Fishing Monthly Magazine | October 2023

• TAILOR TACTICS • SPRING FISHING NEWS •

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Tailor made: techniques for catching greenbacks • Starlo shows how not to cast • Part II: Bait Junkie tactics • Latest news and area reports •

Species Spotlight

Sean Thompson shares his techniques for catching greenbacks

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CONTENTS

OUR COVER October 2023, Vol. 4 No.6 QLD NSW

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QUEENSLAND The Tweed Gold Coast Jumpinpin Brisbane Northern Bay Noosa Bundaberg Mackay Townsville Hinchinbrook Cairns Port Douglas Cooktown Cape York Freshwater

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NEW SOUTH WALES Sydney South Sydney Rock Coffs Coast South West Rocks Hasting Port Macquarie Central Coast Port Stephens Swansea Illawarra Batemans Bay Bermagui Tathra New England Rivers Hunter Valley Batlow Albury/Wodonga Canberra

52 54 56 58 59 60 61 62 62 63 64 66 66 70 70 72 71 74

VICTORIA Portland Warrnambool Apollo Bay Cobden Geelong Port Phillip West Phillip Island Gippsland Lakes Port Albert Lakes Entrance Marlo Mallacoota Robinvale Bendigo Yarrawonga Wangaratta Shepparton Eildon Ballarat Crater Lakes Gippsland Freshwater 6 OCTOBER 2023

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Tailor made: techniques for catching greenbacks coastal environments.

Tailor’s seasonal movements are thought to be dictated by ocean temperatures and their spawning instincts. However, it is also worth noting that tagging research as well as knowledge passed on to me by an ex-commercial fishers, is that while some schools of a similar size might migrate up and down the coasts, there are also localised schools that tend to stay in the same area. This is particularly the

QUEENSLAND

Sean Thompson

Tailor, also known in other parts of the world as ‘bluefish’, ‘elf’, ‘shad’ and ‘anchova’, are an extremely popular target for good reason. Tailor’s popularity stems from their good looks, fight, and the schooling nature of the fish, which means when they are on, they are on!

Tailor hunt in schools along our beaches, headlands, estuaries, and nearshore reefs. With their razor like teeth, tailor have a habit of chopping their way through bait schools, disabling them by attacking tail first, which has earnt them the

Main photo: A perfect beach gutter: deep water close to shore, along with a close back bank. Above: A gang hook caught tailor. main range is from Exmouth south to around Augusta.

They are in much smaller numbers along the bottom of the continent.

Their arrival on the beaches in-season, particularly in popular tailor spawning locations such as K’gari, sees scores of anglers with long rods in picket lines targeting the popular fish.

LOCATING TAILOR As noted above, tailor are found in a variety of

The author with a tailor from a gutter with a steep shore drop into deep water.

A long channel with entry points or rips into shore. nickname ‘choppers’.

Larger fish (around 55cm+) are referred to as ‘greenbacks’, as their backs become a darker shade of green. These bigger fish are usually found travelling in 8 OCTOBER 2023

case with deeper estuary systems and offshore reefs.

It is also commonly thought that tailor tend to rest up in deeper water, especially nearby reef systems and move in to feed along beaches, headlands and estuary entrances during dawn and dusk. However, once again exceptions to this rule aren’t uncommon. Only last year my mates and I had a couple of brilliant hightide tailor sessions at K’gari

much smaller groups or as individuals.

TAILOR DISTRIBUTION Tailor prefer water temperatures of around 18-25ºC. This means they are largely concentrated on

the bottom half of the east and west coasts of Australia.

On the east coast, they extend from around K’gari (Fraser Island) south to Lakes Entrance in Victoria, while on the west coast their

Weighted bibless lures have grown in popularity for tailor in recent years.

during the middle of the day with plenty of bait evident in the water. Offshore winds, i.e. that blow from the land towards the sea, also have a habit of bringing baitfish close to shore, and with them the tailor.

My ex-professional mate also tells me he used to traverse the beach at high tide during the neap moon period (smaller tides) and look for the grey shadows of tailor swimming along the back sandbanks of the gutters, entering and exiting the gutter depending on baits and the amount of water.

Tailor can also give their presence away by fleeing bait on the surface of the water and wheeling, diving terns. This can happen in the surf, estuaries or just offshore, so it is something to keep an eye out for.

Let’s now turn our

schools in the surf during the day is also a good time.

Another tip when it comes to targeting tailor on a sunny afternoon (at least on the east coast of Australia) is finding a nice gutter with a big sand dune behind it.

This will throw a shadow

a highway for the fish to move along, rather than hold position. However, if there is not too much sweep, look for an area where the back sandbank is closer to shore and there is a steep bank close to shore. In such areas, you can then throw a bit of

Light surf conditions are perfect for throwing bibless lures for tailor.

Alvey reels, long rods and gang hooks are a popular East Coast surf fishing set up for tailor. attention to the three main areas in which anglers target tailor and that is surf beaches, estuaries, and the rocks. Note also that near or offshore bomboras or reef breaks are another target area for boat anglers, but great care must be taking in these locations.

In such spots, anglers keep the motor running while they throw lures or ganged pilchards or gar at the sudsy whitewater, while someone keeps an eye on the swell

over the gutter and can mean the fish come on earlier than gutters either side of it. That tactic has been successful for me several times over the years. I call this the “the shadow effect.

Choosing the right water There are a few surf formations to look for when chasing tailor.

To me, the perfect surf beach formation is a reasonable size gutter with a north and south entry and

berley (old pilchard pieces) to both attract and retain the fish there provided there is not much sweep.

in Queensland, or northern NSW, bait fishing for tailor normally involves the use of the indestructible Alvey sidecast reel. These are not only safe from the elements of sand and saltwater, but with their large diameter of around 6 and a half inches, they have the perfect retrieval rate for your bait.

Keeping your bait moving for tailor is very effective and serves two purposes. Firstly, tailor are predators and like a moving bait while second, it will keep the line nice and tight to the rod tip. By retrieving slowly you will keep the bow out of the line and always

Trolling for tailor is a good way to find them in an estuary,

The author fishing with a top water popper along the wash off the rocks.

Chris with a nice sized night tailor. and proximity to the rocks].

SURF BEACH TAILOR Timing The best time to target tailor from the surf is dawn, dusk and into the evening especially on a rising moon. Overcast conditions and concentrations of bait

exit point for the fish. Even better if the gutter has a back sandbank within casting range and the beach itself shelves away steeply into deep water close to shore.

Very long channels along the beach will also hold tailor, though they act as more of

Other likely locations in the surf for tailor include structure which will attract bait and hold fish. This includes the entrance to creeks or rivers and isolated patches of rock.

Bait fishing technique Without doubt casting and slow retrieving gang pilchard baits is the most popular and productive bait fishing method for catching tailor. When it comes to pilchards, it is hard to go past the individually quick frozen (IQF) variety rather than the meshed together blocks.

With the IQFs you can just defrost what you need and you aren’t losing baits having to smash the block up or defrost the lot at once.

If you are a tailor angler

stay in contact with the bait.

Braided line is another option to reduce the drag or bow in the line from the waves, but this is best fished with a spinning reel not an Alvey.

At times however, strong sideways sweep mid tide can play havoc with this technique particularly if you are in a picket line of anglers.

The thicker the diameter of your line, the less casting distance you will achieve from drag through the air while its greater drag through the water will mean it will also be washed into shore quicker. Keep the thicker, more abrasion resistant line for the rocks.

Another tip to deal with strong sweep is to work out the direction of the sweep

and cast just below current of a rip, not up current where the strongest pull will take place. Also, if the sweep isn’t too fast and you have the gutter to yourself, you can slowly crab along sideways keeping in touch with your bait and stopping your line being pushed into shore.

Another way to deal with strong sweep is the use of a star sinker on a paternoster rig to hold you out in the strike zone. This rig is more popular on the southern half of the continent. With such a rig I add three droppers, including a gang pilchard, surf fly and surf popper.

When the fish are on, you can occasionally get a double or even the occasional triple hook up on this rig.

Finally, if you are after bigger tailor, these fish tend to be more night targets and require an adapted technique.

This generally involves an anchored bait with either a larger ball sinker, or a star sinker attached with a running sinker clip. I will also increase my trace to a 50lb fluorocarbon leader.

Generally, I use a large fillet of tailor or bonito and let the bait sit out in a deep hole.

Tackle In terms of tackle, I like to use a 13’6” 5-10kg rated rod when bait fishing for tailor. Slightly shorter rods might catch you fish, except you can struggle with

The author with a triple hook up of tailor on his three dropper rig.

OCTOBER 2023 9

them when the fish are feeding right out the back of a big wide gutter. Longer rods also help to keep your line above the closest waves.

My various tailor rigs are shown in the attached diagram. Note the difference with the Alvey, the sinker to run between two swivels to reduce line twist. I also use a soft green bead above the bottom swivel to avoid the heavy sinker wearing down my knot when it is under force when casting. The other little tip in this rig is avoid the use of flashy silver swivels which can attract a tailor strike and instead opt for duller black swivels.

When it comes to line, I generally use about 20lb fine diameter monofilament line and 30-40lb fluorocarbon

graphite rods in the 11-12’ range. I have long used the 12’ Lox Idrium Surf graphite rod for my lure casting,

Rocky outcrops in the surf zone hold bait and will attract tailor.

Large estuaries like the Great Sandy Straits also hold tailor. This fish was caught on a ZMan soft plastic. trace and size 4/0 Tru-Turn pre-ganged hooks, which have swivels between the hooks making rigging up

although I recently purchased a Crucis casting rod and am super impressed with its casting range. I recommend

much easier.

Lure fishing technique When it comes to spinning the surf for tailor,

you want to be looking for very similar water as outlined above. However, smaller surf makes this style of fishing much easier and more productive, provided there is still a good coverage of whitewater over the gutter during daylight hours for protection of the fish by predators such as birds. The longer the distance between wave breaks in the gutter the better for working surface lures.

Metal lures like the Halco gold and silver twisty and the Sure Catch 40g and 60g Knights are legendary and will catch you plenty of fish. But without a doubt, some of the best lures in the surf for tailor for me in the last few years has been bibless casting lures like the Duel Adagio in size 125 (about 45g). In more recent years, the Rapala X-Rap, Zerek Zappelin and Nomad Ridgeback have also

become popular. Their sleek design means they have an outstanding casting distance and the fact they have three flat flashing sides means they tend to bring fish in from all directions.

In terms of tackle, I prefer to downsize when using lures to light, high modulus

Metal lures in the 40-60g range are popular for tailor for good reason.

Rods starting to buckle to tailor as the shadows hit the water from a big rear sand dune.

matching your graphite surf casting rod with a IPX rated saltwater resistant reel to minimise saltwater ingress.

The Shimano Saragosa 5000 is my latest reel of choice, although there are also a few other options in the Shimano and other brand ranges that are suitable. I also prefer to use braid on my spinning reels to ensure you are in touch with your lure with less stretch. Just don’t have your drag set too tightly or you will lose fish with the braid ripping the trebles or hook from the fish’s mouth.

Another tip is to

TAILOR RIGS Alvey Light-Medium Surf

No 10 black swivel 30lb Fluoro 25cm

Tru-turn 3x4/0 pre-ganged hooks with swivels

30lb Fluoro 60-70cm

Soft green bead

20lb mono main line

size 6-10 ball sinker depending on conditions

Spin Reel Light-Medium Surf

No 10 black swivel 30lb Fluoro 90-100cm

20lb mono main line

Tru-turn 3x4/0 pre-ganged hooks with swivels

Soft green bead

size 6-10 ball sinker depending on conditions

Strong Sweep Rig - Bigger Baits at Night 40lb Fluoro 90cm

2 x 6/0-8/0 snooded octopus hooks

Lumo bead

20-25lb mono mainline

No 8 black swivel

Large running sinker clip No 3 - 4 Star sinker

Dropper Rig 50lb Fluorocarbon trace 20cm

20cm

15cm dropper No 3 - 4 Star sinker

10 OCTOBER 2023

Tru-turn 3x3x4/0 pre-ganged hooks

20cm

15cm dropper 3/0 - 4/0 Surf fly

30cm

15cm dropper Surf popper

No 8 black swivel

20-25lb mono main line

replace the trebles (particularly on your heavier metal lures) with single hooks, so they tailor are less likely to throw the lure due to less holes in the mouth of the fish. Further, the pressure from striking a fish with a single hook will tend to produce more force being a single hook point than a treble.

Finally, the use of slightly shorter graphite rods in the 8-9’ range and soft plastics is also an option for chasing tailor in light surf conditions. Just make sure you use sturdy soft plastics such as the 10x tough ZMan range as otherwise you will lose a lot of lures. Jigheads in the

locations was on the south coast of NSW where my mates and I would fish off one finger of rock, but cast out our baits to the edge of some semi-exposed rocks in front of us which provided a bit of an aerated eddy effect for the bait and the tailor to come in and chase it.

Casting and retrieving unweighted or very lightly weighted gang-pilchards or garfish can be extremely productive as the fish smash your moving bait. Using too much weight near the rocks can often result in tackle loss on the rocky bottom or thick kelp surrounding the edges. Furthermore, an anchored bait is also more likely to attract the attention

Long quality graphite rods are a good option to whip lures for tailor out wide.

An iconic long K’gari picket line for tailor.

you will need enough lead to hold bottom and avoid it being quickly washed back into the rocks. If the wall is not too crowded walking the wall with your bait bouncing along out in front of you can be a good option.

When it comes to tackle, long rods of 12’+ are close to essential to lift your fish clear of obstacles and onto the rocks or swung into your chest. Big Alvey reels or saltwater resistant spinning reels in the 500-6000 size range (balanced to your rod) are ideal along with stronger leader of 40lb to lift fish onto the rocks.

ESTUARY TAILOR Techniques Apart from breakwalls, natural deep entrances to estuaries will also attract roving schools of tailor in season. Other estuary

range of 3/8-1/2oz and 3/0 hooks matched to paddle tails is a good starting point. Silver/light colours to match baitfish in the surf is a good option.

ROCKS AND BREAKWALLS tackle and techniques Natural headlands and man-made breakwalls provide access to some excellent tailor water, though care obviously needs to be taken in these environments.

Rocky headlands are a productive location to spin either baits or lures for tailor at the change of light periods. This means you should have lines in the water pre-dawn and pre-dusk so the process of the fish finding your baits has begun. There is also something very special about standing on the edge of our great southern land seeing the sun rise come up over the water on the east coast, and no doubt, west Australians feel the same about dusk.

Ideal conditions from the rocks is when you have a good covering of wash up to the edge of the rocks.

Tailor will feed under this aerated water. One of my favourite rock fishing 12 OCTOBER 2023

locations that will hold tailor include deep holes further upstream and large estuary basins.

Finding fish in estuaries

and basins are likely locations, particularly where food is being funnelled into the area from drop-offs, drains or creek offshoots. If you are new to an area and have topographic maps on your sounder, look for said holes and deeper channels and start there.

A good way to then track down fish is trolling over the area with deep diving minnow which dive to 10-20’. Troll two or even three rods if you have an offsider at different depths in an attempt to locate fish.

If you see a concentration of bait and/or fish on the sounder, have a couple of passes over the area if you don’t get a hook up first time.

Once you hook up, turn off the motor and retrieve the other lines quickly. Then have your offsider cast and

Bigger tailor are best targeted at night. A younger author with his long standing PB tailor.

A tailor caught around a coffee rock patch in the surf. of bream and undesirables such as wirrah. Berleying from the rocks can also be productive, as long as there is not too much current. another great option for off the rocks. Small pieces of pilchards in a constant berley trail in the wash you are fishing is ideal.

Lure fishing from the rocks for tailor can be very productive and in particular throwing poppers from can be exhilarating seeing the fish chase, then smash your popper within a metre or two of the rocks! Bibbed

hardbody lures are also an option around deeper rocky shoreline or breakwalls.

When it comes to fishing rocky breakwalls, many of the same principles apply.

However, these walls, particularly the ones with concreted walkways and lighting, can also be fished reasonably safely at night in light to light-medium swell. During the change of tide period, casting and retrieving lightly weighted baits from the breakwalls can be productive, however as the tide starts to pick up,

is a little different than the surf or the rocks.

Apart from the wash at the entrance of estuaries, there is no wash to concentrate fish so instead you want to be looking for signs of bait.

The most obvious sign of fish is bird activity on the surface of the water that are chasing baitfish that have been pushed to the surface by marauding tailor.

Otherwise, deep channels

All you need to make up bait fishing rigs for tailor.

retrieve one of the spare rods or carry a spare rod rigged up with metal and tea bag into over the school.

A hooked fish can attract the attention of other tailor and double hook ups can be common with a hooked fish already in the water.

Of course anchored bait fishing with unweighted baits and a berley trail will also be successful.

In terms of tackle, smaller boat rods of 7-7’6 are a good option matched with 3000-4000 size reels and 15lb braid and 30lb fluorocarbon leader.

SUMMARY So, there you have it.

A few locations, tackle and tactics to target the everpopular tailor. I hope you find these tips useful to catch a bunch of tailor or simply try some new techniques you might not have before.

For more tips and reports, please jump on and Follow my Facebook page, Ontour Fishing Australia.

Tight lines!

Don’t cast over the fish!

NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

Lots of beach fishers still haven’t twigged to the fact that the biggest and most desirable targets in the surf are often swimming much closer to shore than we realise!

There’s a great deal of

almighty heave. But are they missing something?

Don’t get me wrong: There are definitely plenty of surf scenarios in which an 80-100m hurl can be beneficial. Mostly these occur on very flat, gentlysloping beaches where deeper water can only be found a long way out. But in my experience, and on many of our beaches, a lot of surf

Think about it. In almost every angling situation, one of the most important fishholding and concentrating structural elements is the shoreline itself. This hard interface between land and water is both a boundary and natural highway, where food and prey are pressed together and effectively forced to interact. That’s why bass and Murray cod fishers peg their

Jo fires a bait out but not too far. She’s aiming for that sudsy area just inside the main line of breaking waves and will then slowly retrieve her rig to drag it through the slight gutter just in front of her.

A nice catch of salmon and mullet taken by deliberately casting short, rather than long. truth in the wry observation that land-based anglers seem to be fixated with casting out as far as possible, while boat and kayak fishers try to lob their baits, lures and flies as close to dry land and structure as they can! I guess it’s human nature…

Something about the grass being greener, perhaps?

Nowhere is this shorebound fisho’s fixation with punching holes in the horizon more commonly on display than along our ocean beaches. Most surf fishers love a big cast! Many specifically choose their gear and carefully design their rigs to achieve maximum possible distances, and they seem disappointed if their baits remain in the same postcode as them after an

caster are actually throwing over the top of the best fish by always uncorking the mightiest heave-ho they can possibly muster.

lures tight to the bank, and smart trout fanciers carefully scan the shallowest lake margins for the glimpse of a fin tip or a subtle swirl

slurping hapless worms from their burrows, bream crunching crabs, tailor chasing whitebait, or mulloway pursuing those same tailor, the greatest concentration of catch-able, desirable fish will often be located in that busy 50m wide strip of prime real estate that lies between dry sand and what surfers like to call “out the back”. It’s all too easy to cast over the top of the best fish and into the veritable marine desert that so often lies beyond — where your most likely catch is a clump of old kelp or a banjo shark.

My best advice to budding beach fishers is to try casts of varying lengths, rather than always reaching for the stars. Also, if your bait has sat “out the back” unmolested for 10 or 15 minutes, instead of simply retrieving and re-casting it, think about gently dragging it closer and closer to the shore: either by slowly cranking your reel, or by walking backwards up the beach, away from the water. You might be very surprised at

VIDEO

Scan this QR code to watch Starlo sneaky beach fishing tips.

VIDEO

Scan this QR code to see Starlo catching fish off very short casts in the surf. this column will take you straight to a pair of YouTube clips where I explain and demonstrate this simple trick.

If you’re not into QR codes,

Yellow-eye mullet are a surprisingly common fish in the southern surf, and they are happy to eat a pilchard bait. They will often forage for food right at your feet!

A lovely Australian salmon hooked about 25-30m out from the beach.

14 OCTOBER 2023

before blithely wading in.

Of course, on the beach, this land/sea interface is very shallow and highly dynamic, with each crashing wave altering the boundary line. There might not be any worthwhile fish swimming in the scant centimetres of foaming white water washing around your ankles… but just a short distance further out, it can be a very different story.

All that wave action inevitably scours holes and gutters. These vary from tiny depressions the size of dinner plates to deep, defined channels that may run for hundreds of metres. Along the edges of such structural elements, sand is continually

being torn away by the ceaseless surge and current, uncovering worms, crabs, shellfish and other tasty morsels. This is where the action is — in every sense of that term.

Often, these busy fishhighways lie within a band extending from just 10 to about 50m from the shore (depending on the state of the tide). Further out, beyond all that action, things quieten down dramatically and the environment becomes much calmer and less dynamic — and therefore less interesting to predators.

Whether its whiting

You don’t need heavy gear, big sinkers and huge casts in most beach fishing scenarios. where the bites finally come!

If you’re still not convinced, or want to know more, the two QR codes with

just go to my Starlo Gets Reel channel on YouTube and search the Beach and Rock playlist. Tight lines!

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16 OCTOBER 2023

Southern

OLD

Croctober: chasing big lizards in the Tweed THE TWEED

Leon McClymont

A light spin reel in the 25004500 range on a 6.5-7ft 3-5kg rod is what you’re after to target flathead in the estuaries. Some anglers have several different setups to specifically target flathead with different techniques, but the setup I mentioned

ball sinker attached to 12-15lb leader with a 3/0 long shank hook. A larger leader is required when a fish is deeply hooked, as their raspy teeth will rub through light leader in the course of the fight.

Using baits such as white pilchards, pilchards, cut baits and even prawns will entice any flathead in for an easy feed. Live baits are an Achilles heel for big flathead, because

depth you’re fishing is what will determine how you want to fish that area. If you’re fishing the shallows, an unweighted live bait may be a better technique. That’s because the bait can move around freely, covering more ground, making it more likely to be discovered by a flathead. Flathead spend most their time lying on the bottom waiting for their next victim. Their eyes are on top

Max Dimieri with a different kind of after-school snack. He caught this beauty on a Tweed Bait mullet in Bilambil Creek recently. and generally get eaten. True, flathead feed on the bottom, but don’t let that fool you – they will happily take baits swimming on the surface,

This nice croc measured 85cm. will cover most bases, either with bait or lures.

The easiest way to target the common flathead would have to be a small running

pretty much go hand-in-hand.

Some of the very first plastics to hit the market in Australia were designed mainly for flathead. The theory was that a

these predators just can’t resist the commotion put off by a panicked live bait. Live bait can be fished weighted or unweighted; generally, the

Liam Bygott and his mate with armfuls of snapper. of their head, allowing them to constantly scan the water above. A live bait swimming overhead will pick up attention

A nice mulloway taken on slimy mackerel by Mitch Ayers.

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even out in fairly deep water.

Trolling hardbodies is another great and quite easy way to target flatties, producing numerous flathead of all sizes from the shallows and drop-offs. Using small lures doesn’t mean you will catch small fish either; an extra-large flathead will take a very small lure without hesitation. Using larger lures will generally eliminate the very small fish though.

Soft plastics and flathead

lead head with a plastic grub lure attached, bounced across the bottom, would produce flathead in significant numbers. It turned out to be true. That simple setup was a killer approach back in the day, and the old school fluoro heads and soft plastic wrigglers were in just about every angler tackle box.

Nowadays there’s a much bigger range to choose from.

If you’re looking to advance your skills and throw

larger lures such as swim baits and XL plastics, a baitcasting reel and stiffer swim bait rod is required to cast the heavier lures. This style of targeting XL flathead is the most popular technique used by most anglers these days, as it can make for exciting, visual surface strikes.

OFFSHORE FORECAST If you’re heading offshore this month, it would be worth spending some time targeting those deeper pelagic fish and reef species. The topwater, warmer pelagics will generally not arrive until very late in the month, or in November. That time of year is generally kickstarts the action on warm water species.

There are still reports of good schools of snapper, trag and pearl perch off the reefs of the Tweed and surrounds.

Big yellowfin have been showing up out wide. Finding the right water that’s holding them, plus the bait, is the key to success when heading out wide to target these back-breakers.

The inshore reefs have been producing plenty of mulloway, longtail tuna, cobia and snapper. Fishing the bottom with weighted baits, float lining and unweighted livies are all good techniques to use together. This allows you to all bases, and it will often result in a great mixed bag of species.

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Southern

OLD

Yellowfin tuna action continues GOLD COAST

David Green

For game fishers, there has been an excellent run of yellowfin tuna throughout late winter and these great fish should still be around this month. Fish up to 70kg have turned up in large numbers around the 500-1000m line, about 80km off the Seaway.

While this is a long run, the rewards have been worth it. These fish have

been caught on skirted lures, trolled minnows and by casting stickbaits into the schools when they are on the surface. In October, the water generally remains cool and hopefully the tuna action should continue this month.

Quite a few striped marlin and the odd blue marlin have been caught throughout August and September and there has been plenty of bait between 250-400m.

The 50-fathom reef has been fishing well for snapper.

This month the snapper will

Chelsea Te Veluwe was very pleased with her flathead capture.

drop off in numbers as most of the fish have spawned.

There should also be plenty of amberjack, samsonfish and yellowtail kingfish on the northeast 50 fathom grounds on the higher pinnacles. This year there have been quite a few black marlin on the snapper grounds with big fish over 80kg being caught on drifted live baits, or eating hooked fish as they are brought up from the bottom.

The grounds in 120-400m have been producing some big flame snapper, trevalla and bar cod.

In closer to shore there should still be a few snapper on the 36-fathom line. The FADs in 36 and 50 fathoms are holding plenty of mahimahi, but the majority are less than 70cm long.

They respond to small live baits and cast soft plastics.

Later in the month the current usually starts to run from the north and fishing gets more difficult with the increased run. The 24-fathom reef should produce some nice cobia on live baits and these fish should also start to show on the close reefs from Palm Beach out to the 18 fathom line. Plenty of berley is the key to attracting cobia to your boat. On light tackle a big cobia can take over an hour to land and they are one of the toughest fighting fish around. During the fight they often come up close to the surface and are easily mistaken for sharks due to their brown colouration.

If the westerly winds continue, tailor are another good option. These can be caught spinning with metal lures or stick baits just out

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the back of the surf line.

Some big fish over four kilos have turned up around the top of South Stradbroke Island.

You need to be careful to keep your boat in deep water and watch out for increasing swell. The Zerek Zappelin has been a great lure for big tailer and casts like a rocket.

At night there should still be a few mulloway on the close reefs and around the artificial reefs found in 23m to the northeast of the Seaway. Live baits fished just after dark is the best method and if you can catch a few pike, you are in with an excellent chance of catching a decent mulloway.

ESTUARIES AND RIVERS Flathead are the main target species this month, with the Flathead Classic being held on the last days of September. With northerly winds the flathead fishing has been extremely erratic.

A prolonged dry spell and a distinct lack of bait has made the fishing tough most of the time. When you find a decent patch of fish, they are often quite shy, and ultra-slow retrieves have been the best method. Small soft plastics worked ever so slowly through weedy patches is often the best method. Quite a few big fish have been caught in the entrances and they should be still in the deep water this month.

At high tide there have been some bigger fish in the shallows and working shallow hard bodies and big plastics has produced some great fish well over eighty centimetres long at times. As soon as the tide turns the fish seem to leave these spots returning to deeper water.

In October the deep water often comes into its own and working large soft plastics, big soft vibes and large curl tailed grubs can be a very effective method. I am not a big fan of fishing the deep water for big breeding fish but if you specifically want

Mel Arnott with a nice yellowfin. They’ll still be around this month. to target big flathead this method works well on the run-in tide.

Whiting should start to show up in numbers as the water warms up. Casting unweighted yabbies on the first push of a rising tide can be very productive, and if there are small prawns around poppers and small stick baits can be very effective. The flats around the back of Wavebreak Island are a good spot to try and this area also holds a lot of very big flathead.

The ideal water depth is around 30cm and as the tide pushes up the whiting schools are generally quite easy to spot. Ultra-light line is the key to catching these sharp-eyed fish.

October is a good month to chase mangrove jacks in the canals and rock bars of the Gold Coast. Recently I have had most of my success fishing at night using cast

hard bodies and dead baits.

There have been increasing numbers of big threadfin salmon starting to show up on the Gold Coast, with fish over a metre becoming relatively common.

Drifting live baits through the main channel in the Seaway on the run-in tide will produce trevally, mulloway and big flathead.

Small baits such as herring are also very effective for big bream and smaller flathead.

Spinning with small metal lures and soft plastics can produce tailer, tarpon and queenfish when the water is clear. This fishing is at its best when there are white pilchards moving into the Broadwater and hopefully, they will move in this month.

Overall, October is prime time for flathead on the Gold Coast, but there are plenty of good options to try both in the estuaries and on the offshore grounds.

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The author with a mangrove jack. October is a good month to chase these brutes.

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Southern

OLD

Bags of bait in the Pin JUMPINPIN

Bo Sawyer

Welcome back everyone, I hope you’ve had a great month out on the water and caught some monsters.

At the time of writing, we’ve seen a small bump in water temps and plenty of bait in the Pin area.

There’s been some big tides and that’s caused some dirtier water, especially on the runout. Fish have been fairly spread out lately due to the lack of rain and a small downpour could really help in concentrating numbers of fish towards the lower reaches.

The whiting have started biting better and there have been some really nice catches on live worms and yabbies. I like anchoring up in running

Brandon with a nice mulloway he caught on a live bait.

Fiona caught this solid flatty flicking a plastic into a drainage point. when using this technique if you’re in the right area. I like fishing Slipping Sands, Gold Bank and the outside of the

as it’ll cause less foul ups.

Check out the video I did on the Tackle Tactics YouTube page if you’d like to see this retrieve in action. Fish banks with weed edges on the low and up on the banks around the high flicking weedy patches.

There are some very nice mulloway coming in around

Bailey caught this fat 78cm flatty on a curly tail plastic.

Tameka caught her first ever flathead coming in at 68cm. She quickly backed it up with a 67cm model. water with light sinkers and letting line out so the current keeps my bait moving. This looks far more natural than

bogging your bait down with heavy sinkers with the added benefit of covering more ground. Expect a fish a cast

There’s been a few trevs making their way through the system, and they put up a great fight.

22 OCTOBER 2023

Jay caught this 70cm+ flathead on a soft plastic.

North Lagoon. I fish deeper water in daylight hours and the flats at night.

Plenty of bream around the massive bait balls off Kalinga Bank and the deep water off Swan Bay. Tiger Mullet channel has still been producing the odd monster on the flats while we’ve been chasing flathead. Find the bait, find the fish!

The flathead fishing has been good this past month but the bite times have been small, so you need to make the most of it when they start biting. Due to the lack of freshwater the weed has been very present and a constant pain for people flicking lures.

Flathead love weedy areas so persist in these spots and just adjust your retrieve. I like aggressively flicking my plastics in these areas

the Pin bar area on livies and lures. Legal tailor, pike or mullet are great live baits.

Big plastics and vibes are the top choice for lure fishos – they’ve been engulfing our soft vibes lately and busting us off on 30lb. Make sure you are keeping in contact

Andy caught his PB flatty measuring 87cm!

with your lure to have a better chance of a hook up around their mouth. Fish the tide changes in the deeper water around the Pin bar and once it’s running too hard travel further up the system to get another tide change.

Plenty of tailor around the bait balls between Kalinga and the bar. You’ll see the bait flicking on the surface most days but it pays to keep a close eye on the sounder as well. A client hooked three on the same lure the day before writing this article so you shouldn’t have much trouble getting onto a few.

That’s it from me guys, thank you for reading and I hope you have a great few weeks out on the water.

• Don’t forget to stop in and see Brett from the Jacobs Well tackle shop for your bait and tackle needs.

• Capn’s Charters have dates available if you’d like to come out and learn how to fish lures or maybe just brush up on some fishing tactics, we’d love to have you on board! Call 0410 590 049 or email bookings@ capnscharters.com.au.

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OCTOBER 2023 23

Southern

OLD

Itching to get among the spring fishing action BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Air and water temperatures have finally risen over recent weeks, which in turn, increases the metabolism of various species. Many baitfish species flourish in the warmer waters, which encourages greater numbers of pelagics to

a better option if chasing some fillets for the table as the larger fish can become a little tough at times. I think fish in the 50-65cm range are the best ones to grace the esky for a trip home. Smaller specimens (greater than the 35cm minimum length) can also eat well however the yield of flesh is not that high.

Quality fresh or live baits are highly recommended if you are chasing better quality

just goes to highlight the fact that the most important thing is how you present and fish the lure, not the brand, style, colour or size. Quality snapper fishing will be achieved for several months yet but October is often a great month for scoring those premium quality specimens.

MULLOWAY Anglers chasing mulloway have scored some solid specimens in recent

Although a prime size for the table, Anthony Johnson chose to release this healthy 63cm snapper. enter Moreton Bay waters.

For us anglers, these are exciting times with increased opportunity to tangle with tunas, mackerel, bonito, cobia and others.

Additionally, there remains plenty of snapper, mulloway, threadfin, flathead and numerous other species on offer. Add to the mix the possibility to score crabs, squid and prawns and you should be itching to get amongst the action.

SNAPPER Many anglers have found snapper numbers sporadic in recent months due to hot action at times and then long periods of barely being able to score a decent fish. However, if you put in the hours and effort you will generally be rewarded with results.

The artificial reefs have worked exceptionally well in recent months and there has been great baitfish presence in these zones to hold quality fish in the area. I have had reports of numerous 80cm+ specimens being caught from the Harry Atkinson, Curtin and Bill Turner Artificial Reef in recent months and specimens of this quality should be a serious proposition for several months yet. Usually, the smaller specimens are 24 OCTOBER 2023

snapper. Finesse rigging with fluorocarbon leaders, minimal sinker weights and razor-sharp hooks, hidden well in the baits with just the points exposed, will go a long way to tempting those more wary and pedantic larger specimens. Fillet baits from mullet, gar, slimy mackerel, yakkas, bonito and tuna are excellent options, especially when fresh or salted. Whole fish baits of yakkas, slimy mackerel, pilchards, diver whiting, gar and even grinners can score well. Snapper will eat a wide array of baits however quality baits are most likely to produce quality snapper.

Baits that waft in the current instead of spinning are also more likely to produce on wary fish.

Lures such as soft vibration baits, micro jigs, octo jigs, numerous soft plastic styles, blades and numerous others can all work well on snapper. The best type of lure will depend on the fishing situation.

Soft plastics, vibration baits and blades are best for cast and retrieve applications, octo jigs and micro jigs for vertical presentation and deep diving minnow lures optimal for trolling.

Obviously, various anglers will have personal favourites and the variance in these

months and these should continue to be encountered for a few more months at least. The Brisbane River has produced plenty of fish with the average size better than 85cm. Many of these have been taken on lures targeted at threadfin yet they are always a welcome bycatch.

The beacons leading out from the Brisbane River mouth often hold decent quality bait and sometimes

there is a big mulloway or two lurking around as well.

These zones can be targeted by casting soft vibes or soft plastics (especially paddle tails, crustacean profiles and jerk shads) or by deploying live baits such as mullet, yakkas, slimy mackerel, pike, squid and others. The deeper holes at the mouth (especially the dredge holes out from the retaining wall) are also great options and ideal areas for anchoring and deploying a live bait at night. Casting lures to the fronts of the jetties and wharves then allowing it to sink before hopping it down the decline will often work a treat. Out in the bay, mulloway will lurk around the artificial reefs, bay island margins and the numerous wrecks and other structures scattered throughout the bay.

Recently I was lucky to score a quality 119cm mulloway (around 18kg) on an Oceans Legacy Hybrid Contact metal jig from one of the wrecks out from the Brisbane River mouth. The fish was sounded directly below the boat as soon as I got close to the submerged structure and the jig deployed for an immediate hook up once it was close to the bottom. The Origin Long Fall 732L did the trick and eventually the silver slab surfaced after more than 15min.

Definitely a fish I will remember and my best from the bay so far!

Although I didn’t originally intend on fishing slow pitch jigs at that spot, when the fish was sounded directly below the boat, they were the best option to put a lure in front of the fish immediately and accurately.

Quickly taking advantage of the situation encountered will often reward.

The same lures that work for snapper will tempt mulloway and each species is often taken as bycatch whilst targeting the other.

When specifically targeting mulloway, lure size can be increased as the better fish definitely have a preference for larger offerings. If you want those XOS specimens then live baits really seem to have the runs on the board over lures. Larger schools of mulloway are often found around the artificial reefs however when water temperatures are higher, shark activity can be increased and most hooked fish are engulfed by these predators, which is extremely disappointing.

Whilst mulloway can be encountered right throughout the year, some of the better bay specimens are taken during September and October.

BAY PELAGICS As the warmer conditions promote higher water temperatures, baitfish species will flourish in Moreton Bay. This encourages greater numbers of numerous pelagic species including mac tuna, bonito, school mackerel, cobia and longtail tuna. Their presence is most obvious when they are surface feeding on baitfish schools but this isn’t always the case.

School mackerel are a heavily targeted species due to their prevalence and table qualities. These are commonly taken around the shipping channel beacons by drifting pilchards or vertical spinning with chrome slugs and slices. Trolling spoons behind paravanes (to get them down to 5m or more) is a great way to cover a range of ground in your search.

This is best done along the edges of major banks on a falling tide or around any

Ian Johnson with a great southern bay snapper of 70cm, which was released after being tempted with a Gulp in nuclear chicken colour.

other areas where baitfish are prevalent. Halco Barra Drone, Macka Spoons and Halco Kimberley Spoons are most commonly used in 3” and 4” sizes. Obviously, these same areas can be fished using pilchards pinned on gang hook rigs. This can be done whilst anchored or drifting and current will dictate whether any sinker weight is needed to get the pilchard down to at least mid-water. Rigging the pilchard so that it is straight, with hooks placed centrally down through the back will promote it to waft in the current instead of spinning.

With the leading hook placed centrally down through the head, just in front of the eyes this will offer a fairly natural presentation. Pilchards can even be cast and slowly retrieved on this set-up which is a great way to work the edges of the channels whilst drifting along with the current.

Live baiting around the shipping channels beacons and Comboyuro Ledge (including the Curtin Artificial) is likely to produce longtail tuna and cobia during October.

Yakkas, slimy mackerel, pike, cowanyoung and several other live offering will work when pinned on a snelled hook rig and deployed at differing depths.

Longtails may be found surface feeding throughout numerous areas of the bay.

They are often in smaller numbers at this time of the year and are best targeted by casting chromed slugs, stickbaits, pencil poppers, casting minnows and baitfish profiled flies. Longtails can be rather fussy at this time of the year as a lot of the baitfish species are still miniscule and they will get orientated to only eating baitfish of that size. This is an instance when fly fishing shines as you are able to present very small offerings that are too light to cast on conventional tackle.

Bonito, mac tuna and bullet tuna will all be found throughout the bay during October. Small chromed slugs and slices are commonly used however baitfish profiled flies and several other lures may produce. These all make great bait species, especially when the fillets are salted down to toughen them a bit. The Watsons Bonito are decent table fare when lightly grilled or smoked. These can be located almost anywhere however along the shipping channels or around the bay flats or bay island surrounds are good places to search.

Australian bonito are mainly only suitable for baits.

CRABS Crabbing will be

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good throughout October with decent numbers of sandies and blueswimmers throughout Moreton Bay and muddies in the estuaries, rivers, creeks and canals.

Setting safety pots is generally the most reliable way however pickup dillies (not witches hat style) are also suitable providing you are checking them regularly.

Pots are best baited with whole mullet, fish frames and heads, chicken carcasses and similar baits.

Muddies are often deep in the mangrove expanse (except after serious rainfall) therefore setting pots in the harder to access spot will generally produce best.

Out in the bay, sand and blueswimmer crabs can be taken in a host of spots with certain water depths often producing better than others, for this reason it often pays to initially set pots at an array of depths until you can determine which depth is most productive. Taking note of the depth where the majority of pro pots are deployed will also give you a good indication however don’t set in the same area.

Ensure all your crabbing apparatus is adequately labelled as per regulations and be able to identify the various crab species, as they have different size and bag limits.

CEPHALOPODS Tiger squid and arrow squid will still be available in good numbers over the coming month or so providing water clarity remains clear around the bay island shallows, foreshores and channels. Casting egi into areas where clean water flows over reef, rubble rock and weed beds is highly likely to produce.

Whilst fishing around the bay islands or Sand Hills area, drifting an egi or baited skewer behind the boat will also work well.

The skewer is best

baited with a pilchard or other whole fish bait and suspended a few metres below the surface utilising a small float. When the current is minimal, the egi may also need a float to stop it sinking to the bottom. Cuttlefish are most commonly caught in the deeper channels such as the one which runs from Green Island up past Wellington Point to Ormiston area. Drifting weighted egi so that they track close to the bottom will generally produce the goods.

THREADFIN With prawn schools

beginning to move downriver, threadfin salmon numbers in the lower Brisbane River will be improving. Large conglomerations can often be found close to the mouth in areas such as the swing zone, out from the Cruise Ship Terminal, in front of the main ship docking precinct, out from the QCL jetty and many other locales.

Threadfin can often be easier to find than to catch and they can be rather fussy when they are fixated on the prawn schools. All manner of lures will often go ignored for long periods but occasionally they

After dropping a Hybrid Contact jig to an arc below the boat, the author came up solid on this 119cm central bay mulloway.

will come on the chew just before a tide change. With threadies, it is a sometimes a case of being in the right place at the right time.

Live baits of mullet, prawns, herring, biddies and pike can sometimes turn the odds in your favour.

These are best presented with minimal rigging including fluorocarbon leaders, chemicallysharpened suicide or kahle hooks and minimal sinker weights. Lures worth trying include soft vibes, blades and numerous soft plastics, especially prawn profiles such as the Chasebaits Flick Prawn and Curlytail Prawn, Atomic Prong and Samaki Live Shrimp. Threadfin numbers will improve in the coming months with a lot of the best action during the summer months.

FLATHEAD Good numbers of flathead will be around in all the estuaries and river systems during the coming months. Flathead will still be in breeding mode or just finished this activity and a lot of larger females will still be around. Trolling lures along the edges of major estuarine channels on the falling tide is one of the easiest ways to score. These same zones can be worked with soft plastics and soft vibes. Drifting small whole fish baits (herring,

whitebait, diver whiting, hardiheads and pilchards) in the channels on the lower tidal stages and across the flats on the higher tides, will likely reward.

Flathead will congregate in groups, commonly a large female surrounded by several smaller males so it pays to work over a successful spot several times before moving on. Remember that dusky flathead have a slot size between 40cm and 75cm (bag limit of 5) which is put in place to protect the large breeding females.

CONCLUSION There’s a lot on offer for anglers over the coming month. October offers warmer fishing conditions and heightened activity for many fish species during the spring months. All manner of demersal and pelagic species are on offer in the bay. Estuarine waters additionally have some great action for flathead, bream, mangrove jack, threadfin, cod, trevally and many other species. The option to set a few pots to score crabs, work the shallows with an egi for some squid or cast net the deeper holes in the rivers for banana prawns, really highlights the great fishing potential and variety that the Moreton Bay area offers. Get out and enjoy it whenever you can.

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Climbing temperatures for October NORTHERN BAY

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After a relatively hot start to spring, October should see the ambient and water temperatures continue to climb. In fact, with this summer predicted to tend back toward a drier El Nino pattern, we can expect some scorching October days.

The milder and wetter summers we’ve just come through produced some excellent fishing across the board, but it seems anglers forget that the drier and hotter years also have their perks. Less catastrophic floods mean more fishing time and more consistent water clarity, and stocked

trolled hardbody lures and dead baits of garfish, bonito, slimy mackerel and wolf herring. Casting stickbaits and poppers around pressure edges will still work well on these fish, but the key will be finding where they are first, and trolling is one of the best ways to find schools of hungry Spanish.

Wahoo should also be starting to show up in the same areas, and once again trolling is great way to find where these fish are hanging out. The Cape Moreton area is always worth looking around, however closer reef systems such as Halls, Chardons and Jew Shoal can hold good pelagics early in the season.

Schools of 20-30kg yellowfin tuna were being

Ethan usually likes chasing bass and saratoga, however spring in SEQ can offer some excellent fishing for yellas, and it can be well worth specifically targeting these hard-hitting fish. Photo courtesy of Ethan Flowers. fish in dams are less likely to escape over spillways.

With that said, the droughts that these periods often bring can cause lasting damage to our fisheries.

With each drought cycle we get seemingly hotter and drier than the last, there are some concerns for some of the more fragile habitats this summer.

This month will be a good indication of just how extreme the summer ahead will be, but for the moment we should be able to enjoy warm days, healthy fisheries and hungry fish.

Let’s take a look at how the fishing has been!

BAY AND OFFSHORE Through September the action offshore was just starting to get really exciting.

The big Spanish that were being caught on stickbaits and poppers around Cape Moreton had just started to taper off, but at some point in October or early November we should see the seasonal arrival of the smaller schoolsized mackerel. These fish are usually more widespread than the larger residential fish and should respond to 26 OCTOBER 2023

taken on trolled skirts and cast lures beyond the 300m line through August and September, and hopefully by now there should be more of these nomadic trophies around venturing in a little closer. They can take a bit of searching to find, and anglers who venture out don’t always find them, but yellowfin meat is one of if not the best sashimi available anywhere and well worth putting in the effort to find.

Mahimahi have been showing up sporadically for months now, but with the warmer currents pushing through we should see more consistent captures through October. The FADs and wave recorders out wide are good places to look for these fish, with just about any bait or lure likely to get crunched if you can be the first one there for the day. These aren’t only places you’ll find these colourful battlers though, with any piece of floating debris worth closer inspection. I once found them hanging around a deck chair that had blown off a cruise ship!

The snapper action

offshore will be tapering off a little through October, however it’s still worth fishing any shallower reef edges (10-15m) with 5-7” soft plastics if you’re heading out early. Jew Shoal, Raper Shoal and Brays Rock can be very productive early in the morning. If you want to stay inshore the shallow reef edges and gravel patches throughout the bay in 5m or less should yield good results.

Any shallow reefs like the ones at Scarborough and around the fringes of islands such as Mud, Peel and Green are good areas to target. As we edge toward summer, the smaller squire will start to thin out in the bay, meaning the larger residential fish will have these areas to themselves. The dirtier water through spring and summer also allows these fish to feel more comfortable roaming in the shallows. They aren’t always easy to find, and fishing early or late in the day is crucial, but spring and summer is actually prime time to find big snapper in the shallows in Moreton Bay. Soft plastics should be kept between 3-5” and rigged on no more than 1/8oz jigheads so they fall naturally.

Alternatively, suspending jerkbaits around the same size with a diving depth of around 3-4m can be really productive on these shallow feeding snaps. Make sure to give them plenty of pauses and be ready for that lure to get crunched while it’s sitting motionless.

While fishing these zones you’re likely to come across grass emperor, especially as we get more hot and humid days. Grassies fight hard and taste great – better than snapper in my opinion – and once found it’s easy to put a decent feed of them together.

We did see some early reports of spotty mackerel in the bay through September, so don’t be surprised to see feeding frenzies of these fish as you travel through the bay. Casting 40-60g slugs,

medium stickbaits (between 80-120mm) and even large soft plastics around 7” nearby any bust-ups often results in a hook-up.

Mac tuna have also been caught recently and will push bait up to the surface in the same way. Unfortunately, they don’t offer the same eating qualities as the spotties, but it’s often easy to tell whether a bust-up is spotties or mac tuna. The tuna will usually attack bait by launching themselves clear of the water, giving away their identity in the process. Spotties on the other hand will strike their quarry in more of a slashing motion.

BEACHES The beach tailor fishing throughout the SEQ region was very sporadic leading up to September, with most of the best tailor tending to come as by-catch in the estuaries and throughout the bay.

As September ticked over though, we started receiving more consistent reports from the main beaches along the major islands like North and South Straddie, Moreton, and further north at K’Gari.

By now there should be better numbers of quality tailor in the 50-60cm range in the gutters, with the odd 70cm+ greenback lurking around as well. Fishing in the traditional way with pilchards on gang rigs is a viable option, just be sure to match the hook size to the size of the pilles, otherwise you can cut your pilles down so the bait has plenty of hook exposure.

With the way the fishing has been though, with smaller schools of fish moving around a lot, spinning with metals in the 30-60g range is an excellent way of tracking them down. Once you have found a productive area, switching over to bait fishing can help to keep them biting and even bring more in to the gutter.

The whiting and dart fishing in the shallower beach gutters has almost made up

When the bass are a little gun shy in spring, the fly can be a good trick to keep up the sleeve and one that Luke often calls upon to bring the bass back on the bite at Samsonvale. Photo courtesy of Luke Segalla.

October usually sees the start of the official run of Spanish through SEQ, however anglers like Anthony have been finding numbers of these fish all through winter. Photo courtesy of Anthony O’Leary. for the slow tailor run, with some stonking models of both species being reported weekly. While bait fishing with beachworms, pipis and yabbies has been productive, a few of the sportier anglers have been chasing the dart with small casting jigs. A casting jig is basically a micro jig that is designed to be fished on the cast rather than vertically but will still flutter enticingly on the fall just like a micro jig. Jigs such as the Mustad Mezashi Casting Jig in the 15g size are ideal for this technique, but standard micro and slowpitch jigs will also work.

RIVERS AND ESTUARIES The amount of rainfall we get leading up to October will be the main factor influencing the fishing, but even if we get next to no rain, the regular top ups we had through winter should keep the action ticking along.

Mangrove jack fired up as early as August, and through September there were some stonking red dogs caught all throughout the region. Smaller soft plastics, jerkbaits and live baits were effective while it was still a little cool, but by now 80-120mm plastics (rigged standard or weedless) and 100mm jerkbaits should be getting their attention. Even hard swimbaits like in the 120-150mm range will be worth throwing around, especially if you want to catch the eye of a bigger jack. Artificial systems like Newport Waterway, Pacific Harbour on Bribie and the canals throughout the Mooloolah River system are prolific jack producers, but so too are natural water courses like the Mooloolah itself, the Maroochy above Bli Bli and tributaries, and the systems flowing into Pumicestone Passage like Elimbah, Coochin and Bells creeks. Just keep casting your lures in as tight as you can to the structure and I promise

you, a jack will nail your lure eventually. Whether or not you can extract them from their tangled homes is another matter, so make sure you’re running at least 20lb braid and a 30-40lb leader.

Mulloway and threadfin salmon will still be mooching about in most systems, however with the warmer water they will likely be sitting deeper than they have been through winter.

The lower end of systems like the Brisbane, Pine and Caboolture rivers will be holding both species through October, and the key will be locating these fish on the sounder and then employing a variety of presentations to see if they want to eat.

Prospecting in these areas is also a good way to find a coveted SEQ barra, which have already shown up here and there, but the details of these fish are always kept very vague.

Once again, sounders are necessary to locate where they are sitting, and finding them is only part of the battle. If you do manage to bring one of these prizes unstuck, try not to advertise exactly where it was caught, as their populations are quite localised and could suffer a lot from excessive angling pressure.

Estuary favourites like bream, summer whiting and flathead will be readily available this month, and regardless of whether we get biblical rainfalls or none at all, anglers should be able to find a few. At this time of year the water clarity deteriorates with predominantly north and easterly winds, along with rainfall if we can get it, and this means bream will be more comfortable hunting in shallow water. The warming weather also kick-starts the food chain in the shallows, with small crustaceans, fish and aquatic and terrestrial insects all on the menu for feeding bream. Fishing over any estuary flats with small

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crankbaits, lightly-weighed soft plastics and topwaters like stickbaits and poppers is a good way to find hungry bream, whiting and flathead at this time.

The flooded mangrove forests will also come alive at higher stages of the tide, and if you’re able to flick your lures into these gnarly zones, even if the water is only a few inches deep, you should be able to enjoy some quality fishing for bream. Kedron Brook, the North and South Pine rivers and Ningi Creek offer some excellent mangrove fishing for bream, especially if you have a small boat or kayak to allow you to sneak up these systems quietly.

Those specifically chasing flathead should find better quality fish this month, however Pumicestone Passage as well as the Caboolture and Pine rivers are known for the influx of ‘slime weed’ in spring. If it becomes too difficult to fish with lures, live baiting with mullet, herring, legal whiting and garfish over any sandy flats or nearby channels can be a good alternative. October is usually the last month of good flathead fishing before the breeding aggregations break up and the flathead scatter themselves through the systems, so if you’re hoping to nail an 80cm+ specimen

you better get cracking!

FRESHWATER October is when the freshwater action really heats up, both figuratively and literally! Bass in both rivers and impoundments become much hungrier and will respond to a wide variety of techniques.

The opening of the wild bass season in September produced a few top sessions for those who made the effort to get out, and I was very surprised to find the bass in my local system hitting surface lures aggressively on opening day. Without any major rainfalls, the bulk of the bass are likely to be hanging around in the tidal freshwater

sections of systems, with the Brisbane, North and South Pine, Caboolture, and Maroochy rivers all offering stretches of productive water that’s navigable by boat. The smaller systems scattered through the region will also come alive with everyone’s favourite bronzed battlers.

If the rain does come the bass that have finished their breeding will use the extra flow to push up any rapids and riffles to access the non-tidal freshwater. It’s worth noting that smaller systems will take less rain to get the bass moving, so even an afternoon storm can be enough to trigger a mass movement of bass in the creeks.

The tidal freshwater sections of our larger systems will be alive with bass this month. The author and his father Andrew found the fish more than willing to bite on the first day of open season.

In our local impoundments Samsonvale and Kurwongbah, the schools in the deeper water have begun breaking up. Fish will still school up during the day, with lures like blades, soft plastics and spoons the weapons of choice, but the mornings and afternoons should see action around the edges of the dams.

Banks with standing timber, weed, lily pads, or all of the above will be the areas to target. Lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and other reaction style baits will get the attention of these fish. With them will be yellowbelly, which become much more active through spring. In early spring they sit in shallow water to warm up, and as it gets hotter toward summer they move deeper and relate to structure, particularly standing timber.

The other big drawcard in spring is saratoga. Anyone wanting to specifically target the toga should concentrate their efforts in the back of bays and inlets or up the feeder creeks. Kurwongbah, Samsonvale, Borumba, MacDonald, Ewen Maddock and Hinze are all viable toga fisheries. Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and a variety of topwater lures are the preferred presentations for these prehistoric leapers, but if you’re after a bit of family fun, a chunk of red meat under

a float is dead-set the best way to catch a toga.

WRAP-UP It’s difficult to predict exactly what October will bring in terms of weather and fishing, but regardless of how it pans out there will be

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with what’s been happening out there, it would be very difficult to put together such a detailed report without your help.

I hope your October is action-packed and full of PBs. Good luck!

Flathead are still highly sought-after in October, and even Josh doesn’t mind chasing a few flat fish between the more impressive species he is known for catching. Photo courtesy of Josh Dow. stacks of options available, especially if you tailor your fishing to suit the conditions.

Early indications suggest we’re in for less rainfall and hotter temperatures than the last few years, so hopefully next month we’ll be able to reflect on that and paint a clearer picture for the summer ahead.

Thanks once again to all our wonderful customers who send us photos and fill us in

• For more up to date information on fishing in and around Brisbane call into the guys at Tackle World Lawnton and they can point you in the right direction. The friendly staff at Tackle World Lawnton cater to all levels of experience and offer the widest range of brands at the best prices. They are located at 640 Gympie Road Lawnton (07) 3205 7475 or find us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Boats winning offshore!

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Peter Wells

With spring well and truly upon us we all start to think about all those amazing species that love the warmer water temperatures. Offshore it is all about the pelagic

activity, beaches see those lovely sweet summer whiting, and of course in the rivers it is all about the jacks and barramundi.

Starting on the beaches, gutters are a little hard to find at the moment. With the slight swell, gutters have tended to fill and fish are holding a little deeper.

Big rods and a big casts seems to be the way to go to get to the deeper water where the fish are holding.

Another option is to fish the rocks and headlands were the deep water is a little closer.

Good schools of tailor continue to make their way up the coast with

Blake Cole with a perfect snapper from the Double Island area. river mouths and the rocks producing the most fish, also high tide is a major factor.

Bream are also picking up in numbers and size with the rocky beaches producing the best fish.

There have been some nice size whiting in the gutters with yabbies, worm and pipis favourite baits for

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choice of bait. Speaking of bait, a tailor fillet is like chocolate to a mulloway, but they are not fussy with plenty of fish taken on mullet, pilchards, slimy mackerel and even large clumps of worms. The bite is all important as these fish tend to mouth the baits so waiting for the fish to take the bait and run before setting the hooks.

The creek and river mouths have also fished well for tailor and bream, with pilchards and mullet the pick of the baits. Tailor are also in the system with

The flathead are also in good numbers with good fish right up into the upper reaches of the rivers and creeks, large paddle tail soft plastic and soft vibes like the Zerek Bait Traps have really worked well. The last of the run out and always seem to be the prime time, also at this timer of the year is when they tend to nest up so if you catch one or two in the same area keep casting as you may hook the bigger female.

In the upper reaches of the Noosa and Maroochy, mulloway also seem to be

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fish. The bridge pylons are a good place to start with areas like Maroochy River bridge, Munna Point Bridge and the Sheraton Bridge in the Noosa all worth a look. You will find your better bite time in the low light times or of course at night.

The summer whiting are really starting to come on.

There are a few undersized fish amongst them so don’t forget they must be over 23cm and a bag limit of 30 fish. Worms and yabbies are the better baits with a size 4 worm hook the

The crew from charter vessel Trekka 2 had one of those amazing days where the fishing gods were happy. Check out this bag of reds from the reefs off Double Island. still on offer on most of the close reefs. Snapper are also showing a bit of size with fish to 60cm not uncommon.

As usual Sunshine Reef just off Noosa has been very popular with a great range of fish on offer, snapper, pearl perch, trout, cobia, sweetlip are just a few of the species you can expect to catch. The reef is also very popular with anglers in smaller craft with its proximity to the Noosa River and Laguna Bay if Jay Hargraves picked up this monster tuna while surface fishing. The big tuna were feeding on squid and Jay managed to hook it with a stick bait. the top of the tide the best time, fast moving slugs and soft plastics on a quick retrieve have worked well.

We fished mid-week last week and got a good bag of tailor all around the 40cm mark. Trevally have also been on offer with big eye and giant trevally the most prevalent.

Prawn profile soft plastics like the Squidgy Pro Wild Prawn have been the pick of the bunch.

on offer with most fish holding in the deeper hole up stream. Most fish are that soapy size but some have been just legal.

The good old jacks are starting to really make their presence felt with the onset of the spring storms and the increased humidity these fish really fire up. As usual for this time of the year it is live baits of herring or poddy mullet that are claiming some of the better

ideal size hook. Work areas like the Dog Beach and the Frying Pan in the Noosa River and Black Banks and the bottom of the jet ski run in the Maroochy.

The offshore side of things has been a little tricky, as the wind has been predominantly from the south and around the 10-15knot range so most anglers have stayed in pretty close.

Good sweetlip are

the winds pick up.

For the anglers that have made the run to the outer reefs they have been rewarded with larger snapper, pearlies, bigger sweetlip and some very large cobia. School mackerel and tuna are still on the scene up on the northern reefs with the water temps starting to rise. The charter out of Noosa have been doing the steam up to the Reef off Double Island with some great results, some nice trout, gold band

snapper, pearl perch, cobia, snapper mulloway and red emperor were all bagged on recent trips.

• Don’t forget to check in to www.fishingnoosa. com.au for all the latest up to date info on fishing and bar crossings. The knowledgeable teams at Tackle World Noosa, Northshore Bait & Tackle at Marcoola our new store The Tackle Shop in Gympie can provide you with the right equipment, bait and advice to ensure success!

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Central OLD

Star species on offer offshore BUNDABERG

Luke Truant

Over the past month, the fish have continued to bite well.

The average size of the fish has been very good, even in fairly well-known spots. The star species are coral trout, red emperor and a by-catch of large gold-spot cod.

spots. Nannygai like to gather in large schools, and can feed very aggressively at times, which makes them vulnerable to being smashed by anglers wanting to fill their esky.

Having the right bait is key to consistent catches of large reef fish. Over the past few months, the prime bait has been live yellowtail scad. If you weren’t fishing with those,

There are some solid grassies getting around at the moment.

We have been catching a lot of red emperor around 65-67cm, with the occasional larger specimen in the 70s, which equates to around 8-10kg.

A few decent grassy sweetlip are still showing up, with odd bigger specimen up to 5kg turning up. We have been finding them in depths of around 35-45m, mixed in with the red emperor and gold-spot cod.

Most of the trout caught lately have been mid-60s fish, with some bigger 80cm specimens in the mix (those bigger fish are usually bar-cheek coral trout, rather than common or leopard coral trout). We haven’t encountered many undersized trout, which is great.

The trout have been turning up in a range of locations at different times, including the shoaly areas off the top of Fraser, and in between Fraser and Lady Elliott Island. Some of these locations used to yield nannygai almost exclusively, but over the past year or so it seems the trout have muscled their way in. Maybe this is because the nannygai have been overfished in particular

you were missing out on a lot of big fish.

However, the scad numbers will start to dwindle in the coming weeks. If we are lucky, they will hang around until the end of October, but most likely the bulk of them will disappear sooner than that. At that point, they won’t come back until around May next year.

Still, even after the big schools of yellowtail scad have gone, you hunt around the bait grounds to see if you can find any stragglers. During October they tend to hang around in

This gold-spot cod took a bait meant for a red emperor.

Plenty of trout are on offer at the moment.

32 OCTOBER 2023

smaller patches, and on the sounder they’ll look like a show down low as opposed to a big ball higher up in the water column, like you’d get earlier in the season. These late-season schools resemble variegated emperor or small whiptails on the bottom. You might get only one or two livies per drop, rather than the 5-6 you’d get earlier in the season, but it’s still worth doing, just the same. XOS fish like to eat livies.

If the scad are gone and you want to use other species as live baits, be sure to check whether they have minimum size limits.

While you’re fishing with livies, it’s good to drop down at least one strip bait (e.g. mullet, hussar, or iodine bream). A smelly dead bait is irresistible to little picker fish, who will surround it and start picking at it. The commotion gets the attention of larger fish, who may move in to see what all the fuss is about. Then, it may spot one of the enticing livies nearby, and eat it. On some days the bigger fish will eat dead baits, too; it all depends on their mood on the day.

OUTGUNNING THE SHARKS Unfortunately, October is the time of year when the sharks typically start ramping up. Don’t use the ‘pump and wind’ approach on a mediumsize fish, because this makes it easier for the sharks to steal it.

You’re far better off cranking the fish straight up, so you can maintain constant momentum.

Of course, if you get really big fish then yes, you will need to pump and wind.

Another way to minimise shark bite-offs is to do what the pros do: move into the shallows and fish with handlines. If you do it right, a handline will allow you to maintain momentum, which helps to keep hooked fish away from sharks. Try watching pro trout fishers on YouTube and you’ll see how they maintain that constant momentum, with no jerky movements.

Another benefit of handlining is that it’s easy to let some line out when you get enquiries from a big fish.

When you get those taps you

don’t want to strike because it could spook the fish. It’s much better to let a bit of line out, to encourage the fish to have another go. This is easy with a handline, but fiddly with a reel.

While you’re flipping over the bail arm or adjusting the drag lever, you could miss a strike, and you might not get another chance with that fish.

If you haven’t done handlining for trout before, I recommend using an 80lb mono that’s relatively supple.

Stiffer monos can be very slippery, making it hard to

The best bait for a red emperor is a livie, but big strip baits are a good backup.

Most of the coral trout caught lately have been mid60s fish, with some bigger specimens in the mix. stop the fish.

When handlining, you want to be fishing in less than 30m of water, otherwise you’ll end up with too much line on the deck. Make sure your deck is clean and clear of clutter.

You won’t actually be holding the spool of your handline while you’re fishing; it should stay sitting on the deck, for safety reasons. If you pick up the spool when you hook a good fish, and you don’t hold it tightly enough, it will spin rapidly and could break your finger or recoil into your face. Stay safe and leave it on the deck until you’re ready to head home.

You will need to protect your index finger while handlining for large fish. The most well-known option is a bike tube over your pointer finger, but a better option when you’re starting out is probably a SureCatch Finger Protection Guard. It’s made of leather with an elastic backing so it stays on your finger, and it’s not too tight or too loose. This last feature is useful because your finger will swell after a successful day’s handlining, so what fit you on the first day won’t fit you on the second day – at least when you’re new to this kind of fishing.

If you can’t find a tube or finger stall, you can use strapping tape (the kind that physiotherapists use) and wrap it around your index finger.

This kind of tape tends to hold better in the water, and you can usually go most of the day without having to dry your hands and apply fresh tap. I personally love using strapping

tape, and I use the 50mm wide version. Make sure the first and second knuckles are covered (the tip of your finger can be exposed).

If you try handlining and find yourself struggling a bit, don’t be discouraged – you will get better after some practice.

And you’ll be catching more fish in the shallows than you ever did before.

OCTOBER FISHING In the coming weeks, I recommend that you keep using livies to target red emperor and trout, in conjunction with strip baits. If you’re getting plagued by sharks, you can try going to deeper and more remote locations to try to get away from them, or go shallower so

and they love to eat XOS live baits. Troll your livies super slowly for best results. A good thing about live baits is that you can troll almost in a circle, so if you’ve sounded up some fish, you can target them effectively.

In the estuaries, the water temperatures are rising, and the barra and jacks are becoming more active. There is a lot of bait around, too. You can find schools of barra around the rock bars and bridges, although getting them to bite can sometimes be a challenge.

Paddle-tail plastics can work well in this scenario, because they have a good action at slow speeds. The best times are early in the morning and late in the afternoon, ideally coinciding with a tide change.

Amongst the barra, we are seeing some solid jacks being caught, and they can also be encountered further upstream amongst the snags. Using livies is the best way to catch these red devils.

• Truansea Charters specialise in 10-hour day trips chasing prized reef targets such as coral trout and red emperor, as well as arm-stretching pelagics like Spanish mackerel. The maximum number of anglers is 6, so you’ll never feel crowded.

The price is $350pp (or $330pp if you book the whole boat), which includes all gear, fuel, bait, ice, chilled water/soft drinks and laughs! You’re

A tasty large-mouth nannygai (saddle-tail snapper). you can rip your hooked fish up to the surface before they can reach it. Sharks like to congregate around reef edges, ledges and drop-offs, so try to avoid those locations.

Good-size Spanish mackerel are still an option within a few miles of shore,

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 find out more visit www. truansea.com.au, or you can Like them on Facebook or call Luke on 0423 015 490.

Central OLD

The season is shaping up for some superb fishing MACKAY

Clinton Hassan

We are extremely spoilt here in the tropics; you can sit in a little tinnie 300m off the shore watching whales

large schools of barramundi throughout the shallows and headlands, with most being caught using strip baits and livies. Most of the barra caught on lures have been taken in the shallows around low tide using small 3-4”

Over the reef flats, the fanatics have been getting into some quality fish, with good-size coral trout, red-throat emperor and large tuskfish. Massive Maori wrasse have also been

menacing lures.

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Sailfish have been showing up in good numbers. breaching around the boat whilst catching snapper, blackspot tuskfish and Spanish mackerel. What more could you ask for?

We are midway through spring now, and if this month is anything like the last, we are in for some fantastic fishing.

Gulp Shrimp, Samaki Live Shrimp and Atomic Plazos.

Bigger fish are being caught around the headlands using large 9” paddletails.

Another popular species this month will be the mangrove jack. The upper reaches of the creeks around low tide are perfect

eddies around the rock bars, which will normally hold bait schools.

Threadfin salmon have been in good numbers throughout the creeks and rivers. Those anglers targeting kingies using lures have found them more abundant around the neap tides. 3-4” prawn style plastics and 70-80mm vibes have been producing better bites, although trolling the flats using 2-3m small hardbodies has been snaring better fish. Bait fishos are also getting their fair share using live mullet, prawns and mud herring.

OFFSHORE FISHING There has been a spike in the numbers of pelagic fish, including species not normally seen off Mackay, such as mahimahi and yellowfin tuna. Both species have been caught as by-catch

Sailfish have been in good numbers throughout the shipping channel, with pods of 5-7 sails seen at once. They have been enticed by using teasers, skirted lures and skipping garfish.

A good run of weather over the next month should see a run of small black marlin. There have been reports of 10kg fish to the south of Mackay recently.

Spanish mackerel have also plentiful in all the

Spanish mackerel are plentiful at the moment.

Mangrove jack are taking bait and lures.

It’s a good time to chase red emperor.

LOCAL CREEKS AND RIVERS As the water temperatures start to heat up, you will see a lot more action, especially for the lure enthusiasts. The net-free areas have seen 34 OCTOBER 2023

for targeting jacks with both baits or lures. Look for rock bars, submerged logs and mangrove roots. I like using small weedless plastics.

You can put your lure right in the timber, or look for

by local game fishing members targeting marlin and sailfish. A 10-15kg yellowfin is a welcome catch, and those anglers targeting them have had great success using stickbaits.

usual locations around the islands, reefs and shipping channel. 8-10kg fish have been commonly caught trolling gar, ribbonfish and lures, whilst jigging around pressure points proving most productive.

The building tides mid-month will be perfect for chasing red fish in the channel. Red emperor, nannygai and big grassy sweetlip are all on the menu.

Great results are still coming from the Nomad Squidtrex soft vibes, whilst baiters are doing extremely well using the Buku Hybrid Jig baited with whole squid or strip baits.

due to COVID, we finally got back on board and held the largest competition to date. A total of 267 children participated in the event, ranging in age from 3 to 15, with an array of species caught. The event was started back in 2010 by owners Neil and Helen Elworthy, inspired by their love of fishing, children and family. Sadly, Neil passed away on 8 September last year, so a perpetual trophy for the largest whiting is now the highlight of the event.

The winner of the trophy for 2023 was youngster Flynn Dougan, with a massive 36cm whiting.

By the end of the competition, over $4000 in prizes had been handed out, with every child receiving a prize.

Threadfin salmon are on the chew in the creeks and rivers.

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OCTOBER 2023 35

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Get better access with a little boat TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

We had a weird winter this year; a lot of the seasonal variations that we usually prepare for never actually eventuated. The coldest

season as full-on as this one. This, combined with the questionable research results of shark numbers, has undermined the credibility of any research results in the future. It’s fair to say that the main shark species causing the issues are bull sharks,

a couple of 8-9kg Spanish mackerel (relatively small for the species), and then keep fishing in hopes of catching a bigger mackerel.

When they catch a bigger mackerel, they discard the smaller ones over the side. This dubious practice

for clean water, fluoro colours for dirty water’ rings true most times. Hook sizes are around #1 to 2/0, depending how weedless we need to make them. All have some powder coat added for contrast. Whether you try this tactic or not is up to you, but we don’t throw a jighead or weedless hook without it.

We particularly love chasing jacks in the creeks and fingermark etc when the weather allows our little boat to get out the front. The way the wind has been this year has pretty much kept us in the creeks. We went one step further and got hold of a small tinny, and when I say small, I mean small.

It’s a 10, low-sided flat bottom punt that allows us to navigate some of the smaller creeks and streams (we don’t take any obvious risks with it). The convenience of a rooftop tinny is that

Small drains can be full of jacks, although accessing them can be difficult. They are great fun in tight water.

When lizards like this are present, it’s no place for tiny tinnies. This pic was taken from our Polycraft, not our little 10ft punt. water we could find was about 21°C when normally we would be fishing as low as 18.5°C. Apart from a few days that had some serious wind chill factor, which dropped the temperature for a couple of days, the water has sat

or river whalers, which are found everywhere from the rivers and creeks to the reef.

Something needs to be done about the bullies as some fisheries have populations so high it’s difficult to land a fish without them being taken by the bullies. It’s not

trains the sharks to follow boats, waiting for discarded smaller fish. I don’t see anything wrong with keeping an 8-9kg mackerel, and I think it’s pretty piss poor to be throwing back these dead fish.

Fisheries research programs are now going to be targeting nannygai, coral trout, bream, flathead, whiting and so on, so let’s see what comes of this in the near future. I’m all for sustainability, but who knows where this is heading.

It is a common thing for us to downsize when things are tough, no matter what the time of year, just to see what the fish are going to prefer.

It’s often a game changing tactic for us. There are two main lures that we opt for when going small, and they are the 4” Halco Paddle Prawn and the Atomic Plazo in 3.25” size.

The colour choice for the lure comes down to the water colour, but the old rule of thumb of ‘natural colours

Casting soft plastics over deeper structure is a proven way to catch the odd fingermark. This one was taken on a Prong in 12m of water. we can explore waterways that won’t allow a trailered vessel to access With an old electric tiller steer motor and an iTech lithium 120AH Pro, we have enough power for easily a couple of days’ fishing.

We named the little punt

Using natural colours in clear water can make the difference on many outings. at around 21°C, which is unusual. Crocs have been doing weird stuff, as have the fish, and our normal tiny lure tactics weren’t needed this time around.

The new rules and regs on the Spanish mackerel fishery seem to have been a bit premature, given that there are some seriously contrasting ranges of results, depending on who you talk to. The truth is, most anglers have never seen a mackerel 36 OCTOBER 2023

only around Townsville, but many other rivers also.

Lures have been the quickest and easiest way to secure a feed of mackerel, with the good old Halco Laser Pro a consistent producer.

With the new bag limits in place now, the bag limit can be reached in mere minutes before another species needs to be targeted. Upsizing has been a big concern since the reduction in bag limits. It’s common for a boat to get

Although the general rule is ‘natural colours in clear water’, this 7” Lumo Paddle Prawn has caught many barra in clear water. It pays to keep an open mind when fishing.

Sketchy, because that was the first word that came out of my mouth as the young fella and I boarded her.

After our first trip in Sketchy, we mounted a couple of poly pipe pontoons on the side for a little added stability, and that seems to have made a difference. The addition of extra width also adds to the profile from underneath, hopefully making it look bigger in case there is a snappy laying on the bottom looking up at us. We only put it in waters where we have never seen biggersized crocs or croc slides.

It will be interesting to see how many waterways there are that we can slide her in.

So far, it’s been great fun and we’ve managed to reduce our gear to make room for a bit of moving around. The one thing that has stood out is how little gear that we actually

need to take with us in comparison to when we take the Poly. Under the floor of the old Poly we have a bigger storage container with a few boxes of hardbodies, blades, vibes, poppers etc, then another with softies, jigheads and weedless hooks, scents, leader material etc. We’d be lucky to use 5% of it, but it’s all there just in case.

In Sketchy, we each bring a couple of our favourites, and that’s about it.

Every barra fisher is looking forward seeing the results of stopping barra netting in the estuaries.

There’s no doubt going to be plenty of controversy over this in the near future, but I’m sure you’ll see a massive increase in tourism for the local economy once it’s been in place for a while. Time will tell.

Anyway, good fishing to you all and stay safe.

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CONNECT AND FOLLOW OCTOBER 2023 37

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An unexpected surprise HINCHINBROOK

Ian Moody info@ianmoodyfishing.com

Getting into the business end of the season now with not much longer to go until the 2023 barramundi season ends at midnight October 31 for the east coast of Queensland. This is where we will start to see it heat up depending on how soon

as per normal. However, we had an unexpected visitor for client Melanie Zappulla that I haven’t seen in a few years.

While fishing the deeper reaches during some smaller tides recently we had a hook up on what I was almost certain was a shark, but during the fight I had held out hope it might have been a black jew. To our surprise, it was!

It graced the surface after a heck of a long fight on 9kg

line. This one would be my biggest capture yet measuring in at 135cm. They have a very similar characteristic in fight to that of a shark, so it pays to make sure you sight the shark before deciding to bust it off! A few years back I had found a school of large black jew at Hinchinbrook in which I had managed seven of them between 117-122cm.

They aren’t fussy eaters at all as I have found they don’t

The reef is still producing beautiful specimens like this coral trout. the northerly airflows descends upon us.

Both live baiting and hand casting hardbodies have been doing the job nicely. However, around the beginning of August a long-lasting SE trade wind developed, which blasted us with cool winds and showers therefore dropping the water temp dramatically once again. It can be frustrating to finally see that glimpse of red-hot big fish action only to get push back again thanks to the weather. Nevertheless, we have been plucking a lot of barra from that 55-75cm range

Jack Maguire loves his winter barra bite. have any preference in any type of lure or baitfish as I have caught them all equally on every different method.

This month it’s going to be erratic with the windy weather patterns. Most areas in the early morning before the wind jumps up will be a factor, which I’ll be using a lot during October. Some areas I fish for barra up at Hinchinbrook love that south to southeast wind flow but if it gets too much easterly in it, it shuts them down and narrows my options a bit for the larger fish.

Keeping an eye out for those surface feeding boofs is where I’m always focused on during

Lynton Heffer www.fishingportdouglas.com.au

There’s no question we are in the midst of the best fishing period on our tropical calendar. The fishing options are many, whether you like your calm backwaters inshore or the vast expanses on the ocean blue on the Great Barrier Reef. All manner of fish species are very active, whatever your preferred style.

Our rivers and estuaries are offering up all your prized fish, including barramundi, mangrove jack, queenfish, trevally, fingermark, blue salmon and javelin fish.

Water temperatures are at a premium and now is the time to take advantage while the conditions and weather pattern are on our side.

Live baiting is always the local’s way of getting the best results but if you 38 OCTOBER 2023

for large barra.

My new offshore charter vessel is getting very close to commencing operations, progress has unfortunately been slow to many different factors. I’m certainly hoping there is some common sense prevailing around proposed changes to the saddletail snapper limits, which will

A pretty little 69cm Hinchy winter barra. quite often it helps us interact with the larger fish travelling out on the flats a lot more.

If you’re looking to try your luck at ticking that metreplus barramundi off your bucket list, it is best to get in and book early for 2024 as the good tides often get snapped up by my regular clients. February, March, April and May are also prime times

This was a surprise catch for Melanie, a 135cm black jew.

Prime time in paradise PORT DOUGLAS

the day as quite often if you cast your lure close to the same area where one occurred there is a high chance there is a barra still very close to the spot.

October also sees the tide patterns increase in size, which I find makes for more enjoyable lure fishing scenarios. I much prefer the larger tides at Hinchinbrook as

like to lure cast fish you can start to upsize your presentations whether it be hardbody or soft plastics. The fish have quickly gained an appetite and are prepared to take on something a bit more substantial. Key to success is to avoid the massive tides on the moon and also the slack water right on the neaps.

Outside of this, you’ll see some good action.

The reef fishing has seen some great angling for the popular likes of coral trout and large mouth nannygai.

Their appetites also have been healthy and it is all in the build up for spawning in the near distant future. Different areas of the reef spawn at different times so there’s no exact science to when it will happen but there are signs that it’s in the near future. The government has landed their dates for the 12-16 October as compulsory reef closures for everyone hedging their bets around the new moon.

There’s been a variety of other

species to share the bright moments including cobia, reef mangrove jack, spangled emperor, red emperor and hard fighting trevally species.

There’s been no shortage of action on the reef but avoid the full and new moon a day or so around them. The sharks have gone to a new level during this period demolishing anything hooked up to and this has been experienced from recreational to charter fishing.

Now if you’re a surface angler this is your time with more calm water on offer.

Our charters at Fishing Port Douglas have enjoyed tremendous success popper and stick baiting for GTs, mackerel, coral trout and red bass right up in the shallows on top of the reef.

It’s a style of fishing in high demand and for good reason, with spectacular action on the surface followed up by some serious arm stretching exercises to get the fish to the boat. High quality gear, good guiding and some luck

have a big impact on a lot of operations in Queensland.

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You can email us at info@ ianmoodysportfishing.com or phone us on 0402 339 459.

Barra season closes midnight October 31st, so get in early to secure a booking for this year or even for the 2024 season.

Water temperatures are at a premium, so take advantage while the conditions are on our side. is paramount. Like most styles of fishing at the moment, avoid the days on the moon and when there is little run on the neaps.

To take your fishing to the next level, serious anglers and charters are now in the thick of setting up for heavy tackle marlin fishing. The prelude of the small black marlin season

this year inside the reef was a bit lack lustre but this doesn’t necessarily correlate to the big fish that come in from the Coral Sea to breed on the continental shelf. We are in a spot of anticipation waiting, but will have a good grip on the up and coming season very soon.

The Port Douglas Marlin

Challenge over 4 days runs from the 15-18 November with the biggest and best boats signing up to the only dedicated heavy tackle tournament in the southern hemisphere at the moment.

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OLD

Storming ahead for good catches CAIRNS

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

October is one of those times of the year when the Trinity Net Free Zone is at its best. The creeks and rivers have warmed up and the afternoon storms the

Mangrove jack in particular are renowned for this and when they come on the chew it’s not a matter of when you are going to catch them, it will be how many. We have already seen the jacks feeding hard even over the cooler months thanks to a really wet winter we experienced. The constant rain has confused the

holding the bigger fish will be the Trinity Inlet. The inlet has already started to produce big barramundi and even threadfin salmon in good numbers. The threadies have been mostly prevalent out on the flats closer to the mouth. Barra have been around in numbers, both on the snags and bends, and the biggest producer has been the mouth of Saltwater Creek. Jacks have been in better numbers further up the creek and fishing the snaggy banks and the mangrove roots as the tide begins to drop away has been giving up some great fish. The Barron and Thomatis Creeks a little further north have also been producing some fish. Those fishing the

bridge pylons at night using vibes and suspending lures have been finding some very big barramundi.

There haven’t been many opportunities to get out on the headlands of late, thanks to the trade winds, but there have been small windows.

Those who have found their way fishing between Machans and Taylors Point have been hooking some big barramundi.

This will be your last month to target these fish, however it doesn’t mean they aren’t ready to spawn so if you do catch a big one its pays to keep it in the water and release it boat side.

The lures of choice around these headland spots are big paddle tail plastics like the

Jacks will be firing up, especially when the storms are around. tropics are famous for really get the fish feeding hard.

There is nothing better than a plunging barometer just before a storm for firing up the fish and, if you can time this right, you can be in for some awesome fishing.

fish a bit and when you add the warmer water temperatures than usual it seems they are thinking spring has come a little earlier. This is only going to make the fishing better in October.

The systems that will be

Big trophy barra will be out on the headlands in October and this is the last month to chase them.

Small school sized barra will be out in good numbers this time of year and are best targeted around the snags.

Molix 140s and the ever trusty black and gold Slick Rig. These fish can bite very softly so it certainly pays to rip into them and set those hooks as hard as you can.

The Cairns Area Fish Stocking Group recently had the pleasure of working with one of the local schools in the area to release some barramundi into Half Moon Bay, which is in the NFZ. Funded by QLD Fisheries we were able to tag and release 400 30cm barramundi. These releases are so important to the

future of our fisheries and if you would like to get involved in the Fish Stocking Group check us out on the Cairns Area Fish Stocking Group Facebook page and send us a message. We could use a few members as many hands make light work.

Next month the fishing will continue to get better and, if the rain stays away, conditions will be perfect.

With the barra out of season it will be a good opportunity to downsize those lures and chase a few big jacks.

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OCTOBER 2023 39

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Double hook ups and mayhem COOKTOWN

Justin Coventry

You know the fishing is heating up when the fish start getting caught with double hook ups and mayhem occurs trying to land two fish at once. The barra fishing has certainly been incredible in the last few weeks with lots of hungry barra around and multiple hook ups occurring on some snags.

The fish are hungry as the weather warms up and the bait is scarcer, so the lure fishing action can be mind-blowing at this time of the year. It’s almost too easy but it’s so much fun!

However, the small sizes are usually active and will hit the lures more often and before the bigger fish rise up from the bottom; even putting on a sinking soft plastic can be nailed on the drop before getting deep down. So, you just have to keep persisting on some snags to get the

There are lots of Spanish mackerel around. bigger specimens, but what a problem to have.

The freshwater barramundi will be losing a bit of condition at this time of the year and are waiting for the rains to start so they can bust out of the waterholes and travel downstream to breed.

With the poorer condition of

on and off this month which will allow more areas to fish for the saltwater barramundi.

The mud flats and bays that are hard to get to because of the southeasterly winds will become easier to fish, without having to fish the sheltered areas.

The tides are the limiting factor at this time and fishing the runout is the best when the fish and bait are forced out on the fronts of the mangroves.

This is when the action can be intense but watch the tide.

It’s no fun being stranded on a mud flat waiting for the tide to come back in.

The Annan and Endeavour rivers have seen some nice mud crabs recently.

some fish it’s important to handle them carefully as too much stress can cause the early demise of this fish so be gentle and release them as quickly as possible.

The saltwater areas on the other hand will be firing with the warmer weather and, of course, the winds will drop

The barra fishing has been incredible lately.

So many double hook ups!

switch66 HAS A REALISTIC WOUNDED BAITFISH ACTION THAT SCREAMS: "I am LOST eat me!"

The reef fishing opportunities this month should improve, and the trout fishing should be almost at its best. Fishing the pressure points around the reef and isolated patches will produce some nice catches of coral trout. Hunting the deeper areas should see some nice red action, with plenty of red emperor and large mouth nannygai around in numbers.

The night fishing always seems to produce as the fish move around feeding, but I find it’s the day that produces the best numbers once you located a school.

The best bait is a stuffed squid with a pilchard as this combination is hard for a red to resist. The jigs will work and are fun, but the bait seems to never fail if you can see them on the sounder. Be careful as soon as sharks turn up then it’s time to move, you won’t

get any more fish in and you just are wasting good fish and hooks and sinkers. Move a fair distance as it’s surprising how quickly they can find you if you start catching more fish nearby.

The Annan and Endeavour have seen some nice mud crabs caught and they have been full and very tasty. I have had a few that have just changed shell and you can tell when you press the top shell on the edges and the bottom shell is flexible.

It’s not worth taking them as its much better to release them so they can fill up their body with meat. Trust me it is hard to throw back a legal crab but once you take it home and cook it you realise it wasn’t worth it. Much better to possibly catch it next time full of sweet tasting crab meat.

The wharf will be on fire as well this month with lots of

herring around – where there is bait there are fish. Spanish mackerel will be circling around looking for any stray herring twitching around out of the school. So, if in town check out the wharf for some easy fishing action.

The barramundi will also be more active as they start to hang around the coast for breeding season and the build up to the wet. The closed season will start on 1 November and run until 1 February but the lead in to the closer will see some nice size fish caught off the wharf. Many of the locals will spend a few hours on the wharf at this time of the year as the fishing really starts to fire in the approach to the end of the month.

There is so much on offer and this would have to be the best month to do it all. So, make the most out of it and enjoy the opportunities!

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Recipe for fishing heaven CAPE YORK

Tim O’Reilly wildrivercompany@gmail.com

October can be up there with one of the best all-round months for fishing up the Cape.

Temperatures will have risen sharply across the board, with the now distant memory of a tropical winter in the rear-view mirror. Add in some magical weather with clear skies and light breeze and you have a recipe for fishing heaven.

Tiny islands and cays come to life late in the dry season. sides of the Cape. A period of doldrums corresponding with neap tides on some of the many inshore reefs

A big queenfish caught in the blue water. of the Cape with 7 October onwards being out. Closure on the east coast doesn’t kick in until November, giving all this month to keep a few for the esky as warmer water temperatures really fire the fish up in the lower reaches of most systems.

A coral reef fin fish closure hits home on the East Coast between the 12-16 October, aimed at coinciding with peak spawning periods over the new moon period. But this closure might also be used as a guide to a healthy

A late dry season saratoga on surface.

Cape York will be just getting to the tail of its busiest time of year with September holidays just drawing to a close.

Caravaners and campers will be just starting to err on the side of caution regarding the heat, flies and corrugated roads. But the reward for travelling later into the dry season are quieter roads and primo fishing.

The barramundi closed season starts early over on the Gulf of Carpentaria side

tends to heat up, drawing in an onshore breeze to buffet the coast most afternoons.

For this reason it pays to

A decent barra taken from a tiny East Coast creek.

Late winter jewie vibes in a river mouth. along the east coast paints an amazing scene. Gone is the sediment laden coastal waters of winter, whipped to a frenzy with strong prevailing easterly winds for months on end. Replaces by crystal clear reef tops and shimmering bait schools nervously hugging the

Queenfish are great fun this time of year.

A cobia from a shallow shoal bite.

A pair of delicious mackerel ready for breaking down.

42 OCTOBER 2023

for pelagic species will probably be a little way behind by now, but the annual northern migration of Spanish mackerel will still be in full swing, despite some very heavy restrictions placed upon all sectors for this fishery. Further north will see better returns for effort on most of the pelagic speedsters.

Fly fishers love this time of year for the combination of calm, settled conditions, clean water and healthy inshore fisheries all hitting their prime. A couple of fish that have sprung out of the blocks are permit and blue bastards, each being super elusive to catch on anything but a fly rod matched with small crab and shrimp flies. This is an exercise in stalking, patience and persistence with a single fish released a huge reward for

period for chasing reef fish up in shallower water (<30m). This productive period will reverse after the next spawning period in November, when many species will retreat to slightly deeper, cooler water depths.

From October through until Christmas time also corresponds with some of the cleanest water on both

A river barra taken from a timber snag. reef edges.

Mornings along the coast are definitely the way to go over on the West Coast.

The nicer the weather, the warmer the days and the land

reduce your run-time down for that late afternoon incoming tide, where the shallow bays and inshore waters can really whip up.

Some of the best fishing

effort. Not everyone’s cup of tea but boosted by a growing group of diehards fronting up each year to put Cape York on the fly fishing map.

The landlocked lagoons, billabongs and pools might start springing to life once again after a shut down window over winter. Look for short bite times corresponding with early morning or very late afternoon. They can appear lifeless throughout the middle parts of the day.

October is a month of trial and error. When the weather permits, take advantage and try cover a few miles in search of an epic capture in prime conditions.

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Part II: The strength of soft plastics PART II SYDNEY

Tom Slater

Welcome to part II of my feature on fishing with soft plastics. It’s not a beginner’s guide – rather it’s a collection of tips

the hook size to match your given soft plastic choice. I like to use a Bait Junkie Grub or Minnow in 2.5”, so for those my favourite hook is a #1. For light estuary fishing, whether it’s bream, bass, estuary perch or flathead, you can’t really go wrong with something

stationary plastic and makes the tail move.

On that topic, the Bait Junkie lures are also buoyant, meaning without weight they will float. So, when rigged onto a jig head and resting on the bottom, they produce a tail up stance.

Having that tail up off the

of the time.

The trick to rigging a plastic straight on the jighead is taking your time and measuring up beforehand.

The two most common mistakes I see are bringing the hook out too short or too far back, or feeding the hook through the body with a zig-zag or ‘wavy’ nature.

The remedies for these issues can be pretty simple.

The first trick (which I’m sure many anglers have used) is to first lay the jighead alongside the plastic to make a mental note of where to bring the hook out. To fix the zig-zag threading, I like to pinch the

The Bait Junkie colour range was specifically designed and selected with Aussie species in mind.

Snapper love the Bait Junkie range. and tricks to help you get the most out of your soft plastics fishing. This month we will look at rigging and retrieves.

TIPS, TRICKS AND TACKLE When fishing a soft plastic like the Bait Junkie Grub or Minnow, there are a few things you can do to maximise your chances of hooking up. As I hinted at in my first article, it’s important to be patient. You’ll want to retrieve your soft plastic a little slower than simply slow rolling a crankbait, and you need patience to fish the lure slow enough.

To combat the feeling of fishing too slow, you’ll want to choose a jighead that will give you that bottom contact without forcing you to fish at a snail’s pace.

Remember first we have to locate the fish. Fishing very slow and methodically is great once you’ve found them, but it’s not a great investment of your time when you’re still working out the bite.

My favourite all around size is a 1/12oz, but the weight really depends on the structure. If my local waterway was somewhere like the Tambo River in East Gippsland, I would probably favour a slightly lighter 1/16oz or even 1/20oz, but the important factor here is to find a weight that’s versatile for your chosen location, stick with it and gain confidence.

Of course, you want 44 OCTOBER 2023

from #2-#1/0.

Rod selection should be something with a fast taper.

I like the Daiwa Infeet Z 712LFS as an all-round rod choice. I have favourite rods depending on the weight of the jighead, but you can’t go wrong with an Infeet.

I’ve mentioned it before, but I don’t think there’s a fish swimming around the estuaries here I can’t catch with a Bait Junkie 2.5” Grub or Minnow. When it comes to soft plastics, the Bait Junkies are particularly soft, and it’s one of the reasons I like them so much. The softness gives the lure an insane amount of action at slow speeds. This is helpful not only when you’re retrieving the lure, but even when it’s stationary.

Even the smallest amount of current picks up that

bottom allows the current to have the greatest effect.

This is where the Bait Junkie jighead is a stand out for me. The design of the head elevates the chances of that perfect angled posture on the bottom, and the jighead has no flat sides so it won’t get stuck on its side. It also has a flat section on the ‘chin’ which, when sinking with line tied to the eyelet, helps the lure plonk perfectly on that flat section and stand the tail up.

RIG THEM STRAIGHT It should go without saying, but it’s critical to make sure your plastic is rigged straight and true. For the 2.5” Grub, there’s no set rule on rigging tail up or down; I’ve heard theories from both sides. However, my preference is tail up most

The 2.5” Bait Junkie Minnow claims another victim.

This time it’s an impressive Hawkesbury River bream. plastic lightly between my non-dominant hand’s thumb, index and middle finger.

Now, this is an important point: if you hold the plastic too tightly you will naturally make a kink in the body of a plastic, where your thumb is pushing the plastic into the gap between your two fingers. Light pressure to keep the body straight is the single biggest tip to rigging the lure straight. The Bait Junkie plastics have a line moulded into the lure straight down the centre, so use this

to ensure you’re holding the plastic straight to begin with before threading the hook.

RETRIEVAL Now we’ve got the plastic rigged straight, we can focus on the

As the tip drops, it throws slack towards the lure. Then, as the rod tip then bounces up and reaches the peak, it ‘taps’ the slack which imparts a really sharp but subtle twitching action to the plastic. The key here is you don’t want the lure to move too far; you’re trying to just get the plastic to twitch sharply but over a very short distance. If you combine this motion with a very slow two winds of the handle, you’ll achieve a natural twitching rise off the bottom with your plastic, before dropping your rod and allowing the lure to sink back down and come to rest again.

The advent of soft plastics kickstarted a revolution in the Australian sportfishing scene, to the point where they are now a staple for not just sports anglers, but recreational fishos everywhere. These super-effective artificials are versatile, cost effective and downright dynamite when used in the right way.

So, the next time you

The design of the Bait Junkie jighead promotes an angled upright stance on the bottom.

The author spends plenty of time in the field, testing and trialling new Daiwa products before they go into production.

actual retrieve.

When chasing estuarine species like bream, I don’t like a very aggressive, hopping retrieve. Instead, once the plastic has settled on the bottom, I opt for a shaking style motion as I wind the handle of the reel. I tend to try to ‘bounce’ the tip of my rod, having it hit the slack line I create with the shaking motion of the rod.

hit the water, don’t forget the humble old soft plastic.

It might not have the shelf appeal of a hew hardbody with 18 different colours, but a well-rigged soft plastic has every chance of out fishing just about any lure in the box! – The author is the head product designer at Daiwa Australia, and fishes his own gear as often as he can.

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obvious in a non-obvious Skipper way, so we drop down beside some snags that of events we were grateful for are obviously not on a gravel If there’s one thing that the three catfish we wasted bank. My line moves. Muddy? gives me the steaming livies on.

Maybe I ask Boobies? screaming heebyjeebies, it’s Skipper rings up. You It’s got some weight…bit mangrove eels. have to go upstream he says. of fight...then a head comes up Snakes and spiders scare Those banks upstream he says, that makes Pommers look like the dingo trap out of me, but ‘I’ve been meaning to try them Tom Cruise. And it’s about the eels are next level. I’m not for years.’ same length as him too; about sure of the reason. Maybe it’s In actual fact he has four feet. Cruise, not Pommers. the slimy skin, or the teeth been meaning to try them Hanging on the line like a that make Chad Morgan look for years but hasn’t because squirming, slimy death pipe – like Albert Steptoe, but I think there’s about as much chance the eel, not Cruise – Boobies more likely it’s this ability to of getting a hit up there as volunteers to get the hook climb up their own body. What anywhere else the Dudds fish, out. I think he did, I was too this means is that although but he’d rather waste our time busy shrieking like a piglet. you’re holding the blanky and fuel than his own.

Somehow he shakes the hook things at arm’s length, you’re So, it hurt to do it, but out. Somehow the slimy death not safe. They can get you we did it. We hit the gravel pipe crawls up its own length. from anywhere. And it’s bad banks upstream…well, if we’d Somehow the slimy death pipe enough when they’re a foot known where they were. lands inside the boat… long but when they’re bigger...

‘Just go up past the bend’ The next minutes are a ALBERTON BRAESIDE Manboobs and I hadn’t says Skipper near the creek blur of teeth, slime, acrobatics MARINE that comes in. Obviously, gotta JV MARINE been out forALBERTON months. Boobs and WORLD squealing in a very, very 39 Johnson Street Alberton 878 Springvale Braeside because he’s been busier be fish there. enclosedRoad space.

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(03)a 5183 (03) 9798 7554 But probably more bastard. Anyway, we decide ‘obvious’. It’s obviously civilised.

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ytilib Josh Dunlop boated his PB 71.5cm dusky flathead, in the shallows of South Moreton Bay. The flathead took a ZMan Grub in bloodworm on a 1/4 TT jighead.

ruoy ua.m OCTOBER 2023 49

OLD

Getting all prepped TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

I’m getting in early this month and this report is being whipped together with haste as I prepare for a journey north. I apologise for any poor forecasting in the following reports due to earlier than normal preparation of them. Everyone should have something exciting planned to look forward to.

For me, that’s fishing trips.

A planned trip gives you something to think about and work towards throughout the year. It helps to take your mind off things and makes the ordinary days a lot better. This trip has been in the making for months (actually I’ve wanted to do it for 30 years) and now it has eventually come around so I’m pumped.

For some, planning

a fishing trip may be as simple as an adventure to a new river or lake, targeting a new species or a trip tangling with Queensland’s big impoundment barra.

I still get my kicks out of these, but this trip is a little more special. The plan is to head north to The Cape with my son and a few mates. We’ll hit some tidal freshwater sections for a mix of species like saratoga, barra and sooties before the tides improve and we make our way to the west coast and tangle with bigger fish.

It’s exciting because we’re venturing into new water I have never been to. The water we’ll be fishing is only about an hour by 4WD and an hour by boat away from Weipa (forget the two and a half days planted in the car seat to get there prior). Fishing river systems I heard of as a teenager in videos with Dave Donald is something I have always longed to do. Around

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK CLOSEST TOWN: CROWS NEST Golden perch have fired up at Cressbrook Dam. These fish are being found in sizable schools on points from the boat ramp to the rock wall up Cressbrook Creek. Try searching in 5-8m of water for these fish. A few can be picked up on trolled lures but it is a bit tricky following the contours of this lake when towing lures.

Keep this in mind and endeavour to keep lures as close to the bottom as possible. Small blades like the ZX40 are perfect and will pull good numbers of fish once they are found.

Bass schools started to show up in the bay between the boat ramp and the pump tower a month or so ago.

Most of these fish were smaller models. They will still be found in this area and on the major points throughout the dam. The deeper suspended schools should move into shallower water and hold closer to the bottom in about 8-10m this month. I’d expect the bigger bass to be holding around the same depth.

Spoons are still the most effective presentation. Soft plastics, blades and soft vibes are also worth a try.

The trick to catching the bigger bass is to use longer casts and target them away from the boat.

Redclaw crayfish

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30 years later, it’s finally happening. I urge everyone to plan a fishing adventure and actually make your dreams come true.

October should be a good month on all of our freshwater lakes. Nearly all species are active and willing to chew. Barra will be really fired up and we’ll start seeing some great results as the fish go on the hunt, especially at night.

Even with its coloured water, Lake Monduran has proved a little difficult to entice the bigger fish during daylight hours. I’ve got a feeling they’ll drop their guard at night and we’ll see more caught at the end of this year. You’ll still need to use stealth though as they become wary of boats.

Bass and golden perch fishing should be excellent on most lakes.

Until next month, buckled rods from the Colonel. numbers will rise this month. Cressbrook usually has really good numbers of these tasty critters.

They can be caught in opera house traps baited with cat food, or fruit and vegies. One of the most successful concoctions I have hear of is chicken necks and pawpaw.

• Fish’n’Bits in Toowoomba has all the gear and tips on how to chase the Cressy fish. They are an excellent store specialising in all freshwater lures and tackle.

The access gates to the ramp and day use area will be open from 6am to 8pm.

SOMERSET CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, KILCOY Somerset should have good schools of bass to target. These fish will start to move around and

k pin a a rr ch Cat ed Ba 00! g tag in $20 to w

Niki Sticklen is making a habit of peaking early and catching the big bass in competition prefishes. This Somerset brute fell for a Gang Banger G2. pick their favourite spots where they will hang for the next few months. A few stragglers may remain in the Bay of Plenty but areas like The Spit, Beams Creek, Brads Bank and Pelican Point will hold the best numbers. As stated, these fish move about so be prepared to spend time searching to find them before lures go in the water. Bass can also turn up in Bay 13, wide of Queen Street and on the flats north and south of Kirkleigh. Depth can also be the key. By this month, the fish will be holding closer to the bottom and suspending less. They should be spending most of their time in 8-11m of water.

Lure choices and techniques will also influence the catch rate.

Spoons and soft plastics are bass favourites when casting. Blade and soft vibes can also pull a few.

If you wind drift or electric troll, the Spectre Vibration Jig will dominate catches.

The boat needs to be moving at around 1.5km/h for best results and the lure wound several times before dropping it back to bottom.

Trolling deep diving hard bodies around schools of fish will improve this month and only get better as it warms even more.

Lures capable of diving 8-11m will perform best. If they are running too deep for the job, you can run them on a shorter leash to keep them off the bottom or up in the fish when they chose to suspend.

Golden perch number will increase. A few fish always turn up when fishing for

bass but if you want to specifically target them, try the water north of Kirkleigh. The flats and up into the timber is home to the best numbers of yellowbelly. Small blades hopped around structure on the flats is a good way to nail them. Live sonar is a definite advantage but not a necessary tool. Trolling the drop off edges with lures running close to the bottom will also produce.

MOOGERAH CLOSEST TOWNS: BOONAH, ARATULA The big fat Moogerah bass will start to lose their winter condition this month. The activity might also drop a notch but there will still be some great fishing on offer.

Schools can take a while to find but the effort to do so will ensure much better catches.

There seems to be a lot of barren water between big schools of fish in this dam. Areas like The Spit, between the Lake Houses and Education Centre, the point near The Palms and the flats inside the timber are all worth a close look.

Most fish should still be holding pretty close to the bottom in 8-10m of water.

Moogerah bass are ideal for bass fishermen to apply all tricks of the trade. They are usually catchable on most offering provided they are fished at the right depth in front of the fish. Of course, if things are tough, mix it up and try different lure styles until you find something which fires them up.

As it warms more the fish are likely to move deeper water and suspend throughout the trees. This

probably still a month or two away but keep it in mind in case you are struggling to find them.

• The lads at Charltons Fishing at Redbank are all over the fish activity at Maroon and Moogerah. Call in and grab your supplies and hit them up for tips on where the fish are biting.

It is recommended camping be booked at least a couple of weeks in advance and you can also organise your day use barcode for the gate with Lake Moogerah Caravan Park (07) 5540 5600.

MAROON CLOSET TOWN: BOONAH For those keen anglers willing to rise early, there will be a good surface bite.

Maroon is one of the most reliable bass impoundment surface fisheries. The best action will take place well before the sun hits the water. Topwater lures in the 60-80mm range are perfect when fished over and around the weedy edges. You’ll see the occasional fish feeding on top at this time of day but if you don’t, keep persisting.

Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits will start producing good numbers of bass around the weed edges.

The Spectre Vibration Jig works well here and excels in the deeper schools from now right through the summer months. I had a Maroon regular recently tell me the Spectre is like the cheat code on Maroon bass. It’s the same across a lot of the bass lakes where it excels over the warmer months.

OLD

far away. While hardbodied lures will work, more fish will be caught slow trolling Jackalls or casting vibes and blades.

Once numbers are found, lures can be hopped back through them. Fishing close to the boat or vertical works best. Goldens tend to be an inquisitive fish and will come to the boat for a look. This is why the vertical presentation works so well.

The fish are pretty quick to wake up to what is going on. If you fail to convert or the action slows, it is time to move on to a new patch of fish.

Cooby is open to paddle and electric motor powered craft. The gates are open from 6am-8pm until next month. • Fish’n’Bits tackle store in Toowoomba can help you out with all your bait and lure fishing needs.

LESLIE CLOSEST TOWN: WARWICK The last two months were beauties for big Murray cod. There were quite a few caught on an assortment of lures. It is around their breeding time but Queensland law allows us to target them in the stocked dams. These fish were caught on swimbaits early in the morning or deeper offerings through the day. The action will be a bit hit and miss as they finish off their breeding run and things really warm up. Deeper presentation will continue to work if you can find some big fish willing to chew.

The golden perch will be ready to go crazy. They continued to bite over winter but will be really active now. Blades like the ZX40 are perfect and they are also keen on soft vibes

like the Zerek Fish Trap.

These lures are best hopped around and under the boat.

Slow trolling lipless crankbaits will be another very effective method.

Work these lures around patches of fish and over submerged rocky structure.

Hard body trolling will also be worthwhile this month and only get better as it continues to get hotter during the day. Hard bodies should be fished close to the bottom. Vary things up by working 4-5m of water and then out in 6-7m.

Change lures or the amount of line out as you change depths to keep them at the same depth as the fish you are seeing.

• 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.

appear along the western shoreline in the basin. If the weed is still too steep on the edges, try poking into the bays to find better patches of submerged weed.

Surface lures and topwater soft plastic frogs will get bites right up in the shallows but I feel some of the best action will be skimming plastics across the tops of the weed slightly deeper. Day time bites are a good chance when fishing tight to weed as the fish ambush lures from weedy hides and have little chance to inspect them closely in the clear water.

The cover of darkness will probably be best and fish can still be pulled from submerged weed beds.

This is the best approach if nothing is being seen on the sounder in deeper water.

Live sonar has the ability to pick barra out as they swim through the weed beds but

you will struggle to see them with side imaging technology unless they are poking around in the more open water. When they start rolling deeper, better numbers can be caught on deeper presentations fished outside the weed edges. Soft plastics rigged on jigheads or pre-rigged swimbaits will then be the best option.

• Gladstone Fly and Sportfishing (0429 223 550) and Lake Awoonga Barra Charters (0404 151 844) run guided trips on the lake. Both cater to the needs of the angler and can do fly or conventional tackle trips to target the lake’s barramundi. It is hard to beat time on the water and a guided trip is a great way to learn more about this lake and its fish.

• 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.

DARLING DOWNS AND GRANITE BELT COOBY CLOSEST TOWNS: HIGHFIELDS, TOOWOOMBA Cooby is going to be a red hot golden perch fishery for the next few months. The action will start to kick off now and continue well into summer. As the water warms up, the yellowbelly get more active and are willing to chase lures more. Trolling will start being productive after the quiet cooler months.

Lures which dive to around 5-7m are ideal when fished close to the bottom. The lush weed beds this dam is known for haven’t yet returned to full strength since it filled.

There are patches of deeper weed taking hold and there are plenty of areas where there is drowned vegetation from when the dam rose.

The goldens love this form of structure and won’t be

CAPRICORN REGION AWOONGA CLOSEST TOWNS: BENARABY, GLADSTONE Awoonga will start to produce more fish for most anglers this month.

The warming water will see more barra push out of the shallower weed and spend time on the weed edges and deeper pockets. The weed has changed since earlier in the year and as the dam continues to drop, it will be more tapered on the edges rather than the deep vertical weed walls experienced prior to winter. Finding broken healthy weed or tapering weed that is in shallower water will be the key to success. If the weed is at least a metre deep and up to 2-3m below the surface you stand a good chance of scoring day time fish.

Such formations should

Finding some sort of deeper structure in Cooby Dam will ensure you are in with a good chance of nailing a golden perch.

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OCTOBER 2023 51

Sydney

NSW

Bread-and-butter species being caught off the flats SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

It’s about this time of the year that the warmer currents will start to come onto both Botany Bay and Bate Bay. This warmer water will bring kingfish, trevally, bream, dusky flathead, whiting and flounder.

Just recently a mate of mine went out on a solo trip chasing a few kingfish.

The hardest part of the fishing trip was finding the live bait, but eventually he managed to get a few small squid and a few yellowtail.

These were slowly trolled

Brad Chin with a solid silver trevally that was caught on a TT 44mm SwitchPrawn.

Glenn Loveday has been fishing the drop-off at Woolooware Bay for dusky flathead with one of his favourite soft plastics. beside Bare Island and both the north and southern points of the entrance to Botany Bay with no luck at all. He then decided to head south to Bate Bay while trolling close to the rocks.

Still no luck.

Once he came inside Bate Bay and hit the outside of Merries Reef he managed to pick up a couple of small pan-sized snapper, a bonito

and one 86cm kingfish. On the way back into Botany Bay he hooked up to a larger kingfish on his last bait, but the kingfish managed to win the fight.

Not everyone has a boat that is capable of doing this. If you are fishing the Botany Bay area you could try picking up some live yellowtail at the Drums or at the back of Yarra Bay. Slow

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troll them along the break wall at Port Botany and into Yarra Bay, then continue around the inside of Yarra Bay and out to Bare Island.

If you have no luck you could try doing a circle around the Drums or move over to the end of the runways. Don’t forget, you can always try anchoring up, and putting the live baits out under a float while fishing for bream, trevally and snapper at any one of these places.

The dusky flathead numbers will start to increase in numbers due to the warmer weather.

Try drifting along the foreshore from Dolls Point to Brighton, Silver Beach off Kurnell, Woolooware Bay, and between the Captain Cook and Tom Ugly bridges. They can be caught on soft plastics, half pilchards and blades.

Luderick are still on the chew in the Woronora River.

Try the stretch of water from the entrance at Como and up to the Woronora Bridge.

Further upstream, past the walk across bridge at Prince Edward Park, you can fish the southern shoreline for bream and flathead. As you work your way up you could also try for bass and estuary perch. Make sure that you keep an eye out for submerged rocks.

Bream, whiting, flathead and flounder have been biting on either side of the old Lugarno ferry. Half pilchards and prawns have been the best baits by far.

Kingfish have started to show up in the Port Hacking. Squid and live pike have been working the best for those who have been live-baiting. Bream, whiting and flathead have been seen moving around the top of the sandflats at Lilly Pilly at the top of the tide. Live nippers and worms have been the best baits.

Offshore, the snapper, trags and pigfish have been on the chew in the 50-60m depth off Maroubra. It’s a matter of ‘find the bait and you will find the fish’.

Strips of slimy mackerel and half pilchards have been working the best lately.

Bonito and Australian salmon can be trolled up along the shoreline from the southern end of the entrance of the Port Hacking, and down south at Marley Point.

Small Christmas tree lures and 40-60g metal lures have been getting a few.

FACT 8 We are up to number 8 in my series of monthly fighting facts. This month’s fact is about silver trevally.

Silver trevally be a bit tricky to hook at times because they will lightly pick up the bait and continue moving on through your berley trail.

If you haven’t felt a bite or a slight pull and you haven’t been snagged, you will need to slowly wind in the line. Once you feel a bit of weight you will need to strike with s slow, but firm

Carol from the St George and Sutherland Shire Fishing Club with her bag limit of dusky flathead that were caught on the ZMan 3” GOAT. upward motion as the fish has most probably swum towards you.

In the Southern Sydney are you will find that silver trevally are a year-round option, with an increasing of numbers from October onwards. They respond well to a berley trail and a

lightly-weighted bait. You might find that you have to go down to a running 00 ball sinker that is right down onto a number 1 to 1/0 hook.

Don’t forget to keep those short reports coming in to gbrown1@ iprimus.com.au.

Jordan Brown, 8yo, caught this massive 1m Murray cod in the Murrumbidgee River near Maude. He needed help from sisters Zoey and Emma to hold it for the photo!

OCTOBER 2023 53

Sydney

NSW

Best times to fish the rocks in the food source and the snapper and other assorted predators.

The chunky south swells

SYD ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

October is a great time of the year for certain species, but not all. That’s because, although the atmospheric temperature is warm, the water temperature is still cool. In September, October and sometimes even November, the water temps along the coast of Sydney can hover at around 17°C or so.

Below are my predictions for this month on the rocks beach and some estuary.

ROCK FISHING When it comes to catching snapper, there’s a massive difference between 17°C and 19°C. It’s incredible how only a 2°C difference can change your outcome on the day. For example, the inshore boat anglers can be catching snapper less than 2-3km offshore, while the land-based snapper anglers are struggling. The water temperature may be only a couple of degrees cooler inshore.

Things change when you get a tongue of current coming in close, bringing

are often good on the eastern fronts, producing good results. However, they can be quite dangerous because the

John Halford with two quality bream taken at night on a guided trip off the rocks. It was a really flat night, with low swell.

T S A O C T S EA 3 2 0 2 S E I ER

BRE AreMam sSeries coninsaislting

waves have a lot of volume/ girth. That means that even if it’s only a 1-1.3m set coming through, it will produce a lot of white water – and in some cases, if you’re on some of the lower ledges with a rising tide on a south face, it can be quite dangerous. You need to be able to read the ocean waves so you know what you’re looking at. (I teach all of the safety aspects of rock fishing, and my details are at the end of the column).

Wash fishing for snapper means fishing the sudsy white water (wash) that you see when you’re rock fishing. Berley up in the white water so your berley gets transported out to the fish. Use light ball sinker weights and hook sizes from 2/0 to 3/0.

Mixed in with the snapper are sizeable bream, and trevally as well. If you find there are more trevally than snapper, you should stick to a 2/0 hook, or even as small as 1/0.

Distance casting for snapper means casting out to the reef edge. Most distance casting spots require a big cast of 70m+ and, in some cases, 90m+. If your 3-5oz snapper rig lands in closer among the cracks/boulders, there is a much higher chance of you getting snagged and losing rigs.

The three most popular baits for wash fishing are half pilchards, squid strips and king prawns. For distance casting, a robust bait is preferred, such as squid strips, cuttlefish strips, and salted baits like slimy mackerel or striped tuna.

A nice bag of luderick caught off the rocks. Peter White was using the Daiwa 4000 BG MQ, and Graham Vesey was using the Alvey Centrepin 475A5.

If you want to try your hand at distance casting and reduce the risk of losing rigs, give South Curl Curl/ Freshwater Headland a go.

The sand is in closer, between 10-50m off the rocks on most of this headland.

Out towards Freshwater east point, the reef is out further, approximately 70m.

Otherwise, try North Curl Curl, Dee Why, in front of Mona Vale pool and North Newport rocks. You can also fish deeper water headlands such as Bluefish, Dee Why, and Bangalley/North Avalon rocks.

Rock blackfish this month will be great! The

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A big slab of a beach bream caught by a client. He released the bream, and kept a chopper tailor for the smoker instead.

abundance of green weed and the slight rise in water temp will bring on the medicine ball size pigs. Cabbage weed, prawns (preferably in the larger size), and cut crabs (often called segments of crabs), are all great baits.

White sliced bread works well, too. You can either float fish, or use a running ball sinker to the hook type rig.

It’s common knowledge that you should fish the high tide period for rock blackfish, but there are a lot of spots that are inaccessible unless it’s low tide and flat seas/swell. Fortunately, rock blackfish can still be caught in good numbers at low tide at multiple spots. Ideally though, you’ll want to fish the half tide into about two hours out for better results.

The Little Bluey suburb of Manly is a good location for this species, and has a lot of areas where you can fish. It’s also a good area for luderick, and pelagics in some spots.

Long Reef at Collaroy has a lot of spots where you can fish for rock blackfish.

The front rock outcrop, which I call The Island, only becomes an island at high tide. You can fish out at high tide, but for most of Long Reef, you should fish from the low to about half tide in.

That is because most ledges and boulders are very low to the water.

North Bungan headland is rugged, with lots of boulders, but can produce great results for rock blackfish. Preferably, fish it in swell up to one metre. It is very exposed in a southern swell, so choose the days you fish it.

BEACH FISHING The salmon are the dominant species at the moment, and there are some

NSW

large fish as well. I saw a salmon an angler caught that was 70cm, which is around 4kg at least!

The salmon have been averaging around 55-65cm lately. Only a month or so ago, there were numbers

of smaller salmon around 1-1.5kg, which haven’t been a regular occurrence in previous years.

The OT Jig has been a very good metal of late for the Aussie salmon. I like the 30-40g size as it allows you

Eric Harris is an experienced offshore angler, but a rock fishing novice. This was his first platesize snapper caught fishing the washes.

to get the distance that you need. A 4-6kg outfit works well with these weights.

A whole pilchard on a set of three 3/0 to 4/0 ganged hooks is a proven method for these fish.

This month, we can start expecting some beach jewfish reports to trickle in.

The good thing about beach jew fishing at this time of year is that there are fewer dusky and bronze whaler sharks to contend with. True, these sharks are great on the plate with nice, white fillets.

However, if you’re targeting jewfish off the beach in summer/autumn, you may get up to a dozen bites from sharks in an evening, which aren’t your target species.

In the coming weeks, you can try for a jewfish at Dee Why, North Narrabeen and Bungan beaches.

There are some whiting, bream and sizeable tarwhine available on some beaches.

Because they’re not in large numbers, it is recommended to use the best live baits for them. Live beach worms are a great bait, as well as live pink nippers.

For whiting, try Bungan Beach and Dee Why Beach.

The front of the Corso at Manly is worth a go as well.

ESTUARY FISHING The luderick are still biting in North and Middle Harbour. At Middle

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Harbour, try Middle Head and below the Spit Bridge.

The North Harbour area Dobroyd Head have some good fish as well. Middle Head and Dobroyd Head also have rock blackfish and bream. Please note that bait harvesting in the Middle and North Harbour areas is prohibited, so you will need to bring your own bait from elsewhere.

Dobroyd Head is dangerous in a moderate/ high south swell, being very open to the southeast face. The same applies in a sizeable east swell. You should preferably fish there when it is below 0.75m.

Most spots there are quite low to the water.

At Clifton Gardens Wharf, there are some luderick and trevally.

Balmoral Wharf has the same. It’s worth a fish along Balmoral Beach and Edwards Beach for a whiting, bream and flathead. Pink nippers and beach worms work well on the beach, and also on the wharves for the trevally. Alternatively, you can use pilchard fillets or peeled prawns.

If you like flicking plastics, the Bait Junkie range is catching flathead and odd bream. Fish with a 1/16oz to 1/8oz jighead in the 1/0 size. The 2.5”

Sydney

Sydney snapper off the rocks can be good quality fish. This one was caught fishing the white water with light sinkers and 7kg braid/ leader. Snapper are great sport at this size.

Minnows and Grubs in the camo and bloodworm colours have been working well for me.

In October, there can be some substantial changes from the beginning to the end of the month.

Regardless, there will be

some great fishing on offer.

• For rock and beach guided fishing or tuition in the northern Sydney region, visit www.bellissimocharters. com.au, email alex@ bellissimocharters.com.au or call Alex Bellissimo on 0408 283 616.

Regal Marine

OCTOBER 2023 55

NSW

Always expect the unexpected around Coffs waiting on a bit of rain to get them firing. The fishing should improve as we head into summer. Bass will be on the move upstream so be prepared to cover some water to find them.

In the salt, snapper, pearl perch and trag have been feeding well, and there have been plenty of kingfish out at South

COFFS COAST

Rob Taylor

Every now and then we hear about a fish capture so out of this world it beggars belief – a capture that comes around once in a lifetime and sends the fishing airwaves abuzz.

We’ve just had one of those classic catches with local fisho, Luke Giovanetti, making a truly remarkable capture. Luke, better known for his local kayak exploits, was wading one of our local systems flicking around an Atomic Jerk Minnow on 6lb line when something bit hit the offering and ran. It ran really hard.

It took Luke a considerable amount of time and finesse to get the

Bass season is now open, so grab some lures and hit the fresh for some iconic green brawlers.

The boys on Steve Sanders’ Bar Crusher had a great day on the snapper recently. We can expect some good snapper sessions throughout October.

fish back to the bank, and he did he was shocked to see a stud bonefish at the end of his line. Yep that’s right: stud bonefish…off Coffs Harbour…in the middle of winter! Not many anglers can lay claim to catching a big bonefish – and those who have caught one have usually travelled to a far-off tropical paradise to achieve the dream. Catching one on your own doorstep is hard to beat, and no doubt Luke is still walking on cloud nine after that capture.

On to other local fishing news, and we’ve started to turn a corner in terms of weather. The first few warm days of spring have arrived, and with them the promise of a new season chasing all our usual favourites.

The big news at this time of year is always the bass season open. While there have been a few reports of some healthy fish being taken, the bigger systems such as the Clarence are still

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Solitary keeping the boaties busy. We’ve also seen the first few striped marlin hitting lure spreads out on the 100m line, so things are certainly starting to hot up out wide too.

CREEKS AND RIVERS As this weather continues to warm, we can expect our local creeks and rivers to start fishing well

afternoons when the cicadas are at their most active.

Surface presentations are the way to go for some truly visual fishing in locations that will keep you coming back for more.

Big female flathead will be resting up on the sandflats and falling to big swim and glide baits in the shallows this month. The

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Luke Giovanetti with a truly amazing capture: a solid bonefish taken off Coffs Harbour in the middle of winter.

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for flathead, whiting and the first run of mangrove jacks.

Bass will be well on their way upriver, and if we get some decent rainfall, places like the iconic Clarence River Gorge will be holding some thumper-sized bass.

You should also check the Bellinger and Kalang rivers for some fun early season bass on those hot

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ever-dependable Urunga, Kalang and Nambucca rivers will all be worth prospecting for big flatties from now through to summer. We should also start to see some good whiting numbers in the lower reaches, and the first of the jack fanatics will start chasing the red devils along the river rock walls,

coffee rock bars and upriver snags. There are plenty of places worth trying to score a big north coast jack.

ROCKS AND BEACHES October can be a traditionally quiet time of year for our local rocks and beaches. Still, there will be the odd tailor and jewfish off the headlands and in the beach gutters for those

anglers willing to put in the time. It will also still be worth chasing a late drummer and blue groper in the right conditions. Look for some good, clean wash areas without sand, and berley hard before fishing.

Some really enjoyable and productive land-based sessions can be enjoyed at this time of year.

Another shot of Luke Giovanetti’s epic bonefish caught throwing plastics on 6lb line in a local creek!

FISHING NEWS

Teralba Lakesiders Junior Fishing Competition – Free Entry The Teralba Lakesiders Fishing Club is holding a free entry Junior Fishing Tournament on 28-29.

This catch-and-release event is open to juniors 16 years and under in two sections. The comp is local for Lake Macquarie, and online for everywhere else.

Every junior must have an adult supervisor registered with them, and we have some mentors and preloved gear available for competitors who need it, so no child misses out on the fun.

The Club Juniors will be hosting their ‘Fishing IS The Fashion’ parade and raffle on the Friday night, with all proceeds going to Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie. The parade will feature the prizes from the tournament and raffle, as well as the Favourite Crusty Lucky Fishing Shirt Competition. Contestants model their FCLF Shirt, and the audience will award a King/Queen Crusty and two Burley Up attendants.

The tournament is now in its fourth year, and organisers anticipate between 80 to 100 juniors,

and 60+ adults to be involved this year. We have had juniors from Qld, NSW and Vic in the past, and hope to continue this. The aim of the event is to get as many juniors out there with family and friends as possible.

Juniors can fish anywhere they want between 6am-6pm on Saturday, and 5am-10am on Sunday.

Supervisors photograph catches with the daily special code word for reference, and complete a result sheet and SMS through to the Entry Coordinator.

The presentation for locals is at 3pm at Teralba Bowling Club, with some VIP guests presenting prizes followed by the major raffle draws. Every junior receives at least one small prize or trophy, and a participant bag.

PRIZES We have some great prizes for the kids coming from Gobblers Lures, Hot Tackle, The Brag Mat Man, Tailfin Water Rail, Tackle Addicts, Buzz Boats, Jo Starling, family passes to Fire Museum, Rail Museum plus ride, Paul Bennetts Air Show, Ninja Warrior On Course Racing holiday

class, Inflatable World, Weet Bix, Bar Crusher Boats, Jimmy Barnes Hoodie, Nimbus Baits, Tweed Baits, Duffs Salamanda Bait and Tackle, Reel Fun Lifestyle and Fishing, Ryan Moody Fish Finder Courses, and loads of trophies.

The Friday raffle features signed merchandise from John Paul Young, Jimmy Barnes Limited edition record box set, Snap Blacksmiths 2m wall art, Lake Macquarie Cruise Voucher, Boolaroo Cinema passes, plus more coming.

DONATIONS As you can see, we have some great prizes on offer, but we don’t want to have any junior miss out.

We would welcome any donations of small items we could put into the kids’ bags. If you would like to support our event, or you have a child who’d like to compete, call Ian Guy on 0400 883 239, or email Leanda.Guy23@ outlook.com. – Leanda Guy, Junior Coordinator, Teralba Lakesiders Fishing Club

OCTOBER 2023 57

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Plenty of species to choose from in October SOUTH WEST ROCKS

Vic Levett

As spring sets in you can feel the positivity returning to the fishing community.

Warmer days and new

yellowfin tuna at 46kg and his first striped marlin, which he tagged.

Kingfish are fishing reasonably well, but there aren’t many mature fish; most have been between 70cm and 90cm. Fish Rock

around the metre-plus range.

SNAPPER Spring is without doubt the best season to target these iconic reef dwellers. Shallow water reds have been very scarce this year, with the majority of fish being

Some good pearl perch have been showing up in amongst the snapper.

A great snapper taken by Zane on a Berkey Gulp fished down a light berley trail. currents bring all the usual suspects, including striped marlin, tuna and the muchawaited big kingfish.

In September we were blessed with awesome weather and very little swell.

Offshore saw an east to west current that brought some great yellowfin tuna and packs of striped marlin. We had an amazing day recently cruising out beyond the 200m line at a very pleasant hour of 10pm. We were greeted by a sea of birds, mostly gannets and shearwaters.

Lures were deployed and on our first pass we landed a 56kg and a 48kg yellowfin.

With two fish on the deck we trolled towards home, and just before the shelf line we had a 4-way hook-up on striped marlin. Thankfully, three fell off and the last came off boat-side after a 20-minute fight.

14-year-old Riley Hattan also got into the early run of pelagics, landing his first

depths. Areas such as the Dot and Rocks in Line have been a good starting point.

ESTUARY With very little rain, the Macleay has been very clear, making fishing more difficult than usual. Flathead would be the best target this month as we come into

The Mid North Coast has been giving up some gold in the way of solid yellowfin tuna. This one fell for a trolled skirt.

Brielle and Lucy were happy with this solid offshore mulloway. and the deeper reefs have been holding the majority of fish. Things should start to fire up this month.

Mulloway have also been prevalent on all the offshore reefs, with most fish being

Luderick are yet to make a solid appearance, with only average fishing for this normally prolific fish.

Mulloway are still being targeted by the night crews.

upriver with the lack of rain, so I would try to target them up around Gladstone and Smithtown.

Bream and whiting have been popular targets from

caught in depths of 40m and beyond. Small slow-pitch jigs have been successful in these deeper waters. There are plenty of pearl perch, trag and tuskies in amongst the reds when fishing these

Come Fish the beautiful South West Rocks, from the calm waters of the Macleay River to some of the best offshore blue water on the East Coast. We can tailor your experience to your liking!

It was a good effort landing this king on snapper gear. This fish took a liking to a Berkley Gulp, and Zane chose to tag and release it.

Contact Zane: 0478 782 522 Vic: 0414 906 569 Email: vic@oceansportsfishing.com.au

OceanHunter Sportsfishing 58 OCTOBER 2023

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the months when the big girls move in to spawn. Be mindful of the slot limits that apply to flathead, as a $500 fine is a lot to pay for a fish. Any flathead over 70cm must be released.

There have been some good fish being taken on lures and bait. Riley Gordon landed two solid fish after dark on lures off the break wall in one night. A lot of fish will have worked their way

the wharf at Back Creek, with live worms being the best bait.

ROCK AND BEACH Plenty of small mulloway have been taken off the ocean rocks of

NSW

Striped marlin madness on the Macquarie Coast fish as well as the odd much better model up to around 7kg. As usual, those throwing soft plastics, or anchoring and berleying, seem to consistently score the larger fish.

OCTOBER LAST YEAR October is a great time

THE HASTINGS

Kate Shelton

Spring is the perfect time to head out off the Macquarie Coast for some pelagic action.

As the current starts to push south, it is common for mass bait schools to congregate in 100-200m of water, causing a feeding frenzy with tuna and marlin.

In the Hastings River, luderick have slowed a little in the lower reaches, although the break walls are still worth a look with either green weed or sea cabbage. On the bream front, results have picked up, with Limeburners Creek holding some nice fish. Yabbies and mullet gut have both proven effective.

Flathead numbers

Camden Haven angler Matthew Hutchison with a striped marlin he caught recently on the Macquarie Coast. Image courtesy of @hutchosfishingfam.

Mitchell Lowe and Joel Pavy with a spring striped marlin catch.

Image courtesy of @thefishingpair and @eastboundfishing.

late. Most are legal size, with some bigger models falling for soft plastics cast amongst the white water.

Drummer are at their peak this month. A light berley trail of bread and

in the role of skipper; my partner Mitch cleared the deck and after about a 15-minute fight we landed a great striped marlin. The marlin took a locally made ABL Jetted Mongrel lure.

After that excitement we cleared up the deck

prawn heads will get them turned on to a lightly-fished prawn meat bait.

Bream are still thick off the ledges, and there have been some huge tailor to over 70cm.

It’s all looking good for

the beginning of the season with plenty of options on what to target. With school holidays just around the corner, there is no excuse to not wet a line. Spring is here, so make the most of your time.

A quality blue-eye trevalla. Jack has been doing well deep dropping in over 400m of water.

remain consistent, with nice fish on offer between Settlement Point and Rawdon Island. Lures and whitebait have both been catching their share.

There have been a few reports from the locals that mud crabs are starting to make an appearance in the deeper parts of the river.

Off the rocks, Point Plomer and Queens Head has given up some above average tailor, whilst locally under the Lighthouse has produced a few nice bags.

Bream have been reasonable, with those fishing the dawn sessions enjoying the better results.

Offshore, kingfish numbers are starting to pick up, with mid-week anglers catching good numbers of fish to around 10kg. Live baits have been the most effective option of late.

A few nice snapper also remain active, and lures seem to be consistently accounting for a better class of fish.

Down south in the Camden Haven River region, anglers fishing on the beaches have encountered the odd school of salmon, with small metals proving irresistible to these hardfighting fish. A few tailor are also travelling with the salmon, although not in great numbers.

Both North Haven Beach and Rainbow Beach are holding reasonable numbers of bream and a few whiting, while for mulloway enthusiasts, the better reports continue to come from the Lake Cathie area.

The local offshore anglers are experiencing good numbers of snapper on most reefs, with a mixture of plate-sized

Port Macquarie Game Fishing Club member Adam Garvey with a striped marlin he tagged and released. Image courtesy of @afterhoursfishing. to head offshore. Last year in mid-October I was lucky enough to score a fishing spot on local boat Eastbound, skippered by Joel Pavy, a successful Port Macquarie game fisherman. We trolled for a good hour, and I spotted a marlin jumping on the surface, but with no luck.

The fish wasn’t hungry.

We continued and pushed out to around 120m of water, and chatted in the cabin and enjoyed the nice day. Then, around mid-morning after a quiet start, three reels started screaming with lines running out. I turned around and spotted one marlin on the teaser, one marlin on shotgun and one out further on the long rigger.

With two rods hooked up, I grabbed a rod and Joel the skipper grabbed the other.

Mine didn’t hook up, but Joel was hooked up and fighting on his. I jumped

and put the lures back in the water. We noticed a flock of birds feeding in an area and headed towards them. As we got within a couple of metres from the birds, we spotted a bait school on the surface with five or more marlin feeding on the bait. It was like something out of a documentary, and we were so thrilled to experience that. We decided to throw live bait in at the school. As I grabbed the long rigger rod and started to wind it in to clear the deck, a marlin grabbed my lure and took off. I was hooked up and fighting. As the marlin tail danced and jumped around, I landed the fish after about a 20-minute fight.

That fishing day became one of my top fishing experiences and if you get a chance this spring, make sure you try your luck and head out wide for some marlin fun.

OCTOBER 2023 59

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There are good estuary catches on nearly every outing FORSTER

Luke Austin

Summer is just around the corner now, and as things continue to warm, our aquatic environments become a hive of activity.

Masses of prawns, crabs and fish are all on the move and looking to feed/breed.

It’s a perfect scenario for anglers because it means there are also loads of predators on the hunt!

The estuary fishing has been head and shoulders above all other fishing

options of late. The range of species on offer and the quality of the fishing has been outstanding, and nearly all outings have resulted in plenty of action.

The tasty little trumpeter or winter whiting have arrived in decent numbers now, and a few boats have settled into their almost daily routine of heading out early and getting a feed.

You may need to move about a bit to find them this early in the season, but the better results are coming from the stretch of water between Lanis and Green

The estuary is alive with all sorts of critters. Alan snagged this solid silver trevally in amongst the oysters.

Tizzy with a cracking spring flathead.

Point. I haven’t heard of any fish from up around The Duckpond yet, but it would be worth checking out the water up around Regatta Island.

Sand whiting are yet to fully kick in, but they shouldn’t be too far off. We have had a few reports of fish being taken on surface lures, but most fish caught have fallen for yabby, prawn or worm baits.

Flathead anglers continue to find plenty of fish throughout the system, and the average size is improving week by week. Soft plastics have been accounting for the majority of fish. Anything from 2.5”-6” will work, with prawn imitations and paddle tails proving to be particularly effective.

If you wish to target something bigger than a table fish, get up in the shallows and throw some bigger presentations about.

You will be amazed by what materializes out of the sand to engulf your lure!

Unfortunately, bait fishers are generally struggling a little to find decent numbers of fish. The best option seems to be drifting weed edges and drop-offs with whitebait or pilchards.

It’s been good to see some decent bream starting to come from the weed beds down the back of the lake. The fish are definitely still spread out, but seem to be slowly re-settling back upriver a bit now. Hitting the oyster leases on a high tide is still a really good option, particularly if you

are bait fishing. With a bit of berley, you will attract loads of fish to the boat, and they will hammer just about any unweighted bait offering. Just make sure you have your hook fully covered so that the fish can’t see it!

Along with loads of bream you can expect to land some awesome by-catch such as trevally, leatherjacket, flathead, whiting, snapper, tarwhine and maybe even a kingfish.

Rock and beach reports have been a little slow of late. However, those anglers who have persisted have still been finding some cracking tailor down south along with mixed bags of bream, salmon, flathead and whiting.

Rock fishers have been

particularly quiet. Apart from some really nice tailor, the action has been a little on the slow side. This is often the case during spring and early summer.

Offshore continues to produce some fantastic fishing in close. Snapper have been holding in really good numbers on just about any reef sitting in 15-40m.

The usual haunts such as Blackhead, Diamond, 5 Mile Reef, Snapper Rock (and the ground around it) and Dennis Shoals are all worth a look.

Further afield, the deeper reefs have been holding some very nice snapper, trag and pearl perch.

Unfortunately, there have been a few reports of the gear-stealing barracouta ruining trips, so you may struggle to get to the good fish sitting under the pests if you head out wide.

I haven’t heard any reports locally of anyone that has hit the deep stuff over the last couple of weeks, however boats that have gone out to the north and south of us have caught some nice mahimahi on the troll as well as two reported marlin hook-ups.

With that in mind, it may be well worth the trip out to see what’s out there.

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60 OCTOBER 2023

There are still plenty of hungry bream about. This one had no problems smashing a 4” prawn!

NSW

Lakes are the place to be in Central Coast in October CENTRAL COAST

Jamie Robley

Doesn’t it feel great to have some warmth in the air and not have to endure a freezing start to the day? You’ve gotta love spring. Still, this season is a mixture of good and bad, so let’s take a closer look at the situation and see what’s ahead of us in this part of NSW. Before I type up my columns, I like to do the rounds of the area, chatting with a few local anglers and driving around, checking some of the main fishing spots. The Entrance, at the mouth of the lakes, is one of our most popular angling locations, particularly through the warmer months, and during holiday periods. I spent some time walking over the bridge there yesterday, always looking down, trying to spot fish and seeing how the sand bars and channels change from month to month. Sadly, it looked to be in poor shape. There was very little in the way of mullet, bream and whiting, and not much else, aside from small mullet in the shallows. The

Bream fishing will definitely be picking up this month. Surface lures, vibes, plastics and good quality natural baits should bring a few fish undone. mouth itself is frighteningly narrow, almost to the point of closing up completely. At this time last year, it was very wide, deep and with a rather strong tidal flow. A lot has changed in the space of 12 months, with the dry weather we’ve been having.

Unfortunately, this situation is not going to help the lakes or the fishing at all. Sure, it’s nice to enjoy plenty of sunny days, but the

It’s early days yet, but as the weather warms up, whiting will become more active in our local waterways.

downside is that such stability means we haven’t seen any flooding or big seas. Without them, the sand simply builds up over time, and the channel mouth becomes shallow and narrow. The only way it’s going to open back up again is from flooding, huge seas (which cause beach erosion) or by physically dredging it.

Despite the channel problems, I can still forecast fishing around the lakes to pick right up this month. September is only marginally better than August, but October is a major improvement, largely due to things simply warming up. So, even if the fishing is affected by the closed up channel mouth, we will still be able to get into a few bream, flathead and whiting over the coming weeks. The main species I would be concentrating on is flathead – not only around The Entrance, but other spots around Tuggerah Lakes, Lake Macquarie, and Brisbane Waters.

When targeting flathead I prefer to use soft plastics in the 80-120mm range. White or light-coloured Squidgy Wrigglers are at the top of

my flatty arsenal, but most other light or natural coloured plastics should trick a few flathead when hopped along the bottom. Various other vibe style lures are also highly effective, as are the soft plastic prawn or shrimp imitations.

Flathead can turn up anywhere all around our local waterways, but they really prefer channels, creeks or rivers with some current flow, and shallows where they can ambush small baitfish or prawns. Brisbane Waters is full of such spots, and some I would recommend are the lower reaches of Erina and Narara, Woy Woy channel, from the bridges, down past the town, Paddys Channel, Cockle Channel and downstream of the Rip. Patonga and the lower reaches of Wyong and Ourimbah also produce flathead.

Bream will also be sparking up over the shallows as we get warmer weather.

reckon baits are better used at night or early in the morning, when they’re more likely to encourage bigger bream, rather than a pile of little pickers.

Rock and beach fishing hasn’t exactly been great in recent weeks. It started getting worse in late August and in reality, this is quite normal for our inshore fishing in late winter and early spring.

The ocean temps are at their coldest, and westerly winds make the situation worse.

Normally sambos can save the day, but this has not been a good season for salmon here either.

The bright side is that from now onwards, the water temperatures will begin to increase, which means fish activity also increases. Even with the lower numbers of salmon, we will still encounter them on most beaches this month. The main thing is to fish a rising tide early in the morning, towards sunset or at

especially for bream or when there are now really obvious gutter formations.

When it comes to offshore fishing, we are pretty much in the off season at the moment.

Still, depending on ocean currents and the weather, it may still be quite possible to head wide to chase tuna or target kingfish. If the weather forecast looks good, I’d be shooting out wide.

Those dreaded north-easterly winds will be annoying us over the next few months, so take advantage of any calmer weather opportunities that arise.

If conditions are favourable, we may also see more smaller kings and salmon in close. They can provide a lot of fun by casting soft plastics, whole pilchards or even fly casting. A few trevally should also still be around, and they’ll take a softy or fly also. Just remember we’re in between seasons as far as offshore

The channel mouth at The Entrance has remained very narrow in recent weeks.

This means fishing probably won’t be overly great here, but you can still look for flathead around the bridge and to the western or lake side of the bridge this month.

Surface lures are certainly worth casting now, however, small vibes or Gulps will probably work better at this relatively early stage of the season. Of course, good quality baits will fool bream. I

night. Regardless of the target species, it’s also important to cast baits or lures towards the washy areas along the edges of deeper gutters or holes.

Casting just beyond the shore dump is also a good idea,

fishing goes, so the main thing is to just try to take advantage of whatever decent weather or fishing presents itself this month. If in doubt, there’s always boat, motor or trailer maintenance to be done!

Stocking

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It’s a great time of year to target quality flathead PORT STEPHENS

Paul Lennon

Flathead season in the bay is in full swing, with excellent catches being reported in the upper parts of the system. The Karuah River and Tilligerry Creek are by far the best areas this time of year to get into them with soft plastics and hardbody lures. These artificials are lethal when cast around the edges of structure and mouths of any feeder creeks.

If you don’t want to use lures for flathead, a good old-fashioned slow rolled ganged pilchard or whitebait is also a very effective technique to catch them.

Bream are another great option in October. Most of the rocky shoreline, oyster racks and islands around Soldiers Point are great areas to target bream, along with the Nelson Bay and marina break walls.

Unweighted baits such as mullet strips and peeled prawns work the best if you’re land-based. Soft

plastics and hardbodies will come into their own when fished from a boat, covering ground using an electric trolling motor.

Some big schools of 35cm tailor have been working bait schools around the moorings at Shoal Bay and Nelson Bay beaches on first and last night, with 10g metal spinners working a treat. Tailor of this size make awesome live baits for mulloway, and the Nelson Bay rock walls and Karuah bridges are holding some solid jewies to over 1m, so it’s well worth a shot.

The break walls are still producing luderick, but they will start to slow down over the next few weeks. Be sure to make the most of it in early October.

A few blue swimmer crabs are starting to appear, with decent catches from Tilligerry Creek to North Arm Cove. I prefer whole mullet or luderick when chasing blue swimmers. I check my traps every hour or so, and move until I find them. If I do leave my traps overnight, I always drop them in late in

the afternoon and pick them up on first light.

BEACHES It’s a bit of a quiet time on the ocean beaches, however you should be able to get yourself some nice tailor by spinning along Fingal Bay, Samurai and Box Beach on first and last light.

Mulloway are worth a crack too. Night fishing using larger baits is your best chance to connect to one.

ROCKS Drummer are another species that gets much harder to catch as the water warms up, so now is the time to get into them before their numbers dwindle. A few of my favourite places to catch drummer are the washy zones around Tomaree, Boulder Bay and Little Rocky.

Some solid tailor, the odd salmon and rat-size kings are being spun up along Fingal and Box Beach headlands, as well as Middle Rock. Dawn

Port Stephens Estuary Charters

There is some excellent bream fishing on offer around the leases and rock walls.

Prawn run starts, action kicks off SWANSEA

Jason Nunn

There will be some nice crocs getting around from October onwards.

and dusk periods are the peak times for these fish.

OFFSHORE There were some cracking snapper caught in early spring around the islands and over the shallow inshore reefs, and this action looks set to continue, with consistent reports still coming through.

The beauty of the Port Stephens snapper fishery is you don’t need to go far to catch quality snapper.

Fishermans Bay through to Fingal Island are very productive grounds that are accessible to just about any boat on a good day. With that said though, you still can’t beat the consistency of the reefs around the Seal Rocks area for snapper, which is why many vessels choose to run all the way up there.

Further offshore, the shelf grounds will be well worth a look for an early season striped marlin.

October for us in Lake Macquarie marks the first prawn run of the season.

The first run should fall on Sunday the 8th, with the 10th probably being the perfect time.

The run kicks off our summer season in earnest because many fish like whiting depend on it to gain some condition after what was a fairly tough winter (winter started quite early). The prawns will leave the lake and head down the channel on the run-out tide, mostly juvenile eastern king prawns that are migrating seaward. They will grow and become succulent king prawns as we move into Christmas and beyond.

Some years, the October prawn run can be very fruitful, while it’s not quite as good in other years.

Hopefully, we’ll see some very big prawns come out this year. There could be some big

‘leader prawns’ (tiger prawns) measuring 6-8” in length.

You won’t get lots of them, but they’re a highlight of a prawning session.

The proliferation of prawns will also stimulate our lake squid, and we will see good numbers of these tasty cephalopods in the channel during the prawn run – particularly very early in the morning and late in the evening. The prawns themselves will be a target for the squid during that run. On the 8th, the prawns will run from around 7pm, and each successive night, they will start their run 50 minutes to an hour later. They’re the key to good squidding.

Because there are suddenly squid in the channel, we can expect to get kingfish

at Swansea Bridge (there are already some there). Most will likely be juveniles, with the odd bigger king.

This month we will see an increase in whiting numbers in the estuary. The whiting can be found on the sand flats, particularly around Marks Point, and back over to the Air Force channel area. The whiting will be feeding hard as they work to regain the condition they lost over winter.

A lot of the school bream will be there as well.

This month, we will see a lot more flathead moving away from the deeper water, where they had been holding in good numbers through the colder months. The flathead will return to shallower waters and get stuck into the prawns.

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A couple of nice snapper caught aboard Sandy Bottom Boat Charters. Image courtesy of Sandy Bottom Boat Charters.

fishing deeper water for months, it’s fun to now fish the edges and flats with different lures for the flatties.

We’ll be doing longer casts over the shallow flat areas in 2-5m of water this month.

We will move away from the vibing that we’ve done through winter and start to fish more with hardbodies like Double Clutches. If you can’t catch a flatty on a Double Clutch, you have to ask yourself, are you really trying? They’re that good.

You can also get great results on 3-4” soft plastics like grub tails and paddle tails. Gulp Prawns work well during the prawn run, as do the 92mm Pro Lure Clone Prawns in green tiger colour.

You can also use swimbaits as the warmer weather sets in, and catch and release those bigger fish.

The best time to fish with surface lures, like Sugapens, Splash Prawns and Jackson Epi Panics, is from November onwards.

However, they may still work this month on the whiting. Last year was a bit patchy for whiting, but hopefully this year will be better. When you’re targeting them, please take only what you need. There’s no need to over-exploit the fishery.

Remember that whiting like a fast retrieve, with a lot of dabbing of the rod tip to ‘walk’ the lure across the surface. If you’re too slow, you just won’t elicit a bite from the whiting.

On the other hand, Bream is like a slow retrieve with a bloop and a stall, a half wind and then a pause to let it settle.

While working

NSW

Baitfish in warming waters ILLAWARRA

Greg Clarke

The fishing is really kicking into gear now. With the warmer than average second half of winter, and warmer water offshore already, we may experience a long hot

summer, in spring.

The water has started to warm significantly, and the baitfish have already arrived, kickstarting the fishing action for the months ahead.

Mini slimy mackerel (often only a few centimetres long) have gathered along the coast. This has created a flurry

in the feeding activities of all target species, from flathead to yellowfin tuna.

Catches for the bottom bashers start to improve this month, with flathead coming back online after the winter shutdown. We are seeing improved catches on all the sand patches from Kiama to

Flathead start to gather in the lake as the water warms.

A few decent kingfish are staring to gather over the deeper reefs this month. Next month will be even better. your surface lures around the weed edges and the edge of the flats, you may encounter a bycatch of flathead. If there’s a flatty in a shallow area and something is dancing across the surface above her, she’ll likely have a go at it.

A few tailor are still lingering around, so you may lose a few lures to them this month. A bit of heavier leader might help until the tailor are gone.

I’m getting a lot of questions about crabs, and yes, October is a good time for blue swimmer crabs.

Customers have been asking us about DPI Fisheries and their 2-year crab pot trial (where you are allowed two enclosed traps and four witches hats). DPI have now decided to extend the trial for a further three years, and will make their final decision after that time.

Lake Macquarie has become a good spot to fish for mulloway, and now is a good time to target them, with all the squid around.

There is now a boat limit on mulloway in NSW– you can’t have more than two jewies on your boat, regardless of how many people you have on board (the exception is charter boats, which can keep three mulloway). The minimum size is 70cm, and anglers are allowed to keep only one fish each.

Due to the change of season, October is a bit of a tough time for beach and rock fishing, but there are always a few drummer to be caught off the rocks.

FISH KILL INVESTIGATION When 13,000 fish died

in last year’s first fish kill, the EPA said that the culprit was a north-westerly wind, which rolled the water over and deoxygenated it. Many anglers doubted this. Then, four weeks later, a southerly wind was blowing, and we lost a further 3000 fish.

Finally, the EPA has stated what we suspected all along – that the fish were killed due to chlorine released by the Vales Point Power Station.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has commenced a prosecution against the power plant’s owners, charging them with failing to maintain their chlorine dosing plant properly, resulting in a faulty valve that discharged concentrated sodium hypochlorite into waters leading to Wyee Bay. A controlled amount of chlorine gas is released periodically to kill growth in the inlet pipes, but the faulty valve caused far too much chlorine to be released. Because chlorine deoxygenates water, it suffocated everything in its path, and the results were catastrophic.

That has been the slowest investigation I have ever seen in my life, but at least they got there in the end.

OFFSHORE Yellowfin season offshore has subsided, but signs indicate we may see an early start to our game season off the coast.

With the amount of striped marlin we had during winter, it will hopefully be an early season for these fish (although we won’t see a big build-up of numbers until we move closer to December). We can also expect a bycatch of yellowfin and mahimahi.

At this time of the year, you have to cover a wide area with lures to catch the stripes.

They aren’t in big numbers, so you need to cover a lot of water rather than use live baits.

When it comes to skirted lures, I favour the JB Dingoes and the like. They have nice cup faces, which are good when you have that nor’east chop.

The baitfish aren’t in big numbers, but there are still some around, so keep an eye out for them. With luck, there may also be a few yellowfin shadowing the bait.

October isn’t an ideal time to chase bottom fish because of the change of season. There will probably be only a few snapper on The Farm, and a few flatties on the edges of the reefs. At the time of writing this report, the bonito haven’t turned up. Some halfdecent snapper will be on offer inshore, but the nor’easters will be prevalent, so you have to pick your days. Really, the estuary is the place to be this month.

• Fisherman’s Warehouse Tackle World has a large range of fresh and frozen bait as well as a huge range of rods, reels, lures and accessories.

They also sell and service outboard motors, and have a competitively-priced selection of new and second-hand boats. The friendly staff are all experienced local anglers, and they’re always happy to share their knowledge, whether you’re a novice or experienced angler. Drop in for a chat at 804 Pacific Highway, Marks Point, or give them a call on (02) 4945 2152. You can also find them on Facebook, or check out their website at www. fishermanswarehouse.com.au.

Stanwell Park.

Small snapper are over most of the reef systems, but the better fish seem to be out in the deeper water in 60m+, mixed in with some nice mowies and plenty of leatherjackets, sweep and the odd samson. Throw in an early trag and some small kingfish, and you have the makings of a better box than last month.

There is one drawback to the next few weeks on the drift, and that is the dreaded ‘pick handle’, the barracouta.

Between them and the leatherjackets, they can make life pretty miserable and expensive as they snip off every piece of terminal tackle in sight. Remember to be careful of their teeth because they are deadly sharp and can inflict a nasty wound.

October is traditionally one of the calmest months of the year and often free of raging offshore currents, so it is a prime time to bottom bash the shelf around the canyons, particularly Kiama, for those deepwater ooglies.

Giant nannygai, gemfish, ling, frostfish, oil fish, warehou, blue-eye trevalla and hapuka are all available if you are willing to fish 100 fathoms plus of water. It is becoming more popular thanks to electric reels/winches becoming more popular. Great catches are often made by anglers who have done their homework and got their strategies down pat.

If you don’t feel like forking out a small fortune for an electric set up, you can drop a bait down on manual tackle. It can be a rewarding challenge. However, it’s definitely hard work and not something you’d want to do every day.

While you’re out there you might want to try for something a bit faster, as this is the prime month on the canyons for yellowfin tuna, albacore, and even a few southern bluefin – and of course, sharks. There have been some good catches of albacore and yellowfin recently, with ‘fin to 50kg and albacore to 10kg being taken on trolled lures and pilchard cubes. Warm water between 20-21°C from the north has been merging with

nutrient-rich 16°C water from the south, which only means one thing: food for the whole food chain.

Makos and blue sharks are on tap. Just add berley and see what swims up the trail.

Back inshore, the baby slimy mackerel promote the feeding activities of most surface species. It is commonplace to see a seething ball of slimies being demolished by striped tuna. Sometimes you may see bonito, salmon, kingfish or barracouta getting in on the action as well. Below these, there will be trevally, cowanyoung, tailor or even snapper and flathead.

When you find a ball of bait like this, there will more likely than not be several in the area, all being worked over by fish and birds. Small lures cast into the melee will score hook-ups on every cast if you can avoid the terns, gannets, seagulls and mutton-birds.

If you let the lure sink a bit deeper, or use slightly larger soft plastics down near the bottom, you could hook just about anything.

Be aware too that these bait balls attract some very large sharks. They can get a bit stroppy, giving the boat a bit of a nudge from time to time. There could even be a few whales in the mix, so be vigilant.

Not all the pelagics will be that concentrated, and schools of salmon, tuna and kingfish have been gathering in bays and off headlands all along the coast. As usual, the Bass Point, Kiama and five islands areas will fish well.

As mentioned last month, larger kingfish will become more active over the deeper reefs like Bandit and Wollongong. Jigging and downrigged live yellowtail, mackerel or squid will get results – just keep your eye on the sounder for bait, or the kings schooling deep.

A few snapper are about if you pick and berley. However, they tend to be in the deeper water as mentioned earlier, so it may take some time to get the berley working. On the other hand, there should be no shortage of little makos to keep

you entertained while you wait.

In on the closer reefs and around the islands, silver trevally will be attracted to the berley. Pilchard fillets on small hooks and a split shot for weight have been catching plenty of fish.

It’s not bad on the rocks this month, with often-calm conditions making for pleasant fishing. Drummer will be on the bite just about anywhere, with white water and cunjecovered rocks. Prawns and cunje are great baits, and you may pick up any bream in the area as well.

The deeper ledges have salmon, tailor, small kings and the odd bonito hitting lures, while live baits early in the morning will attract any decent kings hunting in the vicinity. You may even pick up a run from a stray yellowfin on a live bait down around Kiama this month. They used to be regular visitors to the rocks back in the 80s and 90s every October, when it used to be the start of the land-based season on tuna back then.

You never know. Habits don’t usually change, rather it’s the amount of available fish that can change.

The beaches are a bit quiet, but they can still yield salmon, tailor and a few bream if you work hard. The bright spot is that reports of more mulloway action is happening along the beaches. Work those evening high tides with fresh bait and see how you go. Any beach with a good, deep gutter is worth a shot.

The highlight of the month is the flathead. They are starting to get going in the lake, and they should really be on the bite towards the end of the month when the first run of prawns starts on the October dark. The main channel, the drop-off and over at Tallawarra are the spots to try. Soft plastics are always deadly, but on the days the flatties get picky you may need live poddies (if you can find them).

Minnamurra should be much the same this month, with bream in the deeper holes and along the rock walls. A few are still holding out in the feeder streams of the lake.

Good luck this month.

OCTOBER 2023 63

NSW

Welcome back to good fishing in the estuary BATEMANS BAY

Anthony Stokman

October is welcoming everyone back into the estuary. Spring conditions started a few weeks before 1 September, and if you are an early riser like me, you’d already know this.

I like to get up at 5am and walk outside, and since late winter I’ve been greeted with massive hit of perfume each morning.

Overnight the wind stops

and old, for lures sinking and floating, from sinking blades to suspending divers, and from slow sinking vibes to surface poppers. It’s on!

ESTUARY LURES So what arsenal am I packing for October in the estuary? Well, what has caught my eye recently is the Shimano Bantam Undulator vibe.

It’s effective on weed tops and shallow flats up to 2.0m.

The forward-weighted weight arrangement lets

have been smashing black bream, flathead and freshwater species.

My other suggestions for the estuary this season are the Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows, Yo-Zuri Crystal Prawns, Yo-Zuri Pins Minnows, Duo Realis Shad, Daiwa Double Clutches and Spikes, Atomic Shiners, Strike Pro lures and the Berkley Pro Tech range.

When it comes to surface lures, there’s none better than Bassday Sugapen, and also the new model Sugapen Splash, which is essentially a popper.

If you’re looking at glide baits or swimbaits for larger flathead this season, you can’t go wrong with the Molix swimbait in the white or natural whiting colour, and the Shimano Arma Joint which folds completely in half for a longer and more accurate cast.

MULLOWAY But it’s not all flathead, bream, estuary perch and whiting in the estuary this October – there’s the infamous mulloway lurking in the minds of the keen estuary fisher.

Mulloway can often be found lurking along the break walls and out the front of estuaries at this time of the year. The best way to hook one of these beasts is with a freshly caught squid or a live mullet either side of a full or new moon on a tide change.

If you are going to

Jack takes his snapper fishing very seriously. throw lures at them, then a 5-7” lure like a Gulp Jerkshad, 100mm Squidgy Fish (in black and gold or silver fox), or a PowerBait Paddletail will do the job.

There are actually too many to mention.

OFFSHORE The estuary may be firing after the winter break, but let’s not forget that snapper are spawning and have been on a red-hot bite recently. You can get good results fishing

in 60-80m of water with micro jigs and baits if you move around.

Another exciting fishing option is chasing yellowfin tuna.

Traditionally they are found in smaller sizes around 8-15kg, but nowadays they can be between 20-40kg or even bigger in close as the snapper grounds and to the shelf. We don’t know what is going to happen from one year

Bailey Woodward has been enjoying the yellowfin run. and the floral scent blankets the earth. Then, as the sun rises and the wind picks up, the scent is swept away by 7am.

This coincides with the estuary bite. The bream and flathead start feeding more actively in the estuary, and are ready to take a well-presented lure.

We had reports of 80cm+ flatties hitting glide baits and bream hitting surface lures in mid-September, which suggests that things are heating up. I declare October open for young 64 OCTOBER 2023

you fish shallow areas without worrying about getting caught up on bottom structure. It can be reeled in slowly while feeling the bottom, or reeled in fast for reaction bites. The lure also has a built-in Flash Boost reflector to attract fish with a flickering light.

Another effective estuary lure is the Shimano Bantam BT Swimbait, which measures 99mm and has three replaceable soft, tough tails. These swimbaits

Beaky got himself a nice one on the jig.

to the next, but we are certainly not complaining.

We recently saw Jai Bairle and mate catch a 178kg Pacific bluefin off Jervis Bay around the Banks, so anything is possible, I guess. It’s probably a good idea when you go snapper fishing this month to take a heavy casting outfit with your favourite stickbait tied to it, in case you see tuna busting up nearby.

That would be a bonus to an already great snapper bite offshore.

We are heading towards the best deepwater snapper period of the year, and we’re already seeing great snapper captures, so it may be an early season this year. Micro jigs and baited paternoster rigs are still the number one options, with micro jigs becoming more and more popular year after year.

It won’t be long now before we’ll be seeing FADs out and the summer pelagic fish in town, and inland bass will soon be on the agenda. Until then, winter species like salmon and tailor are still prevalent on the beaches and headlands, and drummer, grouper and snapper from the stones are still good options as we move into the warmer months.

• For more up-to-theminute information on what’s biting where, drop into Compleat Angler Batemans Bay and have a chat to Anthony or one of the other friendly staff.

They’re located at 65A Orient St, Batemans Bay (02 4472 2559).

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OCTOBER 2023

QLD NSW

OCTOBER 2023 65

NSW

Warmer days and hot fishing BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

With the weather and land temperatures warming up there is already some hot fishing on offer. Brogo Dam is one such place – if you crack the right conditions that have the insect life on the move, especially late in the afternoon or on dusk.

At these times, you can have some spectacular action, particularly on the surface.

Around the Bermagui River, the land temperatures

are increasing and so are the water temps in the estuaries, especially in the upper reaches. These are the areas to target, regardless of whether you prefer lures or bait. Both will work well. Black bream after their winter spawning are now looking to put on condition, and are feeding energetically over the flats, around oyster clumps and shallow weed beds. Anglers should pay a lot of attention to these spots, and use polarised sunglasses to sight fish in these preferred areas.

Other species likely to be encountered in these areas

are whiting, trevally, flathead, blackfish, and mullet, which can be caught on a wide range of lures and bait. The best baits are fresh nippers, prawns, and squirt worms.

Down the systems, blackfish numbers seem to be increasing with every tide.

These fish are concentrating around the rock walls, bridge, and harbour pylons. Both green and cabbage weed are being taken by these fish, and nippers and worms are also catching their share.

Moving out of the estuaries to the rocks and beaches, large schools of

Picturesque Brogo Dam is the place to be this spring and summer if you want to catch bass.

tailor are gathering around the entrance to the harbour of an evening, and small metal lures and floating pillies will produce most fish. The adjacent rock platform near the entrance has seen some good fishing for drummer, blackfish and trevally, with most anglers using either cabbage weed or cunjevoi for bait.

Fishing the beaches has been consistent this year, and we can expect more of the same in the coming weeks. Large schools of salmon are patrolling the coastline, providing anglers with an assortment of options to target these great little sporting fish. Lure fishing the beach is becoming more popular in our part of the world, mainly due to its simplicity. A handful of lures, a spin stick of your choice and a little trace material is all that’s required, then find your beach, add water and have fun. If you find the fish are throwing the hooks after taking the lure, you can try one of three things. If you are using treble hooks, try offsetting the hooks by giving a little twist with a pair of pliers. You can also use two split rings joined together, so it gives a chainlike effect. Alternatively, you can go to a single hook like a Black Magic KS series. All three options will improve your hook-up rate.

Tailor numbers are increasing around Bermagui.

Out on the reefs, things are getting really heated, with nearly all the more popular areas producing

fish. Featuring prolifically in anglers’ bags have been good-sized morwong, both blue and jackass, with

We have just enough water for some hot fishing TATHRA

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Even though it has been a particularly dry winter, there is enough water flowing down the Brogo Dam and Bega River systems to host some

excellent bass. Anglers have been cashing in on some hot fishing. If you can find access to the Brogo River, just about every reasonable water hole has its share of bass which are only too willing to attack even a poorly-placed lure.

Further down the river, into the Bega River where

the sweetwater meets the salt, is where you can find some very large bass. Some of these fish have been exceeding 60cm in size.

Not only are you going to catch bass here, but bream, estuary perch, and the odd dusky flathead can also be encountered, just to keep things interesting.

The Bega River hosts some of the best quality bream along the south coast.

‘Pretty and delicious’ describes the red gurnard. These fish are often encountered when chasing flathead offshore from Tathra.

66 OCTOBER 2023

Further down the river now into the saltier sections, flathead are on the move.

They like to concentrate in the shallower water, feeding on small baitfish and crustaceans. Lures or baits will work here. The takes can be quite visual and exciting at times, especially on lures.

October is school holiday time, when kids congregate at Tathra Wharf in pursuit of anything that is on offer.

Yellowtail or mackerel are definitely on the list, along with trevally. Passing schools of salmon are also very entertaining when they turn up, and long casts with

some heavier sinkers may produce a few flathead.

Speaking of flathead, both sand and tiger flathead are gaining momentum offshore for those wishing to go boating out from Tathra. Going south, down out from Bournda in and around 50m is a good

the larger fish coming from the deeper Twelve Mile and Six Mile reefs.

Some good snapper are around, and it’s definitely the time of year for those large,

nothing of significance being captured. Some large mako sharks have been sighted around schools of striped tuna, and I suspect if you were to put down a berley

the larger fish. These lures should always be used when tuna are about.

For those who may be interested, the annual Brogo Bass Bash comp will again

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Tigers will be found just off the reef structure, more on the gravel and mud. Once you have found them you can often catch a bag without too much effort. These fish like to keep on the move though, so don’t be surprised if they’re not in the same spot on your next trip. These fish tend to eat an area out and then move onto another location, before returning to the original area sometime later.

Gamefish have been a bit up-and-down lately with

trail some action should occur. One option is to fish the Twelve Mile Reef, berleying for the sharks, and while you’re waiting you can fish the bottom for the reef dwellers.

Striped, albacore and small yellowfin tuna have been providing some entertainment out wide for anglers trolling lures, with the odd better yellowfin being encountered. The most productive lures have been small skirts, although bibless diving lures have been taking

be held in December. This event is now in its 23rd year, and it’s always a fun weekend. If you’d like to enter, you can contact me at the Far South Coast Bass Stocking Association on 0427 934 688, or Secretary Jan Redman on 0427 934 857. You can also email fscbsa_brogobassbash@ hotmail.com and give them your email address so they can forward an entry form, or check out the Facebook page at www.facebook. com/fscbsa.

starting point to find the flatties. There are also some lovely gummy sharks on offer as a welcome bycatch.

On your way to the grounds or maybe on your way back, try some of the reefs out from White Rock, as there are some reasonable snapper and morwong on offer.

If you have good conditions, try going north up to Goalen Head or out from Aragunnu. Here there

are some excellent reefs starting from close in all the way east to the Continental Shelf, while out from the beaches are excellent flathead grounds. These headlands are also good areas at this time of year to troll for some salmon for a bit of fun, and if you get really lucky you may even hook an early season kingfish.

For those who may be interested, the annual Brogo Bass Bash comp will again be held in December. This

event is now in its 23rd year, and it’s always a fun weekend. If you’d like to enter, you can contact me at the Far South Coast Bass Stocking Association on 0427 934 688, or Secretary Jan Redman on 0427 934 857. You can also email fscbsa_brogobassbash@ hotmail.com and give them your email address so they can forward an entry form, or check out the Facebook page at www.facebook. com/fscbsa.

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NSW

Exciting opportunities for goldens and redfin NEW ENGLAND RIVERS

Adam Townsend

Finally, after a dry and mild winter, some much-needed rainfall graced the New England Tablelands. Although the showers have not been enough to clean out the rivers and fill the major impoundments, the water we received has definitely benefited the creeks and rivers by producing a nice flow, especially as the weather warms up quickly as we approach the middle of spring. The NSW trout season opens back up on the 2nd of this month.

Although the hotter days can make fishing a little tougher than the cooler months, the fish species and numbers of fish that are active this time of

Redfin can be found in most creeks and rivers in the area, and can often be caught on a variety of lures and techniques. A shrimp imitation fly brought this healthy redfin undone.

Golden perch have been fired up of late and are fun to target at this time of year. Small blades and lipless crankbaits are always a perch favourite in the warmer months. Heavy timber and rocky outcrops are the perfect place to find hungry perch. year can really make up for it, making for a fun time out on the water.

The perch species have been firing up of late, and they can present some very exciting fishing opportunities – especially when active, hungry schools of golden or redfin perch can be located. Whether it is the local impoundments you are fishing, or the rivers, the approach can be much the same. Any lure roughly 70mm or less that can create a lot of vibration will usually see you in with a chance of creating a reaction bite, and catching quality fish. I find lipless crankbaits, blades and small spinnerbaits or chatterbaits are all perfect options, and are worth 70 OCTOBER 2023

having in the tackle box.

One of my favourite ways to fish in October would have to be walking the banks of the larger impoundments, and casting lures out into the deeper water. I retrieve the lures back to the shoreline as close to the bottom as possible.

There’s an abundance of bait-life living along the edges in the shallower water at this time of year, including shrimp and crayfish. Rocky points and timber lines are good places to be casting, especially if you are fishing a new waterway. If you can find where the bait is holding up, the bigger predatory fish should not be too far away.

With Murray cod season still remaining closed until the start of December, please do the right thing and leave the cod alone.

If you are fishing with smaller lures (70mm or less) and you still manage to hook a by-catch cod, try

This healthy buck rainbow trout ate a Great Hunting shallow diver in shallow, crystal-clear water.

Spring bass transition HUNTER VALLEY

Nick Price

October is a transition bite.

The water warms up and the bass start to hit reaction baits, and the plastic bite

get snagged.

You’ll want to fish your spinnerbait in the tops of trees, and work the lure through the branches. The spinnerbaits bounce off the branches, puffing up silt and creating a ruckus. The bass,

Cooper and Andrew with a decent bass.

The newest addition to the family, and the next generation Murray cod fisherman: Onyx Joseph Townsend. The little grin says it all.

to get it back to its nest as soon as possible.

Copeton Dam still remains opened for targeting Murray cod all year round, and is the best place to head if you still intend to target the cod during the spawn closure period.

The full moon will be above at the end of the month, on the 29th, and if the perch spawn is the same as last year it would be worth putting in the calendar. Some species rely on moon phases to spawn, and previous seasons have proved that the golden perch can fire up and be very aggressive around this time of year. The new moon will fall around the middle of the month, on the 15th.

Copeton is currently sitting at 92%, while Pindari Dam is around 84%.

Good luck to all getting out on the water this month.

Enjoy the middle of spring and the awesome fishing opportunities that come with it. Tight lines.

(both deep and shallow) is still red hot. The jerkbait and plastic bite on the edge is going strong, and the bass also start to home in on spinnerbaits. Just try lots of different techniques and work out what the bass want at different times of the day.

Fishing with spinnerbaits at this time of year is great fun. The fish can be found in the timber, and spinnerbaits allow you to fish this timber without getting snagged.

The bass will also hit lipless crankbaits in the timber, but these lures are more likely to

which are holding in the timber, get excited and smash the spinnerbait. I don’t mess around in terms of line class. You are fishing heavy cover with big, angry bass. I use 20lb braid and leader, and even then you will get bricked occasionally!

I like using a spinnerbait with a large single Colorado blade.

Work the spinnerbait through the trees with the big Colorado blade thumping its way through, making lots of noise.

Colour does matter, so try different colours until you find what the bass are after.

Often any colour will catch some fish, but a certain colour will catch lots of fish. Try natural colours, white, black, purple, and of course the ever-faithful chartreuse. I am not a fan of putting a plastic on the spinnerbait; I find the

Soft plastics catch fish all year.

NSW

T-shirt and thongs time is here!

ALBURY/WODONGA

Connor Heir

Yep, it’s October already!

The yellowbelly are plentiful, and the trout are about!

October is always such a pleasant time of year to fish within our region. It’s not too hot nor too cold, we welcome back daylight savings, and the fishing generally starts to pick up and get firing, particularly in

Lake Hume.

Already this year we’ve seen some awesome fishing taking place in Lake Hume, for trout, yellowbelly and redfin. It warmed up pretty early this season, and some solid numbers of yellowbelly

were starting to be picked up by a fair few anglers as early as mid-August, as the water temperatures were just a little bit warmer. Now that October is here, it’s really going to fire, especially for yellowbelly. Now is the time when you want to be on the water chasing these fish.

Yellowbelly are a species that keen anglers can appreciate, because of the sport of catching them.

They fight really well on light finesse gear in that 4-10lb range. They are also a species that any casual fisho can go and target with bait or just out with the family trolling.

You don’t have to be on the water super early to chase yellowbelly. In fact, over the past few years I’ve found them to bite the best from lunchtime onwards into the afternoon, especially if

A beautifully-coloured brown trout caught on a Zerek Fish Trap.

Working the current edge in the fast water is often key for catching feeding river trout. slim profile of just a skirt seems to work better.

Other lures to use in the timber are swim jigs and chatterbaits. Both of these are snag resistant and work well in the timber. If the bass slow down and want something a bit more subtle, go with the swim

work better at different times; they seem to change with the seasons and forage fish biomass. Drop into the shop and we can help.

October is also the month when trout season opens.

With all the rain over the last few years, the trout fishing has been nothing short of

trout fishing in next month’s issue. In the meantime, if you want to learn to tie your own trout flies, we are holding fly fishing classes in our shop in Aberdeen.

Looking further ahead, November is everyone’s favourite month. At that time of year, the bass are big

Decent golden perch, like this one Jarrod caught, can be found throughout Lake Hume. it’s a warm, clear sunny day.

Being out on Lake Hume is the best place locally to chase yellowbelly, and you won’t be disappointed as it is a trophy fishery for qualitysized yellas. I don’t think

there’s a better impoundment to chase big yellowbelly; over the years the Lake has gifted local anglers some truly amazing captures.

The trout have definitely been fishing well in the

Trout season is open, and the Upper Hunter has some great fly waters. jig. Not many people use these, but they are highly effective.

If the fishing is tough, for example in the middle of the day, use spinnerbaits and beetle spins in the trees. Beetle spins are often overlooked and are very effective. I would go as far to say they are probably the most effective lure to use at Lake St Clair.

Plastics are still working. Target school fish using your sounder, as you do in the winter months.

When using plastics there are certain colours that

spectacular. Now the rain has stopped in the Hunter and we are basically back in drought. As well as hurting the farmers, the lack of rain smashes the trout. Let’s pray that we get some good rains over the next few months.

The Upper Hunter has great waters that are perfect for fly fishing, and last season the trout were ferocious, taking dry flies all day! There are some big trout around at the moment, and I am expecting many fish in the 4lb class to be caught in the coming weeks.

I will talk more about the

and angry, and hit hard. You can get great results using a lipless crank such as a TN60.

Next month I will talk about using these lures, and give lots of tips. I will also talk about swimbaits, which are great when a slightly more subtle approach is needed.

Until next month, if you’re heading up to the Barrington, Glenbawn 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. We stock all the quality tackle that you need.

Quality yellowbelly are thick in Lake Hume.

Lake too, and also below the Lake Hume spillway which, like Lake Hume, does not have a season closure on trout. In October the trout season opens back up again for the streams and creeks around the region, where season closed rules apply.

With more steady flows occurring, it should be productive for fishing.

Redfin in Lake Hume are also still plentiful. As per usual, you do have to move around a fair bit to find the schools, and once you are onto a school it can be hard work sifting through smaller ones to find the better-sized fish, if you are looking for a feed of them. Still, the bigger fish are there, so keep moving around and try to find those better fish. If you persist, more often than not you’ll go home with a decent feed!

It’s go-time in our region, so enjoy the middle of spring, and go snag a few!

OCTOBER 2023 71

NSW

Feisty yellowbelly and hungry trout BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

The 2023/2024 trout season is finally here, and the staggering results during the last half of

fussy, and can generally be caught quite easily on most techniques.

Although fly fishing can be great at this time of the year, I prefer to use lures and cover heaps of water quickly searching out any of those big hungry fish.

feed after slim pickings all winter, and second, they will be attempting to spawn. When golden perch are in this mood they can become quite aggressive, and therefore easier to catch at times.

At Blowering Dam you

bays. Golden perch will congregate in these areas, both to sun themselves and to take advantage of whatever food they come across in these often foodrich shallows.

Alternatively, you can target the massive schools of golden perch that congregate along the dam walls and at Blowering in particular, around the Islands area as well. The huge schools of fish around the wall areas are almost completely fixated on spawning, and can be very difficult to catch at times.

However, persistent casting or trolling in this area will often result in fish, and if you’re on the water when they decide to bite you will often catch plenty of fish.

As for tactics, in the shallows I’d suggest using light lipless crankbaits less than 60mm, shallow-

It’s hard to beat lure fishing during the first month or so of the trout season. You can cover a lot of water quickly, and seek out those big, hungry fish.

Rattling lipless crankbaits like the Insanity Tackle Slap Walker are the perfect weapon for targeting the weed-hugging golden perch in the shallows. last season indicated what could possibly be a great season ahead.

There will be no shortage of water in our creeks and rivers this early

Any small fish pattern is always worth a chuck, with the ever-reliable Rapala CD range being the pick of the bunch, closely followed by the IMA Sukaris and

have two main options to try to entice some golden perch. First off, you can try polaroiding the shallow margins of the dam, especially the weedy

The 2023/2024 trout season is officially underway. If the last half of last season is anything to go by, it is going to be a great season ahead.

This is what the beginning of the trout season is all about: big, beautifully-marked and well-conditioned trout. in the season, and all that water brings lots of food so most fish will be in good nick. With so much food about, upsizing your lure or fly is often the ticket to success.

As most anglers will be targeting the trout in the streams and rivers this month, the trout lakes will be relatively crowd-free.

If you don’t like crowds it might pay to give the running water another month or so before trying to get amongst them. The trout fishing in the lakes at this time of the year is often as good as the running water, with plenty of fish in full gorge mode after returning from their annual spawning efforts. These fish aren’t too 72 OCTOBER 2023

Sso Minos.

Because the fish are often still very hungry this month, you’ll often find that larger lures like lipless crankbaits will work very well. They will often out-fish smaller, more natural presentations, so don’t be afraid to throw a few of these around this month as well.

GOLDEN PERCH On top of what could be some sensational trout fishing, this month should also see plenty of golden perch being caught in our dams. These fish can get very feisty at this time of year, for two reasons, First, the rising temperatures make them much more active and keen for a

running hardbodies (especially suspending models), small lightlyweighted blades, small profile spinnerbaits or soft plastics rigged on 1/16oz to 1/4oz jigheads.

In the deeper water

around the wall and Island, the best lures are heavy lipless crankbaits and rubber vibes that will get you down quick and hold you down there. Heavilyweighted soft plastics and blades also get bites in

Blades are ideal for targeting the large golden perch schools around the wall and island areas of Blowering Dam.

this area.

As I said in last month’s issue, it really pays to start throwing something different during the warmer months. The goldens have seen a lot of pressure already this season, and that fishing pressure will only continue to grow as the weather warms more and more.

Part of the reason these fish are becoming harder to catch is so many anglers now practicing catch and release. Each time a fish is caught and released on a certain type of lure, it gets that little bit smarter and therefore much harder to catch on that type of lure. You can fool these fish by changing something as simple as the lure colour sometimes. However, the smarter fish that have been caught and released several times will often need a lure that is totally different. In this situation, a lure with a totally different action, different sound or different flash will be needed.

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ACT

Redfin are fired up and feeding CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

October is a great time to seek pastures new.

Canberra can be a bit of a depressing place for fishos through spring, as many anglers spend time reflecting on the cod season

directly behind the National Gallery is the best place to cast for reddies during the day (despite the heavy foot traffic). ZX blades and small soft plastics fished using a ‘hop and pause’ retrieve best imitate the baitfish feeding in the shallows, but TN 50s and 60s slow rolled near the concrete walls can also

Big bass are an October staple. that was, and lamenting missed opportunities. I try not to dwell on some of those big cod strikes and instead, I head to the south coast and fish for pelagics off the rocks and bass in the creeks.

Some of the better bass fishing is just an hour or two from Canberra. With 50cm+ fish on offer, it’s easy to forget about the cod for a while, especially as the bass inhabit some spectacular waterways. Windamere is another option, and although it is further afield (about five hours from Canberra), the golden perch fishing is definitely worth the extra effort.

LOCAL LAKES Lake Burley Griffin is fishing particularly well at the moment. The redfin have fired up early and are already feeding up along the lake’s margins. The concrete wall

work well.

The golden perch are a little skittish at present but will chase a TN 50 out from cover during low-light periods. Large numbers of yellas are yet to move into the shallower bays, but it shouldn’t be long until hundreds of small to medium-sized yellas move into areas like the bay behind the yacht club in search of a feed.

Lake Tuggeranong is a bit hit-and-miss at present.

While the redfin are starting to hit lures right around the edges of the lake, the golden perch are still, for the most part, shut down. That said, a few keen fishos who have been fishing the dam late into the evening have landed some nice golden perch to 50cm by slow rolling beetle spins attached to small plastics near the spillway.

This is a great spot to visit from around 5pm onwards, as the fish tend to move up into this area chasing baitfish and yabbies.

Lake Ginninderra is one of my favourite spots at the present time. The fishing

has been good, with both redfin and golden perch willing to chase lures out from the half-submerged reeds that line the banks near Diddams Close. I have also been out in my kayak in recent weeks, and have caught plenty of good-sized redfin about 4-5m off the old police jetty, along with a few small golden perch.

Most of these fish took small vibes and blades as I jigged the lures near the bottom.

As the weather warms up, the fishing should get better and better, especially around the dam wall.

Gordon Pond is producing plenty of small redfin and is a great spot to take kids fishing. While the pond is quite shallow (for the most part), this does not stop the reddies from chasing lures into the shallows, which makes for

Windamere is worth a crack in spring.

The author with a solid redfin. some exciting takes. I like using paddle tail plastics when fishing the pond, and I work them with a ‘hop and pause’ style retrieve. I’ll also

worth the extra effort because the golden perch in this pond have grown to enormous sizes. ‘Blue Chair’ and the drains at the top of the pond

ZX blades worked slowly tend to produce the better fish, but it does mean plenty of snags, so be prepared to lose a few lures.

SURROUNDS Googong Dam has kicked off early this season. The golden perch are already feeding in the shallows and can be targeted using a variety of methods, including slow rolling 2-3” plastics close to cover, and hopping vibes a few metres out in the shallower bays. If you are fishing on foot, go for a long walk around the southern end of the dam and look for surface activity. If the reddies are feeding close to the surface, the golden perch won’t be far away.

If you are pressed for time, you can park in the main carpark and walk to Shannons Inlet, and focus

Sam Hancox has been catching good numbers of goldens using ZX blades.

October is a great time to seek new angling opportunities outside the ACT.

The redfin fishing has been excellent.

74 OCTOBER 2023

gently jig a plastic on the spot if I haven’t had much luck with other techniques.

Yerrabi Pond is another small waterway that is fishing well. While this pond is much harder to fish than Gordon Pond, it is always

are great places to start a session on Yerrabi. However, it is worth trying to fish most of the pond in an afternoon because the goldens move around a lot; they can be in a spot at 1pm and somewhere completely different by 5pm.

on the partly submerged shrubs and timber which line the banks on the way to the inlet. The golden perch usually follow the bait in close and then hide under isolated bits of cover, ready to spring out.

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

Anglers getting stuck into some great spring fishing HOBART

Andrew Large

With the weather warming and sea temperatures on the rise, keen anglers state-wide are creeping out of their winter hibernation and getting amongst some solid angling action.

In the saltwater we are still seeing schoolsized southern bluefin tuna biting well on the Tasman Peninsula. Tuna to 37kg have been taken, with the best areas being around Hippolyte Rocks and Tasman Island. These two locations, combined with the Fortescue Bay mouth, complete what I call the ‘golden triangle’ in the area. Good fish are taken here, and often only a few kilometres from the point of launch for many anglers.

Storm Bay has seen the infrequent run of SBT this past month, with many trying their luck. Those anglers who happened to stumble across fish got some good catches.

Pilchard activity in this area is incredible, and in those situations the tuna

will not be too far away.

Australian salmon have also reappeared for our spring season, and have been taken in most areas in the southeast of the state.

Cremorne and Pipeclay Lagoon have been hotspots again, largely because of the masses of bait that enter and leave the lagoon at this time of the year. Salmon to 2.5kg have been reported.

An escape of Atlantic salmon may have occurred, with quantities unknown.

Fish to 5kg have been caught in the Huon River, anywhere from Castle Forbes Bay to the rapids above the Huonville township further upriver.

Daiwa Presso 95mm bibbed minnows in spotted dog have been working well.

Sand flathead have been taking baits and lures recently. Drift fishers have been taking their share under the new interim size and bag limit regulations, i.e. 10 fish per day and 35cm in length. This may change again in coming months because the species is in heavy decline. For the moment, spring fishing is vibrant, with fish to 48cm bring reported recently.

Tagging Tales As a volunteer fish tagging organisation, Suntag is only as strong as the members doing the tagging and we need to celebrate the achievements of our members whether it is a recapture, a trophy fish or a milestone achieved.

On Thursday the 24th of August Barry Oxford achieved an amazing milestone tagging his 15,000th Australian bass.

This fish was caught at Somerset dam, the same location that he tagged his first Australian bass 24 years before.

Barry is one of the few anglers to have

Close cousins to the sand flathead, the tiger flathead have been biting well east of Maria Island on the state’s east coast, with many fish also being taken around Bicheno and St Helens. A few fish in the southeast have been caught off Marion and Pirates bays in 70m of water.

Southern calamari have also moved in closer to shore from last month’s open water spawning beds, making these fish accessible to shore and jetty based anglers. Boat fishers have been doing well, as numerous locations can be fished in a relatively short space of time. Remember that the east coast squid closures are coming up (15 October to 14 November) and the north coast is already closed (until 31 October).

State-wide striped trumpeter closures for spawning run from 1 September to 31 October.

Greenback flounder have been a great target species these last few months, as winter flood waters have held off, allowing anglers to have clear viewing while wading or boating under light

and spear. A rising tide is the best, with flounder moving and feeding well at these times.

Black bream have been taken in numbers so far this season. Wet fly fishing along the many tidal edges of our various estuary systems has produced good results for anglers targeting the bream. A sunken prawn or crab is also highly effective on a running rig.

65mm bibbed minnows, particularly the BMax and Flatz Rats, have been taking a good proportion of fish.

The season is peaking now for sea trout, with many fish being caught from our very lowest seaward limits to our absolute highest tidal limits in our estuaries statewide. The action is peaking, due to the influx of our second run of whitebait, which these trout are feeding heavily upon. Fly and spin fishers are doing well around the edges of the River Derwent and Huon River. Troll anglers are having huge success over the many drop-offs and deeper holes above Bridgewater and Huonville on both rivers.

The seatrout on the west

coast will still be a month behind that of the north and the south fisheries. Not many reports have come to hand just yet.

In the lakes, due to a slight warming, we are seeing trout activity increasing.

Many fly fishers have been reporting the taking of fish on dries, particularly at Four Springs, Lake Leake and Tooms Lake. The latter also has trout for the moment smashing galaxia in the many shallows of the rocky shores.

Great Lake continues to fish well and improve with its fishing. Fly fishers are now starting to actively chase sharking fish on the bright, northerly days. Troll anglers have continued to catch trout on Cobras and deeper diving bibbed lures over the sunken weed beds in deeper water, and bait anglers have been taking their share of good rainbows from the shore at night.

Low water levels have been plaguing Bronte Lagoon anglers, but it hasn’t seemed to affect the fish too much, with most angling methods taking fish. Early morning fly

anglers (‘dawn patrollers’) have seized the opportunity to stalk good-sized trout in the shallows, and present tiny wet and dry flies in anticipation of a take.

Woods Lake has fished relatively well lately, although the size is down for the moment and the fish are a little out of condition.

There are still rumours of a persistent blue green algae bloom having affected the quality of this water.

Finally, Lake Echo has seen some fantastic flooded margin fishing.

It’s high while many other waters are low. How long it will remain this way is not known, but if flooded margin spin or fly fishing is what you are seeking, this water is well worth a visit for brown or rainbow trout ranging between 0.5kg to 4kg.

Tight lines everyone.

Whether you’re hitting the salt or the fresh this month, remember that October really does herald the new start to our summer season ahead, and offers some incredible fishing for those keen enough to pick good weather windows to head out.

Brought to you by

Barry was very proud that fish number 15,000 was a quality Somerset dam fish, especially as his tagging journey started at the dam.

The smile of an angler who has achieved an amazing goal. Congrats Barry.

tagged 15,000 fish, so to have tagged 15,000 fish of a single species is even more incredible.

Peter Jung from Fishing Monthly was with Barry on the day and asked what he was most proud of after bass number 15,000 hit the net (tag number Y78195, it was 49cm tip, 47cm fork length).

Barry explained that there was number of things, firstly to have reached the target he had set himself (not that he is going to stop tagging any

Barry with his 15,000th Australian bass (tagged). time soon), but also that each fish had been caught on a lure and that from very early on in the piece he set himself a personal size limit of 25cm before he tagged a bass (Suntag minimum size is 20cm).

He is also very proud of the number of locations

(lakes, dam, rivers) he has tagged fish and the number of other anglers he has introduced to tagging and bass fishing along the way.

Congratulations Barry, may your tagging journey continue for many years to come.

OCTOBER 2023 75

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Come on down to Portland PORTLAND

Nigel Fisher

We have finally seen some better weather, which has opened up some good fishing opportunities. We have had another good tuna run, with big sizes coming in for a weigh-in.

The sizes have been from 60kg to 130kg at the time of writing this report.

There is still a good possibility that the large tuna could still be around by the time you read this. Most of these fish have been caught in 50m of water at the back of Lawrences Rock towards Cape Nelson Lighthouse, but the areas may change in October. Skirted lures have been doing the most damage of late.

The deep water (50m and beyond) has also produced some fantastic table fish such as gummy and school sharks in big sizes, snapper up to 70cm in length, nannygai and morwong, plus some good-size flathead as you get closer to Bridgewater Bay. There hasn’t been much coming from the shelf lately,

A tasty feed of fish from the deeper waters.

Local lads Luke and Jamo scored this nice 123kg tuna.

species to target. Heavy surf around Discovery Bay produces good shark and salmon catches.

Snapper Point and Surrey River Beach up to Fitzroy can also produce big fish, and if you downsize your rigs you can catch whiting and trevally in those areas as well. The Surrey River and Fitzroy River are great locations for bream, salmon and mullet. The Fitzroy can also produce estuary perch and mulloway.

Anyway, let’s hope October will be a productive month, with plenty of good fishing opportunities.

For all your fishing needs, look no further than Portland Compleat Angler.

You will find us at 61 Bentinck Street, Portland or contact us on 03 5521 1844. You can also find us on Facebook.

Cheers and happy fishing.

A couple of big tuna ready to be cleaned up.

Great catches from rivers APOLLO BAY

Craig Rippon

Tuna have been the flavour of the month. The fish have been a bit patchy, but when the bite is on, anglers have been getting some good fish.

The tuna have been spread out from Lorne to Moonlight Heads. Most of

the fish caught have been at the front of Blanket Bay in 45-75m of water and also out the front of the Aire River.

The bait has been spread out a bit, but there is plenty of it, which helps hold the fish.

The Victorian Game Fishing Club’s annual tuna comp has been called off now twice due to bad weather, and it’s such a shame as it brings so much to the town.

It’s very hard to make a call on whether to cancel the comp, as they have to cater for all types of boats and sizes. There’s no doubt the bigger boats could get through, but with high to moderate winds, it’s safer just to call it off as our waters can get quite rough, with the wind pushing against the tide and large seas. I am sure there

Sharkmen charters with a couple of ripper tuna. due to the weather. As conditions improve, I’m sure the guys will be excited to hit the deep water for blue-eye, pink ling, blue grenadier and so on. The big makos should be lurking around as well.

The bay has already started to produce some great whiting, with our locals getting very good numbers and sizes. Many of the whiting have been well over the 40cm mark. Out the front of the water tower, North 76 OCTOBER 2023

Shore and Black Nose Point are generally hot spots for our whiting. There’s also the chance of catching a snapper, flathead, squid or shark in and around these areas.

Of course, when the water warms up in the bay, the fishing will improve.

We have at times seen an early run on kingfish and school tuna in the shallow waters. The breakwater has started to improve further, with whiting, squid, pinkies,

gummies and salmon, just to name a few. There’s also a very good chance of catching some big snapper this month, especially after a big swell.

This will also improve as the weather changes.

Inside the harbour can also fish well, and some great family-friendly areas include the local jetty, Trawler Wharf and canal.

The surf beaches are great options at this time of year, with many fish

This is what you want to see on your sounder.

VIC

Fingers crossed for great fishing conditions WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com

Everyone is hoping we’ll get some good weather patterns this month, creating plenty of angling

opportunities. Last year we experienced lots of late rain which dirtied our rivers up until Christmas.

This year, however, things are looking much more normal. After a windy and wet winter, spring seems to have sprung early,

Nick Alexeyeff with a fine Lower Merri brown trout. won’t be another date set for this year, so we will have to wait until next year, even though there is still good fishing at the moment.

and squid is a good starting option.

The gummies have also been going well.

Whiting have been slow,

which is unusual for our area. With the forecast of a warm summer (after a disappointingly short and cool one last year), thing are hopefully looking up.

October is often a good month to start fishing the surf. As the weather warms up you can get some nice, flat evenings. Seeing as it’s too early for kings, and the crayfish season still closed, targeting a gummy in the surf is a great option.

My boys filled the freezer with some quality mullet and salmon recently, which make great baits in the surf.

A nice, calm evening on Yambuk, Fitzroy, Logans or the Cutting beaches could provide some good action.

As mentioned last month, the trout fishing has continued to be fantastic.

The Lower Merri has been the hotpot. As always, there haven’t been big numbers of fish caught, but the quality of the fish has been impressive. Most trout have been in the 1.6-2kg size range. As the Hopkins and Mt Emu have dropped and cleared, they have also been producing well.

In the coming weeks the rivers should still be producing fish (although it’s getting to the stage where snakes can become

October is a great month for estuary perch, like this one taken by Jason Kelly. a big problem, particularly if you are doing any serious trekking along the banks). October is often a good time to be looking for some ‘true’ sea-run trout. These super silvery and hard-fighting fish are rare, compared to the resident trout, but can be encountered herding up smelt schools in the lower

reaches of the Merri at this time of year.

As the waters warm and clear in the coming weeks, estuarine lure anglers in particular will be looking forward to fishing the edges more as fish move out of spawning mode and leave the deeper water. This has already been happening with some quality bream

and estuary perch showing up in the Hopkins and Curdies rivers by anglers lure casting. Soft plastics and deep-diving hardbodies have been the go-to lures at the moment, but the way the water is improving and getting clearer, surface lures may be worthwhile towards the end of October.

We can only hope!

I used small 75mm, 1-3ft lures, and we caught and released bream and estuary perch to 40cm. The fishing was some of the best I’ve

Craig with a nice fish from the Aire River.

The weather is starting to break now, and hopefully, it will start to warm up. It’s the time of the year when we start to see the snapper moving through. Normally, from now on, the charter boats regularly get some nice big reds, and the local gurus do as well. I expect the fishing to get better from now on.

Fresh bait is always best for the big snapper,

but they will get better with the water temperatures rising slowly.

The local rivers have been fishing really well. I recently fished the Aire River two days after it opened. I fished high where I had no luck and didn’t mark any fish. I returned to the bridge on the sea side and started marking some nice fish.

They got hungry as the water started running to the sea.

ever had down there. I went back a couple of times that week for more good fishing, and all the fish were released to live another day. It’s great to see the river so healthy, with great numbers of fish in there, and also seeing people catch fish off the bridge and the small jetties.

Finally, salmon are still being encountered off the beaches, so it’s well worth a try this month.

OCTOBER 2023 77

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Hunting around and trying different approaches year proved that isn’t always the case, with plenty of big snapper showing up there right at the start of the season.

Calamari took a long time to get going this season, and it was only early spring when they really came on. We didn’t get that run early/mid-August run, and the weather probably had a bit to do with it because not too many people braved the conditions to go fishing. The season started with most reports coming

PHILLIP ISLAND

Craig Edmonds

We are heading into our 18th year in the shop, and have amassed a considerable amount of fishing data from over that time. Having data is a great reference, and it provides you with lots of information that you don’t need to remember.

One thing the data tells us is this: if you think something is always true, you’re wrong.

We get customers that do things exactly the same year after year, fish the same spots, use the same rigs, baits and gear, then come in and tell me how hard fishing is this

water temperatures, anything is possible, especially if the currents blow in the stripies again.

We have found lately that people heading offshore are only putting so long into looking for a tuna and then, if they don’t find one, are trying to make their trip worthwhile looking for a feed of gummy or flathead. Lucky for them, both species have been available, although the flathead have been a little

There are some good numbers of perfectsized keepers around at the moment.

The best part about spring is the quality of the squid. season. Five minutes later, we’ll get the exact opposite report from someone who looks around and tries different things. Just because something worked for you last time doesn’t mean it’s

it’s all cleaned up the reports should be better.

We are now in that changeover period between baited and artificial jigs, and also that period where colour is impossible to work out. I will tend more towards using artificial jigs, and those colours that are always popular will be in the reports.

There were very few chances to head offshore during the winter months, which was the main reason

going to work this time.

Reports are still like the spring weather, getting better but a little inconsistent. This is typical as the snapper move in and settle before they get hungry. Most of the reports

are coming from the channels at the moment, which is also a sign that the fish are still coming into the bay.

The water has been a little slow in warming up, but it’s getting there.

One thing continuing from last season is the number of baitfish in the bay. There are plenty of small salmon, yakkas and mackerel, and if you want to try something different, grab the sabiki jigs and the live bait tank and use live baits for your snapper. A 5kg snapper will easily swallow whole a live bait, whole pilchard or even a whole small squid.

If you want bigger fish, try upsizing things.

Don’t forget to look around, especially if you are heading from Newhaven to Lang Lang way. Check the mud off Coronet Bay on your way past. It’s traditionally a later season area, but last

You just never know what will turn up on your next trip. This elephant was caught in August. from the beaches and very few from the jetties. That hasn’t changed a lot, with Newhaven probably the best of the jetties, although there haven’t been many reports at all. During the winter, with so much water flowing out of the river, bringing plenty of rubbish, you can understand why the jetties have been quiet. However, now that

why the reports of barrels were slow. We did have some reports, and considering that there were only a handful of boats out and not the dozens there were last year, those anglers who managed to land one did well. The barrels did fish right through until October last year, so there’s still plenty of time.

With the forecast of warmer

harder with the swell staying up most days.

There are a few good school sharks about off Kilcunda reefs, with the odd snapper. With the water starting to warm up in the bay, everybody’s favourites – the draftboards sharks – are making their way out of the bay. If you are fishing for your flathead, expect to catch few.

shallow and in low light or night time conditions. If they are on the chew, many can be caught in a single session so please remember your daily bag limit and don’t exceed it.

The Curdies River and lake have been fishing well in recent weeks. However, the mouth naturally reopened again recently due to stormy weather, and the water levels have dropped once again as the system continues to have a good flush-out. Generally, the bream fishing can quickly shut down for a week or two, but when it takes off again, you can get good results fishing the outgoing tide. Or, if it’s incoming, stay above the clear saltwater line and concentrate on the brackish.

For those equipped to head right out on the briny, some solid late winter snapper to 4kg have been boated in depths exceeding 50m. Here the water isn’t as cold as it is closer inshore, but that will change in the coming weeks.

This will allow the snapper

to move in close, not only to spawn themselves, but to feast on calamari squid doing exactly the same thing.

The Eastern Australian Current is almost in full swing, pushing south, and a certain amount of this warmer water is bleeding into Bass Strait. This is beginning to fire things up on the fishing front.

Smaller pinkie snapper, nannygai (red snapper), morwong, Sergeant Baker, leatherjacket, rod cod as well as some solid gummy and school shark to 24kg have been boated. Bottom bouncing using 2-4oz sinkers on double paternoster rigs baited up with tough baits such as squid has been the go.

Further out and over to the west, some solid southern bluefin tuna to 120kg have been boated on 24kg stand-up outfits. Skirted lures in red and white, trolled around any surface activity out wide, have accounted for some good catches.

Warmer waters are firing up the spring fishing COBDEN

Rod Shepherd

The Hopkins River recently reopened, but due to the sheer amount of sand build-up at the mouth, plus high seas, the system lost minimal water and is still quite full. This, combined with a quiet couple of weeks, did not deter many anglers from trying their luck from the boat or bank.

Just prior to this, some big bags of bream were taken upstream in and around Jubilee Park on bait such as shrimp, cut salmon and mullet, as well as crab. The fish seem to be feeding in slightly deeper water so anglers are working depths of 2m+.

Quite a few estuary perch have been taken downstream of the road bridge, as it’s spawning time for them. They are responding to lures fished 78 OCTOBER 2023

Our coastline is riddled with islands, reefs and bommies, providing food and shelter for a multitude of saltwater species in the warmer months.

A helping hand for Macquarie perch A new research project will bring together fisheries experts from across Australia and abroad to work on re-establishing wild populations of Macquarie perch.

The $3.7 million project will drive collaboration between governments, university researchers and recreational fishers.

The three-year joint effort will investigate ‘cracking the code’ on captive breeding of the threatened species, meaning fisheries experts will be able to grow fingerlings from hatchery broodstock rather than capturing wild adult fish every season.

The project involves 12 partners across government, universities and community, including the VFA, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, NSW Fisheries and the Northeast and Goulburn Broken CMAs.

Work to examine nutrition, hormones, the timing of breeding and other factors influencing the consistent production of fingerlings will be driven by research partners including Deakin, Monash, and Sunshine Coast universities, Arthur Rylah Institute and the Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture Research.

Since 2022, our Snobs Creek hatchery has produced more than 185,000 Macquarie perch using wild broodstock. We hope to double that number in years to come with captive broodstock, just like we do with millions of Murray cod and golden perch every year!

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Making smart springtime decisions pays off GEELONG

Neil Slater slaterfish@gmail.com

October is a great time to fish the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast. The water loses that icy grip, the fish flood in, and the boat ramps start to fill again.

Portarlington to Point Henry can be a real hotspot for snapper. Just remember that it’s illegal to anchor in the shipping channel, and keep an eye out for big ships – they won’t stop.

Land-based anglers have many options around Geelong and the Bellarine.

These include the Geelong

Don’t discount the local freshwater either. The trout and reddies at Wurdi Buloc and Stoney Creek reservoirs fire up with the insect activity, and those estuary perch stocked

by VFA in 2018 into the Barwon in Geelong should be approaching fun size.

Keen angler Hugh

Fly fishos trying their luck in the Barwon estuary during the Bellarine Inshore Saltwater Fly Fishing Competition.

Peter just needed a break in the weather to get a line in, and was rewarded with a 5.5kg snapper at St Helens.

Hanson has been out to Wurdee, pestering the local redfin population. Hugh has had good success using soft vibe lures on both reddies and trout over the last few months. He hasn’t bagged any whopper reddies, but he’s caught fair numbers to bring home a feed and the odd trout around 50cm.

Robert Gallacher also paid a visit to Wurdee Buloc, hoping for a reddie

lure like a train. It took a good 15 minutes for Robert to bring it in to the bank! It turned out to be a whopper 60cm, 4.5kg brown trout, which is Robert’s personal best! The big brownie was the only fish of the day, but what a fish to take home!

Peter Richards saw a break in the weather and flicked out some bluebait from St Helens recently.

Peter said his bait was in less than five minutes before the reel was screaming!

The fish gave three strong runs, pulling hard until Peter managed to get it into a position where he could land his big snapper. It measured in at 72cm and weighed 5.5kg.

Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club are hosting the Bellarine Snapper Classic from 4-19 November. The competition has $25,000 worth of prizes up for grabs, and the entry fees are $60 for non-members, $30 for members, and kids under 16 are free with a paying adult.

For more info, head over

Chris from Drysdale Bait & Tackle has been doing well off Point Richards.

How’s that for a Wurdee brownie? At 60cm, 4.5kg this fish gave Robert his PB! Snapper are the talk of October each year as they move along the Surf Coast and into Port Phillip Bay to do their thang. As soon as the AFL finals finish, the Surf Coast fires up, and there can be some real rippers caught up around 8-9kg. The bigger fish are caught over deeper reefy areas around the 25m mark, while smaller pinkie snapper hang around the shallow reef areas and are best targeted first light.

Inside Corio Bay, the shipping channel from 80 OCTOBER 2023

waterfront, St Helens rock wall, North Shore and further around, Portarlington, St Leonards and Point Lonsdale piers. These spots all offer a good shot at a snapper – particularly after dark.

Corio Bay snapper will take a wide variety of baits including squid, pilchards, sauries, red rockets, cuttlefish, octopus and salmon fillets. Your best bet is to lob a variety of decent baits out there in case their dietary requirements vary on the day.

Hugh has bagged the odd trout using vibe lures at Wurdee. or trout. Robert says it was a nice overcast day on the lake, with a slight westerly breeze. He said it was a pretty quiet morning, then out of nowhere a big fish hit his pink curly tail soft plastic

to leopoldaac.com/2023snapper-classic Whiting have been a little hard to pin down recently, but they do ebb and flow.

A few anglers have caught fish to 38cm fishing in 6m

of water out off Leopold.

St Leonards has also been producing fish, but many of them have been undersized, with a few up to 38cm.

At this time of year, calamari can get quite

romantic, and some real whoppers can be caught around the Bellarine.

Victory Bight near Queenscliff is famous for its XXL calamari, and attracts a crowd. The best squid are often caught using the skewer-style jigs baited with tommy rough, but just about any solid fish will work.

Chris Pitman from Drysdale Bait and Tackle has caught a few decent calamari fishing the shallows around Portarlington using a Fuji Maru size 3.0 jig. There are a lot of weed-sandweed patches from Clifton Springs to Queenscliff, and October can be prime time for calamari.

Big swell has hampered offshore fishing along the Surf Coast, but those anglers who have managed to launch their boats into Bass Strait and along the coast to Lorne have caught a few pinkie snapper around the inshore reef areas at first light. Whiting have also been caught by boaties

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS ANYTHING CABBAGE CARROT CAT FOOD CELERY CHEESE CHOOK FEED DOG FOOD FRAMES

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in the shallow reef areas near Lorne, while those anglers fishing further out have caught good numbers of flathead and gummy sharks while drifting in 30-50m of water. Salmon have continued their fine form down the coast, with solid fish up to 50cm+ being caught on lures and pilchard baits.

The Barwon River

estuary has been producing quality silver trevally over the last few months, but they have slowed slightly since then. About an hour before the high tide has been the best time, because of the influx of clean saltwater.

The Bellarine Fly Fishing Association hosted the Bellarine Inshore Fly Fishing Competition at the end of August. The

Young Eli recently made two good choices – fishing instead of kinder, and a pub feed after fishing.

ROCKMELON SALMON SCRAPS SWEET POTATO TUNA VEG WATERMELON ZUCCHINI

KFC BONES KIWI LIVER MANDARIN PEAR PILLIES PINEAPPLE POTATO PUMPKIN

P/Code: Phone (day):

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win the prize pack.

SEND ENTRIES TO: FMM Find-a-word Competition, PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129

FMM OCTOBER 2023

WHAT TO USE FOR REDCLAW BAIT

FIND-A-WORD WINNER The Find-a-Word winner for August’s issue is R Derrick of Barraba, who won a Fishing Monthly prize pack.

Prizes delivery can take up to 8 weeks. – FMM

Complete the Find the Word and go in the draw to win a Fishing Monthly Prize Pack containing a stubbie cooler and a Fishing Monthly environmentallyfriendly tote bag.

FIND THE RAPALA LOGO The Find the Rapala Logo prize winners for August were: 1st P Powell of Herne Hill, 2nd M Magner of Childers, 3rd G McGrath of Avoco.

competition is in its second year, and is held across estuaries and waterways spanning from Spring Creek in Torquay to the Grammar School Lagoon inside Corio Bay. Boat and landbased fishing are permitted, providing competitors with a variety of options. The competition has gathered quite a following, with people coming from as far as Wangaratta to attend, and the competition now has the backing of the Victorian Council of Flyfishing Clubs.

Steve Attard reported that Jack Sims was the man to beat, as he took out the largest trevally at 42cm.

The longest salmon went to Stephen Elsom, while Andy Congram and Sai Schmidt (both new members) took out the snapper category and best young fly fisher.

Andy took the top spot as Champion Angler, and this earned his club, the Bellarine Fly Fishing Association, a spot on the VCFFC Shield.

The Bellarine Inshore Fly Fishing Competition is the only known saltwater flyfishing competition this side of Sydney, so the Bellarine Fly Fishing Association is very proud to host the event. For more info, check out the Bellarine

The Wurdee reddies have been enjoying Hugh’s soft plastic vibes.

Fly Fishing Association’s Facebook page.

The Surf Coast salmon have been turning it on along the beaches lately, with solid fish either side of 2kg gracing the sand. Your best bet is to walk the beach and flick lures into likely-

looking gutters, but soaking baits like pilchards and other fish strips has worked also.

Kevin McLoughlin gave lad Eli the option of going to kinder or going fishing with dad. The decision was a tough one but thankfully, Eli settled on a fishing trip

Prizes delivery can take up to 8 weeks. – FMM

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with dad. With a bit of a late start, they hooked up the boat and headed down to Point Roadnight.

After launching the boat, they headed out and it wasn’t long before they found a good school of salmon by trolling lures.

They kept 10 or so for a feed and for gummy bait. They had a look for a gummy for an hour, but there wasn’t enough tide flow so they decided to go to the pub for lunch. Great choice, Eli! The Lorne Pier has been producing consistent captures of quality garfish by anglers using small baits suspended under floats. Other captures have included mullet, barracouta, whiting, salmon, silver trevally and pinkie snapper.

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).

OCTOBER 2023 81

VIC

It’s approaching Victoria’s favourite time of year PPB WEST

Alan Bonnici alan@fishingmad.com.au

Finally, we are approaching my favourite time of the year on the fishing calendar. Those bitterly cold days and slow bite windows should be well behind us now.

There is much to be excited about as we can finally enjoy the warmer weather and the longer days. Of course, with this warmer weather comes increased water temperatures, which should produce some excellent fishing ahead.

If you can remember, it was only two months ago that the water temperature was hovering around 11°C. Now we are slowly progressing to 15°C and above. The increased water temperatures generally see our bread-and-butter species back on the bite.

King George whiting, squid, flathead, salmon, snook and others thrive in these warmer temperatures, and will actively be fishing well once again.

Many anglers around Melbourne will know this is generally the start of snapper fishing around Port Phillip Bay. Already so early on in the season, we are seeing some good snapper catches and no shortage of pinkies.

Western Port has already started producing some big reds, and Port Phillip Bay won’t be too far behind.

This will only improve as the weather warms and water temperatures rise.

Optimal temperatures for our local bays are generally between 15-18°C, so when this happens you need to get out as often as you can and fish. It should be a very productive season ahead.

No doubt I will be spending countless days around Port Phillip Bay

Fresh bait has been the key to catching big fish.

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peddling around on my Hobie PA14 kayak, flicking soft plastics in search of snapper. I generally throw around paddle tails, jerkshads and Turtlebacks.

Early in the season, I find that many catches will happen in the shallows as snapper enter the bay and head straight to the edges. Historically, I have caught many snapper at this time of year fishing as shallow as 2m, and I have caught many snapper in less than 7m of water.

Last year my two biggest snapper happened early in the season in very shallow waters. Shallow reefs are

ideal grounds to scour and find these awesome fish.

Today there are so many ways to target snapper. The volume and variety of gear is crazy, and we can chop and change between techniques and gear choices. Anglers across our wonderful city and state will each have their own preference. For snapper these days it can be anything from drowning baits to trolling lures, jigging, and my all-time favourite – flicking soft plastics with light spin gear. I can’t wait for those early mornings and balmy evenings on the water

searching for some reelscreaming action, and I hope to see you out there.

Over the past month I’ve had a lot of fun working closely with Victorian Fisheries on our annual metro trout stonker stocking. This is where hundreds of large rainbow trout around 5kg in size are released into our easily-accessible metro lakes around Melbourne and Victoria. This is done outside of our Eildon festival. I had the pleasure of assisting in the release of over 100 large rainbow trout into Albert Park Lake.

I covered this in great detail, walking people through the whole process from the starting stages at Snobs Creek Hatchery, and moving on to releasing them into metro lakes.

And then – finally – my favourite part: fishing and catching them. I caught many of them this time around, and released them all in the hope that some kids or novice anglers will get the chance to get stuck into some awesome metro fishing action.

These fish are big and colourful, but most seasoned anglers will know they’re not the greatest fighters. However, it’s important to keep in mind that for many people, catching a fish like this will be a catch of a lifetime.

Stocked fish like these hold a really important place in growing fishing around our state, and it’s great to have initiatives that generate excitement and encourage families into this amazing sport.

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Again, I applaud the great work by the VFA here. Being so heavily involved in grassroots fishing at our community level, it’s amazing to see the excitement this generates and the smiles when kids or beginners catch fish of this size. True, it may not be your cup of tea if you’re a seasoned angler, but it’s great to see fishing thriving in accessible metro urban areas close to home.

Until next time, good fishing everyone. Feel free to contact me directly to share your fishing experiences, photos and catches around Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay and beyond,

which we can feature in next month’s article. You can contact me by email at alan@fishingmad.com.au.

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OCTOBER 2023 83

East Coast

VIC

Fish get feisty in warming water LAKES ENTRANCE

Steven Pryke

Gippsland has really begun to settle into its spring roots with cool, crisp mornings and lovely warm days.

Spring in Gippsland can be absolutely stunning, making for plenty of opportunities

for keen anglers to explore.

LAKES ENTRANCE The wonderful spring weather we’ve experienced lately has been a welcome change from the freezing winter we had here in Gippsland.

With warmer days, the water temperatures have begun to rise, and our fishery has begun to change with it. King

George whiting are slowly turning up in better numbers, and it’s becoming easier to target them. The deeper weed beds have still been the go, but in time, the weedy flats will begin to fire up.

Australian salmon and tailor have been a common catch lately. On those calm spring mornings, these aggressive hunters have been seen chasing baitfish along the surface, especially early in the day. Small topwater lures are great fun cast up into the middle of the action and then worked back fast.

When you do this, it’s usually only a matter of time before your little topwater will get destroyed. Commonly, the surface action is strong in the low-light periods. Once the sun rises, you’ll find these hunters moving a little deeper, and this is when metal lures and soft plastics are a great option.

Offshore-wise, the warm

The author with a quality bream taken on a lightly-weighted soft plastic.

currents are getting closer day by day. The main reefs (such as the 6 Mile and 8 Mile) have been highly productive for pinkie snapper. Traditional bottom bashing methods have been very effective, with pilchard and squid working very well.

As the water temperatures rise, gummy sharks will become more of a common catch for anglers, especially for those targeting them in 18-20m of water.

LAKE TYERS With warming temperatures, Lake Tyers has begun to come out of its winter habits. The many flats have begun to hold good numbers of bream, especially the flats in sheltered bays where the water temps have been slightly higher. Small jerkbaits or lightly-weighted flickbait patterns have been ideal for these picky bream.

With the warmth on its

Lindsay Pryke with a cracker bream caught in the Gippsland Lakes. way and the lake temps rising, the monster flathead that call Lake Tyers home will start to make their appearance known.

Medium to large soft plastics are a great way to start your search for monster flathead.

Commonly, the points and muddy bays are the ideal areas

to start your search.

Have you been fishing?

If you have been out for fish lately and have a great photo, please send it to stevenprykefishing@gmail. com with a short description, and you could be featured in the edition of Fishing Monthly.

Persistence pays off for anglers GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

Water temps are finally on the rise, the footy is over and daylight savings is back. That means it’s now time for the fishing to really ramp up. All the recent talk here in the Gippy Lakes area has been about bream regulations, and I’ll kick this month’s report off on that very subject.

FISHERIES MEET AND GREET Recently the Nicholson Angling club held a meeting where we were able to meet up with Fisheries management, and the main subject was bream regulations. Even the VFA head honcho Travis Dowling was there to MC the night, and we were blessed to have other notable Fisheries personal like Taylor Hunt and Craig Ingram, to name but a few. I was lucky to be invited along with some of the keenest anglers in our community, and we all got a chance to raise our thoughts, concerns and opinions.

We also got to see the

outcome of a recent survey the VFA conducted, and close to 4000 anglers chose to respond.

The results showed that a greater majority wanted to keep the 28-38cm slot limit for bream, and were happy to accept that a 5-fish bag limit should be introduced.

Of further interest was that most people rejected the idea of keeping a single trophy bream over 38cm. Nearly all of the anglers attending the meeting that night, myself included, agreed with those three main points. It is also fair to say that a few on the night were directly

opposed to some or even all of the proposals. I’m so glad we all have a voice, and every view is respected.

The outcome of the survey and of the meeting shows that anglers are now fully aware of how important big breeding fish are to rebuilding the Gippy Lakes bream stocks.

The science tells us that by adopting these new regs, there will be a growth in numbers of between 20-30% of large bream able to breed, and quickly get our population of fish back on track. In years to come, we can revisit the

Brad Stokell with one of many nice river bream caught on prawn bait.

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regulations and change them if the majority of anglers agree.

It’s important to note that any changes in regulations are for the Gippy Lakes only, and will not apply to anywhere else in Victoria.

SEA-RUN TROUT A name that features in so many of my reports is landbased legend Brayden Khote.

He and his brother manage to find the biggest bream and flathead that boat anglers would die for, and Brayden also catches his fair share of estuary perch and bass.

While fishing the Mitchell River on the doorstep of Bairnsdale, Brayden managed to land two magnificent sea-run brown trout on two recent trips. His first capture was a huge surprise, and it certainly got anglers talking, but when he got a second one just a week later it was fair dinkum mind-blowing. Many years ago, these fish were a fairly common capture in the Mitchell, and I have reports of trout being caught there going 2-3kg and better. Over the last 20 or 30 years I reckon I’ve only heard of a handful being landed, so for Brayden to get these two rippers on

BREAM comp winners Owen Pierce and Max Mackney caught some of the biggest fish that live in the Gippy Lakes.

a blade in quick succession is Brad Stokell and Dean quite incredible. Both fish were Shingles recently caught about quickly released, and biggest eight bream, and they found one at 53cm looked over 1kg. that prawn baits worked the And get this – while he landed best. The boys were able to those sea-run trout he was get a great feed, catching fish also catching an estuary perch up to 38cm. around 28cm on nearly every There are mountains of cast, using the same Avenger bream showing up on the Hurricane blade. sounder in the lower Nicho, BIG BRUISER BREAM but most of them are about It’s been nice to see that 25-30cm. I took part in the reasonable numbers of bream latest Vic BREAM comp, and have been showing up, and it was a real joy to be there and although reports are patchy it’s see my buddy Owen Pierce great to see a few very big bream win after 13 years in the comp around. As expected, the rivers scene. He won the comp with have been producing the best his fishing buddy Max, and it captures, with the lower Tambo was a well-celebrated win for and Mitchell being the stand-out the these very popular blokes. locations. The upper Nicholson After so many frustrating is also fishing well for even attempts over the years, I bigger bream around 44cm. yelled out and shed a tear of joy when the boys weighed in their last five stonker bream, and the digital scales revealed their win. I reckon it was the loudest crowd cheer you would ever hear at any bream comp, after this nail-biting finish. Even better, they won the comp out of areas hardly anyone dares to fish, and that takes real guts and dedicated homework. These two fellas are real characters, and are now real rockstar bream gurus!

I won’t expand on my grim No fish in the Mitchell River is safe when Brayden efforts for the comp, with Khote is walking the banks with a fishing rod. This is only one bream to find the one of two sea-run trout he landed on a blade recently. weigh-in arena…

VIC

East Coast

The pinkie snapper, whiting, and surf are all firing PORT ALBERT

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

With rising water temperatures, it’s good to finally see busy anglers and heaps of reports coming in. Although the whiting are back, the bigger models have been a little elusive so far.

Pinkies are now on the move, and so are the sharks along our beaches. It’s a busy time for anglers, and the

Pinkie snapper are a real bonus, and can be a nice by-catch while chasing flathead using soft plastics and blades.

up right along the 90 Mile Beach, you just know summer is fast approaching.

Once again, big numbers of

gummy and school sharks are being caught by surf anglers from Loch Sport through to Woodside. Although most of them are undersized fish, there are quite a few metre fish, and some just over a metre.

The drones are also buzzing down there and carting baits out to about 300-400m offshore. With a few thumping bronze whaler sharks already hitting the sand, it’s now official – the game fishing season is well underway.

A lot of winter salmon seem to be still hanging

of fish are caught over winter, the variety of species and the methods used to catch them are not as abundant as in the summer months.

Fishing offshore will start

to pick up in the coming weeks, with flathead (both tiger and sand) starting to liven up. It’s pretty hard to beat a feed of flathead caught offshore; they are one of the best eating fish,

There are plenty of whiting around the 32cm mark, and the bigger fish to 40cm won’t be far away. coming month is one of the best on the fishing calendar.

SURF FISHING When the sharks turn

around, and a few 2kg fish the next change.

Smaller baits are ideal for are not out of the question.

The grass whiting are also the rockies, as opposed to the It’s too early for the snapper, aggressive at this time of year, big bluebait or flesh strips we though; we still have a few and don’t forget they taste as use on the larger yank flathead. months to wait before they turn up to play.

WHITING The King George season has also kicked off with a bang, and you’ll have no problems stacking a feed from Port Albert right through to Welshpool.

Most of us have caught a good feed of 32-34cm whiting each trip, but those thumpers around 40cm have been a little scarce for now. As usual, live bass yabbies have been the best Shark fishing from the surf is now in full bait, and I find mussel to be swing, and the drones are buzzing. nearly as good. This month’s In fact, it’s quite common to hotspots will be at the entrance good as their cousins. areas of Mcloughlins, Manns, PINKIES AND FLATHEAD get the rockies while using Karneys and Port Albert, or The flatties are starting to smaller whiting baits. the channels not far from the bite now, and as usual, a few The best lures by far are Welshpool ramp. ripper rockies are the first to small blades around 40mm, The best times to fish are show up. Most rock flatties we especially with stinger hooks. a few hours before and after catch are around 30-38cm, and Smaller soft plastics are also the change of a high or low any over 40cm are considered worth a try. tide. I also believe you need a pretty good prize. You need The pinkies are slowly a good run in the water, but to target them in the deeper growing in numbers inside not the barrelling flow you get channel edges, especially the Port Albert estuary area, with a super high or draining those lined with good weed and for now, a 38cm fish is out low. In very fast water, I cover. The last two hours of a probably a good one. Like find the whiting go off the bite dropping tide is the best time to last year, the bigger snapper and shut down until the flow chase them, and they will often (around 40-45cm) should start begins to slow down towards school up in good numbers. moving in right about now.

Wider range of species to target MALLACOOTA/EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

Spring is settling in, and it has been great to enjoy some warmer days after a long, cold winter. This winter, there was little rain for the Gippsland region. With a bit of common sense, there should have been some fire management taking place for the upcoming summer period (that’s assuming any lessons were learnt after the last bushfire several years ago).

With the warming weather, the fishing will start to liven up. Although plenty

Mikey with a great bream caught on a lure.

hands down. With a generous bag limit, it is worth getting out there and getting a few for the freezer.

The gummy shark is also another great eating fish that can be caught in numbers over the coming months. The beach will also start to offer a bit more variety as the water warms. At present, salmon, along with some tailor, have been caught. Sand whiting and yellowfin bream will also put in an appearance over the coming months.

The lake and rivers have been fishing well, with plenty of flathead being caught. The warming water sees the dusky flathead get a lot more active.

Look for those northern-facing

Make the most of spring catches MARLO/ORBOST

Wendy and Matthew

Spring has arrived, bringing with it some rain and warm sunshine. This has made it more pleasurable to sit and

wet a line from the banks of the Snowy or Brodribb rivers, or from a boat around the islands, while pondering the up-and-coming prawn season. The prawns will bring plenty more fish into the system.

There are some quality bream on offer in the rivers.

Good numbers of mullet have been caught at the start of Lake Corringle, and also bream and luderick in the Snowy and Brodribb rivers. Sandworm is the preferred bait. A local man has been catching perch out of the snags in the Snowy River also, using live sandworm.

Reports from out off Cape Conran say the fishing has been a bit slow, with odd smaller gummy shark being caught out front anywhere from 40-48m deep. Bluebait and squid seem to be doing the trick. Small flathead have been caught closer to shore on bluebait and Jig ‘Ems. With the warm weather arriving, more anglers will be

fishing, and a lot more reports will be coming in. Hopefully there will be better catches as we wait for the warmer current to come down the coast and enter Bass Strait. This current will bring huge schools baitfish, that in turn will bring all the pelagic fish with them.

Salmon are still being caught on poppers and metal lures off the beach. I haven’t had any reports yet of shark catches off the beach, but this may change as the water gets a bit warmer.

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Even the smallest fish get in on the action. The lure nearly disappeared in this hungry little flathead. areas with a muddy bottom, because these areas warm up quicker and attract the flathead and bait to the area.

Fishing for bream in the lake has been slow because with little rain, a lot of the action moves upstream.

Some good perch have

been caught over the past few months, but as usual with these fish, you need to put in the time to find them.

As the days warm and we head into summer, the bass fishing will pick up.

Dawn and dusk are a good times to be tossing a lure.

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VIC

The upsides and the downsides of spring fishing ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

After being on this earth as long as I have, you’d think my memory would prepare me for the

pot. They get under your glasses, up your nose, in your eyes and, every now and again, in your mouth.

After a bit of gagging and dry retching, some slobber and drool are expelled almost always minus the fly. The small culprit has

things that spring brings, like the promise of some thumping golden perch in our lakes, rivers and local channels. Around Swan Hill, a few good-sized perch have been taken in the channels earlier this year, with a couple pushing

Some good golden perch are starting to bite in our local waters.

This one was taken on a Bassman jighead and soft plastic.

A pot full of yabbies cooked on the bank of the river. Does it get any better? trials that come with the warming of spring. When those bright, spring days arrive, my unprepared skin is always burnt to a crisp on my first time out on the water. It happens every year, and each and every time I swear it won’t happen again, but it does.

either made it to your stomach or has its feet wedged in your throat.

If this wasn’t traumatic enough, the pre-dusk session, which was so well planned, is invaded by the droning wings of a billion blood-sucking mosquitoes.

Yep, welcome to spring. While I was caught

up around the 55cm mark.

Most of the fish caught so far have been taken on small hardbodied lures and spinnerbaits. The Bassman Tubby and Compact spinnerbaits have been working well, along with the small StumpJumpers and a range of vibes. Scrub worms, small yabbies and

these waters, and no doubt we will see a few pushing the 60cm bracket as the bite gets better.

Carp continue to be a serious problem in the Murray, scoffing baits meant for golden perch.

A few perch are getting landed, but they are far outnumbered by carp at the end of each session. It’s a similar story as you make your way downstream through Boundary Bend to

This crisping of the skin is followed by small, black buzzing flies numbered in the thousands, and which are as sticky as a honey 86 OCTOBER 2023

out this season, it won’t happen again.

The funny thing is, my memory has no problem preparing me for the good

the local river shrimp have been the best baits.

If past seasons are anything to go by, there are bigger perch around in

than expected; as the river dropped away you might have thought they would be about in better numbers.

Still, it’s early days, and there’s plenty of time for these tasty critters to come on the chew.

That’s it for this month. Don’t forget the sunscreen, fly and mozzie repellent, and have a great spring hooking into some quality-sized perch in our local waters.

Yellowbelly fever coming YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

Make sure you remember the repellent, as there are plenty of mosquitoes prepared to make a blood withdrawal. Photo courtesy of wired.co.uk.

Robinvale, Wemen all the way to Mildura. You can get enough perch to put a few in the pan, but once again, they are dotted amongst a mountain of carp.

As is usually the case, good numbers of perch are biting below most of the locks and weirs locally on both bait and lures (although they can be sporadic at times).

The yabby run has started a little slower

Everyone gets excited at this time of the year. The weather is improving, the birds are chirping, and the smell of liniment is in the air, with footy finals about. Unfortunately for the die-hard cod fishos who prefer to target naturally recruited cod (versus those who prefer to fish in stocked ponds), this time of year brings great disappointment. All the rods, reels and the rest of the gear specific to cod fishing in and around Lake Mulwala must be packed away until December 1.

Anglers must keep in mind that from September 1 through to November 30 inclusive, targeting Murray cod is not permitted.

The Murray River below Yarrawonga downstream through the Cobram area to the Tocumwal traffic bridge is totally closed to all forms

of fishing from September 1 through to November 30 inclusive.

Those anglers who like chasing golden perch/ yellowbelly know they usually fire up around mid to late October.

Traditionally, the top end of the lake and backwaters around the Bundalong area are more productive than the open waters of the lake itself. When the fish fire up, the old faithful Jackall TN60 crankbait is your best bet. Hardbodied lures up to 70mm, and smallerprofiled spinnerbaits will also account for their fair share. If you do encounter a by-catch cod over the next couple of months, please release it unharmed as quickly as possible.

Looking back, August is a traditionally slow month for cod fishing, but persistent anglers were rewarded for their efforts.

The most consistent fisho (not a scoper!) was local lad Mick Crothers, along with his wife Rachael.

Mick and Rach had some

great evenings fishing the Woodlands area, with their best seeing them land a 58cm fish, a couple of 69s and a 75cm.

When it comes to scopers, none came close to the efforts that Rick ‘Coddog’ Goward put in.

Living locally allowed Rick to get out most evenings/mornings for many great-sized cod. I believe his best for the month measured 121cm, with numerous others measuring more than the magical 1m mark.

Overall, the 2022/23 season saw many changes on the cod fishing landscape in and around Mulwala. The most notable was the increase in anglers using Live Scope technology to target fish, as opposed to the traditional fish finding ways of old. In years gone by it was a great achievement to land a metery whilst fishing.

Nowadays, with the use of the latest technology, it’s nearly embarrassing

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Golden perch fishing productivity is on the rise

productive technique on the redfin as well. Trolling hardbody lures hasn’t caught big numbers of fish of late, but as the water warms up over the next couple of months, this approach should be more productive.

Late October is when we usually see a significant increase in golden perch catches. I often find early in the month when water temps are still low, the level of activity in the golden perch can be lower. Early in October I prefer to use small profile lures, such as the Jackall TN50 vibe in the silent models. Other good lure options early in October are blades, soft plastics and small profile

hardbody lures, especially any suspending models.

As the water temperatures increase and the golden perch become more aggressive in late October/ early November, larger lipless crankbaits become more effective, particularly the rattle models. Mediumsized hardbody lures and spinnerbaits also work well on these aggressive fish.

CAMPASPE RIVER The fishing has been very slow over recent months, due to cold water temperatures, high river flows and poor water clarity. The good news is that with the recent trend of below average rainfall, we have seen river flows reduce and the water clarity

to spruik your achievements.

The last few years have seen a massive increase

in anglers surface fishing.

Interestingly, this season was relatively quiet surfacewise, but I’ll hazard a guess

that a lot of these anglers were out scoping instead.

Big plastics, swimbaits, glidebaits, swim jigs and

scope baits are now the preferred lure of choice for those chasing the big cod.

I always like to award a Champion Angler for the season. This year the choice was easy, with the award going to Derek and Kade Blow for their outstanding results throughout the comp fishing season. Nobody really came close to them when it mattered.

For consistency through the year, Rick ‘Coddog’ Goward gets second place, whilst Mick Massier gets third for his genuine weight of numbers and dedication to the cause. He has spent many a long night (and day!) on the water.

Coming up on 21 October is the popular Golden Dollar$ fishing competition, an event designed to specifically target yellowbelly/golden perch. Entry forms are now available for this fun competition.

Organisation for the 24th annual Cod Classic is well

underway, with the event shaping up to be as good as ever. Five boating packages, a chance to spend 30 seconds in a cash grab machine along with $100,000+ of prizes makes this is one event not to be missed.

Entry forms are available at www.codclassic.com.au.

For more information on the Cod Classic, the upcoming Golden Dollar$ or anything else relating to fishing Mulwala, feel free to give us a call at Lake Mulwala Fish Camp & Ski on 03 5744 3133.

If you’re visiting town, you are welcome 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 our Yarrawonga store located between Rivers and One Zac in the heart of town. We are Yarrawonga/ Mulwala’s fishing specialists, and specialize in all things ‘green’!

Until next edition, happy fishing.

codhuntertours@bigpond.com

Increased numbers of golden perch will be caught in the Bendigo region as water temperatures increase and water clarity improves.

Mick Crothers with a nice August cod measuring 69cm.

Hopefully the water clarity will be better by the end of October, making lure fishing more productive.

LODDON RIVER Unfortunately, there isn’t much to report here; hardly anyone has been fishing due to the poor water clarity. With dirty water being released from the Cairn Curran, Tullaroop and Laanecoorie reservoirs, the river isn’t able to settle and clear up. I think it will be at least a couple of months before we see any significant improvement in the Loddon River. In the meantime, your best bet will be to use bait.

However, if the river receives some floods, there will be some very good fishing below the weirs. Even though the river will still be dirty, the concentration of post-flood fish will make for some good angling opportunities.

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months. This should mean that Lake Eppalock’s water levels should maintain a very high level for the next few months.

Over the last month the redfin were still making up the majority of anglers’ catch rates. The best concentrations of redfin have been found in between 5-7m of water. The most productive technique for targeting the redfin has been casting soft vibes and soft plastics rigged on jigheads, with a weight range of 7-10g. These moderately weighted jigheads allow you to get to the bottom quickly, where the majority of redfin are holding.

Vertically jigging blades and ice jigs has been a

Roger Miles

AVAILABLE FROM:

The fishing over the last few months has not been great, thanks to the poor conditions. When cold water temperatures are combined with high river flows and poor water clarity, you just know you’re going to have some tough sessions on the water.

Fortunately, since then we have received some more favourable weather, and there has been a slow improvement in conditions. The trend of below-average rainfall has been good, and the water clarity in the local river systems has been slowly improving.

The water clarity in our local impoundments has also started to settle. I am hopeful that this trend will continue, but as always during the spring months, conditions can change very quickly. With the region’s impoundments at or near capacity, we need only one major rain event and there will be flooding in the region. I am sure that the region will experience some form of flooding over the next three months, but hopefully it will be minor.

LAKE EPPALOCK At the time of writing this report, Lake Eppalock was still over 100% of capacity, and small volumes of water were still running over the spillway. With the current high water levels in the Upper Coliban, Lauriston and Malmsbury reservoirs, we should see reasonable inflows running into Lake Eppalock for the next several

has started to improve.

The unpredictability of spring weather means this could change quickly after a significant rainfall event.

However, if the trend of improving water clarity continues, we should start to see a good improvement in catch rates shortly.

If the region does receive a major rain event and there is flooding, then for the next few weeks there will be very good angling opportunities below all the weirs along the Campaspe River. The resident golden perch will push upstream to the water directly below these weirs if flooding occurs. At these times you can catch large numbers of golden perch, and a reasonable number of redfin at times as well. If you want to keep a few goldens for a feed, please take only what you need, and release the others so they can live to fight another day.

CAIRN CURRAN At the time of writing this report, Cairn Curran’s water level is at 99% of capacity. The water clarity is still very poor, so there haven’t been many anglers fishing there. If you are planning a trip there in the near future, I recommend bait fishing. Worms, yabbies and shrimp are good options, fished around the rocky shorelines and grassy banks.

If you want to persist with some lure fishing, bright lures with a good amount of UV colours would be a good choice.

Pink, orange and chartreuse are good choices. Dark colours such as black, purple and brown can also be good options in the dirty water.

BENDIGO

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One of the best months of the year to go fishing has two main lakes, both with redfin in them: Lake Buffalo and Lake William Hovell. Strangely enough, both of these lakes tend to fish slowly for redfin during springtime.

However, there are many other smaller dams and creeks littering the region that are worth fishing in October. Eldorado Dredge Hole, Lake Sambell and Allans Flat Waterhole are a few places you can try for redfin. Lures and bait will work well in these places.

If you’re lure fishing, try using something shiny.

A bladed spinner or a spoon will work well. So too will

WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

I love fishing in North East Victoria during October.

It’s one of my favourite months of the year. The trout are biting, the redfin and yellowbelly are starting to fire, the yabbies are starting to bite… there’s an adventure around every corner!

MURRAY COD The Murray cod season is closed all spring, and obviously that includes October. The only place that you can legally fish for Murray cod during the closed season is Lake Eildon.

I will be fishing with bait only in the Ovens River, usually only worms, but maybe a small yabby or shrimp with small hooks targeting yellowbelly. If I

October is the time to catch a feed of yabbies. angling with worms and shrimp in the Ovens River here in Wangaratta, and downstream. There are not huge amounts of yellowbelly in the Ovens, but thanks

flowing really well.

Most of the region’s trout streams are at their best in October, with the only exceptions being the larger rivers flowing from the high mountains such as the Ovens, King, Buckland and Buffalo rivers. Depending on how much rain we get, these waterways may still be a bit hard to wade, especially early in the month.

Once again, worms will be a great bait for trout during October. It’s still a little bit early for any major grasshopper hatches.

During November we may see changes to the best bait as the ground dries, the

over there I will be trolling medium sized hard body lures. The small Old Mate lures are dynamite, and number 2 StumpJumpers are another great and readily

It’s a great time of the year to catch carp in most waterways.

Terry Alexander with a lovely table-sized yellowbelly from Lake Nillahcootie. catch a Murray cod I will quickly unhook it and release it. My cod lures will be hung up until December.

YELLOWBELLY October is a great time of the year to catch yellowbelly. I have often said that October and November are the two best months of the year to catch yellowbelly, otherwise known as golden perch, or callop in South Australia.

Locally I will be

lure of the perfect, platesized yellowbelly from Lake Nillahcootie wins me over every time. Yellowbelly are a magnificent table fish, as long as they are 35-45cm long. Once they get up over 50cm they get extremely

a brightly coloured soft plastic or even a rattling vibe of some kind.

If you prefer bait fishing, it’s always hard to go past worms. Worms are definitely the best, followed by live shrimp, if you can

to fish stocking over recent years their numbers are increasing nicely and I am sure that I will pick up a few during October.

For my best chance at catching decent numbers of yellowbelly during October I will head to nearby Lake Nillahcootie, over on the Broken River system.

From the bank I will be using worms as bait, and maybe small yabbies.

When I take my kayak

Fishing from a kayak at Lake Nillahcootie is a great way to catch yellowbelly in October.

Small minnows are a good lure for trout during the spring months.

88 OCTOBER 2023

available option.

If I ever get the urge to target monster, trophy-sized yellowbelly I will head to Lake Hume, and fish around the rocky outcrops. Every springtime I say that I will do this, and I never do! The

fatty and go from tasting amazing to tasting terrible.

REDFIN Just like the yellowbelly, October can be a great time of the year to target redfin in North East Victoria.

The Ovens River system

get your hands on any. They can be a bit hard to find in October.

TROUT Trout fishing is in full swing in October. The water is still quite cold and the streams are usually still

worms disappear and the grasshoppers arrive.

If you want to go lure fishing, everything will work in October. Small minnows, soft plastics, blades, bladed spinners, spoons, wobblers… you name it, and it will be worth tying on during October.

OTHER SPECIES One thing that I really look forward to each October is the yabbying. It is usually around October when they really start to come on the bite in North East Victoria.

I just love the anticipation of lifting a yabby net to reveal what is inside. I love the thrill of the hunt as I seek out new places to go yabbying, and I love a nice feed of yabbies.

Any waterway that has carp in it (which is almost all of them) will be worth fishing in October as well.

These fish bite all year round in North East Victoria, although they do slow down a bit in most areas during winter. By October they will be back in full swing.

Lake Moodemere, Boosey Creek, Broken Creek and the Canoe Pits at the Winton Wetlands are all great places to catch carp, and are all easily accessible and kid friendly.

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Luring up some legal yellowbelly SHEPPARTON

Nick Brown teamriverrats@hotmail.com

As I write this report, we have experienced a period of steady river flows in the Goulburn, which has seen more and more fish captures. Anglers have been catching some legal-sized yellowbelly lately, which is a good sign for a productive season ahead.

Casting small divers and chatterbaits has been the best approach in recent weeks, especially around Shepparton.

Many anglers have reported that the best areas are banks with both sand and freshlyfallen trees.

There are so many lure options for targeting yellowbelly this spring. A TN60 Jackall rigged with a single hook under the belly is a great searching lure that you can cast almost anywhere,

and you can fish it either shallow or deep. Square bill crankbaits are now becoming very popular, and they roll over snags well. Yellowbelly love them.

Those anglers trolling the trusty Old Mate or Codger lures know these are the go-to divers. Both lures were outstanding last spring.

If you’re keen on your bait fishing, then scrub worms or night crawlers are going to be your best bet until the shrimp and yabbies become more active.

SHEPPARTON LAKE There are still plenty of reports of trout being caught in the Shepparton Lake. The days are now getting longer and the fish seem to be pushing deeper into the weed, so the key is to fish early in the morning or late in the afternoon with small divers, jerkbaits or soft plastics.

If you’re fishing when the sun is up, I suggest that you

rig your plastics weedless, because you will need to fish deep into the weeds.

Another way to fish the weeds is by floating a bunch of worms or unweighted worms off the jetties. The trout will still bite near the edges of the jetties, so don’t be worried if you can’t cast super far.

There will be more and more reports of yellowbelly over the next few months, and the key is to get out deeper in a boat or kayak and target the rowing lanes. Trolling small hardbodies or TN60s is a great way to target them. If you would prefer to cast, it’s best to use soft plastics rigged weedless or with a lightly weighted jighead.

MOOROOPNA REC LAKE There have been some great reports coming from the little lake recently, with both trout and carp being caught.

It’s only a small lake but it has a couple of different areas

to target, and bait fishing in the open areas is working well. Floating worms and PowerBaits has produced some nice-sized trout.

Those anglers who prefer to lure fish have reported more catches on the weed edges with small Rapala divers or crankbaits. It’s not a very deep lake, so a slow retrieve with a higher rod tip is sometimes needed. Alternatively, if you’re using a floating lure, a pauseand-crank technique can keep the lures from dragging in the mud.

IRRIGATION CHANNELS The channels have now cleared up, and this is usually the time when the fish start to bite more consistently.

In recent weeks I have had some reports of good-sized yellowbelly being caught on square bills, and the stand-out has been the 13 Fish Jabba Jaw. It’s like no other square bill because it has a metal bib

The author with a nice yellowbelly caught on a 13 Fishing Jabber Jaw. that moves from side to side, giving a chatterbait type sound.

In years gone by, once the channels have risen and settled, the redfin bite is at its peak for the year. As the water temperatures rise, we usually see more yellowbelly and cod caught too, so right now is the

perfect time to be targeting redfin along with yellowbelly.

One of the best ways to target redfin in the channels has been with ZX40 blades or soft plastics rigged with a beetle spin. These lures can be used almost anywhere in the channels system.

Daylight savings is here, and it’s time to go fishing EILDON

Dan Piazza

Welcome to a new lake Eildon, with consistent high-water levels and many square kilometres of water to search for your elusive target species.

October is the in-between month of spring and summer, but still can be productive around the new moon, bringing lots of numbers of fish. Cod fishers should work the moon rise and moon set, ideally with wind to get the bite.

Good lure choices include swimbaits, soft plastics, and 1oz willow-bladed spinnerbaits, and chartreuse is a productive colour at the moment. I myself would concentrate on the rock walls because cod will be ready to ambush unlucky species like roach, redfin and trout.

For the people with a basic tinnie and no electric trolling motor, just drift like you would if you were drifting for squid or flathead.

Pick your boat position about 60-70m from the wall

This Jamieson Arm cod couldn’t refuse the flutter of a 1oz Primal Spinnerbait in solid chartreuse with a willow blade. or bank you want to fish, and get all your boat organised so you can be ready to make every long cast count. Let the spinnerbait search at all levels of the water column. Be patient and ready. This style of fishing in the lake is very productive.

When your presentation looks very natural, what other choice does a fish have?

You can still get good catches in the main arm of the lake from Coller Bay all the way to the north river’s inflows. If you find a little bit

A beautifully marked 6lb brown trout. Fish of this size aren’t great for eating, but they are great at completing the spawning cycle at Eildon. Kiwi Nico and Mark from Healesville released this stunning Lake Eildon fish.

of dirty water and a bit of wind current, you will find success.

Seeing a clean and dirty water line is a rare event, but if you see this feature I would stop and work it.

Remember that big lures catch big fish, but elephants eat peanuts. Be selective with you lure choice and make the most of your time on the lake.

It doesn’t even need to be lure – it could be a lightly weighted long-shank whiting hook with a worm on it. How could a big bull brown trout resist the temptation?

Trout are still moving up and down the rivers spawning, so if you’re casting for trout from the boat, head up as far as you possibly can up any of the arms. Black grubs or paddle tail plastics are an easy lure to constantly throw, and are productive. You can also get good results using hardbody diving minnows.

I personally like trolling for trout with my electric motor and sitting back and taking in the sights and sounds of the lake. Most species are moving around, so Tassie

Devil winged lures are effective because these lures can be dragged around large areas. When you cover lots of water, you can better find the feeding fish. My favourite troll runs are directly out from Jerusalem Creek, and turn left towards the powerlines along the left-hand side of the rock walls. The entry to Big River and the Jamieson arm (anywhere up the centre of the arm) are prime locations for trolling, and Coller Bay and Fraser national park area are also good trolling areas for all species.

Once again, yellowbelly will already be mid-way through the pairing up and schooling stage of spawning, so work the ‘nothing banks’ with lures. A ‘nothing bank’ is literally a bank with no visible sign of structure or rocks, and it mostly consists of the Lake Eildon yellow or red clay.

When yellowbelly spawn they will use these banks because

the lake. You should work these banks very slowly. I recommend throwing silent lures first, and increase the noise or rattle level until you get a reaction.

Yellowbelly are everywhere and will usually be hanging off a point that’s in the wind. Use the wind to

John with a healthy cod taken on a Primal.

These trout are from the Goughs Bay area. It’s wide and open without many snags, so you can move your lures up and down the water column without losing too many of them. the water is usually cloudy or dirty. This dirty water gives them an advantage over the eagle population around

technology, is slow but rewarding. Google Earth is a great tool to plan your trip, and you can search out new areas to cast until your arm falls off.

As it starts to warm up, those late nights on the water are the best times to fish for cod. There’s no need for the

your advantage!

Searching for fish the old-fashioned way, without the assistance of the latest

Live Sonar, just launch at the Alliance boat ramp and work the dam wall with something with noise – a vibe, Colorado spinnerbait, or even a diving lure with a rattle. I find that a slow roll does the trick. This location is perfect for the novice night boater as it’s not too far from the boat ramp.

There have been many reports of good numbers of trout early in the morning in this area. You will see them slurping just under the surface. Fly fishing from the boat is a very effective way of catching good-size trout. I’m not a frequent user of the fly rod, but I might focus on it more in the coming months, and report on my results.

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Get into some fantastic fishing around Ballarat walking around its shorelines over the past month. There are plenty of well-worn tracks around the edges, and on one particular day, there were nine cars at one car park. I’m sure the fish have seen plenty of lures, flies, baits and soft plastics.

Blake Herrick is one keen angler who spends a lot of time at Moorabool, casting lures with excellent results. I

BALLARAT

Shane Stevens

Last month, I mentioned how good the fishing was throughout the winter months around the Ballarat and district. Now spring is settling in, and the fishing is getting better, day by day.

It’s great to walk around the edges of our lakes and reservoirs at this time of the year. They are alive once again, there are frogs are croaking along the water’s edge, dragonflies and damselflies are buzzing over the water, midge are hatching in the shallows… this is what we’ve been anticipating for quite a few months now.

I have been chatting with some of my closest fishing mates about what’s happening at the waterways they’ve been fishing. I’ll ask them what the fish are feeding on, what flies we should use, and what reports that are filtering through. We talk pretty much every day.

My wife remarked, “you guys are acting like children”, and we grinned and agreed! We are so excited by how good the fishing is at the moment, and the anticipation that it’s going to get even better.

Our conversations then move to talking about mayflies, which gets us even more excited. Mayflies will start to hatch at the end of this month, which is music to the ears of fly fishers all over the state. The Ballarat and district lakes and reservoirs

Donny Rogers nailed this bag of big redfin from Talbot Reservoir using 3” Ambush soft plastics bounced along the bottom. Image courtesy of Donny Rogers. in the middle of the day, starting at around 11am and lasting through to 3-4pm.

Dull, overcast days are the best during the spring and autumn months.

During warmer weather, they hatch after dark.

Mayflies generally don’t like bright, sunny conditions, although there are some exceptions.

Trout on our lakes and reservoirs absolutely love to eat mayflies; these little insects must be full of goodness. At times you might not think there is a fish to be found anywhere, then all of a sudden mayflies start to hatch and the fish start rising and feeding on

landed six trout (a mixture of browns and rainbows) varying in size from 2lbs to 5lbs, and I lost around six as well.

Admittedly, I did put in quite a few hours, covering lots of water, and made a zillion casts, but it was worth it.

The flies I’ve been using are an olive Woolly Bugger on the point, and an orange Woolly Bugger on the dropper. My retrieve has been a slow-medium roly-poly, which keeps the flies moving constantly, and finally you must dibble or hang your flies in the surface of the water before you make your next cast. I have had many fish follow a fly and eat it just as I was about to cast.

Moorabool has also been producing the goods, not only during day but also the evenings, with fish feeding on midge. As I mentioned, there are plenty of discussions regarding what flies to use,

etc. Midge feeders can be the hardest fish to catch, because midge are very small and trout will feed on them well into evening – and when the trout are on them, they won’t eat anything else. We’ve tried a lot of patterns, and found that one will fool them one evening, and then – just when you think you have it all worked out – the next evening you’ll get nothing.

Still, that’s fishing.

Moorabool Reservoir has mayfly hatches and some of the biggest hatches I have ever seen. We are looking forward to the dunns/mayfly hatching out there. During this time the big trout seem to come out of the depths to feed on them.

Over the past few years there have been plenty of trophy brown trout (10lb) caught on mayfly feeders, so ensure your gear can handle them. I know that I have my name on one.

Moorabool Reservoir has seen plenty of anglers

Vern Barby pictured with a quality rainbow trout from Moorabool Reservoir. The trout ate a Magoo fly. Image courtesy of Vern Barby. caught up with Blake out there recently, and he said he’d caught a couple of nice browns that day, which included one mid-50cm fish. A few days earlier he nailed a ripper measuring in at 66cm. Blake said the brown absolutely nailed the gold coloured Daiwa Double Clutch shallow diver, which is a perfect lure for most of our waters around

Steve Angee has been getting amongst the big redfin on Wendouree using paddle tail soft plastics. Image courtesy of Steve Angee. have the best mayfly hatches on mainland Australia. Fly fishers flock to fish our waters, with the best mayfly water being right here in the middle of our town.

Mayflies start to hatch when the water temperatures warm, generally from early October through to late April/early May. It depends on how cool the water temperatures get, which can be pretty cold, as most of you know around Ballarat.

Mayflies generally hatch 90 OCTOBER 2023

the district.

Donny Rogers has been getting amongst the redfin on our local waters. It’s been an unbelievable year for chasing reddies; everywhere I go I seem to get onto them. When your self-confidence is up and you have confidence in whatever flies, lures or plastics you are using, you’re halfway there.

Donny has been

them. The water comes alive with feeding fish, and it’s awesome to watch.

Moorabool Reservoir is top of the list at the moment.

The fishing there has been unbelievable, with excellent catches of both brown and rainbow trout, and plenty of redfin as well. I can’t believe how good the fishing has been; every time I head out, I’ll catch one or two trout, with plenty of other opportunities. On my best session during the day, I

Kelsi Gull with a magnificent Lake Wendouree brown trout, which ate Kelsi’s McArthy Paddle tail soft plastic in the money colour. Image courtesy of Kelsi Gull.

targeting Talbot Reservoir for the redfin. Talbot is also an excellent tout water holding some ripper browns and rainbows as well; last year I landed a ripper brown of 60cm on a Bent Minnow lure. Donny, meanwhile, has been nailing the redfin on Ambush 3” soft plastics. He said to get the best results he has been hopping the plastics along the bottom. I have caught them using a slow roll retrieve as well. It’s a case of mixing it up until you find the right formula.

At Lake Wendouree the fishing is improving every day, as the trout are starting to look for food once again. Kelsi Gull has started catching some solid browns.

He said they went off the bite for a while, but now they are hungry again and willing to eat his plastics.

The McArthy Paddle Tail soft plastic in the money colour has been the flavour they are willing to eat. I do mix it up to try to tempt them on other colours and patterns also. Kelsi generally fishes Wendouree land based, using hardbodied lures or soft plastics. Over the past few years he has been catching plenty of trout, both rainbows and browns.

Steve Angee continues to catch some magnificent

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Lakes producing good fish on bait and lures COBDEN

Rod Shepherd

At Bullen Merri, plenty of bank anglers and boaters are working the north shore. The main catch is Chinook salmon, with a few rainbows thrown in for good measure, plus some sizeable tiger trout.

The best baits have been PowerBait in pink and red, scrub worm, and even frozen packet whitebait have picked up a few. The boaters are mainly flatline trolling a variety of lures, including Lofty’s Cobras in the 4-8m depth.

Purrumbete continues to see trout and redfin taken on bait and lures.

There have been plenty of tiger trout taken, and they are really stacking on the weight. Redfin continue to be taken at depth using live

minnow sourced from Bullen Merri. With the harvesting of minnow from one lake and used at another, it’s a wonder there isn’t a viable population of minnow at Purrumbete. Has anyone soaked a minnow trap there lately?

Elingamite has good redfin and trout taking a variety of lures cast and trolled along the weedy edges. Silent running under electric power certainly beats an idling two stroke in this shallow lagoon. Most fish are taken at depths ranging from 2.5-3.5m, with the deepest section bottoming out at 5m. This deeper section, although small in diameter, in excellent for schooling redfin, and jigging is the go here. Otherwise, medium-diving minnow lures, soft plastics and flies will do the trick.

While our rivers are out

A nice Chinook salmon taken from Bullen Merri on the troll. of bounds, our lakes – big and small – more than make up for this. Lake Gillear near Allansford has solid browns, rainbows and redfin on offer, taking both bait and lure.

North of Warrnambool, Lake Cartcarrong has yielded some solid browns on lure and fly. If you’re launching a boat from here it pays to cast whilst drift

fishing rather than trolling, even under electric power.

The lake is shallow and the boat’s hull will certainly spook any nearby fish.

The lower section of the

Merri River is classed as a sea-run trout fishery, just like the Gellibrand, and boats can be launched from the ramp and pontoon situated next to the old Nestle factory.

Casting, trolling and bait fishing is the go here, and venturing downstream could see you easily hook a bream as well as a trout. Boats cannot pass the old railway bridge, but this section up to the Bromfield Street weir can be accessed from the bank.

The Hopkins is also a sea-run trout fishery, right up to the falls. Some excellent brown trout to 6lb have been taken lately by anglers casting shallow to medium diving minnow lures from the bank.

That’s it for this month.

The scientific boffins tell us that we are approaching a hot, dry summer, but down here in this neck of the woods we are yet to see it.

Top quality fish catches in spring WEST/SOUTH GIPPSLAND

Billy Auldist

The trout season has started off strongly, with many successful local reports.

The rivers weren’t in ideal condition but they were certainly fishable, and there have already been some cracking fish caught across the region.

Looking forward, we have a solid few months of fishing ahead as the weather starts to warm and the fish really turn on. It’s a great time to get out and about in South West Gippsland.

My own trout opening saw me fishing tributaries of a few creeks within proximity of Noojee. redfin on Wendouree.

After a few weeks overseas, he popped the boat on Wendouree, tried a few of his regular haunts and sure enough the redfin were still there. They were only too willing to eat his soft plastics.

Steve said they just keep showing up, those big guys and girls in the mid-40cm bracket. He has been out a couple of times since then, with similar results.

Steve also had a couple of drifts over some open water, casting some Bent Minnow surface lure. The trout were mainly smallish ones around the 40cm mark.

I was waiting and hoping for a big one to come along and smash the Bent, which will sometimes happen.

At Tullaroop Reservoir the water is still very discoloured. Myself and Vern Barby headed up for a look.

Rick Rosser with a typical brown trout caught on a spinner on opening morning.

At the time of writing, it’s still closed to boating because it’s overflowing. Vern and I walked for miles and miles, covering vast amounts of shoreline only to catch a couple of small stockies that had been recently released

by Fisheries. We are full of optimism that the water will clear and the trout will eat our flies or lures.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case at the moment.

Tullaroop looks absolutely magnificent

Blake Herrick landed this 66cm beast of a brown trout from Moorabool Reservoir casting a shallow-diving Daiwa Double Clutch. Image courtesy of Blake Herrick.

It took us a while but we figured out that soft plastics were our best chance as it got the lure down quicker than alternatives in the faster water. The session turned out to be one of quality over quantity, as we only landed three fish, but they all exceeded 40cm.

Noojee and its surrounding rivers all had some attention over the first few weeks of the new season.

The Toorongo and Latrobe seemed the most successful, although I’m not sure how much fishing the Loch received. All three of these rivers will be fishing well for the foreseeable future on a variety of techniques. Bait, lure and fly all come into their own at certain times of the year.

The start of the season apart from the water clarity, and hopefully it will improve soon – especially given the fishing we were experiencing at this time last year. Fingers crossed.

At Newlyn Reservoir the water clarity is starting to improve. Steve Angee has had a few sessions out there recently when he hasn’t been at Wendouree.

He said he has been catching some brown trout around the 40cm mark on shallow diving hardbodies. I’ve seen some bigger fish bouncing around out further, but unfortunately, they haven’t ventured in close enough.

Newlyn, like all our lakes and reservoirs, will really fire up as we get more and more insect activity, and you will see trout actively feeding on them.

There are good times ahead for anglers.

The author with a great South West Gippsland trout. is a great time to bait fish while there is still a bit of extra water around, an anchored worm in a back eddy is almost unbeaten at this time of year. Spinners, hardbodies and plastics are all going to find fish, once again it is about finding the unpressured spots where the fish are generally more aggressive.

The Tarago and Bunyip rivers are always swept under the carpet a bit, but these rivers both have enormous potential. Trout in these waters may be less numerous than in neighbouring rivers in Noojee, but the quality on fish in these two rivers is unlike anywhere else.

Lure fishing in both these rivers is always tricky because of their snaggy nature and tight banks, but I’ve previously found that soft plastics are the best bet. Minnow imitation soft plastics on a 1/12oz or 1/16oz jighead bounced around structure or through deep pools on retrieval is

likely to entice a strike from one of these wary trout.

There is also the chance of redfin in both these rivers, which can come as a welcomed bycatch when the fishing is slow.

Bluerock Dam is still fishing well, with bass starting to have more of a regular appearance. Trout are still being caught in good numbers by fishos trolling winged and hardbody lures. Redfin are around and can be taken using just about any method – and the fishing will only heat up from here. We will start to see the bass fire back up, and along with them most other species in the lake. Bait fishing from the bank is a great technique at this time of the year, reaping carp, redfin, trout, bass and eels regularly. Soft plastics and hardbodies cast from the bank will pick up redfin, trout and bass at this time of the year, and it’s only going to get better from here.

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There are more opportunities to head further afield ESPERANCE

Murray Johnson

The south coast is finally enjoying a bit of sunshine, and many anglers have been getting out to enjoy our wonderful coastline.

The Esperance jetty is still producing plenty of squid, along with good-size garfish, a few herring and some small skippy. There has also been the occasional bonito being caught, and some snook as well. The guys chasing the snook have continued to use either floating baits or are throwing gold lures such as a Bomber Long A in the chrome/ gold orange belly colour. Gold Twisties are also a good option.

Bandy Creek Boat Harbour is still seeing plenty of King George whiting being caught, with the occasional bigger sample up to 35cm.

Angers fishing the harbour are also catching good numbers of small flathead, flounder and small skippy.

Anglers fishing the local beaches are still catching the occasional salmon at locations such as Salmon Beach, Fourth Beach and Stockyards. Bigger schools of salmon have been sighted at Roses Beach and Alexander Bay, with some of the schools going 5 tonnes.

They have been sitting close to the shoreline, making them accessible to anglers fishing

Lachy Warren with a nice harlequinfish. Image courtesy of @lachy_warren. with lures, particularly chrome slices. The Rapala X-Rap Magnum Cast in blue sardine has also been accounting for some good salmon. It has enough weight to get out far, and makes plenty of noise. You retrieve it like you would with a chrome slice.

The local bream lakes have been producing plenty of fish up around the 35cm mark. The lakes still have plenty of water, so you have to move around to find the fish. Quallilup Lakes (out near Roses) are also producing plenty of numbers,

with some samples going around the 40cm mark. Baits have been working the best lately, either on a whiting rig or a sliding sinker rig. The best bait has been prawns, but the bream also like herring fillets and salted pilchards. If you want to target them with lures, a good choice is a 2.5” paddle-tail soft plastic, such as the ZMan Slim SwimZ in blood oil or motor oil. Throw your plastic in the middle of the lake and wind it back with a consistent, slow wind so it doesn’t hit the bottom. The fish

seem to like those bigger holes in deeper water.

Further out of town, the tracks are starting to dry out so there are more opportunities for people to head out to the Cliffs and Israelite Bay for some beach fishing. We’re seeing plenty of gummy sharks being caught, as well as some big flathead, some salmon, bronze whalers and smaller mulloway.

Boat-based anglers fishing in the bay are catching plenty of squid, and sand whiting as well. The best spot for them is

around Twilight Beach. Lovers Cove is producing some good King George whiting and herring, and the bay in general is still producing some snook.

Around the close islands there are heaps of queen snapper being caught, along with sweep, smaller nannygai and the occasional samsonfish in close. We are also seeing the occasional gummy shark caught in close as well, and they are great fun on whiting rigs.

Heading out wide, there are reports of plenty of nannygai around the 50cm mark, lots of samsonfish going 25kg, the occasional yellowtail king, plenty of breaksea cod, the occasional harlequin fish and queen snapper. The occasional school of bluefin tuna has been popping up as well.

We are also seeing some cuttlefish being caught in around 60-70m of water.

Sometimes they’ll latch onto a hooked fish and won’t let go, even when you bring it aboard. The average size of the cuttlefish has been around 1-2kg, but some of them have been as big as 8kg.

OCTOBER FISHING In the weeks ahead we can expect a continuation of better weather, and slowly warming waters. It’s the time of year for gummy sharks, so we will probably see a lot more of them being caught.

There will be more herring

around as well.

You can still get a few squid off the jetties or from a boat at this time of year, but they will slowly reduce in numbers as spring progresses.

This month the samsonfish should come in close in big schools, so you can target them specifically from a boat. Sometimes you can get 10 fish off the same school. The average size is around 15-25kg, but occasionally you’ll get one that goes 30kg+. It’s a great opportunity to start using jigs like the Vexed Dhu Drop or Dhu Slow. You’ll want to wind a bit faster than you normally would to get the samsonfish excited. They like a more hectic retrieve.

The salmon will quieten off a bit on the beaches this month, but there will be more gummies, more herring and flathead off the beaches.

You’ll get sand whiting too, as there are still plenty of them in the shallows.

• Established in 1986, Southern Sports and Tackle specializes in the supply and servicing of fishing equipment. They have an extensive knowledge of the local area and provide all brands, whether you’re fishing from beach, jetty or boat. Come and chat to the friendly staff at Shop 16, The Boulevard, Esperance or phone 08 9071 3022.

By-catch heaven in October BUNBURY

Whiteys Tackle and Camping

An always welcome by-catch at this time of year are the mulloway, snapper and tailor that

aren’t all gone yet. There is a common misconception that squidding is a waste of time in Bunbury waters, which can’t be further from the truth. Numbers are higher than ever for the boaties that take the time to target these

are noticing a definite increase in the blue swimmer numbers, and sizes are looking even better than last year. Good numbers of blue swimmers can be had all year round if you’re happy to put in the time exploring. There are always

Another great option this time of year as the water starts to warm up is the yellowfin whiting in our local estuaries.

My favourite lure to throw for these tasty fish would have to be the ZX Blades in a 35/40/43 size. These blades are super effective this time of year as the fish have moved in but aren’t quite active enough to chase down those surface lures. As the waters warm and the fish fire up towards the end of the month throwing a surface lure will definitely get the bites and the blood pumping, there’s nothing I love more than a school or whiting

Fabiano with a monster perch, he really doesn’t muck around!

Skye and Tayla with some awesome squid! frequent our beaches. The last few weeks have been no exception with some horse tailor sessions being had on weightless mulies, my personal favourite.

Squid have been around in great numbers, as well as size. The winter thumpers 92 OCTOBER 2023

delicious cephalopods and there are plenty of land-based spots to target them as well.

Night sessions on the weed banks through Koombana Bay or from the local jetties will produce a feed.

Those of us that have already been walking the flats

crabs to be had from the jetties in Bunbury or the Koombana Bay areas while you’re waiting for the temperatures of the estuary to rise. There is a boat limit of 10 crab nets which leaves you plenty of nets to set a good prospecting line through your area of choice.

Jake with a nice sized snapper caught while overhead casting from the sand.

chasing down a surface pencil or popper!

Harvey Dam has been fishing well for redfin perch, look for rocky banks with plenty of structure as this is where the redfin hide out. The norm is generally spinners but don’t discount soft plastics. I rig a slightly heavier jighead (around the 1/8oz) to ensure my plastic is getting down where the fish are.

• Call into the shop at 1/143 Grand Entrance, Australind for the latest fishing reports and what’s biting, or simply to have a yarn. Until next time, tight lines and screaming drags!

WA

All happening in spring AUGUSTA

Anthony Gillam

So, here we are, spring is once again a happening thing. The warm air during the day has become so much more obvious that it is hard to miss the season change.

Everyone and everything around seems to be in a better mood as the heat begins to expel the winter chill from their bones.

Already the winds seem to have backed off for most of the week with only the occasional return to the previous seasons windy weather.

The Hardy Inlet and Blackwood River have been glassing off nicely, which has allowed people to get onto the water in all sorts of watercraft targeting their favourite river fish. This mainly consists of herring, skippy and whiting in the Hardy Inlet and further up the Blackwood River, the

will they take baits such as squid, cockles, and glass shrimps but they are also partial to small soft plastics and hard bodies lures.

Dukes Head copped some big tides and rough weather during winter and this has now resulted in an obvious change is the look of the cut at Colourpatch.

If you are an early riser it doesn’t take long to bag out. They will take most baits and readily chase soft plastics or small metal slice lures.

Black bream continue to be found right through the system with some nice fish in the mid 30’s being found around the rock piles

Bream, such as this mid 30s specimen, have been taken on coral prawn and put up a great fight on light line.

Herring are big and in solid condition at the moment, as this bait-caught example off the rocks shows. near the Irwin Street boat ramp. I have found that kayaking is the best way to target them as you can drift a bait or lure from the deeper water into the rock piles where the bigger fish are lurking. It is possible to wade out through the shallows just south of Irwin Street, stand on the rocks and cast into the channel and then bring the bait or lure towards you. Nothing more exciting that a big bream busting out right in front of you and ripping line off your spool trying to get back into a snag or oyster patch. Try coral prawns, cockles or glass

Ben Norton who dropped into Augusta from South Perth topped up his catch with some big herring off the Ellis Street Jetty using glass shrimp for bait.

These solid skippy caught off the islands in Flinders Bay by Ben Norton are perfect for sashimi. ever present black bream.

The Dead Water and Swan Lakes currently have plenty of water in them which as summer approaches will slowly begin to dry up. Having plenty of water allows dinghy fishers to get right up through the channels to Swan Lakes where there are schools of yellowfin and King George whiting lurking about.

They can be targeted quite easily in the deeper channels as they scoot about from one deeper area to another using the narrow channels as a conduit between them. Not only

South Coast

There is a deep small bay near the boat ramp but as it heads towards the ocean past Dukes Head the water becomes a very shallow flat with a narrow deep channel on the East Augusta side.

As spring progresses into summer this should be very productive for whiting for those who target fish with small hard bodied or popping lures.

The Ellis Street Jetty continues to fish very well both early morning and late in the evening especially for herring. There are some big numbers being caught in the hours before dawn as they are really on fire then.

A typical beach-caught flathead. They are generally a by-catch when fishing for other species, but are still a welcome addition as they are great eating.

shrimps or if you can get some live river prawns they won’t last very long at all before being crunched.

Berkley Gulp grubs in motor oil colour seem to be the most in favour for soft plastic fishers.

No demersal fishing has been allowed with the latest closure in place, however, there were a few very nice boat fishing days for those that chose to head out to chase whiting.

Sand whiting numbers, as usual are really good, however, the average size in Flinders Bay at the moment has been down on what is normally expected here so it has been a case of chasing the bigger fish.

Most of the larger sized schools have been in the sand patches in the 16-18m deep water. King George whiting have been patchy but if you anchor up and berley them, they will turn up and are of a pretty good size generally. This also brings the skippy schools

around which have been as thick as the herring have been lately. Squid, prawns and blood or sand worms have been like candy to them lately.

Beach fishing conditions have also been pretty good lately and as the weather warms up it will become more enjoyable to spend the day casting a line. If you are an active fisher then whiting, herring and tarwhine are the go, especially the small beach areas between the marina and lighthouse. If you are content to just throw out a big bait and sit back for a shark, mulloway or samson fish then Cosy Corner, Deepdene or Boranup are where you should set up.

Spring is the perfect time for having a go off the rocks and with skippy and herring very active and sizes generally bigger at this time of the year it is an easy way to get yourself a feed for the family. Skippy Rock has had some great catches lately and in good weather it is easy to catch a bag limit of an assortment of fish. Berley with pollard and your favourite fish oil for a while to bring them around and you won’t regret it. Just be sure to keep an eye on the swell and don’t take risks.

• Rock fishing 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.

OCTOBER 2023 93

West Coast

WA

Enjoy it while you can METRO

Jacob Crispe

As this magazine hits the newsagents Perth metro anglers will be taking advantage of the brief window of opportunity they have to enjoy the excellent demersal fishing we have in the area. Unfortunately, this window closes at the end of the current school holidays on the 8 October. I hope you enjoy it while you can, but as always there are plenty of other good options to wet a line.

SWAN RIVER As predicted over the last couple of months the tailor fishing in the Swan River

opportunity to push up the system. Bream love structure, so anglers looking to target them should focus

the Swan will really kick in.

It is a great time for flathead anglers to get the lay of the land on their favourite

Dom Magoo, aka The Fish Tucker Man, showing what you can expect on the Swan with the right lures! Photo courtesy of @ Doms Fishing Adventures. sand flat of the Swan. What structure is there (weed, rocks etc), what staging zones are there (areas the flathead sit as the tide drops), where does the water drain off the flat and where the deep water

Dwayne Robinson from Non Stop Fillets with a lovely southern blue caught trolling in the 30m range. so many anglers enjoying the rock wall fishing in the area recently. As I mention each month they are a great place to target many of our bread and butter species.

Herring, skippy and tailor are the constants at present.

Set up a good berley trail and

Jason Cook out with Dwayne from Non Stop Fillets with a cracker trophy shot of King George whiting. has been the main focus and will continue to be for a little while yet. Small metal lures like a Halco Twisty tend to be anglers’ favourite choice to target them with. The zone below the Narrows Bridge is always a good place to start, but as the freshwater in the system (from the rain we have had) disperses they will

on areas with either artificial or natural structure. Lures, plastics or natural baits cast in these areas are likely to snag you a bream or three.

Sand whiting should also start to show up in better numbers. Top water lures have become a favourite for many to target them, but fresh blood or sand worms fished

When it comes to trophy land-based mulloway in the Swan, David Caputi is no stranger with another lovely ghost of the night.

Dronsy from Send It Drone Fishing with another cracker! This man is unstoppable. drops off. All of these areas are prime zones to cast your lures in the hope a flathead will latch onto it. I always look forward to chasing our Swan River flathead.

ROCK WALLS AND BEACHES It has been great to see

more than likely these guys will turn up. Fresh squid or coral prawns will be your best bait options and don’t be surprised if you pick up the odd King George whiting as bycatch as they cannot resist a berley trail as well.

There are plenty of squid

about, so I would always have a squid jig ready to go while fishing. Most rock walls offer pretty good squid fishing, but good areas to try are Fremantle Sailing Club, as well as North and South Mole. Hillaries also offers excellent squid fishing while Cottesloe Groin is also popular with species like

tailor, herring, whiting and bream also on offer.

Our main beaches should also offer anglers some good fishing options.

Trigg, Swanbourne, Floriet Drain and Mullaloo all fish consistently well and offer species like tailor, mulloway, skippy, herring and

Hools Orifici just can’t get enough of these monster sand whiting! spread up river following the bait fish.

It is not only the tailor doing this, the Swan River bream will also take the 94 OCTOBER 2023

in the cover of darkness will produce better results at this time of the year.

I would also like to think that the flathead fishing in

The legend himself, Corn Dog from Send It Drone Fishing is all smiles with this beauty from the beach.

Han Yeoh caught this impressive squid while wading from a beach casting to weedy patches.

WA

Warm and cool species about MANDURAH

Jesse Choy

Spring can easily be described as pleasant weather that complements the outdoor activity that we all know and love, fishing.

Options are vast for those hoping to wet a line, with most of our surrounding

will find that the numbers of fish are located around the mid-stream section of the rivers this time of the year. Fish that frequent generally favour these areas as they offer an abundance of different holding structures like deeper pockets, snags and flats. Not only are the fish attracted to the variety of structures at this time

lures providing it is rigged with care.

October is one of the better times of the year to give beach casting a crack, with the surf being a lot cleaner than in previous months and more stretches of beach opening as a result of the declining seaweed population. Some great fishing is on offer to anglers,

Drive on beach fishing is a great way of finding clean stretches of beach that have great gutters, which will enhance your odds at catching. fresh, ocean and river waters offering up some form of entertainment.

Being the time of the year where it can get warm, or be a bit cooler, you will find that warm water species like tailor and the cooler water species like tuna will both be getting around. Although it can be a bit difficult to understand, anglers looking to head out on boats for demersal finfish during October are wise to familiarise with the periods in which the activity is permitted and visit the fisheries page in order to get the proper time frames.

Although you will still catch bream as well as mulloway in the lower sections of both systems, you

of the year, but as we also encounter less rain, salinity levels upstream rise and fish tend to push further up hoping to avoid competition for food.

Fishing with baits is usually productive, with river prawns or cubed pilchards working well when paired with a running ball sinker and small octopus hook.

If you are looking to catch when fishing with lures, you are best focusing your efforts towards pitching into structures with profiles such as paddle tails, flick baits and grubs. Although both species you are likely to encounter can be picky when they want to be, they are often happy to take a wide variety of metal, hard body and plastic

with the average angler being able to target species including your typical herring, whiting and also bigger species like tailor or mulloway.

When fishing from the beach, gutters or signs of gutters will be evident with daylight on your side and doing the surveying will be best option for intercepting fish. Although you will find fish in the most unlikely of spots at times, gutters act like a highway for fish to travel along. Not only does a good gutter give fish a travel path, but it tends to break up the overhead surge which helps them preserve their energy and allows bigger predatory fish to hunt more efficiently on the smaller bait also

small sharks. Like the rock walls, setting up a berley trail will improve your fishing.

INSHORE Like last month the talk has been all about the King George whiting fishing on our inshore grounds. This should continue through October as the broken ground areas in 6-12m of water seems to be thick with these very tasty fish.

It is pretty hard to go past a feed of King George whiting, but the squid fishing will also continue to be good (3-6m, weedy patches), while reefy structure will also hold skippy, tailor and the odd samson fish.

Another great option is to drift the edges of the

shipping channel for sand whiting using softened fresh squid strips. Another great eating fish that is fun to catch.

OFFSHORE Outside of the school

holiday period your best offshore options will be the Southern bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna and kingfish fishing around Rottnest Island. With the tuna, most

Han Yeoh’s haul of big squid while wading waist-deep from a beach! Thinking outside of the box pays off!

roaming them.

Rigging options for beach fishing will heavily depend on what species you prefer to catch, with the smaller fish generally falling to smaller bloodworm or octopus style hooks and bigger fish falling to ganged hook setups and or an anchored snell setup. When it comes to the bait itself, most anglers keen on the smaller species will use very small cubes of squid, whole white bait and coral prawn. If you are targeting the larger, pickier species like tailor or mulloway, it is best to use a bait that is a viable food source in the area like mullet, herring and whiting.

If you fancy pulling your car up to one of the spots near the cut or town, many of the rocks and jetties will keep you entertained for hours on end most of the time. These locations are always a great option for anglers of all skill levels, as some sort of fish is always passing through and you genuinely never know what you are going to come across. Although you will come across some very large specimen on occasion, efforts are better placed on

West Coast

Pink plastics are an absolute killer on good quality trevally as @cozatidal always seems to prove. some of the smaller and more abundant species like herring, whiting or trevally.

When targeting these fish, your best option will generally be to use moderately weighted baits that are not too substantial and smaller hooks that will find their way into smaller mouths much easier. Bait selection comes down to personal preference, but most people find a lot of success on very small bits of pilchard, squid, coral prawn and worms. Although many people tend to look past it, it is always worth persevering with lures like soft plastics or metal slugs,

as they will provide you with an active yet engaging approach to catching fish and it is extremely rewarding when you tempt a fish to eat by imparting a realistic action into it.

Through the month of October, be sure to explore your fishing curiosities and get out in the finer weather before it becomes too warm. Whether you are after whiting, redfin, tuna, herring or tailor there is certainly something going on for every sort of angler and at the very least you will be enjoying nature whilst resetting yourself.

Hardbody lures are an exciting way of fishing for bream and to feel the strike on your lure will surely raise adrenaline levels. anglers look for signs that schools are present (generally birds circling), however trolling likely areas or setting up a berley trail by sending out muley cubes and the like (very effective on the kingfish as well) can also bring the fish to you. Let me just say it is pretty exciting to have tuna or kingfish circling your boat feasting on your cube trail, especially if one has your hook in it.

October is always a great month to see what the warmer months will offer. As always, there are plenty of fishing opportunities available. If you are confused by the various closures etc, download the Recfish West app to make sure you are up to date with what’s going on and I will catch you next month.

Dwayne from Non Stop Fillets with an absolute ripper bag of big King George whiting caught in 35m of water. Fresh squid is the best bait for these fish.

OCTOBER 2023 95

West Coast

WA

Spend the time well LANCELIN

Peter Fullarton

Boaties will have a short opportunity to catch a demersal fish before the season closes yet again on the 8th staying closed until mid-December. The crays are thick inside the white

ball throwing lures and baits at good size tailor and school mulloway. Drone fishers have been onto a run of solid pink snapper around 6-9kg.

Less exciting is the return of the dreaded sargassum weed that washes into the beach gutters on an afternoon sea breeze. It’s always a good idea to fish the mornings on

larger average size whiting.

If you are just catching little ones try a few different spots as they do gather in areas of similar size fish. The beaches around the bay often hold their larger cousin, yellowfin whiting and some fish are up to 40cm. The yellowfin whiting hang right in tight on the back edge of the beach break and swim in schools, so don’t cast far out.

The October-November period is the best time of year to catch local tailor.

Fish often average around the 50cm and are ravenously hungry building up condition for the breeding season.

Remember there is a limit of only two fish over the 50cm mark and just because they are plentiful at this time of year doesn’t mean you have to bag out with 8 fish each and every day you fish. More people these days are sports

Nolan and Garrit had a ball casting lures to a huge school of solid tailor.

There’s been a series of solid snaps off the drones, 150m+ from the beach. bank while a little further offshore there are plenty of tuna to catch and whales to entertain the day.

The bay’s waters are at their best this time of year, crystal clear making it prime to cast lures from small boats and kayaks to a wide range of species. While beach casters are having a

those days with a forecast strong afternoon breeze.

It’s been pretty easy to gather a feed of bread and butter fish on the beaches. The herring have been quite active through to mid-morning and late afternoon while the sand whiting have been an excellent average size, very early morning tends to find

Chris O’Leary spent a morning casting fresh whiting into the gutters to waiting schoolies.

Schools of bluefin tuna can be found not too far out at this time of year. Casting the CID Shiverstick in pilchard was getting a hit every cast for the author.

96 OCTOBER 2023

fishing tailor, catching them on various types of lures.

It can be an addictive form of fishing, when I introduce my tour customers to this style of fishing, it always goes down well to the point I have to usher them on to the next spot to the cry of one more cast. It’s also great to see more and more people releasing all but one or two fresh fish for the pan from a morning session.

A lot of people think mulloway is just a night time venture! We have been having a great run of school size fish 60-90cm range – it’s the best in nearly 15 years, so a great sign for coming seasons. Fish are in better numbers near reefs or in the gutters where a morning high tide is best.

Casting baits or lures to near

shore gutters right through from dawn to mid-morning, especially on overcast days can produce great results.

If using soft plastics make sure to have plenty of spare tails from the tailor chops. At night you’re more likely to encounter larger mulloway or whaler sharks along the open beaches.

While the boaties only have a small window to catch a snapper, land-based is now year-round, we are fishing new territory this year as usually the old ban was in force these next few months. I always landed a few off the cast during the old ban without trying so this year may produce interesting results for the drone fishers.

We didn’t see a lot of demersals caught through the last weeks before the close of last season, big swells were consistently keeping most boats from attempting the beach launch. I expect we will see a flurry of boats landing with hauls of dhufish as we did last season

It’s worth towing a lure to and from the fishing grounds this time of year. A good yellowfin took a Halco Max at 12 knots.

WA

Take me to the river KALBARRI

Stephen Wiseman

River fishos have been catching a good bag of mulloway. Two fish in the last week have gone well

over the 1m mark and there seems to be plenty more around the 70cm size. The big ones have come from well up river, and late night on the moon was the best.

Bream have been a bit

Pete with an impressive land-based snapper. opening. The closures give the fish an opportunity to gather on the lumps unmolested like they used to be able pre-GPS times, at least south of Lancelin, commercial fishing continues year through to the north.

Once the ban kicks in, it will still be worth heading west. We should be able to find a lot more tuna both bluefin, yellowfin and bonito. Lures as jet heads or bibbless minnows can be trolled at +10knots cutting off fast moving schools to pass the lure ahead of the school. Bait

balls are better attacked by positioning the boat up wind and casting small metals. If you really want to get the action cranking get a stream of chopped pilchards going into a school to entice them to stay with the boat.

Samsonfish can be found in shallow waters this time of year, 3-4m or even less. While not great to eat, they are a lot of fun to catch and release. Live baits as herring, skippy or even wrasse around shallow structure (even the town jetty) is the best way to catch them. Berley always helps to bring in some skippy,

slow but are a reasonable size just under 30cm, with the water clearing they have been easy to spook.

The best bait is prawn with a piece of mulie as a teaser.

Tailor activity has started to pick up but there hasn’t been much white water to get the activity turned on. A lot of bait is holding offshore and a good cold front will fire things up.

Offshore action has been slow but some nice yellowfin tuna have been seen from the charter boats doing whale watch trips.

Local Dean Robins did manage a nice YFT to keep his fridge full, a good 10kg of fillets from that!

Land-based fishing from the rocks is the go at this time of year with the demersal ban in place.

Another local Pete has decided he doesn’t need a boat, and with what he’s been reporting in I’m not surprised! A nice fat snapper to 70cm with a few more lost at the bottom of the rocks, along with gars and herring and the activity inevitable attracts the attention of a sambo or two. While the live bait sits out the back under a balloon or float, catching a few skippy or herring on the 1-2kg gear is a lot of fun too. Pin live baits with inline circle hooks to make sure they don’t swallow the hooks making for a healthy, easy release.

It’s a great time to grab a feed of nearshore lobster while they are in the shallows it is much easier to grab a few on a free dive, even setting pots within the bay can get good catches.

School mulloway are not just a night option; bright sunlight and nearly midday they can be on the bite at high tide in the gutters.

West Coast

Offshore action has been a bit slow, but that didn’t hold back Dean with a tasty yellowfin tuna to fill his fridge. baldchin grouper, surf parrots and a few fish he didn’t know.

Ballooning from Wagoe has seen a few macks taken

and with a mild winter we may see some early activity of the tooth brigade to keep inshore boaties happy with a feed while waiting for the

ban to end.

Going to sea, check your gear because DOT will and you don’t want a fine. Safe fishing.

FISHING NEWS

Healthier, bigger salmon

Recfishwest is celebrating the official news that WA salmon are bigger, more abundant and resistant to environmental changes than they have been in decades, following the latest release of DPIRD’s latest scientific stock assessment.

every autumn to fish for the iconic southern species.

“The science confirms what anglers have been seeing in recent seasons, with larger average fish coming through in catches and 90-plus cm fish to near ‘metreys’ being caught on a regular basis – unheard

economic activity annually throughout the southern coastal regions of WA.” Another big plus, which was highlighted in the stock assessment, is that such a healthy population of salmon results in a stock that is more resilient to

The stock assessment showed salmon are older, larger and around in much higher numbers now than they were 10 to 15 years ago because of a reduction in commercial fishing pressure.

This is fantastic news for the thousands of anglers who flock to the southern and south west coast line

of just a few years ago,” said Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland. “This is a management success story. We have abundant stocks that are continuing to flourish, full of large adult fish, well prepared for a changing climate and a fishery that is enjoyed by a cast of thousands creating more than $330 million of

environmental change.

“The current population age structure – less truncated, with more older fish – is more robust in the face of a changing climate and associated fluctuation in oceanographic conditions along WA southern coastlines,” explained Dr Rowland. - Recfishwest OCTOBER 2023 97

North Coast

WA

The spring heat is on DAMPIER/KARRATHA

Troy Honey

The temperature is rising nicely as we approach wet season in the Pilbara and with it the activity in the

producing a few nice early fish. October and November are generally quite windy along the Pilbara Coast, and this is when anglers head up the creeks to escape the wind in search of barra. Next

In between work, I have had a couple of landbased sessions targeting threadies but to no avail.

I have made it my goal to master Pilbara landbased threadies, something that is a lot easier in the Kimberley region.

Two comps held last month were the King Bay Games Fishing Club Dampier Classic and the Ashburton Anglers Mack10K. Both comps were a great success with plenty of fish caught and plenty of stories of challenges to go with them.

The Dampier Classic was a bit light on this year with sailfish due to reports of cold dirty water, but

An 8kg red emperor in the Pilbara can be hard work ensuring the taxman doesn’t take his share, especially coming from 70m like John Palermo’s last month.

John Palermo successfully caught a solid sailfish trolling a Halco lure during the Mack10k weekend off Onslow. creeks. Barra have started becoming more active with the Port Hedland and Whim Creek areas

edition there will be a few photos to share, along with threadfin salmon that are also being caught.

John Palermo with a beautiful scarlet sea perch (saddletail) out of 50m in ideal conditions.

a few were tagged along with black marlin. Lots of gold spot trevally were presented at weigh in along with Spanish mackerel.

The juniors enjoyed some great land-based fishing during the event, which I am sure goes a long way to supporting our next generation of anglers.

The Mack10K comp held out of Onslow is an angler friendly event that works hard to incorporate all levels of fishers. One of the ways is the wide range of target species from mud crabs, bream, coral trout, trevally, ranking cod and, of course, Spanish mackerel, with the prize for biggest mackie earning the winner $10k in prize money. This year’s winning mackie came in at

Favourable weather and great sessions on the water EXMOUTH

Barry Taylor

This month’s report has been supplied by Connor Luff.

The fishing has been pretty good over the last

month or so. The weather has been great wind-wise, with heaps of good days allowing lots of anglers to get out.

The bill fishing is still pretty good. The water has been slightly warmer, and there have been a couple

snapper and 8-bar cod. One punter recently brought in an 8-bar around 25kg, which is a decent fish. Anglers have

been getting good results on Vexed Dhu Drops in 400-600g.

There have been a

A nice spot to spend the night. Image courtesy of @indepthanglerjosh.

Kyle and Annabelle with a tasty mixed bag. Image courtesy of @connorluff06.

98 OCTOBER 2023

of stripes getting around, which is a sign of the change of season. There are also the usual blacks and sails inshore, along with the odd blue marlin, taking trolled skirts such as Richter Soft Grassies or Soft Oscars, or on

trolled garfish. The bycatch has been pretty consistent, with plenty of wahoo and dolphinfish (mahimahi).

With all the good weather, plenty of guys have been deep dropping for species like gold-band snapper, ruby

James with a delicious Chinaman rock cod – a 5-star fish. Image courtesy of @connorluff06.

WA

North Coast

A POWERFUL PACKAGE

A POWERFUL PACKAGE

VIC MERCURY DEALERS

WA MERCURY DEALERS

a staggering 23.9kg won by Team Bananas.

Octopus, queenies and bluebone are three species that I will also be targeting from40-60HP now as all FOURSTROKE three PERFORMANCE species move into the rocky areas along the coast and become easy game. Target octopus and queenies at low tide and bluebone on the rising tide for best results.

I have covered bluebone fishing techniques many times in previous editions and will cover in detail octopus and live baiting big queenies land based in the next editions.

There are still a lot of demersal being caught with the 50-70m depth range not only holding good numbers of fish such as ranking cod, red emperor and saddletail seaperch, but the deeper water has seen less sharks.

There are plenty of good BRAESIDE ALBERTON fish in 35m or more but JV MARINE WORLD ALBERTON MARINE getting them past the sharks 39 Johnson Street Alberton 878 Springvale Road Braeside has been near impossible.

Squid are 2344 still around P: (03) 5183 P: (03) 9798 8883 andF:those camping (03) 5183 2219 out at F: (03) 9798 7554 night around the islands W: albertonmarine.com.au W: jvmarine.com.au have been doing well with

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We do get squid all & OUTDOORS MELBOURNE MARINE CENTRE yearBENDIGO round MARINE in Karratha but tend160 to Midland taper offHighway in numbers 2023 has seen red emperor in the 50m Epsom 393-399 South Gippsland Hwy range off as itP:warms up.

Dampier being a predominate target species.

Reuben (03) 5448 3988 Dandenong South As always, the full Bufton has been finding plenty of good size ones.

W: bendigomarine.com.au P: (03) 9703 2003 moon has been seeing lots of thumper mud crabs south in ExmouthE:atinfo@melbournemarine.com.au the start will also heat up during MELBOURNE caught and those who have of September soW:please be October and November and melbournemarine.com.au BL walking MARINE the shallows vigilant when wading around now armed with a new suite been at night have been simply especially PENINSULA of tiny poppers, I hope to 612- 614 Plenty Road Preston any Pilbara creeks, MORNINGTON picking them up as they go at night.

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GEELONG F: (03) 9466 1418• For all the latest news on A cracker mack from the national park.

EDENCRAFT MARINE Image courtesy of @Maccydave. W: triplemmarine.com.au what’s biting and where, drop in to Tackle World 22-30 Buckley Grove Moolap few5248 mackerel P: (03) 4520 getting other marine life. People Exmouth at 3 Maley St, around, mostly around who don’t fish are enjoying Exmouth or give them a call E: admin@edencraftmarine.com.au 10-12kg in size, and they it as well. The fishing itself on (08) 9949 1315. You can W: www.edencraftmarine.com.au can be trolled up along isn’t too bad, with the odd also view the range at www. the back of the reef in tuna and plenty of mackerel. tackleworldexmouth.com.

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40-60HP FOURSTROKE PERFORMANCE

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OCTOBER 2023 99

WA

Trout turn it on down south FRESHWATER

Peter Fragomeni

The spring trout fishing season is undoubtedly the best time to fish here in WA. Unlike the East Coast of Australia our trout tend to seek out the cooler water when it heats up throughout the summer months. I am mostly referring to the northern region closer

planned. The redfin fishing has saved the day with all locations fishing well both north and south.

AUSSIE NATIVES Some good reports have come through with the warmer weather turning these species on. While I can’t disclose locations due to the negative attitudes our authorities have on these species over here, what I can say is that a lot of Murray cod, bass and silver

dim view to fishing.

DAMS Waroona Dam Not a lot of action to date with most reports indicating that not many trout have been stocked. I fished it again recently and blanked with no trout seen or caught. It’s sad to see so many young kids fishing the back area and not catching anything, even the redfin have gone quiet so I would give it a miss until

Jonah Chiera was happy to land this nice rainbow on a Hypo Teez in the Waroona area. in the 25 to 35cm class taking lures and plastics.

Jonah has had success using Hypo Teez so a few

of these in your arsenal would be a good start.

Logue Brook Dam A bit hit and miss at the

there is less traffic.

Harvey Dam This was our premier trout water, however this

The Minn Kota Alterra providing an excellent perch for keen early morning trollers on a recent trip. to Perth as the southern region around the town of Pemberton can fish well throughout the year.

The reports coming through has indicated that our northern dams have fished extremely poorly this year. I can confirm this with my personal experience on the last few outings turning up very little in the way of trout. This strengthens my belief that our fishery relies heavily on hatchery stock, except for a couple of locations in the northern region. This is not the case further south as they are experiencing an exceptional season, with both rainbow and brown trout showing up in numbers. This is great news for those that are fortunate enough to live close by or are lucky enough to travel the three and a half hour trip from Perth, however, for those that don’t have a drivers licence or like one angler that lives three hours north of Perth it can be frustrating. Whilst a lot of negative feedback has been relayed to myself, I can assure that with the massive revamp of the hatchery going on, next year will be a different situation with bigger and more trout stocking 100 OCTOBER 2023

perch reside in places that some people drive past every day on their way to work. The silvers in my region east of Perth are very active now with this month being one of the best for targeting them. My advice is if you do want to try your luck then fish at night with surface lures as some of the locals have a

some positive results occur.

Drakesbrook Weir Local angler Jonah Chiera reports that the water has started to warm and a bit more activity has been seen in the surface. Most reports have indicated below normal trout numbers for this time of the year. Redfin have been more active with fish

Silver perch offer great sport on light fly tackle. This time of the year they are active, however they are not available to most anglers in WA. moment with my last trip of 3 days only resulting in dropping a good size trout that I managed to hook on a Craig’s Night Time well after dark. The warmer temperatures should stir them up but, on the negative side the boats and jet-skis make it hazardous to be on the water. I would try the flooded bays where

year with the reduction in stocking has resulted in most going home fishless.

This month should see a few more trout going into this larger impoundment although the ratio will put most anglers at a disadvantage. Some of the better spots are Quarry Bay, Summer Brook Bay, Chester’s Point and the

PREDICTED DAM LEVELS FOR SW WA Overall storage in our dams that allow public access and recreational activities are currently 58.4% at the end of August compared to 73.8% the same time last year. The below average rain in July and August has resulted in most dams being extremely low with Harvey, Logues and Big Brook Dam being at normal levels for this time of the year.

Wendy Jane with her second trout on fly. This nice brown was caught using a Hamils Killer late afternoon drifting a quiet bay in one of the northern irrigation dams. As with all our browns it was carefully released to fight another day.

WAROONA DAM DRAKESBROOK WEIR LOGUE BROOK DAM HARVEY DAM WELLINGTON DAM GLEN MERVYN DAM BIG BROOK DAM

73% 92% 75% 85% 65% 55% 100%

WA

heavy timbered area if you have a boat or kayak. Fly fishing the Cattle Yards and Wokalup Bay just over the first Causeway are prime locations, as the trout feed over the newly flooded margins this time of the year. Redfin fishing is generally a bit quiet with a few still being caught.

Wellington Dam Most of the action has been up the feeder creeks with a few good trout being caught. The main body should start fishing again this month as they drop back after their spawning ventures up the creeks. Redfin have been varied with not all the dam providing action. Covering

and some have redfin in them. Door knocking is worth a go or a couple of clubs have access to a few nice dams that they stock regularly, if that’s your scene. This is the month they fire up the best.

RIVERS Murray River I had a good look at this river recently and was surprised that it wasn’t flowing as hard as it normally does for that time of the year. It did look promising but like some waters in WA, looks can be deceiving. A lot of trout go into this water yet, the returns to the angler doesn’t match the effort. A few of the creeks that flow

Harvey Dam has a vast expanse of water that can be daunting at times. Big waves can occur in strong winds so care is essential if you are fishing from kayaks. trying different spots.

Preston River This river was placed on the stocking list a couple of years ago and has showed some promising results with a few rainbows showing in the better sections.

Blackwood River This is the month

to explore this under fished river with the levels subsiding after the strong winter flows.

Trout seem to be more prolific downstream from Bridgetown to Nannup though not in great numbers.

Warren River A few good reports

are coming from this river with a few larger brown trout being spotted behind lures but reluctant to strike.

There something to be said about seeing a big brown coming up from a dark tea coloured pool chasing your lure to your feet then turning at the last second.

Big stocking has resulted in this river producing some nice trout in recent years. The same can be said with the quality of the redfin fishing with reliable numbers being caught on hard bodied lures and soft plastics.

Lefroy Brook As with the whole Pemberton region this pretty little brook has produced some reliable trout fishing of late. This month is the time for dry fly fishing this water. A high floating dry like a Humpy or Royal Wolf is as good as any. Cast upstream and let it drift over rocks into the still sections can be deadly at times. For those not handy with the fly rod then any of the smaller

Heath Middelbosch with a nice redfin he caught fishing with his dad Scott, who runs a great YouTube channel, Fishing Mission WA. lots of water is the key to success.

Glen Mervyn Dam Still very low with a few redfin being caught by trolling and from the shore.

Lake Kepwari Not many reports coming through, however this water is home to a lot of redfin of varying sizes.

Big Brook Dam This little scenic water was a go to location back when it was first built.

The rapid spread of redfin caused the trout to struggle and eventually it was not worth fishing apart for small redfin. Things have changed with heavy stocking by the Pemberton Hatchery in recent years.

This water receives the highest ratio of trout out of all our dams and fishes well in all bar the extreme summer seasons. If you are visiting from another state I would strongly recommend you pay this little dam a visit, even if it is to view the majestic towering karri trees that line the shores.

Private Farm Dams The Manjimup – Pemberton region – has dozens of farm dams that are stocked with trout

in can produce a few small rainbows if you put the effort in. A few redfin are still being caught in the deeper pools on a variety of lures, spinners and my favourite, a soft plastic on a jig head to match the conditions.

Northern Jarrah Streams This month sees the tail-end of the run up to these streams with most trout heading back to the main body of water. Some of the bigger more permanent sections will fish right up until Christmas. The going is tough but the rewards can be high at times.

Brunswick River I haven’t reported on this river for some time so I thought I would mention that a few trout have been caught recently. I can’t confirm this, but it has received some stocking over the last few years.

Collie River below Wellington Dam With the dry spring this may result in earlier than normally irrigation needs so the increased flow will result in better fishing. Both rainbow and brown trout are being caught throughout most of the faster sections on lures and flies. The faster

the flow the heavier the lure or fly.

Collie River above Wellington Dam Good redfin are being reported around the town with some nice ones coming out of the south branch. Best results come to those that move around

A small Donnelly River rainbow that took a green Celta next to the Vasse Highway.

A well-conditioned rainbow trout that engulfed a brown nymph while drifting a fast sinking fly line.

spinners or soft plastics work well.

Donnelly River Not many reports recently however a few trout are coming out from the Vasse Highway bridge right up to One Tree Bridge.

We are not blessed with the fast flowing shallow streams and huge impoundments like they have in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania however, we do have a limited trout fishery here in WA that at times can be rewarding. We need to preserve our fishery and limit the amount of trout we take, especially the browns in our northern region. Beware of snakes around water and do the right thing by leaving only footprints.

Till next time, Stay Connected.

OCTOBER 2023 101

Spotters Peninsula Snapper Challenge 2023 It’s great news for Melbourne’s anglers, the Spotters Peninsula Snapper Challenge is back for 2023.

The nine-day event fishing window between the 4-12 November is perfect for anglers to fish around the best tides, stay safe around

Wilson Blade n Tails rod, plus Off Grid Direct will supply an FPV battery to keep the kayak sounder finding fish. The Junior Champ will become the proud owner of a timber trophy and Wilson Blade n tails rod, which will deliver years of snapper success for

2022 Spotters Peninsula Snapper Challenge Junior Champion with his 86cm winner. any dodgy Melbourne spring weather.

Some entrants will fish hard, hoping for the ‘Big Red’ that will earn them Champion status in the Open, Kayak or Junior divisions whilst others will enjoy a format that delivers an event perfect for families or fishing with mates and the chance to win an awesome lucky draw prize.

Organisers and sponsors have put together an amazing prize package for those anglers lucky enough to land a premier snapper. Our Open Division winner prize pack consists of a hand-made timber trophy, Wilson Live Fibre rod and reel package, Spotters sunglass pack, and a $750 voucher from Compleat Angler Dandenong – that is over $2000 worth of kit! The longest fish landed from a kayak will score that angler a bespoke timber trophy,

our young champion.

SUPER SAVWINCH SNAPPER DAY Super Savwinch Snapper day is back again, where organisers will select a random competition day as Super Savwinch Snapper Day, which will be announced through our Facebook. The longest fish entered that day will win a $1,500 Savwinch winch package, that fish may not win the competition but the angler walks away with an on-the-spot prize of $1,500 of the best anchor winches going around.

TOP TEN The top ten longest snapper entered across all divisions will all make it to the honour roll of the Spotters Top Ten to pick up a sunglass pack featuring the glare vaporizing, glass polarised lens Spotters sunglass. Winners of the Top Ten are invited to Karingal Optical in Frankston for a personal fitting of the perfect

Chris celebrates a great snapper caught in the Spotters Peninsula Snapper Challenge with Phil.

frame and lens combination.

The longest fish in both Port Phillip Bay and Westernport will net those anglers a $750 gift voucher from Compleat Angler Dandenong to shop up a storm.

ENTRANTS Entrants can fish both Port Phillip Bay or Westernport any time during the event fishing window with entered snapper judged on fish length. The simple process of a smartphone picture of the snapper on a brag mat, complete with the daily code word is sent to Challenge HQ for judging. This process minimizes the stress on the fish should the angler choose to release or upgrade fish size later in the tournament. There is no limit on the number of fish entries, if you are good enough to catch a bigger snap, simply send another pic.

Of course, not every angler will be lucky enough to score a trophy winning fish, but every entrant will be in our famous lucky draw prize give away. In 2022 one-infive Open and Kayak entrants won a lucky draw prize whilst every Junior angler took home a prize just for entering and fishing the Spotters Peninsula Snapper Challenge, no big snapper required.

The Spotters Peninsula Snapper Challenge lucky draw prize cupboard is full of great fishing and boating gear, how would you like to win a $500 voucher from Fishing Onlineau Hastings, Compleat Angler Bentleigh, Compleat Angler Ringwood or Compleat Angler Dandenong?

Speaking of $500 vouchers, one lucky angler will land a $500 voucher from Reedys Rigs and after reading this story I suggest that you check our Reedys Youtube and Facebook to see some stunning early season snapper.

Hooking a big red is one part

Last year’s Open Division winner Gerald Sammut alongside runner up David Bornink displaying their trophies. of the deal, but getting it into the boat is the money shot so we will be giving away a series of Aussie made Hookem nets and gaffs to ensure that your fish lands on the deck.

We all love a fishing trip and the Spotters Peninsula Snapper Challenge will send lucky draw winners to Apollo Bay Fishing Charters, Bemm River with Bemm River Bait and Tackle, Moama Riverside Caravan Park and Mallacoota Beach Comber Caravan Park.

If your snapper skills could do with a polish then you might win a guide with Peter Ferguson from Fishin’ with Fergy where Fergy will go over your boat, rigs, tackle, bait, sounder setup plus more to get you catching more fish. Fergy’s Youtube and Facebook are worth checking out too! Other will look sharp wearing new Salty Crew gear with hoodies, shirts, caps and shorts on the give away list.

Check out their new Snap Attack range, it is a great looking range in our favourite fish species.

The Spotters Peninsula Snapper Challenge presentation will at the

Frankston Bombers Football and Netball Club in Baxter on the afternoon of Sunday 14 November from 2pm.

Entrants and followers are all welcome along to see our champions announced alongside the lucky draw prizes given away with a total prize pool over $25,000.

Frankston Rotary will be on the BBQ with drinks available for those who need to wash down the salt and briny away after fishing.

Tickets go on sale for the Spotters Peninsula Snapper Challenge on Monday 1 October, previous entrants watch for your loyalty discount code, so jump on board Melbourne’s premier snapper fishing event and be part of the fun. Entries can be purchased online at www. peninsulasnapperchallenge. com, the Challenge Facebook page or in person at Compleat Angler Dandenong. Full details of the competition format are also on the website whilst you should follow the Facebook today to keep up with the latest competition details and fishing reports.

– Spotters Peninsula Snapper Challenge

Tournament Calendar 2023 Date OCTOBER 1 Oct 7-8 Oct 15 Oct 21 Oct 28-29 Oct NOVEMBER 4-12 Nov 10-12 Nov 15-18 Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 26 Nov 28-29 Nov

Tournament

Location

State Contact

BARRA R2 BASS Electric GF ECBS Grand Final Wyaralong Carp and Tilapia comp BASS Pro GF

Lake Tinaroo Wyaralong Dam Sydney Harbour Wyaralong Dam TBC

QLD QLD NSW QLD QLD

abt.org.au abt.org.au wsbb.com.au www.lafma.org abt.org.au

Spotters Peninsula Snapper Challenge Port Phillip BREAM GF Port Stephens Marlin Challenge Port Douglas BARRA R3 Teemburra Dam BARRA R4 Kinchant Dam BARRA R5 Peter Faust Dam BARRA R6 Peter Faust Dam

VIC NSW QLD QLD QLD QLD QLD

peninsulasnapperchallenge.com abt.org.au portdouglasfishingclub@gmail.com abt.org.au abt.org.au abt.org.au abt.org.au

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.

102 OCTOBER 2023

OZFISH

Cod fight back thanks to Nymboida Bushfire Recovery The utter destruction created by the 2019 fires and subsequent flooding wreaked havoc along riverbanks of the Nymboida River in northern NSW. Not only did the devastation to the region leave a proliferation of wood weeds, erosion and a lack of native vegetation that is essential to the healthy functioning of the river, it threatened the eastern freshwater cod’s survival.

Restoration is vital as the river is one of the last remaining breeding grounds of a wild population of eastern freshwater cod.

As recently as the 1980s there were less than 1000 eastern freshwater cod left in the wild.

When the Liberation

program for the freshwater cod was started with fingerlings being released to give the breeding population a boost.

As part of the efforts to help the eastern freshwater cod, an artificial spawning habitat was trialled in the river last year and the early signs are that these structures have helped produce more fish to replenish stocks.

“They’re pretty much designed like a possum or a bird habitat box out of marine plywood into a triangle box with a hole for the cod to enter,” she explained.

“They are a waterengineered design. There’s concrete in the bottom of it so if the floods come through it’ll stay on the bottom of the riverbed and then it’s attached

Eastern cod fingerlings.

Trail Fire tore through the Nymboida it left behind ash and fire debris which was washed into the river just three months later when the area flooded.

OzFish and Landcare NSW volunteer groups in the region have used a longterm partnership to restore fish habitat across New South Wales.

With assistance from Landcare Bushfire Recovery Grants, OzFish volunteers began rehabilitation and revegetation work soon after, which included fencing stock away from the affected areas in 2020.

“The vegetation in the riparian zone, especially after the fires, it was pretty fragile,” said Alacia Cockbain, OzFish Project Officer NSW Coast.

In that same year a breeding and restocking

lost breeding habitat and be an immediate boost to help fish spawn directly after catastrophically events such as the bushfires.

“The aim is to re-establish genetic diversity across their distribution and to increase population numbers through restoring the complex habitats they need. Populations have increased.”

One of the important elements to protecting the eastern freshwater cod is the ban on all fishing in the Nymboida River, Mann River and all its tributaries upstream of its junction with the Clarence River from the beginning of August until the end of October.

All fishing gear in or adjacent to these seasonally closed waters is prohibited with heavy fines in place for anyone who transgresses.

“They are totally protected. If people catch them by accident outside of the breeding season, they should keep them in the water and release them straight away,” Ryan Lungu, OzFish’s NSW Coast Program Manager, said.

“What we want to do is rebuild their habitat so we can one day catch them again and

Nymboida bushfire recovery comparison. important.”

During the current threemonth fishing closure for breeding season, the cod are

Citizen Science at work with the Waterway Fire Science. to wire cable which is attached to a tree so that they can be retrieved.

“The primary basis of the project is to see if the design of the artificial spawning habitat box can substitute

closures ensure these beautiful native fish have a chance to recover.

The latest boost to restoring habitat on the Nymboida comes from a combination of community grants awarded to the Clarence River Chapter of OzFish Unlimited, Australia’s fishing conservation charity.

Funds secured from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal’s Yulgilbar Foundation will result in 5km of exotic weeds being removed from the riparian zone and 1000 local native plants established in their place.

A further three hectares of weed management and another 1000 trees are being funded by the Foundation for

with recreational fishers to drive the restoration of fish habitat on the Nymboida River and secure the future of not only the endangered eastern freshwater cod but other inhabitants, including platypuses.

When two passionate groups unite, like OzFish and Landcare, driven by robust volunteer support, their potential to effect change becomes endless.

“Our partnership with Landcare NSW is really gaining momentum,” said Lungu.

“By working together we are transforming local waterways and doing incredible things for native fish and other wildlife.”

This project was made

enjoy their fight on a line.

“It’s going to take us a long time to rebuild that system and that’s one of the last wild breeding populations of the eastern freshwater cod.

That’s why this closure is so

Collecting native tube stock from Friends of the Koalas Nursery in Lismore. Biodiversity Doctor Australia Adam Parkins, OzFish Alacia Cockbain, and Friends of Koalas Mark Wilson.

Signs at Nymboida River to protect the cod.

quite aggressive as they are protecting their eggs from predators.

Even if you were to accidentally catch one to release straight away the eggs would most likely be gone within a few minutes.

These protections and

National Parks & Wildlife through its bushfire recovery restoration grants.

Trees will be planted on community education days and is backed by support from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts that will see local Landcare groups collaborate

possible by the OzFishLandcare NSW partnership, and funded by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal’s Yulgilbar Foundation, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts and BCF. – OzFish OCTOBER 2023 103

BREAM SERIES presented by

Wilson finally wins Gold Coast BREAM The Gold Coast’s Steve ‘Wizard’ Wilson stepped up and won his first ABT BREAM event at the Rapala Crush City round of the Daiwa BREAM Series. Held on the Gold Coast at the tail end of the spawn, the event set up perfectly for Wilson, who has come close to many event wins fishing the deeper waters of the Jumpinpin.

The ’Pin is a vast maze of mangrove islands between North and South Stradbroke islands in the northern part of the prescribed BREAM arena. It’s a known spawning area for bream and this event was held right at the end of that traditional time of year.

“I reckon if this event was a week later, we wouldn’t have had anywhere near as much success as

times to be early and he was spot on. He landed his Day 1 limit along Kalinga Bank near the mouth of Duck Creek and upgraded to just under 3kg during the session.

“I chose a heavier outfit for this event because I wanted to land every big Scan the QR code to watch Steve Wilson’s Winners Interview

bream that bit. Sometimes it’s hard to get the hook into the bony mouths of the big fish,” Steve explained.

He used an Abu Garcia Salty Stage KRX 2-6kg rod with an Abu ALX 3000 sized reel, 10lb X9 braid and 8lb Vanish leader with a 1/8oz, #1 jighead. On the first day

Steve Wilson has been waiting for this moment for over two decades. His trophy now resides beside all of the memories of second places and below. booking for a family cruise spoiling the party. At least he has $3,000 more spending money to splash around now.

MORGAN DRAGS INTO SECOND Fishing Monthly Magazine Publisher, Steve Morgan, definitely stepped out of his comfort zone for

the wintertime bite on the cold coast and also ventured north to the Jumpinpin in search of schooling fish.

• Day 1: 5/5, 2.575kg • Day 2: 5/5, 3.090kg • Total: 10/10, 5.665kg “After some advice from Rapala’s Mick Horn, I spent a day practicing there

Steve Morgan finished the Qualifying season strong with a second place in this event and a second place in the Boater Angler of the Year points.

DUO Designed by Ultimate Organizer

we did up there,” Steve explained, “But I had a few electric motor issues on the practice day and I spent the morning idling around all of the regular spots. I found three places that were loaded with fish. After that, I went in and borrowed an electric motor and got it fitted for the tournament days.”

• Day 1: 5/5, 2.980kg • Day 2: 5/5, 3.315kg • Total: 10/10, 6.295kg Steve expected the bite

it was a 3” Gulp Minnow that got the bites, but on the second day he switched to a swamp gas coloured Gulp Shrimp.

Wilson would cast up-current and hop the lure off the bottom as the flow brought it back past the boat.

Each day, he landed 10-15 legal fish. His kicker fish on the Sunday was a 36cmfork bream that he knew sealed the deal.

“I didn’t tear-up after

BOATER RESULTS

104 OCTOBER 2023

that fish, but I did get pretty emotional and I felt that wave of euphoria go through me when I thought I had done it,” Steve concluded.

It was great to see the reception he received at the final presentation, with all fellow anglers acknowledging the success at the end of a long journey.

Although he’s instantly qualified for the BREAM Grand Final, he is unable to attend with an existing

Wilson didn’t weigh a bag under 3kg for the duration of the event. His fish at the Jumpinpin held up. By the time you read this, they will have dispersed.

Full results at abt.org.au

Place

Angler

Fish

Weight(kg)

Payout

1

Steve Wilson

10/10

6.295

$3,000

2

Steve Morgan

10/10

5.665

$1,500 + $250 Merc bonus

3

Mick Horn

10/10

5.320

$850

4

Matthew Fatafehi

10/10

4.960

$750 + $125 Merc bonus

5

Jamie McKeown

10/10

4.820

$650

6

Mark Crompton

10/10

4.800

$600 + $75 Merc bonus

7

Tim Morgan

10/10

4.775

$500

8

Anthony Wishey

10/10

4.635

9

Charlie Saykao

10/10

4.595

10

Bernard Kong

10/10

4.540

before the Queensland Open and then also on the Friday.

I found good numbers of fish in 15-20ft of water in the middle of the deeper channels and decided that there were enough fish there to hold up for the whole weekend,” he said.

This proved to be the case and he used a combination of Cranka Crabs and jigheadrigged Crush City Suspects to land over 20 fish each day.

“On the runout tide, the fish were holding on the sand ridges in the middle of the channel. I could see

BREAM SERIES presented by with the current and the bream would inhale it.

“I added some scent – it’s a blend I made from ProCure Sardine and then the leftovers from a few other bottles,” he said.

them on the LiveScope and it was a matter of getting them down to the bottom and keeping them there,” Steve explained.

For this, he chose 2 and 3lb breaking strength straight-through fluorocarbon line instead on a braid-leader setup.

“For the crab, it was a natural choice, but it was a bit weird fishing the plastic on 3lb fluorocarbon.

I pinched some #2, 1/6oz

Scan the QR code to watch the on field highlights

Scan the QR code to watch Peter Clark’s Winners Interview

jigheads from brother Tim and that helped solve the problem of how to get the hook in at the end of a piece of stretchy line.

He fished the baits on two Daiwa Infeet outfits – one was the 7’8” Crab rod, and the other the ultrafinesse 7’5” EX model.

“I’d hold position with the electric motor while the bait was sinking and then let it drift when it had hit the bottom. That was the only

Scan the QR code in this story to see the field highlights, including the embedded sounder feeds from Morgan’s boat.

Clark reported 40 bream for the two days of fishing and his final limit consisted of a 29/29/30 fork length specimens.

“They were crushing it,” he concluded.

Grand Final on the trip up to the Gold Coast with mate, Andrew Stubbs. Little did he realise that he’d be headed southbound a few days later with the hardware packed in the car and a golden ticket to the season’s ultimate event.

Clark channelled the sponsor karma to land all of his fish on one of the SWAG Crush City plastics from the briefing – a pearl/watermelon coloured Rapala Crush City Suspect rigged on a 1/12oz

BIG BREAM PRIZE

Clark gets instant qualification to the Daiwa BREAM Grand Final to be held at Port Stephens in early November.

Paul Langley anchored his Day 1 limit with the Atomic Big BREAM. The 895g fish ate a Cranka Crab thrown at a pontoon in the Coomera River. On 6lb leader the fish ate the bait on the drop and fought under the pontoon for a little before playing nice and coming to the net. way to keep the bait in the strike zone for any amount of time,” he concluded.

You can see the full range of catches from Morgan’s boat by watching the highlights on the YouTube channel (search: Steve Morgan).

CLARK CRUSHES IT DOWN THE BACK Port Stephens local, Peter Clark, would have dreamed of an instant qualification to the Daiwa BREAM

painted TT jighead.

• Day 1: 3/3, 1.625kg • Day 2: 3/3, 1.675kg • Total: 6/6, 3.300kg He fished with Steve Morgan on Day 1 and Drew Griffith on Day 2, both days around the Jumpinpin.

Clark fished the bait on a Samurai Reaction rod, Daiwa Certate reel and J-Braid topped with 3lb leader.

“You need to go light to get the bite,” he said at the final interview.

With only one of the sample baits on Day 1, Tim Morgan drifted past and gave him an assorted bag of the Suspects that he then used for the remainder of the event.

“That was lucky, because I lost my original after that,” he said.

Clark would cast the lure upstream and hop it back

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

Angler Peter Clark Joel McKenzie Jordan Armstrong Lance Marsh Angus Collins Michael Maas Byron Cowell Col Wilson Mark Street Marco Grubb

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

DUO Designed by Ultimate Organizer

Peter Clark rode sponsor karma all the way to the non-boater win. All of his fish came on the Rapala Crush City Suspect on a 1/12oz jighead.

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 3.300 3.235 3.110 2.825 2.740 2.160 1.995 1.980 1.920 1.835

Payout Daiwa pack + INFEET rod Cranka pack Daiwa pack Maui Jim pack Daiwa pack ProLure pack Samaki pack Atomic pack EJ Todd pack TT Pack OCTOBER 2023 105

Whittley SL20 with Mercury 3.0L 135hp 4-stroke MO

RE ONLI NE

R

CO

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CON

CAN THE Q

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-S

angler-friendly boats.

Interestingly, the live bait tank is built into the port side, transom step. Along the transom, there is a bait board and sink above the battery compartment. Missing is a full width, rear bench seat, but this is replaced by a pair of removable corner seats.

With these removed, you can fish with stability right into the back corner.

The cabin does not feature a lockable door, but

DE FOR E XT FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

We have tested plenty of Whittley boats in our years at Fishing Monthly magazine. The Whittley SL20 is the smallest of the Sea Legend range, a jointventure that Whittley had with New Zealand Rayglass.

Whittley is famous for its cruising boats (which have a 19° deadrise), but the Sea Legend range features 23° transom deadrise. The SL20 is a rig that we have tested before with a Yamaha 130hp 4-stroke, which makes it an interesting comparison with this rig, powered with a

PERFORMANCE

YAMAHA F130

Main: Imagine the family out on the water sharing a swim and a fish out of the Whittley SL20. Above: Supplied with a 3.0L 135hp 4-stroke Mercury, I’d recommend the maximum horsepower if taking the plunge.

Blacked out rails are part of the Marlin Broadbill package and colours that debuted at the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show in 2023.

135hp Mercury 4-stroke.

This particular boat was fresh from the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show, where it debuted a new style of colours into the Whittley range. Supplied with the 135hp outboard, this hull features a maximum horsepower rating of 150.

Whittley was also celebrating its 70th anniversary of locally building boats this year – so well done to this familyowned company.

106 OCTOBER 2023

this rig was supplied overpropped. The 17” Mercury Enertia was a bit too much blade for the 135, but probably perfect for the identical weight 150 iteration.

You can see this in the performance stats when compared with the F-Series Yamaha we’ve tested it with before – only revving out to 5,000rpm (where the Yamaha hit 6,000), but with a slightly higher top end speed. The

We were lucky enough to have Alan Whittley on this test, he could give us insights into this hull.

“Without the weight of a hard top, this boat is a little rocketship,” he said.

When questioned about why the 135hp instead of the maximum 150hp, I got the feeling that it was a price and availability thing.

Personally, I’d always opt for the maximum horsepower a hull is rated to.

It arrived to the test on the Gold Coast on a Whittley branded twin axle trailer made locally by Mackay Trailers. Rated to 2.2t, it’s towable by most mid-sized SUVs, in fact, anything with a tow capacity greater than 2,200kg.

Admittedly, local trailer manufacturers have been upping their game with regards to looks and quality of these locally built trailers and this rig is easily launched and retrieved by one person, as long as there’s a pontoon.

“One of the advantages of getting a factory rigged boat, motor and trailer package is that they are delivered to the dealers, perfectly rigged and

ready to go,” said Alan.

Whittley has a network of factory-owned dealerships nationwide that you can search on www. whittley.com.au.

From the outside, this Marlin Broadbill edition features black and teal colour pattern and blacked out rail work, replacing the chrome bars usually supplied. It complements Whittley’s rubber decking that I love in

Economy 36km/h • 2.1km/L • 4,000rpm Speed 61km/h • 1.3km/L • 6,000rpm

MERCURY 135

Economy 38km/h • 1.7km/L • 3,500rpm Speed 62km/h • 1.2km/L • 5,000rpm it does feature a standard, 110L chemical toilet, and the bunks are big enough for a lie down out of the sun.

Typifying the practicality of the Whittley range are the pair of cushion topped eskies that double as rear facing seats.

Whittley is big on comfortable seating.

Performance wise,

correct propping made the Yamaha more efficient at a more comfortable cruising load.

Either combination would definitely make a family happy that’s moving up into a comfortable rig to be out on the water, creating some lifelong memories. For pricing, contact your local Whittley dealer.

SPECIFICATIONS Length ............................6.37m Beam .............................. 2.40m Transom Deadrise ....... 23° Fuel ......................................210L Max hp............................150hp Capacity...............6 persons

The absence of a hard top that raises the centre of gravity keeps the SL20 quite stable at rest.

Top: Supplied on a twin axle, locally built trailer, this boat is easily launchable single handed.

Above: The fold down transom ladder is mounted on the starboard side.

The anchor hatch is accessible by a for’ard hatch, but you’d be crazy not to tick the anchor winch option.

Top: There’s a live bait tank in the port side step.

Above: A large flat area in the dash holds large MFDs flush mounted, which gets a tick from us.

Whittley’s rubber flooring can be hosed out at the end of a trip.

There’s no lockable cabin door in this model, but the seating is practical and functional.

Top Left: Add the infill and there’s room for a cosy rest for a couple of adults.

Top Right: The windscreen is positioned for adequate visibility.

Bottom Left: Some small side pockets and a couple of sneaky rod holders sit each side of the cockpit. Bottom Right: You can hear the 135hp in action at the end of the Video Boat Test, scan the QR code hereby.

Top Left: The transom bait station sits neatly above the battery compartment.

Bottom Left: The transom corner seats are removable, which let you get right into the rear corner of the boat while fishing. Top Right: There is no doubting that the Whittley SL20 Marlin Broadbill edition will turn heads at your local boat ramp.

Bottom Right: There’s a couple of tackle hatches for’ard of the side pockets.

OCTOBER 2023 107

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Times are areininlocal localstand stan Northbank Fibreglass BoatsTimes 2,735 0642 0.42 10,999 11,899 Moon MoonPhase PhaseSymbols Symbols @northbankboats 12443,2121.34 1,615

$

• 9.9HP Mercury 4/s

STACER 399s PROLINE

• Stacer Alloy Trailer • Mercury 20HP 4/s • Electric Start • Registration

9.9HP 4-stroke

• 15HP Mercury 4/s

$

Including GST (Tow Away)

• Safety Equipment

STACER 429 RAMPAGE

$

31 Including GST (Tow Away)

Photos for illustration purposes only(Tow Away)

Repairs

The SARCA EXCEL and SUPER SARCA are certified type approved Super High Holding Power

SYDNEY (FORT D SYDNEY SYDNEY MARLO

$

15HP 4-stroke $

20HP 4-stroke

3,653 MO 1807 0.73

• Stacer Alloy Trailer • Mercury 30HP 4/s

$

4-STROKE ENGINE SPECIALS

© Da Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can FREECALL: 1800 228 244 or email nkelly@fishingmonthly.com.au 11,737 © Copyright Commonwealth of Aus Tim 108 OCTOBER 2023 Datum of Predictions is Lowest Ast IN CLASS LIGHTWEIGHT Mo REASONS BEST PERFORMANCE & COMPACT % Times are in local standard time (U TO CHOOSE STACER 429 SEA MASTER

$

429 22,279 STACR ASSAULT PRO Including GST (Tow Away)

$

26,699

75HP 4-stroke

10,049*

$

Including GST (Tow Away)

90HP 4-stroke $

• Stacer Alloy Trailer • Mercury 40HP 4/s • Bimini Top • Engine Fit Up & PD

• Registration

• Stacer Alloy I-Beam Trailer • Mercury 40HP 4-stroke • Side Console • Rod Locker • Sealed Timber Floor

• Live Tank Fit Up • Bow Mount Motor Bracket • Two Tone Paint • Fit Up & PD • Registration • Safety Equipment

UP

*

*Engine price is motor only. Excludes installation & Rigging Kit. (Tow Away)

*

ON BOAT PACKAGES

New South Wales Tide Times

Victorian Tide Times

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

2021

2021

Times andWALES Heights of High and Low Waters Local Times and Heights of Time High and Low Waters YY33° (FORT (FORT DENISON) DENISON) –– NEW NEW SOUTH SOUTH WALES POINT POINT LONSDALE –– VICTORIA VICTORIA LAT 38° LONSDALE 18ʼ S 2021 LONG 144° 37ʼ E 51ʼ S LONG 151° 14ʼ LAT 33° 51ʼE S LONG 151° 14ʼ E

2023 2023

LAT 38° 18ʼ S

LONG 144° 37ʼ E

2023

LAT LAT33° 33° 51ʼ 51ʼSS LONG LONG151° 151° 14ʼ 14ʼEE LAT LAT JULY 38° 38° 18ʼ 18ʼ SS LONG LONG 144° 144° 37ʼ 37ʼ EE MAY AUGUST JUNE and Heights of HighJUNE and Low Waters Local Time Times and Heights of High and Low Waters nd Heights of HighTimes and Low Waters Local Time Times Times andMAY Heights of High and Low Waters Times Times and and Heights Heights of of High High and and Low Low Waters Waters Local Local Time Time Times and and Heights Heights of of High High and and Low Low Waters Waters Local Time Time Time Time m Time mJULY Time Time Local m JULY Time mMAY m Time m Time MAY m Time mm Time mm Time m Time Time JUNE AUGUST JUNE JULY JUNE AUGUST JUNE MAY JULY NOVEMBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER OCTOBER SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER OCTOBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER Time m Time 0519 m Time m Time m Time Time m Time m Time m Time m Time m Time m Time m 0006 1.68 0.58Time m 0633 0.53 0145 1.34 0150 1.26 0554m 0.36OCTOBER 0037 Time 1.78 m 0057 1.60 0557 1.36 0046 0.69 0452 1.41 0623 1.40 0034

Time m1.30 m 1 1 Time m0.43 m 11 0807 Time m0.49m 16 Time m0.5416 Time m 1 0735 T 16Time 1Time 1ime 16 Time m Time m 0735 0646Time 1117 m1.28 1238 0750 Time 0.51 0.62 16 1155 m1.39 16 0740 0744 1.30 1148 0.55 1041 0.38 1158 0.58 1 16 1 16 1 16 1 16 1 16 16 1 16 1303 1.43 1640 0.75 1804 0.76 1430 1.59 1446 1.43 1725 0.65 1345 1.33 1358 1.38 A037 1.78 SU TU SU MO 0006 0557 1.68 1.36 0633 0.53 0145 0150 0623 1.26 1.40 00570452 1.60 1.41WE 1245 0.80 1900 1.34 1.50 1748 1.58 1904 1.54 SAFR MO FRTH TU WE 1245 0 0046 0.69 0049 0.58 0.51 18480.51 0.66 1 2110 0.56 23590.49 1911 1940 2114 0.76 16 1623141.301.71 111 0744 11 11148 111.8816 1238 16 160.540.790.38 16 161 2319 10.7816 16 160034 16 1.35 16 16 0646 0.43 16 0807 0.62 740 1935 1.44 0.74 1928 10 1 1 16 1 16 0735 1.30 0748 0.55 1041 1158 0.58 0750 0735 1.47 1 1.43 1.50 1.59 1.43 1.54 345 1.33 WE 1804 0.76 1.38 1.58 TH 1358 FR 1303 SU 1446 MO 1430 1245 0.80 1257 0.87 1900 1 1748 1904 1245 0.75 0301 SA SA MO FR TU WE TH 0030 1.68 0608 0.61 0255 1.18 1.25 0138 1.66 0148 1.47 0100 1.58 0700 0.43 0023 0.56 0.74 0135 0.68 1.42 0534 1.38 0043 0.65 1.54 0130 2 1848 2110 0.7917 17 0.78 0.74 2114 0.76 17 2 2 17 2 17 1935 1.44 1922 2319 1928 17 2 2 0.66 2 17 2 17 2911 21940 2 17 0.52 17 1207 1.25 0858 0.65 0853 0.56 0835 0.54 17 0724 0828 0.58 0733 0.45 1300 1.31 2FR1121 2MO0735 2 0849 0.42 17 0656 1.29 1.40 17 0842 1.32 13351.58 1.34 17261.68 0.80 1542 0.68 1.47 1538 0.89 1.64 14471.47 1.35 TH 14511.52 1.41 SA 13591.25 1.49 18251.66 0.74 MO TU2 WE U138 0030 0255 1.18 0148 0100 0301 1336 1231 0.65 1836 1256 1345 0 17 17 17 17 2 2 17 17 2 2 2 2 17 17 17 17 2 2 2 SU WE SA TU TH 0023 0.74 0135 0.68 0133 0.57 0534 1.38 0043 0.65 0130 0.47 19060.45 0.77 2 2227 0.72 2230 0.50 20190.58 0.8217 0733 20450.65 0.8117 19570.56 0.67 2 0828 835 0.54 17 0724 0.52 1.40 1.37 2023 1947 1.44 1.32 1959 1.51 1.50 2019 21 17 17 2 2 2 0842 0848 0656 1.29 0858 1121 0.42 17 0735 1.40 0853 0849 1.47 18 447 1.3518TH 1335 1.34 1.41 SAPOINT 1359 1.49 1.64 MO 1542 FR 1451 TU 1538 18 18 3 3 3 LONSDALE – VICTORIA 3 3 18 3 18 18 1336 0.89 1347 0.95 1231 0.65 1836 1.52 1256 0.68 1345 0.85 0000 1.66 0406 1.16 0239 1.56 0245 1.37 0200 1.48 0422 1.22 0100 1.77 0126 1.63 SU 1 SU 0.67 WE 0.50 FR 0.65 SA 0.81 TU 0.75 TH 1906 0.77 2227 0.72 0.82 2045 1957 2230 2022 0116 0.75 0001 0144 0.59 0230 0230 3 18 3019 3 3 18 LAT 38°0.50 18ʼ1.44 S LONG 144° 37ʼ E1.51 2019 1.40 2009 1.38 1947 1959 2023 1.50 0953 0.66 0925 0.57 18 0815 0911 0.61 0825 0.47 1001 0.57 0809 0.49 18 0702 0.62 18 0422 18 0945 3of SA 3 163718 3 0958 2 0628 1.44 0808 1.26 18 18 18 3 3 18 1813031.631.24 33 TH0245 3 3 18 18 18 18 331.28 TU0126 1.52 1544 1.40 FR 1543 1.46 14581.22 1.57 3 TU0858 1645 1.36 1.72 14141.56 1433 1.41 Times and Heights High and 1.34 Low WatersSU Local Time WE3 O239 0406 1.16 1.37 0200 1.48 0.48 0.78 1321 0.75 0.96 MOMARCH SU WE 1402 TH 1438 0 0116 0.75 0230 0001 0.75 0144 0.59 0230 18220.50 0.83 3 0911 2330 0.65 0.43 2341 0.41 0.55 2129 0.81 0.7919 21140.57 0.64 19340.57 0.8018 0815 2015 0.75 3 1209 18 18 18 0953 0.66 1001 925 0.61 0825 0.47 JANUARY FEBRUARY APRIL 19 19FR 1453 4 2155 4 0.65 4 0223 1930 1.47 2058 1.48 1.55 2108 2124 2036 1.38 1.37 1.40 19 4 4 4 19 19 19 3 18 18 3 3 3 1 0628 1.34 0858 1.44 0958 0808 1.26 0945 1.36 0949 1637 1.52 WE 1645 1.72 544 1.40 FR 1433 1.41 1543 1.46 SU 1458 1.57 TU SA 00560.75 1.62 0513 1.17 0.92 0534 1.25 1.01 0339 1.49 0344 1.310.78 2341 0310 1.41 0.96 02090.81 1.68 0228 1.59 1 1209 0.48 2114 1402 1453 1321 0.75 2330 1438 1449 MO MO TH SA SU WE FR 0.65 0.41 129 2155 0.79 0.64 2015 0220 0.75 0329 0.61 0052 0.74 0252 0.51 0338 2 4 19 4 19 4 0914 440.53 1919 19440905 0800 0.61 441 4 1009 1046 0.66 1.47 1106 2102 0.54 0954 0.62 0919 0.49 1.37 16 1 160.59 16 16 120360.48 1 1930 1.47 2058 1.48 2124 1.38 2108 1.35 19 19 4 19 19 4 4 4 19 19 19 19 19 19 4WE1014 0735 1.33 0922 1.27 14071.59 1.26 1728 1.58 19 1746 1.80 204 1103 16331.31 1.47 SA 1.5220 15581.25 1.66 15251.49 1.30 WE 15301.41 1.52 4SU TH 1044 MO U339 0513 1.17 0534 0310 20 1.53 5 1632 5 TH 5 1.42 50.51 5 4FR0344 5 0220 20 20 20 2019 0228 1307 0.57 1517 0338 0.85 0.39 1422 0.83 1.00 0.53 2234 0.78 2300 0.7419 22300.54 0.56 0.61 19290.48 0.84 20500.59 0.82 2128 0.70 TU 1106 FR 1550 0320 MO SA 1608 0 0.75 0329 0052 0.74 0252 4 19 1046 0.66 009 0905 0954 0.62 0919 0.49 2031 1.44 2200 1.48 2126 1.35 2200 1.36 19 19 19 4 4 4 41 1.33 1014 1.53 1103 1.61 0922 1044 1.42 1050 1.46 2229 1.58 1.80 633 1.47 SA 1530 1.52 16320735 1.52 1.66 1.27 WE 1728 TH 1746 MO 1558 171.45 17 2 2 MO 2 17 2 17 0020 1608 0.57 0.94 0039 1600 0.32 1.02 0433 0333 1.56 0442 1.28 0422 1.36 1.00 03200.78 1.62 01580.70 1.61 SU 1307 0.57 1517 0.85 1422 0.83 1550 234 2300 0.74 2230 0.56 2128 FR 0.71 5 50402 SU 0.56 TH 0.70 SA TU 1 20 5 201016 521260.4620 50.6221 202229 50426 20 1.34 20 200858 0.58 55 5 1049 20 20 0.591.4420TU 550956 20 20 20 5 1012 550.55 20 0330 0157 0.43 0445 0607 1.20 1.46 0633 1.31 1038 0.50 6 6 21 6 21 2031 2200 1.48 1.35 2200 1.36 2203 6 TU0039 21 6 211.28 6 1.36 21 TH0333 5MO0900 5TH1122 5 1205 1136 1.64 0.63 20 1206 1.51 0.49 1718 1.54 SU 1626 1.64 21 17171.35 1.5920 16580.32 1.77 16261.45 1.36 15121.56 1.33 1030 1.32 FR 1137 E433 0020 0.57 0422 2331 0.73 2240 0.61 2357 0.68 2342 0.46 22030.59 0.7920 0956 1814 1.65 1842 1.87 20430.46 0.81 3 1539 0.89 1418 0.66 1636 0.88 1701 1.00 1720 0 5 20 5SA0442 20 WE SA TU FR SU 0607 1.20 0633 1.31 049 1038 0.62 1016 0.50 0330 0.71 0426 0.56 0422 0.48 0157 0.70 0402 0.43 0445 0.36 18 2137 1.433 3 2300 1.50 18 18 3 18 1.35 2215 2255 1.37 1.52 2331 20 20 20 5 5 50 5 1136 0.63 1.64 1206 0.49 718 1.54 SU 1626 1.64 1717 1.59 1.35 1658 1030 1.77 1.32 0900 1122 1137 1.51 1147 1205 1.67 TH FR MO TU 0102 0.49 0129 0.25 0522 1.42 0438 1.54 05361.65 1.2722 1842 05311.87 1.35 04230.73 1.59 03040.61 1.62 66 2357 7 7 22 7 22 21 21 6 6 6 21 6 21 21 21 6 6 21 21 6 6 21 21 2240 0.68 2342 0.46 1814 1539 0.89 1418 0.66 1636 0.88 1 1701 1.00 1709 0.99 1720 0.92 WE SA MO TU FR WE SU 7 7 22 7 22 22 22 6 21 6 6 21 6331 21 21 0652 0.34 1.24 0724 0.50 1.37 1127 0.59 1046 0.44 11210.62 0.62 11150.64 0.49 1100 0.55 0950 0.52 0313 0507 2215 1.35 2137 1.43 2300 1.50 0432 2255 1.37 2308 1.356 0545 1 2331 1.47 0516 1221 0.59 1300 0.43 1758 1.61 1719 1.78 1800 1.65 1755 1.87 1716 1.44 1609 1.44 4 19 19 4 19 4 4 19 21 6 6 21 FR1224 1.74 SA 1225 1.59 SU WE H522 1.42 FR 1129 0.25 1.40 1301 0102 1.44 0.49 0129 0536 1.27 1.35 0438 1.54 1856 0545 1.72 0.33 23070.59 0.7421 1046 21540.44 0.74 6 11210313 1931 0520 1.91 0.43 2346 0.50 6TU1025 21MO0531 0652 0507 1.24 21 127 0.62 0.62 1115 0.49 1656 1.37 0.90 0.50 1541 0.72 0.86 0.96 TH 0724 WE SA 1746 SU 1758 MO 1822 0 0432 0.64 0.34 0516 8 6 1224 8 7 2359 23 8 1240 23 1221 0.59 0.43 758 1.61 1800 1755 1.87 22 1.46 2304 1.36 1.52 1.72 7 2349 1.39 60021 60 21 6221301 21 FR 2240 SA 1300 WE 21 2223 22 1.59 71129 70.6023 22 22 221.650.671.44 770540 22 22 2204071.78 1.40 1025 1.74 1225 8 77TU 8 23 23MO 1719 8 23 0141 0.42 0516 771.57 1.52 00431.72 00441.91 0.35 1.59 1.65 0213 0.22 1856 1931 2346 0.50 5 201.40 5 20 5 20 20 1656 0.90 1541 0.72 1 1746 0.86 1758 0.96 1822 0.87 1807 0.93 7 7 1142 0.54 22 1039 0.45 5 7WE0607 22 7 22 22 TH TH SA SU MO TU 0732 0.28 1.29 1136 0.44 06260.49 1.28 06350.57 1.37 0810 0.44 1.42 0522 0428 0604 0601 0030 1 2240 1.46 2304 1.36 2359 1.52 2349 1.39 1303 0.54 1759 1.52 1202 0.59 1812 1.90 1202 0.62 1212 0.48 1700 1.57 1349 0.40 R021 0.67 MO TU SA SU 1310 1.66 0141 1.57 0.42 22TH 0540 1.52 0043 0.60 0044 0.35 0213 77WE1138 7SA1320 7 0639 1218 0.22 1.509 1.81 22 240030 9 0010 9 18400604 18351.28 1.6822 0635 1.37 1.7124 18501.42 1.96 22590.44 0.63 7 0626 2017 1.90 24 1353 1935 1.79 22 22 0732 1.29 607 1.4024 1136 0810 1755 0.89 1844 0.82 1844 0.92 1703 0.73 FR TH SU MO TU 0522 0.57 0.28 0601 0.44 0428 0.49 1.49 1.39 9 88WE 986 0.48 23 2423 24 8 6 72321 24 23 86 91.81 23 822 061123 0.38 19157 00 880.68 TU 1812 23 2305051.901.67 230.62 880047 23 21 6 1202 210.61 21 0.40 1303 0.54 202 0.59 1212 SA 2339 TH 22 SU 1349 2350 1.38 1.50 7 22 7 1218 1.50 1320 1310 1.66 1138 1.57 0639 0.31 0254 0104 0124 0.54 0139 0.27 0000 0.39 0.22 0216 0.37 1935 1.79 1.68 1.71 1.96 2017 1.90 81840 23 231850 8835 23 1755 0.89 8 1844 1703 0.73 1353 1329 0649 1.39 0711 1.290.82 07321844 1.39 0.92 8 0811 0601 1.55 23 1125 0.40 0641 1.50 0852 1.45 1.65 1.33 1.75 FR SU MO FR 1 TH TU WE 0533 0053 1.55 0040 1.43 0123 0603 0.50 10 25 10 25 10 2350 1.388TH 2 2339 1.50WE 1915 0.81 1237 0.59 12420.37 0.6125 13060.22 0.46 12170.61 0.53 SU 1228 0.44 17480.39 1.72 1435 1856 0.39 0.85 1344 0.50 23 TU FR A104 MO SU 0124 0.54 0139 0.27 0047 0254 0216 0.37 8 8 23 1242 0.25 0644 0729 1300 1.60 2523 0641 25 25 10 10 9978 0711 2524 10 22 22 221.7423 0732 7 1.39 7 22 1910 19191.71 1.77 1944 2.01 9 7 0657 18361.39 1.59 1903 2.01 2100 0.40 1.85 2015 1.84 23 8 649 1.29 1.50 0852 1.45 0811 1.33 24 9 9 24 24 9 24 9 9 24 24 24 9 9 24 24 0.72 1.55 1.84 1.50 1.72 1.44 1840 0040 0.86 FR 1813 MO 1411 0123 TU 1352 0105 WE 1440 0 SA 1435 0533 0053 237 0.59 WE 1228 0.44 0.61 0.37 1306 0603 0.46 0.50 0.39 1.43 0.50 MO TH 1242 FR 23 SU 1344 1934 0.78 1926 0.87 2005 8 23 8 23 80 8 0144 0.56 0202 0.48 0145 0.30 0045 0.63 0000 0.51 0331 0.25 0230 0.22 0253 0.32 1242 1.71 0657 0.25 0644 0.40 0729 0.33 0659 0.35 1300 1.60 1.74 1919 1.77 1944 2.01 1903 2.01 2100 1.85 2015 1.84 26 11 26 11 26 11 9 9 24 9910 24 24 9 0730 1.38 0752 1.311.84 0740 1.48 0642 1.53 24 0600 1.68 0933 1.47 1.70 0826 1.41 0849 1.37 1.75 1 1813 0.72 1411 1352 1.72 1440 1414 1840 0.86 SA FR MO TU WE TH SA 8MO0144 230.60 TH0230 8110.78SA0331 23 0.25 8 0.22 23 1.56 1.46 0032 1.54 0033 1.42 26 26 MO0145 11 260.48 11 26 1311 1322 0.60 1319 0.45 23 12490.56 0.53 12100.30 0.37 8WE 1519 1942 0.41 0.76 0213 2 1359 0.45 0.87 1425 2005 0.46 0.75 FR U144 TU 0128 1934 1926 0202 0253 0.32 250.26 25 9 0815 101.8124 2520331.47 24 0933 101.6624 0740 25 2518361.481.8610 109 0752 25 251.311.7924 0826 10 1010 25 252599 0629 0724 0642 0.44 1945 19570.26 19561.41 2.07 191110 2141 0.37 1.76 2.0210 9 0746 2053 1.86 2410 730 1.38 0849 1.37 1459 1.84 1434 1.75 1338 1.81 1339 1.68 TU WE SA SU 0 0144 1.56 0128 1.46 0213 1.50 0157 1.49 0032 1.54 0033 1.42 311 0.60 TH 1319 0.45 1322 0.60 SA 1359 0.45 0.41 1425 0.46 27 TU 1519 MO12 12 0.379 2022 27 27TH 1522 01251.79 0.58 00572.07 0.40 FR 0407 0.31 0.34 0318 0.22 0330 0.29 0.36 12 0221 0.52 0241 0.24 0241 0.44 1919 0.83 0.75 2007 0.82 2052 1908 0.70 9 9 24 9 24 9 9 24 9 24 9 24 24 0 0746 0.26 2141 0724 0815 0745 0629 0.26 24 0642 0.44 945 1956 1957 1.81 1.76 2053 1.86 2033 2.02 121.84 27 27 27 27 25 0656 12 0 0719 1.51 25 1013 10 0929 2512 10 TU 25 WE 1.67 10SA 1.47 1.73 09151434 1.42 1.75 1.41 1.73 0812 0837 1.46 0832 1.32 1 1459 1522 1456 13381.36 1.81 1339 1.68 SU TH FR SU 1.55 0214 1.48 0259 2 0123 1.58 0115 1.45 132011 0.54 12560.24 0.3711 1602 2027 0.46 14490.31 0.4511 1509 0.45 0.71 1345 0.62 1411 0.48 1401 0.590.75 26 11 26 11 26 11 26 O221 TU WE SU TU0230 TH SA 11 26 26 11 11 26 26 11 26 26 0330 0.29 0407 0318 0.22 0.52 0241 0241 0.44 1919 0.83 2022 2007 0.82 2052 0.67 1908 0.70 FR 10 10 0859 25 1013 19431.36 1.7125 0837 19241.46 1.98 10 0832 2218 0.36 1.65 28 21211.47 1.98 2133 1.85 25 13 20191.32 1.8225 0915 20471.42 2.0910 20350.20 1.8428 0833 0.30 0804 0720 0718 0.39 10 0929 1.41 812 13 13 28 10 25 10 25 25 10 25 10 1544 1.80 1515 1.76 1430 1.87 1416 1.73 WE TH FR 1600 0 SU MO 1602 0.46 0.45 13 1449 0.45 1.45 345 0.6228FR 1411 0.48 1401 0.59 1.58 0230 1.55 0214 1.48 0259 1.49 0246 1.53 0123 0115 TU 1509 28 13 28 13 02021.82 0.55 0407 0.72 0.28 0441 0.38 0259 0.50 SU 25 03341.98 0.23 28 03180.68 0.42 WE 2218 04031.65 0.25 01532.09 0.31 SA10 2107 2047 0.77 2136 1957 1957 0.80 10 0 10 25 10 25 2133 1.85 2121 019 2047 2035 1.84 0833 0.30 0804 0.36 0859 0.41 0831 0.35 0720 0.20 0718 0.39 1 075712 1.48 26 0751 1.63 11 0852 1.35 26 0932 1.44 11 0912 1.33 26 1002 1.42 11 1011 1.45 26 1051 1.47 12 12 12 27 12 27 27 27 1544 1.80 1515 1.76 1600 1.70 1535 1.73 1430 1.87 1416 1.73 12 12 12 12 12 27 27 27 27 27 27 MO 1 WE TH FR SA SU MO 13490.50 0.56 WE 1554 0.45 1645 1.49 0.52 29 0343 14220.42 0.64 SA 1503 0.51 26 SU 14421.59 0.5829MO 1539 0.48 13430.23 0.40 11 FR U259 WE0315 TH14 1.52 0258 0209 0156 1.47 0441 0.38 0407 0.28 0334 0318 0403 0.25 14 14 29 11 11 26 26 11 26 2107 0.72 2047 0.77 2136 0.67 2113 0.58 1957 0.68 1957 0.80 20151.35 1.7626 0932 2215 0.36 1.80 26 0845 2255 0.37 1.52 11 0939 2 20561.33 1.8326 1002 21391.42 2.0711 21150.19 1.8526 1051 22071.47 1.90 11 0918 20131.44 2.06 11 0912 11 0809 0755 0.37 1011 1.45 852 29 29 14 29 14 29 14 1554 0315 0.45 1.52 422 0.64 SA 1503 0.51 14420209 0.58 1.59 1539 0156 0.48 1.47 1.74 1.46 1556 0335 1.74 1.55 1.87 1454 0.52 1.76 1.49 WE 1517 TH 1625 SA 1633 0 TU 1645 0258 0512 0.72 0.45 04461.52 0.31 0446 0343 0.29 FR 2129 03381.85 0.49 MO 2207 04281.90 0.27 MO 03570.67 0.41 TH 02391.83 0.52 02492.07 0.26 SU 2115 2255 2215 1.80 2139 2152 0.71 2217 2043 2033 0.78 11 1 11 11 26 11 26 26 0809 0.19 0918 0.36 0845 0.37 0939 0.47 0918 0.40 0755 0.37 27 12 12 27 12 27 2056 27 13 13 28 28 13 28 13 28 131.44 28 280848 1.5713 28 28271.331.87 13 28 28 1312 MO0932 13 1130 1.46 30 1048 1.41 1.48 1027 1.3430 083413 1214541.41 27 27 15 09531625 12 27 1556 12 1055 15 30 15 1517 1.74 1.74 1633 1.66 1614 1.71 1.76 TU 1 TH FR 0.45 SA 1.48 SU 1.49 TU 1730 0.58 1627 0.53 1644 0.47 15000.41 0.66 SU 15570.31 0.56 15231.58 0.58 TU 14190.49 0.58 14300.27 0.45 FR 0343 TH0400 SA MO E338 TH 0512 0446 0.29 0428 0357 0446 0254 0426 0236 1.48 15 15 30 15 30 30 30 2043 0.67 2152 0.71 2129 0.72 2217 0.64 2159 0.50 2033 0.78 2332 0.40 1.39 12 1016 2 22501.46 1.78 12 1000 2300 0.44 1.72 27 0929 21331.34 1.8327 1048 22291.41 1.9912 21540.21 1.8427 1130 20461.33 1.7827 1027 21021.41 2.10 12 0953 12 0856 1055 1.48 932 0830 0.36 1644 0400 0.47 500 0.66 SU 1557 0.56 0.58 0.53 1.48 FR 1730 TH 1603 MO 1523 TU 1627 1.68 1.71 1532 1.75 13 280.50 130236 28 13 28 0.58 13 28 TU FR 1704 SA 1634 SU 1704 0 WE 1.48 0343 1.49 0426 0254 1.58 1.56 0527 0.33 1.43 0544 0425 0.52 0417 0519 0.32 04371.82 0.4031 0528 0.3814 03451.99 0.2514 031614 0.51 31 14 14 29 29 29 29 14 14 29 29 29 29 29 29 14 14 14 2332 1.39 2300 1.72 1.83 2229 2154 1.84 2250 1.78 2127 0.67 2235 0.70 2212 0.66 2256 2110 0.76 12 27 12 12 27 27 12 1 13 28 28 3133 28 13 28 13 1000 0.44 0929 0.40 1016 0.54 0856 0.21 0830 0.36 1006 0.47 1142 1.51 1210 1.45 1015 1.32 1120 1.39 1036 1.35 1133 1.40 0945 1.50 0913 1.41 31 FR0519 31 31 1704 1.68 1634 1.71 1704 1.61 1603 1.82 1532 1.75 1652 1.68 1737 0.50 1820 0.64 1540 0.68 1649 0.61 1608 0.59 1715 0.59 15210.32 0.51 14500.50 0.62 FR SA SU TU WE MO WE 1 FR SA SU MO TU WE H417 0544 0.52 0527 1.55 0.33 0437 0.40 0.38 0338 0315 1.48 0446 1.42 0430 2245 1.49 0.43 0510 2235 0.70 2212 0.66 2256 0.62 2127 0.67 0.76 2 2347 1.60 2213 2318 1.87 2235 1.81 2331 1.64 21541.39 2.08 13 21191.32 1.7928 1120 28 13 28 0528 1210 1.45 1142 1.51 015 1.35 1133 1.40 142110 29 14 1036 291.81 14 29 14 13 13 0942 0.28 Commonwealth 0906 0.37 1042 0.52 28 1014 0.46 13 1053 © Copyright of Australia 2019, Bureau of Meteorology 1820 0.64 1737 1.75 0.50 540 15 0.68 0.59 30 SA FR 1647 WE 1715 30 30 1.55 30 15Predictions 300606 15 1.73 1.61 1714 1.68 150.52MO 1649 30 3004430.61 15TU 1608 30 300.59 15 1515 30 WE TH 1611 SA 1743 SU15 MO 1735 0 0015 0519 1.28 0.45 0609 0.38 1.40 0.2815 0500 0.51 0610 0.40 0518 03551.81 0338 1.55 0315 1.48 0446 1.42 0430 1.49 0510 Datum of 0.41 is Lowest Astronomical Tide 2347 1.60 213 2318 1.87 2235 1.81 2331 1.64 14 29 29 29 14 29 14 4Copyright 2209 0.67 2146 0.75 2318 0.70 2257 0.61 Commonwealth of Australia 2020, Bureau of Meteorology 13 28 13 28 13 28 13 0.59 0.55 2332 1.40 0.46 1232 1053 1.54 0.62 0619 1053 1044 1.43 1059 1213 1.37 1122 1.360.52 12181014 0952 1.37 09421.30 0.28 0906 0.37 Times 1042 are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) wh1 15 30 15 30 15 30 15 1254 1.43 1804 0.66 1838 0.55 1614 0.59 1622 0.71 1744 0.67 1656 0.61 1524 0.66 of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide 1647 1.75 1611 1.73 1730 1.63 1743 1.61 1714 1.68 1735 1.56 SU TH SA SA MO TU WE Rum 0015 0609 0.38 Symbols 500 0.51 0610 0.40 0518 0.41 0606 WE TH 0.45 TU 1.47 TH 1 SA Phase SU 1.28 MO 1.37 First Quarter New Moon0534 Moon Moon 0421 1.50 0355 1.46 0521 0558 1919 2331 0.69 0.39Full 22461.37 2.01 2254 1.78 2319 1.7629 2155 14 29standard 14 29 2209 0.67 0.75 2318 0.70 2257 0.61 2332 0.60 es are1.30 in1.78 local time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect 0619 0.59 1232 1.54 059 1213 1122 1.36 1218 2146 1.40 14 29 0943 1025 0.36 0.39 14 1120 0.61 29 1101 0.54 310013Last 31 14 1131 31 31 3105420.67 1.43 1838Moon 0.55 SU 1254 622 0.71Symbols 0.61 First 0.66 31 SA 1731 TU 1744 WE 1656 TH 1804 New Moon Quarter Quarter 1819 on Phase Full 0041 1.46 1.50 0.34 0545 0.53 0007 1.74 0601 0.42 0435 0.54 0106 1.17 1.67 1650 1.69 1.55 1754 1.63 TH FR SU MO TU 1806 0 1.46 0620 1.53 0534 1.37 1919 0521 1.47 0558 1.37 1.78 23190421 1.76 31 1.50 31 0.69 15 14 302225 302906580355 5254 30 2344 0657 1131 0.45 0.70 0645 0.52 0.54 1146 0.47 1211 1.390.61 1033 1.32 30 1143 1.38 15 0703 0.65 0.65 2252 0.69 0.74 0.56 14 29 14 0 14 29 10251.29 0.36 0943 0.3915 1141 1120 1101 1.56 1.51 13041.17 1.40 1.63SU 1328 17091.74 0.66 1710 0.73 1305 1.36 1749 0.641.55 16000.53 0.71 SU 1.42 1.58 FR TU A545 MO 1346 0041 1.46 0007 0601 0.42 0013 1.50 0106 1731 1.67WE 1650 1.69 TH 1813 1819 1754 1806 TH FR WE FR 1 SU MO TU 0507 0437 1.44 0001 0622 0010 1948 0.70 0.57 1859 0.72 23410.47 1.91 15 1211 23391.39 1.73 1839 0.73 22321.29 1.7530 0658 2030 1.46 0.70 15 30 30 0657 1.43 0.45 146 0645 0.52 0703 0.65 0.69 0.74 1 2344 0.56 ©© 2225 Copyright Copyright Commonwealth Commonwealth of of Australia Australia 2022, 2022, Bureau Bureau of of Meteorology Meteorology wealth wealth ofofAustralia Australia 2022, 2022,Bureau BureauofofMeteorology Meteorology 2252 15 30 1107 1023 1.42 0.43 15 0630 1.32 30 1151 0.64 15 0650 © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia Bureau Meteorology 1328of 0.45 1.56 710 0.73 WE 1305 1.36 1749 0.64 1304 1.40 2021, 1346 SU TH FR MO Datum Datum of of Predictions Predictions isis Lowest Lowest Astronomical Astronomical Tide Tide 06420.73 0.42 Datum of 0507 00580.70 1.37 1.46 0213 0018 1.10 0.37 s339 sLowest Lowest Astronomical Astronomical Tide Tide 1.58 1731 1.64 0.70 0.59 1.58 FR SA MO 1200 0010 TU 1838 WE 1212 0 Predictions is Lowest Tide1815 1.43 0437 0622 1948 0001 0.57 0.70 1.73 1859Astronomical 0.72 1.44 2030 311839 31 31 1244 1.34 0723 0.58 0800 0.70 1.51 1842 Times Times are are in in local local standard standard time time (UTC (UTC +10:00) +10:00) or or daylight daylight savings savings time time (UTC (UTC +11:00) +11:00) when when in in effect effect 2336 0.71 2305 0.72 1857 1.49 15 30 15 30 15 30 15 0 ndard dard time time(UTC (UTC+10:00) +10:00) orordaylight daylight savings savings time time (UTC (UTC +11:00) +11:00) when when in in effect effect Times are1107 in local 0.45 standard time 1023 (UTC +10:00) savings1.32 time (UTC +11:00) in effect 0.43 or daylight0630 0650 1.35 0726 1151when 0.64 1807 0.73 13531.10 1.41 1448 1.42 MO SA TU 0058 1.37 0213 Moon Moon Phase Phase Symbols Symbols New New Moon Moon First First Quarter Quarter Full Full Moon Moon Last Last Quarter Quarter 1815 1.58 1731 1.64 1200 0.70 1212 0.79 1230 0.75 1838 1.58 New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon Full FullMoon Moon SA New NewMoon Moon First FirstQuarter Quarter FR Last LastQuarter QuarterMO WE TH 0.68 SA 1 TU 1.42 2001 0.76 2148 31 0526 0723 2305 0.58 0.72 0800 0.70 2336 0.71 1857 31 1.49 1842 1.47 1900 1.52 1 31 1107 1.42 0.49 SA 1353 1.41 TU 1448 Tide predictions for Port Phillip Heads have been formatted by the 2001 National0526 Tidal Centre, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Copyright reserved.

All material is supplied in good faith and is believed to be 1815 0.68 1.59 0.76 1.42 SU 2148 0110 0.37 Copyright ofthat Australia Bureau ofthat Meteorology correct. ItCommonwealth is supplied on the condition no warranty is2020, given in31 relation thereto, no responsibility or liability for2351 errors or0.69 omissions is, or will be, accepted and that the31 recipient will hold MHL 0832should 1.50 1107 0.49 and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Australia free from all such responsibility or liability and from all loss or damage incurred as a consequence of any error or omission.

Predictions not atum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide

mm 0.36 Time Time 0519 mm 0554 1117 1155 1.39 0.35 0.35 0406 0406 0.21 0.21 1725 0.65 SU 1640 1021 1.79 1.79 1.49 1.49 1.88 1021 2314 2359 0.42 0.42

Time Time mm 0037Time Time Time 0.53 mm Time 0.58 0633 1.78 mm 1.28 1238 1.30 0740 0.49 0333 0333 0.40 0.40 0414 0414 0.53 0.53 0446 0446 0.53 0.53 0.75 TU 1345 1.33 WE 1804 0.76 1119 1.80 0954 0954 1.68 1.68 1049 1049 1.84 1.84 1.71 19111119 0.791.80

1636 0.23 0.23 MO 1614 0.38 0.38 MO1614 SU SU1636

1806 0.38 0.38 TH 1735 0.34 0.34 WE WE1806 TH1735

0030 0608 0700 2244 1.62 1.62 0.61 1.61 1.61 0.43 2244 2214 2214 1.45 1.45 0138 1.66 2333 2333 1.68 1.29 1.29 0724 0.52 1207 1.25 0835 0.54 1300 1.31 1726 1.351.24 1825 0.36 0.36 0.74 0445 0404 0404 0.43 0.43 0500 0500 1.34 0.57 0.57 0445 0.31 0.80 0003 1.24TH 1335 MO 0.31 WE 14470003 0.820.62 1.53 1.53 1030 1030 1.71 1.71 20190527 1136 1136 0.77 1.82 1.82 1105 1105 1.79 1.79 0527 0.62 1906

0.43 0.43

1730 1730 0.29 0.29

1656 1656 0.39 0.39

1202 1202 1.72 1.72

1830 1830 0.37 0.37

TU FR FR MO MO TH TH 1.56 0000 TU 0100 1.77 1.63 1.55 1.55 2254 2254 1.38 1.38 0239 2332 2332 1.46 1.46 1.66 1858 1858 0.46 0.46 0126 0702 0.62 0925 0.57 0809 0.49 0815 0.50 1303 1.24 1.40 FR 1433 1.41 1414 1.28 TU 0.42 TH 15440055 0.39 0.39 0437 0437 0.48 0.48 0029 0029 0.75 1.25 1.25 0524 0524 0.42 0055 1.16 1.16 2015 1822 0.83 2129 0.81 1934 0.80

Time Time mm0452 Time Time Time Time mm 1.681.41 Time Time mm 0145 Time Time 0.69 mm Time Timemm1.60 mm Time Time 0150 mm0557 1.26 Time Time m 1.36 0046 0623 1.40m 0006 1.34 0057 0735 1.30 1148 0.62 0.55 1041 11580.51 0.58 0807 0646 0.430.38 0750 0744 0.54 0452 0452 0.52 0.52 0500 0500 0.64 0.64 0032 0032 1.32 1.32 0201 0201 1.48 1.48 0256 0256 1.70 1.70 0541 0541 0.36 0.36 0045 0045 1.59 1.59 0316 0316 1.80 1.80 1900 1.43 1.50 MOMO 1748 19041.59 1.54 TU 1245 0.80 1303 1.431.58 SU 1430 SA1446 TH 1358 1.38 FR FR 1135 1135 1.75 1.75 1128 1.93 1.93 0636 0636 0.54 0.54 0753 0753 0.64 0.64 2110 0847 0836 0836 0.71 0.71 1248 1248 1.56 1.56 0731 0731 0.48 0.48 0847 0.60 1935 1.44 2319 2114 0.76 1848 0.660.74 0.56 0.60 1940 0.78 1128 1829 1829 0.45 0.45 1818 1818 0.27 0.27 1309 1309 1.43 1.43 SU 1355 1.40 1.40 WE 1433 1.41 1.41 1819 1819 0.64 0.64SA 1402 1.55 1.55 MO 1455 1.51 1.51 TH FR FRFR SASA FR SA SU 1402 MO 1355 WE 1455 TH 1433 0023 0.74 0135 0.68 0534 1.38 0043 0.65 0255 1.18 0148 1.47 0100 1.25 0.13 1905 1905 0.60 0.601.58 1953 1959 1959 0.40 0.40 0301 2055 2031 2031 0.21 0.21 1953 0.30 0.30 2055 0.13

Time 0049 mm Time Time m 0.51 Time 0.58 0034m 0748 1.35 0735 1.47 0321 0321 1.71 1.71 0340 0340 1.74 1.74 WE 1245 0.75 TH 1257 0.87 0851 0.72 0.72 1.42 0907 0907 0.66 0.661.54 0851 1922 1928 1455 1.40 1.40 1510 1.43 1.43 SA FR FR 1510 SA 1455 0133 0130 2051 0.17 0.17 0.57 2114 2114 0.21 0.210.47 2051

1336 1336 1.63 1.63SU 1446 1446 1.59 1.59 1535 1.51 1.51 FR 1340 1340 1.48 1.48 1430 1430 1.44 1.44 0144 1515 1515 1.42 1.42 1216 1216 1.66 1.66 1219 1219 1.88 1.88 SU TU TU FR0230 SA MO MO TH TH 1535 SA SASA SUSU 0116 0.75 0.65 0001 0.75 0.59 0406 1.16 0245 1.37 0200 1.48 1.22 1916 1916 0.48 0.48 1912 2041 2041 0.19 0.19 2137 2137 0.16 0.16 1939 1939 0.51 0.51 2031 2031 0.32 0.32 0422 2110 2110 0.19 0.19 1914 1914 0.51 0.51 1912 0.30 0.30 0628 0858 1.44 0808 0.66 1.26 0945 1.36 0953 0911 0.61 0825 0.471.34 1001 0.57

1550 1.41 1.410.43 1543 1.43 1.43 0.55 SA SA 1550 SU SU 1543 0223 0230 2154 2154 0.25 0.251.55 2137 2137 0.18 0.18 1.40 0958 0949

0842 1.32 1121 07350.56 1.40 0656 0.65 1.29 0858 0828 0.58 0733 0.450.42 0853 0.89 1836 1256 0.68 1231 1.47 0.65 SU SA 1542 1451 1.41 0019 1359 1.491.52 1538 1.64 0027 1.20 1.20 0019 1.33 1.33 0120 0120 1.41 1.41 0241 0241 1.58 1.58TU 0336 0336 1.74 1.74 0049 0049 1.52 1.52 0243 0243 1.71 1.71 0400 0400 1.80 1.80 WE 1336 MO FR0027 SA TU 2019 1.40 1959 1.51 1947 0.72 1.44 2227 2045 0.81 0547 1957 0.50 0644 0644 0.35 0.35 0823 0.48 0.48 0928 0928 0.59 0.59 0544 0544 0.69 0.69 0547 0.55 0.55 0716 0716 0.53 0.530.67 0823 0828 0828 0.63 0.63 2230 0914 0914 0.68 0.68

0848 1.37 0849 1.50 1347 1345 FR 1.72 TH 0419 0419 1.70 1.700.85 0405 0405 1.72 0.95 2009 2023 0947 0947 0.64 0.641.50 0934 0934 0.66 0.66 1.38

1209 14021.72 0.78 TH 1438 0.96 1321 1.52 0.75 WEWE MO1637 FR 1453 0.92 SA 1449 1543 1.46 SU SU 1458 1.570.48 TU SA0115 0200 0200 1.49 1.49 0317 0317 1.66 1.66 1645 0416 0416 1.73 1.73 0455 0455 1.64 1.641.47 0447 0447 1.70 1.70 0150 0150 1.62 1.62 0116 0334 0334 1.77 1.77 0440 0440 1.74 1.74 0115 1.18 1.18 0116 1.34 1.34 1930 2058 1.48 2124 2108 1.37 2102 2036 0.65 1.38 2330 2155 0.79 2114 0.641.47 2341 0.41 0752 0752 0.54 0.54 0901 0901 0.62 0.62 0951 0951 0.66 0.66 1026 1026 0.62 0.62 1018 1018 0.59 0.59 0738 0738 0.37 0.37 0908 0908 0.50 0.50 1006 1006 0.60 0.60 1.56 1.56 1107 1107 1.71 1.71 0631 0631 0.74 0.74 0552 0552 0.62 0.62 0647 0647 0.58 0.58 1150 1150 1.75 1.75 0612 0612 0.70 0.70 0220 0.75 0.61 SU 0320 0052 0.74 0252 0.51 0338 1410 1410 1.51 1.51 1506 1506 1.46 1.46 0534 1556 1556 1.43 1.43 1630 1.38 1.380.39 1630 1.44 1.44 1421 1421 1.67 1.67 1528 1.60 1.60 1614 1.48 1.48 SA 0.45 0.45 1.68 1742 1742 0.41 0.41 0339 1300 1300 1.58 1.58 1229 1229 1.59 1.77 1.77 SU 1314 1314 1.79 1.79 1825 0.38 0.38 WE 1248 1.62 SA 0056 1.62 0513 1.17 1.25 1.491.62 0228 0344 1.31 0310 1.41TU 0209 MO WE WE SA0329 SU 1630 MO MO 1630 SU TU 1528 FR FR 1614 WE SUSU SA MO MOMO TU TU1825 FR FR1248 0735 1014 1.53 1103 0922 0.66 1.27 1044 1.42 1050 2010 2010 0.43 0.43 2103 2103 0.27 0.27m 2150 2150Time 0.20 0.20 2232 2232 0.32 0.321.61 2223 2223 0.23 0.23 2007 2007 0.35 0.35 2125 2125 0.14 0.14 2218 2218 0.21 0.21 1.47 1.47 0.53 2340 2340 1.31 1.31 10091953 2000 2000 0.55 0.55 1929 1929 0.40 0.40 2006 0.34 0.34 1953 0.53 0905 0800 0.61 1046 1106 0.54 0.590.53 0.48 0954 0.62 2006 0919 0.491.33 0914 Time m Time TH m SA 1608 0.94 Time m Time m Time m Time m Time m 1307 0.57 1517 0.85 1422 0.83 1550 1.00 1600 TU FR SU MO 1.58 1.80 1.66 1525 1.30 WE 1407 1.26 WE 1728 TH 1746 FR 1633 1.47 SA 1530 1.52 SU 1632 1.52 MO 1558 2031 1.44 2200 1.48 2229 1.46 2126 1.35 2200 1.36 2203 0445 0.91 0400 0.90 0041 0330 0.85 2128 0028 1.48 0215 03481.79 0.85 0052 1.34 0238 0238 1.56 1.56 0354 0354 1.70 1.70 0530 1.58 1.58 04580448 1.69 1.69 0.70 0530 0529 0529 1.66 1.66 0246 0246 1.70 1.70 0421 1.79 0518 0518 1.66 1.661.41 0458 0.44 0.44 0.82 0023 0515 0515 0.55 0.55 22340152 0207 0207 1.18 1.18 0130 0130 1.23 1.23 0215 1.36 1.36 0023 1.30 1.30 0.84 0152 1.12 1.12 1929 0.78 0.70 2300 0.74 2230 0.56 0421 2050 1048 1.21 1020 1.15 0632 0953 1.34 0536 0.86 0752 10150.53 1.27 0623 0.87 0825 0825 0.55 0.55 0936 0936 0.62 0.62 1105 1105 0.62 0.620.36 1104 1030 10301133 0.64 0.64 1104 0.53 0.53 0827 0827 0.41 0.41 0950 0950 0.53 1045 1045 0.61 0.610.62 0426 1.57 1.57 1150 1150 1.69 1.69 0726 0726 0.77 0.77 0653 0653 0.66 0.66 0752 0.61 0.61 0603 0603 0.54 0.54 0704 0704 0.76 0.76 0330 0.71 0.561.34 0422 0157 0.70 0402 0.43 0445 1717 0.41 1623 0.55 1710 0.71 1302 1.40 1600 0.28 1150 1.31 1630 0.36 1212 1.18 0020 0.57 0039 0.32 0433 1.45 0333 1.56 0442 1.28 0422 1.36 0320 1.62 0158 1.61 WE TU WE SA 1.42 TU 1441 1441 1.52 1.52 1541 1541 1.46 1.46 1122 1710 1.33 1.331.67 1637 1637 1.42 1720 1.43 1.43 1501 1501 1.68 1.68 1606 1606 1.58 1.58 1652 1652 1.43 1.43 SU 0.49 0.49 WE 1834 1834 0.45 0.45 SA 1348 1348 1.50 1.50 1327 1327 1.71 1.71 MO 1413 1413 1.68 1.68 1236 1.68 1.68 TH 1339 1339 1.53 1.53 SUSU 0900 1.35 1.64 1205 1030 1.32 1.511.39MO 1147 TU TH TH MO 1710 SU1137 TU TU 1720 MO WE WE SA SA FR TH MOMO TU TUTU WE1236 SASA 2352 1857 0.55 2343 1.50SU 1808 0.62 0.24 1838 0.43 0607 1.20 0633 1.31 1049 0.59 0956 0.46 1038 1016 0.50 1012 0.55 0858 0.58 1418 0.66 0.88 1720 1539 0.89 1.00 1709 2040 2040 0.37 0.37 2138 2138 0.24 0.24FR 1636 2309 2309 0.39 0.390.92 2311 2232 2232 0.23 0.23 2311 0.31 2055 2055 0.25 0.25 2100 2207 2207WE 0.14 0.14 2258 2258 0.28 0.28 SA 1701 1.37 1.37 2049 2049 0.57 0.57 2031 2031 1.64 0.41 0.41 2100 0.38 0.38 1923 1923 0.47 0.47 1.33 2052 2052 0.58 0.58 1626 MO 0.31 TU SU 1136 0.63 1206 0.49 1718 1.54 1717 1.59 1658 1.77 1626 1.36 1512 TH 1.39 SA SU TU0142 2137 TH 2331 1.47 2215 1.35 1.370.56 2308 0043 1.40 MO 0131 1.54 0000FR1.29 2300 1.50 1.40 1.43 0005 0134 1.47 22550545 0447 0.89 1814 1.65 1842 1.87 2331 0.73 2240 0.61 2357 0.68 2342 0.46 2203 0.79 2043 0.81 0559 0.90 0532 0.86 0727 0.79 0730 1059 1.33 0654 0.77 0316 05191.75 0.81 0314 0314 1.60 1.60 0431 0431 1.70 1.70 0339 0339 1.72 1.72 0505 0505 1.75 0556 0556 1.57 1.570.50 0540 05401234 1.63 1.63 1.49 0603 0603 1.52 1.52 0610 0610 1.61 1.61 0.50 0.50 0031 0031 1.23 1.23 0117 0117 1.18 1.18 0257 0257 1.11 1.11 0238 0238 1.24 1.24 0304 0304 1.21 1.21 0316 1.41 1.41 0432 TH 0.64 0313 0.34 0.500.70 1144 0545 0520 1147 1.21 1143 1.17 0507 1315 1.23 0.62 1405 17120.80 0.22 MO 1306 1.36 0901 11450.56 1.28 TH SA SU 1816 WE WE 0859 0859 0.57 0.57 1012 1012 0.63 0.63 0912 0912 0.47 0.47 1030 1030 0.56 1123 1123 0.63 0.631.51 0516 1111 1111 0.63 0.63 1144 0.62 0.620.33 1152 1152 0.47 0.47 1.57 1.57 1.59 0646 0600 0600 0.62 0.62 0522SU 0646 0.65 0.65 1.62 0808 0808 0803 0803 0.68 0.68 0829 0829 0.80 0.80 0901 0.63 0.63 0102 0.49 1.420.80 0536 1.27 0531 1.35 0129 0.25 0438 1.54 0423 0304 1.74 1225 1.59 1301 1.72 1240 1129 1.40 1025 1816 0.38 1748 0.56 1224 1931 1.52 0.40 1.44 1954 1917 1.66 0.21 17581.55 0.37 1512 1512 1.52 1616 1616 1.45 1.45 1540 1540 1.66 1644 1.55 1731 1.37 1.370.54 1721 1721 1.39 1.39 1752 1752 1.28 1.28 WE 1815 1.41 1.41 0.53 0.53 0.55 1240 1240 1.65 1.65 1127 1326 1.59 1.59 FR 1439 1.45 MO 1432 1432 1.66 1.66 TU 1443 1443 1.43 1.43 1515 1515 1.56 1.56 WE FR FR TU TH 1644 SU SU 1731 MO MO1758 TU WE 1815 1.24 0.591.45 1121 0.62 1115 0.49TH 0724 1.37 1046 0.44 1100 0950 0.52 FR TH TH1326 SU SU1439 MO TUTU WE WEWE 1746 0.86 0.96 TU 1656 0.90 1541 0.72 TH0652 WE SA SU MO 1822 0.87 TU 1807 2111 2111 0.33 0.33 2213 2213 0.24 0.24 2140 2140 0.21 0.21 2249 2249 0.18 2336 2336 0.36 0.361.51 2349 2316 23160038 0.29 0.29 2345 0.47 0.47 1.27 1.27 1.44 2029 1935 1935 0.49 0.49 2029 0.55 1.44 2151 0.60 0.60 2134 2134 0.40 0.40 2138 2138 0.58 0.58 2153 0.41 0.41 1221 1.61 1800 1.65 1755 1.871.46 1300 0.43 1.78 1716 1609 0220 0224 1.46 0049 1.59 0131 1.45 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0.51 TU 1237 TH FR SU 1.45 WE MO SU 1.42 2303 2303 0.25 0.25 2330 2330 0.28 0.28 1900 1900 1.22 1.221.69 1913 19131500 1.32 1.32 1.80 1933 1933 1.20 1.20 2216 2216 0.30 0.30 2038 2038 1.38 1.38 0.59 0.59 1.59 2248 2248 0.60 0.60 2200 2200 0.47 0.47 1910 2332 2332 0.55 0.55 2324 2324 0.36 0.36 2310 2310 0.55 0.55 2333 0.47 0.47 1522 1418 1.45 1903 1426 1.31 1604 1.51 2333 1544 1.46 1.52 1.84 1445 1.49 1.74 1919 1.77 1944 2.01 SA 1506 2015 2.01 1836 2100 TU 1.85 WE TH SA SU SU WE 0033 1.42 1.460.65 0213 1.50 0157 2055 0.58 01282032 2023 0.12 2033 0.30 2156 0.28 2131 0032 0.38 1.54 2058 0.36 2033 0.50 0144 1.56 0629 0746 0.26 0724 0.37 0815 0745 0642 0.32 0.44 0.561.30 0202 0.48 0606 0045 0000 0253 0.25 0230 0.220.26 0144 0.66 0.66 0607 0607 1.57 1.57 0637 0637 1.52 1.52 0331 0054 0054 0.54 0.54 0056 0056 0.48 0.48 0104 0104 0.67 0.670.36 0144 0509 0509 1.56 1.56 0009 0009 0.33 0.33 0551 1.30 0145 0542 0542 0.30 1.52 1.52 0541 0541 1.43 1.43 0606 1.67 1.67 0457 1.10 1.10 0.51 0407 0407 1.19 1.19 01440551 1.12 1.12 0.63 0457 0411 1.58 0305 1.51 0336 1.73 07400329 1.58 0444 1.31 1.66 0335 1.59 0302 1.52 1338 1459 1.84 1.751.55 TH 1522 1456 1339 1.37 1.68 0849 0933 1.47 0826 1.411.81 1.38 0752 1.48 0642 0600 SA SU TU WE 1434 FR 1.44 0801 0801 1.33 1.330.27 0803 08030244 1.43 1.43 0753 0753 1.35 1.351.73 0824 0713 0713 1.46 1.46 0824 1.44 1115 1115 0.67 0.67 1203 1203 0.70 0.70 1045 1045 0.69 0.69 1007 0.78 0.78 1.68 0930 0930 0.69 0.69 07301135 0.69 0.69 1.53 1007 1135 0.72 0.72 1143 1143 0.55 0.55 1151 1151 0.70 0.70 1243 1243 0.52 0.52 1002 0.40 0841 0.18 0903 0.61 0914 0.65 1033 0.35 0928 0.35 0854 0.39 0907 1908 2022 0.75 0.82 2052 2027 1919 0.46 0.83 1425 1519 0.41 1359 0.450.70 0.601.43 1322 0.60 1319 0.45 1249 1210 0.37 WE 1311 FR THTH MO 1.44 MO TU SA 1329 1329 0.72 0.721.68TH 1341 1341 0.56 0.56 1350 0.60 0.600.71 1226 1226 0.70 1430 0.35 0.35 1733 1733 1.49 1.49 1814 1814 1.36 1.36 1648 1648 1.43 1.43 1644 1.44 MO 1606 1606 1.61 1.61 1.53 1.53 0.53 1744 1744 1751 1751 1.57 1.57 1741 1741 1.33 1.33 1832 1832 1.33 1.33 SA SA 1430 FR FR MOMO WEWE TH2007 FR 1350 SA SUSU WE WETH TH FR SA SASA SU SU1644 MO 1627 1.51 SU 1545 1.81FR 15151.43 1.48 1511 1.35 FR 1656 1.52 15580.70 1.58MO 1531 1.59 WE 1557 MO TH FR SU 2053 1.862114 0.50 2141 1959 1.76 2033 2.02 1841 2.070.31 1911 1836 1957 1.81 1.17 1.170.60 0214 2032 20322115 1.30 1.30 2044 1.20 1.201.49 2150 1.34 2150 1.41 1.41 2345 2345 0.32 0.32 2252 2252 0.30 0.30 2209 0.41 2116 0.14 19562110 2239 0.35 21411.34 0.40 2129 2345 0.57 0.57 1.86 2305 2305 0.40 0.40 1945 1.79 0.55 0.55 1.66 2345 2350 2350 0.53 0.53 02301959 1.55 1.480.66 2044 0259 0246 0123 1.581841 0115 1.45 0833 0.30 0804 0.36 0859 0.41 0831 0720 0.20 0718 0.39 0125 0.58 0057 0.40 0330 0.29 0407 0.31 0221 0.52 0241 0.24 0241 0.44 0318 0.22 0336 0444 1.58 1.55 0154 0423 1.73 0403 1.60 0519 1.62 0022 04120.42 1.59 0338 1.55 0243 0.78 0657 0657 1.48 1.48 0556 0556 1.50 1.50 0048 0048 0.42 0013 0013 0.33 0.33 0140 0140 0.64 0.641.49 0157 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2236 2254 0.29 2219 0.36 SU 2330 0.52 22551.30 0.50 2234 0.54 2356 0.52 0745 2240 0.69 0928 2013 2.06 1.52 2207 1.90TU 2215 1.80 1.830.57 2139 2115 1.85 2015 1540 0.69 0.69 SA 1600 1600 0.43 0.43 1538 0.52 0.521.43 1239 1239 0.81 0.81 1814 1814 1.34 1.34 1357 0.80 0.80 1343 1343 0.71 0.71 2255 1634 0.31 0.31 1315 0.57 SA 1345 1345 2.07 0.38 0.38 SU 1335 1335 0.53 0.53 1435 1435 0.39 0.39 1.68 1.68 1.76 1214 0.66 0.66 WE 1155 1155 0.51 0.51 2056 FR FR 1540 SA0343 SU 1538 MO MO 1634 SU MO TU 1357 WE WE 0400 1.48 1.49 SU 0426 0254 1.58 0236 1.48 0425 FR FR1315 SA SUSU MO MOMO TU TU1214 WE 0549 1.65 0509 1.60 05141.19 1.53 0449 1.55 1000 0624 1.51 2024 0450 1.49 2305 0549 1.53 0.21 0440 1.43 0929 2244 2244 1.19 1.19 2316 2316 1.44 1.44 2305 1.32 1.32 1901 1901 1.32 1.32 2027 2027 1.19 2021 2021 1.27 1.27 0.44 0.40 1016 0.54 0856 0830 0.36 1006 1912 1912 1.46 1.46 1942 1942 1.49 1.49 1920 1920 1.33 1.33 2024 1.29 1.29 0.34 0.34 1832 1832 1.51 1.51 1815 1815 1.71 1.71 0512 0.45 0446 0.291050 0.18 0338 0.49 0.270.45 0357 04460.22 0.31 0239 0.52 0249 0.26 1134 0.41 04281100 0.25 1229 0.41 0.30 1152 1048 0.35 1704 1.68 1.710.28 SU 1704 1.61 MO 1652 1603 1.82 1118 1532 1.75 FR SA 16341058 TU WE1055 1130 SA 1.46 1.48 0932 1.33 1.411.42 0953 1.34 1048 1.41 WE 0834 1.44 0848 1.57 1757 1.43 1027 1717 18020.59 1.56 1742 1.68 1919 1.42 0153 1840 1.54 1735 MO WE SU 1806 TH 0114 0114 0.47 0.47 0224 0224 0.59 0207 0207 0.51 0.51 0354 0354 0.81 0.811.53 2212 0427 0427 0.78 0.78 0408 0.92 0.920.62 0001 0001 1.51 1.51 0021 0021 0.36 0.36 2235 0.70 0.661.60 0408 2256 2127 0.67 2110 TH 0.76 2245 0119 0119 0.45 0.45 0136 0136 0.38 0.38 0106 0106 0.51 0.51 0153 0.53 0.53 1.31 1.31 0.58 0107 0107 0.47 0.47 0.45 0046 0046 0.26 0.26 1500SU 1730 0.58 1644 0.47 0.66 1557 0.56 1523 0.58 1627 0.53 1419 1430 2338 0.39 2257 0.41 MO 2330 0.56 2315FR0.58 2311 0.71 TH 1.25 SA TU TH 0848 0848 1.33 1.33 0959 1.25 0936 0936 1.35 1.35 2332 1042 1042 1.24 1.24 1100 11002325 1.36 1.36 0.71 1022 1022 1.25 1.25 0508 0508 0.88 0.88 0754 0754 1.37 1.371.78 0959 0741 1.58SU 2229 0803 0803 1.99 1.84 1.84 0741 0741 1.73 1.73 0831 1.84 1.84 0.51 0.51 1.78 0715 0715 1.33 1.33 2.10 0657 0657 1.55 1.55 1.39 2300 1.72 21330741 1.831.58 2154 1.84 0831 2250 2046 2102 0338 1.55 0315 1.48 0446 1.42 0430 1.491.43 1639 0510 0519 1330 1330 0.87 0.87 1501 1501 0.83 1455 1455 0.68 0.68 1700 0.62 0.621.38 1708 17080541 0.34 0.34 0.46 0.461.40 1118 1.32 1.32 1254 1254 0.83 0.83 0032 0.60 0628 1.59SU 0542 1.57 MO 0011 0.59 WE 05440.83 1.48 TH 0525 1.52 SA 0515 1358 0.49 0.49 1438 0.33 0.33 1420 1420 0.44 0.44 1520 1520 0.36 0.36 1.79 1.79 WE 1300 0.58 0.58 TH 1255 0.40 0.40 SA MO WE TH 0.37 SA 1700 SU SU1014 MO MO 1639 TU TU 1118 TU SA1358 SU1438 MOMO TU TUTU WE1300 TH1255 0942 0.28 0906 1042 0.52 0.46 1053 0.62 1053 0655 1.44 2112 0.38 1122 1219 0.38 0519 1134 0.39 0625 1.49 11511.15 0.27 0.33 1131 0.18 2000 2000 1.25 1.25 2146 2146 1.15 2156 2156 1.29 1.29 2352 2352 1.29 1.290.40 17141145 1738 1738 0.28 0.28 1918 1918 1.30 1.30 0544 0.52 0528 0.381.75 0527 0316 0.51 1913 0345 0.50 0.32 0437 0.40 1951 1.45 1.45 2032 2032 1.43 1.43 2008 2008 1.34 1.34 2112 1.28 1.28 1913 1.55 1.55 0.25 1908 1908 1.73 1.73 04171951 1647 1611 1.73 1743 1.61 1.68 1735 1.56 1730 WE TH SA SU MO TU 1303 0.32 1902 1.52 1815 1.47 1855 1.39 1802 1.43 1232 0.20 1838 1.51 1827 1.63 TH1036 1.35 FR 1133 1.40 TH MO MO 1.32 TU FR SU 1210 1142 0913 1.41 0945 1.50 1015 1120 1.39 2209 0.67 2146 1.51 0.75 23181.45 0.70 2257 0.61 2332 0.60 2331 2346 0.76 2005 1.38 2338 0.48 1931 1.50 2356 0.63 0527 0.83 0212 0212 0.53 0.53 0332 0.66 0326 0326 0.60 0.60 1820 0527 0006 0006 1.42 1.42 0122 0122 0.41 0.410.59 0332 0022 0022 1.56 1.56 0100 0100 1.57 1.57 0.64 0.83 1715 1737 0.50 1450 1521 0.680.44 1608 0.59 0237 0150 0.44 0146 0.50 0.50 0.23 0.23 0.62 0139 0139 0.42 0.51 0130 0130 0.23 0.23 0216 0216 0.61 0.42 0.42 0237 0.55 0.55 SA WE FR 0.66 FR 0.42 SU 15400150 MO 1649 TU0146 2331 1.641.50 2347 2119 2154 1.81 1.87 2235 1.81 1133 1133 1.26 1.261.32 0521 0951 0951 1.30 1.30 1059 1059 1.24 1042 1042 1.35 1.35 0530 0.93 0.931.37 0619 0908 0908 1.35 1.35 0546 05460015 0.80 0.80 0619 0.86 0.86 0421 0355 1.60 1.46 0620 1.37 1.470.74 0530 0558 0815 1.67 1.67 0822 0822 1.82 1.82 1.43 1.43 1.79 0747 0747 1.41 1.41 2.08 0743 0743 1.68 1.68 22130815 0847 0847 1.88 1.88 0914 1.85 1.85 0111 0.69 0914 0552 0019 0.50 2318 0615 1.53 0054 0.67 00041.24 0.61 0604 1.48 0534 1025 0.36 0943 0.39 1141 0.61 1101 0.541.36TU 1131 1755 1755 0.52 0.520.45 1440 1440 0.91 0.91 1640 1640 0.80 1621 1621 0.59 0.59 1119 1119 1.26 1.260.70 1403 1403 0.83 0.83 1157 11570642 1.38 1.38 1218 1218 1.32 1.32 1156 0705 1.51MO 1211 0.34 TU 0705 1.44 TH 06150.80 1.43 1214 0.21 1120 0728 1.37 1438 1438 0.43 0.43 1505 1505 0.36 0.36 0.39 0.39 TH 1341 1341 0.52 0.52 FR 1350 1350 0.31 0.31 SU 1528 1528 0.30 0.30 1602 1602 0.35 0.35 SU SU TU TU TH FR FR TU WE WE MO MO WE WE SU TU TH FR MO WE WE 0609 0015 1.28 0500TU0.51 0.401.43 0518 0.41 0606 0.451.67 0355 0.52 0443 0.28 1900 1.40 1301 0.38 0610 1852 1315 0.22 1225 0.31 1916 1.55 1341 0.35 2156 1731 1650 0.38 1.69 1813 1819 1.55 1.630.49 TU 1806 FR MO TU 1238 WE SA FR SA TH FR WE 0.26 SU MO 1754 2111 2111 1.20 1.20 2311 2311 1.17 1.17 2323 2323 1.38 1.38 1738 1738 0.38 0.381.51 1835 2045 2045 1.28 1.28 1808 1808 0.26 0.26 1835 0.26 2031 2031 1.44 1.44 2055 2055 1.34 1.34 1.87 1.87 1949 1949 1.57 1.57 1959 1959 1.70 1.70 2122 2122 1.37 1.37 2156 1.28 1.28 0619 0.59 1059 1.30 1122 1218 1.400.69 1915 1232 0952 1.37 1044 1.43 1955 1.35 1213 1.37 2030 1.44 1.45 2054 1.36 1.33 2252 2225 1.54 0.74 23442004 0.561.45 1838 0.55 1254 0048 1.43 1.41 1622 0.71 TU 1744 0.67 1656 0.61 TH 1804 0.66 0503 1524 0.66 1614 0.59 SA SU MO WE SA 0326 0326 0.57 0.57 0241 0241 0.47 0.47 0503 0.69 0.69 0454 0454 0.64 0.64 0048 1.41 0120 0120 1.66 1.66 0100 0100 1.52 1.52 0154 0154 1.61 1.61 0.16 0.16 1.78 0209 0209 0.39 0.39 2.01 0211 0211 0.24 0.24 22540222 0257 0257 0.48 0.48 03180140 0.56 0.560507 0222 0.44 0.44 0228 0228 0.50 0.50 0153 0.77 0318 0.75 1.43 0040 0.68 0024 0.81 06220117 0100 0.61 0021 0.57 0038 0.69 0018 0437 1.44 00010.69 0.70 1.460.75 0010 0.59 1919 1.78 2319 1.76 2155 2246 1054 1054 1.30 1.30 1018 1018 1.37 1.37 1153 1153 1.26 1.26 1142 1142 1.38 1.38 0634 0634 0.81 0.81 0651 0651 0.77 0.77 0636 0636 0.90 0.90 0718 0718 0.80 0.80 1.55 1.55 0819 0819 1.49 1.49 0827 0827 1.78 1.78 0930 0930 1.90 1.90 0955 1.84 1.84 0849 0849 1.75 1.75 0905 0905 1.89 1.89 0805 1.30 0955 0803 1.31 0753 1.38 0637 1.26 0741 1.44 0650 1.49 0647 1.37 0648 1.43 0726 1107 0.45 1023 0.43 0630 1.32 1151 0.64 0650 1.35 1422 0.39 1405 0.26 1234 1344 0.39TU 1251 0.29 WE 13000.71 0.35 1259 0.27 1614 1614 0.89 0.89 1533 1533 0.76 0.76 1800 1800 0.71 1737 1737 0.45 0.45 1222 1222 1.29 1.290.52 1251 12511341 1.40 1.40 1217 1217 1.28 1.280.79 1314 1.33 1.33 0.29 0.29 0.54 1418 0.46 0.46 SA 1444 1444 0.26 0.26 0545 1615 1615 0.30 0.30 1642 1642 0.37 0.37 1518 1518 0.37 0.37 1550 1550 0.30 0.30 SA SU WE WE TH SU WE TH FRSA SA SA MO MO TU TU TU1838 WE TH TH 1314 0041 1.46 0.53 0007 1.74 0601 0.42 0013 1.50FR 0435 0542 0.34 0106 1.17 FR FR1418 SA TU TH THTH MO MO WEWE 1230 1815 1.58 1731 1.64 1200 0.70 1.580.60WE 1212 TH FR SA MO TU WE 2147 1.30 2236 2138 1.39 1954 2053 1.33 0658 1948 1.42 1.39 2014 1.47 2227 2227 1.20 1.20 2219 2219 1.33 1.33 1838 1838 0.42 0.421.34 1900 19002106 0.20 0.20 1.41 1830 1830 0.30 0.301.47 1926 1926 0.24 0.24 1.29 0.47 1211 1.39 0645 0.520.71 1957 0657 1033 1143 0703 0.65 1.90 1.90 1.32 2024 2024 1.57 1.57 1.38 2048 2048 1.64 1.64 11462113 2210 2210 1.32 1.32 2236 1.28 1.28 2113 1.41 1.41 2144 2144 1.35 1.35 1900 2336 2305 0.45 0.72 1857 1.49 1842 1.360.67 TH 1749 13040.82 1.40 1600 0.71 SU 1709 0.66 1346 1.42 SU 1328 TU 1710 0.73 WE 13050108 FR0235 MO0.75 0145 0.72 0242 0.64 0.85 0117 0.74 1.560124 0110 0.84 0239 0.73 0526 0.57 1.42 0110 0444 0444 0.57 0.57 0021 1.25 02120932 1.72 1.72 1.32 0149 0242 0242 1.63 1.63 0411 0411 0.49 0.49 0034 0034 1.52 1.52 0134 1.53 1.531.21 0212 0149 1.61 1.61 1948 1.73 0.73 1859 0.72 0021 2232 2341 2030 0134 0.70 0236 0.37 0.37 1.91 0337 0337 0.53 0.53 0359 0.58 0.58 0.13 0.13 1.75 0236 0250 0250 0.28 0.28 23390256 0256 0.46 0.46 0313 0313 0.50 0.50 0819 1.36 1839 0730 1.44 0851 1.24 0359 0854 1.32 07241.25 1.31 0741 1.36 0735 1107 MO 0.49 0832 1150 1150 1.34 1.34 0620 0620 0.68 0743 0.73 0.73 0.69 0726 0808 0808 0.75 0.75 1120 1120 1.42 1.42 0614 0614 0.65 0.65 0721 0721 0.78 0.780.59 0743 0726 0.84 0.84 0850 0850 1.56 1.56 1013 1013 1.87 1.87 1033 1.81 1.81 1.66 1.66 0911 0911 1.85 1.85 0926 0926 1.81 1.81 0950 0950 1.94 1.94 1428 0.41 FR 1335 0.26 1513 0.43 1033 1507 0.32 13370.68 0.40 1348 0.35 1322 TH SU MO SU WE TH 1458 0642 0.42 0058 1.37SA 0213 1.10 1815 1324 SU FR 1.35 2151 1.32WE 2052 1.42 TH 2247 1.29 2253 1.37 2046 1.33 2121 1.40 2056 1734 1734 0.81 0.81 1239 1.30 1.30 13412206 1.42 1.42 1.40TH 1404 1.35 1657 1657 0.62 0.62 1237 1237 1.43 1.43 1308 1.33 1.331.31 1314 1.32 1.32 FR 1456 0.42 0.42 SU 1700 1700 0.34 0.34 1719 1719 0.40 0.40 0.22 0.22 SA 1534 1534 0.23 0.23 TU 1601 1601 0.34 0.34 1637 1637 0.27 0.27 TH TH SA 1239 WE WE 1341 FR 1404 FR FR SU SU 1.59 TU TU 1308 TH 1314 SA1456 WE FR FR SU TU TH 2351 0.69 1954 1244 1.34 0723 0.58 1849 0800 1915 0.70 0.33 2335 2335 1.24 1.24 1849 0.60 0.60 1946 1946 0.17 0.17 2013 2013 0.25 0.25 2339 2339 1.45 1.45 1836 1836 0.31 0.31 1915 0.33 1919 1919 0.23 0.23 2059 2059 1.55 1.55 2257 2257 1.27 1.27 2315 2315 1.27 1.27 1.86 1.86 2137 2137 1.54 1.54 2157 2157 1.38 1.38 2233 2233 1.34 1.34 0343 0.90 0400 0.66 0234 0.81 0200 0.76 0200 0.81 0220TU0.79 0211 0.85 1448 1.42 MO 1807 0.73 SA 1353 1.41 0950 1.19 1049 1.38 0901 1.30 0817 1.39 0808 1.25 0850 1.30 0852 1.19 2001 0.76 2148 0.68 0259 0259 1.75 1.75 0325 0325 1.64 1.64 0547 0547 0.55 0.55 0530 0530 0.48 0.48 0116 0116 1.36 1.36 0136 0136 1.66 1.66 0215 0215 1.63 1.63 0236 0236 1.68 1.68

0.15 0.15 1.74 1.74 0.20 0.20 1.76 1.76

0304 0304 0.38 0.38 0330 0330 0.35 0.35 0921 0921 1.63 1.63 0954 0954 1.88 1.88 1534 0.39 0.39 MO 1625 0.25 0.25 SU SU1534 MO1625 2135 2135 1.51 1.51 2226 2226 1.43 1.43 0408 0408 0.43 0.43 1036 1036 1.86 1.86 1715 0.30 0.30 TU TU1715 2315 2315 1.33 1.33

0332 0332 0.49 0.49 1516 0.42 FR 1006 1006 1.84 1.84 2249 1.33

0418 0418 0.59 0.59 1427 0.25 SA 1054 1054 1.82 1.82 2202 1.42

0400 0400 0.51 0.510.46 1616 MO 1234 1234 1.38 1.38 1038 1038 1.95 1.95 2351 1.30

0439 0439 0.60 0.60 1215 1215 1.49 1.49 1111 1111 1.76 1.76 1827 1827 0.70 0.70SA 1801 1801 0.45 0.45 1646 0.33 0.33 TH1744 1744 0.39 0.39 1727 1727 0.26 0.26 1756 1756 0.43 0.43 FR SA WE WE1646 FRFR SASA 0500 0.92 0333 0.88TH 0259 0.85 FR 2243 2243 1.34 1.34 2342 2342 1.23 1.23 2325 2325 1.33 1.331.16 2354 2354 1.26 1.26 1100 0951 1.24 0915 1.34 SA 1615 0.43 2347 1.36

SU 1530 0.26 2316 1.43

TU 1731 0.46

0413 0.89 1028 1.31 MO 1647 0.26

0519 0519 0.63 0.63 1148 1148 1.69 1.69 1832 0.47 0.47 SU SU1832

MO 1419 0.46 0713 0713 0.66 21450.66 1.28

TU 1452 0.45 0715 0715 0.63 0.63 2231 1.37

TH 1424 0.66 0800 0800 0.74 0.741.31 2200

FR 1620 0.74

TU 1513 0.52 2253 1.27

WE 1616 0.52 0230 0230 1.76 1.76 2339 1.37

FR 1542 0.71 2300 1.34

SA 1734 0.75 2355 1.44

1.01 1.35

0.53 1.46 1.02 1.34

0.48 1.52 0.99 1.35

0.43 1.59 0.93

1.39 0.38 1.65 0.85

1.44 0.35 1.70 0.76

1.49 0.34 1.73 0.67

1.53 0.35 1.73 0.58

1.55 0.40 1.71 0.50

1.56 0.47 1.68 0.43

1.55 0.55 1.63 0.39

1.53 0.65 1.58

0.37 1.51 0.75 1.52 0.37 1.50 0.84 1.47

0827 08272303 0.69 0.69 1.42 0809 0853 0853 0.69 0.69 0809 0.78 0.78 1427 1.43 1.43 FR 1450 1.36 1.36 1319 1.35 1.35 MO 1327 1.47 1.47 WE 1351 1.37 1.37 TH 1406 1.36 1.36 SA TH 1427 SA 1450 SU SU 1319 MO 1327 WE 1351 FR 1406 0507 0.56 0251 0.87 0339 0.80 0327 0.80 2030 20301156 0.18 0.18 1.49 2005 2057 2057 0.26 0.26 1926 1926 0.49 0.49 1927 1927 0.20 0.20 1953 1953 0.26 0.26 2005 0.19 0.19 0906 1.19 1021 1.27 1017 1.23 0805 0805 0.61 0.61 0514 0.74 1413 1.50 1.50 TU TU 1413 1148 1.30 2012 2012 0.14 0.14 1745 0.55 TH

0402 0402 1.63 1.63 0935 0935 0.65 0.65 1533 1.36 1.36 SU SU 1533 2137 2137 0.30 0.30

1815 to 1.59 FR 1324 0.84 used for navigational Use of these tide predictions willSU be deemed include acceptance of the above conditions. straliabe2020, Bureau purposes. of Meteorology 1954 1.47 2351 0.69 mes are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2019, Bureau ofOCTOBER Meteorology 2023 109 tronomical Tide oon Phase Symbols Full Moon New Moon FirstDatum Quarterof Predictions Last Quarter is Lowest Astronomical Tide UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect

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