time you physically have a lure near the fish, is the simplest means to guarantee success. Those two factors are certainly important, but the full story of his weekend
demanded more finesse, so he progressively worked smaller until he found the magic combination on the day. Fishing conditions change and so does fish
they sat in the same spot all day. Luck does play a part in fishing success, but those people who continually achieve good results make their own luck.
early, with their best fish caught on the day prior to the competition. Despite the early peak, they still posted some impressive fish for the competition tally, and cemented their reputations as some of our most consistent anglers. Hamish McGregor landed a stellar flathead, and many other anglers reported personal bests. I was surprised to discover that grub lures dominated the mangrove jack catches, as they’re not a lure I’d normally consider for such an aggressive fish. Overall, it was a great weekend of fishing, with an incredible social atmosphere.
One of the many impressive fish that Gareth caught on the way to victory. I’ve never been a tournament angler, but on my good days, my technique
They don’t need to be monsters to provide some fun. Ray caught plenty of variety over the two days. shows the difference between the ‘fishers’ and the ‘catchers’. Over the two days, Gareth tirelessly covered an enormous amount of ground, noting spots of interest which weren’t accessible at the time (usually because another angler was already there), then he struck when the time was right. Gareth started heavy and large, with big lures, plus fishstopping line and leader combinations. Conditions
behaviour, so there’s no sense in persisting with a losing strategy. While I patrolled a limited area for most of the weekend, Gareth pedalled long distances, constantly seeking the most productive locations. His technique altered numerous times, with lure changes being only part of the equation. When I spoke to those anglers who amassed the largest catches over the weekend, none of them said
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
impoundments. Thanks to the fish, we can provide you with some interesting stories that they tell. OUR NATIVE FISH ARE TRULY RESILIENT Recent blackwater events in the Darling River at
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
Menindee created headlines with images of massive fish kills including many native fish. Remarkably not long after those events, a tagged golden perch was recaptured in the Darling
Apart from our winner, there were several stand-out catches during the weekend. We had only a few female anglers taking part in the competitive action, but they featured heavily in the hunt for mangrove jack. Anita Lazlo bagged an impressive specimen for her first-ever jack, then backed up with an even larger model. Maz Watters was expected to do well and delivered on her promise, but sadly both she and Monica Crichton peaked
Maz Watters, aka the smiling assassin. One of the nicest people you’ll meet, but you wouldn’t want to be on her target species list!
does include some of the strategies employed by the ‘real’ fishers. One of our mates watched me fishing a Gold Coast canal, noting that I never stayed on a pontoon for more than 1-2 casts. I told him that if a fish didn’t come in that time, it was doubtful it would change in another 20 casts, so it was time to move. I’m not sure why I’ve lost that attitude recently. Perhaps it’s fatigue and a desire to simply relax on the water, or losing the need to compete against myself. That competitive nature is what sets the good anglers apart from the rest of us, but still, your ‘win’ can be found in other ways. Currently, I ignore my normally competitive nature and find more satisfaction in relaxing with some great company. Whether I’m in a competitive mood, or just there for the company, I couldn’t find a better crew to help me find my happy place.
Brought to you by system (it was originally tagged in Toupnein Creek, which flows into the Murray River). To get to its recapture location it travelled some 675km past a number of manmade barriers. Not only a remarkable journey, but another example of our native fish doing their best to repopulate the areas effected by these terrible events. 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 077001 or go to http://crystalbowl. infofishaustralia.com.au/ suntag/recaptures/recapture_ form_1.html and fill in the form. In return you will receive a certificate providing the details of the tagging and recapture of your fish, as a thank you for providing the information. JUNE 2023 43
