Fishing Monthly Magazine | April 2024 by Fishing Monthly

• LEARN TO SPEARFISH • GUIDE TO LAKE MACQUARIE • TESTED

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Step into spearfishing • Guide to Lake Macquarie • Starlo: Die like the carp • News: Blue Groper Ban • Tested: Shimano Raider Travel rods •

LOCATION SPOTLIGHT

Jamie Robley brings us the treasures of Lake Macquarie

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Contents

From the Editor’s Desk... New South Wales fisheries have done some wonderful things over the years. Buying out commercial licences with the Recreational Fishing fee was a great start – even though the Fee seems to have morphed from the original purpose. As a whole, recreational anglers are very comfortable with good, science-based fisheries management. The recent decision on blue groper instantaneously undermines the trust that Fee-paying anglers have in their managers. Seriously, changing management

on an illegal breach is tantamount to shutting down a road because someone got a speeding ticket on it. It’s lunacy and frankly, lazy management. If we shut everything down because someone broke a law, then access to everything, everywhere will be banned. I bet every single one of you has had a fishing spot shut down by local council because it was easier to ban it than enforce the rules. We used to have a little bass lake near the office that was initially stocked BY council. Inexplicably, the “No

Fishing” signs went up a decade later. If you see it happening near you, complain! Complain to council It seems that whoever complains the loudest sways the decisions. Furthermore, if the signs go up and nobody says anything, the public servant rocks back in the chair and pats themself on the back for nailing their job. Fisheries Departments: do the right thing by anglers. We all want the same thing – at least as good a chance of catching a fish in the places we traditionally wet a line. Is that too much to ask?

INSIDE This Issue

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Augusta

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Batlow

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Lancelin

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Exmouth

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VICTORIA Portland

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Phillip Island

REGULAR FEATURES Guide to Lake Macquarie

Step into Spearfishing

Gippsland Lakes

Starlo: Die like the carp

Port Albert

Marlo

Tagging Tales

Mallacoota

Sheik of the Creek

Robinvale

What’s New Fishing

Yarrawonga

Wangaratta

Bendigo

Fun page

Shepparton

News: Blue Groper Ban

Ballarat

Eildon

PPB snapper, whiting

Crater Lakes

Trades and Services

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Tournament calendar

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Test: Haines Hunter 675

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Tide page

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TASMANIA Hobart

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Testing: Shimano Raider Travel rods

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Cassidy Smith was over the moon catching this exquisite looking 70cm dusky flathead on a Hurricane Sprat 65 soft plastic. A Brett Geddes image.

FEATURE

Location

FMM

An essential guide to fishing Lake Macquarie CENTRAL COAST

Jamie Robley

The huge body of water known as Lake Macquarie has become a real angling magnet in recent years. Although it has always been a popular and productive waterway, there was a major turning point in 2002 when it was declared a recreational-only lake. All forms of commercial netting, trapping and other means of harvesting were banned, and a recreational fishing haven was established.

I started fishing the lake as a kid with my father and uncles, and I’ve now been fishing there for 50 years, which is a long time, no matter which way you put it. Overall, the fishing is still pretty good, despite the increase in human population and development in the area. Over the years, there have been significant changes in the way many of us fish. Techniques have changed since the advent of braided lines, lure casting, sounder technology and, of course, the influence of the bream tournaments. The biggest change for anglers, however, has been the impact of the

Above: The author caught this 45cm fork-length bream at the southern end of the lake after heavy rainfall. Main: Some solid tailor show up through the cooler months. This was one of many bigger fish encountered a few years back at Mannering Park. 8 APRIL 2024

internet. In the old days, you’d wait a week for your roll of film to be developed, then you’d pick up your blurry prints of a big bream or flathead, and perhaps show them to a mate a few weeks later. Nowadays, we can take much better photos of our catch with a phone and show them to friends within minutes. The same photos or videos can be instantly uploaded to social media to allow people worldwide to view them as well. Despite all these high-tech advances, the lake’s bream, flathead and other fish are basically the same as they were 100 years ago. Let’s take a closer look at how to catch them, focusing on the more popular species, times and places. BREAM Casual anglers and tournament fishers alike can enjoy catching bream around the entire lake. It’s no secret that some very big bream live here, and even though the XOS monsters can be elusive, some good, solid fish are always on the cards. Generally, the best time of year to target bream is from late summer to early winter. The second-best period is when the water warms up in October, November and December. Persistent north-easterly winds and noisy boat traffic are detrimental factors during the summer holidays, so keep that in mind. At this busy time, it’s better to head up the creeks or seek out some of the less popular bays and swampy backwaters in a kayak. Casting surface lures is productive

Soft plastics in the 100-120mm range are ideal for flathead. Try the shallows during the warmer months and go deeper as it gets colder. and entertaining, and works best early in the morning and later in the afternoon during the warmer months. February, March and April are the best months to use surface lures here. As things start to cool down more in April and May, you can also do well with sinking vibes, soft plastics and crankbaits. The cooler it gets, the slower and deeper you need to go. During late April, May and into June, I’ve found the best depth is around 2-4m,

Location FEATURE

FMM which is usually around 50m out from the shore in most parts of the lake. As it gets colder, the bream are more likely to be found deeper and farther out until the end of June, when they become harder to find. At this time, many bream either head up the creeks or head out to sea via Swansea. It’s still possible to encounter bream in the main body of the lake during July

casting techniques or small lures, fished slowly and methodically. FLATHEAD Flathead can be encountered anywhere from the channel mouth at Swansea right up into the brackish reaches of the various feeder creeks. To put it simply, if you’re fishing anywhere around the lake, you’re in with a

Silver trevally are generally caught in autumn and winter. They respond to a wide variety of small baits or lures and put up a great fight on light tackle.

Flathead are available throughout the lake, feeder creeks, bays and backwaters. Their average size is around 45-60cm. and August, but I find it’s not worth the effort when there are other species to play with. If you do really want to find bream at this time of year, either persist in the 3-4m zone adjacent to major structure like rocky points, bridges or marinas or better still, go to Swansea Channel and use good quality natural bait. You can also head up Dora or Cockle Creek and cast lures to bankside structure. Some winters, you can actually enjoy some pretty good bream fishing further up the creeks with fly

chance of a flathead. The nice, white sand and clear water around Swansea attract a lot of anglers, and yes, some good flathead are caught here. However, I much prefer to fish inside

Plenty of toothy critters inhabit the lake. Pike often chase small lures aimed for bream in the shallows.

the main body of the lake because it’s a lot easier to fish without the raging current at Swansea. You’ll catch flathead in every month, but the better months are September through to late December. As with bream, the 2nd best period is typically during autumn. Mostly, the fish will be in the shallows through the warmer months. You’ll get them on surface lures, but soft plastics or natural baits are recommended if you really want results. Flathead are also commonly caught in deeper water (2-6m) through the cooler months. Try working larger soft plastics or sinking vibes just out from the more prominent rocky points, or any noticeable deeper drop-offs or structure you

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FEATURE

Location

spot with the sounder. Flathead are also very common up the creeks. They love to sit near the banks on either side of the creek, not out in the middle. Dora Creek is sometimes lined with flathead, and you’ll also find them up Cockle or any of the smaller creeks.

Salmon invade the lake each winter. While they mostly just hang around Swansea, sometimes you’ll find them further away around the margins and even up the creeks. TAILOR If you fish anywhere around Lake Macquarie, you’re sure to encounter tailor, most of which are small choppers around 20-25cm. These little choppers can be annoying for bream anglers as they’ll easily bite through fine leaders and bite your fingers if you’re not careful. The best way to avoid them is not to cast out into open water and don’t troll a small lure. It’s hard to avoid them entirely, but they’re more common in the deeper main body rather than the shallow bays and backwaters. The larger, more desirable tailor are common right through the cooler months. They feed aggressively around sunrise and sunset but can also be caught at any time of day or night. A variety of lures can be trolled out in open water, but I prefer to cast 80-120mm surface lures or small metals such as the SureCatch Knight. If you’re keen to specifically target tailor with lures, I recommend using a short wire trace. About 15-20cm of single-strand 27lb Mason wire works well. Larger tailor over 2kg turn up each year and will instantly bite off a large surface lure. Without wire, your trip could turn out to be quite expensive. SALMON Years ago, I remember local anglers always complaining about salmon entering

FMM the lake during winter and how they eat all the baitfish, leaving none for tailor or other predators. I never understood why these people were complaining about such an excellent sportfish being available in the lake. These days, many keen anglers like to take advantage of the sambos and enjoy the fun fishing on offer. Most years, the salmon come into Swansea Channel around late May and hang around until September. Each year is different, though, and sometimes good numbers of salmon swim as far into the system as Dora Creek, Chain Valley Bay or Cockle Creek. The most reliable way to target salmon is with pilchards, particularly when fishing the Salts Bay area, on the south-eastern side of Swansea Channel. If you’d prefer to cast lures, it’s hard to beat a thin, baitfish-style soft plastic around 100mm. Berkley PowerBaits in the Casper clear colour are a popular choice. OTHER FAVOURITES Other species often encountered through the cooler months (May to early October) include luderick, silver trevally, snapper and mulloway. The rock walls at Swansea are reliable and popular for the luderick, although

Although some real monsters have been caught here over the years, most bream are around 25-30cm. these fish aren’t too hard to find in other places like the creeks or marinas, where there is some sort of current flow. Typically, local green weed or green cabbage baits are your best bet, although imitation green weed flies have been catching on a bit in recent years. I enjoy catching silver trevally, and have caught them pretty much everywhere.

The author catches a lot of flathead around this size. Most are caught on small lures while chasing bream, although larger soft plastics are highly recommended when specifically targeting them. 10 APRIL 2024

FISHING MONTH-BY-MONTH January Usually a good time to fish the shallower bays, creeks and backwaters. Bream, flathead and whiting are the primary targets. Try fishing early in the morning or at night to avoid the holiday crowds and persistent summer sea breeze. February The fishing is improving and there’s less boat traffic. Bream, flathead and whiting are normally very active in shallow water at this time. Blue swimmer crabs, prawns and flounder are some other worthwhile targets. March A peak month for lure casting for bream and flathead. The fish are still mainly in the shallows. April Another excellent month. Bream, flathead and whiting are still very active but are starting to move into slightly deeper water. Kingfish and silver trevally show up a bit more frequently, mainly around Swansea. It’s also a great time for southern calamari and arrow squid. May Another great month, although things are changing and most fish are moving into deeper water. Bream are still very active, and some bigger fish can be expected. Silver trevally, kingfish and tailor also become more active. June Although June is still a good month, the fishing is beginning to slow down. Bream get a bit harder to tempt, and more of them move out to sea or up the creeks. Tailor, salmon, luderick, silver trevally and mulloway are the primary targets. July At this time of year, the fishing slows down considerably. Look for flathead, silver trevally or mulloway in deeper water. Tailor and salmon can be widespread and turn up almost anywhere, although Swansea remains the main place to look for salmon. Luderick are also mainly found at Swansea. August Perhaps the toughest month of the year. Try deeper water for mulloway or flathead with larger soft plastics, sinking vibes or good quality natural bait. Silver trevally and luderick are other species worth chasing. September Another slow month, although it can start picking up a bit. Flathead become more active towards the end of the month, and a few bream show up, too. However, tailor, salmon and luderick remain the main species worth chasing. October The fishing is picking up. Bream, flathead and whiting are more active, while salmon, tailor, luderick, and silver trevally start to thin out. November An excellent month for flathead in the shallows. Bream are much more active too, and more whiting are caught. Blue swimmer crabs, prawns and flounder are also worth chasing. December Shallow water bream are in full swing, and you won’t have a problem finding a few whiting or flathead. Crabs, prawns and flounder remain active, and pesky longtoms or pike will zoom in on any lures cast around the shallow flats or points. Swansea is a good place to start, with baits such as cut pilchard pieces, peeled prawns, pink nippers, squid or pipis. They also like the same small lures you’d cast for bream, with small, metal vibes and thin profile soft plastics being the best. Mulloway have become more common in recent years. Most are smaller fish, around 2-4kg, although larger models over 15kg are definitely on the cards. Deeper drop-offs and channels adjacent to the major points are hot spots. They are best fished at night with good quality baits or early in the morning with larger soft plastics or sinking vibes. Whiting, flounder, arrow squid and blue swimmer crabs are popular with local anglers through the warmer months. All are more common in shallower places that have a mix of sand and weedy patches. I catch quite a few whiting while lure casting for bream, and most of them

fall to surface lures cast over very shallow flats, or small metal vibes in slightly deeper water, up to a few metres. Plenty of other fish make their way into the lake. I can assure readers that sharks are more common here than most people realise. The bright side is that they are mostly harmless hammerhead sharks; however, bull sharks and even white sharks definitely swim in these waters – I’ve seen them! Longtoms, pike and kingfish are reasonably common, more so in the warmer months. Other species that have been caught here include cobia, giant herring, queenfish, mackerel and even mahimahi, which is pretty crazy. However, if you want more consistent results in Lake Macquarie, stick with the main species like bream, flathead, whiting and tailor, or a more specialist approach for luderick, trevally, salmon or mulloway.

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FEATURE

Technique

FMM

Step into spearfishing NORTH QUEENSLAND

Joe Nugent

In recent years spearfishing has become an increasingly popular sport both in Australia and abroad, likely attributed to advances in technology and the influence of social media on the public. These days, anyone with access to a phone and waterproof camera can film and share their spearfishing and underwater experiences online, often piquing the interest of like-minded individuals across the globe.

spearfishing let me explain. Like the name suggests, it involves targeting fish or crustaceans using a spear/speargun. It is a challenging yet highly effective way to sustainably catch fish for the table. Additionally, spearfishing is conducted using freediving techniques, on a single breath of air, without the assistance of external breathing apparatus. Spearfishing generally favours relatively clean water, requiring a minimum visibility of around 1.5-2m at the bottom. In Australia, spearfishing can only be conducted in saltwater as state regulations prohibit it in freshwater. Acknowledging this, you can choose to spearfish in a variety of scenarios including; diving from shore, inshore wrecks and islands, reef and bluewater. It is important to check zoning maps and state regulations before diving as rules vary between both state and region. For example, some areas which allow line fishing may be closed to spearfishing. These areas are generally specified on marine park maps, state government websites or physically sign posted in the area. Additionally, when

Striped snapper and painted crayfish are a tasty North Queensland duo. Having spent much of my life living far from the ocean, spearfishing was completely foreign to me. I’d never met anyone who had done it, nor did I really know what it entailed. It wasn’t until I spent some time living in North Queensland, where I met Luke Ryan. Luke is a keen fisherman with both rod and spear, having noticed my initial interest in the sport he promptly took the opportunity to introduce me to the world of spearfishing. WHAT IS SPEARFISHING? For those still in the dark about 12 APRIL 2024

The author’s good mate and spearfishing mentor, Luke.

Above: Getting together after some depth training at Lake Eacham with members of the Townsville Skindiving Club. Main: Lake Eacham, like most of the crater lakes found in North Queensland, is very deep and a popular spot to practice freediving. spearfishing in North Australia, it is important to consider location and time of year in order to avoid diving in areas which may inhabit saltwater crocodiles. HOW TO GET STARTED Before you get in the water you’ll need to invest in some basic equipment and learn the skills required to set you up for success. As spearfishing equipment can be quite pricey, used equipment is often a good option when starting out. Facebook and Gumtree are a good place to start with full kits advertised regularly. At a minimum you will need; freediving fins, mask, snorkel and a speargun. Depending on climate and prevalence of marine stingers you may also need a wetsuit and a weight belt. A wetsuit is used to both protect a diver from marine stingers and provide warmth while in the water. When choosing a wetsuit you need to consider the climate and water temperature where you intend to dive. Generally, the colder the water the thicker the wetsuit you will require. Additionally, wetsuits increase buoyancy. As such, you will need to purchase an appropriate amount of weight in order to counteract the buoyancy of the wetsuit material. Generally speaking, for tropical climates with warmer water

a 1-3mm wetsuit with 2-3 dive weights is ideal. Whereas, colder climates 4-6mm wetsuits with weights added as required are more comfortable. Spearguns are available in lots of different designs, however they all basically work in the same way. The gun is loaded by placing tension on large rubber bands which are either held in place by hand or clipped into the gun itself. When released, either by hand or by pulling the trigger, the shaft or ‘spear’ will come out of the muzzle of the gun and travel through the water towards the target. After the shot, the shaft will remain attached to the gun either by a shooting line and bungee or if upgraded, a purpose designed reel. The effective range of a speargun is determined by the amount of force the rubber bands can apply to the shaft, generally the more powerful the bands are and the more of them a gun has, the more energy the spear will have. When choosing your first speargun, simple is best. There is a huge variety of spearguns on the market, all containing varied levels of sophistication and technology, all designed to fulfill different purposes and at different price points. The most simple, all round gun for a beginner would be a 90-100cm rail gun, with 1-2 rubbers. This style of gun

Technique FEATURE

FMM is simple to understand, use effectively and upgrade. When used straight out of the box, they are more than adequate for most scenarios however are very easy to upgrade as skill level progresses. You are able to purchase spearguns at most fishing and outdoor shops or online. Prices vary from $50 for a basic pole spear to well over $2,000 for sophisticated bluewater set ups. Basic rail guns are the most popular and generally retail for between $150-$500. Once you have some equipment, you will need to learn how to both freedive and spearfish safely and effectively. There are several ways to go about this; completing a freediving course, joining a local dive club, learning from an experienced mentor or a combination of all three. WHAT HELPED ME I was very fortunate when I first started to learn about spearfishing – I learnt the basics of freediving, spearfishing and the associated safety protocols from my mate Luke. Over the course of 12 months, Luke provided information and guidance as I learnt the basics of freediving and spearfishing. Having an experienced mentor is

one of the best ways to take up the sport. The one-on-one environment allowed me to learn the required skills quickly and provided Luke with the opportunity to be critical of my dive technique and share experience when hunting fish. If you don’t know anyone who could be your mentor, then I’d recommend completing a freediving course to learn the basics and keep you safe while learning. I later joined the Townsville

into two components; the dive and the hunt. Before you start a dive you must be relaxed, focus on just the dive and avoid getting overly excited or distracted by the marine life below and the depth of the water. Breath up as taught by an instructor and never hyperventilate. Have the confidence your dive partner is competent and able to assist you in a challenging situation. Once at the bottom, take your time and move slowly, look amongst the structure for fish. It’s often a good idea to scratch rocks or coral and throw up a bit of sand in order to draw fish in. When selecting a fish to shoot, knowledge of species and state legal sizes is essential. Fish underwater will appear significantly bigger than their actual size so it is important before releasing a shot, to be completely confident they are well

The basic equipment needed to start spearfishing: 3mm wetsuit, freediving fins, mask, snorkel, weight belt with 2x1kg weights, Mares Bandit 95cm railgun (upgraded with reel).

A mixed bag after a day spearfishing the tropical islands.

Skindiving Club where I would partake in pool training sessions weekly and attended freediving weekends at Lake Eacham. The aim of this training is to allow the body to adapt over time, in order to improve its tolerance to Co2 and water pressure. This allows a diver to gradually increase depth and total dive time while spearfishing, which in turn will give them more confidence in the water. Additionally, learning to relax and become comfortable in the water is an essential skill for spearfishing and is only really gained through experience and exposure to challenging scenarios. My advice is to break down spearfishing

Parrotfish are a lesser targeted fish but still great eating. above the minimum size. When in the water, particularly after a shot, it is inevitable that you will see sharks. It is important to develop a healthy level of respect for them but not to fear them, oftentimes they are more interested in trying to score a free feed of fish rather than hassle you as a diver. When in the presence of sharks, regardless of size or species, the most

SPEARFISHING SAFETY • Get proper training. Learn how to breathe correctly before and after a dive. Educate yourself on the dangers, causes and safety procedures associated with shallow water blackouts, it may save your own or someone else’s life. • Conduct every dive as taught. Breathe up correctly, avoid hyperventilation and do recovery breaths once back on the surface. • Always dive with a buddy. While one dives, the other watches from the surface ensuring the diver surfaces and recovers correctly. • Use your speargun safely. Load/ unload it in the water and never point it at your mates. • Never tether fish to your body or a trailing float line, it will attract the unwanted attention from sharks. important thing is to stay calm. Avoid erratic movements or splashing on the surface and secure any speared fish quickly. Maintain eye contact and use your speargun to keep a safe distance between you and the shark. Observe the shark’s behaviour closely. Sharks become most dangerous to humans when they are excited, frustrated or overly curious. If you notice sharks continually circling and coming close to you, darting around erratically or eating fish off your spear, it is a good idea to get out of the water and move spots. Spearfishing is an easy sport to pick up but difficult to master, as such it allows for continued improvement over the course of several years. With the variety of species and environments on offer along the Australian coastline, there is always something or somewhere new to explore. The necessity to learn new skills as you progress and pursue a variety of fish in their natural environment makes it a challenging yet highly rewarding form of fishing. When done correctly, it is sustainable, effective and enjoyable. Given the opportunity, I would encourage anyone to take the step into spearfishing.

APRIL 2024 13

FMM

BACK TO BASICS

Die like the carp! NSW SOUTH COAST

Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

Carp and other noxious pest fish, such as tilapia, are a fact of life in many of our inland waterways these days. Anglers can play a small but important part in helping to control the numbers of these aquatic pests by humanely killing and disposing of any they catch. Die Like The Carp is a book by Harry Gordon recounting the saga of a mass breakout of Japanese prisoners of war from their POW camp in the NSW inland town of Cowra in 1944. But it also makes a great title for a column about catching and dispatching these noxious pest fish! Carp have actually been in Australia for a very long time, but it wasn’t until

low altitude Murray/Darling Basin are almost non-existent, at least without the help of a species-specific virus, genetic modification, or some other targeted biological control measure. So, why are carp (which are highly valued in some parts of the world) such a bad thing for our Australian waters? There are lots of answers to that question, but the most important ones are the fact that they breed fast and in huge numbers, quickly displacing other species, and that their feeding style of grubbing and sucking in the mud dirties the water, uproots vegetation and undermines banks. Carp actually end up physically altering their environment to better suit their own needs, thus accelerating their take-over of any river, lake or dam. Add the fact that carp spread diseases and parasites such

Sight casting to feeding carp on the shallow edges with flies, small soft plastics or baits is highly effective and lots of fun – but make sure you humanely kill and dispose of every one you catch!

VIDEO

the so-called “Boolarra strain” of the fish were deliberately and criminally released into Victorian rivers during the 1960s that they became a significant scourge on our waterways. From that initial liberation, carp have spread to every state, although they seem to have been effectively eliminated from the only two waters in Tasmania (Lakes Crescent and Sorell) where they’ve so far shown up. As an aside, the elimination of carp from those two connected Tasmanian lakes must surely go down as one of the greatest fish management victories in Australia’s history. It took years and cost millions of dollars, but ultimately it was successful. This has led many people to ask why the same can’t be done elsewhere. Sadly, it’s not quite that simple. The truth is that Crescent and Sorell are both too cold and at too high an elevation to be “ideal” carp waters. Yet, even here, their eradication proved to be a truly massive task. The chances of repeating it in a system like the vast, warm and

14 APRIL 2024

Scan this QR code to watch Starlo’s video on catching and killing carp

as Lernaea or anchor worms, consume the eggs and larvae of other aquatic fauna, and have even been implicated in damaging algal blooms, and you come up with an absolute nightmare of a fish: the finned equivalent of rabbits, foxes, feral pigs or cane toads. On the plus side, they can be reasonably easy to catch, fight quite hard when hooked, and respond to a wide range of techniques: from bait to fly. You can eat them, too, although all my attempts to date have been largely unsatisfying. I’ve had them handled and cooked by

Starlo with a larger-than-average Lake Glenbawn carp. experts and they weren’t too bad at all, but whenever I’ve tried it myself, the results haven’t been very exciting! The bottom line is, we’d be much better off without carp in this country, or even with dramatically reduced populations of these noxious pests. But it doesn’t look like that will happen any time soon. There is an effective, speciesspecific virus waiting in the wings, but an orchestrated scare campaign backed by the koi carp breeding lobby and others has meant that there simply isn’t the political will nor the bureaucratic courage to actually introduce it. Personally, I doubt it will ever happen, unless it’s done “on the sly”, as eventually happened with rabbit calicivirus some years back. So, for now and into the foreseeable future, it looks like we’re stuck with carp. In fact, it’s been estimated that they currently represent well over 90 per cent of the total biomass of all life in large stretches of the Murray/Darling, as well as many of our other rivers and lakes. As anglers, we need to accept that if we fish in these waters, we WILL catch carp, whether we intend to or not. Sadly, it’s an increasingly similar story with the equally noxious tilapia in many of our warmer northern freshwater systems, too. Regulations concerning what must be done with declared noxious fish species when they’re caught by anglers varies from one jurisdiction to another, and there’s a degree of confusion regarding the current rules. However, regardless of the precise wording of the legislation, what you really should do with a carp or a tilapia when you catch one is kill it promptly and humanely and then dispose

Every carp Starlo catches is a dead carp! In the right places, they can be a great fish, but sadly Australia is not the right place for them, any more than it’s the right place for cane toads, rabbits or foxes.

of it well away from the water’s edge. There are no ifs and buts about this. Just do it! Recently, I was lucky enough to attend the wonderful Lake Glenbawn Family Carp Muster in the Hunter Valley of NSW. (I believe there’s a full report on that event elsewhere in this issue.) This Muster is a good example of the growing number of organised gatherings aimed at bringing participants together to remove large volumes of carp or tilapia from a waterway across a short time span. In this case, more than 600 anglers signed on and pulled nearly a tonne and a half of carp out of this trophy bass and yellowbelly dam in a single day, winning thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes in the process, win-win!

Drone imagery from Starlo’s YouTube video of a big carp feeding on the edge of a lake. They are highly destructive to our aquatic ecosystems. I don’t think anyone truly believes that events like this can have a serious or lasting impact on overall carp numbers, but they certainly provide a great community focus, inject economic activity into struggling regional areas, and help publicise the carp and tilapia issue. For those reasons alone, they’re extremely worthwhile, and I’d encourage you to either become involved in such events in your neck of the woods or — if there aren’t any — get a few mates together and organise one yourself! Every little bit helps in the war on carp. If you’d like to watch my recent YouTube video on catching and killing carp using a very effective sight-casting technique, simply scan the QR code on this page or go to my Starlo Gets Reel channel. Until next time, Tight Lines, and keep killing those carp and tilapia!

QLD Southern

FMM

A very unusual El Niño season continues THE TWEED

Leon McClymont

Previous statistics show that during an El Niño the East Coast of Australia should experience lower than average rainfall and a reduced chance of tropical cyclones, but we have seen a number of tropical lows/cyclones cross the coast giving unprecedented rainfall to Cairns and surrounding areas of Northern and Central Queensland. Even though the Tweed Coast is approximately 2000km away it has also felt the brunt of it, as we have had several flash floods and above average

Mitchel Ayres sight casted this mackerel from the stones on 40lb line – no wire. rainfall for the year so far. The El Niño has delivered one good thing though, and that’s the hotter than usual water temperature this season on the Tweed Coast and much of the East Coast of Australia. We have also seen typically stronger currents pushing the tropical water hard up against the coastline. This gives a greater opportunity to get connected to your fish of a lifetime. It has been a great start to the season with exceptional numbers of pelagic species, such as longtail tuna, mackerel, cobia and even the odd marlin showing up on just about every headland and along the beaches of the Tweed. There have been numerous reports of tuna busting bait balls for hours and sightings of oversized mackerel launching just behind the breakers and within casting distance from the headlands and ledges. This has seen Tweed anglers feel the 16 APRIL 2024

inner fire and passion of land-based game fishing and are either dusting off the rock boots or replacing the shorter troll rods for longer more suitable rods for land-based fishing. A longer fast rod that still has some flex in the tip is more suitable for land-based game fishing (see fig.1). It provides the perfect combination of stiffness and flexibility. The flexibility in the tip is very important for casting as it allows the angler to cast a variety of lures from large heavy stickbaits and metals to even light plastics and small metals. The stiffness in the butt section is for control during the fight as being land-based you are bound to that bit of rock or land and being able to determine some sort of power/control during the fight will generally favour the angler, you may need to apply extreme pressure to a fish to turn it from notorious ground. A rod of at least over 9ft and up to 12ft and a casting weight of approximately 70-120g is generally the size range you’re looking for. A light weight spin reel that will hold a good capacity of line is a key piece of equipment when land-based, as casting lures or baits all day will take a toll on your body. You don’t want a bulky heavy reel as it will drain your shoulders and arms much quicker and this will only have you give up and leave the rocks much sooner than if you had the right gear. It’s said the land-based angler that catches the most fish is the angler that makes the most casts. So, time spent on the stones casting is crucial to become a successful landbased angler. You will gain valuable knowledge being on the battle grounds, even if you’re not catching just being on the ledge will provide insight on currents, bait and tides that you want to focus your time on. Fishing line is the most important

Nick Selby with a cracker mulloway It’s a first for Nick as he usually targets them with the straight hook.

A range of lures for targeting pelagic species from the stones. part as it connects you to the fish and has to remain intact and connected during the duration of the fight, but what sort of fishing line is best? When casting lures you can’t go past braided line, and the best braided line is one that is fine for smoother longer casts, have a high abrasive resistance for those rocky moments and a great breaking strain. But now you need to know what to throw at them! In no particular order is a list of some great land-based lures that should be in the tackle box of every land-based angler : Rapala Long Cast, Mack Bait, Sure Catch or Flasher 85g metal slug, Slim Minnow plugs, plastic lures with 1.5-2oz jig heads. There are plenty more to talk about, but listed above are effective lures that won’t break the budget. Tides, currents and moon phases will also impact the fish so keep a close eye on these factors and align them to your benefit will also provide greater success. Watching the currents with the help of technology makes it a lot easier, these apps/websites are readily available to the public and will show what you should be focusing your time on the stones. What you’re looking for is when the current is pushing towards the coastline. This scenario is most favourable as it gives a highway for the pelagic fish to travel and show up at your ledge. Moon phases can also determine when you should be fishing. When the bite period is the greatest following these moon phases has proven to have very positive outcomes for anglers for many years. The tides will also have impact on the fish turning up, a raising tide is usually the most favourable as larger predatory fish will generally move in with the raising tide to feed on zones that weren’t accessible on lower tides. Saying this, don’t write off an outgoing tide as in some zones/areas an outgoing tide might be the best on the day as it will push bait from protected areas

to the deeper water drop offs where these pelagic predators will be awaiting an easy feed. As stated, time on the stones will provide you insights on your zone/s and when you should be putting most of your time in those areas. This time of year on the Tweed is a land-based anglers’ dream with many species available from the fast high running tuna and mackerel to the slower deep sluggers such as mulloway and snapper. Studies have shown mulloway seem to move in on the shallow inshore reefs and estuaries to start congregating for spawning. This process generally sees the species not feed for a small period of time leading up to the spawning. Post spawn, the fish generally are fairly depleted of nutrients and muscle and have to heavily feed to recover and gain weight, this process is timed perfectly for the annual mullet run. Mullet full of roe will provide the mulloway with nutrient rich food to restock their fuel tanks. Offshore scene during April is one to also not miss. The inshore reefs right out to the deep FADs and pinnacles will be holding plenty of small yellowfin and big wahoo. The FADs are still holding good numbers of mahimahi mostly average size this time of year. The rubbly reefs of the 36s to the 50s are also holding good snapper, trag jew, pearl perch and tusk fish if you’re

Pete McDonald holding up one of his usual suspects taken on a slow trolled bonito. fishing the bottom. Still plenty of cobia and kingfish hanging about also so having a livie on a float line is always a good idea when fishing these outer reefs. Still a few small juvenile black marlin around but most have moved south at time of writing they should start returning back through start/mid May. Next month the currents will really start to back off a bit and will allow the anglers the head wide to the continental shelf giving the opportunity to target the tasty ingredients from the depths. Bar cod nannygai, flametail, blue eye trevalla are always much desired additives to the esky. Fishing depths of 200-350m is generally the most favourable for these species.

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QLD Southern

FMM

Time to chase blues offshore GOLD COAST

David Green

April is generally a very productive month on the offshore reefs off the Gold Coast. It is one of the best months to chase blue marlin on the wider grounds. The East Australian current starts to slow down a bit, and large productive eddies often form beyond the continental shelf. Beyond the 100 metre line there is always a chance of finding a blue marlin, but most of the productive water is found between the 200 and 400 metre lines. This marks the start of the continental slope, and beyond this depth it drops off quite rapidly. Schools of striped tuna, flying fish and sauris commonly school in this area and there are always a few

will ever see, grey hounding out of the water as they take several hundred metres of line. It is important to chase them quickly as a blue marlin can empty a reel in a bit over a minute. On the closer grounds the black marlin action slows right down as the fish have moved south with the current, but there are still a few black marlin to be caught by live baiting the deeper bait schools at spots like Deep Trag and Spot X. A few black marlin are caught by anglers chasing snapper when a hooked fish is eaten on the way to the surface. Closer to shore the Spanish mackerel run should be in full swing after the seasonal closure ended in March and Spanish and spotted mackerel should be in good numbers on the Gravel Patch, Mermaid Reef and Palm Beach Reef. The season has been quite erratic this

Try throwing a cast net for prawns this month. marlin in attendance as well. In recent weeks the fishing has been quite good. The last one we caught from Gemma 3 took over three hours to land. Trolling large skirted lures on 37kg tackle is the preferred method and most of the blue marlin encountered are around 140kg. These fish have one of the most spectacular first runs you

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year with good catches one day, and few fish the next. Deep trolling live baits or slow trolling rigged dead baits is generally the most reliable method of catching the bigger run of Spanish mackerel. If the fish are thick and in the surface layers trolled minnows can also be quite effective at times. Berleying and spinning with metal lures

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or casting stick baits also works well but one of the simplest methods is to fish unweighted pilchards on a short length of wire trace. Remember the boat limit is now two Spanish mackerel and there is an individual bag limit of one fish per angler. April is also a good month to try for wahoo off the Tweed coast. The Nine Mile Reef is the most famous wahoo spot in the area and when the current is running can be extremely productive. There are a variety of effective methods. High speed trolling using metal headed lures such as Hex Heads is quite effective. I usually run these at a troll speed of 10-12 knots. The strikes can be spectacular, and most of the wahoo caught in April are solid fish from 12-18kg with the odd bigger fish encountered. Trolling live tuna is another good method, and trolling bibles minnows and hardbodied lures is also effective at times. They are also susceptible to spinning using large stick baits. Bottom fishing improves this month as the water cools slightly and the current slows. The 50 fathom reef should produce juvenile snapper and pearl perch and closer inshore on the 36 fathom reef there should be a few squire, parrot fish and teraglin. Deep jigging using metals and soft plastics can produce kingfish, amberjack and Samson fish. Snapper have been active throughout March with good

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catches from the inshore grounds out to the shelf. RIVERS AND ESTUARIES April is a transition month in the estuaries between summer and winter fishing patterns. As the water cools a lot of fish start to move up onto the flats and there are generally a lot of prawns found throughout the whole system. Whiting are a good target species this month. I’ve recently had some good success

Sue Sullivan was delighted with this small wahoo. casting unweighted yabbies on the flats as the fish move up on the first of a run-in tide. My mate Ross McCubbin has perfected this method. It isn’t always easy, but using 2lb braid and light 3lb fluorocarbon leader, an unweighted yabby can be cast to feeding whiting in the shallows. It is an interesting way to fish and can be very productive. It is important to give the fish plenty of time to get the bait down before striking. Some of the better whiting have been between 35 and 40cm long. April is a good month to chase crabs and prawns. The run of banana prawns in the southern end of Moreton Bay has been excellent over the past two years and this month should be a good one to load up on tasty prawns. It is also a good month to chase mud crabs in the Pimpama River, especially if there has been a bit of rain around. Sand crabs can also be found in numbers in the central Broadwater from Crab Island to Tipplers. Work your pots in depths from 4-7m close to the eelgrass beds. Fresh fish frames are the best bait for sand crabs although mud crabs also like fresh chicken frames. There should be a few flathead about as the water cools and quite a few big fish will be up on the flats chasing whiting and mullet in the shallows. The flathead fishing starts to improve from April onwards. Mangrove jacks start to move towards the seaway area in April before the bigger fish move offshore. Small live baits fished close to the rocks at the north wall of the Seaway can produce some big jacks this month. There should also be a few school mulloway around in both the Seaway and Jumpinpin entrances although a lot will be under the legal size of 75cm. Overall, April is a great month to fish the Gold Coast and the conditions are generally quite pleasant and there are plenty of options to try.

QLD Southern

FMM

Changing seasons sparks different species BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

As we ease away from the warmer weather conditions, anglers will notice the days beginning to shorten, the average temperature fall and a slight change in the prominence of some species. Moreton Bay anglers will reliably be able to score regulars such as snapper, longtail tuna, mackerel, sweetlip and whiting plus there will be plenty more on offer. In the Brisbane River, canals and estuarine areas, bream, whiting, flathead, threadfin salmon, tailor, cod, mangrove jack and several other species could be encountered. Obviously, specific targeting of any species will generally improve results considerably. Learning the habits of your target species, their palate preferences and movements will enable you to score consistently. Let’s look at a few of the possible April targets for your next bay sojourn. SNAPPER Many anglers begin to get excited at the possibility of catching snapper during

James is back out on the water after getting a new boat and has been harassing the Brisbane River threadfin. This 130cm beast was caught on a live bait. the cooler months, even though they are actually available in the bay year-round. March produced a bag limit of snapper every time I targeted them although the majority of fish caught were only in the 40-55cm range. Specimens between 45-65cm are my preferred size slot for the table. Smaller fish have a minimum yield of meat and larger specimens lack the flesh quality of the mid-range fish. Brisbane River anglers were also treated to some quality snapper fishing over recent months with some specimens exceeding 80cm. Snapper are a fairly aggressive species most of the time and will respond to a broad array of offerings. Targeting them around the bay islands 20 APRIL 2024

and artificial reefs on lures such as vibes, soft plastics and micro jigs can be a lot of fun and very productive. Fishing these areas in stealth will greatly increase results. You are best to shut off your main motor and drift over the ground whilst watching the sounder for shows of bait and fish. Casting around a few lures at the same time is advisable. Some chose to motor all over a possible fishing area. This will likely destroy the fishing opportunity in many areas (especially shallower grounds) and is highly likely to annoy others in the area who are doing the right thing. Taking a wide berth of your chosen ground when re-positioning for another drift is a good ploy. Jighead rigged soft plastics such as jerk shads, curl-tails, creature baits, paddle tails and crustacean profiles will all work well when fished appropriately. Around the bay islands I generally opt for 1/6oz to 1/4oz jigheads and at most of the artificial reefs 3/8oz. Ensure to use quality jigheads with at least 2X or H (heavy guage) hooks as snapper have very strong jaws, destroying inferior jigheads and expelling them. Such offerings are best presented to an upcurrent position and then worked back with the current using a serious of hops and pauses, a slow rolling retrieve or intermittent action. Jerk shads are definitely best worked with a hopping action but most others can benefit from varied retrieves. I do not hop curl-tails though as I find the tail regularly fouls with the hook point. Vibe lures, both hard and soft, can also work exceptionally well, especially in the deeper waters. There are a lot of great ones available however I find the best success using the Samaki 100mm Thumpertails. I commonly use these with errant winding and pauses. They produce the goods on snapper, mulloway, sweetlip, cod and many other desirable bay species. The new Nomad Squidtrex are good for the deeper areas such as the Curtin and Harry Atkinson artificial reefs. As you drift along, casting out a soft plastic and just putting the rod in the holder whilst allowing the boat’s rocking to impart gentle action, is a great way to score a few bonus fish. I find that paddle-tail, curl tails and crustacean profiles work best for this. Snapper numbers will be on a steady increase over the coming weeks and there will be some quality fishing ahead for these succulent crimson creatures. MULLOWAY Cooling water temperatures will also encourage better numbers of mulloway into the bay and Brisbane River. A lot of the early season specimens can be respectable fish over the metre mark. These present great sport and numerous tasty meals if you decide to keep one. Whilst lures such as soft plastics, vibes and micro jigs can work well, live baits are probably a more reliable option for the larger specimens. Slimy mackerel, yakkas, pike, cowanyoung and even grinners

The Oceans Legacy Keeling 105H definitely has the runs on the board for Moreton Bay longtails. This was just one of four that the author landed one morning. can produce the goods. These baits are commonly fished on a twin snelled-hook rig and minimal sinker weight. I don’t like circle hooks for mulloway as I find they often drop the bait before enough tension takes up to set the hooks. I prefer suicide (aka beak or octopus) hooks and fish a spinning reel with the bail arm open and just my finger holding the line. Once a mulloway eats the bait I will let it run for 5-10 seconds before flipping the bail arm closed and winding fast to set the hooks. Baitrunner reels and overheads with light free-spool resistance can also be used. Night-time lure casting sessions around lighted areas in the Brisbane River can produce. I commonly use 5” to 7” paddle tail plastics in pearl, white or light colours rigged on 3/8oz to 1/2oz jigheads. These are worked around the generally area with special effort put into the eddies and edges of current altering structure. Hopping soft vibes and plastics around the dredge holes at the river mouth, the declines into the main river basin and the fronts of the main jetties is a decent way to a score a few mulloway during the coming months. MACKEREL Last April saw good numbers of spotted mackerel in the southern bay. At the time of writing there has been quality spotties taken as far south as Coochiemudlo. Other areas that have produced include the Rainbow Channel, Small Ships Channel, Hope Banks, eastern side of Green Island, Lucinda Bay area and around the Curtin Artificial. The glassed-out days (there hasn’t been many) can make sighting any surface action a lot easier. I occasionally find a few spotties lurking around schools of Bonito, so they are always worth casting at. Most fish encountered have exceeded 75cm with many of these only in small packs of less than ten fish instead of large schoolswhich have been hard to find in the bay for many years. It is still worth searching for spotties during April if last season was any indication as they lurked around longer than usual last year. School mackerel are always available throughout Moreton Bay for those who understand their habits and are willing to try a few different areas. The top end of the Rous Channel and Rainbow Channel often fire during April as good numbers of schoolies patrol these zones. They readily

patrol the flats on the higher tidal stages and then retreat into these channels on the falling tide. Trolling spoons or drifting pilchards along the edges of these banks during this period will quickly ascertain if there are any school mackerel ready to ambush prey species leaving the flats with the receding tide. Trolling deep diving minnow lures will also reward however a spoon trolled behind a paravane is usually most successful approach. It is not uncommon to score your full bag of ten fish over 50cm utilising this method which allows you to cover a broad array of water in your search. Jigging the beacons of the shipping channel with chromed slugs can also work a treat. You just need to try each beacon to see which have mackerel in residence. Return to unsuccessful beacons a bit later to check again as the mackerel will sporadically hang around these aquatic signposts at irregular times. You can successfully utilise gang-hook rigged pilchards in these zones around the tidal changes also. Sharks and dolphins can often be a problem and will grab your hooked fish repeatedly. Once they turn up it is time to move on as every fish hooked will generally be lost. Whenever you are drifting around the bay islands, artificial reefs or even up in the channels and flats, it is worth having a gang-hook rigged pilchard dragging aft as schoolies readily show up in any of these zones. LONGTAIL TUNA Longtails have been well worth chasing over the last few months with decent numbers scattered throughout the bay. April is a prime month for them and numbers will be boosted by fish coming down the east coast and into our waters. The moods of longtails can vary dramatically at times. These can range from extremely fickle feeders that will only eat exact replicas of the prey fish in the area to voracious predators that will smash any decent lure that crosses their path. I recently had a good session on them landing four fish from seven hook ups achieved with only ten casts. Three were lost from working extremely hard on them once a big bull shark turned up. Even though I lost a couple of lures, I was happy to see the longies get away instead of being eaten. The four landed ranged in weights from 9kg to 15kg with the two largest fish released. On this day they were

Southern QLD

FMM feeding on schools of small yakkas about 100mm long therefore stickbaits worked well. I have had an amazing strike rate on longtails over the last two years utilising the Oceans Legacy Keeling 105mm Heavy. These weigh 42g so they cast exceptionally well on, even on PE4. The main colours that have worked on Moreton Bay longtails for me have been colours #5, #3, #8, #11 and #2. These can be worked anywhere from a flat stick retrieve to a slower walkthe-dog action, using a slow winding and small stabs of the rod tip. Other great lures to use on longtails include jighead rigged ZMan 5” jerkshads (especially bubblegum), chromed slugs and slices between 25gm and 50gm, pencil poppers, Nomad Madscad 90mm and 115mm (especially HGS colour), Amegari Flavie, Rapala Prey Minnow plus numerous other stickbaits and casting minnows. When longtails are being fussy, you will need to cycle through the lures on hand to try and work out their current taste. At times this can be fruitless, especially when they’re feeding on microscopic bait and are not interested in anything larger. Over the next few months, you should be able to locate reasonable numbers of longtails as you transit throughout the bay. The area along the front of Bribie and out to the NW Channel can be a good locale to search which doesn’t see as much boat traffic and fishing pressure as some others. CRUSTACEANS Crabbing can still be reasonably

productive during April although it may be tapering off a bit (dependant on water temperature). Sand crabs should still be worth the effort for those setting a few pots along the ledges and bay island surrounds in Moreton Bay. Mud crabs will begin retreating deep into the mangrove expanses (except if we get more heavy rain) therefore a little more effort might be required for good pot placement. Prawns started in good numbers and great size during the latter part of February and results have been sporadic since. It is still worth taking your 12ft top-pocket net for a look around in areas such as the Redland Bay Channel, Giant’s Grave, The Powerlines, Saltworks, eastern end of the Lamb Island channel and numerous other spots. Out from Clontarf, the Kedron Brook Floodway and east of

Nudgee is often worth a look at this time of the year. In addition to quality banana prawns, you often get a few brown tigers out from Nudgee and other spots as well. BRISBANE RIVER Over the last few months, the recent rains have done wonders for the fishing in the lower reaches of the Brisbane River. Anglers have regularly scored on threadfin salmon, mulloway, bream, flathead and snapper. Several anglers have scored snapper well over 80cm close to the mouth. Clara’s Rocks, around the Gateway, Caltex Reach, near QCL Jetty, out from the International Cruise Ship Terminal, the dredge holes out from the retaining wall at the mouth and the fronts of the main jetty terminal have all been areas worth trying. A quality sounder will be able to pinpoint any decent fish in these areas, especially

threadfin which show prominently. Soft vibes and numerous plastics can all be put to good use. Anchoring along the edges of the declines into the main river basin, out from jetties and other areas which hold bait is a good way to score whilst deploying live baits or even freshly caught offerings. Banana prawns, herring, mullet, gar and pike can all be caught in a cast net and deployed in these zones on fluorocarbon leaders and minimal sinker weight. Suicide, circle and kahle hooks are good options, especially for live baits. Smaller cut fillet baits, prawn pieces and even chicken fillet will work well for those chasing a feed of bream. Setting a few pots can reward for both sand and mud crabs in the lower reaches. CONCLUSION April is a pleasant month for fishing with good temperatures and a variety of fish and crustaceans on offer throughout the bay. Eastern areas with good water clarity are also likely to produce some respectable tiger and arrow squid in the coming weeks. It is certainly possible to score a good haul of quality Moreton Bay seafood in a single trip if you plan your day and understand the habits of the species you are targeting. Whether you are into the fast-paced action of chasing pelagics or the more relaxed pursuit of soaking baits for demersal species, Moreton Bay has a lot of possibilities. Get out there and enjoy the April action ahead.

There have been some solid school and spotted mackerel in the bay recently. This schoolie fell for a spoon trolled behind a paravane.

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QLD Southern

FMM

Change is in the air BRISBANE

Bob Thornton tackleworldlawnton@gmail.com

We’re in the meaty part of autumn and there’s a definite change in the air. Mornings are becoming a little crisp, while jumpers and trackies that haven’t seen the light of day for months will suddenly reappear. April can bring all sorts of surprises, and at this stage it’s difficult to say exactly how this one will play out. A reasonably wet summer has been good for local fisheries so far, but if this wet streak continues into April it could put a lot of locations out of action until winter.

This 60cm flathead coughed up an arrow squid as it was being lifted aboard. It’s amazing to think that while it was chewing on a food item almost as large as its head, it still had the energy to swim over and eat the author’s soft plastic! On the other hand, a drier April may offer the perfect opportunity to fish places that have been revitalised by the summer deluge, and this is a trend we’ve seen over the past few years. I know many anglers are sick of the biblical rain events that have become so common in recent years, so fingers crossed it holds off a little this month. As the temperatures drop we will hopefully see seasonal visitors arrive during April, such as squid, tailor and luderick. Some of these ‘visitors’ are already here, however, and arguably never left! Let’s see what’s been happening across the region. OFFSHORE The wind, storms and big seas that plagued summer and early autumn will hopefully abate this month and allow 24 APRIL 2024

more sessions out on the big blue. The pelagic fishing through summer was excellent, however a lot of anglers were unable to make the most of it because of the weather. Spanish and wahoo numbers have been very satisfying, and the Spanish closure this year seems to have given them the short break they needed to do their thing. Results on these migratory pelagics can vary in April year-toyear, but given their late arrival last year, they should begin their run back northward later as well. Going by this logic, Spanish and wahoo should be relatively available for at least another month or two. Anglers have caught these speedsters with a variety of techniques, however the most popular have been slow-trolled dead baits and cast lures. Trollers have reported success using gar, sauries and slimies, while the casting crews have put their faith in sinking stickbaits and poppers in the 160-200mm range rigged with trebles. Trebles are preferred when luring for Spaniards and ‘hoo, as these messy eaters like to slash at their prey and as a result will tend to get hooked on the outside the mouth. Having the extra hook points increases the likelihood of one of them sticking to their hard, bony faces. GTs have also been patrolling the offshore reefs, with areas like Hutchinson Shoal off Cape Moreton, Sevens Reef just north of Point Lookout, and 9-Mile Reef off Tweed Heads known producers of these beasts. If specifically targeting GTs, the same stickbaits and poppers work well, however those in the know prefer to run inline singles instead of trebles. Unlike Spanish and ‘hoo with their messy table manners, GTs usually engulf prey with their massive mouths in one clean motion. Therefore, a pair of large singles is better for scoring a solid hook-up in the corner of the jaw, rather than having the load spread out over several hook points. We sell a variety of offshore-ready trebles and inline singles ideal for retrofitting poppers and stickbaits, so be sure to swing by if you’re breaking out the heavy artillery! Mahimahi have started to thin out a little on the FADs, wave recorders and current lines, however if you’re out that way it’s still worth having a go for them. At this stage in the season these fish have had plenty of lures and dead baits thrown at them, so theymay be a tad shy. While these presentations will still work at times, if you want more consistent results on larger fish you’re far better off using live bait. Slimies, yakkas, gar, squid, sauries and pretty much any other live bait you can gather shouldn’t last long if there’s a big bull mahimahi swimming around. I like to keep it simple and use just a single

Moreton Bay longtails are notoriously flighty and hyper aware of their surrounds, but sometimes they let their guard down. April usually sees numbers of these fish peak in the bay, and with the extra competition they’re often easier to fool. Photo courtesy of Corey Warrell.

unweighted live bait hook, pinning the livey through the nose or back if using fish, and through the top of the hood if using squid. The reef fish action has been solid as well, especially on some of the closer grounds like Halls, Caloundra 5-Mile and the Inner Gneerings. Most days it’s easy enough to fill a bag of snapper, grassies, tuskies, hussar and Moses perch, but there’s also the odd coral trout, nannygai and red emperor out there to make things interesting. Out wider we may see an early run of trag jew in April, and hopefully numbers of pearlies start to climb as well. Deep droppers will be getting excited as the current out wide begins to slow down, making this highly technical form of fishing far easier. Bar cod, blue-eye trevalla and bass groper are the main prizes for deep droppers, but all sorts of monsters can be found beyond the 100m mark. We sell a range of electric reels and deep dropping rigs, so if this is something you’re looking to try come and have a chat to us! MORETON BAY So far this year the bay’s pelagics have been difficult to find and catch. Spotty mackerel and longtail tuna have been feeding, however getting close enough for a cast has been very challenging. Hopefully this changes in April. Through autumn we tend to see a lot of bait holding inside the bay and it’s usually when pelagic activity is at its peak, particularly the longtails. Though still not easy, they are less put off by boats and are therefore more willing to eat lures as it cools. As always, having a variety of lures to throw at them will give you the best chance of success. Longtails can become very fixated on a particular bait type or profile, so being able to replicate what’s on their menu (which changes often) is key. School and spotted mackerel have been easier to fool, and though the spotty season is coming to an end, the schoolies should stick around until the

start of the next spotty season. The arrival of spotties this summer was a huge relief, as the past few seasons have been sparse on these toothy bandits. They should stick around for another month or so, and trolling with hardbodies or spoons behind paravanes is a highly effective way to find them as the schools begin to break up. Spinning with metals around the shipping beacons will be worth a go too, as these large structures are wellknown for holding both school and spotted mackerel. If you find that there are fish holding in these areas but aren’t responding to metals, drifting a

Few lures mimic a cicada better than the Tiemco Soft Shell Cicada – even educated creek bass in the suburbs can’t resist them! pilchard on gangs either unweighted or under a balloon can be effective. By this stage the bay mackerel have endured a fair bit of angling pressure, so having the option to switch over to bait is a good idea. Tailor have shown signs of another cracking season, with a handful of big fish reported through late summer and

Southern QLD

FMM early autumn. We saw similar signs at this time last year, and by June and July there were regular captures of fish in the 50-60cm bracket. Bait and lure fishers were cashing in on the bumper season last year, and this year looks to be following the same trajectory. Last year In May and June I experienced some of the best tailor fishing of my life, and my highlight sessions occurred around the flats at Sandstone Point, Jumpinpin and the north side of Mud Island. On all those occasions I didn’t plan to chase tailor, however when the water erupted into bust-ups as far as the eye could see I just couldn’t ignore them. Metal slugs in the 20-40g range, 3-5”soft plastics, 80-100mm jerkbaits and saltwater flies did most of the damage for me. Another thing I noted was how shallow they were often feeding, and on numerous occasions the boat actually bottomed out on the sand as I was trying to get closer to them. A shallow water assassin of a different kind has also been active in the shallows, and they too have shown up surprisingly early. Squid, both arrows and tigers, have already made an impression on those fishing in the bay this year. As it cools these suckers will show up more and more in the bay’s shallows, particularly those with a weed, rock, coral or rubble bottom.

During a recent session with my brother chasing snapper in the shallows I hooked a flathead around 60cm, and to our amazement it coughed up a decent size arrow squid in the landing net. It’s crazy to think how voracious it must have been to eat my soft plastic while it was digesting a whole squid! There are many reasons why squid like hang out in shallow water, but escaping predation seems to be a large factor. As for snapper and reefies, we should see a continuation of the

fantastic fishing we’ve had over the last couple of years. As it cools down, more snapper should enter the bay in preparation for their spawning. The tropical species like grassies, spanglies, tuskies and estuary cod don’t tend to feature as heavily during winter, however snapper numbers generally make up for it. These fish will bite for longer through the day as the daytime temperatures fall, meaning early starts – while preferable – won’t be as necessary

Bass this size are a real handful in tight country, so the author likes to run 12lb leader when creek bashing.

for a good session in the bay. At sunrise or sunset I would be targeting any area with a rubble, rock or coral bottom in 2-3m, however while the sun is up I would stick to 3-6m depths. If you wish to target bigger snapper upwards of 70cm, deeper marks like Harry Atkinson, Captain Nielsen and Curtain artificial reefs are known to hold the larger models. Hopefully shark numbers have decreased enough to get some of these fish to the boat, because they were something of a nuisance through summer. As always, keep your eyes on the sounder while you fish, and if they turn up your only option is to move and hope they don’t follow you! RIVERS AND ESTUARIES We’ve experience excellent fishing in our creeks and rivers in recent months, but now the order is shifting. The mangrove jacks, barra and other summer delights have already started to slow down their feeding, making way for other highly sought estuary predators. During winter local anglers turn their focus to mulloway and threadfin salmon. These two species don’t mind a bit of freshwater in their gills and can often be found a long way up rivers and creeks during winter. Any deep holes in the Caboolture, Pine, Brisbane and Logan rivers will be worth closure inspection for either

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QLD Southern species, particularly those adjacent to structure. Night sessions can be fruitful at this time of year as well, with fish often feeding higher in the water column under the cover of darkness. Light lines along bridges are a classic spot for threadies and mulloway in winter, and working baitfish and prawn-profile lures along these lines can elicit an aggressive response. If this isn’t your style, drifting a live mullet, herring, prawn or gar into these zones can be equally productive, if not more productive. Just be sure to run a trace of at least 40lb whether fishing with bait or lures. Both mulloway and threadies have plenty of tricks for wearing through leaders and losing a fish to tackle failure is a sure-fire way to shut the rest of the school down. The bread-and-butter species can be a saviour during April, as this transitional period can often be a difficult time to chase the larger

FMM rock walls, collapsed mangrove banks and even snaggy banks. A bit of current in these areas is always helpful as well. I regularly chase these fish through winter, however April is usually when I start making exploratory trips to see if they’ve arrived yet. I’ve found that early in the season the best action occurs in Brisbane and estuaries further north, while south of Brisbane these fish seem to come on after June. Traditional float fishing techniques are the most effective way to target luderick, however in recent years I’ve started fly fishing for them with green weed patterns under trout indicators. You can also fish the weed flies under a float if you’re struggling to find any weed to use as bait – you’d be surprised how well this works! FRESHWATER The freshwater fanatics have enjoyed an amazing summer bite in many of our dams and streams,

As winter approaches snapper will tend to feed in shallow water throughout the day, rather than just in the mornings and afternoons like they do through summer. in April and are well worth having on board as well. Additionally, in all those lakes except Maroon, you’re still a decent chance of a saratoga or two, especially if fishing the edges. The wild bass scene is a little different, with these battlers now making preparations for their annual downstream migration. I’ve often found that during autumn wild bass become extra hungry, probably to build condition ahead of their spawning. Because of this, April is naturally a good time to explore local streams and rivers, provided there is ample flow to facilitate migration. Recently I’ve been really enjoying getting out on foot to chase the bass in my local creeks, some of which flow right through the heart of suburbia.

their bass fishery. I’ve even gone as far as relocating bass from stagnant pools to more permanent water further downstream to help these little guys out. Bass are native to all freshwater streams east of the Great Dividing Range in our region, so doing your bit to ensure their survival will help to keep these waterways healthy. WRAP-UP April is an exciting time in SEQ, and as things start to cool down and our focus shifts to other species, hopefully the weather allows locals to get a good sample of what this period has to offer! It may be the last chance to enjoy our ‘summer’ species for a few months, but before we know it spring will roll around and the cycle will start again. As always, stay safe this month and remember to stay hydrated and sun safe, as you can still

Luderick will become more active in SEQ. While they’re not a highly sought species for Queenslanders, there’s more than enough of these determined fighters to go around! predators. Bream and whiting will still be feeding over the flats and other shallow zones during higher stages of the tide, but will usually retreat to deeper holes and channels as the water runs back out. As the food that was so abundant over the flats during summer starts to taper off, so will the feeding activity of foragers like whiting. While still definitely there, you likely won’t find the numbers available a few months ago, but April can be a good time to find larger whiting. Bream similarly won’t spend as much time in shallow water, tending to hang out in the deeper channels near the estuary mouths more and more as it cools down. The full moons through winter are key spawning times for yellowfin bream, and if you’re lucky enough to find a big school during these times the action can be insane. Another species getting ready for a series of big spawns is the luderick, or blackfish. Deep channels near entrances to the sea are prime spawning habitat for these fish, particularly those adjacent to 26 APRIL 2024

however now things are starting to change. Temperature drops in both the water and air will see fish moving from where they were holding before, but exactly where they go and what they do changes from year-to-year. In the lakes, bass that were feeding in the shallows in summer sometimes move deeper where the temperature is more stable and predictable. On the other hand, fish that were sitting deep to escape the heat may feel the pinch as cools down and seek out sun-warmed shallows, particularly those near weed, drowned timber or rock. It’s for these reasons that bass anglers will carry a range of lures to cover a variety of situations. A good selection of lures to cover your bases should include spoons, blades, 2-3” soft plastics and tail spinners for the depths, and spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, crankbaits and jerkbaits for the shallows. The lakes with decent topwater bites like Maroon, Hinze, Ewen Maddock, Kurwongbah, MacDonald and Borumba these presentations can still be effective

Tiger squid have begun stalking the shallows, and the next couple of months should see plenty of calm, clear days – perfect for squidding! When these fish are hungry they’ll have a go at most things, but it’s hard to beat a topwater bite in tight country! Small creek bass are highly in tune with their surroundings, and usually the sound of a lure landing is enough to grab their attention. Make sure to handle these fish with care, as many of these smaller waterways rely on natural recruitment to support

suffer from dehydration and sun stroke in autumn. • Thanks to all our wonderful customers who send us photos and give us intel over the counter. If you’re in the Brisbane North/ Moreton Bay region, make sure you swing by Tackle World Lawnton on 640 Gympie Road and check out our range. We stock everything you need to chase local species, plus a great selection of fresh bait as well.

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QLD Southern

FMM

Plenty of families fishing over the Easter break! NOOSA

Peter Wells

Easter has been a great time for families to get out for a fish. Starting with the beach, the Noosa North Shore came alive with plenty of families heading up for a camping holiday over the Easter break. The kids loved catching dart and whiting in the close gutters – pipis, yabbies and beachworms, are the perfect baits for these feisty little fish. If you are not into collecting your own baits then prawns, cured worm and squid have been working well.

Beau Condon’s 43cm soot-ball was taken on a 3” ZMan MinnowZ in golden boy colour in the Mary River. For the more serious night anglers, there have been a few tailor, trevally, bigger bream and even the odd mulloway on offer. Just on the inside of Double Island has becoming a real hot spot for those big ghosts. Larger baits of either tailor or dart fillets have been ideal. The best mulloway angler is the one that leaves the rod in the rod holder, these fish tend to mouth the baits a lot, so the best approach is to wait until the fish turns and

runs before setting the hooks. This is just the start of the fight; these fish can flank off in the waves making skull dragging them impossible. You are much better off playing the fish, letting them do their couple of runs and then trying to get them in using the surf to help push the fish up the beach. If you are lucky enough to get a larger one (anything over a metre) it is handy to have an offsider at the water’s edge to help tail grab the fish and drag it up the beach. Plenty of fish have been lost in inches of water as solo anglers try to land them. For the rock hoppers, Double Island has been a prime spot for braver anglers with snapper, sweetlip and longtail tuna on offer. Mackerel are also a great catch and plenty of these have been taken from the rocks. Larger baits of fresh mullet, bonito fillet and tailor fillet are all great baits when it comes to chasing mackerel. In the Noosa River there has been plenty of action with the river mouth holding nice sized bream around the rocks, the standout baits have been half pilchards and cut mullet baits. Whiting are in good numbers around the Frying Pan, with small poppers or surface walkers claiming some nice elbow slappers. Upriver the stretch from Tewantin to the Ferry has been fun with plenty of rat sized trevally, which are great fun on super light gear. Look for those deeper sections of the river for the best action. Try micro jigs like the Majorcraft Jigpara. In the creeks and rivers around the Sunshine Coast, things are on fire with the last of the mangrove jack season still on offer. Water temps are still quite high, so these fish are still in good numbers. Trolled lures like the Jackall Hank Tunes and the Lucky Craft Pointers around the rock bars in John Landing in the Noosa upper reaches has been very successful. Also, casting at the many fallen trees that line the banks has produced plenty of fish. Mulloway numbers are also very good

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Aiden Whiteman with a nice Sandy Straits barra. with plenty of soapies up to larger fish, taken around the deeper holes at the mouths of the lakes in the Noosa and the deeper holes upriver in the Maroochy. Larger paddle vibes and swim baits have been working well with the Zerek Live Mullet a real favourite with anglers. Speaking of the Maroochy, flathead numbers been good with plenty of larger females taken on soft plastics. A great area to try is between Eudlo and Petrie creeks with the bank opposite Oyster Bank Road working very well. The Keitech 4” Easy Shiner soft plastics has been fantastic on the flathead, these lures are made of a vinyl material and swim beautifully. On the offshore scene there is plenty happening with the start of the transition period between those warmer water species and of course those cooler water favourites. The various reef systems off Noosa’s have been fishing a treat as we move into those cooler mornings. Sunshine Reef is one of those reefs that is a blessing for smaller vessels as it gives you a chance to go out and have a crack at a diverse range of fish without being too far from home just in case the weather changes. When the water is warmer it attracts a great population of mackerel and tuna and in the cooler weather expect to catch coral trout, snapper, cod and sweetlip. The great thing about this time of the year is that you get the choice of both. If you do have a larger craft, then a trip the Barwon Bank or The Hards should be on the cards. Both these reefs are well offshore, and the water is a lot deeper averaging between 50-60m. A trip out to these reefs can be very rewarding with

pearl perch, red emperor, amberjack, job fish and snapper just to name a few inhabiting these reefs. Just a quick reminder that trips out to those outer reefs must be well planned and that does not mean making sure you have enough bait, ice and lures. Check the weather, wind, tide and swell. Make sure the boat has plenty of fuel, oil and battery power and of course safety gear, make sure your PFDs flares and EPIRB are all in date and in working order. These reefs are great fishing grounds, but it is a long way home if something goes wrong. • Don’t forget to check in to www. fishingnoosa.com.au for all the latest up to date info on fishing and bar crossings.

Trent Turner with a nice saratoga from the Mary River. The knowledgeable teams at Tackle World Noosa, Northshore Bait & Tackle at Marcoola our new store The Tackle Shop in Gympie can provide you with the right equipment, bait and advice to ensure success!

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QLD Central

FMM

No need to head wide to get good catches BUNDABERG

Luke Truant

The Spanish mackerel season has re-opened, and they are plentiful at the moment, taking trolled hardbody lures close to the coast. These fish love biting in autumn and they’re bigger than they were in summer, so you can get more fish in the 10-14kg range. If you’re in water that’s a bit green, the Spanish may be less interested in lures. In this scenario, you’re often better off swimming some baits. If you’re new to this kind of fishing, hop on YouTube and look up how to rig swimming baits with gang hooks. The secret is going to be your mono stainless wire trace. I use 69lb or lighter, and I’ve hooked a lot of good fish with it, and never snapped a trace.

Kurt with his first two trout. He caught them in two drops!

Grinner are the best mackerel bait you’ll ever get, although most people won’t believe you! If you’re fishing red emperor grounds (the sandy patches in between the rubbly areas) and catch some by-catch grinner, so be sure to keep some for bait. If you don’t have grinner, you can just buy a pack of sauries or a pack of garfish, both of which work well. I like sauries because if you don’t catch a fish, you can throw them in the bait tank and leave them wet for the day, then put them in the freezer, still rigged. They’ll come back to life for your next trip. The next time it’s blowing 25 knots, I recommend making four or five rigs at home and freezing them. There’s no need to go all the way out to the reef to catch Spanish at this time of year. In the coming weeks, I’ll start fishing for them a bit closer to the coast, mainly the 16 Mile. At some point, the Spanish will come in even closer, right in to Bargara and Burnett Heads, but that’s usually later in winter. I’ll mainly stick to the 16 Mile in April. In my experience, there is no stand-out lure for Spanish mackerel. I’ve tried all the big brands – Rapala X-Raps, Halco Laser Pros, Samaki Pacemakers, and Classic Bluewaters – and they all catch fish. Just buy what you can afford and choose any colour that you like. Ultimately, as long as there are mackerel in the area, you’re trolling at the right speed, and your lures are far enough away from your boat, you’ll catch fish. DEMERSAL SPECIES April is the best month for catching grassy emperor, aka grass sweetlip. In the shallows, the average size is around the 1-2kg mark (out in 35-40m of water the grassies are up to about 5kg.)

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There are plenty of Spanish mackerel around. I’ll start fishing quite close to the coast, e.g. the 5 Mile or even closer, in water up to the coastal fringing reef. You can fish pretty well as shallow as you like, although if you’re really shallow, you’ll need to fish a bit lighter so you won’t scare the fish. You’ll get a better catch rate if you drop down from 50lb to 20lb in the shallows. Grassies aren’t really dirty fighters; they just pull hard. The most consistent bait is local squid, but you can also get good results on strip baits, half pilchards and full pilchards. Grassies also like those little herring you get in the cast net while you’re prawning. Paternoster rigs aren’t ideal for grassies. These fish prefer a running ball sinker rig or, even better, a ball sinker above a swivel with a trace, similar to a whiting rig. I like to use a decent length of trace below the swivel – around 50cm. True, you’ll get fewer snags with a shorter trace, but you’ll also get fewer bites. Personally, I’m happy to lose a few rigs if it means catching more fish. Other reef species also bite well at this time of year, and lately we’ve had a particularly good run of trout. Just the other day, we got 10 trout in a session with people who had never caught them before. We lost even more fish to sharks, so it was clear that the trout were really firing. Most were caught on flesh baits of iodine bream, particularly the ‘wings’, in 20m of water. Summer through to about April is a great time to target red emperor. In April, the reds fish better in the reefy areas up at the start of the Barrier Reef to the north. We don’t catch as many off the top of the lightship at Fraser at this time of year. As winter sets in, you’ll catch fewer fish, although the average size is bigger. The reds will fire up again in September, with good numbers of just-legal fish. May is the month when livies traditionally come to the fore, but it’s still worth looking for them in April, especially if water temps drop a couple of degrees. At the moment, there are still a few stragglers around the outer lateral marks at Burnett Heads during the day. RIVER FISHING We’ve had an amazing season for jacks and flathead this year. It seems everyone is catching jacks everywhere. You can encounter them around any

nice structure, sometimes in water as shallow as 15cm. These fish are suckers for paddletail plastics, and the ideal size is 4-5”. If you go too big you can exclude the smaller legal fish. The one lure I’ve had the most fun with this season is the MMD Smash Prawn because the surface strike is so much fun. You can have some explosive sessions if you push right up the creeks and fish tight to structure. I’ve heard reports of people catching 10 jacks and small barra on Smash Prawns. Another good thing about surface fishing is you don’t get snagged unless you cast your lure into a tree, or the fish bricks you. I use at least 30lb braid when targeting jacks. Some people refuse to use cheap braided line, but I’m very impressed with Rovex D8 casting braid, which is cheap while still being abrasion-resistant. I’ve seen a barra wrapped around an oysterencrusted bridge pile with this braid, and the fish swam back out again. Luck does play a part in these situations, but it’s still good gear. Of course, there are other great braids on the market; I’m just saying that price shouldn’t be your only consideration when choosing what to buy. In recent weeks, the rivers have been producing some black jew up to 1.3m+. A lot of the fish have been caught on big 7” shad-style plastics in deeper water in the holes. The sewerage outlet is a pretty red-hot place for them. You need to get your plastic right down to the bottom structure, but you don’t want it to plummet too fast. Fish as light a jighead as you can get away with, so your plastic can sink to the bottom more slowly. • Truansea Charters specialises in 10-hour day trips chasing prized reef targets such as coral trout and red emperor and arm-stretching pelagics like Spanish mackerel. The maximum number of anglers is 6, so you’ll never feel crowded. The price is $370pp (or $350pp if you book the whole boat), which includes all gear, fuel, bait, ice, chilled water/soft drinks and laughs! You’re welcome to bring your own reef fishing gear if you prefer. Other charter options include half-day reef trips, half-day river trips and private guiding. To learn more, visit www.truansea.com. au, look them up on Facebook, or call Luke on 0423 015 490.

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QLD Central

FMM

Fish stocks benefit from influx of freshwater MACKAY

Tackle World Mackay

Here we go again – another wet season is well underway and there’s still plenty of rain around the district. This has been good for fish stocks in the area, giving species like barramundi, king salmon and grunter a good chance to spawn.

A solid queenfish caught on a stickbait. You can get good results fishing the upper reaches of the Pioneer River (Dumbleton Weir); just remember to stay 400m from the weir wall out of the restricted area. The back eddies are good places to throw a lure. Normally, bright-coloured lures are the go in the dirty water. Hardbody lures such as the Gold Bomber, RMG Hayden Watt with a cracking 115cm barramundi. Juvenile fish are making the most of the follow-up rain to get back into hiding up the rivers to the brackish and surrounding wetlands. Temperatures should remain high for a bit longer, and there should be some good fishing on offer in the creeks and surrounding headlands in the coming weeks. Finding the run-off flowing in the rivers is a good start as it stirs up plenty of bait. The tops of the rivers and some of the gullies that flow with freshwater are good spots to target because that’s where the barra and jacks can find an easy feed.

Tui Hutchinson with a Kinchant Dam barra.

switch66

Scorpion, and Barra Classic are always a go-to for me as they have plenty of rattle and you can get them down to where the fish are sitting out of the main run. If these lures don’t find you a fish, you might have to fish a bit deeper with a weighted plastic or vibe, such as Zerek Fish Traps or Squidgy Slick Rigs in the 80mm or 100mm size. Those creeks that have been less affected by upstream freshwater flow have had much cleaner water, and have been producing some good fish on bait. Some of the areas around Seaforth and surrounding coast areas like Mystery Creek, Mathers Creek, Cluny Creek and Constant have been the places to be. Good catches of barramundi and mangrove jack have been reported in recent weeks, and a great way to catch them is by floating a live prawn or mullet 1-1.5m under a float, along a set of fallen mangroves along a stretch of bank, or into one of the many rock bars. Just be willing to adjust the depth of the live bait to suit the depth of water, as you want to present the bait 50cm or so off the bottom. That way you’ll be less likely to get snagged up as you float the bait down. There have been some good fingermark and grunter being caught in some of the deeper holes, on the same baits rigged on a single-hook paternoster. Prawns have been loving the hot

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weather and dirty water. If you want to catch some big, quality prawns, the go-to areas are still the Seaforth area, Rabbit Island Creek, and the mud bank in between Murray and Mathers Creek. To the south, Sandy Creek, Plane Creek and Armstrongs Beach are good locations. Just make sure you wear appropriate clothing and have a bottle of white vinegar on hand, because some box jellyfish have been hanging around the prawns. There’s not much to report offshore this month due to the weather, but hopefully conditions will be more settled in the coming weeks, giving anglers a chance to get out. The dams have all been fishing well in their own right. Teemburra

There are some quality fingermark around. Dam has had some water flowing in down Teemburra Creek, so the sooty grunter have been pushing up as far as they can into the running water. Anglers have been having success using small hardbody lures like the Reidy’s Little Lucifer or Rapala X-Raps in the 8cm size. There have also been a few bust-offs from some big barra in the narrow, shallow creek. Plenty of smaller barra in the 40-70cm size range have been getting caught in the backs of the bays in around the lily pads and newly-submerged grass areas. Surface and shallow diving lures have been producing the goods. • Tackle World Mackay has one of the largest ranges of fishing and boating accessories in North Qld. They cater for all fishing needs, from fly fishing to game fishing. The friendly staff are all keen anglers and will throw in some great local fishing spots, techniques to try, and the genuine friendly assistance of real fishos who love to share their knowledge. Drop in and see them at 318 Shakespeare St, give them a call on 07 4957 2145, or visit tackleworldmackay.com.au.

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QLD Tropical North

FMM

Local anglers reaping the rewards after rain TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

A few months ago, the weather forecasts were full of doom and gloom, declaring we’d have an extremely dry wet season. Well, didn’t that do a

even a hint of cold; it was nice to fish without sweating. The only time I draw the line is when lightning is on the cards. I’ve had several close calls over the years and I won’t risk it again. As they say, graphite and electricity don’t mix. It’s a well-known phenomenon

Tannhym did exceptionally well to get this beast out of some of the gnarliest territory around. U-turn! Consistent storms, rain and showers have kept stream levels up at a really good level for weeks, and as I write this, there’s more on the forecast for the region. Oh I know, the rain can be a bit inconvenient sometimes, but what’s the worst that can happen if you go fishing in the rain? You get wet! Recently my son Tannhym and I went to a river north of town, and for an hour or so the rain relentlessly bucketed down. We kept fishing anyway, and every so often we looked at each other and laughed at how drenched we were. The bilge pump ran flat knacker for 15 minutes at one stage, but we kept fishing and caught some nice jacks and barra. There wasn’t

Tannhym was chasing tarpon with a 60mm popper on a 2-6lb spin outfit, and scored this nice barra that gave him heaps. 1, for adding additional weight for faster and deeper waters. The hardbodies we pack are the Halco TB80, 90mm Halco Scorpion in 3m, 125mm Scorpions in 3m bib, Halco Hamma 105, and Atomic Slim Twitchers in the shallow divers. Obviously, we

This big girl ate a Halco 7” Paddle Prawn at the mouth of a drain running into a river – prime runoff territory.

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that during the initial run-off, when flood waters are flushing lagoons and billabongs in the upper reaches, you shouldn’t fish there too soon. All that yucky black water and de-oxygenated water has to be dispersed before the proper runoff fishing can proceed. That’s when the bait heads upstream and the predators follow. We are just about at that stage now, when the second flush is drawing fish upstream, and we love this time. Many focussed anglers are excited about targeting big fish, and these guys are prepping their weapons, with big swimbaits, divers and paddle-tail plastics at the ready. 30-50lb braid outfits and heavier leaders are the go if you’re targeting big fish. We also prepare for those bigger fish encounters, but we usually persist with lighter tackle during this time, apart from maybe upsizing leaders to 40lb (many big fish specialists would say that’s way too light). My favourite combo is the Samurai Refraction 6ft long 16-20lb baitcast rod and an Abu STX OR Zenon spooled with 30lb Dangan Braid X, which is an awesome

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casting braid. We do a lot of bank walking, or should I say bank ‘slipping’, at this time of year, and repeated long casts are usually necessary to reach snags and drains where the fish hold. If you can’t reach them, you’re out of the game, and some of these fish are a good size and well worth catching. When prepping for an outing, we follow the old ‘Six P’ principle: Preparation Prevents P*ss Poor Performance. We pack everything we might possibly need to give ourselves the best chance of success. Here’s a brief inventory: 30, 35, and 40lb Dangan FC leader; 5” and 7” Halco Paddle Prawns in pink, orange and chartreuse; 4” Atomic Prongs in electric chicken, radioactive rooster and motor oil; weedless Atomic Seekerz in sizes 1/4oz (5/0), 1/3oz (6/0) and 1/4oz (7/0). I also pack a small container with selection of ball sinkers in sizes 00 and

Tannhym Hodge with a 1m+ barra that smashed a lure off the top. pack several colours of each. Lure losses can be quite high at times, but bigger fish love ‘em. Those lures mentioned are all proven performers, and I highly

Tropical North QLD

FMM recommend them to anyone who’s new to the wet runoff fishery. OUT A BIT WIDER For those who don’t have the runoff fever, the reefs and shoal areas have been producing plenty of nice fish. That’s if the weather lets you get out for a morning session before blowing up. Bait fishos have been catching plenty of nannygai, red-throat emperor, trout and assorted other species, including big numbers of larger red emperor. With jigging becoming more popular and credible, many anglers are making the switch to the more modern

techniques with soft vibes and hard Jigs. It’s enjoyable fishing; you can just drop the lure down and jig 10m or so off the bottom, and then let her back down. If you don’t get hit, commence another jigging sequence. Winding up small cod and other unwanted species happens a lot when you’re using bait, so I’d rather use lures and target the more desirable fish. Spanish mackerel haven’t even looked like disappearing, so just keep your bag limits in mind as you head out wide. They’re being caught in deep, mid and shallow water, so don’t be surprised when it happens to you.

A nice barramundi caught on a TB80.

Taking your time is vital to landing an unexpected beast on light gear.

One issue I’d like to address is the old ‘upgrade’ for Spanish, which has become more common since the new bag limits came into effect last year (1 Spanish per person, maximum 2 per boat). ‘Upgrading’ is the term used for disposing of a fish you’ve caught and killed, just as soon as you catch a bigger one. Let’s say you hook a 12kg Spanish – a prime eating fish, and one we all know won’t release well. The fish is bled and put in the esky. Then, all of a sudden, an unexpected 13kg fish is landed. Common practice is to dump the smaller fish over the side, and the

slightly larger specimen takes its place in the esky. This is just plain greedy. What a bloody waste. Yes, I know the weather might be bad for the next three weeks, so a couple more kilos of Spanish in the freezer seems viable, but REALLY. If you need more fillets then go chase red-throat, nannies, trout, or whatever, but don’t train the sharks to follow a boat waiting for an ‘upgrade’. That’s just stupid. Anyway, I’m on a rant so I’ll end it there, but I do wish everyone good fishing and an enjoyable runoff season.

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APRIL 2024 39

QLD Tropical North

FMM

Monsoon conditions set to ease this month HINCHINBROOK

Ian Moody info@ianmoodyfishing.com

It will be interesting to see how April pans out with the wet season in its final last hurrah before cooler months of May, June and July kick in. For an original El-Nino forecast for this year it has somewhat been the wettest one I’ve seen for a while! However, towards the end of this month we should see cooler water temps starting to approach on the next change of seasons. Charters have been difficult to complete for me in the last month or so with the rain and flooding activity

hampering efforts to get out. However, good mate of mine and Cardwell local Luke Hubert has been nailing some great barra, fingermark and mangrove jack within the waters of the Hinchinbrook Channel and Missionary Bay, all caught on hardbodies and plastics. The biggest barra for him was just on the metre mark. Another species that has shown up lately in good numbers is the threadfin salmon in various sizes between 65-80cm. We have been having a ball chasing them in the afternoon warm water on the flats in Ramsay and Missionary bays where they have been chasing the jelly prawns. Live baits placed in front of them did the trick but

Luke Hubert with a cracking barra that landed on the magic-metre mark.

also a few succumbed to slow rolled hardbody lures. They are one specie that love the freshwater influences from wet seasons and it really gets them active. It’s great to see them making a bit of a comeback in the channel after noticing a hiatus from most of their regular haunts over the last two years. Good wet seasons and reduced netting pressure should see these species increase in populations. They are also quite partial to the humble mud herring, which you can catch really easily around the Port Hinchinbrook Marina area. Fingermark are still better off fished in areas a little further away from the coastline, like near Gould Island, Cape Richards or any areas well clear of freshwater inundation. By the end of April and into May they should return in great numbers back into the Hinchinbrook channel when salinity returns to normal levels. Greenback herring schools should be thick at this time of year and are often my go-to live bait for them. I’d expect the threadfin salmon to continue in the shallows during April and also some good fingermark catches should start to increase. I’ll also be starting to head more often to the wonky holes once water temps drop at the end of April, large-mouth nannygai should be in better numbers

By the end of April, fingermark should be back in great numbers. much closer to the coastline, especially if we get a good end to the wet season. For those visiting Cardwell, a reminder you will need at least 1.4m of tide to launch or retrieve most vessels up to about 6m in length. Bigger vessels will need a slightly bigger tide. • If you’re looking to do a barra charter with us for this year’s barra season, bookings are filling up quick so now is a good time to get in and get your name down on some good dates. For bookings please email us at info@ ianmoodysportfishing.com or phone myself directly on 0402 339 459.

Positive signs for good fishing in FNQ PORT DOUGLAS

Lynton Heffer www.fishingportdouglas.com.au

We’re just starting to come out of our traditional quiet period as far as tourism goes but the good news is the fishing has been doing exceptionally well. This is very promising for those who intend to visit our unique part of Far Nth Qld. On the reef it’s a matter of moving around and keep moving if needed until you find the bite. The period leading into the top of the tide has proven to be the optimum time when the better fish are active. It has been imperative to be exactly where you want in regards to favourite spots approaching this window. Naturally you tend to catch a lot of fish over the course of the day but the better catches of note have been this high tide period, including red emperor, large-mouth nannygai and coral trout. As the seasons change, keep observing and make adjustments especially over the next month or so until a consistent weather pattern takes place. With the amount of rain received over a period of a few months the outer edges of the reef still continue 40 APRIL 2024

to hold a healthy stream of bait life. This has been ideal for light tackle enthusiasts trolling stock standard hardbody lures. The Spanish mackerel numbers are plenty but please ensure you know your very strict bag limits now in place for your particular vessel. To keep reels ticking over there are pockets of mac tuna everywhere and a fun sportfishing by product to add fun to the adventure. Don’t be surprised if you come across some billfish activity

as well, which tend to be not far behind these other surface pelagic fish. Along the coastline our rivers and creeks are experiencing a fantastic run of angling. Barramundi is on everyone’s lips when they charter at the moment. They are not the easiest fish just to pluck out of the hat but it’s a matter of timing. Bottom of the low tide and the first part of the run in are critical bite times. The catches boated are pretty much stock standard river barra for

Rowan, Huey, Duncan and deckhand Ryan with a magnificent sailfish aboard Saltaire Charters. It was successfully released in mint condition.

our systems ranging from 60-75cm. Not huge fish by any means but solid fish, and a barra is a barra! They tick all the boxes for anyone in regards to being an iconic fish high on the target list. They get very visual jumping and carrying on plus they tug hard on the end of the line. In the rivers, and in particular the Daintree system, is offering great value leading to the top of the tide. Using live sardines in deeper sections with plenty of heavy timber are delivering the prized fingermark. If you’ve never experienced one of these on the plate then you don’t know what you’re missing out on – Mother’s Milk in my opinion. We are blessed to have access to probably the best river fingermark fishery that I know of anywhere. That’s a big statement but I’ll attest to this and more often than not proven on a consistent basis. These fish fight really hard and dirty and get quite big in the Daintree River. They are no easy feat to coax out of their habitat and land in the boat. We are looking forward to a busier Easter period following a non-existent trade period post Cyclone Jasper over the last school holidays.

Tropical North QLD

FMM

Rain, rain go away! CAIRNS

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

The flooding rain has continued to fall which has been both a curse and blessing for those fishing in the Trinity Net Free Zone. On the negative side, when the

Barron and Thomatis Creek have been the worst affected and they haven’t even looked like cleaning up. Funnily enough land-based anglers have been pulling some good-sized barramundi fishing off the rock walls and ledges which is a great sign for things to come. On the plus side, there have been reports of some big schools of barramundi moving around the place and when you find them, cricket scores of catches are not uncommon. Several weeks ago, I fished two sessions where we easily landed over 50 barramundi and left them chewing. The secret has been hitting the creeks

Even though the creeks are dirty there are still lots of fish around. rivers have been in full flow, wetting a line has been almost impossible. The number of debris flowing downstream has made it extremely dangerous to fish especially when the water is chocolate brown. Systems like the

Jacks have also been on the chew if you can find the clean water.

Tagging Tales Suntag is a world leading citizen science volunteer fish tagging program that is part of an Australian program that has tagged over 1,000,000 fish and was the first volunteer program in the world to reach that milestone. Data collected through the program is used to improve our knowledge base of recreational fishing by providing near real time information on the status of coastal estuaries and inland impoundments. Thanks to the fish, we can provide you with some interesting stories that they tell.

School sized barramundi have been in good numbers if you can find them. as soon as they begin to clean up which unfortunately has been in very short windows before the rain returned. The Inlet is in much better shape and the barramundi have also been in good numbers upstream and out the mouth. The mouth of saltwater creek on the big tides especially on the run-out tide has been holding some excellent Barra for those throwing a combination of soft plastics and shallow running hard body lures. It’s hard to go past the classics like the gold bomber or Tilsans here and anything gold or orange coloured will do the damage. The best fishing has been out on the beaches when the weather has allowed. There are prawns everywhere and the salmon and barramundi have been feeding all along the beaches on them.

The stretch between Machans Beach all the way up to Ellis Beach and even beyond has been fishing well both land-based and out of the boat. Some of these fish are actually escapees from one of the local Barra farms near the Barron River, which has added to the coastal schools of barramundi. With the water pretty dirty out there, lures with large rattles or heavy vibrations such as vibes are the best options. Suspending lures are also worth a shot especially if you can sound up the schools of fish and cast into them. I’d like to say next month the wet weather should begin to recede but at this stage it looks like things are going to remain and more rain will be on the way. Fingers crossed we can get a spell in the weather and things begin to clear up so we can get into some awesome fishing.

Brought to you by

A NEW SUNTAG RECORD We are constantly amazed by how resilient our native fish are and how long lived as well. This barramundi sets a new record for the longest time out for a wild barramundi from when it was first tagged. It beat the previous record by 4 years (A stocked Tinaroo barramundi). A fish that lived a good life and gave us a tagging tale to tell. WHAT TO DO IF YOU CATCH A TAGGED FISH The information you will need to report your recapture is. The length of the fish and the location it was

captured. Get a photo if possible. To report the details of your recapture you have two options: Call 1800 077 001 or go to crystalbowl. infofishaustralia.com.au/suntag / r e c a p tu r e s / r e c a p tu r e _ f o r m _ 1 .

html and fill in the form. In return you will receive a certificate providing the details of the tagging and recapture of your fish, as a thank you for providing the information. APRIL 2024 41

QLD Tropical North

FMM

It’s definitely worth working the wonky holes COOKTOWN

Justin Coventry

The wet season has finally started to dry up, and the fishing is firing in the rivers and the headlands. The crabs are also coming back into the system in good numbers, and are full. The full meat nippers have been a welcome sight, and there’s

away from the crabbing areas, as it’s no good giving a free feed to crabs close by your pots. I make my own wire pots and they work well. Admittedly, the round mesh ones seem to catch more, but I’ve had too many ripped to pieces by sharks and crocs. The sharks can actually do more damage, as their teeth can easily cut through the mesh, whereas a croc usually puts its head in and rips

A beautifully-coloured freshwater barramundi.

Lumby caught this cod from a wonky hole on a vibe. nothing like a feed of chili crab. As the saying goes, any month with a ‘R’ in it should see healthy, heavy crabs being caught. The best bait is reef fish heads, and changing them regularly helps. Our regular reef trips have provided heaps of nice trout heads for the crab pots, and some recent spearing trips have provided some big mackerel heads that help to hold the pots in place. Using fish heads helps with the smell on the boat because a bait that has been left in over two days turns to jelly, and often drops onto the boat when checking. I throw out the old bait far

out the bait. The reef has been on fire lately, and it looks to be doing the same this month. We’re still getting good weather windows to head out wide and get some nice feeds of beautiful reef fish. The trout are in good numbers, and if you find the bait there’s a good chance there’ll be hungry trout nearby. They are very aggressive and usually the first drop gets a bite. When you get a few and you start catching other species, that’s usually a good time to move and find another school and start again. The nannygai are starting to hang

around the wonky holes, and the size is getting up there with some nice models up to the 10kg mark. The best bait I have found is live bait, but don’t jig up your livies at the wonky hole because they’ll likely get smashed on capture. There’s not much chance of landing a nannygai on a bait jig. Instead, spend the time to get your bait elsewhere, and then visit the wonky hole – and hang on, because livies can get eaten quickly. I’ve also managed to get a few large bar-cheek coral trout in these areas, which makes for a good bycatch. Goldspot cod will always be there too, and I like to release them as best as I can. There is a well-accepted theory that the resident cod keep the wonky hole open and clean, which makes me want to release them more. Besides, what

especially at the lower end of the run-out tide. Vibes are doing well, and night time around the lights seem to produce. Many vibes don’t last long with all the rubbish on the bottom, and it’s sometimes better to have weaker hooks and play the fish better, and if the vibe does get stuck they are easier to retrieve. That said, big fish can take advantage of the situation, so it’s up to you. I don’t mind sometimes losing a fish I was going to release anyway. I’m looking forward to doing some missions further afield in the coming weeks as the roads dry up, and do some barra fishing. I can’t wait to throw a few of my lures out to see how they go. The excitement is hard to beat, and because we have had some major flood events around the area, there will be some more areas to fish.

A solid nannygai from a wonky hole.

A mud crab feast. 42 APRIL 2024

good is having 15kg of cod fillet to eat? It’s best to release them and keep other tasty species. The wonky holes here have produced year after year, and hopefully will keep on producing. The wharf is seeing the old barra moving through and smashing bait,

The rivers have changed and there will be lots of new structure to fish, and no doubt some investigation will be needed to find success. I can’t wait to see how it all goes, and I will report back in next month’s issue. Until then, get out there and get amongst them.

QLD Tropical North

FMM

Aquatic food chains get a big boost from the wet CAPE YORK

Tim O’Reilly wildrivercompany@gmail.com

Cape York’s post-wet season greenery has to be seen to be believed. The country was parched at the end of the dry season; the whole place looked like tinder, ready for burning. Then we had a 2-month soaking and the region was transformed. All the little creeks and rivulets have started to flow with clean, fresh water, and springs across the Cape are breaking out of the bursting water tables. The fish have been moving

April normally sees a shift out of wet conditions to more normal dry season conditions. However, there’s always the chance of rain, and even the odd late-season cyclone. The fishing is usually red-hot across the Cape at this time of year, both in the estuaries and bluewater, as the wet season ends. All manner of species can be found feeding up in the rivers and bays of the Cape, and schools of baby pelagics start to gather around the coastal fringes. All these predators feed on the baitfish spawned during the wet season. Huge baitfish schools ride the sandy ridges of the entire Cape York west coast, and you have to see them from the air to appreciate the sheer scale of them. The schools can be too vast for

A trevally and chinamanfish. They might not be table fare but they’re still fun to catch. versa). Usually, an above-average wet season is followed by above-average barra fishing that year, but not always. Whether you’re catching fish or not, autumn is a pleasant time to visit Cape York. As you make your way up to the tip of the Cape at this time of year, there will be plentiful small streams and creeks along the way, and many of them can be used for a quick dip. Local knowledge is crucial to understanding croc safety in Cape York, and you need to remember that saltwater crocodiles don’t mind living in freshwater. It is usually the distance from the sea and natural barriers that stop big lizards from reaching farther upstream. In places like Princess Charlotte Bay, there aren’t many natural barriers so the barra

Nannygai are always a welcome catch.

A ripper giant trevally. around more than usual in recent months, with the unsettled conditions triggering many of them to travel and/or spawn.

predators to make a dent. Over on the west coast of Cape York, the natural stocks of smaller mackerel types are phenomenal. Inshore, there will be a host of trevally species to join them, and a huge variety of queenfish sizes. There will also be blue salmon, giant herring and tarpon to round off the silver speedster baitfish-destroyer list.

It’s a great time of year to be fishing the Cape.

A striking footballer trout caught on a knife jig. 44 APRIL 2024

April tends to be a month where most of the freshwater fishing is very good. Barramundi are usually well on the chew by now and starting to get a little more predictable in their habits. Bear in mind that sections of the river that held fish last year might be almost devoid this year (and vice

and crocs travel further upstream, similar to some of the big west coast rivers and wetlands. All in all, this should be a very productive month for fishing. If the winds don’t shift too drastically towards dry season southeasterly trades, it will be a welcome relief.

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QLD Freshwater

FMM

Could all this rain be a blessing? QLD FRESHWATER

Peter Jung

After many years of Jason Ehrlich writing this report, I have been asked to take it on and to hopefully offer you an insight into what’s happening in our South East Queensland freshwater scene. I have big shoes to fill, but I am looking forward to the challenge and also talking to the many tackle stores, guides and local anglers that help to put this report together. I hope you support them as they will have their fingers on the pulse in their local area and hopefully be able to assist you to put a bend in your fishing rod. As I write this report we have had a number of rain events that have seen many of our impoundments spilling or the relevant water authorities doing SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND BRISBANE AND SURROUNDS LAKE KURWONGBAH Arguably Lake Kurwongbah is Brisbane’s number one fishery. It is a paddle craft only fishery that truly offers you the chance to catch yourself a quality Australian bass, a southern saratoga or maybe even a golden perch. The beauty of the waterway is the diverse range of methods in which you can catch yourself a fish. Popular methods are trolling medium diving hardbody lures along the abundant weed edges or deep diving lures like a Halco

Ty Laverick from Somerset Boat Hire and Tackle spends a lot of time on Somerset Dam when he isn’t working in the shop. He has been catching some of the lake’s big bass on a consistent basis. Poltergeist off the many points. Trolling can be a little difficult as the weed beds extend a long way from the shoreline, so it can mean cleaning weed off your lures on a regular basis, but when you find that zone where the weed edge drops into deeper water, the fish can be stacked up and seem very easy to catch. Bass tend to school in the deeper sections off the points in the lake and 46 APRIL 2024

gated releases. The initial rains had most freshwater anglers excited because as the water rose in the lakes and then settled the fishing really began to improve. In most of our waterways the fish took the opportunity to come to the edges and feast on the worms and insect life the water had trapped. It also invigorated the streams and creeks below many of the dams. Not necessarily with fish, but with a flood of baitfish and other food for the resident fish to enjoy. This in turn opened up the option to explore those waterways and to enjoy catching some pretty feisty and hungry fish. However, follow up rains have slowed things down a bit. Dirty water in many of the lakes has slowed the fishing down and flooding below the dams will mean any creek bashing will need to wait until the water is fishable again. can be targeted with small blades hopped off the bottom, with spoons or slow rolled plastics. The key is to move from point to point until you find better quality fish as some areas only seem to hold small undersize fish. Another great option is to target the weed edges mentioned by casting spinnerbaits or smaller size lipless crankbaits like the Rapala 5cm V-Blade or the Live target Sonic Shad up onto the shallower weed margins and bringing them over the drop off into deeper water. The bites tend to be violent and the fishing fast and furious if you find a patch of fish. At the time of writing Lake Kurwongbah has been spilling and the water is a little dirty. I suspect that by the time you read this the water will have cleared and the fish biting. It certainly is a great place to learn how to catch bass. Just be aware of other users of the waterway (including powered craft) as some zoning does apply. • Lake Kurwongbah is a paddle craft only fishery. There are launching and zoning rules in place. To find out more about these rules go to the SEQ Water website and look up Lake Kurwongbah. LAKE MANCHESTER I wrote a feature on the fishing in Lake Manchester. It is one of the urban fisheries in Brisbane that has a lot of potential to be a great waterway to fish. It does have a few issues, with the biggest being access for anglers. It is a significant hike to get to the water. You can fish from the shore or using a paddle craft. Lake Manchester has most probably been the least effected by the rain events in Brisbane. It certainly had a water rise and spilled but only marginally. Those willing to drag their kayaks to the water have been rewarded with some excellent fishing, with some good-sized bass sitting off the points throughout the lake. Most anglers troll deep diving lures across these zones, with the Halco Poltergeist one of the most popular

So, what does this mean for April and the Easter holidays? In my mind April may well see water levels in our lakes at a premium, water temperatures dropping a little and our fish looking to transition to shallower water from the deep where they have been for the last few months (at least in the mornings and the afternoons). I had a few days at Somerset dam recently and the water level truly excited me, but the colour of the water (in some places) did not. I think this will settle and with that bring the fish on the chew. I also think that will be the case with many of our waterways. The tail end of summer transition could see freshwater anglers enjoying the fruits of all the rain we have had in February and March. Get out, enjoy it and as I say at the end of my YouTube videos, I will catch you next time from PTP Fishing.

Raymond Parry from Obsession Spinnerbaits enjoys visiting Somerset dam from his home base in Albury. It gives him a chance to test out his spinnerbaits on our Queensland fish. This golden perch took a liking to his 1/2oz single spin spinnerbait in the GOAT colour.

The big bass are starting to come out to play at Somerset Dam. options. It would surprise many people that fish in the high forties are regularly caught at Lake Manchester (average fish tend to be low to mid 30cm), but the rain seems to have the bigger models active, which is great for those making the effort to fish there. Searching the weed edges using small lipless crankbaits can also be very effective. Hopping blades amongst the schooled can also be an excellent option. With water temperatures cooling, Manchester’s fish should start to spend more time along the edges making it another good option for a fish in April. • Be aware that there is a significant walk to get to the water at Lake Manchester. If kayaking you will need a quality trolley and ensure you have adequate drinking water. SOMERSET The water levels at Somerset look fantastic and although SEQ Water is constantly or at least it feels that way, releasing water to maintain an 80% water level, I see no reason why this level won’t hold for April. The upper reaches of the system, the Stanley River arm in particular, is quite dirty and as this clears the fishing in and around the abundant timber and rocks should really fire up. For lure anglers your best options will be searching lures like spinnerbaits, chatterbaits or lipless crankbaits. There is plenty of timber and lily pads to cast in and around, while the rocky points may be worth hopping a blade or vibe

around. There seems to be a lot of golden perch in the upper reaches at present and that should continue, with the odd bass crashing the party. For bait anglers, there are lots of big freshwater shrimp moving around and they are a fantastic bait for both bass and golden perch. A couple of collapsible bait traps baited with dry cat or dog food, placed on the edge of a weed line or near timber in 6-10 feet of water for a few hours should be enough to supply you with a bait supply to get you fishing. It is then just a matter of tying up to a tree (10-15 feet of water) and dropping an unweighted shrimp down next to any structure. You may need to move a bit until you find a concentration of fish, but when you do they can’t resist a fresh live shrimp. With the inflows the bass in the main body of water have started to push down towards the dam wall and are slowly starting to school up in bigger numbers. The fish will tend to hold along the drop offs from the flats in areas like Pelican Point, Bay 13 and The Spit. The fish have been hugging the bottom, so a slowly retrieved soft plastic or even hopping a spoon or vibe will be a good option to target them. Patience will be the key, but already some of Somerset’s big bass are coming out to play and this should continue into April. • For up-to-date information on what’s biting and where to go see Somerset

Freshwater QLD

FMM Tackle and Boat Hire at Kirkleagh (right near the boat ramp). You can hire a boat or just pick up some tackle. Open 8:30am – 5:00pm Friday to Sunday. MOOGERAH Like all the other lakes in the region Moogerah has had significant inflow and this has pushed the fish up the creeks of the lake. Unusually more so in the Reynolds Creek arm than the Coulson Creek arm. As the water settles (depending on whether we get more rain) these fish will slowly work their way from the creek arms into the timbered areas and then to the points (like the Spit) in the main body of water. The fish in Moogerah can be very mobile and at times it feels like they are moving almost daily, but this should settle as the water clears and cools a little. Searching lures like lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits and smaller

profile hardbody lures can be very effective when the fish are holding in shallower water, while spoons, vibes and soft plastics will be your better options

DARLING DOWNS AND GRANITE BELT COOBY This waterway continues to fish well and this should continue into April. It seems most anglers are finding good numbers of fish whether you are using lures or bait. The goldens tend to be holding in the deeper water, so sounding around until you find signs of fish or structure in the form of rocks or timber is your best plan of attack. Once you find the right areas vertically jigging small vibes like a TT Switchprawn+ or the TT Switchblade+ around the structure can CAPRICORN REGION AWOONGA The focus of the fishing in Awoonga will continue to be fishing in the mornings and the afternoon into the early evening. First and last light has seen some good fish being caught on surface lures in the form of frogs or fizzers. This is a highly visual way of fishing and can produce memorable hook ups. You may not get every fish to the boat, but you will remember each bite you get. Once the morning surface bite subsides the main focus for anglers becomes casting lures to the weedy points in the main basin. Most will hold

The author with a solid fish caught on a Shimano Bantam BT99 jointed subsurface swimbait.

on the deeper holding fish. Moogerah has been an excellent fishery so far this year, so it should be well worth a look this month. MAROON The best times to fish Maroon has been during the cooler periods of the day. There has been a distinct drop off in the fishing during the day and I suspect that this trend will continue. Areas like Nursery Bay have been fishing well, but do see a lot of traffic so it can be hit or miss. The timbered edges up from the dam wall and in the creek are always good places to explore with your favourite searching lure and as the weather and water cools Maroon is renowned for its suspending jerk bait bite. I suspect that this will kick in the further we get into the month. There are many good lure options to give this a try. Just a few options are the Shimano Bantam Pavlo Shad 52SP, the DUO Realis Shad

62DR and the Daiwa Infeet Spike 53SP. All are proven lures on this waterway. There is generally always a surface bite at Maroon as well. Cicada imitations or walk the dog style lures seem to work best. The best surface fishing has been later in the day, but there also tends to be a small window of opportunity as the sun is coming up. Barry Oxford is a regular fisher of this waterway, had surprise (welcome) encounter with one of Maroon’s Mary River cod. He thought a good bass had smashed his lure and stitched him up in the timber. He ventured over to see if it could be extracted from the timber it had tangled him, only to see an 80-90cm cod lunge to the depths snapping his leader. A great story from an angler who would have seen most things in our SEQ freshwater waterways.

be a deadly technique to target them. For bait anglers this same structure is the perfect location to drop a live shrimp or a frozen saltwater yabby down as well. If the fish are there it won’t take long for your offering to get smashed. Trolling the weed edges is always another option to pick up a few fish. Medium to deep diving options will be the way to go. • Cooby is open to paddle and electric motor-powered craft. The gates are open from 6am-8pm. Fish’n’Bits tackle store in Toowoomba can help you out with all your bait and lure fishing needs.

LESLIE Leslie dams golden perch continue to be on the chew. Anglers trolling for them are picking up a few fish, but the most reliable option has been and should continue to be to either vertically jig or hop small blade from structure into deeper water or into fish picked up on your sounder. The fish have tended to be on the small side, but there have been plenty of them, so anglers venturing out have been kept busy. There have been a few reports of Murray cod being caught, but most have been small fish caught as bycatch by those anglers fishing blades.

The cod fishing should improve as the weather cools. Most Leslie cod anglers are waiting for the first frosts to hit the area. That seems to be the signal that the cod will start venturing up onto the flats and be a little easier for anglers to target. Top blades to use at Leslie have been the ZX 40, 7and6 blades or a TT Switchprawn+. Trolling has been best with a medium to deep diving lure or a lipless crankbait like a Jackall TN60 or Rapala 6cm V-Blade. • The local blokes at Warwick Outdoor and Sport in Palmerin Street can point in you in the right direction and hook you up with the good gear and bait to catch the fish at Leslie.

A great father and son shot. Dad Dom with James and his first ever barra. 104cm of Lake Awoonga fish.

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

fish at one time or another. Lures anglers tend to use larger paddle tail soft plastics, soft plastic vibes like a Zerek Fish Trap or larger suspending hardbody lures to do this. The fish are big and angry at this time of the year so hang on for the ride when you hook up. Trolling is also a great option during the late morning and early afternoon periods. It is a great way to cover some ground and maybe find that area to focus your efforts on dark or at first light. The key is to cover a few different depths with your lure spread until you find the depth that the hungry fish are sitting in. • Gladstone Fly and Sportfishing (0429 223 550) and Lake Awoonga Barra Charters (0404 151 844) run guided trips on the

Corey Gooch from Gladstone Fly and Sportfishing charters with a metreplus barramundi caught off the top on a Zerek Skittish Dog lure.

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But no he’s back there once again although he struggles on the ramp And you can tell he’d rather not be wet or cold or damp. But you can tell he loves his Tuesdays Dazza says and grins He’s happy if he gets to play with anything with fins.

Dazza leaves his ute and heads off quickly down the slope The older gentleman is struggling We dropped my boat in took it out with a piece of rope. and checked the cavitation So, Dazza grabs the tinny, gives the We checked the plane and checked the little boat a spin spray and checked the props rotation Then takesBENDIGO the trailer up the ramp MELBOURNE Then Dazza left I dropped him off; I while old mate clambers BENDIGO MARINEin & OUTDOORS wentMELBOURNE MARINE CENTRE for just another minute 160 Midland Highway Epsom 393-399 South Gippsland Hwy I saw the tinny on the bank with old He looks soP:frail he grabs (03) 5448 3988 the tiller, I Dandenong South Clive still there in it. wonderW:if bendigomarine.com.au he’ll turn it P: (03) 9703 2003 But he slowly chugs out through the E: info@melbournemarine.com.au And when I got back to the ramp old MELBOURNE wall, into the mighty Burnett W: melbournemarine.com.au Clive was backing down. BL MARINE I hear the slapping of the waves, I see I grabbed the winch and wound the 614 quiver Plenty Road Preston MORNINGTON PENINSULA the hull612sides handle round and round and round P: (03) 9478 MY MARINE He’s busy rocking in 1420 the swell that’s He latched latch Highway and strapped the Cnrthe Nepean & (03) 9470 rolling F: down the 4638 river strapPonderosa and gave Place the chain a flick Dromana W: blmarine.com.au old fellers like to do, it has to (03) 5987 0900 That’s Clive said Dazza, every The way P: SHEPPARTON be just schmick. W: mymarine.com.au Tuesday, ten o’clock he’s here

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING

RAPALA SKITTER POP ELITE

Rapala has taken the original Skitter Pop to the Elite Level with the new Skitter Pop Elite 95. The Elite still features a body made from premium balsa wood, which gives it an action and underwater acoustics that is unachievable with plastic. However, the Elite 95 does differ from the original Skitter Pop in a few ways. First of all, this new lure features Rapala’s Elite heavy-duty construction. With a metal plate system connecting the hook hangers together, and new reinforced cup, it will hold up against any predator. Rapala has also given the Skitter Pop Elite 95 an Elite finish, with gilded and HD colour patterns to suit any inshore fishing situation. If you want a popper that will walk the dog, skitter and spit or send out bitetriggering bloops, check out the Skitter Pop Elite 95. Price: SRP $26.95 www.rapala.com.au

DAIWA CURRENT MASTER 93-EXDR

The new Steez Current Master 93-EXDR is the extra-deep running version of Daiwa’s popular mid-size jerkbait. Quickly becoming a go-to for anglers looking for a smaller profile barra or jack lure, the EXDR reaches depths of 11ft and lets you take advantage of forward-facing sonar to target suspending fish in open areas of lakes and rivers. This technique requires lures that dive deeper than traditional methods, and this is where the EXDR model comes in. This lure is equally at home where you need a lure to dive steeply into the strike zone. When fishing undercut banks or snags on a steep edge, you need a lure that can get down into the zone quickly and stay there, suspending in the fish’s face. Featuring Daiwa’s Maglock weighttransfer system, these lures fly long and true, making casting through tight tree lines a breeze. They are fitted with BKK Viper-41 trebles and HD rings. www.daiwafishing.com.au

SHIMANO CURADO 200M

Shimano’s Curado 200M incorporates state-of-the-art features for optimal performance in all conditions. The MGL SPOOL III Pinion O Ring, combined with the SVS Infinity Micromodule Gear, offers a lightning-fast response, exceptional casting accuracy, and a well-balanced feel. The gears’ silent rotation and reduced knocking sound make for a more enjoyable experience. The Hagane Body provides a solid and rigid frame to withstand the rigours of intense fishing, and the innovative MicroModule gearing ensures a super smooth and efficient performance. The specially plated pinion gear, breakwater wall, and drainage port offer superior protection against water intrusion and corrosion. The reel’s six-bearing system ensures smooth operation and reliability. The Curado 200M has a max drag capacity of 6kg, a spool diameter/width of 35/23mm, and a handle length of 45mm or 48mm, depending on the model. There are three gear ratios – 6.2, 7.4, and 8.5. www.shimanofish.com.au

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SAMAKI ZING XTREME V3

The Zing Xtreme V3 by Samaki has been designed for anglers who demand the ultimate in performance. Crafted for angling excellence, this rod seamlessly transitions from conquering estuaries and dams to mastering inshore reef adventures. The Zing Xtreme V3 boasts top-tier components, including Fuji K Alconite Guides for precision casting, Japanese Toray Carbon Fibre for unmatched strength and sensitivity, and Fuji reel seats. Complete with a minimalist ash-coloured EVA grip and sleek silver highlights, it offers a compelling balance of design and capability. It’s currently available in 10 baitcast models and 13 spin models, ranging from 2-8lb through to 20-40lb. Price: SRP $249.95 - $259.95 www.samaki.com.au

ZMAN EZ EGGZ

ZMan’s 10X Tough ElaZtech is buoyant, durable, and has a super-soft, realistic feel, so it’s ideal for a wide range of soft plastic presentations, including eggs! EZ EggZ come in a pack of 6 x 4.5” egg strands, with 12 eggs per strand. These strands allow anglers to snip off individual eggs for rigs or fly patterns or to tie perfectsized egg clusters for targeting species such as trout and salmon. EZ EggZ are available in red, salmon, and translucent pink colours, are impregnated with natural shrimp scent, and perfectly mimic a favourite food of many species. Price: SRP $13.95 www.z-man.com.au

WILSON ELECTRIC ASSIST BATTERIES

Wilson Electric Assist 14.4V batteries are made for the hardcore angler, with an easy-to-view battery life indicator that takes the guesswork out of how much time is left. Useable on almost all modern electric reels, linking accessories and cables make these some of the most adaptable batteries on the market. Strapping the battery onto your rod (regardless of whether it’s the 3.5, 7 or 10Ah model) allows you to hand-hold the rod during a fight or when fishing shallower water for species such as snapper and kingfish. You can also walk around the boat while fighting larger fish, unobstructed. Of course, Electric Assist batteries are just as much at home on heavier outfits that sit in rod holders, so nobody will be tripping over floor-mounted battery cables. In testing, these 10Ah batteries have lasted a full day’s fishing, and with easy recharging accessories, you’ll never find yourself short of charge again. Price: SRP $229-$399 (battery only), $359-$499 (kit) www.wilsonfishing.com

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Online - ANYTIME APRIL 2024 51

TESTING BOOTH

Shimano Raider travel rods – a simple solution FISHING MONTHLY

Peter Jung

Whether you are travelling for work, going on holidays or are simply curious about what fish a waterway may hold on your travels, it is not always possible to take your favourite outfit with you. The thought of rod tubes, extra luggage, oversize luggage and a strong likelihood of damage in transit sends shivers down my spine as I write this.

A travel rod always sounded like a great solution, however until recent times, a travel rod was a compromise. It may have got you fishing, but whether it be rod composition, length, strength, the ferule systems and weight (physical) it more than likely would not be 100% suited to what you need and then may not even get used. The beauty of the improvement in fishing rod technology now, is that you are more likely than not, to find a travel rod that is fit for purpose and take it everywhere you go. That is where the Shimano travel rod ranges fit

Many of the local creeks in SE Queensland are worth an explore at the moment. The Raider outfit has given the author the opportunity to check a few out with some great results.

PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY APRIL 20242023 52 1 NOVEMBER

in and in particular the Shimano Raider travel rod that has been put to the test in this issue. The Shimano Raider travel series of rods is the entry range of travel rods that Shimano do. They have three other options (Grappler, Zodias and Revolution) ranging in price from $675rrp to $189rrp, while the Raider series comes in at $159rrp. There are seven rod options within this range. What we tested For this testing booth we tried out the 23RDRT6104SP 6’10” four piece 2-5kg model. An all round rod suitable for targeting many of your saltwater estuary species as well as trout, redfin, bass and golden perch in the freshwater. The rod was matched with a Shimano Miravel 2500HG spin reel spooled up with 8lb Power Pro braid. A 1000 size reel would also match up with this rod nicely. This Raider travel rod is a perfect example of the advances made in travel rods, in particular the ferule systems used to put each of the pieces of the rod together. For whatever reason I still have a travel rod that I purchased about 15 years ago. It is a 3-piece rod and each join once put together created a flat spot in the working curve of the rod. It was clumsy to cast with because of it (lure casting) and actually came apart on a number of occasions when I hooked a fish. It ventured out once and has never been used again. The ferule systems have come a long way since then and it is great to see and know that the joins in the

Above: The Raider outfit as tested. The Raider 6’10” 4-piece 2-5kg spin rod matched with a Shimano Miravel 2500HG reel and 8lb Power Pro braid. Main: The Shimano Raider travel rod has given the author a great excuse to explore some of his local creeks for bass, that he would normally drive over. Raider travel rods have little or no effect on the working curve of the rods and if put together firmly, they hold in place. It is also impressive to see that the

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

TESTING BOOTH Raider rods are built using a 30 tonne high modulus Toray bland and they use Fuji Fazlite guides. They also come with a custom reel seat and have split EVA grips. A lightweight outfit (also a far cry from the old rod I have) that is a pleasure to use for extended periods of time. Exploring with the Raider travel rod South East Queensland has recently had its fair share of rainfall and with that many of its creeks have more water in them than usual. Many of these creeks have naturally occurring stocks of Australian bass in them or have been seeded with fish by the stocked lakes further up the system that have escaped as they overflow. I drive past a number of them every week and right at the moment they look even fishier than they normally do. What a great excuse it has been to stop at a few of them and cast a few lures around. At 6’10” the tested rod is a good

The rod comes in a hard case to provide protection when travelling. I have ditched this case and just wrapped it in a jumper while in my suitcase. The hard case can make it a fraction too big

The Shimano Raider travel rod was just one of many goodies the author was sent to test for Fishing Monthly magazines. there. A car packed full of other things meant the travel rod was a perfect option. Everything I needed fitted into a small backpack. The fishing was pretty simple too. A small hook on the end of the line baited with beach worm, cast at any fish that looked like it may eat it. The lack of casting weight didn’t prove to be an issue for the outfit and I got to have a fish when I normally wouldn’t have. Bait fishing at its simplest and one very happy angler. Final thoughts The first thing I would like to say is that it was nice to fish with a travel

Another Gold Coast bream that couldn’t resist the author’s beach worm bait.

The Shimano Raider travel would be perfect for throwing small lures or plastics around for trout, like this one from Lake Eucumbene. length sneak around these waterways and it easily casts finesse soft plastic set ups, small hardbody lures and surface lures. Thankfully it also has some pulling power as some of these bass don’t know when to give up. They hit hard and head for the nearest snag, so it was nice to have the stopping power I needed for me

to win the battle instead of them. As much fun as this has been, for me the real test was doing some very simple bait fishing for bream and flathead on a weekend away at the Gold Coast. Our accommodation was right on the water and no matter where you looked there was a bream letting you know it was

This pony fish was another capture while fishing unweighted baits from the shore while at the Gold Coast.

A beautiful Gold Coast bream that couldn’t resist an unweighted worm bait while the author had a weekend away with his family.

rod and not realise it was a travel rod. Once put together it was like fishing with something that I would normally use. I can definitely see this outfit going with me next time I visit the Snowy mountain lakes chasing trout, I think it would be an excellent option to use there whether I am casting lures or bait fishing.

to fit in a suitcase (depending or your suitcase size of course). Overall the Shimano Raider travel rod is an excellent option to have up your sleeve if you are travelling and wish to have a fish while you are. You can check out the full range at www. fish.shimano.com or check them out at your local tackle outlet.

APRIL 2024 NOVEMBER 2023532

AUSTRALIA’S 2024

BIGGEST

National Fishing Challenge

Saturday and Sunday April 20 and 21, 2024

If you love wetting a line, then you’re not alone! Fishing is Australia’s biggest recreational sport with more than 3.4 million keen anglers fishing every year. It will soon be time to sort out your tackle box ready for this year’s 2024 PIRTEK Fishing Challenge. The Challenge is an online national fishing competition open to all ages and experience levels. Competitors receive a limited-edition cap, brag mat and sticker with junior competitors receiving a bonus packet of Berkley soft plastics. This year’s Challenge will be held over two days on Saturday and Sunday April 20 and 21. Competitors will fish for their favourite species, photograph their catch on the brag mat with their angler number and codeword clearly visible; then upload the photos to the website for judging. The Challenge is a major fundraising initiative assisting to raise funds and awareness for Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA). More than 19,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in Australia every year. PIRTEK has partnered with PCFA since 2009 helping to raise vital funds for prostate cancer research, awareness initiatives and support programs by hosting Australia’s biggest fishing competition. The Challenge is also a major fundraising partner for the Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit, which has recently been lauded as the number one Neuroscience Research facility in Australia. The focus of the Unit is to study adult stem cells and their role in causing and exacerbating neurological diseases. The goal is to find and apply new neuroscience techniques for patients suffering from diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, along with other neurological conditions and stroke. There are 24 target species nationally covering all States and Territories both fresh and saltwater. This year, the Challenge is offering an amazing $300,000 in cash and prizes!! PIRTEK together with Berkley, BCF, Stacer, ABU Garcia, Lowrance,Valvoline, Sea-Doo, Club Marine, Mako Eyewear, Mercury, Paw Pantry and Oz Trail have delivered a fantastic prize pool for this year’s competition. Anglers who submit photos of their cracking catches on the PFC brag mat are in line for some incredible prizes including:

Fishing gear from leading manufacturers Berkley and ABU Garcia, both brands synonymous with the best in fishing tackle. Marine electronics are always a popular prize and Lowrance are supplying their cutting-edge sounder/GPS units. Valvoline are on deck ready to keep things rolling with their leading-edge lubricants. BCF have the junior prize winners covered and ready to “gear up for the outdoors” with instore gift cards. Take your fishing to the next level with Mako Polarized Sunglasses designed in Australia for our extreme conditions. PIRTEK are keeping all competitors in the hunt with twenty-four $2000 cash mystery length prizes along with a second $1700 mystery length totalling $88,800. The mystery lengths are awarded in each category for the fish measuring closest to a secret measurement determined by the event organizers. These lengths are generally of an average sized fish giving everyone the opportunity to win. Thanks to our fantastic partners we have a $125,000 ‘On the Water’ prize draw proving you don’t have to catch big to win big! Promotion authorized under NSW TP/01590 and ACT TP 23/02750. Residents from South Australia

Prizes include:

are not eligible to enter the On the Water prize draw. PIRTEK COO, Mark Devitt, commented, “I’m amazed to see the growth of the Challenge over the last 16 years. As an organization we are very proud of continuing to build a bigger and better event every year. Seeing our wonderfully committed competitors having a great time over the Challenge weekend really drives home what the competition is all about.” Michael Guest, Event Director, commented, “The Challenge is a cracking opportunity to catch up with friends and family for a weekend of fishing. Let’s face it, supporting our two very worthy charity partners while wetting a line is a great way to spend a couple of days. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an experienced angler or picking up a rod for the first time we would love to see record numbers enter the competition this year” Competing anglers can look the part by purchasing from the extensive range of merchandise available on the website, including fishing shirts, t-shirts, neck buffs, shorts, spray jackets and broadbrim hats. For more information and to register visit pirtekfishingchallenge.com.au Registrations cost $30.00, plus postage and handling.

• A cracking Stacer 469 Outlaw side console boat motor trailer package with 75hp Mercury outboard, Lowrance sounder and 12 months Club Marine insurance. Valued at $50,643. • Get ready for some fast fishing with a Sea-Doo Fish Pro Scout including trailer and 12 months Club Marine insurance. Valued at $23,157. • The Club Marine Tinnie which features a Stacer 389 Territory Striker, 25hp tiller steer boat/motor/trailer package.Valued at $19,210. • Paw Pantry have joined the challenge this year and have provided another Stacer 389 Territory Striker, 25hp tiller steer bpat/motor/trailer package.Valued at $19,210. • If you love camping then this one’s a cracker with our mates at OZ Trail giving away an amazing Canning Roof Top Tent Valued at $4699.99. • Find more fish with a Lowrance HDS9 Pro sounder and GPS unit. Valued at $3,899 • $2000 Berkley/ABU Garcia tackle packs to make any fishos day. • How about a year’s supply of petfood form Paw Pantry. Maximum value $1700. • Valvoline kit to keep you lubricated Valued at $500. • Look the part and improve your fishing with a Mako Sunglasses pack Valued at $350.

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Sydney

NSW

FMM

Lots of opportunities as snapper run continues SYDNEY ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

Why do we go fishing? For solitude, to relax and recharge, having fun with friends or family, honing our skills, catching a feed I could go on. Unfortunately, our right to fish is being eroded due to unscrupulous and sneaky policy-making. We anglers have one thing in common: we just want to go fishing without ridiculous laws being enforced with no scientific evidence.

Ryan Mc Donald with a nice bag of whiting caught on beach worms. Whiting will be around until early July at least. If you don’t have the time to go worming, find a tackle shop that stocks them. As of 1 March, line fishing for the eastern blue groper has been banned. This applies to both male and female groper. The males are blue, while the females can be brown, red, or even orange and other shades. Some anglers have been wondering whether it’s only the blue-coloured groper that are banned, but I can confirm that the females are banned, too. The NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty announced this ban, and when asked why, the reason was for “emotional reasons”. Yes, emotional reasons! Is that compelling enough? Absolutely not!

Eric Campise with one of two mulloway caught on a trip with the author. They were caught on whole squid and slimy mackerel fillets. Mark Banasiak from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party has been the only party fighting against this. Mark exposed in budget estimates that the minister had no scientific backing to the ban, and that it was based purely on emotion. It was Mark who helped recently to coordinate fishers to help fight council motions at Northern Beaches and Sutherland Shire Council to create aquatic reserves. We need to support those who support us. To keep up-to-date with the fight to overturn this decision, I encourage people to follow Mark Banasiak on Facebook and Instagram. He has assured me there is much more to come. ROCK FISHING The snapper run continues, with reds up to 58cm being caught in the sudsy white water. It’s surprising how close they come to the shore; they can be caught just 1m out from the rock ledge you’re fishing from. Snapper prefer deeper water around that 5m+ depth. It’s possible to catch them during the middle of the day if the sea conditions are right, e.g. during a big swell. Otherwise, you should focus your efforts during low-light periods, either from dawn to just after sunrise, or an hour before sunset to last light. Good locations to target snapper include Dee Why, approx. 30m past the goat track, and North Curl Curl rocks.

There are several ways to target snapper – distance casting, wash fishing or soft plastics. Distance casting With distance casting, I like to use a bait that’s robust enough to withstand a big cast. You also want your bait to be aerodynamic enough to be punched out a long way without spinning in the air. If it spins, it will reduce your casting distance. If you’re using half a pilchard, trim the tail off and that will reduce the bait spin when you’re casting a long way. When using a squid strip, streamline your bait to around 1.5cm wide by 8-12cm long. The same applies with fish strips. You can use larger baits, but that will reduce your distance; the larger the bait, the shorter the distance. Wash fishing When wash fishing, it’s not as important to have an aerodynamic bait (although in some circumstances it does help). You can double the size of your fish baits, e.g. a strip of bonito or tailor. If you’re using squid or cuttlefish, the strips can be up to 15-20cm. Soft plastics A variety of soft plastics will work on the snapper, but these days I always use the Daiwa Bait Junkie range. The 3” Prawn and the 5” Jerk Shad have worked very well for me. During calmer conditions, I use jighead weights from 1/4oz to 1/8oz size, with 2/0 to 4/0 size hooks. Pelagics Whether you are distance casting, wash fishing or casting plastics, you’ll often encounter pelagic species. At the moment, the most common species include mac tuna, frigate mackerel, bonito, salmon, tailor and, of course, kingfish. If you want to target kingfish, I recommend a live yellowtail suspended under a torpedo float. You can fish as little

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Kwan Karan with his first king, which fell for a whole sea gar on a set of gangs. Sydney Harbour has quite a lot of kings off its huge shoreline, with plenty of deepwater spots. as 1m under the float because kings will also smash a bait on the surface. Most deeper rock ledges that you spin for pelagics are around 6m+ deep. Purchase float stoppers so you can slide them at whatever depth you

need to fish your bait. A good average is around 4m deep. Hook sizes range from 5/0 for the smaller live baits to as large as 10/0 for large live baits, like a 1-2kg bonito. Yes, you can use baits that large (or even larger) for large kings. There is a downside to using a really big live bait though, and that is sharks. If any sharks are in the area, they will be happy to hammer a large live bait. When it comes to lures, some good options are chrome slugs, soft plastics and surface stickbaits. My favourite slug is the Daiwa OT Jig in the 30-40g size in gold, white flash or sardine glow colours. My go-to plastic is a 7” Jerk Shad, and my preferred surface stickbait is the Saltiga

14yo Anthony and his dad Danny had fun catching snapper on a recent outing. This was the last fish caught nearly at last light. Snapper have big eyes so they can feed effectively in dim light. Rough Ride in the saury or yellowfin colours. I like the Rough Ride because it casts really well; it’s quite easy to get a 50m cast, which helps to cover more water. A good location to fish for pelagics is Little Bluey Manly below the Shelly headland car park. At this spot, fish the first ‘square-shaped’ ledges. South and North Curl Curl also have good ledges. BEACH FISHING I was fishing early in the morning with a client recently, targeting whiting in a shallow gutter, only 1.5m deep at most. The whiting were scattered and not really biting. As the morning progressed, however, the fish switched on and we caught several from 9:30-10:30am. If you have a similar experience, it’s probably not due to the time of day. The fish are more likely to be influenced by the higher tide period. Lately, we’ve been having sessions with catches of up to 14 whiting to 40cm, and live beach worms are the gun bait. If you cannot get live beach worms, there are pipis on the beaches. Some beaches have more pipis than others. River prawns work OK for whiting as well. The smaller prawns seem to be better, particularly if you peel them. Pink nippers are a great beach whiting bait as well.

Sydney NSW

FMM

Catching bread-and-butter species in cool water SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

Hopefully by now the crazy weather we’ve been experiencing over the summer months will have started to settle down. I don’t know about you, but this summer I’ve noticed that bream numbers have been down compared to previous years. Other anglers have also noticed this, especially in the estuaries, river and creeks in the southern Sydney areas. I have found that while fishing off the rocks and the beaches I have been able to catch a number of bream on half-pilchards, peeled prawns and live nippers and beach worms. However, it hasn’t been the same in the estuaries and bays. Just recently I was out targeting bream with lures while fishing under moored boats, pontoons and any other

Charlie and Glenn from the St George and Sutherland Shires Anglers Club with a nice haul of whiting they caught while using nippers drifting in Botany Bay. Australian salmon and kingfish on both soft plastics and hardbody lures. Hopefully the bream fishing will pick up in the coming weeks. During the months of February and

March, the bonito run has been huge and they have been caught off the rocks, the beaches, in the bay, as far up as the Moons in the Georges River and just downstream of the Audley Weir in the Port Hacking River. Hopefully, they will still be around this month along with the Australian salmon and tailor. I have been picking up a few while trolling small Christmas tree lures and 7-10g metal lures. The beaches in Bate Bay are still producing dart, bream, whiting, flathead, tailor salmon, bonito and shovel-nosed rays. It doesn’t seem to matter whether it’s a rising or falling tide. April should see an increase of drummer and luderick being caught off the rocks in the southern areas. Places that are worth a shot are Kurnell, Boat Harbour, Shelly Beach, Jibbon Point, Little Marley, south Stanwell Park beach and Coalcliff point. If you are land-based you can try the beach at Dolls Point for whiting, bream, flathead, salmon, tailor, trevally and kingfish. It you don’t like bait fishing you could always take along a handful of 7g, 10g, 12g, 15g and 20g metals and a 7ft rod and start walking the beach while casting. Soft plastics like the 100mm Squidgy

Wriggler or 2.5” ZMan Slim SwimZ on a 1/0, 1/4oz jighead will also do the job. There are still a lot of blue swimmer crabs about, so you could try placing a couple of traps out while you drift past trying to pick up some whiting, flathead and bream. A friend of mine was trolling with live yellowtail in the Port Hacking for kingfish and managed to troll up a blue swimmer crab. Remember that you can only catch them by line in the Port Hacking, as traps have been banned for years. Try drifting with a couple of pilchards in a stocking inside a plastic bait bag that has been weighted down by a sinker. If you get one tugging on the end, try pulling it in slowly and

This shovel-nosed ray took a liking to a live yellowtail that was meant for a kingfish.

structure, only to find it tougher than normal. Maybe I am losing my touch. That said, I have been getting quite a number of leatherjackets, whiting, trevally, dusky flathead, kingfish,

There are still plenty of small kingfish about that are being caught on both baits and lures. Terry managed this rat while using a soft plastic chasing bream.

have your landing net ready at the rear of the crab. I have had a couple of reliable reports of dusky flathead being caught on live baits and soft plastics in the upper reaches of the Woronora River and up around the Milperra Bridge. That’s all for this month. Don’t forget to keep those short reports and pictures coming into gbrown1@iprimus.com.au.

While beach fishing, we’ve noticed that the little sand rays are becoming more prolific. In past trips, you might catch one ray, but lately, we’ve been encountering three or four per outing on some beaches. Be very careful, as the rays have one or more spikes on their tail, and it’s very painful if you get stabbed by one. If that happens and you’re close to a surf club, ask for hot water – as hot as you can stand. Pour it over the area you were spiked and it will reduce the pain substantially. On the tailor front, plenty of fish have been caught early in the morning and late afternoon/after dark. At this time of the year, you can catch a range of sizes, from choppers around 32-39cm right through to 60cm+ fish. The traditional way to catch them is

with a whole pilchard on a set of 3/0 to 4/0 gangs. You can also use fish fillets cut into long strip baits, such as tailor, tuna, salmon or mullet strips. Cut the fillet lengthways, around 2cm wide by 15-20cm long, and you have a great tailor bait. If you’re getting smaller bites, they could be bream. To target them, add another leader on the top swivel, a 1/0 to 2/0 size hook and a small strip of fish bait or half pilchard. This also works well on salmon but it’s not so good if you encounter sizeable tailor. It’s easy to deephook these tailor when you’re using small hooks, and if this happens there’s a good chance you’ll get bitten off. Their supersharp teeth will likely sever the line. Mulloway and sharks are still biting, with a few smaller to reasonable fish

your warm clothing. If a cooler, southwesterly change comes through while you’re night fishing, it might end your outing because you’re getting too cold to comfortably fish. You don’t want to go home and miss out on a hot bite just because you didn’t bring the right clothing! • Alex Bellissimo is an experienced rock fishing guide with proven teaching formulas. If you’re an experienced angler, he will bring your abilities to new heights. And if you’re new to rock fishing, Alex will teach you all the fundamentals so you can consistently catch fish -- and stay safe at the same time. All tackle and bait is supplied. To find out more, visit www. bellissimocharters.com.au, email alex@ bellissimocharters.com.au, or call Alex on 0408 283 616.

Elijah (7yo) caught this massive silver trevally while fishing for whiting over the flats. A great effort on light gear.

being caught. One of my clients was on an outing by himself when he landed a 95cm mulloway at North Narrabeen. On a recent trip with me, another client caught two good jewies. Both fish were caught within half an hour of each other and were up to 80cm. It’s always rewarding to see the smiles when your clients land quality fish like this! The baits used were whole squid, approx. 12cm tube length, and slimy mackerel fillets. You can use a huge variety of baits for beach mulloway, including live yellowtail, mullet and tarwhine. They can be butterflied or fillets. And of course, whole or squid strips are great bait. Good beaches to try are Newport, North Narrabeen and Manly. As autumn progresses, some of the nights can be pretty chilly, so don’t forget

APRIL 2024 57

NSW

Byron Coast

FMM

Big crabs are plentiful across the rivers BALLINA

Joe Allan

Crabs have been very plentiful lately, with really good numbers reported across a lot of the rivers. Some guys have reported bagging a limit in two or three runs. The dirty water seems to have stirred them up. If you can time a good running tide that is in full swing for a few hours after dark, that’s when the best results seem to be. You can still get good numbers during the day, but after dark is when more of the bigger crabs are out and about. Flathead are being caught in great numbers at the moment, with the dirty water really stirring up the big girls. Try the stretches between Pimlico Island and Broadwater. Whitebait and fresh prawns are the go if you can get them. The prawns are on the move at the moment, so if you can find them, you’ll find great numbers of flatties. The best hooks for these are 1/0 and 2/0 long shank hooks. The longer shank keeps the line away from their teeth, which, while only small, can cut through some pretty tough line.

If you are into throwing hardbody lures, try tolling some Atomic Shiner 75s. They will get down past 3.5m easily in the holes around the Wardell Bridge and areas close by. Bright colours are best. Once you’ve found the drop-offs, it’s always a good idea to have a 3-4” soft plastic with a 1/4oz jighead with a 3/0 hook ready to go. The beaches around Ballina and Lennox Head have been fishing well and should continue to get better in the coming weeks. Try the gutters on Patches Beach and back to South Ballina, as well as the beaches along Seven Mile, north of Lennox Head. There have been good reports of tarwhine and flathead being caught on soft plastics and blades. 1/4oz is generally a good weight for both plastics and blades, although if it’s too windy, it might be a struggle. There are still good numbers of pipis around, and these little fellas are a great fresh bait for most breadand-butter species. Remember you’re not allowed to take pipis from the beach where you got them. The mackerel are showing up in OK numbers between Brunswick and Evans but are very scattered. You’ll find them one day, and then they’ll

have moved the next. You just have to keep moving to find them, which is very typical of the early-season bite. Livies are still the most reliable option at this stage, with yakkas and slimies being the best. Close-in reefs are the go, like Black Head, Flat Rock and Snapper Rock down at Evans Head. Lately, some decent snapper have been caught on plastics early in the morning, but they seem to be a bit wider out. The rock walls have produced some good-size mangrove jacks. While not in good numbers like they were in summer, the bettersized specimens have come out to play in recent times. These guys will become less active now that the water is cooling down. The break walls have been producing some good mulloway towards the bottom end of the tide. This dirty water has certainly stirred them up, with some really good size fish being caught. Live mullet seems to be producing the best catches upriver in the holes. Down on the walls, swimbaits such as the Atomic Real Baitz Mullets are producing some quality fish, as are crankbaits

such as the Croker Lures Jewie Jewel. The freshwater stretches of the Richmond and Wilsons rivers have been patchy of late as there has been so much dirty water around through January, February and early March. The whole system has had a flush again, and plenty of bait is around, so things should settle nicely coming into the cooler months. Hopefully, we’ll see a bumper spawning season this year and a healthy young bass population for the future. As I write this report, we’re just about to have a North Coast bream and bass club round, and it will be interesting to see the results. It’s been a few months since we’ve been able to get on the water as a club, and we’re interested to see if there are any major changes to the bite or where the big ones are. It’s probably a bit early to say that the fish should start moving and thinking about spawning, but as the water cools off and the days become shorter, this won’t be too far off. This time of year is often when the fish are really aggressive as they’re in feeding mode, preparing for a couple of months of ‘business time’. Until next month, tight lines.

FISHING NEWS

Tackling ghost gear in Aussie waters Fisheries in northern Australia are experiencing the negative impact of abandoned, lost, and discarded crab pots. In collaboration with OceanEarth Foundation, through its Ghostnets Australia program, OzFish has launched the Great Aussie Crab Pot Recovery to recover these ghost pots and find a preventative solution. Following clean-up events in Kurumba QLD and Borroloola NT, utilising OzFish members, local volunteers and Indigenous Rangers, the collected pots will be dismantled, with the netting contributing to OzFish’s Tackle Loop recycling program. Proceeds from selling the

recycled products will be channelled into fish habitat restoration. GHOST GEAR Crab pots used incorrectly, or left in the water when not being used, are becoming a serious threat to the marine environment. These pots, often referred to as ‘ghost gear’ or ‘ghost traps,’ can keep catching recreationally and commercially valuable fish and crustaceans long after they have been forgotten or lost. This can lead to unnecessary loss of marine life and affect biodiversity, impacting the health of fish populations. Ghost pots also snag fishing gear, leading to the loss of many expensive lures. Further to this, pot materials are

typically non-biodegradable plastics and metals, contributing to pollution, microplastics and habitat degradation. Crab pots need to be heavy enough and have plenty of rope attached to the float so they don’t become lost in strong tidal currents. Additionally, they should be marked with the user’s name, and fixed to objects above high water, such as a jetty or tree. Sunken and unmarked pots are illegal. CREATING CHANGE The Great Aussie Crab Pot Recovery seeks to identify ways to 58 APRIL 2024

control the ongoing accumulation of ghost gear into the future. Recreational fishers are invited to contribute to community research and online surveys, to help understand barriers to managing this ongoing issue. If you go crabbing or travel to remote regions for one-of-a-kind fishing experiences, you are invited to fill out a survey at ozfish.org.au/ news. Participants will go in the draw to win one of five $100 BCF vouchers. – Ozfish

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NSW

Coffs Coast

FMM

Plenty of fishing opportunities on Coffs Coast COFFS COAST

Rob Taylor

Everyone has been out on the water getting into the peak of our mackerel run, and plenty of good fish have been caught of late. Both spotties and Spanish have been caught using trolled live and dead baits, and it’s been a typical case of ‘find the slimies and you’ll get fish’. The odd wahoo has been caught up around the islands but the usual run of jellybean yellowfin has been very quiet, which is unusual. The yellowfin are usually thick from February until the end of April, but at the time of writing this report, I haven’t seen many fish caught at all. Luckily, there have been plenty of other options offshore to keep anglers busy. From blue marlin out

Paul Nicholson with a nice wahoo from the Solitary Islands.

We’ll also see the land-based ledges fire up for longtail tuna and tailor, and some big Spanish mackerel will start to fall to big dead troll baits. So far, most of the mackerel have been taken trolling livies. However, bigger Spanish often arrive in April and the best way to single them out is with a huge bait. CREEKS AND RIVERS While most of the action is focussed on the offshore pelagic run this month, there’s still some good fishing to be had in our local creeks and rivers. There’ll be good whiting fishing in the lower reaches in the coming weeks, and I’d be wading the sandflats with unweighted yabbies on a run-in tide if I was looking for a feed of these delicious little fish. The same technique is deadly if you’re chasing flathead for a feed;

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While the author was fighting this Spanish, a shark was in close pursuit and it was a race to get the fish to the boat. past the shelf to snapper inshore, the Coffs Coast has seen a productive March, and this should continue into April.

just use a small, lightly-weighted live poddy mullet instead of a yabby. Lures will also work on both species. Sugapens are great for

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FMM whiting and big glidebaits are deadly on big flatties. April will be the last month to target mangrove jacks. While it’s true they can be caught right up until winter proper, April is a great month to get them in numbers. Try the river rock walls, marina pylons and snags in the upper reaches when you’re looking for jacks. While lures are a traditionally fun way to target them, it’s hard to beat a live bait because jacks find it hard to resist. As a bonus, there’s a good chance a mulloway will also take a liking to your wellpresented live bait. ROCKS AND BEACHES The big news this month for rock fishers is the longtail tuna run ramping up to its peak. Although the season started a little slow, there have been some quality fish hitting the stones, and I’d expect some really good fishing coming up this month. While longtails can be spun off the rocks, it can be a long wait between hits, and I always find that a live slimy or yakka under a balloon will always out-fish lures. Try the quarry in a northerly, or the north wall in a southerly for these hard-fighting tuna. There will still be the chance of a Spanish off the rocks as long as the

water stays warm enough. Targeting these fish always leads to the eternal conundrum whether to use wire or not. I’ll leave it to you to decide. The beaches are a great option

at this time of year, with some good tailor moving through the gutters, and whiting and bream patrolling the shallows. Again, yabbies are a great bait off the beach, along with

The Duncan brothers with a haul of offshore mulloway.

beach worms and flesh baits. Pillies on ganged hooks (or metal lures) are a great way to find the tailor schools. As far as I’m concerned, nothing beats soaking a bait in the surf at sunrise or sunset, so give it a try. You’ll no doubt bag a good feed in the process. OFFSHORE As mentioned, the offshore action should continue this month. Most anglers will be targeting mackerel but don’t discount snapper in close and kings around the islands. Hopefully, there’ll be some jellybean yellowfin and wahoo out wide, and pulling lures will be the best way to find them. Look for water hotter than 24°C and you’re in with a chance. Out wider still, there’ll be some good striped and blue marlin fishing for the game fishers. Look for blue water and troll around the 100m line for stripes and the 200m line for the blues. It’s not a great month for deep dropping due to the current, but always keep an eye on it. We are approaching that time of year when the ooglies start feeding in the deep. All up, it’s a great time to be fishing the Coffs Coast. I’ll no doubt see you on the water because I, for one, am going fishing!

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APRIL 2024 61

NSW

Coffs Coast

FMM

Plenty of angling targets on offer over Easter SOUTH WEST ROCKS

Vic Levett

April is the month for mackerel! While March has seen good numbers of these speedsters, April should see the fishing ramp up to a new level. Now that we’re in the midst of autumn, we should see some very pleasant weather

mostly wide of the 70m mark. Trolling lures has been the best option, allowing you to cover larger areas in the hope of coming across fish. Mahimahi have consistently been encountered off floating traps and DPI FADs, with some better fish mixed in with the hordes of just-legals. Even though we’ve had offshore water temps hovering around 28°C I haven’t

There are still some great size mahimahi on the FADs offshore.

Zane with a nice cobia. April is a great month to target these fish. patterns, with light offshore winds in the mornings followed by a light onshore breeze to come home with. OFFSHORE Spanish, spotted, school and even shark mackerel have all made a solid appearance this past month. The bait, on the other hand, hasn’t always been easy to come by. Pre-dawn starts have been the best bet to secure slimy mackerel off the bait buoys or the inshore reefs. Dead baits such as bonito or small tuna have also been a good option, slow trolled across the northern reefs. Our local tackle shops can supply you with the rigs you need and

heard of any wahoo or small yellowfin tuna yet. Hopefully, April will see them swimming past Fish Rock. We have had some good spells of light current, and this has seen great pearlies and snapper, mostly taken on slow jigs and soft plastics. ESTUARY Mud crabs and blue swimmers are on tap at this time of year. The mangroves around Stuart Point are a good spot to start. Check the NSW DPI App for all the rules, regulations and how and when you can target them. The river has produced some nice-

size mangrove jacks along the break walls, and plenty of flathead have been taking live herring bounced across the bottom. As usual, loads of bream, blackfish and whiting have been available for those targeting them. Cobia have been a very common catch in the river lately, and while many have been micro-sized, there has been the odd better-size fish being encountered. The river has been producing some great trevally in recent weeks. GTs, bigeye and even bluefin have moved into the river.

are a great time to target tailor. Smaller chrome lures of 20-40g or pilchards slowly retrieved through the washes are sure to get smacked. The beaches have been fishing well, with dart, whiting and bream taking live nippers, worms and prawns. Fishing with light leader and minimal weight is the secret. It’s prime time for the land-based game guys to loiter around the headland. While they’re generally a secretive bunch, I have heard rumours of mackerel and cobia being landed. Hat Head, Grassy

Pearl perch catches will improve in the coming months.

A nice Spanish that Kath snuck past the sharks. explain how to use them. Sharks are still a real problem, and extended fights generally end up in tears for the angler. The minimum line class to stand a chance of landing a mackerel would be 24kg and above. Cobia have been in very good numbers this year, and sessions of double figures are not uncommon. While most have been quite small, there have been a few over 10kg getting around. Longtail tuna are starting to show and should only get better in the coming weeks. The few people who have been targeting marlin offshore have reported some black, blue and striped marlin, 62 APRIL 2024

ROCK AND BEACH While tailor are generally thought to be a winter species, March has seen some good numbers of large to extralarge fish being caught. Lures fished off the headlands around the washes seem to be the best areas to target these guys. Low-light periods such as dawn and dusk

April is a great month to target flathead in the river.

and Scotts Head will see the most activity. In the past, most fish were taken using live baits, such as slimy mackerel fished under a float. Nowadays, more anglers are using stickbaits and poppers. All up, April should see non-stop action for all manner of species. Easter will no doubt see plenty of fishing activity and we can only hope that the weather plays ball; it has been known to be rather wet at times. Until next month, stay bent. • Vic Levett and his son Zane run Oceanhunter Sportfishing charters out of the beautiful South West Rocks. They target all manner of sports fish from kingfish, mackerel, cobia and all way through to the famous black marlin of Trial Bay. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced angler, the boys will put you onto the best fish available. To find out more visit www.Oceansportsfishing. com.au, Insta Ohsportfishing, Facebook Oceanhunter Sportsfishing. Email vic@ oceansportsfishing.com.au, or call 0414 906 569.

Starlo’s OPINION

FMM

Out of the blue: NSW sudden blue groper ban NSW SOUTH COAST

Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

On 1 March this year, the regulations covering brown, red and blue groper in NSW waters changed dramatically, making it illegal to catch, keep or (apparently) even “fish for” this common species anywhere in the state for at least the next year. This surprise rule change appears to have emanated entirely from the Fisheries Minister’s office as a ‘Captain’s Call’, with little or no support from her department, zero scientific evidence, and no public consultation. In giving

her reasons for this snap decision, the Minister is quoted as saying that groper are “big”, “bright blue” and “curious”. It seems that these were her major motivations for making these rule changes. However, when presented with a photo of a groper in the chamber during question time, she was unable to even identify the fish. This rule change would have to be THE single worst fisheries management decision I have witnessed in my 65 years on the planet, and my half century as a recreational angling communicator and educator. In my opinion, it sets a simply awful precedent. Fisheries management decisions should ALWAYS be based solely on good science, backed by sound research — NOT on emotion or the anthropomorphic projection of human feelings and perceptions onto the natural world. Being “bright blue” and “curious” are not scientific grounds for complete protection of a species that is under no significant threat, is very lightly fished, and is present in good numbers throughout most of our inshore waters. As a bit of background, blue groper are a member of the wrasse clan. They begin life as females and may be green,

brown or red in colour. They form schools or “harems”, normally around one larger fish which has become a male and turned blue in the process. If this blue male is killed or dies, the next largest female in the group changes sex (and colour) fairly quickly to become the dominant male. Back in the 1960s, as spearfishing became increasingly popular along the East Coast, groper stocks declined rapidly. This resulted in the introduction of a moratorium on taking them by any method. That ban was extended at least once, but by the time it was eventually lifted, groper stocks had rebounded spectacularly

and they were once again one of the most common inshore species along the rock ledges and coastal headlands between Hervey Bay and Wilsons Promontory. Spearing groper remained prohibited after the moratorium was lifted and there were strict limits on line fishing for the species. Prior to 1 March this year, fishers in NSW were allowed to keep just two groper each per day over 30cm in length, only one of which could be longer than 60cm. These regulations were clearly very effective, as groper numbers have

NSW FISHERIES

Have your say on the ‘no take’ trial for eastern blue groper From 1 March 2024, fishing for eastern blue groper (also known as blue, brown or red groper) by any method, including line fishing, is prohibited as part of a 12-month trial, to increase protection of this iconic species. We would like to hear your feedback on making eastern blue groper a ‘no take’ species in NSW, so please head to our website and complete the consultation form. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/fishingrules-and-regs/new-blue-groper-fishing-rule-changes While most fishers complied with the existing fishing rules for Eastern Blue Groper, prohibiting line fishing for a 12-month trial period means the same rules apply for all fishers. Anyone caught contravening the closure and taking eastern blue groper in NSW by any method will face a $500 penalty infringement notice and/or a maximum court-imposed fines of $22,000 or imprisonment for 6 months (or both) for a first offence and $44,000 or imprisonment for 12 months (or both) for a second or subsequent offence. The online feedback form is now open until 30 April 2024; however, NSW DPI Fisheries will continue consultation with stakeholders over the course of the 12 month trial. – NSW Fisheries remained strong, with the possible exception of a few pockets of spatial depletion in some very heavily fished areas close to larger urban centres. Away from these locations, however, groper remain one of the most commonly encountered inshore fish seen by snorkelers and SCUBA divers. In fact, so abundant are they that in certain locations, hand-feeding large groper with sea urchins and other tasty morsels became quite popular amongst divers, effectively “domesticating” individual fish to the point where they would actively approach people in the water. However, throw a couple of uninformed, naïve or ill-intentioned spear fishers into this picture, and there’s trouble in paradise! Over the past few months there have been several high-profile cases of groper being illegally speared in NSW waters. These incidents attracted a lot of media attention (not to mention plenty of confusion between “groper” and “grouper”, mis-dentification of Queensland grouper as blue groper, and all the other nonsense and fluff that typically accompanies a media feeding frenzy these days).

It would seem that a poorly advised Minister who is clearly way out of her depth in a portfolio she has little understanding of, or empathy for, has reacted to this media melee by making a snap decision to ban all groper fishing. This clearly blindsided her own department, who took several days to even sheepishly acknowledge the rule change. One can only imagine what was going on behind the scenes across those few days, yet in the final washup, it’s clear that no one had the courage to put their foot down and firmly say what needed to be said: “No, Minister!” This whole sorry saga reflects very poorly indeed on the department and the Minister, and draws clear battle lines between them and the people who are supposed to be their most significant stakeholders: recreational fishers. I believe it has set back fisheries management and relations between fishers and the department by several decades. It will take a long, long time for trust to be won back — if it ever is. So, what can we do? Most importantly, keep talking about this. Explain the situation to your non-fishing friends and keep hammering the department, the Minister and your local state Member of Parliament to let them know just how unhappy you really are. Whether you fish for groper or not (and relatively few anglers do), the precedent set by this totally unscientific decision sounds loud alarm bells for the future of our passionate pastime. It’s time to draw a line in the sand and say “No more!” If we lose on this one, I fear it’s all downhill from here. This report is the author’s opinion and may not represent the views or opinions of FMM. APRIL 2024 63

NSW

Macquarie Coast

FMM

Hauling in good catches from the Hastings River PORT MACQUARIE

Kate Shelton

Autumn has begun to make its presence felt, with cooler temperatures, lower humidity and some decent rainfall. All going well, we should see some good fishing in the weeks ahead. RIVER, ROCK AND BEACH In the Hastings River, the break walls are still producing a few reasonable bream and flathead. Further up river, the bream

Amanda Lamond and team fighting a marlin during the Port Macquarie Golden Lure. Amanda also participated in the Coffs Coast Hot Current comp and fought a massive blue for three hours, but unfortunately lost it near the boat.

Finn was happy with these mud crabs from the Hastings River. have been active around Rawdon Island, taking both surface and subsurface lures. Luderick numbers have been picking up, with both break walls holding fish. Cabbage is the go-to bait. The flats around Pelican Island and the entrance of Limeburners have produced some good flathead on whitebait and lures, and some quality whiting have been caught in the same areas. North Shore and Lighthouse Beach have been producing good numbers of bream and whiting during the day, with

Lighthouse fishing particularly well for big bream. A few nice tailor have been turning up in the evenings. Mulloway have been a bit difficult to catch, with only a few school-size fish being reported around the Highway bridges and up the deeper sections of the Maria. Blue swimmers have been found around most spots downstream of Rawdon Island, while those anglers venturing way upstream have been finding a few nice mud crabs. OFFSHORE When the weather has allowed, snapper numbers offshore have been well above average. The inshore reefs south of the lighthouse have been consistent, yielding some nice fish to 5kg+. Fresh slimy mackerel and bonito fillets have been very effective, along with the usual soft plastics. Spanish and spotted mackerel are being caught in Plomer Bay and further

south, despite the discoloured water. The FAD has been holding plenty of mahimahi but they can be fussy at times. Out wider, pearl perch numbers have been excellent, with a few trag and the odd kingfish thrown in. FURTHER NORTH In the Macleay region, those anglers who braved the swell were rewarded with

some great offshore fishing. Grassy has been producing good numbers of Spanish and spotted mackerel, along with a few cobia, although sharks remain a problem. In the river, the whiting are in good numbers and sizes, with the sand flats around Jerseyville worth a look. Off the rocks, some lucky anglers have been rewarded with catches of cobia and kingfish around the Gaol and Hat Head ledges. FURTHER SOUTH Further south, luderick and drummer have been caught in good numbers, with Crowdy Head and Perpendicular Point both fishing well. Tailor catches have also been reasonable, although most have been chopper-size fish. A few nice bream have been taken at first light. In the river, flathead remain common in most locations. Queens Lake has also produced some big whiting, with a few fish around 500g reported. Both surface lures and baits have been effective. There’s good news for luderick enthusiasts, with the break walls and Henry Kendall producing some nice fish on cabbage and artificial weed. A few nice bream have been caught from the break walls after dark, with mullet strips working well.

Jason Troy with a nice kingfish caught on a soft plastic.

AUTHOR’S OPINION - BLUE GROPER BAN MORIARTY IMPLEMENTS FISHING BAN NSW Minister Tara Moriarty recently announced the implementation of enhanced rules for the blue groper population in New South Wales. From 1 March 2024, this 12-month trial prohibits fishing for blue groper through any method in the state, with offenders facing penalties of up to six months of imprisonment. While spearfishing for blue groper has been prohibited since 1969 and commercial fishing since 1980, the new changes now extend to include all forms of fishing, including line fishing. The remarkable rebound in the population of blue groper since the bans on spearfishing and commercial fishing indicates the effectiveness of previous conservation efforts, resulting in many anglers wondering why a complete ban has 64 APRIL 2024

been implemented? The fishing community has always welcomed regulations that have been rooted in scientific research aimed at monitoring and safeguarding species populations. However, the recent blue groper ban lacks sufficient decisionmaking transparency for fishers to be satisfied that the Minister is not just reacting to isolated incidents that involved breaches in the current rules. Sensationalised reporting and the media spotlight of these isolated incidents can often spark a strong response from a vocal minority group which could be influencing the Minister’s decision. The lack of scientific research or stakeholder engagement has further fuelled the idea that this decision by the Minister has been made without due process and investigation. This was also highlighted by a recent incident where Minister Moriarty failed to correctly

identify a blue groper when presented with photographs of the species. It is imperative to base regulatory decisions concerning fish species, especially those as prevalent as the blue groper found abundantly along

the rocky headlands and reefs of New South Wales, on comprehensive data and thorough evaluation rather than hasty actions driven by singular events. Stakeholders are asking Minister Moriarty for a full transparency of the decision-making process and to share the research that should underpin the ban. Without this disclosure, fishers are left wondering if the Minister of Fisheries is really representing their interests? – Kate Shelton To give feedback on making eastern blue groper a ‘no take’ species in NSW, go to NSW Fisheries website and complete the consultation form. www. dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/ fishing-rules-and-regs/new -bluegroper-fishing-rule-changes – Ed This report is the author’s opinion and may not represent the views or opinions of FMM.

Macquarie Coast NSW

FMM

There’s some fantastic fishing for rock fishers FORSTER

Luke Austin

Is April the best month for fishing on the mid-north coast of NSW? I think it’s very hard to beat, that’s for sure! The range of fishing options and the amount of fish on offer is always incredible, and it can be hard to choose which species to target. Our estuaries undergo a huge change in autumn, with many species on the move as they prepare to spawn. With consistent showers of rain in recent weeks, we are already seeing loads of mullet and bream making their way down towards the mouth of the system.

the rock walls and in the oyster leases down near the bridge. To target these fish, the easiest method by a mile is to lightly weight a strip of mullet or bonito (or just about anything else!) and float it down into or along a nice bit of structure. For lure fishers, a small grub, prawn or baitfish profile soft plastic with a 1/24oz to 1/12oz sized jighead will work wonders. Remember to always fish as light as you can in both line weight and lure weight. Anglers chasing flathead have continued to find plenty of fish. The flatties will slow a little as cooler temperatures become more common, but if you concentrate on finding the warmer water you will still find loads

Riley with a great April flathead caught from the rock wall.

There are always plenty of tailor schooled up along our beaches and headlands in autumn. Anglers love the autumn bream fishery, and many have already started to take advantage of the number of big spawn-run fish that have settled on

Ryan and Shane with a cracking mulloway. April is an amazing time to be targeting these special fish!

of fish. If you’re not getting bites, try slowing your retrieve right down and downsize your offering to something 3” or under. Sometimes this can make a big difference in enticing the bite, and it can also get more attention from the big blue-nosed bream that are on the hunt at the moment. Plenty of anglers love hitting the rock walls in search of a nice mulloway during autumn, and its definitely one of the best times of the year to have a crack. However, while there are loads of fish there at the moment, finding the bigger models is a bit of a challenge; there seem to be a million school-sized fish waiting to smash your lures and live baits! Once the mullet, luderick and bream start ‘running’, we should see a massive increase in the number of better fish. We just need to be patient! Local beaches tend to be very weather dependant during April. If we get nice seas and plenty of offshore winds the fishing can be very good! tailor and bream have been making up the bulk of catches and the fish seem to be in better numbers on the beaches to the south. Mulloway reports have been few and far between but with spawning fish on the move, now is the perfect time to put in some hours of an evening for sure! Local rock fishers absolutely love this time of the year. The options are endless

and range from soaking live baits (if you can find some) for big pelagics or casting lures for tailor, through to potholing likely-looking washes in search of some drummer, bream or luderick! All of these options are worthy of some effort, and all of them can produce some red-hot action throughout April. Getting offshore in April is always amazing! There are loads of opportunities out there, and you are almost guaranteed to come home with a good mix of fish. The bottom fish are definitely better up to the north. Reports from the south have been tough, with the better fishing coming from right down around Seal Rocks. The grounds up north have been fishing well for snapper in most depths, with reefs in 10-40m holding the better fish. The deeper reefs are fishing very well also, and you can expect to come home with a mixed box of snapper, trag,

pigfish and pearl perch if you hit the stuff out in 60-100m. With nice, warm water still hitting our coastline, it’s no surprise that the pelagic fishery is still charging along strong. There is still the odd marlin sneaking about, and the FAD and fish traps are holding loads of mahimahi – you just need to fish through the small ones! The inshore reefs are also still producing all sorts of silver speedsters (and cobia) so it’s definitely a good idea to pack some wire on your next trip! • Luke is the owner of Great Lakes Tackle – your ‘local’ bait and tackle store. They only sell the best brands and offer sound, friendly advice on where you can go to land your next trophy fish while visiting the wonderful Great Lakes region! They’re open 7 days in the main street of Tuncurry. Give them a call on 02 6554 9541 or find them on Facebook to see what they have been up to!

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APRIL 2024 65

NSW

Hunter Coast

FMM

Live baiting in April can be a lucky dip of species PORT STEPHENS

Paul Lennon

The estuary has been fishing extremely well, with plenty of big dusky flathead lurking in the shallows, waiting to pounce on anything that takes their fancy. The corners of most estuary beaches, where you have sandy patches spread over weed beds, are great environments to target flatties. Known flathead haunts include Shoal Bay, Nelson Bay, Bagnalls Beach, Dutchies Corlette and Wanda

on the change of tides. Use unweighted baits such as live nippers or prawns. When the tide starts to pick up, swap over to the inside of the wall, which has limited tidal flow. Berley is a great addition to this kind of fishing, and will increase your catch rate. It’s just a matter of mixing chicken pellets with tuna oil and throwing a handful out every few minutes or so. Luderick will get better with each month leading into winter. The rock wall at Nelson Bay is again the best spot to catch them in the Port, but you can also get decent catches at Tomaree

Norm with a frigate mackerel. leatherjacket all possibilities. BEACHES From the beaches, you’ll find good bream and whiting holding in the gutters

on Stockton, Samurai, One Mile, and Fingal, with live worms or pipis being the baits of choice. Fingal Spit and Box Beach have been producing some big tailor up to 2kg. A reliable way to catch them is with whole pilchards or gar rigged on gang hooks, and rolled back at a medium retrieve speed. The best times to fish are dawn and dusk. OFFSHORE Snapper fishing has been red-hot around Fingal, Little and Broughton Island, with both plastics and bait fishing methods accounting for good reds to 6kg. The deeper reefs such as the Gibber, 21 and Vee have also been producing a few reds and trag. A paternosterstyle bottom rig has been working best around these parts. If you put a live bait out around the islands and inshore reefs at this time of year, you never know what will eat it. There’s every chance you’ll hook a longtail tuna, cobia, kingfish or marlin.

Dial in on better fish SWANSEA

Jason Nunn

A ripper kingfish caught on a live bait. Head. While flathead are caught all year round in Port Stephens, they usually taper off a little after April, so make the most of it this month. Bream will turn it up a notch this month as they start moving in from the ocean, and most of the local rock walls have been holding some bangers to well over 40cm. The Nelson Bay rock wall probably produces more bream than anywhere else in Port Stephens, with fish caught both inside and outside of the wall. I recommend fishing the outside of the wall when the water starts to slacken off

Big bream will be on the chew over the next couple of months. 66 APRIL 2024

Torpedo Tubes, Little Beach and the Anchorage wall. The bay is filled with baitfish right now, with everything from garfish to whitebait. A range of pelagic species, from bonito to longtail tuna, are taking full advantage of it. A small 10g metal on a light 2-4kg set-up will usually suffice when targeting smaller pelagics such as bonito mac tuna, frigate mackerel, and tailor. If their bigger cousins show up, you’ll need a minimum of a 20lb outfit to stop them. ROCKS Land-based game season is in full swing, and the local ledges have not disappointed, with a few nice cobia recently landed from Tomaree, as well as mac and longtail tuna. The ledge at Tomaree can get pretty crowded at this time of year, but there are other places where you can catch quality LBG species. Fingal Headland will often produce longtails, as will Sunny Corner, and you will generally get these places to yourself. April is a top month for wash fishing from the rocks, especially on those days with a good bit of swell rolling in, stirring things up. Fresh cunjevoi or large peeled prawns, lightly weighted or suspended under a small float, work best when fishing the white water. It’s a great way to pick up multiple species at once, with bream, drummer, squire and

There are still good numbers of striped marlin, the odd blue and black marlin around, from the shelf right the way in to the close in-shore reefs. The striped marlin and blue marlin should stay through April. We haven’t seen as many juvenile black marlin coastally this year as in the past few years. People were getting 15+ marlin a day at this time last year, while this year, they’ve been getting pretty much nothing. The fish have been out a bit wider, with an average size of 50-60kg. That could be because we’ve had inconsistent water temperatures coastally, and the east coast current hasn’t had a clear run to bring warmer water inshore (inside 100m). Some pelagics seem to have skipped our past of the coast altogether. We’ve had one of the best mahimahi seasons for quite a while, with good quality dollies between 10-20kg over the inshore reefs and FADs. We haven’t had huge numbers, which is strange; usually small mahimahi are everywhere, but not this year. Still, nobody is complaining, with all the good-size fish getting around. We recently got a really nice 12kg mahi and saw a couple of others. The fish we caught had a juvenile 12” dolly in his mouth. Just before we caught him, we saw a tiny dolly swim past the spread and then boom – the big ones moved in. We caught the 12kg fish on a cup-face JB Dingo in lumo, and half an hour later, I got a striped marlin on the same lure. We went on to drop a few more fish, but it didn’t really matter – we still had a good time. If you’re fishing around the FADs, live baiting is the key to consistently catching

good fish. That’s because you can put the live bait down on a little bit of weight and get it deeper to where the bigger fish are. Trolling small skirted lures is a good option if you need to cover ground to find the fish. If you get some little guys jumping to chase the lure, you know there’s a good chance of bigger fish in the area. We’ve been getting reports of a few kingfish out on the Farm and down south towards Texas. When you’re planning to fish in this deeper water, you need to be aware of the current. Some days, you can have up to 3 knots of current, so you may need to focus on the inshore reefs at those times. Through March we’ve seen cobia coastally, not only along our inshore reefs but also in our estuaries. They haven’t been big, but they’re still good eating fish. Good numbers of bonito are still being caught along the coast, with some bigger models up to 4kg in the mix. You can troll for them, cast chrome lures or flick soft plastics. Most of the bigger bonito have been caught by anglers chasing inshore snapper, floating baits down a berley trail. Pillies have been working well and have been catching cobia as well. Plenty of good-size trag are still caught on the inshore reefs, along with some nice mulloway. We’re also starting to see the autumn flathead build-up in those areas. One species that’s been a bit slow is snapper; they are there but not in big numbers and sizes. When water temps get down to around 20-21°C, we should see a lot more snapper around, and I’ll have more to report next month.

Hunter Coast NSW

FMM

Get into the action before fishing starts to slow sinking vibes or good quality natural bait for the first few days after a stronger cold snap. A few calmer, sunny days will raise the water temp enough to cast the surface lures again. It’s normally a good month to look for mulloway in Brisbane Waters or the lower part of the Hawkesbury. Although my attention is more focused on smaller species these days, in the past, I spent

CENTRAL COAST

Jamie Robley

Welcome to another peak fishing month for the local area. Although April is normally one of our best months, we can expect a few changes from this point onwards. Along the headlands, rock ledges, beaches and inshore reef, calamari squid, garfish, and yellow-eye mullet are in peak numbers right now. This means predators like tailor, kingfish, mulloway, and whaler sharks are also likely to show up, particularly around dawn and dusk. The obvious way for anglers to take advantage of this is to catch some of the bait that the predators are looking for. Chasing calamari is reasonably popular along the Central Coast. Just out from the mouth of Swansea Channel, the rocks at Catherine Hill Bay, Munmorah, Norah Head, and Terrigal are perhaps our most known and reliable areas for calamari. Still, the truth is they’re generally in very good numbers over any area of shallow reef with a bit of kelp growth. Dawn and dusk are the prime times to chase calamari, as they are also predators. Garfish and yellow-eye mullet can be caught in most semi-sheltered bays, often at the ends of beaches. The mullet are a bit more common and easier to find than the garfish, but both are worth

chasing right now, with small bread baits suspended under small floats. Use white bread as berley and bait, and be careful to use only small amounts of berley. Just a handful of mashed-up bread every 15 minutes should be enough to attract and hold the fish close. A sharp, fine wire size 8 hook will do the job. Keep checking that your bait is still on the hook, as both species are good at taking the bait without hooking up. I also like to use light fly tackle and tiny imitation bread flies for these fish. The beauty of this is that the fish can’t remove the bait, and it’s not a complicated way to fish. An hour or two rounding up some

ROCK AND BEACH There are some good quality tailor around at the moment, with many fish between 50-60cm. Early mornings and late afternoons/evenings are the better times to go, particularly on the rocks. If you combine those low-light periods with a high tide, that’s even better. You can expect the odd salmon to turn up as by-catch. Mullet are starting to school up in the lake and the estuaries, but so far there have been no significant schools moving up and down the coast. We will probably see more of that in the coming weeks. Land-based anglers have been picking up a few bream, and flathead catches have been increasing along the beach. If we get a heap of rain, that will move more flatties out of the estuary and onto the beach. LAKE AND CHANNEL At this time of year, the flathead in the lake are less numerous because many have moved along the beaches and out to the inshore reefs. This is when anglers’ focus shifts to species like bream, tailor and mulloway in the lake and in the channel. There are still lots of squid around, with anglers taking home good bags for dinner or bait. Remember, the bag limit is 20 squid per person. Some really nice kingfish have been

reported in recent weeks, with most caught on live squid on a downrigger. There are some quality mulloway throughout the lake at the moment. If you want to catch one this month, your best bet is to use live squid or as fresh as you can get it, and fish into the evening. Plenty of tailor around 40-50cm have been caught over the past month, with the odd bigger one in the mix. We’ve been seeing a slow build-up of these fish, and their numbers will continue to increase in April. There are plenty of opportunities to catch blue swimmer crabs at this time of year – just be sure to keep an eye on your pots during the busy holiday season. A few cobia have been caught in Lake Macquarie, mostly at the southern end. Recently, a couple of 75cm cobia were caught inside the lake, and a bigger one was taken near Moon Island. It’s likely we’ll see more cobia in the lake in the coming weeks, depending on water temperatures. • Fisherman’s Warehouse Marine, run by Patrick Nunn, is your one-stop shop for outboard sales, repairs and servicing. They are the local Honda outboard dealer (sales and service), and also service Yamaha, Mercury, Suzuki, and Tohatsu outboards, and sell spare parts. For more information call 02 4945 2152, email enquiries@fishermanswarehouse.com.au, or drop in and see the guys at 4/2 Suite Street, Warners Bay.

The author has enjoyed a great run of bream fishing around the lakes in recent weeks. bait late in the afternoon means you can be fishing for the larger targets around sunset and into the night, or first thing the following morning. Live bait can be very effective, but fresh dead baits are just as good most of the time. Having said that, if you put out a live garfish or calamari squid near kingfish, it’s basically a sure bet the bait will be attacked very quickly! Bonito, frigate mackerel and possibly a few cobia are still around now, as are marlin a bit wider out. Closer in along the beaches, bream numbers start increasing at this time of year, and smaller chopper tailor are also likely to show up around sunrise and sunset. Whiting, dart and flathead are other species you’ll probably encounter at the beach. Although the water temps should still linger around 21°C this month, luderick and drummer can also be well worth chasing from the rock ledges. So, the only thing that can slow all this inshore action down could be the weather or big seas. If that occurs, we are lucky to have some good fishing still available back inside the calm water. Brisbane Waters and the lakes also go pretty well in April. Bream are the main species that most anglers will encounter, with baits or lures. Surface lures still work well at this time of year. However, when we get a cold snap, I would recommend sticking to soft plastics,

April is a peak month for southern calamari in our area, so get some decent quality jigs in sizes 3.0 or 3.5 and cast them over shallow reef and kelpy spots. a lot of time targeting mulloway, and found April to be one of the best months of the year. Exactly where you’ll find them depends on rainfall, but generally speaking, I’d be looking at Woy Woy and downstream around The Rip as a starting point. The Gosford end of the system is also worth a try, so if you live closer to that end, get some live mullet, herring, squid or bigger lures and give the tide changes a go at night or around sunrise or sunset. Although cooler days are upon us now, the water will remain warm enough to keep most fish active over the coming weeks. Take advantage of what’s on offer now, because we’re approaching the time of year when our fishing will start to slow down again.

As water temps begin to cool, soft plastics will be the weapon of choice for some anglers. APRIL 2024 67

NSW

Illawarra Coast

FMM

Chasing full moon snapper in shallower water ILLAWARRA

Greg Clarke

On the Easter full moon, the main attraction is always the big snapper that venture in over the shallow reefs along the coast. The snapper follow the moons, tides and weather patterns so we may well get a second crack at the full moon shallow water reds again this month. You won’t

either deep with a sinker or slow trolled to cover a wider area. Big bonito will grab your live baits, too. If you run into a school of these striped terrors, scale your tackle down to get the best out of the fish. I actually broke the world record many years ago with a fish of almost 5kg, so you never know what can happen if you fish light. They can turn up anywhere, and if you can keep them around with cubes of pilchard or the

With a bit of luck, the snapper will come in close on the April full moon, as they do most years. With some mac tuna for bait, you’ll be in the box seat for a few nice snapper. get any holidays this time around to chase a big red, but you will still be able to put in a few hours during the evenings to give yourself a good chance. Anchor over the reefs in close near the Seacliff Bridge, Wombarra Cemetery, Bellambi Bombora, Towradgi, the southern side of Port Kembla islands and the crankshaft area at bass Point, as these will all be prime locations. Tuna or mackerel for berley will maximise your chances, and fresh fillets of frigate or slimy mackerel rigged on a single hook will do the job. Most of your fishing will be done in shallow water close to shore, and no sinkers are required. Just cast out the unweighted bait and let it float around naturally in the berley. When fishing in this manner you can get plenty of bycatch, including bream, tailor, salmon, trevally and even the odd mulloway. There are still snapper over the deeper reefs so don’t give them a complete miss, and there are plenty of other species about this month as well to keep you busy. April is still a great month for kingfish, with plenty of larger specimens around the usual haunts like The Islands and Bass Point out around the humps. Live baits are essential for good results, fished 68 APRIL 2024

like, you can have fun for hours. There are plenty of other pelagics about, with the warm water still creating great conditions for salmon schooling along the coast, mixing with mackerel tuna, frigates, trevally and tailor. Throw in the odd rainbow runner, spotty mackerel and cobia and there is a smorgasbord of action about if you are in the right place at

the right time. The birds will be a dead giveaway most of the time. Further offshore, there are still plenty of mahimahi around the FADs. They have been around since January, and it looks like the warm water will stay a little longer. This could keep them in our area until the end of May. Still offshore, there are a few striped tuna and some small yellowfin tuna being reported. Stocking your bait freezer with striped tuna fillets for the winter snapper may not be bad idea. For the bottom bouncers, there’s plenty on the menu over the coming weeks. Sand flathead are still about in good numbers over all of the sand patches, and with fewer spikies about this month, just about every fish is a keeper. Mowies are starting to make a move, and some of them are good fish over the 2kg mark. We have also been seeing good numbers of small samsonfish and the odd teraglin over the reefs. Throw in heaps of sweep, a few pigfish and increasing numbers of leatherjackets, and have a good bag drifting over the reef and sand. For the rockhoppers, April is a great month, with all manner of species available. Drummer are on the increase in the washes taking cunje, bread and royal red prawns fished in a good berley trail of bread. Bream are starting to gather in the bays and whitewater so we can expect a few to be taken while chasing drummer, particularly during the evenings. Blackfish numbers will increase in the coming weeks as they start to travel along the coast. Big fish of 1kg+ will be moving around all the headlands and holding up in the harbours and bays if we have a bit of

There will be a few mac tuna around this month, taking live baits and lures. These fish make great snapper bait.

rough weather. Cabbage weed works off the rocks, while green weed is best in the harbours and bays. There is still plenty of pelagic action off the rocks, with most of the deep-water ledges producing plenty of bonito, salmon, frigate mackerel, tailor and small kingfish. If you soak a live yellowtail or slimy you may tempt a nice kingfish or mac tuna, or maybe even a longtail. The best times to fish are early in the morning and late in the afternoon. The beach fishing is still very good, with plenty of whiting off most of the beaches. If you have fresh beach worms you are pretty much guaranteed to catch fish. Unfortunately, the local beaches are wormed pretty hard so it can be difficult to get this prime bait. Mixed in with the whiting are a few dart, flathead, bream and the worm-eating salmon that really give you a run for your money on whiting gear. During the evenings there are good tailor on Bombo, Port Kembla, Coniston, Fairy Meadow and East Corrimal beaches. These same beaches (and most others with deep gutters) have been producing school-size mulloway on fresh fillets of mackerel and squid. Some guys have also been catching quite a few jewies on 6” shad soft plastics. Some anglers even reckon they are getting more on plastics than on bait. The big mulloway are still being nailed on fresh slabs of tailor and mackerel during the high evening tides. The estuaries are starting to slow although there are still some good fish about. Bream in particular go from strength to strength in mid/late autumn around the islands in the lake, and the feeder streams. Soft plastics will score fish if you’re prepared to work hard, but bait will still get you a good catch with a lot less effort. Flathead are slowing but they still have their days when they bite their heads off, and virtually every cast is a fish. There are a few whiting down around the entrance to the lake and up on the sand flats around the drop-off. Worms and nippers are the baits of choice. Minnamurra has whiting around the entrance sand flats, and flathead along the entire length. Some nice blackfish are gathering along the weed beds in the main channel below the bridges, and bream and the odd trevally are around the pylons during the evenings so, there is plenty to play with down south. Make the most of this month because the fishing starts to go downhill during May. Good luck.

Batemans Coast NSW

FMM

Gathering live baits is the key to success BATEMANS BAY

Anthony Stokman

After a great month of fishing, and more hot and humid days, we are now Marching into April (pun intended) and can expect the action to continue. April is the last month of the warm water fish season, which can be extremely good at times. We still have marlin, mahimahi, kingfish, longtail tuna, bonito, great beach fishing, loads of sharks, estuaries full of life, and bass boofing upstream. Towards the end of the month, many of us will start thinking

be much better off. We can expect mahimahi to be all over the FADs and other floating bits of structure all up and down the southeast coast this month. They are amazing on the table; just remember the number one rule: don’t overcook them. Once again, livies work best most of the time. That said, mahimahi can be easily caught on bait, plastics and lures of all kinds. Some days, they’ll eat just about anything, while on other days they’re fussier. A times they can be so fussy they won’t even eat a livie. Kingfish have been running quite well up and down the coast – much better than last season for the south coast. They kicked into gear during February and into March, and hopefully, that will continue for a while longer. We can get some good kings going into the cooler months, so April could be a productive month. Once again, livies work best, but kingfish will also take plastics and jigs on days when they are on the chew. March and April are the months for inshore pelagics. We’ve had a

Harry Young has been making the most of the mahimahi run. about tuna, tuna and more tuna. Alternatively, if you are land-based, drummer, salmon, and tailor for you. Offshore, the marlin fishing in March/April is hard to predict. Some years, it can be very good, with plenty of fish around, or it can taper off quite quickly. Regardless, by the time May arrives, it should have dropped off significantly. When you start seeing the green toads, the hundreds of bronze whalers cleaning up the bait on the shelf, and red algal blooms, you know the marlin are packing their bags and heading north. We can’t complain about our marlin season this year; it has been a ripper, and if it continues in April, we’ve got to be happy with that. Live baiting and skip baiting wins every season. The old 8-10” lumo skirt isn’t a good option as it might catch a fish 2% of the time it gets a bite. If you rig it with a strong, light gauge hook, you might get that percentage up to 15%, but I wouldn’t bother. Learn to skip bait and live bait for marlin and you’ll

gummies on the go. Gummy catches have been particularly good. If you’re heading out to target snapper, it’s worth trolling past the headlands to see if you can catch a king. If your boat is bigger and you like to go further out, it’s the time of the year when the current thinks about slowing up, and deep dropping becomes a more attractive option. April onwards is the best time for deep dropping. Electric reel fishing is getting more popular each year, and we’re now seeing smaller models used in 60-100m for snapper and 100-150m for bar cod. These reels are especially popular with fishos who have arthritis or other health issues, like a dodgy shoulder. Squid fishing picks up throughout autumn, providing good opportunities for boaties and land-based fishos at all the squid haunts. As winter approaches, and the currents slow down and the water clears, we should see a consistent run of squid. They are often found in clear water over dark structure and weedy areas. If your boat is smaller and you love estuary fishing, you’ll love April. Our estuaries are still firing, and the fishing could get even better if the mulloway turn it up. Spring and autumn are great times for mulloway in the Clyde River. Catching them on lures can be a challenge so it’s best to use live bait if you want more consistent results. The estuaries will also be firing with bream, flathead, whiting, perch, flounder and so forth. Lures, dead baits and live baits have all been working well on these species. We are lucky to have an abundance of beach worms and nippers, as well as pipis and prawns at times, which are all excellent baits. And sometimes catching bait can be as fun as catching fish. Upstream, the bass have been going READER’S

Doug and Stu preparing to release a marlin. well, eating just about everything, and we can expect the action to continue. If you prefer to use bait, you can get good results on worms, flesh baits, crickets and so on. However, we like to use spinnerbaits, shallow-diving hardbodies, surface lures that mimic cicadas, and soft plastic frogs. That’s it for this month. Enjoy the last of the warmer weather before we grab our jumpers and think about tuna. • Anthony Stokman is the owner of Fish Batemans Bay, your one-stop shop for tackle, bait and valuable advice on how to catch more fish. The crew are always happy to chat about what’s been biting and where, so drop in and say hi. You can find them at 65A Orient Street, Batemans Bay, or give them a call on (02) 4472 2559. PICTURE

Lawson has been nailing the flathead on soft plastics at his home, Long Beach. fairly solid run of bonito already, and mac tuna, frigate, kings and longtail tuna are still on the cards as well. Hopefully, the fishing will remain consistent or even step it up a notch in the coming weeks. Spinning metals is a cheap and effective way to catch these pelagics, but you know what’s even better? You guessed it – livies. I tend to have a livie out while I spin metals or some other fancy lures. The inshore reefs are usually steady throughout April, with snapper, mowies, flatties and

Harriet Crowley with a kingfish caught on a camping trip to Hat Head.

APRIL 2024 69

NSW

Eden Coast

FMM

Some great table fish on offer around Bermagui BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Snapper are increasing in numbers around most reef complexes within our area, which is good news for bottom fishers. The reefs south of Bermagui down to Goalen Head are the better areas, with the wider ones like the Twelve Mile definitely worth a look.

There’s plenty of variety to be found on the reefs in the form of blue and jackass morwong, nannygai, wrasse, and nice tiger flathead, along with ocean perch out wider. In close, anglers are targeting many of these species (especially snapper) on light spin gear, with surprisingly good results. There’s also the chance of encountering a kingfish or bonito for some extra action. For those who like to catch and

Wallaga Lake has been producing some impressive bream lately.

eat flathead, there are truckloads on offer. Close to shore, less than a kilometre from Bermi, you will find plenty of sand flatties. If you travel further out to around 60m of water, you can expect some very decent tiger flathead. On the game scene, we can expect marlin numbers to decrease slightly as the water cools. This usually happens in April, although this year it may happen later. With our high water temps this season, the marlin may linger on and provide a late-season run. This has happened regularly in the past, with some very big blues out over the canyons to surprise lucky anglers. When the marlin do move on, all is not lost because they are replaced by tuna. Yellowfin, albacore, striped, big-eye and more have been recently visiting along our coast, and are starting to feature in daily captures for the game anglers. It won’t be long before southern bluefin turn up as well. Out over the shelf is where it’s all happening, and trolling lures is the best way to find them. Skirted, bibless and bibbed lures work very well, and it’s good to cover all your options until you find what the fish prefer on the day. If the fish are concentrated in

Garfish are a first-class table fish. one particular area, try changing to a berley trail to fish with cubes or live bait. Jigging can also be a fun way to target these species. Around Montague Island, most of the kingfish are larger now and can be seen busting on the

Bread-and-butter species on the chew TATHRA

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

All the estuaries that are open to the ocean have been producing good fishing, with a variety of species concentrating towards the lower sections of the systems. Species such as bream, flathead, whiting, mullet, and luderick move over the flats when the tide rises, looking for crustaceans and worms. Squirt worms, nippers, prawns, small crabs, or shrimp all move about with the rising warmer waters, putting them within easy reach of the predators. If you follow these fish into the shallows, you can have some very exciting fishing, and you’ll often spot your quarry before you make a cast. Baits work best in this situation, but a good lure angler may get enough strikes to be satisfied. Regardless of whether you’re fishing with bait or lures, make the most of the good fishing while it lasts; the fish will migrate when the water starts to cool, meaning we only have a month or two to take advantage. Along the beaches, the fish have been firing in the warm water. 70 APRIL 2024

Whiting have been a stand-out this season, with good numbers and sizes. If you want to catch some whiting, try using beach worms or nippers in the shallower gutters on the falling tide. While targeting whiting, you may also encounter bream, mullet, or even the odd small mulloway.

What everyone wants: big, hard-pulling flatties.

Trevally are hard-pulling and very popular in the Tathra region.

If you want to specifically target larger mulloway, or some salmon and tailor, try the deeper gutters on a rising tide. After dark, there’s the chance of catching an even bigger jewie. Small whaler sharks and gummies will be lurking around at night, too. During the April school holidays, the local wharf is a popular fishing spot. It can be a lot of fun for

holidaymakers when schools of slimy mackerel pass by, providing multiple hook-ups and tangles. The slimies are shadowed by predators like bonito, salmon and kingfish, just to make things interesting. Other species that frequent this location are the usual silver trevally, yellowtail, luderick, and drummer close to the rocks. Garfish are also starting to

FMM surface as they chase schools of sauries. Trolling live slimy mackerel through them will often produce a strike. Alternatively, for lots more fun, use a solid spin stick and rip a popper across the surface for an explosive result. Bonito are often mixed in with the kings, and at times they may be even more ferocious, with fish reaching up to 6kg. On shore, things have also changed. Cooler water and rain in the upper parts of the estuaries

Salmon are a common catch and they’re easy to find in Horseshoe Bay. show in increasing numbers. Out at sea, the reef fishing is very consistent, with many species on offer. Over the closer-to-shore reefs, the kingies and bonito are patrolling, and anglers trolling or drifting a live bait have been getting in on the action. Anglers bottom fishing the deep reefs have been catching plenty of snapper, morwong, some nice pig fish or nannygai, perch and leatherjackets. Close by, anglers drifting the sandy, muddy areas have been getting some excellent catches of sand flathead in a very short time. Quite a few marlin have been caught out of Tathra this year, and there’s still a good chance of encountering one this month. Trolling lures will be the best way to find a billfish this month, and as a bonus, you may hook a tuna (e.g. yellowfin, albacore, or striped). There’s even the chance of encountering a good-sized mahimahi. At Brogo Dam, half an hour from Tathra, the stocked bass are thriving and producing some excellent sweet water angling. One sad thing about bass is they don’t

Eden Coast NSW have forced many species to the lower sections, seeking out warm water brought in on a rising tide. Some species may even be starting to migrate, which is good news for us because they’ll be feeding hard to improve their condition before leaving the estuary. This happens in most systems with a host of different species, including flathead, flounder, whiting, bream, and blackfish. Nippers and worms will account for most fish this month, with flesh baits also catching their share. For best results, try using striped tuna for berley. This can attract some exceptional bream to the boat, and may also attract flathead, trevally, and tasty garfish. If some good salmon are around the entrances, the berley will tempt them, too. For best results, try this in the first couple of hours of the incoming tide when the warmer water first hits. Lure fishers have been catching some flathead over the past month, but bait has been working the best. On the beaches, salmon have been dominating most bags and have been taking both bait and lures. There are also good numbers of bream, whiting and, on the moon, some very nice gummy sharks. There has been plenty of action on the rocks for the lure casters. Frigate mackerel, bonito, salmon, tailor, and the odd kingfish will provide plenty of entertainment this month. And when evening approaches, and the shadows creep over the water, the drummer come on the chew.

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Whiting are one of the besteating fish around. like cold water, and start to sulk through the cooler months. This is your last chance of the season to have a crack at them in this pristine location, so go out and enjoy. APRIL 2024 71

NSW

Freshwater

FMM

Cod feeding actively in preparation for winter above on 24 April which is when I would approach the moon bite with sub-surface, especially if fishing the larger waterways such as Copeton Dam. Remember that the clocks go back

NEW ENGLAND RIVERS

Adam Townsend

It’s no April fool’s joke that this month is one of the best times of year to be out on the water, or outdoors in general. There is a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks. The larger Impoundments around the New England area have been slowly dropping since last month’s report. They are currently at pretty good levels for boating activities and there have been plenty of fish being caught of late, which is a good sign for the weeks to come. At the time of writing this report, the dam levels are: Glen Lyon Dam - 64%, Copeton Dam - 64%, Pindari Dam 50%, Malpas Dam - 90%, Split Rock Dam - 97%, Lake Keepit - 38%, and Chaffey Dam - 85%.

The author loves kayaking for Murray cod in the cooler months. The smaller creeks and rivers have benefited from the widespread rainfall, and the trout and perch species have fired up, feeding on the fresh bait

flowing down the systems. When I target trout and redfin I like to fish for reaction bites first before slowing down my approach once I work out a bite pattern. Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and diving hardbodies are all perfect options for chasing a reaction bite or covering water quickly. Once I’ve located the fish and/or worked out a pattern, I like to throw soft plastics or swimbaits. It’s a slower approach that keeps the lure in the fish’ face longer, especially as temperatures get lower and baitfish become more lethargic. Murray cod will become extra greedy as they start bulking up in the coming weeks. This is when dream fish over the 1m mark can be caught, especially if you’re fishing close to the

At this time of year, cod will eat massive lures as they bulk up for the spawning period.

There are plenty of beautifully conditioned trout getting around the creeks. This trout was caught on a home-made diving hardbody.

A New England perch caught on a small spinnerbait. Spinnerbaits let you cover water quickly and most fish eat them, no matter what time of year it is.

Surface Lures and shallow diving lures in the low-light periods can be very productive, especially in beautiful places such as the New England gorges. The lure pictured is a Bidgee Basher Rat with Shout Curve Point 1/0 trebles. 72 APRIL 2024

edges and in shallower water, where the bait is holding. With the super new moon falling on the 9th, it will be the best time to cast lures such as swimbaits and surface lures in the shallows during low-light/ dark periods. The full moon will be

one hour on 7 April, which means there will be more light in the morning. We have the Anzac Day holiday to enjoy in a few weeks’ time, and after that the cold weather won’t be far away. Good luck to all getting out on the water this month, and stay safe.

Freshwater NSW

FMM

Fish move into shallower water as temps cool HUNTER VALLEY

Nick Price

The bass fishing at Glenbawn has been exceptionally good over the last couple of months, with the fish down deep hitting Gulps. As the water temperature cools and the fish move to the edge, I suspect the fishing will be excellent all throughout winter.

move into shallower water after the hot summer. Keep an eye on your sounder to see what depth the bass are hanging at. There will still be a thermocline that the bass won’t want to venture past. Count down the spinnerbait and work through the timber at the required depth. Other reaction-style lures such as bibless minnows and cranks also work at this time of year, but spinnerbaits have the advantage of being relatively snag-proof when working through the timber. Trout season comes to a close soon and there are still plenty of trout around for those who venture further afield on the Barrington Tops. Lure and fly have been the standouts when catching these trout. Next month marks the start of plastics and jerkbaits coming to the fore. In my next report I will go through a few techniques that are effective as the temperatures drop.

success. A big congratulations to Jamie McBain for organising and all the volunteers. Well over one ton of carp was caught on the day and removed from Glenbawn. The event promoted fishing to families with CARP MUSTER RESULTS Most Carp Caught Junior: Hunter Ali Open: Ron Waken

43 29

Longest carp – Junior Girls 1st: Mia Ali 2nd: Ashlyn Holgate 3rd: Tailani cummings The Carp Muster was a familyfriendly event, with lots of kids getting involved. Winter is my favourite time to fish; I love this edge bite. 2024 CARP MUSTER The Carp Muster was a huge

66cm 59cm 58cm

Longest Carp – Junior Boys 1st: Ollie Franks 2nd: Benji Wentworth 3rd: Jack Avery

68cm 67.5cm 67cm

Longest Carp – Female Open 1st: Hailey Riley 2nd: Kelly Maslen 3rd: Amber Roberts

83cm 80cm 75cm

Longest Carp – Male Open 1st: Stan Harris 2nd: Mitchell Teflor 3rd: Shaun Teflor

Plenty of prizes were given out at the Carp Muster, thanks to the many generous sponsors. April is transition time in Glenbawn and St Clair. I recommend using spinnerbaits and beetle spins in the timber to catch the bass as they

Les with a nice bass that’s almost worth a smile.

81cm 78cm 77cm

lots of kids getting involved. There were over 600 competitors on the day. Jamie organised many sponsors and there were heaps of prizes. You can see the results in the fact box with this article. • If you’re heading up to the Barrington, Glenbawn, Hunter River or St Clair, please drop into the shop at the turnoff to Glenbawn in Aberdeen and ask about the different techniques and what they are biting on. The crew stock all the quality tackle that you need.

FISHING PRODUCTS

Darche Eclipse 180 Freestanding Awning To prove it can stand up to the tough Australian environment, Darche put its new Eclipse 180 Freestanding LED Awning through a comprehensive 30-day windtesting regimen, with everything from gentle breezes to severe gales being thrown at the awning. In testing, the awning held up in winds over 50km/h. Even after being damaged, it was able to repeat the performance with repairs. Based on results and observations gained over the wind testing period, the Eclipse 180 Freestanding LED Awning is rated up to 30km/h winds whilst freestanding. However, Darche recommends that you deploy the included poles and tie down your awning properly using pegs and guy ropes, as Mother Nature is unpredictable.

Not only is the Eclipse 180 Freestanding LED Awning built to last, it’s also loaded with features. There are dimmable LED strips integrated into the rafter arms, with an amber setting to avoid attracting insects. The innovative two-piece backing plate design allows for a fully-enclosed transit cover, maximising weather resistance while still retaining the ability to easily move the awning from one vehicle to another. There are also 8mm sailtrack channels built into the backing plate, giving you the ability to attach a wide range of accessories to your awning. If you are after even more protection from the elements, awning wall kits that increase coverage from 8.2m2 to 16.5m2 are also available. For more information on the Eclipse 180 Freestanding LED Awning visit darche.com.au. - FMG

APRIL 2024 73

NSW

Freshwater

FMM

Scouting around the shallows with big lures BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

April brings almost perfect conditions for fishing and camping in the greater Batlow area. The nights aren’t too cold yet, and the sun has lost its midday bite. Add to this the lack of water skiers and jet skiers, and you’re in for some great days on or near the water.

Big lures like the Mega Cod Angel Bait are perfect for targeting Blowering Dam’s big Murray cod. Although these fish are best targeted at night, you’ll sometimes get lucky in the middle of the day. BLOWERING DAM Blowering Dam has been a hive of activity with water enthusiasts, campers and anglers travelling from far and wide to get amongst the sensational Murray cod and redfin action. Murray cod at this time of the year are best targeted with large lures; the bigger the better. Large plastics, Angel baits, chatterbaits, swimbaits, glidebaits

and even surface lures are ideal choices whether you’re casting or trolling. The best places to troll are the old river bed up around the top end of the dam, and any rocky point or wall. At night, the big cod frequent the shallows in search of a good feed under cover of darkness, so once the sun goes down, it often pays to head up into the shallows and throw around a few big lures. Big golden perch often do the same thing as the cod, so you never know what will whack your lure while scouting around in the shallows in the dark. Golden perch can be caught in the same areas as the Murray cod at this time of the year, but it pays to downsize your lures if you want to target them specifically. The best lures to troll and cast for golden perch this month are the Balista Dyno 60 and 75, Trollcraft Double Downers, AC Slim Invaders, Viking Talisman and lipless crankbaits in different sizes to suit the depth you’re fishing. REDFIN Over the last few months, redfin schools have been spread out all over the lake, from the surface down to 100ft, making it difficult to locate schools at times. This month, however, most of the smaller fish in the shallows will work their way out to the deep water with their bigger mates and start forming massive pre-spawn schools. Once the fish are in these schools, they can be easy to catch; there are just so many in a school and they are very competitive. Additionally, because nearly all the redfin will be holding in around 25-70ft of water, it’s much easier to locate them this month and through the rest of winter. Troll, cast, drift and/ or use your sounder to find the schools, and then drop plastics, ice jigs, blades, vibes or lipless crankbaits and jig up a storm. Bait fishos can do the same thing with worms or yabbies bobbed on a paternoster rig.

Midday ‘metreys’ are the unicorns of Blowering Dam. Anything is possible if you’re in the right place at the right time with the right lure. Whether you jig with bait or a lure, it often pays to add a small 1-2” soft plastic or fly a metre or so above your offering. This will give you a chance of hooking a couple of fish at a time instead of just one. It’s also handy if you’re fishing around weed because the plastic or fly will still be fishable if you happen to foul up your bottom offering. TUMUT RIVER By the time this article hits the shelves, the Tumut River might be in low flow (fingers crossed), making for some spectacular fishing. Whilst it is in low flow, almost the entire river is accessible on foot. This makes it easy to fish, and if you find your favourite hole or section is being fished already (or you have exhausted that spot), it’s quite easy to walk to another spot. Lure and fly selection in the flow doesn’t get much easier. If you’re casting lures, all you need is a few spinners like Rooster Tails, Bling Spins and Mepps Bugs and some little hardbodies like the Rapala Fs and CDs or IMA Sukaris. It also pays to stick to naturalcoloured lures in the low flows because the water is almost always crystal clear. A bright, flashy lure can sometimes spook the fish, so stick with natural rainbow and brown trout colours and you can’t go wrong. If you’re fly fishing and would like

We grow everything big in Blowering Dam – even the carp can grow to 1m+. to target fish with dries, you will have to fish the first hour of daylight in the morning or the last hour of light before dark. Alternatively, if you want to catch fish all day long, it’s hard to beat a small bead head nymph suspended about 1-3ft below an indicator or highly visible dry fly like a big hopper imitation.

FISHING NEWS

DPI celebrates IWD

The red copper john gold bead nymph is the author’s favourite trout fly, and with good reason – it catches trout year-round in any waterway. 74 APRIL 2024

2024 International Women’s Day was held on 8 March, and NSW DPI Fisheries held a series of free fishing sessions to celebrate the day, and encourage increased participation of women in fishing. Events were held in Coffs Harbour, Sydney (two events), Forbes and Newcastle (Carrington) which saw over 170 keen women from all walks of life attend and participate. The women got to celebrate and learn about all things fishing, sharing stories with others in attendance

Freshwater NSW

FMM

April: the best time of year to go fishing ALBURY/WODONGA

Connor Heir

The weather in April is what many anglers consider to be ideal camping and fishing weather, as the days start to become a bit cooler. It’s also

time of year. A consistent flow makes a significant difference to the fishing here. Along with the height and clarity, the flow is one of the first elements I consider when planning a trip. A low flow is always desirable. When the river drops low, anglers

A perfect example of a small water cod.

Fishing tight on structure is important to get reaction bites. my favourite time of year to chase Murray cod, and the fishing can be hot when conditions line up. At this time of year, we usually start to see more consistent flows, particularly for the Murray River below Lake Hume, especially if the lake isn’t super full. As I write this, Lake Hume is sitting at 77%, so we should start to see a more predictable, steady flow being released, which makes fishing the river ideal at this

can often have some great sessions on Murray cod. It’s best to make the most of these opportunities, as we don’t always see perfect flows. Hopefully, leading into winter, we’ll see good, consistent flows with no massive rain events and score some great quality fish. All the small water systems are great options to fish, too, either by foot or kayak. There are plenty of spots to choose from, all with a few hours of

and of course, wet a line and catch a few fish! More women’s fishing days will be held during the autumn

Albury. From what I’ve heard, most of these systems have been flowing well lately and producing good numbers of fish. Usually, this time of year is the best time to catch good numbers, with the bonus of better-quality fish starting to pop up. I’ve been spending a lot of time fishing at Lake Mulwala in preparation for Cod Nationals. Mulwala has been fishing hot and cold, both in the main lake and up in the backwaters. A good thing about Mulwala is that if it blows up on the main lake, you can escape the wind up the river towards Bundalong, and find backwaters and creeks out of the wind to fish. There’s certainly no shortage of timber to fish in Lake Mulwala, but fishing timber isn’t always the key to success. Finding where flow is pushing through, and where weeded areas are on flats, can help you dial in on the fish. It can be tricky to fish weed; most lure styles get caught up in it, which can be frustrating. Still, it’s worth experimenting to see which lure breaks through the weed the best, or even fish weedless plastics. Right now is a great time to be out enjoying the rivers and lakes

we are blessed with in our region. Whatever your preferred species is, there’s something for you to enjoy. So, make the most of the pleasant, cooler days, and get stuck into a few!

This bycatch carp fought hard. Carp are great fighting fish and very underrated.

months later this year. To see what’s happening near you, go to dpi.nsw. gov.au and search for ‘Fish with us’. - NSW DPI Fisheries

Fishing shallow in the backwaters at Lake Mulwala can be a good option. APRIL 2024 75

ACT

Canberra

FMM

Golden perch are switching on in the shallows CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

April is a great time to crack out the light spin gear and spend a few hours casting plastics parallel to the concrete walls which line our three major lakes. The weather in Canberra through April is about as good as it gets, and as the leaves begin to fall, the yellas switch on and head into the shallows, seeking a few big feeds before winter. The same can be said for the big redfin. It’s also possible to catch plenty of golden perch well past sunset during April, as the fish tend to remain active despite the looming threat of a big, night-feeding Murray cod. So, if the river goes quiet this month, pack a handful of plastics in a backpack, switch to spin gear and cast a few wrigglers at Lennox Gardens on LBG, or head to Lake Ginninderra and have a flick near the old police jetty. LOCAL LAKES Lake Burley Griffin has been fishing well over the past month. I have spent many an afternoon fishing for both

Ben Lane with a nice yella from the river.

weeks. The redfin and yellowbelly are on the bite and can be caught using a variety of techniques, right around the edges of the lake, from the dam wall to the College. There is a lot of weed in the lake but this can be avoided by using creature baits rigged weedless on a ned rig. Working the lure slowly helps trigger a response from a passing fish. Don’t be surprised if you get a bite on the drop, as the golden perch are really switched on at the moment. I like to work a weedless rig right in the middle of big patch of weed by twitching the lure continuously on the spot, without winding my reel. The Murrumbidgee River is a mixed bag. A few lucky anglers have converted some large cod in recent

small baitfish here. The yellas and redfin will hit a wriggler or paddle-tail plastic fished slow along the middle of the water column. I have also caught some nice cod in this area while using subsurface swimbaits. If fishing from the bank, try the three wharves which lie at the bottom

Burrinjuck will be worth a fish in the coming weeks.

Sam Hancox with a nice salmon. of Weston Park. These wharves attract baitfish and, in turn, bigger predators that can’t resist a Jackall TN50 worked slow, a few metres out from the wharves. Lake Tuggeranong is in bad shape. There has been a significant algae bloom in the lake and this has affected the bite. The algae also makes fishing the lake a challenge due to the horrendous smell,

coupled with the fact that your lure comes back covered in green slime. Fortunately, there are pockets of the lake that are fishing well, such as the area a few metres out from the dam wall and the rocky ledge behind the dog park. Anglers who have fished these locations and caught yellas have reported landing fish on plastics and small, shallow-running divers retrieved quickly. The first few frosts should help kill off the algae but if we do get rain before then, the issue could get worse. It’s a real shame as Lake Tuggeranong has been a great autumn/winter fishery over the past several years. Lake Ginninderra has been producing some good fish in recent

weeks but most fishos have only caught the occasional ‘pup’. The river hasn’t switched on like the lakes, and it could be that the fish are now waiting for a hit of cold water before switching on. That said, the fast water is the place to cast as the feeding fish are holding in these areas at both dawn and dusk. SURROUNDS Googong Dam is my pick of the autumn fisheries in our region. While we have had the unfortunate confirmation that carp are now present in the waterway, this hasn’t affected

The cod are on the chew at the moment. redfin and golden perch at a variety of locations, and have been surprised by the constant bite once the sun starts to set. One productive spot for me lately has been the area directly behind the Boat Shed restaurant. This area is reasonably shallow but golden perch and redfin have been feeding up on 76 APRIL 2024

Big redfin are cruising the shallows.

There are plenty of salmon about.

the cod bite in any way. It is possible to catch a good cod whether walking the bank or fishing from a boat/kayak. The middle of the dam is the best

Hobart TAS

FMM

Summer fishing has been lasting longer HOBART

Andrew Large

Settled weather has given anglers access to all fisheries in recent weeks across Tasmania, allowing many to pursue their favourite summer and autumn species. Tiger flathead have been biting well from Musselroe Bay in the northeast to Adventure Bay and Bruny Island in the southeast of the state. Anglers have experienced good fishing on the top of the tide just on the turn, first thing in the morning and later towards evening. Tigers have been taken on fresh bait such as arrow and calamari legs. Slowly drifted soft plastics, such as Daiwa Bait Junkie Grubs and Minnows in the 100mm size, have been taking nice fish as well. Meanwhile, Australian salmon have begun chasing and feeding heavily on the influx of bait over the last month. With a marine heatwave still in full swing,

A sand flathead caught while spinning Roaches Beach close to Hobart. this species had disappeared for a time, looking for cooler water. The waters haven’t cooled as they normally would have by now, but for some reason mature fish are present in most parts of the state. place to target a goliath green fish. The cod have been responding well to large plastics fished slow near the edges. Subsurface swimbaits have also accounted for some solid specimens by those anglers fishing from the bank on the way to Shannon’s Inlet. Burrinjuck Dam is another great autumn option. This place doesn’t have the same reputation for big cod like Blowering, Mulwala or Copeton and because of this, it is often ignored by those looking to give their Livescope a good workout. However, I can assure you there are some truly enormous fish in the dam and they do hit surface and subsurface at both dawn and dusk. I tend to stick to the main basin when fishing the dam and always start at ‘The Bluff’, and work my way around the edges on the way to the small township.

Swansea, St Helens, Orford, Dunalley and Cremorne have all experienced great runs of fish to 2kg. Cremorne, closer to Hobart has seen masses of these fish taking Halco Silver Slice lures in the 30-40g size. Sand flathead continue to fire, with Tasmanian anglers adapting to the new size, bag and slot limits well. Some great catches have been taken close to the Hobart CBD in the Derwent estuary and further afield into Storm Bay. Marion Bay on the east coast has surprised anglers with a happy mix of both tiger and sand flathead, which is a little unusual for this time of the year. Drift spinning the many beaches from the shore with a Berkley Nemesis has also been producing good sandies as these fish feed closer to shore. The Derwent and other larger estuary systems in the southeast have continued to produce black bream to 38cm. The best results have come from further up in the mid sections of these systems. Hardbody minnows and soft plastics seem to be imitating the bait at the moment. Last month’s ABT tournament saw good bags taken by some of the best bream anglers in the country. The early runs of kingfish seem to have slowed after an initial burst in December and January. Water temperatures are still high and the bait is plentiful. Perhaps the kingfish have kept heading south with the warm water? This makes sense and isn’t necessarily too early or too late for a fantastic autumn run of these fish. Kingfish are possible any time after the Australian salmon arrive for the year, and this coincides with water temperatures rising and starting to pass through the 14-15°C bracket in late November. Of course, anglers’ chances increase the closer we head toward 18-20°C but I believe from 15°C on, if you are keen enough it’s well worth a try, particularly if you live close to Bass Strait. Be persistent enough to try offshore structure in deep water along our eastern

The golden perch bite has been lasting into the night. Finally, don’t neglect the pelagic fishing this month. The salmon and bonito are still hitting surface lures a few metres off the rock ledges from Durras to Bawley Point, and some decent kings have shown up in the salmon schools.

Anglers enjoying the serenity and beauty of Lake Burbury. This lake is not just targeted for its trout. coastline, in case the YT are holding deep. Being mindful that the peak for these fish is February to April. When I was a child, abalone divers from NSW who were family friends said they often saw kingfish around our coastlines at all times of the year! Anyway, a deepwater knife jigging session just might be called for during our extended warm water event this autumn! Southern calamari are now inhabiting most areas, with the water cooling. Storm Bay, Marion and Freycinet have all been fishing well. The size has generally been small to medium; possibly the progeny of the winter spawn session. Seatrout are all but ready to spawn for the season. Remember that in any one year only 20% of the trout population chooses to spawn. They are still around, just not in the concentrated numbers of recent months, owing to the intense feeding on whitebait during their annual upstream run. Most seatrout now will have reverted to feeding on seasonal baitfish and crabs. On the Tasman Peninsula, close to Fortescue Bay, good runs of southern bluefin tuna continue, with school fish to 40kg available. They are patchy but rewards await the persistent angler. Albacore tuna have pushed into Storm Bay along with SBT, with the latter seeking cooler water than their usual stomping ground on the Peninsula. In freshwater, all our lakes are looking full, both in water capacity and in ‘life’, which is exciting anglers. Gum beetles and Jassids have been keeping the fly anglers entertained, with good hatches being reported and fish taking flies eagerly. Thanks to a wet winter, nearly every lake is relatively full this autumn and is fishing well. Great Lake continues to amaze anglers with the quantity and quality of its rainbows and brown trout. Some of these fish are nudging 3kg but on average fish to

1.35kg seem to be the norm. Bait, lure and fly have all been working well around the extremely high edges, taking fish foraging over new ground. Arthurs Lake has really bounced back this year, with fish to 1.5kg being taken by anglers drift spinning through the many sunken trees covering the lake. Fly anglers have struggled a tad as the water on the shoreline has remained cloudy due to windy conditions and wave action. Large rainbow and brown trout have come out of Bronte Lagoon in recent weeks, with healthy, well-conditioned browns mainly caught by fly and troll anglers close to the shorelines. The Tasmanian Devil lure in Y106 has been working extremely well and may possibly elicit a strike in and amongst the myriad of gum beetles falling onto the water on hot days. This is in stark contrast to the beginning of the season where smaller fish were predominantly gracing anglers’ bags. A little further to the northeast, Lake Echo is once again turning it on for the spin and troll angler, as the fish are feeding well around the edges. Both rainbows and browns have been taken, even on the brightest and stillest of days recently. Black Magic bibbed minnows have been taking mixed bags both trolled and spun, and the Tassie Devil 106 and BR have been performing well too. As always, enjoy the start of what in reality is the extended summer season for us Tasmanians. Although not great for our underwater environment, a marine heatwave provides a plus for anglers in that we have visiting species for longer and a few new ones to chase as well. Please remember fish only visit and sometimes for only a part of summer, so get out there and enjoy this longer than normal annual run while you can. April is a magical month in many ways on the fishing calendar – make this one a ripper! APRIL 2024 77

FEATURE

Fisheries

FMM

PPB snapper and whiting on different paths MELBOURNE

Ross Winstanley

Victorian anglers face the prospects of unprecedented snapper fishing in Port Phillip Bay over the next decade. Recent record snapper recruitment, the removal of commercial net fishing, and active shellfish reef recovery programs, all add up to boom times for snapper fishing. And, net-free healthy seagrass and reef recovery conditions bode well overall, for fish stocks and for recreational fishing in the Bay. However, recent years of poor whiting recruitment and the short lag between recruitment and angler catches, cast a different light on whiting fishing in the short term, and highlight the see-saw nature of the whiting fishery.

substantial marine fishery in the country. And we’re in this position largely because of the combination of three monitoring and assessment programs. The Victorian Fisheries Authority’s projections of how the western stock is faring and what’s ahead for fishers, are largely based on continuous tracking of catches and catch rates, and annual monitoring of spawning success, both focused on the Bay. However, recent changes to commercial fishing in the Bay pose challenges, and point to the need for a fresh approach to catch monitoring. STOCK MONITORING AND PREDICTIONS First among the monitoring programs, there is the long-term commercial fishing catch reporting program. The series of commercial catch statistics from the Bay dates back to 1914, continuing to record

Figure 1. Annual variations in measures of snapper recruitment in Port Phillip Bay, showing the best (2018) and third best (2022) spawning successes since 1993. For both snapper and whiting, while their overall prospects seem likely to continue as far as we can see into the future, there are a few sobering factors to consider. The snapper stock spawning success is critically dependent on water temperatures and Yarra River flows in late spring, while whiting recruitment relies on winter westerly winds transporting larvae from the southeast South Australian spawning region. In coming years, any or all these environmental conditions could alter as climate change intensifies. Separate, but related to all this, the post-2022 reduction of commercial licence numbers for the Bay to eight net-free operators has broken the centurylong sequence of comprehensive fishery statistics that have underpinned reliable assessments of snapper, whiting and other major fish stocks, and predictions for the snapper fishery. What can replace that? SNAPPER FISHERY OUTLOOK Of the snapper stocks around Australia, from Shark Bay, WA, to southern Queensland, Victoria’s western stock looks to be in the healthiest condition, in terms of ongoing spawning success, adult numbers and sizes, and limited fishing pressure. In Port Phillip Bay, we probably know as much about what makes the snapper fishery tick as is known about any 78 APRIL 2024

catches by net and hook fishing, by location, until net fishing ceased in 2022. The resulting trends in catch and, since 1973, catch rates have faithfully reflected the patterns of booms and down-turns in annual recruitment and stock size. Second, since 1993, after establishing the Bay as the main spawning area for this stock, the VFA has monitored annual spawning success by trawl-sampling of recently-hatched juvenile snapper, during late summer. Projections based on yearto-year variations in numbers reliably predict the numbers of juvenile and young adult snapper entering the fishery 2-3 years later, and progressing to the fishery for adults of above 40cm, four years further on. Above average recruitment in 2004 and 2005 supported productive recreational and commercial fishing until around 2015. The exceptional spawning successes in 2018 and 2022 are expected to guarantee the good times for at least the next decade. (see Fig.1) And third, picking up from the postspawning predictions, the VFA’s angler creel surveys and volunteer angler diary program chart the course of snapper numbers, from their second year and through their juvenile and adult life stages. Operating for 20+ years, these programs have provided solid series of catch, catch

rate, and fish length information that track the influence of particularly successful spawning years (e.g. 2005, 2018), and of extended periods of mediocre spawning years (2006-2017). In particular, operating since 1997, angler diary reporting of 12cm+ snapper numbers pick up and follow the path of each year-class, from age 1+ years and as they pass beyond the legal minimum size of 28cm. As well as contributing to the regular stock assessments, the unfolding trends in commercial and recreational catch statistics generally bear out predictions based on previous assessments. All of this has added confidence in the management of the fishery. But right now, there is a big transition in progress. For 100+ years, bay-wide commercial fishing catch statistics provided the foundation for stock assessments underpinning management decisions. For decades there were 30-40 fishermen, each operating with nets and hooks, for 75-80 days/year throughout the Bay. At that high level of activity, their regular reporting provided a solid continuous long term commercial fishery data base, covering about 20 species. However, that all came to an end from 2016, when the number reduced to 8-10 fishermen working under catch limits, during the tightly managed transition to the post-2022 net-free fishery. During that 6-year period, they continued reporting their landings from the wide range of species taken in nets. But from April 2022, under the stringent catch limits applied by the VFA, the only species landed in any numbers were snapper and gummy sharks. Not only were these catches strictly limited, but as they were taken solely by hooks, they only reflected actively feeding fish – not the actual stock present in the limited parts of the Bay fished – and then only during the short season targeted by longliners. Even worse, the commercial hook fishery is proving to be more susceptible to the vagaries of year-to-year fishing conditions than the previous net fishery. Doubts about the limited future value of current commercial hooking data

were highlighted in 2022-23 when the eight fishermen were only able to land 54 tonnes or 60% of their combined 88 tonne snapper ‘quota.’ What does this mean for managing a fishery supporting viable businesses, seafood supplies, and popular recreation? Where can we turn to if, after 100 years, the commercial fishery has ceased to provide the main information essential for monitoring the condition of the dozen or so of key stocks in the Bay? Losing the year-round on-water ‘sampling’ and recording of fish stocks by commercial fishermen has sharpened the focus on the creel survey and angler diary programs. The answer could have been to ratchet up these angler diary programs, involving significant added costs. However, VFA researchers are confident that by tweaking the annual creel survey schedule, all should be well. They expect that refocusing their main creel survey efforts on the peak fishing periods should be enough. The long-running creel survey program has been enhanced by using cameras at key boat ramps around the Bay, programmed to automatically record recreational boat movements, including those of anglers. In 2013, VFA researchers carried out and published a trial of how such an approach might ‘track recreational catch trends and incorporate recreational fishing pressure into stock assessment and management.’ The main goal has been to link creel survey and boat ramp data in models used to estimate recreational catches more reliably. For 22 years, working with scientists and managers, anglers (and commercial fishermen) freely contributed data and insights, participating in regular fish stock assessment workshops. But, from 2016, all that ended, with anglers – now the main source of information – excluded from participating in assessments that are both ‘closed,’ and not reported publicly. MOVEMENTS, MIGRATIONS, AND HABITAT USE During the 70s and 80s, conventional tag and recapture studies of snapper, from Portland to Mallacoota demonstrated the separation of Victoria’s western snapper stock from other stocks east of Wilsons

Figure 2. Annual variations in measures of whiting recruitment in Port Phillip Bay. (Source: VFA provisional data)

Fisheries FEATURE

FMM Promontory. Then from 2011 to 2013, the VFA’s acoustic snapper tagging program provided a more fine-grained picture of annual migration patterns of western stock adults, and of movements and habitat associations of juveniles and adults within the Bay. Results of the recent study were summarised in the Victorian Fishing Monthly September 2018 issue, including key findings for migrating snapper: • Most adults spend October to December in the Bay each year, then leave immediately after spawning; a smaller number remain until April-May, mainly in deeper waters, before leaving. • Adults detected migrating in and out of the Bay across multiple years showed very similar timings and movement patterns within the Bay. • Some adult snapper remain in the Bay through winter, when no movements were detected in or out of the Bay. • Juveniles stay in the Bay year-round, are highly dependent on natural reefs in autumn and winter, and use both natural and artificial reefs in spring and summer. The annual migrations of adult fish into the Bay are timed to meet the ideal spawning conditions that occur in late spring in the northern part of the Bay. In turn, these conditions depend on two things: Bay water temperatures rising past 16oC at the same time as the Yarra River flows produce the post-spawning conditions, including plankton growth,

essential for the progress of snapper larvae. Over the past 30 years, catch and recruitment monitoring records show that it only takes one big spawning event to rebuild the stock enough to support highly productive fishing for 10 years or more. In the short term, as climate change proceeds, this feature of Victoria’s western snapper stock may provide what’s needed as ‘insurance’ for the Bay fishery. A note of caution, looking beyond the next 20 years. Figure 1 shows that, under recent mostly-favourable conditions, the Bay has produced up to 12 successive years of mediocre spawning success. While a single year of boom recruitment conditions can restore snapper numbers, if climate change produces longer stretches of poorer recruitment, the snapper stock and the fishery will be subject to higher fluctuations than we have ever seen. WHITING FISHERY OUTLOOK The contrasting feature of King George whiting in Victorian waters casts greater doubts about the prospects of the Bay whiting fishery: that is, the short period when each ‘year-class’ is available to fishing. Annual whiting recruitment is strongly dependent on the winter westerly winds that transport larvae from the southeast South Australian spawning region. Persistent and strong westerlies during winter usually result in good whiting recruitment, reflected in catches

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between two and four years later. In fact, what those persistent strong westerlies are pushing are the remnants of the Leeuwin Current, a major oceanic feature along the WA’s west coast. This current hugs the southern coast as it trails eastwards across the Great Australian Bight, past the SA gulfs and Limestone Coast, and – in a good year – as far as Victoria’s central coast. It is believed that around June each year, in passing SA’s Limestone Coast, the current picks up larval whiting spawned by adult whiting originating from Victoria. Around October, at the end of their eastward journey, at about 120 days old and 15-20mm long, the tiny whiting enter Victoria’s bays and settle among the southern seagrass beds as juveniles. Most whiting taken by anglers in the Bay are 2-4 years old, so two or more successive years of poor recruitment is always reflected in relatively poor fishing shortly afterwards. SHORT TERM PROSPECTS That’s the position the Bay whiting fishery is in right now, with below average recruitment in three of the past four years (Figure 2). Until 2023, anglers have been happy with the numbers of 35-45 cm whiting, but there are not many of the following year-classes coming behind them. While four years of solid recruitment

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up to 2020 have supported good fishing until now, more recent numbers of post-larval whiting have been low. So, the good fishing we enjoyed until 2023 is expected to drop off for at least the next two years. This downturn may be offset to a degree by the ban on commercial fishing for whiting in the Bay since April 2022. Beyond this, much depends on the influx of post-larval fish in October 2024. These observations indicate the contrast with snapper prospects: with whiting, every poor year of recruitment is reflected in anglers’ catches soon afterwards. There’s a short lag of almost two years between the numbers of larval whiting entering the Bay in late winter and the effect on catches. This effect hits hardest after two or more years of below-average recruitment. It follows that, if climate change produces frequent or lasting disruptions to the Leeuwin Current off WA, and the pattern of winter westerlies off SA, the effects will be felt in Victoria’s whiting fishery. Like other climate change effects, any such impact will be difficult to detect in the short term. It will take some years before any longer term changes become clearly distinguishable from the pattern of irregular recruitment events, beyond those seen until now.

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April fishing in Portland – here we go! PORTLAND

Nigel Fisher

There’s nothing like fishing in Portland throughout autumn. We have had a great run of pinkie snapper and whiting around the bay,

berley trail along the North Shore reef lines is the most productive approach. You can fish from as shallow as only a few metres of water out to about 15m. King George whiting have been biting in this area, and also the water tower and along Pivot Rocks to Black Nose Point. Our whiting are generally good sizes, with some fish even getting to 50cm+. When you start catching those big whiting, it really gets your blood pumping! We have also seen large whiting being caught land-based off the Lee Breakwater, Town Jetty and Trawlers Wharf. Off the beach along Dutton Way to Snapper Point is another great location. You also have the option of upsizing your gear in all these areas for larger snapper, gummies and other toothy species. As we head into April, our summer tuna schools around the shallow waters start to disappear, and the winter schools head into deeper waters around Cape Nelson

The newest charter in town, Kraken Fishing Charters, has been getting the job done. to Bridgewater, and can go as deep as the shelf. There’s certainly a chance of catching some big tuna in the coming weeks. Hopefully, if the weather plays

it’s shallow or deep water fishing. • If you’re planning a visit to Portland, call into Portland Compleat Angler for all your bait and fishing needs. They also stock a good range of boating and safety gear. You can find them at 61 Bentinck Street, phone them on 03 5521 1844, or look up ‘Portland Compleat Angler’ on Facebook. READER’S

PICTURE

Happy customers on Kraken Fishing Charters. with plenty of good-size fish. Instead of just-undersize pinkies being caught one after another, recent years have seen more pan-size fish (33-45cm) showing up. And when the snapper really turn on, you can encounter 45-70cm fish. If you want to catch some pinkies this month, fishing in a

Brad was happy with his new combo, scoring a great fish.

Steve with a great school tuna. 80 APRIL 2024

the game and tides are on our side, we can enjoy some fun out at the shelf fishing for albacore. It’s always a huge hit, especially if they turn on in good sizes and numbers. We have also seen good numbers of makos caught out off the shelf, and great bottom fish such as blue-eye, gemfish, ling and blue grenadier. Let’s hope the weather stays level for some great deep-sea fishing. We are lucky here in Portland to have some fantastic estuary fishing in the Glenelg River, Fitzroy River and the Surry River, all within an hour of us. There are also freshwater lakes and streams within two hours of us, where you can hunt redfin, trout, yellowbelly and even cod. So, if you are planning a fishing trip to Portland, you won’t be disappointed, whether

Tommy had a wonderful time at the Brissie River using pilchards for bait. This flathead was just one of many great captures he scored for this session.

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Tuna are the gift that keeps on giving WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com

April can be a great month here in the South West, with plenty of inshore and offshore options available, with the potential of some nice, settled weather. The kingfish have remained quiet, although school tuna numbers increased as we headed into late summer. Summer seems so fleeting, while winter seems to drag on forever! Particularly so when we haven’t had many really hot days in the southwest of the state this summer, especially when compared to other regions. When you combine

this with prevalent southeast/easterly winds, it’s easy to feel short-changed with what the weather gods have delivered recently. Fortunately, summer tuna are the gift that keeps on giving each season. When conditions have allowed, plenty of schools have been encountered along the coast. Come April, the kings may be gone but there should still be plenty of tuna around. By this time last year, the first few big tuna had been caught. I haven’t heard of any yet this year, but there should be some action on the barrel front in the coming weeks. One potential issue is the recent closing of all fishing off Port MacDonnell area, due to the abalone

Summer school tuna should still be around come April on the inshore waters.

virus rearing its ugly head. Hopefully, some common sense will prevail, and once tuna season kicks into gear, the authorities will allow game fishing, which has no contact with the bottom. Plenty of nice mako sharks have been taken recently, and these should continue to be an option as we head into April. Closer to shore, King George whiting continue to be a worthwhile target; I spotted some absolute horses while snorkelling the other day. Our local whiting fishery is usually more about size than numbers, but I have heard of a few bag-limit captures this season. The local estuaries have been fishing well for bream and perch, even if the average size is down a little. It’s always good fun when they are hitting topwater, which they have been doing recently in the low light periods. There have been whispers of mulloway on sounders, and reports of dropped fish coming from the Hopkins, but no proof of captures. This continues a lengthy, disappointing period on the species locally. Hopefully, some big tides and full moons will result in a capture or two. With the change of season, wandering the local freshwater river reaches becomes more appealing. Not only do the browns start to stir as the water cools, but the estuary perch can also be on the move as they prepare to head down to the estuary

Hopefully some larger tuna will show up this month. over the cooler months. There have also been plenty of bream in the lower freshwater sections of both the Merri and Hopkins, adding to the variety of what you may come across in your wanderings. Packing lightly and wandering along the river banks, flicking soft plastics or hardbodies like the 6cm Daiwa Presso Minnow, is an enjoyable way to spend a session. The likelihood of snake encounters also diminishes as the days get cooler and shorter.

Quality bream and gummies on offer this month COBDEN

Rod Shepherd

Some excellent gummy shark have been taken off most of our beaches of late, but fishing after dark is almost essential. The main beach at Peterborough away from the reefs, Gibsons Steps, Newfield Bay, and Boat Bay right through to Grannys Grave at Warrnambool, have all seen gummies from 6-16kg landed. A rising tide with berley added into the wash, along with sturdy baits such as squid and eel, have made a big difference to catch rates. Mako shark have been on the scene for those in the know, and fish up to 70kg have been enticed to bite. Large, meaty baits such as whole scad, slimy mackerel or even half a dozen pilchards threaded through the eyes onto an appropriatelysized hook has worked. Some fish have been spotted cruising near the surface, and you can catch them with whole baits cast close to the fish and

slowly reeled back. Alternatively, you can suspend your offerings under a party balloon. Southern bluefin tuna to 70kg have been taken reasonably close to shore

by those in the know. Unfortunately, some anglers have experienced the ‘grey coat intervention’. In other words, their fish were attacked by sharks and partially eaten whilst being played. It

A 40cm Hopkins bream taken on a Crap Pea deep diver worked in close to one of the many coral bommies that lie in open water in the Bay of Biscay.

happens, I’m afraid. The Hopkins has been good for bream to almost 1.4kg, and the odd fish well over 6kg. Locally sourced fresh bait such as shrimp, crab, spew worm and brown shell have accounted for most captures. Shrimp and crab-patterned soft plastics have also been attracting fish. The water in front of the cliff faces that drops into 2m+ has been a good area to try. Also, any coral bommies that can be found with your sounder out in the open, opposite the institute, should have fish holding tight and probably feeding. Estuary perch captures have been common for those in the know, right along the entire length of the Curdies River. One successful method is to cast a hardbody minnow lure close to the bank and quickly jerk it under, then erratically work it back to you. Sometimes, long periods of blank casting can suddenly be rewarded with several fish taken in one area. This points to some sort of social gathering. APRIL 2024 81

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Find new targets as kingfish numbers decrease GEELONG

Neil Slater slaterfish@gmail.com

April is here! This month, we should see an increase in the size and quantity of King George whiting, while the kingfish opportunities will fade as we near the end of this month. As the margins of our lakes get colder, the trout will be found in the shallows of Stoney Creek and Wurdee Boluc reservoirs.

Keep an eye out for salmon schools in Corio Bay in the coming weeks. BARWON RIVER ACCESS FOR BOATIES Victoria Fisheries Authority (VFA) and others have worked closely with the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA), Transport Safety Victoria (TSV ) and Geelong Waterski Club for 4-5 years with regards to negotiating the proposed new waterway rules: opening an additional 6.5km of on-water boating and fishing access on the Barwon River between the upper and lower breakwaters on the Barwon River in Geelong! Previously, this area had been restricted to waterskiing only. A survey held from 7 February to 6 March was the final consultation step to ask the community what they thought about the idea. This represents an amazing step to open up the Barwon to fishos and showcase what could be an epic fishery, thanks to the 265,000 estuary perch VFA and its partners have stocked into the Barwon since 2018. If the proposal is supported, VFA 82 APRIL 2024

and its partners can work with Better Boating Victoria towards a new boat ramp to service the area! There has been a fair estuary perch topwater bite in the Geelong section of the Barwon River after dark. I’ve fished it a bit lately, and although the estuary perch stocked by VFA are still quite small, anything topwater is great fun! I’ve caught them on small stickbaits and prop baits. Nothing too big, and it does take a few casts to get one to climb on. I’ll figure that out eventually! I’ve had the best success on mild nights with insects buzzing about the place. These stocked estuary perch don’t mind travelling, either. I’ve had reports of them being caught from the Barwon Heads boat ramp jetty and as far upstream as Winchelsea. It’s also possible to catch them during the day, which Kelvin Baldwin did recently. He caught and released a few perch using lime green, singletailed grubs worked slowly along the bottom. I’ve also caught a few on small diving lures like StumpJumpers in size 3.5, and again, the lime green seems to work. CORIO BAY There have been plenty of Australian salmon around the 50cm size busting up on the surface inside Corio Bay. They can show up anywhere, but hotspots include Point Henry, Point Wilson, from Limeburners boat ramp to the Geelong waterfront, and pretty much anywhere else on any given day. Calm conditions can help you locate the salmon, as they form a ripple when

Try live baits like this small calamari for kingfish over April.

Kingfish numbers will thin out towards the end of April. This fisho boated a ripper around 80cm which really pulled the kinks from his line. moving about the surface. Undersized pinkies have been murderous for bait fishos; these little fish have been pinching everything that hits the water. There was a school of them on the Geelong side of Point Henry that literally blacked out the sounder for 100m in every direction for a while. If you end up on a school of them, switch to soft plastics, larger baits, or move. CLIFTON SPRINGS TO PORTARLINGTON There have been piles of undersized to 33cm whiting along the stretch from Point Henry to Portarlington, and you have to get through a lot of expensive pipis to bring home a bag of them. Luckily, squid have offered themselves up as bait, and there has been good numbers caught by anglers drifting the weed beds here. PORTARLINGTON TO QUEENSCLIFF Consistent numbers of bettersized whiting have been around St Leonards, Indented Head and Queenscliff. Better fish either side of 40cm have been taken near the grass beds just north of the Queenscliff harbour, and 35-38cm around Indented Head and St Leonards – especially when the tide runs. Plenty of anglers have been chasing kingfish in The Rip. Jigs and live bait have been doing most of the damage. If you can get yourself a few small squid, you’ll be in with a good chance as the water cools throughout April. BASS STR AIT There have been good schools of southern bluefin tuna from 15-35kg out off Baron Heads. They have been located in depths of 15-55m, so move about and see if you can spot any. The last time I was out with Dave Reynolds, we saw plenty of schools,

but they were impossible to catch in the arvo. I threw a whole tackle shop at them and never had a single follow after committing three or four hours chasing these mongrels! Apparently,

The EPs in the Barwon have been a success story so far. We’ll get more opportunities to enjoy the river if boat access is granted to the public. there was a decent bite right on sun-up, with a few anglers bagging fish to 35kg on trolled skits and stickbaits cast into the schools. This was while we were out feeding sevengill and banjo sharks off Jan Juc! Yellowtail kingfish are always a popular target, but April is when they taper off. At the time of writing, angers were getting stuck into a few solid fish to 80cm trolling Glug-Go soft plastics out off Collendina and Thirteenth Beach. LORNE Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club reports that those fishing from boats have enjoyed plenty of calm days,

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FMM allowing anglers to get out several times each week. The flathead have still been biting very well, with lots of big tigers and the odd yank among the sand flathead. There are plenty of pinkie snapper being caught but not too many fish over the 40cm mark. King George whiting captures are on the increase with some real whoppers being landed. Gummy and school sharks have been fishing well, with lots of small ones being caught and released. There have been big schools of yellowtail scad (aka yakka) and slimy mackerel all over the place when the water has been 19°C. Anglers have also enjoyed captures of nannygai, trevally, flying gurnard, tarakihi

Max is getting pretty good at squid fishing.

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(jackass morwong), blue morwong and sweep while targeting snapper. The Lorne Pier has been producing a wide variety of fish, including good numbers of whiting, mullet, trevally, salmon, snapper, calamari and even a couple of kingfish! 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 997348. 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).

FISHING NEWS

Trout cod reintroduced into the Upper Goulburn

Endangered Trout cod (Maccullochella macquariensis) have been reintroduced into the Upper Goulburn River to re-establish the historical population and help take another step towards recovering the precious endangered native freshwater fish species! Although long suspected to be a separate species from Murray cod, trout cod (or blue-nose cod) were only formally recognised in 1972. The species doesn’t grow as large as Murray cod (commonly 40-50cm and less than 5kg, maximum 85cm and 16kg) and is distinguished by a protruding upper jaw, lack of markings on the head, except for a horizontal stripe and some more pronounced spots on the body (absolutely gorgeous fish species).

Taylor Hunt carefully releasing a trout cod into the Upper Goulburn River. Like many other Australian freshwater fish species, trout cod were once abundant across the Murrindindi Shire, northern Victoria and the Murray-Darling Basin, however a range of factors, including barriers to fish migration and loss of habitat, have restricted populations to just a handful of locations today. To help conserve and rebuild remaining populations, the species is almost fully protected from fishing harvest. The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) are committed to recovering

River planned for next Summer. So, if you are up Jamieson or Kevington way, perhaps even wetting a line in the river, keep your eyes peeled for a pretty looking cod – as it just might be one of our trailblazers helping to re-establish their numbers in the Upper Goulburn River and ultimately across

A beautiful trout cod after being caught at Lake Sambell, prior to translocation to the Upper Goulburn River. native threatened fish species such as trout cod and have been working for many years on restocking programs and habitat restoration to bring back populations. In early February 2024, these efforts took a step further when VFA, Arthur Rylah Institute researchers and recreational fishers intensively surveyed lakes Sambell and Kerferd, near Beechworth in northern Victoria to catch mature trout cod using electrofishing, fyke netting and mesh netting methods. The trout cod were transported to the Upper Goulburn River (upstream of Lake Eildon and Jamieson) where they were inserted with acoustic tags by fisheries scientists and then released into their new riverine habitat.

The acoustic tags will help the team monitor survival and movement of translocated trout cod to inform future translocations as a strategy to re-establish trout cod populations. Interpretive signage is being installed at access points along the river to let recreational fishers and the public know trout cod are present in these waters and how they can help to care for them.

Dr Corey Green and Craig Eury, a local recreational fisher, with a trout cod just prior to release into the Upper Goulburn River.

Recreational fishers such as Robbie and Holly Alexander assisted in the catching of trout cod.

Trout cod were historically present in the Upper Goulburn River and this release will kickstart re-establishing the population prior to the stocking of trout cod fingerlings into the Upper Goulburn

Prior to release, the trout cod were surgically inserted with acoustic tags. Dr Corey Green of the VFA will monitor their survival and movement. northern Victoria and the MurrayDarling Basin. Remember if you catch a trout cod by accident, they are fully protected and need to be returned carefully to the river. If you are fishing with bait, we recommend the use to circle hooks, to limit gut hooking. By re-establishing populations of trout cod across the Murray-Darling Basin, we move closer to downlisting the species and bringing back another option for recreational fishers to catch, which is the ultimate goal of the National Trout Cod Recovery Plan. • If you’d like to chat about trout cod or share your latest fishing report, feel free to contact Taylor Hunt, VFA Fisheries Manager on 0418 478 028 or taylor. hunt@vfa.vic.gov.au. – Taylor Hunt APRIL 2024 83

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East Gippsland bound to Lake Tyers PORT PHILLIP BAY WEST

Alan Bonnici alan@fishingmad.com.aua

The fishing has been very good in Port Phillip Bay and around Melbourne in recent weeks. The volume of catches and variety of species to target right now is brilliant, with the water temperatures still hovering around 20°C. I love staying local and catching plenty, but lately I have found myself

Al with his first dusky of the trip. even up further to Mallacoota. However, I have been homing in on Lake Tyers, making multiple trips. I hired an Airbnb only minutes from the main boat ramp and fished the entrance, Fishermans Landing, Mill Point and several of the arms. You could spend months fishing Lake Tyers because of its size and scattered channels, fishing areas with almost no boat traffic and discovering almost untouched grounds. My first trip was out fishing with Jason from On The Edge Lures. We fished off his small tinny and headed straight to the entrance opposite the crashing waves, which was protected by a small sand bar opposite rolling hills. We couldn’t believe our luck when we landed five dusky flathead over 60cm and five bream over 35cm in the first couple of hours. The temptation when fishing here is to use heavy gear and throw massive swimbaits and glidebaits. However, we caught many dusky flathead using

Sean with his PB flathead on a new kayak. on the road travelling back and forth to East Gippsland. I’ve had several trips to Lake Tyers which has been phenomenal. It’s a 5-hour drive from Melbourne to chase big dusky flathead, big bream and lots of other species, too. Chasing that elusive metre flathead has become an obsession, and it’s great fishing for them in a beautiful setting where the river meets the sea. The surrounding areas are also amazing for fishing, and I’d love to spend six months up here fishing daily. There are so many amazing systems, including Gippy Lakes, Bemm River, Lakes Entrance, Metung, Marlo and

finesse gear, flicking small lures including shallow-diving cranks and minnows. It was so much fun catching these magnificent dusky flathead on 1-3kg rods

with 6lb line and 5lb leaders. There were some tense moments, as flathead have bristly mouths that can shred leaders, depending on how the treble has engaged. The only thing better than catching these fish on light spin gear was releasing them and seeing them swim off strong. It’s great to see the slot size limits in effect (55cm is the maximum size you can keep). My first day fishing with Jason we landed eight dusky flathead and countless bream. Releasing every fish caught was a thrill. The majority of fish caught was using Jason’s Breamin 45 shallow-diving crank lure in silver which was dynamite. It allowed us to target multiple species at once which was great. The majority of our fishing done that day was sub 2 metres deep. We fished again the following morning, this time working the small drop-offs with a variety of lures and plastics, including small vibes, blades, Squidtrex in 55mm, TT Switch Prawns, and the usual 2.5 in GrubZ. It was full moon and a bit slower going but we slowly got into a groove, catching several bream over 40cm and three dusky

Sam Nguyen was thrilled with his PB flathead.

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the morning throwing big 150-180mm swimbaits, but only managed to land a few tailor. We didn’t find that metrey flathead but it was still a fantastic trip with amazing scenery, great catches and good company. I couldn’t resist the temptation to return the following weekend, this time with a few mates, all of us in kayaks. We had to battle tougher conditions on this trip; the wind for several days was sitting around the 40km mark. We launched from Fisherman’s Landing and Mill Point and fished zones hidden from the wind, making our way up the various arms. I decided to mainly fish the shallow edges and structure for bream, and

Lakes Entrance, which was a lot of fun. We also caught a few gars and mullet on floats. It truly is a wonderful destination and I encourage all readers to get up there at some stage as the fishing and scenery are special. The volume of bait, garfish, prawns, tailor, big flathead and bream is amazing. We also caught whiting, pinkies and poddy mullet. There will be some amazing footage on the FishingMad YouTube channel released soon so I encourage you to watch it. Take care, everyone. I’ll be staying local next month and will have a lot to talk about fishing around Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay. Until next

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The Breamin 45 accounted for most of the fish caught on a recent trip. APRIL 2024 85

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Fish smarter, not harder, for consistent results PHILLIP ISLAND

Craig Edmonds

Conditions have settled a little and the reports are more consistent now for all species, with even the weather better than what we had during the summer period. The fish have been a lot more predictable, and while numbers have been a little low, the quality has been much better.

Richard with a quality Westernport gummy. Tuna have taken up most of the reports, with the better weather opening up the offshore fishery. For the first time in many years, we have also seen a lot of activity with mako sharks and blue sharks, most of which are there for a feed of tuna. Some anglers have been

and with the cooler water the table fish taste even better. Whether you’re fishing offshore, in the bay or off the land, you will still catch most of your favourite species. The numbers might be a little lower but the average size can be bigger. Also, you often don’t need to spend as long on the water. In autumn and winter, many customers ask me whether they need to fish different areas, or change baits, rigs, and times of the day. In reality, nothing much needs to change. Try all the spots you would normally travel to, and use the same baits as you would in summer. The biggest change is warmer clothes. As temperatures continue to drop, the big snapper will disappear from in the bay but will still be found offshore. Flathead seem to increase in school size and in closer, which has a bit to do with the more settled weather conditions. In between the whiting and gummies in the bay, a few draughtboard sharks will start to show up. However, when you are catching the quality of gummies and whiting that you normally do this time of the year, you can put up with it. The tuna get bigger as the water cools, with school-size fish being replaced by barrels. Chasing barrel tuna can be far more expensive and frustrating than chasing school fish because the barrels don’t congregate in big schools. Be prepared to spend a lot of money on fuel. While you’re at it, be sure to bring your bottom bashing gear. If the tuna aren’t there or don’t want to play the game, there’s a good chance you’ll get a nice feed of flathead or a gummy on your way home in winter. While you are traveling around the bay during the cooler months, keep a

Sometimes you don’t need a big lure – you just need the right one. a good spot, but often it’s just that the second boat saw the first boat, and then everyone followed suit. It’s a similar story offshore, but the more successful anglers know better than to rely on other people’s judgement. These fishers troll with one eye on the sounder and one hand on the GPS button to mark ground they see. With the cost of living increasing, a good way to save money is to catch your own bait. Leave the ramp 20 minutes earlier than you were going to, even if

you are heading up the bay, and throw a few lures over. You could catch salmon, mackerel, couta and squid. When vacuum sealed and frozen, they will be perfect baits for the season ahead, and cost you no more than a bit of time. That’s it for this month. Hopefully we’ll all have some good fishing as winter draws closer. The weather forecasters say this winter will be mild and warmer than normal, which probably means floods and snow, based on their summer predictions!

FISHING NEWS

Tide-To-Tip clean up

On Tuesday 20 February 2024, OceanWatch Australia held a TideTo-Tip clean-up event in Port Stephens. This event saw more than 10 NSW DPI Fisheries staff members assist oyster farmers and other members of the fishing industry collect rubbish from the ocean in an effort to clean up local waterways in the Port Stephens area. The event was a resounding success, with large amounts of rubbish removed from the waterways. To date, combined clean

ups have removed over 42,560kg of waste from our waterways. A summary of the waste will be documented and analysed by the Australian Marine Debris Database, which is a program run by Tangaroa Blue Foundation. NSW DPI Fisheries encourages all water users to dispose of rubbish and discarded or unwanted gear appropriately and responsibly. For more information on Tide-to-Tip and upcoming events, visit www. nswoysters.com.au/clean-ups. – NSW DPI Fisheries

Steve with a typical Westernport Bay mixed catch. specifically targeting the sharks, but most shark reports have come from people seeing them in schools of smaller tuna. As autumn progresses, the only real change in the fishing is you will be looking for a jacket on your way out the door. There will be plenty of fish around, 86 APRIL 2024

sharp eye on your sounder and look for some ground you might not have seen or fished before. Just because no one is fishing there doesn’t mean that the area is no good. Anglers are like sheep sometimes, and like to head to where there is a boat. That boat may be on

Successful Tide-To-Tip clean up events have collectively removed over 42,560kg of waste from local waterways.

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Bream are back, and they are biting big time! GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

We have been waiting and hoping for the bream to fire up, and expectations have been very high. Traditionally, after any big flood, the bream really fire up. This time,

weighing the biggest ones. Within the first hour, I had caught about 10 fish, including one 46cm fish and two 44cm models. I knew then I was in for a very big day! I went on to catch lots of 37-39cm fish, and around midday, I found a school of bigger bream and pulled in some rippers between 41-44cm. I punched their weights into my phone, and in the end when picking the best ones, it came to a comp bag of five bream going 7.12kg. By 3pm I was driving home, having stacked up an amazing 60 bream. That same day, I caught up with comp guru Mario Vukic and young gun Mikey. Their biggest bream went 1.71kg, and they also put a comp

vertically for cricket scores of bream. He watched me land a couple of bream, and in less than five minutes he’d mastered the technique and started stacking up a huge tally. I’ve talked about my jigging or ‘tea bag method’ for years, and I’m surprised only my close mates use the method. I would have thought comp anglers would love this technique because you can stack up big numbers and often very big bream. For instance, we released around 130 bream that day, with nearly all of them on small metal blades. Ben Hotchkins fished the same area soon after, and bladed up about 30 bream for a half-day session. They were all ripper fish between 30-40cm. Hardbody lures are now tricking a lot of bream out in the lake shallows. He is well aware of how bream will eagerly eat blades, with a method I call ‘The Lipton Lift’. During a more recent trip, Ben stacked about 15 big bream to 44cm on the Muss lure, but more about that next time. FISHING THE SHALLOWS I have also been searching in the shallows recently, and on one occasion, I landed about 10 nice bream on hardbody lures in less than a metre of water. I then threw blades out with super long casts in skinny water and started whacking some big bream, with the best going a nice 43cm. You can expect this exciting lake fishing to really ramp up this month, and it should last until about the end of June.

The author with a 46cm bream just over 1.5kg, one of 60 fish for the day. This one was caught on a blade. we had three big floods in a row, all within two months; would this equate to an even bigger boom in bream numbers? It sure has! The fishing has been exceptional, so this month, it’s all about the mighty black bream. BREAM BOUNTY March is generally when the Gippy Lakes bream start to really fire up, and April gets even better. The hot weather slows the rivers, and the cleaner saltwater pushes way up around Raymond Island, Loch Sport, and Hollands Landing. That’s where my report begins. The bream started to trickle in towards The Straits around the middle of February, and I was getting a handful, but with a lot of searching. Then, right on cue for this time of year, the water came streaming in towards Lake Wellington, literally at a rate of knots. Probably at about 3 or 4 knots, to be precise. It just so happened I was there that day. I didn’t start until 9am because I’d slept in (quite unusual for me), and the bream came in with the flow and started to bite their heads off. My sounder filled up with fish, and they looked big! I started to pull a fish in with just about every cast of my lure, and I got my digital scales out so I could start 88 APRIL 2024

Mitch Chapman never misses out on a hot bream bite. This bream was caught on a tea-bagged blade. bag together around 7kg. Mario was amazed at how the big bream had suddenly turned up when, just a week before, it had been nearly impossible to land a single fish. JIGGING BLADES That evening, I contacted my buddy Mitch Chapman and told him the truck bream were back and biting. The very next day, we were lifting in the first bream before 8am. It was quickly apparent that even more bream had arrived, and both of our sounders were showing an enormous number of fish just about everywhere we fished. The straits flow had turned around, and it was starting to run very dirty again by lunchtime. I told Mitch this would probably shut the bite down, but incredibly, it only turned the fish on even more. Mitchy is one of the best anglers I’ve ever met, and he gave me my first blade lure 15 years ago, but I was surprised he wasn’t aware of my technique of jigging blades near

FISHING NEWS

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East Coast

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Great conditions and plentiful rock flathead PORT ALBERT

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

Just when I thought the fishing was winding down in this area, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the flatties, whiting and even pinkie snapper are still turning up in big numbers. With calm and warm

weather on the horizon, it may even keep going for the next few months. SURPRISE ROCKIES Does this happen to you as well? You head off to a certain location thinking, “Today is going to be tough, if not a total flop”. You remember that your last visit was extra quiet, and you think the trip ahead will only be worse. Then, to your total surprise, you

Mick Selzer caught one of the last estuary perch for the season. They seem to have disappeared for now.

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mechanics, a reading light or simply lighting up your tent or campsite. Thanks to a magnetic stand, you can attach the lights to any magnetic surface or use the carabiner to attach them to a hanging point. B o a st i ng a rechargeable 1200mAh lithium battery, Darche Mini LED lights benefit from four light modes to accommodate whatever illumination you require: low, medium, high, and turbo. There’s also a red light setting to use at night, and a flashing red option for emergencies. An IPX5 rating resists the wetter weather – so you can brave wintery conditions after dark. Packed compactly with a USB C charging cable into a convenient carry case, the included carbiners keep your camp kit tidy. Each light weighs just 78g, and the 3-pack kit retails for SRP $129. For more information visit darche.com.au. - FMG

experience a super-hot day, hooking a mountain of great-sized fish. My last trip to Port Albert was a prime example of that scenario. I was expecting the worst, and not long after I arrived, I nearly turned around and went home! But there was no wind, and the water looked beautiful. At first, it was very slow going, and I accepted my fate would be grim. Then, all of a sudden, bingo! I started hooking big rock flathead one after the other, and even a few pinkies and trevally. The rockies were all well above average and sat on my ruler between 40-50cm. By home time, I had caught (and mostly released) around 25 ripper flatties, with a few nice yank flathead as well. Every fish was caught on Hurricane Sting 37 blade lure. I also dropped quite a few large flatties. I kept the trevs for prime sashimi and two small pinkies for the pan. That night, we dined on fresh sashimi and deep-fried rock flathead when I’d thought that morning we’d be stuck with baked beans. WHITING Once again, I bumped into my old mate who seems to fish even more than me. I watched him once again fill his fishing creel with whiting, with most of them looking an easy 38cm. At that stage, I was wondering why in the hell I didn’t bring my bait pump for getting some nippers, or even just pulled a bag of mussels out of my freezer before I left. Judging by that great haul, I predict that the whiting will keep showing up over the next two months, and even go through winter again like they did last year. ESTUARY PERCH On a negative note, I haven’t landed a single Port Albert perch. That makes two trips in a row where I’ve drawn a blank. I wouldn’t be too concerned if

it was in another area, but for about six years I have never missed at this location – until now. Of all the species I chase, the one species that continues to baffle me is the EP. They turn up or disappear when you least expect it and seem to break all the rules – the kind of rules you can sort of bank on with other species. I’m quite sure the EPs will return, but I have no idea when! It may take a year or, sadly, even two. LOOKING AHEAD As the days shorten, the water will slowly cool down. This can actually fire up a few of the fish, like snapper, gummies and King George whiting.

Flathead can’t resist the Hurricane Sting blade, and this lure has caught so many fish. The author had to repaint it and tie on new hooks. The bonus is you will also have calmer weather because from April through to the end of July is historically the best time of year for great fishing conditions. You will find that the flatties will just about disappear in the middle of May and will be replaced by an early run of small salmon. APRIL 2024 89

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East Coast

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Southern end of lake producing a variety of fish MALLACOOTA/EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

Over the past month we’ve had some great fishing in the area, with both the lake and offshore fishing well. The water is at its warmest around this time of year. There are good gutters along the local beaches, and with all the

The Bottom Lake has been fishing well for black bream. This one was caught on a soft plastic.

warmer water about there have been a variety of species caught. When fishing the entrance area, you can expect to catch yellowfin bream and sand whiting, along with salmon and tailor. Down towards Tip Beach you can encounter the same species, and the best time to wet a line is the rising tide around dawn and dusk. We’ve had some good reports from anglers heading offshore chasing a feed of flathead. Both sandies and tigers have been caught in good numbers. As long as the warm water hangs around the fishing will remain good, but as temperatures drop the fishing will start to slow right down. The holiday period will see plenty of tourists here, so if you’re heading offshore you’ll want to get out there early, catch your fish, and hopefully be home before the wind picks right up. The lake has been producing good catches, with fish being caught throughout the system. Judging by recent reports, the Bottom Lake is

A great yellowfin bream caught in the Bottom Lake on a blade. where most of the good fishing has been. Good-size yellowfin bream up to around 45cm have been caught out around Harrisons channel and

towards the entrance, with good numbers of fish out around Goodwin Sands. Black bream are also being caught around the margins of the lake. As the water cools, these fish will once again drop back into the deeper water. Sand whiting are also being caught, with the channels at the lake’s entrance a good place to fish. Fresh baits of nippers or worms are the go. Mulloway are still being encountered in the lake, and the Easter full moon is a reliable time of year to target this species – although that may already have happened by the time you read this report. We’re seeing great tidal movement through the entrance and this should be great for the system. It helps with fish movement and weed growth, which will benefit the fishing in the months ahead. Be sure to enjoy the great autumn conditions this month. It won’t be long before winter is knocking on our door!

Signs all point to good fishing in April MARLO/ORBOST

Marlo Ocean Views

It is so good to see our waterways clear and the water levels looking great. As you can imagine, this area is popular with families during holiday periods, and we always like visitors to see it at its beautiful best. With the water settling and cleaning up, the fishing has really improved. Both the estuary and the offshore grounds are showing signs that April should be a cracker

month for anglers. THE SNOWY AND BRODRIBB RIVERS Both systems have been really fishing well, with good numbers of luderick and bream being caught by shore-based and boat-based anglers. Sandworm is by far the most popular bait, and both bream and luderick will eat it with gusto. Rock-based structure has been what to look for, with many of the retaining walls throughout the systems holding concentrations of fish. There’s certainly no need to cast a long way from the shore.

Don’t discount the good old yellow-eyed mullet when you’re catching a feed. These fish are always welcome in the Heyne household.

MARLO

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www.marlocamping.com.au 90 APRIL 2024

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Anglers have been picking up the odd good-sized bream in the same areas, but it has been about a 3-to-1 ratio of luderick to bream in most areas. There have been a few prawns about lately, although people trying to catch a feed have found them to be a little on the small side. The size will improve as we head further into the month, but the bonus to getting small prawns is that the local bream love them. A few baitsized prawns can be turned into a nice feed of bream. Lure anglers are also starting to pick up some nice fish. The Islands are always good places to throw small hardbody lures, soft plastics or Cranka Crabs. There are lots of little nooks and crannies for the fish to hide in, and they can take some extracting as well. Some big flathead have been hooked by anglers chasing bream, and it’s always good to see these fish in the system. Frenches Narrows is a great shore-based location to have a flick for flathead, if you like targeting them. OFFSHORE It is great to see the water in our offshore grounds closer to shore cleaning up. It certainly reduces your travel time to drop a line. Most boats venturing out have been catching some good flathead and the odd gummy shark, and this should only improve as the month progresses. We usually get a kingfish run at this time of year, and hopefully they will show up soon. At the time of writing this report, they haven’t been sighted, presumably because of the dirty water conditions we’ve been experiencing.

There have been plenty of sightings of larger sharks in the area, many of them quite close to shore. You definitely need to have heavier gear on board if you want to tangle with them. I know the close proximity to the shore will excite our local beach shark fishing anglers. They have some epic tussles with these beasts when they get in this close. Overall, the month of April is looking good. The holidays always see the town buzzing, and we look forward to greeting all of our visitors. • Les and Kathy Heyne are the owners of the Marlo Ocean Views Caravan and Camping Park. It has 13 acres of beautiful grassed parkland just a short stroll from the beach, with both powered and unpowered sites, and cabins available. There are two undercover BBQ areas and a full kitchen, as well as an onsite kiosk and LPG refills. For more information visit marlocamping. com.au or call 03 5154 8268.

Wade Heyne with a couple of nice bream caught on fresh sand worms.

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When targeting cod, autumn bite is just right ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

Last report we were looking at a swollen river with poor clarity and few fish to tell. How quickly things change! The Murray River dropped away and cleared just in time for the autumn bite – and bite they have, along most sections of the Murray from Swan Hill right the way through to Wentworth and beyond. The Murray at Swan Hill has seen anglers catching cod and golden perch on both lures and bait. Trolling has been the most effective method, with cod to 75cm eating a variety of lures that include 120mm Cod Lollys, StumpJumpers, Old Mates, Tubbys and smaller JD Pythons. Spinnerbaits, too, are catching their share. The colour doesn’t seem to matter, as the whole spectrum has been drawing strikes. Anglers fishing bait are also amongst the action, with most sessions drawing a mixed bag of perch and cod. Fresh river shrimp, small yabbies and scrub worms have all been working well, along with fresh pieces chicken fillet or cheese. It’s a similar story downstream along the Murray to Boundary Bend, Belsar Island and trough to Robinvale. No big cod have been landed in these areas yet but there have been good numbers of smaller fish to 75cm, keeping most anglers happy. Good numbers of perch

has been very effective, producing smaller to mid-sized cod amongst the bigger fish, and some thumping golden perch. Red Cliffs continues to fish well for cod up to 1m+. Most have been caught on trolled lures, along with some thumping golden perch. Mildura to Wentworth continues to be the angling epicentre for cod, with

change. After they hatch, they fly around like drunks, and many find their way into the river where they flap around, inviting a lip-clad detonation from a cod. Those moths that drown and sink are also on the menu, and a favourite snack for cod. With the Murray low and clearing, the next few months look like a great time to wet a line, and no doubt catch

This sold Murray cod took a liking to the Bassman Scope Bait on the cast.

Clinton Hann with a thumping Murray cod near Wentworth caught on a Bassman Scope Bait. the Darling River providing a valuable sanctuary for fish to escape the bad flows of seasons past. It’s amazing how resilient these fish are, and how quickly they move to new areas when the flows are right. Good numbers of both Murray cod and golden perch have been trolled, cast

a fish. Oh, and did I mention it’s also a great time for camping? There’s nothing like watching the embers of a riverside campfire as you knock back a few brews and chew into a well-cooked camp oven meal.

Crisp and perfect days YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett

You can’t help but get excited about fishing Lake Mulwala this time of year. Mulwala is not a stocked pond – it has a fully-sustainable population of naturally recruited cod, and produces fish day after day, year-round, regardless of the immense fishing pressure it gets.

Even better, April is the prime time to be fishing here! As the summer heat eases, it’s replaced by crisp mornings, perfect days and wonderful evenings to be out plying your trade. The cod in Mulwala average around 40-60cm, and there’s no right or wrong way to target them, with bait and lures both catching their share. That said, if you’re

The 120mm cod Lolly lure has been particularly effective for Murray cod both on the troll and casting. have been caught at these locations also. BIGGER FISH ARE MOVING BACK The dropping out of the Mildura weir during last year’s flood allowed good numbers of larger Murray cod access upstream, and they have travelled as far as Hattah from all reports. Given time, these fish will repopulate old haunts all the way back through Wemen to Euston, if they haven’t already. Most fish have been caught on the troll, with several 1m+ models landed from the Murray at Hattah. Trolling the rock bars 92 APRIL 2024

and caught on bait in these sections of the Murray this season, and It should only get better as the weather starts to turn. I love the autumn bite; it’s my favourite time to target these fish as they begin to feed up on anything they can snap their mouths around. The surface bite also swings into gear, with many cod turning topside for the chance to dine on the freshly-hatched goat moths. These giant moths spend most of their life as fat, juicy grubs hidden in the dirt, waiting for the season to

Golf pro Dean Turner with a typical-sized Mulwala cod. This one measured 58cm.

Freshwater

FMM

VIC

Conditions are improving in the Bendigo region I am happy to report that conditions have improved in many areas in the Bendigo region, due to more stable weather conditions and a period of reduced rainfall. The water is clearer in some areas and, although some sections of our waterways are far from perfect, the general trend is an improving one. So long as we don’t get aboveaverage rainfall, we should continue to see an improvement in water clarity in our local waterways for the next few months. This will have a positive effect on catch rates. LAKE EPPALOCK Lake Eppalock is at 96% of capacity at the time of writing this report. Over the last month or so, water levels have continued to drop slowly and the water clarity has improved nicely. Redfin The redfin fishing has been good but not easy; the hard part is locating a good concentration of redfin. The most productive depth range is currently around 7-9m. Many well-known redfin spots are currently slow, mainly due to heavy fishing pressure. If you want to find a good concentration of redfin this month, try fishing those areas of the lake that get less pressure. Be prepared to move around a lot, and try lots of areas in order to find good numbers of fish. Trolling deep diving small profile hardbody lures has been productive lately. Casting soft plastics or soft vibe lures has also been working well. Vertically jigging ice jigs, blades and soft plastics can work well once you’ve found a good concentration of redfin. Most redfin caught lately have been around 25-38cm. There are a few bigger 40cm models getting around, but you have to put the time

in and find a good location. Golden perch Golden perch catches in the lake have increased in recent weeks. I wouldn’t say they are firing, but the fishing is the best it’s been for quite a while. The average size has been around 40-50cm, and most of the fish have been in excellent condition. Good areas to target are along rocky shorelines and around the edges of standing timber. Trolling medium-sized hardbodies in 5-7m of water has been productive. Good lure options when casting the standing timber have been lipless crankbaits, blades and small profile spinnerbaits. Most of the goldens have been caught at some depth, so you may need to let your lure sink to get down to the fish. CAMPASPE RIVER The fishing in the Campaspe River has continued to gradually improve, aside from one slow week when an environmental flow was released out of Lake Eppalock. You’d think that release would help to fire the fish up, but that’s rarely the case in the Campaspe River. When there is an increased flow released from the lake, the colder water puts the fish off for several days. Anglers have to wait until the fish either get used to the change in water temperature, or the flows reduce and the fish come more aggressive again. It’s a case of shortterm loss and long-term gain. The increase flows down the Campaspe River will help improve the water clarity in areas where the clarity is still below average. Once the flows reduce, the water will settle and the trend of slowly improving clarity will resume. The productivity in the lower sections of the river has improved, but the most productive area continues to be the section from Barnadown to below Lake Eppalock. This is where the water is clearest. The best fishing has been in the shallower sections of the river.

Those anglers walking the banks have been getting reasonable numbers of Murray cod measuring 50-70cm, and small numbers of golden perch around 40cm. The fishing has been slow in the deeper pooled water above the Elmore and Rochester weir, but things should get better in the coming months if the water clarity continues to improve. CAIRN CURR AN At the time of writing this report, Cairn Curran was at 84% of capacity, with water levels slowly dropping. The water clarity is still poor, with only a slight improvement over the last month. With the poor water clarity, bait fishing remains popular. Worms, yabbies and shrimp are all good options. If you are fishing from the bank, good areas to try are along the rocky shorelines or off the deeper edges of any points. Bait fishing around the standing timber has been reasonably productive for small golden perch, with the occasional bigger specimen being caught. Locating a concentration of good redfin hasn’t been easy, and your best bet is to troll brightly coloured lures. Once you’ve found a good concentration of fish, you can

continue to troll back and forth in the same area. If the bite starts to slow down, try changing your lure colour. This can sometimes help to improve catch rates. If the school is staying in the same area, you can also try changing tactics and casting and retrieving soft plastics and vibes. Bright colours have been working the best in the dirty water. LODDON RIVER The water clarity has started to improve in the sections of the Loddon River above Bridgewater and the Serpentine weirs. The water is still tannin but it’s getting better. The fishing has been slowly improving, with reasonable numbers of Murray cod and golden perch being caught. However, you need to be prepared to put in the hours and work for them. Hopefully, with more stable weather in the next few months, we should see some quality fish caught. Bear in mind that the water clarity varies depending on which part of the river you’re fishing, so check out different sections and focus on where the water is clearest. This tactic can make a big difference to your catch rates when you’re fishing with lures.

looking for numbers with the potential of coming across a larger specimen, I recommend casting spinnerbaits or hardbody lures around the 5-7ft/1.5-2m depth range. As the sun sneaks beyond the horizon, find yourself a calm area (depending on whether there’s any wind) and start throwing some surface lures about. It’s so much fun! If the lake does happen to blow up, a great alternative is to fish around the Bundalong area or downstream below the weir. In these areas, any style of fishing will give you a good chance of tangling with a cod or two, or even some yellas. One fella who got into the

yellas recently was fishing icon John ‘Mr StumpJumper’ Ellis. John recently had a wonderful session below the weir, landing 14 in a session, with the best measuring 60cm! DA$H 4 CA$H The ever-popular Humminbird Da$h 4 Ca$h was held in mid-February with some incredible results. In total, 136 legal-sized cod were captured and released over the three sessions. The biggest fish caught for the weekend was weighed in on Saturday morning by Br yce Rabbit/Jack Donald measuring 86cm. Unfortunately for the boys, it was only good enough for them to finish 18th because the session accepted your best two cod.

Jamie Beer/Jay Houghton took out the morning session, with Rick Doyle/David Lawson coming in second, and Thomas Coleman/Jesse Hatcher third. In total, there were 56 legals for this session. After a good break for lunch, the competitors were back into it for the arvo session. David Foster/ Nick Prior came up trumps, with Guy Rehfisch/Tyler Ridgewell taking second and Connor Heir/Kyle Dalrymple in third. The total was 44 legals for the afternoon. Sunday morning saw another perfect day greet all the teams who were ready for the quick 3-hour session. Taking home the big $$$ was

Glen Scoble/Craig Leehane, closely followed by Mick Massier/Mike Bressan. The ever-consistent Blow Boys, Derek and Kade, finished in third place. • If you are visiting town, be sure to call into Lake Mulwala Fish Camp & Ski, the shop with the big green cod out the front (opposite the Post Office) in Mulwala, or check out their Yarrawonga store located between Rivers and One Zac in the main street. They are Yarrawonga/ Mulwala’s fishing specialists and specialize in all things ‘green’! For any information on the upcoming events or fishing reports, give them a hoy on 03 5744 3133.

BENDIGO

Roger Miles codhuntertours@bigpond.com

Murray cod catches have been increasing.

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Amazing time of year to catch redfin in the lakes WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

Oh, how I love April! The sun filtered by smoke from nearby burn-offs, the colourful leaves, cool nights and crisp mornings, and of course, the fishing.

known as ‘blocking highs’ can occur. They are very strong, high-pressure systems that drive potential cold fronts southwards. This can result in lengthy periods (two weeks or more) of stable weather for us. Usually the barometer is high and the fishing can be very good. I like to fish for Murray cod during these conditions,

Holly Alexander with a nice yellowbelly caught near Wangaratta recently.

There are still plenty of hungry carp around that will provide lots of angling enjoyment this month, but not lots of tasty meals. Not all of the fishing is amazing in autumn, but some of it definitely is. Read on to find out more. MURR AY COD The Murray cod fishing can be hit-and-miss during April in the Wangaratta area. In the rivers, April can be an amazing time to catch Murray cod – I have had some of my most memorable fishing sessions in April – but I have also had a lot of fish-less trips. In recent years, the lakes have tended to fish more consistently than the rivers. When fishing the Ovens River system for Murray cod in April, I like to fish during or towards the end of a lengthy run of stable weather. Consecutive days in the high 20s with blue skies and light winds, with a high barometer, are great. In April, high-pressure systems

Bait fishing in stunning surrounds at Lake Buffalo at sunset. Make sure you pack a jumper.

The Murray cod fishing can be quite hit-and-miss during April in the Wangaratta area. 94 APRIL 2024

especially towards the end of the high-pressure system ahead of an approaching cold front. YELLOWBELLY April usually sees the yellowbelly fishing begin to slow down. I usually catch a few during April, and like the cod they sometimes switch on depending on the weather, but overall the yellowbelly start to slow down in

the cooling water, especially later in the month. For lure fishers, many yellowbelly are caught as a by-catch by anglers targeting Murray cod. If you are bait fishing, I would suggest having one of your fishing rods (If you use 2) baited with a dedicated yellowbelly bait such as worms or live shrimp. REDFIN April is an amazing time of the year to fish for redfin in North East Victoria. In the Wangaratta region, Lake Buffalo and Lake William Hovell are the two best places to go. Both of these lakes fish well for redfin each year. Lake Buffalo seems

to have better numbers of larger fish than Lake William Hovell does (although there are still a few big ones in William Hovel). If you’re targeting redfin in Lake Buffalo in April, catching a Murray cod as a by-catch is a real possibility. If you’re fishing in Lake William Hovell, on the other hand, you’re much more likely to catch a trout as a by-catch, especially closer to the end of the day. In both lakes, try trolling small, deep-diving lures if you are in a boat or kayak. If you are fishing from the bank, soft plastics are the way to go. I recommend the Strike Tiger 1.5” curl-tail grub in banana shock colour. Bladed spinners will also work if you are casting lures from the bank, but diving minnows may foul up in weeds, depending on the water level. If you prefer bait fishing, it is hard to go past small live yabbies or live shrimp. Worms are another great option. TROUT The trout streams have a very healthy flow of water, and should fish very well in the coming weeks. April is one of my favourite times of the year to go trout fishing. Brown trout usually spawn in late May and into the start of winter. In April they start to make their way upstream looking for a mate, and during this time the fish from the ‘hard to access’ areas will swim through the public areas. So, just when you think a popular camp sire has been flogged during the Easter break, a big trout might turn up, having swam upstream from a place that may never be fished. Black is a great colour to use when lure fishing for trout during April. You can use small, black soft plastics, bladed spinners and even minnows. In the second half of April, fluorescent-coloured lures will be worth a try. I would start with

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Lakes turning on some good fishing this month Nick Brown teamriverrats@hotmail.com

There should be plenty of angling opportunities in the Goulburn River this month. There’s been a heap of reports recently from anglers fishing around Rafterys Road, with some legal-sized cod caught amongst plenty of smaller fish. Bardi grubs and cheese have been the stand out baits for cod, with shrimp and worms working well for those chasing yellowbelly. Anglers targeting carp have been reporting that corn and worms are working great with some catching 8/10 in an hour period.

also been productive lately. A good idea is ‘switch baiting’ after a surface bite, i.e. have a mate cast a spinnerbait when you get a strike (or, if you’re alone, have a spinnerbait rigged and ready to go). BROKEN RIVER It’s been a surface bonanza recently in the Broken River, with heaps of cod being caught off the top. The key has been to cast your surface lures super tight to structure or the bank. The cod have been sitting close to snags or up shallow in low-light periods. Jackal Pompadours and soft plastic frogs have been the pick of the lures in recent weeks. Anglers fishing in the daytime have been catching both cod and yellowbelly on lipless crankbaits rigged with a single belly hook, or small Compact

The author with a Kialla Lakes redfin caught near the willow trees on a Jackall Chubby. Trolling small StumpJumpers and spinnerbaits has been a popular way to target natives around Rafterys Road and also in the heart of Shepparton. Casting surface lures and Compact spinnerbaits around Murchison has something black, and if that does not work, try something fluorescent. OTHER SPECIES The yabbies usually slow right down in most places at this time of year, and can be very hard to find. Carp fishing is still red-hot. Look for shallow backwaters along the river, or in the lagoons. In fact, April is often the driest time of the year. Pretty much any waterway that still has water in it will be worth fishing for carp. Lake Moodemere will be a great place to go carp fishing, and so too will Broken Creek and Boosey Creek near Katamatite. There should still be plenty of blackfish on the bite in the deep, dark pools in many of the trout streams as well.

spinnerbaits in a white colour. Bait fishing with shrimp has been great, with cod, yellowbelly and carp being caught. The best areas have been around the weirs and down towards the junction.

KIALLA LAKES There have been some nice-sized fish caught at Kialla, with both redfin and yellowbelly reported. Casting small divers around the willow trees has been the best way to target both species. Some bites will be right at your feet so make sure you angle your rod so the lure stays in the water for as long as possible. Bait fishing around the sand bars and near the island has been a great way to chase redfin, with small yabbies working well. There have been two stand-out ways to fish the yabbies – floating them shallow in low-light periods, or hard on the bottom when the sun is overhead. SHEPPARTON LAKE Shepp Lake can be a tricky spot to fish, but when the fish are on you can have a great time. Floating worms and shrimp around the weed edges has been a great way to target redfin lately, with some nice 30cm+ reddies caught. If you can get out deeper in a kayak you will find the yellowbelly are very active. You can catch them trolling small lipless crankbaits or casting weedless-rigged plastics near the towing lanes. Casting Bent Minnows in low-light periods has also been a great way to target redfin in the shallows. You want your lure to run just above the thick weed. WARANGA BASIN Catch rates have dropped off a little lately from the reports I’ve been getting, but there are still some quality fish amongst the smaller ones. The bigger fish seem to be sitting deeper in around 17/20ft of water. A good way to target them is by trolling around until you find the schools, then sit on top of them and vertically flick a blade off the bottom. Anglers fishing the edges have been catching a lot of smaller fish casting Jackall Chubbies, with plenty of

A feed of Lake Buffalo redfin. The author is thankful that redfin have no minimum size limit, or some days he’d go hungry! The minimum size depends on your filleting skills.

captures coming from shallow points. Bait fishing around Harrimans Point has been a good way to target both redfin and carp, with scrub worms and night crawlers working well.

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Autumn is prime time to get out on the water BALLARAT

Shane Stevens

Autumn is one of my favourite times of the year to fish, with magnificent days, cooler nights, and water temperatures dropping. Many of the anglers who put their gear away in summer are now returning to our waterways. One of the great things about autumn is that it’s mayfly time for fly fishers. We have the best mayfly waters in the state, with Wendouree being number 1. Autumn is also when the trout and redfin start to feed up in readiness for their breeding season, which is a few months away. The fish become very aggressive during autumn/early winter and they’re happy to eat lures and plastics. Many anglers prefer to use lures, and our fisheries around the Ballarat district are perfect for this.

Lake Wendouree is a versatile fishery, whether you fly fish, cast lures or fish bait. The author landed this magnificent rainbow trout on a Bent Minnow lure.

Mitch Howlet landed this 3kg European carp at Lake Wendouree on one of his grub fly creations.

also been catching European carp up to 3kg on fly. The boys said you can shine your light/torch in the water and see schools of 10-15 carp swimming around, which is very concerning. I’ve had similar reports from other anglers who have seen and caught carp, with some people saying they are up to 10-15lb. I recently hit Wendouree up for the first time in a few months, with my plan being to cast a few Bent Minnow surface lures around first, then swap over to fly fishing for a few hours. I launched my boat at 7:30am and the weather conditions were ideal, with a lot of cloud cover and a very gentle breeze. I started my first drift along a weed bed that’s produced many fish for me over the years. It didn’t take long before my first inquiry, a trout, slashed at the Bent as I pulled it out of the water. No hook-up, so I continued to cast the Bent around, covering plenty of water. All of a sudden, whack – fish on. After some

aerial action the hooks were dislodged. Oh well, at least the fish were looking at the lures. I continued casting, and lost two more rainbows in a similar fashion. All the fish I’d hooked were the same size, around the 45-50cm mark. It was becoming a bit frustrating; I’d hooked four fish and landed none. I persisted and got another hookup, and this time they stayed in. After an excellent tussle I finally landed a 48cm rainbow, which was in magnificent condition. After a couple of photos she was released to fight another day. I decided to switch to fly. I had my fly rod already set up with a couple of Woolly Buggers in olive and orange. I’ve had excellent results with them over the past couple of years. I moved to another one of the spots I like to fish, and started working my flies very quickly with a roly-poly retrieve. It wasn’t long before I had an inquiry, and I got a double header of 25-30cm redfin. Not a bad start. I continued casting and ended up catching around a dozen redfin, and kept a few for a feed. The trout I was hoping to catch were eluding me, but I persisted in the area, prospecting with the Woolly Buggers. Suddenly, my luck changed and I hooked and landed a nice brown of 45cm, then another. I dropped a couple, then landed another three browns, all around the same size. All trout took a liking to the orange Woolly Bugger. This session illustrates how good Wendouree is using a couple of different methods. Steve Angee, one of my fishing buddies, ventured out on Wendouree recently, casting lures. Steve said it was game on from the get-go. While casting small hardbody lures, he landed three browns around the 40-45cm mark from five casts. Things went quiet after that, so Steve moved to a different area and changed over lures to a Bent

Image courtesy of Mitch Howlett.

The fishing at Lake Wendouree never ceases to amaze. Whether it’s summer, autumn, winter or spring, it’s an excellent fishery, and appears to be getting better every year. This is not by accident; there are a few stakeholders who invest a lot of time, money, and effort into ensuring that the lake continues to produce excellent fishing. The Victorian Fishing Authority (VFA) stocks Wendouree with brown and rainbow trout, and the city of Ballarat harvests weed from the lake (without this it would be overgrown and unfishable). On a concerning note, increasing numbers of European carp are being seen and caught from Wendouree. Just over a decade ago, the lake was bone dry, and before that there were no carp. Since then, they have somehow found their way into the lake, and their numbers are increasing. I urge the VFA to undertake 96 APRIL 2024

control measures, as we have seen the damage that carp have caused to many premier fisheries throughout the state. We don’t want to see Wendouree as another carp-infested fishery, and I’m sure that VFA, who have invested heavily into Wendouree, would not like to see it as another statistic of the silent carp movement. CATCH REPORTS Lake Wendouree Mitch Howlett and his younger brother Lachy are two of the keenest youngest anglers I know, encouraged by their father Craig. The boys fish at Wendouree at least three or four nights a week, with flies, lures and bait. The boys have been catching nicesized browns in the 40-50cm size range over the past month, mostly on mudeye pattern flies and a worm/grub fly that Mitch created himself. The boys have

Donnie Rogers nailed this 47cm redfin on a 3” Ambush Lures plastic with a jig spin. He initially thought the fish was a tree branch. Image courtesy of Donnie Rogers.

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Trolling up a variety of species in April CRATER LAKES

Rod Shepherd

The upper Hopkins around the Framlingham forest, the Merri around Woodford, and the Mount Emu just below the falls have produced solid, beautifullycoloured brown trout to 60cm and beyond. The fish have been feeding well and are fat, so they must be approaching 2kg in weight. Cast and retrieved shallowdiving minnow lures to 90mm long, as well as minnow-style soft plastics slow rolled, have taken fish. Surface spinners and flies have also been catching their share. The big news is that sizeable tiger trout have been taken at Lake Bullen Merri close inshore, by anglers casting or trolling minnow lures and Lofty’s Cobras. Gold has been the favoured colour. A few Chinooks and the odd rainbow to similar size have also been reported. Bank anglers have

caught a few solid beasts, too. Berley helps when static fishing, but don’t overfeed. A handful of either wet or dry berley sent to the bottom every 20 minutes is quite adequate.

Minnow. It was game on again, and Steve caught some nice browns and missed quite a few more. Moorabool Reservoir At Moorabool Reservoir the fishing has been good, with a few browns and rainbows being caught on flies and lures. Ralph Janke and his fishing buddy Sam Moiler have been catching some nice rainbows around 35cm on shaving brush fly patterns. This means the trout are looking up, waiting for the mayfly

been out there for a couple of months, and I didn’t know the water levels and weed except what my fishing mates had told me. I arrived just on change of light, hoping to find a trout feeding in the shallows on mudeyes crawling out of the water to hatch into dragonflies. Unfortunately, I didn’t see or touch a fish. I did see some dragonflies drying their wings out before fly off, so the mudeyes did hatch. I’m sure there would have been fish in feeding on them at

A nice reddie trolled up on Lake Elingamite on a medium diver. Lake Purrumbete has been excellent for large bags of redfin taken at depth by jigging soft plastics, ice jigs and bladed lures. Dark colours have been working better than lighter

colours, and the fish seem to be schooling up and can easily be found by using a sounder. The school will appear as a cloud of interference hanging just off an otherwise featureless bottom. Holding station with an electric motor or quietly sending down an anchor will keep you in touch with the school. Berley is recommended in this scenario. You can use a wet mix formed into a ball, not much bigger than a golf ball, every 20 minutes. Alternatively, sending down a small berley bucket half full of dry berley, and giving it a jig every now and then, will help keep the school in close contact with your offerings. Lake Elingamite has some good redfin as well as trout to 60cm on the chew. The water levels at the ramp are still good, and boats up to 4m should get out. Trolling or casting a variety of medium diving minnow lures close to any weedy structure often leads to a strike. Many of the redfin have been 800g and above.

Moorabool Reservoir will fish well in the coming months, as the mayflies will be hatching. The author nailed this 48cm brown trout using an orange Woolly Bugger fly.

Max Stevens has been catching some nice brown trout casting flies and lures whilst fishing from his Hobie. hatches to start. It’s an excellent sign, and hopefully this will happen during the autumn months as the spring hatches were basically nonexistent. I hit Moorabool up for a dawn patrol myself recently. I wasn’t sure what to expect given that I hadn’t

some time during the night. It was time to change my approach. I switched to using Woolly Buggers in olive and orange, with a roly-poly fast retrieve. It wasn’t long before a trout smashed my orange Woolly Bugger, after a good tussle a nice 48cm brown was

landed and released. I continued to fish for a while longer with no luck, so I moved to another area. I had a couple of grabs but unfortunately, they didn’t hang on. All in all, it was a fun session and I’m looking forward to fishing at Moorabool over the next few months. Cosgroves Reservoir Donnie Rogers and Mick Fanning like to fish in a lot of the lesser-known waters around the Ballarat district, and have been catching some ripper redfin from Cosgroves Reservoir. On one of the boys’ recent trips, Donnie was using a 3” Ambush Lures plastic with a jig spin, and it got stuck on a tree branch. That is, Donnie thought it was a tree branch until it started to thrash around from side to side, and started pulling line off the reel. Eventually, Donnie wound in a ripper 47cm redfin. He mentioned the boys have been putting in plenty of hours and casts,

and have been regularly rewarded for their efforts. Tullaroop Reservoir Tullaroop Reservoir has been producing some good bags of redfin for boat-based anglers. Jason Andriske, a local angler, has been getting amongst them trolling lures and plastics down deep. Work colleague Paul Dawson and his son Ash have still been catching redfin, also on small yabbies and worms. I’ve been informed that the water clarity is continuing to improve, and it’s the best it’s been for nearly 18 months since it reached 120% capacity. I haven’t fished there for a while because the water has been so discoloured, but now I’m really looking forward to heading up to Tullaroop. Hopefully I’ll latch onto a few of the trout that are lurking around up there. APRIL 2024 97

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Fish hiding in spindly, submerged treetops EILDON

Daniel Piazza

It’s April my fellow anglers, and the lake is on fire as the cooler temperatures begin to set in. April can make for some productive fishing.

Ben with a nice Eildon yellowbelly. If you’re in search of cod at this time of year, I still recommend fishing at dawn and dusk. The lure of choice for me is a willow blade spinnerbait in green and black. Just keep casting and slowly retrieve your lure while enjoying the fresh air. Spindly treetops are my favorite type of structure at the moment after a recent session. The number of smaller fish that hide in these clusters of trees is phenomenal; it makes my Lowrance Active Target light up like a Christmas tree. As winter approaches, the trout will

start to move into the main arm of the lake and stay higher in the water for longer. Don’t be surprised if you catch a yellowbelly as a by-catch. Use a diving lure that gets around to around 3m, and adjust your depth to suit. Green and pink colours work well. Pre-planning your trolling routes can make a big difference. Remember the lake is full and you don’t have to drag lures shallow; go out a bit deeper in 23m and get those lures in the water. You can use a downrigger to get your lures down deep. Alternatively, an Alvey reel spooled with lead core is also an effective way to troll any light weighted lures at depth. Lots of cod have been caught in and around Jews Creek in recent weeks. This area will always produce a fish if you spend the time. The houseboat food scraps have become the staple diet for the bigger cod in the wintertime. The exit of Jews Creek has lots

Yellowbelly can sometimes turn up while you’re fishing for trout. of structure and excellent bait-holding features. I can’t count how many solid cod captures I’ve had in the area. There are lots of good, steep rock walls and it’s a great live sonar area. In winter, just

A quality brown trout caught by Ben at Lake Eildon.

after the heavy rains, the fish will move deeper into the bay to where the creek runs into the lake. If you’re land-based, this is not a far walk from the road, you can spend the day walking the banks and the creek side. This month’s report is a little short and sharp; there is so much happening behind the scenes in the Primal Spinbaits Camp, and I have a lot going on. Stay tuned, and until next time, stay safe on your adventures. • Daniel Piazza is the creator of Primal Spinbaits – quality handcrafted, Australian-made spinnerbaits with a wide range of coloured heads and skirts. These spinnerbaits feature heavy-duty wires and high-quality finishes, and are proven effective on our native fish. Google ‘Primal Spinbaits’ to see where you can buy them.

FISHING NEWS

Anglers take the lead in Clean Up Australia Day On the weekend of Mary 2-3, OzFish volunteers supported the efforts of Clean Up Australia Day by removing over 3 tonnes of rubbish from 16 waterways across the country. Participating locations included Central Moreton Bay, Coffs Harbour, Darwin, EustonRobinvale, Event, Geographe, Gold Coast, Hastings River, Illawarra,

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Inland Waterways, Manning River, North Moreton, Northern Tablelands, Sydney Harbour, Tasmania, and the Tweed River. The fishing community knows all too well how much rubbish flows in and around our waterways, and 208 volunteers stepped up and demonstrated their commitment to healthy waterways.

Over the weekend, participating anglers picked up hundreds of pieces of litter. Happily, there was minimal amounts of discarded fishing tackle reported. The most common items collected were food consumables, such as plastic packaging, aluminium cans, and glass bottles. A Jumanji board game was the most unusual item found by the OzFish Hastings Chapter, who were cleaning the litter that had washed up between the mangroves along the Hastings River. Cassie Price, OzFish Director of Habitat Programs, said Clean Up Australia Day is an opportunity to address litter head-on. “This event is more than a clean-up, it’s about fostering a culture of awareness,” she said. “I can’t tell you how proud I am to see so many anglers helping out through our OzFish work. “Each item removed during Clean Up Australia Day marks a victory, and from what we’re seeing, it is making a difference to the larger challenge of litter and debris impacting our creeks,

rivers, and coastal areas. “We can continue to make progress in reducing litter in our waterways by making it part of our collective fishing culture actively reducing, storing and picking up litter any time we fish.” As OzFish continues its mission to improve Australia’s fish habitats, the success of Clean Up Australia Day this year serves as a testament to the collective power of community action. For more information visit ozfish.org.au. - Ozfish

They’re hooked on fishing! Victoria’s next generation of Little Anglers are jumping for joy now that their kits have landed. Free Little Angler Kits for primary school students in grade 5 are part of the State Government’s $96 million investment to further improve fishing and boating. Learn more at www.vfa.vic.gov.au/littleanglerkit

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As we head towards the middle of autumn, there’s plenty of great weather to look forward to and a range of fishing options to choose from. Light, northerly winds make for easy access to fishing hotspots, whether that’s from the beach or boat. Anglers fishing around town have been getting plenty of big bull herring, and schools of salmon are forming. Local beaches such as Salmon Beach, Fourth Beach, 11 Mile and Wiley Bay have seen plenty of good fish being caught. Salmon up to 6kg have been mixed in with some skippy around 1kg, flathead to 50cm and the occasional tailor. Some of the salmon are moving west as they head towards Perth, resulting in good fishing along the coastline at Starvation Bay and Hopetown. Back closer to town, Alexander Bay has been producing good numbers of salmon, sharks and mulloway, while Thomas River has been producing gummy sharks up to 20kg. People heading out to Israelite Bay have been reporting plenty of salmon, mulloway, gummies and bronzies. Anglers heading towards The

Lachy Warren decided to fish some areas he hadn’t been to before, and was rewarded with this XL gummy. Image courtesy of @lachywarren.

are also seeing the occasional garfish at night and bonito cruising through. Bandy Creek Boat Harbour has still been producing plenty of King George whiting, although most have been small. It’s difficult to catch them on soft plastics so most anglers use a standard whiting rig using prawns or cockles for bait, or bloodworms. Plenty of herring, flounder and the occasional black bream are mixed in with the whiting. The bream lakes are still producing plenty of good black bream, with

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Oli Stevensonn has had some productive night sessions recently. Image courtesy of olistevensonn. Cliffs have been stopping at Wattle Camp chasing flathead, and have been catching good fish up to a metre. It’s a perfect spot to target flathead, with shallow water and weed patches, and it’s possible to sight cast to them at times. A standout lure lately has been the 4.2” Daiwa Bait Junkie Minnow in natural colours. Those anglers continuing on to The Cliffs have been catching plenty of salmon and sharks. Moving to around town again, the jetty has been producing plenty of herring and big numbers of squid. We

heaps of fish going 40cm. Quallilup Lakes has also been producing fish in big numbers. Two of the most popular lures at the moment are the 35mm Cranka Shallow Cranks and the 60mm Daiwa Sazanami. Boat-based anglers have had plenty of opportunities to head out wide lately, with low swells and light winds. Anglers fishing the shelf have been catching hapuka, blue-eye trevalla and other desirable species. Out towards Termination Island we’ve had reports of big red snapper (nannygai) along with samsonfish to 30kg APRIL 2024 101

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Hit the water as soon as the rumours start BUNBURY

Whiteys Tackle and Camping

Going off previous years, the salmon should be showing up in the local haunts this month. However, they always seem to move quickly through the Bunbury area, so be ready to hit the water at a moment’s notice. If you have your combo rigged and tackle bag ready so you can get a line in as soon as the rumours start, it’s a massive advantage!

slowly. Alternatively, when under pressure from lots of anglers and packed in tight school, you can deadstick your plastic on the bottom with minimal movement to get the fish biting again. Hardbody lures, including the old favourite Smilin’ Jack Minnow, still have their day, but casting distance can be lacking when schools are holding deeper. Bibless stickbaits can offer a better cast, and their erratic side-to-side darting action can get the salmon hot and heavy! If you stick to the brand name lures (Nomad, Rapala, Halco and Oceans Legacy) you can be confident they will perform and hold up to the hard-fighting salmon. The guys waving the wand don’t miss out either, with the fly fishos throwing baitfish imitations for exceptional results. So, get a bit of fluff on the 6-9wt rod and hold on! Casting distance can be troublesome when salmon are sitting deeper, and that’s when the old favourite metal slug comes in. These shiny, slim baitfish replicas can have some massive casting weights, allowing you to reach the schools that are usually beyond reach. Remember to check that your rod, reel and line are capable of handling these heavier weights and, if you’re unsure, call in for advice on what your setup can cast. More tackle manufacturers are realising the power and potential of the old metal slug, and there are plenty of

David Moore with a nice salmon. different options on the market now. These include Oceans Legacy Slingshots, 3-Chefs Sidewinders and, of course, Halco Twistys, all of which have an awesome action and impressive castability. When the salmon are on, The Cut, The Clam and BP groyne are the obvious hotspots, but all the local beaches will have their chances, too. When fishing on the beaches there are couple of options for hunting down the salmon. Firstly, you can

A surface redfin caught by Harry Fowler. With that in mind, get out those old lures and make sure they are ready to hunt by upgrading the hardware on them. Quality single hooks are all the rage and have many advantages, including helping you to stay connected to the salmon, and being safer for the angler as well as the fish. When dealing with a predator like the Australian salmon, you can’t go wrong using lures. A large variety of them will work a treat, including soft plastics, hardbodies, flies and the humble chrome slice. For versatility, a 4-6” soft plastic on a 1oz 5/0 jighead will allow you to get a good cast, and this type of lure will work whether you rip it back quickly or hop it and yellowtail kings to 20kg. Closer to town, around the 50km range, anglers have been catching nannygai, breaksea cod, harlequin, and queenies in good numbers. There are also big schools of bluefin tuna, with birds often revealing where the fish are. You can catch them trolling with lures like 160 or 190 Halco Laser Pros in 2m, or Black Magic Jet Setters. And of course, you can have fun casting Twisties or other slugs/ slices into the bust-ups. When the 102 APRIL 2024

A stonker redfin perch caught by David Moore. tuna are around the boat, you can cast just about anything and catch fish. They’re not massive fish, with most being around 4-8kg, but they’re still good fun. Closer in, plenty of squid are being caught, along with herring and snook. The close islands are still producing plenty of queen snapper, smaller nannygai and smaller samsonfish. THE MONTH AHEAD The light winds will continue

this month, and we’ll start seeing the beaches producing bigger skippy up to the 7kg mark. Gummy sharks will continue to be caught in good numbers in the coming weeks. Bigger mulloway are on the cards, and you can target them close to town at 14 Mile, Warranup and Munglinup. To the east, Thomas River and Israelite Bay are good options for mulloway, or you can head out to Cocklebiddy. This month, we’ll start to see the return of the salmon schools from the

just pick a spot and wait, and eventually they will come through. Early morning gets a better bite but they will also still randomly show up during the day. The other option is to cruise along the beach while keeping an eye out for school movement or birds following. Even following the bait schools can lead to success. You might be thinking that the only option is salmon at the moment, but this month is a cracker for all fishing options. There are plenty of herring and tailor to keep you occupied between the salmon schools, and the yellowfin whiting are still mooching along the beaches. Crabs are still going strong after a bumper season, with reports of the harbour holding good numbers. The average size there seems to be a bit better than the estuary. As the temperature drops after a hot summer, it allows the freshwater fishing to heat up. This is when the trout and redfin fishing starts to get good. Fly fishing is a fantastic option for all you freshwater fishos out there who want to try something a little different! • 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. Tight lines and screaming drags until next time! – Grant Teede west coast. As they join the local resident schools, they will provide plenty of opportunities for casting lures and baits. • Established in 1986, Southern Sports and Tackle specializes in supplying and servicing fishing equipment. They have an extensive knowledge of the local area and provide all brands, whether you’re fishing from the beach, jetty or boat. Come and chat with the friendly staff at Shop 16, The Boulevard, Esperance or phone 08 9071 3022.

South Coast

FMM

Get ready for the annual salmon run AUGUSTA

Anthony Gillam

As summer recedes into the past and autumn pokes its head in from around the corner it is time to start thinking of the annual salmon run. Before long they will be hitting the beaches surrounding Augusta making their way up the coast from where they are currently haunting the herring and mulie schools in the Great Southern.

fish in an area, one of those being berley. Naturally occurring berley, such as rotting weed and the masses of maggots that wash into the water, are a perfect example of how effective it can be. This can be mimicked by the use of your own berley; generally a commercially available pollard mix or one of your own making using minced fish or old bait, stale bread and fish oil. Small amounts thrown in frequently or left washing around in a berley pot is they key to bring them in and keep them around without

The author with a queen snapper caught in Flinders Bay on an octopus tentacle. In some pretty good signs of things to come, the schools of herring have already arrived and are being caught from rocks, beach, boat and river. In good early numbers these are generally a good precursor for the salmon run. At this stage it looks like the salmon should arrive well after Easter as they are still building up in Albany so a long way yet for them to travel. For those wanting to catch a feed of herring they are extremely fond of anything that shines so a chrome or gold metal slice lure is perfect. Quite often they will attack lures way too big for them but for a better success rate in clean hookups then any lure 30g or less will work a treat. Long casts with a fast retrieve near the surface will usually result in a heap of fish fighting for position to grab the prize. It never gets old watching their dorsal fins breaking the water as they act like miniature GT’s before one of them wins the race and ends up cartwheeling out of the water in an effort to escape. Some of the best areas to target them in Augusta are also some of the easiest to get to with the jetties, rockwalls and beaches heaving with them at times. As with all fishing, there are some conditions that concentrate

filling them up. Large herring in the 28-30cm range are perfect for filleting, cooking whole or smoking and contain good amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids: practically making them a health food! Once the salmon arrive it will be all engines full ahead for the rush to any accessible location along the coastline. It is not uncommon for a school of salmon to come trundling along the beach at Hamelin Bay followed by 50 or 100 people throwing all manner of baits and lures at them. Just remember, there is plenty of room and there is nothing worse than hooking up only to lose it because 10 other people throw a line across yours. Let those hooked up bring their fish in and then have your shot at the school. Quite often a school of several tonne will take an hour or two to move their way down the beach and walking a kilometre or so on the beach is not a bad way to spend the day. Some of the smaller beaches are very good at herding the schools in close to shore, these include from south of the Augusta Boat Harbour to Dead Finish and from the Honey Combs to Cosy Corner. A high vantage point is all you need to sit

and wait for a school to come into sight often identified as a tight dark circle moving though the water. Many times individual fish will break away from the schools, especially if they have been injured by the ever present sharks. These fish will generally hide in deeper holes and gutters where they can recuperate and regain their strength. A bait floated in front of them generally will result in a strike. Salmon will take just about any lure when they are on the hunt but as they are extremely strong, I always remove the trebles and replace them with a good quality inline hook. Generally, any lure 70 to 200 grams will be in the size range that will be capable of handling their strength. Richter plugs, Halco Hamma and Halco twisty metal slice lures are all deadly. The Hardy Inlet has been really hit and miss for the last month with the whiting fishing being very uncertain. Some boat fishers have spent hours searching up and down the river looking for a feed of king George or yellowfin whiting without as much as a single of their target species. Most people have made do with throwing a lure out to get some herring or tailor just so they get a feed. Crab fishing on the other hand has been excellent with large blue swimmers throughout the system right up to Alexandra Bridge. They have been generally located in water around 4m deep and spleen has been the best bait when drop netting. The short period of allowed demersal fishing time has once again ended with very few fishable days. When it was calm enough there were plenty of dhufish and pink snapper caught in Flinders Bay and Hamelin Bay. The queen snapper are also turning up again, suggesting that it must be getting close to their breeding season. Baits did very well with mullet and squid both capturing plenty. Soft plastics in the 6-7”

Brad Veitch with a swag of herring from an impromptu fishing session at Jay’s Beach. paddle-tails also worked. One way to make the most of good boating weather during the demersal ban is to drop some pots in for crayfish (rock lobster) as they are prolific in the waters around Augusta. It doesn’t take long to earn the cost of a cray pot back once you get onto a good bit of reef loaded with the delicious crustaceans. • Should you decide to give rock fishing a go please remember that it is dangerous at times and careful consideration of where and when you fish must be done. 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, boat hire 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 in the centre of town.

Freshly caught salmon from Cosy Corner make a great meal, especially when smoked. APRIL 2024 103

West Coast

FMM

Open season for the holidays, and the fish are on METRO

Jacob Crispe

The Easter holidays are here, and many anglers will be looking to take advantage of all the angling options in and around the Perth metro area. SWAN RIVER The hot weather has lingered for a while, but by the time you read this we’ll hopefully have gotten some rain, and the better fishing will move from the flats in

may be a samsonfish. A few anglers have picked up some good-size fish in the East Fremantle section of the river. ROCK WALLS AND BEACHES April is always a good month to try our local rock walls. You have all the usual species like herring, skippy, King George whiting and sand whiting to target (finned fish), with the added bonus of picking up a snapper. The snapper tend to push closer to shore at this time of the year, and this can result in some good snapper fishing from our rock walls. As always, berley is the key to consistent results for all of these species. Get a good berley trail going, as it will always improve your fishing. There are plenty of pre-made berley mixes available and your local tackle shop will be able to point you in the right direction. Squid are the other consistent species to target from our rock walls. As we push further into the year, their numbers may

Anthony Axcell with a cracker Spanish mackerel he caught while targeting snapper. It took a herring fillet on a 2-hook snell rig.

James Close with a perfect eating size pink snapper.

Young ‘J’ has been catching heaps of sand whiting from the beach with his dad Nolan. the system to the deeper water, and the drop-off from these flats. Any fresh in the system will also concentrate the fish closer to the mouth of the river. Bream, flathead and whiting will be popular targets for those fishing the dropoffs or from the local jetties. Micro jigs are a go-to for many lure anglers, while fresh baits will be best for those wishing to soak a bait. A few jetties worth a try would be Applecross, Como and Bicton Baths. The mulloway fishing in the river has been as good as I can remember. I expect that will continue this month, albeit more towards the lower reaches if that rain comes. Scalies are without a doubt one of the best baits to target them with. If you can get hold of some of them, some great areas to focus on targeting mulloway are the E-Sheds and the Narrows Bridge. A little bonus in the river this month 104 APRIL 2024

using lure clips, such as a Mustad Fastach clip, to make changing jigs easy on the run. Fremantle Sailing club, North and South Mole are great areas to try. Our beaches are also fishing well, and most reports have been about the mulloway and snapper fishing. Using drones to get baits out to the right zones is becoming the new norm, and it’s no wonder when you see the results this style of fishing is getting. Trigg, Cottesloe, Yanchep and Alkiminos beaches are excellent options as they have nearby reefs to draw the fish from. There are plenty of bread and butter options as well. Sand whiting, herring and tailor are always popular targets, and Hillaries and Ocean Reef beaches are good locations to target these species.

drop a little but the size of the squid caught should improve. Selecting the right jig size, sink rate and jig colour depends on the depth of water you are fishing and the

Kai Boyle has cracked the code to the Swan River sambos.

A great tailor caught on lure by the master Han Yeoh.

mood of the squid (jig colour) on the day. You don’t need every jig that your local tackle store stocks, but a small tackle tray containing some different sized jigs with varying sink rates and colours, will help you catch more squid. I also recommend

INSHORE Our inshore fishing shouldn’t change too much in the coming weeks, although you can add snapper into the mix. Most snapper anglers will focus on fishing the light changes. They will anchor and set up

FMM

West Coast WA

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a good berley trail and fish baits in the trail. Fresh squid is always a popular bait. Squid are also a popular target species, and are generally found in 3-6m of water around broken, weedy ground. Playing around with jig colours until you find the preferred colour for the day can help if the squid are proving hard to find. King George whiting are always an

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patches with fresh baits. Squid is very popular. Not only do the whiting love squid, it holds up to the pickers a little better, too. There have been good catches of skippy and tailor around our inshore reef systems. The tailor fishing will slow down a little, but the skippy should remain and there is every chance you may also pick up a samsonfish or yellowtail kingfish. Drifting for sand whiting around the shipping channel is also a good way to pick up a feed of fish.

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Young gun Sunny Close has been making the most of his local marina using a Vexed Buckabou jig. encounter great-eating fish like eight-bar cod, greyband, hapuka, bass grouper and blue-eye trevalla. I have to say, I am looking forward to April. There is nothing like eating plenty of Easter eggs and having lots of fishing options to fire you up and get you out wetting a line. I will catch you next month. APRIL 2024 105

West Coast

FMM

Perfect timing – the demersal season opens LANCELIN

Peter Fullarton

The longest open demersal season for the year (four months) starts on 29 March, in time for Easter break and into the school holidays. The season closes on 1 August. If you are having trouble keeping track of these crazy on-and-off-again dates, Fisheries WA do publish the ‘Recreational fishing seasons calendar’. It’s a handy document to download and keep on your phone so you’ll always know

berley trail is a great way to fish the bay. If you find a deeper area near seagrass you can expect skippy, squid, snook, herring and garfish to gather at the back of the boat. Flathead have been about in good numbers, and while casting soft plastics to the sand holes and weed edges we have caught several fish per session to 60cm. April is peak game fishing time, and usually the highest water temperatures for the year. Spanish mackerel can be found in a range of depths. Fishing near reef drop-offs, bommies or bait

This nice greenback fell to a 125mm CID Shiverstick in pilchard colour. along all the surf beaches. The secret to success is using quality, fresh bait and putting in the hours. Good baits are fresh caught squid, whiting, herring and tailor. If you can’t get fresh bait you can use frozen mullet or squid.

Hopefully we will get a better class of tailor along the beaches in the coming weeks, and greenback-size fish on the near-shore reefs. This time last year was a total flop; something triggered all the fish to migrate out to sea. Only time will

Garrit caught this snapper early off the cast. if the species you’re targeting are in season. Finally! Fisheries WA have completed the review into the take of garfish. The news is good – we are allowed to catch them again. With April to September being the best months, it’s great timing, too. While the water is warm there are usually a lot more baldies in close, and the Christmas season saw quite a few caught in under 10m of water. When you’re targeting dhufish it’s usually a case of ‘do the miles, get the smiles’, and most of the big boats have been finding some solid fish at Direction Bank. Deeper water up to 500m has been producing 8-bar cod, trevalla and bass groper, some great catches weighed in at Lancelin angling club of 30-50kg fish! Whether you’re holidaying in town or just making the most of a day trip from Perth, Lancelin is a great place to occupy the kids during school holidays. The numerous surf beaches offer great 4WD, swimming and fishing opportunities, and the sheltered waters of the bay are great to cast a line from the shore and jetty. It’s good to fish the jetty at night, both to avoid blowfish and so you can catch the herring, tailor and skippy that gather under the lights. The bay is perfect for small boats and kayaks, the calm, clear, shallow waters are ideal to cast small lures to a multitude of species. Setting up a 106 APRIL 2024

schools will always increase your odds of landing one of these speedsters. The FADs have been holding bait schools and hundreds of mahimahi, but getting them to bite can be very tricky. The key to more consistent catches is to be prepared with a few live baits. There is a high likelihood of encountering a wahoo or marlin in the vicinity of the FADs, too. April is when the mulloway fishing gets serious around Lancelin, and we can expect big fish well over a metre

Chris with a cracking snapper off the cast.

Sujan with a greenback caught on the old faithful Roosta Popper.

tell how this season progresses. Herring have been going nuts along the beaches; at times these big shoals have been feeding more like tuna! The official start to herring season is traditionally ANZAC day so it’s looking like a great season. It just keeps getting better for the beach casters, with the best season for pink snapper I’ve ever seen. At this time of year, you can get great catches, both casting and droning baits out. Can it get any better? On the subject of drones, there have been issues with people sending drone baits out in high boat traffic areas, or setting lines high in the hills, where boats have hit the lines. One person even dropped their rig into the flybridge of a lobster boat moored at Ledge point. It goes to show that we all need

West Coast

FMM

You just never know what fish will turn up next and hold the bill. They then slowly swam the fish all the way down to the river mouth, into the clean, blue water. After a good half hour, the bill kept turning belly-up every time they let go, and its gills showed no sign of changing from pink to red. It was clear it wouldn’t survive, so they decided to keep it instead of feeding the sharks. It’s a shame the fish was too far gone, but it’s great that the boys tried so hard to revive it. What a surprise capture! WHAT’S BITING Rob may not have caught any macks that day but they are around, although they have been a little shy

KALBARRI

Stephen Wiseman

Local angler Rob Tang, who has featured a few times in the magazine, had an unusual experience on the water recently.

range. It’s always nice to get a good one to the boat before the taxman takes a nibble. Corbin Gordon managed a few tuna recently, with some being very easy to boat and some less so. Halco lures were his favourite for the day. The river has been producing some nice mud crabs on the run-out tide, and there seem to be plenty. The river whiting are still on the flats and will fire up on the full tide. These critters have been taking small lures and little Squidgies. Beach anglers have been managing a few very nice tailor to around 600g. The odd early mulloway has also been seen, and these will improve in

Corbin with a feisty little tuna.

Corbin with a quality yellowfin tuna. After a dismal morning chasing mackerel and tuna around the 3 Mile, Rob decided to pull the pin and head back in. While dawdling back upriver to be careful because we don’t want a serious incident to curtail our hobby! Braided line is very strong and abrasive. It has been known to cut off anchor ropes when a big fish is running. Many fishers would be aware how quickly a little slippage cuts fingers. Lines strung out over the sea pose a significant risk to open boats, jetskis and kite surfers, and long lengths of line can entangle marine life, causing injuries and even amputating fins on marine mammals. Here are a few basic guidelines for drone fishing: • Avoid areas of high boat traffic • Only send the line out a safe distance for the location (often 150m will catch the fish) • Avoid setting lines high on a dune at the back of the beach where the line is strung out across the top of the water, where a small boat or jetski could have

he noticed a splashing and slapping over on the flats in front of IGA, which is one of his whiting spots. As Rob approached the shallows he saw a big fish floating belly-up, but still alive. It looked like a sailfish, and he jumped over the side of the tinny, grabbed the fish and rolled it the right way up. The fish was trying to swim, and by now he realised he had hold of a swordfish. He wondered how on earth he was going to revive it. Rob’s friend then turned up, and they managed to climb in the tinny

Rob was surprised to encounter this swordfish. on lures. Skipping gars have been the go. with some big hits and bustoffs being reported up around the sand patch. Yellowfin tuna are around in big schools, with some decent-size barrels being boated around the 20kg

Spotted mackerel seem to be one of the first yearround visitors from climate change.

numbers if we get a bit of river flow from the rains. If you have a boat, be sure to check the new rules and regulations. There’s plenty of time to figure out what you need on the boat. Safe fishing. the line slice across a passenger • Set the line as close to the water edge practicable, so the line settles into the sea at the back of the shore break • If a boat passes between the rod and the set bait, drop the rod tip with enough time for the line to settle deep enough so the boat safely passes over the line. • Ensure the dropper to the sinker is much lighter line, and hook droppers are lighter than the strength of the main line. This way you can break off a sinker or hook without losing several hundred meters of braid into the sea. You will catch more fish too; if the snapper snags the sinker it will break free, leaving you with the fish still on the line. The same applies to the wind-on leader, just in case more than one dropper is snagged at the same time. APRIL 2024 107

North Coast

FMM

Step outside of tourist season for bigger catches DAMPIER/KARRATHA

Troy Honey

We have seen an array of prize fish species caught around Karratha and the wider Pilbara coastline, south of Onslow to North of Port

Hedland. The seasons transition creates many changes in weather and water conditions that impacts fish activity greatly. Exploring and learning these changes provides many fishing opportunities that are not as productive at other times of the year.

Shawn Wainwright got stuck into a few good rankin cod fishing in over 50m of water out behind the Dampier Archipelago.

Aiden Wainwright with his monster GT that went well over the 20kg mark, caught at the end of the wet season off Dampier trolling in 2.5m of water at a speed of 6 knots.

March and April can be quite hot and humid in the Pilbara, so it is not usually until May we start to see the tourist migration begin. While the fishing is still nothing short of spectacular year-round, more often than not there are very productive options that are missed, or not ever experienced by the visitors as they don’t occur as much or at all during

the peak holiday periods. A couple of examples are the barramundi and threadfin salmon fishing, the move of demersals to cooler shallower water such as red emperor and saddletail that extends their bite times and, in some years, when we are lucky enough to get a lot of rain or a late cyclone, the migration of mud crabs back into the creeks after the fresh

Hoping for more good weather windows EXMOUTH

Barry Taylor

This month’s report has been supplied by Callan Gaunt. We’ve had quite a few good weather windows lately, and offshore anglers have been making the most of it. We’ve been seeing some good stats coming out of GameX, and

we will report more on that in next month’s magazine. There haven’t been heaps of blues and stripes around, but there have been plenty of blacks and sails. At the time of writing this article, the catch reports have been about two thirds black marlin and one third sailfish for the guys targeting billfish. There have been plenty of big

This mackerel couldn’t resist a West Coast Poppers 60g Dana in mahi foil colour. Image courtesy of indepthanglerjosh. 108 APRIL 2024

wahoo out there, and the ones I saw at a GameX weigh-in were all 1m+, with the biggest nearly 20kg. If you want a feed and a bit of sportfishing, you don’t have to go too far offshore to catch them, with many being caught around the 80-100m mark. Most have been caught on trolled skirts meant for billfish, but you can also catch them on livies and trolled vibes. There have been plenty of mac tuna and stripies getting caught, plus the odd longtail and the occasional yellowfin. Good-size mahimahi have been turning up offshore, with some specimens up around 8kg. Even better, now that the FADs have been deployed, anglers with smaller boats can also chase some dollies this month. In the deeper water, we’ve had reports of a few rubies and 8-bar cod being caught but there haven’t been a lot of people fishing for them. A few swords have been caught as well. There have been some gold-band caught out in 80-150m of water, along with pearlies and saddle-tail snapper (large-mouth nannygai). Around that 100m mark there’s also the chance of catching red emperor and rankin cod. In shallower, around 50-70m depth, the main targets are rankins and reds, along with plenty of spangos and other emperor species. Around the 10-30m mark the red-throats become more

Coral trout are suckers for a well-placed stickbait. Image courtesy of indepthanglerjosh.

prolific, mixing with smaller cod like honeycombs, flowery cod and the odd coronation trout on the west side. There have been a few mackerel getting around inshore; not heaps, but people have usually been getting a feed. While you’re trolling for Spanish you can get a bycatch of other mackerel and tuna species. A few guys been flicking lures off the western side of the cape and

North Coast

FMM water has stop flowing. March in the Pilbara has finally enjoyed lengthy spells of windless days allowing for all types of fishing and that will continue into April

emperor, Chinaman, cobia, black and gold spotted cod and many more including the smaller species such as whiting, diamondscale mullet and flathead.

Aiden Wainwright boated one of the most prized Karratha demersal species, the red emperor. and May which are always the best fishing weather months of the year. We have seen a lot of barramundi, mangrove jacks, queenfish, trevally, rankin cod, red and blueline

Heading into April fishing becomes exciting with the start of the blue manna crab season. Easter is the standard kick off where the bulk of the crabs become legal size

getting quite a few jacks, as well as trevallies and queenfish. The jacks are a prize catch if you’re chasing a feed for dinner, and they can be caught fishing around reefy areas from the shore. Small stickbaits, like the Ocean’s Legacy Keelings, can be very effective when cast over reef areas. You can also use soft plastics, such as the 3.2” Bait Junkie Minnow or a 3” ZMan MinnowZ. I tend to use brown colours and pearl white. There have been quite a few bluebone (blackspot tuskfish) in close to shore, not in huge sizes but still legal fish that are good eating.

Moving around into the Gulf, a few people have been going out and finding a bit of visibility and spearing trout. When the visibility is poor you can switch to chasing them on vibes and plastics. The Squidtrex is still a stand-out lure for reef species. It has been accounting for good catches of coral trout and black snapper (grass emperor) in places like Larkin Shoal and Cooper Shoal, and even as high up as Comb Reef. Even bluebone will occasionally take a Squidtrex. I also like to throw 5-7” Madeye Paddle Prawn soft plastics in these

of 127mm. Blue manna’s are prolific in Karratha, and it would have to be one of the healthiest crab fisheries in Australia. Bag limits are 20 per licenced boat fisher and 40 per boat. You don’t need to be licenced to fish from the shore where they can be easily caught walking out in the low tide shallows off the likes of back beach in Karratha, Hearsons Cove and all around the bays and marina in Dampier and Point Samson. Barramundi will be one of the most targeted fish species in April with the creek anglers keen to make the most of the season as it draws closer to an end with the water temp dropping off. Barra can be caught all year round in Karratha but at much less of probability during the cooler months. Demersal fishing will see are sharp rise as the days of ideal weather roll in one after another and the offshore water also cools which bring the demersals in closer and shark activity lessens. Target species are always the top list of red emperor, saddletails and rankin cod, which are generally caught in the 40-60m zones and closer in around the 20-30m we see great captures of coral trout, blueline and spangled emperor, black spotted cod, the odd bluebone and plenty of Spanish flag. Bluebone will be one of my main

targets through April and it is around the rocky headlands and cliffs of the Archipelago that will be the zones I work the most. The larger tides during new moon always present the best fishing times for bluebone as they use these tides to gain access to crustaceans in the rocks that have fallen off the cliff faces over millions of years. There will be plenty of whiting on offer in all of the sandy bays around Karratha, one that stands out is King Bay off Dampier which has plenty of weed patches divided by stretches of white sand which are the perfect environment for whiting. Squid are spread throughout the same areas so make sure you have a squid jig dangling over the back of the tinny when chasing whiting. Spanish mackerel fishing generally slows for a while and will pick up again in September, but it is always worth having a troll around the shoals and offshore reefs if you are out on the water and have the time. Personally, I would run smaller, deeper diving mackie lures which will not only entice any lurking in the area but also give you a great chance of hooking up with some of the very aggressive big coral trout that live in the caves of the reefs. It is always a great day when having a troll and you reel in a solid coral trout on lure.

You don’t have to go far offshore to catch wahoo this month.

A few longtail and yellowfin tuna have been turning up here and there.

areas. As well as catching trout and black snapper, these plastics can get the attention of larger predators species such as cobia. Anglers fishing off the shore at places like Bundegi have been getting queenies, herring and giant trevally. Learmonth jetty has had some good fish at times as well, or you can try the light industrial area. Around the jetties there have been some nice-size bream cruising around and some jacks hanging under them. Your best bet for the jacks is to use live hardyheads. If you use dead baits you’ll attract pickers like little grunter and batfish. There are a few permit getting

around the place for the fly fishers, and a whole bunch of jacks, queenies, giant herring etc around the station area for guys fishing off the shore. • For the latest news on what’s biting and where, drop in to Tackle World Exmouth at 3 Maley St, Exmouth or call them on (08) 9949 1315. You can also view the range at www.tackleworldexmouth.com.au, and see the latest catch photos on their Facebook page. This family business stocks a large range of tackle, from light spin to big game. The staff have a wealth of local knowledge and expertise, and are always happy to help. APRIL 2024 109

Freshwater

FMM

Ready for winter rewards in the cooler conditions FRESHWATER

Peter Fragomeni

The continuing extreme heat over recent months has seen most trout fishers store their fishing gear away until the cooler weather sets in, this normally occurs in April. This is because of a couple of reasons, one being they don’t want to add any unnecessary stress on the fish in warm water, the other being the lack of rewards. It’s officially one of the hottest summers on record with my region in the Western Wheat-belt recording 20 days over 40oC and 12 of those going over 42oC. The South-West hasn’t escaped this heat as well, with the Pemberton region experiencing a few days of 40oC and above. A temperature records of some of the streams and rivers by Fisheries WA resulted in elevated level readings, with one section of the Blackwood River recording 32oC and the Preston River sitting at 27oC. These temperatures are lethal even for our Western Australian strain of trout that are world renowned of having a higher tolerance to heat, compared to other areas. This has caused a lot of stress on

A great section of the Collie River being fed by water let out of Wellington Dam. This river is our best summer fishery, however, it receives a lot of attention from those chasing trout.

On the bright side, the hatchery at Pemberton will be on par with the best in the country when all the upgrades are completed. Bigger and better ponds with a smooth coating to minimise fin damage, to chillers and transportation of stock is all a positive. Brood stock will be again down this year but rainbow yearlings are up slightly and a big positive is brown trout yearlings should be up 70% on last year. AUSSIE NATIVES Good reliable reports have been hard to come by this month however, one thing I know is that they are loving these hot conditions. The ongoing frustration of anglers is more prevalent in summers like

staff from Recfishwest, Trout Foundation, WATFAA (Trout Club) and three experienced trout fishers that put in the leg work in the field, plus myself. A number of topics were discussed in the 3-hour meeting with some positive feedback and also some negative, based around climate change and the future challenges in this state. It’s obvious what needs to occur however, I didn’t even bring up the subject of East-Coast native freshwater species because the refusal by the department to allow us to stock

A rare catch over the wamer months. This brown trout took a deep diving lure trolled for redfin. Temperature shock is a concern when reeling trout up from the depths in summer.

Marvin Checksfield won the South-West Kayak Anglers/ Fishing Monthly Magazines all species photo competition with this nice snapper he caught fishing from his kayak. both the staff at the hatchery and also the fish they care for, as temperatures have exceeded the 22oC optimum levels in their ponds, with 25oC being recorded on many occasions. Luckily the newly installed chillers have been working overtime and the negative effect has been minimal however, the true extent won’t be known until winter, when the brood trout are stripped of their eggs. On other news the FFRG (Freshwater Fisheries Reference Group) met recently to discuss stocking strategies and placement. Attendees were three staff from Fisheries WA one being Andrew Beer who oversees the running of the Pemberton Hatchery and put up a very good presentation, also Biosecurity and Freshwater officers, two 110 APRIL 2024

yearling trout in a water that has been stocked with fingerling trout for many decades had me bamboozled. It’s sad to see the dedication of people like Andrew and all the staff at the hatchery that try to improve the freshwater fishery in this state being hampered by the same department they work for. It’s like a department within a department with the top brass bending to the ever-increasing demand of the Green movement that is spreading through many different sectors, not just fishing.

Tyson Groom with a nice rainbow he landed from a stream in the Pemberton region. The lack of rain has stressed trout in many southern areas this summer.

these which has caused a shut down of our trout fishery in the northern region. Even a moderate stocking of silver perch in a few irrigation dams would change the whole freshwater angling opportunities for many people. We have disease free stocks of silver perch which have been bred for many decades over here, and stocking them would offer a minimum threat to our highly modified dams that are already infested with redfin perch. Even if they escape downstream into the rivers which are basically dug out channels guiding water to the coast. Meanwhile the redfin go unabated with the only real predators being us the anglers. DAMS Waroona Dam As stated the trout fishing has been non-existent with only a few redfin showing up to those that braved the hot weather and boat traffic. This water has become a winter /spring fishery that is highly dependent on Hatchery stocking. I managed to get the stocking level increased so hopefully things will pick up when the first trout go in later this year. Drakesbrook Weir Same has occurred here however, Jonah Chiera has sent a few photos through, showing the water is higher and

Freshwater

FMM

Drakesbrook Weir is at 92% capacity and looking good after a top up from Waroona Dam. Early stocking should offer some reasonable trout fishing this season. looks quite clear. A few redfin will start showing up as it cools this month. Logue Brook Dam Things should pick up as the water cools down later this month. Harvey Dam A couple of small trout have been caught by those chasing redfin in the deeper sections around the wall. Trolling is a good way to cover ground until you find where the fish are sitting. I normally try a variety of lures that dive from a couple of metres right down to 8m. Redfin are always willing to play the game and some good size specimens occasionally come to the net. Wellington Dam With the cooler days around the corner there should be an increase in trout activity in the bays and shallower areas. The water level is very low so this will give the fish less places to hide. Redfin will also be more active however, constant moving spots is the key in this very long Dam. Glen Mervyn Dam It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this dam at 10 % capacity. It may be worth a visit but I would give it a miss until we get decent rains.

can cover lots of water. Big Brook Dam Things have slowed down over summer apart from a few redfin being caught around the dam wall. The trout fishing should improve with the cooler days seeing more activity around the edges. RIVERS Again in this report I will only list the rivers that I believe are worth exploring until we get decent rains and better flows. Collie River below Wellington Dam The level normally drops this month due to less irrigation demand, offering better opportunities to target trout that normally hide in the deeper sections of the fast runs. The use of smaller flies and

DAM LEVELS Overall storage in our dams that allow public access and recreational activities are currently 39.3% at the end of February compared to 55.3% as of the same time last year. Conditions have remained very dry with March being cooler as expected. A bit of rain fell inland with not a lot making to our irrigation areas. Glen Mervyn is basically empty with Waroona, Harvey and Wellington Dams suffering from a record hot and dry year. Drakesbrook Weir has risen because of water being let out of Waroona Dam upstream which will be great if the hatchery is able to get some early stocking in May. WAROONA DAM DRAKESBROOK WEIR LOGUE BROOK DAM HARVEY DAM WELLINGTON DAM GLEN MERVYN DAM BIG BROOK DAM

Silver perch do well in private dams. They also do well in public dams judging by the few that get caught occasionally. We need to keep applying pressure to get them stocked into a few key dams. lures can produce better results as well as a stealthy approach. Both browns and rainbows are available although catching them can be challenging at times. Collie River above Wellington Dam This section can turn up some nice redfin and with the latest reports coming through it seems it’s lived up to its reputation. A few have come from the small weir downstream and the section above the town has turned up a few as well. Preston River The reduced flow out of Glen Mervyn Dam has had a negative effect

The irrigation dams hold some good redfin. This one hit Wendy’s deep diving lure trolled at 4m. Lake Kepwari No reports received however, redfin are always willing to take lures and soft plastics. A boat or kayak is a must as you

Capel River I had a look at this river on a recent trip down that way. Access is restricted by foot but good areas are accessible by kayak with some nice little redfin on offer. Warren River The water level is very low reflecting the current situation that has plagued most of the waters throughout the southwest of the state. A few trout have been spotted in the shallow water however, they are very wary and reluctant to take anything offered to them. A bit of rain is needed to stir some activity which should occur later this month. Redfin have not disappointed with most anglers going away with a few nice bags including some larger ones in the

on this little river, however, it’s still worth exploring. The section below the weir at Donnybrook can be productive if there is a reasonable flow.

mix. It seems soft plastics presented to cover or any available structure has worked well compared to the hard bodied option. Again those that can get on the water are enjoying better success. Lefroy Brook Again, low still water has made for hard fishing. As stated previously this little stream would be almost dry if it wasn’t for the continuing water let out of Bigbrook Dam. One of the alarming reports I heard recently was that some of the dozens of dams built on the upper reaches and the little creeks that feed this system are still nearly full. These dams were built for the purpose of irrigation of avocados and have limited the water that once trickled downstream. The decline in the avocado market has put less demand on water. If somehow we could get together as a group and put some pressure on the authorities to get these farmers to release a small amount of this unused water it would benefit the whole system. It’s not only the trout that would benefit but also the native species and marron as well. Some nice trout are still around with up to a dozen fish sighted in some sections and inflows of this stream. Long fine leaders, small flies and a stealthy approach is the preferred method if you happen to be able to cast a fly. Donnelly River Very dry upstream so the only place I would visit is the section around Boat Landing. Unfortunately, a boat or kayak is required if you stand a chance of

29% 92% 57% 44% 37% 6% 71%

hooking a trout. Trolling close to the edges can also get a response from some big black bream that inhabit this water so I would use a lure that work well on both species. Although, we have been experiencing unfavourable conditions for trout over here, the future looks very promising with the much-needed funds being spent on the upgrades to our aging hatchery at Pemberton. This is dependent on returning to average rainfall and temperatures because, without these two

A superb Warren River redfin. Check out the Blair Hutton Fishing YouTube channel for exciting fishing. factors the authorities may not have much option but to move to the dark side, and breed east-coast native freshwater species in order to justify the huge expense and upgrade of their facilities down there. Meanwhile we can all do our part by releasing any trout that have any chance of surviving after capture, especially our brown trout. Until next time Stay Connected. APRIL 2024 111

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Tournament Calendar 2024 DATE

Tournament

Location

State

Contact

13-14 Apr

13Fishing BASS Pro R3

Clarence River

NSW

abt.org.au

16-17 Apr

13Fishing BASS Pro R4

Richmond River

NSW

abt.org.au

20-21 Apr

Daiwa BREAM Series R5

Albany

abt.org.au

20-21 Apr

Pirtek Fishing Challenge

National

ALL

pirtekfishingchallenge.com.au

21 Apr

ECBS Grant Kime Memorial

St George

NSW

wsbb.com.au

27-28 Apr

Vic Bream Classics R2

Nelson

VIC

www.vicbreamclassics.com.au

30 Apr-2 May

Daiwa BREAM Aus OPEN

Sydney Harbour

NSW

abt.org.au

4-5 May

Daiwa BREAM Series R6

Hawkesbury River

NSW

abt.org.au

26 May

ECBS Round 3

Lake Macquarie

NSW

wsbb.com.au

1-2 Jun

Daiwa BREAM QLD OPEN

Moreton Bay/GC

QLD

abt.org.au

15-16 Jun

Daiwa BREAM Series R7

Blackwood River

abt.org.au

15-16 Jun

Vic Bream Classics R3

Warrnambool

VIC

www.vicbreamclassics.com.au

16 Jun

ECBS Fishing Addiction

Hawkesbury River

NSW

wsbb.com.au

20-21 Jul

Daiwa BREAM Series R8

Richmond River

NSW

abt.org.au

23-24 Jul

Daiwa BREAM Series R9

Tweed River

NSW

abt.org.au

17-18 Aug

Vic Bream Classics R4

Mallacoota

VIC

www.vicbreamclassics.com.au

26-27 Aug

13Fishing BASS Pro R5

Somerset Dam

QLD

abt.org.au

29-30 Aug

13Fishing BASS Pro R6

Wivenhoe Dam

QLD

abt.org.au

13-14 Sep

Zerek BARRA Series R1

Monduran Dam

QLD

abt.org.au

15 Sep

ECBS Round 5

Botany Bay

NSW

wsbb.com.au

16-18 Sep

Zerek BARRA AUS OPEN

Lake Awoonga

QLD

abt.org.au

28-29 Sep

13Fishing BASS Pro AUS OPEN Glenbawn Dam

VIC

abt.org.au

1-3 Oct

13Fishing BASS Pro GF

Lake St Clair

NSW

abt.org.au

12-13 Oct

Vic Bream Classics R5

Marlo

VIC

www.vicbreamclassics.com.au

13-14 Oct

Zerek BARRA Series R2

Lake Tinaroo

QLD

abt.org.au

15 Oct

Zerek BARRA Series R3

Lake Tinaroo

QLD

abt.org.au

20 Oct

ECBS Grand Final

Sydney Harbour

NSW

Sydney Harbour

11 Nov

Zerek BARRA Series R4

Teemburra Dam

QLD

abt.org.au

12Nov

Zerek BARRA Series R5

Teemburra Dam

QLD

abt.org.au

14 Nov

Zerek BARRA Series R6

Peter Faust Dam

QLD

abt.org.au

16-17 Nov

Zerek BARRA Series R7

Peter Faust Dam

QLD

abt.org.au

23-24 Nov

Vic Bream Classics GF

Nelson

VIC

www.vicbreamclassics.com.au

29 Nov-1 Dec

Daiwa BREAM Series GF

Lake Macquarie

NSW

abt.org.au

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au Just supply a date, venue, tournament name, telephone number and contact name. APRIL 2024 113

BASS SERIES presented by

Cone Finally Masters VIC’s Lake Blue Rock Mitchell Cone had finished in second place the first two times he visited Victoria’s Blue Rock Lake - losing to mates Matt Langford and Mick Johnson in previous iterations of this event in the 13 Fishing BASS Pro Series on the picturesque Victorian impoundment. In fact, he’s led the event after Day 1 on all three occasions. Scan the QR code to watch the Boater Winners Interview

The Narrabri Basser finally took the top spot on his third attempt, along with $2,100 cash and a perfect score of 100 Angler of the Year points. He was nearly a kilogram ahead of two-time Grand Final winner, Braden Schuch at the end of the two days of fishing. Here’s how he did it. Day 1: 5/5, 4.12kg Day 2: 5/5, 4.189kg Total: 10/10, 8.309kg Cone has been refining a pattern ever since he’s been visiting the Victorian lake which has a great mix of open water and timbered habitat. He fishes shallow in the water column, finding bass in Forward Mode on his Garmin LiveScope and presenting a black Gulp! to them on spinning tackle. These fish sit between 5 and 8 feet down in anywhere up to 100 feet of water and relate to structure in the form on drowned trees - especially those with some sort of horizontal structure. “Last year I caught plenty of fish that were just roaming in open water, but this time, I had to target bass sitting on the timber. The more bass I could see on it, the better they would bite,” Cone explained. He’d see the bass on Forward Mode on his Garmin and cast a black Gulp 3”

Third time’s a charm for Mitchell Cone, taking out the opening round of the 2024 13Fishing BASS Pro Series. Scan the QR code to watch the Field Highlights

This year was all about targetting bass in timber using Forward Mode on the Garmin Livescope for Cone.

BOATER RESULTS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 114 APRIL 2024

Angler Mitchell Cone Braden Schuch Steve Muldoon Matthew Langford Mick Johnson Frank Carabetta Adam Mears Tom Deer Jesse Rotin Tim Jones

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

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 8.309kg 7.445kg 5.579kg 5.565kg 5.189kg 4.882kg 4.874kg 4.546kg 4.536kg 3.959kg

Payout $2,100 $1,000 + $250 Merc bonus $800 $600 + $125 Merc bonus $75 Mercury Bonus

Swimming Mullet rigged on a Bassman 1/4oz jighead with a stinger. He reported that 60% of the bass he landed were hooked on the stinger. He fished the bait on a Millerods XLFC rod paired with a Daiwa Kix spooled with braided line and 6lb Daiwa X-Link leader. He also caught a few fish in the shallows on an OSP Dunk that he cast on a Millerods Twitchfreak M and a 10lb leader, but all of his key fish came from the timber. “It was good to finally get the job done on Blue Rock and not choke on Day 2,” Mitchell remarked, “and leading the BASS Pro AOY after the first event is a real bonus. SCHUCH CONTINUES MOMENTUM Day 1: 5/5, 3.770kg Day 2: 5/5, 3.675kg Total: 10/10, 7.445kg After winning consecutive BASS Pro Grand Finals, Braden Schuch continued his momentum into 2024 with a solid second place at the Blue Rock opener. “I’d always kind of known what would win at Blue Rock for the last couple of visits, but I went and fished my way. This

BASS SERIES presented by time I committed to throwing that black Gulp! and it paid off,” Schuch said. Unlike Cone, Braden found that the fish roaming in the open water were quite receptive to targeting with live sonar - in his case, a Humminbird Mega LIVE that he set at 40 degrees in forward mode. He never fished water shallower than 40 feet and like Cone, his suspending fish sat between 5 and 10 feet down. “I’d cast to the fish that I saw in the beam and sometimes they’d spook and other times they’d follow the bait, I usually needed to vary the retrieve slightly to get them to commit. This might have been a quick stop and drop and other times a quicker twitch to get that reaction,” he said. Most of his fish came off the end of a long point a couple of kilometres up and into the trees. Braden fished the bait on a

On the final day he dropped leader size to 6lb to tempt the pressured fish. GOLDIE LOVES THE BACK OF THE BOAT Day 1: 3/3, 1.153kg Day 2: 3/3, 3.627kg Total: 6/6, 4.780kg 2023 boater, Victorian Corey Goldie, decided that he’d spend a year fishing from the back of the boat to make some content and help new non-boaters get started. His plan started the best way possible with Goldie taking a win at his first event as a co-angler, anchored by a 51cm bass that weighed more than the rest of his bags added together. He caught his fish in two ways - earlier in the session with cicadas on the surface -

Open water fish found using Humminbird Mega LIVE were key to Braden’s success at Blue Rock in 2024.

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

BIG BASS PRIZE

Corey Goldie has moved to the back of the boat in 2024 and kicked his season off in the best possible way.

Corey Goldie recorded the Maui Jim Big BASS from the back of the boat. The 51cm pig ate a chatterbait rolled through the treetops and earned him $500 cash plus a sweet new pair of Mauis.

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

Angler Corey Goldie Ben Faro Rob Tilley Luke Mason Stephen Mears Jake Hardie Kris Dillon Travis Aspinall Elyon Cloete Leigh Mirams

Fish 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 5/6 4/6 6/6 4/6 6/6 4/6

1/4oz Daiwa BaitJunkie jighead with a light #1 hook that he threw on a Daiwa Infeet S 722 LRS and Daiwa reel matched with 0.8PE Expedition J-Braid and a 8lb X-Link leader.

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 4.780kg 3.582kg 3.113kg 1.945kg 1.735kg 1.623kg 1.609kg 1.369kg 1.339kg 1.219kg

Payout Rapala/13 pack + $500 Big BASS Duo pack Zman pack + $250 Rapala bonus Samaki pack + $125 Rapala bonus Bassman pack + $75 Rapala bonus Bassman pack

Sunline pack

specifically the DUO Shinmushi. He’d cast the bait as close as possible to the bank and shake the lure in the spot. The topwater bite was elongated by the steep banks upriver which kept the banks shaded for a long time. His big bass came on a chatterbait in the form of a HotBite Spectre rigged with assist hooks. The threw the lure straight out of the back of the boat into a timbered area and it got smashed on the slow roll. “We were pretty excited when that fish hit the deck,” Corey admitted, “It’s a true Blue Rock unicorn and to catch it in a tournament was amazing.” APRIL 2024 115

BASS SERIES presented by

Johnson the BASSiest Boater at Glenmaggie Mick Johnson added his name to the club of anglers who have won at both Victorian ABT venues after taking out the Ecogear Glenmaggie round of the 13 Fishing BASS Pro Series, the second of the two-event BASS Pro road trip to Victoria. Scan the QR code to watch the Boater Winners Interview

Johnson rode to victory on the back of a strong first day and kept ahead even though his second day limit was only 1/3 of the size of his first. Here’s how he did it. Day 1: 5/5, 3.008kg Day 2: 5/5, 0.995kg Total: 10/10, 4.003kg

Mick Johnson is now one of a handful of anglers who have won an event at both Victorian ABT venues (Lake Blue Rock and Glenmaggie Dam). all of my fish by 8.30am and not a bite after that.” Mick was throwing a bait that Braden Schuch had given him the day before - a Daiwa Spike 44EXDR in Suji Berry colour. He cast it on a 13 Fishing OMEN 6’10” spin rod with a Shimano reel, 8lb Sufix 131 braid and a Sufix 8lb fluorocarbon leader. The second day was

definitely not as kind to Johnson, with the bass in his limit measuring between 21 and 25cm fork length. Mick said that on the first day, he’d fish deeper water to get his bites early, but on the second day the fish actually got shallower as the day went on, which was counter intuitive. He landed 7 fish on Day 1 and 8 fish on Day 2.

A solid day one bag helped secure Johnsons victory and an automatic spot into the 2024 BASS Pro Grand Final. The practice day on Glenmaggie was wild and windy. In fact, few anglers were able to fish the rough side of the lake where there’s a slew of good, rocky banks that

are populated by bass. “My plan was always to fish the areas that were protected by the rough weather of the pre-fish day,” Johnson said, “and the bass obliged - I had

BOATER RESULTS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 116 APRIL 2024

Angler Fish Mick Johnson 10/10 Braden Schuch 9/10 Adam Mears 9/10 Mitchell Cone 10/10 Tim Jones 8/10 Keeghan Painter 7/10 Frank Carabetta 10/10 Jason DeForrest-Haddleton 10/10 Steve Morgan 8/10 Matthew Langford 7/10

Braden Schuch is leading the BASS Pro Angler of the Year race at the end of the VIC rounds.

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 4.003kg 3.707kg 3.433kg 3.000kg 2.876kg 2.873kg 2.503kg 2.444kg 2.066kg 1.984kg

Payout $2,200 + $250 Merc bonus $1,000 + $125 Merc bonus $800 + $75 Merc bonus $600

“There’s something about fishing banks that look pretty plain on the second day at Glenmaggie - the good looking stuff usually gets hammered on the first couple of days,” he concluded. With automatic qualification for the BASS Pro Grand Final in the can, Mick can now concentrate on winning a BASS Pro Angler of the Year title, although

BASS SERIES presented by it’s shaping up to be a multifaceted competition this year - with 196 out of a possible 200 points he’s third in the rankings behind Braden Schuch and Mitchell Cone. SCHUCH TWO TWOS FROM TWO As it happens, a pair of second placings in the Victorian BASS events is good enough to be leading the 2024 13 Fishing BASS Pro Series Angler of the Year points table for NSW Basser, Braden Schuch. Schuch’s ascent up the leaderboard was remarkable after sitting in 14th place after Day One of competition. On the first day he didn’t bag a limit or a kicker fish in his 4/5, 0.778kg catch. These fish ate a prototype Daiwa Spike EXDR in bright colours. Day Two was a different story, with a 37.5cm bass

BIG BASS PRIZE

the crankbait to a silent lipless bait - in particular a silent Japanese Trinity’s Custom Reflex Vibe in a black/ purple colour. He fished this bait around bass suspending in timber in the main basin of the lake on a Daiwa Tatula 23 722 MRB rod teamed with a Tatula 100s reel and 10lb straight through Daiwa fluorocarbon. It was a definitive move. ONE SHOT, ONE KILL Noah Crook has had a pretty good start to 2024 fishing tournaments. He won an entry into the ABT by placing highly at a Central Vic Lurecasters Super Series event a week before at Blue Scan the QR code to watch the Non-Boater Winners Interview

The Maui Jim Big BASS was landed by non-boater Ben Faro. Measuring 43cm fork length (1.535kg), it ate a 2.5” Daiwa Bait Junkie Minnow rigged on a 1/6oz TT SnakeLock jighead rolled through the treetops. It scored him $500 cash and pair of Maui Jim sunglasses.

Noah has his sights set on the Lake St Clair Grand Final - a venue he has never set eyes on before.

Noah Crook fished his first ABT and took home the NonBoater Trophy - that’s a pretty good start to his ABT career! anchoring his 2.929kg limit and falling around 300g short of the win. What did he do to turn it all around? He switched from

Rock. And on his first attempt at fishing an ABT from the back of the boat, he won. By 600 grams over second placed Ben Faro.

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

Angler Noah Crook Ben Faro Corey Goldie Rob Tilley Nick Brown Jake Hardie Stephen Mears Luke Mason Elyon Cloete Leigh Mirams

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

Weight(kg) 2.334kg 1.751kg 1.328kg 1.253kg 1.227kg 0.891kg 0.529kg 0.475kg 0.363kg 0.345kg

Noah’s young enough to have to be driven to the events by his old man, who watched with pride as he accepted his winner’s trophy and prizes and completed his winner’s interview. He used a Wilson Blade n Tails rod that he also won at the first competition and paired it with a Daiwa TC

Full results at abt.org.au

Payout Rapala pack + $250 Rapala bonus Duo pack + $125 Rapala bonus Zman pack Samaki pack + $75 Rapala bonus Bassman pack Bassman pack Ecogear pack Atomic pack Sunline pack

Scan the QR code to watch the Field Highlights

Black reel and 10lb Sunline leader and braid to box a limit of 6/6, 2.334kg over the two days. His bass ate a couple of baits - both fished on the Spin Wright jighead - a Rapala Crush City Suspect in Baitfish colour and a black Gulp!. He fished with Bryce Abbot on Day One and Jesse Rotin on Day Two - and loved the experience of being in a bass boat for the first time. There’s a decent chance that he can talk the old man into taking him to the BASS Pro Grand Final at Lake St Clair in NSW later this year. APRIL 2024 117

BREAM SERIES presented by

Healey Taps Tom’s Creek in BREAM Opener It was definitely a case of quality over quantity for on-fire breamer, Mark Healey. Landing only 15 bream in two days, Healey recognised that the quality was in the Toms Creek area of Gippsland Lakes and boxed eye-watering limits from the area over two tournament sessions. His fish averaged 1.32kg each - that’s ten fish at 39cm fork length each, which surely lets Gippsland Lakes stake its claim to being the best BREAM fishery in Australia. It seems that a Net Free Gippsland Lakes is yielding results a LOT faster than expected. Here’s how he did it. Scan the QR code to watch the Boater Winners Interview

Mark Healey kicked off his 2024 BREAM campaign in the best possible way. of the system, so I just needed to locate them,” Healey said. Each day he caught several fish in Toms Creek and a couple of fish outside the creek. Some of these were in areas that he hadn’t fished before. Healey used just one lure the whole event - a Jackall Deep Chubby in Brown Suji colour. On his lighter outfit, he upgraded the factory hooks to Decoy chemically sharp trebles,

Day 1: 5/5, 6.877kg Day 2: 5/5, 6.354kg Total: 10/10, 13.231kg “I think that the secret for me was to find that good water quality. It had to be tannin stained but not muddy. The rains over summer just moved the fish a little - they didn’t make them swim all the way out

Patience was key to landing a bag that averaged 1.32kg a fish.

BOATER RESULTS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 118 APRIL 2024

Angler Mark Healey Ahmad Mahfoud Tom Slater Jarrod Healey Liam Carruthers Scott Towner Peter Stephens Steve Morgan Scott Wilson Peter Breukel Jamie McKeown Damien McGlynn Cam Whittam

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

but on his heavier outfit he left the factory hooks on. His lighter outfits included a pair of Shimano Shimano Zodias rods - the 270 in L and UL configurations that he matched with Shimano reels and 6lb Kairiki braid with 6lb Ocea leader. His upgrade rod for the heaviest country was a Shimano X-Pride 6’10” ML rod with a 2500 Stella and the same line combination. “I found that I didn’t really need leader heavier than 6lb, as with the barnacle encrusted snags, it wouldn’t matter if you had 6 or 16lb, they’d shred you. That said, these black bream usually cooperate when you hook them up. I didn’t lose many at all,” Healy continued. His retrieve was a simple slow roll and his net of choice the Shimano Environet. “I used the traditional Environet on Day 1 and the rubber coated mesh on the second day and I was tired of trying to untangle the trebles from the mesh. I’ll be going back to the Original net in the

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 13.231kg 12.167kg 11.518kg 10.827kg 10.330kg 9.895kg 9.405kg 9.236kg 8.828kg 8.821kg 8.791kg 8.757kg 8.640kg

Payout $5,000 $2,500 $1200 + $250 Merc bonus $1100 + $125 Merc bonus $1000 + $75 Merc bonus $900 $800 $700 $650 $600 $500 $500 $500

future,” he said. Taking home $5,000 for his efforts and an instant Grand Final qualification on his home lake of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Healey has already established himself as the early favourite in the season ending event. The Grand Final prize is a fully rigged Alloycraft boat with Mercury outboard package. SLATER SNARES SECOND After prefishing Tom’s Creek, Daiwa’s Tom Slater decided that he wanted quantity over quality and left the spot where Mark Healy ultimately won the event. He chose instead to fish both flats and structure around Paynesville. Arguably, it was a good decision. Starting on the popular flat at the northern side of the township after driving to Paynesville, Slater started with a bang, landing a 41cm fork length fish nearly immediately and filling his bag early and easily. Later he moved to a second flat and added another Scan the QR code to watch the Field Highlights

kilo-kicker to his limit. Ultimately, he fished an isolated rock patch late in the session to upgrade some smaller fish with 37 and 38cm specimens to weigh around 5.7kg - good enough for third place overnight. He used a combination of Daiwa Double Clutch 48s in Chrome Belly colour and Daiwa Spike 44MR in Tannin Flash to

BREAM SERIES presented by off the Mitchell Flats with boater Michael Hunt, but his second day fish with boater Peter Breukel came from Steel Bay. And they had to rotate through the baits to find what they wanted. Eventually, the schooled fish they were seeing in 7 to 9 feet of water responded to a Hurricane Sting 37 blade with assist hooks. Loading it with scent and hopping it off the bottom drew a string of fish for the pair. Bruce fished the bait off a Samaki Zing Extreme 7’2”

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

rod matched with a Shimano Stradic 1000 sized reel, 8lb Daiwa J Braid and a 6lb Yamatoyo fluorocarbon leader. Instantly qualifying for the Daiwa BREAM Grand Final later in the year, Bruce plans to fill out the year by fishing the NSW BREAM events.

Tim Bruce had the ulitmate day two comeback, moving from 19th place to take out the win. fool the bream. Switching to 3lb Daiwa J-Thread later in the session as the fish became pressured. “My secret tool on the flats is my Humminbird sideimage. I have it mounted on my electric motor and I can pick the paths of where the bream are swimming, It’s like how we use it for barra, just smaller,” Tom said. With the forecast for Day 2 promising light winds until the early afternoon, Tom opted to start at Metung, drive across and prepare for a late session flurry. That’s exactly what transpired, with the fish being slow early and only accumulating a small limit. At 11:30am, he ventured into urban Paynesville and upgraded his whole bag in an hour on a prototype small BaitJunkie shrimp, but his best fishing was still to come. With

fished on a EX 722ULFS with a Revelry FC 200S and 10lb J Braid Expedition and 5lb X-Link FD leader while the Spike he used a Z 743 ULRD with the same reel and J Thread Finesse 3lb straight through fluorocarbon. BRUCE MOVES FROM 19TH TO 1ST Forster’s Tim Bruce started his 2024 ABT season off with a bang, winning his first ABT title from the back of the boat. In fact, it was one of the best comebacks we have ever seen for a win, moving from 19th place after Day 1 to 1st after the final session finished. He did this with a 3/3, 3.914kg bag which added to his Day One bag of just over 2kg. His final tally was 6/6 for 5.931kg. A great effort from the back of the boat. His fish on Day One came

Tom Slater caught this 41cm bream in the opening minutes of the first session. a late check-in time, his final drift of his productive Day One flat in the wind yielded a 41cm bream on the Double Clutch and a 38cm upgrade on the Spike. It was the final flurry he need to catapult into second spot, although he was still a kilo and a half short of the winner. His preferred outfits were out of the Daiwa INFEET 23 stable - the Double Clutch he

Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Angler Tim Bruce Mick Thompson David Yuill Lance Marsh Joel McKenzie Kevin Beams Phil Zentai Dallas Blatchford Liam Allan Heath Kimber Allan Lavell

Fish like this gave Tim a near 4kg bag for three fish on day two.

BIG BREAM PRIZE

Newcastle’s Scott Wilson won the Maui Jim Big Bream award with an ABT Record, 44.5cm fork-length black bream from a Metung pontoon that went 2.01kg on the length-weight curve. It ate a Cranka crab and was worth $500 and a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses.

NON - BOATER RESULTS Fish 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 5.931kg 5.877kg 5.781kg 5.149kg 5.108kg 5.056kg 5.020kg 4.955kg 4.939kg 4.877kg 4.808kg

Payout Daiwa pack Daiwa pack Rapala pack Daiwa pack Samaki pack Zman pack Cranka pack Cranka pack Ecogear pack Atomic pack OBB Muss pack APRIL 2024 119

BREAM SERIES presented by

Healey goes back-to-back at Mallacoota We have seen plenty of hot-streaks at ABT over the last 25 years. Anglers get on a roll and good decisions lead to more good decisions. Not many, though, have matched Mark Healey’s run over the last 12 months. Scan the QR code to watch the Boater Winners Interview

He won in 2023 at Hawkesbury and Lake Macquarie and after a third in the Grand Final at Port Stephens, has followed it up with wins in the first two season openers in 2024 in Victoria, proving himself a truly versatile tournament angler across both black and yellowfin bream. His Mallacoota win was unique in that it came from a single, 30m stretch of water that had fish passing through it constantly, right down near the entrance of the system. This is how he capitalised on that spot. Day 1: 5/5, 6.077kg Day 2: 5/5, 5.516kg Total: 10/10, 11.593kg “I caught 5 bream in 5 casts at the spot in practice, but I was sharing the water with another angler. We discussed it and agreed to share the spot,” Mark explained. It was the back of a bank where the water would drop into after entering the system at the bar and the yellowfin bream were lined up there during the rising tide for most of the session. “When I got there, Cam (Whittam) already had landed a couple of fish and for the first part of the session, he caught fish every cast. As the tide changed, though, it seems that

Mark Healey’s hot streak started last May at the Hawkesbury River, racking up his fourth boater win at Mallacoota in February. a run of bigger bream came past where I was fishing and I was able to upgrade most of what I had recorded. It was crazy,” he said. Indeed. In a couple of hours of fishing, Mark had caught more bream than he had in the entire Gippsland event campaign. He used several techniques to keep the fish biting, often changing as the bite slowed down. Showing them something new would turn them back on again. Mark rotated between a Cranka crab (heavy, olive), an Ecogear blade (40mm, colour 426) and a Jackall Chubby deep in brown Suji. He’d use the blade to get the lure to the bottom quickly when the tide was at its peak velocity, the crankbait when it got deep enough to roll over the shallows and into the deeper channel and the crab when the current

BOATER RESULTS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 120 APRIL 2024

Angler Mark Healey Mario Vukic Mark Crompton Brad Hodges Steve Morgan Declan Betts Ahmad Mahfoud Steve Pryke Cam Whittam Jamie McKeown Jarrod Healey Christian Wardini Liam Carruthers

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

slowed down and a little more finesse was needed. The icing on the cake was a couple of last minute upgrades on Goodwin Sands - a 37.5 and 39cm yellowfin. That elevated his bag to over 6kg and gave him a solid lead on the rest of the field.

Trump might be number one to Mario, but Mario was number two to Mark Healey at Mallacoota.

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 11.593kg 9.352kg 9.293kg 9.130kg 9.108kg 8.767kg 8.697kg 8.672kg 8.613kg 8.529kg 8.522kg 8.191kg 8.144kg

After boxing around 50 bream on Day 1, Healey said the bite slowed down a lot on Day 2, with about 20 bream hitting the deck. One of these, however, was the Maui Jim Big BREAM of the event. The 40cm fork yellowfin ate the Cranka Crab.

Payout $5,000 + $500 Big Bream $2,500 + $250 Merc bonus $1,500 + $125 Merc bonus $1,400 + $75 Merc bonus $1,300 $1,200 $1,100 $1,000 $750 $500 $500 $500 $500

He fished the baits on a variety of Shimano outfits the heaviest of which was a G Loomis heavy rod that he’d usually use in the racks paired with a Shimano reel, 6lb Kairiki braid and 6lb (Saturday) and 4lb (Sunday) Ocea fluorocarbon leader. Leading the BREAM Angler of the Year points race with a perfect 200/200 score, Healey has made the last minute decision to do the Tasmanian leg of the Daiwa BREAM Series to try and maximise his chance of winning that accolade for the first time.

BREAM SERIES presented by MARIO BEST OF THE REST Day 1: 5/5, 4.890kg Day 2: 5/5, 4.462kg Total: 10/10, 9.352kg Veteran Victorian BREAMer Mario Vukic Was the best of the rest of the field and targeted black bream in the Bottom Lake to amass most of his weight. He took it pretty easy on the practice day and identified some key spots in the deep and shallow water. Vukic started shallow and bagged out early by throwing a Hurricane Sprat on a 1/20oz TT HWS jighead. After that, he rotated several shallow spots to upgrade a couple of times, but it was a final-hour flurry in deeper water where he made three, key upgrades to finish with just under 5kg for the session. The flurry was in deeper water on a a Zman grub in Motor Oil on a TT jighead. “My non-boater Matt Perry and I put on a Motor Oil and a Bloodworm Grub to see what the fish preferred, and after Matt landed three in a row on the Motor Oil, we both then threw it to good effect,” Mario explained. By the end of that flurry, he’d added a 36 and 35cm black

shallow like they were the day before. Half way through the session he had scratched a mid-3kg limit together and noted that he was sitting in second place on the live scoreboards. He then went to a deep spot in 16 feet of water and pinned three, 35cm fish in a row on the Zman grubs, elevating his limit to 4.5kg and holding off challenged from Crompton and Hodges. It was a solid finish from an angler who has won at this venue in the past. Scan the QR code to watch the Non-Boater Winners Interview

Third time’s a charm for Liam Allan taking home the win in his third ever ABT event.

ALLAN TAKES TROPHY THIRD TRY Liam Allan had only fished two ABT events before taking the win the third time. One was the Gippsland event just days before and the other, the Mallacoota 2023 iteration. Living in Canberra now, Liam used to live an hour up the road in Merimbula and although he doesn’t consider Mallacoota his ‘local’, he’s pretty comfortable fishing there.

After boxing 3/3, 2.529kg with Peter Breukel, he bagged another 3/3, 2.640kg with Nathan Booth to steal the win by over 100g from Judd Kirkland.

With instant qualification to the Daiwa BREAM Series Grand Final on Lake Macquarie later in the year, Liam is pretty keen to see if his Sprats are the

BIG BREAM PRIZE

Liam now has his sights set of the 2024 BREAM GF! Allan’s weapon of choice for the weekend was a Millerod Grub Freak Lt that he paired with a Daiwa reel, 6lb 8-strand braid and 2-3 rod lengths of 4 or 6lb fluorocarbon leader. On the end he usually had tied a Hurricane Sprat rigged on a 1/20oz TT HWS jighead. “The prawns are running at the moment and that bait looks and swims just like a prawn and that rod has the backbone to set that tingle jighead hook,” Liam explained.

Mark Healey also took out the Maui Jim Big BREAM award with the only 40cm fork length bream recorded. The yellowfin ate a crab right at the front of the system and anchored his Day 2 winning bag.

bream to the tally. He threw the grub on a G Loomis GLX TSR842-2 matched with a Daiwa Exist 2500 reel, 16lb Sunline Castaway braid (1.0 PE) and a 4lb Sunline VHard leader. “My first big fish bit as I was untangling a wind knot, so that told me that I had to slow down the retrieve a little to get the fish to bite,” he continued. Mario tried to repeat the success of Day One on the Sunday and the fish weren’t

NON - BOATER RESULTS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Angler Liam Allan Judd Kirkland Neil Kelly Liam Curtis Tony Khouri Peter Messenger Phil Zentai Damien Dwyer John Fitzgibbon Dallas Blatchford Michael Thompson

Fish 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6

Scan the QR code to watch the Field Highlights

go up there. He’s never seen the lake ever before. “I’m sure I’ll get paired with some guys in fast boats that know what they’re doing,” Liam concluded. “It’s the Grand Final, mate, they’re not there by accident,” Steve Morgan said at the interview.

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 5.169kg 5.026kg 4.986kg 4.963kg 4.958kg 4.829kg 4.736kg 4.673kg 4.528kg 4.454kg 4.427kg

Payout Daiwa pack Daiwa pack Rapala pack Daiwa pack Samaki pack ZMan Pack Cranka pack Cranka pack Ecogear pack Atomic pack OBB Muss pack APRIL 2024 121

BOATING TEST

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Haines Hunter 675 Enclosed LE F300 Yamaha DES FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

What can you do with the top-of-the-line Haines Hunter 675 Enclosed Limited Edition? We borrowed Haines CEO John Haber’s boat to have a look. Well, when I say ‘we’, I mean the team at Port Phillip Boating Centre and me. They are a decades-long Haines Hunter and Yamaha dealer at Point Cook – just down the road from the Haines Hunter factory. Phil Pierias is the captain of the team there and just loves what he sells. “When I started the dealership I wanted to sell gear that I was passionate about and that I believed in, and for me that was Haines Hunter and Yamaha. I still sell both of those brands 20 years later,” he said. In fact, they’re the only ones he sells – Yamaha and Haines Hunter. That’s words backed up by actions right there. The rig showed up on the back of

SPECIFICATIONS Length.............................................6.75m Beam...............................................2.43m Height................................................2.3m Hull Weight...............................1300kg Fuel.....................................................270L Max HP..........................................300hp what looked like a diminutive VW, but with the fancy EasyTow aluminium trailer, the BMT package weighed in at well under 3,000kg. “The alloy trailer saves hundreds of kilograms,” Phil said, “and the roller and bunk combination is really easy to use and provides great support for the hull.” The Limited Edition Haines Hunter hulls have an increased power rating with a beefed up transom and more glass in the layup, so John’s rig was matched with a white, 300hp Digital Electric Steer (DES), which fits the entire HelmMaster system. Of course, the LE had full HelmMaster autopilot and joystick.

On the water, the steering was smooth and consistent throughout the rev range and noticeably more quiet than the electric/ hydraulic versions on offer. As usual, the autopilot in one-touch and the joysick is so easy to use, a child could do it. Of course, you have to remember the single engine joystick doesn’t do the sideways movements like a twin-rig joystick can. Other features of an LE build over the standard build include upgraded helm seating and custom synthetic flooring throughout the boat. Matched with the custom colours of the LE, it sure was a rig

ergonomically functional. Back to Haines Hunter basics and the Enclosed model means that windscreens run all of the way up to the hard top and there’s no clears in between. The view is pretty seamless and you’ll stay dry when it gets nasty. The cabin is spacious and there’s room for a couple of adults to get some rest. Being lockable, it’s great for road trips where you can lock up the fishing gear inside it for peace of mind. Fishing room is limited to the rear cockpit and there’s plenty of space there

Main: There’s no disputing that this Haines Hunter 675 Enclosed (Limited Edition) is a good looking boat. The Limited tag means that it has an upgraded transom to hold 300 instead of 250hp. Above: This boat is rigged with the full HelmMaster setup with Auto Pilot and joystick. We’d expect nothing less in the boss’ boat!

Haines Hunter hulls are unashamedly heavy. They are very quiet on the water and eat up the small chop we had on the test day in Port Phillip Bay. 122 APRIL 2024

that’d turn heads at the local boat ramp. We liked the helm layout – a couple of big MFDs were able to be flush mounted and the space above the lockable cabin entry is great for this. And even with two screens, all the rest of the switches and gauges looked uncluttered and

for you and your mates to wet a line. A slide-out dive door also allows easy egress from the water or to boat a fish that’s bigger than expected. John had rigged the boat with game fishing accessories – like outriggers, as well as inshore rod holder gear. He

FMM

Top: The dive door is solid and it slides into the grooves while running. Above: The low, removable bait station hides the big Yamaha from the cockpit.

BOATING TEST

You can see the Digital Electric Steering barrel where the steering mechanism usually sits. The system is quiet and efficient.

Top: There is no wasted space in the hard top. Above: There’s a spacious passenger glove box that will hold phones and wallets out of the way.

Now that’s what we like to see – room for multiple, flush mounted screens, as well as the switches and HelmMaster kit. The use of space is efficient.

Here’s some sneaky rod storage in front of one of the side pockets.

Top Left: We love easily accessible and grouped isolation switches and circuit breakers. Top Right: Of course John’s rig is fitted with outriggers. Bottom Left: Both driver and passenger have places to put their feet. Bottom Right: There’s capacity for plenty of rods up in the rocket launchers.

Left: The Limited version has new black seating for the driver and the passenger. Right: The underfloor kill tank/wet storage area is massive. APRIL 2024 123

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BOATING TEST

can swap these out as the fishing situation dictates. Performance wise, this boat has a 270L underfloor fuel tank and at peak economy you get around 400km of theoretical range – that’s doing around 45km at 3,500rpm. Drop the hammers PERFORMANCE RPM Speed

(km/h)

Economy

(km/L)

600 ............................ 5 ........................2.0 1000 .......................... 9 .........................1.8 2000 ........................15 .........................1.0 3000 .......................26 .......................... 1.1 3500........................45 .........................1.5 4000 .......................52 .........................1.2 4500 .......................59 .........................1.0 5000 .......................67 ........................0.9 5800 .......................79 ........................0.8

Top: Best economy was at 3,500rpm where you get 1.5km for each litre of fuel burned. Above: The white Yamaha is the natural choice for this colour scheme.

and your economy slides to 800m per litre, but you do shoot along at nearly 80km/h. It was running a 15.5 x 17” Yamaha Saltwater Series stainless steel propeller on the test day. “I always like to rig boats with the motors a little deeper and the props an inch smaller than if I was setting them up for top-speed-only,” Phil said, “It makes them perform better in the conditions we are usually out in.” As tested, you could buy a rig exactly the same as John’s boat for $263,000, but boat/motor/trailer packages start at $190,550 and you can add the fruit as you need it. And if you want to talk seriously to someone who knows these boats inside and out, talk to the team at Port Phillip Boating Centre on (03) 9369 0099.

Top Left: How cool is the keel-rollers carpeted bunk combination on this alloy trailer? Excellent hull support and easy to drive on. Bottom Left: All of the spigot mounted rod holders are removable, so you can get the set up you need for the type of fishing you want to do on the day. Middle Left: The dash is clean and well organised. Middle Right: Kick the seat up to stand with a backrest at the helm. Top Right: Plenty of hull weight and plenty of deadrise at the transom make for a smooth ride. Bottom Right: There’s a plumbed well in each side of the transom for live baits. 124 APRIL 2024

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New South Wales Tide Times

Victorian Tide Times

2021 2024 Times and Heights of High and Low Waters20212021 Local Times andLocal Heights of Time High and Low Waters LONG 151°POINT 14ʼ ELONSDALE andDENISON) Heights of High–and Low38° Waters LAT 18ʼ S ETime POINT – VICTORIA SYDNEY Times (FORT NEW SOUTH WALESLONG 144° 37ʼ POINTLONSDALE LONSDALE––VICTOR VICTOR

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

TES 33° 51ʼ S LAT 33° 51ʼ S LONG 151° 14ʼ E LAT 38° 18ʼ S LONG 144° 37ʼ E SYDNEY (FORT DENISON) – NEW SOUTH WALES MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST JUNE MAY JU and Heights of High and Low Waters Local Time Times and Heights of High and Low Waters and Heights of HighTimes and Low Waters Local Time JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCHof High and LowAPRIL and Waters LAT 38° 18ʼ S m LONG 144° 37ʼ LAT 33° SS Times LONG 151° 14ʼ Em LAT LAT38° 38°18ʼ 18ʼ S LONG LONG144° 144°37ʼ 37ʼEE LAT 33°E51ʼ 51ʼm LONG 151° 14ʼ EHeights Time m Time Time m Time mSJULY Time Time MAY m Time Time mm JUNE JULY AUGUST Time m Time m Time Time m Time m JUNE MAY Time m Times m Low Time m Time m LocalTime Time Local m TimeTime m Time JUNETime JULY AUGUST Times m and Heights of High and Low Waters Time m Time Local Time and Heights of Time High and Waters Times Timesand and Heights Heights ofHigh High and andLow Low Wate MAY JUNE Times and Heights and Low Time m JULY m Waters Time m m Time m Time m of HighTime Time m Time Time mm Time m Water Time m Time m m Local Time Time m of

2024

2024 2024

0519 0.58 0633 0.53 00061.36 1.68 0145 1.34 0150 1.40 1.26 0554 0.36 0037 1.78 0057 1.60 0557 0452 0623 0034 0.51 0052 1.4816 02081 1.63 1.41 0134 m1.71 0205 16 1.57 0046 0.69 0122 1.60 0034 1 1.26 0113 1.39 0028 1.52 m1.30 Time Time Time m0.49 Time Time m0.54 16 1 1 FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL JANUARY APRIL JUNE AUGUST MAY JULY JUNE JUNE m 1 0735 Time MAY MAY 1155 m1.39 16 0740 0744 1117 m1.28 1238 0646 0.43 m 0750 Time 0.51 0807 0.62 Time m0835 Time Time m Time m Time Time m 0735 MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST 1 16 1 16 16 1 16 1 16 1 1 16 1148 0.55 1.30 1041 0.38 1158 0.58 1.47 0821 0.65 0637 0.48 0.56 0825 0.55 0923 0.65 0601 0.67 0706 0.68 0642 0.62 16 1 1 1 16 1 16 1 1.68 16 SU0633 1MO 1225 TU 16 1SA0037 17251.78 0.65 1345 1.33 13581.26 1.3811.37FR 16400.53 0.75 1804 0.76 16 1303 16 1.43 1430 1.59 1446 1.43 1.18 SU1904 MO 1245 0006 0150 0057 1412 1.18 0034 1257 1.79 WE 1430TH 1.31 1.22 1.62 1.42 1900 1.50 0.80 0.58 1748 1.58 1.54 0.75 TU1.60 TH 1307 FR FR FR 12381.40 SA 14161.34 MO TU 1533 0.51 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1.68 SA WE TH 1522 0326 SU 1311 0.60 TH 1319 0.45 WE 1451 13220032 1425 0.46 0.45 0144 1.56 0128 0213 1.54 0033 1.42 TU SA 1359 12 1.46 27 12 1545 0.39 1603 0.15 161512 0.40 153427 0.16 1519 15330.41 0.45 15201459 0.37 1445 1.50 0.57 12 TH0.60 SA0241 SU 0.44 MO WETU TH 01251.79 0.58 00572.07 0.40 FR 0.34 0407 0.31 27 2052 0221 0.52 0.24SU MO 0241 0318 0.22 0330 0.29 1908 0.70 2022 0.75 2007 0.82 0.71 1919 0.83 9 24 9 24 9 9 24 2053 1.86 2141 1.76 1957 1.81 1956 2033 2.02 0916 0746 0.26 0724 0.37 0815 0.36 0745 0.34 0629 0.26 0642 0.44 2042 1.33 2138 1.31 2200 1.52 2216 1.45 2137 1.68 2144 1.58 2141 1.95 2114 1.80 12 27 12 27 12 27 201945 27 25 25 10 10 25 10 25 0719 1.51 0656 1.67 1013 1.47 0812 1.36 0837 1.46 0832 1.32 0915 1.42 0929 1.41 1459 1.84 WE 1434 1.73 1602 13380.62 1.81 SU 1339 1.68 SU 1557 TU TH 1522 FR 1456 SA 13200.52 0.54 12560.24 0.37 0211 TH 0.46 1.73 0259 1345 1411 0.48 1401 0.59 1449 0.45 1.750409 1509 0.45 MO TU WE 0214 SU TU0230 1.55 1.48 1.49 0123 1.58 0115 1.45 0407 0330 0.29 0221 0241 0241 0.44 0318 0.22 0402SA 0.50 0.30 2052 0345 0.71 0.50 0.50 0306 0.70 0.55 FR 0343 0.32 03320.75 0.27 03450.31 0.50 2151 2022 2007 0.82 2027 0.67 1908 1919 0.83 1924 1.98 2218 1.65 2133 1.85 1943 1.71 2019 1.82 2047 2.09 2035 1.84 2121 1.98 10 25 10 10 10 25 25 10 25 26 11 26 11 26 11 11 26 261.79 0915 111.42 2613 11 2609521.47 261.46 11 0.30 0804 0.36 26 085911 0.41 0720 0.20 0718 0.39 1013 0929 1.41 0812 11 1.3611 0837 0832 26 1.32 1021 1.70 11 10140833 1.55 0942 1.41 13 084911 1.94 0938 1012 2.05 26 095228 1.97 26 1.61 11 26 26 11 26 11 26 11 11 26 11 11 11 26 28 13 13 28 1642 0.42 0230 16001544 0.48 0259 0.61 1618 1.58 0.39 1646 0.13 1.45 16151.55 0.17 1602 0.46 1.48 1509 0.45 0.6228FR 1411 0.48 1401 0.45 1.80 1.76 1.53 1.70 1.87 1416 1.73 MOSU TH FR 1518 1.49 TH 1538 FR0.59 SU MO TU 16000.46 WE TU 1430 SA 0.25 SU 1449 WE TH 1515 FR 1600 0405 MO 0123 0214 0246 0115 28 28 13 3 1345 13 28 13 0202 0.55 0407 0.28 0441 0.38 0259 0.50 0334 0.23 0318 0.42 0403 0.25 0153 0.31 22471957 1.48 0833 1.93 0.72 2149 1.80 2047 2130 10 1.37 2213 0.20 1.33 25 2247 1.58 0.39 2222 1.76 2218 22141.65 1.63 0.3622272107 2133 1.85 1.82 2047 2.09 20350720 1.84 1.98 0.77 0.35 2136 0.67 0.68 0.80 10 0952 10 25 25 0831 0718 12019 26 1051 262121 261957 0757 1.48 26 0751 1.63 11 1011 0859 1.45 0.41 1.47 0852 1.35 0932 1.44 11 0912 1.330.30 10020804 1.42 11 10 1624 1430 1.87 1544 1.80 1515 1.76 1600 1.70 1535 1.73 1416 1.73 MO SU WE TH FR SA MO 13490.50 0.56 WE 1554 0.45 1645 1.49 0.52 29 0343 1.46 14220.42 0.64 0.51 0438 14421.59 0.58 0.48 0.40 0301 FR 0.51 05050315 0.37 0429 0.51 0.45 0344 0.54 SA 0436 0.25 0.31 042529 0.26 0.49 TU TH14 MO 0441 0.38 0259 0318 0403 0407 0.28 14 14 14 12 29 1.52 0258 0209 0156 1.47 270.68 121957 27SU 12 270421 1226 0334 270.23 12 27 27 271343 121503 27 12 272727 12 12 2113 270.58 12 122225 12 12WE 27 1957 2107 0.72 2047 0.77 2136 0.67 0.80 12 27 271539 12 1212 27 1053 1.64 11060918 1.41 102526 1.36 0845 093812 2.01 1014 1.78 1100 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1027 1.41 0953 1.34 150.54TH 30 15 13 30281633 15 30 15 0516 0605 0.46 0515 0.54 0420 0.54 0530 0.33 0519 0.29 0500 0.51 1653 1625 1.74 1556 1.74 1.66 1614 1.71 1517 1.87 1454 1.76 1730 0.58 1627 0.53 1644 0.47 1430 0.45 1500 0.66 1557 0.56 1523 0.58 1419 0.58 13 28 13 28 13 28 13 28 TU FR SA SU MO TU 13 28 13 13 28 28 13 13 2159 132258 13 131202 28 28 280.50 042613 FR 0343 TU TH0400 TH SU MO WE 13 28 13 28 28 13 28 0446 0.29 0512 0.45 0.49 0428 0.2713 1027 SA 0357 0.41 0446 0.31 28 13 28 28 13 13 28 0254 1.58 1.48 1.49 1.43 0236 1.48 1126 1.56 1.29 1112 1.30 2.04 1047 1.75 1148 1.87 1130 1.72 1101 1.48 30 15 30 15 30 15 5 0338 30 2152 0.71 2129 0.72 2217 0.64 2043 0.67 2033 0.78 2332 1.39 2250 1.78 2300 1.72 2102 2.10 2133 1.83 2229 1.99 2154 1.84 2046 1.78 12 1055 1.48 27 113016541.46 0932 1.33 27 1027 1.41 12 0953 1.34 27 1048 1.41 12 12 12 1016 0.54 17360856 0.48 0.21 0.71 0.44 0.71 0929 0.40 0.54 0.36 SA 17271000 SU 163527 SA 1712 0.18 SU 1721 0.41 TU 1813 0.25 WE WE 1737 0.34 0830 TH 1644 0.47 1500 0.66 SU 1557 0.56 1523 0.58 1627 0.53 TH FR MO 1.43 TU 2352 1.52 2314 1.43 1.75 2310 2321 1.35 23551.48 1.81 1730 23160.58 1.67 1603 1.82 1.68 1.71 1.61 1532 1.75 TU FR 1704 SA 1634 SU 1704 0524 WE 0544 0425 0.52 1.56 0528 0.38 1.49 0527 0426 0.33 0345 0.25 0417 0.50 0519 0.32 0437 0.40 0316 0.51 0254 1.58 2250 0236 0343 1.48 2300 0400 31 31 2332 1.39 1.72 2133 1.83 2229 1.99 2154 1.84 1.78 13 28 13 28 13 28 3 0913141.41 28 2127 0.67 2235 0.70 2212 0.66 2256 0.62 2110 0.76 12 27 12 12 27 27 12 1210 1.45 1133 1.40 1142 1.51 0945 1.50 1015 1.32 1120 1.39 1036 1.35 0856 0.21 1000 0.44 0929 0.40 1016 0.54 0830 0.36 1006 0.47 1102 0024 1.65 29 0557 0.57 14 0616 0.36 29 054131 0.54 14 0004 1.76 0610 0.58 14 044514 0.41 0458 0.56 29 14 FR0519 290.320.51 14 29 14 29 14 29 29 14 29 14 29 14 14 29 29 14 29 29 14 14 291521 14 29 31 31 1820 0.64 1715 0.59 1737 0.50 1540 0.68 1649 0.61 1608 0.59 14500.50 0.62 1603 1.82 1704 1.68 1634 1.71 1704 1.61 1532 1.75 1652 1.68 1724 SA WE FR SU MO TU TH 0527 0.33 0544 0.52 0417 0437 0.40 0528 0.38 14 29 14 29 14 29 14 29 TU FR 1.55 SA SU 1.42 WE MO 1.49 WE 1.40 0627 0.40 12000338 1.47 1221 1.54 0315 11391.48 1.40 07080446 0.55 1206 1.26 0430 1116 2.01 1120 1.69 0510 2331 1.64 0.66 2347 1.60 21541.39 2.08 2213 1.81 2318 1.87 2235 21191.32 1.7928 1120 28 WE 13 2127 0.67 2235 0.70 2212 0.62 2110 0.76 2245 0.43 2331 1.51 1015 1036 1.35 1133 1.40 1238 1.69 1804 1142 0.53 181728 0.47 1210 17241.45 0.60 1.20 2256 172528 0.76 1759 0.19 1751 0.44 TH TH 1.81 FR SU 13031042 MO SU 13 MO 13 28 13 13 0942 0.28 0906 0.37 0.52 1014 0.46 1053 0.62 © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2019, Bureau of Meteorology 1737 0.50 1540 0.68 MO 1649 0.61 0.59 1855 0.59 0.36 23520.64 1.66 1818 0.80 2356 1.37 FR 1647 SA 1820 TU 1608 WE 1715 0015 1.28 0609 0.38 0500 0.51 0610 0.40 0518 0.41 0606 0.45 0355 0.52 0443 0.28 1.75 1611 1.73 1743 1.61 1714 1.68 1735 1.56 WE 2347 TH SA SU MO 0338 1.55 2331 0315 1.48 0519 1.55 0607 1.42 0430 Astronomical 1.49 0510 1.40 Datum0446 of Predictions is Lowest Tide 1.60 2213 1.81 2318 1.87 2235 1.81 1.64 29 29 14 14 29 14 4Copyright 1513 150906 15 3006261014 15 29301044 30 of1.43 30 15 3030 3030 15 30 15 Commonwealth Australia 2020, Bureau Meteorology 30 15 15 15 15 300.55+11:00) 15 151141 30 15 30 15 30 0619 0.59 30 1232 1.54 1059 1.30 1213 1.37 1122 1.36 1218 1.4015 0952151.37 2209 0.67 2146 0.75 2318 0.70 2257 0.61 2332 0.60 0100 1.65 0006 0.62 1.71savings 0000 1.46 0114 1.64 0043 1.77 0.58 0537 0.59of 28 13 28 13 28 13 0942 0.28 0.37 1053 1042 0.52 0.46 1053 Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight time (UTC when i 15Moon 15 30 15 15 301804 1.43 1.63 0.55 1622 0.71 1744 0.67 1656 0.61 0.66 1.68 1524 0.66 0.59 atum of 0.51 Predictions is1614 Lowest Astronomical Tide 0816 0.62 30 0713 1.56 0.59 0540MO 0.43 0727 0.48 07161.61 0.46TH 12211.28 1.32 1154 1.62 TU SU 1254 SA 1838 FR SA 0015 0500 0610 0.40 0518 0.41 0606 0.45 0609 0.38 1647 1.75 1611 1.73 WE 1730 1759 1743 1714 1735 WE TH TU TH SA SU MO Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon New First Quarter 0421 1.50 0355 1.46 1.37 1.47 1919 2331 0.69 0.39 0558 1.37 2254 1.78 2319 2155 22461.37 2.01 1.17 2332 1.24 0521 1206+10:00) 1.93 1.49 (UTC 131529 1.36 0.66 0.61 1821 0.47 14+11:00) 29standard 14 29savings MO 14160534 TU 1310 0.60 MO TH 1330 FR 1.76 SA 17570.59 TUor mes are1.30 in1.78 local time (UTC daylight time when in effect 0619 1059 1213 1122 1.36 1218 1.40 1232 1.54 2209 0.67 2146 0.75 2318 0.70 2257 14 14 1131 0.70 19241120 0.86 0.61 182729 0.80 1101 0.54 1845 0.24 1939 0.66 0.48 14 190029 0.60 1254 1025 0.36 0943 Last 0.39 1.43 1622 0.71Symbols 1744 0.67 1656 0.61 First 1804 1838Moon 0.55 SU TU WE TH SA New Moon Quarter Quarter oon Phase Full 0041 1.46 1.37 0007 1.74 00130.69 1.50 1.47 0542 0.34 0545 0.53 0601 0.421.37 04351.78 0.54 0106 0620 1.17 1.53 1731 1.67 1650 1.69 1819 1.55 1754 1.63 1.51 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 TH FR SU MO TU 1806 0006 31 31 1919 2254 2319 1.76 0421 1.50 0355 1.46 0534 0521 0558 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ofMeteorology Meteorology Copyright of Australia 2023, Bureau of Meteorology ©©Copyright Copyright Commonwealth of0213 ofAustralia Australia 2023, 2023,Bureau Bureau0650 ofofMeteorolo Meteorolo © Copyright of Australia 2023, Bureau of 0642 0.42 0058 1.37 1.10 1859 0437 0.72 1.44 1948 0001 0.57 0.70 2339 1.73 1839 0.73 2030 1815 1.58 1731 0.70 1.64 1.46 1200 0010 0.70 0.59 1838 0018 1.58 0.37 1212 0045 0.79 FR SA MO TU WE 0507 1.43 0622 31 31 31 1244 1.34 07230.72 0.58 Datum 0800 0.70 Tide Datum of Predictions Astronomical Tide Datum of Predictions is©Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum ofofPredictions Predictions isLowest Lowest Astronomical Astronomical Tide 1842 Datum is Lowest Astronomical Tide Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2023, Bureau of Meteorology 2336 0.71 1.32 2305 1857 1.49 is1.35 1.47 15 30 15 30 15 30 15 1107 0.45 1023 0.43 0630 0650 0726 1.51 0753 1151 0.64 0.73 Times 1353 1.41 1448 1.42 SA TUtime 0058 1.37 0213 1.10 are in1815 local standard (UTC +10:00) ordaylight 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31 SAtime TU 1107 0.49 2001Moon 0.76 1.42 1815 1.59 Moonof Phase Symbols 2020,New Full0.68 Moon First Quarter SU 2148 Last Quarter 0526 0.37 © Copyright Commonwealth Australia Bureau of Meteorology 2351 0.69 31 31 0110 0832 1.50 Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide 1107 0.49 0554 0.36

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1.48 0848 1.57 2307 2324 2351 1.39 440834 1.58 1.44 2141 1.95 2114 1.80 0932 2202 1.94 0.50 2202 1.90 2031 2031 0.81 0.81 210 2351 1.39 2307 1.78 22511048 1.94 2313 1.66 1.66 2324 1.82 1.82 1130 1903 0.50 21301.41 1924 1924 0.77 0.77 1903 1921 1921 0.89 0.89 2014 2014 0.84 0.840.43 2104 2245 2127 0.67 2235 0.70 2212 0.66 2256 0.62 2110 0.76 1730 0.58 1500 0.66 1557 0.56 1523 0.58 1627 0.53 1644 0.47 1419 0.58 1430 0.45 FR SA SU MO TU TH E TH 0240 0117 1.46 0542 1.38 0117 1.56 0113 1.43 1.47 0452 0608 0.56 452046 0.50 1.78 0409 0023 0.30 0345 0135 0.50 2133 0.55 0.37 0556 0.53 0559 0.31 0452 0.47 1.45 0604 1.31 0604 0.55 0556 0.53 0559 0.31 0608 0.56 05420155 0.37 0.41 1.51 04171.99 0100 1.31 2332 1.39 1.830151 2229 2154 1.84 2250 1.781.55 2300 21021.46 2.10 0235 0235 1.51 1.51 030 0129 0129 1.56 1.56 0100 0112 0112 1.44 1.44 0220 0220 1.49 1.491.55 0304 0338 0315 1.72 1.48 0446 1.42 0430 1.49 0510 1.40 0519 0.58 0.28 0714 0719 0.40 1042 12050651 1.280.64 1145 1204 1.330.23 1212 1.55 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2146 0.75 0.70 2257 0.61 2332 0.60 2331 1931 0.60 0.67 1947 1953 0.76 2318 2008 0.34 2248 23501917 1.690.41 2342 2351 1.570.61 23422011 1.86 1.89 0.26 22152030 2022 0.55 14 1.63 2227 1746 1.93 0.30 2149 1909 1.80 1540 1.69 1.86 2351 1.57 2248 1.89 0.44 2350 0.55 2115 2115 0.78 0.78 214 2057 2057 0.77 0.770.39 2145 2008 0.76 0.76 2022 1959 1959 0.86 0.86 0.68 MO 1649 0.61 FR 1737 0.50 SA 1820 0.64 FR 1521 0.51 SU TU 1608 0.59 WE 1715 0.59 H 1450 0.62 2331 1.641.50 2347 21541.53 2.08 1.810242 2318 2235 1.81 0421 0355 1.60 1.46 0620 1.37 0521 1.47 0558 1.37 0311 0209 1.54 0632 1.43 0201 1.59 0148 1.46 0534 1.51 0546 0649 0.60 0631 0.56 0037 1.28 0.49 1.59 05071.87 06320228 0.39 0016 1.66 0212 1.17 0037 1.28 212119 0.49 1.79 0505 0123 0.37 0429 0227 0.51 2213 0.60 0.39 0631 0.56 0016 1.66 0546 0.48 1.48 0649 1.17 0319 0319 1.48 1.48 034 0214 0214 1.56 1.56 0212 0155 0155 1.47 1.47 0308 0308 1.51 1.511.53 0347 1025 0.36 0943 0.39 1141 0.65 11200646 0.61 1101 0.54 1131 0.70 0906 0752 0.46 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SU 1815 1.59 FR 1324 0.84 Australia 2020, Bureau of Meteorology Times Tide arepredictions in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time Australian (UTC +11:00) in effect 2351 0.69 1954 is1.47 Tidal Centre, Bureau of when Meteorology, Copyright reserved. All material supplied in © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2019, Bureau of Meteorology Astronomical Tide for Port Phillip Heads have been formatted by the National New Moon First Last Quarter Moon Phase Full Moon good faithSymbols and is believed to be correct. It is supplied on the condition thatQuarter no warranty is given in relation thereto, that no responsibility or liability for errors or omissions (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) whenDatum in effectof Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide is, or will be, accepted and that the recipient will hold MHL and the Australian of Bureau of Meteorology Australia free from all such responsibility or liability and from all loss © Copyright Commonwealth Australia 2019, Bureau of Meteorology w Moon First Quarter Quarter Full Moon Times are inLast local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (U or damage incurred as a consequence of any error or omission. Predictions should not be used for navigational purposes. Use of these tide predictions will be deemed to Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Moon Phase Symbols New Moon First Quarter include acceptance of the above conditions. Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effe Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon New Moon First Quarter 126 APRIL 2024

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