelude to some memorable sessions on the perch. A good backwater

snag might hold several solid perch that would readily scoff a well-weighted ball of worms. Great fun, and it generally produced a fish for the pan at trip’s end.

With a good number of small cod in the system the past few seasons, these fish too will readily muscle in on baits fished for perch, especially as things start to warm up. During the close these fish should be returned to the river in the best possible condition. The use of circle hooks will minimise deep takes and provide easy hook removal for release. With good flows perhaps we are in for a flood in the coming months, that might promote a good breeding season.

All up, for those anglers who can fish, get out there and get amongst the action. As for the rest of us, well… you can always find something fishing related to keep your interests honed – just ask the dog.

Use lockdown time wisely BENDIGO

Roger Miles codhuntertours@bigpond.com

Victorians have again been faced with lockdowns. While this can be frustrating for us anglers who are keen to get on the water, there will be an opportunity again for all anglers in the near future.

On the upside, the current situation gives many anglers extra time that they would not normally have. This provides a great opportunity to prepare equipment for the approaching season of fishing ahead. One task you should consider doing is boat trailer maintenance, with things like servicing wheel bearings, greasing winch, checking and tightening bolts around the trailer, and checking tyres and replacing if necessary. And then there’s boat maintenance – servicing the motor, checking fuel lines, checking conditions of batteries and so on.

For your fishing equipment, there are a number of things you can do to prepare for the upcoming season of fishing: checking the condition of line on reels and replacing where 98

OCTOBER 2021

necessary, servicing reels, cleaning worm guides, oiling bearings and so forth. Check the condition of the guides of your favourite fishing rods, and replace or repair if necessary.

Go through your favourite lures and check the sharpness of your trebles, and if they are blunt, sharpen them or replace them with new trebles.

I recommend sorting out your lure selection as well, to make it easier to target certain species of fish. For example, have one tackle box with your favourite redfin lures all together, and another tackle box with your favourite golden perch lures together.

LAKE EPPALOCK Water levels have continued to rise at a slow rate over the last couple of weeks. At the time of writing this report, Lake Eppalock was at 52% of capacity. In recent weeks the rainfall in our region has been minimal and the inflows have only been small because of the reduced amount of rainfall.

The upside of this is that the water that’s been running into Lake Eppalock has been quite clean, and therefore the majority of water clarity around Lake Eppalock remains good.

The lake’s water level is now reaching the high water mark

from last season. Therefore, any further rise in the water levels is good as this means the water is again running over fresh ground. The newly submerged vegetation provides an abundance of food sources for fish as the water levels continue to rise. How high the water levels reach this spring will be a big determining factor of how productive this season of fishing will be.

On a positive note, the three reservoirs in the Coliban catchment are still at capacity and are producing inflows into Lake Eppalock. The catchments are still saturated and are primed to produce some good run-off. All we need is a few major rainfall events to see higher water levels in Lake Eppalock. If we can get these good rainfall events, I am predicting a great season ahead for both the redfin and golden perch fishing at this location.

CAMPASPE RIVER Water clarity has improved in the Campaspe River in recent weeks because of the reduced rainfall and the volumes of cleaner water being released from Lake Eppalock.

The conditions, however, can change very quickly at this location. It only takes a couple of significant rainfall

events and water clarity can deteriorate quickly.

Given the ground is still saturated and some weather forecasts are predicting above average rainfall for spring, there is a good chance of increased flows coming into the system over the next three months. I still believe there is a good chance Lake Eppalock could reach capacity in late spring or early summer. If this does occur, keep the spillway in mind below Lake Eppalock, because a week or two after the lake starts spilling this will become a fishing hot spot.

I am hopeful some good heavy rainfall during spring will eventuate. If this does occur, water clarity will become reduced in the Campaspe River, so bright, ultra violet colours in your lure choices become good options. Colours such as pink, orange, chartreuse and fluoro red can work well.

I am predicting a slow start to the fishing in the Campaspe River this season, but when conditions start to settle down we should see some excellent fishing in this river system this season.

CAIRN CURRAN Water levels in Cairn Curran have continued to steadily rise, and are now

When the lockdowns end, many anglers will be out chasing a trophy golden perch. Glenn Scoble from Bendigo caught this magnificent fish at Lake Eppalock last season. reaching the high water levels from last season. Water clarity has deteriorated over the last month at this location, but it’s still reasonable for this location at this time of the year.

If we receive only minimal rainfall in the catchment for Cairn Curran, and we see only small rises in water levels, the fishing season at this location will still be good. If the area’s catchments do receive some significant rainfall and we see the lake’s water levels reach near capacity, the fishing will be excellent. Given the productivity in the golden perch fishing at this location over the last couple of seasons, many anglers will be excited when lockdown ends and they again can head out for a fish.

LODDON RIVER Predicting what the fishing will be like at this location can be difficult during the spring months. I do believe with the good water levels already in Cairn Curran that chances are good we’ll see some high flows coming down the Loddon River over the next few months. If this does occur, water clarity will be reduced, so the best lure colours will be bright, UV colours and dark silhouette colours. I am predicting like the Campaspe River the productivity in the fishing will be lower at the start of spring, but later in the season when water clarity settles we should have some excellent fishing again in the Loddon River this season.

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From 1971 to today, it’s said that Stacer has quickly established itself as one of the fondest and most recognised names in the boating industry, becoming a major part of many families lives in Australia and beyond.

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What started off as a small factory based in Victoria, founded by Ernie Stadler and Horst Cerncic who combined their surnames to cultivate Stacer Alloy Craft Pty Ltd, has now flourished into a fully comprehensive aluminium boat brand with over 90 models under its belt.

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Stacer has been delivering a lifetime of unforgettable memories to a devoted community of Stacer owners, thanks to a rich history of committed dealers.

Pat and Dennis McKeegan, owners of one of the first and longest trading Stacer dealerships which operated from 1977 until their retirement in 2018, have seen the brand flourish into the force it is today firsthand.

“ The success of the brand is the quality control and pride of workmanship of factory personnel. ” “Stacer has come a long way from being a basic tinnie to a fully integrated Boat Motor Trailer package”, Pat McKeegan said. “The success of the brand is the quality control and pride of workmanship of factory personnel.”

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VIC

Consistent fishing during the transition a direct result of the VFA yellowbelly stocking over the last few years.

A number of waterways are well worth fishing in North East Victoria such as Lake Sambell in Beechworth, and Allans Flat Waterhole at Yackandandah.

A little bit further each way we have great yellowbelly fishing at Lakes

WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

Each year I look forward to October for a number of reasons. We start to see more consistently warm days and more consistent fishing for all species.

October is the main transition month where the weather is warm but can still be cold. Where cold water species are still biting and so too are the warm water species. The regions trout fishing is still great in most places, and the yellowbelly, silver perch and redfin are staring to fire as well.

MURRAY COD October is smack bang in the middle of the closed Murray cod season. There

October is a great time to catch trout in North East Victorian streams before the heat arrives. of water all year round are also worth trying for redfin in the spring months.

It’s just finding the right stream that is the greatest challenge.

YELLOWBELLY October is the start of the best time of the year for yellowbelly fishing in North East Victoria. I consider October, November and December to be the best months.

I am hoping to see more yellowbelly turn up in the Ovens River while bait fishing this October,

Macquarie perch are turning up more frequently in the Ovens and King rivers. These endangered fish are totally protected and must be released unharmed. It is each angler’s responsibility to be able to tell them apart from other fish species, such as yellowbelly.

Nillahcootie and Eildon to the south and Lake Hume to the north.

Lakes Eildon and Hume are loved for their trophy yellowbelly, which are often targeted by lure fisherman each spring, while Lake Nillahcootie is a popular

The four most common venomous snakes found in North East Victoria. Clockwise from top left: tiger snake, highland copperhead, eastern brown snake, and (bottom left) red bellied black snake. is only one waterway that is open to Murray cod fishing in spring and that is Lake Eildon. So if you want to get a Murray cod fishing fix, you will need to head to Lake Eildon.

TROUT The trout fishing is still usually really good throughout most of October.

On some years with above average temperatures, the fishing can slow down in the smaller streams towards the end of the month if they are lower and warmer than usual, but for the most part the trout fishing is still great in most areas throughout October.

Pretty much anywhere that holds trout will be worth fishing this October.

There’s currently a very healthy amount of water flowing out of the hills and I can’t see that changing

by October.

If the streams are high, try using worms as bait, if they’re low and clear, try using small minnows or soft plastics.

Towards the end 100

OCTOBER 2021

They are found in both the Ovens and King Rivers, as well as just about every lagoon along the banks.

In fact there are very few areas where carp are not found in this area.

My favourite carp fishing spot is Lake Moodemere, I absolutely love fishing there. Despite being a well-known carp

of the month some streams may start to see a few grasshoppers along the banks. If you see grasshoppers… use them!

Once they start falling into the water the trout will go mad feeding up on them.

REDFIN Redfin are a very strange species of fish, varying their habits from waterway to waterway. The

Two main redfin fishing waterways in the Ovens River catchment, Lakes Buffalo and William Hovell tend to fish poorly for redfin during spring time, whereas other waterways fish best in spring. Lakes Samball and Kerford in Beechworth can both fish well for redfin during October.

Some of the low-lying streams that maintain a flow

A small Lake Nillahcootie yellowbelly trolled on a Tubby Native Minnow on 14 October last year.

A very fat carp caught in the King River the day before this report was written.

place for anglers targeting yellowbelly for the plate.

It doesn’t tend to house nearly as many trophy yellowbelly, but yellowbelly in that 35-45cm mark are quite common and much sought after.

In Nillahcootie, baits such as small yabbies and worms work well, but the best of the lot are live shrimp.

If lure fishing, try using small lipless crankbaits, or small to medium-sized hardbody lures.

CARP As with all other species, October is a great month to target carp in the Ovens River catchment.

fishery, Lake Moodemere is also stocked with yellowbelly each year and holds a small number of catfish and redfin as well.

Most of the fish that I have caught there have been carp although I have managed to sneak in a couple of redfin and yellowbelly over the years.

Sweet corn kernels and worms are my favourite baits at Lake Moodemere.

I find that I have the most success using corn as bait, however I do like to have a worm in on my second rod as well in case a yellowbelly or redfin swims past.

As you can see October is a great time of the year to fish for most species in North East Victoria. It is also a great time of year to drag out the yabby nets, but I will go more into that in a separate feature article on another page.

Lastly, just a warning, October is the time of year that I see the most snakes.

The four most common species of venomous snakes in the area are very active in October as the males like to make themselves seen by the females. They will often be found laying out in the open, soaking up the sun.

If you see a snake, just walk around it and give it room to get away from you. As long as the snake isn’t cornered you have nothing to worry about. It’s the ones that you don’t see that pose the biggest threat so make sure you keep your eyes open and watch where you put your feet.

VIC

Trout season underway BALLARAT

Shane Stevens

Another trout season is well underway, our lakes and reservoirs are all full and overflowing, and the trout are mooching around in the shallows feeding on

feeding in the shallows early in the morning and in the evening, on grubs, worms and midge. On overcast days the fish are freely feeding on smelt. Tullaroop is just a smorgasbord of food for the fish.

The reservoir over the last few years has transformed

Geoff Cramer nailed this lovely brown trout casting a Bent Minnow surface lure from Tullaroop Reservoir. flooded-out worms, grubs and so on. The warmer weather is just around the corner, and the insect activity is bringing our fisheries alive once again after our winter slumber.

It’s a fantastic time of the year around the Ballarat and district for fishing, with a bit of sunshine; we all get enthusiastic, as do the trout in our waterways. As anglers, the anticipation of which fishery will fire up and when – and the potential to catch some ripper fish – is what our sport is all about. Our fisheries once again were heavily stocked by Victorian Fishing Authority over the winter months, which will give us ongoing catches for the coming few years.

Anglers are thinking back to last trout season, where and when they caught some fish, and what bait/lures worked well, in preparation for this year.

It’s all part of fishing, which can and has been halted once again by COVID restrictions; much of our very early season has been halted just as some of the fisheries started to produce some excellent catches.

On the other hand, we can look at it from the trout’s perspective; they can feed all day and night on the newlyfound food sources without any interruption from us anglers. Still, hopefully this is only short-lived and we will be back out there catching a few fish.

Tullaroop Reservoir is my favourite early season fishery, and the water levels are higher than at this time last year. The water clarity is improving, with the trout

We didn’t see any surface action from feeding trout, and probably a good reason for that as there were only a few midge buzzing on the surface. This will change, as I mentioned earlier.

Our plan of attack was to cast a few surface lures around to see if we could catch the eye of a feeding trout. It didn’t take long before Geoff was hooked up on a ripper brown trout around the 4lb mark on a Bent Minnow lure. After a good tussle Geoff landed the brown, we took a couple of photos and she was released to fight another day.

I continued prospecting along a very likely looking shoreline, when a brown stopped my Bent Minnow in its tracks, ripping plenty of line of my reel. After a good tussle the hooks pulled free, that’s fishing.

I cannot wait to get back up there, as I believe the fishing will be awesome at Tullaroop until at least early summer, when the weather really warms up

Tom Jarman landing a ripper brown from Newlyn Reservoir on a black Woolly Bugger.

Image courtesy of Tom Jarman.

trout eager to eat a fly or lure.

Tom Jarman, one of Australia’s leading trout guides, likes to fish our

a matter of putting in the hard yards.

Ross Goyne has had some recent success at

Ross Goyne landed his new PB trout in Australian waters from Newlyn Reservoir on a Stick Caddis fly.

Tom Jarman has been catching some magnificent brown trout loch-style fly fishing from Hepburn Lagoon using an intermediate fly line teamed up with an olive and black Woolly Bugger. Image courtesy of Tom Jarman. from a generally barren waterway to one of the most productive trout waters in the state. There are now extensive weed beds all over the reservoir, which are home to a host of insect life, for the trout to feed on. Over the next few months the water surface will be alive with damselflies and dragonflies buzzing around everywhere.

It’s unbelievable to see how fertile this water is now compared to a few years ago. Tullaroop has been heavily stocked with brown and rainbow trout over the past few years by Victorian Fishing Authority. We are now really starting to see the fruits of the stockings with excellent well-conditioned fat rainbow and brown trout in varying sizes.

Geoff Cramer and I ventured up to Tullaroop recently, and we were quite surprised to see the water level was higher than at this time last year. It’s over virgin ground which will be full of food, for the trout to feed on.

and water levels drop for irrigation purposes.

Newlyn Reservoir has really fired up early this season; the water has been overflowing down the spillway for a few months now. The trout have ventured in around the edges in search of food, and anglers have reaped the rewards, with the

Central Victorian lakes and reservoirs during winter and spring before concentrating on the rivers during the warmer months. He has been catching some magnificent brown trout from Newlyn over the past few months, mainly on Woolly Bugger fly patterns, with black and olive being the most successful colours. Tom generally likes to walk slowly around the shoreline looking for any disturbance from a feeding trout before casting. On days when it’s quiet, he will just prospect with the team of Woolly Buggers, generally with success. He says it’s just

Adrian Wright caught this lovely 63cm brown from Wendouree on a Magoo fly stripped fast from a drifting boat. Image courtesy of Adrian Wright.

Newlyn as well. On one session Ross decided he would cast some surface lures, but luck wasn’t on his side that day – he hooked into three fish before losing all of them as well as his favourite Bent Minnow. Ross decided he would go back and seek revenge, armed with a Stick Caddis fly this time, and he wasn’t disappointed. He was soon hooked up to a solid fish, and after a lengthy, nervous fight he landed his PB (personal best) 65cm brown trout estimated at 7lb.

Ross took a couple of photos and released her for someone else to enjoy. At Newlyn the fishing will only improve over the coming months, for all methods of angling.

Hepburn Lagoon is fishing extremely well also.

As most anglers know who fish Hepburn regularly, as soon as the warmer weather comes and irrigation is required, the water levels drop which reduces the amount of fishable water.

The fishing definitely slows down, purely due to the water levels. Tom Jarman has been exploring what Hepburn has to offer, fly fishing from a boat. Tom has been loch-style fly fishing from the drifting boat using an intermediate sinking fly line with a team of Woolly Bugger fly patterns similar

to the ones he has been using at Newlyn. He has been getting excellent results, landing some very nicesized brown trout around the 4lb mark. The use of water craft on waters like Hepburn and Tullaroop has certainly opened the options up to these fisheries over the past couple of years.

Remember that Hepburn is an electric-only waterway, and that all other marine safety guidelines need to be adhered to.

Moorabool Reservoir, which is one of my favourite waters, is up over new ground. Reports have been limited due to restrictions, but as soon as they are eased it will be game on. I, like a lot of other anglers, am looking forward to tackling some of the ripper browns and rainbows lurking around the reservoir; early season fishing over the past few years has been exciting to say the least. I can’t wait to get amongst them myself, given the results I’ve had over the past few years.

Lake Wendouree has certainly flown under the radar over the winter months, with only a few reports filtering through. With the anticipation of mayfly and mudeye hatches starting over the next couple of months, this will definitely see angler numbers increase, which will result in more reports coming in.

Adrian Wright, who likes to fly fish Wendouree with a few mates from down Bacchus Marsh way, snagged a ripper brown trout measuring 63cm on a Magoo fly pattern. Adrian was fly fishing from a drifting boat.

He said the fishing was quiet that day, and he had only one touch which he was lucky to bring to the net. After a couple of quick photos, she was released to fight another day. Adrian said he is looking forward to the next few months leading into Christmas, because the fishing is generally very good.

OCTOBER 2021

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VIC

Perfect conditions for yellas SHEPPARTON

Nick Brown teamriverrats@hotmail.com

I wish this month’s article was a bumper early spring edition full of yellowbelly reports.

Unfortunately, COVID restrictions had something to say about

only 5km from home it’s been so hard to get a gauge on the fishing conditions.

From the reports I have been getting, there have been some good numbers of fish being caught in the Broken River, all in town from the Archer Street bridge down to the junction. I think majority of this reporting is due to so many

or back water pockets. Lure fishing has been quiet when the river went up majorly, but in the initial 1-2ft rise, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits were working best.

I like using the Hotbite Chatterbait simply because I can change the hooks from smaller assist to a single or a weedless, which makes it perfect for the Broken River.

The Goulburn River has been very limited in regards to reports, with only a couple coming in from those fishing behind the Shepp lake using worms. This was prior to the river rise so hopefully by now the water has settled and we can get access to the river before the next rise comes through.

I would use similar lures to the Broken, with spinnerbaits or chatterbaits working well. If you want to use lipless crankbaits I would suggest swapping the trebles

for singles because they’re so much more snag resistant.

KIALLA LAKES There has been a lot more fishing action at Kialla with a lot of locals forced to stay closer to home. I might sound like a broken record, but pre or post storms is the best time at Kialla, and this spring hasn’t changed at all.

Many reports have come in, with yellowbelly biting nice and early in the spring around rain events. These fish haven’t been huge but 2-4 fish have been recorded on numerous sessions for those getting to the lake.

Keitech 3” soft plastics rigged on a jighead and beetle spin have been working well, as have smaller Rapala BX Brat crankbaits around the rocky banks. You won’t get a better bite than on a crankbait.

Don’t be shy when retrieving – you don’t need to be super

A Hot Bite Spectre Vibration Jig with two different hook set-ups. that. We were blessed with some early warm weather at the start of spring, as well as a river rise – perfect yellowbelly conditions.

However, with so many anglers limited to fishing

anglers only being able to access the river near the town.

We did see a decent rise during this period and reports were coming in with floating worms in the still water pockets behind larger trees

A shot of the river just below minor flood level.

Two Jackall TN60s with singles and tail spinners.

The bottom lure has a chatterbait blade up front. slow. The fish will smoke them even at higher retrieve speeds.

SHEPPARTON LAKE Trout are still on the chew with people catching them at each end of the lake on fly, divers, soft plastics and baits.

As the days get hotter you will need to fish deeper or early in the morning.

The fishing from the banks can get a lot harder with the higher temps, so if you have a boat or kayak I recommend putting it in the lake if you want to catch numbers of trout.

You will now probably catch more redfin off the weed edges from the bank and the odd yellowbelly, but the key is getting deeper and in the weed.

LOCAL CHANNELS It’s prime yellowbelly and snake time in the local

channels with some local anglers running into 2-3 yellowbelly and 2-3 snakes in a fishing session.

Like most months, targeting structure or flowing water is best for the yellowbelly. You can use lipless crankbaits with a beetle spin or (as I have done recently) remove the trebles add a spinnerbait blade to the back and a single to the middle. There are fewer hooks for the fish to get stuck on, but they just seem to slam the lipless cranks with the blade.

You also add in the chance of being hit on the drop.

There have been fewer redfin caught this season. I’m not sure whether that’s due to fewer rods in the water or the fish just aren’t there.

We’ll see what happens in the coming weeks.

Cod season is all done YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

And just like that, cod season came to a close with little to no fanfare on 1 September. Traditionally, the end of cod season has the greenfish enthusiasts up and about looking to get their last fix for the season, but this year, thanks to COVID restrictions, that was non-existent.

Fishing throughout August was very limited, with only a few locals trying their luck. As the lake cleared towards the end of the month, results improved and a couple of nice cod were caught.

A couple of Fish Camp Ski staff members made the most of living locally and got into a few. Tanya Cannon, along with husband Steve, landed a 63cm and 75cm cod around the Kiffins area, while Ryan McMaster finished 102

OCTOBER 2021

off in style with a couple of metre plus beauties coming in at 103cm and 106cm.

Both of Ryan’s fish were caught ‘scoping’ around the bridge area.

For the uneducated, ‘scoping’ (as I like to call it) is the use of a sounder that gives you ‘live’ image feedback and actually shows you the fish swimming around in real time. You can watch your lure be presented to a fish and the fish’s reaction in turn. Amazing stuff. Looking back over the season, it will forever be remembered as the year ‘scoping’ hit the lake and changed the perspective on fishing big time.

Some anglers say it’s cheating, but those who have lashed out big $$$ for one of these sounders will tell you it’s a necessary fishing tool. Personally, I still sit on fence. I have seen anglers with limited fishing knowledge all of a sudden become overnight social media sensations solely off the back of having a ‘scope’,

because they are now able to catch cod of great size on a regular basis.

The greater your knowledge and ability to use your unit, and understand what the cod are doing, greatly affects your catch return. This was highlighted at a recent competition when the two best users of this technology for Murray cod fishing in Australia turned up and smashed the field. Only having fished here twice before, I can guarantee that if you took this technology from them, they would be at a loss as to where to start when it comes to fishing Lake Mulwala.

I’m sure in time, like with all advancements in technology, we will look back in 20 years and say “how the bloody hell did we ever catch cod without one?”

Using a scope for targeting reddies, yellas and other species is another subject altogether. It’s just the iconic Murray cod that need a bit of consideration.

As I said, I will sit on the

Brad Murray with a 127cm cod caught using the ‘scope’! fence until I get one!

Anglers must keep in mind that from 1 September through to 30 November inclusive, targeting Murray cod is not permitted. The Murray River below Yarrawonga downstream through the Cobram area to the Tocumwal traffic bridge is totally closed during this period.

Unfortunately, organisation for this year’s Cod Classic is up in the air, with no commitments being made at present. As per 2020, the Cod Classic will proceed with whatever restrictions are in place at the time, running from 4-5 December. The restrictions will govern crowd numbers and other aspects of

the event.

• For any information relating to fishing Lake Mulwala (the home of the Murray cod) feel free to give us a call at Lake Mulwala Fish Camp & Ski on 03 5744 3133.

We are your local fishing specialists and specialise in all things Green! Until next edition, happy fishing.

VIC

Spring trout are beckoning good fishing to be had when they do. By October, rivers like the La Trobe, Toorongo, Loch and others around Noojee should be producing good numbers of fish. The trout are mostly small though: expect fish around 20cm but they occasionally exceed 40cm, which would be a monster for these waters.

You should also keep in mind the Tarago River. It may not produce as many fish as the rivers around Noojee, but if you manage to hook one it will be a fish of a greater caliber. Both branches of the Tanjil River are always worthy of some attention,

WST/STH GIPPSLAND

Billy Auldist

The cooler months in between the end of one trout season and the opening of another are often challenging for anglers in West Gippsland. The water temperature is low, the water sometimes high, and the fish are often shut down. Luckily, you can still catch redfin, blackfish and carp, even if they are not in the numbers you would expect in the summer months.

In fact, if you put in the hours it is quite a good time to target larger redfin with bigger lures, and some good ones have been landed recently.

Any local town estate dam is worth a look at any time of year, most of them would hold fish. I have caught many good redfin in waters that other anglers would look past. They are mostly accessible to the public, but it is best you check before trying. There is also

Redfin are a great option during the closed season for trout. Justin Booth caught this one near Warragul. always the chance you find a dam that has been stocked by other locals.

In between lockdowns, some mates and I were lucky enough to get out a few times targeting blackfish in some of our local streams. We

A typical redfin from one of the many public dams in the region. They are readily caught all year round.

caught numerous blackfish including some exceptional 40cm+ models. They are the perfect fish to fulfil the trout fisher’s urge during closed season. It is also important to remember the river blackfish closed season, which applies from the 1 September until 31 December. It is crucial we let these natives rest so they can spawn and ensure the next generation.

At the time of writing, we are all looking forward to trout opening, which is traditionally held on the first Saturday in September. Who knows if we will be out of lockdown by then? For the last few seasons our local rivers have been high and dirty on trout opening and this year is likely going to be the same, this makes it exceptionally harder to land a trout. If this is the case and you are still really keen to get out your best chance would be to drift a garden worm either unweighted or with a small split shot through a back eddy to the side of the stream. The rain flushes a lot of worms into the system and it will be one of the trout’s main forage.

Luckily, it only takes a few days without rain for our rivers to clear up and there is

Tournament Calendar 2021 DATE

Tournament

Location

State Contact

OCTOBER 2-3 Oct 9-10 Oct 9-10 Oct 9-10 Oct 15-16 Oct 17 Oct 17 Oct 26-27 Oct 30-31 Oct

Humminbird BASS Electric Aus Open R10 Hobie Fishing Worlds Club Marine East Gippsland Bream Classic Harvey Dam Bash 2021 2021 Zerek BARRA R1 2021 Zerek BARRA R2 East Coast Bream Series GF Rapala BASS Australian Open 2021 13Fishing BASS Pro GF

Wyaralong Dam Burrill Lake Metung Harvey Dam Lake Tinaroo Lake Tinaroo Hawkesbury River Clarence River Richmond River

QLD abt.org.au NSW hobiefishing.com.au VIC www.vicbreamclassics.com.au WA F: Harvey Dam Bash 2021 QLD abt.org.au QLD abt.org.au NSW www.wsbb.com.au NSW abt.org.au NSW abt.org.au

NOVEMBER 13 Nov 15 Nov 16 Nov 18 Nov 20-21 Nov 27-28 Nov

Carp & Tilapia Eradication competition 2021 Zerek BARRA R3 2021 Zerek BARRA R4 2021 Zerek BARRA R5 2021 Zerek BARRA R6 NS Rods Sunline Bream Classic GF

Wyaralong Dam, Teemburra Dam Kinchant Dam Peter Faust Dam Peter Faust Dam Marlo

QLD www.lafma.org QLD abt.org.au QLD abt.org.au QLD abt.org.au QLD abt.org.au VIC www.vicbreamclassics.com.au

DECEMBER 3-5 Dec 2021 Daiwa BREAM GF

It won’t be long until we are out targeting West Gippsland trout. The author caught this one in a small stream on a soft plastic last season.

Port Stephens

NSW abt.org.au

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au

Local angler Dylan Powis landed this nice blackfish around Noojee. A bunch of worms was the bait of choice. The blackfish season has now closed until the end of December.

catches are usually frequent but never massive.

Drifting baits work in all of these waters and will account for their fair share of fish. Using small diving lures, soft plastics and spinners will surely catch trout across the region when the water is clear enough. Natural colours tend to work better than anything completely out of the ordinary early in the season.

Experienced fly fishers will find early success and I am sure they don’t need me to tell them what flies to use.

If you have been fishing and have any reports or photos that you would like published, feel free to send them to billy. auldist@gmail.com

TOURNAMENTS

Restoring the Balance: Carp eradication comp It’s on again! Covid permitting, the annual Logan & Albert Fish Management Association’s Wyaralong Dam, Carp & Tilapia Eradication competition will be held Saturday 13 November, 2021.

This is a one-day, familyorientated, fun fishing day aimed at catching pest fish.

By entering this competition, you will help remove some of these noxious fish (carp and tilapia) from the dam, as well as helping Logan & Albert Fish Management Assoc (LAFMA) raise some funds to supplement money received from the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIPS).

There are heaps of prizes and giveaways and two lucky entrants could go home with a kayak. You don’t even have to catch a fish to be in the running for this beauty.

Fishing can be done from the bank, kayak or canoe, even your boat (as long as you don’t start the motor). This is an electric only impoundment, so motors can be left on but must not be started.

We are now 20+ years down the track from where it all started. The ‘carp out –

natives in’ concept was started by a small group of concerned anglers in the Rathdowney/ Beaudesert area to get introduced noxious carp out of the Logan and Albert River systems and replace them with native fish.

LAFMA, formerly known as ‘Carpbusters’, ran seven successful Easter Carp Eradication competitions from 1998 to 2004, removed more than 10 tonne of carp from the rivers and raised approximately $65,000 to purchase fingerlings for the native fish stocking program.

Wyaralong Dam, 14km North West of Beaudesert, was completed in 2011 and filled almost on completion.

LAFMA decided to take on Wyaralong Dam as a project for our fish stocking program in 2012. As the Logan and Albert system was already infested with carp and tilapia, we knew it would not be long before these pests took over the Dam. In 2013, we reinvented the carp competitions of old, but this time concentrated on Wyaralong Dam only.

All net profit from the competitions are spent on Australian bass and Mary River cod fingerlings to stock

in the dam. LAFMA, in conjunction with Fisheries Queensland, decided to make Wyaralong a trophy Mary River cod fishery, stocking mainly Mary River cod with a back up of Australian bass.

Results of the last eradication competition (March 2019), were the continuing aggressive takeover of the fishery by tilapia was evident by the final numbers of fish caught and destroyed in a 7 hour window: 1554 tilapia and 25 carp compared to the results of the 2014 competition where 273 carp and only 75 tilapia were caught in the same 7 hour time slot.

As you can see from the above statistics, the tilapia have exploded in Wyaralong Dam. Let’s hope that the continuous stocking of the dam with an apex predator such as the Mary River cod, we will once again ‘Restore the Balance’.

For more information, entry forms etc, go to our web page: www.lafma.org.

A Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP) is required to fish Wyaralong Dam for those 18 years and over. – Lloyd Willmann, LAFMA. OCTOBER 2021

103

VIC

Murray cod are active EILDON

Peter Burtchell

As I write this report, spring just rolled in – 21ºC, mild wind, not a cloud in the sky, unlike yesterday which saw out the last day of this winter’s lower than average temperatures.

already diving, bombing and swimming in the lake. Alas, looking out the window here the thumping was just a very large Murray cod that spends the late afternoon pushing fish up into the small bay next to the boat ramp to set them up for ambush. I am sure if we weren’t in lockdown, I’d be hearing the familiar

boost to citizens’ mental health, the state’s economy and to enable our beloved front-line workers to take some time out to recuperate.

Murray cod will be very active from now through to October as smaller fish take advantage of the spring food resources that will become available. The lake level is looking to be very high indeed because above average rainfall is still predicted through to the end of November. Populations of juvenile fish will naturally take advantage of this increased lake area to take protection from predators, and feed on the many insects and larvae that will also be taking advantage of the increase in foreshore areas.

Winter saw some great fish catches, however lockdown did pull that up somewhat. Kate Norman of Alexandra and her partner got a last cast in just prior to regional lockdowns. Staying on the Jerusalem Creek Boatels, their first encounter was a very nice 70cm Murray cod. The following sunrise they braved the wind and light rain, flicking a Megabass Vatalion 190 around the bay in front of their Boatel. This proved very successful as a good hit soon turned into a good fight with Kate winning her place to be photographed with her 109cm brute. She

Kate Norman with a very healthy 109cm Murray cod. says there’s no better feeling than watching one of those monsters swim back down into the depths.

Trout were very active this year, and smaller trout will still be widely dispersed and feeding throughout spring along the many creeks and rivers that enter the lake.

Spinners and small surface

Rhyce and Billie having some fun with the last of their winter trout catches.

Thanks to the shutdown, there is minimal noise from human activity, and the sounds of nature are everywhere here. Hearing some pretty decent thumps from outside had me thinking that people were

sounds of people frolicking in the shallows on such a beautiful start to spring.

We can only hope that the pandemic restrictions work fast, and once again human activity can return to provide a much-needed

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Darrell hangs on as his spring metreplus Murray cod puts up a fight.

lures are the best set-up for these smaller spring trout.

Yellowbelly have begun to enter into the newlyinundated grass banks, and will continue to do so as the weather warms up. Worms, yabbies, spinners and vibes will prove very successful when fishing from the banks.

During spring when the rivers are closed to Murray cod fishing, the lake will once again remain open as it is governed by the unique ecosystem that does not allow the Murray cod fry to survive. Through October, the best places to target these trophy fish will be around their newly-captured, large underwater structures. From

their structures, anything passing is quickly chased away, often ending up in a solid hook-up.

• Jerusalem Creek Marina & Holiday Park is a friendly, family-orientated caravan park, and makes the perfect home away from home.

While there you can opt to hire one of their Boatel floating apartments, hire a boat or book a fishing guide at competitive prices.

For more information on all of these services and other attractions in the area, visit jerusalemcreek. com.au, or give them a call on (03) 5774 2585 or email info@jerusalemcreek. com.au.

VIC

Looking for leviathans

well for boaters flat-line worth chasing. As the days trolling minnow lures close lengthen and some warmth to shore, as well as bank begins to occur, I’m sure anglers fishing similar depths the reddies will come back Lake Purrumbete still has using PowerBait, worm and on, especially the leviathans some excellent browns and white bait. Similar-sized that are known to inhabit chinook salmon up to 8lb+ Chinook salmon and rainbow this lake and which are in the old scale. Dusk seems trout have been caught by occasionally caught by some to be the prime time to both, with some days firing lucky angler. How big do tackle the browns, with better than others. The they get? Well, it took me various methods working. weather would be playing a a 10-year period to crack A mudeye suspended just big part in the bite rate so I the 2kg mark, but I caught a metre under a bubble recommend that as soon as plenty between 1.3-1.9kg float and allowed to drift the barometer begins to rise during that decade. towards the weed beds after a cold front, get out The near future is 40-60HP uncertain to say the least. is effective. FOURSTROKE Casting and there if you can. trolling minnow lures Lake Elingamite is going Until vaccination numbers PERFORMANCE within a stone’s throw of OK, with both browns and increase to a point where the weed-encrusted bank rainbows to 1kg taking lures we can once again get out has also picked up a fish and flies fished along the there, it’s simply a matter or three. Continuous weed bed edges. The redfin of sitting on our hands and lockdowns are throwing a are quiet, with only the odd trying to make the best of spanner into the works but fish being taken. There are it. Remember, we are in are necessary in keeping still plenty of yearling fish lockdown; that’s all. It’s not ROCKLEA NORTH this annoying virus that have beenROCKHAMPTON in the lake for like being on death row in KAREE MARINE BOATSnow, and a prison. Please keep it all under control. nearly RIFEN two years in perspective and we’ll get Lake Bullen Merri is they are fast approaching 1776 Ipswich Road Rocklea 6 Dooley Street North Rockhampton currently fishing reasonably 2kg inP: (07) weight P: (07) 3875 1600 4927and 9150well through this.

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OCTOBER 2021

105

BREAM SERIES presented by

Local knowledge dominates the podium Jamie Mckeown has put another mark to his name for AOY this year, taking out the ZMan sponsored round of the Daiwa Beam Series on his home turf at the Gold Coast.

This is Jamie’s second win on the BREAM Series this year after taking out Lake Macquarie and, although there were no stonking tarwhine in his bag this time, he still found enough healthy canal bream to take out the event by just 730g over second place boater Mathew Fatafehi.

In the non-boater division Cain Waller kept the Gold Coast locals on the podium by taking out 1st place in his first ever ABT event.

that sun gets up,” he said The move north proved to be the right one when he hit the scales for the final weigh-in bringing us the biggest bag of the weekend of 3.215kg and just seizing victory off Mathew Fatafehi.

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

Jamie Mckeown is fast becoming a household name in ABT circles.

His second win for the year has him in sight of the AOY trophy. flog my spots because I knew the Broadwater would have got hit hard and it was only going to have a good day or two in it. I knew that come Sunday I was going to have to target places less pressured”.

Come Saturday, Mckeown did his usual milk run from as far down as Chevron Island, up into the Broadwater while he waited for the top of the tide around 11:30. Once the tide got up, he moved up to Sovereign Islands and that was when the fishing really took off.

“Once the tide got high enough for me to hit the banks I wanted to, I tied on

This was only Mathew Fatafehi’s third ABT event and he more than proved he has what it takes to finish in the money.

In his first ABT event as a non-boater, Cain Waller got the job done on his home waterway.

a peach faced Bent Minnow and they went crazy for it. It was almost a fish a cast for an hour or more”.

This hot bite saw Mckeown sitting in second place overnight with 2.870kg, just 10g off the lead.

With the expectation that the fish around the Broadwater would become pressured, day two called for the path less travelled.

Opting to make the run north to Jacobs Well, Mckeown used his Samaki C12 and Daiwa reel combo with 16lb Samaki YGK X braid and 6lb X leader to crank the pontoons with a small deep diving crankbait.

“It’s a super effective technique, especially when

Scan the QR code to watch the Winner Interview

NO STOPPING THE ROLL It’s been hard to ignore the stellar year that Jamie McKeown has had on the BREAM series and his second win for the year has now put him amongst the favourites for the coveted Angler Of the Year Trophy.

Jamie, a Gold Coast local, came into the weekend with a pretty good game plan that he stuck at to secure the win.

“Pre-fish I didn’t really

BOATER RESULTS Place Angler 1 Jamie Mckeown 2 Mathew Fatafehi 3 Tristan Taylor 4 Steve Morgan 5 Charlie Saykao 6 Luke Rogan 7 Chris Golding 8 Anthony Wishey 9 Jacob Kelly 10 Todd Riches 106

OCTOBER 2021

McKeown would like to thank his sponsors Samaki and Lowrance for providing him the tools to hone his craft, as well as Sportys on the Gold Coast for looking after his tackle needs.

Fish 10/10 9/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10

FATAFEHI CASHES IN LOCAL KNOWLEDGE Mathew Fatafehi is only relatively new to the ABT tournament scene however he has proved he has what it takes to mix it with the best.

Taking a slightly alternative approach to pre-fishing, Fatafehi opted to have a relaxing day with family to unwind and get himself in a positive mindset for the tournament ahead.

“Coming from a footy background, you can transfer a lot of the same mindset into tournaments.

You can put a lot of pressure on yourself in a tournament and at the end of the day you just have to remember to go out and enjoy it. We’re lucky to have such an awesome

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) Payout 6.085Kg $1600 + $250 1st Merc bonus 5.355Kg $1000 + 2nd Merc bonus 5.190Kg $700 5.180Kg $500 + $75 3rd Merc bonus 5.140Kg No Prize 4.950Kg No Prize 4.865Kg No Prize 4.710Kg No Prize 4.590Kg No Prize 4.560Kg No Prize

BREAM SERIES presented by opportunity on our doorstep when others are still stuck in lockdown”.

No doubt this approach was effective as he returned from Saturday as the day one leader with 5/5 fish for 2.88kg as well as holding big bream of 0.840kg.

Never one to rest on his laurels, Mathew upped his game on Sunday and took

pair fished the canals to great effect with salt and pepper coloured Ecogear Aquas on 1/50oz Hidden Weight jigheads to get the bites.

On day two, Waller fished the Nerang River with his boater Anthony Wishey and was able to improve on his day one bag of 2.055kg by 245g for a total of 10/10 fish for 4.355kg.

Using a Daiwa TD Zero and 2000 size Daiwa Legalis to pitch his Aquas in and around the pontoons, Waller credited his 4lb Sunline FC Rock straight-through fluorocarbon as being crucial to easing those big fish out of the structure.

Scan the QR code to watch the Day 1 Highlights

home the Big Bream prize for the tournament with a 0.985kg stonker he caught in the canals.

Opting to stay close to

A pigeon pair of Jacobs Well bream that helped Jamie McKeown secure his victory.

Mathew Fatafehi and Tristan Taylor share a few words before the start of day two. Also showcasing the diverse range of vessels we see at ABT. take off, Fatafehi rotated between his honey holes at Sovereign Islands and Runaway Bay canals throwing an Ecogear Aqua Bream Prawn in king prawn colour on a 1/40oz TT Hidden Weight jighead. The technique was to fish tight to the structure, while also sight casting at any rogue bream between the pontoons.

His outfit of choice was a Samaki Archer or, depending on lure choice, an Atomic Arrowz paired with a 2000 Daiwa Aird X, 9lb Owner braid and 6lb Sunline FC rock leader.

“I power fished the pontoons. If I didn’t get a bite within three casts, I was onto the next one. Once I got a bite then I started to slow down and work on the school”. If he thought

the fish wanted a bit more action to the lure to get a reaction bite, he picked up a ZMan Grub in motor oil on a 1/16oz for a bit more tail action in the soft plastic.

Fatafehi would like to give thanks to friend Joel Rowe for the kind lend of his boat, as well as Addict Tackle and Aussie brag mats for all their help. And as I am sure we can all relate, a special thanks to his family for their support.

WALLER’S DEBUT VICTORY Gold coast local Cain Waller really stepped up to the mark in his first ABT event, taking out first place in the non-boater division.

Lucky enough to draw the freshly crowned Queensland Open champion, Blake O’Grady, on day one the

Fish 10/10 10/10 10/10 9/10 7/10 6/10 6/10 5/10 5/10 5/10

“That straight-through line really gives you that extra pulling power. When you need to pull those fish out you can really put that pressure on.”

To any aspiring non-boaters on the fence, Waller offers this advice.

“It’s definitely worth giving it a go. Get out there and have a go and just enjoy yourself because that’s what it’s all about.”

ABT would like to thank all the anglers, spectators and event staff for making a COVID safe (and COVID restricted) event run as smoothly as possible.

YOLOTEK BIG BREAM

Mathew Fatafehi took out the Big Bream prize with a 0.985kg canal fish he caught on day two. It was a victim of the lightly weighted Ecogear Aqua, which made Mathew $500 richer thanks to YoloTek.

NON- BOATER RESULTS Place Angler 1 Cain Waller 2 Chris Lonne 3 Michael Maas 4 Gavin Atkin 5 Joel Mckenzie 6 Steven John William Dee 7 David Lonne 8 Marco Grubb 9 Roger Elton 10 Gary Middleton

Scan the QR code to watch the Day 2 Highlights

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) Payout 4.355Kg Daiwa reel 3.745Kg ZMan Procure TT lures, + Bait Junkie prize 3.550Kg ZMan Procure TT lures prize 3.150Kg Daiwa prize 3.025Kg Prolure prize 2.305Kg Cranka lures prize 2.020Kg EJ Todd prize 1.895Kg Ecogear prize 1.660Kg Keitech prize 1.590Kg Samaki prize OCTOBER 2021

107

FIND THE

LOGO COMPETITION

There are 15 Logos hidden throughout the pages of Fishing Monthly.

The first 40 correct entries drawn at the end of each month will win a Daiwa Neck Scarf.

Fill in the entry form below with the page number of each logo location and go in the draw to win!

All entries entrieswill willthen thengo gointo intothe theMajor Major Prize Prizedraw drawto towin 1 of 3 prize topacks be drawn [DATE]. win 1 ofpacks 3 prize to beon drawn on 31st October, 2021.

MAJOR $ $ $ PRIZES 1000 500 200 1st PLACE

2nd PLACE

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RRP worth of DAIWA products

RRP worth of DAIWA products

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OCTOBER 2021

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MAIL ENTRIES TO: FMM Find DAIWA Logo NSWFM Find the the DAIWA Logo Competition, Competition, PO 3172, Loganholme 4129 PO BOX BOX 3172, Loganholme QLD QLD 4129 Entries be received OCTOBER, 2021 Entriesmust must be received by by31 30TH DATE 2019 Original entries Original entriesonly. only.No Nophotocopies. photocopies.

WHAT’S NEW SAMAKI BILLFISH SHIRTS

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Two of the latest releases in Samaki’s apparel range are the Performance Billfish shirt and Performance Sailfish shirt.

On the black Performance Billfish shirt you’ll see the metallic billfish lighting up in attack mode, exiting the water at speed. These shirts are available in adult sizes from S to a 2XL and youth from 8-14, allowing the whole family to get in on the action and out onto the water.

On the Sailfish shirt, you’ll see this amazing sportfish in all its glory. The soft silver colour palette, complemented by a metallic sailfish, makes this shirt a standout on the water or at your local. Performance Sailfish shirts are available in adult sizes from S to 3XL. Both shirts are made of super-soft touch breathable fabric, which is perfect on or off the water. This cool material wicks away moisture, and provides UPF 50+ sun protection. The subtle scale under the arm adds a hint of detail to the design.

All Samaki shirts are designed by Australian anglers for Australian anglers.

For more information and stockists, check out the Samaki website, and like them on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date. www.samaki.com.au

DAIWA 21 TIERRA

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A seamless blend of technology, ascetics, and value, Daiwa’s 21 TD Tierra rides the wave of innovation while simultaneously wowing anglers when it comes to performance and price.

HVF Nanoplus carbon is the foundation of this impressive series, with precision resin control blending with unidirectional graphite fibre to create a blank that has maximum density, while at the same time is super light, sensitive, and unequalled in responsiveness.

Daiwa’s X45 and Braiding X technologies further enhance blank design and performance, while Daiwa reel seats provide a rock-solid connection between rod and reel, with their ultra-light construction minimising weight to maximise rod balance and feel.

Angler connectivity is further enhanced courtesy of Fuji Fazlite guides with their ultralight and highly sensitive design allowing the angler to experience the full performance and power of the 21 TD Tierra’s blank. www.daiwafishing.com.au

STRIKE PRO ARMOUR 8

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The new Strike Pro Armour 8 braid is made from 100% PE fibre material from the USA to produce a quality advanced superline at an affordable price.

Strike Pro Armour 8 is a high performance 8-carrier braid that features a rounded body construction that helps to reduce wind knots, backlashes and rod tip wrapping. Armour 8 braid also features an advanced PTFE coating that produces a super slick finish that reduces rod guide friction and increases casting distance out of sight. It also offers amazing abrasion resistance and helps to resist saltwater penetrating the fibres. This line also features an extremely low-stretch core for superior hooking power, sensitivity and control.

Strike Pro Armour 8 Braid is currently available in three colours (hi-vis yellow, hivis orange and slate grey) in 150m and 300m spools. The 150m length spools are available in 10-50lb breaking strains, and the 300m spools are available in 20-50lb. www.jurofishing.com

PRODUCT GUIDE

OKUMA CEDROS

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MUSTAD MEZASHI MINNOWS

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Specifically designed for saltwater use, the Cedros spinning reel is a feature packed, value for money bluewater reel that will put the brakes on the big ones.

These new reels feature Okuma’s patented Litecast construction design for reduced weight, while maintaining maximum strength and durability, along with a Dual Force Drag System for extreme stopping power and proprietary High Density Gearing with corrosion-resistant coating for sustained performance.

Initially available in 8000, 10000 and 14000 sizes, these reels boast a comprehensive features list that includes 6HPB + 1RB corrosion-resistant stainless steel bearings, Hydro Block watertight drag seal, machined aluminium screw-in handle and loads more.

For more information visit the Okuma Australia website or look up ‘Tackle Tactics Cedros’ on YouTube.

Price: SRP $279.90-$299.90 www.okuma.com.au

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Mustad Keel Tail Minnow plastics are constructed from Japanese PVC using German plasticisers and American colouring material. The result is a brilliant range of soft plastics that are easy to use and can be rigged in numerous ways.

Rigging options include jigheadrigged, weighted and unweighted worm hook rigged, or the Minnows can be used as trailers for jigs and spinnerbaits.

The Keel Tail Minnow comes in two sizes, 3” and 3.5”, with eight colours in the range.

The Mezashi Z-Tail Minnow is built similarly to the Mezashi Keel Tail Minnow soft bait, but features a kicked tail to give the plastic a faster tail beat.

The Z-Tail Minnow is ideally rigged on a jighead and gives a high pitch tail action on both the retrieve and fall. This means that species such as flathead, snapper, bream, trout, barra and more will love the action and smash this plastic. It’s available now in 3.5” and 3” sizes. www.wilsonfishing.com

BANTAM BT SRAPTOR

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The Bantam BT Sraptor is an innovative floating glidebait that comes with an adjustable tungsten weight system that allows anglers to fine tune the lure’s buoyancy and fall.

The Bantam BT Sraptor features an oversized realistic PVC tail section to leave a sonic signature trail in the water and draw big bites from active fish. Measuring 182mm long and weighing 58g, this lure can be used with a steady retrieve for a side-to-side gliding action, or a more aggressive ‘twitch and pause’ technique to get the reaction bite from shutdown predators.

The Bantam BT Sraptor’s unique triple connection hinge eliminates torsional mechanical movement to produce consistent action and strength, designed for hard-hitting predators like Murray cod, barramundi, mulloway and XL flathead.

The BT Sraptor is currently available in seven natural and high-contrast colours.

It comes with a spare PVC tail, PVC weight sleeve and tungsten ‘nail style’ chin weight.

Price: SRP: $49.99 www.shimanofish.com.au

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visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS!

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SCAN THE QR CODE!

OCTOBER 2021

109

TESTING BOOTH

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Jigging Lures: great Australianmade soft plastic lure options Fishing with soft plastics has come a long way, even in the 10 years I have been with the magazine. There are so many shapes, sizes, colours and options, that for some anglers looking at a wall of soft plastics in your local tackle store is a nightmare, while for others it is the stuff of dreams.

in this case the Jigging Lures range of soft plastics are only available online (they do attend markets around SE Queensland).

So, I felt it was important to go through the process and place an order myself (they did supply me with ample plastics to do this testing booth). Once on the website you click on the shop button and there is a group of

perch, trout, etc. There are definitely colours in each one that will suit any of those species and more.

I had a couple of outings where I found myself using either the Jigging mini paddle tail or the Jigging single tail grub around the many pylons of the Hornibrook Bridge at the mouth of the North Pine River in Brisbane.

These pylons are home to plenty of bream and flathead, and these two lure options delivered some nice bags and the odd trophy into the net.

Depending on the current, I rigged them on jigheads weighing from 1/24-1/8oz with a size 1 hook. I simply cast them to the structure, let them slowly drop to the bottom and then shook and wiggled them back

The stinger hook wasn’t always needed.

The strong swimming action and profile of the 3.5” EXO paddle tail makes it ideal to target bass with.

The continuing growth of online shopping has also opened opportunities for smaller operators to dip their toes in the market place. One such operator is Jigging Lures based on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Here are my thoughts after testing them for you for the last few months.

The range Jigging Lures offer 10 different shapes from a 2” single tail grub to a number of

images of the soft plastics that are available.

Click on the shape you want to buy, pick a colour and how many packs and off you go.

The bonus for buying five packets is that your plastics come in a small tackle tray, ready to go. I thought that was a great idea, so that’s what I did.

From order to delivery was three days (me being in Brisbane), which I thought was as good as you can expect, when Australia Post is involved.

Breaking the range down The range has a little bit for everybody, with three 2” options, four 3-3.5” options and three 5” options.

Small sizes The three 2” options lend themselves to targeting species like, bream, whiting, redfin

The author was instantly drawn to the 5” Jigging curl tail in the range. Rigged with a stinger hook it accounted for three 50cm+ flathead in five casts the first time he tried it. to the boat. You will generally know pretty quickly if the bream are about.

The colours I liked for this, from what I was sent are, salt n pepper, sesame oil UV, golden crush, pickled gherkin UV, grapefruit squash, squid jelly and pink cotton candy UV. Small/medium sizes As you head up in size, the next four plastics provide a much broader range of profile and species options.

Comprising of a ribbon tail grub, a fork tail and a couple of paddle tail options these plastics could be used on many of our inshore grounds, throughout our estuary systems and in our rivers and lakes (fresh and saltwater).

The 3” Jigging ribbon tail is the most finesse of the small to medium sized plastics and lends itself to being fished in a similar way to the 2” plastics already mentioned or crosses over nicely to a 1/4-3/8oz jighead

This 5” EXO paddle tail was slow rolled over a large shallow piece of water in the hopes a big female flathead would eat it.

This little guy didn’t read the script.

5” options. Each style is available in 20 plus colours and a packet costs $10 plus postage. To check out the range you need to go to www.jigginglures.com.au. The Jigging Lures Facebook and Instagram pages are also worth a look and a follow. They highlight recent captures, markets they are attending and any new colours and ranges when they come out.

How to order them?

Generally, when I am talking to you about where to find the products I am testing, I send you to your local tackle outlet, however 110

OCTOBER 2021

When rigging the EXO paddle tail for bass the author liked to trim the nose from the plastic so that he maintained the 3.5” length and profile.

A nice legal mulloway caught on the 3.5” Jigging fork tail in the grapefruit squash colour.

visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS!

SCAN THE QR CODE!

PRODUCT GUIDE with a 1/0 or 2/0 hook. This broadens the fish species you can target with them significantly.

The plastics that immediately caught my eye when they arrived where the 3.5” Jigging fork tail, Jigging EXO paddle tail and Jigging paddle tail. They slot into my wheelhouse as

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vibration, so it lends itself more to being used in shallow water (or from the shore) and at times of less water flow. The extra movement drawing attention from a broader area, giving the angler a better chance of catching a fish.

Both paddle tails in the range have very strong swimming actions, but it was the

The undoing of this flathead was a 3.5” paddle tail in sesame oil UV colour.

results, while for the flathead it has been those plus the grapefruit squash, sour lemon UV and bubblegum blue colours that have worked well for me.

Medium/Large sizes The 5” Jigging lure models have been great fun to test. They have challenged my thought processes on how to rig them (see the rigging tips nearby) and how to fish them.

The Jigging Jumbo EXO paddle tail has a great profile and lends itself to be slow rolled. It has lots of action and I look forward to the next opportunity to fish one in one of our SE Queensland barramundi impoundments or if I am chasing a Murray cod south of the border. Come to think of it, it would be the perfect trailer on a stinger hook set up on a spinnerbait or mumbler to target them as well. However, I didn’t have that opportunity so I rolled them over shallow flats hoping a big female flathead may take a liking to them. No big girls played the game, but the fish I did catch left no question they wanted to eat it.

My favourite has been the Jigging EXO curl tail. It has so much movement and vibration in the water, that I was just drawn to it. I preferred to fish it very slowly and let the action of the lure do all the work.

The results speak for themselves, three flathead over 50cm in five casts on the first morning I used them had me hooked.

Everybody will have their own favourite colours within this range, but for me you can’t go past orange cordial, sour lemon

far as fishing with soft plastics is concerned.

My first thought always tends to go down the flathead path, but I have realised over the years that plastics of this size and shape, will catch a huge range of fish species. Snapper, mulloway, bream, trevally, bass, golden perch and trout are just a few that instantly come to mind.

I tend to use a fork tail and a paddle tail in slightly different situations (targeting flathead).

In deeper water and during times in the tide

Although the author preferred the 3.5” EXO paddle tail for his bass fishing, the standard 3.5” paddle tail was pretty effective as well.

With 10 styles and 20+ colours of each, there is bound to be something for every angler in the Jigging Lures range. when you have a lot of water flow I like to use a fork tail. It has less water resistance, so it gets to the bottom faster and stays in the zone without the current sweeping it away. When it comes to the paddle tail, the tail creates much more movement and

The author used the smaller 2” plastics to target bream. He was very happy with the results.

UV, salt n pepper, squid jelly and sesame oil UV. Final thoughts The Jigging Lures range and colour options will provide most anglers with an option to suit their fishing needs. They are reasonably robust and definitely catch fish.

I don’t like saying that I have favourites

RIGGING TIPS

The 5” EXO curl tail rigged with a Mustad inline single stinger hook.

• As with rigging any soft plastic, it is important to line them up as straight possible to ensure that they swim straight in the water.

• Try and match the colour of the jighead to the plastic whenever possible, as it then becomes an extension of your plastic.

• Trim a small piece from the nose of the plastic so that it sits flush against the jighead. For bass fishing, I remove the same amount as the length of the head of the jighead so that the total length remains the same.

• In the case of the 5” EXO curl tail, I found it hard to find a jighead that the hook came out far enough down the plastic, and therefore I missed bites.

My solution was to add a Mustad inline single stinger hook to the rig. It worked very well.

• Play with the weight of the jigheads to ensure you are maximising the presentation of your plastic depending on your fishing situation. (because I think you should try them for yourselves), but for me the 3.5” Jigging fork tail, the 3.5” Jigging EXO paddle tail and the 5” Jigging EXO curl tail are the standouts, with the 3.5” Jigging paddle tail and the 5” Jigging EXO paddle tail not too far behind.

They cover the majority of my fishing needs.

Well done to Kym and Paul from Jigging Lures, you have done very well. Check them out at www.jigginglures.com.au.

Jigging EXO paddle tails accentuated action that caught my eye. The ribbed shape of this lure allows for even more role and movement. Much of the testing period has been during late winter and early spring, which is when the Australian bass in our SE Queensland impoundments school up on the deeper contours of the waterways, and rolling soft plastics through and around these schools is a great way to catch them.

The extra movement was something that I thought would be perfect for this.

Lake Kurwongbah is one of my favourite urban bass fisheries (kayak only) and where I put my theory to the test. Kurwongbah is not as deep as many of the other impoundments so I used a 1/4oz 2/0 jighead and once I found fish, I cast to them, let the plastic get to the bottom and slow rolled it back to the kayak. It pays to stop occasionally to let the plastic get back to the bottom. Most of your bites will either come on the slow roll or the pause. I have caught fish on both the paddle tail Jigging lures, but the Jigging EXO paddle tail has had the better results of the two.

Colour wise for the bass, it has been the golden crush, pickled gherkin UV and the squid jelly colours that I have had the best Where possible the author likes to match the jighead colour with the plastic so it is like an extension of it.

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au OCTOBER 2021

111

Spring into freshwater Whether it’s at dams, rivers or streams, Recfishwest Operations Officer Sam Russell is among WA’s almost 8,000 freshwater fishing licence holders who love chasing trout across the South West.

With spring – the South West’s freshwater angling season – now in the air, we spoke with Sam to discuss how fishers can successfully target trout.

RFW: What is your favourite spot to go freshwater fishing?

SR: While I fish a wide range of locations, from Dwellingup all the way down to about Walpole, my favourite spot would have to be Pemberton.

With impoundments, streams and rivers, Pemberton offers up unreal diversity when it comes to different fishing opportunities in a relatively small area. Pemberton offers plenty of easily accessible

recfishwest

Soft plastics can also be the go. If I’m fishing in tight streams and rivers with a lot of structure, an unweighted, weedless rigged plastic will often keep you snag-free and get you the bite. Small 1” to 2” minnow style plastics with a paddle or grub tail in natural colour patterns will work.

RFW: Do the lures you use change depending on whether you’re fishing for trout in a dam or stream?

Sam Russell with a healthy summer rainbow.

Steph Watts was happy with this nice rainbow from Waroona Dam. Recfishwest: When did you start freshwater fishing, Sam? Sam Russell: Having grown up in the South West, freshwater fishing was the first real fishing experience I had. Without access to a boat, I spent a lot of my time chasing redfin perch in the waterways around the town of Collie.

RFW: What do you enjoy most about the South West’s freshwater fishery?

SR: For me the scenery plays a big part in why I love it. Chasing fish amongst the South West’s pristine bushlands is an incredibly enjoyable experience.

The South West’s great trout fishing is backed by a comprehensive stocking program run from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Pemberton hatchery.

Recfishwest, alongside our Freshwater Fisheries Reference Group, is involved in the stocking process to ensure trout are released in the best locations to maximise the quality of trout fishing across the region.

I’ve always loved fishing for trout and that’s grown tenfold since I started at Recfishwest and got a further understanding of the great role the Reference Group plays each year to help stock trout.

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spots where you can camp and fish nestled within the towering Karri forests.

It truly is a special part of the world.

RFW: What lures do you carry in your tacklebox when you’re fishing for trout?

SR: In my opinion the best way to target rainbow and brown trout is using small, bibbed minnows.

In terms of colour, rainbow and brown trout patterns both work well due to the cannibalistic nature of the species. I’ll also carry a couple of darker coloured lures for overcast days and low light conditions – it might seem counter-intuitive, but black lures create a prominent silhouette in the water in these conditions.

SR: Yes definitely, I’ll do most of my stream fishing with shallow diving minnows and small unweighted soft plastics. The dams will often have deeper banks that fish will push up against foraging for food, so a medium to deep diving minnow can be effective.

Fishing soft plastics with heavier jigheads can also work well, especially when fished around structure like rocky drop offs and weed beds. A bonus of fishing this deeper water is that you’ll also pick up redfin perch. For more freshwater fishing tips head to ilovefishing.com.au, click

Sam Russell with a Lefroy rainbow trout caught earlier this year.

Recfishwest Board member Liam Surridge with a beautifully coloured rainbow trout.

on ‘How to catch’ and scroll down to ‘Freshwater trout’.

RFW: On the subject of redfin perch, how do you target them?

SR: When fishing for redfin I almost exclusively fish with soft plastics. I’ll use a weedless jighead ranging in weight from about 1/16-1/8oz depending on water depth and flow. Combine this with a 2” grub tail or marron imitation soft plastic and you’re in business.

When looking for likely spots to catch redfin I’ll look for two distinct things – deep water and structure. Redfin love hiding deep within snags

where they can ambush their prey, so fishing plastics hard up against any structure is a good way to find fish. A slow retrieve with a couple of twitches every now and then will normally get the bite, especially if your plastic still has a bit of action on the drop.

RFW: What’s your most memorable freshwater catch?

SR: Probably fishing down at Harvey Dam. I’d found a recently flooded section of the bank which looked really fishy. After prospecting the area for a couple of minutes I spotted a nice sized buck rainbow feeding in the shallows. A quick cast and a couple of twitches of the lure immediately grabbed the attention of the fish. Shortly after, the nice trout charged down my lure and I was on.

The fish put on an impressive arial display before finding its way to the net. Being able to sight cast to this fish as it buzzed around feeding made it a special encounter.

RFW: What advice would you give to someone who is new to freshwater angling?

SR: Don’t be afraid to give it a go, fishing for trout really isn’t that hard. Just grab a handful of small lures, a light spinning setup and go exploring.

There are countless freshwater streams, rivers and impoundments in the South West that will all hold fish, you just need to put in the time to find them.

• Save the date! We’ll be running this year’s Troutfest in partnership with the Shire of Waroona at Drakesbrook Weir, near Waroona, on Saturday 2 October. Help release trout into the dam, have a crack at fly fishing and much, much more at this family-friendly event.

WA

South Coast

Good fishing in close ESPERANCE

Murray Johnson

and herring.

The bream lakes in town are still firing well, with plenty of fish over 40cm.

The high water levels should continue through the next couple of months, and as temperatures continue to rise the fishing will continue to get better.

Those anglers willing to travel further out of town have the opportunity now,

numbers of herring, flathead, King George whiting, and still the occasional squid.

The opportunity also arises to fish close to the islands chasing samsonfish and yellowtail kingies, which come in close at this time of year. Sambos over 30kg tend to be more frequent around this time.

Heading out wide, anglers are still catching

Esperance has started to enjoy some nice, spring weather, which brings some positive changes to the local fishery. As water temperatures rise the fish tend to move in close to the shoreline, allowing people to target different species.

Shore fishing still sees the occasional salmon, which FOURSTROKE tend to40-60HP be in smaller numbers than before.

The schools are PERFORMANCE only small at the moment, but they’re still widespread across the coastline. The most popular beaches to target salmon locally have been Fourth Beach and 9 Mile, with a few also turning ALBERTON MELBOURNE up at Stockyards.

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W: bendigomarine.com.au W: mymarine.com.au Gummies tend to come in at this time of year for breeding, which means better numbers MORNINGTON PENINSULA MELBOURNE close to shore.

NAUTICAL MARINE BL MARINE Jetty fishing in town 141 Hotham Road 612- 614 Plenty Road Preston still remains productive, 9478 1420 at the withP: (03) opportunities Lachy Sorrento Warren with a nice squid off the F: (03)Jetty 9470 4638 (03) Image 5984 courtesy 1666 of @lachy_warren.

Tanker still seeing Tanker P: Jetty. some plenty of small W: squid, blmarine.com.au E: info@nauticalmarine.com.au herring and lots of garfish with better conditions to plenty of nannygai, with W: nauticalmarine.com.au at night.

Tailor Street Jetty fish Israelite Bay and the some going over 60cm.

SHEPPARTON also offers the opportunity to cliffs. Target species include Mixed in with the nannygai BOATS AND MORE TOORADIN chase King George whiting. gummy sharks, bronze are breaksea, queen snapper, P&J MARINE CENTRE P/L of sambos Numurkah Road Shepparton The207 best rig for whiting is whalers, mulloway, large SERVICE and again plenty (03) 5822 2108 whiting flathead and big101 Tooradin Tooradin kingies. stillP:being a standard skippy.

In Station and Road yellowtail paternoster rig 2908 with peeled those areas the best have 3107 Jigging has been working F: (03) 5821 P: baits (03) 5998 prawns for bait.

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ECHUCA MELBOURNE In the coming weeks we EADES XTREME MARINE will see more gummy sharks THE MARINE SHOP 24 Sturt Street Echuca 6 Holland Drive come Meltonin closer, with choice beaches being 14 Mile, P: (03) 5482 2333 P: (03) 9747 0588 Thomas River and Alexander F: (03) 5482 2133 F: (03) 9747 3999 Bay. The herring will start W: xtrememarine.net.au getting bigger, and the salmon W: themarineshop.com.au will slowly become less BRAESIDE MELBOURNE frequent as they move further out to sea. Squidding will JV MARINE WORLD TRIPLE M MARINE slightly slow down but the 878 Springvale Road Braeside 117 Northgate Drive sand Thomastown whiting will continue to P: (03) 9798 8883 P: (03) 9465 8787 remain strong.

F: (03) 9798 7554 • Established in 1986, Southern F: (03) 9466 1418 Sports and Tackle specializes W: jvmarine.com.au W: triplemmarine.com.au in the supply and servicing of fishing equipment. They have an extensive knowledge of the local area and provide all brands, whether you’re fishing from beach, jetty or boat. Come and chat to the friendly staff at Shop 16, The This 61cm nanny took a liking to an Ocean’s Legacy Boulevard, Esperance or Long Contact 130g jig. Image courtesy of @lachy_warren. phone 08 9071 3022.

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Bring on the beach fishing AUGUSTA

Anthony Gillam

We here in Western Australia are truly counting our blessings, with no lockdowns or reported cases at the time of writing,

winding in will generally get a hit from whiting, flathead or skippy. The best baits are squid strips, fresh fish pieces or worms. If tarwhine are about then coral prawns will also do the job.

Flat Rock Just south of the marina

King George whiting with the odd flathead or flounder.

Garfish and herring are also frequent visitors.

Walking north along the beach you will locate a prominent sand channel that heads right through the reef areas out to sea. This is like

hook embedded in a whole herring or salmon fillet for sharks will provide a day’s entertainment. There are large rays around so soaking a big bait is probably not the way to go if you can sight cast for sharks. Try predicting where they are heading and drop the bait far enough ahead not to spook them. Most sharks can’t resist and will soon having you hanging on for the ride of your life. I have had large bronzies jumping free of the shallow waters multiple times, looking more like a mako than their more sedate cousins.

Blake Muller landed this nice dhufish on a bottom bounced octopus tentacle in Flinders Bay.

Cosy Corner is an excellent place to spend the day fishing and swimming with the family. allowing us to move about freely.

So although we feel sympathy for the rest of the country, we are making the most of the emerging spring weather and getting out and about throughout the whole state. With an exceptionally wet winter, the countryside is now carpeted in an amazing display of wildflowers; an extra benefit for those able to travel.

As the new season unfolds it presents many opportunities to take advantage of the nice weather and explore new fishing areas instead of falling back on the old faithful areas.

Although not all spots will prove to be winners, there is nothing wrong with having a bit of an explore. Augusta has plenty of land-based areas to have a try, many that have not experienced very much fishing pressure.

BEACH FISHING Beach fishing can be a rewarding experience with a range of fish cruising the coastline, many of which are sought after for their fighting or eating qualities. This month I will cover a number of beach fishing sites that I have found to be well worth a try.

Jays Beach This surfing beach is closest to The Colourpatch and although known to be great for catching a wave, it is also a great place to get a range of whiting. Sandies, King George and yellowfin are all common catches, especially near the reef areas near Deere Street. Commonly used are the standard paternoster or running sinker rigs as the bottom is generally sandy.

Casting close to the exposed section of reef and slowly 114

OCTOBER 2021

entrance you will come across two small sections of beach intersected by some rocks and reef. These both

a funnel for sea life, and you commonly see bronze whaler sharks head straight in to run up and down the

Now that’s a great western version of a male blue groper landed on a charter trip in Flinders Bay.

The beaches near the Augusta marina provide great fishing opportunities within 5 minutes from the town centre. have some deeper channels that always hold some form of fish, depending on the time of year. There are always whiting and tarwhine with skippy, herring and garfish also common catches. During the salmon run the beach is known as the hospital beach, where numbers of salmon congregate, many bearing the injuries caused by sharks.

Floating a mulie up the channel usually results in one of them tearing off with it.

Dead Finish Heading further south towards the lighthouse, this little section of beach to the left of the disabled fishing jetty provides some great fishing all year round. There are sections of sandy holes between weed banks where you find sand whiting and

beach within 20m from shore.

Standard rigs for the smaller fish and a short length of steel trace with a 7/0 or 8/0 circle

Ringbolt Bay This little bay is tucked away off Leeuwin Road down a bit of a sketchy track that is definitely not for your average shopping cart. At the bottom of the track is a decent car park and a set of steps runs down onto a short, sandy beach that is sheltered by the granite outcrop of Point Matthew. Not only is this a great little fishing beach, it is also a nice safe place for a swim in the middle of summer. Rocks, sand holes, channels, weed and reef – this place has all the ingredients for epic fishing.

A nice eating sized Augusta pink snapper captured within cooee of land.

Known as a regular garfish haunt, some big specimens can be landed here all year round. They love a small piece of sand whiting on a floating line, and surprisingly will aggressively fight for a bait that is cast out dangling below a small float, and then wound back in to shore. King George whiting are frequently caught here, as are herring and skippy.

During the salmon season it is not unknown for the bay to be filled with hungry salmon eating everything that moves as they make their way up the coastline.

Skippy Rock Beach Turning from Leeuwin Road onto Skippy Rock Road will lead you to the turn-off to Skippy Rock Beach. A short, brisk walk along the track at the end of the car park heads down to a long section of white, sandy beach where you can walk and fish for hours. It is aptly named as there are some excellent sized skippy caught there at times, especially in the vicinity of Skippy Rock itself, where there are some deep holes.

Unfortunately, the holes are caused by some pretty big surges that make it difficult to fish at times. I would try a plastic blob with a couple of

metres of leader below it with a 2/0 hook and coral prawn for bait if reasonably calm, but most times a paternoster rig will be needed. Walking along the beach looking for holes or gutters can result in a mixed bag of herring, skippy, whiting and flathead. Rumour has it that the odd mulloway can also be located at times, but the whispers are very faint and usually are associated with crusty old anglers who are very secretive about where they actually fish.

Deepdene Beach Accessible by 4WD drive from Cosy Corner Road, this large beach can be difficult to drive on at times but with a bit less air in the tyres and some careful manoeuvring it is generally OK. There are plenty of features on this beach, they change frequently and sometimes the fishing can seem a bit barren, however, mulloway, sharks and large samsonfish can all be caught with a bit of patience. Set yourself up for a night fish or an early morning session, throw a big bait out and sooner or later you will end up with a hefty sea dweller of some sort.

Don’t forget to have a fish for the bread-and-butter species either, as they are an added bonus for the dinner plate, and also make excellent live or cut baits for target species.

Cosy Corner Cosy Corner Road leads off Caves Road before the Hamelin Bay turnoff, and ends at a large carpark. There’s a decent set of steps on the left of the carpark that leads down to a short beach that is absolutely packed with the features you want when looking for likely fish-holding locations. There are gutters, holes channels, reef, weed beds and long sandy stretches.

All of these hold fish, and during the salmon season the schools travel so close to the shore on occasion that you can just about catch them by hand.

There are also yellowtail kingfish and samsonfish patrolling the shores in small mobs, and they will monster live baits, lures and dead baits.

They can easily be observed To page 115

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The joys of fishing deep BUNBURY

Whiteys Tackle and Camping

With the few premium weather days before the demersal ban, boaties have been going far and wide in search of big dhus and deep drop species. Plenty of big blue-eye and bass have been hitting the deck. Most people have been running a traditional paternoster rig consisting of 3x 14/016/0 stainless steel circles and running sinkers in the 64-80oz range to hit bottom in the deeper depths.

While most anglers don’t venture into deep jigging, it’s very rewarding. The anticipation as your jig falls the 400-odd meters to the bottom is intense. These big, bottom-dwelling fish sure do fight hard when hooked, with some fish being well over the 40kg mark. With big tails and broad shoulders, you’re in for a workout.

The most popular and my personal favourite deep jigging combo is the Oceans Legacy Elementus PE5 with a Shimano Ocea From page 114

from the carpark and will usually do a circuit over and over, so you can plan a location to intercept them.

Remember they are strong fish, and once hooked it is a game of strategy and stamina. They will fight dirty around rocks so try to steer them into the open if possible. If they are a bit big for what you are after, just walk down the beach towards the Honeycombs where herring, skippy, tarwhine and tailor frequent.

Just spend the day and play around with what you are doing to have plenty of fun.

Hamelin Bay and Boranup These beaches are interconnected and are

Jigger 2000HG spooled up with a good quality 20-30lb braid. A set-up like this will allow you to get the capacity required to hit the depths.

The boaties have been

absolutely killing it offshore from Bunbury, with great sizes and numbers of King George whiting being reported from 17-26m beyond the shipping channel.

Chad Hogan with a pink ling.

Josh Luvera with an 8-bar. accessed by 4WD from the sometimes rugged Bobs Track, which is located off Caves Road or via foot from the Hamelin Bay parking areas. Probably best known for being the mecca for salmon fishing during the run in March-April, this large stretch of beach is probably the most used of all the beaches in Augusta. Not only can you catch salmon but all the bread-and-butter species, and mulloway and all types of sharks are frequently captured along its stretches.

During the salmon run it is covered in 4WDs of all sizes, and can also be chopped up pretty badly by people who are inexperienced in beach driving. Drop the tyre pressure and drive carefully to have a

Christine was stoked with her capture of a delectable bight redfish. What they lack in size they make up for in eating quality.

safe and enjoyable trip.

WHAT’S BITING If beach fishing isn’t your thing then the relaxed fishing off the Augusta jetties has remained pretty good for the last month. As the run-off from the heavy rains eased and the incoming tide from the ocean actually made inroads after being beaten back for a month or so, early morning walkers were privy to nature’s activities, with tailor schools menacing small mullet and bluebait schools in the shallows.

These activities were matched by the catches off the Ellis Street Jetty and Town Jetty, with some nice tailor and whiting landed by those who braved the cold weather. Early morning skippy catches have seen some thumpers landed.

They have shown a liking for live river prawns, but dead prawns will work as well.

Ocean fishing for the last month was exceptional, with demersal fishing being well and truly the way to go. With several glass-out periods allowing deep water trips, there were plenty of big dhufish, pink snapper and queen snapper landed, plus some harlequin and breaksea cod catches, which has meant that bag limits have easily been filled. Bait fishing has been very successful on the charter boats but as usual, soft plastics have also resulted in some nice fish.

Travel bans have meant there have been plenty of boaties from around the state coming to Augusta to have a try in their own backyard.

Most have reported being surprised with how good the

The artificial reefs have also as usual had their fair share of sambos, giving anglers a good run for their money.

These hard fighting, low blowers can’t resist a nice fresh squid or a fast-paced metal jig, and can really be a great sport fish especially when your gear is matched to the fish you’re catching.

There seems to be a real increase in numbers calling the area home.

Southern bluefin tuna have been in surprisingly close lately and have made for some great fun. Casting fishing is here, especially when you don’t have the sharks constantly taxing your catch.

Rock fishing recently has continued to be dangerous as the weather prevented the sane from risking their life with a trip on the rocks. When it was possible to safely have a fish, the skippy sizes have been exceptional but the herring have dropped off in condition, probably caused by spawning taking a toll on their bodies.

Rock fishing can be very productive in Augusta but it can also be deadly. Choose a spot that allows you the chance to seek refuge from any king waves, and don’t let calm conditions fool you into thinking you are safe.

Rogue waves are just that, and can quickly result in you being thrown into the water.

People have died here after being washed off by king waves. Unpredictable weather can quickly affect the fishing conditions and slippery rocks are a recipe for disaster. Please remain vigilant when rock fishing; wear a life jacket and tie off to something solid. You can hire one for free from Augusta Xtreme Outdoor Sports at 66 Blackwood Avenue Augusta – the local tackle shop and font of all local fishing knowledge. Look for the big green sign on the roof, it’s right next to the BP Service Station.

• The locations mentioned are all well-known and are marked on most vehicle GPS units, especially if they have HEMA maps or a list of locations can be obtained from the local tackle store, Augusta X-Treme Outdoor Sports.

A WA dhufish taken on a Bottom Meat. small metals into a ball of tuna is something any angler will enjoy, and they really can give your arms a stretch on the light gear. Trolling a skirted lure or a bibless minnow like the Halco Max 110 between spots is a sure way to pick up a couple of tuna.

Squid have been around in great numbers and sizes.

The winter thumpers aren’t all gone yet. Numbers are higher than ever for the boaties that take the time to target these delicious cephalopods, and there are plenty of land-based spots to target them as well. With the water cleaning up the season is only going to get better.

Night sessions on the weed banks through Koombana Bay or from the local jetties will produce a feed.

Black bream are a species that we find to be very underrated; they are an excellent sportfish,

especially when targeted on lures. They can be caught all year round no matter the weather, making them a great target for taking the kids on a quick afternoon flick. The new bridge joining Treendale and Millbridge has held a lot of good size and numbers of bream throughout the year.

And if any of the above doesn’t tickle your fancy, this year the trout stocking program has really taken off. Plenty of fry, yearlings, advanced yearlings and ex-broodstock are being released into the popular systems like Harvey Dam, Collie River, Drakesbrook Dam, Logue Brook Dam and a few other small systems this year.

• Call into the shop at 1/143 Grand Entrance, Australind for the latest fishing reports and what’s biting, or simply to have a yarn. Until next time, tight lines and screaming drags!

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Weather and action heat up Find this and the squid won’t be too far away.

OFFSHORE An influx of small southern bluefin tuna has the offshore fraternity excited.

These fish are great fun on light tackle. Casting small metal lures, like a Halco Twisty, towards active fish is your best option to hook one.

That is when the fun begins.

Good reports continue from anglers targeting samsonfish jigging our offshore reefs. It’s definitely a great way to get your arms stretched. The biggest issue has been sharks nabbing the fish once they are hooked, so be prepared to go hard with these fish and to maybe lose a bit of tackle.

Smaller-sized yellowtail kingfish have also been common around Rottnest Island. Fish in the 60-90cm size range are in

METRO

Jacob Crispe

With the demersal ban now in place, anglers will have to look to other bread-and-butter species until 15 December. As always, that shouldn’t be a problem in our Perth metro waterways.

SWAN RIVER Swan River anglers should be excited (particularly those who love targeting mulloway) as our wet winter almost certainly will ensure that as the weather warms, the fishing will get better with it. The mulloway season ahead is looking like a good one. There have been some solid fish captured recently in the lower reaches of the river. The better quality fish have been caught on fresh baits and larger soft plastics.

October should see captures become more consistent and the quality of the fish should increase as well.

A lovely mixed bag, or in this case bucket, of the top shelf bread and butter fish that are on offer this time of year.

Hools Orifici is no stranger when it comes to finding these 5 star treats!

Black bream will always be a staple of the Swan River.

Fishing the area between The Narrows and Maylands with lures or fresh baits should provide some rod bending action. Fresh baits will be best. Mullet or bony herring will be your best options.

Downstream from The Narrows will also have some good tailor fishing. Trolling small metals or hardbody lures around is a great way to find them. Once you find them, the same lures can be cast to the schools, and you can enjoy some really exciting fishing.

Although the flathead and flounder fishing has been slow, the warmer water should make these species more active, seeing them push up onto the shallower water of the flats throughout 116

OCTOBER 2021

Peter Zahradka always gets his ninja on this time of year and sneaks south to stalk the fresh running streams in stealth mode. This is a common pic for Pete as he consistently produces!

the Swan. They provide plenty of fun for those anglers who enjoy targeting them.

INSHORE With the demersal ban in place anglers will need to focus on other species like King George whiting and skippy. Drifting areas of broken ground with depths ranging from 5-25m is a great way to find fish.

Once you find them, anchor and set up a berley trail and this should keep the fish in your vicinity. Areas worth a look will be around Carnac Island and Straggler Reefs.

Squidding is very popular at this time of year and good catches are already being reported across the entire Metro area. Areas like Cockburn Sound, Fremantle and Hillarys will be popular areas to try. Look for ribbon weed in water 5-20m deep.

Joe Orifici, aka the ‘Big Kahuna’, with some absolute ripper King George caught in only 12m of water!

There are numerous ways to target these fish, from trolling to live baiting, dead baiting or using soft plastics. All can be effective on any given day. Fish of this size still have plenty of pulling power, so they will test your angling prowess.

Sorry for the slightly shorter report this month; sometimes other things must take priority. For those rock wall anglers who follow this report, like the other fishing options in the Perth Metro area, the fishing will be on the improve in October.

Focus on species like King George whiting, squid and herring in the normal hot spots and you should find a few fish.

I hope everybody enjoys the fishing in October and I will catch you next month.

good numbers up along Duffield Ridge through to Cathedral Rocks and West End.

Max Sampson with a lovely SBT (southern bluefin tuna). Remember to always keep your eyes peeled for birds and bust ups when out on the water as these little speedsters are great fun to catch!

Long Tahn is an egi master when it comes to catching squid land-based around Freo. North Mole is a popular destination for any Perth angler looking to get a nice feed of southern calamari.

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A bumper season ahead MANDURAH

Jesse Choy

October marks a great time for locals to get out and back into enjoying the fishing which our coastline has to offer. Though we will still experience some average weather, we can expect a notable change in temperatures and longer days on the water as a result.

Anglers should proceed with caution however, taking particular note of the impending demersal ban which will officially be in place from 15 October.

Though winter made estuary fishing quite hard, anglers can anticipate a bumper season when it comes to fishing the Peel-Harvey in spring. Though occasional rains will temporarily halt

the process in pushing salinity upstream, the general weather improvement is welcomed and will often encourage the fish to feed with more enthusiasm.

If you’re heading out, it’s

worth starting your venture midstream and adjusting your game plan to suit the day. Though the fish will be scattered throughout both the systems, fishing midstream is

favorable as it allows you to learn from your mistakes and head the opposite way if you have gotten off to a less than ideal start.

Many anglers will

Mulloway may be thin at this time of the year, but the run has to start somewhere! be excited to know that freshwater fishing truly starts to fire up during this month, and will generally get better in the months to come. It is a great time to get up to the weir, if you are hoping to cross your first trout off the list and want to experience the thrill of freshwater fishing. Though fishing is quite good at this time of the year, the scheduled fish releasing means that numbers are bumped up, increasing your odds of hooking up to and landing a beautiful fish.

Redfin are also plentiful, with good quality and numbers achievable across most of our accessible systems.

Fishing from the beaches,

Rainbow trout are hard fighters and exhibit some of the prettiest colours you will see on a fish. we can expect smaller patches of seaweed to be present, but the water to be much more fishable than in previous months. Herring as well as whiting numbers indicate that even the most inexperienced fishers can have some fun and take home a bit of a feed.

If you opt to use your fresh catch as bait, there is quite the possibility that you

Black bream grow extremely slowly, so releasing fish will ensure they have a future in our rivers.

This is just one of many superb red emperor that Scott Medling caught recently at Karratha.

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Working all day only to lose a good quality fish. Don’t you just love it?

will connect with the odd tailor and mulloway. Though the temperatures are not quite warm enough to bring the larger schools of fish in, it’s possible to catch a ghost by intercepting them as they start to gorge in the area and before they have been presented with too many baits. It is worth flying baits out if you fish with a drone, though as previously mentioned, anglers need to be very conscious of presentations to avoid demersal fish and to ensure that we have fish to target in seasons to come.

Though opportunities to take the boat out can be scarce, it is the prime time to target large inshore snapper and also to try your hand at a nice dhufish. If you are going after the pinkies in particular, you may need to present things a bit better than usual as fish can be particularly picky when going through spawning phases, and will often turn down the best of presentations.

Those targeting dhufish will want to do so in depths to around 60m, with quality fish coming from this zone and quantities appearing to increase with depth. Bottom bouncing with a simple paternoster is ideal, with fresh herring, squid or skinned octopus being the pick of the baits.

Heading into November, we can begin to look forward to the end of the crab closure and getting back into dropping pots. With continual rains during winter, we can only hope that our estuary has enjoyed the flush and that the warm weather fishing is ridiculous as a result!

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West Coast

WA

Tuna triumph during annual dermersal ban very plump skippy, smaller fish have been inside the bay.

King George whiting are being caught along the sand to weed edges out from the jetty.

While the ban is on, you can target some other tasty seafood options as well. There are lots of crays along the inshore reefs getting ready to moult, so it is well worth

LANCELIN

Peter Fullarton

This month will see the seasonal closure protecting demersal fish stocks commencing 15 October, ending 15 December.

Targeting demersal species even for release is not permitted during this time.

Drone fishers have been doing well on snapper and in recent months several dhufish have been landed as well. That might be a clue to the small boat owners not to overlook the inshore reefs for a quality feed! Coral patches around the 28m depth have been productive for baldchin, break sea cod, snapper and a few dhu.

Lumps out around the 35-45m have been producing plenty of dhufish around the 10-15kg.

When using high speed lures like the Halco Max, manoeuvre the boat to position the lure ahead of fast moving tuna schools.

The calm shallows at the south end of the bay is a great spot to fish from a kayak.

October usually signals the arrival of better numbers of tuna. Something to keep us interested on the water during the demersal ban period.

You don’t usually need to go far to find some schools. At times they will be just outside the bay, although they are more reliably found outside the white bank. I have put together a few tips on how to get amongst them: • The bait the tuna feed on are usually schools of small sardines or whitebait. The tuna literally push the bait up from below, a ball of the tiny fish can be seen being hammered by tuna from below while the birds swoop in from above. If you find a good bait ball, the tuna are usually in a feeding frenzy and it is easy to get fish to take pretty much any offering. Birds will indicate where the tuna are located.

A few birds usually means the tuna are moving, stopping fleetingly to bust up on some small patches of bait around floating weed. These are usually the hardest fish to catch, so scan the horizon looking for 120

OCTOBER 2021

available you can set up to 6 of these, although most people just set some short lengths of pipe, usually blocked off on one end with enough concrete so the pot won’t move. A haul rope and float attached to the open end. Check these every few days hauling the pipes to see if any octopus have made the pipe their home. Pipes

birds are on a single direction flight path, if so follow them to find the tuna.

• Trolling a bait ball it is important to keep distance or risk putting the fish off. This is done by running the lures out and cutting the boat in an arc around the school before straightening the course to pull the lures through the fish without driving too close.

When casting, position the boat upwind at the edge of casting range and cut the engine allowing the boat to drift towards the school as you fish.

• In reality, most of the time tuna are only busting up infrequently on small patches of bait or picking a few baitfish off the floating sargassum weed as they pass. These schools only stop for a minute or two before moving on. You can cast to these schools, but

Trolling can be successful with fast-moving schools, run out skirts or bibless minnows that can handle 12+ knots so the boat can be manoeuvred fast enough to cut the lures ahead of the school’s path.

• Early morning and overcast days are when the tuna feed best. Tuna are not always

Lancelin Bay has plenty of squid on offer.

Match the hatch, when the tuna are fussy look for a lure that is a similar size to what they are feeding on.

There’s been plenty of sambos on structure, both inshore and out wide. the largest gathering of birds, indicating the likelihood of a good bait ball.

Lancelin Island hosts large breeding colonies of noddys and terns. If there is a big bust up on bait offshore these birds often indicate a bearing to follow. When leaving the bay, check out to see if all the

pay attention to the birds as they can see the tuna much better than you from above.

The cast needs to go well ahead in the direction the birds indicate the fish are moving, so the lure crosses their path. If you aim for where the birds are by the time the cast goes out the fish will already be gone.

switched onto a feeding frenzy.

They can be frustratingly difficult, quickly sounding as a boat approaches and then refusing the lures that are offered. Matching the hatch, finding a lure that is close to what the fish are eating, and winding fast as possible can be the secret to get these fussy fish to commit. High-speed retrieve reels will help greatly on these days and you cannot crank that handle too fast.

Fishing the 20-22m depths is always reliable for a feed of tasty sand whiting. The trick is to do a bit of drifting to find where the larger fish are, before setting the pick to gather a bunch of larger sized specimens.

Berley on most inshore reefs has been finding some

should be set on the shallow weed banks where there is little boat traffic.

There are always plenty of squid on offer both inside and outside the bay.

The most reliable way to catch squid is to drift along sea grass areas with some whiting threaded on squid spikes trailing behind the boat whilst casting a jig.

Blue swimmer crabs are always an option too. Setting drop nets along the near shore where the sand meets seagrass is where they will be the thickest.

Beach fishers have been getting onto some mulloway in the 10-20kg range. The new moon period has been the most productive with most fish coming early evenings and mornings. Plenty of small whaler sharks have been taking

The tailor run is on! Now is the time to be on the sand casting lures or pilchards into the surf. throwing a few pots out on one of the near shore reefs. It is also probably the best time of year to pot for some octopus.

There are the trigger traps

the baits too. This month the tailor run is as good as it gets with fish averaging around the 50cm, gutters and reef breaks holding larger fish.

WA

West Coast

Mulloway are set to slow down this month GERALDTON

Graham Maunder & Michael Triantopoulos

Midwest beaches, from Port Denison to Wagoe, are always a bit of a challenge over winter to late spring due to the big swells and weed movement. However, as summer approaches fishing conditions and fishing results are also on the up.

This y e a r ’s exceptionally long mulloway season has finally slowed down around the local beaches, but as the warmer weather approaches, there are still some reasonably large fish being landed, as well as more consistent reports of decent tailor being caught.

Whilst they aren’t in big numbers, the majority of the tailor are of a good size, from 40-55cm. We’ve also recorded some jumbo sized greenbacks from over 70cm as well.

The better-sized tailor, as usual, are being landed from the reef edges and deeper channels at Flat Rocks, and north of Point Moore, Drummonds Cove, and Coronation to Horrocks Beach.

Land-based pink snapper season has just started, with snapper ranging from 55-80cm in length, known to be around at the reefs in Drummonds Cove, Corronation, and north to Wagoe.

The rig style on bait has not seemed to matter,

with some fish being landed by anglers bait casting. For tailor, we suggest using pilchards or scalies, and for others being caught on bottom rigs with fish fillets or squid.

The pink snapper bag limit is two fish, and minimum size is 410mm, so don’t get excited if you’re lucky enough to find a school of co-operative fish.

There is also a seasonal closure from 15 October to 15 December for demersal species, which includes pink snapper.

Silver trevally catches around Point Moore, Seal Rocks, and Drummonds Cove have been reasonable within the recent weeks.

Fish sizes have been rather good, with some trevally

weighing up to a kilo or so, landed on small baitcast pilchards, sinking stick baits, minnows, and shelled coral prawn on paternoster rigs meant for whiting or herring, which have also been reasonable plentiful and satisfactory in size.

BOAT With the seasonal demersal ban only weeks away, (15 Oct to 15 Dec) and the weather permitting anglers have been making the most of the reasonable weather we’ve had.

Pink snapper numbers have been prolific both north and south of town from in shore to further offshore. Fishing inside the Pensioners Bank edge late night/early morning has seen good numbers

off smaller sized snapper 45-55cm along with WA dhufish to 60cm, coral trout, skippy, sampsonfish and small school sized whaler sharks. Heading further SW of town in 40-50m pink snapper to 6kg have been plentiful along with WA dhufish to 10kg, coral trout, bald chin grouper and spangled emperor.

WA dhufish appear to be in good numbers NW of town in 20-35m with a lot off the fish being juveniles and some fish to 55-60cm, anglers have been mentioning finding large aggregates of them, most drop landing a fish or two then moving on trying to find another species to fill their bag. Other species have included estuary cod,

coral trout to 70cm and bald chin grouper.

Fishing inside the reefs around Point Moore has been consistent with species such as skippy to 1.5kg, school sized pink snapper to 450mm, school mackerel to 70cm, sampsonfish, pike and squid. A good berley trail is essential, minced or cubed pilchards keeps them fired up. Great fun on light tackle with the kids!

• Geraldton Sports Centre is the Mid Wests specialist Fishing tackle store. Drop in and see the friendly professional staff for local advise and knowledge and browse the extensive range of Fishing equipment on show at 204-208 Marine Terrace Geraldton WA, Phone 08 99213664.

Billfishing from small boats EXMOUTH

Barry Taylor

AReport supplied by Josh Cheong The billfishing has been pretty good recently for the guys fishing inshore from smaller trailer boats. There have been heaps of sailfish and black marlin around, turning up anywhere from 30m of water out to the 100m line.

The fish have been caught on both skirted lures and switch baiting with gardies on a circle hook.

If you’re using skirts, it’s good to downsize (8-10”), especially for the sailfish.

Richter Soft Oscars and Soft Grassies are two lures that have been working well, and the brighter

Look closely at the water and you’ll see the unlucky taxman that just missed out on this mackerel. Image courtesy of @primal_instinct_fishing.

A nice bluebone destined for the dinner plate. Image courtesy of @yimtaro.

colours seem to be getting a bit more attention, e.g. pink and lumo green.

There have been some good spangled emperor caught in the lagoon on the west side in recent weeks.

I went out the other day with one of the guys and got good ones on the Mad Scad 115, just casting around the bommies and sandy patches.

Mackerel fishing has still been pretty good, and there have been a few wahoo in the mix as well for anglers chasing both mackerel and trolling for marlin. Most of the fish have come from around the back of the reef in about 25-30m of water.

The best lures for mackerel have been deep diving lures such as Halco Laser Pros and Samaki Pacemakers.

Anything with a bit of chrome in it is good colour.

Just remember to use a wire trace or you’ll get too many bite-offs.

There have been a few dolphinfish (mahimahi)

The author’s first marlin fishing solo out of a 4m tinny. Image courtesy of @indepthangler_josh. being caught as well by anglers chasing marlin and sailfish. If you want to target the dolphinfish specifically, downsize your skirts a bit.

In the gulf there has been quite good fishing for queenfish on the flats; they’re really starting to come alive.

Just cast small stickbaits at the schools and hold on.

There are a few golden trevally in the mix, and small GTs can also turn up.

In the weeks ahead, the water should start warming back up again, and the fishing in the gulf will start to get better. We should hopefully

see some sailfish moving into the gulf as well.

• For all the latest news on what’s biting and where, drop into Tackle World Exmouth at 3 Maley St, Exmouth or give them a call 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.

OCTOBER 2021

121

North Coast

WA

Hunt for red this October DAMPIER/KARRATHA

Troy Honey

The Pilbara region in Western Australia is well known for its vast array of red dirt, which in many parts runs all the way to the coastline where it meets the sea. But just off the coast in Karratha is where you will find some of the best fishing for reds anywhere in Australia.

From Fortescue River to the south and Point Sampson to the north of Karratha there are several locations a boat can be launched and from here it is not too far offshore you will find plenty of ground holding solid reds. Species of reds in WA include, red emperor, saddle-tail snapper (large mouthed nannygai) and to a lesser extent, coral trout.

All three species are at the top of any angler’s list when fishing for demersals off the northwest coast.

The waters off Karratha hold great numbers of reds and, this year particularly, we have seen them being caught in waters of less than 10m at times. Red emperors and saddletails are more commonly caught in depths around the 40m mark or more and this is where you will find numbers and size larger than in shallower waters. Coral trout on the other hand can be found very close to the mainland or around any of the islands in depths as little as 2m.

Fishing for reds in Karratha is usually done by bottom bouncing baits such as squid, octopus, mulies or a strip of fish fillet on a paternoster style rig or using the wide

For rods and reels, it really comes down to personal preference and will alter if you are using jigs or large sinkers.

For many years it was the strong overhead rod matched with a large overhead reel. This combo has proven success when using large sinkers and fighting big fish, as well as out running the sharks to the top. But times have changed, and it is much more common to see lighter longer rods with smaller spinning reels for either bait or jigs or a dedicated jigging rod and reel combo.

All options have their good and bad points, so it

reasons, many anglers who fish North Western tidal areas will use two or more combos pre-rigged throughout the day, which enables them to change set ups to match the tidal and/ or shark conditions.

Now you are all set with your preferred tackle it is simply a matter of finding the fish. Well, not so simple in reality. Red emperor and saddletails can be found on the many lumps and bommies offshore from Karratha but here you will tend to be more likely to encounter plenty of smaller fish that can be frustrating as the constant

Matt Biluta has done well to bag a few nice red emperors on his recent trip to Karratha.

A double hook-up for the Barret brothers while trolling lures around Hamersley Shoal in the Dampier Archipelago. bottom will be an area where reds can be found.

One trick I learnt from my time fishing in the Northern Territory was often when you are heading out to your favourite spots, or searching for new ground, try motoring a bit slower so you can read the bottom on your sounder well and if you see a small blip on the bottom that looks like it could be a fish, stop and drop straight on it. Nine out of ten times when you are in red country, it will be a good red emperor and his partner.

You can pick up some great fish this way and significantly lower the impact of sharks on your days fishing.

Red emperors and

really comes down to your personal preference or style of fishing you prefer. Things to consider when choosing your setup to use for red fishing is the likelihood of sharks, in which case you will need to put a lot of pressure on the fish to beat the sharks, what depth you will be fishing in and more importantly, what duration of the tide you will be fishing.

The tides in Karratha can be as big as 5-6m and between

variety of metal jigs or soft plastics. Everyone has their preferred option and success can change on any given day.

My recommendation is if one style is not working when you are seeing fish on the sounder, try changing it up until strikes are achieved.

122

OCTOBER 2021

tides this can create a lot of drag, to get to the bottom in this situation will call for heavy sinkers and jigs or down scaling your braid gauge so it slices through the water. On the top of each tide the drag will ease off and allow you to change your options. For these

recommended to stay away from bommies and try and fish areas less well known.

Coral trout have been caught in great numbers and size during September all around the islands of the

Brad Barrett with a great red emperor landed in waters just 3nm from one of the islands in the Dampier Archipelago.

Being out on the hot spots as the sun rises is always a winner when it comes to red emperor. Matt Biluta put the hard yards in and was rewarded with this prime example and a magic photo to boot.

Mac tuna are everywhere throughout the Dampier Archipelago all year round. They can be finicky to gain a strike on trolled lures, but when the speed is matched to the mac tuna’s preference, it is game on.

They fight all the way to the boat as Brad Barrett found out and once they see the boat for the first time, the mac tuna are renowned for going for another hard run.

saddletails prefer the cooler water, so it is at the bottom where you will find them searching for food such as squid, octopus and even crabs.

Saddletail will feed higher in the water column at times as

hook ups and releases weigh heavily on your time on the bottom. You are also much more likely to find sharks congregating in these areas and with the constant retrievals of the smaller fish stirring the sharks up, if you do hook up on a solid red, you will have an almighty challenge on your hands to boat him.

My preferred method, and one shared by many local anglers I fish with, is find fairly flat, coral bottom with ledges as low as half a metre that run for some length. This is where your 3D down scan comes into its own. Often anglers motor straight out past the fish in shallower waters. When you find this type of bottom, either try and set your drift so the boat runs in parallel to the ledge or keep motoring along the ledge until fish appear on the sounder. Any area offshore from Karratha with this type of

they chase bait schools, which is a common trait of many snapper species.

The waters off Karratha are now well on their way to warming up and as such, the majority of larger reds will start to make the annual pilgrimage to stay in the cooler, deeper waters. Reds can still be found in close during the wet season, but numbers will be thinner, and sharks will become much more active, so it is

Trolling with PE4 gear while chasing Spanish mackerel behind Bare Rock in the Dampier Archipelago is always interesting as to what might strike. The author had a challenge on his hands when a thumper of a GT decided to take the lure and head straight for the rocks. After an epic fight and some good skippering by his mate Reuben, he managed to boat this GT that was easily in excess of 15kg.

archipelago, offshore from Fortescue and 40 Mile as well some great catches coming in from the waters just off Point Sampson. The reef only a few miles out from Point Sampson which extends for many miles northeast of the shipping lane is an area that has been producing exceptional catches of not only coral trout, but ranking cod, blue line emperor, cobia, chinaman as well as reds such as saddletails and red emperors. Live bait fish caught around the channel markers have been working best and putting a short while in to fill the live bait tank before a few hours of fishing is a worthwhile investment.

Alongside the sensational demersal fishing in Karratha during September, the Spanish mackerel and sailfish have been firing and even a few reported black marlin captures have come in. The parking area for the iron ore ships has been the most productive for the sails and blacks as well as larger Spanish mackerel.

For smaller macks between 900-1200mm, all the shoals surrounding the archipelago, Bare Rock to Kendrew Island and the reefs around the shipping channels off Point Sampson are holding good schools. Look for the birds feeding as an indicator to when the macks will be feeding.

To page 123

WA

North Coast

Conquering Kimberley kingfish BROOME

Troy Honey

Kingfish in the Kimberley?

Absolutely, but not the yellow tailed variety found in the cold southern waters of Australia. Here we are talking about black kingfish, more commonly known in

species by many anglers throughout northern Australia.

This species can be found worldwide in tropical and sub-tropical waters, and in Australia they can be encountered near reefs and other structures from the mid-west in WA, around the north of the Australia and as far south as the central

Nathan and his mate had a ball while jigging Bottom Meats when a few big trevally decided they would take the bait.

Australia as cobia, Latin name Rachycentron canadum.

Black kingfish are not a relative of the yellowtail kingfish, nor are they are relative of the closer looking suckerfish, as black kingfish lack the dorsal sucking disk.

Cobia are a prized target

coast of NSW. Around the Broome region, they are often caught by anglers fishing for demersals or even trolling for Spanish mackerel and billfish.

Cobia have even been caught land-based in Broome, a recent catch was by an angler casting lures from Cable when

he saw a manta ray. Knowing cobia are often lurking underneath, he successfully enticed a large one into taking his lure. Cobia are thought to hitch rides under manta rays along their migration route, so if you see one, it is always worth casting a lure.

Cobia are a hard fighting fish, they are often mistaken for sharks by anglers hooked up to them simply from the brute power and similar swimming style such as long runs at the same depth, versus trying to head for the bottom like we see from demersals.

Cobia grow very fast, they can reach 50kg+ in as little as 11 years. Juveniles grow to more than 60cm in their first year, and fish a metre long are around three-years-old.

Females mature in their second year when around 80-90cm, while male fish often mature in their first year.

The West Australian cobia population is a very healthy one with cobia being caught on a regular basis throughout the northwest of WA. Cobia are aggressive spawners, with female cobia producing an extravagant number of eggs.

The average batch of cobia eggs is around 2.8 million eggs per spawning cycle, and the spawning frequency

From page 122

Although you will find a few macks around the schools of feeding birds and mack tuna, try not to limit yourself to just chasing these. Instead try straight lines working up and down over broken or rising ground and work a different depth on each line until you find them.

Daily temperatures in Karratha are now over 30ºC and with that the barramundi will start to come alive for what is looking to be another cracker season as there have been quite a few catches already. Amongst the barra being caught are the threadfin salmon and it is hard to describe how good the local population has become. Many anglers chasing an early season barra by either trolling or casting lures have been bagging 6-8 threadies a session and that has started to become quite the norm. Live baits and bought prawns are also working well and the one most consistent tactic for success for both the barra and threadies is fishing the low tide changes. If you are fishing by boat in the local creeks such as Airport and Nickol, gaining access at low tide through the entrance can be challenging and at times impossible. This also goes for launching and retrieving at the Karratha Back Beach boat ramp where you will need at least 2.5m of tide or even more for larger vessels.

To fish the low tide

Reds come in many forms and you would have a hot debate on your hands if you tried to argue against the eating quality of coral trout. A trophy by-catch Brad Barrett was all to happy to receive. change in these and other local creeks it is best to do the ‘low tide lock in’. This is simply going in on the higher tide and exiting on the next higher tide. While you are in the creek and still have good water, search for deeper channels with structure or have feeder creeks entering nearby and stay around this area as the tide drops and then it is just you and the fish locked into the area for a couple of hours. Both nigh and day have been fishing well in this way, especially for the threadfin and it is only going to get better as the water

temperature heats up.

So many options at this time of transition from dry to wet season in Karratha.

October and November are exciting months on the fishing front as you can still catch a variety of demersals and pelagics and the creeks start to fire up. Most of the grey nomads are heading south already and camping areas such as 40 Mile and Cleaverville are starting to quiet down so no better time to pack the swag, fridge, boat, and fishing rods and come and explore some of the best fishing country in Australia.

was estimated to be around seven to eight days. That a lots of eggs per year, hence the fantastic population we are able to enjoy here in Western Australia.

Cobia is a great eating fish, the white flesh of cobia can be cooked in many ways.

It can be eaten raw as sashimi or as ceviche. It is also tasty pan-fried, baked or steamed.

Sear the skin on high heat on a BBQ or in a pan to crisp it up or bake fillets skin-side up in a hot oven. Cobia flesh will remain moist even when

Nathan Southern caught this thumper of a cobia in Broome last month that measured 120cm, and enticed it to strike on a Vexed Bottom Meat Jig.

Black jewfish are known for their hard fighting capability and multiple runs. They can destroy the light gear of even the most prepared fishers. Nathan Southern wasn’t going to be one of those and he well and truly proved it in September when he boated this great jewie. cooked with high heat. Cobia can also be cut into chunks and dropped into a soup or curry, which I do quite a lot, as the robust, meaty flesh won’t fall apart.

Fishing for cobia in Broome can be done in many ways but all of them require a good quality outfit to maximise your chances of landing them successfully. If trolling or bottom bouncing, it is recommended to use tackle in the PE3 to PE4 range. Both overheads and spinning reels are good if they are fitted with quality braid and a smooth drag. With that being said, there is nothing stopping you from using a lightweight jigging or even a flyfishing setup.

The fight will be challenging but a very enjoyable one, as long as there are not too many sharks around.

Baits such as squid, octopus, prawns, and especially fresh crabs work well. Small crabs are one of the cobias preferred meals and they will come into the shallows on a regular basis to feed on the crabs as the large Broome tides work there way over bays and even into creeks.

My most common catches are when I am retrieving a jig back from the bottom at speed and then get an almighty hit followed by a fast run. Colour and jig type are generally not as important as action. If you are jigging or retrieving then high speed works every time, they simply can’t resist the chase.

If you prefer sight casting

either with a spinning outfit or fly fishing, when a fish is spotted, carefully approach the cobia as quietly as possible, until you get within easy casting distance. Cobia on the move can become boat-shy after being repeatedly bombarded by jigs and baits from dozens of boats, and the farther you can make an accurate cast the better chance you have of getting the fish to bite. Try to get your bait or lure within 1 metre of the fish, but not directly on top of it. If you cast too far away, either the cobia won’t see your offering, or won’t feel like chasing it.

If you cast too close to the fish, or right on top of it, you will spook the fish, and once spooked cobia can become notoriously lock-jawed.

Once you have hooked and landed a cobia, one thing must be said about bringing them into the boat. If you are lucky enough to catch a very large cobia, be very wary of the damage they can do to you or your boat. If you are going to gaff the fish, try having the esky open and bring them straight overboard and into the esky. A large cobia can become uncontrollable and the last thing you want is an unexpected trip to the hospital. If all goes to plan, you are in for a treat with a great eating fish.

Another great fighting fish to catch at this time of year in Broome and keeping with the black theme is the black jewfish, or northern mulloway

as they are sometimes referred too. Black jewfish are often caught alongside cobia, and they are mostly found in the deep holes that litter Roebuck Bay. Fish for jewies is at its best throughout the wet season so we will start to see plenty of these captures over coming months.

October in Broome, although not quite the wet season, certainly marks the start of the warmer days and night with higher humidity levels. We are already seeing the barramundi activity firing up with many barra of varying sizes being caught in the local Broome creeks as well as around the jetty, especially at night on the tides changes.

Threadfin salmon are being caught in Roebuck Bay as well as by land-based anglers at the entrance of Willie Creek.

Among the threadies there are plenty of queenies and trevally being caught right around the Broome coast and this will start to increase significantly as we head further into the wet season.

Of the demersals species, bluebone are one that prefers the warmer waters, and it is over the next few months in Broome we will see many captures being reported from anglers fishing the rocky outcrops. One of the most common and easily accessed location to fish for bluebone in Broome is at the jetty. Using fresh caught rocks crabs on a 100lb+ handline is your best bet and always fish the hour or two either side of the high tide change. Fishing for bluebone is done during the day only.

Bluebone reside in their goo bubble at night for protection and thus, do not feed.

Along with certain fish species that activity rises in warmer waters such as barra, queenies and bluebone, crocodile movement and feeding also does. Being very wary when fishing around Broome, Cape Leveque, and the Fitzroy River during wet season. Whether you are fishing land based or from a boat, the risk if a crocodile encounter is heightened considerably and while it is an enjoyable experience seeing crocodiles in the wild, they can put a negative end to your days fishing in an instant.

OCTOBER 2021

123

WA

Time to explore Pemberton FRESHWATER

Peter Fragomeni

Heading into October is arguably one of the best times to explore our rivers and streams around the Pemberton region. The heavy flows from our very wet winter should have subsided to an extent that all the likely areas will become more accessible, and trout don’t have as much water to hide in.

With the good rains we experienced throughout winter it has resulted in our dams being also higher than normal, with newly flooded areas providing plenty of food for foraging trout.

Most of our trout stocking by Fisheries WA should have been completed by mid month so expect some good fishing in our northern dams until mid to late November when elevated water temperatures

Flyfishing the dams in the dark can be very rewarding. Most lose their timing and get into tangles, however those that master the technique will experience an exciting form of fishing.

of our southern freshwater and are actually expanding at an alarming rate with little pro-active action by authorities to control them, is beyond comprehension.

It’s a great pity that the Aquaponics industry and the thousands of backyard hobby growers must suffer now because species like bass and cod offered a great food option to wild stocks from our oceans. It seems we must contend with marginal species like trout and barramundi for our ponds and of course silver perch that have shown slow growth rates in the winter months.

DAMS Waroona Dam The fishing has been slow through winter, but

East Coast, and in fact had passed quarantine at the airport previously.

The manager also stated that Fisheries had visited his establishment over a

This lucky lady displays a rainbow she caught at the Harvey Bash last year. Harvey Water is the major sponsor for the event in October this year.

A collection of the author’s favourite fly patterns for spring fishing the dams and streams. Flies like Woolly Buggers, Craig Nighttimes, Killer patterns like Hamils, Mrs Simpson and various nymphs, including those weighted all work well. Add some small wet flies and a few dry flies and you will fool any trout in this state.

The lone result of a three-day session at Logue Brook Dam from the boat. Better success came from flyfishing the shoreline, which goes to show that using a boat is not always the better option. normally results in trout retreating to deeper water, and in most cases reluctant to feed. Redfin fishing normally picks up through our state in October, with all techniques working better in the warming water, particularly in the latter part of the month.

AUSSIE NATIVES A recent raid on a wellknown aquarium retailer by the Bio Security section of Fisheries WA has the owners and the general public somewhat shocked and disappointed. The retailer was one of only a few that sold Australian bass and Murray cod here in this state.

On a phone conversation with the manager of the company he stated that Fisheries turned up unannounced and confiscated a large number of his stock. He went on to say that they had in fact purchased all the stock from reputable companies on the 124

OCTOBER 2021

purposes only. It’s believed that Fisheries are concerned with these species getting into our waterways and establishing self-sustaining populations threatening our native species.

I find this strange

Trolling using an electric motor like this Minn Kota Ulterra is handy in dams like Harvey that prohibit the use of petrol motors. year ago and had sighted the cod and bass and didn’t seem concerned, so why the sudden change is baffling. They (Fisheries) even confiscated a pet sleepy cod and a saratoga that the manager had at the premises for display

because unlike some states the aquarium industry is free to sell goldfish, carp and ornamental freshwater species like pearl cichlids that have had a far greater impact on our waterways over the previous years. Also, the fact that redfin perch inhabit most

things picked up throughout spring with mainly x brood rainbows and very small yearlings making up most of the catch. Redfin have slowed down with most reports indicating they are off the bite.

The ski boat activity picks up through the warmer months making this water very tricky to troll from a boat unless you keep to the back sections of the dam.

The rise in popularity of jet skis is a concern and it can be very dangerous fishing when they are active, as unlike the ski boats they can

turn and change direction very fast. Department of Transport is stepping up patrols as one in every three infringements are handed out to those vessels even though they only represent less than 8% of the watercraft on the water in WA. Drakesbrook Weir Again, this water will be the venue for the annual Troutfest, which is now held on the first Saturday of October. Lots of families gather to see the display of everything freshwater but, unlike other states, it’s

WA has some nice rivers in the south of the state, however dry summers can play havoc on the trout stocks.

PREDICTED DAM LEVELS Overall storage in the dams that allow public access and recreational activities are currently 72.5% as at the end of August 2021, compared to 42.8% same time last year. The greatest change has come to those dams that were well down by the end of summer, like Harvey Dam rose from just 22% in autumn to around 72% at the end of August, Wellington Dam went from around 32% to 85% at the end of August.

All the others are at a reasonable level compared to other years, which is great news for both fishers and irrigators alike.

WAROONA DAM DRAKESBROOK WEIR LOGUE BROOK DAM HARVEY DAM WELLINGTON DAM GLEN MERVYN DAM BIG BROOK DAM

only limited to trout as the name implies.

Fly fishing lessons along with the release of trout varying in size by the public from Fisheries WA Hatchery in Pemberton are some of the activities on the day. The fishing has been reasonable for both trout and redfin, but things should improve after the Troutfest stocking.

Logue Brook Dam With rising water levels, it has been hard work trying to locate fish of late, with possibly the low numbers of sizable trout hiding up in the

74% 100% 77% 78% 89% 100% 100%

drowned bushes. This water has a limited number of trout so it’s best to practice catch and release to conserve the stock. I fished there recently for a few days and only landed one rainbow despite trolling and casting lures off the boat for three days. I had better success fly fishing the shoreline at night using larger flies like Woolly Buggers and Craig’s Nighttimes.

Harvey Dam The sudden rise in water levels from all the recent rain have many freshwater anglers excited, however, considering only around

WA

1,000 brood trout are being stocked, and this dam is over 500 hectares (when full) it results in a lot of water between fish. There will be around 6,000 rainbow yearlings stocked as well, however, they won’t be of a catchable size until late November when warming water normally put them of the bite.

The annual Harvey Bash will be on again this year in the second weekend of October and unlike the Troutfest this is a two-day event with big prizes available to all those that entered by the closing date of July. It’s hoped the fishing will be better this year and all the signs suggest that may be the case. All the likely areas should fire with the high-water levels and some of my favourites are Quarry Bay, Wokalup Bay, Nicholson Point, Summer Brook Bay, Chester’s Point,

rains. This will provide a large amount of food for these fish so hopefully it will fire next season. A few

Bridgetown all the way to Nannup.

Warren River Lots of reports coming in from anglers fishing the Pemberton region of late.

October would be one of the best months to explore our rivers and for WA standards they don’t come much better than the Warren.

From long still pools that

There are still nice size specimens showing up each year. Big flies and larger lures that attract big fish are the norm down there, so be well equipped because this water will eat your tackle quickly. Try to practice catch and release because the huge pressure this region is experiencing through Covid travel restrictions is placing

a dry if you are a flyfisher and the latest trend is to incorporate a small nymph on a dropper to double your chances. I like a Humpy as it’s very buoyant but other similar flies work as well.

For the lure fishers, a Celta style spinner is a good choice but some prefer hardbodies as well, soft plastics are very popular

October is a great time to explore our rivers and streams around the Pemberton region. Although not big, this rainbow put up a great fight in the fast water and fell to a Celta in green and gold.

Hatchery manager Terry Cabassi sorting out fingerings for stocking that should commence this month. The cylinder is used to estimate quantity to save time. Photo courtesy Pemberton Trout Hatchery.

Cattleyards Flats, and the back end where Falls Brook comes in, to name a few.

If you are planning on fishing the area near the brook, you will find that it is fenced off because the farmer has leased the land up to the water. Speaking with Russell from the WA branch of Australian Trout Foundation he advised me that access is allowed by foot only, he also is hoping to install a couple of styles on the fence to allow easier access.

Redfin are still being caught in limited numbers, but size is on the small side with a few larger ones in the mix.

Wellington Dam As I reported in earlier editions the decision to stock 10,000 rainbow yearlings has coincided with a rapid water level rise in this dam from the above average winter

year, which has resulted in constant catches by those spinning from the shore and flyfishing the back area.

redfin are still being caught but not in great numbers.

Glen Mervyn Dam This little water went from very low in autumn to now being full. Big redfin were caught early season but things have slowed recently.

Bigbrook Dam Good numbers of trout have been stocked this

RIVERS Murray River A couple of reports have indicated that redfin activity has increased in the larger pools now that the water has resided. Trout should be taking up station in the fast runs but don’t expect large numbers of quality fish, as they are mostly newly stocked yearlings.

Northern Jarrah Streams A few nice trout are still being caught by intrepid anglers prepared to put the legwork in and explore the overgrown small streams in the area. The low-lying sections needs landowners’ permission to access but can fish well in spring.

Collie River Below Wellington Dam Can fish well later this month, however, it’s normally slow in this transition period before water flow increases for irrigation. Both rainbow and brown trout get caught in varying sizes and numbers.

Collie River Above Wellington Dam Some nice size redfin are becoming more frequently caught up around the town by those using lures and soft plastics.

Blackwood River No reports have come through, however later this month is the time to explore this river. Best section is normally downstream of

Drakesbrook Weir is located in a beautiful scenic spot and will be the venue for the Troutfest in October.

Hatchery stocked fish offer reasonable spring fishing for Perth based anglers. Local Waroona angler Jonah Chiera scored this one on a Nories Wasaby Spoon cast well out from shore.

The scenic Karri country around Pemberton adds to the attraction of freshwater fishing in our state. are mainly home to some impressive redfin perch to the fast runs that rainbow, and brown trout prefer, you can spend days exploring the upper reaches from Rooney’s Bridge all the way down to the sea. The fishing can be tough with the day ending in cuts and bruises but just one beautifully marked brown makes it all worth it. Long gone are the days of my youth when we would see large trophy size browns appear behind your lure or fly in the dark tea-stained water.

more stress on the trout stocked recently. Of course, redfin offer superb eating if you want a feed and seem to do well with the increase fishing pressure in all waters.

Lefroy Brook above town Once a scenic drive the Rainbow Trail is only accessible by foot above the town weir. This section has dozens off delightful little runs that still hold both rainbow and brown trout.

Unlike the Warren, small flies and lures are the go here.

This month is the time to fish

and easy on the hip pocket.

Further upstream on the road to the dam is another section but it can be tough going.

Lefroy Brook below town There are a number of spots all the way from Thompson’s Flat to the Warren mouth like Cascades, Glauders Bridge and the mouth itself that hold both rainbow and brown trout.

Donnelly River A great time to explore this river with reports indicating some nice trout of both species are being caught right through the system. A good map of the area is a bonus as it can be tricky to get to the better spots away from the popular runs. Some nice browns are turning up so this is pleasing considering the decision by the FFRG to stock this species was only made a few year ago.

The South West region offers some interesting opportunities to fish for trout but unfortunately, it can be tough going compared to other states that offer easier stream fishing that lack the thick forest we have here.

Be careful of snakes as they become very active, especially around water. Try to practice catch and release of all browns because they are harder to produce in this state and seem to compete better in our northern redfin dams. You also need a freshwater license to fish for trout and redfin in WA if you are over the age of 16 years.

Stay safe until next time.

OCTOBER 2021

125

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Anglapro Escapade 554 Elite with Yamaha 130hp - SC

TENT -

RE ONLINE MO

Q

R

RA

CON

AN THE

CO

DE FOR EX

T FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

If you are after a Brisbanebuilt aluminium cabin boat that ticks plenty of boxes with trailability, family friendliness and price, then your path down the rabbithole of searching has brought you to the right place.

The Anglapro Escapade is the smallest of this model of cabin boats from Anglapro.

There’s also a 584 and a 624 on the books. All of the models in the range are made with 4mm bottom sheets and 3mm side sheets.

And let’s get this in early – there’s a 5-year hull warranty if you package it with a factory-fitted Dunbier trailer.

That’s a 5-year warranty on the hull and the trailer if you let the factory get it right for you. That’s pretty big news.

The test boat was supplied with a Yamaha 130hp 4-stroke outboard, which didn’t disappoint when it came to power. With a maximum horsepower rating of 135 on

this hull, the Escapade didn’t suffer from lack of power. It’s actually a pretty fun ride!

Drop the throttle and this boat did 72km/h at 6,300rpm with an economy of 1.5km/L. With 110L underfloor, that gives a theoretical range of just over 150km, and you have the ability and ambition of driving everywhere like a lunatic. Drop down to the most economical cruising speed of 36km/h at 3,500rpm and that economy jumps to 2.8km/L and the range virtually doubles to nearly 300km. Plenty enough get you into some action of one kind or another.

As expected, this rig is a balance between comfort SPECIFICATIONS Length................. 5.6m Beam................. 2.29m Max.HP ............. 135hp Fuel ......................110L Capacity ..... 5 persons Hull ...................... 4mm Sides ................... 3mm Hull.only ............ 595kg

Main: The 554 Anglapro Escapade is the baby of the threeboat cabin range. Its bigger brothers are the 584 and 624.

Above: With a maximum horsepower of 135 listed, Yamaha’s F130 is a great match for this rig and delivers economy of up to nearly 3km/L at 3500rpm. and fishability. If you’re after a massive cockpit to fish several people, you’ll be disappointed by the rear offset seat with lots of storage inside it – you can’t

Robert Gaden Jr is just ‘waiting for a mate’ at the bottom end of Peel Island.

128

OCTOBER 2021

move it and it deletes some of the available space.

But if you’re looking for somewhere to stash all of the wet gear from when the kids went for their 10th swim of the day, you’ll love that you can localise this out of the cabin.

Everyone will love the transom door and bulletproof folding aluminium stairs that’ll make it easy to get in and out of the rig when it’s on the trailer or on the water. In both situations, egress from the back of the boat is easier than trying to do it from the bow – even though this boat is reasonably low. This rig draws little water, so spin the transom around and jump in that way. There’s non-skid on the step as well.

The cabin is wide and open. There’s no cabin door, so it’s not 100% private.

Interestingly, the cabin

remains the same size as the boats get bigger in this model – it’s just the cockpit space gets longer. So proportionally, there’s more cabin space in this boat than in the others in the range.

The helm features a couple of comfortable seats with storage underneath. You can fold back the padding on these seats to make it a leanseat for when it’s rougher.

This is an option that’s become popular in rigs like this because of the practicality.

There’s room on the console to flush mount plenty of electronic accessories and although comfortable, there’s nowhere to rest your arm while wrangling the throttle.

We did like the bimini setup. It gives plenty of shade and there’s a lot of room between it and the windscreen. There’s nothing worse than when you have to pick ‘over or under’ when the top of the windscreen is right in your eye line. They’ve got this right, for my driving style anyway.

Naturally, there’s some wet storage under the floor that you can fill with fish or with wet gear.

Overall, it’s a comfortable family rig, a decent fishing boat and it’s at a price that you’ll love – not just because you won’t have to upgrade your standard suburban SUV to tow it. The test boat came in at just over $50,000, although base packages definitely come in at under the $50,000 mark.

For more information or your nearest dealer, visit www.anglapro.com.au or check out their socials by searching Anglapro on Facebook or Instagram.

PERFORMANCE RPM.......................km/h........................km/L 1000 ............................ 7 .......................... 2.8 2000...........................11 .......................... 2.5 3000.......................... 27 .......................... 2.7 3500 .......................... 36 .......................... 2.8 4000.......................... 43 .......................... 2.6 4500 .......................... 49 .......................... 2.4 5000.......................... 56 .......................... 2.1 6000.......................... 69 .......................... 1.7 6300 .......................... 72 .......................... 1.5

A relatively new addition to the Yamaha 4-stroke range, the F130 is pretty much an ideal fit for this hull.

Like most cabins, there’s no super easy way to board the boat from the bow.

The bimini is a pretty important piece of kit in this rig – if offers plenty of shade and it’s high enough so that you can stand at the helm and look through the gap between it and the windscreen.

Left: Rugged, aluminium factory fold-up steps are standard.

Right: A transom door always makes it easier to get in and out of the boat, whether you’re on the water or on the trailer.

When folded over, the rear seat gives access to the transom hatches, and in turn the batteries and isolators.

The helm is pretty simple. If you juggle the engine gauges around there’s room for a larger flush mounted sounder.

Both helm seats have the fold-up base so you can convert them to be very suitable backrests for standing in position. There’s storage under both.

There is a front access hatch you can access through the cabin.

As expected, you can fill the rear seat with gear.

This underfloor storage/tank drains straight into the bilge.

There’s an infill for the cabin that gives you access to 100% of the width. There’s no cabin door, so access is fairly easy.

OCTOBER 2021

129

New South Wales Tide Times

Victorian Tide Times

2021 2021 2021 LAT LAT 33° and 51’ 33° S51’ S LONG 151°151° 14’ E 14’ EWaters LAT 38° 18’ SS LONG 144° 37’ LAT 38°and 18’ LONG 144°and 37’ EELow Waters Times Heights ofLONG High and Low Local Time Times Heights of High LONSDALE – VICTORIA Times Times and and Heights Heights ofJUNE High of High and and LowPOINT Low Waters Waters Times Local and Local Time Heights Time of High Times and Heights of High and and Low Low Waters Waters JULY MAY AUGUST JUNE JULY 2021 LAT 38° 18’ S LONG 144° 37’ E OCTOBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER NOVEMBER SEPTEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER NOVEMBER SEPTEMBER OCTOBER

POINT LONSDALE – VICTORIA DNEY (FORT DENISON) – NEW SOUTH WALES DNEY EY (FORT (FORT DENISON) – NEW SOUTH SOUTH WALES POINT LONSDALE ––LONG VICTORIA POINTLAT LONSDALE VICTORIA 38° 18’ S 144° 37’ E LATDENISON) 33° 51’ S – NEW LONG 151° 14’ E WALES

Time RBER

m Time m Time Time m Time m m Time m Time mTime mTime m m Time Time Time m Time m 0006 mTime Time Time m me Time m m m 0.53 m Time Time m0057 mTime Time Time m 0150 mTime Time m Time Time m m1.78Time Time m Time m Times and Heights ofmTime High and Low Waters Local Time Time m Time 1.34 m Time Time m0034 Time Time m1.41 Time m m 1.40 1.68 0519 0633 0145 1.26 0037 1.60 0557 1.36 0046 0.69 0452 0623 0.51 0.43 1238 1117 0750 0807 0.62 0740 0.490010 0010 0744 0.54 1148 0.55 0735 1.30 1041 0.38 1158 0735 0258 1.47 0055 0055 0.440646 0.44 0045 0045 0.540.58 0.54 30 0430 1.19 0.39 0.391.300003 0003 0651 1.50 0621 0621 1.61 1.61 0419 0419 1.12 1.12 0.43 0.43 0628 1.42 0628 1.40 0112 0114 0.38 0258 0651 1.50 0114 0.51 0.38 0628 1.42 0628 1.40 0112 0.51 0.51 FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL JANUARY 1.43 1804 0.760616 0616 1640 1430 1.59 1446 1.43 1345 1.330617 1358 1.38 TH FR SU TU0942 WE SU 0.49 MO 1900 1.50 1245 0.800835 1748 1.58 1904 1.54 1245 1006 0.75 0714 0714 1.551303 1.55 0719 0719 1.63 1.63 57 0957 0.62 0617 1.32 1.32m 1202 0.73 1234 1234 0.49 0942 0.74 0.74 1.38 1.38 0.76 1158 0.76 1.33 0837 1.41 FR1153 SA MO TU 1006 1202 0.73 0837 1.41 1153 0.76 1158 0.76 0835WE 1.33 Time m Time m Time Time m Time m Time m Time m Time m 0.661.42 2314 2110 0.56 2114 0.76 1911 0.791158 1158 1940 0.78 1935 MO 1.441355 2319 0.74 1928 1.54 1329 1329 0.531848 0.53 1356 1356 0.54SA 0.54 37 1.66 1819 1834 1.54FR 1.54 1614 1.47 1.47 0.59 0.59 1801 1806 1341 1558 18191834 1.42 1341 0.71 0.71 1801 1.39 1806 1.30 1355 0.74 0.74 MO 1204 TU TU1.39 WE WE TH TH1.30 TU H 1637 FR 1614 SA SA 0.59 0.59MO 1204 WE TH TU 1558 WE TH FR SA MO 0415 1.59 1.58 0227 0255 0230 1.482300 0319 1.67 0309 1.51 0315 1.59 02380.52 1.601820 1820 0337 1.62 1.52 1941 1925 1925 1.450100 1.45 1941 1.29 1.29 32 2332 0.38 1.62 1.62 2309 2309 0.52 1.60 1.60 2039 2017 1.29 2300 2017 1.25 1.29 2039 1.20 1.20 0030 1.681816 1816 0608 1.18 0138 1.66 0148 1.47 0301 0.74 0.59 0135 0534 1.38 0043 0130 1007 0.42 0023 0808 0832 0.340.47 0850 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0.54 0221 0221 0.54 1.40 0916 1.40 0018 0916 0.37 0.60 1516 0.60 0726 WE WE 1516 1.51 1.25 2234 1.25 0.75 TH 1230 2234 1900 1.52

15 30

30 30

30

15 15

31 0110 0832

0.37 1.50 FR 1324 0.84 1954 1.47

ctions is Lowest Astronomical Tide ommonwealth onwealth of Australia of Australia 2020, 2020, Bureau Bureau of Meteorology of Meteorology © © Copyright Copyright Commonwealth Commonwealth of of Australia Australia 2020, 2020, Bureau Bureau of of Meteorology Meteorology © Copyright Commonwealth Australia 2020, Bureau of Meteorology cal standard time (UTC +10:00) savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect ns ctions is Lowest is Lowest Astronomical Astronomical TideTideor daylight of Datum of is Astronomical Datum of Predictions Predictions is Lowest Lowest Astronomical Tide © Copyright Commonwealth of AustraliaTide 2019, Bureau of Meteorology Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter ymbols Full Moon cal tandard standard timetime (UTC (UTC +10:00) +10:00) or daylight or daylight savings savings time time (UTC Times (UTC +11:00) are +11:00) when local when standard in effect in is effect time +10:00) or Times are inPredictions local standard time (UTC (UTC +10:00) or daylight daylight savings time time (UTC (UTC +11:00) +11:00) when when in in effect effec Datum ofin Lowest Astronomical Tide savings Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect NewNew Moon Moon FirstFirst Quarter Quarter Moon New Last Last Moon Quarter Quarter First Quarter ymbols ols Full Phase Full Moon Symbols Moon Full Moon New Moon First Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) wh New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon New Moon First Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon Tide predictions for Port Phillip Heads have been formatted by the National Tidal Centre, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Copyright reserved. All material is supplied in good faith and is believed to be correct. It is supplied on the condition that no warranty is given in relation thereto, that no responsibility or liability for errors or omissions is, or will be, accepted and that the recipient will hold MHL and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Australia free from all such responsibility or liability and from all loss 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 include acceptance of the above conditions.

20212021 OCTOBER 130 130 OCTOBER

MAKING MEMORIES SINCE 1953

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OCTOBER 2021

131

FISHING JUST GOT EASIER...

MotorGuide continues to build on a rich legacy of product innovation.

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motorguide.com.au 132

OCTOBER 2021