New South Wales Fishing Monthly - February 2015 by Fishing Monthly

24 PAGE ABT TOURNAMENT GUIDE INSIDE

Features

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Passing of legends: John Dunphy and Vic McCristal • Starlo’s topwater whiting tips • Macleay River weed bed bass • Canberra bait fishing •

Mercury’s new 4-S 115 v 125 Optimax • Morning Star Bay Rover with 90 Honda • Bonito 5.6m Tiller with 115 Mercury • Quintrex release F-Series Explorer •

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Black Magic 12lb Fluorocarbon tippet and Black Magic 4kg+ Rainbow Braid were used by Lee Rayner to catch this estimated 12lb trout while fishing in Tasmania.

Mick Ryan used a Black Magic KL 4/0 hook to land this seven-gill shark at Batemans Bay, NSW. Mick released his fish after a quick photo.

Michael Norton caught and released this impressive 91cm snapper on a Black Magic KL 8/0 hook while fishing at Port Welshpool, VIC.

This excellent 7.1kg snapper was landed by Dave Parratt on a Black Magic KS 4/0 hook while fishing in Port Philip Bay, VIC.

Black Magic 100lb Tough Trace and the Black Magic Equalizer gimbal and harness were used by Adam Epifanis to catch this excellent kingfish while fishing from Forster, NSW.

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February 2015, Vol. 20 No. 6

Contents BYRON COAST The Tweed 24 Ballina 25 The Clarence 26 COFFS COAST Coffs Harbour Coffs Game South West Rocks

28 29 30

MACQUARIE COAST Port Macquarie 32 Forster 36 Harrington 38 Port Stephens 39 HUNTER COAST Hunter Coast 41 Swansea 42 Central Coast 43 SYDNEY The Hawkesbury 12 Pittwater 14 Sydney North 15 Sydney Harbour 16 Sydney Rocks and Beach 18 Botany Bay 20 Sydney South 23 ILLAWARRA COAST Illawarra 44 Nowra 71

From the Editor’s Desk... DO YOU QR? We know from our subscriber data that our readership demographic is males from 25-65 years old. We also know that increasingly, there’s an uptake of smart phones with internet access. With not all of us being Generation-X technically savvy, it might be a good time to point out what a QR code is and how you use it. A QR code is that little box with a pattern of pixels inside it. There’s one at the bottom of this page (that points to our Facebook Page). You use an app on your phone to ‘read’ the code and it will direct you to a place on the internet. At FM, we usually use a QR code to point you to video content that augments the stories that we publish. For instance in this issue, you can see the

footage from the Mercury outboard shootout and the launch of the F-Series Quintrex Explorers. In both cases, you get to hear straight from the industry experts about their views on the tests or products. So the QR code will take you straight to the page on YouTube that has the appropriate content. Most of the time it’s been made by us as we do the test or create the written content. We think that it’s a great way to add to the experience of reading the magazine and if you’re unsure how to download or use any of the QR scanning apps, get a Generation X to do it for you! PASSING OF LEGENDS It’s with great sadness that we relay the news of the passing of two industry legends in January. Shimano Australia’s godfather John

Dunphy and pioneering angler and author Vic McCristal both left us. John was a visionary tackle importer, designer and advocate based in Sydney who took Shimano from zero to hero in Australia as a tackle brand. We have an in-depth interview inside that Steve Starling completed upon his retirement that puts some of his life’s work into perspective. Cardwell-based McCristal hadn’t been well since Cyclone Yasi and older anglers will most likely remember his insightful prose. He not only pioneered many modern techniques, but was able to communicate them to the masses. Whether you’re aware of it or not, your recreation is the better for both of these gentleman’s efforts. TOURNAMENT CALENDAR We’ve also pulled out all

stops to try and bring you the most comprehensive Tournament Calendar in the marketplace – there’s a full page of all events we know about until May 2015 inside. If we’ve missed your event, get it to us! Email the details to nsweditor@ fishingmonthly.com.au ABT TOURNAMENT GUIDE We think you’ll enjoy the bonus 24-page ABT Tournament Angler Guide we’ve included in this issue. If you’re a budding competitive lure angler, it’ll definitely help you with the information you need. But if you’re not, there’s a lot to learn from the anglers who have proven themselves to be at the top of their field. Take the time to read about their favourite lures and techniques and their success can help make YOU a better angler.

BATEMANS COAST Batemans Bay 70 Narooma 72 Bermagui 74 EDEN COAST Tathra 75 Eden 75 Merimbula 73 Mallacoota 75

Sub-Editors: Nicole Penfold, Bob Thornton

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Late Summer is a great time to catch an estuary flathead in NSW

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NEW SOUTH WALES FISHING MONTHLY

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SPECIAL FEATURES Location Guide: Kiama Coast 8 John Dunphy: Passing of a Legend 13 Macleay River Bass 34 Canberra Bait Fishing 86 ABT Tournament Guide 45-69 Merc 115 4S vs 125 Opti 98

REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics 22 Boating 96 Dam Levels 85 Fun Page 106 Tides 107 Trade Directory 108 Tournaments 94 What’s New Fishing 90 What’s New Boating 101

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Location guide: Kiama Coast SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

GERROA Gerroa is a small coastal town close to pristine and majestic beaches. It’s set on a headland overlooking the Crooked River estuary. Gerroa is the closest town to Seven Mile Beach National Park on the south coast, a grand and inspiring sweep of sand with an extensive dune system and a wealth of bird and mammal life. Gerroa offers easy access to several national parks and fine beaches, as well as many of the prime attractions of the Illawarra such as wineries, quaint country towns and historic attractions. Gerringong is a hilltop village that overlooks a great swathe of blue ocean that promises long days of sport and sunshine.

Stay around town awhile and you’ll discover this atmospheric place also has a taste for the finer things in life, including wines, great fishing and golf. Werri is distinguished by having point breaks at both ends of the beach, so there’s often a wave peeling nicely off either the north or south headlands. Smooth even when the summer nor’ easter is blowing, the northern point starts to break across the rocky reef that extends from the headland, then generates a fatter wave closer to shore that’s beloved of long-boarders. Beach breaks to the south are dependent on variable sandbanks, but there’s often a decent wave right in front

of the famous Werri Beach Fish Shop three-quarters of the way down the beach. The southern headland is the spot in a southerly swell and wind. The Kiama experience starts with pristine, uncrowded beaches, rolling green pastures, handmade dry stone walls, heritage architecture and spectacular natural scenery. There are also plenty cafes and restaurants. Maybe you could go for a drive and experience nature at the Minnamurra Rainforest or the Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk, and who could forget the two famous blowholes. The Minnamurra River meets the Pacific Ocean at this small coastal village, and the river estuary creates

the perfect spot for sea kayaking or snorkelling. Row or kayak across the river to Mystics, a secluded beach named by surfing magazines as one of the best in the world. Or paddle upstream, winding through the picturesque Jamberoo Valley towards Minnamurra Falls. Minnamurra Headland is scenic and has great walking track access south to Jones Beach, past Cathedral Rocks, the Bombo Headland, then onto the dog-friendly Bombo Beach before you head up the hill and into Kiama for a well-deserved coffee.

If you are going to collect cabbage for bait, remember to only to take what you need. FEBRUARY 2015

The Boneyards is not only a great fishing possie, it’s also a great place to surf during a southerly blow.

ACCOMMODATION GUIDE Seven Mile Beach Holiday Park..................1800 666 665 Werri Beach Holiday Park...........................1800 655 819 Kendalls on the Beach.................................1800 111 224 Surf Beach Holiday Park.............................1800 222 334 Kiama Harbour Cabins...............................1800 823 824

Remember to put in those squid jigs, as you never know when or where they will turn up.

1. SEVEN MILE BEACH Seven Mile Beach stretches from Gerroa in the north down past Shoalhaven Heads and beyond. From this beach you can target bream, flathead, whiting, tailor, salmon, mulloway and the occasional dart. This is also a great beach to gather a few pipis and beach worms. At the northern end you will come across Crooked River. Now even though

If you can’t get any beach worms, try using pink nippers off the beach.

it looks like there’s not much there, at times it will produce flathead, whiting, mullet and the occasional bream. Try using a poddy mullet trap, and nippers can be pumped here at low tide. There are a number of dirt roads that will lead to the beach from the main road that runs down to Shoalhaven Heads. 2. BLACK HEAD POINT This is where I first learnt to fish off the rocks.

Drummer, bream, trevally, snapper, salmon, tailor, kingfish, luderick, groper and mulloway can be targeted off the point. Care will need to be taken, as you will have to traverse a set of boulders that will be covered during the top of the tide. I have caught a number of bream while fishing very light in this area late in the afternoon. 3. WALKERS BEACH To get to this beach you

will either need to park your car up on the main road and walk in through the golf course (check with golf club before doing so), walk in from the Werri Beach end at the north, or from the Gerroa end. This particular beach drops off very steeply throughout most of its length and fishes well for salmon, tailor and mulloway. Try fishing off the rocks also.

At times Minnamurra Beach holds good populations of whiting during the summer months

The gear is all laid out for a drummer session. Now where are the fish?

4. BOAT HARBOUR There is an ocean boat ramp located at the eastern end of Jupiter Street, which has a fair amount of parking, toilets, a park, swimming pool and cleaning table. Care will need to be taken when launching from here, as it can get very rough. For the land-based angler you can either walk to the left and fish the rocks around to Werri Point, or go right and work your way out to the point. Bream, drummer, salmon, tailor, luderick, silver trevally, groper and snapper can be caught here. 5. WERRI POINT This point is fairly low to the water, so it is best fished during calm seas. Off the front there are bream, trevally and squid. As you work your way back towards the beach, you can try for bream, drummer and luderick over the boulders at high tide. 6. WERRI BEACH Like all beaches, this one will change its character with the coming and going of the tides. Most of the time it drops off to fairly deep water. My suggestion would be to make yourself as mobile as you can, and walk the beach in search of the perfect gutter. Beach and bloodworms,

plus nippers for bream and whiting, and whole pilchards for salmon and tailor are good baits. 7. EAST BEACH A small, quiet beach that is protected in most seas by two big headlands. Whiting and bream are the mainstay of target species here. At times you can target luderick and drummer in gutters at the north and south ends.

trevally, tailor and salmon. As it is fairly snaggy, I would suggest you use a bobby cork. For those of you that can manage a good distance cast, a paternoster rig would be the go. 9. KIAMA MAIN BEACH The main surf beach at Kiama can get very busy at times with lifesavers, board riders and swimmers. Try working this beach in the early morning or late afternoon. You

Even the pelicans get in on the act to catch a feed in the river. 8. LITTLE BLOW HOLE This is a great place to target bream, drummer,

can also try casting from the rocks onto the sandy bottom for bream, trevally and whiting.

FEBRUARY 2015

10. KIAMA POINT Extreme care needs to be taken when fishing from here, as there have been a number of people washed in. Not only can bream, drummer, trevally and groper be targeted, you can also chase marlin, tuna and kingfish with live baits and lures.

As you work your way back towards the harbour entrance, you will come across a breakwall that a decent cast will reach the sandy bottom offshore. 11. MINNAMURRA BEACH This beach doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to get much angler pressure. Maybe this is because you

need to put in a fair effort to get there. Bream, whiting, flathead, tailor, salmon and mulloway are target here by the locals who fish it. 12. MINNAMURRA RIVER There may not seem to be much here in this river, but during the summer

faces south east and has a point break with fairly consistent surf. The beach is located within Killalea State Park and was declared a national surfing reserve in June 2009. When there is a big southerly swell and a

15 Shellhabour

14 Bass Point

13 12 Minnamurra River

Minnamurra

Andrew Humphriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; first time rock fishing experience produced a good result.

Main Map

Area B Kiama Harbour

Kiama

10 Blow Hole

AREA B

Kiama Main Beach

9 wra / No y r r Princes Highway Be

Crooked River

Werri Beach

Gerroa

AREA A

Blackhead Shoalhaven Heads

Seven Mile Beach

Area A

East Beach

Werri Beach

KEY

Rocks Gerringong

Little Blow Hole

Top: There are a couple of great platforms in the area for anglers to fish from. Bottom: To peel or not to peel the prawns? I always peel mine when fishing off the rocks. months you can try catching a feed of whiting and bream, while during the cooler months of the year you can target luderick, bream and mullet. 13. THE FARM Popular Killalea Beach, also known as The Farm, is famous with surfers throughout the region. The beach is quite unique as it

Boat Harbour

Walkers Beach

Gerroa

1 Seven Mile Beach

KEY

Rocks Boat ramp

FEBRUARY 2015

One of the best ways to get across the Minnamurra River to the beach is by kayak or canoe.

northerly wind, this is the place to come for a surf if you are a board rider. Now if you are an angler this beach will produce bream, salmon, tailor, whiting and the odd mulloway and ray. You could try fishing at either end of the beach. 14. BASS POINT Bass Point is one of the most prolific fishing spots on the south coast and there is plenty of easy parking and picnic grounds. The passing currents here will attract bream, salmon, tailor, silver trevally, luderick, drummer, groper, kingfish and tuna. There is a small bay called Bushranger Bay that looks very inviting, but you cannot fish here at all. You will need to check where it is on the NSW Fisheries website. 15. SHELLHARBOUR There are a number of beaches, rock walls and rock platforms that will produce bream, whiting, salmon, tailor, drummer, luderick, kingfish, tuna and groper at various times of the year. You also have a protected harbour here from where you can launch to go offshore and fish for snapper.

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The Hawkesbury hits its straps THE HAWKSBURY

Dan Selby dan@sydneysportfishing.com.au

It’s been a great start to the year, with plenty of fish biting along the Hawkesbury, from the fresh to the salt. Bass have been going nuts in the small creeks and headwaters of the bigger rivers that flow into the Hawkesbury/Nepean system. Christmas beetle and cicada imitations have been the best surface lures, followed by shallow crankbaits and jig spinner/ soft plastic grub combos for that slightly deeper presentation when the sun is high. With bass being so territorial, it is essential that the first couple of casts to likely structure or a new pool be accurate, so as not to

spoil the spot by recovering a wayward lure. If you do happen to overshoot the mark, try not to react by pulling the lure back into

takes place, early and late in the day. Live prawns and herring are the best baits, but a whole or strip squid bait will still interest a

Mulloway will be coming back on the bite this month. Fresh dead or live bait is a must to secure quality legal fish like this.

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hopefully into a prime spot with a bass waiting underneath! With plenty of rain in the upper catchment over recent times, the brackish water has remained around Wisemans Ferry. Flathead, bream and the occasional legal mulloway (70cm) are still bitting well on the neap tides. Boat traffic and bigger tides equal dirty water at this time of year, so picking times and tides to fish are important to a successful day on the water. Dad’s Corner, Del Rio, Webbs Creek, Laughton Dale and Slippery Rock have all produced good fish over the last month. This should continue until autumn when the water temperatures drop and the fish start to stack up. The sandbars are where most of the action

mulloway or big bream even this far upstream. Some better mulloway to 30kg have been caught around Broken Bay over the summer period, with these fish preferring dead squid baits to live ones, plus yakkas and pike. Having a range of fresh dead and live baits gathered in time for the tide changes is the key to securing your trophy Mulloway at this time of year. It’s not just the Mulloway’s habits you need to have an understanding of though; it’s about the bait, other species, and their movements as well. Once a thorough understanding of how everything in an estuary interrelates, your mulloway success rate will increase tenfold. Blue swimmer crabs are going great guns, with

When you crack the pattern, catching bream on surface lures is visually exciting and very rewarding. reports of large crabs and an abundance of them. Some guys were doing 2 sets and getting their bag limit! On and off the water in 2 hours — perfect! Mud crabs came on strong just before Christmas, but have thinned a bit, although a little rain should kick them into gear again. Bar Point to Wisemans are where the consistent reports keep coming from. Bream and whiting on surface lures have been awesome this season, and it’s a great alternative when the conditions are too windy to fish in exposed, deeper locations. Clear stickbaits and poppers worked vigorously for the whiting and more stop-start for the bream are the go. Kingfish have been

biting well on the headlands, with live yakkas the number 1 bait on my boat. Downrigged or drifted deep, kings just smash them. Live slimies are also great baits, but tend to be a bit hit and miss at our bait grounds around West Head. It pays to be alert at the bait grounds and be mindful of any change in the baits’ behaviour, as the predators you were heading off to chase can turn up right there. There has been many times where I have not left the bait grounds for the whole session, as the fish come in for the preoccupied baitfish gorging in your berley trail. A livie suspended under a bobby cork or balloon, plus another mid water on a running sinker rig, will get you in the game.

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Left: Small poppers with clear finishes seem to get more bites from the Hawkesbury whiting. Add a smear of scent to get them really fired up. Right: Dusky flathead have been biting well from Wisemans Ferry to Spencer, on soft plastics and live prawns.

passing of a legend

John Dunphy passes: a fishing tackle legend It is with great sadness we advise the passing in January of Shimano Australia’s founder, John Dunphy. John had been fighting a long battle with liver cancer throughout 2014. John passed away in Osaka, Japan where he had been undergoing treatment and was accompanied by his family.   John founded Dunphy Sports/ Fishing Imports in 1981 and a short time later secured the distribution rights for Shimano in Australia and New Zealand. We thought it the right time to run this interview piece that Shimano stalwart Steve Starling penned for the ATFR trade magazine a couple of years ago. Steve Starling snapshots the man known to many simply as ‘Dunph’ or ‘JD’ as he talked about his life, his times and his amazing achievements in our industry. SS: So John, paint me a brief picture of your childhood. Where were you born, and what it was like growing up there? JD: Well, I was born in the Sydney suburb of Kogarah, and at that time my family lived in nearby Allawah. I have one brother, Terry, who’s two years younger than me, and two sisters, Dianne and Trudy. Dad worked for himself back in those days, selling horse manure! When Mum finally got us kids off to school, she also went off to work, in a coffee shop in the city. Those early days growing up in Allawah and later in Jannali were lots of fun, and I remember them being really good times for us kids. However, when I was about six, we moved into some housing commission huts at Herne Bay (the area known today as Riverwood). That period was a real learning experience for us kids. There was almost a fight a day in the crowded Housing Commission settlement, which had a really bad reputation in those days. That period lasted for about three years before we were lucky enough to get a housing commission house (a brick one!) in the suburb of Narwee. In those days, Narwee was a great place for kids to grow up, because there was bush everywhere. That gave us plenty of places to play and explore after school and on the weekends. Terry and I loved parrots and finches, and we used to trap them in the bush, right near home. Life was pretty good, and we really enjoyed growing up there. We made some great friends along the way, too. In fact, I still have yearly reunions with my old mates from Narwee, although the area has changed quite a bit since then. There’s certainly not as much bush as there was back in the days when Terry and I were out trapping birds!

With John Dunphy at the helm, Shimano Australia won countless awards over the years. SS: What are your earliest fishing or fishing-related memories, John? JD: My earliest fishing experiences were always connected to my uncles from Allawah. They were incredibly keen fishos! I’ll never forget the many times we’d go down to the banks of the Cooks River in Tempe to dig bloodworms. Then we’d either head to Tom Uglys Bridge over the Georges River with our wooden handline spools, or we’d get up really early and drive all the way north to the Hawkesbury River road bridge. The Hawkesbury was a bit of a dream destination for us, and its Holy Grail was the mighty jewfish. But of course, we made a lot more trips to Tom Uglys, because it was so much closer to home. We’d usually fish off Tom Uglys Bridge in the night, often from midnight until 3.30 or so in the morning… right through the middle of winter, too! You can imagine how cold it was. Some nights we’d catch up to 30 big bream and maybe half a dozen jewfish, including a few big ones. Some of the jewies we hooked were simply too big to haul up onto the bridge, even with our heavy handlines, and we lost them. Another reason we tended to fish more at Tom Uglys in those days, rather than making the long haul up to the Hawkesbury, was the number of catfish you’d sometimes encounter up there. When the catfish were on the bite, you’d catch heaps of the bloody things! It’d be frowned upon these days, but the way we’d get them off the hook was to swing them around and around in the air on our handlines until we built up enough momentum to belt them down onto the concrete of the bridge. They’d soon spit out the bait and hook then! Anyway, that system worked well until my Uncle Dicky miscalculated his swing one night… The fish came straight down and embedded itself into the top of his head! Yep… all aboard for a quick dash to Hawkesbury hospital. That was the end of

our fishing for that night. SS: Sounds painful! What was your first real job after finishing school, John? JD: My father got me my very first job. He had a mate in what was then called the PMG or Post Master General’s Department [nowadays Australia Post]. I became a junior postal officer. I clearly remember that my starting salary was one pound and ten shillings per week. The weekly train fare into the city and back worked out to 10 shillings, and my board was also 10 bob a week… That left the princely sum of 10 shillings each week to live on. SS: So, how and when did you

applied for the position and got the job… The day I started, one of the first people I saw was Fred Glover, who I knew through family connections. Along with Gus Veness, Fred Glover was one of the true legends in the sporting goods and fishing tackle business in those days, and he’d always wanted me to go into that business with his son, John. When he saw me at Jones and Joseph that morning he was really surprised. “What the bloody hell are you doing here?” he asked. Little did I know that he’d recently sold his own sporting goods business to Jones and Joseph. Anyway, I replied that I’d seen the ad’ for the job in the paper, applied and got it. He smiled and said: “ This is so bloody ironic! It suits my plans perfectly.” At that stage, I had no idea of exactly what he meant, and I never had the chance to ask as him. Tragically, Fred had a massive heart attack that same night and died. So I started with Jones and Joseph and the rest, as they say, is history. SS: And it’s been quite a history! Give me a run-down of your career in this business... JD: After a while I was head-hunted from Jones and Joseph to become a cadet in the Dunlop sporting goods’ division. I really liked that job and probably would’ve

SS: I clearly remember the arrival of Shimano Fishing Tackle in Australia, Dunph’. I’d just become editor of Fishing World magazine, working under Ron Calcutt. The brand made a huge impact here. I’ll never forget going to a little coffee shop at Central Station with Ron to meet you for the first time. Your enthusiasm was infectious! What are some of your proudest achievements with Shimano Australia? I’d imagine the creation of the Baitrunner concept must be right up there? JD: Yes, Baitrunner was certainly ground-breaking stuff, and went on to be big around the world. But in those early days it was just such an exciting spirit that existed in the Shimano development team. We were very much the new kids on the block. We were all 10 feet tall and bulletproof and thought we could do just about anything… and we did! The great thing is that some of us are still alive to look back on it all although, unfortunately, some are no longer with us. The guys involved from the USA were Big Bad Fred, Russell, Kendall and others. From Japan there was Noda, Mitsuo, Junior and Shinji. In Australia we had my brother Terry, Mikko [Mark Mikkelsen] and yours truly.

John’s passion for fishing took him all over Australia and around the world. get involved in the sporting goods and fishing tackle industries? JD: My involvement in the industry started in 1964. By that time I was in the state public service, working as a “fair rent inspector”. My territory included Kings Cross. You can probably imagine some of the premises I had to inspect and measure up in the Cross! Anyway, it wasn’t something I felt cut out to do, and I wasn’t really enjoying it much, so one day I simply left. I didn’t have another job to go to, but I knew I didn’t want to pursue that type of career. I was recovering after breaking my ankle while playing footy when I spotted an ad’ for a storeman and packer at a sporting goods company in Redfern called Jones and Joseph. Well, I

stayed on there, but Dunlop and Slazenger merged and I lost the motor car that had been a part of my package. It was about this time that the management of Jones and Joseph lured me back for a further three years with them. At the end of that period, I left them to go into business with John Glover, so I guess old Fred’s dream had finally come true! That partnership in the sporting and fishing tackle game lasted 14 years, and it taught me so much, as well as giving me valuable contacts. At the end of that period, we sold out to Protector Safety Industries. I wasn’t all that happy under the new management, so the offer from Shimano in 1981 to set up their Australian business was very timely.

For me, the real excitement was the fact that, thanks to 14 years of developing product in Asia and elsewhere, I had all of these ideas about exactly what we needed to build. But I didn’t have the serious money needed to develop major projects such as new reels and so on. Suddenly, when I hooked up with Shimano, I had an open chequebook to create true high-quality gear. Before they knew it, we threw out all the old existing moulds and concepts and all these wonderful new products began to happen every year. We wanted Aussie fishos to experience and share the same sense of excitement we were feeling about doing things differently and creating new concepts… and it worked! Most importantly, we copied no one, and we still

don’t. Can you believe how many amazing products came from that wonderful period? Low-profile baitcaster reels with tolerances fine enough to fish with 3lb line are a great example. I remember the bad old days of taking the torch and screwdriver to old-fashioned baitcasters to pick out backlashes in the dark. Then there were the TLD, TTS, TSM, BTR and Beastmaster series, to name just a few highlights. SS: And then later you guys did the same thing with rods, and also had the foresight to back Bushy and myself with the Squidgies. But going back again, who were your heroes when you were growing up and in later life, and what people do you most admire in the business world? JD: Certainly, my biggest hero when I was growing up was [rugby league legend] Reg Gasnier. In later life the term ‘hero’ doesn’t apply so much, but there are many people I respect and admire, and my success with Shimano has allowed me to get to know a lot of them personally. In rugby league there are so many top players who really love their fishing, like Bozo [Bob Fulton] and ET [Andrew Ettingshausen]. In the first grade cricket world, I think they just about all fish, especially my good mate Heydos [Matthew Hayden]. In the fishing industry, Rex Hunt has done an amazing job, especially in the early days when we really needed wider public recognition for our sport. The contributions made by you, Bushy, Tim Simpson and Barra [Ian Miller] shouldn’t be ignored, either. Other people such as Julian Pepperell, John Diplock and John and Jenny Mondora are also very dear friends from the fishing world. In the business world, I have great respect for my good friend John Conomos, who was the chairman of Toyota throughout their most successful growth period in this country. John’s a very astute businessman and I’ve learnt a great deal from him over the years. SS: How has Shimano Australia managed to remain so successful and continue to grow each year, despite tough economic times and global downturns? JD: A key element is to come up with significant innovations and improvements every year, without fail. Also, you need to protect and build your customers’ profits and always market your brand professionally. Finally, it’s essential to protect the image of your brand and its products at all times. A strong brand and great product are all that separate you from the also-rans. FEBRUARY 2015

Fishing is as hot as the weather PITTWATER

Peter Le Blang plfishfingers@bigpond.com

Finally the warm weather is upon us, and the mornings are mostly calm and perfect for fishing. If you are able to grab a rod and hit the water early, don’t pass up the chance because the sunrises have been simply stunning. Talking about stunning, the fishing has been like that as well. Along Pittwater we have pelagic action most mornings at first light, with the fish showing up in different spots each day. The easiest way to locate surface action has been to watch for working seagulls and terns.

Most of the surface activity has been tailor to 50cm, but there are small kingfish mixed in with the schools. These can be caught with soft plastics of around 4-6” long and as long as there is some white on the lure, you are in with a chance. The good news is the big kings of over 1m are still cruising Pittwater and Broken Bay. These bruisers are playing hardball at the moment and are being spotted in the shallows, often while we are chasing squid. There are keeper kingfish spread out along the river and with the fish constantly on the move, it has been better to down-rig from one area to another. Picking up the gear and

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racing from wreck to wreck is normally a great way to get a few fish, but at the moment there are so many fish cruising different schools of bait, you will miss out if you don’t cover the ground. The areas to try for a few kingfish are around Scotland Island, Longnose Point, Careel Bay, and finally West and Barrenjoey headlands. The better baits have been squid 1 day and yellowtail the next, so cover your bases and track down both. Squid are a little tricky to find occasionally, but generally have been pretty easy to catch. The hot colours seem to be fluoro pink or orange, and on the hardbody jigs the pilchard colour is attracting the bulk of attention. The better areas to try are Towlers Bay, Mackerel Beach, The Basin, and along the weedy fringes of West Head. The other inshore species that have been making their presence known are flathead, and some schools of whiting have shown up as well. The flatties are spread throughout the river and they can be caught in the deeper holes in front of sandbars at the back of bays.

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Soft plastics’ fishing is a great way to cover ground and paddle tails are very easy to use, especially for kids. The softie only has to be wound through the water and close to the bottom to put you in with a real chance of a flathead or two. The shallows area such as Towlers Bay, The Basin, Mackerel Beach, and the Palm Beach weed beds have whiting to be caught. There are some decent fish amongst them and catching them with surface poppers over weedy areas is a heap of fun. If you want to chase them with bait, you can’t go past nippers or bloodworms. Mulloway are showing up along Broken Bay in decent numbers and fresh bait is needed for a chance at a decent fish. The better bait to use is fresh squid, but butterflied yellowtail, mullet, pike or slimies will all be looked at in the coming weeks. Remember to be at your prime location an hour before the change of tide through to an hour after the change. Mulloway are lazy and prefer to come out from structure as the water current eases. Areas to try are Flint and Steel, Juno Point, The Bridges, Bar Point, Little Settlement, and really just about any deep hole or point that has baitfish nearby. Outside, along the coast there are kingfish available from Barrenjoey Headland through to Sydney Heads. Not all these headlands and

Roman with his personal best flathead. There are plenty more big ones like this to be caught. up very cold, meaning the cool water is still present and determining what is being caught. The 40-60m depths seems to be where all the slimy schools are to be found, and the same depths are seeing most of the reef fish being caught. There are big morwong, pigfish, trevally and flathead available in the above-mentioned depth range, and fish strips and baits seem to be working best. If you are after a few snapper, an early start is needed and the water depth

are big enough to take home for a feed. The mahimahi are in the same area, so if you are going to drift and bottom bash, leave a livie on the surface under a float or balloon. A mahi or two should inspect it. Lastly, pearl perch are still being caught on the same grounds, but we are yet to get a keeper. These small pearlies have been pushed south with the stronger currents to reefs off Broken Bay, and hopefully there will be bigger specimens to take home soon. So as you can see there

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reefs have big kingfish, but they are all worth trying. Other species being caught are samsonfish, big trevally, and with all the flying fish about, it won’t be too long before we hear about inshore marlin being caught. The reef fishing offshore over the last month has been a bit tricky. The surface temperature has been great, but the sinkers are coming

of 30m or less seems to be best before the sun rises. The snapper are going off the bite after the sun hits the water and moving to unknown parts of the ocean on me. For those fishing the reefs off Broken Bay, there are some snapper being caught on the odd day at the Trap Grounds. These fish aren’t monsters, but

is no better time to get out on the water. There are lots of species to chase and I am sure you have all worked hard enough during the year to treat yourself to time on the water with friends and family. • Peter Le Blang operates Harbour and Estuary Fishing Charters, phone 02 9999 2574 or 0410 633 351, visit www. estuaryfishingcharters.com.au

Bait: fresh is best SYDNEY NORTH

Darren Thomas

This month I’m going to look at what’s hot and what’s not, to try and up the chances of every one of you landing more fish

and bigger ones. We’ll also check out some bait collecting techniques, locations and methods that are working in and around the northern beaches, as well as the usual what’s biting and where. To finish off we’ll do a little on a big

Antonio Revere with a big Narrabeen Lake garfish.

mover and shaker for 2015. Here at Fish Outta Water Tackle World, we’re always getting asked about bait collection, so here’s a bit of local advice: Firstly, every angler knows the better and fresher the bait you use, the more chance you have of nailing that cracker fish. Consequently, I’m going to start with some Narrabeen Lake reports because this place has been a wealth of bait supply when it comes to catching something fresh to put on your hook. At this time of year the obvious choice is prawns that are spread throughout the lake, and a simple prawn net, torch and a bucket are all that’s needed to collect them. If you’ve never been prawning, you don’t know what you’re missing out on, as this is fun for all the family. The lake was stocked back in October, so while those little fellas won’t be ready for the picking just yet, there’s plenty of bigger boys in there that are. Another popular bait in the lake is garfish, and the rock fishos spinning the stones love casting gars at kings. All you need to catch these fish is a loaf of

Cooper Williams with a seasonal mahimahi from out wide. bread and a small handline with a little float and size 12 hook. They can grow to a good size and there’s always a shortage of them at the markets at this time of year when we need them most. They can be found in good numbers up the back of our estuaries, particularly in calmer water. Crumb up the crusts of the bread for berley, and then use tiny soft bread baits half the size of a pea to catch them. They don’t stay alive for long and don’t handle a hook too well, but fresh is always best.

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Levett from Oceanhunter Sportsfishing has been having nothing but success since he launched his Sydney charter business late last year, and this year is shaping up to be just as successful, if not more. The Sydney micro jigging scene has gone crazy and Vic has regular charters utilising this newly adopted technique on everything from trevally to amberjack, and mahimahi to marlin. There seems to be no species safe from this exciting method. To page 17

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Plenty of fun can be had chasing bait and as you know, where there’s bait there’s bigger fish. Antonio Revere and his dad get prawns, gars and mullet in this lake, and these three are great baits for chasing bigger targets. Gus Dowsett has been fishing the lake lately with live baits, landing some good fathead and mulloway. When a live bait gets clobbered, it normally results in a hookup. Now with the bait out of the way, let’s move to some offshore reports. Vic

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FEBRUARY 2015

A how-to on Harbour squid SYDNEY HARBOUR

Craig McGill craig@fishabouttours.com.au

The kings should be full steam ahead this month. In fact, I would nominate February/March as my favourite months of the year. With the water at its warmest, anything can happen, including tropical ring-ins like cobia, samsons, amberjack, and even the occasional rainbow runner. The one thing that they all have in common is their obsession with eating squid, so here’s a quick refresher on nailing a few squirters. There are two main types of squid found in the harbour — the calamari or southern squid, and the arrow or common squid. Calamari squid are the bigger of the two, and are found around structure. They are particularly fond of kelp beds, but can often be located around jetties, bridge pylons and boat moorings. They are often encountered by live baiters who consider them a nuisance, although I have never understood why. A live squid or even a strip will outfish a yakka any day, and even if you don’t use them for bait, who could complain about a fresh feed of squid. Most of you will probably laugh, but when it comes to mulloway or kingie fishing, I’d prefer a fresh squid strip over a live yakka any day.

The best way to catch calamari squid is with the standard Yamashita style jig. The old hard plastic bead style are nowhere as effective as the prawn imitations, but even amongst them there are dramatic differences in quality and effectiveness. Problems I

chemically sharpened jags — guaranteed), securely fastened jags and leads, and most importantly of all, sink horizontally and slowly. The bottom line on squid jigs is that like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Calamari squid can be lured by working the jig

wings run slightly less than half way down. You are more likely to find arrows upstream, but calamari mainly congregate in the lower reaches. Catching arrow squid requires a slightly different approach. They are a schooling animal, whereas the calamari is a loner, or at

Squid are the key to success on kings, and their close relatives the samsonfish and amberjack.

A great summertime king from the lower Harbour area. have encountered include poor weighting and weight distribution, blunt jags, and in the worst cases the jags and leads fall out. A good jig will have needle sharp jags (I’ll buy the first 12 dozen that come out with

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very slowly, with regular stops, about 2m above the kelp. They can grow quite big — we’ve caught them up to 1.5kg — and because of the snaggy nature of the bottom, I’d recommend using no less than 8kg line. I’d also suggest using a net to land the big ones as they do have a habit of dropping tentacles under strain. Calamari differ from arrow squid mainly in appearance. Calamari are proportionally shorter and have larger green eyes, but the most obvious difference is in the length of the wings. Calamari wings run the full length of the tube, whereas arrow

best found in small schools of 6-8, depending on size. Arrows congregate in large numbers in the deep bays and are less structure orientated. They hang close to the bottom and are caught by letting the jig sink right to the bottom and then slowly jigging it back up. Quite often they grab it on the way down and are snared on the first part of the retrieve. A lot of anglers prefer a paternoster rig with two squid jig droppers for chasing arrows.

They are highly excitable and can often be caught one after the other, to the stage where the large quantity of ink expelled by their panicking mates puts them off the bite. At places where there is some flow in the water to take the ink away, they can be caught in large numbers. Whether collecting squid for bait or food, they should be iced down immediately. Squid for bait are ultimately used fresh, but for prolonged storage they are best frozen whole. Whatever you do, don’t put whole squid directly in your icebox. Put them in some sort of container first, because the ink is a nightmare to clean up. The ultimate storage technique is to vac-pack the

squid whole, immediately after capture, and then drop them straight into an ice slurry. If you are using them in the next few days, just leave them in the slurry. If you want to keep them longer, then freeze them as quick as possible. A product called Zip Vac is ideal for this job. Although the ultimate seal is not as good as the more upmarket electric vac-sealers, the huge upside is that this system uses a manual pump and can be used on location without any need for a power supply. Speed is of the essence when processing squid. Zip Vac kits are available at Fish Outta Water at Manly Vale. When you’re ready to use them, thaw the squid out slowly in the fridge.

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Cobia are a welcome bycatch of kingie fishing in the Sydney region during the summer months.

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RIGHT ACROSS AUSTRALIA A serious North Head king — caught on a squid of course. TROPICAL TOURISTS Keep an eye out for some of the tropical travellers that venture down this time of year to spend the summer holidays in Sydney Harbour. None of these fish are common enough to warrant specifically targeting (although samsonfish have become increasingly common over the last few years), but all show up as by-catch of targeting kings at some time. Although rainbow runners do stray and have been caught as far south as Victoria, they are more at home on the Great Barrier Reef. Possibly more are actually caught in southern waters than are recorded, as they could easily be passed off as my mate From page 15

Cooper Williams went out with Vic and the boys, and landed a very healthy mahimahi jigging the FADs offshore. Not to be outdone by the fellas, Kath Levett has been catching fish this way too. When they’re not jigging or live baiting, you can even chase mako sharks on fly if you prefer, all it takes is a call. Vic’s number is (0414) 906 569. As popular as boating is here in Sydney’s north, one scene in particular is growing very quickly and that is kayaking. We had record ’yak sales over Christmas and some guys are getting right into it. It’s a simple realisation that you don’t need a boat ramp or the summer hassles that go with boating including parking (or lack of it), parking fees, registration (boat and trailer), and general boat maintenance. The ability to pull up on the side of the road and rip the ’yak off the roof and drop it in the drink is becoming a regular occurrence out here on the peninsula, with a lot of these spots being situated near deep water, which often means bigger fish.

Jobbie once put it as “colourful kingies”. Samsonfish, a close relative to the amberjack and yellowtail king, find Sydney Harbour in their southernmost limits. While samsons are not classified as a tropical water species, they are far from common in Sydney Harbour. You might be lucky enough to encounter half a dozen a season. Like rainbow runners, amberjack look very similar to kingies, displaying only a few subtle distinguishing features. They are also probably passed off in many cases as just weird looking kings and never reported. They have a brown, rather than a yellow tail, and a dark band across their eyes in the juvenile models.

Amberjack rarely stray much further south than Coffs Harbour according to the textbooks, and are more common in Queensland, but being a highly mobile fish will obviously venture down to Sydney when the currents are favourable. Cobia show up occasionally. I’ve heard of them up to 20kg in Sydney and have personally caught a few 1m specimens. They are great eating; in fact, I would say the best of all the pelagics, and put up a great fight, often leaping clear of the water. • 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.

Kayak clubs are popping up all over social media. Kayak Fishing New South Wales is one of these sites on Facebook and they’re a good bunch

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Some terrific fish were landed from kayaks in NSW last year, and this year is looking equally as good. Kayak prices start at $350 and from there can head up to over $4000, so get some advice first. Every staff member at Fish Outta Water kayaks, all advice is free in store, and I’m a fair believer that if you’re going to do it, do it right.

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The rocks are a rockin’ SYD ROCK & BEACH

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Let’s start off with the estuary rock fishing in Sydney Harbour this month. Reports of kings up to the metre mark are coming in from some of the deepwater ledges. Middle Head has been producing a few for my clients, as well as Georges Heights. Further north at Dobroyd Head, along the front is also fishing well on some days. The ever-reliable 2oz Jet Popper from Williamson, either in the green or blue, is working okay. If you can catch a squid in the early hours of the morning and suspend it under a float or balloon at a depth of 2-6m, it will work a treat! Further up the harbour, the locals are catching a few at Pier 2 near Dawes Point. Prepare yourself for the crowds though. Squid and live yellowtail can be obtained on-site. The other locations I mentioned are far less crowded. On the bream front, Balls Head about 50m from the south east point, is producing fish, with the

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Salvatore Natalone and Carmelo De Velli are very happy with their bag of pigs — several to 2kg and one stud of 4.1kg. occasional whopper up to 44cm. Hawkesbury prawns, bloodworms and mullet fillets are accounting for some good specimens. Don’t expect numbers though. Use a 1/0 hook as a minimum to beat the hordes of tiny snapper. They can be released generally unharmed because of the much higher percentage of mouthhooked fish. Okay, to the ocean rocks. A report of a 57cm snapper and kings, although smallish, were on one day and gone the next. That was from Little Bluey at Manly. Unfortunately, spearfishermen can be a problem there. I received a report of a mammoth 33kg king caught

the gun angler, an amazing fish and truly a once in a lifetime catch! There are some kings from Bluefish Point, South Curl Curl’s Flat Rock, North Curl Curl, and a few snapper to over 40cm from Bangally Head casting 70-90m out near the northern point. A 4-5oz snapper sinker is required. Salted slimy mackerel fillets, squid strips and yellowtail fillets are working well. Another spot worth a distance cast for snapper is North Curl Curl. The samsonfish is a relatively common catch in the washes or distance casting at this time of the year. They are generally juveniles around 35-50cm, but they put up a great fight,

I spoke to a reliable source that does not want to elaborate about the details, but at a rock location he was fishing there was a 10x10m circle of samsons going nuts on a baitball. He caught 20 from 35 to 50cm, a very impressive haul for Sydney waters. All but two fish were kept for the table, the rest released. The bream are on the chew this month. Good catches from 4-10 fish are coming from the shallow and deep water headlands. Starting at Bluefish, they’re along the eastern front, being caught on red crabs either fished whole or in segments. Half pillies and good quality school prawns are working too. South Curl Curl’s Flat

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John Halford with a whopping 46cm bream, which was released. Five minutes after this photo was taken, he hooked an even bigger fish, which was lost. from the northern beaches’ rocks. That would have to be the largest I have ever heard of off up this way! Back in the 1990s I caught one of 26kg spinning a salted sea gar on my 7” Alvey, but that king is substantially larger! Congratulations to

especially when you catch them in the wash zone with light 5-7kg outfits. Spots like Dee Why, South Curl Curl and North Harbour are likely haunts for this species. Over the years I have caught up to 10 in an outing, which is exceptional.

Rock and a little north of off the swimming pool are producing nice bags of bream. At Long Reef, wading the shallows at high tide is a really pleasant way to catch a feed and one of the safest rock fishing alternatives you can get. Bags of 2-8

fish are relatively common. Throw a few luderick and the occasional pig in the bag for variety. Peeled Endeavour or whole school prawns, and half pillies, are working the best. Barrenjoey Head, although a relatively long walk in, is worth it with some bag limits (10 per person) and a couple of 1kg fish caught. All the beaches from Manly to Palm Beach are producing some sort of quality fish. Starting at Palm Beach, in the evenings the tailor are biting in the gutters from Black Rock north. If the gutters are not available, cast out wide onto the outer edge of the first wave break and you will still manage a few tailor. Otherwise, if the nor’ east wind is howling, fish the gutter parallel to Barrenjoey at the northernmost end of the beach. The whiting have been an off and on proposition and you’ll have to fish the right gutters at the right stage of the tide. The deep ones fire during the low tide period and the shallower ones towards the top. Some great breaming is available as well, especially in the evenings. Bilgola Beach is home to a few whiting and big bream. Kelp can be a problem, so ideally fish it when there is a bit of light, just after dawn, to identify where it is. Otherwise, the late afternoon early evening highs are fishing well too. At Newport Beach, there was a report of an 8kg mulloway, with bronze whaler sharks to about 1.2m on the same night high. Bream, whiting and dart are there also. The northern side of the beach is fishing well. North Narrabeen Beach has tailor from the entrance of the lagoon to South Narrabeen Surf Club, whiting on the same stretch, with patches of big dart also. Collaroy, from the re-built stormwater pipe to Weatherill Street is producing

bream, whiting, tailor and some salmon. Right up next to the pipe on a big tide, the bream are hanging around the side. Dee Why Beach, especially around the Collaroy side near the Long Reef Surf Life Saving Club, is producing a few good whiting to 40cm. Moving around is the name of the game though. When the wind is around 20 knots and the seas are flat, it is a popular

Off Manly Beach, there are reasonable quantities of whiting, with some good bream thrown in. Chopper tailor are there just before and around dark, with the better run of tailor well into the evening. Sharks are about in reasonable quantities lately. They are a lot of fun and even though anglers are pursuing the mighty mulloway, they pull harder pound for pound

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Aerick Lee with a nice king caught on a Williamson Jet Popper. beach for kite surfers. When they are ripping up the water well within casting distance, it is advisable to pack up and move to the less popular southern end of the beach. Tailor and bream are in reasonable quantities. Freshwater Beach is a great sneaky retreat to get away from the crowds. It is only a small beach, but it is currently producing some good bream and tailor in the evenings. Avoid fishing it when the swell exceeds a metre.

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Matt Thomas caught this Mulloway in St. Georges Basin using 1-3KG Shimano rod with 1000 reel, 5 pound braid with a 10 pound fluorocarbon leader. He was using a 100ml Squidgie fish and followed the fish with his MinnKota for an hour.

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Variety on the menu: tailor, kingfish and snapper BOTANY BAY

Gabe Quercigrosse gabeandgabe@bigpond.com

Botany Bay is a great attractor of baitfish, and this in turn lures large schools of tailor inside throughout the year. These can be taken both day and night, with the smaller chopper variety more prevalent during the day. These are generally fish around the 400-700g size and best catches are taken on small lures. Birds hovering over a feeding school are a dead QUALITY FISHING

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giveaway as to their presence. When you spot this, bring the boat slowly up within easy range, and cast alongside or just in front. Retrieve briskly and the lure will almost immediately entice a tailor to strike. When the fish is hooked, bring it in quickly and repeat the cast as soon as possible. When tailor are being taken like this, simply drift with the school, but don’t run over the top as this scatters them. Ideal lures for this type of fishing include Wonder Wobblers, Raiders and Rapala Countdowns in the Blue or

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A nice haul of whiting from Windang. Green Mackerel pattern. Bait fishing with pilchards or garfish for tailor is mostly carried out at first light or into the darker hours. You need a stronger rod than your bream gear, but one with a flexible tip action backed up with a spin reel capable of holding 250m of 6kg line. This is strong enough to handle the fish, plus light enough in gauge to enable you to cast well away from the boat. Use Gamakatsu Gangster 4212D pattern ganged hooks in 4/0.

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Many areas in the bay will produce tailor at night, but I find the most consistent to be the Port Botany container area, the hot water outlet at Kurnell, and Watts Reef just inside the heads. I like to settle down at anchor with a couple of baits floating well away from the boat, with the rods set in rod holders and occasionally berleying with chopped fish pieces. This method works quite well, even in reasonably deep water. While waiting for the tailor to come on, I do a spot of breaming. Often the bay gets a visit from unusual visitors such as kingfish, snapper and hairtail. Of these, the hairtail are the most unpredictable and can be a hit-and-miss encounter. During the past few years there has been only a handful caught from the deeper waters of the container terminal. Kingfish can be taken from around the heads, the container wall, Bare Island Bommie, the centre cans and the oil wharf from November until April, but at times are available throughout the year. This species will take pilchards, garfish and yellowtail, live squid, and one out of the box is bunched up live yabbies. When using pillies or garfish, fish with a 3 or 4

hook rig, 3/0-4/0, and no lead. With live bait, use 6/0-7/0 34007 hooks. Stick to 6/0 for squid. The size of kingies that visit are around the 2-4kg mark, with the occasional biggie. Downrigging with live squid around the pinnacles, reefs and dropoffs is often rewarding. Fish the same areas and with the same gear for snapper. I have heard of snapper to 9kg taken from the retaining wall next to the foreshore drive boat ramp. BARE ISLAND, BOTANY HEADS Just inside Botany Bay, Bare Island is a hotspot producing a wide variety of species — mulloway, kingfish, trevally, snapper, groper, red morwong, luderick,

It can be fished on both tides, but best catches are at night with the aid of berley. Stick to live nippers as bait, with a 00 split shot sinker above a 9555B 1/0 hook. Last month produced excellent catches of bream from the most unlikely locations. The La Perouse Beach, of all places, was well patronised by fishos in the know, and bragging-rights bream to 45cm on live nippers were a regular catch. Other reliable spots included the Kurnell Groynes and the new retaining wall at Botany. The ever-reliable mulloway haunts of Captain Cook, Tom Uglys and Como bridges provided schoolies to 6kg overnight, and East Hill Rail Bridge provided no less

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leatherjackets and tailor. At times, the salmon converge on the area when there are baitfish about. This area also has a nasty bombora and must be treated with great caution and respect. It is best fished early morning or into the dark, with a top tide peaking around 8-9pm. Fishos often live bait this area with yellowtail for excellent catches of kingfish around the 6kg mark. If trolling this area, the humble Christmas trees or 8” Smiths Jigs work quite well. Across the heads, south from Bare Island and adjacent to the Kurnell Reserve is Watts Reef. This is a shallow, reefy area, which can turn on most species. I have caught bream to over 2kg from this possie, as well as snapper to 4kg and tergalin to 3.5kg.

than 15 quality fish over a period, the largest going 17kg. It ate a live poddy mullet. Whiting have been a little quiet for the some reason and the theory is that the bream have pushed out from their feeding grounds, but that should change during February. Class flathead were taken on the drift between Brighton Le-Sands and Monterey, with the yellow Waverider buoy a good mark to commence a drift. Plenty of blue swimmer crabs were netted at Towra, in front of Quibray Bay, Sandringham Bay, and between the bridges. Unfortunately, boat traffic has been at premium during the holidays, with most boat ramps’ parking areas filled to capacity. I’ve found the best times to be early of a morning and home for a late breakfast by 9:30am. This is

also beneficial to your skin, as the sun is at its most powerful around lunchtime. A good tip is not to touch any sun cream, citrus fruits or the like, as these items will turn the fish off the bait. I would suggest using aniseed soap for your hands as this will mask any unwelcome residue. February is a top month for the bay and its tributaries, and if fished correctly you should have no trouble getting a feed. I would suggest the centre moorings in the middle of the bay for mixed species. This area is best fished on a falling tide about 200m west of the centre buoy. The Sutherland Point drift is one of the least fished areas, but at times an excellent run of flathead is taken here. Try drifting 50m from shore on both tides using prawns or mullet strips. The concrete block at the end of the oil refinery is a top tailor, kingfish and mulloway spot, but make sure you keep 100m away from the wharf. Brighton Wide, about 600m off the runway in line with the big President Towers units, is a mud and mussel bed and fishes best on a rising tide. Not too far way is the Barton Street Reef, which is straight out the front, approximately 1.5 miles out. It can be fished with confidence for flathead, bream and whiting during a rising tide. If fishing the Georges

River drift between Captain Cook and Tom Uglys bridges, although the fish are usually pretty spread out, a few drifts of the main channel will usually yield a mixed bag. A little further upstream, give

the Caravan Head Channel a try. Fish anywhere between the green channel markers and the shore link. Some very big whiting have come from here, while school mulloway are also bagged in this main

Jess caught this kingfish jigging the 12 Mile Reef.

channel at night. The white boatshed just upstream from Como Bridge on the northern shoreline fishes well in February. I’ve found the last few hours of the outgoing tide the best, with

whiting and bream the main species taken here. Use a long trace, and rig with live nippers or bloodworms for best results. The old Woronora Road Bridge is sure to provide excellent catches of school

Tony Formosan with another nice snapper, this one on a jig.

mulloway at night, and whether using a boat or land based, is always a reliable possie. Due to the daytime boat traffic, Milperra Bridge and its close proximity to wellmaintained boat ramps is primarily a night-time or mid-week spot. I would suggest anchoring on the upstream side and set baits down near the pylons of the bridge on the run-out tide. Alternatively, you can move down below the bridge and set baits back opposite Hind Park. If you fancy a feed of king prawns, they have been exceptional this season. The first week following the full moon during the runout tide should be ideal. Burrawang, Cattle Duffers Flats in the Georges River State Recreation Area, the stretch between Alfords Point Bridge and Mickeys Point, and the weed patches along Fitzpatrick Park at Picnic Point will all be popular, but Coolam Beach is still the best spot in the river. Lake Gillawarna Beach is also a sneaky spot worth trying. • For all your fishing needs, as well as the latest info on what’s biting, drop into Gabe’s Boating and Fishing at Narellan (4/1A Somerset Ave), or Silvania (268/264-276 Princes Hwy). You can also call them on (02) 4647 8755 or (02) 9522 5100 respectively, or visit the website at www. gbaf.com.au.

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FEBRUARY 2015

Whiting on top: Top of the pops NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

Starlo details the absolute basics of one of the hottest and most reliable summertime fisheries available in our temperate estuaries: surface poppering for whiting! A decade ago, if you’d told most Aussie anglers that it was possible to consistently and successfully target yellowfin, sand or silver whiting on surface lures, they’d have raised an eyebrow, snickered, or openly scoffed at the suggestion. However, even back in those days, a few of us had noticed that just occasionally, these supposed bottom-grubbers would streak to the surface and smack a small popper intended for bream. Most of us wrote this off as abnormal behaviour — perhaps a rush of piscine blood, or a moment of out-of-character

into a regular, predictable occurrence. Foremost amongst them were Kevin Gleed and Kaj ‘Bushy’

WHERE Basically, surface luring can and does work anywhere that yellowfin, sand, silver

You know you’ve just landed a big whiting when you can’t close your hand around the fish’s muscular body! Busch, but many others played their part, too. Fast forward 10 years and ‘poppering for whiting’ is now an established part of the estuary fishing scene wherever these great little fish are encountered. However, lots of anglers are

or summer whiting occur in decent numbers within our estuaries, and I’ve even heard of the technique working from surf beaches on calmer days! However, results improve dramatically in clear, tidal estuarine water shallower than about 2m in

beyond 23°C. That can mean as early as mid-September and as late as the end of April in parts of Queensland, while throughout most of NSW and Victoria, best results are typically confined to the November through March period. I believe whiting take topwater lures because they regularly target skipping prawns on the surface, so results are often best when prawns are most active, which is usually from about 4 days after the full moon through the ‘dark’ phase of the lunar cycle. Tides can play a part, too, but optimum tides vary from place to place. HOW Cast your smallish (50-80mm) popper or surface stick bait as far as you possibly can over likely water, ideally with the help of a breeze at your back. Work the lure with a reasonably quick and continuous action. Pauses or stops are rarely productive. With poppers, look to maintain a constant spurt of water ahead of the lure and a ‘bloop-bloop-bloop’ action. With stickbaits, attempt to produce a continuous ‘walk the dog’ zig-zagging motion. If a whiting follows either lure style, keep the retrieve going! Only try a pause if you’re running out of water. Pauses work well on bream, but usually result in following whiting turning away… However, there can be exceptions to this pattern!

Small cup-faced poppers are where it all started, and they remain the surface lure of choice for many whiting specialists. WHAT Light spinning tackle and fine main lines are required for casting these lures the lengthy distances necessary for consistent success, and longer than standard rods are ideal. However, long, ultrafine leaders are not essential, so feel free to add a short length of 4-8kg mono in case a big flathead gets in on the act. There are a plethora

of smallish (50-80mm) cup-faced poppers and surface stick baits on the market that will all catch whiting. Choose subtle, neutral, semi-transparent and generally ‘prawn-like’ colours and make sure your hooks are small and extra sharp! NEXT MONTH Some new twists and hot tips for better results when chasing whiting on top.

Your columnist’s best-ever 5-fish bag of yellowfin whiting on poppers weighed 2.75kg… an average of 550g apiece. confusion on the part of these typically shy and retiring fish… Certainly not something we could build an entire fishery on. How very wrong we were! As is usually the case, it took a couple of innovative anglers capable of thinking outside the box to convert an occasional ‘accident’

yet to try it, or have had a go but failed to crack the code. A few even remain sceptical about the whole deal, and wonder if it’s all a con job. My aim in this two-part feature is to offer all those fishers — the starters and the sceptics — a leg-up on the ladder to surface whiting enlightenment.

depth, and some of the best action I’ve ever experienced has taken place in very skinny water indeed: from crutch to ankle deep, and even less! WHEN This is very much a summertime technique, with results improving dramatically as waters warm

‘Walk-the-dog’ style surface stickbaits are becoming increasingly popular amongst anglers chasing whiting — a trend we’ll look at in more detail next month.

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Salmon and tailor – a good option for February numerous strong, sharp teeth, and the lower jaw protrudes. The caudal fin is forked, with broad lobes. If you are going to

SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

February will see schools of tailor and Australian salmon getting stuck into baitfish in Botany Bay and Port Hacking. You will also find that a few will move up into the Cooks and Georges rivers with the cleaner water as the tide rises. There are two types of Australian salmon, the Eastern Australian (Arripis trutta) and the Western Australian (Arripis truttaceus) and it’s the eastern that you will find over here. The colour on the backs of these fish can vary from greyish green to a steely blue, usually with yellow to blackish spots. They can also be an olive green to a steel blue with small dark spots on the back and upper sides, with a pale yellow-green to silver white below. The pectoral fins are usually bright yellow, but this can vary from area to area. Tailor, on the other hand, are of a greenish blue or blue colour on their backs, and the sides and belly are silvery. Their fins are pale green, tinged with yellow, and the base of the pectoral fins is bluish. Both jaws have

keep either of these species for a feed, you will need to bleed them as soon as possible. To do this, cut the throat of the

Keep an eye out for those working birds, as there may be tailor beneath the bait schools.

Andrew Humphries had never caught a tarwhine before. He managed to get this one working a Gulp Shrimp over the flats at Towra Point.

fish and let it bleed out. Simply cut the underside of the fish, starting at the lower front fins and finishing the deep incision at the lower side of the mouth. Although a commercially important fish, tailor are somewhat oily and strong flavoured. To minimise this and any ‘fishy’ taste, they should be gutted, iced promptly, and

eaten fresh. If the fish is not quickly taken care of in this way, the meat will rapidly deteriorate, becoming soft and mushy, and assuming a steadily greyer pigmentation. BEST TIME TO GO I have found over the years that the best time to target Australian salmon and tailor is usually at dawn, dusk, and on

overcast days, but I have also caught them during the middle of the day when the sun has been very high in the sky. When chasing Australian salmon and tailor off the beach, rocks and breakwalls, I prefer to use a 3.6m rod, mounted with a 6000-8000 size spin reel or a 5.5-6” sidecast. To page 24

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Top times on the Tweed reckon it’s pretty good out there too. I’ve been rampaging all over the river in the ’yak, chasing bream on lures with a lot of success. Two spots in particular have produced some nice fish, in fact, a personal-best 36cm to the fork. One is

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a bit of a gimme, because they feed the fish off the back of the tourist crab boat near Seagulls, so it’s cheating a little, maybe? But how I do it is to cast a lightly weighted plastic in between the engines and hang on as these fish are very aggressive and a lot of fun to catch. I might add that they are pretty clever too, because they cotton on to various lures and then ignore them. My other ‘secret’ spot is the wall along Drydock Road. Here I’ve been using both shallow and deep diving hardbodies cast as close as possible, then gently rolled back to the ’yak, pausing a few times as well. Interestingly, that seems to be when the fish hit. The bridge and the kind of dead end canal where the old yacht club is, is fishing well too. I was there with young mate Zac the other day and told him to cast his plastic so it would hit the bridge then plop into the water. He did just that and got smashed by a little jack — his first one. I’ve got a lot of mates who are into beach fishing and they have been getting quality chopper tailor all along Fingal Beach, with some greenbacks caught down at Kingscliff in front of the surf club. Good fishing spot that; when your arms get too sore from pulling fish in, you can walk 10m and grab a cold one — lemonade of course! From page 23

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These would be spooled with 10-15kg line. Having a rod of this length will give you the advantage when you have to use the waves on the beach or the wash on the rocks to help land the fish. A rod of this length will also assist when lifting a fish off the lower ledge when rock fishing. If I was using either whole pilchards or garfish on a set of ganged hooks, I would have the ball sinking running directly down onto the swivel, and the leader would be about 50-60cm in length. A COUPLE OF TECHNIQUES TO TRY Both Australian salmon and tailor will put on a feisty display of acrobatics while trying to dislodge the hooks from their mouths, and many an angler has cursed when these have pulled free. I have found that if you watch your line you can usually tell when they are about to head to the surface and start jumping. Before they leave the water, I will slowly and slightly drop my rod tip towards the water, while at the same time not allowing any loose line. Nine times out of

Dave with his PB bream from a not-so-secret spot. The bigger flathead seem to have moved out towards the sea entrance. I see them in the strangest places, almost like they are sunbaking, but you have to look really hard as their camouflage is amazing. Whiting are around in numbers and I noticed all the bait shops have sold out of live worms, but don’t worry they restock quickly. Where to find them though — try in the shallows, around the rowing club, Kennedy Drive boat ramp, and the long stretch behind the golf club. If land based and you want to spin, try walking and casting the Anchorage Estate. It’s perfect; there’s flathead, bream, whiting, jacks, and, I’m not kidding you, the odd barracuda. 10 this will decrease the strain being put on the line and also decrease the fish’s leverage advantage for dislodging the hooks. Once the fish is back in the water, you can then start to slowly raise the rod tip and apply pressure on the fish by recovering line.

Zac with his mini mangrove jack. Very slow trolling pilchards and garfish rigged on either a set of gangs, double snooded or single hooks are a very effective way of targeting salmon and tailor when they are being finicky. You can also try trolling bluebait and whitebait

The author fished 2” Gulps over the flats off Silver Beach at Kurnell to score this silver trevally. This technique can be used whether you are fishing out of a boat, off a beach, from the rocks, or off the shore.

the same way, but downsize the hooks. I have found some solder wrapped around the shaft

of the first hook will act as a keel and stop the bait from spinning. WHERE TO LOOK Starting from the northern side of Botany Bay, you could try Henry Head, Bare Island, Yarra Bay, Trevally Alley, the end of the third runway, Brighton Beach to Dolls Point, the flats at Towra, The Oil Wharf, and Sutherland Point on the southern side of the bay. In the Georges River try drifting between the Captain Cooks and Tom Uglys bridges. In Port Hacking you will find that the back of most of the bays and the main channel will have tailor and salmon working bait schools. One of my favourite spots is the dropoff on a run-in tide at Lilli Pilli. Tailor and salmon are not be the only species of fish available in February. There will be plenty of flathead, bream, and silver trevally will be on the chew. Just remember when anchored up to berley for better results. Pilchards mixed in with chicken pellets and bread is always a good combination.

Spectacular time to be offshore BALLINA

Tristan Sloan tris.sloan@gmail.com

free spool with just enough ratchet on to prevent an overrun. The bite of a marlin is quite slow and gradually increases in speed as it swims away, and from there it’s a relatively simple matter of pushing the drag to strike and waiting until that circle hook finds a place in the corner of the jaw before all hell breaks loose. We have been running two 15kg outfits behind the boat, but after some gruelling battles on fish estimated to be well over 100kg, we are thinking of changing up to 24kg. Often the current is

Gus Nowell with a thumping after dark mangrove jack.

the mud crab, I think they taste a lot sweeter. A handy approach when fishing for whiting and blue swimmers is to try a couple of night sessions. The bigger whiting are a lot more aggressive at night, especially around the dark of the moon when the prawns run, and there always seems to be more crabs around too. This month is also when the surface action really starts to fire up for the local trevally and mangrove jack population. Early morning or late afternoon is the time to target these species, and look for any back eddies out of the main current flow, with rock walls, bridge pylons, and boat pontoons being prime holding structure. Nervous herring or mullet on the surface is also an excellent sign. As far as lure choice is concerned, a lot of people use the Lucky Craft G Splash, but for my money you can’t go past the Halco Rooster Popper. It throws out a lot of water and a loud bloop, and the size 60 perfectly imitates a small mullet or herring. It’s also much cheaper and Australian-owned. Stickbaits also work well when the water is calm, and once again

Keith Sloan with an average Ballina mackerel for this time of year. Berkley 3B Scum Dog is my preferred lure. For the rock fishers, the warm water flowing down our coast brings with it loads of giant trevally and tailor for the high speed spin brigade, but also presents some rare opportunities to catch tuna and mackerel from the stones. This can be done from only a few select local headlands, including South Wall, The Iron Peg and the rock platforms of Broken Head. Depending on the tide and swell conditions, the best method involves high speed spinning metals, pencil poppers and big hardbodies such as the new Rapala XXX-Rap Cast. I particularly like the Halco C Gar, as it imitates a garfish very well.

Always have a live bait rod rigged with a balloon and some wire, so if you manage to catch a small tailor or bonito these can be drifted out to just beyond the wash line. If looking for tuna, a prime bait is a live garfish rigged on a 60lb mono trace and a very small bobby cork. With bread berley, these can be caught at your feet at any time of the day using a size 10 bait jig under a float, baiting the hooks with dough or small pieces of prawn. Enjoy the fishing this month and if you see me out on the water, don’t hesitate to say hi. I love helping anglers catch more fish and you might even be able to teach me a thing or two as well! QXFMTR001

This has to be one of my favourite times of the year for fishing. The mackerel are on the inshore reefs, the marlin are on the wider grounds, the jacks and trevally are well and truly hitting surface lures, not to mention the bass on cicada patterns, and best of all the holiday crowds have finally disappeared. This allows us serious fishermen a bit more peace and quiet on the water, not to mention less crowded boat ramps! The majority of offshore fishos this month will be chasing Spanish mackerel on the inshore reefs, and while they can be caught trolling lures, the most successful way to pin a few of these tasty table fish is by slow trolling live baits. I often start the session towing a few Laser Pros in an assortment of sizes before we get to the bait grounds, as mackerel can be very picky when it comes to matching the size of the bait. Consequently,

a very slow walking pace around structure and any bait schools in the area. One rod has a heavy sinker above the trace to allow the bait to get down a bit deeper, and the other is unweighted to keep it on the surface. Both baits are positioned 30-40m behind the boat, as mackerel can be boat shy. The rig is very simple, and consists of a 5/0 Gamakatsu Octopus in the bait’s nose and a 3/0 stinger treble in the tail. A short length of 60lb single strand wire is used to connect the 2 hooks, with a 10cm section attached to a small

Built tough by the best boat guys in the business. Fighting a black marlin on the 42 fathom reef. There are plenty of blacks around this month. towing a variety of sizes can determine what they are eating, be it small slimy mackerel or large bonito. These lures are sent out without wire, just relying on their length to prevent bite-offs. Once at the bait grounds, we try and locate the schools of slimy mackerel, as these are a superior bait to yellowtail, which will often sit out the back of the boat unmolested when every slimy that enters the water gets chomped. While one of the crew is jigging for slimies, another will be up the front high speed spinning a metal lure in the hope of pinning a bonito or tailor. These bigger baits commonly attract the really big mackerel beyond the school-sized 6-10kg fish commonly encountered on slimies. Once we have enough livies, a pair of 10kg rods are used to troll them at

swivel forward of the lead hook to prevent bite-offs. The reefs off Lennox Point, Flat Rock, North and South Riordans, and the Mackerel Boulder consistently produce this month. Once you’ve caught a couple of mackerel for a feed and the sun has risen sufficiently to put them off the bite, it’s time to head wide and look for something else. Depending on our mood on the day and the amount of livies we have left, we often spend a few hours slow trolling them along the length of the 32 and 42 fathom reefs. This has resulted in quite a few decent sized black marlin this year and some big bull mahimahi. We rig these on 6m of 150lb Jinkai leader with an 8/0 circle hook, and the bait bridle rigged with a rubber band through the nose. Unlike mackerel fishing, these live baits are fished in

racing out wide this time of year, but if it slows down it’s always worth dropping a jig or live bait down on one of the pinnacles. There have been some really big kingfish lost by the jigging crowd lately. The estuary has been fishing well. There has been plenty of quality whiting up around the Pimlico stretch of the river and these tasty little morsels are being caught on the usual baits of worms and yabbies. Surface lures are also producing the goods, and I have been having great success on the Berkley 3B Scum Dogs in the larger 68mm size. Unlike a lot of brands, the required walkthe-dog action is very easy to create with these lures. While whiting fishing, don’t forget to drop the dillies out, as there has been lot of blue swimmer crabs in the river, and while not as large as their cousins

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Mackerel offshore and cod in the headwaters February still sees a lot of people chasing mackerel in the usual places like Shark

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Bay, Black Rock and Angourie. Many are trolling with the trusty old pink squid to find them, and then setting up to bait fish. As mentioned last month, to bait fish for them you need to set up a good berley trail with a mix of pillies and tuna oil. Once you have that, rig some pillies under floats and let them drift out varying distances from the boat. Flick the ratchet on and put them in a rod holder. Make sure you keep the trail going, but don’t make it too thick as this can attract the blacktip shark population, and once they have set in you’re just wasting baits. In the river, the large breeder flathead are still around down towards the mouth. Don’t forget that these big flathead, while being a fun sportfish, are our female breeders and deserve to be put back to keep our flathead population healthy for years to come. If looking to chase up a feed of table size flathead, the usual places like along North Arm, Oyster Channel and Browns Rocks should be holding their share of quality lizards, from legal up to the 50cm mark. Again, soft plastics and blades are

John with a nice bass that took a liking to a Megabass Siglett on a rainy day. the way to go; just hop them along the bottom on sandy dropoffs near weed beds or any kind of structure like rock bars or pylons. This month is just as good as the last one on the crab front, with both blue swimmers and muddies prevalent. The usual haunts like North and South Arm, Lake Woolawayer and the Broadwater are all producing good numbers of crabs, but as always you do have to keep an ever-watchful eye on your pots to make sure those ‘share farmers’ out there who like to check your pots as well as their own are not helping themselves to your crabs! To try and keep the crab thieving down, stick around your pots and have a fish while keeping an eye on them. If you want to cast a lure off the stones, there have been a few chopper tailor around in the 1-2.5kg range, and the Halco Twistys are working a treat on them. The mighty Clarence River and all her tributaries have been firing on the bass front of late. The rain we saw earlier last month has seen the level rise a bit, so places like the Gorge are firing. As well as bass, we have been enjoying some cod surface sessions a bit further upriver with gun

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so hot lately, the standout lures have been the Croaker Black Betty Paddler. Coming in at 170mm long, it is a beast of a paddler, but seems to account for the largest fish of the trip. By far the most successful colour has been black. It has been the go-to in those prime surface bite times of late afternoon and early mornings, but through the day slow rolled spinnerbaits have been working well too. On the bass front, with the deafening sound of cicadas everywhere, the locally made Bills Bugs’ Rat 50 has been working a treat, as has my personal favourite, the Megabass Grand Siglett. If you love bass fishing, get these lures in your kit ASAP.

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13/01/2015 2:19 pm

Back to the real life COFFS HARBOUR

Stephen Worley worleybirdfilms@hotmail.com

February marks the end of the school holidays and back to normal life for almost everyone (although uni students probably still have another month of holidays!). Over the last month we have been slowly slipping into the summer pattern of fishing. The warm currents have been moving in and out from the coast as the nor’ east sea breezes alternate with southerly fronts. With the warm water, mackerel encounters have been slowly increasing in frequency, as well as welcome inshore mahimahi, tuna, and numbers of small black marlin. After a period of southerly winds, expect that the current will push right into the coast and the mackerel to become readily available on all the inshore reefs throughout our region. The water will be cold during extended periods of nor’ east winds, so you will need to hunt for the warmer water further offshore. As per normal, live

bait has been the steady performer for mackerel. As the season moves on and the mackerel are a bit thicker on the ground, trolling lures and casting stickbaits and metals at surface feeding fish will be more effective and a lot of fun. Hopefully we’re in for another great mackerel season, as the elusive pre-Christmas mackerel turned up around the place a few times. Larger kingfish are still on offer around the outer reefs and islands, but further inshore they have been replaced by exceptional numbers of rats. These can be great fun on light gear if you’re keen. Just throw pretty much anything into a nearshore reef or wash and pull it out fast. You should have no trouble finding willing participants. These smaller kings are also being caught around the headlands, along with good numbers of tailor and bonito. Mulloway are the usual target for many on the headlands, and there have been plenty of smaller schoolies with regular captures of larger 10kg+ fish. Most are being landed on soft plastics and hardbody lures around the broken rocky points.

The mulloway are present on the beaches also. The larger ones have been caught around the river mouths, especially after recent rains when the rivers are running dirty. Whiting are in good numbers on the beaches and in the estuaries. Yabbies are the go-to bait, but the large fish are most consistently coming in on poppers and other surface lures. One way to know it’s summer is when you see bonefish tailing on the flats in your local estuary. I’ve heard of the odd alleged sighting around here and that they sometimes get caught offshore in deeper water, but this is the first time I’ve seen them in person and in a very catchable situation too. I managed to get a few lines past a couple, but they spooked on the popper I was using and it got dark before I was able to get anything suitable out there. It had to be the only day I didn’t take the fly rod! Elsewhere in the estuaries, there has been an increasing flow of mangrove jacks, judging by pics on social media and forums. This means anglers are starting to switch to summer mode too. Live baits are the best chance

Martin Tucker got this fat 2kg rainbow on a trip up the Plateau when back in Coffs for a visit. when chasing them in the snags, around bridge pylons, and along rock walls. With live bait though, you can only cover a few snags or spots per session. Lures are also producing good fish by working a lot more ground, so hardbodies and soft plastics, particularly prawn imitations, are well worth throwing around. Bream and trevally are worthy bycatch with this method too. There are plenty of good flathead up and about, with soft plastics and hardbody

lures always the surest bet for covering the territory necessary to find the bigger ones. While you’re up the estuary, it may be worth throwing a couple of crab pots in. There’s good numbers around, but remember that the legal numbers of pots and dillies per person has now changed to 2 and 4 respectively. With the recent rain events, the bass should have had ample opportunity to get to their upstream homes.

Although there are still a few stubborn ones down low, it’s the far upstream stretches that will be the go-to areas for bass this month. Cicada lures have pretty much been the only option needed in the lure box over the last few months, so I would be sticking with these for the most fish, as well as the most fun. So no matter whether you’re chasing fish for fun, a feed or both, I hope you find it on the Coffs coast this month.

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No great highs at Coffs this season. Yet COFFS GAME

Glen Booth

The Coffs Harbour game fishing season continues to meander along, not reaching any great heights so far, but it’s got a fair way to run so it would be foolish to write it off as a dud just yet, especially when the Gold Coast continues to fire. Out wide, the 3-4kts of current that has been a disappointing feature of summer fishing these past few seasons has certainly made life difficult for the blue marlin chasers. The water colour and temperature is spot-on for blues (and delicious mahimahi bycatch), but it becomes nigh impossible to work any given grounds with the required dedication, as every turn and zig-zag sees you getting pushed southwards. Throw in an uncomfortable afternoon nor’ easter and you can be off Smoky Cape in the blink of an eye!

Best options have been to work the shelf line along the edge of the fast water, or go way wide where possible to the other side of the East Australian Current and fish there. Local charter boat Better Than Vegas has done that a couple of times, with success on blues to 150kg. The inshore run of smaller blacks is somewhat patchy, with 1 or 2 here and there, but nobody has really connected with the motherload (or if they have, they’re certainly keeping mum about it!). The water in close has turned over a couple of times, which is probably responsible for the presence of a couple of nice striped marlin. These were a bit of a pleasant surprise for anglers who had dropped down in line class to accommodate the smaller blacks. What blacks we are encountering are a mix of sizes from 10-50kg. We certainly haven’t been seeing masses of midwater bait like they have in South East

smoke once the razor gang arrives in force… Could we possibly hope for a mackerel bite approaching 2014’s stellar

season? Fingers crossed it happens again, because ‘mackerel fever’ is an exciting condition to suffer from around here.

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Striped marlin are not uncommon in Coffs’ waters

Swimming a blue behind Better Than Vegas prior to setting it loose.

it’s stacked up and loaded with exciting possibilities though, then the next day it’s gone who knows where. It’s really just a matter of fishing as much as possible and hoping to luck onto one of the good days. After a boomer run of big mahimahi prior to Christmas, these have spread out somewhat. Commercial boats were pulling 100-300kg of fish off the FAD, the Waverider Buoy, trap floats and a couple of sneaky private FADs around Christmas, and that no doubt thinned out fish numbers, but a fresh pulse of water saw bigger ones reappear in mid January. The exciting news is that a few spotted and Spanish macks have started to appear on reefs to the north of Coffs and down to Grassy Head. There’s been reliable bait jigging on all

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FEBRUARY 2015

The Macleay at its best SOUTH WEST ROCKS

Brent Kirk kempsey@compleatangler.com.au

February is here again, and in my opinion it’s the best time of year for fishing the Macleay Valley. The Christmas crowds have started to die down, while the fishing has started to fire up. Offshore we are getting water temperatures of 24° and above, making conditions perfect for the summer speedsters like mackerel, black marlin, wahoo and longtail tuna to hang around on our reefs. Trolling bibbed minnows at a medium pace is a

good way of locating areas that may be holding fish, especially if you want to get away from the crowds. Pay attention to the marks where you find fish and remember to visit them next time out, as you may have stumbled across your own piece of reef that is holding bait and fish that not everyone is aware of. Having a few of these spots in mind can be the difference between having a productive or a quiet day. Anchoring on those spots and setting up a steady berley trail will draw even more fish from the surrounding area to the back of your boat. Then it is just a matter of floating out some pilchards

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or a livie or two and waiting for the action to begin. It also pays to have a light setup with a metal lure or small knife jig at hand, as retrieving these at high speed does wonders for attracting fish to your livies and baits, and can also result in some spectacular hookups. Out wider, the FAD has been holding some cracking mahimahi, so when the conditions are right it is well worth a trip out there. Trolling wide has been accounting for some solid striped marlin and plenty of big bull mahi. The current has been running fairly strong to the south, but when it lets up there has been a decent amount of big kingfish on the deeper reefs and wrecks, with knife jigs in the 400g range being the most successful method of capture. The beaches have been home to loads of big whiting this summer, with 40cm plus fish being fairly common. Flathead are coming from the same low tide gutters and are all over 5” soft plastics. School mulloway of 5-6kg have been coming in from these same gutters an hour either

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Little school mulloway like this are presently available all through the Macleay.

side of dark, with live beach worms accounting for most of these fish. A few are also being snared on soft plastics aimed at flathead. Longtail tuna and kingfish have been the main feature off the headlands, with metal lures and stickbaits responsible for some explosive hookups. A few cobia and Spanish mackerel have been taken live baiting from the ledges, but this rate will increase as we head towards Easter. Bream, school mulloway and even tailor have been coming in on a regular basis from the stones of a night-time. The river system is absolutely loaded with blue swimmer and mud crabs, even up beyond Frederickton. At times, there have been schools of kingfish up around Jerseyville Bridge! These fish, as well as trevally, have been seen terrorising schools of baitfish throughout the lower Macleay. The sandflats above Jerseyville and up Clybucca Creek are holding some solid whiting on the top of the tide. Surface lures are all the go at this time of year, and as the tide starts to drain, flathead are getting in on the surface action along the edges of the sandbanks and dropoffs. Bass have been rampant through the middle reaches of the Macleay from Belmore River up to Turners Flat. Surface luring will be at its best throughout February,

so if bass fishing is not usually your thing but you want to give it a try, now

is the time. The strike on a surface lure is sure to get the heart pumping.

Kade Langham caught his first legal bream, fishing at Wooli over the Christmas holidays.

passing of a legend

Vic McCristal, OAM, passes away in Cardwell If you were never one to read outdoor magazines in the 60s, 70s and 80s, then maybe you can be forgiven for not knowing about Vic McCristal. But rest assured, there will be many tough old blokes

around the country who will mourn deeply the passing of a man they knew as McSea. Vic inspired many Australians to go outdoors, and did a great deal to encourage those who did to tread lightly. Vic, who died at the age of 86 this past week in his home town of Cardwell, north Queensland was never a celebrity in the modern sense, but those who know of his work commonly refer to him as Australia’s best and most influential fishing writer. He is sometimes described as both the father of outdoor journalism and of sports fishing itself in this country. Vic was born to a family descended from pioneer cedar getters in the Garden of Eden-

like setting of Bellingen on the north coast of NSW. One of his earliest memories was the sight of fish swimming free in the Bellinger River. He later recalled, in his typical understated style, that from then on, fishing for him

was never entirely about killing fish. Before he was old enough to go to school, Vic recalled being taught how to catch prawns and ghost crabs with his bare hands by an Aboriginal woman, one of the Kelly’s from Nambucca. The trick, by the way, is to frighten prawns with one hand and catch them with the other, and for crabs, to place a small stick in the hole and ambush them when they emerge. His admiration for the bushcraft of Aborigines never left him and informed his philosophy on fishing. He also recalled, as a 12-year-old, being scolded by an uncle for returning fish he had caught to the river. Vic

CHARTER COMP WINNERS Winners for the December competition to win a charter with Peter LeBlang were: Sophie Green from Horsifield, Kevin Rodwell from Molong and Steve Carr from Elderside.

later became one of the very first fishing writers to advocate catch and release – now universally practiced by anglers across Australia. Vic got a taste of journalism on Bellingen’s Courier Sun newspaper as a

young teenager, relinquishing the position when the regular journalists returned from WWII. As a young man, he worked in a range of jobs, including as a carpenter for building projects that were part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme. In his spare time, Vic enjoyed fishing and hunting, before deciding that he could do better than many of the writers he was reading, and submitted his first article to Outdoors magazine in 1954. Vic’s exceptional clear writing style (“A lure is a lie told by a man to a fish”) and eye for detail was noticed immediately, and Vic quickly established himself as a professional writer. Vic moved to Cardwell in north Queensland in 1966. From here he became a prominent chronicler of the glamorous early years when marlin the size of small cars were being hauled in off Cairns. Typical of him, he upset

some of the local operators by challenging the tradition that the first marlin captured by an angler should be killed and brought back to shore. This was the kind of moral stand that punctuated his career – for example, he refused to write for hunting magazines when editors started changing his copy to make a kill sound cleaner than it really was. He is also remembered as the first person to systematically chronicle fishing for barramundi in the Kakadu and Kimberleys with lures, creating trails followed by many. Although he wrote several books, his lasting legacy is his 1974 classic, The Rivers & The Sea. If you think it is hyperbolic to describe this as what would happen if Hemingway wrote The Canterbury Tales maybe you should find a copy. This long out-of-print book is a forgotten classic of Australian literature, and signals the time when outdoor enthusiasts began to understand they needed to look after the outdoors if they were to enjoy it. This one work testifies to Vic’s outstanding talent, and his abiding love for the environment and those who inhabit it.

He was the Foundation President of the peak recreational fishing body, the Australian National Sportfishing Association, which had its seeds in roadside meetings with barefoot anglers. To this day, its Constitution – containing a balance of common-sense and

an innate sense of fairness has his thumbprints all over it. Vic lived alone in Cardwell, until Cyclone Yasi precipitated a move to a local retirement home. Vic is survived by sisters Valmai Atkins, Elaine Murphy and Moyna Whyte and his many nephews and nieces.

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February – still a great time to be on the water! THE HASTINGS

Mark Saxon castawayestuarycharters@bigpond.com

I’ve got to say, February is a great time on the water here in Port Macquarie and its surrounding waterways. We still have plenty of daylight and many fishing options. February also sees the main holiday crowds back off a bit, meaning less boat traffic and fewer headaches at the local ramps. Let’s take a look around. OFFSHORE This month we should see mackerel appearing north of Plomer, and if it’s like last season you can expect some great action. Find yourself some live bait first. The favourite last year was slimy mackerel and they are good, but so are bonito, so if you can find a few get them out the back for some slow trolling, For the lure fishos, last year the snapper boys pulled some good reds, but also got a few nice mulloway fishing the grounds around Trag Rock. Live baiting these same spots is also a great way to get onto big snapper and mulloway. Evenings are good, as long as the nor’ easterly has dropped to a

John Acroyd with his biggest snapper to date — 9kg, caught fishing plastics south of the lighthouse.

Martin Denlow with a 40cm bass caught spinnerbaiting the weed beds reasonable level. The patches of reef from the front of the lighthouse down to Cathie will produce great mixed bags for the bait fishos. You can tangle with reds, pearlies, trag and

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flathead, so if you’re after a feed it’s happy days. In other news offshore, our local game fishing tournament The Golden Lure will have been run and won and a full report will be delivered next month. ROCK AND BEACH Whiting have been caught on Lighthouse, Cathie and Dunbogan beaches, and the standard offering is live beachworms. Bream will get into the act on these, as will mulloway unfortunately. A lot of these will be 55-70cm and we must remember that 70cm is the new legal size, so please be careful handling the smaller fish and try to release in the best condition possible. This may mean cutting your hook off if it is too deep. On the rocks this month, throwing large soft plastics or floating hardbody lures will give you a chance on a decent mulloway. First check the tides, as some areas will fire at the high and a couple of others will be accessible at the low and still give you a great chance. It pays to experiment, but some better lures are the Frenzy Mungo, and the Halco in the Brown Dog colour has been popular. Regarding plastics off the rocks, the 7” Gulp is good, as are various large paddle tails. ESTUARIES This month we still have bream, bass and whiting taking surface lures, so there is a fair bit of fun to be had. Most of the usual haunts will produce bream on the surface; try weed beds, especially the ones holding prawn life. Fishing around the edges can be extremely effective when the cicadas are screaming; in fact, it’s a

dead-set near certainty, but a well presented cast into structure is a must otherwise you could miss out. Weed beds are easier for the beginner, as accuracy is not as important to get a few surface feeders. The whiting are going well at Lake Cathie, Limeburners Creek on the Hastings, and also at North Haven heading back into Queens Lake. The excellent bass season is continuing, with great fish being caught in the Wilson, Maria and Macleay rivers, and most techniques are pulling fish. Spinnerbaits through the weed to hardbodies in the snags have been extremely effective, but again, if you can get that surface lure into those dark, shady spots, you are going to have a ton of fun! Prawning has been a little indifferent, with the last moon patchy, but you’ll still get a feed, which is great. The crabs have continued to be productive as we have seen on the Hastings River, and less traffic and fewer traps should ensure a feed of muddies or blue swimmers. So there it is guys, long days, good fishing, and plenty of fun, so get out there and enjoy the area’s brilliant fishing.

Top: Mandy Saxon with a big flattie before putting it back. Bottom: Scott with his first mulloway on a soft plastic.

Fishing Friendly Accommodation Guide

Get away from it all at Grassy Head Holiday Park Hidden amid the lush coastal rainforest of Way Way State Forest and bordered by kilometres of

in the river, from the rocks or along the beaches. At the end of Millington Avenue is the Macleay River,

pristine golden beaches, Grassy Head Holiday Park offers an abundance of fishing opportunities. The park itself is accommodating to the recreational angler with plenty of room for the boat and the car. There’s plenty to see and do to keep non-fisher members of the family busy while anglers are reeling in a feed. Guests can choose from passive recreational activities such as walks through the rainforest or along the beach, more active pursuits like swimming or surfing in some great places, or fishing

famous for very good fishing. Some of the fish caught at Grassy Heads include bream, drummer, flathead, luderick, mulloway, rock blackfish, tailor, trevally and whiting. In one of the unspoilt gems of the Mid North Coast, nature lovers will delight at the wildlife and the beautiful bushland surrounds. The popular River Walk follows the old entrance of the Macleay from Grassy Head to Stuarts Point, closed off after a flood a century ago. The easy River Walk takes anything from 35 minutes to more than an

hour, depending on your walking speed and any of the delights that make you stop and let it all sink in. Yarrahapinni Lookout offers breathtaking views and is just a short drive away, with The Pines picnic area located en route. Here you can escape from the pressures of the world – relax, unwind and immerse yourself in the serene beauty of this very special place. Grassy Head Holiday Park is the perfect location for those who enjoy what nature has to offer. The seaside village is also only to 10 minutes’ drive from Stuarts Point village, 45km from Kempsey CBD or 19km from Macksville CBD.

Bass fishing the weed of the Macleay River THE HASTINGS

Mark Saxon castawayestuarycharters@bigpond.com

Two full days of rain and washed-out fishing trips has me sitting back and thinking about my bass season to date. It was only 2 days ago that we had a 40cm-plus bass chomped in half by an angry bull shark, and then 20 minutes later the misfortune to pull the hooks on a 50cm fish right next to the boat. Disappointment aside, this trip was eventful! LOCATION While there are plenty of available bass fishing options on the mid north coast, the place I really enjoy fishing is the Macleay River from Smithtown to near Sherwood. If you launch from Kempsey boat ramp, you are pretty much central enough to go down or upstream. Riverweed can be found from Kinchela Creek all the way to Sherwood, with some of the best from Greenhills upstream at the moment. EARLY MORNING SURFACE SESSIONS On a typical bass fishing day, the early morning weed sessions are all about topwaters, with fizzers, walkers and

Some of the lures we have been using with great success in the Macleay.

On occasion you may need to get them in real quick. This one became a meal for a hungry bull shark.

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poppers taking their share of the fish. Some lures we have had great success with this season include the Koolabung Soft Fizzer — a great lure on the Macleay, especially during a cicada blitz. Then there’s the Mazzy popper, which can be worked surface or sub-surface. The Mazzys really come into their own when the fish are a bit shut down and we have often used these when others didn’t produce. The Sammys are a good match for the baitfish that have been around this season. There are plenty of great surface lures on the market that will get you onto the fish. I tend not to choose the $30 models, as with the weed being fairly thick in spots, it’s a challenge getting the fish out. They will quickly dive down and wrap themselves around the bottom half of the stems, and while it doesn’t always happen, it can be painful and tricky. Most times, going hard straight away is the best approach. It’s heart-in-mouth fishing and gets the adrenalin flowing, but isn’t that what it’s about? SURFACE GEAR For the surface fishing rods, we have been using G.Loomis spin rods in 4-10lb classes. These are 7’ and handle the situation well. We also use a range of custom spin rods with a similar rating. The reels are varied, with size 1000-2500 used, preferably Shimano Sustains and Stradics. These are spooled with 5-6kg braid. I lean towards the Super PE by Sunline, and use 7kg leader, preferring Sunline’s FC Rock. It doesn’t seem to worry the fish, but gives a bit of confidence in bulldogging them out. Always keep an eye on leader and leader knots, as constant running through the weed can damage the connections and you don’t

want the disappointment of losing fish this way! As it is, these bass are pretty quick to bury you around the long strands of weed, and this often results in the lure ripping out of their mouths. TIDES AND SURFACE I prefer to fish a high tide. If it happens to fall in the early morning, then it usually results in a good session. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is not having excess weed laying on the surface, so less

cast your surface lures over the top, as the fish will be laying in there. When the tide is low you have to work the edges and the fish can be buried a long way back in the growth. We have tried fishing this thick weed when the tide falls, but it is very frustrating and we usually end up working the edges. SPINNERBAITING When the surface bite has died down, it’s time to

Sometimes I manage a fish; a very healthy weedbed bass caught on a Damiki GPS spinnerbait. time removing it from your lure, and it also gives you a bit more water so you can try and stop them getting into the thick of the bed. Secondly, you can

look at other options, and spinnerbaiting is a great choice. With a multitude of riverweed stretching for kilometres, you can work through them all

day with very pleasing results. For this style of spinnerbait fishing I prefer a willow blade as the top blade, and a smaller Colorado blade below. The 3/8oz spinnerbaits have been the lure of choice, with the Damiki GPS being a standout on the Macleay this year. One thing I think worth noting is that silver blades are excellent when the water is clear, and

gold blades when the water is a bit murky. I carry a range of replacement blades and skirt colours, so if I find something is working, we can change to it without necessarily having a load of the same colour spinnerbaits in the kit. Also very important is the use of a stinger hook. Fortunately, most spinnerbaits now come with these. Believe

me, a lot of bass will be hooked on the back hook. We do occasionally use a plastic on our spinnerbaits and have found a 3” curl tail grub is very good at times. Various colours have been used with success. Having good clear water so far this season has meant silver has been the go-to blade. As for skirt colours, white and purple have been

the top 2 colours, but this changes regularly so don’t be afraid to mix it up. What seems to be doing the job for a period of time does change, and we need to be prepared for that. GEAR AND METHODS Firstly, this style of fishing is not overly complicated. We use baitcast gear, or the same spin outfits chosen for surface To Brisbane

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to top, and then the top to half down being my preferred. PERSISTENCE PAYS With this style of bassing,

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my baitcaster for this style of fishing and again I use a G.Loomis rod matched with a Daiwa Pixy reel. It just gives me great feel and control of the spinnerbait. When fishing the weed, there are a couple of retrieves to use. The first is a consistent roll, and with this you can give a sharp jerk on the rod when feeling weed, which results in the lure coming through it. The second retrieve is a bit quicker, keeping it on top of the weed. You will have to work that out on the day, as different beds have different heights and gaps in the jungle. We have been catching fish throughout the day using these methods, and time has not been important. Water movement seems to be the biggest factor. The bite will be better when the weed is lying down with the half tide

we keep casting from bed to bed. We have noticed that the big fish will come any time of day, with our last 50cm bass being caught at midday. The other thing that has stood out is that you will be consistently catching fish in the smaller size bracket, and then a monster will come along and stitch you up. We have lost a few spinnerbaits to fish that weren’t turned before entangling themselves in the weed. So get out there, tie on a spinnerbait, and kick some b-ass! Surface fishing is great, but it is also a great feeling to have the rod nearly jolted from your grip as a rampaging bass attempts to bury your spinnerbait in the greenery! Also remember that there are plenty of bull sharks around, so if a lure gets buried, don’t go in after it.

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Time for summer suspects FORSTER

David Seaman dseamo@bigpond.com

There is no prize for guessing the usual suspects that are making the most of the summer months in the lakes and tributaries of the mid north coast. The bream have filtered into every inch of the Wallis Lake

system, including the very ends of the brackish reaches where they will stay until at least April — unless flooded out with autumn rains. The upper reaches of the rivers have some huge bream hiding out around the fallen timber and snags, often in just enough water to cover their backs. Live prawns or yabbies suspended under floats

around the timber would be a great way to prise these big fish out from cover. The alternatives are not too bad either, with early morning or late afternoon on the surface with a cicada pattern, while at midday I’d run a shallow diving lure like a Berkley 3B Fatdog parallel and close to the timber and hang on. With a bit of cloud cover, the bream are often

Good flathead are a staple this month, whether inshore or offshore.

happy to take surface lures all day, and it is just a matter of swapping from cicada to prawn (popper) styles to tune into what they want more. The most important advice that can be offered is that your casting with lures needs to be as close to the bank and structure as possible to draw strikes from the bigger fish. Flathead have been a little thin in the traditional areas of the sandflat peppered weed beds, but they are still there, just not in the numbers one would expect at this time of the year. The average size is better though, with heaps of fish in the 60-70cm range. At this size it’s a fair bet that the fish are female, so be guided by your conscience whether you keep or release them. There are still plenty of smaller, legal male fish up the rivers and at the mouths of the tributaries, especially along the edges of the Wallamba River. I have heard of a pair of 1m flathead coming from the Paddock area. One was on a live whiting and the other on a drifted yabby on a whiting rig. The fish were caught at 2 extremes

Sweet-sized sand whiting are plentiful enough to be able to put a healthy bag together. and the respective anglers released both. Prawn style plastics like the Zerek Shrimp, Berkley Gulp Shrimp and the Squidgy Stealth Prawn are top choices for sheer catching strength. When

adding a jighead, just make sure it has enough weight to get right down, but light enough that you can glide the lure over weed and just off the bottom. Most times the line will just go tight as the fish swallows the lure

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and starts to settle back on the sand. Breckenridge Channel is a great spot for flatties during the new moon period and their focus is on prawns. The third species in this triad of summer suspects has to be the good old sand whiting. There has been good numbers caught from the channels and bridge area in the lower lake. The Barclay end of Breckenridge Channel has fished well lately with beachworms, and poppers over the weed edge. Many of the big whiting are pretty mobile and it can take a bit of searching to find them, but it’s all in a day’s fishing. Large whiting are easy to catch under the bridge of a night, on the slack tide as usual. Beachworms, yabbies and prawns are the bait picks, and live prawns drifted behind the boat during the new moon runout tide will almost guarantee some good whiting. Try it, I know you’ll like it. The week starting the February 16 is the buildup to the new and live prawns will be easy to come by then. The prawns should running well too, with a near 2m high around 11pm on the 19th, and a prolonged runout. I for one am looking forward to it.

The crabbing in the lake has settled from the early flurry before Christmas, but a couple of traps will produce swimmers and

mindful to keep them away from the commercial pots or you may lose them… Remember too, to mark your traps with: CT (for

Bream have even penetrated the freshwater reaches of the estuaries, so no matter where you fish, they should be about. muddies. These are best targeted close to the islands or up the rivers. Just be

crab trap), your initial and surname, your full date of birth, and your postcode. If

it isn’t marked in this way, I can assure you Fisheries will take it because they have been very active — and good on them. There are rules for a reason and if everyone just followed them — including not lifting someone else’s gear — we would all have a wonderful fishing life. The breakwalls have been fishing well, with mulloway around the 70-80cm mark coming in on plastics, and bigger fish falling to baits. Luderick, bream and some lunker flathead are all a chance along the wall too. Many of the big female flatties are hidden amongst the sand patches between the rocks, with their entourage of smaller males all bidding to spawn with her. It’s like a Sydney nightclub, really! I find it best to fish the slackening waters of the smaller tidal changes around the half moon periods; it is especially handy while bait fishing for the bream and luderick. The FAD should be fishing well for small mahimahi, and the bonito schools ought to be teasing the kings and marlin in the area. With no reliable offshore reports this month it’s a suck-it-and-see prospect if you can pick a day when the nor’ easter isn’t too heavy

Sam Clarke with a sand whiting caught while he was on holidays from QLD in Yamba.

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Holidays are over, but the fish are at work HARRINGTON-TAREE

Ian Pereira ianpereira@aapt.net.au

At last the crowds have gone; returned to who knows where to reminisce about the fish caught and the big ones that got away!

There is no doubt that some really big flathead over a metre in length were hooked and lost or hooked and released over January when the holidaymakers were here. There have been plenty of sightings of large flathead in the shallow

water near the weed beds and along the river wall, but they are spawning much later than in years past. Some 20 years ago the big breeders would turn up in the corner of the wall by the second week of December. Now it is early

ESTUARY Small flathead have been providing plenty of sport for those anglers fishing soft plastics and hardbodies along the edges of the weed beds and rock walls. These fish are from legal size to 55cm in length. Live bait fished under a bobby cork rig has been the most successful way of catching bigger fish of 4-7kg. Good catches of flathead have been made up stream as far as Coopernook, Cundletown and Taree. The luderick have moved up-river and are being caught in the deep water along rocky edges, and in the holes at the ends and sides of the many wharves that line the banks of the Manning River. Whiting are taking surface poppers spun around the sandbanks at the mouth. Most of the bream have moved upstream and it will

take a good sized â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;freshâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to flush them back down to the mouth. Mulloway have been scarce for a few weeks and only undersized fish have been caught in the river and on the beaches. BEACH AND ROCK Salmon, bream, tailor, along with the occasional whiting, have provided the action on the beaches. The salmon have been the most numerous, with catches of 4-5 fish being common. The bream have fallen to baits of worms and mullet strips. The best spots being the southern end of Crowdy Beach and the end of the sea wall at the mouth of the river. Tailor have been harder to track down. Good catches of 20 or so fish have come in from groups of 3-4 anglers, but the fish move about and are usually gone the next day. Most tailor are 33-35cms in length, with the next size up being from 38-41cm.

OFFSHORE Outside anglers have been scoring good catches from the northern grounds and out around the FAD and the Waverider buoy. Snapper, trag and pearl perch have come from the northern grounds up around Mermaid Reef, while the mahimahi have been taking live baits. Bonito have made an appearance on the shoals and may be caught by trolling lures. February is a great month to fish Harrington, especially as the crowds have gone and the serious retiree anglers move in for a month to spend some quality time on the river and the beaches. Flathead and luderick will be the main species targeted in the river, while tailor from the beaches and rocks will be in good supply. Outside anglers should concentrate on snapper and trag, as well as surface fish like mahimahi.

Darryl Von Bock, on holidays from Sydney, caught this nice bar cod off Crowdy Head.

January before they arrive in numbers. There are always big flatties caught upriver in December, but not down at the mouth. Last year though, some big fish, full of spawn, were caught as late as the middle of April. The same will no doubt happen this year. The fish are appearing later each year, as are drummer, tailor, luderick and bream. Luke Burge nailed this 40cm Lake StClair bass on a topwater Basscada fished along the weedbeds.

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Exciting whiting, and other species as well PORT STEPHENS

Paul Lennon

February is an exciting time to be fishing Port Stephens. The estuary is teeming with life, the beaches fish well, and the game fishing season really kicks into gear. The NSW Interclub Tournament is also fast approaching, being on the 20th of this month, and by the way things are shaping up it’s going to be a cracker. Striped marlin have already been tagged in good numbers for the past month on the shelf. In fact, just as I’m writing this, I received a report that local boat Seaka caught 5 from 9 fishing the Car Park, as well as a couple of cracker mahimahi. There’s also been good reports trickling through of black marlin from in close around South West Rocks through to Foster, which means it’s only a matter of time before they show up here. Pelagic species such as longtail tuna and the odd cobia also shouldn’t be too far away either, so it’s all about to happen. Outside the heads, big kings have been cruising the shallows around Broughton Island, with a slowtrolled squid or live slimy mackerel your best option for getting connected to one. There has also been a few solid kings come from the bommies off Fingal Lighthouse. Speaking with divers in the area, there are plenty of them. Snapper have been a bit hit and miss, but local anglers Al Wilson and Noel Martin have been doing well fishing the shallows around Cod Rock with unweighted baits. BEACHES The whiting fishing off the beaches has been as good as it gets, particularly on Stockton and Fingal. I fished Stockton through the

week with good mate Chris Drake and it wasn’t long before we had enough for a feed, with it just about being a fish a cast. We were about 7km down the beach and as we were heading home I stopped to talk to a few other anglers and it seemed as though everyone was having similar success, which was great to see. On a more unfortunate note, Zenith and Wreck beaches (also great whiting spots) are now off limits as sanctuary zones, with no fishing of any kind

re-opened to shore-based line fishing in March 2013. This amnesty has now ceased, with many other areas up and down the coast suffering the same fate. Inside the estuary, the surface fishing has been red hot. Bream gun Andrew Stubbs has been catching some thumping fish on the surface, mainly around the oyster racks and rock bars from Soldiers Point through to the mouth of the Karuah River. Whiting have been just as hot on the top, with the flats around

Still on whiting, there are heaps around Shoal Bay, Nelson Bay and

Jimmys Beaches. The most successful method here is 4lb leaders, long

shank hooks and a live worm or yabby. High tide is prime time.

The author with a tidy whiting that took a liking to a surface popper.

Top: Mud crabs have been in good numbers around Karuah River and Tilligerry Creek areas. Bottom: Whiting fishing along Stockton Beach has been on fire lately. permitted. To the delight of both visiting and local anglers, these beaches were

Taylors Beach, Pindimar Bay and Tea Gardens all producing on the high tide.

Colin King with his hands full of quality dusky flathead.

There’s stacks of dusky flathead throughout the system this time of year, with 10-12cm plastics proving lethal on the run-out tide around North Arm Cove, Karuah, and the Myall River areas. If you’re land based and want to chase flathead, you shouldn’t have too much trouble cracking a few around Corlette Groynes and Wanda Head. Both the bridges at Karuah have been holding school mulloway, particularly around the tide changes. Nothing beats a live bait, especially on mulloway, but paddle tail plastics rigged on 1/2oz jigheads work really well in these parts. Blue swimmer and mud crabs have come on strong in the last month and should only get better from here on in. Tilligerry Creek and North Arm cove have been the hot spots of late for blue swimmers, while the feeder creeks and inlets up in the Karuah River have been holding muddies.

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It’s all action stations this month, with the cicadas and insects hatching, and leaving drains and culverts to take flight just before the storms start. It’s quite amazing how they know it’s about to rain and leave cover, and fish rise in the rivers and estuaries to gulp them from the surface with gusto. The fishing has been great around the Hunter region, with bream, flathead the odd really big mulloway, whiting and flounder all over the beaches, plus estuary perch, bass, pink eye mullet and carp up in the rivers, and marlin, bonito, longtail tuna as well as mahimahi and kingfish offshore. The list just goes on and on! I love this time of year; watching storms crack and then roll in, feeling the humidity rise sharply, then knowing the fish will let loose and go into a feeding frenzy. It’s not just bass or cod that do this; bream rise to the occasion as well, as do large mullet that slurp down small moths, dragonflies, cicadas, crickets — almost anything that’s flapping on top of the water. February is always a hot month around here both for fishing and weather, so cover up even if when you leave in the morning it’s still pretty cool, because there’s nothing worse than bad sunburn. The reflection from the water makes you burn twice as badly, as does the reflection from the sand. A quick look through this magazine and you’ll see an array of long sleeve vented fishing shirts that are suitable for such conditions. The estuary is fishing quite well, and on passing through Hexham I spotted

A powerful storm rolling in over the coast, putting up the barometric pressure and humidity. It’s a great time to fish, just beware of any lightning.

A snapper of this size is great on the plate. If you get the chance this month, try for some school snapper —you shouldn’t be disappointed. a lot of crab pots bobbing around, so that’s an indication that the blue swimmers are moving upstream for a feed. I have never seen so many kayaks on the water as I have in the past 2 months. They are definitely

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The cicada — a noisy little pest with an earpiercing scream that makes fish go crazy. This is what all surface lures try to imitate, and there are some very good replicas available from most well known lure manufacturers these days.

the new craze when lure fishing the top and bottom of the tides. Some are so well set up they look like a space craft going to the moon, full of electronics, electric motors, rod holders and other technological advances. It’s not like the old days where your balance has to be very good; these are built to carve through boat wakes and are more stable on the water. The kayak guys I spoke to under Hexham Bridge said they had been luring bream on Gulp soft plastics and snagging a few flathead just upstream. Offshore, trolling live baits or skirted lures are doing damage on mahimahi, kingfish, marlin, and small tuna. Just remember to keep changing skirt colours and sizes, as sometimes this really helps. Bonito, mac tuna and at times longtails will takes lures as small as a matchbox. I haven’t heard much about the bottom bashing off Newcastle, but I am sure all the usual reef dwellers will be there, so happy fishing. FEBRUARY 2015

Swansea’s on the boil SWANSEA

Jason Scerri jayro@hotmail.com.au

Hot weather, hot currents and hot fishing — does it get any better? If offshore fishing is your thing, then you’ll be on a high this month, that’s for sure. There is plenty of bait around, and bluewater species for those anglers who like to head out on the open ocean. Estuary anglers are not missing out either. There is some great fun to be had for the shallow water lure anglers in February as well, so up off the couch, load the boat, hit the water, and hey the crowds have gone now too, which is always a big plus. This is a fantastic month for lure anglers to be doing

their thing here on Lake Macquarie. There is plenty on offer; the shallow waters have really warmed up and with that the fish have also come on the chew. Whiting are about in both numbers and size, and are responding well to a variety of topwater lures. The Gladiator Kozami 60 is doing particularly well. Bream and flathead are available in great numbers and shallow diving hardbodies are doing the damage for most. Be sure to select a lure that has a diving depth suitable to the depth of water you are fishing. In shallowish water and during these warm periods, you don’t need the lure ploughing the bottom. I generally like one that is working the middle third of the water column during summer months, as the fish are active and will go for

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the lure without it needing to be on their heads. A variety of colours work, so trial and error is the key. Virtually every bay around the lake has flats and weeds beds of some form, and these pretty well all hold fish. I usually work areas around the 1-2m mark during summer, and it is very rare not to find a few at the moment. Another summertime favourite for locals is the yellowtail kingfish. These fish have again moved into the lake in good numbers and some have proven to be unstoppable. Areas such as Swansea Bridge and the channel markers have all been producing, and a very effective method this season

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Some nice bream are on offer for the anglers willing to put the time in on the flats during this warm weather. Small hardbody lures are working a treat. has been micro jigging with 20-30g jigs. Aside from being a load of fun, it is also proving very effective on the kings. Offshore, and the kingfish are even thicker. Bird Island has had some very productive days, with many good fish coming aboard. Lures are working, but also cubed pilchards and live baits. Most of the inshore and offshore reefs are holding good numbers of kings, with Texas and the perch grounds the pick. Deepwater jigging is scoring well as usual, but

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a deep-set live yakka is also hard for any king to resist. Mahimahi are present both in size and numbers. The early season indicators are very good, with some great fish coming aboard. Drifting a live bait past the FADs is producing, as too are large soft plastics worked around them. Another simple yet productive method is to fish small pilchard cubes on a 1/0 hook to a short 50cm trace, then a running ball sinker. This will see a feed secured in next to no time. Shark anglers have been having a blast lately, with great numbers of bities encountered. Lake Macquarie Game Fishing Club members have been scoring very well on the toothy critters. Many boats are getting a more than 1 good fish per trip. These shark anglers are working their drift on the wide grounds, and the canyons are also a good general area to set up a berley trail and begin the waiting game. February is one of the prime marlin fishing months. Each year sees a run of inshore blacks and these fish are well within reach of trailer boats. You don’t need heavy game tackle either. Two decent 10-15kg outfits, a couple of skirted trolling lures, and you’re in with a shot at an east coast marlin.

Although many marlin are taken on the inshore grounds each year, there are other key areas to try. Norah Canyons also fishes very well at times, and the Car Park off Port Stephens is very popular with both marlin and anglers alike. Generally your best bet when fishing an area like this is to jig some live slimies where the fish are feeding on balled up bait, and then set them out the back and either drift around the general area or slow troll while waiting for the bite. Generally it doesn’t take long. Rock fishermen are also in luck, as things have really picked up for those fishing the stones. Bonito are about and are an excellent sportfish. Mixed in with the bonnies are some extremely solid kingfish.

If you want to specifically target a kingie, 1 method is to set out a live bait under a balloon and float it out from the rocks. The other productive method is to spin with suitable gear and use a variety of lures including surface stickbaits, poppers and metal slugs. Once hooked up, it’s time to settle in and enjoy the ride. This style of fishing can be exhilarating and offers an added level of excitement of being down among the washes, but it is critical that you take care when chasing whatever fish you’re after. Too many lives are lost every year by anglers pursuing their goals. Even if it looks fishy, if it is simply not safe, then head home and reschedule for another day.

Brad Knight with one of many nice bream he has managed lately on the Damiki DTSCO lure.

Central Coast is fish central this February CENTRAL COAST

Glenn Ellis-Helmers

Yet another top fishing month, February offers anything and everything from marlin to mullet. What’s even better is that with the holiday season done and dusted, our boat ramps will be more easily accessed and the fish won’t have to put up with all those engines revving over their heads. As I have been saying in recent months, bream fishing has been quite good in the estuaries, as is to be expected throughout summer. This season seems to be better than previous years though, and most likely due to it being such a long, hot summer with just enough rainfall to keep things ticking along nicely. There have been some cracking bream caught throughout Brisbane Water, the Tuggerah Lakes and at the bottom end of Lake Macquarie lately, and they’ve been smashing surface lures enthusiastically. Luckily I have been able to get out a

few times to enjoy the bream action, but certainly not as much as I’d like thanks to work commitments. Isn’t that always the story? So the good times with bream should feature strongly again throughout February. The latter part of summer is often the best, so if you are yet to get amongst them or are new to lure casting for bream, there is no better time to try than right now. As also mentioned last month, the whiting and flathead fishing is normally reliable at this time of the year. When casting lures or baits for whiting, be sure to try right up in the skinny shallows where it’s only ankle deep. In fact, with the warm water we have at the moment, the shallower the better. If there’s enough water to cover their backs they’ll swim in it and take surface lures. It’s a great time of year for estuary fishing, and some other fish that have been or will be caught over the following weeks include flounder and garfish, which are both very tasty.

This is typical of the bream we’ve been catching here on the Central Coast on surface lures this summer. February should also be good, if not better than it has been so far.

size mulloway have been caught at North Entrance and Budgewoi throughout summer, so that is another option if you want to fish after sunset with heavier tackle. The only thing is that blue bottles often get washed into the beaches with all this warmer water, and you can’t really see them at night.

Even though it’s warm, it can be an idea to wear some light waders just in case. So as you can see, there are all types of fish for all types of anglers this month. Now we only need the weather to remain fine and our bosses lenient when it comes to taking a few days off!

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Bent rods are what it’s all about. It doesn’t matter if you chase flathead, bream or marlin, your rod will get bent this month. Prawns and crabs complete the seafood basket that’s available in our local waters; catching your own sure beats buying it. Bluewater fishing for a variety of pelagic species is very popular off Central Coast waters, and it should be kicking along nicely this month. Due to the nature of ocean currents, it’s not as easy to predict fish movements as it is inside estuaries, so make sure you keep an eye on the sea surface temperatures that are available on a number of different websites. February is normally the peak month for this sort of fishing, and that means all the species including black and striped marlin, mahimahi, and on the lighter side of things bonito and frigate mackerel. Throw some others into the mix such as kings, cobia, mac and striped tuna, and it’s no wonder many anglers take their holidays this month, whether the boss likes it or not.

Heaps of whiting are around at the moment. This one was caught while lure casting for bream, but they are along the beaches as well and don’t mind getting right up into the ankle deep water.

Off the rocks, there will be others casting lures, pilchards or live baits for the same fish, although kingfish and bonito are the main ones landed from the shore. You never know though, because black marlin do occasionally get in along the deeper ledges like South Avoca and Wybung Head, so I guess it pays to be prepared with some heavy tackle. Big cobia are another that could show up when you least expect it. If this sort of fishing doesn’t appeal or the predators just don’t appear, then don’t worry as all the regular rock fishing targets like tailor, bream or blackfish are still there to be caught. They may not burn up a drag like the larger pelagic fish, but they are probably better to chase if you want fresh fillets for dinner. The same goes for our beaches, from Pearl Beach right up to Catherine Hill Bay. They should all be well worth trying this month for a feed of bream, whiting or tailor. Some nice

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It’s peak time for fishing, so get out there ILLAWARRA

Greg Clarke clarkey1@westnet.com.au

It’s that time of the year again when the lawns get long, the car’s not washed and the missus feels neglected, but she must understand that the fishing just doesn’t get any better and it will only be for a solid few months before life at home can get slightly back to normal. So with that in mind, where do you start? Well, the beaches are as good as it is going to get, with whiting and dart on all of them, so if you can get hold of some fresh beachworms you can’t miss. There are plenty of nice flathead taking plastics and bait on most beaches, along

During the evenings it is mulloway time, with some nice fish about and good numbers of schoolies coming in after dark on the top of the tide, particularly on the northern beaches. Fresh bait is the key, with slimy mackerel heads and squid a favourite, but a few have come in on plastics in the late afternoon. On the rocks it is more of the same, with heaps of pelagic action on the deeper ledges, and bream and a few trevally in the washes. Frigate mackerel are buzzing about the harbours and breakwalls, making for fun fishing with tiny metal lures. They make great bait for anything with fins, but on the deeper ledges they go straight back out on heavy tackle as live bait, and are generally monstered pretty

The kings are about, but not in the numbers or size seen to the north and south of us. Persistence will get a fish or two though. with some quality bream in the early mornings on tuna and frigate strips. Throw in heaps of tailor and salmon during the evenings and it seems that it doesn’t matter what time you hit the beach, if you have the right bait you will score fish.

quickly by any big kings that are about. On the ledges down Kiama way it may be a marlin, so be prepared. Salmon, tailor, frigates, small kings, mackerel tuna, bonito, big slimy mackerel and trevally will

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be smashing the bait schools around the headlands early in the mornings, with bream below them mopping up the wounded baitfish that are left behind. Small metals are again the lethal lures, but flies behind bobby corks go well when they are finicky. The washes have bream and trevally as well as a few warm water drummer on cabbage and prawns, with big blackfish starting to make a move towards the end of the month when the calm days become more frequent. On the other hand, if we get a big east coast low and the swell is massive, the only option may be big blackfish in the harbours. The estuaries are on the boil as well, with the prawns running in the lake and everything else in the system ramping up to eat them. That’s why prawn style plastics are so lethal at this time of the year on the flatties. They are being taken all over the lake, but as always the area around the main dropoff is a sure bet with fish to 60cm in great numbers. Chopper tailor can be a nuisance cutting plastics to bits, so take plenty with you when you go. Some nice whiting have been grabbing poppers in the main channel and down around the entrance, but more have been taken on nippers and worms. Solid blackfish have taken a liking to worms as well, with fish well over a kg accounted for. Bream are in the deeper sections, and in the creeks around the snags live prawns on light lines are a killer approach. A few mulloway have come in from around the bridge on plastics, so keep plugging away on the tide changes for best results. Minnamurra is much the same, with good whiting and flatties coming from its entire length and heaps of mullet and garfish around the weed beds from the bend to the entrance. Just add bread and watch them come. A few bream will sneak up the trail as well, so every so often put a prawn on and float it back instead. Now for the offshore, and this is where it really gets serious, as marlin are the target for all the serious sport and game fishos. The close reefs like Wollongong and Bandit will be well patronised with dozens of boats, and this year will be even busier. It seems most of Sydney has discovered Bellambi ramp, with parking in the 100-plus spaces being filled before daylight every good weekend since November. Cars and trailers are parking up to a kilometre away — unheard of.

Most will drag lures around and scare off many of the fish on the shallow reefs, but those slow trolling live slimy mackerel or yellowtail

much further north, when years ago the Illawarra was renowned for its kingfish. Bellambi, the islands, and Rangoon, have all

to get down on some days. There are a few snapper in closer over the shallow reefs during the quiet evenings, and they like strips of slimy

It’s marlin time and this little fella jumped so close that it almost landed in the boat. will outscore the plastic draggers 20-1. The marlin aren’t confined to the close reefs, with the water all the way to the shelf and beyond holding them. Blacks will be in close, with striped marlin and blues adding to the mayhem as you get further out. The canyons off Kiama and Stanwell Park are the target areas. Bycatch at this time of year is at a premium, with all manner of species travelling the current as it heads south. Mahimahi are the main catch, with big stray bulls on bits of floating debris, and heaps of smaller fish hanging around the FADs and trap floats. Small live yellowtail will nail them every time, while pilchards aren’t a bad backup. School yellowfin from little jellybeans up to 30kg not uncommon. It seems more wahoo are getting about over the past few years, after quite a few lean season with very few being caught. Sailfish are a distinct possibility out to 100m, while in closer around the reefs the odd mackerel, mainly spotties, rainbow runners, amberjack and cobia will be caught by a lucky few in the right spot at the right time. The cobia aren’t always little fellas either, with fish of 15kg and better showing up each year, usually in the same places you find the yellowtail kings. There have been plenty of rat kings around, with only the odd school of better fish, unlike the Sydney area, which has had heaps of solid specimens to 15kg around for months. It is not that

had fish, with the islands perhaps holding the better specimens, but it also has a few seals in residence, so you may lose a fish or two. For a bit of fun, there are schools of salmon, kingies, bonito, mackerel tuna, trevally and frigate mackerel smashing through baitfish all along the coast; just keep an

mackerel, striped tuna and frigate. So too do a few mulloway, but they have come from right in close on reefs just off the backs of the beaches. There are heaps of flathead on the drift over the sand, with flounder off Port Beach and Windang. A few mowies, samsonfish

You never know what will turn up late this month — cobia, spotted mackerel, and on occasions Spanish like this one. eye out for the birds. These guys really go on light tackle and you get some fresh bait into the bargain. There are still some nice snapper grabbing plastics over the reefs in 40m and more of water, but the current can make it hard

and small snapper are over the reefs and wherever you fish, there are heaps of whaler and hammerhead sharks making a nuisance of themselves. It doesn’t get much better than this, so get out there.

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Bluefin Boats power into another bass season to deliver anglers bass fishing that is truly electric. Featuring nine qualifying rounds, two Haswing BASS Electric Majors, and the pinnacle event of the year the Bluefin Boats BASS Electric Convention, this is grass roots bassing at its best. The series will hit QLD and NSW’s best bass lakes with a combination of single and two day events, all of which lead to the Bluefin Boats BASS Electric Convention at Lake Cressbrook in September. Check out the calendar to find out where and when you can get your Bluefin Boats BASS Electric fix.

BASS ELECTRIC SERIES

KAYAK SERIES It’s bass kayak action aplenty in 2015 with five qualifying rounds and Australian Championship (aka Grand Final) offering bass kayak fans their biggest and best season ever. QLD, NSW and VIC play host to rounds throughout the year, while the bass mecca of Hinze Dam in southeast Queensland will be the scene of the season ending Australian Championship in October. Hobie B.A.S.S. Australian Nation Kayak Series $50 (pre-event entry) or $90 (on the day entry) DATE

ARENA

1 Feb 1 Mar 29 Mar 31 May 19 July 31 Oct

Lake MacDonald, QLD Blue Rock Lake, VIC (kayak only) Tallowa Dam, NSW (kayak only) Mary River, QLD Lake Wivenhoe, QLD Hinze Dam, QLD Australian Championship

DATE

LOCATION

EVENT

CONTACT

Feb-22 Mar-29 Apr 25-26 May 3 May 16-17 May 24 Jun 14 Jul 12 Aug 1-2 Sep 6 Sep 6 Sep 19-20

Clarrie Hall Dam Hinze Dam Cania Dam Isis Balancing Storage Toonumbar Dam Lostock Dam Wivenhoe Dam Lenthalls Dam Moogerah Dam Lake McDonald St Clair Lake Cressbrook

BASS Electric #1 Haswing BASS Electric Major BASS Electric #2 BASS Electric #3 BASS Electric #4 BASS Electric #5 BASS Electric #6 BASS Electric #7 Haswing BASS Electric Major BASS Electric #8 BASS Electric #9 BASS Electric Convention

Joey Urqhart ABT Les Barber Tim Steenhuis Adrian Melchior Mal Draper Trevor Stead Les Barber ABT Steve Noble ABT ABT

EVENT R1 R2 R3 R4 R5

EVENT TIMES 0439 764 369 (07) 3387 0888 0428 726 857 0432 770 894 0415 587 900 0418 402 803 0429 967 451 0428 726 857 (07) 3387 0888 0409 239 065 (07) 3387 0888 (07) 3387 0888

6am-12pm 7am-1pm 12pm-6pm, 6am-12pm 7am-1pm 1pm-6pm, 6am-11am 7am-1pm TBC 7am-1pm 7am-1pm 7am-1pm 7am-1pm 7am-1pm

BASS Electric Entries • $30 (BASS Electric Qualifier) • $100 (BASS Electric Major), with an optional $20 ‘Pro’ option on the day.

BASS PRO SERIES Toray headlines the full schedule to deliver rounds, BASS Megabucks 2015 BASS Pro Series, anglers and sponsors more and a Grand Final, this is with Australia’s longest opportunities, rewards and the only pathway when it running bass tournament bass action than ever before. comes to making it onto circuit returning to its Featuring four qualifying AFC Outdoors. Toray BASS Pro Qualifiers • Boater $250 • Non Boater $125

DATE

STATE LOCATION

EVENT

SPONSOR

14-15 Mar 9-10 May 4-5 July 29-30 Aug 21-22 Oct 24-25 Oct

NSW QLD NSW QLD NSW NSW

BASS Pro Qualifier #1 BASS Pro Qualifier #2 BASS Pro Qualifier #3 BASS Pro Qualifier #4 BASS Megabucks BASS Grand Final

Imakatsu Spotters OSP Toray Edge Rods Toray

Lake St Clair Lake Somerset Lake Glenbawn Bjelke Petersen Dam Lake St Clair Lake Glenbawn

KAYAK BREAM SERIES PRESENTED BY The Hobie Kayak BREAM Series, presented by Daiwa, hits the water nationwide to offer anglers the ultimate kayak bream fix. Featuring events in WA, SA, VIC, NSW and QLD anglers are spoilt in the 14 round bream tour. Qualifier, State Title and Worlds events make up the calendar, and all lead to the showcase event of the series, the Australian Championship. The Big Show will see anglers fish from identical factory supplied Hobie kayaks in a bid to be crowned Australian Champion for 2015. N.B, For non-ABT run rounds see individual organisers for entry details

DATE

ROUND

STATE

7-8 Feb 21-22 Feb 14-15 Mar 22 Mar 29 Mar 18-19 Apr 16-17 May 20-21 Jun 28 Jun 25-26 July 9 Aug 22-23 Aug 30 Aug 17-18 Oct 14-15 Nov

R1 VIC R2 VIC R3 VIC R4 NSW R5 WA R6 VIC R7 NSW R8 SA R9 NSW R10 QLD R11 NSW R12 QLD R13 WA R14 NSW Australian Championship

EVENT Bemm River: Vic State Titles Marlo: National Qualifier Mallacoota: Hobie Fishing Worlds 2015 Qualifier #1. Clyde River: NSW State Title. Run by Southern Bream Series Mandurah: WA State Title Run by WA Bream Classics Paynesville: National Qualifier Forster: Hobie Fishing Worlds 2015 Qualifier #2 Nelson: Run by Vic Bream Sydney Harbour: Run by Southern Bream Series Gold Coast: Qld State Title St Georges Basin: Run by Southern Bream Series Redcliffe: Hobie Fishing Worlds 2015 Qualifier #3 Perth: National Qualifier Run by WA Bream Classics Georges River: National Qualifier TBA TBA

Hobie Kayak BREAM Series presented by Daiwa (Hobie rounds) $100 (pre-event entry) or $140 (on the day entry) for two-day events.

go to abt.org.au for more information

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abt

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au

A beginner’s guide to ABT events For fifteen years now, Australian Bass Tournaments (ABT) has been providing cutting edge tournament fishing to keen freshwater and estuary anglers. Initially focused on Australian bass, the events quickly expanded to bream in the saltwater and barramundi in the north to provide a testing ground for new tackle and techniques and a competitive outlet. Although the ABT events provide a pathway to the televised Australian Fishing Championships (AFC) events, the tournaments are not just for elite recreational anglers. They’re for everybody, and there are various ways to become involved. And you don’t even need a boat! The cornerstone of a top level ABT event is the ‘draw’ format. Attend an event as a ‘boater’ (and bring your boat) and you’ll be drawn with two random anglers for the two tournament days. Enter as a ‘non-boater’ and ABT will place you, each day, with an angler in a boat. It’s a great way to meet new people and get to fish with some highly skilled anglers in their fields.

FEBRUARY 2015

ABT’S motto is ‘Who Shares Wins’, and this pairing system both eliminates cheating (allowing cash prize payouts) and encourages the flow of techniques. After all, it’s basically impossible to hide what you’re doing and how you’re doing it from your co-angler in the boat! WHICH EVENT FOR ME? But let’s take it back a few steps: what tournaments are available and what do you need to become involved? There’s a Factbox hereby that provides a basic summary of all of the options, but here’s the basic version. Draw Events If you want to turn up and jump on a boat and fish with a ‘boater’ each day, you need to enter a BREAM Pro or BASS Pro series event. Check the calendar hereby or on www. abt.org.au and you can enter as a solo ‘non-boater’. Entries to these events are taken on a ‘first come first served’ basis, which means if you get your entry in early, then you’re virtually assured of a spot in the event. Obviously, the number of non-boater spots are limited to the number of boats entered in the events, which is why ABT can’t guarantee

every entry a spot, but in reality, over 98% of entrants get a seat. If ABT can’t find you a ride, your entry fee is refunded in full (or kept as a credit for future events if requested). The only other way to ‘guarantee’ an entry is to send in an entry with a boater – on the same form or in the same envelope. Why does ABT do this? It’s to let travelling partners plan their trips. For instance, a boater and non-boater want to drive 12 hours to a Qualifier event and book accommodation. If the two, travelling anglers enter together, they’ll form a “guaranteed” pair and they will be assured a place in the event. They will not, however, get to fish together at all. The way the draws happen, that’s in fact, the only guarantee. You won’t fish with the angler you enter with. Teams Events Teams events allow mates, parents/children, partners the ability to fish together. Typically, teams events feature lower cash paybacks and a greater proportion of product prizes. You can fish as a team at the BASS Electric Series, BASS

Megabucks and the BARRA Tour events. There’s also plenty of options to fish as a team in non-ABT affiliated events – keep an eye on the Tournament Calendar in Fishing Monthly magazines. Teams events are a great way to get used to tournament fishing – especially if you’re a little nervous about stepping up and fishing as a non-boater in a draw event straight away. Although once you’ve done a draw event, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner. Individual Events And if you’re most comfortable fishing by yourself, you can do a soloentry in the BASS Electric series. Using electric motors only on the freshwater bass lakes and an entry fee of only $30 makes the solofishable BASS Electric series one of the most laid back on the calendar. ABT MEMBERSHIP Becoming an ABT financial member is all you need to do to be eligible to fish any ABT event. It costs $40 per year to be financial, and that gets you a copy of the latest AFC DVD, a membership card, and if you’re a new member, a couple of ABT Tournament Angler badges to sew on your tournament fishing shirt. All memberships expire at the 1st of February each year (coinciding with the start of the tournament season), so most anglers send their membership renewal in with their first entry of the year. GETTING STARTED By far the most common question asked to ABT is ‘how do I get started as a non-boater?’. Well, let us take you through the process of what you need to do and what you can expect during the event. First, you need to choose your event/s and enter. This means downloading the appropriate entry form from www.abt.org.au (follow the menu tabs to the correct series), printing them out and sending them in – usually via Fax or standard mail. When you sign the entry form, you acknowledge that you have read and understand the rules for the series you’re fishing. Download these as well from the same section on www.abt.org.au. You need to read and understand these. Most are common-sense and safety-related. After you’ve sent your entry in, you can track the processing of your entry on www.abt.org.au - click the “Entry List” tab on the events table. Usually weekly, these entries are processed and uploaded and you can see the status of the lists. If there’s more boaters than non-boaters, you’re in – and if there’s still boaters to enter to

Even champions like Kris Hickson started as non-boaters. fill up the gaps, don’t stress if it’s early days. Lots of boaters enter one event at a time and will enter within a couple of weeks of the event. ABT will get in touch with anglers who may miss out to alert them of the situation. At that stage you may have the choice of opting for a refund, finding a boater to enter with as a ‘Guaranteed’ entry or becoming a boater yourself. But if you’ve got your entry in early, that won’t be you. The BREAM and BASS draw events consists of an official ‘practice day’ on the Friday, a briefing on the Friday night and the tournament days on the Saturday and Sunday. Some non-boaters like to head out for a fish on the practice day. Some bring their boat to do this, but many of them will hook-up with a boater in the event to get out on the water. The boaters usually like a second rod on board to help sort out the patterns on the arena. If you have trouble finding a ride (usually Facebook and Discussion Boards are a great place to ask), turn up to the ramp on the morning of practice and ask! You’ll be surprised who you’ll meet and there’s normally plenty of boaters heading out solo. Etiquette suggests that any gun spots you find on the practice day aren’t shared with your boaters in the tournament days. Techniques, though, are free for you to use on the tournament days! You’ll meet your two boaters at the Event Briefing on the Friday night. This is where ABT does a check-off of all anglers for the event (and checks you licences/ permits) and runs through any of the local area logistics and regulations. Make sure you take a notebook and pen, so that

you can record all of the pertinent details of BOTH your boaters for the two days – mobile phone numbers at the very least and usually where they’re staying are useful notes to make. You meet your Saturday and Sunday rides at once, so you’ll need the information to catch up with your Sunday ride on the Saturday evening to make plans. And then make your plans! Discuss about what you should bring and rig for the next day, where you’re going to meet and how all of the logistics will work. TOURNAMENT DAY If you’re as excited as the rest of the anglers, you’ll probably wake up before your alarm goes off on the tournament day. Make your lunch and do a final check of your kit. • rods • tackle • licences • food and drink • hat/sunscreen and rain gear • your own PFD Your boater will let you know if there’s any limitations with space, etc at the briefing but the usual etiquette is a tackle bag and a handful of rods. Usually a quiver of 4 outfits will cover most situations. Help your boater launch the boat and tell them if you’re uncomfortable doing anything they ask you to do. Not all of us are familiar with expensive boat driving and launching! But don’t stress, your boater will educate you. When you’re both on board, have the discussion about what goes where. Most boaters will have an area set aside for your rods and gear and they’ll tell you where the rest of the safety gear is. You’ll have your own PFD, which you’ll need to bring. You’ll then go through the Boat Check. ABT will check

abt

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au that your livewells are empty, your boater’s safety lanyard works and you both have your PFDs. If it’s a pre-sunrise start, you’ll also have your navigation lights checked. You’ll then be given a key-tag that ABT uses to make sure that you’ve made it back for the day. Often the non-boater is in charge of the key-tag, so stash it securely! Then you wait until the start. Boats idle out in order of (boater) entry until they hit the zone where you can take off for the day. THE FISHING You’ll be super excited

you’re fishing as a non-boater. Generally, boats are set-up to fish a boater on the front deck and the non-boater on the back deck, and this is usually how it plays out. Non-boaters usually don’t get first cast at each piece of structure, but don’t stress, other non-boaters are in the same boat. You need to work out where you can cast to target the fish that the boater isn’t fishing for. This may be as simple as using a different lure or fishing the entire opposite side of the boat. All of the most successful

throwing Gulp! Shrimps on light leaders, then do that. If you’re a deep-spinnerbait gun, then throw that. Remember that you’re only chasing 2-bass or 5-bream for the session. Casting across your boater’s line is a no-no. You wouldn’t do it socially, so don’t do it at a tournament. Most anglers net each other’s fish, although some boaters prefer to net their own. Just talk about this while you’re waiting for the first legal fish to come on board. Otherwise, have fun!

minded angler. And you might win some stuff if you catch a fish. Enjoy it. When you get back to the finish line, you’ll usually be assigned the job of returning the key-tag to the tag-board before the designated finish time. And probably to line-up for a weigh-in bag after that. The bag line is a great place to share experiences with your fellow non-boaters. After helping your boater retrieve the rig and the weigh-in’s done, it’s time to get ready for the next day. Call your Sunday boater and start the process all over

even with your boater for the second day. RESULTS ABT is pretty quick at letting you know how you’ve done for the day. There’s a scoreboard on-site at the weigh-in, where you should check that your results are accurate. This scoreboard is separated into two sections – boaters and non-boaters. You’re only competing against the other anglers in your division. If it’s a BREAM event, there’s usually cell-phone coverage for the live on-line scoreboard. You can access

updates after each angler weighs and gives you a live scoreboard in your pocket. Usually the top 10 anglers in each division will be rewarded at the end of each event – hang around and congratulate your peers and you’ll usually get a detailed description on what worked and where. Learn from it and use it to help you become a better angler. NOW IS THE TIME Every year, we hear the stories from new non-boaters that say “I’d been waiting for a few years to jump in, and I should have done it sooner!”.

Event

Duration

Format

Entry (boater)

Entry (non-boater)

Payout

Events

BREAM Tour

2-day qualifier (weekends)

Draw

$250

$125

70% cash (boater), prizes (non-boater)

5 Qualifiers nationally + a Grand Final.

Hobie Kayak BREAM Tour

Mix of one and two-day events on weekends

Individual

$50 (1-day) or $100 (2-day)

n/a

50% cash + prizes

11 Qualification events nationally + Aus Championship

Hobie Kayak BASS Tour

One day events on weekends

Individual

$50

n/a

50% cash + prizes

5 Qualification events + Aus Championship

BASS Pro Tour

2-day qualifier (weekends)

Draw

$250

$125

70% cash (boater), prizes (non-boater)

4 Qualifiers QLD/NSW + a Grand Final.

BASS Electric Tour

Mostly Sunday events with a few 2-day events

Individual or Team

$30 ($100 major)

n/a

Prizes plus an optional cash side-pool

11 events plus a Convention

BARRA Tour

Mostly 2-session events with an all-night BARRA Marathon in the mix

Team

$100 per team per day

n/a

50% payout plus prizes

about getting a line in the water, but there are a few etiquette points to take note of while

non-boaters that compete know their strengths and fish to them. If you’re good at

You’re in a boat, fishing away from the pressures of everyday life with a like-

again – just don’t share the spots you caught ‘em on Day 1 until the event is over –

this on your smartphone via the “LIVESTREAM” tab on the www.abt.org.au site. This

Do it. Jump in. You’ll love it.

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abt

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au

Sign on to win in 2015 Since its inception in 1999, ABT has had nearly 10,000 financial members. Historically, Memberships simply allowed ABT to keep a record of anglers, mailing addresses and linked tournament results. 2015 sees more value added to an ABT membership, so that even if you’re not fishing in the 2015 season, you’ll still want to be a part. An ABT membership costs $40 per annum and all memberships expire on the 31st January each year, just in time for renewal for the upcoming tournament season. New members get a couple of ABT sew-on badges, as well as the latest AFC DVD. Starting in February 2015, however, there’ll be monthly Member Draws for product prizes from ABT’s stable of sponsors. Reels, lures, line, merchandise will all be up for grabs. Best thing is that you don’t need to do anything to be in the running – just be a current financial member of ABT.

ABT on Facebook Like: Australian Bass Tournaments

FEBRUARY 2015

ABT Members have had a positive impact on recreational fishing over the years – from their contributions to

freshwater fish stocking (over $150,000 in cash since inception) to the positive influence that a tour of catch

ABT Membership also allows you to fish any of the events on the ABT circuit.

ABT on the Internet Visit: www.abt.org.au

Becoming an ABT Member now allows you to win prizes outside of the sphere of events.

and release tournaments have had on saltwater and freshwater venues and fisheries. ABT and its membership are proud that their events have a strong foundation in ESD principles. Economic via spending money in regional Australia, social via the random pairing of anglers and environmental via the compulsory live-release of fish. There are no points

allocated for dead fish in any ABT events. And we think that it’s not too long a bow to draw to claim that ABT members and their events have been the catalyst for much of the adoption of modern tackle and techniques in the last fifteen years. GSP line, soft plastic baits, spinnerbaiting, bio-baits and the early adoption of boating and marine electronic technology has been the hallmark of ABT Members over the years. With a motto of “Who Shares Wins”, ABT members not only develop new and innovative techniques, they

take pride in sharing them throughout the angling fraternity. Partnerships with media such as Fishing Monthly Magazines ensure that the tournament-winning tackle and techniques make the pages of the most widely read fishing magazines in the country. Each month, you’ll see the latest ABT tournament reports along with the winning baits published in the pages of the relevant state issues. As a thanks to ABT members, there’s a discount subscription voucher included in membership packs – these are worth the cost of ABT membership alone.

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abt

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au

Butler serves up stellar season Simon Goldsmith

There’s no greater attribute to have as a tournament angler than consistency. The ability to deliver fish to the scales regardless of time, tide, and year, it’s what sets the great anglers apart from the truly great. As a measure of this consistency there’s nothing greater than the Angler of Year crown. The ultimate reward and gauge of angler consistency it’s a title that’s coveted by many but won by only a select few. For 2014 Power-Pole BREAM Angler of Year Scott Butler, bream season 2014 was one punctuated by podium finishes, event victories and ultimate consistency that saw him hold the AOY trophy aloft at the end of the four event qualifying round season. TIME FOR A CHANGE The 2014 champ’s ascendancy to the top of the pile didn’t come through luck or chance though, but was the result of hard work and developments both on and off the water, as Scott Butler explains.

“In 2014 I really worked on the non-fishing side of my fishing such as my preparation and fitness. I cleaned up my diet and started to really watch what I ate, and in the process lost around 30 kilos”. Trimmed down, fishing fit and ready for the start of the tournament season Butler also went to work on his preparation, meticulously organized his tackle, his

boat, and researching and planning thoroughly before hitting the water. “I didn’t want to leave a stone unturned, so I tried to control and improve every element of my fishing regardless of how big or small it was,” added Butler. PLAY TO YOU STRENGTHS Lean and mean and game ready for the start of the season, Butler kicked

off his year at round one on Sydney Harbour in March armed with a new game plan. A plan that would see him do what he did best and fish to his strengths. “I’ve made the mistake in the past were I did what I thought I needed to win rather than do what I do best. So in 2014 I decided to fished to my strengths and not follow patterns and techniques that are

Cashing in was the name of the game for Scott in 2014.

Scott’s win in the final round on the Gold Coast cemented his AOY title win for 2014.

TOURNAMENT RODS FOR ALL ANGLERS

considered the norm for each venue. Rather than battle with a pack of guys all doing the same thing I did what I enjoy, threw the lures that I like, and used the techniques that I’m good at and enjoy the most. For most part this saw me twitching and pausing my beloved crankbaits,” explained Butler. Butler’s plan paid off, with his clear and streamline approach to the season delivering him a result no worse than a 5th (R3

Clarence River 26-27 July), and at its best a 1st (R4 Gold Coast 27-28 September). IT TAKES TIME While 2014 was in many ways a breakthrough year for Butler, a season that saw him claim his biggest title to date, it was year that was predated by a steady, and ever increasing number of podium finishes. “My results have improved with each successive year. From being outside the top ten, to breaking into the top ten, then the top three, followed by an event win, and now the AOY title,” explained Butler. A text book case of angler evolution and the pursuit of success, it’s an evolution that didn’t come easy and didn’t come over night. “I’ve been fishing bream events for over seven years and I learnt early on to learn from your mistakes. If something didn’t work or I failed at something I tried to draw a positive out of it

and in-turn identify what I could have done correctly instead,” explained Butler. Putting this thinking into process and into time on the water Butler tries to fish as much as he can. “Time on the water is very important, and every time you head out on the water, whether it be social or in a tournament I try and learn something, no matter how small it may be. It could be an important thing to have up your sleeve down the track. Never stop learning and never dismiss anything that happens on the water,” explained Butler. BACK YOURSELF A trademark of all elite anglers is confidence and Scott Butler is no different. Armed with an expansive repository of bream knowledge Scott taps into this confidence and backs his knowledge and his experience, and uses it to go out and do his own thing without fear of, failure, or what others are doing. To page 54

m + 61 (0)411 037 418 e steve@duffrods.com.au w kustomﬁshingtools.com.au Butler heads off on a gloomy tournament morning focused and ready for battle. 52

FEBRUARY 2015

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abt From page 54

“One thing I learnt over the years is to fish what you enjoy fishing and don’t just do what the others are doing. A lot of anglers, including myself, get caught up in a certain technique or style, and one of the hardest things is breaking the pattern of following others. This is foremost in my mind when I’m fishing and I always try and go out and do my own thing, and back my decisions and choices,” said Butler. FISH AND FISH For anglers that aspire to hold the AOY crown aloft like Scott and achieve ultimate success on the bream tournament trail Scott has a few tips to help you

Tournament Angler Guide not getting disheartened is also high on Scott’s tips list. “I see a lot of anglers these days do well in a couple of events, then follow it up with a couple of bad events where they don’t do so well, and then they disappear giving up in disgust and disappointment. Consistency takes times to achieve, and as a tournament angler you need to realise you’ll have good tournaments and bad tournaments, just don’t let the bad ones shatter your reality. Keep fishing, and keep improving, it takes time but success and consistency will come,” adds Butler. With a motto of fishing smarter not harder driving him in 2015 and a red-hot

defence starts on the banks of the Tweed River in late summer (Berkley Tweed River BREAM Qualifier, 28 Feb/1 March). “It’s going to be a challenging season. There’s a lot of talented anglers on the tour and I’m going to have to bring my A-game to be in with a shot,” concluded Butler.

BUTLER’S 2014 REPORT CARD Butler received an A+ on his report card in 2014. Here are some of the standout comments from his year on tour. • Scott stuck to his strengths in 2014 throwing a Zipbaits Khamsin Tiny DR for most of it. A lure that he fell in love with three years ago it’s transformed his fishing and by his own admission has made him the angler he is today. • Scott’s favourite Zipbaits colours are #510 Silver Shad, #509 Blue Gill, #325A Mellow Shad and #021A Holo Clear Ebi. • Scott’s sponsors were crucial to his success in 2014, they were Nitro Marine/ Triton Boats , Simrad, Elite Tournament Tackle Australia, Zipbaits and Lox Rods.

THE MONEY BOX Butler gets in touch with his hard and soft side when loading up his tackle box with his prize money winning lures. • Zipbaits Khamsin Tiny DR • Zipbaits Skinny Pop JNR • Zipbaits Khamsin JR DR • Berkley Gulp Crabby • Berkley Gulp Shrimp get there. “Fishing is the best sport in world so get out there and do it as much as you can. The more you do it, the better you will get at. So go fishing as much as you can”. Staying in the game and

2014 fueling his desire for more success Butler is definitely one of the favourites to look out for in the hunt for the Power-Pole BREAM AOY crown. The hunt for the crown and the beginning of Butler’s title

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Burbidge wins it all in 2014: Grand Final and AOY SYDNEY

Carl ‘Cid’ Dubois

At the start of any tournament year, there are always two distant goals on every angler’s mind. One of these is to win the Grand Final and the other is to rise to the top of the pack and take out the AOY (Angler of the Year). To have success in either of these coveted titles takes skill, determination, dedication and resourcefulness. To be able to claim both titles in the same year lifts the angler onto another level entirely and Chris Burbidge did exactly that in 2014. To add even more kudos to his achievements, Chris is also ended the year as the number one ranked kayak angler in Australia. I spoke to Chris recently to get the low-down on his remarkable year and to gain some insights into why he was so successful. The amount of information he shared with me shows his worth as a true champion and following the ABT motto of ‘Who Shares Wins’, you’d better watch out for Chris next year, too. Chris works as a Car Service Dealer Adviser and

resides in Fern Tree Gully, Victoria. Every Saturday he is out on the water somewhere, usually travelling many kilometres to reach quality fishing locations such as Lake Tyers three hours to the east or the Curdies River or Hopkins River, two hours and forty-five minutes to the west, the places Chris call his local waterways! And if he’s not chasing big black bream, he’ll be stalking

He first fell in love with fishing when as a six year old he’d fish with his father, drifting worms down rapids into deep pools for trout. His first experience with lures though came many years later when he was twenty-two. While out trout fishing, he found an old Rapala lure. The fishing with bait had been unproductive so to try something different

You do plenty of this on the way to multiple event wins. Upgrading.

Chris spends a lot of time on the water, which contributes to his success. EP’s, reeling in bass or luring for yellowbelly and cod. My first two questions for Chris were how did he evolve as an angler and when did he start fishing tournaments?

he tied it on and proceeded to catch his first fish on a lure. Immediately the penny dropped and luring became his favourite way to fish. Chris started to scour

fishing magazines, absorbing every little tit-bit of valuable information. He experimented with various lures and techniques, learning what worked and sometimes more importantly, what didn’t work and hypothesising afterwards why it didn’t. By 1988 he was regularly targeting estuary perch with lures and racking up impressive numbers of black bream captures, even though he’d been told by many older anglers you couldn’t catch them on lures. His first foray into the world of tournament fishing was in 1994 at Lake Windamere where the target species was yellowbelly. Although he wasn’t too successful, he was keen to try again and in 1995 Chris returned and finished as the Champion Angler. In 1999, Chris turned his hand to capturing the mighty Murray cod in his first tournament at Lake Mulwala. More lessons were learnt and Chris kept returning to catch these iconic fish until in 2005 he was the runner-up Champion Angler. In 2006, he battled it out in another cod tournament and this time he clinched the Champion Angler trophy. His first BREAM tournaments were in 2008, when Chris partnered with Graeme Taylor to fish the team’s event competition, the Vic Bream Classics. With a wealth of experience on their side, Chris and Graeme

September 2009 fishing the waters of Glenelg. Just to show he is human, Chris recorded a donut for that event, proving that it can happen to the best of us. His next ABT tournament was in January 2010 at the mighty Bemm but this time he was standing on the top of the podium after the final day’s bags had been tallied. From then on, Chris became a regular on the kayak tournament circuit and he always plans to fish in at least five rounds per year to give him the maximum amount of rounds that count towards AOY. Usually he ends up competing in one or two more though which allows him the advantage of dropping the events he hasn’t finished as well in. My next question was why did he think he was so successful in 2014?

on your objectives and not get distracted. Also I spend a lot of time on the water fishing socially and this lets me hone my fishing skills that I apply to my tournaments, too. I guess that means practice makes perfect,” Chris said. “Another important part to my year is getting to know the waterways and preparing a game plan for the tournament. I’ll look at old reports, check the tides and weather forecasts, scope out the area with Google Earth. I’ll look at anything that may help me get an angle on the place. “Plus having good fishing gear is essential if you want results. I’m lucky enough to have some great sponsors and the Duff rods I use are superb. Steve is an expert craftsman and the custom rods I’ve asked him to build for me are perfect for my style of fishing.

Another day at the office for the Grand Final Champ, Current AOY and #1 ranked BREAM kayak angler in the country.

CHRIS’ TOP SIX TOURNAMENT LURES • Nories Laydown Minnow (BR-74 Gold Rush). • Gladiator Shiver Vibe 40mm (SV4010 - purple and black) and Cranka Vibe 2012 (original Ayu) • Ecogear VX-35 (439 and 426) • Jackall Chubby 35 shallow (Ghost Wagasaki or Brown Suji Shrimp) • Pontoon 21 Crackajack 48 deep and medium (A03 Bleeding Tiger Prawn) • O.S.P Bent Minnow (P-74 Pink Head) excelled in this tournament and won the Team of the Year award. From here it was a short step to the world of kayak fishing and Chris entered his first ABT tournament in 56

FEBRUARY 2015

“There are a few reasons I suppose. My main aim while I’m in a competition is to just relax and enjoy the day on the water and have fun. But even though I’m having fun, it’s essential to stay focused

“A really good pair of sunglasses is also critical to my success. I wear Tonics because I love my flats fishing and they let me see fish that I’m sure I would have missed with my old sunnies. The

abt

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au glare reduction is amazing and they are easily my standout preference for sunglasses. “Oh, and I guess I had luck on my side, too. You can have the best game plan in the world, have the best gear and know the place like the back of your hand but if the fish aren’t where you are, you’re going to struggle. ” Those of us who know and have fished with Chris realised very quickly he has a wealth of knowledge regarding many various fishing styles. Seeing as this year’s tournaments were completed, I was hoping

Chris would pass on a few gems of wisdom for aspiring anglers hoping to emulate his success. Chuckling he replied, “Yeah, I suppose I can. First, don’t worry about who you’re fishing against. You can’t control what they do, so just make it a competition against yourself and do the best you can.” “Next, ensure you make a plan for the tournament and stick to it. It’s no using chopping and changing every thirty minutes and racing all over the place. Plus you

also, and this may sound contradictory to what I just said, you also have to be prepared to change your plan if the circumstances warrant it. You might have planned to fish surface all day because the fish were biting their heads off

the last time you were there but if you haven’t had a touch after thirty or forty minutes, you may need to re-think your strategy. Or you may notice on your sounder fish holding deep while you’re heading to your chosen spot. I’ll always

2014 ROUNDS AND RESULTS Round 1 .................. Glenelg, VIC ...................... 1st Round 2 ................... Bemm, VIC ...................... 3rd Round 3 .................... Marlo, VIC ....................... 9th Round 7 ................ Lake Tyers, VIC .................... 1st Round 9 ............ Georges River, NSW.............. 18th Round 14 .............. Paynesville, VIC .................... 1st Grand Final ........... Mandurah , WA .................... 1st GF RESULTS 2010 ...................... 9th 2011 .................... 36th 2012 .................... 12th 2013 ...................... 7th 2014 ...................... 1st throw a blade or vibe for five or ten minutes to see if they’ll bite or not. “Learn to fish with different techniques too, because this can sometimes be a game changer. Take fishing with vibes as an example. Many people fish them quite aggressively with quick, double hops. Sometimes this technique works but usually I employ a ‘finesse’ style of fishing while using these. I’ll work them with small, gentle lifts and hops. And if I’m fishing a rocky area, I’ll try to

Winning the 2014 Daiwa/Hobie Grand Final at Mandurah capped a stellar year for Burbidge.

walk the lure over the rocks. I call it a ‘soft hands’ approach. You know how lots of the vibes have little bearings in them? Well I try to not make them rattle. “And upgrade your hooks. They’ve got to be good. Just do it.” This was all great information so I fired off three more questions: who do you look up to amongst all the other anglers, where are your favourite locations and what were 2014’s stand-out highlights apart from the Grand Final win and AOY? “Without a doubt the angler I admire and respect the most is Greg Lewis. I’ve never met anybody with the instinct and ability to find fish like he does. He’s a top bloke too and I only wish he had the opportunities to fish in a few more tournaments nowadays. “Amongst my top locations is Mandurah but not just because I won there. It has everything you could want in a bream fishery. There’s sheds and pontoons, snags, undercuts and flats, just everything! It’s such a fishy-looking location. “Next on my list would be Glenelg for the same set of reasons I suppose. My other selections would be Lake Tyers and Bemm. These places are open to you using a range of various techniques, which gives all anglers the chance to fish to their

2015 RND DATE

EVENT LOCATION

R01 FEB 07 - 08

VIC | Bemm River VIC | Marlo

HOBIE® KAYAK BREAM SERIES PRESENTED BY

RND DATE

EVENT LOCATION

Two

R09 JUN 28

NSW | Sydney Harbour

One

Two

R10 JUL 25 - 26

QLD | Gold Coast

Two

R03 MAR 14 - 15 VIC | Mallacoota

Two

R11 AUG 09

NSW | St Georges Basin

One

R04 MAR 22

NSW | Clyde River

One

R12 AUG 22 - 23

QLD | Redcliffe

Two

WA | Mandurah

One

R13 AUG 30

WA | Perth

One

VIC | Paynesville

Two

R14 OCT 17 - 18

NSW | Georges River

Two

NSW | Forster

Two

TBA NOV 14 - 15

Hobie Kayak Bream National Championship

Two

SA | Nelson

Two

R02 FEB 21 - 22

VIC State Title

National Qualifier Hobie Fishing Worlds Qualifier 1

R05 MAR 29 R06 APR 18 - 19 R07 MAY 16 - 17 R08 JUN 20 - 21

NSW State Title - Run by Southern Bream Series WA State Title - Run by WA Bream Classics National Qualifier

Hobie Fishing Worlds Qualifier 2 Run by Vic Bream

DAYS

strengths. Plus there are some mighty awesome fish in these systems, too. “As for highlights, there are two that stand out for me. My win in Paynesville and also winning it by a large margin (the nearest competitor was 1.34kgs behind Chris) really boosted my confidence. “My selection to be part of the Australian Hobie Kayak Team fishing in the National Open Kayak Tournament in China was a dream come true for me. To represent your country is the pinnacle for our sport and to travel and fish with ten other like-minded and talented Aussie anglers was a truly unique experience. I’ll never forget it.” To wrap it up, I asked Chris what his goals for 2015 are. “Obviously I’d like to back up my performances from last year and win the AOY and Grand Final again, as well as staying number one in the rankings. Apart from those, I’d really like to take out the top spot at Marlo. That’s one place I haven’t conquered yet so to achieve that would be pretty special.” With the incredible knowledge and skills that Chris has at his disposal, as well as an infectious drive and determination to keep increasing his abilities as an angler, I can almost see Chris on the top of that podium at Marlo now.

DAYS

Run by Southern Bream Series QLD State Title

Run by Southern Bream Series National Qualifier

Run by WA Bream Classics National Qualifier To Be Announced

All dates and venues subject to final council approvals, water permits and weather forecast prior to the event and are subject to change. Organisers & Hobie Cat Australasia cannot be held responsible for events outside our control should a change of date / venue be required.

FEBRUARY 2015

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Tournament Angler Guide

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2014 ABT Rankings and Angler of the Year Anglers shared in the spoils and rewards in 2014 with plenty of bream, bass, barra anglers making hay as the sun shone on the ABT tournament trail. Warren Carter (1st ranked boater) and Scott Butler (2nd

ranked boater and boater AOY champion) shone on the bream side of the ledger, while Dean Silvester (1st ranked boater) and Mark Lennox (champion AOY boater) stood up to be counted in the BASS Pro Series.

Shaun Falkenhagen had a dream year in 2014 claiming the BASS Electric AOY crown to accompany his BASS Pro Grand Final non-boater win, while bass young gun Jordan Renz claimed the BASS Electric number one ranking.

Victoria’s Chris Burbidge was untouchable in a kayak claiming the Grand Final, AOY and number one BREAM Kayak ranking in the Hobie Kayak BREAM Series while Glen Hayter had an equally impressive year to

claim the BASS kayak AOY and number one ranking crowns. Fresh from a red-hot Rapala BARRA Tour Ben Durkin and Matt McArthur finished the year as the Team of the Year, while William

Reichard and Ken Elliot grabbed the number one ranking courtesy of a red-hot 2014 tour. For full rankings, records, and earnings of each species and series visit www. abt.org.au.

BREAM BREAM PRO RANKINGS 2014 Boater 1 Warren Carter .............................................. 238 2 Scott Butler ................................................. 231 3 Kris Hickson .................................................219 4 Russell Babekuhl ........................................ 203 5 Ross Cannizzaro ..........................................198 6 Cameron Whittam ........................................180 7 Chris Wright .................................................173 8 Steve Morgan ...............................................142 9 Jamie McKeown ..........................................136 10 Brad Hodges ................................................136 Non Boater 1 Brad Roberts ...............................................160 2 Tanya Konsul ................................................157 3 Rebecca Fazio .............................................155 4 Mark Cribbes ...............................................135 5 Chris Findlay ................................................130 6 Simon Johnson ............................................126 7 Grayson Fong............................................... 117 8 Callum Dowell .............................................. 115 9 John Galea ................................................... 115 10 Andrew Williams ........................................... 114

BREAM PRO AOY 2014 Boater 1 Scott Butler ................................................. 294 2 Warren Carter .............................................. 281 3 Cameron Whittam ....................................... 281 4 Russell Babekuhl ........................................ 280 5 Anthony Thorpe ........................................... 271 6 Tom Slater ................................................... 263 7 Heath Blaikie ............................................... 260 8 Daniel Brown ............................................... 257 9 Chris Seeto ................................................. 253 10 Mark Healey ................................................ 253 Non Boater 1 John Galea ................................................. 288 2 Simon Johnson ........................................... 277 3 Grayson Fong.............................................. 275 4 Jonathan Thompson ....................................274 5 Brad Roberts .............................................. 258 6 Bernard Kong .............................................. 253 7 Clint Voss ..................................................... 253 8 Zac O’Sullivan ............................................. 252 9 Trevor Harris ................................................ 247 10 John Thorley ................................................ 245

BREAM KAYAK RANKINGS 2014 1 Chris Burbidge ............................................ 355 2 Stephen Maas ............................................. 304 3 Stewart Dunn .............................................. 303 4 Michael Maas .............................................. 293 5 Jason Meech............................................... 290 6 Patrick McQuarrie ....................................... 281 7 Shane Owens .............................................. 262 8 Andrew Death ............................................. 253 9 Simon Morley .............................................. 253 10 Josh Carpenter ........................................... 249 BREAM KAYAK AOY 2014 1 Chris Burbidge ............................................ 490 2 Stephen Maas ............................................. 487 3 Stewart Dunn .............................................. 483 4 Mat Cameron ...............................................476 5 Michael Maas .............................................. 475 6 Jason Meech............................................... 472 7 Jon Clisby ................................................... 465 8 Patrick McQuarrie ....................................... 463 9 Kane Terry .................................................... 461 10 Scott Sandilands ......................................... 458

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BASS BASS KAYAK RANKINGS 2014 1 Glen Hayter ......................... 258 2 Dave Mann .......................... 240 3 Mick Skinner ....................... 189 4 Alan Britcliffe ....................... 180 5 Richard Somerton ............... 147 6 Peter Bostock ..................... 136 7 Duane Macey ...................... 128 8 Ben Davidson ...................... 124 9 Jonathan Chen .................... 121 10 Anthony Correnti ................... 98

BASS ELECTRIC RANKINGS 2014 1 Jordan Renz ........................ 379 2 Mitchell Renz ...................... 323 3 Joseph Urquhart ................ 308 4 Adrian Wilson ..................... 306 5 Tom Reynolds ..................... 296 6 Adrian Manolea ................... 282 7 Christian Manolea ............... 278 8 Dave Mann .......................... 275 8 Tim Steenhuis ..................... 275 10 Brett Kleinschmidt ............. 273

BASS KAYAK AOY 2014 1 Glenn Hayter ....................... 296 2 Richard Somerton ............... 295 3 Dave Mann .......................... 289 4 Alan Britcliffe ....................... 285 5 Mick Skinner ....................... 277 6 Ben Davidson ...................... 251 7 Denis Metzdorf ................... 191 8 Chesney Fung ..................... 191 9 Jordan Garnsworthy ........... 187 10 Jason Garner ...................... 184

BASS ELECTRIC AOY 2014 1 Shaun Falkenhagen............. 486 2 Peter Bostock ..................... 475 3 Adrian Wilson ...................... 461 4 Christian Manolea ............... 459 5 Adrian Manolea ................... 443 6 Jonathon Bale ..................... 422 7 Tom Reynolds ..................... 382 8 Callum Tewes ....................... 372 9 Nathan Swanson ................. 360 10 Ian Galloway ........................ 356

Warren Carter and Shaun Falkenhagen had a redhot 2014 on the BREAM and BASS Tours. BASS BASS PRO RANKINGS 2014 Boater 1 Dean Silvester ................221 2 Stephen Kanowski .........213 3 David Young ....................193 4 Mark Lennox ..................181 5 Barry Reynolds ..............164 6 Adrian Melchior ..............163 7 Steven Otto ....................149 8 Peter Phelps ...................145 9 Matthew Mott .................143 10 Matt Johnson .................137

BASS PRO AOY 2014 Boater 1 Mark Lennox ..................282 2 David Young ....................281 3 Craig Simmons ..............274 4 Barry Reynolds ..............274 5 Glyn Barkhuizen .............271 6 Joe Allan ........................266 7 Mark Reinbott ................263 8 David Lane .....................261 9 Karen Fontaine ...............261 10 Stephen Kanowski .........258

Non Boater 1 Ben Scotman .................173 2 Shaun Falkenhagen........168 3 Terry Alwood ..................155 4 Dane Radosevic .............154 5 Duane Macey .................152 6 Ray Holmes ....................146 7 Dave Hedges..................143 8 Warren Howe .................141 9 Peter Holmes .................138 10 Stephen Mclean .............121

Non Boater 1 Ben Biggs ......................273 2 Ben Lockwood ...............265 3 David Williamson ............265 4 Liam Fitzpatrick .............264 5 Ray Holmes ....................262 6 Duane Macey .................259 7 Tom Deer ........................258 8 Allan Price ......................258 9 Mike Connolly ................256 10 Peter Holmes .................252

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Chris Burbidge was untouchable in a kayak in 2014, while Steve Kanowski and Mark Lennox dominated the Toray BASS Pro Series. BARRA BARRA RANKINGS 2014 1 Willem Reichard .......................................................................................192 1 Ken Elliot ..................................................................................................192 3 Matt McArthur .........................................................................................187 3 Ben Durkin ...............................................................................................187 5 Craig Griffiths ...........................................................................................173 6 Trent Power ..............................................................................................161 6 Donovan Power ........................................................................................161 8 Jon Millard ..............................................................................................156 9 Neil Wilson ...............................................................................................148 9 Geoff Newby ............................................................................................148 BARRA TOY 2014 1 Ben Durkin .....................Matt McArthur ................................................. 298 2 Ken Elliot ........................Willem Reichard ............................................... 295 3 Geoff Newby ..................Neil Wilson ....................................................... 291 4 Jon Millard .....................Ethan Farrell ..................................................... 289 5 Justin Welsh ...................Cameron Johnson ........................................... 285 6 Craig Griffiths .................Karim Deridder ................................................ 282 7 Trent Power ....................Donovan Power ............................................... 278 8 Patrick Morgan ...............Jarrod Dalton ................................................... 272 9 Ben Willcox ....................Matt Zahl ......................................................... 271 10 Peter Price .....................Aaron Dial ........................................................ 269

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www.lakeboondooma.com.au wwww.yallakoolpark.com.au FEBRUARY 2015

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Rising to the top of the pack Dean Silvester

In tournament angling there’s no bigger prize than an Angler of Year title. The ultimate reward for the best performing angler across the tournament season, it’s an accolade that all tournament pros aspire to win. In 2014 NSW’s Mark Lennox added the AOY shield to his trophy case, a trophy case that also holds his 2012 Grand Final trophy. LET’S GET STARTED Mark’s first tournament was in 2003 where he competed as a non-boater, and by his own admission was a late starter, beginning his tournament career at the ripe old age of 45. The tournament that kick started his career was a Lake Glenbawn BASS Pro event and he was fortunate enough to be partnered with 2000 ABT BASS Pro Grand Final winner John Schofield, and from that very first event he was hooked. While Mark’s first experience in tournament angling was positive he didn’t rush head on into it, and opted instead to take things steady as he learnt the ropes. “I fished one event in my

first year, then spent a few years as a non-boater before stepping up to mix it with the big boys as a boater”, explains Lennox. Mark’s progression and evolution as an angler was seamless and in 2012 he had his first major break through

winning the BASS Pro Grand Final on a challenging Lake St Clair. This coming of age win announced him as serious contender on the BASS Pro scene. With aspirations to win the AOY title, Mark knew consistency was the key to achieving such a lofty title.

“You can afford to have one bad event a year, but you can’t afford to have any more than that. You need to be consistent and firing on all guns to be in with a chance of winning”, explains Mark. Any that’s exactly what transpired in 2014, with Lennox discovering the consistency he was looking for in only his 6th year as an ABT tournament angler. His consistent year kicked off at round one at Lake Glenbawn with Lennox nailing down a 4th place. “There’s a lot of ups and downs in fishing, so to start the year with a top five was very satisfying. With a 4th to my name I began to set my sights on the AOY, and started to focus on what I needed to

Steve Kanowski holds the Grand Final shield aloft while Mark Lennox proudly displays his Angler of the Year shield.

THE CHAMP’S MUST-HAVE BAITS

Hopping a Yamba Prawn Blade is one of Lennox’s favourite and most effective bassing techniques.

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• Berkley Gulp – one of the most versatile soft plastic ranges that bass simply love. • Yamba Prawn Blade – outstanding vibration, a must-have blade for all bass anglers. • Megabass Pop X – the benchmark in surface lures that can be walked and popped. • Paddle Tail Sliders – the paddle tailed bass plastics that all others are compared to. • Beatle Spin – slows down presentation for plastics and blades and adds extra vibration. • Jackall TN50 and 60s – a legend on the tournament trail that bass can’t resist. do to win”, explained Lennox. With a steely focus on what he had to do Lennox put into place a series of events, a system that would ultimately lead to him win the Angler of the Year trophy at the Lake Wivenhoe Grand Final in September. GETTING SET Mark’s pursuit of the AOY crown began with his system for success, a planning process that saw small and big goals as the focus for achieving success.

like trying to make the top ten or top five at each round of the year”, explained Lennox. Researching results and write-ups from past events Lennox armed himself with as much knowledge and information as he could. He combined this with his own on water notes, both good and bad, and formulated a knowledge base that he would then apply on water and in the heat of battle. Lennox’s goal setting and system paid off with him racking up three top

Each event result and goal achieved helped Lennox grow in confidence and evolve as an angler, and when it comes to setting the goals that helped him achieve this Mark has a few tips for those driven to achieve and improve when it comes to their fishing. “Goals do not have to be long winded or complicated. The goals for each event are pretty simple, catch a limit each session, and make the top ten”. Preparation is another key ingredient to success for Lennox and it starts with making sure he has everything he needs to fish at his best. “I don’t want to be distracted by not having something that I need, and for me it starts with lures and leaders. I make sure I have enough of the lures that I’m going to need, to run out of a must-have lure is an angler’s worse nightmare. Once I have my lures sorted I’ll make sure my leaders are perfect and flawless. To lose

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Mark heads back to the scales to weigh another limit of bass.

Contact Brian Bochow 0400 291 029 or email bj-spinnerbaits@hotmail.com 60

FEBRUARY 2015

“I’m a big one for setting goals, so I set up small ones, like catching two fish in the next session that I’m about to fish, through to bigger goals

ten finishes for the year. A long time practioner of goal setting, it was in 2014 that his planning and preparation really came home to roost.

a fish through a failed knot or a broken leader that was preventable is unacceptable”, explained Mark. Researching tournament

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au venues is another high priority for Mark. “When I have to fish a new lake I start by looking at a map so I can understand the area”, states Lennox. He will also run through past editions of Fishing Monthly magazines, as most tournament venues have a monthly update on areas that are fishing well and prospective lures for that time of year. With this information Mark will then hit the tournament venue to prefish. “I like to do the prefish two weeks prior to an event. This enables him me to put all my research into play and then formulate a plan for the prefish the day before the event”, explains Mark.

STAYING CALM Anglers compete in tournaments for different reasons and for Lennox it is the feeling of satisfaction that from comes from everything coming together when he’s on the water. The cooker pressure of tournament angling can bring a heavy weight of stress through, a weight that many anglers struggle with, Mark however has found a way to deal with it. “The stress that you feel during a tournament is to be expected, and being successful is about managing this stress and not letting it override your clear decision making and onwater performance”, explained Mark. Accepting of what’s required of him mentally

Lennox strives to stay calm and relaxed off the water then switched into focused

tournament mode once the tournament starts. “Once I am on the water

A top ten at round one at Glenbawn was the beginning of Mark’s red-hot year that included his AOY win and a top ten at every event. THE RESULTS THAT MATTER

Mark used both soft plastics and hard bodies to catch his bass in 2014.

• R1 Lake Glenbawn: 4th place • R2 Lake Boondooma: 10th place • Grand Final: 7th place • AOY: 282/300 points

I focus entirely on my plan for the session and what I need to do to put fish in the boat”, explains Mark. When it comes to the techniques that he uses, especially during the prefish, Mark rarely relies on just one technique for any given location, believing instead to be adept at a host of different techniques to maximise on water success. Once Mark identifies the best technique or techniques, and has his game plan set he’ll stick to it, even if the fishing is slow he will stick with the technique only changing it with a lighter line or smaller presentation. This set game plan allows Mark to keep a clear head, “having too many options messes with my head, so I try and keep it as simple as I can”, explains Mark. Lennox rarely has a fall back plan, and in the case when everything falls apart he simply reinvents himself and changes what he’s doing on the run. THE HOME FRONT Tournaments are a rocky road filled with highs and lows. Lennox draws much of his strength and support from his highly supportive wife Julie. While Mark’s wife and his support network of family and friends provide an invaluable, and essential support foundation for his tournament angling it’s his inner drive that fuels his angling appetite.

“No one drives me to succeed, it’s my own personal challenge”. When it comes to achieving and succeeding in his angling challenge Mark follows a few important rules: • Be confident in your decisions • Have the ability to forget past fishing experiences and start fresh every time. • Keep focused on why you are tournament fishing. • Fish the last hour of a session harder than the first hour • Have a personal commitment to make it happen. • Be persistent • Be respectful to other anglers If there is one thing Lennox has learnt in his 6 years competing it is that success is more about the decisions you make before you hit the water, rather than on it. “The level of skill and competition is only getting stronger in tournament angling. Access to information has never been easier, the fishing gear and technology has never been better or more advanced, and the challenge to consistently place high in a field of talented anglers has never been greater, and I can’t see it getting any easier. To get your name on the AOY trophy takes only the very best performance, and that’s what I’ll be striving for again in 2015”, concluded Lennox.

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The year of the Falken ABT

Charles West

As the BASS Electric rounds started at Lake Danjeera and took us to Bundaberg’s Isis Balancing Storage, the qualifying rounds distilled the next Angler of the Year for 2014 in Shaun Falkenhagen. With a smaller roster of events for the 2014 season, it was going to be important to make every event count for points. Shaun’s late-season Lake Macdonald round was the

most important event for him, as it was where he gained crucial points that put him in the lead in the AOY race. With the last event at Isis (which he didn’t attend), you can only imagine Shaun’s anticipation on waiting to hear the results from that event. It turned out that his anxiety was unfounded as he held on to the top spot and the 2015 title. As an Angler of the Year winner you need to be consistent with every tournament you attend. Shaun showed that it is important to bring bass to the weigh-in at

Shaun lists pre-fishing as a vital element to his success.

every event you fish. Shaun fished 6 out of the 12 events and in each event he fished, he delivered bass to the scales. Tallying 4 out of 6 events placed in the top 5, Shaun ended up with 486 points¸ only 11 points in front of his next competitor. I got the chance to talk to Shaun about his success and about the fundamentals that made his year fall into place. There is a pile of information that he was willing to share with us; his outlook, tools of his trade and some points of interest on which dams he fished and placed. Here a few questions we put to Shaun to help us see how he achieved AOY for 2014. Why where you so successful in 2014? The success for Shaun in 2014 came down to knowing the dam or lake he was fishing, by practice. “I try to pre-fish most dams leading up to the event I’m about to compete in,” Shaun said. However given work and family commitments this is not always the case. “Over the last few years I have started to get an understanding of most of the SEQ dams we fish and what the fish might be eating and the locations they could be in”.

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We’re sure to see Shaun on the winner’s podium many more times in both Electric and BASS Pro events. Shaun noted a few things he asks himself when going for a pre-fish before a tournament. • Is it an edge bite? • Are the bass schooled in deep water, making it a deep bite? • What depth of water should I concentrate in? • What structure (if any) should I look for? This is particularly import for dams with weed growth. “Having thought about the above I start to narrow down the areas to look for and the techniques I should be concentrating on before I hit the dam,” he continued. LAKE MACDONALD BREAKDOWN Here is a little breakdown on Shaun’s tournament day at Lake Macdonald, to see how he fishes and puts bass to the scales. “Given my poor finish at Lake Moogerah, I needed a good result at Macdonald to keep me in AOY calculations”. The following is Shaun’s approach to the pre-fish and tournament day and how he tried to adapt with the changing conditions. The pre-fish Shaun pre-fished the dam once, a few weeks leading up to the event. The day started really slowly for him. He fished the edges with lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits trying to find a pattern. After several hours without a bite he decided to look deeper closer to the creek bed. Shaun quickly caught several small, but legal fish on a blade. “I left this area knowing I had at least one plan,” he said. With Shaun knowing that in most years, the tournament’s Big Bass come off the edges, he decided to try the edges again, using a suspending jerkbait to try and tempt any fish sitting in the weed. Shaun quickly caught 8 good fish in several locations. One thing that stood out for Shaun was that all these fish came off shallow, healthy weed. Edges with little weed produced nothing for Shaun.

6 MUST-HAVE BAITS Here are Shaun’s 6 must have baits and outfits to match. “These depend on what dam I will be fishing, however to narrow it down to 6 lures and outfits, these are my go to techniques”. CRANKBAITING: OSP High Cut colour #T-53 Barrabass XP902 7’3 Spin Shimano CI4 1000 Toray 10lb Radius PE 8lb LEX 8lb Leader SOFT LIPLESS CRANKBAIT: Jackall Mask (Gold fleck black head) Barrabass XSB842 7ft Spin Shimano CI4 2500 Toray 15lb SeaBass PowerGame 12lb SuperHard Toray Leader LIPLESS CRANKBAIT Imakatsu Piranha lipless crankbait BarraBass Crankbait 6’10 Baitcast Daiwa Alphas Finesse Toray 10lb Radius Toray 10lb Superhard Leader ROLLING PLASTIC Keitech Swing Impact Fat 2.8inch Ayu on a 3/8 Impact Tackle painted jig head BarraBass IP841 7ft Spin Daiwa Certate 1003 Toray 6.5lb Sea Bass Shallow Finesse Toray LEX 8lb Leader BLADE Dressed 3/8 NexGen blade Barrabass XSB822 6’10 Spin Daiwa sol 1500 Toray 10lb Radius Toray 10lb Superhard Leader TOPWATER OSP Bent Minnow 76 colour H22 Barrabass XO 7’3 Spin Shimano CI4 1000 Toray 10lb Radius PE LEX 11lb Leader Going into the event, Shaun had plan A (jerkbaits to the shallow, weedy edges) and plan B, (blades deep near the creek bed). Tournament day Tournament day arrived and the first thing Shaun noticed when he arrived at the dam that morning was the lower water level when compared to the prefish several weeks earlier. The tournament started and he headed straight to his first area, however, the lower

water levels meant the fish had moved from his shallow weedy edges that he had previously found and caught good bass on in the pre-fish. After 3 to 4 hours passed with no results, Shaun made the decision to try Plan B, a deeper presentation, hoping that he could at least fill his bag of 2 bass. Shaun went on to catch his bag limit (2/2) with a kicker fish of 1.6kg. Shaun managed 5th place.

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Winning the BASS Electric AOY is all about consistently finishing in the Top 5 for multiple events. “Given the poor start I had, I was happy to come away with a top 5,” he said. Shaun’s a great example on how it’s vital to have more than one plan of attack and to catch other bass in different locations in your practise, in case the arena changes. As our dams are for water usage in many forms, water level can be an issue whether rising or falling. These weather events change the behaviour of bass and where they will hold and feed. “I believe luck plays some part in fishing the bass tournaments, however, you also need to make your own

luck by putting yourself in the right area at the right time,” Shaun said. How did you evolve to become so successful? “I think time on the water has a big part to play,” Shaun answered. “Spending time on a dam is helpful with knowing where the bass

are holding and feeding in different weather and seasons of the year.” Shaun has fished quite a few non-boating BASS Pro events, which have helped him enhance his understanding on how other anglers go about their day on the water and picking up on little techniques

SHAUN’S 2014 RESULTS Clarrie Hall Dam .................................................2nd Hinze Dam ...........................................................6th Maroon Dam ........................................................4th Wivenhoe Dam ...................................................2nd Lake Moogerah .................................................23rd Lake Macdonald ..................................................5th

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Non-boating in some of the BASS Pro powerboat events has added an extra dimension to Shaun’s understanding of SEQ bass and the techniques needed to catch them. that they use. “I try and take this knowledge and then apply it to my tournament fishing,” Shaun said. Shaun also has the flexibility to try and to adapt his techniques, lure selection and locations to suit the mood

of the fish and the conditions of the day. It’s important to keep an open mind when bass fishing, as one day a certain lure may work and the next it doesn’t. Shaun has shown over the years of tournament fishing that he is definitely evolving

and I’m sure he will continue to do this – he is a consistent and determined angler. What are your tips for an angler who aspires to achieve to your level? • Learn from others around you. • Ask questions of your fellow anglers. • Try to non-boat some BASS pro events • Spend time on the water trying different techniques. “We all have bad days on the water, try and learn from these bad days,” is Shaun’s advice. I’ve had the chance to fish with Shaun in a bass event and we had a good chat about some of the techniques he uses and I would have to say he does have a good knowledge and understanding of our SEQ dams and lakes and how to fish them in those tough days of tournament fishing. Shaun is a well-developed bass angler who we will see for years to come and surely will see on the podium many more times. With the 2015 BASS Electric session about to start, we will see how Shaun goes and see if he can do it again. It won’t be easy to do. With a lot of great anglers and new up and coming anglers it is a tough field to compete in. Anyone can win it. So let the season begin….

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Hayter hauls to the top ABT

Josh Carpenter

For any competitive angler in Australia these days there are two benchmarks for success, winning the Grand Final and winning the Angler of the Year title. Grand Final wins are certainly an accomplishment but to win an AOY takes a season of dedication. Through ups and downs it takes true grit to make it to the top of that table. Those sound like inspiring ideals but as with all three BASS tours there is more to it than just hard work and the studious pursuit of success. The BASS tours have become known as much for their camaraderie and mateship around the campfire as well as the “who shares wins” motto being put into practice. For current Hobie Kayak BASS AOY champion Glenn Hayter success in 2014 centred on having fun and enjoying the moment, as he fished his way to a near perfect AOY point score (296/300 points). Four unique fisheries, in three different states provided a challenging landscape for anglers in 2014, a landscape that Hayter would ultimately

dominate on his way to AOY glory. A FALSE START TO A GOOD YEAR Tallowa Dam in southern NSW Shoalhaven area played host to the opening round. Tallowa is probably

the lake. I wasn’t able to get on the water on the prefish the day before the tournament but I was confident of getting a bag. Unfortunately the dam water level had dropped leaving the weed beds high and dry. I had heaps of fun

Hayter’s win in the final round at Lake Toonumbar secured. him the 2014 Hobie Kayak BASS AOY title.

Quality bass in the heat of battle was the hallmark of Hayter’s 2014 season. the greatest bass fishery no one has ever heard of due to it being closed to both combustion engines and electrics. By far the most expansive arena and Glenn’s local round. “I prefished before the ban came into effect and found plenty of fish around the weed beds of my favourite arm of

catching carp on plastics and topwaters but struggled to catch a bass until the last hour when I started to throw a Jackall TN60 and managed two legals”. An 18th place was not what Glenn was looking for on his home water, but as a longtime tournament angler with a ten plus year history

fishing the BASS Electric and BASS Pro circuits, he knew that one result does not determine a season. GETTING BACK ON THE HORSE Blue Rock Dam in Victoria has come online in the last few years as a tournament arena for all iterations of bass fishing, from powerboats through to electric events as well as kayak events, and for Glenn it was where he shrugged off a slow start and mounted his campaign for the AOY title. “During the prefish I found fish on the edges holding in the shade and during the comp worked that pattern with a Jackall TN60 rigged with a beetle spin. I caught half a dozen legal fish including my biggest at about 11.30am in the last bit of shade I could find”. A third place finish and a boost to his confidence was all Glenn needed to get him back on track.

the day before had largely vanished. I put together a bag by 8am nonetheless, and then headed into the timber in search of upgrades. It paid off and I picked up a quality fish on a Jackall Ice Jig. It was good enough for another third place and set the scene for the final round”. FINISHING IT OFF The final round at Toonumbar beckoned and provided Glenn with his ultimate challenge and in the end his ultimate reward in this best three-from-four points race. “After having a bad start at Tallowa earlier in the year I knew I needed a second place or higher finish to rundown Richard Somerton for angler of the year. Past sessions on Toonumbar, included the 2013 BASS Kayak Grand Final and past BASS Electric events showed me that a bag of fish over 38cm each was definitely do-able. I went out for a prefish and found them

smelt colour on a 1/20oz TT jighead. In the end I got an upgrade 50m from the start line at 12.30 to give me two 39’s and a 40 for my bag and giving me first place by 1cm”. Victories can often come down to mere centimetres and one single seemingly insignificant bite, and Hayter’s victory at Toonumbar, and in turn his Angler of the Year title, was exactly that. Being in position to claim event wins and tour titles however don’t come from single fortuitous moments but instead comes from consistent performance, diversity in ability and highly evolved angler skills. All three feature in Glen’s angler arsenal, and are attributes that will see him as the man to watch, and catch on the 2015 Hobie Fishing Kayak BASS tour. IT’S TOURNAMENT TIME When bassing socially Glen finds it hard to go past throwing a topwater

Hayter caught his fishing throughout the year on a variety of techniques and lures.

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CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN AT MOOGERAH After a little advice from local Charles West on where the fish might be Glenn went out for the prefish day and found good schools of fish but found them hard to tempt. “I went out on comp day and the schooled fish from

in both the same spots as the last two times I had been there. “In the tournament I couldn’t have had a better start getting a 36cm and a 40cm fish in the first three casts and I had a 38, 39 and 40cm bag by 8.30 fishing the shaded weed beds. I probably caught 25-30 fish for the day all on Gulp! 3” minnows in

in the shade or running and gunning for active fish with finesse plastics. When on the tournament clock though his thoughts change and a much broader selection of bass baits come out to play. “I love a buzzbait for prefishing because it is a great tool for searching the edges. They don’t have a great

abt.org.au THE ROAD TO VICTORY R1 ........Tallowa Dam, NSW: ......................18th place R2 ........Blue Rock Dam, VIC .....................3rd place R3 ........Moogerah Dam, QLD: ..................3rd place R4 ........Toonumbar Dam, QLD..................1st place hookup rate which means I don’t burn fish on the prefish day and at least have some chance of catching them during the comp. This also means I don’t fish it in the comp itself because of that poor hookup rate”. When riverine styled lakes are on the menu Hayter ties on a lure that has become legendary on the bream scene, but not as well know on the bass trail.

“In the more “river like” dams I like to fish weedbeds with 3” minnow plastics on light jigheads. I’ll also upsize my bait in such locations and throw a Jackall TN60, rigged with, and without, a beetle spin”. As Glen moves out from the edge and starts to take things a little deeper he’ll flip open his tackle box and reach for a blade. “I prefer an Impact

Tackle Bladez on big open flats with 10-20ft, and will try and cover as much water as possible but when fishing schooled fish”. On specific deepwater structure such as standing timber Glen likes using ice jigs in conjunction with his sounder. A combination that enables him to pin point fish and take his lure directly to them. Finally, a 3 inch curl tail grub rigged on a 1/4oz jighead rounds out his deep water arsenal and his must-have bass baits, a collection that Glen has refined and defined over many years, and many hours on the water for ultimate tournament success.

Hayter’s win in the final round at Lake Toonumbar secured. him the 2014 Hobie Kayak BASS AOY title. PICK A BOX Glen’s must-haves in his tackle box when packing for the tournament trail. Impact Tackle Bladez Jackall TN60, rigged with and without a beetle spin blade 3” minnow rigged on a lightweight jighead 3” Curl Tail Grub rigged on a 1/4oz jighead Jackall Ice Jig FEBRUARY 2015

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Tournament Angler Guide

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Points decision for BARRA Team of the Year Chris Byrnes

The 2014 Rapala BARRA Tour witnessed red hot fishing across all three North QLD barra venues. The battle for the Team of the Year (TOY) title was tightly fought, with multiple teams still in the reckoning at the start of the final session at Peter Faust Dam. In the end Team BTD Lures, comprised of Ben Durkin and Matt McArthur, were the worthy recipients of the TOY title. BTD Lures put themselves in the box seat from the start of the tour with victories in the first two events at Teemburra and Kinchant Dams. However a tougher bite at Peter Faust Dam saw the team fall down the standings after the first session, potentially resulting in the team being PLACE

TEAM

overtaken by competitors sitting a mere four points behind. However, the team quickly regathered and caught the fish to rocket them into overall third place at the event, and securing the team their first Team of the Year title. ABT asks the team the hard questions in an effort to uncover the secrets of their 2014 success, the key factors in their development, tips to assist anglers looking to compete in tournaments and the must have lures that delivered their maiden Team of the Year title. Q: Why were you so successful in 2014? The team’s success in 2014 can be attributed to a number of factors. Both team members, in their own right, have extensive experience on the water fishing socially and in tournament conditions. But it was their time and experience fishing

together that solidified their tournament success. Whether it was working together with a particular lure or trying different approaches both anglers understood that an effective team can entice bites when the fishing is tough, or extend a bite window for longer than normal. The team readily admitted that they had made mistakes in the past, but importantly had learnt from them. Further to this the team highlighted the importance of making a plan and then sticking to it. “In past events we made decisions that came back to haunt us, however we learnt from our mistakes rather than dwell on them. Instinct and gut feel aren’t tangible elements, however they play an important role when you are on the water. One of the keys for us as a team is to remain focussed; it is a tournament after all!

ANGLER 1

ANGLER 2

Team BTD Lures dominated at Kinchant, catching a 112cm average to claim their second win on the tour. A CLOSE CALL It came down to the last session in the last event, with Team BTD Lures rallying when they needed to win a tightly fought Team of the Year title. R1

TOTAL

1.............. BTD Lures ......................................Ben Durkin .......Matt McArthur ...............100 ............... 100 ............... 98 .................... 298 2.............. Nomad Tackle/Hydrowave.............Ken Elliot ..........Willem Reichard ............98 ................. 98 ................. 99 .................... 295 3.............. Toray ..............................................Geoff Newby ....Neil Wilson ....................97 ................. 99 ................. 95 .................... 291 4.............. Bass Mafia Outdoors/Rapala ........Jon Millard........Ethan Farrell ..................93 ................. 96 ................. 100 .................. 289 5.............. Minnkota-Toray ..............................Justin Welsh .....Cameron Johnson .........95 ................. 93 ................. 97 .................... 285

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But equally important is enjoying the time fishing together and not stressing when things don’t go your way. If either of us loses a fish you can expect to get a polite mouthful from your partner. In the end we keep having fun regardless,” explained McArthur. Q: How did you evolve to become so successful? The team members met fishing ABT barramundi tournaments, albeit fishing with different partners. Striking up a friendship both anglers fished socially in the off season and shared information and techniques. The team members were

equally passionate, however factors for both anglers changed which impacted on their ability to fish tournaments. After a two year hiatus they found themselves ready to compete again and sought each other out to form a team. “After having two years off with family and financial difficulties we were both looking forward to the challenge. I believe that a steadfast dedication to barra fishing over the years has given us the ability and resolve needed to compete at this level of competition.” “We both feel the same

way about tournament fishing in that if we don’t have the time to fully dedicate ourselves then we’d rather not do it. In this case though the timing was right to get together and fish the BARRA Tour. I realise it is a major commitment, both financial and personally, to get away and fish these tournaments. As we always say we don’t do anything by half, but having fun and enjoying the time spent on the water barra fishing both social and tournament is always a highlight of the year and remains a key focus,” explained Durkin. Q: What are your tips for an angler who aspires to achieve to your level? The first point highlighted was experience, with both anglers recognising that there is no substitute for time on the water. A high level of dedication, especially in regards to tackle maintenance, was instrumental to performance. “Every box needs to be ticked in regards to tackle, knots, hooks, rings, there can’t be any weak links in

IN AUSTRALIA

www.bassmafiaaustralia.com Two wins and a 3rd place secured the TOY title for Team BTD Lures. 66

FEBRUARY 2015

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au your setup. Anglers should also enjoy the buzz of tournament fishing rather than feel overwhelmed by the occasion. Tournament buzz can’t be replicated, it is unlike recreational fishing and is something to be embraced rather than feared,” explained McArthur. Tournaments are the benchmarks for angling with no mistakes going unpunished. There can be negative experiences; however anglers need to overcome these in order to progress. “Tournaments can be a hard learning curve. I have seen them break an angler’s spirit. However that is the nature of all competition.” Also to contend with are

the fact that you are often competing against a field of like-minded anglers. “The reality is that you won’t always have a spot to yourself and you can’t spit the dummy when things don’t go to plan,” explained McArthur. Finally the decision to move locations in a tournament situation, whilst difficult, should be based on information rather than chance. “When you move location in a tournament it should be a decision based on facts and experience. This is also where instinct plays a crucial role. A team will often live or die by their decisions during a tournament,”

The BTD General, in shallow and deep, was a go-to lure for Durkin and McArthur. explained McArthur. Q: What are your six must-have tournament baits to have your box? Squidgy Slick Rig – Black/Gold “This lure has the runs on the boards. It is a go to baitfish profile and is a confidence lure for many anglers. The black/gold colour stands out in all conditions. A safe bet in all situations.” Samaki Vibelicious “A vibration style lure. A great go to lure with a smaller profile. This lure is adaptable to different

It was barra action aplenty on the BARRA Tour for Team BTD.

weather situations and varying conditions.” BTD General – Standard and deep bib “This is a versatile lure that has a good vibration and fantastic water displacement. With these two lures an angler can effectively target different many depths, with 15-20 feet deep being ideal for these lures.” BTD Jack Attack “This is smaller lure with a compact profile. It is a very good lure for the barramundi, especially at Teemburra Dam. This lure was a point

of difference for our team and tempted many a fussy eater to respond.” Reidys Big B52 – Black/Silver “This is a good reliable jerkbait. This lure has much history and has proved its consistency for many years. It also has the added benefit of being able to be upgraded or downgraded with hooks without affecting the lures action.” Key Point “Ultimately the key with this lure selection is versatility. The ability to use the same lure in multiple situations is one of the determining factors when it comes to selecting our top lures.”

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Marlin season has kicked into top gear and they’re as thick as thieves at the moment. As they do every year, the usual hotspots such as The Kink (approx. 12.5 miles east of the Jervis Bay lighthouse), The Banks (north east of Currarong), and The Tubes for the landbased guys, have all been producing. Offshore, drifting live baits seems to be the best method, rather than dragging lures around for hours on end. Mahimahi are also showing up. Look up the FADs on the DPI’s website, or watch for big patches of floating seaweed or debris and start peppering it with soft plastics, hardbodies, and even flies. These stunningly coloured fish are willing to take almost anything that’s thrown their way. If you’re not feeling up to it or don’t have the capabilities of getting out to the marlin and mahis, don’t forget you can still chase hard fighting trophy

Wal with a top flattie from The Basin. The big girls are still on the move.

lures, but be prepared to be harassed by the small ones taking almost anything you put in the water. Jigs, soft plastics and poppers are working, but for best success use fresh bait. At this time of year we also see an influx of salmon and bonito, which go like the clappers on light gear. Salmon find it hard to resist a 5” white soft plastic on a 1/4oz jighead, and when caught on 5-10lb setups, you’ll be in for hours of fun if they’re around. Tow bibbed 4-5” lures around the bommies and washes to find the bonito. In St Georges Basin, those big girls the flathead are still feeding hard. As mentioned in previous issues, big paddle tail plastics are the go, with a heavier jig head up to 1/4oz producing the goods. If you’re after some surface action, then head to the flats and start throwing small poppers and walk-the-dog lures in a clear natural colour to persuade the everwilling whiting into eating. With the recent purchase of a canoe, I’m finding myself staying well away from the Shoalhaven River when I’m wanting my bass

Pete with a nice skinny water bass, with the surface strike all caught on film. fix, due to the summertime crowds with their huge wake boats pounding the shores, wrecking our river, eroding the banks and making it hard to fish with their blatant disregard for other users of the waterway. A friend and I have been heading to quieter areas in the Upper Shoalhaven past Gradys,

and the Kangaroo River in Kangaroo Valley. If you’re on foot, there are plenty of options for those willing to put in the time researching and discovering the spots, although I won’t be giving out any secrets! Check out some of the videos derived from these little creeks on lureadicts.com

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Can the fishing be more on fire? BATEMANS BAY

Anthony Stokman

Okay, we’ll start from the back and work to the front. Bass! Oh my wordy, yes. The bass are well and truly on and it doesn’t matter where you’re at, it’s a bass-fest and plenty of PBs are being broken. For the last couple of months the 1/8oz black and purple AusSpin Spinnerbait has been doing the damage and still continues to star in the back reaches of Batemans Bay. In the soft shell cicada department, the Tiemco has a great natural colour range, a surface action to tempt the bite, and have been a favourite among local anglers. Small Chubby and Minnow Divers are also running out of the shop, favoured colours being black or gold, or both, with orange bellies or tails. Presently, you could throw a half eaten sausage with a hook in it and jag one! Downstream, the Nelligen area has been a bit on the quiet side in comparison to last year. It seems the better part of fishing in the Clyde has been from Big Island out to sea. Spring started with big flathead, tailor and whiting, and this has continued throughout summer. The bream came out to play a couple of weeks after the big rain dump, and they are still on the chew.

Bigger 4” plastics will get you a PB flattie, and the new 4” Nemesis from Berkley in Gulp and PowerBait have been flathead candy and tempting big bream as well. Massive whiting are being caught on our beaches and 35-45cm fish are common in the catch bag. On the flats, any surface lure works, so long as you are fishing the last 2 hours of the run-out. A bit of breeze always helps, and with the barometer on your side you can’t go wrong. Outside of that technique, there is always worms or nippers to put you on the scoreboard. The estuary has been turning on a great mulloway show for the last few months, and this is expected to continue. It all went a bit quiet for a couple of weeks during the big rain and boat traffic onslaught, but since then and up until now mulloway have been a regular capture in the estuary. John Hilyear and Josh Baddock have been going head-to-head on the biggest, but it looks as though Josh finished with one of the best mulloway caught in the Clyde for 2014, as you can see pictured hereabouts. Inshore has been up and down, with some good catches of snapper, the odd king, big mowies, and plenty of squid. Not everyone is scoring in

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the snapper department though. A lot of boats are finding it hard, and as I said in the last issue, you have to move around in the summer months. You can get them in close at 40m or out beyond 60m. Look around a bit. As you do this, you could also bump into a floor full of flathead, which is always a nice meal. If you are trolling from place to place there is the chance of a kingie, although they’re not quite holding off here. Big schools have been swimming through and blacking out the odd sounder at times though. Jervis Bay has been producing some nice fish and anglers have been enjoying surface action with them. Montague Island is on, but has its off days. It’s holding fish, although they are mostly small at this stage. The squid around the Bay have been plentiful. They’re great bait and even better dinner if you luck out on the snapper. A little further offshore, we saw mahimahi come out to party in spring, but there is no sign of them during the early stages of summer, although I expect they’ll start showing up soon and hogging the FAD east of Burrewarra Point. What seems to be more of a possibility at the FAD right now is black marlin. We had a nice little run of blacks last year compared to previous ones, and this summer is already looking better. A couple of boats have caught some around the FAD, and fish have been spotted swimming around boats on the snapper grounds. They’re one of the feistiest fish you could hook onto this summer. Further offshore and just inside the shelf are striped marlin. They have come on quite well and a lot of crews looking for these majestic creatures have had hookups and landed some already. We spoke about switch baiting last issue and how it was the most successful way to hook one and stay connected. This is because you have managed to get a circle hook pinned in the corner of the marlin’s mouth. So how do we do this? Well, first of all you need to run lures without hooks. As this can be a tricky process, I would suggest running 2 medium sized lures to keep things simple. I find 9½” Moldcrafts to be ideal. They are big, soft things, with soft heads, and marlin love chasing them down and playing with them. There have been

occasions when marlin hit a hardhead lure or a lure with hooks in it, pull some drag and swim off never to be seen again. It also happens with softhead lures, but I have seen it more with hardheads and hooks, and I can’t but think maybe it is un-natural enough to scare the marlin off. Consequently, I use softhead Moldcrafts, and even if I’m wrong I’m fishing with confidence and sometimes that’s what it takes to get fish. Added to the mix is a teaser. Just two goodsized Moldcrafts and the boat is sometimes enough to raise a fish, but again, I’m more confident having additional commotion out the back and I think it can get more attention from nearby fish. I like to run a strip of plastic squids with a bird and/or glitter teaser floats. There’s quite a few different options, but as long as there is a party out the back to raise fish, it doesn’t matter too much. The next thing is to have skip baits ready to go.

Josh Baddock’s mulloway took the crown in 2014! crew on the same page and working together on the boat with allocated tasks so people aren’t running around head-butting each other when a fish is up.

The flatties are still about. Layton Brant caught this 85cm specimen on a hardbody. These are large sized slimy mackerel, small striped tuna, bonito, salmon — some people have even skipped Maori wrasse! One of the biggest blue marlin caught out of Bermagui was on a Maori wrasse skip bait. To rig up a skip bait it’s best to see it done, so go and find it on YouTube and choose the technique that suits you. Now, once you raise a fish, the first thing to do is have the

One member brings the teaser in, and then another is on the lures ready to wind them up. Once the teaser is aboard, bring the lure close to the boat and have it ready to be put back out if the fish needs some more teasing. The ideal situation is to have the fish interested in one of the lures, and a crewmember already dropping back a skip bait on tackle that is going to cope with a 60-120kg fish.

Once the skip bait is near the lure the marlin is chasing, start to pull it in and put that bait on the nose of the fish. Once it eats the bait, let it swallow it. When you think the marlin has downed it, then put the reel’s drag into action and let the circle hook come up, around, and lodge into the corner of the mouth for a definitive hook-set. Then hang on! This sounds relatively simple, but a lot can go wrong and marlin can be up and gone and back and looking around the back of the boat in no time, so there is a lot of feel to it as well. It’s your job to keep the fish up and try and keep its focus directed at the lure and then the skip bait. Then there is the timing to set the hook. Practice will make it better and experience is paramount. It’s a case of trying the technique and then finetuning it. You’ll get better, smoother and gradually increase the catch rates. You won’t catch every fish you raise, but you’ll catch a whole lot more than trolling hooked lures, no risk. Once you are confident with switching, you can switch with live bait as well. So basically that’s it. Keep it simple, everybody on-board has to be aware of their tasks, and then stick with it and hone that teamwork. Then you will probably develop your own way or what suits your boat. • For more up-to-theminute information on what’s biting where, drop into Compleat Angler Batemans Bay and have a chat to Anthony or one of the other friendly staff. They’re located at 65A Orient St, Batemans Bay (02 4472 2559).

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Narooma shows its versatility this month NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

Well the holiday crowd has dwindled slightly over recent times, making it a little easier at the local boat ramps, but for those that have been getting out early the results have certainly been worthwhile. The estuaries continue to produce after recent heavy rains, with the water quality improving each day.

for flathead. The Tuross entrance is the deepest I’ve seen it for a very long time — 6-8’ on a high tide, with tidal height differences of a metre or so. I can’t ever recall seeing this height variation, so all looks promising for this quality south coast estuary. With continual fresh water entering the system, it has really fired up. There have been plenty of crocs (85cm plus) captured, with the lower, deeper sections around 6-10m being ideal. These larger female models

It doesn’t get much better than this; releasing a super conditioned 13kg mulloway. Both Wagonga Inlet and Tuross have been the pick, with the latter excellent

have responded well to larger soft plastics, vibes and live poddy mullet.

Anglers fishing the runout tide are faring best, with the slightly warmer water from the river stirring the big girls up. There’s plenty of eating sized models available also, so getting a feed shouldn’t be too hard. Those fishos after sport are finding a few mulloway too. The best I’ve heard of went 94cm, so a solid fish, and was taken on a vibe in 3m of water. The various sandflats in the river and main basin have seen some solid bream and whiting caught by anglers fishing walkers and poppers. This type of visual fishing is great fun and l expect it to only get better as the water warms further. Less boat traffic certainly helps. At Narooma, Wagonga Inlet has been great for bream upstream from the 4-knot sign. The various oyster racks and flats that this part of the system is loaded with is the place to fish. Again, walkers fished with a stop-startpause retrieve have been excellent. You can expect a few whiting and the occasional flathead also. The main basin has seen a few mulloway caught, with

the occasional flathead and snapper. This place will really fire up when the boat traffic slows and I for one can’t wait. Offshore at Montague Island, it’s been a little

target them and a whole stack of fun. Most of the marlin are stripes, with the odd fish pushing 120kg, though there has been reports of a few bigger blue marlin

too, if fishing the sand/ gravel areas. On the beaches the whiting have really fired up, with some anglers getting their bags inside a few hours. They are solid fish, with

A striped marlin held by Benn Boulton and Nick Cowley from local charter boat Playstation just prior to release. sporadic to say the least. A lot depends on prevailing conditions like water temperature and tidal flow as to when the kingfish will bite. The last few weeks has seen cold, dirty water in close, which has made the pelagic fishing tough. This will change though, and when it does it will be all systems go. Even with the dirty water there’s still the odd king being caught, but you do have to work for them. The fish that have been biting have responded best to live baits and jigs. Further offshore, the game fishing fraternity are having a field day, with the water temperature and quality

winning their freedom. The action is happening along the shelf line, with the Kink and Tuross canyons a good starting point. The second dropoff has seen action with the blues. Mixed in with the marlin are mahimahi, the odd wahoo, and shortbill spearfish, so the water is pretty good in quality. There’s been the odd smaller school sized yellowfin to 30kg caught, plus some sizeable sharks if that’s what you like to target. The next 3 months will be red hot further offshore, so now’s the time to get out there. Those after a feed of bottom fish should do

the majority around 35cm, which are nice specimens for here. There’s a few bream mixed in, with the odd salmon also. I’ve heard a few reports of mulloway coming from both Coila and Blackfellows beaches, with 10kg-plus models mainly caught on fresh tailor fillets and bunches of live beach worms. The beach action will continue for a while yet. Those fishing the rocks are doing well on salmon, tailor and bonito. Casting metal shiners and whole ganged pilchards will work, with kings a real possibility too. I had a mate of mine who got dusted up several times on a local platform using poppers. He said they

Some big crocs are still about. of water excellent. Marlin is the word, with some crews getting a handful of shots daily. Most boats are trolling skirted pushers and/or switch baiting with live slimy mackerel. This is a dynamite way to 72

FEBRUARY 2015

okay, with flatties, snapper, pigfish and morwong all there for the taking. I’d be looking up towards Potato Point or Tuross for the reds, with the 30-35m line the go for the flatties. You’re a chance at a gummy shark

were solid kings around 8kg, but had no chance of landing them. You should be able to snare a feed of drummer, blackfish and bream in the washes, with fresh prawns and cabbage the gun baits to use.

Spoilt for choice at Merimbula MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

The Merimbula township is still in full-swing holiday mode, with boats and people everywhere. Despite the increased boat traffic, the fishing has been good — especially in the estuaries.

systems, but gee it’s been on fire. Ever since we had 200mm of rain late last year, the fish have responded well to a variety of techniques. Soft plastics and blades have worked a treat on all species, with flathead, bream, whiting and trevally on the chew. The fish have been in great numbers along the weed, with the 4-7m line the perfect depth. Casting

Some of the flatties are pushing 90cm, so big girls, but with plenty of eaters available too. Larger softies are the go for the bigger ones, with smaller stickstyle plastics ideal for the other species. Both bream and whiting are responding well to walk baits and poppers, with the shallower flats around the mangroves towards the back

The boys with some nice bream from the flats. Both surface walkers and smaller deep running hardbods will work this month. The top lake at Merimbula is only a puddle compared to other local

lures towards the edges and working them back to the boat has been successful.

of the basin the go-to spot. We have had some great sessions here of late, with

15-20 fish the norm on most occasions. I’d expect this action to continue for quite a while and really look forward to the coming weeks. Offshore has been hectic, with 100-plus boats venturing out when the weather looks good. It makes for an especially busy ramp if the wind gets up and everybody comes home at the same time. Even with this, the fishing has been awesome, with snapper, morwong and flathead making up the majority of fishos’ bags. There’s been the odd kingfish caught too, with a few models around the 8kg mark. Anglers using fresh squid and live bait have fared best with the hoodlums. The fish are moving around quite a bit, with Long and Horseshoe reefs being the pick. Further offshore, the pelagic action is also in full swing, with marlin the main target species. A few crews are getting upwards of 5 shots, which is pretty good going in my books. The majority are stripes with the odd black, and the average size is around 80-90kg so nice fish. With the water a warm 23 degrees, I wouldn’t

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A pair of cracking black bream from the flats. These fish fell to skipping plastics in very shallow water — a deadly technique at times. be surprised to see a few blue marlin hooked over coming weeks. Trolling larger skirted pushers around 14-16” long is the go for the blues. With such good water along the shelf, mahimahi, wahoo, shortbill spearfish, yellowfin tuna and a host of shark species are all possibilities. This action will continue for months yet, and l know the local lads are getting a little excited about what to expect. The rocks have been awesome for bonito and smaller kingfish, with Tura Head, Long Point and the main wharf producing. When the nor’ easters blow, Long Point is the go, as you get a lot of shelter there from the wind, and the warmer current

wraps around the corner. Casting poppers, metal shiners, and whole ganged pilchards will work, with poppers a fun way to target kingfish. Their explosive nature when smacking a lure off the surface is something to behold, and I for one don’t get bored of seeing it. On the beaches, whiting and bream continue to do the right thing, with North Tura and Tura Main Beach being prime spots. There are some solid gutters close in, so a short cast is all that’s required. A running sinker rig with fresh or live worms will ensure a solid feed for the pan. The salmon action has been slow of late, but there’s been plenty of tailor about to keep the beachgoers happy.

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Just get out there! BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

This is the best time of year to fish around Bermagui, with all forms of fishing on offer, so do whatever it takes to get out there! Estuary fishing couldn’t be better, with warm water throughout the systems making for good fishing. On the tidal flats, using squirtworms or nippers with the rising tide will produce whiting, bream, blackfish and a host of other species. Small lures and flies work too, and if you haven’t got a boat, the weather should be warm enough to wade as the tide recedes. Places that are fishing

the best in the Bermagui River are around any form of structure, whether it be at high or low tide. These areas give fish cover and a safety zone, and may come in the form of weed beds, rock and oyster bars, dropoffs or man-made features like bridge pylons and boat jetties. Unlike what you see on television, you don’t have to be throwing baits and lures right into the structured areas. Try holding out from them and bring the fish to you, where they can be played out in clear water, reducing the chance of breakoffs. To do this, consider using berley. It’s surprising how far fish (especially bream), will travel from their safety zone when enticed by a scent.

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Other lakes and estuaries surrounding Bermagui that are closed to the ocean may require a different approach. In these systems, fish have to travel regularly to feed, and this is good news for those wishing to use lures or flies. Polaroid fish in shallow areas to see what patterns are forming. If fish are moving with a stop-start routine and pausing often, this generally means they are looking to feed and can be targeted. When grouped and holding in snags (bream especially), they tend to be resting, although they might still be enticed by a wellplaced lure. Offshore game fishing is presently at its best, with large numbers of marlin, tuna, sharks, and mahimahi patrolling the vast baitfish schools that come with the warm summer water. The edge of the continental shelf, the 12, 6 and even in close as the 4 Mile Reef will all hold their share of baitfish, and along with them come the predators. Every marlin season is different, where tides, moon phases and current dictate where the fish are holding. A well-set lure pattern trolled behind boats will undoubtedly produce fish; not only marlin, but other pelagic species as well. If water temperatures are up, start trolling close to shore and work your way out to find where the fish are located. Once found, work the areas over, whether it be with baits or sticking with lures. Sharks are best targeted with berley, and for best results include plenty of tuna in it. Out over the shelf will be the better area, with

Luderick don’t only eat weed — note the bait pump in the background. makos, blues, hammerheads and tigers all prowling the warm water. Berleying the 12 Mile will also produce sharks, but with the added bonus of being able to bottom fish as well. Speaking of bottom fishing, it’s also tops at present, with most species being encountered. Montague Island has good numbers of kingfish surrounding it, along with other reef dwellers. From there, the step out from Tilba back towards Bermagui has sand flathead, red gurnard and the odd gummy shark. Closer to shore out from Camel Rock, plenty of small to mid-range sand flathead are being caught. South of Bermagui, the reefs through to Goalen Head and as far out as the 12 Mile are producing large amounts of quality bottom dwellers. Snapper, mowies, tiger flathead, kingies and

a host of others are all likely to be encountered in surprisingly increasing numbers. This may be a result of the reduction of commercial fishing activities within the area due to the government buyback scheme. Bermagui no longer has a permanent longline fleet and is reduced to 2 trawlers and a few bait and dropline boats. This is good news for the recreational fishos. With warm water pushing right into the shoreline, this is allowing beach and especially rock anglers a chance of some good pelagic action. The deeper rock platforms around Bermagui Headland, Mystery Bay to the north, and Bunga to the south, are seeing a host of different surface feeders coming within range of the land-based angler. Those wishing to target these

species from the stones (which might include kingfish, tuna, sharks, the occasional marlin, and on a lesser scale salmon and bonito), may do so using a variety of techniques. Lure fishing has grown in popularity with the introduction of large soft plastics to the scene. The old high speed retrieves with large metal lures hasn’t been forgotten either, and is producing a variety of different speedsters. Live baiting is still the favoured way of producing larger fish from the rocks, and some of the baits used are pretty exciting too. Salmon in the 1-2kg bracket often find themselves under a balloon with a hook in their backs, as do frigate mackerel, slimies, tailor, bonito, yellowtail and squid. When one of these gets eaten, you better be prepared to hang on!

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The recent rain that hit the south coast did not miss Eden either, with the whole area copping a good soaking. The local rivers and creeks are flowing well, and the water in the estuaries has cleared after being the colour of chocolate. Solid rain at this time of year is always good for fishing in the weeks to follow. This even benefits the offshore fishing, and as the saying goes “a drought on the land is a drought in the ocean”. Boats heading offshore have been coming home with a good feed, with the flathead grounds fishing

well for tiger and sand flathead. The usual reefies like snapper, morwong and of course leatheries have all been caught and some good kingies are present, but getting them on the bite hasn’t been easy with fish caught one day and not the next. Boats heading out wide chasing game fish have caught small yellowfin tuna, along with striped tuna. Striped marlin are about and the fishing will only improve in the coming months. The water temperature at the moment is up and down like a yo-yo, with water as cold as 16 degrees one day, then back up to 20 the next. Heading offshore means an early start, as the wind has been up most days by 9.00am. If you get going early enough, you can be

back with a feed before the wind blows you off the water. Dusky flathead are on the go in all the local estuaries, with soft plastic lures working well. Tailor, trevally, bream and whiting have been caught, with fresh baits of worms and nippers the go for the whiting. The months ahead should see the prawns start moving. They are the prime bait if they are about, and lures that imitate a prawn will get you amongst the fish. With all the rivers flowing well, the bass fishing in the area has been excellent. The fish have been able to move well upstream to their summer haunts and surface fishing has been good, with early mornings and fishing into the evening the best option.

School is in; fish are out TATHRA

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

School is back and this is a great time to fish the south coast. It is definitely the best time to try a variety of fishing styles, from the blue ocean, rock or beach, estuary and up into the fresh, so please enjoy. Out to sea, warm currents have brought a host of game fish pursuing the schools of baitfish. Marlin are definitely on most fishos’ hit list, and at this time of year they will come within range of even the smallest of boats. Lures

them over with the lures in conjunction with your sounder looking for larger fish shadowing the schools. Quite often there may be predators around the bait, although not feeding, so persist by staying with it until the bite happens. A variety of tuna, sharks, mahimahi and kingfish should be in the same vicinity as the marlin, and will also respond to a well-set lure pattern. The sharks may not be as attracted to the lures, but definitely will be to berley and live baits, while hammerheads are partial to trolled live striped tuna. Reef and bottom fishing is producing a great variety of table fish, and whether you

and morwong are the most targeted species whilst bottom fishing, however, the variety out there may surprise you a little. For a bit of fun, try using a light spin outfit with braided line and drop some soft plastic jigs around the headlands; it can be very exciting. Flathead are also in good numbers at present and anglers should have little trouble gathering a feed from the more popular grounds. At this time of year the warm water will push right in onto the coast, and so will the predators. Land based fishing is at its prime and a host of different species may be encountered from the

A brace of Brogo bass for mum and daughter team of Jan and Steph. are probably the easiest way to cover ground to find concentrations of them. Find the bait schools, work

go north, south or straight out the front, you should score a reasonable feed without too much effort. Snapper

rock platforms that surround Tathra and the old wharf jutting out over the ocean. Being as popular as it is

Whiting have been abundant this season, and this trend looks set to continue. during the holidays, the wharf still produces outside these times, with fewer anglers vying for positions. This is the time to drift live baits out under balloons, just to see who might be visiting the area. Anything from tuna to sharks, kingfish, salmon and the possibility of a marlin; they’re all available from this fine old structure. Wandering into the estuaries, the Bega River is all fired up and hot to trot. Anglers are experiencing great fishing towards the entrance on flathead, using both lures and baits. When the river is closed to the ocean and a little stained in colour, try using lures with a lot of gold in them, as I have found they reflect well in the discoloured water. On the flats, whiting are on the move, with some

very nice fish being taken on worms and nippers. Mixed in are a few good bream, flounder and blackfish. Some of the deeper holes around the bridge and along the rock walls have produced the odd mulloway, mostly taken at night on strips of tailor or live mullet, although a few have been caught during daylight hours on lures. Staying down towards the entrance, try your luck prawning at night. The river has been one of the best areas this year, with the prawns now at a very good size. If you intend to keep some as bait, place them in a bucket with wet seagrass over them and use fresh the next day. Nelsons Lagoon, only a few minutes north of Tathra, is well worth a look. This picturesque little tidal estuary has been producing excellent

results for anglers wading and fishing both baits and lures. Most species will be encountered here and it’s a great place to take the family for a day out. Back into the river and further upstream, bream, flathead and some very nice estuary perch have kept lure fishing anglers entertained. The fish are scattered throughout the system, so there is no particular area fishing well; basically, if it looks good, fish it. The Brogo River runs into the Bega River system and at the head of it lies Brogo Dam and its numerous stocked bass. It’s been a great year for them, with fish up to 40cm not uncommon. Fish whenever it suits, but for the most fun look for those lovely balmy nights when the insect life is active and surface fishing is at its best.

New ramp opens up the offshore options

The kingfish have been going well, with plenty of good-sized fish been caught,

R E V A L LY . S N A P P E R . E S G.T TU A

. WH AD

the water temperatures varying daily. It could be 20 today and 15

PE R RY

The ocean access ramp at Bastion Point was completed just in time for the summer influx of holiday visitors.

the system. They cop a real hammering at this time of year, so remember to stick to the bag limit and also let a few go. Bream, both black and yellowfin, have been caught, with the fish constantly on the move, so you need to do the same to find them. With the increased boat traffic, it pays to fish of an early morning or into the evening, with the bream not biting as well through the day. Some great bass fishing has been experienced in the area over the past month, but just remember these fish are one of the best sport fish we have and are best released to fight another day.

What a mixed bag of weather we have had this summer; heavy rain, and then hot one day and freezing the next. We should settle into some proper summer weather soon though — fingers crossed! The ocean is the same, with

and the best spot has been out around the aerials, which is nice and close to the boat ramp. Hopefully these fish a hang here for a while, as last year they passed by around the same time and weren’t seen again until later in the year. Good catches of both sand and tiger flathead have been made out around Gabo Island. For those keeping a feed of fish, be aware of the size and bag limits, as there are plenty of Fisheries inspectors around at this time of year. Salmon and tailor are about on all the local beaches, with plenty of good gutters anywhere from the lake entrance down Betka Beach, which is great to see as it allows anglers to find a gutter to fish on their own. Some good size yellowfin bream are also been caught, with the top of the tide the best time to chase these fish. There’s been some good action with sand whiting, and the Bottom Lake, particularly around the entrance area, is the spot to wet a line. Dusky flathead are really on the go, with fish caught throughout

. BASS . JEWFISH . F LA

captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

tomorrow, which really changes the fishing. The ocean boat ramp is now completed and looks good. When the weather is suitable, plenty of boats are getting out there and wetting a line. Some good fishing has been had from the new breakwall itself, with blackfish and trevally being landed and plenty of baitfish hanging around it. I won’t be surprised if a kingie is caught there, with the amount of bait present.

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The freshwater fishing is fantastic in February TAMWORTH

Adam Mears adam.mears@hotmail.com

How the times change. For the past decade lipless crankbaits have dominated the inland fisho’s favourite lures’ tray and for good reason — they catch fish and will continue to do so for many years to come. But have you got one of those spots that used to fish well, but have since gone quiet? Or do you fish an area that receives a lot of angling pressure? Well I’m daring you to take up the challenge of fishing something ‘out of the box’. On a recent trip, a good mate of mine came in with

a plethora of techniques typically employed by our colonial cousins in America. Soft plastic frogs and mice were one technique that sparked my interest, and we were greeted with immediate results. Okay, so it’s no surprise that the cod loved the frogs, but the amount of golden perch boofing and eating these subtle surface lures was mind blowing. Up until that trip, I had only caught 2 other yellowbelly off the top, and talking to fellow dedicated anglers this was considered the norm. In one session though, we had dozens of follows and strikes from these golden assassins, as they cautiously followed these

The author with one of many goldens falling to surface lures lately.

lifelike imitations to the bank. Hopefully with some refining of the technique, I will be able to share some more info on it at a later date. It can pay to try new things on old water, as you won’t believe how many gems lay right at your feet. PEEL RIVER   The Peel should still fish well through February. The water clarity has improved, and lure fishing has provided many newcomers to the sport a better than average chance of catching a fish or 2. Silent versions of the Jackall and Mazzy Vib range have been producing results on each outing.  The topwater fanatics will continue to prosper, with the cicadas in full song. When the cicadas are singing, the dinner bells are ringing for our precious cod, so take advantage of those topwater bites early and late in the day. Shrimp numbers have exploded in recent months. The fresh must have done wonders for these much sought-after crustaceans, and I believe they are the number 1 bait in our area. Not only are they favourites with golden perch, but cod, catfish and silver perch all love a wellpresented shrimp.

LAKE KEEPIT  Well the rains came and yet they keep dropping the dam level. The good drop of rain

the 5-6m depths, while those bobbing scrubbies and yabbies have been struggling to find any quality fish.

SHEBA DAM Sheba has been active in recent times. No record breakers, but great fun for

Double hookup! This native pair took different lure types from either side of the same snag. brought the height up to 17%, but as quickly as it came they released it back downstream. As much as the Aussie battlers on the farms need the water, it’s a real shame to see the place so low. It’s not all bad, as the guys trolling the main basin have been doing well in

The carp numbers in the dam are incredible, and many a fun day can be had from the banks catching these hard fighting imports. All the usual baits will work, and remember to use a little berley as that often gets the fish to hang around for a while.

the whole family. Small Celtas and hardbodies have been a good option for the lure casters, and the Power Bait Trout Nuggets are almost a guarantee for anyone chasing rainbow trout or teaching the kids how to fish.

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FEBRUARY 2015

Preventing the spread of WATER WEEDS Can’t see the fish through the weeds? Don’t let your favourite spot get like this.

Help prevent the spread of water weeds! WHAT ARE WATER WEEDS? Water weeds are invasive plants that pose a threat to the economic, environmental and recreational value of our waterbodies.

HOW DO THEY AFFECT ME? Water weeds can form large floating mats, dense submerged thickets or extensive stands along the bank. They create poor water quality conditions affecting the diversity and abundance of fish and other aquatic life. Heavy infestations restrict watercraft navigation, prevent access to fishing spots, foul fishing gear and make it difficult to land fish. Water weeds can be spread by fishers and boaters. Propellers and anchors can cut plants into fragments and spread them within and between waterbodies. Fragments can spread from an infested waterbody to a weed-free waterbody by attaching to watercraft, trailers and fishing equipment. Some weeds can survive considerable time out of water and a single plant fragment can start a new infestation. WHICH WEEDS ARE CONSIDERED A PROBLEM? Weeds such as alligator weed, salvinia, water hyacinth, water lettuce and

cabomba can have serious impacts on the health of water systems, as well as restrict access for recreation (e.g. boating and fishing). Recent outbreaks of water hyacinth on the Dumaresq river near Tenterfield and alligator weed on the Namoi and Peel rivers near Gunnedah and Tamworth raise serious concerns about the invasion of water weeds in the Murry/Darling river system. HOW CAN I HELP? WHAT SHOULD I DO? You can help reduce the spread of water weeds and prevent new outbreaks by:

SALVINIA (Salvinia molesta): a floating water weed.

WATER LETTUCE (Pistia stratiotes): a floating water weed.

WATER HYACINTH (Eichhornia crassipes): a floating water weed.

CABOMBA (Cabomba caroliniana): a submerged water weed.

ALLIGATOR WEED (Alternanthera philoxeroides): an emergent water weed that can also grow on land.

• Inspecting and removing any plants from watercraft, trailers and all equipment before leaving a site or launching at a new site. • Learning to recognise water weeds. Be on the lookout for new or unusual water plants. • Avoiding weed-infested waterbodies and stopping the engine in infested areas. • Reporting suspicious infestations using the contact information at the bottom of this page.

Inspecting and removing water plants from watercraft, trailers and gear can help reduce the spread of water weeds.

Report to your local council weed officer or NSW DPI on 1800 680 244 or email weeds@dpi.nsw.gov.au Further information on water weeds can be found at ww.dpi.nsw.gov.au/weeds

Good rain does wonders MAITLAND

Dave McLean djfmclean@bigpond.com

The weather pattern has been quite mild this summer, and in late December we received some very welcome rainfall that breathed life back into the impoundments and gave the rivers a nice influx of clean water. With the holiday season now over, the boat traffic has lessened, which makes the ramps a lot less congested. The Hunter River has been fishing well since the recent rain, with the bass hitting surface lures in the low light periods and black crickets the choice for bait fishing. The Paterson River has ben producing some

nice bass on the surface up at the top end, and down around the lower reaches on spinnerbaits and small hardbodies. The lower Hunter section from Morpeth down to the Terrace has some really good areas to target, including rock walls, steep banks and sandy flats, which are very productive as they also hold some nice bream and flathead along with the odd mulloway. The Williams River should see a reduction in water skiers and could take a while to settle down, but as this month progresses the bass will be back on the chew. This system holds a lot of small bass, so you’ll only need small presentations to tempt them. I have found very bright

40mm hardbodies and blades a good choice, along with 1/6oz Betts Spins and 2.5” grubs. Lostock Dam usually fishes well in late summer, and with recent rises will be good this month, especially around the timber and along the river channel towards the back. I find the bass really like small lures in natural colours and also Jackall TN 50s. LAKE ST CLAIR The dam has been holding up fairly well over recent weeks, but the fishing has been very hit and miss. Still, there have been some reasonable numbers of fish caught, with the bait fishers getting catties off the edges on worms, and a few goldens and the odd bass from the timber on shrimp.

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Jordan Armstrong, a very keen bass angler, with a beaut Glenbawn bass that fell to a Jackall TN 60. The water temperature is just starting to fall, which should make for better fishing, especially when it gets down around 24°C. This summer hasn’t seen much weed form around the banks, which makes for some frustrating fishing, as the fish don’t hold up in an area for any length of time. The bass are moving around the dam a lot at present, which makes life a bit tough, but with the use of a good sounder and trolling deep lures can find where the schools are holding up. I have found that using the wind patterns from the previous days a big help in locating the fish. One day you can catch them on the windblown banks on cranks and spinnerbaits, and the next day they are out in 10m. They are actively feeding on firetail gudgeons and smelt now, and the wind not only blows the schools of bait around the dam, but it can also turn the water column over, which makes them go deeper. I have 2 helpful tools on my Lowrance 9T sounder to

locate the fish. The first is Structure Scan, which can virtually cover an area of 180°under my boat, but the other is Insight Genesis, as it can show where there are hidden gutters and dropoffs, and the nature of the bottom composition — soft or hard. LAKE GLENBAWN Glenbawn has produced some reasonable catches during the holidays, with the best ones coming from the baitos using shrimp and crickets. During a couple of decades of fishing this dam, I have found this month and January to be the toughest of all. With the dam being so low for so long, there is not much weed or cover around the banks for the fish, so most of them will come from relatively deep water where there is some form of cover. The bass and goldens will be caught in areas out to the 15m depth, and will take a slow rolled plastic or blade around the timber and rocky walls. Quite often you will find bass holding in tops of trees in 20m and I find using ice-jigs a very good option, aided

by a very good sounder to pinpoint them. A good area for this is along the western foreshore, Golden Point and Sunken Cabins, and also up along the North Run. Some other areas worth targeting for these deeper fish is the Dogleg and Big Mountain. The trollers should also give The Narrows a run, especially if the dam is slowly rising. During December, there were some good stockings of bass into both Lake St Clair and Glenbawn. In the past 14 years, the total stockings of bass into Glenbawn totals around 750,000, along with 960,000 golden perch. In Lake St Clair, the bass total is 560,000 and the goldens 765,000. At Glenbawn in December, the Aberdeen Fishing Club members stocked 8,000 in dollar for dollar grants, and DPI from Port Stephens approximately 20,000, and around 10,000 into St Clair. Finally, I have one of my Lowrance 9Ts for sale as I have updated to the new Gen 111 version. Drop me an email if you are interested.

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Brad Harrison is from DPI and a very keen angler. This great Glenbawn golden was also taken on a Jackall.

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Crazy times to catch more fish in February! LITHGOW/OBERON

Glen Stewart stewie72@bigpond.com

For the most part, to catch fish consistently in February on the Central Tablelands it’s necessary to keep crazy hours. By this I mean being on the water pre-dawn for trout and native species, and fishing through until first light and a bit after, as this is when fish will be most active. Sure you can stay out, change tactics and still catch some, but you will have seen the best of it early. Trout quickly move to deep water once the sun is up. Some may not even move from the depths at all over summer, happy and content to work the thermocline, harassing baitfish, tiny water fleas and the like. To catch these trout you have to be in the zone and this could be down 40’ or more in deep waters such as Lake Lyell and Thompsons Creek Dam (TCD). Reaching those depths at Lyell on a consistent basis is best done out of a boat, but with no boat access on TCD, it’s very hard, with only a few locations being a possibility from the bank.

Downrigging and deep fly fishing using full sink fly lines are 2 methods that can be used on Lyell with some success on these thermocline-hugging fish, but it’s not something I have done a lot of recently. Both methods are used extensively overseas and in the Snowy lakes, so do yourself a favour and check out some of the stuff on the Internet regarding these subjects — it’s a real eye opener. Working the banks at TCD means finding the deepest water possible closest to the bank, but not the wall, as this is a no-go zone. The quarry on the western bank is one such spot, and casting heavy spoons, letting them flutter to the bottom, then ripping them back up to flutter back down again can produce some savage strikes. Casting Tassie Devils, letting them sink, followed by a slow retrieve, can also work at times. ALL ABOUT THE BASS Hopefully the bass bite will continue, although it’s frustrating at times with the weather conditions. It’s been an okay season thus far and water traffic in Lyell makes it tough during the warmer months, but if you keep to

those crazy hours you should do well. Look to be off the water before the melee starts! Where you are fishing can mean a big difference in tackle selection. Save the light gear for the open water and rocky banks, as when in amongst the drowned black wattle it’s title fight stuff. Use 10kg braid and 7kg leaders minimum, and don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’ve gone back to a mono leader to add some shock absorption in the equation. With a less than 50% average on landing these things, it got me thinking (my wallet was screaming at me too) that with a high modulus graphite rod, braid, a locked drag and a fluorocarbon leader there is very little give in the tackle setup. The bass where hitting that hard and that quickly, they were breaking us off on the strike (their strike, not mine). On a straight retrieve rod tip down pointing back at the lure, the rod doesn’t even get a chance to get into a working curve. Just my thoughts, but the next step is an old school fiberglass rod and just get it bent to the corks. COD ON THE SURFACE What a rush; one second your lure is paddling slowly along the surface, the next

minute there’s a hole in the water where your lure once was and you’re shaking like a leaf. It’s an adrenalin fix that

shows competition for food in some pools can make cod do crazy stuff. With a lot more water

spots that are not quite as noticeable. Use your sounder, use your sounder, I will say it again, use your sounder. Find

Sometimes you win, most times you lose. With some tackle adjustments made, we might see a few more bass of this size. Great fish Muz, the fight was a pleasure to watch. needs no fixing! Early morning at this time of year has the edge, I reckon. The cod know that it’s going to be a long, hot day parked up in the shade, so it’s a case of better get a feed as soon as possible. Multiple strikes on the same retrieve, sometimes by different fish,

surrounding them in the lakes, competition is not quite as intense. Good structure in the right location in waters such as Wyangala and Burrendong will always hold the best fish though. Keep in mind the best looking areas above the waterline will be the hardest hit, so look for those little

the structure, and if it means keeping the rods in the boat while you look for it, then so be it. Mark your spots, spend a few hours doing it during the middle parts of the day when it’s quiet, then go back in prime times and hit them hard. Jump from one to the other maximise your time.

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Summer’s here and the fishing is getting easy CANBERRA

Bryan Pratt

Summer had an erratic start in our part of the world, with hot weather mixed with violent short storms, quick reversions to winter, then back to warm weather. It still hasn’t settled in mid-summer, but at least the fish behaviour has become a bit more predictable and anglers have reported some good captures recently. REDFIN GALORE Redfin have dominated the lure, fly and bait scene in the local lakes. As in previous years, the fish have built up into enormous schools, which can be seen busting up around the lake

SOFT PLASTICS WORK WELL Soft plastics have also been effective. The best of them have a highly mobile tail action, which attracts redfin of all sizes, from 10cm tiddlers to 2kg thumpers. Pink has been the preferred colour, but fish have been taken on a wide range of other colours. PREPARING FOR THE TABLE Redfin are a superb table fish, better than any other freshwater species in the region. They are best filleted and skinned soon after capture to produce a firm, boneless fillet that is ideal for the smoker, griller, steamer or barbecue. If they are not prepared for the table quickly after capture,

commonly hang around redfin schools, feeding on them as they desire. They often take a lure meant for redfin and recently an angler in Burley Griffin landed a 3kg golden on a tiny lure, and another angler did the same thing with a 7kg Murray cod in Lake Ginninderra. COLD HARD CASH FOR A REDFIN One angler cashed in on the publicity I had given in previous columns about the attractiveness of redfin as an aquarium fish. He was fishing in Burley Griffin and had just landed a handsome 62cm reddie when a passer-by, a keen aquarist, offered him $50 for it. He pocketed the money, but was a bit shocked later when I advised him that it is illegal

Trout streams have been invigorated by rain from intermittent summer storms throughout the Canberra region. Some nice fish have been taken on fly and lure. edges, herding small baitfish into the shallows where they can be eaten. The fish can be taken easily on fly, lure or bait, and anglers have racked up some pretty impressive bags lately. One angler fishing Lake Burley Griffin landed 56 fish in one session, while others at Googong have recorded cricket scores in just a morning or afternoon. Most of the fish have been small, but some larger specimens have been taken. At Googong, drifting and bobbing with scrubworms in deep water or trolling with deep divers yielded some great fish to 2kg, and bags of 1.5kg fish were common. The best of the deep divers were the Golden Child from the Smak company, Jackalls, and of course the Burrinjuck Specials. The Golden Child has a wide bib that gives it a broad swaying action, which for some reason is very attractive to larger redfin. Jackalls and Burrinjuck Specials are just innately great fish catchers.

the skin mucous sets rock hard and the fish become exceedingly difficult to scale or skin. Take time to prepare the larger ones as you catch

to sell fish without a permit. Anglers should note too, that although redfin can be kept as an aquarium fish in the ACT without a permit,

After a prolonged lean spell, Jindabyne is slowly becoming worth fishing again. These fine brown and brook trout were part of a larger catch on fly, which also included some small rainbows, at East Jindabyne them, and the time taken will be well rewarded. WELCOME BYCATCH There have been some interesting sidelights to redfin chasing, too. Golden perch and Murray cod

a permit is required in NSW where the fish is a declared noxious species. ILLEGAL BASS STOCKING It’s obvious now that somebody is illegally

Bass have apparently been illegally stocked in Lake Burley Griffin. This healthy 25cm specimen is the second caught in recent months. It was in perfect condition despite being well out of its natural range, the nearest of which are the drainage systems along the south coast of NSW. stocking bass in Lake Burley Griffin. A healthy 25cm specimen was caught in the lake several months ago on a scrubworm, and another of similar size was taken on a lure recently in the same location. Both fish were in perfect condition and, remarkably, seem to have survived Canberra’s fearsome cold winter temperatures. Bass have never been officially stocked in the lake and it is assumed that some private individual has been stocking them on the sly. This practice is unwise, as it interferes with official stocking and study programs with native fish, but it does raise the possibility of officially stocking the fish as a genuine recreational species. They cannot breed in the lake and are unlikely to seriously compete for food with Murray cod and golden perch, given the already existing impact of carp in the waterway. TROUT SCENE BUSY Short bursts of rain from intermittent summer storms have kept regional trout streams topped up and flowing at a reasonable level. Fishing has been proportionately good, with some nice browns and a few rainbows reported from the Moonbah, Gungahlin, Thredbo, Eucumbene, Murrumbidgee and Yarrangobilly rivers and some of the smaller creeks. Best flies have been brown nymph, Blue Dun, Watson’s Fancy, White Moth and dark beetles. Celtas have been the most useful lure. BIG LAKES PRODUCING Fishing has improved in Eucumbene, Jindabyne and Tantangara. The 2013 rainbow stockings appear to have been successful and hordes of 30cm fish are showing each day in Jindabyne and Eucumbene. They can be taken on fly, lure or bait, although bait fishing has been hampered by heavy algal growth in the shallows. Fly anglers have

fared best, with Pheasant Tail Nymphs and Iron Blue Duns during the day, midge balls late in the afternoon, and larger Woolly Buggers and mudeye patterns after dark. Trollers have done well

with Tasmanian Devils and small Halco, Rapala and Strike Pro minnow patterns. Bait fishers mostly have relied on scrub worms, but PowerBait is slowly coming back into favour.

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Blowering the best when the water is falling BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

Falling water levels in our impoundments have become the norm during the summer months all over Australia, and is normally associated with shutdown fishing. This is certainly not the case at Blowering Dam though, where plenty of fish are still being landed. As the dam level slowly drops, the resident yabbies and crayfish no longer have freshly flooded weed beds

and grass flats to hide in, and must keep on relocating to remain undetected under the changing conditions. The fish are clued into this and take advantage of the easy pickings. It goes without saying that anything that resembles these tasty morsels will give you a good chance of putting a bend in your rod. Baitos can’t go wrong using a yabby on a paternoster rig that will hold the bait up in the fish’s face while you have a lure fish, cook some dinner or whatever it is that is stopping you from hand-holding the

On top of being a great casting lure, the new Insanity Tackle Slap Walkers are a great trolling lure as well. Three tow points allow an angler to adjust their running depth without having to change lures.

rod. Fishing yabbies like this works fine, but the best way to fish one is ‘actively’, like you would with a soft plastic or a blade. Basically, just rig your yabby on a hook (or a jighead if extra weight is needed), cast it out into a likely looking area, allow it to sink to the bottom, and then lift it 50-100cm off the bottom and allow it to sink back down again. You will be surprised at how many more fish will be caught by using a yabby actively like this. Most Murray cod, redfin, and especially golden perch prefer a moving bait, so to increase your chances next time, actively fish that bait. Big yabbies fished off the bank will give you a very good chance of hooking a decent Murray cod or golden perch, and small yabbies used either from the bank or from a boat near timber, points or dropoffs should see you amongst the redfin. Redfin can also be targeted with lures, either by casting or jigging with ice jigs, blades, spoons, plastics, vibes or rattlers. If you’re not into casting or jigging, trolling will also account for plenty of fish. The best lures to use when targeting redfin

Redfin bags like this are a real possibility in February. With Blowering quite low, there is less area for the fish to hide in, so finding them can be quite easy at times. are the AC Slim Invaders, but any hardbody less than 60mm in length will give you a good chance. When targeting redfin this way, you will get even better results when a small 1-2” soft plastic is added to the line about 1m or so above the lure. This setup really stirs the redfin’s competitive nature and can be the difference between fish and no fish on really tough days.

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Big Murray cod and golden perch are worth targeting with lures this month also, as most fish are actively seeking out the relocating yabbies. Skirted jigs or soft plastics that have a yabby-like appearance or action are probably the best bet this month. Just remember to use these lures very slowly, with lots of pauses, keeping in contact with the bottom almost all the time. You

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Head to the lakes for high country fun this month JINDABYNE

Steve Williamson swtrout@airlan.com.au

Due to the late season and cooler conditions in early summer, fly fishers are only now experiencing the best fly action in years. With lots of bugs about, the trout are leaping for joy! The water level on the streams is low and clear, and also much more fishable after the regular summer storms. The fish are mainly taking hopper and beetle patterns. The Thredbo continues to fish okay, and after the heavy rain is always the first river to clear up. Perisher Creek is well worth a try if you like dry fly fishing, and it’s not too cold and windy up there. Spencers Creek is another option. Some of the best lake fly-fishing occurs during the coming months, and this year with the steady lake level we should see big fish caught. Try any of the streamer patterns such as Mrs Simpson or Williamson’s Snowy Mountains Gold Fish. Olive green nymphs and shrimp patterns are also worth a try. The South Arm, Creel Bay and Kangaroo Bay are all great. The boat trolling has been very good and we are still catching trout on the surface, as the water temperature is not as warm as in previous years. We have been downrigging on the really hot and bright days though. Downrigger depth has not been as deep as in other years either, with 25-35’ about perfect. I would expect to see this formula continue over the next month or so. Start off early in the day with surface lines, and the trick is to have at least 60m and even up to 100m out to get best results when trolling the edges of the shoreline. After about an hour, add a lead core line to the equation. With lead lines you should start with 2 colours (20m) early and 3 colours (30m) later in the morning. From page 82

targeting Murray cod in those snaggy trolling runs, as these lures are very buoyant, which makes them ride over even the nastiest of snags with ease. When these lures are trolled with rod in hand, you can feel the snags quite easily and can feed slack line out when needed or lift the rod to ride the lure over snags. You will find they very rarely snag up when used this way. Golden perch are worth targeting on the troll this month as well, but while you will still catch the odd golden on the above-mentioned lures, slightly smaller ones are needed for best success. I would have to say that my

The Tasmanian Devil number 111 Willy’s Special is still about the best Devil colour at the moment, followed by the Brown Bomber. My new black/gold Tasmanian Devil or the Holographic has been the best for darker conditions, and have also been good for downrigging. I have been doing well with 9cm Rapalas off the downrigger and lead lines. Best colours are Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout. Gaden Trout Hatchery released baby rainbow trout fingerlings into Jindabyne last month, so all natural rainbow trout patterns are working well. With water levels still high, some of the better trolling areas this month will be Hatchery Bay and Hayshed Bay, and Sid’s Bay through to Rushes Bay. Watch out for the rocks as the East Jindabyne Islands start to reappear as the water levels drop. Best lure spinning on the lake has been in the shallow bays early and late in the day, and you can start by working

dropoffs with plenty of rocks. Bays like Creel, Hatchery and the Snowy Arm all fish well. On brighter days, change to a Tassie Devil and cast further out over dropoffs, letting the lure sink before slowly retrieving. Best areas have been down at the South Arm or near Banjo Patterson Park. Fish are still being caught in the Thredbo River on small floating Rapalas, with the best colours being Rainbow Trout and Perch. You can also try some Vibrax Glow spinners very early and late in the day, or soft plastics like the Strike Tiger in Olive Pepper. On the smaller streams like the Moonbah or upper Snowy, a variety of lures will work, but the best will be small bladed spinners like the Gillies Spina or Celtas in numbers 1 or 2 sizes. For deeper water, try the Rapala CD5 Spotted Dog or Gillies Tailbender. Bait fishing on Lake Jindabyne has been good over recent months due to

Sep Beheshti with a brown trout caught on a Tasmanian Devil Willy’s Special. the edges with Celtas or flicking floating Spotted Dog Rapalas about. Best spinning late in the day is where there are steep

the higher water levels. Try mudeyes or even worms under a float, and either let the waves move it about, or if there’s no wind try and wind

all-time favourite trolling lures for golden perch are lipless crankbaits. These are under-utilised as a trolling lure, and most people don’t even realise they can even be trolled, but they do work unbelievably well on golden perch and almost every species of freshwater fish that swims, including Murray cod. The new Insanity Tackle Slap Walkers are probably the best lipless crankbaits, as they have three tow points meaning you can adjust trolling depth by simply changing holes. Even though the new boat ramp at the Pines area of Blowering Dam has taken

a lot of pressure off the ramp at Log Bridge, it has still seen a lot of traffic this summer, with fishos, skiers and other water users also using it. These summer crowds are to be expected, and on the whole a very good thing for the district, but unfortunately it also draws out a lot of lazy and inconsiderate boaters. The constant wave action created by water skiers and the like is something we all have to get used to in the summer months. Rude fishos that come cruising over to fish right beside you in the bay you’ve just pulled a nice fish from can also be tolerated ‘at times’, but it’s the lazy, inconsiderate

Sasan Beheshti with a brown trout caught trolling on a Tasmanian Devil holographic lure. it in very slowly with a pause after every turn of the handle. Some good results have come from using the new Ecogear Bream Prawn 40s under a float. These look very much like a real mudeye. Another bait worth suspending is the old faithful grasshopper, which you don’t see used much these days. They work a treat and there are plenty about at the moment. You might need the kids and a butterfly net to help you collect the bait though. Best bait fishing areas are Creel Bay, Hatchery Bay, and Curiosity Rocks. Another great area is the bottom of Discovery Holiday Park near Widows Creek Inlet. 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. jerks who park their cars and trailers right at the bottom of the ramp in everyone’s way that raises the blood pressure. These fools really make my blood boil, especially when the next 20 people have followed suit, leaving no swing around room and making for a long reverse from 500 metres or more at times. There are no signs up for those people without any common sense, so it comes back to the individual to understand that sufficient swing room should be left at the bottom of every boat ramp. Think before you park, and then everyone can enjoy their day out on the water.

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Top water equals top fishing YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

With the Christmas hangover gone and the guilt from eating too much a distant memory, it’s time to snap into action and hit the water in search of some rod bending action. The hum and buzz of jet skis and the doof doof rubbish from ridiculously over-sized ski boats, has been replaced with the magic sounds of boof and bang from the mighty Murray cod. There is no better place to be at this time of year in search of a green fix than magnificent Lake Mulwala. If the trend continues, it seems that every cod fisho is loading up on surface lures looking for exciting topwater action. We are in the midst of some great surface activity at present, so get yourself set-up with the right gear and see what this craze is all about. Once you get that first boof you will be hooked. The other productive methods at present are both casting and trolling artificials in the timbered

areas of the lake. With boat traffic easing, cod are starting to poke their heads up again after being shy about the traffic. Locally, the festive season was hectic on-water, with numerous boats enjoying their time throughout our region. The fishermen that managed to find some quieter waters, especially on the northern side of the lake, found success with both lure and bait fishing for cod. During the Christmas period, we received many great reports about quality fish. With all the chatter being about surface action, it’s hard to go past Chris Crabb’s magnificent 113cm model. This cod came late in the year and is just reward for a fanatical fisho who now has claims to the Fish of the Year title! Jamie Stewart and Beau Foster had an outstanding run on the surface, landing 4 beauties measuring 60, 75, 83 and 95cm respectively. According to Jamie, Beau’s 95 was the unluckiest fish in the lake, after being missed a couple of times, bird nests and tangles, but just like golf, you don’t draw pictures, you write numbers!

Their lures of choice were Jackall Pompadours and Koolabungs. Jamie also had his son Nathan out over the Christmas period, with the latter landing a new PB of 90cm. A great fish for a young fella and something many grown men would be happy to see. A couple of quick happy snaps and it went straight back in the drink. The happiest ‘tourist’ in store over the break came in the form of one Mark Ratten, telling of the success of his mate, Dave Brennan from Arthurs Creek. Dave had a great afternoon below the weir, landing 67 and 75cm cod, and then topping it off with a monster that stretched the tape out to 115cm. It was a great afternoon for Dave and Mark that will stay in their memory bank for a long time. The boys’ choice of bait was yabbies. Just as happy as these boys was one of the most passionate and switched-on young anglers I have come across — 12 year-old Charlie Mertadana from Benalla. Charlie spent a solid few days casting spinnerbaits below the weir and was up to around a dozen cod the

last time we spoke. It’s great to see young kids with such enthusiasm, and Charlie’s sure to have a great future with his fishing. I had the pleasure of accompanying the lovely Natalie Hunter from Totally Wild television for a day of filming downstream in the river. Joining us were the stars of the show, young Archer Lowe and Cooper Bennett. Natalie managed to land a couple of smaller cod that got her very excited, while Cooper landed a nice 56cm fish that provided some good footage. As for Archer, I’ll say nothing apart from stay tuned very soon to see what went on! With the competition season upon us, there are a few events coming up over the next couple of months. The first is the ever-popular Lowrance Da$h 4 Cash on February 14 and 15. Following this is the His & Hers Partners’ Classic on February 28; a great day for understanding couples to share time together in the boat. To round out the comp season is the Cod Nationals, 5 days of serious tournament fishing for the dedicated green fish angler. If you are visiting

Dave Brennan at Arthurs Creek with a 115cm Murray River monster. town, I urge you to call into Lake Mulwala Fish, Camp & Ski (Opposite the post office) in Mulwala and say G’day. We are your largest Murray cod-specific shop

in Yarrawonga/Mulwala and specialise in all things ‘green’! For any information on the upcoming events or fishing reports, give us a hoy on (0357) 443 133.

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It’s a holiday cod bonanza ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

As cod seasons go, this one is starting off as good as any I can remember. It seems that every section of the Murray is producing fish, as are the anabranches and even the channels in between. In Swan Hill, local tackle proprietor Jim Credlin is ecstatic with the bite, and says it’s as good as he has seen. Credlin reports that although a lot of the cod are smaller, it’s great to have such numbers back in all the local waters. With the holiday period seeing an influx of campers

and fishers to our local areas, it’s great to see the fish are up and biting, according to Credlin. The Murray River upstream to Pental Island has good numbers of cod on bait and lures. Perch too, are finding their way onto the hook, with river shrimp and scrubworms proving the best baits. Even the local channels are producing fish, with several reports of both redfin and golden perch caught using bait. Sometimes the best fishing is right under our very noses and we don’t even know it’s there. In the Wakool, Murray cod up to and over the metre mark have been landed on both bait and lures. Merrin Creek has cod to 70cm on spinnerbaits, and the Edward

has anglers catching some good-sized cod on surface lures. It’s about this time of year that surface fishing really begins to fire. Best practiced during periods of low light, dawn and dusk are prime times, as are the many hours of

If your holiday travels bring you to sunny Mildura, then as a fisho you are in luck. Good numbers of medium to large Murray cod have been landed in this area, both above and below the lock this past

Rod Mackenzie has been smashing some very good cod on the new StumpJumper colours.

Mildura angler Gareth Lynch with a typical example of the size of the Murray cod that are biting well in most of the local rivers.

darkness in between. Another bonus of surface fishing is that you avoid the heat of the day, but be warned, mozzies are a constant companion. The Murray River at Robinvale has cod to 80cm on bait and good numbers of golden perch and the odd catfish. Below the lock at Euston, anglers trolling lures have landed some very nice cod, the biggest over the metre mark. Perch too, have been a frequent catch in this area.

Cod fishing picks up ECHUCA - MOAMA

Ian Page

Summer in our region has produced some of the best fishing we have seen for quite a few years. After a slow start to cod season, the pace has steadily picked up, and with water temperatures at their peak and a relatively stable level, the mighty Murray is the place to be. Find a section of river free of ski and wakeboard boats, and spend some time trolling the banks with the likes of Oar-Gee, StumpJumper, Custom Crafted or any large lure that will tap along the bottom and around the snags. Be prepared to work an area several times, with a lure change every couple of passes. Many anglers prefer to flick lures at structure along the river, and the same applies — be patient and have multiple casts at an area you think may house a cod, as you are most likely correct with one waiting to ambush an

injured fish. Sometimes they just need to be woken up! For the many that like to bait fish, the river is also

about at present. My preference with shrimp is to put multiples on the hook to entice the fish into biting.

Dean Norbiato nailed this Darling River cod while casting a Legohead lure.

month. Trolling large diving lures has produced several honking cod over a metre. All these fish were returned unharmed, in accordance with the new maximum 75cm slot limit. Perch have also been hitting the lures, with several anglers claiming their bag in a session. Bait is turning up some good perch and a few cod. The Darling River at Pooncarie has continued to fish well, with sizeable cod landed on both bait and lures.

For the visiting angler, it’s sometimes hard to get a handle on where and how to start fishing unfamiliar waters. A good reference point and place of anglingrelated info is as close as the local tackle store. Here you can also get bait, tackle, fishing licences, and a rundown on rules and regulations that often differ from state to state, or even certain rivers for that matter. Once you have the good oil on where the

fish are biting and all the gear that’s required to catch them, remember it is the holiday season and there will be plenty of boat traffic on the water. Safety first, fish second, and while that might sound strange, believe me there is an element of water users that care little for common sense. With that said, enjoy your fishing over the holiday period, as we continue into what looks set to be a very good season.

being caught, especially in the evening. Surface lures retrieved slowly across the top are always a good option and when struck by a fish is extremely exciting. The irrigation channels are still producing redfin in good numbers, with most taking small yabbies and worms. Gunbower Creek, while not as

good as most seasons, is still a worthwhile option, with some nice yellows and cod available. The new slot limits put in place this year seem to be working well, and with the fish population growing stronger, we will see the benefits of this in future seasons. So with great weather and plenty of

fish, it’s a great time to visit the region with your fishing tackle and get amongst them. • For the latest fishing and boating information in the Echuca/Moama region, drop into Boats and More’s Echuca store at 76 Northern Hwy or give them a call on (03) 5482 1992.

DAM LEVELS

Dam

This beautiful cod was caught, photographed and released by Zeb Boslem on a recent trip trolling the Murray. seeing good catches on bardi grubs and scrubworms, and my favourite bait, shrimps, of which there are plenty

Other waterways in our area like the Goulburn and Campaspe have been fishing similarly well, with great fish

% Full

Dam

% Full

Blowering............................. 30

Glennies Creek....................... 88

Brogo................................ 100

Grahamstown......................... 76

Burrendong........................... 18

Hume.................................. 53

Burrinjuck............................. 56

Jindabyne............................. 71

Carcoar................................ 22

Keepit.................................. 10

Chaffey................................ 34

Lostock................................ 94

Clarrie Hall......................... 100

Pindari................................. 12

Copeton............................... 20

Split Rock.............................. 6

Dartmouth............................. 82

Tantangara............................ 18

Eucumbene........................... 52

Toonumbar............................ 89

Glenbawn............................. 85

Windamere........................... 45

Glenlyon............................... 26

Wyangala............................. 43

(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.) FEBRUARY 2015

Bait fishing rivers – finding the pit stops CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

I don’t really get a lot of questions regarding the articles I write. Every now and then someone will hit me up on social media for more information related to tackle advice or directions to a certain spot, but overall, until recently, it has been all quiet on the Western Front. In August 2014, I wrote

here are the answers to all the questions I received, because in actual fact I do bait fish my local rivers from late summer through autumn and even into early winter. The Big Question So what’s so special about this time of year? I think this question requires a two-pronged answer. The closed season for Murray cod starts on August 31 and runs through until December 1. When I first started bait-

attempt to breed again until the following spring. Even though I wasn’t actively trying to catch cod, I realised that they were going to hit baits regardless. From that point I only used smaller lures when fishing the rivers and have, touch wood, not caught another cod during spring/early summer. Fishing on into autumn presents a golden opportunity to pursue natives, because the cod have finished spawning and are

hot, and the snakes have, for the most part, bedded down in preparation for winter. Perfect. Location I think of a river as a long stretch of track, and scattered throughout are a series of pit stops. Being able to read the river and where these pit stops are is more than half the battle. The main sections of river (open water) can represent good fishing, so don’t count them out. Bays, small rock islands and submerged trees

Big fish like a combination of different structure types. If you can get a bait in there, it will be scoffed.

Solid yellowbelly can be taken from late summer, throughout autumn, and into winter.

This tree/rock/open water combination produced a number of good golden perch. Flick the bait just in front of the snag and allow it to float past the rear of the rocks where the natives lie in wait. fishing rivers, I did so in early spring (not knowing of this important rule). I was still in my teens and fishing was a new pursuit. I pulled 3 small Murray cod and an 85cm beast from one snag during a particularly fruitful afternoon session. When I stopped by my local tackle shop to report my success, Dr Bryan Pratt told me about the closed season and the fact that when a cod is caught during this time, its spawning run is effectively over and it will not

Quality gear will withstand tough conditions and big fish. starving, the yellowbelly are readying to shut up shop for the winter and are searching for a last meal, it’s not too

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can also produce action. Even sections of sandy bottom will hold fish. In other words, there is a lot going on. What

I suggest looking for is a spot that offers all these elements: open water, submerged timber, overhanging trees,

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SA LE

an article about bait fishing in early spring for yellowbelly, and I mentioned that the techniques discussed work best in impoundments. This article, more than any other, certainly got a few anglers interested. I fielded many questions and most were related to my comments about bait fishing rivers. “Do you bait-fish rivers at all?” one angler wrote, while another asked why the techniques outlined in the article wouldn’t work on his local river. So

rocky islands, and chunks of sandy bottom. These sorts of spots are ideal because the fish have shelter from the current, areas to hide from big fish around the logs and rocks, plus several different food sources washing in from open water, falling from the trees, or living in the logs. If I were lure fishing, I would spend time on each of these spots individually, but when bait fishing it is best if they are all mixed into one. To find one of these areas may require some walking, but it’ll be worth the effort and there is no more moving around once a good spot is found. All the fish featured in the photos came from an area where all of these elements were rolled together, and were caught over two sessions. Technique/Baits Take two rods. Set both up with a running sinker rig and 30cm of monofilament trace, coupled with a small baitholder hook. Cast one rod

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Jack Lane twitching a scrubworm back through the snags. into open water with a scrub worm, 5m or so from the snaggy area. Make sure you snip the very end of the scrub worm to create a scent trail. When fishing open water, it is important that the bait appeals to a fish’s excellent sense of smell. Cast the second rod with a yabby bait right into the heart of the snag. The

yabby will swim about and cause a bit of commotion, which should bring fish on the bite. Be sure to remove its claws beforehand, as they will be less aggressive towards the fish and won’t be able to grab the line. Plant both rods in some rod holders (or on a convenient stick), wind the drag right off and allow for a slight

bow in the line. Wait and watch for a bite. When the rod tip indicates a nibble, pick up the rod, tighten the drag and wait for the line to peel out. My local rivers are crawling with carp and these pests will just grab and run, but natives don’t. They can be picky in autumn and if you are too quick with the strike you will wrench it out of their mouths. Even if you feel a big hit, wait for the line to peel off before setting the hook. If there are lots of bites, but no takes, twitch the line a few times to kick the bait around. This should get the fish to bite properly. If a big fish takes the bait in the snag, it is important not to panic. It may duck under a branch or try to wrap the line up. If this happens, release the bail arm. Allow a moment or two for it to swim out, and then come tight again. The largest perch of our two bait sessions down the river came to the net using this method. Tackle It is important not to skimp on your gear if you decide to take this form of fishing seriously, or if you uncover a particularly good spot. You will be setting your rods up on sandy banks and will battle big fish in tight snags. Unlike most freshwater scenarios, this means that gear can rust quickly and line can become frayed after the first few runs.

This is not a situation for a bargain bin special! I use two Daiwa Advantage rods, one a medium/heavy, the other a medium/light. I matched a 3000-size reel to the heavier rod and a 2500 reel to the lighter one. The heavy rod is for the structure, the lighter for open water to maximise the sport. These rods are built

into cover. I do like a little bit of stretch, however, and so use monofilament for all my river bait fishing sessions. The other reason is that I hate having to constantly re-tie leaders, and you do get a lot of snags with this method. Check the line regularly for any signs of damage, especially after the first couple of fish. Snapped lines are all

Conclusion Bait fishing is a wonderful way of catching freshwater natives in rivers and streams. The weather is beautiful, the fish are biting, the scenery is spectacular, and as the months roll by, the snakes are scarce. Find a spot which incorporates sunken timber, overhanging trees, rocky islands, open water, and a

Brendan Hawes with a small perch taken from underneath an overhanging tree on a small yabby. on an incredibly stiff blank, as a rod with a significant parabolic curve will allow the fish too much time to get back

too common if an angler is not vigilant, and you don’t want to lose that 1m cod because of frayed line.

sandy bottom, and catches of a dozen or more natives will not be uncommon at these piscatorial pit stops.

the only party NSW fishers can trust whhat we’ve delivered � Moratorium on Marine Parks � Saved Oilies Wharf � Hands Off Meroo Lake RFH � Overturned Ban on Beach and R Rock Fishing

Peter Johnson, SFP Candidate Peter Johnson has been fighting for fisher’s rights for the past 20 years, and will be someone all fishers can trust to look out for them in Parliament. He previously held the title President of NSW Fishing Clubs Association, was the former club captain of the Warringah Anglers, and has guest presented on Hi-Tide Fishing (2SM). Authorised by Robert Borsak Unit 26, 9 Salisbury Road, Castle Hill NSW 2154. FEBRUARY 2015

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What’s New FISHING

KUTTAFURRA MUDHONEY 75 AND 100MM

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

PRAWNSTAR GOLD

Kuttafurra Lures are hand-crafted by Aaron Young in Victoria. He is recognised as one of the best of our new age Australian lure makers. Recognised for the quality of his workmanship and paintwork, his lures are a must have for any native fish angler, with the Mudhoney 75 and 100 being no exception. The hardware on these lures is designed to stand up to heavily built native fish and won’t let you down in this department. They Dive to 12 and 15 feet respectively and are available in a range of angler and fish catching colours. They cast well and have a very seductive action, ideal to entice your favourite native species out of its hideyhole and provoke an aggressive response. Kuttafurra Lures are available at selected quality tackle outlets. For enquiries, Aaron can be contacted via email at kuttafurralures@outlook.com. Price: RRP $19.95 75mm, $25.95 100mm www.facebook.com/pages/KuttafurraSwagman-lures/1504913619770778

Innovation is still alive with Primal Fishing proudly announcing the release of the new improved Prawnstar GOLD that boasts a swag of fish catching enhancements sure to please. With a super tough spliced dacron leader and stainless steel solid ring on the nose, Prawnstar cops is even easier to flick, rig and fish. Better still, we’ve made Prawnstar GOLD 10% softer for a better flicking action, attracting more fish. Prawnstar GOLD’s new glow-in-the-dark eyes gleam like a live prawn under a spotlight and are sure to standout in the crowd. We’ve added some great new colours including fish catching tiger patterns to complement the proven fish catching colours retained from the existing range. And on the original size, we’ve upgraded the hooks to size 1 VMC’s, ensuring you keep the big girls connected. Prawnstar GOLD is a proven catcher of thumping big fish such as barramundi, mangrove jack, flathead, salmon, bream and more. Price: Too new www.primalfishing.com

JROC DYNAMETER

Have you ever wondered if your fishing line is really rated to what it claims to be? If the sun, age and usage has decreased the integrity of your fishing line? If your fishing line purchase is really the strength of what you paid for? Now you can test your own fishing line up to 25kg/55lb with our new digital scale and line force dynamometer. The 25kg Digital Scale with line force dynamometer is designed to weigh fish up to 25kg/55lb and test the pull force up to 25kg/55lb and also has a temperature function. It’s light weight and takes 1x CR 2032 battery, which is included and ready to use. Precision manufacturing ensures that the Digital Scale with Line force Dynamometer accurately displays weights or pull force up to 25kg (also displays imperial weight measurements), there is also an inbuilt temperature function. The device will turn itself off automatically after several minutes of nonuse, a great power saving feature. Price: $39.95 www.jroctackle.com.au

ECOODA RANGER

The new reel in the Ecooda line up is The Ranger! A fresh looking reel with superb colour cosmetics designed with a metallic silver finished graphite body and high gloss black double anodised aluminium spool, it sports a one-piece metal handle with a soft touch rubber knob for comfort. With over 30 years of reel development and manufacturing, the Ecooda team believes that the internal structure of the Ranger reel offers exceptional value with a long list of fantastic components including smooth gear operation running on a 5.1:1 ratio, 5+1 stainless steel ball bearings and smooth oil felt drag. A new design of precision internal oscillating gears offers a friction free drive train enhancing increased casting distance with braid and monofilament while preventing wind knots in braided line. The Ecooda Ranger is available in 4 sizes, 2500, 3000, 3500 and 4000. Price: RRP $79.95 www.bluefishimports.com.au

MEGABASS MAGDRAFT

The new Megabass Magdraft is a soft plastic lure that features the usual soft plastic body equipped with the revolutionary mag-hold system, which secures the treble hook alongside the belly via an internal magnet. This new system increases hook-up ratios by holding the hook up closer to the lure and not having the hook swinging free. The Megabass Magdraft also features two side fins designed to prevent an unnatural rolling action, and act as miniature weedguards to protect the treble hook when it is in its magnetized position. It also features robust wire-through construction, which will make the overall construction more robust and battle ready for tough Australian species. At 1 1/4oz and 6”, this lure is a fantastic size and weight for Australian species from across the board and comes in a variety of colours to suit a range of angling conditions. Price: RRP $27.90 www.frogleysoffshore.com

OKUMA CERROS

Designed to deliver unprecedented levels of performance, the Okuma Cerros steps out with a 9BB + 1RB bearing system, a multi-disc drag system that produces 7kg of drag and a lightweight aluminium frame. The low-profile design of the reel and soft touch handle grips make the Cerros extremely ergonomic as it sits comfortably in your hand. This gives you the ability to cast accurately and control the lure when fishing in tight terrain. The lightweight and comfortable EVA handle knobs help to cut down on weight, making this a great lightweight reel that won’t tire you out. The micro-click drag star allows you to adjust your drag to very precise tension and the adjustable external magnetic cast control system will ensure that when adjusted correctly, any angler can cast it with confidence. Available now in a 200, the Cerros represents great value and comes complete with an Okuma Lifetime Guarantee, and that’s our confidence that it will last you a lifetime of great fishing memories. Price: RRP $199.95 www.rapala.com.au

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What’s New FISHING

DAIWA WIDE BRIM HAT

Due to the demands of the hot Australian sun and interest from Daiwa customers, there is a new addition to the Daiwa hats and caps range. Sun protection is a serious issue in Australia and Daiwa now offer a wide brim hat to protect your whole head and face from the sun’s rays. It’s a top quality wide brim hat made from lightweight, breathable, easy-care fabric to provide maximum UVA and UVB protection. The extended brim provides extra shade to the face and neck. It comes with a pull string and toggle that adjusts the sizing to fit most adults and prevent the hat from blowing off. This new hat is easily washed using freshwater or mild detergents. You can order your new hat now at the Daiwa online on the Daiwa website or pick one up at any good tackle store. Price: RRP $19.95 www.daiwafishing.com.au

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SAMAKI ZING TRAVEL

Searching for that new reef, river or estuary to target those long thought about species that have seemed so untouchable? Samaki Zing Travel encourages all anglers to get fishing around the globe! Zing Travel has been smartly designed to suit a variety of fishing experiences and caters perfectly for all your travel requirements. This 3-piece blank has Fuji concept guides for casting accuracy, deluxe reel seats and ultra hard EVA camouflaged grips PLUS Zing Travel comes with a custom-made PVC hard tube to chuck in the boot of your car or behind the seat in your ute aiding you in a quick fish wherever you are. With a range to suit all your needs we start with two 7’ spin models being a light 4-8lb and a heavy 12-20lb, a 6’4” spin medium 1017lb, a 9’ spin heavy 10-25lb and 2 baitcast models of 6’ medium 6-12lb and 6’ medium heavy 10-17lb. Price: RRP from $169.95 www.bluefishimports.com.au

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

OKUMA AZORES

The all-new Okuma Azores is a specialist heavy-duty spinning reel that advances the saltwater spinning reel category to new levels of strength and stability. Featuring 6+1 stainless steel HPB bearings, machine cut pinion gears, and the Okuma Dual Force Drag system that produces up to 20kg of drag pressure. A die-cast aluminium body, side plate and rotor have been combined to form an outer shell that is extremely rigid, tough and lightweight. The machined aluminium, 2-tone anodised spool provides ample line capacity, making it ideal for a range of heavy tackle situations. In order enhance saltwater durability, Okuma’s Mechanical Stabilization System and Corrosion Resistant Coating process prevents the flow of electrolysis between the aluminium body and stainless internal parts. Finished in stunning silver and black cosmetics, the Okuma Azores is an intelligently designed, tough and rugged performer that you will be proud to own and use. Price: RRP $219.99 www.rapala.com.au

CUDA TOOLS

Cuda brand launches in Australia just in time for Christmas 2014. Cuda offers Australian anglers a full assortment of knives, tools and pliers built strong for the tough Australian conditions. Cuda brand tools use patented Titanium Bonded Passivation technology and German 4116 steel for unsurpassed corrosion resistance. This intelligent innovation sets the assortment apart from all other tools available today. Cuda uses only the best in materials including Titanium Alloy, Aluminum Alloy, German Stainless Steel and Tungsten Carbide, guaranteeing the ultimate in performance time and time again. In fact, Cuda guarantees all of its tools with a lifetime warranty! Cuda brand knives, pliers and tools will be available via independent retailers and BCF stores nationwide. For more information on Cuda tools you can contact Nomad Tackle via their website. Price: RRP from approx. $12 www.nomadtackle.com

MIMIX GRASSHOPPER

The Mimix Grasspopper is certainly not like any ordinary popper lure that you’ve ever seen before. Realistically designed and hand-painted after the grasshopper, it has best of both worlds, a great look and a great action! To add to the attraction of the great action, the Grasspopper has a special ‘antennae’ attached that makes it look even more real! With special body shape and cup design, the Mimix Grasspopper can be use with short and fast twitches. With a slight line slack and pause in between the twitches, the Gasspopper produces deep and loud pop sounds. You certainly need to consider Mimix Grasspopper when you are looking out for small popper bait with a big action! The Grasspopper currently comes in one size at 60mm length and a weight of 9g. Fitted to the Grasshopper are size 6 hooks. Price: RRP $23.95 www.jml.net.au

POWERBAIT 4” NEMESIS

Combine the fish catching profile of a jerkshad and the enticing tail action of a grub and you get the Berkley Nemesis. Designed in Australia, the Nemesis shape is now available in Powerbait formula. This new minnow design features a tail with an action that is irresistible to bass, bream and other estuarine and dam dwelling predators. The tail design enhances jigging and dropshotting, but lends itself to all manor of fishing techniques. The tail action of this shape has to be seen to be believed. The Nemisis tail can be worked at the slowest of speeds but will also swim on the drop, delivering continuous life-like action. Each Powerbait Nemesis is also loaded with Berkley’s exclusive Powerbait scent and flavour formula, which causes fish to hold on 18x longer, so you can feel more bites and set more hooks. Price: RRP $8.95 www.purefishing.com.au

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What’s New FISHING

CONCEPT KP

The 13 Fishing Concept family of reels was released early 2014. Recently, the company released a new flagship to the line, the Concept KP. The original Concept A, C and E models were known for their incredibly comfortable design and the KP continues that tradition while bringing some incredible upgrades to the table. A special Alumite Hex13 spool offers a drastic weight saving from the spool found in the other 3 models, allowing anglers to cast lures down to an incredible 4g with ease. Hybrid ceramic ball bearings coupled with the patented arrowhead line guide design further increases cast distance and the super light magnesium frame, carbon handle and Hex13 features combine to bring this reel in at a featherweight 153g. The ultimate in finesse bass or yellowbelly baitcast reels, the KP boasts a butter smooth 6kg drag to stop hardfighting freshwater fish in the tracks. Price: RRP $649 www.nomadtackle.com.au

DRAGON MAGGOT

The Dragon Maggot is the perfect worm imitation with an extremely long, waving tail. We recommend two very effective ways of fishing with Dragon Maggot. The first is the classic, aggressive jigging tachnique on heavy jighead. The lure should be started from the bottom with high speed and then allowed fall down on the straight, tight line. In the second method, we retrieve the lure quite slowly, it should almost not lose contact with the bottom. Sand and silt particles will attract predators’ attention. Bites are often quite delicate, so it’s recommended to watch the rod tip at all times. The weight of jighead for this method of fishing should not be too big, all you need is to feel contact with the bottom. The Dragon Maggot comes in sizes 2, 2.5, 3, and 4” in packs of 20, 15, 8 and respectively. Price: RRP from $6.95 www.jml.net.au

SEEKERZ EWG MONSTER

Atomic, makers of a range of soft and hardbodied lures, soft plastics and jigheads have just release a new weighted worm hook, perfect for weedless presentations of all your favourite soft plastics. Called the Weighted EWG Monster, it is available in 5/0 and 6/0 hook sizes and is built on a high quality chemically sharpened Gamakatsu EWG Monster hook. Suitable for just about any soft plastic lure, the hook is mid-weighted in 1/4, 1/6 and 1/8oz weights, meaning it will sink horizontally and can be used anywhere you are looking to present a horizontally slow sinking weedless plastic. They will be perfect in shallower water offshore but also for impoundment barramundi among weed beds. The innovative spiral (worm keeper) affixed to the eye acts to hold the front end of your soft plastic and stop it from spinning. It has been designed so you can twist the plastic on creating a secure hold, which is not going to tear when casting. Price: RRP $8.40 www.frogleysoffshore.com.au

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

KVD BRAID SHEARS

Braided line is a great tool for many fishing situations due to its low stretch, its thin diameter allowing us to cast further, and its overall strength. However, that strength makes it difficult to cut. KVD Braid Cutting Shears solve this problem and make quick work of the new generation of super lines due to their ultra-sharp, factory-honed blades that are designed specifically for cutting braid. There is even a line notch that holds your line in place and the non-slip, ergonomic rubberized grips mean you are always in control, whether you are left-or right-handed. High grade stainless steel construction and a locking sheath and lanyard to keep your shears safe mean the Mustad KVD Braid Cutting Shears are a must-have tool for any angler. Don’t settle for inferior quality. Rely on Mustad and Kevin Van Dam to bring you the best braid shears on the market. Price: Too new www.wilsonfishing.com.au

VALKEIN LURES

One of Japan’s best kept secrets, Valkein, is ready to erupt on to the Australian market. Establishing a reputation of lethal efficiency in a ultra-competitive Japanese area of trout fishing, Valkein brand is ready to expand its mirco-spoon offering to hardbodied lures, which will surely cause an excitement among the finesse fishing enthusiasts. These hard baits are manufactured at the world-renown production facility of DUO, and you can immediately notice Valkein’s attention to details and commitment to the highest of quality. The initial testing in Australia proved extremely successful with the lures producing several trophy fish with the new Limitless Area range, consisting of the Horizard-Wi, Li-Worm and Schwan. All hardbodied lures from Valkein Limitless Area come rigged with super sharp barbless singles, which will also be sold separately. The Valkein brand is now available, so make sure to request this ultimate finesse ‘ammo’ from your local dealer. Price: Too new www.swldistributions.com.au

PFLUEGER SUPREME XT

The Supreme XT beats the competition in overall reel weight, design, construction, performance and price. It has a wealth of best-in-class features that include a sealed carbon-fibre drag, carbon-fibre handle, carbon-inlay drag adjustment, braid-ready spool and nine stainless-steel bearings plus an anti-reverse bearing. The 179g Supreme XT is the lightest reel in its class. Other features include a magnesium body, rotor and sideplate with a machined, ported and double-anodized braid-ready aluminium spool. The solid aluminium bail wire is complemented with an anti-twist titanium line roller. The 187g Supreme outdistances itself from the competition by being the lightest reel in its class. Four sizes are offered for each reel including size 25, 30, 35 and 40. The gear ratio on the size 25 is 5.2:1, all others are 6.2:1. Price: RRP $249.95 Supreme XT, $199.95 Supreme www.purefishing.com.au

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What’s New FISHING

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

TESTED: QUALITY BRAID – ALWAYS A PLUS!

The first trip using the braid was slow, but this threadfin saved what would have otherwise been a fishless night. I’ve never been too adventurous with my choice of braid, always spooling up with the same brand because it works, so when I was given a 300yd spool of the new Platinum + braid from Platypus, I thought I may as well replace the old stuff I was running. I always thought untying wind knots and suffering occasional random breakages was just part of running braided line, that was until I spooled up my Daiwa Alphas with 20lb Platinum +. It’s not a big reel, and I only managed to squeeze about half the spool on, so I gave the other half to my brother to put onto his 20 year-old Abu Ambassadeur.

Maiden Voyage It was now time to put the Alphas new string to the test. I decided to trudge on down to what I believed to be a good testing ground for some mid-week threadfin salmon and possibly a mulloway. Not being blessed with time these days, fishing at night during the week allows me to scratch the fishing itch and keep up with work (but it does cost me a few hours sleep!) I chose my ever-faithful Maria MJ Twitch, which I soon discovered cast like a bullet with this new braid! Castability is very important with this style of fishing, and long casting is often required to tempt these spooky fish. I believe the stiffness and thin diameter of this braid makes it ideal for running on baitcaster reels. It was a fairly quiet night on the river, with only a few taps and follows to break the monotony of repetitive casting and twitching. One saving grace was the fact that I had no troubles with knotting or the line catching on the guides – always a plus! My boredom was soon alleviated with a ‘boof’ right at my feet as the MJ Twich was engulfed by a gold-flanked thready. Game on! Some frantic thumbing of the spool followed the characteristic opening run as I felt the hapless thready dive for a rock bar. With my thumb-on-spool ploy and ‘gentle persuasion’ successful, the 80-something thready was soon lying quietly in the net. I was stoked! Despite some contact with the submerged rock bar during the fight,

there were no considerable burrs on the braid and that rig has caught me a few hefty fish since. Jack attack Being a long-time lover of mangrove jack fishing, I knew my brother Doug would make a good test subject for this braid. Fishing in the type of country he does, there was no doubt that this would give a better indication of what this braid is capable of. Taking a trip up to the Sunshine Coast with his kayak, he met with two friends and they all headed up a small creek on a stinking hot afternoon in pursuit of some jacks. Doug was using a deep-diving Rapala

This high 40s jack tested all facets of the braid, casting, knot tying, pulling power and durability. Doug was stoked with this thumping red-devil!

X-rap around a fallen tree when the first fish struck. “I put in about 30 casts over a log, I knew there had to be one in there. The fish hit like a freight train only a few metres from the kayak and about 4m from the log, but ran straight back for it immediately,” Doug explained. “I put my thumb on the spool and but it was too late, he was buried in the snag complex and I didn’t think I’d ever get him out!” “Luckily, with steady pressure and rod tip work, I managed to untangle the jack and netted him before he could dive for cover again.” The mangrove jack, measuring just under 50cm, most likely would not have been landed if not for the durability of the Platinum +, that’s at least what Doug believes. One of Doug’s mates hooked a decent jack on a surface lure that afternoon but was broken off with the braid he was using – this isn’t the domain of light tackle! Always a plus Having braided line that doesn’t knot around your guides and casts light lures long distances is always a plus! Having that same braid stand up to some of our toughest angling adversaries is a bonus, and being available at an affordable starting RRP of $39.95 it really is a brilliant alternative for some of the more expensive braid out there. Without doubt, I’ll be spooling up some of my other reals with Platypus Platinum + and putting them through some pain! – Bob Thornton

TESTED: 13 FISHING BAITCASTER IMPRESSES Despite what you might think, at Fishing Monthly we don’t spend each and every day on the water fishing. In fact, at times, I reckon that our readers get to do more fishing than we do – after all, we produce over 300 pages of content a month between the three Fishing Monthly titles. But I do get to do a lot of fishing after hours. The last couple of years, I’ve focussed a lot on fishing near home (in Brisbane) and lots of that nearhome fishing involves chasing whatever predators the Brisbane River yields. Looking at the river, she appears turbid and lifeless, but if you put in the hours, there’s plenty of predators to be had. So I can confidently say that while testing this baitcast reel from 13 Fishing, I’ve done at least 50 trips and caught everything from Brisbane River barramundi through to mulloway and threadfin salmon on it. Mainly from the bank and mainly casting lures. Spooled with 40lb braid and usually terminated with a 60lb leader, I matched this reel to a couple of different doublehanded baitcasters over the trial period. One was a Daiwa Steez Harrier and the other a Nories Voice. Immediately when you get the outfits into your hand, you feel that this reel is smaller and a lower profile than your mainstream brand low profile reels. That’s a little weird for the first, but you quickly get used to the shape and I found that I held the reel in my hand as I was retrieving the

making long casts mainly by the sound of the reel in the darkness rather than sighting the bait through its casting trajectory. That setting let me let rip with the bait as hard as I could, get great distance, but have overruns as a rarity. The third thing I noticed was the drag. The first fish I hooked on the test reel was a mid-eighties mulloway in

Loaded with 40lb braid, the Concept A baitcaster made short work of plenty of river predators. lure and imparting action – everything from everything from topwater to 30g vibes in 50 feet of water. The handles look a little chunky, but you get used to their profile in about 5 minutes. The second thing you notice is the castability. I struggled and quickly dug into the casting brake system (which is easily accessed in the left side of the reel with a small lever to open the side plate). I found that the #2 setting suited my casting style perfectly – that was

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

tight quarters and it was screwed up pretty tight. The drag was smooth – even under the heavy pressure – and it’s remained so after more than 30 fish. I told Tom Slater from 13 Fishing’s marketing department that I was going to do minimal maintenance on this reel. Screw up the drag, wash it under the hose for a bit and then put it in the corner until the next trip. To date and after nearly 6 months of fishing, this system is working fine. Like technology, tackle gets better and cheaper each year, it seems. With a RRP of $269, this is a quality bit of gear that would have cost you double for the same features only a few years ago. I love it. They’re not getting it back, although I may be tempted into an upgrade to the higher spec C or E model. – Steve Morgan

SPECIFICATIONS Weight.............................................190g Max Drag .........................................10kg Bearing Count......................................6+1 Gear Ratio .........................................6.6:1 Retrieve .............................................Right Capacity 150m/PE#1.5 Braid .............(25lb) MSRP ................................................$269

visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS!

Second Riverina Fishing Classic ready to go The Riverina Classic catch and release fishing competition is held on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River at Darlington Point in the Riverina NSW, located 30km south of Griffith and 150km west of Wagga Wagga.

of the Darlington Point/ Coleambally APEX club and their partners. It’s a community event with proceeds provided to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. The competition area spans 24kms of the Murrumbidgee with

The Murrumbidgee River itself is a thriving water system with plenty of fish caught over the summer period by keen anglers using bait, spinnerbaits and hard body lures. The boundaries of the fishing competition line four state national parks

The committee were able to release 3000 golden perch and Murray cod fingerlings into the river after last year’s competition.

The Riverina Classic offers a family fun weekend filled with markets, entertainment for kids, helicopter joy flights, river train rides, merchandise and food stalls. The Riverina Classic is a not-for-profit organisation who concentrate their efforts on re-stocking the waterways of the Murrumbidgee River with fingerlings of Murray cod and golden perch in order to help secure a sustainable fishing future. The Riverina classic is run by the members

Marshalls located every 2km for ease of fish measurement and to minimise any negative impacts on fish welfare. Only fish ranging between 55cm -75cm are measured and included in the competition in line with legal requirements to preserve breeding stocks. made to fit your fugly head From $39.95 + p&h

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making it an ideal location with plenty of river access from the bank to camp and fish. The river is also easily accessible by boat and it is not an odd sight to see 5m fishing boats getting around the river system. This year will be our second running of the Riverina Classic off the back of last year’s successful competition with over 2000 visitors attending the weekend and 400 entrants into the competition. The committee were able to release 3000 golden perch and Murray cod fingerlings into the river and raise $15,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and this year we’re hoping to be bigger and better.

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Included in the prize pool are one Stacer 399 Proline Angler and one Stacer 429 Proline Angler both running 30hp Mercs and complete with trailers. The Riverina Classic is not your average fishing competition. We offer a family fun weekend filled with markets, entertainment for kids, helicopter joy flights, river train rides, merchandise and food stalls. An array of fishing tackle will be also be on offer by some of the leading suppliers for the fishing enthusiast. There’s a $60,000 prize pool making it one of the largest prize pools offered for inland fishing competitions in NSW. Included in the prize pool are one Stacer 399 Proline Angler and one Stacer 429 Proline Angler both running 30hp Mercs and complete with trailers. The competition will again be held over two days this year commencing on Saturday 28th February with judging and prizes drawn Sunday 1st March. Entry fees are $50 for adults and $20 for kids so bring along the family and enjoy a great weekend out in Darlington Point. To register online visit: www.riverinaclassic.com or you can sign up on the day. For more information check out our Facebook page: Riverina Classic Fishing Competition. Or call Shaun Roche: 0447727697 or Chris Sutton: 0427516197. – Riverina Fishing Classic

Lyne Hull visited NSW from Primrose Sands in Tassie and landed this cracker whiting fishing with John Startin from Nabiac.

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

Feb 1

GTS Bream Mid Round 2 AFT

South West Rocks www.fishingcomps.com.au

Feb 7-8

Port Stephens Family Fishing Comp Soldiers Pt Marina (02) 4982 7445

Port Stephens www.portstephensfishingcomp.com

Feb 8

SBS Bream Basin Lure and Fly

Georges River www.basinlureandfly.org.au

Feb 13-15

Atomic BASS Australia Nation Series #1 BASS Nation

Lake Glenbawn www.bassaustralia.com.au

Feb 21-22

GTS Elite Round 2 AFT

Forster www.fishingcomps.com.au

Feb 22

Bluefin Boats BASS Electric Series ABT (07) 3387 0888

Clarrie Hall Dam www.abt.org.au

Feb 27 - Mar 1

Humminbird Mathoura Fishing Classic Mathoura VC (03) 58843730

Mathoura www.mathoura.com

Feb 28 - Mar 1

Riverina Classic Fishing Comp RCFC 0459 909 443

Darlington Point www.riverinaclassic.com

Feb 28 - Mar 1

Berkley BREAM Series Qualifier #1 ABT (07) 3387 0888

Tweed River www.abt.org.au

Feb 28 - Mar 1

SBS Bream Basin Lure and Fly

St Georges Basin www.basinlureandfly.org.au

Mar 6-8

Bidgee Classic Gogeldrie Weir Park www.facebook.com/LeetonBidgeeClassicFishingCompetition

Mar 8-14

EAFC Annual Fishing Comp Eden Fishing Club (02) 6496 3410

Eden www.edenfishingclub.org

Mar 14-15

Toray BASS Pro Series Round #1 ABT (07) 3387 0888

Lake St Clair www.abt.org.au

Mar 15

BETS BREAM Teams #1 BETS

Hawkesbury River www.betsbream.com.au

Mar 22

GTS Bream Mid Round 3 AFT

Forster www.fishingcomps.com.au

Mar 22

SBS Bream Basin Lure and Fly

Clyde River www.basinlureandfly.org.au

Mar 22 Hobie BREAM Kayak Series NSW State Titles

Clyde River www.hobiefishing.com.au

Mar 27-29

Port Stephens www.tbft.com.au

Trailer Boat Fishing Tournament Tony Poole (02) 9029 6554

Mar 29 Hobie BASS Kayak Series

Tallowa Dam www.hobiefishing.com.au

Apr 12

BETS BREAM Teams #2 BETS

Lake Macquarie www.betsbream.com.au

Apr 19

SBS Bream Basin Lure and Fly

Shoalhaven River www.basinlureandfly.org.au

Apr 24-26

Atomic BASS Australia Nation Series #2 BASS Nation

Hawkesbury River Gurgle www.bassaustralia.com.au

Apr 25-26

Berkley BREAM Series Qualifier #2 ABT (07) 3387 0888

Clarence River www.abt.org.au

May 2-3

GST Bream Elite Round 3 AFT

Gold Coast www.fishingcomps.com.au

May 9-10

Toray BASS Pro Series Round #2 ABT (07) 3387 0888

Lake Somerset www.abt.org.au

May 16-17

Bluefin Boats BASS Electric Series ABT (07) 3387 0888

Toonumbar Dam www.abt.org.au

May 16-17 Hobie Worlds Qualifier #2

Forster www.hobiefishing.com.au

May 17

Clarence River (Iluka) www.fishingcomps.com.au

GTS Bream Mid Round 4 AFT

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing nsweditor@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. FEBRUARY 2015

Kayaks have more than one advantage BRISBANE

Justin Willmer

A recent fishing adventure reinforced to me a couple of the advantages of fishing from a kayak. Firstly, I reached out of the car window and patted my trusty vessel as we drove past a crowded boat ramp, selecting a deserted section of white sand to

launch from. Standing on the sand prior to launching, I noted the big summer tide, a flotilla of vessels criss-crossing each other’s wakes and the jet skis enjoying the increased boat traffic that Christmas brings, launching their machines as they cut a path from boat wake to boat wake. It doesn’t sound like a perfect picture for a

quiet day on the water, but this is where the second advantage of my compact plastic craft came into play. All of this action was taking place in the main channels, as if fenced in by the navigation markers, while my eyes turned to the shallow sand, weed and rubble flats, devoid of boat traffic and with enough water to camouflage the feeding fish that

A handful of flats bream were taken on a ZMan soft plastic paddle-tail. cruised across them. The kayak’s low profile casts minimal shadow and when combined with the almost

and fringed by a deep channel on its outside edge. This sand flat had produced quality flathead, bream

of having a ‘Plan B’ was reinforced to me as I found the flat covered in seaweed that had been lifted from

Half a dozen dugong milling on the flat made this session even more enjoyable.

Top: Justin with a solid bream from the rubble patch on a ZMan 2.5z” Slim SwimZ in Motor Oil colour. Bottom: The chemically sharpened hook on the HeadlockZ Finesse jighead ensured this subtle tap became a hook set.

silent ‘stealth factor’ and its ability to travel in very little water it meant that I could hunt these flats, away from the crowds that holidays and weekends can often attract. ‘Plan A’ was a large yabby bank, lined by mangroves on the shoreline

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and whiting in the past, as they emerged from the depths on a flooding tide to search the flat for small baitfish and crustaceans. I generally prospect these flats with small 1/12oz and 1/8oz blades, and lightly weighted 2-3” soft plastics. Today, the importance

its resting place, along the banks and amongst the mangroves, by the big tides. A quick search of my basic tackle kit revealed that I hadn’t packed any weedless jigheads, a good backup plan when you find yourself confronted with the dreaded weed, and so

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plastic until they found the point of the chemically sharpened hook and the rod loaded up. It soon became apparent that the subtle taps were the bites of a solid bream and it screamed across the flat on the light braid and 8lb fluorocarbon leader. With the tide dropping I noted a couple of dozen boats anchored on the channel edges, while I was up on top of the flat with the rod bent, drag screaming and a big cheesy grin on my face. I slid the net under the fish, took a few snaps and then re-organised the yak for another assault on the rubble patch. I could have probably anchored on the spot, but an advantage of a pedal yak is the ability to quickly move back into position, while also having the flexibility to alter your position to effectively fish the whole flat if one section isn’t firing or stops firing. It’s also handy to make note of any points of reference when you hook a fish as it makes it quicker and easier to get right back on the spot. A sounder with GPS is handy for this, but a tree on a bank, channel marker, building or in this case a crab pot float, can also be an effective landmark. Once back in position I fired another cast and within half a dozen winds and a few twitches it had attracted the attention of another solid bream. Within an hour I had landed 10 solid bream and dropped a few. The most memorable was a fish that tapped the plastic right beside the yak as I lifted it from the water. I lowered the plastic back

An elbow slapper breambo from on top of the flats.

A solid bream in the net. Thank you ‘Plan B’. I pointed the yak toward a rubble flat where the current flow was faster and where I had previously had good success on both bream and flathead. The search for stronger current flow was based on past observations that the weed doesn’t tend to settle as much due to the tidal push, clearing off the flat quickly as the tide begins to recede. My ‘Plan B’ turned out to be a good one. As the tide changed and began to drop I was surrounded by a mass of weed, but it was quickly swept away with the current, leaving it relatively clear for me to prospect. Watching the sounder as I pedalled toward the shallowest section of the flat, I noted the rise in the bottom to less than 1m of water, stopped about a cast distance from the main rubble patch, flicked over the bail arm on the light spin outfit and fired the 2.5” soft plastic paddle-tail to the far side of the rubble. The current was racing, the breeze blowing with the tide and I was drifting fast,

so I had a 1/4oz jighead tied on. Many would consider this too heavy, but for the bream it allowed me to punch a long cast and I could lift the rod tip and slowly roll the plastic for 3 winds, before giving it a few small twitches during the next 3 winds, then back to the roll for 3 and repeat. This kept the plastic up off the bottom and moving across the flat for the bream, while still having enough weight in the jighead if I chose to allow it to hit the bottom on a few occasions in search of a flathead. As the water depth decreases and if the breezes are lighter, the jighead weight can be dropped to 1/8oz or 1/12oz to create more ‘hang time’ for the plastic and a more natural sink rate and presentation. A subtle tap greeted the first cast, as the fish was attracted by the paddle-tail and twitches produced by the rod tip. Once they were on the lure I switched to a slow roll and let them continue to tap at the

in, a few inches below the surface, gave it a shake and a solid fish nailed it! The rod buckled, drag screamed and after a few laps around the kayak (another advantage of not anchoring), the largest fish of the day measured over 40cm to the tip on the Swivel’s Fish Measure. If only they bit this aggressively every day! I have since returned to this flat a couple more times, targeting the run out tide as the fish hunt for a last feed before being

forced back into the deeper water, landing bream on both occasions in under half a metre of water. I have also had that same smile on my face as I have observed the number of boats on the water, kept at a distance from me by the navigation markers that often dictate their direction of travel and areas they can fish on a dropping tide. Why not take advantage of your yak, get out on the water and get up on top of the flats?

Tarny Downie caught and released this 91cm flathead from StGeorges Basin in her kayak!

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FEBRUARY 2015

2.1L Mercury 115CT 4-stroke vs 125 OptiMax FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

It’s not often that we get the opportunity to test outboards head-to-head. And as a consumer, we know that it’s hard to decipher all of the marketing that’s published by outboard companies. Typically, we have loyalties to a particular outboard brand or another based on an original purchase – maybe made decades ago.

But things change. Technology changes and what was once the latest and greatest becomes old technology. Twenty years ago, if you thought that 4-stroke outboards were just car motors tipped on their side, were heavy, unresponsive and had too many expensiveto-service parts, then you’d probably be right. None of the old 4-strokes could match the torque curves of the old carburetted 2-strokes. But back then, fuel was

much cheaper and emissions ratings were unheard of. Over the years, 4-strokes have become lighter, more responsive and cheaper to service, and they’re taking a greater share of the outboard market. And when it comes down to it, there’s some great products on both sides of the tracks: direct injection 2-strokes and 4-strokes. In the last couple of years (and in reality, since the release of the first large-capacity 4-stroke motors) the pendulum seems to be swinging more

and more towards the 4-stroke technology. These products boast bigger cylinders than their DI cousins, light weight and diminishing service costs. Mercury, in fact, is so confident of their new mid-range 4-stroke product that they invited us down to take part in a head-to-head comparison – one of their new (mid range) 4-stroke models (the 115hp Command Thrust) up against a greater horsepower OptiMax (the 125 that’s just recently been phased out of the product range).

Rigged on identical Streaker Navigator 5700s and with Streaker’s Sean Savage in attendance, it was a great opportunity to get a feel plus some hard data on actual performance between these two technologies. If you don’t want to read any further, we can summarise as a takehome message for you: there’s basically no reason to buy an OptiMax in this horsepower class for a hull like the Streaker. But don’t take my word

for it, let’s break down the raw data and you can make your own mind up.

Scan this QR code to see the full interview with the staff from Mercury and Streaker Boats.

NOISE Word on the street is that 4-strokes are quieter than 2-strokes, especially at idle, but what does the data from the test day show us? The difference is less at each end of the rev range, but in every instance the 4-S was quieter than the Opti. In practise, the 4-S would 1000rpm higher for the same noise output. And although we didn’t measure emissions, the 4-S was a more pleasant motor to operate. No smoke or smell noticeable in the cabin.

RESULTS We measured noise levels (dB) at the edge of the motor splash well at all RPM ranges and recorded the following data: dB........................... 115 4-S...................... 125 Opti Idle...............................70...................................... 74 1000............................73......................................79 2000............................79......................................86 3000............................88......................................94 4000............................92......................................98 5000............................97....................................100 WOT............................103...................................105

There’s nothing wrong with the OptiMax – it just happens to be trumped by the 4-stroke at every test.

FUEL USAGE

A matching pair of Streaker Navigators were an impressive sight at the National Aquatic Centre on a windy Melbourne day. 98

FEBRUARY 2015

Again, theory has it that the 4-S should be more frugal on the juice than its OptiMax cousin, so we measured the fuel usage through the SmartCraft gauges installed on each of the boats at the prescribed rev ranges. At idle speeds, the Opti is actually a bit better on the gas, and also at WOT, there’s no difference between them (apart from the fact that the 115 was going faster), but in the crucial cruising ranges – 3000 to 5000rpm, the 4-S used less fuel.

RESULTS Litres/hour............. 115 4-S...................... 125 Opti Idle.............................. 2.4....................................0.8 1000........................... 2.8....................................1.3 2000........................... 6.3....................................5.2 3000.......................... 12.3.................................14.2 4000.......................... 19.4.................................20.8 5000.......................... 30.2....................................33 WOT.............................40......................................40

SPEED AND HOLESHOT

RESULTS Km/h....................... 115 4-S...................... 125 Opti Idle.............................. 5.7....................................3.7 1000........................... 7.2....................................5.7 2000.......................... 11.5.................................10.9 3000.......................... 19.5....................................14 4000............................39...................................41.3 5000............................55......................................55 WOT.............................69......................................61

Top: Here’s the winner – the 115 CT 4-S. Faster, lighter, quieter and cheaper to run. Bottom: The lines of the new Mercury mid-range 4-strokes (right) are distinctive when compared with the older OptiMax (left).

IN SUMMARY Summing up, we wouldn’t be surprised if Mercury reduces their OptiMax line up in the near future as this big bore 4-stroke technology expands throughout the range. Mercury has phased out the 125, 75 and 90hp OptiMax models, with the

115 ProXS remaining. Around $1,000 dearer at the point of purchase, we believe that the overall cost of ownership will be less than an OptiMax over the life of the motor. Less fuel, no oil burning, fewer parts and no timing belt services – ever – all add up, especially that DI oil – it’s not cheap.

Let me pre-empt the responses we’ll get from this. Yes, the Command Thrust gearbox and the standard box on the Opti are different ratios and consequently, they need to be propped a little differently to achieve optimum rpm on the Navigators. There’s a 1” difference in the propeller pitches (the 4-S is 1” greater), which explains the top-end speed difference, but makes the holeshot tests even more impressive. Holeshot tests were pretty easy – with Scott Brown and Sean Savage – two highly competitive racing enthusiasts at the helms, we dropped the flag and let them drag race off a standing start. The 4-S won every time and displayed impressive low-end torque. We were impressed.

For more information on the new Mercury mid-range 4-stroke line up, go to www. mercurymarine.com.au or grab a catalogue from your local Mercury dealer. You can also watch a video of the test day and interviews with key staff from Mercury and Streaker by scanning the QR code hereby.

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Quintrex launch F-Series Explorers FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

At an embargoed Media Day at Sanctuary Cove in late 2014, a handful of Australia’s boating media were invited to have a sneak peek at a new shape for Quintrex’s biggest selling hull, which has been unchanged since the 1990s – the humble Explorer. Changing such an established model is a big call for a boat company – especially since the formula currently works for the Explorer and Explorer Trophy models, but the success of the fork-bow in the Hornet models encouraged them to make the upgrades, which have now been launched through their national dealer network. Immediately, the new models look different. Characterised by the ‘picklefork’ (as the Quintrex employees call it) bow, the changes are more than cosmetic. Wider chines at the bow give more stability at rest and a deeper entry point gives the new hull shapes a softer ride with the added bonus of improved spray deflection. In raw area, there’s 11% more space on the casting deck in the Trophy models and 11% more cockpit space in the standard Explorers. You can see this easily in the sideby-side diagrams hereby. These boats carry their beam a lot further forward than the older models. Not many may notice a new pattern of side-pressings – they look more modern and are 50% stronger than the older clinkering on the side of the previous models. Finally, there’s a new design of lockable rod-locker available on the Trophy models as an option. Upward-opening, it’s definitely out there a little in design. The true test of these will be when they start getting out on the water. I’ll be interested if anglers give it the thumbs-up. TESTING So, after all of the theory in the classroom, there was no QR CODE

Scan the QR Code above on your mobile to watch the full interview with Stuart Morgan. 100

FEBRUARY 2015

better way to experience the new models than to get out on the water with Quintrex staff and fellow media to do some

tarps at the Telwater factory and enough sneaky corners to hide them in until the official release date.

OUTCOMES Indeed these craft are stable (both fore and aft) and beamy. And yes, the bow

Here it is – the F-Series bow configuration. Now available in various iterations across all Quintrex Explorer models.

You can see here the steeper entry and improved spray deflection. does look like a pickle-fork, but there are advantages and disadvantages with the design. Quintrex R&D man, Stuart Morgan, says that the design allows for easy mounting of bow-mount electric motors. We had to take his word for

The new F-Series Explorer Trophies carry their beam a lot further forward. good old-fashioned tinnie wrangling (read: racing). Admittedly, it was an impressive sight to see a two full sets of the new models – powered by E-Tec and Quintrex’s in-house Vortex branded outboards. All boats wrapped with designs celebrating Quintrex proudly being in business for 70 years as an Australian company. It was especially impressive to have all of these boats manufactured, wrapped and used on the media day without any of the dealers finding out that there was a new model in the pipeline. I suppose that there’s an endless supply of

that, since none of the display models had one mounted. He also, however, explained that with the extra beam came some extra weight, meaning that it you’re car-topping an Explorer currently, upgrading to a new model may not be an applesto-apples swap. We took the opportunity to interview Stuart and you can watch the full discussion by scanning the QR code hereby. THE FINAL WORD “A lot of time and work went into updating the Explorer Trophy Range. Being such a popular model,

we wanted to make sure that we came back with something our customers would love even more than before,” said Cameron Wood, Quintrex National Account Manager. “The 420 Explorer Trophy can be found all over Australia,” he continued, “It is a very important model in the Quintrex range and we look forward to showing our customers how we have made it even better for them.” For more information on the new F-Series Trophies, see your nearest Quintrex dealer or visit www. quintrex.com.au.

Greater stability is a hallmark of the 2015 hull shape.

You can see the increased beam in this pic which compares shapes of the older and newer Explorer models.

What’s New BOATING

STACER’S 519 ASSAULT PRO

A summer of fun on the water awaits, so now is certainly the time for boat lovers to upgrade their old outboards – and Mercury Finance is making it oh-so-easy. Stacer’s brand new serious fishing range packs a punch with its new streamlined design and fishing features. With a new hull shape featuring a sharper chine, sleek gunnels and extra freeboard the 519 Assault Pro offers unbeatable stability at rest and cuts through swell with ease for a comfortable ride. The redesigned 519 has a rear-casting platform including a live bait tank and front casting platform with a dual battery set up for running an electric motor. Stacer National Account Manager Drew Jackson said the 519 was a game changer for Stacer’s fishing range. You can option up the 519 Assault Pro to include a deluxe rod locker which can fit 4 rods up to 7ft in length and you can even go one step further and upgrade to the electric rod locker,” Drew said. The 519 Assault Pro is available as a Stacer Ready 2 Go package complete with boat, motor, trailer and 3 year limited warranty. – Telwater

THE BEST JUST GOT BETTER

Haines Signature Boats, regarded as building some of Australia’s best boats through 55 years of innovation, has taken the next step by incorporating Carbon Kevlar into their manufacturing process. John Haines, CEO of Haines Signature Boats said, “We’ve tactically incorporated Carbon Kevlar into our manufacturing process to provide a hull that has greater strength and has increased impact, tear and penetration resistance. By laying Carbon Kevlar fibres in specific directions and in specific locations we have been able to produce a hull that has a dramatic improvement in structural integrity without additional weight. “Simply put, this technology has allowed us to build a stronger boat without sacrificing performance in any way,” said John. The introduction of the new materials will be seen in 2015 model Haines Signature boats, and while the showroom finish on the boats will not change, buyers will be rewarded with a more robust boat that is designed to take the punishment of everyday use. – Haines Signature

ALL-NEW HDS GEN3

The HDS Gen3 combines advanced fishfinding technologies with a fast processor and easy-to-use menu system. The Lowrance HDS Gen3 series delivers an improved user interface with multi-touch and full keypad for fingertip access to all features, and an enhanced processor for more responsive performance than ever. Each model comes standard with today’s most advanced fishfinding technologies including StructureScan® HD, DownScan Imaging™ and CHIRP Sonar. Built-in wireless connectivity allows convenient map and software downloads direct to your display, plus remote viewing and control from smartphones and tablets. The HDS Gen3 also offers plug-and-play compatibility with Lowrance performance modules such as broadband radar, marine audio, AIS and VHF; NMEA 2000® connectivity; and support for a wide range of cartography options. The HDS Gen3 series is available from your local Lowrance dealer or distributor at an RRP of $2,199 for the 7”, $3,299 for the 9” and $4,499 for the 12”. – Lowrance Electronics

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

NEW F130A FOUR-STROKE

Yamaha Motor Australia is extremely pleased to announce the release of the new F130A. This model was unveiled in December at the Paris Boat Show. The new F130A fills the only remaining gap in Yamaha’s four-stroke engine range and is especially exciting for Australian customers who have been requesting a Yamaha fourstroke engine in this horsepower category for many years. While the new motor is based around the F115B, the F130A also inherits technology from Yamaha’s larger horsepower engines. Yamaha engineers have employed the use of a single electronic throttle intake valve on the F130. The electronic throttle valve is controlled by a microprocessor that interprets the operator’s instructions from the mechanical control at the helm to make precise throttle movements according to engine temperature and atmospheric conditions. This system works in tune with new fuel injection and ignition technology within the F130A, to deliver incredible response, awesome power and exceptional fuel economy. – Yamaha Motor Australia

DIAMOND DECK NON-SLIP

Diamond Deck is a no nonsense nonslip product that will add safety and protection when applied to the deck, seats or gunwhales of your boat. It can also keep bare feet (and posteriors) cool on hot summer days and keep you on the water longer. The quality and durable EVA closed cell foam is non-slip in wet and dry conditions. Diamond Deck comes ready to apply with a peel and stick marine grade adhesive bond that will not come unstuck when exposed to the harshest outdoor elements. It is available in two convenient sheet sizes, which are 340mm x 1500mm and 500mm x 1500mm. DIY customising your Diamond Deck isn’t a problem and cutting the sheets to size is easily done using a sharp pair of scissors or cutting knife. Diamond Deck is also great for use on caravans, camper trailers, paddleboards, jet skis, kayaks and bathrooms with endless applications and possibilities. Ask for Diamond Deck at all leading boating stores, chandleries and tackle stores and check out diamonddeck.com.au for more information. – Diamond Deck

4 3

455 SCORPION TILLER OPTION

Savage’s new release, the 455 Scorpion TS, is a brand new feature packed fishing rig perfect for dams, creeks and rivers. The 455 Scorpion is available as a centre and side console and for the first time is also available as a tiller steer model. Built with tough 3mm smooth side sheets and a soft riding, reliable hull, the 455 Scorpion is packed with all the fishing essentials to get you out on the water quick. Savage Director of Sales and Marketing Damien Duncan said with the new Scorpion range replacing the previous Piranha model line-up it was important to include the tiller steer option as it was in clear demand from their customer base. ‘The 435 and 455 Scorpion are the first models in this range of boats that have been available as a tiller steer and we are expecting it to be very popular with our dealers and customers,’ Damien said. For more information on the 455 Scorpion or the entire Savage range head to www. savageboats.com.au. - Telwater

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

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Morningstar Bay Rover SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

Back in the November 2014 issue, I put together a review on Morningstar Boats’ 4.6m Offshore Cuddy Cabin. On the same day I had the pleasure of testing the Morningstar 4.6m Bay Rover G with a 90hp Honda on the back. If you are after a boat that has plenty of grunt to pull you out of the water on skis, plenty of speed to get you to where you want to go, while at the same time giving you and the family a extremely comfortable and dry ride, this is the boat for you. PERFORMANCE The sleek and stylish Morningstar Bay Rover G really has been designed with the family in mind. Not only can you easily go fishing in this rig, you can also tow a couple of skiers or a float tube behind it. On the day of the test, the swell was coming in from the east at about 1-2m with a slight nor’ easterly blowing at around 10-12 knots. The Bay Rover G handled the conditions with ease. Not only was the ride very smooth when going into the swell as we passed the

headland at Barrenjoey, but the ride was very dry. I also found when turning the boat so it ran side-on to the wind that there was no spray coming over the side giving us a salty shower. The combination of the 4-piece stretch formed hull and the

Origrid frame deliver a boat that looks great, is light in weight, super strong, tough and robust, and rides and performs almost like a fibreglass hull. On closer inspection, I believe that the revolutionary design of the aluminium plate formed hull with a second

The sleek lines of the Morningstar Bay Rover are very impressive.

The second chine has been reversed. This, combined with the flared-bow, pushes spray down, giving a stable and dry riding experience.

M AU ADE STR IN AL IA

♦ Independantly collapsible front & back ♦ No Straps or struts front or back ♦ Top quality frame & materials ♦ Large coverage area

Lifetime Manufacturers

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6686 5116

www.undercovercanvas.com.au 102

FEBRUARY 2015

reversed chine is like no other. During the forming, thousands tonnes of force is applied on premium aluminium plates and the material becomes a little liquid-like, evenly spreading on dedicated design dies. Flat plates then become complex shapes. This allows the single plate bottom of Morningstar Boats to incorporate reverse chines, strakes and variable deadrise, thereby eliminating an external extrusion. The axe-like forefoot allows Morningstar Boats to cut into waves briefly, while the deeper V near the keel slices into the water, creating a stable track. When turning, particularly at high speeds, the last thing you want is your boat slipping sideways and not making the turn as you would expect. The reverse chines and strakes on the Morningstar bottom plate act like treads on your car tyres, holding the boat steady. Additionally, side plates and gunwales can now be integrated into a streamlined shape with a second chine and flared-bow. Together, these formed plates give the hull outstanding hydraulic properties, both static and dynamic. That’s why they call it the Hydro Hull. With two people on board, the 90hp Honda 4-stroke had the boat up on the plane in less than 3 times the length of the boat. Even though I didn’t tow any water skiers, I would say from previous experience of towing them that this outfit would do it with ease. SAFETY When driving a boat like the Bay Rover G, I prefer to stand behind the steering wheel. This is mainly due to the fact that I am not that tall! What I did find at the helm was that even when sitting I could easily see over the windscreen. The boat comes complete with grab rails that are situated just inside the climb-through windscreen, plus there is one on either side of the back of the boat for passengers sitting on the fold-down seat at the rear. The designers of the Morningstar range have applied 3D forming techniques to the production of the hull plates. This forming of

SPECIFICATIONS Overall length:.................................................4.65m Overall on-trailer length:.................................. 6.3m (motor in locked position) Beam:....................................................................2m Trailer width from outside of guards:..............2.1m Weight:.............................................................388kg Max load:.........................................................755kg Max persons:..........................................................5 Max outboard:...................................................90hp Fuel tank:................ 60L underfloor, AT60 aluminium Steering system:.................................... Mechanical Bow rails:............................................... Bow and aft Bow roller:........................................................... Yes Prop size:.........................................13 1/2 x 15 alloy Variable deadrise:............................................... 19° Depth amidships:......................................... 700mm Battery type and size: ...... SeaMaster Gold MFM50 800MCA 640CCA Sealed Trailer:.................. Mackay, braked and fully rollered. non-developable surfaces stretches the hull slightly in multiple directions and dramatically increases its strength, while at the same time adding additional strength to the hardened plates. Robots are used in most of the Morningstar welding jobs, so this gives a precise and consistent weld standard to ensure every Morningstar boat achieves its design quality.

perfect for kids to keep and watch their smaller catches for later release. Up front there are two comfortable padded seats that can be adjusted in height by folding over a pad situated at the front of the chair. What I need is plenty of storage in my boat for all those bait rigs, terminal tackle, lures and soft plastics. The Bay Rover does have

The Bay Rover was very easy to drive up onto the trailer. ERGONOMICS The boat comes with a plywood carpeted floor, a folddown and easily stored bench seat at the rear, an underfloor drained kill tank for all those fish you are going to catch, and a 20L plumbed live bait tank for holding yellowtail, squid or poddy mullet. The bait tank is not only good at keeping bait alive and kicking, but also keeps plate size catches fresh. Its flexibility even lets it become an on-board aquarium,

a small amount of area up front, but if you talk to the guys at Enterprise Marine, I am sure they will be able to customise something to suit your requirements. On the test boat, the instrument panel contained the following; a fuel gauge, rev counter, voltage gauge and a 12V socket. The 5 black switches from left to right are navigation lights, anchor light, bilge pump, live bait aerator and a spare.

Once again I would have preferred to have the gauges further up on the console, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a personal thing and the guys at Enterprise Marine can customise the layout to fit in with your needs. The boat comes with a covered anchor well, which can be accessed by climbing through the lockable hatch at the front of the cuddy cabin. This is a great asset to have when you are driving the boat up onto the trailer or deploying the anchor. There is plenty of room

to mount a GPS/sounder combo, compass and so on up behind the windscreen. Maybe you would also like to install a waterproof sound system to listen to those fishing updates, weather forecasts, or to get the latest cricket scores? The two trailer hooks on the transom are just as flexible as everything else; it can keep the boat on a trailer, or it could be put to better use for towing tube or water skiers. That will definitely leave a lasting smile on the whole family.

FISHABILITY The boat I tested came with 3 plastic rod holders. There were two on either side at the rear of the boat and one directly in the middle at the back. Personally, I would get one of their removable selfdraining bait tables installed on the transom. This means that I could put it in when I needed it for fishing, and remove it if I was taking a couple of mates water skiing. If you were only going to use the boat for fishing, you may like to do away with the rear fold-down bench seat and

put one of those above floor combination storage/seats just up front of the underfloor kill tank. NOISE Different from conventional pressed or plate alloy boats, Morningstar boats are constructed with fewer parts. This is done by adopting 3D-formed single plate bottoms, single plate sides incorporating gunwales, and their patented Origrid stiffener system. This construction, along with the one section flared sides and reversed chines, not only gives the boat tremendous strength, but it

also cuts down on noise when travelling at speed and coming off a wave or wake. The boat tested on the day had a Honda 90hp 4-stroke outboard on it, and it was so quiet you could easily have a conversation while travelling, making it a very quiet boat overall. The Morningstar Hydro Hull comes with a five-year warranty and the boat tested also has a water safety kit, boat and trailer registration, battery box, fold-down ladder and a non-slip pad, plus all the required navigation lights.

The test boat was supplied by Enterprise Marine, 8/77 Bassett Street Mona Vale, NSW, 2103. Contact Chris Tocchini on (02) 9999 5558 or via email at chris@enterprisemarine.com. au. Price as tested is $32,970, based on an 80hp outboard. â&#x20AC;˘ 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.

Left: The fold-down bench can be stored away or removed to free up a bit more room.

NEW SOUTH WALES

Enterprise Marine Penrith Marine

(02) (02)

VICTORIA

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9999 5558 4731 6250 9397 6977

34 The Strand Williamstown Vic. 3016

FEBRUARY 2015

103

Bonito’s 5.6m tiller offers a whole lot of space FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Around a year ago we took a look at a great little inshore/offshore hull in make by the guys at Bonito Boats. At the time Roger and Martin’s little operation out of an old shed at Cabbage Tree Point in Queensland was capable of kicking out a boat every few weeks.

Ever since, the guys – due to the nature of this versatile hull and the quality of the build – have had to ramp up the speed of production to keep up with orders. Bonitos are now operating in diverse locations up and down the coast. There have been cosmetic improvements (like moulded, recessed deck lids) and practical progressions (like recessed niches for marine

electronics). Recently, we heard of an interesting iteration of the hull – a 5.6 metre hull that’s been made into a sports fishing layout tiller-steer with a 115HP Mercury 4-Stroke. So we just had to take a look, and caught up with the owner of the boat (well known Moreton Bayside mechanic, Kirk Brinckman) for a run on southern Moreton Bay to get his take on why he set the rig up like he did.

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Bluefin TomCat 4.75 Mercury 75HP OptiMax, MinnKota 80lb, Humminbird sounders. .................................................... SA $27,300

Stratos 201ProXL/Yamaha 250SHO 2005 Stratos 201ProXL with 2013 Yamaha 250SHO and near new Ezytow trailer. ..................... NSW $49,500

4800 TABS Wildfisher 4800 TABS Wildfisher, E-Tec 150 HO, 24v Minn Kota, Plenty of extras, fitted out to the hilt ............ QLD $35,000

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Like a lot of boat tests we do nowadays, there’s a video of the test day complete with interviews with the owner and the builder, which you can access by scanning the QR code on this page. THE 5.6M HULL Before we delve into Kirk’s reasons and preferences, we asked Roger Barnes about this concept of big tiller drives on his hulls. He said that commercial users commonly run up to 150HP tillers “no worries at all”, so the question of whether the hull has what it takes to handle the 115 was moot. Bonito builds these hulls tough. Roger says that commercial users put up to 1500 hours on their craft per year. Recreationally, then, it’d be near impossible to wear one out. CAPTAIN KIRK’S PATHWAY Kirk was a tiller-drive tinnie owner – his last aluminium hull had a 60HP tiller on it. The day before he was about to order a new tinnie, he went for a test drive in a Bonito in a 15 to 20 knot breeze on the Bay and was sold instantly. The smooth ride in the nasty conditions outweighed any of the uneasiness about running a glass boat in the rocky shallows of the southern Bay. Kirk fitted up ‘The Enterprise’ himself, as he had the skills to do so. He bought the hull and trailer from Bonito and the outboard separately. All of the internal fitup and wiring of the trolling motor and sounder he did himself. As such, his finished cost for the rig was around $30,000 – very comparable to a tinnie of the same magnitude. “I love the boat because it’s so versatile. We go camping 6 or 7 times a year with the kids, I cast net from it and I do a lot of fishing in the rocky shallows of Moreton Bay and I can’t fault the boat – it does everything I want it to do,” Kirk said. HULL IMPROVEMENTS Roger Barnes took us through some of the improvements to the decks that have been

While travelling, the driver and the passenger both sit down adjacent the transom. Kirk’s a right-handed tiller-driver, which doesn’t feel as weird as it sounds sitting in the driver’s seat.

Now THAT’S some cockpit space. Need a mountain of camping gear and some 44s of fuel? No worries. implemented since we last tested a Bonito. “This new Sportsfishing Deck includes the first of our fully moulded cast deck and hatches with recessed hinges,” Roger said, “ so they are a vast improvement

• New products • Reviews • Videos www.tacklejunkie.fish Fishing Monthly Magazines

And there’s a decent casting deck up front to get your lure casting done. Kirk does a bit of this, so the bow-mounted electric motor is important. 104

FEBRUARY 2015

on the aftermarket deck hatches we had been using to this point,” Roger said. You’ll also notice a lot of small improvements – like the stowaway sounder recess. Kirk’s fish finder swings out on a stainless steel arm to be in the correct position while driving and fishing. It neatly swings away to protect the unit and create more space as required. The joy of working with a small manufacturer like Bonito is that they are usually quite willing to discuss requirements in details with a customer and can give you exactly the configuration you want, rather than having to choose a set configuration from the catalogue. PERFORMANCE ‘Captain’ Kirk’s a little

at 6km/h and cruised at around 40km/h and maxed out at 69km/h. With some whitecaps forming east of Coochiemudlo Island, we took the opportunity to run the boat at WOT through the

rough stuff and it handled it all with ease. It was ‘choppy’, but definitely not nasty or scary. You can see the result in the video. And as Kirk said, it wasn’t scary changing hands for the tiller, however, a

The proven Bonito hull makes short work of Moreton Bay chop. Here it makes short work of a 5cm wind ripple.

It’s no problem launching and retrieving the Bonito single-handed. You’d think we’d help Kirk put it in, but no – we were taking photos.

unorthodox in that he likes driving his tiller steer right handed from his seat on the port side. That sounds weird until you try it for yourself and it’s not too bad. Kirk has his swingsway sounder also mounted on the port side to be close enough to read and operate while underway. Although there was no tachometer mounted in this boat, we took some speed readings at various RPM ranges – idle, cruising (at around 4000 RPM estimated) and wide open throttle. The rig idled

gunwale mounted trim switch would make it easier for trim adjustments on the fly. Is this the boat for everyone? Probably not. Is it a great solution for anglers wanting a no-fuss, low maintenance platform to do their thing anywhere between the freshwater and offshore? Most definitely. If you’re interested in this type of hull, give Roger a call on 0438 886 813 or Martin on 0416 099 108 for more details. You can also try www.bonitoboats. com.au, but as website authors, these guys make a great boat! • 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.

On old-style Mercury 115 4-stroke tiller outboard powers Kirk’s rig. It’s surprisingly easy to drive – even at wide open throttle where it reached a top speed of 69km/h on the test day.

Scan the QR Code to see the fill interview and test footage with Roger Barnes and Kirk Brinckman.

n o e b o t t Wan f o r e v o C e th ? y l h t n o M Fishing

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24 PAGE Melbourne Boat Show feature

Do you love your monthly issue of Fishing Monthly? Do you think it’s about time you were on the cover of it? Well, we think that too and are offering readers the chance to do just that. The March, April and May issues of Queensland, NSW and Victoria/Tasmania FMs will all feature readers’ pics on the front covers. And there’s no reason why it can’t be you...

Techniques Make mine a mullet Baiting river blackfish • Blue Rock bassin’ • DIY kayak wheels

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Entry is simple. Email us your cover-worthy pic. Remember, though, that it needs to be the right composition and resolution to work. After that, it just needs to get through the Grumpy Old Man committee (Steve Morgan) and then BOOM, you’re the latest cover model.

Be creative - we like images that aren’t just ‘person holding fish’. • • • • • • •

Other parameters of which you need to take note: Portrait format (turn camera on its side). Leave enough room for a magazine masthead at the top of the image. Shoot in the highest resolution your camera can take. Use fill-in flash to help remove any shadows under caps or biminis. Live fish look way better than dead ones. Any fish must be legally captured (within season/size limits). iPhone pics aren’t going to cut it!

Head not too high in the shot to allow for Masthead Portrait format showing focus area

And then email your image to: frontcovercomp@fishingmonthly.com.au with a description of the what/when/where/how of the capture. Be sure to include your details, too, because we’ll post out a mounted copy of the winning covers to the entrant.

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105

HAWK FISHING • FIND-A-WORD COMPETITION

Murray Cod Lairs

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YARRAWONGA

GUNDAGAI

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NARRABRI

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OAKY CREEK

OVENS RIVER

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EMERALD

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Address

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win a Hawk Fishing cap, Hawk Fishing line, Hawk HB Lure, assorted Panther Martin lures and 3 packets of Youvella chemically sharpened hooks. SEND ENTRIES TO:

NSW Hawk Tournament Competition PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129 NSW FEBRUARY 2015

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE The subscriber prize winner for December was P Rynne of Windsor, who won a Tide Apparel pack. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

FIND THE VMC LOGO WINNERS

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

BITE ME by Trisha Mason

The Find the VMC logo prize winners for December were: L Cupitt of Goulburn, G Tasker of Belfield, J Natt of Sussex Inlet, P Bak of Monash, D Upton of Gloucester, J Morante of Singleton, R Allen of Umina Beach, R Rich of Hamlyn Tce, A Bird of Wattle Flat, T Kennedy of Summerland Point, B Crowhurst of Budgewoi, P Weaver of Chittaway Point, B Stokes of Morwell, B Hall of Balgownie, D Wolhoff of Westleigh, S Mulcahy of Taree, G Waugh of Greystanes, K Finch of Mulgoa, D Culshaw of Banyo, G Foster of Evatt, J Stranner of Rose Bay, B Laurenson of Oakville , K Goodman of Mt Morgan, J Smith of Kelso, D McIntosh of Blacktown, S Jones of Narromine , S Davis of Emu Plains, R Bland of Forster, G Jones of Weston, I Maas of Moree, I Errey of Leeton, L Boyd of Hawks Nest, B Fisher of Pacific Palms, L Wicks of Forbes, B Bailey of Ulladulla, D Keen of Minnamurra , G Lewis of Port Macquarie, L Gorham of Toronto, B Bell of Wodonga, A Sinclair of Lalor Park. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

FIND THE VMC LOGO DECEMBER LOCATIONS The answers to Find the VMC Hook for December were: 12, 16, 24, 27, 29, 36, 46, 54, 69, 87, 90, 95, 51, 71, 106. – NSWFM

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GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

The Gloryfy prize winner was B Judd of Laurieton, who won a pair of G3 polarised sunglasses valued at $250. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

FIND-A-WORD WINNER Congratulations to Bill Olsen of Sanssouci, who was last month’s winner of the Hawk Tournament Find-a-Word Competition! Monthly winners receive Hawk Tournament Tested Bayer Perlon IGFA line, assorted Panther Martin lures, Youvella hooks and a keyring. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – NSWFM 2 106

• DECEMBER FEBRUARY 2015 2010

NSW Tide Times

SYDNEY (FORT DENISON) – NEW SOUTH WALES JANUARY Time

Time

0607 1.65 1245 0.49 TH 1837 1.30

0523 1200 FR 1746 2339

2015

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

Time

1.51 0.60 1.24 0.53

0100 0731 SU 1414 2008

1.62 0.49 SA 1846 1.29

2 0145 0815

17 0106 0736

3 0226 0853

18 0200 0828

4 0304 0929

19 0253 0918

5 0341 1002

20 0346 1008

6 0416 1036

21 0440 1059

7 0454 1110

22 0534 1148

8 0533 1145

23 0018 0631

9 0016 0615

24 0111 0731

2 0025 0700

17 0617 1258

3 0115 0748

18 0032 0708

4 0200 0832

19 0124 0758

5 0242 0912

20 0215 0846

6 0321 0950

21 0305 0935

7 0400 1026

22 0358 1025

8 0437 1100

23 0451 1114

9 0515 1136

24 0545 1204

10 0015 0557

25 0045 0644

10 0058 0701

11 0057 0642

26 0139 0745

12 0143 0733

0.54 1.67 0.43 1.30

0009 0643 MO 1325 1922

Time

0619 1.55 1304 0.53 SU 1904 1.27

0516 1200 MO 1804 2351

Time

1.61 0.44 1.35 0.53

0108 0717 WE 1342 1953

1.72 0.33 TU 1901 1.47

2 0149 0757

17 0035 0646

3 0228 0833

18 0130 0740

4 0304 0909

19 0224 0831

5 0240 0845

20 0316 0923

6 0317 0920

21 0409 1015

7 0357 0959

22 0502 1106

8 0438 1039

23 0556 1159

9 0524 1124

24 0002 0651

0.61 1.55 0.49 1.47

2 0044 0709

17 0618 1256

3 0130 0751

18 0051 0715

4 0210 0829

19 0147 0808

5 0247 0903

20 0242 0900

6 0323 0937

21 0335 0950

7 0359 1011

22 0429 1041

8 0435 1045

23 0522 1132

9 0514 1120

24 0617 1224

25 0206 0837

10 0554 1158

25 0043 0715

10 0615 1215

25 0054 0748

11 0144 0754

26 0307 0949

11 0020 0639

26 0134 0817

11 0028 0715

26 0150 0845

27 0237 0853

12 0236 0858

27 0415 1104

12 0103 0730

27 0232 0924

12 0129 0821

27 0253 0940

13 0233 0831

28 0339 1008

13 0336 1012

28 0521 1211

13 0155 0830

28 0336 1030

13 0239 0929

28 0354 1030

14 0329 0940

29 0445 1125

14 0442 1126

14 0256 0942

29 0443 1131

14 0349 1030

29 0449 1115

15 0427 1053

30 0547 1234

15 0545 1230

15 0406 1055

30 0544 1223

15 0454 1125

30 0537 1154

0.47 1.71 FR 1342 0.43 1933 1.31 0.47 1.75 SA 1430 0.38 2022 1.33 0.47 1.78 SU 1512 0.35 2105 1.34 0.47 1.79 MO 1549 0.33 2145 1.35 0.48 1.78 TU 1625 0.34 2224 1.36 0.49 1.75 WE 1700 0.35 2300 1.35 0.52 1.71 TH 1733 0.38 2337 1.35 0.55 1.65 FR 1807 0.41 1.35 0.59 SA 1212 1.58 1843 0.45

1.34 0.63 SU 1251 1.49 1921 0.48

1.34 0.68 MO 1335 1.40 2003 0.52 1.35 0.71 TU 1428 1.32 2052 0.55

1.38 0.72 WE 1530 1.25 2145 0.57 1.43 0.68 TH 1639 1.22 2243 0.56

0.47 1.73 SU 1349 0.37 1941 1.36

0.41 1.85 MO 1437 0.25 2031 1.43 0.35 1.94 TU 1524 0.16 2121 1.49

0.30 2.00 WE 1611 0.11 2211 1.55 0.27 2.00 TH 1658 0.10 2300 1.58 0.28 1.95 FR 1745 0.13 2352 1.59

0.32 1.84 SA 1832 0.20

1.59 0.39 SU 1257 1.69 1921 0.29

1.57 0.46 MO 1352 1.53 2012 0.39 1.56 0.54 TU 1454 1.37 2107 0.48

1.55 0.58 WE 1604 1.26 2207 0.54 1.56 0.57 TH 1719 1.22 2309 0.56 1.59 0.53 FR 1827 1.22

31 0007 0643

0.56 1.63 SA 1330 0.48 1922 1.26

0.51 1.70 MO 1452 0.39 2047 1.35 0.48 1.72 TU 1526 0.37 2124 1.38 0.47 1.72 WE 1558 0.35 2158 1.41 0.46 1.71 TH 1629 0.36 2231 1.42 0.47 1.68 FR 1700 0.37 2304 1.43 0.49 1.63 SA 1730 0.39 2340 1.44 0.52 1.56 SU 1802 0.43 1.44 0.56 MO 1221 1.48 1836 0.47 1.43 0.60 TU 1302 1.39 1915 0.52

1.42 0.65 WE 1350 1.31 1959 0.57 1.42 0.67 TH 1449 1.23 2053 0.60

1.44 0.65 FR 1601 1.20 2159 0.61

1.50 0.58 SA 1718 1.22 2307 0.57

1.60 0.47 SU 1825 1.29

0.41 1.84 TU 1415 0.23 2014 1.49

0.32 1.94 WE 1501 0.14 2102 1.59 0.24 1.98 TH 1547 0.09 2151 1.66

0.21 1.97 FR 1633 0.10 2240 1.71

0.21 1.89 SA 1718 0.15 2329 1.73

0.25 1.77 SU 1803 0.23

1.71 0.33 MO 1241 1.61 1850 0.35 1.66 0.42 TU 1335 1.44 1939 0.46

1.61 0.51 WE 1435 1.30 2034 0.56 1.55 0.57 TH 1545 1.21 2137 0.63

1.52 0.59 FR 1703 1.18 2245 0.66

1.52 0.57 SA 1812 1.21 2348 0.64

0.60 1.58 MO 1346 0.48 1947 1.34 0.55 1.62 TU 1422 0.44 2024 1.40 0.51 1.64 WE 1455 0.41 2058 1.45 0.47 1.66 TH 1525 0.39 2130 1.49 0.45 1.65 FR 1554 0.38 2200 1.52 0.44 1.63 SA 1624 0.39 2233 1.55 0.45 1.58 SU 1654 0.41 2306 1.56 0.47 1.52 MO 1725 0.45 2342 1.56 0.50 1.45 TU 1759 0.49

1.54 0.54 WE 1239 1.37 1835 0.55 1.52 0.59 TH 1327 1.30 1920 0.60 1.50 0.61 FR 1426 1.24 2015 0.65

1.50 0.60 SA 1538 1.22 2126 0.66

1.53 0.54 SU 1656 1.25 2242 0.62

0.42 1.82 WE 1346 0.23 1952 1.59 0.32 1.88 TH 1434 0.17 2041 1.71 0.24 1.90 FR 1519 0.14 2129 1.79

0.19 1.86 SA 1604 0.17 2216 1.84

0.19 1.78 SU 1649 0.23 2304 1.85

0.24 1.66 MO 1734 0.33 2353 1.82 0.32 1.52 TU 1819 0.44

1.75 0.41 WE 1318 1.38 1907 0.56 1.66 0.51 TH 1416 1.27 2000 0.66 1.57 0.58 FR 1524 1.21 2103 0.73

1.51 0.61 SA 1637 1.21 2214 0.75

1.48 0.60 SU 1743 1.25 2322 0.73

1.49 0.57 MO 1834 1.32

0.55 1.57 TH 1415 0.46 2027 1.53 0.50 1.58 FR 1446 0.44 2059 1.59 0.47 1.58 SA 1516 0.43 2130 1.64 0.44 1.56 SU 1446 0.44 2102 1.67 0.43 1.53 MO 1517 0.46 2136 1.69 0.44 1.48 TU 1551 0.50 2213 1.69 0.47 1.43 WE 1627 0.54 2252 1.67 0.50 1.37 TH 1707 0.59 2336 1.64 0.53 1.31 FR 1755 0.64

1.61 0.55 SA 1315 1.28 1854 0.69

1.58 0.54 SU 1425 1.28 2006 0.70

1.59 0.50 MO 1538 1.34 2123 0.66 1.63 0.42 TU 1643 1.45 2234 0.57

1.70 0.35 WE 1739 1.58 2337 0.46

0552 1.76 1215 0.28 TH 1830 1.71

m 0.50 1.72 0.35 1.39

Local Time APRIL

0.35 1.78 FR 1303 0.25 1918 1.82

0.28 1.77 SA 1349 0.25 2006 1.90

0.23 1.73 SU 1434 0.29 2053 1.94

0.23 1.65 MO 1519 0.35 2140 1.94 0.27 1.55 TU 1604 0.44 2227 1.89

0.34 1.45 WE 1649 0.54 2314 1.80 0.43 1.36 TH 1736 0.64 1.70 0.51 FR 1253 1.29 1827 0.73

1.60 0.58 SA 1353 1.25 1926 0.79

1.52 0.62 SU 1457 1.26 2033 0.81

1.47 0.62 MO 1559 1.30 2143 0.80 1.45 0.61 TU 1652 1.37 2245 0.75

1.46 0.57 WE 1736 1.45 2338 0.68 1.48 0.54 TH 1815 1.53

31 0020 0634

0.67 1.51 TU 1305 0.53 1916 1.39

 Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2014, Bureau of Meteorology Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astonomical Tide Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect Full Moon New Moon First Quarter Moon Phase Symbols

Last Quarter

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. FEBRUARY 2015

107

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.

SYDNEY

MACQUARIE COAST

The Boat Pimpers (Sydney) (02) 9792 7799

Graham Barclay Marine (02) 6554 5866 Manning River Marine Taree (02) 6552 2333

FRESHWATER

Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0800 or email ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

Dubbo Marine and Watersports (02) 6882 2853

3Gelcoat repairs 3 Insurance repairs

3 Transom & floor repairs 312v Electrical installations

Bait & Tackle

Online Tackle Products www.fishin.com.au 0425 230 964

www.fishin.com.au ONLINE BREAM TACKLE STORE

4 Aspinall Place, MULGRAVE 02 4577 3482 www.westernboatrepairs.com.au

BYRON COAST Yamba Bait & Tackle (02) 6646 1514

COFFS COAST Compleat Angler Kempsey (02) 6562 5307 Rocks Marine Bait & Tackle South West Rocks (02) 6566 6726

Fish Taxidermy

MACQUARIE COAST

Specialising in “Tournament Quality Lures” 0425 230 964

Neptune’s Treasures - Your Catch Reproduced 0405 226 282 www.neptunestreasures.com.au

Graham Barclay Marine (02) 6554 5866 Manning River Marine Taree (02) 6552 2333 Port Macquarie Tackle World (02) 6584 9972

SHOP 18, 29 KIORA RD MIRANDA NSW 2228

Fish Taxidermist 0428 544 841

Blue Bottle Fishing www.bluebottlefishing.com info@bluebottlefishing.com Ph: 0409 333 380

Breakdown Response

HUNTER COAST Port Stephens Tackle World (02) 4984 2144

Boat Assist 24 (02) 9746 6224 or www.boatassist24.com.au

SYDNEY Gabes Boating & Fishing Centre Narellan (02) 4647 8755 Gabes Boating & Fishing Centre Sylvania (02) 9522 5100 Windybanks Bait and Tackle (02) 9477 1520

Chandlery & Accessories

Techni Ice www.techniice.com

Bermagui Bait and Tackle (02) 6493 5444

Marine Mechanics

Loomzys Fish and Fix (Forbes) (02) 6851 1425

Specialty Fishing Products www.specialtyfishing.com.au Adrenalin Flies www.adrenalinflies.com.au

Korr Lighting www.korlighting.com.au

FRESHWATER

Mo Tackle (02) 6652 4611 or www.motackle.com.au U-Make-Em Soft Plastics www.u-make-emsoftplastics.com.au

Anchor Right (03) 5968 5014

EDENS COAST

Out of the Blue Tackle 0417 608 344 or www.outofthebluetackle.com.au

Jayro Tackle www.jayrotackle.com.au

Fishing and Travel Opportunity

SYDNEY

Boat Imports

Penrith Marine (02) 4731 6250

Import USA Boat 0435 476 177

Create more time to fish, less time for work!

Moby Marine (02) 9153 6506 or www.mobymarine.com.au Aqua Marine 0415 600 301 or www.aquacash.com.au

Kayak Dealers

Looking for motivated individuals who are serious about spending more time fishing and less time working.

Cohoe Marine Products (Sydney) (02) 9519 3575 Blakes Marine (02) 4577 6699

Hunter Water Sports (02) 4947 7899

Watersports Marine (02) 9676 1400

Boat / Trailer Modifications & Repairs

Neken Marine (02) 9979 9649 Family Boats (02) 9622 0222

Bold Trailers (02) 8544 8114 www.boldtrailers.com.au Salt Away 1800 091 172 www.salt-away.com.au

WARNING!

9 out 10 engines fail from salt corrosion

ENGINE FLUSHING JETSKIS TRAILERS

FREECALL For more info

WASHING BOATS FISHING & DIVE GEAR

1800 091 172

VISIT www.salt-away.com.au

P T Y

YOUR ONE STOP SHOP

FOR OUTBOARD & STERNDRIVE SERVICE OPTIONS Outboard and Sterndrive Specialists All Services & Repairs by Qualified Technicians We are one of the Largest Distributors of After Market Marine Engine Parts in Australia

(02) 9153 6506

44 Barry Ave, Mortdale, NSW Marine Mechanics Cont...

www.mobymarine.com.au COFFS COAST Jetty Boating (02) 6651 4002

Holiday Rental

L T D

SYDNEY’S

CORROSION CONTROL SALT REMOVING TREATMENT

www.familyfreedomnow.com I info@familyfreedomnow.com I 0421 367 338

MOBY MARINE

S E R V I C E S

SALT-AWAY IS A MUST FOR:

www.FamilyFreedomNow.com

Boat Assist 24 - On Water Mechanic (02) 9746 6224

FLUSH YOUR ENGINE WITH

ACT NOW AND PROTECT YOUR VALUABLE BOAT, ENGINE, TRAILER, FISHING AND DIVE GEAR.

Imagine being able to fish any day of the week, travel to great fishing locations and work part-time to support your fishing activities!

NORTH COAST Brooms Head Caravan Park (02) 6646 7144 Calypso Yamba Holiday Park (02) 6646 8847 Iluka Riverside Tourist Park (02) 6646 6060 Wooli Camping & Caravan Park (02) 6649 7671

HUNTER COAST Wangi Point Lakeside holiday Park (02) 4975 1889 Macleay Valley Coastal Holiday Parks 1300 COASTAL Blacksmiths Holiday Park (02) 4971 2858

CENTRAL COAST Central Coast Holiday Parks 1800 241 342

ILLAWARRA COAST Currarong Beachside Tourist Park 1300 555 515 Sussex Inlet (LJ Hooker) (02) 4441 2135 Riviera Caravan Park, St George’s Basin (02) 4441 2112 Killalea State Park, Shell Cove (02) 4237 8589 Holiday With Us, Sussex Inlet (02) 4441 2135 Surf Beach Holiday Park (02) 4232 1791 Kendalls on the Beach (02) 4232 1790

WANT IN? EMAIL : ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

Werri Beach Holiday Park (02) 4234 1285

FREEDOM CHARTERS

COFFS COAST

Seven Mile Beach Holiday Park (02) 4234 1340

Coffs Coast Sport Fishing 0434 517 683

Kiama Harbour Cabins (02) 4232 2707

Oceanic Sea Urchin II Charters (02) 6566 6623 or 0428 650 321

EDEN COAST

EDEN

South West Rocks Fishing Charters (02) 6566 5298 or 0429 995 390 The Rocks Fishing Charters 0412 074 147

Fishermans Rest (Eden) (02) 6496 1999

Wooli Deep Sea Tours (02) 6649 7100

FRESHWATER

Trial Bay Fishing Charters, 0427 256 556

Burrinjuck Waters State Park (02) 6227 8114 Providence Lodge (Eucumbene) (02) 6454 2200 Grabine Lakeside State Park (02) 4835 2345 Wyangala Waters State Park (02) 6345 0877 Bass Lodge Macleay River NSW 0433 482 325 Chifley Dam Cabins 1800 68 1000

CHIFLEYCabDAM ins Just 20 minutes drive south of Bathurst Affordable self-catering accommodation Quiet peaceful setting

This is where your copy will appear. You will have approximately 30 words within a 5x2 ad size.

Lake Glenbawn State Park (02) 6543 7193

• Reef, Game and Kingfish • Shared and private charters • Bait and tackle supplied • Homemade morning tea • Packages available • Owner operated

WE CATCH FISH!

SAMPLE AD - BUSINESS NAME

Winter Keep (Snowy Mountains) www.winterkeep.com.au

BEST VALUE FOR MONEY ON THE NSW STH COAST!

Ph: (02)

6496 1209 or 0415 602 446

fishing@freedomcharters.com.au W: www.freedomcharters.com.au

QUEENSLAND

MV CAPRICORN STAR EXTENDED FISHING CHARTERS

BOOK YOUR

2015

Email : ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

TRIP NOW

MACQUARIE COAST

Swains Reef • Bunker Group • Coral Sea • Shoal Waters and Beyond

Castaway Estuary Charters 0427 239 650 Ocean Star Fishing Charters 0416 240 877

o tf

Book now on 1800 68 1000 Book online at visitbathurst.com.au

ea Gr

po ts

N HI

FIS

HUNTER COAST Tailermade Fishing Adventures (02) 4928 2653 or 0411 096 717

SYDNEY

MV Capricorn Star 0408 755 201 or www.amytiadventure.com.au Mikat Cruises Fishing Charters Swains & Coral Sea 0427 125 727

MIKAT CRUISES

Harbour and Estuary Fishing Charters (02) 9999 2574 or 0410 633 351 Sydney Sportfishing Adventures 0405 196 253

Moorings

ILLAWARRA COAST

SAMPLE AD - BUSINESS NAME This is where your copy will appear. You will have approximately 30 words within a 5x2 ad size. Email : ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

TRADES AND SERVICES ADVERTISING Line listing from $15 + gst per mth* 2cm x 2 from $35 + gst per mth* 5cm x 2 from $50 + gst per mth* 7cm x 2 from $74 + gst per mth* 9cm x 2 from $89 + gst per mth* 10cm x 2 from $99 + gst per mth* 11cm x 2 from $105 + gst per mth* 12cm x 2 from $110 + gst per mth* * Conditions apply Call (07) 3387 0800 or email ads@fishingmonthly.com.au Boat Hire Boab Boat Hire (NSW) 1300 002 6221

Charter Boats BYRON COAST Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters, 0428 828 835 Sea Master Fishing Charters, (07) 5524 8849 or 0415 593 901 Reel Time Fishing Charters 0428 231 962

Sea Lady Charters 0411 024 402

Swains & Coral Sea

Silver Star Fishing Charters (02) 4421 7462 or 0412 977 000

Fishing Charters

Shell Harbour Fishing Charters 0425 216 370

Greenwell Point only 10 mins from

SILVER STAR FISHING CHARTERS

NOWRA NSW

Game and Deep Sea, Charters ing Reef Fish

• Reef, Deep Sea and Sport Fishing • 20m Cat – Large comfortable & stable • Air-Conditioned & fast (cruise up to 18 knots) • Professional crew (over 22 years experience) • Cater for groups up to 14 for up to 10 days • Fully licensed bar • Dories available • Three large bathrooms • Blue Ray DVD + Plasma Tv’s • Desalinate unit • Trips designed to suit your requirements

Choice of

Snapper

3 BOATS

Michael Ph: 0427 125 727

Fax: (07) 4972 1759

Mowong

SWAINS

EXTENDED REEF TRIPS

Flathead Kingfish Tuna Plus more! SILVER STAR FISHING CHARTERS

www.mikat.com.au

NSW Recreational Fishing Licence.

FOR UP TO 10 PEOPLE •Swains Reef •Port Clinton •Stanage Bay •Island Head Creek •Shoalwater Bay •Pearl Bay

NSW Maritime Surveyed. Jervis Bay Marine Park permit.

Phone John 0412

977 000

EDEN COAST

CP:

0419 789 921 www.inyadreamscharters.com Fishing Guides

www.silverstarfishingcharters.com.au

ILLAWARRA COAST BATEMANS COAST

Bay & Basin Sportsfishing 0413 610 832

BATEMANS COAST

Top Cat Charters (02) 4472 7340 or 0427 727 340

EDEN COAST

Aussie Fish Estuary Adventures (02) 6495 9902 or 0400 062 504

EDEN COAST

Esprit Fishing Charters 1300 556 658 Freedom Charters Eden (02) 6496 1209 or www.freedomcharters.com.au

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

WANT IN? EMAIL : ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

Central Coast Central Coast Boat World 19 Lake St Budgewoi Phone: (02) 4399 3568 E:ccbw3@bigpond.com Website: www.centralcoastboatworld.com.au Cowra Cowra Marine Centre 29 Grenfell St Cowra Phone: (02) 6342 2904 | E:info@cowramarine.com.au Website: www.cowramarine.com.au Port Macquarie Hastings Marine 185 Hastings River Dr Port Macquarie Phone: (02) 6583 5511 | E:sales@hastingsmarine.com.au Website: www.hastingsmarine.com.au

Mercury Portables. Lightweight and built to last. Mercury’s Portables range provide the power that you can carry, run and depend on. With eleven horsepower options ranging from 2.5hp to 30hp, these compact units punch well above their weight.

Coffs Harbour Jetty Boating 40 Hi Tech Drive, Toormina Phone: (02) 6651 4002 | E:info@jettyboating.com.au Website: www.jettyboating.com.au Hunter Valley Maitland Power and Marine 23 Melbourne St, East Maitland Phone: (02) 4933 3284 | E:sales@mpm.net.au Website: www.mpm.net.au Far South Coast Merimbula Outboards 382 Sapphire Coast Dr Tura Merimbula Phone: (02) 6495 9634 | E:info@merimbulaoutboard.com.au Website: www.merimbulaoutboard.com.au Sydney West Penrith Marine 4/133 Coreen Ave Penrith Phone: (02) 4731 6250 | E:sales@penrithmarine.com.au Website: www.penrithmarine.com.au Sydney North Shore Shannon Outboards 3/41 Leighton Pl Hornsby Phone: (02) 9482 2638 | E:sales@shannonoutboards.com.au Website: www.shannonoutboards.com.au Sydney North West TR Marine World 44 Curtis Rd McGraths Hill Phone: (02) 4577 3522 | E:sales@trmarine.com.au Website: www.trmarine.com.au Sydney North West Watersports Marine 11 Binney Rd Kingspark Phone: (02) 9676 1400 | E:info@watersportmarine.com.au Website: www.watersportsmarine.com.au Sydney South Hi Tech Marine 40 Princes Hwy Albion Park Phone: (02) 4256 6135 | E:pauline@hitechmarine.com.au Website: www.hitechmarine.com.au Central Coast Insinc Marine 278 Manns Road, Gosford West Ph: (02) 4324 4300 | E:troy@insincmarine.com.au Website: www.insincmarine.com.au Northern NSW / Gold Coast Tweed Coast Marine 147 Pacific Hwy Tweed Heads South Ph: (07) 5524 8877 | E:admin@tweedcoastmarine.com.au Website: www.tweedcoastmarine.com.au Dubbo Dubbo Marine & Watersports 36 Bourke St, Dubbo Ph: 02·6882 2853 | E:bbeandel@bigpond.net.au Website: www.dubbomarine.com.au Mid North Coast Disco Marine 160 North St Grafton Ph: (02) 6643 1199 | E:sales@discomarine.com.au Website: www.discomarine.com.au Sydney South Go Boating Liverpool 142 Terminus Street, Liverpool Ph: (02) 9601 3022 | E:info@goboating.net.au Website: www.goboating.net.au Batemans Bay Batemans Bay Marine 6/37 Gregory St Batemans Bay Ph: (02) 4472 7133 E: batemansbaymarine@hotmail.com Sydney Avante Marine 212 Silverwater Rd Silverwater Ph: (02) 9737 0727 | E: info@avantemarine.com.au Website: www.avantemarine.com.au

Black Pete Marine Pty Ltd PO Box 3094, Allambie, NSW 2100 blkpete@bigpond.net.au www.blackpete.com.au | 02 9905 7888

SAVE UP TO

$500 ON MERCURY 2.5 - 40HP FOURSTROKE & TWOSTROKE

OUTBOARDS OFFER ENDS 20th MARCH, 2015. *TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY.

VISIT WWW.MERCURYMARINE.COM.AU

SMALL OUTBOARDS. BIG POSSIBILITIES.