New South Wales Fishing Monthly January 2020

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January 2020, Vol. 25 No. 6

Contents

From the Editor’s Desk...

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values of recreational fishing and other outdoor activities, and will help to answer such questions as: • Does recreational fishing have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of fishers?

• How do the benefits of recreational fishing compare to other outdoor activities?

• What is the economic value of recreational fishing to the Australian economy, and the

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quantify that! You can fill it out at www.nationalrecsurvey.com. au, and be in the running to share in $6000 worth of prizes.

The survey is run by the Valuing Recreational Fishing project, which is funded by the federal government and Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC). The survey will measure the social and economic

economy of different states and territories?

• What barriers sometimes prevent people experiencing benefits from fishing?

All Australians aged 18 or older are invited to take part, even those people who don’t fish very often, or haven’t been fishing for a while. If this is you, you’ll be asked when you most recently went fishing, and why you haven’t gone recently.

This is an important part of understanding when fishing does and doesn’t form part of people’s lives.

And if you go fishing all the time, that’s great too – you’ll be able to provide valuable input on the value of fishing for you.

The bottom line? Please spend the time to do this survey.

They won’t ask for GPS marks, and the information won’t be used to restrict fishing access, regardless of what the tinfoil hat brigade will have you believe!

The survey is open until 14 February, 2020.

CT

Got a spare 15 minutes to help protect recreational fishing? Take some time to fill in the National Recreational Fishing Survey, and show policy-makers how important fishing is to Australians.

Surveys like these don’t come around very often, and they help us to understand how many people fish, their patterns in doing it, how much money they spend doing it, and some of the more indirect stuff, like how fishing affects your mental health.

If you’re anything like me, fishing time is quality time – either by yourself or with family and friends – where you can renew your connection to the natural world. You don’t need to stress about the pace and demands of modern life when you’re fishing, and there’s an old saying about the time spent fishing not coming off your number of days allocated on this earth.

Maybe the NRFS will

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REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics Dam Levels Fun Page Fly Fishing Tide Times Trade Directory Tournament News What’s New Fishing What’s New Boating SPECIAL FEATURES Whiting on bait and lures Dropshotting for bass Choosing a propeller PARTNER CONTENT Black Magic Masterclass DPI Recreational Fishing News

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BYRON COAST The Tweed 28 Ballina 30 Yamba 32 COFFS COAST Coffs Harbour 34 South West Rocks 36 MACQUARIE COAST The Hastings 38 Forster 39 Harrington-Taree 41 HUNTER COAST Swansea 44 Port Stephens 45 Erina 46 SYDNEY Sydney Rock and Beach 12 Sydney North 13 Pittwater 14 Sydney 16 Botany Bay 18 Sydney South 20 The Hawkesbury 22 ILLAWARRA COAST Illawarra 52 Nowra 53 BATEMANS COAST Narooma 54 Merimbula 55 Batemans Bay 56 EDEN COAST Tathra 57 Bermagui 58 Mallacoota 58 FRESHWATER Lithgow-Oberon 62 Batlow 63 Hunter Valley 64 Canberra 65 Wagga Wagga 66 New England 67 Snowy Mountains 68 Robinvale 69 Mildura 69 Albury-Wodonga 70 Yarrawonga 70 BOATING AND KAYAK 83

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Whiting: bait or lures?

SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

There are more than 20 species of whiting found throughout Australia that can be caught on bait. Some of those species are also regularly caught on lures.

Here in NSW you will find sand, trumpeter, eastern school, King George, little weed, blue weed, weedy and yellowfin whiting.

crustaceans, such as pink nippers and crabs. The whiting actively dig into the sand with their snouts and seem to prefer fast running or turbulent water. This water movement helps to dislodge worms, nippers, pipis and other tasty morsels.

In the estuaries you should be on the look out for whiting at the following places: • The edges of the channels next to extensive flats of rivers and creeks;

edges of the channels and deeper water.

BAIT OR LURES? Now for the age-old question: what are the best baits or lures for whiting?

I have targeted whiting for decades, and over the years I have mainly used bait to catch them. However, in the last 10 years or so I have been using lures much more often. To help you decide what you should try, I will discuss different techniques, locations and

The author was using live beachworms in this creek, and came up with a few stud whiting and a couple of bream. The rig was simple – a small running ball sinker down onto the bait. with this article, and I have marked the features 1 to 5: 1. The edge of where the whitewater starts to disappear.

2. A slightly deeper section of the beach in front of whitewater.

pellets in a berley pot, or just a hessian or onion bag left to move around in the wash while you’re fishing off the beach. Just make sure that the bag is anchored in position. The smaller the berley particles the better, as

and then smash up the shells and use them for berley.

Technique C All cephalopods, including octopus, cuttlefish and squid, make excellent baits. The flesh can be shaved into thin strips with

Learn how to catch beachworms or pipis and you are well on your way to catching whiting.

The range of many whiting species often overlaps. As an example, on the east coast of Australia you may catch a sand whiting and a King George whiting in the same area because they both like sandy estuaries, shallow inshore flats, weed patches, and muddy and broken areas in estuaries, bays, rivers, beaches and creeks.

WHERE TO FIND WHITING When you look at whiting you will notice that their mouth structure indicates that they are a bottom feeding fish; they spend their time moving over the bottom in search of their prey.

Many whiting species forage over shallow sand banks searching for worms, small molluscs and

• The edges of sea grass and weed beds; • Sheltered deeper areas of estuaries and bays; • Beaches, gutters that run parallel to rocky headlands and breakwalls; • Pot holes or slight indentations that are formed in the estuaries by the incoming and outgoing tides; • The edges of mangroves; and • Anywhere with a good population of yabbies, worms, pipis, shrimps or prawns.

TIDES Tides play an important part in the feeding habits of whiting. These small predators use the rising tide to access yabby and worm beds in the estuaries, plus worms and pipis on the beaches where they like to feed. As the tide falls, the whiting tend to return to the

recommend effective bait and lures.

BAITS AND TECHNIQUES Some of the best baits are squirt, blood, beach and tubeworms, nippers (yabbies), peeled or live prawns, pipis (eugaries/ cockles), fillets of pilchard or bluebait, solider and spider crabs and strips of fresh squid and octopus, scallops, whitebait and mussels.

In no particular order, my four favourite baits are alive or dead beach and tubeworms, pipis and peeled prawns.

Technique A First of all, you will need to learn how to ‘read’ a beach, as there are a number of underwater features that will hold whiting. I have included a photo of a beach break

4.

5.

1.

Technique A: reading a beach.

3. At the back of the beach break.

4. A fairly deep section off the edge of whitewater.

5. An area that has no features at all. Not worth a cast.

Technique B Whiting, like most other fish, respond to berley. It can be as simple as mashed up old pilchards mixed with chicken

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JANUARY 2020

2.

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Built for adventure 8

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you only want to attract the whiting, not feed them.

When I am using pipis, mussels or prawns, I throw my shells over the side – usually just a couple every three or four minutes or until I get a bite. Serious whiting anglers will take the trouble to shell molluscs like pipis and mussels the day before,

a very sharp knife, and softened with a tenderising mallet or rolling pin before going onto the hook.

While pilchards are rarely considered as bait for whiting in NSW, they do make excellent baits provided they are prepared correctly. You should remove a fillet with a sharp knife and

then cut it into small strips, taking care to retain the skin.

Without the skin, the bait will come off the hook.

Technique D If you are fishing from the beach for whiting and you aren’t sure where the

where the whiting are feeding, I cast out the same distance. Bear in mind that this feeding position may change as the tide does, so be prepared to try the ‘pause and wait’ method if you aren’t getting any more bites.

is tight. At the first sign of a tentative bite in a tidal stream, try taking the rod from the rod holder and move it forward, allowing the baited hook to move a short distance down the tide. Giving just this small

This couple were fishing off the beach at Bonna Point for whiting with tubeworms. They managed two more than the author did.

A fresh pipi bait was the undoing of this sand whiting. whiting might be, you can try what I call ‘probing’. To do this, cast out your bait and allow it to settle. If you don’t get a bite in the first few minutes, start a very slow retrieve while pausing for about 10-15 seconds all the way back to the shore break.

Once I have located

This same technique can be used in the estuaries and bays, because whiting are very visual feeders and are highly attracted to a moving bait.

Technique E Sometimes fish are difficult to hook when the tide is running and the line

amount of slack generally results in a strong bite, and then it should just be a matter of slowly striking to set the hook.

Hook sizes Because whiting have a long slender head and mouth profile, it’s better to use a long shank hook. When targeting

whiting off the beach I like to use a Mustad Bloodworm extra-long 90234NPNR size 4 hook for worms and squid, and the Owner Circle hook SSW-inline size 1 and 1/0 for pipis and pilly tails.

In the estuaries, I prefer to use Mustad Baitholder 132813NPBLM size 4 and 6 hooks, which have a shorter shaft. This will accommodate the worms, pipis and peeled prawns.

LURES AND TECHNIQUES Poppers are the most popular lure choice when it

comes to whiting fishing. The popper craze all started when whiting were taken as by-catch by anglers targeting bream and flathead on the surface, and it has really taken off.

Poppers are by no means the main way to catch whiting, however.

You can catch these fish on surface stickbaits, sinking stickbaits, floating hardbodied lures, flies, blades, soft plastics and poppers. In my experience, none of these artificials are better than the others. It all depends on the fishing

location and conditions, and choosing the correct lure for the given situation will often be the difference between a half-hearted follow or a crunching hit.

Here are some techniques that I use for each of the lure types listed above.

Surface stickbaits Surface stickbaits are floating lures that can be worked across the surface with a walk-the-dog retrieve. These lures are very effective when the conditions are calm.

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JANUARY 2020

9

From page 9

My favourite would have to be the 5.2cm Lucky Craft NW Pencil. It has a small bite-sized shape that becomes increasingly thin as

slight noise to help entice the fish during a hard bite.

There are a lot of other effective surface stickbaits on the market, however, and it all comes down to personal

A tasty mixed bag of whiting and bream. The outfit is an 8’2” Okuma Egi rod with a 30 Epixor threadline reel spooled with 2kg braid and 2m leader. it moves towards the end of the lure. The glass ball bearings in the head add a

preference.

When using a faster retrieve, surface stickbaits

almost perfectly simulate a scurrying prawn. If I see a bow wave come up behind my stickbait, I don’t stop because the whiting will often hit it when it’s moving.

Another important note is don’t use fluorocarbon as it sinks. Use monofilament as most tend to float.

Sub-surface stickbaits Sometimes I use a surface stickbait only to find that it gets a lot of follows but no real takers. When this happens I change to a sub-surface stickbait – one that doesn’t suspend, but slowly sinks.

When you’re using one of these lures, allow it to sink for few seconds, then start the walk-the-dog retrieve under the water. I always use a fluorocarbon leader of about 1m in length. If chop on the water makes it difficult for the whiting to hit surface lures, this is when sinking lures come into their own.

Floating hardbodied lures Even though I have caught whiting on both fat and slim profiled floating hardbodied lures, I prefer the

A great technique when fishing from the shore is to set up a couple of rods in rod holders and then sit back and wait for the bites.

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Even smaller whiting are good fun to catch. Tubeworms outdid pink nippers on this outing. slimmer shapes. I use ones that run between 0.5-1.2m in depth, and have a slight roll and a tight action. They can be worked over shallow sand flats, weed beds, over and down rock bars and beside lines of mangroves.

Over the years I have found that whiting more often strike at a continually moving floating hardbody, rather than one that stops and starts. If at first you don’t succeed with the speed of your retrieve and you know that the fish are following it, change the speed of the retrieve.

Flies Whiting can be one of the most aggressive feeders on the flats, while still being extremely finicky. At times I have had to make a long cast over the top of weed beds and sandy flats to entice them. At times like these you have to keep that popper or shrimp-style fly moving and jumping while waiting for a horde of agro whiting to come and chase it down! It’s exhilarating.

The challenge is trying to select the correct fly, which is why I have so many.

Blades When it comes to using blades, I find that the smaller the better. One of my favourites is the 1/8oz TT Switchblade. I have used this blade in water up to 12m using the ‘tea-bag method’ (slowly raising the rod tip in deep water) and I have also cast it long distances over the flats while using an 8’3” rod when the wind chop has been churning up the surface.

The retrieves have been slow and steady so that the blade bangs into the bottom.

Soft plastics Because whiting are predominantly bottom feeders, many anglers like to weigh down their soft plastics so that they can bounce them along and over the bottom.

This does work at times, but I have found that if I lightly weight the soft plastic

it will slowly sink to the bottom. Once there, I slowly lift the rod so that the soft plastic and jighead only rises a centimetre or two off the bottom, and I allow very long pauses between lifts.

Good soft plastics for this application include Berkley Gulp 6” Worms cut in half, Gulp Shrimps, 2-2.5” ZMan GrubZ, Slim SwimZ and TRD CrawZ. I have also found that if I rig my plastic on a very light hidden weight jighead, I can slowly work it across the surface – much like a floating stickbait or popper.

Whiting have small, soft

bit on the skittish side or the water is very flat, they can often spook wary fish.

Generally, poppers perform at their best when there’s a bit of surface chop.

Poppers with smaller cup faces often perform better as they can be worked across the surface with a spitting retrieve instead of a deeper blooping cadence. I was watching the Squidgy Secrets Part 5 DVD where Vicki Winter-Lear was using a Squidgy popper, and the whiting were trying to climb all over each other to get to it. Vicki’s little secret was she had put on a bit of catch scent.

When using Bassday Sugapens, Bryce Calvert replaces the front treble with a set of double assist hooks for a better hook-up rate. mouths and tend to miss the standard single hook, which is usually exposed near the middle of the plastic. Try rigging an assist hook that is either pinned close to the end of the plastic or trails behind.

Poppers These lures create a lot of disturbance and can call fish in from a long way if they are actively feeding.

However, if the fish are a

TACKLE GUIDE FOR WHITING In this section of the article I will talk about the tackle I have been using over the past few years, and why. Every whiting angler has their own preferences though, and it can be worthwhile talking to your local tackle store staff to see what gear they recommend.

For some time now I have been using an Okuma LRF 7’4”, 2-5kg rod for both bait fishing and chucking a few lures about for breadand-butter species. This rod has plenty of power in

nipper when bait fishing. It also has the flexibility in the tip, the lower down strength and larger guides on the tip section to allow you to throw and then feel the lightest of soft plastics or lures.

terrain I am fishing in. When it comes to fluorocarbon leader, I tend to use Berkley Vanish, as I find it denser than most. If I’m using mono, I prefer Platypus Super-100, which has UV

This big whiting took a liking to a 70mm Bassday Sugapen skipped across the surface. the butt while having the combination of sensitivity, strength and flexibility in the tip to allow you to feel those subtle bites of the whiting sucking down a worm or

As for the reel on this outfit, I have gone no larger than a 30 sized spool filled with 2kg (4lb) braid. The breaking strain of leader I use depends on the type of

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inhibitors, heat stabilisers and an anti-abrasion coating.

I use a variety of soft plastics for whiting, and they range from 65mm Squidgy Wrigglers and Bugs through

to the Ecogearaqua Bream Prawn, Berkley Gulp Worms and Shrimps, and 2-2.5” ZMan GrubZ, Slim SwimZ and TRD CrawZ. I rig them on TT HeadlockZ Finesse and HWS jigheads in a range of sizes.

When it comes to hardbodied lures, I don’t have particular favourites, and that’s why I tend to have way too many! If I tried to list them all I would run out of space. If I simply had to choose a few to recommend, I’d suggest the Atomic Hardz K9 Pup 47, Hardz Shad 50 Mid, Ecogear SX40F Bream Special, Lucky Craft Humpback Minnow 50 and the Tango Bevy Shad 45.

As for surface lures, I like the 5.2cm Lucky Craft NW Pencil, 55 and 65 Sammys, the Strike Pro Hot Dog 65 and the Berkley 3B Scum Dog. I also recommend Stiffy Poppers, if you happen to have any old ones left in your lure collection.

When it comes to blades, I have way too many! I’ll try to narrow it down to three: the TT Lures 1/12oz Ghostblade and the 1/8oz Switchblade, plus the Strike Pro Cyber Vibe 35. The Ghostblade is a transparent, polycarbonate vibration blade that offers me a more finesse option when blading.

I believe that the transparent body makes the overall size

Thwaites Marine

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The Cyber Vibe has three tow points and two rear hook points, giving the lure up to six different actions.

GETTING STARTED All in all, whiting are a fun fish to target, and they come up fantastically on the plate. Best of all, you don’t need a lot of high-tech gear to catch them – just a few swivels, sinker, hooks and a bit of bait, or a pocket full of lures. The choice is now up to you.

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of the blade appear smaller, and I tend to use it when the water is clear or when whiting are spooky.

The Switchblade has three different tow points, giving me the option to adjust the lure’s action to suit the water depth, current and technique being used.

It can be hopped or slowrolled across shallow flats, vertically jigged in deep water, or burned mid-water through schooled fish.

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This bream was caught while chasing whiting near the edges of the mangroves. Image courtesy of Bryce Calvert.

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11

Find the time to fish!

SYD ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

The dry weather is continuing, creating little brown water run-off from our estuaries. Still, there have been days when the water clarity has been only 60% or less. The spear fishos say that visibility is down, making it difficult for them to see further than a few metres. I have noted this on some outings when fishing.

When the current runs in close enough during a southeasterly swell, the water is generally a lot clearer.

Some of the northeasterly

that reason, the heavier metal is a safer bet.

For this kind of fishing you should use a 4000 size reel. I use a Daiwa 4000BG. The spin rate can vary but if you stick to two full revolutions of the reel every second, that should be fast enough to arouse interest from a bonito. A 3.2m+ rod suitable for 8kg braid with a 10-15kg fluorocarbon leader (I use Daiwa J-Braid and Sufix Invisiline) and you’re set to go.

Of course, never forget your lifejacket, steel spike boots and raincoat, and preferably fish seas under 1m. Spin the deepwater ledges of 6m+ for better results. If you are a novice

If you’re after a snapper, I recommend using squid strips and make sure they are fresh; snapper are similar to kingfish in that they can be really fussy. Other bait options include three quarter pillies, bonito strips and king prawns for wash or distance casting.

Snapper, kings, bonito, and pelagics in general like deepwater rock spots.

They will often venture to these deep ledges with the vertical submerged wall to ambush prey like yellowtail, squid, cuttlefish and more.

Of course, for the snapper and bream, there are tasty crabs, sea tulips and cunje for them to feed on. Add some whitewater for

Jim Orchard with one of six legal snapper caught on a recent outing. This 47cm fish was released. Jim generously shared two of his snapper with the author. all), try Turrametta Head south face.

At Bangalley Head, there is a track going to the cliff ledge just past the bend at Milga Road and Watkins Road, North Avalon. The lookout is only 40m from

BEACH FISHING Not all beaches are producing good numbers but they are all producing some good sizes. Starting at Palm Beach, there are bream and some whiting in the northern corner. As you

there. It’s best to look for beach structure before you start fishing.

Palm Beach sometimes has a run of bonito, which venture in close enough for anglers to spin for. It can pay to have a 6-8kg

In the evenings off the rocks, you might encounter stud Sydney tailor like this. Bring a very long handled landing net or a gaff.

If you’re experienced, you may be able to wash it up. winds have been bringing in unseasonably cooler water with a green tinge.

This will change as the more consistent warmer currents become more dominant.

ROCK FISHING The bonito have finally arrived! These speedy little tuna average between 0.752kg, and at times up to 4kg+. They are great on the plate so long as you don’t overcook them, as they can get dry. They are definitely a sensational sashimi fish.

When you go to your local Sushi Train and choose that tasty plate of tuna sashimi, you’ll find that it’s usually bonito, especially if the flesh is light red. If it’s dark red, it’s more likely to be bluefin tuna.

Bonito are often caught on metal lures, such as SureCatch Knights. A good average size to use is 40g.

You can go as small as 10-20g, which may better suit what they are feeding on, but you might find it challenging to get the casting distance, especially when the wind is above average. For 12

JANUARY 2020

or intermediate rock fisher, seek advice from reputable anglers, tackle store staff who rock fish, or me. I am a full time rock and beach fishing guide.

The kings are in variable sizes, ranging from undersized fish to some brutes up to 130cm off the ocean rocks and even in the harbour. I recommend using a well-presented eastern sea gar on a 2-hook snelled rig, or on a set of 5/0-7/0 gang hooks with 60kg+ swivels between the gangs. I have also had good results on 130mm Rapala Surface Pro stickbaits and 130mm Williamson Jet Poppers, which suit small to medium size kings. You may even pick up the odd brute.

There is good snapper distance casting and wash fishing this month, and we can expect regular catches of plate-size snapper (32-40cm). There will also be the occasional bigger 60cm+ red, which are usually a challenge to land off the ocean rocks.

cover and you have all the ingredients for encountering these species.

January is not normally a popular time of the year for rock blackfish (pigs), as most anglers turn their attention to other species. However, on those days when the pelagics or reds aren’t playing the game, the rock blackfish can be a great substitute for a sometimes fish-less outing. As a back-up, take a few loaves of bread for berley and/or bait, and some endeavour, banana or king prawns. Fish the boulders or a submerged ledge for these hard-fighting and super tasty fish. The half run-in tide to a couple of hours out is generally best.

For the kings, bonito, tailor, salmon, pigs and luderick, The Hat below the Quarantine wall at Manly is a good ledge, as is Flat Rock at South Curl Curl – although, like The Hat, it can get really crowded. If you prefer to avoid the crowds, albeit only to an extent (you are fishing in Sydney, after

When you’re whiting fishing with beachworms, you can catch a range of bycatch species. Jillian had the thrill of her life playing this out on a 3.6kg outfit. the road and the main ledge can be seen there. There’s a fairly steep decent, not quite a climb, and you have to be careful. Spin off the ledge there, and you can get some reddies distance casting and/or luderick. There are also rock blackfish in the boulders, so it’s a good spot to try your luck. Do not fish it in a swell above 1m!

travel further south there are whiting and bream, and in the evenings you can get salmon and tailor. There is also a good chance of a mulloway in the evenings.

Around the two massive boulders you can fish for whiting and bream, along with other species in the evenings, providing the holes and sand banks are

outfit on stand-by just in case you see a bust up.

Keep a vigilant eye out while you’re fishing for whiting and bream, and you may see the tell-tale bonito surface activity – splashes, spray and/or a disturbance that looks like boiling water 30-60cm wide, which disappears a few seconds To page 13

Homing in on those hungry harbour kingfish SYDNEY NORTH

Hayden Webber

Sydney Harbour has been exceptional throughout the summer months, and now in the New Year, it’s as good as ever.

into these schools you will have to keep an eye out for bait, not only on surface but sounding up on your fishfinder. And of course, keep a look out for birds, which are your first lead to finding the fish.

If all action is quiet on

and hopefully on top of some form of structure underneath is going to be your ideal berley spot. Throwing small plastics back into the berley can keep you occupied while you drift down your bait, such as squid strips or pilchards. If you berley up

A good size kingfish taken on board Craig McGill’s Fishabout Charters.

Amongst the rat race of other boats you will find big schools of bonito, tailor and of course the prized kingfish lurking about. You will find these schools scattered all across the harbour. To home From page 12

later. It may happen several times. When you see this, don’t just stand there like a salami! Run to the rigged spinning rod which has the metal lure, put your whiting/bream outfit in the rod holder, run back to where you saw the splashes and get spinning.

There’s no time to dawdle because this surface action may only last for seconds.

Spin 1-2 rotations of the reel per second. Try not to cast right in the middle of the school because this

the surface you may have to look for nice current pockets between big high tides and lows around harbour land points, and perhaps further out towards the heads.

Anchoring up in that current

a school of yakkas around the boat, a good trick is not to always have a live bait on the bottom but to have one sitting just under the boat in the school of yakkas, waiting for a excited kingfish

may make them ‘sound’ (get scared off), due to the sudden heavy splash of the metal lure in their midst.

The smart option is to cast your lure in a spot that the fish are travelling to.

If you see them heading, say, left to right, cast a few degrees to the right. That way your lure and the fish will meet up at the right time. Repeat that process so you can have several goes at the pelagics (salmon, tailor or small tuna species) without putting them off.

When the surface action

is over get back into your whiting/bream fishing.

Fishing this way just adds another dimension to your beach fishing, keeping you busy. Most often a spinning reel is used, but having an Alvey reel with a medium action metal lure works fine. I recommend a metal with hexagonal corners, as it will give the metal some movement without too much speed required by the Alvey.

Big Aussie salmon are being caught, along with sizeable tailor. You can

to come and check out the commotion.

There have been great reports from bream fishers over the past month, with both structure and flats fishing producing some excellentsized bream. Fishing low light mornings across sand and weed beds throughout Pittwater is a good option, just bear in mind that you need higher tides to get some water across the flats for the fish to swim. Wading out waist-deep or approaching via kayak is a sure way of not spooking the fish. A sounder will help you to locate them, otherwise you can wait for just enough light to differentiate the weed beds from the clear sand.

The lures of choice are crankbaits and other small hardbodied divers in the darker and more natural colours. Just slow roll them along the bottom and wait for that hit.

Plastics on the drop rather than jerking techniques have been productive around snags and wharfs. Soft plastics with curly tails are ideal for this method of bream fishing.

• For all the latest info on what’s biting and where, drop in and chat to the expert staff at Fishing Station, located on 50 Darley St, Mona Vale.

They stock an excellent range of tackle and bait,

and are open every day except for Christmas Day and New Years Day. You can contact the team on 02

8094 9197, or see regular news and product updates at www.facebook.com/ fishingstationaustralia.

encounter tailor to 1kg and salmon to 3kg, and there was one report of a 4kg+ salmon. Catching big salmon in the surf is so much fun! You can use spin gear with a metal, or a set of gangs baited with a whole pilchard. The latter is a reliable and more relaxing way to fish for them, and can often result in a sand flathead as a by-catch. If you get pecks which don’t load up the rod, and you wind in with little or no bait left, there may be sizeable bream biting. A half pilchard or a strip of fish bait which will suit a size 1/0-2/0 size hook

will give you a better chance of catching the bream. You can also opt to bring a second rod specifically set up for bream.

The mulloway have been off and on lately, as they often are. January is a good month for them, but you have to put in the hours.

You may be lucky enough to catch one on your first outing, but more often than not you’ll need at least two consecutive outings during the full moon, new moon high tides in the evenings, which are between 9pm to 12am this month. Start at least half an hour before

dark and set up at a good gutter of preferably 2m+ deep. I recommend using live baits like yellowtail, 20-25cm mullet or squid (whole or strips, and make sure the squid is fresh).

During this holiday period, be wise when you are rock fishing. Fish safe and have a plan B! • 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.

Glenn Morgan with a couple of cracking bream caught from his Hobie. They were taken on a Pro Lure Crank in matt black.

nt Winning e m a n r Tou Hardbait SM SX40F CX35HS

M SX48F CX35HS L SX60F

David Lourusso went out on a trip with the author, and afterwards on his own he caught this beautiful 122cm, 18kg mulloway.

S F OR HARD BAIT SERIE

A LL

H! FIS E G AM

www.jmlaa.com JANUARY 2020

13

It’s a good time to chase kingies PITTWATER

Peter Le Blang plfishfingers@bigpond.com

The silly season is over and hopefully you have all received new fishing year to try out in the coming months!

This new year we’re seeing quite a bit of surface activity around Broken Bay

to track down a hot bite and to get your hands on some take-home kingfish.

When there is surface activity, small metal lures in the 10-20g sizes seem to be best. Working them along the surface from the edge of the school will often see more hits from these hungry fish.

Don’t forget though, working the deeper water

There are also quite a few kingfish to be caught along our coast, with most headlands and reefs holding some populations of fish. Along our coast we rarely need live squid to elicit a bite from kingfish, as yellowtail and slimy mackerel will normally result in good numbers of fish being brought over the side of the boat.

mulloway again showing up this year along Pittwater, Broken Bay and The Hawkesbury River.

Mulloway The best time to target mulloway is at the change of the tide. The particular area you are fishing will determine whether it’s low tide or high tide that fishes best. Flint and Steel reef, for example, is a great place to fish the last of the run-out tide and the change of the tide. The pressure wave or mid grounds between Eleanor Bluff and Juno Point fishes well on the last of the rising tide, and Walkers Point will see you in with a chance at both high and low tide.

When fishing for mulloway, people often talk about the importance of using fresh bait. This is true, but you shouldn’t be scared of using lures for catching these wonderful fish. Both soft plastics and 120g micro jigs will catch you a lot of fish if you use them correctly. Micro jigs are great to use while drifting through a targeted area, and you will be surprised at the results once your confidence has grown.

The next time you are on the water targeting mulloway, you should try giving these wonderful lures a go.

Pavel was stoked to catch his first ever kingfish. vary, but I find the easiest and most successful is a 2-hook paternoster rig. With this rig the heavy sinker puffs up the sand/mud, and the baits are presented close to the bottom, providing you have your line at around 45° to the boat. Not only does it present your baits within easy striking distance of the humble flathead, but you get

trevally and mulloway, but the running sinker rig seems to be the better rig to use.

I hope this report sees you getting excited and grabbing your fishing gear to head down to Pittwater to explore our wonderful part of the world. Our boat and license is up for sale, so if you are serious about joining the fishing charter

Live squid equals Pittwater kingfish. and also along Pittwater.

Most of this activity seems to be early in the morning; as the sun rises higher, the surface activity seems to disappear. Of course, the fish are still feeding but they are down deeper. Providing you have a decent sounder, you will be able pick up the baitfish and their predators as you travel Pittwater and Broken Bay. Unfortunately, this year when chasing kingfish you have to get both yellowtail and squid, as the kingies’ preference seems to fluctuate from day to day.

Downrigging is the best way

under the feeding mayhem will see other species being caught as well. Under the surface feeding schools on the bottom will be flathead, bream and (if you are really lucky) a mulloway or two.

These bottom-dwellers do not have to be targeted with lures; you can drag around a pilchard on a running rig while still casting at the surface activity.

Some areas to try for kingies at the moment are Barrenjoey Head, Lion Island and along Pittwater. The Western foreshore should see a few being caught.

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YELLOWTAIL AND SQUID The best place to gather yellowtail is at West Head.

While you are there, put out your first yellowtail just out of sight next to the boat for a passing kingfish.

Squid at the moment seem to be quite plentiful if you can stay away from all the boat activity and people playing on the water.

Most of the squid are being caught from the shallower grounds of the Basin, Currawong Beach and the large weed beds just north of Palm Beach wharf (i.e.

Summer Bay). These tasty kingfish Tim Tams have been pouncing on the fluoro colours of orange or pink, but make sure that you have a couple of natural colour jigs close by, in case the squid want something else on the day.

When targeting squid, make sure that you apply a small portion of S Factor or Halco paste towards the business end of the squid jig. These pastes will help to keep your squid on the jigs.

Quite often we have netted squid that haven’t even being spiked by the jigs.

OTHER SPECIES There are good numbers of flathead, bream and

One of the many surface feeding kingies being caught lately.

Flathead Along Broken Bay, one of the easiest fish to catch is the flathead, and most people think that they are the tastiest fish as well.

Catching flatties is as easy as finding a point, channel or undulating ground and drifting with your baits on the bottom. The rigs can

to maximise your chances with two baits.

Anchoring and fishing the edges of the reefs such as Flint and Steel will see some big flathead being caught as well, especially if you use a weighted berley bucket to attract baitfish and their predators. In this area you can also catch bream,

industry give me a call.

Alternatively, if you’d like to book in a charter you can reach me on 0410 633 351.

• Peter Le Blang operates Harbour and Estuary Fishing Charters, phone 02 9999 2574 or 0410 633 351, visit www. estuaryfishingcharters. com.au

How to fish Nagambie… and win some serious cash!

By now, you probably know that the guaranteed $500,000 prize pool is back at GoFish Nagambie, including an $80,000 cash prize for the largest Murray cod, and we’ll also be paying out to 10th place!

What you may not know is how to give yourself the best chance of winning in April 2020.

Here are a few tips to give you the edge.

NAGAMBIE PROFILE Nagambie has plenty of heavy timber, standing trees, overhanging structure, willows, thick weed beds and a river channel that provides the lake system with depths varying from 0.5m-11m. Looking from the Goulburn Weir to everything upstream to the junction with Hughes Creek, there are backwaters, billabongs, lagoons and creeks within the area, including Majors Creek and Sandy Creek.

Minimal water flow makes for great fishing opportunities, whether you’re fishing with bait, lure or fly.

LAND-BASED Walking the banks targeting natives is effective and fun. Those fishos who walk the extra mile will usually come up with the goods. It’s wise to carry two outfits – a larger rod for longer casts for the bigger bodies of water, and a short outfit for the tight spots.

When you’re fishing small streams using the smaller outfit, weedless soft plastics are a good choice. You’ll need to be competent at making underhanded, backhand and bow-and-arrow casts. When you’re fishing the rivers, your longer outfit will help your lure reach the prime structure – snags, rock bars and overhanging cover.

KAYAK Fishing from a kayak can give you an advantage. The lake system is never ending, with shallow edges, backwaters and billabongs, and many of these areas are inaccessible by both boat and bank. In a kayak, you’ll be able to

access fish that don’t get much angling pressure.

BOAT If you’re fishing from a boat, you should troll AND cast. First thing in the morning and late in the afternoon, use surface lures, hardbodies and spinnerbaits, cast into the shallows. When the sun is up, switch to trolling the river and the deep channels in the lake seeking out larger fish.

If you’re after golden perch, troll around the standing trees.

GET IN QUICK! Over 50% of boat entries are already sold out!

To avoid disappointment, head to the GoFish Nagambie website to lock in your spot.

Catching the king of the harbour SYDNEY

Paul O’Hagan

Last month the reports were coming in that there were yellowfin tuna out past the shelf, but this month it is very large kingfish topping the 140cm mark being taken up and down the coast by a lot of anglers. It’s all the rage.

Inside the harbour there have been very large kingfish feeding on the surface, giving anglers the chance

Point as they feed on the large amount of baitfish that is available.

As well as kingfish there are very large schools of salmon and bonito inside the harbour and along the rock platforms that are feeding on some very small baits.

These fish are easily taken while using small metals and saltwater flies from the boat or from the rocks.

Squid have been quiet for a while and most anglers have been targeting slimy mackerel and yellowtail for

good flathead taken using hardbodied lures like the Daiwa Double Clutch and soft plastics. If you are trying for a mulloway in this area

should see a few trevally and/or samsonfish coming to the boat.

Some kingfish have been taken while trolling diving

Alex Bauru landed this lovely kingfish in the harbour.

This is a typical king anglers can expect inside the harbour. This one was caught by Nick Bauru.

Ali Hammoud wrangled this kingy offshore. of throwing large stickbaits and saltwater flies with a lot of success.

For those anglers who have been trolling live baits on downriggers, it has been exceptional fishing, with lots of kingfish patrolling from North Head to Blue Fish

their live baits. However, now in around the Spit Bridge the numbers of squid are on the increase, and they are one of the best baits to pick up a kingfish.

Along the sand flats around North Harbour, there have been some

in the evening, you can’t go past a soft vibe in a few different sizes.

Beach fishing is improving day by day, with whiting being taken from Curl Curl and Narrabeen beaches. Those fishing Manly in the evening can expect a lot of tailor and flathead that are eager to take some pilchards.

With so many kings about, a lot of anglers are using very large stickbaits from the rocks at North and South Curl Curl, and fish over a metre have been taken while fishing just before the sun comes up.

From the reefs there have been a mix of very large snapper, samsonfish, trevally and kings, depending what method is used.

Drifting with large soft plastics is working very well for the snapper, and setting up a berley trail

lures, but most have been taken on live baits.

Narrabeen Lake has started to fish well, as there was a stocking of prawns and this has got the fish on the move throughout the lake.

At the moment, there are whiting, bream, luderick, chopper tailor, flathead and estuary perch all feeding well, and if you can get your hands on some live prawns fishing in the early morning or in the evening you should be able to pick up a fish or two. For those who prefer to use lures and plastics, the shallows and drop-offs at the back of the lake are the places to go.

Fishing offshore at the Twelve Mile Reef and The Peak has yielded good numbers of kingfish eager to pick up large metal jigs and live baits.

There have been a few reports lately of a few very

Andre Bauru shows off another Sydney king.

large mahimahi taken by some anglers while fishing around one of the northern wave rider buoys, but with not a lot of boats going out due to the weather conditions, it is very hard to get much information if there are any fish showing up around the FADs yet.

A few striped marlin have been taken further north from Sydney, and with the warm water slowly making its way down the coast, it should not be long before we hopefully see some good numbers of mahimahi showing up around the FADs. Last year when the mahimahi turned up, they were very small fish and although they are one of the fastest growing fish in the sea, it wasn’t until well into the season that the fish had grown large enough to be kept.

As we head into the season, most of our summer species should be on the move and in full swing, and hopefully our game fishing will be a lot better than last season, as the currents were not kind to us. Most of our game species were either too far out for the smaller boats or were non-existent, as they travelled past Sydney and took up refuge further down the South Coast.

As always, stay safe and enjoy the fishing.

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Catching a feed in the holidays BOTANY BAY

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

There will be plenty going on throughout this month for both land-based and boating anglers, which will hopefully keep your lines tight.

Bondi and the south end of Turramurra beaches. Peeled prawns, pilly tails, whitebait and strips of tuna and mullet are the go. Fish as light as the conditions will allow. If the swell is up a bit and you need to get out further, upsize your star or snapper sinker on your paternoster rig.

A number of boaties have

be at the following ramps: • Kyeemagh Boat Ramp, Kyeemagh, Saturday 18 January, 8-11am.

• Hawkesbury Reserve Boat Ramp, Sylvania Waters, Saturday 18 January, 2-5pm.

To find other locations, go to www.rms.nsw.gov. au and search for ‘flare disposal’.

Just north of the baths at Ramsgate, you will find a concrete wall that juts out into Botany Bay. It’s a great place to fish for whiting, bream and flathead – just be careful as it can get a bit slippery.

On the beaches of the north side of Botany Bay, there have been a few reports of whiting, bream and dart being caught in the morning and late afternoon. They have been taking beachworms, pink nippers and pilly tails.

A few salmon and tailor have also been on the chew, taking whole pillies and garfish. A set of 4/0 or 5/0 ganged hooks will do the job. Don’t forget to bring a couple of 40-60g metals in case the schools are out of casting distance when using baits.

Luderick, drummer and trevally have been caught off the rocks on the north end of

been trolling the washes north and south of the entrance to Botany Bay for kingfish, bonito, striped tuna, salmon and the odd tailor or two.

Small metal lures around the 40-50g mark, Christmas tree skirts and 10-20cm hardbodied lures that swim at around 2-3m in depth are working well.

If you are going offshore, remember to make sure that your safety gear is up to date. Transport, Roads and Maritime maintains a program to help boaters dispose of expired marine flares, with mobile collections set up across NSW. In January they will

The kingfish season should now be well and truly on in Botany Bay, and those anglers who have been targeting them for a month or so will still be getting amongst a few. Remember that the minimum size limit is 65cm and you are allowed to catch and keep five per person. I tend to only keep one or two, as that is enough for a feed.

Live or fresh squid is the go when fishing while at anchor or trolling. Or, if you prefer, you can cast a few 5-7” soft plastics around the marker poles, buoys and drums in the bay.

Bream and flathead will

have increased in numbers in Yarra Bay, Bare Island, Sutherland Point, the drums, the Sticks, the oil wharf, Towra flats and out wide, and the 3-4m depth of the shoreline that runs from Brighton to Dolls Point.

While we’re talking about the shoreline, the stretch of shoreline that runs from the breakwall at the entrance to the Cooks River and down to Dolls Point has been producing a number of whiting, bream and the odd flathead. These species are taking tubeworms, beachworms, pilly tails, nippers and strips of garfish.

I wouldn’t bother berleying there as you need to get a decent cast out to get to where the fish are.

What you could do is go fishing there very early or late into the evening, as the fish will tend to come in closer to the shore to feed once the sun has gone down.

If you don’t mind a bit of a walk you could try for tailor and salmon on whole ganged pilchards off the beach north of Greenhills.

Whiting and bream have been caught out in front of the southern end of the car park at Wanda. If

TAKING P AND REL HAVE ON

POWERFUL & E • Superior torqu • Lightest weigh There have been a few amberjack and samsonfish accele • Quicker caught by anglers drifting the close inshore reefs for snapper, morwong and kingfish.

• Unprecedente you can’t catch your own beachworms, you can call your local bait outlet to see whether they have any. I go to Mac’s Bait Bar, and the worms usually arrive there around Thursday afternoon.

Don’t forget to keep

those photos coming in to gbrown1@iprimus.com.au MORE and I will endeavourINTUITIV to put them into my report.

And keep an eye out for • Smoothest, qu my new book, Fishing Atlas to Sydney – Hawkesbury,rpm • Maintain which is in tackle stores now.

For new boat pa

Squid need a lot of aeration to keep them alive. If they do die, you can either use them for bait or take them home and eat them.

FISHING NEWS

Sydney oyster reefs Research has found that remnant Sydney rock oyster reefs have far more marine growth and crustaceans than adjacent

bare sediments – a 5-fold higher density of larger invertebrates and 5-fold higher biomass – which support fish populations.

Sydney rock oyster reefs were once a common habitat type in Australia, but have largely been replaced by bare sediments. The invertebrates, including small crustaceans, found on the oyster reefs are important sources of food for fish, and the research found the small crustaceans were 14-fold more numerous on oyster habitat than in adjacent bare sediment.

Estimates of the ecological and economic value of ecosystems can provide important information for the prioritisation of conservation and restoration actions. In Australia, there is growing interest in oyster Researchers sample the remnant oyster reef restoration, but there are courtesy of Fish of Habitat Network. Atlas to Sydney reefs. knowledge gaps with regard The 2019Image revised addition the Fishing – Hawkesbury.

18

JANUARY 2020

Most of the oyster reef loss occurred over 150 years ago, so most people don’t know that the reefs were ever there. Image courtesy of NSW DPI. to their structure and habitat value. The study describes the structure of eight remnant Sydney rock oyster (Saccostrea glomerata) reefs, focusing on the density, biomass, productivity and composition

of mobile macroinvertebrate and infaunal communities associated with them. The results of the study indicate that oyster reef restoration should have a significant positive impact on marine life.

You can read more of this research by McLeod and others at Marine and Freshwater Research: https://doi.org/10.1071/ MF18197.

– Fish Habitat Network

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Success from the shore SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

I have had a number of readers write to me asking where to go beach fishing in the southern areas, what they can expect to catch and

what types of bait should they use. So, the first part of this month’s report will cover which options can be found in Southern Sydney.

Starting from Bate Bay, you will find Green Hills, Wanda, Elouera, North and South Cronulla. All of them at times will produce whiting,

bream, dart, mulloway, salmon and tailor throughout the day and night.

Further south at the entrance to the Port Hacking River you will find Jibbon Beach, which can easily be fished in a southerly. A few bream and whiting can be caught here.

Scotty Lyons with a luderick that was caught while targeting mullet with bread in Gunnamatta Bay.

The author has caught many a leatherjacket before, but never one with two spines.

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could try the saltwater side of the Audley Weir and the small beach just upstream of the ramp at Swallow Rock Drive. Both seem to produce better catches either side of the top of the tide.

For the best results on the beaches I would use either pink nippers or tube worms.

Fresh mullet and peeled Hawkesbury prawns would be my next choice. The rig that I mainly use here is a small ball sinker that runs directly down onto the bait.

If I am in my boat, I will have a ball sinker running down onto the swivel with a leader of about a metre or so. The diversion wall just upstream is worth shot for bream, whiting, flathead and luderick on the run-out tide.

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then pink nippers, pilly tails, whitebait, strips of fresh squid, yellowtail and mullet, whole yellowtail, pilchards and garfish and salted down tuna or bonito. You could take your own live yellowtail down, but that takes some serious effort.

Justin from BCF at Taren Point reports that he and his dad have been getting amongst a few quality luderick, and the main key to their success is using fresh green weed and/or cabbage.

It’s also very important to have a small and steady berley trail going.

John from Fergos Tackle World at Taren Point reports that there have been kingfish on the chew off Lilly Pilly and Gymea Baths. Whole pilchards and squid are the

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There are a number of beaches in the Royal National Park (RNP) that you can fish. Starting from the north and heading south you have Marley, Little Marley, Wattamolla, Garie, Little Garie, North and South Era, Burning Palms and Werrong. To gain access to these beaches you will need to travel to inside the Royal National Park (fees apply). Before you set out, my suggestion would be to go and have a look at Google Maps (satellite version) and have a look for where you can park your car and the walking tracks that lead into these beaches. The main National Parks office at Audley will also have maps of the area, which show all the parking areas and tracks

Salmon Haul Bay has a number of great land-based spots to fish for whiting, bream, flathead, salmon, squid and leatherjackets. that lead into these beaches.

It’s been a while since I have ventured down to Coalcliff and Stanwell Park beaches, as my last trip down didn’t produce any bites (I was using live beachworms).

However, I have had a couple of reports of whiting, bream and dart being caught in the morning and late afternoon on beachworms, pink nippers and pilly tails. Parking is easy at these beaches, and it’s just a short walk down to the water’s edge.

As for what baits to use, I would start with live beachworms or tubeworms,

best baits by far. Trevally, bream and pan-size snapper can be caught on the run-in tide off the sand bar at Lilly Pilly, and during the top of the tide whiting have been feeding on top of the bar.

Adam from Fishin.com. au at Miranda reports that kingies have been chasing bait in Yowie, Gymea and Gunnamatta bays on the surface. He has also been picking up a few flathead and bream under the pontoons in these bays.

If you are looking for a place to take the kids for a couple of hours’ fishing you

remember to make sure that your safety gear is up to date.

The Roads and Maritime maintains a program to help boaters dispose of expired marine flares, with mobile collections set up across NSW. In January they will be at the following ramps: • Swallow Rock Boat Ramp, Grays Point, Sunday, 19 January – 8:00-11:30am • Wonga Road Boat Ramp, Yowie Bay, Sunday, 19 January – 1:30-5:00pm.

To find other locations, go to www.rms.nsw.gov. au and search for ‘flare disposal’.

... that’s what the NSW DPI FADs program is all about!

NSW DPI installs 30 fish aggregating devices (FADs) off popular fishing ports along the NSW coast from September to June.

FADs attract fast growing pelagic fish such as Mahi Mahi (Dolphinfish), Wahoo and Marlin and create an alternative fishing location for recreational sport and game fishers.

FADs are deployed in NSW by DPI using funds from the Recreational Fishing Trust.

Visit the FADs webpage for GPS coordinates of your nearest FAD, FADs distance off the coast and the best access point. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational

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Score yourself a monster mulloway to start 2020 THE HAWKESBURY

Dan Selby dan@sydneysportfishing.com.au

I hope you have all had a lovely festive season with friends and family and a side of fishing thrown in for good measure.

I have been on a break from guiding between Christmas and the New Year, but I still get the chance to duck out for an early morning or late afternoon bass session in the sweetwater creeks high in the catchment area. Here anglers can find seclusion

and solitude while immersing themselves in the natural world around them. A swirl, slurp or ‘boof’ makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention as your gaze instantly homes in on where that noise came from, to confirm it is your

There has been lots of surface action this season on rat kingfish. Find the birds and you will find the fish.

Drop in to see your local

target species and not just a pesky water dragon or stray tortoise casually dropping from a nearby rock or snag.

I like to fish surface lures in these small creeks and streams, but a jig spin combo, small 1/8oz spinnerbait or shallow crankbait can be equally as effective. The only downside is that you miss out on that exciting visual strike that fishing a surface presentation offers the angler.

Back in the river proper the flathead have been biting well higher in the catchment this year due to the lack of rain and heavy irrigation. The water goes toward the growth of crops and turf in the upper tidal catchment, despite the large volumes of treated effluent, and gradually pulls the brackish reaches upstream.

Soft plastics that represent a prawn or baitfish on a 1/4oz jighead fished on a light spin outfit will account for some nice fish from Ebenezer back down to Wisemans Ferry. Lower Portland will be holding a mix of species like estuary perch bass bream flathead and the odd mulloway.

They are easily temped with live or fresh frozen prawns,

or the aforementioned soft plastics and small 45mm blades.

Mud crabs are well upstream too, with the blue swimmer crabs being caught upstream of Spencer towards The Cave using fresh fish frames as bait.

Some great mulloway were caught leading up to Christmas, with the best times to catch one being early and late in the day, and into the night.

Lure fishing for bream on the rock walls around Wisemans down to Gunderman is usually red-hot at this time of year. Cast small 2-3” grubs in natural colours

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once-fussy feeders from early in the season are now easily fooled with 10-20g metal slices, 3” soft plastic minnows or surface stickbaits under 100mm.

Finding an actively feeding school is sometimes difficult, but following the birds and reading their activity can greatly improve anglers’ chances of encountering some of this amazing action.

Another key advantage is having a well set up sounder that works at speed so you can locate deeper bait balls on the run.

The headlands have been producing some nice catches of kingfish, with the odd bonito in the mix. Flat lining and downrigging live yakkas and slimies close to the washes has been the most productive method.

George Sechos set a new boat record recently on the author’s charter boat Me & Jew. A 40-minute fight on 8lb line had this stunning 130cm mulloway boat-side. It was fooled by a Squidgy Bio Tough 100mm Fish in bloodworm colour.

Mulloway will be touchy after a busy summer period, so your best bet is to fish the quieter times of early morning, late afternoon and into the night. Live or slab baits of yakka, tailor, mullet, squid and pike are all successful, with the key to rig them

straight so they don’t spin in the often strong tidal flow the Hawkesbury is renowned for.

Kingfish, bonito, tailor and the odd stray salmon have been busy gorging themselves on the anchovy schools throughout Pittwater and Cowan. The

George releasing his awesome fish back into the Hawkesbury’s depths.

Jack caught and released this 72cm flathead while fishing with his mate Cohen.

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BLACK MAGIC

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Looking inshore to target big black marlin For many anglers, catching a marlin is the pinnacle of fishing and often thought of as an unrealistic target species that’s best left for hardcore anglers with all the gear and big boats. While this could be said when it comes to chasing a blue marlin in 600 fathoms of water 40nm+ off the coast, there are certainly much easier ways to tick a marlin off your bucket list.

This is especially true if you live on the East Coast anywhere between central QLD to the South Coast of NSW. Every year around spring, black marlin start making their way down the coast, providing amazing fishing opportunities to inshore anglers often within a few miles of land. In some areas, they can even be caught land-based.

If you know what to look for, what to use and when to do it, these fish are not that hard to catch.

There isn’t a better sight than a marlin in full flight. if they’re not there. Early in the season, it’s important to keep an eye on reports up the coast. I live at Port Stephens, so I know that if they haven’t shown up at South West Rocks I’m

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TIMING Knowing when black marlin are going to show up is the first thing you need to understand, as you won’t catch them 24

JANUARY 2020

probably wasting my time.

When they do show up, it tends to be in waves over couple of months with water temperatures and bait dictating their

movements. Warm blue water between 21-25°C is ideal for inshore black marlin and sea surface charts will give you a good understanding for where the best water in your area is currently holding. While you will have to pay for access to the most current sea surface temperature sites, it’s worth it to take out much of the guesswork for which direction you should head.

Once you’ve found the water you’re looking for, bait schools are the next thing to further hone in on.

Slimy mackerel, yellowtail scad and pilchard schools are the primary food source for inshore black marlin and usually hold around structure, current lines and temperature breaks. A good sounder will not only mark the bait but can also mark up actively feeding marlin.

GEAR AND TACKLE Having the right tools for the job is very important for any fishing and marlin fishing is no exception.

Mono line is definitively the way to go, as the stretch in the line acts as a shock absorber, especially when the fish jumps. Something like Black Magic IGFA rated line in 10-15kg is spot on when it comes to fishing for black marlin and will subdue even fish approaching 100kg, which are not as uncommon as you might think when fishing inshore.

When that big stubborn fish does come along, even on light tackle it can put the

hurt on you. This is where the Black Magic Equaliser Gimbal and Harness comes into play, taking much of the pain away from long fights with big fish that don’t want to play the game nicely. The new equaliser also has a twin pin system that will accept bent butt rods without any adapters needed.

Leaver drag overheads are traditionally favoured for marlin fishing. The main advantage of these reels is the free-spool function, which allows you to disengage a pre-set drag, allowing the marlin to eat the bait with no resistance on the strike. This is very important when trolling

live or skip baits on circle hooks, which is the most effective way to catch black marlin.

Once the fish bites, the line pops out of the outrigger clip in free-spool with the ratchet on and then it’s just a matter of pointing the rod at the fish while it’s taking line and gradually applying drag as you lift up on the rod. When done correctly, this gives the best possible hook-up rate for marlin fishing by far.

Larger spinning reels with the baitrunner function will also act the same way and are becoming popular alternative options, particularly when fishing with 10kg line.

The best circle hooks to use for inshore live bait trolling are the Black Magic KLT range, as they are the perfect shape and size as well as being super sharp. For inshore black marlin, the 6/0-7/0 size is right on the money. Bridle rigging the baits will keep them alive longest and also limit the chance of the hook getting caught in the bait when the fish strikes. This is done by attaching a short loop of either Dacron or 50lb mono to the hook and using a bait needle to poke it through the clear cartridge in front of the eyes of your slimy mackerel or yellowtail.

Once the loop is through the fish, you put the hook through the loop a number of times and secure it about an inch from the fish’s nose. It’s important to not go too heavy on your leader so 60-80lb Black Magic Fluorocarbon Leader fits the bill.

While slow trolling live baits is probably the most effective way to catch inshore marlin, lures also have their place. They are particularly useful when you want to travel to another area but could potentially catch fish between locations. They allow you to cover more ground, as you can troll them much faster than live baits. For inshore fish, skirted lures like the Black Magic Maggot, Flea and Saury ranges are all the perfect size.

It’s thrilling to fight marlin only a few kilometres from the shoreline.

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Why structure is so important NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

Recognising and understanding structure is critical to catching so many types of fish — in both fresh and saltwater — yet some anglers still struggle getting their heads around this basic concept. Here’s how (and why) it works: Fishing writers like me are always banging on about the importance of ‘structure’ in our how-to articles, yet I’m sure this term still leaves some anglers puzzled, confused and scratching their heads.

Basically, structure — at least as it applies to fishing — is any object, feature, element or abnormality that breaks up an otherwise reasonably uniform stretch of terrain, seascape or environment.

It could be something as obvious as a dirty big boulder, a fallen tree or an undersea reef pinnacle, or it may be as subtle as a line of bubbles or foam drifting in the current, a transition

First light filters through the fog on prime bass water. There’s plenty of juicy structure along that deeper left bank, but don’t rule out a weed bed or isolated log on the shallower side either, especially in low light conditions.

FADs or fish aggregation devices are classic pieces of artificial structure that attract all manner of marine life, including tripletail like this beauty Jo Starling pulled from under a bamboo raft FAD in Indonesian waters.

Frigate birds begin to wheel overhead and a brown booby lands on the raft. A passing loggerhead turtle paddles over for a look.

Down below, a squadron of tiger-striped wahoo hangs menacingly in the current

between dirty and slightly clearer water, or the hidden layer in a lake where the water temperature changes abruptly across a vertical distance of less than a metre. These are all structures and they can all be keys to finding and catching fish.

Most anglers understand

This bream is finding both food and shelter in a wavewashed gutter that’s literally bristling with marine life.

It’s not only fish that love snags or fallen trees! The presence of water dragons like this gorgeous specimen is often a good indicator of the likelihood of encountering bass, Murray cod or other fishy predators.

that when they’re chasing bass, Murray cod, bream, jacks or barra, they’ll tend to do better if they cast their baits, lures or flies as close as possible to the cover of snags, mangrove roots and rock bars. Fewer stop to think about why

What a fishy set-up! A tropical run-off drain with a snag right in its mouth. You’d almost guarantee a strike from a barra, jack or estuary cod on the first cast at a structural element of this calibre.

26

JANUARY 2020

these structural elements actually attract and hold catchable fish.

The best fish-holding structures offers three critical benefits to the fish they attract: food, shelter and a point of reference or home base for navigational purposes.

Think about a bamboo raft FAD (fish aggregation device) anchored or drifting in warm, tropical seas.

Within days (sometimes hours) of being deployed, tiny fish and larval crustaceans will begin to gather in the shadow of this raft, seeking shelter from seabirds or other predators, and possibly nibbling on the algae already beginning to grow on the bamboo.

Shortly afterwards, the first cruising mahimahi (dolphin fish), rainbow runner or tripletail will wander by, spy the cloud of little organisms sheltering under the raft and happily chow into them. Soon other predators will join the first one and, even if they succeed in eating all the small fry, they’ll tend

beneath the FAD, while further out, a massive blue marlin begins to stalk a pod of juvenile yellowfin tuna that are also using the raft as the centre of their hunting activities.

A fallen casuarina tree in the upper reaches of a southern estuary works a little differently, but the same general principles apply. Tiny fish, shrimps and prawns hide amongst the twigs. Barnacles and algae grow on the timber.

Bream move in to crunch open the tasty barnacles and luderick graze on the algae. A school of estuary perch swing by to chase the small fry and their flashes and splashes attract a passing mulloway. The system is working: life is attracting other life, all driven by the presence of a single, fallen tree.

Consider these things every time you wet a line. Think about why a particular piece of structure might attract and hold certain types of food and

An old set of bridge pylons and the accumulation of flood debris they’ve trapped marks a prime piece of mid-stream structure. to hang around in close proximity to the raft, using it as a home base or a point of reference in the otherwise vast and featureless ocean.

Life attracts life.

the fish that eat them.

Consider which items of structure have more to offer than others. Then question your assumptions. If you do, I guarantee your fishing results will improve!

Recreational Fishing Update Dan Tags Solid Flattie & Then Catches It Again!

Ever wondered if you’ve caught the same fish twice? We recently received info about a dusky flathead recapture that confirmed this can happen!

A flattie originally tagged and released by gun angler Dan Guilfoyle was recaptured by none other than ... Dan Guilfoyle. Dan originally tagged the 83cm lizard on 17 July 2019 while fishing in Lake Macquarie.

After a couple of quick photos, the fish was tagged under DPI’s Trophy Fishery program and released in excellent condition. Fast forward 90 days to 14 October and Dan recaptured the fish in the same area where he originally tagged it! The fish was once again released in excellent condition.

These recaptures continue to reinforce that

dusky flathead are a resilient species well suited to catch and release fishing. Provided they are handled and released carefully, duskies can continue to contribute to the fishery and make anglers happy (even the same ones!) after being caught and released previously.

How Old Is Lachlan’s 143cm Jewie?

Gun fisho Lachlan Monro recently hit a purple patch, landing three quality mulloway over 140cm near Coffs Harbour, NSW. As a keen member of the mulloway tagging program, Lachlan was able to tag, measure and release all of these fish. One of these mulloway – a 143cm beast – was recaptured and donated to DPI’s Research Angler Program (RAP) to be aged by our researchers.

As it turns out, analysis of the fish’s otoliths (earbones) revealed it to 18 years of age, which is average for a fish of this length.

That said, other mulloway of a similar size have been recorded as young as seven and as old as 29! DPI’s RAP program collects frames of key recreational species including snapper, mulloway, kingfish, dusky flathead, tailor, Spanish and spotted mackerel and black bream.

This fantastic citizen science program provides valuable information to assist DPI in monitoring our fish stocks so they can be managed efficiently and effectively. If you’d like more info on the RAP program, do a search at the DPI website at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au.

Fishcare Vols Help Unlock Potential Through Fishing Fun!

Native Sportfish Rescued From Drought-Stricken Macquarie River

NSW DPI Fisheries recently partnered with Wagga Wagga-based disability services provider Northcott to hold a fishing workshop for 12 excited anglers at our Narrandera Fisheries Centre.

We stage annual community engagement workshops at the Narrandera hatchery to give people who otherwise wouldn’t get the chance to wet a line the opportunity to experience the joy of fishing.

Some great fish were caught and released on the day, with everyone getting a chance to try to land a big one courtesy of the fantastic Narrandera facilities and the expert guiding assistance by our skilled and passionate team of Fishcare volunteers and DPI Fisheries staff.

Late last year DPI Fisheries teams worked with volunteers from Inland Waterways Ozfish and local landowners to rescue hundreds of Murray cod and golden perch from the drought-ravaged Lower Macquarie River in the NSW Central West.

More than 350 Murray cod and golden perch rescued from isolated and drying pools resulting from unprecedented drought conditions. The largest cod rescued was 106cm with numerous other fish in the 90-100cm size class also saved from certain death.

Broodstock involving 25 larger Murray cod and 40 mature golden perch were transported from the rescue sites to DPI’s Narrandera Fisheries Centre hatchery.

Another 20 cod were sent to a commercial hatchery.

These fish will produce fingerlings to be restocked

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

into the Macquarie River once conditions improve.

They’ll be returned to the rescue area after up to five years as broodstock. At the time of writing, DPI has conducted a number of other fish rescue efforts including in the Darling River, the Gwydir River and the Namoi River.

While we unfortunately can’t save all fish at risk from the drought, we are committed to protecting as many native sportfish as possible.

And we are fast tracking plans to rebuild the native fishery as soon as possible after the drought breaks. If you are concerned about native fish in your local area, contact us at fish.rescues@dpi.nsw.gov.au or via 0427 842 940. Please report any fish deaths to the Fishers Watch hotline on 1800 043 536.

Heavy hitters are out in force THE TWEED

Anthony Coughran

Good numbers of mahimahi, kingies, a few mackerel and pelagics have been giving fishos grief off the coast.

Red dogs are smashing just about anything that comes close to the heavy structure that they call home. Whiting are fully pushing up into the skinny water and yabby banks, and flathead are stalking

these whiting packs in the shallows. Bass are in full boof mode, hitting surface lures at dusk and dawn.

OFFSHORE If the last month is anything to go by, we should be in for a great pelagic

Matthew Lewis nailed this solid Tweed kingy on a live bait.

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season. Trolling around current lines, floating debris, spawn lines, reef lines and working birds from the 24s out to the shelf is still your best bet for a solid mahimahi, wahoo, billfish, yellowfin or longtail. The 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m and 1000m lines have been fishing better than in close. The FAD is also fishing well for mahimahi.

They aren’t as big, but are easily caught on metals and pillies.

Big kingies have been hanging around the close reefs. Live baits trolled or unweighted live drift baits have been working best, with the odd one hitting stickbaits, poppers, jigs and big plastics.

Find the schooled up fish then drop your baits and lures to score.

Spanish mackerel and the odd spotted mackerel have started to show up. Trolling dead baits and hardbodies has been working well for Spaniards, but slimies, small bonito and pillies have been the best troll baits and are catching more. The odd fish has been taken on stickbaits/ poppers, floating half pillies and metals, but it takes a lot longer to raise a fish. The occasional spotty has been caught with floating and trolled pillies. If you find the schools of yakkas and slimies, you’ll find the spotties.

Nick Dillon scored this mahimahi on a trolled skirt. perch, tuskies and the odd pigfish and decent snapper.

Dusk and dawn have been fishing the best in close but once the sun is up, dropping off to deeper water is a must for finding reefies.

Some big deep-sea monsters have been coming from the 400m lines, with bass groper, hapuka and bar cod all taken this month.

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JANUARY 2020

Quality mixed bags have been coming in from Tweed. Brooklyn poses with her dad’s catch.

There have been some great mixed reefies on the close reefs and in the shale.

Fishing plastics, drift baits, octo jigs, micro jigs as well as bottom bashing has been catching quality pearlies, sea

a must. There is still lots of bait around in close, so look at Point and 10-Minute reefs, Snapper Rocks, Kirra bait grounds, the sand pumping jetty and the yellow marker for a range of different baits.

ESTUARY Mangrove jacks are out to play and they are wreaking havoc on most anglers.

Fishing heavy structure is the key to finding these red dogs but getting them out is another story. Live baits, large strip baits and dead baits have been working best at night on a filling tide, and a wide range of lures have been effective during the day. Trolling hardbodies along the rock walls has been productive on the run-out tide. Working the same rock walls with vibes and slow rolled plastics has also been working well.

Surface lures have been most effective around pontoons and drains at dusk and dawn.

Packs of whiting have been pushing up into the skinny water this month. Look for sand banks with the most yabby holes to score the best packs. Live yabbies, blood and beachworms have been fishing great as usual, even in the channels, and surface lures over these same filling banks have produced some quality fish too.

Flathead aren’t that far behind the whiting, and working the same sand banks with 2-5” plastics will catch the nicer flathead. Trolling hardbodies between spots has also been producing so have a hardbody sized between 35-120mm set up on another rod.

Lots of bull sharks have started to push upriver and chase schools of mullet. Large dead baits and live baits are the go, and the top baits have been freshwater eel, whole mullet or tuna, stingray flaps and live mullet fished on the bottom. Get up past the sugar mill for the best results.

There are still lots of trevally around the bridges at night. If you find the packs of herring, you’ll find the trevs. Lightly-weighted

Joshua Crabtree caught this solid 52cm jack on a slow rolled minnow. live and dead herring have been the most productive baits, whereas vibes, jigs, plastics and swimbaits

well. Surface lures at dusk and dawn have been productive when matched to the insects in the area. Once the sun is

Joel Graham had a great battle with this red dog on light gear. have been the pick of the artificials.

Lots of crabs are moving around now after taking a hiding over Christmas. Get away from the crowds to score the better models. This may mean getting right upriver and into the brackish creeks for muddies. Around the weed beds will produce quality blue swimmers.

BEACHES A few good tailor have been caught this month, mainly at first light off the headlands on metals and in the gutters on pillies at night.

Dart have moved in and are sitting in gutters, around headlands and rock walls during the day. Whitebait, small metals and plastics have all been fishing well for dart.

There are still bream, flathead, whiting and trevally sitting in the deeper gutters at night and half pillies have fished best.

FRESHWATER The back creeks and upper river in the Tweed hinterland have been fishing

established, switch over to diving hardbodies, jig spins, spinnerbaits, vibes, blades and plastics. Start aiming for the shadow lines from the trees, overhanging branches, submerged logs and branches

for best results.

Fishing the dam has been tough lately. Find the schooled up fish and drop your spoon on their head to score bass.

LOOKING AHEAD The storms should slowly start to shake things up. Mackerel and kings will dominate the close reefs, while the pelagics will be out wide.

Mixed reefies will slow down a lot over the next month.

The jacks will continue their dominance of the rivers and if there’s rain, fish towards the mouth. If we don’t get rain, fish upriver.

The yabby filled banks will continue to hold the best packs of whiting. Find the good banks of yabbies and score.

Crabs will be out on the move. Any rain around the full moon will produce a great feed. Remember to mark your floats and pots otherwise they will be confiscated. Check the DPI website for numbers, bag and size limits.

We sometimes get a run of school prawns around the start of January. A butterfly scoop net or registered haul net is your best bet to get a feed of schoolies.

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Justin Wilson worked the skinny water with live yabbies and caught a great feed.

JANUARY 2020

29

Surface fishing takes the cake BALLINA

Joe Allan

The 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 so try digging for pipis or getting a few beachworms.

Offshore has been patchy, with the best results on mahimahi coming from around the FADs. Make

sure you get a long drift on these and live yakkas have been best fished

hooked into the fish’s tail.

This has helped a few local boys turn those bites into

Tyler Rodgers with a lovely flathead caught in the lower reaches of the river.

Adrian Melchior with a fat Aussie bass caught upstream of Woodlawn on an Atomic Hardz Vib 60 in the prawn tiger colour.

Mick Rodgers with a nice Richmond River mulloway.

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fish. There have been some juvenile kingfish off the FADs as well and these guys can be pretty fun on light tackle.

Mackerel will have come by now and should be really thick through January. There were good reports around the Gold and Sunshine coasts in December, so as the water warms up these beauties should come along with it.

The lower reaches of the Richmond have produced some great catches of bream lately. Try casting noisy crankbaits at the walls early in the mornings while the tide is running. Fluorocarbon

line straight through is best suited for this. The best lure colours will depend on the water clarity, with dark colours for low light, solid/ bright colours for dirty water and more translucent/natural finishes for bright sun and clearer water.

The whiting fishing has been going well of late. The shallow sand flats in North Creek and out the front of the RSL have been producing solid fish on stickbaits.

Crabs have turned up in patches around the middle reaches from Pimlico to Broadwater. Plenty of blue swimmers are still around and muddies have shown up but you might have to do some searching for them.

Hopefully we’ll get a bit of rain to stir them up more.

Give the pots plenty of time to settle and let the crabs find the bait. The best baits are blackfish frames if you can get your hands on some.

Bass have been around Coraki and Woodburn but have also moved upstream and spread right out. 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 is to not do too much; just shake your rod tip slightly every now and again, exactly like a cicada that’s fallen out of a tree. This time of year, surface fishing is so good it’s hard not to give it a crack!

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An influx of mulloway YAMBA

Dave Gaden

As is always the case at this time of year, Yamba will be overrun

crabs we have had in a long time. They have come into the river in big numbers despite the lack of any substantial rainfall. When looking for a decent spot to put the crab traps or dilly nets out, try

that tide.

Flathead will be in reasonable numbers away from the main section of the river. Try the entrance to Lake Wooloweyah, around Joss Island or Back Channel on the north side of Goodwood Island near the entrance to the Esk River.

Flicking plastics around these shallow areas will get you a feed pretty quick.

The good old sand whiting will be a major target species for a lot of people this summer, as they’re great fun to catch and fantastic on the plate.

Look for deep water on a full tide. Pumping yabbies is a deadset killer but if you can’t find any, beachworms will still catch plenty. For those who really want to get into the bigger fish, get out on a high tide in the

Tim Baxter from Warialda scored a PB mulloway. middle of the night.

This month we will start to see a consistent

run of some of the pelagics offshore. Mahimahi will be around most days at the FAD but they will also show up randomly around the close reef off Angourie and Woody Head. Try and

have a light float line out or a live bait ready in case you see that blue and yellow flash swim past the boat.

This month is also the start of mackerel season, so if your mahimahi line

Harrison bagged out on his first trip to sea, which included this great pearly. by holidaymakers trying their best to enjoy the great beaches, cafes, restaurants, clubs and above all else, catch a feed of fresh fish. All of this should be very achievable this month.

In the estuary we have been experiencing one of the best runs of blue swimmer

to find a substantial change in the bottom. The edge of a sand bank coming out of a deep section of water will quite often produce better than a flat area of the bottom.

Set your traps spaced apart in various depths and check them regularly, moving the non-productive ones to where the crabs are on

Don George caught his best snapper for the day from Brooms Head Reef.

Barry from Rathdowney with a decent snapper.

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gets sheared off put the light wires on because the spotties are here!

For targeting mackerel,

I would start the morning north of Woody Head in Shark Bay trolling 6” pink squid lures around 10

knots. Run the lures a long anchor on them. way back behind the boat The north grounds have – I set mine at 25 seconds been producing more and back at 10 knots. Later in more quality pearlies and the morning, find a good snapper each year but it’s patch of bait and anchor the amount of mulloway over it with very light float we catch that’s the most lines and pillies. Berleying surprising compared to with chopped pillies will 12 years ago. These fast certainly increase your growing fish have had a chances of a hook-up and boom in numbers and can will help to hold fish when make a trip once you get you do get them around. one in the icebox.

Heading south to the Remember that this is a reef off of Angourie and very busy time and a bit of Brooms Head this month patience at the boat ramp Prawn will find good numbers of may some Bladays. mbbea needed des” pearl perch and snapper“Ya Please travel safe if you are Wade from Yamba landed a beautiful pearl in 35-45m of water. Drift heading this way, and enjoy perch from the 100m wide ground. this ground with a standard the start of 2020! paternoster rig and cut baits of pillies and squid. You will find all sorts of other tasty fish there like Venus tuskfish, Moses perch, and Maori cod. If you find it’s “Yamba’s Leading Tackle Shop” a bit quiet on the in close “IN THE MAIN STREET” 8 Yamba St, Yamba reef, head east to around 70m and you will find • large bluespotted flathead in numbers. Flathead are great eating and they are easy to catch.

Heading north up to Black Rock and South Evans Reef, you will find trag in good numbers in around 30m of water.

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Ricky Durrington from Warwick caught a solid mulloway. Head north this month for these fish.

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Ideal conditions for jacks COFFS HARBOUR

Dayne Taylor

Let’s get this report rolling with the whole ‘New Year, new me’ saying. It’s definitely true for me.

I would like to introduce myself to all the readers of

of convincing to make us move anywhere else, that’s for sure!

My time on the Coffs Coast has mostly consisted of fishing inland and coastal for all species, both fresh and salt, and working in the local fishing and marine industry.

Some readers will know me

and columns on events, and the kayak fishing hotspot each month.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my predecessor Steve Worley for his fantastic contributions over the years.

Best wishes to Steve-o for his future ventures.

Josh Rose with a stud Coffs Coast mangrove jack. the Coffs Harbour section of NSW Fishing Monthly.

I made the move to the area over 10 years ago with my wife and children, and it would take a lot

34

JANUARY 2020

from my time at MO Tackle or, more recently, at North Coast Boating Centre. I have also been a part of the Fishing Monthly family for some time now, writing regular features

INSHORE January marks the start of the warm water beginning to push in closer towards our favourite inshore reefs and islands. Some fishos have

encountered early Spanish and spotted mackerel, but we probably won’t see any set patterns or numbers yet. It will be a different story when the water quality improves and the temperatures are more consistently in the 23°C+ range.

Towards the south around South West Rocks, Nambucca and Urunga. we will probably start to see more consistency with the aid of some southerly winds to help push in the blue warm water. Meanwhile, it’s a great time to prep all the gear and to begin collecting some quality dead baits like bonito, small mac tuna and slimy mackerel for trolling later in the season.

BEACHES AND ESTUARIES On the beaches and in the estuaries, there is plenty of fun to be had for the whole family before the kids go back to school. Whiting are plentiful in the beach gutters and throughout the sand flats on the lower reaches of the rivers. Topwater lures such as the OSP Bent Minnow and Bassday Sugapen are great choices for anglers of all skill levels to try to tempt a whiting. Long casts across the flats and a quick steady retrieve will entice an

Matthew McEwan caught a nice landbased flathead on a Storm Swimbait. aggressive bite from these feisty little fish.

Alternatively, you can’t beat well presented, unweighted pink nipper yabbies drifted along the flats on a size 1 red worm hook.

You will also pick up a heap of welcome by-catch such as flathead and bream doing this.

The crab population will begin to bounce back again this month after copping a festive season hiding in December. A collection of fish frames or a whole mullet cut into halves makes

for great bait, and you can have hours of fun chasing muddies and blue swimmer crabs with family and friends.

Let’s be real – you would be hard pressed to find anything better to do on these warm afternoons than sitting back with a cold beverage and busting into an nice cold mud crab.

CREEKS AND RIVERS These steamy hot days and stormy afternoons make for ideal conditions to chase a few mangrove jack and giant trevally up our creeks and

rivers. Live baits are hands down the most effective way to get a result. If you’re using lures, you’ll have to put in the time and effort peppering snags and rock bars, but all that effort is forgotten when that 50cm red beast slides into your net. The Berkley Powerbait Hollowbelly rigged weedless or Jackall

Squirrel usually get me results, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box and try different lures or techniques.

Further upstream the bass are going bananas for topwater lures. Cicada imitations are a staple, and they’re hard for any bass to refuse when presented up in the shade of an overhanging tree at any

time of the day. Once your lure lands, let it sit still for 10 seconds, then give it a little jiggle (trying not to move it too far), and pause again. If this doesn’t get a bite, retrieve and repeat. It’s a pretty simple and effective method, and it

no flow on the land, no flow on the ocean. Fingers crossed we will get some rain before too long.

Until next month, cast like there is no tomorrow and retrieve like you have all the time in the world.

Quality whiting are plentiful at the moment in the beach gutters and lower reaches of the estuaries.

Daran Ryan with a cracking new PB 98cm flathead.

works well on both bream and bass at this time of year up above the gravel beds towards the freshwater.

Like most of Australia, we really need some freshwater to flush out our systems and bring some life to our rivers. What’s left of the pools up high in the hills are beginning to go stagnant, and the hot weather warming them is only encouraging algae growth to contribute to the falling oxygen levels in the water. Be prepared to see some fish deaths later this summer up on the mountain if we don’t get some major rainfall soon. As they say,

Ken caught a solid bream right up in the freshwater of the Bellinger River while chasing bass.

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Plenty of action before more mackerel arrive SOUTH WEST ROCKS

Paul Martin

The lead up to the pelagic season was looking good, with a few mackerel

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starting to show up off our northern reefs around Grassy and Scotts Head.

OFFSHORE This is fairly normal this time of year before our annual run of these majestic fish turn up in numbers from

cod being pulled up from the depths.

Back closer to land, snapper and pearl perch have been plentiful off Grassy Head, with most fish being caught on the 60m line. In front of the gaol, snapper,

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hours. You do need to put the hours in, but you will be rewarded with hopefully the fish of a lifetime. The new Biwaa 8” 90g Submission plastic has been a popular lure in the white and mullet colour.

Kingfish are still making a run up and down the breakwall, with a few being caught with poppers and shallow divers, but it’s frustratingly difficult to get their attention with anything.

One of the great things about our magnificent Macleay is that it’s loaded with flathead, but in saying that you need to know where to find that elusive bigger

and up to Stuarts Point.

Upriver from Jerseyville to Kinchela has also been a productive area to catch these tasty critters, with worms, nippers and topwater lures producing results.

Back towards the mouth of the river, bream and Moses perch are along the walls, with the best time to fish for these being first light when it is nice and quiet.

OFF THE ROCKS The rock hoppers are getting amongst some bonito, kingfish and the odd mulloway. We should start seeing a few cobia come in soon. This is certainly the time of year where any

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Fishing at night is a good way to find the bigger mulloway.

February right through until May. Slimies and yakkas are plentiful in around the buoys and out at Jims Hole.

Good numbers of mahimahi are calling the FAD home at the moment, with some big bulls in the mix. It can be tricky out on these wider grounds where the currents can run 2-3 knots, and this is when you need a little patience and fishing etiquette so we don’t experience FAD rage.

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mowies and mulloway have been about, with a few big kings out at the wreck.

Off the lighthouse, good numbers of flathead have been caught off the gravel, and it is always handy to know that if you have had a lean day on the fish in other locations, you can head there to get a feed.

Fish Rock and Green Island continue to be the hotspots for kingfish action, with quite a few metre fish coming in. Don’t be surprised if there is a big red lurking in close either, and they can be tempted with soft plastics.

THE RIVER There have been some nice mulloway pulled out along the breakwall towards the mouth, with most fish coming during the darker

Going out beyond the 100m mark has turned up some good results for those willing to take on the challenge. fish. Those after better fish should look for weed beds, drop-offs and tributaries flowing into the main river system on a falling tide.

Using a well-presented live bait like mullet or herring will work, but so will any good plastic and hardbody.

If you get one of these crocodiles, take a picture, not a fillet, and she will breed on.

Good numbers of whiting have been caught around Clybucca, Fishermans Reach

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Snapper have been fairly consistent off Grassy Head.

pelagic could show interest in a floating live bait off the ledges.

A few drummer have been caught, with good numbers of bream and tarwhine as well.

BEACHES Smoky Beach has been fishing well for whiting, bream and dart for those using live worms. This beach can have a wicked sideways sweep along it, so be prepared to walk in that direction to keep your bait in front of you.

Sand flathead have been in good numbers as well.

Try flicking plastics around the gutters and you will be surprised how productive it can be.

Gap Beach is another location where you can pick up some nice whiting and bream. Fishing the town beaches can be slow because of the amount of people swimming at this time of year, but you could also have a throw on Back Beach for a flathead or two.

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Mixed bags can make for great holiday fun THE HASTINGS

Mark Saxon castawayestuarycharters@bigpond.com

How quick do these new years come around?

Seriously, that was fast!

Each year at this time we

target species is something worth considering, as in most cases it will tell you so much more about your local waterways and fish behaviour, which can only improve your time on the water.

January is a big month

tuna and other sportfish on offer, as is usual at this time of year. Good luck to all participants!

Port is in the middle of the holiday season and while the waterways are a bit more crowded, it is still a good time to be on the water, as the

A solid armful of bass for Martin Denlow.

Blair Chilton with a great Hastings bream taken under some overhanging trees. tend to make resolutions of what we would like to achieve in the coming year, like lose weight, gain weight, exercise more, drink less, quit smoking and just generally improve ourselves. I like to tick off different or new fishing techniques, destinations, species and maybe generally just improve some skills.

Setting goals and having a

for our gamefishing community, with the 36th annual Golden Lure to be held in Port Macquarie by the Port Macquarie Game Fishing Club. It is from 10-18 January and many game boats will travel up and down the coast to participate in the event. Expectations will be high and if we have good currents and light winds there will be marlin,

Hastings and Camden Haven rivers have plenty to offer.

Land-based anglers can wade the shallow flats chasing whiting, bream

prawn imitations. These lures will give you a chance to catch all three species this month but if you’re not getting a few, a switch to a diving lure or soft plastic can get you action in the shallows. Bait fishing these same areas with freshlypumped pink nippers or live worms is another way to take advantage of the fish inhabiting the flats.

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plenty of crabs in the system and seriously, there is no need to take too many or keep undersized crabs.

While your crab traps are set, why not chase a feed of flathead or whiting? Thesy will be spread out through the system’s shallower areas, such as Limeburners Creek, Big Bay out the front and Maria River arm near Blackmans Point.

Bream anglers will be hoping the cicadas are in full voice, as if they are we will have some excellent fishing this month for bream in the structure. If you find a bank where the cicadas are singing or even notice a few on the water, then these are the places to try.

You will still catch bream on cicada style imitations,

even if it’s not a great hatch for them, but if they get in full swing the fishing can be incredible.

Cicadas lead me to another summer sportfish, bass! They are more than partial to a tasty cicada imitation, but unfortunately lower water levels further up the Hastings has meant lots of portage for kayaks or canoes. The Wilson and Maria rivers, however, still produce some excellent bass fishing this month, and all lure techniques will work.

With that said, a well-placed cicada imitation in one of the many dark hidey holes along the structure is a nail-biting way to get your bass fix!

Enjoy the New Year and good luck with those resolutions!

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Access to the rivers by boat opens up a great many options for your time on the water, and on top of some fishing you could put in some crab traps for mud and blue swimmer crabs, as both tasty crustaceans are around. If you decide to go crabbing, check the regulations and mark your floats appropriately. It pays to use fresh bait, be it fish frames, mullet or your own favourite, just make sure it’s fresh. Also remember to keep an eye on your gear, and do not leave them in for days, as the chances of getting your trap back is slim at best. Unfortunately crab trap thieves are a problem. Most importantly, stick to your possession and size limits, as there are

Dave Wells knows how to get away from the crowd, and this helps when chasing big flatties.

Estuary fishing at its peak FORSTER

Luke Austin

Happy New Year! We are now well and truly in the busiest time of the year on our local waterways.

The days are nice and hot, the sun is shining and the masses of holidaymakers have one thing on their mind: to spend as much time as they can on and in the water.

shallows on the top of the tide, hunting down whiting, mullet, garfish and prawns.

The same sand flats are holding loads of nice sand whiting. If you take a walk over the bridge on a high tide you will be amazed at how many fish you will see sifting the flats as they search for something tasty to eat. We have been getting some really nice fish up to 44cm in the shallows up around Lanis and The Step on surface lures

Flathead are in big numbers around the bottom of the estuaries this month.

While boat traffic and fishing pressure is at its peak this month, it’s still worth hitting the water because the summer estuary fishing is at its most productive. The lower reaches of Wallis Lake are now holding huge numbers of spawning flathead, and it doesn’t seem to matter how many lures and baits get thrown at these schools of fish, they’ll still bite. Anglers are almost guaranteed to run into a few fish eventually.

LAND-BASED For land-based anglers, wandering the bank between Hamilton’s Oysters and the end of Tuncurry breakwall has been very productive.

Some cracking fish have been caught by anglers using live herring and whitebait, however the easiest way to target these areas is to cover as much ground as you can while throwing a 3-4” soft plastic or soft vibe. For me, the new 80mm Samaki Vibelicious has been very effective in the natural fish colours.

For those of us lucky enough to have access to a boat, chasing these fish is dead easy. Using the same baits/lures, target the edges of oyster racks, drop-offs and weed beds on a run-out tide and you are sure to find the fish.

A lot of anglers have also been successfully chasing flathead, particularly the bigger ones, up on the flats in super shallow water.

Large Bent Minnows and big unweighted soft plastics are very effective at firing up and fooling fish that are up in the

lately. It seems you can hit just about any sand flat at the top of the tide and you are guaranteed to find fish.

Unfortunately, the sand whiting’s smaller cousin, trumpeter whiting, have begun to slow up a little now.

While there are still enough fish to get your limit, you will have to work hard to find the schools.

of the longtail tuna that will come in over the next couple of months, they can still be great fun on light gear – and if cared for properly they are great on the plate.

For the die-hards, there is always a chance at a good kingfish off the rocks this month. Just be prepared to put some serious hours in.

BEACH The local beaches can be really fun to fish in January when the conditions are favourable. The days are nice and hot but the water remains cool and refreshing, so it’s not a bad place to take the family for the morning to have some fun!

Anglers who have hit the sand lately have enjoyed a mixed bag of fish, including bream, whiting, dart, tailor and mulloway. Seven Mile has been particularly good for all species, however if you are chasing quality whiting, give Forster Main Beach a shot as it has been fishing very well of late.

OFFSHORE January is rarely considered to be a red-hot month to head offshore, mainly due to the fact that we are often forced to stay in the estuaries due to the easterly winds. However, the offshore fishing has been very good lately on the days we have been able to get out. It would seem that just about any reef in 25-60m is holding good numbers of snapper and teraglin (trag) at the moment.

The shallow grounds are also worth a shot, however the full moon on 12 January

sound, friendly advice on where you can go to land your next trophy fish while visiting the wonderful Great Lakes region! The store is open seven days in the main street of Tuncurry, and you can phone the team on (02) 6554 9541 or find us on Facebook to see what we have been up to!

Mulloway will hang about the mouth of the system in huge numbers during January.

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Local young gun Eathan with a healthy wild river bass.

ROCK AND BEACH Local rocks and beaches have been fishing fairly well on the days when the northeast wind and red weed have permitted. Off the rocks there’s loads of baitfish starting to school up, and with them are hungry masses of bonito and the odd mac tuna, eagerly scoffing as many as they can. While these little tuna may not be anywhere near the calibre

will see the reefs in 10-20m all but shut down for the few days around it. With the amount of baitfish around, it’s no surprise that we have started to hear reports of black marlin being spotted and if you cruise out to the FAD, there are plenty of mahimahi to play with!

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The past month has been a difficult one for fishing at Harrington. The bush fires in the Crowdy Bay National Park have caused

However, when the fishers did manage to get out on the river, beaches and ocean, there were plenty of fish to catch.

ESTUARY In the estuary, bream have moved back upriver and while there are still plenty of average-sized fish to be caught from the wall and around the

bream from Crowdy Beach on beachworms and pipis.

Crowdy Beach has been flattened by the southerly winds and good formations are hard to find. When you are lucky enough to get a small gutter inside a sand bank with some whitewater flowing, you will catch fish.

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Karl Attenborough caught a 108cm mulloway from the breakwall on an Atomic Shiner in tiger prawn. Image courtesy of Harrington Bait & Tackle. quite a bit of disruption to the anglers and the residents of Harrington and the surrounding villages.

The fires burnt right to the edges of the park and were stopped very close to many houses. Some streets and caravan parks had to be evacuated for some time while the firefighters and helicopters together with a couple of big planes fought the fires. Luckily no lives or buildings were lost in Harrington or Crowdy Head. It was not as fortunate for some of the other villages where buildings and one life was lost.

The weather has been dominated by strong winds from all points of the compass and it has been difficult to forecast what conditions to expect from day to day.

lower sand spits, the best fish are coming from upriver.

Flathead are moving into the lower part of the estuary, and while no big fish have been landed, I did see one of 2.65kg about a week ago. Only one mulloway of 108cm has been landed that I know of, and kingfish have left the river.

Luderick can be caught on green weed during the daylight hours and on fresh yabbies at night. An unweighted bait is best at night.

BEACHES On the beaches, fishing has been much better than in the past couple of months.

The chopper tailor have turned up in force but most of those caught have been undersize. About three in every 20 would have been keeper size. There have been some promising catches of

OFFSHORE Anglers have been fishing the close in reefs, as it has been too rough to venture out wide. Good catches of snapper to 5kg have been boated from the northern grounds above Mermaid and the southern grounds off Old Bar. Flathead are biting on the drift. There are big balls of baitfish to the north and slimy mackerel, yellowtail and bonito can be jigged and caught on bait.

FISHING IN JANUARY January is a good time to fish the Harrington area, especially the close in ocean waters, but you must remember that upwards of 5000 holidaymakers will be sharing the water with you.

A bit of courtesy needs to be shown when this many people are using the water.

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41

Tech Tricks

Quick and easy way to make the Snapper Jig BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Recently I came across a great jig, which is quick and easy to assemble yourself with minimal materials. It is rather similar to a fly I have previously tied to catch an array of tropical species. This jig is a more weighted version of that pattern and could be used to catch species such

as snapper, barramundi, pearl perch, flathead, trevally and numerous reef dwellers.

It can be fished in deeper offshore waters and will cast exceptionally well for shore jigging. The Snapper Jig, as it’s simply called, was initially developed and used by Kiwis for targeting snapper across the ditch.

After making a few of my own and swimming them, it wasn’t hard to imagine how well they would work on our snapper as well as

numerous other demersal species. When jigged near the bottom, or simply dead sticked in current, the action of the fur creates a very lifelike appeal. I am sure they would also be a hit with Murray cod when tied on lighter jigheads.

The Snapper Jig is tied predominately with zonker (strips of rabbit fur). This material possesses a lot of action in the water and will waft and ripple with the slightest movement.

Even a slight current will

1

There is a small material list required for the Snapper Jig and most aspects will be available from a good tackle store that additionally sells fly tying gear. I have used the TT Big Eye jigheads because these have strong hooks and already come painted. However, you could use any quality painted or unpainted jighead. A little flash adds life-like appeal and flat-waxed nylon thread is used to affix the materials to the hook. You can use any colour of zonker strip you like but I have chosen a white and a pink barred zonker for this jig. A bobbin and a fly vice will make the task easier but is not a necessity. Scissors and some glue will also be required.

3

Cut 10-15 strands of krystal flash that are a little longer than the hook you are using. Krystal flash (twisted strands of mylar) gives life-like appeal to any lure however any reflective flash is worth using. Tie these strands in at the point where you attached the thread. Do a couple of half hitches with the thread (or whip finish if you know how) and then add a little glue to increase durability.

42

JANUARY 2020

create great action from this material. Additionally, zonker is fairly durable and comes in an array of colours, some with barring to offer greater effect.

The two strips added to the rear of this jig are similar to the candles (long tentacles) of a squid. I am not too sure how the snapper and other species visualise the snapper jig, however they seem to like it. This could either be due to hunger or curiosity. As fish do not possess hands, they will

often bite something foreign to ascertain whether it is a food item or not. Regardless of why they bite it, once your rod is buckled and your drag is screaming I guess the reason doesn’t matter.

Fishing this jig can be as simple as lowering it close to the bottom and then putting the rod in the holder and allowing the rock of the boat to do its job. This deadsticking approach can be very successful, especially in a bit of current when drifting along.

Another approach is to cast it out (either from a boat or shore-based perspective) and allowing it to hit the bottom before lifting the rod to hop the jig. Next, lower the rod, wind in the slack and allow the snapper jig to sink down again before repeating the sequence.

Obviously a wide array of other retrieves could also work well.

Let’s look at how simple it is to tie a snapper jig.

2

Attach the thread onto the shank of the hook, roughly opposite the barb. Flat waxed nylon thread will not rot like many other threads however you could even use some rod binding thread, light braid or almost any other strong thread you have at hand for this task.

4

Cut a strip of zonker that is at least as long as the entire jighead.

Tie the first one in on the far side of the jighead using a series of thread wraps. Again half hitch and add a little glue (fly tying head cement is ideal but superglue or Zap-a-Gap will suffice).

Tech Tricks

5

Add another length of zonker (which is the same length as the first) on the side closest to you. Again, half hitch the thread and add a little glue. These two strips will move enticingly and kick as the jig is retrieved.

8

When completed the snapper jig presents well and looks enticing.

There are no rules as to colour and it pays to make several different models. Therefore, you can try several options on any given day. Different weights can also be made depending on the water depth and current in which you are going to use them. There are a lot of options in relation to colours and you can even add numerous other materials to spruce up your jig. Once you have fished these jigs, I reckon you will agree that they are an easy-to-make and exciting jig.

6

At this same position, secure in one end of the zonker you have chosen for the body. This can be the same colour or a contrasting colour to the first two pieces you tied in. Do a few half hitches and some glue before wrapping the thread forward until it is all the way up to the jighead.

7

Begin winding the zonker strip around the hook shank firmly while keeping the skin flat to the shank. As you do each wrap, preen the hair backwards before doing the next wrap. Continue along the shank like this until you get all the way up to the rear of the jighead. Use a series of thread wraps to secure the end of the zonker strip. Cut away the remaining thread and add some glue to increase durability.

While fishing from his kayak, Kane Fairchild spotted this bream hunting the shallows. It hit the lightly-weighted Keitech plastic twice before hooking up.

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A smorgasbord at Lake Mac SWANSEA

Jason Scerri coloratolures@hotmail.com

I’d like to welcome all our wonderful readers to 2020. I hope you and your families enjoyed a safe and happy Christmas period and hopefully the big man in the red suit surprised you with a few new lures or that rod and reel you have been wanting.

With a little luck you were able to squeeze a fishing trip or two in over the holidays. I know it is not the best time to hit the lake with so many holidaymakers out and about, but if you’re a little flexible with your fishing times you should certainly be able to find a few quiet hours out away from the

Macquarie. I’m a big fan of putting the crab traps down before sun up. It is hard to beat a fresh feed of blue swimmer crabs at the end of a day’s fishing and fresh Lake Mac crabs are some of the best. I also make sure I’m drifting a squid jig out the back while throwing the lures around, as there are good numbers of tasty cephalopods about. As you can see, a little effort can result in a lovely seafood buffet at the end of the day.

On the fish front, it is a little surprising but there are still some very solid salmon about for anglers.

Fly anglers have been tempting a few and having an absolute blast doing so.

Mixed in with the schools are some very nice kingfish.

There are a few rats in the mix, but don’t assume

see you in with a great shot at good numbers of kings, and in good sizes too. Be careful though, as the current absolutely rips here and it’s paramount to pay attention, as it’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement of hooking a good king and quickly forgetting about the currents. This could see you getting smashed into the bridge pylons, so stay alert and keep your motor running.

As we move into the lake itself, the mulloway have been about in good numbers. The drop over has been producing a few good fish, with both live squid and large soft plastics both working equally well. For mulloway, I don’t think you can go past white for your lure colour. I’m sure there

Kai with a solid Lake Mac flathead. Kai catches a lot of big fish like this land-based. crowds. The good news is there are plenty of options at this time of year for anglers to find a few good fish.

Offshore fishing is really starting to pick up now, and the lake itself is producing plenty of action for anglers.

The hot summer has seen a jump in the lake’s water temperatures and this has really fired things up.

At this time of year, it can be a real smorgasbord for anglers fishing Lake

they are all small kings, as there are more than a few very solids kings to be had.

These schools are generally located around Moon Island and down along the coast past Caves Beach and down to Bird Island. Keep a good eye out, as the birds are the obvious sign to look for.

Swansea Bridge is another gun spot for kingfish, and working the bridge with live squid is very productive and will

SEASON

7

will be those who disagree, but for me it outfishes any other lure colour I throw by a good 10:1.

Although the majority of the mulloway are around 80cm or so, there have been some real good ones hitting the metre mark of late.

They are very solid fish at this size and not only do they produce an excellent battle, but they are one of my favourites on the plate at the end of that battle.

IS HERE!

Every Saturday 5.00pm on 44

JANUARY 2020

With summer also comes the flathead, and there has been no shortage of them this year. Belmont Bay area has been productive, with bait anglers doing well on pilchard pieces, while anglers flicking lures have been doing good on 3-4” pink and bright green/ lime plastics. Although the flats and the shallows are generally the go-to place for bream at this time of year, it is also a great place to tangle with some respectable flathead. It is such a buzz to have a solid flathead nail your lure in a foot or two of water while trying to bust free on some sharp rocks.

Speaking of bream, they can be a little hard to tempt in the shallows at this time of year due to the increased boat traffic.

This is probably the one style of fishing that really benefits from making that effort to fish before the crowds arrive or after they have moved on. I prefer to hit the water bright and early, slipping the boat off the trailer before the sun is up. This generally gets me a couple of hours to hit my spots before the jet skiers and water skiers are out and about running amuck.

During these periods of low light I generally change my lure colours from my usual browns or blacks to greens, silvers and clear types. I also like to use a very light smearing of scent on my hardbodies during these low light sessions. I notice a difference with the use of a little scent in these conditions, as I think it just helps the bream not only pick up on the lure but also to follow the lure and remain interested in it.

Although earlier in this article I mentioned the Swansea Bridge and the islands for a few kingfish, inside the lake itself also produces a few cracking fish each year and some anglers specifically target them around the many pylons and markers throughout the lake with great success. Some prefer to slow troll live squid fished off downriggers while others enjoy using an electric motor to hold them just out from these markers

Mick Pavlic loves chasing solid salmon on his fly gear, and managed this nice specimen. while throwing poppers or large soft plastics around.

Both methods can be very productive and each is worth a go, as one may be more effective than the other on a given day, but both certainly produce.

Offshore fishing has been improving and all the talk now is around marlin and will be for the next few months. It’s been a long, slow off season and crews are just itching to get into their first beaky for the season. Most crews will be pulling a spread of their favourite skirted lures and this would certainly be my pick for this time of year. In a month or so when the bait balls become more concentrated, many will opt for live slimies, but I’m always a fan of running a spread at least until you find those bait balls. Generally at this time of year you have a couple of options if you’re hunting marlin. As a rule there will be a run of smaller black marlin on the inshore grounds. Typically these fish would be around the 40-60kg mark and small to medium size lures will be the pick of the options for

them. This really is a great option for anglers that may not have overly large boats, as these marlin can be found within a few kilometres of land during a good season.

The other option is to run wider to areas such as the shelf drop-off, The Canyons or The Car Park off Port Stephens. All produce fantastic marlin fishing at times, as generally the fish are on the larger side, with solid black marlin over 100kg and good size striped marlin on offer. That’s not to mention a real chance at a big blue marlin.

The mighty mahimahi is also about now and the fisheries’ FADs are in place.

By far the better quality fish to come from the FAD are always caught on live baits, and I strongly suggest you put the effort into securing a few livies in the tank before heading out. It will make a huge difference to how your icebox looks at the end of the day.

So there it is, time to kick off another year.

Hopefully for you all, it’s time to set a few new PBs and enjoy what our part of the world has to offer.

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All the summer species firing in the estuary PORT STEPHENS

Paul Lennon

Whiting have been in great numbers in recent weeks, with Jimmys Beach, Shoal Bay and Nelson Bay all producing elbow-slappers to 40cm+.

The trick is to fish the high water using light leaders under 6lb, a size 4 long-shank hook and live tubeworms.

Further up the system, the whiting are hitting surface lures that imitate a skipping prawn. Areas like Taylors Beach, Tahlee and Pindimar Bay are all good places to try.

Bream are also on the chew, smacking surface lures and smaller hardbodied cranks around the shallow rock bars from Tea Gardens through to Soldiers Point.

Flathead have moved down the bay to spawn, and this will continue over the next couple of months. You can find them anywhere along the shoreline between Soldiers Point to the Heads, and some of them

are quality fish close to the magic 1m mark. The best areas are the shallow flats around Corlette,

High tide is prime time for using soft plastic lures around 100mm long or shallow diving hardbodies.

Trent with a cracking dusky flathead from the shallows around Corlette.

Wanda Head, Salamander Bay, Pindimar Duchies and Bagnalls Beach.

A couple of my favourites are the 100mm Pro Lure Fishtail, Keitech 4.8

Swing Impact and Daiwa Double Clutch. If you’re lucky enough to catch a big flathead over 70cm at this time of year, it will be a female full of eggs.

Please release it so that it can breed.

Squid have been thick through the weed beds at Jimmys Beach and Shoal Bay with 2.5-sized jigs doing most of the damage.

Mulloway have been reported this week off the Corlette Wreck as well as the deeper holes around Soldiers Point. The Karuah River bridges are also worth a crack for a mulloway on the tide change on first light.

BEACHES Plenty of whiting are around the ocean beaches, and January is probably the best month of the year to catch them. Stockton through to Hawks Nest beaches are all productive, and the key to success is fishing the gutters using live worms.

The full and new moons this month will be a good time to fish for mulloway from the ocean beaches, with the pick of them being the southern end of Stockton. Try to get there about an hour before dark and catch yourself a few whiting or tailor to use as live bait.

Port Stephens Estuary Charters

There are quality bream around the oyster racks and rock walls.

ROCKS The main targets at this time of year off the rocks are smaller pelagics like bonito, tailor and kingfish.

Small to medium sized metals and stickbaits will be the most effective way to catch these fish this month, especially on first and last light. The most popular spots to try are Tomaree, Fingal Head, Fingal Island or Sunny Corner at One Mile.

Squid will also be another option from the stones, with the protected bays from Boat Harbour to Fingal holding quality green-eyes to 1kg.

OUTSIDE It’s a great time of year to be fishing outside.

Charter boats have been landing plenty of trag on the reefs in 20-60m of water, as well as some good sized snapper and mulloway.

Mahimahi have been hanging around the FAD, but you may have to weed through some undersize ones to find the legals. The better fish are being taken on first light with live baits.

Black marlin are here, and slow trolling live slimy mackerel is the best way to catch them inshore.

Look for the areas on sea surface temperature charts showing 22-24°C, then concentrate your efforts around the bait schools in those parts. The best areas inshore are out the front of Fingal lighthouse through to the Vee Reef, or from the Big Gibber Reefs through to Seal Rocks.

The shelf is also fishing well just in time for the upcoming Interclub and Billfish Shootout tournaments, with a mixture of blacks, blues and stripes being caught.

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SCAN THIS Thomas Perrett caught this lovely mulloway on the Hawkesbury River, and it woke him up like an alarm clock at 2am in the morning. This fish earned Thomas 2nd place in the Cattai Catch fishing comp.

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JANUARY 2020

45

More mulloway moving in the surface. Prawn imitations are hard to beat when the water is warm, and early

ERINA

Aaron Donaldson

Brisbane Water has really fired in recent weeks.

Kingfish have been about in numbers throughout the system, following the bait as the tide pushes it around. It really pays to have a suitable rod rigged up with a plastic or a small stickbait at the moment, as you never know when they can show up. I’ve even been getting the odd one fishing deep for mulloway with a vibe.

They sure are a lot of fun on light gear.

Flathead have been biting well on the dropping tides. Fishing shallow is the go from now on as the bigger fish start basking in the shallower water where there are a lot of baitfish and prawns. Try some prawn imitations and bigger plastics, especially around the no moon or dark period. There are plenty of good areas in Brisbane Waters – just move around until you locate some fish.

Bream have been a little quiet up until now. From now on they really start to become active, especially on

starts are worth it. It’s even better if you can coincide this with a nice early high tide.

A Brisbane Waters kingfish. They are great fun on light gear.

Mulloway have increased in numbers in recent weeks. I know of at least two giant fish lost, although I haven’t seen many above 90cm.

This should improve as the month progresses, although the boat traffic can be a big problem at this time of year.

Rock fishing should really begin to fire this month. The return of the warmer waters usually bring a good early run of bonito and kingfish to the local ledges like Terrigal and Avoca, so it’s worth carrying some metal casting lures and also a few poppers to tempt the kingfish.

Bream will really start to fire along the rocks over the next few months, and you can catch them on baits and small diving lures. On the rising tides, the fish will move right up into the washes in amazingly shallow water and I prefer using deep diving lures and bumping them along the bottom. The bite can be savage at times.

Gamefishing has been pretty much non-existent in our area but it will be well worth a go from now on.

Hopefully we will see an

This mulloway took a Samaki Vibelicious Thumpertail. early run of inshore black marlin this season. It has been a bit hit-and-miss over the last few years, and it seems to be influenced by

the amount of bait around.

When you see the big balls of slimy mackerel, you know it’s going to be a good year.

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING STORM ARASHI GLIDE BAIT

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Engineered to achieve the perfect lifelike swimming action, the Storm Arashi Glide Bait lets you take advantage of one of the hottest, most effective techniques for targeting trophy flathead, mulloway, barra and Murray cod.

The Arashi Glide Bait is very responsive, with an exaggerated swimming action that flows from side to side with every turn of the handle and every twitch of the tip. It is very stable and has a super slow sink rate (.4ft/sec), and can be fished effectively at all speeds, allowing anglers to speed up or slow down to match the behaviour of the fish.

Made to target the largest predators, this lure is built with a durable triple-pin construction and swivelling hook hangers that prevent fish from gaining leverage during a fight. Included with a snap and an extra tail that will keep your bait in running order, even after vicious strikes, the Arashi Glide Bait offers a high-quality alternative to overpriced, hard-to-find glide baits. It’s available now in eight fish-catching colours. www.stormfishing.com

BLACK MAGIC UTILITY BOX

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Black Magic has added a new waterproof Utility Box to their range.

One of the main differences with the latest model is that it has a seal fixed to the lid designed to keep the contents dry, and less likely to suffer from water damage or corrosion. There are two latches on the front and one on each side. When combined with the two sturdy hinges, they lock down securely, ensuring a good, tight seal.

There are 13 compartments in the Utility Box for storing an array of tackle, some of which have removable sidewalls, allowing the box to accommodate larger items.

This box measures 270mm x 170mm x 45mm, and has been specifically chosen to fit into Black Magic’s Tackle Bags and Tackle Packs.

Visit the Black Magic Tackle website for more information on the Utility Box and a range of other tackle storage solutions. You can also find more information, news and catch photos on their Facebook page (www. facebook.com/blackmagictackle), check them out on Instagram (@blackmagictackle) or subscribe to the Black Magic YouTube channel. www.blackmagictackle.com

SAMAKI ZING XTREME V2

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Zing Xtreme’s amazing blanks are only one of the features that contributes to the series’ success. The smart Samaki technology of MDC (Multi Direction Carbon layer) improves strength, and the X Power weave construction gives you precision casting, great action in the fight and enough grunt to get you out of sticky situations.

Other features include Fuji KW and LKW series guides, Fuji TVS and VSS reel seats on spin models, Fuji PTS and SK reel seats on baitcast models, and custom super-hard EVA camouflaged grips with superior carbon locking rings.

Zing Xtreme caters to all fishing enthusiasts, with 7’0” spin models in extra light, light, medium and medium heavy 1-piece and 2-piece that sit alongside the 7’6” extra light solid tip flats rod, and 7’6” extra heavy offshore rod. Cast models range from 5’4” through to 7’0” in medium, medium heavy, and heavy, covering everything from bass to barra. www.samaki.com.au 48

JANUARY 2020

PRODUCT GUIDE

X-RAP MAGNUM PREY

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The Rapala X-Rap Magnum Prey is a compact, long cast stickbait that works with a variety of techniques, from subsurface sweeps to skipping on top – just add a boiling school of pelagics, cast and repeat.

This lure is weighted extra heavy for extreme casting distances, and features a darting baitfish action. It’s an ideal choice for fast and aggressive predators feeding on top or in the shallows. Lipless design and fluttering action on the drop allow natural baitfish-imitating presentations. On fast retrieve, the lure skips on the surface like a fleeing baitfish.

Equipped with VMC 3X Strong Coastal Black Trebles, the 100mm Magnum Prey weighs 41g and comes in 12 proven colours, including UV colours. Built heavy and aerodynamic for extreme casting distances, it delivers even in the most demanding saltwater fishing conditions, and stands up to unforgiving punishment.

Other features include through-wire construction, quality X-Rap finishes, saltwater prey patterns, and 3D holographic eyes.

Price: approx. SRP $30 www.rapala.com.au

WILSON CAMO BACKPACK

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Designed specifically for fishing, the Wilson Camo Series Backpack makes life easier. Side access to the internal cargo area allows anglers to easily keep the backpack over one shoulder while accessing the internal cargo area – there’s no need to completely remove the backpack.

Other features include three tackle trays inside the main cargo area. There are two standard large trays, and one large tray (with no dividers) for bigger lures such as swimbaits and surface lures. There are also four external zippered pockets for accessories such as leader and fishing gloves, as well as two Velcro secured tool holders and a massive front flap with even more storage for things such as plastics and spare hooks. An external sunglass holder and a retractable tool lanyard are also included.

The top pocket has elastic webbing for securing jumpers or rain jackets, and the adjustable shoulder straps are padded for comfort and feature a chest strap. The sturdy zippers are easy to open, even with cold hands.

As well as being ideal for hiking, this backpack serves as a complete kit for a boat. www.wilsonfishing.com

PALMS TURN POP

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

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The new Palms Turn Pop is designed to target smaller species like bream and whiting on the surface.

Fitted with a treble on the belly and twin assist hooks at the rear, this proven set-up will convert more strikes into hooked fish.

The rear assist hooks are also fitted with red rubber legs, giving the presentation more appeal on the pause. Retrieve options include pop and long pause, quick short sharp pops, and consistent skipping on the surface.

The Palms Turn Pop measures 50mm and weighs 3.9g. There are six transparent colours in the series, covering all conditions – clear water, dirty water, bright light or low light. For more information on this and other Palms lures, visit the EJ Todd website. www.ejtodd.com.au

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

DAIWA SHORE SPARTAN

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Daiwa Shore Spartan lures are designed with a dimpled body that helps you cast further, while their through-wire construction and durable 1.8mm ABS thick plastic bodies ensure ultimate durability.

Featuring Owner split rings and hooks, there are four models – the 140mm Power Splash popper, 140mm floating Rough Ride stickbait, and the 120 and 140mm Break Through sinking stickbaits.

The Power Splash cup-face popper is capable of spitting a large amount of water, however it can also be retrieved fast, creating an enticing bubble trail and wobble. The Rough Ride stickbait has a tungsten weight at the rear, producing the perfect floatation level to create the tantalising dive and ‘S’ wave action.

The lures’ dimpled design acts like a golf ball travelling through the air, aiding the lure to track straight and true, and it also aids the bait’s motion subsurface. This design characteristic is most evident with the Break Through sinking stickbait, which can be retrieved ultra fast without breaking the water’s surface – a key trait for targeting high-speed pelagics. The Break Through also features a very low centre of gravity for enhanced performance and tracking. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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TALICA II 20 AND 25 REELS

The iconic Shimano Talica II 20 and 25 models have received a welcome upgrade for 2019 with the introduction of a spare mono line cam.

The reels are still factory fitted with a braided line cam that provides a smooth drag curve to suit anglers spooling with braid. For those who run a full spool of mono IGFA line, a spare mono cam is available inside the box to make the drag curve ideal for the preferred line class once changed over.

All of the other Shimano features that make the Talica II reels so sought after have remained the same, but now the reels’ drags can be set more accurately so you can be even more confident when you hook that gamefish of a lifetime.

Price: SRP $1010-$1030 www.shimanofish.com.au

OKUMA KOMODO BAITCAST RODS

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The Komodo SS baitcast reel has a reputation for strength, reliability and stopping power. The matching series of rods follow the same design principles, from their quality finish, 30T Toray carbon blank construction and Seaguide Hero Hi-Grade Low Frame Casting Guides, to the attention to detail in bind and metal component highlights, and custom ergonomic reel seat for increased ‘feel’.

Available in a selection of models that cover heavy bass fishing and extracting mangrove jack, to taking on monster impoundment barra and bucket-mouth Murray cod, this series of rods will impress in terms of both finish and performance. For those throwing big swimbaits, there’s even a model for you, without the insane price tag commonly associated with swimbait rods. This model (KM-C-801H) is 8ft of pure casting and stopping power, with an 8-15kg rating and casting weight rating of 1-4oz.

The other four models are: KM-C-601MH (med-heavy action, 6’0”, 6-8kg line rating, 1/43/4oz casting weight), KM-C-661MH (medheavy, 6’6”, 6-8kg, 1/4-3/4oz), KM-C-661H (heavy, 6’6”, 8-15kg, 1/2-2oz), KM-C-661XH (X-heavy, 6’6”, 8-20kg, 1-4oz).

Price: SRP $129.90-$149.90 tackletactics.com.au

BALISTA TREMOR

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The BalistaTremor is an Australian creation designed for one purpose: to catch big native fish.

At 200mm in length, the Tremor has a 3-piece jointed body, and internally it is fitted with advanced electronics with a rechargeable battery, with an in-built vibrator to mimic an injured fish. Of course, it also features Balista’s trademark LED technology that will entice the most aggressive reaction bite.

The Balista also comes with three interchangeable bibs – crawling, wake and diving swim bait. Whether it is trophy Murray cod, barramundi or any other big bait eating predator you are chasing, the Balista Tremor has been designed to get bites from temperamental big fish. On its first day in action at Lake Mulwala – a notoriously pressured fishery – it produced four Murray cod between 95-110cm, at a time when it was unheard of to get so many bites from big fish in the one day.

To see the Tremor in action, search for ‘Balista Tremor’ on YouTube. You can also see the rest of the range on the Balista Lures website, or on their Facebook page. www.balista.com.au

JIG STAR KATANA BRAID 8X

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Jig Star evolved after its founder and acclaimed Jigging expert Chris Wong in New Zealand had spent many years jigging with some of the world’s most renowned big fish anglers from Japan, USA, Taiwan, SE Asia, South Africa and New Zealand.

Hundreds of hours were spent testing products on ridiculous sized yellowtail kingfish and humungous hapuka.

Katana Jigging and Popping Braid is an 8-Carrier high pitch Dyneema line. Katana Braid is a multi-coloured braid that changes colour every 10m and features Micro Pitch braiding technology, with an advanced coating process.

This helps produce a braid that is extremely strong, while still being thin and having minimal guide friction.

Katana Braid is available in 300m and 1000m spools in PE 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 breaking strains.

To find out more on the Jig Star braid range visit the Juro OzPro Tackle website. www.jurofishing.com

DAIWA SEAJIGGER

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Seajigger has been one of Daiwa’s most popular surf and rock fishing line of rods, and this year the series has been updated to be better than ever before.

HVF carbon is where it all begins, with Daiwa’s low resin, high strength, reduced weight, high density carbon the foundation for a series that is stripped of unwanted weight, and loaded with all the power that you need.

Daiwa’s X45 blank technology further enhances Seajigger’s design and performance level by eliminating blank twist and distortion to increase casting distance.

Design features include ultra-thin Winn wrapped butt section for blank protection, minimalist EVA grips, and Fuji reel seat, while Fuji Alconite Lowrider stripper guides and new lightweight LKW guides provide superb casting ability delivering anglers tangle-free casting all day long.

Classic in style, and advanced in design, function and application, Seajigger offers diversity, strength and exceptional value like only Daiwa can. www.daiwafishing.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au JANUARY 2020

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING LUMICA L.E.D ROD LIGHTS

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Lumica Japan are the developers and inventors of the chemical light stick, and they have now developed a superior range of LED lights for anglers targeting fish at night and in low light conditions.

The Lumica L.E.D Rod Tip Lights are perfect for fishing at night, and simply clip onto your rod tip. They are quite small so they don’t weigh down or affect the tip action of your rod.

The lights are available in two colours, sunset red (visibility of 60m) and sea green (visibility of 100m). They are both available in two sizes so they will fit most rods on the market, and they are super bright and re-useable.

The lights are very easy to use and also feature an on/off switch so you can turn them off easily when not in use. The LED rod lights require a lithium BR/CR 425 battery, and will last approximately 12 hours with continual use.

To find out more on the Lumica range visit the Juro OzPro Tackle website. www.jurofishing.com

OKUMA SABIKI UTG ROD

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PRODUCT GUIDE

LIVE FIBRE BLADE N TAILS

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The Samaki Vibelicious is now available in two new sizes and five new colours.

The new 85mm size is designed to target the likes of bream, flathead, jewfish, yellowbelly and bass, while the 150mm is a heavier weight vibe to target offshore reef fish and bigger estuary brutes such as barramundi and jewfish.

Each model’s colour selection has been created for different target species in all locations around Australia. The new colour range includes natural baitfish colours and bright attractants with UV additives. Introducing Hardy Head, Coral Trout, Stripey Snapper, Fairy Floss UV, and Ghost Bait UV. The Vibelicious Fork Tail comes in 70mm, 85mm, 100mm, 125mm and 150mm sizes.

The 100mm and 125mm have now been upgraded with the new YS81 Decoy Hooks and new Decoy EX Strong Split Rings. The 70mm, 85mm and 150mm are all available with BKK super sharp hooks and Decoy EX Split Rings.

As always, every Vibelicious contains premium Japanese stainless wire and is made of the toughest 10X super stretch material, for maximum durability. www.samaki.com.au

BANDICOOT HEADLAMP

BETTER TACKLE FLASHER RIGS

The Knog Bandicoot Headlamp isn’t like other headlamps. It uses silicone to seamlessly merge the strap, body and LEDs together, rather than fabrics or multiple elastics which are fiddly and unreliable. The silicone band is tangleproof, won’t lose strength, and doesn’t need constant adjusting.

The durable Bandicoot is super lightweight at just 60g, with a compact and sleek design.

The headlamp incorporates quad optics which are integrated into a single-piece chassis, removing the need for a clunky hinge.

The four sets of LEDs are optimally placed for their each individual purpose – a high beam to see with, elliptical beams for broad ambient light, a red light for darker environments, and down lights for reading.

Now, with the ModeMaker app, users can experience added functionality and program their Bandicoot Headlamp from a library of light modes - with 100 lumens being its maximum output.

The Bandicoot Headlamp also offers USB charging capabilities, meaning you can top up the battery at any time and always begin your adventures at maximum brightness.

Price: SRP $59.99 escape2.com.au

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JANUARY 2020

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The Okuma Sabiki UTG rod is designed for jigging sabiki rigs when gathering bait, with the design allowing the rig to be wound inside the rod to minimise snagging and tangling when not in use.

This rod boasts quality components, and has been designed from the ground up to overcome the shortcomings of other sabiki rods. A slight increase in length allows more brands of jigs to be wound completely inside the rod, while the slimmer design increases the action of the rod and in turn the fishcatching action of the jig.

Designed to be used with either spin or overhead reels, the Sabiki UTG is a 2-piece design for easy storage, with a butt join rather than the traditional join above the bottom line guide, which can make line feeding difficult and cause snagging of swivels on sabiki jigs.

The tip of the Sabiki UTG is also uniquely designed to remove the snagging that occurs both on the outside of the tip and internally where the tip joins the rod blank on traditional sabiki rods.

Price: SRP $79.90 www.okuma.com.au

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The Live Fibre Blade N Tails series takes in just about every lure casting scenario available to Australian anglers.

Built on Toray graphite blanks and fitted with Fuji Faslite guides, the new Blade N Tails series has been modelled on the popular BNT series.

Features include specialised skeleton reel seats that allow the angler’s hand direct access to the blank for the ultimate in sensitivity, actions that have been specifically developed to enhance lure casting and the effective working of lures, and a range of one- and two-piece options that allow the travelling angler to fish with a quality stick built for Aussie fishing.

There are 18 rods in the range, with everything from ultralight 4-8lb spin models through to a 30-60lb heavy baitcaster. The range will be expanded as demand heats up for this series. www.wilsonfishing.com

NEW VIBELICIOUS ARRIVALS

PRODUCT GUIDE

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

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When Australian fishing rig specialist Josh Price designed Better Tackle’s flasher rigs, he had one thing in mind: to make every product better than anything else on the market.

Better Tackle’s flasher rigs feature a rapidrelease rig-winding board, making it quicker for you to get out on the water when the fish are on the chew. Tried and tested two-tone colour selections, along with lumo eyes that mimic baitfish eye-shine, give you the ability to match your offering to what your target species is chomping on.

The unique design gives this flasher the perfect shape, flash and silhouette to attract finned predators, while still keeping its shape fish after fish. The outstanding strength on each rig’s knot and leader is no accident, nor is the quality of the hooks used. Every component and design feature of every rig has been carefully considered, to maximize catch rates and longevity.

And remember that flasher rigs are no longer just for snapper – they are perfect for a range of species, including coral trout, red emperor and nannygai.

Price: from SRP $8 www.bettertackle.com

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Obsession Spinnerbaits now obsessed with bass NTENT CO

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FOR EXTR

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At the time I realised that he did have a few styles that could crossover into the tackle box of someone looking to catch Australian bass. They were his Mini Single and Mini Twin Spin models, of which a few had to come home with me.

Fast forward two years and the Mini Single has become a part of my go-to bass fishing arsenal. I have also gotten to know Ray better, even fishing his home waters (Lake Mulwala) with him. During that two-year period he was always keen to create a range that had a bass focus, and the Bass Six Pack was born. In the range there are six bass-specific colours based around

CA N T H E Q R

The GOAT colour in action.

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Several years ago I met Raymond Parry from Obsession Spinnerbaits at the Australian Lure Expo in Ipswich. He’s a down to earth Aussie lure maker, designing lures to catch Australian native fish. Initially, the main focus of his spinnerbaits was targeting Murray cod and golden perch, and with my love of using spinnerbaits I promptly tested a few for the magazines. You can check out that review at www.tacklejunkie.fish.

TESTED

Raymond’s Mini Single model. The new spinnerbaits are available in three weights – 1/4oz, 1/2oz and 5/8oz – and are a single Colorado blade configuration. The six colours are GOAT, WB, DONC, GM, BG and PBJ. A COMBINATION OF ROBUST AND FINESSE Spinnerbaits for bass in Australia have come a long way.

Gone are the days where large profile, clunky lures were good enough. Bass anglers now demand smaller profiles with quality components. From the instant that the spinnerbait hits the water, we want it to work to our advantage.

The spinnerbaits in the Obsession bass series fall somewhere in the middle of finesse and robust. The use of a single Colorado blade reduces the footprint of the lure while

The PBJ colour, or peanut butter jelly as the author’s youngest daughter calls it, is a natural colour with a purple highlight through the skirt. colours, so GOAT and PBJ naturally appealed to me.

However, the baitfish profiles of WB and GM quickly became favorites of mine in waterways like Somerset Dam and Wivenhoe Dam here in Southeast Queensland, as they contain large populations of bony bream.

More recently I have tested the BG (black and gold) and DONC colours. The surprise packet has been the DONC colour, which is a natural colour with a chartreuse highlight through it. It has quickly rivaled the GOAT as a favourite, and who doesn’t need a Donk (reference Crocodile Dundee).

If you scan the QR code on this page you’ll see a video that takes you through the colours and has some fishing action from my field testing. Alternatively, you can go to YouTube and search for ‘Obsession Spinnerbaits’.

Although I have been mainly targeting bass, and have caught bass on every colour, the Six Pack spinnerbaits have also accounted for a number of other species like golden perch, Mary River cod and southern saratoga. Due to the slightly more robust style of the lure, I have no doubt that they would deal with a Murray cod as well.

To view the full range, find your local stockist or place an order online, head to www.obsessionspinnerbaits. com. They are well worth checking out!

All the six pack colours are ideal for our native species. This is 54cm of Lake Somerset golden caught on the GOAT colour.

It pays to bring a DONC.

maximising the flash and vibration. The wire and even the hook are on the heavier side, while the skirt quality and style is finesse orientated.

This combination is the key to the effectiveness of these spinnerbaits. They work well as soon as they hit the water, they will deal with a lot of abuse, and most importantly they have consistently caught fish for me on many different waterways and in many different situations.

THE COLOURS Although the colour range isn’t huge, this may well be a blessing in disguise. The six colours are a good mixture of baitfish and natural colours, and the head colours are also cleverly matched to the skirts, with some having highlights that extend into the skirt colour. There is no questioning the bass appeal of the colours available.

ON THE WATER I have been using the GM, WB, GOAT and PBJ colours for more than 12 months now. I have always fished natural

WB will be a very popular colour in lakes that have large quantities of baitfish.

JANUARY 2020

51

Best time of year for fishing ILLAWARRA

Greg Clarke clarkey1@westnet.com.au

The Christmas and New Years celebrations are over, and it’s time to get serious about fishing! January through to March is the best quarter of the year, so you have to get in and make the most of it. It will be gone before you know it.

and tourists alike all hoping to score a few fish.

The water is warming now so the FADs will be popular, with a few mahimahi starting to show.

Mahimahi are always a lottery – they will be there in droves one day and gone the next, and you never know if they will be school-size fish or larger specimens. Most of the time though, there will be

If the mahimahi are there, it is a fair bet that marlin won’t be too far away. Usually the last week in January signals the start of the marlin season in earnest in this part of the world, but any time after Christmas is well worth a shot as they don’t run to a timeframe. All the usual inshore spots like Bandit, Wollongong Reef, the Hump and Shellharbour

The marlin will show up this month for a bit of fun in the sun.

The only downside in January is that everyone seems to be on holidays enjoying the outdoors. No matter where you go, there will generally be someone else there. It’s good for making new friends, but not good to discover that that your secret spot isn’t all that secret. Holidaymakers will be everywhere – locals

a few fish hanging around and they will get better as we move into February.

The two keys to success are getting there early and having live baits. If you tick both these boxes and the dollies are there, success is assured. Remember that the FADs will get very crowded very quickly, particularly if there are a few fish about.

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hold marlin, depending on the bait in the area.

When the big schools of slimy mackerel are up on the surface and feeding over these reefs, this is the time to really get serious. A live mackerel slow trolled in the area will likely get taken, or you can randomly troll lures about from there to the shelf and hope you cross the path of a fish. However, targeting the marlin when they are in a small area and actively feeding is the best option.

These spots also get crowded at this time of the year, so work with the pack and keep it slow, and everyone will get along nicely. Putting out a spread of lures then blasting through a group of boats slow trolling livies won’t win you any popularity awards, and probably won’t get you any fish either.

There are also good by-catch options when chasing marlin in the form of solid mahimahi, big kingfish and the odd yellowfin tuna, usually when the current is pushing down the coast hard.

If the gamefish are not your cup of tea, there have been plenty of decent yellowtail kingfish about, mainly when there is a bit of current to get them active.

Most of the close inshore bommies, the islands, Bass Point and Rangoon will all hold fish of varying sizes this month. Slow trolling live baits is the best method to score a few. I recommend setting one bait on the surface and one down deep on the downrigger so you

can do sharper turns to stay over the fish, and adjust the depth of the downrigger to where you see the fish on the sounder.

Bigger live baits are best, as the small ones will get smashed by the abundant rat-size kingies that always seem to be quicker than the bigger kings. We can also expect plenty of bait-stealing bonito and salmon getting in on the act. You could try trolling some big stickbaits around and hope a bigger fish grabs it between the rats, salmon and bonito.

There have been some nice snapper in the 30-60m depth range grabbing plastics, and baits down deep are scoring the odd good fish as well. Fish to 7kg are not uncommon, and there are also plenty of smaller fish to keep you interested.

Some nice samsonfish are about over the reefs, and pound for pound they pull so much harder than a snapper.

During the fight you think you have a monster until you see the green and brown instead of orange.

In close, there are plenty of smaller snapper over the reefs if you put the pick down and berley. While you’re doing this, you may pick up a few trevally and salmon.

ROCKS On the rocks there are salmon and bonito providing a lot of fun for anglers. This month we should also see a few frigate mackerel zipping

There are some nice reds about. This angler found one with a dent instead of a bump.

Bream and drummer are in the washes on every headland, grabbing crabs, cunje and prawns. There’s also the odd solid trevally in the mix.

BEACHES On the beaches it is whiting time, as long as you have beachworms. Whiting are on every beach, and even patches of sand off the shallow headlands. If you locate a school you’ll catch your limit quickly, otherwise you’ll have to move from gutter to gutter, picking up a couple of fish in each spot. You will even pick up a few dart, with more of them showing up as the weeks go by.

Flathead are now very active as well. Worms have been scoring the odd fish, but plastics worked around the drop-offs into deeper water

There are plenty of whiting on all the Illawarra beaches. about the suds, which means there is every chance of a marlin for the land-based game anglers on the deeper ledges in the Kiama area.

A few come in each season locally. The ledges are far less crowded than those down at Jervis Bay, and the fish have to swim past here to get there.

A few snapper will be hanging about the deeper ledges, and if you put a live pike under a balloon in the wash before daylight there’s always a chance of a big kingfish hook-up.

in the gutters are particularly deadly. During the evenings there have been some quality bream, tailor and salmon taking pilchards and fish fillets on most beaches. The best spots are the gutters next to the rocky headlands, and they are at the ends of every beach.

If they aren’t biting, there is every chance that there is a mulloway or two hunting around the area.

Some big fish are always taken in January, and there are also enough schoolies around to keep you interested between big fish.

THE LAKE This month the lake will be chockers with locals and tourists, and you will probably be able to walk from boat to boat at the drop-off.

Still, there will be plenty of flathead to go around and most anglers will get a feed.

Live prawns and poddy mullet are great baits and will get fish every time. Plastics can also be very effective if you use trial and error to find the one they like on the day.

The flatties will be all over the lake. From the entrance to the backwaters and from the shore or boat, there will be plenty to go around. Don’t forget the Lake Illawarra Flathead Classic this month either.

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Little poppers worked over the shallows very early in the morning before too much boat traffic gets on the water will give you some fun on a few whiting. They won’t be in great numbers, as is typical of popping in the lake, so grab some worms to top up your catch around the shallow sand banks at the lake entrance.

Minnamurra is generally much quieter, particularly on weekdays. There is plenty of shallow water to cover with your poppers and small plastics so the fun can last for longer, and there are some good flathead and bream in the shallows willing to have a crack on the falling tide along the edges of the mangroves.

Some solid bream are around the bridges in both systems, and there are also plenty of blue swimmer crabs in the lake. Don’t forget the prawns either – they will move on the dark, so get the lights out for some great bait and a feed into the bargain.

For fun with the kids, there are plenty of shorebased options in both Macquarie rivulet and the aptly named Mullet Creek up around William Beach Park. All you need is a bit of bread and a float for some top mullet action.

Happy summer fishing!

Be patient with January crowds NOWRA

Johnny Nolan straydog1974@gmail.com

Welcome to 2020 readers!

Isn’t it a great time to be alive? It’s the middle of a long, hot South Coast summer and we live in the greatest place on earth.

There are great beaches, beautiful bush and mountains and if you want to spend a day in the city it’s

months, with whiting, bream and flathead up on the sand flats early in the morning keen to chase a topwater lure walked across the surface. The vast sand flats on the southeastern shoreline of the Basin offer plenty of water to explore and they produce well through January. There is enough room that you shouldn’t run into another fisher for several hundred metres.

It can be a busy waterway over summer

Jervis Bay is another busy waterway this time of year, however the predicted daily nor’easter that seems to kick up around 11am most days does quickly chase all but the keenest off the water, unless of course you’re into one of the popular wind sports.

There have been plenty of squid around but they are copping a hiding, with every angler and their dog chasing them. Why wouldn’t you?

preferably when you have a tide change, especially inside the bay.

The Shoalhaven River, being a river rather than a big open waterway, does need a good flush out every now and then and with the lack of any substantial rain for almost 12 or so months, it is really starting to suffer.

The upper reaches into the fresh are very low and some of its tributaries are in dire straits if we don’t get some rain soon. Even though these waterways are struggling, the bass are still surviving and as long as they have a puddle to live in and food on offer they will continue to survive.

There have been some good afternoon sessions being had by anglers, and wandering along these tributaries flicking lures into small waters with the anticipation of a big surface

Tim’s son Lachy Francis showing dad how it’s done, landing this very nice skinny water bass. hit is a great way to spend an arvo. It’s also a great way to teach kids who want to get into lure fishing not only the importance of accurate

casting, but also about the bush.

Enjoy the rest of the school holidays in this lovely part of the world.

Sam Atfield with a good fun size kingy from outside Jervis Bay. Kingies are very popular sportfish in summer. just over two hours away.

But when it comes down to it a lot of us are here for the fishing, so let’s see what’s happening this month.

It’s school holidays and that means crowds on the water and roads, so it pays to have a little patience so you can enjoy your days off. If you have kids, take them out for a fish on one of our many estuaries. They are all fishing well and it’s a great way to spend a summer’s day!

St. Georges Basin has plenty to offer over the summer

for boaters, with all water sports enthusiasts taking to this often calm and sheltered waterway, so an early start is paramount for success in fishing. If the kids get bored flicking lures around after a while or you decide it’s getting too dangerous with lures flying past your ears, drifting with fresh prawns or half pilchards across the bottom in the deeper water will turn up a range of species from flounder to mulloway and you should come home with a feed.

They’re fun to catch, easy for the kids, make great bait and taste fantastic. Fishing very early or late, and sometimes even into the dark when the wind dies, would be my tip if you really want to give it a good go.

Out around the cliffs there have been the usual run of rat kings with the odd better one showing its head occasionally, so it pays to have that slightly heavier outfit ready just in case. If you’re after a snapper, again get out early,

Lucas helping his sister Josie Martyn hold her catch from St Georges Basin recently. The Basin is a top spot to take the kids this school holidays.

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53

Chasing bread and butter summer species NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson

It’s the business end of the holiday season around Narooma, but even with the increased boat traffic there’s plenty of fish to be caught.

At Montague Island, kings have been a little difficult of late but that will improve once we get more southerly current.

This is important for kings, especially the bigger fish and when using live bait. The fish that have been caught are not

huge, averaging 3-4kg, but they’re still a whole lot of fun. Live bait and jigs are the go-to method with the western side of the island fishing best.

Some of the bigger kings have been mixed in with the bonito on the surface and taken on trolled deep divers. This technique can be hit-and-miss but it covers a lot of ground and sometimes you have to try a few methods to get a fish.

The marlin action will be in full swing a little further east around the shelf. Black and striped should be available

with the chance of a big blue when fishing wide enough.

Fishos trolling a mixture of different coloured skirts seem to do well early in the season, though switch baiting when bait balls are evident down deep or on the surface will certainly work. Anywhere from the 70-fathom line to the second drop will fish well, but it will depend on prevailing currents, bait activity and current direction. There should be some reasonable yellowfin tuna to 40kg, plus albacore and a variety of shark species.

Tuna have certainly dropped in size from last month, but there’s still a few about to keep things interesting.

Those after a feed can score sand and tiger flathead in

effective and bait crews have gotten amongst a few too.

Salmon, tailor and bonito can be expected off the ocean rocks, with most rock platforms producing but

using slightly heavier tackle will give you a fighting chance of landing one. Throwing larger chromed lures around 40-50g is also worth a go. If you’re after a feed, bream,

Gun local angler Bill Boyton caught and released a few solid bream from the flats.

A cracking 42cm whiting decided a flatty lure was on the menu.

great numbers. Fishing in 40m of water straight off Dalmeny has been excellent, with bag limits reached on most outings. Anglers targeting snapper have found it a little harder. You will have to work for them but the deeper reefs in 45-50m straight off Potato Point are a good place to start searching. Casting micro jigs and soft plastics has been

Mystery Bay to the south of Narooma the top option. You will have to get there early, as this is only a small ledge that can’t hold many anglers. Fresh pillies on ganged 4/0 hooks is the best way to tempt them.

Use only a small ball sinker straight down to the hook and slowly wind back the pilchard to you. A few kingfish are caught this way every year, so

blackfish, and trevally are possible opponents in the washes. Fish lightly-weighted baits like fresh prawns or cunjevoi for best results and a little bit of berley will help.

On the beaches, the warmer water has pushed in and bream and whiting are high on anglers’ lists. These bread and butter species can be To page 55

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A real chance to score it big this January MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson

It’s been a busy time of year around Merimbula with the holiday crowd but anglers putting in the time are reaping rewards, as there’s some exceptional fishing on offer.

The local beaches have been excellent, especially for bream and whiting.

After the recent heavy seas, deeper gutters have formed in close just past the shore dump, making it easy for anglers to reach the deeper water. Bread and butter species have been caught

super thick but 4-6 fish a session has been the norm.

Early morning flooding tides are definitely the best time to fish before the wind gets up. I’d expect a few mulloway and gummy sharks to be caught from the beaches, and I know of one quite big 8.5’ bronze whaler shark caught from Merimbula Main recently.

The fishos that caught it lost another not as big but I’d estimate it was 120kg after looking at the photo.

The estuaries are fishing great guns and this will continue. Merimbula and Pambula are firing for most estuarine species with

especially bream, trevally and the odd salmon.

There have been a few big tailor down the front. It’s probably a bit weird to be catching these bigger greenbacks at this time of year but I don’t hear too many anglers complaining. If you’re fishing the main basins of either lake, concentrate your efforts along the ribbon weed edges in 4-5m of water for best results.

A mixture of paddle style softies in various colours and blades will see plenty of fish caught.

January always sees some monster flatties

Estuary perch are very partial to a well-presented stickbait.

This 34cm fish came off a rock wall in 8m of water. lures of choice. Most flats will hold fish but look for ones that have a mixture of sand and weed, not just sand. These areas are abundant around the back of the oyster leases in both systems. You need a reasonably high tide and a smaller boat that draws less water, but the fish are there in good numbers.

Offshore fishing has been tough. The weather has been windy and not ideal for venturing east, and even when the window has opened it still has been a little disappointing.

There have been a few albacore about with the

odd smaller yellowfin but nothing to get too excited about. This should change as the month progresses.

The water is warm north of us and it shouldn’t be too long before that first beaky hits the deck.

Closer to shore, the bottom brigade have been doing well on snapper and morwong. The southern reefs around Haycock are the go around 32m of water, with the inside edge of Hunter Rocks in 17-22m also accounting for quality snapper. A mixture of micro jigs, softies and bait should see a bent rod or two, and if one method isn’t working

try another and you should soon be in business.

The rock spin diehards will be around in numbers from now on as a variety of surface speedsters will be willing to hit a lure or two. Kingfish, striped tuna, bonito are all on the cards and you never know when that stray northern bluefin will come too close to the rocks. Tura Head is the place to fish, but the wharf and rocks in Merimbula Bay are also worth a look. Spearos have scored several solid kingfish up to 15kg so bigger fish are there; you just need to get them to bite.

Young gun Alex Daly with the sort of tailor that have been caught in the lower sections of the main channel opposite the oyster leases. They are great fun on light gelspun. on lighter outfits and some anglers have caught seven or eight quality fish in a short period when the conditions have been right. Bream to 1kg and whiting to 43cm have been consistent. They’re good sport on light tackle and not too bad on the plate either. Pipi, fresh prawns and live beachworms have been the top bait options at North Tura, Tura Main, and Merimbula Main beaches.

There have been plenty of salmon when you come across a school. They’re not From page 54

found on almost every local beach that has a half decent gutter close to shore. Long casts are not required here so a light outfit with a running sinker rig baited with live beachworms or pipi will see some nice fillets for the pan. Try the Narooma Main, Tilba and Brou beaches just north of Dalmeny. Brou has been exceptional of late with salmon, tailor and gummy sharks all succumbing to baits fished on heavier tackle as well. Head north to Blackfellows on the southern end for a mulloway. Several fish in the 7-9kg bracket have been caught there recently.

In the estuaries, Tuross continues to fish well in the

plenty of flathead, whiting, bream and luderick. Bait fishos have been having a ball in the channels while anchored. It really doesn’t matter which tide you fish, as long it is running. Use a decent sinker on a running sinker rig with fresh prawns or striped tuna strips and you will have plenty of action. If lures are your go-to method, you won’t be disappointed either. Fishing the channels on a draining tide using stickbait soft plastics will see plenty of fish,

active, so if a croc is your desired target you will have a great chance at an 80cm+ fish. I would be fishing bigger plastics around 100mm, especially in Merimbula Lake. This system is a little deeper along the drop-offs and the bigger lures are definitely more effective on the larger models.

With the water warm and around 22°C, surface presentations will work on bream and whiting. This technique is great fun, with poppers and stickbaits the

lower sections for flathead, bream and the odd mulloway.

You do have to work for them but if enough time is put in around the peak periods, some good results can be had.

Anglers casting bigger softies on the draining tide have done okay downstream. If you fish smaller lures the undersize flatties will cause you grief, which is great for the future but can prove frustrating.

A little further upstream, bass and estuary perch are among the snags with hardbodied lures fished close to structure getting results. The mornings have been good for surface lures, as poppers and walk-the-dog presentations have caught fish. A few bream are around to but are patchy,

but once you find them expect some solid action. Again upstream is the place to fish though there are a lot of fish among the oyster racks but they can be very skittish and hard to entice.

Wagonga is back to its best after a few weeks of mediocre fishing. The fish have been there but are hard to entice, which has changed since the water temperature has risen a few degrees. Flathead, bream, snapper and heaps of tailor are about. A few smaller kingfish have been caught in Forsters Bay, mainly by anglers chasing flathead around the whitebait schools. This has happened for the last few seasons, so let’s hope they make the lake home for a few more months yet.

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Huge bushfire has little impact on the fishing BATEMANS BAY

Anthony Stokman

Since I wrote my original report, our area has been hit by a ferocious bushfire, and it is still burning as I write this. It has burnt all the way to the coastline between Batemans Bay and Ulladulla. It’s not entirely

unexpected, as the plant growth had been building up in the forest for decades, providing plenty of fuel for the fire.

The fire has covered an extensive area, and for a while it cut off the highway and also the road between Canberra and Batemans Bay. As you would expect, the town has

been very quiet, with local businesses suffering as a result. Grocery store shelves were depleted by locals who were stockpiling food, and the petrol stations ran out of fuel. Our houses were filled with smoke haze, and when you opened the front door it looked like the town was blanketed in fog.

Still, it could have been

Rick smashing it with a nice red taken from the inshore grounds.

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much worse. Only a few homes were lost, thanks to the amazing job done by the firies. Watching firefighting helicopters being blown around by the wind, and still managing to water bomb their targets, was a sight to see. Other firies kept water on people’s homes until the fire passed by on either side of them.

The worst is over now.

It’s business as usual, and we have also been able to finish our new Compleat Angler store in Ulladulla.

When it comes to the fishing, the fire probably won’t have much impact.

The main concern is ash in the systems. A moderate amount of ash can actually be beneficial because it filters the water, but high concentrations can deplete dissolved oxygen levels.

We’ll have to wait and see.

Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see whether the tourists return. If they do, they won’t regret it, as there is plenty of good fishing to be had.

Some of the most popular attractions at this time of year are the marlin offshore, mahimahi at the FADs, the kingfish inshore, and the whiting and the estuaries.

OFFSHORE If you head offshore this month you can expect to get amongst the marlin! They started to move in during December, and numbers will continue to rise.

It will be interesting to see if we get any tuna this summer, as we had a solid showing of them throughout 2019. They are typically a winter fish these days, but decades ago it wasn’t uncommon to have a good yellowfin jump on your marlin lures.

We seem to be presenting for all kinds of fish when we run marlin lures, so we like to run a mix of colours and sizes. I think this is because we are so superstitious. We must run our favourite one or two, and we must also run one of every colour and size, hoping that at least one lure might catch a fish.

Our hall of fame colour of skirts would have to be lumo, then black and purple, then bright pink or just white and then there’s an array of natural colours like blue, silver, white and clear.

Often it’s the small lure run not too far back up the middle of the spread that’s attached to light spin gear intended for a stripy tuna, mahimahi or kingy that gets hit by a marlin. It busts you off in seconds. That’s Murphy’s Law! You can always avoid the game of lures by training yourself or crew to live bait or switch bait, which is a great way to go.

FADS The FADs should be up and down the coast by now, and it’s been a slowish start to summer, with a strange hot, but cool and windy spring. But the FADs should be producing some action by now. The last few years it took a little while for the Batemans FAD to warm up.

We had a small run of big mahimahi during the end of our yellowfin tuna bite, which is a good sign.

KINGFISH The kingies have been around since last summer, which was due to warmer waters remaining around throughout winter. We had some big models of 10-15kg swimming by our headlands and islands during spring, and I’d expect there would be tons of rats getting around now too. Hopefully the bigger ones linger for a while longer.

SNAPPER Snapper fishing was very good during spring and we saw some great arvo sessions that produced

and worms as bait. A light rig with a longish rod is all you need.

The beaches at night from now onwards will have lots of little sharks if that’s what you are after.

There’s also the chance of catching a mulloway as a pleasant by-catch.

The place to be over the summer if you aren’t chasing marlin is the estuaries, and the South Coast estuaries shine over this time of the year, and when it’s too windy offshore then there is no better option.

The estuaries come alive with bait and crustaceans, and all sorts of predators will be chasing them, including us. There has been a good showing of flathead, bream, whiting and trevally in most of our systems and although the drought has had some effect, it is still looking like a good summer of fishing.

There has even been a few bass up Shallow Crossing way and at some other upstream locations, even with the lack of water.

Georgia Poyner managed this lovely bream casting a bent minnow topwater lure. consistent 2-5kg models.

During January the snapper can be found anywhere in any depth and can be very hit and miss, and it’s probably the hardest month of the year for snapper.

BEACH AND ESTUARY January can be the best month for beach fishing, especially if you are chasing whiting. The estuaries started to fire with whiting midway through November and now’s a good time to go looking for them on the beaches. You still can’t beat the paternoster rig with size 6-8 bloodworm hook

The prawns will be slow this summer and we need a few of our lakes open to improve this, and that does require rain. The mud and blue swimmer crabs are making up for their absence.

Stay safe and have a great summer!

• For more up-to-the-minute 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).

Anglers having an awesome time in the estuary TATHRA

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Kianinny Bay at Tathra has one of the safest boat ramps on the South Coast, allowing easy access and close proximity to many fishing grounds out from Kianinny.

At present flathead are the most prolific catch for those wishing to fish the bottom, and around 30-40m of water should see plenty of sand flathead appearing in bags, with the odd added bonus of a gummy shark or the occasional red gurnard.

species), perch, nannygai and the ever-present leatherjackets.

With increasing numbers of kingfish along the coast this season, it is likely you will encounter these around the reefs as well, especially some of the ones closer to the shore where trolling or jigging becomes an option.

For the game fishers, tuna are still an option on the troll, with plenty of the small striped tuna and albacore to be found, with a better than average chance of one of the larger yellowfin snaffling a lure. Most of these fish are likely to be taken on

don’t rule out a black. In past years there have been more big blues taken in January than other months.

The best areas to encounter these fish are out over the continental shelf, where the upwelling currents are likely to bring the food source these fish require.

One of the most popular places and always well worth a visit is the Tathra Wharf, and currently with the warm water it is hosting a variety of species to keep anglers of all ages entertained. Schools of slimy mackerel are a regular catch and when they arrive, often everyone on the platform will be hooked

lure option. For the more adventurous angler who wishes to float out live bait, there’s a chance of a kingfish or an occasional shark.

fish with lures or bait, it is all happening. Species available are the everpresent flathead that are holding throughout the

On early, still mornings flathead can be seen in the shallows chasing prawns.

Hard pulling whiting are a favourite for anglers of all ages.

Going out wider into 60-70m of water will produce a lot more of the larger tiger flathead, although being a bit deeper it gets a bit harder to retrieve. The reefs are still hosting quite a few snapper of various sizes, along with quite a few morwong (both

the smaller lures trolled in a well set pattern along with the larger marlin lures. By doing this you are likely to encounter the marlin, which are also a chance while looking for a tuna. Striped marlin are the most prolific at the moment, however

up to these little speedsters.

Accompanying them are plenty of yellowtail and silver trevally.

Passing schools of Australian salmon along with a few bonito are some of the larger species, often presenting a good

Of a night tailor schools often frequent the area and are quite partial to a fillet of mackerel or yellowtail acquired earlier in the day.

Closer to the rocks there are resident schools of luderick that can be taken on cabbage weed, while on the surface there are plenty of garfish only too willing to take a drifted piece of prawn under a float.

The rocks around the wharf are also producing a lot of the similar fish, and will also offer a better opportunity to find some of those kingfish on either a live bait or a lure.

There are also some drummer lurking in these areas, along with some very nice groper, wrasse and bream, which are quite partial to a floating piece of cunjevoi in a bread berley trail.

Undoubtedly the highlight of the area at the moment is the availability of different options within the estuaries surrounding Tathra. Whether you are shore-based, have a boat,

systems, but accompanying them are schools of bream, trevally, blackfish, whiting and mullet. The deeper waters of estuaries like the Bega River are also producing the occasional mulloway along with some

nice schools of tailor.

A little way upstream from the entrance around the rock walls in the Bega River we are seeing ever-increasing numbers of estuary perch, which are only too willing to take a well-presented lure.

Both hard and soft lures are working well on these fish, and they will also take a variety of other species already mentioned.

For those wishing to fish bait, look to your easy fresh options like nippers, worms or live mullet.

Going a long way upstream in the Bega River to where the sweetwater begins there are still plenty of deep snaggy sections that are holding Australian bass. Whether you lure or fly fish, these guys are only too willing to feed.

Early mornings or late afternoons when the cicadas are active are the best times for anglers.

One last place to visit while in the area is Brogo Dam some 40 minutes west of Tathra, which is regularly stocked with Australian bass. It’s not only stunningly beautiful, it is also fishing extremely well.

A nice bream ready for release.

Image courtesy of Kane Fairchild.

FISHING & BOATING LIFESTYLE PROGRAM KIERAN REEKIE & ALAN BLAKE + many others talk fishing and boating

SAT / SUN 4am - 7am George Gianoutsos caught this kingfish on his 12th birthday fishing with Craig McGill in Middle Harbour. It took a squid that they caught at Quarantine.

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13 12 69 JANUARY 2020

57

Get a taste of Bermagui this holiday season BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Bermagui is well known for its gamefishing and it is the prime time for it, however over the holidays a lot of people come to Bermi to taste the magnificent seafood on offer. Culinary delights like fish, calamari, prawns and oysters are top of the list and many anglers can gather their own.

Magnificent reef fish are on offer, all within close proximity of Bermagui Harbour. Species include morwong, snapper and perch on the reefs, while up at the island kingfish are on the chew as well as tasty flathead.

Sand flathead are in good numbers out from Tilba, Cuttagee and Murrah beaches. Large tiger flathead have been caught outside the Four and Six Mile reefs and some quality morwong and other assorted fish species have come from most of the reefs south of Bermi, with Goalen Head being the pick. Gummy sharks have been regular catches around the full moon and if you wish to fish the deepwater

of the Twelve Mile Reef, larger and varied reef fish will be encountered.

Large blue marlin appear in January and the best way to encounter them

feed on the vast schools of baitfish and don’t forget to throw a bibless or diving lure out when trolling, as school size yellowfin are also around.

Vanessa caught her first ever mulloway from the beach. is to troll big lures over the canyons. Stripes, black and blue marlin will frequent the Twelve Mile Reef to

Berleying on the beaches, preferably near rocky outcrops, has been producing decent bream,

salmon, mullet and tailor.

Using simple rigs and light rods has been heaps of fun as most fish are close to shore attracted by the berley. Night fishing can be productive with quality gummy sharks, tailor and large salmon being common catches.

Late evening and into night is the time to fish Brogo for bass. Using surface lures or large bulky flies can get spectacular strikes when you work them at varying speeds across a usually calm surface. Weed beds and overhangs are the better areas to work.

Insect life is likely to fall into the water from any overhanging trees and will attract bass to surface feed, allowing anglers to catch these fish.

Due to the lack of rain, a lot of our estuary systems around Bermagui are closed to the ocean. Although they are still producing fish, they are not as productive as those that are open like the Bermagui River, which estuary fish can migrate freely in and out of. Dusky flathead, bream, whiting, luderick and more are on offer and whether you are a lure or bait angler, there are plenty of fish to be found in this system.

With water temperatures rising, you should expect to see marlin of all different sizes.

Summer species have fired up MALLACOOTA/EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

Much needed rain is yet to come, as only 50mm has fallen in the Mallacoota Eden area over the past month. With summer temperatures here,

bushfires are a genuine concern. The past month has seen only a few truly hot days, but they are now the norm.

The offshore fishing is starting to fire up off Mallacooota, with sand and tiger flathead coming on the bite. The water temperature inshore is around 16-17°C, with cold water still out

on the shelf. The coming months will see it warm up until late February when the water will be at its warmest on the beaches.

The inshore reefs are starting to fish well with reports of good catches of pinkie snapper along with some gummy shark. Tiger and sand flathead have also been available. An early start often

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There has been little to report on the gamefishing scene, with cold green water pushing along the shelf. Until the water warms up, things will remain quiet. The past month has seen some windy days and the coming months will see it get even windier, so an early start is the key to getting a feed of fish and getting back before conditions make things unpleasant.

Fishing the local beaches and rocky headlands has been good with plenty of

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Flathead have really come on the bite with soft plastics catching plenty of fish.

maybe even a mulloway.

Fresh or live baits are your best option.

Estuary fishing really comes alive over the summer months. Dusky flathead have been caught on a variety of lures, with fresh bait also getting a few fish. Sand whiting have been active and as the water warms they will turn up in greater numbers.

Fishing for black and yellowfin bream has picked up. As fish spread out around the shallow margins looking for a feed, the key is to keep moving to find the fish. Fishing for bass in the upper reaches of the local creeks and rivers over the summer months can be great but to really get things firing, rain is needed to get fish moving back to their summer haunts.

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS GREAT BARRIER REEF SPECIES

ANGELFISH BUTTERFLYFISH CARDINALFISH CLOWNFISH DAMSELFISH GROUPER POTATO COD PARROTFISH HAMMERHEAD SURGEONFISH

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Name: Address:

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The first correct entry at the end of each month will win the prize pack.

SEND ENTRIES TO: NSW Find-a-word Competition, PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129

NSW JANUARY 2020

Phone (day):

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

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SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to Kim Finch, who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition!

Monthly winners receive a Fishing Monthly prize pack. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – NSWFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winner for November is N Macklin of Griffith, who won a Fishing Monthly Subscriber prize pack.

All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

of Narellan, P Stever of Austinmer, S Matthews of Edgeworth, A Hoss of Darawark, J Paul of Inverell, L Comerford of South Penrith, M Clarke of Quirindi, R Jones of Toronto, J Grace of Shoalhaven Heads, R Bland of Forster, S Cook of Seven Hills, A Bird of Singleton, M Smith of Figtree, M Mednis of Bangor, J Smith of Kelso, R Hansell of Punchbowl, R Fineran of Geurie, J Vagg of Tuross Head, C

Wilson of Lake Albert, J Morante of Wauchope, D Humra of Marrickville, S Ayre of Denman, L Boyd of Hawks Nest, M Tamplin of Adamstown, J Thompson of Berry, S McSwan of Barrington, T Polley of Tinonee, B Horn of Hawks Nest, N Evenden of Cundletown, W Cumming of Bass Hill, B Newham of Penrith.

Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks.

– NSWFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE ZMAN LOGO

GUESS THE FISH?

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Gummy Shark

The answers to Find the ZMan Logo for November were: 8, 13, 18, 26, 29, 34, 41, 52, 64, 68, 73, 84, 86, 89, 92.

– NSWFM The Find the ZMan Logo prize winners for November were: C Calley of Bathurst, D Trotman of Coffs Harbour, N Jost of Lara, R Kinkade of Forster, G Sanson of Melrose Park, P Henry of Empire Bay, G West of Blacktown, S Roweth of Millthorpe, P Brooks of Hoxton Park, R Jones

Answer: JANUARY 2020

59

BASS

Getting the drop on dropshot bass fishing CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

I have found myself fishing more and more small dams around NSW for one of my favourite

However, my change in focus created a significant problem.

My regular kayak is excellent but it’s ill-suited to the types of dams I am now focused on for bass. The yak is just too big. This became apparent

is well suited to small dam bass fishing. Here are my experiences.

THE KAYAK I ended up choosing a Native Titan 10.5 for my small dam bass fishing. The Titan is very different from

Releasing a solid specimen to fight another day. fish almost over the top of a heavy overhanging snag while standing up meant that I was able to use a technique successfully that had previously been

(about 20-30cm), followed by a dropshot hook, followed by another 20-30cm of fluorocarbon and ending with a splitshot sinker.

Attached to the hook is a

shorter than my old kayak and because of this, I can jig the snag, hook the fish and work the fish out of the snag because I’m standing directly above the fish as

A smaller kayak means better access to fishy locations. freshwater sportfish – Australian bass. This is partly because over the last few years, Fisheries has stocked a number of smaller waterways

after one particularly memorable session during which I hooked onto a big bass using dropshot tactics, only to lose it after it dived for a root ball in the centre

my old kayak; my previous yak was slim and long, and the Titan is wide and short.

Those proportions make the Titan perfect for fishing in small dams packed full of

Michael Wilson with a small bass that was fooled by the dropshot! almost impossible (for me anyway!) from my other kayak: dropshot.

This technique involves a length of fluorocarbon

small soft plastic, which can be vertically jigged (gently) up and down within the deepest pockets of the snag.

The front of the Titan is

opposed to sitting where the fish can create an angle and brick me.

A dropshot rig can also be effectively fished

The right tools for the job – small soft plastics, dropshot sinker and dropshot hooks. with these little bronze warriors, and they are now reaching a good size.

The other reason why I have been focusing more on smaller dams is because it’s possible to cover the whole dam in a day, letting me give it a thorough working over. This simply isn’t possible at locations like Glenbawn or other large dams.

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JANUARY 2020

of a partially submerged tree. I simply didn’t have the manoeuvrability to get in close to the snag and get the fish out.

After this frustrating experience, I went in search of a kayak suitable for these sorts of tight snag battles. After I found the kayak I wanted, I spent the next few weeks developing my dropshot fishing, which

snags. I got a rudder upgrade so that I could turn almost on the spot, but apart from that the Titan didn’t need any modifications. It’s very stable and remarkably quick off the mark as well as on the plane.

TACTICS It took a few sessions to work out that I could employ some really cool tactics when fishing from a smaller craft. Being able to

This big bass came out of a massive root ball and inhaled this plastic.

BASS along the edge of a likely snag by using a continuous retrieve where the lure is subtly bounced along the bottom back to the angler’s position. A dropshot rig can be fished very subtly, and is suited to tiny twitches

depth at which the fish are feeding. With dropshotting, you can simply move the sinker up or down the line to change the depth at which the plastic sits.

This makes it very easy to fish the entire water

a crimped swivel at the top that lets you clip it onto the line. You just run your leader’s tag end through the eye of the weight and wedge it in place at whatever position you want.

The other distinct

bank in its entirety with one cast (while observing from a standing position), I changed my retrieve. I now hop the diver across a likely bank by quickly winding and lowering the rod tip at the same time after a long cast. Once the lure touches the bottom, I allow for a lengthy pause so the lure floats up again before repeating the process.

a decent set of polaroids.

This is low-tech fishing, and by that I mean that I don’t use a sounder when targeting the heavy cover, or any other high-tech gear.

When fishing smaller bass dams, I like to use Spotters with the Nexus lenses, as they provide enhanced depth perception and greater visual definition.

These are

spin rod matched to a Rovex Exostrike 2000 reel spooled with 6lb braid and 8lb leader. I like this outfit because there is a ton of power in the butt section so I can get stuck in when hooked onto a feisty bass, and there is also finesse in the tip to make dropshotting and working small divers a breeze. Sometimes I’ll run a second outfit, consisting of a

Being able to get in tight to snags has allowed the author to catch bigger bass. that can be inserted into the retrieve by adding short, gentle wrist movements as you wind the reel. The idea behind this retrieve is to make the lure look like a fish hanging in the water which, to a hungry bass, is almost irresistible.

Further, a dropshot rig is a very adaptable rig and this is important when you are bass fishing from a kayak. You do not need to be swapping between lures (and rods and reels which crowd a kayak) to find the

column with one rig very effectively and, in turn, find the bite.

There are specialist sinkers and hooks for dropshotting and they aren’t cheap, but in my opinion they are well worth the investment. Dropshot hooks have a wider gape and are designed to hook the plastic through the nose. This helps the plastic to move naturally, providing the most lifelike presentation possible.

Dropshot sinkers have

change that I made after switching to the smaller kayak was adapting my cast and retrieve when using hardbody lures. With the smaller, wider yak, I was able to stand and drift without spinning, and could therefore park the kayak almost touching the bank while fishing parallel to a likely bank. In the past, I employed a slow roll when using small divers for bass, but with this new-found ability to fish so close to a likely bank and cover the

The shorter kayak means more dropshotting and more fish!

It is great fun watching bass charge out from an undercut bank and have a look at the lure, and I can adjust the retrieve accordingly if they don’t strike during the first retrieve.

KEEP A LOOKOUT There is no point in being able to fish the tight stuff in a small yak if you can’t see into a snag with glare on the water. The change up from the larger yak to a stealthy smaller yak wouldn’t have worked as well for me if I hadn’t had

designed for all day fishing and they work well for me.

However, any good set of polarised sunnies will do the job, provided you can see down into the snag.

TACKLE This style of fishing is bash and crash. I can now charge my kayak into a snag at pace to pull out a big bass. For this reason, I no longer use the high-end rods and reels that I crack out when fishing larger dams.

I currently use a Jarvis Walker Karbonite 2-4kg

Quantum Smoke 2-4kg spin rod matched to a Quantum Smoke SM15 reel if I’m fishing dropshot and divers.

CONCLUSION I have really enjoyed the challenge of shifting from a large kayak to a smaller model, and utilising dropshot tactics on impoundment bass. Being able to work the entire water column with one lure so thoroughly has changed the game for me, and it’s now rare that I don’t have at least one dropshot rig ready to go on every trip!

Working a promising snag in a small impoundment.

JANUARY 2020

61

Deeper does it to get the fish this month LITHGOW/OBERON

Glen Stewart stewie72@bigpond.com

Increased exposure to hours of hot sun will drive surface water temperatures to their maximum this month. This will force most fish deeper,

Big flashy spoons cast out and then counted down can be a good way to target these deeper fish. Keep a semi-taught line on the drop, let the spoon pendulum back towards you, lift it occasionally 30-60cm before letting it flutter back down.

A hit from a fish can occur at

depth of water you should be concentrating on.

In somewhere like Lake Lyell this zone could be as deep as 50-60ft, or sometimes even deeper.

In Oberon (out of a kayak or canoe) it may be a little shallower due to elevation and colder temperatures.

at depths if a concentration of trout and bait is found on a sounder.

Redfin exist in two out of three of these lakes (Lyell and Oberon), and quite often will intermingle with trout in a feeding layer at depth, as will bass in Lake Lyell.

COOLER DAYS Three or four cooler days in a row can sometimes see this feeding layer lift and disperse, but it’s a bit hit-andmiss. This can sometimes see trout back in shallower depths for short periods, especially after dark.

Mud-eye (dragon fly larvae) are a very big drawcard for trout in all three dams, especially if

imitation slowly retrieved or drifted off a point can be quite successful, especially if there is some ripple on the water.

THE NATIVES ARE RESTLESS Golden perch and cod are very active in warmer waters, feeding aggressively when light levels drop. Deeper water during daylight hours is still definitely a place that they will hold up though.

Trolling big deep divers down to and over 25-35ft for cod is an art form when done correctly. It’s important to drive the lure, not the boat, and another thing I have learned (especially in clear water) is that you

endless combinations including dead sticking in neutral close to structure.

Keep in mind that Murray cod are a lot more pelagic in nature when active and feeding on bait, which could include redfin, bony bream, crucian carp or golden perch. Concentrations of these smaller fish regularly draw in big predators like Murray cod. The bait could be hundreds of meters away from structure, mid-depth in 100ft of water, so be mindful of this. Mindlessly trolling a lure out the back will work when the cod are actively feeding, but a little more thought will get you far more fish when they are not.

Golden perch this size in open water at Wyangala might be food for hungry predators. Keep an eye on your sounder for big cod on the fringes of schools of free swimming smaller fish. especially trout, in waters such as Lake Lyell, Lake Oberon and Thompsons Creek Dam. How deep? In some cases 50-60ft, if there is enough dissolved oxygen. Hopefully this depth and deeper will still be available as a refuge as the weeks roll on.

any time so be ready. Make a mental note of any such activity and try to replicate the same depth and retrieve on the next cast.

Jighead-rigged soft plastics and blades are another great option if your spoon collection is a little thin.

Methods or presentations can vary and can be as simple as drifting on a breeze while jigging a spoon or blade, jighead-rigged soft plastics slow rolled then dropped back are another presentation worth a try. Trolling deep via a downrigger or paravane is possibly the most efficient

Bass sometimes mingle with redfin in Lake Lyell at depths in summer, no doubt eating the odd smaller one. Skirted swim jigs are a great way to target them. they hatch en masse in the shallows. At times it can be an absolute feeding frenzy after dark and into the wee hours of the morning.

Fly fishing is by far and away the most efficient way to target these mud-eye feeders. That said, a slim bubble float and a long dropper with a mud-eye

need to mix it up. By that I mean sometimes it pays to be bumping bottom occasionally, but at other times it’s best to be a metre or so above.

Working the lure aggressively with the rod in combination with motor movements is also something worth trying. There are

Water levels will no doubt be watched with great interest over the summer months in waters such as Wyangala, Windamere and Burrendong.

Hopefully we will get some muchneeded rain.

Until next month, I look forward to seeing you all on the water soon. Tight lines!

Redfin will school en masse at depths in summer. Finding them is relatively easy with modern sounder technology. Blades are a great way to target these deeper fish.

It’s a little harder in lakes such as Thompsons Creek Dam (TCD) to get to these depths, especially with no access to the wall. Other deep areas do exist on the western shoreline though, and that’s where I would be headed, especially during daylight hours.

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JANUARY 2020

YOUR SOUNDER DOESN’T LIE Building up a rapport with your sounder takes time, and it helps if you stay brand loyal. The big brands are typically very reliable. When you see a concentration or layer of bait and fish activity, that is exactly the

way of staying in the strike zone for the longest period.

Fly fishing the depths is also another slick method of catching deep trout, especially out of a drifting boat. The purists may frown because casting is almost non-existent, but a big streamer fly is rarely refused

Ben Barraclough and his dad Jason have been hitting the cod hard. They have brought in some healthy Murray cod in the Gwydir River, like this one that Ben is proudly holding.

You just never know what you’ll hook next BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

Summer can be very rewarding for freshwater anglers in southern Australia. This is especially true at Blowering Dam, where it is possible to catch more than three different

several advantages. For starters, it gives you a chance of catching two fish at the same time, and it also takes a bit longer for the rats to find the second hook, which gives the bigger fish in the school a chance to take one of your baits.

The other advantage of the two hooks is you can use two different baits at the

moves anywhere near them.

We’ve even caught them on bare jigheads while they’re in this frenzy mode, and it’s not uncommon to catch them on bare hooks while bait fishing.

In saying that, they do have their days where it can be hard to tempt them. I find on these days it pays to regularly change the colours

Trout cod are in good numbers throughout the Murrumbidgee River and are welcomed, hard-fighting by-catches while targeting Murray cod and golden perch. These fish are protected and must be released. If you’re not sure whether you have caught a trout cod or Murray cod, release it just to be safe. species of fish on the same day. At this time of the year the resident redfin make up most of an angler’s catch, and these fish can be caught quite easily around the margins of the dam.

Bait fishing, either from a boat or the bank, around

same time until you work out which bait is working best on the day. If the fish are preferring one bait over the other you can then load both hooks up with the bait they prefer on that day, and start bringing them in two at a time.

and action of your lures until you find one that works, and then stick with it.

The natives have also been pretty happy to hit a well-presented bait or lure of late, especially the resident Murray cod.

However, it pays to choose

storm activity, as this can sometimes keep the fish firing all day long.

MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER The time has come to head to your favourite stretch of river in hope

form of fishing, especially in the ‘Bidgee’.

While bait fishing in these deeper holes you just never know what is going to eat your bait next. Will it be a Murray cod, a trout cod, a yella or maybe a

rig your baits on circle hooks to decrease gut hooking fish and increase corner of the jaw hook-ups. This alone will dramatically increase the cod’s chances of survival after release. If you do happen to gut hook a cod that

The Murray cod fishing at Blowering Dam just keeps going from strength to strength. For your best chance of hooking a few this month, stick to early morning sessions or late afternoon and into the night. of that Murray cod of a lifetime. The ‘Bidgee has had plenty of water being flushed down it to suit irrigator and electricity demands, which has been pleasing for those who like to fish from a boat. The higher water level makes the majority of the river

redfin or a carp? You just never know, and this is what makes it an exciting way of fishing at times.

If you can find shrimp they are easily the best bait to use in the river, but juicy grubs (preferably bardis) are the gun bait for targeting the resident cod. If you can’t

you want to release, don’t try to tear the hook out of the fish as this will often result in the fish dying. Simply cut your line as close to the hook as possible and release the fish as quickly as you can.

Casting lures has been a bit patchy so far, mainly due to the flow making it difficult

Golden perch will still be quite active this month and certainly worth targeting.

However, they will start to become a tougher proposition as the weather continues to warm. If you love your yella fishing, make the most of them this month.

Redfin have started showing up around the margins of the lake, and can now be caught just as easily from the bank as from a boat. submerged snags, weed beds, rocky points or drop-offs is a very good way of getting a feed of redfin. The best baits are small yabbies and garden worms, and we use them on a 2-hook paternoster rig when targeting the redfin.

Using the two hooks has

Casting or trolling lures is another great way to target redfin during the summer months. When the redfin are really firing it doesn’t matter too much which type of lure you use or what colour it is, as they will hit pretty much anything that

your fishing times fairly carefully at this time of year, as most of the action is either very early in the day around sun-up or late in the afternoon around sundown and especially after dark.

The only exception to this is if there is a heap of

accessible to boaters, even those fishing from fairly large boats. These anglers have been rewarded with a great start to the season, with plenty of cod – both Murray cod and trout cod – being landed.

Bait fishing in the deeper holes has been very successful and should continue to be this month.

These days a lot of anglers, especially cod anglers, look at bait fishing as boring but it can still be a very exciting

get a hold of any fresh bait, stop in at your local grocery store and grab yourself some chicken fillet. Cut it into chunks or strips and you’re good to go. Chicken fillet is fast becoming a favourite bait with many cod fishos, and with good reason – it works consistently well and you don’t have to hunt all over the place to grab yourself some.

If you are bait fishing and intend to release your cod I strongly suggest you

to present your lure properly.

A better option is trolling, especially repeat trolling.

Submerged mid-river snags have been the flavour of the month, and these snags can be found either with your sounder or by using a GPS in the low flow to mark them.

Repeat runs over these types of snags have produced some quality results. Changing lure colour or lure action every second or third run is a good way of luring out the hard-to-tempt fish.

JANUARY 2020

63

Fish seeking out cooler water HUNTER VALLEY

Peter Phelps

Now that January 2020 is upon us, it’s time to brace yourself for hot and dry

of spring and into summer.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them this low. The hot weather and receding levels will have the fish pushed out of the shallow edges and into deep water.

patterns will be the key to consistently catching fish over the hotter months in the impoundments. The surface water temperatures should be getting well above 26°C this month. The fish

Surface lures fished at dawn and dusk are always worth a shot at this time of year. times in the Hunter Valley.

Typical summer patterns seem to be the prediction, with still no long-range forecast of rain.

The two larger lakes took a real dive over the end

The upper river fishing should be in full swing this month, with plenty of surface action to be had by those anglers willing to put in the hard work.

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naturally push out deeper to the cooler, oxygen-rich water at this time of year, with most fish sitting in around 40ft of water. They can push up shallower or deeper, but this is a good starting depth to look in. A good quality sounder is a must for finding those deep fish and the structure they will be hanging around.

The fish will take a variety of lures during these times, just bear in mind that the weather still plays a big role, even though the fish are sitting deep. Wind, barometer and cloud cover all come into play. The first indication of what style of lure the fish will take is how they position themselves on the sounder. High in the water column or mid-water is better suited for something you can slow roll through them, keeping it right in front of their nose for as long as possible. If they are sitting deeper or hard on the bottom, something dragged or hopped instead of slow rolled will stay in front of their nose.

Stirred up water conditions in summer will usually have the fish sitting higher in the water column, and at these times they tend to prefer something with a vibration or flash, i.e. a blade, tail spinner or spinnerbait. Slow rolling these through the fish

should catch some on those windy and overcast days.

Those dog days of hot, glassed-out conditions usually drive the fish down to the bottom. I recommend dropping a soft plastic straight down to the bottom and then rolling it off the bottom very slowly, as this is deadly on deep fish.

Most fish take the plastic when it’s just coming off the bottom. A curl-tail grub rigged on a 1/4oz jighead is dynamite for this because the 1/4oz head is not so heavy that it will cause the plastic to plummet to the bottom. Instead, the plastic will swim on the way down, keeping open the option of getting eaten on the drop.

The curl-tail grub allows for a super slow retrieve for enticing a bite, hanging in front of their nose as long as possible.

Dropping straight down the transducer beam is a good idea as it will give you a visual indication of what’s happening around your plastic. This style of fishing can be a lot of fun, especially for kids. No casting accuracy is needed, and it’s like a video game for the kids to watch the fish moving up and down with the lure.

A skirted jig with a plastic trailer is another option when the fish are holding tight to the bottom. Dragging a football jig of at least 1/2oz

Tom Hay with a pair of St Clair bass caught on dusk.

In the lakes there will always be a few fish hanging around on the edges but they can be very hard to tempt except on topwater lures.

These are always worth a shot as the sun rises and sets in summer, which is when the bass move up from deeper water looking for a meal.

Shaking cicadas, poppers or paddlers on the spot imitates an insect that has fallen into the water and is struggling to

flowing are worth a look this time of year. Those anglers willing to put in the effort to get to those honey holes, out a little further than everyone else, will be rewarded. Fishing around light changes with a topwater lure will catch you some big bass over the summer months. Walkers, paddlers and wakebaits work well when the fish come out from structure

The skirted jig has become a staple producer. Golden perch and bass will still take jigs this month. or heavier can catch them just as well as a plastic on certain days. Focus on looking around points or deep walls. Submerged timber will always hold fish, especially golden perch this time of year.

take off. Alternately, working a quick moving topwater here can also work, as sometimes a faster moving bait can be what the fish want.

The upper reaches of rivers that are still

under the cover of darkness.

As the sun rises, using a buoyant weedless plastic or frog cast deep into the structure will catch the fish that have pulled back into the cover.

Everything is biting in Lake Burley Griffin CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

Recently I was contacted via social media by an angler who quizzed me about Lake Burley Griffin.

He had caught six or so golden perch from this excellent fishery during spring, and he explained to me that many of the spots where he fished were areas that I ‘ignored’ in my reports.

fish feed with regularity in a wide variety of locations.

Summer is a particularly good time to hit this waterway, as small to medium-sized cod hunt throughout the day and the yellas fire right up until the start of the really hot weather in the middle of January.

There is also a fantastic reddy surface bite through January and February across a vast number of shallow banks. So my suggestion is to try a few of my LBG ‘hotspots’ over

and bounce the plastic along the bottom. Often there are golden perch tailing these fish, and they will eat a plastic as you bring the lure back towards the bank.

There have been a good number of small cod landed by anglers fishing along the rock wall at Lady Denman Drive. This spot always produces cod during the warmer months, and it can be fished from the bank or boat. The points at Yarramundi Reach are also

James Judd was happy with this nice ‘Bidgee cod.

Codey Flack with a Denman Drive Murray cod.

I often field similar questions from other fishos when I pass them on the bank, or from boaters who pull in to chat to me as I fish from my kayak. I give the same answer to this question every time, and it is this: you’ll catch fish almost anywhere on LBG through the warmer months. While I

the next month but be sure to search out plenty of other locations. You will find fish in a wide variety of areas, and they will often hit lures with abandon.

BURLEY GRIFFIN Lake Burley Griffin is fishing well for all three lure targets: redfin, yellowbelly and cod. The redfin have

Beetle spins are a great lure choice right now. may focus my attention on a specific location during one particular time period, there may be other areas which are just as profitable and firing on all cylinders.

The bottom line is that Lake Burley Griffin has a relatively consistent water level through the year, and while the temperature of the waterway does fluctuate depending on the season, the

been particularly aggressive, and there are big packs of them hunting around Captain Cook Fountain in search of a feed. These fish can be targeted using surface poppers and Sugapens, and they will often hit the lure on the pause a metre or so from the bank. If you do find a school of surface feeders, be sure to cast a plastic out past the reddies

worth a look if you’re fishing from a boat or kayak. Some larger cod have been caught here of late, with dawn and dusk being the best times to cast large swimbaits near the edges.

TUGGERANONG Lake Tuggeranong has almost returned to its best. There have been large numbers of redfin landed by anglers fishing small plastics along the flats near the dog park, and by kayak fishos using shallow divers along the edges at Three Islands Nature Reserve. The steep rock drop-off before the bridge is the best place to try for a stud redfin, and there have also been a couple of nice golden perch landed by anglers fishing under the bridge.

Carp remain the easiest fish to target, whether you’re using bait, lure or fly. Some anglers have been reporting captures of up to 50 fish.

There haven’t been many cod landed yet but this should change in the coming weeks as the water continues to warm up.

GINNINDERRA Lake Ginninderra is a bit of a mixed bag. Carp fishos have had a lot of success with corn and breadbased baits fished on light running sinker rigs in the bays leading to the dam wall. However, the natives are proving elusive for lure fishers, with only a handful

of good-sized goldens landed in recent weeks. These fish were caught using both blades and vibes hopped along the bottom. Also, the redfin which were feeding well through spring have moved deep and are out of reach if casting from the bank. That said, the reds can be targeted from boat or yak using deep jigging tactics.

A few lucky anglers have had encounters with Murray cod but there has yet to be a really massive fish landed this season.

MURRUMBIDGEE The Murrumbidgee is fishing quite well despite the water level and varied clarity. The deeper pools have produced some really big fish with swimbaits the pick of the lures in this scenario especially when slow rolled through the middle of the water column.

A few anglers have caught fish on surface and the ever reliable spinnerbait has saved a lot of anglers from the dreaded donut. We need decent rain to really get the

river firing and hopefully that arrives soon.

SURROUNDS Googong Dam has been producing the goods in recent weeks, with large numbers of anglers landing

caught by fishos using vibes.

Shallow areas with a decent cutaway should be the first place to have a cast, but don’t disregard the flats as these areas also hold good fish.

Shallow banks at dawn and dusk are worth a crack. golden perch ranging in size from 40-60cm. The majority of fish landed have been fooled by either plastics of blades, but there have also been some really big goldens

Though the golden perch action has been outstanding, the reddy action has been slow of late, and the massive reds can only be found in deep water.

Sam Hancox inspecting a Googong golden.

JANUARY 2020

65

Avoid the heat for best results WAGGA WAGGA

Rhys Creed

Into the New Year the great fishing will continue. It is the hottest time of the year, which can slow the fish down in certain areas, but in others it will be red-hot.

If you prefer to use lures, both casting and trolling will work, it just all depends on the conditions, moon phase and area you decide to fish.

On a dark or windy night, trolling large hardbodies like the 150mm AC Invader is your best option. Troll in depths around 5-10m (watch

on the flatter banks covered in large logs.

Casting is my pick of the techniques, with large soft plastics, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits doing the trick.

Try concentrating on rocky areas and areas with schools of carp and redfin. If you cannot find baitfish between

is to catch live grasshoppers and drop them unweighted into the slack areas below overgrown banks. The trout will come flying out to eat your bait if they are there.

If you’re casting lures, small hardbodies, spinners and soft plastics will work best. Try to find the slack pockets, just out of the high flows to make your casts, these are where the big browns will be sitting in wait.

Last of all if you’re chasing trout on fly (my go-to method), you’re going to have so much fun! You cannot go past using hopper imitations and dropping them in on cruising trout in the backwaters. I love this style of fishing because it’s visual.

You spot the fish first and cast the flies right on their

Oliver, Harry and the author with a beautiful Tumut River brown trout caught in town.

Chris Cotterill with a solid rainbow trout taken casting a spinner in against the rocky edges of the river.

The number one tip I have for you at this time of year is to fish the cooler parts of the day and in cooler locations; avoid the heat.

BLOWERING DAM This will be a popular destination over the Christmas/New Year break, but once this traffic starts to settle down it will be well and truly worth a fish. This traffic will start to slow down after about 7-10 January and your best bet is to fish during the dark.

Hot summer days are tough going at Blowering, because it gets extremely hot, even though it’s close to the Snowy Mountains. The fish are like us, they won’t be out chasing food in the heat of the day and they will mainly hunt during first and last light, and throughout the night.

Camping at the dam and using large baits is a great option. Large yabbies and grubs are the pick, but you can also use chicken pieces.

The fish will move out of the depths and come into the shallower water during the night to feed, so you won’t need to cast your bait out too far.

your sounder to try and find fish and then change your depth accordingly) on both flatter banks with timber and steeper rocky banks.

The rocky banks around the island are perfect at this time of year and I recommend a smaller lure for these areas, between 90-120mm. I prefer the larger 150mm plus lures

JANUARY 2020

It’s hard to go past the 220 Ignite Cod Fury in Blowering Dam. This 90cm model inhaled the plastic headfirst.

The casting technique is a ‘bow and arrow’ cast, which is easy to master and simple to use. We use this because the casts are

The rocky banks around the island up near the wall are great areas to fish during summer.

Summer is a great time on the Tumut, with plenty of active and hungry fish getting about.

66

6-10m, look shallower, and if you find bait there, then fish shallower.

TUMUT RIVER This would by far be my pick of the local waterways and it is one of the best months to chase trout for the entire year. This extremely hot weather means major bug activity, which the trout

OTHER OPTIONS There are so many other waterways that you can fish in January in the region.

For trout there’s places in the Snowy Mountains like the Eucumbene and Murrumbidgee rivers, as well as some of the smaller rivers and creeks.

The Upper Murray over near the Victorian boarder will fire for cod, the Murrumbidgee River and Old Man Creek closer to home are also great options for cod and golden perch. Early mornings at Lake Albert are worth a crack for some of the larger cod.

There’s also a number of small creeks where you can chase carp on small plastics and fly, which is great fun.

So as you can see, the area is just brimming with

love! The more food, the better the fishing.

Willow grubs, ants, mayflies and grasshoppers all find their way into the water at some stage and this is what the trout gorge themselves on over the summer.

If you’re bait fishing, there are two great options.

The first is to drift worms on the inside slow bends of the river with a very light split shot about 30cm above your bait. The second option

head and watch them eat it!

Size 10-12 foam grasshoppers work best in any natural colour. Use a 5lb tippet on the end of your tapered leader and make sure you are extremely stealthy when stalking these fish. When you find a fish you’ll want to just sit and watch them for a while to work out their feeding pattern, then try to drop your fly within 15cm of their head and in their line of sight. In front of them is best.

Big nets are a must when chasing Blowering Dam giants. usually only very short.

It’s worth giving this a crack on the Tumut River this summer!

options! Stay safe over this holiday period, and start your year with some quality freshwater angling!

Excellent results in low-light conditions NEW ENGLAND RIVERS

Adam Townsend

Since the Murray cod season opening there have been some cracking fish caught all across NSW and Victoria, which is awesome to see.

I have found that January is usually the perfect month for throwing topwater lures

Carp, lizards and water hens are a common food source for cod in New England’s rivers and impoundments, so you should bring lures that can replicate those baits. It will give you a good chance of cracking a big cod this season.

SEVERN RIVER The Severn River has been fishing pretty well since the season opened on

the frogs and mice getting around this time of year, it is a no-brainer having one in your tackle box for when opportunities like this arise.

BEARDY RIVER The Beardy River is much like the Severn and other surrounding rivers in that it needs a good flush before it is back to its best again. It has still been producing some nice redfin

time fishing throughout the low-light hours, both early morning and into the night.

This is also a better way to escape the hot summer days, and all the people boating and skiing around the dam during the day.

working swimbaits and chatterbaits close to the bottom is another effective way of finding active fish, both Murray cod and yellowbelly.

Golden perch are a fun fish to target when

usually make for some pretty tough fishing. However, if you happen to find yourself on the water when the gates have shut after the irrigation releases, the fish can sometimes switch on out of nowhere, which can make

This solid yellowbelly from the river was a lot of fun on light tackle.

A healthy Murray cod that was fooled by a Megabass Vatalion Swimbait. for big Murray cod, and in previous seasons it has been the month where many of my bigger river fish have been caught off the surface. Most insects, reptiles and other bait

December 1, but the river is looking in pretty poor condition. It has been a long drought so it’s going to take more than one massive downpour to give it

perch and the odd trout, although catches have been few and far between on recent trips. However, it only takes one good cast for something to change.

I like to focus my time more on the new moon than the full in the summer months, as the bigger Murray cod will be a lot more comfortable feeding right up in the shallows under the cover of darkness. As I mentioned before, replicating lures such as water hens or water dragons (big surface paddlers or wakebaits) that are abundant around the dam will really increase your chances of finding an active fish, especially when worked properly.

If you’re fishing during daylight hours,

the Murray cod don’t want to play. Working small, dark coloured soft plastics slowly up the sides of trees, or even casting and slow hopping grassy banks, have been very effective methods in recent seasons. Small blades and lipless crankbaits are also favourites for the natives in almost any freshwater waterway, and are always worth a throw around.

PINDARI DAM Pindari Dam’s water levels have also been receding in recent weeks – it’s currently sitting around 4% of its capacity – which can

for some really fun fishing for the family.

There have been some nice yellowbelly caught casting reaction baits up close to the edges during the early and later hours in the day. The Murray cod fishing has been a bit quieter than it usually is around this time of year, although there are still the odd few getting caught.

Hopefully with a bit more rain and more water into the dam, the fishing action will start to pick up again.

Good luck to all out on the water this month, and tight lines.

DAM LEVELS

This night time cod was caught from a kayak on a Cod King chatterbait. life are abundant, and water temperatures are warming up so the cod are active and on the lookout for a meal after a lengthy spawn period.

Matching the hatch plays a crucial part in getting the fish to bite.

a good flush, which is really needed as we head into the hotter months. With all the aquatic weeds about lately, weedless lures have proved to be more effective because they can be left in the strike zone for longer. And with all

COPETON DAM Copeton is now currently sitting around the 7% mark. This dam usually fishes well around this time of year, especially if you are one of the keener anglers and focus your

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

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

Dam Oct Nov Dec Blowering 56 54 45 Brogo 70 56 36 Burrendong 4 4 3 Burrinjuck 33 33 33 Carcoar 20 18 16 Chaffey 19 17 15 Clarrie Hall 91 84 76 Copeton 8 7 7 Dartmouth 56 54 52 Eucumbene 29 30 30 Glenbawn 48 44 42 Glenlyon 3 3 3

Dam Oct Nov Dec Glennies Creek 48 46 43 Hume 40 37 32 Jindabyne 77 82 82 Keepit 1 1 1 Lostock 78 71 60 Oberon 34 32 31 Pindari 5 5 4 Split Rock 2 1 1 Tantangara 23 17 11 Toonumbar 48 39 28 Windamere 31 30 29 Wyangala 20 17 15

(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 2020

67

The problem with the wind CANBERRA

Richard Barnsley

Harrison and I had planned a late spring fishing trip to Tantangara Dam for some time. The plan was to stay at Daffodil Cottage on the northeastern shoreline and fish the flats of an evening.

of the ways to get a line on the water successfully once the breeze picks up.

GET OUT OF IT Perhaps the easiest and most obvious option with defeating wind is to get out of it. During our Tantangara trip we decided to mostly fish below the high banks on the western shoreline and hence

It took patience and a change of tactics to pull this nice brown under difficult conditions.

Unfortunately the fishing gods took offence at our intentions and by the time we arrived Friday evening, it was a howling westerly wind and sleet that greeted us. Over the next two days we froze and got blown off the lake. However, that didn’t stop us testing the waters and wrestling a couple browns from the choppy water.

Dealing with wind is a problem often encountered in the fly fishing life. I ain’t talking about that Blazing Saddles, beans around the fire kind either. The nature of our equipment and the techniques we employ are often in response to the weather conditions. The following tactics are just a few

reduced the impact of the breezes. It was still tough, but we definitely managed to get a cast out.

Likewise if you plan on drifting the oyster racks, check aerial pictures and try to target river bends with sheoak cover or those with high banks. In the cod gorges of northern NSW, if the wind is up it’s easy to find sections that run cross wind and hence don’t funnel the strength.

PLAN AHEAD By studying the weather (there are plenty of great apps) you can get a handle on wind direction, strength and expected peaks throughout the

day. Adjust your day’s strategy accordingly.

It is pretty common for the first and last light periods, especially during spring and summer to be quiet in terms of breeze. So get out early. Usually, winds strengthen as the day warms, unless they precede a front coming through.

Also, some months are traditionally more unsettled than others. In my home country of the New England Tablelands it is often the August/September period that has stronger than normal wind patterns.

CAST ON THE DOWNSIDE One of the biggest difficulties with windy days is having the fly line blown into you. A wind blowing from your casting hand side is a nightmare to deal with. There are, however, several simple tactics that can assist under such conditions.

Some anglers will angle the rod at about 45° over their head while casting. This places the rod tip on your downwind side and allows you to cast unhindered.

Alternatively, stand with your back towards your target patch of water and false cast as normal. Deliver your fly on what is now your back cast.

Again this allows you to have your loops positioned on the downwind side of your body.

Although it takes practice, learning to cast with your rod at a very low angle offers the

option to get a line out almost parallel to the ground.

GO LIGHT – GO HEAVY Fly lines are notoriously fickle in the wind. Even lighter weights are less wind resistant, but equally so get blown around more readily. The compromise is a mid-weight for your style of fishing and stiffer rods, which allow you to direct/control line easily.

For example, when trout angling on lakes I prefer a 6wt rather than my lighter 5wt (preferred for shallow flats) and my 7wt (for distance casting weighted streamers).

Whenever possible I also prefer weighted patterns for my wet options and less bulky wind resistant dries. Weighted flies when coupled with an

Open lakes such as Tantangara are often plagued by strong winds. Learn tactics to cope with such conditions. water and spooky fish. Analyse your fly selection to make it easier to get them on the water.

Some rods tend to have a ‘softer’ action and we’ve seen that with the return of glass and cane rods. A stiff graphite blank will allow you to punch the fly line with more authority when the wind is an issue.

Gorge trout streams, especially below waterfalls, often funnel the wind problem. open loop allow you to deal with wind more efficiently, as the fly tends to ‘drag’ the leader out on presentation.

Less wind resistant flies also allow greater leader control.

If the wind is strong, chances are you won’t be dealing with glass smooth

OPEN UP Trying to cast those picture book ‘tight loops’ in heavy winds simply won’t cut it.

When the zephyrs are up, allow your rod tip to ‘drift’ at the end of your forward/ back casts. This will put a more open loop into your cast.

This reduces the potential for tangles and allows the leader to roll out in a more open configuration.

LIMIT CASTS When conditions are trying, reduce your cast rate.

This means you should limit your false casts, which in turn reduces the potential for tangles. Also cast during lulls, or when the wind drops. Be ready to take your shot. One good presentation in the strike zone is better than a dozen errant ones.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS If you are going to spend a day out in the wind, get comfortable. In cold conditions be warm and dress for the session. If it is going to be hot, you’re better off with big hats and sunscreen.

Tackling windy or inclement conditions calls for perseverance and commitment. Think about your tactics and techniques and approach the water with consideration. Windy doesn’t mean rushing – the fish are under the water and that’s where your fly should be!

Higher elevations fishing well SNOWY MOUNTAINS

Anthony Bentley

Hot, hot, hot! With very little rainfall and very warm temperatures over the past month, the fishing is a little tough! The rivers are flowing clear and low, but thankfully Lake Jindabyne has remained steady and reasonably

high, and Lake Eucumbene is still rising.

Thredbo River has been fishing consistently well, with the higher sections of the river performing much better than the lower. With such warm weather conditions the trout will be seeking refuge in the cooler water, such as under the banks and in faster water.

Fishing the margins with a dry and dropper during the

day is going to be the recipe for success – just make sure you get those nymphs right up under the undercuts. A size #16-18 tungsten nymph hung under a larger hopper or beetle pattern about 60-90cm will help ‘swing’ the nymphs under the bank. Stimulators, Hopper patterns and big foam beetles are perfect for this style of fishing.

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river during summer it’s also important to take a stealth approach in presentation as well. Casting small spinners and hardbody lures onto rocks, into fast current, and even dropping in from the side of the bank will limit the amount of fish you spook. Having a good selection of different colours and sizes will allow for change of lures/flies to increase your capture rates. If a fish rejects your lure or fly, a change in colour or size can often be their undoing.

The higher alpine streams and creeks are definitely worth a look, as the higher elevations are generally cooler and more comfortable for the fish.

Guthega Pondage, the Snowy River between Guthega and Island Bend Pondage, Spencers Creek, and Betts Creek are lovely at this time of the year.

The Mowamba River has been very tough fishing for the past couple of seasons, although the evening hatches seem to be producing some reasonable fishing opportunities. Smaller caddis and mayfly imitations are working the best.

Lakes Jindabyne and

Luke Despoja with a beautiful wild brown trout.

Eucumbene are starting to get warm, although the levels are still quite good for fishing. The boat anglers are having mixed success with daytime fishing, with most anglers finding fish right on the bottom in the deeper sections of the lakes.

These fish are predominately feeding on yabbies, so you really have to get down deep!

Shore-based fishing at night can be a lot of fun during these warm times, and larger flies and lures worked hard around the edges can entice some very large browns.

The keys to success with the warm weather and low rainfalls are: a very careful ninja-like approach, low-impact presentations, fishing during and after rain, and fishing during the cooler parts of the day.

• High Country Outfitters has the largest range of fly fishing gear in the Snowy Mountains, with something for every skill level and budget. Brands include Sage, Rio, Redington, Scott, Simms, Patagonia, Loop, TFO, Vision, Hardy, Riverworks, Scientific Anglers, Airflo and McLean nets. There’s also a big range of flies from Manic, Stu Tripney, Mick Hall and Pisces, as well as waders, boots, vests and outdoor apparel. For all the latest information on what’s biting and where, drop into the store at Nuggets Crossing Shopping Centre, Jindabyne.

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A great time to hit the Murray at Mildura MILDURA

Rob Oswin

What an absolute great start to the month and also to the year. Over the course of the last month reports of anglers catching quality fish have been flooding in.

There have been reports of monster perch being caught and great size cod as well. The Mildura area has seen some fantastic fishing recently, no doubt in relation to the great weather and also to the many people out on the river thanks to school holidays.

From the recent reports bait has been the preferred method of fishing for many anglers, with small to medium-sized yabbies and shrimps being the most effective bait. Lures such as vibes and some smaller

While the average size of cod will drop off, the numbers will increase.

hardbody lures have also been catching numbers of fish.

This steady flow of fish being caught can be expected to continue as the month progresses as more and more people are out and enjoying the river and what it has to offer. In the upcoming month it can be expected that the number of larger cod will slowly start to decline, with the smaller and more active cod hunting more frequently.

The numbers of perch are expected to keep on getting even better as the weather continues to warm.

The amount of bait such as shrimp and yabbies will continue to rise, and with bait being in higher numbers the fish numbers will only continue to rise.

Vibe lures and lipless crankbaits continue to be an extremely popular option amongst anglers, with colours

such as the black, purple and chartreuse producing results.

Smaller hardbody lures such as StumpJumpers and AC Lures when trolled along the deeper sections of the river have also managed to catch good numbers of fish.

Recent reports from many anglers have said that the area around Loch 11 and Loch 9 are hotspots for perch, with many being caught casting lures back towards the bank or trolling them along deeper parts of the river.

Many fish are being caught on bait and have been holding tight to structure, so getting as close as possible to snags and rocks has been the most effective way to target fish using bait.

So get out there and enjoy the great weather we are having and will continue to have.

Clear waters to start the year ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

Swan Hill promised the goods in the lead up to the Murray cod open, which fell on a Sunday this year.

Reports of clearing water conditions saw several by-catch cod stretching beyond the metre mark landed on small hardbodied lures intended for perch.

good catches from the Murray at Swan Hill this season.

First and last light could see surface fishing worth a go in these waters, as the cod turn to the top to feed. Several nice cod were taken from the top last season as local anglers began to accept the worth of surface lures for Murray cod.

Ouyen angler Matt Barry popped a 96cm off the top near Tooleybuc from the Murray River last season and is geared up and ready to do it again.

The Kerang Lakes near Swan Hill like Boga hold some good-sized Murray cod and trolling spinnerbaits has proven a productive way to tempt a strike.

The Murray River at Swan Hill has fished well for several seasons now. Missing the last lot of black water, its cod have had the chance to grow big and fat. Not being a particularly deep section of river, lure selection is a range of shallow divers and spinnerbaits. Anything that wiggles and sits in the 2-3m depth range is a real chance to be eaten. It’s great to see this area fishing well once again, and I’m expecting some very

Early mornings and evenings during the light change have proved most successful for surface fishing.

Bait anglers will also be amongst the action, with all the usual suspects being pinned on the hook. While you don’t often read about bait fishing for Murray cod, in truth the majority of anglers that target these fish do exactly that.

While river shrimp, yabbies and nomadic fish like bony bream and carp would

make up the majority of what Murray cod eat, there are several non-aquatic delights that tempt cod like no other.

Grubs, or to be more specific, bardi grubs are the number one bait for Murray cod. In saying that, they are probably the hardest to get.

Digging grubs is nothing short of hard work. These large juicy grubs lay hidden deep underground in silk lined tunnels, where they spend their lives eating and growing before hatching into ghost moths with the autumn break.

Finding the grub holes is only half the battle, as you will also need to master the art of lassoing these hidden gems with a ready-built wire. Once captured you have the best bait there is for Murray cod and a thirst that will soak up a few well-earned ales.

Yabbies are also great Murray cod bait and often a little easier to get, so if you know of a good dam or channel, catch yourself a few to put on the hook. Yabbies are a tough bait that bait pickers like small carp or silver perch generally leave alone. Hard baits like yabbies will stay on the hook long enough for a Murray cod to find them. River shrimp are generally plentiful on location and easily caught with a small shrimp trap baited with either cat food or fish offal. Several of these threaded on the hook make very good cod bait. Worms are excellent bait for Murray cod, with the large finger thick scrubworms the pick of them all.

Kitchen baits are also a good backup bait supply with chicken strips, cheese, nuggets and dim-sims all proven cod catchers.

Much of the bait used for Murray cod can be purchased at the local tackle store or

supermarket if you don’t have the time to gather it yourself.

For my money, catching the bait is half the fun, unless of course it’s digging grubs.

Now we have our bait, let’s get back to where we should be using it. Lake Boga fished well in the lead up to the open, with several goodsized cod taken on lures near the artificial structure. No doubt cod are scattered right around the lake and from past experience if the water is clear then slow trolling spinnerbaits is a good way to find a fish or two. The cod here are fastgrowing, fat as mud and fight quite well. A slow drift with lightly-weighted bardi grubs or scrubworms will also turn up fish often, with golden perch and large redfin in the mix.

As we travel down the Murray River, Boundary Bend, Robinvale and Wemen all showed promise of clearing water conditions in the weeks before the open. While it’s been a few seasons since I have seen a metre cod caught at these locations, fish to 80cm are a reel chance. Perhaps this

As bait goes, the riverside bardi grub is about as good as it gets. will be the season a few big ones start to show.

Local tackle proprietor and keen angler Kym Sykes says the Murray River at Mildura has dropped away and is starting to settle. He expects the clarity to improve, so anglers are able to use lures to target cod. Several metre plus cod were landed in the

The Darling River is but a shadow of its former self, and we can expect to see plenty of dead cod this summer.

lead up to the closed season last year, so he thinks those big fish and others will be ready to fire. No doubt we will be hearing some good reports from this area over the season. Sykes also said bait anglers targeting perch have landed some small cod this past month, with a few unstoppable bust-offs most likely from big Murray cod.

We can expect to see a good amount of angling traffic in our local waters and communities over the next few weeks.

Don’t forget to grab yourself a fishing licence before you head out to fish.

Licenses and all the up to date information on bag and size limits are available at most tackle stores, with some even handing out a free booklet and measuring sticker. All up it should be a great season, with plenty of cod on the chew in our local waters. If you are out camping, don’t forget to take your rubbish home, and most of all have a great time.

JANUARY 2020

69

Now is the time to tangle with Mulwala green YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

The beginning of December brought more excitement to native fishing enthusiasts than 25 December and thankfully, this cod open was a good one.

There wasn’t a lot of fan fare to cod opening this year, as it fell on a Sunday and only the dedicated greenfish anglers braved the very ordinary winter like weather conditions.

Most tend to hold their breath until the first full weekend in December to celebrate the opening at Lake Mulwala, with Australia’s iconic Cod Classic fishing competition.

All fishing methods tend to see you in with a great chance of action this time of year. Lure fishing tends to turn up bigger cod, while the bait fishers will be rewarded

with numbers. For the trollers, 70-120mm lures are always a great choice while spinnerbaits should not be discounted as a trolling lure, as they produce their fair share also.

Those who prefer to cast tend to use spinnerbaits and hardbodied lures, but nowdays swimbaits, glidebaits and plastics are seen as ‘trendy’, and certainly catch plenty of fish. The bait crew should be looking to bardi grubs, yabbies or scrubworms for natural baits, but kitchen baits like cheese, chicken and dim sims account for many cod too!

As earlier mentioned, opening day itself was a little slow. Only the dedicated braved Mother Nature, but most were rewarded with some action. The best reported capture was 115cm, while Nathan Sanders of Berrigan was one lucky enough to tangle with a 92cm model for the morning.

Fishing below the weir early in the season generally produces plenty of undersize Murray cod, protected trout cod and fun silver perch.

Throw in numerous carp and good numbers of yellas, and the Murray is more often than not a better option for the family if they are looking to put the kids onto a fish for a bit of fun.

• If you’re visiting Yarrawonga/Mulwala I urge you to call in and see us at our two locations, opposite the Post Office in Mulwala with the big green fish out the front or at our Yarrawonga store located between Rivers and One Zach. We’re your local Murray cod fishing specialists and specialise in all things green! We’re also the official Cod Classic shop. For up to date fishing reports or for further information call 0357 441 667.

Glen Hogno with an armful of Mulwala Murray cod that measured 80cm.

Re-set your cod goals ALBURY/WODONGA

Connor Heir

2020 is a new year for new challenges, adventures, goals and dream fish!

The start of a new year is always a nice time of year to catch up with family and friends, have time off work or school, and in the eyes of a keen cod fisher, it’s a solid time to go at catching our favourite freshwater fish species!

a cod in the summer?

Yes, continuously fishing throughout the hot days will eventually produce results, and we definitely do see red-hot bites in hot weather at times. But fishing during low light periods and even at night has been becoming more popular recently. This is because cod like to feed, at this these times, and fish can move out into areas that would be visible during the day, putting them at high risk of other predators spotting them, and hence they avoid

lures, which to me is the most addictive way to catch these fish.

Another thing I have learnt is that much of the time bigger fish can come about at these low light periods. Of course big fish can definitely come at any time, and it depends where you are fishing, but I have had more encounters with big fish during the low light periods. Some theories as to why may be both true and false, but the fact remains that bigger fish have come Overcast summer days are often when the fish are at their most active.

At this time of year you can catch good numbers of smaller fish.

January is typically hot and days are long.

The sunshine lasts a lot longer in the day, meaning the beaming sun is directly on the water for majority of the day.

Water temperatures rise significantly, and this can see results go either way.

Many keen cod fishers tough out the hot days and persist through it in the endless pursuit to try and turn a cod, and a lot of the time we are rewarded for our efforts.

So where to start and what to do to catch 70

JANUARY 2020

them during the day.

These fish know their waterways unbelievably well, and know what’s going on around them most of the time. Low light is a great time to break out the topwater presentations.

Cod will take any chance they can get to engulf an easy meal, and with nighttime or early mornings being a prime feeding time, they will willingly take on surface lures like it’s their last meal. Some of my most red-hot sessions on Murray cod have come during late afternoons using surface

at these low light periods.

It really is a different world fishing at night, and when I first started doing it a bit it changed my perspectives on cod fishing in so many ways. I was starting to pick up fish in areas where I would usually turn my back to during the day, with many of my fish coming in the shallower areas. Next time you go camping overnight, go for a bit of a wonder and take a torch with you and have a into the waters you are fishing. So many yabbies, shrimp and baitfish are out

and about, which means lurking around somewhere will be a fish ready to eat.

If you are lucky enough to be able to do some nighttime fishing during the summer, I highly recommend it, but one thing I will say is plan it well, and please be safe.

Things can sometimes go wrong, so let people know where you are and if you are not comfortable or familiar with a fishery or area, make sure you do some sussing out during the daylight to get comfortable with where you are fishing!

Even with the nighttime and low light fishing periods being successful, it does not rule out fishing during the day. Cod are a very aggressive fish, and even if they are not hungry will often strike out of pure aggression, so fish in the heavy structure as closely as you can and results will definitely come your way.

To many cod fishers that have been fishing for these fish for some

time, points like these are very basic, but they are definitely a great place to start. Each cod fisho has go-to lures, theories, experiences, knowledge

and little one percenters.

Go out and make your own, and as always (and most importantly), just have fun doing it – that’s why we do it!

Surface fishing in the early morning will be very popular this month.

2020 2020 Local Time

SYDNEY (FORT DENISON) – NEW SOUTH WALES SYDNEY (FORT DENISON) – LONG NEW SOUTH WALES LAT 33° 51’ S 151° 14’ E

Time

1 1 0119 0648 WE 1307

WE 1307 1955

2 2

0207 0741 TH TH 1352 2039

3 3

0300 0842 FR FR 1445 2128

4 4

0356 0951 SA SA 1547 2217

5 5

0450 1103 SU SU 1654 2306

6 6

0541 1209 MO MO 1756 2353

7 7

0628 1304 TU TU 1851

LAT 33° 51’ S LONG 151° 14’ E Times and Heights of High and Low Waters Times and Heights of High and Low Waters MARCH FEBRUARY JANUARY MARCH FEBRUARY JANUARY Time m Time m Time Time m Time m Time m m 0119 1.27 0648 0.70 1307 1.54 1955 0.52 0207 1.27 0741 0.74 1352 1.45 2039 0.55 0300 1.30 0842 0.77 1445 1.37 2128 0.57 0356 1.34 0951 0.77 1547 1.30 2217 0.58 0450 1.41 1103 0.74 1654 1.26 2306 0.58 0541 1.49 1209 0.67 1756 1.26 2353 0.56 0628 1.58 1304 0.58 1851 1.28

1.27 0.70 1.54 TH 0.52

Time

16 16 0129 0716 TH 1331 1.27 0.74 1.45 FR 0.55

1331 2007

17 17 1.30 0.77 1.37 SA 0.57

0226 0821 FR 1430 2100

18 18 1.34 0.77 1.30 SU 0.58

0327 0934 SA 1535 2155

19 19 1.41 0.74 1.26 MO 0.58

0430 1053 SU 1647 2252

20 20 1.49 0.67 1.26 TU 0.56

0530 1209 MO 1800 2348

21 21 1.58 0.58 1.28 WE

0628 1315 TU 1903

0043 0.53 22 22 0721 1.75 1409 0.41 0043 0721 WE 1409 1959

0038 0.54 0.54 1.68 0132 23 8 8 0712 1.68 23 1353 0.48 0809 TH 0.48 1454

0038 0712 WE WE 1353 1941

9 9 0122 0755 TH 1438

TH 1438 2029

10 10 0206 0840 FR 1522 FR 1522 2115

11 11 0252 0925 SA 1606 SA 1606 2203

12 12 0340 1011 SU 1652 SU 1652 2252

13 13 0430 1059 MO 1739 MO 1739 2342

14 14 0522 1147 TU 1827 TU 1827

0.48 1941 1.31 0122 0.51 0755 1.78 1438 0.38 2029 1.34 0206 0.47 0840 1.87 1522 0.30 2115 1.38 0252 0.44 0925 1.94 1606 0.24 2203 1.41 0340 0.42 1011 1.98 1652 0.20 2252 1.43 0430 0.42 1059 1.98 1739 0.20 2342 1.44 0522 0.43 1147 1.93 1827 0.23

m 0129 1.46 0716 0.52 1331 1.70 2007 0.35 0226 1.48 0821 0.56 1430 1.56 2100 0.41 0327 1.51 0934 0.59 1535 1.43 2155 0.47 0430 1.56 1053 0.59 1647 1.33 2252 0.51 0530 1.63 1209 0.54 1800 1.29 2348 0.53 0628 1.69 1315 0.47 1903 1.28

TH 1454 1.31 2045 0.51 1.78 0218 0.38 0853 FR FR 1535 1.34 2128 0.47 1.87 0300 0.30 0933 SA SA 1613 1.38 2207 0.44 1.94 0340 0.24 1011 SU SU 1647 1.41 2244 0.42 1.98 0418 0.20 1046 MO MO 1721 1.43 2320 0.42 1.98 0456 0.20 1121 TU TU 1754 1.44 2356 0.43 1.93 0535 0.23 1156 WE WE 1827

24 24 25 25 26 26

27 27 28 28 29 29

1.46 0.52 1.70 SA 0.35

Time

1 1 0202 0758 SA 1357

1.48 0.56 1.56 SU 0.41

1357 2023

2 2

1.51 0.59 1.43 MO 0.47

0255 0901 SU 1454 2113

3 3

1.56 0.59 1.33 TU 0.51

0352 1015 MO 1603 2209

4 4

1.63 0.54 1.29 WE 0.53

0451 1130 TU 1718 2309

5 5

1.69 0.47 1.28 TH

0548 1235 WE 1825

0005 0641 TH 1329 1921

7 7

0059 0731 FR 1416 2011

8 8 0148 0819 SA 1501 1501 2059

9 9 0238 0908 SU 1546 1546 2145

10 10 0328 0956 MO 1631 1631 2232

11 11 0419 1044 TU 1715 1715 2321

12 12 0512 1132 WE 1800 1800

Time

16 16 0256 0924 SU 1519 1.38 0.74 1.26 MO 0.63

1519 2121

17 17 1.41 0.74 1.20 TU 0.65

0401 1045 MO 1638 2225

18 18 1.47 0.68 1.19 WE 0.64

0509 1202 TU 1756 2330

19 19 0612 1306 WE 1900

0.48 1921 1.28 0059 0.54 0731 1.78 1416 0.36 2011 1.35 0148 0.46 0819 1.89 1501 0.26 2059 1.43 0238 0.39 0908 1.97 1546 0.18 2145 1.49 0328 0.34 0956 2.02 1631 0.14 2232 1.55 0419 0.31 1044 2.00 1715 0.15 2321 1.58 0512 0.32 1132 1.92 1800 0.20

1223 1846 1.79 1846 0.28 0101 0101 0706 1.60 0706 0.43 FR 1315 1315 1933 1.63 1933 0.39 1.36 0157 1.59 0.62 0157 0811 0.51 1.54 0811 SA 1413 1.45 SA 1413 2024 0.50 2024 0.49 1.36 0.67 1.44 0.54

14 14

m 0256 1.58 0924 0.57 1519 1.31 2121 0.58 0401 1.58 1045 0.58 1638 1.22 2225 0.64 0509 1.60 1202 0.56 1756 1.20 2330 0.65 0612 1.63 1306 0.50 1900 1.24

0031 0.62 20 20 0707 1.67 1356 0.45 1.55 0.59 1.22 TH

0031 0707 TH 1356 1950

FR 1436 1.28 2031 0.54 1.78 0208 0.36 0836 SA SA 1512 1.35 2108 0.46 1.89 0247 0.26 0914 SU SU 1545 1.43 2142 0.39 1.97 0324 0.18 0948 MO MO 1615 1.49 2215 0.34 2.02 0400 0.14 1021 TU TU 1645 1.55 2247 0.31 2.00 0435 0.15 1054 WE WE 1715 1.58 2320 0.32 1.92 0513 0.20 1127 TH TH 1744 2354 1.60 0.36 0553 1.79 1202 FR FR 1815 0.28

22 22 23 23 24 24

25 25 26 26 27 27

0010 1.60 13 28 0607 13 0010 0607 0.36 28 TH 1223 1223 1.79

0033 1.45 0034 1.45 0.47 0034 1.36 15 30 15 0617 0616 15 0033 30 0617 0.47 1.83 0616 0.62 15 WE 1238 TH 1231 1238 1.83 1231 1.54

31 31

1.36 0.71 1.35 SU 0.59

0005 0.60 0.60 1.66 0123 21 6 6 0641 1.66 21 1329 0.48 0755 FR 1436 0.48

0.53 1.75 0.41 0.41 1.30 FR 1959 1.30 0132 0.52 0.52 1.80 0809 1.80 0.36 1454 0.36 1.32 SA 2045 1.32 0218 0.51 0.51 1.82 0853 1.82 0.34 1535 0.34 1.34 SU 2128 1.34 0300 0.51 0.51 1.82 0933 1.82 0.33 1613 0.33 1.36 MO 2207 1.36 0340 0.51 0.51 1.80 1011 1.80 0.35 1647 0.35 1.36 TU 2244 1.36 0418 0.52 0.52 1.76 1046 1.76 0.38 1721 0.38 1.36 WE 2320 1.36 0456 0.54 0.54 1.70 1121 1.70 0.41 1754 0.41 1.36 TH 2356 1.36 0535 0.58 0.58 1.63 1156 1.63 0.45 1827 0.45 FR

1.83 0.28 1.54 WE 1238 1916 TH 1231 1901 1901 0.50 1916 0.28 0115 0115 0703 1.36 0703 0.67 FR 1311 1.44 FR 1311 1940 1940 0.54

m 0202 1.36 0758 0.71 1357 1.35 2023 0.59 0255 1.38 0901 0.74 1454 1.26 2113 0.63 0352 1.41 1015 0.74 1603 1.20 2209 0.65 0451 1.47 1130 0.68 1718 1.19 2309 0.64 0548 1.55 1235 0.59 1825 1.22

1.58 0.57 1.31 SU 0.58

Time

1 1 0113 0726 SU 1323

1.58 0.58 1.22 MO 0.64

1323 1927

2 2

1.60 0.56 1.20 TU 0.65

0200 0824 MO 1416 2015

3 3

1.63 0.50 1.24 WE

0257 0935 TU 1526 2116

4 4

0.62 1.67 0.45 0.45 1.29 TH 1950 1.29 0123 0.58 0.58 1.71 0755 1.71 0.41 1436 0.41 1.34 FR 2031 1.34 0208 0.54 0.54 1.73 0836 1.73 0.38 1512 0.38 1.39 SA 2108 1.39 0247 0.51 0.51 1.74 0914 1.74 0.37 1545 0.37 1.42 SU 2142 1.42 0324 0.49 0.49 1.73 0948 1.73 0.38 1615 0.38 1.44 MO 2215 1.44 0400 0.49 0.49 1.70 1021 1.70 0.39 1645 0.39 1.46 TU 2247 1.46 0435 0.50 0.50 1.65 1054 1.65 0.42 1715 0.42 1.47 WE 2320 1.47 0513 0.52 0.52 1.59 1127 1.59 0.46 1744 0.46 1.48 TH 2354 1.48 0553 0.56 0.56 1.51 1202 1.51 0.51 1815 0.51 FR

0401 1054 WE 1649 2230

5 5

0510 1203 TH 1803 2339

6 6

0612 1300 FR 1901

m 0113 1.47 0726 0.65 1323 1.32 1927 0.63 0200 1.45 0824 0.69 1416 1.23 2015 0.69 0257 1.45 0935 0.70 1526 1.17 2116 0.72 0401 1.48 1054 0.66 1649 1.17 2230 0.72 0510 1.55 1203 0.57 1803 1.22 2339 0.66 0612 1.66 1300 0.45 1901 1.32

1.47 0.65 1.32 MO 0.63

Time

16 16 0225 0915 MO 1510 1.45 0.69 1.23 TU 0.69

1510 2049

17 17 1.45 0.70 1.17 WE 0.72

0332 1031 TU 1631 2200

18 18 1.48 0.66 1.17 TH 0.72

0444 1144 WE 1748 2315

19 19 0551 1243 TH 1846

8 8 0133 0758 SU 1436 1436 2038

9 9 0225 0847 MO 1520 1520 2124

10 10 0316 0937 TU 1603 1603 2210

11 11 0408 1026 WE 1647 1647 2257

12 12 0501 1116 TH 1730 1730 2345

13 13 0558 1207 FR 1815 1815

0.33 1951 1.43 0133 0.45 0758 1.90 1436 0.23 2038 1.53 0225 0.35 0847 1.97 1520 0.16 2124 1.63 0316 0.28 0937 1.99 1603 0.14 2210 1.71 0408 0.25 1026 1.95 1647 0.17 2257 1.76 0501 0.26 1116 1.84 1730 0.25 2345 1.77 0558 0.31 1207 1.69 1815 0.36

1300 1900 1.52 1900 0.48 0127 0127 0801 1.71 0801 0.47 SU 1400 1400 1949 1.36 1949 0.60

15 15

Time

1 1 0215 0909 WE 1506

1.59 0.58 1.19 TH 0.75

1506 2040

2 2

1.57 0.57 1.21 FR 0.75

0322 1023 TH 1628 2200

3 3

1.58 0.54 1.27 SA

0435 1130 FR 1740 2315

4 4

1.54 0.66 1.19 TH 0.78

Time

16 16 0310 1009 TH 1622 1.54 0.62 1.21 FR 0.77

1622 2148

17 17 1.59 0.54 1.29 SA 0.70

0416 1102 FR 1715 2253

18 18 1.69 0.43 1.41 SU

0512 1146 SA 1759 2346

19 19 0557 1223 SU 1835

m 0310 1.55 1009 0.60 1622 1.26 2148 0.82 0416 1.54 1102 0.59 1715 1.32 2253 0.77 0512 1.55 1146 0.56 1759 1.40 2346 0.71 0557 1.56 1223 0.53 1835 1.48

1.66 0.45 1.32 SA

6 6 0016 0634 MO 1304

21 21 0110 0731 SA 1406 1406 2008

SU 1439 1.43 2042 0.45 1.90 0231 0.23 0846 MO MO 1509 1.53 2114 0.35 1.97 0306 0.16 0920 TU TU 1538 1.63 2144 0.28 1.99 0342 0.14 0953 WE WE 1606 1.71 2215 0.25 1.95 0417 0.17 1027 TH TH 1634 1.76 2246 0.26 1.84 0454 0.25 1101 FR FR 1702 1.77 2319 0.31 1.69 0533 0.36 1138 SA SA 1733 2354 1.75 0.38 0616 1.52 1217 SU SU 1806 0.48

23 23 24 24

25 25

26 26

27 27 28 28

0.70 1.61 0.50 0.50 1.34 SU 1930 1.34 0110 0.64 0.64 1.63 0731 1.63 0.47 1406 0.47 1.41 MO 2008 1.41 0153 0.58 0.58 1.66 0811 1.66 0.44 1439 0.44 1.47 TU 2042 1.47 0231 0.54 0.54 1.66 0846 1.66 0.43 1509 0.43 1.51 WE 2114 1.51 0306 0.50 0.50 1.66 0920 1.66 0.42 1538 0.42 1.56 TH 2144 1.56 0342 0.49 0.49 1.63 0953 1.63 0.44 1606 0.44 1.59 FR 2215 1.59 0417 0.48 0.48 1.59 1027 1.59 0.46 1634 0.46 1.61 SA 2246 1.61 0454 0.50 0.50 1.53 1101 1.53 0.51 1702 0.51 1.62 SU 2319 1.62 0533 0.52 0.52 1.45 1138 1.45 0.56 1733 0.56 1.62 MO 2354 1.62 0616 0.56 0.56 1.37 1217 1.37 0.62 1806 0.62 TU

0543 1228 SA 1837

m 0215 1.54 0909 0.66 1506 1.19 2040 0.78 0322 1.54 1023 0.62 1628 1.21 2200 0.77 0435 1.59 1130 0.54 1740 1.29 2315 0.70 0543 1.69 1228 0.43 1837 1.41

0019 0.58 0030 0.58 1.79 0030 0.64 20 5 0541 0637 5 1217 1.79 20 1.58 0.33 0637 MO 1257 0.33 1257 0.50

0018 0645 FR 1329 1930

1.60 0031 1.48 0034 1.48 0.60 0034 1.75 29 29 14 0.43 0031 0636 0657 14 29 0.60 1.41 0657 0.38 29 1.63 0636 SA 1240 SA 1300 1240 1.41 1300 1.52 1.41 0.57 SA 1240 1848 SA 0.39 1848 0.57 1.59 0.51 1.45 SU 0.49

m 1.65 0.54 1.24 WE 0.70

0018 0.70 20 20 0645 1.61 1329 0.50 1.55 0.57 1.22 FR 0.66

0039 0.56 0.56 1.78 0153 22 7 7 0707 1.78 22 1350 0.33 0811 SU 1439 0.33 0039 0707 SA 1350 1951

m 0225 1.65 0915 0.54 1510 1.24 2049 0.70 0332 1.59 1031 0.58 1631 1.19 2200 0.75 0444 1.57 1144 0.57 1748 1.21 2315 0.75 0551 1.58 1243 0.54 1846 1.27

Local Time APRIL APRIL Time Time m

0019 0541 SU 1217 1827

1304 1914

7 7 0111 0725 TU 1348 1348 2000

8 8 0203 0816 WE 1431 1431 2045

9 9 0257 0907 TH 1515 1515 2132

10 10 0352 1000 FR 1559 1559 2219

11 11 0448 1053 SA 1643 1643 2308

12 12 0547 1148 SU 1729 1729

31 31

MO 1257 1.54 1909 0.46 1.87 0110 0.25 0714 TU TU 1327 1.67 1941 0.35 1.91 0146 0.21 0749 WE WE 1356 1.79 2012 0.27 1.89 0222 0.22 0824 TH TH 1425 1.87 2043 0.24 1.82 0300 0.27 0900 FR FR 1454 1.92 2115 0.25 1.70 0338 0.36 0938 SA SA 1526 1.92 2149 0.30 1.56 0418 0.47 1017 SU SU 1559 1.87 2226 0.38 1.42 0501 0.60 1100 MO MO 1636 2306 1.80 0.47 0550 1.31 1149 TU TU 1719 0.71 2353 1.70 0.54 0646 1.23 1246 WE WE 1813 0.79

21 21

22 22 23 23 24 24

25 25

26 26

27 27

0000 1.80 13 28 0650 13 0000 0650 0.47 28 MO 1248 1248 1.31

1248 1819 1.31 1819 0.71 0056 0056 0758 1.70 0758 0.54 TU 1357 1357 1920 1.23 1920 0.79 1.59 0200 1.61 0.61 0200 0906 0.59 1.29 0906 WE 1513 1.22 WE 1513 2033 0.69 2033 0.83 1.56 0.65 1.23 0.75

14 14

0033 1.71 1.59 30 15 0704 0.47 0033 30 0.61 15 1.36 0704 MO 1302 1302 1.29 1.29 MO 1302 1845 0.60 1845 0.69 0119 0119 0800 1.56 0800 0.65 TU 1357 1.23 TU 1357 1933 1933 0.75

0.33 1827 1.54 0016 0.46 0634 1.87 1304 0.25 1914 1.67 0111 0.35 0725 1.91 1348 0.21 2000 1.79 0203 0.27 0816 1.89 1431 0.22 2045 1.87 0257 0.24 0907 1.82 1515 0.27 2132 1.92 0352 0.25 1000 1.70 1559 0.36 2219 1.92 0448 0.30 1053 1.56 1643 0.47 2308 1.87 0547 0.38 1148 1.42 1729 0.60

29 29

m 1.55 0.60 1.26 0.82 1.54 0.59 1.32 0.77 1.55 0.56 1.40 0.71 1.56 0.53 1.48

0.64 1.58 0.50 0.50 1.55 1909 1.55 0110 0.59 0.59 1.58 0714 1.58 0.49 1327 0.49 1.61 1941 1.61 0146 0.54 0.54 1.57 0749 1.57 0.49 1356 0.49 1.67 2012 1.67 0222 0.51 0.51 1.55 0824 1.55 0.50 1425 0.50 1.71 2043 1.71 0300 0.49 0.49 1.51 0900 1.51 0.53 1454 0.53 1.74 2115 1.74 0338 0.49 0.49 1.46 0938 1.46 0.57 1526 0.57 1.76 2149 1.76 0418 0.51 0.51 1.41 1017 1.41 0.62 1559 0.62 1.74 2226 1.74 0501 0.54 0.54 1.35 1100 1.35 0.67 1636 0.67 1.72 2306 1.72 0550 0.57 0.57 1.29 1149 1.29 0.73 1719 0.73 1.68 2353 1.68 0646 0.60 0.60 1.26 1246 1.26 0.78 1813 0.78

0048 1.64 0.60 1.25 1.25 0.80 TH 1354 1920 0.83 1920 0.80 1.61

1.64 30 0750 0.59 0048 30 0.60 1.22 0750 TH 1354 1354 1.25

 Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2019, Bureau of Meteorology  Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2019, Bureau of Meteorology Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect Times are in local Symbols standard time (UTC time (UTC +11:00) when in effect New+10:00) Moon or daylight savings First Quarter Last Quarter Moon Phase Full Moon Moon Phase Symbols New Moon First Quarter Full Moon 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.

JANUARY 2020

71

Top 5 fishing events for 2019 SUNTAG

Stefan Sawynok

Last year I put out a list of the top events we were involved with, and I thought this was the right time to repeat the exercise. I am a big believer in repeating the things that work and the group of events that I have selected each have unique characteristics that others should have a look at emulating.

Last year (as of November) we had put through 194 events, 19,000 fish and 36,000 participants. To be frank, I was knackered and was looking forward to December when we could get prep work done for 2020.

If there is a common thread to my top picks it’s that they know their audience and give them lots of what they want – and that is more than fishing.

In terms of the state of competitions in general it’s a mixed bag. I think the fragmentation of the competition scene with a proliferation of events puts a lot of pressure on sponsors and dilutes the prize pool overall. Not every competition has prizes at their core but increasingly prizes are what gets bums on seats. The cost to be competitive technologically is only going up – it’s understandable that competitors are looking for some payback for their investment. I do think it’s a shame though that achievement in of itself is not valued in the modern era.

More and more cash is king, not least because the best fishers already have all the gear and any gear they win will end up on sale but that is a double-edged sword. More cash does attract the better competitors but has the effect of either reducing the field for the event, as it’s harder for the second tier fishers or they take competitors out of smaller events leaving them struggling to survive. I don’t think the number of events being run now is sustainable and a thinning out is inevitable.

I also think that weigh-in events will continue to struggle as there is a chunk of the community that have decided they need to be cancelled. For the record – I don’t have a problem with weigh-in events, much less trophy fish like Marlin, but there is no doubt that events that have large fish have a problem on social media. I am not blaming them personally.

I love all types of fishing events but there is a reality and it needs to be tackled. I do think we collectively need a positive strategy that ensures events are well run and responsible and so long as they are defended and the good work they do promoted to the wider community.

On the positive side, the level of innovation is on the rise and my picks for the top events are the ones who are trying new things and attracting a growing audience. One of the most positive changes I am seeing is a focus on business models and delivering value to participants and that goes beyond the prizes. In the long run I believe events that offer an experience will be best placed to attract those second tier anglers who provide the financial base that competitions need. Not everyone is after the same thing in a fishing competition and with a limited population of fishers, focusing just on the best anglers is a recipe for trouble.

TOP FIVE

last event. The events are sufficiently challenging to attract the high-end fishers, although they have confessed more than once to me that they are there for the fun and to get away from the antics that happen in the more professionalised circuit. In terms of the complete package – serious fishing, serious fun and knowing your audience – I think any event would do well to learn from Matt and Andrew.

Matt and Andrew do everything right, which means they are in demand to run more events – more than they can realistically do. Fishing Freshwater have found that perfect balance between competition and social that allows everyone to have get something from the event even if they aren’t finding the fish. Every event was fully booked last year it will be the same next year. If I have a complaint it’s that I don’t get the break time I used to because the fishing was a lot slower a year ago.

2: LUREMASTERS

I was warned that the luremasters event would be full on and they delivered in spades. Luremasters is run in the Auckland Bay area, but technically it extends to the whole north island, so long as you can get back to the weigh-in. The initial single day event was supplemented with two monthly events and across the three events 1900 fish were recorded with snapper up to 83cm to the fork in all three events. Target species are mostly snapper, king and kahawai though with the most species format we had catches reported from as far away as Fiji. Luremasters has a huge and loyal following of fanatical kiwis and they know how to have a good time. At the same time they are super serious about their fishing.

Dan and Wayne are the most approachable guys you will ever meet and they use social media in a really creative way to have direct ‘conversations’ with their competitors. They livestream regularly and every time they want to make an adjustment to their format they put it out to the wider world on the livestream, conduct polls and get comments to get direct input. This ‘direct’ relationship with what is over 500 fishers enables them to road test concepts before they put them into action and deliver exactly what there competitors want. This avoids one of the key pitfalls I have seen with events in Australia where the best fishers get the say on how things should happen. Luremasters has the similar high-energy approach of Dean’s SCF events, a similar amount of citizen science data, a great after party and a fanatical following.

I expect them to top the list in 2020.

3: DAIWA NZ KOHGA COMPETITION

1: FISHING FRESHWATER

I am going to regret this, as Matt Mott will never let me forget it, but the best this year I have been involved with is the Fishing Freshwater crew. For an event series that prides itself on its rough nature, the series ticks every box there is in terms of innovation and focus on audience. First, they don’t do sponsors – they pay for all their prizes outright. Second they work direct with councils to put on the events, including fun days, fireworks and more where needed. Every event has a band and like at Rainbow Beach, when the fishing is done, the festivities begin.

Matt takes his whole Smak Lures store with him to each event, which means if you don’t have something that’s working you can always duck back to camp and get something that will.

The series attracts fishers of all abilities. Success is shared with no secrets on what is working and a focus on helping everyone catch fish. As a result, across the year the group collectively doubled their output, then doubled it again in the 72

JANUARY 2020

This is an event that would go to number one in terms of pure innovation. We have been working with Daiwa NZ for over a year and they are now the largest single group in the Track My Fish family. A little while ago they contacted me to look at a multistore competitive format, it’s not the first time that’s been done but it’s the first time that’s been done on that scale and it demonstrated that even in a format like this tactics are everything. Right out of the gate Top Catch Whangaparaoa jumped to first place and for the whole three months the event was run they were leading right up to the end.

While the event was a little slow out of the blocks the weekly biggest snapper kept everyone in the hunt ensuring that while fishers didn’t have a crack every weekend they did take the chance to get in on the action. In the end stores needed a best three of over 2m to make it into the top 10. Daiwa spread the action with the weekly snapper, most species, biggest snapper, kahawai and yellowtail king as well as the best store overall. All up 30 stores took part and I think it’s the template for trade level events into the future.

4: RAINBOW BEACH FAMILY FISHING CLASSIC

Rainbow Beach Family Fishing Classic is probably the last event I would expect to make it on my list because it’s as old school as they come. This is the traditional weigh in personified and seven plus days of it at that. That said, they know how to put on a party for the community and they are pushing the envelope in a different way. Home base is at the local sports club and the weigh in itself is conducted over a couple of hours and projected onto a big screen.

With lots of music, food and beverages on offer the whole community turns out giving the event an authentic festive vibe. The idea of a seven day fishing party seems something from a bygone era but given the event is run by a very savvy 21-year-old woman who has fishing in her blood, the future is looking bright.

While I think that the traditional weigh in format has had its day, the fish all end up on the dinner table and the event enjoys a lot of community support. During the event there are specific days for ladies and veterans and there are a number of multigenerational families that provide their own personal competitions. This event demonstrates why the values of the local community are king. Others may see it differently but you won’t win people over by bashing them and on what I saw they were responsible and having a good time. Beyond the festivities they have a photo only event, which had hundreds of entries and some serious professional photography that captured the essence of fishing, and the fishing generations of Rainbow Beach. All up, who doesn’t love a party and when you are celebrating fishing what better excuse do you need to grab a beer and kick back.

5: SCF AUSTRALIA/KING OF KINGS

SCF was my pick for last year and given that Dean has gone bigger and better this year, it would be easy to put him first again. Given that he’s done all the work himself it’s a credit to him that he has managed to put together the best citizen science model going and given the Game Fishing Tagging program and Suntag have a long track record that is saying something. I am not demeaning them in any way, nor underselling the good work they are doing, both are the elite when it comes to citizen science. The difference with Dean is while traditional programs attract the best fishers, Dean has been successful in taking citizen science to the masses with the second largest group in the Track My Fish family and only one of two with over a thousand participants.

To be fair, Dean is not a rocket scientist when it comes to the citizen science, but when it comes to marketing, Dean knows how to generate the kind of energy that gets people out fishing. SCF was recognised by Advance Queensland as the only fishing-based citizen science organisation to receive funding from the department responsible for science as opposed to fisheries activities and I think that is a real feather in his cap. His 750 fish reported in 2018 has been more than doubled to 1900 and it’s the multispecies format for his events that is the key to his success. By providing 20+ chances to take home $500 he attracts the widest possible audience, the best fishers eye off doubling or tripling their winnings while the bread and butter species allow families to have a crack. In the end fun comes first, and the serious science is tucked away to the back. I think that is the right way to do it, there will always be a lot more people interested in a good time fishing than ever will be interested in citizen science. Allowing participants to do both effortlessly is winning at all levels.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

WRAP UP

YAKHUNTERS

Yakhunters is the only ‘kayak’ only group on our list and I expect will roar into the top 5 next year. They are also the only group we deal with covers all states.

They were relatively recent additions to the Track My Fish family, joining us mid-year but they made up for it with their events running across multiple locations simultaneously. As a kayak agnostic group they are the main alternative to the Hobie series where the shared love of kayak fishing is enough to get you going. Even though they were late starters Yakhunters is now the third largest of our repeating groups and I expect them to be double their size this time next year.

Yakhunters understand that kayaks and camping go hand in hand thus they offer the opportunity for their growing tribe to get away from it all and bond over beers.

There are a lot of under 25s in there but some are older anglers as well and I think that mix of ages is important to the vitality of the group. Some older wiser heads temper the more extreme impulses of the younger members, while the energy the younger members have pushed the older fishers to lift their game. As a result the mix of getting away from the grind, beer and some serious but goodnatured competition is a formula that is offering a real point of difference to the mainstream events.

The Yakhunters team have something big in the works for next year, probably the most daring innovation I have seen on my travels and while I can’t say more, watch this space, I think these kayakers will be global in a couple of years time.

COBRAM BAROOGA ANGLERS

Cobram Barooga Anglers contacted me last year and we have followed their development throughout the year, including me getting down there for a comp during the winter.

On paper the club seems similar to the traditional clubs but they too have a similar model to Yakhunters with a limited number of events where everyone gets away from it all and camp in communal groups. With a growing membership that numbers over 200 and only in its second year they are doing something right.

I actually lived and worked in Cobram in my late teens and in returning the region, like many rural towns it has had some ups but a lot more downs. That natural cycle of adversity breeds self-reliant people and I think there is a ‘community solidarity’ element that is key to their success.

That said, they know their community well and a stressed community doesn’t need high-octane experiences so much as a chance to get away from it all and forget the troubles of the world. Like Yakhunters there are a lot of younger members, but in this case more families and out of six events there are a good three to four chances for some quality time on and off the water. As with most events a couple of good fishers dominate, but the attraction isn’t the winning, it’s the time away with family and friends sharing a passion and a beer or two.

Image courtesy of Cobram Barooga Anglers Facebook.

Maybe next year I will find something more technical to grade events on, but I really believe the secret to success for majority of events is fun no matter how serious the fishing is. I have had a lot of conversations this year that go along the lines of “I stopped going to X event because it became too serious”. The Australian market is just not big enough to knock back paying clients. Not everyone can be a winner, but everyone can have a good time and the more you do as a host to bring the fun – and it can be your own special brand of fun, the greater the chance that next year you will be knocking back participants.

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73

Leigh Martin Marine Mercury Lake Hume 2019 With bad weather forecast for the weekend of 26-27 October, numbers for the Leigh Martin Marine Mercury Lake Hume Classic were down on previous years quite considerably. Saturday was not a pleasant day to be on the water, with strong gales, rain and even

hail at one stage making it very difficult.

Even so, 41 golden perch were caught on the Saturday along with a couple of quality trout. Most of the golden perch were caught before 9:30am, which is about when the weather came through. The event was held later in the month this

year to try and capitalize on the warmer water to bring the fish on, but the weather clearly had other ideas.

With 349 competitors managing a total of 75 golden perch for the weekend, the event tallied over double last year’s total. For the adult sections, Shane Boswell took out the

Eddie’s Tavern Fishing Club were the best represented club at the event. golden perch with a 61cm fish. Ben Roberts came first in the redfin category with a 44cm fish. The best trout for the weekend went to Cooper Boyle and was an impressive 69cm long. This was a very good conditioned fish and very deep in the body. The fish was released to fight again another day. The adult carp went to Stephen Hausfeld with a 72cm fish.

In the junior categories, Matilda Robinson won the

Despite the bad weather, golden perch numbers were doubled from last year’s event.

golden perch section with a 61cm fish. The best junior redfin measured 35cm and was caught by Charlie Morton. Eli Toll took out the carp category with a 62cm fish.

The team event is based on the total length of golden perch only, as is the Champion Angler title.

Team Who was crowned champion team with a total length of 526cm. The adult Champion Angler was

Ben Strauss with a total length of 258cm. Thomas Weeks claimed Junior Male Champion Angler with a total length of 107cm, and Scarlet O’Mara took out the Junior Female title with 104cm. The major prize of the Quintrex boat and Mercury motor package went to Scott Crothers.

Next year’s event will be on 24-25 October, so hopefully we’ll see you there! – LHC

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2020

JANUARY FEBRUARY

MARCH

29 Jan-2 Feb

Hobie Kayak Bream Series 11 Australian Championship – Bemm River

hobiefishing.com.au

4-5 Feb

ABT BREAM Round 1 Gippsland Lakes

abt.org.au

8-9 Feb

ABT BREAM Round 2 Mallacoota

abt.org.au

22-23 Feb

ABT BREAM Queensland Open Moreton Bay

abt.org.au

29 Feb-1 Mar

Hobie Kayak Bream Series 12 Round 1 Bemm River

hobiefishing.com.au

1 Mar

ABT BASS Electric Round 1 Richmond River

abt.org.au

7-8 Mar

ABT BREAM Round 3 Derwent River

abt.org.au

11-12 Mar

ABT BREAM Round 4 St Helens

abt.org.au

21-22 Mar

ABT BASS Pro Round 1 St Clair

abt.org.au

28-29 Mar

Hobie Kayak Bream Series 12 Round 2 Gorges River

hobiefishing.com.au

28-29 Mar

ABT BREAM Round 5 Mandurah

abt.org.au

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au or calling 07 3387 0800 in office hours.

Just supply a date, venue, tournament name and a telephone number and contact name.

74

JANUARY 2020

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LOGO COMPETITION GET BITTEN BY THE BUGZ!

THE NEW ZMAN 2.75” TRD BUGZ HAVE MADE A BIG SPLASH, ACCOUNTING FOR PLENTY OF SPECIES IN THE ESTUARIES AND FRESHWATER.

THE FIRST 40 CORRECT ENTRIES DRAWN AT THE END OF JANUARY 2.75” TRD BUGZ SOFT PLASTICS. WIN A PACK OF ALL ENTRIES WILL THEN GO INTO THE MAJOR PRIZE DRAW TO WIN ONE OF THREE PRIZE PACKS TO BE DRAWN ON 30th APRIL, 2020

MAJOR PRIZES 1ST: $1000

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Taylor finally seals a BREAM Grand Final win Thirty-six year old dentist Tristan Taylor finally got the job done at the 2019 Costa BREAM Series Grand Final, held on the Gold Coast in late November/Early December, 2019. He’s placed second twice previously – the last time the headline event was on the Gold Coast in 2007 and once in a Forster, NSW Grand Final.

The win capped off a magic year for the Brisbane breamer. He committed to fishing the full series in 2019 and attended every event across the country.

His qualifying effort earned him two event wins (at Bribie Island and Gladstone) and the Power Pole Angler of the Year title.

Now that’s a reward for three days of quality breaming.

Tristan Taylor took home a $70,000 Bass Cat Margay powered by a Mercury 150hp ProXS and fitted with a Motorguide X5 and a Lowrance LIVE12.

Tristan’s secret to success was quality bream from the Macleay Island area.

His win was not a sure thing, though, with fellow Brisbaneite Denis Metzdorf leading the event after day one and challenging the whole way through. Ultimately, Metzdorf fell 500g short, but it was a magic final stop for Taylor that got him the final upgraded he needed to seal the deal and take home a BassCat Margay/Mercury outboard package, worth $70,000.

“We had a very ordinary final day on my regular run, which included trashing the prop and gearbox on my motor,” Taylor said, “and we

left early with under 2kg in the livewell.”

“But on the way up to my northern spots, I saw this bank on the inside of Stradbroke Island with some rocks on it and we decided to give it a go on the way back. Before I’d gotten a cast in, my non boater, Col Wilson, was hooked up on a big upgrade.”

After that, Taylor and Wilson boxed two more solid upgrade fish before limping back to the weigh-in.

“Best. Decision. Ever,” Taylor continued.

Although Col caught that

BOATER RESULTS Place Name 1 Tristan Taylor 2 Denis Metzdorf 3 Mark Crompton 4 Vaughn Lewis 5 Jamie McKeown 6 William Lee 7 Michael Thompson 8 Scott Towner 9 Steve Morgan 10 Brett Crowe

Total Fish Total Weight (kg) Prize Bass Cat/Mercury rig worth $70,000 15/15 8.42 15/15 7.93 Power Pole shallow water anchor 15/15 7.54 Millerod 15/15 7.46 Costa Sunglasses 15/15 7.18 Costa Sunglasses 15/15 7.17 Cranka Crab pack 15/15 6.87 OSP/Imakatsu pack 15/15 6.84 Cranka crab pack 15/15 6.75 15/15 6.70 Sunline/Lucky Craft pack

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888 76

JANUARY 2020

upgrade fish on a Gulp Crabby rigged on a jighead, Taylor’s weapon of choice was the ubiquitous Atomic mid depth 38mm crankbait in a variety of natural colours.

“You couldn’t even count the number of bream these baits have caught over the years. Not just for me, for people all over Australia,” Taylor said. His colour of choice for this event was GGB (ghost gill brown).

He threw the bait on a Samurai Reaction 201 rod, a model that he has been using successfully for the last decade. He paired it with a Megabass Idaten Racing Condition 2506 reel, 10lb Unitika braid and 6lb Unitika Eiger leader.

“With that outfit, I’d be confident bream fishing anywhere in Australia,” Taylor concluded.

Bass Cat Australia’s Craig Simmons was on hand to present the prize.

“This rig is ideal for anyone who wants to move up into a comfortable bass boat for the right price. It goes well with 115hp (even though the prize model runs a 150hp ProXS Mercury) and you can tow it behind most mid-sized vehicles,” said Simmons.

“What a finish!” Said Mercury Marine’s Anthony

Brown, watching the coverage afar from Melbourne.

Indeed, all ABT sponsors created prizes and atmosphere worthy of a season-ending national event.

Taylor’s future plans involve training for a gruelling triathlon next year before concentrating on fishing again.

Scan the QR code to watch the interview with Tristan Taylor.

Scan the QR code to see the Day 3 highlights.

Scan the QR code to see the Day 1 highlights.

Scan the QR code to see the Day 2 highlights.

BREAM Series presented by

Denis settles for second place Denis Metzdorf is considered a southern Moreton Bay specialist and he came out guns blazing with a tournament best 3.20kg limit on the first day to take the lead.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t repeat his day two heroics and slipped into a solid second by the end of the event.

“One day my time will come,” said Metzdorf, who is a perennial placegetter

in local events, from club derbies through to the Queensland Open.

Taking home a PowerPole for the runner up position, it’ll match his existing pole nicely and offer him total boat control.

Denis concentrated on his regular spots around Macleay Island and threw a combination of baits, including his favourite Pontoon 21 crankbaits.

“That Crackerjack 48 in the deep diver had saved me so many times over the years. It really is a must-have bait for me when I’m fishing for bream,” Denis continued.

He definitely lost key fish over the three tournament days, mainly in shallow, rocky water, but conceded that it’s the nature of the beast in the environments he chooses to fish.

But he had some wins as well.

One particular fish is memorable from the highlights video.

Denis hooked and was winding in a small bream when he saw it was being followed by a cloud of bigger bream. He quickly got his non-boater, Glen Sturrock, to drop a Cranka Crab into the mix and he

McKeown wins Cup Australian and Queensland Open winner Jamie McKeown added a further trophy to his mantelpiece with the 2019 Mercury Cup. Awarded to the highest ranked Mercury owner for the season (which includes Opens and Grand Finals

Boaters and non-boaters fished together and shared their collective weights over the course of the Grand Final. The shared weight events have been happening at the BREAM Grand Finals for 20 years.

immediately hooked a quality upgrade.

“That’s awesome teamwork,” Denis said when recounting the story on stage.

“I’d also like to thank my friends and family for their messages of support … they’re awesome,” he concluded.

that the Angler of the Year doesn’t), it gave him a $1,500 bonus at the end of a great season from the Queenslander.

McKeown entered the event only needing to finish to get the points needed to take the win. Finishing 5th made the margin very comfortable indeed.

“I run a 225hp OptiMax on the back of my bass boat.

She’s done plenty of hours and has plenty of mojo,” McKeown said.

Indeed, Mercury stepped up to the plate in a big way this season to

help celebrate their 80th anniversary. There was $8,000 in total given to the top three Mercury owners in each of the BREAM Qualifiers. That’s $1,000 per event supporting those who support the ABT sponsors.

The Mercury Bonus program will continue in 2020.

The 2020 ABT season is nearly locked in. All dates and information can be found on www.abt.org. au. We really appreciate all sponsors and anglers from 2019. It’s been a season to remember!

Scan the QR code to watch the interview with Col Wilson.

Wilson wins from back of boat Scott (son) and Col (father) Wilson are regulars on the Costa BREAM Series and although Scott did well on the boater side, the old man took top honours in the non-boater division.

He, as well as second placed Tani Konsul, took home a Hobie Passport MirageDrive 10.5 kayak for their efforts.

Unlike normal qualifiers, the BREAM Grand Final is sharedweight. This means that a boater and non-boater fish together for the day for a collective limit of five bream between them.

The fish are weighed and both anglers get that weight on the scoreboard.

It makes for a supportive environment on the boat

and allows anglers to work as a team.

As it happened, Col not only got to influence his own fate, both he and Tristan used their last minute surge to pip their opponents.

“I caught that first upgrade on a Gulp Crabby on a jighead and it was a pretty busy little session we shared,” Col said.

When asked about his experience on tour this year, Col was very happy with the format.

“You get to meet and fish with some good people and you end up looking forward to catching up with them again at the next event,” he said.

Travelling with his son is just a bonus and so is the Hobie, which will help Col to further fishing freedom.

Jamie McKeown won the 2019 Mercury Cup based on rankings points of Mercury owners over the 2019 Tournament Season, including the Grand Final.

www.fishin.com.au TOURNAMENT TACKLE STORE

ZX BLADES ZMAN GRUBZ

The top two non boater prizes were the quality Hobie Passport kayaks with MirageDrive, a great way to get out on the water for some fishing freedom!

CRANKA CRABS

NON-BOATER RESULTS Place Name 1 Col Wilson 2 Tani Konsul 3 Craig Johnson 4 Neil Kelly 5 Bernard Kong 6 Sam Peck 7 Glenn Sturrock 8 Jacob Smythe 9 Fred Fraser 10 Stuart Walker

Total Fish Total Weight (kg) Prize 15/15 8.07 Hobie Passport 10.5 15/15 7.86 Hobie Passport 10.5 15/15 7.46 Millerod 15/15 7.46 Costa sunglasses 15/15 7.13 Costa sunglasses 15/15 7.09 Cranka crab pack 15/15 6.83 Cranka crab pack 13/15 6.81 Keitech pack 15/15 6.66 Squidgies pack 15/15 6.65

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77

2019 BARRA Tour busts big barra records!

The Zerek BARRA Tour is always a highly anticipated event by barra teams from all over the country.

It’s a week and a half of high intensity barra tournament fishing, with four events in the period, mainly focusing

on the afternoon and evening bite. It means that you don’t have to fish in the heat of the day, and anglers take advantage

of the rising/full moon conditions on some of the best barra dams in the state.

Like 2018, this year’s

tour focused on the Mackay/Whitsunday area, with events on Kinchant, Teemburra and Peter Faust dams. All these dams are

famous for their potential to produce XOS barra, and the tour started with a real bang on the very first night!

Kinchant yields three monsters Often dismissed by BARRA Tour regulars as being the ‘mud puddle’, Kinchant Dam didn’t fish to its potential when it came to numbers of fish, but it really delivered when it came to big barra.

And one team, Western Adventures from South East Queensland (Dylan Mott and Ben von Pein), bagged two giants to claim the Power-Pole round of the Tour, a 35.24kg (128cm) and 31.44kg

John Campbell, who later that evening bagged the event’s Big Barra (49.6kg and 137cm) next to the boat ramp, is in the background of the pic.

“We noticed that the barra were sitting pretty close to the bottom, so we fished our baits close to the bottom,” said Ben, who hooked and landed both of Western Adventures’ big fish. The first one ate a Jackall Transam with upgraded hooks and the

Scan the QR code to see the winners’ interview.

With a 32kg+ winning margin, team Western Adventures left the event with plenty of cash and trophies and one of the biggest winning margins in BARRA history! much weight the fish would gain them.

All weights allocated are calculated from a length/ weight curve supplied for impoundment barra from Queensland Fisheries after anglers log an image of the catch on the ABT

‘JC BIG BARRA’ IS BORN It’s hard to comprehend catching two barra for well over 60kg and not being the focus of attention the day after, but that’s exactly what happened. It was John Campbell’s Jackall Big

Team Western Adventures’ Ben von Pein broke the internet with this 128cm (35.24kg) brute at the Kinchant event well before the sun set.

(125cm) fish. They added two smaller fish later in the session, finishing one barra shy of a limit.

Here’s how they did it.

“We decided to mix it up a bit and try a run-and-gun approach,” Dylan said when quizzed about his tactics, “and we caught that first fish in a spot we hadn’t fished before.”

While he was a little cagey about their spot choice, most anglers would agree when looking at the image of the 128 that it was in the area of the boat ramp.

125cm fish scoffed a Slick Rig burned off the bottom.

Ben’s tackle consisted of an Edge ISR706 rod and Shimano Stella 4000 reel spooled with 30lb Sufix braid and 80lb Schneider leader.

“The 128 was actually a pretty lazy fish,” Ben said.

“It tried to jump a few times and then wore itself out.”

“It was a big, deep, old fish that had a glazed over eye,” continued Dylan, who mentioned that they kept a pretty close eye on the scoreboard to see how

78

JANUARY 2020

was larger than any barra ever caught on the tour, and much longer than the 130cm Zerek brag mat supplied to all teams at the start of the tour.

After the pixels were counted, a new BARRA Tour legend was born.

John caught the fish on a jighead-rigged Castaic Jerky J swimbait, a relatively small lure for a giant fish.

For all the people who thought Ben just got lucky, he did it again after dark with a 125cm (31.44kg) fish!

Tournament Series app.

Mott contributed some smaller fish to the bag later in the evening on his Dobyns Sierra 704 rod and souped-up Shimano Tranx reel but Ben’s two early giants sealed their win.

They finished nearly 33kg ahead of second place.

Barra of 49.6kg (137cm) that set social media alight.

The brute was the team’s only fish for the night and saw them jumping into second place from dead last. It was landed right at the start line next to the boat ramp.

“It was definitely a fish

Swimming the big girl before release. She was last seen in the vicinity of the Kinchant Dam boat ramp…

ROUND 1 RESULTS

JACKALL BIG BARRA

John Campbell of team Barrametics/Castaic landed a 49.60kg (137cm) beast fishing a jighead-rigged Castaic Jerky J swimbait right near the boat ramp.

of a lifetime,” said John, left with only a brag mat shot and an image of swimming the fish for release.

“I really wanted this amazing fish to swim away, so we did the brag mat shot only and let her go,” said John, with the move proving popular with anglers and the mat-shot showing how ridiculously large the fish was.

Tournament organisers had to get Infofish to extrapolate the length as it

Scan the QR code to see John Campbell’s Big Barra interview.

Place Team

Anglers

Fish Weight(kg) Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Dylan Mott/Ben von Pein John Campbell/Brody Eves Geoff Newby/Phill Lyons Craig Griffiths/Karim DeRidder Matthew Mott/Tom Griffiths Quintin MacLean/Col Brett Mick Chelepy/Chris Ballard Peter Laine/Zac Hunt Mick Weick/Brendan Barnett Steve Morgan/Nicholle Smith

4/5 1/5 5/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 2/5 2/5 2/5

Western Adventures Barrametrics/Castaic Lowrance Likely Lads Humminbird/Edge Rods Garmin/Dobyns Rods Imakatsu Extreme Secret Spot Barratrauma Tree Huggers Fishing Monthly

82.42 49.60 38.91 33.36 27.54 24.64 23.29 18.37 17.59 15.59

$1,500 $1,000 $750 $500 Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize Pack Prize pack Prize pack

Teemburra tough work with only two limits For a lake full of big fish, Teemburra sure has been tough for the last couple of years on the Zerek BARRA Tour, the Edge Rods round being a struggle for most teams with only two catching a limit.

It was the momentum of team Barrametrics/ Castaic, however, on the back on another Jackall Big Barra (22.33kg, 116cm) that trumped the smaller fish limits and delivered John Campbell and Brody Eves their first ever BARRA Tour win, a pile of cash and a cracking pair of Edge rods.

This time, however, it was Brody who stole

a little bit of tension so that the hook doesn’t come out and then you go in and try to untangle it,” Brody said.

And that’s just what he and JC did.

“We tried to keep it a little quiet because there were a few other teams in the vicinity,” said JC, “but there definitely were a few little quiet fist pumps going on.”

Earlier in the session, JC landed a small barra of 60cm. It added 2.66kg to

their 2/5, 24.99kg bag. That fish ate a Jackall Squirrel that he fished on his favourite saltwater casting rig - an Edge Black Widow Inshore 6’6” paired with a Shimano Curado and 30lb Toray braid.

With a first and second place in the books, Brody and JC hit the half way point of the tour leading the coveted Team of the Year (TOY) race and headed towards Proserpine for the final two events.

When you’re on a roll, you’re on a roll! Two big barra and a 1st and 2nd placing saw Team Barrametrics/Castaic lead the Team of the Year race going into the third event.

Scan the QR code to see the winners’ interview.

the show, boxing the big fish amongst some serious timber.

“It was pretty late in the

JACKALL BIG BARRA

night and I was fairly tired.

I was sitting on JC’s motor and casting when the barra hit,” Brody explained.

It ate a 6” Berkley Hollowbelly rigged on a 5/8oz jighead with 30lb braid and 60lb Black Magic leader. Brody fished the bait on a Samaki 7’ spin rod and

a 4000 Shimano Stella.

“The fish jumped once and then just ran through the trees, it went around three or four and then ended up in a weedbed,” Eves continued.

Brody’s advice about what to do when a big barra runs through the trees?

“You freespool it with

Col Brett is a BARRA Tour stalwart who jags the odd barra occasionally.

ROUND 2 RESULTS

Brody Eves, the other half of team Barrametrics/ Castaic, managed the big barra for round two.

The 22.33kg (116cm) Teemburra terror ate a Jackall Squirrel in tight to the timber, and had to be gently coaxed out to be landed.

Place Team

Anglers

Fish Weight(kg) Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

John Campbell/Brody Eves Ben Tunsted/Dylan Bryer-Mills Troy Dixon/Bone Lim Jamaes Wilson/Liam Robinson Mick Slade/Ben Wilcox Craig Griffiths/Karim DeRidder Steve Morgan/Nicholle Smith Peter Price/Greg Thomas Michael Detenon/Luke Mulcahy Quintin MacLean/Col Brett

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

Barrametrics/Castaic BME NQ Zerek Silver Roll Hole Lucky Craft Humminbird/Edge Rods Fishing Monthly Lowrance Venom Imakatsu

24.99 21.56 21.14 19.53 18.10 17.48 14.54 10.85 10.85 8.00

$1,500 + EDGE Rods $1,000 $750 $500 Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack

JANUARY 2020

79

Samaki All Nighter gives Venom best limit Michael Detenon and Luke Mulcahy have fished plenty of BARRA Tour events in the past, but it all came together for them in what we unofficially call the ‘BARRA marathon’, a 16 hour event that runs from 4pm-8am the next morning, allowing competitors to fish an afternoon, evening and morning bite time.

With their biggest five barra weighing 76.05kg, Team Venom had a sensational session, boxing a dozen fish between sunset and 1am.

“We were fishing a spot in around 10ft of water with scattered trees,” Michael said after the third round, “and fish seemed to be moving through all night. We had very little company but we do expect

there to be a few more boats around tonight for the start of the last event.”

Reaping the karma associated with using the sponsors’ products, both Michael and Luke used Venom 7’6” Swimbait rods to deliver a pair of Zerek Flat Shads to the strike zone.

Luke used a 9’ Flat Shad retrofitted with a TT

Team Venom registered a near-80kg limit to take the chocolates at the Samaki All Night event.

Michael and Luke’s first BARRA event win yielded cash, badges and trophies.

Swimlock jighead with an extra treble. He pinched two points on the treble under the plastic of the lure to make it swim true and hooked most of his fish on that treble hook. He fished this on a Shimano Tranx reel loaded with 40lb braid.

“My theory was ‘big lure big fish’, which sort of worked out. I only landed four barra myself, but it included the biggest one.”

Michael downsized to the smaller 7” Flat Shad and only modified it by adding a split ring and treble to the factory attachment point.

JACKALL BIG BARRA

Rick Napier managed to wrangle the biggest barra for round three, a 20.70kg (114cm) Faust beast.

80

JANUARY 2020

“The smaller Zerek was getting more bites on the night and they’re definitely a tough lure, you’d never wear one out on a barra. You’d definitely lose it before it failed.”

Indeed, the pair had to chase several of their fish through the trees to land them.

If a metre long barra wants to run around a tree, there’s not much you can do to stop it.

You just need to follow them around, untangle your line and hope for the best.

With all of their fish coming before 1am, the pattern looked good for them

to keep the roll going in the final event of the tour, the Wilson Fishing Faust two-dayer.

Scan the QR code to see the winners’ interview.

PETER FAUST ALL-NIGHTER RESULTS Place Team

Anglers

Fish Weight(kg) Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Michael Detenon/Luke Mulcahy Quintin MacLean/Col Brett Dylan Mott/Ben von Pein Craig Griffiths/Karim DeRidder Rick Napier/Dustin Sippel Peter Price/Greg Thomas Glen Smith/Julian Howard Ben Tunsted/Dylan Bryer-Mills Geoff Newby/Phill Lyons Peter Laine/Zac Hunt

5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 4/5 3/5 5/5 3/5

Venom Imakatsu Western Adventures Humminbird/Edge Rods Triton/Edge Rods Lowrance Better Late then Never BME NQ Lowrance Likely Lads Barratrauma

76.05 71.61 63.91 59.51 59.04 44.56 41.91 39.41 44.56 35.34

$1,500 $1,000 $750 $500 Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack

Garmin/Dobyns Rods takes Faust Two-Dayer Matthew Mott has always performed well on Peter Faust Dam and he and his teammate Tom Griffiths were pretty disappointed with their performance in the all nighter.

“We had plenty of good bites from fish that most

likely would have won that event, but most of them didn’t stick,” Matthew said.

“Come this event, everything went right.”

Because of this, Team Garmin/Dobyns Rods took the final event of the tour and $1,500 cash in a fine

display of barra fishing that had them win with a margin of over 30kg from the closest competitor.

“It’s good to have the monkey off the back, I dropped quite a few fish in the first three events and it felt great to stick them one

It all came together in the final event of the Tour, with Garmin/Dobyns Rods distancing themselves from the rest of the field by over 30kg.

after the other,” said Tom Griffiths. By ‘monkey off the back’, you might wonder whether he meant his teammate, Matthew Mott…

The pair set up in a bay on the southern (windy) side of the lake and didn’t have much company the whole time they fished. Their prime lure? A 130mm Squidgy Slick Rig in TNT colour that took Tom’s fancy. After six fish in a row, the lure also took Matthew’s fancy.

“We were fishing a weedy bay in about 9ft of water.

There was a channel with a little less weed in it and it seemed that’s where the fish would bite,” Tom explained.

He fished his modified Slick Rig with spinning tackle and definitely thought the extra speed he could gain with the lure got him the extra bites.

Scan the QR code to see the winners’ interview.

Tom Griffiths fit right into the BARRA Tour. He’s a bit of a larrikin and super handy with a rod.

There’s footage of several of Tom’s fish and retrieve style in the winner’s interview video that’s available on the ABT Tournaments YouTube channel (or by scanning the QR Code hereby).

Motty also praised the latest Dobyns rods for their success.

“We’re finding that the extra 6” on these 7’6” spin rods is making a lot of difference for us with casting distance,” Matthew explained.

“And what about the Garmin gear? That Force electric is solid as a rock and the Live Scope is changing the game when it comes to watching how the fish behave around your baits,” he continued.

Noticeably relaxed, the team not only took the final event win, but plenty of laughs from the Tour.

“It’s a great time with a bunch of like minded anglers and I love it,” said Matthew. “ I t ’s bloody grouse,” said Tom.

JACKALL BIG BARRA

PETER FAUST TWO-DAYER RESULTS Place Team

Anglers

Fish Weight(kg) Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Matthew Mott/Tom Griffiths Ben Tunsted/Dylan Bryer-Mills Peter Price/Greg Thomas Steve Morgan/Nicholle Smith Craig Griffiths/Karim DeRidder Rick Napier/Dustin Sippel Troy Dixon/Bone Lim Aaron Beck/Jamie Brady Dylan Mott/Ben von Pein Mick Weick/Brendan Barnett

10/10 8/10 7/10 9/10 6/10 7/10 5/10 7/10 6/10 5/10

Garmin/Dobyns Rods BME NQ Lowrance Fishing Monthly Humminbird/Edge Rods Triton/Edge Rods Zerek Part Time Hookers Western Adventures Tree Huggers

114.60 83.34 76.60 75.16 74.89 60.01 54.83 54.33 52.59 47.82

$1,500 $1,000 $750 $500 Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack

For the Faust Two-Dayer, big barra honours went to Greg Thomas, who landed a solid 19.18kg (112cm) fish.

Humminbird/Edge Rods Team of the Year It’s hard to keep great barra anglers down and for a fifth time (Craig) and fourth time (Karim), Team Humminbird/Edge Rods took the coveted Team of the Year trophy.

Judged over the four events, it rewards the most consistent team over the course of the Tour.

Finishing with a 4th (Kinchant), 6th (Teemburra), 4th (Faust all-nighter) and 5th (Faust 2-dayer), the pair displayed the ability needed to always be within striking distance of the win.

They credited their tackle and gear to their win, praising the Humminbird imaging, Edge Rods and a variety of baits distributed

by Fish Tec Solutions.

“With the way the weight system is versus length it’s harder to get up there,” said Craig, “so we aimed to be consistent

through the events and stay in the top five.”

“Also, with the draw (teams pick their start number out of a hat at the

briefing), you couldn’t plan what you wanted to do, so in pre-fishing we were trying to find more ‘areas’ than ‘spots’, so we could just go

There are plenty of versions of this photo; just the years and the sponsors change. Well done to the 2019 Zerek BARRA Tour Team of the Year, Craig Griffiths and Karim DeRidder.

and work around certain areas. I think the key was to find the numbers of fish so you could wing it on the night,” Karim added.

“We’ve been doing it long enough now to know what the fish do when the wind changes and the sun goes down, so we just had to keep running around to find them fish,” said Craig.

At Kinchant, the guys used Edge baitcasting rods to throw plastics and vibes to the weed edge, while at Teemburra, it was a suspending OSP Rudra jerkbait that did the damage. The final events at Faust were spin rod territory, with an Edge Rods Delta 744 spooled with a Stella and 50lb braid doing the damage.

“These rods are incredibly light and strong,” said Craig.

“You can cast them all day and night and that’s important in the BARRA Tour events.”

Congratulations on your continued success, Craig and Karim!

Scan the QR code to see the TOY interview.

JANUARY 2020

81

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JANUARY 2020

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat

Inside story...

Stessco is an Australian owned and operated family business. With a love of fishing and boating, Stessco has built a wide-ranging network of dealerships, with the goal of providing customers with dependable, value-for-money aluminium boats. Stessco prides itself on the wide variety of options available which can be added to the already wide range of different vessels.

Made for...

Anglers who are after a reliable tinny that can be customised to suit their individual requirements and fishing style.

This month...

Bob Thornton climbs into the new Albacore 620 with a Yamaha F200hp.

Check it out on page 90!

84 Kayak kit-out

Justin Willmer looks at kayak kit-out options in time for the best time of year to be out on the water!

86 Lake Mac’s Salt Bay Byron Hill explores this fantastic part of Lake Macquarie, which has flats that seemingly never run out of fish!

88 More on propellers Wayne Kampe takes a more in-depth look at propellers and the pros and cons of different materials.

JANUARY 2020

83

Kitting out for kayak fishing BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Summer is a time when many anglers buy their first kayak. Kayak fishing is a great sport because it’s inexpensive, you can launch anywhere, keep it as simple as you like, and catch some quality fish. Some of my biggest fish have come from my smallest and most basic kayak.

Over the coming months I have a few adventure articles planned, however I will also be getting down to the nuts and bolts of kayak fit-out in more detail, including installing a sounder to my small kayak, along with fitting out rod holders and lights, and looking into more detail on kayak storage and transportation. To kick things off though, let’s take a look at the gear that I carry in my small and large kayaks. Hopefully this will assist you in selecting items to make your adventures safer and more comfortable, and ultimately help you catch more fish. Yaks on!

1. LIFEJACKET The first on any list would be a PFD (personal flotation device) or lifejacket. Ensure you have a quality, comfortable and well-fitted PFD and, more importantly, wear it! I am a capable swimmer, but I still wear one. For years I have worn an inflatable PFD for

The author prefers not to use flushmounted rod holders, as they keep the reels close to the water. These combos are safely stored at the front of the kayak. paddling. It also lets you focus on the fishing, rather than your sore butt!

3. PADDLE If you’re purchasing a package there may be an opportunity to upgrade the paddle, and it’s probably worth doing. Alternatively, if you already have a kayak with a cheaper paddle, and you’re enjoying kayak fishing, you can look at upgrading your paddle down the track.

Cheap paddles often have alloy shafts, which can be heavy and transfer cold through your hands, while a fibreglass shaft is lighter and more comfortable. Cheap paddles often also have basic plastic blades that are less efficient due to their shape, and power is lost when the blades

An accessory float is ideal for keeping landing nets and other accessories from sinking. freedom of movement and comfort. However with the development in the design of foam-filled PFDs, including mesh backs, better distribution of bulk, lighter and more compact materials, quality zips and accessory pockets, I will be looking to change up to these. When it comes to safety, they are the ultimate.

2. SEAT I still see kayak anglers out paddling and fishing without a quality, well-padded and supportive seat… or a seat at all! A quality seat allows you to be more comfortable, spend more time on the water, have more support and power when 84

JANUARY 2020

flex. Fibreglass-infused plastic blades, along with some of the more techy plastics, are much more durable and rigid.

Carbon fibre is another option and one that is often preferred by ocean paddlers looking for the ultimate in rigidity and weight savings when covering distance.

However for the river, estuary and impoundment paddler who is battling rocks, logs and other structure, the price and fragility of carbon fibre is probably not desirable.

4. WATER I always carry more water than I think I’ll need. I carry it in a vacuum-sealed flask so

that even when it’s warm in the sun, the water inside the bottle is still cool and can keep me cool and refreshed, even when I’m covered head-to-toe in sun protection clothing. It’s much better than a single-use

sun angle. A decent pair of polarised sunglasses will allow you to fish longer and make your sessions more enjoyable, and often more productive.

When I want a photo without them, I push them up on my head, with the head sock securing them, or push them onto my leg.

Other anglers prefer to use retaining leashes or clips to secure their sunglasses. The important thing is to have a plan, otherwise you will be looking for them, hear a splash and then watch them sink! On extended adventures I carry a spare pair in a dry bag inside the hull of my kayak, along with the first-aid kit and other bits and pieces.

7. TROLLEY A trolley is a handy accessory, allowing you to set up the kayak and wheel it to and from the water ready to go, rather than carrying the kayak to the water and then carting

Everything within reach, including sounder, tools, rod storage and icebox.

I now have complete piece of mind that no components of the trolley can separate and end up in the water, with the trolley also attached by bungee cord.

My larger kayak has a specifically designed trolley to suit it, however even this trolley has been retrofitted with C-Tug wheels.

8. LANDING NET A landing net makes landing and handling fish simpler and safer. As kayak fishing has grown in popularity, the range of ‘kayak’ nets has increased, and there are now several quality options for anglers. I prefer a shorthandled net, which I stow in a rear, flush-mount rod holder

The layout of the author’s large kayak. plastic bottle. I add a few ice cubes to the bottle too, as it helps to keep me going in warm weather.

In the big yak my water bottle sits behind my seat or tucked under the front of the seat, while in the small yak it rests in the bottle holder between my legs.

5. SUNSCREEN/SUN PROTECTION Don’t forget the sunscreen, and don’t forget to put it on your legs if you’re wearing shorts! I always apply sunscreen before I venture out fishing, and I reapply throughout the day, keeping the sunscreen handy. In my large yak, I store the sunscreen in the mesh side pocket, and in the small yak I keep it tucked in behind my seat or stowed in my tackle dry bag.

Sun protection clothing is a big part of kayak fishing, and there are many options to cover you head to toe, while keeping you warm, cool or dry.

6. SUNGLASSES Sunglasses aren’t just for protecting your eyes from the sun; sunnies also protect your eyes from branches, flying lures and other objects, while cutting glare and increasing your chances of spotting fish.

In a kayak we are often low to the water, making it more difficult to see what is in the water, due to glare and

gear back and forth. The C-Tug trolley is a standout for me, with its durable, corrosionresistant materials, wheels that don’t require inflation, and the ability to dismantle it and stow it inside your hatch.

I carry a bungee strap (occy strap) to secure the trolley to the rear of my smaller kayak while fishing.

When I secure the trolley on the back of the kayak I also take the strap that’s designed to hold the kayak on the trolley, and I feed this through each wheel and the two top sections of the trolley, then do the strap up.

on my small yak or beside the seat in my large yak, both within easy reach. If you’re using a short handled net, remember to leave enough line out of the end of the rod to guide a fish in.

Some anglers prefer long-handled nets, however I find that when stowed in a rear flush-mount rod holder they can be in the way when casting, and they also act as a sail in windy conditions.

Rubber net material is ideal because hooks and lures rarely tangle in this material.

It’s also less likely to snag on other items in the kayak, it

passes through the water easily and protects the slime coat on the fish.

In the past I leashed the net to the kayak, but when landing and handling fish the leash tangled with rods, lines, other leashes. Moreover, leashing a net to your kayak creates a potential tangling risk for the angler should anything go wrong and you end up in the water. Instead, I now attach an accessory float that will save the net should it be dropped into the water, while allowing much more freedom of movement with the net, and minimal tangling.

The big rig fitted with everything within easy reach.

9. LIP GRIPS Lip grips make it safer and easier to handle fish for photos, release and transfer to the icebox. My lip grips are leashed to the kayak on a retractable leash that is long enough to reach comfortably to the water on either side of the kayak. Better quality lip grips are especially important when handling larger fish that can twist and open cheap grips.

These are another accessory worth spending more money on if you plan on doing a lot of kayak fishing.

10. PLIERS I often don’t carry pliers when fishing soft plastics as I am dealing with a single hook that makes handling and removal simple. As soon as treble hooks are involved though, I carry pliers. It’s safety first when multiple hook points are flying around attached to an angry fish. A net, lip grips and pliers should see you avoiding those trebles.

I keep my pliers leashed

An anchor and running rig or anchor trolley can make fishing easier in the wind and current.

13. RULER Don’t forget your local rules and regulations in terms of size and bag limits, along with a ruler to measure your catch, be it for keeping track of PBs or keeping a fish for a feed.

Some anglers prefer a roll-up mat style of measuring device, which can be stowed

foreign odours, such as fuel and sunscreen. I like to apply scent every 30 or so casts and after catching a fish, which means I need to keep the tube handy. In my larger kayak I stow the scent within easy reach in a mesh side pocket or in the accessory tray in front of me, while in the smaller kayak I stow it

in the drink holder, tucked in the space under my legs or in one of the many pockets of my long fishing pants.

15. ROD HOLDERS In my smaller kayak I have two rear flush-mount rod holders and another two in front of me. However, on the whole I’m not a fan of flush-mount rod holders as I believe your reels are too close to the water. I have also seen a few rod combos lifted out of the rear ones with the paddle, and lost while paddling the kayak. If you want to use flush-mount rod holders, I recommend keeping an eye on how wet the reels are getting, while also attaching leashes to the combos.

In my smaller kayak I lay my two rod combos in front of me, and in my larger kayak I have created and attached a 4-rod holder unit using Railblaza mounts and accessories. Railblaza adjustable rod holders allow you to slide a lock around

I use a Deeper mobile sounder that clamps onto the kayak and connects to my mobile phone as a head unit (screen).

There are plenty of videos and articles out there about mounting sounders, and I will also be mounting a sounder to the small kayak in a future issue, outlining options such as in-hull transducer and external mounting options.

On the smaller kayak I generally drift or anchor in the shallows, and have the anchor tied to the front handle, with a short second rope tied with a loop around the main anchor rope and then back to a side handle. I can simply pull on this rope to bring the anchor rope back to me and then retrieve the anchor.

19. ANCHORING An anchoring device can be a good option for holding

The C-Tug trolley makes for an easy trip to and from the water. It can be strapped on the back or dismantled and stowed in a hatch.

17. ICEBOX Regardless of the size of my kayak, I always attach an icebox, using the rear well and bungee or tie-down straps to secure it in place.

An icebox allows you to take a feed and cold drinks out, or bring a feed home in the best condition. I either use a zip-lock bag containing a couple of ice bricks or a couple of frozen bottles of water to keep things cool, washing and reusing the

The layout of the author’s small kayak. to an attachment point or attach an accessory float.

11. SNIPS/SCISSORS Don’t forget your scissors or snips for rigging. I carry a Boomerang Tool Retractable Line Snip as I can attach this with my lip grips and it has its own retractable cord. If you have a drink bottle holder on your kayak, this may be your go-to place for storing snips and other bits and pieces.

12. DRY BAG OF TACKLE Over the years I have stowed my tackle trays, tackle and plastics in a variety of different storage devices, however in recent times I have found a dry bag to be the simplest. I load in a couple of small tackle trays, a dozen packets of plastics, leader and other accessories, and roll the top closed, leaving enough air to float it should it end up in the water. You can tuck a dry bag behind the seat, in the rear well, under some bungee, use its locking clips to clip it somewhere, or pretty much stow it anywhere out of the way. I use a Sea 2 Summit dry bag as they are quality, keep the gear dry and they are white inside, which makes it much easier to find what you’re after, including a particular colour soft plastic.

when not required, and rolled out and dampened prior to use, to protect the slime coat on the fish. I prefer a plastic ruler as it is less prone to being blown around in the wind. I use either a 40cm model, which covers me for a flathead’s minimum size in QLD, or a folding version if I’m after more length. This ruler is either leashed to the kayak or has an accessory float attached so that it floats if lost overboard.

14. SCENT I am a big believer in applying scent to my lures to attract fish and trigger strikes, while also masking

A portable sounder, like those from Deeper, is a good option for smaller kayaks.

The little yak rigged and ready. to secure the combo in the holder.

In the future I will be fitting out my smaller kayak with rod holders, and will write an article on the process.

16. SOUNDER As you explore deeper water your sounder will become your eyes under the water, assisting you in locating depth, structure, bait and fish. On my larger kayak I have a sounder and transducer mounted using Railblaza mounts and accessories. On the smaller kayak, if I require a sounder,

water bottles to minimise my impact on the environment.

18. ANCHOR RUNNING RIG I have an anchor running rig fitted on the larger kayak.

It consists of a pulley on the front and rear of the kayak, with a loop of cord running between them and then a tag line running off this loop to which the anchor line is attached. This allows me to easily slide the anchoring point from the front to the rear of the kayak, or anywhere in between to control the drift or anchoring angle, when it is safe to do so.

position, especially if the wind is blowing or there is a bit of current. A safety note when anchoring: be careful not to get side-on too much in wind or current when your anchor grabs. Also, when retrieving an anchor, be prepared for it to suddenly release from the bottom.

Anchoring options include an anchor, grab anchor, stakeout pole, sea anchor (drogue/drift chute) and more. You will find articles and videos on each of these options, and we will look at breaking them down in more detail in a future article. I generally carry a Cooper poly anchor, as it is lightweight (weighted in the point), plastic and grabs well in the bottom that I generally fish, which is weed, mud and sand. If you’re offshore or in heavy current, a length of chain and reef anchor are a good alternative.

Other aspects to consider when getting into kayak include visibility, such as a brightly coloured kayak, flag, paddle, icebox or clothing, along with lighting if you’re paddling in darkness. Basic survival equipment and a first aid kit are other items that I also often include in my kit, depending on the adventure.

After 35 years of fishing from a kayak, this is the setup that I have found to be the safest, most comfortable and most productive. I’m sure that over time this will evolve further, however for now I hope this has inspired you to consider how your kayak is kitted out next time you are out fishing, or maybe add an extra piece of gear or two that improves your experience.

See you on the water.

JANUARY 2020

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Salt Bay – the recharging flat CENTRAL COAST

Byron Hill

Salt Bay is an often overlooked secret to the masses that are drawn to Lake Macquarie. It has

child to the fishing we love.

LAY OF THE LAND The arena is an attractive spot for kayak fishers because of its calm water flow, abundance of structure and large fishable area. The calm current over

The pelicans enjoyed basking in the sun on this perfect day. a number of attractive features that make it a great destination for anglers. First of all, the clean, fresh tidal water moving through the waterway allows fish to transit the area frequently. There is also a variety of structure, and

the southerly flat will match the tidal movement in and out of the lake, with the strong current remaining to the north within the main channel. This has two major advantages: 1. A kayak fisher with paddle or peddle will be able to remain in the calmer

number of hidden surprises.

It contains a number of rock walls, weed beds and undulating sandy bottoms, with varying depths. With this article I have included a ‘top down’ photograph to give you an idea of what it’s like, although the photo isn’t entirely accurate with regard to the weed beds, which have recently regrown nicely. It’s a classic flathead, whiting and bream ambush environment.

The numerous rock walls are popular with the boating community, and you will often observe an angler or two transiting and flicking soft plastics or crabs at the black rocks.

Doing this you’re likely to pick up bream and flathead sitting where the rock meets the sand. If the conditions are right, you may even pick up a mulloway along the northern rock wall or near Swansea Bridge. Bear in mind that the current can move significantly faster in the main channel so you need to be confident to read the conditions

DRIFT The size of the fishable arena is one major attribute for the yakker to consider.

Take note of the current and the wind, and position your watercraft appropriately to get a long drift from one side to the other. In medium winds a small drogue chute may assist, or a rope with a brick – just be sure to attach it appropriately to prevent instability.

If the conditions are right, a drift east to west will take you through areas of shallow water from 1-6ft and back, with weed patches, sand patches, gutters and drop-offs. It’s ideal for the ‘set and forget’ style drift.

A cracker of a bream really enjoying its time out of the water. with a natural tail action are a good representation of a feeding bait, and will likely get you a feed or photo

This bream just couldn’t wait to get back into the water.

Relaxing on the sand on a nice secluded beach. a range of fish species are always available, low tide or high; morning or afternoon.

Salt Bay is a great place to hone your skills,

waters with little minimal effort; and 2. The flat will constantly recharge as fish species transit through the main channel and use the area to

appropriately. Safety is a priority; you don’t want to get caught out. If you do, have a plan.

The weed beds and sandy areas are a quick Google search away, and while it may take only 30-45 minutes to complete a lap of the area, make note of where you would like to throw your lure.

Chances are when you come back to a spot, a fish will have moved in.

During a high tide, Black Neds Bay is another option in the area. It can be a lot of fun trying to get fish out of the sticks.

SPECIES Like most of the spots appealing to kayak fishing communities, the area really promotes bread-and-butter fishing. At the right time of year when prawns are running, topwater lures like poppers and walk-the-dog style baits will catch elbow slapping whiting.

Flathead and bream will also smash grubs and paddle-tail soft plastics hopped through the weed and gutters. Soft plastics

when rigged with a 1/121/24oz jighead. I generally start with a 1/16oz and adjust depending on the wind and current. The 3” Gulp Nemesis in camo has been consistent for me.

LAUNCH SPOTS There are two main spots in the area to launch. There is Salt Bay Beach with access off Lambton Parade, and also Blacksmiths Boat Ramp.

While the abundance of parking and a launch from a traditional boat ramp appeals to some anglers (Blacksmiths Boat Ramp), the Salt Bay Beach area (pictured) lends itself to a short 30m kayak drag/cart pull to the water without having to deal with boat traffic and crossing the main channel. You will launch straight into a fishable area, and the water is protected, meaning no waves. The calm, long stretch of beach also means it is easy to pull in and enjoy the weather while having an easy lunch or picnic.

Salt Bay and the surrounding areas have a lot to offer kayak fishers.

The arena has water flow and structure, a variety of fish species throughout the year, and multiple launch options. It is a channel that feeds one of the best fisheries in Australia, so of

One very happy breamer with an equally happy looking bream.

Enjoying a quiet paddle around the bay. try different techniques and even introduce others to the sport. For the fisho with a family, especially in summer, it’s a great place to take the family for a picnic lunch while you fish or introduce a partner or 86

JANUARY 2020

take a rest and recover. The fish will also try to score an easy feed of prawns, critters and worms as this bait also moves away from the strong tidal current.

The flat has all the traits of a traditional flat but with a

Aerial view of the harbour.

During w i n t e r, Australian salmon and silver trevally are popular target species in the area, with the option of luderick along the breakwalls. Bait fishers should find prawn and worm presentations successful, with good results using a berley trail.

course it will produce time and time again.

There are also great facilities in the area, offering outstanding access to the waterway and multiple options for launch.

It’s definitely a place for every kayak fisher to consider.

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Enjoy!

9

A layman’s look at propellers PART II BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

As we discussed in last month’s issue, there’s far more to buying a prop than just putting one on and seeing how the boat performs.

THREE BLADES OR FOUR? The proliferation of 4-stroke engines has affected propeller design.

These engines need to run at very specific RPMs for maximum longevity, which means that propellers are now pitched in far smaller increments than they used to be. This caters for the

the additional bite created by the extra blade. This is an important factor to be considered when pulling very hard from start up, as is the norm with tow sports or when the engine is fitted to a larger craft with extra weight around the transom area.

Interestingly, a 4-blade unit can often run faster,

as a 3-blade prop, so if you switch from a 3-blade to a 4-blade you might see the pitch decrease by 1-2”.

This will ensure that the engine’s rpm remains in the correct operating range.

In some instances a poorly handling craft will improve markedly if you switch to a 4-blade prop, but for most of our lightweight fishing rigs and runabouts, a 3-blade propeller is the go.

STAINLESS STEEL OR ALLOY Now comes the controversial question: stainless steel vs alloy.

Both materials have their own advantages and disadvantages. In years past, alloy was able to be tweaked into more complex shapes than stainless

Three-blade alloy props are cheap and versatile. This old stager has done some work but still does the job. formed into some pretty dynamic shapes to get that bit more performance from a given size (by cupping

The right propeller on the right rig is an awesome combination.

Last month we looked at diameter (the overall size of the blade as measured tip to tip), as well as pitch (the theoretical distance the propeller will move the

need to adequately match the 4-stroke engine’s torque curve.

This also raises the question of whether a 3-blade or 4-blade prop is

and more economically, at mid-range rpm than a 3-blade prop! This is significant because many anglers prefer to run their rigs at mid-range revs in the pursuit of economy, especially if they are travelling long distances.

It’s often the case, too, that a 4-blade prop might keep a larger, heavier boat planing at less speed and RPM than a 3-blade counterpart.

A 4-blade prop will often have a smaller diameter for the same pitch

Although not as common as 3-blade propellers, a 4-blade prop can make a big difference to some boats. steel. However, modern manufacturing techniques have largely overcome this alloy advantage.

Alloy props are cheaper and available for virtually every boating situation these days, and can be

the tips of the blades, for instance). However, the material is not so capable of withstanding bumps and knocks. A boat that is going to be used frequently around hard or shallow ground, or in stump-

Sheer strength is the strong point with stainless propellers. Look at the thickness of those blades! boat with one revolution).

The ideal propeller has the correct diameter, plus a pitch that will keep the engine in its most favourable operating range while maintaining a chosen speed. The engine should be running at factory-specified RPMs at full throttle, not overw or under-revving.

While it’s true that blade area gets the boat going, it’s pitch that gives the desired momentum.

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the best one for a given task.

Generally, 3-blade props are more common because they are available in more size ranges and cost less than 4-blade models. They also frequently provide a higher top speed, but let’s not write off the 4-blade prop just yet; 4-blade props usually provide more thrust and very smooth cruising performance. Also, 4-blade propellers can provide more lift at the stern because of

As the water levels go down, the stumps and submerged obstacles come up! The best plan to avoid damage to props and/or gear boxes is to keep the speed down.

riddled impoundments, will likely not have an alloy prop stay in shape as readily as a stainless one with its thicker, stronger blades. It doesn’t take much of a ding to deform an alloy prop, and I speak with some experience here!

Stainless steel is far more able to withstand a few dings or nicks without malformation.

That said, if a boat running a stainless prop happens to collide with a rock or big stump at higher engine revs, the prop might well survive the impact but shortly afterwards the gear box might start making noises that cost a lot of money to eliminate.

Repairs can cost far more than replacement of a prop.

Luckily, many propeller manufacturers these days incorporate a very strong splined rubber bush in the prop’s hub to safeguard the gearbox by shock absorption of any impact on the blades, as the boat is put into or out of gear, or from an impact.

An alternative is just to swing an alloy prop and keep a spare on board. Alloy props can cost around half as a much as stainless ones, which means you can keep a replacement alloy prop on board for emergencies.

The choice comes down to what your plans are for your new rig. Tell the dealer what you’ll mainly use the boat for, the expected performance and terrain.

This should result in the right propeller, as per the dealer’s judgement, on your rig from day one.

LOOK AFTER THAT PROP! Take care to respect the propeller at all times. Careful inspection is essential after any impact to avoid vibration or possible gear box damage at a later time. A damaged prop will also reduce performance considerably.

While minor scuffs or imperfections can be easily filed out of alloy, it’s much harder with stainless steel, and should be left to a professional.

WHAT’S NEW BOATING

PRODUCT GUIDE

FOULFREE TRANSDUCER COATING 1

SILENT TORQEEDO 1103

Propspeed has created a revolutionary foulrelease coating designed specifically for transducers: Foulfree.

Designed by industry-leading engineers and designated by Airmar as a certified transducer coating, Foulfree releases marine growth, reducing the maintenance needed to keep transducers clean and streamlining water flow.

Fouling on the face of transducers can reduce their sensitivity, bottom-echo returns and positive fish targets. Transducers also perform best with minimal turbulence over their surface during operation. Foulfree is a specialized foul-release coating that is biocide-free and does not poison marine growth. Once cured, Foulfree forms a super-slippery surface over the transducer, preventing marine growth from attaching to its surface. Offering a long service life – it lasts a minimum of 12 months. www.oceanmax.com

With its integrated lithium battery and its outstanding efficiency, the Torqeedo Travel is equivalent to a small petrol outboard.

The newest Travel model is the 1103, which features direct drive, making the motor almost completely silent.

The 1103 is completely waterproof (IP67), has an instant throttle response, and an on-board computer with GPS-based calculation of speed and remaining range. This information can also be accessed via your smartphone.

The Travel 1103 is virtually maintenance free and comes with a 915Wh battery for increased range. It can be recharged from normal household power, from your boat’s 12V battery, or from a foldable solar charger (sold separately), even while underway.

The overall weight is 13kg, and the motor can be easily disassembled into three parts (motor, battery and tiller).

To get a sense of just how quiet the 1103 is, search for ‘Fishing Monthly’ on YouTube to see our boat show video. www.powerequipment.com.au

RAILBLAZA RODRAK

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The Railblaza RodRak is an expandable fishing rod storage system for hanging your rods from any vertical or horizontal surface.

This kit will hold two fishing rods inside the gunwale, under the cabin roof, on the shed or garage walls, or any other place you can screw into. The hooks can be installed standalone, or joined together. If needed you can add a 4mm bungee cord (not supplied) as a retention band.

RodRaks are made from UV stabilised, fibreglass reinforced engineering plastics with stainless steel fasteners.

Features include: soft flexible inserts protect handle and tip, and allow fast and easy stow/ removal; rod handle size from 2.5-3.8cm diameter; stackable for multiple rods; suits vertical or horizontal surfaces; made from UV stabilised, fibreglass reinforced engineering polymers and stainless screws; fits all rod lengths; and available in white or black.

The kit comes with 2 x handle end hooks, 2 x tip end hooks, 4 x hook inserts and 8 x stainless steel screws.

Price: SRP approx. $35 www.railblaza.com

GARMIN GPSMAP 86I

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The Garmin GPSMAP 86i is a premium handheld that has wireless connectivity, making it a virtual extension of your onboard marine system.

The 86i is water resistant, floats and has a sunlight-readable 3” display. It lets you stream boat data from compatible chartplotters and instruments, and stay in touch with inReach satellite communication and two-way text messaging via the global Iridium satellite network (subscription required). It also functions as a remote control for Garmin autopilot and select Fusion products.

The 86i supports BlueChart g3 charts, and its adjustable GPS filter smooths speed and heading indications over swells. You can track and share your journey, and, if necessary, trigger an interactive SOS. You can also receive marine weather forecasts directly on your device.

A worldwide basemap is preloaded, and there’s the option to add BlueChart g3 coastal charts. You can also sync the 86i with the Garmin Explore portal and app.

GPSMAP 86i offers Wi-Fi connectivity, ANT+ and Bluetooth. Its internal, rechargeable lithium battery provides up to 35 hours of battery life in 10-minute tracking mode2. www.garmin.com

STANDARD HORIZON GX1400

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The GX1400 Marine VHF Transceiver is ultra compact, measuring just 156 x 61 x 100mm.

Its slim rear case allows for greater mounting flexibility in tight spaces.

Constructed with an advanced rugged diecast chassis, this 25W VHF radio has a host of features, including: meets Class D DSC (Digital Selective Calling); radio controls on the microphone; E2O Easy to Operate icon/menu system; oversized full dot matrix display (31mm x 55mm) with new brighter backlight for better contrast; built-in separate receiver for CH70 (receiving DSC calls); DSC test call and auto DSC channel change selection; GPS position and time shown on a full-dot matrix display when connected to a GPS receiver; NMEA in and output connections to a compatible GPS chart plotter; programmable soft keys; automatically poll the GPS position of up to six ships using DSC; submersible IPX8 waterproof rating (1.5m for 30 minutes); preset key used to recall up to 10 favourite channels; and programmable scan, priority scan, and dual watch.

Price: approx. SRP $295 www.standardhorizon.com

STABICRAFT 1850 FISHER

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Stabicraft’s new 1850 Fisher has more beam, more stability, more space, more bow access, more fuel capacity, and more choice in package configurations.

There are now multiple 1850 Fisher packages to suit different styles of boating. Each package has varying specifications and multiple options, allowing you to customise to your preference, whether fishing with the kids, or heading offshore with your mates.

The new 1850 Fisher range has EPAcompliant fuel tanks, which carry up to a huge 150L of fuel – more than its predecessor and one of the best in its size class. The biggest upgrade though is space. The new Wide Body hull gives boaters much more cabin and deck space plus more stability and on the water performance. It provides a safe and stable platform for anglers and families alike.

The walk-through windscreen, as well as increasing visibility and cockpit space, opens up crucial access to the bow. It creates an ideal loading, un-loading, casting and anchoring point.

For more information see the Stabicraft website or contact your nearest dealer. stabicraft.com

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

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JANUARY 2020

89

Stessco 620 Albacore with Yamaha F200hp - SC

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plenty of dry storage.

Overall the ride was very smooth, and the boat handled extremely well and felt stable on the turns. Given the day we had and the centre console configuration of the boat, we did get a bit wet, but if you drove more sensibly than we did you could easily avoid the late shower!

The top speed of 68km/h

CO

DE FOR EX

T

BRISBANE

Bob Thornton

It’s rare enough that I get to leave the office to test such a big, bad-ass boat, but even rarer that mother nature dishes out some conditions to adequately test it in!

Stessco never cease to amaze me by just how many types of boaters they can cater to. From decked out tinnies and jon boats for fishing ponds, to sleek, tournament-ready fishing machines, to familyfriendly runabouts, and all the way to comfortable offshore rigs for the most serious of anglers – they literally do have it all.

This time round we were testing out a boat in the latter category, the 620 Albacore, the biggest in its series. This premium fishing rig, with its hi-tech fit-outs, big T-top and dual-axle trailer was a tad intimidating at first, however after a quick tour courtesy of Stessco’s Lance Warren, it was clear to me that this boat was built with the serious offshore angler in mind!

A QUICK LOOK Having a quick walk around, Lance told me that this is the largest of the Albacore series, at 6.55m long, with the others coming in at 5.9, 5.6 and 5.42m.

“The Albacore series of boats was one of the first boats the Stessco name branded as a centre console sea-going boat, so it’s one of the original Stessco boats,” he explained.

And with it being one of the SPECIFICATIONS Length (mm) ....... 6550 Beam (mm) ......... 2480 Depth (mm)......... 1480 Bottom sides (mm) .. 5 Top sides (mm) ......... 4 Max. hp ................. 200 Transom height .....25” Max. people.............. 6 90

JANUARY 2020

specialised purposes, and sometimes even singular species. This version of the 620 Albacore is the perfect boat for someone who wants to fish offshore but not limit their fishing to only a few species.

This is truly a ‘jack of all trades’ offshore boat. Whether it’s dropping baits and jigs for reefies, trolling for mackerel, popping for GTs, or even

PERFORMANCE

Main: With four aboard and the hammers down, this big offshore machine was in its element.

Above: The Yamaha F200hp was extremely quiet, even while cruising. originals, it’s clear Stessco have had a long time to modify and perfect the fit-out and design, culminating in a boat that is, as Lance puts it, “tough as nails.”

This latest version of the wellproven workhorse is tougher than before, with thicker plate bottom and sides and upgraded horsepower rating.

This rig was fitted a Yamaha F200hp (its maximum horsepower), and its optional features included but were not limited to, dual Humminbird Solix units, JBL stereo, BLA Drum Winch, deck hose and a 112lb Minn Kota Ulterra on the bow. All this added up to an impressive looking rig that was not only perfect for taking on just about any offshore fishing challenge, but also a boat with enough creature comforts to entertain any non-fishers. You can get a more thorough rundown of these electronics from Marcel Krieger from BLA by scanning the QR code hereby!

TRAILER AND LAUNCHING It always makes sense to put a boat on a trailer designed specifically for it, and this is especially for true for larger rigs such as this one.

Stescco offer their customers an extended warranty of five years (on their premium hulls like the Albacore) if they chose

to sit that boat on one of the OEM trailers built by Dunbier.

Stessco actually set these trailers up for their boats, so you’ll know you’re getting the best trailer possible for that rig.

In this instance, the dualaxle composite design of the trailer made launching and retrieving very easy for two people, with one person needed to connect/disconnect at the winch end and one person at the helm to guide it as it gently slides on or off.

Trailing will obviously demand a vehicle with a decent towing capacity, but this is the reality of owning a sea-going boat of this size.

ON THE WATER When we motored out of Scarborough Marina, there were four of us aboard; two shy of the maximum persons allowed on this craft. Once underway the first thing I noticed – and it is such a small thing – is the padding around the gunnels, which is a great bracing point for passengers, especially on the choppy day Moreton Bay dished up.

The cast deck up the front featured removable padding, meaning the cast deck doubles as a lounge if you just want to enjoy a day on the water with a few snacks, almost like a bowrider. I also liked that with the way the Ulterra was

mounted, it didn’t impede sitting space when stowed.

Being a fishing boat, this boat had space to move around the whole boat’s perimeter unobstructed while fighting fish. This is a huge plus when going after bigger ocean going trophies, and while this is going on the skipper can position boat with ease from the centre console.

Underdeck and gunnel storage will be very attractive to serious offshore fishers, and the underfloor kill tank toward the stern will negate the need for extra eskies. The large console also allowed for

RPM ...................... km/h ....................... km/L 1000 ............................. 7 ......................... 2.41 1500 ........................... 11 ......................... 2.13 2000 ........................... 13 ......................... 1.46 2500 ........................... 15 ......................... 1.22 3000 ........................... 24 ......................... 1.32 3500 ........................... 35 ......................... 1.54 4000 ........................... 44 ......................... 1.49 4500 ........................... 53 ......................... 1.30 5000 ........................... 59 ......................... 1.00 5500 ........................... 68 ......................... 0.97 WOT ........................... 68 ......................... 0.93 was impressive for a boat this size, however if you wanted to save on fuel and still get to your spot fairly quickly, idling back to around 3500rpm will still get you along at about 35km/h with a fuel economy of 1.54km/L. VERDICT There are many specific boats on the market for very

searching for billfish, this boat would step up to the challenge!

With all the bells and whistles this boat had fitted, it would go for around $95,000, however Albacore 620 packages will start at about $60,000.

For more information or to find your closest dealer visit www.stessco.com.au.

The slightly rougher than usual conditions allowed the team to really test out the offshore capabilities of this boat.

Top: Entrance from the rear of the vessel is not only easy, but also very safe for younger passengers.

Above: Wiring is all internal, but not unreachable – a great balance.

Top: Space is a big feature of the 620 Albacore, which is important when fighting big angry ocean predators, or rocking out to your favourite tunes played through the speaker, as the team may have done…

Above: The bait board is an essential piece of equipment to anyone dropping bait for reefies.

The F200hp is one of the more popular models in the Yamaha range, and given the quietness, economy and reliability, it’s not hard to see why.

The room at the stern was fantastic, and the underfloor kill tank had room enough for even long fish such as Spanish mackerel.

That’s one tricked up dash! You can check out Marcel Krieger’s tour of the dash in the video.

Top Left: It’s a small thing, but the foldaway checker plate ladder at the rear makes getting into the boat that much easier.

Bottom Left: The BLA drum winch is a luxury for anyone who doesn’t want to be manually pulling the anchor rope all day. Right: The T-top managed to keep the sun off four people, while also not impede on casting space.

Left: Being able to walk all around the boat unobstructed will appeal to any serious angler, and the padded gunnels make an excellent brace point.

Right: The view from the lounge/casting deck up the front shows the internals of a boat that is, as Lance put it, “tough as nails.”

JANUARY 2020

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