New South Wales Fishing Monthly - January 2017 by Fishing Monthly

SIZZLING SUMMER FISHING • BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING

Features

Luring for mulloway • Essential camping tips • All about oyster racks • Spotlight on the Barra Tour •

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January 2017, Vol. 22 No. 6

Contents 14

From the Editor’s Desk...

Managing Editor: Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au Editorial Manager: Jacqui Thomas Sub-Editors: Bob Thornton Nicole Penfold Cordelia Adams Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall

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Scott Whitfield went straight from the Flathead Classic to his favourite mulloway hole.

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WHO IS TO BLAME? Rod is spot on when he says, “I have never seen a flood in my lifetime that hasn’t sparked a huge run of yabbies. There’s not a yabby to be seen as I write this, other than those walking out of the river to die in the sun. It wouldn’t surprise me if those yabbies that are unseen haven’t suffered the same fate as the cod. “I believe this is the greatest environmental disaster the Murray Darling Basin has ever witnessed and it’s far from over. If the MDBA can orchestrate environmental flows to the point that they can manipulate greater sexual achievement amongst Murray cod, why have they dropped the ball on the rest of the MurrayDarling Basin?” Fingers crossed that Rod is off the mark. Read his column inside for full details.

the larger main body of the Murray. Fish in the smaller arms are quickly robbed of oxygen and die. Once in the main flow of the Murray, the black water loses its toxicity and is shandied down in the oxygenated flows. “If you were to deliberately set about creating the perfect black water event, you might simply flood a few forests and then allow the water to sit and leach the toxins from the rotting vegetation. Of course, in order to give the trees a good drink, you would hold the water in these areas as long as possible, replicating a stationary flood. This has happened in past years at both the Barmah and Perricoota forests, but it seems the Yanga Forest may this time be the villain with locals saying it’s going in one end quite normally and coming out the other with the consistency of sump-oil.”

including the Frenchmans and Rufus rivers. Here’s how I see it – all the cod in the Frenchmans River are dead. Most of the cod seeking freshwater flows in the Rufus have come out of the Murray, and these are also dead. I counted more than 170 big fish in just a few short hours, all floating belly up. “It amazes me how these government departments are able to count the calling songs of Australian bitten birds or bell frogs, but are totally blind to the recording of giant cod carcasses. “Blackwater occurs when the toxins are leached from leafy materials strewn across the forest floor. In a natural event, the kill is usually seen the following year of the floods when high follow up flows pick up land-locked billabongs of deoxygenated water and pull them back into the smaller arms and eventually

PRO

It was only last month that we saluted the rise of the Murray cod fishery in these pages. Our cod articles, focussing on catching and releasing these fish on swimbaits and fly, were designed to motivate plenty of readers to go and give the big green girls a crack. So it’s devastating that some of the riverine heartland of this iconic Aussie species is being subjected to a ‘blackwater’ event that’s wiping out cod in vast stretches of the river. FM columnist and passionate Murray cod angler Rod Mackenzie explains. “I have just returned from Wentworth Weir where the shrimps and yabbies are crawling out by the bucketful,” Rod recalls. “Dead and dying cod have also been reported. I looked at several other places

JANUARY 2017

AUST

BYRON COAST The Tweed 22 Ballina 23 Yamba 24 Iluka 26 COFFS COAST Coffs Harbour 28 Coffs Game 30 South West Rocks 31 MACQUARIE COAST The Hastings 32 Forster 34 HUNTER COAST Harrington-Taree 36 Port Stephens 38 Hunter Coast 39 Swansea 40 Central Coast 41 SYDNEY The Hawkesbury 12 Sydney North 14 Pittwater 15 Sydney Harbour 21 Sydney rock and beach 17 Botany Bay 18 Sydney South 20 ILLAWARRA COAST Illawarra 42 Nowra 43 BATEMANS COAST Merimbula 52 Narooma 53 Batemans Bay 54 EDEN COAST Bermagui 58 Tathra 59 Eden 60 Mallacoota 60 FRESHWATER Mildura 64 Robinvale 64 Yarrawonga 65 Echuca 65 Canberra 67 Wagga Wagga 68 Jindabyne 66 Batlow 70 Lithgow-Oberon 69 Hunter Valley 74 Tamworth 72 Orange 73 Copeton Dam 76 New England 77 REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics 46 Boating 97 Dam Levels 69 Fun Page 96 Kayak Fishing 99 Tides 100 Trade Directory 94 Tournaments 80 What’s New Fishing 48 What’s New Boating 98 SPECIAL FEATURES Mastering river mulloway 8 Ins and outs of oyster racks 44 Essential camping tips 78 Barra Tour lowdown 84

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Mulloway

A guide to the river ghost FEATURE

Scott Whitfield

The warmer months are a great time to hit the estuaries in search of NSW’s ghost of the estuary, but many struggle to crack a pattern on these impressive silver slabs. It doesn’t have to be complicated, and often, if you can just break down a certain waterway, it can be very simple to find a decent school of mulloway. RIVER STRUCTURE To begin your search, always look for structure. Mulloway always need

in their boats, and I’m no exception. I use a Lowrance Gen3 HDS 12 Touch unit because it has Insight Genesis maps that let me map the contours in the rivers, so I know what edge to drift along. The main consideration with a sounder though is that it has structure scan, so you can look out to the side, and downscan so you can get a good picture of what’s below, plus regular sonar. I keep three windows open so I can see each picture. A good knowledge of your sounder’s capabilities is important when finding mulloway schools, and

You do occasionally cross paths with a mulloway over a metre in rivers, particularly when there’s lots of freshwater being pumped out of the system. a reason to be there, and structure is often that reason. Structure is always important for finding mulloway, particularly in rivers. I tend to look for depths of 15ft down to 30ft with a rock structure. On the edge of that where it meets the sand is always a hotspot, particularly with rock walls. My fishing isn’t always centred around structure I can see out of the water though. Other areas where a creek mouth might drain out into a big hole in the river is also worth a look. When you’re fishing vibration lures for the mulloway, it’s almost like a vertical hop, and you’re trying to use your electric sounder to judge the edge of the drop-off. Because of this, you want a good reliable sounder that’s going to help you find the structure and bait exactly, and the actual school of fish as well. It goes without saying that most avid mulloway anglers have good sounders 8

JANUARY 2017

can make the difference between a great day and an average one. Once you sound the fish up in the river, you’re pretty much going to get the bite straight away once you’re

on top of them and you get a lure in their face. TIMING Timing your sessions around conducive bite periods is probably the most important thing when chasing mulloway in our estuary systems, and while I’m often pressed for time with work commitments, I try my best to be on the water when the mulloway are biting. The main consideration is the tide. I’ve found that the fish I’ve caught have mainly been at the bottom of the tide or the start of the run-in. The best times for fishing a river are when the tide change coincides with low light conditions – early morning, late afternoon and into the night. Although you can catch them in the middle of the day, it doesn’t happen as often. Part of that would be due to boat traffic, which is always heightened in summer. There are exceptions to the rule though, and major flood events are one of them. If you’re fishing rock walls, it’s always a good time after you’ve had a good rain event because it pushes the bait out into the river. LOCKING HORNS The reason most people target mulloway is for the fight. These silver slabs go hard around structure, and can make long, hard and lineburning runs in an attempt to gain their freedom. Knowing their habits on the end of a line can help you to turn their heads away from structure and get them to the boat. The fight is generally fast and furious until you wear them out, then you can start to put the pressure on after their first few runs. They’ll usually give up after a while and you can get them to the surface. Initially, once they realise they’re hooked, they’ll take a big run. After the initial bite, I always try to set the hook in and make

Mulloway are always beautiful when they come out of the water. sure I’ve got a solid hook-up. With the vibes and soft plastics, they’ll usually hit it on the drop, so I’ll set the hooks in pretty hard and let them do their run, which really cements that hook-up. Once you can get them away from their structure, they’re usually nice clean fighters, and you don’t get busted off much. If you’re land-based fishing, a big one can potentially do a big run for about 100m or so, but then you can start to turn their head and bring them to shore, because this tires them out. LURES AND TACKLE Plastics I use a variety of lures for my mulloway fishing, but have found confidence in a few select lure types and brands. For plastics, I like them on a pretty light jighead, around 1/8oz. I’ll usually hop it twice, trying to keep it as low to the bottom as possible, just lifting it 6 inches to a foot off the bottom. It’s generally two hops, then I let it slowly flutter down. The 3” Gulp Minnows are good in the natural colours like banana prawn and pearl watermelon. Plenty

of 3-4” plastics will do the job. Other plastics that have worked well for me are the Keitech Swing Fat paddletails, and the DUO Realis V-Tailed Shad, which is almost a cross between a shad tail and a paddle-tail. They’re my go-to plastics around the shallower structure in around 8-15ft of water. Rods are a huge

river, with most fish around 70-80cm. I do occasionally get fish up to a metre, but they’re rare in the areas I fish. When I’m going finesse to get the bite, I use a light 2-5kg spin outfit with 10lb braided mainline on a light spin 13 Fishing Envy rod. On this I generally have my Daiwa Exist spin reel in size 2500. I’ve found that 12lb

Although mulloway taste good, many choose to put them back to fight another day.

Big vibes are always a winner for schooling fish.

consideration when chasing mulloway, and Scott doesn’t leave anything up to chance, opting for quality equipment. A good-quality, fastactioned rod with a sensitive tip is good because you can stay in contact with your plastic the whole time. Try to keep the rod tip high, because it’s easier to get the smaller hops out of it on the bottom. While your rod tip’s high in the air, you can’t jerk it too much, and it forces you to keep your movements subtle. Most of my mulloway are school class fish, so I select his gear accordingly. I tend to use lighter gear when chasing schoolies in the

fluorocarbon leader is a good balance. I’ve used lighter leader, but I’ve lost a lot of fish going lighter than 12lb. Vibes In deeper water around holes I like to use big lipless crankbaits or light metal vibes. Trying to match the hatch is very important, so you should try to find out what bait is in the area. Having a variety aboard is helpful for finding what they want on a given day, or night, and I’m always wellarmed. I have a selection of lures with different actions, some have a wider wobble while others have a tighter action that’s more subtle, imitating a prawn cruising

Mulloway

Having a quality sounder on board is always helpful, particularly if you’re looking for schools. through at that time of the tide. Sometimes rattles work better than silent, or vice versa. You need to vary the lures to see what works on the day.

You’ll want to bring a range of sizes too, from 40-70mm. That way, you can look around the area and see what baitfish there are, and match the hatch.

I’m sponsored by DUO, so I mostly use the DUO Realis Vibration baits, usually in the 62mm size. I prefer natural colours like golds, chromes and even some transparent colours. Soft plastic tackle and vibe tackle is usually different, and I have a special outfit I use when vibing for mulloway. When I’m hopping vibes off the bottom, I fish heavier, because if you get snagged, you want to be able to straighten the hooks a bit and get your lure back. I use a 10-20lb baitcaster rod with a fast action. My chosen rod is a 13 Fishing Envy 7’0” with a Daiwa Z200H. For lines I like 30lb braid and 30-40lb leader

NSWFM COVER STORY I was pretty sleep deprived after the Flathead Classic, where I’d been staying up late and then getting up early each morning for four days straight. I could have gone to bed, but I went mulloway fishing instead. The boat was still hooked up, so I was ready to do it. Impromptu jewie trips are the best! It was after the Flathead Classic. I’d had enough of chasing flathead and wanted to chase mulloway in my local river. It was mid afternoon, just on the tide change. I was just searching around the usual spots, and came to a spot that was in 15ft of water with a bit of a rocky outcrop in the middle of the river. I got on top of the rocky outcrop, dropped the plastic down, trying to keep vertical and keep the speed of the drift right with the tide. On the sounder I saw that I was over lots of fish. I imparted two hops of the plastic and then let it slowly flutter back down again. I felt a tick in the line and struck! Once I set the hook it was on. It took me about 5-10 minutes to get it on board, but it measured around 75cm, which is typical for that area, and at that size they taste great. Schoolies that size do have a bit of a smell about them, but when I fillet them and leave them in the fridge overnight, the smell seems to go away.

Swimbaits and crankbaits When fishing landbased for these estuary jewels, anglers often opt for moving baits to cover water. When I’m on the bank off the rocks, I like to throw bigger swimbaits, crankbaits and sometimes jerkbaits to imitate the mullet that are getting pushed out by the tide or fresh flow. The key with swimbaits is to work them really slowly, because you’ll have a bit of current pushing out. You want to work them where the eddies are, which is where the baitfish are holed up.

You can use lures up to a 120mm for a bibbed minnows and jerkbaits. For swimbaits, anything up to 180mm will still get eaten. Big swimbaits don’t have to go down that deep, especially when the mulloway are feeding up top, so 2m is as deep as they need to go, you just want a slow steady retrieve. Again, with crankbaits, jerkbaits and swimbaits, I have found confidence in a select few that work for me. The DUO Realis Sang Bait 140 minnow, which has a tight rolling action when the lure’s rolling, is

desirable when you’re using a minnow for mulloway, but I’ll go down to a Realis 110 jerkbait. The Realis Onimasu 188F swimbait is my pick for swimbaits. There are plenty of other lures that will work well too, it’s just about finding the right size for the bait that’s being eaten. I hope this is enough to get you out on the water in search of river mulloway. It’s not nearly as daunting as it sounds, and when you crack into your first few, you’ll have the confidence to catch more. Go get ‘em!

How’s that purple around the nose? They really are the jewels of the estuary.

Soft & Strong

Scented

Salted

JANUARY 2017

Fishing Fill-its

12-month trialling for mandatory life jackets The Minister for Emergency Services, David Elliott, has announced a 12-month trial of mandatory life jackets for rock fishers in Randwick, as the Government prepares to introduce legislation to increase safety along the state’s coastline. Randwick Local Government Area has the highest rate of rock fishing drownings in NSW, with Little Bay and Cape Banks some of the most dangerous locations. Enforcement officers from Randwick Council, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Primary Industries and the NSW Police Force will warn rock fishers not wearing a life jacket about the rules after 1 December 2016. There will be a 12-month grace period

before the law is enforced with a $100 fine. The Government will review the trial after 12 months and consider adding other local government areas to the program. In November, Mr Elliott introduced the Rock Fishing Safety Bill 2016 into Parliament, making it mandatory for people to wear life jackets when rock fishing in the Randwick LGA. The legislation enables other locations to be included after the 12-month trial. “Rock fishing is one of Australia’s deadliest pastimes, and of the 10 people who died in NSW in 2015-16, not one was wearing a life jacket,” Mr Elliott said. Earlier last year, a working group was established to determine where the high-risk

locations were, using information such as the number of fatalities and near drownings at a site, usage and accessibility. The working group found Randwick to be a high risk LGA, which led to Government selecting that location. A new education campaign targeting culturally and linguistically diverse communities will complement the legislation and will include a dedicated advertising campaign and improved warning signs at rock fishing sites. Transport for NSW’s Old4New van will visit popular rock fishing areas, including the Coogee area, and across the state this summer to offer discounted life jackets. Standard approved life jackets that meet the requirements under the new law are

It is now mandatory to wear a lifejacket when rock fishing in the Randwick Local Government Area (LGA). Image courtesy of Water Safety Advisory Council

To view the complete version of this map, visit www.watersafety.nsw.gov.au 10

JANUARY 2017

available for purchase from around $20. SAFETY TIPS Rock fishing is one of the most dangerous sports in Australia. The majority of rock fishing-related deaths in Australia occur in NSW, with an average of eight people losing their lives rock fishing in NSW every year. Many anglers are concerned that the compulsory wearing of a PFD may give people a false sense of security. It is still vital to be alert and take safety precautions, as things can go seriously wrong even if you are wearing a PFD. The following is some important advice from the NSW Water Safety Advisory Council. • Always check and understand the weather conditions and tides before you leave home. This will help you to choose the safest possible location to go fishing. While you’re fishing, continue to monitor the weather. • DO NOT rock fish when the conditions are

dangerous, such as with large seas or swell. If you are fishing in an exposed area during rough seas, find a calmer spot. • Rising tides and high tides make waves break onto rock fishing locations. You might get trapped or swept away. • Strong winds can create hazardous waves or push you off wet, slippery rocks. • Always watch the waves. Never turn your back on the ocean. • Look for the safest possible locations to fish. Seek the advice of local people and experienced anglers who know the area, and look for Angel Ring locations. Angel Rings are life buoys installed at popular rock fishing spots across NSW. Angel Rings can keep a person afloat and away from the rocks until help arrives. • Spend at least half an hour watching the wind and wave action before deciding whether a location is suitable. • Think about what your fishing spot might be like in a few hours if the weather

and tides change. • Plan an escape route in case you are washed into the water. • Wearing the right gear can stop you from slipping into the water, and can save your life if you do end up in the water. Wear appropriate footwear with non-slip soles or cleats to provide grip on slippery rocks. Always wear lightweight clothing. Together with your lifejacket, lightweight clothing will help you be buoyant and not weigh you down if you do get washed into the water. • Never fish alone. No place is perfectly safe for rock fishing. Fish only with other people and only in places where experienced anglers go to fish. • Make sure you tell someone who is not going fishing with you where you are planning to go and when you plan on returning. For more information, and to see a map of highrisk locations, visit www. watersafety.nsw.gov.au/ rockfishing. – NSW Water Safety Advisory Council

A mixed bag of tactics for the New Years fish THE HAWKESBURY

Dan Selby dan@sydneysportfishing.com.au

I hope you all had a wonderful festive season and New Years filled with quality family and fishing time. With so much on offer in our piscatorial realm, it’s hard to know where to start! Prawning around the new moon with drag or dip nets is a fun exercise especially for kids. Try areas like the main beach at Windsor, Little Manly at Freemans Reach, Crosslands or some of the back bays in Berowra Creek accessed via boat. Setting some crab pots from Wisemans Ferry to Spencer is another fun task that can reward you with some tasty bounty. Fresh fish

frames from recent captures are my favourite crab pot bait and seem to attract a better class of crab. Check them regularly and fish nearby to deter poachers. The amount of share farming is beyond ridiculous. Early morning and late into the evening will be great for a sneaky flick for a bass or two using surface lures, shallow crankbaits or spinnerbaits. Try them in your favourite creek or in the main river from North Richmond and back downstream to Lower Portland. Good reports of fish have come from the Nepean Gorge, but it cops a fair hiding, so some deadly accurate casting is necessary to get the resident bass to eat your offering. Bream will be active at this time of year feeding in the upper reaches of the

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mack tuna. Casting metal slugs, soft plastics or poppers towards actively feeding fish on the surface is just so much fun and at times frustrating. Finding the correct offering to match the hatch on any given day is critical to getting bites. Small 2 and 3” soft plastic minnows in natural colours are a very handy asset rigged on light jigheads, or

hidden weight jigheads. One of the biggest keys to catching these fish is to work out the direction of the school and take a wide berth around them. Position yourself in the line of the school’s movement, kill your engine and wait for the fish to come to you with their feeding mouths open. So many times I see anglers chasing the school from

Some big kingfish can still be encountered amongst the smaller ‘rats’ this month. Fishing heavy tackle in close quarter combat is the only way to subdue fish of this calibre. rivers and creeks. Locating fish holding structure in the form of sand flats, rock walls, reefs, or man-made attractions like boat hulls, oyster leases, jetties and pontoons is the first part of the equation. Next is working out the best technique to get a bite. Surface poppers and stickbaits are very effective on the flats and leases. Shallow crankbaits can be used in most situations where the fish are looking up for a feed. Soft plastic grubs or creature baits for deeper areas like rock walls and reefs or lightly weighted around the boat hulls and pontoons will be quite effective. Flathead will be spread throughout all the smaller tributaries and as far upstream as Windsor – sometimes beyond. Finding areas where they congregate to feed is the best way to have a hot summer session on the flatties. Places like the Windsock, Dads Corner and Upper Half Moon all have prominent sand bars

Turn fishing into catching

that hold good numbers of flathead. Fish live or frozen prawns, soft plastics, paddletails and prawn imitations. Soft vibes and blades are also effective when there is a bit of strong current in the middle of the tide. I always look forward to this time of year for the inshore run of kingfish, tailor, bonito, frigate and

Early and late in the day are the prime times to target bass in the upper reaches. This fish belted the author’s spinnerbait right on dark, moments after an accurate cast was made to a fallen tree snag.

Targeting the flats using shallow crankbaits or surface stickbaits like this Prolure SF62 is a challenging and rewarding way to spend a summer day.

behind essentially casting at tails not mouths! This behaviour leads to spooked fish and frustrated anglers, so please take a deep breath, assess the school’s behaviour and think logically about the situation. It pays in the form of hook-up after hook-up! If the fish aren’t feeding on small baits on the top, I like to down rig live squid and yakkas around prominent structures like wrecks, reefs, major points and drop offs. Kingfish are the main target species, but you can encounter cobia, spotted mackerel, salmon, tailor and bonito.

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Sydney fishing takes it up a level SYDNEY NORTH

Darren Thomas

This summer is threatening to be an absolute belter as it jumps out of the festive season. Plenty of species are currently available. December started off with a bang as kingfish reports started flogging in from anglers fishing all the local bodies of water on the peninsular. With land-based and small boat fishos getting right amongst it, this month will be no different. As

water temperatures increase, so should your line class when chasing the kings. These bigger fish will become more prevalent and bust offs will be more frequent. The local inshore reef fishing scene is nearly out of control with plenty of kingfish taking all varieties of lures and baits. Use your sounder to locate the schools of bait to get in the king zone. Be prepared to move around from spot to spot to up your chances of finding these fish. Anthony James and Logan Mader from the rock

band Once Human managed a trip out with OceanHunter and caught some very good kings on our local inshore reefs. Live baits and lures were the key to catching some superb kingfish to 117cm during this trip. Some great snapper are still on the chew. Fishing Sydney Tours’ Steve Winser reported some up to 70cm on jigs, lures and baits, so don’t put away the snapper gear just yet. After the recent summer rains, decent fish are on the chew in Sydney Harbour. Kings, salmon and flathead have all featured prominently

are popular flies for this technique. Harbour flathead have been most keen on lures and plastics bounced along the estuary floor. Samaki vibes are also killing it around the drop offs. Kings and salmon have been taking live baits of squid and yakkas just below the surface. Reports have been around of the odd 10-15kg hoodlum showing interest in some of the bigger hooked salmon on their way to the boat. Be sure to have a popping outfit ready to employ. You never know what’s going to happen and it never hurts to be prepared.

Darren Thomas with a Sydney Harbour hairtail.

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in reports with plenty of live baits available. Arrow squid and yakkas have been plentiful. The surface action around the central harbour has been crazy with many a boat load of anglers are pelting lures and plastics into the big surface schools. The frustration of not being able to hook a fish continues with some anglers, as matching the hatch is imperative to ensure you get the hook-up. It can be a little frustrating when salmon are swimming into your boat, but won’t take your 90g metal slug. Smaller metal lures (half this size) and clear soft plastics are generally more successful, as is trailing a small fly on 15lb fluorocarbon 30-40cm behind your casting lure. Deceivers and clousers

six tailor and a couple of absolute ooglies in the way of two hairtail! These aren’t generally a species caught in the harbour, or during the day, or on lures – they sure topped off a mad early morning session before the wind blew up. Antonio Revere hit his favourite harbour wharf fishing with live and dead baits. He landed a variety of species including kingfish, bream, tailor and a 76cm flathead. Antonio hooked a few unstoppable fish – the mystery of fishing is a wonderful thing. The beaches are well on the up this month with whiting and bream feeding on beachworms at Manly and Dee Why. Both are successful venues to catch a feed. Casting lures has been a popular method for targeting the surface fish on the beaches of late with many salmon and tailor landed during the day. After sunset, a few whaler sharks have been stealing bottom baits intended for mulloway, which nonetheless make for an outstanding fight on mid range outfits.

Alex smith with a decent inshore snapper.

Family fishing fun time! PITTWATER

Peter Le Blang plfishfingers@bigpond.com

I hope that you have all enjoyed the Christmas and New Year celebrations, but now it’s time to get out on the water and enjoy our wonderful part of the coast. It can be hard

at the moment for a variety of species. For those who like dragging bait or casting lures around to target bottom dwelling species, there are flathead, mulloway, flounder, whiting and bream available to catch. The key to catching any of these species is to have the freshest bait possible. Use light tackle (depending on your targeted

amount of current – unless you fish towards the mouth of the river. If you draw an imaginary line from Stokes Point to Longnose Point, anywhere north of this imaginary line there is some current, but south of the line, the water level fills. This is why it can be more beneficial to drift and berley, and try to attract fish to you,

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JANUARY 2017

From page 15

will attract fish with berley. Drifting the drop-off that runs from Palm Beach to Mackerel Beach is a great area to drift for flathead and use baits or soft plastics. The deep water will not only see flathead being caught, but mulloway and kingfish also haunt the same area. Make sure that if you have a GPS plotter on your boat, that you use it when fishing this area, as quite often going back over the same drift will produce more fish. Kingfish are making a nuisance of themselves along Pittwater, and as usual, are moving around quite a lot. Starting early in the morning and heading towards Broken Bay will often see a school of kingfish feeding on the surface – bird activity is usually the easiest way to spot these kingfish. The usual small soft plastics in the 4”-6” sizes are producing kingfish, as well is the odd salmon. The larger kingfish seem to be spread out in different areas of Pittwater. We will often see one or two larger fish cruising the edges of the weed beds of Careel Bay, Palm Beach and Morning Bay on the top of the tide. For those of you who are prepared to downrig for kingfish, the areas to try are The Kingfish

Highway, Scotland Island, West Head and Barrenjoey Head. Unfortunately at the moment, the kingies along Pittwater prefer to eat live squid, but if you are going to try along West Head or Barrenjoey Head, yellowtail are working fine – save your squid for Pittwater. Squid are being found in most bays along Pittwater, with fluro colours working very well. A pilchardcoloured hardbodied flashy jig is also working well, especially if you apply a bit of scent on the lure near the spikes. A simple smear of the paste will last for ages, and those squid that are caught are quite often caught while sucking on the jig, not caught on the spikes. The better size has been the 2.0, and it’s worth spending the extra dollars buying a jig that sinks slowly and horizontally, as they work far better than the el cheapos. Along our coast there are also patches of kingfish showing up in the usual places. We have recently caught fish at Newport Reef, Whale Beach Headland, Narrabeen North and Long Reef. Once again, watching for natures tell-tales will help you find feeding fish. If you are lucky enough to be out first thing in the morning, when the conditions are like

glass, quite often schools of baitfish will be evident on the surface. Remember to not only use surface lures, but to also use micro-jigs or other lures that you can work deep in the water column, as quite often this is where larger predators will lurk. They didn’t get big because they eat anything, so be patient. Reef fishing in water depths of 60m has been producing some nice fish. On the edges of the reefs and broken ground in this depth of water, there are flathead, snapper, trevally and the odd kingfish school making a presence as well. Out at the 80m mark in areas such as the ordinance grounds, there have been big blue-spot flathead to 60cm, snapper to 55cm and even a few bar cod have been tangled with as well. Be prepared to use heavy sinkers if you wish to stay in contact with the bottom, as there is a fair amount of current pushing from the north and quite often drifting under 3km/h is a real challenge. If you do find that the current or wind is making it difficult to fish, the closer grounds are still producing, but more patience is required. Some of the closer grounds in the 30m-50m of water that are fishing well are Newport Reef, Mona Vale Reef and

the Long Reef/Collaroy area. If you are unable to catch fresh bait before you go, don’t worry, as most reefs seem to have patches of bait that are able to be caught, sliced up and sent back down again. Frozen baits that are working well, are of course, pilchards, with squid coming a close second. I suggest that while you are bait fishing with one rod put a rod, in a rod holder and drop down a micro-jig. With the boat’s action these lures work extremely well when fished near the bottom and will often produce snapper, flathead, trevally and kingfish. With the stronger currents, jigs of 200g are needed, unless you are willing to cast ahead as you drift and work them along the bottom. We now operate special family fishing charters on flat water, targeting fish that the whole family can enjoy – not only to catch, but also to take home and eat as well. I hope this report sees you grabbing the family and heading off to your favourite fishing hole to make some lasting memories. • Peter Le Blang operates Harbour and Estuary Fishing Charters, phone 02 9999 2574 or 0410 633 351, visit www. estuaryfishingcharters. com.au

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JANUARY 2017

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Don’t slip into the drink from the rocks SYD ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

The stark reality of ocean rock, ocean beach and land-based estuary fishing is the weather. Looking for utopian weather is simply not realistic. In saying that, not fishing because the swell is up a bit, winds are blowing or there might be a chance that showers and rain are predicted, isn’t really a good excuse. I’m not saying you should go out there when it’s dangerous. If rock anglers only went out when the conditions

the harbour and lots to choose from for a king. Here are some of the locations that are fishing well – some from my reliable sources and some where I’m catching on my days off. Dobroyd Head along the front is good, providing the swell is not up from the southeast. Cast poppers, stickbaits and gars in the wash areas for results. A few bream are in the washes as well. You’ll also catch some tailor and salmon and the bonito are doing their reconnaissance missions as well. Bonito up to 1.5kg were spun up there recently on 45g Knights. Like any rock spots, treat Dobroyd Head like any ocean spot and

Kings are biting in Sydney Harbour and on the ocean rocks of late. Daniel Cocchieri caught this one from the harbour rocks on a ganged salted sea garfish. were perfect, they’d spend very little time out there actually fishing! Sometimes you have to brave those slightly nastier conditions, within reason, and suffer the discomfort for a quality bag of fish. The old saying, ‘practice makes perfect’ is very true with fishing. Another way to look at it is if you’re only a rock or only a beach fisher, have a contingency plan in the estuary if the seas or weather aren’t permitting. Doing the homework beforehand can give you the confidence for that plan B location. Having the calmer water estuary outfits when you can’t fish the ocean areas will allow the land-based fisho to still have some fun. Your pre-conceived ideas of inclement weather become clearer and you realize that a bit of wind and a threatening shower isn’t that hard to fish, simply because you have the ability to be able to fish it. With time you’ll get used to it. In Sydney harbour, kings are in relatively good numbers with fish in the mid 70s mark. Pier 2 has the results, being one of the premier kingfish locations for the land-based angler in all of Sydney Harbour. It also gets super crowded. There are lots of great spots to fish in

wear your steel spike boots. It is an exposed harbour spot to the ocean. Below the Spit Bridge on the south face are kings on the top or the bottom of the tide. Try an hour either side. Live baits fished 30-40m out on the bottom are worth a shot. Otherwise, a live bait or whole squid set under a float approximately 3-4 m deep is producing for some locals. Try for a luderick along the stone wall about 80m east of the bridge with hair weed. Narrabeen Lagoon from the entrance to 100m in has produced whiting, flathead and some bream in the evenings on live prawns, bloodworms and pink nippers on the high tide period and during the first hours of the run-out. Fish the late high tide periods and an hour or two of run-out tide. Bigger whiting have spread out to most beaches. Bream and decent dart are on selected beaches. Palm Beach has a few big dart. The bream and whiting are around the black rock section of the beach. They can vary because of the gutters and sandflats, so fishing the black rock area could mean a 100m trek to the south or north when you get there to find the right formations. A 10.5kg mulloway was caught on a live whiting on this beach recently. Remember, when using sand whiting for bait, they have to be 27cm. Fresh or live tailor, whole squid with a tube

up to 20cm, live yellowtail and fillets or strips will be suitable. Other beaches for whiting are Avalon, Newport, Warriewood, Narrabeen, Collaroy, Dee Why and Manly. Tailor are on several of these beaches as well. I get pretty excited when the tailor are on in good numbers. They’re an aggressive species and chomp into smaller fish, leaving plenty of berley in the area. That in turn attracts the bream. Larger predators like sharks and mulloway are there for the smaller chopper tailor. I use tailor (up to 750g) for live bait. A robust rod is necessary for mulloway and sharks like the 10-20kg Mulloway from Wilson. It’s a one piece rod. The Texalium 13’ 3-piece is great, as well as a Daiwa Surf Basia 25QD or a low mount Live Fibre 13’10” to 15kg with the 650B Alvey. Add 30lb mono or a spinning reel with 30lb braid. Back to the tailor, a set of 3/0 or 4/0 gangs with whole pilchards is the best approach. Manly, Curl Curl, Warriewood, and Palm Beach have been the producers of late for these delicious fish when fresh grilled or smoked. It’s a great month for the snapper, kings, bonito and bream off the ocean rocks.

The Hat at the bottom of the Quarantine Wall in Manly is a relatively good producer. Even though the ledge is fairly small, it has the potential to produce some good kings. You’ll often see boats anchored in the vicinity fishing for kings or trolling. For the rock fisho, spinning sea gars, large poppers and live baiting are popular options. Spinning a 25-65g Sniper or Knight metal has worked well for the bonito, tailor and salmon. Ther’s luderick at the Hat as well. Fish for them just to the right of the main point or to the left casting to the east over the slightly shallower section. South Curl Curl to Freshwater Point on the north face has been producing snapper to 43cm. Some legal kings and a couple of samsonfish have also been caught distance casting or fishing the larger white water washes. When you can get them, bottle squid work well for all of these species. Make sure you get them off a reliable source. The squid should be white/light grey in colour and with clear eyes. If they are pink to purple they are generally not fresh. The smell should be fresh, not a pungent

aroma. Always remember that fish generally eat their food at the freshest level. That is alive, so a fresh squid is what they’re used to. Dee Why Rocks is producing similar results as well. Here’s a tip for ocean rock fishers this month – the dominant swell is generally from the NE throughout the summer period, so the spots you may have been fishing over the winter to spring period was from a south-southeast swell direction and may have been facing to the north. The ocean swells may have been missing the locations you’ve fished. They’re going to be exposed to a NE swell direction now. Be aware, especially for the anglers that haven’t fished for a few months. The swell doesn’t have to be very large to be dangerous when it approaches ocean rock spot directly. As usual, make sure you wear light clothing, and that you never go alone. • For rock and beach guided fishing or tuition in the northern Sydney region, visit www.bellissimocharters. com.au, email alex@ bellissimocharters.com.au or call Alex Bellissimo on 0408 283 616.

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Lizards on the prowl BOTANY BAY

Gabe Quercigrosse gabeandgabe@bigpond.com

January is a top month in most NSW estuaries, particularly around Sydney. Many fish will be taken by those willing to give it a go. Although Botany Bay is not regarded as a prime flathead spot, it turns on some good fish for those who go after them. Reports from this area indicate a good run of lizards is around and can be caught by drifting. Yarra Bay on the La Perouse side is a renowned flathead ground. Drift this bay on both sides in the middle of the inlet and you’ll find that lizards feed along the stretch. Mullet strips, prawns, whitebait and pilchards are top baits. If you fancy a bit of drifting during the ebb tide, the bell buoy out from Kurnell Reserve to halfway out on the southern shore between the heads. The fish aren’t large, but most of them are over legal length. I’ve done well using a double rig with one hook above and one hook below the sinker, with 2oz and 2/0 longshank baitkeeper hooks. I like to let the bait go to

the bottom then slowly jerk up and down. This action catches the eye of lizards. At times, a Mister Twister Double Tail in the chartreuse colour placed above the hook can prove deadly. Another good spot I’ve found is the rift from the Kurnell Oil Wharf to Quibray Bay, especially when there is an east to northeasterly breeze. Stick to the 2/0 hooks and you’ll have the added chance of hooking into good bream and the odd school mulloway. Apart from the flatties, the bay is fishing superbly with plenty of kingfish, bream, trevally, tailor and whiting available. The centre moorings have provided their share of catches and are best fished on a falling tide. I like to fish approximately 200m west of the centre buoy and berley up. A little patience is necessary, but the fish will respond to your enticing and feed around the boat. The deep hole around Molineaux Point has been the most consistent possie this year, and this spot turns on just about anything with specimens of over 15kg taken on live squid or live yellowtail. It’s best fished 50m from the main seawall at anchor. Day or

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night, both tides can also be fished shore-based for decent luderick. Watts Reef is still one of the best bream spots in the bay. This month, it can be relied upon to provide a good feed. You’ll find the bream are only school-sized and will bite better at night during the rising tide. Live nippers work best. I like to use a small split shot placed behind the hook and cast parallel to the boat – let the tide do its own thing. This is a fairly shallow reefy area that can only be fished in calm conditions. The artificial reefs have all been fishing well, although the size of the kings taken there falls short of the Fisheries legal length. They’re good fun on light gear. I’m told that good size squid have been taken from these reefs on Yamashita 2.5 jigs. Green eyes are the prominent feature. Make sure you use a reef anchor, or there’s a good chance you’ll lose it on the reef or rough terrain. Trevally are still around in good numbers and size. These make a welcome by-catch when the fishing is slow. Not many fishos go after them, but smoked in hickory sawdust, they make wonderful eating. They’re

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both a day and night fish. Sometimes the bite of trevally is just a slight pick. When you feel this, turn the hand of your reel two or three times and lift the rod – you’ll feel the weight of the fish. Don’t strike hard, as this will only pull the bait away or tear the hook out of its soft mouth. In slack water, I’ve found very simple rigs result in many fine catches. Use

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JANUARY 2017

A nice catch by Gabe and Chris on a weekend from Botany Bay.

STA15969MateFM_Layout 1 9/06/2016 10:31 AM Page 1

airstrip extension, the hot water outlet at Kurnell and the artificial reefs in Yarra Bay are the likely places to find them. Schools of tailor have been working the bay, but they’re small to average in size. These fish are around the 0.5kg and the best catches are taken on small lures. Birds hovering over a feeding school are

Reef, Rosa Gully Wide, Ben Buckler, the Trag Grounds off Coogee, the highly visible Wedding Cake Island and Botany Head are all recommended areas and should provide a good feed of fish. Georges River has been sporadic, producing fish one day and nothing the next. School bream around 25-27cm are available on

Dennis Mageropoulos was on the ball with his buzzbaits. a dead giveaway of their presence. When you see them, bring the boat slowly to within casting distance. Cast alongside them or just in front. Retrieve briskly and the lure will almost immediately entice them to strike. Around Bare Island, Captain Cook Reserve, between the container wall and Kurnell just east of the centre mooring areas, and the entrance to the Georges River are the most consistent possies. Whiting have been a little on the ordinary side with only a handful taken from the usual grounds. I’ve found a few along the mangroves between Bonna and Towra Point. They’re extremely hard to catch and require a little finesse, due to the clear water. Fish for them at night between the weed corridors. This runs the risk of unwanted creatures like toads, stingrays and catfish, but unfortunately they come with the search for whiting at this time of year. It may be better to fish the Georges River above Como Bridge, Lugarno and the Moons. The offshore scene has been pretty good with kings, mowies, snapper and blue-spot flathead making up the bulk of the catches. Leatherjackets haven’t showed up, so we can rest easier and save a bit of tackle. The Tank mark about 1.5nm from South Maroubra Beach, the Peaks, the Plonk Hole, Hargreaves

the edge of the channels, but you’ll find that only one in ten is of legal size. Fishing for these can be quite costly if using live worms. I suggest a very early start with a tidal change just on daybreak. The second pylon from the northern side of Como Bridge is the best option. Make sure you fish with the tide. This possie is very good until 7.30-8.00am then the small pickers become a nuisance. The boatshed 300m upstream of the bridge, on the northern side, has been very good at night for quality fish

and the odd school mulloway. Try whole Hawkesbury prawns and bloodworms on the bottom of the tide. The stretch between Jewfish Point and Illawong is an excellent possie with two green channel markers to indicate the depth. This spot is known as Cranbrook and can be dynamite. Fish the edge of the channel and you can catch whiting, school mulloway, bream, flounder, flatties, and the likes. Forget weekends, though, with all the jet ski traffic. Woronora is a great alternative, if the weather is doubtful. You can always seek a sheltered place and catch good fish. The old road bridge is an icon and can be relied on for excellent catches at night on the run out tide. For the freshwater enthusiast, Liverpool Weir is an excellent spot for bass and estuary perch. Cambridge Weir is a fantastic territory which can be covered land-based or from kayaks. Reports from this area would make you sit up and take notice. From the Nepean River near the tackle shop at Narellan, there are plenty of bass for the taking. These fish are on the small side, but they provide a lot of fun for the fine line enthusiast. Wallacia Bridge, the foot bridge at Elderslie, Menangle Weir and Glenbrook Gorge at Penrith are the pick of the spots. If you fancy a bit of cod and redfin fishing, give the Wingecarribee River a try just below the Hume Highway Bridge at Berrima. I can’t emphasise enough the importance of finer lines, early morning or evening sessions, live baits and tidal movements. They are your key factors at this time of year.

Catching eight fish up to 34cm, in one hour off the beach – that’s a good run. JANUARY 2017

A new year and new fish SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

The Christmas rush and the Boxing Day Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race have long gone. Things will start to settle back to normal as you think about getting out on the water to chase a few kingfish, mahimahi,

have balled up near the surface. You may even notice one or two terns diving. The best bait by far in the Port Hacking River is live squid and the second best is strips of squid. If you think about it, one squid can give you five baits. Bream and trevally will be schooling up at the usual spots in Botany Bay and the best baits during this time of

Andrew’s mulloway took a liking to a beat up old Ecogear SX 40 hardbodied lure that was meant for a bream. flathead, bream, whiting, tailor, trevally, bonito, snapper and mulloway, to name a few. January’s a month when most fish species are on the chew, as long as the conditions are right. By now, kingfish will have well and truly moved into Botany Bay and the Port Hacking River and will be cruising around for a feed. Squid and live yellowtail are the first baits that I would put on for kingfish during the year, but I’ve had a number of kingfish take peeled prawns and nippers while fishing for trevally and bream. In Botany Bay, anchor up at places like The Drums, the oil wharf, Bare Island, the end of the third runway and at Henry Head. If you’re trolling, try Yarra Bay, Sutherland Point and either south or north of the entrance to Botany Bay. If you prefer to fish the Port Hacking River, patrol around the deeper bays and keep an eye out for fish swirls. These larger swirls are usually kingfish feeding on small whitebait that they

the year are live pink nippers and blood worms. Next would come Hawkesbury River prawns and strips of mullet and chicken. I have found that over the years, the trick to consistently getting a feed of bream and trevally is to be prepared to

anchor up and move around a bit. If I haven’t had a bite in 20-30 minutes, I will up anchor and move to another spot. Botany Bay would be trevally alley, but it tends to get a bit crowded. The end of the third runway, the oil wharf, Sutherland Point, Towra wide, the patches and Captain Cooks Bridge are all good places. Further upstream in the Georges and Woronora rivers, you will also need to move about if you’re not getting any bites. Bloodworms and pink nippers will do very well up here. You should get yourself a poddy mullet trap, some white bread and catch a few poddies. Bream, dusky flathead and mulloway can’t seem to resist them. Try places like the entrance to the Woronora River on a run-out tide, Bonnet Bay, Lugarno, The Moons, Cattle Duffers on a run-up tide, the Georges River National Park and Picnic Point. In the Port Hacking River, try any of the entrances to any of the bays, especially where the water is a bit deeper. You could either drift these areas or anchor up and berley. Also, try any of the drop-offs from the weed beds or sand bars. A good one to start with is the weed bed at the entrance to South West Arm, as you can fish the run-up and run-out tides. If it’s whiting you’re after, get yourself some

Andrew Humphries still hasn’t got the smile off his face after catching his first mulloway. bloodworms, some pink nippers, and anchor up just off Towra Point in Botany Bay or 50m off the beach that stretches form Dolls Point to Brighton. You could also try offshore in Fishermans Bay at La Perouse or Silver Beach at Kurnell. In the Port Hacking, you could try just off the Ballast Heap, the sand flats at Lilly Pilly and Bundeena. If you want your first 2017 mulloway, catch a few squid, yellowtail, slimy mackerel or poddy mullet. You’ll be in with a good chance of hooking-up. Trolling lures is another way to try, but make sure you pick ones that look similar to the baits that are working.

Andrew Humphries got his first ever mulloway on a small minnow lure while working beside some oyster leases in the Georges River. One thing I love during warmer months of the year is to head down to Wanda and Greenhills beaches and fish for

Snapper are still on the chew off the Humps at Stanwell Park and wide off the Wedding Cake Island near Coogee.

Carl Dubois managed a couple of bream while using blades at the entrance to Yowie Bay in the Port Hacking River.

whiting and bream. This can be done early in the morning or a couple of hours before sunset. If you can’t catch beach worms, give Andrew a call at Mac’s Bait Bar at Blakehurst on (02) 9546 1341 and see if they have any in stock. If not, you could always get some bloodworms or pink nippers from them.

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If you’re feeling energic, travel over to the main bar and pump yourself a few nippers, or if you didn’t mind a bit of a hike, you could always try Coogee and Maroubra beaches. Going south, try Garie and Stanwell Park beaches.

Don’t forget, if you have pictures of fish that you have caught and you would like to get them in the magazine, all you need to do is send them to me at gbrown1@iprimus. com.au with some details. For example, you may have caught a dusky flathead on a Gulp 5” Jerk Shad wide off Towra Point.

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New years goal – a flatty stomach SYDNEY HARBOUR

Craig McGill craig@fishabouttours.com.au

This month will see water temperatures reach their peak and knock all the season’s species into top

the visual thrill and seeing the hooked fish in action. Some of the best areas in the harbour to lure fish for flatties include the shallows of Rose Bay, the upper reaches of Middle Harbour, the entire length of Lane Cove River, Iron

Big flatties are a challenge on light spin gear. gear, particularly the more resident species like bream, mulloway and flatties – the flathead metabolism is directly affected by water temperatures. Flatties are well distributed throughout the harbour from the uppermost reaches to the heads. The lower reaches around the heads are dominated by the smaller sand flathead, commonly encountered offshore with the occasional dusky thrown in if you use larger live baits. Upstream is the exclusive domain of the dusky who, despite growing to considerably larger sizes, is comfortable in as little as 1ft of water. Flatties have a reputation for being poor sportfish, which holds true for bait fishing techniques. This can be totally disregarded when they’re targeted with lures. The skill, thrill and anticipation involved in hunting flatties on lures are different to any other predatory species, including the tropical glamour fish. Although the fight from a lure-caught flathead bears little resemblance to that of the northern mangrove inhabitants, it’s a huge improvement to one caught on bait. In the clearer water often found in the upper reaches of Middle Harbour and Lane Cove River, there’s the added appeal of

Cove and the Parramatta River from Gladesville Bridge upstream. The best times to work these areas are the two hours before

substantial trace of around 10kg. Flathead will hit almost anything that swims past their face. With the emphasis on presenting the lure close to the fish, depth capabilities are the major consideration when choosing a lure for flatties. You’ll be fishing depths ranging from 1-30ft, so you’ll need a large selection of lures should you opt for diving minnow style lures. A more versatile and possibly more effective option is to carry two types of soft plastic lures. For the shallows (1-4ft) a stickbait like the Slug-Go is deadly on flatties, especially around weed. To cover all depths, it’s hard to go past a soft plastic on a jighead. Until recently, I’d never thought of flathead as a snag dweller – I was canoeing down a tiny little creek at South West Rocks with my partner Kath and our two kids. For the most part the creek was not much more than ankle deep at low tide. When we got down to where the creek enters the sea, we paddled past a snag pile, a combination of a fallen tree and an entanglement of tree roots. It was sitting in about 4ft of water and I noticed a couple of nice sized luderick and bream sitting around it. Blue water was pushing in from the sea on an incoming tide, so we decided to pull up and go for a swim. Kath

Trevally can be caught by letting your lure fall through the surface feeding schools. low tide and one hour after it starts to come back in. It’s even better if this tide occurs early morning or late afternoon. Flathead congregate around channel edges, rock bars, weed banks and sand or mud bank drop-offs. Any area where water is channelled off mangrove stands or flats on a falling tide is well worth a throw. A single-handed spinning or light baitcasting outfit loaded with 3-4kg line will handle any flathead, provided you use a more

put on a mask and snorkel and did a couple of passes of the snag. She reported seeing the bream and luderick, but added that she also saw what she thought was a school of flathead dash into the snag on her approach. Of course, I had to see this for myself. I borrowed the mask and swam to the snag. Sure enough, sitting deep in the shadows were dozens of flathead. The highest concentration of them was one patch that had at least seven fish stacked on a space of sand not much bigger than a garbage tin lid, with some of them literally lying on top of each other. There were at least four other patches of fish that I could see and I’m sure more up the back of the snag in the reaches too tangled for me to safely access. The fish averaged about 45cm, which perfectly matched the lines I had seen on the sandbanks at low tide. The snag also had a cloud of small glass perch, of which the flathead were showing no interest in. My guess is that the flatties take cover in the snag by day and move onto the shallows at night to feed. It was our last day of holidays, so I didn’t get a chance to revisit the snag with a flick stick, but I know where I’ll be dropping a few weedless stickbaits on my next trip. The harbour has been alive with pelagics this season, including more salmon than I’ve ever seen before. Tailor and kings are in on the act and if you let your lure fall through the surface schools, there’s every chance a trevally will grab it. All the usual spots are worth a go, including Inner North Head, Clifton Gardens, Taylors Bay and North Harbour. You can probably add bonito to the list, but they’re notoriously less predictable than the others. • 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.

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made

TIDE GUIDE

THE GREAT

As we approach the middle of summer and the days lengthen, so do the opportunities for the light tackle lure fisherman keen to have a cast in our local estuary system. It can prove difficult around peak holiday periods, especially when the weather at this time of year screams watersports, but being on the water early and being persistent can be the key to success and avoiding the dreaded donut. One of the best things about summer is being able to knock off work with enough daylight to put the boat in to go chase a feed of fresh whiting for the table. Targeting whiting on ultra

light tackle and surface lures has to be one of the best ways to spend an afternoon. For a standout session, you will need to tick a few boxes; a low light period combined with a run in tide, an expanse of sand flat, a Bassday MB16 Sugapen, and some assist hooks like those from atomic or ecogear to help with those short strikes. Just remember to only take what you need that day as they are best eaten fresh and stocks can easily diminish due to recreational and commercial pressure. Another bonus about this time of year is the confidence the high water temps can give an angler chasing the trophy mangrove jack that reside all through the tweed and its tributaries. By

A selection of gold lures rigged and ready for a late arvo jack session, just prior to a storm front rolling through.

owned

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AUSTRALIAN

Tim Latter

2017

THE TWEED

(incl. GST)

Options aplenty in the Tweed

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BACK AFTER A BIG BREAK

6 2

DAILY DIARY

COLOUR FISH GUIDE SIZE & BAG LIMITS

November 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017

PRESENTED BY

Redesigned with a diary section for the entire year, a flap on the inside back cover that folds to keep your place on any page in the book, with feet and inches conversion for those who hate tidal heights in metric. Still pocket-size.

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JANUARY 2017

A trophy Tweed jack taken at midday on the wrong wind and wrong tide â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you never know when your lure will get belted.

The author with a nice fish that fell to a dead slow retrieved plastic presentation.

now, stories of massive bust offs and a hundred dollars worth of lures gone in a session are not uncommon. With all the storm activity we have had lately, the sharp drops in barometric pressure as storm fronts push from the south west and tower over Mt Warning, anglers brave enough to wave a graphite rod around have had success. In the middle reaches of the Tweed, slow rolling paddle tail plastics like zman swimmerz or trick swimz around rock bars and bridges, and hard bodied suspending jerk baits such as lucky craft pointer 78 xd or jackall squirrell 79 hank tunes along rock walls and lay downs can put you onto some trophy fish. It will require quick reflexes, good knots and a touch of luck to get them on the deck. Surprisingly, even with the clear water conditions we have had, gold plastics and hardbodies are making up the majority of lure caught jacks in the Tweed. For those pushing up in the fresh, the surface bite on bass has really fired up in the upper arms of the Tweed, double figure sessions are the norm when conditions are right and a few 50cm fork length unicorns have either been landed or lost, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t discount any skinny water as there was a big migration this year and the fish a definitely heading up as the temperatures begin to soar. So for all the lure fishos out there, have a safe and enjoyable holiday period and for all your lure and tackle needs check out www. anglerswarehouse.com.au

January is red-hot for table fish BALLINA

Joe Allan

This time of year is my favourite as the fishing is red-hot and you get to eat and drink like a starved pirate. Remember, there’s

finishes for bright sun and clearer water. Crabs have turned up in patches around the middle reaches from Pimlico to Broadwater. Hopefully, we get a bit of rain to stir them up a bit more. Give the pots plenty of time to settle and

let the crabs find the bait. Prawns are on the move around the river. It might be a little hard to locate them around the full moon. This month they should be back up and moving around again and this should fire up the estuaries.

Adrian and Anthony Melchior with a double hook-up on Richmond River bass. more traffic on the water than normal, so take care. Be patient and make sure you have done your preparation with all your equipment. Take your time at the boat ramp and above all, be courteous to all other waterway users. The lower reaches of the Richmond have produced great catches of bream. Try casting noisy crankbaits at the walls early in the mornings while the tide is running. Fluorocarbon line is best suited for this. Lures to try are the Atomic Crank 38 Deep, and change up the colour depending on the clarity. Dark colours work for low light, while solid and bright colours are good for dirty water and more translucent, natural

Bass have been quiet around Coraki and Woodburn, as the fish have well and truly moved upstream. You may find them in patches, but for good numbers, try the upper reaches around Lismore and Casino. If you’re out early or late and the cicadas are deafening, remember to tie on your surface lures to imitate these tasty snacks for bass. The trick with these is not to do too much. Just shake your rod tip slightly every now and then, like a cicada that’s fallen out of a tree. Offshore has been patchy with the best results on the mahimahi coming from around the FADS. Make sure you get a long drift on these. Live yakkas have been the best with almost no weight. If you’re getting bites but not hooking up, put a treble hook as a stinger in the fish’s tail. This has helped a few local anglers turn those bites into fish. Mackerel will come

Aidan Kane with a huge snapper off Ballina. early in December, so as the water warms up, these beauties will come along with it. Beaches have been producing good catches of whiting and flathead. Look

for the main gutters around South Ballina, along Patches Beach and Boundary Creek. Fresh bait is always better. Try digging a few pipis or getting a few beach worms – a skill I haven’t yet mastered.

Tayla Egan with a great eating size snapper off Ballina. in about now and should be really thick this month. There have been good reports around the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast

The author with a nice whiting on a Bassday Sugapen.

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No trouble catching a feed in the Yamba waters YAMBA

Dave Gaden

Warm weather and warm water have arrived and pelagics with them. January’s not just for the offshore fishos, but also the land-based anglers who catch some amazing fish off break walls at the mouth of the mighty Clarence. Each year, there are big longtail tuna and Spanish mackerel dragged up the stones for those who put the time in. Catching good livies and looking after them is the key. Floated out on heavy gear, a lot of fish are seen before the hit, hunting the bait down. A good gaff and a good mate who can use it rawn aP bare m essential. Blades a Y “ ” Offshore is always busy with visitors to this

beautiful area, all putting to sea. On the upside, January has a lot of fish around. This year looks like a big one for our spotted mackerel. Trolling 6” pink squid far back behind the boat at around 9-10 knots from first light to about 9am is a good way to put a few of these tasty fish in the box. In the south, anywhere from Angourie Point to Shelly Headland in 15-30m of water is preferred. To the north, the front of Woody Head and along the reef break heading north and in the bay itself are the hotspots. None of these spots will be hard to find – if the fish are on, there will be plenty of boats to show you the way. Later in the morning, drifting for reef fish with a couple of float baits on very light wires will produce fish on and off all day.

Take plenty of ice with you when heading offshore, as the early part of the day will produce good surface fish. Quite often the reef fish will turn on late morning and have a couple of hours of hot bite around lunch time after the pelagics are finished. I like to head a bit deeper late morning to the edge of the close reef in

around 45-50m, where there are good venus tuskfish and pearl perch as well as good numbers of blue-spotted flathead to fill the box. Further offshore, the mahimahi will be everywhere there is something that floats or a dirty current line. Trolling is an easy way to get a few and sight casting lures to them

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Young Eli Brooks with his PB snapper.

In the estuary, the whiting this year have been as good as I can remember. Many fish push past 40cm in length and anglers in the know get their bag limit in a few hours. Whiting will be spread right through the river system from the Broadwater up past Maclean, in the Lake at Wooloweyah, to the mouth of the river. For bait fishers, worms and yabbies are the go. If you like a bit more excitement, chase them on poppers over the shallow sand banks. A white or clear popper is the most popular, but if the prawns in the river are dark, try and match that with you lure. Removing the treble from the rear of the lure and replacing it with a couple of XXS assist hooks will lift your hook-up rate greatly. Be sure to put out some crab dillies on your way as the blue swimmers have been around in big numbers.

You’re allowed four dillies and two traps per person in NSW, but remember to have the float clearly marked as per Fisheries requirements. Mud crabs have also been caught in good numbers as well as good size. You can take female crabs providing they don’t have eggs. Remember, the uglier a crab looks, the better it eats. Shiny bright coloured

shells are usually freshly moulted crabs. When a crab moults, its new shell is about 30% larger than its old one, so consequently there’s less meat. If the shell is rusty coloured with barnacles on it, there’s a better chance that the crab will be bursting with meat. Keep a close eye on your traps, as there are a lot of share farmers out there who

for some unknown reason think it’s ok to harvest from other people’s traps. Flathead haven’t slowed with nice fish being taken around the Broadwater, Harwood Sugar Mill and Joss Island at the entrance to Lake Wooloweyah. Troll hardbodies on first or last light with a pink or muddy coloured lure in about 1.5-2m of water

Isaac Jaimeson with a nice mulloway on Reeltime Charters.

to produce fish will little effort. Working soft plastics and small hardbodies off the shallows into the channel as the tide starts to ebb will allow you to cover a lot of ground and find the fish. I have a theory that when you catch one good flathead, one comes to his funeral. Don’t take a fish and then move on. Keep peppering the same spot, as another fish will come to where the fish was just caught. Quite often, 3-4 fish can be taken in the one spot in a matter of 15 minutes. Summer holidays in our part of the world are really busy. There will be a lot of people out on the water both in the river and at sea. Believe it or not, some won’t even be fishing! How weird. A little bit of patience and a bit of etiquette goes a long way when fishing in close quarters. A big dose of common sense should keep you alive. Remember, the water is there for everyone to use and enjoy and we would like to see you leave here as happy and healthy as you arrived. Call into my shop, Marina Boat & Tackle, right in the marina when you arrive. We’ll be more than happy to give you the good oil on what’s happing and where.

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Local guns loving Iluka fishing ILUKA

Ross Deakin

It’s a beautiful time of year in the northern rivers. Still with clear mornings and afternoon storms, the afternoon winds are unfortunate. That hasn’t dampened the local fishing spirit – great fish have been caught in the last month or so. Summer whiting are on with some amazing size fish in the river and beaches. A lot more people are trying out poppers with great

success, but nothing beats fresh beach worms. We have seen some really nice dart caught on the Iluka beaches like the 5.5kg fish caught by Jessica Phillips on 22 November just up the road at Black Rock, taken on cured worms. Bream numbers have been a little down on previous years, but with a little local knowledge and luck, good fish can be taken. Isac Billian’s 1.15kg fish is a good example, taken at Moriartys Wall on 24 November – he was using mullet as bait. We’re still in need of

a good fresh flush to bring down the flathead, which have been in slightly better numbers toward Harwood and Mclean. Having said that, there have been some very nice lizards taken in the bay lately up to 98cm. Heaps of take-home size (45-55cm) fish have been found in shallow water close to shore. There are some

fantastic plastics out to have the best chance of getting their attention, such as the Squidgy Pro Range Prawns (with S Factor) or 4” Gulp Pumpkinseed Minnows. We’ve had some very nice snapper weighed in from just offshore in areas like Woody Head, Black Rock and Shark Bay. Also off the headlands, a 6kg beast was caught by

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Graham Paterson on 27 November. Dan Pianta’s 4.6kg snapper was caught off the bluff just recently. There have been lovely teraglin caught amongst the snapper, but it’s been somewhat quiet on the mulloway front recently. Local Ray White caught a really nice pearl perch to the south on the Angourie grounds, weighing 2.85kg. Happy fishing everyone. I hope you’re prepared for the

mackerel, as they have just started to make an appearance. Long-tail tuna won’t be far behind them. • For all your fishing needs and up-to-date information and tips for spots and fish drop into the shop for a chat. Iluka Bait and Tackle is located at 3 Owen Street, Iluka NSW 2466. Give us a call on (02) 6646 5217 or 0402 997 572. We are available online at www. ilukabait.com.au or visit our Facebook page.

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Hot days and cool waves COFFS HARBOUR

Stephen Worley info@tdsimages.com.au

The year begins again, and New Year’s resolutions have likely been made and broken already – but the fishing will go on. This month should see the return of the warm tropical water, via the East Australian Current, and the summer species that come with it. With such warm waters and the extensive coral death on the Great Barrier Reef last year, it’s going to be very interesting to track how this season pans out – will we get a larger run of the northern species chasing more productive waters? Or will the numbers be down because

2016 was so rough for them up north? It’s hard to see it not having some effect on our season this year – but will it be good or bad? We’ll have to wait and see. There have been good signs from slightly further north, with spotty mackerel in good numbers already, but we haven’t quite seen them here in force as of yet. They should thicken up early this month, along with their Spanish cousins and the longtail tuna. During the holiday period it can get very crowded at the harbour boat ramp.. If you have the ability to beach launch your boat it may be worth the drive to Woolgoolga or Arrawarra, to avoid the queue. Much of the fishing grounds up that way fish very well this

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time of year, and there are plenty of marks to spread out the crowd. But if you are restricted to launching at Coffs Harbour, it’s a good idea to arrive very early and get in quick, or you may be caught waiting in line. Also remember that there are a lot of people waiting to launch, so have everything ready to make your launch efficient and you’ll be ready to get your vehicle out of the way as soon as possible. Be aware that although there has been further work done to expand the boat ramp basin, there can still be a significant surge on the ramp during large swell. So if you’re unfamiliar with launching there, please take the time to watch others launch, and observe the conditions – this ramp has caught out more than a few boat launchers with an ill-timed surging or withdrawing wave. For those who are restricted to, or just prefer

Scott Whiting may as well have just finished off with a mic drop, after collecting this 53cm fish on a secret creek during his first ever bass fishing session. crawlers back to your kayak or canoe. All the usual social media channels have been filled with local big bass pictures. The locations, of course, are never mentioned, but if you know the area, you can recognise

Kalang, Bellinger and Orara systems all have very healthy bass populations and are fishing excellently. I say it often enough, but again I’ll mention that it’s hard to go ‘too big’, when it comes to bass lures,

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solid ground, there has been plenty of action. The headlands are still producing good numbers of mulloway, though mostly mid-size fish. There have been some bigger 20kg+ models around as well. This month the live baiting will get very exciting, as the mackerel and longtail tuna move inshore in greater numbers. Last season the very large sinking or floating stickbaits were the weapon of choice if you know the mackerel are around, as the mackerel love them. You can cover a lot of ground and the fishing is incredibly exciting. Even if you’re not quite confident that there are mackerel present, there’s nothing stopping kingfish, tailor or mulloway from hitting a well-worked stickbait as well. Sometimes in the heat of summer, the last place you want to be is out in the open sun on the salt water – but hot and steamy afternoons are almost meant to be spent on a bass creek somewhere, walking surface

enough to tell that they’re coming from all over the place. Mostly they’re high in the river systems in the skinny water, but they’re coming from all the local catchments. The Nambucca,

especially when fishing on the surface at night, but also in the middle of the day. Big surface crawlers with a nice jangle and loud movement are always my favourite, and come up time and time

again as the undoing of big fish in our local systems. Further from the salt and sand are the trout, which despite having been promised rain in spring, have been battling through another hot and gruelling summer. We have at least seen frequent afternoon storms bringing relieving showers for the plateau. Despite the conditions, the trout fishing has been steady. Some sections are dominated at present by very small fish that tend to spook and spread panic like a wave. When I come across those sections, I usually have a little fun with the small fish, but then move on to look for the prime sections that hopefully hold bigger fish. More times than not, they’ve been there. These prime holes tend to be held by only one or two bigger fish, and therefore, it’s a little easier to spot and monitor fish, so you can get that cast in without spooking the pool. Whether you get out and enjoy the sun, or try and hide away from it like a vampire, I wish you a happy New Year, and hope you’re able to find fish wherever you are.

Dave Moppett looks a little puzzled with the size of this rainbow he caught at Ebor, during the Coffs Coast Flyfishing Club weekend away earlier this season.

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Coffs Harbour Game COFFS GAME

Glen Booth

This endless succession of poor inshore water quality and inconsistant current is really starting to grate with a lot of people. This inconsistency is making it hard for everyone to get any fishing done – there’s either too much current, or the current’s going the wrong way, not to mention the incessant nor’easters. Well thank God for the

Better Than Vegas crew who, once again, are the only ones who have been able to deliver some positive news in what has been, yet another, dreadful month for game fishing in this neck of the woods. It was a Country Boys’ charter, and as the most senior angler on board, Chris Geddes from Goonellabah found himself on the rod when a big blue climbed on his Tsutomu lure being run off the rigger. He had the fish boat side and tagged after 90 minutes, and the tale of the tape was a short

length of 2.9m. That puts it up over 200kg – which is a very nice effort on a 37 standup. Apparently Chris was feeling the strain post release, but a bag of ice and some air con pumping through the cabin, soon had him up and about. The fish came from the North Canyons in about 800 fathoms, with bluewater over 24°, and a bit of bait showing. Given the time of year though, that area should be crawling with marlin by now, but if the wind doesn’t stop blowing to let us have a

Chris Geddes from Goonellabah gets down and dirty on 37 standup. crack, you’d never know what was out there. The gang also managed a double-header of 10kg mahi mahi, which was the cherry on top of a very successful day. And other

than some monster kings up at the light from time to time, it’s been yet another month of few bluewater fishing opportunities. So where do we go from here? Well a weather break would be a great start,

so we can get some boats out there looking around – because at the moment, it’s up and down like a yo-yo, and always goes to custard in time for the weekend. Next month… maybe?

Photo: Justin Gilligan

At 2.9m, this blue was in excess of 200kg.

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Those summer bites are surfacing SOUTH WEST ROCKS

Brent Kirk kempsey@compleatangler.com.au

Bass fishing in the reaches of the Macleay River up above Kempsey is now coming into the prime season with these fish at their most active. Cicadas

and beetles are out in force now and the surface bite is on fire as a result of their presence. Loud boofs on the surface can be heard right through the day. Like all forms of fishing, it pays to match the hatch. Any surface lure resembling the size and shape of a cicada or beetle should

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draw out an awesome strike almost immediately if it’s cast into the strike zone. Lightly weighted soft plastic grubs are another great lure for targeting bass, especially when fishing in tight cover or over weed beds. The river could definitely use a flush out with some areas extremely low. Hopefully by the time this article hits the stands the upper catchment will have received some much needed rainfall. The flow on effects of this rain will be felt throughout the river system. The sand flats of the lower river system and up into Clybucca Creek have been on fire lately. Whiting numbers have been outstanding in the past year with a lot of big fish around. The surface bite has been red hot. Lures like the Yakamito Intruders and Bassday Sugapens are the standouts. Bream are also getting in on the surface action along with decent flathead and trevally. Small bull sharks have been patrolling the deep drop-offs, snatching hooked fish quite regularly, so be aware of this when wading out into the deeper water. These sharks are more interested in your catch than you, but it pays to be cautious. School mulloway are in reasonable numbers along the rock walls from the entrance up to Jerseyville. Soft plastic jerk shads and paddle-tails around 5” are the preferred size when chasing schoolies in these areas, as they leave the door open for an endless variety of by-catch. Big bream, trevally, mangrove jack and flathead will all nail that size plastic when it’s presented well. Kingfish have been another regular addition to the species that are regularly found along these rock walls. It always pays to take a heavier setup because even a small

kingfish can obliterate you when fishing plastics tight to these rocks. Offshore, the bottom fishing is pretty well wrapped up for now, except for the odd occasion when the current lays off. Most offshore anglers’ attention is now aimed at the summer pelagics that visit this region. Summer can be a very busy time as many anglers, especially from the south, travel to South West Rocks. It’s the last consistent region to catch mackerel on their southern run. The FAD has had mahimahi quite regularly with warm water present out there for months now. Bigger mahimahi have been taken on the troll by boats targeting black marlin, especially down towards Hat Head. Mackerel numbers will increase as January progresses – the reefs out from Grassy and Scotts Head are the epicentre of the early season catches. Cobia numbers have been better than average so far and, if all goes well, this trend will continue on towards Easter. Unfortunately, many sharks accompany the pelagic species. This year has started off worse than usual with heaps of fish having been lost boat side already. While setting a berley trail is a great way to attract your target fish this year, it might be a better idea to pull up the anchor and troll your baits or lures away from the pack to give yourself a fighting chance at landing a fish. January is a great time to head up the beach, gather some worms and pipis and target bream and whiting. Mix it up and throw some metals, vibes, soft plastics and hardbody lures for a great way to increase your catches of mulloway and flathead, as well as many other species that are likely to travel along these gutters in the summer time.

Koa with a nice little Macleay flatty.

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New Years fishing favourites THE HASTINGS

Mark Saxon castawayestuarycharters@bigpond.com

Welcome to the New Year! Hopefully, we’re having a relaxing break away before getting back into the work year. To start it off, let’s have a look at some of our summer favourites that are readily available in our rivers at this time of year, and whereabouts in the Hastings Region you can encounter them.

WHITING These are a great summer fish and can be found on many of the shallow flats. To target these tasty sand whiting, there are a few techniques. For the bait fishos, pumping some nippers or acquiring live beach worms will be top choices – all you need is a light spin stick and about 6lb braid or mono. On the business end, add a little pea sized ball sinker running to a number four longshank. Cast these off the bank or drift them behind your boat for a great way to

Kelly with a nice bream from the Hastings.

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get amongst them. For the fishos who like to throw lures, grab yourself a few poppers and cast away over the flats. This is great visual fun and extremely addictive. The areas that will see whiting most often will be in the Hastings River, Pelican Island and Blackmans

Point, which is also great for pumping nippers. Lake Cathie to the south of the Port is a whiting hotspot. The sand flats in Camden Haven fire at this time of year. FLATHEAD Next on our list, who doesn’t enjoy a feed of the good old flatty fillets? These fish will be plentiful and a main target for visitors and locals alike. It would be remiss of me not to mention being sensible with our catches – take a feed for sure, but keeping bag limits every day is a bit extreme. If you catch that trophy female croc, grab a few pics and release her back to breed. That way there will still be plenty to catch next year. Flathead can be caught throughout the river systems. Targeting the flats is great fun and rewarding, as is casting into the shoreline from your boat or wading and casting the shallows on foot. Baits vary as flathead are very comfortable eating just about anything! My choice would be live herring or poddy mullet. Whitebait and the good old prawns catch plenty. Rig these on a light rod

Gavin Saxon with a shore-based lure-caught mulloway. with 8-12lb trace, a suitable ball sinker which gets your bait to the bottom, and a 2/0-3/0 hook. Lure fishing for flatties can seem too easy at times. A well-worked plastic grub, paddle-tail or prawn imitation will get you fish. There are many locations for these fish – look for weed beds and shallow banks with drop offs. All the rivers in the Hastings region will have flathead in residence, so if you’re not catching in one

spot, move around until you find them. BREAM Summer lure fishos love these fish, as they can spend hours using different methods to catch them. Surface fishing is a standout and anglers throwing prawn surface imitations around weed beds get some great action. Lures to use in these situations are Sugarpens and other walkthe-dog style lures – poppers will work as well. The other

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option for surface is cicadas, with so many singing and falling into the water. A classic way of catching bream is to cast your imitation under the overhanging trees. Use any of the cicada imitations, soft or hard, cast in, give it a little tweak, pause and if a bream is home, you’ll know. This month, slow rolling diving hardbody lures are a bream favourite. Angling for bream with bait, try to

use the freshest possible live nippers. If you’re willing to scoop up some live prawns, these are deadly. Don’t forget the little soldier crabs, as they catch some thumping bream. Locations to catch bream have structure – you’ll find them on breakwalls, snags, oyster racks and weed beds. All the local rivers have one form or another of this structure and the bream won’t be far away.

A tasty feed is always good.

FISHING FILL-ITS

World Fisheries Day recognises reel action Fish don’t need a passport to cross into international waters, making fisheries management on a global level essential in helping to ensure healthy fisheries for current and future generations to enjoy. World Fisheries Day was held on 21 November, to draw attention to how fisheries are managed across the globe, and their impact on local communities. The Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Anne Ruston, said World Fisheries Day was a perfect opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of Australia’s domestic fishing industries, and to recognise the nation’s role as an international leader in sustainable fisheries management. “Last year, our wild capture fisheries and aquaculture industries contributed $2.76 billion to the economy, and are an important export industry for Australia,” Minister Ruston said. “In fact, Australia’s wild-caught fisheries are continuing to thrive, with the latest preliminary data

from the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Science (ABARES) showing that the gross value of production for Commonwealth managed fisheries has grown by more than 25% in the last financial year. This is a fantastic outcome for the Australian community, the fishing industry and seafood lovers in Australia and around the world. “Australia’s record of achievement is due to maintaining a balanced and science-based approach to all decisions regarding access to Commonwealth fisheries. Industry together with fisheries regulators, like the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, have worked hard to rebuild Commonwealth commercial species. As a result, the ABARES Fishery status reports 2016 shows that for the third consecutive year no fishery solely managed by the Commonwealth was subject to overfishing. “Our oceans are important for all Australians, which is why this government continues to work with industry partners, research bodies and regulators to better understand our impact on marine ecosystems,

to develop good policy and drive innovation that will keep our fisheries sustainable. “Our oceans are a shared resource so it’s important that we work together as part of a global community to promote sustainable fishing and ensure the continuing health of marine and riparian environments. Fishing is a core part of the Australian culture, provides thousands of local jobs and supplies high quality, sustainablyharvested seafood to local and international markets.” The CEO of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), Dr James Findlay, said that the work undertaken by AFMA and other Australian government agencies in cooperation with key partners would continue to be a central theme in support of the future health of global fisheries. “While the Australian population enjoys the benefits of a sustainable and healthy fisheries resource, we also enjoy sharing the lessons that we have learnt along the way. Working with our international counterparts is an important part of what we do, with the aim of ensuring healthier global fisheries,” he

said. “Through in-country training and education, together with formal Regional Plans of Action and building collaborative relationships, we are seeing a more global focus on fisheries management. “AFMA officers work closely with countries all over the south east Asian and Pacific region, to collaborate and share information. The success of this approach was apparent recently when, as a result of information sharing and a cooperative approach, we managed to stamp out a rogue fleet of unscrupulous fishing vessels operating in the Southern Ocean. “This is in addition to the capacity building work we are doing with our regional neighbours in the Pacific Oceans to help strengthen their fisheries management arrangements to protect fish stocks which straddle Australian waters and maintain economic stability within the region. “We will continue our work in this space, so that there remains healthy fisheries to celebrate and enjoy for many more years to come.” – AFMA and Dept Agriculture

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Racking ‘em up to the bream FORSTER

David Seaman dseamo@bigpond.com

January is a month of excess. Christmas and the New Years festivities are over and by mid month, most of the New Years resolutions have been forgotten or wilfully broken, leaving only guilt. What’s a better way to relieve the guilt than to get out on the water, away from everything and everyone judging you? It’s

fishing are the weather and the current. Both should be monitored leading up to any offshore venture. Apart from the mahimahi, there are bonito schools with kings and an early billfish or two. This time of year is known for the odd big kingfish. They were evident, harassing a school of slimies off Blackhead last time I was out fishing the rocks. For the bottom bouncers, the gravel, reef and sand patches have a blanket of flathead. It doesn’t matter if you catch duskies in

on top of the oyster trays – they’re very responsive to lures worked over these areas. It doesn’t matter if it’s a surface lure or a lightly weighted plastic shimmied over the surface, it won’t be long before you see the cruising vee wake of a fish behind it. Pulling them from heavy cover or the racks is all up to you. The main target in the lake and estuary this time of year is flathead. They have been fishing very well with more than enough fish to satisfy

I’ve noticed a lot of whiting holding over the flats and channels down toward the bridge. Little Tern Island is one spot that was holding good numbers of fish. The Forster side channel produced a heap on 3B Pop Dogs last time I fished it – nothing huge but plenty of keepers. I can only imagine what a live yabby or worm bait could do, drifted along the sand edge. Visiting bass anglers will have to share fairly heavily fished water, but the secret to catching fish in these spots is to work soft plastics slow and deep. Gulp Jigging Shrimp and Camo 2” Shrimp are the go to lures for my money. Rig them on a 1/16 or 1/8oz jighead, cast to weed edges or in the sticks, allow them to sink and there’s a good chance of success. Upper Wallamba River or the Manning will produce fish. Even if they don’t, it’s a great way to spend a few hours on the freshwater.

Paul Albery with a pair of decent bream extracted from the lower leases. There is always a flathead by-catch to keep for the table.

A healthy 45cm bass fell to a Gulp Jigging Shrimp fished deep in a hole that most would paddle over. at least an excuse to go find some fish. For those venturing offshore and visitors to the area, the FAD is approximately 16km off Cape Hawk at 32° 13.211’, 152° 40.680’. I’ve been told some small model mahimahi are about. I wouldn’t be surprised if the bigger fish are skirting around too. The FAD is in about 80m of water and the only two variables that can affect the

the lake or sand flatties from the deep, they all eat very well indeed. THE LAKE The warm weather has heated things up in the estuary with bream spread throughout the system. I even caught a couple on surface in totally fresh water – a good way from the salt. Early mornings on a high tide are my pick of the surface action for bream. They’re still hunting the shallows, getting

the average angler. Look for areas with scattered weed patches between the mud and sand and don’t discount the shallow fringes of the many islands that make up the Wallis Lake system. There have been a lot of small fish – a good sign for the future – so watch your size limits of 36cm. Baits of beach worms and yabbies will get the job done in the lake and are also very handy baits from the breakwall and beaches.

At 49cm fork length, fish like this one are a goal for many bass anglers.

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What’s the time Mr Wolf? Bobby cork time normal. The water is clear and there are heaps of mullet schooling in the larger holes. Rainfall has been very limited over the past couple of months and some farmers are crying “drought.” A farmer from way upriver experienced a very localized storm delivering 25mm of rain in a very short time. There was no run-off. The water just soaked into the ground. It must be dry upriver.

HARRINGTON-TAREE

Ian Pereira ianpereira@aapt.net.au

At this time of the year, our freshwater anglers’ thoughts are concentrated on the upper part of the Manning, as the MNC Freshwater Championship is nearly upon us. The Manning is flowing very slowly with water levels a bit below

ESTUARY January is the time to target the big flathead that come down the river to spawn in the mouth of the Manning. A bobby cork rig with a live bait attached is the best way to tackle these big mothers. Fish of 4-5kg are common, while larger specimens around 8kg can be landed. It’s not necessary to use heavy line to land these big fish – 6kg line with a trace of 9kg will do the trick.

A nice catch of school size mulloway around 85cm/7kg. Photo courtesy of Bohnock Bait & Tackle.

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The main aim when playing these fish is to take it easy and not put too much pressure on the fish. If too much pressure is applied, the fish will come to the surface and shake its head violently. Sharp teeth will do the rest. Once the fish is in near the shore, pull it up to the edge of the water and remove the hook. The fish can then be returned to the water to make many more flathead. Great satisfaction can be achieved by the angler who carefully lands and releases a big flathead. A photo to celebrate the event is all you need to skite about. I prefer flathead in the 40-50cm size for eating. There are a few anglers in the Manning who don’t keep any flathead over 50cm. Quite a few school mulloway have been caught upriver around Croki and in the Lansdowne River on soft plastics. Most of the fish are only up to 5kg in weight, but occasional 15kg fish have been caught. The lack of rain has ensured that the river is very salty right up to the falls at Wingham. Lots of baitfish schools have been moving into the river. Bream are still being caught from the wall on mullet strips while luderick have shut down for the moment. BEACH AND ROCK Thanks to some strong northeasterly winds, the beaches are forming up nicely and fishing will be good. Right now, tailor and salmon are being caught from Harrington Beach on bait and lures. Before the full moon, mulloway were on the bite from Crowdy Beach near Abbeys Creek. Most fish were up to 15kg, but a couple of 22kg fish were also landed.

OFFSHORE Fishing has quietened down in the last week or so and most catches have been made from the northern grounds. Snapper are plentiful and fish in the 1-3kg range make up the most of the catch. The big fish of a month ago have departed for the present time, but they will be back when the moon rises to full. Flathead can be caught on

the drift from the close-in sand bottoms. January is the time to target big fish. Flathead and mulloway are around in the estuary and tailor, mulloway and blue groper can be caught from the rocks and beach. With all the chopper tailor around, mulloway will be targeting them for a feed. A live tailor or a fresh slab makes excellent bait for all sizes of mulloway.

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Abide by Marine Park rules in Port Stephens The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has reminded fishers to abide by the rules when visiting the Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park. DPI Fisheries Compliance Director Pat Tully said more than 20 offences had been reported in the Marine Park in the past six weeks. “It is disappointing to see that fishers are not abiding by

the rules within the Marine Park,” he said. “We’d prefer it if people followed the rules, because it can be an expensive day out for fishers who are caught. Infringement notices totalling $5600 were issued for those offences. The Marine Park’s rules have been in place for more than a decade, so fishers should be familiar with the rules that apply.” Offences have included fishing and possession of

fishing gear within sanctuary zones including Seal Rocks, contravening special rules within habitat protection zones and failing to pay the recreational fishing fee. Mr Tully said resources were available online to help fishers understand the zoning rules that apply to marine parks. “Fishers can pick up a copy of the Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park

zoning map and user guide, which are both available for download from the NSW Department of Primary Industries website,” he said. NSW Marine Park Zoning Maps are available for smart phones and tablets via the Avenza PDF Maps app, and the FishSmart mobile app and are free to download. The maps allow people to identify where they are in a marine park and

what types of activities are permitted in each zone. “Recreational fishers can now easily ensure they only fish in zones where fishing is permitted, and don’t accidentally creep into sanctuary zones. The Avenza maps are stored locally on your device and phone reception isn’t required to use them, making them ideal for offshore use,” Mr Tully said.

“Protecting the diversity in our marine parks is crucial to ensuring that we maintain these amazing areas to enjoy and to pass them to future generations.” Fishers can report suspected illegal fishing to the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536, or report online at www.dpi.nsw. gov.au/fishing/compliance/ report-illegal-activity. – DPI Fisheries

20 shark listening stations deployed in NSW The Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair, announced the NSW Government had deployed its 20th VR4G shark listening station off the NSW coastline. “Just over a year ago, we said we would deliver 20 listening stations and now we have a line of protection right along the NSW coastline,” Mr Blair said. “We have 14 VR4Gs operating north of Sydney, one at Bondi, and five on the south coast. “This technology is one component of the NSW Government’s suite

of shark attack mitigation measures. Our strategy is leading the world in testing new technologies with the use of SMART drumlines and research into sonar technology and personal shark deterrent devices.” The satellite-linked VR4G receivers record the presence of tagged sharks swimming within 500m of the listening station. Information on the movement of these tagged sharks is then instantly sent to mobile devices via Twitter and the SharkSmart App, available at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au.

The NSW Government’s $16 million shark strategy includes helicopters and drones, listening stations and observation towers for surveillance to better protect beachgoers. In the past 12 months, there have been 114 white sharks and 88 bull sharks tagged by either NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) or CSIRO, that will now register when they swim near the VR4G listening station. Locations where VR4G shark listening stations are deployed off the NSW coastline are: Kingscliff, Byron Bay, Lennox Head,

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Forster, Crescent Head, Old Bar, Bondi, Hawks Nest, Redhead, Kiama, Sussex Inlet,

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Listening stations are reporting on the location of tagged sharks. Image courtesy of DPI Fisheries.

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Key to a flathead belly PORT STEPHENS

Paul Lennon

There’s no shortage of flathead in Port Stephens this time of year, especially around areas such as North Arm Cove, Corlette Groins, Pindimar, Jimmys Beach and Shoal Bay. Soft plastic fishing is by far the best technique for catching

Whiting are also keen to whack surface lures further up the system around flats between Soldiers Point and the mouth of the Karuah River as well as Pindimar through to the Myall. Solid kings to 15kg are still frequenting the Nelson Bay Rockwall and Marina – early morning high tides are prime time to get connected to one. If you’re after a

the estuary, especially in early morning and late afternoons. Crabs are on with great catches of blue swimmers reported up Tilligerry Creek, North Arm Cove and Tahlee. Muddies have also been in good numbers in the tributary creeks of Karuah, Tilligerry and the Myall. On beaches, whiting are definitely the major target this time of year with just

You don’t need a boat to catch quality flathead in Port Stephens.

The author with a couple of solid flatties from North Arm Cove. numbers of flathead. An old fashioned slow rolled ganged pilchard will also do the trick. Whiting are thick with live worms or nippers proving deadly when fished on the high tide along Little Beach, Nelson Bay Beach and Dutchies Beach.

mulloway, try fishing the tide change in at least 20m of water off Soldiers Point through to North Arm Cove with a live bait or fresh squid. Squid are hanging around the moorings in Shoal Bay as well as over the weed beds along Jimmys Beach. Squid jigs in 2.5 size will work best in

about any ocean beach between Stockton and Hawks Nest holding them. The most important ingredient in catching a few is live worms followed closely by fishing the gutters at the right time, which is usually around the high tide. Mulloway are a real possibility this month

if you stick around after dark and fish a gutter with a live bait or fresh squid, especially down the southern end of Stockton Beach or around Samurai. Tailor are active around Fingal Spit and Box Beach on first and last light for those anglers who like spinning whole pilchards and garfish or 20-40g metals. The rocks are pretty quiet this month, however, you should be able to spin up a few bonito and tailor and maybe a king. Drummer, bream and grouper are around the wash too. You’ll have to work a bit harder for them. Squid are holding in the sheltered bays around Fingal through to Boulder with 3.0 sized jigs working best. Offshore charter boats have been reporting mulloway catches from the wider reefs off Broughton Island and plenty of trag from the 21, Vee and Gibber reefs. Kingfish from rats to 25kg unstoppables have been terrorizing baitfish schools over the shallow reefs around Fingal Island, Little Island and Broughton. Live baiting is by far the most effective way to target a kingie. Stickbaits cast in early morning before the sun comes up are an awesome way to catch them and create epic surface strikes. Out wider, the FAD is proving again to be an easy

way to get a feed. Schools of smaller dollies to 5kg have been holding on it. Marlin fishing on the shelf has heated up with boats now averaging two or three bites

a day. Boats are having the most success by skip baiting and dropping live baits down on any potential marlin and tight bait schools marked on the sounder.

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Mixing it up for the new year HUNTER COAST

Gary Earl earlybird13@optusnet.com.au

Lately, in my part of the world, it’s been either a fishing session in the morning or late afternoon. The weather has been so hot through the middle of the

seem to jump on them. The sand flats out from Kooragang Island have been the best placesfor the bigger trumpeter. The beach proper has been the best for sand whiting. With the water temperature soaring off the rocks, we should see some great catches. The first patches of bluefin could show up anytime now

certain days. Fresh bait has been the key. Mahimahi on the troll have been the easiest target. The anglers looking for the marlin have had sketchy days. Fish have been taken in random spots out very wide in the bluest of water. On the reefs, heaps of snapper, morwong, nannygai, teraglin and mulloway have been around, you just have to make

sure you’re right on the mark over the reef. In the upper freshwater tidal mark of the Hunter, I heard a rumour that a 15kg mulloway took a Stump Jumper lure trolled along the rock walls at Raymond Terrace for bass. It isn’t that unusual – I know a few anglers that have gotten onto tailor, bream, mulloway and

A couple of plate bream taken on live worms. These were taken off the shore at Stockton at night. day that unless you have a good canopy on your boat, fishing has been out of the question. There have been decent catches lately in the Hunter River. This month they’ll only to get better. Both sand and trumpeter whiting have shown up in good numbers. I’ve gone back to good old worms to catch them, as your arms nearly fall off with the amount of casts you have to put in with poppers and such. I still cast red blades – whiting

and school kingfish that pull like demons have been around for a while. These fish come in closer and look for baits. A swimming livebait under a float is irresistible to them. It’s hard work to carry all the gear in to the outer platforms, but it’s worth the effort if you snag one. Bonito and tailor are in as well, so slow your casts down to get them. Salmon are still around, but in smaller schools thankfully. Offshore, the wide grounds have been firing on

A massive mulloway – you can tell from the colour it’s been up in the dirty river. Put in the time and you’ll find one.

A couple of flathead and flounder caught drifting with worms for whiting. You never know what will grab a worm next.

flathead between the two bridges as the tide makes its way out. Bass have been plentiful, but a bit on the small side. The big fish are holding up in the Patterson River – great canoe or kayak water with a dirt ramp along the Patterson Road at Tocal. It will take

a tinny, but be careful. I have been bogged badly in this spot. This month, I would troll 2-3” skirts, cast around the headlands for bonito and tailor and put livebaits out for the kingfish and bluefin, if they show up. Have a happy new year.

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Gearing up for a fun gamefishing season SWANSEA

Jason Scerri coloratolures@hotmail.com

It’s 2017. There’s loads to look forward to this year. I have a few goals to work towards, both on a business front with my Game Fishing Lure business and also on the water. The aim is to score a few target species for myself, the wife and daughter. Yep, there’s plenty to look forward to. Last year was fantastic for local anglers. Lake Macquarie turns it on more and more every year it seems. I’ve never seen such a run of quality mulloway in Lake Mac like I did throughout 2016. That’s one thing I hope will continue for many years. This month is looking fishy, that’s for sure. Currently we’re seeing plenty of good fishing. Estuary anglers are scoring great numbers of mulloway with loads of fish in that 80-100cm range. By far, the best and most productive method appears to be live squid. In saying that, I haven’t missed out with my

soft plastic offerings. Anglers often ask me where the go to mulloway spot is, but it’s not that simple. There are multiple locations that produce mulloway. I could give you one spot that may not produce on a given day, but at the right time of night, that same spot will fire. All I can say is that you need to be out on the water to stand a chance, so be sure to look for deeper locations – ones that hold baitfish. Try to avoid heavy boat traffic periods. Bream have really fired up. The flats and even the deeper waters off the edges of the flats have been producing the goods. Lure anglers are scoring bream in good numbers and sizes. Hardbody lures worked just above the weedy bottoms are ideal. These are generally 35-55mm in length, 3-4g and dive 2-3ft. Many different colours work. Black is one that many bream anglers can’t go past. Anglers wanting a few tasty flathead for the table are in luck. Now that the waters are warming up nicely, concentrate on the shallower areas. My best days flathead

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fishing in Lake Mac have actually come about from attempts at getting a few shallow water bream. The only thing I found was I was losing too many fish (and lures) as they were swallowing my small bream lures and busting me off. If I’m chasing flathead on the shallows, I switch to longer, slim profile lures and find that I get many more fish to the boat. I don’t harm the ones I want to release, as they haven’t swallowed the lure right down. Kingfish continue to be caught throughout the lake. The Swansea Bridge is fishing well. Getting the hook-up isn’t the hard part – extracting the fish from the pylons is another story. Live squid is the number bait for these Lake Mac kings, and down rigged they’re also very effective. The ocean side of the bridge on the run out tide is often productive, but I’m sure other anglers have their preferred tides. Inside the lake itself is producing kings again. It seems to every year nowadays. I suggest trying the many channel markers throughout the lake. Coal Point is well worth a try, as are the channel markers along the drop over. Offshore fishing is kicking into gear now. Hopes are high for another bumper season. Shark fishos have scored phenomenal captures with makos over 300kg, and massive tiger sharks as well. It’s all happening offshore on the game front. Cracker mahimahi have been caught and this should continue for the coming months. Marlin continue to increase and they’re not thick yet. The next few months should really turn it on. I’m often asked what lures I suggest for anglers wanting to get into their first marlin and crews looking to get better numbers for their efforts. As a rule with the summer marlin run, black and striped marlin in that 50-100kg range should take lures anywhere from 6”-10”. I like a mix of colours.

Always have a green of sorts, a blue, a pink or purple. Then mix it up with the other lures. I’m not as hung up on colours as some anglers are, and I’m much more concerned about the lure’s action. Get that right and you’re more than on your way to a productive season chasing gamefish on lures. For anglers heading offshore, who are more interested in a feed of quality fish than tagging a big marlin, you’re in luck as well. Kingfish to a metre are being caught from several good offshore locations. The reefs out from Terrigal, Swansea and right through to deep waters off Port Stephens such as Allmark continue to produce the goods when the currents permit. Deep water jigging remains a productive and popular method among anglers. Don’t kid yourself, it’s hard work and requires a massive effort. Deep dropping live baits such as a live slimie or yakka is a great option. Anglers will also find a few other tasty species for the esky such as snapper, mulloway and leatherjackets, which are annoying for many anglers but awesome on the plate. Rock anglers are having a blast with some really nice catches. Throwing lures around like stickbaits and poppers has resulted in solid kings and plenty of bonito.

Young Nate Dial with this fine mulloway he caught recently. Nate’s dad is a well-known gamefisher, but also enjoys his mulloway fishing and moments like this with his son.

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Steve Dial with a great mahimahi.

Spin to win on the rocks CENTRAL COAST

Jamie Robley jrobley@iprimus.com.au

With a bit of luck, Santa delivered some shiny new fishing tackle to test out this month. If that’s the case, it’s a good time to get out there and give it a good work out. If not, perhaps some goals for the New Year have been set and it’s time to work on bringing those dreams to fruition. A new species or a personal best size fish is always good, but other goals

and a pure joy to use when casting lures or baits from the rocks, as well as the beach. Armed with a mix of old school metal lures, soft plastics, surface poppers and stickbaits, gear like this means you’re well prepared for all those fast, aggressive predatory species. Exactly what shows up within casting range this month largely depends on the prevailing weather and ocean currents. Historically, I’ve found January to be a bit mixed up, with fingers of warmer water moving in for a few days, followed

if they’re present. After the sun clears the horizon, it could be a better idea to swap over to a chrome metal, soft plastic or sinking stickbait lure. If it looks like the bonnies or kings are out in force, keep retrieves fast and radical. If tailor seem to be more likely, a slower retrieve under foamy water closer to the rocks is a winner. If I had to lay a bet, I would say tailor and the odd salmon are more likely right now. As this month progresses, more bonito and kingfish will show up. Of

r o e k the La . . . n a e c O the choose when or hy

High speed spinning from the rocks is a local tradition at this time of year. Here, the author fires off a cast at Norah Head.

venture when things are more inclined to be calm. A lot of locals and visitors are keen on pinning a mulloway at this time of year. Mulloway are around, but I rate autumn, early winter and late spring as a fraction more reliable for them. Aside from that, we’ve got other species like whiting, tailor and flathead swimming in the surf this month. Keep an eye out for blue bottles, especially if it’s an outing with the kids, as a sting from one of those can seriously spoil the fun. Offshore fishing should be productive if surface pelagics are the chosen target. I’d strongly recommend getting out there early in the morning, rather than leaving it for later in the day when those northeasterlies can make things very uncomfortable, if not impossible. Inside calmer waters, bream, whiting and flathead are all going very well at the moment, with surface lures being particularly productive early in the morning. Good quality baits such as local prawns do the damage at night.

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Casting surface lures for bream is one of the more productive and entertaining forms of estuary fishing at this time of year and the lakes have been firing lately. could be to learn a new technique like flyfishing, jigging or simply to go fishing more! A bunch of options are available along the coast this month, but as an old school rock hopper, I’ll start with a traditional form of rock fishing that I’ve always enjoyed during the first few months of the year – high speed spinning. Several decades have passed since I first ventured onto the big platform at South Avoca, armed with a Mitchell 499 and heavy beach rod, as well as an ABU 7000c and more userfriendly 3m rod. Although cumbersome by today’s standards, those two outfits gave me an introduction to the world of rock spinning and species like bonito, kingfish, frigate mackerel and mac tuna. In fact, I still remember the very first fish I caught, which was a mac tuna around 4kg. That fish stamped high speed spinning into my mind forever. Thankfully, the gear available to us these days is much lighter, smoother and more efficient. Last year I received a very early Christmas present, in the form of a Daiwa Sensor Sandstorm rod and BG4000 reel. Although it’s not expensive tackle, to me this is nothing short of brilliant

by a week of colder water. The pattern is that strong northeasterly winds turn the inshore water cold, then a southerly change makes it warm back up again. However, ocean currents are giant whirlpools and each year is different, so it’s not always easy to predict. Tailor are perhaps the best bet just before sunrise and they respond well to a surface popper around 100-120mm. By casting a popper around, you’ll be in with a good chance of catching tailor. Bonito or kings will also zoom in and possibly take a swipe

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course, things don’t always go to plan and that’s why I often recommend bringing along a lighter outfit to flick baits around the washes for bream, drummer and so on. That way there’s a greater chance of hooking into something and perhaps bringing home a feed. Beach fishing tends to be a bit more stable at this time of year, although it can be a bit windy of an afternoon. In other words, it’s worth keeping an eye on weather forecasts, scouting around for spots, which may offer some protection or simply planning an early morning

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Anglers wait with baited breath ILLAWARRA

Greg Clarke clarkey1@westnet.com.au

Christmas is done and dusted. For many, now is holiday time with plenty of days to hit the water and get amongst the big ones. The offshore scene this month is always looked upon with great anticipation, as it generally sets the pattern

and get things going. We can expect them from New Years day onwards, but the major action is later in the month when all the reefs along the coast fire. As always, places like Bandit Reef, Wollongong Reef and the reefs off Shell Harbour have schools of bait – the main targets. A few stragglers will always be about, so it always pays to have that live slimy or yellowtail out swimming,

Marlin are about this month not that far out from the coast. for the rest of the summer. If the hot water shows late or the pelagics like marlin and mahimahi are slow off the mark, it can mean a short season. If they hit with a bang in numbers, all will be good for weeks to come. Unlike last year, the striped marlin have been a bit slow over the past few weeks. With a push of warmer water, the luderick could show up

no matter where or how you’re fishing. They can pop up anywhere. Without a bait in the water, you don’t stand a chance. With the first clean bluewater that pushes down the coast, mahimahi arrive. The ones that sit on the front of the current are usually big. They pass through and small fish take up residence on every FAD and marker

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all along the coast before a few bigger fish move in later. They are extremely popular these days with boats jostling for positions on the FADs often at speed, throwing lures and baits and generally making a lot of noise. These are the days to find something else to chase, as they go off the bite very quickly in these conditions. Live baits are generally the only thing that will attract any interest and often this is only fleeting. On a quieter day, the same live baits will be attacked the moment they hit the water and the games begin. For bigger fish, grab the biggest slimy mackerel or yellowtail you can get. They can take a bit of punishment from the smaller fish, allowing the bigger fish to have a go. The bigger fish get well educated very quickly and become cautious in heavily fished locations, so they often sit quite a distance from the FAD. Don’t be too hasty in getting back to the mark. There are apex predators around when there are lots of smaller fish on the FAD, so the live bait has every chance of attracting a marlin as well as a big dolly. The boats chasing marlin out wide are picking up a few yellowfin, but they have been patchy and only smaller fish up to 20kg+ with the odd larger fish show from time to time. It’s better than none at all. The odd spearfish has been about with some albacore too. Striped tuna are out there as well, so the snapper bait can be topped up while chasing the bigger fish. Snapper are a bit quiet in over the shallow reefs at the moment, as they seem to be in the deeper water of 40-50m. They’re easy enough to get until a bit of current shows up, then it will be tough in the deeper water. You chase kings then. In close, the kings have been fairly active – they need that current to really get them going. Until then, live baits down rigged in most of the recognised close spots like the islands, Bass Point and Rangoon are all worth a look. The outer reefs have bigger fish using the same method and knife jigs. They’re hard work if there isn’t any current.

Fish to 12kg can be expected with the majority between 3-5kg. Other pelagics have been a little less finicky with salmon schooling all along the coast. Look for the birds or the ripples and chop on the ocean that looks out of place. Up around the national park north of Stanwell there seem to be better concentrations of fish, while the islands, Bass Point, Kiama, in close along Coniston and even North Beach in the centre of town hold schools, particularly after a big northeasterly. Trevally are moving with the schools, bonito and lots of small kings in some areas. These can be a pest, as they are always faster than the other fish and fight hard, only to be released by most. If you spot someone taking undersized kings, call the fisheries hot line – it should always be in your phone – and give them the details. You might get lucky and they actually attend, so it’s worth a try. Grubs that take undersized fish are only destroying our future. Not all the kings with the schools are small, so a live bait lobbed into the middle of a feeding school will usually get the attention of any bigger

There are plenty of pan-sized snapper over the inshore reefs this month. that they have been in past seasons. On the gravel edges and reef there have been good numbers of pan sized snapper and decent mowies to keep anglers busy. Pigfish, trevally and samsonfish are about as well. You may even get lucky and pick up a teraglin. On the rocks, the southern deep ledges around Kiama will be the focus of attention as the LBG anglers hit the stones looking for that elusive marlin. Every year a few are hooked and the odd one is landed, but these ledges don’t get the angler traffic that the ledges down at Jervis Bay get. These days it’s getting harder and harder to fish the bay with all the restrictions, so the local spots are well worth putting some effort into. With a bit more effort, more fish will be hooked.

This marlin from last season had already been tagged and had taken 20 days to get from Coffs Harbour to the Illawarra. He swam off with a new one. fish. It works well for any whopper sambos that may be there too. For the bottom fishos, the flathead have hit their straps and are over every patch of sand all along the coast. Some of the more northern spots cop a bit of work from the professionals, but there are still plenty of fish close to the edges of the reefs in these places. Leatherjackets have been a bit of a pest but they are not anywhere near the numbers

It’s not just marlin on the cards, as the big kings are about as well, along with bonito, salmon, frigates and the unavoidable sharks. For the rest of the coast, there are bream off most of the shallower headlands with a few trevally thrown in and some nice drummer. Most of the washes have luderick, as do the sheltered harbours in the early mornings after a solid northeasterly or southerly blow.

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The northeasterlies also push bait into the northern breakwall at Port Kembla and the harbour entrance at Wollongong. At dawn, the salmon, bonito, frigates and kings get stuck into them. Lures get hit on every cast and it’s a lot of fun while it lasts. All the bait is cleaned up and the predators disperse. The beaches are looking the goods with plenty of whiting on just about every beach, if you have fresh beach worms. Flathead are on all the beaches too with some nice bream in the corners near the rocks and the usual salmon and tailor in the early mornings and late evenings. With all this food about, there are mulloway on the prowl, from schoolies right up to fish of 20kg and better. Fresh bait on the top of the tide in the dark is the best option, but anytime you have a bait in the water you have a chance. The estuaries are at their best with heaps of flathead all through the lake. Whiting are on all the shallow sand flats taking worms and nippers and if you are early enough, poppers. A few luderick are around the weed beds if you can get some good weed. Bream are in the feeder streams on the snags and around the bridge pylons at night. The prawns are around, but not in great numbers during the dark. There are plenty of blue swimmers all through the lake. Minnamurra is much the same with nice flathead all along its length, whiting in the shallows and luderick along the weed edges, along with some big mullet and garfish on bread. Bream are around the pylons of the bridges. Remember there will be lots of people about, so plan your trip to avoid the crowds. Happy New Years.

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Catching summer flatties and summer whiting NOWRA

Johnny Nolan straydog1974@gmail.com

Is it any wonder so many people travel to our neck of the woods come Christmas holiday time? Nowra and its surrounding townships have so much to offer, especially for the fishing family looking to throw a line and catch themselves a feed of fresh fish and maybe some prawns or a squid. So where can we catch fish these holidays? St Georges Basin is one place. This awesome recreational fishing haven is one of the best on the coast. During the summer season, it has a myriad of species on offer for bait and lure

fishers. At the moment we’re having a terrific run of big flathead, which started in October and ran right into the summer months. Most fish have been in the main basin, but there have been some absolute honkers also travelling through the canals and lagoons of Sussex Inlet. I would say 95% of the big fish pulled from the basin are taken on soft plastic lures of one type or another, but it’s still hard to go past the Squidgy Prawns or the Squidgy Fish. The vast shallow sand flats that line most of the basin’s shores are producing great whiting on popper opportunities. Long casts, quick erratic retrieves and fish lining up to take your

Jack Stanwell with a 94cm flatty from Sussex Inlet.

surface walker or popper are things associated with pelagic or tropical species up north, but since this style of fishing has taken off in the estuaries down our way it’s gone crazy and added a new dimension to estuary lure fishing. Five years ago, no one would have thought whiting of all species would be smashing our surface lures, and with such gusto. No water is too shallow in the basin for the whiting. If it’s more than a couple of inches deep, whiting could be there hiding in amongst the weed and divots in the sand. A few casts with one of the many surface lures on the market will soon tell the story if the whiting are in the area you’re fishing or not. If you’re not getting the hits or follows from the whiting, keep moving along quite quickly and cover the water. Eventually you should come across a few fish. A good pair of polarized sunglasses is essential for this form of fishing. If there’s a severe glare on the water, there may be fish there that you just can’t see. You could be getting the follows and all it takes is a lure change to bring on a strike. Rather than thinking there aren’t fish there and moving on, I wear the Spotters sunnies in the gold mirror lens. The mirrored lens helps cut out the heat, which can do damage to your eyes. A bronze colour glass is great for picking out fish in amongst the weeds and undulations of the sandy bottom. They can also give you a greater depth perception! OUR BEAUTIFUL BEACHES Whiting! They’re here. Finally the water has warmed enough and most beaches are producing good numbers of them with a few bream thrown in the mix. Even the odd mulloway is still being taken from the beach. Fresh beach worms are a must for the best success.

The art of catching them can leave you frustrated and kicking the sand as you walk away with your tail between your legs, empty handed. If this is you, the next best thing is live nippers, which can be pumped locally in our estuaries.

BASS ARE BITING! Danjera, Tallowa and the Shoalhaven and tributaries are all fishing well for the mighty Australian bass. If you’re holidaying down our way, be sure to bring a handful of bass lures or call in and see us at the shop for a bit of local knowledge and advise as to

where to go and the lures that are working best. The bass are still one of my favourite fish to catch and can take you to some amazing picturesque places! I hope you all catch a few fish over your holiday break. Be good, stay safe and have a happy fishy New Year! Johnny out.

Harry Harnwell with an 87cm flatty from the basin.

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Do the right thing in the racks DPI

Jim Harnwell

The thrill of hooking a solid blue-nose bream amidst the tangle of posts, racks and trays that make up a typical oyster lease is about as good as it gets for NSW estuary anglers. Heavy leader and locked

including many recreational fishing havens. The industry is worth about $40m annually and employs hundreds of professional workers. The farms are also opportunistically used by recreational fishers, providing small boat and kayak anglers with opportunities to target bream as well as common

lease, meaning other users – such as recreational fishers – can share access to our waterways. However, it’s an offence to damage or interfere with lease infrastructure or the oysters growing within the lease. It makes a lot of sense for recreational fishers and the oyster industry to work together to share and benefit

Avoid coming into contact with oyster farm infrastructure when fishing in and around oyster farms. Image courtesy of Shane Chalker Photography.

up drags are standard techniques for rack fishing specialists. It goes without saying, that maxed-out tackle and brutal tactics don’t always result in hooked fish being landed. The bream are often only centimetres away from cover when they eat the lure or bait, meaning frayed leaders, lost fish and bruised egos are

estuary sportfish such as dusky flathead, luderick and whiting. Other species associated with oyster farms include estuary perch, tailor and mulloway. The reason oyster farms can be productive places to fish is because of the shelter and food offered by the sticks, oyster trays, baskets and shade cloth used to protect smaller oysters from oyster

oyster farm infrastructure, including underwater ropes and cables. You should never tie up or park your boat or kayak on an oyster farm. Ensure you obey Maritime regulations for the waterway you’re fishing in. Show respect for the oyster farmers by slowing down as you pass their farms, remembering these areas are their workplaces. Boat wash can cause damage and can make work in the farms harder than it needs to be. Always use weedless lures and barbless hooks to minimise the chances of snagging up on oyster farm infrastructure. If you do hook up, do all you can to retrieve the lure without causing any damage. SAY NO TO BLACK MARKET OYSTERS Criminals involved with organised large scale oyster theft, as well as smaller scale opportunistic thievery, can cost the oyster industry big money and present a food safety risk. Oyster farmers monitor water and meat quality to ensure the safety of their products. Ensure you say no to black market oysters. If you see any

Modern oyster farms are fragile, so ensure you avoid contact with infrastructure including poles, cages and shade cloth. Image courtesy of Shane Chalker Photography.

suspicious activity around oyster farms while you’re out on the water, call the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536 and report it. KEEP IT CLEAN One of the biggest concerns for the oyster industry involves maintaining

water quality. Anglers can play a major role in ensuring our estuaries are clean and safe by avoiding using the waterway as a toilet. Make sure you are familiar with the location of public toilets around the waterways you fish and use them.

from our waterways. Anglers can do their bit by fishing responsibly and doing the right thing to ensure the oyster farmers continue to produce world-class product. There are a few simple rules to follow when fishing round oyster farms. These relate to positive, responsible actions you can take to reduce damage, prevent oyster theft, maintain water quality and

Take the time to get to know your local oyster farmers so you ensure your fishing activities don’t interrupt their work on the leases. The farmers will be able to give you some great tips on where the fish are! Image courtesy of Shane Chalker Photography.

Oyster farms provide valuable habitat, shelter and food sources for a range of popular estuary sportfish, including some very big bream! Image courtesy of Shane Chalker Photography.

always on the cards. Oyster leases, often also known as oyster farms, are an important regional industry producing world-class fresh seafood. In NSW, the oyster industry comprises of 2254 individual farms covering almost 3000ha across numerous estuary systems, 44

JANUARY 2017

catcher birds, fish and rays. This infrastructure attracts bait, which in turn attracts and holds the target species. In many ways, an oyster farm acts like an artificial reef in providing habitat, food and shelter for fish. In NSW, oyster farms operate under a non-exclusive

ensure your safety and that of the oyster farm workers. DON’T DAMAGE THE FARM Many fishos may not realise that modern oyster farms are fragile. If you’re fishing in or around a farm, ensure your vessel doesn’t come in contact with any

There are 2254 oyster farms covering about 3000h across NSW estuary systems, including in many Recreational Fishing Havens. Image courtesy of Shane Chalker Photography.

FISHING FILL-ITS

New Salt-Away mixing unit Salt-Away is a handy product that minimises costly maintenance on disc and drum brakes, improving safety and extending their life. It’s also simple to use. By washing your trailer down with Salt-Away after each trip you’ll remove the damaging salt that causes corrosion. To make the process as easy as possible, SaltAway has released a new mixing unit called A-Salt

find out more about using Salt-Away for different applications, including on tackle and 4WDs, visit Dave Butfield’s YouTube channel. HOW SALT-AWAY WORKS Salt-Away is water-based, highly concentrated and must be diluted. When applied, the Salt-Away solution immediately dissolves any soluble contaminant. Flow (run-off) caused by gravity is required to remove salt. As flow begins, ingredients

Salt Attack. It has been specifically designed to dispense the Salt-Away Concentrate formula, and has a new throttle-type control valve with a threeposition control valve to switch from ‘off’ to ‘rinse’ to ‘Salt-Attack’. The built-in receptacle holds 100mL, and is built to handle high water pressures without a problem. Salt-Away also makes a spray gun, along with earmuffs called Deluxe Muffs for outboard flushing. To flush the engine, just put 40-60mL of Salt-Away concentrate in a mixer cup for up to 90hp motor, and for 90-300hp, use a full mixer cup. You can use the remaining solution to wash the boat, trailer and fishing gear. You can see a video of the process on YouTube – just search for Salt-Away Outboard Flushing. To

in the product will not allow the contaminants in their dissolved state to attach to the surface, and a ‘sheeting’ effect is created, allowing the flow to carry the contaminants all the way off the equipment. In areas that stay wetter longer and are primarily inaccessible or where salt is trapped, the corrosion inhibitors in the product will keep equipment from rusting and corroding from the inside-out. The selected blend of ingredients combines proven cleaning materials and surface-active agents, to provide salt removal from a wide variety of surfaces. There are no hydrocarbon solvents in the formula, and the cleaning action is designed not to remove lubricating products. Included in SaltAway are rinse aids and liquid and vapor corrosion inhibitors. The

Anglers and oyster farmers can work together to share the waterway and create a more enjoyable experience on the water. Image courtesy of Shane Chalker Photography.

An outbreak of disease caused by someone relieving themselves in the water can result in oyster production being halted for extended periods, costing oyster farmers huge amounts of money and potentially causing job losses. Report any pollution out on the water to Roads and Maritime on 13 12 36. KEEP IT SAFE Fishing and navigating around semi-submerged structures like oyster farms

poses obvious safety issues. Maximise your safety – as well as that of the oyster farmers – when fishing around oyster farms by avoiding all contact with farm infrastructure, slowing down and reducing wash when passing farms and using weedless lures and barbless hooks. Specific Maritime regulations may apply in certain areas around oyster farms, so keep an eye out for signs and make sure you obey the rules.

Our oyster farms produce world class fresh seafood as well as providing key habitat for species like bream, flathead and luderick. Looking after oyster farms is a win-win for fishos and farmers. Image courtesy of Shane Chalker Photography.

Information on current boating safety and rules is available at www.rms.nsw. gov.au/maritime/safetyrules. Oyster farmers are generally a pretty friendly bunch, so if you see a farmer working his or her lease, give a wave or say g’day. The farmer will appreciate you asking if it’s OK to fish nearby and can probably give you some worthy advice on any areas you should avoid or take particular care around. They’ll probably also have very good ideas on where the fish are as well. There’s a lot to be said for making friends with your local oyster farmers. WRAPPING UP The network of oyster farms across NSW’s estuaries, rivers and coastal lakes provides huge benefits for regional economies and provides a world-class seafood product, while also being a popular and productive place to fish. It’s up to us fishers to do all we can to support and work with local oyster farmers to ensure this vital industry goes from strength to strength. Next time you’re casting a bait or lure around your favourite rack in search of a trophy blue-nose bream or a big flattie, remember to follow these simple rules. Your local oyster farmer will really appreciate your respect and support! – NSW DPI

ingredients are considered non-hazardous, non-toxic, and biodegradable and, as such, discharging SaltAway into normal drainage outlets is safe. This product is safe to use on virtually all surfaces, including magnesium, aluminum, iron, steel, stainless steel, chrome, paint, gelcoat, nylon, isinglass, vinyl, plastic, glass, wood, leather, rubber and canvas. Salt-Away is also safe to use near plants, pets and children. Salt-Away’s saltremoving agent completely removes fresh salt and breaks down salt build-up. Its dense foaming action assists as an indicator to see where Salt-Away has been applied, and it also clings to surfaces to slowly soak through the layers of salt. As the salt dissolves into the Salt-Away salt-removing agent, the crystals are lifted into the solution. If SaltAway is sprayed on the surface and not rinsed off, the water evaporates out of the solution and the salt crystals are embedded into the residue. The liquid and vapor corrosion-inhibitors in the residue will not allow the salt crystals to attack the surface. If Salt-Away is rinsed off the surface, the salt crystals are lifted off the surface and washed away. A second application of SaltAway is recommended for further protection. Salt-Away is also good value for money, with 1L of concentrate making 512L of solution. All you need to flush an engine up to 90hp, plus will clean your boat, trailer and all your fishing gear, is 40-60mL (60-80mL is recommended for engines over 90hp). Financially, that works out to be as little as $1 per wash. Salt-Away is backed by a 100% money back guarantee. It’s recommended by leading engine manufacturers, and is used by the Australian and NZ Coastguard. For more information visit www.saltaway.com.au. - FM

JANUARY 2017

How to use crab lures NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

There are several different makes and models of crab-imitating lures on Australian tackle store shelves, but many anglers still seem confused about

how to best present and work these offerings. Lures and fly patterns intended to imitate crabs have been around for many years, but there’s been a real surge of interest in these cunning crustacean copies over the past few seasons, thanks largely to the immense success of Steve

Bream of all types are prime crab targets, but these lures catch plenty of other species too.

Steer’s highly innovative Cranka Crab range. I remember Steve unveiling these amazingly life-like lures a few years ago at the Australian Fishing Tackle Trade Show, staged on Queensland’s Gold Coast. They created a real stir and, from memory, won the award that year for the best new hard-bodied lure at the show. However, several significant production hurdles still faced Steve after his original showing of the prototype Cranka Crabs, and it took much longer than expected for these fish lollies to finally reach our shop shelves and tackle boxes. I’m glad ‘Steersie’ was such a stickler for getting everything absolutely right before putting his innovative crabs on the market – the end result has been an extremely effective lure. Some of the copyists who’ve followed in his footsteps haven’t been as stringent in their quality control, although perhaps the less said about that the better! As well as the Cranka

Crab lures often tempt bigger-than-average fish.

Vic Funnell with a 31.8kg mulloway taken from Yamba wall and weighed at Marina Boat & Tackle.

JANUARY 2017

The author with an absolute horse of a black bream taken on a Cranka crab. Crab (which is technically a hybrid lure – a hardbody and soft or semi-soft legs and a pair of soft, hook-carrying claws) there are now several other brands of both hard and soft artificial crabs on

lure as the puppet. The more life-like and entertaining the puppet show you put on, the more likely the ‘audience’ is to be convinced by it. Remember, crabs spend most of their time crawling

bit of scent or bite stimulant, too, especially on the legs or claws, which are often the first parts to be nibbled or bitten by an inquisitive fish. Cast these lures where lots of crabs live – under jetties,

Some days, bream and other species grab the floating claws of these life-like imitations and may only be lightly hooked in the lips. Other times, they wolf them right down! the market. All work to varying extents, especially when targeting species such as bream, snapper, jacks, estuary cod, flathead and the many other varieties that regularly consume these tasty crustaceans. It’s amazing what crab lures will catch in both salt and freshwater, and many of the fish that will happily bite an artificial crab have most likely never seen or eaten a real one in their lives! Getting the best from any crab pattern involves a little more thought and visualisation on the part of the angler than the use of some other popular lure types. It pays to think like a fish and ‘be the crab’ whenever using these artificials. As my wife Jo likes to say, all lure and flyfishing is a form of puppetry, with the angler as the puppeteer and the

about on the bottom, or scuttling up and down across hard surfaces such as pylons, logs or rocks. They rarely scoot around in mid water or skip merrily along the surface! Get your crab lure on the bottom first and then work it slowly. Let me stress that key word again: slowly. Try little drags and hops, short lifts of the rod or, one of my favourites, the lift-andshake. This involves lifting the crab a short distance off the bottom and literally vibrating or shaking the rod, as if you were attempting to dislodge water droplets off the blank. Between each lift, hop or shake, allow the crab imitation to sink back and rest on the bottom again, and be keenly aware that this is often the time when bites occur. Don’t be afraid to load your crab up with a

around snags, onto rocky reefs and along the edges of weed beds. If you’d like to watch a short video of me demonstrating how best to use the Cranka Crab, simply scan the QR code on this page, or go to my Starlo Gets Reel page on YouTube and look for it there. Most of all, believe that crab lures work – because trust me, they do! VIDEO

Scan this QR code to watch a video of Starlo demonstrating how to work a crab lure for bream and other species.

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING BALISTA AFTER DARK

Balista have just released a second LED into their range called the After Dark. It’s still their regular LED technology flashing red, the only difference is this LED is significantly less bright. There is a mountain of research behind the technology, and refining it to get the best results in all scenarios has been a prime focus for Balista. The standard LED that works so well during the day right up until dark can become too bright at night time, hence the introduction of the After Dark. This is a specially formulated LED to work perfectly at night time, so there is no large LED glow around the lure. It’s a faint and much more realistic LED for night time. The results on the After Dark have been phenomenal; getting the LED fine-tuned for night fishing has made a huge difference in catch rates. If you fish at night time, you’ve got to try After Dark. www.balista.com.au

TEMPT POWDER PAINT

Tempt Industries offer a comprehensive range of high quality Powder Paints designed to powder coat your fishing jigheads. Every angler wants to get any edge they can, and it’s these one-percenters that help us to catch more fish! The Powder Paint range offers an extensive range of colours that best suit the Australian conditions giving you the flexibility to custom match your jighead to your favourite soft plastic colours. Also available are a range of UV colours including a clear coat that can be applied over the top of any colour, giving an intense UV glow. Tempt Powder Paint is easily applied and gives a professional smooth powder coat finish, available in a 60g net jar or bulk orders on request. More colours are being added to the range, so like them on Facebook to keep updated. For more information, please check out the Facebook page or their website. Price: RRP $16.50 www.temptindustries.com.au

FAR-Q LURES

One of Australia’s most prolific and recognised lure makers Robie Gaden of RMG and Classic Lures fame has decided go back to where it all started for him as a lure maker, opting this time for timber over plastic. Only released to market recently, they’ve been snapped up by anglers and lure collectors alike. Hand-crafting lures for iconic Aussie species from Murray cod to mulloway is something Robie has refined over the course of 35+ years, and it truly shows in their actions. If you like throwing big lures at big fish, make sure you give these classic-looking timber works of art a look in. FAR-Q Lures are available now from Fishing Tackle Australia in Coffs Harbour, and can be ordered through MO Tackle, so whether you want it for your tackle box or collection, grab a couple now while stocks last. www.motackle.com.au 48

JANUARY 2017

AUSTACKLE SPIRIT SERIES

PRODUCT GUIDE

Austackle has expanded its Spirit Series of rods, which now consists of two spin models (1-3kg/7’0” and 2-5kg/7’0”), and two baitcasters (2-5kg/5’06” and 2-5kg/6’0”). These rods deliver the perfect balance of sensitivity and power. The blanks use Japanese IM8 pre-peg carbon cloth and are fitted with CIGX Custom Incremental Geared wind-down reel seats, designed to prevent over-tightening and keep your reel in place all day. These new rods have a highly sensitive medium-fast action, and their stunning cosmetics change colours and shimmer in the sunlight. Finishing off this top class rod series are low-profile stainless steel guides with SiC inserts. Spirit is a great choice for experienced kayak anglers as the medium-fast taper makes it less vulnerable to breakages caused by ‘high sticking’ (taking the rod past 45% while under load) – a practice many anglers find hard to avoid from a seated fishing position. www.austackle.com

SAMAKI MARLIN TEE

Samaki’s Marlin Tee suits the deckie in all of us, the passion for being on the water day in and day out with the added comfort of a sleek soft fabric that keeps you cool, dry and protected. Sporting the stealthy Marlin trying to escape at speed the Marlin tee sports a few unique hits of design without being too overwhelming. The Samaki Marlin Tee is developed from Samaki FishDry fabric, designed to wick the sweat away fast from the body whilst pulling it to the surface of the garment for speedy evaporation. Samaki’s UV50+ sun protection fabric is 100% polyester material, a lightweight fabric that keeps you cool, holds anti-shrinking, anti-wrinkle and antipilling properties for you to get longevity from your garment. The stain release technology helps you remove stains easily and efficiently – a great feature when outdoors. Available from S to 3XL. Price: RRP $49.95 www.samaki.com.au

COUCOM’S DAD’S DILLIES

The Coucom’s range of crab pots and dillies are handcrafted in Yeppoon, made with top quality materials from Australian suppliers. They use solid 10mm galvanised steel, and 50mm polyethylene UV-treated nylon mesh. The poly pipe legs feature Coucom’s Split-leg design for ease of assembly and dismantling, and there’s also a built-in bait pocket. All Coucoms pots come with chaffing rope to protect the net as well as the boat. “Dad’s Dillies are a remake of a design my father made and used many years ago, his original design (along with a few additional ideas of my own) has gone into making the Dad’s Dilly. On our first trial we used five dillies in four hours and returned with 10 legal crabs. They have been approved by NSW, QLD and NT Fisheries, and we hope the other states will also approve them for sale. Dillies have a variety of advantages over traditional crab pots. They are proven crab catchers, you don’t have to leave them out overnight, you’ll eliminate checking and stealing, and they’re easy to assemble and collapse. Dad’s Dillies come in heavy or light gauge steel, with a bait bag included, and all you need is rope and float and bait. They’re ideal for kayakers. Price: from SRP $49 www.facebook.com/CoupomsCrab potsAndFishingGear

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING BASSDAY MOGUL MINNOW 66

PFLUEGER SALT FINESSE

The newest addition to the Bassday line-up for Australian anglers, the Mogul Minnow 66 is a new suspending twitchbait that bream and bass anglers are going to love. Featuring an internal weight transfer system for optimum casting performance, and an enticing side-to-side action when twitched and paused, this is a lure that will grab the attention of anglers and fish alike. With an attractive, side-to-side cadence, this is a lure that encourages an aggressive response from jerkbait-loving fish. Stunning, ultra-realistic colours and textbook Japanese attention to detail make this a must-have suspending jerkbait for bream, bass, trout, and mangrove jack. The Bassday Mogul Minnow 66 measures 66mm long, weighs 5g, dives to 0.8m, and is currently available in six proven colours. For more information and photos visit the Bassday website, or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ Bassday. Price: SRP $24.95 www.bassday.com.au

Developed for Australian conditions, the Salt Finesse spin reel delivers the reliability of the heavy duty Pflueger Salt spin series in a light-weight and compact package. When you first pick up the Salt Finesse, you’ll notice the weight, or lack of it! A major factor when casting all day is what lure fishing is all about. Lightweight performance is achieved through features such as a smooth 9+1 bearing system, aluminium main shaft with alloy main gear and Pfluegers carbon handle design. Combined with a sealed drag system, braid ready spool and comfortable EVA handle knob, the Salt Finesse is designed for effortless performance and reliability. This little machine is available in three sizes, which are 30, 35 and 40. The Pflueger Salt Finesse is a great affordable alternative if you do a lot of light tackle sportfishing in sheltered waters. Price: RRP $199.95 www.pflueger.com.au

NEW FISH HEADZ COLOURS

KAYAK TACKLE STATION

Bigfish Gear has released three new colours in their range of Fish Headz head socks. All are manufactured in Bigfish’s new full tube material that is softer and stretchier to wear. The Camoscale Bluefish is a light blue version of the ever-popular camoscale pattern, and it’s great for those wanting to fish in high glare or crystal clear skies. Camoscale Mirage is a light grey version of their unique camoscale pattern and great for those fishing in overcast or low light conditions. Bush Camo is Bluefish’s very own, unique camouflage pattern, totally generated using Australian bush flora and colourings to help you blend into the natural surrounds. For more information and to see the full range of colours, check out the Bigfish website. They also have a wide range of sun protection shirts, pants and other fishthemed apparel. Price: SRP $21.95 www.bigfishgear.com

BALISTA HUNCHBACK 60

Hunchback 60 features their new micro LED technology, and given that dawn and dusk generally coincide with a great surface bite, it works in very well with the LED technology. Around dawn and dusk is one of the prime times to break out the LED. The sunlight is lower, causing the LED to be brighter, and more effective. Like its bigger brother, the Hunchback 90, this smaller Hunchback has a huge crawling action and a clip off bib for easy storage. As the name suggests, the new Hunchback is 60mm in length, and the body size was designed to be the ideal size and profile for bass, though it is also highly effective on Murray Cod in smaller rivers. The tail of the lure sits well below the waterline to promote excellent hook-up rates, and it’s fitted out with ultra sharp BKK trebles so you can be confident in hooking and holding whatever grabs your Hunchback. www.balista.com.au

The Wilson Ultimate Tackle Station has been designed to fit securely in a kayak, but it’s also a great choice for anglers requiring lots of storage options in a boat or on the shore. Made from 600D water-resistant, ripstop poly fabric, this unit caters to your every need. Features include two heavyduty carry straps with an adjustable and detachable padded shoulder strap, a sewn-in triple rod/tool holder with three rod tubes secured by Velcro straps, a multitude of tool holders and accessory pouches, drainage holes in all areas, clear plastic map pockets and a Velcro secured top. With features galore and a striking finish to ensure you look smart on the water, the Ultimate Tackle Station is worth a serious look. For more information on this and other products in the Wilson Fishing range of tackle storage solutions, visit the Wilson Fishing website. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

RAPALA XRAP MAGNUM 40

Monsters lurk in the deep, and now you’re going to have a new lure that will go down there and meet them face to face, as Rapala introduce the XRap Magnum 40 to their incredibly popular XRMAG range of high speed trolling minnows. If you’ve ever thrown some lures behind the boat looking for a mackerel, tuna, wahoo or other bluewater predators, chances are you’ve either already used an XRap Magnum, or you’ve been wanting to try one. Now the new XRMAG 40 goes where no other XRap has gone before, reaching depths of 40ft (12m) easily, unlocking new ground and new avenues to target the ocean’s largest predators. An increased body size of 20cm gives this lure a large profile, appealing to hungry predators looking for an easy meal. This lure can swim to 12knots. Available in 12 of Rapala’s excellent holographic and UV colours, the new XRMAG 40 is sure to be a hit when the big fish roll into town. www.rapala.com.au

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

WHAT’S NEW FISHING AUSTACKLE BABY WOBBLER

One of Austackle’s most popular crankbait profiles is now available in a bite size 50mm model for all the light tackle lovers out there! Just like the full size version, the Baby Wobbler is very easy to use and super effective on a wide range of species, in particular: bass, redfin and yellowbelly. The Baby Wobbler also features one of the hottest new custom colours in the Austackle range, baby redfin, and given that redfin are cannibalistic, these will surely make an impact on the redfin scene. They are available in six proven fish catching colours, all with UV paint features to give them an extremely life-like appearance in the water. At 50mm long, they’re a great bite size for light tackle predators, and with a maximum diving depth of 4m, they’ll work in a variety of situations. www.austackle.com

SAMAKI ZING XTREME 16 SWIMBAIT RODS With the increase in swimbait fishing techniques spreading across Australia, Samaki has designed two specific actions to suit our Australian market. The 7’9” model is designed for medium to large swimbaits up to 5oz, while the 8ft model targets the bigger timber swimbait lures up to 8oz. Both have a long double-handed butt design, which is detachable at the fore grip, enabling easier transport and increased power while fighting fish all without the loss of action. In designing this series, the team took into account the need for accurate size guide requirements; it is a critical factor when designing any models, but when you’re working on the knowledge of international markets and the hanging factors for our unique environment, you have to be precise. All Samaki Zing Xtremes sport Fuji Reel Seats Fuji guides, ultra hard EVA camouflaged grips and are a blend of 30 and 40 tonne Japanese carbon to obtain a perfect action in chucking these large enticing lures. Price: RRP $349.95 www.samaki.com.au

PRO-CURE SUPER GEL 14 NEW FLAVOURS BFG BUSH Angler requests have led to the addition of three flavours in the Pro-Cure Super CAMO REPEL

Gel Scent range. Pro-Cure combines powerful amino acids, bite stimulants and UV enhancement, with real ground bait, in a super-sticky formula that stays on lures and baits longer. Firstly we have aniseed, (0515), made with a combination of five baitfish and a shot of anise, a proven fish attractor in both the fresh and salt, that holds legendary status among freshwater anglers. Next, two favourite baitfish for many species, ground pilchards and sardines make this gel irresistible. Then there’s bloodworm. Combine real ground bloodworms with laboratory science and you have a dynamite scent for everything from the fresh and estuary to the surf. Maximize your chances of catching big fish with Pro-Cure Super Gel Scent. Price: SRP $17.95 www.tackletactics.com.au

DAIWA GEN BLACK REELS

The new Generation Black reel range is one of Daiwa’s hottest releases ever, packed with features such as Magseal, Air Rotor, ATD and Zaion. Magseal uses a magnetized oil lubrication system to avoid friction and reduce water intrusion, improving the reel’s life expectancy. The corrosion resistant Zaion body is stronger and lighter than magnesium or alloy. This precision engineering supports the Digigear II drive system that produces smoother rotary efficiency and increased cranking power. The ATD drag starts smoothly, and then increases its pressure to its pre-set drag rating in a fraction of a second, eliminating line breakage at the strike. There are four sizes, ranging from the 2000 (4.8 ratio, 210g weight, 4kg drag, PE 1/200m capacity) up to the 4000 (4.9, 380g, 7kg PE 2.5/300). Matching perfectly to the Generation Black V2 Rod range, these reels have a sleek, all-black finish that’s perfect for customizing with Daiwa’s Custom Project spools, handles and handle knobs. www.daiwafishing.com.au 50

JANUARY 2017

PRODUCT GUIDE

Repel gear is so effective at repelling mosquitoes and other biting insects that they figured their gear is not just limited to angling pursuits. Why not create a range that is perfectly suited to hunting, camping and bushwalking? Enter the BFG Outdoors and their very own, unique Bush Camo pattern, totally generated using Australian bush flora and colourings. The BFG Bush Camo range is available from X-Small to 5X-Large. The entire Repel range has all the features of their current fabric (soft, cool, lightweight, durable and UPF50) but now when heading outdoors you’ll be repelling mosquitoes and other biting insects at the same time. BFMaxflow REPEL infusion is a safe well-proven product with a new application system. It’s biodegradable, independently tested and contains a Group 3A insecticide with APVMA approval. The entire range is available on their website, as well as many other retail outlets. Price: RRP $99.95 www.bigfishgear.com

SO-RUN JOKER SHAD 18 AND JOKER VERT The new So-Run Joker Shad and Joker Vert from Rapala are two new and incredibly versatile soft plastics. These soft plastics both come with a membrane on the tail, and this can be removed for increased tail speed. It’s perfect for when the bite changes and you need to change your presentation. The mid body crease enhances the tail action of both plastics, and gives off an enticing swagger to attract those hungry predators. The Joker Shad and Joker Vert are both scented, and come in 12 amazing colour designs, suitable for many different situations. The Joker Shads come in 4 and 5” sizes, and the 4” Shads come in packs of six, while the 5” come in pack of five. The Joker Verts come in 5” and 6” sizes, and the 5” Verts come in packs of five, while the 6” come in packs of four. Why not grab a pack and watch those big fish come to you? www.rapala.com.au

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING

Feature-packed ATC Valour reel from Wilson Fishing The last two to three years has seen Australian company Wilson Fishing launch a number of new brands like Zerek and Venom. It hasn’t taken long for these products to establish themselves as leaders in their fields, complementing other popular Wilson brands such as Live Fibre, Snyder Glas and Sure Catch. Now Wilson Fishing has launched a reel range called ATC, and the latest release is the Valour spin reel.

of drag on this model, this bodes well if you like to target larger species on light gear. The drag is nice and smooth, so with good line capacity and plenty of drag the Valour certainly isn’t limited to targeting smaller species. TIME WILL TELL Four months down the track and I am very happy with my ATC Valour reels. They are showing no signs of any wear and tear even though I have been frugal with my upkeep of them. I have been lucky enough to

TESTED

after catching a snapper on Gone Fishing Day earlier this year. Apparently it is her reel now. CONCLUSION Retailing for a little over the $200 mark, the ATC Valour range fits into the medium price point bracket when it comes to reels. Considering all the features of these reels, I believe they are batting well above their weight – and I am yet to test them at their full potential. To learn more about the Wilson ATC

The author’s daughter has claimed one of the reels as her own after catching this little snapper on Gone Fishing Day.

The large handle and classic look of the ATC Valour reels has quickly made them a favourite with the author. Available in four sizes (2000-5000), these reels have a classic look and are a step up from the Valiant range released a couple of years ago. They have a total of 10 stainless steal sealed ball bearings and include a tournament grade multi-disc woven carbon drag system. The drag system provides an impressive 11kg of drag in the larger two models and 8kg in the smaller sizes.

I grabbed two of the 2000 sized reels, matched them on Wilson 7’0” Magnum light spin rods and spooled them with 6lb braid. This is my outfit that when I target flathead, bream and bass. FIRST IMPRESSIONS One of the first things you notice with the Valour reel is the oversize handle. My first thought was that this was overkill. I could understand the concept on bigger reels, but didn’t see the need on reels this size. Within five minutes I had changed my mind. The handle is comfortable in the hand and you certainly will never lose track of it while fishing. Fishing with anything else now just doesn’t feel right. Line capacity certainly isn’t an issue. I put on plenty of backing and still easily put 150m of 6lb braid on the spool. Considering the 8kg

Targeting mulloway much bigger than this one wouldn’t be an issue with the ATC Valour 2000. get a few nice fish while using them, and they haven’t missed a beat. My daughter has also given them her tick of approval. There was no way she was going to use anything else

Valour reels and the rest of the Wilson Fishing product range, go to www.wilsonfishing.com. au or check them out at your nearest good fishing retail outlet. - Peter Jung

Work done? Come over for some Fishflicks and chill TESTED

With the advent of more TV channels, there’s been an influx of fishing, hunting, spearfishing and 4x4 programs popping up. The trouble is, they’re often on when I’m working, busy with my young family or with any luck, out on the water somewhere actually fishing. This is why I was so excited with the 2016 launch of one of the most impressive fishing related products I’ve used: Fishflicks.tv. With NBN becoming so accessible and the quality of modern mobile devices, streaming services have become a much more viable option for so many of us and this one was on the top of my wish list. FIRST IMPRESSIONS Once my subscription came through I was excited to get straight into it. Logging in was easy, and I was greeted with an easy to read and navigate selection of programs to start binge watching: Rex Hunt, iFISH, Mark Berg’s Fishing Addiction, Big Angry Fish, Then Next Level, Hogs Dogs and Quads, Offroad

Adventure – all the big names as well as some emerging ones you’ll fall in love with quickly like the extreme land-based action from the boys at Morning Tide.

can then use through devices like appleTV or something similar to your TV. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can be watching your favourite programs. My favourite part is that the entire thing is commercial free! WHAT IF I WATCH ALL OF THE FISHING SHOWS? Good luck! There are well over a thousand hours of TV ready to watch and new content is being added all the time. You can switch from the old Rex Hunt’s fishing adventures that I grew up watching that haven’t appeared on TV screens in years, to the latest releases in glorious high definition. HOW HARD IS IT TO SUBSCRIBE? If you want to sign up yourself, just head to www.fishflicks.tv and hit sign up. Fill in a couple of quick details and you’re in. You

Access is gained via your smart TV, computer or the fishflicks.tv app, which you

can choose to pay by the month and leave at anytime, or pay the year’s fees upfront

and receive a 20% discount. They also offer vouchers you can give to a mate or a loved one for that special occasion. CONCLUSION This could be the best $79 you’ll spend all year. Fishing shows on demand is awesome, and it’s great to see it become accessible to so many audiences at any time. More people watching, talking about and learning about fishing, hunting and four wheel driving can never be a bad thing in my humble opinion. – Rupe

JANUARY 2017

Method to madness on our hungry pelagics Now I know that’s not big, but it’s great to see early in the season. The next few weeks will see striped marlin and a host of shark species available at times, with a few black marlin thrown in just to make things interesting. All methods will work – trolling lures and live bait, or switch baiting. Berley and cubes have caught a few tuna. I’d be concentrating from the 70-fathom line outwards, as this is where the most bait has been present. On the inshore reefs, the action has been steady with snapper, morwong, kingfish and striped tuna keeping

MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

With summer well and truly here and water temperatures hovering around 23°C, it’s no wonder the locals are having a ball on the pelagic action offshore from Merimbula. They won’t have it all to themselves for much longer, as the holiday brigade settles in. The last few weeks have seen yellowfin tuna and albacore caught with a few fish nudging 30kg.

Gemfish are awesome on the plate and a bit of fun to catch when the conditions suit.

most boaties happy. The flatties have been quiet, but this will change this month as the water warms. The area off the Pambula River mouth should produce results. Some decent reds have been encountered in the deeper water off Lennards Island (30-40 fathoms) with kingfish to 7kg at both Long Point and Horseshoe Reef. All this action will continue over January. If one reef isn’t firing, move to another until you find the fish. Don’t let them find you, as you may be waiting a while. Better baits to use are fresh squid, striped tuna fillets, pilchards and live bait particularly for the kingfish. The beaches will continue to produce the goods over the coming weeks. Bream, whiting, tailor, salmon, mullet and the odd mulloway will all hit baits with gusto. Best baits for the bread and butter species are live beach worms, prawns, pipis and striped tuna cubes. Both pilchards and blue bait will suffice for the pelagic species. The mulloway will be a lot harder to target than the other beach species, but if enough time and patience is put in, the rewards will

Black bream – you gotta love them on surface, plastics or hardbodies. happen. I like using fresh squid, tailor fillets and big bunches of live beach worms for the mulloway. Fishing for these bronzed brutes isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I can guarantee that if you hook one, you’ll be hooked forever. Better beaches to try include Tura and North Tura, though any beach with a decent gutter is worth a look. Anglers fishing the stones are in for a treat as the pelagic action is in full swing! Kingfish, big salmon, bonito and striped tuna have been caught from Tura Head.

It’s a decent walk in, but worth it. Both lures and bait have produced, but I’d be sticking to the chromies. Casting these bits of metal to the horizon isn’t for everyone, but when it works, it doesn’t get much better. There have been solid kings hooked from this ledge of late, so I’d be upping the ante on gear selection with 10kg as an absolute minimum. Then you’ll have a chance of landing one. In the estuaries, it’s all systems go. All species are chewing at times. The Merimbula top lake has been

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exceptional, with flathead the best I’ve seen them for a very long time. It’s possible to get 20-30 fish per session there. Soft plastics and bigger blades are doing the trick. We guided there recently, targeting croc sized flatties and managed a solid model at 89cm, with quite a few around that 60cm mark. You will also get plenty of 40-50cm fish for the pan, with some decent pinkie snapper to 1kg also hitting lures with gusto. The same can be said for Pambula – you can expect bream, flathead, whiting, flounder and trevally with both bait and lure anglers catching plenty. The main basin has been the place to fish with the oyster racks great for the bream. With the warmer water, surface fishing has improved dramatically. This will only get better as we head further into summer. You can expect whiting and the odd decent flathead when fishing like this. The river itself is holding some nice fish, but the water is marked with that dreadful red algae that we seem to get every summer. It makes fishing difficult, but if you can put up with it, you’ll be rewarded for sure.

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Variety of fish for January’s esturine pursuits NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

It’s all systems go around the Narooma region with a horde of species on offer for a variety of techniques. It depends on where you fish and what you target, but whatever it is, you’re in for some serious fun. The local estuaries are firing nicely, with monster flathead to 95cm, mulloway, bream, whiting and luderick all having a chew. Both Narooma’s Wagonga Inlet and Tuross Lake to the north are great places to fish. The latter is home to

action will continue, unless we get a massive downpour that floods the river. If this happens, it’ll shut the bite down. Anglers after bream and whiting are having good success. Anglers fishing around the entrance after dark with nippers and squirt worms have fared best. With the water warming, expect these species on the flats for the surface fishing fanatics. This type of fishing is awesome, visual and catches plenty. It’s a stack of fun. The upper reaches of the Ros have also seen solid mulloway caught recently. Local gun angler and offshore charter skipper

9kg fish there last week and dropped two others also. These mulloway have come around 9.00am in the morning on plastics, so it seems the time of day doesn’t matter. The amount of mulloway I’ve caught between 9-11am with a tide change is crazy. It seems outrageous, but the diary doesn’t lie. If the mulloway don’t play, there are some solid flathead, bream and pinkie snapper under the tailor schools as well. In the channels, whiting are going nuts for bait fishos. I know of a few locals who are getting their bags inside a few hours. The key is squirt worms if you can get them.

Monster flathead can be expected in both Narooma and Tuross Lake systems.

Mulloway are a favourite species for switched on estuary anglers. It’s great to see many of these fish released and even tagged, so we can find out more about the majestic bronzed marvels. some massive flathead. This season has seen flathead to 95cm caught by anglers using live bait and soft plastics. The fish have been wide spread and can be found from the lower sections of the basin to upstream of the bridge. Concentrate your efforts around the weed edges that drop into a little bit of deeper water. This area is where we’ve had our best success producing cracker flatties to 96cm while guiding. This red-hot

Nick Cowley landed a 101cm model from the snags while targeting EPs. It was caught on a little Squidgy Prawn and took Nick some 20 minutes to land on the skinny tackle he was using. That’s a great angling feat and even better that Nick released the fish to fight another day. I heard of another 10kg fish caught just a little further upstream, so they’re definitely about. At Narooma, the place is loaded with tailor and mulloway. We managed a

Further upstream of the power lines, solid bream are being caught around the oyster racks and rockier edges on the western bank. Smaller softplastics and surface lures have worked as will a lightly weighted bass yabbie or fresh tuna cube. You can expect the odd flattie and trevally also. Those fishing offshore are in for a good time as kingfish are all the rage at Montague Island. These hard fighting brutes are in great numbers with an

average size at 70-80cm. There’s been the odd better fish over the metre mark, and I heard of a 12kg model taken on a jig – a good fish in anyone’s books. The kings can be found pretty much anywhere. The northern end of the island in 60m of water has seen a lot of the action. Jigs are working a treat on the school fish with live bait accounting for most of the bigger models. A little further east, the gamefishing fraternity are getting excited for black and striped marlin, yellowfin tuna and some sizable bities already being captured. The water is a warm 22°C – ideal for marlin. They’re playing the game. Even though it’s early in the season, some solid beakies have fallen to trolled skirted pushers – they’re mainly stripes, but there are awesome fish up to 130kg. I wouldn’t be surprised if this month saw a few very big blue marlin hooked. Every February we see some and all indications are there that it will happen again. Those targeting the tuna have had the best results

trolling bibbed minnows and smaller pushers up to 8”. The yellowfin aren’t huge – they’re up to 30kg, with some decent albacore pushing 10kg. At that size, they’re ideal for the plate. On the beaches, it’s business as usual. There are loads of salmon on most beaches with a half decent gutter. These speedsters are falling to all techniques. Paternoster rigs with a bait and popper combination are effective. Anglers casting small metal shiners on light gel spun are having a ball with dozen-fish sessions. Mixed in with the sambos are solid tailor to 1.5kg+, good bream and whiting just past the shore dumps. These bread and butter species will only get better as the weeks pass with live beach worms, pipi and tuna cubes being the preferred baits. Better beaches to try include Brou, Narooma Main and Tilba Beach to the South. Summer is prime time to target a mulloway off the beach. If this is your quarry, concentrate on either Brou or Blackfellows Beach with fresh tailor fillets or bunches of live beach worms – these are

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the gun baits. For the rock-hopper brigade, the pelagic action will be in full swing. Bonito, salmon, tailor, striped tuna, kingfish and frigate mackerel are all possible opponents. Anglers casting metal shiners and poppers will be in for some serious fun as these speedsters hit them with gusto. For those after bigger kingfish and possibly a decent tuna, live bait may be a better option. You can catch livies at most local platforms when a little berley is used. Another favourite is casting lightly weighted full pilchards on ganged hooks. Slowly wind these tasty morsels back in and watch the fish climb aboard. Better ledges to try include Mystery Bay to the south, the Golf Course rocks in town and Dalmeny Headland to the north. All of these headlands will produce at times. If you’re after a feed of tasty fillets, the inside on the south break wall has seen some good luderick fishing. Anglers using fresh cabbage weed have fared best. Berley is a key ingredient for more consistent results.

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JANUARY 2017

All the elements are pointing to a good year BATEMANS BAY

Anthony Stokman

Summer is here and the fishing is hot! All the elements are in place, from a great beginning on the bass to a strong and steady start on the prawns. The water is a bit clearer this year and the blue swimmer crabs that eluded us last summer are on, and the mud crabs are also on the go. The estuary and lakes are firing, and the beaches are alive with whiting. The boats are also finding the snapper and kingies are on in some areas. OFFSHORE Offshore this summer the marlin are expected to be on fire like the previous two years. We are glad to see the ‘super trawler’ away

holographic fish. These teasers are the best, and the strips of fish connected to the stainless steel arms can consist of 50 to 150 fish. It looks like an actual bait ball being dragged behind your boat, and it’s so lifelike that even the birds dive at it. With these holographic teasers you can present a very natural scenario where a baitfish is injured from a slashing marlin bill and drops back from the bait ball to be eaten. You can do this by running a skip bait or live bait a couple of meters or more behind the teaser that looks like a bait ball. This scene looks real and tempting for any marlin nearby, and has a very high success rate. We have these teasers in store if you’re interested in checking them out.

days you can go out reef fishing and park on top of the snapper, catch some flatties, have a mako swim up to the boat, a marlin even and then troll up a big kingfish. Then the next day you can go out and catch sweep, then get bitten off by leatherjackets and go home empty handed. In January it really pays to move around and watch your sounder and the signs on the water around you. That way you can adjust to each situation. I start out by catching live bait, then I may troll some headlands, reefs or bommies and watch that sounder. When I see good signs on the sounder I stop to target the fish. In the rocket launcher I put a 7’4” to a 7’6” medium heavy rod rigged with a 60g metal to cast at surface fish. Next to that I have a jig stick with

Leah Rigby was very happy with this snapper.

Justin with a rare snapper. Some say it was definitely bought from a fish shop. from our shores at this stage, and we hope it never returns – although these days you just never know what the government will do. Gone are the days of democracy, common sense and doing the right thing! These days it’s all about the dollar, so our expectations aren’t high. Still, for now we have an abundance of bait for our predatory fish visiting the area, and this season should be red hot going on the fishing up north, and the bait already present. The water is at a good temperature now, and we have already had a couple of marlin caught in the area. By the time you are reading this hopefully I’m out there connected to one! We can expect the usual run of striped marlin, with some blacks and blues thrown in. The traditional method of dragging skirts is still popular, and the switch bait method is still growing, but one thing both methods share is a good teaser. Many companies are now making teasers with the 54

JANUARY 2017

Another fish on the cards out wide this summer is mahimahi. They have been thick the last two summers, and we are hoping they will be all over our FADs and buoys this January. We had a great tuna run through winter and some albacore and small yellowfin coming into summer, with one nice bluefin being caught by Zoe O’Conner amongst the albacore. With the way the species have been mixing over the seasons, the last couple of years it would be good to see the possibility of tuna catches throughout January like we used to 20 years ago. INSHORE Inshore boating can get tough on the reef over summer if you are just going out and dropping a line. Summer fishing is often inconsistent; one day you’ll have a fantastic trip, and the next will be an absolute shocker. Winter is more stable with both the weather and fishing. In summer, the wind jumps up and down and so does the fishing. Some

a heavy reel rigged with a shark rig ready for a shark. Next to that I have a heavy live bait rig ready for large pelagics (that rig can also double as a jigging outfit). If you don’t have the money or space you can always be

smart and use one set up to do two or three jobs. For example, you can attach a diver to your live bait/jig outfit and troll with it. It’s good to have all these rigs ready so you can switch quickly to any situation for any given moment. I find this gives you the edge for when you want to adjust to fishing through summer. The hotter months tend to be tough at times with a lot of exciting and different events that occur throughout this period. BEACHES On the beaches we have seen the salmon fishing in general slow down, and the whiting are making their way

Tim with his best bass.

onto our beaches. Some 40cm whiting have already been caught, and it’s looking like there is no shortage of them. Everybody loves whiting, and the Sugapen lures in the new colours are running out the door of our shop. When it comes to plastics, the best I have found are the Marukyu worms in the red and sand colours. ESTUARY The estuary is doing what we expect for this time of the year, and one of the standout species so far this summer is the good ol’ flattie. The flathead is the bread-andbutter species of the area. We are experiencing a solid

run of them in the Clyde, and springtime going into summer saw some massive females caught. We can expect a good run of these guys throughout the summer. Bream are worth chasing, and with the amount of bait pushing through the system right up past Nelligen we are seeing a good number of mulloway being caught also. The last couple of summers have seen a lot of rain that kept the best of the fishing up the front of the estuary. However, this summer there has been a little disruption and the Clyde is turning on good fishing right through the system. Perch are in good numbers from Nelligen upwards, and further upstream we are seeing another standout for the summer and that is the bass. The most popular lures lately have been 1/8oz AusSpin Minispin spinnerbaits in the black and purple colours. Summer is definitely not letting us down fish-wise. With a solid run of prawns and crabs as well, I think every man, woman and even Charlie may catch his marlin, and we will have a cracking summer this year. • 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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cannot continue this fishing operation, partly because of the very healthy local pelagic stocks. The vessel is reflagged from Australia to Dutch flag and is on its way to IJmuiden (Netherlands). The old name of the ship is reinstated: KW 172 Dirk Dirk.” A very different statement came from the Small Pelagic Fishery Association (SPFA),

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The Geelong Star super trawler left under a cloud of controversy. Image courtesy of www.naroomanewsonline.com.au

A large number of people had opposed the vessel operating in Australian waters, and welcomed the news that it had left. The departure came after the Geelong Star had been operating in the small pelagic fishery for 18 months. Its earlier fishing efforts had been concentrated on the south coast of NSW, where a large number of people in the community opposed its operation. The most common concerns were that it was having a significant impact on marine life, recreational fishing and, in turn, the tourism industry. The operation had also been dogged by accusations of killing protected species such as dolphins, seals and even a whale shark. In a surprise turnaround, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority confirmed in late November that the vessel was no longer operating in Australian waters. A spokesman stressed that the vessel was not subject to any investigation by AFMA for breaches of Commonwealth fishing regulations. The parent company of the vessel, Parlevliet and Van der Plas, released a statement saying that the Geelong Star was returning to the Netherlands under its old name of KW 172 Dirk Dirk because of financial reasons. Specifically, because of a breakdown in a commercial agreement with its Australian partners. “The reason is that we cannot achieve a financial/ commercial agreement with the local partners in Australia,” they stated. “The management regrets that we

which represents the vessel in Australia. The SPFA said the Geelong Star had left Australian waters because it had a serious mechanical issue that could not be repaired in Australia. They added that Seafish Tasmania was “reviewing its position but hopes to be back fishing as soon as possible”. One day after AFMA released the news, a Senate report was handed down, focussing on environmental, social and economic factors. The committee’s first recommendation was that the Australian government ban all factory freezer mid-water trawlers from operating in the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery. The report also indicated that the Australian public had lost confidence in Commonwealth fisheries management. The Coalition Senators’ opposing report stated that the government was committed to maintaining a balanced and science-based approach to fisheries policy making. Eden-Monaro MP Mike Kelly said he was proud of the stand that locals took to

ensure proper consideration was given to the marine environment. The Geelong Star, now the KW 172 Dirk Dirk, is one of 13 super trawlers owned by Parlevliet and Van der Plas. Super trawlers, as opposed to traditional trawlers, process their catch aboard the vessel. A standard super trawler can process over 250 tonnes of fish a day, and have a cargo capacity of 6200 tonnes. A net measuring approximately 300m long is dragged through waters above the bottom of the ocean. A net that size has an opening gape of roughly 80m by 35m. Any fish caught in the net are sucked onto the boat with a large pipe, and transferred to an on-board fish factory that automatically sorts, packs and freezes them. The catch is frozen whole and exported to markets such as West Africa for human consumption. Supporters say this kind of operation is sustainable, but they face fierce opposition from anglers, green groups, tourism operators and local communities. The concern is that super trawlers deplete local bait stocks too quickly for the population to bounce back by breeding. This depletion, stakeholders say, would drive away valuable predator species such as bluefin tuna. In addition to this, questions have been raised in the past about the profitability of operating a super trawler in the small pelagic fishery in Australian waters. When discussing another super trawler, the Abel Tasman (Magiris), Jon Bryan from the Tasmanian Conservation Trust said there wasn’t much margin for error when it came to running a successful venture. “[Seafish Tasmania] was selling product into West Africa at a dollar per kilo,” he said. “Out of that… they have to pay for transport, processing, running the ship, wages, everything else associated with this operation. There’s relatively small margin for profit.” - FM

A standard super trawler can process over 250 tonnes of fish a day, with a total cargo capacity of roughly 6200 tonnes. Image courtesy of www.naroomanewsonline.com.au. JANUARY 2017

Going bananas for Bermi billfish BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Bermagui is legendary for its billfish. All three species visit our waters within easy reach of trailer boat fishos. The last few seasons have seen some very good billfish action in January and with favourable water temperatures, this season is shaping up well. Striped marlin are the most prolific billfish to be found in our waters. The likely areas to find them are out around the Twelve Mile, north at the Kink or maybe further north to the Tuross Canyons. Trolling lures is a good method for these fish. Switch baiting with teasers to attract them then pitching a live slimy mackerel to the fish following the teasers is a whole lot of fun. If there are a lot of fish in the area, try slow trolling livies again with teasers. You may find this will also attract the blacks or blues. If you’re targeting blues, you may need

to travel further afield out over the Continental Shelf where depths will exceed 1000 fathoms. These are the areas where these monsters like to hunt larger prey like striped tuna or the smaller yellowfin tuna or albacore. There are other gamefish out there in the form of those tuna, occasional shortbill spearfish or mahimahi and of course there are always sharks – makos, whalers or hammerheads. Around Montague Island, kingfish and bonito are in reasonable numbers responding to jigs, livies or strips of squid. If you want a bag of tasty reef fish, there are plenty to be found – blue and jackass morwong, snapper, pigfish, nannygai and ocean perch are around. Flathead and gummy sharks are on offer over the sandy muddy areas out from Tilba, Wallaga Lake or south east of Barragoot or Cuttaggee. Most beaches in the area are showing signs of good fishing. Salmon are the most prolific, while bream, whiting and mullet are all on offer. If you wish

to fish through the night, mulloway, sharks and tailor will also feature. Some of the best fishing you can experience in our area will be in the estuaries and lakes. Wallaga is one place to target, as the warm water of the lake produces some reasonable flathead in the back reaches. Down

FAR SOUTH COAST BASS STOCKING ASSOCIAION I would like to introduce to you the Far South Coast Bass Stocking Association, which was established in 1994 for the sole purpose of stocking Brogo Dam with Australian Bass for recreational angling. Due to

A striped marlin raising its head and trying to throw the hook. The event sees anglers from as far afield as Melbourne, Sydney, Hillston and Griffith catch and release bass, providing valuable data for both NSW DPI Fisheries and the association. This event is now our only format for fundraising, providing the necessary capital to purchase bass fry in conjunction with NSW DPI Fisheries Dollar For Dollar program, which sees 20,000+ fish released annually. The FSCBSA needs sponsorship for the events, as they don’t give prizes for

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category winners, but only award small trophies. They need lots of small prize donations, which may help with raffles. Raffles are responsible for the major fundraising for the purchase of the bass fry. Any ongoing support would be greatly appreciated and FSCBSA shows support in return by recognising contributions on their website, Facebook, and throughout the weekend of the event. Any and all donations are relished and valued by many anglers.

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towards the entrance over the flats on the high tides, bream, luderick, whiting, trevally and mullet are all on offer for well positioned baits or lures. Bermagui River is another system close by that fishes well with many channels, weed banks and shallow flats attracting fish. One other little lake often over looked is Cuttaggee – this system is accessible by wading or with canoes, kayaks or a small boat and is capable of producing some very good captures.

the efforts of a hard working committee, many of which are still active since the founding of the association, there have more than 500,000 Bass liberated into Brogo Dam creating one fantastic public fishery. Since introducing the bass into Brogo Dam, the association conducted its annual Brogo Bass Bash fishing catch and release tournament, which was in its eighteenth year, hosted on the weekend of 2-4 December last year.

Kayak fishing is very popular in the shallows of Wallaga Lake.

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Taking time to warm up TATHRA

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

It has taken its time this season to warm up, but finally it has. Air temperatures are up, water temperatures have risen and the fishing has fired. Whether you choose to go inland to the fresh, wonder the rocks or beaches, to

stealth fish the estuaries or patrol the bluewater for reef and bottom fish, or you chase the pelagics out wide, it’s that time of year when it’s all on offer. Starting in the sweet water Brogo Dam, the river below through to the brackish water of the Bega River system is producing bass. Bass are the target species here and there are plenty of them due to the

efforts of the FSCBSA releasing thousands of these fish into Brogo Dam each year, where they filter through to the river downstream. Although the warm conditions have the fish on the chew, anglers should concentrate their efforts on early morning or late afternoon when there is some shadow on the water. Moving towards the beaches, rocks or Tathra

There are some nice trevally on offer in the waters around Tathra.

Luderick are also a regular catch in the area.

Whiting are likely to be found along the beaches and in the estuaries.

Wharf, anglers can expect good catches of salmon. Schools of these fun sportfish cruise along the coast. For those fishing the rocks or on the jetty, following the salmon are kingfish, bonito and frigate mackerel. There may be larger predators following these in the form of sharks, so a salmon out under a float may lead to some exciting action. Whiting, bream, tailor, mullet or the occasional mulloway can all feature in catches for those visiting the sandy areas with most beaches in the area fishing well. Estuaries are a favourite when the weather is at its warmest with all the species willing to eat. The Bega River is very popular and easily accessed with new boat launching and car parking facilities now in use. Another estuary worth a look is Wapengo Lake. With a little effort, a small boat can be used here. It’s easily accessed by kayak or canoe, as is Nelsons Lagoon just north of Tathra. Wallagoot Lake to the south is often overlooked for its fishing potential and is well worth a try. It often holds some very nice snapper that thrive

on the many prawns this lake produces. There are plenty of prawns on offer in the estuaries for both anglers and fish. Out to sea for those fishing on the bottom or around the reefs, flathead are the mainstay with plenty on offer and both species present. The occasional gummy shark may also show in the catch. Around the reefs, morwong are the most common catch with a

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few snapper, nannygai or sea perch. Kingfish are likely to show up at any stage. Out wide, it’s marlin season. All three species – blues, blacks and the more common stripies – are on offer. A suggestion out from Tathra is to head north where the continental shelf is closer to shore, start in around 160m then move out wider to the shelf towing a good spread of lures and teasers.

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Summer fishing in Eden EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

Another summer is here and it’s great to see the town liven up once again. Eden is a great destination for a summer holiday with out-of-the-way beaches, fishing spots and good launching facilities for the trailer boat fishers. The next few months will be a busy time. The fishing has started to pick up with the warmer weather and warmer ocean currents getting the fish on the move once again. Fishing from the local beaches has been good with a variety of species caught recently. A few salmon are still about along with yellowfin bream, sand whiting and the odd mulloway for those who are

prepared to fish after dark. Beach worms fished on the rising tide are a great choice for bait with the high tide around dawn or dusk giving the best results. Some good fishing is on offer over the summer months. Anglers fishing from the local headlands catch luderick and drummer in the wash – the go is to use berley to draw the fish in and get them on the bite. The inshore fishing has been good. Anglers chasing a feed of flathead, both sandies and tigers, are coming home happy. Snapper and morwong can also be caught from the reefs. Kingfish should start to fire up, as the water temperature is right and ,with schools of baitfish about, it should be a good season. Out on the shelf, the action should start soon with striped marlin

and striped tuna keeping the offshore anglers on their toes. The estuary fishing is good. The coming months should only see it improving. Flathead fishing is good with a variety of lures catching fish. It’s a great idea to keep the smaller fish for a feed and let the bigger models go, as these fish will be under a lot of pressure over the summer period, as this is when they spawn. Yellowfin bream and black bream have been caught – mornings and afternoons are the best times. Clear, bright sunny days can be hard fishing. A shady bank with the run in tide will see the fish on the bite. Fishing with lures is often the best fishing. Sand whiting are about in good numbers and the shallow water around the entrance to the rivers is a good spot to fish fresh baits

A great bream tricked with a soft plastic lure. like prawns, nippers and sand worms. The full moons around the high tides are a good chance to catch mulloway. The morning tide is often productive, as this is the

bigger tide. The bass fishing has fired up with the rivers all flowing well, after recent rains let the fish move to their summer haunts. Surface fishing has been good and the best fishing is

after a hot day’s work from dusk into the evening. A variety of lures work well and black lures are often the best. If you’re heading to Eden over the coming months, the fishing won’t let you down.

This town buzzing with tourists MALLACOOTA

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

Summer is here and the town is abuzz with visitors enjoying the warm weather. The fishing is firing up with the longer, hotter days.

The new boat ramp at Bastion Point is busy over the coming months with anglers chasing tiger flathead and dusky flathead. There’s been some great fishing available, with the best action coming once the water reaches its warmest. Just make sure you check the conditions, because if

the swell is too big, getting out can be risky. An early start is needed, so get out there and get a few fish and get back before the summer northeasterlies make things very unpleasant. Good numbers of gummy shark are also being caught, with the front of Gabo Island the most

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reliable spot to catch a few. Around mid January, you can expect some good size kingfish to put in an appearance once they turn up. Most boats end up getting a few fish, with the best fishing being around the new and full moon. Fishing around the harbour has been good, with a variety of fish from flathead, bream, blackfish and both yellowfin and King George whiting all being caught with fresh bait, worms, pipis and prawns. Good numbers of salmon have been caught on all the local beaches, but with the warming water their numbers have thinned out. Out wider there is always a chance of striped marlin. The best time to get out there in the coming months is once the water is at its warmest. Fishing the lake is where you will see plenty of boats out there catching fish. The flathead have really fired up with patches of fish around the Top and Bottom lakes and up towards Gypsy Point. Lure fishing has been good, with plenty of fish being caught on a variety of soft plastics. Just remember, you need to keep on the move and continue swapping your lures until you can find the fish and offer them what they want. Bream fishing has been good – out around Goodwin Sands is a reliable spot, but once again, keep on the move, as they don’t stay in the one spot for long. Some good-sized silver trevally are also being caught, along with flounder, and you can expect to catch them wherever you can find the schools of bait.

Flounder make for an interesting by-catch during summer. The warmer weather has also seen some good size estuary perch caught, but these fish take a lot of hunting out, as they school up around certain snags, and there is no shortage of

cover in Mallacoota! If you are heading to Mallacoota in the coming months, why not join me on a charter. I can guarantee I can put you onto some great fishing.

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Fully guided fishing in paradise with Norval FMG

Nicole Penfold nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

Fishing with a guide in a remote location is something every angler dreams of. I experienced what this is like when I fished with a reef guru on a trip with Norval, at the remote Marion Reefs off Queensland, and it blew my mind. To catch such glamorous species in such a pristine location, with no other boat within 100nm of us, was unforgettable. An experience like that is too expensive for most anglers. For a 7-day reef trip with other operators, you’re probably looking at $7000-

all I cared about. That, and hot showers, of which there are two (there are two toilets as well). And the seemingly unlimited free beer is a welcome bonus! But what makes Norval really special is that you’re fishing very remote areas, roughly 200nm from land. You’ll never see another boat, and you don’t get that fishing pressure that you get in closer, which can educate the fish and reduce their numbers. The water in the outer Coral Sea is literally teeming with fish, not with boats. FISHING WITH A GUIDE The Norval experience is about to get even better. From March next year, Norval will be using a 6m tender with

with a local expert for a day or two to get ideas on how to fish the area, and the next day do your own thing with a mate or three. With the smaller tender you have the freedom to go wherever you want and do whatever you like, such as poppering for GTs or shallow water luring for trout. Whatever you choose to target though, you can expect a varied by-catch of other welcome species such as emperors, jobfish and the iridescent blue-spot trevally. One thing you definitely have to do is take the tender to a coral cay, and fish the shallows from the shore. It’s a true paradise, for both anglers and fish. I’ve spent

The shallow reefs are full of trout of all sizes.

Getting personalised help from a guru, like Redcliffe Marine’s Rick Clark, provides the ultimate fishing experience. $8000. For a 9-day guided trip with Norval, however, you’ll only spend $3500 – plus you get to take your catch home. The reason Norval is cheaper is partly because the vessel is economical to run, compared to faster vessels of a similar size. Another reason is that you don’t get the fancy, 5-star accommodation and fine-dining available on more expensive charters. The food on Norval is standard pub food – tasty and plentiful, but not fancy – supplemented with fresh reef fish. The cabins aren’t like the luxurious ones you’ll find on a Riviera, and you don’t have staff making your bed every day, but the beds are comfortable and that’s

a full-time guide specialising in pelagic and reef fishing. There’s nothing like fishing in paradise with a real guru, as I have found out. One of the main targets the guide will be chasing, depending on what the clients want to do, is dogtooth tuna. Marion is one of the most reliable places in Australia to catch a doggy, which is one of the reasons why Norval gets so many repeat clients. Catch a doggy and you’ll be euphoric, spending the rest of the day with a smile like a watermelon slice. And for anglers who like doing their own thing, there’s a smaller tender available as well. For an experienced angler, there’s nothing better than fishing

a lot of time around the reefs and islands off Townsville in North Queensland, so I’m no stranger to beautiful, fishy country, but this place blew my mind. FISHING FROM THE MOTHERSHIP Of course, if you’d rather stay on the mothership and fish from there, you can. Many anglers like to stick to the mothership, especially the older guys, and it has its own rewards. The focus there is on bottom fishing, where you’ll catch delicious reefies like coral trout. The mothership also trolls for pelagics between spots, catching everything from big Spanish mackerel to yellowfin tuna and doggies. If there’s something you’d

particularly like to do from the mothership, just have a chat to the skipper. Young gun Adam Cheers took the helm a few months ago, after a year of being groomed for the role. He has extensive experience fishing in the area, and he’s always happy to listen to clients. It’s all part of the varied, customisable experience that Norval prides itself on. The camaraderie aboard

where you can’t take your fish home, but you certainly can here. The Norval crew will fillet and deep freeze your catch before packing it into poly boxes for you to take on the plane. The only problem is that the box is pretty heavy; I recommend booking extra baggage on your return flight to avoid copping an inflated fee at the airport. Owner Ron Murphy is proud of the fact that his

– you’ll never miss it. And before you know it your trip is paid for!” If you would like to know more about these charters, which depart from Airlie Beach in Central Queensland, check out Norval’s revamped website. There’s a wealth of information on the trips available (including a map of the reefs), the vessel itself, what you need to bring, and photos and videos.

When it comes to pelagics, it’s not all about the doggies! Alan Ryder and Adam Chamberlain had a ball on these yellowfin.

If you’ve had a few trips with the guide and want to do your own thing, take a tender to fish from a coral cay. 62

JANUARY 2017

the MV Norval is great as well. At the end of the day after a hot shower and a hot meal, everyone dips into the free beer and sits around talking about who caught what. There’s lots of good-natured ribbing, and anticipation of what the next day might bring. TAKE YOUR CATCH HOME You may have heard of other charter operations

customers can take their catch home, and he also prides himself on his affordable pricing. Without it, he says, he wouldn’t have nearly as many repeat clients. “I call it the ‘working man’s affordable charter,”’ he explained. “A lot of people come back every year, while others return every second year. If you want to fish with us, all you have to do is put $100 away each month

There’s an online booking facility as well. Norval also has a Facebook page, which is regularly updated with photos from the latest trips. The Facebook page features lastminute special deals from time to time, so it’s worth keeping an eye on. Before you know it you could find yourself 200nm from land with a tropical brute on the end of your line!

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Black water worst-case scenario ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

We look for the good news in fishing reports. Unfortunately, that’s not the case here. It must be reported, so we all know the truth – with such waterborne bounty swelling our

and took control of the rivers and their flows. Black water occurs usually on a much smaller scale than back in 2010. It’s generally localised to smaller creeks and rivers and affects smaller populations of fish that dwell within. Black water occurs when the toxins are leached from leafy materials strewn across the forest floor.

Scenes like this are appearing at many locations along the Murray River. What’s left of the fish will not be known until the waters recede. lakes and rivers these past few months, you might think we could celebrate that our native fish have experienced some of the best breeding conditions seen in years. These were my thoughts last month, but a nightmare has returned, and on a much bigger scale. While it’s true that water gives life, it can just as quickly snatch it away. That’s exactly what’s happening in most of our local rivers, as a slurry of toxic black water makes its way downstream. We witnessed a very similar event back in 2010 when Murray cod populations were decimated by possibly the worst black water flush ever seen along the Murray River. These devastating fish kills are explained away as natural events, but the word natural was taken out of the equation the minute we built locks, weirs and regulators,

In a natural event, the kill is usually seen the following year of the floods when high follow up flows pick up land locked billabongs of deoxygenated water and pull them back into the smaller arms and eventually the larger main body of the Murray. Fish in the smaller arms are quickly robbed of oxygen and die. Once in the main flow of the Murray, the black water loses its toxicity and is shandied down in the oxygenated flows. If you were to deliberately set about creating the perfect black water event, you might simply flood a few forests and then allow the water to sit and leach the toxins from the rotting vegetation. Of course, in order to give the trees a good drink, you would hold the water in these areas as long as possible replicating a stationary flood. This has happened in past years at both

the Barmah and Perricoota forests, but it seems the Yanga Forest may this time be the villain with locals saying it’s going in one end quite normal and coming out the other with the consistency of sump-oil. If you were to follow the river’s course, you would find many locations where water has been pumped or diverted into the bush under the guise of environmental flows. Closer to home, Hattah Lakes have been flowing free and the gates were once again locked at Bottle bend, so the water could be pumped over the banks flooding the low lying land some several kilometres back to the main highway, long before the floods arrived. Giant pumps punching water into the bush are far from natural and can’t be explained away as such. This environmental flooding and holding of water in the bush has created, just like it did in 2010, an inland sea of deoxygenated toxic blackwater. This poison is now being drawn back into the main flows of numerous rivers with the floodwaters, killing countless fish in its wake. In 2010 the saving grace for Murray cod came down the flooded Darling River providing enough clean, oxygenated water to sustain life. Mixed with the Murray waters, the larger cod survived the black water flow below the junction at Wentworth. This time around, the toxic event might travel the full length of the Murray River down through South Australia, killing off Murray cod. The Murray River red gum forests were here long before we arrived and have managed to survive very well without environmental watering. Do our iconic Murray cod not count in environmental decision making? If they do, then how could this happen again on what looks

to be an even bigger scale? What gives these decisions immunity from common sense or prosecution for that matter? If your average Joe were to poison the river to this extent, they’d be punished for environmental vandalism. Make no mistake, just like last time this will be washed away and forgotten. Riverside communities will count the cost of another so-called ‘natural event.’ To add insult to injury, the MDBA has draped itself in responsibility for the reported Lower Darling Breeding Bonanza for Murray cod in a recent media release. About six months ago, the Lower Darling River was nothing more than small holes that were shrinking by the day. The cod were under great strain and in some places, they had already started dying. How did the Darling get to that point, when not several years before the Menindee Lakes were full and the Darling River was flowing free? The MDBA in conjunction with other government departments drained the Menindee lakes in a different series of environmental flows to flush the lower end of the Murray River. When follow up rains failed to come and the Darling began to dry, where were those responsible for the hard times to come for both local communities and the river’s fish and other wildlife? Being able to provide those recent vital breeding flows was nothing short of sheer luck. If winter rains hadn’t flowed down the upper Darling River and into the Menindee Lakes just in the nick of time, the lower Darling would now be nothing more than dust and fish bones. Would the MDBA be boasting about the great work their environmental flows had provided then? I think not. To dip your toe in the Murray just

Shrimp are literally dying to get out of the water. These body lines went along the bank as far as you could walk. outside the Darling junction is to see a river in its death throes – mounds of shrimp hug the shore line and yabbies walk free as numerous giant cod float past in the flow. The media release, while well written, is a little like sticking a bandaid on a shark attack victim. I’ve done my research and, while I’m not a government endorsed body, I have seen with my own eyes the disaster unfolding along the Murray Darling Basin at this very moment. About the only location with an environmental reprieve is the Lower Darling and that’s got more to do with heaven-sent luck than good management. The rest rides like this – in the past month, black water has decimated cod numbers in the Edward, Wakool, Niemur and Murrumbidgee rivers. It has continued killing right along the Murray and it doesn’t look like stopping any time soon. I have just returned from Wentworth Weir where the shrimps and yabbies are crawling out by the bucket full. Dead and dying cod have also been reported. I looked at several other places including the Frenchmans and Rufus rivers. Here’s how I see it, all the cod in the Frenchmans River are dead. Most of the cod seeking freshwater flows in the Rufus have come out of the Murray and these are also dead. I counted more than 170 big fish in just a few short hours all floating belly

up. It amazes me how these government departments are able to count the calling songs of Australian bitten birds or bell frogs, but are totally blind to the recording of giant cod carcasses. There are a few large cod at the regulator still alive, but they are on borrowed time as the black water continues to run into Lake Victoria. It has so far filled over half the lake, which can easily be seen in aerial photographs. Once the lake is full there will be no more fresh flows for the pocket of fish either in the lake or below the regulator and they will all die. As for the rest of the Murray River down through to SA, if the giant cod can’t survive in the shandied water of the Rufus, they’re all dying in the main body of the Murray River. I have never seen a flood in my lifetime that hasn’t sparked a huge run of yabbies. There’s not a yabby to be seen as I write this other than those walking out of the river to die in the sun. It wouldn’t surprise me if those unseen haven’t suffered the same fate as the cod. I believe this is the greatest environmental disaster the Murray Darling Basin has ever witnessed and it’s far from over. If the MDBA can orchestrate environmental flows to the point that they can manipulate greater recruitment among Murray cod, why have they dropped the ball on the rest of the MDB?

Black water is delaying Mildura MILDURA

Darcy Scherger

As the long-awaited cod opening is now here, many cod anglers throughout Victoria have been and completed their fishing trips throughout the state, chasing the amazing Murray cod. However, that doesn’t always mean that every cod angler is running out the back gate eager to get on the water, especially in Mildura. The Murray River around Mildura has recently experienced minor flooding, influencing a black water event in which the death of many fish occurred. This 64

JANUARY 2017

flooding happened throughout the system, with some places more affected than others, and Mildura taking a fair hit. Black water is a catastrophic event that occurs when flood water and excessive flows push into floodplains where leaf and old organic matter have been sitting for long periods of time. This flood water lays in this area with the old leaf matter drawing the oxygen out of the water, which turns the water to a black tan colour; hence the name. Black water is a naturally occurring event that mainly impacts the health of the fish throughout the systems – as the oxygen levels drop, it becomes harder for the fish to breath, and in fold,

to live. Most fish species rise to the surface to get air, as that’s there only source that can be seen within local areas around Mildura. This black water event was quite bad this time around, producing many sad sights around the region. Anglers are taking advantage of this within certain locations, cleaning up on yellowbelly that are chasing oxygen around weirs and regulators within the region. The high flows pushing through weirs and regulators provide oxygen for the fish species on the downstream side, where most of the angling has been done during the black water phase. Lure fishing, as well as bait fishing, has been producing

solid numbers of yellow belly within these areas – please make sure the rules and regulations are followed strictly, as these fish are piling up and don’t have anywhere to go or much chance. There have been reports of around 10-20 golden perch being caught in a single session within these areas, both on lures and baits – times like this can easily be abused, so please do the right thing and only take what you need, or even better, get some practice on your catch and release fishing. Though many anglers will be itching to get back out onto the water to chase the elusive Murray cod, the damaging black water event

Happy angler Roberto Fuoco with a solid golden perch taken on a Jackall. and severe flooding have interrupted this. The keen anglers, that can’t wait for the water to clear up and drop, are packing up and

heading away to larger dams and impoundments, chasing both golden perch and Murray cod, where it’s more suitable for fishing.

The black water is thankfully not in Yarrawonga YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

We’ve had such dramas in the lead up to cod season with mass fish kills further downstream due to ‘black water.’ Whether it’s an artificially made problem or results of the floods, hopefully something can be learned from it. This is the second time in five years, so answers and future plans should be a major focus for the controlling authorities. Fortunately, here at Lake Mulwala, we’ve stayed okay. Cod should be active and willing to play with those who may have seen their favourite cod fishing grounds decimated for the foreseeable future. Water conditions have dirtied up a bit, but nothing different to what we saw as regular conditions before last season’s blue-green algae outbreak. The only problem to pop up in the last week or two has been the abundance of weed. Lure fishos will certainly encounter it and be kept busy, keeping lures tracking in a straight line. Re-reading last year’s January report shows that

it’s nearly impossible to re-invent the wheel – early season predictions will be almost identical. Lure fishing tends to turn up bigger cod, while the bait fishos will be rewarded with higher numbers. For the trollers, 70-120mm lures are always a great choice. Spinnerbaits shouldn’t be discounted, as they’ve produced many fish on the troll in the past few years. Those that prefer to cast tend to use spinnerbaits and crankbaits, but look at casting some timber hardbodies too. Cod have seen many spinnerbaits over the past 15 years and it might be a case of ‘what’s old is new again’ with a return to the old style timber lures. The bait crew should be looking towards bardi grubs, yabbies and the ever-popular scrub worm. Fishing below the weir early in the season produces plenty of undersize Murray cod, the protected trout cod and the fun-to-catch silver perch – throw in numerous carp and yellas. The Murray is more often a better option for the family if you’re looking to put the kids onto a fish for a bit of fun. Looking back, November produced minimal action

as the yellas slowed from their early spring run. Most anglers who got out reported surprisingly good numbers of cod attacking the smaller lures with vigour. Most of the fish were in very good condition. I welcome all anglers visiting the area over these holidays to pop in and say hello at Lake Mulwala Fish Camp & Ski (opposite Mulwala Post Office). We have a new store located between Rivers and One Zac in the main street, Yarrawonga as well. We are your local tackle specialists and specialise in all things green. I’m sure we can put you onto a fish or two and make your visit to the region a rewarding and memorable one. I hope everybody had a happy Christmas and a safe New Year. May your fish be big and green! • If you are visiting 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 (03) 5744 3133.

Chas Bunting with an 119cm Mulwala beast caught in some slightly dirty water before last season’s blue-green algae outbreak.

New Years River-lutions to love ECHUCA

Kaleb Oxley

In the Murray River, reports have come in lately of a lot of black water around, which isn’t a great sight and is having an effect on both

are strong now, thanks to river stocking. With the good flush we have received this year, fishing should be a corker on both bait and lures. Best baits to use for cod are usually cheese or medium sized yabbies, which can be bought from most tackle

A fine example of what the Goulburn River offers. anglers and our loved native fish. Affected areas seem to be the Edwards River system including Yallakool and the Wakool rivers as well as the Barmah area. Although these may deter you, these fish have survived a lot through thousands of years and numbers

shops. Even better, get the kids out with three simple tools – a net, string and some fresh meat. They’ll be sure to have a great time catching yabbies. For lures during the summer, I suggest sizing down. Cod aren’t always after a huge offering during the heat. A 100mm sized hardbody lure will do the

trick. Try casting some 1/2oz spinnerbaits, which will give you a chance at golden perch. GOULBURN RIVER The good news is that the Goulburn River has finally dropped and started to settle. Great reports are in of plentiful golden perch being caught on scrub worms and small yabbies around the 2” size. It’s great to hear that locals finally have a successful place to fish. I recently went out just using scrub worms and the fish wouldn’t stop biting. I was fishing in around 2m water with plenty of small sticks and a nice big laydown which extended 10m out into the water. There is currently a healthy flow to the river and fairly good clarity. It could be better, but with the wild winter and spring we had, I’m surprised. There’s plenty of shrimp to go around in the river and if you’re after some cheap bait, just chuck a shrimp net in with some meat, eucalyptus leaves, cheese, or even just a bar of soap. If you don’t have a shrimp net, use a small fishing net or butterfly net. Stand in some water about a foot deep and wait for the shrimp to start walking on your legs then scoop them up – it’s that easy! I’ve relied on this method plenty of times. We should see plenty of PB fish in 2017 and some

great fishing if all goes to plan and our crazy weather returns to normal. I can’t wait for March and April to come. They aren’t all that far and these two months provide some of the best fishing (and it isn’t too hot). CAMPASPE RIVER I’m not going to lie – I haven’t heard hundreds of reports from Campaspe. I’ve heard of one good report which saw an angler land some nice golden perch on bait. I’d rather fish the Goulburn, but if it’s all you can do, you may strike it lucky with plenty of carp through the system and a fair few golden perch. Worms are the ideal bait to use in the Campaspe system with a size 2 running ball sinker. Hopefully we start to hear some reports. In the meantime, get out and wet a line. Kaleb Oxley is honoured to be writing for the Echuca area and all the keen anglers out there who read Fishing Monthly. You can follow his page on Facebook – Ox’s Fishing. Kaleb lives just shy of a couple great rivers and fishes all over Victoria and NSW, predominately in the Murray and Goulburn rivers. He hopes to bring exciting reports full of great catches and stories and help make catching some great fish just that little bit easier.

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Hop into a cooler fishing season JINDABYNE

Steve Williamson swtrout@airlan.com.au

As reported last month, it took some time for the cooler weather to disappear last year, and in fact, we went straight from winter into summer. Last years

cooler weather kept the water in Lake Jindabyne much cooler this year than in previous years. Trout are cold blooded and so love colder water, this means that for lake fishing in January, we will have extended fishing periods. Normally what happens in summer, is once the water

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Gaden Trout Hatchery Come see the new displays at our visitors centre!

about the Snowy’s most important trout hatchery. • Learn • See how four species of trout and salmon are bred. • Find out where and how Gaden’s juvenile fish are released. Learn how trout stocking benefits recreational fishing and • local economies. • Find out about kids fishing workshops. • Enjoy the beautiful picnic-BBQ area.

Guided tours at 10 am and 2 pm. Feed the large fish. Open 10–4 daily. Gaden Rd (off Kosciuszko Rd) Jindabyne P 02 6451 3400 CLOSED DAYS: ANZAC, CHRISTMAS, BOXING. SMALL ENTRY FEE. dpi.nsw.gov.au/ fisheries/info/ gaden

JANUARY 2017

temperature reaches above 18°, the lake trout only feed around the edges of the lake at sunrise and sunset, when the insect activity is at its peak. During the day the trout retreat to cooler deeper water, making it harder for shore based anglers to catch them. Boat anglers have to fish deep, sometime deeper than 10m to get the best fishing. What will happen with the last couple of months of summer this year is that with the cooler water temperatures and higher lake level will cause the fish to be more likely to stay closer to the edges, making for a wider window for anglers to catch them. On the rivers and streams the trout have been waiting very eagerly for a feed – and with only a few more months before the cooler weather settles in again, they’re going to take every opportunity to grab something to eat. This of course means that with plenty of water still running off the mountains, with the last of the snowmelt from last winter, and overflowing springs. With the cooler, more comfortable conditions, the river trout will also be feeding longer – this will lead to some of the best trout fishing in many years. January is ‘hopper season’ for fly anglers, and there are various grasshopper patterns available – just have a look around and see what the size and colour the real ones are, and find a fly to match. In the early stages of hopper development we like to use smaller patterns, and even flies like a yellow humpy will imitate the local hoppers. But as the hopper develops wings and the Snowy Mountains hopper pattern, or a larger yellow ‘stimulator’ are a couple of flies you should have in your box. Also keep your eye open for evening hatches of other insects, such as the mayfly. I love the dry fly fishing at this time of year, and again with later seasons. There are now plenty of insects about for trout to eat. If you are a lake fly angler, nights are the best time to fish the lake. Bigger dark or black flies like a Woolly Bugger, or other dark streamer patterns are good flies to try. Craig’s Nighttime is also another Snowy Mountains favourite, not to forget my own Snowy Mountains goldfish, where fishing the bays and the inlets will be best places to get results. This years river spinning is much better than last’s, because the water levels are a little higher and there have been some good trout caught – if you are prepared to walk a little further away from the

holiday crowds, find some deep pools or some deeper running water where the fish may lay under cover. Small minnow style lures like CD Rapalas work very well, as do the old favourites, green and gold Celtas and Gillies spinners like the feather tails – I also love the Vibrax spinners and there are some glow in the dark colours in this range that are great for fishing in the late evening. Change lures often and never work one area of water over any more than a half a dozen casts. Lake spin anglers will also do best in the first hour or so of light, and again, I like to spin with lures the same as the trollers, however, in smaller versions. Other lures that have been proving themselves very effective on the trout, are the Bullet lures, with an excellent colour range that also look a lot like the goldfish – as well as the little trout fingerlings that have recently been released into the lake from the Gaden Trout Hatchery. Trolling lures from a boat may be a little different this year. Last year we were trolling very deep in the middle of the day to catch trout, up to 70 feet in fact, but this season, with cooler water, I would expect no

Scrub worms are going to catch that big brown trout that you have always wanted to catch. be best. Other lures I would recommend over the coming month for trolling would be Stumpjumpers in greens and golds, Gillies Natural Vibes and 5cm Bullet lures in goldfish colours – these will always attract a trout when they are lazy. Best areas to fish have been Hayshed, Hatchery and Rushes Bay and the South Arm into Stinky Bay. Later in the morning, the best fishing will be deep,

A great brown trout destined for the dinner plate. more than 35 feet will be all you will need for lunch time fishing. When trolling from a boat in January, we start the day off by surface trolling lures like Tasmanian Devils in green colours, like the number 111 Willy’s Special, or my special red nosed yellowing is also great when the sun starts to get higher in the sky. On the overcast days the Holographic and number 48 Brown Bomber or other darker lures will

using either lead core lines, paravanes and trolling sinkers etc., but the best way to achieve results is to use a downrigger, so you know exactly what level you are fishing. At the moment the depth continues to vary from 35ft early in the morning to 45ft later in the morning. Bait fishing in summer is Mudeye time. The mudeye is the nymph of the dragonfly, and anglers use them as live bait, hooking them through

the wing case to allow them to swim around beneath a float. Early and late in the day is the best times to fish the bays, and moving to deeper water as the day brightens up. The cooler weather this year has made it hard, however, to find mudeyes – so if that is the case, you can’t go past a local scrub worm fished off the bottom. Scrub worms are going to catch that big brown trout that you have always wanted to catch, and are best fished unweighted – yes a big worm cast out without a sinker. The shallow bays are the best night time fishing locations; however look out for the snags. If you want to bait fish in the middle of the day, then you are best to look at bottom fishing, using either a scrub worm or one of the artificial baits. The secret at the moment to catching trout on bait, is to grease up the line – to stop the drag on the water, and to stop it floating to the bottom into the weed and getting caught up. You need a trout to run with the bait without feeling any resistance and greasing the line will help catch more fish. Always fish with the reel bail arm open, so the fish can run with the line. The best line grease is Silicone Mucilin, as it will not harm the line. • If you’re down in the mountains this month, drop in and say hi at my shop, at 6532 Kosciuszko Road Jindabyne, where you will find me next to the Shell Servo and you can also book a tour with me while you are there. For the latest fishing conditions please give my shop a call on 0264 561 551 or email me at shop@ s w t ro u t f i s h i n g . c o m . a u , and don’t forget to have a look at my web site www. swtroutfishing.com.au. Until next month, hope you catch the big one.

Conversation doesn’t change CANBERRA

Bryan Pratt

The conversation around here hasn’t changed in many months. It’s still all about the weather, high water levels in streams and lakes, and the value of stocking waterways with natives. It’s supposed to be summer, but it still feels like spring. Anglers have had to respond accordingly. We’ve had continuing rain, relatively low temperatures and lingering snow on the mountains. That’s not summer. The trout streams are still the centre of attention. Water levels are high, but the water

concentration and at least a reasonable level of skill, which makes any capture even more satisfying. The fish are a mix of browns and rainbows, mostly in the 15-33cm range. Occasional larger specimens to 38cm have been caught. It’s strictly catch and release here, otherwise the resident population would quickly diminish to the point where it would no longer be worth fishing. Light tackle lure fishers have also had some fun using small Celtas, Mepps and other spinning blade lures. Small spoons such as Imp, Wonder Duchess and small Rapala and Strikezone hardbodied minnow patterns

This is a good example of how valuable it is to stock a waterway with Murray cod fingerlings from a hatchery. This fish is only two years old and has reached a good size. It should be a great sporting opponent in another two years. is generally clear and there are worthwhile numbers of fish showing. It’s interesting that many of the fish are not in the main bodies of water, but in the small feeder creeks. They are there capitalising on the large amount of water available and the abundance of food – a rare situation in most years. Many of the fish are small, but they are providing great fun for fly and light lure anglers who revel in the tight fishing conditions. Flyfishers are faring best with small wet patterns and nymphs. The most visual fun is with small dries such as Royal Coachman, Red Tag and Tups Indispensable. Casting a fly to the appropriate target zone while contending with masses of overhanging vegetation requires intense

are good too. LARGER STREAMS Fishing has improved in some larger streams, as the water clears and rainbows finish spawning to come back on the bite. Flyfishers have caught a few nice

browns in the Thredbo River on ant patterns, browns in the Eucumbene River on Woolly Buggers in the tree line above Denison and some post-spawning rainbows on dries and wets upstream from Kiandra. These rivers should continue to provide good fish until they drop back to normal summer levels and the fish retreat to the big lakes. LAKES FISHING WELL Eucumbene, Jindabyne and Tantangara have all fished well recently. In Eucumbene, flyfishers have taken some nice browns to around 1.8kg and rainbows to 1kg on dark nymphs, Woolly Buggers and Hamills Killer. Lure fishers have fared best on hardbodied minnow patterns fished on 1-3 colours of lead core line. Bait fishers have scored mostly small rainbows on PowerBait, wood grubs and scrub worms. Jindabyne has yielded similar fish and surprised many during the Snowy Mountains Trout Festival with a 3.5kg rainbow, as well as other good fish on scrub worms and mudeyes fished on the bottom. Tantangara has been the most pleasant surprise. The water recently backed up to 68% of capacity and lots of fish are feeding over the newly flooded ground. Numerous browns have been caught by Loch style fishing with three flies and one bait – usually wood grubs. One downside of the good fishing in the big lakes is the amount of damage caused by 4WD vehicles. The landscape has been churned up to unacceptable levels in many locations, especially around Seven Gates, Middlingbank and Yens Bay at Eucumbene. It has been necessary to temporarily or permanently close off access to these areas. NATIVES ON MOVE Canberra’s local lakes have suffered unsightly outbreaks of blue-green algae and surprisingly continue to fish well. Lake Burley Griffin has yielded some nice golden perch to 59cm on Jackalls, Burrinjuck

Specials and Berkley black grubs. Redfin have been around 25cm, but one specimen weighed 1kg. At Burrinjuck, golden perch are still migrating up the Murrumbidgee Arm to the Murrumbidgee River and can be caught easily at Good Hope and Taemus Bridge on yabbies and scrub worms. One angler also landed a 61cm trout cod on a scrub worm. COD OPENING There is great excitement about the cod season opening on 1 December. We have deliberately refrained from reporting accidental cod captures during the closed season, but it’s obvious that there are a lot of good fish around and it looks to be another ‘Year of the Cod’ coming up. The good fishing for natives is the result of aggressive stocking programs by the ACT and NSW governments and supportive angling groups in recent years. Even a small addition of fingerlings to a waterway can result in improved fishing within a couple of years and is to be applauded and supported. It’s a wise use of scarce financial resources and we should be doing more of it.

Murray cod stocked in food-rich waters develop rapidly. This one proved to have a stomach full of redfin and European carp. LAKE GEORGE FILLING There is great interest in the potential for a new native fishery to be established in the rapidly filling Lake George. The lake is now carrying a huge amount of water, expected to last for at least three or four years, even if there is

no ongoing heavy rain. This could develop into one of Australia’s best and most spectacular fisheries if it is stocked without delay. Local anglers are keen to get involved in fundraising and stocking straight away, but will need permission from NSW Fisheries before any action can be undertaken.

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Fish seeking out cooler conditions in summer WAGGA WAGGA

Rhys Creed

Looking back, 2016 was a successful year in the region on the fishing front. There was always a style of fishing that produced results during every month. Even during July, which is usually one of the slowest months, turned out to be one of the best! In 2017 the fishing is set to be even better! With the huge amount of rain that we received during spring, the rivers had a good flush of water, which coincided with the natives’ spawning season. Not only has the environmental factors helped our fisheries but also the mindset of anglers around sustainable fishing practises,

catch and release and helping restore native fish habitat. January can be one of the hottest months, which means fishing early in the morning, late afternoon and into the dark is your best option. BLOWERING DAM The first month of cod opening was a cracker, and this will continue in January. The start of the month will fish well, but if we receive a patch of 40° days the fishing can be tough. This will push the water temperature above 26° and the fish will become uncomfortable and push deeper in the water. This is why trolling in the dark is such a successful method of fishing. It’s not uncommon to see a dozen or so boats on the water at night on a weekend

Blowering Dam is full and looking spectacular this summer.

Burrinjuck Dam is also a place worth visiting this summer, as Grant Higginsion demonstrates with this solid Murray cod. at Blowering Dam, and it’s because the technique works. Trolling large lures like the 150mm AC Invader with a 40ft bib is my preferred technique. Try to find the steeper banks and keep your lure within 1m of the bottom. If you manage to find logs on your sounder, keep a note of them and troll over them more than once. The big fish in Blowering will always hold tight to structure. Fishing your lures deeper at this time of year will help you find aggressive fish; 6-9m is the depth to concentrate your efforts on. Casting the steep rocky edges early in the morning can be a great technique. In previous years we have landed

some great fish on large FX Fury soft plastics and Mud Guts Big Guts Spinnerbaits. Casting these big lures tight in against the back until about 9am is another good technique to try. Blowering can be slow at this time of year so you will need to put in the effort and hours of work. Spend the time on the water and you will be rewarded with colossal fish. And if you’re a bit stuck and cannot seem to fish any fish, troll a black lure! MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER The Murrumbidgee River should be running high with irrigation flows, and usually at this time of year it will be

constantly steady. This is good as it gives the fish a chance to find structure high in the water column where they will become comfortable. When the fish are able to stay on the same log for more than four or so days they will feed well. When the water rises and falls it can shut the fish down. Fishing tight in against the bank with both spinnerbaits and hardbodies is the best technique in summer. Target the shaded areas, tight in against the bank and near structure. The fish will hold right up under logs, gumtree roots and undercut banks. Early in the morning and late afternoon is when the fish will be feeding the best. LAKE ALBERT Lake Albert is always worth a fish but during January

the water may be extremely warm, which could slow the fish down. Fishing during the morning is your best option, as the water is cooler and the fish are on the move. Fishing a variety of lures like lipless crankbaits, small hardbodies and spinnerbaits will catch both yellowbelly and cod. Another option is to cast surface lures in the dark for cod, as the cod feed on large moths at this time of year. All up, summer is a great time to be outdoors and on the water. There are plenty of great fishing opportunities, particularly during low light periods. If you are fishing during the heat of the day, remember to wear sunscreen, quality sunglasses such as Spotters, and protective clothing.

The author with a solid river cod taken on a Gobsmacked Surface Walker.

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A big feast from above LITHGOW/OBERON

Glen Stewart stewie72@bigpond.com

The heat of January is a trigger for all things creepy crawly. Big hairy beasts with legs and pincers that lurk in shadows on the ground, green and black coloured doodads that chirp and sing in trees, almost to the point of annoyance, smaller insects with dainty wings and fine filaments that drape and hang out back – the good thing is, a lot of these critters end up in the water as part of the lifecycle, or just misfortune – and the fish are taking

a midday meal to drop from above. Don’t discount a lure, even if it’s bright and shiny. Being observant is the key. What covers the front of your car when you hop out? How many grasshoppers did you see walking through the paddock on your way to water? What can you hear singing in the trees? Is there any empty husks attached to those trees? Birds are great indicators of what insects are about. Swallows will dart and soar and swoop when a hatch is on. Ibis will stalk the short grass in groups, working together to catch grasshoppers and the like. Mud larks and magpies will hop and fly from branch

rocks and logs in Wyangala are crawling with odd bits of this and that. How do the shrimp move when alarmed? What does a yabby do when you poke it with a stick? Do the baitfish cling together or separate and dart for cover when disturbed? These are observations you can take with you the next day and apply directly to how you fish. Your eyes underwater (depth sounders) and other technology that exists today are astounding. Keeping up with it all is challenging, but if you want to make the single biggest jump forward in your regular catch rate, this is where it’s at. Running

Don’t drop the ball totally on what you can see above water just because you have the latest and greatest in depth sounder technology. Those subtle little indicators from nature can tell you so much. full advantage. Low light periods are when most species of fish will turn their attention to such plentiful food on the surface, but it’s not always the case. I’ve seen trout in Lake Lyell making the most of bright sunshine, windy days and cold water. They cruise wind lanes sipping down grasshoppers and beetles. Bass and cod will lurk in warm shallows using the shadows under trees and shrubs for cover, waiting for

to branch above the water trying to scare something to take flight. They’re all indicators for what might end up in the water. UNDERWATER OBSERVATIONS A walk at night by the water’s edge with a headlamp from time to time is highly recommended – it really opens your eyes to what is about in any given waterway. Weedy edges in Windamere are alive with waterborne critters. Timber,

down banks in Windamere and Wyangala side scanning, spotting fish and likely structure, all from a safe non-disturbed distance, you can mark individual logs and rocks, then return to target them with no more guessing. Your confidence levels are boosted tenfold. The flipside is that your sounder won’t make fish bite. This can frustrate anglers to no end, but at least you know you’re in the right areas. From there,

Depth sounder technology today in some units allows you to target better than average specimens – a big deal when trying to separate the best from the rest in impoundments such as Lake Lyell and Ben Chifley. it’s just a matter of changing techniques and presentations until you find what they might be interested in. The other downside of sounder technology is that anglers start to rely on them too much. They forget or fail to learn about the topography layout that surrounds them. They miss natural things that are happening; the baitfish that just kicked out of the water over yonder, the birds that just started working over in the back of the bay – it’s a trap you need to keep in check. The ability to target bigger fish, like redfin in Ben Chifley Dam, has been a real eye opener for me. Sometimes it’s just a matter of keeping your jig on board until you see something worthy of a drop. It doesn’t always work out, but my odds are way better than before. BOAT NOISE Boat noise can be a factor in pressured water. I’ve seen it to many times.

I’m not talking about the ones going past at full noise – I’m talking about the one you’re casting or trolling out of. The hull of your boat is a huge sound board that transmits noise (most of it unnatural) to the fish below. Just thinking about it this way will change how you and others on board act. Sounders ping, so when I know where I’m casting and

where the fish are, I will turn mine off, especially in shallow water. Speaking of boat traffic, it’s that time of year again when waterways get very busy. Get out early, be courteous to others when and where necessary, it’s a fun time to be on the water, so leave the boat rage at home. Hope to see you all on the water soon.

Low light periods are when most of the surface action will occur. Critters in all shapes and sizes end up in the drink.

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

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

Dam Oct Nov Dec Blowering 50 94 96 Brogo 101 100 100 Burrendong 18 115 113 Burrinjuck 71 97 96 Carcoar 19 100 99 Chaffey 58 170 167 Clarrie Hall n/a n/a 100 Copeton 22 58 58 Dartmouth 63 75 77 Eucumbene 53 52 49 Glenbawn 88 93 94 Glenlyon 30 70 70

Glennies Creek 86 87 87 Hume 47 98 96 Jindabyne 65 72 76 Keepit 17 98 98 Lostock 100 100 98 Oberon 99 100 99 Pindari 34 100 99 Split Rock 7 31 31 Tantangara 18 62 44 Toonumbar 100 96 90 Windamere 43 52 52 Wyangala 61 98 97

(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.) JANUARY 2017

Flying high at Blowering Dam BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

Freshwater fishing in our lakes can slowly start to get tough this month, due to the consistent hot weather, high water temperatures and extra angler activity. To maximise your chances of some action this month, you’ll need to focus your efforts super early, late in the day and into the night especially. I say night especially because during the hottest months of the year, the best action for the natives comes after dark. The water and air temperatures drop to a much more comfortable level and the fish – just like us – feel more at ease to head out in search of a good feed. As for lure choices this month, stick with natural colours and lures without rattles and too much flash. If you’re targeting natives, it’s hard to beat plastics, either by themselves or rigged on chatter baits and Angel Baits. If you fish heavy structure in

the form of trees or weed, rig your favourite plastic on one of the new Insanity Tackle spring spin weedless jigheads. These jigheads have proven super popular and successful since their release and can be rigged weedless, meaning much less snags. They also have a small willow blade that spins below the plastic to help draw in any fish from far and wide. If you fish Blowering this month at night, the wall area of the lake is definitely worth a shot. It gets flogged at times – but the sheer amount of fish in that area warrant putting up with dozens of others trying to score a few monsters. Alternatively, head right up the other end of the lake and fish some of the large flats around Ye Olde area. There are stacks big fallen gum trees in that area that always hold some monster fish – and these fish don’t get targeted as much, so are often easier to catch. TROUT The trout fishing in most of our local streams has been sensational since the opening of this year’s trout season. For the first couple of

months, it didn’t matter what you chucked at the trout, they were all over it. Lure fishing was probably the technique that yielded the biggest numbers. Simply covering as much water as possible with feather tail spinners like Rooster Tails, Cocktails and especially Insanity Tackle Bling spins were very hard to beat. These lures will still catch you fish this month, but if you want numbers, it’s time to concentrate on flyfishing. There are a number of reasons why flyfishing takes over as the most productive technique at this time of the year. Firstly, most fish have been caught on lures several times already – the fish are starting to get much harder to catch this way. The

main reason flyfishing is so productive at this time of the year is the fact that mostly in summer, the trout eat insects of some description. Most of these will be the aquatic nymph insects, so it pays to always have a nymph dropper at worst, but double nymphs are the way to go. On top of the nymphs, we have a smorgasbord of insects above the water that the trout just love to munch on, so dry flyfishing can also be insane at times through this month. A good all-rounder this month is a hopper dry fly with a nymph dropper – this will work all day long in the deeper creeks and rivers. In the smaller, shallower creeks, all you need is a good well floating dry fly to have fun watching trout rise

It’s not all about the lures and flies. Local fishing guru Brad Harvey with one of the many cod he has been catching with yabbies at Blowering Dam. to your dry all day long. Do the hard yards and hike away from the main access areas to be rewarded with some of the best stream fishing in the area for the last few years. NEW WEBSITE Those of you who have followed my writing for the past decade will know I have a website (www.mrfreshwater. com.au) where I help educate anglers through DVDs and personal interactions. We

developed it so people could tap into decades of experience and expertise, and we always make the time respond to every enquiry we receive. I now have another new website (www.insanitytackle. bigcartel.com) where I’ve made available some unique lures, jigheads and plastics, so check it out and see what’s new! Until next month, stay safe and good fishing.

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Colin Robinson with a beautifully marked brook trout – one of dozens he has slayed on the Bling spins this season.

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Flyfishing comes into its own this month and will be the gun technique to employ if you want to land trophy-sized trout like this.

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The wall area at Blowering Dam is a great place to get good numbers of natives, especially at night. It can get crowded there at times, but there are plenty of fish to go around.

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.

SALVINIA (Salvinia molesta): a floating water weed.

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

HOW CAN I HELP? WHAT SHOULD I DO? You can help reduce the spread of water weeds and prevent new outbreaks by: • 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.

WATER LETTUCE (Pistia stratiotes): 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.

Weed profiles are available in NSW WeedWise, via the free Android and Apple smartphone app (available in the app stores), and online at weeds. dpi.nsw.gov.au. Specifically, a list of important water weeds in NSW can be found at weeds.nsw.gov.au/weeds/ aquatics • 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

A freshwater experience in a fresh new year TAMWORTH

Adam Mears adam.mears@hotmail.com

The silly season is over, but the school holidays are in full swing. There’s no better time than now to take the kids outdoors to experience all things fishy. Apart from actually catching fish, kids and adults alike can have just as much fun collecting bait. Yabbies, also known as craw bobs or ‘crawchies’, are great fun to catch. A simple rig consisting of some nylon fishing line tied to a stick at one end and a piece of raw meat on the other can be enough. I prefer bloody meat like liver or heart that I pick up from the local butcher shop for less than it would cost for a cup of coffee. Pick a spot in the river or local waterway that has a bit of foliage or rock around. Pay close attention in some

waterways – if there’s been a drop in water level, you can spot yabby holes in the banks where the water was. These are prime areas to start. To know if you’re getting bites from a yabby on the line, you’ll see the line pull tight and then it’s a matter of very slowly and steadily bringing it close to the bank. Yabbies close to the bank need a small net to slide in behind them to catch. Do this slowly, as they’re easy to spook. There is a possession limit of 200 per person, but please limit your catch not catch your limit. Only take what you need for your fishing trip. MURRAY COD The Murray cod season is underway and the reports have been great. During the breeding season, optimal rain created great conditions for the fish. The years ahead should be in good hands, provided we respect these iconic fish. Everything from surface

CHIFLEY DAM

Cabins

lures, spinnerbaits, hardbody lures and flies have been taking them with gusto. Chances are, if you’re not bumping into a few natives now, you should try a different location. The Peel and Namoi have been fishing well. Around Attunga and the Namoi below Split Rock Dam are the standouts for me. My favourite lure type for chasing cod at this time of year is the humble hardbody lure. Popular inclusions in my tackle box include the size 2 StumpJumper, Feralcatt lures and Balista Dyno 75s, but recent additions include the Eden lures range of divers and Honey Hole Lures. Higher than normal water flows have created backwaters and eddies behind timber snags and boulders – these are the areas to target with lures. GOLDEN PERCH Golden perch have been going off one week, then gone the next. When they’re on, catches of 10-20 fish per session are far from uncommon. Split Rock Dam has been the pick of our three main bodies of water. The fish at this time of year are generally found a little deeper. I find the optimum depth between 3.5-5m.

Handcrafted Aussie lures are irresistible to cod, as Hayley MacDonald found out. If you’re a lure caster, lipless crankbaits like the Jackall range of TNs or the Viva Mazzy Vib are the cream of the crop. Other lures worth their weight in gold-en perch are the vast variety of blades that have been so prevalent in the tournament arenas for the best part of the decade. Lake Keepit and Chaffey Dam are worth a shot – the

high dam level makes a lot of new ground and bait, so the fish you come across will be fat and healthy. At Lake Keepit, bobbing a few shrimp around the trees in the old riverbed is a sure-fire way to hook into a mixed bag of goldens, catfish and Murray cod. Trolling lures around these same areas is also highly successful.

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CARP Although our European carp have a bad reputation, I cannot deny how much fun these introduced species can be. It has been my pleasure in recent weeks to take my work clients out to catch a few fish (I work in the disability industry), and I decided carp would be the target species to start with – a rod or handline, a few hooks and sinkers and a loaf of bread was all that was needed to get us started. Almost all freshwater waterways in the Tamworth region will have populations of carp. We started in the Peel River in the heart of town and were not disappointed. Our first trip yielded three fish, all around the 5-6lb mark and put up a great fight, teaching those who had not fished before the valuable skills of angling and how to fight a fish properly. So if your just getting started fishing, getting the kids into fishing or taking someone who has never fished before – I suggest try your luck at carp fishing, it’s fun, easy and generally action packed.

Golden times in the warm water ORANGE

Michael Collison thegurusgear@gmail.com

After all the rain we’ve had in the last four months, Burrendong and Windermere dams are booming with life.

water like 27-28°C, your catch rate will increase by half. The best way to find warmer water is to fish rocky banks or shallow points. The best waya to target goldens in the warmer water are crankbaits and soft vibes. These have been working

on the water, but I’m fishing where the fish are. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Things the fish haven’t seen or an old lure with new retrieves will work well. Sometimes that’s all it takes to get a looker to be a taker. For rods, reels and line, I use an Edge rod 6/8lb and my

Daiwa Exist 1025 reel, or a Generation Black Itchy Twichy rod in the 1.5/3kg with the 2500 Sustain reel, Sea Bass 10lb braid, DFC Nitlon in 8/6lb and TDR competition fluorocarbon from Daiwa in 6/8lb. Those two rods are great for goldens, so if you’re in the market for a new rod and

Three anglers caught these fish from a school using TN60s in 15 minutes – almost a full bag out! The goldens are starting to spawn and school up around the point of the dam and at the starts of the rivers. Water temperatures play a big part in getting the goldens to bite. The dam water temperatures have been around 25°C, but if you can find warmer

well. I use a slow roll with a few twitches here and there. Goldens can’t handle themselves – they have to eat your lure. Sounders help a lot. I have a lot of confidence in them and I only fish when the fish are showing up, so I might drive around for half the time I’m

Brad Collison holding up two 50cm+ fish.

The author is a big fan of sounders and fishing where the fish are.

reel, you can’t go past having at least one of these rods in your boat over the summer. Have a good live well in your boat. When you catch them in a spot, put them in your well until you finish there. I release all my fish that I catch, and I find that if you put the fish straight back after you get it, the

school will shut down and won’t bite. • For all the latest info on what’s biting and where, drop into Tackle World Orange at 66 Peisley St, Orange or call them on (02) 6361 8924. You can also see the latest specials and catches at www.facebook.com/ TackleWorldOrangeNSW.

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Deep water fishing is the key HUNTER VALLEY

Peter Phelps

January in Hunter Valley can be a dry and dusty time. The hot weather will bring the dam levels down, as evaporation takes place and water is let out to keep the rivers flowing and help irrigation in the lower Hunter. By now the fish will have transitioned into their summer patterns. Lowering water levels and hot water temperatures will drive the majority of fish off the edges. Deep water fishing will be the key to catching numbers of fish during the daylight hours this month. Lake St Clair with its abundant weed beds will still hold fish during January.

There will be a lot of fish out in deep water escaping the heat, but there will also be enough on the edge to still target them. Very early morning and late evening into the night will be the main times to catch some fish around the weed. Surface fishing will still be your best bet to find some active fish. With the dropping water levels, the weed will start to mat on the surface. These mats will have holes and the edges that create break lines for the fish to hunt along. With a weedless surface lure like a hollow belly frog, weedless plastic or buzzbait, you can easily work these areas. Working your surface lure along the edges and over the holes should produce some fish. Once the sun gets

Aberdeen Fishing & Outdoors

up, try pitching a weedless plastic into these holes or along the edges of the weed. The bigger fish will be in the weed, but once that sun gets up, these fish wise up quick and pretty much get lock jaw. The best bet is to move out deeper and look for schooled fish. In anywhere from 25-60ft of water you should find fish and you don’t need to find mass amounts either. By slowly sounding around any flats, points or bays, you should find some scattered

spinners, deep spinner baits and a jighead rigged beetle spin will work if the plastic isn’t getting a response. Cast these lures through the schools and concentrate on keeping the lure at the depth the fish are holding at. Lake Glenbawn’s fishing will be primarily a deep bite this time of year. There will be some surface action if you are willing to fish into the late of the night or be out before the sun hits the water in the morning. Glenbawn’s weed beds haven’t held up

The author with a yellowbelly taken hopping a Jackall Mask Vibe in deep water.

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

LAKE ST CLAIR

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fish come on the sounder. Once you find these, drop a curl-tail grub down through the fish and you’ll notice more fish that seem to appear from nowhere. Work your plastic straight up and down with a slow wind up and free spool down to the bottom or through the fish. Experiment with different retrieve speeds and even put in a little twitch to see what the fish want. It will take some patience, but eventually one of these fish will bite. When you get a bite or catch a fish, take notice of what you were doing at the time. This will help you replicate the retrieve and catch you some more fish. Once you have found some deep fish, they can still react to a lure with a stronger action. Blades, tail

as well as St Clair’s, so the fish don’t have as much structure to create shade for them to hold in once the sun is up. The super clear water at Glenbawn lets the light penetrate a long way

This bass took a ZMan StreakZ Curly TailZ rigged on a Bassman jighead – a deadly combination on deep fish. down, warming the water right up. This can drive the fish really deep. Catching fish off the bottom in 80ft is not unheard of. A good sounder is essential for deep fishing and you should be able to tell pretty quickly which depth the fish are holding at. When sounding around, there will be a thermocline (temperature change) located somewhere in the water column. This will come up as a constant grainy section all at the same depth on your sounder. The fish will relate to this temperature change more over actual structure like trees and rock. This is their comfort zone – they should be located throughout the whole dam at this depth. The bass will spread out everywhere from flats to suspended mid-water in the middle of nowhere. These can be single fish to

The author and Joshua Higgs caught these bass on plastics fished vertically.

massive schools. Golden perch will like trees more at this time of year. Like St Clair, the deep plastic will be the key lure for catching fish. With the fish located so deep, it’s easier to drop your plastic straight down instead of casting. By doing this, it allows you to carefully bring plastics up and down around trees that are littered throughout the dam without getting hung up. Also, by fishing vertical and through the temperature change, this retrieve acts similar to casting an edge. As you wind your lure up, it gets further away from the fishes’ comfort zone like casting over a snag. The fish has to react or let the meal go. By concentrating at these depths, you should be able to catch some fish. Glenbawn can really fire this time of year on a deep plastic bite. Just remember that bringing fish up from the deep, they suffer from barotrauma. Great care needs to be taken with our fish stocks at this time of year. If you are keeping fish, carefully needle your fish and only keep in your live well what you are taking. Take a quick photo as soon as it’s caught, then release any fish straight away and they’ll swim straight back down. Just remember, every fish is hand placed into ours dams, as they don’t breed here. We need to look after our investment and recreation.

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Copeton’s giant cod COPETON DAM

David Allen manager@copeton.com.au

The fishing this summer has been fantastic, with both cod and yellowbelly providing visitors of Copeton Waters Holiday Park with plenty of excitement. Water levels have been holding fairly

steady and the weather has been typically hot through the day, but cooling off in the evenings. If you’re spending long days on the water, it’s worth remembering to Slip on a shirt, Slop on sunscreen, Slap on a hat, Slide on sunglasses, and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration – and beer does not qualify as

re-hydration, and it will not be tolerated by the Water Police that patrol the dam regularly. Fisheries and Maritime Services also spend plenty of time at Copeton throughout the year – if everybody does the right thing and follows the basic common sense rules, then we can all enjoy this wonderful waterway. The King and Queen

You’ll need two hands to handle this monster Murray cod.

This winning fish came in at 133cm.

every retrieve, and puts in the long hours to get the results. Well done mate, you have earned that crown. Hayley South has been crowned the ‘Queen of Copeton’ for her beautiful 123cm Murray cod, which engulfed a Croaker Paddler in a spectacular surface strike. Hayley and her fiancée Zac had a great couple of days fishing the eastern side of Copeton Dam around the Poison Gully area, with Zac catching two great cod of 101cm and 109cm. Where else in Australia could you catch three fish over a metre in just a couple of days? What is becoming more and more evident is that if you keep casting big surface lures in

Copeton then you will catch fish all year round. As the fish are being hooked on the surface, we are having far fewer problems releasing them in good condition. During the summer, fish hooked in deep water can be hard to release, so take your time bringing them to the surface – using a deep water release weight is the best practice. Yellowbelly have been consistently providing both fun and a feed for many of the fishers visiting the park over the summer, and this should continue. The fish are now mainly on the flats, with all the usual areas also producing plenty of fish. Keep a good eye on your sounder, as fish can

turn up anywhere at this time of year. For a more casual approach, plenty of fun can be had just fishing a bunch of wriggling worms from the comfort of a deck chair out the front of the camp – the rewards will come in the form of some cracking catfish and yellowbelly, and the next big cod to fall to a bunch of worms certainly wouldn’t be the first. • Copeton Dam is one of the best lakes in NSW to catch a trophy Murray cod. Dave runs the Copeton Waters Holiday Park and is a great source of up to date, local information on what’s biting. Contact the park on (02) 6723 6269 for information and accommodation bookings.

The King and Queen of Copeton Competition has seen some great Murray cod caught.

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Scan for video tour

JANUARY 2017

of Copeton Competition, run on the Inland Waters Holiday Park Copeton Waters Facebook page between 1 May and 30 November, has been run and won for the year. We had a great response, and it was very interesting to hear the stories revolving around the capture of some fantastic Murray cod. Regular visitor Rowan Harris from Wangaratta took out the title of ‘King of Copeton.’ Rowan has been featured on the Facebook page before with some cracking fish, and said earlier in the year that his goal was a fish over 130cm – his winning fish came in at 133cm, and was caught slow rolling a large soft plastic (he wouldn’t give the exact details) somewhere in Barefoot Ally. Rowan is one of the hardest working and thinking fishers I know. He thinks about every cast and

The Copeton waters are producing some whopper Murray cod – where else could you get three fish over a metre in just a couple of days?

Big fan of cod? Freshwater crocodiles about NEW ENGLAND RIVERS

Adam Townsend

With the warm weather upon us, the fishing has been looking better every trip. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shaping up to be a killer season amongst the Northern Tablelands area. Copeton Dam has been sitting pretty steady lately, around the half full mark. The fish are more comfortable and getting into feed mode. There have

been plenty of yellowbelly and cod caught on a variety of lures and techniques lately, including several big fish off the surface. The Beardies is a bit discoloured from previous rains but has been fishing well lately with plenty of redfin caught on vibes, spinnerbaits and Celtas. The standout catch was a 49cm redfin taken by a local angler on a Mazzy Vib, fishing late in the evening. The Severn is still at

a general flow and is also fishing very well. Good numbers of cod have been caught on most lure types, although spinnerbaits, swimbaits and surface baits have been the most effective. Early mornings and late afternoons are the most productive. The water clarity in the Severn is currently pretty clear. This could change if stained waters make their way down from the Beardie headwaters. With the water level sitting so high at Pindari Dam

in recent weeks, fishing from the banks has been harder than usual. Many trees are submerged as well as other structures, so having a boat will definitely increase the chances of catching fish. A few fish have still been getting caught from the shoreline. Fishing the banks early in the morning is always a good way to catch fish. As the sun comes out and the day gets hotter, focus more on deeper waters. Pindari has recently been very close to full.

A Mike the Pike swimbait got this codâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention.

Pat Jarvis with a Beardy River redfin.

This cod was undone by a Westin Swim 120mm lure.

The author with his first cod for the season.

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Tactics for a better summer camping experience BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Summer’s with us and there’s hardly a better way of enjoying this great time of year than to camp next to lovely water with our fishy friends nearby. For those who haven’t done a lot of camping but want to give it a go, here’s a

before departure time. Most parks have site plans on the net and a browse of the layout is an easy matter prior to commitment or a deposit. Keep well away from big dangerous eucalypts that sometimes offer tempting shade at inland lake or riverside camping grounds. These trees drop big branches just for the fun of it. With the right site organized, the next step should be to have a good

sufficient pegs are in the kit and the peg mallet or hammer is there as well. The camping light (remembering that orange lighting can deter insects) should be given a test run on the battery terminals, to see it’s still in working order as well. On the topic of camping lights, try one of the ever-popular strip lights with a dimmer switch, so that once tea is over and things are quietening down, the main light can be reduced in output so it’s not illuminating a fair portion of other camps in the area. With all the camping equipment given the once over and a tick of approval, it’s time to pack the fishing gear and other equipment, in an orderly manner. The idea is, what needs to come out first should definitely go in last. If a section of shade mat is going down as a handy floor, it should be one of the first things to hand,

One of the best things about camping is that everything seems to work! Several styles of camps are here. comfortable. Moving onto a campsite and setting up camp well after dark, noisily unloading vehicles,

Camping at Arthurs Lake, Tasmania, the author supported the tent fly with a lot of poles and ropes, as strong winds were forecast. look at some things that can make camping as easy and unfussed as possible. My definition of camping is a swag or two set up under a folding marquee, staying in the humble tent or living it up in the camper trailer or caravan – it’s a pretty broad view. Whatever style of camping you choose, a great holiday usually starts with the selection of just the right place to set up that home away from home, so we’ll explore this aspect first. IN THE CARAVAN OR HOLIDAY PARK In most camping grounds, different areas are allocated for the different styles of outdoor life, which works fine. Concrete pads for caravans and grassed areas for the rest is the norm. With competition for choice sites, it’s frankly so much easier to find that perfect camping site by making early enquiries regarding a booking, well

hard look at the caravan or camper trailer and see that all is in good shape. Caravans and camper trailers could do with a bearing check and at least a tyre pressure check. Elevate a wheel and give it a spin – if there are rumbles, it’s time to do some bearing changes. A quick full setup at home will ensure things are as you left them and not spoiled by unwelcome guests. If the trusty tent is the main accommodation, it’s wise to take it out of storage and give it a once over. It’s also very smart to take a look at all poles, ropes and pegs that are going to be part of the setup. Poles that lock tight with small wing nuts and cross bolts can be assessed on effectiveness and refurbished if necessary. Ropes are usually okay, but the pegs might need some straightening. You definitely need confirmation that

Dedicated grounds offer the camping experience without the hassles of roughing it and are a great place to start with this enjoyable experience. especially if some is going under the tent to keep the base as clean as possible. At this time of year, most holiday parks will be well filled, so when you’re setting up camp, be conscious of the time and how it might affect those already on site and

Shade is at a premium here, but the campers have been wise enough not to set up under one of those big eucalypts. 78

JANUARY 2017

banging pegs into the ground or shining powerful lights all over the place is no way to win friends. It’s far better to arrange for an arrival at a more friendly time of day if possible. That said, sometimes you just can’t arrive at a more civilized hour.

That’s why I have really emphasized the need to organize the vehicle and trailer packing before you leave. If you’re making camp in difficult circumstances, such as rain or darkness, it’s vital to be able to find what’s needed promptly, so you can be set up as soon as possible. Once you’re settled in, why not introduce the team to the neighbours when the opportunity arises? If they’re fishing as well, a bit of neighbourly networking can lead to some other network in the long run – landing net work that is. For mine, one of the great things about holiday parks and camping areas near the fishing action is the chance to talk about fishing with others – it’s surprising what gems of wisdom fall into place. CAMPING OFF THE BEATEN TRACK Holiday parks are great, but so is a camp off the beaten track, so long as selfsuffiency is given priority. Beach camping is so popular that it needs first mention – you’ll need to consider extra items that can make it easier to get to just the right place to enjoy those never to be

forgotten beach views. For the car you might need a tyre gauge and air compressor pump, maybe some MAXTRAX if the budget allows for them, and definitely a shovel and snatch strap. A thorough service before you leave is a smart move. The order of your packing should be geared around setting up camp on arrival, so leave those tackle boxes in the back: you won’t need them straight off! To improve the camping, some shade cloth or similar material on the ground around the tent will ensure that sand won’t be sneaking into all the bedding and other areas where it’s a true pest. Any metal pegs should be replaced by meaty sand pegs with extra ropes along, just in case a nasty blow develops – there’s not much cover or shelter on the beach front. Water is vital and if there’s no chance of camping near any fresh water, the drinking water containers need to be allocated plenty of space in the packing. If there’s water on hand, the Glind Cape Yorker portable shower unit will be a gem. A shower at the end of a day’s beach fishing is brilliant and all it takes is

One of the author’s beloved fly-in camping setups for Cape York. Just add a hire car and off we go! It’s a bit rough, but it works.

to get some water close to the unit’s pressure pump and connect it to a car battery for operation. When not in use, the Glind Cape Yorker stows in a small Pelican case – very conveniently. I’ve done a fair amount of beach camping and a couple of things I’ve found indispensable were insect repellent to keep away pesky march flies and Stingoes to treat insect bites or hits from jellyfish tentacles and soothing lotion if children are along. The use of solar panels is pretty standard today, but remember to ascertain how many are required for the battery charging tasks on hand. Do this before you leave and find where they might fit in the vehicle.

ROUGH CAMPING This is my thing. I love camping where it’s basic, a bit on the rough and ready side, but where the fishing makes it well worthwhile. This is the style of camping I’ve done at Cape York when we’ve towed the Bullshark up there, camped rough and launched off the beach. I sometimes take the car and camper trailer, or tent, and set up on a riverbank out west to catch cod and yellowbelly with lures, bait or bobbing gear. This style of rough-it camping, whether it’s on an inland riverbank or near the beach in the far north, has shown me that along with the standard camping gear and plenty of water, you need to opt for extra shading and

The main camping ground at Weipa has ample shade from non-eucalypt trees with the beach adjoining the camping area.

A campsite with the works – a decent shade fly, ground cover and solar panels to charge a spare battery. High output panels are bulky and it pays to find out how many are required for a given task. organize lots of poles and ropes to keep things steady, even if a storm rolls in. Naturally, fuel requirements should be considered and set in place well before leaving the driveway. SENSIBLE PRECAUTIONS The further away from help you are, the more you need to consider possible precautions. A first aid kit should feature with medication for insect bites, burns, an upset tummy and the like. Betadine is a useful liquid to treat any spikings from fish or mishaps

with hooks. Some backup dressings should also be in the kit. To avoid stomach upsets, I always take along Aquatabs or similar water treatment tablets to treat water that I’m not familiar with. Having once caught Giardiasis that ruined a trip to NZ, I’m very particular about water treatment. Choosing a campsite on inland rivers, avoid those aforementioned eucalypts at all costs. If you’re heading above the Tropic of Capricorn on the coastal fringe, there’s another less dangerous but still quite annoying matter

to consider –nasty, foraging, pesky green ants. These critters will move from any foliage touching the campsite straight into areas where they’re not wanted. So long as any part of the camp is near the tree they live in, they’ll continue to invade. A good ant repellent pesticide spray is the hero. Spraying on the contact points where items touch the ground or where items are near foliage should keep the pests from intruding. Note that once a few scouts have made their way into the camp, 500 other ants will be there within the hour. Green ants are a serious nuisance. Much has been written about the need to keep camps back from the water

in croc country. Take this very seriously. Exceptions are risky and crocs can never be discounted just because they’re not seen. Likewise, the canine issues on fabulous Fraser Island, so beloved of many campers in summer, come down to common sense. Ensure that food isn’t left where it will encourage dogs to hang around the campsite. GO FOR IT AND ENJOY! As most of us will be camping in organized and lovely campgrounds and holiday parks, which are perfect to get started with, make the best of the facilities on offer, think of others also wanting to do the same, and see the festive season and 2017 in with good times, tight lines and fun in the sun.

A green ant on his nest of folded leaves. Make sure that no part of the camp is touching foliage or these unwelcome guests will soon be with you.

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Photographs may show overseas models or illustrate non-standard equipment. *Drive away pricing for 4x4 Dual Cab with factory wellside tub. All Promotional pricing ends 31st January 2017 or while stocks last. See your dealer for details. All Prices include GST. # Fishing Pack Offer: Promotional price of $3,500 only applies if Bull Bar, Tow Bar and Snorkel are fitted to vehicle at time of purchase. ^Mahindra PikUp Test Drive Promotion: Test drive a Mahindra PikUp at your nearest Mahindra Dealer (www.mahindra.com.au/dealer-locator) between 25th August 2016 and 27th January 2017, enter your name, phone number and email address at the dealership via entry form, and go in the draw to win a $1,000 BCF Voucher, at www.bcf.com.au. Not redeemable for cash, drawn on 30th January 2017. NSW Permit No: LTPS-16-06163. DMM5770.

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Kime climbs to the very top! CE 1ST PLA South coast breamer Grant Kime has secured a wire-towire win on his home water in the 2016 ABT Costa BREAM Grand Final. A firm favourite leading into the event, Kime never wilted under the pressure, holding a talented field of anglers at bay to become the new champ and the proud owner of a new $50,000 Basscat Margay/ Mercury Pro XS 115hp bream package. With a deep reserve of locations to call upon, Kime hit the deep water near the island on the eastern side of The Basin to fill his bag on day one. A location he was confident would produce a limit, and produce a limit relatively easily. “We fished in behind the island in 18-20ft of water. It’s a reliable place to fill your bag,” explained Kime. Throwing Ecogear VX35 and 40 blades in colour 439, Kime’s retrieve involved sinking the blade to the bottom then working it with what he describes as a ‘bottom hugging hop.’ “The fish sit tight to the bottom here, so you need to keep your blade close to the bottom and not lift it too high when you’re working it. I fish it by giving the lure a series of short sharp lifts so it stays in their face,” explained Kime. The approach delivered him a limit by 7:30am. With his focus now to find upgrades, Kime fished a mixture of others spots, both

THE FUTURE IS HERE Self-contained Electric Outboards

shallow and deep, and threw his beloved Juro Firebait Longtail Minnows. Two kilo-fish upgrades followed to further enhance his bag weight. His two kicker fish bumped his bag over the four kilo mark (4.26kg). One of the favourites leading into the event, Kime lived up to his predicted performance, and had a 700g lead over good friend, and fellow event favourite, Mark Crompton. “Kimey was always going to be a contender and on day one he showed what he was capable of on The Basin,” said Crompton.

With the conditions too calm and no upgrades to show for his efforts, he switched back to the deep, moving back to the shallows on occasion in search of the big bite. “I managed to get one upgrade in the shallows, but that was it. I couldn’t get the bigger fish to eat. It was too calm for them to fire up,” explained Kime. Kime caught the majority of his fish for the day in the deep on an Ecogear VX40 blade, and weighed a 3.13kg limit to maintain his 700g lead over Crompton.

that 5th though. We couldn’t get the last one in the deep so we hit the shallows behind the island, but it was too calm and there was no bait, life, or bream about,” explained Kime. He cut his losses in the shallows and returned to the deep on the western side of the lake, but for no results. “I knew the 5th fish wasn’t too far away, and I knew it would more than likely come once the wind started to blow,” explained Kime. The wind started to increase around 9am, and Kime saw his cue and moved

Grant Kime celebrates his win behind his new Basscat/Mercury package. After a successful day in the deep on day one, Kime headed straight to the deep on day two and in less than an hour he had his limit. “They were on the chew straight away. So once I had my bag, I moved shallow to see if I could catch upgrades,” explained Kime.

Back to the deep on the 3rd and final day, Kime and his partner for the day, leading non-boater Simon Johnson, didn’t have to wait long to get in on the action and in the first 20 minutes he had four fish in the well. “It was the start that I was looking for. The Basin, however, made me wait for

to Bonito Point, a shallow weed lined location that has produced fish for him over many years. His timing couldn’t have been better, and in less than ten minutes he had fish number five. The pair hooked up on two more upgrades not long after, Johnson losing his to a crushed hook and Kime losing Juro Firebait Longtail Minnow in colour 05

Ecogear VX 40 and 35 in colour 439

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 80

JANUARY 2017

his to a failed leader knot. “You don’t always get many chances to win in a tournament, and when they come you need to take them. I thought I’d blown my chance,” explained Kime. There was more to follow however, with Kime not long after picking up two important upgrades. The lure that did the damage

was a Juro Firebait Longtail Minnow rigged on a TT HWS jighead. “I’ve been using the Firebaits for years and nothing comes close to it when you’re looking for a lure that you can work to replicate a skipping prawn,” explained Kime. Kime’s presentation of the Firebait involves a long

down-wind cast towards the weed. The lure then skips as it lands and gently slides into the water like a gliding prawn. He then retrieves the lure with a slow cranking retrieve with an occasional twitch mixed in. With five in the well, and two upgrades to help boost the weight of his bag, Kime unfortunately was

unable to add to it after his initaial flurry of activity in the shallows. Heading back to the weigh-in, he was content with what he had, albeit a little apprehensive about Crompton making a late charge in the tournament, and day two’s mover and shaker Brad Hodges continuing his upswing.

The last angler to hit the stage, Kime needed 2.52kg to win. But as his limit hit the scales and the display ticked past 2.52 to finally rest at 2.86, his concerns quickly vanished to crown him as the 2016 Costa BREAM Grand Final Champion. His victory saw the Costa BREAM Grand Final shield remain on the south coast

of NSW and earned him the prize of $50,000 Basscat Margay/115 Mercury Pro XS tournament boat package. Post victory, Kime acknowledged the people that had help get him to this victorious moment: his wife and kids, his friends, and the welcoming and encouraging environment that is the ABT BREAM tournament scene.

Hodges Gulps for second place CE 2ND PLA For Victorian BREAM veteran Brad Hodges, it was nearly the Grand Final with a fairy tale ending, with the 36-year-old school teacher from Werribee in Melbourne jumping from 15th to 3rd, and finally to 2nd to narrowly (by 340g) miss victory in the biggest event on the Australia bream tournament calendar. Starting day one fishing shallow edges, jetties and snags, Hodges

soon moved deep once he knew the shallow bite wasn’t on. “The edges looked good but the fish weren’t there. I saw and marked a 23-15ft rise in deep water when I was moving between shallow spots, so I headed back there to see of there was anything on it,” explained Hodges. With his eyes firmly fixed to his Lowrance, Hodges sounded fish on the bottom in 23 feet but as he moved shallower into 15ft, they vanished. “You could see them at 23 but not catch them, you couldn’t see them at 15 but you could catch them,” explained Hodges. Hodges fished to his strength throwing a 3” Berkley Gulp Nemesis in

pumpkinseed, camo, and pearl watermelon, rigged on 1/12 and 1/16oz Nitro jigheads and worked with a lift and drop retrieve. The approach paid off, and he weighed in a 2.69kg limit to be sitting in 15th place at the end of day one. Day two was moving day for Hodges and with two similar locations up his sleeve that he found on Insight Genisis the night before he was armed for a red-hot day on the water. Hitting his day one spot first thing, he had his bag by 7:30am and was soon on the hunt for upgrades. He picked up an upgrade at 9am, then hit a flat spot until late in the session. “In the last one and a half hours we picked up a 37

and 38,” explained Hodges. His late run boosted his bag, a bag that weighed 3.99kg, and rocketed him up the scoreboard to be sitting in 3rd place heading into the final day. His 15ft rise was his first port of call on the final morning and in an hour he had his limit. “It was a great start, just kind you want on the final morning of a final,” explained Hodges. He moved to his number one upgrade spot, but for no fish. He then headed back to his 15ft rise and added three upgrades to his bag by 10am. He stayed there until 12pm adding the occasional upgrade. He had one fish in the well that he felt he need to get rid of.

Northcott nails non-boater win -BOATER 1ST NON Clint Northcott secured a come from behind win to claim the Costa BREAM Grand Final non-boater crown. Charging home from 6th on the final day to win, Northcott fished with Chris Gates on day one, Grant Manusu on day two, and the big bream wisperer Anthony Thorpe on day three. Day one saw Northcott start fishing 15-18ft of water near Bream Point throwing a mixture of ZMan GrubZ and Berkley Jigging Shrimps. “We fished 3-4 different spots throughout the day and made long searching casts then worked our lures back

with a series of slow lifts, with the occasional twitch added in,” explained Northcott. The day was a real grind it was until late in the session, at around 2.20pm that fish number five was added to the well. “We caught the 5th near the channel markers leading into Sussex Inlet. It was a long wait to get our bag,” explained Northcott. Northcott weighed in a 3.17kg limit to be sitting in equal 4th place at the end of day one. Fishing with Grant Manusu on day two, Northcott once again went deep to catch his fish, fishing a little deeper (20-25feet) than the day before. “We fished Bream Point and Erowal Bay with Gulp Shrimps and Nemesis and Squidgy Wrigglers, and just like the day before it wasn’t until late in the session (1pm)

that we caught our limit,” explained Northcott. Weighing in a 2.81kg limit for the day Northcott slipped to 6th place, but was destined for big things on day three. Paired with Anthony Thorpe for the final day, Northcott started day three with lightning speed. “I was still getting my lifejacket off and Thorpey had already made a cast and was hooked up to a fish,” explained Northcott. Thorpe didn’t back off and the pair had three fish in the well before Clint caught his first fish for the morning, fish number four for their limit. Number five soon followed and by 7am they were upgrading. “Things went quiet after the early flush and around 9:30-10am we moved shallow. I tied on an OSP

Dunk and Thorpey started hitting the shallows with a Gulp Shrimp,” explained Northcott. Their bite of the tournament soon followed with Thorpe catching a 1.92kg kicker fish to boost their bag into 4kg territory. The paired searched for more upgrades but to no avail. Delivering a 4.03kg bag to the scales Northcott turned a 900g deficit into 320g winning margin to claim his maiden Costsa BREAM Grand Final victory. The tackle he used to claim his victory included a G.Loomis TSR 862-2 rod, Shimano Twin Power reel, Sunline Castaway PE mainline, and 3lb Sunline V Hard leader. ABT wishes to thanks all anglers, sponsors and staff for the 2016 Costa BREAM Series. For details on the 2017 season visit www.abt.org.au

TOP 10 BOATERS Fish

Weight (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

15/15 15/15 15/15 14/15 15/15 15/15 15/15 15/15 15/15 15/15

10.25 Basscat/Mercury, Costa glasses 9.91 Motorguide xi5, Costa glasses 9.85 Prize Pack, Costa glasses 9.56 Prize Pack, Costa glasses 9.54 Costa glasses 8.77 Costa glasses 8.76 Costa glasses 8.53 8.51 8.48

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

“We had a fish under 30 and I knew that I needed to upgrade it to be in with a shot to win,” explained Hodges. Try as might, he couldn’t get rid of it, and in the end his 3.23kg bag on the final day was 340g short of running down event winner Grant Kime. The tackle Hodges used to secure his highest place ever in a Grand Final, his previous being 6th at the Mallacoota Grand Final in 2010 included an ABU Garcia Salty Stage

Light Casting rod, ABU Garcia Revo MGX 20 reel, 4lb Berkley Fireline, 4lb Berkley Sensei fluorocarbon leader, and Berkley Gulp Nemesis and Jigging Shrimp. Post event, Hodges praised his non-boaters for the final. “My three non-boaters, John Gales, Jesse Rotin, and Luke Slavin were integral to my result. I can’t thank them enough for their contribution and company over the three days,” explained Hodges.

WINNING NOTES

Winning Tackle

Rod: 7’2” Gladiator Psyborg Reel: 2500 Shimano Stradic Ci4 Line: 3lb Fireline Leader: 5lb Sunline FC Rock Lure: Ecogear VX 35 and 40 in colour 439, and Juro Firebait Longtail Minnow in colour 05.

Winning Edge

Kime used his extensive knowledge on St Georges Basin to identify locations that would hold fish in all conditions. He hit these locations at exactly the right time to miximise his sucess and bag weight each day.

TOP 10 NON-BOATERS

Place Angler Grant KIME Brad HODGES Anthony THORPE Geoffrey BORG Mark CROMPTON Wal BALZAN Steve NEDESKI Paul CONN Kristoffer HICKSON Warren CARTER

Brad Hodges was never far away from Grant, but couldn’t quite reach the target Grant set him.

Payout

Place Angler

Fish Weight (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

15 15 15 15 14 15 13 15 13 14

Clint NORTHCOTT Michael HODGES Simon JOHNSON Luke SLAVIN Clint VOSS Jonathan THOMPSON Brett PENPRASE Simon WILSON Jesse ROTIN Shaun EGAN

10.01 9.69 9.68 9.29 9.19 8.9 8.82 8.66 8.49 8.46

Payout

Motorguide xi5, Costa glasses Prize Pack, Costa glasses Prize Pack, Costa glasses Prize Pack, Costa glasses Costa glasses Costa glasses Costa glasses

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

Cracking catch and release competition returns The Darlington Point Riverina Classic Catch and Release Fishing Competition will be held on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River at Darlington Point in the Riverina NSW. The

competition is a not-forprofit organisation, run by volunteers of the community who concentrate their efforts on restocking the waterways of the Murrumbidgee River with

One lucky entrant will go home with this lovely Stacer 409S Proline Angler.

fingerlings of Murray cod and golden perch, in order to help secure a sustainable fishing future. The competition area spans 24km of the Murrumbidgee River – a thriving water system with an abundance of fish, caught over the summer period by keen anglers using bait, spinnerbaits and hardbodied lures. The boundaries of the fishing competition line four state national parks, 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’s not an odd sight to see 5m fishing boats getting around the river system. Locally, the river has been at minor flood level for the past two months, but the region has been very fortunate not to be affected by the black water other areas

The Riverina Classic Fishing Competition raises funds to donate to MND NSW. Last year, $20,000 was donated and hopefully this year will be even better! on fish welfare and to ensure anglers have maximum opportunity to chase that elusive big one. Prize Categories in the

support those suffering with Motor Neurone Disease. The Riverina classic is not your average fishing competition. It offers 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 for the fishing enthusiast thanks to some leading suppliers. 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 is a $10,000 Flight Centre holiday voucher, a Stacer 409S Proline Angler running a 30hp, four-stroke Mercury motor complete with trailer for the ‘big kids’ and a kayak for the

juniors. Early bird entrants that register online also go in the draw to win a fitted out kayak ready to catch that winning fish. The competition will be held over three days this year, commencing on Friday afternoon 10 February. Presentations and prizes are to be drawn Sunday 12 February. Entry fees are $50 for adults, $25 for kids or $120 for a family pass. Bring along the family and enjoy a great weekend out in Darlington Point. To register online visit www.riverinaclassic.com or find the registration tent at the Darlington Point Lions Park on the day. For more information, check out our Facebook page, Riverina Classic Fishing Competition. – Riverina Classic Fishing Competition

The competition area spans through four national parks – it’ll look good out there.

www.fishin.com.au ONLINE TOURNAMENT TACKLE STORE

ZX BLADES ZMAN GRUBZ CRANKA CRABS

BENT MINNOWS

have had to face. The river is looking great for another fantastic competition. Anglers can grab a record-sized cod and a prize or two Plans for this year’s competition are off to a great start with the committee again doubling their efforts to release over 13000 Murray cod and golden perch fingerlings into the Murrumbidgee River. The competition will again be run as photo entry only in order to minimise any negative effects

competition include: biggest yellowbelly, biggest cod, biggest carp and cumulative length. Each category has both junior and senior sections and every single junior that enters is guaranteed to go home with a prize. There is also a cash prize for the best represented fishing club up for grabs. The committee was able to donate $20,000 to MND NSW and the local MND support group in 2016 and are aiming to match that figure again in 2017, in order to help

Murray cod and golden perch fingerlings are released into the system as part of the event, to support the future fishery.

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JANUARY 2017

Heaps of great prizes are up for grabs, including fitted out kayaks.

Lions Park from above – you can register for the competition here on the day, or online to go in the draw for a prize.

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Hit the ground running Picking up where they left off on last year’s BARRA Tour, Team Humminbird/ EJ Todd’s Karim DeRidder and Craig Griffiths drew first blood in the opening

Unlike the majority of the field who struggled in a seemingly shut down Kinchant, DeRidder and Griffiths were definitely on a hot bite and the hot spot on the lake.

it was a black and gold 130 Squidgy Slick Rig that they wanted,” explained Karim. Their pre-sunset lures included Jackall Transams, Lucky Craft hardbodies and

THE FUTURE IS HERE Self-contained Electric Outboards

Craig Griffiths and Karim DeRidder brained them at Kinchant to start their title defence in grand style. round of the 2016 Zerek tour to claim victory in the Spotters presented event. The only team to catch their full five fish limit for the event Karim and Craig fished one point location to catch their fish. “We fished one of the biggest points on the lake, a long weedy point that extended a long way out into the lake. We started off rather shallow, then we moved out deeper once we realised that’s where more fish were holding,” explained Karim.

“We hooked around 45 fish for the session, and landed about 20 of them,” explained DeRidder. A number that probably exceeded the number of all the other teams combined. The approach the pair used to catch their fish was a multi lure attack, a combination of hard and soft lures and a combination that varied both before and after dark. “Early on when they weren’t really on the chew we caught them on hardbodies and vibes, but once it got dark and they started to turn on

BARRA

Presente Tour R1 d by Spo tters

rigged on a 1/2oz Griffo made jighead, with its tail dipped and melted with a soldering iron to give it more movement on the retrieve. For most of the evening the pair fished their lure, and caught fish, hopping their Slick Rigs out from the weed edge. “That’s how we did it for most of the session. There was a briefing period when they were really active that we caught them slow rolling the plastics. And when they did this they really sucked down the bait, but it only lasted about half and hour,” explained Karim. The winning pair’s selection of tackle included Dobyns Champion and Sierra rods, Daiwa Zillion Type R reels, 50lb Sunline Castaway PE, and 50/60lb Sunline FC 100 flurocarbon leader. A win in the first event at the start of their Team of the Year title defence, DeRidder and Griffiths were pleased, and relieved, with the result. “We were confident coming into the event, so to

ZEREK BIG BARRA Team Humminbird/EJ Todd (Craig Griffiths and Karim DeRidder) claimed the Zerek Big Barra at Kinchant with the barra duo winning the big fish on a count back from two other teams. The pair caught their 97cm fish at 7.06pm, half an hour before Team Westin.

a pro type soft vibe lure that Trent Short had sourced from Japan. They caught three fish on the protype vibe. After dark though, the Slick Rig was king and the pair fished it

come away with the victory was very rewarding”, explained DeRidder. Their win at Kinchant was only a sign of what was to come for the rest of the tour.

Sunline just short of a victory R

Trent Short and Matt Gibson from Team Sunline started their 2016 BARRA Tour in grand style with the pair catching a 4/5, 356cm limit to secure a podium finish at Kinchant. Fishing an old roadway that created a weed and lily-free channel through the vegetationlined shoreline, the pair positioned themselves at the

entrance to the channel and it was here that they stayed for the tournament. “We found the roadway and the clearing with our HDS sounder and we expected the barra to use the clearing as a feeding corridor, and that’s pretty much how it played out,” explained Short. The pair sounded out a few fish near the entrance

then positioned their boat in about 12-feet of water and cast into the roadway based channel with a Lucky Craft Pointer 78XD in Tennessee shad, and a Jackall Transam in black and gold. The retrieve for the Pointer involved cranking the lure down deep at the start of the retrieve then working it back with a series of twitches

and pauses. “Some of the pauses were up to eight seconds long,” explained Short. The retrieve of the Transam had a similar stopstart approach. They’d sink it to the bottom, pop it off a couple of rocks sitting on the bottom, then work it back with lifts and drops. To page 85

RESULTS

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 84

JANUARY 2017

Place Team

Team members

Fish

Length (cm)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Craig Griffiths / Karim DeRidder Trent Short / Matt Gibson Wally Wilton / Jake Mitchell Geoff Newby / Phil Lyons Ian Tope / Greg Thomas Matthew Mott / Dylan Mott Jono Clark / Tailin Payne Andy Heskett / Gary Thompson Nick Wells / Matt Wells Dean Pateman / Rob Romans

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

481 356 170 97 97 96 96 92 92 88

Humminbird / EJ Todd Sunline Cairns Custom Likely Lads Westin South Burnett Directions Wilson #1 Swimbait Specialist / Bullshad Swimbaits Zerek One Last Cast

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

Two from two! DeRidder and Griffiths continued their dream start on the Zerek BARRA Tour with the pair securing their second win in as many events at the Zerek presented Teemburra Evening Event. One of only four teams to catch their full limit for the session, the pair once again showed their dominance, regardless of how tough or red-hot the fishing is. Leading into the tour, it was Teemburra that the pair prefished more than anywhere else, a telltale sign as to how tough the venue was fishing. “We keyed in on where the fish were and what was going on at Kinchant and Faust, but we just couldn’t

BARRA T Presente our R2 d by Zerek

get anything dialed in on Teemburra. We spent days and days here before the tour and we still weren’t confident that we were on something that we would call a solid and reliable plan,” explained DeRidder. Putting all their eggs in one basket the pair fished a lone spot that they thought could produce something for them. A relatively clear spot in the middle reaches of the dam, the pair’s location sat adjacent to a line of trees. “We can usually see fish on our Humminbird moving through from the deep into the shallows, but on this spot we didn’t. We were confident that that would be moving into the area though,

Focusing all their attention on one spot produced the fish and backto-back wins for Team Humminbird/EJ Todd at Teemburra.

ZEREK BIG BARRA Geoff Newby and Phill Lyons from Team Likely Lads picked up the $200 Zerek Big Barra prize at Teemburra, with the Mackay locals securing the prize with their 104cm kicker fish.

deeper water that the pair anchored up, then fished backed to the wind blown weed point with Lucky Craft 100 DD Pointers in Tennesse shad colour. “We’d cast the Pointer into the weed, twitch it out, then pause and tease the lure close to the weed to entice a strike,” explained Karim. The location, technique, and lure paid off, with the pair catching a total of 13 fish for the event, a number far in excess of their expectations. “To be honest we didn’t expect to catch our limit, let alone catch double figures. We thought we’d get maybe two or three bites, but that was it,” explained Karim. Expecting the Teemburra round to be their weak link for the tour, the event actually secured their second event win for the tour and had them two-from-two heading into perhaps their strongest event, the Sunline Peter Faust Evening Event.

and we expected them to work their way along the treeline when they did it,” explained Karim. Their thinking would prove to be correct, but it wasn’t until after dark that

the bites came. “Teemburra had been fishing very hard leading into the event so our hopes weren’t high. We expected whatever bites we got would come after dark and

that’s how it played out,” explained Karim. Their point held a solid line of weed in about 9-10ft of water, then it quickly dropped off into 18 feet of water, it was off here in the

Edging into second Hitting a wind blown edge at Teemburra to catch their fish, Team Cairns Custom Craft’s Wally Wilton and Jake Mitchell came close to raining on Karim’s and Craig’s parade at Teemburra. Catching a 5/5, 353cm limit for the event, Wally and Jake were only 28cm adrift From page 85

“We’d occasionally add in a burn to mix it up a bit,” explained Short. The approach paid off with the pair getting seven hook-ups for the session, four of which they landed. “There was a distinct bite period just on dark. We had a half-hour bite window when we caught our fish,” explained Short. Their tackle selection included a Dobyns 705 SF

of the event winners, and had it not been for two crucial lost fish, they may have threatened our backto-back winners. Fishing a small wind blown area in the main basin, the pair keyed in on their location due its shallowness. “A shallow location near deepwater that fish rod, Daiwa Exist Branzino 3000 reel, 30lb Sunline Castaway PE, and 45lb Sunline FC100 flurocarbon leader. The pair also upgraded the hooks on their Transams, retrofitting the hooks with large Decoy YS 81 trebles. Short and Gibson’s top two result at Kinchant was the start that they were looking for on the Zerek BARRA Tour, and was a sign of further success to come.

can move into to feed is always attractive to barra”, explained Wilton. Their spot was exactly that, with a laydown there as well, providing cover for bait and adding extra appeal for the barra. It wasn’t however until later in the session when the northerlies and the turbid water eased in the shallows, that the barra really kicked into gear. With their lead plonk deployed and their boat positioned out from the edge, the pair cast up into 3-5ft of water then twitched their lures out towards the 8-12 feet drop off. The retrieve involved a series of fine twitches and pauses. “You wanted to move the lure, but you didn’t want to draw it too far forward. We’d twitch the lure on slack line so it darted ever so slightly,” explained Wilton.

Quality mid-sized fish like this guy saw Team Cairns Custom Craft finish second in round two. Their lure of choice included a Lucky Craft Pointer 100XD and a BTD General. While the pair caught one fish early, it wasn’t until later, 9:30-10:30pm, that the bite window really opened and the pair filled their limit. Landing five

fish for the session, the pair missed two key fish, larger fish that may have seen them challenge the event winners. Their tackle of choice at Teemburra included an Edge Rods 666 Black Widow rod, Daiwa Zillion J Dream reel (6.3:1), PE 3

Toray mainline and 50lb flurocarbon leader. Cairns Cutom Craft’s second at Teemburra was one place higher than at Kinchant and had them buoyed with confidence heading into the next round, round three, at Faust.

RESULTS

Matt Gibson looking giddy with the barra Kinchant has to offer.

Place Team

Team members

Fish

Length (cm)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Craig Griffiths / Karim De Ridder Wally Wilton / Jake Mitchell Matthew Mott / Dylan Mott Ash Sims / Dan Curry Geoff Newby / Phill Lyons Omar Hamid / Chase Bursnall Rick Napier / Dustin Sippel Shane Snell / Ryan O’Donoghue Mick Weick / Brendan Barnett Trent Short / Matt Gibson

5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 3/5 2/5 2/5 2/5 2/5 1/5

381 353 294 291 236 164 150 146 133 86

Humminbird / EJ Todd Cairns Custom South Burnett Directions Jackall Australia Likely Lads Rent Star Triton Boats / Edge Rods by Gary Loomis Get Flicked Tree Huggers Sunline

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

Motts motor to victory Team South Burnett Direction’s Matthew and Dylan Mott put an end to Team Humminbird/EJ Todd’s dream of a clean sweep of the 2016 Zerek BARRA Tour with the

spot and fish it thoroughly,” explained Matthew. With their spot locked in the paired anchored up wide of the point, 60-70m wider than other teams fishing the point. Anchored up the

THE FUTURE IS HERE Self-contained Electric Outboards

Team South Burnett Direction’s Matthew Mott was all smiles with their win in the Sunline Faust two-day event. father and son pair running down the defending Faust champions on the final day at Faust to secure victory in the Sunline presented event. With little to no prefish under their belt, the pair fished Faust Point for the event, a long, extensive point in the lower reaches of the lake. “We didn’t have a lot of options to choose from so we decided to fish one

pair would make long casts towards the point, then let their lure sink to the bottom, give it one quick hop, then retrieve it back to the boat. “It was like bass fishing that we use to do in the old days,” explained Dylan. Their approach was spot on, with their first fish on day one hitting the deck within the first 5 minutes, which was followed by three dropped fish in the next hour.

“It took us a bit by surprised. Once we dropped those fish, we thought we’d blown it and had missed our chance. Thankfully, it was a sign of what was to come for the tournament,” explained Matthew. With a 5/5, 541cm limit on day one, Mott and Mott sat in second place, and in striking distance to take down Griffiths and DeRidder. “We weren’t completely dialed in on the first day. So we were confident that once we made a few adjustments and got fully keyed in on what the fish wanted and the best way to land them. Then we’d catch the fish we needed to win,” explained Matthew. Heading straight back to Faust Point on day two, the pair found other boats in the area, but rather than panic, they fished around them, waiting for their spot to become available. “They eventually left and we moved in and started

BARRA

Presente Tour R3 d by Sun line

catching them like we did the first day”, explained Matthew. Getting the big bites when it mattered most. Mott and Mott presented a 5/5, 567cm catch card to the scorers to finish the event with a 10/10, 1108cm two-day limit, an average of 110cm, and the bag needed to dethrone Team Humminbird/EJ Todd as the kings of Faust. The tackle they used to secure the come from behind victory included Dobyns 704 rods, ABU Garcia Revo Beast (7.1:1) baitcaster reel, 50lb Sunline Castaway PE, 80lb Sunline FC 100 flurocarbon leader, and Mustad Fastach clip. Their lure of choice was the ever reliable Squidgy 130 Slick Rig in black and gold colour, rigged on a Griffo custom made jighead, Decoy treble, chartreuse dipped tail, and burnt tail wrist for added movement.

ZEREK BIG BARRA Fast 2-Day champions Team South Burnett Directions value added their event winnings at Faust claiming the Zerek Big Barra prize with their 120cm kicker fish.

Still lurking

Griffths and DeRidder we’re once again in the thick of action at Faust with the pair catching a 10/10, 1083cm limit to claim second place. Fishing Faust Point, a long weed bed that ran adjacent to a creek drop off, the pair positioned their boat in 10ft of water then either cast out from, or back to the weed bed. “Early in the session we’d cast towards the weed bed, then later as it got dark we’d throw out wide. That’s how the bigger fish tended to move during the tournament, so we tried to stay on them,” explained Craig. With their eyes fixed to the sounder to see where the fish were, and where they were moving, Craig and Karim

would throw a combination of hard and soft baits to catch their fish. Slick Rigs, Pointer XD 100 Pointers, Rapala X Raps, and large custom plastics all featured in their line-up of baits. The Slick Rig was a favourite of the barra, and their presentation involved casting it to the weed edge (8ft), sink it down, then hop it back to the boat, keeping the lure a foot off the bottom as it went. “We got an early bite in the first 10 minutes, then it was a fish about every 1.5 hours, then a distinct bite period on the tide change about 8:30pm. It turned on around this time, we caught a 119, 117, and 114,” explained Craig.

Griffo holds aloft another Faust barra. Leading after day one, the pair couldn’t find the fish they needed on the final day to hold off a strong finishing, and a growingly confident Team South Burnett Directions. “We caught more fish on the second the day, we just couldn’t get the big ones though”, explained Craig. The tackle they used included Dobyns Savy Rods,

Daiwa Zillion HD reel (7.3:1), 50lb Sunline Castaway PE, and 60lb (hardbodies) and 80lb (soft plastics) Sunline FC 100 flurocarbon leader. Their Faust defeat delivered the team their first loss for a long time, and motivated them for a strong performance at the next event, the 4th and final round of the tour, once again at Faust.

RESULTS

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 86

JANUARY 2017

Place Team

Team members

Fish

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Matthew Mott / Dylan Mott Craig Griffiths / Karim DeRidder Trent Short / Matt Gibson Geoff Newby / Phil Lyons Rick Napier / Dustin Sippel Ash Sims / Dan Curry Wally Wilton / Jake Mitchell Mick Slade / Morgan McIntyre Steve Lill / Colin Brett Steve Morgan / James Reid

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

South Burnett Directions Humminbird / EJ Todd Sunline Likely Lads Triton / Edge Rods Jackall Cairns Custom Jumped Off Dobyns Rods / Castaic Swimbaits Fishing Monthly

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

Length (cm) 1108 1083 1050 1016 990 959 895 874 859 724

South Burnett smash five for a solid win Team South Burnett Direction (Matthew and Dylan Mott) continued their winning ways at Faust, with the pair catching a 5/5, 563cm limit to make it backto-back victories. With their confidence sky high, they headed straight back to the scene of their last victory, Faust Point, and picked up where they left off, throwing Slick Rigs wide of the point. “We fished wider than others, we knew we couldn’t get as many bites or fish, but we were confident that we would get bigger fish, and it’s the big bites that win tournaments,” explained Dylan. Their rationale was spot one, and with a catch card that

them to the bottom, a quick hop, then work it back to the boat. Their approach worked, but the fish were fewer and far between compared to the two-day event. “We caught one fish, then jumped eight fish off in a row. We had a fivehour stretch where we didn’t catch a fish then between 12 and 1am we caught three. It then climaxed with the big

included a 107, 117, 109, 106, 107, 107, 111 and a 121, who can argue! “It’s a marathon effort fishing from 4pm in the

Matthew and Dylan Mott completed the clean sweep at Peter Faust with the South Burnett Directions pair picking up the $200 Zerek Big Bass Prize with their 121cm fish caught at 4am on the final morning of competition.

than 2nd), was enough to deliver them victory. Their second win in as many events, Team South Burnett Direction’s victory saw them come narrowly close (1 point) to beating Griffiths and DeRidder for the 2016 Team of the Year title. “I’m a competitive person by nature, so to do as well as we did at Faust and in the team of

than any victory or title,” explained Matthew. A proud father and competitive tournament angler, this tour may be the start of things to come on the BARRA Tour front for the talented father and son pairing from the South Burnett. The tournament winning tackle include four identical outfits made up of Dobyns

afternoon to 8am the next morning. You need to keep each other focused and motivated and be ready to lift your energy levels and attention when the peak bite windows come,” explained Dylan. The pre-dawn to dawn bite period was exactly that, with the pair catching their biggest fish for the session, a 121, at around 4am. The pair’s technique for catching their fish was the same as the last event, Slick Rigs cast long and far, sink

Still kings of the north progressed. The approach saw them catch 23 fish for the session, included a peak bite period just after midnight. “We were catching them consistently each hour, but we couldn’t get the big bites that we needed,” explained Griffiths. The standout fish in

Team Humminbird/EJ Todd’s 2nd place at Faust saw them secure the Costa BARRA Team of the Year title by one point over Faust winners South Burnett Directions. The narrowest of victories that saw them successfully retain their 2015 crown.

Faust Point once again delivered for Team Humminbird/EJ Todd. Griffths and DeRidder once again returned to Faust Point, a spot they found produced bigger fish than anywhere else, but this time they were greeted by more boats on the spot. “There was few local boats on the point, so we fished around them until they left, then we moved into a number one spot,” explained Craig. With their boat once again in 10ft of water the pair fished shallow early, then went deep as the session

Venom

Dylan Mott extracts a Slick Rig from another Faust barra.

ZEREK BIG BASS

Craig Griffths and Karim DeRidder once again showed that they are the benchmark of consistency when it comes to barra fishing, with the Humminbird/EJ Todd pair securing 2nd in the 4th and final event of the tour.

BARRA T Presente our R4 d by

their limit was two 112s and a 108. Unwilling to accept not catching the big fish they needed, the pair worked hard all session, alternating lures and changing up techniques in pursuit of big tournament fish. “By the end of the tournament, we had a pile of used lures on the back deck,” explained Craig. Catching a 5/5, 546cm limit for the 16 hour all-night barra-thon, Griffiths and DeRidder, secured second place by 1cm over 3rd placed Team Cairns Custom Craft.

Dylan Mott looks tired but happy with a fish from the Venom all-nighter on Faust. fish early in the morning,” explained Matthew. The pair’s goal of sacrificing numbers for size paid off and the their 5/5, 563cm limit (17cm larger

the year points race is very satisfying. What is more satisfying, however, is that I got to share the experience and time on the water with my son. This means more

704 rods, ABU Garcia Revo Beast (7.1:1) baitcaster reel, 50lb Sunline Castaway PE, 80lb Sunline FC 100 flurocarbon leader, and Mustad Fastach clip.

Karim DeRidder and Craig Griffiths the 2016 BARRA Tour Team of the Year.

RESULTS Place

Team

Team members

Fish

Length (cm)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

South Burnett Directions Humminbird / EJ Todd Cairns Custom Jackall Sunline Rent Star Fishing Monthly Likely Lads Get Flicked Touchin’ Cloth

Matthew Mott / Dylan Mott Craig Griffiths / Karim DeRidder Wally Wilton / Jake Mitchell Ash Sims / Dan Curry Trent Short / Matt Gibson Omar Hamid / Chase Bursnall Steve Morgan / James Reid Geoff Newby / Phil Lyons Shane Snell / Ryan O’Donoghue Ben Wilcox / Andrew Wilcox

5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5

563 546 545 545 542 540 538 519 519 513

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

Intense flattie fishing in the Urunga Tournament! FMG

Rupe Instagram: @ruperbad

Another successful edition of the Berkley Urunga Flathead Tournament has been run and won. Well in excess of 300 anglers travelled from all over to the sleepy mid-North Coast town in search of the big lizards.

While flathead were certainly the main target, such is the diversity of the estuary that you never really know which species will take a liking to your offering at any given time or location. Mangrove jack, cobia, trevally, bream, whiting, flounder, mulloway and a couple of other species of by-catch were all recorded for a vital points addition to a few empty looking score

Kalang rivers were both littered with eager fishers itching for their first cast. The anglers watched the closest boats for a subtle nod and gesture of good luck, not daring to cut in others’ drifts, as the time ticked over. It was all guns blazing. Conditions started out nice and still. By 8am, storms were closing in and boats were heading for cover. Standing in a tinnie with multiple 7ft lengths of carbon fibre during an

electrical storm is not recommended. Most of the boats rafted together didn’t waste any prime fishing and continued to fish from the safety of cover. Once the storm rolled through, boats began to scatter back to their favourite sand bank, weed bed or drop off. They began the proper search for a fish big enough to land their name on the Mick Molnar Marine Art trophy. For a lot of teams,

cards over the two days. Saturday morning started with a 5am pick-up of angler ID cards, and hot bacon and egg rolls. At this time the sun was rising, but the weather hadn’t worked out what type of day it was. A mix of cloud and clear skies gave anglers an apprehensive hope for better conditions than last year, where some anglers went through waterproof jackets fast! By the time the 6am start time arrived, the expansive arms of the Bellinger and

Champion Angler Ross Cannizzaro receives his trophies after a successful weekend on the water. The man can fish.

The girls are all smiles and will have something to show off at school tomorrow!

The ladies fished hard, more than making up for the missing numbers.

Competition was tight amongst the junior lads but one thing is for certain, they all had a ball.

The hottest contested category of the weekend, the men toughed it out with very little difference in score between the top 50 anglers.

JANUARY 2017

the chew for short periods of with many anglers reporting 45-60 minute windows when they caught their fish before they shut down again and elected to watch lures drift by instead of inhaling them. A 7pm cut off brought the close of day one. Once again it was time to recharge and rehydrate. A big morning was needed on Sunday if the scorers were going to be troubled. Tactics, missed opportunities and the usual tall tales were discussed both loudly and in secret,

SCORES Adult Male Points Ross Cannizzaro �� 617 Ryan Thompson �� 611 Jack Nolan �� 591 Felix Williams �� 590 Craig Hanlon �� 533 Justin Boon �� 420 Chris Beverley �� 410 Scott Marshall �� 390 Nigel White �� 368 Dale Johnson �� 354 Adult Female Points Kara Eades �� 305 Tammy Seewitz �� 138 Melissa Spillett �� 123 Ebonnie Wilson �� 103 Sarah Parbery �� 60 Catlin Nash �� 47 Brooke Blaike �� 40 Heather Osborne �� 39

Getting their eye in, the juniors gave it their best at the casting competition on the foreshore. From 5pm Friday, keen fishos and their families descended on the local sailing club headquarters to sign on, grab their sponsors’ gift packs and listen to all the rules and regulations dished out by the man at the helm, Dayne Taylor. Once the formalities were out of the way, it was back to camps, cabins, swags, shanties or the long bar at the Ocean View Hotel to recharge the batteries and rehydrate in anticipation of big flathead fishing to come.

finding consistent numbers of fish was a struggle this year. There was more boat movement from teams on the lookout for a new No. 1 spot than in the previous two years combined – right from the car topper tinnies and kayaks to the American style bass boats with all the gear. It was just tough. Changes of location, lures and retrieves were the common theme from most of the field. As the day wore on the temps got hotter, tides rolled through and the fish came on

SCORES Junior Male Points Jack Pregnell �� 341 Chris Hinshelwood �� 245 Calin Lyttle �� 180 Daniel Russell �� 160 Benjamin Heagney �� 150 Charlie Hollman ��117 Noah McGowan �� 102 Sam Johnson �� 101 Kieran Wray �� 82 Levi Johnson �� 61 Junior Female Points Jessica Brunsdon �� 171 Tekaya Tinson �� 140 Tiah Johns on �� 40 Caitlyn Hinshelwood �� 36 Mia Bursle �� 20 SCORES 2 Person Teams Points Freshest Fishing Tours / www.freshestfishing.com.au �� 887 North Coast Boating Centre �� 818 Hobie Fishing Australasia Revenge �� 811 Longhead �� 750 Two Mortons �� 684 www.tacklejunkie.fish �� 426 Dusky Chasers �� 401 Flumff �� 374 Conner �� 360 KFNSW #2 �� 340 3 Person Teams Points Abu Garcia �� 860 KFNSW �� 779 Berkley Fishing �� 541 Swan �� 507 Yamaha �� 491 Keen �� 454 Roamers �� 410 Wilson Fishing Worriors �� 308 Toms Team �� 244 Gamakatsu / Samurai Rods 2 �� 231 Longest Flathead Thornton Softley �� 74cm Rob Martin �� 74cm

The Top 2 Person Team, local guns Dale Johnson from Freshest Fishing Tours paired up with great mate Craig Hanlon to crack the pattern this weekend and top all teams, not just the 2 person section! depending on the level of rehydration, around camps and picnic tables. Sunday morning rolled around with 4:30am wake-ups, and long, fast moving lines for a bacon and egg roll and a 5am angler card pick up. There were some weary eyes, half smiles and a challenged sense of enthusiasm on the faces of the competitors. Plenty were thinking, ‘Wow, that was a tough day’. Others thought, ‘Why is my esky empty and where is the Panadol?’ Those who managed a decent card were surely thinking, ‘Don’t choke!’ Whispers of who was there were filtering around.

A couple of likely suspects – local gurus like Ryan Thompson, who blitzed the field last year, young gun Jack Nolan, as well as some new names like well seasoned tournament angler Ross Cannizzaro were also mentioned as the ones to beat. Plastics under the 4” mark had been doing the damage, whether they were fished in tight to structure or out on the open flats. The fishing on Sunday proved itself to be every bit as tough to crack a pattern as the day before. The same short bite windows once again played a key in determining places on the leader board. Bi-catches were plenty, but there were

few legal flathead. Knowing everyone was doing it tough though meant a single cast could potentially change it all. The majority of the anglers stuck it out and were flinging plastics right until the death at 12pm. At the end of it, most anglers still had a smile on their face. It still beats workin’. After pulling the boat out, tidying up all the gear, it was time for the presentations. There were fantastic prizes to be given out to the champions and even bigger ones to be decided by simply competing. There’s not a great deal of competitions where you can win a brand new boat motor and trailer package just for turning up. All juniors were awarded

medals on the day – a fantastic initiative of the Urunga Sport Fishing Club and the local bowling club to keep the kids keen and ensure the future of our beloved sport is secure in their hands. Fish or no fish, they went home winners. The tops of each category were announced with each place getter receiving novelty cheques to hang on the wall and show off on social media channels. Then it was time for the raffles. There was a brand new boat at stake, people – a boat! The lucky winner was Andy Ellis who actually came dead last in the fishing department, so it just goes to show – stick around and cheer the winners even if you didn’t fare so well yourself!

A congratulations from all the Fishing Monthly team to the hard working volunteer crew of the Urunga Sport Fishing Club for putting together a thoroughly enjoyable weekend once again. The commitment to growing the sport and promoting

catch and release fishing in the region deserves at the very least the respect of your peers. Many anglers can’t wait for the second weekend in November 2017 to come around to once again harass the local duskies. Until next year, where is the Panadol?

The by-catch category winners with their trophies.

The longest flathead landed for the weekend was 74cm – smaller than in previous years. It was a tie between Rob Martin and Thornton Softley, who landed his on the last cast of the day.

The boat raffle winner Andy Ellis looked stoked with his new ride.

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TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2017 FEBRUARY

11-12 Feb

Boondooma Dam Yellowbelly Fishing Competion Boondooma

Terry Allwood 0400 860122

12 Feb

BASS Electric Major #1 Clarrie Hall

www.abt.org.au

18-19 Feb

Mallacoota BREAM Qualifier #1 Mallacoota

www.abt.org.au

22-23 Feb

Gippsland Lakes BREAM Qualifier #2 Gippsland Lakes

www.abt.org.au

MARCH

18-19 Mar

BASS Electric #1 Lenthalls

www.abt.org.au

APRIL

29-30 Apr

Hawkesbury River BASS Pro Qualifier #1 Hawkesbury River

www.abt.org.au

1-2 Apr

Albany BREAM Qualifier #3 Albany

www.abt.org.au

5-6 Apr

Blackwood BREAM Qualifier #4 Blackwood

www.abt.org.au

8-9 Apr

BASS Electric #2 Toonumbar

www.abt.org.au

20-21 May

Manning River BREAM Qualifier #5 Manning River

www.abt.org.au

MAY

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

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Deeper arm to make your fishing flexible WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

I did a product review on one of Deeper’s other products recently – the Deeper unit. The Deeper unit is a portable and convenient fish finder, or sonar device. It’s a small round ball, even smaller than a tennis ball, that can be cast out from the bank or boat. Inside the ball is a fish finder transducer, which records a sonar reading from underneath

your boat seat, with another cable running to a battery to operate it, the Deeper Unit has the battery built in and sends the signal to you. This tech is the ultimate in convenience for shorebased fishers. Now with the addition of a Flexible Arm, it’s a step up for kayak and boat fishers too. Let’s go into more detail about the Flexible Arm – not since coloured television came to Lithuania has there been a more basic, yet convenient product on the market. Seriously,

Flexible Arm comes in a package with two parts, the arm and the clamp. The third part of the assembly is the Deeper unit itself which simply screws on to the end of the Flexible Arm. The Flexible Arm also comes with a lightweight, yet strong lanyard for securing your Deeper unit to your boat or kayak. To assemble your Deeper Flexible Arm, screw one end of the arm into the clamp. There are two different holes in the clamp, so choose the one

The Deeper Pro+ is at the forefront of fishfinder technology – convenience at its best. into one and ready to attach to your kayak. Find a spot that suits you and add the arm to your kayak. To do this, use the handle on the clamp to wind the clamp open and closed. Select a spot on

your kayak that suits you best, place the clamp there and tighten it up. Then it’s on and ready to go. Once it’s ready, attach the long end of the safety lanyard to your kayak somewhere and then clip it to the short

end, which is already on the Flexible Arm. That’s a description of the lanyard, and a step by step guide to the installation of the Deeper Flexible Arm, but what about the quality? In sticking with

The Deeper Flexible Arm and Deeper unit hooked up and sitting nicely in the water. This can be detached from the kayak in a matter of seconds. it, just like many other fish finders. What makes Deeper unique is that it has Bluetooth and sends a signal back to your mobile phone, which acts as the screen of your fish finder. Instead of having a transducer attached to the back of your boat with a cable running from that transducer to a screen on

the product development team at Deeper have got convenience and quality totally figured out. You may have read my review on the Deeper Pro+ unit, which I use, and this review is an expansion of that review. The Deeper Flexible Arm is designed to make using the Deeper unit possible for boat and kayak anglers. Firstly, the Deeper

that fits. Before you do that, be sure to slide the small part of the lanyard onto the arm, so that when you have attached the clamp, it’s unable to slip off. Once you’ve attached your lanyard and screwed the clamp on, you simply screw your Deeper unit onto the other end of the Flexible Arm. By this stage, the three pieces are assembled

Firstly you need to screw the Deeper Flexible Arm into the clamp. Then you can bend the Flexible Arm to roughly the position it will be sitting in. You can adjust it again later to get it exactly how you want it. 92

JANUARY 2017

Water conditions similar to the lower Ovens River are ideal for using the Deeper unit from a kayak to look for drop offs, submerged structure and deep holes in the river.

Screw the other end of the Deeper Flexible Arm into the Deeper unit. Finally, use the clamp to attach the Flexible Arm to the kayak and you’re ready to go. This is the assembled Deeper Flexible Arm.

Deeper tradition, the Deeper Flexible Arm has been made to the stringent quality standards that many European companies are renowned for. Just like the Deeper unit itself, the Flexible Arm is built tough. I have bent mine, twisted it, and really put it through its paces, without any quality concerns at all. The Deeper Flexible Arm is designed to bend,

without having to install fancy fittings in the hull of your kayak for transducers, wires and otherwise. The same Flexible Arm can be taken off one kayak and placed on another in a matter of seconds. Or, it can be placed on a boat where the Flexible Arm might need to be adjusted to lower the Deeper unit further. The Flexible Arm pretty much makes the entire

to another, or to a boat or a canoe, makes it one of the most convenient fishfinders in the world. It doesn’t matter whose boat, canoe or kayak you fish from, with the Flexible Arm you can take your own fish finder anywhere. Also, the Deeper unit can be unscrewed from the Flexible Arm and attached to a fishing rod and cast out easily, enabling the user

The clamp holds the Flexible Arm and attaches to the boat – it’s simple and easy for anybody to use. hence the name flexible, and can be quite firm when you try and bend it into place. This is a good thing, because if it was too easy to bend into place, it would self-adjust and end up sitting too deep in the water, or out of the water. The pressure required to bend the arm into position is about perfect. The reason the Deeper Flexible Arm needs to bend is because the Deeper unit needs to be sitting in the water, roughly 50% submerged. Now at 130kg (all muscle of course), I’m not a featherweight, so my kayak sits deeper in the water than others. If I get in my kayak and adjust the deeper to just how I need it, get out and my let best mate Sandy Hector get in, who weights 70kg, the Deeper unit will sit 10cm above the water and will turn off, as the unit needs to be wet to turn on. By designing a Flexible Arm that can be adjusted easily, the Deeper unit can be quickly and conveniently adjusted to suit all situations

Deeper unit more flexible, which is the pinnacle of convenience. What are the pros and cons? ADVANTAGES Quality – as more and more people come into contact with a Deeper unit for the first time, Deeper will quickly build up a reputation for the quality of their products. The ability to assemble and dismantle the Flexible Arm in a matter of seconds, as well as swap it from one kayak

to get a visual of what is under water in the nearby vicinity instead of only under the boat. This is especially helpful in lakes! It’s even compact – the entire Flexible Arm, clamp and Deeper unit are very compact and can easily be stowed away in a backpack. It takes up little room in a boat or kayak and can be stored out of the way easily when it’s not being used. Finally, the Deeper app can be downloaded onto

your mobile phone at any time, regardless of whether you have a Deeper unit or not. It’s a fantastic way to keep a fishing log and mark your favourite fishing spots on your map. Go ahead and download it, as I’m sure you’ll be impressed with the app. DISADVANTAGES Probably the biggest problem, which isn’t Deeper’s fault, is that all kayaks are designed differently. Some have more places to secure the Deeper than others, and on some models it may get in the way when paddling. With certain kayaks you may wish to secure the Flexible Arm behind the seat and out of the road, but not all kayaks have this option. On the plus side, this can be overcome easily by unscrewing the clamp and sitting the Flexible Arm in the kayak while you are paddling, or even just by adjusting the Flexible Arm, so that it sits a lot more flush with your kayak and out of the road. CONCLUSION That’s it, folks. The Deeper Flexible Arm gets an enormous thumbs up from me. Built to a supreme European quality standard and providing the best in modern technology, with superior convenience, the Deeper Flexible Arm and Deeper unit combine to provide brilliance in the world of portable fishfinder technology. For a video of my Deeper Pro+ unit in full operation, attached to my Flexible Arm, go to my YouTube channel at robbiefishing and look for my video called Kayak fishing for redfin perch with my Deeper Pro+ fish finder.

A U S T R A L I A

Margay 2016

$49,990

• 17’7” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 115 hp Mercury 4 stroke • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 597cxi HD Di or Lowrance HDS 5)

Pantera II 2016

$74,990

• 19’1” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 200 hp Mercury Optimax • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 698cxi HD Si or Lowrance HDS 7 GEN2)

Yar-Craft 1785BT 2016

$59,990

• 17’5” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 75 hp Mercury 4 stroke • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 597cxi HD Di or Lowrance HDS 5)

Sabre FTD 2016

VIDEO

$59,990

• 18’1” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 115 hp Mercury 4 stroke • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 698cxi HD Si or Lowrance HDS 7 GEN2)

Scan the QR code to see the author’s Youtube video of the Deeper Pro+ fish finder.

Fishing from his kayak with a Deeper Flexible Arm, the author found some lovely structure just in front of his kayak at the top end of a sand bar. It was 8ft deep with large logs – ideal for Murray cod.

We Build Dreams... It’s a Family Tradition

A U S T R A L I A

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

Trades, Services, Charter MARINE MECHANICS SYDNEY

0424 046 060 MOBILE MARINE MECHANIC LICENCED AND INSURED

Greg’s Mobile Marine 0424 046 060 • 24/7 CALL OUT Penrith Marine (02) 4731 6250 Moby Marine (02) 9153 6506 or www.mobymarine.com.au Aqua Marine 0415 600 301 or www.aquacash.com.au Cohoe Marine Products (Sydney) (02) 9519 3575 Blakes Marine (02) 4577 6699 Watersports Marine (02) 9676 1400 Neken Marine (02) 9979 9649

NEED REPLACEMENT MARINE ENGINE PARTS OR ACCESSORIES?

MOBY MARINE

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Emergency 24/7 Callout Service Sydney Wide.

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has you covered

(02) 9153 6506 sales@mobymarine.com.au

44 Barry Ave, Mortdale, NSW

North Coast Boating Centre (02) 6655 7700 Jetty Boating (02) 6651 4002

MACQUARIE COAST

Graham Barclay Marine (02) 6554 5866 Manning River Marine Taree (02) 6552 2333

MODIFICATIONS & REPAIRS // BOAT & TRAILER Bonanza Trailers 0408 299 129 www.bonanzatrailers.com.au Salt Away 1800 091 172 www.salt-away.com.au

SYDNEY

MOBILE BOAT SERVICING

The Boat Pimpers (Sydney) (02) 9792 7799

MARINE MAINTENANCE HULL CLEANING

3Gelcoat repairs 3 Insurance repairs

3 Transom & floor repairs 312v Electrical installations 4 Aspinall Place, MULGRAVE 02 4577 3482 www.westernboatrepairs.com.au

CLARENCE Marina Boat and Tackle (02) 6646 1994 Yamba Bait & Tackle (02) 6646 1514

COFFS COAST Compleat Angler Kempsey (02) 6562 5307 Rocks Marine Bait & Tackle South West Rocks (02) 6566 6726

MACQUARIE COAST Ned Kelly Bait n Tackle Port Macquarie (02) 6583 8318 Graham Barclay Marine (02) 6554 5866 Manning River Marine Taree (02) 6552 2333

HUNTER COAST Port Stephens Tackle World (02) 4984 2144

www.fishin.com.au

Specialising in “Tournament Quality Lures” 0425 230 964 SHOP 18, 29 KIORA RD MIRANDA NSW 2228

www.fishin.com.au 0425 230 964 Blue Bottle Fishing 0409 333 380 or www.bluebottlefishing.com Mo Tackle (02) 6652 4611 or www.motackle.com.au Specialty Fishing Products www.specialtyfishing.com.au Adrenalin Flies www.adrenalinflies.com.au Techni Ice www.techniice.com J Roc Tackle www.jroctackle.com.au Jayro Tackle www.jayrotackle.com.au Dubbo Marine and Watersports (02) 6882 2853

HOLIDAY RENTAL

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

MACLEAY VALLEY COAST

BAIT & TACKLE

BOAT DETAILING

ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS

Discounts for Fishing and Boating Club Members

COFFS COAST

BOAT ELECTRICAL REPAIRS

FRESHWATER

Aberdeen Fishing & Outdoors (02) 6543 7111 Loomzys Fish and Fix (Forbes) (02) 6851 1425

ONLINE BREAM TACKLE STORE

www.mobymarine.com.au

MOBILE MARINE MECHANIC

SYDNEY

Gabes Boating & Fishing Centre Narellan (02) 4647 8755 Windybanks Bait and Tackle (02) 9477 1520

Macleay Valley Coastal Holiday Parks 1300 262 782 Crescent Head Holiday Park (02) 6566 0261

CRESCENT HEAD HOLIDAY RENTALS

For all your accommodation needs, house, units & townhouses for every budget. Contact the friendly team at Crescent Head Real Estate for your free holiday brochure.

www.crescentheadholidayrentals.com.au

Email: holiday@crescentheadrealestate.com.au 6 MAIN ST, CRESCENT HEAD NSW 2440

Phone: 02 6566 0500

Crescent Head Holiday Rentals (02) 6566 0500 Hat Head Holiday Park (02) 6567 7501 Horse Shoe Bay Holiday Park (02) 6566 6370 Stuarts Point Holiday Park (02) 6563 0616 Grassy Head Holiday Park (02) 6569 0742

HUNTER COAST Wangi Point Lakeside holiday Park (02) 4975 1889 Blacksmiths Holiday Park (02) 4971 2858

CENTRAL COAST Central Coast Holiday Parks 1800 241 342

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.

JANUARY 2017

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory ILLAWARRA COAST

QUEENSLAND

MV CAPRICORN STAR

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 Werri Beach Holiday Park (02) 4234 1285 Seven Mile Beach Holiday Park (02) 4234 1340 Kiama Harbour Cabins (02) 4232 2707 Ulladulla Headland Tourist Park 1300 733 021

EXTENDED FISHING CHARTERS

INDIVIDUAL ENQUIRIES WELCOME

FRESHWATER

Swains Reef • Bunker Group • Coral Sea • Shoal Waters and Beyond

W capricornstar.com.au • E info@capricornstar.com.au

Burrinjuck Waters State Park (02) 6227 8114 Winter Keep (Snowy Mountains) www.winterkeep.com.au Grabine Lakeside State Park (02) 4835 2345 Lake Glenbawn State Park (02) 6543 7193 Wyangala Waters State Park (02) 6345 0877 Bass Lodge Macleay River NSW 0433 482 325 Chifley Dam Cabins 1800 68 1000 Copeton Waters (02) 6723 6269

MV Capricorn Star 0408 755 201 or www.amytiadventure.com.au Mikat Cruises Fishing Charters Swains & Coral Sea 0427 125 727

Fishing Monthly SPECIAL Offers!

CHARTER BOATS

SHOP ONLINE 24/7

BYRON COAST

FISHING EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!

Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters, 0428 828 835 Reel Time Fishing Charters Yamba 0428 231 962

Dave Gaden’s Yamba • Deep Sea

REEL TIME FISHING CHARTERS

www.bargainboatbits.com.au or IN-STORE WITH YOUR LOCAL BBB MEMBER!

• Reef, Deep Sea and Sport Fishing • Swains, Samurez, Cap Bunker Group • Dories available • LUXURY 20m Cat. New V8 Scanias. Large comfortable and stable. • Air conditioned and fast (cruise up to 16 knots) • Professional crew (over 22 years experience) • Cater for groups up to 12 people from 3 to 10 days • BYO or fully licenced bar • Desalinate unit • Trips designed to suit your requirements

PACK INCLUDES;

Seats with Swivels Folding Landing Net Knife and Scissors Drink Coolers Storage Bin Bait Board Rod Rack

SATELLITE TV INSTALLED

• 6am to 2pm $150pp • 2 boats – holds up to 18 people • All fishing gear and bait is supplied • No fishing licence req. • Pickup from Yamba Marina or Iluka ferry wharf

HOT TINNY FISHING PACK!

Phone: 0427 125 727 I Fax: (07) 4972 1759 michael@mikat.com.au

www.mikat.com.au

Phone Dave today: www.fishingyamba.com.au 0428 231 962 OPEN 7 DAYS

ASY

E COFFS PARKING COAST

Coffs Coast Sport Fishing 0434 517 683 Oceanic Sea Urchin II Charters (02) 6566 6623 or 0428 650 321 The Rocks Fishing Charters 0412 074 147 Trial Bay Fishing Charters, 0427 256 556 South West Rocks Fishing Adventures 0411 096 717

FISHING GUIDES ILLAWARRA COAST Bay & Basin Sportsfishing 0413 610 832

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

7 GREAT COLOURS!

KAYAK DEALERS

www.southwestrocksfishingadventures.com.au

RGEST TA A L ’S A B s YAM ry • Boat Sale Parts M

• Ice & Gas

ndle Ph: 6646 1994 ORT •&Trailers Sales & • ChaF SP G k c R• EBE Ta & it E FIle SHIN aM or 0428 231 962 ings GA Mid week packages from $420 p/p* BookE dave@gaden.com.au • CharterR T RS uuEmail: Weekend packages from $320 p/p*

CHA

FISH TAXIDERMY Fish Taxidermist 0428 544 841

SAMPLE AD - BUSINESS NAME This is where your copy will appear. You will have approximately 30 words within a 5x2 ad size.

*Minimum 6 people

On board our fully equiped 38ft Randell TRIFECTA Contact: David Hayman (Stumpee) Mobile: 0411 096 717 info@swrcharters.com.au

MACQUARIE COAST Castaway Estuary Charters 0427 239 650 Ocean Star Fishing Charters 0416 240 877

HUNTER COAST

Email : ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

Tailermade Fishing Adventures 0411 096 717

SYDNEY Harbour and Estuary Fishing Charters (02) 9999 2574 or 0410 633 351 Sydney Sportfishing Adventures 0405 196 253

ILLAWARRA COAST Sea Lady Charters 0411 024 402 Silver Star Fishing Charters (02) 4421 7462 or 0412 977 000 Shell Harbour Fishing Charters 0425 216 370

EDEN COAST Esprit Fishing Charters 0418 634 524 Freedom Charters Eden (02) 6496 1209 or www.freedomcharters.com.au

BOAT IMPORTS

Sirocco Plush Padded Folding Seat

Hunter Water Sports (02) 4947 7899

INA YAMBA MAR E , E L K C A T & R ARINA BOAT CKLE STO

199

BLUE OR WHITE!

LED Underwater Lights

STORES STRONG

WE YOU BUY MORE PAY LESS

Import USA Boat 0435 476 177

BOAT HIRE Boab Boat Hire (NSW) 1300 002 6221

www.bargainboatbits.com.au

CHANDLERY & ACCESSORIES Anchor Right (03) 5968 5014 Korr Lighting www.korrlighting.com.au

Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0800 or email ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

JANUARY 2017

FIND-A-WORD COMPETITION BAD SUBSTITUTES FOR MARINE CARPET

CHIPBOARD GLASS GRAVEL BINDII KITTED RUG MULCH OYSTER SHELLS PEA SINKERS POST ITS SABIKI RIGS SAWDUST

SEAWEED SHEOAK CONES SILK STYROFOAM THUMB TACKS TURF TYRE SPIKES TISSUE PAPER CELLOPHANE THISTLES

Name: Address:

P/Code:

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

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

NSW JANUARY 2017

Phone (day):

Dynabait worms are an all-natural, freeze-dried bait. Just soak them in water, and within minutes they’re ready to go! As soon as they hit the water, they release a potent mix of hormones and enzymes that fish can’t resist. These worms are dynamite on bream, whiting, bass, flathead, blackfish, cod, yellowbelly, trevally and many more! Dynabait Bloodworms, Tubeworms and Sandworms are available at all good tackle stores.

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to P Ashford of Hurstville, who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition! Monthly winners receive a sponsor prize. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – NSWFM

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE BITE ME by Trisha Mason

The subscriber prize winner for November was B Wright of Lake Cathie, who won an ultimate Tackle Tactics Pack valued at over $300SRP. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

FIND THE ZMAN LOGO

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

The answers to Find the ZMan Logo for November were: 8, 16, 17, 21, 24, 29, 34, 42, 50, 58, 62, 67, 73, 92, 109. – NSWFM The Find the ZMan logo prize winners for November were: N Webster of Kurrajong Heights, G Tasker of Belfield, J Wilson of Boronia, K Carter of Shepparton, B Gorham of Toronto, J Stranner of Rose Bay, K Jones of Narromine, W Chapman of Pomonal, W Newall of Cumnock, M Claydon of Karuah, D Osborne of Perthville, D Jones of Bathurst, T Vine of Davistown, P Owers of North Nowra, S Hall of Thursday Is, A Bock of Wollongbar, I Errey of Leeton, A Hepper of Iluka, M Donnelly of Bungendore, M Klumper of Nambucca Heads, E Duckworth of Forster, D Collister of Hillvue, B Newham of Penrith, K Lee of Concord West, A Price of Tenambit, L Jeffs of Gateshead, B Schnitzer of Cooma, C Colley of Mount Panorama, C Englebrecht of Wagga Wagga, F Sear of Junee, C Cooper of Boorowa, D Culshaw of Banyo, R Jones of Toronto, C De Boer of Valentine, P Giles of South Nowra, S Bereston of Chittaway Bay, J Szab of South Penrith, D Chandler of Theordore, Z Mosessen of Wanniassa, and R Wicks of Forbes. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

MAJOR FIND THE PRIZE

The Major prize winners for the Find the ZMan logo: 1st prize of $1000 prize pack goes to G Roberts of White Rock; 2nd prize of $500 prize pack goes to P Cobb of Berrigan; 3rd prize of $200 prize pack goes to J Inwood of Kirwan. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat

Inside story...

Bar Crusher leads the industry in design and quality to produce some of the most advanced plate aluminium fishing boats on the market. Incorporating exclusive innovations, Bar Crusher Boats are renowned for their superior performance.

Made for...

Bar Crusher’s philosophy is all about ensuring the buyer ends up with a boat that’s ideal for their offshore and boating needs. Bar Crushers deliver a super-smooth ride - a far cry from the uncomfortable, pounding ride of traditional aluminium boats - and superior stability at rest.

This month...

Steve Morgan catches up with Warren Cleland and Matt Urzia from Bar Crusher to test out the 670HT in choppy conditions on Port Phillip Bay.

99 Kayak Hotspot Toby Grundy explores the great little estuarine fishery that is Berringer Lake - under paddle power, of course.

102 Kayak fit out Justin Willmer goes into detail about how you can fit out your kayak for a bit of summer fun.

118 Stacer Nomad Ranger 4.89 Steve Morgan and Andrew Stephen give this rig a good runaround on Port Phillip Bay.

JANUARY 2017

WHAT’S NEW BOATING NEW WIDESCREEN ELITE-TI DISPLAYS

Lowrance, a world-leading brand in fishing electronics since 1957, announced the addition of a pair of widescreen displays to the Elite Ti standalone series of fishfinder/chartplotters. The new Lowrance Elite-12 Ti and Elite-9 Ti touchscreen fishfinder/chartplotters include the same features that have generated so much excitement about the Elite-Ti series — but on bigger 12 and 9-inch high-resolution, widescreen displays. Including premium features like a touchscreen interface, Bluetooth and wireless connectivity, proven Lowrance navigation technology and high-performance sonar – including CHIRP, Broadband Sounder™ and StructureScan HD with SideScan and DownScan Imaging – the new displays are still available at an affordable price. CHIRP sonar offers improved fish-target separation and screen clarity, while the StructureScan HD sonar imaging system with exclusive Lowrance DownScan Imaging delivers photo-like images of fish-holding structure on both sides and directly beneath. Protected by the Lowrance Advantage Service program, the Elite-12 and Elite-9 Ti can be purchased from authorised Lowrance dealers and distributors. www.navico.com

LOW-COST MARINE THERMAL VISION

The New Ocean Scout TK thermal vision camera from FLIR is designed specifically for fishing and boating, providing users with the ability to ‘see’ in total darkness or blinding sunlight. Designed for one-handed use and built tough to handle extreme conditions, the compact yet powerful Ocean Scout TK uses FLIR’s class-leading thermal technology to display images based on heat, not visible light. From showing buoys, rocks, boats and other obstructions out on the water, the Ocean Scout TK provides situational peace of mind in an affordable, easy-to-use package. Five hours of rechargeable power via an internal Li-ion battery, combined with a range of selectable screen displays and the ability to record up to 1000 still images plus video, means the FLIR Ocean Scout TK is a valuable safety tool for all outdoors enthusiasts. The unit comes complete with a lanyard, a protective lens cap and a USB cable for downloading. Price: RRP $899 www.raymarine.com.au

AUGMENTED REALITY 3 SONAR SYSTEMS

Raymarine is pleased to announce an allnew version of its popular Wi-Fish mobile app for use with Dragonfly-PRO and Wi-Fish CHIRP Sonar systems. The app has been expanded and now includes Augmented Reality Viewing of your saved waypoints and fishing hot spots. The app works with the GPS, compass and camera in your smartphone or tablet to show precisely where you are in relation to your saved waypoints. The name, symbol, bearing and range to each waypoint is displayed as a dynamic overlay on a real-time view of the waterway in front of you. Simply pan your smartphone or tablet 360° across the horizon, the precise positions of your waypoints are shown on the live camera feed. This makes it easier to locate your favourite fishing spots and navigate right to them! To use the Augmented Reality mode, you must be running the new Wi-Fish app on a GPS enabled smartphone or tablet. Hit the water with the new Dragonfly WiFish app, today! www.raymarine.com.au 98

JANUARY 2017

NSS EVO3 DISPLAYS

Next generation Simrad NSS Evo3 multifunction displays were announced today, featuring new SolarMAX HD screens, Dual Channel CHIRP sounder compatibility and an expanded keypad, plus a host of premium features that make the NSS Evo3 Series the choice of power boaters and sport fishermen around the globe. The NSS Evo3 series will include 16-, 12-, 9- and 7-inch models with an updated, easy-touse interface and support for full operation via touchscreen or keypad, making the unit easier to operate when the boat is in motion, in all weather conditions. The touchscreen works accurately even when wet – covered in fresh or salt water – it won’t impact performance. Designed for the offshore anglers, Dual Channel CHIRP enables wide angle and deep view sonar images from the same transducer (with a dual channel CHIRP sonar transducer installed on their boat). Built in Wi-Fi enables access to GoFree online services to download software updates and map purchases directly to the unit. www.simrad-yachting.com

YAMAHA F25 EFI

Yamaha’s new F25 EFI has been developed to exceed the performance and features of Yamaha’s 25N 2-stroke, a motor that offered excellent performance and reliable operation, as well as improve on Yamaha’s existing F25. The new F25 EFI is around 25% lighter, and its 4-stroke, fuel injected design delivers even better performance and fuel economy. Battery-less Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) is a new feature on this engine, and to the Yamaha 4-stroke range as a whole. It achieves easy starting performance, delivering one-handed starting from a seated position. Excellent acceleration, achieved through optimal setting of the EFI, puts the new F25’s performance at the top of its class. Yamaha’s variable trolling switch comes standard on this engine, allowing adjustment of the trolling engine speed in increments of 50 r/min from 750rpm to 1050rpm. The F25 is compatible with NMEA2000 and Yamaha’s range of command link digital gauges. www.yamaha-motor.com.au

GPSMAP MODELS COMING SOON

PRODUCT GUIDE

Garmin has announed the release of several new products at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, among them new GPSMAP models set to arrive in the New Year. Further expanding the popular GPSMAP product range, the new touchscreen and keyed units are packed with industry-leading sonar and chartplotting features. The new units offer full-network compatibility for the Garmin Marine Network, which allows support for sharing sonar, maps, user data, radar, IP cameras and Panoptix all-seeing sonar across multiple units. There’s also NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 support for autopilots, digital switching, weather, VHF, AIS and other sensors. All 2017 GPSMAP models also feature built-in Quickdraw Contours software – an easy-to-use tool allowing boaters to instantly create personalised HD maps with 30cm contours on any body of water. www.garmin.com/en-AU

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

Bring it on at Berringer Lake CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

As a kid, I spent summer holidays hanging around Conjola, Berringer Lake and Cunjurong Point. I didn’t do a lot of fishing, but even back then I knew it was a good spot because I would often see locals and tourists returning from the lake or the beach at dusk with a mixed bag of

and a bakery. The tackle shop is only small, so it doesn’t have a lot of options. If you want something specific, it’s best to stop in Ulladulla before making your way to Cunjurong Point and then on to Berringer Lake. Berringer Lake doesn’t have any public amenities and is located in the middle of a national park, so come prepared. If you’re spending a day on the kayak, you’ll need plenty of water, food

TECHNIQUES Small cranks work well in the deeper sections of the lake and so do surface lures if targeting mullet. However, I like the flathead fishing and mostly stick to soft plastics. The flathead go absolutely nuts for them and it’s not uncommon to catch 20-30 on a bank using these costeffective lures. I position the kayak off a point and cast towards the bank. I then hop the plastic

Another flathead in the net – Berringer Lake fishes well all year round. whiting, bream, snapper and flathead. Recently, I visited Cunjurong Point and took my kayak. I hit Berringer Lake and found that the flathead fishing, if possible, is even better than it was when I was a kid.

and all the usual safety equipment. It’s a tidal lake, so the wind can whip up quickly. I should stress here that the lake has had a number of toxic seaweed outbreaks. If you decide to fish the lake, do so for sport and put

down towards the bottom. If the flathead don’t hit on the drop or the hop, you can just let the plastic rest on the bottom. Provided it has a lot of scent on the lure, the flathead will pick it up. I’ve found this method works well on the larger specimens.

other plastics of 100mm or more. Plus, you will have a shot at one of the lake’s resident mulloway. Don’t forget to increase your leader size if you decide to do this though. THE KAYAK I used my Native Slayer Propel 13 and it handled this type of fishing with ease. Cruising the points looking for strikes is a lot of fun in this kind of yak, because you can stand up and really target your casts. There is plenty of storage in the Native, which is great for a full day on the water, but make sure if you’re using a pedal yak that you give the propel drive a good hose down afterwards. Use plenty of fresh water. LOCATIONS You will catch fish anywhere on the lake. That is a guarantee. The place is teeming with fish. However, during the warmer months, water skiers frequent the area. It pays to move up the lake towards ‘the steps’ for some peace and quiet, where you’ll find good concentrations of every species available. The boat traffic on the lake doesn’t really affect the action if you decide to stay in the main area, but the larger fish may prove elusive. TACKLE I use two rods when fishing Berringer Lake – one

The author releasing a Berringer flatty. for lighter plastics and the other for heavier offerings. My Daiwa Freams 2004 matched with a 6’10 Team Daiwa X (light) rod proved perfect for throwing lighter plastics while my Daiwa Heartland 7’0 (medium) rod matched with a 3000 sized Certate worked well with the heavier 100mm plastics. I used 6lb braid and fluorocarbon leader with my light combo and 20lb braid and leader with my heavier combo. Don’t skimp on the braid and the leader. Flatties sheer through the cheap stuff with ease. TIMING Berringer Lake fishes well all year round.

September is great if you want to run up a cricket score of fish. March and April represent the best time to target the larger specimens. Cloud cover seems to affect the lake in a good way and fishing at dawn or dusk is the most productive. CONCLUSION Berringer Lake is a great place to introduce a novice kayak angler to plastics fishing and a great place to hone your skills. There are so many fish and it never switches off. If you’re after a good day’s fishing for light tackle sportfish, Berringer Lake is perfect.

The lake is a stunning location.

Cricket scores of smaller fish are on offer all throughout the lake. FACILITIES Berringer Lake is located right next to Cunjurong Point on the South Coast of NSW, which is just down the road from Lake Conjola. The town of Milton is close by and has all the usual amenities, including a small tackle shop, cafes, a supermarket, petrol station

everything back. Wash your hands after fishing. SPECIES Berringer Lake contains healthy populations of bream, snapper and mullet along with the odd mulloway. There are enormous numbers of good-sized tailor and huge numbers of flathead.

Minimal movement in the current along with an attack trigger drives them crazy. Grubs in 2-3” work well and I find the StrikePro Enticers to be the best plastics for this type of fishing. Hot tip: if you are getting a lot of smaller flathead, size up the plastic. A Squidgy Mongrel works well, as do

The Native Slayer 13 is perfect for fishing Berringer Lake. JANUARY 2017

2017 2017 2017 Local Time

SYDNEY SOUTH WALES WALES SYDNEY (FORT (FORT DENISON) DENISON) – – NEW NEW SOUTH SYDNEY (FORT WALES JANUARY JANUARY JANUARY

Time Time Time 0432 0432 0432 1101 1101 1101 1738 SU 1738 SU 1738 SU 2339 2339 2339 0516 0516 0516 1142 1142 1142 1819 MO 1819 MO 1819 MO

111 222

0025 0025 3330025 0603 0603 0603 TU 1225 TU1225

TU 1225 1902 1902 1902 0114 0114 0114 0656 0656 0656 1312 WE 1312 WE WE 1312 1950 1950 1950 0207 0207 0207 0755 0755 0755 TH 1406 TH1406 TH 1406 2042 2042 2042 0306 0306 0306 0902 0902 0902 1509 FR FR1509 1509 FR 2138 2138 2138 0407 0407 0407 1017 1017 1017 1620 SA SA1620 SA 1620 2237 2237 2237 0509 0509 0509 1134 1134 1134 1732 SU1732 SU SU 1732 2336 2336 2336 0609 0609 0609 1244 1244 1841 1841 MO1244 MO MO 1841

444 555 666 777

888 999

0033 0033 0033 10 10 0705 0705 10 1345 1345 TU0705 TU

TU 1345 1942 1942 1942 0129 0129 0129 0800 0800 1441 WE0800 1441 WE 2038 WE 1441 2038 2038 0221 0221 0221 0852 0852 1531 TH0852 1531 TH 2130 TH 1531 2130 2130 0313 0313 0313 0942 0942 0942 FR 1620 FR 1620 2220 FR 1620 2220 2220 0402 0402 1030 0402 1030 1706 1030 SA SA 1706 2309 SA 1706 2309 2309 0452 0452 1115 0452 1115 1749 SU1115 1749 SU 2355 SU 1749 2355 2355

11 11 11 12 12 12 13 13 13

14 14 14

15 15 15

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

Time m Time m m m Time m m 0540 0.47 0.50 0540 0.47 0.47 0.50 0540 0.50 1159 1.78 1.78 1159 1.76 1.76 1159 1.76 1.78 1831 0.33 0.34 0.34 MO 1831 0.33 MO 1831 0.33 0.34 MO 1.37 1.37 1.37 0041 0.52 0041 1.42 1.42 0.52 0041 1.42 0.52 0628 1.74 0628 0.55 0.55 1.74 0628 0.55 1.74 1241 0.35 1241 1.63 1.63 0.35 TU TU 1241 1.63 0.35 TU 1912 0.42 1912 0.42 0.42 1912 0127 1.39 1.37 0127 1.39 1.39 1.37 0127 1.37 0717 0.55 0717 0.62 0.62 0.55 0717 0.62 0.55 1323 1.49 1.69 WE 1323 1.49 1.69 WE 1323 1.49 1.69 0.37 1952 0.50 0.50 0.37 WE 1952 1952 0.50 0.37 0215 1.38 0215 1.37 1.37 1.38 0215 1.37 1.38 0811 0.69 0.58 0811 0.69 0.58 0811 1.37 0.69 0.58 1409 1.62 TH 1409 1.37 1.62 TH 1409 1.37 1.62 0.39 2035 0.56 0.56 0.39 TH 2035 2035 0.56 0.39 1.41 0307 1.41 0307 1.37 1.37 1.41 0307 1.37 0.61 0913 0913 0.73 0.73 0.61 0.61 0913 1.53 1.27 1503 0.73 1.27 1.53 FR FR 1503 1.53 1503 1.27 FR 0.42 2123 2123 0.60 0.60 0.42 0.42 2123 0.60 1.45 0402 1.45 0402 1.39 1.39 1.45 0402 0.62 1022 0.73 0.62 1022 1.39 0.73 0.62 1022 1.46 1.21 1.46 SA 1608 0.73 1.21 SA 1608 1.46 1608 1.21 0.43 0.43 SA 2217 2217 0.62 0.62 0.43 2217 0.62 1.52 0500 1.52 0500 1.43 1.43 1.52 0500 0.59 1133 0.70 0.59 1133 1.43 0.70 0.59 1133 1.40 1.19 1.40 SU 1716 0.70 1.19 SU 1716 1.40 0.43 2313 0.62 0.43 SU 1716 2313 1.19 0.62 0.43 2313 0.62 1.62 0555 1.62 0555 1.49 1.49 1.62 0555 0.52 1235 1.49 0.63 0.52 1235 0.63 0.52 1235 0.63 1.39 MO 1820 1.21 1.21 1.39 MO 1820 1.39 0.41 MO 1820 1.21 0.41 0.41 1.73 0005 0.60 0.60 1.73 0005 1.73 0005 0.41 0644 0.60 1.56 0.41 0644 1.56 0.41 1.40 TU 1326 1.56 0.55 1.40 1326 0.55 TU 0644 1.40 TU 1326 1913 0.55 1.25 1913 1.25 1913 1.25 0.39 0052 0.57 0.57 0.39 0052 0.39 0052 1.84 0728 0.57 1.63 1.84 0728 1.63 1.84 0.30 WE 1409 1.63 0.47 0.30 1409 0.47 WE 0728 0.30 1.43 WE 1409 1958 0.47 1.29 1.43 1958 1.29 1.43 1958 1.29 0.36 0135 0.53 0.53 0.36 0135 0.36 0135 1.93 0808 0.53 1.69 1.93 0808 1.69 1.93 0.22 TH 1446 1.69 0.40 TH 0808 0.22 1446 0.40 0.22 1.46 TH 1446 2038 0.40 1.34 1.46 2038 1.34 1.46 2038 1.34 0215 0.49 0.49 0.35 0215 0.35 0215 0.35 0846 0.49 1.75 1.98 0846 1.75 1.98 1.98 1523 1.75 0.35 0.16 FR FR 0846 1523 0.35 0.16 0.16 2116 0.35 1.38 1.47 FR 1523 2116 1.38 1.47 2116 1.38 1.47 0.34 0255 0.45 0.45 0.34 0255 0.34 0255 1.99 0925 0.45 1.80 1.99 0925 1.80 1.99 0.16 SA 1559 1.80 0.30 SA 0925 0.16 1559 0.30 0.16 1.48 SA 1559 2155 0.30 1.42 1.48 2155 1.42 1.48 2155 1.42 0.36 0335 0.43 0.43 0.36 0335 1.96 1003 0.43 1.82 0.36 0335 1.96 1003 1.82 0.19 1635 0.28 1.96 1003 1.82 SU 0.19 SU 1635 0.28 1.47 SU 1635 2234 0.28 1.45 0.19 1.47 2234 1.45 1.47 2234 1.45 0.41 0417 0.42 0.42 0.41 0417 1.87 1043 1.82 0.41 0417 0.42 1.87 1043 1.82 0.25 MO 1043 1714 1.82 0.27 1.87 0.25 1714 0.27 MO 1.44 MO 1714 2316 0.27 1.48 0.25 1.44 2316 1.48 1.44 2316 1.48 0502 0.42 0.42 0502 1125 1.78 0502 0.42 1125 1.78 1753 1.78 0.28 TU 1125 1753 0.28 TU TU 1753 0.28

16 16 16 17 17 17

18 18 18 19 19 19

20 20 20

21 21 21 22 22 22 23 23 23

24 24 24 25 25 25

Time Time Time 0000 0000 0000 0551 0551 0551 1208 WE 1208 WE 1208 WE 1834 1834 1834 0047 0047 0047 0643 0643 0643 1256 TH 1256 TH 1256 TH 1919 1919 1919 0140 0140 0140 0741 0741 0741 1349 FR 1349 FR FR 1349 2009 2009 2009 0237 0237 0237 0848 0848 0848 1451 SA 1451 SA SA 1451 2107 2107 2107 0340 0340 0340 1006 1006 1006 SU 1606 SU 1606 SU 1606 2212 2212 2212 0447 0447 0447 1126 1126 1126 1725 MO MO 1725 1725 MO 2318 2318 2318 0553 0553 0553 1237 1237 1237 1836 TU TU 1836 TU 1836

m m m 1.50 1.50 1.50 0.45 0.45 0.45 1.71 1.71 1.71 0.32 0.32 0.32 1.51 1.51 1.51 0.49 0.49 0.49 1.61 1.61 1.61 0.37 0.37 0.37 1.52 1.52 1.52 0.53 0.53 0.53 1.50 1.50 1.50 0.43 0.43 0.43 1.53 1.53 1.53 0.56 0.56 0.56 1.39 1.39 1.39 0.48 0.48 0.48 1.56 1.56 1.56 0.56 0.56 0.56 1.32 1.32 1.32 0.51 0.51 0.51 1.62 1.62 1.62 0.51 0.51 0.51 1.30 1.30 1.30 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.70 1.70 1.70 0.42 0.42 0.42 1.33 1.33 1.33

0021 0021 88 0021 0654 0654 0654 1338 WE 1338 WE

0.47 0.47 0.47 1.78 1.78 1.78 0.33 0.33 0.33 1.38 1.38 1.38 0.42 0.42 0.42 1.86 1.86 1.86 0.26 0.26 0.26 1.44 1.44 1.44 0.38 0.38 0.38 1.90 1.90 1.90 0.22 0.22 0.22 1.49 1.49 1.49 0.36 0.36 0.36 1.90 1.90 1.90 0.22 0.22 0.22 1.51 1.51 1.51 0.36 0.36 0.36 1.86 1.86 1.86 0.25 0.25 0.25 1.52 1.52 1.52 0.39 0.39 0.39 1.78 1.78 1.78 0.30 0.30 0.30 1.51 1.51 1.51 0.44 0.44 1.68 0.44 1.68 0.37 1.68 0.37 0.37

55 66 77

WE 1338 1936 1936 1936 0119 0119 0119 0748 0748 1430 1430 TH 0748 TH TH 1430 2029 2029 2029 0212 0212 0212 0839 0839 1516 1516 FR 0839 FR FR 1516 2115 2115 2115 0301 0301 0301 0926 0926 1559 SA 0926 1559 SA 2200 SA 1559 2200 2200 0348 0348 0348 1010 1010 1639 SU 1010 1639 SU 2243 SU 1639 2243 2243 0432 0432 0432 1052 1052 1052 MO 1715 MO 1715 2323 MO 1715 2323 2323 0516 0516 1131 0516 1131 1751 1131 TU TU 1751 TU 1751

10 10

26 26 26

11 11

27 27 27

12 12

28 28 28

13 13

29 29 29

14 14

30 30 30

0002 0002 15 0600 0002 0600 15 1209 WE 0600 1209 WE 1825

31 31 31

1.49 1.49 0.51 1.49 0.51 1.57 0.51 1.57 0.45 WE 1209 1825 1.57 0.45 1825 0.45

Time Time Time 0042 0042 0042 0644 0644 0644 1246 1246 1246 1859 1859 1859 0123 0123 0123 0731 0731 0731 1328 1328 1328 1937 1937 1937 0209 0209 0209 0828 0828 0828 1417 1417 1417 2023 2023 2023 0303 0303 0303 0933 0933 0933 1520 1520 1520 2120 2120 2120 0405 0405 1048 1048 1636 1636 2227 2227 0509 0509 1157 1157 1749 1749 2330 2330 0607 0607 1252 1252 1846 1846

m m m 1.47 1.47 1.47 0.57 0.57 0.57 1.45 1.45 1.45 0.52 0.52 0.52 1.44 1.44 1.44 0.64 0.64 0.64 1.34 1.34 1.34 0.58 0.58 0.58 1.42 1.42 1.42 0.69 0.69 0.69 1.25 1.25 1.25 0.64 0.64 0.64 1.40 1.40 1.40 0.71 0.71 0.71 1.18 1.18 1.18 0.68 0.68 0.68 1.41 1.41 0.70 0.70 1.16 1.16 0.70 0.70 1.44 1.44 0.65 0.65 1.18 1.18 0.67 0.67 1.51 1.51 0.57 0.57 1.24 1.24

0025 0025 23 0656 23 1337 TH 0656

0.62 0.62 1.58 1.58 0.49 0.49 1.31 1.31 0.56 0.56 1.66 1.66 0.41 0.41 1.38 1.38 0.49 0.49 1.74 1.74 0.33 0.33 1.46 1.46 0.42 0.42 1.80 1.80 0.28 0.28 0.28 1.53 1.53 1.53 0.37 0.37 0.37 1.83 1.83 1.83 0.24 0.24 0.24 1.59 1.59 1.59 0.34 0.34 0.34 1.82 1.82 1.82 0.24 0.24 0.24 1.64 1.64 1.64

16 16 TH TH TH

17 17 FR FR FR

18 18 SA SA SA

19 19 SU SU SU

20 20 MO MO

21 21 TU TU

22 22 WE WE

TH 1337 1932 1932 0112 0112 0740 1416 FR 0740 FR 1416 2013 2013 0155 0155 0820 1453 SA 0820 SA 1453 2051 2051 0236 0236 0900 1530 SU 0900 1530 SU 2130 SU 1530 2130 2130 0319 0319 0319 0941 0941 1606 MO 0941 1606 MO 2210 MO 1606 2210 2210 0403 0403 0403 1024 1024 1024 TU 1645 TU 1645 2252 TU 1645 2252 2252

24 24

25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28

Time Time Time 0451 0451 0451 1108 1108 1108 1725 1725 1725 2337 2337 2337 0541 0541 0541 1154 1154 1154 1807 1807 1807

m m m 0.33 0.33 0.33 1.77 1.77 1.77 0.26 0.26 0.26 1.66 1.66 1.66 0.35 0.35 0.35 1.68 1.68 1.68 0.32 0.32 0.32

0024 0024 33 0024 0635 0635 0635 1245 FR FR 1245

1.67 1.67 1.67 0.40 0.40 0.40 1.57 1.57 1.57 0.40 0.40 0.40 1.65 1.65 1.65 0.46 0.46 0.46 1.44 1.44 1.44 0.49 0.49 0.49 1.62 1.62 0.51 0.51 1.33 1.33 0.56 0.56 1.61 1.61 0.52 0.52 1.27 1.27 0.60 0.60 1.62 1.62 0.50 0.50 1.28 1.28 0.60 0.60 1.66 1.66 0.44 0.44 1.34 1.34

WE WE WE

TH TH TH

1245 FR 1853 1853 1853 0115 0115 0115 0735 0735 0735 1340 SA 1340 SA 1340 SA 1944 1944 1944 0213 0213 0845 0845 SU 1445 1445 SU 2044 2044 0319 0319 1002 1002 MO 1604 1604 MO 2155 2155 0430 0430 1119 1119 TU 1725 1725 TU 2309 2309 0541 0541 1227 1832 WE 1227 WE 1832

55 66

77 88

0015 99 0015 0642 1324 TH 0642

1324 TH 1928 1928 0113 0113 0735 0735 FR 1411 1411 FR 2015 2015 0203 0203 0823 0823 SA 1453 SA 1453 1453 SA 2057 2057 2057 0250 0250 0250 0907 0907 0907 SU 1530 SU 1530 1530 SU 2136 2136 2136 0333 0333 0333 0947 0947 1605 MO 1605 MO 0947 1605 MO 2214 2214 2214 0414 0414 1026 0414 1026 1638 TU 1638 TU 1026 1638 TU 2249 2249 2249 0454 0454 1102 0454 1102 1709 1102 WE 1709 WE 2324 WE 1709 2324 2324

10 10 11 11

12 12 13 13 14 14

15 15

0.55 0.55 1.72 1.72 0.37 0.37 1.41 1.41 0.48 0.48 1.77 1.77 0.32 0.32 1.49 1.49 0.43 0.43 1.79 1.79 0.30 0.30 0.30 1.54 1.54 1.54 0.40 0.40 0.40 1.78 1.78 1.78 0.31 0.31 0.31 1.58 1.58 1.58 0.39 0.39 0.39 1.73 1.73 1.73 0.33 0.33 0.33 1.60 1.60 1.60 0.41 0.41 1.67 0.41 1.67 0.38 1.67 0.38 1.60 0.38 1.60 1.60 0.44 0.44 1.59 0.44 1.59 0.44 1.59 0.44 1.59 0.44 1.59 1.59

Time Time Time 0533 0533 0533 1139 1139 1139 1739 TH 1739 TH TH 1739 2359 2359 2359 0615 0615 0615 1216 1216 1216 1812 FR 1812 FR FR 1812

m m m 0.49 0.49 0.49 1.50 1.50 1.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.57 1.57 1.57 0.54 0.54 0.54 1.41 1.41 1.41 0.56 0.56 0.56

0036 0036 0036 18 0700 0700 18 0700 1257 SA SA 1257

1.54 1.54 1.54 0.59 0.59 0.59 1.33 1.33 1.33 0.63 0.63 0.63 1.50 1.50 1.50 0.64 0.64 0.64 1.25 1.25 1.25 0.69 0.69 0.69 1.46 1.46 1.46 0.68 0.68 0.68 1.19 1.19 1.19 0.75 0.75 0.75 1.43 1.43 1.43 0.68 0.68 0.68 1.17 1.17 1.17 0.77 0.77 0.77 1.44 1.44 1.44 0.65 0.65 0.65 1.20 1.20 1.20 0.75 0.75 0.75 1.49 1.49 1.49 0.58 0.58 0.58 1.27 1.27 1.27 0.69 0.69 0.69 1.56 1.56 1.56 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.36 1.36 1.36

16 16

17 17

1257 SA 1847 1847 1847 0118 0118 0118 0751 0751 0751 1345 SU 1345 SU 1345 SU 1931 1931 1931 0208 0208 0208 0852 0852 0852 1445 MO 1445 MO 1445 MO 2029 2029 2029 0309 0309 0309 1001 1001 1001 1558 TU 1558 TU 1558 TU 2139 2139 2139 0417 0417 0417 1111 1111 1111 1713 WE 1713 WE 1713 WE 2251 2251 2251 0522 0522 0522 1208 1208 1813 1813 TH TH 1208 1813 TH 2353 2353 2353 0617 0617 0617 1256 1256 1900 1900 FR FR 1256 FR 1900

19 19

20 20 21 21 22 22

23 23

24 24

0045 0045 0045 25 0704 0704 25 0704 1337 SA SA 1337

1337 SA 1942 1942 1942 0131 0131 0131 0748 0748 0748 SU 1415 SU 1415 1415 SU 2021 2021 2021 0216 0216 0216 0832 0832 0832 MO 1454 MO 1454 1454 MO 2102 2102 2102 0302 0302 0302 0916 0916 1533 TU 1533 TU 0916 1533 TU 2144 2144 2144 0350 0350 1003 0350 1003 1615 WE 1615 WE 1003 1615 WE 2228 2228 2228 0440 0440 1052 0440 1052 1657 1052 TH 1657 TH 2315 TH 1657 2315 2315 0533 0533 1143 0533 1143 1742 FR 1742 FR 1143 FR 1742

26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29

30 30

31 31 31

0.60 0.60 0.60 1.65 1.65 1.65 0.41 0.41 0.41 1.47 1.47 1.47 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.72 1.72 1.72 0.34 0.34 0.34 1.57 1.57 1.57 0.41 0.41 0.41 1.78 1.78 1.78 0.28 0.28 0.28 1.67 1.67 1.67 0.33 0.33 0.33 1.80 1.80 1.80 0.25 0.25 0.25 1.76 1.76 1.76 0.28 0.28 1.78 0.28 1.78 0.26 1.78 0.26 1.82 0.26 1.82 1.82 0.27 0.27 1.73 0.27 1.73 0.30 1.73 0.30 1.84 0.30 1.84 1.84 0.29 0.29 1.63 0.29 1.63 0.37 1.63 0.37 0.37

Time Time Time 0003 0003 0003 0630 0630 0630 1237 SA 1237 SA SA 1237 1830 1830 1830 0056 0056 0056 0632 0632 0632 1237 SU 1237 SU SU 1237 1825 1825 1825 0055 0055 0055 0742 0742 0742 1345 MO 1345 MO 1345 MO 1930 1930 1930 0201 0201 0201 0855 0855 0855 1503 TU 1503 TU 1503 TU 2045 2045 2045 0315 0315 0315 1005 1005 1005 1618 WE 1618 WE 1618 WE 2200 2200 2200 0424 0424 0424 1107 1107 1107 1719 TH 1719 TH 1719 TH 2306 2306 2306 0524 0524 0524 1159 1159 1159 1810 FR 1810 FR FR 1810

111 222 333

444 555 666 777

0003 0003 888 0003 0615 0615 1242 1242 SA SA 0615

1242 SA 1853 1853 1853 0052 0052 0052 0700 0700 1321 1321 SU SU 0700 1321 SU 1932 1932 1932 0136 0136 0136 0742 0742 0742 1355 MO MO 1355 1355 MO 2009 2009 2009 0216 0216 0216 0821 0821 0821 TU 1427 TU 1427 1427 TU 2043 2043 2043 0255 0255 0255 0858 0858 0858 WE 1458 WE 1458 1458 WE 2116 2116 2116 0332 0332 0332 0934 0934 1528 TH 1528 TH 0934 1528 TH 2148 2148 2148 0411 0411 1012 0411 1012 1559 FR 1559 FR 1012 1559 FR 2222 2222 2222 0451 0451 1050 0451 1050 1631 1050 SA 1631 SA 2259 SA 1631 2259 2259

999

10 10 10 11 11 11

12 12 12 13 13 13 14 14 14

15 15 15

Local LocalTime Time APRIL APRIL APRIL

Time mm m Time m Time m m 0533 0.57 0.57 1.83 0533 1.83 0533 0.57 1.83 1132 1.33 1.33 0.34 1132 0.34 1132 1.33 0.34 1709 0.68 0.68 1.52 SU 1709 1.52 SU 0.68 1.52 SU 1709 2338 1.60 0.47 2338 1.60 0.47 2338 1.60 0.47 0622 0.61 0.61 1.79 0622 1.79 0622 0.61 1.79 1219 1.27 1.27 0.40 1219 0.40 1219 1.27 0.40 1752 0.74 1.41 MO 1752 0.74 1.41 MO 1752 0.74 1.41 MO 0.57 0.57 0.57 0025 1.55 1.55 1.72 0025 1.72 0025 1.55 1.72 0717 0.65 0.65 0.46 0717 0.46 0717 0.65 0.46 1315 1.23 1.32 TU 1315 1.23 1.32 TU 1315 1.23 1.32 TU 1846 0.79 0.65 1846 0.79 0.65 1846 0.79 0.65 1.66 0120 1.50 1.50 1.66 0120 1.66 0120 1.50 0.49 0819 0.66 0.66 0.49 0819 0.49 0819 0.66 1.29 1421 1.22 WE 1421 1.22 1.29 WE 1.29 1421 1.22 0.69 WE 1953 1953 0.82 0.82 0.69 0.69 1953 0.82 1.63 0225 1.49 1.49 1.63 0225 1.63 0225 1.49 0.49 0922 0.63 0.63 0.49 0922 0.49 0922 0.63 1.33 TH 1531 1.26 1.26 TH 1531 1.33 1.33 1531 1.26 TH 2107 0.67 2107 0.80 0.80 0.67 0.67 2107 0.80 1.64 0332 1.51 1.51 1.64 0332 1.64 0332 1.51 0.46 1018 0.58 0.58 0.46 1018 0.46 1018 0.58 1.40 FR 1631 1.34 1.34 1.40 FR 1631 1.40 1631 1.34 FR 2215 0.62 2215 0.74 0.74 0.62 0.62 2215 0.74 1.66 0432 1.56 1.56 1.66 0432 1.66 0432 1.56 0.43 1107 0.50 0.50 0.43 1107 0.43 1107 0.50 1.48 SA 1722 1.45 1.45 1.48 SA 1722 1.48 1722 1.45 SA 2313 2313 0.64 0.64 2313 0.64 0.55 0526 1.63 1.63 0.55 0526 0526 1.63 0.55 1152 1.67 1.67 1152 0.42 0.42 1.67 1152 0.42 1806 1.57 0.41 0.41 SU 1806 1.57 SU 0.41 1806 1.57 SU 1.56 1.56 1.56 0.50 0005 0.50 0005 0.53 0.53 0.50 0005 0.53 1.67 0615 1.67 0615 1.70 1.70 1.67 0615 1.70 0.40 1234 0.36 0.40 MO 1234 0.36 MO 0.40 1234 0.36 1.62 1.62 MO 1850 1850 1.70 1.70 1.62 1850 1.70 0.46 0055 0.46 0055 0.42 0.42 0.46 0055 0.42 1.65 0703 1.65 0703 1.74 1.74 1.65 0703 1.74 0.41 0.41 TU 1316 0.31 0.31 TU 1316 0.41 1316 0.31 TU 1933 1.66 1.66 1933 1.82 1.82 1.66 1933 1.82 0.45 0145 0.45 0145 0.32 0.32 0.45 0145 0.32 1.61 0753 1.61 0753 1.75 1.75 1.61 0753 1.75 0.44 0.44 WE 1400 0.29 0.29 WE 1400 0.44 1400 0.29 1.68 1.68 WE 2018 2018 1.92 1.92 1.68 2018 1.92 0.45 0237 0.45 0237 0.26 0.26 0.45 0237 0.26 1.56 0844 1.56 0844 1.72 1.72 1.56 0844 1.72 0.47 0.47 TH 1445 0.31 0.31 TH 1445 0.47 1445 0.31 1.70 TH 2105 1.70 2105 1.98 1.98 1.70 2105 1.98 0.46 0330 0.46 0330 0.24 0.24 0.46 0330 0.24 1.51 0937 1.51 0937 1.66 1.66 1.51 0937 1.66 0.51 1531 0.36 0.51 FR 1531 0.36 FR 0.51 1531 0.36 1.69 FR 2154 1.69 2154 2.00 2.00 1.69 2154 2.00 0.49 0426 0.25 0.49 0426 0.25 1.45 1032 0.49 0426 0.25 1.45 1032 1.58 1.58 0.56 1621 0.44 1.45 1032 SA 0.56 0.44 SA 1621 1.58 1.68 0.56 1621 0.44 SA 2245 1.68 2245 1.96 1.96 1.68 2245 1.96 0.52 0524 0.30 0.52 0524 0.30 1.39 1130 0.52 0524 0.30 1.39 1130 1.49 1.49 0.62 1714 1.39 1130 1.49 0.62 SU 1714 0.53 0.53 SU 1.64 2340 1.89 0.62 1714 1.64 SU 2340 0.53 1.89 1.64 2340 1.89

Copyright Copyright Commonwealth Commonwealth of of Australia Australia 2015, 2015, Bureau Bureau of of Meteorology Meteorology   Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2015, Bureau of Meteorology Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of is Lowest Tide Timesare arePredictions in local local standard standard timeAstronomical (UTC +10:00) +10:00) or daylight daylight savings savings time Times in time (UTC or time (UTC (UTC +11:00) +11:00) when when in in effect effect Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect MoonPhase Phase Symbols Symbols Full New Moon Moon First Quarter New First Quarter Moon Full Moon Moon New Moon First Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon

16 16 16 17 17 17

18 18 18

19 19 19 20 20 20

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22 22 22 23 23 23

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25 25 25

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28 28 28

29 29 29 30 30 30

Last LastQuarter Quarter 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.

Fishing Fill-its

Terrace Boating take out Quintrex dealer of 2016 Terrace Boating, located in Heatherbrae, have been awarded Quintrex’s highest honour receiving the National Dealer of the Year award for 2015-2016. Terrace Boating has been a family owned dealership for over 40 years, and is currently run by father and son team – Josh and Peter Padmos. With boating in their blood and water sports in their veins, this dynamic duo and their extended Terrace Boating family work to ensure ultimate safety and boating experiences for all customers. Terrace Boating have a team of specialised service technicians and consultants offering an on-site mobile service for added convenience. As long serving Quintrex dealers, Terrace Boating have previously won the Quintrex Dealer of the Year award as well as various other sales and service awards. Quintrex Account Manager Cameron Wood said Terrace Boating excelled at all ten criteria used to decide the Quintrex Dealer of the Year award. “Their customer service is the best around – I can guarantee you will walk

out of the dealership with a smile on your face, and hopefully keys to your new boat in your pocket! The dealership is spick and span, with an awesome display of Quinnies on show. “Their passion for boating extends to the local community through their sponsorship of many local clubs and charities including Realcare, Compassion, Raymond Terrace Football, soccer clubs and many more,” Cameron said. Terrace Boating Dealer Principal Josh Padmos said the staff at Terrace Boating has over 300 years combined experience in boating which landed them the Dealer of the Year award. “To put it simply, we excel in boats! If you need a new boat, used boat, service or accessories, we have a huge range of stock, great customer service, great marketing and an experienced team that pull it all together. We have been dealing Quintrex for over 20 years and look forward to many more years of selling these great boats to our happy customers. “We have had a

phenomenal year with great suppliers and a fantastic sales and service team. We love helping our customers achieve their boating dreams,” Josh said. With the potential expansion into boat storage on the horizon, there’s no stopping Terrace Boating. Visit the team at Terrace Boating at 2382 Pacific Hwy, Heatherbrae NSW, or check out the website at www.terraceboating. com.au. For more information on the entire Quintrex range, visit www. quintrex.com.au.

The team at Terrace Boating are proud of their customer service and boating knowledge.

Simrad partners with Big Angry Fish The Big Angry Fish boat has been refitted with a full suite of Simrad sportfishing electronics for the show’s upcoming sixth season. The brainchild of New Zealand anglers Milan Radonich and Nikolaj Mathiesen, Big Angry Fish first aired on New Zealand’s TV3 in 2012. It has now run successfully for five seasons and also airs for Australian audiences on 7Mate. “We looked at all the brands that were available and Simrad made the most

sense,” says Big Angry Fish co-creator Milan Radonich. “The Simrad brand is always moving ahead and working to advance technology in the fishing industry. Its commercial-grade equipment and support met our need for reliable gear.” The Big Angry Fish boat is now equipped with a 16” NSS16 evo2 touchscreen multifunction display, 4G Broadband Radar system, BSM-3 Broadband Sounder with CHIRP, StructureScan 3D imaging,

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AP24 autopilot system with Simrad Precision-9 solid state compass, and RS12 VHF radio. The dual-channel BSM-3 sounder is fitted with twin Airmar transducers: a B175L-20 low frequency CHIRP transducer for maximum depth penetration, and a B175H-W high frequency/wide angle CHIRP transducer for detailed coverage at shallower depths. The B175H-W also offers the ability to quickly search large volumes of

water, thanks to its extrawide coverage. StructureScan 3D provides a clear and immediately understandable 3D view that makes it easy to determine where fish and structure lie in relation to the boat. The 3D view can be adjusted with a fingertip on multifunction display; the Big Angry Fish crew can easily pan, tilt, and rotate to find the perfect angle. To learn more about Big Angry Fish, visit www. bigangryfish.tv. - Navico

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www.islandinflatables.com.au JANUARY 2017

101

Yak selection and fit out for summer holiday fun BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

With Christmas done and dusted there will be plenty of new kayaks out on the water, and also plenty of anglers looking for a post-Christmas kayak bargain from their local retailers. With this in mind I

look forward to covering in a future issue. CONFIGURATION Firstly, you’ll need to decide if you’re looking for a single kayak, a kayak that can be used as a single or double, a genuine two-person kayak, or even a 2+1 kayak that can be paddled by two adults and a child. You’ll also need to decide whether you’re

from the elements, including weather and vegetation in the water. Sit inside kayaks are still extremely popular in the colder environments of the southern lakes and rivers, due to the weather protection and warmth they offer. Specialised sit inside kayaks, with cockpit skirts, still remain the go-to for white water kayaking and long range kayak touring.

A larger pedal kayak is ideal for hands-free fishing, and allows you to carry more gear… maybe too much!

With a capacity of 95kg, Sheri’s kayak is ideal for smaller paddlers to handle. thought we’d spend this issue looking at some key criteria to consider when selecting a new kayak, and also some of the initial fit out options that will make your new vessel safer and more comfortable, and your fishing sessions more productive. Having just added a new yak to my current fleet, I have considered many of these criteria and also planned my future fit out – which I

after a sit on top or sit inside kayak. The sit on top kayak has become the most popular option for general estuary and offshore fishing, with its open deck making it easy to enter and exit. The chance of swamping is extremely low with its sealed hull, ease of setup for fishing and also ease of landing fish. The sit inside places you lower to the water and offers better protection

A sit inside kayak is a comfortable option for smooth water adventures.

CONSTRUCTION Without a doubt, the most popular kayak construction method is rotomolded polyethylene, as it is affordable, durable and low maintenance. Fibreglass, composite and carbon fibre materials are also used and can offer a more rigid, responsive and lighter kayak, but often with a higher price tag. One kayak category where these materials have become popular is the specialised, long offshore fishing kayak/skis that are used for surf launches, long range paddling and bait fishing, lure casting and trolling for offshore pelagic species and billfish. PROPULSION SYSTEM There is a range of propulsion options available to the kayaker (although not in all construction materials), including paddle, pedal and electric. Paddle is generally the simplest, lightest and most affordable option for a set kayak length. Pedal offers the advantage of hands free fishing, while also using the larger muscles in your legs to propel you, often extending the distance you can travel for

the effort exerted. There are a range of pedal options that include finned systems and propeller driven units. Electric options include commercially available models that fit into the cockpit of certain kayaks, along with others that can be attached in place of a rudder and steered with the rudder foot pedals and steering cables. Simpler and cheaper options are also readily available that can be attached with an electric motor bracket and steered by hand. LENGTH Shorter kayaks, from around 2.7m–3.3m are generally the preferred option for shorter range adventures in calmer waters, including lakes, rivers and estuaries. They are also ideal for paddling and portaging creeks in search

to long-range adventures, offshore fishing and carrying gear for multi-day adventures. Many kayaks around this length will also have the option of a rudder to aid with manoeuvrability. Kayaks longer than 4.5m are generally specialised for applications, such as long-range offshore fishing, including surf launches and more hard-core kayak touring. WIDTH Check out the width of the kayak to ensure that you can fit comfortably in the cockpit area as width can vary significantly across different models. Some kayaks are narrow, sleek, fast and track well, however this can be a trade off when it comes to stability. A kayak that is too wide can be difficult to paddle, and sluggish and

need to be able to handle the kayak both on and off the water. Are you able to lift the kayak on and off a vehicle, and store it when you get home? In terms of configuration, length, width and weight, it’s a great idea to test paddle and handle the kayak prior to purchase. This can be done at an on water day offered by a kayak retailer, test pool in-store or by paddling a few friends’ kayaks until you find one that suits your needs – that is often the key phrase, the best kayak for you is the one that best suits your needs. CAPACITY Another important spec to check is the weight capacity of the kayak, ensuring that it is capable of handling your weight, along with the

Fishing the edge with a pedal kayak.

A rudder is ideal for manoeuvring larger kayaks. 102

JANUARY 2017

of species such as bass and Murray cod. Kayaks of this length are generally lighter, more manoeuvrable and cheaper to purchase, however they often don’t track or glide as well as a longer kayaks. Stepping up in length to 3.6m– 4.5m, and depending upon hull design, you have a kayak that is more likely to be suited

barge-like in the water, and means much more effort to get it moving to cover distance. Many kayak brands will rate their different models in terms of speed, handling, stability, and more. and this can be a handy starting point. WEIGHT Check the spec sheets when deciding on weight, as you

weight of any gear you are wishing to carry. You may not require a large weight capacity for general estuary fishing, however for longrange fishing and multi-day camping adventures, you’ll need to consider fishing and camping gear, and water safety equipment that you wish to carry.

Storage capacity is important when camping from the kayak. RUDDER Does the kayak come with a rudder, or is there an option to fit a rudder at a later date? A rudder is a necessity on a pedal kayak, as it is your primary means of steering, while also being of benefit on a paddle kayak, as it allows you to correct your tracking with the rudder, rather than having to continually adjust your paddle stroke. Even when you’re not paddling, the rudder allows you to control your drift line, distance from structure or the bank, along with angle when drifting with the wind and fishing. Smaller kayaks are often rudderless due to their price points, shorter-range applications and manoeuvrability. Once you have narrowed down the kayak models to a selection that ticks the aforementioned criteria, you can then look at other less crucial features that may influence your final choice. STORAGE Storage comes in many forms, including hatches that access the hull, hatches that access sealed compartments, side pockets, seat pockets, rear wells, drink holders, bungy cord, dash boards, tackle tray storage and more. Consider whether the storage is adequate and suits your needs, and whether other storage options can be added to customise

your kayak to suit your fishing. CARRY HANDLES Are the carry handles adequate and sturdy enough for you to load and unload the kayak effectively? This can include nose, tail and side carry handles and these can be moulded into the kayak, or attached as part of the initial manufacturer fit out. ATTACHMENT POINTS What attachment points are available on the kayak (including deck eyes, bungy cord and deck lines)? These are points where you can attach leashes for rods, nets, and lips grips and other accessories, as well as points to strap down dry bags, crates, water drums and other gear. It’s also worth taking note of flat sections on the kayak, both intentionally moulded into the design and otherwise, where you can mount accessories such as flags, lighting, rod holders, sounders and so forth. ROD STORAGE Some higher end pedal kayaks offer laydown rod storage for half a dozen rod combos, while a basic kayak may not even offer a single flush mount rod holder. Rod holders on offer may include moulded in storage, flush mount rod holders or attached adjustable rod holders. Ensure the kayak has suitable rod holders for your adventures – or at least

the ability to attach the rod holders that you require. OTHER FEATURES Other features that may sway your decision in terms of the model you select; include colour options, scupper hole placement, drink holders and extras offered such as paddles, seats and trolleys. My recent addition was based on the need for an inexpensive, smaller, lightweight kayak that was capable of carrying my 90kg frame plus gear, for making the

most of short windows of time for estuary adventures, as well as the occasional overnight bass or cod adventure. The Viking Nemo with Angler Kit, ticked the boxes at 3.2m long, 79cm wide, with a weight of only 20kg and a capacity of 130kg. It features a stable hull that tracks well, centre hatch with bucket within easy reach, front bungy, plenty of storage on the rear of the kayak, grab line around the deck, paddle holder, four flush mount rod holders, Railblaza Rod Holder II adjustable rod holder, paddle, seat and a 30 year warranty. The addition of a hatch in the rear well and front of the cockpit allows gear to be stowed inside the hull of the kayak for camping adventures. If you were lucky enough to score a kayak for Christmas, or have a kayak that you use for fishing, here’s a few of the fit out options that I have planned for my new rig, to make my adventures more productive, safer and more comfortable ANCHOR RUNNING RIG/ ANCHOR TROLLEY An anchor is always handy, as it allows you to position the kayak to fish likely looking areas and hold position, even in windy conditions. An anchor running rig is basically a loop of cord that runs between two

pulleys, one toward the front of the kayak and one toward the rear – it will either have a ring joining the loop, or a tag line coming off the loop where you attach your anchor line. This allows you to easily deploy and retrieve the anchor, while having the ability to move the anchor line to the front or rear of the kayak. I like to deploy the anchor and move the rope to the front so that the kayak swings nose into the current, allowing me to cast up current and work my soft plastics back naturally with the flow. In terms of anchors, the Cooper 1kg Nylon Anchor has served me well. This anchor running rig is also handy for attaching other anchor types, such as stake out poles, sea anchors and grab anchors. ROD HOLDERS Rod storage will take some customising to suit how many rods you wish to carry and the environments you’re fishing. For example, if you are fishing tight creeks with overhanging vegetation, then you probably don’t want your rods sticking straight up in the air. Probably the most effective solution I’ve found is the Railblaza Rod Holder II adjustable rod holder. The reason why this option is so versatile is that virtually wherever you can

Light pole, camera pole and two rod holders mounted and ready.

Longer kayaks often offer better speed and glide for long-range adventures.

attach a StarPort Mount, you can add a rod holder. These rod holders also have a full range of adjustments so you can control the position and angle of the rod when mounted. I will likely end up with two or three of these mounted so that I can have a selection of lures rigged and at the ready. If you wish to use the standard flush mount rod holders that’s fine, however to lift the reels further from the water, I will add a length of pipe that fits into the rod holder, with a slot cut in it for the reel seat to lock into. These rod holder extensions are also available commercially if you don’t want to make your own. NAVIGATION LIGHTS If low light or night adventures are on the cards, you may also wish to look at your navigation light options. I will again be fitting a couple of Railblaza StarPorts to my new craft, to house their 360 degree white light and Bi-colour Navigation Light. This lighting provides a level of light while fishing, while also ensuring you’re visible to other crafts. The pole used to attach the 360 degree white light is also ideal for attaching a flag to increase your visibility during daylight hours, and Railblaza offer the Visibilty Kit II, which includes mount, pole, light and flag for those looking for a one stop solution. So that’s a quick look at a few things to consider when choosing a first kayak or simply looking to add to your current fleet, along with a few additions that can make you adventures more comfortable, safer and enjoyable. Remember the right kayak for you is the one that best suits your needs – so do your research, visit your local kayak dealer, attend a few on water days, and think about the fishing and adventures that you intend to undertake. I’m looking forward to fitting out the Viking Nemo over the coming months to suit my adventures, and hopefully there will be plenty of quality fish and camping adventure photos to follow. See you on the water.

You need a kayak that you can handle both on and off the water. JANUARY 2017

103

Stacer Nomad Ranger 4.89 with all the trimmings FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Melbourne Marine Centre has really found its feet when it comes to being a marine dealer. We’ve done plenty of boat tests for one of Melbourne’s newest boating establishments, including Patrick Dangerfield’s Veradopowered Northbank, Brian Sanders’ 750 Hard Top and some great entrylevel boats. You know that they’re really getting into the swing

An Aussie-built (at Telwater on Queensland’s Gold Coast) plate boat that normally retails in the mid $30K range, the Melbourne Marine Centre team decided to put together the ultimate piece of kit that could fill any boat fishing role you liked in your home state. From southern bluefin on a nice day through to Mallacoota bream or Murray River cod, there’s not many situations where this boat would look out of place. Here’s why; created with a full checkerplate, selfdraining deck, the Nomad is supplied on an alloy I-beam

trailer, also made by Stacer. The Catch and Release hitch on the winch post easily allows one-up launch and retrieval. Mechanical override brakes help you stop on the road. From the bow, there’s a combination of Lone Star anchor winch and Mud Magnet anchor up front, right next to the MotorGuide Xi5 electric motor, for finesse control of the boat and ‘virtual’ anchoring. Rarely have we seen such a combination, yet it seems to work well on the water. The deck is 100% self-draining, unpainted

The 4-bladed Spitfire prop and 90HP 2.1L Mercury jump the Stacer up and out of the hole. The boat and motor paint schemes also complement each other nicely. of it when they turn up to a test with a boat that’s pimped to within an inch of its life. That’s exactly what happened when Dealer Principal, Andrew Stephen, rocked up to the Patto River ramp with a big smile on his face and this little pocket rocket swinging off the back of the work ute. 104

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PERFORMANCE RPM.......... Speed (km/h).............Economy (km/L) 750.................................3................................... 2.0 1000...............................7................................... 2.3 2000............................. 11................................... 1.5 3000.............................29................................... 2.4 4000.............................43................................... 2.5 5000.............................59................................... 1.9 5500.............................65................................... 1.9

• fitted with a 17” Spitfire 4-blade propeller.

On the test day, the Nomad ate up the small chop with a maximum speed of 65km/h and an optimum fuel efficiency of 2.5km/L of fuel burned. checkerplate, which could well do with a coat of paint to soften the glare in more tropical climates. As is, it’s a workhorse that’s easy to clean and as tough as nails. The centre console is the hub of operations, with a Garmin 7408XSV the heart of all sounding/GPS and Fusion functions (with a Fusion Link). A 4” Mercury VesselView displays all of the engine telemetry from the 2.1L 90hp workhorse on the back. “The 2.1L Mercury has been an awesome motor for us,” said Andrew, “they’re trouble-free, look good and give great economy.” Melbourne Marine has also added some of their own customisation in the form of a couple of internal, transom mounted live bait tanks. Fitted with clear front panels, they’re a practical and good looking addition. On the outside of the transom,

they’ve added some neat LEDs for extra bling and squid attracting ability. Overall, it’s a rugged, good looking rig that ate up the 5-10knots of breeze on the test day. Make sure that you watch the boat test video on your smartphone by scanning the QR code on this page, or check out the FishingMonthly YouTube channel for all of out digital video content. As tested, the pimped Stacer came in at $56,060, but basic packages start from mid SPECIFICATIONS Length.................... 5.16m Beam......................2.22m Length on trailer...6.60m Capacity...........5 persons Fuel............................. 77L Max hp......................... 90 Hull weight............. 490kg Bottom sheet..........4mm Side Sheet............2.5mm

thirties. For more information we recommend contacting Blake’s Marine in Mulgrave on 02 4577 6699 or check out their website at www.blakesmarine.com.au. • 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. VIDEO

Scan the QR code to see the full boat test with Andrew Stephen from Mercury Marine.

There’s a casting deck up front that sits higher than the cockpit floor but lower than a specialist lurecasting boat deck – ideal for using the electric motor in rougher seas like in Port Phillip Bay.

With Telwater’s Catch and Release bracket, it’s easy for the owner to single-handedly launch and retrieve the Nomad.

Left: Between the outboard and the scupper outlet are some custom LED lights. You can never have too much bling and squid don’t bedazzle themselves. Right: The single axled rig is towable by a vide variety of vehicles and as a bonus, they’re easy to manoeuver in the garage or in confined spaces.

Left: Thanks to the Garmin being a hub for the GPS, sounder and Fusion and the Mercury Vessel View displaying all of the engine data, the helm layout is clean and simple. Right: The beauty of any centre console is the ability to fish all around the boat. The 489 is a perfect example of this.

Left: Simple storage space is very import in any boat to put all of those items you need to get your hands on quickly. Right: With four basic rod holders in the transom, you can expand the capacity with three-way inserts.

Quiet at idle, the Mercury gives well over 150km of range with the 77L of on-board fuel.

That’s a lot of accessories on the front deck, but MMC have shoehorned them in.

You don’t see a butcher buying meat, and you should see a boat dealer’s own demo boat with all of the bells and whistles. Andrew Stephen didn’t disappoint in this regard. JANUARY 2017

105

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Bar Crusher’s 670HT – same great hull, new topsides

FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

If Bar Crusher were to order an ideal day for testing a couple of their revamped hard top models, then Port Phillip Bay delivered it in spades. Solid westerly winds turned the bay into a washing machine that only the brave dare venture into. We met Warren Cleland and Matt Urzia at the ramp at the Patto. They were chomping at the bit to show us the new improvements to the design, and also to get busy on the waves. They did both with style. Their ads don’t lie – the Bar Crusher team sure like testing their hulls to the limits when conditions get nasty.

Bar Crusher’s Sales Manager, Matt Urzia, has done plenty of time in these boats and proudly took us through the tweaks that make one of their most popular boats even better. “We’ve kept the 670 hull exactly the same – if it’s not broken, don’t fix it, but there are a few changes we’ve made above the waterline

that help make the 670 an even better fishing machine,” Matt said. Firstly, there’s a major redesign on the dash, where you can now see the flushmounted helm electronics from the cockpit of the boat and, in particular, the rear workstation. With the size of the units people run nowadays, this makes a lot of

SPECIFICATIONS Length.......................................................... 6.7m Beam.......................................................... 2.35m Internal Freeboard.................................. 800mm Bottom sheet.............................................. 5mm Side sheet.................................................... 4mm Fuel...............................................................190L Tow Weight...............................................1880kg Max hp........................................................... 200 Length on trailer......................................... 8.1m Height on trailer.......................................... 3.2m

Very few boats were game enough to be out on the water on the testing day. Those that were, of course, were in a Bar Crusher. Left to right, uber-keen anglers Bilal, Ibrahim, Hillz and Ahmed. 108

JANUARY 2017

Main Pic: When you instruct Bar Crusher’s Matt Urzia to “get a little air under the hull,” this is the result. Above: Although Port Phillip Bay was less than ideal for boating on the testing day, the 670HT ensured we were comfortable and safe. sense. You want to be able to see when the fish are coming through without having to leave your fishing position or by relaying the data. Next, the diameter of the handrails has been increased to 32mm. It doesn’t sound like a major change, but they look better, are easier to hold onto and are more practical, especially the ones on the hard top that you use to move around the cabin. The hard top has also been improved, with a design that externally keeps the standing passengers drier while running on wet days. Internally, there’s now plenty of real estate to mount your radios and stereo systems above the windscreen. It’s a neat solution. The side sliding windows are in the right place and open the right way for best ventilation and user comfort. Another small improvement is the rounding on the internal

gunwale edges with a 45° angle taking the sting out of the thighs. Bar Crusher calls it the Game Lock coaming. It’s these small things that improve the experience on the water. Out on the water, the day proved as nasty as promised, with a proper breaking bar on the Patterson River mouth and some rolling chop that made the process of deriving performance stats impossible. Taking the pictures and video was exciting if not impossible. Driven right, the Bar Crusher handles the punishment. Land with the vee level and a tail-down attitude and there’s a softness that feels more like glass than alloy. Amazingly, we had company on the test day. A boatload of uber-keen anglers rolled past and of course, they were in a Bar Crusher. We asked Matt if he’d organised this as a publicity stunt, but he denied all

knowledge. Last we saw of them, they bounced over the horizon with aspirations of snapper glory… The new lightweight 4-cylinder Suzuki 200hp, this provided ample power. The test rig came in just under $100,000 as tested. Package prices start in the mid $80,000. For more info contact Blake’s Marine in Mulgrave on 02 4577 6699 or visit www.barcrusher.com.au. VIDEO

Watch the full boat test video along with some rough water boat driving tips by scanning this QR code with your smartphone.

Quality hard tops have lots of visibility and efficient use of space. The 670HT’s lid looks the goods. You can see the Quickflow water ballast system that fills when the hull is at rest, increasing stability. The custom built Easytow trailer makes this rig launchable by one person.

Left: There’s plenty of cockpit space and four persons could comfortably go out for a fish. Small improvements, like thicker, 32mm grab rails and a more rounded internal gunwale (Game Lock coaming) are derived from dealer and customer feedback. Right: Improvements have been made on both sides of the hard top. Externally, the new design will keep passengers drier, while internally it allows for better mounting of radios and stereos above the windscreen.

Stowed, the bench seat offers easy access to the workstation.

Deployed, the rear bench seat can fit three adults across.

Bar Crusher’s latest iteration of their popular 670HT keeps their proven hull design identical and makes improvements above the waterline.

Above: Spacious under floor kill tanks and easy clean floors hint to the practicality of this boat. Right: The 670HT is a true fishing boat with plenty of rod storage and fishing space.

Top Left: Bar Crusher pioneered the auto-catching winch posts with the Bar Catch system. Their famous video shows that it only takes 20 seconds to launch or retrieve a Bar Crusher with a custom-designed trailer and this system. Left: The 670HT boasts a dashboard that is more visible from the back of the boat. Modern electronics have big enough screens to make this a real design-plus. Right: Powered by the light weight, 200hp Suzuki 4-stroke, the rig pushes 72km/h on calm conditions according to Bar Crusher. Suzukis and Bar Crushers are a popular combo. JANUARY 2017

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SYDNEYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

Check out our awesome specials below. All boats are in stock and are ready to go, so be quick. BRAND

Model

Trailer

Fisherman 429

Dunbier Sport 4.3

Mercury 40hp 4s

$19,600

$18,490

Renegade 440

Dunbier Sport 4.3

Mercury 50hp 4s

$24,000

$22,500

Bowrider 490

Dunbier Sport 4.7

Mercury 75hp 4s

$35,400

$32,990

Getaway 484 Pro

Dunbier Sport 4.7

Mercury 75hp 4s

$35,000

$32,490

Sniper 484 Pro

Dunbier Sport 4.7

Mercury 75hp 4s

$33,600

$30,990

Bandit 514 Pro

Dunbier Sport 5.0

Mercury 90hp 4s

$41,200

$38,990

2 Toorak Ave, Taren Point NSW 2229

Engine

Phone: (02) 9524 6999

Normally

NSW Special Pricing

www.goodtimesmarine.com.au

THE POWER TO GET YOU THERE

THE RELIABILITY TO GET YOU BACK

We’re proud to welcome the new generation of outboards – the mighty FourStroke Verado 350hp. Along with the power, performance and extreme reliability, Verado includes: - Awesome acceleration, superior torque and better fuel economy - The latest in Electro-Hydraulic steering providing car-like precision and feel - Exclusive ‘Fly-by-Wire’ Digital Throttle and Shift as standard for smooth, quiet, instantaneous shifting and throttle response - Compact engine that’s 56kg lighter than its nearest competitor - Maintenance Free Valve train for life, lowering cost of ownership - 3+2=5 Year Recreational Warranty

mercurymarine.com.au