NSW Fishing Monthly | December 2017 by Fishing Monthly

CRACKING COD FEATURE • CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS

Features • •

• •

Murray cod open tips Goodoo gobbles – a guide to cod lures Get that first mangrove jack More DIY Lure making

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Boating and Kayaking

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Kayak storage solutions • Gearing up for Ginninderra • Quintrex’s new Outback Explorers • Sea Trail Ultimate 5.2 CC • Sea Adex 6.5m Armour Hard Top •

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3: For family, friends & the furry ones You may like travelling solo or holidaying with family and friends. Our parks are the perfect place to share memories and reconnect with your tribe. From friends who love extreme-adventuring or simply letting small feet explore the beauty of nature. Reflections Holiday Parks are for everybody, including the four-legged members of the family. Twenty-four of our parks welcome pets, making it easy for the whole family to share the experience.

As children, we’d play among nature everyday. But it’s not until we’re older that we truly understand how beautiful, calming and invigorating it can be.

1: Unforgettable experiences When you reflect on your past, it’s not just the moment you remember, but the emotion: the joy, fun and excitement or the calm and serene. A perfect destination is one that lets you experience all this and more. Imagine relaxing ocean side, exploring stunning bushland, or kayaking across pristine waterways. Just thinking about it lets the stress drift away. There’s something to be said for the feeling of sand between your toes or cool grass under your feet. The quiet moments of a sunset and the mesmerising trance of a camp fire. You deserve to treat yourself and the family to an experience they’ll cherish for life.

2: Locations as magic as the experience Reflections Holiday Parks are uniquely located on some of the most iconic sites in Australia. From magic stretches of unspoilt coast, to the best kept inland secrets. This lavish, natural beauty is only possible on Holiday Parks located on Crown land. You’ll discover pristine landscapes as individual as you. The perfect place to fuel your wanderlust!

4: Accommodation options Campers come in all shapes, sizes and levels of enthusiasm. Regardless of whether you are a beginner or highly experienced, we have accommodation that suits. Maybe you like the idea of being close to nature but still desire the creature comforts of air conditioning or a bit of glamping! That’s fine, a holiday should always be a holiday. Choose from luxury or basic cabins, or caravan and camping grounds with powered or unpowered sites.

5: We give back to communities What goes around comes around, and unlike other holiday destinations we actively invest back into our parks and the surrounding reserves. This helps to ensure that our natural and community spaces are preserved and maintained for generations to come and wonderful for visitors now. As you unwind, remember that funds raised from your stay go back into caring for and re-developing local parks and surrounds. Your break reinvigorates both you and the environment.

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December 2017, Vol. 23 No. 5

Contents BYRON COAST The Tweed 32 Tweed Inshore 33 Ballina 34 Yamba 36 COFFS COAST Coffs Harbour 38 Coffs Game 40 Nambucca 41 South West Rocks 42 South West Rocks 43 MACQUARIE COAST Port Macquarie 44 Forster 46 Harrington-Taree 49 HUNTER COAST Port Stephens 51 Hunter Coast 50 Swansea 52 Erina 53 SYDNEY The Hawkesbury 16 Sydney North 18 Pittwater 20 Sydney Harbour 22 Sydney Rock and Beach 23 Botany Bay 24 Sydney South 26 Western Sydney 28 ILLAWARRA COAST Illawarra 56 Nowra 58 BATEMANS COAST Narooma 64 Merimbula 65 Batemans Bay 66

From the Editor’s Desk... With Murray cod season open again, we’ve made sure that there’s plenty of cod content in these pages. Cod fishing is definitely the flavour of the month amongst the trendy angler set, and the old stalwarts would be enjoying the yearly increase in stocks that sensible management practices (now synchronised between NSW and Victoria) are yielding. Well done to the anglers with the resolve to leave these mighty Aussie fish alone during their spawning period. You don’t need to be a gun angler to catch a spawning cod, and you don’t need them to be away from their nests for long to have a negative impact on fry survival. If you ignored common sense and still targeted them anyway, I’m sure that your fellow anglers gave it to you on social media. It’s not worth it in the long term. Speaking of social media,

The face you make when a $50,000 boat package is hanging in the balance! It’s nail-biting stuff at the BASS Pro Grand Final weigh-in. we know that it’s hard to circle a post on Facebook and leave it on the coffee table as a not-sosubtle suggestion regarding a potential Christmas gift, so we’ve given you the tools to do this inside. Our tackle arm, www. tacklejunkie.fish, has scoured the new releases and picked out a swag of new gear that needs to have your fingerprints all over it on December 25. Instructions for use: 1. Pick cool gear. 2. Circle with red Sharpie. 3. Leave on coffee table at home. 4. Give hints with decreasing subtleness as December progresses. 5. Add gear to collection on

December 25! And here’s a tip: if you give your partner a good present it’s more likely they’ll buy you something awesome. You can benefit from our experience there. You’re welcome. WINNING TECHNIQUES You’ll also notice a pile of tournament coverage in this issue. Spring is the season end for plenty of bream, bass and barra events, and Fishing Monthly has always been the first to bring you the gear that got the job done. Even if you are not a tournament angler and aren’t interested in the concept, I guarantee that what happens here will influence the gear

you’re using in future years. So why not stay a step ahead of the curve and master some of these techniques before they become mainstream? Early adopters in fishing often get a real head start in social fishing, and we all wouldn’t mind that. ABT’s motto is “Who Shares Wins”, and we love it when you use these guys’ generosity to your advantage. Finally, there is some great BARRA Tour content inside this issue. The BARRA Tour is run on the prime November moon in Queensland. It’s designed to take all of the guesswork out of the best dates and times to fish, to ensure that there’s maximum fish caught. We fished next to a rookie team from Bathurst for a whole event, and they caught their full limit and loved the experience. The moral of the story is that the best way to steepen the barra learning curve is to jump in and do it. We guarantee that you’ll enjoy it.

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SPECIAL FEATURES Murray cod open tips Essential cod lure guide Get you first jack Christmas gift ideas DIY lure making

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ING TRADE

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Cod Feature

Tips for the Murray cod open this month MURRAY COD

Jacko Davis

December marks the return of Murray cod fishing after a threemonth closed season in our rivers and the majority of our impoundments. The Murray cod is the Australian icon of the freshwater – our largest growing freshwater fish and a major target for many anglers throughout the country. The best thing about December is not only the fact we can target these amazing creatures again, but it’s also the most productive time to do so. It has been a long three months for a lot of anglers, myself included, and luckily spring is the most fruitful time to target golden perch and bass, which keeps us freshwater anglers somewhat entertained while

we count down the days until 1 December. The closed season started at the end of winter (31 August), a time when conditions can be tough, for both the weather and fishing. The open season in December offers a completely different scenario. The mercury and water temperature are on the rise, the days are getting longer and aquatic life responds right through the food chain from new weed growth to the dominant predator’s mouth. The cod have spent the last three months going through their natural spawning procedure (if conditions allowed) and they will be eager to feed back up after this process. Cod can get very aggressive over this breeding period and they can carry this aggression post-spawn. Add in the fact these fish haven’t had any angling

A stunning river cod taken on a surface lure at first light. pressure over the past three months and it’s a recipe for some hot fishing action. For

me, the opening weekend in December produces the most fish hands down and the aggression they show early in the season is incredible. It’s not uncommon to land plenty of fish. RIVER OR DAM The fishing should be hot across all freshwater bodies and sometimes it’s

hard to decide between rivers and impoundments. Although impoundments can provide some great fishing throughout summer, early season is all about the river fishing. There is generally less water between you and the fish and the fish are more willing to unload on anything that comes within

range. The low light surface bite in rivers throughout summer is one of the most addictive experiences across the board. A great way to explore your local river system is by doing an overnight hike and the December weather provides the perfect conditions to do so. By starting at a certain location and walking as far down or upstream from this spot and then setting up a makeshift campsite for the night is the perfect way to explore a system. This technique also allows the opportunity to be fishing the best holes at the prime times. Often I’ll use this method and set up camp at a location that seems productive. This allows the spot to be fished in the late afternoon, at night and early in the morning – all prime times for Murray cod. Preparation for trips like these is important and packing a decent-weight hiking bag with essentials is critical. I carry one tackle box filled with a range of lure options in my bag; the rest of the space is used to carry food, water and a camera.

Don’t discount impoundments early on in the season.

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Getting into the water with big fish for a photo keeps them in good health.

Cod Feature To the outside of my bag I attach Boga Grips, a Billy can or pan and a sleeping bag. Other luxuries include toilet paper, a sleeping mat and a personal hygiene kit. Packing water purification tablets lets you drink the

Murray cod are predominantly an ambush predator that hold tight to structure. In the low light, especially on late afternoons after a warm day, they will venture away from their home and search for food.

LURE SELECTION – TRENDS Each cod season there is a lure trend or phase that seems to fool a large portion of the fish caught, from the spinnerbait to the surface lure and, last season, the

Our river systems are so diverse and each provides a new aspect.

It’s not just the fishing, walking the riverbank offers so much more. water from the river, which saves you lugging a lot of extra weight. PRIME TIME Prime time is a bit of a cliché in fishing and anytime you’re on the water is better the sitting at home. If you have the luxury, these prime periods offer the best fishing conditions. Early season Murray cod can be caught at any time, day or night by changing your approach, though late afternoon is consistently the best time to be on the water. With the hot days December provides the fish will often take refuge during the middle of the day when the UV index is at its highest. Once that sun begins its descent behind the western mountains and shade is cast on the water, the fish come out to play.

These fish that are on the hunt will be the most aggressive and likely to crunch your offering, so changing your approach to target these fish is key. Shifting your cast from tight into snags and structure to more open water like the tail of a pool or the base of a rapid or fast water can produce some great fishing. During the middle of the day, however, you want to focus your attention on fishing deep in the structure where the fish will hang out most of the time. If a large afternoon storm system is forecast, don’t be shy, the build-up before a storm can provide some crazy fishing. The fish can really turn it on as the barometric pressure rapidly fluctuates, but often once the storm has passed the fish will shut down.

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swimbait. All forms of lures still catch fish of course, but it appears that trends are starting to occur in lure phases each season. Nonetheless the stable approach of spinnerbait during the day and surface walker at low light is perfectly suited to early season cod. As the fish are at their most aggressive this month, lures like spinnerbaits and chatterbaits

that are most likely to catch the fish’s attention seem to get whacked pretty quickly. Fishing surface lures in the low light is a staple when cod fishing, and lures that paddle across the surface create the biggest surface eruptions, which is addictive. As the season moves on, the fishing will naturally get tougher and this is when lures that fool the fish with their natural attributes like

Lip grips allow the fish to be handled in the water and not on the dry bank.

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swimbaits come into their own, but keeping it simple early in the season generally finds the fish. For the sake of it, I believe this year’s lure phase will be glide baits, similar to swimbaits but fished a little differently. We’ll see what unfolds. FISH SAFETY Looking after the fish is always priority when on the water, especially when dealing with Murray cod. Over the past decade we have seen respect for these fish move in a real positive direction. Most anglers nowadays are strictly catch and release when it comes to cod and it’s great to see. I believe they should all go back, especially in rivers where they are wild stock. As great as catch and release fishing is, it still needs to be completed in the right manner to ensure the survival of the fish. December temperatures can be quite high and keeping the fish in the water is essential. Only remove the fish for a quick photo before sending them home. The bigger the fish, the more care is needed. Supporting the weight of the fish at all times is critical in ensuring these big fish aren’t under excessive stress, which can lead to serious injury. To page 10

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Cod Feature From page 9

Sometimes getting in the water with the fish for a photo is the best option. With summer temperatures high, sometimes a refreshing swim is needed anyway. Preparation is key; always having a pair of lip grips handy will save both you and the fish a lot of drama. The fish can be held in the water while the camera is set up and the hooks can

be removed from the fish safely, there is no need for the fish to be dragged up onto the bank. We all want to see healthy populations of Murray cod in our western rivers, so it’s great to see a real positive shift in fish safety year by year – let’s keep this going. ENJOY IT The closed season for Murray cod is very important and as anglers it’s our responsibility to respect

these great fish, and give them a break and a chance to breed. It might be a tough three months for us freshwater fanatics but it’s all worth it once you’re on the water in December and the withdrawals all go out the window when you land that first beautiful Murray of the season. It makes you appreciate them that little more. Early season is the best time to be on the river –

Left: Swimbaits dominated the cod scene last season, expect the same this season. Right: The old faithful spinnerbait is a great choice early in the season. may it be walking, kayaking or boating. The fishing is consistently good and the weather is perfect to spend

Pack light so you can cover as much ground as possible.

DECEMBER 2017

a day fishing or even camp for a few days. Get out there this December and chase our largest freshwater

fish, respect the fish and our waterways and most importantly enjoy your time on the water.

Surface fishing after dark can leave you shaking at the knees when they hit right in front of you.

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Goodoo gobbles – an essential cod lure guide FMG

Rupe Instagram: @rupeisfishing

If reader feedback is anything to go by, you all seemed to enjoy my little bass lolly basics ramblings a few months back, so much that the big wigs here at Fishing Monthly have asked me to pen something similar for everybody’s favourite time of the year – season opening for the mighty and powerful Murray cod. The undisputed heavyweight champion of the freshwater rivers that stretch across the majority of the Australian east coast and down into South Australia where the Murray River eventually meets the sea, the green beasts known for thousands of years as ‘goodoo’ remain close to, if not on top of the bucket lists of anglers all around the world. Tales of Jurassic Park-sized fish that would attack Murray River paddle boats and photos of your mate’s great uncle’s sisterin-law’s second cousin who used to live on the Vic/NSW border in eighteen-whenever holding a 400lb fish (that is most likely a goliath groper from up north) refuse to go away and will probably never stop. It’s safe to assume they’re not real, but it sure as hell keeps the imagination going and the trigger finger shaky on your casting arm as you wind that expensive swimbait that cost more than your dad’s first car past the best looking tree in the river!

Casting steeply diving hardbodied lures at snags can get you in the strike zone quickly, as Shaun Cubis found out.

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Sharp, strong trebles are a must. This 110cm model only stayed connected to Dayne Taylor’s lure by a single pin in the top lip. The good news is that despite being almost wiped from existence thanks to overfishing and environmental destruction during the late 1800s and early 1900s, Murray cod are really thriving as a species and it’s getting to the point where they’re nearly as accessible and easy to catch as they would have been all those years ago when numbers were strong and most fish would have never seen a lure. Lure fishing for cod can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people and none of them are wrong. There are so many weird contraptions out there that look horrible to some of us but have accounted for massive numbers of fish over the years. Have you ever seen an aeroplane spinner? What the hell is that? What fish in their right mind would find something so clunky and metallic appetising? Cod would. That’s who. A territorial species that is more of an opportunistic eater than a hunter gatherer who goes swimming for miles looking for tucker, the goodoo will eat almost anything that has even the slightest appeal if it’s close enough to its big bucket mouth. Having witnessed them eating small ducks, cormorants, lizards, frogs and even snakes, I know there is no bounds to their menu. With that in mind, let’s get to the topic of looking at some essential lures you should have with you the next time you go in search of green monsters. I’ll speak a little about each category and then give you a ‘Rupe’s six-pack’ of my go-to lures for those categories. Who doesn’t love lures and who doesn’t love six-packs? Whether it’s a sixer of Great Northern Original or a mix of lures, you’re onto a winner! TROLLING OR CASTING? As with most things fishing-related Down Under, we took our lead from the Americans. When lure fishing came into vogue, choices were limited. Looking back, designs like the Flatfish or Kwikfish seem uninspiring, but thankfully times have changed and, as always, Australian ingenuity kicked in and we began to produce some fantastic lures in every category. Trolling dominated the scene early, so lots of big-bibbed deep divers were thrust into the marketplace. Lures designed with cast and retrieve methods in mind soon followed and the fish quickly let everyone know what was strong enough and what crumbled under the immense pressure generated by a hulking cod.

Highlighted by the sheer volumes of lures coming out of a couple of hotspots in the Wagga/Riverina and New England regions of NSW, we were able to produce some absolute cracker lures which still catch fish today. The classics never die. To troll or to cast has been the subject of rigorous conversations around campfires and now in 2017, on Facebook forums, with everyone having an opinion on what’s right, and what’s not. As long as people are catching fish, I’m happy. But onto the lures.

HARDBODY DIVERS A lot of cod fishers will tell you they’re either a hardbody guy or a spinnerbait guy. To me, it’s nice to have favourites but you’re going to miss out on fish if you’re not equipped with more options than that. Hardbody diving lures provide a lot of things to the hopeful angler on the end of the rod that’s throwing them. When purchasing a new lure or deciding what to tie on the first thing I look at is the bib. Long bibs at a shallow angle will usually dive deeper when given enough line. Conversely, shorter bibs at a steeper angle will normally be shallow divers – great for rocky, snaggy holes in rivers. A lot can also be learned about the action of the lure from the width of the bib. A wide bib will give the tail of a lure a nice, slow, wide wobble (think swimming platypus). The narrow bibs give the lure a much higher cycle rate (think nervous baitfish) They’re available in an endless line of local and imported options these days in timber and plastic form and in every colour you could think of, and some you’d never think of yourself. Remember, these old lure whittlers have inhaled a lot of thinners over the years. RUPE’S HARDBODY DIVERS 6-PACK • AC Lures ‘Invader’ • Kuttafurra Lures ‘Mudhoney’ • Cutting Edge Lures ‘Tomahawk’ • Predatek ‘Boomerang’ • Basko Lures ‘Cudgee’ • Storm ‘Arashi Rattling Deep’

SPINNERBAITS Spinnerbaits are perhaps the most versatile thing you’re likely to find on the walls of your local tackle emporium. Spinnerbaits can be fished in any depth, at any speed and for just about any species. You only have to look at my good friend Stephen Worley’s recent article (NSWFM April issue 2017) on catching massive snapper with them to see just how ingenious they are as a fishcatching invention. The first guys to fish spinnerbaits here were using imported lures that proved to be incredibly successful at getting the bite, but weren’t up to the task of staying together during the intense and sometimes long battles they were having with big cod. Guys like Glen Casey from now world-renowned Bassman Spinnerbaits and a select group of other manufacturers went about devising a solution. Stronger hooks, stronger wires and better blades were the result and boy, have they brought some fish over the side since those early days. Today, you’ll find hundreds of colours and choices of willow blades, Colorado blades and combination blade setups. The most important thing to think about here is the amount of weight on the head of the spinnerbait. Getting the weight right for your situation is paramount. For smaller water, go for less weight. You’re probably casting it at snags and you don’t want to be throwing 6oz bombs all day. Your chiropractor will love you but your wallet won’t. If you’re planning on trolling them, grab a heavy rod and spinnerbait in the 2-6oz range, troll very slowly, and hang on tight. RUPE’S SPINNERBAIT 6-PACK • Bassman ‘Codman 4x4 5/8oz’ • DUO ‘Realis Spinnerbait 1.5oz’ • TT Lures ‘FroggerZ Snr 3/4oz’ • OSP ‘High Pitcher 1/2oz’ • Leavey Lures ‘T-Rex 1.25oz’ • Cod-X ‘Twin Spin’

A badge of honour amongst anglers, cod thumb is a proudly displayed sign you’ve had a good day chasing the green meanies.

Cod Lure Feature dominate the market, and as such, catch the most fish. Choose an appropriate weight and hook size when selecting a jig head. CHATTERBAITS Much like their bladed cod bait cousins, the chatterbait is an extremely versatile type of lure to have in your tackle box. However, to me they really come into their own when you need to fish deep water slowly and methodically in order to get that tough bite to happen. Fish ‘em like Nan cooks a roast – low and slow while you throw back a couple of coldies. RUPE’S CHATTERBAIT 6-PACK • Cod King ‘Natural bait series 2.5oz’ • Bassman ‘Mumbler Jaw Knocker’ • Nories ‘Hulachat’ • Imakatsu ‘Alive Chatter Monstro 120’ • Cod-X Lures ‘Chatterbait 5/8oz’ • ZMan ‘ChatterbaitZ’

RUPE’S SOFT PLASTIC 6-PACK • ZMan ‘SwimmerZ 6” model’ • Daiwa ‘Duckfin Liveshad 8” model’ • Westin ‘Shadteez 9” model’ • Zerek ‘Flat Shad Pro 9” model’ • Live Target ‘Trout 7.5 model” • Dynamic ‘FX Fury 8” model’

VIBES AND LIPLESS CRANKBAITS I’ve seen a lot more accidental captures of cod on vibes and lipless crankbaits than I have of fish being actually targeted with them. Anglers fishing 50-60mm lures for yellowbelly or redfin with light gear are all Trolling can be a very effective technique even after dark. Jason Price reeled this one in with some assistance from the skipper after the fish stubbornly buried its head in split boulders. in your local fishing emporium. It’s been around since 1938 and hasn’t been beaten in my eyes. To page 14

Spinnerbaits like this OSP High Pitcher have accounted for cod of all sizes from last year’s spawn to the true giants.

SOFT PLASTICS These type of lures didn’t get a lot of love until people started having a lot of success with them as the trailer attached to the back of their spinnerbait or chatterbait. It also helped a lot when manufacturers began selling upsized versions of old favourites. Lures up to 12” long are now commonplace and goodoo love to gobble ‘em up. Excelling in heavily weeded areas, soft plastics can offer you virtually snag free retrieve when rigged correctly. Paddle-tail presentations

of a sudden in the fight of their lives. There are more ‘cod-sized’ options on the market these days and surprise, surprise – they love to eat them too. It’s not the first type of lure I’d tie on but still a worthwhile addition to any tackle box. These are best worked around weedbeds, heavily timbered areas and around broken rock by hopping and dropping. RUPE’S VIBE AND LIPLESS CRANKBAIT 6-PACK • Samaki ‘Vibelicious 125mm’ • Harima ‘Mazzy Vib Forte 100mm’ • Storm ‘Arashi Vibe 70mm’ • DUO ‘Tide Vib Slim 140mm’ • Jackall ‘Doozer 85mm’ • Sebile ‘Flatt Shad 77mm’

SURFACE CRAWLERS This category was my first exposure to surface fishing for cod and at that point in my life easily the most exciting thing I’d ever done after dark. How the times have changed. No doubt built to mimic big insect life, distressed baby birds and the like, surface crawlers fall right into the lap of the opportunistic cod. If they can go through the drive-thru and grab a family meal for one, they will. Bibs will either be bent at an appropriate angle to create a walking action that throws a lot of water or built with two cup faces which produce more of a ‘clip-clop’ sound. I prefer the metal bibbed offerings both in terms of strength and sound, but that’s just my preference. On some models the lure body will be jointed, while others are one piece. This is nowhere near as important as the bib itself. If you need an idea of perfection when it comes to a surface lure bib, just pick up an Arbogast Jitterbug next time you’re

RUPE’S SURFACE CRAWLER 6-PACK • Arbogast ‘Jitterbug JB700’ • Water Stalker ‘Spook Walker 140mm’ • Mudeye Lures ‘Triple Paddler’ • Croaker Lures ‘Big Betty’ • Leavey Lures ‘Moth’ • Kingfisher ‘Mantis Articulated’

Two rough heads are better than one. Adam Townsend and Ryan Thompson put in a lot of time on the water over winter and it sure paid dividends.

DECEMBER 2017

Cod Lure Feature Each lure will have its own subtleties that may demand more or less work from you, so have a play between key bite windows and get it right so you’re primed and ready to slay when it’s go time. When considering lure selection here, there is no such thing as too big. If you can cast it, you should and even people in our industry who make plastic lures will tell you nothing compares to timber lures in this category.

From page 13

SWIMBAITS AND GLIDEBAITS You’ve seen the pictures. Cod love a good swimbait. The trouble is not all swimbaits are good! Inside any decent tackle store these days you’ll find an assortment of swimbaits that range in size, colour and price. My recommendation would be to steer well clear of the $5 job with more dust on it than grandpa’s golf clubs and hooks so thin they could actually be figments of your imagination. Look to buy something built to last. There’s no point spending all your time and energy looking for a fish and tempting them to eat it only to have the lure fall apart mid-fight. Events like this can ruin you. Whether you go for timber or plastic offerings, look for something with sturdy construction, thick wires, tough split-rings and trebles that won’t let you down. Also consider how you want to fish it. Floating or sinking and the rate of sink are all things you should be mindful of. ‘Horses for courses,’ as they say; just to be safe you better buy one of each. If you haven’t got the coin to do that, consider chin rigging a floating or intermediate lure with a sinker or teardrop style weight. RUPE’S SWIMBAIT AND GLIDEBAIT 6-PACK • DEPS ‘Silent Swimmer 250mm’ • Lucky Craft ‘Real Bluegill 165mm’ • Jackall ‘Gantia 180mm’ • Swimbaits Australia ‘Muzza 150mm’ • Evergreen ‘ES Flat 145mm’ • Chilton Tackle Co. ‘Gordon 210mm’

Cod will still aggressively take a well-placed lure even in dirtied flood water. Just take your time, work the water as you would any other time and you will be rewarded.

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WAKES, SNAKES AND CREATURE BAITS To me, this is hands-down the coolest way to whack a green fish. When I think of wakebaits my imagination takes me to a glassed-out lake with my tinnie positioned far enough off the bank that I can cast my lure to right where the water meets the grass as the sun sets in the background. It is at first and last light each day when they are at their most effective. This is when cod will push up into the shallows and look for a tasty feed of whatever swims past and, being a lazy creature, the bigger the meal, the better. Once again, a long cast coupled with a low and slow retrieve is what will serve you best with a wake, snake or creature bait. Think about how the real version swims. Lizards, ducks, mice and rats – they’re all on the menu.

So that’s it. You should by now have a shopping list as long as the rods you’re meant to throw the lure with and hopefully some handy information on when and where to use your new toys. While we’re speaking of rods, don’t be afraid to ask Santa for a big new baitcast combo either. There are some fantastic rod options on the market from all your favourite brands – Wilson, Daiwa, Shimano, Samaki, Dobyns, EDGE and many more depending on your needs and budget. Pair it with a quality reel with a nice deep spool and plenty of drag and you’re all set. Catching Murray cod of any size is an amazing experience and something we should all treasure. I’d highly suggest you practice catch and release of this beautiful native species, but if you do plan on keeping a fish, make sure you check the local regulations. Best of luck to you all for the upcoming season.

Normally a big game bluewater fisher, Troy Boulton has found a new love chasing big goodoo in the fresh.

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Sourcing a seafood feast for the festive season THE HAWKESBURY

Dan Selby dan@sydneysportfishing.com.au

With many people on holidays this month the waterways around Sydney will be quite busy, so let’s

have a look at a few options to create a seafood delight during this festive season. When I think about seafood, crustaceans are the first delicacies to come to mind. There will be blue swimmer and mud crabs on offer for those putting in

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the extra effort to bait and set traps at the start of their day’s fishing. Fresh mullet or old fish frames from your last trip make great baits; just make sure to secure them in the trap well. For those who are unaware, there are limits to the number of traps a person can have in their possession, so do yourself a favour and check the DPI Fisheries website for the number and type of traps allowed, and how to set them up to comply with the current rules. Prawns will be in full swing now and heading out around the new moon period, which falls a week or so prior to Christmas, should see you snare a good haul. Scoop nets are quite effective but if you’re really serious, a registered drag net is a great way to cover ground. The new LED torches and headlamps are quite

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good for spotlighting these tasty treats on the shallow flats, so it’s not necessary to have loads of equipment to catch a few prawns for bait or feasting! On the fishing front, the dry conditions are keeping the majority of fish in the upper reaches of the main river and its tributaries. There have been a number of mulloway caught with most anglers noting that the average size is 60-90cm. There seem to be quite few at this size and they are spread throughout the whole brackish region from Dads Corner all the way to Brooklyn. On a recent charter we scored eight mulloway with only one 1m+ fish and the rest falling between 60-70cm. These fish were all caught on soft plastics between Wisemans Ferry and Brooklyn. Covering ground was the key to finding active fish, with each spot producing one or two. There will be some good-sized mulloway in the lower reaches this month, especially if we get a good dump of rain coinciding with their urge to spawn; this causes their appetites to increase. Setting up with

some big baits of squid, tailor, pike and yakkas is a prerequisite if you want to be in with a chance. Flathead have come on strong and have pushed well upstream feeding on the school prawns and herring.

Cathy travelled up from Tasmania to tick a kingfish off her bucket list and did just that with this healthy hoodlum caught on a small cuttlefish on the downrigger. Soft plastics, blades and bibless minnows are the most effective for locating concentrations of these tasty estuary dwellers. Drifting the mangrove edges is a productive method, as is locating major drop-offs with

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a depth sounder and working them over around the tide changes. Make sure to contact the bottom regularly whether you’re casting or trolling to trigger a response from these ambush feeders. Some good catches of bream have come from around Wisemans Ferry. I laid eyes on six stud bream that fell to peeled prawns in the dirty water on a recent full moon period. These fish were in great condition with the biggest well over a kilo. This month should see the bream start to fire up on the flats. Surface luring with poppers and stickbaits is sure to tempt some quality fish over the next few months. If they’re a little cautious on top, try a shallow suspending crankbait or a slow-rolled blade to get them on the job. Bass have come out to play with an ever-growing allegiance of catch and release bassers; these guys are sure to be around for seasons to come. The small

Some big bream have been grabbing baits in the upper brackish reaches and belting surface lures on the shallow flats around Broken Bay.

creeks are where all the action is this month with afternoon thunderstorms and humid conditions; the insects will hatch in force and the bass will be waiting in ambush for any unsuspecting victims that haven’t fully dried their wings for their first flight. I highly recommend surface lures and jig spinners for tight water fishing. In the tidal water the bass are actively feeding on the rock walls with poppers, spinnerbaits and soft plastics all working well on their day. Mix it up to find what is working best when you hit the water. Kingfish have moved into the estuaries with spring producing some exceptional fish and multiple smokings by unstoppable beasts! Live squid, yakkas and slimies are preferred, but this month will see lure fishing come into its own. Poppers and soft plastic stickbaits cast to structure or schooling fish found using your electronics can yield some impressive results.

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The summer fishing action is heating up SYDNEY NORTH

Paul O’Hagan

With summer here and the temperature rising, cicadas emerge and start to sing in the trees, and that can only mean one thing. It’s time to dig out the bass fishing gear. Manly Dam is starting to fire with the bass taking an interest in surface lures. This should improve dramatically as the cicadas grow in numbers and start hitting the water. Fishing with a light 2-4kg outfit in and around the weed beds with a variety

of floating lures should have you hooked up to a few of these excellent little sportsfish and if you would prefer to have a lazy day on the water, there are always the redfin and the carp that can be picked up on bread or sweetcorn fished on the bottom, and while fishing a small float over some berley. This can keep the kids amused for quite some time. Sydney Harbour is hosting a multitude of small and large pelagic species at the moment with tailor, bonito, salmon and some very large kingfish feeding frantically on the large numbers of baitfish that are

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Sydney Harbour is hosting a multitude of small and large pelagic species at the moment with tailor, bonito, salmon and some very large kingfish feeding frantically on the large numbers of baitfish that are on offer. Jarrod Taylor caught this solid kingy. on offer at the moment. While the salmon have been feeding on very small whitebait for quite some time and frustrating our anglers, the good news is they are now taking much larger baits and are very responsive to

are attracting some very large kingfish, giving the land-based anglers a chance to throw some stickbaits and surface poppers into the mix with excellent results. Further out of the harbour from Long Reef

while others are using very heavy leads to get past the pickers. On the drift around Narrabeen a lot of anglers are picking up a nice feed of flathead as they move from reef to reef.

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metal lures and a range of shallow and deep diving lures trolled around the schools. With the amount of fish available at the moment, whether you fish from the boat or the land you can have some excellent results. Large and small kingfish are following the schools around and a popular method for catching these is having a squid either on a downrigger or just drifted from the back of the boat, depending on the depth of water you fish. While the squid aren’t very big in the harbour at the moment and sometimes hard to catch, fishing some small 1.8-2.5mm jigs around the boat moorings and jetties should see you with a couple of good baits. Anglers who picked up cuttlefish while they were about are having some very good results inside the harbour on the kingfish. In and around North Harbour there have been a lot of small tailor hitting the surface chasing bait. With a mix of rat kings in close to the boats it’s a very good spot to throw some small lures. While fishing around the sand flats some quality flathead are eager to latch onto some soft plastic lures and vibes. Outside the harbour around North Head and Blue Fish Point the small pelagics

to Barrenjoey Lighthouse the reports coming in are looking very good. Quality snapper are being taken if you can get your bait down through the array of reef species. The pelagics that are in huge numbers at the moment are taking anything that hits the water. Dropping some large soft plastics on a good heavy jighead seems to be working for some anglers,

With the evenings getting longer, fishing the beaches as the sun goes down can be very rewarding with bream and flathead on the bite taking small strips of mullet and squid. With the large quantity of salmon around, reels should be spinning in no time. Fishing a two hook paternoster rig with different baits seems to be working well up until the night

predators turn up and start destroying some of the lighter rigs. Try increasing your leader size. Offshore around the Twelve-Mile Reef and the peak, the reports are good with snapper, morwong, and lots of kingfish being taken on a variety of fresh baits and metal jigs. While these areas are holding some good fish, they also have the thieving leatherjackets taking anything that shines in the water, but the effort is worth it to get a good feed. Out and around the shelf the reports filtering in are good with striped tuna and marlin on offer for anglers trolling skirts in the temperature breaks. While they are not in big numbers at the moment, the currents are in our favour and the numbers should increase over the coming weeks. Mahimahi have turned up on some of the wave rider buoys in very large numbers. As with any other season, the small fish are the first to show while the bigger fish shouldn’t be far behind. It looks like it’s going to be an excellent season for our anglers off Sydney. When approaching some of the marker buoys it’s a good idea to troll some lures a bit wider before moving in close, as sometimes the larger fish will patrol the outskirts of a FAD picking off some of the smaller fish. As always, stay safe and enjoy the fishing. • Paul O’Hagan works at Sneakyfisho.com, shop located at 533 Pittwater Road, Brookvale, NSW, 2100. Email sales@ sneakyfisho.com, check out www.sneakyfisho.com or chat to the friendly staff on (02) 9949 9488.

Norman Fullard with a decent kingy.

There are some big kingfish around to chase PITTWATER

Peter Le Blang plfishfingers@bigpond.com

This month we should see many schools of kingfish along our bays and in our rivers and harbours. This push of fish has already started and there have been some great captures already this season along our coast. A few anglers have also tangled with them on Broken Bay and Pittwater. If you’re going to try to hunt down one of these yellowtail thugs along Pittwater, I’d normally be saying squid is required. However, at the moment you will need both squid and yellowtail cover your bases. This can change overnight, as it is very strange that kingfish are still eating yellowtail at this time of the year while along Pittwater. Normally the kingies from late November to early December become fixated on eating the small squid along this wonderful waterway. Kingfish can be found first thing in the morning around Broken Bay with Lion Island, West Head and Barrenjoey Head all being areas that will put you in with a real chance

of landing a few. If you’re lucky enough to see kingies on the surface feeding freely, casting lures towards the edge of the schools should see you hook up pretty quickly, although most of these fish have been of a smaller size lately. Downrigging these areas with live yellowtail or squid should put you in with a chance of catching a larger fish that may be further away from the surface melee.

The usual areas for this time of the year are holding good schools of baitfish and therefore the kingies don’t seem to be far away. The areas to start looking for fish are towards the mouth of Pittwater near the basin and along the moorings throughout Careel Bay. The western side between Soldiers Point and Longnose Point is also seeing some activity. Scotland Island is showing the odd fish – once

Merv Hughes with his first-ever legal king.

again, amongst the moorings. There are some big schools of baitfish and I’m sure the predators aren’t far away. The supermarket area nowadays is pretty hard to fish because of all the boats anchored amongst the moorings. Don’t be disappointed though; with all of these boats anchoring around and on top of the wreck, often the fish are pushed away from the area. If you down rig through the moorings, more often than not you’ll find a few fish away from these anchored vessels. Pittwater doesn’t have much current, so we have to cover ground to find roaming fish when targeting pelagics such as kingfish. At the moment kingfish seem to be roaming around, which puts everyone in with a chance, whether anchored or not. If you find it difficult to catch your target species, don’t be scared to move setup and try again. Targeting squid at the moment is a little easier than it was a month ago. The better areas to target some of these inkers are the Palm Beach weed beds, Mackerel Beach, West Head and Careel Bay. The smaller jigs are no longer needed, as most of the squid

There is still the odd stonker squid to be caught. are quite aggressive and will happily attack 2.5g squid jigs. The better colours to use lately seem to be fluoro pink and orange, and some of the iridescent blue cloth jigs

are working a treat as well. Remember before you start casting the squid jigs around to wipe a small amount of scent towards the spikes. The Hawkesbury River

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and Broken Bay are seeing a great mulloway bite this year. The usual areas along Broken Bay are Walkers Point, Juno Point, Eleanors Bluff and Flint and Steel, just to name a few. If you’re targeting mulloway, try to be at your chosen area for the change of tide. Fresh baits will always see you in with a better chance but the more I chase these fish, the more I am amazed how soft plastics and micro-jigs work. Both of these lures can be cast and retrieved for a variety species by varying the jighead weight and can be best worked at the change of the tide also. The biggest thing to remember about using either of these lures is to keep the lure near the bottom within strike range of any mulloway that is about. This can quite often mean when fishing the last of the changing tide, you may have to open up the bail arm during the retrieve to allow the lure to sink to the bottom again. Quite often your lure will be belted when sinking towards the bottom again, so be aware of those subtle hits. Bottom fishing along Pittwater is really starting to hot up with mulloway, flathead, bream and kingfish all visiting anglers drifting along Pittwater and dangling baits. If you’re after a big flathead and wish to anchor, try fishing one of the many points along Pittwater on the run-out tide. With the lack of current, fish with light line and very little weight. If you’re going to target flatties with soft plastics and other lures the edges of the weed beds will see you in with a chance at catching flatties and bream. When choosing a soft plastic lure, don’t be scared to try a prawn imitation. Lightlyweighted prawn imitations fished along the weed edges of Palm Beach, Careel Bay and the basin area will often catch large flathead. Along our coast we’ve started to see a lot of kingfish being caught and most of

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these have been tangled with between Barrenjoey Head and Long Reef. It seems to be a bit patchy at the moment with some days better than others, but there are some large fish that are cruising in close that can be caught if the fishing gods are smiling upon you. Reef fishing at the moment is a lot better than what it was a couple of months ago, as the barracuda and most of leatherjackets seem to have disappeared. Water depths of 50-60m will see you catching flathead, snapper and even the odd kingfish. The better areas at the moment are the Container and the broken reefs off Long Reef. The West Reef and East Reef areas are also fishing well. The pearly grounds have already seen a few being caught and will be worth visiting if you are in the area. The baits to use are your humble pilchard and squid, or (if you can catch some) the baitfish that you stop over

while drifting over the reef. This month many of us will have a lot more time on our hands due to the summer holidays. The kids can take up a fair bit of the time during the holidays, but the best way to entertain them is to let them explore our waterways. Fishing, of course, isn’t just for kids – it’s for all of us that are kids at heart, love our environment and enjoy being with our friends and family. I hope this report sees you getting out on the water to enjoy a day. If you would like to increase your knowledge of Pittwater, the Hawkesbury River, Broken Bay or the coast, give me a call and book in a charter. The knowledge that you will gain in one day can be used for the rest of your life. • Peter Le Blang operates Harbour and Estuary Fishing Charters, phone(02) 9999 2574 or 0410 633 351, visit www. estuaryfishingcharters. com.au

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Kingfish tips and tricks for the coming summer king swim back towards the boat like tuna do, so keeping the boat near the cover will ensure that the fish won’t not swim back to it. Once you are confident that the fish is either tired or too far from the cover to get back, move the boat quickly towards him. From here on keep the boat directly above the fish. The greater the

SYDNEY HARBOUR

Craig McGill craig@fishabouttours.com.au

This season is shaping up to be an absolute cracker. The surface action has been very good with salmon, bonito, kingfish and huge slimies. We have also had the best early run of big kings that I have ever seen. The surface action has been spread right through from the heads to well above the Harbour Bridge and right up middle harbour. Bonito, which have been almost non-existent over the last few seasons, have showed in good numbers. Trolling lures along north and south head has been producing plenty of fish, as has casting at the bubbling schools in the Sound. Salmon have been thick and notoriously hard to catch. Stick with the small metal lures, stickbaits and flies, and sooner or later one will come unstuck. There have been some very big bream sitting in the deeper channels. They are ravenous and taking almost any bait. Solid baits like squid and crabs tend to do better, as they are more resistant to the small pickers that destroy the softer baits before the bream have a chance. Fish light rigs and use enough lead to ensure your baits are staying deep as the bream are feeding right on the bottom. The kings have been concentrated upstream in both middle harbour and the main harbour reaches. They have been fussy with a strong preference for live squid and cuttlefish. They are big fish, so make sure your gear is in top order. They like deep water and concentrate around the points and wrecks that have strong water flow. On most days they seem to like the last half of the run-in and last half of the run-out.

This season is shaping up to be an absolute cracker. These two happy anglers both landed great kings. Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the average size of harbour kings, mostly due to good

DECEMBER 2017

An interesting observation I’ve made on my charter boat is that my clients are voluntarily opting

barnacle-encrusted structure, despite allowing better presentations than mono of the same class. Furthermore, heavy line and drag settings are inherently detrimental to the technique that best suits landing big kings. Working on the theory ‘the harder you pull, the harder the kings pull,’ I’ve found it best to go lightly until the fish is clear of the cover. Some fish charge straight into the cover regardless and I don’t think there’s a thing you can do about it. In general, I’ve found that leading fish away from cover gently is a lot more productive than going hammer and tong. In rough country a good skipper is an asset. Quite

Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the average size of harbour kings. angle of the line from the boat, the more chance the fish has of clipping it across the top of bottom structure. Furthermore, being directly above the fish means that to make any ground downwards

the fish is close to the boat, back the drag off a touch to compensate for the reduced stretch of a shorter line. Presenting your bait in such a way that draws the fish away from the cover

There have been some very big bream sitting in the deeper channels. fisheries management with tough restrictions on the commercial take. The bigger average size also results in a decrease in numbers of fish kept by recreational fishers.

Solid baits like squid and crabs tend to do well on the bream. 22

then go hard. Ensure that before you get stuck into it you place the boat between the fish and the cover in an effort to encourage the fish to swim away from the boat and hence away from the cover. All this is much easier if you are drifting but it can be achieved at anchor providing your crew acts quickly. Once

to take less fish home and release more. The reason is simple; most people are aware that a 90cm+ king provides at least two or three feeds for the average family, whereas a 65cm fish barely provides one decent feed. My customers, who were traditionally inclined to take home the bag limit of five kingfish in the old days when most fish were around the 65cm mark, are now happy to take home one or two fish. Landing one of these big suckers around the heavy structure where they are often found is another matter though. To some degree it is linked more to technique than tackle upgrade. Going up in line class creates a number of problems including difficulties in delivering baits or lures and a decrease in interest from the fish, due to the obvious distraction of heavy traces. Heavy gel spun lines are a poor defence around

You’ve got to know how to handle a kingfish when it starts running. Tire the fish out or make sure you’ve got it far enough from cover before you go hard. often, for reasons unknown, big kings will run straight away from cover. This is great if it happens, but you must know how to handle it. The natural instinct is to chase the fish out. This can prompt the fish to swim against the direction of the pull and back towards the cover. I’d suggest staying close to the cover and letting the fish tire for a while before chasing it. I’ve never had a

toward bottom structure he will have to take drag, expending more energy. Low line angles created by the fish being away from the boat mean that the fish needs only to swim sideways to make ground towards cover, without having to take drag. In the case where you have led the fish gently away from cover, wait until you feel you are a safe distance from the cover and

has obvious benefits. This is done by casting your bait so it lands very close to the structure and letting it sink, on a tight line, back towards the boat. This encourages the king to chase the bait out of the structure. • If you are interested in doing a guided fishing trip on Sydney harbour with Craig McGill please call 0412 918 127 or email craig@fishabout.com.au.

The wait for sweet summer fishing is over SYD ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

Woohoo, its summer! That means all of the species you have been waiting to catch are now a realistic proposition. Although the fishing around Sydney is not what it was like 20 years ago, it is still good providing you use the correct techniques, bait/lures and fish the right time of day. And of course, you need to be diligent with the weather conditions by choosing the right spots that are not going to give you too much grief while fishing. Do all these things and you’ll find that your results will improve. Another tip is to try to keep your line class down to a minimum, while being realistic for the specific species you’re targeting. You should also try to fish during low light periods, and spend that little bit extra on quality bait. Servo bait is often second rate compared to what is sold in fishing tackle shops, because tackle store owners have a vested interest in selling you quality bait. The run of snapper this month will continue, and there can be some exotic species thrown in as well such as samsonfish. Some locations like Long Reef in Collaroy will have samsons mixed in with the reddies and the end run of trevally. Another exotic species is the spangled emperor. These fish are not common catches but there are days when you will catch a few. The flat ledge known as ‘snapper rock’, funnily enough, produces a number of species including luderick and some groper. It is approximately 300m west of the old cleaning tables. Berley up with pilchard cubes and bread for the best results, and fish the low tide period as it

floods when the tide gets up too much. You should only fish this ledge when the swell is below 1m. This ledge, and much of Long Reef, has the kind of slipperiness where you might think you can get away without steel spike boots, but you are really risking it. You need footwear that will vastly reduce your chances of slipping, i.e. stretch-on spikes, rock cleats or just steel spike boots. You can also catch snapper casting wide approximately 90m off North Narrabeen swimming pool ledge. Generally you should fish this location in a swell size less than 1m. Warriewood high cliff, approximately 30m west of the blow hole, is another spot to try for snapper. Cast out approximately 70m, and fish it in a 2m swell for better results. Baits like squid strips, salted slimy mackerel fillet, and fresh fillets of tailor work well. Unfortunately for rock fishos, the spear fishers are spearing the kings that are close in. On the upside though, the spearos can tell you what’s out there. An example of this is a spot nicknamed Little Bluey in Manly. It is without a doubt one of the most popular spearfishing

Archer Huang couldn’t believe it when he landed this awesome 77cm, 5kg+ snapper from Long Reef! It’s very impressive for Sydney rocks. There are a few snapper there but you don’t get too many stonker fish like this. spots on the northern beach suburbs. The first big ledge (the one with a big squareshaped section on the righthand side) fishes quite well for kings this month. It’s best to fish it during a high tide in a swell less than 1m. To catch kings here, cast out a live bait suspended under a float and fish shallow, say 1.5-2m deep. Live yellowtail from Manly wharf or the Old Gas Works in Little Manly can

be caught fairly reliably, and they work quite well. If you can find the eastern sea gar you’re in with a good chance. The 9” Silstar SlapStix soft plastic works well too, and I’ve had the best results with the red head, pearl white, and clear/silver sparkle colours. Bluefish Point and the Eastern Front is an obvious option. A client showed me a sizable king from Flat Rock South Curl Curl recently

The author had the privilege of hosting three free rock fishing seminars for the Randwick Council and the NSW Government. It’s always great to help people better understand rock fishing safety, and catch a fish along the way.

which went 125cm. You can cast out a star sinker type beach rig off there with a live bait or very fresh squid baits. You can get away with 15-24kg braid or mono as there are fewer snags for a king to cut you off on. Still, you can get absolutely hammered by kings there as that is the nature of these fish! A cast of approximately 40-50m is what is required. Preferably do not fish it in a swell above 1.3m, and remember that it is very accessible and it gets very crowded. The ocean beaches are producing a good run of chopper tailor off Manly Beach. Fish the gutters near the beach volley ball courts, or try the North Stein surf club, and towards Queenscliff section of the beach. Another beach producing is Collaroy Beach. The gutters are normally better north of the stormwater pipe but improve past the big block of flats called Flight Deck. One of the best ways to catch chopper tailor is to use ganged whole pilchards.

If your pillies are getting attacked by pickers fairly frequently, put on a length of 15lb fluorocarbon leader on the top swivel. Approximately 30cm will suffice. A 1/0 or 2/0 hook and a half pilly should sort out the bream that are pecking at your whole pilly meant for tailor. The whiting run is in full swing this month, and you can catch them by fishing the gutters starting at Manly Beach from South Steyne to Queenscliff. Typically the best baits are live worms, especially blood and squirt worms. Live beach worms work great as well. Dee Why has a good run of whiting, but take into account that there are some exposed rocks from past storm damage that can be a nightmare to fish. Snags can be a problem too, usually in isolated areas. Try Dee Why Southern corner and the northern section of Dee Why Beach. Other beaches fishing well for these delicious fish are North Narrabeen section of beach, Warriewood, and South Palm beaches near the massive boulders near the road. Fairly recently I have been doing some rock fishing safety workshops at the Prince Henry centre in Little Bay. The workshops were hosted by Randwick Council and the NSW Government, and were attended by the New For Old Lifejacket people, The recreational Fishing Alliance and NSW Primary Industry. The seminars were free and there were a lot of entertaining things to see and listen to. The current round of workshops has ended but there should be more next year, and I’ll keep you posted. • 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.

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Prepare for your summer fishing activities If you like fishing off the beach for bream and whiting, you’ll need to get yourself either pink nippers or beach worms as they seem to produce the best results. Try Coogee, Bondi and

BOTANY BAY

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

In the lead up to the summer break at Christmas you will find that fishing activities will increase as many anglers decide to get their fishing gear out of moth balls and go out to wet a line. This is a time when you need to take the time to check your fishing gear, especially if you haven’t used it in quite some time. I’ve seen many anglers try to use their gear only to have it fail as they are about to land their prized catch. If you’re going out on your boat and you haven’t used it for some time, you need to check things like your batteries. Make sure your life jackets are valued and the inflatables have been serviced, you don’t have

The flats just downstream from the Woronora Bridge are worth a drift for flathead using TT Switchblades and ZMan plastics. stale fuel on board and all your safety equipment is in tip-top condition. While you’re at it you should also make sure that your trailer

Bill loved fishing with blades in deep water and one of his favourites was the Ecogear ZX40 in grass shrimp.

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years ago. Over the years we competed together and against each other up and down the east coast of NSW and parts of Victoria. We also fished socially together. The deal with Bill was that he

bearings have been serviced. On the fishing scene the upper Georges River has been producing good catches of bream, whiting and the odd mulloway or two at the Moons, just upstream of Lugarno. The best baits for the bream and whiting have been tubeworms and pink nippers. As for the mulloway, I would try fresh squid, small yellowtail and poddy mullet. Further upstream at the Milperra Bridge shore-based anglers have been getting bream, whiting, dusky flathead and mullet on both the run-in and run-out tides. For those of you who like your fishing at a more relaxed pace, you should give the Woronora River a go; the speed limit ranges from 4-8 knots and there are plenty of places to fish out of a boat or from the shore. The main fish species are bream, flathead, whiting, mullet with the odd mulloway, luderick and bass thrown in. There is a great little land-based spot at Prince Edward Park that you can take the kids for a couple of hours to wet a line. Once there you will find a couple of fishing platforms where a short cast will have you into the deeper water where bream and flathead lie in wait for worms, pink nippers and half pillies. The area further upstream is mainly accessible by boat, but you could bush bash down from the weir further upstream. Here you’ll find bream, dusky flathead, bass, luderick and whiting. It’s a great stretch of water to fish soft plastics for dusky flathead. Very large mullet can be berleyed up in this section of the river. Back down at the Como Bridge you can try fishing from both sides of the bridge or anchor your boat near the bridge and fish back towards the pylons. If you don’t have a boat you could always hire one from the Como Marina. I often

call into the café on the water here for a coffee. The bream and blue swimmer crabs will have increased in numbers in the bay and you could try fishing the Sticks, the Oil Wharf, Mono Point, the Yarra Bay Fisheries reefs, the end of the third runway, Sutherland Point, the Towra flats and Henry Head. For those of you fishing from the shore platform on the northern side of the Tom Uglys Bridge, try the groynes that stick out from the shore from Dolls Point to the entrance of the Cooks River, the Cooks River breakwall and Fishermans Beach near La Perouse. Offshore the Peak is holding good numbers of trevally and kingfish. Browns Mountain is worth a shot for blue-eye cod and gemfish. Troll the coastline north to Sydney Harbour for bonito, kingfish, salmon and tailor. Sand flathead are schooling up from the 30-50 deep out from Maroubra. The reef off Kurnell is producing snapper, morwong, trevally and pigfish.

There are a number of good land-based fishing spots from Dolls Point to Brighton. Maroubra from the top of the tide and falling. On another note, I recently lost a very good friend of mine who, after a short battle, passed away from cancer. Bill McGuire was an angler who I met when I started to fish bream tournaments over 11

would bring the lunch and a couple of rods and I would supply the boat. In my heart I will always treasure the times that we spent fishing together and I will never forget him. So, I would like to dedicate this column to Bill McGuire, a great fishing buddy and mate.

It didn’t matter what type of fish it was, Bill just loved catching anything that swam.

Bill with a trevally that he caught as a by-catch while fishing a bream tournament. There’s that grass shrimp again.

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Delving into the Port Hacking River tricks SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

The Port Hacking River may only be a small waterway compared to many up and down the east coast of NSW, but at

times it can hold very good concentrations of fish. On other occasions the fishing can be extremely tough. December will see large concentrations of whiting foraging over the flats, weed beds and drop-offs in the river. If you’re going to bait fish, spend some time and

Lesley Matthison managed to catch a nice bream while fishing at Darling Harbour.

pump or buy a few nippers, as the whiting can’t seem to resist a well-presented nipper. Also, you can always buy some tubeworms or go and get yourself a few beach worms. Whiting can be caught right throughout the tide. It doesn’t matter whether it’s low or high. What does matter is where you fish. Throughout the Port Hacking River there are many sand flats that are completely exposed when the tide is low. They can be found up the back of many of the bays in the river and at the front of the main arms of the river. Try places like Gunnamatta and Bundeena, just to name a couple. Look for the sand flats that have good concentrations of nipper holes. Find the nippers and you will find the whiting. As the tide rises the whiting will lay in wait to get up onto the flats so they can look for a feed. The same goes as the tide is nearing the bottom – they will usually be the last to come off the flats. Now if you think about it, what would be waiting for the whiting to move about the flats? Dusky flathead and mulloway. Next time you’re out on the Port

The author tried for squid off the rocks at Jibbon. Hacking River you might want to think about taking out the heavier gear to target flathead and mulloway. You could try getting yourself some poddy mullet, small yellowtail and squid or you could also try using a silver biddy or a slimy mackerel. If bait fishing is a bit messy for you, try working

a few soft plastics along the drop-offs to these sand flats. Usually a 1/4-3/8oz jighead will do the job. Trolling deep-diving hardbodied lures along the edge of the drop-off will also produce a few bites. December will also see bream, trevally, tailor, frigate mackerel and salmon chase

the schools of baitfish. Make sure you use your sounder to find the concentrations of baitfish. Find the baitfish and you’re in with a good chance of getting onto a few fish. If you are just fishing off the shore, you will find that the Port Hacking River has a number of good spots to base yourself. Many of them

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are situated in the Royal National Park. One that comes to mind is Deeban Spit – it’s a great place to fish on the run-out tide. If you’re after a few squid for bait or a feed, try fishing off the rocks in Bate Bay, Salmon Haul Bay or any of the wharves found

here. If you are out in the boat, I would try any of the rocky, weedy edges. My preferred size is either a 2.5 or 3.0 squid jig. Tailor, salmon, bonito and frigate mackerel will start to work the deep water in the main basin of the Hacking, especially opposite

the Lilli Pilli Baths and when the tide is coming in. This would be a great place to start trolling a few deep diving lures. The beaches in Bate Bay have been producing whiting, bream and dart during the day. I have had a few reports of small mulloway and

The author with a bream destined to be cooked on the BBQ.

Andrew Humphries with a 38cm whiting he caught on a pink nipper while fishing at the entrance to Gunnamatta Bay.

sharks being caught at night off the beach from Wanda to Boat Harbour. The rocks off Kurnell and Boat Harbour are worth a shot for bream, trevally, snapper and luderick when the seas are calm. You could also try the north end of Garie Beach for whiting, bream and dart. Salmon and tailor will school up there at times.

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the space of 35 minutes. Stephen informed me that they only went in there for lunch. It’s always great to see the smiles on people’s faces after they have caught a fish or two. If you catch a fish, you can email the photo to me with a short explanation of where and what it was caught on and I will get it into my column.

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Summer is upon us, and with it the peak of bass season! This time of year is prime cicada season and we often find ourselves throwing small bug and cicada imitations in and under the deep overhangs and structure-lined banks. The best part of this is it’s the easiest time to target these bronze battlers. For those anglers thinking about trying bass fishing for the first time, now is the time of year to do it! Cast small surface lures into the shadows, let the lure sit and the ripples disperse, and hold on – a hungry bass won’t far away.

up. Using blades and soft plastics in this deeper water could give you a better chance of catching the larger fish lurking in the system. For those willing to travel further afield, Lake Lyell is the place to be. Large bass, redfin and trout are being caught in amongst the timber, although a delicate balance is needed if you are to target all of them. You want line that’s not so heavy that it will spook the wily trout, but not so light that you’ll be wishing for more if a bass comes along. Because of this trade-off it does pay to target particular species rather than all of them at once. The typical bass reaction lures work particularly well this time of year. Spinnerbaits,

everyone up with some Powerbait nuggets or live worms gives the family a shot at all three species in the lake, and if the redfin are in the area you’re fishing it can result in high catch days! Those heading the opposite direction towards the salt/brackish water have been doing well on EPs; 2017 has been the year of the estuary perch. Not only have there been lots of them caught, but also some very large specimens. Soft plastics have been particularly effective on large bends in the river on the incoming tides. Don’t forget that surface though – in the low light periods of the day as the prawns skip and flee from predators, big hungry perch chase these tasty morsels

Daniel Moore with two big estuary perch caught in the Hawkesbury. Although the entirety of the Nepean River will hold bass over the coming months, those searching for larger fish should focus on the harder-to-reach areas, where fewer anglers go. The fish in high traffic areas are smart and have been seeing lures constantly for three months now, so it’s best to target less educated fish. Those anglers willing to put time in around both Norton and Bents Basin are sure to be rewarded, as these areas have a constant comfortable flow of water with deep holes all the way

lipless crankbaits, cicada imitations and jerkbaits are our choices through the gnarly timber, along with upping the leader to 15lb. If trout are your poison, try casting classic trout lures like inline spinners, Rapala CD7s and 2-3” paddle tail soft plastics on light line. Casting is not the only option though; downrigging bright Tassie Devils through the creek beds has resulted in numerous good trout up to 60cm. For those chasing some holiday fun with the family, Lyell is fantastic. Setting

down. When you have a large 40cm+ fish come up and inhale one of those topwaters you’ll understand why this fish is called the ‘barramundi of the south’. • Peter Jacovides has been the owner/operator of the Australian Bass Angler tackle store in Penrith for more than 20 years and is available to offer advice or have a chat most days. If you want to know about the latest tackle or technique, kayak fishing, or tournament bass boats, drop into the store at 105 Batt Street, Penrith or phone (02) 4721 0455.

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Justin Brock with a small brown trout on fly.

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THE TWEED INSHORE

Tim Latter

The Northern Rivers region as well as just over the border to the north is home to arguably the most exciting estuarine species to catch on a lure, bait or fly. It goes by many names these days, but I always refer to them as mangrove jack or, simply, jacks. It is no secret that during the summer months these fantastic sportfish really start to fire up, and the anglers who chase them do just the same. Once you crack your first fish for the season, it feels like the only colour you want to see in the net is red and when water temperatures start to cool off in March and April, a sort of 6 month grieving process takes place until early spring. You only have to check out social media pages regarding mangrove jack, or follow

Stickbaiting for jacks is unreal fun, regardless of the size. pulled hooks, missed surface bites and getting your soft plastics pulled down are all worth it when one hits the deck. Regardless of the size, a great sense of achievement

come down to preference. If the reason you don’t use a baitcaster is because you don’t know how – then it might be worth learning. There is certainly a place for spin

Burning a plastic around this bridge resulted in a nice jack. those switched on fishers on Instagram to see how massive it has become. There is a great pride among those that manage to land the trophy fish, and a great respect to the small bunch that have developed the standout techniques and shared that information with the rest of us. The bust offs,

is felt and I feel privileged to pen a few words regarding my favourite saltwater species. THE GEAR When it comes to accurate casting deep into structure where jacks dwell, it is hard to go past a quality baitcaster setup. The spin or baitcast debate will always be around, and to be honest, it will always

setups, like fishing light around the shoulders of the season or throwing light topwaters or vibing deep rockbars. The ability to control a raging 50cm+ jack by a thumbing the spool before you get buried into the sticks is another added bonus of baitcasting reels and more often than not you be will glad you didn’t flick a

Some fruits to look out for in your local tackle shop. 30

DECEMBER 2017

locked drags, as they break just below 100% and their low profile means your can run long leaders without it effecting your cast by bulky knots catching on your guides. The FG and PR knots are very worth learning if you haven’t already. THE LURES Without doubt the lure that catches the most jacks is the lure that spends the most time in the water. What I mean by this is that time on the water equates to more fish boated, full stop. You could bet that most jack fishers have enough lures to decorate a giant Christmas tree, but could hold their

lure into that gnarley mess on a spin setup. It is always important to spend as much as your budget will allow on your outfits. You always get what you pay for in fishing gear and with jack fishing the cheap stuff just doesn’t cut the mustard. I love the smooth gearing and tight oscillation of the new Shimano Curado K series, but the cast control magnetics and spool technology in the Daiwa baitcast reel range is a cut above in my opinion. When it comes to rods a lot of manufacturers produce the goods and a choice of one between 5’9”-6’6” is ideal. Something in the 5-9kg line class will have you sorted, as they will cast from around a 1/4-1oz, which most jack lures fall into. This is not a hard and fast rule, of course, and more specific techniques will require further setups. The Daiwa Tatula range of rods sit in the mid range price bracket and have plenty of options if you are looking to get a full quiver together. Samurai Refraction rods have one of the crispest actions on the market if you were looking to spend a little more, and the Venom range

The first jack for the season is always a special catch and always very welcomed into the net. the situation, is ideal. There is no one leader line class that covers all scenarios, so be sure to have a range on hand. A solid mangrove jack will always find a weakness in your terminal chain. Hooks of 3X strength and decent split rings of around 50lb are the standard if not the minimum, and well tied leader knots like the FG or PR knot are a must these days when running tight or

favourites in one hand. It is easy to walk into your local tackle store and be dazzled by all the pretty colours, but like the gear it is important the lures you buy are also of quality. For soft plastics you want something durable, like ZMAN Diesel MinnowZ or Swimmerz. If you want to skip cast then Castaic Jerky Js or Ecogear Balts are killer. Most reputable lure companies each have a

Jetties and marinas can certainly pay off, especially when you’re the only one on the water.

Mangrove Jack massive range of hardbodied lure options within their stable, and with a list way longer than my arm I will name drop a few options of tried and tested favourites. Lucky Craft Pointers are synonymous with jack fishing, and come in a range of sizes and running depths. They have a fantastic finish on them and the terminal tackle is above par. The Jackall Squirrel 79 SP Hank Tune is another heavyweight in this category and would probably be the next best seller in any tackle shop. The new Rapala 3x Shadow Rap and Shadow Rap Shad have an outstanding action when twitched hard, have had a terminal upgrade for this season and the finish on them is outstanding, which is typical of Rapala. If you’re looking for more info, I highly suggest checking out the My Lure

the 4-6” range rigged on a 1/2oz jighead or heavier worked with a fast burn retrieve could result in a rod buckling reaction bite. Bridge pylons are usually encrusted with oysters and barnacles, so leaders of 50lb are almost essential if you plan on landing a trophy jack from a major bridge. Rockbars and retaining walls Rockbars and retaining walls are another man made structure that can hold fish. There is a lot going on below the surface and it’s the back eddies and current breaks where the fish will hold to chase unsuspecting bait. Casting surface poppers or stickbaits during low light late in the season is without doubt the most exciting way to target these areas, although jerkbaits twitched hard and paused to suspend in their face would

The Tilsan Barra in red baron is a great lure on the troll.

A nice jack pulled from a small creek hits the mat. Box Facebook page, it is full if info from local jack angler John Costello. He does a lot of the leg work when it comes to lure selection and techniques and watching his videos is a great way to get psyched for an upcoming session. WHERE TO FISH? Bridges For any first timers out there who are trying to figure out where to start, the truth is that mangrove jack in the Northern Rivers region are quite prolific. Bridges that have plenty of flow with an abundance of bait are always worth a throw, and when casting it is usually a better option to cast upstream to allow your lure to present more naturally. Soft plastics in

result in more opportunities. Slow trolling deep diving hardbodies will allow you to cover a lot of ground, but in my opinion, a jack caught on the cast is far more rewarding. Natural structure The natural structure found in the middle to upper reaches as well as the creek systems is where the stealthy angler can really come into their own, and spending the early morning in a tiny backwater is the best way to start the day, especially during the height of summer. A bow mount electric motor to help you sneak around is as important as oxygen in these waters and soft plastics rigged weedless to allow you to fire them into the thick of it is paramount.

You won’t find as many of the bigger fish in these areas, but the rush of trying to extract one a fish from middle of a fallen gumtree is an adrenalin overload, and a worm hook in the corner of the jaw will give you a little more leverage over a standard jighead, and generally once you hook up with weedless presentations, they rarely pull as long as you keep the pressure right on. Canals Canal systems right throughout the region hold good numbers of big jacks and are a literal labyrinth of tidal flow and bait. Jacks hold up on these structures and trying to entice a reaction bite is the way to go in here. The water is usually much clearer in the canals, so you may only have one chance with your cast to not spook the fish, and because of this it’s important to be stealthy and use natural coloured plastics. Colours like pearl and mullet imitations will increase your chances of a bite. If you haven’t seen The Jack Guide or Monster Jacks DVDs, they are an

invaluable tool to give you a great insight and visual medium into this style of fishing, which is growing in popularity as fast as the sport itself. Jetties, marinas, trawlers, boardwalks, cane drains and pretty much anything that looks like it would be impossible to get a jack out of will most likely hold fish ,so spend as much time searching and learning and in time you will find your confidence baits and favourite spots. Remember to be respectful

of other peoples’ property when fishing canals, because nobody wants to wake up and find scratches all over their moored boat or worse. THE VARIABLES It can be a very confusing concept when just starting out any new style of fishing, and chasing jacks is no exception. Having fished my local waters for years, it can still be daunting trying to figure out the best area to target at a certain tide or time of the day. Sometimes you might only have 2-3 hours

on the water each week, and I’m sure I am not alone when I say that when you are left fishless and wondering, the second guessing can cause a drop in confidence. This is destroyer of seasons…. Everyone has their favourite period of the tide or moon phase, and for me it happens to be a neap tide running out early morning, preferably blowing from the north. This is not only because I have had success during these periods, but during preparation for the following mornings session, knowing I will be met with this instils me with confidence. It’s casting with confidence that will catch you more fish. Some fishers monitor storm activity and love the sharp drop in pressure to bring them on the bite, or the fresh that comes after to stir them up. Many anglers say fish don’t mind it raining, because they are already wet? Low light periods are an obvious one for topwater enthusiasts too. Basically what I’m trying to get at with this, is that you should get out and chase the mighty mangrove jack whenever time permits. It isn’t always about your count for the season, it’s about getting that next solid hit, that next chance of seeing a monster jack on the mat, and seeing your mate do it too. Hopefully everyone out there chasing them this year bangs a few and is kind and courteous in the process. Isn’t it just lovely being out there?

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Anglers overwhelmed with options for hot days THE TWEED

Anthony Coughran

Summer is definitely here; hot days and humid nights really have the summer species on the chew. All areas of angling on the Tweed are on fire. It doesn’t matter if it’s offshore pelagic fishing or going head to head with red dogs in the estuary, or even tricking a few surface suckers in the fresh. It’s a great time of the year to be putting mozzy repellent on and sweating your night away watching your rods and the thunderstorms as they roll past. OFFSHORE An early start to summer has seen the ocean temperatures rise and currents pick up, which in turn sees the speedsters and brutes move onto close and shallow reefs. Good numbers of kingfish have started to show up and are bullying anglers on the shallow reef. Stickbaits and poppers are being smashed on the surface, especially on the backside of the drop-off

Mako Dillon with a Brunswick River flatty caught on a live herring. Five-Mile, Fidos, Hastings Point bommie and Black Rock Reef. Trolled baits have been catching more narrowbarred mackerel while anglers drifting wire-ganged pilchards have been catching more spotty and school mackerel. A few marlin and yellowfin out wide are feeding on bait balls

Nick Dillon caught this mahimahi off Brunswick Heads. at Nine-Mile. Down rigged live baits set 10-15ft off bottom seem to be catching the bigger brutes. Micro-jigs are fishing better down at Windarah and off the cape. A few mahimahi and wahoo are tormenting bait balls in current lines between the 24-fathom and out to the 50-fathom reefs. Anglers trolling skirted lures have been catching the bigger and better fish. The FADs off Tweed and Byron are always worth a cast or two with a metal for a smaller mahimahi. The odd mackerel has been seen around Nine-Mile,

and there have been reports of bigger dollies hanging with the tuna. A few bass groper and blue-eyes have been out in 400-500m of water. Electric reels are nearly a must when deep dropping and fishing out wide and deep. There has still been the odd pan-sized summer snapper and spangled emperor on close the reefs; light-weighted plastics fished on light gear will still catch a feed. Lots of mac tuna have been around the close reefs and these are great fun on light gear. Most brands of high-speed metals fish well for tuna. Yakkas

have been at the 10-minute Reef, Point Reef and the sand pumping jetty if you need fresh bait. ESTUARY Jacks are the talk of the town this month. Small live baits are fishing very well at night for monster red dogs this month. Biddies, 15cm poddies, small gar, and large herring all seem to be fishing better then larger live baits and strip baits. Fish traps, mullet rigs, floating dough (for gar) and herring jigs are your best bets for live bait. Please remember it is illegal to use a cast net in NSW. I like to spend the afternoon before a night time jack fish around the weed beds with mullet rigs and traps and around the bridges with herring jigs right on dark to catch my live bait. A live bait tank and pump/aerator are essential to keep your bait healthy.

Your best bet for a jack at night this month will be Boyds Bay Bridge, Cobaki Bridge and rockwall, the Chinderah and Fingal drains, Barnies Point Bridge, Oxley Cove and Condong Sugar Mill. It’s always worth having a cast during the day with artificials around the various pontoons, pylons, bridges and rock walls of the Tweed; this method has produced a few nice small to mid range jacks recently. This style of fishing can be very productive and can produce some real monsters. Most anglers cast around these varied structures using 20lb braid and 30-40lb fluorocarbon leader and still only land maybe one in three. Their brutish tactics and relentless efforts to reach structure to snap you off are what keeps most anglers addicted to the chase and coming back for more. Some very nice flathead have been caught in skinny water and on light gear over the last month. Look for big females sunning themselves on sand banks near weed beds. Casting 2.5-5” plastics, blades, vibes, and shallow diving hardbodied lures at these big girls should trigger a reaction bite. If you don’t trick her, you’ll quite often trick her male friends sitting nearby. Try Cobaki, Terranora, Hastings Point Creek mouth and the Brunswick oyster racks. Some quality whiting can be caught this month drifting the flats on a the run-in tide; try yabbies, beach worms, bloodworms, poppers and walk-the-dog lures and try the various sand banks throughout Cobaki, Terranora,

the golf club and the piggery for a good feed and a bit of light gear action. Mud crabs are starting to move around are full with meat. Try holes and drains in the main river, logs, weed beds and in the mangroves for a big buck. BEACHES There are really good gutters at Fingal, Kingscliff, Back Beach, Hastings Point, Ocean Shores and Black Rock, and these have seen good numbers of small dart, whiting, flathead and bream during the day, especially on the last two hours of the run-out. These gutters have had a few tailor caught at night for those soaking whole pilchards. The odd smaller

Matt Krause with a solid kingfish caught at Nine-Mile on a downrigged live bait. tailor has also been seen around the headlands and rock walls at sunrise and these areas have also been producing dart, mac tuna and bonito. There are patches of pipis and beach worms on the open beaches if you need fresh bait. FRESHWATER Bass are starting to hit surface lures this month.

The author with a couple of whopper Tweed River bucks bound for the table.

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Winged cicadas, frog lures, walk-the-dog lures and bent minnow style lures, are all fishing well around dusk and dawn. Back creeks with drains, overhanging trees and sunken trees are fishing really well. Jig spins and diving lures are better once the sun is established. Quiet secluded corners of the dam are fishing well in the mornings. Jig spins, hardbodied lures and vibes around the lilies and trees are catching a few quality fish. Next month should see more mackerel grace us with their presence. Look for southerly winds – these bring warmer water into close

reefs and really gets them on the chew. Large kings should start feeding more on the surface chasing small tuna and baitfish. Pelagic species such as marlin, wahoo, mahimahi and yellowfin tuna will move onto closer reefs to feed up and sit in the current lines. Jacks will really start to feed up and will smash just about anything from strip baits to artificials and everything in between. Whiting will move up into more skinny water and the flathead with start to chase them. Matching the hatch is the key to any good flatty session and different sand banks and weed beds hold different bait. Bass will start feeding more predominantly on surface lures and with the ever-increasing numbers of insects, frogs, lizards, moths and bugs at this time of year, the bass find it impossible not to strike at a well-placed and well-worked lure.

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Light tackle line burners THE TWEED INSHORE

Tim Latter

It’s hard to believe it’s December already! Hopefully everyone had a fantastic year and were able to spend as much time on the water as possible. With the days lengthening and the water temperature right up there, you can’t go past picking up a light spin stick and a box of poppers and getting out to chase some beautiful summer whiting. Not only are they great fun to target and catch on topwater, they also taste great and when they are on it is not uncommon to land 30-40 fish in a session. The main arm of the tweed, as well as the Terranora arm and its lake systems are riddled with flats that these sand whiting like to hunt yabbies, prawns, worms and small baitfish on. As with most surface fishing, low light periods are best time, but this caper is not limited to these times, as mid morning and early afternoon can also produce a quality bite. The start of a rising spring tide is best, and when the water starts to flood a dry sand flat all the fish will be pushing over this new ground to forage and hunt. In this situation, the wind is your friend as it will ripple the surface and give the ‘ting more confidence to hit a lure and also allow you to punch long wind-assisted casts. The longer the cast the more fish you will boat. As far as gear is concerned, a light spin rod in the 2-6lb range and 7ft or longer will suffice. It doesn’t need to be high end model, as long as it has a fast action with a

softish tip. I prefer a rod 7’6” rod lengths to help with cast distance and the Samaki Zing Extreme 7’6” is a perfect rod for whiting popping, matched with a decent threadline reel in a 1000 or 2000 size and spooled with a quality 8 carrier braid with a breaking strain of around

Bulldog, Berkley 3B Pop Dog, Storm Gomoku 40mm Popper, Luckycraft SAMMY and the 76 Bent Minnow from O.S.P. It is not uncommon to come across other species while chasing whiting on the flats. Reports of monster flathead engulfing surface lures and biting straight

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Joe Allen with a nice Tweed River whiting taken on a Bassday Sugapen. 4lb. Run a rod length of 4-6lb fluorocarbon leader and you are set. Sunline and Unitika are some brands to look out for in your local. Without doubt the best whiting lure on the market for the Tweed region as the Bassday Sugapen. They come in a great range of colours, however MB-16 is a sure standout. All they require is a fast and constant walk the dog retrieve, and watch the whiting shoulder each other out of the way to climb all over it. Some other popular whiting lures are the Atomic K9 Walker and

through light leaders are common each season. Trevally and chopper tailor also frequent the flats, especially in the main arm of the river. If you are extremely lucky you might even hook a mangrove jack, particularly later in the season, and with not much structure around to do you on it would be an epic fight on the light stuff. So get out there and have some fun, have a great Christmas and a happy New Year. Be kind and courteous on the water this month, and remember, it’s just lovely being out there.

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Wrapping up the year with summer species BALLINA

Joe Allan

It seems as if the end of the year has rolled around very quickly, and it certainly seems we rushed into summer at a great rate of knots. The water temperature has kept climbing steadily and now the warm water has really got things going. Offshore fishing has been in that transition from winter to summer species and only recently have we seen the latter really come through. A few snapper, big mulloway and trag have been haunting the close grounds such as Lennox and Riordans reefs, and they have happily taken soft plastics, microjigs and live baits. As the warm current starts rolling down the hill we will see some mahimahi hanging around the FAD and may even get a few early season mackerel showing up around Christmas. From all reports, fishos are having a cracking

Chesley Lennon with two beautiful bass from the upper reaches of the Richmond River. mackerel run to the north, so it should be another good mackerel season here. And with reports of mahimahi

A lovely whiting caught on the Bassday SugaPen 70 in colour MB16 retrofitted with Atomic Trick Bitz assist hooks.

from Tweed Heads to Byron Bay, they can’t be too far away from hitting our reefs. The odd pearl perch is still hanging around the 42 and 48-fathom lines. Live baits have accounted for several of the larger models but some of the heavier microjigs and bright-coloured plastics have also tempted plenty of the smaller fish. Good numbers of small kingfish have been hammering live baits and knife jigs on the wider grounds. Most of the fish are 60-90cm, but the odd larger fish has also shown up. A few snapper and small amberjack have also been mixed in among the kingfish, so it has been a bit of a lottery at times to see what you are going to pull up next. While the odd gutter is visible on South Ballina

and Angels beaches, the number of fish these areas are producing has been fairly low. Some of the better action has come from Boulders and Seven Mile beaches, with quality dart and bream taking pipis and beach worms during the run-up tide. At this time of year we usually see a few of the straggling tailor make their way up the coast. Late in the afternoon it will be worth throwing a pilchard, mullet fillet or bonito strip out in a likelylooking gutter. You may not see any large numbers of these razor-toothed eating machines, but the ones that do come into the gutters at night are generally quality fish, so be ready and have wire traces handy – these larger fish can do serious damage to your rigs. Some of the betterquality whiting have been coming from the beaches rather than the Richmond River of late. As with the dart, pipis and beach worms have been the gun baits for these tasty little critters. If you can’t get your hands on either of those baits then you could try strips of squid or peeled prawns. Just remember when fishing the beach for whiting they do not need a lot of water, so don’t be obsessed with finding the deepest gutter you can, because quite

live herring and the smaller fish have fallen to darkcoloured soft plastics, prawns and white pilchards. The whiting have shown interest in surface lures in recent weeks, especially in

Ben Rampling with a huge snapper caught using cut pillies off Ballina. some of the shallow areas such as North Creek and Mobbs Bay. Each day has been different, with the level of aggression towards the lures changing constantly

The bigger Bassday SugaPen 95 is quickly becoming a popular lure with whiting fishers. often they are right at your feet in some of the skinniest water imaginable, particularly at night. We have still seen quality flathead from Pimlico Island to the mouth of the Richmond. Most of the larger fish have taken 34

DECEMBER 2017

so check them out next time you are in your local tackle shop. One fish species that has been surprisingly numerous this season is mangrove jack. Some good reports

and for no apparent reason. Bassday Sugapens, are the lures that have been producing the best and these can be retrofitted with either Atomic Trick Bitz assist hooks or Gamakatsu Treble Wide Gap hooks to improve hook-up rates,

have been coming in of quality fish caught on both hardbody lures and live baits. The Atomic Shiner 75, Lucky Craft Pointer in 100mm or 78mm size and ZMan 4” SwimmerZ have all been good options. Most of the rock walls from Wardell Bridge to the mouth of the river have produced at least a couple of fish in the past month, especially on the run-out tide in the afternoons. I’m not sure if more of these awesome fighting fish are around this year or more people are targeting them. Either way it’s great to see them in our river system. The best part about most of the jack reports I am getting is that the majority of fish are being released to fight another day. The bass are on the chew and are spread out all over the system. With the balmy evenings the surface bite will really hot up towards Christmas time and all the way through the end of January. If you haven’t tried this style of fishing for our aggressive freshwater natives, get some poppers and have a crack. You might be surprised how much fun and how addictive it can be. Look for any overhanging trees that have cicadas making an awful racket. You don’t even need to be accurate with your casting as when the cicadas fall, they’re generally out from the bank, not right up the back in the shadows like you need to get to with spinnerbaits or crankbaits.

Big summer species are now on the move YAMBA

Dave Gaden

Summer is finally here. The wait for a good run of surface fish is over. As with other years (things really don’t change that much

year to year) there will be an early show of spotted and Spanish mackerel on this part of the coast. The first port of call at the start of mackerel season is always Shark Bay and the front of Woody Head. The fish just seem to turn up

here first. One day there is absolutely nothing and at sunrise the next day the bay is full of spotties. It’s a bit of a lottery to work out what to catch them on, as they can be as fussy as any fish you will ever target. Trolling a simple pink squid well behind the boat (I set mine 25 seconds back at 9 knots) at the end of the bubble trail would be a good start. If that isn’t overly productive then anchor up in the middle of the bay and float whole pillies on ganged hooks with a light 20lb single wire about 30cm long under a small piece of styrene or a biodegradable balloon.

This method is a favourite of mine. As with all float baits the more berley you put out, the better the bite. The fish won’t be confined to Shark Bay for long and will soon be on the north edge of Angourie Reef through to Shelly Headland in the south. They will bite here all day and a live bait is certain to snare a better fish. I seem to catch more fish if I only have one livie out at a time. Two livies don’t go off as often – bizarre, huh? As I mentioned last month I had been discussing the position of the Yamba FAD with Fisheries for a couple of years and got them to move it to a spot further

Nevil Clark (two years old) with an awesome 485g whiting.

Jarvis Bermingham (13yo) with a great mahimahi.

Hammish with a decent pearl perch.

south. This paid off with us being able to take really good mahimahi within two weeks of it being set. Live baits are best for these fish but later in the month they will be more aggressive and take anything that swims. This month usually produces consistent northeasterly winds around noon every day. For this reason we fish Black Rock and South Evans Reef a fair bit, using the afternoon breeze to blow us home. These north grounds are very productive in December. Trag are almost a certainty with mulloway mixed in on the same ground. The bonus in the last few years has been the increase in good snapper and pearl perch on these northern reefs. Cobia, mackerel and mahimahi will take your float baits all day up here as well.

When fishing to the south this month you don’t really need to travel far as the reef off One-Man just past Angourie will be as productive as any other. Drift using the prominent north current to push you the length of the reef. Snapper, Venus tuskfish, marble flathead and pearlies can be found on the bottom with all the good bites coming on the floaters. Don’t go anywhere offshore this month without trolling a couple of lures; it may be a slower trip but I had marlin free jumping alongside the boat in October. You’ve got to be in it to win it. In the estuary it should all be happening. We had some nice rain at the end of October – the first for three months and it really

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stirred the fish up. One of my favourite fish is the humble sand whiting. I love these guys. They’re great to catch – although they’re a challenge sometimes – and great on the plate. There have been some good catches already and December is the prime

month for these fish. For those who like a challenge, popping for them is the go. Don’t wait for a calm day, either. Whiting bite best when its windy and popping in the wind is heaps of fun. For the bait fishers among us, it’s hard to go past a live

taking more fish. If flicking plastics isn’t for you, try trolling a pink 50mm shad lure on the edge of the dropoffs as slow as you can go – it’s a dead-set certainty you’ll land a fish. The crabs are here, as you would expect at this time of the year. We have been lucky over the last four years with the quantity and quality of the crabs in the Clarence. There’s never any shortage of good mud crabs here and to some that’s all they want but I prefer the blue swimmer crab. These should be all through the river awn Boflathe a Prsection blower des” “Yam this month. We are still allowed to use dillies or witches’ hats

in NSW and there is no better way to get a feed. You will find you’ll catch a lot more crabs if you set them where the tide is pushing; sure, the dillies will move along but they aren’t called blue swimmers for nothing. The crab will use the tide to move upstream and will drop at the smell of your bait into the dilly. Strict size and bag limits apply, and you can only eat so many anyway. If you’re heading our way over the Christmas holidays and need advice or would like to join me on one of my fishing charters, drop into the shop at Yamba Marina. Drive safe. Tight lines and happy holidays all.

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yabby. Don’t travel too far from the yabby grounds to chase fish; put them on as you pump them and throw them into the dirty water you’re creating with the pump. They will be right at your feet. Flathead should be around in reasonable

numbers at the entrance to Lake Woolawayah, around Joss Island and also upstream around the Broadwater. For those chasing them on plastics, there seems to be a favourite colour every year. This year it has been the motor oil colour and curlytail patterns look like they’re

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DECEMBER 2017

Sussing out the Coffs Coast blurry calendar COFFS HARBOUR

Stephen Worley info@tdsimages.com.au

Amazingly, and with a level of surprise not justified by our previous experience, we find ourselves at the end of another year. Although the calendar follows the same pattern every year, the same cannot be said of the fishing along the Coffs Coast. Every year is different for us. There are a few patterns that we see throughout the year, but they have vague and blurry boundaries. The only solid patterns we see are the artificial fixtures that adorn our fishing calendar – the opening and closing of fishing seasons or the local tournaments and events. According to the fish of the Coffs Coast, the calendar is a lot more

flexible than we make it out to be. Some people don’t like that concept, just as some people chase more rigid weather seasons to reside in. Some people really want a

location that has the solid four seasons – a place where nature responds strictly to a well-defined calendar. I’m not one of those people. I love our climate and location. Admittedly, we do have

The best bass can mostly be found in the far upper sections of our creeks, but there are still some big fish down low like this one caught by Jason O’Brien.

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four seasons – four variations of pleasantly mild and mildly pleasant divided by very blurry lines. You could say we have two defined seasons – the wet season and the slightly less wet season. All of this blurriness crosses

over into the fishing world and this is the part I love. We can be catching snapper and mackerel in the middle of December one year and in the middle of July in another. We have yellowfin tuna and mahimahi around our coastline for most of the year, along with kingfish, samsonfish and amberjack. As the East Australian Current swings in and out from the coast we get this fluctuation in the fishing that can lead to some quite varied fishing throughout each year. Sometimes the jacks and trevally will be firing on all cylinders by mid-spring; other years they’re only just getting into the swing of things as autumn comes around. The big mulloway come and go with large rain events and are less defined by the seasons than in other places. There is never really a time when a schoolie isn’t a distinct possibility from most of our headlands, and there are certainly months throughout the year when they’re a lot more common. This varies every year though. I’m not writing all this

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There have been good trevally in the middle estuary. This one also fell to Barry Hinton on a 5” jerkshad.

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DECEMBER 2017

to try and get myself off the hook in case I mis-predict the coming month. I’m just reminding anglers to embrace the fluid blurriness of our fishing seasons and be ready to target whatever is around. This year the mackerel season looks like it may be off to an earlier start than last year. Judging by the early appearance of mackerel in the areas to our north we should see some early December mackerel around our coast. We may find they come in waves, though, as the current moves in and out from the coastal waters. We have seen plenty of the warmer oceanic species throughout the last couple of months. Yellowfin tuna, mahimahi and the occasional wahoo have cropped up at the islands and inshore reefs when the water temperatures are up and have been more

Barry Hinton scored this flathead on a 5” Berkley Gulp Jerkshad. reliable offshore around the deeper reefs, wave buoy, fish traps and FADs. There have still been good numbers of kingfish and amberjack around the islands. Stickbaits and poppers have been working well on undisturbed fish, but soft plastics, live baits and other subsurface presentations will work better on schools that have already received some angling pressure. There are very good snapper being caught on the medium to deep reefs, and they have been a little quieter on the near-shore marks. The rivers and estuaries have been producing quality mulloway from the break walls right up into the brackish stretches. Mangrove jack and trevally have been active mostly in the middle sections of the estuaries chasing large numbers of glassbait that are working their way up the waterways. Jerk shad plastics and hardbodies are the option to best imitate the glassbait and have been responsible for many of the solid fish captured this season so far. Flathead and school mulloway have been responding well to the same technique. Higher up in the catchments the bass have been very active. There are still bass numbers stretching from

the very lowest freshwater, right up into the skinniest steep water sections. Small to medium bass are dominant in the lower sections with the larger bass far more common in the higher skinny water in each system. Large surface crawlers like the Jackall Pompadour Junior have been most successful in all sections, even in the middle of the day. Small shallow crankbaits along with spinnerbaits have been the go-to option for subsurface offerings. If you want the best chance at some very good bass fishing, it’s worth exerting a bit of effort to get into some of the seldom-fished upper sections of the catchments. The further you can get away, especially as the Coffs Coast fills up with the visitors over the coming months, the more enjoyable your fishing will be. There’s nothing more relaxing than fishing a section where it’s certain you’re not going to be running into any other anglers, and where the river possibly hasn’t seen a lure for months. Whether you end up fishing in the middle of town or way out in the hinterland on an overnight epic, I hope your fishing is as relaxing or exhilarating as you wish.

The most relaxing and exciting form of fishing is when you get away from the crowds and into sections seldom fished by most anglers.

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Anglers getting back into the offshore game COFFS GAME

Glen Booth

There has been quite a lull in game fishing reports for the Coffs Coast, but it really hasn’t been worth hitting the keyboard. Aside from the occasional breakout day, winter is not a great time for bluewater fishing in these parts and you can only write about tackle maintenance so many times! Given the weather, most people just couldn’t be bothered, while closer

to shore and away from the southwesterlies the bottom fishing is excellent during the cooler months. For the brave few who did have a stickybeak out wide during winter, the reports were all pretty discouraging. No bait, no birds and precious little current – it’s great if you’re having a deep drop for blueye but it isn’t much chop for pelagics. Spring often sees a flush of striped marlin inside the shelf, and scattered yellowfin tuna along it. Consequently, it’s a good time to have a bit

of fun on lighter 15 and 24kg gear before the blues move in (hopefully) and the 37s get dusted off. That’s usually the plan. For the Solitary Islands Game Fishing Club, the first three competition days of the season in September and early October were a complete write-off thanks to somewhat challenging offshore conditions. While the fish might’ve been out there, nobody could confirm it. Meanwhile, we watched on as the Gold Coast enjoyed a stellar spring season on Dean Szabo’s blue charges away from the stern of Alcatraz on a picture-perfect day.

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up to another striped, but was less than impressed when the boys teased a second fish up and hooked that too! Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), it fell off. Her fish was turned loose after a spirited fight on 15 and Alcatraz had three for the day – that’s not bad fishing for spring. Game fishing-wise we’re underway at last. Hopefully the momentum continues to build and we have a cracker of a season. After last year’s debacle, the fishing gods certainly owe us one.

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Canyons. Just nearby, Dean Szabo on Alcatraz connected with a wild 150kg blue on 15 that really went to town, but stayed up on top for a successful tag and release. Just inside the canyons was where the real action lay, though. The Alcatraz crew marked a bit of bait in 75 fathoms on the way out in the morning, but it really started stacking up when they returned to it later in the day. Joel Cutting had a striped marlin bowled over in short order, and then it was Fiona McGinty’s turn. Fiona was soon hooked

Expect to see blue marlin numbers begin to ramp up as the season progresses.

blues and even a few stripes. And Fraser Island’s fishing was at a different level altogether! Even Yamba and Ballina were seeing a few marlin. All we could do was read about it, as the wind continued to blow and blow. Then in late October the planets and moons finally aligned and a competition day coincided with light winds, and the marlin were there too — you bewdy! Geeza got the ball rolling and nailed the first marlin of the season for the Coffs Coast – a 100kg blue to Michael Sassons on 24 at the North

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DECEMBER 2017

Pick the safer times to head out NAMBUCCA

Riley Wilson

After a dry start here on the Mid North Coast we have had a slight reprieve with some good rain falling

above the entrance from the ocean and runs along the back of Fosters Beach. There are sand dunes all the way to Scotts Head, then the creek takes a right turn and meanders through the farm land south of

whiting this month along with flathead of all sizes, especially around the lower weed beds and sandy dropoffs. The sand flats around the mouth of Warrell are great spots to pump a few nippers as the tide drops and

The author caught this lovely 90cm+ flathead. through October and into November. Everything has gone green and the fish have moved into their summer patterns. The offshore fishing out from Nambucca Heads can be very productive on the right day but getting to the fishing grounds can be a bit of a challenge and sometimes downright dangerous. The bar at the entrance is like many other river mouths on the Mid North Coast and changes daily with channels and sand moving constantly, which can put inexperienced skippers in a world of danger. Experience won’t always save you, either. Some of the professionals have come unstuck here and we’re lucky to survive. Shelly Beach Boat Ramp is a safer option and far more popular with locals, the problem lately is some sand has built up at the back of Shelly Bay and even this spot has caused some problems. Recently a couple of locals were nearly caught out by waves, almost coming to grief. Those anglers who can make it out can expect good tuskfish and snapper around the 2kg mark, and at the end of this month – just like last year – some of the summer speedsters will show up, like the mini black marlin and the first hints of Spanish mackerel. Back in the creeks we have two main places to explore this month that will be firing up with the warm water. Warrell Creek joins the Nambucca just

Macksville before splitting up into skinny water going up through Allgomera and Eungai. Warrell Creek is a brilliant place to fish for

those big whiting will be pleased you made the effort. As we move past Nambucca to the north we find Valla Beach and west of the highway is a great

little rural part of Valla with productive cattle and macadamia farms – and an even more productive little creek called Deep Creek. I forged my fishing skills in this body of water for years and it holds some amazing surprises. Probably the most documented of these are the southern mangrove jack that reside in this snag-ridden paradise. Plenty of time and effort is involved to figure anything out about these brutes and while I’ve had a hard time with them over the years, I have won a few battles. It’s at this time of year some various types of trevally invade the creek and brighten up a slow day. Casting at these little bullets is addictive and can turn up more than trevally sometimes (there is one of those surprises). Like Nambucca, Valla’s Deep Creek can turn on some hot whiting popping in summer with monster fish up to 40cm coming from the footbridge near the Valla resort. This month we will be getting into the holiday season when Nambucca fills up to capacity and the fish

Luke Ryffel with a bass taken in skinny water on a Rapala hardbody. can become very shy, so using all your superpowers of stealth can become paramount. The usual trick to this is to avoid the crowds. Being up away from the blue, clean ocean water gets you away from

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Great water and pelagics on the way, we hope! SOUTH WEST ROCKS

Mitch Maric

Fishing has been tough for many anglers recently as conditions were regularly changing and fish were hard to predict. The fish were spread out through the river and required more effort than in previous months. Flathead were caught anywhere from Kempsey to the mouth and fished best from Jerseyville to Smithtown, and in Spencers Creek. Whiting were in big numbers and tricky to catch in the clear water with live bait (worms, nippers and prawns) out-fishing lures. We had a great run of mulloway in all sizes from soapies to fish well over 1m. Many came for anglers fishing during the day with lures and focusing on the tide changes, particularly the low. Towards the mouth, 5-15kg fish were on offer on early mornings and after dark. Crabbing was very slow with mostly small, undersized muddies, but there were some good catches of blue swimmers from the lower end of the river.

The author with a big mulloway caught on a SUP! The rock fishing remained fairly consistent and was well worth a look. Drummer, bream and groper kept plenty of anglers busy while the run of big kingfish we had last month kept going. It’s not very often you see genuine 20kg kings at your feet on the rocks, but I observed countless fish this size and larger! We had some great water up to 22°C push in close recently. Cobia were observed swimming close to shore and a few were hooked and lost. Bonito, frigate tuna

O U T D O O R P H

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and trevally were in big numbers and were great fun on light gear. Tailor were hit and miss, as to be expected for this time of year. The beaches had good numbers of whiting, some decent bream and the ever-present dart. Offshore between the rocks and Hat Head the bottom fishing was slow and we had to work hard for our fish. For the first half of the month, the current was roaring south and was unfishable, even on the shallower ground. When the current backed off some nice pearlies, snapper and

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mulloway were caught on the deeper reefs between 50-80m. Further north was a different story and the area from Grassy to Scotts experienced a good run of snapper, pearlies and tuskfish. Anchoring and floating baits behind the boat in 20-30m worked very well when the current was running at medium pace for a better class of reds. Kingfish saved the day again for a lot of anglers and thankfully they were pretty consistent; there were plenty of quality fish caught in all the usual areas. The FAD went back in and it didn’t take long before mahimahi started schooling on it. Cobia made a reasonable showing, which is great to see with a few fish caught. This month we really don’t know what to expect. December marks the start of our summer pelagic season and in previous years has been a great month to target spotted mackerel. It’s also when we see our first run of small black marlin. Longtail tuna numbers will be on the rise. Mahimahi should be in good numbers further off the coast and at the FAD. Cobia will be well worth targeting and we often see some big snapper caught when targeting these fish. Let’s hope the current does the right thing this year and sends the fish our way!

The focus in the river will swing towards whiting on lures, however there should be plenty of mulloway and flathead on offer in the deeper holes as the water warms. At this time of year it’s common for rat kingfish and cobia to come into the river along with schools of bonito. With Christmas fast approaching, no doubt there will be plenty looking to source their own seafood for the festivities and mud crabs will be at the top of the menu. It will be interesting to see what rain events we get after a dry winter and spring. There is always the worry that we get a major flood event, which could postpone a lot of things. The river needs a flush, so I hope we get just the right amount to improve the river

warm water, both inshore and offshore. Visibility was very good with 10-15m common inshore and 20m+ around the islands. The northerly winds pushed in some green water at times, but it cleared relatively quickly. Kingfish were the focus and there were plenty about! Schools were consistently passing close to shore and they were easily accessible from shore. Fish were averaging 12-18kg and there were plenty of bigger fish passing through. I prefer not to take fish over 20kg as they are all breeding females. Fish of 10-15kg are mostly males and far better eating at that size. Some cobia were taken at Green Island towards the end of October and there were a few reports of Spanish sighted,

The author’s better half with a healthy bass on a surface lure. fishing and not detract from what will happen offshore. The bass certainly do need some more water to help them move upriver. December is a great time to target these fish with surface lures. I can almost hear the deafening roar of cicadas already! SPEARFISHING October gave us some really clear and relatively

which wouldn’t surprise me as rainbow runner and other tropical species were around at that time. Good numbers of jacks and mulloway were in the river and the clear water meant 5-10m visibility on high tide, which is hard to come by. December has a lot to offer, I’m really looking forward to seeing that water temperature rise!

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Plenty of bait brings on the big summer bites been a few that have been caught in close. Fishing a combination of plastics, jigs and fresh bait is the best way to find what’s firing them up on the day. Then simply switch to what works. Big kingfish have been around the headlands at times and Fish Rock has been holding some cracking big fish amongst the droves of rats that call this place home thoughout summer. Using bigger jigs can help single out the bigger fish, as the small fish can drive you crazy at times. School mulloway are being found around the

SOUTH WEST ROCKS

Brent Kirk kempsey@compleatangler.com.au

As we move into the warmer months the bass fishing on the upper Macleay really begins to fire. The surface bite is well and truly underway now and the numbers and sizes of fish have been awesome. The river received a bit of a flush about a month ago and the pools had a good amount of water in them recently. Larger cicada imitations and walkthe-dog style lures as well as all the old favourites are working a treat right now when worked over the weed beds where these fish are gorging themselves on shrimp. Skipping soft plastics right in under overhanging branches is another good way to tempt the more wary fish into a strike, especially during the day. Longer days mean that there is still plenty of time to fish after work, so there isn’t really any excuse not to grab a kayak or canoe and

headlands in reasonable numbers along with a few bream and even the odd drummer. The beaches have also had a reasonable run of mulloway. Fishing into the dark is the best option, especially if you can combine this time of day with a tide change. Fresh strip baits and beach worms should be enough to do the job, especially on the school-sized fish. Whiting numbers are increasing now along the beaches and will only get better as we progress further into summer.

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curl-tail ones that mimic the baitfish present in the river system. Offshore there is plenty of bait around at the moment like striped tuna, bonito and slimy mackerel. The word from as far north as Coffs Harbour is that there have already been a few Spanish mackerel caught, so here’s hoping for an early run of these fish. A few black marlin would be nice. A few cobia showed up around Hat Head toward the end of October and should still be around. Snapper numbers have been pretty good; most of these fish are coming out of the 50-60m zones from Scotts Head right through to Point Plommer, however there have

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DECEMBER 2017

Get ready for hot summer action THE HASTINGS

Mark Saxon castawayestuarycharters@bigpond.com

This month Port Macquarie will see an influx of holidaymakers and a lot of these will be keen to use the excellent waterways around our region. It’s looking like it will be an exceptional time to wet a line! WHERE TO TAKE THE KIDS A lot of families will want to combine a day on the water with a little

fishing with the kids and there are a few places where you can have a good time and catch a few. Blackmans Point on the Hastings River is a great spot at low tide to take the young ones and pump some nippers. It’s a sandy point and as the tide starts coming in, whiting, bream and flathead can all be caught here. Pelican Island at the Settlement Point Road end is another great spot for the family with BBQ facilities a nice shallow swimming spot and a sand bank for casting out for flatties and bream.

Lake Cathie south of Port Mac is a very popular summer destination and for a very good reason. It’s a shallow lake that produces great whiting and our local hotspot for prawning, so grab a torch and dip net and get the kids into this fun activity. Then they can use the live prawns for bait. For kayak fishos Lake Cathie will be a number one spot to try with whiting, bream and flatties

throughout the system. If you’re new to the area call into Ned Kellys Bait and tackle and the staff will point you in the right direction. HASTINGS RIVER The river fishes well over the holiday period with all the usual species on offer. Flathead, bream and whiting will be the mainstay of river fishing this month. With prawn activity around the weed

For those who persist, school mulloway will be present upriver this month. Toby caught this one on a Flash J. beds it shouldn’t be difficult to catch a few. I prefer to cast soft plastics such as prawn

imitations for obvious reasons. If you cast them near the edges of the weed it won’t take long to find

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Josiah enjoying his first soft plastic-caught flathead.

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some. Whiting can be caught in various ways and one of those will be casting surface lures. Try spots around Pelican Island, Blackmans Point and also in Limeburners Creek. These same areas can be fished with nippers and

beachworms for excellent results on the whiting. Bream fishing at this time of year can be great sport, as they also will readily hit a surface lure. Prawn imitations and cicada imitations are the go-to lures. Hardbodied

diving lures are also a great option and by slow rolling these you can pick up bream as well as some nice flatties. Bream can be caught from down the front of the river and up into Wauchope on the Hastings, Telegraph

Lachlan and Brendan with some great flatties from a father and son fishing day.

Point and in the Wilson and Maria rivers. These spots become a lot of fun as you cast into the bankside structure for your fish. Crabbing will be a big attraction. Mud crabs are always a favourite and, provided your trap does not get tampered with, a feed is a big possibility. I use the frames of any fish we catch so there’s no waste. Summer beach fishing can be very rewarding. Here’s a couple of tips: attempt to beat the crowds by going early in the morning or later in the evening, use fresh bait and the number one bait in summer is the reliable beach worm. Fishos who know how can gather their own, otherwise the local tackle stores will have some to purchase. Beach worms will catch you whiting, bream and mulloway from our local beaches. Lighthouse, North and Dunbogan will all give anglers outstanding opportunities to catch some fish. I prefer the run-up tide, but don’t discount the low if you see some holes at your chosen location. Above all this holiday season, have a very safe and enjoyable holiday period with your family and stay calm on the roads and at the boat ramps.

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Anglers on the lookout for the tastiest catch FORSTER

David Seaman dseamo@bigpond.com

What I love about December and the lead up to Christmas is the amount of seafood available on the Mid North Coast. If you’re willing to put in a little bit of effort, your Christmas lunch can be taken to another level. There is nothing better than sitting down to fresh prawns, chilli mud crab, steamed blue swimmer and flathead tails done the way you like.

We have had enough rain and weather events, including hail in some parts, to stir things up a bit and get the crabs moving. Blue swimmers are the first crabs to make a good showing and there are some big males amongst them. As a rule I release the females regardless of whether they are carrying berry (eggs) or not. It’s a way of supporting the sustainability of the stock in the system. The claws are bigger on the males, plus their overall size is generally larger and they can be identified by the brighter colours and the

narrow tail tucked up on the underside of their body. The females have a wide tail, to carry large amounts of eggs, and are a dull shade of their male counterparts. Remember, there is a limit of two crab pots per person and entanglement traps like witches’ hats are discouraged due to their threat to fish, turtles and birds like cormorants. I generally set two pots and then my limit of hoop nets, which I tend to over a couple of hours if I’m crabbing. If I’m out for a fish, I’ll set two crab pots, marked as required by Fisheries, and check them at the end of my day. It’s an effortless way to come home with a decent feed of crab and fish. At this time of year I like to set pots in areas that have

there, the best window of opportunity this month is from 16-20 December – two days either side of the new moon. Expect a late night or early morning with an expected run-out start from around 10:30pm on the Saturday and, obviously, even later nights the subsequent days. One of the most popular spots to prawn in the lake system is the restricted Breckinridge Channel along Little Street. The channel is littered with lights and dipping nets on most reasonable evenings. I find the best nights are those with a very slight breeze and a bit of cloud cover. Anywhere you have a directional current – a constant flow of water like a stream – is worth a look on a prawning night. I prefer

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There should be plenty of plate-size flathead around the lease edges and channel drop-offs before Christmas.

some tidal flow but out of channels and passages. Areas that are around 3-4m deep with a drop-off or grade to flat bottom. Spots like the mouth of the Wallamba River, outside Bandicoot Island and south of The Step, where vast weed beds hide the crabs, are some of the locations I use. Some days you can lift your limit in one pot, often with a bonus muddy tucked inside. For the prawners out

finding a shallow channel away from the building and traffic lights, but the shallow sides of the bridge also work well. With a seafood platter half made of crabs and prawns, it’s time to get into the flathead that are gathering to spawn. The target size for my table fish is in the 45-50cm range, ensuring they are mostly males. If you luck out and snag (or target) a big female, remember to

take some pics and let her go to breed. Plenty of flathead and whiting are on offer in the lower part of the lake like last month. Their numbers have increased and wellplaced lures and baits are the go before the holiday chaos of all-things-flotilla makes them a little lure-shy. If you want a feed during the crazy holiday season, go early or late and avoid the masses. Or go further afield from the lower lake and entrance area. Bream continue their assault and advance up the rivers and there have been good numbers caught from the leases. Surface fishing is the best fun you’ll have

throwing away expensive lures and it’s often worth it. The flats have been fishing okay around Snake and Booti Islands and it is certainly a place I’d consider if you want to escape the slalom navigation of the boats anchored in the channels. The kings that provided so much fun and heartbreak for anglers along the breakwalls have thinned out and I’ve had no reports to date of mulloway being caught. I’ll track down some information on offshore fishing for the coming school holiday period and the next issue. Until then, have a happy, safe and enjoyable Christmas.

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Although there have been some nice rainfalls on the coastal fringe, the upriver parts of the Manning have received very little rain. The Manning is very low and not flowing at present. It is full of weed and slime and fishing is difficult with very few returns. A fall of 150-200mm of rain is needed in the headwaters of the Manning to clean out the slime and weeds and make the river fit to fish. The fact that the freshwater part of the Manning isn’t running has allowed the salt water to push right up to the falls, bringing with it bream and flathead to feed on the prawns and shrimp in the upper reaches of the river. ESTUARY The estuary has fished quite well over the past month. Mulloway were on the bite from the wall and further upstream at Chinamans Point and near the buoy at Croki. Fish to 10kg were plentiful from the wall on soft plastics and some bigger specimens of 23 and 28kg were caught on live baits at night time. Bream have continued to bite well

on baits and lures right up to Wingham and flathead are becoming more numerous in the lower part of the estuary. Soft plastics are producing the best bags of fish. The kingfish aren’t coming into the estuary as frequently as they did three weeks ago and several days may pass before anglers see them moving along the wall. Luderick fishers have been scoring well with weed during the day and live yabbies at night with fish to 800g. Whiting were scarce for most of last month and we will have to wait a while for them to come back on the bite. BEACH AND ROCK December is the time when chopper tailor show up in the Manning area. We either have tailor around all year or we have a break from the end of July to the middle of December. There have been no tailor around since the end of July, so they will be here come Christmas, hence they’re called ‘Christmas choppers.’ These fish will be on the beaches, around the headlands and in the estuary. The mulloway will come looking for them. Some good bream have been moving up Crowdy Beach and are currently located above

Second Creek. Worms and pipis are the baits to use. OFFSHORE Snapper have been the main species that the boats have been catching. The north and south grounds have both produced fish, but most boats go north to get away from the southerly winds. Pearl perch, trag and flathead make up the rest of the catches. The weather has been too unpredictable for boats to venture out wide, so there have been no ooglies from the deep water. Surface fish have been noticeable by their absence. There is no doubt that December is great for all the people who holiday at Harrington over the festive season. The big female flathead will be schooling up on the sand flats in the mouth of the river. They are easy to catch on a bobby cork rig with live bait. Thankfully quite a lot of those caught are returned to the water and those who keep them get a rowdy reception from the locals. Luderick will be on the bite in the estuary and chopper tailor can be caught from the wall at the mouth of the river, the beach and the rocks. Of course, with all the bait around the mulloway turn up to take their share.

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Crack down on traffickers NSW DPI Director Fisheries Compliance, Patrick Tully said five men have been given prison sentences and fined tens of thousands of dollars in a crackdown on the illicit trade of the seafood delicacy. The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) seized more than 5700 illegally harvested abalone in the 2016-17 financial year. “Earlier this year, a 59 year old Sydney restaurateur was convicted in Bankstown Local Court of trafficking in an indictable species of fish and possessing prohibitedsize abalone. The joint operation, codenamed ‘Symmetry’, between DPI Fisheries and NSW Police saw 3300 abalone seized,” Mr Tully said. “The man was incarcerated and sentenced to two years imprisonment with $32,000 in fines and penalties. The man appealed the sentence, which was converted to a two-year intensive corrections order. The case of a second man involved in the matter is still before the Court. “In November last year another Sydney man was

convicted for trafficking in abalone and sentenced to 12 months suspended gaol sentence after being found with 575 abalone, of which 166 were a prohibited size. He was convicted and received over $8000 in fines and penalties and a good behaviour bond for three years. The man was also ordered to forfeit his vehicle.” Two men from the south coast recently appeared in court as a result of another operation with police. “The pair pleaded not guilty to charges including trafficking, shucking and possessing prohibited-size fish, after being found in joint possession of 266 abalone,” Mr Tully said. “The men faced Bega Local Court in September and October and were convicted of trafficking, possessing prohibited-size fish and shucking abalone. Both were sentenced to 12 months imprisonment (suspended) and each received $4000 in fines.” Another man faced Batemans Bay Local Court in September charged with possessing 132 abalone, of which 14 were a prohibited size. The man defended the

charges but was convicted and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment (suspended) and fined $5000. An order was also made prohibiting the man from: diving; possessing dive gear on or adjacent to waters; possessing abalone; and boarding a vessel less than 10m in length for a period of three years. “Abalone stocks are strictly managed to sustain recreational, cultural and commercial fishery needs. Illegal fishing risks sustainability of the resource and presents serious food safety issues. People found fishing or dealing in abalone outside of approved arrangements will be treated as illegal fishers and can expect severe consequences,” Mr Tully said. Anyone with information on suspected illegal fishing activity is urged to contact their local Fisheries office, call the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536 or report illegal fishing activities online at www. dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/ compliance/report-illegalactivity. – NSW DPI DECEMBER 2017

Prawn run bonanza week dams isn’t good yet, but we’re seeing great catches on chatterbaits and football jigs at St Clair and Glenbawn. earlybird13@optusnet.com.au The bass are a bit smaller Filling in for regular than they were, but there reporter Gary Earl are are lots of them. Some big Steve Whiteley from yellowbelly and silver perch Freddy’s Fishing World in have been caught as well. Rutherford and Jason Nunn Outside there’s a lot of at Fishermans Warehouse small snapper around taking Tackle World in Marks Point. 5” plastics, along with the The Hunter River is usual pillies and mullet producing great catches of strips. It’s a bit quieter out flathead over the shallow wide, with not many marlin flats on the run-out tide. tagged, but when those The best lure is by far and warmer currents push in it away the 70mm Samaki will be on for young and old. Vibelicious. For all your tackle There are plenty of and outdoor needs drop school mulloway getting into Freddy’s Outdoors in caught in the river at the Rutherford at Unit 16/343 moment as well, with a New England Hwy, give few good-size specimens them a call on (02) 4932 mixed in. Anglers using 7441 or visit www.freddys. Vibelicious 70s and 100s com.au – Steve Whiteley have been picking them We’re about to see the up good catches along the start of the week-long prawn deeper rock walls, and run out of Lake Macquarie livebaiting in the harbour is after the full moon, and also productive. this bonanza will repeat It’s the same story in itself in December. During Lake Macquarie, with lots the prawn runs there are of big flathead and good increased numbers of bream, size schoolies. flathead and whiting in the In the river the bass channel, and hopefully we’ll and EPs are firing, taking see a return of some of the spinnerbaits, hardbodies, lake squid. Many predatory plastics and surface lures. species are lean after the Bonanza Advert - Final.pdf 5/10/2017 The surface fishing in Oct the 2017 cooler months,1 and the HUNTER COAST

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prawn runs give them that chance to feed up. It’s also great to pick up a couple of kilos of prawns for yourself, because at the moment there’s a commercial shortage which is driving prices up. All you need is a torch and a prawn net. While the run is happening the best bait is obviously live prawns, but worms are working very well also. Bloodworm supplies are cut thanks to whitespot, but the locally farmed tubeworms seem to be just as good. Lure anglers are getting great results on bream and flathead using Vibelicious 70s, which are also picking up a few small snapper in Lake Macquarie. Vibelicious 100s are picking up school mulloway, both in the lake and in Newcastle Harbour. Both the Forktail and Thumpertail Vibelicious are doing well, although I have a mate who only fishes Thumpertails for mulloway because of how well they work with a slow retrieve. His results speak for themselves. Anglers flicking plastics are picking up mulloway on 5 and 7” Gulp Jerkshads, 6:15 pm with and Squidgy along

Fish and Wrigglers in black/ gold. Bream and flatties are taking jerkshads, small prawn imitations like the 2” Gulp Shrimp, and grubs such as the 3” Pro Pure Grub Tail. Offshore has been fairly quiet, aside from an early run of bonito and a few tailor (including one greenback caught recently that went 64cm). The early arrival of bonito bodes well for the season ahead. They’re sprinkled along the coast, with a lot up at Port Stephens, and good spots include around Noon Island and down towards Catherine Hill Bay. We’re slowly starting to get more marlin reports out wide. In past years we used to chase stripes in February and March, but nowadays if you wait that long the current can be too strong and the water too hot. Now might be a good opportunity to chase them before things get too hot. A shortbilled spearfish was caught recently, which is a sign that the water is already starting to heat up. We can expect more mulloway and trag to be caught offshore next month, and overall so December could be a very

The prawn run will attract increased numbers of bream. interesting month for the offshore angler. For the latest expert advice on what’s biting and where, drop into Fisherman’s

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Avoiding the Christmas crowds for great fishing and the odd kingfish are getting around and can be spun up from most of the major points and headlands. Squid should also be readily available from any of the protected bays that have kelpy bottoms. Size no. 3 squid jigs are my pick for chasing them off the rocks with colour depending on water clarity. For super clear water I like to use very natural baitfish patterns, and when it’s a bit more stirred up I use brighter greens, oranges and pinks. OFFSHORE Kingfish have been active around the shallow reefs off Fingal, Little and Broughton

PORT STEPHENS

Paul Lennon

It’s summer time and there aren’t many better places to be than Port Stephens. The fishing is great and the next few weeks will be a good opportunity to take full advantage of it before the Christmas holiday crowds move in. After that the fishing is still great but it’s best to fish super-early morning sessions before there is too much activity on the water. ESTUARY In the estuary there will be plenty of mulloway cruising around the deeper regions with the best depths to fish being between 20-30m. It can be hard to successfully fish lures in the deeper parts of the bay, which is why a live bait or fresh squid is the preferred option.

Island with the odd cracker to 20kg being taken. Charter boats have also reported plenty of trag on the Gibber Vee and 21 reefs. If the last couple of years are anything to go on then we should have an early season shelf bite on striped marlin this month. In the last two years numbers of fish showed up in December only to get quickly washed away with the current. These fish now seem to end up down south with places like Bermagui experiencing our typical striped marlin bite. Hopefully this year they stick around!

The author with another Port Stephens lizard. The hot days and warming water temperatures have switched the whiting on with surface lures proving deadly over the shallow flats. The best

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A quality mulloway from the oftenoverlooked Nelson Bay rockwall.

Mark Stewart with a quality Port Stephens flathead. The breakwalls and the Corlette wreck are also mulloway magnets at this time of year and are much better suited for lure casting anglers. Larger soft vibes or big paddle-tail plastics are the lure of choice for most mulloway fishos, especially around the last hour of the run-out tide.

areas to target them on surface lures will be over any of the flats in the back of the bay between Soliders Point and Karuah. Shoal Bay, Jimmys Beach and Little Beach will also hold quality sand whiting. These areas are best fished with live tube worms and light leaders

should be some good ones poking around Nelson Bay, Dutchies, Corlette and Jimmys beaches. Walking any of these beaches early on in the morning casting a soft plastic or hardbodied lure should get good results. BEACHES The ocean beaches will be fishing well this month. Whiting will be chewing on just about every beach between Stockton to Hawks Nest. The biggest trick to catching them is to use live worms and fish the gutters around the high tides. The odd quality bream will also be getting amongst the surf gutters and will be a welcome by-catch for those chasing whiting. A beach mulloway should be on your target list this month, and the best areas to hit them are Hawks Nest, Stockton, Samurai and One Mile.

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Busy on the water deal with it. It’s just a matter of getting up and out there as early as you can or leaving it until late in the day when the holidaymakers have come off the water. To be honest, it’s not a big problem – during the height of summer it is far more comfortable fishing early or late anyway, and the fish aren’t afraid of the dark. The lake has really been fishing well now that the waters are warming up. I guess the biggest surprise I have found is the number of quality reds (snapper) being caught at the moment. Lake

SWANSEA

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I probably say this every year, but December is not exactly my favourite month for fishing here on Lake Macquarie. That’s not because of the lack of fish on offer, that’s for sure, as there are plenty of great fishing options available this month. It’s just the crowds. I hate crowds and I hate crowds in my fishing spots. However, it is what it is and anglers just have to

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Mac regular Rod Austin has been scoring some absolute crackers and lost some even bigger ones. Mulloway continue to be about in good numbers and many anglers are finding these slabs of silver with good fish to the 1m mark being landed. While live baits are accounting for a few of the fish, the soft plastic brigade is winning the battle at the moment with good numbers falling to plastics. White, silver and blue plastics in the 4-6” range are producing. You will also find good numbers of flathead as by-catch while chasing mulloway, so there are plenty out there to keep you entertained in between mulloway bites. Bream are really starting to fire on the flats again

Rod Austin with one of many great fish he has caught recently. This mulloway is one of a number for Rod. until you find the bite. We are lucky here with plenty of marlin landed inside 60 fathoms each year and this is well within reach of a seaworthy trailer boat on the right day. The other good thing

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Rod Austin with a cracker flathead by-catch while fishing for mulloway. It was tagged and released.

now. This is an awesome way to spend an afternoon out on the lake. Find a nice set of flats or a nice bank to work away from the crowds and work those hardbody lures. I have been doing far better on natural colours lately and the bream aren’t shy; several will attack your lures at a time, which makes for some exciting fishing. Although not in big numbers, there are still quite a few salmon about with local gun angler Mick Pavlic nailing them regularly. He is finding good numbers of 15 Wallarah Street Watkins Road bonito out there as well. 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about a season with a hot inshore marlin bite is the fuel saving that crews get to enjoy. Fishing and scoring marlin only a few kilometres offshore is a lot better on the wallet than punching out over the Continental Shelf, that’s for sure. Another great fish on many game anglers’ minds at the moment is the tiger shark. Many crews will spend the summer trying their luck at scoring a big tiger shark and each year we see them weighed up over 400kg, which is a truly impressive catch. Shark fishing is not for everyone but the dedication and the effort that the shark crews put into their sport is unbelievable and those anglers really deserve their catches. For the offshore angler wanting a feed over summer there is good news. The great-eating mahimahi are on offer and every year we see loads of these fish in our waters. Some years Fisheries’ FADS fish better than other years but when they fire and the fish are a reasonable size it can make for some great action and a full esky of quality eating fish. Remember even if the fish aren’t huge and just a

little over legal, just swap down to the light gear and make the most of some fantastic light tackle sport fishing. You won’t be sorry. It’s that time of year again and the big man in the red suit isn’t far off now. I certainly hope that all our readers have had a fantastic 2017 both on the water and, more importantly, off the water. We certainly all love our fishing, but our family, friends, loved ones and their health and happiness are the most important things, so I hope all has been well on that front for the past year. To top it off I hope you have all found some great fishing along the way. It’s funny, some years ago I would have just said nothing is more important than fishing, and don’t get me wrong, it means

a truckload to me still. I think as we get older we realise that a few other things are a touch more important, and the fishing isn’t far behind. On a personal note, it has been a massive year for me with my Colorato Lures business kicking into another gear, which has been great. While my fishing has suffered a little, I have a few things in order now so 2018 should see a few more days on the water with the family, and hopefully filling the live wells of the Stratos. Again I’d like to say a big thankyou to all our readers for the support over the past year. I’d like to wish you all a safe and happy holidays and I look forward to being back on these pages again next year.

Ange Watson with her first blackfish caught at Narrabeen Lake, Sydney on green weed. The key was enticing the fish by providing consistent berley and fishing the change of tide.

Busting the big fish in December ERINA

Aaron Donaldson

Finally we received some decent rain and the fishing results have improved almost immediately. Brisbane Waters has started to roll into its usual summer phase, and the fishing has been exceptional. Mulloway have come on the chew and local anglers have been quick to capitalise. Local anglers Matthew Forrest and Daniel Currie have been scoring great silver slabs lately. The boys certainly put the time in, but there is no reward without effort and this definitely applies to the mighty mulloway. The main tips for hopeful anglers is to concentrate efforts around tide changes and make sure lures are in the zone, which is within 2m of the bottom during the day. Heavier lures are required to get down to fish lying in deep holes. Soft plastics with heads in the 1/4-1/2oz range and lures like the Samaki Vibelicious in the 100mm size are deadly. Night fishing is a different story with the fish often pushing

bait to the surface; in this instance hardbodys and lighter weighted plastics will give you a more natural presentation. Bream have moved up into the shallower water as the water temperature has climbed over 20°C. It’s like a trigger and fish start to look up for a prawn to smash, so surface walker lures can give you some heart-stopping action

this month. Brisbane Waters, Tuggerah Lakes and Lake Macquarie all produce the goods in this regard. The lures that work well are the Sakus, Atomic K9s and the holy Bassday SugaPen. Just throw them in some nice shallow areas and it doesn’t take long to draw some interest. If you’re after a feed, be sure to throw a few crab lines out; blue swimmers are on in

A great school mulloway from Brisbane Waters taken on a Samaki Vibelicious.

a big way. Mullet has been the gun bait, as it has plenty of scent and oil to attract the crabs. Rock fishing has been a bit quiet so far with no bonito showing up yet... although I have heard of a couple of big kingfish hooked off Avoca recently. Most rock fishers have been targeting the huge amounts of luderick that seem to spawn at this time of year but it won’t be long until we see the arrival of the summer pelagics like mac tuna, frigate mackerel (leadies) and our old favourite, the bonito. Beaches have been fishing well for some early tailor. While the size hasn’t been great, they’re still big enough for a feed. Most have been hooked just on dark using the old faithful ganged hook and pilchard rig. It’s not a bad way to go as you can hook just about anything using this technique. Offshore has been up and down lately depending on the current, or lack thereof. The kingfish in particular seem to like a little bit of current. They have been starting to appear on the inshore grounds mostly; my tip this month for a giant king is to fish a live yellowtail or ‘yakka’ in

A big flathead is never a bad by-catch! about 30m of water and wait until just on dark. I’m not certain why but a lot of the biggest fish seem to hook up right on dark. Maybe it’s because the larger, more cautious fish can’t see the line as well? If you hook up, look out! It’s all going to happen real quick. Either you will have a beast flapping in the boat or you’ll be staring at the end of your snapped braid wondering what just happened! The game fishing season

is shaping up to be a good one. The East Australian Current is already pushing down at 3-4 knots with some great-looking cobalt water in it. There have been tonnes of sauries jumping around and some nice blue and striped marlin have been taken already. In fact, on our last outing some young guys had landed a 202kg blue, which was weighed at the LMGFC. All the best with your fishing this month and I hope to see you all out there!

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Understanding the importance of rod angles NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

Understanding the effects of varying rod angles while playing and landing fish can shorten fight times and greatly reduce the incidence of broken lines, pulled hooks and even busted rods! “Keep ya rod up!” Most of us had the instruction rammed home whenever we

hooked a fish by whoever it was that mentored us in the sport – be it a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or friend. Maintaining a reasonably high rod angle while fighting a fish isn’t a bad general rule of thumb, as it takes advantage of the shock-absorbing flex of the rod itself to reduce stress and strain on fish lips, hooks, lines and leaders. But there’s a bit more to it than that…

The author applies a little high stick to help beach a hooked trout. High rod angles can provide a cushioning effect when using fine lines and small hooks.

Don’t be afraid to bury your rod in the water to steer a fish off a snag or clear line from the boat’s hull or motor. Think of your rod as an extension of your arms.

It’s a really enlightening experience to hold the end of a fishing line (or even better, attach it to a set of weighing scales) and have someone pull on the rod using various angles while you monitor the force effectively exerted where the hook would be (probably best if you don’t have a hook or lure attached, as you could end up with it buried in your hand!) What you’ll quickly discover is that the higher the rod tip is held, the less force is applied at the business end of the line. Conversely, lower rod angles allow much more ‘pull’ to be generated out

where the hook would be. These are important things to know when it comes to setting hooks, fighting fish and (hopefully) landing them.

much more force on the fish and can dramatically shorten fight times. Low rod angles can also discourage acrobatic fish like barra, Australian salmon and trout

using ultra-light gear or tiny hooks (as is often the case in some forms of flyfishing, for example). The other time when a high rod angle is almost mandatory is when you need to keep as much line out of the water as possible to avoid it being dragged across rocks or other obstacles, and also when attempting to wash your catch up onto a beach or rock ledge. Where high angles can become extremely counterproductive (even resulting in broken rods) is when the angler “high sticks” a strong fish that’s close to the boat or bank. This can create a really dangerous bend in the rod, potentially resulting in blank failure. Such breakages usually occur in the top third of the rod. Have a good, hard think about rod angles and carefully study the way you and other anglers apply the lever characteristics of the rod when fighting and

The high rod angle demonstrated here, while still reasonably safe, is fast approaching a critical point. If the hooked fish were to suddenly dive under the boat, a rod breakage would be a definite possibility.

Low rod angles can discourage fish from jumping… sometimes!

In protracted fights with big, powerful opponents, lower rod angles and tricks like applying side strain (by angling the rod out to one side of your body or the other) can be really useful. Such angles exert

from jumping, thus reducing the number of thrown hooks. Conversely, high rod angles reduce shocks and jarring impacts on the line, leader, hook and fish’s mouth. This can be critical in staying connected when

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Making the most of shorter night sessions ILLAWARRA

Greg Clarke clarkey1@westnet.com.au

The sun stays up late in the evenings and comes up early in the morning, so there isn’t a lot of darkness to play with; that’s why most of the mulloway anglers are looking pretty tired at this time of the year. The big mulloway will be around the beaches during the hours of darkness this month on the big tides, so to be in with a chance you may have to pull an all-nighter. Fish to 25kg and better are on the prowl mixed in with a good spread of smaller fish as well, so the rewards are there for the persistent. Schoolies will be quite common and every so often when you lean back to set the hook, it won’t move; it’s just a dead weight before it tears off looking for open water. That’s when you know the hours put in have been worth it. Most beaches will be worth a go; the deeper holes and gutters close in are the spots to look for during the day so you can venture back just on dark to wet a line. It’s always a good idea to scope out a few holes on different beaches, as you may not be the only one looking for that good spot. If you’re a little late and it’s taken then you will need a plan B. As always fresh bait is the best and it doesn’t really matter what it is. Squid, tailor, luderick, mackerel and yellowtail (all less than 24

There are kings about if you put in the time. hours old) produce the best results. There is always the exception that takes a bit of frozen or salted pilly when someone gets lucky. Make sure you take enough as on some nights the pickers can be ferocious with bream, tailor, salmon, rays and sharks all there to make a mess of your meticulously prepared presentation. Sometimes a spare rod comes in handy to pluck out a nice tailor to be sent back out alive. Pickers don’t seem to worry them. If you don’t want to stay out in pursuit of the big ones then the pickers are worth targeting as good numbers of bream, tailor and salmon are getting along most beaches during the evenings and early mornings and the

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daylight hours have plenty of whiting and flathead. A leisurely stroll along any beach flicking plastics can throw up a few flatties and the chance of a school mulloway or a salmon. Coniston Beach down around the golf course to the breakwall, Bombo, Windang and Stanwell Park are all worth a look. On the rocks things are hotting up with more bonito starting to show on the deeper ledges. Towards the end of the month and next month bring out the big guns, as there is every chance of a marlin off the ledges around Kiama. Frigate mackerel won’t be too far away – try an early morning spin with small lures for a frigate then put it out alive. It will get picked up if there is a billy passing by, if a big king doesn’t smash it first, and if it does last then a shark will probably pick it up. Frigates just don’t last long when you put them out live. Small bonito aren’t far behind. If the frigates are scarce then slimy mackerel and yellowtail (the bigger, the better) are the backup baits. They can be caught in the harbour and taken to your preferred ledge. The stones down around Jervis Bay will be packed so the local ledges are always a viable option at this time of year. If you just want a feed, a bit of bread berley will produce some nice bream and trevally with a few drummer as well in most of the washes with a bit of deeper water close by. Local prawns are great bait; don’t use anything imported from the fish shop, as we don’t want viruses and disease getting into our waters. Or you could scoop your own from the lake. Live prawns fished in the washes with just a small split shot to look natural are deadly on just about all species. If you want a bit of quiet angling then there are luderick in all the harbours in

the early mornings before the sun gets up too high, you just need to find some good weed for bait and berley. As for the lake, there are a few prawns about on dark for the scoopers and draggers to get a feed and some nice, fresh bait. Because of this the flathead are on the boil in every part with a bit of sand or mud, even up in the tributaries. Live poddies, live prawns and, of course, plastics should get you as many as you want. The downside is there will be a lot of boats chasing them, particularly on the weekends in the main channel and around the drop-off into the lake. Enjoy it while you can, as it will be even more hectic next month. The best plastics are the prawn imitations as usual and just about anything else will get a few as well. Whiting are on the sand flats all around the lake. Worms are the best bait and small live prawns are a good alterative. Poppers will get

northeasterlies and have a bit of fun. Macquarie Rivulet and Mullet Creek are good starting spots. Blue swimmers have been popular judging by the amount of floats in the water marking the traps. Just like last year, it’s impossible to travel in a straight line without collecting one, so keep a good watch and keep zig zagging so you don’t have to untangle the ropes from your prop. Minnamurra has much the same with flatties all along its length, luderick and mullet along the edges of the weed beds on the falling tides and some nice whiting on the sand banks, particularly down near the entrance. Pump a few nippers in the shallows for a

A few small yellowfin are about out wide mixing with the striped tuna. top bait. The bridge pylons have some nice bream during the evenings after the little bait stealing ones get tucked up in bed. Offshore things are hotting up (literally) with the warm currents pushing

Great tailor are getting about, particularly during the evenings. a few but you will have to be early to beat the boat traffic; it puts them off pretty quickly unless you can find a quiet spot all to yourself. Chopper tailor are pretty thick in the lake proper. They make a mess of your plastics but they’re good fun to keep the kids amused. Mullet and garfish are about as well, particularly in the feeder streams where you can get out of the windy

late January and they come in close. For the moment the bigger ones are out on the shelf and are usually by-catch for those dragging skirts for marlin, unless you’re lucky enough to find some large floating object, then anything can happen. Striped marlin have been around for a while now and are worth targeting and a few blacks should start to show from now on, getting better as we get deeper into summer. Blue marlin tend to show in December as well. A few small yellowfin are still hanging about and even the odd albacore is around, but they won’t last much longer. Closer inshore there will be some nasty temperature changes with the water

down the coast bringing the northern speedsters with them. This action won’t hit its peak for a little while yet but looking ahead there is a lot to like. There have already been some good mahimahi moving down in front of the warm water. The bigger fish tend to show early then the hordes of smaller fish come when the main body of hot water pushes down in

warm one day and freezing the next, so it can be a bit hit and miss. A few kings are still in the usual spots around the islands, Rangoon and the deeper reefs taking down rigged live baits and jigs. Bonito and salmon are starting to show in better numbers and a few striped tuna have popped up chasing baitfish closer to the coast. Trevally are moving along under the schools on the surface with small plastics scoring some nice fish. You can anchor over the shallow reefs and berley for trevally and a few reds with most of the better reds out in deeper water of 30m+, so bait and berley is limited to the days when the current has slowed down. Otherwise drifting plastics is the way to go. Drifting for flathead has paid well with plenty of nice fish over the sand patches at the moment, as the barracouta have backed off a bit. The jackets are moving in to make things tough but not too tough yet. The reefs have pigfish, good mowies, a few samsonfish and decent numbers of small snapper, particularly up around the northern reefs. Good luck and have a great Christmas.

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It’s time for friends, family and fab fishing NOWRA

Johnny Nolan straydog1974@gmail.com

It’s December again and the start of summer – how quick it comes around! It’s the time of year for family, friends, feasting and – of course – fishing!

prominent sportfish in our area and an exciting fish to catch. When I think of fishing in summer around the Shoalhaven, this is the first thing that comes into my mind. There is nothing better on a muggy stormy afternoon than flicking your favourite bass lure across a pool that you know fish inhabit,

If you’re planning a trip down from the dam wall, pack light and expect to do some dragging with the low water flow. If you’re planning on fishing the brackish sections of the river, fishing early or late is a good option as this time of the year attracts quite a bit of boat traffic to this area. SHOALHAVEN RIVER FLATHEAD AND LUDERICK It’s been a bumper start to the flathead season in the river and they are pushing way upstream and are being caught around the top of the tidal flow. Soft plastics around the 70-100mm mark will catch you flatties every day of the week in the river and some good ones at that. If you’re after that trophy fish, seriously consider giving some of the new larger swimbaits a go in both the soft and hard versions. I’ve trialled a few

of these now and caught nice fish on them. Don’t be afraid to throw something big – 200-250mm even. The stretch of river around Broughten Creek is holding some good fish, as is the stretch from the Nowra Bridge to the animal park. This year has had one of the better seasons for luderick in the river for quite a while – not the quantity, as there are always good numbers, but for the size. Fish up around the 2kg mark and even bigger are being taken throughout the river from Broughten Creek down to the main wharf at Greenwell Point and mostly on the artificial green weed fly. With the weed being so scarce these days these flies have really come into their own and they work well fished like normal weed bait. A lot of the time the fish don’t even suck it down; they

The author with a big Shoalhaven River flatty caught on a 200mm Berkley Papa Giant soft plastic swimbait intended for a mulloway – an awesome by-catch. Photo courtesy of LenOz Photography. just hit it and they’re off! SNAPPER IN CLOSE For the inshore boat

Wes Murphy with a nice plastic-caught red from south of Jervis Bay in that golden hour before sunset. In our neck of the woods there’s no better time to hit the water, whether you’re casting a lure in your favourite bass hole, working a popper over the sand flats for whiting, fishing the blue water for the first run of marlin or maybe just soaking a bait with the kids during the school holidays. All of these scenarios and hundreds more present themselves over the summer months, so I guess it’s a matter of working out what’s biting where and when and giving it a go, which I suppose is where I come in! Here we go! Let’s start with the good old Aussie bass. It’s such a

watching it land, waiting for the ripples to settle and then giving that lure a couple of twitches before it gets slammed off the surface. Lately the bass in the Shoalhaven River are biting pretty well on the surface. With the lack of precipitation, a lot of fish are still in the upper tidal reaches of the river waiting for a good dump of rain to help make the rapids and rock bars more passable so they can venture upstream. Not all the fish travel downstream for winter, so the freshwater pools in the upper Shoalhaven still have fish in them and they’re good ones, too.

Wayne Knight with a very healthy upper Shoalhaven River bass – a resident fish, no doubt, as there has been minimal flow in the river to allow upstream migration.

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fisho there have been some nice reds in close around the 4kg mark being caught on both micro-jigs and soft plastics. There is some great water south of Jervis Bay and down to Sussex Inlet and Bendalong for lure fishers; it’s definitely worth a reconnaissance mission if you haven’t checked it out. Just make sure you watch the GPS and study the charts before you go, because there are a few shallow water bommies down that way with only a couple of metres of water over them on a low tide. Afternoons down this way are prime time for reds with that golden hour before sunset bringing on the bite. Finally, if you’re after a feed of squid to go with your Christmas lunch, the bay has once again been firing for these tasty cephalopods! Greens, blacks, dark reds and orange have been the go-to colours at present in a no. 3.0 size. Happy holidays all and have a safe and prosperous New Year. Do me a favour – catch plenty, but leave a few for me!

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All I want for Christmas FMG

Nicole Penfold nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

Here it is – our bumper 2017 Christmas Gift Guide! We have hand-picked these products from all the great releases we’ve seen over the past 12 months or so, and have included prices to work with different budgets. There’s something here for everyone, whether you’re buying a present or you want to let your loved ones know what to buy for you. My only regret is that I couldn’t include big ticket items like kayaks, seeing as they don’t fit under the tree and require a lot of wrapping paper. However, every product that didn’t make the Christmas Gift Guide is at www.tacklejunkie.fish, so be sure to head there if you want more inspiration!

ACCESSORIES

First cab off the rank is the ZMan Bait BinderZ wallet (SRP$16.95). I love ZMans, but anyone who uses them knows that their supercharged plastic doesn’t play well with other soft plastics. I found this out the hard way, after one of my Jackall Masks got melted to death. With a ZMan Bait BinderZ case you’ll keep your ZMans safely away from other soft baits, in a way that makes it easy to find the model and colour you’re after in seconds. Bait BinderZ feature nickelplated, corrosion-resistant rings that have been spaced to fit the reinforced, pre-punched holes in the bottom of standard size

Bait BinderZ are constructed from 500-denier nylon for durability, and feature a carry handle for easy transport. They will hold 10-15 packets of ZMan plastics. You can check them out at www.zman.com.au.

BLACK MAGIC LEADER FEEDER

If you know an offshore angler who could do with some organising, here’s the perfect present: the Black Magic Leader Feeder (SRP$35), which is back by popular demand. This quality leader dispenser holds up to five spools of monofilament

DECEMBER 2017

The last cool accessory I want to mention is the waterproof Hard Korr Unilight (SRP$29). This small, versatile light has an inbuilt magnet and a strong, long lasting elastic strap that attaches to grab rails, tackle boxes, wheel wells,

CHASEBAITS ULTIMATE SQUID

Chasebaits Ultimate Squid (SRP$19.99), whose first in-water swimming video went viral within minutes. It’s that lifelike! The best feature is the delicately moulded wings on either side of the mantle, which have a rolling, rippling action, exactly like a real squid. Other features include realistic 3D custom squid eyes, supple tentacles and a potent squid scent for maximum attraction. You can work the Ultimate Squid in a variety of ways – twitching, jigging or just adding it to a dropper rig to waft naturally in the current. In field testing the Ultimate Squid has been smashing snapper and other reef fish, even after its tentacles have been bitten off. If you buy it for someone (or get one of your kids to), be sure to whip out your phone on Christmas Day to show the recipient one of the Chasebaits Squid YouTube videos. If you’d rather buy some plastics with a range of smaller sizes and colours, the brand new Squidgies Bio-Tough range (from

take them off. The series is manufactured in Japan, and has taken the most reliable lure shapes from the original Squidgies range and redeveloped the design to improve their already great fish-catching ability. The range consists of the Bio Tough Wriggler (100mm and 120mm), Fish (80mm and 100mm) and Flick Bait (75mm and 100mm). This provides anglers with a range of baits to suit a variety of estuary and freshwater applications. There are

or fluorocarbon leader. You can use other leader brands in it besides Black Magic, but because the Leader Feeder has been designed

for Black Magic leader, those spools are a perfect fit and the line comes off very smoothly and easily. The Leader Feeder is convenient to use, minimises tangles, features high quality stainless-steel feed holes

tent poles, awnings, camper trailers, and more. It weighs only 85g but pumps out up to 100 lumens of light, and there’s also an orange light option to both reduce bugs and help your night vision. The Unilight is IP66 waterproof and can be powered with either 3 x AAA batteries or Korr’s specially designed rechargeable lithium battery. The battery life is 4-6 hours on the high setting and 80-90 hours on the low setting. Like other Hard Korr lights it’s built tough with high quality materials, and is backed by a 2-year Australian warranty. Keep one in your tackle box, tinny, garage or with your camping gear, and you’ll have instant light wherever you need it.

six UV-enhanced colours, ranging from bloodworm for bream right through to pink glitz for flathead. As you’d expect, the actions are great too, both when twitched through the water column and at rest in

SQUIDGIES BIO-TOUGH

SRP$12.95) is the go. Instead of being made of traditional plastic, they feature a synthetic bioplastic that is highly durable, stretchy and more environmentally friendly. And unlike some other bio baits, they won’t dry out and turn into concrete on your hook if you forget to

GOING SOFT

A couple of packs of plastics is an affordable if not exactly mind-blowing gift – unless it’s something totally new and different. That’s exactly what you get with the

LIVE TARGET SWIMBAITS

award-winning Live Target Swimbaits (from SRP$23). There’s a number of species in the series, including mullet, sardine, perch, and trout. Each one has been fitted with an oscillator that generates a side-to-side tail swing action. The finish is very realistic, and there’s also a hook guard built into the dorsal fin of each swimbait, so you can throw them into some gnarly cover! Sizes range from 4.5” to 7.5”, depending on the model. You can see all the species at www.ejtodd.com.au.

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ZMan packets. This means you can store your ZMans in their original packs, which means no double handling opening sleeves to get packets out, or leaving loose packets where they can blow away.

and a clear pocket so you can label your choice of line weights. It’s strong and durable, and can be clipped onto your tackle bag for maximum convenience. You can find more details at www.blackmagictackle.com.

low current conditions. And when a fish is caught, the bait’s Dura Stretch properties keep it in top condition and ready to be deployed again. These baits are also verified to be 50% biodegradable within the first three years. Other great new soft baits making a splash are the

There’s one more lure I want to mention which isn’t actually a soft plastic, but a hybrid glide bait. It’s called the Strike Pro TrueGlide Guppie (SRP$44), and it’s set to be a hit with anglers chasing mulloway, barra, threadfin salmon and more. This 5.3” (13.5cm) glide bait is manufactured with paint or glitter on the inside shell of the bait, in addition to paint on the outside, to create a 3D effect. This procedure also prolongs the colour of the lure. The Guppie has 3D eyes and a compact shape to maximize hookup rates, and its convex body shaping from the top to the belly exposes the hook points for better hook sets. The body profiling also adds extra flash and belly roll. The most interesting feature though is the interchangeable soft plastic tails. A spring screw at the rear of the lure lets you modify the bait simply by screwing on or off one of the optional tail types. A paddle tail and grub tail are included, and replacement

tails are also available separately. For more info visit www.jurofishing.com.

LIGHT READING

We’ve found a great new book for yakkers: the second edition of the Paddler’s Guide to New South Wales (SRP$44.95), available from the Aquayak online store at www.aquayak.com. The expert advice and guides

Ideas

easier-to-use trip locator maps, fishing information and recommended places to eat, drink and stay the night. There’s also expert equipment advice regarding kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards, fishing and transport. If you’re in Victoria or Queensland, there are

maps, historical information and local points of interest, expert equipment advice regarding kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddle boards, preparation advice, and over 150 full-colour photos.

APPAREL

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contained in the first edition have been revised, updated and enhanced for this new book, and a massive 140 paddling destinations have been included. Other Attomic PRINT.pdf improvements include 1

a new Jack Attack II shirt (SRP$89.95). These shirts are available from a child’s size 2 right through to 5XL for the big boys, so there’s a size to fit everyone in the family. Like all Bigfish UPF50 shirts, they feature BFMaxFlow fabric – a high performance, moisturewicking material that is not only soft to feel, but durable, breathable and cool. For more info head to www. bigfishgear.com. And if you need a new pair of sunnies, you will not find a better range than Costa (SRP$269-$349). These premium fishing

Paddler’s Guide books for those states too, and they’re priced at $35 each. Both books include at least 65 paddling trips (with descriptions, maps and GPS 31/08/2017 3:03:53trip PM coordinates), locator

range of species, including barra, mangrove jack, mulloway, snapper, mudcrab and Murray cod. Now they have branched out into T-shirts, and the first design to be released is the Salty

Dog Tee (SRP$39.95), which represents all tough old sea dogs, standing at the helm of a rocking boat, waiting for that bite. The quality cotton fabric used in this shirt is soft to the touch and very comfortable. The highdensity printing enhances the artwork, and the regular fit shape suits all body types. It comes in navy/yellow and black/white, and sizes range from S-3XL. You can see the full range of apparel at www. samaki.com.au. Another great fishing apparel company is Bigfish Gear, and they have released

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sunglasses come in a huge array of styles and lens types, so there’s a shape to fit everyone and a lens to suit every angling situation. Their quality Bio Resin frames are built to last, and their 580 lens technology blocks the harshest light waves in the visible spectrum, and enhances the portions that help you see more clearly into the water. You really

off literal photos of baitfish species, and you can’t get any more realistic than that. Released late last year, these shrinkable and inexpensive covers will help protect the paint on your new lures, or rejuvenate your old favourites after they have lost their paint. And if you have a ton of failed lures that haven’t caught a fish yet (let’s be honest, we all have

COSTA SUNGLASSES

have to try them on to see how great they are, so get yourself to your nearest Costa stockiest and choose the best model for you. To view the full range visit www.costadelmar.com.au.

FOR THE DIY-ER

You don’t have to be an expert tinkerer to use the next two DIY products. They’re a lot of fun, are easy to do, and you get that bonus satisfaction of catching a fish on something you’ve done yourself. The first DIY product is JigSkinz (SRP$20 for a 4-pack). It’s a bit like one of those slick vinyl boat wraps, but downsized so you can pimp your lures with an incredibly realistic finish. Most of the skins are based

a bunch of unloved failures stashed away), this product can revamp them and finally get some runs on the board. To apply the JigSkinz, you just slip the new skin over the lure and place it in hot water. The moment your lure hits the hot water, the skin will shrink tightly over your lure and boom – you are done! You now have a new lure in your favourite colour. JigSkinz are suitable for a huge range of lure types, including poppers, stickbaits, slugs and slices, knife jigs, micro jigs, blades,

JIGSKINZ

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it to create bathymetric maps. The antenna ensures constant WiFi connectivity for the highest signal range. The Pro model provides a 150ft (45m) depth and 160ft (49m) WiFi range, and the 3D model offers

PRO-TEC POWDER PAINT

jigheads, lipless crankbaits, bibbed minnows and skirted pusher heads. The skins come in a dizzying array of colours and lifelike patterns, plus there’s a clear skin to help protect your new lures. Patterns include: flying fish, mackerel, mullet, sardine, perch, holographic colours, lumo and more. You can check them all out at www. jmgillies.com.au. Anglers who like flicking plastics will have a lot of fun with Pro-Tec Powder Paint (SRP$23.50) from the Atomic Trick Bitz range. This powder coat allows you to customize your jigheads with no mess and no odour. There’s no need for a primer or gloss overcoat – all you need is a lighter or heat gun and you will have a durable, high gloss finish in minutes. To apply, you simply shake the pot of powder paint, and heat up your jighead with a lighter or heat gun for 5-6 seconds. Next, dip the hot end of the jighead into the powder and remove it immediately. Once removed you will see the powder turn to a high gloss, smooth finish. Allow it to cool for a minute or so, then

you’re ready for action! It’s never been easier to match your jigheads to your soft plastics for the ultimate lure. You can also get fancy and coat the grub keeper in one colour and the head in another. When used with a transparent tail, your grub keeper will look like the innards of a baitfish. Too realistic to pass up! There is enough powder in each 2oz (57g) jar to coat hundreds of jigheads. Check it out at www. frogleysoffshore.com.au.

BIG SPENDER

If you have a couple of hundred dollars to spend this Christmas, a great new gadget on the market is the Lowrance FishHunter (SRP$173.90-$218.90) castable fishfinder, designed for anglers fishing from the shore or a kayak. It sends real-time sonar data via WiFi to view on your

DAIWA TD SOL III

a 160ft (49m) depth and a 200ft (61m) WiFi range. The rechargeable battery lasts for 10 hours of active use. For the full list of specs and features head to www. lowrance.com/en-au. If your budget is a bit higher, I strongly recommend you check out the redesigned Daiwa TD Sol III (SRP$399). These are the lightest reels for their size that Daiwa has

smartphone or tablet, and doesn’t require a cellular or internet connection. FishHunter Pro features a tri-frequency transducer, offering four ways to view sonar data including Fish (fish symbols), Raw (arches), Bathymetric and Ice Fishing Flasher views. You can also troll

ever produced and, due to new engineering and manufacturing processes, they’re also one of the toughest. The 3000 size is a featherweight 190g, which you’d expect more from a shallow spool 2000 reel, not this 3000 workhorse with its great spool capacity. The 3000 also pulls a massive

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You get a lot for your money with these reels, and you can check out the full list of specs and features at www. daiwafishing.com.au. And now for the final big spender item: a fishing drone! At Fishing Monthly we love drones, especially for boat tests where they provide a bird’s eye view that you never used to get on boats. However, in our excitement and enthusiasm

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10kg of drag. There are six models in the series, ranging from the 2000D to the 6000D-H, and all feature Daiwa’s Magseal technology for maximum water resistance, performance and longevity.

we have crashed two of them into the sea (drones, not boats) which has cost us over $2000. Ouch. If you don’t want this to happen to you, the smart thing to do is to get a drone that’s waterproof – and preferably one that can drop a bait in for you as well. You’ve probably

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seen videos of shore-based anglers using drones to catch big pelagics, and you can get in on the action with the Swellpro Splash Fisherman drone (SRP$2100). It comes with a fully secure, payloadrelease mechanism so when you see a fish/bait ball on your remote control screen,

Ideas

mackerel or shark. Before long it will bob up on the surface again. Like all good drones it features auto take-off and landing; altitude sensor and lock; and auto return to home function (to stop you losing the drone due to mis-operation or it being

SWELLPRO SPLASH FISHERMAN

you can drop the bait right on top of them. Every component of the rugged Splash Drone 3 Fisherman is waterproof. It can take off and land on the water, and resist both fresh and salt water, with all metal screws and fastenings made from top quality stainless steel. It also floats, so you don’t have to panic if it gets pulled down by a giant tuna,

out of range). Its video transmitter has a range of up to 1km, and you can control it via a smartphone app. You can find out more at www. dogtoothdistribution.com.au.

THE TRAVELLING ANGLER

Shakespeare have brought out some combo kits that are perfect for people who are new to fishing, or

SHAKESPEARE CATCH MORE FISH KIT

for casual anglers spending their holidays somewhere new. Shakespeare Catch More Fish Kits (SRP $59.96 to $89.95) contain an outfit and tackle kit suited to specific target species or fishing situations, and include a tough and sensitive tubular composite rod with solid tip, balanced with a spin reel spooled up and ready to go. The kit also includes an integrated tackle box complete with terminal tackle such as hooks, swivels and sinkers selected to match the outfit. The Catch More Fish range consists of the Bream Battla (a 6’6” outfit spooled with 10lb line), the Flatty Fighta (7’, 10lb), Whiting Whippa (6’, 4lb), Jetty Monsta (8”, 14lb), Beach Patrola (12’, 14lb) and the Ocean Brawla (6’, 14lb). If you’re more serious about your fishing, and like to fly to far-flung

destinations, you’d know that air travel isn’t like the good old days where you could take heaps of luggage. Back then you could fly with a big suitcase and a rod tube the size of a Saturn rocket – and possibly an esky for fillets as well. These days with Qantas economy, you can take two pieces of check-in luggage with no

to 23kg, with no individual piece more than 32kg or 158cm. With Jetstar you pay for each piece of checked baggage. No more big rod tubes! There are plenty of good travel rods to choose from when it comes to freshwater and estuary fishing, but I haven’t seen a massive choice for quality offshore

WILSON BONE VOYAGE

piece exceeding 32kg, and (this is the bad bit) the total dimensions of the two pieces combined can not exceed 270cm, with no single piece exceeding 158cm. With Virgin economy you can take one piece up

travel rods. One great new release I have found though is the Bone Voyage series (SRP$310-$370) distributed by Wilson Fishing. These 4-piece rods come in both spin and baitcast versions, with models ranging from

the 6’5” 8-16lb 8BVC654M, through to the 7’6” 20-40lb BVS764XXH. Wilsons say these fast-actioned rods are equipped with highmodulus carbon fibre layers with cross weaves, which makes the blank much lighter and stiffer without compromising strength. Other features include Fuji K-Alconite guides for maximum sensitivity, and an enhanced butt section with X-Grip wrap for superior power. Each rod comes with its own soft pouch. The new Bone Black River series and Bone Combat Beast series also include one travel model each, both designed for subduing big fish. But before you book your flights, check the airline websites for the latest baggage regulations. I’m pretty sure the check-in staff won’t accept a Fishing Monthly magazine as proof of their regulations – although they might take one as a bribe. Merry Christmas and happy gift hunting! • The prices listed in this article are suggested retail only. They may vary from store to store.

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System receives some much-needed fresh NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

Our region finally received some welcome rainfall in recent weeks. The 50-60mL that fell wasn’t enough, but at least it put some muchneeded fresh into the upper reaches of the estuary river systems. Tuross Lake to the north of Narooma was one such system that needed rain urgently. Sure – another 100mL would be great, but at least it got something. The local bass population aren’t complaining as they can now venture a little more further west up the river to do their summer time thing. I believe that this will only help the bass, and we can expect the fishing for them to keep getting better as the weather and water warm further. Bass can be targeted a number of ways, but surface presentations late into the afternoon with walkers, poppers and paddlers all working at times. Concentrate your efforts in the deeper holes that have plenty of structure, fish a hard drag and hang on, but remember to let these pristine wild species go,

they are way too cool to only catch once. Below the fresh zone where the tidal reaches start, flathead, bream and whiting can be found in solid numbers, especially on the flats that have been exposed to long periods of sun. This is important early in the season and you will find some exceptional fishing when casting smaller hardbodies or surface lures particularly when it’s windy. A lot of anglers tend to go home when the wind picks up, but this is the peak time to fish these techniques – you cover a lot of ground casting with the breeze and have a lot more cover with the rippled surface. Closer to the entrance there’s been solid reports of decent flathead, mulloway to 10kg and even better fish lost. There have also been quite a lot of salmon and tailor on the flooding tide just west of the cafe. This water is quite deep and if you were after a mulloway this would be the place to start targeting them. Anglers using mid-sized soft plastics and vibes will catch a few, but the majority lately have been caught by fishos using live and dead baits after dark on the draining tide. It really just depends on how

Estuary perch are a lot of fun as Scott found out. These little bruisers are abundant at present, with this model being average for the Tuross River system. you want to target them and what you’re after. Wagonga Inlet is really starting to fire up with crocsized flatties, mulloway, bream, whiting, snapper and some decent tailor all playing the game at times. The main basin in the deep water around 8-13m is the go with the water clarity, so fishing the deeper sections of the basin will pay dividends. Anglers fishing a variety of soft plastics and vibes have fared best, with the odd mulloway coming

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after dark on the freshest of squid. You should be able to catch squid around the ribbon weed edges in Forsters Bay near the marina. It’s a hotspot with plenty available. Anglers fishing the rocks at Mystery Bay just south of Narooma have been rewarded with some good catches lately. Some solid kingfish to 7kg have come from this platform of in recent weeks, with big salmon and bonito also falling to live baits. Drifting the livies under a balloon has been the best method, and you can usually get all the bait you require from the northern end of the ledge. The last two seasons the kings have been good, with bigger fish lost also, so it’s definitely worth a look. With the decent swell of late there have been snapper caught from the washes at the southern end of the main ledge, with full pilchards on gang hooks doing the trick. Berley has been the key here, with one local getting four solid reds to 2kg recently, proving they are there. The drummer and luderick have been a little quiet, but these guys will

make their presence felt when the conditions are ideal. If you’re after the bread and butter species you’re better off fishing the inside of the southern wall at the bar entrance. Some good blackfish are being caught there on cabbage.

and Fowl House reef on the western side of the island both producing. Anglers using jigs are catching them too, though the jigged fish seem to be on the smaller side. Mixed in with the kings are solid bonito, with some of these speedsters topping 7kg. They’re good sport on the right tackle. The bottom bouncing brigade are doing well at the moment, with young gun charter skipper Nick Cowley scoring a handful of cracking reds to 5kg with clients on a recent trip. For here they are big fish, with plenty of pan-sized models to keep anglers interested as well. Both Tuross and Potato Point in the deeper water have been the places to fish. On the beaches the bread and butter species like bream, whiting and mullet have been OK, but you do have to work for them. Those anglers doing best have been using the freshest of bait and fishing light tackle during optimum times. If you can coincide

A 100kg of striped marlin just out of reach. This is where most fish are lost so patience is required, and some luck. Those fishing offshore have had great success lately, especially at Montague Island. The kingfish have woken up big time, with the island back to its best. There have been kings to 11kg caught regularly on live bait, with the northern end

a flooding tide at dusk you should be rewarded with a decent feed. Better beaches to try include Brou, Narooma main, Coila and Tilba beaches. If you’re after a few salmon, most of these same beaches are producing fish on bluebait and pilchards.

Summer fish firing up MERIMBULA

Bruce Libbis

There have been a number of kings about down off Eden and Mowarry Point lately, taking stickbaits on the surface. A number have also been taken on knife jigs. Most fish range in size to about 10kg, but there’s the odd better fish up to 15kg. Every time I go snapper fishing I have my rod ready to go for the kings, just in case. Out off Merimbula there aren’t great numbers of kings, but there are some big specimens out there up to 20kg. You just have to be lucky enough to come across

them, then manage to get a hook-up and stay connected. Snapper fishing been really good off Merimbula, Eden and Tathra of late, with good numbers of fish taken up to 3kg. Most have been caught on soft plastics, micro jigs, and baits floated down a berley trail. The flathead have really come on in the past couple of weeks, becoming more active in the warmer water. All the known flathead grounds around Tathra, Merimbula and Eden are starting to produce good numbers and sizes. On the game fishing scene anglers are catching albacore and small bluefin off the edge the shelf off Merimbula and

Eden. Some yellowfin have also been seen. Off the beaches at the moment there are good numbers of salmon up to 3kg being caught. A few tailor are mixed in with them. Both are being caught lure casting and on standard paternoster rigs with a surf popper and a pilchard. The estuaries fishing quite well, right down from Wonboyn, Pambula, Merimbula and the Bega River. Good numbers of bream and trevally are being caught, along with some very nice dusky flathead on soft plastics. Now is also a good time of year to start focussing on mulloway. To page 65

Good holiday fishing ahead MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

Merimbula is about to get very busy with the holiday period, but if the fishing remains the same as now then everyone is in for some cracking fun. Anglers fishing offshore are having a field day, especially those after a feed with flathead in awesome numbers. It’s the best I’ve seen it for a long time, with most boats venturing out getting their bags in a session. The flatties seem to be everywhere at present, though water depths of 35-45m seem to be yielding the bigger fish. There’s a good mixture of sand and tigers amongst them, with the average fish around 45cm. That’s pretty good going for offshore, so let’s hope it continues. I can’t see why it wouldn’t.

Gotta love mulloway! This 7kg fish was released in super condition. also helps to use fresh bait, with squid and tuna fillets working well. Another tip is to fish a little lighter with tackle, and only using enough weight to get to the bottom. Changing your sinker weight with the conditions is always important for consistent results, and sometimes a few minor tackle adjustments is

but a fresh squid strip or live slimy mackerel should produce a fish or two also. In the estuaries it’s all systems go, with all species chewing at times. At the time of writing the Merimbula Lake is closed due to a septic spill, but it’s due to re-open way before the holidays start. Pambula, just down the road,

This little soapie of 58cm was released to get bigger. This was one of five little mulloway caught for the day. Those anglers fishing the inshore reefs have been finding it a little tougher of late, but I expect that to change over the coming weeks. There have been a few snapper and morwong about but you do have to work for them. The guys I’ve talked to who are getting results are moving around a lot to locate the fish, and mainly fishing the edges of the reef and not on the hard stuff. It

all that’s required to get the fish to play the game. Kingfish have been around in good numbers, and some very big fish are mixed in. I know of several 18kg greenbacks caught this week, with plenty more lost. Many anglers have been seeing them on the surface but they have been a little disinterested in some offerings. Anglers casting big poppers and stickbaits have fared best,

has been excellent. You can expect to encounter bream, flathead, whiting, flounder and trevally, with both bait and lure anglers catching plenty. The main basin has been the place to fish, with the oyster racks being great for the bream. With the warmer water the surface fishing has improved dramatically, and this will only get better as we head further into summer. You can expect whiting and

the odd decent flathead when fishing like this also. The river itself is holding some nice fish but the water is marked with that dreadful red algae that we seem to get every summer. It makes fishing difficult, but if you can put up with it you will be rewarded for sure. On the beaches, bream, whiting, mullet and salmon have all played the game. Most beaches with a decent gutter are producing the goods, with Haycock and North Tura the better beaches to try. Anglers using live beach worms and pipis will get the best bags, and the lighter the line the more fish you will catch, especially in calmer conditions with less white water. There have been plenty of smaller whaler sharks caught over recent weeks, with the odd gummy shark too. If wetting a line after dark with fresh slab fillets is for you, it’s definitely worth a go. North Tura would be the beach to fish. Most local rock platforms are still producing fish, with Short Point the pick of them if you’re targeting blackfish and drummer. I had a look down there the other day and saw two anglers with their bag limits of blackfish. They were using cabbage as bait and were berleying pretty hard. The fish averaged 800g with the odd bigger specimen thrown in. There’s still a few salmon around the washes of most headlands, with whole ganged pilchards and chrome lures the best way of catching them. This month will see bonito turn up too, with Long Point and Tura Head the better places to fish. It’s a bit of work getting there but the rewards will come. I’d also expect to see a few more kingfish come from Tura Head. The lads in the boats trolling the headlands have got a few, so the rock hoppers might just get amongst the action also. Live bait and big shiners are the go-to methods.

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From page 64

Brogo Dam is starting to produce some good bass, and the local streams are also providing some good sport on bass. Surface fishing towards Eden has been accounting for good numbers of fish. In December we can expect some yellowfin out wide, and anticipate the first marlin of the season. Snapper fishing should start to get better and better, and the flathead fishing should ramp up as well. It’s a great time of year for estuary fishing, as all our species are pretty well fired up over that summer period.

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The mighty Clyde River is on fire this month BATEMANS BAY

Anthony Stokman

It’s been a while since the Clyde has been this good. With some rain and a good flush out, let’s hope it continues for the rest of summer. This year was a year of extremes. The heaviest snow falls, rains, floods, storms and hurricanes in America then affected Europe’s summer and here on the South Coast it was a glorious warm winter. Now we are into summer, and although the warm weather was welcomed, this also meant no rain; this has put a spin on things. The bream have pushed in hard after spawning and we experienced a good bite coming into summer and that was soon overshadowed by thick schools of estuary perch followed by the mulloway, which seemed to get better over the last few years over this period leading into December. The flathead have been on the chew since winter and are only getting better coming into summer. The Clyde system is firing at this point and

DECEMBER 2017

John with his 50cm estuary perch caught on a live mullet while chasing mulloway. anglers who are bait, plastic or lure fishing are having a ball on all species. Whether you have a boat or rented a houseboat, or you’re fishing from land, it’s the time to be fishing in the Clyde. There has been no rain, so we are seeing the salt pushing right up and beyond Shallow

Crossing and kayakers are seeing masses of jellyfish, schools of mullet, flathead, estuary perch and bream up in the far reaches. This abundance of life in these beautiful areas is delightful to see and fish for. This also means algae disrupting the weed beds that make up vital structure

and that luderick need to eat. Some rain would be good to put some balance back. If you intend to get in on the Clyde action, sooner is better than later, because a fair bit of traffic tends to hit the system by the end of December. We tend to see the larger mulloway between Big Island and Nelligen and the school mulloway up past Nelligen; this doesn’t mean you can’t find the odd horse up there – you can, this is the general trend. Chasing mulloway with 70-100mm lures like the Samaki Vibelicious, sliver fox and black and gold coloured Squidgy Fish, or any 5” pearl white jerk shad plastic always sees some by-catches of decent flatties. The fishos who venture out at night and bait fish tend to use fresh squid and live mullet, which always yields results. By the end of December, fishing the nights is a good option as the day traffic disappears. If you can’t find fresh squid or live bait then we have freshly caught local squid available at Compleat Angler, which works well. If it’s bream and estuary perch you are chasing then it’s hard to go past lures like the 2.5” and 3” Ecogear Grass Minnow in glow/ watermelon back colour; this lure is dynamite on both these species. Also running off the shelf is the Ecogearaqua Bream Prawn 50 in salt and pepper colour. The unweighted and light hidden weight work best and they cast well with light braid and leader. You can also skip them along the surface at hardto-get-to places. Further upstream fishos have been targeting

bass with some success. Fish have been ranging from tiddlers to absolute horses pushing 50cm, so quite a range. The Tiemco Soft Shell Cicada is also consistent, although the front treble can be pulled out of its body after a bass brawl; this still doesn’t deter fishos from using them. Out on the beaches people are chasing whiting at this time of the year and the Marukyu rig with the Marukyu scented worms is an easy and effective way to chase them. Nippers and worms are great if you want to put in the effort. The snapper fishing has been going great guns coming into December. Everybody has discovered micro-jigs now and they are slaying fish with them. Gulp plastics proved themselves years ago and are still an effective plastic on reds. Now it’s up to anglers to find the number one micro-jig on snapper. Maria Lucifers have been good so far in

the buoys, islands and headlands. Fingers crossed we have a good showing of them this summer. The last couple of seasons have seen good numbers of mahimahi and by the end of December we should start seeing them again. Offshore has been a little tricky with the weather very up and down. Bottom fishing has been reasonably consistent and there is always something to show for the trip. The tuna have been very elusive and they were like a needle in a haystack this year. Our attention will soon be on the marlin and they can show up any time towards the end of the year. The first marlin tournament on the calendar is the Tollgate Classic held at Batemans Bay on 19-21 January. For the first time accommodation is available at a discounted rate for members where the presentation is held at Corrigans Cove. This is not an event to miss, so make

These Rapala SXR-12s have proven themselves on mulloway and this is a new exciting colour that won’t last long on the shelf. 40-60g weights. Early December still sees good snapper being caught before the reef fishing starts to get tough leading into January. You have to keep moving around to find fish and in doing you can turn your worst day of fishing into your best, if you get onto a good school of kings. There have been a few big 1m+ kings kicking around over and this month the rats should be schooling around

your plans now. If you need any help in regards to presents, come see me in the shop. Happy holidays! • 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, and can be contacted on (02) 4472 2559.

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Lock, load and summer return BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

A lot of anglers may be ignorant to the fact that game fish like to sunbake in the shallow layers of the ocean, especially marlin. The warmth of the sun will bring these fish to the surface where they will glide along with the wave force just sunning themselves. When you spot a marlin doing this they might respond to a well-positioned lure or bait. If that’s the case, lock in your position, load it into your GPS and return later in the day, maybe on the change of the tide. Those fish will be in that area for a reason – more than likely a food source – so at some stage they will feed. If not today, maybe tomorrow. Marlin are already increasing in numbers along our coast following a series of warm water eddies. These eddies are hosting good numbers of game fish with plenty of yellowfin, striped and albacore tuna at the top of the list. Where there is tuna, there are sharks with plenty of makos, blues and hammerheads following the tuna schools. Berley trails will work well on sharks as will a bridled striped

tuna, which will also entice a marlin. With things warming up there are plenty of fish on offer closer to shore and around the reefs for the bottom fishos. Tiger flathead are always sought after and they are in excellent numbers in and around 50m of water. Anglers starting on the reefs

decent size. Whether jigging, live baiting or strip fishing, one of these methods will work on the day. For those who like the soft sands of beach fishing, the warmth of summer makes it more user-friendly during the daytime and also into the night. In the dark expect plenty of tailor, a couple of shark species and a

Locked, loaded and hooked – anglers caught this model by revisiting an area where the marlin were seen sunbaking. in this depth of water will also encounter many of the ever-present snapper and morwong, both blue and jackass. As you drift off the reefs the flatties come into the equation, along with some nice gummy sharks that have been present. Up at Montague Island the kingies are plentiful, although some weeding is required to find fish of

good chance at a mulloway. Salmon are a good night and day prospect, with bream, whiting or mullet preferring daylight hours. Shallow water fishing is an art that requires patience, persistence and above all observation, and the rewards are worth it. With that lovely summer warmth, fish will move over flats or into the shallows to sunbake as

much as to feed, so where do we start? Simply start by walking the flats and shallows at low tide looking for signs that fish have been feeding there when it was covered with water. Indications may come in the form of a flathead lie in the sand, a crushed crab or oyster from a bream, and indents in the sand over worm and nipper beds where mullet and whiting have been fossicking, or skittish mullet on the fringes as the tide rises. There are several methods to catch the fish here, so be prepared to diversify. For those wishing to wade, it’s a way to keep cool and maximise the stealth factor by getting right up close and personal with your intended prey. Short casts and plenty of polaroiding are all you need. There is no better feeling to have sighted, hunted and captured your fish. If you’re in a vessel, you may need to lengthen your distance of sight and cast to achieve the same results as if you were on foot. Sometimes this is an advantage in that the extra elevation allows you to see fish before they see you. Lure fishing on the flats can be done either wading or boating, while sight casting or using long raking exploratory casts to tempt

Fishing the flats is a stealthy way to find flatties. out any unsighted quarry. For those bait fishing, nippers are arguably the best baits over the flats, while fresh prawns or squirt worms will also take their share of the prize. Whatever method you use, expect plenty of action.

As the bream, flathead, whiting, luderick and many more estuarine species are in such good numbers this season, a sly angler fishing the stealth method should have a lot of their fantasies fulfilled. Good fishing everyone and happy holidays.

More pelagic activity forecast for ‘Coota area MALLACOOTA

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

As we race towards Christmas the weather is really starting to warm up, with the

past month seeing some proper summer days, which in turn really livens up the town. The water temperature on the beach is only around 15-16°C with the shelf temperatures just getting to around 20°C. By the time the Christmas

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visitors get here things will be a lot warmer. Around the local beaches, the salmon fishing is starting to slow down, with fish still being caught, just not in the numbers they were in past months. As the water warms fishing the beaches starts to offer a lot more variety with sand whiting, yellowfin bream and gummy sharks featuring in the catch, along with the odd flathead. Fishing the breakwall at the harbour is popular and can be productive; as the growth on the rocks gets more established the fishing should keep improving. The fishing offshore is starting to liven up with kingfish still being caught. Fish are turning up anywhere between Gabo Island and down as far as Little Ram. Sand flathead are being caught from 20m and as the water warms the tiger flathead should come on the bite. Gummy sharks are also being caught and the back of Gabo Island is a reliable place to catch a few fish. When heading out to sea over the next few months you need to remember the

northeasterly wind gets blowing early, so it pays to get out there early when the

sea conditions allow and be back before the wind really starts howling.

Flying gurnard are often caught in the bottom lake and are amazingly colourful.

The fishing in the lake is starting to pick up with the dusky flathead coming on the bite with fish being caught from both the bottom and top lake and as far upstream as Gypsy Point. A variety of lures have been catching fish including soft plastics and blades. Bream, both black and yellowfin, are being caught along the edges of both lakes. With the fish spreading out it’s important to keep moving to find the area where the fish are. Soft plastic lures fished on light jigheads have worked well with bait fishers having good success using frozen prawns for bait. Good numbers of luderick are being caught on weed fished under a float alongside the jetties in the bottom lake. This is the most successful way of getting a few fish. Plenty of silver trevally are still in the lake with a variety of soft plastic lures catching fish. As we head into summer the fishing for bass will start to fire up and the best days for fishing are the hot days before a storm.

Offshore bottom fishing is perfect for anglers TATHRA

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

A specialty at this time of year around Tathra, for locals and visiting anglers alike, is the offshore bottom fishing. Most anglers fish for two reasons – the fun, or to put a feed on the table – and there is nothing better than a fresh feed of flatties. Tigers are plentiful at the moment in and around the 50m water depth, especially on the fringes of any reef complex. Most anglers are acquiring their bags with little trouble with some exceptional fish to 80cm being taken. Early starts are required to beat the northeasterly trade winds, although with a southerly drift anglers should catch plenty in a short time. Up on the reefs morwong are the mainstay with both jackass and rubber lips being present. Strips of squid presented on a paternoster rig will tempt these tasty table fish. You might find there are still plenty of snapper only too willing to taste your squid or some of those lovely ocean perch, and maybe the

Anglers visiting Tathra have an excellent launching facility before heading to sea. occasional gummy shark lurking around the fringes. On the pelagic front striped tuna are around in good numbers close to shore. They make excellent bait for bottom and estuary fishing while providing plenty of fun for anglers. Out wider, for those in pursuit of larger game, yellowfin and albacore tuna are around, and accompanying them are some very large mako sharks. Most of the tuna are being captured on trolled lures and this gives anglers a better opportunity to cover more water to find some of those early season marlin that are now starting to show.

The school holidays are upon us and where better for kids to spend their time than Tathra Wharf for the everpresent schools of trevally, mackerel or yellowtail? It’s time for these fish to be afraid, very afraid. Not only do these fish have to fear the predators in the ocean, they have to address the problem from above with hordes of young children throwing all sorts of hard and soft plastics at them. Thankfully most of these fish aren’t too bright and that’s good news for the kids. Most days will see some, if not all of these fish flapping to their demise in a young

person’s bucket keeping most well and truly entertained. There are plenty of other species passing the wharf, so you might just have to visit it to find out. Sadly, the Bega River System that flows down to Tathra still hasn’t received sufficient rainfalls in the catchment to open the river back up to the ocean and let in fresh fish stocks. It’s not all bad, as the river is still fishing reasonably well. Anglers just have to adapt to suit the conditions, and at the moment this means fishing very shallow water. When a system is closed to the ocean like the

Bega River, fish will be on the move constantly to fossick for food. Plenty of shrimp, mullet, prawns and other crustaceans will seek the safety of the shallows, so it’s not surprising that most of the bream, flathead and estuary perch are coming from mere inches of water. These fish are being taken on both lures and bait with other species like luderick, whiting or mullet preferring baits. After some rain the river has risen slightly and backed up over new ground. This is good news for those wishing to target bass up in the brackish waters. These fish are moving around in the shallows under overhanging trees in wait for any unsuspecting cicadas

The sweetwater of the Bega River above the salt has plenty of bass on offer.

Going the distance EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

With Eden the last town on the far NSW South Coast before you head into Victoria, it’s amazing how different the weather can be from Eden to Mallacoota. It’s only a one-hour drive yet the inshore water temperature is 3°C warmer at Eden and the offshore water temperature is 2°C warmer; this brings about totally different fishing options. Salmon are still being caught on all the local beaches and with the water warming the fishing for other species on the local beaches will only get better with bream, whiting, gummy sharks and even the odd mulloway available right through until Easter. The fishing on the inshore reefs has really started to pick up with good catches of sand flathead being reported, and tiger flathead are also being caught from the usual spots. Snapper and morwong are on the bite with fresh bait catching plenty of fish. A few fish are being caught

by anglers using soft plastic lures. While the odd kingfish has been caught, on the whole the fishing for kingies has been slow with more to report down towards Mallacoota. On the gamefishing scene there has been little to report. Windy conditions made it hard for boats to get out there, but with the water warming it won’t be long before things start to fire up. The fishing in the local estuaries has taken off with the dusky flathead on the chew. Fish have been caught on both bait and

that may stumble into the briny. They generally don’t last long, so this means good times for anglers who like to use surface lures or the fly rod. Early mornings and late afternoons in calm conditions are best and expect the occasional thumper of a black bream, as they are quite partial to cicadas. Further down towards the ocean, the slight rise in levels has pushed some exceptional flatties into deeper water, along with a few nice mulloway. Try targeting the flatties over the shallows on early mornings then move into the deep water as the sun gets higher. The fishing in this system is good but the Bega River needs rain badly if it is to improve.

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NEMO DAGGER 2-PERSON TENT

Now that spring has finally sprung, we can all rejoice that Australia’s glorious camping season is now open! Introducing the Nemo Dagger, a two-person tent built for ultra-light backpacking, that also offers interior dimensions that rival anything else on the market in this category. Thanks to the higher positioned pole hubs the Dagger has more interior space than any other on the market, thankfully making cabin fever a problem of the past. The Dagger’s trapezoidal fly design creates an additional 2.1 square-metre area on each side for storing gear outside of your sleeping quarters, making for a more comfortable night sleep amongst the stars. Camp in sheer comfort in the season ahead with the freshest and most innovative outdoor equipment on the planet. The Nemo Dagger will be your true camp companion this season and many more to come. Price: RRP $699.95 www.paddypallin.com.au 70

DECEMBER 2017

PRODUCT GUIDE

SAMAKI SALTWATER 4 BARRA SHIRT Samaki’s Saltwater Barra long sleeve shirt brings you one of Australia’s most iconic fish species. Her almighty beauty is so prominent you’ll want to take a moment to admire each and every scale as she launches from the depths to attack the Samaki Vibelicious. With that elusive island in the background, stunning weather, copious amounts of bait and detailed rockery the Saltwater Barra is every angler’s dream come true. The lightweight fabric is perfect for all outdoor elements, protecting you from the harsh sunrays with our UV50+ resistant technology, the soft touch 100% polyester material is comfortable on the body plus has the added feature of being breathable keeping you cool and dry. Saltwater Barra shirts are available in adult, youth and kids sizes from a size 2 through to a 5XL allowing the whole family to get in on the action and out onto the water. Price: RRP $59.95 (adults), $49.95 (kids) www.samaki.com.au

DAIWA TOURNAMENT 5 ISO 6000 Daiwa has created the ultimate compact size surf spin reel with the release of the new Tournament ISO 6000. These little beauties are rugged yet refined, which is what makes an absolutely perfect modern surf or rock fishing reel for the modern surf or rock angler. Daiwa’s technologically advanced hybrid material, Zaion, is the basis for the rocksolid frame. Zaion is light, strong and resists corrosion, and far exceeds the strength of traditional reel body materials such as magnesium and alloy in a strength per unit weight comparison. Because of this, the ISO 6000 will be able to handle the harsh punishment that surf and rock fishing is well known for, meaning that these machines will last you many fishing session and hopefully, trophy fish. If you’re a serious rock or surf angler, you’d be mad not to add this incredibly modern and hardy reel to your kit. www.daiwafishing.com.au

GAMAKATSU SABIKI RIGS

Gamakatsu has introduced three new versions of is popular sabiki rigs, which let you catch a whole school of live bait at once. Each hook is rigged with an extremely durable, high grade latex attractant. This mimics small bait and prawns as the angler twitches and jerks to tempt the most wary baitfish. These sabikis are especially hot for catching slimies and yakkas, and can also be used for herring and mullet. Every component of the rig is top-ofthe-line, and hand assembled for maximum durability so you can use them over and over. The S150 model (size 3-9) has a UV-coated hook which mimics the ‘glow’ of plankton, prawns and squid in the dark depths. The SS203 model (size 3-9) is designed to naturally absorb sunshine and mimic the organic bioluminescent process and glow in deep, dark water. The S523 (size 5-8) is fitted with a UV glow bead as an added bait-luring addition to its lifelike pink shrimp jacket. Price: from SRP $10.95 www.gamakatsu.com.au

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING BALISTA SMOKE 65

RAPALA R-TYPE SPIN

AQUAYAK OUTRIGGER KIT

There is one thing we all have in common; we need to keep food cold. Whether it is the ice in our coolers when camping, fishing or just at a family BBQ, or the freezer in your home. There now exists a product that is the first of its kind to give you the block or volume needed to hold cold longer. Introducing the Kooler Kube. The Kooler Kube was developed to be used in combination with KoolerGel to give you the ultimate cooling source, and it can be used with or without ice. The temperatures can range from 0º to -30º Celsius depending on the freezer, and will freeze down much lower but, average domestic freezers are -16 to -24. It’s also reusable and refreezable and can last for years. Keep your food colder for longer with Kooler Kube! www.koolergel.com.au

The fear of ending up in the water rather than staying on top of the water is a big reason why many people shy away from using a kayak. You can go a long way to avoiding this by adding a Aquayak Outrigger kit to your kayak. It is simple to install and can be used on all types of kayaks, and will put an end to the fear of falling off your kayak while out on the water. Once the kit is attached it will make your kayak much more stable and safer for people of all ages to get out on the water, and see how much fun getting out in a kayak can be. The Outrigger kit will even allow you to stand up in some kayaks, which will make for a much more enjoyable fishing experience. This kit is reasonabley priced, and can be delivered to your door. For more information, specs and photos, visit the Aquayak website or look them up on Facebook. Price: RRP $245 www.aquayak.com

ZEST SHOVELHEAD JIGS

VALLEY HILL JUNGLE RAPPER

There are hundreds of deep diving hardbodied lures on the market, but not one of them is anything like the new Smoke 65. The team at Balista Lures found that the action on other deep diving hardbodied lures was either too wide and slow, or too tight and fast. They spent three years meticulously refining the action to have a specific combination of action and roll. A lure with a rolling action mimics a baitfish more closely and hence makes a huge difference in fish catching ability. The Smoke 65 also features their revolutionary LED technology, which is a water activated flashing red LED. This technology has been proven to be noticeably effective in dirty water, low light conditions and after dark. Other features include an internal rattle, UV paints, proven colour patterns and BKK ultra sharp and tough trebles. They are proven to be highly effective on mangrove jacks, barramundi, bass, golden perch, Murray cod, redfin, flathead and many more. www.balista.com.au

KOOLER KUBE

The superb new Shovelhead Jigs are a magnificent jig for jigging shallower water, when smaller baitfish are being targeted, and when a more finesse approach is needed. The Shovelhead Jig features one side that is scalloped out and an opposite side that is rounded, which makes this jig really move and flutter through the water. The Shovelhead Jig is 160mm long and weighs 125g, and it is rigged with the weight at the tail, which helps the jig get down. It also features a holographic finish on one side and a mirror finish on the opposite. The Shovelhead Jig is available in four natural baitfish colours. It comes pre-rigged with quality Mustad Assist hooks that feature 200lb Kevlar heat shrunk with quality split rings and solid rings. These lures are outstanding on kingfish, amberjack, samsonfish and reef species. www.jurofishing.com

Recently we saw the release of the new concept Rapala R-Type Saltwater Spinning Reel. Rapala engineers have developed the R-Type spinning reel for hard-core saltwater anglers, with large drags, large capacities and quality componentry, guaranteed not to let you down when that trophy fish latches on and goes hell for leather. Rapala R-Type reels feature a full alloy body and rotor, ported ‘braid ready’ alloy spool with shielded drag, high drag output, CNC screw into gear handle arm, infinite anti reverse, six stainless steel bearings, left/right hand wind, and Ti line roller. The R-Type reels have everything to ensure you get the most out of each reel. All models feature a 4.9:1 gear ratio and deep spools and are available in 5500, 6500 and 7500 sizes with drag ratings of 7.7kg, 16.8kg and a whopping 17.75kg respectively. Rapala have an R-Type reel to suit every kind of hard-core saltwater angler. www.rapala.com.au

Japanese Tackle Giant Valley Hill consistently produces some of the world’s best bass lures, and the Jungle Rapper is no exception. With a nice profile and seven enticing colour combinations, the Jungle Rapper has only been available in Australia for a short time, however it has already been the undoing of many big bass. Ideal for casting in any situation, the Jungle Rapper emits a popping sound along the surface which bass simply can’t resist. In addition, the left and right wings ensure a good level of casting and retrieval control in windy and choppy conditions. Even at rest, bass have been known to hit a Jungle Rapper out of curiosity. Measuring 70mm and weighing in at 11g, and with all the quality and durability we have come to expect from Valley Hill, the Jungle Rapper is a must-have for all serious freshwater anglers. For more information on the Valley Hill range, visit the Dogtooth website. www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au DECEMBER 2017

WHAT’S NEW FISHING OKUMA HELIOS SPIN

TANGO SHAD NEW 13 COLOURS

The new Helios Spin from Okuma boasts an ultralight build with a heavyweight performance, the sort of top end performance perfect for tournament anglers and hardcore fishers alike. The Helios is made from lightweight C-40X carbon frame and side plates, and C-40X Cyclonic Flow Rotor for corrosion resistance. The Torsion Control Armor reduces twisting, and the 8HPB + 1RB corrosion resistant stainless steel bearings will ensure this reel is smooth and comfortable to use for long periods. Precision AlumiLite alloy main gear and oscillating gears, as well as rigid, machined aluminium, anodised handle serve to help this reel last many battles. To finish, it has lightweight, EVA handle knobs for comfort, machined aluminium, 2-tone anodised spool, heavy-duty solid aluminium bail wire, and a computer-balanced Rotor Equalizing System. This fantastic piece of machinery comes in 3 sizes, the HSX-20, HSX-30 and HSX-40, weighing in at 201, 227 and 260g respectively. www.tackletactics.com.au

OBSESSION SPINNERBAITS

DECEMBER 2017

14 15

Gamakatsu are proud to present a hook purpose-built for hard-core game fishing. This handsome forged steel hook is super heavy-duty, and designed to handle big game fish species. The sleek blade tapers into a knife point edge and will penetrate with absolute surgical precision, and will find home for a solid hook up. Gama’s new Tuna Blade Point fits into trolling skirts, can be stitched into baits and is also an excellent stiff rig hook, making this an extremely versatile bit of kit. It’s the ideal tool whether you are fishing for records or are a weekend game angler. This great hook comes in sizes from 7/0 to 10/0, and is razor sharp out of the packet. Make sure you’ve got some packets of these next time you’re planning to hit the big blue in search of big angry game fish! Price: RRP from $43.95 www.frogleysoffshore.com.au

EGINNO PYONPYON 15 HALCO LASER SEARCH 3.5 The Eginno Pyonpyon Search 3.5 is the PRO 140

latest addition to Yamashita’s range of squid jigs. The Pyonpyon (‘pyon pyon’ means ‘jump jump’) has a number of unique features. The first big feature is the Eginno Lip, a unique folding front flap which closes on the cast for improved casting distance, and opens on the retrieve. The flap creates a unique water resistance, very similar to a prawn swimming. Eginno Leg Feathersplaced along the belly create a natural fluttering action, similar to the way a swimming prawn’s legs move. The combination of the water resistance created by the lip and the position of the feathers creates an enticing swimming action. The body is also equipped with a tuned 600hz rattle, designed to replicate the sound of feeding and help attract interest from surrounding squid. Yamashita have used 490 glow beads – designed to emit light at the best wavelength for squid to see – and placed them inside the body of the jig for a unique glow effect. www.ejtodd.com.au

The incredibly popular and successful Zerek Tango Shad has had five new colours added to its 50mm, floating range, a design that has proven itself on many species. These five colours are all UV active – some with a lot of UV and others with smaller UV highlights. Each colour has been chosen for its effectiveness in different water colours and clarities, and thorough testing has ensured these colours are fish producers. The five colours are: A (albino) – a primarily white lure with UV coloured pink and green dots, G (So Much) – a black lure with UV pink tiger stripes and head, HD (Horn Dog) – a bright UV pink lure with UV green dots and white dots, MD (Moon Dog) – A black lure with UV pink and green dots, and SCD (Scum Dog) – A UV Green with UV pink dots and black dots. The colours are available now and they are already producing fish such as flathead, bream, estuary perch, trout and redfin. www.wilsonfishing.com

GAMAKATSU TUNA 14 BLADE POINT

Australian-made Obsession Spinnerbaits are the brainchild of Raymond Parry. He has translated his passion for fishing with spinnerbaits into making them for other anglers. He produces a large range of quality products to target our native species, and his spinnerbaits are no exception. Available in three sizes, 3/8oz, 1/2oz and 3/4oz, Obsession Spinnerbaits come in either a double or triple blade configuration. Couple that with nine head colour options and their hot tip or turbo-flared skirt colours, and there is bound to be a combination to suit your needs or the native fish that you are targeting. To find out more about Obsession Spinnerbaits you can contact Ray on 0428 462 397, or to find your nearest stockist go to the Obsession website. www.obsessionspinnerbaits.com

PRODUCT GUIDE

The Laser Pro family got a new member with the official launch of the Laser Pro 140 being released in late April. While taking considerable time to come to market, the boys at Halco believe the Laser Pro 140 will be well worth the wait. At 140mm long, it is just a perfect baitfish size, allowing anglers to closely match the hatch. The lure is ranged in all of Halco’s most popular bluewater colours, for the best possible chance of taking that fish of a lifetime. Initially, the Laser Pro 140 will only be available with a deep diving bib that runs at around 2.5m and trolls at up to 9 knots. Keep an eye out for the new Laser Pro 140 at your favourite tackle store. You can also find more information on the Halco Tackle website, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HalcoTackle, or follow them on Instagram @halcotackle. www.halcotackle.com

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING

Find your obsession with Obsession Spinnerbaits I love testing products for the magazines, it gives me an opportunity to play with lots of new things and use products that I would otherwise never get the chance to. Then there are occasions like this. Anybody who knows me will know that one of my favourite ways to target Australian native species is with spinnerbaits. Hence, a chance meeting with Raymond Parry from Obsession Spinnerbaits at this years Melbourne Boat Show and then again at the Australian Lure Expo has led to me testing some of his spinnerbaits. If the truth is to be known, I wasn’t going to let anyone else do this testing booth, I claimed it for myself. I spent a bit of time with Raymond at the Lure Expo going through his range of products and picking out a few to try. I have to say that this was not as easy as it may sound. Ray’s range is quite expansive and I wanted to ensure that I gave the best overview I can. Needless to say, Ray was generous with his time and products and

The Obsession Hot Baits are a lure the author is keen to explore further. It offers anglers many different options. after purchasing a few extras just to make sure I was thorough, I then went about trying them for about six months. I will do my best to explain the outcome. BIGGER IS BETTER There is a huge demand for large-profile heavy spinnerbaits at the moment. Anglers are casting and trolling them for Murray cod and golden perch. There are plenty of suitable lures within the Obsession range, from single spins all the way through to quad spins and depending on the model, they are available in weights up to 3.5oz. The concept behind them is bigger baits catch bigger fish. I put a number of the quad, twin and single spins to the test at Lake Eildon. It is mind-boggling how big a profile these lures present, as well as the options they open up. I comfortably fished steep walls knowing that my lure was following the contour of the bank back to me. Trolling the same areas prospecting for fish was the real eye opener for me. We targeted fish around sunken timber in 20-30 feet of water, and I can guarantee that any fish in the area knew the lure was there. The feedback from the lure through the rod was amazing. I would love to say that we came a away from a few days fishing with tales of huge fish caught or stories about fish that

got away, but poor weather and colder than normal water temperatures meant I was sent back to Queensland with my tail between my legs. However, after casting each of the Obsession spinnerbaits so many times over those days and fishing with a person who also produces spinnerbaits, my conclusion on these larger baits is that they cast amazingly well using the right tackle. They have a strong action and my fishing buddy was impressed by the components used by Ray to make his spinnerbaits, so I have no doubts that if a big fish had jumped on, the spinnerbaits would have been up to the task. I look forward to having further opportunities to use them. SMALLER PROFILE OPTIONS Queensland impoundment bass have a thirst for quality spinnerbaits and the size of the fish demands strength in construction. Smaller and generally lighter options are preferred to cast around any edge structure. Ray explained to me that he was slowly building up his range to suit this. There have always been spinnerbaits to suit, but he was adding single spins and mini baits that would also be ideal for this caper. Maroon Dam is a great little impoundment that holds plenty of fish and is one of my favourite places to throw spinnerbaits. The structure you can fish varies from weed to timber and rock walls, and a spinnerbait is the ideal lure to use around these. I haven’t fished a lot of single spin spinnerbaits, so I decided to tie one of these on first and was instantly rewarded. A number of bass and an over-sized golden perch (for Maroon) hit the deck. You cannot help but be impressed with the simplicity that a single bladed spinnerbait offers. The Colorado blade instantly spins once in the water and puts out plenty of vibration and flash. Match this with the number of skirt options (Hot tip and Turbo flared) and head colours in the Obsession range and I am sure you find a colour to suit your needs. I stuck with natural goldbased colours and was very happy. WAIT, THERE’S MORE The range of options doesn’t end there. You will also find Clackerbaits, Mumblers and Hotbaits on the Obsession Spinnerbait website. The Clackerbaits are an interesting

The author hadn’t used single bladed spinnerbaits much before. He is now a convert after getting this 56cm golden perch the first time he used one. lure and can be fished either on the surface or below, depending on the speed of the retrieve. Although I played with it them at Maroon, I had missed the prime bite period for this style of fishing, but they certainly create plenty of commotion in the water to get the fishes’ attention. The lure I really want to mention here and one that I will need to put more time into are the Hotbaits.

Although designed to target redfin and golden perch, switched on trout anglers have seen potential in this lure and I firmly believe that flathead in the saltwater will climb all over them. I have retrofitted a larger inline single hook to the one I have for flathead,

Large profile spinnerbaits are a must have for any Murray cod angler and Obsession Spinnerbaits has a great range to choose from.

LURE STYLES AVAILABLE • Spinnerbaits • Hot Baits • Single Spin • Quad Spin

TESTED

• Clackerbaits • Mini Baits • Twin Spin • Mumblers

All are available in nine head colours and either Hot Tip or Turbo Flared skirts

There was no question that the Maroon Dam bass wanted to eat the Obsession spinnerbaits. This one absolutely inhaled the single spin.

but I can see trout anglers adding some leader to the hook and trailing worms or a yabby behind it while trolling. I love the concept of this lure; I just need a bit more time to play, so watch this space. TRY THEM YOURSELF Ray attends plenty of events selling spinnerbaits and also supports plenty of fishing tournaments in New South Wales and Victoria. He loves a chat and is always open to ideas and feedback. He even runs a metre club promotion through his website. Send a photo of your fish caught on an Obsession Spinnerbait and he will send you two spinnerbaits as a reward. He also has a strong retailer network through which you can buy one of his spinnerbaits. In a nutshell, Obsession Spinnerbaits are well made. Quality components are used and there has been plenty of thought put into what each product in the range is going to be used for, with the end product meeting those needs in my mind. I have been impressed using them so far, but the testing isn’t over – I will need to hang onto these spinnerbaits for a little bit longer! For more info about their range, visit www. obsessionspinnerbaits.com – Peter Jung

DECEMBER 2017

Pick and choose from natives and trout CANBERRA

Bryan Pratt

One of the nice things about our part of the world is the division of activity between native fish in summer and trout during winter. Both are fun to

While it tends to be a summer/winter divide, there are those happy times when both types of fish are on the move at the same time and you can take your pick as to which one you fish for. Right now you can select the fishery you want – trout or natives.

Flyfishers found some nice fish in the streams once the season got well underway with extensive rain throughout the catchment. catch and you can swap tackle and techniques at different times of the year to ensure you fill out your fishing year as you please.

GOLDENS MOVING In Canberra’s local lakes right now it’s golden perch time. They were gradually becoming more active as

summer developed and now they have come on the bite in a rush. If you chuck a yabby or a scrub worm in Lake Burley Griffin right now, especially late in the afternoon, you have a pretty good chance of catching a fish. In fact there has been such a surge of fish I wonder whether we should develop a new name for it each year. Perhaps we should say the ‘coming’ – similar to the term the ‘opening’ that we apply to the trout season. LAKE STOCKING Canberra’s local lakes and ponds contain big populations of golden perch, because they are stocked each year by the ACT and Federal Governments and by local angling clubs that raise funds for stocking in various ways. The fish don’t breed locally and thus must be stocked on an ongoing basis to maintain a fishable population. That raises a bit of a problem. In the ACT we strongly endorse catch and release fishing. It is environmentally sustainable and a sound practice for put-and-take fisheries. Many people return golden perch to the water unharmed as a normal part of their fishing. On the other hand we have a large and diverse angling population, some of whom have alternate views of the fish. They can’t believe their luck at having a lake full of prime, healthy, greattasting, pollution-free fish that they can catch free of charge right near their home. All they need are a few yabbies that they can catch from local lakes and ponds (or purchase for fifty cents each from their local tackle shop.) Match these to a modestly priced rod and reel and you have prime tucker for the family for the evening meal – quite a money-saver when you are a worker on a low wage.

Decent browns and rainbows have been taken on fly in the big mountain lakes on drifts of insects blown ashore the previous night. And some of the meals are terrific. Some anglers can do wonders with whole or filleted golden perch in a wok or steamed or roasted with an array of fresh

season is now open again and the cod are hungry and frisky. Legal-sized fish are fair game, but most anglers looking to the future release them to provide sport for

catch and there are just not enough fish left to catch. At the current catch rate that could occur quite soon. It’s something to think about. THE TROUT SCENE The trout season has been an interesting one. It got off to a slow start with drought-affected streams and sluggish and non-responsive fish. That changed a few weeks later, however, as good rain throughout the catchment filled streams and got the season well underway. Anglers have since reported some good browns and rainbows on fly and lure. Lure anglers have fared well on Celtas, Mepps, Imp spoons, small soft plastics and small hardbodied minnow patterns. Many of the larger fish have been browns. Some of the rainbows are in lesser condition, just coming off spawning, so they are hungry and keen to put on condition. Flyfishers have done well with a range of small wets, especially black and brown nymphs. Dries have been worth a try during extended sunny periods, especially when moths and midges are on the move. BIG LAKES The big lakes are fishing well. The best flies have been larger wets such as Hamills Killer, Mrs Simpson, Lords Killer and Woolly Bugger. There have been some good catches in the early mornings, fishing into swathes of dead and dying insects blown in by the previous night’s

Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin is home to a large population of stocked golden perch, some of which are taken for the table.

Canberra’s urban lakes are stocked with golden perch and other natives by Government and by local angling clubs at regular intervals. 74

DECEMBER 2017

vegetables from the local farmers market. Given this, it’s hard to convince an angler who has just caught a prime specimen of golden perch weighing perhaps 2-3kg to throw it back in the water then go home to eat something out of a tin for dinner. A similar situation applies to Murray cod. The

another day. Those who want them to eat are entitled to take their bag limit and we are expected to respect that despite our pleadings to do otherwise. Such is the diversity of anglers in a large angling community. What will be interesting to see is if and when the take brigade catch greatly exceeds the put-and-take

prevailing wind. Trollers have done well with larger minnows such as the Rapala Spotted Dog and darker Tasmanian Devils. All in all, it’s not a clash of seasons but a complement of seasons and a luxury period for anglers. Native fish one day and trout the next. It doesn’t get much better than that.

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS WATER MONSTERS

KRAKEN SIREN MERMAID CTHULU MURLOC NAGA WATER ELEMENTAL WATER WEIRD ABOLETH BULLYWUG KAPPA

BATTLE TOAD CAPRICORN LOCHNESS MONSTER GODZILLA GRINDY LOWS HIPPO CAMP KELPIE MARID LEVIATHAN SEA HAG

Valley Hill Rocketeer Slicer

Name: Address:

P/Code:

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win the prize pack. SEND ENTRIES TO: NSW Find-a-word Competition, PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129

NSW DEC 2017

Phone (day):

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

The Rocketeer Slicer from Japanese tackle giant Valley Hill is a real feat of Japanese design and engineering. The Rocketeer Slicer has a unique metal plate at the nose of the jig, which lets you secure line in two places, and ensures a superior swimming action even through debris. In addition, its tail system lets you cast more effectively into the wind. The Rocketeer Slicer is available in two sizes (3.0 and 3.5) and 13 different colour combinations. It has proven to be highly effective on Australian squid. www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to Graham Hall from Grenfell, who was last month’s winner of the Find-aWord Competition! Monthly winners receive a sponsor prize. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – NSWFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winner for October is W Lees of Sutherland, who won Okuma Fishing gear of your choice valued up to $300. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

of Forster, T Ewings of Sussex Inlet, I Dando of Tuggerawong, A Zoneff of Aberdare, E Ristau of Ilford , S Jones of Narromine, D Allen of Gorokan, D Gee of Glossodia, J Stranner of Rose Bay, J Coates of Gwandalan, R Wicks of Forbes, M Blake of Walcha, R Durie of Holt, P Dobson of Glenmore Park, D Jones of Bathurst, N West of Barmedman, T Polley of Via Burrell Creek, M MacMurray of

Eglinton, D Turner of Kincumber, J Szabo of Penrith, K Thompson of Ermington, F Bubas of Albion Park, J Malcolm of Warners Bay, M Baker of Gorokan, R Gill of Lake Munmorah, I Errey of Leeton, G Ellis of Fingal Bay, A Munro of Old Bar, P Trethewey of Unanderra, L Rayner of Melba. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE COASTAL BLACK LOGO

The answers to Find the Coastal Black Logo for October were: 8, 15, 19, 23, 25, 30, 36, 42, 50, 59, 66, 73, 96, 100, 104. – NSWFM

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Saratoga

The Find the Coastal Black prize winners for October were: S Cameron of Tyndale, T Field of Flinders, R Waters of Temora, B Whyte of Myers Flat, B Mitchell of Nords Wharf, B Mannering of Leumeah, C West of Dapto, R Jordan of Botany, D Gerstner of Liverpool, I Necic of Glenfield, R Bland

GUESS THE FISH?

Answer: DECEMBER 2017

Canberra is a top destination for cod season CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

In December, local anglers switch their attention from golden perch and redfin to Murray cod. We are lucky here in Canberra to have access to some outstanding cod fisheries right on our doorstep like the Murrumbidgee, Lake Burley Griffin and Googong, to name a few.

mantel of the ‘must-have’ for the season. My bet has to be the Dragonsaurus from Mimix. This lure looks exactly like the water dragons that regularly have kamikaze swims around the ledges at Googong and across the skinny pools down the Murrumbidgee, so it ‘matches the hatch’ perfectly. Regardless of what new lure produces early, it is sure to be an interesting cod

subtle takes. That said, I have caught fish around the flatter areas of the lake, often along the high traffic areas like the footpath at Gallipoli Reach. This is a great spot to cast for goldens using soft vibes and a good spot for big redfin and the occasional carp. The rock wall at Lady Denman Drive is producing fish for boat and kayak anglers while casting plastics like the Strike Pro Enticer Finesse Grubs in motor oil

Andrew Di Bartolo with a good-sized Googong yella. the skate park and near the college, but no golden perch. The redfin are hitting the surface and hopefully the cod should come on the bite soon. Dawn and dusk are the best times to hit the lake and overcast days are also

been racking up big numbers. I have spent the last few weekends fishing the ledges near the police jetty from my kayak with a few mates and have been getting plenty of redfin and the occasional yella using plastics in the

Canberra goldens respond well to vibes fished slow along the flats. Every year there seems to be one new lure that produces early and earns a cult-like status for the season. Last year, it was the Savage Gear Line-Thru Trout that scored some great fish for local guns like Michael Wilson, whereas the year before it was the Noisy Dachs Timber Flash used to great effect by the Osman brothers. I am fascinated to see which lure will quickly take the

NEW

season, as the region has had a decent hit of rain, which will get the fish on the chew. LOCAL NEWS Lake Burley Griffin is hit and miss for both golden perch and redfin. I have had reports from some anglers of subtle takes and lost fish while other anglers have caught good-sized goldens. I have found the goldens to be particularly skittish this year and have missed plenty of opportunities due to the

Every Googong cod is well fed. good, especially if you are targeting Murray cod. Lake Ginninderra is fishing well for redfin and golden perch. Though the lake is chock-full of weed, land-based anglers have been employing ‘drop shot’ techniques from the shore to deal with the issue while kayak and boat fishers have

65-80mm range and Jackall TN60s. We have had several triple hook-ups and landed some chunky redfin to 45cm. Gungahlin has a serious weed problem to the point where some parts of the system are completely unfishable. Anglers are continuing to catch fish using plastics rigged weedless and

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at Blue Gum Point will give you a chance of catching a monster golden. There are also big cod in this area, so keep a spinnerbait handy. Lake Tuggeranong is still a bit of an enigma and hasn’t fired like it did this time last year. There are a small number of local anglers who have worked out the lake and are racking up big numbers of golden perch and massive redfin but most anglers have been left frustrated. I have fished the margins of the lake on foot a few times this month and have caught a fair few redfin around

small spinnerbaits fished right near the top of the water column. It’s a tricky place to fish, but for those that work it out the rewards are outstanding with large goldens and solid cod a distinct possibility along with the occasional 40cm reddy. SURROUNDS Googong is fishing well for golden perch and redfin. The water level is still low and there is word that water may be let out of Googong right up until Christmas. This hasn’t affected the bite, as redfin are actively hitting surface and large golden perch have been tailing these reddy schools in search of an easy meal. If you catch a redfin on a small plastic, quickly switch to a larger vibe and cast into the same area. Larger reddies and golden perch will take this type of lure, as will a Murray cod if you are lucky. Bradleys can produce the occasional fish; at this time of year, it pays to push right up the back of the dam and try for one of the massive metre fish that hang around the steep rocky points and thick timber.

DECEMBER 2017

Ross Daley with an outstanding Googong golden.

The redfin fishing at Ginninderra has been outstanding.

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Codaholics are getting psyched for open season Creek, Adelong Creek and even Tumbarumba Creek. Fishing with small spinners, soft plastics and hardbody lures will work well for the spin fishers, but if you’re keen on the fly then dry flies are a must! The bug

WAGGA WAGGA

Rhys Creed

Like all the other freshwater reports, the talk of the Wagga Wagga region is the Murray cod open season! That’s right; spring is over, the heat is here and so is our favourite freshwater fish! MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER As always at this time of year the river is running high due to irrigation demand out in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA). Most of this water is diverted into channels and storages west of Narrandera for crops. By the time it reaches the Murray River there is little left, and around Wagga Wagga we have a high and fast-flowing river. The fishing is still good

Summer is loaded with plenty of opportunities for all. Just be cautious of snakes throughout the region as they are prolific and can be fatal if you’re bitten in remote areas. Wear long pants with

Tallis Cotterill landed this Murray cod casting a spinnerbait in the slower edges of the Murrumbidgee River. slow water in close to the banks. Look for swirling eddies and still patches of water behind large structures. Both 5/8oz spinnerbaits and

or willows. Yabbies, bardi grubs, shrimp and worms are the best options. During summer the best time to fish is first light and throughout the morning, as the water is cooler for the fish. In the afternoon the water heats right up, shutting the fish down. BLOWERING DAM Blowering will be a hype of activity around cod opening and through until New Year. This doesn’t mean you should avoid it; I

4-5m, as the hungry fish will be up feeding on carp. Don’t forget first light either; this is a great time to make the most of a short bite window. During the first hour of light the cod will switch on and will take to a cast soft plastic or spinnerbait. The rocky banks towards the wall end of the dam are the best spots at this time. SMALL TROUT STREAMS A short drive from Wagga Wagga up in the hills you can

Some of the local small streams are home to some solid and healthy brown trout.

Slim hardbody lures like this 90mm Strike Force Whippersnapper are perfect for fishing in the high flows. if you know where to look. Luckily, when there is more water the temperature doesn’t get too hot and therefore the fish are still happy to feed. If you’re casting lures, you want to concentrate on the

hardbody lures up to 100mm will work well. Bait fishing in these areas is well worth a crack; just make sure you are fishing close to some form of structure like logs

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Ryan struggling with this armload of monster Murray cod taken on an FX Fury soft plastic. Back he goes to terrorise the local bug population. highly recommend visiting Blowering for a crack at the monster cod before it gets too hot (and before the Christmas activity). Fishing during the night is the best option, as this is when the cod are most active. The preferred method is casting large soft plastics parallel to the bank in 4-6m of water on the flatter, grassy banks. The grassy banks are our preference on a dark night because they are easy to fish. If you have a full moon, casting tight to sloping rocky banks with timber is another great option. Trolling is a technique we turn to in summer as the fish push deeper and large lures between 120 and 200mm work best on the 1m+ fish. Dark colours are always the best, but don’t be afraid to mix it up. We like to troll between 6-8m early in the night and once it gets past 11pm I push into shallower water and troll

find some great small trout stream opportunities. Some recommended locations are Jounama Creek, Yarrongabilly River, Gimore

activity in summer is amazing and the trout will rise to a dry fly any time throughout the day. In the small streams I like to use Royal Wulffs, Royal Stimulators and Red Tag patterns.

gaitors (snake protection) and solid boots. Also be careful of the sun, because it is more dangerous than we think. Always wear sun protection and enjoy your summer fishing.

Rocky banks and big plastics go hand-in-hand during low light periods.

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Adjust to summer’s changing water conditions HUNTER VALLEY

Peter Phelps

The weather and rainfall over the end of spring will influence how the fishing will be this month. Generally, the temperatures will be really ramping up. The water should be hitting 25°C. The

Both Lake Glenbawn and St Clair will become very busy this month. The warm weather gets everyone out enjoying water activities and camping. For the best fishing results try and get out very early or late in the day while the sun is low and less people are on the water. December can be the transition month

Tom Slater with yellowbelly caught on a skirted jig. fishing can be a little up and down, so how you target fish and adjust to the conditions will dictate your results.

for the fish in the lakes and if we have consistently hot weather, the fish can start retreating towards the deep.

December is probably the best month to throw a topwater lure for bass. The insect life is in full bloom and the fish will be looking up for a meal. Don’t be afraid to throw a big topwater lure, as they will not be shy. Lures up to 100mm like big paddlers, walkers, poppers, prop baits and even a weedless frog or buzz bait will be good if you find some matted weed or thick cover. Reaction-style lures will still play a big role this month. Lipless crankbaits, bladed jigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits will work. Cast towards shallow cover around low light periods and any fish up in the water column moving around and feeding should take some interest in these lures. As the sun gets higher and the reaction bite slows down try working a skirted jig and craw trailer along the bottom. Work the jig slowly with your rod then wind up your slack by dragging and slow hopping it along the bottom down into around 20ft of water. Cast tight to timber and rock or holes in the weed. As I mentioned before the fish will start to transition this month and once you see the

Mitchell Cone with a buzz bait-eating bass. surface water temperatures getting above 26-28°C, most the fish will move deep to escape this heat. In these conditions, some edge fish can still be caught; however, they can be temperamental and very tough to catch. Early topwater fishing is generally the only reliable method in these situations. All your typical deep fishing techniques will work when the water heats up. I’ve found if it’s hot with clears skies and glassed-out, a vertical soft plastic grub

works well. If you are faced with some windy or overcast conditions, something that creates vibration or flash like a 3/8-1/2 blade, tail spinner or even deep spinnerbait will produce some fish. If you’re chasing golden perch, drop soft plastics down beside trees and slow roll them up. The bass will school up off most points, flats, and trees. Slowly moving around and fishing will draw fish in under your boat and hopefully they will start to bite. Remember, catching these

deeper fish and bringing them up will cause barotrauma, especially for golden perch. If you’re not keeping fish remember to release these fish straight away after a quick photo, so you won’t unintentionally kill them. If you’re keeping some, be mindful with needling them or kill them and put them straight onto ice. The upper reaches of the rivers and creeks should fish exceptionally this month. Big bass will have migrated all the way up by now. Some giant bass will be caught on topwater this month out of the rivers. Fishing into the dark should see the big girls come out from their haunts and move around more freely. Big topwater paddlers are the easiest to fish in the dark and will catch bass up to that magic 50cm mark. During daylight hours, all your typical river bass lures will work. A spinnerbait, Beetle spin or crankbait cast tight to the structure and bounced over snags down into deep holes should work. Weedless rigged frogs, soft plastics and skirted jigs thrown into the heavy cover will catch the ones you miss on moving style baits.

The big baits are back in boxes back into the tackle boxes for many fishers across the country, as another Murray cod season is officially Finally, it’s that time of the underway for 2017-18. year again where the big With the Northern baits have made their way Tablelands area seeing some NEW ENGLAND RIVERS

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big electrical storms and heavy rains in recent weeks, I would say the cod season opening has perfect timing; the local impoundments have been fishing well for weeks now and the rivers are looking better than ever. Copeton Dam has been one of the best places to fish lately as both the golden perch and cod have been getting caught in good numbers, and they’re in very good shape. The goldens have been getting caught on most methods. Hopping blades has accounted for some of the best-conditioned fish I’ve seen come out of the dam so far.

Yellowbelly around the 57-61cm have been fairly common and are showing up on most sessions. In recent trips to the dam, there have been times when netting one fish often turns into a handful as they are schooling up in big numbers and following each other to the boat. Zac Conn, a Copeton local, also managed to catch one of the biggest cod I have seen caught on a blade-style lure measuring in at a massive 118cm; it’s pretty impressive hooking and landing a fish of that size on a lure less than 40mm long.

An awesome Copeton Dam yellowbelly caught on a ZX Blade. There have been plenty of stories similar to the ‘Big Copeton Cod’ harassing other fishers around the dam as well. A lot are

“Drop in and ask our friendly staff what they’re biting on!”

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ABERDEEN Phone 69 New England Hwy, [02] 6543 7111 Aberdeen NSW 2336

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DECEMBER 2017

Another Copeton Dam golden perch caught on a blade.

being caught as by-catch while targeting the yellas, which makes for some pretty exciting heart-inmouth fishing when they are hooked. Landing them on light gear is another story though. Copeton Dam was recently sitting around the 52% mark and is unstable due to irrigation releases for downstream farms. Pindari Dam has also been fishing well lately but slower than usual for around this time. The dam was sitting at around the high 20% mark last year and was recently up around 100%, so that could possibly be a big contributing factor to the tougher conditions. In saying that, the fish that have been getting caught are very good quality fish for Pindari’s standards. Lures like To page 81

Get the kids out for some Christmas fishing COPETON DAM

David Allen manager@copeton.com.au

Can you believe that December is here and Christmas is only around the corner? It’s scary.

Worms, shrimp and craybobs (yabbies) are all available on site at Copeton. Starting with worms, the ones to target are the granite or scrub worms. At Copeton the place to find these is in the accumulated leaf litter and humus at the bottom of

Shrimp can be the key to unlocking shutdown yellowbelly. A couple of shrimp back to back on an appropriate-size hook is nearly impossible for a golden perch to swim past. The best way to secure your shrimp is with one of the

as ‘bobbing.’ This method is usually boat-based and is often used around standing timber, particularly big, old pine trees. The horizontal method is mainly used off the bank and is just a simple running sinker rig with a leader of 30-60cm to the hook. Keeping in mind that opera house traps cannot be used in Copeton Dam, the smaller square shrimp traps can and will catch yabbies. One of the real fun things to do with the kids on a summer evening is to grab a torch and head for an area of rocky shoreline. If the kids are fast enough and don’t mind a little nip or two then great

fun can be had turning over rocks in the shallows and grabbing the yabbies hiding underneath. You will notice that Copeton yabbies are generally very dark to black in colour, which may be why black or dark lures work so well on the yellowbelly. Once the kids have caught enough bait then yabbies can be fished using the same rigs as above, just beefed up a bit. Little yabbies are great for bobbing for yellas and the bigger ones make a great bait for cod, if you can resist eating them yourself. This time of year will also see a large number of families visiting for the

school holidays, so if this is your plan then it may be wise to book ahead, especially if you wanting a powered site or cabins. Give the park office a call. We have unlimited bush camping (no power). • I would like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas and a great New Year from the management and staff at Reflection Holiday Parks Copeton Waters, formally known as Copeton Waters Holiday Park. It’s the same great service with a new name and logo. Check out our new website at www. re f l e c t i o n s h o l i d a y p a r k s .com.au.

Sam Gilchrist with a cracker 106cm cod. This time of year is all about families and kids in particular, so let’s look at how we get these kids away from iPads and phones and get them outdoors and involved in nature and fishing. One of the basics of fishing is bait collecting. This can be as much fun as the actual fishing and is a great way of explaining how the natural world works. From page 80

the ZX style blades, Mazzy Vibes or small profile spinnerbaits are the lures of choice and will out-fish other lures in this waterway, as they

big granite rocks. Some of those worms are as round as your little finger and a foot long. They are a great bait for all species up to and including Murray cod. For the smaller species, the kids can break them up and using a small hook and running sinker rig along any open bank, this will provide great entertainment in the form of spangled perch, redfin and catfish.

commercially available traps. These can be baited with anything from a chop bone to cat food to soap; nearly anything will work at times. Shrimp can be fished in two ways: vertically and horizontally. The vertical method is about as simple as fishing gets; run a small ball sinker onto your line then tie on a hook thread on a shrimp or two and you are ready to fish. This is known

are easier to fish in the heavy cover that Pindari is known for. For bait fishers, it’s pretty hard to go past the trusty old yabby orcrayfish, no matter what waterway

you fish. They are more abundant and active at this time of the year. Both dams have been on high alert for the algae blooms, so check local reports before swimming in these

The author caught this Copeton cod as a yellowbelly by-catch.

The author caught this great 56cm yella on a ZX40. waterways. The Beardy River is still a bit stained from the muddy waters after recent rains, however it has still been fishing well since trout opening. Although other species are known to be present in this waterway, the redfin have been the main species being caught, mostly on small profile lures. Lipless crankbaits and small hardbodies are proving to be most effective in the coloured water. Just a reminder, ask permission before accessing the river; most of the riverfront is private property. Most locals are friendly and don’t have a problem if you ask. There have been no reports of the Severn River over the Murray cod spawning period, but with the season officially opened, I’m hoping to be out there and into them before you finish reading this report. Good luck this upcoming Murray cod season. I hope dreams come true and PBs are broken. I’ll see you out on the water.

A Luckycraft Ja Do Vibe inside a Murray cod’s bucket mouth.

This ZX Blade is candy for chunky golden perch. DECEMBER 2017

Take golden moments in an uncertain future ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

Most sections of the Murray River have been fishing well with Swan Hill once again a bit of a standout destination. Amongst the good number of golden perch being caught, Murray cod have been a constant by-catch and it seems they are hard to avoid. This is good news for the coming cod season. At the moment most of the perch are being caught on bait, but as the river clears I am sure the lure brigade will get in on the action. The local channels are also producing perch, as are the lakes. A few fish are being caught on vibes at both the Reidy and Kangaroo lake regulators. The Wakool at Kyalite has golden perch taking bait and has been fishing fairly well, with most visitors managing a fish or two. Back onto the Murray River, Boundary bend has perch biting on bait amongst the carp. There’s been no by-catch cod from this area right down through Robinvale,

Wemen and beyond, but all are reporting good numbers of perch. Of course, the carp are ever-present and about in numbers as thick as I have ever seen them. While they are great fun on the line, they are also a constant reminder of some people’s belief that they have the right to interfere with nature. Like rabbits, foxes and the prickly pear, the introduction of carp is in a long list of stupid ideas supported by supposedly learned people. With that in mind, are we staring down the barrel of the next environmental disaster with the proposed release of the carp herpes virus? Sure, you will see graphs with wiggly lines and numerous snippets of anecdotal evidence on the benefits of this release, but what of the unknown effects like those shown in cane toads? Cane toads were introduced into Australia from Hawaii in June 1935 in an attempt to control the native grey-backed cane beetle. First released in northern Queensland, cane toads rapidly multiplied in population to a point where they now number

The potential release of the herpes carp virus is just one of many factors affecting the future of our local rivers. over 200 million and are known to spread diseases affecting local biodiversity. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that the cane toads have even affected the cane beetles they were introduced to predate on in the first place. The toads have steadily expanded their range through Queensland, reaching the border into New South Wales and the Northern Territory. Now this is the bit that interests me the most. It seems the toads on the

western frontier of their advance have adapted for travel with larger legs, and this is thought to be related to their ability to travel faster and further. It was estimated that cane toads migrated at an average of 40km per year as of 1994, but new research in 2014 indicated that the migration rate had increased to 60km per year on the western front. So in the short time frame of just two decades, cane toads have evolved to

the point that they have increased their speed by one third. Pardon the pun, but what a huge leap forward in genetics. I could be wrong, but I am doubting researchers and scientists hypothesized this possibility before the cane toads were released into the wild. Will it be the same with the carp herpes virus? What unforeseen treasure might escape Pandora’s scientific box this time around? When interviewed on the potential effects and impact of the virus, Professor Ross Thompson from the University of Canberra’s Institute Of Applied Ecology said, “The risks were enormous, but not unmanageable. Quite frankly, that line alone frightens the bajebas out of me. To quote another from the realm of science, “No human, no matter how ancient, or how popular, can be above the laws of nature.” With the past two devastating black water events killing thousands of giant breeding size Murray cod, we look set to tempt fate once again. One of the potential outcomes of releasing the virus is another

black water event caused by the rotting carcases of countless carp. We are treating our greatest inland river system like a giant chemistry set and I for one am fearful of the outcome. Add to this the plight of the lower Darling River, and I believe the future of Murray cod fishing will soon be in impoundments. The MDBA is pumping the media with the hype of improved Murray cod numbers thanks to their environmental flows, when the real truth is the decimation of cod stocks along vast stretches of the Murray River, a good portion of the Murrumbidgee, the Wakool and Edward, not to mention many smaller feeder creeks. Once again, how can Murray cod numbers be on the rise? It appears that water will always be more valuable than fish, and for those we count on to protect the mighty Murray cod and other native species, it seems the weight of a secure job helps dull the conscience and the tongue. Enjoy what fishing we have, as the future of this once great fishery is very uncertain.

Another monster Murray cod season is coming YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

Wind the clock back to your early childhood and remember the anticipation in the lead up to Santa’s arrival. If you’re not feeling the same with the opening of a new cod season, you’re not fair dinkum! If it’s hitting the home of the Murray cod, Lake Mulwala opening weekend or sneaking away to a quiet backwater, attention should turn to having your rod, reel, bait, lures and boat ready to go.

Following on from Mulwala’s best season ever where meterys were a common occurrence, I can’t see any reason why the lake’s great fishing shouldn’t continue. Lure choice is a never-ending debate of what’s best, when, where and why. All things surface were the rage last season with sub-surface becoming very popular and rewarding in the later months. These trends will continue with an everincreasing choice of swim, glide and wakebaits available. Don’t discount any of your traditional methods of casting or trolling either hardbodied lures or spinnerbaits, as these

will be as productive as ever. The simple equation at Mulwala is time on the water equals fish! After singing the virtues of all big cod lures, one thing learnt over time is that no lure is too small. Recently a by-catch cod was reported and estimated at 95cm, taken on a 60mm crankbait. Hopefully this hasn’t confused you too much; the main thing is to put your lure in the right spot! For those that prefer the use of bait over lures, bardi grubs or scrub worms (moon bait) should be your preferred option. Yabbies and cheese are other safe baits. Interestingly statistics show that more cod are caught on cheese than Steven Hogan with a decent 76cm cod that would be very welcome early in the season, especially at the Cod Classic! any other bait during the Cod Classic. Below the weir, the yellas should be fishing well if the trends of previous years continue. Many small cod and trout cod also show up early in the season downriver, so please take care when releasing these. Looking back, yella season got off to a slow start, until finally they turned up in their usual haunts. The 50 competitors that took part in the Golden Dollar$ competition in late October returned only 17 yellas for measuring for the day.

DECEMBER 2017

Ultimately, reigning Cod Nationals Champions and father-son combo Rick and Rueben Doyle – Team McGrath – took the cash with their three-fish bag. Only 16mm behind in second was Team Grizzly – Dave Adams and Paul Thomas. Sneaking into third was Simon De Oleveira and Matty Fitzpatrick. The Longest Yella went to Jamie Beer and Kyle Dalrymple – Team Kuttafurra at 515mm. Organisation is all but done for the 2017 Yamaha Cod Classic (on 1-3 December).

The Cod Classic promises to be huge with something for everybody and yes, you can still enter on the weekend. Prizes include seven boating packages and plenty more. • For more information, call in and see us at Lake Mulwala Fish Camp and Ski, the official Cod Classic shop (opposite the post office) in Mulwala, or find us at our Yarrawonga store located between Rivers and One Zach. For up-todate fishing reports or for further information call 0357 441 667.

Snowmelt still feeding the streams and lake JINDABYNE

Steve Williamson steve@swtroutfishing.com.au

Welcome to December and the summer months ahead. You must by now be thinking of Christmas and what Santa will bring you on Christmas Day. Well wouldn’t it be nice to get a holiday at Lake

but the best fly fishing has been in the evening and flies depend on what is on the surface of the water, so check out the bugs first before tying on a fly. On the Thredbo River the fly fishing has still been good, with maybe the best fishing still with weighted nymphs, but you may see some dry fly fishing at times when there is a hatch.

floating minnows like the 5cm Bullet Lures are great in the deeper pools. LAKE BAIT FISHING Lake bait fishing has been nothing but excellent for months now, but I guess that the summer heat has to hit us some time, and as the water temperature around the edges of the lake warms up, the best fishing may again be early in the day at sunrise. You may find that it will be worthwhile fishing later in the morning, as at some time of the day the fish are coming back on the bite and you just need a line in the water to catch them. Local scrub worms are best for brown trout while artificial baits of various colours are proving themselves for rainbow trout and salmon. If you want to catch yourself a big brown trout, then the best baits are still going to be a

to collect and you might find that purchasing local mudeyes may be difficult. Even when you do find them, they are going to be at a premium price. BOAT TROLLING For boat trollers, the usual techniques of fishing on the surface in shallow water at first light and then moving out into deeper water using lead core with 20-30m of line out will extend the better fishing well into the late morning. You will do best using minnow lures early before sunrise, and then switching to Tasmanian Devil lures later in the morning. The best colour Tassies to use will be darker lures early with the number Y48 yellow wing red-nosed brown bomber or even Y94 are great. Try the yellow wing Tasmanian Devils a little later as the sun is about to rise. Lures like

Cariad Geary from Canada with the spoils of a productive morning.

Eve How and Ryan Leliard got amongst some great brown out on the lake. The streams are fishing well and the lower streams have some great dry fly action already, with the usual dry fly patterns working well. If you want to know what the best fly to use is, just call into my shop and I will show you what has been working the best over the last few days. RIVER LURE FISHING Those who like throwing lures into rivers and streams will need to make certain the lure is getting close to the bottom in the faster running water on the days that are bright and sunny. The best fishing again will be early and late in the day. Don’t forget soft plastics in the deep pools, as these can be very effective on trout. The Strike Tiger Nymphs have been fantastic. Lures like Trollcraft spinners or Gillies spinners are well worth a throw in the running water while

n Trout Hatchery e d a G

Gaden Trout Hatchery

Eve How from South Africa holds up a solid brown. well-presented scrub worm, and these are fished with a greased line to stop it from sinking into the weed and getting caught up. Mudeyes, the dragon fly nymphs are a popular summer bait, but this year with the cooler conditions and dams full of water, they are harder

DECEMBER ROUND UP Best method: Best depth: Best lake lure: Best lake area: Best fly method lake: Best river for fly: Best River for spinners:

Tasmanian Devil and a minnow lure for example, will not get perfect results from both lures at the same time. Let’s hope the summer season is a good one. At least we don’t have to worry about water this year! • If you would like some personal guiding, I will be available over the coming months for fly-fishing tuition and lake trolling trips. Lessons can be booked from 2 hours’ duration, and trolling trips from 3 hours to a full day. If you want to know more about the latest in fishing conditions, just give me a call on (0264) 561 551 or check out my website at www.swtroutfishing.com. au. You can also see our daily Facebook updates at https://www.facebook. com/LJTFA.

Gaden Trout Hatchery See how premier sport fish are bred and raised! Open 10 am–4 pm daily.

Closed Anzac, Christmas, Boxing day. Lake Trolling with some good stream flyfishing. Surface lures early and late in the day. Tasmanian Devils with yellow wings like number 111 or Holographic early. East Jindabyne Islands and Creel Bay. Hamills Killers, Williamson’s Gold Fish and in dry flies brown Mayfly. Beetle, grasshopper and Mayfly patterns. 5cm Bullet Minnows and Gillies spinners. Strike Tiger plastic nymphs.

Guided tours 10 am and 2 pm.

Self-guided tours on selected days. Small admission fee.

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Jindabyne and some trout to catch as well? December is a great time to come to the Snowy Mountains as there is plenty to do and this year with all the snow still on the mountains there is plenty of water feeding the rivers and streams and the trout fishing will be the best it has been in many years. The fishing has been good over the last month and with Lake Jindabyne’s water level still very high and the water temperatures quite cool for December, the surface trout fishing is actually very good with plenty of trout being caught. FLYFISHING I predicted a late fly fishing season, and now there are more insects, beetles, caddis fly and grasshoppers about, we have had some very good dry fly fishing and the best is yet to come. On the lake, fly fishing has been also very good,

the Bullet Minnows or the very popular StumpJumpers in brown trout and rainbow trout patterns are also good, but there are many good brands of lures on the market that will do the job if you know what speed to troll to get the best action out of the lures. It is not a good idea to try and mix and match different brands, as no two brands of lures will work best the same at the same speed. The best lures to catch those trophy brown trout will be small minnows, and you need to troll these over the weed beds using longer dropbacks (to 80m) and lighter line or braid to keep the lures at the deepest depth possible. You need to do this well before the sun comes up to get the bigger fish. Trying to run a

Gaden Rd (off Kosciuszko Rd) Jindabyne. 02 6451 3400 www.dpi.nsw.gov.au DECEMBER 2017

The season ahead is already looking good BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

The Murray cod season is finally upon us and if the Murray cod continue to fish as well as they have over the last couple of seasons, it should be one cracker of an opening. There have been amazing catch rates of Murray cod during the closed season as well with plenty of reports of

and lipless crankbaits. Now that the season is open anglers can use much bigger lures to really annoy the very territorial Murray cod. Some big hardbodied lures to use on the troll are the 120mm and larger AC Invaders, as their large profile and amazing diving abilities are very hard to match while trolling. Other large profiled deep-diving lures that are worth a troll in hope of a big Murray cod are big StumpJumpers, Mudeye

the golden perch, it is hard to beat bait fishing around shaly banks, rocky points and submerged trees with large shrimp, small yabbies or garden worms. The golden perch are still worth targeting this month, but you will have to work a bit harder than you did during the spring months to get good results. Trolling with smaller lures such as 60mm Slap Walkers, Stuckeys, Storm Hot’n’Tots, Trollcraft Double Downers, normal blades and

The golden perch fishing at Blowering this spring has been sensational with very good numbers of both big and small golden perch about for anglers to have fun with.

The Tumut River has fished really well so far, even though it has mostly been in high flow. The new rainbow trout coloured Insanity Tackle sinking hardbody has been accounting for numerous trophy-sized Tumut River fish like this since the beginning of the season. people catching half a dozen or more in a session. All things point towards a great first month of the 2017-18 Murray cod season. A lot of the Murray cod caught during the closed season, especially at Blowering Dam, were on small to medium-sized hardbodies

Mohawks and White Crow lures to name but a few. Bait anglers have also been doing really well lately and it’s hard to beat grubs if you’re targeting the Murray cod. Bardis are by far the best followed by wood grubs then yabbies and finally large worms. If you’re after

3” soft plastics is a good way to target the golden perch at this time of the year. Casting the above-mentioned lures in the shallows through the night and at dusk and dawn will also yield good results. Redfin moved into the shallows very early this year hunting anything that will fit

DAM LEVELS brought to you by w w w. b a r g a i n b o a t b i t s. c o m . a u

Dam............................... % Full

Dam Sept Oct Nov Blowering 83 75 63 Brogo 96 85 74 Burrendong 80 74 68 Burrinjuck 60 59 60 Carcoar 91 91 90 Chaffey 93 91 90 Clarrie Hall n/a n/a n/a Copeton 52 50 52 Dartmouth 82 84 52 Eucumbene 30 35 38 Glenbawn 87 87 85 Glenlyon 72 72 72

Dam Sept Oct Nov Glennies Creek 81 79 78 Hume 89 87 83 Jindabyne 58 62 68 Keepit 68 62 58 Lostock 97 90 87 Oberon 85 83 82 Pindari 98 97 100 Split Rock 30 30 30 Tantangara 27 16 18 Toonumbar 99 95 101 Windamere 49 48 47 Wyangala 87 83 81

(All levels correct at time of going to press. Dam levels can change at any time, so please check with local authorities to ensure safe boating and fishing.) 84

DECEMBER 2017

in their mouths. This is great news, as these fish are now a reasonable proposition for all anglers both land-based and on boats. They can be caught trolling or casting with small lures or by bait fishing with worms, maggots or small yabbies. On top of being great eating they help to break up the often long times between native bites. TUMUT RIVER The Tumut River (even though it was at about half full capacity) fished really well during the opening, which was pleasing for all the tourists that converged on the river during the October long weekend. Most anglers that I spoke to or observed where catching good numbers of fish. Bait anglers did well, but it was the lure fishos that landed the really good numbers of fish. My other half and I caught well over 50 fish each on the first two opening days while testing out some new sinking hardbodies. Unfortunately the river started to rise quickly just after the opening weekend and the fishing became more and more difficult as the season progressed. There are still plenty of fish being caught but they are getting caught by fewer anglers, due to the difficulties involved

with fishing in fast flows, which seem to deter most anglers. If you know how to fish in the high flows, you can still be consistently rewarded. The keys to success are to keep moving, cover as much water as possible and, most importantly, let the river do all the work for you. By this I mean cast your lure across and downstream and take up the slack until you feel the lure working then simply hold your rod and do nothing. If you feel the lure stop working, wind a metre or so until it starts working again. Let the lure swing across from one side to the other; that’s all you have to do to catch fish in the high flows. Casting the conventional way back

upstream in the high flows will yield very few fish compared to the technique I just described. Also fish every bit of water that you can get a cast into. In the high flows the fish will sit almost anywhere in the river, as the river is all pretty much the same fast-flowing, well-oxygenated water. I’ve uploaded a little video of how to do this technique on YouTube, so if you’d like to see it in action check out the Insanity Tackle channel on YouTube. Finally I’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Good luck with the fishing over the break and, most importantly, stay safe. Until next year, tight lines.

You’ve got to be happy when you’re catching quality trout like this all day long in the crystal clear waters of the Tumut River. The high flows can deter most anglers, but if you learn how to fish them, you can still catch plenty of fish without working too hard.

Col Robinson and many other anglers have been getting insane numbers of golden perch on the new Slap Walkers. Casting and retrieving these lures and similar lures in the shallows has been the standout producer at Blowering Dam recently.

We’ve come a long way as cod enthusiasts anglers spots to fish the river. Walking the banks casting lures (depending on the water clarity) or just soaking some baits on a quiet run or hole is a great way to pass some time on an early summer afternoon. Cheese is a very convenient backup as bait if things are a little quiet on the bait scene; in fact, I know a few anglers who now leave the bait bucket at home along with the shrimp trap and yabby hoop nets. BASS AND BROWNS Bass and brown trout are quite a mix, but very much the possibility in Lake

LITHGOW/OBERON

Glen Stewart stewie72@bigpond.com

Please excuse me if this month’s column is a little on the green side – dark green with motely shades of black and cream actually. I never tire of looking at the colouring and patterns of the iconic Murray cod; it’s nature’s beauty at its finest, a mosaic of blends that tease and confuse the mind just the way that nature intended – the perfect underwater camouflage. Most cod waters have been off limits from 1 September and much has been said about the closed season in impoundments. I’ve swayed from one end of the spectrum to the other; the science says one thing and my heart says another. Apart from that, I actually enjoy the break. It

All I can say is make sure your cunning kitty is topped up; you’re going to need it. LOCALLY When it comes to local cod waters, the

Importers and local manufacturers have had trouble keeping up with developments as they happen on the Murray cod scene. Even with today’s fast-paced economy and technology, the eyes of many have been opened; it’s great for the industry as a whole. gives me a chance to focus on other species, it builds the anticipation and it creates a fellowship among likeminded souls. Right now is one of the most exciting times in cod fishing. Much has happened, but for me the things that are yet to be discovered are the most exciting. We really are on the cusp of something pretty special; a lot has led to the path we are on today, and this will continue with developments across the Murray cod waters we all cherish. If you’re yet to be swept up in the wave, I suggest you have a closer look. Developments in tackle, particularly lure size, will be quiet obvious; what was considered big in lures 10 years ago is now tiny. The rods and reels we use have had to change to accommodate these larger offerings. The industry has had trouble keeping up, to

the

ALPINE

The anticipation of 1 December is hard to contain. The developments, the discoveries – there is so much to be unearthed locally. put it bluntly. It’s good to see things slowly turning around, though. For some people, parting with upwards of $85 for one lure may seem over the top;

for others bitten with the bug it’s like, ‘Have you got any packed away out back? I’ll have those too.’

impoundments are all stacked with potential; Copeton is not alone. Fish may be a little more spread out with

a lot more casts between them. In fact, as December kicks into gear you’re possibly better off trolling, especially when light levels are higher. The odds are just stacked way more in your favour with some intelligent trolling at depth. I’ll say that again: intelligent trolling. Drive the lure, not the boat. Quality sounders don’t lie; they are your eyes underwater. Constant adjustments are required in most instances to keep the lure in the strike zone. Speed changes, direction changes, rod angles, approaches, departures, repeat runs, funky rod work – that’s just a small picture of what might run through my scone on a good-looking troll run. Depending on water releases from local impoundments, the Lachlan and Macquarie rivers fish well for cod in December. The lower reaches will have higher temperatures and possibly more active fish. Generally speaking, access is also better with travelling stock routes (TSR) allowing

Lyell near Lithgow at this time of year. Late October and early December seem to be when the brown trout and bass are inhabiting the same water depth. The trout are a lot more in number and will make up for most of the catch. Believe me, you will know straight away when you’ve hooked a bass, especially in the drowned black wattle. Watching it all play out before you with a fishing buddy is comical; the look you get afterwards is priceless. I hope to see you on the water soon. Until then, tight lines.

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60 Johnson Street, Forbes NSW The author has swung widely on the ideas of an open or closed season on Murray cod in stocked impoundments. The science says one thing and his heart says another. If nothing else, the closed season allows us to concentrate on other species like yellowbelly without distraction.

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Yellowbelly firing up TAMWORTH

James McKinnon

Everywhere is starting to warm up and the yellowbelly are starting to fire in local dams. Chaffey is still the pick of them, but Split Rock is slowly catching up, with reports of good bags. Lately anglers have been getting around a dozen fish in an outing, with most fish being in that 40-50cm size range at both Chaffey and Split Rock. They are being caught on suspending jerkbaits, lipless crankbaits and blades. My picks are Ecogear ZX 40s, Jackall TN 60s and Jackall Squirrel 67s. On my most recent session, all fish were taken on Squirrel

67s, but any jerkbait that gets down towards the 10ft mark will work well. People are having to rely on their sounders during this time, as the fish are schooling, and moving around a bit. However, many are hanging close to the banks, rather than in deeper water. Try looking for mounds off the bottom pushing some warmer water around, and of course any structure. Spinnerbaits are also taking their share of fish, particularly in local rivers, and we’ve had good results on 3/8oz-1/2oz in the Full Moon range. Anglers are enjoying great bass fishing at both Glenbawn and St Clair. Good numbers of fish are

still being caught on skirted jigs as well as spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and soft plastics. We haven’t heard many reports out of Copeton lately; perhaps due to many anglers enjoying the springtime bite targeting other natives. All in all, things are looking good for December. As the water temp continues to rise the yellowbelly will really fire up. Additionally, due to good rainfall and steady water flow, the Murray cod season opening is setting up to be productive, especially if we receive another good rain event in the coming weeks. This month’s report has been supplied by the crew from AusSpin Lures and Tamworth Fishing Tackle.

Yellowbelly catches are on the rise at all the dams. For more information on what’s biting and where, drop into the store at 15 Roderick St, Tamworth or

phone (02) 6766 7100. The friendly staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have. While

you’re there you can also check out the full range of AusSpin spinnerbaits, all manufactured in-store.

The bite is heating up at Lake Burrendong ORANGE

Darcy Scherger

The fishing around the Orange region has been very productive lately and producing many solid fish including trout, redfin and golden perch.

The large lakes including Lake Burrendong and Lake Windermere north off Orange have been the go-to locations for anglers chasing a tight line. These lakes have been producing large numbers of solid golden perch up to a whopping 64cm over

the last month. Gosling Creek Reservoir just south of Orange has also been very productive for trout and redfin, as has Lake Canobolas. This month Wyangala Dam, 110km south of Orange, will be the go-to location for cod anglers

chasing that fish of a lifetime. Orange has many options in its surrounding regions exposing the local anglers to a wide variety of fishing styles and species to chase. Catching a PB Golden Perch On my recent fishing expedition to Lake Burrendong I encountered my largest golden perch to date coming in at a whopping 64cm. It has always been a goal of mine to crack the 60cm mark and I finally achieved it. This horse of a fish was found using my Garmin 95SV sounder sitting just off a submerged snag at around 6m with a couple other large fish. On this occasion I cast my lure into the correct spot at the right time and was lucky enough to coax this big fella into smashing my

red and black Jackall TN60. Once this beast hit I could tell from the get-go I was in for a good fight. Instantly I was taken straight into his snag. He wrapped me around what I’m guessing was the trunk of the main tree. After approximately 10 minutes of manoeuvring the boat around the area, cursing and swearing, the fish came free and I was finally fighting again in open water. I made sure I got him up and away from the snag quickly and soon after I managed to get a glimpse of what he looked like. From this point on I made sure I played the fish correctly – I knew I may never get the opportunity again to tackle one this big. As soon as he saw the boat he was straight back down to the depths trying

to find something to rub me off on again. I had to play this fish correctly or I would be snapped off straight away, as I was only using 6lb Fire Line on a Shimano Stella 1000 strapped to a G-Loomis Escape Series 2-6lb. This setup was well and truly tested with this beast, and it did the damage and got him to the top where I could net him and bring him aboard. I slid the Environet underneath him and after a few flicks in the net, the Jackall popped straight out of his mouth. I was extremely lucky to catch and land this fish with the light gear I was using and while not everything went to plan from the first hit, I gave him time and didn’t rush the situation.

The golden perch came in at a cracker 64cm.

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The author with his whopper PB golden perch. 86

DECEMBER 2017

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DIY Lure Making

DIY lure making: Flat Doc BRISBANE

Greg Vinall support@makewoodenlures.com

Having a good selection of crankbaits that run at different depths gives you options under many conditions. Since we’ve already made a shallow running crankbait, we’ll continue our lure making adventure with a deeper running model. Actually, this lure also has a different body shape. As the name suggests, ‘Flat Doc’ is a flat-sided crankbait. This style of body is perfect for imitating many of the deeper bodied bait species like

herring, perch, bony bream, glassfish and so on. To get the lure down a little deeper, we’re going to use a slightly larger diving lip than we did on Doc’s Minnow. Don’t be fooled by the old myth that the angle of the diving lip determines the depth your lure runs. Making the lip close to horizontal won’t increase diving depth unless the size of the lip is also increased. On the subject of diving lips, I made mine from 2mm thick polycarbonate also known as ‘lexan.’ You might have to hunt around a few places to find this, or order some from EBay or Amazon. Don’t be tempted

Template: 1 Square = 1cm

to use ordinary Perspex as it’s too brittle and breaks when your lures hit structure. FISHING WITH THE FLAT DOC Flat-sided crankbaits have a wonderful, tight shimmying action. If you’re used to lures with a wider action, you’ll notice this little guy doesn’t create much drag on the rod tip. In fact, when you first tie one on you might feel as though it’s not doing much. Even with braided line it can be hard to feel the beat of the lure compared with other styles. RELAX AND TRUST IN THE DESIGN! One of the advantages of

100% Scale

TOOLS AND MATERIALS

the flat sides is that every side-to-side movement of the lure moves a lot of water. That creates a strong vibration for fish to home in on, without creating drag on the rod tip I like to work flat-sided crankbaits in places where I know those aforementioned bait species are prevalent. Often they’re schooled up around some kind of structure, or under lights if you’re fishing at night. Working the lure around the edges of a bait school makes it look like a stray fish that is easy pickings. I’ll generally work the lure fairly slowly with occasional twitches of the rod tip. If the fish are hunting aggressively, it can sometimes be more effective to burn the lure through the water at higher speed. Watch how herring and perch behave when they’re relaxed and

Tools Utility knife, battery drill and bits, hacksaw, pliers. Materials • 12mm x 12.5mm x 75mm balsa plank • 1-1.2mm stainless steel wire • 2mm thick clear polycarbonate (lexan) sheet • 120 and 240 grit sand paper • 240 grit wet sanding paper • Epoxy adhesive (with syringes and mixing sticks) • Ball sinkers (size 000) • Methylated spirits when they’re being pursued. That’s what you’re trying to imitate. MAKING THE FLAT DOC As with all of the lures in this series, we’re sticking to very basic tools and materials. Balsa for the lure body, a little stainless steel wire, some size 000 ball sinkers, a piece of lexan and a good epoxy adhesive like 24-hour Araldite are all you’ll need. PAINTING AND CLEAR COATING You can hand paint

your lures using a brush or some aerosol cans, or you can step up to an airbrush if you want to get a bit fancier. You might even like to take my free lure painting course at crazylureart.com/free-lurepainting-lessons-register/. I use Envirotex Lite epoxy for the clear coat. It’s a bit challenging to use but creates a very attractive, tough and durable lure. Otherwise, use a marine varnish for a durable, waterproof result.

Visit www.MakeWoodenLures. com/Fishing-Monthly/ to download all the templates in this series.

Print and transfer the side profile of the lure onto the piece of balsa wood. Use a utility knife to cut away most of the waste, but stop just short of the lines you marked. 3

Mark a centre line along the edges and use your template to mark the location of the hook hangers, tow point, weight and diving lip. Use a 2mm drill bit to make a small hole for the hook hangers and tow point. Be careful to get these holes centred accurately – and don’t drill into your fingers! Use a 5mm brad point bit to make the hole for the belly weight.

Glue some sandpaper to a wood block. Place the lure blank on a flat surface and use the sanding block to clean up and square the edge. Use a curved sanding block to clean up the concave edge on the underside of the lure. The aim is to get everything nice and square in cross section. 4

Use a thin-bladed saw to make the slot for the diving lip. It’s really important that this slot isn’t crooked. A misaligned diving lip makes a lure difficult or impossible to tune, so it’s better to throw the lure out and start again if you mess up this step. 88

DECEMBER 2017

Now is the time to start shaping your lure body, so mark carving guidelines as in previous projects. You want the sides of your lure to remain flat, so the guidelines should be closer to the edge of the timber and not halfway between the centre line and edge.

DIY Lure Making 6

Slice away the timber between the carving guidelines. Use a sharp knife and take lots of light cuts for accurate results. Then go ahead and refine the shape by removing as many ridges and tool marks as possible. Finally, you can smooth the shape of the lure body using 120 or 240 grit sandpaper. 8

Make some twist eyes from 316 grade stainless steel wire and glue them into the holes you drilled previously. Use 24-hour curing Araldite and be sure to get as much adhesive into the holes and over the shaft of the eyes as possible. Put some glue in the belly weight hole, push in a ball sinker and fill the hole up with extra glue. Wipe away any excess glue and set your lures aside to cure. FINISHED LURE

You could install the diving lip at this stage of the process, but for this lure, install it after the painting is done (and before clear coating). Brush on a little epoxy thinned down with methylated spirit. This will soak into the wood to harden and waterproof it. Let it cure for a few days, then wet sand with 240 grit paper until the gloss has been taken off the epoxy. Then the lure is ready for painting.

• For extra information and video tutorials please go to Greg’s website MakeWoodenLures.com/Fishing-Monthly/ and complete the free registration. To check out Greg’s other work visit crazylureart. com and his Facebook page Wooden Lure Making.

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test s on the la aily update r and accessories. d r fo sh .fi g gea junkie kle, boatin Visit tackle fishing tac st te a re g and Fishing Monthly Magazines

www.tacklejunkie.fish DECEMBER 2017

South Coast Mighty Bonanza was a huge success The October long weekend is big on the South Coast and even bigger when you host the largest angling and spearfishing event for the region, and it was a major success. The South Coast Mighty Bonanza (SCMB) is a three-day event that caters for families who love the sport of fishing and this year, for the first time, it hosted a spearfishing division, which was a huge success. So much so that the division will now become a permanent part of the SCMB. This year saw the largest participation ever with excellent registrations from outside the area, which is a great result for the local community and even better when participants said they had a great time and will be back next year. President of the Australian National Sport Fishing Association NSW, Stan Konstantaras, was thrilled with the outcome. “We’ve got 465 registered competitors and 206 juniors, which is mindblowing,” he said. “There are young kids everywhere you look, which is really good to see.” He added, “We’re trying to unite all the fishing groups; we’re primarily a sportfishing group, so Adam has invited us to hold our weigh-ins here as well. He’s essentially got three competitions running at the same time.” “We had competitions in the estuaries, rivers,

Anglers of all ages participated in the South Coast Mighty Bonanza. beaches and the ocean. The spearfishers were limited to the rocks, and the sportfishers had a number of catch-and-release events.” Al McGlashan, the host of Fish’n with Mates, said the competition was a fantastic result for the region. “Competitions are generally dropping in numbers in recent times, so to see this competition get record numbers is great for the community,” he said. McGlashan believes the community is doing all the right things to promote fishing in the area. “We’re seeing an increase in catchand-release sites, so the locals are really pushing a sustainable fishing environment,” he said. “It’s awesome to see 200 kids here, but they still need more support from the council and government to

get them off screens and get them out fishing.” Like every October the wind was about and so the weather made fishing conditions tough. But that didn’t stop the 465 recreational fishers. The SCMB would like to thank the Mogo Local Aboriginal Land Council for use of their land over the few days adjacent to the Tomakin sports and social club. The MLALC generally gets very little support for their efforts in the community so the EFA executives are going to lend a hand over the next nine months in putting together

DPI grant applications for habitat restoration as thanks. Many don’t realise that it was the few EFA executives who pursued and secured the bulk of the sponsorship within the community and abroad. Without them there would have been no SCMB. Also, present and supporting the event were representatives of major brands. This year was indeed a bonanza for competitors as the brands have never supported one single event in this region to such an extent. This year’s South Coast Mighty Bonanza saw a tonne of cash and prizes. The organisers were delighted with the sponsorship feedback. “It is very reassuring and the brands can see the potential of this event and have seen it as a huge success for this area,” Len Mumme of Garmin Australia said. A massive thankyou and appreciation must be given to those who helped and contributed. Major sponsors included Compleat Angler Batemans Bay, Garmin, Shimano, Yeti, Samaki, Wilsons, Costa, Nomad Design, Daiwa, Salvirmar, Rob Allen, Ocean Hunter and Tweed Bait.

RESULTS Senior Champion Male Winner: Jack Johnston Senior Champion Female Winner: Nina Nye Junior Male Champion Winner: Tom Cargill Junior Female Champion: Kirra Blunden Sub Junior Champion: Robert Poile

Major local cash sponsors were Cameron’s H Hardware, Trussworxs Moruya, Barlings Reflections, Euro Floating Floors and the Tomakin Sports and Social Club. The many smaller local sponsors who are too numerous to

hours) to make such an event possible.” For next year and many years to come there will be some big changes to the SCMB. The EFA (owners of the SCMB) have moved the event to April, which is a much better time of year

The South Coast Mighty Bonanza (SCMB) is a three-day event that caters for families who love the sport of fishing. name must also be thanked. “A special thankyou and a massive show of appreciation has to be given to the President of the Tomakin Fishing Club Adam Martin who gave up a large amount of his time in the last 12 months (700

for weather and fishing. The competition will be going to length not weight and organisers are in the final stages of hopefully securing a boat and motor package. Look forward to the event in April 2018! – Anthony Stokman

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2017 DECEMBER

1-3 Dec

Lake Macquarie BREAM Grand Final Lake Macquarie

www.abt.org.au

1-3 Dec

Cod Classic Lake Mulwala

www.codclassic.com.au

17 Dec

Summer Bream Skins Knockout Rnd 1 Georges River

www.wsbb.com.au Alan Newton 0413 116 670

2018 JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

14 Jan

Summer Bream Skins Knockout Rnd 2 Hawkesbury River

www.wsbb.com.au Alan Newton 0413 116 670

19-21 Jan

Tollgate Island Classic Tournament Batemans Bay

Adam Meyn 0431 019 114

10-11 Feb

SCFCA Beach Competition Gerringong Hotel

southcoastfca@yahoo.com.au

18 Feb

Summer Bream Skins Knockout Rnd 3 Parramatta River

www.wsbb.com.au Alan Newton 0413 116 670

10-11 Mar

SCFCA Deep Sea Competition Kiama Bowls Club

southcoastfca@yahoo.com.au

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au or calling 07 3387 0800 in office hours. Just supply a date, venue, tournament name and a telephone number and contact name. 90

DECEMBER 2017

Gallagher takes the win in China Thanks to Hobie Fishing Australasia and Kayak Fishing Beijing, a team of 10 anglers were recently invited to represent Australia at the prestigious 2017 China Open held on Shengzhong Lake in the Sichuan Province of South West China. The kayak event is just one of several events held on the lake as part of a larger festival of fishing. A field of 60 anglers from all over the world participated in the tournament. The Australian team was lead by team captain Carl Dubois from NSW and team manager Matthew Petrie from Victoria. Both have competed in the event several times in the past and they led the team superbly, providing the less experienced anglers with a wealth of knowledge on everything from lure choice to what to pack. Anglers competed in identical Hobie Pro Angler 14s accessorised with Hobie livewells, Lowrance sounders and aft-mounted video cameras, which were used by the referees to ensure all anglers adhered to the tournament rules. The format of the competition was similar to

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Team Australia from left to right: (back row) Steven Pryke, Jon Clisby, Glenn Allen, Simon Morley, Tony Pettie, Jason Reid, (front row) Carl Dubois, Ben Harrison, Matt Petrie, Corey Gallagher. them long to land their first redtail culter on a bank close to the start line. Although the tournament victory would be awarded to an individual, they worked together to try and get as many teammates into the top ten as possible. DAY ONE Up at 5:30am, anglers readied their gear, and boarded the bus to the event arena.

The venue for the 2017 China Open – Shengzhong Lake in the Sichuan Province of South West China. Australian competitions – a pre-fish followed by two tournament days where anglers fish from 8am-2pm and weigh in their five largest fish with a total combined weight from both days deciding the winner. Three target species (redtail culter, topmouth culter and mandarin perch) were available for anglers to weigh in. PRE-FISH The event kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony, traditional Chinese performances and several speeches from sponsors and event organisers. The Australian team had decided to try and cover as much water as possible on pre-fish day. In the weeks leading up to the event the team had discussed everything from leader sizes to lure selection. Although the area open to anglers was relatively small, it was full of islands with bays and coves and there were plenty of banks to explore. They moved around throughout the day, exploring different depths, lure choices and retrieves, and it didn’t take

Upon arriving they collected their UHF radios and waited for individual kayak numbers to be called out, allowing them to enter the dock and launch their Hobie Pro Angler 14s. At 8am the Australian team set off at pace. Gallagher began by throwing a 40mm Strike Pro Cyber Vibe in JU006, which had been the standout lure during his pre-fish. Fishing was slow at first but this didn’t put Gallagher off; other anglers had mentioned that the bite can be slow in the first hour or so.

After an hour and only one 26cm redtail culter in the well, he moved out slightly deeper and fished in the 10-15m range. This proved fruitful and he continued to catch redtail culter with several upgrades. He also managed a small 23cm mandarin perch. At the end of day one, most of the Australian team had managed to fill their bags. Ben Harrision faired the best, sitting in 7th overnight with a full bag of 850g. Gallagher was next best out of the Australian competitors and 14th overall with 760g. The field was packed tightly together and with only one larger fish weighed in at 930g it was still anyone’s game. DAY TWO Carl Dubois, Stephen Pryke and Corey Gallagher decided to fish the same area as on day one. Gallagher fished a rocky point and within a few casts he had a 32cm redtail in the well. This raised his hopes of putting together a solid bag. Sitting on the point in 4m of water, Gallagher cast out over the drop-off into 15m and allowed his Cyber Vibe to sink to the bottom. Once on the bottom he retrieved the lure using a quick burn retrieve followed by two long rips of the rod. On the second rip his lure was crunched by something that felt significantly bigger. With large carp a common catch, it wasn’t until he saw the distinctive red flash of

The $15,000 fish, a massive 1.4kg redtail culter landed by Corey Gallagher on day two of the competition.

a massive redtail culter that he began to get excited. He successfully worked the fish back to the kayak and managed to get it in the net. Some very nervous moments followed. The fish was too large. He had to bend the culter to fit it in the livewell. Knowing the fish wouldn’t survive long bent up like that, he made a quick radio call to the referees to weigh the fish in early. After a frantic 20 minute paddle to get the fish back to the weigh-in, he carried it across a dodgy wooden plank bridge to the weigh station. He successfully weighed in the redtail, which pulled the scales down to 1.4kg, and celebrated when it swam away upon release. Confident he would now be sitting first on the water, Gallagher tried to settle his nerves and focus on filling his bag. Gallagher struggled for the remainder of the day with nerves getting the better of him. He dropped several legal fish beside the yak and eventually managed to net a fourth legal redtail. Back at weigh-in, his bag went 1.9kg for a combined two-day weight of 2.66kg. On the bus back to the hotel, Gallagher still didn’t know if he had done enough. When they arrived the referees posted the official results, confirming Gallagher’s victory and the Australian team’s captain Carl Dubois, who had put together a cracking day two bag of 1.01kg including a much sought-after mandarin perch, was propelled from 37th into 8th position. Carl Dubois took home $2000US and Gallagher was lucky enough to secure $1500US for the biggest fish and the $15,000US first prize. On the final day they were invited by previous China Open champion Ma to fish a private lake filled with largemouth bass. Gallagher called it, “The perfect way to finish up a trip of a lifetime with a great bunch of mates!” – Hobie Australia

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Phone: 0410 173 060 basscataustralia@gmail.com DECEMBER 2017

Booming bass for BASS Megabucks Somerset may have disappointed with the weather but it still produced a host of big bags and fish hitting the scales for the ABT BASS Megabucks held on 18-19 October. While raining conditions made for uncomfortable angling the lake’s famous springtime bass bite still

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onto the flats in about 30ft of water. There wasn’t any bait really coming past, but there were definitely healthy fish sitting there. With the heavy inflow of rain and wind I was worried it may have changed a little, but the dirty water hadn’t made it that far down the dam at that stage,” explained Rayner.

WINNING TACKLE Craig Simmons Rod: Lews Team Pro Custom Reel: Lews TLP 1000 Line: 12lb Toray Seabass Leader: 8lb Lews fluorocarbon Ross Cannizzaro Rod: 7’ Abu Garcia Salty Stage Krx Reel: 3000 Abu Garcia Revo Alx Line: 6lb Berkley Ultra 8 Leader: 6lb Toray fluorocarbon

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put smiles on angler’s faces with 127 bass caught and weighed for the 38-angler field. A skins format event, Megabucks saw the money shared amongst the field with six of the 19 teams banking a cheque. Two teams dominated in the event with Teams Bass Cat Australia (Craig Simmons and Ross Cannizzaro) and Team Nexgen Lures (Matt Johnson and Shaun Falkenhagen) grabbing the lion’s share of the prize money. Team Bass Cat Australia also secured the champion team title. SESSION ONE SMASHED BY SOMERSET BAIT AND TACKLE Robbie Rayner and Mike Connolly drew first blood for the event with the pair fishing the old creek bed in front of Bay 13. With a 4/4 bag for 5.47kg, the team walked away with the $1000 prize money for session one. “There was a rise next to the old creek bed which we casted to and pulled back

Big bass were on the menu for Craig Simmons and Ross Cannizzaro from Team Bass Cat Australia.

Their technique involved throwing a PML custom painted (shimmer green with a chartreuse tail with some UV) Halco Twisty, letting it fall to the bottom on the cast, then giving it a slight jiggle, followed by six cranks of the reel handle, then stopping and letting it sink back to the bottom. At the end of the retrieve they would burn it back.

The fishing was hot from the get-go with the pair catching their limit in their first ten casts. “We picked up regular upgrades throughout the session and finished with 30+ fish over 40cm for the session,” explained Rayner. Their Halco Twistys were rigged with a BKK Super Slide treble and a #2 BKK single on the top split ring, while the ever-reliable Silver Fox soft plastic rigged on a 1/2 Impact Tackle jighead also accounted for a few fish.

The limit that delivered Team Bass Cat Australia the win in session three and overall honours.

NEXGEN FOR SECOND Team Nexgen Lures came 2nd for session one with a 3/4 bag going 4.36kg on the scales. What they may have lacked in numbers they made up for in quality with Matt Johnson and Shaun Falkenhagen catching three solid fish for the session. “We fished the Eagles Nest area and it wasn’t until the middle of the session that we got them to bite, and when they did we caught three fish in ten casts,” explained Johnson. Searching for active fish away from the crowd at Eagles Nest, Johnson and Falkenhagen focused on a drop-off that saw the water drop from 34-45ft and threw John Deere coloured Slider Grubs rigged on 1/2oz jigheads. “The technique was to make long casts and let the lure sink before aggressively twitching and shaking the plastic off the bottom for a few winds. We’d then give the lure a fast burn before letting the lure sink to the bottom and repeating. The fish hit the plastics with gusto – no bites or nibbles.

RESULTS

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 92

DECEMBER 2017

Place

Team

TW (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Bass Cat Australia: Craig Simmons and Ross Cannizzaro Nexgen Lures: Matt Johnson and Shaun Falkenhagen Two Dams One Destination: Corey Goldie and Brett Hyde Lews/Duffrods: Mark Lennox and Michael Thompson Simon And Glen: Glyn Barkhuizen and Simon Barkhuizen Ballina Marineland/Barra Jacks: Adrian Melchior and Steven Otto Somerset Bait And Tackle: Robbie Rayner and Mike Connolly Laguna/Duffrods: Barry Reynolds and Alan Britcliffe Joey Featuring Matt Langford: Joe Allan and Matthew Langford Warwick Outdoors: Cody Haynes and James Bucher Need The Money: Paul Aldous and Graham Ford Atomic: Aaron Sharp and Steve Eldred Mako Eyewear/Sentury Lithium: Greg Mitchell and Mick Johnson Grumpy Old Men: Peter Morgan and Dan Stead Yamba Bait And Tackle: Tony Thorley and Paul Gillespie Queensland Fishing Monthly: Steve Morgan and Peter Leggett Bass Brothers: David Young and Stuart France Valley Hill/Tackle Warehouse: Charles West and Adrian Wilson Tennesse: John Brider and John Trigg

11/12 9/12 10/12 8/12 11/12 7/12 8/12 8/12 9/12 8/12 5/12 6/12 4/12 6/12 5/12 6/12 4/12 1/12 1/12

18.66 15.05 13.42 11.03 10.93 10.92 10.18 9.76 9.14 8.92 7.75 7.31 6.78 6.70 6.44 6.23 4.04 1.14 1.04

The rain didn’t deter the bass from biting and Team Nexgen Lures from securing top prize in session two. We found working as a team and casting to where the other had just hooked up would result in another hook-up from the active fish,” explained Johnson. Team Nexgen Lures walked away with $600 for their efforts in session one. Goldie and Hyde take Big Bass Corey Goldie and Brett Hyde from Team Two Dams One Destination secured the Big Bass Prize for session one with the pairing picking up the money-winning bass on a 20g silver coloured Halco Twisty in 30ft of water at Happy Clappers. The retrieve involved sinking the lure to the bottom, giving it a slow roll, pausing then sinking it back to the bottom and repeating. They nabbed $150 for their 2.29kg bass. TEAM NEXGEN LURES TAKES OUT SESSION TWO Returning to Eagles Nest, which delivered them three quality fish in session one, Johnson and Falkenhagen once again picked up their jighead rigged Slider Grubs to catch their fish, but the fish made them wait for the bites. “We didn’t have a fish or a bite until about one and a half hours before the end of the session. We had nothing so we moved spot and fished a flat near by. Shaun also swapped Slider colour and started throwing a blue ice coloured version,” explained Matt. The change paid dividends with the pair having an hour of madness catching 20 fish, including several upgrades. The winning retrieve involved twitching the plastic aggressively and erratically off the bottom. “We were in about 45ft of water and the fish were suspended at 20ft and when you threw your plastic in they’d follow it down to the bottom, and when you twitched it off the bottom they’d eat it,” explained Falkenhagen. The team won $1000 for their 7.51kg, 4/4 bag. The tackle the pair used to catch their winning limit included a combination of Edge and Barrabass rods, matched to

spinning reels loaded with 8-10lb Sunline and Toray PE. Team Bass Cat’s Big Bass Team Bass Cat Australia came 2nd for session two with their 4/4, 7.02kg bag, earning the $600 prize along with $150 for the session’s Big Bass. Craig Simmons and Ross Cannizzaro from Team Bass Cat Australia started their charge at the Somerset Megabucks in session two breaking the 7kg mark in

out, letting it sink to the bottom, then slow rolling it back while adding the occasional twitch and quiver to the rod tip. TEAM BASS CAT AUSTRALIA TOPS SESSION THREE Picking up where they left off in session two, Simmons and Cannizzaro returned to the Eagles Nest in the third and final session and it didn’t take long for them to put fish in the well with a 4/4, 7.85kg bag for the $1000 prize money. “We had our limit by 8am and caught our five biggest fish between 7.15am and 7.45am, all of which came on the twitched, quivered and rolled Halco Twisty,” explained Simmons. Landing ten fish for the session, the pair claimed the session win by 1.5kg over second-place team, Team Duffrods/Lews. While the pair weighed their heaviest limit for the tournament and the tournament’s heaviest limit – in this session the number of fish was down. “The fish were feeling

Corey Goldie with the session one Big Bass for the tournament. the rain. Fishing in front of Eagles Nest the paired target suspended fish holding 23-25ft down in 40-45ft of water. “The bigger fish were holding high in the water column and they would follow the lure down as it sunk towards the bottom,” explained Simmons. One of the keys to success for the pair was their eyes on the water, Craig explains, “A quality sounder is essential at Somerset for identifying bottom structure and detail, and the fish and their moods, and my Garmin units show me in ultra clear detail and clarity exactly what I need to know. I’d be lost without them and I certainly wouldn’t have the same level of confidence in what I’m doing”. The lures that did the damaged were customized 20-30g Halco Twistys – one painted purple with a chartreuse-dipped tail and the other a green Twisty with a chartreuse-dipped tail. The technique with the Twisty involved casting it

the angling pressure and were less inclined to bite as a result,” explained Simmons. Team Duffrods/Lews bags the Big Bass Mark Lennox and Mick Thompson cashed in for the final session in 2nd place. Like many anglers in the field, they fished the Eagles Nest area to catch their 4/4 bag, which weighed in at 6.11kg winning them

$600 and the $150 for the session’s Big Bass. Fishing a small creek bed that joined the main arm of the flooded river, the pair focused on the southwestern section of the area casting along the drop-off into deeper water. “The fish would move through in dribs and drabs with some fish hugging the bottom and others positioned underneath the bait as it moved through the area. We caught four fish for the session, two of which came from the bottom and the other two which were suspended,” explained Lennox. Their first fish came one and a half hours into the session and would prove to be the kicker fish in their bag, and the session’s Big Bass. Their technique involved slow rolling 30g Halco Twistys through the fish holding in 30-45ft of water, regularly dropping lure back to the suspended fish to keep the lure in the strike zone. It wasn’t until the last cast where the pair sealed the deal and pencilled their name in on the secondplace cheques. “Mick mentioned on that second morning that he’d never caught a fish on a last cast, and that’s exactly what happened with him catching the last fish of our limit on his last of the session,” explained Lennox. Taking it down to the wire the pair finished their tournament $750 richer. OVERALL CHAMPS – TEAM BASS CAT AUSTRALIA Team Bass Cat Australia came up trumps in the end with 11/12 fish for the event for a total combined weight of 18.66kg. Craig Simmons and Ross Cannizzaro secured the champion team title at the Somerset BASS Megabucks with Simmons finally securing top honours after many attempts. “I’ve been fishing the Megabucks event for well over a decade and it’s nice finally come out on top. Ross has been in outstanding form this year and I was confident that if we could find the right size fish that were willing to bite, we’d be in with a shot, and that’s

exactly how it played out,” added Simmons. When quizzed postvictory Simmons attributed one key thing to their success. “I’ve spent many years fishing with and watching Steve Kanowski catch the big fish when others around him struggled and the thing that I always see him do is work his lure all the way back to the boat, and it’s at the very end of the retrieve when the lure is right near the boat that the big fish will often

bite. We did this at the Megabucks and it certainly made a difference,” concluded Simmons. The results speak for themselves when it comes to looking for proof for Simmons’ theory. The ABT BASS Megabucks drew the curtain on ABT’s BASS Pro calendar for 2017. Visit www.abt.org. au for details and dates for the 2018 schedule. – ABT

Mike Connolly and Robbie Rayner with their session one winning bag of bass.

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Mark Lennox looks happy with his Big Bass from the third and final session.

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Flynn takes maiden bass win In his first season on the ABT ePropulsion BASS Electric Series, Lismorebased angler Matthew Flynn has taken victory at the BASS Electric Convention in a convincing fashion with 4/4 fish for 5.48kg and finished the tournament with over a 1kg lead over the rest of the field. Not to be outdone, BASS Electric regular Dean Thompson showed yet again that he is one of the most consistent anglers on tour finishing in second place with 4/4 fish for 4.18kg. With the lake producing large numbers of smaller fish, anglers anticipated that it would be a process of sorting through numbers of fish to find the bigger tournamentwinning fish amongst them. While this rang true for most of the field, Matthew

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Friday and knew there were fish in the area I wanted to fish, but I didn’t expect to find the size of fish I did,” explained Flynn. His key area for the tournament was a rocky point on the lead into the dam wall. During the pre-fish Flynn found most of the active fish moving through flats in 18-20ft of water. Rather than cast to the bank and work the lure back, Flynn maximised the amount of time his lure was in the strike zone and fished parallel to the bank, watching his sounder to see when the fish were moving through the area. When he could only see a few scattered fish moving through he would cast a 51mm Savage Gear TPE soft vibe in rudd (gold) across the sunken flat before allowing it to sink to the bottom. Once

WINNING TACKLE

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Rod: 6’ 7 NS Hurricane Reel: 1000 Shimano Rarenium Line: 10lb Sunline Siglon PE Leader: 8lb fluorocarbon Lure: Strike Pro Astro Vibe and an Savage Gear TPE soft vibe Flynn’s weekend was in stark contrast. Having never fished Bjelke-Petersen Dam before and with a limited pre-fish on the Friday before the tournament, Flynn headed out with an open mind on day one and few expectations. “I had a short pre-fish on

Mathew Flynn with a pair of Convention-winning bass.

it had come to a rest he would impart short hops off the bottom before allowing it to sink back down. His tackle of choice for this was a NS Hurricane 6’7” rod matched with a 1000 size Shimano Rarenium reel spooled with 10lb Sunline Siglon PE and 8lb fluorocarbon leader.

When a good showing of fish would appear under the boat Flynn would change lure and drop a Strike Pro Astro vibe in gold down into the fish’s face and again used short hops to entice the bites. While his bite window was short, it produced the quality of fish that had Flynn leading after day one. “I found fish in good numbers early in the session but after the first hour or so they began to move deeper and

Anglers fished in perfect conditions.

RESULTS Place Angler

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 94

DECEMBER 2017

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Weight (kg)

Payout

Mathew FLYNN 4/4 5.48 ePropulsion Navy 6 Electric Motor (RRP $4995) Dean THOMSON 4/4 4.18 Prize Pack Jay NOTT 4/4 3.98 Prize Pack Jonathan BALE 4/4 3.97 Prize Pack Tom REYNOLDS 4/4 3.93 Prize Pack Michael ROWSWELL 3/4 3.80 Prize Pack Brett KLEINSCHMIDT 4/4 3.74 Prize Pack Matt JOHNSON 4/4 3.64 Prize Pack Adrian WILSON 4/4 3.50 Prize Pack Nigel SKYRING 4/4 3.32 Prize Pack For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

became harder to consistently target,” said Flynn. As the bite slowed Flynn then moved to Bass Point and the surrounding area looking for the magic 18-20ft mark that was holding fish. He failed to find anything that would upgrade his bag. “I have spent most my time fishing for bass in rivers, so for me I tend to stay with something that I have confidence with on the lakes, rather than change it through the session,” said Flynn. At the end of day one Flynn was the only angler to crack the 3kg mark for his two fish and in only his 6th ABT tournament found himself in the unfamiliar position of leading out the field. “I was very restless that night but I thought that if those fish recovered overnight I would be in with a shot at winning,” said Flynn. Day two proved to be another fast start for Flynn, bagging out early and giving him every chance to upgrade his limit. While his day one honey hole produced another good limit early, it also shut down quickly and forced Flynn to go in search of upgrades. He then moved to his secondary area near Bass Point and locked in a late upgrade. “I didn’t get a lot of fish in the boat over the weekend – probably 10-15 each session – but I did manage to get the right ones to bite,” said Flynn, “I am very thankful to ABT and ePropulsion for the great prize and to share the experience with my family who came up with me for the weekend made it even better. I am very excited to get out and try this new motor.”

Thomson rolls into second place

Dean Thomson finished second at the ePropulsion-presented event. Dean Thomson has yet again shown he is one to watch in any bass event with another consistent

finish in a BASS Electric Convention with 4/4 fish for 4.18kg. Thomson focused his attention for

the tournament on the area between the two boat ramps. With lots of small fish in the lake, Thomson laid out a run sheet to maximise his opportunities to land the bigger bites. “I had a feeling that if I was going to get a big bite, it would come off the edge early,” explained Thompson. Dean started targeting these edge fish with a mixture of lipless crankbaits and a D-Style chatterbait slow rolled off the edge. For this presentation he used a JML Power Lift rod matched with a Shimano Curado 51e reel spooled with 11lb Yamatoyo Resin Sheller PE and 10lb Yamatoyo Fluorocarbon leader. While the edges failed to produce the big bites he wanted, Thomson was able to fill his limit quickly before heading deeper in search of upgrades. Thomson moved to a deeper flat in 10-15ft of

Mathew Flynn primed and ready to head off on day two.

Strike Pro blade

Savage Gear TPE soft vibe

Rocks on edge

water that held scattered schools of fish moving up from deeper water. Changing to a more finesse approach, Thomson switched his lure choice to a 3” Ecogear Ringmax and mixed it up with a 2” Ecogear Rockmax rigged on a 1/4oz jighead. “It was all about covering water and intercepting the active fish that we couldn’t see on the sounder but knew where moving through,” said Thomson. He would make long casts then allow his lure to sink to the bottom. After allowing it to rest, he would twitch his lure up off the bottom to attract the fish before imparting a slow roll back towards the boat and then let it to fall back to the bottom. He repeated this process after every twenty turns of the handle. To cover the water and feel the tentative bites, Thomson used a JML Allrounder matched with a 2000 sized Shimano reel spooled with 9lb Yamatoyo Resin Sheller PE and 10lb Yamatoyo Harris Fighter Fluorocarbon leader. Once the bites began to slow Thomson would then move to a deeper flat in 15-20ft of water in the same area. “Throughout the tournament I was able to use my Insight maps and key into a little gully running through the flat that seemed to hold more fish,” said Thompson. Once in location he would then throw out long casts with his favoured 18g Nories Spoon in wasabi and mix that up with an Ecogear Ringmax on a 1/2oz jighead.

THE F Self-co U ntaineTURE IS H d Elec tric OuERE tboard s

Jay Nott claimed third place at the Bjelke-Petersen Dam final.

Eyes down and focused on the job, Paul Phillips and Grahan Dodds work hard on day one of the Convention. “Mixing between the spots, I think between myself and Brady we would have caught up to and probably

over 50 fish each session. It was great fun, we just couldn’t get the bigger ones to bite,” said Thomson. “I think the key to that number of fish was the extra fishing time I had thanks to the ePropulsion Navy 6 motor. Once I got there having the Lowrance Insight maps made it really easy to make sure we were on the spot as quickly as possible.” With his fourth podium finish in as many conventions, Thomson is as keen as ever to get started on the 2018 BASS Electric season and take the top step. “I have had a great season and have to thank JML Anglers Alliance, Tide Apparel, Island Inflatables, Lowrance and Marine Warehouse; their support makes it a lot easier to get out on the water with confidence,” said Thompson. With the 2017 season done and dusted, attention now turns to the 2018 BASS Electric season. Stay tuned to the ABT Facebook page and abt.org.au for all the information and tournament dates that are soon to be released. DECEMBER 2017

Brian Everingham Champion Results don’t get much closer than what separated Brian Everingham and Joseph Urquhart after three sessions of the 2017 ABT BassCat BASS Pro Grand Final, and prizes also don’t come much bigger; a fully rigged BassCat Margay boat/motor/trailer package fitted out with a Mercury ProXS 4-stroke 115hp made up the $55,000 payday for the richest bass tournament in ABT history. Brian Everingham had held off charges from anglers like Kris Hickson and Peter Phelps, and Joseph Urquhart was the last angler to walk up on-stage Sunday afternoon. Presenting his fish to the

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Everingham has been quietly going about his business for the past few seasons of the BassCat BASS Pro Series. For an angler who’s always up at the pointy end of the leaderboard, it’s almost fitting his first breakthrough came in the biggest event of his life, with the biggest prize. Everingham put the work in for this event, travelling up to pre-fish the event a few weeks before. “I spent my time in pre-practice looking downstream from the start at Coraki and I was pretty happy with what I’d found,” explained Everingham. “Once I got on the water for official practice day

WINNING TACKLE Rod: Lews Reel: Lews Line: Lews braid Leader: Sunline FC Rock Lure: Bassman Spinnerbait, 1/4oz Jackall Derabreak chatterbait, unweighted Gulp 3” Fry in pumpkinseed colour, Marz torpedo.

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scales, Urquhart needed exactly 3kg to walk away champion. The next ten seconds would have felt like years to both Everingham and Urquhart, as the scales teetered on the magic number before finally resting at 2.99kg, a 10g deficit. It was a fairy tale finish for the Taree-based river rat.

The 2017 Bass Cat BASS Pro Grand Final Champion Brian Everingham.

and began looking around, I was surprised how many boats were down that way. After I saw that I decided to go way up the Richmond River arm from Coraki, and that’s where I found the winning fish.” Returning to his upstream honey hole during Saturday’s first session,

It doesn’t get any closer, only 10g separated Urquhart and Everingham.

Everingham took the sharedweight format of the ABT BassCat BASS Pro Series into full effect. Fishing a tandem approach with his non-boating partner Simon Johnson, Everingham would throw a loud noisy surface fizzer, while Johnson followed it up behind with a ZMan Finesse Frog. “Simon actually had me three-zip at one stage, but the bigger fish seemed to show more attention to the noisier fizzer,” Everingham commented. Everingham upgraded a few times to push their combined 4/4 limit to 2.98kg. Heading back out straight away and back up the Richmond River arm, Everingham and Johnson went straight back to the surface bite, capitalizing on the abundant shade that the overhanging trees provide in the upper reaches. “We got two quick fish on surface again during session two. Then when that died I turned to a gold and black 1/4oz Jackall Derabreak chatterbait and that produced another couple of fish,” he said.

RESULTS Place Angler

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 96

DECEMBER 2017

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Weight (kg)

Payout

Brian Everingham 12/12 9.78 BassCat Margay boat/ motor/trailer package Joseph Urquhart 12/12 9.77 Costa Voucher and Prize Pack Kristoffer Hickson 12/12 9.71 Costa Voucher and Prize Pack Peter Phelps 12/12 8.66 Costa Voucher and Prize Pack Tom Slater 12/12 8.48 Prize Pack Warren Carter 12/12 8.14 Graham Ford 11/12 8.01 Adrian Melchior 12/12 7.78 Grant Clements 11/12 7.14 Jonathan Bale 10/12 7.03 For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

“I knew it would be a grind on Saturday afternoon; those fish up the river aren’t used to having boats zoom past so fast and frequent, so I knew to just knuckle down and grind it out. As it happened, every bite we got was a good one.” Pushing down the scales to 3.43kg, Everingham had one hand on the trophy, sitting in third place overnight. Overnight rain had the anglers guessing on Sunday morning, and Everingham had a plan up his sleeve to tempt the cagey wild bass that call the Richmond River home. “On Sunday I threw an unweighted Gulp 3” Fry in pumpkinseed colour; my thoughts were that all the rain we had would have the bass looking at the bank for run-off, and the Fry perfectly imitated an earthworm that had been washed in with the deluge.” A late session upgrade from Everingham’s non-boater Malcolm Draper had Everingham in the hunt, and it was only once the scales had settled and the emotion wore off that Everingham truly appreciated just how close the result was. “You can’t get any closer than that. Over 12 fish 10g is nothing. I’m so thrilled to come away with the win and truly want to thank everyone that stayed and watched the weigh-in.” Everingham threw his offerings on a combination of Lew’s rods and reels and would like to thank Craig and Jackie Simmons from Lew’s and BassCat for their support all year, he couldn’t be happier to now be part of the BassCat family piloting his brand new Margay!

Home town hero so close You can find Joseph ‘Joey’ Urquhart through the week working at his familyowned Casino Outdoors and Disposals, and this local fishing expert will share his knowledge with anyone who’s curious enough to ask. When the 2017 BassCat BASS Pro calendar was released and the Grand Final slated for his home waterway, Urquhart was thrilled. He was committed to fishing enough of the series to guarantee his qualification – he wasn’t going to miss it for anything. Coming into the event as one of the favourites, Urquhart didn’t disappoint. His family and friends came out to Sunday’s final weigh-in after watching him take the lead with Saturday’s second weigh-in. He dropped the event big bag on the scales, a whopping 4/4 4.17kg. As is the case with tournament fishing, grams can make the difference, and as Urquhart placed his final day’s bag on the scales

and they see-sawed up and down around the magic 3kg mark, you could almost hear the hearts break as they came to rest on 2.99kg. The hometown hero had fallen just 10g short. Piloting the smallest boat in the field was both an advantage and disadvantage for Joey. In previous tournaments on the river he’d used the size of his vessel to fish waters no one else could even dream of getting to. In this tournament, he was making a long run 40km up the Richmond River arm from the start in Coraki, closer to his beloved workplace and closer to the congregations of larger fish he’d located during his pre-fishing. “I actually went out on three separate trips to scout locations for the tournament day and used different marks on my sounders to differentiate between fish I’d caught on each of those trips. Once I’d gotten back home, I looked at my GPS and could instantly see a pattern

emerging from the three days of marks overlapping each other, so that was my plan for the tournament.” It was all about timing for Urquhart; travelling upwards of 50km per session in the smallest boat in the fleet required careful planning. “Tides can be so crucial on this river to how the bass react. Around the turn you’ll get a ten-minute window where the fish will bite and you have to take advantage of that. If you’re travelling or going back to weigh fish in while that tide changes, you’ll miss your opportunity.” After quickly filling a limit in his go-to spot on Saturday morning, Urquhart eased off the fish, not wanting to put too much pressure on what can be a fickle fishery. He slowly worked his way back down the system to be at the weigh-in right as it opened so he could take advantage of the traditionally tougher Saturday afternoon session. And take advantage

he did! What transpired on Saturday afternoon for Urquhart will go down as the best day’s fishing he’s ever had on the river – he nabbed a PB bass with minutes to go on the clock and a whopping 4/4 4.17kg bag which catapulted him into the lead. “Catching that fish on Saturday afternoon was just unreal; that’s the biggest fish I’ve ever caught in the river and to catch it in a tournament, let alone in a grand final is just amazing,” said Urquhart. If you want to watch what it’s like to catch your personal best bass from your home river in a tournament, head over to the ABT Facebook Page and watch the event video. It’s the perfect showpiece for tournament fishing. Urquhart’s plan was so solid, he only needed one lure all weekend. “Every fish I weighed in came on a Valleyhill Whiplash spinnerbait in a white/gold colour. It’s a great big-fish bait as the profile is slightly

Event runner-up Joseph Urqhuart with a pair of Richmond River bass. bigger, and I was actually bending out the wire a smidgen to widen the profile even more and slow the fall.” Urquhart showed all the signs of a true champion after the event, thanking his family, friends and

sponsors for all their help over the course of the 2017 season. A wise head on young shoulders, Urquhart is sure to get his chance at redemption in a future event on the ABT BASS Pro Series.

Konsul conquers Grand Final Tani Konsul, a name you’d be familiar with if you read the Costa BREAM Series results, has won the 2017 BassCat BASS Pro Grand Final. Fishing with Graham Ford on day one, and Grant Manusu on day two, Konsul put together three consistent bags to best a talented field of non-boaters by just shy of 700g. The only non-boater to weigh a limit over 10kg, Konsul showed she’s no slouch when it comes to the other species. Having shown her prowess on the Costa BREAM Series for a number of years, this was the first year that Konsul dipped her toes into the fresh water and jumped in headfirst during the Hawkesbury River BASS Pro, the first event of the year. “The bass series has always interested me, but it has always seemed too hard to make the transition. With

Tani Konsul secured the non-boater title at the Richmond River final.

the series heading to three rivers this year, I thought what better time to try than now? And here I am sitting at the end of it, a Grand Final champion, who would have thought?” Praising the sharedweight format of the BASS Pro Seires, Konsul was quick to point out it’s all about team work. “I think the key to shared-weight is to work together with your boater or non-boater. There’s not much point you both throwing the exact same thing, unless you know for sure that’s the best lure. Brian [Everingham] showed that this weekend when he and Simon

[Johnson] fished a dual topwater approach during the first day’s competition. It’s the small adjustments that can make all the difference, and that’s what it came down

to in the end.” If you want to learn more about the upcoming 2018 BASS Pro Series, you can head to www. abt.org.au.

Brian does his thing under the watchful eye of the camera and viewers on Facebook Live.

Marz torpedo Bassman spinnerbait

Jackall chatterbait

TOP 10 NON BOATERS Place Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

12/12 12/12 12/12 11/12 12/12 12/12 11/12 10/12 12/12 10/12

10.01 9.33 9.12 8.21 8.16 7.48 7.27 7.13 6.94 6.68

Costa Voucher and Valley Hill rod Costa Voucher and Valley Hill rod Costa Voucher and Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

Tani Konsul Troy Lowe Warren Howe Simon Johnson Paul Aldous James Browning Orton Marchant James Reid Leaon Walker Aimee Thompson

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au DECEMBER 2017

Rookies rule at Kinchant THE FUTURE IS HERE Self-contained Electric Outboards

STORM

The rookies drew first blood on the 2017 Zerek BARRA Tour with Brett Turner and Dean Jackson claiming a comprehensive win in the opening round of the series, the Mustad Kinchant Dam Evening Event. Armed with the Zerek lures they received in the Rookie Pack at the event briefing, Team Flattop Fishing caught their limit on a Zerek Fish Trap fishing just wide of a flooded hump. “We fished a little deeper than most of the other teams in the area at the start of the session and as the night wore on we moved in closer to the shallows,” explained Jackson. Late in the session the pair would cast tight up into the shallows landing their lures in about 3ft of water. They would then burn it back fast to keep it above the weed and it was on the burn that the fish would bite – a fast and fun technique that delivered Team Flattop Fishing two fish over a metre, a 78.01kg limit and a 21kg winning margin.

BARRA T Presente our R1 d by M ustad

Team Flattop Fishing hit the ground running in round one claiming the Mustad Kinchant Dam win with a 78kg limit. Their tournamentwinning tackle comprised of baitcaster outfits spooled with 40 and 50lb PE mainline and 50 and 60lb fluorocarbon leader.

ZEREK BIG BARRA R

Team Flattop Fishing (Brett Turner and Dean Jackson) picked up the Zerek Big Barra prize at Kinchant with the pair’s prize winning fish measuring 124cm. Tempted by the black jack coloured Zerek Fish Trap they received in their briefing kit, the fish found sanctuary in the weed before sufficient rod pressure extracted it and into the waiting net. – ABT

Plenty of chunky barra graced the Zerek Measure Mat.

On The Move move to second Team On The Move (Glen Smith and Nicholle Smith) finished second at Kinchant with the pair fishing a weed point on the lake to catch their fish. Unlike most teams who fish out from a weed point and cast towards it, Smith and Smith anchored on a weed point and cast out into the deep.

Using a combination of 4” Yum and Shads paddle-tail soft plastics rigged on 1/4oz jigheads, the pair would cast out, sink their lure down then retrieve it back to the boat with the plastic just touching the top of the weed as it came through the water column. “The 1/4oz jighead was just the right weight so it would just tickle the top of

the weed as we slow rolled the plastic back to the boat. If the lure did foul up on the weed at all, we’d rip it clear; it was often just after the rip that the fish would eat it,” explained Glen Smith. The pair caught their fish at 8pm and a total of 12 fish for session. “The fishing was actionpacked at times; we would

have jumped off over a dozen fish, we got dusted by a few big fish, and there was one stage where we caught three fish in three casts,” explained Glen. The kicker fish in their bag was their last fish for the session – a metre fish that Nicholle caught at 11.45pm, and a fish that welcomed her to the metre barra club.

RESULTS

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 98

DECEMBER 2017

Place

Team

Angler 1

Angler 2

Fish

TW (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Flattop Fishing On The Move FishTec/EJ Todd Venom Lowrance Jackall Fishing Monthly Mustad Triton Boats/Edge Rods Mad Keen

Brett Turner Glen Smith Craig Griffiths Troy Dixon Peter Price Ash Sims Steve Morgan Jeremy Cornelius Rick Napier Shane Fahl

Dean Jackson Nicholle Smith Karim DeRidder Robert Payne Greg Thomas Dan Curry James Reid Lochie Reed Dustin Sippel Corey Fahl

5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 4/5 4/5

78.01 57.09 53.41 51.87 50.35 49.29 41.41 38.85 34.57 32.36

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Barratrauma bag out for round two win Peter Laine and Zac Hunt showed their hand as a team to watch on the 2017 Zerek BARRA Tour with the pair catching a 5/5, 45.94kg limit to claim top honours at the Lucky Craft Teemburra Evening Event. Fishing a spot they located in the pre-fish, the pair used a two prong approach with Zac throwing small jerkbaits on a lighter outfit and Peter throwing a Stiffy Boney Bream on a heavier outfit. This approach allowed them to pick the small fish as they came through and still have a bigger fish lure in the water when the big fish bit. Zac’s outfit was an Edge Rods Black Widow 705 rod that he paired with a fast retrieve baitcaster. “The rod is ideal for jerkbaiting while the fast reel allows you to gather in line quickly when you need to,” explained Zac. Peter’s big fish setup was a step up with a 20-65lb

BARR

Presente A Tour R2 d by Luc ky Craft

Edge Rod and Megabass Black Jungle reel – the perfect combination for muscling big fish, including the kicker fish in their limit, a barra that ate his Boney Bream in behind a tree that many fish were holding on and moving past. “That thing went stupid when I set the hook and it powered off towards the point. I loaded up on it and I eventually got it back to the boat and into the net,” explained Peter. That fish measured 126cm and was the anchor for their maiden win on the Zerek BARRA Tour. With a win to their name on only their second year on tour Laine and Hunt were now primed for the northern leg of the Zerek BARRA Tour. Peter Faust would host the next two rounds and had the potential to deliver the biggest and best fishing of the tour. Laine and Hunt were to find out very soon just how true that was.

ZEREK BIG BARRA Team Barratrauma value-added their event winnings at Teemburra with the pair securing the Zerek Big Barra prize for their 126cm/32.6kg fish. The first fish in the team’s limit, Laine caught the standout fish on a well-used Stiffy Boney Bream weighted to suspend and presented with an Edge Rods rod and Megabass Black Jungle reel. – ABT

Team Barratrauma secured the win and the Big Barra prize at the second round at Teemburra Dam.

Back on track 2016 Zerek BARRA Tour champions Griffiths and DeRidder returned to the podium in round two at Teemburra with the barra guns fishing the eastern side of the dam, targeting fish on a little point that dropped off into deeper water. While the pair fished one location, they had a variety of lures that they used including Madness silicon vibes, hand poured swimbaits, and Squidgy Slick Rigs. The retrieve for the vibes involved big hops, with fish regularly eating the lure on the drop. Their approach paid off with the pair with ten fishing hitting the deck by 10.30pm. “It was a consistent bite throughout the session and was much better than what we and I’m sure many anglers were expecting from Teemburra”, explained DeRidder. The rod selection Griffiths used included an Edge Rods 666 Black Widow and a 705 Black Widow. DeRidder used a 6’8, 10-25lb Palms Molla rod matched with a Daiwa Zillion Type R for his smaller plastics and hardbodies, and a Dobyns

Champion 795 SB swimbait rod matched to a Shimano 300 Tranx loaded with 80lb braid for his larger plastics. “The Dobyns swimbait rod is perfect for what we do. It’s just under 8 foot long so you can really swing those big baits out there yet it’s light to use so you’re not tiring yourself from throwing lures hour after hour, I can use this all night long and not suffer for doing it. Matched to one of the new Shimano Tranx 300 reels, the outfit is very well balanced and a dream to fish with. When it come to leader I like to run 80lb Sunline FC for my heavier baits, I find it heavy enough for what we do and as long as you don’t go too hard on the fish they’re not going to chew through it”, explained DeRidder. A slow start to the tour by Griffith’s and DeRidders usual ultra high standards the next two events at Peter Faust had the potential to offer much for the barra duo. “We’ve done very well at Faust over the years and we’re always confident that we can catch them there. What we can’t control is what the others teams catch, so we’re just going to go there focused on catching the biggest fish we can”, explained Griffiths.

Griffiths and DeRidder with their rewards for their 2nd place at Teemburra.

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

Team Barratrauma FishTec/EJ Todd Tree Huggers Jackall Mad Keen Lews Toray The Likely Lads Zerek Triton Boats/Edge Rods Lowrance

Angler 1 Peter Laine Craig Griffiths Mick Weick Ash Sims Shane Fahl Mick Thompson Geoff Newby Luke Mulcahy Rick Napier Peter Price

Angler 2 Zac Hunt Karim DeRidder Brendan Barnett Dan Curry Corey Fahl Tony Thorley Phil Lyons Michael Detenon Dustin Sippel Greg Thomas

Fish 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 2/5 4/5 5/5 1/5

TW (kg) 45.94 40.69 27.03 24.84 20.95 19.56 18.52 17.60 17.04 16.38

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au DECEMBER 2017

Back on top Griffiths and DeRidder claimed their first win for the tour in the Sunline Peter Faust Evening event with the defending Zerek BARRA Tour Team of the Year (TOY) champions going against the grain of what they normally do at Faust. “This event’s been won at Faust Point for the last three years and we wanted to do something different this year so we looked a little further afield and found a spot up the back of the dam where it came up from 20

THE FUTURE IS HERE Self-contained Electric Outboards

BARRA T Presente our R3 d by Su nline

into about 15 then up to 9ft. “When the wind blows on it the fish sit there in about 9ft of water and that’s where we fished for the tournament. On day one we couldn’t get any during daylight hours then around 8.30pm when the tide changed the fish moved in and we caught our limit pretty quickly,” explained Griffo. The pair weighed in a 70.47kg limit to grab the lead heading into day two. Day two proved a little lighter on the scales with the guys catching a

ZEREK BIG BARRA Wilson’s Troy Dixon picked up the Zerek Big Barra at the Peter Faust two-day event with the barra junky’s 119cm fish caught on a Zerek 110mm Fish Trap in baby barra colour (black and white). The lure was fished on the newly released Bone Voyage spin rod (4-piece BVS704XH) matched to the ATC Vigour 5000 reel spooled with 30lb Zerek HyBraid topped with 40lb Wilson fluorocarbon leader. The lure was attached with a loop knot and the Fish Trap was fished vertically in 20ft of water to treetops on the windward side of the lake. – ABT

STORM

Team Fish Tec Solutions/EJ Todd were pushed to the wire in the Team of the Year (TOY) points race, claiming the title by one point over Team Barratrauma. 62kg limit. It was enough for them to claim another BARRA Tour win. The standout lure for the duo was a custom poured swimbait modelled on the popular Squidgy Slick Rig, featuring a Gamakatsu main hook and a Decoy YS 22 treble. “You can really set the hook with this setup and not worry about them falling off

if you give them plenty of drag,” explained DeRidder. Faust lived up to predictions with the lake producing both quality and quantity. Craig explained, “Both nights the fish we got went hard. We were fishing 30m from the trees and fish were nearly getting you back to the timber. We had to thumb our spools to stop them.

The Faust Jackall juggernaut Ash Sims and Dan Curry continued their successful 2017 Tour finishing 2nd at the two-day Peter Faust event. Fishing the northern side

of the lake, the pair focused on an area that they mapped extensively in the lead up to the event. “It was a long treeline across a flat that was littered

Dan Curry proudly holds a solid Peter Faust barramundi.

with laydowns, and it had a creek that fed into to it as well. The area was also punctuated by two small 6-7ft deep humps,” explained Sims. With their boat anchored in 10ft of water, the pair would cast a variety of different lures, altering the retrieve depending on what the lure was. “I threw a Slick Rig for a lot of the time and fished it with the usual slow roll, while Dan was fishing a Delande Skeleton soft plastic that he worked with more of a lift drop retrieve. Regardless of the lure being used, the key was to keep the lure in contact with the bottom throughout the retrieve,” explained Sims. While other boats around them caught fish during daylight hours, Sims and Curry didn’t boat a fish until well after dark. “Both days we got a little nervous not catching

anything for a while and it wasn’t until 8.30-ish that we caught our first fish. The others soon followed and by 11pm we had our bag,” explained Ash. Day two saw the pair landed 10 fish for the session, while day two proved a lot quieter; Ash suspects this was due to the added boats in the area. “Both days you could see the fish on our Humminbird 360 moving through the area. On day two there were a lot more boats and you could see it affect the fish’s path through the area. They avoid areas they moved through the day before and they seemed more conscious of what was in the area,” explained Ash. Catching a 10/10, 130.14kg limit, the pair claimed their best result so far for the 2017 tour and showed it was a sign of things to come for the next event.

RESULTS

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 100

DECEMBER 2017

Place

Team

Angler 1

Angler 2

Fish

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

FishTec/EJ Todd Jackall Lucky Craft/Edge Rods Triton Boats/Edge Rods Barratrauma Venom Cairns Custom Team DTF Tree Huggers Lews/Toray

Craig Griffiths Ash Sims Colin Brett Rick Napier Peter Laine Troy Dixon Wally Wilton Mark Donelly Mick Weick Mick Thompson

Karim DeRidder Dan Curry Steve Lill Dustin Sippel Zac Hunt Robert Payne Jake Mitchell Jack O’Donnell Brendan Barnett Tony Thorley

10/10 10/10 9/10 9/10 6/10 6/10 7/10 10/10 6/10 7/10

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

TW (kg) 132.47 130.14 111.20 105.43 99.79 93.88 83.96 76.58 69.65 67.78

Big fish beat-down from Barratrauma Round two victors Team Barratrauma made it two wins for the 2017 tour with Laine and Hunt bagging a big bag of barra to claim the Venom Rods Peter Faust Night Championship win. Catching a 5/5, 85.10kg limit to secure the win, the pair returned to the big barra honey hole they found on the second day of the two-day Peter Faust event, and it didn’t take long for the pair to pick up where they left off the day before. “That was a consideration – would they still be there – and Zac catching one on his first cast showed that they were still there,” explained Laine.

Their spot was a 10ft deep location that had a corridor and laneways through it that the barra would travel through. Each travel zone faced different directions, so regardless of which direction the wind blew from the fish would be holding in and travelling through one. When it came to the baits the pair used, it was big swimbait fishing 101. “We caught plenty of fish on 7” Castaics and 9” Zerek Flat Shads, but it was Pete’s 250 Savage Gear Line Thru Trout that did a lot of damage,” explained Zac. The fishing was red-hot

ZEREK BIG BARRA The big barra slayers Team Barratrauma claimed the Zerek Big Barra Prize at the Peter Faust Night Championship with Zac Hunt catching a 113cm fish to finish the tournament with the event win and Zerek Big Barra Prize to their name. The barra was caught in weed corridors on a flat, and was caught at 9.41pm on a 7” Castaic swimbait. – ABT

and the big Trout was effective, so that the pair both caught a hat trick (three big barra in three casts) during the tournament. The retrieve for the trout involved sinking it down to the weed, popping it out, then rolling it back. The retrieve of the Castaics was similar, albeit with a touch more action. “We hopped the Castaics up through the water a fair bit then let it fall back down into the fish’s face,” explained Zac. Laine used a baitcaster for delivering his Savage Gear Trout while Hunt opted for a spin outfit for his soft plastics, his primary outfit being an Edge Rod 708 Black Widow rod and 3000 Daiwa Certate reel. The pair caught 12 fish for the session, dropped another 20. “It was just unreal, your go out social fishing and you wish for stuff like that but to do it in an ABT is so special,” concluded Hunt.

BARRA T Presente our R4 d by Ve nom

Team Barratrauma nailed the big fish at Peter Faust Venom Rods Night Championship, catching a 5/5, 85.10kg to claim the win.

Bridesmaids again Ash Sims and Dan Curry claimed their second top-two result for the tour at the Fast all-nighter with the Team Jackall pair returning to their laydown-laden flat to catch their fish. Using the same tackle and technique that had served them so well in

the event before, Sims and Curry even tried supersized swimbaits in an attempt to generate the big bite needed to win. “We tried fishing big but we just couldn’t get the fish to respond to our lures like some of the teams did, so we stuck with what was working for us,” explained Ash.

Sims and Curry with the spoils of their second place at Peter Faust.

Once again it wasn’t until after dark that the fish came out to play and by 11pm the pair had filled out their limit. “We moved around and tried some other spots. While we had some success, it was our laydown flat that produced better than anywhere else,” added Ash. “Those guys were just on a better class of the fish than anyone else. They found the big ones and they put them in the boat, and they certainly deserved to win, they just dominated at Faust”, explained Sims. The pair’s tackle included an assortment of Millerods and Shimano products with Ash using a 7’ Millerods Control Freak rod, 2500 Shimano Biomaster reel, 15lb Power Pro PE, 30lb Sunline FC 100 fluorocarbon leader, while Dan used a Millerods Beast Freak rod, Shimano Exsence DC reel, 30lb Power Pro PE, and 60lb Sunline FC 100 fluorocarbon leader.

A smiling Ash Sims with another Faust barra.

RESULTS

Troy Dixon holds the Big Barra Prize winning fish from the two-day Faust event.

Place

Team

Angler 1

Angler 2

Fish

TW (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Barratrauma Jackall Zerek FishTec/EJ Todd Lucky Craft/Edge Rods Triton Boats/Edge Rods Venom Lews/Toray Flattop Fishing Lowrance

Peter Laine Ash Sims Luke Mulcahy Craig Griffiths Colin Brett Rick Napier Troy Dixon Mick Thompson Brett Turner Peter Price

Zac Hunt Dan Curry Michael Detenon Karim DeRidder Steve Lill Dustin Sippel Robert Payne Tony Thorley Dean Jackson Greg Thomas

5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 4/5 5/5 4/5 4/5

85.10 69.81 68.80 68.15 67.76 66.55 57.72 55.59 48.18 43.93

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au DECEMBER 2017

101

Rockhampton Net Free Zone turns it on I planned on doing part two of my app review this month but time pressures and the fact a much better story came along put that idea to rest. I plan to finish the review next month. Speaking of planning – put a marker in your diary to be in Rockhampton for the opening of the barra season. If you are coming from interstate, make sure to drop in to see Bill Sawynok at Infofish and Stephen Pill and the boys at Barra Jacks – they will set you right on how to hook up with a monster. This month I will talk about the bounty experience and how the results should have you thinking of Rockhampton as a key destination if you’re looking for some great fishing memories. In the interests of transparency all our key data is online in an easierto-understand graphical form, and it’s all accurate to the last 24 hours. You can get the data on the Crystal

finding that one golden stat that proved that the Net Free Zone doesn’t work. On that front Queensland Fisheries reported in September that the fishing experience for the average fisher hadn’t improved much and I am inclined to agree with them. This seems to be the crux of the negative argument. This ignores completely what the good folk at Rockhampton Regional Council have been aiming for. First and foremost, the plan for the Rockhampton fishery is to create an iconic location where fishers can come and catch big fish. Barramundi aren’t a species that you can catch consistently without some fishing skills, so if you want to catch them, they are there if you put the work in to learn how. That has been the core of the tourism plan – attract fishers who love that big fish experience. That is the yardstick I am using to assess the Bounty and fishing through the year. With that in mind, Rockhampton Regional

Lou Moore with his 1.33m barra. the value of fishing to their locals. Now with that in mind – how do the bounty figures stack up with that plan?

the Bounty and as a result we downgraded the forecast for the event from 400-600 barra to 200-400 barra. As a worker handling

event. Given that almost all the fish from the Garmin Rockhampton Rumble Barra were caught in the centre of town, the fishing

the muddy water we may well have exceeded the 600 prediction. In other words, anglers left more than a few fish for visitors come February. TROPHY FISH In an analysis of Facebook post traffic over the years – it’s trophy fish that have dominated the traffic. Big fish equal social love. With that in mind there was plenty of social love to be had for our fishers in 2017. On the barra side of the ledger there were 14 big fish – twice the number that have been caught in the best bounty before this (2013). The best of the lot was a 1.33m beast that was pulled out in the first hour. The fisher involved, Lou Moore, said he wasn’t even trying. The story goes he we just swimming the lure in the

ROCKY BARRA BOUNTY LINKS • crystal-bowl.com.au/rocky-barrabounty-live-monitoring/ • crystal-bowl.com.au/rockhamptonbarramundi-live-monitoring/ • crystal-bowl.com.au/rockhamptonking-threadfin-live-monitoring/ *The live scoreboard is up at rockybarrabounty.com/scoreboard. Bowl website. The Rocky Barra Bounty Facebook page is also up. THE NET FREE ZONE AND BARRA BOUNTY 2017 I want to address the negative types head on. I am not an advocate for NFZs but I’m also sick of partisan, stupid politics that conveniently ignores reality. Looking through the comments on the Barra Bounty page there were several comments from commercial fishers and others who seemed to expend a lot of energy

Council endorsed a voluntary code of practice for fishing in the area, for fishers to voluntarily limit their take of barra and king threadfin to two of each between 60cm and 1m. Rockhampton collectively has taken a long-term view that maintaining the fishery in as good a condition as possible is vital so that visitors have the maximum opportunity to catch big fish and have a good time on the water. To me – that is a pretty progressive view, one I think other councils will adopt as they realise

Figure 2: barramundi catch across the tide day one and two combined. CONDITIONS AT THE BOUNTY IN 2017 For the second year running the conditions were less than ideal with a run of fresh water immediately before the event making the river unfishable in town down well past Nerimbera. That section has always been a prime producer in

Figure 1: Barramundi Recruitment in the Fitzroy. 102

DECEMBER 2017

the scores at the event, it was probably a good thing that the dirty water eventuated; even though fishers were forced into a smaller area, they still managed 485 barra for the

has been hot up that way. Many of the fishers that failed to make inroads on the scoreboard were fishers that have performed well in the town region, so the chances were that without

current while helping his mate out, he put his rod in the rod holder and it went off like a rocket. Maybe I should try that more often. On the king threadfin side of the ledger the news

Gavin Gaw with a 1.32m threadfin.

was even better. I was reduced to tears by how many trophy fish there were – having watched the decline in the king threadfin fishery in Brisbane, it showed what can be done. All up there were 48 king threadfin over 1m – a whopping 24% of the catch. The battle for the biggest thready was intense with the lead changed every few hours. Evan Thompson nailed it on the last day with a 1.32m snorter. The year-to-date proportion of trophy fish is around 16%, so no matter how you want to look at it, Rockhampton is as good as it gets right now for trophy fish. CATCH MIX One of the markers of how the fishery has improved is the proportion of legal fish. There are two main factors that influence this criterion. The first is the fact that less legal fish are being taken out (no nets) and secondly recruits (new barra) from a few years back are reaching maturity. There is a third factor that influences it as well – recent recruitment has been less than successful. This is one we are still ironing out as to what is going on; we had a good spawning this year but it seems that few of those fish have survived. The reasons are unknown at this stage, but it’s not due to any factors caused by people. The catch mix for the bounty has changed a lot in the last three years and now looks close to ideal for visitors to come and experience that ‘big barra feeling’. When it comes to king threadfin, the news is even better – so long as you know how to catch them. We had a couple of king specialists from Brisbane visit this year and even

though they had spent next to no time on the Fitzroy previously, they managed to bag a trophy fish each, with one – Lochie Reed – catching the most fish for the event and taking out the Other Species category on the first attempt. AVERAGE LENGTH If the catch mix isn’t clear enough for you, then the next chart will be. Both barramundi and king threadfin catches were on average the largest they have ever been. This is the clearest indicator that the nets being removed has had a positive effect as big fish are exactly what the commercial fishers target. While it could be argued that the removal of some of the fishing area distorted the results, the fact this is also true for the annual catch monitoring puts that one to bed. You can verify that via the Crystal Bowl website. For the record, the annual average length is 659mm – 30mm short of the 689mm registered in the Bounty. CATCH RATES The last-ditch effort in the debate over whether or not taking the nets out has had an effect is in catch rates. The figure being used there is the overall catch rates, which are down. By some twist of logic, the nets have supposedly had no effect on catch rates for recreational fishers. I am somewhat in agreement with that statement. A fishery is a balancing equation – fish-in verses fish-out. Wherever there is conflict it’s almost always on the fish-out side of the equation but the fish-in part is equally important. To a degree the fish-in and fish-out equation has been balanced in Rockhampton after a boom from 20072009. There are still

The average length of barramundi and king threadfin exceeded the average length of fish for the last 10 years.

The daily catch rates for barramundi and king threadfin. fish from that period in the system. In recent times however, the recruitment

recruitment from 20132015, which would have topped up the stocks. This year and last year have not

seem to have survived. For this reason, we can expect that the catch rates would be slightly down

Catch rates for barramundi in the Fitzroy. hasn’t been as strong and that’s the period when the most effective fishers have an impact. Figure 1 shows there was reasonable

Catch mix for barramundi 2015-2017.

Catch mix for king threadfin 2015-2017.

been successful; Last year it was due to poor spawning and this year, even though there was a successful spawning, recruits don’t

due to mortality overriding new fish into the system. Overall, the catch rates are down slightly. On the other hand, the catch rate for legal fish is heading into the best of times territory. The legal catch rate of one fish per fisher per day based on annual monitoring is the highest it has ever been. We end the year with 1456 barra reported (with some still to process yet) which makes this the best year in the last three for number of fish reported. This year’s bounty was the third best on record for legal fish, only bettered by 2012 and 2013. In the case of king threadfin, the legal catch rate was only bettered by 2015 and many fishers were running the other direction when they found the king because only the top 30 places were guaranteed a spot in the Bounty next year, so barra were in high demand. ONE MORE THING – HAVE SOME CANDY I have a Christmas gift for those thinking of heading to Rockhampton. While I won’t hand out

maps of where to catch them – again, check in with Bill on what parts of the river are fishing well when you visit – I can tell you that the tide is pretty important. If you follow the Bounty online, you will see a lot more but here is a taste. The chart (Fig. 2) below shows the catch across the tide. As you can see the early morning low is pretty sweet with the catch declining as the tide rises. Look for those sorts of tides and know you can pack up mid-morning. That leaves plenty of time to take the family to the beach. STOP READING, START PACKING The objectives of the local council to create a fishery that will attract fishers to try their hand for big fish are well and truly on track. If the end of this season is anything to go by, there will be some absolute horses on offer for visitors when the season opens in February. I wouldn’t leave out the king experience, either – they take a bit to work out but there are some great lures made these days that are custom-made for threadies. We always do our best not to cherry-pick evidence, which means using multiple pieces of evidence where possible. When you look at the catch mix, catch rates for legal fish and additional trophy fish that came out this year, the fishing was as good as it has ever been for big fish. Just remember when you head to Rockhampton, this is a catch and release fishery that is being carefully managed so that everyone can have the best experience possible. Come, have a great time, catch some big fish and go home with a lifetime of memories. Leave the fillets in the water. DECEMBER 2017

103

Trades, Services, Charter Discover the land of many waters on the unspoilt South Coast of NSW

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EDEN COAST Captain Kev’s Wilderness Fishing Tours (02) 4474 3345 or 0424 625 160

This section in NSW Fishing Monthly consolidates the trades and services in your area that are relevant to your fishing and boating. Whether you’re a local looking for more options or a travelling angler fishing around the state, this guide will direct you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching. 104

DECEMBER 2017

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory KAYAK DEALERS

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2017 2017 Local Time

SYDNEY (FORT DENISON) NEW SOUTH WALES SYDNEY(FORT (FORTDENISON) DENISON)– – –NEW NEWSOUTH SOUTHWALES WALES SYDNEY JANUARY JANUARY SEPTEMBER

LAT 33° 52’ LONG 151° 13’ LAT 33° LONG 151° LAT 33° 52’52’ LONG 151° 13’13’ Times and Heights of High and Low Waters Times and Heights High and Low Waters Times and Heights of of High and Low Waters MARCH FEBRUARY MARCH FEBRUARY OCTOBER NOVEMBER

Time m m Time m Time Time m m Time m Time 0540 0.47 0432 0.50 05401.29 0.47 04321.15 0.50 0458 0434 1159 1.76 1101 1.78 11590.50 1.76 11010.64 1.78 1040 1013 1831 0.33 1738 0.34 MO SU 1831 0.33 1738 0.34 MO SU 1709 1.70 1652 1.48 FR SA 2339 1.37 2339 1.37 2351 0.31 2338 0.53 0041 1.42 0516 0.52 00411.37 1.42 05161.20 0.52 0555 0531 0628 0.55 1142 1.74 0628 0.55 1142 1.74 1108 0.60 1141 0.43 1241 1.63 1819 0.35 TU MO 1241 1.63 1819 0.35 TU MO 1742 1.55 1805 1.75 SU SA 1912 1912 0.42 0.42 0127 1.39 0025 1.37 01270.24 1.39 00250.46 1.37 0041 0022 0717 0.62 0603 0.55 07171.45 0.62 06031.27 0.55 0645 0616 1323 1.49 1225 1.69 WE TU 1323 1.49 1225 1.69 WE TU 1235 0.36 1156 0.54 MO SU 1952 0.50 1902 0.37 1952 0.50 1902 0.37 1855 1.78 1824 1.62 0215 1.37 0114 1.38 02150.21 1.37 01140.38 1.38 0125 0100 0811 0.69 0656 0.58 0811 0.69 0656 0.58 0730 1.52 0657 1.34 1409 1.37 1312 1.62 TH WE 1409 1.37 1312 1.62 TH WE 1324 0.31 1238 0.47 TU MO 2035 0.56 1950 0.39 2035 0.56 1950 0.39 1941 1.78 1903 1.68 0207 1.41 0307 1.37 02070.32 1.41 03070.21 1.37 0135 0205 0755 0.61 0913 0.73 07551.40 0.61 09131.57 0.73 0733 0813 1406 1.53 1503 1.27 TH FR 1406 1.53 1503 1.27 TH FR 1319 0.41 1411 0.30 TU WE 2123 0.60 2042 0.42 2123 0.60 2042 0.42 1942 1.73 2025 1.73 0306 1.45 0402 1.39 03060.27 1.45 04020.24 1.39 0210 0243 0902 0.62 1022 0.73 09021.47 0.62 10221.59 0.73 0810 0853 1509 1.46 1608 1.21 FR SA 1509 1.46 1608 1.21 FR SA 1400 0.36 1455 0.31 WE TH 2138 0.43 2217 0.62 2138 0.43 2217 0.62 2020 1.75 2106 1.66 0407 1.52 0500 1.43 04070.24 1.52 05000.29 1.43 0245 0318 1017 0.59 1133 0.70 1017 0.59 1133 0.70 0848 1.53 0931 1.60 1620 1.40 1716 1.19 SA SU 1620 1.40 1716 1.19 SA SU 1442 0.33 1538 0.35 TH FR 2237 0.43 2313 0.62 2237 0.43 2313 0.62 2100 1.75 2145 1.56 0509 1.62 0555 1.49 05090.23 1.62 05550.36 1.49 0320 0352 1134 0.52 1235 0.63 1134 0.52 1235 0.63 0929 1.57 1009 1.58 1732 1.39 1820 1.21 SU MO 1732 1.39 1820 1.21 SU MO 1526 0.32 1620 0.40 FR SA 2336 0.41 2336 0.41 2142 1.70 2224 1.46 0609 1.73 0005 0.60 06090.25 1.73 00050.43 0.60 0359 0425 1244 0.41 0644 1.56 1244 0.41 0644 1.56 1011 1.61 1046 1.55 1841 1.40 1326 0.55 MO TU 1841 1.40 1326 0.55 MO TU 1614 0.33 1703 0.46 SA SU 1913 1.25 1913 1.25 2226 1.63 2303 1.36 0033 0.39 0052 0.57 00330.29 0.39 00520.50 0.57 0439 0458 0705 1.84 0728 1.63 07051.62 1.84 07281.52 1.63 1057 1124 1345 0.30 1409 0.47 TU WE 1345 0.30 1409 0.47 TU WE 1705 0.37 1749 0.53 SU MO 1942 1.43 1958 1.29 1942 1.43 1958 1.29 2315 1.52 2345 1.27 0129 0.36 0135 0.53 01290.36 0.36 01350.58 0.53 0523 0535 0800 1.93 0808 1.69 0800 1.93 0808 1.69 1145 1.61 1206 1.47 1441 0.22 1446 0.40 WE TH 1441 0.22 1446 0.40 WE TH 1803 0.42 1841 0.58 MO TU 2038 2038 2038 1.46 1.46 2038 1.34 1.34 0215 0.49 0221 0.35 02151.19 0.49 02211.41 0.35 0008 0034 0846 1.75 0852 1.98 0846 1.75 0852 1.98 0613 0.43 0619 0.64 1523 0.35 1531 0.16 FR TH 1523 0.35 1531 0.16 FR TH 1240 1.60 1255 1.43 TU WE 2116 1.38 2130 1.47 2116 1.38 2130 1.47 1909 0.46 1942 0.62 0313 0.34 0255 0.45 03131.30 0.34 02551.13 0.45 0112 0134 0942 1.99 0925 1.80 09420.51 1.99 09250.69 1.80 0710 0715 1620 0.16 1559 0.30 FR SA 1620 0.16 1559 0.30 FR SA 1343 1.58 1354 1.39 WE TH 2220 1.48 2155 1.42 2220 1.48 2155 1.42 2025 0.48 2051 0.62 0402 0.36 0335 0.43 04021.23 0.36 03351.12 0.43 0226 0247 1030 1.96 1003 1.82 1030 1.96 1003 1.82 0817 0.55 0825 0.71 1706 0.19 1635 0.28 SA SU 1706 0.19 1635 0.28 SA SU 1453 1.59 1501 1.39 TH FR 2309 1.47 2234 1.45 2309 1.47 2234 1.45 2144 0.45 2158 0.59 0452 0.41 0417 0.42 04521.23 0.41 04171.15 0.42 0346 0400 1115 1.87 1043 1.82 1115 1.87 1043 1.82 0930 0.55 0936 0.69 1749 0.25 1714 0.27 SU MO 1749 0.25 1714 0.27 SU MO 1604 1.63 1608 1.43 FR SA 2355 1.44 2316 1.48 2355 1.44 2316 1.48 2253 0.38 2255 0.52 0502 0.42 0502 0.42 1125 1125 1.78 1.78 1753 0.28 TU TU 1753 0.28

Time m m Time m Time Time m m Time m Time 0042 1.47 0000 1.50 00420.34 1.47 00001.22 1.50 0029 0559 0644 0.57 0551 0.45 06441.43 0.57 05510.64 0.45 0640 1138 1246 1.45 1208 1.71 TH WE 1246 1.45 1208 1.71 TH WE 1233 0.47 1803 1.49 MO SU 1859 0.52 1834 1859 0.52 1834 0.32 0.32 1848 1.64 0123 1.44 0047 1.51 01230.31 1.44 00470.45 1.51 0115 0041 0731 0.64 0643 0.49 0731 0.64 0643 0.49 0645 1.30 0726 1.51 1328 1.34 1256 1.61 FR TH 1328 1.34 1256 1.61 FR TH 1230 0.56 1327 0.41 TU MO 1937 0.58 1919 0.37 1937 0.58 1919 0.37 1849 1.56 1936 1.64 0209 1.42 0140 1.52 02090.30 1.42 01400.37 1.52 0156 0120 0828 0.69 0741 0.53 08281.58 0.69 07411.40 0.53 0808 0725 1417 1.25 1349 1.50 SA FR 1417 1.25 1349 1.50 SA FR 1415 0.36 1315 0.47 WE TU 2023 0.64 2009 0.43 2023 0.64 2009 0.43 1931 1.63 2020 1.62 0237 1.53 0303 1.40 02370.31 1.53 03030.31 1.40 0232 0157 0848 0.56 0933 0.71 08481.49 0.56 09331.63 0.71 0847 0802 1451 1.39 1520 1.18 SA SU 1451 1.39 1520 1.18 SA SU 1458 0.34 1358 0.38 TH WE 2107 0.48 2120 0.68 2107 0.48 2120 0.68 2101 1.57 2012 1.68 0340 1.56 0405 1.41 03400.25 1.56 04050.33 1.41 0232 0307 1006 0.56 1048 0.70 1006 0.56 1048 0.70 0841 1.59 0924 1.66 1606 1.32 1636 1.16 SU MO 1606 1.32 1636 1.16 SU MO 1442 0.31 1539 0.34 TH FR 2212 0.51 2227 0.70 2212 0.51 2227 0.70 2054 1.70 2141 1.51 0447 1.62 0509 1.44 04470.22 1.62 05090.38 1.44 0309 0339 1126 0.51 1157 0.65 11261.67 0.51 11571.67 0.65 0920 1000 1725 1.30 1749 1.18 MO TU 1725 1.30 1749 1.18 MO TU 1526 0.25 1618 0.35 FR SA 2318 0.50 2330 0.67 2318 0.50 2330 0.67 2137 1.69 2219 1.45 0553 1.70 0607 1.51 05530.22 1.70 06070.43 1.51 0347 0411 1237 0.42 1252 0.57 12371.74 0.42 12521.66 0.57 1002 1033 1836 1.33 1846 1.24 TU WE 1836 1.33 1846 1.24 TU WE 1614 0.23 1658 0.38 SA SU 2223 1.65 2258 1.38 0021 0.47 0025 0.62 00210.25 0.47 00250.49 0.62 0429 0443 0654 1.78 0656 1.58 0654 1.78 0656 1.58 1046 1.77 1108 1.64 1338 0.33 1337 0.49 WE TH 1338 0.33 1337 0.49 WE TH 1704 0.23 1738 0.42 SU MO 1936 1.38 1932 1.31 1936 1.38 1932 1.31 2313 1.57 2337 1.32 0119 0.42 0112 0.56 01190.31 0.42 01120.55 0.56 0512 0516 0748 1.86 0740 1.66 0748 1.86 0740 1.66 1134 1.78 1145 1.60 1430 0.26 1416 0.41 TH FR 1430 0.26 1416 0.41 TH FR 1759 0.27 1820 0.47 MO TU 2029 2013 2029 1.44 1.44 2013 1.38 1.38 0212 0.38 0155 0.49 02121.46 0.38 01551.25 0.49 0005 0019 0839 1.90 0820 1.74 08390.39 1.90 08200.61 1.74 0600 0554 1516 0.22 1453 0.33 FR SA 1516 0.22 1453 0.33 FR SA 1225 1.74 1224 1.55 TU WE 2115 1.49 2051 1.46 2115 1.49 2051 1.46 1858 0.32 1907 0.52 0236 0.42 0301 0.36 02361.20 0.42 03011.36 0.36 0104 0106 0900 1.80 0926 1.90 0900 1.80 0926 1.90 0653 0.48 0639 0.67 1530 0.28 1559 0.22 SU SA 1530 0.28 1559 0.22 SU SA 1321 1.69 1309 1.49 WE TH 2130 1.53 2200 1.51 2130 1.53 2200 1.51 2005 0.38 2001 0.56 0348 0.36 0319 0.37 03481.28 0.36 03191.17 0.37 0202 0211 1010 1.86 0941 1.83 1010 1.86 0941 1.83 0733 0.72 0755 0.56 1639 0.25 1606 0.24 SU MO 1639 0.25 1606 0.24 SU MO 1402 1.44 1425 1.63 FR TH 2243 1.52 2210 1.59 2243 1.52 2210 1.59 2102 0.58 2119 0.41 0432 0.39 0403 0.34 04321.24 0.39 04031.16 0.34 0327 0308 1052 1.78 1024 1.82 10520.61 1.78 10240.75 1.82 0907 0839 1715 0.30 1645 0.24 MO TU 1715 0.30 1645 0.24 MO TU 1536 1.60 1506 1.41 FR SA 2323 1.51 2252 1.64 2323 1.51 2252 1.64 2231 0.40 2206 0.57 0516 0.44 05161.27 0.44 0443 0416 1.19 1131 1.68 11310.60 1.68 1023 0951 0.74 1751 0.37 TU 17511.60 0.37 SU 1615 1.41 1649 SATU 2334 0.37 2303 0.52 0002 1.49 0002 1.49 0547 1.34 0516 1.27 0600 0.51 06000.54 0.51 1132 1059 0.69 1209 1.57 WE 12091.62 1.57MO 1715 1.45 1753 SUWE 1825 0.45 1825 0.45 2351 0.46

1616

1717

1818

1919

2020

2121

2222

2323

2424

2525

1010

1111

2626

1212

Time m m Time m Time Time m m Time m Time 0533 0.49 0451 0.33 05330.40 0.49 04510.39 0.33 0121 0033 1139 1.50 1108 1.77 11391.63 1.50 11081.48 1.77 0744 0648 1739 0.50 1725 0.26 WE TH 1739 0.50 1725 0.26 WE TH 1402 0.44 1247 0.50 WE TH 2359 1.57 2337 1.66 2359 1.57 2337 1.66 1958 1.46 1856 1.57 0615 0.54 0541 0.35 06150.41 0.54 05410.32 0.35 0157 0114 1216 1.41 1154 1.68 1216 1.41 1154 1.68 0729 1.60 0821 1.68 1812 0.56 1807 0.32 FR TH 1812 0.56 1807 0.32 FR TH 1336 0.39 1445 0.40 FR TH 2039 1.43 1942 1.61 0036 1.54 0024 1.67 00360.43 1.54 00240.27 1.67 0153 0230 0700 0.59 0635 0.40 0700 0.59 0635 0.40 0810 1.72 0857 1.71 1257 1.33 1245 1.57 SA FR 1257 1.33 1245 1.57 SA FR 1424 0.29 1523 0.38 FR SA 1847 0.63 1853 0.40 1847 0.63 1853 0.40 2029 1.63 2117 1.40 0118 1.50 0115 1.65 01180.46 1.50 01150.25 1.65 0302 0234 0751 0.64 0735 0.46 0751 0.64 0735 0.46 0930 1.72 0853 1.82 1345 1.25 1340 1.44 SU SA 1345 1.25 1340 1.44 SU SA 1600 0.37 1513 0.21 SU SA 1931 0.69 1944 0.49 1931 0.69 1944 0.49 2156 1.37 2117 1.62 0208 1.46 0213 1.62 02080.49 1.46 02130.25 1.62 0316 0335 0845 0.51 0852 0.68 0845 0.51 0852 0.68 0938 1.89 1004 1.73 1445 1.33 1445 1.19 MO SU 1445 1.33 1445 1.19 MO SU 1603 0.17 1638 0.38 SU MO 2044 0.56 2029 0.75 2044 0.56 2029 0.75 2208 1.58 2234 1.34 0319 1.61 0309 1.43 03190.29 1.61 03090.53 1.43 0409 0401 1002 0.52 1001 0.68 10021.93 0.52 10011.71 0.68 1039 1026 1604 1.27 1558 1.17 MO TU 1604 1.27 1558 1.17 MO TU 1715 0.40 1656 0.16 TU MO 2155 0.60 2139 0.77 2155 0.60 2139 0.77 2314 1.31 2301 1.52 0430 1.62 0417 1.44 04300.35 1.62 04170.57 1.44 0450 0445 1119 0.50 1111 0.65 11191.92 0.50 11111.68 0.65 1115 1115 1725 1.28 1713 1.20 TU WE 1725 1.28 1713 1.20 TU WE 1752 0.19 1756 0.43 TU WE 2309 0.60 2251 0.75 2309 0.60 2251 0.75 2359 1.44 2355 1.27 0541 1.66 0522 1.49 05410.43 1.66 05220.62 1.49 0524 0542 1227 0.44 1208 0.58 1227 0.44 1208 0.58 1208 1.87 1153 1.63 1832 1.34 1813 1.27 WE TH 1832 1.34 1813 1.27 WE TH 1851 0.25 1838 0.47 TH WE 2353 2353 0.69 0.69 0015 0.55 0617 1.56 00151.36 0.55 06171.24 1.56 0040 0059 0642 1.72 1256 0.50 0642 1.72 1256 0.50 0639 0.52 0608 0.67 1324 0.37 1900 1.36 TH FR 1324 0.37 1900 1.36 TH FR 1305 1.78 1235 1.57 FR TH 1928 1.41 1928 1.41 1956 0.31 1926 0.51 0113 0.48 0045 0.60 01131.31 0.48 00451.22 0.60 0130 0205 0735 1.77 0704 1.65 0735 1.77 0704 1.65 0658 0.71 0743 0.59 1411 0.32 1337 0.41 FR SA 1411 0.32 1337 0.41 FR SA 1322 1.51 1407 1.69 SA FR 2015 1.49 1942 1.47 2015 1.49 1942 1.47 2017 0.53 2103 0.36 0203 0.43 0131 0.50 02031.30 0.43 01311.22 0.50 0227 0316 0823 1.79 0748 1.72 0823 1.79 0748 1.72 0757 0.74 0854 0.63 1453 0.30 1415 0.34 SA SU 1453 0.30 1415 0.34 SA SU 1417 1.46 1515 1.60 SU SA 2057 1.54 2021 1.57 2057 1.54 2021 1.57 2113 0.53 2207 0.39 0250 0.40 0216 0.41 02501.34 0.40 02161.25 0.41 0425 0329 0907 1.78 0832 1.78 0907 1.78 0832 1.78 0903 0.75 1008 0.63 1530 0.31 1454 0.28 SU MO 1530 0.31 1454 0.28 SU MO 1518 1.43 1626 1.55 SU MO 2136 1.58 2102 1.67 2136 1.58 2102 1.67 2208 0.51 2306 0.40 0333 0.39 0302 0.33 03331.40 0.39 03021.32 0.33 0525 0428 0947 1.73 0916 1.80 09470.60 1.73 09160.71 1.80 1118 1013 1605 0.33 1533 0.25 MO TU 1605 0.33 1533 0.25 MO TU 1730 1.52 1623 1.43 MO TU 2214 1.60 2144 1.76 2214 1.60 2144 1.76 2357 0.40 2300 0.46 0414 0.41 0350 0.28 04141.48 0.41 03501.42 0.28 0616 0521 1026 1.67 1003 1.78 10260.54 1.67 10030.64 1.78 1221 1119 1638 0.38 1615 0.26 TU WE 1638 0.38 1615 0.26 TU WE 1825 1.50 1725 1.46 TU WE 2249 2228 1.82 2249 1.60 1.60 2228 1.82 2346 0.41 0454 0.44 0440 0.27 04540.40 0.44 04401.55 0.27 0042 0609 1102 1.59 1052 1.73 1102 1.59 1052 1.73 0702 1.56 1219 0.53 1709 0.44 1657 0.30 WE TH 1709 0.44 1657 0.30 WE TH 1315 0.48 1821 1.49 WE TH 2324 1.59 2315 1.84 2324 1.59 2315 1.84 1914 1.48 0533 0533 0.29 0.29 1143 1143 1.63 1.63 1742 0.37 FR FR 1742 0.37

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 Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2015, Bureau of Meteorology Copyright Commonwealth Australia 2015, Bureau Meteorology  Copyright Commonwealth of of Australia 2015, Bureau of of Meteorology Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum Predictions Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of of Predictions is is Lowest Astronomical Tide Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when effect Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in in effect New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon Tide predictions for Sydney (Fort Denison) have been formatted by the National Tidal Centre, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Copyright reserved. All material is supplied in good faith and is believed to be correct. It is supplied on the condition that no warranty is given in relation thereto, that no responsibility or liability for errors or omissions is, or will be, accepted and that the recipient will hold MHL and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Australia free from all such responsibility or liability and from all loss or damage incurred as a consequence of any error or omission. Predictions should not be used for navigational purposes. Use of these tide predictions will be deemed to include acceptance of the above conditions. 106

DECEMBER 2017

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat 110 A look at Aquayak Inside story...

The owner of Sea Adex, Adam, lives and works in the Bayside area of Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Queensland – the gateway to endless fishing sports and water activities. As a family man, Adam has always valued safety and ride with their boats. Having spent the last five years with prototypes, continual development and many hours with their Naval Architect – the 45, 55 and 65 Armour Boat range was born.

Made for...

Sea Adex are committed to offering you the best customised solution to suit your individual needs.

This month...

Gary Brown hires out a Sea Adex 6.5m Armour Hard Top from Finz Boat Hire in Sydney. Check it out on page 118.

Aquayak have an impressive range of fishing kayaks, and Peter Jung checks out just what’s available.

111 Gear up Ginninderra

Toby Grundy visits one of Canberra’s many urban lakes in his yak, and proves just how fishy it is.

112 Storage solutions

Justin WIllmer explains how kayak storage is not an issue to be sniffed at, and provides some ideas.

114 Quintrex’s new Outback Explorer series Wayne Kampe examines the newest boats from the Quintrex stable, both on and off the water.

116 Ultimate 5.2 CC

This blue beast from Sea Trail was a sure winner for Wayne Kampe when he tested it on Moreton Bay.

WHAT’S NEW BOATING DUNBIER ACCESSORIES

Dunbier has announced the release of their Accessories and Parts Catalogue for 2017/18. The new catalogue features some of the latest and greatest products from Dunbier Trailers, alongside some of the most reliable products that have been getting boaties to and from the ramp for the last 48 years. Some of the new products that are available are: the original ‘Launch & Retrieve’ system; change of colour for most winches, bumper block, flippers and more; quality LED lighting and loom kits; customised tie-downs; retractable tie downs; stainless steel brake lines; brake line kits and much more. With over 45 pages of parts and accessories to look at, and plenty of new products, this year’s catalogue is well worth a look. You can browse through it on the Dunbier website or visit your local dealer to pick up a copy. www.dunbier.com

MERCURY DIESEL 6.7L COMING

With production to commence shortly, the new Mercury Diesel 6.7L mid-range engines will be available Down Under in early 2018. Unveiled at the 2017 Miami International Boat Show, the exciting new electronic, common-rail engines come in three power levels: 480hp, 500hp and 550hp. For further flexibility, they can be used as inboards or packaged with the Mercury Zeus pod-drive technology. They are, of course, fully compatible with Mercury’s full suite of SmartCraft controls and electronics, including optional joystick piloting for inboards and joystick piloting for pods (Zeus). Designed to deliver substantial improvements in acceleration and top speeds, the engines boast a matched turbocharger design coupled with electronic common-rail fuel injection technology and a state-of-the-art Bosch EDC17 engine control system. Utilising design features and materials specific for marine applications, the new Mercury Diesel 6.7L diesels are extremely durable with low fuel consumption and an extended travel range. www.mercurymarine.com/en/au/

DRIVE WITH YOUR PHONE

MAP MarineTechnologies (MAP-Tech) have partnered with AMI Marine to distribute its products throughout Southeast Asia, and one of the new products to hit our shores is the MAP-Tech Marine Autopilot, or MAP for short. MAP lets you completely control your boat’s movement via an app on your handheld device. The mobile app interfaces with a compact, marine-proofed unit, housing a GPS, Wi-Fi, INS and solid state compass. This unit connects via Wi-Fi to a handheld Android or iOS app device that facilitates rudder control, battery monitor and other steering commands, allowing the vessel to travel along a pre-selected route to its destination, and at any time the skipper can take control with optional remote steering. MAP comes pre-loaded with navigational charts, lets you manage unlimited waypoints and routes, and the GPS horizontal accuracy is within 2.5m. MAP is essentially a digital crewmate, combining a navigator’s expertise with a steady hand at the wheelhouse, leaving users free to fish. www.amisales.com.au 108

DECEMBER 2017

TRUDESIGN FITTINGS

PRODUCT GUIDE

BLA now distributes TruDesign’s extensive range of products including ball valves, skin fittings, load bearing collars (DAME Award Winner), skin fitting tools (DAME Award Winner), strainers, vented loops, non-return valves, connectors and tails. TruDesign’s products are New Zealandmade, comply to the toughest global certification authorities, and conform to rigid ISO and ABYC Marine Standards. Thanks to more than 40 years’ experience designing, tooling and manufacturing complex injectionmoulded engineering plastics, TruDesign have developed a range of sophisticated products to meet the safety demands of the modern boating industry. TruDesign’s composite materials are: developed specifically for harsh marine environments; stronger, lighter, tougher and more chemically resistant than metals; immune to electrochemical and galvanic corrosion; UV safe and won’t discolour or become brittle from the sun like inferior plastic products can; and are designed to last lifetime of vessel. www.bla.com.au

BOAT COLLAR WELDED METHOD

After months and months of testing and trials, Kapten Boat Collar are thrilled to announce a new and different way to fit the Boat Collars, with the new ‘welded’ method. The new method is suitable for most big boats, including plate and fibreglass boats where internal access is limited/non-existent, and/or for customers who don’t want to drill holes in their boats. We can now chemically weld or physically weld the Collars to the boats. To chemically weld the Collars, we use ‘the strongest sealant adhesive on Earth,’ Soudal’s T-Rex Power Turbo (which has a grab/strength rate of 380kg/10cm2), and bonds everything to everything. Due to the extra labour required for shaping and routering each Collar, the welded Collar is a little more in price compared to the standard fitting Collars. Call today to see if your boat is suitable for this welded fitting method. www.boatcollar.com.au

VERADOS FOR FURY 6 DUAL CONSOLE Fitted with twin 225 Mercury Verado outboards, the new Fury 282 Dual Console is better than ever – faster, better-balanced and roomier. “Having experienced the difference, the 225 Verados are now definitely our preferred motors on this boat,” said Fury Custom Boats owner/director, Scott Fury. The Dual Console is a brilliant multi-purpose machine – a bow-rider with a protected helm, a large fishing area and plenty of comfort with a bedroom, toilet, galley and BBQ if you want. The addition of twin 225hp Mercury Verados has made a very attractive package even better. “Testing with the Verados we hit 46 knots (85 km/h) at 6,400 revs which is better than it’s ever done,” Scott said. At 3,000 rpm the twin rig was using 40L an hour, giving the 9.1m Fury a range of 460km. “As I said, ultimately it’s up to the owner which engines are used but I’m going to be recommending the Verados certainly.” www.mercurymarine.com/en/au/

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

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Business Profile

Taking a closer look at Aquayak Kayaks FMG

Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Nearly 18 months ago I was introduced to Paul Varasdi from Aquayak Kayaks at the Melbourne Boat Show. It was the first opportunity that Paul and his business partner Darren Dunn had to show off their locally made kayaks. They had recently bought the business and were keen to further establish the Aquayak brand and expand upon the options that the manufacturing process offers. A lot has happened since we first spoke, and I’ve tested a number of the Aquayak kayaks for the magazines. Paul and Darren have both actively sourced feedback on the kayaks tested, so I was super keen to visit the business and see how a kayak is made. Aquayak produces seven types of kayak from their

electric motor and they have most bases covered. They also produce six other products (this will expand further as the business grows according to Paul) including an outrigger kit that suits any kayak, a dive buoy, a water tank and a number of mooring buoys. All of this keeps the Aquayak team

it would. The process from start to finish is approximately 50 minutes long and (without going through all the steps) it basically involves plastic powder being poured into a mould, heated and rotated in an oven and then cooled. Then they add on the accessories. It’s pretty simple really, but as Paul explained to me,

Production was in full swing for Christmas when the author visited.

Aquayak also produces other items like this outrigger kit. Their plan is to continue to expand their range of products. it’s the tooling required to make the mould and making adjustments so that they are continuing to improve the end product that takes time. He showed me a large book

that he and Darren have put all of their thoughts into and they are certainly keen to expand and improve. A great example of this is the Outrigger Kit they produce. It can be attached to any kayak and will improve its stability so anybody can use it. Their partnership with Railblaza has been a huge positive for them and for the end user. These versatile and easy to use products and

Aquayak uses Railblaza mounting systems, which is great for the end user.

A happy customer picking up their new kayak. head office in Campbellfield, Victoria. They range from an entry-level children’s kayak to a tandem yak that can be kitted out so that two anglers can fish from it. Add to that the option of including an

pretty busy. HOW THE PROCESS WORKS The physical process of turning a tub of plastic powder into a kayak didn’t take as long as I expected

Once cooled the kayak is cleaned and all the accessories are added.

The plastic powder is placed in a mould and then heated and rotated in an oven for 24 minutes. 110

DECEMBER 2017

mounting systems are second to none in quality and mean that every Aquayak kayak produced has accessories that match the quality of the kayak they’re on. LEARN MORE Aquayak has a dealer network of over 70 stores nationally or you can order direct via their website www. aquayak.com. Although they have a great range of standard colours and products, custom kayaks can be ordered and produced.

Paul has had special orders from quite a few AFL supporters who wanted their kayak made in their favourite club colours. I could see a few Tigers fans placing orders for Christmas. There is also a great range of accessories and other items for your kayak available through the website. • If you want to know more about Aquayak kayaks and products they produce and sell, please go to their website or contact them on (03) 9357 9992.

Another option with the Aquayak kayaks is to add a Torqeedo electric motor to either their Scout or Ranger models.

Get into gear at Lake Ginninderra CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

Starting in late spring and continuing all through summer and autumn, I regularly fish Lake Ginninderra in Canberra. It is not a particularly large waterway and over the years it has been subject to a lot of illegal dumping and illegal fishing. However, despite all of this, it is still one of the best kayak fisheries in Canberra, because all four of the resident species hit lures and most of the fishing pressure comes from land-based anglers; this means there is some great fishing action to be had just out from shore.

Double and triple hook-ups are common. and carp along with goodsized golden perch and some enormous cod. My biggest cod out of the lake is 80cm, but there are quite a few anglers in the ACT that have

Ginninderra is suited to both pedal or paddle kayaks. FACILITIES Lake Ginninderra is located right in the heart of Belconnen, which is about 15 minutes from the city centre. This means that there are plenty of shops nearby, including cafes and restaurants and a BCF should you run short of basic tackle supplies while out on the water. Lake Ginninderra is a popular picnic spot with families, so there are all the usually amenities scattered around the lake from BBQ areas to public toilets. There is phone reception right the way around the lake. The boat ramp at Diddams Close is a well-used ramp in good condition and I would recommend launching here, as most of the good fishing areas are close by. Always wear a life vest just to be on the safe side. SPECIES Lake Ginninderra is packed full of large redfin

Aquayak r recommends dfoerra Lake Ginnin

cracked the magic metre mark while fishing the lake. TECHNIQUES I use the same lures and the same techniques for both goldens and redfin. Vibes work particularly well at Lake Ginninderra as they look exactly like the baby redfin that the goldens chase. Slow rolling a Jackall TN60 in benitama gill parallel to the weedbeds that stretch along the margins of the lake is a great way to search for a strike. Slow lifting vibes

off the bottom near a school of baitfish can also get the larger redfin and yellas keen. Plastics in the 65-80mm range dropped in clear patches between weedbeds and jigged near the bottom work well if the fish are shut down. If you’re chasing the cod, try surface lures first. Though not a lot of cod are caught on surface at Ginninderra, it is always worth seeing if the green fish are hitting topwater, because the strikes are spectacular and the fish are usually on the larger side. However, I have caught the majority of my cod using larger vibes like the Jackall Doozer. This lure attracts a lot of attention as its action is pronounced and the rattle can draw them in from a long way. Bright colours work well after rain. Use natural colours when the water is clear. THE KAYAK Lake Ginninderra is a relatively safe waterway. Yes, you will come across the occasional sunken trolley, but it’s sheltered and the lake is small. It’s possible to fish Ginninderra from very basic

The cod in Ginninderra follow the reddies.

kayaks right through to the high-end pedal and paddle yaks. The lake is suited to short sessions, so you only need a small amount of storage for both food and water and a rod holder if you’re taking a spare outfit. I use my Native Slayer 13 and it always performs well. Having reverse is a bonus when fighting a big cod and I like having a large amount of storage and a sounder for finding the bait schools. It’s also a handy yak to use when fishing the thicker snags, as I can stand and cast so to work the entire area. THE SOUNDER A sounder isn’t a necessity but it helps

Releasing another yella back to the snags. TIMING Lake Ginninderra fishes well right up until the start of winter. It’s especially good at the start of autumn when the goldens feed up before shutting down. TACKLE For goldens and reddies, I use a Daiwa Harrier 6’4

and 30lb leader. This is more than enough to handle the big cod and muscle them from the snags. CONCLUSION Lake Ginninderra is a great place to introduce novice kayak fishos to the sport. It also has a lot to offer the more experienced

Scott Goodman with a schooling reddy. when fishing Ginninderra. Sometimes the larger fish will be trailing the bait schools and finding them can be tricky without a decent sounder. They are also useful for keeping tabs on the water temperature and mapping significant structure near the middle of the lake where the larger cod hang out. LOCATIONS Start at the old police wharf. Cast up near the rock wall and run your lure right along the edge of the wharf. Plenty of good goldens have been caught here along with some massive reddies. Carp will also hit lures in this area, especially in early summer. The rock wall running towards the college is also a good area for cod, yellas and reddies. Find the edge of the weed and cast parallel to the ledge, allowing the lure to sink to the bottom before slow rolling it back to your yak.

light spin stick matched to a Daiwa Cerate 2000 spooled with 6lb braid and 6lb leader. This is an adaptable outfit. It

angler. There are plenty of different species that respond to a variety of techniques and on the

The goldens in Ginninderra respond to medium-sized divers and plastics. has plenty of power in the butt and a light tip, so I can fish plastics and pick up even the lightest take. For cod, I use a Daiwa Air Edge 7’2 baitcaster rod matched to a Daiwa Tatula reel spooled with 20lb braid

right day it can offer some truly superb golden perch fishing. Don’t be surprised if you get a few double hook-ups; it’s a common occurrence in summer right through to the end of autumn.

SCOUT SUGGESTED ACCESSORY:

699

245

$ PRICE WITH FISHING KIT

799

$ Specifications: Length: 3 metres; Weight: 19kg; Capacity: 150kg; Price with Fishing Kit:

Manufactured in Melbourne, Victoria

Outrigger Kit

21B Randor St, Cambellfield, Victoria 3061

“See our website or call to find a dealer near you.”

Ph: (03) 9357 9992 – www.aquayak.com DECEMBER 2017

111

Solutions for storing your kayak at home BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Fingers-crossed you have been doing a bit more fishing than me over the last month. With only a couple of short bream and flathead sessions under my belt I am keen to get the yaks on the water more throughout December. Some extreme weather put a dampener on fishing plans, along with the building of a new shed, however I made the most of the downtime and did some kayak and tackle maintenance, while also sorting out both kayak and kayak accessory storage in my new shed. It’s definitely true that the easier it is to access and load your gear, the more likely you are to get out on the water and catch a few. My aim with the new shed was for everything to be easily located, easily accessed and also easily returned to its home when I return from a fishing trip. After more than a year of using a small, crowded shed and bits and pieces in crates everywhere, here’s a rundown on how our kayaks and accessories are now organised. I hope it inspires you to look at storage options for your kit. VERTICAL KAYAK STORAGE My parents, ‘the grey

nomads,’ are in their 70s and still love their kayak fishing. They paddle Malibu Mini-X kayaks that measure about 2.7m long. The 3m high walls on the shed allow for vertical storage against the rear wall. The two kayaks can be stored out of the way easily and the storage system I have used allows me to simply unclip a strap that secures them to the wall and lower them to the floor when I know my parents are visiting and will be heading out for a fish. I took a set of Railblaza StarPort Wall Slings and mounted the StarPort mounts on the shed frame, inserting a small block of timber into the wall frame to ensure the

mounting was both strong and secure. In terms of placement, the crossbeam of the shed frame was about 1.5m from the floor, which worked out perfect, as it meant that the strap would be slightly above the halfway point of the vertical kayak, making this system more secure and stable. As my folks hadn’t dropped their kayaks off, I simply used two other kayaks that I had handy, while noting that their kayaks were around 85cm wide – I had to ensure I had adequate space for both to fit. The two StarPorts were mounted on the shed frame about 90cm apart, to ensure the two kayaks would sit snugly together and assist in supporting each other, with

The kit crate is loaded, ready to grab and go for any kayak adventure.

Top: A block of wood inside the wall frame makes for a solid and strong fixing. Above: The eye of the Railblaza StarPort Wall Sling close up. 112

DECEMBER 2017

Horizontal kayak storage is sorted thanks to the Sea to Summit Aquaracks. Aquaracks support the cockpit section of the kayak, rather than the ends where they can cause the kayak to bend.

at least 45cm clearance on the other side of each mount. I adjusted the Railblaza StarPort Wall Sling slightly so that the StarPort and eye were in the centre of the strap. Then I tied a knot in the strap around the eye so that the strap didn’t slide through the eye that’s locked into the StarPort mounted on the wall frame. This in turn ensured that the kayaks remained centred in position. Then it’s simply a matter of adjusting the strap length so that the strap is tight around the kayak when it is stood on its tail and positioned in place. It’s as easy as sliding the kayak into position, standing it up against the wall, hugging the kayak to grab the two strap ends that are hanging down from the StarPort and eye, and then bringing them around the kayak and clipping them together. To release the kayaks, simply hold a hand on it to keep it sturdy, unclip the StarPort Wall Sling and lower the kayak to the floor. Vertical storage sorted. HORIZONTAL STORAGE Kayak length and available height can often restrict the ability to stand

kayaks vertically and this is where horizontal storage comes into play. With an 11ft paddle kayak (and hoping to add a 12’ paddle kayak to the family) I ensured that one long wall of the new shed had no roller doors, allowing plenty of hanging space. Measuring the wall, I allowed half a foot clearance from the roll of the roller door when rolled up and at its largest, as well as enough height off the floor to park the trailer and boat beneath the hanging kayaks. It’s important to remember to measure twice and cut or drill once, to avoid the additional holes that I have in my shed frame. The Aquaracks from Sea

to Summit have been great and I simply unscrewed them at the old house and moved them across to the new shed. They are excellent quality, inexpensive, simple to install, have a capacity of 80kg and are padded to avoid damage to your chosen vessel. When installing them I ensure I have vertical clearance for both kayaks, install the lower set first and then clamp the second set on the wall above, adjusting them to allow both kayaks to be lifted in and out easily prior to fixing them in place. If you don’t want to park or store anything else below them along the wall then you can comfortably hang

Robo Cup is a storage solution for many hardto-store items like these landing nets.

three kayaks on a wall of this height. As I was fixing into the steel shed frame, I again inserted a piece of timber into the frame, clamped it in place and then drilled and screwed the racks in place to ensure a solid and strong fixing. That done, I had two kayaks wall-mounted, out of the way and easily accessed when required. If you have limited room out from the wall then Railblaza StarPort Wall Slings, used earlier for vertical storage, are designed to hang a kayak flush against the wall and are another quality, affordable and simple-to-install option. OTHER OPTIONS My larger pedal kayak is currently stored on the floor, however I am looking to add either a hoist system or a kayak stand on wheels. There are a variety of hoist systems available, designed for bikes, kayaks and other storage solutions; it’s just a matter of investigating the mounting system for installing the hoist, the attachment system for the kayak and the capacity to ensure that it suits your needs. Don’t hang the kayak by the tip and tail or you could end up with a banana, especially if it’s hot in the shed. Wide cradles under each end of the cockpit of the

These two kayaks are stored vertically with the Railblaza StarPort Wall Sling.

The Rack It Hook Plate and Double Hooks created an excellent paddle storage solution.

kayak that spread the weight and offer better support are the preferred option. A kayak rack on wheels that holds four to six kayaks is a dream for me and I will be looking at DIY options as well as commercially available options, like those found in stores that sell kayaks. This allows the secure storage of multiple vessels and it can be wheeled hard up against a wall out of the way, or wheeled out into the open to easily access any of the vessels. In the meantime, the floor is fine. A section of marine carpet the length of your kayak will make it easy to shift, flip and work on your kayak without scratching it up on the concrete. PADDLE STORAGE I have always found paddles a pain to store and they end up in a corner, falling over, hard to get at and messy. On a recent trip to Bunnings I found that Rack It had added a Hook Plate and Double Hooks to their range. We use the Rack It shelving system in our shed to store all of our camping and fishing gear, using heavy-duty black crates to keep everything sorted. The addition of a couple of Hook Plates and a handful of Double Hooks soon saw the paddles neat and tidy as well as out of harm’s way. If you don’t have Rack It shelving, don’t worry, I’m sure there are a wide range of double hook options available that mount

to various surfaces and will serve the same purpose. ELECTRIC MOTOR MOUNT The grey nomads generally leave their kayak gear at our place and I wanted to ensure that their gear was easy to find and simple to access. I needed a rack for storing Ronny’s little 18lb Watersnake electric motor and, rather than hang it on the wall somewhere, I added a shelf beam to the Rack It shelving and hung the motor on this at a good height for his crook shoulder to handle. I killed two birds with one stone, as this also created a crossbeam to hold in annoying vertical items such as rod tubes, stake out poles, bait pumps and so forth, creating a module of vertical storage within the shelving unit. ROBO CUP A cool storage solution that I have used in multiple applications over the years is Robo Cup. It is a dual cup holder that is joined with a clamp that allows you to clamp it almost anywhere and the bottoms of the cups can be left in for storing smaller items and drinks, or screwed out to store rods and more. I have attached Robo Cup to ladders, 4WD trays, milk crates, bikes, canoes and a stack of other places, to hold everything from drinks and rods to umbrellas, painting gear and lures. I was trying to find a home for another awkwardto-store item – landing nets. The Robo Cup is a storage solution that can be attached to a beam in the shed without the need for a permanent fixing and it can be moved or repurposed in seconds. I generally give the net a hose when I get home from fishing and after a quick shake the net can be stored in the Robo Cup where it will dry and not create a mouldy mess anywhere in my kit. KIT CRATES I have four black storage crates on the bottom shelf of one shelving unit – one for

myself, my wife and both of my parents – where we store the remainder of our kayak kit. If someone wants to go for a fish they put their kayak on their C-Tug trolley, grab their net, paddle and open the crate to load on their kayak kit. Items in the crate may include an anchor, lip grips, Boomerang Tool,

travelling. Just grab and go! Even though the weather and jobs list has kept me off the water lately, I have made the most of some short windows of time with a few bream and flathead, and more importantly I have made the most of the downtime to ready myself for the rest of the year, including the

With a shelf bracket the Watersnake has a home. sunscreen, bug spray, first aid kit, sounder and battery, water shoes, hat, phone case, dry bag, paddle leash, rod holders and other accessories, and a range of other bits and pieces to suit the crate owner. This also makes travelling kayak adventures much simpler, especially with early starts, ensuring that nothing important is left behind. The crates also stack well and protect your kit when

upcoming holiday period. My kit is sorted, everything has a home and is within easy reach and I feel prepared and fired up for a few adventures. I hope this article helps to inspire you to plan your kayak storage, think about different solutions for storing and managing you kit and prepare for those upcoming adventures, hot bites and short windows of time that present themselves.

Timber inserted into the shed frame ensures a strong fixing for the Aquaracks. DECEMBER 2017

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Exploring the Outback the Quintrex way BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

The invitation was titled ‘Quintrex Outback Explorer Media Day’, which immediately made me envisage a day perhaps

level boater; an affordable rig that will help the angler replace shore-based fishing. Secondly, one for the traveller, hence the intriguing ‘Outback’ name to distinguish the new design. Lastly, the long time boater moving to down-size because a larger craft – great when it

down on the new craft. As part of the media program we were fortunate enough to secure an invitation to the Quintrex factory, where we had the production line explained at length right from rolls of aluminium through to finished products. Impressive is

Few car toppers are as purpose-designed as the Outback Explorer range, nor do they offer the security and safety of the high-sided Outback’s hull.

The 350 Outback Explorer was compact, stable and had a good turn of speed (37km/h) powered by the 15hp Evinrude. on Lake Moondarra at Mt Isa, or maybe on the Thompson River, Longreach. Expecting to be boarding an early morning aircraft I was quite surprised to see – on a detailed look at the invitation – that the media day was in fact at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast. So instead of flying, I’d be driving. BRAND NEW MODELS At the Media breakfast, all was revealed. Quintrex being ahead of the game, as always, had released a brand new line of tinnies, which saw three new models introduced into the renowned Explorer range. Lighter yet with more internal room and enhanced freeboard for more peace of mind in less-than-friendly environments, the newbies were aimed squarely at three market positions. Firstly, that of the entry

DECEMBER 2017

370 Outback Explorer The 370 sports an increased deadrise to smooth those annoying lumps and bumps that waterways seem to enjoy throwing at us. The topsides have been raised by 135mm for even more space and security for those aboard, thanks to an overall internal depth of 0.87m. A 1.73m beam also sees four persons able to enjoy the smooth ride with maximum power of 20hp on the transom. At 92kg, it’s a useful car or camper trailer topper, and would be an ideal travelling companion. 390 Outback Explorer The flagship of the Outback range, the 390, is more than just a basic lightweight sports style tinny. Offering room for five persons and powered by up to 30hp, the 390 also sports a cast deck up front, with a decent sized storage hatch under it. At 116kg it’s still a car topper, with a lift assist device, and would cater for the angler moving up from,

say, a 350 into a larger rig that still offers a great ride, has tremendous freeboard at 0.87m (an increase of 100mm) and ample beam of 1.82m. THE OVERVIEW Quintrex have kicked quite a few goals with the new Outback series. The ride was exceptionally good (somehow they seem to have made a good thing even better) and I was particularly impressed with handling. In very hard turns, when the Outbacks seemed to run virtually on rails, there was absolutely no inclination to lean into the turn! That, in itself speaks volumes of the sort of R&D Quintrex have put into the Outback’s hull design to lift them to this level of performance and handling. While available as basic rigs – at a very competitive price – there are glove boxes, factory floors, biminis, electric motor pads and other goodies on the option lists. You want it: they’ve got it!

The 390 Outback Explorer is the flagship of the range, and the sample here comes with a cast deck, decals and a big hatch in the cast deck. first came home – just does not suit overall requirements any longer. But there was more to the media presentations than just an explanation of market targets and a run

the best word to describe the factory, and it was a treat to see alloy sheets cut into various predetermined sections and welded together to form the various Quintrex models.

Just part of the stock in the Quintrex yard. 114

THE OUTBACKS – NEW FOR 2018 In a nutshell, the Outback Explorers are entirely new designs, and are offered in three sizes, namely 350 (3.58m), 370 (3.75m) and 390 (3.95m), with differing levels of appointments within the range. One of the first things you see when you inspect the Outbacks is the tremendous freeboard and roominess within each craft. For little boats, these were mighty big! In fact, depth

within the range has been increased by up to 230mm, with higher side sheets being worked into each design. 350 Outback Explorer This might be the smallest in the Outback range, but it certainly packs a punch. The craft features the Quinnie F series bow and 80mm higher side sheets with an internal side height of 0.76m. As such, there’s all the freeboard a couple of anglers or crabbers might need. Weighing in at a modest 81kg, the 350 OE is by any standard an ideal car topper for lake, estuary or sheltered bay work. Engine rating is up to 15hp with a maximum of four people aboard. With a 15 Evinrude on the transom, I ran the 350 with three aboard and there were no issues. The ride was impressively smooth and stability of a good order.

The new Outbacks on the dock. There are three new craft in the Outback Explorer line up, with small variations to fit out.

Hard Korr great gift ideas BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Hard Korr always surprise me with the ingenuity of some of their products. Very useful electrical products are the norm and this month – just in time for Christmas – there are a couple of real beauties on offer. THE 15W TRICKLE CHARGE SOLAR PANEL KIT Complete with a 5-year warranty, the Trickle Charge Solar Panel kit consists of a 270mm x 450mm ultra thin and extremely light panel, a solar controller, 5m of cable with bullet point connections plus a 1m battery connection cable with alligator clamps. The panel (monocrystalline silicon) has a maximum output of 840 mA and is designed to operate in temperatures from -20 to 80°C, which is going to survive our Queenlsand climate with ease. The highly portable and easy to assemble unit is designed to trickle charge 12V batteries of AGM, gel, wet or calcium construction, so it’s certainly quite versatile.

The light on the left indicates that the solar controller is doing its job. The kit is designed to keep charged batteries in tip top condition by keeping them topped up when not in use. It’s brilliant for connecting to boat, car, or caravan batteries, or virtually any stationary battery that might be in need of continuous charging for best service. Think of the poor old electric motor battery up front of a boat. How often do we give it a charge up after a fishing trip then leave it sit for quite a while, hoping of course that it will be in tip top shape for next use. Sadly this is not always the case, as a lot of us have found out. Deep cycle batteries need to be kept fully charged for best life and the Hard Korr unit can fill the bill nicely.

As an exercise, I set up a test unit on my own boat – it was child’s play to connect the bullet point fittings – and even with the sun obscured by cloud cover there was sufficient charge output from the unit to set the controller flashing to indicate that charging was taking place. With a very realistic warranty, and a modest price of only $129, this trickle charge unit is the original gift that keeps on giving, in the form of solar powered electricity! HARD KORR UNILIGHT Korr are promoting their little Unilight as the most versatile light ever made, and after seeing one in action I’m inclined to agree. With a weight of only 85g, and well

and truly small enough to fit into the palm of the hand, this neat, rounded light about the size of half an orange takes lighting portability to a whole new level. The potential seems to be endless; name the job and the Unilight can handle the task, given its high output of 100 lumens of light (at maximum) or a conservative 50 lumens in conservation mode of its three AAA batteries. Default light output is white, but there is also, at the touch of a button, a handy orange to chase away the insects, as both white and

The Unilight in action; set up here on a tackle box with its elastic strap holding it in place. orange LEDs are present in the unit. The Unilight can also be set to a flash setting in Strobe Orange mode as a warning or attraction device. Mounting the light is simple thanks to both an elastic strap, plus an

inbuilt magnet on the actual light itself. The Unilight is great value for money at $29.99 each or $99 for a four pack. For more information about these products, or any others in their range, visit www.korrlighting. com.au. - Wayne Kampe

Left: The 15W trickle charge panel in action. Once set up it will keep a battery fully charged for next use. Right: The entire 15W solar charge kit. The gift that keeps on giving…

DECEMBER 2017

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A value package – the Sea Trail Ultimate 5.2 CC

BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Boat reviews are always dominated by weather. Overly calm conditions can make a craft’s ride quality more difficult to assess. On the other hand, it certainly makes taking photos real easy and provides some interesting top performance figures from hull and motor. In the Sea Trail Ultimate’s case we launched at Manly on Moreton Bay on a day of beguiling calmness, and that’s how things stayed. Ray Dial of R & M Marine (Hemmant) assisted with the launch and review and I doubt I’ve seen many craft leave their trailers – and be driven back on later – as easily as the 5.2 Sea Trail. The trailer was a custom-made Sea Trail trailer featuring alloy C channel construction which combined strength, a functional design and light weight quite superbly. A no-nonsense sort of alloy rig, the Sea Trail had a rigid feel about it thanks to 4mm plate all around. I noted that although welds SPECIFICATIONS Length: 5.25m Beam: 2.25m Hull construction: 4mm plate alloy all round Weight hull: 655kg Engines: 90-150hp Engine fitted: 90hp Evinrude E-TEC Fuel: 95L Persons: six Towing: Family wagon or a 4x4 ute 116

DECEMBER 2017

Main: On the move and doing it well; the Sea Trail’s hull design sees the craft planing very freely and kicking displaced water well away from the hull. Above: With the its interesting design, the craft rides very freely up on top of the water, not through it, which is a bonus for performance and fuel consumption. were not smoothed, they were continuous and of a fairly high standard. The wide non-skid decks looked good to sit on in quiet conditions and with check plate on the self draining floor and raised forward deck, the fishing team would enjoy sure footing on the water with the owner having an easy wash-out back home. I love hose-out style boats. PLENTY OF FISHING FEATURES Full cockpit-length side pockets looked great for stowing long items and with a 60L in-floor kill tank/ storage compartment and a shelf within the centre console a fair amount of equipment would find a home for a day on the water. The rail and windscreenequipped centre console offered some breeze protection with a Raymarine

Dragonfly 7 GPS/sounder and a compass. Marine radio, gauges for the 90 E-Tec astern and switches were all handy, and the wheel was linked to hydraulic steering, which was easily reached from the fore/aft bolster seat set onto a big storage box. Bolster seats are great when travelling then easily reversed when watching a couple of baited rods and enjoying a snack. I noted a 30L livewell aft and a transom-mounted bait station equipped with a cutting board, tackle drawer, four rod holders and side tool compartments as well. A folding rear seat is standard but was removed for our water test with only the backrest in place. The full transom-height lockable boarding gate to port would be appreciated by an angler hauling in a big one or a swimmer returning to base.

There is a grab rail and ladder tucked into the transom for that latter purpose. 90 E-TEC AMPLE POWER Powered modestly by a 90hp Evinrude E-TEC – top power is rated as 150hp – the Sea Trail Ultimate 5.2 performed quite well. A 15” Viper prop kicked the solid 655kg hull onto the plane at a modest 3000rpm and 13.7km/h. It turned more revs into forward motion at the following rate: 4000rpm for 32.3km/h, 4500 for 38.2, 5000 for 45.2 and 5800 for 58.3. Although it’s a small engine compared to the maximum 150hp, the 90 E-TEC still had plenty of power given the ease with which it kicked the rig (with two on board) quickly onto the plane and had ample power reserves throughout the rev range. Evinrude’s fuel injected 2-strokes are like that, of course, and with that sort of get up and go even having four anglers aboard should present no problems.

In the prevailing conditions, fast runs and sharp turns were a breeze. The hull with it’s massive double reversed outer chines tracked like it was on rails and was then rock steady at rest, so it’s good for virtually all fishing pursuits. Ride assessment was facilitated by some big Moreton Island-bound ferries leaving Manly and I guess the excited youngsters aboard might have wondered why an alloy boat with two grinning persons aboard came zooming in on their wash and jumped straight through it a couple of times. The Sea Trail handled that bit of sport quite well; there were no hard bangs or jarring, just a smooth impact with spray thrown well away. SUMMING UP Stability’s assured, an excellent and well-controlled ride’s a bonus, and with 1.45m high sides the Sea Trail 5.2 Ultimate certainly had plenty of freeboard. The Chinese-made Sea Trail boats are somewhat

new to our market and offer a range of craft extending from 5m right up to 7m in length. With everything from cuddy cabs to both centre and side consoles on the books there’s a pretty good choice on hand. Keen anglers and family boaters could enjoy them equally. For a test run, contact Ausmarine, 128 Carrington St, Revesby, NSW 2212, phone (02) 9772 4857. They are happy to assist potential owners to open the throttle and experience the ride and handling of these Vee hulls. The price as reviewed was $42, 990 (with high-end C channel trailer) – good value for money. • Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/ trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.

The Sea Trail Ultimate 5.2 CC is a handsome craft with great potential.

Top: That’s a 26° Vee there; those wide reversed outer chines gave the hull terrific stability. Above: Among the angler-friendly features was a well-equipped aft bait station.

A sensibly-sized centre console makes a decent hub for controls and gauges and still allows plenty of workroom around it. Note those great non-skid decks as well.

The Sea Trail has room for up to four to fish in comfort. The check plate floor is nice and grippy underfoot and easy to wash out back at base.

Some of the features that make the 5.2 Sea Trail Ultimate an excellent fishing or family craft are easily seen here. Note the great freeboard, wide decks, well set-up bait station, console seating for two and neat boarding platform. While it was a long way from maximum allowable power, the 90 Evinrude E-TEC did a very good job of powering the solid Sea Trail hull.

Top: Useful fishing features here are the long side pockets, great toe rail under the pockets and paired rod holders within decks. Left and Right: Bolster seats are great in small craft. With their two-way backrest it’s just as easy to watch a baited rod astern as it is to study the sounder at the hotspot. Allocating storage duties to the shelf in the centre console makes sense.

Top: Easy launch and retrieve capability is a great feature of the custom C channel trailer that the Sea Trail Ultimate 5.2 is carried on. Above: A deep Vee with a difference – those two larger outer reversed chines certainly provide ample stability to the Sea Trail’s hull both underway and at rest. DECEMBER 2017

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Hiring the Sea Adex 6.5m Armour Hard Top

SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

When I was asked whether I was interested in taking out the Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top powered by a 250hp 4-stroke Suzuki outboard for a boat test, and at the same time go down rigging for kingfish in Sydney Harbour. I couldn’t resist an offer like that? In this boat review I am going to cover two aspects of the Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top. Firstly, an insight into the design and construction of the rig, and secondly, the advantages of hiring it from Finz Boat Hire. When I first saw the Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top on their website, I saw a beast of a boat. It looked SPECIFICATIONS Designer: Sea Adex Hull Construction Material: Aluminum Hull Type: Hard Top Construction Material: Aluminium Length: 6.4 M Beam/Width: 2.49 M Number of Fuel Tanks: 1 x 250L underfloor Passenger capacity: 5 for offshore and 7 for inshore Length maximum on trailer: 7.2 M Width: 2.49 M Side thickness: 6mm Bottom thickness: 6mm Max Motor hp: 400hp Tested on the day: 250hp Tow Vehicle: Heavy 4WD or 6 sedan 118

DECEMBER 2017

Main: The Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top Godzilla Finz Boat Hire rig has been built to 2C restricted survey, which will allow you to travel within 15 nautical miles offshore. This will allow you to have five onboard for those offshore trips and seven people when fishing inshore. Above: The Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top slides up very easily onto the Dunbier trailer and then clips onto the Boat Catch System. as solid as a brick and tough as nails while having at the same time the sleek lines of an extremely well-designed boat that would give you hours of safe, pleasurable boating and fishing time on inshore and offshore waters. The idea of the design of the boat came from a Brisbane-based company called Sea Adex. The owner Adam Mortimer put many hours into designing a boat that would deliver ultimate safety in really bad conditions. To learn more about how the design of the Sea Adex Armour range came about I watch a short video that Steve Morgan from Fishing Monthly put together when reviewing another one of the Sea Adex range. Adam explained that around six years ago he built a 4m prototype in a weekend and then sea trialled it in 30 knots. It didn’t sink even though it was completely full

of water. So, his next step was to show his designs to a naval architect, and together they created the range you see today. On the day that I tested the Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Godzilla that you can hire from Finz Boat Hire, I was only able to meet Chett and Andrew at the Rose Bay ramp at 10:30am. So, getting the preferred kingy bait squid proved to be a bit difficult. Chett did have a couple of slimies and a yellowtail in the plumbed live well. As the 250hp V6 Suzuki 4 stroke outboard pulled us out of the hole and onto the plane within 50m from idle, the rig settled down to a slow cruising speed at 20 knots. Once we rounded the corner at the entrance to Rose Bay, we encountered some very large wake from a passing ferry, which Andrew powered the boat through and over with ease. So much ease that it felt

like we were floating on a cushion of air. While idling at at 1000 RPM, it only took the an increase to 1200 RPM to achieve an increase of 10 knots. Once the boat was pushed to its limit at 44 knots, the RPM was at 4300, giving you great fuel economy for a large boat. This would be due to the design of the 23° constant deadrise of the hull at the transom and the slightly reversed 30cm chines/ sponsons on the side of the boat. What also adds to the stability and safety of the boat is that over 2 cubic metres of surveyed approved foam has been jammed into the hull. At one stage we had three adults on one side and there was very little tipping of the boat and the high sides gave you plenty of reassurance that you weren’t going overboard. Its 6mm aluminium sides and bottom, which have been full-length welded, lock the entire build of this boat together. It also has a selfdraining, scuppered deck that makes it easy to wash out and clean the floor after a hard days fishing. At one stage I lost count at the number of different places that you can store items on the Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top Godzilla. At last count there was at least 10. Maybe the design of this rig doesn’t suit your needs. Not a problem. Adam will customize the boat to suit your needs. Customisation options include: different configurations with kill tanks, live bait tanks and full tanks; dash layout; side door access; single/dual/triple motor options; placement of hand rails; where and how

FEATURES The Sea Adex Armour 6.5 metre Hard Top comes with a Fusion Sound System, Garmin GPSMAP 7416, a Garmin GPSMAP 7408, a Garmin Autopilot with Shadowdrive, 1kw Chirp TM256LM Transducer, a 600w Chirp GT51M Transducer, Wishbone Outriggers, 250L Fuel Tank, Live Bait Tank, Boat board, Garelick Seat Suspension, Windscreen Wiper, King/Queen Seats, EPIRB, fire extinguisher, 27mhz and UHF Marine Radio’s, Fish Bag/Box, 16 rod holders and all the required safety gear. many rod holders; what type of bait board you would like; the seating arrangement and types or anything else that you may want. Now the question for you is, “Do I buy one or do I hire one?” Let’s face it, if you were interested in this rig you could hire the boat for a day or two and if you were impressed with it, you could contact Adam from Sea Adex and get him to custom design one for you from their great range. If you want to buy one you can contact Adam

at: info@seaadex.com.au or call 0435 453 455. You could also visit their website, at www.seaadex.com.au, or call into the office at Shed 2/82 Redland Bay Road, Capalaba QLD if you’re up that way. If you would like to hire the Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top Godzilla, you can contact Chett at: fbhsydney@gmail.com, or visit their website at www.finzboathire.com.au. They also have a Facebook page, which is called simply Finz Boat Hire.

Plenty of rod holders, comfortable seats for you and the crew, plus everything you need for a day’s fishing and boating on the water. After you have finished your days fishing, all you need to do is ring up Chett from Finz Boat Hire and he will meet you at your prearranged pick-up point and take the boat away for you.

Top: Everything that you need is at your fingertips on the dash in front of the helm. The touch screen Garmin GPS 7408 is showing a number of kingfish arches on the screen, but we weren’t able to temp them into biting. Above: While in the cabin and you are driving the vessel, you have plenty of clear vision out the front and on the sides. The 27mhz and UHF Marine radios are just at arm’s length making it easy to communicate with other vessels. There is also a light for inside the cabin for those dull days.

Even though I am a bit on the short side, I could easily see over the dashboard while sitting at the helm. It was also very easy to see and use the array of electronics that I had in front of me.

From the area of the cockpit, you are able to access the front bunk area where you could store some of that extra fishing gear or the esky with the food and drinks. It could also be used as a small change room if needed.

Andrew, our skipper for the day, was giving us a safety talk and explaining where the life jackets and other safety gear is stored.

The Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top Godzilla is powered by a 250hp, 4-stroke Suzuki Outboard. When the motor is just in gear and moving forward at about 4 knot the RPM is at around 1000. Even though the 15hp 4 stroke outboard is there as a survey requirement you could also use this for trolling at a much slower speed.

The plumbed live well at the rear of the boat would hold enough squid or other live baits for a fishing session. What I would do is maybe put some kind of netting over the opening, as on the day we had one small yellowtail jump back into the water.

Top Left and Right: When you hire the boat Chett will include the use of the Scotty Depth Master down rigger if you need it. Bottom Left and Right: At the rear of the boat you will find an extremely sturdy chopping board that has more storage underneath. There is a wash down hose that will come in handy when cleaning up at the end of the day. The four rod holders are spread far enough apart so that the reels won’t bump into each other when get one out to fight the fish. There is also a number of hatches that will give you access and storage along with a collapsible/removable seat with a non-slip cover, that can be used when you have more onboard.

Left: Anchoring up with the powered winch and the Scarca anchor makes it so easy. It’s just a flip of the switch. The forward hatch will give you access to the front of the boat to tie off the rope to the front bollard. The non-slip covering on the front will save you from slipping. Above: The access ladder on the trailer makes launching and retrieve to boat by yourself so easy. All you need to do is drive the boat onto the trailer and allow the Boat Catch System to attach the boat. Turn off and raise the motor. Climb down the ladder, attach the safety chain and then just drive off. DECEMBER 2017

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